Medical City Hospital of Dallas publishes a quarterly magazine chockfull of helpful information. An article in its spring publication caught my attention and made me re-think my family’s plans for summer vacation. The article is about the health benefits of volunteering- like lower blood pressure, a bolstered immune system and reduced insomnia. What a change from stress-ridden bolts to the airport, long lines at Disney World, whining, over-sugared children and colds after the plane ride home!

Studies show that doing good for others decreases chronic pain and depression. That’s not all. Helping others can also improve interpersonal and communication skills. That’s a bonus for your social and professional life. It makes sense. Ask anyone why they volunteer and they’ll usually describe how good it makes them feel. Personally, I like the idea allowing my children to make a difference in someone’s life; helping them understand that giving back to a community is important and fun.

The article also suggests ways to find the right volunteer fit. Consider your skills, for course, but also your interests. Are you a people person? Or more suited for manual labor? Maybe you’re an organizer who can help a non-profit organize a fundraiser. The Volunteer Center of North Texas represents 1,800 non-profits. Young volunteers can find opportunities through Volunteer Power Crew. Older adults can use Senior Source.

Look for the volunteer links below. And consider a vacation that incorporates this healthy option for your family. Thanks Medical City Hospital.

Volunteer Center of North Texas
www.volunteernorthtexas.org

Volunteer Power Crew
www.Volunteerpowercrew.org

The Senior Source
www.TheSeniorSource.org

American Red Cross/Dallas
www.RedCrossDallas.org

The Family Place
www.FamilyPlace.org

North Texas Food Bank
www.ntxfoodbank.org

Genesis Women’s Shelter
www.GenesisShelter.org

Meals on Wheels
www.vnatexas.org

— Macie Jepson

Posted by Pam Harris at 12:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Being diagnosed with ovarian cancer is usually a death sentence for women for the simple reason that once it's caught, it's almost always too late to do anything about it.
Until now, we've been told there were really no warning signs.
That's why it's a major breakthrough to learn that there are things our bodies do that may tip us off that something is wrong.
This is huge.
The American Cancer Society and a group of cancer experts recently outlined the following symptoms:
•  Bloating
•  Abdominal pain
•  Feeling full quickly when eating
•  Feeling a frequent or urgent need to urinate
Do you have these problems? Please call your doctor if the answer is yes. You may save your life.

Posted by Katharyn at 10:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Friday, June 15 is D-Day for people fighting the Battle of the Bulge. An over-the-counter pill goes on sale to help people lose weight. It's called Alli, a non-prescription version of the weight-loss drug Xenocal. The FDA gave its okay, but it doesn't mean we'll be able to pop the pill and still eat cheeseburgers. It has some side-effects you might find unpleasant. ABC's Dr. Tim Johnson told "Good Morning America" said they're not serious, but they may be "socially unpleasant." Hmmm. It's supposed to work by blocking 75% of fat we ingest. But don't expect to lose that kind of weight. Studies have found users of the drug typically lose only about 10% of their weight. It's not cheap, either. A month's supply can cost about $60! Oh... and the best way for it to work: Eat a low-fat diet and exercise. Somehow we knew that would be part of the deal.
Here's more from ABC News.

Posted by Katharyn at 10:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

It appears your memory will suffer if you tend to mope around.
U.S. researchers said recently that people who get stressed out or depressed a lot are more likely to develop memory problems than people who have a brighter view of life... and may shed light on early predictors of Alzheimer's disease.
The article published by Reuters cited the study which found people who were frequently anxious or depressed were 40 times more likely to develop mild cognitive impairment, a form of memory loss that falls between normal aging and dementia.

Posted by Katharyn at 10:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)