Pregnant women, get whooping cough shot

ATLANTA — An expert panel is urging every expecting mother to get a shot preventing whooping cough, preferably in the last three months of her pregnancy to help protect her baby.

The advice follows a frightening resurgence of the dreaded childhood disease. More than 32,000 cases, including 16 deaths, have been reported so far this year, and 2012 is on track to be the nation's worst year for whooping cough since 1959.

It's only the second time a vaccine has been advised for all women during pregnancy. Flu shots were first recommended for them in the 1990s.

The new advice was approved in a vote Wednesday by the government's vaccine advisory panel. Federal health officials usually adopt the group's guidance and promote it to doctors and the public.
Whooping cough, or pertussis, is a highly contagious disease. Its name comes from the sound children make as they gasp for breath.

Despite long-standing childhood immunizations, cases have been climbing in the past decade. Most are infants two months and younger – too young to be vaccinated because their immune systems are too immature.

Health officials increasingly have pushed to get older children and adults vaccinated, to reduce the number of carriers who might infect vulnerable infants. An estimated 30 to 40 percent of infected newborns got the disease from their mothers.

In recent years, a combination vaccine – that included protection against pertussis_ was offered to women immediately after they gave birth. Then after a whooping cough epidemic in California, the panel last year recommended a one-time dose of a combination vaccine for expectant mothers, either before or during pregnancy.

But fewer than 3 percent of pregnant women have gotten the vaccination, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Worse, recent research has shown the whooping cough vaccine's protection doesn't last as long as previously thought. A recent study found women vaccinated within two years of their pregnancy had relatively few antibodies to pass on to their newborns. That included women vaccinated early in their pregnancy, said Dr. Mary Healy, the Baylor College of Medicine researcher who led the study. That suggests women need to be vaccinated during the third trimester for it to really have an effect, she said.

Despite the overwhelming vote tally, several members of the panel voiced uneasiness with a lack of data on how effective and safe such a recommendation will be for mothers and newborns.

CDC officials acknowledge they have data on only hundreds of women who got the shots during pregnancy. What's more, the vaccine is only licensed to be given to adults once. Under the new recommendation, women who raise large families may be getting the vaccine three or four or more times.

But CDC experts repeated there's no evidence of serious risk to either mothers or newborns. And they estimated that enacting the recommendation could reduce whooping cough cases by 33 percent, hospitalizations by 38 percent and deaths by 49 percent.

"The benefits of vaccination outweigh the theoretical risks," said Jennifer Liang, a CDC epidemiologist who presented the benefit estimates to the panel.

10 Tips To Start Living NOW

1. Vision Board 

 This is an incredible tool to help you to visualize your future. Find images that represent your ideal life and make a collage using poster-board or another tool.

2. Make A List Of Dreams With Action 

Steps Look at your vision board and make a list of your top five or 10 goals with an action plan for how you can achieve them.

3. Create A Team Of Dreamers 

There is no better motivation than friends or family that support your goals. Tell people who support you about your plans. This will create accountability and keep you motivated and on track.

4. Get Rid Of The Negative Voices 

Oftentimes we are our own worst enemy, so when that negative voice creeps in, tell it: "I hear you, but I won't validate this. This is not truth." Replace each negative statement with one that empowers you.

5. Find People Who Inspire 

You This is important not only to help you to visualize what you want for your life, but also to surround yourself with possibilities. If they can have it, you can too.

6. Affirm 

Affirmations are powerful statements, and the more you say them the more you attract the meaning in the words. Affirm: "I am living my dream life each and every day. I live with purpose, joy and peace of mind and I am grateful."

7. Find An ActivityThat De-Clutters The Mind 

When your brain is constantly on fast-forward, it is impossible to hear your own thoughts. How can you know what you want when you can't hear your own voice?

