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Sleep Disorders Guide -webmd.com

Insomnia Medications
In some cases, doctors will prescribe medicines for the treatment of insomnia. All insomnia medications should be taken shortly before bed. Do not attempt to drive or perform other activities that require concentration after taking an insomnia medication as the medication will make you sleepy.

Medications should be used in combination with good sleep practices.

Medications Used to Treat Insomnia
Listed below are some medications commonly used to treat insomnia.


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Ambien: The original version of Ambien works well at helping you get to sleep, but some people tended to wake up in the middle of the night. Ambien CR is an extended release version. It helps you get to sleep within 15 to 30 minutes, and the new extended release portion helps you stay asleep. You should not take Ambien or Ambien CR unless you are able to get a full night’s sleep – at least 7 to 8 hours.
Lunesta: Lunesta also helps you fall asleep quickly, and studies show people sleep an average of 7 to 8 hours. Don’t take Lunesta unless you are able to get a full night’s sleep as it could cause grogginess.
Rozerem: This is a new sleep medication that works differently than the others. It works by targeting the sleep-wake cycle, not by causing central nervous system depression. It is prescribed for people who have difficulty falling asleep. Rozerem can be prescribed for long-term use and the medication has shown no evidence of abuse and dependence.
Sonata: Of all the new sleeping pills, Sonata stays active in the body for the shortest amount of time. That means you can try to fall asleep on your own. Then, if you're still staring at the clock at 2 a.m., you can take it without feeling drowsy in the morning. However, if you tend to wake during the night, this might not be the best choice for you.
Benzodiazepines: These older sleeping pills (Halcion, Restoril, and others) are useful when you want an insomnia medication that stays in your system longer. For instance, they have been effectively used to treat sleep problems such as sleepwalking and night terrors. However, these drugs may cause you to feel sleepy during the day and can also cause dependence, meaning you may always need the drug to sleep.
Antidepressants: Insomnia is a common symptom of depression. Thus, some antidepressant drugs, such as trazodone (Desyrel), are particularly effective in treating sleeplessness and anxiety that's caused by depression.
Over-the-Counter Sleep Aids: Most of these sleeping pills are antihistamines. They generally work well but can cause some drowsiness the next day. They're safe enough to be sold without a prescription. However, if you're taking other drugs that also contain antihistamines -- like cold or allergy medications -- you could inadvertently take too much.
In March 2007, the FDA issued warnings for prescription sleep drugs, alerting patients that they can cause rare allergic reactions and complex sleep-related behaviors, including “sleep driving.”

The FDA’s warnings include the following drugs:

Ambien/Ambien CR
Butisol Sodium
Carbrital
Dalmane
Doral
Halcion
Lunesta
Placidyl
Prosom
Restoril
Rozerem
Seconal
Sonata

10 Tricks to Avoid Halloween -webmd.com

Beware those empty calories in the Halloween candy jar.
By Kathleen M. Zelman, MPH, RD, LD
WebMD Weight Loss Clinic-FeatureReviewed by Louise Chang, MDHalloween unofficially marks the beginning of the holiday feasting season. And for anyone trying to watch his or her weight, the scariest part of Halloween is not ghosts and goblins but the ever-abundant Halloween candy. Sugar and mostly empty calories is what you get in candy, and the truth is that most of us don’t exercise enough to warrant those extra calories.

Those cute little fun-size candy bars seem harmless -- and they are, if you can limit your consumption. But that's easier said than done.

"All it takes is an additional 100 calories a day or the equivalent of one snack-sized chocolate bar and most adults will experience weight creep before they even know it," says Lona Sandon, MEd, RD, a spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association.
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When your cupboards are loaded with candy and the kids come home with bags full of even more treats, it's hard to resist. Many people try to lessen the temptation at home by bringing their extra candy into work, thus setting a high-calorie trap for their co-workers.

"Don’t get sucked into the 'see food diet' mentality that makes you want to eat the candy simply because you see it and not because you are hungry," says Brian Wansink, PhD, a Cornell researcher and author of Mindless Eating: Why We Eat More Than We Think. "We eat more of visible foods because it causes us to think about it more, and every time you see the candy bowl you have to decide whether ... you want a piece of candy or not.

"Simply thinking of food can make you hungry, so when you see or smell something associated with food, like the shiny foil-wrapped Kisses, it can actually make you salivate."

But there are ways to keep your hands out of the candy jar so you can avoid packing on some extra pounds even before the holiday season starts. Here are 10 expert tips to help you avoid the temptation of Halloween goodies, at home and at the office.

