Don't Eat These 7 Unhealthy Pizzas

Worst Pizzas in America
By David Zinczenko

Sep 20, 2010

Eat This, Not That
by David Zinczenko

When pizza was first invented, back in some long forgotten Italian village, it was a nearly perfect slice of nutrition: A thin crust of carbohydrates for energy, slathered with tomato sauce for vitamins and minerals, and topped with calcium-rich, protein-boosting mozzarella. It was like a food pyramid in pie form!

So what happened? How did this healthy Italian invention acquire a reputation for being so terribly unhealthy? Well, to start, American food manufacturers got their greedy little hands on it. As we began researching the Eat This, Not That! book series, we discovered marketers were up to all sorts of mischief that has made it easier for Americans to gain weight—doing creepy things like loading the top up with fatty meats, infusing the crust with hidden cheeses, and otherwise turning the healthy pizza pie into a Big Mac with crust. Mama Mia!

It’s too bad, too, because pizza is a staple of American life. During last year’s Super Bowl, Papa Johns sold more pies than there are people in Delaware. And it’s only the third-biggest pizza chain (Papa Johns, not Delaware). So if you want the best of both worlds—the health benefits of the Italian style and the football-rooting fun of the American way of life, then you need to know which pizzas should be showing up at your door at halftime—and which should get called for a 15-pound penalty. (And for more of the best health, fitness, nutrition and weight-loss tips that will improve your life instantly, make sure you follow me here on Twitter.)


#7: Worst Supermarket Pizza
DiGiorno For One Traditional Crust Supreme Pizza
790 calories
36 g fat (14 g saturated fat, 3 g trans fats)
1,460 mg sodium

No, it’s not delivery, but it is dangerous. This is how DiGiorno handles the personal pie: with 60 percent of your day’s sodium, 70 percent of your saturated fat, and more trans fat than you should consume in an entire day. If your heart had a voice box, it would be screaming in outrage.

Eat This Instead!
Stouffer’s French Bread Deluxe Pizza (1 pizza)
430 calories
21 g fat (7 g saturated)
820 mg sodium


#6: Worst Multi-National Pizza
California Pizza Kitchen Tostada Pizza with Grilled Steak (1/2 pie)
840 calories
16 g saturated fat
1,649 mg sodium


With a caloric heft like this, you’d expect this Tex-Mex pie to be massively portioned. It’s not. The big fatty price tag draws not from size, but from the combo effect of tortilla chips and ranch dressing. Switch to the equally interesting Four Seasons Pizza, which carries artichoke hearts, salami, mushroom, tomatoes, onions, and two cheeses, and you drop nearly 400 calories per half-pie serving.

Eat This Instead!
Thin Crust Four Seasons Pizza
480 calories
9 g saturated fat
1,567 mg sodium

Bonus Tip: Take a look at the weapons of mass inflation being whipped up in the labs of the mad fast-food scientists: The 20 Scariest New Restaurant Foods! Be afraid—be very afraid!


#5: Worst Single Slice
Sbarro Stuffed Pepperoni Pizza
960 calories
42 g fat
3,200 mg sodium

Sbarro serves up elephantine slices, so you should know better than to order one that essentially consists of two of those slices folded one atop another. In this one wedge of pizza, Sbarro manages to pack in nearly as many calories as you’d find in four pepperoni slices from Pizza Hut! You want to survive the Sbarro super-slice challenge? Stick to a regular pie, nix the pepperoni and sausage, and limit yourself to one slice.

Eat This Instead!
Fresh Tomato Pizza
450 calories
14 g fat
1,040 mg sodium

Bonus Tip: Sure, pizza has the potential to inflate, but it’s certainly not the only food to cause widespread weight gain. Case in point: The 15 Worst Burgers in America. You'll also learn which burgers to eat instead, so you can enjoy your favorite foods and still lose weight—without ever dieting.


#4: Worst Specialty Crust Pizza
Pizza Hut Stuffed Crust Meat Lover’s Pizza (2 slices, 14” pie)
960 calories
52 g fat (24 g saturated, 1 g trans)
2,780 mg sodium

Around the perimeter of this pie is what essentially amounts to a hula-hoop ring of cheese. Gross, right? But it's not just cheese. Also inside that ring: two types of sausage, ham, beef, and bacon. The impact of all those salt-cured meats is more than a day’s worth of sodium in each two-slice serving—oh, and as much saturated fat as a dozen Extra Crispy Drumsticks from KFC! Here’s a simple mnemonic device: Stuffed pizza = stuffed potbelly. Stick to thin crust and lean meats and you’ll live to eat well another day.

Eat This Instead!
2 Slices Thin ‘N Crispy Ham & Pineapple Pizza (2 slices, 12'' pie)
360 calories
12 g fat (6 g saturated)
1,080 mg sodium

Bonus Tip: To see more proof of how wayward beverages can utterly destroy your diet, check out the 20 Worst Drinks in America. Many of these disastrous drinks contain more than a day's worth of calories, sugar, and fat!


#3: Worst Flatbread
Cosi Chicken Gorgonzola with Fig Flatbread with Traditional Crust
1,073 calories
41 g fat (9 g saturated)
1,057 mg sodium

At first blush, flatbread seems like a healthy version of pizza—especially when it comes adorned with fanciful toppings like Gorgonzola and figs. But let this be a lesson: Just because it’s fancy doesn’t mean it’s healthy. Cosi’s traditional crust is essentially the same carpet of bread you might find underneath a circular pie. The rules of pizza selection apply to flatbreads as well: Lean toppings, light cheese, and thin crust.

Eat This Instead!
Margherita Flatbread with Thin Crust
451 calories
26 g fat (13 g saturated)
328 mg sodium


#2: Worst Thin Crust Pizza
Domino’s Brooklyn Style ExtravaganZZa Feast Pizza (2 slices 16” pie)
1,180 calories
60 g fat (27 g saturated)
3,420 mg sodium

To be fair, Domino’s Brooklyn Style isn’t promoted as thin crust, but it was created with fold-ability in mind. That requires slices that are soft, thin, and—in Domino’s case—massive. The typical Domino’s pie comes sliced into eighths, but order the Brooklyn-inspired pie and you’ll get only six slices. What happened to the other two slices? They were absorbed—along with their calories, fat, and sodium—into the other slices. Your better option is to build your own pie on a legitimate thin crust. Top that pie chicken and chorizo and you cut out 730 calories. Do that a couple times a week and you’ll cut close to two pounds of flab per month.

Eat This Instead!
Thin Crust Grilled Chicken and Chorizo (2 slices, 14” pie)
450 calories
20 g fat (7 g saturated)
1,030 mg sodium

Bonus Tip: Eating healthy on the go is far easier than it sounds. Check out these 9 Ways to Lose Weight Eating Fast-Food for body slimming tips that don’t cost a minute of your time.


