“Consumers are being more pro-active about their health,” says Michele Merhib, certified massage therapist and founder of Elements Therapeutic Massage, a national franchise with more than 85 studios. “And they are realizing that getting a professional massage—with the right therapist—can help keep their immune system up and running throughout cold and flu season.”

Post editors talked to the massage professional about turning to the relaxing technique for better health.

What does science say about the benefits of massage in besting colds and flu?

Recently, a study at Cedar-Sinai hospital evaluated 59 clients who received a 45-minute massage while connected to a lot of equipment. In the end, they discovered that a single massage resulted in significant biological changes: it decreased the stress hormone cortisol, increased production of lymphocytes (an important facet of the immune system response), and boosted levels of oxytocin, a hormone associated with a feeling of contentment.

What do your clients say about the benefits of massage?

Clients notice that regular massage at home or in a studio helps reduce colds and flu and improves overall health. For example, those who typically get a massage every 4^th week say they feel sluggish by the end of week 5 if they miss a session. They also report that regular massage helps them sleep better.

Is any one type of massage particularly effective?

Research shows that hands-on bodywork increases circulation and promotes health—whether that touch is light, or deep. What matters most, then, is identifying the pressure that works for your body. If it’s too deep, you won’t enjoy the massage or reap its benefits.

Can you suggest a massage technique to perform at home?

I’ll give you two! One technique massages the hand with the eraser-end of a pencil. The other uses a tennis or golf ball to rub the feet.

For Hands:

1. Turn palm up. With the eraser of a #2 pencil, apply pressure in a small circular motion at base of the thumb.
2. Repeat at base of each finger. Continue to work down the lateral, or pinkie-side, of the hand.
3. Travel twice around each hand.

For Feet: Reflexology teaches that points on the feet connect to the chest and lungs, so this technique may be especially good for avoiding colds and flu.

1. Sit comfortably on chair or couch and place tennis or golf ball near your feet.
2. Roll foot over ball, moving back and forth and side to side to cover the entire sole. Repeat with other foot. Apply enough pressure to feel a substantial, but not painful, massage. Ease up just before reaching the “hurts-so-good” threshold. As an alternative, cross the right leg over the left one. With your left hand, roll ball over right foot. Repeat on other side.
3. Set aside ball. Use hands to massage each toe from base to tip.

Can you offer tips to finding the right massage therapist?

First, start your search on websites affiliated with the American Massage Therapy Association and the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork, especially if interested in a particular technique. These national organizations provide continuing education and liability insurance to its members as well as resources for the public.

Then, before scheduling your massage, set up a meeting to describe what’s going on in your body. You want to find a therapist who fits your needs. If you have back pain, for example, you want someone with knowledge and experience in that area.

Finally, try a half-hour massage session to gauge the therapist’s touch and communication style. Questions to consider include: Are they talking too much? Are they addressing the areas that most affect me? Do they even ask?

Remember that you don’t have to visit the same therapist. Personally, the one I choose for relaxation is not same person I see to get the knot out of my shoulder.

Part of what makes my business successful is that each Elements studio has 15-20 therapists on staff.  We are going to find a therapist who can meet a particular need.

“We have one and one-third million survey responses in our database waiting to be mined,” says Professor John Oxford, chairman of the Hygiene Council and lead investigator of the Lysol-funded study.

Current analysis shows that, among 12,000 responders from 12 countries, adults who felt embarrassed after sneezing or coughing on others were most likely to be free of colds. Why? Researchers found that those who respect the health of others are more apt to wash their hands frequently and generally protect themselves.

“Furthermore, we found that if considerate people do get infected, they are less likely to pass along germs than others who are generally less thoughtful,” explains Dr. Oxford. “There are three layers of protection to ward off spreading illnesses at home. First: vaccines. Second: antiviral or antibiotic drugs. Third, and perhaps most important, is breaking the chain of infection with good hand washing and use of disinfectants.”

In the study, stay-at-home moms took top honors for manners and hygiene. Students and office workers ranked lowest. But there’s room for improvement in all sectors, says Oxford.

