Slipping into a cold water bath for 20 minutes after exercise may seem more like punishment than relief for aching muscles, but many athletes and bodybuilders have relied on cold water therapy as a way to get relief for sore muscles after workouts.
Now, researchers are questioning whether cold water baths make your muscles feel better than other treatments, such as compression stockings or stretching.
A cold water bath—also known as cryotherapy—involves sitting in a tub of cold water for five to more than 20 minutes. In the 17 studies looked at, the water temperature ranged from 50 to 59 degrees Fahrenheit—similar to the ocean off the coast of Nova Scotia. Most treatments involved sitting in the water for the entire time, but in some studies, the participants stepped into and out of the water several times.
The researchers did find that cold water baths were better than resting or doing nothing, reducing muscle soreness by about 20%. However, it purely eased the feeling of soreness—it didn’t make the muscles stronger.
"It is important to consider that cold water immersion induces a degree of shock on the body,” lead researcher Dr. Chris Bleakley of the University of Ulster said. "We need to be sure that people aren't doing anything harmful, especially if they are exposing themselves to very cold water for long periods."
He added, "Most of these studies are done in pretty elite athletes. So, their physiological reserves are probably greater than most people. I think you have to be careful that you don't generalize these conditions to everyone."
Cold water baths should be avoided if you have a heart condition or a problem with circulation (such as Reynaud’s). Also, the quality of water should be considered. No one really wants to sit in a tub of water after 15 other sweaty guys with cuts and scrapes on their legs.
2012年2月20日星期一
2012年2月19日星期日
Best 2012 family cars under $25,000
Let’s say you are looking for a compact family sedan for under $25,000.
For years, the low end cars in domestic and foreign automotive fleets were little more than basic transportation: bells and whistles cost a lot more. Still, there is nothing wrong with wishing that you could get a small family car which wasn’t boring to look at, was comfortable to sit in, had enough gadgets to keep everyone happy and, if you floored the gas pedal, actually took off.
For many motorists, that was the turf of the Honda Civic, long the entry level workhorse of the popular Honda line. They were short on flair and long on utility, but consistently reliable, efficient, durable and, with an EPA rating of 41 miles per gallon in highway driving, easy on the pocketbook. What they provide, however, is basic transportation: the Civic is not a balm for the ego or a rolling sculpture destined to grace the driveway.
And if you are willing to get the basic, no-frills version, you can roll out of a Honda showroom with a Civic HF for under $20,000. But the Civic is actually a family of compacts, from the no-frills, HF box to the competitive $25,000 EX sedan.
The bare bones version of the Civic HF has plain cloth seats, but they are wide, manually adjusted. The dashboard is contoured, to give it a little character. And the dials, in blue and white, are easy on the eyes with digits easy to read. The doors had mostly hard, molded plastic with a thin layer of padding where the elbow rests and, as a result, were not very comfortable on long trips. Surprisingly, the car lacked Bluetooth communication, but it did have a single disc CD player, and connections for MP3, iPod, and USB. Its four-speaker, 160-watt sound system was adequate for the small interior, but nothing special. There is room in the rear for a couple of average sized adults, but the only cup holders are in the front. But the HF is intended to be just basic transportation.
For about $5,000 more, the Civic can be upgraded to the EX model, which better reflects the quality of the Honda line. At that price, the cloth gives way to thick, padded leather seats which are power adjustable and heated. Overhead is a power sunroof, which gives the compact a feeling of spaciousness. And the bare bones entertainment system is replaced by a navigation system, satellite radio, and Bluetooth. At that point, the Civic is a car one can look forward to owning for several years.
Under the hood, the Civic HF has a 1.8-liter, four-cylinder engine producing just 140 horsepower. Thus the small car is fine on the road, but sluggish when you take off or need to accelerate. That small engine, however, is why the Civic has an EPA rating of 29 miles per gallon in city driving and 41 MPG on the highway. And on the open road, the Civic HF handle with the assuredness expected of a Honda in any price range.
I awakened to find there were five inches of loose, powdery snow one Saturday morning, and the stuff was destined to fall intermittently all day. The main roads were kept relatively clear by municipal plows, but home owners on most of the side streets had to fend for themselves in the slippery stuff. This was no problem for the Civic.
The compact, with its all weather tires, had no trouble on hills, curves and uneven surfaces though more expensive vehicles were skidding that morning through the same slippery terrain. The Civic’s snow-oriented traction control compensated for the bad road conditions – which showed that not all safety technology is saved for the expensive players. With the Civic family, Honda is trying to get a lock on the low end of the compact sedan market.
For years, the low end cars in domestic and foreign automotive fleets were little more than basic transportation: bells and whistles cost a lot more. Still, there is nothing wrong with wishing that you could get a small family car which wasn’t boring to look at, was comfortable to sit in, had enough gadgets to keep everyone happy and, if you floored the gas pedal, actually took off.
For many motorists, that was the turf of the Honda Civic, long the entry level workhorse of the popular Honda line. They were short on flair and long on utility, but consistently reliable, efficient, durable and, with an EPA rating of 41 miles per gallon in highway driving, easy on the pocketbook. What they provide, however, is basic transportation: the Civic is not a balm for the ego or a rolling sculpture destined to grace the driveway.
And if you are willing to get the basic, no-frills version, you can roll out of a Honda showroom with a Civic HF for under $20,000. But the Civic is actually a family of compacts, from the no-frills, HF box to the competitive $25,000 EX sedan.
The bare bones version of the Civic HF has plain cloth seats, but they are wide, manually adjusted. The dashboard is contoured, to give it a little character. And the dials, in blue and white, are easy on the eyes with digits easy to read. The doors had mostly hard, molded plastic with a thin layer of padding where the elbow rests and, as a result, were not very comfortable on long trips. Surprisingly, the car lacked Bluetooth communication, but it did have a single disc CD player, and connections for MP3, iPod, and USB. Its four-speaker, 160-watt sound system was adequate for the small interior, but nothing special. There is room in the rear for a couple of average sized adults, but the only cup holders are in the front. But the HF is intended to be just basic transportation.
For about $5,000 more, the Civic can be upgraded to the EX model, which better reflects the quality of the Honda line. At that price, the cloth gives way to thick, padded leather seats which are power adjustable and heated. Overhead is a power sunroof, which gives the compact a feeling of spaciousness. And the bare bones entertainment system is replaced by a navigation system, satellite radio, and Bluetooth. At that point, the Civic is a car one can look forward to owning for several years.
Under the hood, the Civic HF has a 1.8-liter, four-cylinder engine producing just 140 horsepower. Thus the small car is fine on the road, but sluggish when you take off or need to accelerate. That small engine, however, is why the Civic has an EPA rating of 29 miles per gallon in city driving and 41 MPG on the highway. And on the open road, the Civic HF handle with the assuredness expected of a Honda in any price range.
I awakened to find there were five inches of loose, powdery snow one Saturday morning, and the stuff was destined to fall intermittently all day. The main roads were kept relatively clear by municipal plows, but home owners on most of the side streets had to fend for themselves in the slippery stuff. This was no problem for the Civic.
The compact, with its all weather tires, had no trouble on hills, curves and uneven surfaces though more expensive vehicles were skidding that morning through the same slippery terrain. The Civic’s snow-oriented traction control compensated for the bad road conditions – which showed that not all safety technology is saved for the expensive players. With the Civic family, Honda is trying to get a lock on the low end of the compact sedan market.
2012年2月16日星期四
Lucky and good
There are some fantastical elements in Ottawa mystery writer Peggy Blair’s first book The Beggar’s Opera, but nothing stranger than the story behind how it came to be published. It’s the sort of tale that will encourage every writer hoping to strike it lucky.
Blair, a realtor and former government lawyer, had racked up about 150 rejections for her manuscript. It’s a large figure, but not surprising when one remembers that most publishers look on a first novel by an unknown writer with the enthusiasm they would normally reserve for a cold sore.
Undaunted, in 2010 Blair submitted part of the book to the Debut Dagger, a British crime writing award for unpublished authors. She didn’t win, but was drowning her disappointment at the hotel bar in Harrogate, Yorkshire, when in walked Ian Rankin, the famous Scottish mystery writer. Blair struck up a conversation and it turned out Rankin had just been in Ottawa for Bluesfest. She naturally told him about her book and he kindly offered to mention it to his agent.
Word quickly got around that Ian Rankin’s agent was going to look at Blair’s book. Other agents sensed blood in the water and cruised in for a look. As a result, Blair did land an agent and a three-book deal with Penguin. Her book was released in Canada this month and will also be published in Germany, Holland and Norway.
For an unknown writer from Ottawa, that’s like winning the lottery.
I first heard about Blair’s good fortune and her book when we were both on a mystery writing panel in the fall of 2010. I have been looking forward to the book since then with considerable curiosity.
I’m happy to say that The Beggar’s Opera does not disappoint. It’s fast-paced, atmospheric, has unusual characters and delivers surprises right to the final pages.
Blair was inspired to set the book in Cuba after a holiday there in 2006. Wise choice. Cuba is a country of contradictions where most anything could plausibly happen. For Canadian tourist and Ottawa police detective Mike Ellis, it is being accused of the brutal murder of a young boy who begs on the streets. The reader will have a hard time believing that Ellis did it, but he was on a bender and is not so sure himself.
