As members of Georgia’s House of Representatives debate whether to prohibit abortions for women more than 20 weeks pregnant, House Democrats  planned to introduce their own reproductive rights plan: No more vasectomies that leave "thousands of children … deprived of birth." Rep. Yasmin Neal, a Democrat from the Atlanta suburb of Jonesboro, planned to introduce a bill Wednesday that would prevent men from vasectomies unless needed to avert serious injury or death. “If we legislate women’s bodies, it’s only fair that we legislate men’s,” said Neal, who said she wanted to introduce a bill that would generate emotion and conversation the way anti-abortion bills do. “There are too many problems in the state. Why are you under the skirts of women? I’m sure there are other places to be." Filed under: Men’s Health , Pregnancy , Women’s Health Tagged: Jamie Gumbrecht — CNN

I am not sure if the ballerinas of Black Swan captured the American imagination, or if Dancing With the Stars and So You Think You Can Dance are inspiring more and more women to boogie for fitness, but dance workouts are all the rage, from Zumba to ballet. Even though I have quite a few friends experimenting with beginning adult ballet classes, I was shocked to see the Rehearsal Tutu ($98) prominently displayed at a San Francisco Lululemon store. Having danced most of my life, I do love a tutu – the feminine tulle, the extra fluff at my hips. Sure, they’re cute, but I am not sure I would don one for a studio class with a ballet mistress. What about you? Would You Ever Wear a Tutu? Yes! I would wear one to a ballet class. Yes . . . but only when dashing in a 5K fun run. No.

