Milos Raonic

Born in Montenegro but raised in Canada, Milos Raonic is the up and coming tennis star who qualified for his first grand slam event in 2010 at the U.S. Open. He jumped an astonishing 115 ranks in a single month after reaching the fourth Australian Open round (the first time in 10 years a Canadian player reached the third round of a singles Grand Slam. In 2011, he also won his first SAP Open which further contributed to his No. 37 ranking.

Raonic prefers to play on hard courts and is best known for his powerful and accurate serve, though he plays a fairly all-court game. Currently, Raonic is the highest-ranked Canadian male singles player in ATP Rankings history. Late in 2011, Raonic underwent hip surgery but managed to compete in the U.S. Open and the Stockholm Open to wrap up the year. In his most recent tournament, he played a tough match against Roger Federer but lost by a point according to CBC Sports. Raonic is slated to be a tough competitor as he gains experience this year. The 21 year old has plenty of time to develop his career as a professional tennis player and it would come as no surprise if his name graces the top of multiple tournament leader boards in the near future.

Bryce Harper

In baseball, the world welcomes 19-year old Bryce Harper to the home plate. He scored his first career home run in major league baseball just days ago, making him the youngest MLB player to score a homer since 1998. The play resulted in a 4-1 lead for the Washington Nationals that day. For the second time in as many days, Harper scored another home run against the Padres and although they ended up losing 1 to 6, the run underscored the potential Harper shows as the next baseball champion. Not only did Harper break the record for youngest homer since ’98, he also clocked the second-fastest home run time of the season thus far USA Today reports. Apparently his anger might pose a minor problem to the young batter though, as evidenced by the ten stitches he received for a busted eye when he slammed his bat out of sheer frustration in the dugout wall and it bounced back to hit him in the face.

Tim Tebow

The New York Jets seem very pleased with the addition of quarterback Tim Tebow. Last season, the iconic football player won the hearts of fans across the nation with his prayerful pose on field and surprising skill. ESPN stated that the quarterbacks coach, Matt Cavanaugh, thought Tebow’s mechanics were not only good on a consistent basis but are improving every day. According to Cavanaugh, Tebow seems eager to work hard and constantly better himself on the field. There is rising controversy between Mark Sanchez and Tim Tebow spurred on by the coach’s high praise for the new Jets member. The question of who will be chosen as starting quarterback hangs in the air like a sharp icicle. Tebow is doing a fantastic job preparing during the off season and his homework is paying off with the coach. Sanchez may need to step up his game if he wants to protect his potential slot as starting QB; by all accounts, 24-year old Tebow is starting to outshine him.

Darrell Wallace Jr.

Darrell Wallace Jr. will make his NASCAR national level debut soon at the Iowa Speedway near Newton. Wallace took rookie of the year during the K&N Pro Series East in 2010, becoming the youngest African American winner of a NASCAR race. The Examiner writes that he will be well prepared for his debut race as he is also competing in the K&N Series the same weekend. Although Wallace expressed great excitement in looking towards his debut, he recognizes the need to not be overambitious and play things somewhat safe. At 18-years old, Wallace knows he has already reached a milestone in the world of NASCAR being so talented at such an early age and reaching the status of full-time NASCAR competitor. He’s had quite a support group to help him reach this point in his career including such individuals as Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin.

Time will tell if these athletes will be able to top charts and break even more records, but they are most certainly off to a great start. High praise from coaches, impressive scores early in the game, and youthful energy; they are the rising stars in the sports world and they may reach the moon this year.

1. You may need vaccines when traveling

   Not being previously exposed to diseases like malaria, yellow fever, polio, and rabies puts you at a high risk of falling ill. A traveler’s vaccinations are important because they protect against diseases that are still very much prevalent in many parts of the world. Before you leave the country, check the Center for Disease Control and Prevention for recommended and required vaccinations depending on travel destination. For example, vaccinations against yellow fever are required when traveling to areas in Africa and tropical South America. Annual pilgrimages to Mecca will also require the meningococcal vaccination.

2. Newer vaccines have been developed since your childhood

   Maintaining awareness of new vaccines is still very much a challenge. Many newly added recommended vaccines for adults have just been developed, and adults assume that vaccine updates have little or no effect on their health. Not taking advantage of vaccine updates such as hepatitis B, influenza, and HPV leaves your immune system just as vulnerable as when you were children.

