Ice may not be right in every situation for sore muscles, The New York Times Well Blog reported recently. The blog reported that a study published in Sports Medicine journal, conducted by the Irish Universities of Ulster and Limerick, did a review of more than a dozen studies testing the use of ice on sore muscles.  Ice has given comfort to many an athlete and laymen when a throbbing, inflamed injury seems to take over. But is it necessarily helpful for the injury? The Well Blog notes that a 2004 review of studies found that while it helped numb the pain, there weren't necessarily benefits …

Imagine if your child's key to communicating with you had very few options: one, retails for around $300 and the other ranges up to $9000.  The $300 option for the iPad and similar technologies has helped several children with speech pathologies, but a technological lawsuit over a patent has taken it off the market.  New Yorker Dana Nieder and her daughter Myra have become a sort of poster child for those affected by this, as reported by the Huffington Post.  Nieder is afraid that the lawsuit could yank away a tool that helps her daughter develop her language skills.  Rhonda Banford is a …

Does that candy bar look so much better when your night's sleep was cut short, or are you having deprivation delusions? According to two studies presented at the Associated Professional Sleep Societies meeting in Boston this week. HealthDay News reported some interesting findings. In one, researchers found that reward and motivation centers in the brain were activated when participants saw pictures of unhealthy food in a sleep-deprived state, as opposed to no activation with pictures of healthy food or office supplies. MRI brain scans were taken of 25 normal-weight men and women, while being …

In the organic vs. non-organic debate, many people point to the price difference as being driven by the need for higher standards producing lower yield. For a family where job changes, health changes, or any other blow to a household budget occurs, choices can become even trickier. Soon, pre-packaged filler foods for cents on the dollar are standard household fare.  But why? Many of these foods have been put through so many steps that they've been stripped of bioavailable nutrients. Their successful sale requires research to make them taste good, machines, factories, workers, marketing and …

The American Cancer Society says that one in six men will die of prostate cancer, and that it is the leading cause of death behind lung cancer for men.  However, the Los Angeles Times reports the U.S. Preventative Services Task Forcesays a common screening blood test, for Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA), is of more harm then good when it comes to at-risk men.  Prostate cancer, a cancer of the a gland that is part of the male reproductive system, and most commonly occurs in men over 65. The PSA test, in combination with a digital rectal exam by a physician, are the available screening tools.  …

ABC News reports a recent study done by Washington University here in greater St. Louis looked at over 4,000 commuters in Texas and found that those whose commute more, exercised less. In addition to weight being correlated to commute time, blood pressure was also increased in groups with commutes over 30 minutes, despite exercise level. Both of these factors are predictors for leading morbidity and mortality causes like diabetes and heart disease. As a suburb of St. Louis, many Ballwin and Ellisville residents commute to work. Some choose to carpool and park at commuter lots such as the lot …

You may have heard whispers about coconut water—the liquid touted to replace electrolytes, increase metabolism, and rejuvenate. Self Magazine, via Yahoo! Health, looked into these claims this week.  Coconut water makes you thin, or fat. Both myths are contradictory, according the article. Althogh low in calories (unlike its relative, coconut milk), it doesn't boost your metabolism. On the otherhand, it beats calorie-heavy insulin-pumping sports drinks. It is nature's sports drink. Sodium and potassium are both lost when you are very active or sweat, but mostly sodium (salt). Coconut water is …

While it is true that winter holidays hold the title for busiest travel days, the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics reports that summer travel starting Memorial Day Weekend holds a large chunk of travel as well.  The bureau reports that 90 percent of travel covering 50 miles or more is done in cars, but more air travel is being utilized as well. Travel is done more for leisure, too. Summer vacations have been the subject of several movies and comedy routines, but stresses of unfamiliar environments, exposure to lots of germs in small spaces, and limited access to nutritious food can …

There are lots of things we know we should do for our health, but they seem hard. And who wants to do something like that?  Women's Health Magazine released 101 health tips, most of which are good for both genders- and meant to make health within reach.  Although there are 101 listed, the Patch talked to several people participating in fitness activities at Castlewood State Park on today's clear, afternoon about the top 10 and whether they were practiced by these health-conscious localites. The top 10 include: protecting hearing by wearing earplugs when exposed to loud concerts or other …

May is Better Sleep Month, and local experts are giving tips for foods to aid sleep, in addition to sharing their thoughts on a new treatment for sleep apnea that doesn't require a mask. The Center for Disease Control calls insufficient sleep a "public health epidemic" with lack of sleep affecting concentration, memory, driving, and finances. In addition, people with sleep problems are more likely to suffer from chronic diseases like diabetes and hypertension, contributing to the leading causes of death in the U.S. The CDC estimates 50-70 million are affected by sleep disorders and the …

