Friday, July 23, 2010

Zicam and zinc related nasal gels

So, if your dancin' with your honey, and your nose is kind o' runny. You think it's kind of funny, but it-Snot. If you want the skinny on this, DONT USE Zinc related products for the common cold.
First of all: Know the difference between bacteria and virus.
Bacteria (and many types of fungi) love wet, warm, dark places. Some of them stink (anerobic), like your stool. And yes, football players, movie stars, and NBA players' poop still stinks all the same. Then there are the bacteria that don't stink but get gobbled up by your immune system (white blood cells) then die. The result is whitish gunk or pus. Next time you pop a zit, remember this.
Viruses are different. They infect your cells, irritate the heck out of your cells especially the ones in your nose (since this is the most common rout of infection). Your body secrets a bunch of clear mucus (rhinorrhea) and fevers can bound. Your whole body takes a hit though and you feel like you were hit by a ton of bricks. The good part, it only lasts about 5 to 7 days. The bad part is you can get so run down that a bacterial infection can arise due to wet, warm dark place, and a compromised immune system.
Second of all: They don't work
The companies will fund research to prove or disprove whether their product works or not. Can you guess how accurate these "funded research" projects are? Yeah, tell that lab rat with wife and kids that if he doesn't make it "look good", he'll be out on the street with closed doors for future work anywhere he goes. However, recently unbiased research has determined that Zicam or other zinc nasal gels don't shorten or stop the cold (virus).
Thirdly: You could lose your smell
In 2009 and now reported this year, reports of settled lawsuits have arisen due to people losing their smell from these products. Can you lose your smell from viruses? Oh yes! But do you want to complicate things with taking a "homeopathic medicine" that is thought to cause anosmia while trying to combat a virus which has the chance of causing the same side affect? You decide.
Fourth-ly: FDA can not legally do anything against Zicam
The FDA can only regulate homeopathic medications for "serious illnesses". So, the common cold and it's remedies get kicked to the curb. Caveat emptor!
In summary, my advice is to load up on your tylenol, ibuprofen, favorite non alcoholic beverage. Make a blockbuster run and take a week to recover. Unless you are a mother of 4 young children. You can't afford to be sick, so just don't get sick. :)

Monday, June 14, 2010

Marriage :Narcissism, histrionic behavior, signs ...

Signs and behaviors of such psychiatrically debilitating behavior need to be observed, evaluated, then beaten out of such people. That is why there is marriage.
As pointed out in a marriage and family class recently attended, a healthy relationship (not one always at peace mind you) is one that keeps both parties in check of impending mental illness. I believe in part that this is why single men tend to be so dang quirky the older they become. If they are not in a good social network (church group, work network, etc), they become vagabonds. Less I digress, I must continue my thought...
If your marriage is not difficult, it is because you are either way too quirky and just leave each other alone, or you and your wife are above the age of 75. Or, you're lying.
Here are two personality disorders that come to mind that make family (including spousal and in-law's) intermingling very much difficult and prone to break-down.
Narcissism and Histrionic behavior
As per Wikipedia...

Histrionic personality disorder (HPD) is defined by the American Psychiatric Association as a personality disorder characterized by a pattern of excessive emotionality and attention-seeking, including an excessive need for approval and inappropriate seductiveness, usually beginning in early adulthood. These individuals are lively, dramatic, enthusiastic, and flirtatious.

They may be inappropriately sexually provocative, express strong emotions with an impressionistic style, and be easily influenced by others. Associated features may include egocentrism, self-indulgence, continuous longing for appreciation, feelings that are easily hurt, and persistent manipulative behavior to achieve their own needs.

Characteristics:

People with this disorder are usually able to function at a high level and can be successful socially and professionally. People with histrionic personality disorder usually have good social skills, but they tend to use these skills to manipulate other people and become the center of attention.[1]Furthermore, histrionic personality disorder may affect a person's social or romantic relationships or their ability to cope with losses or failures.

People with this disorder lack genuine empathy. They start relationships well but tend to falter when depth and durability are needed, alternating between extremes ofidealization and devaluation. They may seek treatment for depression when romantic relationships end, although this is by no means a feature exclusive to this disorder.

