It’s Happy Heart Month!

Not only is it Valentine’s Day this month, it’s also American Heart Month! So while you are searching for just the right card or gift for that special person in your life, remember to show yourself some love too. Maybe the best gift to give and receive is a heart healthy lifestyle.

Q. I’ve heard that heart attacks and the associated signs are different in women than in men. What are the signs to watch out for? ……………………………………...Jason, S

A: Symptoms of heart attacks can be very subtle. While some heart attacks are sudden and intense, most start with mild pain or discomfort. Unfortunately, women are less likely than men to think they are having a heart attack, even though they account for half of all attack victims.

Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or that goes away and comes back. It can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain. Discomfort in the upper body, in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach. Shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort. Other signs may include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness. Women are more likely than men to experience shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting and back or jaw pain.

Studies have shown that 95% of women knew their symptoms were new or different physical symptoms as long as a month or more before experiencing heart attacks. The symptoms most commonly reported were unusual fatigue, sleep disturbance, shortness of breath, indigestion and anxiety. Fewer than 30% reported having chest pains or discomfort prior to the heart attacks and 43% reported no chest pain during any phase of the attack.

Heart disease is the number one killer in the US, for women as well as men. According to the American Heart Association, heart disease is the #1 killer of women, surpassing all forms of cancer combined. Unfortunately, 64% of women who die suddenly because of coronary artery disease had no previous symptoms.

Prevention is the key to heading off serious heart related conditions. Studies have shown that walking three hours a week can reduce the risk by thirty to forty percent, while walking more than 5 hours could reduce it as much as 50 percent. Fear not, even a little exercise is better than nothing.

So when you choose your card for that special lady (or man) be sure to include your hand made certificate promising to be more active together!

Have a question, or is there something you’ve always wondered about. Ask Madalyn invites your questions.

Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Q:  Does acupuncture really work?  I have long term lower back pain and friends have suggested I try it.  I’m not sure how I feel about having lots of little needles stuck in my body. …………………. Hank, T

A:  It does sound a bit gruesome, like an old fashioned form of torture, lots of needles inserted all over your body, brrrr.  But creepy as it sounds, it is now a widely accepted form of pain relief in the Western world.  It is gaining in popularity in the alternative health community and studies are showing positive results when acupuncture is used in a wide range of health related issues. It is estimated that three million Americans now use acupuncture.

Native Chinese patients have relied on this and all forms of Chinese medicine for more than three thousand years.  Isn’t it interesting that the ‘advanced’ western civilization has just ‘found’ something that has been working for a long long time? Acupuncture is just one part of Chinese medicine, which also encompasses herbal treatments, tongue and pulse diagnostics, body work, cupping, gua sha and nutritional counseling.

Acupuncture releases the blocks in the body’s natural flow or energy channels, also called the chi.  Thin needles are placed at particular points along the 14 energy pathways.  Scientists say that the needles cause the body to release endorphins  - the body’s own natural pain killers  - and may boost blood flow and brain activity.

Do the needles hurt?  My personal experience of the treatments did not include any pain from the needles, just sort of an odd feeling, a new experience without a frame of reference.  Most people do not experience pain, but there can be sensitivity later at the individual sites, perhaps due to the increased energy flow.

Many people experience increased energy after a treatment, and relief from chronic pain.  Back pain responds particularly well to these treatments, as do migraine headaches,  arthritis, carpal tunnel and fibromyalgia.  Dental pain may also be averted with the use of acupuncture.  Chinese medicine in its native setting is used to treat all kinds of ailments. The World Health Organization recognizes 28 different conditions for which acupuncture is used as a treatment.

Cancer patients often have relief from the nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy, working as well as, and often better, than other remedies.  There has also been some success reported among celebrities in fertility treatments when acupuncture is used along with fertility treatments

There are variations of treatments that stimulate the acupuncture points, including electrical stimulation of the needles (still sounds a little gruesome) and moxibustion, a process of heating the needles and the skin.  A more recent variation uses laser needles that are placed on the skin instead of in the skin.

Choose a certified practitioner and be sure they use new, sterile, disposable needles for the treatment.  

Q: What can I do about the dry itchy skin I get in the cold winter weather? No matter how much lotion I slather on it still seems to be very dry………..Jane, S

Q. I have such dry scratchy feet in the winter, what can I do to make them smoother and not ‘catch’ my socks as I put them on? …………….Steve, C

Q: I love to use a chap stick on my lips during winter but my friends say it is not good for my lips. It feels pretty good when I use it though. ………………….Stanley, S

A: The joys of winter! We spend lots more time in artificially created heat, wearing long sleeves and warm jackets, drying out our skin, scratching, sniffling, skin crackling and hair standing on end. Not to mention getting shocked by your car door when you get out of the car, or shocking a friend when you go in for a kiss.

