Health care is top-spending legislative lobby in Kentucky

Kentucky's health-care industry spent about $1.5 million, more than any other industry, to lobby state legislators in  in the first four months of the year.

"Health care spending was led by hospital operators, who spent about $300,000, including Kentucky Hospital Association ($56,000), Norton Healthcare ($44,631), Baptist Healthcare System ($42,800) and St. Elizabeth Healthcare ($28,182)," the Lexington Herald-Leader's Jack Brammer writes, from a report by the Kentucky Legislative Ethics Commission.

Pharmaceutical companies and pharmacies spent the second highest amount, about $281,000. That includes contributions from the Consumer Healthcare Products Association ($67,333), Pharmaceutical Research & Manufacturers of America/PhRMA ($23,362), Amgen ($19,389), Glaxo SmithKline ($18,500), American Pharmacy Cooperative ($18,000) and Pfizer ($15,000).

Other big spenders include the Kentucky Medical Association ($71,415); All Things Good, a Louisville-based chiropractic business ($65,000); Kentucky Optometric Association ($61,604); and Kentucky Academy of Eye Physicians & Surgeons ($26,000).

A total of about $7 million was spent on legislative lobbying in Kentucky in the first four months of 2011. About $6.5 million of that was spent by 660 employers of lobbyists and about $445,000 was spent by lobbyists themselves. The insurance industry, which is often related to the health industry, spent about $354,000. Energy and utility interests like coal and natural gas spent $516,000. Reports filed by employers and legislative agents are compiled on the Legislative Ethics Commission's website. For the Herald-Leader story, go here.

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Watching 3-D movies may strain eyes but doesn't harm them and can help detect vision impairment, optometrists say

With summer blockbusters set to be released in the coming months, the Kentucky Optometric Association says watching 3-D movies is not harmful to eyes, but can cause eye strain and headaches.

To help with those conditions, the association recommends sitting farther back from the movie screen.

In some cases, some viewers won't be able to recognize 3-D pictures because they lack binocular vision. "Although this doesn't pose any problem viewing the screen, it serves as a vision screening that something is abnormal with the viewer's binocular vision," the association says in a news release used by the Journal-Enterprise of Providence.

"That means 3-D actually has a benefit," said Dr. Joe Ellis, an optometrist in Benton and president of the optometric association. "It can alert people to undetected vision disorders and eye diseases that, if caught early, are fully treatable."

Viewers might consider seeing an optometrist or ophthalmologist if they get headaches while watching 3-D, if they feel nauseous or dizzy after viewing or if it is difficult for their eyes to adjust back to normal after viewing. (Read more)

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National system needed to battle pill abuse, newspaper says

Despite Georgia's recent move to implement a system that will track prescription pill use, a national system is needed to help prevent the problem flowing "to the next crack in the system," the Lexington Herald-Leader says in an editorial today.

"We know it's popular now to howl about big government," the paper says. "But if a national government has any legitimate use, it is certainly to stop something like the pill pipeline that operates across state lines. . . . "As long as even a few states don't have monitoring systems the market will move to those areas of opportunity."

The piece cites a story that ran in the Herald-Leader May 17. In it, reporter Bill Estep discussed Georgia's move to approve a tracking system, meant to prevent people from "doctor shopping," filling the resulting prescriptions and selling the pills illegally. "Florida has been the leading source of pills flowing into Kentucky from outside the state, but Georgia has been a growing source of concern," Estep reported.

While Georgia's monitoring system is approved, money is still needed to fund it. "We hope Georgia will get those grants. But we'd be more optimistic if funding weren't based on hope," the paper says. "There's every indication the rate of prescription drug abuse is outpacing the monitoring system."

The editorial notes that overdose deaths in Kentucky continue to rise, doubling from 403 in 2000 to 978 in 2009: "Confirmed overdose deaths in Floyd County jumped from 15 in 2009 to 43 in 2010, according to Brent Turner, the commonwealth's attorney there. Florida averages seven overdose deaths a day." (Read more)

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More Americans are choosing health insurance with high deductibles, lower premiums; study says that strategy pays off

In order to pay lower premiums on their health insurance, Americans are opting for plans that have cheaper  monthly premiums but higher deductibles, USA Today's Kelly Kennedy reports.

In 2007, about 4.5 million people opted for high-deductible plans. By 2010 that number had more than doubled to 10 million, an America's Health Insurance Plans survey found. Having high deductibles saves $85 to $100 a month on premiums, but runs the risk of paying more when services are used. It's important for purchasers to understand that lower premiums can mean higher doctors' bills, said Karen Ignagni, president of the industry group.

However, a RAND Corp. study found that people on high-deductible plans pay considerably less than people on traditional plans. "RAND researchers also found that people on high-deductible plans — no matter their income level — received less preventive care: fewer annual exams, fewer cervical cancer screenings and fewer colonoscopies," Kennedy reports. The federal health reform law is preventing some of that from happening, however. Now, most high-deductible plans have to include basic preventive care like colonoscopies.

High-deductible plans are expected to become more common, especially since 47 percent of people who are insured through their employers have high-deductible plans. "Employers like the plans because it's cheaper to insure an employee — about $133 less per family at companies that offer only the high-deductible plans, according to a study in the American Journal of Managed Care," Kennedy reports. (Read more)

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Teenager set to return to Haiti after Louisville docs fix her heart

After Louisville doctors performed a life-saving operation on her failing heart, a 16-year-old girl is set to return to her native Haiti. Stephanie Privert, left, came to Kentucky after she became ill following the deadly 7.0-magnitude earthquake that devastated the country, The Courier-Journal's Chris Kenning reports. (C-J photo by Pam Spaulding)

"We hate to see that she's obliged to return to a tough situation, but we can't keep her here forever," said Dr. Erle Austin, the lead heart surgeon during Privert's operation. "She's so much better than when she arrived."

Privert was watching her mother cook soup when the earthquake struck. Her family was able to escape, but her home near Port-au-Prince was destroyed. Privert's health quickly deteriorated and she was brought to a clinic run by American doctors from Medical Teams International. Deciding she could not be treated in hospitals in Haiti or neighboring Dominican Republic, the doctors got in touch with non-profit group Healing the Children, which has a chapter in Louisville. Its members helped her fly to Kentucky. She arrived weighing just 70 pounds.

