Well, okay, that's a pretty major overstatement. But for a growing number of people that's exactly how it works... we're talking about those AED's (automatic external defibrillator).

Most people don't know this but they won't help you if you have heart attack. Yup. That's because a heart attack is different than sudden cardiac arrest. Sudden cardiac arrest is where the heart starts a type of fluttering or quivering. AED's can definitely help in most of those cases. A heart attack (from a blockage) is a different beast.

RECALL INFO:

http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/recalls/recall-021707.html

http://www.defibtech.com/fa2007/

Some extra AED info:

http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4483

And a writeup on a study I covered when it first came out. It came up in one of my conversations today so I thought you might like to see it.

http://www.defrance.org/artman/publish/article_1626.shtml

Stephen writes to give me a hard time about my lousy olive-toss ((a recent charity event where no one could toss the olive in a martini glass from 20 feet. Drew Carney was there too..)):

Hi Stephanie,
How's the arm, have you thrown any olives lately...I thought you would be down in Arizona for Olive spring training getting your arm in shape,I think everyone is hoping you can at least bounce it off the martini glass,take care of that arm...lol , Haven't herd if you had a good snowball throwing season or not ?
Steven

Verrrrrry funny, Steven. You know, it's not nice to make fun of someone who can't even make a shot with a basketball let alone an olive. :-)

Scott, who used to work at a nutrition and supplement story, writes about the Atkins story: What I noticed from people on the diet was that it worked. I was skeptical at first, but I had the good fortune of watching people come in and buy their supplies (sometimes as much as 3 months worth) and get to see the results when they came back in. A lot of people looked a whole lot skinner, I can actually think of 2 separate occasions when I couldn’t recognize the person when they came back in.

That makes sense. Research does show it works. But, I really would love to hear from people who have kept the weight off over time.. that seems to be the area of debate, as well as how thier organs are functioning etc. I will totally look forward to the Kaiser study when it comes out.

Quick pic then I have to jam... A few of you loved the "Joe Donlon" big huge ball pic from a while ago.. except I never see him sit on his anymore ((his jacket is draped over it as we speak)). Well guess who else has a ball and USES it!! Nancy Francis, who now sits next to me. I snagged this photo just 5 minutes ago while she was cranking away on her script.

Now at the risk of sounding too "health-reporterish" look at that posture!!!! I think i need one of those balls!

Happy Friday. :-)

Email Stephanie Stricklen who is going to blaze a fire behind her she'll be moving so fast to leave once she's done with her 5pm hit.