Caffeine Test

Nasty side effects from drinking too many energy drinks are causing a sharp increase in the number of visits to emergency rooms across the country.

A federal report released last month from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration showed that the number of emergency visits involving energy drinks increased more than tenfold between 2005 and 2009.

Public health officials in Kansas are taking note of the dangers of highly caffeinated drinks. The Poison Control Center at Kansas University receives calls from throughout the state about energy drinks.

“Mostly it’s from concerned parents. The kids are drinking these like sodas. It’s becoming part of their daily routine. And it’s stressing the heart out every time they are doing it,” said Tama Sawyer, director of the poison control center.

Too much caffeine causes the heart to beat faster and stronger, raises blood pressure and causes insomnia. Other side effects are headaches and a jittery feeling that turns to more severe anxiety.

“Many people who use energy drinks are in their teens and 20s, and they don’t think they are in danger until something happens, and then they go to the emergency room,” Sawyer said.

The research, which was reported in the Drug Abuse Warning Network, noted that a can or bottle of an energy drink can have between 80 to 500 milligrams of caffeine. That’s compared with a 5-ounce cup of coffee, which has about 100 mg, or a 12-ounce can of soda, which has 50 mg. The report also noted that certain additives (and the most popular brands have quite a few) may compound the stimulant effects of caffeine.

“The listing of caffeine doesn’t seem so bad, but it’s not giving you the full story,” Sawyer said. “It can be more like three cups of coffee per can.”

Too much caffeine

For young adults drinking several energy drinks a day, the caffeine can add up.

The report noted that most researchers and clinicians consider 100 to 200 mg of caffeine per day to be a moderate intake for adults. And they recommend that children and adolescents abstain from all stimulant-containing energy drinks.

Chad Steele knows that too much caffeine can come with some pretty serious side effects. In 2008, when he was a senior at Kansas University, he was drinking two to three energy drinks a day plus a couple of pots of coffee. All that caffeine helped him keep up with a busy schedule; he worked at night, attended school during the day and taught judo.

He knew he had too much caffeine when his eyes started twitching or when his heart began to beat irregularly or too fast while exercising. “I’d stop drinking caffeine and sleep more,” he said and noted he has since stopped drinking energy drinks.

Janice Early, spokeswoman with Lawrence Memorial Hospital, said LMH doesn’t have any data on people coming to the ER with energy-drink-related symptoms, and she doesn’t think it’s a huge problem here.

Alcohol, drugs and energy drinks

Jenny Donham, a health educator at Kansas University, said students are often taken aback when they hear about the negative side effects of too many energy drinks.

“I think people are extraordinarily surprised because they figure if they can order a Red Bull and vodka together that of course it would be safe for them,” Donham said. “If it’s available to them, why can’t they have it?”

The federal study showed that for 44 percent of the emergency department visits, the energy drink was mixed with a pharmaceutical drug, alcohol or an illicit drug, such as marijuana or cocaine.

It also noted that younger drinkers believed that energy drinks could help “undo” the effects of alcohol, making it safe to drive.

The problem with combining energy drinks and alcohol is that the two are on opposite ends of the spectrum. One is a stimulant while the other is a depressant, Donham said.

The energy drink masks signs the body gives off when someone is drinking too much, such as getting sleepy or sick.

“People are using energy drinks as a way to stay awake longer, so they are more likely to drink more, and they are at a greater risk for acute alcohol poisoning,” Donham said.

Even without alcohol, students have to be wary of energy drinks this time of year as they stay up late cramming for finals, Donham said. While energy drinks might make it easier to stay awake, Donham said that without sleep the information isn’t likely to stick.

“You don’t learn the information until you memorize it. And when that memorization occurs is during the sleep cycle,” she said.

The federal study ended the report by noting the need for a public awareness campaign about the health effects of energy drinks, especially when they are combined with alcohol or drugs.

By Christine Metz

Comedian Lee Kyung-kyu
Lees revelation came as a surprise not only for the viewers, but to his colleagues on the show, as it was hard to imagine a depressed man from the funny, active comedian on TV.