Doctors determined she had a leaking heart valve, which was causing severe pulmonary hypertension and lung problems, Kenning reports. In August, doctors at Kosair Children's Hospital decided to repair the valve, rather than replace it with a mechanical one, which would require expensive anti-rejection drugs, or a pig valve that would wear out more quickly.

Since, she has been recovering, staying with host families, learning English and attending school. The Haitian Christian Outreach has raised money needed to start rebuilding Privert's family home in Haiti. (Read more)

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Live A pH Miracle Lifestyle

Hey friends. Jeanie & I just returned from  boring do nothin but workin out  vacation, eating/drinking good, no stress from law office, almost forgot how  great it felt to be in great shape. Decided to attempt to defy age a bit so I'm  back on 2 workouts per day before & after work & feeling like the good old days.  I encourage all of you to do same thing! Only have 1 body & life is way too  short! Workin on getting into fighting shape again this morning so I can start  training again whether police or others, martial arts or just civilian hand to  hand combat. See me smiling!? 
Please consider Attacking me cuz I need the practice! I share this with you because when I see you next it will encourage me  to keep my published word & you will hold me responsible as I would you if you  asked. Would love to work out with any of you anytime. I may have a couple law  enforcement training opportunities coming up & can't wait to work again with my  real Brothers & Sisters in law enforcement - my family! I wish & encourage you  all to first & foremost live each day to make this a little bit better world  when you leave it, to better prioritize your lives (Jesus 1st, Family 2nd,  everything else 3rd), to maintain an Alkaline lifestyle (see  www.pHmiracleliving.com) rather than an Acidic one, to exercise daily & to stay  positive & happy.  
There are some important people I left out given the  limitations in this phone so sorry. Keep your word, do the right thing, smile &  believe in the Lord. Hope to see you soon & really, feel free to attack me, at  your peril of course, but also feel free to harass me & help me stay on track.  That's what friends do. 
Remember those who have died protecting us & have a  great weekend. God Bless & dust off your workout gear & just start even if  slowly or maybe I'll just "attack" you :-) 
Peace & Love! 
Randy
rs@sevenishlaw.com

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Rural Training Track programs get more health professionals to rural areas, but live 'on the edge' of funding and personnel

By Tara Kaprowy
Kentucky Health News

With the Obama administration offering more funding to improve rural health care, Rural Training Track programs to steer medical students to rural areas are hoping to expand, a move that would benefit underserved areas of Kentucky.

"Over 62 million Americans live in rural America and there is a significant crisis in terms of having access to care for these people," said Amy Elizondo, vice president of program services at the National Rural Health Association. "There is a very uneven distribution of health care professionals and an acute shortage of primary care physicians in rural areas. If we can recruit and retain physicians to serve rural areas, we improve access for rural America." (University of Washington map; click for larger version)

RTT programs aim to educate family physician residents in rural environments with the hope they will continue to practice there, Candi Helseth reports in a deailed article for the Rural Assistance Center. "These residency programs are a proven model for addressing rural family physician workforce shortages, with more than 70 percent of graduates praticing in rural areas," Helseth reports. The first such program started in Colville, Wash., in 1985. There are 25 RTTs in 17 states, including one in Morehead by the University of Kentucky and St. Claire Regional Medical Center. Eight physicians have graduated from the program there since it was established in 2000, five of whom are practicing in Kentucky. Of those five, three have joined the SCR medical staff.

There are similar success stories across the country. In Caldwell, Idaho, 95 percent of graduates have chosen to practice in rural areas over the past 16 years. "We heavily recruit residents who are rural-oriented," said Dr. Samantha Portenier, a practicing physician and director of the Caldwell RTT. "We've had some who were not and we converted them. Part of it was that they really saw where the training we give them and the skills they learn are so needed in rural areas. I emphasize that in rural areas you can specialize in areas that particularly interest you."

Despite the success, 10 RTT programs have closed in the past 10 years. "Every RTT lives on the edge in terms of funding," said Dr. Randall Longenecker, who is project director of Rural Training Track Assistance Demonstration Project. "In general RTTs are small, have limited faculty and are vulnerable to personnel changes, a bad year for recruiting, loss of funding and many other factors beyond their control."

Morehead's RTT is funded by St. Claire. Residents spend their first year at the UK College of Medicine in Lexington and their second and third years at St. Claire, which is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Education. Carla Terry, St. Claire's graduate medical education coordinator, acknowledged the difficulty in maintaining an RTT program. "The reason why the RTTs are in jeopardy is that all the faculty that teach them are voluntary," she told Kentucky Health News. "They are not paid to teach, they still have to keep their patient load. If it were a university program, all the faculty would be paid."

But St. Claire physicians believe strongly in rural-based education and also see how they can benefit from their investment. "We actually had a physician that when he came here he was interested in starting a residency because he wanted to use that as future recruitment," she said. "We look at it as training future partners."

Now, RTTs are under a federal microscope. The health care reform law created the Rural Training Track Assistance Demonstration Project, a three-year pilot program that plans to "collect comprehensive information to better understand the collective forces challenging RTT models and develop solutions that will strengthen existing RTTs and encourage development of new RTTs," Helseth reports.

The time is ripe, given that more medical students are choosing to be family medicine physicians, up by 11 percent last year and 8 percent the year before. "We have a real opportunity here to redefine the importance of primary care being foundational in rural workforces," Dr. Ted Epperly, past president and past board chairman of the American Academy of Family Physicians, told Helseth. "Right now, only 9 percent of physicians are choosing to practice in rural areas while 20 percent of the population lives there. RTTs offer a way to give family physicians a broad scope of practice, which they need practicing in a rural area, and to get them to stay in those rural areas." (Read more)

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Fight is on against mosquitoes, West Nile virus after flooding

The fight is on to rid Western Kentucky of a mosquito infestation  worsened by recent flooding. Treatment to kill adult mosquitoes began Wednesday night, The Gleaner of Henderson reports.