They often fail to see their own personal situation realistically, instead tending to dramatize and exaggerate their difficulties. They may go through frequent job changes, as they become easily bored and have trouble dealing with frustration. Because they tend to crave novelty and excitement, they may place themselves in risky situations. All of these factors may lead to greater risk of developing depression.

Mnemonic

A mnemonic that can be used to remember the criteria for histrionic personality disorder is PRAISE ME:[9][10]

  • P - provocative (or seductive) behavior
  • R - relationships, considered more intimate than they are
  • A - attention, must be at center of
  • I - influenced easily
  • S - speech (style) - wants to impress, lacks detail
  • E - emotional lability, shallowness
  • M - make-up - physical appearance used to draw attention to self
  • E - exaggerated emotions - theatrical

World Health Organization

The World Health Organization's ICD-10 lists histrionic personality disorder as (F60.4) Histrionic personality disorder.[6]

It is characterized by at least 3 of the following:
  1. self-dramatization, theatricality, exaggerated expression of emotions;
  2. suggestibility, easily influenced by others or by circumstances;
  3. shallow and labile affectivity;
  4. continual seeking for excitement and activities in which the patient is the centre of attention;
  5. inappropriate seductiveness in appearance or behaviour;
  6. over-concern with physical attractiveness.

All I'm saying is that I am very thankful to be married to such a wonderful woman. I would otherwise be living in some alley and sleeping in some gutter every night.

Our child proofed world

Have you ever wondered how we ever survived as a child? I mean, look at the regulations for everything now. Crib bars have to be a certain width so a childs head can't fit between the bars and cause the unthinkable. Believe me, I took a forensics pathology course and saw the horrific pictures. This is a good thing. Then we have the extremity of this regulation warning by putting choking hazard words on hot dog packages. Anyone else find some crazy warnings? Please add to the mix...

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

great values coming from the Buffett's

So, As I was perusing through Yahoo, a very pertinent to our day article popped up. The value of wealth. I especially liked the silver spoon to dagger in back comparison. I think I was extremely lucky to have parents who taught the value of hard work. Compared to the rest of the world, I definitely think I had a silver spoon placed in my mouth with all of the educational opportunities offered me growing up spiritually and scholastically. I had some of the best leaders in the world teach me the moral values based in gospel principles. This was both done in the home and twice a week Wednesdays and Sundays, then daily during high school with seminary. I had the worlds best friends to keep me on the straight and narrow during all those times where temptations could easily have led me astray. Then I was given the opportunity to go to college, then medical school. I'm surprised that I haven't choked to death on the silver spoon. I guess the benefit of silver is that it does have some antibacterial properties, so the infection rate has been kept low. :) I guess I'm just feeling like one lucky son of a gun. When I graduate, medical missions to foreign countries are going to keep me and my family grounded in that which is most important... Service to our fellow beings. Anyone want to join? T minus one or so years.

Warren Buffett's son preaches values as wealth

Peter BuffettAP – FILE - This June 2, 2004 file photo shows musician Peter Buffett with his father, Warren Buffett, right, …

NEW YORK (Reuters) – The son of billionaire investor Warren Buffetthas an old-world spiritual message for today's money-rich parents: teach your children values and do not give them everything they want.

Musician and now author Peter Buffett preaches the message in his new book "Life is What You Make it: Finding Your Own Path to Fulfillment". Recently released in the United States, it describes how he wound up a "normal, happy" person instead of a spoiled child to one of the world's richest people.

Buffett, 52, teaches the rewards of self-respect and pursuing one's own passions and accomplishments rather than buying into society's concepts of material wealth.

"I am my own person and I know what I have accomplished in my life," he said. "This isn't about wealth or fame or money or any of that stuff, it is actually about values and what you enjoy and finding something you love doing."

People who are born with a silver spoon in their mouth can fall victim to what Buffett said his father has called a "silver dagger in your back," which leads to a sense of entitlement and a lack of personal achievement.