3. You work in the health care profession

   Chances are, you come into close contact with many sick patients every day if you are a health care professional. This exposure can lead to all sorts of potential infections, even when following appropriate sanitary procedures. Health care professionals should be regularly immunized and receive the annual influenza vaccination.

4. Some vaccines are made only for adults

   The shingles vaccination, which guards against severe rashes and skin exacerbations, is a great example of an “adult-only” vaccination. Booster doses for tetanus and whooping cough (diphtheria and pertussis) are recommended for adults 65 years and older, and pneumococcal vaccines are ideal for adults with specific health conditions.

5. Help protect your kids & family members

   Adults who come into close contact with young children and babies should strongly consider getting regular immunizations, especially the annual flu vaccine. Since there is no flu vaccine for infants younger than six months old, it is important for adults to get immunized to reduce the spread of illness to younger children. The same goes with whooping cough vaccines.

6. Protection you receive from childhood vaccines decreases over time

   Some vaccines require a booster if you want to remain protected. Even if you received comprehensive immunizations during your youth, protection could diminish over time, and without a required booster, you leave your immune system defenseless. For example, tetanus requires a booster vaccine once every 10 years.

7. You are (or have been) sexually active with a number of partners

   Adults should strongly consider getting the hepatitis B vaccine, since hepatitis B can be transmitted through contact with semen, blood, and/or vaginal fluid. You may not know your partner’s comprehensive vaccine history, so protect yourself first and foremost. It is 50 to 100 times more easy to get infected by hepatitis B than HIV, according to the World Health Organization.

8. You have a chronic disease

   Heart and lung disease, diabetes, or asthma are all chronic conditions that may compromise your immune system. Getting the pneumococcal vaccine helps prevent other serious diseases like meningitis, blood infections, and pneumonia caused by Streptococcus pneumonia. People who already have chronic diseases may be at a greater risk for these infections because of weaker immune systems.

9. Protect yourself against viral infections

   Measles, mumps, and rubella are all common viral infections. Rubella, also known as German measles, is especially serious if contracted during pregnancy. Adults born during or after 1957 who didn’t get the vaccine as a child should get the combined measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine.

10. You’re going back to college

    Adults seeking a career change and considering going back to college should get a check-up for necessary vaccines. Many old records for vaccinations are not comprehensive or up to current standards. If you can’t find your old records, or your childhood doctor is no longer practicing, you’ll need vaccines for hepatitis B, meningitis, and other infectious diseases like tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis.

1. Babies are Switched at Birth All the Time

   In the world of Lifetime movies, infants are switched at birth at hospitals by accident, stolen, or sold to the highest bidder at a laughable frequency. Watch enough of these Lifetime movies, and you’ll start to suspect that your blonde sibling in a family of dark hair is most definitely a black market baby that got into the wrong hands. For example, in The Face On the Milk Carton, a teenage girl buys milk from her school cafeteria and sees her face on the back of it. Confrontation with her fake parents ensues and she finds out that she was kidnapped as a baby by her fake parent’s mental case of an older daughter involved in a cult. Likewise, mishandled babies continue to proliferate in Baby For Sale, in which a desperate couple, unable to conceive, resorts to purchasing a baby off of some shady Hungarians.

2. Nannies Can’t be Trusted Ever

   Lifetime movies will bring you to the rightful conclusion that nannies and babysitters should never be trusted. They will rob you, kidnap your children, or steal your husband, and ultimately kill you. Exceptions exist, but even in those cases, the killer is usually related to the nanny, supplying an excellent red herring. For some reason, Hillary Duff’s lesser known older sister Haylie Duff stars in several Lifetime movies with this theme. For example, she is the nanny blamed for the burglary in My Nanny’s Secret, after her no-good brother comes in town and is suspected of robbing the family under her care. Even if she clears her name in My Nanny’s Secret, she sullies it again in Home Invasion, in which she plays a nanny looking to exact revenge for her boyfriend’s death after he administered a botched burglary. In The Perfect Nanny, a nanny falls in love with the man who hired her to care for his child and will kill anyone who comes between them. As Lifetime would indicate, nannies and babysitters are downright dangerous people.