Even if you don’t keep your home really warm, your skin still dries out, lips crack and winter dryness becomes annoying. Experts agree that it’s especially important to keep skin moist and supple in the winter, avoiding cracks in fingers, hands and feet. These can be very painful, causing infection and bleeding.

A great daily regime is to smooth on a light water based moisturizer, while your skin is still damp from the shower. Pay particular attention to those parts of your body that are especially dry, hands, elbows, heels shins. Stay away from any moisturizer that contains mineral oil or petroleum jelly (petrolatum). These create an artificial film on your skin and lips which signal your skin to stop producing the natural lipids. Choose a lip moisturizer with natural botanical waxes or shea butter, such as Burt’s Bees. For the body use products including plant based oils such as grape seed, avocado, shea butter, jojoba, olive and palm oil. These humectants are nearly identical to human sebum and are much more available for the skin cells. Shea butter is a little heavier, and better suited to evening use. On the face and neck consider using creams with humectants like aloe, hyaluronic acid and lactic acid.

Although warm showers and baths feel great on bone chilling days, they are extremely drying for the skin. Water over 98.6 degrees causes blood vessels to dilate, resulting in more water loss throughout the entire epidermis. If you crave heat, keep it under 5 minutes, and use a soap free body wash instead of bar soap. Pat—don’t rub– your skin dry, and moisturize immediately (within 3 minutes) while skin is still damp to help the oils penetrate.

Sloughing off dry dead skin cells with an enzyme based exfoliant will help new moisture rich skin cells to rise to the top. Wear layered clothing with natural cotton or silk touching the skin. A humidifier can help—especially at night, when combined with night cream, skin is more likely to drink in moisture. It also defrizzes staticky winter hair.

Have a question, or is there something you’ve always wondered about. Ask Madalyn invites your questions.

Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Q: What can I do to manage my weight without a strict diet and exercise programs. It’s January and weight management is on everyone’s mind. …………………….Janice, T

A: The perennial question of weight loss (or gain). Here we are again, another January, another look at what we didn’t accomplish but with an optimistic fresh start of a new year. With that in mind, here are a few suggestions for small life style changes that together will make a huge difference in the outcome. Some you’ve heard before, others might surprise you.

When you are actually eating, make it a beautiful, slow, intentional experience. No more eating at the sink or standing at the counter wolfing the food down. Become the slowest eater at the table. Give your body a chance to register the food.

Start each meal with a broth-based soup, it helps curb the appetite and slows down eating. Use whole grain products such as whole wheat bread, waffles, pizza crust, etc. To fill you up and lower your cholesterol too. If pizza is your weakness, choose the thin crust version and don’t add fatty meats like pepperoni and salami.

Plan each meal with more high fiber fruits and vegetables, filling up the body with fiber and water. This is especially helpful if you don’t drown them in rich sauces and butter. Eating at home as opposed to a restaurant, where you can control what goes into the food, also helps.

Notice when you lay down your fork for a moment. Most people miss this signal. Your body naturally knows when it is done, but we pick up the fork again and continue on. This is the signal to take the plate away and enjoy the company and conversation instead.

Replace one regular soft drink with water or seltzer and save hundreds of calories a week. Replace them all and lose 20 lbs in a year. Diet versions are not a good alternative if weight loss is your goal.

When drinking high calorie beverages, serve them in tall thin glasses and you will drink 25%-30% less juice, wine or whatever you pour. Switch your dinner dishes to a smaller lunch size plate and research shows you can reduce your calorie intake by 100-200 calories a day—10 to 20 lbs per year. Research shows that using this trick of the eye no one felt hungry or even noticed the reduction.

When drinking wine or beer, drink a glass of water between each serving, especially if you are thirsty. Drinking more water and calorie free beverages definitely helps to control weight. Consider adding green tea to your daily intake. Some studies suggest that it’s phytochemicals temporarily rev the body’s calorie burning process.

When you are at risk for a snack attack, chew a big flavor stick of sugarless gum. Nothing else tastes good after that.

Sleeping an extra hour every night could help a person drop 14 lbs. in a year. According to researchers more sleeping reduces mindless eating and being awake longer causes the appetite to rev up making you hungry later at night.

