Healthbolt

November 21st, 2008

Alamosa, Colorado: Water, Water Everywhere But Not a Drop Worth Drinking.

Did you know that this year marks the 100th year of America’s reliance on chlorine to disinfect drinking water?

Jersey City, NJ was the first US city to routinely chlorinate it’s municipal drinking water, followed by Chicago’s union stockyards and many, many more cities around the country. Today, pretty much all U.S. public water systems rely on chlorine in some form for safe drinking water

As a result, waterborne diseases such as cholera and typhoid are virtually eliminated.

But as this guest post by the Chairman of Water Quality & Health Council highlights, there are always cracks in the system…

The Waterborne Outbreak in Alamosa, Colorado
by Chris Wiant, M.P.H, Ph.D.

This year is the 100th anniversary of the first use of chlorination to help ensure safe drinking water supplies.  The most important stories related to this milestone are those that did not have to be written – the outbreaks of waterborne disease that did not occur and the health and economic costs that have been avoided.  Instead we are able to talk about increased life expectancy and improved quality of life achieved by providing clean drinking water.  However, the people of Alamosa, Colorado, were recently reminded that without disinfection, public drinking water supplies are still vulnerable to contamination, just as they were 100 years ago and continued vigilance is necessary to ensure protection. 

In early March 2008, the first cases of a Salmonella outbreak  were reported in Alamosa, a town of 10,000.  Through epidemiologic investigation, the water supply was soon suspected and later confirmed as the source of the outbreak. This was stunning news to many who believed that Alamosa’s water was safe from contamination.

The water supply for Alamosa is drawn from a deep well and maintained in a closed system.  This enabled Alamosa to receive a waiver from rules that would otherwise require disinfection of its drinking water supply.  So, although it was not treated with chlorine or other disinfectant, the water supply was in compliance with applicable drinking water regulations at the time of the outbreak.

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) concluded that contamination likely took place in an underground storage facility that had cracks and was visibly leaking.  Despite the high quality of water coming from the ground, the storage/distribution system presented a risk that could have been eliminated through the use of disinfection, highlighting the need for multiple protective barriers to address potential contamination.  The storage facility was repaired and the entire distribution system was subsequently flushed with superchlorinated water.  The water supply is now chlorinated and monitoring was increased to ensure clean water is provided to customers.

The outbreak resulted in over 400 reported cases of illness.  It is speculated that many more people were ill but didn’t seek treatment or were unable to get treatment as the medical care system became overwhelmed.  The economic cost of the outbreak, including the associated response costs and loss of tourism, has not been calculated.

Although CDPHE and other responders were praised for their prompt ction, which most likely limited the extent of the outbreak, it is now clear that the vulnerable water system could have been protected through the use of a proven and cost effective disinfection method.  100 years after chlorine was first used to help provide safe drinking water, the Alamosa outbreak serves as an important reminder of the value of disinfection in protecting public health. 

(Chris Wiant is President and CEO of Caring for Colorado Foundation in Denver Colorado and chairman of the Water Quality & Health Council.)

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By Liz -- 1 comment

November 21st, 2008

Still Waiting to Hear from the Winner of the S9-HD Motorola Wireless Headset…

Still waiting to hear from the winner of the S9-HD Motorola Wireless Headset.

Don’t sure whether it was you?

Then click on And the Winner of the S9-HD Motorola Wireless Headset… to find out.

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November 20th, 2008

Want to Know What Will Happen to Your Body if You Stopped Smoking Right Now?

Today is the American Cancer Society’s Great American Smokeout, an annual event that has been held for the last three decades. with the aim of encouraging smokers to quit by providing information, support, and resources.

An ex-smoker myself, I know how very, very difficult it is to give it up. But I also know the up side of giving up the smokes and I’d encourage anyone who has been thinking about giving up cigarrettes to stop thinking and act.  You’ll thank yourself in the end.

Healthbolt already has a fairly active support system going on at the comment section of a post - What Happens to Your body if you stop smoking Right now? - that was written by the Wade Meredith, the original Healthbolter. 

Here’s the highlights of that post…

• In 20 minutes your blood pressure will drop back down to normal.
• In 8 hours the carbon monoxide (a toxic gas) levels in your blood stream will drop by half, and oxygen levels will return to normal.
• In 48 hours your chance of having a heart attack will have decreased. All nicotine will have left your body. Your sense of taste and smell will return to a normal level.
• In 72 hours your bronchial tubes will relax, and your energy levels will increase.
• In 2 weeks your circulation will increase, and it will continue to improve for the next 10 weeks.
• In three to nine months coughs, wheezing and breathing problems will dissipate as your lung capacity improves by 10%.
• In 1 year your risk of having a heart attack will have dropped by half.
• In 5 years your risk of having a stroke returns to that of a non-smoker.
• In 10 years your risk of lung cancer will have returned to that of a non-smoker.
• In 15 years your risk of heart attack will have returned to that of a non-smoker.