An anxiety disorder characterized by recurring severe panic attacks, panic disorder is a form of psychological illness that many celebrities suffer from, including actors Cha Tae-hyun, Ha Yu-mi and Kim Ha-neul, as well as singers Kim Jang-hoon and Ha Dong-kyun.

Panic attacks can also include significant behavioral change lasting at least a month, according to a medical encyclopedia. A sufferer of the disease may become stressed and anxious as he or she cannot predict when the next panic attack will occur.

Symptoms that usually occur for about a minute may include lightheadedness, blurred vision, dizziness, shortness of breath, increased heart rate, perspiration and body tensing.

Stress, a lack of sleep and too much caffeine or alcohol are known to be some of the main causes of attacks, making celebrities more vulnerable to the illness, medical experts say.

Panic disorder is not an illness that can be cured with ones will. It is important to take prescriptions and a doctors advice as Lee has done, said psychiatrist Pyo Jin-in on his Twitter account.

Dr. Kim Bum-jo of Samsung Happymind Psychiatric Clinic said panic attacks can only be fully cured via long-term treatment.

The disorder can easily reoccur, he said. One needs to take medication from six months up to one year to prevent reoccurrence of the attacks.

According to a recent study by Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, up to 14 percent of Koreas 49 million people experience a panic attack at least once in a lifetime with about 406,000 people currently fighting the disorder. Females are two to three times more vulnerable to the illness compared to men, the study also showed.

Although one cannot die from panic attacks, they can be a scary experience due to the similarities with a heart attack, medical experts say.

Most food and drinks can be enjoyed without the need to feel guilty. Our favourites can usually be incorporated into our diets without sacrificing health so long as moderation rules the day. Nearly anything we consume has a benefit as well as a risk, and excessive consumption of anything should be avoided. But enjoying at least a bit of what you like the most is a good thing.

COFFEE AND THE FACTS

The truth about coffee surprises many people. You may have read reports that coffee can exacerbate or increase the risk of serious problems such as breast cancer, high cholesterol and heart disease. But that doesnt necessarily mean you have to deny yourself a favourite drink. By adopting a sensible approach and following some logical rules of thumb, theres little reason why you cant enjoy one or two daily cups of coffee.

Surprisingly, and despite the negative hype, coffee can actually be beneficial to health while complementing an active lifestyle. In limited amounts, coffees potent ingredient, caffeine, is a good energy booster; a cup prior to a workout can increase your endurance and help you run a little faster or pedal a bit longer than you might have otherwise. Besides helping you gear up for the gym, caffeine also helps ease post-workout muscle pain.

Coffee in moderate amounts can be beneficial in other ways. It is known to help reduce the effects of gallstones and Parkinsons disease, as well as reducing the risk of diabetes. So you need not feel guilty about your morning pick-me-up.

EARLIER AND IN MODERATION

As with all food and drinks, its important to enjoy coffee in moderation. The amount and time of day you consume caffeine are important when it comes to its health implications. Too much caffeine is linked with insomnia, palpitations and anxiety. In a particularly sensitive person, it has the ability to cause an irregular heartbeat.

Its worth remembering that caffeine stays in the blood stream for much longer than you might imagine. Even though you may only feel the buzz for a couple of hours, caffeine stays in the blood stream for about eight to 15 hours. If youre prone to stress or sleep problems, its best avoided, particularly from the afternoon onwards.

But if you simply have to have your caffeine fix, a good rule of thumb is to drink no more than 200mg of caffeine, the amount contained in about two cups of coffee, and to avoid drinking caffeinated drinks late in the day; otherwise you may be over-stimulated and have trouble winding down and falling asleep at night.

HEALTHIER CHOICES

The most health-conscious way to enjoy coffee is to drink it black; its the sugars, syrups, milks and creams that make it unhealthy and add a lot of calories. Far from being a good source of calcium, dairy products including milk and cream actually strip calcium from bones, while sugar promotes obesity and numerous other health problems.

