2006_06_01_archive

Watery Rockettes

...Water is 8 pounds to the gallon. It's a weight--and you can use it

to create 12 to 14 times the resistance of air for a better workout.

...Water aerobics is no longer for seniors. The average age is now 40.

...Kick boxing and other martial arts are also going "wet."

...Water is also more refreshing than a big hot sweat bath.

...Six million Americans exercise in the pool--especially Boomers with

banged up ankles and knees.

...Don't overdo it at first--you will get sore just as you would with

any unfamiliar exercise.

...You can up the aerobic ante with belts, special weights and webbed

gloves, if you want.

...Of course, there is always swimming, too, while you are there.

...Do HA a favor? Would ya send her a picture of those webbed gloves?

posted by Star Lawrence @ 7:49 AM 0 comments

Say we did have a Bird Flu vaccine

...Would you take it?

...A team from the Univ of Michigan Med School and VA Ann Arbor

Healthcare System gave 2400 people a questionnaire to see what they

would do.

...As reported in the Journal of Internal Medicine, participants were

divided into four groups. The first were asked to imagine themselves

as the patient in two scenarios: taking an experimental vaccine

against a deadly flu or chemo for a slow-growing cancer.

...Take the medicine or take their chances without it?

...The other three groups were given the same scenario but asked to

answer from (1) the standpoint of a doctor advising a patient, (2) a

parent deciding for a child, and (3) a medical director of a hospital

deciding for many patients.

...Only 48% would take it for themselves.

...But 57% of those imaging themselves to be parents would give it to

their child.

...63% of those acting as a doctor would advise it for their patients.

...And 73% o the medical director group would give it to a lot of

patients.

...Much the same applied to the chemo scenario.

...In a reaction they call the "omission tendency," people tend to

avoid bringing immediate medical harm on themselves, even though

waiting might be riskier.

...Doctors and medical directors tend to take more proactive risks.

Action is more justifiable than doing nothing.