By Val Willingham
Medical Producer

As a certified EMS worker, Jeff Schaffer knows a lot about the heart. Based in Baltimore, Maryland, Schaffer travels with emergency crews from three states. He teaches CPR, gives lectures on heart health, and talks to school kids about firefighting and ambulance work. His father died from a heart attack at 61. So you would think when he began to have chest pains while teaching a CPR class, 15 years ago, Schaffer would have gone to the doctor. But he didn't. He ignored his own advice. Despite his vomiting and nausea, Schaffer admits, he was in denial. "I just blew it off and said it couldn't happen to me."

Schaffer finally went to the ER, but not until after having symptoms for two days. At 39, Schaffer was indeed having a heart attack. His doctors said he was lucky to be alive. The ironic part of this story is even though Schaffer knew all the symptoms of a cardiac event he never thought about his own heart. He didn't know his own blood pressure or cholesterol rate. He thought he was invincible until his doctor gave him the bad news. Schaffer said his triglycerides level was about 530 and his cholesterol at the time of his heart attack was 312. Both numbers were dangerously high.

And even though his story is hard to believe, heart specialists say it's typical. Doctors find most people in in their 30s never think about the possibility of having a heart attack. Most joke and say that's for old people. But statistics show 5 percent of those having heart attacks are under the age of 40. Cardiologists blame stressful lives, fast food and smoking. Also, in our 30s, hardening of the arteries begins. It's a slow process that increases your risk of heart attack over time.

A good indicator that plaque could be hardening your arteries is high levels of bad cholesterol - so watch your numbers, even in your younger years, including your blood pressure reading. Know the difference between LDL and HDL, the bad and good cholesterol. And pay attention to triglycerides. Doctors are finding a high triglyceride number is a precursor to poor heart health. Dr. Michael Miller, director of Preventive Cardiology at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore, notes, "If you have high LDL and high triglycerides, you appear to be at the highest risk of having a heart attack." In new research, Miller has found these bad cholesterol and triglycerides act like Bonnie and Clyde: Each alone can affect your heart in a bad way, but together, they're deadly.

Also, doctors will tell you, if you smoke, quit. It can make a huge difference in your heart health. A recent study showed smokers ages 35-39 had five times the risk for heart attacks than nonsmokers of the same age.

And know your family heart history. If one of your parents died at an early age from heart disease, start working with your doctor to keep your heart in good shape.

Putting on weight? As we age our metabolism naturally slows down. That can lead to weight gain, which can raise blood pressure and stress our circulation system.

Increase your exercise. Research shows that even 10 minutes a day can improve your cardiovascular fitness.

Today at 54, Schaffer feels better then he did in his 30s. He watches what he eats, takes medication, and closely watches his numbers. He knows he's lucky to be alive and he wants to stay that way. Because he knows if he doesn’t he could die at an early age.

How do you keep your heart healthy? Tell us. We'd like to hear about it.

Editor's Note: Medical news is a popular but sensitive subject rooted in science. We receive many comments on this blog each day; not all are posted. Our hope is that much will be learned from the sharing of useful information and personal experiences based on the medical and health topics of the blog. We encourage you to focus your comments on those medical and health topics and we appreciate your input. Thank you for your participation.

By Dr. Sanjay Gupta
Chief Medical Correspondent

The recent story of Carine Desir, a 44-year-old woman who died on an American Airlines flight from Haiti to New York, has a lot of people thinking: Could that happen to me? Well, it could. But it's not likely and there's no reason to panic.

What happened to Desir? She reportedly complained of not being able to breathe and received oxygen, although a family member has complained that the oxygen was delayed. Doctors and nurses aboard the flight stepped in to try to help, including using an automated external defibrillator, but their efforts were not successful. The medical examiner's office said Desir died of complications from heart disease and diabetes.

But what should you be thinking about before you get on an airplane? There are times when you should rethink flying, but it's not always a simple decision. Here's how flying is most likely to affect your health and some things to think about when you're deciding to fly or not to fly.

First off, it is worth noting that two important things happen on a plane shortly after takeoff. One has to do with pressure. If you are on a small plane that flies below 10,000 feet, the plane may not be pressurized. Larger planes that fly 30,000 to 40,000 feet above the earth will be pressurized, but because of the differential, the cabin altitude will still feel like you are about 8,000 feet in the air. Most people can tolerate this just fine. The oxygenation is also slightly lower in airline cabins, again not a noticeable difference for most people.

Still, there are people who are at most risk from these changes. People who have sinusitis, pneumonia, other respiratory illnesses as well as ear problems probably shouldn't fly and will feel pretty miserable if they do, because of those pressure changes. The cavities will expand and may cause pressure and pain.

