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CNN released a story on how alcohol may prevent brain damage in car accidents. The study monitored 38,000 patients between 2000 and 2005 that suffered moderate to severe brain injuries in accidents, 38% which had high levels of alcohol in their blood.

Patients with the alcohol were more likely to survive from the brain damage than those that did not have a high blood-alcohol level. This means that while alcohol is a leading cause for auto accidents at a startling 40% of all accidents on the road, it also may prevent fatalities in severe auto accidents where brain injury is involved.

According to MADD, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, underage drinking is the number one health problem in the youth of our country. Scientists that are skeptical of the study believe it may be skewed by the fact that younger patients in auto accidents will recover better than older patients, and those younger patients are also coming into the hospital more often thanks to the 40%-alcohol-causes-accidents rate.

But consider this: every year, 2 million people suffer from traumatic brain injuries. Of those 2 million, 56,000 will die and 80,000 will remain injured for life. To get an idea of how underage drinking may be effecting this study, compare that statistic with the following from MADD: 5,000 people under the age of 21 die every year due to drinking; this is not including sexual assaults, violence, or survivable injuries, so we’re only looking at the 56,000 people dying in auto accidents in this case.

The verdict? If both argumentative scientists and MADD are true, then the young patients are likely college students: over the age of 21, but still in the partying years.

It’s not clear why alcohol may help these patients recover from brain injuries. Doctors are saying giving alcohol to patients after the fact might not be beneficial either, because having the alcohol during the accident is a completely separate factor that may be attributing to the brain recovery.

This certainly isn’t to say to drink while driving; best to not get into the accident at all! While using alcohol to treat people is unlikely, scientists are looking for the “what” behind the phenomena to see if they can come up with alternative treatments for brain injuries in the future.

Everyone can appreciate a good night’s rest. It is especially appreciated and missed when we do not have one. Why can’t every night be a solid eight hours of good sleep then? What causes us to toss and turn some nights and wake up feeling like we never went to sleep? There are several possible culprits to examine. By learning about what they are, we can all work on getting that good night’s rest.

Caffeine

Do you drink coffee at night? Or soda? You could be consuming tons of caffeine, which in turn keeps you awake at night. Sometimes we’re not even aware that we are drinking caffeinated beverages because theyhave become such a routine part of our day. And even if you do fall asleep, the caffeine can keep you from a good, solid sleep. Try cutting out caffeine anytime after 6pm. Drink milk instead. The age-old habit for children is actually spot on. Dairy foods have tryptophan, an amino acid that your body converts to melatonin and serotonin, both of which are thought to induce sleep.

Naps

It can be difficult to avoid naps sometimes, particularly when you get home from work and your brain is taking a break from the stress of the workplace. But, if you want to be tired at bedtime, then don’t cut into your sleep time by taking a nap earlier in the day. If absolutely necessary- you just can’t keep your eyes open- then a power nap should be okay. A power nap is a short sleep that ends before your body enters into a deep sleep. It’s easier to bounce back from a power nap then it is from a longer one. This is because a person is more likely to be groggy if the body has entered into a deep sleep cycle but wakes up and is unable to complete it. The average duration of a power nap is fifteen to thirty minutes.

Stimulation

Avoid stimuli that are going to get your adrenaline going and make it more difficult for you to fall sleep- for at least 2-3 hours before bedtime. This can be anything from video games, going on the computer, exercise, or TV. The more active your brain is when you are trying to fall asleep, the less likely the probability that you will fall asleep. Additionally, even if you are able to fall asleep, it may reduce the quality of your sleep. This could mean waking up frequently or tossing and turning. Activities right before bedtime should be conducive to falling asleep; even better, if they’re slightly boring, they can actively help you drift off to sleep.

Consistency

A consistent sleep schedule should not be discounted. Parents are encouraged to put their children on a sleep schedule because it’s healthy for the body. It shouldn’t be any different for adults. Our bodies prefer to work in a rhythm. It is why we get jet lag when we fly to a drastically different time zone. When you allow yourself to fall into a sleep schedule, your body will physiologically reinforce your habits. Eventually, when your body recognizes the sleep schedule you have set for it, you will find it easier to fall asleep at the appointed time. Conversely, when you do not follow a routine, you have probably noticed that it is more difficult to wake up and fall asleep.

Heartburn? The burning sensation creeps ups your esophagus and it seems that antacid is less effective as time wears on. Everyone dreads it when it comes on and it isn’t always apparent as to the cause. But there are certain foods that you can avoid to help stave off the heartburn.

First, there are the obvious triggers such as huge meals and chocolate binges. Downing three chili dogs in under an hour is something most of us know will bring on heartburn. However, people who continue to regularly get heartburn need to consider the possibility that something else could be the cause.

Next, take into account your habits. Do you smoke? If so, smoking can worsen the effects of heartburn. It does so by weakening the valve between the esophagus and the stomach. This causes the stomach acid to flow back into the esophagus. Also, smoking can cut down on saliva, which contains a natural acid-fighting ingredient, bicarbonate

Another trigger can be an item you would not think would cause you to feel pain. Ibuprofen. If you frequently reach for the ibuprofen to cure headaches or other ailments, then you could be making your heartburn worse. Naproxen has been known to do the same. This might be a matter of which pain is worse, or you can consult your doctor for alternative medicine.