3. People Often Marry Complete Strangers

   The women in Lifetime movies have a nasty habit of marrying men that they know virtually nothing about. They are then shocked to find out that these men are abusive or murderous. This theme is par for the course in Drew Peterson: Untouchable. The most remarkable thing about this movie is that it’s based on a true, ongoing story about a cop who seems to be killing his wives. After the fourth wife goes missing, you’d think women would stop marrying him or at least do some digging into his questionable past. In Devil’s Pond, Mitch and Julianne, a couple who have known each other for less than a year, opt to marry and honeymoon in an isolated cabin. Julianne wanted a beach resort, but Mitch brings her out to this unfortunate shack where his personality suddenly does a complete swap for an abusive, maniacal husband. It turns out, he was stalking her long before they married, and spends the duration of the movie trying to hold her hostage in the cabin and, oddly, impregnate her by hiding all of her birth control.

4. Teens Are All Hedonistic Sex Mongrels

   The teens of Lifetime movies are quite literally only interested in sex, unless you stumble across the spattering of Lifetime movies involving eating disorders. But it’s safe to say that in most cases, Lifetime movies with teens will either result in unwanted pregnancy, STDs, or porn addiction. Such is the case in Mom at Sixteen, in which a teenage girl — you guessed it — becomes pregnant and decides to keep the baby. Another surely accurate portrayal of teenage sexuality is shown in She’s Too Young, a riveting drama about a 14-year-old girl who becomes entangled in a group that participates in “sex parties” where she contracts syphilis. Likewise, Cyber Seduction: His Secret Life unveils what happens when a high school boy becomes addicted to porn and energy drinks.

5. Maternal Obsession is a Serious Problem

   Lifetime has a string of movies that involve lunatic mothers obsessed with their children, having a baby, and all other aspects of parenting. In Her Only Child, Lily is an insurance saleswoman in her mid-30s whose mom must know where she is every single hour of the day. When Lily becomes involved with people, they always suddenly disappear from her life for no logical reason. That is, until she finds out that her mother has been threatening them in order to keep her beloved daughter all to herself. Meanwhile, Lily is a spineless waif who is unable to tell her mother to back off. A different kind of obsessive, off-kilter mothering occurs in Invisible Child, in which mother Annie Beeman is not satisfied with her two real live children and thus creates an invisible third child named Maggie which, for some reason, her bewildered family plays along with. And lest we forget that this network is aimed primarily at women, there’s also the Lifetime film, Maternal Obsession, in which a pregnancy counselor advises a teenage girl to carry on with her pregnancy so that she can steal her baby in the end. This caters specifically to the idea that women become overcome with maternal instincts by a certain age, which is apparently so strong that they resort to taking babies from confused teenage mothers.

6. Technology is Evil

   The writers of Lifetime films want you to know that nothing good can come from using the internet. You really should abandon all technology, lest you want to be murdered, sexually harassed, or bullied into suicide. The Craigslist Killer, based on a true story, follows Philip Markoff as he leads a double life as a murderer of women who advertise their services on Craigslist. Had these women stuck to soliciting sexual services in the local paper, they might still be alive. Furthermore, in Sexting in Suburbia, teenage Dina commits suicide after a sultry text message goes viral and inspires endless bullying from her classmates. Similarly, Betrayed at 17 features a teen who winds up killing herself after discovering that the dreamy school football star only dated her on a bet that he could score sex with her and film it on the first date. The technology in both cases is the photo or video documentation of the act that goes completely viral. The aforementioned Cyber Seduction: His Secret Life also falls into this category. Too often, Lifetime movie characters make poor decisions about appropriate internet, video, and phone usage.

7. Police Are Useless

   According to all Lifetime movies ever, police will be no help in your moment of desperation, so you should always take matters into your own hands. If you have a missing child or very strong reason to suspect someone is involved with a murder, the cops probably will roll their eyes at you and tell you you’re being overdramatic, regardless of the evidence at hand. Even if they do come to your aid, they will likely show remarkable incompetence at actually helping you. At least, that’s what you’re led to believe through from the wide array of Lifetime movies that promote this message. For example, in Race Against Time: The Search for Sarah, Natalie and John Porter are in hysterics when their daughter goes missing, but when they report the issue to the cops, they refuse to help as they don’t believe their daughter is legitimately gone. Thus, John must try to unravel the mystery of his daughter’s disappearance by himself. In A Cry For Help: The Tracey Thurman Story, the police are called when Tracey’s ex-husband repeatedly harasses her. When the police arrive, they merely stand and watch as the man beats Tracey and slashes her throat. She actually has to sue the police department for their lack of protection.

