Caffeine Myths and Facts

From the FMS Global News Desk of Jeanne Hambleton (UK)
Courtesy of WebMD

Caffeine myth or caffeine fact? It is not always easy to know. Chances are you have some real misperceptions about caffeine. For starters, do you know the most common sources of caffeine? Well, maybe two of the sources are not too hard to name — coffee and tea leaves. But did you know kola nuts and cocoa beans are also included among the most common caffeine sources? And do you know how much caffeine content can vary from food to food? Turns out it is quite a lot actually, depending on the type and serving size of a food or beverage and how it is prepared.

Caffeine content can range from as much as 160 milligrams in some energy drinks to as little as 4 milligrams in a 1-ounce serving of chocolate-flavored syrup. Even decaffeinated coffee is not completely free of caffeine. Caffeine is also present in some over-the-counter pain relievers, cold medications, and diet pills. These products can contain as little as 16 milligrams or as much as 200 milligrams of caffeine. In fact, caffeine itself is a mild painkiller and increases the effectiveness of other pain relievers.

Want to know more? Read on. WebMD has examined some of the most common myths about caffeine and gathered the facts to shed some light on those myths.

Caffeine Myth No. 1:

Caffeine Is Addictive

This one has some truth to it, depending on what you mean by “addictive.” Caffeine is a stimulant to the central nervous system, and regular use of caffeine does cause mild physical dependence. But caffeine does not threaten your physical, social, or economic health the way addictive drugs do. (Although after seeing your monthly spending at the coffee shop, you might disagree!)

If you stop taking caffeine abruptly, you may have symptoms for a day or more, especially if you consume two or more cups of coffee a day. Symptoms of withdrawal from caffeine include:

headache
fatigue
anxiety
irritability
depressed mood
difficulty concentrating

No doubt, caffeine withdrawal can make for a few bad days. However, caffeine does not cause the severity of withdrawal or harmful drug-seeking behaviors as street drugs or alcohol. For this reason, most experts do not consider caffeine dependence an addiction.

Caffeine Myth No. 2:

Caffeine Is Likely to Cause Insomnia

Your body quickly absorbs caffeine. But it also gets rid of it quickly. Processed mainly through the liver, caffeine has a relatively short half-life. This means it takes about four to five hours, on average, to eliminate half of it from your body. After eight to 10 hours, 75% of the caffeine is gone. For most people, a cup of coffee or two in the morning would not interfere with sleep at night.

Consuming caffeine later in the day, however, can interfere with sleep. If you are like most people, your sleep would not be affected if you do not consume caffeine at least six hours before going to bed. Your sensitivity may vary, though, depending on your metabolism and the amount of caffeine you regularly consume. People who are more sensitive may not only experience insomnia but also have caffeine side effects of nervousness and gastrointestinal upset.

Caffeine Myth No. 3:

Caffeine Increases Risk for Conditions Such as Osteoporosis, Heart Disease, and Cancer

Moderate amounts of caffeine — about 300 milligrams, or three cups of coffee — apparently cause no harm in most healthy adults. Some people are more vulnerable to its effects, however. That includes such people as those who have high blood pressure or are older. Here are the facts:

Osteoporosis and caffeine

At high levels (more than 744 milligrams/day), caffeine may increase calcium and magnesium loss in urine. But recent studies suggest it does not increase your risk for bone loss, especially if you get enough calcium. You can offset the calcium lost from drinking one cup of coffee by adding just two tablespoons of milk.

However, research does show some links between caffeine and hip fracture risk in older adults. Older adults may be more sensitive to the effects of caffeine on calcium metabolism. If you are an older woman, discuss with your doctor whether you should limit your daily caffeine intake to 300 milligrams or less.

Cardiovascular disease and caffeine

A slight, temporary rise in heart rate and blood pressure is common in those who are sensitive to caffeine. But several large studies do not link caffeine to higher cholesterol, irregular heartbeats, or an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.

If you already have high blood pressure, though, have a discussion with your doctor about your caffeine intake. You may be more sensitive to its effects. Also, more research is needed to tell whether caffeine increases the risk for stroke in people with high blood pressure.