"Entitlement is the worst thing ever and I see entitlement coming in many guises," he said. "Anybody who acts like they deserve something 'just because,', is a disaster."

But Buffett wasn't always this wise. His own family gave him $90,000 in stock when he was 19, a small sum from such immense financial wealth. After studying at Stanford University, he moved to San Francisco and lived in a studio apartment with just enough room for his musical instruments.

"I was really searching," he said, adding that he began his musical career by working for free writing music for a local television station.

"I was kind of lost, but trying to find myself. It was definitely this strange period where I didn't really know where I was going," he said.

LOOKING AT THE BIG PICTURE

As well his musical passions, the values taught to him growing up and a sense of a bigger picture in life stayed with him during those trying times, he said.

"I was not only not handed everything as a kid, I was shown that there are lots of other people out there with very different circumstances," he said.

Although many people he encounters assume that his father wanted him to go into finance, he said his father accepted his choice to become a musician beginning with commercials then his own albums and composing for television shows and films.

"It was encouraged for a moment when I was open to the idea," he said about pursuing finance. But he added that as he grew older, it became clear the financial world "was not speaking to my heart."

Along with the book, Buffett has embarked on a "Concert & Conversation" tour in which he plays the piano, talks about his life and warns against consumerist culture and damaging the environment.

He said he eventually inherited more money after his mother died in 2004, but by then he had learned his lessons. Now he works on giving back to the world -- another of his life philosophies -- which includes through working for his father's NoVo charitable foundation.

"Economic prosperity may come and go; that's just how it is," he writes in the book. "But values are the steady currency that earn us the all-important rewards."

(editing by Bob Tourtellotte)

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Obama's suit?

What in the world is going on in Washington? Absolutely nothing. Yes, I repeat, NOTHING! That is, nothing involving common sense. I mean, when there is a law already on the books that preserves Arizona's economy by preventing illegal aliens from jumping in line in front of others. The foreigners trying to get citizenship are disgusted and rightly so!
Lets do a comparison...If you are in the grocery store (Walmart for me), and it's saturday night and the line is 10 people long. All of a sudden, someone runs in the store, takes as much as humanly possible to fit in the grocery cart, cuts in line, and expects it all for free.
Same difference with the illegal influx. Not only are they cutting in line and getting free Emergency care, free or discounted housing, food stamps, free education for their children with their special language tutors and etc., but they bring the good with the bad. MS13 gangs are bloody and horrific gangs, just call my federally employed brother.
Sure, the good ones are great, they take the jobs that nobody else wants, they are hard workers and we would all parish if they we're not here. Balogna! Those jobs would be filled by our lazy generation "Y" kids. Those jobs would teach them good work ethic! That is another disgust I have...for another time. True they are hard workers and those that do work are great to have, but do they pay taxes? Ya know, the stuff that funds all the programs like food stamps etc. NO! They send the money they make back to their country creating a multimillion dollar contribution to countries such as Mexico. Yes, even Mexico actually has a manuel on how to cross the boarder and live in the United States illegally. What's wrong with that?!? Gee, if I went to Mexico the same way, I wouldn't last a week even though I DO speak spanish.
So, our ever so trusted man of Hope and Change has failed the American people once again. Surprise surprise! He and his nut job assistants in Washington are suing, yes SUING the Arizona government for actually enforcing federal and state laws on illegal immigration. WOW! Please come quickly November, and God bless the people of this country to grow some brain cells and vote in some people of power that will help put a stop to the mad rampage of idiocracy!