8. Stockholm Syndrome Leads to Happy, Balanced Relationships

   In the world of Lifetime cinema, it is possible to be kidnapped, fall in love with your captor, and live happily ever after with no real repercussions for the situation. This actually happens in Abducted, as well as Stolen Women, Captured Hearts. In Abducted, the wife of a cheating prison warden is kidnapped by one of his escaped inmates. While they flee the authorities, she falls for her kidnapper, who turns out to be oddly compassionate. In Stolen Women, Captured Hearts, a woman is kidnapped by Sioux Indians and falls in love with one of them in a sort of Dances with Wolves fashion. Maybe this is Lifetime’s way of saying that love truly overcomes all, even if your lover has been holding you hostage at gunpoint for an extended period of time.

The Discovery of Activator X

Although he was a Cleveland dentist, Weston Price ended up traveling the world to find out why people in some cultures had such strong, healthy, cavity-free teeth. He was motivated to embark on these journeys after encountering patient after patient who had cavity-filled mouths and ongoing pain. Interestingly enough, Price discovered that people in many “primitive” cultures had much healthier teeth than people in developed countries. He eventually narrowed things down to pinpoint fat-soluble, animal-derived vitamins as the building blocks of healthy teeth. Among those three vitamins, he was able to easily identify vitamins D and A. The third one remained unidentified, and he dubbed it Activator X.

The Trouble with Identifying Activator X

You should think of the term Activator X as a placeholder because that’s what it was meant to be. Price and his contemporaries knew that the mystery vitamin had to be related to other vitamins, but they were unable to conclusively identify it. The main issue was that iodometric determination, which is the test that is used to identify these substances, does so by testing for peroxides. As a result, it is unable to identify nutritional characteristics. Therefore, there was no reliable way to identify Activator X as vitamin K2 for a very long time.

The Discovery of Vitamin K2

It was until nearly 60 years after Price’s initial discovery of Activator X that vitamin K2 was officially identified. The first groundwork was laid during the 1970s, when Danish scientists developed a way to test for and identify K vitamins. However, everyone assumed that if it existed, vitamin K2 was just a close relative of regular vitamin K. As a result, most people assumed that it also mostly worked during blood clotting. In an article published in 2007, Chris Masterjohn made the announcement that vitamin K2 had been officially identified. It was referred to as a MK-4 isoform, and it was given the alternate name of menatetronone.

Where to Find Vitamin K2

Through years of extensive research, it has been determined that vitamin K2, or Activator X, is most abundant in butter that comes from grass-fed cows. In other words, butter that is made from milk that comes from grain-fed cows isn’t going to contain nearly as much of it. It is also found in abundance in shellfish, fish eggs, insects and organ meats. It is easy to see why people in many Western civilizations may not get enough of it. These types of foods are hardly popular.

There are many other foods that contain vitamin K2, but they don’t have the high concentrations of the vitamin that are found in grass-fed butter and other foods. For instance, certain egg yolks contain it. However, the eggs at your local grocery store probably do not. Chicken liver and certain hard cheeses contain it too, but this is not universally true. What’s clear is that vitamin K2 simply isn’t floating around in most types of food. To take advantage of the great health benefits that go along with it, people will need to actively seek it out. Although these discoveries are fairly recent, supplements have already been developed to address the issue.

Impact on the Body

Vitamin K2 works synergistically with vitamins D and A, which means that it only works well when those other vitamins are abundant too. It plays a key role in the metabolism of important minerals, which may explain why it seems to be so helpful when it comes to dental health. As far as its impact on the body goes, it appears to play a strong role during teeth and bone formation. It also seems to provide important benefits to the central nervous system and cardiovascular system. Some believe that it can help to treat heart disease.

K2 or Activator X Supplements

Short of buying a cow and feeding a diet that consists mostly of grass, how are you supposed to introduce more vitamin K2 or Activator X to your diet? These days, the best solution comes in the form of supplements. There are a couple of different options when it comes to K2 supplements. The first one is called menaquinone-4, or MK-4. It is produced synthetically, but it appears to be highly effective. It is also quite expensive. The other, more affordable option is called menaquinone-7, or MK-7. It is an extract of natto, which is a fermented soy food. It’s a lot more affordable, but its effectiveness is questionable.

If you keep developing cavities despite engaging in excellent oral hygiene, a lack of vitamin K2 might be the culprit. At any rate, it doesn’t hurt to try introducing more of this vitamin to your daily diet. Unless you have ready access to the specific foods that contain this vitamin, you should plan on buying one of the supplements that are currently available. They can be ordered online. In addition to helping with your dental health, these supplements might improve your bones and enhance your cardiovascular health as well.

