Happy Veterans’ Day everyone!

We wanted to pass along this letter from the great folks at American Lung Association about what they’re doing to keep our armed forces healthy and smoke-free. November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month! Learn more.

Dear Supporter,

Much of the United States military is currently deployed around the globe, often in dangerous environments that require their full attention. Active-duty personnel need to be healthy and prepared for any situation.

Unfortunately, more than a third of our troops smoke. The physical damage of smoking compromises troop readiness and costs billions in tobacco-related medical care, but cigarettes are far too accessible to our troops and sold inexpensively at military bases.

On December 31, 2010, all submarines deployed below the surface will become smokefree, a move which will protect crews from secondhand smoke.

The American Lung Association applauds the U.S. Navy’s timely action and provides smoking cessation counselors at our HelpLine at 1-800-LUNG-USA (800-586-4872).

For the specific needs of the military, we are also developing a specialized quit smoking program, American Lung for American Heroes, to be launched soon. We hope you’ll support this opportunity to thank both active service personnel and veterans by helping them stay in good health.

On this Veterans’ Day, please join us in honoring our military for what they have done and selflessly continue to do for all of us.

Sincerely,

Jim Gooden
National Volunteer Chair

Show your support of the American Lung Association on Facebook and Twitter. Learn more about the organization by visiting www.lungusa.org.

Got great health tips of your own? We want to hear them! Please share with us on Facebook and Twitter!

With care,
The ClinicAid Team

We couldn’t be more excited. This Saturday, the MemorialCare Cancer Institute at Orange Coast Memorial Medical Center is hosting its fifth annual Fall Festival For Life event in Fountain Valley, Calif. And ClinicAid will be on hand to help celebrate!

If you live near Fountain Valley, Garden Grove, Huntington Beach, Santa Ana, and Costa Mesa, come join the fun at this weekend’s health fair! Take a tour of the OCMMC facilities and cancer center. Get your questions about cancer, nutrition, and health answered by the experts. Enjoy delicious bites from California Pizza Kitchen and refreshments, and live music by The Dan Krikorian Band. And while you’re there, pick up your free gifts and prizes!

What: Fall Festival for Life Health Fair

When: Saturday, Nov. 13, 2010; 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Where: Orange Coast Memorial Medical Center

Orange Coast Patient Care Pavilion

18111 Brookhurst St., Fountain Valley, CA 92708

Here’s what Marcia Manker, CEO of Orange Coast Memorial Medical Center, had to say about the event: “The MemorialCare Cancer Institute at Orange Coast has become a gold standard for the delivery of specialized cancer care in Orange County. Our patients have benefitted from our talented team of cancer specialists who are spearheading innovative treatments and new clinical trials that have significantly enhanced patient clinical outcomes and quality of life. e are confident that this program will continue to redefine how cancer care is delivered at a community-based hospital for years to come.”

For more information about the health fair and to RSVP, please call (714) 378-7900. Be sure to visit the ClinicAid booth to pick up your gift. We can’t wait to see you there!

About the Cancer Institute

The MemorialCare Cancer Institute at Orange Coast Memorial Medical Center is a premier cancer center in southern California, providing compassionate and innovative cancer care to Orange County residents. The center provides comprehensive services for the prevention and treatment of cancer under the medical leadership of renowned oncologists and other prestigious specialists.

Services include:

For more information about the cancer center, visit www.memorialcare.org/cancer.

Got great health tips of your own? We want to hear them! Please share with us on Facebook and Twitter!

With care,
The ClinicAid Team

Lung cancer is one of the leading causes of death in the United States. Unfortunately, it is also ignored quite often, and people aren’t nearly as aware of this disease as they should be.

Lung cancer is the single deadliest cancer for both men and women in the United States. It has been estimated that 222,520 people will be diagnosed with lung cancer in 2010. It has also been estimated that 157,300 people will die from lung cancer this year. The American Lung Association (ALA) is determined not to take this lying down, and has dedicated the entire month of November to raising lung cancer awareness.

But while more men and women die every year from lung cancer than from any other type of cancer, including breast cancer, skin cancer, and colon cancer, the disease also remains one of the most preventable cancers (at least four out of five cases are associated with cigarette smoking).

What You Can Do Today To Raise Awareness about Lung Cancer Prevention and Treatment:

This November, answer American Lung Association’s call to raise lung cancer awareness. You, too, can do your part to make sure that fewer people are caught off-guard by this deadly, yet extremely preventable disease. Let’s all breathe a little easier!

Show your support of the American Lung Association on Facebook and Twitter. Learn more about the organization by visiting www.lungusa.org.