“We’d like to see 80 percent of a population using good hygiene habits, and no country is at that mark,” adds the expert. “This is a big threat to public health. The good news is that people can change their habits. We learned to use seat belts, and we can adopt—and teach—better hygiene habits, too.”

Click here for tips on where, when, and how to disinfect.

Peppermint’s potent aroma is a great afternoon pick-me-up, while its distinctive cooling sensation eases pain when applied to the skin, according to the expert. Alternatively, drops of the essential oil can be added to tea or water to support digestion. Peppermint oil capsules and tablets are also sold in online and retail stores.

Post editors asked Goebel-Angel about buying—and taking advantage of—the healing herb. Always check with your doctor when starting a new treatment.

Where can you get therapeutic peppermint essential oil and how can consumers identify the best product?

Quality is always important when using essential oils to achieve therapeutic results, rather than to simply enjoy the fragrance.  First, look at stores for AFNOR-grade oils. These products meet a set of standards set in Europe by AFNOR (Association French Normalization Organization Regulation) and help buyers differentiate between therapeutic-grade essential oils and lower grade oils.

Then, read the ingredient list. Most essential oils have added artificial scents, fillers or preservatives.  One brand that does not is Young Living (YL)—a top, if not the best, brand in the world. Because YL oils are so therapeutic, training must be done in order to understand their uses and contraindications.  As a result, you cannot find them in stores. Young Living experts can be found online or locally, if you ask around.

How can people use peppermint oil for health?

Here are three benefits of peppermint, and how to reap them:

1. An organic mental energizer. To enhance focus and clarity, place a drop of oil on the nape of the neck and around the temples, inhale oil directly, or use a diffuser and take in its aroma daily.
2. A natural analgesic. To ease joint or muscle pain, rub a drop on the sore areas. For headache or migraine pain, place a drop on the temples or nape of neck.
3. A digestive aid. To relieve diarrhea, bloating or gas, directly rub one or two drops on abdomen in a clockwise motion. For an upset stomach or heartburn, place a drop in water and drink.  For nausea related to pregnancy* or cancer care, inhale daily, diffuse, or place a drop in water and drink.

*Pregnant women should consult with an expert before using any essential oils.

What precautions should people keep in mind when taking peppermint?

It’s always best to work with an expert when using powerful essential oils. For most people, small doses of peppermint are fine to take with prescriptions or OTC meds. Important precautions include: Avoid contact with eyes, sensitive skin, fresh wounds or burns.  If a skin reaction should occur, use a carrier oil (such as almond or coconut oil) to dilute the affected area. Do not wash with water and soap. Begin slowly, as overuse can create heartburn.  Do not apply to infants under 18 months of age.

What qualifies peppermint to be called the “world’s first medicine?”

Peppermint, a natural hybrid of water mint (Mentha aquatica) and spearmint (Mentha spicata), was first cultivated in England in the late seventeenth century. However, the herb has been used as a remedy for indigestion since Ancient Egyptian times. In fact, dried peppermint leaves were found in Egyptian pyramids dating back to 1000 B.C. The ancient Greeks and Romans valued the herb as a stomach soother. During the eighteenth century, peppermint became popular in Western Europe as a folk remedy for nausea, vomiting, morning sickness, respiratory infections, and menstrual disorders.  Due to its hardy nature and growth around the world, peppermint was readily available and provided quick relief for common ailments.

1.  Make returning war veterans feel at home.  Simple home modifications—like installing exterior lighting or widening doorways—can enhance the comfort and security of returning soldiers, especially if they suffer from vision loss or post-traumatic stress or use a wheelchair, says Danise Levine, director of UB’s Center for Inclusive Design and Environmental Access. Levine helped design two homes for veterans and their families through the Wounded Warrior Home Project.