While caffeine is sometimes portrayed as unhealthy, that doesnt mean that decaffeinated coffee is the healthier option. One concern about decaf is related to chemicals _ especially methylene chloride and ethyl acetate _ used in the caffeine-removal process for some coffees. Though the amount of chemical residue left in the coffee is fairly minimal, these chemicals are the source of some health concerns, so regular coffee with caffeine is generally the better, more natural choice.

How coffee is prepared can also affect your health. If youre partial to brewing your coffee by the filter method, bear in mind that filters made from unbleached paper do a better job of filtering out cafestol and kahweol, two chemicals that have been linked to higher cholesterol levels.

TWO RULES

Whether youre an everyday drinker or just enjoy a cup every once in a while, remember these rules of thumb: Coffee is better and healthier the closer its served to its natural state, without cream or sugar. And sticking to a limit of one or two cups a day will allow you to enjoy coffees beneficial properties without jeopardising your good health.

Wanviput Sanphasitvong, MD, Vitallife Wellness Centre at Bumrungrad International

My known allergies are to oysters, penicillin and sanctimony. But if theres one thing I know to be true about challenges, its that the truly unexpected ones need to be met in truly unexpected ways. For me, that means that sleepytime is over and that Ive tapped certain reservoirs that no longer have anything to give me.

Once you get over the hump of feeling lousy about them, health challenges are a great opportunity to examine the implications and patterns of your consumption on every level — and to try to recalibrate it in ways that are more sustainable, provided you want to stick around.

Theres no reason why these opportunities cannot bring us pleasure, as well. Its even easier to derive pleasure from something whose benefits are easy to perceive. Im a known degenerate when it comes to water consumption, but if I can remember to cut caffeine and drink huge amounts of herbal tea, Im a happier person. Why I still need to remind myself of this on a daily basis after a lifelong issue with it is just another sign of how far common sense lags behind the heels of my impulses. I also drink way too much caffeine, and I hate exercise.

Statistically, nearly half of us made resolutions we were serious about at the start of the new year. Its natural for motivation to come and go, but commitments dont happen by accident. Some of the most successful strategies for sticking to resolutions include documenting them, sharing them and declaring them. Research shows that people who take the time to think about specific resolutions – and then make them official – are 10 times more likely to reach their goals than those who are more attracted to change.

Next page

News 12 at 6 oclock / Thursday, Dec. 29, 2011

AUGUSTA, Ga. — Champagne, beer, vodka. Theyre all different choices that could yield the same result, especially if you have as many drinks as there are choices of drinks.

Everyone seems to have their own hangover cure — like drink pickle juice — or a Bloody Mary. Some swear Waffle House is a good bet. But experts say, none of the above.

Pranav Patel manages Harrisons Liquor Store in Augusta, and over the years — hes heard it all when it comes to hang-overs.

Make sure you eat plenty of food before you start drinking and dont mix two different alcohols together, Patel said.

And those are the ones he says actually work.

But Augusta alcohol distributor, Willie Meicei, isnt sold on any of them.

The only thing I know for sure is that all of them Ive heard, they never seem to work, Meicei told News 12.

So, we caught up with Johanna Whisenhunt at Doctors Hospital to get the best advice for avoiding that unfortunate New Years Day tradition for a lot of people.

As dieticians always say, moderation is the key, Whisenhunt said.

And that means only a couple of drinks in a day. But if you break that rule, there are some things that could help.

I would definitely recommend having at least some sort of snack, heavy hors doeuvres at the party while youre having drinks, Whisenhunt said. If you can, alternate having an alcoholic drink with a non-alcoholic one.

As for those over the counter medicines that claim to prevent hangovers, Whisenhunt says they might do more harm than good.

It is possible to have toxicity with vitamins, too, she said. We think of them as healthy, but too much of a good thing, isnt necessarily good for you.

Some of those drugs like Hangover Cure, come packed with 20,000% of your daily vitamin intake, and they can have a ton of caffeine, which Whisenhunt says is no good for a hangover.

If you drink too much caffeine the next day, it could actually make the problem worse because the alcohol is dehydrating you in the first place, she said.

So your best bet to avoid a hangover?

