The Tassel is Worth the Hassle

Sleep-deprived people eat more because they’re hungrier, they’re awake longer and they may be tempted by foods everywhere they go. "The less slepp you get, the more likely you are to head to the kitchen after wake up," explains Michaud. She cites a study out of Arkansas that found that less than a week after getting two extra hours of sleep a night, formerly sleep-deprived people reduced their usual caloric intake by roughly 300 calories a day.

But it’s not  a  matter of just spending some time between the sheets. Not getting seven to eight hours of quality sleep a night rises a person’s chance of becoming obese by 27 percent, explains Dr. Jacob Teitelbaum of the Fibromyalgia and Fatigue Centers in Maryland, which studies chrinic syndromes.

So what can you do than count sheep? Start a sleep diet! Experts say that adopting certain de-stressing habits — like taking an hour to relax in the evening and avoiding caffeine and exercise before bedtime — is the key to a better night’s sleep and a better body. "The studies are consistet," says Michaud. "It doesn’t seem to matter if you’re 4 or 40, male or female — less sleep means more weight."

Snooze and you’ll lose– researchers now believe quality sleep could be the key to shedding unwanted pounds. Skimping on z’s may hurt peoples ability to lose weight (even if they’re dieting and exercising religiously) and may cause the body to pack on pounds. A Harvard study over a 16-year period found that woman who slept five or fewer hours a night were 32 percent more likely to gain 30 pounds or more than women who slept seven hours a night.

"if you’re watching your weight, getting a good seven hours of sleep a night gives your efforts a big boost," says Ellen Michaud, author of Sleep to Be Sexy, Smart and Slim.

The science is surprisingly simple: The amount of sleep influences the production of two important weight-regulating hormones — leptin and ghrelin, which control feelings of hunger and fullness. "Those who sleep less tend to produce lower levels of leptin, which suppresses appetite," she says. "And they produce higher levels of ghrelin, which stimulates appetite."

If your birth control method failed Be Calm.

Sometimes things don’t go exactly as planned. You should know there’s a backup plan. What it is. Plan B is emergency contraception. It helps prevent pregnancy after birth control failure or unprotected sex. What it isn’t. Plan B is not regular birth control and should not be used that way. It simply isn’t as effective. Also Plan B is not the abortion pill. Where you get it. If you’re 18 or over, you don’t need a prescription. Go directly to the pharmacy. If you’re under 18, you’ll need to see a healthcare professional. When you take it. You have a 72-hour window to prevent pregnancy. The sooner you take Plan B, the more effective it is. When taken as directed, Plan B reduces the chance of pregnancy by up to 89%. Take the first pil as soon as possible after unprotected sex, and the second pill 12 hours later. Learn more at 1-800-330-1271 or go2planb.com.

What you should know about Plan B. Plan B does not protect against HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Plan B isn’t effective if you’re already pregnant, and it won’t terminate an existing pregnancy. Side effects may include nausea, abdominal pain, fatigue, headache, changes in your period, dizziness, and breast tenderness. If your period is more than a week late, you may be pregnant. If you have severe abdominal pain, you may have an ectopic pregnany, and should get immediate medical help. Please see important product information on adjacent page. You are encourage to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA at fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Marna Davenport, a teacher from South Carolina, suffered treatment-resistant depression for over 20 years. "I didn’t know how much longer I could go on," she says.. "I had battled the disease so long and I was tired." So she jumped at the chance to join a trial of Cyberonics VNS Therapy, an electronic device surgically implanted in the chest. It sends mild electrical pulses to the vagus nerve in the neck, which helps regulate heartbeat and breathing. The stimulation seems to lift mood.

VNS (vagus nerve stimulation) has long been used to stop epileptic seizures; when patients reported that it also eased depression, scientists put it to the test. It’s intended for people who have already tried drugs, counselling, even electric shock therapy, and is meant to be used with standard treatment, says Medical University of South Carolina neurologist Mark George, who has studied VNS.

A panel of experts recently recommended approval of VNS for depression; the final OK could come by year’s end. "I feel terrific," says Davenport. 

You get a headache, you take a painkiller and you feel better. For a hypochondriac, that’s just the beginning. Doctors can treat headaches, but they’ve had less success with hypochondria - until now.

Doctors at Brigham and Women’s Hospital recruited 187 hypochondriacs. One group got six counselling sessions to calm their reactions to their symptoms; the rest saw their doctors as usual. A year later, 57 per cent of those who got therapy had fewer symptoms and anxiety; just 32 per cent of others did.

Cod Liver on probably brings back memories of Mum force-feeding you the foul-tasting stuff to keep you healthy. Now, it turns out the oil may have some benefit - for adults with osteoarthritis. Researchers at Cardiff University in Wales gave cod liver oil supplements to arthritic people awaiting knee-joint replacement surgery. After ten to 14 weeks, 86 per cent had significantly reduced levels of aggrecanase and collagenase, enzymes known to cause cartilage damage.

While the researchers don’t know exactly how it works, they suspect the omega-3 fatty slow down the damaging  effects of arthritis, but until further research confirms this, eating foods rich in omega-3s (fatty fish such as salmon) or taking cod liver oil capsules won’t hurt you, and may help ease the condition.

Cataracts are a major cause of blindness with an estimated 20 million people worldwide blinded by the disease. Cortical cataracts, a clouding of the outer layer of the lens, are known to be associated with sun damage in adulthood. But the more common form, nuclear cataracts - which account for about 80 per cent of all cases - affect the centre of the lens. They were thought to be a part of natural ageing but now researchers in Australia think they may be preventable. A study led by Professor Adele Green at the Queensland Institute of Medical Research compared the lifetime sun exposure of 195 nuclear cataract sufferers with a control group of 159 patients. The results, published in the journal Epidemiology, suggest that the risk of developing nuclear cataracts was greatest among patients who had high exposure to sun before the age of 30.

Everyone has bad breath now and again. But there are many misconceptions about its causes and treat ments, according to the Singapore Health Promotion Bord.

Myth 1: It’s easy to tell if your breath smells. Actually, we can’t smell our own breath because we become accustomed to it. 

Myth 2: Bad breath comes from the stomach. In fact, it usually comes from the back of the mouth.

Myth 3: Brushing your teeth will eliminate bad breath. The problem often comes from  bacteria deep within crevices on the back of the tongue that can’t be reached with a toothbrush.

Myth 4: Mouthwash can eliminate bad breath. Usually, mouthwash provides only temporary relief.

So how do you deal with bad breath? See a dentist and have your teeth cleaned. Also, drink plenty of liquids and don’t let your mouth go dry. When you brush, clean your tongue, particularly at the back.

Did you know your fingernails can alert you to a health problem? Here, says dermatologist Janis Campbell, are some signs and remedies:

Horizontal ridges. You could have a zinc deficiency. Take a multivitamin.

Splits or chips. You  may not be getting enough calcium.

Curled up. You lack iron.  Talk to your doctor about a blood test.

Yellowish green. It could be a fungus. Keep your nails out of water and see your doctor.

Also…Large blood vessels around the cuticle, and flat or two- toned nails , could be signs of conditions such as lupus or ki dney disease.