The Saturday Evening Post articles from November 2004

The Saturday Evening Post archives from November 2004

Thoughts on Ronald Reagan.(Letter to the Editor)
November 1, 2004... "A gentleman Is always nice." This quote is a sentence President Reagan always told his sons. He was such a dignified, friendly, handsome, comical, humble, patient, respectful, and wife-and-family-loving man. We will never have another like...

Big Russ & Me.(Letter to the Editor)
November 1, 2004... Your last issue, Sept./ Oct. 2004, was a fine, wonderful read. "Focus on Fathers" with the review of Big Russ & Me by Tim Russert was a true, glowing assessment of this great book (which I just finished) and a tribute to inspirational dads...

Husband and Post boy.(Letter to the Editor)
November 1, 2004... In writing up the story of my beloved husband's life, I remembered him telling about his diligently seeking subscriptions for The Saturday Evening Post as a boy of about 12 years of age. Of course, they were delivered by hand then. He received...

When blood pressure jumps.(Letter to the Editor)
November 1, 2004... I enjoy the Post's medical articles, and I have a question for you. My nephew is a weighflifter. Recently, I read that one's blood pressure rises when lifting these heavy weights. Is that true? Mary Cooper Tulsa, Oklahoma Editor's...

"Splendid" reading.(Letter to the Editor)
November 1, 2004... I am a new subscriber to The Saturday Evening Post. The short story in July/Aug. 2004, "The Splendid Outcast," was wonderful reading. I couldn't wait to turn the pages! I wish the author Beryl Markham could continue the story. What...

Letter from the editor.(Jeff Isner)(Editorial)
November 1, 2004... We had a lengthy telephone interview with Dr. Isner, October 25, 2001. He was making predictions about the future of cell therapy. Very soon after that, the NIH granted $10 million for his good work injecting VEGF into the heart muscle. We were...

Heart health: ask Dr. Zipes: a noted cardiologist answers your questions.
November 1, 2004... READER: Four months ago my heart at times would start racing. In the emergency room, the doctor gave me medicine in my vein that slowed my heartbeat, but the racing heart keeps coming back. The cardiologist told me that I have something called...

LDL cholesterol: lower is better.(Cardiovascular News At A Glance)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... The National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) recently revamped its guidelines, suggesting that people at risk for heart attack and stroke would benefit from intensive cholesterol-lowering therapy. The updated guidelines call for an even...

Statin therapy for diabetics.(Cardiovascular News At A Glance)(Lipitor)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... The cholesterol-lowering medicine Lipitor helps protect people with diabetes from heart attacks and strokes, according to a large study presented at the recent annual meeting of the American Diabetes Association. The Collaborative...

Grapefruit and Zocor don't mix.(Cardiovascular News At A Glance)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Research published in the medical journal Neurology suggests that eating a grapefruit each morning may have triggered a serious side effect in a 40-year-old woman taking the popular anticholesterol drug Zocor. Study authors note that similar...

Sudden cardiac arrest study.(Cardiovascular News At A Glance)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... In a study of United States military recruits--including over 100 cases of sudden cardiac death--researchers have found that the leading cause of sudden cardiac death was a coronary artery problem. This anomaly is when one of the coronary...

Test your high blood pressure IQ.(Cardiovascular News At A Glance)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Q: The main cause of high blood pressure is: a. Stress b. Obesity c. Unknown d. Aging A: In 90 to g5 percent of high blood pressure cases, the cause is unknown. To control blood pressure and reduce your risk for stroke,...

Tackling osteoarthritis: as Americans age, the risk of developing the most common form of arthritis increases, but recent research is opening the door to a better understanding of the disease and its treatment.(Interview)
November 1, 2004... An Interview with Dr. Kenneth Brandt The most common form of arthritis, osteoarthritis is muscling in on Americans. While the condition generally affects older people, dedicated athletes in the prime of life are also sidelined by the...

Heart health in a nutshell.(Food In The News)(walnuts)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Can walnuts help reverse heart disease? A recent study at the Institute for Biomedical Investigations in Barcelona is the first to indicate that walnuts in the diet can help restore flexibility to the arteries of patients with coronary artery...

Cranberries and your teeth.(Food In The News)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Cranberry juice may help slow the development of dental plaque. Researchers at Tokyo Dental Collage in Chibe, Japan, have found that these tart berries can inhibit the adhesion of oral streptococci strains of bacteria to the surface of teeth,...