Death Scams

• Jennifer Lynn Eden: In South Carolina, a 33-year-old woman by the name of Jennifer Lynn Eden falsely reported in 2008 that she had six months to live as she was dying of Acute Monoblastic Leukemia. Her policy terms allow for collection of early payments if the holder has six months or less of life expectancy; under this pretense, Eden allegedly received $500,000 in compensation. The accelerated death benefit requires a doctor’s confirmation of illness or sickness and it was discovered that Eden had forged the signature of her doctor. According to Schuyler Kropf with The Post and Courier, her first court appearance is slated for May 22, 2012 where she will face charges for life insurance fraud, as well as falsely representing herself as a “financial expert and businesswoman” to an unnamed victim who reportedly invested $100,000 in her company, Entsminger Holdings LLC. Furthermore, she was accused of misappropriating that money for personal use. Charged with mail fraud and wire fraud, Eden could potentially be put in prison for 20 years and be fined $250,000 on both counts.
• Hugo Sanchez: Following a six-year international investigation, Hugo Sanchez was finally located and convicted for an insurance scam worth nearly $20 million by faking his death and escaping to Australia, the Huffington Post reports. Sanchez and his wife found themselves buried in debt in 2005 and planned an elaborate hoax to collect on his insurance policy. Prior to fleeing the country, Mrs. Sanchez reportedly traveled to their hometown, Farnham, Surrey, to attend his “funeral.” Upon providing a death and cremation certificate, she was awarded a death benefit payment of nearly $20 million.After rumors circulated from friends and relatives that Sanchez was indeed alive and located in Costa Rica, an insurance investigator was hired by the larger companies involved in the scam to locate the fraudulent Sanchez. When the detectives discovered fingerprints belonging to Sanchez on his own death certificate, the couple was jointly charged with fraud.At Heathrow Airport, Mrs. Sanchez was arrested en route to her sister’s wedding and admitted the location of her husband. After pleading guilty on all six fraud charges, she was given a two-year prison term sentence. The U.K. Government has requested the extradition of Sanchez in order to process his charges. Authorities say they are certain of a lengthy incarceration but the case is still being built to collect the plethora of evidence against Sanchez.
• The Teacher and The Funeral Parlor Owner: Although not faking their own deaths, a 35-year-old teacher and 37-year-old funeral parlor owner used the deaths of others to scam insurance companies and collect on policies. Working in collaboration, the duo claimed insurance from companies associated with the dead bodies from the funeral parlor. The teacher apparently stole ID books from people to process the funeral policies after eight months, and then claimed that the victim had died of natural causes. Her partner in crime at the funeral parlor would release a body of the same age as the one insured from the mortuary. A doctor, unaware of the scheme, would pronounce the death of natural causes after inspecting the body.The plan worked without a hitch for several years until a police officer who wished to remain unnamed discovered she had been pronounced dead. Following an extensive three-month investigation, both suspects were found and arrested on the charge of fraud and money laundering. Their activity had generated $1.5 million in revenue in laundered money. The investigations are currently ongoing and as of yet, a court date has not been set for the pair of scammers.

Impact on Insurance Companies

Insure.com released an article about the trend of faking deaths as a means to collect big money on policies and the impact such activity has on insurance companies. Unfortunately, the difficulties associated with this kind of fraudulent activity make it hard to significantly discourage the trend from continuing. Even in the U.S., prosecutions are as unlikely as they are likely, even though the fraud method is clearly a felony.

Often times, fraud involves multiple parties and occurs internationally. Even dealing with false death certificates poses a significant problem as less developed countries are ripe with bribery and document forgers. Insurance companies are primarily focused on dealing with the area that they have the strongest influence over, handing out million-dollar policies. They do their best to prevent scams and forged documents from being used to collect on expensive policies. Despite their best efforts, they still lose millions each year to fraud.

1. Black Americans Live Longer

   According to the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, African Americans’ life expectancies are improving much faster than those of Caucasian Americans. This wasn’t the case in 1989, when white males were expected to live an average of 72.5 years and black males were expected to live an average of 63.8. In 2009, the difference was remarkably closer, with black Americans living more around 71.2 years, contrasted with a white male’s 76.7 years. Similarly, a black woman’s average life expectancy for 2009 was 77.9 years, whereas white women lived 81.5 years on average.