Also, if you have had recent abdominal surgery, eye, ear or face surgery, dental work such as an abscess repair, you should stay grounded. Anyone who's had a recent concussion or colonoscopy should also wait at least a day before taking to the air. Obviously, a communicable disease such as TB (like Andrew Speaker had) should preclude you from flying. Another tip: Let's say you're out skiing and break an ankle or leg. Tell your doctor you want a soft cast or splint if you are going to be on a plane. The swelling can be awful.

There are some things you should always do on planes. Drink plenty of water and lay off the alcoholic drinks. While blood clots in the legs have not been shown to be caused by cabin conditions, they can be caused by simply sitting for long periods of time, especially with your legs crossed. Get up and walk around.

You know, I was most curious about the everyday cold. How about waking up the day of a flight with the sniffles? What do you do then? There are no absolute rules here. If you are really feeling miserable, the flight will probably make you even worse. However, actually catching a virus on a plane is no more likely than catching it at sea level in crowded conditions like a bus or office space.

As things stand now, it is up to the consumer to disclose whether he or she is too sick to fly or have a communicable disease that could put other passengers at risk. Do you think the airlines should have more specific rules about people flying with an illness?

Editor's Note: Medical news is a popular but sensitive subject rooted in science. We receive many comments on this blog each day; not all are posted. Our hope is that much will be learned from the sharing of useful information and personal experiences based on the medical and health topics of the blog. We encourage you to focus your comments on those medical and health topics and we appreciate your input. Thank you for your participation.

By Val Willingham
Medical Producer

In an effort to keep to one of my new year's resolutions, I started cleaning out my old files last weekend. Among all the bills from the '80s, I found my immunizations record. Not my daughter's but mine! It was from almost five decades ago. The card was yellow and wrinkled, but it had some interesting information. Seems I didn't have all the vaccinations I thought I had had as a baby. Luckily, I was able to call my mom and ask her about it. Yes, I had the measles vaccine. Yes, I had mumps as a child. But I was due for a tetanus shot - way overdue. And I had never had a shot for whooping cough. I felt sort of silly. I had always updated my daughter's immunizations but never thought about myself.

And I guess I'm not alone. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, most American adults know everything about their kid's vaccinations and very little about their own. Experts are asking adults, especially those over age 30, to check what immunizations they need or need to update in order to be protected against certain illnesses. "The emphasis has been on children," said Dr. William Schaffner, professor and chairman of preventive medicine and the division of infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine and an adviser to the CDC. "Also, most of the vaccines we've used have been on children. But it's a new era now. All adults need to think about protecting ourselves."

So what vaccines do we need? In our 30s and 40s getting vaccinations for hepatitis A and B and the new whooping cough vaccine is important. That's because whooping cough is back. The medical community thought that was a disease it had conquered back in the 1940s. But it has reappeared and it can affect adults.

Hepatitis A and B are illnesses that can be passed from person to person. If you travel to a lot of foreign countries, the hep A vaccine is essential. Hepatitis B is a sexually transmitted disease. Anyone who is sexually active and/or has multiple partners should get a hepatitis B vaccine.

Also women who are sexually active may want to ask about the new HPV vaccine that protects against the human papilloma virus, the primary cause of cervical cancer. At this point, it's recommended only for patients ages 11 to 26.

Also, it's a good idea for all of us to make sure we've had the MMR vaccine, which protects against measles, mumps and rubella. Catching those viruses as an adult can have serious health effects, so protect yourself.

And update your tetanus shot. You should get one every 10 years, to protect against infection in case if you get an open cut or puncture wound.

And get your flu shot. The best time is in the fall before the flu season starts. It's even more important for anyone over age 50 to get a flu shot, because as we get older, the flu can cause real problems, even death. And if you are susceptible to illness, think about getting a pneumonia vaccine.

As you reach your late 50s, ask your doctor about a shingles vaccine. Do a lot of traveling? Confirm with your doctor or check the CDC Web site to make sure you're up to date for the regions of the world you'll be visiting. It's important you keep a record of all these vaccinations, since different countries require different shots.

So check your immunization charts and get updated today. Stay healthy! Don't be like me and wait till you decide to clean out your basement.

Do you know where your immunization records are? Do you update your vaccinations? We'd like to hear about it.

Editor's Note: Medical news is a popular but sensitive subject rooted in science. We receive many comments on this blog each day; not all are posted. Our hope is that much will be learned from the sharing of useful information and personal experiences based on the medical and health topics of the blog. We encourage you to focus your comments on those medical and health topics and we appreciate your input. Thank you for your participation.