Got great health tips of your own? We want to hear them! Please share with us on Facebook and Twitter!

With care,
The ClinicAid Team

Grown-ups can be pretty tricky. They know that they can get kids to do chores and schoolwork and all kinds of other stuff by fooling us into thinking it’s a game.

Nobody did that better than Mary Poppins.

“A Spoonful of Sugar” from Mary Poppins

But the principle holds true through adulthood as well. When we face an undesirable task — like improving our eating habits, for example — it can be very helpful to turn that task into a game or a challenge.

That’s the thinking behind Health Month. This healthy living “game” allows you to choose up to three health challenges per month for free (any more, and you have to pay a fee). Once you choose your challenges, you start with ten Life Points on the first of the month. For every day that you fail to meet your health challenge, you lose a Life Point. But you can gain points by keeping up with your challenges to earn “fruit,” which can be used to earn points.

The game is in its beta testing stages, but you can already play. You can play as an individual or as part of a team. You can play against other teams or just against yourself. You can play with people you know or make new friends as you go. The possibilities are endless.

And as you play this game, you’ll also gain valuable insight into your lifestyle and eating and exercise habits. You’ll learn about what motivates you most effectively and what sorts of incentives keep you going.

Always take the word of a woman who flies to work from heaven.

And, best of all, your health will improve as you play. Mary Poppins was right: a spoonful of sugar (or agave nectar) helps the medicine go down.

So, how about it? Will you play Health Month in October?

(H/T DiseaseADay.com for alerting us to this game)

Got great health tips of your own? We want to hear them! Please share with us on Facebook and Twitter!

With care,
The ClinicAid Team

We have an exciting update to our previous post about the second annual Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C) event. So far, the telethon has raised more than $80 million in pledges!

Newscasters Katie Couric, Diane Sawyer, and Brian Williams hosted the star studded event. The broadcast was seen live across TV networks and online streaming sites.

Diane Sawyer, Brian Williams, Laura Ziskin and Katie Couric at the Stand Up To Cancer telethon, which aired on Sept. 10, 2010. (Photo: ABC/RICHARD HARBAUGH)

VIDEO: Katie Couric’s behind the scenes video from the night, featuring Vanessa Hudgens, Kyra Sedgwick, Dr. Oz, Gwyneth Paltrow, Randy Jackson, Renée Zellweger, Fran Drescher, Kerry Washington, David Archuleta, David Boreanaz, and Rob Lowe (who lost his mom to cancer five years ago).

SU2C uses donated funds to help hasten the pace of groundbreaking translational research that can get new therapies to patients quickly and save lives — the same type of cancer research programs we manage here in southern California at ClinicAid Research Management. That’s why we are proud to help SU2C generate awareness for its efforts and programs. The non profit organization is one of the major cancer information and support groups featured on our website.

To those of you who answered our call and supported the event – thank you!

Follow Stand Up To Cancer on Twitter (SU2C) and Facebook (Stand Up To Cancer).

Got great health tips of your own? We want to hear them! Please share with us on Facebook and Twitter!

With care,
The ClinicAid Team

What do George Clooney, Adam Sandler, Cindy Crawford, Ryan Seacrest, Tony Hawk, Dr. Oz, and Lady Antebellum have in common? The stars will all be rallying and showing their support for the fight against cancer on one stage tonight in one of the biggest, most spectacular broadcast events.

The organizer is Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C), a national initiative created to accelerate cancer research by building awareness and broad public support. Since 2008, the organization has raised more than $100 million for cancer research.

SU2C uses the funds to help hasten the pace of groundbreaking translational research that can get new therapies to patients quickly and save lives — the same type of cancer research programs we manage here in southern California at ClinicAid Research Management. That’s why we are proud to help SU2C generate awareness for its efforts and programs. The non profit organization is one of the major cancer information and support groups featured on our website.

Tonight, gather your family and friends in front of the big screen for the one-hour, commercial-free telecast, airing at 8 p.m. EST and PST / 7 p.m. CT on ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, Discovery Health, E!, G4, HBO, HBO Latino, MLB Network, Showtime, The Style Network and TV One and over 30 online streaming partners like AOL, Yahoo! and YouTube.

The SU2C broadcast is dedicated to the 12 million U.S. cancer survivors illustrating how groundbreaking research can change the tide in the fight against the disease.

This year’s event promises to be a star studded affair – many will be on hand in the celebrity phone bank – including Gwyneth Paltrow, Christina Applegate, Apolo Ohno, Denzel Washington, Seth MacFarlane, Sofia Vassilieva, and Disney star Vanessa Hudgens.