Friday, April 30, 2010

Health care...a commodity

Okay, our current health system has many problems that definitely need addressed i.e. unable to get insurance due to having a chronic/lifelong ailment, but lets fix the problem instead of creating a new plan loaded with problems of it's own like penalizing the small business man when he starts to expand past 25 employees.
From my stand point...Obama's health plan... It 's a failed system that shortchanges doctors and interferes with the private contract between the doctor and the patient. This is a good summary of an article in one of the ENT magazines I was sent...
As it is currently...
...If you treat a Medicare patient, and the patient says, "times are tough, can you forget the copay, you can't do that," he said. "That's illegal because it's considered fraud. Also, if the patient wants to give you $20 more because the payment for your services is not adequate, you can't accept it. They kick you our of the Medicare system for two years. Wen you tell the public that, they say, "You gotta be kidding me! Why should there be coercion?"
So we should...Allow the purchase of health insurance across state lines. you allow tax credits-Whenever you pay for your insurance comes back to you as a credit, not a deduction. You allow private contracting between patients and physicians without penalty. You allow individual ownership of a policy and enhanced medical savings accounts. Get people off of Medicaid. Get rid of the program. Give Medicaid recipients a voucher and allow them to buy health insurance just like the people in the federal employees' health benefit program.
Anyway, food for thought.
Oh, I was chatting with a fellow resident who went to capital hill to hear all the latest...
If Obama sticks around, in 15 years we'll have a single payer system where everyone will be on the government insurance. Yes, a repeat of all the rest of the world. I say, if you love it that much Mr. Obama, put yourself on the system with the rest of your comrades. I just can't wait till my gas is free.

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

CHILDREN ARE NOT ACCESSORIES!

Listen up you wanna-be's Angelina Jolie's So, did any of the women or men listen to the Lords voice this past month? I hope I wasn't the only one that picked up on how selfish parents are these days. All in all, I interpreted the several talks as focusing on how we are all about self gratification. Forgetting that now we are adults and it isn't about us anymore. I'm guilty of it, and maybe that is why I picked up on it so much this last conference. However, I know I'm not the only one. As I look around and talk to other people and see how their children are stunted in their mental and thus scholastic, and spiritual souls. I was once told that being LDS, Catholic etc. was a fear, and guilt based religion. I say, there should be guilt and shame which drives us to be better! If that hasn't occurred, then you won't change. Questions we should ask ourselves... 1) Are you as a parent doing at least the bare minimum of Family home evening, family prayer, and scripture study? 2) If your child is struggling to progress scholastically, have you and your spouse dropped all of the selfish time sucking items (i.e. TV remote), and focused on how your child can progress (i.e. help patiently with homework)? 3) Did you listen to the voice of the lord in prayer and fasting for inspiration on how to make your children spiritually great? As they said in conference, there is a direct coorelation between quality time and quantity of time. If you don't have quantity, then there are not opportunities created for quality. So, set aside the selfish desire to excel in the professional world, turn off the "boob tube", and nurture the children whom so desperately need parents to spend that time with them. Since they obviously can learn more than what is taught in school, take time to teach them. They will remember it forever as "the fact my daddy taught me". Teach them now before they think they know it all. Be the example a parent desires their child to be. If your child is talking back, destructive, rude, etc. Where did he/she learn it from? From those he/she admires...YOU! Stepping down now from my soap box.