By Dr. Sanjay Gupta
Chief Medical Correspondent

Everywhere I go, people tell me "Hey Doc, I got the flu shot and I still got sick!" And, given that I do recommend the flu shot as a physician, they seem to hold me somewhat responsible. Even though I have nothing to do with actually designing the flu vaccine, I get it. And, I do feel bad. I hate seeing people sick. Truth is, this year I may get more of those comments than in years past. The flu season is getting pretty bad with 49 states now reporting widespread flu activity. No surprise given that this year's vaccine is only 40 percent effective. Let me explain.

What you may not know is that developing a flu vaccine is largely guesswork. That's right; it is more speculation than science. Last year sometime, scientists were asked to predict what strains of the flu would be most problematic this year. It's kind of like hitting a moving target, as the virus strains change constantly. The scientists typically choose three strains, two from the type A family and one from the Type B family. The flu shot you get is designed to protect you against those three strains.

For frame of reference, 16 of the last 19 years, the scientists' predictions were good ones. While those vaccines in years past were not perfect, they were between 70 percent and 90 percent effective. This year, though, they missed the mark, most specifically with that B strain, and people are getting sick.

I know it sounds crazy, but there is method behind the madness. The way vaccine production works, it takes about six months to make enough for everyone who needs the shot. If scientists and vaccine-makers waited to learn exactly which strain of virus is circulating, there wouldn't be enough time to produce the vaccine. They're working on better, faster methods, but none are ready to implement.

Plans for next year's flu vaccine have already begun, and the World Health Organization is recommending some big changes. Of course, this is of no comfort to people who are suffering right now.

So, do you have any ideas on how to better protect ourselves against the flu? Given the background on the flu vaccine, are you more or less likely to get the shot?

Editor's Note: Medical news is a popular but sensitive subject rooted in science. We receive many comments on this blog each day; not all are posted. Our hope is that much will be learned from the sharing of useful information and personal experiences based on the medical and health topics of the blog. We encourage you to focus your comments on those medical and health topics and we appreciate your input. Thank you for your participation.

By Dr. Sanjay Gupta
Chief Medical Correspondent

I had one of the most thrilling rides of my life yesterday. I was invited by the Blue Angels to ride along on an $18 million jet for about 90 minutes, flying out of Naval Air Facility El Centro, California. I approach these stories like I approach a med school exam. I studied really hard, and tried to learn everything I could about the physiology of pilots.

As is often the case, though, there is a big difference between reading about something and doing it. Now, in full disclosure, I was very worried about taking this ride. I do get sick in the back of cars, and even a little movement on a boat makes me want to toss my cookies. Things like Dramamine have worked in the past, as has ginger. They do not work, however, when you are traveling at supersonic speed in a high-performance jet. The combination of barrel rolls, quick and violent turns and super high G forces - the force of acceleration or gravity that feels like extreme pressure on your body - is not easily treated with any kind of medication.

Before the ride, the Blue Angels gave me an outstanding briefing on anything and everything about the plane. It has two engines that can each generate 16,000 pounds of thrust - and they did. It can travel 1,200 miles an hour and go as slow as 120 mph. The pilot explained to me that going slow was what made this plane unique. Any plane can go fast, but to be able to "hit the brakes" and suddenly slow down made this F18 Hornet, a special plane. It can fly inverted for quite some time, and I didn't even know planes could really do that. There also was plenty of discussion about a "bonus ride." Yep, that's the ejection seat and it can rocket you high enough in the air that even if you are ejected from the ground, you would land safely with a parachute.

There is no question that it was cool to break the sound barrier, though I didn't hear much when I did. We turned cartwheels in the sky and flew through canyons like I was playing a video game. I learned breathing techniques and exercises that help one combat G forces. Simply tensing your leg muscles and trying to stand up against the 12 point harness will force blood into the upper part of your body, including your heart and brain. Contracting your stomach muscles and saying "hick" loudly also does a good job of keeping that blood where it needs to be. From a medical standpoint, at 4G's, you will start to lose color vision, which is why it is called "graying out"; 4.5 G's and you may lose vision all together. Higher G's and your lungs start to collapse, your esophagus stretches, your stomach drops and blood pools significantly in your legs. It's hard for the human body to take, although my pilot seemed to be enjoying it and joking the whole time, sometimes at my expense.

During my flight, I topped 6 G's - six times the force of gravity. The exercise and breathing techniques that I used in training worked for the most part - except for the one time I think I passed out, only to have Lt. Frank Weisser say, "Hey doc, you awake?" I thought I was. I wasn't. And, yes I completed both P's of my Blue Angel flight. Not only did I Pass out, I did Puke. I guess burritos weren't such a good idea for breakfast.