Click here for a high-quality Graphic representation of this chart.

Does it help you make the decision to stop any easier ?

I sure hope so.  

If it does, head over to the Great American Smokeout for support and advice and have a look at.  And check out these 5 Smoking Gadgets That Might Help You Quit Smoking.

Good Luck…

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By Liz -- 4 comments

November 20th, 2008

And the Winner of the Motorola S9-HD Wireless Headset is…

I’d love to give everyone who entered one of these wonderful wireless headsets. But unfortunately I cannot.

So, with the help of a random number selector I was able to narrow it down to one person. And that person is….

Steve Benkin

Congratulations Steve. You need to email me (kiwiwriter [at] xtra [dot] co [dot] nz) your postal address by Friday 21st November. If I don’t hear from you by then, I’ll have to draw another name out of the hat.

As for the rest of us, me included, looks like we’ll just have to put the Motorola S9-HD Wireless Headset on our Christmas Wishlist.

And even if you don’t have this wireless headset, we can still download the free bootcamp podcasts by Jillian Michaels and Bob Harper, trainers for The Biggest Loser.

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November 18th, 2008

Walk Off that Chocolate Craving.

Chocolate cravings are hard to resist, especially during the holiday season when chocolate seems to be everywhere, just tempting you to take a bit.

Not to worry. A new study has the answer. Just walk away and keep on walking – fast. They took a group of ‘known’ chocoholics (who usually ate at least two 50 gram bars of chocolate a day) and deprived them of chocolate for three days in an effort to induce the chocolate cravings. The participants were also not allowed to drink coffee or exercise in the two hours prior to the test period. 

On test day, one group sat quietly for 15 minutes while the other group spent 15 minutes walking briskly on treadmills.

After this, all participants were given a computerized test (the stressor) and had to unwrapped and handled a chocolate bar that they were not allowed to eat it.

Those who had been walking had significantly less craving for the chocolate as compared to their baseline response before the three day chocolate fast.

They didn’t mention how the other group did, but I’d imagine sitting there with an unwrapped chocolate bar in their hands was pretty torturous.

So remember, whenever that chocolate craving hits these holidays, take a hike.

Just make sure you leave the chocolate bar behind…..

(source)

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By Liz -- 3 comments

November 18th, 2008

Smoking Plays Havoc On Your Back.

It’s well known that there is a connection between smoking  and all sorts of health problems such as lung cancer and emphysema, but did you also know that smoking can mess with your back?

Recent studies such as the one published in the July 2008 "Deutsches Arzteblatt International" have found that smokers (and former smokers) experience chronic back problems more frequently than non-smokers. You can blame nicotine for this, as it restricts the flow of blood to the discs that cushion the spine.

Physicians at the Chicago Institute for Neurosurgery and Neuroresearch (CINN) are well aware of this connection. Dean Karahalios, spine neurosurgeon at CINN, says that he has “…seen a number of failed spinal fusion procedures that could have been avoided if the patient would have stopped smoking."

In an attempt to encourage back pain suffers to kick the smoking habit, CINN has created a complimentary back pain brochure with smoking-cessation tips that you can download from their website.

(source)

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By Liz -- 3 comments

November 17th, 2008

The Monday Sidebar.

There’s a truly eclectic selection of topics in this week’s Monday Sidebar.

To start of with, what do you think about this - a ‘chastity belt’ lingerie fitted with GPS tracking system’. Lingerie maker Lucia Lorio of Brazil says it’s designed for ‘modern, techno-savvy woman’. But feminist are calling it a modern-day slaver and are urging women to boycott the GPS underwear

Meanwhile, Swedish health authorities are causing controversy with their decision to supply free prosthetic penises that are not fully functional to transsexual men. Seems these free prosthetic penises [are] strictly flaccid a situation that some call ridiculous. But the Swedish health authorities have no choice - government regulations prohibit them from using taxpayers money for either products or procedures that might be considered sexual aids.

