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BOTOX® Cosmetic (Botulinum Toxin Type A)

By now almost everyone has heard of the miraculous powers of Botox in keeping skin from showing the effects of aging. But is it really as wonderful as its proponents claim? And most important of all, is it safe?

Botox is actually a shorthand name for Botulism, a fatal toxin that is most commonly found in canned food. When ingested, even in microscopic amounts (one microgram), it becomes fatal to humans. So how can such a pernicious toxin be used successfully and safely to treat wrinkles? Because Botulism causes paralysis, the toxin can be injected into the muscles surrounding wrinkled areas which blocks nerve endings telling muscles to contract. This leads to a weakening of facial muscles which smoothes or even eliminates unwanted wrinkles. The results can last up to six months. However is it safe to have a deadly toxin injected into your face, mere inches away from the brain? While botox injections can have mild side effects ranging from redness and pain at the injection site to nausea, initial research has shown no instances of the toxin traveling throughout the body and causing an serious internal damage. However, if you are considering Botox, it is very important that you find a certified professional to administer the injections to prevent any unnecessary risk.

While the idea of injecting a deadly toxin into one’s face might still seem too far-fetched for many, this method of age control is far less expensive and painful than other forms of anti-aging cosmetic procedures on the market today such as the face lift or the chemical peel. The con is that the results are much more temporary (3-6 months for Botox as opposed to 5-10 years for a face lift). This, along with all medical procedures, should be carefully weighed and discussed with your doctor.

While the new flu now knows as the Swine Flu was previously isolated in Mexico, new cases appearing throughout the United States have caused great concern to health authorities worldwide. Fearing a pandemic outbreak similar to the flu outbreak in 1918 that killed an estimated 40 million people, authorities are taking drastic steps to try and contain the virus.

The virus first appeared in Mexico City last week and quickly spread, with more than 1600 suspected cases and 103 virus caused deaths to date. This initial outbreak was cause for concern and Mexico took strict steps to attempt to contain the virus, closing schools and government buildings on Friday. However the appearance of more than 40 cases in the United States and 6 in Canada have led to worldwide concern. “Today we’ve seen increased number of confirmed cases in several countries,” WHO spokesman Paul Garwood told The Associated Press. “WHO is very concerned about the number of cases that are appearing, and the fact that more and more cases are appearing in different countries.

The world health community has reacted quickly, quarantining those suspected to be infected with the disease. Additionally, the European Union has issued travel warnings to the United States and Mexico while America has restricted travel to Mexico. Suspected cases of the swine flu are still appearing in an increasing number of countries, however, Professor Robert Booy, head of clinical research at the National Center for Immunization Research and Surveillance believes there is no reason to panic.

“(But) even if, or when, a pandemic occurs, it will not be like the big killer, the Spanish Flu … we are just so much better prepared this time,” says Booy. “We have highly effective drug therapy and also the wherewithal to produce a vaccine.”

The long hours and little sleep associated with a demanding job have long been known to weaken the immune system and increase chances of catching contagious diseases. However, recent studies have shown that a high intensity, high stress job may actually have a more long term detriment to general health by weakening and damaging the heart.

The first way in which a demanding profession can potentially damage the heart is by the unhealthy diet such a profession predicates. Those working long hours often turn to fast food and restaurant foods to save time, most of which are loaded with excess fat and sodium while lacking the essential nutrients needed from fruits and vegetables. While recent developments in pharmaceuticals have been able to counteract the immediate consequences of such a diet, namely heartburn, the long term effects of a diet high in fat and sodium wreaks havoc on the heart as excess fat in one’s diet clogs arteries while excess sodium weakens artery walls.

The second way in which a high stress job can damage the heart is simply the result of stress on the body. Stress, especially work stress, “is bad for the heart, because it causes your body to be in a state of high arousal all the time” says Dr. Redford Williams who is the director of behavioral medicine at Duke University Medical Center. Stress causes blood pressure to rise quickly and raises the amount of resistance in blood vessels. This can cause the blood vessels in the body to narrow. Because work stress exists on a more long term, consistent basis, this can have a very detrimental effect on the body over time. In fact a recent study has shown that those with high stress jobs have nearly double the likelihood of a heart attack than those with low stress jobs.

So give your heart a break. If you can’t change careers, try taking up a relaxing hobby, such as deep breathing or yoga. If you feel yourself becoming stressed at work, you can use those techniques to help calm down. A little stress is ok, but be sure to keep it in check because nothing is as important as your health!

Newest research has shown that despite the long held theory that some people are born with slow or fast metabolisms, actually a large determinant for the differing levels of calories people burn each day is their “NEAT (or Non Exercise Activity Thermogenesis)” score. NEAT can be defined as all the little activities a person does throughout the day that are not traditional or even intentional exercises. Things such as fidgeting, tapping one’s leg, readjusting in one’s chair or twiddling one’s thumbs will work to greatly increase someone’s NEAT score. And with NEAT scores ranging in individuals by 700 to 2000 calories a day, this could create a significant change in the amount of calories burned in one day.

So if you’re worried that your BMI may be too high (click here to calculate your BMI), take up an annoying habit! It may annoy those around you, but can actually work to increase your metabolism and more easily manage your weight.

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