ProfNet Wire: Health & Medicine: Bird Flu

ROUND-UP: BIRD FLU (continued)

We've added the following to items posted previously at http://profnet.prnewswire.com/organik/orbital/thewire/lst_leads.jsp?iLRTopicI D=2385

**1. SIMON HABEL, director of TRAFFIC NORTH AMERICA: "Questions have arisen about the safety of birds imported for the pet trade. But the public should know that birds legally brought into the United States and Canada are subject to a 30-day quarantine period, which is enough time to identify diseased birds before they're cleared for import. Also, temporary live bird import bans have been put into place from countries experiencing avian flu outbreaks, such as Indonesia and Thailand. Illegal trade is a greater concern, as there is no way to impose health restrictions on smuggled birds. Millions of wild-caught and captive-bred birds are traded internationally each year through both legal and illegal channels. In light of the outbreak of the HN51 avian flu strain in Asia, we support countries that wish to suspend imports of both wild and captive-bred birds."

**2. LUTHER RHODES III, M.D., chief of infectious disease for LEHIGH VALLEY HOSPITAL AND HEALTH NETWORK, Allentown, Pa., is an expert on the avian flu and coordinating response to public health threats. He can discuss why the heart of any public health response lies in a region's largest health network, why pre-arranged public health partnerships are needed to respond effectively and why public health and private medical facilities cannot deal with the "surge capacity" a flu pandemic creates. In the Lehigh Valley region of eastern Pennsylvania, Rhodes is fostering a public health partnership based on his past success preparing for bioterrorism, SARS (diagnosed first U.S. case) and other public health threats.

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LEADS

**1. ALTERNATIVE HEALTH: HERBS, FOODS FOR WEIGHT LOSS DURING THE HOLIDAYS. VALERIE HOFFMAN, president of SUNRISE HERBAL REMEDIES, is an expert resource on herbs and foods for natural health: "With the holidays upon us, it's important we focus on keeping our bodies healthy and trim during this time of known indulgence. Thankfully, the beautiful plants of Mother Earth's garden can be very helpful for keeping not only the weight off, but also reducing craving and eliminating fats and cellulite." Hoffman has been an author and speaker for over 14 years and is a certified herbalist.

**2. FITNESS: TAKE YOUR BRAIN FOR A WALK -- EXERCISE PROMOTES BRAIN FUNCTION. CORINNE GEDIMAN, author of "Brainfit: 10 Minutes a Day for a Sharper Mind and Memory": "Recent research studies prove that walking and other forms of aerobic exercise renew and rejuvenate the brain. So if you want a better brain, turn off the television and take your brain for a walk. Walking, once considered a mode of transportation, is proving to be an elixir for a stronger memory and mind. In a landmark study conducted at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign by Stanley Colcombe, 29 non-exercising adults ages 58 to 77 started a six- month aerobic walking program under the supervision of fitness professionals. The studies proved aerobically-fit adults were quicker and more accurate at answering attention-demanding questions than their non-fit counterparts."

**3. HEALTH: AVOIDING HOLIDAY HEARTBURN. DR. TIMOTHY HARLAN, FOOD NETWORK consultant, trained chef and practicing physician, can discuss how to avoid unnecessary heartburn while still enjoying the season's favorite comfort foods, including white chili, oven fried chicken and wild mushroom risotto: "While almost any food can potentially aggravate acid reflux (GERD), certain 'trigger foods,' such as chocolate or foods that are fatty, fried or spicy, frequently exacerbate the symptoms. While eating the right foods is important to controlling GERD, that doesn't have to mean giving up delicious food. With effective medication, if needed, and input from a physician, as well as a customized diet that encourages you to avoid trigger foods, people may enjoy their food while managing the symptoms of acid reflux disease." Harlan will be in New York on Nov. 15 to discuss his new book, "Cooking to Reduce the Burn."

**4. HEALTH: MAINTAINING STRONG, HEALTHY FEET. DR. SUZANNE BELYEA, D.P.M., C. PE, medical director of AETREX WORLDWIDE, can discuss proper foot care and provide exercise tips for strong and healthy feet: "During most activities, our feet are confined in shoes, which prevent proper exercise of the muscles of the feet. Simple exercises can strengthen foot muscles and relax the tendons, keeping the toes from curling and reducing chances of injury."