2.  Floss every day to protect against pneumonia and heart disease. Good oral hygiene may help prevent pneumonia and heart disease, according to two researchers. Professor of medicine, Ali A. El Solh, MD, indicates that periodontal microbes are a possible reservoir for recurrent lower respiratory tract infections in nursing home residents. And research done by Distinguished Professor and Vice Provost Robert J. Genco, DDS, shows a strong association between periodontal microbes and non-fatal heart attacks.

3. To lose weight, eat the same foods over and over. Variety may be the spice of life but it’s no good for your waistline, according to Leonard Epstein, PhD, professor of pediatrics and social and preventive medicine. In a study, he found that when women ate as many servings of macaroni and cheese as they wanted every day for five days, they reduced their intake by 30 calories. On the other hand, women who ate macaroni and cheese just once a week for five weeks increased their intake by 100 calories. Epstein said that the first group reduced their intake because of “habituation.”  In other words, repetition may discourage overeating.

4.  Be a humble leader, and be more effective in the workplace. Humble leaders are more effective and better liked in the workplace, according to research by Bradley Owens, PhD, assistant professor of organization and human resources in the UB School of Management.  ”Admitting mistakes, spotlighting follower strengths and modeling teachability are the core of humble leadership. These three behaviors are powerful predictors of the leader’s personal growth, as well as the organization’s growth,” explains Owens, who interviewed leaders at military, manufacturing, health care, financial services, retailing and religious organizations.

5.  Talk to your child about bullying. A number of bullying cases made major news last year, followed by many well-meaning calls for new laws and programs. Sometimes the most important thing parents can do is have a conversation with their child about bullying, says researcher Amanda Nickerson, PhD, director of UB’s Jean M. Alberti Center for the Prevention of Bullying Abuse and School Violence. “Ask explicitly if there is bullying at school, and then listen and empathize when they tell their stories,” she says. “Kids are more aware of the peer culture and the culture of the school to know what will make it worse and what will make it better.”

6. Read more fantasy to combat loneliness. Reading fantasies like the popular Twilight vampire series or the Harry Potter collection of novels helps to satisfy a need for human connection, according to the research of associate professor of psychology Shira Gabriel, PhD, and graduate student Ariana Young.   When we become engrossed in fictional narratives we feel close to others in the comfort of our own space and at our own convenience, their research shows.  ”In our subjects, this led to a reported increase in life satisfaction and positive mood, which are two primary outcomes of belonging,” Gabriel says.

7.  For better health, reflect on the things that give your life meaning. Feelings of spirituality or religiosity appear to offer protection against emotional distress and physical ailments, according to the research of Michael J. Poulin, PhD, assistant professor of psychology. Poulin studied people’s response to the traumatic events of 9/11 and found those who had a personal commitment to spiritual or religious beliefs were in better health than those in the study who expressed no religious or spiritual proclivities.

8.  Maintain separate email accounts to avoid being scammed. Having separate accounts for work and personal email helps you more easily sort through cluttered inboxes and focus on the details of email. This reduces the likelihood of being deceived by online scammers phishing for personal and financial information, according to the research of Arun Vishwanath, PhD, associate professor of communication, and H. Raghav Rao, PhD, SUNY Distinguished Service Professor in the UB School of Management.

9.  Teach math to your toddler for academic success through high school. Very young children have the potential to learn math that is complex and sophisticated, according to the research of professors Doug Clements, PhD, and Julie Sarama, PhD. Preschool children’s knowledge of mathematics predicts their later school success into high school. Further, it predicts later reading achievement.  Clements’ and Sarama’s pre-kindergarten Building Blocks project helps children “mathematize” their everyday activities, from building blocks to art and stories to puzzles and games.

10.  Be nice to nurses—they may save your life. According to the Institute of Medicine, nurses are the health-care professionals most likely to intercept and prevent medical mistakes, says assistant professor of nursing Sharon Hewner, PhD, RN.  Hewner developed a new patient-safety course to teach nursing students how to spot and prevent potential medical errors.  She hopes the course will be emulated and rolled out at nursing schools nationwide.