Whisenhunt says not to drink in the first place, but liquor store owners and distributors arent counting on that.

Time really is the only cure, but here are some dos and donts to help you through a morning after a night of too much fun:

DOs:
-Drink plenty of water.
-Get lots of sleep.
-Eat a light meal.

DONTs:
-Dont try to sweat it out, your body is already dehydrated.
-Dont take Ibuprofen or Aspirin because it may cause your stomach to bleed if youre a regular drinker.
Dont eat greasy foods.
-Dont have another drink the morning after, it will just delay your hangover.

Have information or an opinion about this story? Click here to contact the newsroom.

Copyright WRDW-TV News 12. All rights reserved. This material may not be republished without express written permission.

Piles are hemorrhoids that become inflamed. Hemorrhoids are masses, clumps, cushions of tissue in the anal canal – they are full of blood vessels, support tissue, muscle and elastic fibers. Although hemorrhoids are thought of as unpleasant inflammations, we all have them. It is when the hemorrhoidal cushions become too big (inflamed) that people have problems – when this happens they are called piles or pathological hemorrhoids. Put simply, piles are the swollen ones that cause pain and problems, hemorrhoids can refer to the swollen ones (pathological hemorrhoids) or just the normal structure. However, in most cases these days, piles and hemorrhoids have virtually the same meaning.

Piles can be of various sizes and can be internal ones (inside the anus) or external ones (outside the anus). Typically, internal piles occur from 2 to 4cm above the opening of the anus. External piles (perianal hematoma) occur on the outside edge of the anus. The internal ones are much more common.

According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), USA, symptomatic hemorrhoids affect at least half the US population at some time in their lives, and approximately 5% of all adults have piles at any given time.

According to the National Health Service (NHS, UK), piles affect between 4% to 25% of the UK adult population. They are more common among adults aged between 45 and 65 years, as well as pregnant females.

Males and females are equally susceptible to developing hemorrhoids.

In the vast majority of cases, piles are effectively treated with OTC medications, a good fluid intake, and by following a diet high in fiber. In severe cases the piles may have to be surgically removed. Approximately 10% of patients who go and see their doctor about piles eventually have to undergo surgery.

According to Medilexicons medical dictionary:

Hemorrhoids are A varicose condition of the external hemorrhoidal veins causing painful swellings at the anus.

Internal Hemorrhoids are Dilated veins beneath the mucous membrane within the sphincter.

External Hemorrhoids are dilated veins forming tumors at the outer side of the external sphincter.

Schematic demonstrating the anatomy of hemorrhoids

What are the signs and symptoms of piles?
A symptom is something the patient feels and describes, such as a pain, while a sign is something everybody can see, such as a rash.

In most cases piles are not serious and go away on their own after a few days. In fact, a considerable number of people with hemorrhoids do not experience any symptoms and do not even know they have them.

An individual with piles may experience the following symptoms:

• A hard lump may be felt around the anus. It consists of coagulated blood, called a thrombosed external hemorrhoid. This can be extremely painful
• After going to the toilet, a feeling that the bowels are still full
• Bright red blood when doing a bowel movement
• Itchiness in the anus area
• Mucus discharge when emptying the bowels
• Pain while defecating
• The anus area may be red and sore
• When passing a stool the person may strain excessively

Internal hemorrhoids – they are classified into four grades:

• Grade 1 – there are small inflammations, usually inside the lining of the anus. They are not visible.
• Grade 2 – larger than Grade 1 hemorrhoids, and also inside the anus. When passing a stool they may get pushed out, but soon return.
• Grade 3 – often called prolapsed hemorrhoids; these appear outside the anus. The patient may feel them hanging out. They can be pushed back in if the patient presses with his/her finger.
• Grade 4 – these cannot be pushed back in and need to be treated by a doctor. They are large and stay outside the anus all the time.