#1: Worst Pizza in America
Uno Chicago Grill Chicago Classic Deep Dish Pizza (Individual)
2,310 calories
162 g fat (54 g saturated fat)
4,920 mg sodium

Wait, wait, wait. This is a one-person pizza? Yup. All 2,310 calories are destined for one soon-to-be expanding belly. This pie has been a perennial pick for us over the past three years, and the reason is simple: No other personal pizza in the country even begins to approach these numbers. It breaks every single caloric recommendation on the books, and it does it under the guise of a must-have “classic” dish. With the country being plagued by obesity, Uno should have the decency to banish—or significantly improve—this dish.

Eat This Instead!
Cheese and Tomato Thin Crust Pizza (Individual)
840 calories
33 g fat (15 g saturated fat)
1,770 mg sodium

For more information contact Senior Solutions at (954) 456-8984 or toll free at 1-800-213-3524

SEX and the Senior

Sexuality Later in Life
Provided By: The Caring Space

Senior citizens experience many changes as they grow older which may affect their sex life. Women may find sex more enjoyable after menopause has occurred or if they have undergone a hysterectomy because there is less risk of pregnancy. Some women may worry about being desirable to a sexual partner as they age. They may feel less feminine, thus resulting in less enjoyable sex.

While women may feel differently about sex depending on their attitudes about their bodies and aging, they will inevitably experience physical changes. The vagina shortens and narrows with aging, and less vaginal lubrication is produced which could also influence how pleasurable a sexual encounter is for an older woman.

Men also experience higher susceptibility to impotence which is the loss of the ability to have or keep an erection hard enough for sexual intercourse. Men who also have heart disease, high blood pressure, or diabetes may experience impotence as a result of medications used to treat these conditions. Some men may find it harder to get an erection, have as hard or large of an erection as they used to, or ejaculate as much as they used to.

Common Challenges

Although aging and illness can affect the ability to have sex, there are methods of maintaining a satisfying sex life, regardless. The following are some common challenges to sex that some senior citizens experience and some tips to overcome them:

Arthritis. Sometimes joint pain can make physical activity like sex uncomfortable. However, your doctor can recommend joint replacement surgery or other medications that can alleviate this pain. You can try to exercise, get a good amount of rest, take warm baths, or avoid strenuous positions in sexual activity to avoid arthritis pain.

Chronic pain. Some people experience recurring pain due to bone and muscle conditions, shingles, poor blood circulation, and blood vessel problems. This can make moving around in general quite painful. If you tell your doctor, he can recommend treatment options available to reduce this pain and improve ability for physical activity including sexual intercourse.

Diabetes. Although some men do not experience any sexual problems, diabetes can cause impotence at times. Physicians can prescribe medications that can help this.

Heart disease. Damaged blood vessels or high blood pressure in men can lead to difficulties with getting or maintaining an erection. Some people are more afraid that sex can induce a heart attack; however, this effect is rare. After experiencing a heart attack, most people can start having sex once they are deemed stable and their physician agrees that that level of physical activity is not too dangerous for that patient.

Incontinence. People who have bladder control problems may be embarrassed or anxious about participating in sex due to the increased pressure on the abdomen that can occur. This condition can be treated by your physician.

Stroke. This can lead to problems in men getting erections or other problems due to paralysis caused by stroke. Sex does not usually induce strokes in people who have had them.

Hysterectomy. While the removal of the uterus in women does not affect the ability to have sex, some people may find the mental implications more of a problem. Women who experience less enjoyment from sex or men who feel that their sexual partner is less feminine after this surgery may be helped with counseling.

Mastectomy. Women whose breasts have been removed are still capable of sexual response, but they may feel less desirable or enjoy sex less as a result. It can be helpful to talk to other women who have also experienced this type of surgery or seek medical advice for breast reconstruction. Some men also may experience lower sex drive from hormone therapy after being diagnosed with breast cancer.

Prostatectomy. While the removal of the prostate for medical reasons may cause impotence or incontinence, some surgical procedures allow nerves leading to the penis to be spared, making an erection possible after recovery. Men can discuss options with their doctor before surgery in order to continue having a satisfying sex life afterwards.

Medications. Blood pressure medications, antihistamines, antidepressants, tranquilizers, appetite suppressants, diabetes drugs, and ulcer medications can lead to impotence in men or make it hard to ejaculate. Some women experience a decrease in sexual desire. Talk to your doctor about options to reduce these side effects.

Alcohol. Alcohol abuse can reduce sexual performance in both men and women.

Maintaining a Healthy Sex Life

Practicing safe sex is important for all ages. Women can still become pregnant until menopause occurs (when she has not got her period for 12 months). Also, senior citizens are still susceptible to STDs like syphilis, gonorrhea, Chlamydial infection, genital herpes, hepatitis B, genital warts, and trichomaniasis.

Senior citizens are still at risk for HIV, the virus that can eventually lead to AIDS. People with more than one sexual partner or people who have unprotected sex are more at risk for contracting HIV. Wearing a condom during sex can prevent transmission of HIV and other STDs.

Sexual intercourse involves both physical and emotional health. Senior citizens who are anxious about how their age affects their sex life either because of physical ability or attractiveness can experience sexual dysfunction that is a result of this stress and worrying. Being open about these concerns, talking to your sexual partner, or seeking professional help with a counselor are all good ways of avoiding dissatisfying sex due to these stressors.

Older sexual partners can engage in multiple activities to keep an active and healthy sex life. It is important to make each other a high priority and be attentive to the other’s needs and feelings about changes that are occurring in their bodies. Couples may explore different kinds of positions, take more time to induce arousal, or try having sex in the morning when energy is maximized. Some senior citizens who are widowed, divorced, or have ill partners may find masturbation an effective way to elongate sexual activity as they age.

Women may find it harder to maintain sexual activity as they age because they usually live longer than men. Although female senior citizens outnumber men, they can try different activities that will help them meet more people like mall walking, enrolling in adult education programs at a community college, or attending senior citizen centers.

Older women usually experience something called dyspareunia or painful sexual intercourse due to lack of vaginal lubrication. Physicians can treat this fairly easily by recommending a lubricant or prescribing estrogen supplements that will help with this issue.

Older men can experience impotence, for which they can take a pill called sildenafil that can help with this. They may also try vacuum device, self-injection of drugs that can induce erection, or penile implants.

Senior citizens should try to live healthier lifestyles in order to have a more enjoyable sex life. Doing things like exercise, eating well, drinking plenty of water, and avoiding smoking and alcohol can help maintain a pleasurable sex life. Asking for help from a physician and remembering that sex can be a positive, enjoyable facet of life for people of all ages is of the utmost importance.



For more information contact Senior Solutions at (954) 456-8984 or toll free at 1-800-213-3524

Get The Alzheimer's Caregiver Notebook

No two people experience Alzheimer’s disease in the same way. As a result, there's no one approach to caregiving. Your responsibilities can range from making financial decisions, managing changes in behavior, to helping a loved one get dressed in the morning.
Handling these duties is hard work.

