The Saturday Evening Post articles from January 2005

The Saturday Evening Post archives from January 2005

Clarifying stem cells.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2005... Thank you, Saturday Evening Post and Dr. Mehmet Oz, for the excellent Nov./Dec. 2004 article on stem cells. I hope that those taking a firm stand against stem cell research will have a better understanding after reading Dr. Oz's...

Always encourage exuberance.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2005... After reading Ted Kreiter's review of Kay Redfield Jamison's book Exuberance: The Passion for Life ("The Most Magnificent Mood," Nov./Dec. 2004), I felt enthusiasm must be contagious. I had it sweep over me as an unexpected but very welcome...

Antibiotics for arthritis.(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2005... Regarding the Nov./Dec. article "Tackling Osteoarthritis" (doxycycline for osteoarthritis): I believe Dr. Kenneth Brandt is on the right track with ideas of using antibiotics for arthritis. My experience with arthritis pain and antibiotics...

Another of "our boys".(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2005... The picture (above) is a photograph of me taken in 1927. I was ten years old and was selling The Saturday Evening Post, the Country Gentleman, and Ladies" Home Journal. It was my first venture into the world of business, and I have always...

Hope for Crohn's.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2005... Thank you for the article "Unraveling the Mystery of Crohn's Disease" (March/April 2004). First, will you mail this issue to my son, David? He has suffered with Crohn's since 1975-76; however, he has done very well on a special diet--no...

Good news flash.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2005... A Florida reader sent the following that appeared in the Sun-Sentinel: "The Coral Springs, Florida, Board of Commissioners approved a new ordinance last week that will place defibrillators, the cardiac arrest devices, in public areas such...

Better selling.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2005... I thought you might be interested in the following, which was published in the Houston Chronicle: "Selling is an art, and not a lot of people do it well. But they can do it better if they understand how their customers make decisions. ...

Essential tremors.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2005... I read the article in The Saturday Evening Post about essential tremor and was so excited. I called my fiance and read it to him. We were both hoping that someday someone would start studying essential tremor. We can't find very much about it....

Eye exam may foresee high blood pressure.(Cardiovascular News at a Glance)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Doctors say that a thorough eye exam may predict future hypertension. Tiny vessels called arterioles that supply blood to the retina appear to narrow before blood pressure exceeds normal ranges, said study coauthor Paul Mitchell, M.D.,...

Celebrate heart health.(Cardiovascular News at a Glance)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Neighborhood Heart Watch (NHW) helps protect the lives of relatives and neighbors by placing defibrillators (AEDs) where most cases of sudden cardiac arrest occur--in the home. We have added a user-friendly Welch Allyn blood pressure (BP)...

ACE inhibitors help heart patients.(Cardiovascular News at a Glance)(angiotensin-converting enzyme)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Almost a third of heart failure patients face an increased risk of death because they do not receive an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor, according to a recent report. ACE inhibitors--on the market for nearly two decades--block...

Health alert.(The Heart Of The Matter)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... More Americans than ever have high blood pressure. New study data show that at least 65 million Americans have hypertension--a nearly 30 percent increase in the past decade. An excellent motivational video about the need for treating high blood...

7 reasons not to mess with a child: what you say can and will be used against you.
January 1, 2005... 1 A little girl was talking to her teacher about whales. The teacher said it was physically impossible for a whale to swallow a human because even though it was a very large mammal, its throat was very small. The little girl stated that...

Laughter is the best medicine.
January 1, 2005... The reason congressmen try so hard to get re-elected is that they would hate to have to make a living under the laws they've passed. Smith climbs to the top of Mt. Sinai to get close enough to talk to God. Looking up, he asks the Lord,...

Oats and arteries.(Food In The News)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... A breakfast of oatmeal may stick to your ribs, but it won't stick to your artery walls. Researchers have identified an antioxidant in oats that suppresses the adhesive molecules Which make blood cells stick to artery wall cells. Scientists...

Why you should eat yogurt.(Food In The News)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Most people eat yogurt because they like it, but studies of yogurt's health benefits show it has plenty more to offer. In a recent report, scientists from Tufts University in Boston concurred there is substantial evidence that yogurt is...

Benefiting from carrots.(Food In The News)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Carrots are loaded with beta carotene and other healthful carotenoids, but there is a question as to how many of these benefical chemicals our bodies actually absorb. Because carotenoids are fat soluble, they must be ingested along with...