It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and I think I will keep it that way.

Editor's Note: Medical news is a popular but sensitive subject rooted in science. We receive many comments on this blog each day; not all are posted. Our hope is that much will be learned from the sharing of useful information and personal experiences based on the medical and health topics of the blog. We encourage you to focus your comments on those medical and health topics and we appreciate your input. Thank you for your participation.

Fidel Castro resigned from power today in Cuba

By Dr. Sanjay Gupta
Chief Medical Correspondent

I have blogged about Fidel Castro in the past, most recently about his illness in July of 2006. Reporting on leaders like Castro is difficult because of the extraordinary lack of information coming from Cuba. Reporting on Castro's health took the combined efforts of our Havana bureau and Madrid bureau, including an interview with at least one doctor who examined Castro. In the end, CNN viewers probably knew more about Castro's health than the residents of Cuba. (Watch Video)

We now know Castro had at least three operations in the summer of 2006. He had diverticulitis, an inflammation of the large intestine, and that had caused bleeding in his abdominal cavity. After his first operation to remove the bleeding portion of his large intestine, he required a second operation because of complications from the first. A third operation was also required to reconstruct his intestine and open up his bile duct. Big operations for anyone - especially an 80-year-old.

He survived all of that, and there was no confirmation of cancer, which was widely initially reported. Today he resigns and his brother Raul will take over. Raul is 76, and by reports in good health. But who really knows? Reagan was 77 when he left office, the United States oldest president.

When I last blogged about it, we posted hundreds of comments. Many thought the personal health of someone, no matter how public a figure, should remain private. Others thought public citizens have the right to know about their leaders. What do you think? Does it make a difference if we can bring you such specific details about the health of Fidel Castro or his brother Raul?

Editor's Note: Medical news is a popular but sensitive subject rooted in science. We receive many comments on this blog each day; not all are posted. Our hope is that much will be learned from the sharing of useful information and personal experiences based on the medical and health topics of the blog. We encourage you to focus your comments on those medical and health topics and we appreciate your input. Thank you for your participation.

By Yvonne S. Lee
CNN Medical Producer

The late stages of cancer are brutal. I remember an ugly tangle of tubes around my grandmother's body, her desperate, humiliating struggle for each breath, her body slumped over as sweaty white skin hung off the emaciated body of this once-mighty woman.

She was the family matriarch, a woman who had fed three hungry children and a half-dozen nieces and nephews through the worst days of the Korean War. She started smoking because she was hungry. She got her first cigarettes from American soldiers stationed in Korea during the war. She said they helped her feel less ravenous.

Doctors weren't able to save her. Advanced lung cancer was hard to detect and just wasn't curable in the late 1970s. It still isn't. Only 16 percent of cases in the United States are detected in Stage 1, when tumors are still confined to the lung.

It turns out that thousands of patients in the U.S. have to endure what my grandmother did - trying to survive after their cancer is diagnosed at a late stage. But many of those people find out they have advanced cancer because they do not have health insurance - something my grandmother did have - and therefore have limited access to health care and early cancer screening.

A new American Cancer Society study published in the journal Lancet looked at 3.7 million cancer patients - the largest study of its kind - and found that uninsured and underinsured patients are twice as likely to learn about their cancer in its late stages of cancer as people who have private insurance.

When I read this, I thought about all the people who have to watch their loved ones die of cancers that could have been successfully treated had the disease been caught earlier. It seems tragic that if they'd had insurance, perhaps they would have gotten pre-screened for breast, colon and other cancers. Catching these cancers early means you're much more likely to live longer.

If colon cancer is diagnosed in Stage 1, you have a 93 percent chance of surviving five years. This drops to 8 percent if it's found at Stage 4. According to the study, uninsured people were twice as likely get their diagnosis at an advanced stage of colon cancer versus an early stage.

The statistics weren't any better for breast cancer. Women without insurance were nearly three times as likely to learn they have cancer at a later stage rather than an earlier stage. If breast cancer is diagnosed late, your chance of surviving five years goes down by 80 percent.

These are scary numbers when you consider that 47 million Americans don't have health insurance. That's 47 million people who are taking a chance, whether by circumstance or because they have no choice, that they won't become seriously ill; 47 million who may have to rely on emergency rooms if they do; 47 million who don't have the luxury of calling their family doctor to ask about a pain in their chest, or a lump in their breast. They just have to grin and bear it, or hope that it's nothing.

I think about having five more years with my grandmother. I would have asked her what it was like to live during the Japanese colonization of Korea, when she escaped with her family to China, or how she was able to feed her children during the Korean War, with only a sack of rice to get through most weeks.