We know there is more behind this crime, plenty more, and it’s up to Inspector Ricardo Ramirez to get to the bottom of it. He’s world weary but still trying to do the job right with the limited resources that the Cuban police have. One other thing about Ramirez. He has an unusual form of dementia, we’re told, that causes him to hallucinate, seeing the victims of the crimes he investigates. It’s a unique source of information for a detective, but it’s also an affliction that is said to be fatal.
Ramirez’s sidekick is pathologist Hector Apiro, who happens to be a dwarf. What might first seem like a stunt for the sake of novelty works rather well in Blair’s hands.
The Beggar’s Opera has original characters, a compelling plot and just enough humour to take the edge off the suspense. The book certainly falls well within the “good read” category.
For me, there are only a couple of thing that keep the book from the A level. The first is the author’s decision to imagine Cuban police procedures rather than research them in detail. This is fiction and what is offered seems credible enough, but my preference is for research and facts. Other readers might disagree. The other thing, oddly enough, is Ramirez’s lousy skills as a detective. The inspector is in a rush to convict Mike Ellis based on evidence that seems too obvious and lacking a credible motive. One would have expected a veteran police inspector to be more skeptical.
Ramirez will get a chance to hone his skills in Blair’s next book, which is set in Ottawa and picks up where The Beggar’s Opera left off.
In all, a worthy debut and proof that one generally has to be good to be lucky.
Blair, a realtor and former government lawyer, had racked up about 150 rejections for her manuscript. It’s a large figure, but not surprising when one remembers that most publishers look on a first novel by an unknown writer with the enthusiasm they would normally reserve for a cold sore.
Undaunted, in 2010 Blair submitted part of the book to the Debut Dagger, a British crime writing award for unpublished authors. She didn’t win, but was drowning her disappointment at the hotel bar in Harrogate, Yorkshire, when in walked Ian Rankin, the famous Scottish mystery writer. Blair struck up a conversation and it turned out Rankin had just been in Ottawa for Bluesfest. She naturally told him about her book and he kindly offered to mention it to his agent.
Word quickly got around that Ian Rankin’s agent was going to look at Blair’s book. Other agents sensed blood in the water and cruised in for a look. As a result, Blair did land an agent and a three-book deal with Penguin. Her book was released in Canada this month and will also be published in Germany, Holland and Norway.
For an unknown writer from Ottawa, that’s like winning the lottery.
I first heard about Blair’s good fortune and her book when we were both on a mystery writing panel in the fall of 2010. I have been looking forward to the book since then with considerable curiosity.
I’m happy to say that The Beggar’s Opera does not disappoint. It’s fast-paced, atmospheric, has unusual characters and delivers surprises right to the final pages.
Blair was inspired to set the book in Cuba after a holiday there in 2006. Wise choice. Cuba is a country of contradictions where most anything could plausibly happen. For Canadian tourist and Ottawa police detective Mike Ellis, it is being accused of the brutal murder of a young boy who begs on the streets. The reader will have a hard time believing that Ellis did it, but he was on a bender and is not so sure himself.
We know there is more behind this crime, plenty more, and it’s up to Inspector Ricardo Ramirez to get to the bottom of it. He’s world weary but still trying to do the job right with the limited resources that the Cuban police have. One other thing about Ramirez. He has an unusual form of dementia, we’re told, that causes him to hallucinate, seeing the victims of the crimes he investigates. It’s a unique source of information for a detective, but it’s also an affliction that is said to be fatal.
Ramirez’s sidekick is pathologist Hector Apiro, who happens to be a dwarf. What might first seem like a stunt for the sake of novelty works rather well in Blair’s hands.
The Beggar’s Opera has original characters, a compelling plot and just enough humour to take the edge off the suspense. The book certainly falls well within the “good read” category.
For me, there are only a couple of thing that keep the book from the A level. The first is the author’s decision to imagine Cuban police procedures rather than research them in detail. This is fiction and what is offered seems credible enough, but my preference is for research and facts. Other readers might disagree. The other thing, oddly enough, is Ramirez’s lousy skills as a detective. The inspector is in a rush to convict Mike Ellis based on evidence that seems too obvious and lacking a credible motive. One would have expected a veteran police inspector to be more skeptical.
Ramirez will get a chance to hone his skills in Blair’s next book, which is set in Ottawa and picks up where The Beggar’s Opera left off.
In all, a worthy debut and proof that one generally has to be good to be lucky.
2012年2月15日星期三
Researchers warm to effectiveness of ice baths
For most of past century, soccer players, athletes and other footballers would cool down by warming up.
The hot bath after a game was an unquestioned ritual.
More recently, the hot water has been replaced by cold.
Athletes know that in the days after great physical exertion, their muscles get sore, but they believe that pain will be lessened if they immerse themselves in ice cold water immediately after exercising.
And now, an international team of researchers has confirmed the effectiveness of cold water immersion therapy in stopping muscle pain.
Some in the field, however, are still sceptical.
"It tends to be effective, at least compared to other means that are used. Maybe not in terms of a specifically strong sense but at least in the way that's meaningful," said Professor Ty Hopkins from Brigham Young University in the US state of Utah.
Professor Hopkins, who specialises in sports medicine and exercise science, was one of the authors of the study into the effectiveness of cold water immersion therapy.
"Not only did the subjects feel better but there were actually signs that tissue damage was decreased," he said.
In their review, the authors compared 17 small trials involving 366 people.
They included people who were asked to get into cold water after running, cycling and resistance training.
And they found a significant reduction in muscle soreness in the four days after exercise.
"Maybe for those who border on endurance sports and higher workout times at least or intensities, they might dabble into it and see how it works for them," Professor Hopkins said.
He says any water under 15 degrees Celsius will be somewhat effective.
"And the time can really vary depending on the tissues," he said.
Importantly, the study did not compare the effects of cold water with other interventions like light jogging or using compression stockings, so the researchers cannot say which technique would be the most effective.
They also cannot say what harmful side effects might flow from cold water immersion.
"Certainly some people could be hypersensitive to cold which could allow them to have a skin or even an allergic type of reaction," Professor Hopkins said.
There is also the risk that the therapy simply will not work at all.
Dr Shane Brun, an Associate Professor of musculoskeletal and sports medicine at James Cook University, says most of the studies are poor quality.
"There's not a lot of evidence so far that cold water immersion does a lot for physical benefits of people using it," he said.
Dr Brun says placebo effect may be playing a role.
"Without a doubt, a significant aspect of how well an athlete performs is basically what's going on between their ears," he said.
"If an athlete has confidence, belief, mental strength, that has a significant impact in how they perform."
That does not mean Dr Brun wants athletes to steer clear of the technique.
"If you were to ask me, what I prefer an athlete doing ice water baths or using anabolic steroids it's an open misere, I mean my answer's going to be jump in a cold bath rather than take any supplements," he said.
Dr Brun says in many cases, all that matters is that the athlete believes the cold water is doing them good.
He says the same can be said for stretching after exercise.
The physical evidence suggests stretching does not do much to help the body recover, but if you believe it is helping, then it probably will.
The hot bath after a game was an unquestioned ritual.
More recently, the hot water has been replaced by cold.
Athletes know that in the days after great physical exertion, their muscles get sore, but they believe that pain will be lessened if they immerse themselves in ice cold water immediately after exercising.
And now, an international team of researchers has confirmed the effectiveness of cold water immersion therapy in stopping muscle pain.
Some in the field, however, are still sceptical.
"It tends to be effective, at least compared to other means that are used. Maybe not in terms of a specifically strong sense but at least in the way that's meaningful," said Professor Ty Hopkins from Brigham Young University in the US state of Utah.
Professor Hopkins, who specialises in sports medicine and exercise science, was one of the authors of the study into the effectiveness of cold water immersion therapy.
"Not only did the subjects feel better but there were actually signs that tissue damage was decreased," he said.
In their review, the authors compared 17 small trials involving 366 people.
They included people who were asked to get into cold water after running, cycling and resistance training.
And they found a significant reduction in muscle soreness in the four days after exercise.
"Maybe for those who border on endurance sports and higher workout times at least or intensities, they might dabble into it and see how it works for them," Professor Hopkins said.
He says any water under 15 degrees Celsius will be somewhat effective.
"And the time can really vary depending on the tissues," he said.
Importantly, the study did not compare the effects of cold water with other interventions like light jogging or using compression stockings, so the researchers cannot say which technique would be the most effective.
They also cannot say what harmful side effects might flow from cold water immersion.
"Certainly some people could be hypersensitive to cold which could allow them to have a skin or even an allergic type of reaction," Professor Hopkins said.
There is also the risk that the therapy simply will not work at all.
Dr Shane Brun, an Associate Professor of musculoskeletal and sports medicine at James Cook University, says most of the studies are poor quality.
"There's not a lot of evidence so far that cold water immersion does a lot for physical benefits of people using it," he said.
Dr Brun says placebo effect may be playing a role.
"Without a doubt, a significant aspect of how well an athlete performs is basically what's going on between their ears," he said.
"If an athlete has confidence, belief, mental strength, that has a significant impact in how they perform."
