Thursday, May 17, 2012
East Meadow's doctor takes a closer look.
This week the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a report on the long term use of biphosponates-the main class of drugs prescribed to treat osteoporosis. Sold under various brand names (i.e. Fosamax, Boniva and Reclast) these medications are given at the time of diagnosis, but whether therapy should be indefinite or time limited is not clear. Osteoporosis, or “thinning of the bones” is a major health threat to millions of Americans. The prevalence of disease increases with age, particularly in women who have gone thru the menopause and have lost the hormonal environment that helps maintain bone health during their first decades of life. The main threat from the condition is fracture of the bones-hip, vertebral (back bone) and …
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
It takes a lot of hard work and dedication to give the kids the true attention they deserve.
- OPINION
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Wednesday, May 16
Dear Editor, The parents of the fifth grade East Meadow PAL Lacrosse team would like to acknowledge the outstanding dedication of our coaches. For the third year in a row, our boys have had the unique experience of being the only PAL team coached by current and former members of the high school LAX team. Head coach James Skinner and Rick Piket (EMHS alumni), along with Nicholas Marinello, Lenny Volpe and Collin Skinner (current EMHS students and varsity lacrosse players) volunteer their time to teach these young boys the basic mechanics of lacrosse as well as help build their self-esteem and character. The coaches go to school, work, play lacrosse and also fit in time to coach three days a week. These young men work to instill …
Thursday, May 10, 2012
A new option could make a major difference for those in need.
Likes/dislikes? Favorite music? Organ donor status? This week Facebook announced an initiative, which, if successful, could have a major impact upon the availability of organs for the 113,000 Americans currently waiting for organ transplants. The company will offer its 900 million users the ability to indicate on their profile whether or not they would want to be an organ donor. It is hoped that the public discourse arising from this plan will lead to a greater awareness of the need for organs and more discussion among families regarding personal choices. Although many states use motor vehicle registration or licensing as a venue to encourage donation, the Facebook option may be a real game changer, with theoretically millions of people …
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
A letter to the editor from the President of the Long Island Federation of Labor.
The following is from John R. Durso, President of the Long Island Federation of Labor: It is the bedrock of American democracy that every citizen's vote carries equal importance. Whether or not one's vote truly finds expression in the final count is largely impacted by redistricting, a process we go through every 10 years. While the subject typically fails to garner much public attention, insiders know there's a lot at stake. The way that voters are segregated into districts has an enormous influence on who our representatives are, and can ultimately shape public policies for the next decade. Historically, the task of redrawing district lines has been left to the hands of the very politicians whose political futures will be impacted. Too …
Monday, May 7, 2012
Losing weight is not about eliminating food...it's about embracing it.
When I first got started on this weight loss adventure, I was under the impression that I needed to keep food out of my mind…but that couldn’t be any further from the truth. Since I have been doing better, I think about food more than ever. This is my new lifestyle, and I need to get used to it. I am approaching my choices differently, and I think that is helping me in the long run. For example, I look forward to trips to the supermarket. Now, I don’t like how much it costs at the end, but I love the decision-making aspect of it. Recently, I was at Stop and Shop in Bellmore, and I came across Almond Milk. I had never tried it before. In a cup, it only had 60 calories, which is about 50 less than the one percent milk I usually have with …
Thursday, May 3, 2012
A recent study shows that the drug's effect is not as substantial as initially desired.
The efficacy of Botox as a treatment for migraine headaches was called into question this week in an article in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Approved for therapy of chronic migraine headaches in 2010 after a number of patients reported headache relief subsequent to Botox injection for wrinkles, the treatment had been the subject of multiple previous studies, and is a multimillion dollar health care expense on an annual basis. In the new study, authors reviewed the previous scientific literature and analyzed their combined results. Migraine headaches affect 15 percent of people in the United States. They are usually deep and throbbing in nature, and worsened by light, movement and straining. Although classically …
Thursday, April 26, 2012
This can happen to anybody, regardless of age.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a common form of anxiety which occurs as a consequence of living through a traumatic, dangerous or emotional experience. Such experiences may include military combat, serious illness, violent physical or sexual attacks or natural disasters. The condition is characterized by re-experiencing the traumatic event through flashbacks and dreams, avoiding reminders of the trauma, and “hyper arousal” symptoms (being easily startled, feeling on edge, and having difficulties with sleep). It is natural and normal to have some of these symptoms for a short time after a significant event; PTSD is characterized by symptom persistence and intensity. PTSD can be seen at any age, although the manifestations may …
Point Lookout resident Donna Pisacano Brown remembers those lost during National Crime Victims' Rights Week.
- OPINION
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Thursday, April 26
Dear Editor: As I write this, I write with my heart in honor of National Crime Victims' Rights Week. A heart that knows first hand, what it feels like to have a loved one killed, as well as injured, as a result of a DWI related crash. A heart, that through a local Long Island organization, has connected with the hearts of all too many others who share the same anguish in knowing first hand, the reality of living with such a horrific and senseless loss. Loss that continues to plague our society with ongoing destruction. Destruction, which is PREVENTABLE and the reason that I, among all so many, continue to stand up and speak out loud on this issue. How on April 22, 2012, in honor of National Crime Victims' Rights Week, a small group of …
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
One resident weighs in on recent developments in the local area.
Dear Editor, I have lived in East Meadow for more than 30 years and in the past five years I have seen the area around Hempstead Turnpike turn into a real dump with empty stores, homeless people and panhandlers. I have always paid my taxes and expect that this entire strip be cleaned up or, even better, widen the turnpike and get all of the bars and other sordid stores off the road. This guy Cruz is a typical example of trash. The tattoo around his neck is a dead giveaway. He probably belongs to a gang. I am friendly with Gary Hudes and Norma Gonzalez and have made my position very clear. Get the trash off the road or else East Meadow will wind up like East New York, Brooklyn. Establish a group like the Guardian Angels and have them patrol…
Monday, April 23, 2012
Every day is not going to be as easy to eat the right thing as the one before.
As I write this column, I am pretty happy about my progress, as I weigh 241, a loss of 64 pounds since Jan. 1. Over these few months, I would be lying if I said that every day was easy, because it isn't. While choices have certainly improved, not all cravings go away, and because we're humans and make mistakes, sometimes we succumb to these temptations. What's my weakness? I have a few. A big thing I missed was bagels. They are loaded with carbs, and I have pretty much switched to wraps when I have bread. Instead of the bagel I used to have with my over easy eggs, I now load up my egg white omelet with vegetables and non-fat cheese to give it a little bit of gusto. The day before Easter, there was one bagel left, and it went missing. My …
Patti Rau
6:52 pm on Friday, May 18, 2012
I can't say enough about the coaches of the 5th grade PAL team. As Nicole stated, unlike other teams, these high school/and college students take on ALL of the responsibilites normally tended to by the adult coaches, and do so without question or complaints. When my son started playing with these coaches in third grade, he as well as many other members of the team, had never even held a lacrosse … more ›