Cancer and caffeine

Reviews of 13 studies involving 20,000 people revealed no relationship between cancer and caffeine. In fact, caffeine may even have a protective effect against certain cancers.

Caffeine Myth No. 4:

Caffeine Is Harmful for Women Trying to Get Pregnant

Many studies show no links between low amounts of caffeine (a cup of coffee per day) and any of the following:

trouble conceiving
miscarriage
birth defects
premature birth
low birth rate

At the same time, for pregnant women or those attempting pregnancy, the March of Dimes suggests fewer than 200 milligrams of caffeine per day. That is largely because in limited studies, women consuming higher amounts of caffeine had an increased risk for miscarriage.

Caffeine Myth No. 5:

Caffeine Has a Dehydrating Effect

Caffeine can make you need to urinate. However, the fluid you consume in caffeinated beverages tends to offset the effects of fluid loss when you urinate. The bottom line is that although caffeine does act as a mild diuretic, studies show drinking caffeinated drinks does not actually cause dehydration.

Caffeine Myth No. 6:

Caffeine Harms Children, Who, Today, Consume Even More Than Adults

As of 2004, children ages 6 to 9 consumed about 22 milligrams of caffeine per day. However, energy drinks that contain caffeine are becoming increasingly popular.

Studies suggest that up to 300 milligrams of caffeine daily is safe for kids. But is it smart? Many kids are sensitive to caffeine, developing temporary anxiety or irritability, with a “crash” afterwards. Also, most caffeine that kids drink is in sodas, energy drinks, or sweetened teas, all of which have high sugar content. These empty calories put kids at higher risk for obesity.

Even if the caffeine itself is not harmful, caffeinated drinks are generally not good for kids.

Caffeine Myth No. 7:

Caffeine Can Help You Sober Up

Actually, research suggests that people only think caffeine helps them sober up. For example, people who drink caffeine along with alcohol think they are OK behind the wheel. But the truth is reaction time and judgment are still impaired. College kids who drink both alcohol and caffeine are actually more likely to have car accidents.

Caffeine Myth No. 8:

Caffeine Has No Health Benefits

Caffeine has few proven health benefits. But the list of caffeine’s potential benefits is interesting. Any regular coffee drinker may tell you that caffeine improves alertness, concentration, energy, clear-headedness, and feelings of sociability. You might even be the type who needs that first cup o’ Joe each morning before you say a single word. Scientific studies support these subjective findings. One French study even showed a slower decline in cognitive ability among women who consumed caffeine.

Other possible benefits include improved immune function from caffeine’s anti-inflammatory effects and help with allergic reactions due to caffeine’s ability to reduce concentrations of histamines. Some people’s asthma also appears to benefit from caffeine. These research findings are intriguing, but still need to be proven.

Limited evidence suggests caffeine may also reduce the risk of the following:

Parkinson’s disease
liver disease
colorectal cancer
type 2 diabetes

Despite its potential benefits, do not forget that high levels of caffeine may have adverse effects. More studies are needed to confirm both its benefits and potential risks.

SOURCES: International Food Information Council Foundation: “Caffeine & Health: Clarifying the Controversies.” Nutrition Action Health Letter: “Caffeine: The Good, the Bad, and the Maybe.” European Food Information Council (EUFIC): “Myths and Facts about Caffeine.” Johns Hopkins University Bayview Medical Center: “Information About Caffeine Dependence.”

©2005-2009 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved.
(http://www.webmd.com/balance/caffeine-myths-and-facts?ecd=wnl_day_042009)

SEE: http://jeannehambleton77.wordpress.com for health issue stories

Bottled Water: FAQ on Safety and Purity

From the FMS Global News Desk of Jeanne Hambleton (UK)

Courtesy WebMD.com. Health and Cooking /em>

By Salynn Boyles -Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD – WebMD Health News

Americans drank 9 billion gallons of bottled water last year, or slightly more than 29 gallons for every man, woman, and child in the country.

They also spent $22 billion on a product that critics of the bottled water industry say they should be getting for free from their home faucets.