Monday, April 12, 2010

Spank or not to spank

My question is, not if, but how much. You see, Debbie would go along with this article full heartedly. I say, for the most part, she's right. As I have experienced, it isn't wise to use corporal punishment on a emotional basis. For the most part, it's used in the heat of pinacled anger from the parent who's had enough. I should know, when my patience runs out, I pop like a balloon. Typical for a surgeon I guess. After a few still small voices, aside from Deb's, it has been recommended that I not spank on a whim. I haven't spanked my kids in months. Nor have I had to. I mean what I say, and I apply what I mean. I let them know when they are getting close to the line and warn them about crossing the line. If it's done on purpose, then I act. If I don't act you see, that just tells the little boundry pushing child that it's actually okay to push the boundary a few times before recourse happens. At thier age, if there is nothing to fear, then there is nothing to respect. If there is nothing to respect then their innate selfishness abounds and everyone around that brat suffers. So, I say, use corporal punishment wisely and not as a constant means of punishment, but as an end after all has been tried and failed. Just keep the golden rule in hand and teach them! Just like in conference two weeks ago. There was so much said on teaching the child in the home, not just spiritual, but academics. They talked about all the other learning preocesses that come about by exposure t o two loving parents. Study: Spanking Kids Leads to More Aggressive Behavior By ALICE PARK Alice Park – Mon Apr 12, 1:50 am ET Disciplining young children is one of the key jobs of any parent - most people would have no trouble agreeing with that. But whether or not that discipline should include spanking or other forms of corporal punishment is a far trickier issue. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) does not endorse spanking for any reason, citing its lack of long-term effectiveness as a behavior-changing tactic. Instead the AAP supports strategies such as "time-outs" when children misbehave, which focus on getting kids to reflect on their behavior and the consequences of their actions. Still, as many parents can attest, few responses bring about the immediate interruption of a full-blown tantrum like a swift whack to the bottom. (See pictures of the evolution of the college dorm.) Now researchers at Tulane University provide the strongest evidence yet against the use of spanking: of the nearly 2,500 youngsters in the study, those who were spanked more frequently at age 3 were more likely to be aggressive by age 5. The research supports earlier work on the pitfalls of corporal punishment, including a study by Duke University researchers that revealed that infants who were spanked at 12 months scored lower on cognitive tests at age 3. "I'm excited by the idea that there is now some nice hard data that can back up clinicians when they share their caution with parents against using corporal punishment," says Dr. Jayne Singer, clinical director of the child and parent program at Children's Hospital Boston, who was not involved in the study. (Read "Should Kids Be Bribed to Do Well in School?") Led by Catherine Taylor, the Tulane study was the first to control simultaneously for variables that are most likely to confound the association between spanking and later aggressive behavior. The researchers accounted for factors such as acts of neglect by the mother, violence or aggression between the parents, maternal stress and depression, the mother's use of alcohol and drugs, and even whether the mother considered abortion while pregnant with the child. Each of these factors contributed to children's aggressive behavior at age 5, but they could not explain all of the violent tendencies at that age. Further, the positive connection between spanking and aggression remained strong, even after these factors had been accounted for. "The odds of a child being more aggressive at age 5 if he had been spanked more than twice in the month before the study began increased by 50%," says Taylor. And because her group also accounted for varying levels of natural aggression in children, the researchers are confident that "it's not just that children who are more aggressive are more likely to be spanked." What the study, published Monday in the journal Pediatrics, shows is that outside of the most obvious factors that may influence violent behavior in children, spanking remains a strong predictor. "This study controls for the most common risk factors that people tend to think of as being associated with aggression," says Singer. "This adds more credence, more data and more strength to the argument against using corporal punishment." Among the mothers who were studied, nearly half (45.6%) reported no spanking in the previous month; 27.9% reported spanking once or twice; and 26.5% reported spanking more than twice. Compared with children who were not hit, those who were spanked were more likely to be defiant, demand immediate satisfaction of their wants and needs, get frustrated easily, have temper tantrums and lash out physically against others. The reason for that, says Singer, may be that spanking instills fear rather than understanding. Even if a child were to stop his screaming tantrum when spanked, that doesn't mean he understands why he shouldn't be acting out in the first place. What's more, spanking models aggressive behavior as a solution to problems. For children to understand what and why they have done something wrong, it may take repeated efforts on the parent's part, using time-outs - a strategy that typically involves denying the child any attention, praise or interaction with parents for a specified period of time (that is, the parents ignore the child). These quiet times force children to calm down and learn to think about their emotions, rather than acting out on them blindly. Spanking may stop a child from misbehaving in the short term, but it becomes less and less effective with repeated use, according to the AAP; it also makes discipline more difficult as the child gets older and outgrows spanking. As the latest study shows, investing the time early on to teach a child why his behavior is wrong may translate to a more self-aware and in-control youngster in the long run.

Thursday, April 8, 2010

Georgia's Congressman is smokin' something!

Par for the course! After viewing this video, it's no wonder why nothing of importance gets done in congress these days. Lazy sacks of useless carbon dioxide emitters. Yes, I am offended that this guy actually is polluting this earth with his huge carbon footprint caused by his oral emissions. But he does make a good point. The island of Guam perhaps would "tip and capsize" if they put additional military personnel on the island, that is, if I was as trippin' on whatever it is he's smokin'. Pass the dubie! Love, Peace, and lets watch Guam capsize!
Here's the link...