The Healthy People program recommends that adults get 30 minutes of moderate exercise (such as walking) five times a week, or at least 75 minutes of vigorous exercise (such as running) every week. It seems, however, that the majority of people still aren’t meeting these goals.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently released its figures for the most and least fit metropolitan centers in America, and the results indicate that many people aren’t getting as much exercise as recommended by the Healthy People 2010 initiative.

America’s Most Fit Cities

So where are the fittest cities in America, according to the CDC?

The Top Ten Healthy Cities Are

1. Boulder, CO
2. Provo-Oren, Utah
3. Anchorage
4. Barnstable Town, Mass.
5. Lincoln, Nebraska
6. Portland, Maine
7. Fort Collins, Colorado
8. Grand Rapids, Mich.
9. Albuquerque, N.M.
10. Casper, Wyoming

In all ten cities, between 57% (Casper) and 67% (Boulder) of the population are exercising regularly, meeting the goals of the Healthy People initiative’s 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week. In addition, between 31% (Casper) and 43% (Boulder) are getting regular vigorous exercise.

America’s Least Fit Cities

And the Least Fit Cities?

1. Chattanooga, TN.
2. New Orleans, Louisiana
3. Baton Rouge, LA.
4. Lake Charles, LA.
5. Hickory, N.C.
6. Birmingham, Alabama.
7. Mobile, Ala.
8. Tuscaloosa, Ala.
9. Jackson, Miss.
10. Fort Smith, Ark.

In the “bottom ten” cities, the CDC reports, between 40% (Memphis) and 37% (Chattanooga) are getting regular moderate exercise. And in every city, less than 25% of the population is getting regular vigorous exercise.

Want to make a difference to your health in 2009? Stop dieting – studies show it doesn’t work in the long run, and yo-yoing weight can even be harmful to your health. Instead, decide to make healthier food choices more often than you currently do. Over time, increase your percentage of healthy food choices until you’re at a point where you’re getting a good balance of calories and nutrition. These types of goals are much more sustainable than restrictive diets, and are much more likely to stick in the long term.

When it comes to exercise, choose something you really enjoy doing, rather than what the latest magazine workout program tells you to do. If you exercise in a way that’s fun, you’ll be far more likely to keep up with it throughout the year.

photo credit: Ed Yourdon

The medical breakthroughs that get reported in the media rarely end up being the miracle cures they’re often portrayed as. In 2008, however, there were several important advanced made in medical science that could have a significant impact on public health in years to come.

1. The question of whether organic food is good for you has finally been answered: A review of studies on nutrient content of organic fruits, vegetables, and grains has confirmed that these have up to 25% more nutrients than conventionally-grown produce.
2. Another long-held myth—about the efficacy of antibiotics for sinus infections—was also dispelled in 2008. Over the course of nine studies involving 2,500 participants, it was found that antibiotics didn’t significantly hasten recovery. According to allergist Neil L. Kao, MD, taking a decongestant or mucus thinner, along with a painkiller as needed, is just as beneficial.
3. If weight loss is your resolution for 2009, look into adding resistant starch—found in beans, green bananas, and potatoes—to your diet. This type of starch is digested very slowly, helping to suppress your appetite, and can help stabilize blood sugar levels, too.
4. Women take note: a new risk calculator, known as FRAX, has been developed to help doctors determine whether women are at risk of osteoporosis, and whether preventative treatment may be necessary.
5. If you receive a diagnosis of diabetes, it’s important to know the results of three major studies that were completed in 2008. All three reinforce the importance of taking control of blood sugar levels as soon as possible, and managing blood pressure, cholesterol, and triglyceride levels as well.
6. Also from the field of diabetes research comes the news that body fat percentage may be a more reliable indicator of risk than body mass index. Mayo Clinic researchers studied 1,101 women with a BMI of less than 25 (considered a healthy BMI), and found that those with higher than 30% body fat were at higher risk of metabolic syndrome and diabetes.
7. Unfortunately for people with arthritis in one or both knees, a result study showed that arthroscopic surgery doesn’t provide any real benefit in most cases. If you’re affected by this condition, the study concluded, you’re better off with physical therapy and medication for pain management.
8. Another potentially major breakthrough is in the field of multiple sclerosis treatment, where current medication can prevent relapse of major symptoms in around 30% of people with the disease. A new drug, called fingolimod, has so far been able to prevent relapses in more than two thirds of patients, for three years, according to results of clinical trials.

photo credit: a.drian

Surgery and a week-long hospital stay can equal a bill of tens of thousands of dollars. Even with insurance you can still end up paying several thousand in out-of-pocket expenses. Insurance companies typically negotiate with hospitals for lower bills – but most people don’t realize they can do that too.