Studies show that women who do yoga, tend to weigh less than others, according to a study in the Journal of the ADA. Yoga proponents appear to have a more “mindful” approach to eating and are less likely to overeat. Excuses be gone! Maybe you think you already do some of these things, if so great! Start with the ones you can manage easily and move on to others. Use 2012 to improve your life, body and mind. You will be glad you did.

Have a question, or is there something you’ve always wondered about? Ask Madalyn invites your questions.

Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Q: The waiter at the restaurant I went to says that Ceasar's Salad is not an Italian creation. Where did it originate? ……. Tracy, R

A: The 2nd most popular salad today, the Ceasar Salad, is often found in Italian restaurants, but did not actually originate in that country. The salad was created by an Italian immigrant, Ceasar Cardini in the early 1920s. He operated restaurants in San Diego and in Tijuana, avoiding prohibition. It became popular in American restaurants in the 1940s.

My favorite way to have a Ceasar salad is at a restaurant where the experienced waitstaff know how to make it tableside. Yumm. It is a totally different experience than getting the dressing out of a bottle and dripping it over some romaine lettuce leaves.

Q: Is having a drink while ice fishing or skiing helpful in keeping you warm? My uncle insists he is very comfortable on the ice when he imbibes. ……….John, S

A: No No! Says the Swiss Institute for Prevention of Alcohol and Drug Problems. If the legendary St. Bernard finds you stranded in the Alps (or in an ice house) you would “be better off hugging the hound than the hooch from the pooch”.

Taking a sip of alcohol expands the blood vessels and brings the blood to the surface of the skin where it momentarily feels warmer, but then the air cools it and your body actually gets colder as a result, possibly causing hypothermia. Drinking alcohol also causes the body to draw water from the cells, creating a sense of thirst, thus creating a dangerous cycle. Any hot beverage will keep you warmer and safer. So the next time your uncle goes ice fishing, pack him a nice thermos of hot chocolate.

Q: I have a drain that is persistently slow and I do not want to continually use Drano or harsh chemicals in it. What alternatives do you suggest? ………..Jeff, T

A: You know that box of baking soda that has been sitting in your fridge forever? It is a safe, natural, inexpensive way to unclog and freshen your drains. Instructions: Pour 1 cup of baking soda down the drain followed by 1 cup of hot vinegar. Wait 5 minutes before flushing the drain with 2 quarts of hot water. You can repeat this several times if necessary. An alternative is to use 1 cup baking soda and 1/2 cup salt, let sit overnight and flush with 2 quarts hot water in the morning. This will unclog the drains and make them smell better too.

Have a question, or is there something you’ve always wondered about. Ask Madalyn invites your questions.

Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Q: I understand why lots of people make resolutions in the new year, but do they actually follow up on them? What percentage of people actually make lasting changes with New Year's resolutions? ……………………………...Jane, S

A: The beginning of the new year seems like a great place for new beginnings, a clean slate if you will to try again, or try better. Leaving behind the old year, it’s old thoughts, past behavior and unfulfilled intents. Approximately 45% of people make a New Year’s resolution. Of those making serious resolutions, 40 to 45% are still working on it 6 months later. Despite the fact that approximately 100 million Americans make resolutions, only 12% actually attain them. The relatively low success rate of a New Year’s resolution can be markedly improved by following a few guidelines.

Resolutions work best if the result is something good—more time with children, spouse…. As opposed to less of something, like nagging or yelling. The result should make you happier and bring you more joy. Phrase your resolution in a way that works for you, in a ‘yes’ way or a ‘no’ way, avoiding any ‘I shouldn't’ phrases unless that motivates you.

Resolutions also work better if you start with something small enough to maintain, monitor and have continued success along the way. Remembering that the best way to eat an elephant is one bite at a time. If you take on a herculean task ie: losing 75lbs in two months, the chances of success are extremely low. But challenging yourself to lose 8-10 in the first month will be much more likely to be successful.

Some Tools For Resolution Keeping

1. Be specific in what you want and create a mantra to remind you of it during the day, ie: “ I will walk ten minutes a day.”

2. Write it Down!! And write projected results with dates along the way. One step at a time.

3. Make time for it in your schedule.

4. Control mind chatter. Ignore all self doubt thoughts and meet all thoughts containing doubt with your mantra from step 1.

5. Find a helpful, supportive, positive partner to keep you accountable, whether it is a group, partner, friend or professional.

6. To overcome stress and overwhelm spend some time getting out of yourself and into a calm supportive space. Try a breathing exercise, yoga, meditation or even just walking.

WebMD reports that 15% of people making resolutions for the New Year are related to fitness. Remember that signing up for a gym membership will not create results, unless you actually do the work. If weight loss is your goal, be specific, write down your plan, and stick to it.

