Debbie Mandel’s
Turn On Your Inner Light
Weekly Wellness Newsletter
August 11, 2004
www.TurnOnYourInnerLight.com


Affirmation of the Week
 No matter how cold the winter
there is an invincible summer in all of us.

Health Tips of the Week

  • Millions of elderly Americans are taking prescription drugs that are considered to be too dangerous for them because they are inappropriate, metabolize differently from younger adults and are overly prescribed. Many are taking about fifteen drugs a day. This has been found to be the major cause of death, disability and confusion among the elderly. Creating a computer program available to all pharmacists identifying the drugs in question along with interactions would be helpful in prevention.
  • To improve brain function: Choose jobs where you have variety. And if you have a job that is routine, compensate with leisure activities. Keeping your mind active is important. Do crossword puzzles, play chess, read and socialize. We all want to believe that we can actively prevent dementia. We don't know for sure if this will help, but we know for sure it's not going to hurt.
  • Heart patients without pain are at high risk for improper hospital care. Doctors often don't recognize how seriously ill these atypical patients are. As a result, they get worse care and are at high risk of death. These patients may have symptoms like shortness of breath, excess sweating, nausea and vomiting- without chest pain.
  • Recent studies show that children who have surgery may feel less pain and anxiety if they use guided imagery techniques along with pain medications. Special children’s videotapes taught deep breathing and imagery techniques. The audiotapes focused on deep breathing, muscle relaxation, music, and suggestions for imagining a happy place. Since it worked for adults, the next logical step was to try it out on children who have heightened imaginations without the cynicism.
  • Lab tests seem to hypnotize patients. In my stress-management groups I have seen patients who felt energetic and well, change drastically before my eyes, as soon as they read a lab report that did not yield good numbers. Tests must be interpreted in context of the overall patient. They are not infallible.
  • New guidelines for pediatricians suggest that they start checking blood pressure when children are three years old. Lifestyle changes like diet and exercise are emphasized. However, other children with higher blood pressure and observable organ damage will be given hypertensives. Like adults, children are at risk for enlarged hearts and impaired kidney function. So far not much is known about long term drug therapy.
  • You can get burned when taking an MRI if you wear a skin patch. Skin patches that deliver drugs contain a foil backing to prevent leakage. However, when taking an MRI this foil backing could present a problem as the metal in the foil becomes a conductor. Patches for long term contraceptive devices do not have this backing.
Article of the Week -
How to Rid Yourself of Anger and Live Happily Ever After

We expend a great deal of energy feeling angry. Many of us carry anger around like a heavy weight on our backs, around the middle and in our heads. No wonder we suffer from these specific aches and pains. Physiologically, our heart beats faster, our blood pressure rises, our stomachs tense up and secrete more acid and we toss and turn at night to awaken with blood shot eyes. We look unattractive and feel tired. Ironically, the person at whom this rage is directed does not even know that we are angry, or that we harbor a grudge.
However, who are we really angry at? We are upset that we did not tell the other person what was in our heart and mind: “I should have said…” We are enraged that we did not take precautions; instead we let it happen again. We are resentful that we allowed ourselves to be trivialized. All of this means that we are most angry with ourselves! More.. -- Other articles
Frank Mikulka's Fitness Tip Of The Week
I just started strength-training 3½ months ago and am enjoying it very much. However, what exactly are the health benefits I am getting by pushing the iron? I’m 57 years old. (Thomas, Oceanside) Answer

Send your fitness question to: fitness@turnonyourinnerlight.com
Radio Show Guest of the Week - Georges Halpern, MD, PhD
Tune into the Turn On Your Inner Light Radio Show Sunday mornings 7:30 - 8:00am on WHLI 1100 AM in Long Island. ( show archive).
On Aug 15, 2004 - Georges Halpern, MD, PhD the author of Ulcer Free, an empowering guide with a balanced view for restoring and protecting gastric health.

Debbie Eisenstadt Mandel, MA is the author of Turn On Your Inner Light: Fitness for Body, Mind and Soul, a stress-reduction specialist, motivational speaker, a personal trainer and mind/body lecturer. She is the host of the weekly Turn On Your Inner Light Show on WHLI 1100 AM in Long Island and has been featured on radio/ TV and print media.

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