But by learning caregiving skills, you can make sure that your loved one feels supported and is living a full life. You can also ensure that you are taking steps to preserve your own well-being.
Caregiver NotebookThe Alzheimer's Association Caregiver Notebook contains information and resources to help manage the challenges of caring for an individual with Alzheimer's.

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In this section:
Daily Care - activities, communication, eating, bathing and more.
Behaviors - agitation, repetition, hallucinations, sundowning and other behaviors.
Safety Issues - home safety, medication safety, driving and wandering.
Coping - strategies for caregiver stress, changing relationships, grief and loss, and getting respite.
Caregiver Stress Check - take the quiz and get personalized resources.

For more information contact Senior Solutions at (954) 456-8984 or toll free at 1-800-213-3524

What Is A Coronary Calcium Scan??

What Is a Coronary Calcium Scan?
A coronary calcium scan is a test that can help show whether you have coronary heart disease (CHD), also called coronary artery disease. CHD is the most common type of heart disease in both men and women.

In CHD, a substance called plaque (plak) builds up inside your coronary arteries. These arteries supply your heart muscle with oxygen-rich blood. Plaque is made up of fat, cholesterol, calcium, and other substances found in the blood.

Plaque narrows your coronary arteries and reduces blood flow to your heart muscle. It also makes it more likely that blood clots will form in your coronary arteries. Blood clots can partly or completely block blood flow to part of your heart muscle. This can cause chest pain or discomfort called angina (an-JI-nuh or AN-juh-nuh) or a heart attack.

CHD also can lead to heart failure or arrhythmias (ah-RITH-me-ahs). Heart failure is a condition in which your heart can't pump enough blood to meet your body's needs. Arrhythmias are problems with the rate or rhythm of your heartbeat.

Overview
A coronary calcium scan looks for specks of calcium (called calcifications) in the walls of the coronary arteries. Calcifications are an early sign of CHD. The test can show whether you're at increased risk for a heart attack or other heart problems before other signs and symptoms occur.

Two machines can show calcium in the coronary arteries—electron beam computed tomography (EBCT) and multidetector computed tomography (MDCT). Both use an x-ray machine to make detailed pictures of your heart. Doctors study the pictures to see whether you're at risk for heart problems in the next 2 to 10 years.

A coronary calcium scan is simple and easy for the patient, who lies quietly in the scanner machine for about 10 minutes. The scanner takes pictures of the heart that show whether the coronary arteries have calcifications.

Coronary Calcium Scan

Figure A shows the position of the heart in the body and the location and angle of the coronary calcium scan image. Figure B is the coronary calcium scan image, which shows calcification in a coronary artery.

Outlook
A coronary calcium scan is most useful for people who are at moderate risk for a heart attack. You or your doctor can calculate your 10-year risk using the Risk Assessment Tool from the National Cholesterol Education Program.

People who are at moderate risk have a 10–20 percent chance of having a heart attack within the next 10 years. The coronary calcium scan may help doctors decide who within this group needs treatment.

For more information contact Senior Solutions at (954) 456-8984 or toll free at 1-800-213-3524

Heart Attack Symptoms Are Different for Women

By Mayo Clinic staff

Typical heart attack symptoms:

Symptom Description

Chest discomfort or pain This discomfort or pain can feel like a tight ache, pressure, fullness or squeezing in the center of your chest lasting more than a few minutes. This discomfort may come and go.

Upper body pain Pain or discomfort may spread beyond your chest to your shoulders, arms, back, neck, teeth or jaw. You may have upper body pain with no chest discomfort.

Stomach pain Pain may extend downward into your abdominal area and may feel like heartburn.

Shortness of breath You may pant for breath or try to take in deep breaths. This often occurs before you develop chest discomfort.

Anxiety You may feel a sense of doom or feel as if you're having a panic attack for no apparent reason.

Lightheadedness You may feel dizzy or feel like you might pass out.

Sweating You may suddenly break into a sweat with cold, clammy skin.

Nausea and vomiting You may feel sick to your stomach or vomit.

Heart attack symptoms vary widely. For instance, you may have only minor chest pain while someone else has excruciating pain.

One thing applies to everyone, though: If you suspect you're having a heart attack, call for emergency medical help immediately. Don't waste time trying to diagnose heart attack symptoms yourself.

Additional heart attack symptoms in women:

Women may have all, none, many or a few of the typical heart attack symptoms. For women, the most common heart attack symptom is still some type of pain, pressure or discomfort in the chest. But women are more likely than are men to also have heart attack symptoms without chest pain, such as:

■Neck, jaw, shoulder, upper back or abdominal discomfort
■Shortness of breath
■Nausea or vomiting
■Abdominal pain or "heartburn"
■Sweating
■Lightheadedness or dizziness
■Unusual or unexplained fatigue

Heart attack symptoms demand emergency help
Most heart attacks begin with much more subtle symptoms — with only mild pain or discomfort. And your symptoms may come and go. Don't be tempted to downplay your symptoms or brush them off as indigestion or anxiety.

Getting heart attack treatment quickly improves your chance of survival and minimizes damage to your heart. Don't "tough out" these symptoms for more than five minutes. Call 911 or other emergency medical services for help. If you don't have access to emergency medical services, have someone drive you to the nearest hospital. Drive yourself only as a last resort, if there are absolutely no other options.


For more information contact Senior Solutions at (954) 456-8984 or toll free at 1-800-213-3524

Symptoms of Parkinson's Disease

The diagnosis of PD depends upon the presence of one or more of the four most common motor symptoms of the disease, which are: resting tremor, bradykinesia, rigidity and postural instability.

In addition, there are other secondary and nonmotor symptoms that affect many people and are increasingly recognized by doctors as important to treating Parkinson’s.

Each person with Parkinson's will experience these symptoms differently. For example, many people experience tremor as their primary symptom, while others may not have tremors, but may have problems with balance. Also, for some people the disease progresses quickly, and in others it does not.

Find out more by reading detailed descriptions of Parkinson's symptoms below. If your questions are not answered consider Asking the Expert your question about PD.