The effort is partly to prevent the spread of the West Nile virus, a potentially serious illness. Mild infection can result in fever, headache, body ache and a skin rash. Severe infection, which affects about 1 in 150 infected people, can lead to high fever, disorientation, sleepiness and even coma, paralysis and death. Mosquitoes can transmit the infection to humans with a bite. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention diagram)

The state's plan is a two-part process, killing adult mosquitoes and their larvae. It uses aerial spraying over 700,000 acres in Western Kentucky, concentrating on areas along or near waterways where flooding was most problematic. Planes will spray from dusk until after midnight until treatment is complete. Afterward, ground crews with the Transportation Cabinet will treat against mosquito larvae in standing water. The state Department of Agriculture will also spray ditch lines along roads. Chemicals used in the treatments are only harmful to mosquitoes, gnats and black flies, a state press release reads. It is safe for humans, pets and livestock.

Residents are asked to eliminate standing water in containers on their property and wear insect repellent and long-sleeved clothing. (Read more)

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Bidders to manage Medicaid unknown; contracts July 1?

It is not known who bid on taking over the work, but Kentucky is advancing plans to turn Medicaid over to managed-care organizations. The move, which will allow the organizations to take over the day-to-day operations of Medicaid in the state, is meant to improve efficiency and save money, The Courier-Journal's Deborah Yetter reports.

"The proposed changes will dramatically reshape the program for more than 500,000 of the roughly 800,000 Kentuckians who depend on Medicaid for health care," Yetter writes. "It will not affect those in nursing homes or in certain programs that serve individuals with mental disabilities."

Gov. Steve Beshear promised the move earlier this year in his proposal to fill a $166 million gap in Medicaid funding, which comes mainly from the federal government. His administration believes moving to managed can save about $139 million in Medicaid costs next year. There are concerns about the plan, not the least of which how to make a smooth transition for patients. "We want to make sure people are able to access their doctors and access to care is not threatened," said Jodi Mitchell, executive director of Kentucky Voices for Health.

Rural pharmacists are also worried about the impact, since legislators "have not ruled out allowing mail-order prescriptions for maintenance drugs, such as blood pressure pills," Yetter reports. If mail-order is allowed, pharmacists are concerned there would be less contact with patients and that rural, independently-owned pharmacies would be threatened. "With mail order you are taking revenue out of the state," said Clay Rhodes, president of the Kentucky Pharmacists' Association. "Mail order can survive on the thinnest of margins and your rural pharmacy more than likely can't."

The bidding process is a complicated one, Yetter reports, and it is unclear how Passport Health Plan, a managed-care organization that already takes care of 30 percent of the state's Medicaid recipients in the 16-county Louisville region, fits in. Bidders are asked to submit bids "for the Passport region alone, another for the whole state and the other for the entire state except for Passport," Yetter reports.

Contracts will be awarded July 1. Yetter confirmed Humana Inc. has chosen not to bid. (Read more)

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World No Tobacco Day to be observed Tuesday

World No Tobacco Day 2011 will be observed Tuesday, with goals of encouraging tobacco abstinence for a 24-hour period, as well as drawing attention to the dangers of tobacco use.

The observance, created by the World Health Organization in 1987, occurs each May 31. This year's theme is WHO's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, a treaty that "reaffirms the right of all people to the highest standard of health and provides new legal dimensions for cooperation in tobacco control," said a WHO press release.

The 2005 treaty has been embraced by 170 parties. It protects public health policies from companies with vested interests in the tobacco industry; regulates tobacco products; adopts price and tax measures for tobacco products; regulates packaging and labeling of tobacco products; bans tobacco advertising; bans sales to minor; and supports alternatives to tobacco farming. The key message of the day will be "that countries must fully implement the treaty to protect present and future generations from the devastating health, social, environmental and economic consequences of tobacco consumption and exposure to tobacco smoke," a press release reads.

In recognition of World No Tobacco Day, the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky has noted latest smoking-related data for the state.

Among Adult Kentuckians, 26 percent are smokers. Fayette County has the lowest rate (17 percent) and Breathitt, Owsley, Perry and Wolfe counties are tied for highest at 36 percent. The data were collected from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System for the years 2007 to 2009. Smoking rates for every county are available by clicking here.

This year, more than 5 million people will die from a tobacco-related heart attack, stroke, cancer, lung ailment or other disease, according to the WHO press release. It said more than 600,000 people, more than a quarter of whom are children, will die from second-hand smoke. (Read more)

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Which supplements to buy.

Buying supplements is not just purchasing the cheapest, otherwise you may as well just throw them away.
I choose Omega 3 fish oil, each tablet contains 1000mg, but more importantly 300 mg of active EPA/DHA. You can take two per day. This will improve cardiac health, so protect you heart function, maintains normal vision and brain function. I bought this from Holland and barrett, however it may be cheaper to buy online from a reputable health food store.


I also take Odourless garlic oil 1000mg, this is high strength so I take one per day, to help maintain healthy cholesterol levels, and may protect against some cancers. Garlic is known to help many other conditions as well.


Vitamin D3 10ug. Please note the strength. This is a new one that I have added to my list. We get so little sunlight these days, and we need this vitamin to improve our immune system. I take one a day of this vitamin.


Finally vitamin C, my favorite 500-1000mg per day, slow release. Vitamin c in higher doses has shown to help many conditions including heart health, and protection against cancer. It can support the body's defences against all kinds of bugs and illnesses such as flu.

Web Directory add url

NaturalCuresPro - Natural Cures That Work | Health Directory
Natural Cures - Feel Good, Look Good, Do Good. Disease symptoms and natural treatments, remedies and resources for healthy living, and extensive health directory.

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Food Reward: a Dominant Factor in Obesity, Part IV

What is Food Reward?

After reading comments on my recent posts, I realized I need to do a better job of defining the term "food reward".  I'm going to take a moment to do that here.  Reward is a psychology term with a specific definition: "a process that reinforces behavior" (1).  Rewarding food is not the same thing as food that tastes good, although they often occur together. 

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Bowling Green American Legion post tests smoking ban, is fined

An American Legion post in Bowling Green has been fined $25 for violating the city's no-smoking ordinance. The Bowling Green Code Enforcement Board decided unanimously Tuesday to uphold the citation that Post 23 received April 28 after two plainclothed police officers went into the facility during bingo night and found people smoking inside, Justin Story of the Bowling Green Daily News reports.

