I’ve mentioned it several times in posts here, in frequent updates on Twitter, and anyone who has spoken to me personally has heard all about it–I have been downright whining and complaining about the sporadic winter weather we’ve had in recent weeks. One day there would be several inches of snow on the ground, and the next, the sun would be shining, all of the snow would melt, hopes for spring to finally arrive–and stick around–would rise, only to wake up the next morning to more snow. This series of events was on repeat for weeks and I was pretty cranky about it.

Enter: a big, heaping dose of irony.

Throughout the past week we have had absolutely gorgeous weather. Temperatures in the mid-to-high 60′s, clear and beautiful blue skies, birds chirping and munching on birdseed at the new bird feeder we picked up last week; because buying a bird feeder sends a message to spring that we’re ready for it and then it will arrive more quickly, obviously. It has been a beautiful week of warm weather and I have been terribly sick. Of course, because that is what happens when you anticipate things! It finally arrives and you can’t even appreciate it because you are too busy sniffling, coughing, blowing your nose, and walking around whining about being sick like you’re five years old all over again.

On Tuesday afternoon I was certain that I had allergies. With itchy, watery eyes and a runny nose, I took some allergy medication and noticed absolutely no improvement whatsoever. A few hours later, my list of symptoms also included incessant sneezing, coughing, a sore throat, and the inability to breathe while lying down. By Thursday night, I was much worse. Due to all of the sniffling, blowing my nose, and coughing, the left side of my neck became so sore and stiff I could barely move it. Even after taking NyQuil, I was still waking up every few hours to blow my nose and because of the pain in my neck every time I moved. This cold has been incredibly frustrating.

And that pretty much sums up my existence over these past few days, which explains the lack of updates here. Sorry about that! It’s pretty difficult to focus when you’re terribly sick and high on an array of over-the-counter cold medicines. I did, however, catch up on some movies and television shows, which is really the only good thing that comes with being sick. I recorded the HBO film Game Change, which I liked a lot and may or may not review here next week; I haven’t decided yet. I also watched the entire sixth season of Dexter, and oh my goodness, that show is just great.

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In 1988, the U.S. Department of Justice wrote:

“Nearly all medicines have toxic, potentially lethal effects. But marijuana is not such a substance. There is no record in the extensive medical literature describing a proven, documented cannabis-induced fatality. In practical terms, marijuana cannot induce a lethal response as a result of drug-related toxicity.”

That is the quote that kicks off the following very awesome infographic that lists the top ten strains of legal, medicinal marijuana. The strains are ranked by the number of locations where it is sold, as well as the level of THC in each strain, the flavor, and what you can expect to feel like after smoking it.


Courtesy of Strain Exchange

Click image to enlarge in new window

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What’s worse than having a child sick with the flu is not having a thing in the house to give them to make them feel better. Having to make midnight runs to the pharmacy is pretty terrible, so it’s smart to stock up just as flu season approaches so when your child starts exhibiting flu symptoms, you’re already prepared.

To help you prepare for flu season, you can now print coupons for $1 off any Children’s Advil products.

Children’s Advil provides up to 8 hours of fever relief in just one dose. It relieves fevers faster and keeps it down longer to help kids get back to feeling like kids again.

Dye-free Infants’ Advil is available for children ages 6 to 23 months and Children’s Advil is available for children ages 2 to 11. It comes in four liquid suspension flavors, including Grape, Blue Raspberry, Fruit, and Dye-Free White Grape. Convenient Grape Chewables are also available.

Get your $1 off Children’s Advil coupons.

Information and coupon offer were provided by Children’s Advil through MyBlogSpark. No compensation was received, and opinions are my own.

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One of the more recent issues facing expecting parents today that has received a ton of press and attention is the option of banking umbilical cord blood. This decision can become a difficult one to make when you begin doing research on the topic, and also must be made well before the child is born.

Umbilical cord blood banking is the preservation of the blood and stem cells from your baby’s umbilical cord at the time of birth. It is then stored in a bank for potential future use to treat a variety of different illnesses and diseases, including leukemia, lymphoma, sickle cell disease, and metabolic disorders.

Usually when we hear about stem cells being used to treat illnesses, they are debates laced in controversy. We know for a fact that stem cells work in treatment, but just like most other medical advances, it has its critics. However, stem cells that are found in cord blood are considered to be free of controversy since the act of preserving them does not hurt, harm, or pose any threat to the child whatsoever and would in fact be discarded anyway. Many expecting parents have become in-favor of banking their baby’s cord blood, and the reason as to why is really quite simple: anyone would undoubtedly do whatever they could to protect the health of their child.

When a friend of mine was pregnant with her first son, as part of her baby shower registry, she included an option for people to donate to her family’s fund for private cord blood banking. If you plan on banking your baby’s cord blood for future personal or family use, I think it’s really smart to reach out to friends and family as part of your baby shower registry in order to realistically be able to make this investment. The reason for this is because private banks cost money, and it may be more than you’re planning on spending. Typically, private cord blood banks charge a large initial processing fee, which can range from $595 to nearly $2,000. In addition to that fee, you are then charged an annual storage fee which runs around $95 a year.

When you choose to privately bank your baby’s cord blood, you pay an annual fee in order to keep it stored and available for you and your family if your child or a sibling should ever need it to help treat an illness.