Better cooking tips.(Food In The News)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... * For healthier baking, substitute Canola oil in recipes that call for margarine or butter. Canola oil contains no cholesterol and is Lower in saturated fats and higher in mono- and polyunsaturated fats than many other vegetable oils....

Lower cal instant oatmeal.(New Products)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... For oatmeal eaters in a hurry. the new Lower Sugar Quaker Instant Oatmeal has half the sugar of regular instant oatmeal bill still has 100 percent of the healthful oatmeal fiber, magnesium. phosphorus and vitamins. The low-sugar product is...

Really Blueberry tea!(New Products)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... A treat for herbal tea and blueberry lovers. A new Blueberry Breeze herbal tea from Celestial Seasonings provides a blast of blueberry flavor and aroma as well as the health benefits of green tea. The all-natural ingredients include hibiscus,...

Tips for vibrant health and beauty at every age.(Look Good, Feel Good)
January 1, 2005... Caring for Your Complexion Good skin care involves more than just using the right soap and moisturizer. Dermatologists say lifestyle habits also play key roles in achieving and maintaining healthy skin. Exercising increases blood...

The wit and wisdom of Benjamin Franklin: his enduring wisdom leads us to a higher appreciation of his genius.(Poor Richard Speaks)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Women are books, and men the readers be, Who sometimes in those books erratas see; Yet oft the reader's raptured with each line, Fair print and paper, fraught with sense divine; Tho' some, neglectful, seldom care to read, And faithful wives no...

Heart health: a noted cardiologist answers your questions.
January 1, 2005... Reader: I travel frequently and have noticed AEDs in many locations like airports and shopping mails. My neighbor told me they are used when someone's heart stops, but I wouldn't know the first thing about how to use one. Where can I get...

Paws in the action.(Comic)(Brief Article)(Cartoon)
January 1, 2005... "Stop burying the TV remote and I'll take you for walks!" [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "Making your own breakfast?" [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "Yeah, but he always loses to the cat. When he gets a good hand, he wags his tail." ...

New Year's ZZZs.(Post Scripts)(Poem)
January 1, 2005... New Year's ZZZs I used to ring the New Year in And toast it with champagne. I used to solo "Auld Lang Syne," All night I'd entertain. Today I yawn the New Year in, Not sing and dance and shout. I toast it...

Disenchanted.(Post Scripts)(Poem)
January 1, 2005... Disenchanted I was thrilled To receive a valentine From the cutest little boy In class, Until I discovered He'd sent one To every lass.

Sorry I asked.(Post Scripts)
January 1, 2005... A salesman asked the woman who answered the door, "Can you tell me where to find your husband, madam?" The angry wife answered impatiently, "Why don't you go down to the lake and look for a fishing pole with a worm on each end?"

No wires needed.(Post Scripts)
January 1, 2005... Sophisticated listening devices are nothing new. They've always been called neighbors.

That's just fine!(Post Scripts)
January 1, 2005... Sam went to court and received a fine for parking his car in a no-parking zone. "Do you have anything to say?" asked the judge. "Yes," he replied. "They shouldn't put up such misleading notices." "What do you mean?" the judge...

Hare splitting.(Post Scripts)
January 1, 2005... In the obituary column in a small rural newspaper: "Services will be held this Sunday for William Jones, of this village. An avid hunter, he was killed accidentally while crawling under a fence with a loaded shotgun. He is survived by a wife,...

Love and broccoli.(Post Scripts)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... My friend Eric always had trouble keeping off the pounds. But when I saw him recently, he was slim and fit. "You look well," I said. "How'd you lose the weight?" Patting his flat stomach, he said, "My wife read me the diet act."

The games people pay.(Post Scripts)
January 1, 2005... During a training program for new employees, I joined several dozen coworkers on a tour of several sites in the Southwest. Our itinerary included an overnight stop in Las Vegas. As our bus pulled out of the hotel parking lot early the next...

I take it all back!(Post Scripts)(love letters)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... It doesn't take much skill to write a love letter. Getting it back is the tough part.

On the cutting edge.(Post Scripts)
January 1, 2005... A lady was entertaining her friend's small son. "Are you sure you can cut your meat?" she asked, after watching his struggles. "Oh, yes," he replied, without looking up from his plate. "We often have it as tough as this at home."