Most of the criticism has focused on the environmental impact of bottled water. But an investigation released recently also raises questions about the purity and even safety of commercially available water.

WebMD looked into many commonly asked questions and concerns about bottled water. Here is what we found:

What did the new report find?

The Environmental Working Group tested 10 best-selling brands of bottled water for 170 contaminants and found different mixtures of 38 contaminants, including bacteria, fertilizer, and industrial chemicals at levels similar to those allowed in tap water.

Two of the samples, bought in San Francisco, contained the chemical compound trihalometrane in levels that exceeded the amount allowed in California.

“The bottled water industry really presents this image of purity, but our investigation demonstrated that it is really hit or miss,” Environmental Working Group senior scientist Olga Naidenko, PhD, tells WebMD.

But the International Bottled Water Association, which represents most bottlers, charged that the group’s report contained “false claims and exaggerations” and noted that the group’s sample was not representative of the hundreds of bottled waters on the market.

Joseph Doss, president of the International Bottled Water Association, tells WebMD that California has much stricter contamination restrictions than the FDA. He says the state’s allowed level of trihalometrane is eight times lower than the level allowed by the federal government.

How can I tell if the water I purchase started out as tap water?

Roughly 45% of the water sold in single-serve bottles comes from a municipal water source.

By law, bottled water that comes from a municipal water supply has to disclose this on its label unless the bottler takes steps to further purify the water, which most do. In this case, the label will say “purified water” or “purified drinking water,” but the original source is probably tap water.

Water labeled “spring water” comes from an underground water spring, but it may be piped to the bottling plant.

“Mineral water” comes from an underground source and must contain no less than 250 parts per million total dissolved solids, such as salts, sulfur compounds, and gasses. No minerals may be added to the water by the bottler.

“Artesian water” or “artesian well water” must come from a well that taps a confined aquifer.

How can I tell if there are contaminants in the bottled water I purchase?

You probably cannot. Tap water is regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which requires yearly public reports identifying the contaminants found in local water sources. But bottled water is regulated by the FDA, which has no such requirement.

The Environmental Working Group and the Natural Resources Defense Council, which released its own report critical of bottled water purity in 1999, want the FDA to require bottlers to list contaminants on water bottle labels.

In its report, the National Resources Defense Council noted that the EPA requires more frequent testing of municipal water than the FDA requires for bottled water, and that bottled water rules allow some contamination by E. coli or fecal coliforms, which indicate possible fecal matter contamination.

The report noted that the FDA does not require bottled water to be tested for parasites such as cryptosporidium or giardia; the EPA does require this testing for tap water.

Doss says consumers have a right to know what is in their bottled water, and they can find out by calling an 800 number that appears on every bottle. “If a consumer calls that number and does not get the information they want, they can and should choose another bottled water brand.”

Does calling the 800 number really get you the information you want?

That depends on what you want to know.

WebMD called the 800 numbers found on three best-selling water brands, purchased at a minimart in Nashville, Tenn. In each case, we were able to find out the source of the water and the purification process used by the bottler.

But in all three cases we were told that there were no contaminants in the water we were calling about because of the extra purification. While this may be true, water quality experts say it is unlikely that the purification process removes all contaminants. And the Environmental Working Group investigation showed that some of the bottled waters they tested had the same type and level of contaminants as the tap water source used by the bottler.

The brands we checked included Pepsi’s Aquafina, Coca-Cola’s Dasani, and Deer Park Spring Water, marketed by Nestle.

When we called the Pepsi number, a customer service agent helped us find the date stamp and production code on the bottle of Aquafina we had purchased.

With this information, she was able to tell us that our water came from a municipal source in Mankato, Minn. She further informed us that the bottler used a seven-step purification process that included reverse osmosis, carbon, and UV light filtration.

When we called the Coca-Cola number, a customer service agent was able to tell us that our Dasani came from a municipal source in Birmingham, Ala., and that the purification process included reverse osmosis filtration.

Our Deer Park call was answered by a customer service agent who told us where our spring water was bottled and how it was purified.