Tips for Negotiating Health Care Bills

The first and most important step is simply asking. According to a survey from the Consumer Reports National Research Center, only 31% of Americans have tried to negotiate medical bills – but of those who did try, 93% were successful, and a full third saved over $100. When you apply this to the massive expense of a hospital stay, it could mean a very significant saving.

Around 80% of doctors prescribe generic drugs, but only 40-50% consider price when they recommend diagnostic tests or in-patient care. Ask your doctor if less expensive options are available when discussing your options.

When it comes time to settle your bill, however, your doctor may not be the person to talk to. Particularly if a hospital is involved, it’s far more likely you’ll need to speak to someone in charge of billing, with the power to make adjustments to your bill.

Finally, offering cash is often a good strategy, if your own finances allow it. Cash is generally easier for hospitals to deal with, so you have a negotiation advantage if you offer to pay this way.

Understanding Your Hospital Bill

And what of the bill itself? It is an unfortunate fact that some hospitals to go to outrageous lengths to obscure their own bills so that customers don’t know what they’re paying for – allowing the hospital to overcharge for its services. How can you overcome that impossible hospital language?

• Check your insurance policy before your hospital stay, and read the section on exceptions and exclusions closely, to find out what’s not covered.
• Phone the billing department of the hospital and ask what your room charges are, and what they cover.
• Bring your own disposables, such as tissues and toothpaste, if the room charge doesn’t cover them. Hospitals charge particularly outrageous prices for those items.
• Bring your own prescription medications from home, to avoid paying hospital prices for them.
• Make sure all the medical personnel involved in your case participate in your insurance plan.
• Keep a record of tests, treatments, and medications you receive.
• When you receive your Explanation of Benefits (EOB), read it closely. This tells you what the hospital is charging, what’s covered by insurance, and what you’ll have to pay.
• Do not, under any circumstances, pay your bill before you leave the hospital (not even if you’re told you must). Your negotiating power is gone once you pay the bill.
• Once your bill arrives, compare it to your records and the EOB.
• Call the hospital billing department and ask them to explain any costs you don’t understand, or can’t see a reason for.
• Demand a fully itemized bill – which all hospitals in every state are required to supply by law.
• As a last resort, appeal in writing to the patient ombudsman.

photo credit: weegeebored

Proposed health and health care changes on ballots all over the state haven’t received much press, either before or after the recent presidential election. But there are some important changes, even though they have been overshadowed by the election itself!

Abortion Limitations Defeated in All Three States

In California, Colorado, and South Dakota, propositions which would have limited the circumstances under which a woman could seek an abortion were defeated.

Children’s Health Insurance Approved in Montana

The Healthy Kids Plan Act was approved. This initiative approves the establishment of a health insurance plan for all uninsured children in Montana, estimated at around 37,000.

Home Care Council Passed in Missouri

A statutory amendment was approved which will allow for the establishment of the Missouri Quality Homecare Council, an entity which will improve the quality and consistency of Medicaid homecare services available for the elderly.

Long-Term Care Requirements in Washington

An initiative was approved which requires people working with the elderly and the disabled have more training and certification to qualify for the work. The new regulations come into effect on January 1, 2010.

Medical Marijuana Approved in Michigan

The use of marijuana for medical purposes was under ballot. The proposition was approved, with 63% of the vote, and will now allow seriously and terminally ill people to use the drug for medical purposes. Qualifying patients—and their caregivers—will be allowed to cultivate marijuana for medical use.

Physician-Assisted Suicide Passed in Washington

Initiative 1000 was approved with 58% of the vote. This means that terminally ill people who are deemed mentally competent will be allowed to request and self-administer a lethal dose of medication. There are provisions in the initiative to limit the circumstances under which this can be carried out. For example, the patient must be deemed to have less than six months to live, and must make two oral and one written request, with a waiting period following each request.

Stem Cell Research Approved in Michigan

The Stem Cell Initiative was approved with 53% of the vote. With this initiative approved, human embryos created in fertility clinics will now be allowed to be donated to researchers working on embryonic stem cell research, if the embryos would otherwise be discarded.

Tobacco Prevention and Control Passed in S.D.

This initiative was approved and will allow for the establishment of an advisory committee to develop and fund a statewide program to prevent and control the use of tobacco.

Universal Health Insurance for Arizona

The votes aren’t completely counted, but this measure would, if approved, make it illegal for the state of Arizona to require people to purchase health insurance. Similar measures in other states require people to pay a fine if they refuse to buy health insurance.

1. Zoloft

Originally introduced into the market as sertraline, this SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor) is a popular anti-depressant. The drug hit a bit of a row in recent history largely because new research suggests that SSRIs have little to no effect on clinical depression, despite the high rates of use among those with health insurance.