Officers Tammy Britt and Rebecca Robins testified they bought two sheets of bingo cards and a soda at the facility. They said they were not asked at any point if they were members of the Post. The city's smoking ordinance "defines private organizations as establishments that are exempt from federal income taxes, are not profit-oriented, maintain a selective membership that operates the organization and does not sell food, drinks, entertainment or lodging to anyone who is not a member or a member's guest," Story reports.

More members started to smoke after Jim Manley, the Post's chief finance officer, told the crowd they were free to do so. "He said that if a citation were issued it would be to (the post) and not the individual, and after that more people started smoking," Britt said. The citation indicates the facility violated three provisions of the ordinance: allowing smoking in a building/enclosed area; failure to remove ashtrays; and failure of owner or person in control to ensure compliance.

Malcolm Cherry, an officer of Post 23, "said that he wanted it to be cited by allowing smoking during charitable gaming on April 28 in an effort to prove it was exempt," Story reports. "Our whole intention was for the officers to be there and have the citation issue to us personally," Cherry said. City Attorney Gene Harmon argued the post does not meet all the criteria to be considered a private club, in part because it sells bingo cards and refreshments during bingo night. The board agreed. (Read more)

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Cervical cancer initiative launched to promote education, vaccination, screening, prevention and treatment

The Cervical Cancer-Free America initiative launched earlier this month, bringing together six states, including Kentucky, and more than 75 organizations to help eradicate the disease. Promoting education, vaccination and effective screening are the cornerstones of the effort.

"Cervical cancer is a preventable and, if found early, a curable disease," said Dr. Baretta R. Casey, director of Cervical Cancer-Free Kentucky. "Education of every woman, young and old, is important."

Though it is largely preventable, nearly 400 Kentucky women develop cervical cancer each year, and 66 die of it. Kentucky has one of the highest incidence rates and mortality rates of cervical cancer in the country, mostly affecting rural, white women.

CCFA will bring together public health professionals, foundations, private partners and cancer survivors like Marissa Winokur, right, to build a public health campaign. "The goal of making the United States free of cervical cancer is ambitious but eminently achievable. Just like the polio vaccine nearly eradicated polio globally during the 20th century, we now have the opportunity to nearly eradicate cervical cancer collectively through screening, vaccination and treatment," CCFA Director Jennifer S. Smith said.

Cervical cancer is caused by various types of the human papillomavirus, which three of four adults contract at some point in their lives. A vaccine against two types of this virus, which are responsible for 70 percent of all cervical cancers, is available for girls and young women ages 11 to 26. But only a fourth of them have received all three doses of the vaccine.

The vaccine does not protect against all types of cervical cancer, so screening is still needed. The Pap test, which is generally performed annually, can detect cervical cancer when it is still treatable. At least half of all cervical cancer deaths are due to lack of regular screening. (Read more)

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Tooth varnish saving smiles in Clark County

To protect about 3,000 Clark County children from tooth decay, local dentists and volunteers headed to schools to apply a fluoride varnish earlier this month. "We knew this material worked, although it was a new material, and there wasn't a lot of research on it at the time," dentist Rankin Skinner told The Winchester Sun's Rachel Parsons.

Skinner became concerned after learning that Kentucky children have more tooth decay than anywhere else in the country, a fact he gleaned from a Christmas Eve 2007 article in The New York Times. The same day, one of Skinner's friends read the article by Ian Urbina and called him to come up with a plan. "Skinner had recently completed a study on tooth decay in Ecuador, and the participating dentists had seen great improvement in oral health using a material new to the market at that time called amorphous calcium phosphate," Parsons reports.

Local dentists and the Clark County Community Foundation, of which Skinner's friend was a member, got together to get the varnish in Clark County. Twice a year, the dentists go to elementary and pre-schools to apply it on students' teeth, such as those of Emily Havens (above, Sun photo by James Mann). "We wanted to get the material on there as soon as the teeth came in," Skinner said. "There's just too much decay out there to be fixed. We knew we needed a preventative program."

Dentists found evidence of tooth decay in half the students the first year, but noted an 11 percent drop in decay in sixth-grade students after the first year. They track progress annually and conduct full exams on sixth-grade students to check for cavities. If any are found, parents are informed. Students are also given tooth brushes at the beginning of each school year. (Read more)

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CDC names top 10 public health achievements in past decade, including tobacco control; Ky. still leads nation in tobacco use

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have named the top 10 public health achievements of the last decade. They include controlling infectious diseases like AIDS and tuberculosis; fighting tobacco use; improving motor-vehicle safety by having safer vehicles, roads and driving; reducing heart disease and death; and improving public safety preparedness following Sept. 11, 2001.

The 10 were not ranked. "Others include improvements in vaccine-preventable diseases, better maternal and infant health, better cancer prevention, improved occupational safety, and the aggressive steps that have led to fewer childhood lead poisonings," reports Bill Hendrick of WebMD Health News.

"Americans are living longer, healthier and more productive lives than ever before thanks in part to extraordinary achievements in public health over the past decade," CDC Director Thomas R. Frieden said in a press release. "Continued investments in prevention will help us and our children live even longer, healthier and more productive lives while bringing down health care costs."

The report shows the improvements have saved billions of dollars nationwide. Fortifying food with folic acid, which reduced neural tube defects like spina bifida, has alone resulted in a savings of $4.6 billion in the past 10 years. Preventing motor vehicle crashes could save $99 billion in medical and lost work costs each year. Preventing lead exposure in children could save $213 billion each year.

While tobacco control has advanced nationally, and Kentucky's smoking rate has dropped slightly, the state continues to lead the nation in tobacco use, at 25 percent of adults. While about two dozen Kentucky communities have passed smoke-free laws, a statewide ban has never gotten anywhere in the legislature. The number of states with comprehensive smoke-free laws increased from zero in 2000 to 25 states (plus Washington, D.C.) in 2010.

Motor vehicle safety has improved, a trend that has been noted in Kentucky. The number of traffic-related fatalities in Kentucky has decreased for the past six years. In 2010, 759 people died on Kentucky roads compared to 791 the year before. This year so far, 220 people have died in traffic-related accidents compared to 237 last year. Nationwide, the death rate related to motor vehicle accidents went from 14.9 per 100,000 people in 2000 to 11 per 100,000 in 2009. (Read more)

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Pew gives Ky. a "C" for looking after dental health of children

Kentucky received a "C" grade from the Pew Children's Dental Campaign for meeting the dental health needs of children, the same grade it was given last year.