External hemorrhoids – called perianal hematoma. These are small lumps that are located on the outside edge of the anus. They are extremely itchy and can be painful if a blood clot forms inside (thrombosed external hemorrhoid). Thrombosed external hemorrhoid requires medical treatment straight away.
Why do piles occur?
The blood vessels around the anus and in the rectum will stretch under pressure and may swell or bulge. Inflamed veins (hemorrhoids) can develop when pressure increases in the lower rectum. This may be due to:

• Anal intercourse
• Chronic constipation
• Chronic diarrhea
• Lifting heavy weights regularly
• Obesity/overweight
• Pregnancy
• Sitting on the toilet for too long
• Straining when passing a stool

The tendency to develop hemorrhoids may also be inherited.

The risk of developing piles also grows with age.
Diagnosing piles
A qualified doctor can usually diagnose piles fairly rapidly after carrying out a physical examination. He/she will examine the patients anus for swollen veins.

The doctor may ask the following questions:

• Do any close relatives (parents, siblings) have piles?
• Has there been any blood on the stools?
• Has there been any mucus on the stools?
• Has there been any recent weight loss?
• Have bowel movements changed recently?
• What color are the stools?

Internal hemorrhoids – the doctor may perform a DRE (digital rectal exam). The doctor may use a proctoscope – a hollow tube fitted with a light. The proctoscope allows the doctor to see the anal canal and take a small tissue sample from inside the rectum, which can be sent to the lab for analysis.

If the physician is presented with signs and symptoms which may suggest another digestive system disease, risk factors for colorectal cancer, and some other factors, he/she may recommend ordering an examination of the colon using colonoscopy.
What are the treatment options for piles?
In the majority of cases, piles resolve on their own without the need for any treatment. Treatments can help significantly reduce the discomfort and itching that many patients experience.

A good doctor will initially recommend some lifestyle changes.

Diet – piles can be caused by too much straining when doing bowel movements, which is the result of constipation. A change in diet can help keep the stools regular and soft. This involves eating more fiber, such as fruit and vegetables, or even switching your cereal breakfast to bran.

Water is the best drink, and the patient may be advised to increase his/her water consumption. Some experts say too much caffeine is not good.

Body weight – if the patient is obese, losing weight may help reduce the incidence and severity of hemorrhoids.

Simple things you can do yourself:

• Try not to strain when you go to the toilet
• Use moist toilet paper instead of dry
• Rather than rubbing the anus area when cleaning after going to the toilet, pat instead to avoid irritation if you already have piles

Ointments, creams, pads and other OTC medications – there are some over-the-counter (OTC) medications which help soothe the redness and swelling around the anus area. Some of them contain witch hazel, hydrocortisone, or some other active ingredient which can relieve symptoms of itching and pain.

It is important to remember that they do not cure piles, they only treat the symptoms. Do not use them for more than seven consecutive days – longer periods may irritate the anus area and cause skin thinning. Unless advised to by your doctor, do not use two or more medications simultaneously.

Corticosteroids – these can reduce inflammation. However, usage must not exceed about six to seven days.

Painkillers – ask your pharmacist for suitable painkilling medications, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol, paracetamol).

Laxatives – the doctor may prescribe one if the patient suffers from constipation.

Banding – the doctor places an elastic band around the base of the pile inside the anus, cutting its blood supply. After a few days the hemorrhoids fall off. This can work for Grades 2 and 3 hemorrhoids.

Sclerotherapy – a medicine is injected into the vein to make the hemorrhoid shrink – the hemorrhoid eventually shrivels up. This is effective for Grades 2 and 3 hemorrhoids, and is a useful alternative to banding.

Infrared coagulation – also referred to as infrared light coagulation. Used for Grades 1 or 2 hemorrhoids. A device burns the hemorrhoid tissue.

Surgery – used for particularly large piles, or Grades 3 or 4 hemorrhoids. Generally, surgery is used if other procedures were not effective. Sometimes surgery is done on an outpatient basis – the patient goes home after the procedure, or he/she may have to spend the night in hospital.