8. Check Your Adrenal Glands 

Stress can deplete these important glands that help your energy levels, sleep patterns, mood, hormones, cravings and so much more. You may want to try B-vitamins or an adaptogenic herb like ashwagandha or ginseng. Seek out a holistic practitioner who can advise you for your own individual needs.

9. Measure Your Progress Gently 

It is important to set goals and monitor your progress, but don't expect a radical change overnight. Recognize even the small steps you have made.

10. Express Gratitude 

If you cannot recognize the blessings, it is impossible to witness the miracles. Keep a gratitude journal and express gratitude on a daily basis.

Can't Sleep?

Lullabies 

Soothing music before bedtime can really do the trick. A 2005 study found that older people who listened to 45 minutes of soft tunes before hitting the hay reported a 35 percent improvement in their sleep problems.

But it doesn't have to be Brahms, if that's not your style. As long as the music was soft and slow -- around 60 to 80 beats per minute -- it can spur physical changes known to promote sleep, like a slower heart rate and breathing, the BBC reported.

 "We know that when a person closes their eyes they induce a certain frequency of brain waves," says Decker. Slow music may have a similar effect, he surmises, leading to sleep onset.

Flickr photo by Llima 

Warm Milk 

It was once thought that a glass of warm milk at bedtime would help send you off to dreamland because of the tryptophan, The New York Times reported, but milk and other protein-rich foods actually block tryptophan's sleepiness-inducing effects. However, there might still be a psychological benefit to that warm milk, the Times concluded, calling it "as soothing as a favorite old blanket."

"There have been some studies showing that when infants receive warm milk before bed, they'll dream a little bit more," says Decker, but the results don't hold true in adults. "It may be one of those myths that because it happens in children, adults think it may be true for them, too," he explains. However, many adults are actually at least slightly lactose intolerant, he says, meaning a warm mlik at bedtime may just lead to discomfort.

Flickr photo by julianrod 

Counting Sheep 

If your goal is to bore yourself to sleep, you might try counting sheep, or counting backwards by multiples of three or any of a number of other counting-related mind-numbers. But a 2002 study found that imagining a more relaxing scene might be more effective.

The study observed 41 people with insomnia over a number of nights and asked them to try a variety of different sleep-inducing techniques, like counting sheep.

On the nights they were told to imagine relaxing scenes like a beach, a massage or a walk in the woods, they fell asleep an average of 20 minutes sooner than on the nights they were told to count sheep or were given no instructions, Mental Floss reported.

Decker agrees. "Counting sheep in and of itself may not help," but can act as a ritual that prepares us for sleep, making it not unlike meditation. Counting sheep -- or more relaxing guided imagery -- helps us "focus on something other than life's stressors," he says. "Thinking about a soothing environment may be more restful than the way you spent the last eight hours!"

Flickr photo by Kr. B. 

Breathing Exercises 

Focusing on the breath, whether it's as part of a pre-bed yoga sequence or just a tuned-in awareness, can also have meditation-like effects in preparing for bed, says Decker, like lowering the heart rate.

Flickr photo by Perfecto Insecto

Warm Bath 

Your body temp dips about two hours before bedtime, Health magazine reported, a natural change that "triggers our brain for sleep onset", says Decker. Soaking in a warm bath beforehand boosts your temperature temporarily, but results in a dramatic, rapid cooldown after you get out that relaxes you and eases you into sleep.

It's not necessarily the bath that lulls you to sleep, it's that resulting cooling of your body temperature, Decker emphasizes. Research shows that people who take a warm bath before bed not only fall asleep more quickly, but also report better quality of sleep, he says.

Alcohol 

Many people swear by a drink to unwind at the end of the day, but alcohol before bed can actually disrupt your sleep. You'll be more likely to wake up more often in the early-morning hours, wake up and not be to fall back to sleep or have disturbing dreams. "As alcohol is metabolized by the liver, it has a disruptive effect," says Decker. It takes a few hours to metabolize, he says, so a drink with dinner shouldn't be a problem, but anything too close to bedtime can be counterproductive.