The Courier-Journal reports the state met or exceeded four of eight benchmarks: The majority of Kentuckians (99.4 percent) have fluoridated community water supplies; the state pays medical providers for early preventive dental health care; the state tracks data on children's dental health; and the percentage of Medicaid-enrolled children getting dental care (40.8 percent) exceeds the national standard of 38.1 percent.

The state fell short of Pew's standards when it came to offering sealant programs at high-risk schools; allowing hygienists to place sealants without a dentist's prior exam; and authorizing new primary-care dental providers. Kentucky also lost points because the rates it pays to dentists for providing Medicaid services is below the norm — only 52 percent, compared to the national average of 60.5 percent.

None of the 50 states assessed in the report met all eight benchmarks. Seven states received an A and 20 states received a B. "An A does not stand for 'all done,'" said Shelly Gehshan, director of the Pew Children's Dental Campaign. "It means a state has the key ingredients in place, but it still needs to monitor progress and explore new ways to improve children's access to dental health." Florida, Hawaii, Indiana, Montana and New Jersey received an F.

More than 20 states improved their grades over 2010. "These gains were achieved primarily by adopting policies to reimburse physicians for preventive dental services, expanding water fluoridation and increasing the percentage of Medicaid-enrolled children who receive care," the report reads. (Read more)

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Slap on sunscreen, avoid UV rays this Memorial Day Weekend

This Friday has been designated "Don't Fry Day," a reminder to sun worshippers to be mindful of the dangers of skin cancer on Memorial Day weekend, the traditional start of the summer recreation season.

The National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention strongly urges the use of sunscreen if in the sun, but also recommends seeking shade, wearing sun-protective clothing and avoiding getting a suntan or sunburn altogether. It also recommends extra caution if near the water or sand. "While most everyone enjoys a sunny day, keeping your skin safe from overexposure to UV radiation can be easy by practicing simple sun-safety tips," said Dr. Sandra I. Read, Council co-chair.

The Council also recommends consulting the UV Index forecast, which assess the strength of solar UV radiation on a scale from 1 (low) to 11+ (extremely high).

Skin cancer is by far the most common type of cancer in the United States, research-reporting news service Newswise reports. More than 2 million new cases are diagnosed each year, more than new cases of breast, prostate, lung and colon cancers combined. Though the incidence of many common cancers is falling, the incidence of melanoma, which can be deadly, continues to rise. It is one of the most common cancers in young adults ages 15 to 29. (Read more)

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Never leave kids in a hot car, officials say in press conference planned even before Louisville toddler died

Following a 2-year-old Louisville boy's death from hyperthermia after he was left alone in a hot car Saturday, health officials warned of the dangers of vehicle-related heat stroke at a news conference in Frankfort yesterday.

"The loss of a child due to hyperthermia is a horrific tragedy that, sadly, we are seeing every year in this state," said Dr. Susan Pollack, coordinator for Kentucky's Safe Kids Coalition.

According to the group, one of 600 such coalitions and chapters around the country, two other child vehicular deaths — one in Texas, another in Louisiana — have already happened this year. Last year was the worst on record with 49 deaths nationwide. There have been 494 deaths in the country from 1998 to 2010, 13 of which happened in Kentucky.

About half the deaths occur when a parent forgets their child is in the car and leaves. "Something in a caregiver's daily routine changes, and the caregiver forgets to drop off the child at day care or with another caregiver and leaves the child in the car," Beth Musgrave of the Lexington Herald-Leader reports. As such, Safe Kids recommends setting a cell phone alarm to remind parents or placing a purse or cell phone near the child to act as a similar memory prompt.

In some cases, parents know they've left their child in the car, but do not realize how hot the car can get. "If you crack the windows, it doesn't make it cooler," Pollack said. One study found the temperature in a vehicle can rise 20 degrees in 10 minutes during warm weather. Moreover, a child's body temperature rises three to five times faster than adults.

About 30 percent of related deaths happen when a child is playing in a car and becomes trapped inside. Safe Kids recommends always locking a vehicle to prevent kids from getting in.

The news conference was planned before the death of 2-year-old Kenton Brown, Musgrave reports. Anyone who intentionally leaves a child in a hot car can face manslaughter charges if the child is younger than 8, Kentucky State Police Lt. David Jude said. (Read more)

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Healthy Skeptic Podcast

Chris Kresser has just posted our recent interview/discussion on his blog The Healthy Skeptic.  You can listen to it on Chris's blog here.  The discussion mostly centered around body fat and food reward.  I also answered a few reader questions.  Here are some highlights:

• How does the food reward system work? Why did it evolve?
• Why do certain flavors we don’t initially like become appealing over time?
• How does industrially processed food affect the food reward system?
• What’s the most effective diet used to make rats obese in a research setting? What does this tell us about human diet and weight regulation?
• Do we know why highly rewarding food increases the set point in some people but not in others?
• How does the food reward theory explain the effectiveness of popular fat loss diets?
• Does the food reward theory tell us anything about why traditional cultures are generally lean?
• What does cooking temperature have to do with health?
• Reader question: How does one lose fat?
• Reader question: What do I (Stephan) eat?
• Reader question: Why do many people gain fat with age, especially postmenopausal women?

The podcast is a sneak preview of some of the things I'll be discussing in the near future.  Enjoy!

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New bug and measles about

At the moment there is a bug going around with effects the tummy. It would be a good idea to protect yourself in a natural way to prevent this tummy bug. You can try to stop getting over tired. Take plenty of vitamin c. You can get supplements 500-1000mg per day. Wash your hands after going to the toilet. Many people are in a hurry and just dont wash hands. Take vitamin D3 available at your health store. This vitamin is in sunshine, however our summers are not as good as they used to be, and lack of vitamin D3 can weaken the immune system. Try getting lots of exercise, just a walk can help to boost the immune system. Think in a positive way. Think of what I can do, not what I cannot do. Remember the glass is half full, not half empty.