The University at Buffalo is a premier research-intensive public university, a flagship institution in the State University of New York system and its largest and most comprehensive campus. UB’s more than 28,000 students pursue their academic interests through more than 300 undergraduate, graduate and professional degree programs. Founded in 1846, the University at Buffalo is a member of the Association of American Universities.

Give your skin the respect it deserves with these simple precautions:

1. Eat well. Indulging in fatty and sugary foods affects your skin as well as your waistline. “Consuming unhealthy foods can fill you with empty calories, which leave your skin with fewer nutrients,” says David Butler, M.D., professor of internal medicine at the Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine. “Watch what you eat, and also remember to take your vitamins. Taking a multivitamin can supplement unhealthy food choices that lack nutrients.”

2. Move more; stress less. Schedule 20 to 30 minutes of exercise every day. “Stress increases circulating glucocorticosteroids that can lead to hormonally-driven acne flare ups,” Dr. Butler says. “Exercise reduces stress and can prevent breakouts.”

3. Drink up. “Cold and dry winter air can dehydrate your skin and leave it dull looking,” Dr. Butler says. “Remember to drink at least 64 ounces of water every day to keep skin supple and flush out toxins that can leave your skin looking drab.”

Finally, treat your skin gently. To retain the oil your skin needs, use mild soap, shave carefully, wash with warm water, and pat dry.

Clinical studies prove that light box therapy helps about eight in ten people with winter depression. The condition, also known as seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is characterized by oversleeping, fatigue, change in appetite, and feelings of hopelessness. These symptoms often improve within days or weeks of daily 30-minute, early morning light therapy sessions.

Individuals sit a couple feet away from a light box equipped with diffusing screen and special bulbs while reading, doing a hobby, or eating a meal. How does it work? There are lots of theories, but little clear evidence.

“Exposing the eyes to indirect bright light changes blood levels of melatonin that may reset the body’s internal clock and improve symptoms,” says psychiatrist and author Stephanie Mullany. “Is it hormones? Nerves? It’s like a pile of pick-up sticks, and we have much to learn.”

Light therapy boxes for winter depression are available without a prescription at drug, hardware, and online stores. The units are considered safe for easing mild symptoms in most adults—the main exception being those who take medicines that make the skin especially sensitive to light. (See “Before You Buy” for shopping tips.)

People with any type of depression should always talk to a qualified health professional about treatment and prevention options, including antidepressant medications and talk therapy.

Stephanie Mullany, M.D. is author of Give and Take: A Roadmap to Understanding a Psychiatrist copyright 2011, published by iUniverse, Bloomington, Indiana.

Breakfast: Start the day with omega-3s, fiber, and antioxidants from a steaming bowl of oatmeal sprinkled with blueberries and walnuts.

Lunch: Get energized with healthy fats and vitamins from canned or grilled salmon (the wild variety has less contaminants than its farmed counterpart) and an avocado salad topped with extra virgin olive oil.

Dinner: Savor an edamame appetizer (with soy to lower cholesterol). For the main event, take your choice of grilled chicken or scallops (low in saturated fat) set off with non-fat, plain Greek yogurt (twice the protein of ordinary yogurt) on a baked sweet potato (high in vitamin C and potassium), and a spinach salad (for vitamin A, calcium, and iron) sprinkled with almond bits (for B vitamins, zinc, and selenium). Chase with red wine and finish with a piece of dark chocolate for a generous dose of plant chemicals for better blood pressure and circulation.

Douglas P. Zipes, M.D., an internationally acclaimed cardiologist, professor, author, and inventor, is an authority on pacing and electrophysiology (rhythms of the heart).

“Toys can be a lot more dangerous than parents think,” said Fast. “Young children can choke on toys with small parts and fall from even non-motorized scooters or riding toys.”

According to the Toy Industry Association, toys generated nearly $21 billion in sales in 2010. Many of those purchases came during the Christmas season. But no matter when they are purchased, toys can be hazardous. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) reports that, during that same year, 181,500 children under the age of 15 were treated in emergency rooms for toy-related injuries. There were also 17 toy-related deaths.