**5. HEALTH MANAGEMENT: THE IMPORTANCE OF ELECTRONIC HEALTH RECORDS. DAN GARRETT, vice president and managing partner of global health solutions for COMPUTER SCIENCES CORPORATION (CSC): "The importance of electronic health records (EHRs) has been raised and discussed by lawmakers, health care officials and technology executives in the past, and most recently, when hurricanes struck the Gulf Coast. Electronic health records can enable health care facilities to respond more efficiently to patients and help reduce yearly health care costs for Americans. In times of crisis, EHRs can help deliver health services to those in need more quickly."

**6. NUTRITION: CALCIUM ALONE IS NOT ENOUGH. CARROLL REIDER, registered dietician and director of consumer education for NATURE MADE VITAMINS, emphasizes the importance of consuming multiple nutrients to help reduce the risk of osteoporosis later in life: "Calcium-enriched foods or supplements along with a healthy diet and exercise are the foundation for strong, healthy bones, but these alone aren't always enough. It's also important to incorporate other nutrients, such as magnesium and vitamin D, to help the body absorb calcium, and copper to help support bone strength."

**7. PHARMACEUTICALS: NEW MEDICARE PRESCRIPTION DRUG PLAN. DAVID CLARK, vice president of pharmacy services for THE REGENCE GROUP: "On Nov. 15, the sign- up period for the new Medicare prescription drug plan kicks off. For seniors sorting through the dozens of new Medicare drug plans that will come available next year, it can be quite confusing. They need to look at a wide range of things, such as what branded medications the plan offers, whether or not their customer services representatives are locally based and how committed the company is to meeting their needs." Clark, who was appointed by Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson to the State Pharmaceutical Assistance Transition Commission (SPATC), helped to ensure that the program addresses the needs of low-income enrollees under the new Medicare benefit. He also created and heads up one of the nation's few not- for-profit pharmacy benefit management groups.

**8. SPORTS MEDICINE: SNOWBOARDING INJURY AND PREVENTION. KEVIN PLANCHER, M.D., MS, FACS, FAAOS, leading New York-area orthopedist, sports medicine expert and official orthopedic surgeon of the U.S. Ski and Snowboard teams: "Snowboarding is perhaps the most mainstream of any 'extreme' sport and certainly the biggest trend in winter sports for the past 10 years. It is also fraught with injury risk. The National Sporting Goods Association reports snowboarding participation rates doubled over the past five years, from 3.3 million Americans in 1999 to 6.6 million in 2004. I caution all first-time snowboarders against taking that first trip down the half-pipe before preparing themselves for the ride because more than 23 percent of all snowboard-related injuries occurred on the participant's first day on a snowboard. Snowboarders should wear protective gear, consult with a professional, practice and if you recognize the signs of an injury, see a doctor."

**9. SPORTS MEDICINE: OLYMPIC ATHLETES NEED TO PUT THE GOLD TO BED. DR. MARK ROSEKIND, president of ALERTNESS SOLUTIONS, was the recipient of the NASA Exceptional Service Medal for his work with astronauts on combating fatigue: "Sleep is so important that it could make the difference between winning a gold medal or settling for silver at the Olympic Games. The proper amount of sleep can boost performance as much as 30 percent; two hours less sleep than needed is the same as having a blood alcohol level of .05 when it comes to the effect on performance." Rosekind is working with Hilton Hotels to modify the sleep environments of 160 athlete dorm rooms at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs.

**10. SPORTS MEDICINE: TIPS FOR MARATHON SUCCESS. JORDAN D. METZL, M.D., assistant attending physician at the HOSPITAL FOR SPECIAL SURGERY: "All of those months of marathon training could go to waste if a runner doesn't follow certain precautions on race day. Training and preparation are key, but even the most prepared athlete should be aware of the race day details that can make or break their race experience." The Hospital for Special Surgery is offering racing and post-marathon recovery tips compiled by a team of experts.