Alternatively, you may choose to donate your baby’s cord blood to a public bank where anyone in need of a transplant could use it, or it may be used for research purposes. That isn’t to say that there wouldn’t be compatible cord blood available to your child if they did at some point need a transplant because they would also have access to the public bank.

Cord blood banking and donation is an intensely important and personal decision that every family must carefully weigh the pros and cons of with the help of their team of doctors before the birth of their child. Whether it’s public donation or private banking, we are certainly making tremendous medical strides in using stem cells to eradicate illness and disease in our children.

Photo by cvrcak1

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What I didn’t know then was that night was the beginning of a long haul in allergy diagnostics. Two days later she woke yet again with another swollen lip, only the second time her entire body was covered in a mysterious red spotted rash.

The rash led to hives and the hives led to painful red skin. In fact at any given moment any one, or combination of these symptoms would randomly appear.

What began as a seemingly harmless swollen lip led us from Urgent Care to ER to allergist where they ran a series of tests to determine the source of her swelling and rashes. To my surprise, and that of the allergists, my daughter was allergic to EVERYTHING!

They had tested her for environmental allergies, food allergies and outdoor allergies. When everything came back positive I was shocked. You can imagine my relief when the allergist began to explain which allergens were more likely to cause her symptoms based on reaction. It was obvious that her allergies to dust, pollens and grasses had the highest reaction indicating they were likely the real cause of her symptoms.

Now that we knew the cause it was time to develop a plan for treatment!

The Simple Approach to Manage Airborne Allergens:

Each of the allergens impacting my daughter were categorized as airborne, meaning they float in the air we breathe and gain access to our bodies after being inhaled. I knew to minimize her symptoms I needed to focus on one key factor, the air!

Reducing the amount of grass and pollens she inhaled was rather simple. We paid attention to the pollen count, installed special screens that filtered these allergens out and avoided over exposure to the great outdoors.

My bigger challenge was dealing with dust mites as I knew very little about them and even less on how to control them. I began by studying up on these critters and exactly how they cause allergies. To my surprise everything revolved around the bed! This explains why she had so many late night flares.

To reduce dust mite allergens I had to purchase special mattress and pillow encasements that trapped the mites, and their waste, preventing them from floating in the air. Next I removed stuffed animals from her room, thoroughly vacuumed the carpets and finished up with an allergy quilt for that extra protection.

I have to be honest the results weren’t instant. In fact I began to question if my efforts were even worth it considering she was still having reactions weeks after implementing my new strategies. My worries were quickly put to ease when the allergist explained that it takes time for the body to fully eradicate allergens and that given some time her symptoms will subside. He was right and my daughter started sleeping peacefully again!

Photo by clearallergy

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Starting today and throughout the month of October, Breeze Comfort will donate 10% of their proceeds to My Hope Chest, an organization that funds breast reconstruction for breast cancer survivors. The organization was founded in 2003 by Alisa Savoretti who is a Las Vegas showgirl and breast cancer survivor herself. Not having insurance at the time of her diagnosis, Savoretti underwent a mastectomy and returned to Las Vegas just five months after chemotherapy, taking the stage as the “Lop-Sided Showgirl.”

Through her own life experience, Alisa Savoretti founded My Hope Chest after realizing the significant gap in treatment and quality of treatment that exists for uninsured women who undergo mastectomies. My Hope Chest is the only national breast reconstruction organization that is working to help uninsured women receive the breast reconstruction surgery that, in many cases, their self-esteem and confidence relies on.

In addition to donating 10% of their proceeds throughout the month to My Hope Chest, Breeze Comfort has also taken 30% off all of their pink bras. Use coupon code 30OFF at checkout to receive the discount.

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For the second consecutive year, Nine West has released a mini collection under their Runway Relief Program which aims to combine the forces of the fashion and modeling industries in order to raise funds to aid in breast cancer awareness and prevention.

Three items make up the collection–a military-inspired boot containing a Runway Relief dog tag, a rockin’ black tank top and an amazing, road warrior-inspired messenger bag–with 100% of the proceeds being donated to Fashion Targets Breast Cancer, the Council of Fashion Designers of America’s charitable organization.

All of the items in the mini collection are available for pre-order now. The tank and military-inspired boot will ship on August 9 and the messenger bag will ship on September 6 just in time for fall collections.

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Here is how last Thursday night was supposed to go: Attend the Sound for Scoliosis kick off party that was organized by a friend of mine. Have a fun night hanging out with friends, enjoy a few drinks, see my partner’s new band play later that night, and come home.

Here is what happened instead: I don’t go out very often, but for the first time in a while I was out and having a great time. I got to hang out with a few friends I haven’t seen in a while and I saw a couple of bands. Good times. Until suddenly, I wasn’t having such a good time anymore. Out of nowhere, the band that was playing got so loud it was nearly deafening and I had tunnel vision. I have a history of anxiety and panic attacks, which is the reason why I don’t go out very often. Logic told me that I was having a panic attack. No big deal, at least not to me because I have such a history with them and have learned over time how to talk myself down out of a panic. Except for the small detail that I did not feel anxious in the least before these symptoms washed over me, this was a fabulous plan. It didn’t work.