Flickr photo by Rob Qld 

Get Out Of Bed 

It sounds crazy -- how will you ever get to sleep if you're not even in bed?! -- but it works, says Decker.

"When a person stays in bed and they can't sleep, the bedroom can induce a certain level of anxiety," he says. "We say after 15 or 20 minutes, get out of bed, sit in another part of the house until you feel a little groggy, then go back to sleep," he says. "Staying in bed can condition you to become anxious in bed."

A small 2011 study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine found that among the adults studied who reported trouble sleeping, those who spent less time in bed had better sleeping habits.

 Flickr photo by Perfecto Insecto 

Sleep Position And Personality: Is There A Tie? Experts Not So Sure

Side. Stomach. Back. Fetal: Most people have a preferred sleeping position. But can the way you get shut-eye say something about your personality?

Several news outlets including the Daily Mail, the Telegraph and Fox have recently cited research that asserts a direct connection between sleeping positions and psychological characteristics.

But some experts say there is little evidence to back up the claims. And as it turns out, the recently cited "research" is actually a survey -- conducted by a hotel chain -- about the most common sleep positions.
Robert Phipps, a U.K.-based body language specialist, then gave an analysis he says was akin to a horoscope.

"Yes, it was never meant to be taken seriously and there was no research on my part," Phipps told The Huffington Post in an email.

The analysis in question linked sleep positions with different personality characteristics. As the Telegraph reported:

People who sleep in the fetal position are "worriers." (The tighter they curl up, the more comfort they're supposedly seeking.) Those who sleep on their stomachs, with their arms stretched are "free fallers. (They reportedly feel their lives are out of their control.) "Yearners" -- those who sleep on their sides, with their arms outstretched -- have a dream-chasing nature about them. And "Logs," those who sleep straight, have rigid personalities.

Despite the idea of a "sleep-o-scope" sounding somewhat far-fetched, this isn't first time personality types and sleep positions have been linked.

According to Dr. Chris Idzikowski of the Edinburgh Sleep Centre, in the 1940s, there was an article by a psychiatrist who claimed side-sleepers lacked moral fiber. The article prompted Idzikowski's decision to research whether there was any link between personality traits and sleep position, he told HuffPost in an email.

Idzikowski surveyed 1,004 British subjects about their preferred sleeping positions and asked them to check boxes with adjectives they felt described their personalities. Through factor analysis of the data, Idzikowski found an association between certain sleep positions and certain psychological traits.

The BBC reported on the results in 2003: Those who sleep in fetal position were said to be tough on the outside but sensitive on the inside, for example. "Log" sleepers were found to be easy-going and social.

"Yearners" were open, cynical and slow to make up their minds. "Free fallers" were outgoing but thin-skinned and did not like criticism.

Still, Idzikowski's research relied on self-evaluations, and he said that when the survey was conducted among a group of Southeast Asians, the archetypes no longer held up.

Philip Gehrman, a professor of psychiatry and a member of the Penn Sleep Center, expressed doubts over whether there's deep meaning behind how people sleep.

"You can't argue with the fact that they did in fact find a correlation between sleeping position and personality," Gehrman told HuffPost. "[But] the link between sleeping [position] and personality is unlikely to be anywhere near strong enough to make those kinds of statements."

So what does influence the way people sleep? According to Gehrman, it's simply personal preference.
"It's really just a matter [of whether] you are comfortable," he said.

According to Dr. Stuart Quan, a professor of sleep medicine at Harvard Medical School, it would be difficult for people to have their personalities tied to one sleep position, because most people move around in their sleep.

"They will toss and turn. They're naturally switching positions," Quan said. "People who say 'I only sleep on my side, my left side,' they tend to move."

On the other hand, correlations between sleep positions and quality of sleep can exist, according to Quan, but such ties are likely the result of pre-existing health conditions.