1.Buy candy you don’t love. If the candy in your pantry is stuff kids like but that you don’t enjoy, it will be easier to resist opening those bags and diving in. For most of us, that means anything but chocolate. "Sour candy, gummy-textured [candies], hard candies and the others that are not chocolate are lower in fat and calories and typically not the candy we overeat," says Sandon.
2.Out of sight, out of mind. Ask your co-workers to keep their candy jars and bowls inside their desks or stashed in a cabinet in the break room so you won’t be tempted every time you see it. If they want to keep candy on their desks, ask them to use a colored container with a lid so you can’t see inside.
3.Savor one piece of your favorite candy a day. Decide what time of day you most relish the sweet stuff, and save your special treat for that time. Then sit back and slowly savor the taste sensation. "It is so easy to pop a piece of candy into your mouth mindlessly and not get the full enjoyment you would get if you saved it and ate it when you know you will enjoy it the most," says Sandon. Indulge your sweet tooth on occasion, because denying yourself completely could lead to an all-out binge.
4.Chew gum. Sugarless gum gives your mouth a burst of sweet sensation for very few calories. "Studies have shown that gum chewing can also help [you] relieve stress, mentally focus on tasks, satisfy a sweet tooth, overcome the urge to eat candy, and help manage hunger pangs to hold you over until your next meal," says Sandon.
5.Replace the candy with better choices. Make the see-food diet work in your favor by putting out a bowl of colorful fruit or veggies in place of the candy.
6.Move the candy jar. Wansink and colleagues have done studies on how frequently people eat candy when it is within reach, out of sight, or requires them to get up to reach the jar. "If you have to get up to get a piece of candy, it is not always worth the effort, whereas when the candy is convenient, consumption is higher," says Wansink.
7.Count the empty wrappers. It's so easy to pop fun-size candy bars into your mouth that you can lose track of how quickly the calories are adding up. "If you keep the wrappers on your desk, it will remind you of how many you ate and hopefully inspire you to exercise moderation and stop after one or two," says Sandon.
8.Take a walking break. Getting away from your desk for a breath of fresh air can invigorate you and help you get over the mid-morning or mid-afternoon slumps that are often mistaken for hunger.
9.Manage your hunger. Eat breakfast before coming to work and plan for a few healthy snacks along with a satisfying lunch. Your preplanned meals with keep you feeling satisfied and make you less likely to raid the candy bowl.
10.Sip on a low-calorie beverage. Keep your hands and mouth busy by drinking a zero-calorie cup of hot tea (rich with disease-fighting antioxidants) or big glass of water. And light hot chocolate can satisfy your sweet tooth for few calories than most fun-size chocolate bars.
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Cancer Health Center -webmd.com

Osteosarcoma/Malignant Fibrous Histiocytoma of Bone - Description
What is osteosarcoma?

Osteosarcoma is a disease in which cancer (malignant) cells are found in the bone. It is the most common type of bone cancer. Osteosarcoma most often occurs in adolescents and young adults. In children and adolescents, tumors appear most often in the bones around the knee. The symptoms and chance for recovery in children and adolescents appear to be the same.

Malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH) of bone is a rare tumor of the bone. It may occur following radiation treatments. MFH is generally treated the same as osteosarcoma and appears to have a similar response to treatment.

Ewing’s sarcoma is another kind of bone cancer, but the cancer cells look different under a microscope than osteosarcoma cancer cells. (Refer to the PDQ summary on Ewing’s Family of Tumors Treatment for more information.)

If a patient has symptoms (such as pain and swelling of a bone or a bone region), a doctor may order x-rays and blood tests. If it is suspected that the problem is osteosarcoma, your doctor may recommend seeing a specialist called an orthopedic oncologist. The orthopedic oncologist may cut out a piece of tissue from the affected area. This is called a biopsy. The tissue will be looked at under a microscope to see if there are any cancer cells. This test may be done in the hospital.
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The chance of recovery (prognosis) and choice of treatment depend on the size, location, type, and stage of the cancer (how far the cancer has spread), how long the patient had symptoms, how much of the cancer is taken out by surgery and/or killed by chemotherapy, and the patient’s age, blood and other test results, and general health.