• Hemorrhoidectomy – the excess tissue that is causing the bleeding is surgically removed. This can be done in various ways. It may involve a combination of a local anesthetic and sedation, a spinal anesthetic, or a general anesthetic. This type of surgery is the most effective in completely removing piles, but there is a risk of complications, which can include difficulties passing stools, as well as urinary tract infections.
• Hemorrhoid stapling – blood flow is blocked to the tissue of the hemorrhoid. This procedure is usually less painful than hemorrhoidectomy. However, there is a greater risk of hemorrhoid recurrence and rectal prolapse (part of the rectum sticks out of the anus).

Complications linked to piles
Anemia – hemorrhoids can sometimes cause long-term blood loss, which may lead to anemia.

Stangulated hemorrhoid – the blood supply to an internal hemorrhoid is cut off, causing severe pain, and even gangrene (death of tissue).

Written by Christian Nordqvist

Copyright: Medical News Today

Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today

• Additional
• References
• Citations

Approximately 15 million Americans work full time on evening shifts, night shifts, rotating shifts or other irregular schedules, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Examples of such around-the-clock work include health care, manufacturing, electrical utilities, law enforcement and transportation.

A new study by the Harvard School of Public Health suggests working odd shifts can be hazardous to your health. Previous studies conducted with men have linked heart disease, digestive disorders and weight gain to disrupted sleep or inadequate sleep.

This was the first large study of women working rotating shifts. Study subjects were part of the Nurses Health Studies. Nursing careers often include years of working night shifts. Researchers analyzed data on more than 69,000 women ages 42 to 67 and nearly 108,000 women ages 25 to 42.

The longer study participants had worked these abnormal schedules, the greater the risk of weight gain and type 2 diabetes. Nurses who had worked three to nine years of rotating shifts faced a 20 percent higher risk of type 2 diabetes. Those with a history of 10 to 19 years of shift work had a 40 percent increased risk, and those with more than 20 years had a 58 percent greater chance of developing diabetes. The study authors reported increased rates of obesity in these women may have been a factor in the development of diabetes.

Experts have suggested some strategies to minimize the damaging effects of shift work:

#x2022;Limit caffeine intake to the beginning of the shift. Too much caffeine later in the shift makes it difficult to fall asleep when you get home.

#x2022;Take a nutritious meal to eat while at work. Often cafeterias are closed and the only options are vending machine type snacks or fast food. Night shift diets often lack fruits and vegetables and are high in fat and calories.

#x2022;Schedule regular exercise and use breaks at work for walking. Avoid strenuous exercise just before trying to go to sleep.

#x2022;Limit alcohol as a way to help you fall asleep. Alcohol can cause disruption in sleep a few hours after consumption.

#x2022;Have the room where you plan to sleep as dark and cool as possible. Use earplugs and turn off phones to limit sleep interruptions. Your body needs adequate deep sleep to heal and repair.

#x2022;Learn relaxation techniques and deal with stress constructively.

FIVE TIPS FOR BEATING THE 3 PM SLUMP

raquo; Eat healthful foods.

Opt for better-for-you snack options. Avoid foods that contain excess sugar and fat, as they can spike your energy level and then cause you to crash and feel sluggish.

raquo; Avoid too much caffeine.

One or two cups in the morning are fine, but too much caffeine throughout the day can limit energy levels and cause headaches or the jitters. Choose water, tea or 100-percent juice beverages instead. They wont interfere with your sleep if consumed later in the afternoon.

raquo; Stay hydrated.

Its important to get the recommended 8-10 glasses of water per day, to maximize alertness and focus. Your body can confuse dehydration for hunger, so sipping on water can help with weight management.

raquo; Remain active throughout the day.

Being in a sedentary position for hours can stifle energy levels, so its important to be as active as possible. Even these small steps can help:

Take a brisk walk over lunch.

Walk to a co-workers desk instead of sending an email.

Keep hand weights at your desk to do a few reps between meetings and get the blood pumping.

Sit on a stability ball instead of chair, so you can work on your core while you work.

raquo; Get enough sleep every night.

Consistently getting enough sleep is one key to maintaining a high energy level throughout the day. Its easier to stay refreshed than it is to try to wake your body up from a lack of sleep. Getting the recommended eight hours of rest per night may also help prevent health issues like high blood pressure and weight gain.