You can start anytime, there are 364 other days besides New Years and everyone of them is a good day to start.

Happy New Year!!

Have a question, or is there something you’ve always wondered about. Ask Madalyn invites your questions.

Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Q: I’ve been invited to a New Years party and need to bring some champagne. I know nothing about it and need info 101. Can you make some suggestions? ……………...John, P

A: Walking into the wine store to buy wine when you don’t know anything about it can be daunting. We all have our own preferences as to taste, so it can be difficult to choose wine for someone else’s tastes. So here is a little help in making your decisions.

Champagne, or sparking wine, is available from around the world and within a large price range. In Spain it is cava and in Italy Proseco—but the real stuff that can actually be called champagne generally costs between $25 and several hundred dollars. In order to be ‘real’ champagne it must come from a specific region of France, it is generally available in limited quantities, and is processed in a very labor intensive way. Champagne is aged as well, and some of the cost comes from storing it, a few years for some and up to seven years for others.

Champagne is generally made from either Chardonnay, Pinot Noir or Pinot Meunnier, or often a blend of the three. Blanc de blanc champagne is made from Chardonnay, characterized by a lighter creamier style. Blanc de noir is made from the pinot, producing a more robust, toasty style.

The method champenoise, or making champagne, is a delicate process, fermenting, blending, resting, turning, degorgement, recorking, traditionally done by hand, but now done mostly by machine. This natural process of creating the bubbles makes it the quality product it is. Cheaper varieties of sparkling wine use an injection of carbon dioxide, just like soda does.

Vintage means the wine was made from the same kind of grapes all from the same harvest. Non vintage means that blends from different years may be combined to create a consistent taste and style. Special blends, cuvees, are always more expensive than regular non-vintage bottles. Rosees have gained favor since the turn of the century and some Rose can be over $100, but decent wines can be found between $40 and $80. A Rose is rich, with fruity flavors reminiscent of strawberry and cherry.

Brut means bone dry to almost dry (less than 1.5 % sugar). Most common type of Champagne, and a safe bet when shopping for a gift or party. Extra-Dry or Extra sec actually means “slightly sweeter” or about 2% sugar. Sec means mid sweet, demi-sec is considered a sweet dessert wine. Doux is 5% sweet and also considered a dessert wine.

One of my adult sons commented to me the other day, “Mom, you spoiled us. You taught us to appreciate the good stuff and now we can’t afford it ourselves.” But given the opportunity, at least they know what to get a hostess for a party.

Have a wonderful and safe holiday season.

Have a question, or is there something you’ve always wondered about. Ask Madalyn invites your questions.

Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Q. How can I make Christmas more memorable for the children. I have wonderful childhood memories and would like my children to have special memories too……….Esther. M

A: My friends’ four year old grandson plaintively asked at bedtime one night, “Grandma, is this tree going to be all finished when I get up in the morning?” She didn’t know how much he wanted to be a part of her Christmas decorating adventure until he asked. So be on the lookout for opportunities to include your children, no matter what their age. Very few of the gifts they receive will be remembered as much as the loving, caring interactions with you and the rest of the family. Whether it is decorating the tree, the yard, a wreath, a cookie or making gift wrap for the presents, there are hundreds of ways to let them have a part.

The weeks leading up to Christmas are your opportunity to instill the wonder of the season and foster a generous spirit. When you and your child labor over cookies, breads or pies they learn about nurturing both physically and emotionally. When the child is included in making and/or choosing a gift for a beloved relative or friend they begin to think about the needs of others, gradually making that shift from the narcissistic self to a healthy awareness of others.

Sometimes it’s the silly things that we remember, so have fun and don't work too hard at it. When our children were growing up they were not given high sugar cereals for breakfast, so for Christmas we would wrap up a dozen or more ’sugar’ cereals. The kids would laugh and trade and barter over the boxes for days. It made a huge pile of ’presents’ under the tree. Each year they would be examining the wrapped boxes days ahead of time to guess which ones they would be getting.

Some simple things to do: Make a garland with ribbons and pretzels—tie pretzels to each other with ribbons in between. Make your own gift tags from recycled cards or origami paper. Decorate your own Christmas stockings and add names. Add 5mm faceted glass beads and small iridescent beads to polystyrene balls 4.5cm with long steel pins, add a ribbon and hang on tree. Make cookies from premade dough, decorate and bake.

So make some stuff, do what comes naturally to you, don’t drive yourself crazy, get less not more gifts and ENJOY.