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5 Food Fixes for Flat Abs -webmd.com

WebMD Feature from "Prevention" Magazine

You can't down 3,000 calories a day and expect to lose your belly, but calories aren't the entire story. Certain foods seem to pack pounds on the midsection: Last fall, experts from the ongoing Framingham Nutrition Studies reported that women who ate almost 400 fewer daily calories but chose the least nutritious foods had a 2 1/2 times higher risk of abdominal obesity than those who ate that much more but made better choices. They also had dramatically higher risk of such serious health issues as type 2 diabetes and heart attacks, says Barbara Millen, DPH, the study's director of nutritional research. You don't have to "diet": Just fold these strategies into your life and watch ab flab pare down.
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1. Eat fruits and vegetables. Especially orange ones. Women trimmed their waists by replacing refined grains like white bread and simple or added sugar with carbs from fruits and vegetables, according to the latest review from Copenhagen University Hospital.

Besides packing in the fiber, which keeps you feeling full longer, researchers suspect it's the rich antioxidants, such as vitamin C and beta-carotene, that ward off ab fat. Carrots, cantaloupe, squash, and peaches are great sources of beta-carotene, while oranges, berries, and kiwi provide a good dose of C. To keep calories down, pick veggies, like bell peppers, before fruits, and choose fruits over juice.

2. Get more selenium. This cancer-fighting mineral is also linked to lower rates of abdominal obesity, according to a survey of more than 8,000 Americans. People with low blood levels of selenium and other antioxidants had bigger waistlines than those with higher levels.

Selenium is found in many foods, but it can be hard to know if you're getting the recommended 55 mcg a day because amounts vary based on the soil in which food is grown and the feed livestock consume. To meet your requirement, try a supplement or eat a varied diet. Also, opt for foods grown in different areas: such as grains from the Midwest, Vermont cheeses, and nuts from California.

3. Add some protein. Eating more protein keeps you full and boosts energy, which leads to overall weight loss and – for those over 40 – reduced ab fat in particular, according to findings from Skidmore College and Copenhagen University Hospital.

But studies show that eating high amounts of protein may stress the kidneys as they work to eliminate the excess, which can also cause calcium loss. Aim to get 25% of your calories from protein (if you eat 2,000 calories a day, that's 500 from protein). Just make lean choices such as low-fat yogurt, fat-free milk, fish, and poultry. Nuts are another great source but can be high in calories: Have just five 1-ounce servings a week (an ounce is about 24 almonds, 18 cashews, or 35 peanuts).

4. Drink a glass of wine a day. Don't start drinking wine just to fight ab fat, but if you enjoy a glass with dinner, it's a great benefit. Some studies even suggest that light to moderate drinking protects against female midsection weight gain, compared with teetotaling. Based on a review of data collected by the National Center for Health Statistics, one 4-ounce glass of red or white wine most days a week (up to 20 a month) seems to be best.
5. Eat the right fats. Research from Spain shows it's easier to stay slim eating monounsaturated fats (such as olive oil) and omega-3s (found mostly in fish but also in flaxseed and walnut oils and tofu), while omega-6 fats (prevalent in cereals, corn oil, baked goods, and eggs) caused ab fat to pile on.

Fats that should be eliminated completely: trans fats, which have no nutritional value and are mostly found in calorie-dense baked goods and chips. In a Wake Forest University study, monkeys eating a typical American diet for 6 years gained the human equivalent of 10 pounds more when the fat they ate was all trans fat, compared with those eating monounsaturated fat. Worse, "30% more fat was added in the abdominal region, and they had early signs of diabetes," says researcher Kylie Kavanagh, DVM.
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Rehab Clinic -webmd.com

WebMD Feature from "Men's Fitness" Magazine
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You’re a young guy, but your joints creak like rusty hinges. Should you be worried? It depends. We’re here to translate the popping in your knees, crunching in your elbows, and clicking in your shoulders—and tell you how to silence all that noise.

POP!
In most cases, popping occurs when a joint dislocates and then pops back into place. The danger is that one day it may not go back where it belongs, and the very movement may also irritate tissue around the joint (an especially common problem in the shoulder socket). Rule out exercises that may be causing damage, such as behind-the-neck pulldowns and shoulder presses. Strengthen the rotator cuffs with exercises such as external rotations, but also see a physical therapist for treatment.

SNAP!
This sound is the result of friction between two structures (such as tendons) gliding past each other. If the snapping body part (usually the hip, ankle, or shoulder blade) doesn’t hurt, don’t worry about it. But if the area also feels stiff or tight, the tendons are constricted and could benefit from regular stretching.