“This time of year, people love to buy toys for the kids to open up,” explains Dr. Pamela McCullough, a pediatric nurse practitioner and the director of the nursing program at Stratford University’s Woodbridge campus. “But placing an emphasis on safety has to be a top priority. It is important for anyone purchasing toys to take the time to minimize risks.”

Snow shoveling quickens heartbeat, dilates blood vessels, and boosts stress hormones. All these factors can combine to cause a heart attack in people with heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, or who smoke.

Before grabbing your snow shovel, Indiana University Health cardiologists recommend training your heart for safe shoveling with daily aerobic exercise. Simple steps include parking farther away from the front door or taking the stairs in lieu of the elevator. It’s akin to getting ready for a marathon: strengthening the heart before the snow flies equips it to handle the future stress of heavy shoveling.

“People often shrug off concerns about the flu, yet every year it strikes up to 20 percent of Americans, sending more than 200,000 to the hospital and killing thousands,” said Thomas G. Slama, MD, president of the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) and clinical professor of medicine at the Indiana University School of Medicine. “The vaccine is widely available and there are several different ways to receive it, so options for protecting yourself and your children are plentiful.”

Vaccination is especially important for young children, pregnant women, seniors, and people with chronic health conditions such as asthma, diabetes or heart and lung disease. In addition, IDSA supports mandatory immunization of healthcare workers to protect vulnerable patients from the potentially deadly but preventable flu.

“The flu shot is like the seat belt—it’s easy to use and protects against serious complications, even if the protection is not perfect,” said Andrew T. Pavia, MD, chair of IDSA’s Pandemic Influenza Task Force and chief of the division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, University of Utah, Salt Lake City. “Last year, during a relatively mild flu season, we treated very severe complications of the flu in otherwise healthy teenagers. So, just as everyone uses seat belts, everybody, even healthy people, should get the flu vaccine.”

In addition to the regular shot, several variations of flu vaccination are available, including, for the first time, the new intradermal shot. The intradermal shot uses a tiny needle—90 percent smaller than that used for the regular flu shot – that is injected into the skin, not the muscle. This year, the traditional shot also is available in high-dose form for people 65 years or older. Healthy children and adults ages two to 49 who are not pregnant also can opt for the nasal-spray form of vaccination.

The flu vaccine is available at pharmacies, doctor’s offices, health clinics and retail stores. Despite its wide availability, only 42 percent of Americans were vaccinated during the previous flu season, according to the CDC.

For more information about influenza, visit the IDSA web site.

“If you feel your heart consistently skip a beat over time, or experience chest pains, palpitations, dizziness, or fainting, you may have an abnormal heart rhythm linked to atrial fibrillation and should seek medical help,” advises Dr. Bruce L. Wilkoff, President of the Heart Rhythm Society (HRS).

Atrial Fibrillation. Image courtesy of the Heart Rhythm Society

Causes of AF

Reversible triggers: Overactive thyroid, heart attack, recent cardiac surgery, smoking, and sleep apnea. Additionally, a weekend of excess alcohol consumption can set off transient AF, or “holiday heart.”

Other risk factors: Diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, and being over 60.

One in four cases occurs with no known cause.

Why AF is Serious
Left untreated, AF carries an increased long-term risk of stroke and heart failure, especially in women.

Treatments for AF
Prescription medicines such as beta blockers to control the heart rate.

Anticoagulants such as warfarin (Coumadin) or dabigatran (Pradaxa) to stave off stroke.

Success rates of ablation, or burning specific areas of the heart responsible for the arrhythmia, depend on the type of AF, the patient’s overall health, and the physician’s expertise.

The nutritional numbers speak for themselves: one medium sweet potato provides 40 percent of the recommended daily allowance of vitamin C to fight off colds and flu viruses and vitamin D for bones and a healthy immune system. Plus, when eaten with the skin, it has more fiber than oatmeal. The colorful and creamy food is also low in fat and a good source of protein and calcium.