For me, health insurance is not a political issue, it's a moral issue. Poverty shouldn't mean that you are more likely to die from diseases that we can treat effectively if caught early. It shouldn't mean you get less time with your kids, or grandkids - not in the richest country in the world.

Are you uninsured or on Medicaid? Was your cancer diagnosed at a later stage because you didn't have insurance? Tell us your story.


Editor's Note: Medical news is a popular but sensitive subject rooted in science. We receive many comments on this blog each day; not all are posted. Our hope is that much will be learned from the sharing of useful information and personal experiences based on the medical and health topics of the blog. We encourage you to focus your comments on those medical and health topics and we appreciate your input. Thank you for your participation.

By Val Willingham
CNN Medical News producer


When I was a little girl, I wanted to be Julie Andrews. I would run down the hill behind my home, throwing my arms in the air and screaming out the lyrics, "The hills are alive..." And I loved her in "Mary Poppins" -- flying through the air with an umbrella, dancing with penguins, jumping in and out of chalk pictures! To me, she was supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!

But now that I'm older, I have come to admire Ms. Andrews, not only for her acting, but also for her magnificent voice. I even have her as a playlist on my iPod. So it was sad when I heard she had lost it because of a surgical mishap on her vocal cords.

Although they are two of the smallest muscles in the body, vocal cords, which are also called vocal folds, do an awful lot of work. Vibrating up to 400 times a second, they create sound when we breathe through them. Yet as we age, many of us abuse our voices without even knowing it. "The voice is an instrument," says voice therapist Susan Miller. "We need to learn how to play it. Many times we don't warm it up."

The best thing for our vocal cords: Drink lots of water. Vocal cords need to be wet and relaxed to vibrate. As we age we don't produce as much saliva, and keeping our vocal cords hydrated is important. Also, cut down on the caffeine and alcohol. They can dry out your throat. .

Exercising your cords is also a good idea. Vocal folds can lose a little bit of tone -- and then they don't meet together. Try lip vibrations, or hum in the shower for a few minutes before you start your day. That keeps your vocal muscles in shape as you age.

Medication can also affect the cords. Medicines for blood pressure and heart ailments can dry the throat. Health conditions like acid reflux, common in your 40s and 50s, can really affect the voice, causing a raspiness and change in pitch. That's because during the day, acid comes up and can spill over the vocal folds.

And give your voice a rest. Professional singers or speakers, like Julie Andrews, sometimes scar their folds. She actually grew polyps on her vocal cords, requiring the surgery that robbed her of her beautiful soprano voice.

Have you noticed that your voice has changed over time?

Editor's Note: Medical news is a popular but sensitive subject rooted in science. We receive many comments on this blog each day; not all are posted. Our hope is that much will be learned from the sharing of useful information and personal experiences based on the medical and health topics of the blog. We encourage you to focus your comments on those medical and health topics and we appreciate your input. Thank you for your participation.

By Dr. Sanjay Gupta
Chief Medical Correspondent

All week long, we will be talking about the health of the president. This weekend, we will present "The First Patient" a special about this topic.

I am curious to know how important you think it is for the health of the patient to be divulged. It has always seemed amazing to me that we aren't given more information about the physical and mental health of our candidates. It is arguably one of the toughest and most important jobs in the world.

No question, the information we get today is better than in elections past. John F. Kennedy denied he had Addison's disease throughout his campaign, even though he was officially diagnosed and treated for it. Franklin D. Roosevelt was essentially a dying man when he ran for his fourth term, even though most voters didn't realize it at the time. Roosevelt's doctors didn't even tell him he was suffering from congestive heart failure.

In 1992, you may remember that Paul Tsongas was the first cancer survivor to run for office. What was not known at the time was that Tsongas had a recurrence a year before the campaign. His cancer was back again before he would've been inaugurated. So, what do we deserve to know and when should we know it?

Tsongas for his part actually asked then-president Bill Clinton to create a commission that would require all candidates to release all of their medical records. That never happened.

Last month, Sen. John McCain's campaign released a summary of his records. His staff has promised to release his full medical records should he receive the Republican nomination.

That's important because the 71 year old McCain was diagnosed more than once with malignant skin cancer and would be the oldest president in our history.

As governor of Arkansas, Mike Huckabee weighed more than 280 pounds when he was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes five years ago. Through diet and exercise, the 52-year-old Huckabee is now 110 pounds lighter and symptom free.

Sen. Hillary Clinton is 60. So far, she hasn't reported any health problems.

Sen. Barack Obama, 46, was a smoker, a habit that cuts an average of 11 years off life expectancy. Obama has told us he has quit smoking and he can often be seen chewing Nicorette gum.