Primary Motor Symptoms
Secondary Motor Symptoms
Nonmotor Symptoms
Coping with Symptoms
Primary Motor Symptoms

Resting Tremor: About 70 percent of people with Parkinson’s experience a slight tremor in the early stage of the disease - either in the hand or foot on one side of the body, or less commonly in the jaw or face. The tremor appears as a "beating" or oscillating movement. Because the Parkinson's tremor usually appears when a person's muscles are relaxed, it is called "resting tremor." This means that the affected body part trembles when it is not doing work, and it usually subsides when a person begins an action. The tremor often spreads to the other side of the body as the disease progresses, but remains most apparent on the original side of occurrence.
Bradykinesia (Slow Movement): Bradykinesia is the phenomenon of a person experiencing slow movements. In addition to slow movements, a person with bradykinesia will probably also have incomplete movement, difficulty initiating movements and sudden stopping of ongoing movement. People who have bradykinesia may walk with short, shuffling steps (this is called festination). Bradykinesia and rigidity can occur in the facial muscles, reducing a person's range of facial expressions and resulting in a "mask-like" appearance.
Rigidity: Rigidity, also called increased muscle tone, means stiffness or inflexibility of the muscles. Muscles normally stretch when they move, and then relax when they are at rest. In rigidity, the muscle tone of an affected limb is always stiff and does not relax, sometimes resulting in a decreased range of motion. For example, a person who has rigidity may not be able to swing his or her arms when walking because the muscles are too tight. Rigidity can cause pain and cramping.
Postural Instability (Impaired Balance and Coordination): People with Parkinson's disease often experience instability when standing or impaired balance and coordination. These symptoms, combined with other symptoms such as bradykinesia, increase the chance of falling. People with balance problems may have difficulty making turns or abrupt movements. They may go through periods of "freezing," which is when a person feels stuck to the ground and finds it difficult to start walking. The slowness and incompleteness of movement can also affect speaking and swallowing.
Secondary Motor Symptoms

The secondary motor symptoms include those below, but not all people with Parkinson’s will experience all of these.

Stooped posture, a tendency to lean forward
Dystonia
Fatigue
Impaired fine motor dexterity and motor coordination
Impaired gross motor coordination
Poverty of movement (decreased arm swing)
Akathisia
Speech problems, such as softness of voice or slurred speech caused by lack of muscle control (See fact sheet, The Science and Practice of Speaking Loud)
Loss of facial expression, or "masking"
Micrographia (small, cramped handwriting)
Difficulty swallowing
Sexual dysfunction
Cramping (See Q&A booklet, page 32)
Drooling (See Q&A booklet, page 22)
Nonmotor Symptoms

Nonmotor symptoms of Parkinson’s, such as sleep problems and depression, can be, for many people, as troublesome as the primary movement symptoms of the disease.

The following is a list of nonmotor symptoms of Parkinson's disease. To read more about nonmotor symptoms, read our fact sheet, PD: More than a Movement Disorder or check the Living with PD section of the website to learn more about living well with different aspects of PD.

Pain
Dementia or confusion (See two fact sheets, Not Just a Movement Disorder: Cognitive Changes in PD and Coping with Dementia: Advice for Caregivers)
Sleep disturbances (See Q&A booklet, page 27)
Constipation (See Q&A booklet, page 28)
Skin problems
Depression
Fear or anxiety
Memory difficulties and slowed thinking (See fact sheet, Not Just a Movement Disorder: Cognitive Changes in PD)
Urinary problems (See Q&A booklet, page 29)
Fatigue and aching
Loss of energy
Compulsive behavior (See fact sheet, Gambling, Sex and...Parkinson's Disease?)
Coping with Nonmotor Symptoms

More Questions?
Do you have more questions about the symptoms of PD? Ask the experts your questions directly using our online form, or call the helpline at (800) 457-6676.

For more information contact Senior Solutions at (954) 456-8984 or toll free at 1-800-213-3524

SARDINES ARE THE BEST FOOD

My dad’s family is from Norway and for as long as I can remember we’ve been eating fish balls, fish puddings, pickled fish, fish in a tube and fish in a can. Most people thought it was a little weird.

But these days, I’m feeling less like an outcast when I bust open a can of fish, especially sardines. I know a lot of you have strong feelings about sardines, but want to know why I love them?

Sardines (Pacific, wild-caught) are one of the healthiest foods we can consume, according to the health and environmental experts we interviewed for “Sea Change” in our latest issue of EatingWell magazine. These days so many of us are trying to get more omega-3 fats in their diet, because they benefit your heart and your brain. Click here for delicious recipes to help you eat more of these super-healthy omega-3 fats. These nutritional powerhouses are one of the best sources of omega-3 fats, with a whopping 1,950 mg/per 3 oz. (that’s more per serving than salmon, tuna or just about any other food) and they’re packed with vitamin D. And because sardines are small and low on the food chain, they don’t harbor lots of toxins like bigger fish can. Find out why leading scientist Carl Safina thinks eating smaller fish can benefit your health and our oceans. Plus, they’re also one of the most sustainable fish around. Quick to reproduce, Pacific sardines have rebounded from both overfishing and a natural collapse in the 1940's, so much so that they are one of Seafood Watch’s “Super Green” sustainable choices. (Click here to find out which 6 super-healthy fish and shellfish you should eat and which 6 to avoid.)

If you’re trying sardines for the first time, or you just really want to learn to like them, here are a few tips and a few recipes to stoke your sardine love:

For the uninitiated, a good place to start is with a boneless, skinless variety. They come packed in water or olive oil. They’re mild, and can be used in recipes in place of canned tuna fish.
If you’re lucky enough to have fresh sardines available in your supermarket, try them in place of the canned sardines. Lightly dredge them in salt-and-pepper-seasoned flour and sauté them in a little olive oil.
Sardines also come smoked, and come packed in sauces like tomato and mustard—give one of these a try. Smear them on a cracker or piece of toast for a snack or light lunch.
For veteran sardine eaters, the sky’s the limit! Sardines with bones and skin are delicious, too, and they look awesome on top of a salad or platter. P.S. The bones and skin are both edible. Those tiny bones deliver calcium too!
Try sardines in these delicious recipes:

Greek Salad With Sardines The fresh, tangy elements of a Greek salad—tomato, cucumber, feta, olives and lemony vinaigrette—pair well with rich-tasting sardines. Look for sardines with skin and bones (which are edible) as they have more than four times the amount of calcium as skinless, boneless sardines.

Spring Salad with Tarragon Vinaigrette A bold, layered salad that showcases sardines and asparagus, this beautiful dish adds variety to your weekday dining. If you prefer tuna to sardines or have fish from the night before, go ahead and use that instead.

Sardines on Crackers
A protein-packed and portable snack.

Makes: 4 servings
Active time: 5 minutes | Total: 5 minutes

4 whole-grain Scandinavian-style cracker, such as
8-12 canned sardines, preferably packed in olive oil
4 lemon wedges

Top each cracker with 2 to 3 sardines each. Finish with a squeeze of lemon.

Per cracker: 64 calories; 2 g fat (0 g sat, 1 g mono); 20 mg cholesterol; 8 g carbohydrates; 4 g protein; 1 g fiber; 94 mg sodium; 102 mg potassium.

Tomato Toast with Sardines & Mint (pictured above)
Canned sardines make an elegant, yet inexpensive appetizer when served with fresh mint, tomato and onion on toast.