“For an entire year, I painted an apple a day to help raise awareness and funds for the Spondylitis Association of America—and just to have fun! Apples symbolize that health and healing are possible despite dealing with a difficult and painful disease,” explains Visscher, who is one of approximately 2.4 million Americans living with AS.

AS can’t keep Jenna down.  She is a power writer for The Fight Like a Girl Club and WEGOHealth.com, and her daily blog, “The Feeding Edge,” urges people to “Be part of the Story, Be part of the Cure!”

“It’s common to see a spike in the fall,” he explains. “Exposure to moldy leaves on the ground and changes in the weather conditions increase inflammation of the airways and trigger symptoms in people who are susceptible to asthma or allergies.”

And Halloween traditions such as wearing costumes and trick-or-treating for candy present a set of “particularly troublesome concerns” for asthma and allergy sufferers, adds Dr. Wilson. Old costumes pulled out of storage can be laden with dust mites, new ones might have “tricky” materials, or that delicious new candy could contain an ingredient that suddenly triggers an attack.

Here’s Dr. Wilson’s bag of tricks for celebrating a safe and enjoyable Halloween with your favorite little goblins:

Wear the Right Costume

1. Reuse or recyle hand-me-down costumes. But first wash in soapy, hot water to get rid of dust mites that linger in the fabric.
2. Beware of the glitter. Shiny costumes and accessories (belts, crowns, swords, etc.) might contain nickel, a common allergy and asthma trigger.
3. Check labels on face makeup and paint. Some preservatives in these products may cause allergic reactions. Test it out on a small area of skin before applying it more generally.

Pick the Right Candy

1. Head to the hard candy. It’s generally less likely to trigger allergy symptoms than other types of candy.
2. Avoid known triggers. Peanuts and tree nuts are absolutely off limits for some. Chocolate candy can also set off life-threatening flare-ups in kids with allergies to milk or eggs.
3. Don’t go gooey. Gelatin is a less-common trigger, but it’s in many Halloween treats (think Gummy Bears and other chewy candies).

Post: What’s the difference between PRK and LASIK?

Price: Both improve vision by reshaping the eye’s covering or cornea with a cool ultraviolet light beam. The difference lies in how the surgeon reaches the inner layer of the cornea in order to treat it. PRK involves removing tiny bits of the cornea’s top surface that gradually grow back. With LASIK, surgeons make a corneal flap that can be repositioned after treatment. LASIK is the more comfortable and convenient option. But when a thin cornea rules out LASIK, PRK is often the treatment of choice.

Post: How do newer lens implants work?

Price: Standard lens implants such as those used in cataract surgery replace the eye’s natural lens. But the implantable contact lens (ICL), or Visian lens, leaves the crystalline lens in place. ICLs are situated in front of or behind the colored part of the eye and can be removed if necessary.

Post: Who is a good candidate for an ICL?

Price: ICLs are especially beneficial for those with moderate to severe astigmatism or nearsightedness. For instance, research shows that ICLs provide better visual acuity than LASIK for people who can only read the top few lines of an eye chart. These lenses are also excellent options for those with very dry eyes that can worsen after laser surgery, and when the cornea is too thin for LASIK, which, as mentioned, requires making a flap in corneal tissue.

Post: Does vision-correcting surgery offer more than an improved appearance and convenience?

Price: Certainly. LASIK and lens implants improve functional vision compared to glasses and contacts, especially when people engage in outdoor activities or exercise. Safety is another big plus of “unaided” visual correction because people don’t need to change and clean their contacts—not just when camping, but in day-to-day living. Additionally, people who require thick lenses due to severe astigmatism often experience less visual distortion with these surgeries than with glasses or contacts.

Post: What about cost and insurance coverage?

Price: The costs of PRK and LASIK are similar and some policies offer partial coverage. ICLs run about $2000 more, an amount generally paid out-of-pocket. Most practices offer payment plans.

Of course, do your homework. Talk to friends who had vision correction. And before scheduling your procedure, ask your surgeon how often he or she has done it.