CRACK!
Most cracking sounds are the result of a vacuum being created between two joint surfaces and then releasing (like the noise a wet glass makes when you lift it off a table). Contrary to popular lore, cracking your joints has not been proved to cause damage. In fact, it actually relaxes the muscles surrounding the joint, improving joint movement and reducing pain. Just don’t do it too often, or you’ll overstretch the joints, making them unstable and injury prone.

GRIND!
Over time, the cartilage in your body can wear down, removing the padding between irregular joint surfaces and allowing those surfaces to rub together. Normally, any sort of grinding noise is harmless. The exception is your knee. There, grinding can be a sign of improper kneecap alignment, which can cause painful and damaging effects to the joint, such as “runner’s knee.” The solution: Stretch the connective tissue on the outer sides of the thighs and strengthen your quads.



Originally Published October 1, 2007
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How to Give Her the Most Spectacular Foot - webmd.com

WebMD Feature from "Esquire" MagazineBy Trista Thorp



Master this toe-curling, nine-step process and she'll be yours forever.
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Considering that a massage from our expert, massage therapist Trista Thorp of the Golden Door Spa in California, takes over an hour, there was no way we could capture all of her techniques in the magazine. We can't do it here, either, but at least we can offer you a few more.

1.Make her a Thai footbath. Slice up half a lime and put it in a bowl of warm water. Rest her feet in the water while you rub the bottoms of them with the other half of the lime, using it as a scrubber. The acid helps extract toxins, and the warm water will soften her feet and help her relax.

2.Take a hand towel and soak it in the footbath. Hold the towel above her knee, and, without letting it touch her leg, let the water drip down her calf and foot. Pat dry after one of you gets bored.

3.Gently holding her feet, rotate her ankles clockwise and then counterclockwise. Rotate each toe the same way, pulling gently on each.

4.After applying lotion, take one foot in both hands and walk your thumbs back and forth over the soles of her feet. Push deep with your thumbs, working the pressure points.

5.Directly beneath the ball of her foot, move your thumbs in semicircles, working back and forth horizontally.

6.Starting with your thumbs on opposite sides of her sole, slide them toward each other and to the opposite side of her foot. Move slightly down and bring them back. Continue until you reach her heel.

7.Interlace your fingers, resting them on the top of her foot with your thumbs on her sole. Slide your hands up and down over the whole foot, applying pressure with your thumbs.

8.Place your fingertips in the channels between each metatarsal (those are the long bones on the top of the foot), gently sliding all four fingers up and down between them

9.Starting at the outside of her ankle, find where the muscle meets the bone. Glide your thumb along this line all the way up her shin, applying slight pressure

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Women Risk Risky Sex at Worst Time -webmd.com

Women Risk Risky Sex at Worst Time
By Daniel J. DeNoon
WebMD Medical NewsReviewed by Louise Chang, MDNov. 7, 2007 -- Women are most attracted to sex with masculine, high-risk men during ovulation, when they are most likely to get pregnant, a Kinsey Institute study suggests.

Heather Rupp, PhD, a research fellow at the Kinsey Institute, studied 12 single heterosexual women aged 23 to 28. While hooked up to an fMRI machine that detects activity in different parts of the brain, the women looked at 256 photos of male faces.
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Using a computer morphing program, researchers altered the photos to make the male faces look more or less masculine. The women were also given sexual risk information on the men that included their number of sexual partners and their typical condom-use patterns.

After viewing the faces and the information, the women were asked to rate how likely they were to have sex with the man in each photo.

But in this study, Rupp and colleagues weren't as much interested in who the women said they'd have sex with as in what happened inside their heads.

Around the time of ovulation, when the women were most likely to conceive after unprotected sex, the women's brains showed more activity in areas linked to reward and risk taking. Stimuli that arouse this area of the brain include drugs, alcohol, and gambling.

During ovulation, the women also had weaker brain responses in brain areas linked to inhibition and risk evaluation. And while women showed more activity in brain areas linked to decision-making and reward when looking at photos of high-risk men than when looking at photos of low-risk men, this activity was weaker during ovulation than it was later in the menstrual cycle.

At this week's annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience, Rupp suggested that during ovulation, women may be more likely to engage in risky sex and be more vulnerable to drug and alcohol abuse than at other times.

"At ovulation, when is likely, women may prioritize fertilization and find masculine men more rewarding and less risky," Rupp suggested in her meeting presentation. "Towards the end of the menstrual cycle, when hormones are preparing for potential pregnancy, the priority may shift from mating to finding a low-risk, stable partner who can provide more parental investment and resources."


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