If this article - The 25 Weirdest Things Eaten By A Human - is anything to go by, Xray technicans see it all. The article exposes some of the more extreme items that people have eaten, from a ‘prisoner who has being held in a cell with wire mesh walls attempted to eat his way out of jail’ to a ‘man in England tried to walk out of a jewelry store with an engagement ring by swallowing it.’

And talking about strange things to eat, what about this collection of foods from around the world…

Weird Things People Eat Around The World - Amazing videos are here

And finally, lifehacker thinks they have the answer to Obama’s hypoallergenic dog problem - a robotic pet.

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November 16th, 2008

Healthbolt’s Weekly Roundup of Contests and Giveaways

Grounded Fitness has a Natures Path Organic Giveaway with plenty of healthy snack foods to enjoy. Entries close 20th November. US and Canadian residents only.

EcoChick has some TBag & Co. Gourmet Market Totes to giveaway. Entries close November 19th.

Natural Health has a copy of The Ultimate Vegan Cookbook to giveaway. Entries close 17th November. US residents only.

Yoga Journal has a Yoga Journal Vegetarian Cruise Sweepstakes running. The prize - an Ocean View cabin for two – valued at $3,150 - on a 7 day escape to the Caribbean aboard the eco-friendly Costa Magica cruise ship. Ends 30th November. US residents only.

LogHome.com has a copy of Green from the Ground Up to giveaway. One book per month is being given away until Dec 09. US residents only.

Caring Consumer has a Vegan Body-Care Pack From Jason Natural to giveaway. Entries close 1st December.

And don’t forget Healthbolt’s own giveaway - for a Motorola S9-HD Wireless Headset. There’s still time to enter as the giveaway doesn’t close until 18th November. US residents only.

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By Liz -- 2 comments

November 15th, 2008

Finding a Hypoallergenic Dog Might Just Be Barack Obama’s ‘Mission Impossible’.

President-elect Obama made many promises during the election campaign, but to his daughters, the biggest was probably that if he’s elected they would get a dog. A tough call, given that his eldest daughter, Malia, apparently has a ‘dog allergy’.

In his first press conference, Obama seemed to think that all would be okay if they found a ‘hypoallergenic dog’. Sounds like a great plan. But according to medical experts, it’s not all that feasible. In fact, soon after the press conference, the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology  (AAAAI) issued a statement saying “There is no truly ‘hypoallergenic’ dog.”

According to the Academy, there are many misconceptions regarding dog allergies, chief among them being ‘that people are allergic to a dog’s hair, and it is falsely believed that a dog that sheds less will not cause a reaction.’ Not true!

Here’s the truth. The major allergen is a protein found in all dog’s serum and this protein is shed from their skin through sweat, as well as in their saliva and probably is also in their urine. So it’s next to impossible to find an allergy-free dog.

So what’s a President-elect to do? He’s made a promise that will be impossible to back out of.

Dr Corinna Bowser, an allergy and asthma expert from Pennsylvania recommends that the Obama’s do two things before bringing any puppy home: First, dog-sit a friend or neighbors dog to see how Malia’s allergies fare, and second, set some rules about how they’ll plan on handling any allergy issues.

Brower says “”What we tell our patients is draw an imaginary line in the sand. If the child has an ER visit for asthma or needs significantly more medication, or whatever you want to determine as the line, that’s when the dog has to go. And set these rules ahead of time, because then everybody knows that’s when the dog has to go.”

Combine this advice with the AAAAI guidelines list below and the Obama might just be able to pull of his most important campaign promise.

• Visit an allergist/immunologist to diagnose the allergy and discuss treatment, which may include maintenance medications or immunotherapy (allergy shots).
• Keep the pet out of the allergic person’s bedroom. Animal dander will collect on pillows, leading to worsened symptoms at night and morning.
• Bathe the animal weekly to reduce the amount of dander shed at home.
• Replace carpeting with hardwood or other solid-surface flooring for easy clean-up.
• Vacuuming may not be effective in decreasing allergen levels, but using a HEPA filter and double bags may help.
• Wash bedding and clothing in hot water. While animal allergens are not easily removed by high temperatures, these measures may help.

(Image credit: Newscom)

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By Liz -- 3 comments

November 13th, 2008

Even More Chances to Win a Motorola S9-HD Wireless Headset.

There’s still time to enter the Healthbolt Win a Motorola S9-HD Wireless Headset giveaway.

All you have to do is go to the original post and leave a comment before Tuesday, 18th of November. (US residents only).

And for even more chances to win one of these great headsets, head on over to…

That’s Fit who also has a headset to giveaway. But you’d better be quick - their giveaway finishes tomorrow (14th).

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