The last thing I remember from inside the bar was sitting in a bathroom stall telling myself that I was totally fine. Unbeknownst to my conscious brain, I had walked out of the bathroom. When I made it to my partner who was waiting outside for me, I collapsed into him. I had passed out, woke up on the floor, and passed out again, this time my head falling back into a brick wall. Somehow I had made it outside through the back of the bar and an ambulance had been called. After sitting in the bathroom stall, the next thing I remember is talking to paramedics who were telling me that I was probably fine (because I had mentioned my history of panic attacks) and that they just had to check my vitals before letting me go on my way.

If there is one attribute I embody when I am terrified, it is annoyance. I talk a lot, I ask a lot of questions, and I pursue every task as if it is a test–and I desperately need to know if I passed. Did I pass this vitals test the paramedics spoke of? They didn’t tell me because as soon as they checked my blood sugar, I was informed that a trip to the hospital was in my best interest because it was dangerously low. I had failed the blood sugar test!

I spent six hours at a hospital that I’m just going to go out on a limb and say could totally make a top 10 list of the most unproductive hospitals in the country. Seriously, if you either work or hope to work in the medical field and want a job where all is expected of you is to gossip with your coworkers, do nothing to actually treat your patients, and just stare at them while they repeatedly set off the heart rate monitor alarm while sitting on your ass, then you need to apply for a job there.

I endured six hours of tests followed by waiting and then more waiting. Six hours of being poked, prodded, and then ignored. Six hours of being left in a room to twiddle my thumbs and wonder what the hell is going on with no updates. Six hours of having seemingly random people mosey on into the room, ask what happened to me, write it down, ask if anyone has given me anything to raise my blood sugar, and then leave, never to be seen or heard from again. Six hours of sporadic vomiting, regardless of the fact that I’m pretty sure nothing could have been in my system after this much waiting, and waiting, and waiting. After all of this, I was finally told that I have low blood sugar that would need to be kept in mind when making my daily nutrition choices, a rapid heart rate (hence the repeatedly setting off the heart rate monitor alarm even while completely relaxed), and an extremely high white blood cell count.

Now here is a funny story about one of the most unproductive hospitals in the country. Usually, and I could be wrong here but I think this is how medicine is usually practiced, you have blood taken, that blood gets tested and then when the doctor finds something wrong with that blood, they then move on to diagnosing the problem and then treating it. This hospital did not work that way. In this hospital, you apparently get your blood taken, they test it, find something wrong with it, and then want to perform all of the tests again because they didn’t like what they found. This is a problem because I have always had an extreme fear of needles. It is a bad, bad fear. I am actually over the moon about not freaking out like a total four-year-old child over getting a whole lot of blood drawn and letting the paramedic attempt to put in an IV on the way to the hospital. I am extremely proud of myself for that. You have no idea how major that is.

Needless to say, I did not let them continue with their Let Us Do the Least Amount of Work Possible by Repeatedly Running the Same Tests charade. I went home. For fear of a concussion, I wasn’t allowed to doze off while laying around the hospital for six hours, so I went home and I got some much-needed, much-appreciated sleep.

The three symptoms that I have going on, the low blood sugar, the rapid heart rate (or Tachycardia, if you want to get all fancy with your medical speak), and the extremely high white blood cell count are all of the effects of my Periodontal Disease, which I have had for the past seven years. Periodontal Disease is an inflammatory disease that affects the teeth, the tissues that surround and support the teeth, and when it is extremely advanced, to the gums. It has run rampant throughout my family and just like the family members who have had it, regardless of how well I have taken care of my teeth throughout my life, they continue to break down and eventually rot. If you have never had problems like this with your teeth then you may be surprised to find out that when there is a problem in your mouth, it is only a matter of time before you start having problems with the rest of your body. Your teeth really do affect your entire body and in my case, it has lead to an extreme bacterial infection that even high doses of antibiotics seem to be immune to. A high white blood cell count in itself signifies rapid infection, as does a rapid heart rate. Low blood sugar seems to be the only thing I can at least treat and control.

Fun, right? So that is what has been going on with me and over the past week, I have focused on getting my energy back up and adjusting to making eating a new part time job of mine in order to control the low blood sugar factor that has become my new reality.

Woman Tribune will be back in full swing over the next few days as I get all of its affairs in order and finally get caught up.

Photo by Michael Coté

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Two separate medical studies have emerged that credit the biological effects of coffee as playing a role in lowering the risk of a certain aggressive type of breast cancer, as well as fatal prostate cancer.

The Karolinksa Institutet study in Stockholm found that amongst nearly 6,000 women–2,818 patients with breast cancer and 3,111 participants who did not have breast cancer–who drank five cups of coffee a day had a 20% decrease in overall breast cancer risk. When studying a very aggressive type of breast cancer called estrogen-receptive negative cancer, this amount of coffee showed to aid in a 57% reduction of risk in women ages 50 to 74. It is important to note that such a significant decrease in risk had a lot to do with the age of the women who were studied.

The prostate cancer study conducted by the Journal of the National Cancer Institute involved the participation of 48,000 men, making it the largest study of its kind. The study showed that men who drank over six cups of coffee or more per day lowered a man’s risk of fatal prostate cancer by up to 60%.