In the same boat.(Post Scripts)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Matt: "Did you mark the place where the fishing was good?" Ted: "Yes, I put an "X' on the side of the boat." Matt: "That was dumb. What if we use a different boat next time?"

High tech trouble.(Comic)(Brief Article)(Cartoon)
January 1, 2005... "Didn't you like it better when we talked directly?" [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "Okay, ma'am, what part of '450 MHz processor, memory (SDRAM) 64 MB, hard drive with three internal bays, ULTRA ATA/33, Ethernet 10/100 BASE-T and USB-part'...

Just thinking.(Post Scripts)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... How old would you be if you didn't know how old you are? When a man marries a woman, they become one; but the trouble starts when they try to decide which one. When a man has enough horse sense to treat his wife like a thoroughbred,...

Dealing with Alzheimer's: a program of brain-boosting exercises and carefully adjusted drug treatment can help patients live more successfully with this as-yet-incurable disease.(Book Review)
January 1, 2005... What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Alzheimer's Disease by Gayatri Devi, M.D., and Deborah Mitchell, 281 pages, Warner Books, $14.95 Are you exercising your brain? Brain workouts are just as important for keeping your brain healthy...

Breakthroughs in treating macular degeneration: once considered untreatable, age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is yielding exciting "insights" into methods of prevention and promising new treatments.(Interview)
January 1, 2005... An interview with Thomas A. Ciulla, M.D. "I didn't know what was happening," recalls 75-year-old June Simmons. who first noticed symptoms of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in 2000. "Everything began to look funny. People weren't...

Neurotrophic factors: a promising area of research is exploring the use of neuroprotective compounds called neurotrophic factors, which represent a new generation of therapeutic agents that can potentially prevent cell death and vision loss in patients with macular degeneration.
January 1, 2005... For decades, scientists believed that brain cells of the central nervous system could not regrow following damage due to trauma such as head injury or disorders such as Alzheimer's disease. Treatments did not exist. The outlook was bleak. ...

If they could see us now.(The Progress Paradox: How Life Gets Better While People Feel Worse)(Book Review)
January 1, 2005... The Progress Paradox: How Life Gets Better While People Feel Worse by Gregg Easterbrook, 400 pages, Random House, 824.95 What's the matter with us, anyway? Don't we know when we are well off?. No, we really don't, according to Washington...

Love by letter: romantic notes from famous people to their beloved ones.
January 1, 2005... Ronald Reagan proved you're never too old to set forth your heartfelt feelings to the one you love. Four years ago, Nancy Reagan had published I Love You, Ronnie: The Letters of Ronald Reagan to Nancy Reagan (Random House). The book was a...

Coping with identity theft: nearly everyone is vulnerable to this fast-growing 21st-century form of fraud that has already victimized more than 27 million Americans.(Prying Eyes: Protect Your Privacy from People Who Sell to You, Snoop on You, and Steal from You)(Book Review)
January 1, 2005... Prying Eyes: Protect Your Privacy From People Who Sell to You, Snoop on You, and Steal From You by Eric Gertler, 448 pages, Random House Reference, $16.95 If someone steals your car or burgles your house, the normal course of action is to...

Protecting yourself from credit card theft: by taking the following practical steps, you can lessen the hassle and limit your liability should your credit cards be lost or stolen.
January 1, 2005... * Be responsible with your cards. The best way to protect yourself against card fraud is to know where your cards are at art times and to keep them secure. Carry only those cards that you think you will need. Sign your cards as soon as they...

On balance with yoga: the slow, deliberate stretching movements of yoga can do a body good.
January 1, 2005... Finding an exercise regimen that works for you can become tougher with age. Just ask Lori Black, who knows the challenges many seniors face. She works with them on a daily basis in her yoga classes. "Seniors don't necessarily take it easy,"...

The healing power of hope: researchers are exploring the scientific basis of this vital emotion that has the ability to alter the course of illness.(Book Review)
January 1, 2005... The Anatomy of Hope by Jerome Groopman, M.D., 248 pages, Random House, $24.95 The ability of the mind to foster healing has long been an intriguing concept. Ailing patients who believe that they can get better often do. In his practice,...

Lincoln's second inaugural address: one hundred and forty years ago our country was divided much as it is today. Then, between North and South and now between liberals and conservatives. Lincoln's conclusions could well apply to President Bush's coming second inaugural address.(Transcript)
January 1, 2005... Fellow-Countrymen: At this second appearing to take the oath of the presidential office, there is less occasion for an extended address than there was at the first. Then a statement, somewhat in detail, of a course to be pursued seemed...

Ringing in the new! Featuring the annual celebration and the celebrated post artists who captured the spirit of this American New Year's tradition.(The American Illustrators Hall of Fame)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... "Every man should be born again on the first day of January." Henry Ward Beecher wrote. "Start with afresh page. Take up one hold more in the buckle if necessary, or let down one, according to circumstances." As to welcoming in the new...

How lawsuits brought on the flu vaccine shortage: one lawsuit seeks $30 billion in damages, even though the entire vaccine market is valued at only $5 billion. Considering such obstacles, why on earth would any business want to make vaccines? They wouldn't. And most don't.(Speaking Out)
January 1, 2005... If you think the lines for flu shots are long now, imagine what would happen in the event of a global pandemic. Most people who needed flu shots wouldn't get them. The immunization system would collapse. An underground market would appear,...

Turn of a phrase.(Comic)(Brief Article)(Cartoon)
January 1, 2005... "Gracefully? Honey, I'm aging gratefully." [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "I feel sorry for Uncle Sam, trying to squeeze money out of you!" [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "If you love me, Doris, you'll let me catch the fish." ...

Diabetes-staying fit with fiber: protect against type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and obesity with the proven goodness of high-fiber foods.
January 1, 2005... Today, amid all the confusion and hoopla over high-protein and low-carb dietary fads, longtime fiber authority and pioneer Dr. James Anderson continues to tout the time-tested and proven benefits of fiber in reducing the risk of chronic...

The Mediterranean diet--a recipe for health: hailing from Southern France, renowned for its cuisine, White Fish Provencal is an easy-to-prepare medley of fish, tomatoes, garlic, basil, and olives.(Heart Beat)
January 1, 2005... What is the secret to the health and longevity of people living near the Mediterranean Sea? Puzzled over the decreased rates of cardiovascular disease, obesity, and other chronic diseases in natives from the area, researchers discovered that...

October limerick winner.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2005... My daughter subscribes to your magazine. She called and told me she had seen A limerick contest in the Post And wouldn't it be just "the most" If maybe a first prize we could glean? I didn't have much hope for that. I said, "They throw...

Larger print for the post?(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2005... I would like to see The Saturday Evening Post in larger print. I sure like the magazine, but print for me is too small. Any solution? Anna Schmid Spencer, Iowa

Mike Ditka-tackling men's health: Legendary Football Hall of Famer Mike Ditka advises men to make good health the game plant!
January 1, 2005... Why do males tend to access medical services less often than females? Even in life-threatening situations such as heart attacks, studies have found that men hesitate to take symptoms seriously, stoically believing that they will pass. ...

A walk in the park-ing lot: scientists prove that you are wasting your time when trying to find the ever-elusive "up-front" parking spot. It is far better (for you, your car, pedestrians, and the environment) to park quickly, and walk.
January 1, 2005... Anything you do daily deserves thought. Unfortunately, habits are seductive precisely because you don't have to think about them. Which is why familiarity does not always lead to understanding or insight. Consider the lowly parking lot. A...

The power of the flock.(Iona)(geese flying formation)
January 1, 2005... Our recent international travels took me to one of my favorite spots on earth, the tiny inner Hebrides island of Iona, off the western coast of Scotland. Gray and windswept, this bleakly beautiful speck of land is the site to which St. Columba...

Where do you think you are?
January 1, 2005... You don't have to be a world traveler to recognize these places. In fact, this month they are all located in the good old U.S.A. We've given you some clues to guess the location. You have a one-in-three chance of getting them right and will...

Can you name this picture?
January 1, 2005... ... contest: The Saturday Evening Post will award $100 to the author of the winning limerick for this picture. Your limerick must contain exactly five lines. Send your entry on a postcard. Entries will not be returned. Enter as many times...

The perfect squelch.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... The quizmaster was a composite of all objectionable masters of ceremonies; loud, brash, condescending and insultingly familiar. The contestant, a farmer's wife from Maine who was in town visiting her daughter, endured the quizzer's quips about...

You be the judge.(poisoning)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Joe sent a box of poisoned candy to his ex-wife, but she hated him so much that she threw it away. Her dog ate the candy, however, and fell sick. So Joe was charged with "administering" poison to his ex-wife. "Actually Joe did nothing of...

Incredible diabetes relief.(How to Reverse Diabetes)(Book Review)
January 1, 2005... Here's important news for anyone with diabetes. A remarkable book is now available that reveals medically tested principles that can help normalize blood sugar naturally... and greatly improve the complications associated with diabetes. People...

Tearing eyes need attention.(Medical Mailbox)
January 1, 2005... It seems strange that tearing eyes need eye drops, but they do. Regular use of lubricating eye drops of the proper composition can help ease eye discomfort and prevent unsightly redness of the eyelid margins in many cases. The reason you...

UV lens coatings can be nearly colorless.(Medical Mailbox)(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2005... Dear Dr. SerVaas: I have read that UV protection in glasses is not directly related to the lens tint. If this is the case, can indoor reading glasses be treated for UV protection and used in the sun? Also, I have a collection of...

Bipolar disorder and steroid use.(Medical Mailbox)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Dear Dr. SerVaas: My sister was just diagnosed with a case of hypomania and bipolar disease. She is 45 years old and had never known she had bipolar disease. However, she was given steroid medications for arthritic pain. Is there...

Lithium and Alzheimer's disease.(Medical Mailbox)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Dear Dr. SerVaas: I read in your "Medical Mailbox" that a Brazilian research team has discovered that lithium taken by elderly people seemed to prevent the onset of Alzheimer's disease (Nov./Dec. '04). In the article, you mentioned...

More body donation programs.(Medical Mailbox)(Brief Article)(Directory)
January 1, 2005... Dear Dr. SerVaas: In the Sept./Oct. 2004 issue of The Saturday Evening Post in the "Medical Mailbox," Mildred Sprague inquired about the address of a university where she and her husband can donate their bodies and have their ashes...

Cataract surgery an option for glaucoma patients.(Medical Mailbox)(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2005... Dear Dr. SerVaas: I have cataracts and am worried about the possibility of developing normal-tension glaucoma (NTG). During a dilated pupil exam, can an ophthalmologist adequately visualize the optic nerve through a clouded lens? ...

The promise of stem cells for glaucoma.(Medical Mailbox)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Dear Dr. SerVaas: Might stem cell therapy help produce new nerve fibers for an optic nerve that has been damaged by glaucoma? Glaucoma expert Dr. WuDunn of Indiana University School of Medicine again responds: "Stem cell therapy...

Electric blankets and health risks.(Medical Mailbox)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Dear Dr. SerVaas: Is there a danger in sleeping under electric blankets? I don't mean from getting burned. I mean is there a danger of the radiation or any danger that one should know regarding continued use of electric blankets for heat?...

Grapefruit and cholesterol drugs don't mix.(Medical Mailbox)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Taking cholesterol-lowering statins at the same time as grapefruit juice can raise the risk of side effects--including potentially life-threatening muscle problems. A chemical in grapefruit inhibits the breakdown of Zocor (simvastatin),...

More on retinal vein occlusions.(Medical Mailbox)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Dear Dr. SerVaas: Is there anything on the horizon that one can do to prevent a second hemi-central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO)? Once resolved, what is the risk of the same thing happening again and how soon? I am also wondering whether...

Shampoo away dry skin.(Medical Mailbox)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Dear Dr. SerVaas: Please convey my thanks to Lillian Jackson for her hint about using strawberry shampoo on cracked fingers (Sept./Oct. '04). It's so nice when somebody shares a tip which really works. Who would have guessed? Marie...

Magnesium for dizzy spells.(Medical Mailbox)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Dear Dr. SerVaas: This may be a simple cure for the dizzy spells that Ramona A. Scheuermann has (Nov./Dec. '04). An article in a magazine by a doctor said magnesium was wonderful for dizzy spells. It cured my two years of those spells...

Canned red cherries for gout.(Medical Mailbox)(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2005... Dear Dr. SerVaas: I read the letter regarding gout in the Sept./Oct. issue. I have a cheap and simple remedy for gout. It's canned red cherries packed in water. It usually takes two cans. Divide each can into thirds and eat them three...