Sarah Janssen, PhD, who is a scientist with NRDC, says the 800 numbers may help you figure out where the water you purchase comes from but not what is in it.

“I cannot imagine that anyone standing in a store trying to make a decision about which water to buy is really going to go to all that trouble,” she says.

Which is safer, bottled or tap water?

Assuming that both the municipal tap water source and the bottler are in compliance with regulations, the experts contacted by WebMD say bottled water is no safer than tap water and tap is no safer than bottled.

The experts point to two cases where bottled water may be recommended — in emergency situations when contaminants in the local water supply exceed permitted standards and in homes where corroded plumbing could cause lead or copper to contaminate drinking water.

In the first instance, water suppliers are required to notify the community and they may even provide bottled water until the problem has been solved. Homeowners worried about their pipes can have their drinking water tested. Halden says most people choose bottled water for convenience, not safety.

“We have invested in the infrastructure to provide pure, safe, drinking water to the population,” he says. “In large cities, water quality is tested hourly, not just once a day.”

While that may be true, a recent report by the Associated Press raised new concerns about the purity of tap water.

Its five-month investigation found evidence of a wide range of prescription and over-the-counter drugs — including antidepressants, antibiotics, anticonvulsants, and sex hormones — in tested samples of municipal water taken from taps throughout the country.

Twenty-four of the 28 water samples taken from major metropolitan area water supplies contained evidence of drug contamination.

The concentrations of these pharmaceuticals were very small. But the report noted that the EPA has not set safety limits for drugs in water and does not require testing for them.

If I drink tap water, should I use a filter?

If you live in a home with older pipes, have odor or taste issues with your tap water, or just want an extra level of protection, a filter may be a good idea. But you have to get the right one for your specific problem, Janssen says.

“It is important to know what you are trying to filter out before you spend the money,” she says. “A reverse osmosis filter will get rid of most contaminants, but charcoal may be enough for odor and taste problems.”

The Natural Resources Defense Council web site is a good source for information on filters.

The consumer watchdog group Consumers Union, publisher of Consumer Reports, also weighed in on commercial filters in a report published early last year.

To find out which filter is best for you, the report recommended consulting the Consumer Confidence Report (CCR), published online each July by the EPA.

The report provides detailed information about where your tap water comes from along with detected levels of dozens of regulated contaminants and the corresponding state and federal limits for these contaminants.

To determine the quality of the water actually coming from your faucet, you will have to have it tested. The EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791) can provide the names of state-certified testing labs in your area. Or you can do it yourself for under $20 with a commercially available kit sold at most hardware stores.

Is it safe to drink old bottled water?

The FDA considers bottled water to have an “indefinite safety shelf life” if it is unopened and properly sealed, but drinking water quality expert Rolf Halden, PhD, of Arizona State University is not so sure.

“Even water stored for emergency use should be replaced periodically,” he tells WebMD. “You would not want to keep it for 10 years.”

Can chemicals leach from plastic bottles and pose a health risk?

Most experts who spoke to WebMD say there is little to worry about.

The major concerns have involved the chemicals bisphenol A and phthalates.

Bisphenol A is used in the production of multiuse polycarbonate water bottles, but not in single-use bottles used by commercial bottlers.

Likewise, phthalates are not typically found in plastic beverage bottles used commercially in the U.S. But Janssen says phthalates have been found in bottled water, suggesting that it may leach from the plastic cap or liner.

“These chemicals may be in your water, but you would never know because the water companies are not required to test for them,” she says.

Is freezing bottled water or leaving it in a hot car dangerous?

Both of these concerns have circulated widely in emails and on the Internet. One email that has been around for several years warns that freezing bottled water leads to contamination with carcinogenic dioxins.

The email was erroneously attributed to Johns Hopkins University, and it was so widespread that Johns Hopkins’ scientists felt compelled to publicly set the record straight in a news release.

Rolf Halden, PhD, PE, who is an adjunct associate professor with the Johns Hopkins Center for Water and Health, called the claim “urban legend.”

He notes that there are no dioxins in plastics and that freezing actually slows or prevents the release of chemicals.

