PROFNET EXPERT ALERTS: Health & Living

1. Behavior: In Lousy Economic Times, You Can Increase Happiness Currency
2. Fitness: Keeping Knees Safe When Working Out
3. Health: Breast Cancer: HER-2
4. Health: Brain Cancer Treatment Options Are Extremely Limited
5. Health: Iron Improves ADHD Symptoms
6. Health: Skip Formula to Prevent Chronic Ear Infections
7. Health: Parents, Improve Your Child's Health
8. Safety: Rip Current Deaths Are Cause for Alarm
9. Safety: The Seat-Belt Habit and School Buses
10. Sports: Team USA's Preparation for the Olympics
11. Travel: Riding the Rails
12. Weddings: The Trend of Green Weddings

**1. BEHAVIOR: IN LOUSY ECONOMIC TIMES, YOU CAN STILL INCREASE YOUR HAPPINESS
CURRENCY. AMYK HUTCHENS, CEO of AKI, INC., a company that specializes in
building businesses and increasing companies' overall valuation through
innovative programs, initiatives and operational excellence, is author of the
books, "Brain Brilliant: Increase Your Personal and Professional Profit" and
"Brain Brilliant Dating": "Rates of depression are 10 times higher today than
they were in the 1960s, and many believe it's at an all-time high today
because of economic conditions. But the thickness of your wallet or the graph
on your portfolio does not determine your state of happiness. In fact,
circumstances have very little to do with long-term levels of joy." Hutchens
can speak to how someone can increase their happiness levels, and she can
share advice on specific activities, as well as the science behind the
exercises. With shows like Donny Deutsch's "The Big Idea" featuring happiness
just last week, Hutchens can build upon those experts' remarks with practical
know-how and "break-it-down" insights. She has an MS from Johns Hopkins
University in education with an emphasis in brain research. (8/1/08)
**2. FITNESS: KEEPING KNEES SAFE WHEN WORKING OUT. KEVIN PLANCHER, M.D., a
leading sports orthopaedist in the New York metropolitan area: "Knee injuries
are frequent occurrences in sports and as a result of exercise. We certainly
encourage people to work out on a regular basis, but it's important to
recognize that even simple exercises in the gym or playing sports can produce
some serious injuries if they're not performed correctly or under the right
conditions. The most common types of knee injuries from cutting and pivoting
sports like tennis, skiing (snow and water), and soccer, to name a few, are to
the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and posterior cruciate ligament (PCL),
which connect the thigh and shin bones and stabilize the knee, preventing
hyperflexion (bending backwards) and side-to-side swing. When the ACL is torn,
ruptured or even severely sprained, it is critical to begin treatment right
away. When treatment of ligament damage is delayed, it can increase the need
for more aggressive treatment down the line, and compromise the chance of full
recovery." News Contact: Melissa Chefec, mcpr3@optonline.net Phone: +1-203-
968-6625 (8/1/08)
**3. HEALTH: BREAST CANCER: HER-2. OLGA FALKOWSKI, M.D., unit chief of breast
pathology and associate medical director at ACUPATH LABORATORIES: "Breast
cancer remains the most common non-skin cancer in women, with more than
180,000 new cases diagnosed each year. In about 25-30 percent of those cases,
the cancer is 'HER-2' positive -- one of the most aggressive forms of the
disease -- making the diagnosis even more frightening. However, thanks to
advances in molecular medicine, new studies are providing hope for improved
long-term survival and cure rates for HER-2-positive breast cancer patients.