2. HIV: No Longer a Death Sentence

   According to a study presented at the Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections for 2012, a 20-year-old with HIV in America can now expect to live into their early 70s. This is only slightly lower than the life expectancy for the rest of Americans without HIV. The study reflected that those who got HIV as a result of drug use had the lowest life expectancies, and factors such as race or cell count also had a strong impact on the overall outcome. Men with HIV were shown to have higher life expectancy than women with HIV. African Americans with HIV had lower life expectancies than Caucasians and Hispanics with HIV.

3. Heart Disease Life Expectancy

   According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Heart disease is the leading cause of death in America, taking the lives of 599,413 people per year. Cancer took the second spot at 567,628 people per year. Dr. Larry A. Allen, a clinical instructor in cardiology, states that the life expectancy for someone with heart disease is “just four to five years with symptomatic heart failure,” while some with worse conditions within the clinic are looking at grimmer prospects.

4. Unemployment Leads to Mortality

   A study by Columbia’s Till von Wachter and the Chicago Federal Reserve’s Daniel Sullivan shows that long-term unemployment can shed as much as 18 months off of an American’s life expectancy. If this rate continues, a worker who loses their job at age 40 can expect a loss in life expectancy of one to one and a half years. This is quite a harrowing statistic when the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that more than 40% of America’s unemployed have been without a job for in excess of six months. What’s worse, the length of time out of work can have negative effects on a worker’s ability to be hired back on, with companies feeling reluctant to hire someone who has been unemployed for great lengths of time.

5. Money vs. Life Expectancy

   A survey conducted by Northwestern Mutual discovered that only 56% of Americans are financially prepared to live to age 75. Conversely, 46% of Americans claim to have the financial means to live to 85, while 36% estimate that they could budget accordingly to live until age 95. The survey also found that women were substantially less financially equipped for retirement than their male counterparts. Older generations appear to have had a better grasp on financial planning, with better returns over time as a testimony to their hard work.

6. Longer Life, Lesser Quality

   Americans’ life expectancy continues to grow over time because of medical breakthroughs, better awareness of smoking concerns, and little things like increased seat belt usage. However, a 2010 study in the Journal of Gerontology shows an increase over the past two decades in the period of time in life in which lack of mobility and illness take the forefront. We may be getting better and better at extending life, but the quality of life within our final years may be compromised significantly as a result of Americans’ poor eating habits and stress factors.

7. Jogging Increases Lifespan

   For Americans trying to fight the obesity epidemic, exercise isn’t just about our obsession with looking like a slim, Hollywood starlet. Researchers from the Copenhagen City Heart Study have discovered that jogging actually increases your life expectancy. By jogging one to two-and-a-half hours a week in two or three different sessions, women can add an additional five or so years to their lives, while men can add a little over six years. Furthermore, a Swiss study has shown that opting to take the stairs instead of the elevator cut in the risk of dying prematurely by 15%.

8. Americans Coming Up Short

   According to findings posted in BioMed Central’s open-access journal, Population Health Metrics, Americans are lagging severely behind other countries in terms of life expectancy. In some cases, America is behind by a staggering 50 years. In fact, the United States is ranked at number 38 in global life expectancy, which makes us worse off than the Virgin Islands, Martinique, and Costa Rica, in spite of what we may think of as better healthcare practices.

1. Fitness Mistake #1: Spending too much time on cardio machines

   Frequent aerobic exercise is definitely beneficial to your health, as it decreases obesity and the risk of diabetes while strengthening your cardiovascular system. However, many people aren’t getting the maximum benefits from solely doing cardio for a number of reasons. For one, they may not be pacing the exercise correctly or they may be using the machines wrong. Sometimes putting too much resistance on the machines can ruin your posture, creating tension in your joints. Make sure you maintain a natural gait. Also, staying on cardio machines for too long means you’re not pushing yourself hard enough. Decrease your time on the machine while increasing resistance to make the most out of your workout.

2. Fitness Mistake #2: Sticking to the same routine

   We all like familiarity and routine, but if there’s no progress, there’s no result. Doing the same workout over and over again gives your body no chance to grow, since you’re working the same muscles, which probably have gotten comfortable with the exercise. To keep yourself challenged, get away from the machines and routines you’ve been doing. Focus on strength training one week; the next, try aerobic exercises or a new machine. Change your program regularly.

3. Fitness Mistake #3: Doing too much, too soon

   The quickest way to become overly sore, and even injure yourself, is to jump into an exercise too soon and over-exert yourself. Ease into the process of daily exercise little by little so you can grow stronger gradually. Too much too soon can have a detrimental effect on your motivation and result in longer recovery time. You want frequent visits to the gym, and less time being too sore for your next workout.