Makes: 12 toasts
Active time: 15 minutes | Total: 30 minutes | To make ahead: Cover and refrigerate the sardine mixture (Step 2) for up to 2 days.

1 4-ounce can boneless, skinless sardines packed in olive oil, preferably smoked
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh mint
2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
1/8 teaspoon salt
3 slices multigrain bread or 12 slices baguette, preferably whole-grain
1/2 medium ripe tomato
1 tablespoon very thinly sliced yellow onion

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. Flake sardines with a fork into a mixing bowl. (The pieces should not be mashed, but should be no bigger than a dime.) Add mint, oil and salt; toss gently to combine.
3. If using whole slices of bread, cut off the crusts and cut each into four triangles. Place the triangles or baguette slices on a baking sheet and bake until crispy and golden brown, 12 to 14 minutes. As soon as you remove them from the oven, rub each slice with the cut side of the tomato. As you progress, the tomato will break down until only the skin remains; discard any remaining tomato.
4. Top each toast with about 1 1/2 teaspoons of the sardine mixture. Top the sardine mixture with a couple of onion slices and serve immediately.

Per toast: 41 calories; 2 g fat (0 g sat, 1 g mono); 5 mg cholesterol; 3 g carbohydrate; 0 g added sugars; 3 g protein; 1 g fiber; 113 mg sodium; 63 mg potassium.

For more information contact Senior Solutions at (954) 456-8984 or toll free at 1-800-213-3524

Hi-Tech Keeps Seniors In Their Own Homes

Seniors are going high-tech, and that is keeping a lot of them out of nursing homes.

HealthFirst reporter Leslie Toldo shows us the advances that are keeping people independent longer.

This is so important. Forty million Americans are over age 65, and one of the hardest things to face is being forced out of your own home into a nursing home.

Nothing slows Josie and Bernie Shankman down. She's 76, he's 86. "We usually ride every Saturday to a different place. I've never been afraid a day riding with him. I got on it the first day, and I've never been afraid."

Although she's not scared on the road, she worries a fall at home will put the brakes on life. "I think that's always on your mind. If you were to fall and one or the other wasn't to be here."

As we grow older, we also lose balance. One in three people over age 65 fall each year. Forty percent of nursing home admissions are because of a fall.

"Half of those will not return to their own homes and be able to live healthfully," said Debra Krotish, Ph.D., assistant director for Senior Smart at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine.

New technology is keeping a watchful eye on the elderly. This vibration detector can be placed on the surface of a floor to detect if a person has fallen, and notify caregivers. These motion detectors track a person's movement.

"For example, if you put them by the bedside or the bathroom door, you know that mom's gotten up in the middle of the night," Krotish said.

This piezo-electric material can be put underneath a mattress to read a person's heart rate and respiration.

There are also devices to monitor a person's health.

This blood pressure cuff and scale sends data by Bluetooth to an online system family members and caregivers can access.

Helen Coplan, 91, still lives alone. She thinks the technology would be very useful. "If anything can help a person stay in their own familiar surroundings, it's well worth it."

Keeping seniors safe and giving peace of mind to loved ones.

Dr. Krotish says the smart home technology could help ease the economic strain on the health care system as more of the population ages.

Costs vary depending on what patients need, but can run from a few hundred dollars to up to $8,000.

According to the American Association of Retired Persons, the average cost of a nursing home stay is about $50,000 a year.

HOME ALONE: Thanks to advanced medical care and increasing life expectancies, many more Americans are growing older. There are about 37 million people living in the United States who are over age 65, but as the population ages, there is also a growing concern for the health and safety of those individuals.

According to the United States Census Bureau, 7.5 million senior women and 2.6 million senior men live alone. While living alone can offer individuals a sense of independence, there are many challenges these seniors face. For example, one major concern is their security and safety. Those who have never been married or who are divorced or widowed are more than twice as likely to be robbed compared to those who are married.

ISSUES SENIORS FACE: Another concern is falls. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, falls are the leading cause of injury and death among the elderly. One in three adults aged 65 and older fall every year. Between 20 percent and 30 percent of falls result in moderate to severe injuries. Falls are also very costly. Today, injuries from falls cost more than $19 billion. A decade from now, the annual cost is expected to reach $54.9 billion.

Another concern for seniors living on their own is medication errors. It can be difficult juggling a schedule of different drugs. A study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine in 2008 revealed more deaths from medication errors occurred at home than in hospitals, from January 1983 through December 2004.

TECHNOLOGY- A WATCHFUL EYE: New home automation technologies are allowing seniors to remain in their own home longer while improving their safety. Such technologies can range from computer controlled network interfaces to monitoring devices like lighting, motion sensors, environmental controls, video cameras, automated timers, emergency assistance programs and alerts. "Smart" homes can also include devices to monitor medication usage -- dispensing the right dose at the right time. Thermometers can detect fever, and blood pressure devices can recognize when blood pressure medications are needed.


For more information contact Senior Solutions at (954) 456-8984 or toll free at 1-800-213-3524

Nintendo Wii - Get Moving - Have Fun

Nintendo Wii Provides the Fun Factor

A lot has been written about the importance of incorporating regular physical activity into your daily routine. Knowing the health benefits associated with regular exercise, it's still difficult for many people to make the necessary commitment.

People may consciously or unconsciously resist regular exercise for various reasons.

But one inherent rule applies to nearly everyone -- doing something is better than doing nothing. Exercise becomes a positive experience when you:

The Nintendo Wii, which retails for about $249, was designed as a popular way for gamers to play virtual sports. When physical therapists and rehabilitation specialists learned about Nintendo Wii, they envisioned a different use for it. With the Nintendo Wii they could bring fun back into physical therapy, which can be boring and a motivation-killer if the patient doesn't remain enthusiastic.

The Nintendo Wii uses a motion-sensitive controller which requires people to move in order to play the games. No more couch potato doing finger exercises for hour upon hour. With the Wii, people are on their feet, moving their arms and legs -- depending on the game being played. People swing the motion-sensitive controller like a tennis racket, golf club, baseball bat, and even throw a football. It's range-of-motion exercise sprinkled with fun!

Senior Community Centers Offer Nintendo Wii Activities
Many seniors who were active in sports when they were younger have been forced into a more sedentary lifestyle after developing hip pain, shoulder pain, and knee pain. The limited mobility that comes with arthritis pain forced them to give up athletics and become spectators. That is, until the Nintendo Wii came along.

Now, seniors are lining up at senior community centers to play and compete against each other on the Nintendo Wii sports games. It has become so popular that many community centers are allowing additional time for Nintendo Wii.

The Nintendo Wii has garnered an unexpected audience. What is most exciting about Wii is that it has unexpectedly put the fun back into exercise and physical therapy, too. Don't become so enthusiastic about Wii that you forget about your physical limitations or precautions. Discuss your new passion for the Wii with your doctor. Be sure to ask if you have any restrictions. Follow your doctor's orders -- and enjoy being active again

For more information contact Senior Solutions at (954) 456-8984 or toll free at 1-800-213-3524

Guardianship in Arizona: Look Closely

Guardianship in Arizona: Elder care or elder abuse?