Does the health of the candidate matter to you and would you vote differently based on that information?

Programming Note: Watch "The First Patient" Saturday and Sunday at 8 p.m. and 11 p.m. ET **update: due to coverage of the shootings at Northern Illinois University, "The First Patient" was pre-empted and has not yet been rescheduled. We'll keep you posted.**

Editor's Note: Medical news is a popular but sensitive subject rooted in science. We receive many comments on this blog each day; not all are posted. Our hope is that much will be learned from the sharing of useful information and personal experiences based on the medical and health topics of the blog. We encourage you to focus your comments on those medical and health topics and we appreciate your input. Thank you for your participation.

By A. Chris Gajilan
Senior Medical Producer

I simply hate exercising. There is nothing I dread more than feeling like a trapped rodent at the gym. I have never experienced that mythical "runner's high." I am confounded by people who make time to exercise every day. In truth, I kind of think marathoners and triathletes fall on the freaky side of the spectrum.

Apparently, I'm not alone. In fact, one out of four Americans doesn't exercise at all according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's latest numbers. But a growing body of research is finding the benefits of exercise are even more wide reaching than the already-exhaustive list of collateral good: improved metabolism, lower blood pressure, reduced risk of hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, cancer and osteoporosis, just to name a few.

"Exercise may be as beneficial as antidepressants for patients with moderately severe depression as well as mild depression," says James Blumenthal, a researcher and medical psychologist at Duke University. "Without a doubt, exercise is directly associated with improved quality of life and self-satisfaction."

Blumenthal's team recently published a study in the journal Psychosomatic Medicine comparing the effects of exercise with antidepressants in the treatment of major depressive disorder. The researchers took 202 depressed adults and separated them into four groups: group exercise; home-based exercise; antidepressants alone; or placebo pill. The antidepressant used was the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor sertraline (brand: Zoloft, Lustral).

The team's findings: Exercise may be just as useful as a pill in some, but not all cases. (It's also noteworthy that those who exercised in a group fared better than those who exercised at home alone.)

Blumenthal emphasizes, "We're not saying to stop taking antidepressants, but you can consider exercise as a viable option."

If you're asking why exercise has such a sweeping effect on depression and health overall, just look at the groundbreaking research in the field of neuroscience. Study after study details how exercise can actually change the structure and function of your brain.

Arthur Kramer, a professor of neuroscience at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, found a 15 percent improvement in memory and attention in older people who walked just three days a week for six months.

In fact, several studies have shown that fitness is related to increases in the brain's gray matter and white matter. To be clearer, exercise can help you create new brain cells, thereby improving memory at any age. The dramatic effect can be attributed in part to neuroplasticity, the brain's ability to adjust and adapt. "When someone practices something over and over again, the structure of the brain actually changes," says Richard Keefe, a Duke University sport psychologist. "Synapses and neurons connect with one another and brain substances fortify the connection. Neurons that fire together, wire together."

Just in case you're wondering whether I manage to get past my hatred for exercise, I do. Sometimes. I've found that working out with a friend or family member - and adding a little friendly competition works for me. What works for you?

Editor's Note: Medical news is a popular but sensitive subject rooted in science. We receive many comments on this blog each day; not all are posted. Our hope is that much will be learned from the sharing of useful information and personal experiences based on the medical and health topics of the blog. We encourage you to focus your comments on those medical and health topics and we appreciate your input. Thank you for your participation.

By Miriam Falco
Managing Editor Medical News

Ever since the 2008 presidential campaign shifted into high gear last year, CNN Medical News has been taking a closer look at some of the problems in our health-care system. In our documentary "Broken Government: Health Care -- Critical Condition," which made its debut last week, Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta investigated problems with America's health care system. The program will be rebroadcast this weekend, Saturday and Sunday at 6 a.m. ET on CNN in the U.S.

The World Health Organization ranks France as having the No. 1 health-care system in the world. So last month I spent a couple of days in Paris, to catch a glimpse of how French health care works. This certainly doesn't make me an expert. But it was a very interesting experience.

Everybody in France has to have health insurance. If you can't afford it, the government helps you pay for it. If you lose your job, you don't lose your health insurance. (watch video)

I focused on the costs of having a baby in France, as an example of how it's covered by health insurance.

Dr. Laurent Mandelbrot heads the obstetrics department at Louis Mourier Hospital in Colombes, a suburb of Paris. He explained to me that in France, all prenatal care from the fifth month of pregnancy until the baby is 1 month old is free. New moms also stay in the hospital for at least four days, long enough to learn how to take care of their baby, get used to breastfeeding, get some rest. Mandelbrot says this allows doctors to detect problems early, when they might be resolved. "If people don't have access to care and it's too late (to catch a problem), that costs a lot more and it's just a terrible cost in terms of sick babies and maternal complications," Mandelbrot said.