2. Enzyte

This herbal alternative to prescription virility medication claims to promote “natural male enhancement,” but its founder Steve Warshak and, yes, his mother Harriet were found guilty of mail fraud and money laundering. Case closed on this wonder tablet. For those of you who bemoan the loss of this herbal super-drug, rumor has it that ginger works wonders.

3. Rozerem

The days of counting sheep are over. And Rozerem has captured the attention of its target audience with advertisements featuring Abraham Lincoln and — yes, you read this right — a talking beaver. Maybe the VP of marketing is from Oregon?

4. Celebrex

From rectal polyps to rheumatoid arthritis — is there anything this drug won’t do? The journey to our neighborhood pharmacy was long and arduous. Celebrex was originally developed by G.D. Searle, promoted by Monsanto, then Pfizer; after that, Monsanto merged with Pharmacia, whose medical research division was acquired by Pfizer. Celebrex is now in Pfizer’s hands, and with it a potential litany of controversial claims arising from its potential heart attack risks (but don’t worry, unless you’re a Celebrex pill popper, your heart should be a healthy ticker).

The term snake oil then became a generic name for many of the future medicines marketed as panaceas or miraculous remedies. In reality the vast majority of these medicines were nothing more than the equivalent of sugar pills. Follow us on a journey as we take a look at some of history’s most charming snake oil labels.

Dr. Pierce’s Golden Medical Discovery!

This was one of the many quackery medicines being sold to the public in the late 19th and early 20th century. Dr Pierce’s medicine went the bold route and claimed to be a cure for ALL diseases. Early forms of advertisement were used, including testimonials. One particular women wrote to Dr. Pierce claiming that his medicine cured her painfully long menstrual periods and what seemed to be a urinary tract infection. The ads often targeted men, but mainly focused on women. Some of the ads claimed:

Quote:

To make a woman as jolly a wife as she was a maid by re-establishing the health of the delicate womanly organs.

While male illness was claimed to be caused by “countless minute orgasms leagued against the health of the body,” women’s ads were psychological, telling them they were fragile and ill vs. men ads, which used science and logic.

Posted in the “Chico Weekly” in Chico, California. Dec 25, 1897.

Kickapoo Indian Sagwa

In the late 19th century, many quack medicine companies would use the names of Native American tribes to promote remedies for all sorts of ailments. Back then, people were easily duped by claims of using natural cures from tribal medicine-men, but what they didn’t know was that not all could be trusted. With Kickapoo Indian Sagwa—owned by John E. Healy and Charles F. Bigelow—a remake was created of the original, telling people that it would cure constipation, liver complaint, dyspepsis, loss of appetite, chills/fever and any other disease (how convenient!)

Medical shows were held throughout different counties and the owners would even hire Native Americans (likely not from the actual Kickapoo tribe) to attend the shows and help make the cure look authentic.

Different packages were used, so finding an authentic Kickapoo Indian Sagwa cure isn’t impossible (if they were still being made). The original came in a black box, the remake is in a white box. Collect yours while supplies last!

Dr. Williams’ Pink Pills for Pale People

Another 19th to early 20th-century snake oil medicine was Dr. Williams’ Pink Pills for Pale People. It claimed to cure…

Quote:

…Chorea (known then as St. Vitus’ Dance or Locomotor Ataxia), partial paralyxia, seistica, neuralgia rheumatism, nervous headache, after effects of la grippe, palpitation of the heart, pale and sallow complexions and all forms of weakness in males or females.

Dr. Williams’ Pink Pills for Pale People was advertised in 82 countries, including America, Canada and the United Kingdom. The company was owned by G.T. Fulford & Company (founder George Taylor Fulford Sr.), which was created in 1890.

Many 19th, early 20th century drugs were fraudulent in nature, making millions of dollars in their short-lived stints. Owners would put on “commercials” during stage entertainment shows, much like what you see on television or hear on the radio. Some of the medications would contain large amounts of alcohol and actual cocaine, giving a false effect of healing.

Even medicines created to calm babies were heavily dosed with alcohol. The final hour of these quackery medicine companies were exploited by investigations conducted by a journalist named Samuel Hopkins Adams in the early 1900s, exposing 264 fraudulent firms and hucksters. The FDA was then formed in 1906, regulating medicines that were produced. The fraudsters faced no jail time and were fined to pay small amounts between $10-$50. Some hoaxes were re-created to look different and stated the medicine was regulated by the FDA.

In the 1950s, televisions became a better venue for advertisement, leaving only 10 road shows roaming about. People weren’t as naïve during this time, and by the 1960s there were no more road shows or false advertisements of the many snake oil labels that were created in early American history.

They say that old habits die hard, and some of these beliefs are hardwired into many people’s minds. Passed down through generations, they have since been disproved, and are a great example to keep questioning what you think you believe to be true.