The line-up of musical guests scheduled to perform rivals that of the Grammys, with Lady Antebellum, Leona Lewis, Green Day, Neil Diamond, Jakob Dylan, Orianthi, Heart, Natasha Bedingfield, Queen Latifah, Martina McBride, Aaron Neville and Stevie Wonder.

For the full list of celebrities, music guests and media personalities, visit the SU2C website.

Donations can be made via telephone during the show, anytime online at www.su2c.org or Text STAND to 40202 to give $10 now. 100% of the funds received from the public go to research.

Let’s all stand up, for those who bravely went up against cancer and won, for our loved ones who have lost the battle, for selfless parents, friends, and sons and daughters who dedicated themselves tirelessly to the care of cancer patients, and for doctors who are relentlessly in search of ways to improve quality of life.

Thanks for your support!

Follow Stand Up To Cancer on Twitter (SU2C) and Facebook (Stand Up To Cancer).

Watch the 2009 SU2C television broadcast event in its entirety here, featuring Lance Armstrong, Patrick Swayze, Tina Fey, Sheryl Crow, Christina Applegate, Melissa Etheridge, Halle Berry, Jessica Alba, Katie Couric, Beyonce, Charlize Theron, Mariah Carey, Charles Barkley and others.

Got great health tips of your own? We want to hear them! Please share with us on Facebook and Twitter!

With care,
The ClinicAid Team

The recall of potentially Salmonella tainted eggs has nearly doubled overnight, to include 380 million eggs. Hundreds of people have already been sickened in 4 states.

Important Numbers

228 million to 380 million
The number of eggs recalled has quickly grown from 228 million yesterday to 380 million this morning.

32 million cartons
The number of cartons of eggs that are involved

300 reported cases of Salmonella in 4 states:
21 in Wisconsin, 7 in Minnesota, 8 in Colorado, 266 in California.
No deaths had been reported.
The CDC (Center for Disease Control) projects thousands more cases.

8 states yesterday, expanded to 17 states today
The number of states affected by the massive recall, which includes:
California, Arizona, Missouri, Minnesota, Texas, Georgia, Washington, Oregon, Colorado, Nevada, Iowa, Illinois, Utah, Nebraska, Arkansas, Wisconsin and Oklahoma.

P-1026, P-1413, P-1946
The plant numbers that are affected by the recall. The dates (recorded in the “Julian format”) range from 136 to 225, according to a statement by the Egg Safety Center. For example, eggs in a carton marked with the number P-1026 137 should not be eaten. Click here for the full list of brands, plants and dates affected by the egg recall.

The eggs were produced by Wright County Egg, of Galt, Iowa, which has been the target of government regulators for environmental violations, unsafe working conditions, and the harassment of workers, according to the New York Times.

Investigators believe that the hens themselves have become infected with Salmonella. And while the hens haven’t become sick., they have passed the disease on to their eggs. The eggs were produced between late May and early August. From Iowa they were sent to grocery stores and distributors in 17 states. From there they have crossed the entire country.

Brands Affected

The recall affects eggs sold under the following brands:

The average person eats about 248 eggs every year.

Salmonella Warning Signs

How do you know if you might have been infected by Salmonella?

Watch out for fever, abdominal cramps and diarrhea, which tend to develop between 8-72 hours after consumption. Symptoms in the elderly and young could be far more severe, especially if the disease enters the blood stream.

Images: 9 Symptoms of Salmonella Poisoning

According to the Mayo Clinic, there are more than 2,000 strains of salmonella bacteria, but only a dozen or so make people sick. Most often, salmonella poisoning results in gastroenteritis, a severe stomach illness. Salmonella is most often contracted by eating raw or undercooked meat, poultry, eggs.

Important Resources

For updated information about the egg recall, visit the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) website or follow them on Twitter.

Got great health tips of your own? We want to hear them! Please share with us!

With care,
The ClinicAid Team

The weekend is here! This weekend, if you have plans to relax and knock back a glass of vino while kicking back with family and friends, you can rest assured knowing that moderate consumption of red wine can help prevent cancer and heart disease.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

A votre sante! Wine expert Joe Bastianich, diet and fitness advisor Joy Bauer tell NBC TODAY Show’s Hoda Kotb about the health benefits of having a glass.

So what have we learned?

• Alcohol in general boosts HDLs or ‘good’ cholesterols – fat traveling away from the heart – and that’s cardio protective!
• Wine, especially red wine, contains phyto nutrients – plant compounds which acts as antioxidants. Antioxidants prevent cellular damage all over the body. Resveratrol is one of those very antioxidants found in in grape skin and wine. Now try to say that fast five times after a glass.
• Remember: everything in moderation. That means for women, limit yourselves to one 5 oz glass per day. And those who have issues with triglycerides, or people who either have estrogen-positive breast cancer or have survived breast cancer are advised to consume wine with extra caution.