The discovery of HER-2 as a differentiating factor in certain breast cancers
paved the way for a better understanding of how this particular genetic marker
can affect the progress of the cancer itself, and how it influences the
cancer's response to certain treatment regimens." News Contact: Melissa
Chefec, mcpr3@optonline.net Phone: +1-203-968-6625 (8/1/08)
**4. HEALTH: BRAIN CANCER TREATMENT OPTIONS ARE EXTREMELY LIMITED. DR. GREG
FOLTZ, a nationally recognized Seattle brain cancer surgeon at the SWEDISH
NEUROSCIENCE INSTITUTE and the founder of the PACIFIC NORTHWEST BRAIN TUMOR
ALLIANCE: "Patients diagnosed with brain cancer today face a troubling dilemma
-- despite tremendous scientific and clinical resources, treatment options are
still extremely limited. Brain cancer remains the most malignant form of
cancer known to humankind, rapidly progressive and uniformly fatal, despite
treatments ranging from surgery to radiation to chemotherapy. In the past 25
years, only two treatments for brain cancer have been approved; and while some
scientists and doctors are working toward a cure, the disease is largely
considered orphaned." News Contact: Aaron Blank, aaronblank@feareygroup.com
Phone: +1-206-343-1543 (8/1/08)
**5. HEALTH: IRON IMPROVES ADHD SYMPTOMS. LAURA STEVENS, author of "12
Effective Ways to Help Your ADD/ADHD Child" and contributor to ADDitude
magazine, wrote a special iron-deficiency report, "ADHD & Iron: Can
Nutritional Supplements Improve Your Child's Symptoms?" published in the
magazine's new fall issue: "When you think of a child who is iron deficient,
you envision one who is pale and tired -- not a hyperactive child, bouncing
off walls. Well, think again. A small study, published this year in Pediatric
Neurology, showed that symptoms improved when iron-deficient children with
ADHD took an iron supplement. But diet, not supplements, is the safest way to
increase your child's iron levels. So-called heme iron, contained in animal
products, like meats, poultry and fish, is absorbed much more efficiently than
non-heme iron, found in fortified cereals, whole grains, vegetables, legumes
and some fruits. You can increase iron absorption by serving these foods with
those high in vitamin C." Stevens can speak about the biological connection
between iron and ADHD, and suggest safe and effective ways to increase a
child's iron levels through diet and nutrition. Stevens' report can be
accessed at the link listed below. News Contact: Anni Rodgers,
anni@additudemag.com Phone: +1-310-977-7272 Web site:
http://www.additudemag.com/adhd/article/3993.html (8/1/08)
**6. HEALTH: SKIP FORMULA TO PREVENT CHRONIC EAR INFECTIONS. JANEK A. PATEL,
M.D., professor of pediatrics and director of the division of Pediatric
Infectious Disease and Immunology at the UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS MEDICAL BRANCH in
Galveston: "The tendency to get chronic ear infections runs in families, and
we've identified genes that increase the risk. But the most dramatic and
useful discovery is that breastfeeding neutralizes the genetic effect,
providing babies complete protection from the pain and potential permanent
damage caused by recurrent ear infections. Further, the benefits last into
childhood, long after breastfeeding has stopped." Patel can discuss the genes
that play a role in infants' vulnerability for ear infections and the research
behind the protection provided by breastfeeding. News Contact: Olivia Goodman,
olivia.goodman@gabbe.com Phone: +1-212-220-4444 (8/1/08)
**7. HEALTH: PARENTS, IMPROVE YOUR CHILD'S HEALTH. THERESE PASQUALONI, a
behavioral therapist, public health specialist, and founder of STRIKE IT
HEALTHY WEIGHT AND HEALTH MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS, LLC: "There are five weeks
before school starts and before some parents are told their child is
overweight or obese and possibly that their child should start taking
medication. Parents, concentrate on five tips to protect your child's health:
1. Have your child choose a breakfast with four grams of fiber. 2. Have your
child choose two servings of fruit a day. 3. Have your child find a bread he
or she likes with two grams of fiber. 4. Create a nutritional daily schedule
that includes at least one, but aim for two, sit-down meals. 5. Take a walk
with your child and increase your walk a little further every three days.