Francis Price, M.D., is medical director of Price Vision Group in Indianapolis and founder of the Cornea Research Foundation of America (cornea.org).

In the study, six healthy but overweight men ate a dinner of coconut chicken, white rice, cheese bread, and a dessert biscuit. Then, after at least a week, they dined on chicken curry, Italian herb bread, and a cinnamon biscuit. Blood tests before and after the meals found the spicier meal reduced insulin and triglyceride levels—but not glucose. Researchers believe that phenol compounds in the spices accounted for the metabolic benefits.

Sheila West, PhD, of Penn State University, and colleagues reported their findings online in the Journal of Nutrition.

But with so many face-cleansing products now on the market, it’s little wonder that many people are doing unnecessary harm to their skin, say board-certified physicians of New York-based Advanced Dermatology and the Center for Laser and Cosmetic Surgery. Restore simplicity and common sense to face cleansing by following their kinder, gentler approach.

Where We Go Wrong

“The most common mistake we make is to over-wash, over-scrub and over-dry our faces,” says Dr. Meryl Blecker Joerg. “Daily cleansing is important, but facial skin has fewer layers than skin on most other areas of the body. As a result, it is more easily damaged.”

Using the wrong product is another big no-no, adds Dr. Valerie Goldburt, who explains people tend to be “overly aggressive” by using one or more products that may be too harsh for their skin.

How to Do it Right

Cleanse face twice daily with warm water if you have oily or normal skin, or once a day if skin is dry or damaged, advises Dr. Joerg. “I recommend washes (not scrubs) with salicylic acid. Scrubs can break up acne and cause scarring.”

“Only use bar soap, gel, or liquid cleanser that is formulated for use on your face—not on your body,” cautions Dr. Goldburt.

In general, use a mild moisturizing cleanser that removes oil and residue without leaving skin dry, tight, or flaky. Foaming facial cleansers that work into a lather and rinse off often leave the face refreshed; they come as lotions, gels, creams, and aerosols. Bar-type products for the face may be labeled beauty bars, facial soap, mild cleansing bars, or sensitive skin bars. Opt for deodorant-, fragrance- or antiseptic-free products.

“Beautiful skin is healthy skin,” Dr. Goldburt reminds us. “While it’s important to maintain a high-quality skin care regimen, it’s equally important to maintain good nutrition, drink plenty of water, eliminate skin-damaging habits like smoking, and avoid excessive sun exposure. Also don’t forget your sunscreen; your skin will reward you for it!”

In the Stanford University study, 30 percent of nearly 1,400 patients who came in for an X-ray of their cardiac arteries reported being sedentary with no lifetime recreational activity. Subsequent findings published online in the Journal of Vascular Surgery reveal that these individuals were nearly twice as likely to have clogged vessels in their legs as those who reported the most active lives.

More activity was more protective, but even light exercise, such as an evening stroll, was enough to protect the heart—and the legs—from problems later on, said Dr. John Cooke and his group.

So, get up and get moving! Walk, bike, or hike on local nature trails, in your neighborhood, or at the mall. Join a bocce or bowling league. Do some raking and weeding on nice days or offer to do yard work for others.

“Just get moving,” urges Dr. Tyler Cooper, CEO of Cooper Aerobics Enterprises in the July 2010 Post article “Get Out, Get Fit.” “Being active most days of the week in some form or fashion will really pay dividends in the long run.”

Tell us about your active lifestyle in the comments section below!

CPAP therapy “works wonderfully” to keep air flowing to the lungs, the expert continues. “But it’s no better than a coin toss as to whether someone will use it as recommended or end up with a very expensive paperweight. That’s why we are doing all this research: to find the best, safest, and least painful solutions.”

The research that Dr. Huntley is referring to currently centers on two new ways to keep the airway open: a pacemaker-like device called the hypoglossal nerve stimulator that moves the tongue slightly forward with each breath during sleep and is about “two years from primetime”, and robotic surgery to precisely shave away extra tissue that gained FDA approval in December 2010. Here’s more about promising therapies.

Implanted Pacing Device

“As a surgeon, I want to treat sleep apnea effectively and also compassionately,” says Dr. Huntley. “Hypoglossal nerve stimulation (HNS) is exciting to me because, unlike the surgeries we do now for sleep apnea, it’s potentially an outpatient procedure, it causes minimal pain, and it offers long-term effectiveness.”

Similar to the way cardiac pacemakers stimulate the heart muscle, HNS triggers tongue muscles to pull away from the back of the throat when the person inhales during sleep.

Here’s how: A pulse generator with two wires is implanted over the right chest. One wire goes over the ribcage to sense respirations. The other travels into the neck and fits around the hypoglossal nerve that controls tongue movement. When the system senses breathing, it stimulates the tongue to pull away.

“An intriguing finding is that hypoglossal nerve stimulation affects not only the tongue, but, in the best-treated patients, also seems to pull the soft palette forward and open up the rest of the throat, treating the problem on two fronts,” says Dr. Huntley.”

So what’s next? Two companies are conducting clinical trials on a nerve stimulator for sleep apnea: Inspire Medical Systems, Inc., and Apnex Medical, Inc., where Dr. Huntley is a medical advisor but not an investor. On August 2, Apnex received the go-ahead for its pivotal study at a dozen sites in the U.S., Europe, and Australia. If all goes as anticipated, their device will hit the market in fall or winter of 2013.

Click here for clinical trial updates, purpose, eligibility, locations, and contacts.

Robotic Surgery

Doctors are also treating sleep apnea by removing tonsils and excess tissue with a type of robotic surgery approved in December 2010 and typically used to remove cancerous growths at the back of the throat.

In robotic procedures, surgeons peer at high-definition images to remotely control instruments much smaller and more dexterous than human hands, notes Dr. Huntley. “It’s the best way we have to remove tissue precisely and less invasively and I believe there’s a definite place for it in the treatment sleep apnea. We’re just trying to figure out its role.

“Again, if we knew the hands-down best approach for treating sleep apnea, we wouldn’t be looking at all these approaches. Do we pull the jaw forward? Do we pull the tongue forward, move it, or hook up a nerve stimulator to it? Is some combination of the above? We just don’t have the full answer yet, but we’re definitely working on it.”

But here’s the good news. Researchers have pinpointed genetic mutations in patients with BE, EAC, or both. Because the changes are unique—none were found in individuals without esophageal disease—the findings could someday improve detection and save lives.

”In the future, finding genetic mutations will allow doctors to determine who is at risk for BE and EAC,” said Charis Eng, M.D., Ph.D., Chair and Founding Director of the Genomic Medicine Institute of Lerner Research Institute at Cleveland Clinic. “These represent new tools to empower patients and their physicians to begin increased clinical screening and, thus, preempt esophageal cancer from developing.”

The study, published in the July 27, 2011 issue of The Journal of the American Medical Association and led by Dr. Eng, was conducted from 2005 to 2010 at 16 institutions across the United States and involved 298 participants with BE, EAC, or both.

Utilizing the latest in genomics approaches and state-of-the art technology along with functional genomic validation, the group identified mutations in three genes—MSR1, ASCC1, and CTHRC1—in 11 percent of the study participants, indicative of a significant genetic predisposition. Mutations in MSR1 were the most common, affecting seven percent of the patients studied.

Geneticists explain that identifying predisposition genes also gives valuable insight into how the disease occurs. Preliminary evidence from this study suggests a role for specific molecular pathways, including inflammation, in the development of BE/EAC as well as a potential link of the mutated genes to additional cancers.

“We are absolutely thrilled to now know three distinct genes that link to BE/EAC,” said Dr. Eng. “This is essential for improving risk assessment, disease management, and saving lives.”

BE is related to gastroesophageal reflux disease. At present, no one can predict which patients with BE will develop esophageal cancer. Although the risk is low in most cases, cancer experts recommend that all BE patients undergo periodic exams to find and remove precancerous cells in the esophagus.