Sleep apnea, for example, a disorder in which people experience irregular breathing during sleep, can be made worse by sleeping on one's back, Quan said. Heartburn, too, is another condition that could be made worse by the position a person sleeps.

What can influence the quality of sleep, according to Quan, is what people do while they are awake.

"Nicotine is a stimulant. If you exercise right before you go to sleep, you tend to be hyped," Quan explained.

"Even if you get into an argument with your partner and then you try to go to sleep, those are obviously things that affect people trying to go to sleep."

Caffeine, medications and exposure to certain light -- like that of a laptop -- can all sabotage the potential for a good night's sleep. As a result, Quan discourages people from checking emails or watching television right before bed.

"We tell people the bedroom is for two things and they both start with S," said Quan. "The other things should be omitted and should be done somewhere else."

Can't sleep? Michael Decker, Michael Decker, Ph.D., an associate professor at Georgia State University and spokesperson for the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, breaks down which old-fashioned remedies really work.

10 Tips to Start Living Now

Do you dream about being in a relationship, but your weight isn't ideal so you choose to hibernate? Do you long to make a career move, but are paralyzed by the fear of making the wrong decision? Do you want to have a family, but feel your life needs to be in "perfect" order first? Do you wish to visit a particular destination, but put it off because feel the trip is too indulgent? Now ask yourself this: If tomorrow were your last day on Earth, would you have any regrets? Are you living in the future and ignoring the present?

"Live for the moment" is a statement we have all heard, and it is usually followed by, "because you never know if it will be your last." When we hear this we usually pause, reflect and resonate with this statement. We might even vow to change a certain behavior or act on a particular goal, but usually this is short-lived and we resort to our old habits, fears and motivations. Then we feel stuck and full of regrets. But why?

We live in a world with to-do lists, goals that may not be our own and responsibilities that may outweigh our wants and needs. Oftentimes, we are taking care of others before we even acknowledge our own desires. To make matters worse, fear tends to rise to the forefront and it may present itself as the "rational" decision, when instead it is just the safe choice. You may want to leave your job, but fear tells you it is not the reasonable choice. The key is to drown out the negativity and strike a balance between the "shoulds" and the wants. It is one thing to be a responsible person, and another to be living your life for someone else entirely or waiting for the perfect set of circumstances for your life to truly begin.

I have a holistic health practice, and I work with clients on their physical and emotional health. I have a client who has an incredible heart and many gifts, but she was unable to recognize them or even utilize them. She was waiting for marriage for her life to begin and as a result, she was not nurturing her gifts -- working with children and art. She ignored her creative side and her giving nature and instead made dating and husband-hunting her priority. She had a preconceived notion that her career would not be financially lucrative, and she needed a partner to share the burden. As a result, her career was on hold, she was meeting the wrong men, her health was suffering and her spirit was empty. We worked for several months on recapturing her passion and taking action steps to live in the now. She went back to school for art therapy and guess whom she met there? Her husband.

Many times we don't believe that it is possible to have our dream life, or we feel we don't deserve it. We make plans, but we rarely take action today. We even talk ourselves out of our vision because it seems easier to coast along a stream rather than risk a potential current.

But living in the future does not ensure a happy life today. Too often, we spend time planning our goals and we forget to be happy now. As a result, we save all of our joy for a day in the future that is not yet guaranteed.

When you think about your wish list for your life, are you living it now? Does everything have to happen in a particular order? Are you holding onto a certain set of beliefs that no longer suit you? What messages are you sending out into the universe -- are you asking for something, but then finding reasons why it shouldn't happen now?

Vow to begin today with no regrets. Commit to showing the world why you are here. Promise to live with passion. Spread your wings, stretch your spirit and learn to soar. After all, tomorrow is a present to be lived today.

American Couples Having Trouble Sleeping: Survey

In theory, sleeping next to a warm body can provide feelings of comfort, safety and security. But in practice, maybe one bed partner is a snorer, or a couple can't agree on the temperature of the bedroom or one sleeper is always hogging the covers
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In fact, one in four people say they sleep better alone than in bed with their partner, according to a recent survey from the Better Sleep Council.