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Fast Food, Weight Gain and Insulin Resistance

CarbSane just posted an interesting new study that fits in nicely with what we're discussing here.  It's part of the US Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study, which is a long-term observational study that is publishing many interesting findings.  The new study is titled "Fast-food habits, weight gain, and insulin resistance (the CARDIA study): 15-year prospective analysis" (1).  The results speak for themselves, loud and clear (I've edited some numbers out of the quote for clarity):
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Group Cleanses and Individual Coaching

Save the Date

JUNE 13-26

Hello Everyone, Hope this email finds you well! I’m happy to report that Caroline Robitaille and I have been hired on by the pH Miracle Center to work with Dr. Robert Young. We have been given the task to create an entire division that will handle all of the incoming calls and emails for product sales, fielding questions and an entire coaching program. We will be doing Group Cleanses and individual coaching. We have a two-week cleanse coming up in a few weeks that I want you to be the first to know about. DR. ROBERT YOUNG IS GOING TO BE ON ONE OF THE CONFERENCE CALLS AS A GUEST SPEAKER!!! The following letter below will go out within the next week to 100,000 people. We have room for 50 people on this next group cleanse. It’s a first-come-first-serve basis. If you are interested in finding out more don’t hesitate to call or email us right away. Please read letter below pH MIRACLE® CLEANSE We are excited to announce new and exciting curricula at the pH Miracle Institute. We now offer you individualized pH Miracle® Coaching Sessions and/or pH Miracle® Group Cleanses. Whether you have serious health challenges, or just want to improve your overall health, we can help you achieve your goal. Join us! Enroll now for the Two (2) Week pH Miracle® Group Cleanse designed by Dr. Robert O. Young, who will be our guest speaker on one of our many conference calls answering your questions. This Group Cleanse runs from June 13 through June 26, and you can participate from the comforts of your own home. While on this Cleanse we will help you closely monitor your progress. For those of you that have tried alone to do a self-cleanse from the pH Miracle books, and have felt the need for more support and guidance - this program is for you. This is a complete Cleanse Program. You will receive all of the necessary cleanse and alkalizing products, while we give you the educations and information you need to live a healthy, alkalizing Lifestyle. You can even continue as part of a community of like-minded people. This pH Miracle Cleanse has been thoroughly tested at the pH Miracle Institute, and consistently achieves dramatic, and satisfying, results in the short term of the Cleanse. If you are interested in finding out more about our pH Miracle® Group Cleanse or individual pH Miracle® Coaching, please contact Caroline Robitaille at for Registration. - The pH Miracle Institute / Enrollment Staff

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Food Reward: a Dominant Factor in Obesity, Part III

Low-Fat Diets

In 2000, the International Journal of Obesity published a nice review article of low-fat diet trials.  It included data from 16 controlled trials lasting from 2-12 months and enrolling 1,910 participants (1).  What sets this review apart is it only covered studies that did not include instructions to restrict calorie intake (ad libitum diets).  On average, low-fat dieters reduced their fat intake from 37.7 to 27.5 percent of calories.  Here's what they found:
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Natures Best Water - Destiny Deep Sea Water

Destiny Deep Sea Water Destiny deep sea water offers natural electrolytes and nutrients found in the depths of the ocean, uncontaminated by the effects of photosynthesis or impurities in the upper layers of ocean water. Destiny deep sea water is the healthiest and most refreshing bottled water solution for your body’s needs. Options: ½ Liter Bottle (500 ml) - Price: $1.49 Quantity: A Natural Gift from Hawaii From its blue oceans and beautiful beaches to its tropical forests and steaming volcanic peaks, Hawaii fills all of your senses with the richness of life. Destiny deep sea water, like so many other tropical delights, comes from Hawaii. Just off the coast of Hawaii’s big island, over three thousand feet below the surface, the most pristine water the earth has to offer flows in the great global conveyer, all the way from the glaciers of Greenland. This water is unspoiled, electrolyte-rich, and aged for millennia. From this source, Destiny draws its cool and refreshing water. Follow your Destiny to the life-giving waters of the deep sea. Water is one of the primary ingredients required to maintain health and energy through the absorption of key vitamins and minerals into our bodies. Destiny deep sea water offers these life-enhancing functions with natural electrolytes and nutrients found in the depths of the ocean, uncontaminated by the effects of photosynthesis or impurities in the upper layers of ocean water. Destiny deep sea water is the healthiest and most refreshing solution to your body’s water needs. Water: an essential component of health and life As the healthiest alternative in bottled water, Destiny deep sea water offers tremendous value to the body. Along with amino acids (protein), minerals are the basic building blocks of every human cell. RNA/DNA, the blueprints to each cell, require certain minerals to function properly. Protein chains cannot form without the presence of minerals. Destiny contains miniscule sized ionic minerals that are easily absorbed into human cells. Supplement Facts Serving Size: 8 fl oz Servings Per Container: 40 Amount Per Serving % Daily Value Calories Total Fat Sodium Total Carb Protein - - - - - 0% 0% 1% 0% 0% Mineral Composition at 300 hardness: Magnesium: Calcium: Potassium: Sodium: 70 mg/L 16 mg/L 0.7 mg/L 33 mg/L **Daily Value not established The Process The source of pristine deep sea water Destiny sources its 100% pure Hawaii deep sea water from NELHA (Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority), which draws its water from depths of over 3000 feet in the pacific ocean just off the coast of Kona, located on the big Island of Hawaii. The source of this water lies in the icebergs near the coast of Greenland 2000 years ago. The cold temperature of this arctic area increases the density of the water, causing it to plunge to the depths of the sea. This dense, mineral rich seawater travels deep along the Atlantic Continental Shelf of North America. It flows past the coasts of Australia and New Zealand and finally rises in the Northern Pacific Ocean near the Hawaiian Islands after a 2,000-year long journey. This under-sea stream is called The Great Global Conveyor. Extraction and purification of nutrient rich deep-sea water Destiny deep sea water is extracted from 3,000 feet below the surface. Once the nutrient rich water reaches our facility, it is processed using a state-of-the-art, purification system before bottling. Desalinization is the process used to remove salt from seawater, to ready it for human consumption. Destiny deep-sea water uses a proprietary natural process that removes unwanted chemicals without relying solely on a harsh reverse osmosis system to desalinate the water. This allows all life-enhancing minerals and nutrients to remain intact in the water throughout the desalinization process and leaves the life enhancing minerals untouched in their natural form instead of adding them back in like many others do. The final result is water that is nutrient rich and flavorful, making Destiny deep sea water perfect for the human body, and for the palate. Our sanitary standards mean pure, healthy water The Destiny water purification process includes two filters: a primary filter (sand filter) and a secondary filter (check filter) before desalination occurs. Once water is cleaned and desalinized, it is adjusted for hardness, depending on customer preference. It is then sent through a third ultra-fine filter to kill germs before moving to a filling machine to be bottled, labeled, and packaged. At Destiny deep sea water, customer health and satisfaction are our top priorities. This means that every part of the process is sanitary. Bottling takes place in a pristine environment that exceeds all FDA Standards. The result: precious, life-enhancing water, uncontaminated, full of natural minerals and flavor—the perfect option to quench the thirst and compliment even the most discerning palate. Ocean Water Temperature Most of the solar radiation (light and heat) that penetrates the ocean is absorbed in the first twenty yards of water. Waves and turbulence mix this heat downward quickly. The surface layer of the ocean is mixed from the top to the bottom of that layer. The temperature of the surface waters varies with latitude. The polar seas can be as cold as -2 degrees Celsius (28.4 degrees Fahrenheit) while the Persian Gulf can be as warm as 36 degrees Celsius (96.8 degrees Fahrenheit). The normal temperature of the ocean surface waters is about 17 degrees Celsius (62.6 degrees Fahrenheit). There is a boundary between surface waters of the ocean and deeper layers that are not mixed. The boundary begins about 100-400 yards and extends several hundred of yards downward from there. This boundary region, where there is a rapid decrease of temperature, is called the thermocline. Ninety percent of the total volume of ocean is found below the thermocline in the deep ocean. Here, temperatures approach freezing. So even though surface waters can be a comfortable 20 degrees Celsius, the majority of our ocean water has a temperature between 0-3 degrees Celsius (32-37.5 degrees Fahrenheit). The density of ocean water continuously increases with decreasing temperature until the water freezes. Ocean water, with an average salinity of 35 psu, freezes at -1.94 degrees Celsius (28.5 degrees Fahrenheit). Near the polar latitudes, ocean water can reach these low temperatures and freeze. Dissolved salts in the water tend to be rejected by the forming ice so that sea ice is only about 1 % salt. An interesting tidbit for those of you interested in survival tactics - because of the lessened amount of salt, melted sea ice would be fit to drink even if sea water is not! Sea ice formation at high latitudes ultimately drives circulation of the deep waters of the ocean. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2k8khX8V8PI