Source: Fiber One

(WJBK) – Our lives only intersected for 1 hour, yet if you consider all the time Holly Newman creeps into my thoughts, it adds up to countless sleepless nights.

Smiling pumpkins comfort me as photojournalist Greg Tatchio and I arrive at her modest downriver home. Its a busy day in late October- my producer Sean Lee has rushed us out the door at Fox 2, passionately explaining this young mother has an important story to share . One weve never told before.

As we lumber into the small home with a camera, lights and a tripod, Holly quietly smiles on the couch- I recognize her response- a combination of anxiety and determination, I often see it when someone is about to share their private pain in a very public way. .

Hollys mom is doing what grandmas do; offering us something to drink, last minute tidying, making small talk, and filling the silence with much needed laughter.

From the couch, with a matter-of-fact tone, Holly tells us her tragic tale.

As she calmly speaks, I realize shes said these words before and is probably running out of tears.

She initially blamed it on too much caffeine- the lump in her breast. But then her body gave her a sign she couldn’t ignore, her right breast swelled, doubling in size, the crimson skin hot to the touch.
At 33 years old, the young mother of 8- year-old Skyelar gets the devastating diagnosis.

Holly has whats called inflammatory breast cancer.

Rare and aggressive, this type of cancer is more likely to spread than other types of breast cancer. On average, a woman diagnosed with IBC will live only 18 months according to the American Cancer Society.

As doctors tackle the cancer growing in her breasts, what they dont know is that is has invaded her brain.

Weeks of treatment turn into months, breast surgery then brain surgery, piles of pills and sickening side effects. Holly is unrecognizable from the young woman we see in pictures just a couple of years ago.

That brings us to this day.

Holly reassures me that shes getting more movement back- she can only move her right arm and no one is sure how long the paralysis from the brain surgery will last.

Holly’s petite mom feeds her and moves her with the help of a wheelchair- she has moved into the house so Holly’s husband can keep working. Neither the house nor the car is meant to handle the cumbersome wheelchair, so Holly rarely goes anywhere.

The only time there are near silent sobs from Holly is when I ask about her little girl.

What words can be said about the daughter who goes to her 4th grade classroom everyday wondering how long her mom will survive?

As I leave, I actually feel hopeful. Holly bravely tells me she knows what her odds are, but with a smile she says she plans on beating them. Hollys hope is to see Skyelar graduate from high school.
Greg and I drive away in sad silence wondering if she can do it.

Less than one month later- days before Thanksgiving, I rush through the newsroom, even in a place filled with sad endings, the news hits me like a punch in the gut.

“I’ve got something to tell you”, Sean hesitates, “Holly died.” At first I’m in disbelief, Who’s Holly?

Then I slowly realize, her battle didn’t last months, only weeks.
I go to my office and quietly wipe away my tears.

Holly wanted to share her story of the rare and very deadly inflammatory breast cancer so other women wouldnt suffer as she had, but she has another message. Without ever raising her voice, she screamed life is fragile!.

At year’s end, we often look back at lives lost, mourning them. But maybe we can also honor them by living greater lives ourselves.
What is it that could be better in your life?

Take better care of your body, go back to school, enjoy a walk, laugh a little more, criticize a little less, call long-lost friends, be a more patient parent, learn a new skill, fix broken relationships…

Remember Holly and so many others, and stop wasting precious time.
 

FORT WAYNE They come in colorful cans and promise you they can #147;unleash the beast#148; or #147;give you wings.#148;

And with names like Monster, Rockstar, Diablo and Red Bull, these drinks which can be found in any convenience mart, with logos adorning the surroundings of many mixed martial arts events or extreme sports competitions make no qualms about what they#146;re selling you:

Energy and lots of it.

But as these caffeine-filled energy drinks grow in popularity, so too do the number of emergency room visits from people complaining of adverse side-effects from drinking too many of them, according to a federal study released last month.

Emergency room visits nationwide involving such energy drinks spiked tenfold from 2005 through 2009, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

There were 1,128 emergency room visits involving energy drinks in 2005. That number reached 16,053 ER visits in 2008 but dropped the following year to 13,114 visits, according to the study.

