Issue Date: August 27, 2006
On-site care for young athletes
How safe is the athletic program at your child's school?
As fall tryouts and practices begin, this question is worth asking, says Jon Almquist, of the National Athletic Trainers' Association. Some 30% of children participating in sports are injured each year, and one in four injuries is considered serious.
Nothing can replace an on-site health care professional who has an athletic trainer license. "What our data has shown is that by having appropriate, immediate on-site care, you still have injuries, but a minor injury does not become worse," Almquist says.
The advantage is that this specialist is required to know the latest on the top issues school athletic programs face today: infectious disease control, concussion management, and heat and hydration policies. And when needed, you have someone there for rehabilitation and appropriate re-entry into a sport after injury.
To find out how to get a certified athletic trainer in your child's school, call 800-879-6282, ext. 129, for a free CD from the National Athletic Trainers' Association.
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Coffee: A new health drink?
Are you ready? Coffee, not known as a health tonic, is now hailed for its wide-ranging health benefits.
Here's what you need to know:
Heart Saver: A large new Harvard study found no increased heart attacks in longtime coffee drinkers. More remarkable: Coffee may save lives. Women ages 55 to 69 who drank 1 to 3 cups a day were 24% less likely to die of heart disease than non-coffee drinkers, says a new analysis of the Iowa Women's Health Study of 27,000 women. Indeed, their odds of dying from any cause during the study decreased about 15%.
Liver Protector: Coffee, even in very low doses, appears to protect the liver. Kaiser Permanente researchers found less cirrhosis in heavy alcohol users who also consumed coffee. Drinking less than a cup a day cut risk of cirrhosis by 30%, and 4 or more cups cut it by a remarkable 80%, compared with drinking none.
Diabetes foe: Drinking lots of coffee slashed risk of type 2 diabetes in recent studies. At Harvard, men drinking 6 or more cups of caffeinated coffee every day had half the risk of type 2 diabetes as non-coffee drinkers. In women, 6 or more cups daily cut risk by 30%. Even decaf cut odds somewhat.
Parkinson's fighter: Coffee drinkers are about one-third less likely to develop Parkinson's disease, say Harvard investigators. Italian research found a steeper drop of 80%.
Still, researchers don't recommend guzzling more coffee, because it can be harmful to some, promoting headaches, insomnia, anxiety and even heart attacks in individuals who are especially suspectible to caffeine. For specific advice, consult your doctor.
Contact Jean Carper online at stopagingnow.com. Scientific sources are at usaweekend.com.
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Get the right racket
Has the U.S. Open inspired you to take up tennis? If so, start with the right racket.
"When you're buying your first racket, the most important factors are grip size, racket weight and head size," says Linda Glassel, of Prince Sports Inc.
To find the right fit, visit a tennis specialty shop and talk to a pro. Sporting goods stores also offera good selection of rackets, with manufacturer descriptions to help you make a decision.
For people who want to improve their game, first read up on the latest racket technologies and how they can help; there's good information at tenniswarehouse.com.
"Try a racket before making a decision," Glassel says. Most specialty shops have demo or loaner programs to help you decide.
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Automatic payment glitch
More people now pay bills using automatic payments rather than writing checks, finds a MasterCard survey. Automatic deductions from a bank account or a credit card are convenient and help avoid late payment fees. But there's a glitch: When you want to cancel, sometimes deductions persist. (The Better Business Bureau cites health clubs and magazine services as particular offenders).
Cancel in writing. If your payments are linked to a credit card, send a letter to the merchant -- not just the card company -- at least two weeks in advance. If payments are linked to a bank account, you can give the bank only three days' notice, and you may give it orally. But write, too.
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