That does not mean Dr Brun wants athletes to steer clear of the technique.
"If you were to ask me, what I prefer an athlete doing ice water baths or using anabolic steroids it's an open misere, I mean my answer's going to be jump in a cold bath rather than take any supplements," he said.
Dr Brun says in many cases, all that matters is that the athlete believes the cold water is doing them good.
He says the same can be said for stretching after exercise.
The physical evidence suggests stretching does not do much to help the body recover, but if you believe it is helping, then it probably will.
2012年2月14日星期二
Cold baths 'ease aching muscles, but may be risky'
Plunging into chilly water can provide a shock to the system and may even be harmful, researchers at the UK Cochrane Centre warn.
After looking at available trial evidence - 17 small studies involving 366 people - they say there is not enough evidence to back the technique.
There may well be other better ways to ease muscular aches, they suggest.
This might include a spot of light jogging or a dip in a warm bath, they say.
The idea behind submerging the muscles in icy water, sometimes referred to as cryotherapy, is to reduce swelling and the associated stiffness and soreness that comes with working the muscles hard.
The trend started in elite level sport, but it is becoming increasingly popular amongst amateur athletes too.
Comedian Eddie Izzard, who last year ran 43 marathons in 51 days to raise money for charity, said his daily ice baths were a necessary evil to stop his "legs inflating to twice the size of an elephant".
In the studies that the Cochrane team looked at, participants were asked to get into a bath or container of cold water after running, cycling or resistance training.
In most trials, participants spent between five and 24 minutes in water that was 10-15C, although in some cases much colder temperatures were used or participants were asked to get in and out of the water a number of times.
Lead researcher Dr Chris Bleakley, of the University of Ulster, Northern Ireland, said: "We found some evidence that immersing yourself in cold water after exercise can reduce muscle soreness, but only compared to resting or doing nothing."
But there were too few studies that compared cold baths with other interventions to say that it is the best strategy for sore limbs.
And safety concerns remain unanswered.
Dr Bleakley said: "It is important to consider that cold water immersion induces a degree of shock on the body.
"We need to be sure that people aren't doing anything harmful, especially if they are exposing themselves to very cold water for long periods."
Leonie Dawson, professional adviser to the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, said: "This isn't advisable for everyone. If someone had an underlying heart condition then the shock could be damaging.
"And for anybody with Raynaud's - a problem of the circulation - it would have a devastating effect on them."
She said it would also be important to ensure that the water was clean for hygiene reasons: "Some rugby clubs have a wheelie bin filled with cold water that the players will use one after the other, even if they have open cuts and injuries from the playing field."
She said, generally, applying something cool on the skin to reduce pain and swelling was safe.
"It makes up part of the PRICE guidelines - Protect, Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation - for managing soft tissue injury.
"But it is worth remembering that some of those gel ice packs you can get go down to temperatures of minus 20 and if you go to sleep with them on you can get a rather nasty ice burn."
After looking at available trial evidence - 17 small studies involving 366 people - they say there is not enough evidence to back the technique.
There may well be other better ways to ease muscular aches, they suggest.
This might include a spot of light jogging or a dip in a warm bath, they say.
The idea behind submerging the muscles in icy water, sometimes referred to as cryotherapy, is to reduce swelling and the associated stiffness and soreness that comes with working the muscles hard.
The trend started in elite level sport, but it is becoming increasingly popular amongst amateur athletes too.
Comedian Eddie Izzard, who last year ran 43 marathons in 51 days to raise money for charity, said his daily ice baths were a necessary evil to stop his "legs inflating to twice the size of an elephant".
In the studies that the Cochrane team looked at, participants were asked to get into a bath or container of cold water after running, cycling or resistance training.
In most trials, participants spent between five and 24 minutes in water that was 10-15C, although in some cases much colder temperatures were used or participants were asked to get in and out of the water a number of times.
Lead researcher Dr Chris Bleakley, of the University of Ulster, Northern Ireland, said: "We found some evidence that immersing yourself in cold water after exercise can reduce muscle soreness, but only compared to resting or doing nothing."
But there were too few studies that compared cold baths with other interventions to say that it is the best strategy for sore limbs.
And safety concerns remain unanswered.
Dr Bleakley said: "It is important to consider that cold water immersion induces a degree of shock on the body.
"We need to be sure that people aren't doing anything harmful, especially if they are exposing themselves to very cold water for long periods."
Leonie Dawson, professional adviser to the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, said: "This isn't advisable for everyone. If someone had an underlying heart condition then the shock could be damaging.
"And for anybody with Raynaud's - a problem of the circulation - it would have a devastating effect on them."
She said it would also be important to ensure that the water was clean for hygiene reasons: "Some rugby clubs have a wheelie bin filled with cold water that the players will use one after the other, even if they have open cuts and injuries from the playing field."
She said, generally, applying something cool on the skin to reduce pain and swelling was safe.
"It makes up part of the PRICE guidelines - Protect, Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation - for managing soft tissue injury.
"But it is worth remembering that some of those gel ice packs you can get go down to temperatures of minus 20 and if you go to sleep with them on you can get a rather nasty ice burn."
2012年2月13日星期一
Fairbanks man 'plants' palm trees
Evidently nobody told Ricky Blevins you can't have palm trees in Fairbanks, in the winter no less. But that's precisely what Blevins did, and it's helped brighten many a Fairbanksan's day this cold, dreary winter.
The 48-year-old Blevins is the guy who "planted" the two palm trees that sit on the bank of the Chena River near University Avenue. They are visible as you drive over the University Avenue bridge, sticking out like a pair of sore thumbs in Blevins' big, snow-covered yard next to Noyes Slough.
Of course, with bright, yellow LED lights running up the trunks of the trees and green lights wrapped around the leaves on top, they are hard to miss.
"We've had total strangers pull into the driveway to take pictures," Blevins said. "We've got people coming in on snowmachines driving around in circles trying to figure out what they are."
In the summer, Blevins watched boaters stop, get out of their boats, walk up to the trees and rap on them with their knuckles to see if they were real.
The trees aren't real, of course, but they look so life-like it's hard to tell from a distance. Blevins, a sheet metal worker at Holiday-Parks, Inc., built the palm trees in June as a wedding present for his bride, Kelley.
"We were supposed to get married in Arizona but that fell through, so I brought a little bit of the lake-front property back with me," Ricky explained.
The trees, made of sheet metal, served as a backdrop for their solstice wedding, complete with a sandy beach that Blevins trucked in.
"I was only going to leave them up a couple weeks but everybody convinced me to leave them up a little longer," Blevins said. "When it got dark I decided to light them up.
"I've heard a lot of different comments," he said. "I've had people offer to buy them."
The trees are 16 feet tall and each one has five big, green leaves trees bolted to the top. There were six leaves, but he removed a leaf from each tree when he put the lights on in November because he didn't have enough lights to cover six leaves.
The trees are built in three five-foot sections that bolt together. The trees can be disassembled into three sections that nest together.
"I originally made these to ship to our house in Arizona," Blevins said. "After the wedding, I was going to ship them down and plant them in our yard in Arizona."
But the trees were so popular Blevins decided to leave them where they are. He added the lights in November.
It took Blevins, a lifelong Fairbanksan, about a week to build the trees. He used pictures on the Internet and studied palm trees in the yard of his wife's home in Arizona to help guide him. He used elbows to create the distinctive bend in the trunk of the trees.
"Being an Alaskan, I don't have a lot of experience with palm trees," Blevins said. "I was going for a generic palm tree. This is my image of a palm tree.
"Everybody tells me I should put coconuts on them," he said with a laugh.
His 25-year-old daughter, Courtney, painted the trunks and leaves.
"I took her to the store to buy spray paint and said we need brown and green," Blevins said. "She started grabbing all these different greens and browns and blacks and tans. I was getting nervous."
When he got home, Blevins laid the trees out on sawhorses and let her go to work.
"I said, 'I can't watch,'" he said.
The trees "turned out great," Blevins said. "She used like six different shades of green and four different shades of brown with some black and tan mixed in."
Blevins dug holes to plant the trees in the ground, and so far he hasn't had any problem with passing moose trying to reach up and eat the leaves.
The palm trees have provided a psychological boost for both Rick and Kelley during the long, cold, dark winter.
"I told him in the summer we should hang a hammock in between them," Kelley said.
The 48-year-old Blevins is the guy who "planted" the two palm trees that sit on the bank of the Chena River near University Avenue. They are visible as you drive over the University Avenue bridge, sticking out like a pair of sore thumbs in Blevins' big, snow-covered yard next to Noyes Slough.
Of course, with bright, yellow LED lights running up the trunks of the trees and green lights wrapped around the leaves on top, they are hard to miss.
"We've had total strangers pull into the driveway to take pictures," Blevins said. "We've got people coming in on snowmachines driving around in circles trying to figure out what they are."
In the summer, Blevins watched boaters stop, get out of their boats, walk up to the trees and rap on them with their knuckles to see if they were real.
The trees aren't real, of course, but they look so life-like it's hard to tell from a distance. Blevins, a sheet metal worker at Holiday-Parks, Inc., built the palm trees in June as a wedding present for his bride, Kelley.