4. Fitness Mistake #4: Catching up on your reading

   People who think they can read a book while at a machine are probably not getting a very good workout. If you’re reading something, you have to stop every three to five minutes to turn the page — you’re focusing on something else rather than your breathing form or pace. Leave the book at home or at least put it down and focus intervals.

5. Fitness Mistake #5: Rushing your reps

   During weight-lifting repetitions, you need to maintain a constant, steady pace. Doing reps too fast only increases your risk for injury while also compromising your results. A general rule of thumb is to exhale for two seconds during the lifting phase, hold briefly as you return, and inhale for four counts. Exhale during the hardest part of the contraction and don’t rush.

6. Fitness Mistake #6: Stretching before a workout

   Heading straight to the stretching mats before your workout is a common mistake. Your muscles need to be nice and warmed up before stretching will have any effect on them. Save the stretching for after your workout, when your body is warmed up from physical activity. If you stretch them when they are cold, they will not stretch smoothly and it may be extra painful. Instead, prepare your body for exercise by lightly jogging, walking, or doing stretch straps or foam rollers.

7. Fitness Mistake #7: Lack of intensity

   Leaning on the machines, just going through the motions, and slumping backs are all things that can all be spotted at the gym. People may look like they’re working out, but if the intensity is not where it should be at, the workout may be a total waste of time. Increase your intensity level and reduce the amount of repetitions if you have to. Increase weights, distance, and inclines, and explore cross-training options. Don’t hold on too tightly to cardio equipment, as it restricts arm movement and contributes to slouching. Focus on posture and maximizing the weight each time you’re at a machine.

What is geriatrics?

The American Medical Student Association explains that geriatrics is a branch of medicine that is specifically concerned with the needs of elderly patients. A variety of medical professionals are considered part of geriatrics. Elderly patients may require the assistance of physicians, nurses, physical therapists and psychologists to maintain quality of life.

Why is the care of older generations an important issue in the United States?

The aging of the population as a whole is expected to continue in the future. It is projected that over 21 percent of the population will be over the age of 65 by the year 2050. The country may not be properly prepared to care for a large concentration of elderly people at one time.

Being prepared to care for the elderly is important as a higher concentration of the population becomes composed of those over the age of 65. Specialized medical care for physical and mental issues can ensure that the quality of life for the elderly is preserved as much as possible.

Are there medical professionals that specialize in the treatment of the elderly?

Geriatricians are physicians that specialize in the treatment of elderly patients. They are medical doctors who have taken specialized courses after completing a residency. These courses allow geriatricians to be better prepared to care for the specific needs of the elderly.

The length of training for geriatricians typically lasts one to two years beyond a general residency.

Do I need a geriatrician?

Some people may be able to continue seeing a general practitioner. However, you may want to seek medical care from a geriatrician if you are dealing with medical problems that are specifically related to aging.

ElderCare Online recommends that a person seek the assistance of a geriatrician when dealing with several health problems at the same time. Many elderly people find that they must consult a variety of specialists because of a number of different ailments that are associated with aging. A geriatrician often has the knowledge needed to facilitate communication between different specialists. You will receive general care from one physician who is aware of all of your ailments. The geriatrician will be sure to keep in regular contact with any specialists you see to make sure that you are receiving proper care for all of your medical conditions.

There is no set age for requiring the assistance of a geriatrician. It is a personal decision that you can make based on how many health issues you are facing on a regular basis. Even if you are facing several medical problems at the same time, you may not need a geriatrician if you are satisfied with the care that you are currently receiving. The decision to seek the assistance of a geriatrician is based on personal preference and comfort with your medical care.

How can I convince my elderly family member to seek care from a geriatrician?

You may be caring for an elderly family member who does not believe that a geriatrician is necessary. Some elderly people are unwilling to admit that they need the assistance of a medical professional who specializes in the treatment of elderly patients.

Before you try to talk your elderly family member into seeking care from a geriatrician, determine whether or not the help of a geriatrician is truly necessary. Factors to consider include how many specialists your family member sees and whether or not your family member is satisfied with the current level of care. Also consider whether there have been issues with coordinating your family member’s treatments because of miscommunication among specialists.