Is fish oil part of your multivitamin routine? It has also been discovered to cause heartburn, as well as other stomach ailments. Although fish oil has many benefits, among them managing heart disease and helping with depression, it is worth looking into as the possible source of your heartburn.

A trigger that is not so surprising is stress. But this works in a convoluted way. Stress does not actually cause heartburn, so much as the stressed out person’s perception is that it will. It is more of a self-fulfilling prophecy- people might perceive stress as causing heartburn so when stress comes on, they believe that their heartburn is worse. The mind is a very powerful trigger.

It always seems that we blame our parents for everything- right or wrong. But in this case, it is justified. Heartburn is, in some part, genetic. So if one or both of your parents suffered from heartburn, then the likelihood is higher that you will, too.

If you’re a peppermint fan, then you might want to wean yourself off the candy. Peppermint has a soothing effect that relaxes the valve between your stomach and your esophagus. This can make it easier for stomach acids to come back up your esophagus.

Finally, one more possible trigger of heartburn is your weight. Overweight people are more likely to suffer from heartburn. This seems to be more often the case with women rather than men, but the reasons for the association vary. Some say it is because overweight people tend to have poor diets, while others lay the blame on the excess fat around the abdomen. Either way, being heavy can negatively affect the frequency of heartburn.

Recently, with the H1N1 flu (or swine flu) making headlines, people are concerned have become concerned about the safety of their children at school. Is there a high likelihood that children can catch it from their classmates? How serious is it really? How can they work to protect their children against it? It is reasonable and understandable that parents are concerned. Colleges across the country are dealing with outbreaks so why wouldn’t our local public schools be at risk as well?

The goods news is that measures can be taken to keep children healthy. Parents should be vigilant about several factors when sending their children off to school in the morning.

Cleanliness

Staying clean, not just of dirt but of germs, is crucial. Children should be told to wash their hands frequently throughout the day. And, of course, it is crucial that parents teach their children how to wash their hands effectively. Even better would be a hand-washing and to have their kids carry a little bottle of hand sanitizer with them in their backpacks. Hand sanitizer is excellent at preventing the transmission of germs by killing them instantly, in addition to being a convenient option when hand washing is not a possibility.

Stay Healthy!

Sharing Food and Drink

Parents should talk with their kids and explain that sharing foods and especially drink are a good way to spread germs. This means no sharing beverages and no eating leftovers from their friends’ lunches. It’s important to stop illnesses from spreading.

Coughing and Sneezing

Manners aside, using a tissue to cover the mouth when coughing or sneezing is necessary to keep germs from spreading. Parents should teach their children to sneeze or cough into their shirt sleeve rather than the air or their hands. This is a better alternative to accidentally coughing or sneezing on someone, or leaving germs on the hands.

Staying Home

Finally, although it can be tempting to send kids to school when they only have a minor cold, it may end up harming other children who are healthy. In the end, it is better to keep sick children at home. They will get better faster with the rest, and the teachers and other parents will be appreciate it.

Sometimes fast food is the only thing that works in our schedules, so we go consume it only to regret it just a few hours later. Nothing is worse than eater’s remorse. The question is, though, if we must, are there any healthy choices to be made at a fast food restaurant? Surprisingly, there are. You just have to be careful to avoid common pitfalls such as salads that seem healthy but are actually fattening when loaded down with ranch dressing. Here are ten healthy alternatives at your local fast food restaurant.

1. McDonald’s

California Cobb Salad with Chicken                                      260 calories     11 fat grams

…add Newman’s Own Low Fat Balsamic Vinaigrette             40 calories       3 fat grams

2. Burger King

Santa Fe Fire-Grilled Chicken Baguette                                 380 calories     4 grams of fat

3. Wendy’s

Chili (large)                                                                             300 calories     7 grams of fat

4. Jack in the Box

Chicken Fajita Pita (no salsa)                                                  280 calories     9 grams of fat

5. Kentucky Fried Chicken

HBBQ Sandwich                                                                     300 calories     6 grams of fat

6. Chick-fil-A

Spicy Chicken Cool Wrap                                                       380 calories     6 grams of fat

7. Taco Bell

Steak Burrito Supreme Fresco Style                                       350 calories     9 grams of fat

8. Subway

Turkey Breast, Ham, & Bacon Melt (6 inch)                           380 calories     12 grams of fat

9. Hardee’s

Pancake Platter                                                                       300 calories     5 grams of fat

10. Noodles & Company

Pad Thai (small)                                                                      380 calories     8 grams of fat

Eating out at fast food restaurants does not have to be bad news for your health. By simply deciding to choose the right items on the menu, you can stick to your healthy diet. Of course, restaurants like Subway and Noodles & Company are ideal because you can control what goes into your meal. Even at places Americans typically view as unhealthy, like McDonald’s and Kentucky Fried Chicken, can work for your lifestyle. Just be careful about your menu choices and you will survive fast food dining!

We always recommending trying  brands out.