The survey was conducted in September, and asked more than 500 Americans age 18 or older and in a committed relationship how -- and how well -- they slept.

Most of the survey respondents, 85 percent, reported at least some trouble sleeping, including a partner who tosses and turns or snores, a bedroom that is too hot or too cold or an uncomfortable mattress. But women were found to be more sensitive to their sleep surroundings than men, with only 12 percent saying they have no trouble sleeping, compared with 20 percent of men who said the same.

So what's a bed-sharing couple to do? If snoring is the big problem, avoiding alcohol before bed and having the offending partner sleep on his or her side might help. Couples who argue over the thermostat might try each using their own blankets. Others might try out sleeping in separate beds or bedrooms.

Healthy Aging: 4 Things You Should Do

Everyone knows by now that eating right, exercising, and shunning smoking and other bad habits increases our chances of having a long and healthy life.

If you're hitting some -- but only some -- of these goals, it's better than nothing. But according to a new study, you're likely missing out on the full benefits that come with living a healthy lifestyle across the board.

In the study, which included 5,100 middle-aged British civil servants, those who engaged in four key behaviors -- not smoking, moderate drinking, exercising regularly, and eating fruits and vegetables daily -- had triple the odds of avoiding disability, chronic disease, or mental health problems over a 16-year period, when compared with people who practiced none of these behaviors.

Each of the four behaviors, practiced on their own, increased the odds of what the researchers termed "successful aging" by 30 percent to 50 percent. When practiced together, however, the behaviors seemed to produce a compound benefit greater than the sum of its parts.

"Individual healthy behaviors are moderately associated with successful aging, but their combined impact is quite substantial," says lead author Séverine Sabia, Ph.D., an epidemiology and public health researcher at University College London, in the UK. "Multiple healthy behaviors appear to increase the chance of reaching old age disease-free and fully functional."

The findings suggest that following a healthy lifestyle is a lot like collecting compound interest on a loan or investment, says Richard Birkel, Ph.D., senior vice president of health at the National Council on Aging, in Washington, D.C.

"By treating our bodies with care and avoiding harmful substances over a long period of time, the health effects are compounded," Birkel says. "Over time, because we are free of disability and illness and have more energy, we are able to live more fully and take on more challenges. ... There seems to be a virtuous chain reaction in which small positives lead to a critical mass of health and well-being."

The idea that healthy behaviors can amplify each other might seem like common sense. (If you exercise daily but eat only fast food, for instance, you're probably not getting maximal results.) But the new research is noteworthy for its scope and its attempt to quantify the benefits of a healthy lifestyle.

The study is among the first of its kind to examine the outcomes associated with combinations of behaviors in midlife, rather than specific health measures (such as body mass index) that reflect those behaviors, says S. Jay Olshansky, Ph.D., a professor of public health at the Center on Aging at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

What's more, the outcomes used in the study were unusually comprehensive. Sabia and her colleagues defined successful aging using five separate dimensions of health: cognitive, mental, physical, respiratory, and cardiovascular. This is a "real strength," Birkel says.

A holistic measure like successful aging "defines a state of being, rather than a set of isolated health outcomes," Birkel adds. "This is, of course, the status we all aspire to as we age -- not just absence of disease or chronic conditions, but having good mental health and being independent and active."

The study, which was published today in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, did have some important limitations. For one, it was an observational study, meaning it shows an association and does not establish a cause-and-effect relationship between the various health behaviors and outcomes.

And given that some of the participants were only 60 years old at the conclusion of the study, it's hard to know whether the findings -- especially those regarding mental functioning -- will remain steady with time, says Clinton Wright, M.D., a neurologist at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
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Still, says Birkel, the findings are "very good and reassuring news," and make a strong argument for adopting healthy lifestyle behaviors no matter how old you are.

This article originally appeared on Health.com.