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Clarifications About Carbohydrate and Insulin

My statements about carbohydrate and insulin in the previous post seem to have kicked up some dust!  Some people are even suggesting I've gone low-fat!  I'm going to take this opportunity to be more specific about my positions.

I do not think that post-meal insulin spikes contribute to obesity, and they may even oppose it. Elevated fasting insulin is a separate issue-- that's a marker of insulin resistance.  It's important not to confuse the two.  Does insulin resistance contribute to obesity?  I don't know, but it's hypothetically possible since insulin acts like leptin's kid brother in some ways.  As far as I can tell, starch per se and post-meal insulin spikes do not lead to insulin resistance.
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Dinner and Talk Wednesday Night In Palm Beach, Florida

World renowned Dr. Robert Young comes to Palm Beach this week!

Dr. Robert Young, author of the best sellers “The pH Miracle,” “The ph Miracle for Diabetes,” and ‘The pH Miracle for Weight Loss,” and owner of The pH Miracle Center and Health Ranch in California will be in Palm Beach to speak this Wednesday night May 18 at 7:30 P.M. Please log on to see Dr. Young’s full background at www.phmiracleliving.com

Dinner and the Dr. Young talk will take place at The Raw Kitchen, at 509 Clematis St. West Palm Beach 33401. Their phone number is 561 820 0144. They are closing the restaurant for this private Dr. Young event. You can get there earlier if you want to eat before as they will seat participants from 5:00 on, or you can eat during Dr. Young’s talk. The restaurant serves delicious and healthy food and In case you’re wondering, the dinners range from $17 to $20. There is no charge for the talk.

Your excellent health is your birthright. Let Dr. Young lead you back to feeling great…the natural way. If you are interested, Dr. Young will be available to see clients individually during the following day, Thursday May 19. Don’t miss this life changing and conscious evening.

Paul Ryan

Paul Ryan Productions

www.paulryanproductions.com

www.youtube.com/paulryanproductions

tel. 818.783.7940

fax 818.788.0706

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You Don't Get Old You Mold - Lung Cancer

The electron micrograph of diagnosed lung cancer shows the biological transformation of lung tissue into bacteria, yeast, mushroom, algae and mold.

The condition of lung cancer is the result of a compromised environment by increased acidity from an acidic lifestyle and diet.

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You Don't Get Old You Mold!

You become what you eat, what you drink and what you think!

• Disease is born in us and from us!

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Antibiotic, Probiotics and Enzymatic Supplementation Is A Rotting Ideology!

Intestinal bacterium and fungi are like parasites - they feed on your energy and eliminate their acidic wastes or enzymatic juices inside you leaving you sick and tired.

There is NO such thing as good bacteria or good fungi/yeast. They are the remnants of what use to be healthy organized plant, animal or human m

atter. They are the evidence of a sick body, a sick mind and a sick spirit. Bacteria, yeast, mold, algae, mushrooms and their waste products called enzymes are born in us and from us.

Does the pool of water need bacteria, yeast or algae to stay pure, clean and healthy? And yet these organisms are found in stagnant putrefying water. They are found at the end stage of what use to be healthy organized plant, animal and human matter and now born out of decaying, putrefying, and rotting matter in their own enzymatic acidic waste products or urine.

Bacteria, yeast, mold and algae are the symptom of decaying matter NOT the cause of that decay. The idea of ingesting these biological transformations comes from a sick polluted gut/mind.

