One Day Could Change Your Life

7.3 million American women have difficulty conceiving and need help starting a family. The numbers may be just as high among men. A woman’s fertility begins to decline in her mid 20’s and men follow ten years later. Oftentimes when a couple first finds out they’re facing these challenges they’re unaware of the options available.

The American Fertility Association brings you Family Matters NY 2008, October 5th, at Steiner Studios in the Brooklyn Navy Yard. This annual, day-long conference brings you everything you need to know about trying to conceive or wanting to adopt.

A faculty of experts has been assembled to make sure that participants receive great value for their time. Panel discussions have been added, so that participants have the opportunity to hear from and ask questions of multiple health care professionals in most of the sessions.

Family Matters NY 2008 has a limited supply of tickets and booths for sale. Thanks to a generous grant, 25 scholarships are available to cover the $40 registration fee for those who would like to attend but are having financial difficulties. To apply, submit your request to info@theafa.org or call 888.917.3777.

An exhibit hall will feature companies providing the most up-to-date information available to support your family-building journey. The day starts off with a continental breakfast and wraps up with a wine and cheese reception. This venue also gives you a unique and valuable opportunity to interact with others who are experiencing the same challenges in a beautiful setting. Steiner Studios is on the waterfront in Brooklyn and has picture windows overlooking New York City.

All those who are interested in family building - young, mature, gay, straight, single, married or partnered - are enthusiastically invited to attend. Whether you are just beginning to think about family-building or actively trying to conceive or considering adoption - Family Matters NY is for you.

For more information or to register, visit http://www.theafa.org and click on the Family Matters banner or e-mail lisav@theafa.org or corey@theafa.org. You can also call 888.917.3777.

The American Fertility Association, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, is a lifetime resource for fertility preservation, reproductive health and family-building. We offer services through our free membership program, including an extensive online library, weekly online chats, telephone and in-person coaching, hosted message boards and a toll-free support line. Contact us at http://www.theafa.org or 888.917.3777.

Seven Habits (To Break) Of Highly Effective People

During tough financial times, many people try to demonstrate their value at work by working harder and longer. But, if you don’t also make time to take care of yourself, success may come at a hefty cost: your health.

“Many people feel like they have to push themselves to unhealthy levels in order to succeed. But high-pressure jobs and long hours take a real toll on your immediate and future health,” says George Griffing, M.D., professor of internal medicine at Saint Louis University.

Whether you’re running for president, moving up the corporate ladder or juggling your family’s activities, it’s crucial that you take a break to care for yourself, he says.

These are the seven worst habits of workaholics, according to Griffing.

1. Forgetting to relax: While some stress can be good because it keeps you alert and motivated, too much stress or chronic stress will take its toll on your body. In fact, stress can cause a wide-array of problems including: cancer, heart disease, headaches, upset stomach, sleeping problems, muscle tension, weight gain/loss, high blood pressure and chest pains.

2. Eating on the go: Between meetings, conference calls and deadlines, who has time to sit down for a healthy lunch? But a healthy, balanced meal of complex carbohydrates, protein, fruits and vegetables is exactly what you need to stay mentally sharp throughout the day. Beware of frozen meals, fast food and processed food; they can be high in sodium, calories and fat.

3. Putting off sleep for work: Even busy professionals need seven to nine hours of sleep every night. Skimping on sleep can cause irritability, difficulty concentrating, memory problems and poor judgment. It has also been linked to obesity. If you have troubles sleeping at night, avoid bringing work to bed, limit caffeine and alcohol consumption and develop a relaxing routine before bedtime, such as light reading or a warm bath. If you still cannot sleep, seek the help of an expert.

4. Not making time for exercise: Humans were not designed to sit at desks for eight hours or more a day. Getting at least 30 minutes of exercise most days is very important to your immediate and future health. In addition to reducing the risk for nearly every major disease, exercise has been shown to help fight anxiety and depression. By hitting the gym before or after work or walking during lunch, even the busiest person can find time to squeeze in exercise.

5. Working even when sick: Everyone has heard, “don’t come to work if you’re sick,” yet that’s exactly what many do. Whether you’re worried about jeopardizing your job in an unstable economy or just anxious about getting behind, there are three common sense reasons to stay home: Nobody wants your germs, you’ll be less productive and you need your rest to get better.

6. Drinking (too much): The saying “too much of a good thing” certainly applies to alcohol. Research has shown that moderate alcohol consumption can reduce your risk for everything from heart disease to rheumatoid arthritis, with “moderate” being the key word. In general, men should have no more than two drinks per day (1.5 oz. of spirits, 5 oz. of wine or 12 oz. of beer) and women who are not pregnant should limit themselves to one drink per day. Remember, the risks of excessive drinking far outweigh the benefits of alcohol consumption and can lead to alcoholism, liver disease and some forms of cancer.

Instead of drinking several cocktails to cope with stress or unwind after a busy day, try sipping herbal tea, meditation or yoga.

7. Skipping annual medical checkups: In order to detect problems early, prevent others from developing and get the best treatment if you have a condition, you need to know what’s going on in your body. Depending on your age, family history and lifestyle, consider a comprehensive medical checkup and special screenings every one to five years. Consult with your doctor for more information.

“Eventually, something’s going to give. If you keep burning the candle at both ends, the flame will burn out,” Griffing said. “But if you maintain a healthy balance, you will be happier and healthier overall.”

Established in 1836, Saint Louis University School of Medicine has the distinction of awarding the first medical degree west of the Mississippi River. The school educates physicians and biomedical scientists, conducts medical research, and provides health care on a local, national and international level. Research at the school seeks new cures and treatments in five key areas: cancer, liver disease, heart/lung disease, aging and brain disease, and infectious disease.