The industry group representing single-use beverage bottle manufacturers, known as NAPCOR also used the term “urban legend” to describe claims that it is unsafe to drink water that has been left in a hot car.

“The idea that (these) bottles ‘leach’ chemicals when heated in hot cars is not based on any science, and is unsubstantiated by any credible evidence,” the group noted in a recent news release. “This allegation has been perpetuated by emails until it has become an urban legend, but it just is not so.”

Is there fluoride in bottled water?

If it is added by the bottler, the label must say so. But most bottled waters probably do not have as much fluoride as fluoridated tap water.

The CDC has stated that most bottled waters contain fluoride at levels that are less than optimal for oral health. It weighed in on the issue in a news release last February.

“If you mainly drink bottled water with no or low fluoride and you are not getting enough fluoride from other sources, you may get more cavities than you would if fluoridated tap water were your main water source,” the statement noted.

The CDC also warns that preparing infant formula with fluoridated bottled water could cause dental fluorosis, a condition in which permanent white spots occur on the teeth.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Mines a beer please!

SOURCES:
Gary Hemphill, Beverage Marketing Corp.
International Bottled Water Association web site: “Frequently Asked Questions.”
FDA: “Bottled Water Regulations and the FDA,” September 2002.
National Association for PET Container Resources Q&A.
Rolf Halden, PhD, PE, associate professor of civil and environmental engineering, Arizona State University; adjunct associate professor of environmental health and science, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
Joseph Doss, president, International Bottled Water Association.
Sarah Janssen, MD, PhD, MPH, scientist, Natural Resources Defense Council.
IWG Bottled Water Investigation, Oct. 15, 2008.
CDC Fact Sheet on Questions About Bottled Water and Fluoride.
WebMD Medical News: “Many Tap Filters Work Well.”
Associated Press: “Drugs Found in Drinking Water,” Sept. 12, 2008.
National Resources Defense Council: “Summary Findings of 1999 Bottled Water Report.”

© 2008 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved.(http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/news/20081107/bottled-water-faq-on-safety-and-purity?ecd=wnl_day_041309)

SEE: http://jeannehambleton77.wordpress.com for more health issue stories.

Health Myths: Get the Facts

From the FMS Global News Desk of Jeanne Hambleton (UK)

Courtesy of US Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Office of Women’s Health

You may be making health decisions based on incorrect or outdated information. Make sure that your sources for health information are current and accurate. Also, check with your health care provider if you have any questions about living a healthier life.

You CAN take simple steps everyday to protect yourself against illness and disease. It is important to get appropriate health screenings to find potential problems early and get proper treatment to prevent more serious problems later. Know that the health choices you make can also impact the health of others.

Below are links to health-related myths and rumors you may have heard from others or the internet. Click on a health topic for related myths, facts, and links to more information.

Myth: Cancer cannot be prevented

Fact: Scientists estimate that as many as 50 percent or more of cancer deaths in the United States are caused by social and environmental conditions and unhealthy choices. These conditions and choices can result in an unhealthy diet, obesity, or unhealthy human behaviors such as smoking and physical inactivity. We now know more about how to prevent many cancers including cancers of the lung, cervix, colon, rectum, and skin.

In general, the factors that can help prevent cancer include:

not using cigarettes or other tobacco products

avoiding second-hand smoke

not drinking too much alcohol

avoiding weight gain and maintaining a healthy weight

eating five or more daily servings of fruits and vegetables and a low-fat diet

balancing calories with physical activity

being physically active

protecting skin from sunlight

supporting community efforts to develop a healthy social and physical environment

Breast Cancer

Researchers estimate that a fourth to a third of breast cancers in postmenopausal women may be due to physical inactivity and overweight/obesity.*

Mammography is the best available method to detect breast cancer in its earliest, most treatable stage— an average of 1 to 4 years before a woman can feel a lump. Women aged 40 years or older should have a screening mammogram every 1 to 2 years.

Maintain a healthy weight. Limiting weight gain during childhood and adulthood is likely to reduce the risk of breast cancer. Losing weight if overweight may also reduce risk.

Regular physical activity is likely to reduce the risk of breast cancer.