PHOENIX - Many people move to Arizona for the weather and recreation because it's considered a haven for retirees who want to live out their golden years. But something else is happening here - something haunting.

For Clair's mom, Gloria Horrigan, it was a nightmare.

Clair said her mother was taken to a nursing home against her will and not allowed visitors, not even family.

“It's sickening...It really truly is sickening,” said Clair.

It was a struggle for Robert Brown to bring his wife, Rosemary, home.

She was also taken and within a matter of weeks, the family wasn't allowed to see her either.

What happened in both cases started in a Maricopa County Courtroom - right in front of a judge.

Both Rosemary and Gloria had health issues that made it hard on their families.

Families can't force a loved one to get help, but a guardian can.

That's why their cases ended up in probate court, which hears issues on care for vulnerable adults.

The court approved a guardian in both cases. And both times, the guardian was Sun Valley Group of Tempe.

Their website states they offer "support for client's physical, social, emotional and mental health."

As part of their service, Sun Valley Group also took care of Gloria's personal finances.

But Clair said her mom did not get proper medical treatment and her bills weren't paid. Gloria's house went into foreclosure.

“I’m physically sick from seeing what they've done to my mother. My family, my children, everyone has been affected by this,” said Clair.

Rosemary had a similar story. She was depressed and refused medical care.

Her husband Robert needed help, so he said he agreed to let Sun Valley Group take Rosemary when they promised to make sure she got treatment.

But Robert said under the company's care, she never did, so now family friend and doctor, Marge Butler, is Rosemary's guardian.

“The bills were now coming at a ferried pace,” said Marge.

In total, Marge said the family spent over a $100,000. That was for just four months of Sun Valley Group's care.

It ended when the nursing home thought Rosemary was dying. They finally allowed the family to see her.

As for Gloria, Clair said the company seemed much more interested in her mom's money than her health.

Gloria's final bill was just under $500,000 and included charges for an employee to open her mail at $75 an hour.

“They are supposed to be her guardian and are supposed to be like her parents and look out for her best interests,” said Clair.

After repeatedly being turned down for an on camera interview, The ABC15 Investigators went to Sun Valley Group's office.

They asked us to leave.
We then caught up with the owner of Sun Valley, Peter Frenette, at a county courthouse.

He was leaving a probate hearing involving fees from a different case. Even after several questions, Frenette would not comment.

The ABC15 Investigators have found more issues plaguing Sun Valley Group.

Frenette's wife, Heather, is co-owner, but she is being investigated by the Arizona nursing board.

The Maricopa County Sheriff's Organized Crime Unit is also investigating Sun Valley Group.

By state law, both investigations are secret.

We also discovered three multi-million dollar lawsuits filed this year against the company for fraud and racketeering.

Grant Goodman is the attorney for three former Sun Valley Group clients.

“It's more of a criminal enterprise,” said Goodman, “They need to be prosecuted.”

He claimed to find a pattern with these cases.

“They effectively medicate them to such an extent that they really are non-functional,” said Goodman, “And they do that while they're liquidating their assets.”

The three lawsuits also blame probate court.

“The mob isn't this efficient, nor does the mob have the luxury of having a court rubberstamp these proceedings,” said Goodman.

Goodman is not the only one who thinks that way.

Last month, the Arizona Supreme Court issued an Administrative Order to investigate probate court. One of the issues is regulating fees.

Now, Rosemary is back with her family and doing well. She is getting the treatment that she needs.

“We just plan to enjoy life,” said Robert.

Sun Valley Group filed motions to dismiss with the three lawsuits shown in this investigation.

Neither Gloria nor Rosemary has filed a lawsuit.

If you would like any further information on guardianship, visit one or more of these websites:

National Guardianship Association offers a Model Code of Ethics, Standards of Practice and answers to basic questions 877-326-5992.

Center for Guardianship Certification has a directory of certified guardians who have taken a test, agreed to abide by ethical standards, and not been disqualified for prior conduct.

For in-depth reports on guardianship, visit AARP’s Public Policy Institute, or the American Bar Association’s Commission on the Law and Aging

For more information contact Senior Solutions at (954) 456-8984 or toll free at 1-800-213-3524

Identify & Treat Burns!

HOW TO RECOGNIZE AND TREAT BURN INJURIES

Burns can be painful - and serious. It's all a matter of degree. To know how to treat a burn, and when to call a doctor, first learn to distinguish the different types of burns.

First degree burns: Only the outer layer of skin is damaged. The skin is red, with some swelling and pain. This is the least serious type of burn and can be treated with first aid.

Second degree burns: The first layer of skin has been burned through, and the layer underneath is red and splotchy. Blisters may develop, along with swelling.

Third degree burns: The most serious type of burn, affecting all layers of skin and possibly causing permanent damage to tissues and even bones. Skin may appear either charred and black, or white and dry. For third degree burns, immediate medical attention is needed. Don't remove burned clothing or soak in water, but cover the area with a cool, wet sterile cloth or bandage. If possible, raise the burned area of the body above the level of the heart.

With first degree burns, or second-degree burns that don't cover more than 3 inches of skin, hold the burned area under cool - but not cold - running water for about 15 minutes. Don't put ice on the burn. Wrap the wound in a loose dressing of sterile gauze, keeping air and pressure off the burn. Don't break any blisters that form. The patient can take over the counter medications such as aspirin, ibuprofen, or acetaminophen for pain.

Keep an eye out for increased redness, swelling, or oozing, and call a doctor if any of these signs of infection develop.

For more information contact Senior Solutions at (954) 456-8984 or toll free at 1-800-213-3524

Managing With Parkinson's Disease

Managing Your PD

Since Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a chronic condition, it is important to develop and maintain a solid PD management plan. Research has shown that those who take an active role in their care see an improvement in their Parkinson’s symptoms.

Managing your care means not only finding the right doctor, but ensuring you are prepared for your visit and talking to your doctors about the right issues. It means, not just taking your medications, but keeping track of when you need to take them. It also might mean using other complementary therapies (speech therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy).

People with Parkinson’s are best served by a multi-disciplinary approach that provides not only the expertise of a PD specialist, but also the help of a physical therapist, speech therapist, nutritionist and social worker. Some people also require medical consultants in areas such as psychiatry and neurosurgery. It is important that these healthcare professionals are aware of each other and communicate regularly, and that they all know the full list of treatments and medications that each is prescribing.

Learn more by reading:

Implementing the Team Approach to Treating Parkinson's

Start managing your care today:

You and Your Doctor
Coping with Symptoms
Managing Your Medications
Nutrition
Exercise
Complementary Therapies
Finding Support
Staying Independent
Become an Advocate

For more information contact Senior Solutions at (954) 456-8984 or toll free at 1-800-213-3524

Alheimer's Disease 2010 Facts & Figures

Alzheimer's Facts and Figures


This report details the escalation of Alzheimer's, which currently impacts over 5 million Americans. Facts and Figures conveys the burden of Alzheimer's and dementia on individuals, families, local and state government and the nation's healthcare system.
Highlights from the report:

African-Americans and Hispanics are at greater risk
Key facts about Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer facts in each state

The 2010 report includes data on:

Prevalence
Mortality
Costs of Alzheimer care
Caregiving
Special report on race, ethnicity and Alzheimer's disease

View news release

African-Americans and Hispanics are at greater risk
The most significant new information coming from this year's report: African-Americans and Hispanics are at higher risk for developing Alzheimer's. African-Americans are about twice as likely to have Alzheimer's than whites, and Hispanics are about 1.5 times more likely than whites to develop the disease.

Although there appears to be no known genetic factor for these differences, the report examines the impact of health conditions like high blood pressure and diabetes, conditions that are prevalent in the African-American and Hispanic communities and how these conditions also increase Alzheimer risk.

Another interesting aspect explored is the fact that although African-Americans and Hispanics have a higher rate of Alzheimer's and dementia, they are less likely than whites to have a diagnosis. The report examines the implications of this later diagnosis on families and healthcare costs.

Key facts about Alzheimer's disease

5.3 million people have Alzheimer's
172 billion dollars in annual costs
7th leading cause of death
10.9 million unpaid caregivers

Alzheimer's disease mortality is on the rise!

With a rapidly aging baby boomer population, Alzheimer's will continue to impact more lives. From 2000-2006, Alzheimer's disease deaths increased 46.1 percent, while other selected causes of death decreased. Strategic investments in other diseases have resulted in declines in deaths, and we need to see the same type of investment for Alzheimer's. View full report.

For more information contact Senior Solutions at (954) 456-8984 or toll free at 1-800-213-3524

NEW TREATMENT FOR Early Stage Breast Cancer

Women can now choose to combine surgery and radiation in one breakthrough procedure

Of the nearly 200,000 women diagnosed with breast cancer every year in the U.S., their decision regarding treatment has been limited to two options: a mastectomy, the surgical removal of one or both breasts, or a lumpectomy, the surgical removal of a lump followed by over a month of radiation therapy. But now, thanks to an amazing new treatment called Axxent® Electronic Brachytherapy or eBx, early-stage breast cancer patients can combine their surgery and radiation into one procedure, eliminating any need for post-surgical radiation.

“The fact that my treatment was done before I even woke up is beyond words,” says Marianne Howley, the first patient to undergo the eBx treatment. “I want more women to know about this. I just can’t believe how lucky I was to have this type of procedure available to me in my community.”

The eBx option began as a small clinical trial at Little Company of Mary Hospital in Evergreen Park, Ill., under the direction of Dr. Adam Dickler, Radiation Oncologist and Dr. Olga Ivanov, Medical Director for the Little Company of Mary’s Comprehensive Breast Health Center. The cutting-edge eBx treatment, which utilizes IntraOperative Radiation Therapy (IORT) and Xoft Inc.’s eBx System, uses a miniaturized X-ray source to deliver localized and targeted radiation, minimizing exposure to healthy tissue.

"At our one year follow-up, the clinical results of the trial have been excellent. The treating physicians and patients have been very happy," says Dr. Dickler, who has recently written and sent the protocol for the eBx procedure to six other hospitals throughout the nation including California, Texas, Michigan, New York and Mississippi. To date, one of the six organizations has its IRB approval and the others are in progress.

For more information contact Senior Solutions at (954) 456-8984 or toll free at 1-800-213-3524

Dog Saliva May Be Key To Cancer Cures

Pucker up! Your dog's saliva may be annoying, but it could also be used in cancer research.

Doggie drool just might be part of a treatment for cancer some day. In fact, the DNA dripping from man’s best friend’s tongue could hold the key to curing rare canine and human malignancies, according to researchers.

To figure out why people and animals get cancer, the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) and the Van Andel Research Institute (VARI) have come up with the Canine Hereditary Cancer Consortium. Private pet owners have provided saliva, blood and tumor samples from their dogs for testing. The hope is that, by studying canine cancer, oncologists may determine what causes cancer in people.

"Rare diseases in humans also show up in dogs," Dr. Mark Neff, director of the new TGen-VARI Program for Canine Health and Performance, told FoxNews.com. "By studying the DNA of canines, we expect to more quickly discover the genomic causes of disease and more quickly find ways to better treat dogs and people."

The testing, approved by the American Kennel Club and Morris Animal Foundation, will be animal-safe and its funding will come from private donors, as well as a $4.3 million federal stimulus grant, according to FoxNews.com. Cancer is responsible for the death of nearly half of all dogs older than 10 years old.

For more information contact Senior Solutions at (954) 456-8984 or toll free at 1-800-213-3524

Caring For the Caregiver

Caring for a spouse, parent or other family member who is battling severe mental or physical illness is a labor of love, but one that has its own emotional toll.

Previous research has shown that untrained, primary caregivers who are looking after family face an increased possibility of several physical and psychological health issues—including an increased risk for depressive symptoms and declines in physical health, or feelings of guilt and anxiety should they give up some caregiver responsibilities. To help address these issues and alleviate some of these problems, researchers and mental health professionals have worked to devise intervention strategies to promote well being among caregivers.

Yet, according to new research published last month in the journal Aging & Mental Health, some of these efforts are designed on too narrow of criteria, and fail to account for the large range of stressors, and different combinations of risk factors, that can impact caregivers overall mental and physical health. In an effort to improve caregiver support, researchers at Pennsylvania State University and The Benjamin Rose Institute in Cleveland studied 67 individuals who provide primary care for family members with dementia, analyzing the different stressors that impacted their lives and how those factors influenced not only their loved one's care, but their own well being.


The study included individuals who served as the primary caregivers for relatives with dementia who were not residing in assisted-living facilities such as nursing homes. Researchers collected data by interviewing subjects in their homes for an average of two hours. Participants were asked about 15 different risk factors—from how much assistance they needed to provide their loved one in routine daily tasks such as bathing, dressing or grocery shopping to whether care for the family member with dementia had created broader family conflict.

Researchers found that, though all study subjects shared the common experience of caring for a relative with dementia, the way that this responsibility impacted their lives differed substantially for each person. That is, each risk factor associated with being a primary caregiver—from decreased leisure time and financial strain to anger or strife over the loss of companionship—influenced each individual differently, and in different combinations of varying severity. What's more, how these different factors influenced a caregiver's own mental health differed greatly among participants—while some showed increased signs of depression but didn't experience anger, while for others the emotional fallout was the opposite.

The researchers did find that while certain risk factors increased the likelihood of some outcomes—feeling overwhelmed or suffering worsening health—the total number of stressors had a greater influence on risk for poor mental and physical health outcomes among caregivers than any individual stressor, no matter how severely participants said it impacted them.

The study authors conclude that the findings indicate the need for intervention efforts specifically tailored to individual caregivers, and the combinations of risk factors that most impact them. They write: "For example, a caregiver who has a high rate of depressive symptoms and is in poor health may need a treatment approach that emphasizes relief from caregiving responsibilities. Another caregiver who has depressive symptoms but is in good health may benefit from interventions that increase his/her activity and involvement, such as learning new skills for managing stressors."

Yet recognizing that caregivers need intervention strategies that address their particular needs doesn't mean that there can't be a more systematic approach to developing these interventions, the authors argue. Developing a technique that allows mental health professionals to carefully assess the many, multi-level ways in which caregivers well being is impacted could help determine not only which individuals most need help, but also provide insight toward building "a multicomponent treatment program that can address the caregiver's specific risks and be modified to adapt to the caregiver's changing risk profile." In other words, use a more systematic approach to tailor a program that grows and develops to meet a caregivers changing emotional and psychological needs—so that they can not only nurture their ailing loved ones, but themselves as well.

For more information contact Senior Solutions at (954) 456-8984 or toll free at 1-800-213-3524

Loss of Smell: Early Parkinson's Warning

It has been revealed that if one experiences a loss of smell, then it may be an early indication of being afflicted with some kind of neurological disorder, including Parkinson’s disease.

It has been reported that the chronic, degenerative neurological disorder, which was discovered by Britain’s Dr. James Parkinson in 1817, affects 100,000 Canadians. It is anticipated that the number of people afflicted with the disease will increase in the next 30 years from 11.6% to 23.6%.

It is reported that across the world an estimated five million people live with Parkinson’s.

The brain cells of that produce a chemical called dopamine cease to function in a person afflicted with Parkinson’s. The disease is debilitating since it impinges on a person’s quality of life and overall health.

A person afflicted with Parkinson’s experiences involuntary trembling, stiff and rigid muscles, stooped posture. They may also undergo a change in facial expression like the absence of blinking. This continuous and fixed expression is alluded to as the Parkinson’s stare.

Researchers are of the belief that if you are afflicted with Parkinson’s you will have an altered sense of smell.

They state, “If we can spot Parkinson’s in its earlier stages, there is much less damage to the brain. The earlier the better means we can stop the deterioration that eventually robs Parkinson patients of a good quality of life”.

For more information contact Senior Solutions at (954) 456-8984 or toll free at 1-800-213-3524

Drug for C.O.P.D. Enters Pipeline

It appears that a drug to combat C.O.P.D. is just entering the pipeline here in the United States, as Merck & Co. and Nycomed agreed to jointly market Daxas, a once-daily tablet under assessment to treat patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. In a Monday statement, the companies said they would co-promote the drug, generically known as roflumilast, in Canada and certain European countries. And they signed an agreement under which Merck will distribute the drug in the U.K. as well.

In 2009, closely held Nycomed filed a new drug application for Daxas with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. On April 23, 2010, Nycomed, Zurich, said that a panel within the European Medicines Agency had urged the agency to approve the drug for marketing in the E.U.

For more information contact Senior Solutions at (954) 456-8984 or toll free at 1-800-213-3524

Smoking & Depression: A Deadly Duo

If you are an incessant smoker, you probably know when you’re feeling down and depressed. Depression in a smoker is usually characterized by doubled amount of cigarette sticks consumed in a day. For ages, our health care community has been trying to solve this very alarming mystery: does depression cause smoking or is it the other way around?.. These two, even if taken separately, indeed can cause major health problems, even trigger underlying ones especially in seniors whose body’s defenses are weaker. The medical community believes that if they are able to pinpoint which of the two comes first, they will be able to decrease the number of casualties for both cases.

Even if a strong link has been established between the two, it doesn’t really prove that one existed as a direct result of the other. In fact, there are quite a number of people who tried smoking for the first time not because they were depressed–just go ask a teenager! The same way as people who began smoking don’t automatically fall into depression. According to a survey done to establish connection between the two, a person who smoke is most likely to reach for a cigarette stick when depressed because of the calming effect a stick has, and because the feeling of depression doesn’t usually go away that easily—and the calming effect of a cigarette stick is all but temporary—he or she will surely consume another stick, in an attempt to somehow alleviate the bad feeling. In a way, depression doubles your cigarette consumption but it was never proven to be the cause of smoking. At present , experts believe that the best treatment for a person who is addicted to smoking and at the same time, experiences depression is to undergo treatment for both, either specialized treatment or separate courses.

It is also wise for the senior to recognize the signs. There are two major points to remember, smoking is an addiction and depression is a disorder. The soonest you recognize these and actually accept your condition—enough to get you to a specialist, the earlier you are saving your life from potentially health risks brought about by smoking and depression.

Nicotine dependence is notably marked by your inability to stop smoking, even in situations you know you are not allowed to. When a senior attempts to stop, he or she will experience withdrawal symptoms like cigarette cravings, restlessness and irritability, dry cough and even flu-like symptoms. On the other hand, depression symptoms are mostly emotional which extends to physical symptoms. Emotional symptoms are severe sadness, feeling worthless and sometimes even guilt, and loss of interest while physical symptoms are fatigue, lack of energy, and sleeping difficulties.

For more information contact Senior Solutions at (954) 456-8984 or toll free at 1-800-213-3524

PELOSI: GOP Used Fear 2 Fight Healthcare Reform

Pelosi: GOP used fear to turn elderly against health care bill

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Monday that Republicans used a ‘campaign of fear’ to get senior citizens to oppose health care reform.
(CNN) – Republicans used a "campaign of fear" based on false information to get senior citizens to oppose health care reform, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Monday.

In response to questions at a news conference in her home district in San Francisco, California, Pelosi accused Republicans of spreading misinformation against Democratic health care legislation backed by President Barack Obama, who made the issue his top domestic priority.

"There was a campaign of fear that was launched (at senior citizens) as soon as the president was elected," Pelosi said.

The reform plan includes cutting the costs of Medicare, the government-run health plan for seniors, by about $500 billion.


During months of debate on the health care bill signed into law last week by Obama, Republicans repeatedly said it was impossible to cut Medicare costs by such a large amount without reducing benefits.

Obama and Democrats say the Medicare cuts involve eliminating wasteful spending and fraud.

On Monday, Pelosi called the Medicare cost reductions "essential" to health care reform, and said Republican claims the bill would cut benefits for the elderly are "truly false."

Polls show the American public remains sharply divided over the health care issue. Pelosi said she believes polls in coming months will show more support for the bill as the public learns more about it.

For more information contact Senior Solutions at (954) 456-8984 or toll free at 1-800-213-3524