Brain food for babies.(Food In The News)(fish)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Eating moderate amounts of fish when pregnant may help your baby develop better early language and communication skills. A recent study of more than 7,000 English children showed those whose mothers ate fish at least once a week while pregnant...

Tomato juice for diabetics.(Food In The News)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Drinking tomato juice may help prevent one of the debilitating side effects of type 2 diabetes. Australian researchers recently studied the effect of drinking tomato juice on platelet aggregation, the thickening of the blood that can lead to...

The gift of fiber.(Food In The News)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... A few simple changes to your holiday cooking and baking can make a big difference in your family's health. Adding fiber to foods can lower cholesterol levels, prevent gastrointestinal disorders, forestall coronary artery disease, and reduce...

Tips for vibrant health and beauty at every age.(Look Good, Feel Good)
November 1, 2004... Wear Sunglasses Year Around During the winter months, UV rays from the sun may pose a greater threat to eye health than at any time of year. In many areas of the country, reflective surfaces such as snow and ice can increase UV...

The wit and wisdom of Benjamin Franklin.(Poor Richard Speaks)
November 1, 2004... His enduring wisdom leads us 19 a higher appreciation of his genius. There's many witty men whose brains can't fill their bellies. Petty & Witty will wound if they hit ye. Genius without Education is like Silver in the Mine. ...

Adult fat tissue for cell therapy.(Open Forum)
November 1, 2004... Mrs. Ronald Reagan Office of Ronald Reagan 11000 Wilshire Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90024 Dear Mrs. Reagan. I am very sorry for your great loss on the passing of your husband and our beloved President and admire very much...

Shutterbugged.(Post Scripts)(Poem)
November 1, 2004... Shutterbugged I have no trouble smiling, Even when I'm blue, That is, of course, until A photographer asks me to. --S. H. Dewhurst

Our Evil Weighs.(Post Scripts)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Our Evil Weighs Many people who reach middle age start thinking seriously about mending their weighs! --Henry Boye

Biting the Cold Bug.(Post Scripts)(Poem)
November 1, 2004... Biting the Cold Bug My husband's in the wicked throes Of the common cold of chest and nose. How long he'll sneeze, groan, cough, and wheeze, I think that no one knows. I vow the bug won't get me, too, ...

Cut Down to Size.(Post Scripts)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Cut Down to Size One day a farmer decided to purchase a chain saw. A salesman sold him one that was guaranteed to cut down 20 trees in a single day. A week later, a very unhappy farmer came back to report that the...

Who Told Them They Were Good?(Post Scripts)(Poem)
November 1, 2004... Who Told Them They Were Good? Friday night karaoke at the club Is always an amusing thing. I chuckle at them all because I know I'm the only one who can sing. --Bob Kuhnert

We Are Merely Players.(Post Scripts)(Poem)
November 1, 2004... We Are Merely Players Many seek life's center stage To impress with what they know, But those who influence most Often appear in cameos. --Steven T. Thompson

Neither Fish nor Foul.(Post Scripts)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Neither Fish nor Foul "Fishing sure seems like a waste of time," Tommy said to his Uncle George one day while they sat quietly waiting for a bite that neither one of them really expected. "I guess it is,"...

Old Bones About It.(Post Scripts)(Poem)
November 1, 2004... Old Bones About It Aerobics may be fine for thee. But now I realize That for me, at seventy-three, It's strictly exercise. --Dick Hayman

"And Then I Wrote ...".(Post Scripts)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... "And Then I Wrote..." Have you noticed that the closest to perfection anyone really gets is when they're filling out a job application form! --Henry Boye

Have You Ever Noticed That ...(Post Scripts)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Have You Ever Noticed That... "New and improved" usually isn't? "It goes without saying" usually doesn't? And "good enough" is usually not quite. --JoAnn Ridings

Anything Interesting?(Post Scripts)(Poem)
November 1, 2004... Anything Interesting? My snoozing and snoring periods overlap--I I can't go to bed till I finish my nap. I'd like to stay awake eight hours a day, But turn on the TV, and I fade away. --Barbara Anion

Get My Better Side.(Post Scripts)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Get My Better Side Which of these events will your family remember: You have driven responsibly for years, running endless errands or two years ago, you went through a stop sign and got caught? Six...

Too Shocked for Words.(Post Scripts)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Too Shocked for Words A young preacher was asked by the local funeral director to hold a graveside burial service at a small local cemetery for someone with no family or friends. The preacher started early but...

Free and Easy.(Post Scripts)(Poem)
November 1, 2004... Free and Easy It doesn't take material wealth To enjoy the act of sharing. A nod, a smile, a gentle word, Each is an act of caring, There is no cost for kindness, Friendships have no fee. Regardless of...

Not Exactly Helping.(Post Scripts)(Poem)
November 1, 2004... Not Exactly Helping I bought a lime puppy As a present for my spouse. She named him "part-time employee" He did odd Jobs around the house. --Rex H. Knowles

Revisiting the master of science fiction: recalling the wit, wisdom, and genius of Isaac Asimov.(Isaac Asimov: It's Been a Good Life)(I, Robot)(Brief Article)(Book Review)
November 1, 2004... Isaac Asimov: It's Been A Good Life Edited by Janet Jeppson Asimov, 309 pages, Prometheus Books, $26.00 "How does it feel to know everything?" Kurt Vonnegut once asked Isaac Asimov after a panel discussion. "I only know how it...

The healing power of song: "all gloom and heartache melt away; the lust of wealth, the cares that cling, are all forgotten while we sing.".(Martin Luther)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... One of rile most successful songwriters in history was Martin Luther, the great 16th century religious reformer who sparked the Protestant Reformation. His biggest hit, "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God," is still as popular today as ever in...

Lady Musick Speaketh.(Poem)
November 1, 2004... Lady Musick Speaketh Of all the joys that are on earth Is none more dear nor higher worth, Than what in my sweet songs is found" And instruments of various sound. Where friends and comrades sing in tune, All...

Don't be blind-sighted by glaucoma; the best defense against glaucoma is through early detection and treatment.(Interview)
November 1, 2004... An interview with Dr. Darrell WuDunn The number one cause of preventable blindness, glaucoma was once inextricably linked to increased intraocular pressure (IOP). Pioneers in glaucoma research, however, disproved the assumption, after...

Why your doctor might quit; when you next need your doctor, will fears of lawsuits and intolerable malpractice insurance fees have driven him or her out of business?(Open Forum)
November 1, 2004... There is a crisis putting American lives at risk. What is a crisis? It occurs when a pregnant woman is in labor and distress--and no obstetrician is available. Or when a nine-year-old boy has a head injury but there's no neurosurgeon remaining...

The most magnificent mood: an exuberant adventure into everything having to do with exuberance.(Exuberance: The Passion for Life)(Book Review)
November 1, 2004... Exuberance: The Passion for Life by Kay Redfield Jamison, 416 pages, Alfred A. Knopf Publishers, $24.00 Whatever gives rise to exuberance (and scientists certainly don't know exactly what it is), this effervescent temperament is not hard...

Don't quash exuberance; a celebrated researcher explores the emotion of exuberance, and how the innate quality fuels man's most important creative and scientific achievements.(Interview)
November 1, 2004... An interview with Kay Redfield Jamison. "Exuberance drives all of us to think and act in slightly different ways than we otherwise would do, to take risks we would not otherwise take, to tolerate pain and setbacks we might otherwise find...

Demystifying stem cells: a serious error in semantics is causing a tragic misunderstanding. We should be asking for "blastocysts" for medical researchers. The term "embryonic" should be abandoned!(Speaking Out)
November 1, 2004... "Fear is the main source of superstition, and one of the main sources of cruelty. To conquer fear is the beginning of wisdom." Bertrand Russell, "Outline of Intellectual Rubbish," Unpopular Essays (1950). Strictly speaking, a stem cell...

Simple rules for investment success: savvy investors who want to improve their understanding of financial markets can tap into this simple set of guidelines for building long-term success in the stock market.
November 1, 2004... Although investing is a subtle and complicated endeavor, everyone can benefit from a simple set of rules and principles. One of my favorite portfolio managers, Thomas K. Brown, chief executive of Second Curve Capital, a New York hedge fund that...

Putting the brakes on childhood obesity: with childhood obesity rates at an all-time high, health experts scramble for successful strategies to address the emerging health crisis.(Interview)
November 1, 2004... Across the nation, obesity is on the rise in both adults and children, taking a toll on our quality of life (and healthcare budget). More time in front of television and computer screens and less at play, coupled with increased caloric...

Old cookbook reveals "amazing details of Washington's dining habits".(The Martha Washington Cook Book)(Book Review)
November 1, 2004... Canton OH, Special -- With hundreds of servants at her command... a person would think our first First Lady was a woman of leisure. Not so... according to a new historical discovery. A long out-of-print volume entitled, "The Martha...

Dodging macular degeneration with greens: when diagnosed with macular degeneration, this innovative minister's wife studied the Harvard research and began entertaining with her own spinach and kale recipes.
November 1, 2004... The first time that I became aware of the words "macular degeneration" was when my parents were both diagnosed with the disease at approximately the same time. After living in Iowa for more than 65 years, they moved to Sun City, Arizona, where...

The low-down on bad cholesterol: new guidelines recommend that millions of Americans lower cholesterol levels to prevent heart attack and stroke.(Heartbeat: the healthy heart report)
November 1, 2004... How low is too low? With regard to bad cholesterol, the bar keeps dropping. Recent studies have shown that lowering cholesterol in people without heart disease greatly reduces their risk for heart attacks and cardiac-related death. This is...

The importance of cord blood.(Medical Mailbox)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Dear Dr. SerVaas: What is the importance of cord blood? My daughter is expecting a baby in the spring. How do we go about collecting cord blood? How can it be used for the child? How long does it last? We asked Dr. Marguerite Shepherd...

Water pills and night sweats.(Medical Mailbox)
November 1, 2004... Dear Dr. SerVaas: I take a water pill. Since starting on this pill, I have been having night sweats around my neck. The collar and front of my nightshirt sometimes gets so wet that I need to change shirts several times during the night....

Hormones affect heart and airways.(Medical Mailbox)(catecholamines)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Dear Dr. SerVaas: What is the difference between epinephrine and norepinephrine? Both hormones, called catecholamines, are released into the bloodstream whenever we encounter acute stress such as fear or anger. Epinephrine (also...

New drug for osteoporosis builds bone.(Medical Mailbox)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Dear Dr. SerVaas: I have advanced osteoporosis. Could you share any knowledge you have with readers (and possibly my doctor) on the relatively new drug called Forteo? I understand that it is given by injection once a month. I, and...

Build your bone vocabulary.(Medical Mailbox)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Bone Remodeling: A lifelong process in which old bone is removed from the skeleton and replaced with new bone. It consists of two distinct stages, resorption and formation, which must be carefully balanced to maintain skeletal integrity. When...

Eye condition may cause dizziness.(Medical Mailbox)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Dear Dr. SerVaas: I have a problem for which I can find no help. I woke up one morning three years ago with dizziness and have been dizzy since that moment. No one can suggest a cause. I have seen excellent doctors in the fields of...

Add omega-3s, avoid mercury.(Medical Mailbox)(fish)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Dear Dr. SerVaas: Articles about nutrition often suggest fish. We are especially fond of tuna, salmon, and halibut, but because of reports of mercury in fish, we have limited the amount we eat. Can you or any of your experts inform...

Seafood shopping guide.(Medical Mailbox)(Brief Article)(Illustration)
November 1, 2004... Seafood Shopping Guide The chart below can help you eat more fish for health while minimizing mercury intake. Fish Type Omega-3s (grams Methylmercury per 3-oz. serving) level Mackerel...

Support hose tip.(Medical Mailbox)(Letter to the Editor)
November 1, 2004... Dear Dr. SerVaas: I am a subscriber of The Saturday Evening Post and enjoy the many medical articles. In the July/August 2004 issue is a letter from Sharon Kraft discussing support hose. I, unfortunately, am wearing support hose...

Keep your eyes open.(Medical Mailbox)(pinpointed pupils)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Dear Dr. SerVaas: Could you tell us about pinpointed pupils? My aunt, who is a nurse, said that my boyfriend might be on hard drugs. When I asked her why, she said it was because he had pinpoint pupils. What do pinpoint pupils have to...

About Isaac Asimov.(Medical Mailbox)
November 1, 2004... When I read Janet Asimov's book about her beloved husband, Isaac Asimov, I was saddened to learn that he died from complications of AIDS. (Book review, page 38.) In 1983. Isaac Asimov had triple bypass surgery in New York, performed by the...

Reader links gout and cranberries.(Medical Mailbox)(Letter to the Editor)
November 1, 2004... Dear Dr. SerVaas: Would you please tell Wayne Gerbert of Russiaville, Indiana, the man who had gout, to quit drinking cranberry juice? I found that it caused gout in my foot. I haven't had gout since I gave up cranberries. Bunny...

Lithium may treat Alzheimer's, too.(Medical Mailbox)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Intriguing research presented in July hints that lithium, a common treatment for bipolar disorder, may help rid the brain of plaques and tangles, two hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease. In a study of 74 elderly people with bipolar disorder,...