Community efforts to increase physical activity, such as school-based physical education programs and creation of walking trails, can contribute to increased physical activity in your community.

Cervical Cancer

Cervical cancer can usually be prevented if women are screened regularly at least every three years with a test called the Pap test. The Pap test can find abnormal cells in the cervix. These cells may, over time, turn into cancer, and could take many years to happen. If the results of a Pap test show there are abnormal cells that could become cancerous, a woman can be treated. In most cases, this treatment prevents cervical cancer from developing.

Pap tests can also find cervical cancer early. When it is found early, the chance of being cured is very high. When it is found early and treated, cervical cancer is highly curable. The most important thing you can do to avoid getting cervical cancer is to have regular Pap tests.

Abnormal cells in the cervix and cervical cancer do not always cause symptoms, especially at first. That is why getting tested for cervical cancer is important, even if there are no symptoms.

Community efforts to increase access to and use of cancer screening can lead to greater cancer screening in your community.

Colorectal Cancer

If you are 50 or older, getting a screening test for colorectal cancer could save your life.

Colorectal cancer usually starts from polyps in the colon or rectum. A polyp is a growth that shouldn’t be there. Over time, some polyps can turn into cancer.

Screening tests can find polyps, so they can be removed before they turn into cancer. Screening tests can also find colorectal cancer early. When it is found early, the chance of being cured is good.

Researchers estimate that a fourth to a third of colorectal cancer may be due to physical inactivity and overweight/obesity.*

Maintain a healthy weight. Limiting weight gain during childhood and adulthood is likely to reduce risk of colorectal cancer and losing weight if overweight may reduce risk.

Regular physical activity is likely to reduce the risk of colorectal cancer.

Community efforts to increase physical activity, such as school-based physical education programs and creation of walking trails, can contribute to increased activity in your community.

Community efforts to increase access to and use of cancer screening can lead to greater cancer screening in your community.

Lung Cancer

Avoiding tobacco use is the single most important step Americans can take to reduce the cancer burden in this country.

Secondhand smoke is associated with an increased risk for lung cancer and coronary heart disease in nonsmoking adults. Secondhand smoke is a known cancer-causing agent.

Quitting smoking has immediate as well as long-term benefits, reducing risks for diseases caused by smoking and improving health in general.

Community efforts to limit smoking, such as indoor smoking policies and cigarette taxes, can help reduce smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke.

Skin Cancer

Exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet rays appears to be the most important environmental factor involved in the development of skin cancer. When used consistently, sun-protective practices can prevent skin cancer.

Although anyone can develop skin cancer, some people are at particular risk, including those with light skin color, hair color, or eye color; family history of skin cancer; personal history of skin cancer; chronic exposure to the sun; history of sunburns early in life; certain types of moles or a large number of moles; and freckles, which indicate sun sensitivity and sun damage.

Protect your skin from the sun, by choosing five sun protection options: seek shade, cover up, get a hat, wear sunglasses, and rub on sunscreen.

Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening: Free or Low-Cost Mammogram and Pap Test Contacts

http://apps.nccd.cdc.gov/cancercontacts/nbccedp/contacts.asp

Cancer Prevention and Control

http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/

Cervical Cancer Screening

http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/cervical/basic_info/screening/

Colorectal Cancer: Basic Facts on Screening

http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/colorectal/basic_info/screening/

Lung Cancer

http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/lung/

Skin Cancer and Melanoma Awareness

http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/nscpep/awareness.htm

Skin Cancer: Preventing America’s Most Common Cancer

http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/nscpep/about2004.htm

Skin Cancer Primary Prevention and Education Initiative

http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/nscpep/

Smoking: The Health Consequences of Smoking: Surgeon General’s Report, 2004

http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/sgr/sgr_2004/Factsheets.htm

Smoking: Secondhand Smoke

http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/factsheets/secondhand_smoke_factsheet.htm

About the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program

http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/nbccedp/about.htm

Cancer Information Summaries: Prevention http://www.nci.nih.gov/cancertopics/pdq/prevention/ (Non-CDC site)

Steps to a Healthier You
http://www.mypyramid.gov/ (Non-CDC site)

*Weight Control and Physical Activity: International Agency for Research on Cancer- Handbooks of Cancer Prevention, 2002
http://www.iarc.fr/IARCPress/general/prev.pdf (Non-CDC site)

Diabetes

Myth: There’s nothing you can do to prevent type 2 diabetes.