The many different biological effects of coffee is said to be the reason why it is reducing the risk for these types of cancers. Coffee is a source of antioxidants and it also has positive effects on glucose metabolism and insulin levels and it is believed that insulin plays a role in the progression of prostate cancer, as stated by Kathryn Wilson, a research fellow in epidemiology at the Harvard School of Public Health.

This seems to be a bigger triumph for men who are at risk of developing prostate cancer, but the study of coffee has a long way to go before researchers will give up on it. Previously, coffee has been said to lower risk of Type 2 diabetes, Parkinson’s disease and liver cancer as well.

Researchers are not instructing people to start incorporating large amounts of coffee into their daily diets, but it is safe to say that if you are already a coffee-lover, you may be helping keep yourself free of certain cancers and disease.

Photo by Ballistik Coffee Boy

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Current research and medical studies reveal that 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime. Each time one woman is diagnosed with breast cancer, she brings a league of family, friends and loved ones with her to join in the fight against it. The fight against breast cancer is never just the fight of the one diagnosed with it; it is the fight of everyone who has ever known someone who has been diagnosed.

It’s true that countless people have committed themselves wholly to fighting breast cancer, but what every person who has donated their time, resources and finances to this fight will tell you, is that the fight will not stop until a cure for this severe and tragic cancer has been found. One of the most pivotal steps in ensuring a cure is found within our lifetime is to continue raising awareness while making a difference in the lives of those who have been affected by breast cancer.

BeeWell for Life is a resource dedicated to supplying people just like you and me with the resources and tools available to make the most of your healthy active lifestyle. Their website is fully dedicated to the health and wellbeing of your body, mind and spirit while continuing to lead the way in breast cancer awareness and support through their partnership with the Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization.

The BeeWell for Life website is also the home of the BeeWell Miles Program where you can Walk and Bee the Difference. For every mile you walk, run or cycle and log on their website, they will donate $0.10 to the Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization to fund YourShoes, a peer support program that includes a 24/7 breast cancer center that provides a toll-free hotline, email and support groups staffed by trained breast cancer survivors, as well as other outreach and awareness services and programs.

To make sure you never miss an important health tip, be sure to follow @BeWellforLife on Twitter and “like” them on Facebook.

iPad2 Giveaway

In an effort to get more people having active conversations about breast cancer, raising awareness and to help make a difference in the lives of those affected by breast cancer, BeeWell for Life has just launched Tag4Cancer.com, where they are giving away an iPad2 to two lucky winners. To enter to win, tweet from the Tag4Cancer.com website and make sure your tweet includes the hashtag #Tag4Cancer, links back to the official Tag4Cancer website and mentions both @beewellforlife and one of your friend’s Twitter handles so they can raise breast cancer awareness too. The more you tweet, the better your chances of winning.

But that isn’t all; you have yet another chance to win an iPad2 by introducing other participating bloggers (like myself) to some of your most inspiring, motivating friends! To enter to win, leave a comment on this post telling us how or why a certain friend of yours inspires you to either be fit or to make a difference in others. You must link to your friend’s blog, Facebook profile or Twitter handle in your comment.

For the list of participating bloggers where you can also comment to enter to win an iPad2, check out the contest rules. This contest will end May 31st.

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For someone concerned about having a sexually transmitted disease, the words “in the privacy of your own home” never sounded sweeter.

Several companies now offer easy, at-home testing kits for many common STDs. This offers a practical solution for people who, out of shame or embarrassment, have long avoided going to the doctor’s office to be tested.

People who suspect they have an STD, or who just want to play it safe, can purchase easy-to-use kits to test for HIV I/II, Syphilis, Chlamydia and Gonorrhea. For many kits, results are available within minutes, and are 99.8% accurate.

The tests can be used before any symptoms have appeared–which is important considering the case of a disease like Chlamydia, 70% of adults never display symptoms.

The tests couldn’t have come at a better time.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, there are approximately 19 million new STD infections annually, which cost the U.S. healthcare system $16.4 billion each year. The most common STDs in the U.S. are Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, Syphilis, Human Papilloma Virus, Trichomoniasis, Hepatitis B, HIV and Genital Herpes.

Chlamydia is the number one reported STD in the country, with nearly 3 million cases annually, according to a 2007 WebMD article. Left untreated, the disease can result in infertility in women.

“The finding that Chlamydia rates are highest in young women is almost universal,” said Stuart Berman, MD, chief of epidemiology and surveillance for the CDC’s STD branch, in a 2007 news conference. “If health care providers think the young women in their practice don’t have Chlamydia, they should think again.”

One concern with Chlamydia is that women often contract it again after being treated. This is such a common occurrence, that the CDC is now recommending that doctors give patients being treated for the disease antibiotics to take home to their partners.

In the short term, STDs create discomfort including pain during urination, vaginal or penile discharge, sores, fatigue, fever or rashes. Left untreated, they can lead to long-term health problems like cancer, liver damage, a weakened immune system or infertility.

Early detection is key to preventing long-term damage. While parasitic and bacterial STDs (Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, Syphilis and Trichomoniasis) can be cured with medicine, some viral STDs (Herpes, HPV, Hepatitis B and HIV) never go away.

Because these diseases are becoming so prevalent and have such lasting affects, it is even more critical that sexually active teens and adults get tested.