Though it may be challenging at first, these five tips are a great start in
the right direction, and every day becomes easier and easier to protect you
and your child's health for decades to come." Web site:
http://www.strikeithealthy.com (8/1/08)
**8. SAFETY: RIP CURRENT DEATHS ARE CAUSE FOR ALARM. JOHN J. FRASER, M.D.,
professor of emergency services administration at the UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS
MEDICAL BRANCH (UTMB) AT GALVESTON, is an expert in pediatric emergency
medicine and can offer life-saving advice to help parents keep their children
and loved ones safe from ocean rip currents this summer: "Statistics show that
there is a five-times-greater chance of drowning at a beach without a
lifeguard. Always swim in view of a lifeguard -- they know where currents are
and can advise you. Also, teach children old enough to swim alone about rip
currents and what to do if they ever get caught. Don't panic and attempt to
swim directly back to shore. Instead, swim parallel to shore until safely out
of the rip current." News Contact: Anthony Rifilato,
anthony.rifilato@gabbe.com Phone: +1-212-220-4444 (8/1/08)
**9. SAFETY: THE SEAT-BELT HABIT AND SCHOOL BUSES. JAMES JOHNSON, director of
sales for leading school bus seat manufacturer SAFEGUARD, has been an
important voice in the national debate about lap-shoulder belts on school bus
seats: "For most children, their first ride on the school bus is the first
time they ever ride unrestrained in a motor vehicle -- it's the only place
children are taught to not wear seat belts. To allow students to remain
unrestrained gives a contradictory message to our children -- that seat belts
can be unnecessary inside a moving vehicle. The good news is that school
districts across the country are starting to order buses with lap-shoulder
belts." A 2006 poll by the American School Bus Association shows that four out
of five parents want to see seat belts on school buses. News Contact: Rebecca
Scholer, Rebecca.Scholer@imminet.com Phone: +1-317-867-8283, and Melissa
Whiten, Phone: +1-317-867-8413 (8/1/08)
**10. SPORTS: TEAM USA'S PREPARATION FOR THE OLYMPICS. CURT HAMAKAWA,
director of the Center for International Sport Business at WESTERN NEW ENGLAND
COLLEGE in Springfield, Mass., and former member of the United States Olympic
Committee: "While the United States has led the medal tally -- both gold and
overall -- at the three previous Olympic Games in Atlanta, Sydney and Athens,
Team USA will be hard pressed to maintain its supremacy at the 2008 Olympic
games in Beijing. In 1988, China won a mere five gold medals at the games in
Seoul, but, in less than two decades, has catapulted within striking distance
by finishing third place overall at the past two Olympic Games, behind the
United States and Russia. Conversely, the U.S.'s gold medals in 2004 were the
fewest since 1976 and bode ill for Team USA in Beijing, given China's
ascendancy and its record spending in preparation for a breakout performance
on its home soil." News Contact: Laura Snyder, laura@dickjonescomm.com Phone:
+1-814-867-1963 (8/1/08)
**11. TRAVEL: RIDING THE RAILS. MARK TUTEN, area director of sales and
marketing for three of KIMPTON HOTELS & RESTAURANTS' San Francisco Hotel
Collections: "Staycation is the new buzz word in the travel industry. With gas
prices still at record highs and airline fares soaring, trains are making a
resurgence in the way Americans are staycationing. The rails have long been a
resource for travel in international markets, but had lost their allure in
America many years ago. Train travel is gaining momentum, specifically within
the greater San Francisco Bay Area, as well as the Sacramento and Central
Valley areas. More visitors than ever are traveling via the railways." Tuten
can discuss special hotel travel incentives associated with the railways. News
Contact: Heather Brown, hbrown@brownpublicrelations.com Web site:
http://www.kimptonhotels.com (8/1/08)
**12. WEDDINGS: THE TREND OF GREEN WEDDINGS. SUSAN SOUTHERLAND is an Orlando-
based wedding planner who has more than 5,000 weddings under her belt: "There
are numerous ways to make a wedding more eco-friendly. Couples can opt for
organic food, flowers and linens, as well as eco-friendly getaway cars,
favors, venues and invitations." Southerland can speak about the trend of
green weddings, the impact weddings have on the environment, and ways in which
couples can offset the impact through carbon credits and green options. News
Contact: Heather Surface, heather@surfacecommunications.com Phone: +1-904-588-
4140 (8/1/08)
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