About half of those visits were by patients ages 18 to 25 and involved combinations of energy drinks with alcohol and other drugs.

The American Beverage Association, which represents companies that make and distribute non-alcoholic drinks in the United States, attacked the report and in a statement called it, #147;a troubling example of statistics taken out of context.#148;

The association noted that emergency room visits by those who have consumed energy drinks represent less than one one-hundredth of a percent of all ER visits and that the report does not share information about the overall health of those patients who came to the ER after consuming such drinks.

Locally, emergency room doctors in the area are seeing one or two patients a week in the ER with complaints after drinking too many of the beverages.

#147;It#146;s not at all uncommon to see someone with a problem,#148; said Dr. Tom Gutwein, medical director of Parkview Health emergency departments. #147;There#146;s been an increase as the drinks have become so popular, and they#146;re so readily available.#148;

Typically, symptoms that can arise from too much caffeine include heart palpitations or a rapid heartbeat, according to Dr. BP House, the medical director of emergency services at Lutheran Hospital and president of Emergency Medicine of Indiana.

#147;A lot of times, it will be a feeling where your heart is beating very fast, maybe 120 or 140 beats per minute,#148; House said. #147;It#146;s uncomfortable or unnerving. And there#146;s an anxiety component with excess caffeine that gets magnified.#148;

That anxiety is what usually brings someone to the emergency room they can#146;t control what#146;s going on with their body and they can#146;t figure out what#146;s wrong.

When symptoms just involve caffeine drinks, and not a mixture of anything else, there#146;s not a lot of treatment to be done.

#147;In most people, it will be something that will wear off on its own,#148; Gutwein said. #147;A lot of times you just let them ride it out.#148;

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services report, while some cans or bottles of energy drinks contain roughly the same amount of caffeine as a 5-ounce cup of coffee or can of soda, there are energy drinks that contain up to 100 times that amount of caffeine. These drinks can become hazardous, the report argues, when combined with depressants like alcohol.

#147;When people mix these drinks with alcohol like Jauml;germeister, the stimulant effect maybe lasts an hour, but the alcohol lasts longer,#148; Gutwein said. #147;It#146;s a huge depressant, and it#146;s higher than what they expected. That#146;s the biggest problem we see in a life-threatening situation.#148;

In many of the energy drink/alcohol combos, House said people have no idea what they#146;re drinking or how it may affect them. That#146;s when they find themselves in trouble and sometimes in an emergency room.

#147;The risk is something people need to be aware of,#148; House said. #147;It creeps up on people because they don#146;t know the content of what they#146;re drinking.#148;

Take, for instance, the Bazooka Joe. He rarely ever pours one, but Jeremiah Steinbacher, a bartender at Henry#146;s, knows how to make one incarnation of the energy drink-infused libation.

Start with some vodka over ice, add a can of Red Bull and then a splash of grenadine and voilAgrave; you#146;ve got yourself a mixture of orange and red swirling in your glass they call a Bazooka Joe.

#147;Nobody in here ever asks for one,#148; Steinbacher said. #147;I think I#146;ve made one Red Bull and vodka in about six months.#148;

While maybe not popular at a neighborhood tavern like Henry#146;s, some bars have the highly caffeinated Red Bull ready on the spray gun along with water or cola. Convenience and liquor stores carry Red Bull along with all other energy drink options like Rockstar, Monster, Amp and Diablo.

In a study published this year in the journal Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, researchers found that those who mixed alcohol and energy drinks may feel, wrongly, less impaired than if they were just drinking the alcohol.

And this feeling of non-impairment can lead those drinkers to make impulsive decisions.

So, there#146;s no better time to warn people of the dangers in these drinks especially mixing them with alcohol than the holiday season, Gutwein said. It#146;s the time when people are going out with friends or to various parties, where cocktails and drinks can be mixed and consumed merrily.

#147;People just don#146;t realize how they mix this stuff,#148; Gutwein said. #147;People will try a lot of stuff at these holiday parties.#148;

jeffwiehe@jg.net