Category: Health

Lap-Band Device Can Help Obese People Lose Weight

Lap-bandLap-Band is a flexible, small apparatus which is designed to be inserted as a band around a person’s stomach to force him to eat less, and thus helping him to lose considerable weight. At the moment the device is approved only for morbidly obese patients, but the FDA is considering expanding its use to include less obese people, including people like Angela Denson who has been struggling with obesity for 20 years, since she first began having children.

Angela, 37 years old, would like to lose about 85 pounds. However, she is discouraged due to her failure to lose weight until now, despite having tried many strategies for losing weight.

“I’ve tried diet pills. I’ve tried Weight Watchers … all different types of diet plans,” she said.

Ms. Denson is not overweight enough for surgery to implant Lap-Band now, but if the FDA approves its use for less obese patients, and then she would indeed be eligible, along with about 12 million additional obese patients.

The Health Benefits of Horseback Riding Part II

horse-ridingHorseback riding can be therapeutic for people with mental disabilities, emotional disorders, and people who are handicapped. The motion and position of the rider while on a horse greatly improves the balance, spatial awareness, coordination and motor development, all of which are common problems in such people. The control of the mind and body which are required to ride can help the person become more sensitive to his or her surroundings, and also to consider other factors in his situation besides himself. This also helps improve the person’s reaction time.

Building a strong, consistent relationship between the horse and the rider through the riding as well as grooming teaches people about trust and loyalty, as well as responsibility.

New Device Seeking Approval in Fight Against Obesity

As many as twelve million Americans may soon be eligible to have surgery to implant a small and flexible stomach band into their abdomens in order to help them lose weight. The Food and Drug Administration is still examining the efficacy and side effects of such an implant, and is scheduled to reach a final decision within the next few months.

Lap-Band, as it is known, is a product produced by Allergan Inc. It is already being used by about 100,000 people a year who are considered morbidly obese, and has been shown to help them lose about 50 pounds or more on average.

On Friday a panel of FDA advisors decided to recommend the expansion of the use of the device to patients who are less obese, deciding in an 8-2 vote that the benefits of offering this device to less overweight patients outweighs the risks.

J&J Antacid Recall Announced

MylantaJohnson & Johnson has added additional products to its list of recalls for this year: twelve types of Mylanta and one Alternagel antacid. The wholesale and retail level recall, which affects as many as 12 million bottles of Mylanta and 85,000 bottles of Alternagel, was not initiated because of consumer safety concerns, Johnson & Johnson explained, but because an internal review within the company showed that the bottles had failed to make note of the alcohol content in some flavoring agents.

“Certain flavoring agents contribute small (less than 1 percent) amounts of alcohol,” J&J explained on the Mylanta website. “It is unlikely that use of these products will cause either absorption or alcohol sensitivity related adverse events.”

The health care product company has already instituted more than six recalls this year, most notably the April 30 recall of over forty types of children’s pain and allergy medications, which included children’s liquid Tylenol, Benadryl, and Motrin. The FDA termed that recall the “largest” in children’s medicine history.

The Health Benefits of Horseback Riding Part I

Horse-back-ridingHorseback riding is a popular tourist attraction and is often considered to be a fun, relaxing activity. People who use horses as part of their daily routine, however, know that riding is actually incredibly beneficial for our bodies. The Japanese recognized this fact years ago, and created an exercise machine with simulates the different motions of a horse.

While riding, the core muscles are strengthened in a way that can only be achieved through certain exercises. The back, arms, thigh and stomach muscles work to control balance and movement throughout the length of the ride. Posture can also be greatly improved, as the correct riding position requires the person to sit with a straight spine and shoulders back. While riding at a fast pace, like a canter, the blood receives more oxygen, breathing is extended, circulation is improved and metabolism is increased.

Riding also often exposes a person to more fresh air. The animals in the stable can help boost the immune system. Even the grooming of the horse before and after a ride exercises ones’ muscles.