A program by Johns Hopkins University offers free at-home tests for Chlamydia in several states. Patients collect a sample following easy instructions and then mail it to a lab for testing. Within two weeks they can call to receive the confidential test results. Log on to I Want The Kit. Los Angeles has a similar program (Don’t Think Know), which offers free testing for Chlamydia and Gonorrhea.

Several websites offer at-home kits. For some of the kits, the user will collect a urine or swab sample and mail it back to a lab for testing, with results available by phone or online in about five days. These tests can cost up to $100.

Other sites offer kits that allow users to test at home with results in five to ten minutes. These cost about $25 to $30.

No matter what types of test they take, people who test positive for any type of STD need to follow up with their physician to be treated.

Sites that offer at-home STD kits:

• Home Test USA
• Get STD Tested
• Home Bio Test

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March is National Autoimmune Diseases Awareness Month and American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association (AARDA) is spreading awareness and asking people to take notice of the 50 million of our friends, family and co-workers who suffer every day with one or more of the 100+ autoimmune diseases. They are doing this through the “We are 50 Million” campaign.

“We are 50 Million” spotlights people and their unique stories about living every day with an autoimmune disease. It asks the question, “How many of the 50 Million Does Your Family Represent?”

On a personal level, I have been very much affected by autoimmune diseases as I have watched members of my family and beloved friends live their lives every day with these diseases. In one case, I experienced tremendous loss of my father’s girlfriend of 10 years, whose was in my life from the time I was 8 until I was 18 years old. She died from Scleroderma, a widespread connective tissue disease that involves changes in the skin, blood vessels, muscles and internal organs.

My grandmother lives with Arthritis that is so bad, she can’t wait to do the dishes every night just so she can soak her hands in the scalding hot water to get some relief. My aunt lives with Fibromyalgia, a disease that causes long-term, body-wide pain and tender points in joints, muscles, tendons and other soft tissues. My Godfather, who is also my father’s best friend ever since high school was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) just a few years ago, a disease that affects the brain and spinal cord and aggressively attacks the central nervous system. One of my best friends, who was also my first real, long-term relationship, lives with Crohn’s Disease, an inflammatory and autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system attacks the gastrointestinal tract, causing inflammation.

Autoimmune diseases target women 75% more often than men and are one of the top ten killers of women under the age of 64. Autoimmune diseases awareness and the “We are 50 Million” campaign are extremely important initiatives and a sobering look at the health issues affecting women today and, in turn, their families, friends and loved ones. Considering that March is also Women’s History Month, I could not have received the information about National Autoimmune Diseases Awareness Month at a better time.

Autoimmune diseases tend to “cluster” in families, for example, if your grandmother had Rheumatoid Arthritis or Lupus, you could be at greater risk for developing an autoimmune disease.

To find out more information about autoimmune diseases, visit the AARDA website and keep up with everything happening with AARDA by “liking” them on Facebook. To donate to AARDA and the “We are 50 Million” campaign, you can text A-A-R-D-A to 20222 to donate $5 for the benefit of AARDA research by the Mobile Giving Foundation in order to help future research.

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I am lucky in the respect that I have not been personally affected by breast cancer. No one in my family or close circle of friends has been diagnosed with breast cancer. I have, however, been affected by cancer. At 14 and 15 years old, my very first boyfriend was battling leukemia. I watched him go through chemotherapy and radiation, and most of the time that we spent hanging out together was done in hospital rooms and in his bedroom when he was too weak to walk or move too much on his own, and in the company of hospice nurses. At the same time, a friend of mine from school was also battling leukemia. While my boyfriend-at-the-time survived his battle and, last I heard, was still in remission as an adult with a career and a lovely life, my friend was not so lucky and passed away when he was 16 years old. Years later, a friend of mine told me about her battle with non-Hodgkin Lymphoma; in the past two years, it has come back and she is in the fight of her life for the third time.

Supporting each other and sharing our strength with others is the mindset behind the Pepperidge Farm Milano Moment campaign. By simply sharing of your Milano moments, Pepperidge Farm will donate 50 cents to Susan G. Komen for the Cure, up to $50,000.

What’s your favorite Milano Moment? Share it anytime between now and October 31st and help Pepperidge Farm max out their donation to Susan G. Komen and help contribute to finding a cure for breast cancer.

This post was written as part of a blog campaign through One2One Network. Additional incentives were provided to me, and opinions are my own.

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October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and throughout the month, a lot of companies have been doing their part to raise awareness and donations for the breast cancer research organization of their choice. Most of these promotions have relied on people purchasing breast cancer swag or “limited edition” items no one really needs. Bare Necessities, on the other hand, has a really awesome promotion going on and all you need to do is keep buying something you actually need and are already buying.

Until the end of October, for every bra that is purchased through Bare Necessities, they will donate 25 cents to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation with a minimum donation of $10,000. The Breast Cancer Research Foundation provides critical funding for innovative clinical and translational research worldwide and increases public awareness about good breast health. Over the past year, over 88 cents of each dollar donated to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation has went directly to breast cancer research and awareness programs.

Bare Necessities has an amazing selection of bra styles and the best selection of bra sizes I have seen from any company out there. What is also pretty spectacular is that the larger size bras, like G, H and J cups, are available in pretty and sexy styles. How many times have you walked into a store only to find that bras in your size are only available in white, beige and maybe black? Yeah, me too, and it gets pretty frustrating.