If you determine that your family member does need a geriatrician, understand the reasons behind any resistance that you may encounter. The Mayo Clinic notes that many elderly people become frustrated when they realize that they are not as physically or mentally fit as they once were. There may be guilt or anger associated with the need for specialized medical care. Some elderly patients are worried about how much geriatric care will cost.

It is important to sit down with your elderly family member to discuss medical care. Take their personal preferences regarding medical care into consideration. Do not lecture your family member or imply that they are not able to help make this decision. If you know that your elderly family member values the opinion of a friend or another family member, ask that person to help you explain options.

It is common for people to face resistance when discussing medical care with an elderly family member. The best thing you can do is to remain calm and postpone discussions if you find that you are unsuccessful at first.

Geriatric care may be the best solution for you or a family member. Elderly patients often have unique and varied needs that require the attention of several specialists. A geriatrician understands these needs and can facilitate communication among specialists to make sure elderly patients receive the best care possible.

1. Blount’s Disease

   Many young and overweight adolescents may suffer from Blount’s disease, a growth disorder of the shin bone causing the lower leg to turn inward due to added weight onto the growth plate. Blount’s Disease has been associated with obesity during a child’s early stages of walking and only gets worse from there. Obese teens will have to wear a leg brace after surgery to reposition the shin bone. If left untreated, progressive deformity can result in permanent disability.

2. Sleep Apnea

   Obese individuals have greater risk of developing obstructive sleep apnea. The statistics are quite alarming, particularly when it comes to increased instances of sleep apnea among children age 6 to 17. A study conducted by the CDC found the number of hospital discharges for obesity-related medical complications rose by 436% during a 20 year period. Gaining weight, especially in the neck and trunk region, leads to sleep-disordered breathing that interrupts sleep and even compromises respiratory function. Moreover, with these sleep complications, it is even harder for obese individuals to wake up refreshed and ready to continue an active lifestyle.

3. Osteoarthritis

   Osteoarthritis is the most common joint disorder related to the hands, hips, back, neck, and knees. There have been many studies about joint pain almost having a direct correlation to body weight. Excess weight puts more load and pressure on the joints such as the knee, which could very well hasten the breakdown (wear and tear) of the cartilage. According to the John Hopkins Arthritis Center, obesity certainly is a risk factor for developing osteoarthritis later in life, particularly osteoarthritis in the knees. Overweight women have nearly four times the risk of knee osteoarthritis; for overweight men, the risk is about five times greater.

4. Asthma

   The prevalence of asthmatic complications among overweight children and teenagers has risen substantially since the 1970s. Today, up to 37% of overweight teenagers may have symptoms of asthma, according to WebMD Health News. Though it’s still a gray area as to exactly how much obesity contributes to this increasing percentage of asthma among children and teenagers, increased risks leading to respiratory tract inflammation seem to be a common trend among overweight individuals. The breathing habits of asthmatic obese individuals also show another link between asthma and obesity. Overweight individuals breathe at higher frequency, but lower volume, as compared to normal weight individuals.

5. Coronary Heart Disease

   Excessive weight gain and obesity can greatly increase the likelihood of developing coronary artery disease (CAD). In a process called atherosclerosis, arteries supplying blood to the heart muscle become narrowed due to a build-up of plaque. The plaque, which consists of cholesterol, calcium, clotting proteins, and other compounds due to unhealthy diets, restricts the blood flow and oxygen to the heart, resulting in CAD, the most common type of heart disease. It’s the leading cause of death in the U.S. in both obese men and women.

6. Hypertension

   Obesity is increasingly recognized as one of the most prevalent risk factors for developing hypertension. Although the association between obesity and hypertension is complex, obesity affects the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system most adversely. This system is responsible for maintaining the blood volume levels in your body, along with the sympathetic nervous system, which controls water retention and sodium intake. Both these factors are essential for the proper regulation of blood pressure. When obesity interferes with this neuroendocrine mechanism, hypertension (high blood pressure) is the result.

7. Type 2 Diabetes

   A recently published article in The New York Times has confirmed that Type II Diabetes in children is progressively growing, as obesity rates are also increasing. The disease is more difficult to treat during youth and teenage years because of rapid growth and hormonal changes during this period. Controlling blood sugar levels is essential for youth with type II diabetes, as the body does not make enough insulin. The alarming rate of children developing obesity-linked type II diabetes shows a resistance to the drug to treat the disease, as some common pills like metformin and rosiglitazone simply lost effectiveness. It seems that an intensive diet, exercise, weight loss, and medication is necessary to manage the disease.