Enzymes are the waste products or urine from decaying matter. All antibiotics are enzymes derived from decaying or rotting matter. For example, penicillin is an acidic waste product or enzyme from the yeast penicillium. When you ingest any antibotic you are ingesting an acidic waste product of fermentation. It is a poison. It is an acid. And it will compromise the delicate pH balance of the gut, the blood and the tissues which are all alkaline.

You don't get old you mold. You rot. You decay. You become the very bacteria, yeast, fungi, algae and mold you are creating with your acidic lifestyle and diet - which includes the ingestion of morbid acidic matter and their acidic enzymatic waste products.

And the medical and health care world calls the ingestion of these morbid transformations and their acidic waste products called enzymes, nutrition!

The key to true health and fitness is to understand that the body is alkaline by design and acidic by function. When you maintain the alkaline design of the body with an alkaline lifestyle and diet you will achieve extraordinary health and fitness. You become free from all sickness and disease.

There is NO other way to achieve this state of physical being.

There is only one sickness, one disease and one prevention or treatment.

The one sickness and disease is the over-acidification of the gut, blood and tissues due to an inverted way of living, eating and thinking.

And there is only one prevention or one way to maintain and achieve true health, energy, vitality and fitness - an alkaline lifestyle and diet I call the pH Miracle - The diet for immortality!

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Irritable Bowel Syndrome Caused by Increased Acidity From Increased Acidic Food and Supplements

When the small intestine is clear of bacteria, yeast, mold, enzymes, probiotics, antibiotics and undigested food, then the normal healthy process of food transformation can take place creating healthy strong stem cells that will then become healthy strong red blood cells and eventually healthy strong body cells.

Taking enzymes, probiotics and antibiotics disrupts this normal healthy alkaline process of creating stem cells and then red blood cells in the small intestine which then leads to ALL sickness and disease...: http://articlesofhealth.blogspot.com/2011/05/questions-on-probiotics-antibiotics-and.html

The following article supports my research that bacteria is always present in inflammatory and degenerative conditions. This is the result of the break down of food cells and/or body cells. The most important thing to understand here is that bacteria is a symptom of degeneration NOT the cause. The key to a healthy, strong and fit body is by maintaining the alkaline design of the body. The small and large intestine should always be alkaline at a pH of 8.4.

Using bacteria or enzymes to break down food ignores the fact that food breaks down from the inside out NOT the outside in. This means as the teeth break the membranes of the food the food cells will unravel or digest or liquidfy on their own and need no additional digestive help. It is important to understand that the entire digestive system is designed to alkalize the food we ingest NOT digest that food. To support the alkaline design of the body one must eat foods that go to liquid and are alkaline, such as low sugar fruit and vegetables.

The pH Miracle Lifestyle and Diet is the correct program for maintaining the alkaline design of the body and will prevent inflammatory conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome caused by an acidic lifestyle and diet and eating foods and drinks that are acidic and foods like animal proteins that do not go to liquid in the gut. Undigested or non-liquid food in the gut only leads to putrefication, fermentation and increased acidity that destroys the delicate intestinal villi where life begins and the creation of stem cells.

Once there is damage to the intestinal villi from acidic undigested food, bacteria, yeast and mold will increase and this will lead to all sickness and disease. Irritable bowel or inflammatory bowel or degenerative bowel (cancer) are all caused by acidic foods and foods such as undigested animal proteins that do not liquefy.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Common Gastrointestinal Disorder Linked to Bacterial Overgrowth, Food Poisoning

ScienceDaily (May 13, 2011) — Cedars-Sinai researchers have reported two advances in the understanding of irritable bowel syndrome, the most common gastrointestinal disorder in the United States, affecting an estimated 30 million people.

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One study provides further evidence that IBS is linked to an overgrowth of bacteria in the gut. In a separate study, a mathematical model reveals the disease's link to food poisoning and shows that military personnel are at a much higher risk for the disorder than the rest of the population.

"The better we understand this disease, which affects millions of Americans, the more tools we will have for fighting it," said Mark Pimentel, MD, director of the Cedars-Sinai GI Motility Program and a primary investigator on the studies. "Patients with this condition suffer serious quality of life issues. It's a disease that is frequently misunderstood and difficult for people to talk about, but it's important for the medical community to understand the causes of the disease so we can develop the most effective treatments possible."

The findings were reported at Digestive Disease Week, the world's largest gathering of physicians and researchers in gastroenterology, hepatology, endoscopy and gastrointestinal surgery. The May 7-10 conference occurred in Chicago. IBS is the most common gastrointestinal disorder in the United States, affecting more than 20 percent of the population. Doctors commonly categorize patients with a "constipation predominant" condition, a "diarrhea-predominant" condition, or an alternating pattern of diarrhea and constipation. These patients also often experience abdominal pain or cramps, excess gas or bloating, and visible abdominal distension.

In collaboration with researchers at Sismanogleion General Hospital in Athens, Greece, and at the University of Athens, scientists looked at small bowel cultures to confirm the presence of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth -- or SIBO -- in patients with IBS. Previous studies have indicated that bacteria have a role in the disease, including breath tests finding methane (a byproduct of bacterial fermentation in the gut), as well as the disease responding to antibiotics. In this study, 320 patients underwent an endoscopy of their upper GI tract, from which a small bowel culture was cultivated. Of those patients with IBS, 37.5 percent were positive for bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine, compared to fewer than 10 percent of those who did not have the disorder . The overgrowth was more prevalent in those with the diarrhea-predominant version of the disease. Researchers also found more different kinds of bacteria in IBS patients.

In a separate study, using a mathematical model, researchers concluded that food poisoning -- gastroenteritis -- may account for the majority of irritable bowel syndrome cases. Further, it predicts a greater incidence of the disease for populations at a higher risk of these kinds of infections, such as military personnel. The study was based on data from the Centers for Disease Control and other research studies. The model projects that 9 percent of those with a genetic predisposition would contract IBS after 10 years. However, among high risk groups such as deployed military, 9 percent of that population would develop the disease in a six month time frame.

"While everyone understands that our troops encounter great danger and difficult conditions while serving their country, this study reminds us that we need to pay greater attention to the dietary woes and digestive upsets that long have been the subject of wry discussion among overseas forces," Pimentel said of the study results.

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