Bonus: Did you know that wine can also shed extra pounds, fight stains, and make skin glow? Here are four more natural health benefits of wine that might surprise you:

Fat Stopper

Researchers at the University of Ulm in Germany found that resveratrol, the antioxidant we just learned about, also inhibits fat storage in fat cells. Resveratrol also helps prevent obesity-related disorders like diabetes and clogged arteries.

Body Soother

Wine’s antioxidants help heal damaged skin. Try this soak from Four Seasons Resort The Biltmore Santa Barbara: Add 20 drops jasmine essential oil, 1/4 cup grape seed oil, 1 cup Epsom or sea salt, and 1/2 bottle of red wine to your bath; enjoy for 20 glorious minutes. Can you say “ahhhh”?

Stain Lifter

Nothing attacks red wine stains better than white wine, says Deborah Martin, author of Natural Stain Removal Secrets. Carefully pour white wine onto the stain, and cover with salt to absorb the liquid; shake off salt, blot with club soda, and launder as usual.

Safe Marinade

BBQ anyone? A study out of the University of Porto in Portugal found that beef marinated for two hours in red wine had up to 88 percent fewer carcinogens after grilling than unmarinated beef.

(via: www.health.com)

Got great health tips of your own? We want to hear them! Please share with us!

With care,
The ClinicAid Team

A new TV commercial, titled “Engine,” from Nike for Lance Armstrong’s cancer advocacy foundation Livestrong features the Tour de France winner and cancer survivor riding up a quiet, stormy mountain path alone, while guided by voices of other cancer survivors.

The words are powerfully familiar.
“I was angry at the world.”
“Outraged … Frightened … Devastated.”
“You can either fight and stay here, or you can leave.”
“I’m not gonna give up.”
“It sort of clarified … my life.”
“I started spending more time with my kids.”
“I started to bike everywhere.”
“I’m stronger than I ever was before.”
“I climbed Mt. Rainier.”
“I started a foundation … finally started doing something that actually matters.”
“There’s still so much more I’m gonna do.”

How many of these voices sound like yours, or that of a family member? If you or a loved one is battling cancer, you’re not alone. Take strength from Lance and the millions of people who stand beside him in the fight against cancer. And let the voice inside you guide you.

We’re here if you need.

With care,
The ClinicAid Team

{ via: LIVESTRONG on YouTube }

“The President’s Cancer Panel is the Mount Everest of the medical mainstream, so it is astonishing to learn that it is poised to join ranks with the organic food movement and declare: chemicals threaten our bodies,” wrote the award-winning journalist and advocate Nicholas D. Kristof in an op-ed article for the New York Times.

In a landmark report released earlier this month, the cancer panel called on America to rethink the way we confront cancer, including much more rigorous regulation of chemicals. The 200-page report pointed out that public health officials have “grossly underestimated” the role environmental contaminants play in the 1.5 million Americans diagnosed with cancer each year.

The President’s Cancer Panel urged that we give preference to organic food, check radon levels in our homes, and microwave food in glass containers, not plastic ones.

The report blames weak laws, lax enforcement and fragmented authority, as well as the existing regulatory presumption that chemicals are safe unless strong evidence emerges to the contrary.

In particular, the report warns about exposures to chemicals during pregnancy, when risk of damage seems to be greatest. Noting that 300 contaminants have been detected in umbilical cord blood of newborn babies, the study warns that: “to a disturbing extent, babies are born ‘pre-polluted.’”

“Only a few hundred of the more than 80,000 chemicals in use in the United States have been tested for safety,” the report says. It adds: “Many known or suspected carcinogens are completely unregulated.”

The President’s Cancer Panel. Established in 1971, this is a group of three distinguished experts who review America’s cancer program and report directly to the president.

The report will give a boost to ongoing efforts to regulate chemicals like BPA, which has raised alarm bells for decades (the evidence is still complex and open to debate).

Some 41 percent of Americans will be diagnosed with cancer at some point in their lives. And some cancers are becoming more common, particularly in children.

Waiting for manufacturers and government leaders to take action may be too late. By taking our own preventative measures, we can ensure that we are doing everything in our power to help reduce our risk of developing cancer.

The report’s key recommendations:

via: The New York Times

With care,
The ClinicAid Team

Nicholas D. Kristof on Twitter and Facebook.