Fact: Diabetes prevention is proven, possible, and powerful. Studies show that people at high risk for type 2 diabetes can prevent or delay the onset of the disease by losing 5 to 7 percent of their body weight. For example, if you weigh 200 pounds, losing only 10 pounds could make a difference. You can do it by eating healthier and getting 30 minutes of physical activity 5 days a week.

Type 2 diabetes, formerly called adult-onset or noninsulin-dependent diabetes, is the most common form of diabetes. People can develop type 2 diabetes at any age, even during childhood. This form of diabetes usually begins with insulin resistance, a condition in which fat, muscle, and liver cells do not use insulin properly.

More than 18 million Americans have diabetes, and 5.2 million cases are undiagnosed. An estimated 41 million U.S. adults aged 40–74 have prediabetes—that is, their blood sugar level is elevated but is not high enough to be classified as diabetes. People with prediabetes are at high risk for developing diabetes.

Diabetes can cause heart disease, stroke, blindness, kidney failure, pregnancy complications, lower-extremity amputations, and deaths related to flu and pneumonia. Heart disease is the leading cause of diabetes-related deaths, and death rates are about 2–4 times higher for adults with diabetes than for those without the disease.

Diabetes and Me: Prevent Diabetes

http://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/consumer/prevent.htm

Diabetes Prevention

http://www.ndep.nih.gov/diabetes/prev/prevention.htm

Am I At Risk for Type 2 Diabetes?
http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/riskfortype2/ (Non-CDC site)

Environmental Health

Myth: You cannot prevent spreading illness on a cruise.

Fact: Each year millions of U.S. citizens enjoy cruise vacations. According to the Cruise Line International Association, in 2003, approximately 8.3 million passengers embarked from North American ports for their cruise vacation. Traveling on cruise ships exposes people to new environments and high volumes of people, including other travelers. Although an infrequent occurrence, this exposure creates the risk for illness, either from contaminated food, water, or – more commonly – through person to person contact. Follow these tips to help prevent the spread of illness:

Wash your hands before and after eating, after touching your face and going to the bathroom, and when your hands are dirty.

Leave the area if you see someone get sick (vomiting or diarrhea) and report it to the cruise staff. You could become sick if you ingest contaminated particles that travel through the air.

Take care of yourself. Get plenty of rest and drink lots of water. Resting helps rebuild your immune system. Drinking water helps prevent dehydration.

Be considerate of other people’s health. If you’re ill before taking a cruise, call the cruise line to determine if there are alternative cruising options.

Cruising Tips

http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/vsp/pub/CruisingTips/cruisingtips.htm

Handwashing Tips and Techniques

http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/vsp/pub/Handwashing/HandwashingTips.htm

Immunizations

Myth: Adults do not need immunizations unless they are traveling outside the country.

Fact: Vaccines aren’t just for travelers and kids. Far too many adults become ill, are disabled, and die each year from diseases that could easily have been prevented by vaccines. Thus, everyone from young adults to senior citizens can benefit from immunizations. Vaccines help prevent infectious diseases and save lives. Vaccines are responsible for the control of many infectious diseases that were once common in this country, including polio, measles, diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough), rubella (German measles), mumps, tetanus, and Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib).

Vaccines for adults include:

Tetanus-Diphtheria: all adults, every 10 years

Influenza (flu): adults at risk and all those 50 and older

Pneumococcal: adults at risk and all those 65 and older

Hepatitis A and B: adults at risk

Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR): susceptible adults

Varicella (chickenpox): susceptible adults

Vaccines for travelers

Adolescent and Adult Immunization Quiz

http://www2.cdc.gov/nip/adultImmSched/

Adult Immunization Schedule

http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/recs/schedules/adult-schedule.htm

Vaccine-Preventable Adult Diseases

http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd-vac/adult-vpd.htm

Pregnancy and Reproductive Health

Myth: Birth defects cannot be prevented.