I also met a social worker at the same hospital, Elodie Cadier-Dervaux. Her main job is to help expectant moms navigate the system, to ensure that all her medical costs are taken care of. Another part of her job is to make sure the expectant mom is taking care of herself, getting proper nutrition, vitamins etc.

Knowing that families in the U.S. can fall into serious debt if their baby is very ill at birth and their insurance doesn't cover as much as they thought it would, I wanted to get an idea of how much a family in France might pay in a similar situation.

When I met the director of France's national health insurance organization, Frederic Van Roekeghem, I gave him a hypothetical scenario: Baby is born with a serious problem, perhaps a heart defect. Baby needs surgery and has to spend a month in a neonatal intensive care unit, how much would that cost? Van Roekeghem told me the total costs would be about 30,000 to 40,000 Euros - but the parents would only pay 18 Euros. Even without doing the math (18 Euros = approx. $26), I knew that was a very low amount, but I asked him again because I thought I had misheard his answer. I think it amused him, but he repeated - 18 Euros.

It's hard to imagine that France's system could be duplicated in the U.S. - it's costly and people do pay a lot for it - approximately 21 percent of their salary goes to their version of social security, which includes mandatory health insurance, supplemental health insurance and retirement benefits. But judging by the folks I met in France, having access to health care for everyone is something they don't want to do without.

Do you think our health care system needs to be fixed? Do you think everyone in the U.S. should/must have health insurance?




Editor's Note: Medical news is a popular but sensitive subject rooted in science. We receive many comments on this blog each day; not all are posted. Our hope is that much will be learned from the sharing of useful information and personal experiences based on the medical and health topics of the blog. We encourage you to focus your comments on those medical and health topics and we appreciate your input. Thank you for your participation.

By Miriam Falco
Managing Editor Medical News

Ever since we learned of Heath Ledger's sudden death on January 22, the question of what killed him loomed large (at least in the news media). Just a couple of days after, New York's Police Commissioner Ray Kelly announced that no illegal drugs had been found in Ledger's apartment, but two unnamed law enforcement officials told the Associated Press that six types of prescription drugs were found.

Yesterday the New York City medical examiner released the final autopsy report. Cause of death: a combination of six prescription drugs. Ledger "died as the result of acute intoxication by the combined effects of oxycodone, hydrocodone, diazepam, temazepam, alprazolam, and doxylamine."

A spokesperson for the medical examiner tells us that none of these drugs - two sleep medications, two anti-anxiety drugs and two narcotic painkillers - was taken in excess. Still, the ME ruled this accidental death resulted "from the abuse of prescription medications." And sadly, Ledger is only the latest celebrity to die after mixing prescription meds. Tomorrow is the first anniversary of Anna Nicole Smith's death.

But experts from addiction specialists to pathologists point out that prescription abuse is hardly limited to celebrities. In fact, within an hour of the report's release, two acquaintances told me they had some or all of those drugs in their medicine cabinets, left over from previous prescriptions.

Many people may not realize that mixed together, sleep aids, anti-anxiety drugs, antidepressants and narcotic painkillers can be lethal. In Ledger's case, we're told the combination of drugs probably caused his central nervous system to slow down so much that his heart stopped beating and lungs stopped breathing and he never woke up. It's hard to imagine that any doctor would prescribe all six of these drugs to the same patient, but nowadays it's not difficult to obtain prescriptions from several different doctors. Unless you tell your doctor what other drugs you're taking, it's difficult for him or her to anticipate potential complications.

Some use prescription drugs to get high because they are so widely available, and much easier to get than illegal drugs such as cocaine and heroin. And many parents may not know that among teens, prescription drug abuse ranks ahead of all illegal drugs except for marijuana according to a report by the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy released two days after Ledger's death. The agency noted that, "Teens are abusing prescription drugs because many believe the myth that these drugs provide a 'safe' high." That may be a common misconception among the young and the old. Even though a drug may be prescribed by a physician, taking it in the wrong way or in excess can be deadly.

Concern for prescription drug abuse has led the drug control policy agency to participate in a $30 million ad campaign to raise awareness about the problem. The launch was delayed in light of Ledger's death (the White House didn't want to appear to "opportunistic," according to spokeswoman Dana Perino), but if you watched the Super Bowl, you may have seen the commercial showing a drug dealer complaining that he can't compete with kids getting their drugs for free out of their parents' medicine cabinets.