Coming Soon: Self-guided Depression Treatment

Self-guided treatment for depression could soon be only a mouse click away.

Scientists with the National Space Biomedical Research Institute (NSBRI) are developing an interactive, multi-media program that will assist astronauts in recognizing and effectively managing depression and other psychosocial problems, which can pose a substantial threat to crew safety and mission operations during long-duration spaceflights.

Even though the depression treatment is under development for NASA, project leader Dr. James Cartreine said it could be spun off for use on Earth.

“This project has great potential as a self-guided treatment for many people,” said Cartreine, a member of NSBRI’s Neurobehavioral and Psychosocial Factors Team. “Depression is the number one cause of disability days in the United States, but it’s not only about days lost. Depression also results in presenteeism -- showing up for work but not really working.”

The depression treatment is part of the Virtual Space Station, a multi-media program that addresses multiple types of potential psychosocial problems and can be used for training before, and for assistance during, missions. Other problems being addressed via the Virtual Space Station include interpersonal conflict, and stress and anxiety.

Cartreine, a Harvard Medical School research psychologist based in the Division of Clinical Informatics at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, said the Virtual Space Station will make effective therapeutic depression treatment more easily accessible to astronauts aboard the International Space Station and proposed missions to the moon and Mars. Currently, astronauts have audio and video access to psychologists only when communication links are available.

Project co-investigator and former astronaut Dr. Jay Buckey said long-duration spaceflight can be tough on astronauts. “While astronauts are not particularly prone to psychological problems, the environment is very demanding,” Buckey said. “On a mission, they face a lot of challenges that could lead to depression.”

Buckey, a professor and physician at Dartmouth Medical School, said the depression module and other aspects of the Virtual Space Station are based upon proven methods. “These are unique NSBRI products that did not exist before,” Buckey said. “The Virtual Space Station is based on proven treatment programs and is a very helpful way to work on problems in general.”

The system’s multi-media approach for depression includes graphics and video featuring a psychologist who leads the user through a straightforward process called Problem-Solving Treatment. The system provides feedback based upon the information provided when answering a series of questions.

The first step of the process is to make a problem list and select a problem on which to work. The second and third steps are setting goals and brainstorming ways to reach them. The final two steps are assessing the pros and cons of possible solutions and making an action plan to implement them. The program also helps users plan and schedule enjoyable activities, which people who have depression often stop doing. Additionally, the program provides preventative and educational information on depression.

Cartreine and Buckey, who received input from 29 current and former astronauts while designing the Virtual Space Station, said some of the system’s other benefits include its portability and privacy. “It can be delivered to the International Space Station on a flash drive and run directly from that drive, so that the astronaut has complete control over his or her data,” Cartreine said. “The system is private and secure. The user is the only one who can share the information with others.”

An early version of the depression treatment system was beta-tested on research stations in Antarctica, which is used as an analog to long-duration spaceflights due to its isolation from the rest of the world, length of stay and team composition. Cartreine said feedback from that early test run has been positive, and a clinical evaluation of the latest version on 68 Boston-area volunteers is about to begin.

“We plan to study the program’s ability to treat depression,” he said. “We are looking for people who are similar to astronauts, such as people in the technology industry.”

Eventually, the researchers want to adapt the system for use in many different settings, giving people access to treatment they may not have now. For instance, people with depression often seek treatment by going to their primary care physician, so the researchers hope to adapt it for use at the doctor’s office or in a person’s home.

The system could also be beneficial in rural areas where clinical help is in short supply or nonexistent. Other possible locations for use include schools, social service offices, places of worship, military bases, prisons, commercial ships, oil rigs and underwater research stations.

The self-guided treatment project is part of the NSBRI Neurobehavioral and Psychosocial Factors Team portfolio, which includes studies on and development of countermeasures for stress, anxiety, interpersonal conflict and fatigue.

Content on stress and anxiety management for the Virtual Space Station is being developed by Dr. Raphael Rose at UCLA. Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital researcher Dr. Gary Strangman is studying the depression treatment program’s effects on brain activity using infrared imaging.



NSBRI, funded by NASA, is a consortium of institutions studying the health risks related to long-duration spaceflight. The Institute’s science, technology and education projects take place at more than 60 institutions across the United States.

New Hernia Repair Technique Developed for Quicker Recovery and Less Pain

Drawing upon his 20 years of hernia repair experience Dr. David Albin has modified the commonly used tension-free mesh hernia repair technique to provide patients with less pain and a quicker overall recovery.

The modified technique utilizes absorbable sutures in the more tender areas of the body, as well as using a larger piece of mesh. The larger mesh piece protects better against the hernia recurring while the absorbable sutures protect against post-operative hernia pain. With less tension inside the body and out, the patient experiences less pain throughout the recovery process and is able to return to their everyday activity faster and safer.

Developed as a result of being an avid triathlete competitor, five-time Ironman finisher and operating on many athletes like himself, Dr. David Albin knew there had to be a way to achieve less down-time for his patients due to pain and healing. So he modified the commonly used tension-free mesh hernia repair technique in order to provide his patients with a faster recovery time while experiencing less pain.

Another benefit of this procedure is that it is very simple to teach with a small learning curve, which Dr. Albin hopes will allow more surgeons to be open to learn and adopt so that all hernia repair patients may one day have a quicker, less painful recovery. For more information on Dr. David Albin, his new technique or the Hernia Center of Southern California, visit -

HERNIA CENTER OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
800 S. FAIRMOUNT AVENUE, STE.# 419, PASADENA, CA 91105
TEL: (626) 584-6116 FAX: (626) 584-7886 - www.herniaonline.com