"We were supposed to get married in Arizona but that fell through, so I brought a little bit of the lake-front property back with me," Ricky explained.
The trees, made of sheet metal, served as a backdrop for their solstice wedding, complete with a sandy beach that Blevins trucked in.
"I was only going to leave them up a couple weeks but everybody convinced me to leave them up a little longer," Blevins said. "When it got dark I decided to light them up.
"I've heard a lot of different comments," he said. "I've had people offer to buy them."
The trees are 16 feet tall and each one has five big, green leaves trees bolted to the top. There were six leaves, but he removed a leaf from each tree when he put the lights on in November because he didn't have enough lights to cover six leaves.
The trees are built in three five-foot sections that bolt together. The trees can be disassembled into three sections that nest together.
"I originally made these to ship to our house in Arizona," Blevins said. "After the wedding, I was going to ship them down and plant them in our yard in Arizona."
But the trees were so popular Blevins decided to leave them where they are. He added the lights in November.
It took Blevins, a lifelong Fairbanksan, about a week to build the trees. He used pictures on the Internet and studied palm trees in the yard of his wife's home in Arizona to help guide him. He used elbows to create the distinctive bend in the trunk of the trees.
"Being an Alaskan, I don't have a lot of experience with palm trees," Blevins said. "I was going for a generic palm tree. This is my image of a palm tree.
"Everybody tells me I should put coconuts on them," he said with a laugh.
His 25-year-old daughter, Courtney, painted the trunks and leaves.
"I took her to the store to buy spray paint and said we need brown and green," Blevins said. "She started grabbing all these different greens and browns and blacks and tans. I was getting nervous."
When he got home, Blevins laid the trees out on sawhorses and let her go to work.
"I said, 'I can't watch,'" he said.
The trees "turned out great," Blevins said. "She used like six different shades of green and four different shades of brown with some black and tan mixed in."
Blevins dug holes to plant the trees in the ground, and so far he hasn't had any problem with passing moose trying to reach up and eat the leaves.
The palm trees have provided a psychological boost for both Rick and Kelley during the long, cold, dark winter.
"I told him in the summer we should hang a hammock in between them," Kelley said.
2012年2月12日星期日
Want to prevent a cold? Wash those hands
Got the sniffles? Feeling congested? Well, there are several ways to get some relief from the common cold and to avoid getting one in the first place.
The common cold, according to WebMD, is a group of symptoms in the upper respiratory tract caused by any of a number of different viruses that can enter the body through the nose and the mouth. Cold viruses are easily spread when you touch someone or something, such as a doorknob or a keyboard, that has been infected with the virus.
The first signs of a cold can vary but usually include sneezing, a scratchy throat, a runny nose or a stuffed-up nose. According to WebMD, colds come on gradually and last about a week.
Megan Doughty, a pharmacist at USave Pharmacy in Grand Island, said there are a variety of over-the-counter medications to treat the symptoms of a cold.
For someone who has a runny nose or watery eyes, there are medications with an antihistamine. Those with congested nasal passages need a decongestant and people with mucus in their chest should go with an expectorant such as Mucinex. Cough drops are also good for people who have sore, itchy throats, she said.
There are medications available that can treat one or all of these symptoms.
In the last month, Doughty said, there have been a lot of colds going around and customers at the pharmecy have complained of sore throats and congestion.
The No. 1 preventive measure when it comes to avoiding a cold is hand washing. Doughty said antibacterial gels are also good for killing cold germs.
Covering your mouth when you cough or your nose when you sneeze also helps prevent the spread of viruses, she said.
Taking Vitamin C and zinc supplements hasn't been proven as a way to prevent colds, but it doesn't hurt either, she said.
Cold symptoms are often confused with flu symptoms. The flu usually hangs around for two to five days and includes a sore throat, fever, headache, muscle aches and congestion. Influenza is an extremely contagious respiratory illness caused by a virus. Complications from colds are relatively minor, but a severe case of flu can be life-threatening, according to WebMD.
Doughty said she hasn't seen many flu cases this year, but hand-washing is also a good way to prevent the spread of flu viruses.
Judy Ruzicka, co-owner of Natural Food Products in Grand Island, said there are a number of homeopathic ways to treat cold symptoms as well.
Vitamin C and immune booster supplements can help target symptoms and organic fruit juices can also boost the immune system, Ruzicka said. Aronia berry juice has a high orac value, which can help kill free radicals that collect in the body. The darker the juice, the higher orac value it contains, she said.
For people with sinus problems, Ruzicka suggests the Neti pot to naturally cleanse the sinuses and help with decongestion. The pots are to be used with warm purified water that can be combined with sea salt or oregano oil to help kill bacteria and viruses, she said.
Xylitol natural sugar comes in a nasal spray and Colloidol silver, which comes in a spray as well, and can be used to help kill germs. Both are natural alternatives to over-the-counter medications, Ruzicka said.
"Of course, there are the old standbys of washing your hands and staying away from places where people are sick," she said.
The common cold, according to WebMD, is a group of symptoms in the upper respiratory tract caused by any of a number of different viruses that can enter the body through the nose and the mouth. Cold viruses are easily spread when you touch someone or something, such as a doorknob or a keyboard, that has been infected with the virus.
The first signs of a cold can vary but usually include sneezing, a scratchy throat, a runny nose or a stuffed-up nose. According to WebMD, colds come on gradually and last about a week.
Megan Doughty, a pharmacist at USave Pharmacy in Grand Island, said there are a variety of over-the-counter medications to treat the symptoms of a cold.
For someone who has a runny nose or watery eyes, there are medications with an antihistamine. Those with congested nasal passages need a decongestant and people with mucus in their chest should go with an expectorant such as Mucinex. Cough drops are also good for people who have sore, itchy throats, she said.
There are medications available that can treat one or all of these symptoms.
In the last month, Doughty said, there have been a lot of colds going around and customers at the pharmecy have complained of sore throats and congestion.
The No. 1 preventive measure when it comes to avoiding a cold is hand washing. Doughty said antibacterial gels are also good for killing cold germs.
Covering your mouth when you cough or your nose when you sneeze also helps prevent the spread of viruses, she said.
Taking Vitamin C and zinc supplements hasn't been proven as a way to prevent colds, but it doesn't hurt either, she said.
Cold symptoms are often confused with flu symptoms. The flu usually hangs around for two to five days and includes a sore throat, fever, headache, muscle aches and congestion. Influenza is an extremely contagious respiratory illness caused by a virus. Complications from colds are relatively minor, but a severe case of flu can be life-threatening, according to WebMD.
Doughty said she hasn't seen many flu cases this year, but hand-washing is also a good way to prevent the spread of flu viruses.
Judy Ruzicka, co-owner of Natural Food Products in Grand Island, said there are a number of homeopathic ways to treat cold symptoms as well.
Vitamin C and immune booster supplements can help target symptoms and organic fruit juices can also boost the immune system, Ruzicka said. Aronia berry juice has a high orac value, which can help kill free radicals that collect in the body. The darker the juice, the higher orac value it contains, she said.
For people with sinus problems, Ruzicka suggests the Neti pot to naturally cleanse the sinuses and help with decongestion. The pots are to be used with warm purified water that can be combined with sea salt or oregano oil to help kill bacteria and viruses, she said.
Xylitol natural sugar comes in a nasal spray and Colloidol silver, which comes in a spray as well, and can be used to help kill germs. Both are natural alternatives to over-the-counter medications, Ruzicka said.
"Of course, there are the old standbys of washing your hands and staying away from places where people are sick," she said.
2012年2月9日星期四
Why you shouldn't kiss on Valentine's Day
Changing weather or temperatures are often blamed for winter's coughs and sniffles. But in reality, colds, coughs and the flu are infectious diseases "caught" through transmission from one human to another.
"Mid-February is usually the peak season for infectious diseases, such as the seasonal and H1N1 flu, mononucleosis, colds and coughs," Newswise quoted Jorge Parada, medical director, infectious disease at Loyola University Health System as saying.
"And don't rely on obvious signs of illness - such as sneezing or fever as a tip off. People with infectious diseases start shedding the virus before they experience the full effect of the illness.
"Becoming too hot or too cold can cause stress to the body, weaken the defense in fighting off infections and thus make us more vulnerable.
"But a person has to be exposed to a virus or bacteria to catch it,' Parada said.
Parada feels that winter trends such as staying indoors in crowded arenas such as shopping malls or movie theatres may promote winter colds and flu.
According to him, drinking from the same wine glass or sharing dessert with the same fork may seem romantic, but also may lead to infections.
"Someone can have a cold sore that hasn't erupted yet and use lip balm which is then shared, and the cold sore virus - otherwise known as herpes - is transmitted," he said.
Albeit less frequently, shared linens also are transmitters of infections.
"A shared pillowcase, napkin or towel can also actually be a conduit for disease, especially if someone has a sore or cut," Parada said.
He also spelled a list of do's and don'ts for safe displays of affection.
The list includes giving and getting a flu shot, not sharing utensils and not kissing or having close body contact if one feels unwell.
"It's the gift that keeps on giving - you protect yourself, your loved one and you stop the virus from spreading to others.
"If that isn't sexy, and say 'I love you' I don't know what does."