Q: Why is Santa Claus such a pervasive symbol at Christmastime?  It seems the focus is a little skewed………. Jane. S
 

A:  Although many cultures have variations of their own, Santa Claus, also known as Saint Nicholas, Father Christmas, Kris Kringle, or just Santa, is a figure with legendary, historical, and folkloric aspects.  In many western cultures he is said to bring gifts to good children during the late evening and overnight hours of Christmas eve, December 24.  The modern figure was derived from the Dutch figure of Sinterklaas, which in turn may have a basis in the historical gift giver of Saint Nicholas. 

Saint Nicholas of Myra was a 4th century Greek bishop of Myra, from what is now Turkey. Nicholas was famous for his generous gifts to the poor, in particular presenting three impoverished daughters of a pious Christian with dowries so that they would not have to become prostitutes.  In Europe, primarily The Netherlands, Belguim, Austria, and Germany, he is still portrayed as a bearded bishop in canonical robes.  Among the Germanic folklore there is a reference to the similarities of Odin, a major god, before their Christianization.  According to the legend children would leave hay and carrots in their boots at night for Odin’s flying horse, and he would leave candy and gifts.

In The Netherlands Sinterklaas is aided by a helper commonly known as Zwarte Piet (Black Peter).  The feast on December 6 came to be celebrated in many countries with the giving of gifts.  However the Dutch celebrate on the evening of December 5 in a celebration called “pakjesavond,” gift giving. During the Reformation in the 16th –17th century many Protestants and others changed the gift bringer to the Christ Child, and the date of gift giving changed to Christmas Eve. 

As a young child we celebrated our gift exchange on the evening of December 5, and when we came to the United States it was a shock to see how different the culture was.  The religious significance of the Christmas season  seemed overshadowed and in the ensuing years it has become even more pervasive. 

Everywhere you turn there is pressure to buy buy buy.  Businesses survive or fail dependent on how much they sell in December. Santa seems to epitomize this overindulgence. 

In my business, the workers borrow large sums each year at Christmas to buy gifts so their children don’t feel that Santa has forgotten them  They take nearly a year to pay off the debt, just in time to do it again the following year.  A little truth and honesty would go a long way here, I think.

My four children didn’t seem to suffer from not being lied to for years on end; I, however, was not very popular with the parents of their friends.  Each year I would receive calls from angry parents insisting that they wanted to continue promoting the story and give credit for all their hard work to a large fat icon that somehow managed to make it everywhere at the same time on Christmas Eve. 

In the next column we will list some things your family can do to bring in more Christmas spirit and not get so caught up in the buying frenzy.

Have a question, or is there something you’ve always wondered about?  Ask Madalyn invites your questions.

Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Q:  Why does my oak tree sometimes have acorns and other years there are none?

A:   It takes up to 25 years for the average oak tree to be mature enough to produce acorns.  Once it starts to produce them it will have bumper crops every three to five years and can do so until it reaches a peak at around 100 years.  At it’s peak it will produce approximately 2200 acorns in a season.   It takes a lot of the tree’s energy to produce the acorns so the years in between help sustain the tree’s own health.  Although many acorns mature in three to four months, the “Red Oak” acorns require a full 15 months (two growing seasons) to develop to maturity.  

      Folklore and the farmer almanac indicate that a bountiful crop of acorns means it will be a hard winter, nature providing a veritable feast to be stored and then used during the icy, snowy winter.  When there is a plentiful supply of acorns, the deer are less likely to eat your trees and evergreens, instead preferring the nutrient rich acorns.  Something to be grateful for while sweeping up the thousands of acorns that fall onto the lawn and driveway.

Q: Is it true that pearls will melt in vinegar?

A  : Yes indeed pearls will eventually dissolve in vinegar, wine or even orange juice.  Vinegar has been used to see if a pearl is real or not.  Rather strange I think, because once you do that it is destroyed and no longer has any value.  Pearls are basically made up of aragonite and calcite which is a calcium carbonite, a chemical makeup that can be dissolved in any acidic liquid.

Q:   Are people actually afraid of clowns or is it a made for TV kind of thing?

A:  Coulrophobia (fear of clowns) is an actual phobia.  People are not born with this or any other phobia, but it is thought that they may have had bad experiences as young children causing a fear reaction later in life. 

       For people who are very attuned to the body language of others, a clown would be an enigma.  It has a permanent expression, usually a smile, and the rest of the actions are not necessarily in line with the expression on the clown’s face.  A happy faced clown exhibiting aggressive behavior could create intense confusion and fear.  If you do not like clowns you have lots of company, including celebrities like Johnny Depp, Carol Burnett and rapper P.Diddy. 

Ask Madalyn welcomes your questions.  Please email : This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .