Chronic Stress- Surging Glucocorticoids

In some ways we are not so different from a zebra on the Serengeti. If we are threatened with bodily harm, just like the zebra being chased by a lion, our adrenal glands kick into high gear and secrete adrenalin and glucocorticoid hormones. These hormones can keep us alive in an emergency. Blood rushes to our most needed organs (heart, lungs, muscles). Digestion shuts down and we stop salivating.

Multitasking

Yesterday's post on DWD, Driving While Distracted, now has more to back it up. I'm always happy to think my musings could be universal. Today, the New York Times has a great article on why it is not in our best interest to multitask. I have thought for some time that we are becoming a nation of people with ADD the way we drive, read, talk on the phone, drink lattes and apply eye makeup,all

DWD - Driving While Distracted

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Commission, 500,000 drivers a day are talking on handheld cell phones while they drive. The National Mutual Insurance Company reported 73% of the people they surveyed talked on phones while driving and 19% of motorists did text messaging while driving. Driving and talking on hand held phones make us 4X more likely to have a serious crash. It is

Embryo Ethics

Advances in medicine always bring challenges that are unexpected. Embryo screening before in-vitro fertilization usually helps parents have a healthy child. We can test for hundreds of fatal birth defects, childhood diseases and even some diseases that don't occur until adulthood. These tests are done before implantation of an embryo in infertility clinics and parents can now even choose the sex

New Innovations in Colonoscopy

Colonoscopy, the screening scope test that looks for polyps and cancers in the large bowel, may be replaced with new methods for diagnosing colon cancer. We've all been waiting for a new technology that will eliminate the awful cleansing prep the day before, the IV sedation and the hassle of spending an entire day undergoing an expensive screening test for colon cancer.Yes, screening colonoscopy

Buy Dove Soap

The new Dove Soap campaign is not only brilliant marketing, it is Madison Avenue with a mission. These commercials break down the classic stereotypes of beauty in our society and empower women to accept themselves as they are. What would really make a difference is if you men out there would call your pre-teen or teen daughter to the computer and show her this video. Young girls are facing images

Seniors vs. Children

I was alarmed to read a new study released by the Urban Institute that reported how children are becoming a diminishing national priority in America. The report examined federal spending from 1960-2006 and found the share of domestic spending targeted to children's programs declined from 20.1% in 1960 to 15.4% in 2007. At the same time, the spending on adults is eight times greater than spending