"Humans can transmitsome infections through saliva. A glass, fork or napkin can act as a bridge and pass the bug along to another person when that shared object is used by one infected person and then used by another.
"Throwing up and blowing your nose is not fun; no one wants to be ill so being upfront and honest when you feel under the weather will be appreciated.
"Get that flu shot now to increase your odds for romance on Valentine's Day.
"Having a flu shot is definitely sexy. It beats the flu every time!" he added.
"Mid-February is usually the peak season for infectious diseases, such as the seasonal and H1N1 flu, mononucleosis, colds and coughs," Newswise quoted Jorge Parada, medical director, infectious disease at Loyola University Health System as saying.
"And don't rely on obvious signs of illness - such as sneezing or fever as a tip off. People with infectious diseases start shedding the virus before they experience the full effect of the illness.
"Becoming too hot or too cold can cause stress to the body, weaken the defense in fighting off infections and thus make us more vulnerable.
"But a person has to be exposed to a virus or bacteria to catch it,' Parada said.
Parada feels that winter trends such as staying indoors in crowded arenas such as shopping malls or movie theatres may promote winter colds and flu.
According to him, drinking from the same wine glass or sharing dessert with the same fork may seem romantic, but also may lead to infections.
"Someone can have a cold sore that hasn't erupted yet and use lip balm which is then shared, and the cold sore virus - otherwise known as herpes - is transmitted," he said.
Albeit less frequently, shared linens also are transmitters of infections.
"A shared pillowcase, napkin or towel can also actually be a conduit for disease, especially if someone has a sore or cut," Parada said.
He also spelled a list of do's and don'ts for safe displays of affection.
The list includes giving and getting a flu shot, not sharing utensils and not kissing or having close body contact if one feels unwell.
"It's the gift that keeps on giving - you protect yourself, your loved one and you stop the virus from spreading to others.
"If that isn't sexy, and say 'I love you' I don't know what does."
"Humans can transmitsome infections through saliva. A glass, fork or napkin can act as a bridge and pass the bug along to another person when that shared object is used by one infected person and then used by another.
"Throwing up and blowing your nose is not fun; no one wants to be ill so being upfront and honest when you feel under the weather will be appreciated.
"Get that flu shot now to increase your odds for romance on Valentine's Day.
"Having a flu shot is definitely sexy. It beats the flu every time!" he added.
2012年2月8日星期三
Oscars Sore Loser?
Daniel Radcliffe seems to have no trouble speaking his mind these days.
Recently, the “Harry Potter” actor called out the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for failing to honor the final installment of the box-office juggernaut. “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2″ will compete for just three awards, all in technical categories, at the Academy Awards held later this month.
“I don’t think the Oscars like commercial films, or kids’ films, unless they’re directed by Martin Scorsese,” Radcliffe said, referring to Scorsese’s “Hugo,” which leads the nominations with 11. “I was watching ‘Hugo’ the other day and going, ‘Why is this nominated and we’re not?’ I was slightly miffed.”
“There’s a certain amount of snobbery,” Radcliffe added. “It’s kind of disheartening. I never thought I’d care. But it would’ve been nice to have some recognition, just for the hours put in.”
Six of the eight “Potter” films have been nominated for Oscars — all in technical categories — but the franchise, which grossed nearly $8 billion worldwide, has yet to earn a single Academy award.
Radcliffe, who has been promoting his latest film, “The Woman in Black,” has also come clean about his wild past while working on “Harry Potter.” He recently told Heat magazine, “I can honestly say I never drank at work on ’Harry Potter.’ I went into work still drunk, but I never drank at work … I can point to many scenes where I’m just gone. Dead behind the eyes.”
His admission that he’d given up alcohol was already widely known, but lately the 22-year-old actor has been explaining just how bad his drinking problem really got. In an interview with the UK’s Daily Mirror, he admitted that while drinking heavily, he sometimes had one-night stands with groupies, though he added that he preferred sleeping with girls he knew.
“I mean, that has happened,” Radcliffe told the paper about fooling around with fans. “But generally speaking I’ve known the person. Apart from a few times when I was drinking.”
Recently, the “Harry Potter” actor called out the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for failing to honor the final installment of the box-office juggernaut. “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2″ will compete for just three awards, all in technical categories, at the Academy Awards held later this month.
“I don’t think the Oscars like commercial films, or kids’ films, unless they’re directed by Martin Scorsese,” Radcliffe said, referring to Scorsese’s “Hugo,” which leads the nominations with 11. “I was watching ‘Hugo’ the other day and going, ‘Why is this nominated and we’re not?’ I was slightly miffed.”
“There’s a certain amount of snobbery,” Radcliffe added. “It’s kind of disheartening. I never thought I’d care. But it would’ve been nice to have some recognition, just for the hours put in.”
Six of the eight “Potter” films have been nominated for Oscars — all in technical categories — but the franchise, which grossed nearly $8 billion worldwide, has yet to earn a single Academy award.
Radcliffe, who has been promoting his latest film, “The Woman in Black,” has also come clean about his wild past while working on “Harry Potter.” He recently told Heat magazine, “I can honestly say I never drank at work on ’Harry Potter.’ I went into work still drunk, but I never drank at work … I can point to many scenes where I’m just gone. Dead behind the eyes.”
His admission that he’d given up alcohol was already widely known, but lately the 22-year-old actor has been explaining just how bad his drinking problem really got. In an interview with the UK’s Daily Mirror, he admitted that while drinking heavily, he sometimes had one-night stands with groupies, though he added that he preferred sleeping with girls he knew.
“I mean, that has happened,” Radcliffe told the paper about fooling around with fans. “But generally speaking I’ve known the person. Apart from a few times when I was drinking.”
2012年2月7日星期二
Health assessment reveals top worries for UMBC students
In spring of 2011, the National College Health Assessment was sent to a random sample of UMBC undergraduate students. The findings suggested that although UMBC students are generally healthy, they do have some major areas of concern.
The study, which is circulated every other year, revealed that the top seven factors negatively influencing students' academic performance at UMBC are, in the order of magnitude, stress, sleep difficulties, anxiety, internet use/computer games, cold/flu/sore throat, work and depression.
The study not only accesses students' health behaviors and beliefs, but also measures students' perceptions. The assessment found that most students think their peers practice risky behaviors more than they actually do. UMBC students perceived that about 92 percent of the UMBC student population drinks alcohol while only 52.4 percent actually drinks. As for cigarettes, the assessment found that UMBC students perceive that about 82.8 percent of students smoke while only 12.6 percent smokes.
The assessment is used by the Office of Health Education, which is part of the University Health Services, and allows them "to be purposeful with campus programs and outreach," says Alison H. Rorbach, the Assistant Director of Health Education.
Last year, in an effort to alleviate sleep difficulties, one of the top issues at UMBC, the Office of Health Education spearheaded a sleep campaign with ResLife. They also hold various other campus- wide events and programs pertaining to topics such as alcohol and other drugs, healthy relationships, stress management and relaxation, nutrition and exercise, safe sex habits, eating disorders and sexual assault. Furthermore, they employ the use of Peer Health Educators, who are trained undergrads, that go to residential halls and classrooms and carry out health education presentations.
The assessment also brought to light that UMBC students have higher stress than their reference groups, which are the various other colleges that also distributed the survey.
"However," says Rorbach, "our levels for alcohol and marijuana usage are much lower than the reference groups which is a good thing."
In the spirit of Valentine's Day, the Office of Health Education will be hosting an event on Commons Main Street called Luvapalooza. The event will take place on Feb. 13 from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. Students will be able to learn about healthy relationships, safe dating, and safe sex, and other aspects of relationship awareness. Students will also be able to take part in fun activities, games and craft making.
The Office of Health Education is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. and is available to all UMBC students, faculty, and staff by appointment or walk-in. Those interested in becoming a peer health educator or simply learning about the countless services that they provide can contact Pritma (Mickey) Arora, the Health Education Coordinator.
The study, which is circulated every other year, revealed that the top seven factors negatively influencing students' academic performance at UMBC are, in the order of magnitude, stress, sleep difficulties, anxiety, internet use/computer games, cold/flu/sore throat, work and depression.
The study not only accesses students' health behaviors and beliefs, but also measures students' perceptions. The assessment found that most students think their peers practice risky behaviors more than they actually do. UMBC students perceived that about 92 percent of the UMBC student population drinks alcohol while only 52.4 percent actually drinks. As for cigarettes, the assessment found that UMBC students perceive that about 82.8 percent of students smoke while only 12.6 percent smokes.
The assessment is used by the Office of Health Education, which is part of the University Health Services, and allows them "to be purposeful with campus programs and outreach," says Alison H. Rorbach, the Assistant Director of Health Education.
Last year, in an effort to alleviate sleep difficulties, one of the top issues at UMBC, the Office of Health Education spearheaded a sleep campaign with ResLife. They also hold various other campus- wide events and programs pertaining to topics such as alcohol and other drugs, healthy relationships, stress management and relaxation, nutrition and exercise, safe sex habits, eating disorders and sexual assault. Furthermore, they employ the use of Peer Health Educators, who are trained undergrads, that go to residential halls and classrooms and carry out health education presentations.
The assessment also brought to light that UMBC students have higher stress than their reference groups, which are the various other colleges that also distributed the survey.
"However," says Rorbach, "our levels for alcohol and marijuana usage are much lower than the reference groups which is a good thing."
In the spirit of Valentine's Day, the Office of Health Education will be hosting an event on Commons Main Street called Luvapalooza. The event will take place on Feb. 13 from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. Students will be able to learn about healthy relationships, safe dating, and safe sex, and other aspects of relationship awareness. Students will also be able to take part in fun activities, games and craft making.
The Office of Health Education is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. and is available to all UMBC students, faculty, and staff by appointment or walk-in. Those interested in becoming a peer health educator or simply learning about the countless services that they provide can contact Pritma (Mickey) Arora, the Health Education Coordinator.
2012年2月6日星期一
How to cure the common cold
Last week, I wrote that off-road fever was about to grip the Parker area. And grip it did. 240 screaming vehicles flew 425 miles across the desert floor, kicking dust into the atmosphere and giving us the excitement (and a great sunset!) to go with it. I covered the race from KLPZ’s Parker studio, helping the rest of the KLPZ team compile several different sources of race info into one live broadcast. By the end, I was exhausted, and I thought it was this fatigue that explained my sore throat by the evening’s end.
But then my wife Melissa arrived home, telling me that she’d come down with a head cold. This made it extremely likely that I was coming down with it too. Agh. Good thing I’d already found the cure for the common cold.
That’s right: several years ago I came upon the cure for the cold, and here’s a hint: it’s not Airborne.
Airborne is the big-selling common cold remedy, despite the fact that no clinical trial has ever proven it to work. What is it, exactly? Well it’s just a collection of vitamins, herbs and minerals, packaged and marketed cleverly enough to convince people that it works (it’s formulated by a former teacher, for the love of God, the logic of which evidently appeals to the masses). I’ve lost count of the number of people who swear that it worked for them.
What’s actually happening is that they are simply speculating that their colds would have been longer without Airborne. Colds are self-limiting and last only a finite period of time, so one may feel that the product they are using when it goes away deserves the credit for ending it. That would be an error in thinking. Most people are just so happy to be better that they don’t care anymore, until the next time someone gets a cold and they tell them to load up on Airborne. Anyway, a special magical formula Airborne is not, and I wanted something that’s actually been documented to work in clinical trials.
Well, it turns out that it does. George Eby is the world’s leading expert on the use of zinc (hold on, not just any zinc) to reduce the severity and strength of the common cold. Zinc helps to sustain all life on earth. It’s a metal, and a food additive. You may be aware of using zinc to treat the common cold; there are several such products available at the drug store and – because everyone gets colds and everyone hates them – they sell. But they don’t sell primarily because they work; they sell merely because people think they may work, and they don’t believe anything more likely to work is available.
The formulation of zinc used in most cold products is Zinc Gluconate (a compound two parts gluconate, one part zinc). I walked around the pharmacy the other day looking for a zinc product in the cold and flu aisle not based on Zinc Gluconate; I couldn’t find one. The problem is that the ability of Zinc Gluconate to help is disputed by science. A 2000 systematic review by the Cochrane Library referred to the evidence of benefit as inconclusive. The Harvard Family Health Guide stated in 2001 that one study suggested that “zinc lozenges have little, if any, beneficial effect on the treatment of the common cold.”
So much for zinc in its ability to cure the cold, right? Eby decided not. He decided to try other formulations, and performed a study in 1984 using Zinc Acetate which showed that – bingo! – it reduced the duration of colds by 7 days. Not only that, but a British Medical Survey study supported his conclusions in 1987. Finally, a cure for the common cold!
Now, being the smart man Eby is, he immediately patented this precise formulation of positive-ion Zinc Acetate. And, being a scientist rather than a businessman, he had no idea how to market it in the way Airborne (“created by a teacher”) did. The result is that almost nobody knows that his scientifically sound product exists.
When I first read about it, I ordered a big bottle of it from Eby’s website. When I caught my next cold, I followed the directions and noticed that my cold was going away after only about 48 hours of my first symptoms. And ever since, I’ve hit Eby’s zinc every time I’ve caught a cold, meaning that I haven’t missed a day of work due to a cold in years.
But then my wife Melissa arrived home, telling me that she’d come down with a head cold. This made it extremely likely that I was coming down with it too. Agh. Good thing I’d already found the cure for the common cold.
That’s right: several years ago I came upon the cure for the cold, and here’s a hint: it’s not Airborne.
Airborne is the big-selling common cold remedy, despite the fact that no clinical trial has ever proven it to work. What is it, exactly? Well it’s just a collection of vitamins, herbs and minerals, packaged and marketed cleverly enough to convince people that it works (it’s formulated by a former teacher, for the love of God, the logic of which evidently appeals to the masses). I’ve lost count of the number of people who swear that it worked for them.
What’s actually happening is that they are simply speculating that their colds would have been longer without Airborne. Colds are self-limiting and last only a finite period of time, so one may feel that the product they are using when it goes away deserves the credit for ending it. That would be an error in thinking. Most people are just so happy to be better that they don’t care anymore, until the next time someone gets a cold and they tell them to load up on Airborne. Anyway, a special magical formula Airborne is not, and I wanted something that’s actually been documented to work in clinical trials.
Well, it turns out that it does. George Eby is the world’s leading expert on the use of zinc (hold on, not just any zinc) to reduce the severity and strength of the common cold. Zinc helps to sustain all life on earth. It’s a metal, and a food additive. You may be aware of using zinc to treat the common cold; there are several such products available at the drug store and – because everyone gets colds and everyone hates them – they sell. But they don’t sell primarily because they work; they sell merely because people think they may work, and they don’t believe anything more likely to work is available.
The formulation of zinc used in most cold products is Zinc Gluconate (a compound two parts gluconate, one part zinc). I walked around the pharmacy the other day looking for a zinc product in the cold and flu aisle not based on Zinc Gluconate; I couldn’t find one. The problem is that the ability of Zinc Gluconate to help is disputed by science. A 2000 systematic review by the Cochrane Library referred to the evidence of benefit as inconclusive. The Harvard Family Health Guide stated in 2001 that one study suggested that “zinc lozenges have little, if any, beneficial effect on the treatment of the common cold.”
So much for zinc in its ability to cure the cold, right? Eby decided not. He decided to try other formulations, and performed a study in 1984 using Zinc Acetate which showed that – bingo! – it reduced the duration of colds by 7 days. Not only that, but a British Medical Survey study supported his conclusions in 1987. Finally, a cure for the common cold!
Now, being the smart man Eby is, he immediately patented this precise formulation of positive-ion Zinc Acetate. And, being a scientist rather than a businessman, he had no idea how to market it in the way Airborne (“created by a teacher”) did. The result is that almost nobody knows that his scientifically sound product exists.
When I first read about it, I ordered a big bottle of it from Eby’s website. When I caught my next cold, I followed the directions and noticed that my cold was going away after only about 48 hours of my first symptoms. And ever since, I’ve hit Eby’s zinc every time I’ve caught a cold, meaning that I haven’t missed a day of work due to a cold in years.
2012年2月5日星期日
Hoosiers throw a hootenanny
It's over but for the game -- nearing the end of the biggest week on the North American sporting calendar -- as the hype and beer cans are swept out of downtown Indy to make way for the Giants and Patriots on centre stage.
The city and citizens of Indianapolis have been the stars this week, putting on a down-home Super Bowl with lots of Hoosier hospitality.
Indy threw out the template and kept everything in a tight circle around Lucas Oil Stadium. Media, the NFL and both teams took up four huge downtown hotel complexes. Other cities spread it out from downtown to the suburbs and it's too hard to take it all in.
This Super Bowl was easy to touch, smell and taste. In a word, super. Here's a little from the seen and heard file after a week at the Super Bowl.
ARE YOU EXPERIENCED? Indy has done an incredible job of hosting the Super Bowl and on Friday more than 200,000 people attended the NFL Experience in the city's downtown. The entire Super Bowl has felt like a Grey Cup on steroids. Far less corporate and more about the fans. It's been incredible and if Indy wants it back the NFL will return.
The usually perfect Tom Brady dropped a bomb on the city of Buffalo during Tuesday's media day, saying, "My dad even came to games in Buffalo where the hotels aren't very nice." Brady apologized the next day.
NFL Hall of Famer Steve Young said he would have loved to have played a few years in the CFL.
"I would have loved the game. I would have taken (Doug) Flutie down," he said with a laugh. "I would have liked to win a couple Grey Cups. I love the Canadian game."
Comedian and Fox Sports contributor Frank Caliendo on Hall of Famer Terry Bradshaw's weight-loss commercial: "Have you seen the ad? Terry talks about how he used to be fat and ugly until he lost all this weight. I have news for him. Ugly doesn't go away with the pounds."
Indianapolis still allows smoking in its bars. Novel at first for an ex-smoker. Yes, I sucked in deeply when I first whiffed that old, familiar stale scent, but by the end of the night my throat was sore and eyes red. Many drunk people in an enclosed room smoking just isn't a good idea.
Fox Sports columnist Jason Whitlock invited folks to sample his dad's BBQ with this tweet and hashtag: "Also, don't forget everyone invited 2 Masterpiece Lounge Saturday noon to 6 pm.
Former Oakland Raiders quarterback Dan Pastorini was forced to spend 16 years in court to get money owed to him by late Raiders owner Al Davis.
"It's in the book (Taking Flak) how I feel about Al Davis and I don't pull punches," said Pastorini. "I don't pull punches in the book. Yes I inhaled and yes I had sex with that girl. Al Davis? I can tell you this. I guarantee the devil was holding his hand when he died."
YOU CAN'T TAKE IT WITH YOU: Legendary NFL placekicker Morten Andersen talking about the big personalities like Ken Stabler of the old NFL. "Those guys, they believed you can't attach a U-Haul to a hearse," he said. "It's not about collecting stuff but making memories for them. You can't take it with you."
MOVE OVER, CHIPMAN: Comedian Jay Mohr, who may or may not have suggested a year ago that the Atlanta Thrashers should move to Winnipeg on Winnipeg radio.
"I don't want to take credit for you guys getting the Jets but really, it was me," he said.
"I told you guys last year you would get the Thrashers. I'm coming up there. Get me a gig at Rumor's and I'll drop the puck at a Jets game."
Giants coach Tom Coughlin on how tough it is to get to this point in the season.
"Anyone who goes through this experience and doesn't grab a hold of it or grasp the significance of it doesn't understand that there are great, outstanding coaches and players who haven't been to a Super Bowl game, and get to this point," he said.
"You thank God for the opportunity and you never, ever tire or even possibly think this happens on a normal basis. It doesn't. It's tough to be in this position and get to this point. You have to constantly be aware of that. The way I look at it, there are many outstanding players and coaches who never get to this point."
The city and citizens of Indianapolis have been the stars this week, putting on a down-home Super Bowl with lots of Hoosier hospitality.
Indy threw out the template and kept everything in a tight circle around Lucas Oil Stadium. Media, the NFL and both teams took up four huge downtown hotel complexes. Other cities spread it out from downtown to the suburbs and it's too hard to take it all in.
This Super Bowl was easy to touch, smell and taste. In a word, super. Here's a little from the seen and heard file after a week at the Super Bowl.
ARE YOU EXPERIENCED? Indy has done an incredible job of hosting the Super Bowl and on Friday more than 200,000 people attended the NFL Experience in the city's downtown. The entire Super Bowl has felt like a Grey Cup on steroids. Far less corporate and more about the fans. It's been incredible and if Indy wants it back the NFL will return.
The usually perfect Tom Brady dropped a bomb on the city of Buffalo during Tuesday's media day, saying, "My dad even came to games in Buffalo where the hotels aren't very nice." Brady apologized the next day.
NFL Hall of Famer Steve Young said he would have loved to have played a few years in the CFL.
"I would have loved the game. I would have taken (Doug) Flutie down," he said with a laugh. "I would have liked to win a couple Grey Cups. I love the Canadian game."
Comedian and Fox Sports contributor Frank Caliendo on Hall of Famer Terry Bradshaw's weight-loss commercial: "Have you seen the ad? Terry talks about how he used to be fat and ugly until he lost all this weight. I have news for him. Ugly doesn't go away with the pounds."
Indianapolis still allows smoking in its bars. Novel at first for an ex-smoker. Yes, I sucked in deeply when I first whiffed that old, familiar stale scent, but by the end of the night my throat was sore and eyes red. Many drunk people in an enclosed room smoking just isn't a good idea.
Fox Sports columnist Jason Whitlock invited folks to sample his dad's BBQ with this tweet and hashtag: "Also, don't forget everyone invited 2 Masterpiece Lounge Saturday noon to 6 pm.
Former Oakland Raiders quarterback Dan Pastorini was forced to spend 16 years in court to get money owed to him by late Raiders owner Al Davis.
"It's in the book (Taking Flak) how I feel about Al Davis and I don't pull punches," said Pastorini. "I don't pull punches in the book. Yes I inhaled and yes I had sex with that girl. Al Davis? I can tell you this. I guarantee the devil was holding his hand when he died."
YOU CAN'T TAKE IT WITH YOU: Legendary NFL placekicker Morten Andersen talking about the big personalities like Ken Stabler of the old NFL. "Those guys, they believed you can't attach a U-Haul to a hearse," he said. "It's not about collecting stuff but making memories for them. You can't take it with you."
MOVE OVER, CHIPMAN: Comedian Jay Mohr, who may or may not have suggested a year ago that the Atlanta Thrashers should move to Winnipeg on Winnipeg radio.
"I don't want to take credit for you guys getting the Jets but really, it was me," he said.
"I told you guys last year you would get the Thrashers. I'm coming up there. Get me a gig at Rumor's and I'll drop the puck at a Jets game."
Giants coach Tom Coughlin on how tough it is to get to this point in the season.
"Anyone who goes through this experience and doesn't grab a hold of it or grasp the significance of it doesn't understand that there are great, outstanding coaches and players who haven't been to a Super Bowl game, and get to this point," he said.
"You thank God for the opportunity and you never, ever tire or even possibly think this happens on a normal basis. It doesn't. It's tough to be in this position and get to this point. You have to constantly be aware of that. The way I look at it, there are many outstanding players and coaches who never get to this point."
2012年2月2日星期四
Handling those cold wintery days
Brrrr.. it is cold outside! Some helpful hints are available to help reduce physical issues related to these frigid temperatures.
Typically people experience or are exposed to the flu or cold during the cold weather. Caitlyn McGregor from the health unit explained the difference between the flu and cold - the flu has a sudden onset - symptoms include headache, sore throat, muscle aches. Further symptoms can be fatigue, fever, cough, decreased appetite, chills and a runny nose. Whereas, a cold is a mild respiratory infection of the upper respiratory passages which may last for weeks. Symptoms may include runny nose, stuffy nose, cough and sore throat. McGregor said symptoms like headaches, fever, muscle aches and nausea do not usually accompany a cold.
McGregor said if a person is sick, "Stay home, get plenty of rest, drink plenty of fluids, use over-the counter medications to relieve symptoms, disinfect common surfaces and children's toys."
She recommended ways to prevent the spread of germs during the winter months - "We recommend for that - wash hands often, cover your cough, sneeze into your sleeve, get your flu shot (it's never too late to get your flu shot - people can get it at the doctor's office or at the health unit - call ahead to make an appointment)."
McGregor did not want to comment about whether the traditional chicken soup or honey/lemon cures the cold. "Chicken soup is a remedy for the cold or flu - we do recommend lots of fluids," she said. "Also, people when they are sick do not want to eat. So if they can get chicken soup into them that is good because it is something nutritious and a fluid." She supposed these remedies may be helpful in replacing electrolytes.
She also suggested exercise and plenty of water - to stay hydrated. "Usually when their immune system is down is when these bugs will attach and take over. Follow the Canada's Food Guide - that would be a good recommendation," suggested McGregor.
Dealing with cold season blahs is one thing. Seasonal affective disorder or SAD is a seasonal form of depression which can be treated with full spectrum white lights (not to be confused with tanning lights!) or photo therapy. According to Ginny Ferguson from the Leeds Grenville Health Unit people who use them should consult a doctor. "For some who have SAD your best bet is to contact a doctor who deals with psychiatric illness," stated Ferguson.
Another aspect of winter, of course is shovelling. The health unit has provided useful information on shovelling without injuring oneself called, "The Scoop on Shovelling." It states, "Individuals over the age of 40, or those who are relatively inactive, should be especially careful. If you have a history of heart trouble, check with your doctor before shovelling. Avoid shovelling after smoking or eating a heavy meal. Warm up your muscles before shovelling by walking or marching in place, and do some stretches before and after shovelling. Dress in layers so clothing can be peeled off as the body becomes warm as overheating puts an extra strain on the heart. Push the snow in the same way a snow plow works, don't lift it. Stay hydrated by drinking water - in the cold air you can lose a lot of water through respiration and perspiration, take frequent breaks. Use a shovel with a small scoop to keep the loads small and light. Watch your posture - legs apart, knees bent, and back straight. Lift with your legs. Wear a hat, make sure hands and feet are warm and stop immediately if you feel tightness in your chest, shortness of breath, or pain of any kind. If you are over 45, inactive, smoke, have elevated blood pressure, are overweight, and/or have any heart conditions, it may be best to err on the side of caution and get someone else to do the shovelling for you."
There is also plenty of material about exercising caution in frigid weather if a person has asthma. Anyone diagnosed with asthma should take special care to wrap-up well, take prescribed medication or inhaler regularly. It emphasized that for some people, the symptoms of asthma are sporadic and mild, but for others an attack can be life threatening in its severity.
Of course, walking on slippery sidewalks can be dangerous. Therefore, be extra careful in order to avoid injury from slips and falls on icy footpaths. Ice and snow are leading to an increase in the number of people presenting with sprains and fractures as a result of slips and falls. Reduce the risk by wearing non-slip shoes or boots, walking slowly and keeping your hands out of your pockets to help protect you in the case of a slip or fall.