Fact: Approximately 3000 pregnancies per year in the United States are affected by serious birth defects of the brain (anencephaly) or spine (spina bifida). Up to 70% of these defects can be prevented if a woman consumes the B vitamin folic acid daily before pregnancy and through the first trimester. The U.S. Public Health Service recommends that all women who can become pregnant consume 400 micrograms of folic acid daily to help prevent these serious birth defects. Since half of all pregnancies are unplanned, it is important to take folic acid every day!

Folic Acid

http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/folicacid/

Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs and HIV/AIDS)

Myth: If you do not have any symptoms, you do not have a sexually transmitted disease/sexually transmitted infection (STD/STI).

Fact: Many STDs/STIs are asymptomatic- without signs or symptoms- while serious damage is being done to a woman’s reproductive organs. The only way to know for sure if you are or are not infected is to be tested. If you suspect you have a sexually transmitted infection or if your sexual partner has symptoms, you can go to your doctor or health department for testing. Talk with a knowledgeable health care provider or counselor both before and after you are tested.

The surest way to avoid transmission of sexually transmitted diseases is to abstain from sexual contact or to be in a long-term mutually monogamous relationship with a partner who has been tested and is known to be uninfected.

The following STDs may be asymptomatic:

Bacterial Vaginosis

http://www.cdc.gov/std/BV/STDFact-Bacterial-Vaginosis.htm

Chlamydia

http://www.cdc.gov/std/Chlamydia/STDFact-Chlamydia.htm

Gonorrhea

http://www.cdc.gov/std/Gonorrhea/STDFact-Gonorrhea.htm

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)

http://www.cdc.gov/std/hiv/STDFact-STD&HIV.htm

Human Papillomavirus (HPV)

http://www.cdc.gov/std/HPV/STDFact-HPV.htm

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)

http://www.cdc.gov/std/PID/STDFact-PID.htm

Syphilis

http://www.cdc.gov/std/Syphilis/STDFact-Syphilis.htm

Trichomoniasis

http://www.cdc.gov/std/Trichomonas/STDFact-Trichomoniasis.htm

Smoking and Tobacco

Myth: Low-tar or light cigarettes are not as harmful as regular cigarettes.

Fact: There is no safe tobacco product. The use of any tobacco product can cause cancer and other adverse health effects. This includes all forms of tobacco, including cigarettes, cigars, pipes, and spit tobacco; mentholated, “low-tar,” “naturally grown,” or “additive-free.” The poisonous ingredients in cigarettes aren’t just limited to tar and nicotine. A typical cigarette contains lead, ammonia (a household cleaner), arsenic (used in rat poison), benzene (used in making gas), butane gas, carbon monoxide (a poisonous gas), DDT (a banned insecticide), and polonium 210 (cancer-causing radioactive element). To reduce your risk for lung cancer, stroke, heart disease, and reproductive health problems, avoid all tobacco products and exposure to second-hand smoke.

Light Cigarettes Myth

http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/christy/myth6.htm

Women and Smoking: A Report of the Surgeon General

http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/sgr/sgr_forwomen/

Violence

Myth: Rape does not happen very often.

Fact: Rape and attempted rape happen more often than you may think. According to the National Violence against Women survey, 1 in 6 women and 1 in 33 men in the United States have experienced an attempted or completed rape at some time in their lives. In 8 out of 10 rape cases, the victim knew the perpetrator. The first step in preventing sexual violence is to identify and understand vulnerability factors. A vulnerability factor is anything that increases the likelihood that a person will suffer harm. Vulnerability factors for sexual violence include: young age, drug or alcohol use, prior history of sexual violence, multiple sex partners, and poverty.

Sexual Violence

http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/dvp/SV/default.htm

Sexual Violence: Prevention Strategies and Links

http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/factsheets/svprevention.htm

The Truth about Rape

http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/dvp/The%20Truth%20About%20Rape%20Final.pdf

URL: http://www.cdc.gov/women/owh/myths/