Methamphetamines may have seemed like a rural problem removed from our localities, but recent events like the meth lab explosion in Manchester and Ellisville City Council's debate and subsequent ban of pseudoephedrine (a main ingredient for meth production) recently have brought it into the local spotlight. Eastern Missouri's battle with methamphetamines has brought national attention from USA Today, Reuters news service outlets, and several specialty programs.  Banning of substances used to make the drug in the rural counties has increased sales of those substances in St. Louis county, and …

A recent study published in the Mayo Clinic Proceedings found that in their studied population of 256 Minnesotan 18 to 39-year-olds, melanoma rates have jumped dramatically.  The median age of diagnosis was close to 30-years-old. The most common area of melanoma was the lower extremities. Among the 179 woman, diagnosis rates increased 8 times, and among the 77 males, diagnosis rates increased 6 times. The study was conducted from 1970 to 2009.  According to the American Cancer Society (ACS) melanoma is a skin cancer that develops from the pigment skin cells. It is less common than other skin …

This weekend in St. Louis, amid smells of spray tan and the gleam of muscle glaze, participants in the NPC Midwest Championship from the area got the chance to show off the work several months in the making. The NPC, or National Physique Committee, is the amateur regulating body for the International Federation of Body Building (or IFBB), though Saturday's contest also had a professional portion. To compete as a pro, athletes must first place in their class at a nationally qualifying show, and then compete at the higher level and place in order to compete professionally.  As some readers may …

This week, as we continue our focus on National Nutrition Month, I'm going to take the reigns. As a Master’s student in nutrition, Doctor of Chiropractic student, amateur body builder and your faithful Health & Fitness columnist, I enjoy the benefit of picking up quite a few tips and tricks on ways to select the right foods at the right time—and how to stave off cravings for bad foods in the process. I often get asked how I stick to my competition diet and stay lean. Here is my advice: Inside first. First, before changing your diet, focus on your motivations and obstacles. You need to …

Fast winds aren't the only thing March brings to Ballwin and Ellisville. This month also marks National Nutrition Month, and Patch talked to nutritionists serving the area about what they'd like to see the public do to better their nutrition habits.  St. Luke's Hospital has several registered and licensed dieticians on staff who  specialize in the effects nutrition has on recovering from illness. Ballwin also has several experts at its own Nutrition Clinic, which emphasizes whole food nutrition.  Marcie Barnes, a Certified Nutrition Support Clinician at St. Luke’s, said simply recognizing the…

Doctors in several states are targeting obesity in children in the hopes of preventing dangers associated with the condition such as diabetes and even heart attacks from occurring. Pediatricians in California are leading a study in which, in addition to receiving nutritional advice, children who are overweight or at risk of obesity are prescribed servings of fruits or vegetables, according to an article in The Bay Citizen. The hospital program also required vegetable preparation classes for participants to better equip them to use their new foodstuffs.  Similar programs exist in places such …

Before dishing out punishment for little Johnny's tiff at school, take a look at what he had for breakfast, says a new book. A recent article from Business Insider reviewed a book called Willpower: Rediscovering the Greatest Human Strength, which analyzed the link between blood sugar and acting out. Researchers have found that children who got more breakfast misbehaved less, and after a morning snack good behavior dramatically increased. In addition, researchers have tested the personalities of diabetics and found they respond to stress less well than non-diabetics, likely because of the lack…

Whether you've recently sworn off unhealthy foods or perhaps still have a sweet tooth, Valentine's Day may seem like an affront to your senses, second only to Halloween. You may have steered clear of the 3-tiered boxes of chocolates and mounds of cupcakes at office parties. Still, here are a few reminders on what to avoid while still being able to enjoy good food and company. 1. Organic doesn't mean healthy. While it may be free of pesticides, the chocolate, cream, and flour in the cake has just the same amount of saturated fat as its conventional counterpart. Don't take "organic" as a …

I recently read an article highlighting a study done by the UT Southwestern Medical Center that said my 'dirty little secret' is not mine alone.  Hoarding a thousand cats? Wearing silky bloomers? Nope. I'm among the shameful masses that don't clean their contact lens properly.  In a survey of more than 400 contact lens wearers, the study found that only 2 percent followed rules for safe contact use. The worst offenses were swimming or showering in contact lenses, sleeping in them, or using them after they've started to wear out.  Check. Check. And Check.  But, I thought, there is no way that …

Plus Model magazine, a publication that supports plus size models in the fashion industry, devoted part of their January 2012 issue to comparing modern model standards to the average woman. The photos include plus-size model Katya Zharkova in artful nude along with a striking photo of Zharkova embracing a standard sized runway model. The photos received over 6,000 shares on Facebook and 1,000 Tweets. Editor's Note: To view the complete photo layout, click here. Warning: Photos contain partial nudity. Francesca Bell, 25, works in communications for a Ballwin car dealership. Bell is naturally …