Typically people experience or are exposed to the flu or cold during the cold weather. Caitlyn McGregor from the health unit explained the difference between the flu and cold - the flu has a sudden onset - symptoms include headache, sore throat, muscle aches. Further symptoms can be fatigue, fever, cough, decreased appetite, chills and a runny nose. Whereas, a cold is a mild respiratory infection of the upper respiratory passages which may last for weeks. Symptoms may include runny nose, stuffy nose, cough and sore throat. McGregor said symptoms like headaches, fever, muscle aches and nausea do not usually accompany a cold.
McGregor said if a person is sick, "Stay home, get plenty of rest, drink plenty of fluids, use over-the counter medications to relieve symptoms, disinfect common surfaces and children's toys."
She recommended ways to prevent the spread of germs during the winter months - "We recommend for that - wash hands often, cover your cough, sneeze into your sleeve, get your flu shot (it's never too late to get your flu shot - people can get it at the doctor's office or at the health unit - call ahead to make an appointment)."
McGregor did not want to comment about whether the traditional chicken soup or honey/lemon cures the cold. "Chicken soup is a remedy for the cold or flu - we do recommend lots of fluids," she said. "Also, people when they are sick do not want to eat. So if they can get chicken soup into them that is good because it is something nutritious and a fluid." She supposed these remedies may be helpful in replacing electrolytes.
She also suggested exercise and plenty of water - to stay hydrated. "Usually when their immune system is down is when these bugs will attach and take over. Follow the Canada's Food Guide - that would be a good recommendation," suggested McGregor.
Dealing with cold season blahs is one thing. Seasonal affective disorder or SAD is a seasonal form of depression which can be treated with full spectrum white lights (not to be confused with tanning lights!) or photo therapy. According to Ginny Ferguson from the Leeds Grenville Health Unit people who use them should consult a doctor. "For some who have SAD your best bet is to contact a doctor who deals with psychiatric illness," stated Ferguson.
Another aspect of winter, of course is shovelling. The health unit has provided useful information on shovelling without injuring oneself called, "The Scoop on Shovelling." It states, "Individuals over the age of 40, or those who are relatively inactive, should be especially careful. If you have a history of heart trouble, check with your doctor before shovelling. Avoid shovelling after smoking or eating a heavy meal. Warm up your muscles before shovelling by walking or marching in place, and do some stretches before and after shovelling. Dress in layers so clothing can be peeled off as the body becomes warm as overheating puts an extra strain on the heart. Push the snow in the same way a snow plow works, don't lift it. Stay hydrated by drinking water - in the cold air you can lose a lot of water through respiration and perspiration, take frequent breaks. Use a shovel with a small scoop to keep the loads small and light. Watch your posture - legs apart, knees bent, and back straight. Lift with your legs. Wear a hat, make sure hands and feet are warm and stop immediately if you feel tightness in your chest, shortness of breath, or pain of any kind. If you are over 45, inactive, smoke, have elevated blood pressure, are overweight, and/or have any heart conditions, it may be best to err on the side of caution and get someone else to do the shovelling for you."
There is also plenty of material about exercising caution in frigid weather if a person has asthma. Anyone diagnosed with asthma should take special care to wrap-up well, take prescribed medication or inhaler regularly. It emphasized that for some people, the symptoms of asthma are sporadic and mild, but for others an attack can be life threatening in its severity.
Of course, walking on slippery sidewalks can be dangerous. Therefore, be extra careful in order to avoid injury from slips and falls on icy footpaths. Ice and snow are leading to an increase in the number of people presenting with sprains and fractures as a result of slips and falls. Reduce the risk by wearing non-slip shoes or boots, walking slowly and keeping your hands out of your pockets to help protect you in the case of a slip or fall.
2012年2月1日星期三
Best options for beating the bugs of cold and flu season
Though it may have started off mild in many parts of the country, cold and flu season is now in full swing and staying healthy this time of year can be a challenge. For those suffering, identifying the type of illness - cold, flu, sinus infection, etc. - and finding the right over-the-counter medications are key in helping to alleviate symptoms.
The common cold and flu are both highly contagious respiratory illnesses but it's often difficult to differentiate between the two. According to experts, a chest cold or head cold can be caused by any one of more than 100 viruses. Symptoms of a cold may vary and can include a runny nose, sore throat, cough, watery eyes and congestion.
Cold symptoms can last for a week, and although there is no cure, there are several over-the-counter medications that can help provide relief from symptoms. Medications containing pseudoephedrine (located behind the counter in the pharmacy), including many national and store-brand decongestants sold at leading retailers, can be used to address nasal congestion, while pain relievers containing active ingredients such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen can help with other symptoms such as a sore throat, headache or fever.
Influenza, or the flu, is a viral infection affecting the respiratory tract, including the nose, throat and lungs. Influenza is not triggered by the same virus that causes the "stomach flu," which is an infection in the digestive system. Initially, the flu may feel like a common cold. However, the flu tends to come on suddenly and with more severe symptoms, whereas a cold generally develops slowly.
Additional common signs and symptoms of the flu include a fever over 100 F, aching muscles, chills and sweats, headache, dry cough, fatigue, weakness and nasal congestion. The flu and its complications can be deadly. People at higher risk include young children, older adults, pregnant women, and those with weak immune systems or chronic illnesses.
The best defense against influenza is prevention by getting an annual flu vaccination. For the unlucky ones who've contracted the flu this year, there are a few steps to take to combat the symptoms, including getting plenty of rest and taking in a lot of fluids. In some cases, a doctor may prescribe an antiviral medication such as Tamiflu.
To effectively address the achiness associated with the flu, an over-the-counter pain reliever such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen will help. It's important to remember to never give aspirin to children or teens due to the risk of a rare, but potentially fatal disease called Reye's Syndrome.
"There's a wide selection of over-the-counter treatments available to help ease the symptoms of the common cold or flu," says Dr. Mark Armstrong, a physician with more than 26 years in family practice medicine. "In fact, I recommend many of the 'store-brand' cold and flu medications at leading retailers and pharmacies, such as Tussin cough syrups and effervescent cold relief tablets. These products are regulated by the FDA and use the same active ingredients, but cost significantly less than the brand names."
Allegan, Mich.-based Perrigo is a pharmaceutical company that manufactures and distributes most of the over-the-counter medications sold under store-brand labels at leading national retailers, club stores, grocers and pharmacies. According to Perrigo, these products are the primary treatments available over-the-counter for cold and flu symptoms:
"If you continue to experience cold or flu symptoms for a prolonged period of time, or your respiratory symptoms have worsened and you have difficulty breathing, I suggest scheduling an appointment with your doctor immediately, so he or she may evaluate you and suggest the best course of treatment for your situation," Armstrong says.
The common cold and flu are both highly contagious respiratory illnesses but it's often difficult to differentiate between the two. According to experts, a chest cold or head cold can be caused by any one of more than 100 viruses. Symptoms of a cold may vary and can include a runny nose, sore throat, cough, watery eyes and congestion.
Cold symptoms can last for a week, and although there is no cure, there are several over-the-counter medications that can help provide relief from symptoms. Medications containing pseudoephedrine (located behind the counter in the pharmacy), including many national and store-brand decongestants sold at leading retailers, can be used to address nasal congestion, while pain relievers containing active ingredients such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen can help with other symptoms such as a sore throat, headache or fever.
Influenza, or the flu, is a viral infection affecting the respiratory tract, including the nose, throat and lungs. Influenza is not triggered by the same virus that causes the "stomach flu," which is an infection in the digestive system. Initially, the flu may feel like a common cold. However, the flu tends to come on suddenly and with more severe symptoms, whereas a cold generally develops slowly.
Additional common signs and symptoms of the flu include a fever over 100 F, aching muscles, chills and sweats, headache, dry cough, fatigue, weakness and nasal congestion. The flu and its complications can be deadly. People at higher risk include young children, older adults, pregnant women, and those with weak immune systems or chronic illnesses.
The best defense against influenza is prevention by getting an annual flu vaccination. For the unlucky ones who've contracted the flu this year, there are a few steps to take to combat the symptoms, including getting plenty of rest and taking in a lot of fluids. In some cases, a doctor may prescribe an antiviral medication such as Tamiflu.
To effectively address the achiness associated with the flu, an over-the-counter pain reliever such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen will help. It's important to remember to never give aspirin to children or teens due to the risk of a rare, but potentially fatal disease called Reye's Syndrome.
"There's a wide selection of over-the-counter treatments available to help ease the symptoms of the common cold or flu," says Dr. Mark Armstrong, a physician with more than 26 years in family practice medicine. "In fact, I recommend many of the 'store-brand' cold and flu medications at leading retailers and pharmacies, such as Tussin cough syrups and effervescent cold relief tablets. These products are regulated by the FDA and use the same active ingredients, but cost significantly less than the brand names."
Allegan, Mich.-based Perrigo is a pharmaceutical company that manufactures and distributes most of the over-the-counter medications sold under store-brand labels at leading national retailers, club stores, grocers and pharmacies. According to Perrigo, these products are the primary treatments available over-the-counter for cold and flu symptoms:
"If you continue to experience cold or flu symptoms for a prolonged period of time, or your respiratory symptoms have worsened and you have difficulty breathing, I suggest scheduling an appointment with your doctor immediately, so he or she may evaluate you and suggest the best course of treatment for your situation," Armstrong says.
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