Community Magazine June 2009

68 COMMUNITY MAGAZINE Health JOB LOSSHARDONHEALTH Weakening economic times can cause weakening health, says the journal Demography. Researchers have determined that among those affected by layoffs or company financial losses, over half suffer adverse health effects as a result. Moreover, new stress- related problems were found among those who were having a difficult time with job searches. NIGHTTIME BATHROOMBREAKS A BAD SIGN? Those who have to make multiple nighttime bathroom trips might need to examine their overall health, the American Urological Association says. A recent three-year Japanese study showed that these nighttime trips could be a harbinger of worsening health, particularly among seniors. BREAKTHROUGHCOULDMEAN ENDOF BLOOD SHORTAGES Scientists have recently created a way to change one type of blood to another, which may mean the end of blood short- ages. Researchers plan to start by boost- ing supplies of O negative blood, the universal donor type. Trials are now taking place to gauge success, says the Journal Nature Biotechnology. SENIORSWHO VOLUNTEERMAY LIVE LONGER Volunteering one’s time may buy some more time on earth, says the American Geriatrics Society, who analyzed seniors aged 65 and above. The study showed that volunteers for religious, educa- tional, health-related or other charitable organizations had half the health risks than their non-volunteer peers. SMOKING LOSES POPULARITY INNYC The City’s Health Department has good news about smoking – fewer New Yorkers are lighting up. New York City has reached its lowest rate of smoking on record (15.8 percent), with less than 1 million adult smokers in the city – 350,000 fewer than in 2002. The city’s adult smoking rate has plummeted since 2002, from 21.5 percent in 2002 to 15.8 percent in 2008, a decline that could prevent more than 115,000 premature deaths in future years. Among smokers, the proportion of heavy daily smokers (11 or more cigarettes per day) has fallen from 36.4 percent to 28.7 percent since 2002. Ciga- rettes still kill more than 7,000 New Yorkers every year and harm thousands more. City health officials say that a good start to quitting is to pick a “quit date,” get rid of ashtrays and cigarettes, make your car and home smoke- free, and tell friends of your intent to quit so they can encourage you. More information on quitting smoking is available at nyc.gov/health/smoke- free. Last year alone, 30,000 New Yorkers used 311 for help in quitting smoking. FREEMEDS FORUNEMPLOYED Drug giant Pfizer Inc. has introduced a new initiative offering free medications for a year to those who have lost their jobs and/or have limited health insurance. The plan will be offered to those who lost jobs since January 1 st – regardless of their prior income – and have been on a Pfizer drug for at least three months. In order to qualify, applicants will need to show papers proving they have been discharged from their employment, or are suffering financial hardship. Applications will be accepted through Dec. 31. Some of the medications offered are diabetic drugs, cholesterol fighter Lipitor, painkiller Celebrex, and fibromyalgia treatment Lyrica. The list also includes antibiotics, antidepressants, antifungal treatments, several heart drugs, and smoking cessation products. GINGERCAPSULES EASE CHEMOTHERAPY NAUSEA Ginger may assist in lessening the quantity and intensity of nausea from chemotherapy, a study by the American Society of Clinical Oncology found. About a quarter of respondents in the study said their nausea was reduced by ginger. Doc- tors warn, however, that sodas and cookies that taste like ginger do not often contain actual ginger, but flavorings. Ginger in pill form was found to be most effective. Ginger has long been touted as a remedy for stomach upsets of all kinds, ranging from motion sickness to morning sickness during pregnancy. EXERCISESMAY REDUCE SEVERITY OF SLEEP APNEA An Australian Aborigines wood wind instrument may be the unlikely critical tool to help solve sleeping problems. The didgeri- doo is a long, thick, hollowed-out wooden pipe that makes a deep reverberating sound, and according to a study in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, blowing through it exercises the tongue, upper airways, and soft palate. These oral workouts may reduce the severity and symp- toms of sleep apnea, a condition in which the throat muscles collapse during sleep, preventing oxygen from getting to the lungs and resulting in loud snoring, labored breathing and overall poor sleep quality.