So head on over to Bare Necessities, buy some bras, and help support The Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

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The prostate is a small, squishy gland that sits under the bladder and in front of the rectum. The uretha–the narrow tube that runs the length of the penis that carries urine and semen out of the body–runs directly through the prostate. The prostate is located very close to several vital structures in the male body, so a healthy prostate will produce healthy and normal, urinary, bowel, sexual and fertility functions; likewise, prostate cancer and its treatment strategies can disrupt these functions. While we know a lot about the prostate, there are a great deal of myths and fun facts about it that a lot of us probably don’t know, so I cannot urge you enough to check out Sarah Sloane’s article on ’10 Things You Didn’t Know About the Prostate’ over at the MyPleasure blog.

When it comes to exploring the prostate in terms of sexual pleasure, a lot of men can find themselves to be a little hesitant, but when they hopefully feel ready to explore it further, they’ll find themselves wondering how they’ve lived without this type of pleasure for so long! The prostate, when stimulated, is said to feel much like g-spot stimulation; and any woman who has experienced fantastic g-spot stimulation will tell you that’s a feeling no one should be living without.

There are a great deal of prostate health toys on the market that are all suitable to not just begin your p-spot sexual health journey, but build upon it throughout your lifetime. September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month and the awesome folks over at MyPleasure are running a fantastic promotion throughout this month. When you a buy a prostate health toy, you will save 10% on your purchase through MyPleasure; they will also donate 10% of your purchase to the Prostate Cancer Foundation, the leading philanthropic organization funding and accelerating prostate cancer research globally.

Curious about prostate play, but don’t know where to start? A long-term favorite in our house is the Aneros MGX. This men’s stimulator is medically-researched and designed specifically for simultaneous massage of the prostate and perineum, allowing for more intense and longer lasting orgasms!

There are so many really great choices when it comes to finding a toy that will satisfy your prostate, but if none of the prostate health toys do anything for you, remember that prostate and g-spot sex toys can often be interchanged–the curve of a toy for both is the same, and as long as the girth of the toy is something you’re comfortable with and you’re not hurting yourself when trying to use a g-spot toy for anal stimulation, then you have nothing to worry about.

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Gatorade’s Beat the Heat campaign is an ongoing effort to raise awareness and building communication about heat illness prevention. Leslie Bonci is an expert on sports nutrition, a consultant to numerous professional, collegiate and high school athletic programs and a registered dietitian.

Use hashtag #beattheheat tomorrow, August 18th from 3PM to 4PM EST and make sure to follow @MomCentral and @LeslieBonci. There is no RSVP required, just search Twitter for the #beattheheat hashtag and start participating in the discussion. By participating, you will not only learn a lot about heat safety, but you will also have the chance to win a pretty awesome gift pack, including Gatorade coolers, powder and $50 AMEX gift cards.

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WHO states that the H1N1 virus has largely run its course, but that does not mean that it is gone completely. There is a pattern of past pandemics that leads researchers to believe that H1N1 will took on the behavior of a seasonal influenza virus and will “continue to circulate for some years to come.” Also noting past pandemics, it is hypothesized that the virus will “continue to cause serious disease in younger age groups, at least in the immediate post-pandemic period.”

While we are not completely out of the woods when it comes to H1N1, there have  been far less reports of people being diagnosed with the illness and far less reports of deaths because of it. It is okay to experience a mild sigh of relief. The Centers for Disease Control are gearing up for the upcoming 2010/2011 flu season, which will contain three vaccine viruses recommended by the World Health Organization and the FDA:

• A/California/7/2009 (H1N1)-like virus
• A/Perth/16/2009 (H3N2)-like virus
• B/Brisbane/60/2008-like virus

From the CDC:

“This recommended composition of the seasonal vaccine for the Northern Hemisphere, including the United States, is the same composition that was recommended for the Southern Hemisphere’s 2010 influenza vaccines.”

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The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) has worked to eliminate the barriers and discrimination that those who live with a disability can face, including in the workplace. While the ADA has made great strides in it being unlawful for an employer of any kind of refuse to hire someone with a disability, about three quarters of people with a disability are unemployed and it isn’t by their own admission. Also, internet access for people with disabilities is only about half of what it is for those who are not living with a disability.

There is still a lot of work to be done in this country to ensure that those who live their lives with a disability are granted the same opportunities as those who are not and can still live happy and full lives.

Bloggers Unite is raising awareness and supporting people with disabilities and the people and groups who empower them by raising awareness. Bloggers Unite is asking that all bloggers, young and old, novice bloggers and veterans, band together on July 24th to empower people with disabilities.

It takes very little time to write a blog post and participate in Bloggers Unite’s People First: Empowering People with Disabilities blogging event. By all bloggers coming together on one day, you can really raise awareness and make a difference.

Join the event and publish your post on Saturday, July 24th letting people know that despite major gains, more needs to be done to ensure that people with disabilities enjoy the same access to resources and opportunities as those who do not live with a disability. There are currently 295 bloggers registered at Bloggers Unite for this event, so it is sure to be an amazingly resourceful and empowering day.