Many, including Ledger's parents, hope that lessons will be learned from this tragedy. In a statement, the family said, "Heath's accidental death serves as a caution to the hidden dangers of combining prescription medication, even at low dosage."

Were you surprised that too many prescription drugs led to Health Ledger's death? Were you aware of the risks of combining multiple prescription drugs?

Editor's Note: Medical news is a popular but sensitive subject rooted in science. We receive many comments on this blog each day; not all are posted. Our hope is that much will be learned from the sharing of useful information and personal experiences based on the medical and health topics of the blog. We encourage you to focus your comments on those medical and health topics and we appreciate your input. Thank you for your participation.

Tangia Boyd stands on the balance platform

By Val Willingham
Medical Producer

Tangia Boyd loves high heels. A confessed shoe fanatic, she's the Carrie Bradshaw of Temple University. So when she was asked to participate in a balance study through Temple's Physical Therapy Department, she thought she'd get to wear a new pair of stilettos. Instead she wound up barefoot, standing on a moving platform, wearing 3-D glasses and strapped to a harness. Sounds more like an amusement park ride than an experiment. But Temple is using a virtual environment to see how and why people recover when they're thrown off balance.

Surrounded by moving screens, the Temple lab is set up to see how the central nervous system handles movement in a natural setting. That's because all our senses help keep us balanced. When there's a change, it can knock us off stride. "If you have an impairment in the sensation of your limbs, your balance will become impaired," said Dr. Emily Keshner, director of the project. "If you lose your inner-ear sensors, your balance is impaired."

More than 6 million people in this country suffer from chronic dizziness or imbalance, and those numbers are expected to grow as our population gets older. As we age, our balance can be affected. Minor injuries can play a big role in balance control. Athletes will favor one side of their bodies if they've hurt a foot or leg and begin to lose their stability. Also good posture is crucial in keeping your balance. Yoga and tai chi can help correct balance at any age. Keshner says these methods "are actually good in two ways. One, they'll strengthen you, but two they also make you pay more attention to the input you are getting from your limbs."

As we get older, our senses begin to change. Our hearing isn't as good, our eyesight may need to be corrected, so by keeping senses intact, balance problems can be avoided. And getting plenty of sleep makes a difference. Being alert helps. Keshner says that's because, "A lot of times, there are so many things going around us, we can't always pay attention to everything that is happening. It becomes a processing problem."

With data from this project, Keshner and her researchers hope to develop tools that can help people, especially stroke victims and those with brain disorders, keep their balance even as they age.

As for Tangia Boyd, she stayed upright on the platform, even though it left her "a little dizzy". At age 42 she's still walking a straight line, which makes it easier for her to get around in her new as Jimmy Choos. Do you have a problem with balance? Tell us how you handle it.

Editor's Note: Medical news is a popular but sensitive subject rooted in science. We receive many comments on this blog each day; not all are posted. Our hope is that much will be learned from the sharing of useful information and personal experiences based on the medical and health topics of the blog. We encourage you to focus your comments on those medical and health topics and we appreciate your input. Thank you for your participation.

By Dr. Sanjay Gupta
Chief Medical Correspondent

I am sure many of you watched the debate last night and noticed that the first 40 minutes (of a 90-minute debate) were all about health care. As a member of the audience, I saw both Senators Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton talk about how similar their plans were and the differences as well. As I blogged yesterday, there are some distinctions, which are important for you, the voter, to know.

What you may not know is that there was a recent proposal here in California to create a universal health care plan for all Californians. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, a Republican, along with members of the state Senate had put forward ABX1, which would create a system of universal coverage. Just this week, it was overwhelmingly voted down in the senate health committee by a vote of 7-1.

I find it interesting the two states that put forward concrete universal health care plans, a core Democratic issue, were both led by Republican governors - Mitt Romney in Massachusetts and Schwarzenegger in California. I also wonder if the members of the Senate Health Committee in California looked at the successes and failures of the Massachusetts plans before voting their own plan down. While more people than ever are covered in Massachusetts, the cost overruns have been more than $400 million.

So, here is the question. Looking at these two states, does their history make the argument that universal health care cannot be achieved in the United States or that it can be achieved, but only at the national level? What do you think we have learned about the country from looking at these two states?

Programming note: Watch "Broken Government: Health Care - Critical Condition" Sunday night at 11 ET on CNN.

Editor's Note: Medical news is a popular but sensitive subject rooted in science. We receive many comments on this blog each day; not all are posted. Our hope is that much will be learned from the sharing of useful information and personal experiences based on the medical and health topics of the blog. We encourage you to focus your comments on those medical and health topics and we appreciate your input. Thank you for your participation.