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I used to work as a barista at a very pretentious coffee shop that just so happened to be located downstairs from a gym. I made health drinks, smoothies and teas more than anything else and I became very familiar with Whey protein. I also figured out very quickly how much I hate the smell of Whey protein, never mind even considering putting it in my mouth. The people I served these so-called healthy drinks that really weren’t all that healthy, but people ordered them because of the geniuses behind the marketing of said drinks, were very snobby. They were snobby and they were built! From the looks of these people, there was no way I was going to walk into a gym like that. I’d get the weird looks and the people wondering what Fat Planet I was just warped from.

Enter: Planet Fitness. A gym that is open, accepting and diverse. A place where I do not get the weird looks or the condescending fake-friendly smiles when I claim an elliptical machine. It’s a place of freedom! And hey, if anyone does pass judgment on you, they get thrown out and that is policy. Pretty cool, huh?

One of the policies at Planet Fitness is that you have to wipe down your machine after you use it. No matter what. No exceptions. There are little stations set up throughout the place where you can grab a paper towel and some spray solution that they put out and make sure your machine is clean before you leave. I’m paranoid though; especially when it comes to cleanliness. I won’t touch a machine until I wipe it down first and after finding some pretty scary information about gyms and workout centers and how they are being connected to MRSA, I’m so glad I have been so paranoid about this.

Late last month a hospital in Idaho voiced concern with an increasingly-spreading, antibiotic-resistant staph infection within the community. This staph infection, called MRSA, causes skin rashes or bumps that are incredibly difficult to treat.

The biggest concern the hospital has is that MRSA is now being found and transmitted in public settings like school gyms, workout centers and any public place or area where the skin transfers. While the health district will not keep track of the reported cases because it is not “evasive” beyond the outer skin layer, it is still very important to remember that when you enter a gym, wipe down the machine you are using both before you hop onto it and after you’re done.

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No two people with a disability are the same, nor do two different people living with a disability have the same needs. That point is especially true when you enter the realm of driving. A disability should not possess the power to take away one’s ability to drive a vehicle or to ride as a passenger in a vehicle, especially considering there are resources available to disabled people, their loved ones and those who care for them. That is exactly the belief system held by the people of NMEDA, a national non-profit organization that is dedicated to educating consumers who are buying mobility equipment and products.

NMEDA has certified dealers readily available at an unbelievable amount of locations to help you or the person you care about pick out the absolute perfect automotive mobility solutions that will cater to the specific and unique needs of each individual. Their purchase process is simple and meant to take the stress off of you when it comes to figuring out exactly what you need and how it will work in your vehicle. NMEDA’s Quality Assurance Program is the only nationally-recognized accreditation program for the Adaptive Mobility Equipment Industry, making them not only an amazing resource for those who need them, but they have the accolades to prove how influential and consistent their service has been through the years.

What I really love about NMEDA is that they are a non-profit. They have a refreshing mindset where they believe that they must have a systematic and documented approach to the quality of service they give to people. They are a service that brings you, the people, straight to the resources you need, by making it possible for you to locate a dealer that is closest to you and giving you a simple process in order to get you what you need, when you need it. They also have an amazingly vast hub of information meant to make sure you are able to educate yourself about what it will take to get you or your loved one back on the road and back into the driver’s seat of their own life and independence.

NMEDA ensures that you are getting the service and the solutions that you need and that are completely right for you on a personal level. Stop scouring the internet or catalogs for adapted wheelchair vehicles and locate a NMEDA dealer by simply entering your zip code to get started.

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Alzheimer’s Disease affects an estimated 5.3 million people in the United States today and every 70 seconds, another person develops the disease. It is estimated that by the year 2050, 1 in 85 people will be affected by Alzheimer’s Disease globally. Numbers like that are enough to stop you in your tracks and really make you take a good, hard look at the destructiveness of this disease.

While there are currently some worthwhile organizations out there working to raise awareness and Alzheimer’s Disease for good, there is not enough buzz about it and there really should be. I have seen first-hand what Alzheimer’s Disease does to someone with the disease, but also how it affects and devastates the people closest to them. My great-grandfather developed Alzheimer’s Disease when I was a child. When my great-grandmother would need to go to the store, run errands, or desperately needed to take some time out for herself away from her husband of over 50 years, she would call my grandmother to go to their house and watch him because he could not be trusted to be alone in the house by himself in fear of him hurting himself, doing something to the house, or worse. My grandmother brought me with her a few times and because I was a child, I couldn’t fully comprehend why my great-grandfather didn’t know who I was or why he was telling me a story about his time in the military for the third time that night. It was frightening and now, looking back at that time as an adult and being able to comprehend what this disease does, it is incredibly sad and still a time I can remember like it was yesterday because it affected me that much. There are a great deal of families out there feeling exactly like this while they watch their loved one’s senses decline.

Luckily, the Alzheimer’s Disease Cooperative Study (ADCS) is committed to raising awareness about Alzheimer’s Disease and are doing all they can to encourage otherwise healthy people with early complaints of memory problems to participate in the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI). This is a landmark study to find more sensitive and accurate methods to detect Alzheimer’s Disease at earlier stages and track its progress through biomarkers.

By recognizing changes in the brain, scientists hope to treat memory loss and other symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease before they appear. However, the only way to recognize what these changes are and learn more about who is at risk is through the participation of volunteers who are willing to participate in the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative Grand Opportunity (ADNI GO).

Dr. Paul Aisen, M.D., director of the Alzheimer’s Disease Cooperative Study says,

“We cannot end this terrible disease unless we know more about it. That is where the amazing volunteers, their friends and their families can make the difference in our success.”

ADNI GO will build on the unprecedented momentum and success of the Alzheimer’s Neuroimaging Initiative. Eminent poet, author, educator, historian and professor at Wake Forest University, Maya Angelou, is currently working with researchers to ask you and your loved ones to participate in a major brain imaging study. If you may be eligible to participate in this groundbreaking ADNI GO study, visit the study website for more information or call the Alzheimer’s Disease Education and Referral Center at 1-800-438-4380.

Help spread the word about this initiative by supporting Alzheimer’s Disease Research on Facebook.

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As soon as I heard about this new information I was instantly skeptical. Whose best interests are in mind here, those of women or those of the medical profession working in a recession and eager to cut as many costs as possible? After delving into the research about these new guidelines, I have determined that my initial skepticism was correct and that the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force are actually now contributing to the rise of deaths due to breast cancer that will occur as soon as women start following these guidelines because they think that this “task force” has their best interests in mind and they absolutely do not. A huge amount of breast cancer survivors have been women who have noticed lumps in their breasts by doing self breast exams and women who have been lucky enough to survive breast cancer have been women who have had their cancer detected early. If these same women who are survivors of this disease were told not to worry about having frequent mammograms before the age of 50 would be dead right now and we would have even more women dying from breast cancer than ever before just by taking the advice of this so-called task force who are giving out very bad information.

For the first time in…well, probably forever, I agree completely with what Elisabeth Hasselbeck said on a recent episode of The View. Check it out below:

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Our Inspiring Hope gift basket giveaway, courtesy of MyBlogSpark and Pink Together has turned out to be the most popular giveaway we have ever had at Woman Tribune, which makes me ecstatic!

The Inspiring Hope gift basket includes sleeved travel mug, a running ribbon charm bracelet, a pink leather strap keychain, a set of inspirational note cards and a pink cinch bag. All of these items are from ShopKomen, where a portion of the proceeds go directly to Susan G Komen for the Cure.

And the winner is…

Congratulations Patti Bright!

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While there are many benefits, events, charities, organizations, businesses and people who have dedicated their time, their experiences, their inspiration and their money to helping in whatever ways they can in the fight against breast cancer, there are still very limited resources for women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer themselves or who are close to someone who has been diagnosed to receive the support they need most. A diagnosis like this, regardless of the stage is absolutely terrifying, gut-wrenching, heart-breaking and truly difficult to go through, especially if you don’t have a rock-solid support system of various people around you who understand your grief and frustration and people who will understand while you go through the emotional roller coaster a diagnosis and treatment will send you through. But luckily, Pink Together was created just for this purpose.

Pink Together is a national campaign dedicated to supporting those impacted by breast cancer. Their website is a safe space where everyone can share hope and inspiration by sharing stories of breast cancer survivors and supporters within the community. Pink Together has already helped countless survivors and supporters of those survivors.

Watch other inspiring videos from the 2009 Pink Together Survivor Ambassadors

For the month of October, General Mills has come to the support of Pink Together and will be donating $2 million to Susan G. Komen for the Cure. They have also turned the packaging of some of their most trusted products pink for the month in an effort to continue to raise awareness about breast cancer.

Giveaway

Thanks to Pink Together and MyBlogSpark, we have been given the opportunity to give away an Inspiring Hope gift basket that includes a sleeved travel mug, a running ribbon charm bracelet, a pink leather strap key chain, a pink cinch bag and a set of inspirational note cards.

All of the gifts in the Inspiring Hope gift basket are from Shop Komen, where 25% of the merchandise purchase price benefits Susan G Komen for the Cure in the fight against breast cancer. All of these fabulous gifts will remind you of how important the fight against breast cancer is throughout the entire year, and not just in October when we spread awareness for breast cancer awareness month. I can also personally attest that the sleeved travel mug is the absolute best quality travel mug I have ever found.

Required Entry

Leave a comment on this post telling us what woman inspires you the most and why.

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  Win an Inspiring Hope gift basket full of great breast cancer awareness swag from @WomanTribune http://tinyurl.com/yzb4u9r

This giveaway ends Friday, October 30th at 11:59 p.m. ET. This giveaway is open to all residents worldwide over the age of 18 at the time of entry. The winner will be chosen via random.org and contacted by email; they then have 48 hours (2 days) to respond to that email or another winner will be chosen.

Full Contest Disclaimer

Disclosure: Pink Together provided me with the Inspiring Hope prize pack, information and giveaway through MyBlogSpark. All opinions expressed throughout this post are 100% mine.

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Congratulations to Tanya W. for winning the Promise to Make a Difference gift courtesy of Yoplait and MyBlogSpark.

Tanya is doing some amazing things for the fight against breast cancer with her Brownie Girl Scout troop:

I’m a Brownie Girls Scout troop Leader (#803) and our troop made pretty decorative Susan G Komen for the Cure canisters this past September, and placed them in the cafeteria and lounge areas of the hospital that I work at (I’m an RN at Chesapeake regional medical Center). We made 112 canisters to help Yoplait Pink collect lids and the outpouring of support has been great!

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