Linda asks… anxiety disorders….? I noticed that a lot of these questions on this site are about anxiety disorders . What exactly are they? What are they caused from? What are the symptoms? Jonjune answers: There are all kinds of anxiety disorders. Symptons can be from shaking and crying to being scared with your heart feeling like it is going to fall out of your chest ( that’s more a panic attack) You worry when you don’t need too.. There is no special time or place that will tell you it’s going to hit. Dr,’s have medication for anxiety and Anti-depressants for depression, you could probably go on a web site to find out more Nancy asks… Anxiety Disorders?? i think i have Anxiety Disorders ….I mean i get very nervous just going to school everyday knowing i will do the same thing and see the same people….so today i searched it and it kinda seems i have some of the symptoms….I get nervous very fast over the smallest things…..so what would i do??…Im only 14 Jonjune answers: ~ I use to go through the same thing when I was younger.. I went to counseling and they taught me to do the deep breathing and counting slowly to ten.. But it did not seem to work with me and I know it does with most people.. But for me it was stopping everything and just telling myself to calm down.. And when it also started I would train myself to quickly think about something else and when I got older I started to just confront my fears or the things that started my anxiety and after I did that I hardly get the panic attacks and anxiety! Just try different things until you find what is best for you! Get some books and read up on it or if you feel you can’t do it on your own consult a counselor! Good Luck and Hang in there.. It will get easier! Maria asks… Anxiety disorders? i recently had a Anxiety / Depression test i scored 0 for depression and i was one point off having to take tablets for Anxiety since having this test i decided to look into Anxiety as i didnt know much about it. since looking into it i have found that all these easily lose their patience have difficulty concentrating think constantly about the worst outcome have difficulty sleeping become preoccupied with, or obsessional about, one subject all of the above apply to me should i go back to my GP and tell her how i feel? Jonjune answers: You probably should see your GP…and don’t just take meds the rest of your life to control it. From what i understand, the root of your anxiety most likely stems from a situation/time in your life previously and this could be resolved through professional help. I too have suffered with anxiety and i found ways to cope like nail bitting, lip chewing, etc-a habit that would calm me down because it was repetative and soothing. But listen, you don’t want to form bad habits, and the advice i would give my younger self is too deal with the root of my anixety. Pills aren’t enough. This could worsen to painic attacks that will make you feel like you are dying. It won’t hurt to seek professional help and see if this is just an isolated occurance or if there is some underlining unresolved feelings here, that can be managed. Best of luck and remember…. Worrying is like rocking in a chair. It’s something to do, but it doesn’t get you any where. And try to remember all the times you worried about something that didn’t even happen. And when you go to sleep at night, give your self permission to think only good thoughts Susan asks… What do anxiety disorders and schizophrenia have in common and how do they differ? What do anxiety disorders and schizophrenia have in common and how do they differ? Jonjune answers: Anxiety and schizophrenia are two distinct physiological and psychological states of the mind. Anxiety deals with the unpleasant feeling which is often associated with apprehension, uneasiness, worry, or fear. Schizophrenia is much worse because it is already a mental disorder characterized by distortions of reality and disturbances of thought and language and withdrawal from social contact. Light anxiety is experienced by each of us from time to time, while the psychotic disorder schizophrenia is suffered by only a small percent of the world’s population. Anxiety has physical effects such as headaches, stomachaches, shortness of breath, chest pain, nausea, fatigue, muscle weakness and tension, or heart palpitations. Emotional effects are also seen within an anxious person, that to include feelings of dread or apprehension, trouble concentrating, feeling jumpy or tense, expecting the worst, restlessness, irritability, watching for of danger, and feelings of having your mind gone blank. Anxiety also causes nightmares, déjà vu and fears. Schizophrenics though are characterized by foolish mannerisms and senseless laughter along with delusions and regressive behavior. They are paranoid and are disorganized in speech and thinking associated with significant occupational or social dysfunction. Both anxiety and schizophrenia may have some relation with what happened in the past or the early environment of the person, which could be a traumatic experience or an intake of inappropriate drug. It could also be because of the risks involved in pregnancy. But only schizophrenia can have the genetic cause, not anxiety. People who experience anxiety especially those who suffer from a disorder already usually ask if it possible that it will eventually turn into schizophrenia. The answer would be no, because the major cause of schizophrenia is the genetic condition of a person. The likelihood of having this psychotic disorder depends on the family history of the person. Anxiety is the not the cause of schizophrenia, rather, it is more of a behavioral response than a disease. Schizophrenia is biologically caused by overproduction of the neurotransmitter serotonin which causes brain damage to the behavioral and social stimuli of a person. Anxious people still belongs in our world despite their struggle of constant fear, unlike schizophrenics who seem to have their own world where they talk to imaginary people. They both live in fear, but the schizophrenics are always paranoid that somebody’s reading or manipulating their minds and plotting harm against them. Anxiety does not cause disorganized speech and behavior. Schizophrenics are incomprehensible and even frightening because they intend to hurt the people around them without knowing it. They suffer from psychosis which is schizophrenia’s common condition where mental impairment is marked by delusions, sensory perception disturbances, and hallucinations which result from their inability to separate the real from the unreal experiences. Because of this, schizophrenia causes social anxiety or phobia. Treatments on both anxiety and schizophrenia are available, but in the case of the latter, only one out of five individuals recover completely from their mental illness. Both could be treated with medications such as anxiety-reducing drugs and antipsychotic drugs. Anxiety can have an easy recovery compared with schizophrenia. The latter usually takes years to fully heal. They are required to be inside a mental institution so as to be observed and evaluated for their progress in behavior. Intake of mental medications on both anxiety and schizophrenia is not an assurance of being healed; sometimes it only makes the condition of the patient much worse. It is advisable that if you got friends who suddenly became different with his interactions to other people and he seems to be acting weirder than usual, do not hesitate to seek professional help so that the illness won’t get worse. Summary: 1. Anxiety is a kind of emotion, while schizophrenia is a mental disorder. 2. Schizophrenia has worse effects on a person than anxiety. 3. Anxiety and schizophrenia can both be caused by past traumatic events and intake of inappropriate drugs, but the latter’s major cause is genetic problem. 4. Anxiety does not lead to schizophrenia, but schizophrenics are always anxious. 5. Schizophrenics do not recognize the difference of the real and the unreal world, while people who suffer from anxiety are far from it. 6. Medications and therapies are available. Sharon asks… How well does zoloft work for anxiety disorders linking to depression? How well does zoloft work for anxiety disorders or is there anything else better that u would recommend that would not put me to sleep. Ive feared social things, going back to school, getting a job and getting infront of people all my life Just wondering wondering if there is something that would help me have a productive life that would help my anxiety ? I want even go into a store by myself I panic. Ive always been more to myself because of it no very social. Jonjune answers: It works pretty damn good for me. I really don’t feel sleepy at all just better. It’s more like your relaxed now that you don’t have anxiety. It was a change for me because I couldn’t think of a time where I was not panicky except when I was a little kid. I started taking zoloft for anxiety/depression going on 2 months now. I started at 25mg and am now at 100 mg, and I think I’m staying at 100. It is truly amazing for anxiety. Anxiety has made me miserable, but not anymore. I haven’t had a panic attack in about a month now, and let me tell you it is great. I can go out in public now without a problem, Heart palpitations from anxiety are gone, and it also helps with my obsessive compulsiveness. Good luck, you won’t regret it! Powered by Yahoo! Answers Related Blogs

We know hot dogs aren’t the healthiest food on the grill, but The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine , a Washington DC group that promotes preventive medicine and a vegan diet, is implying with a new billboard advertisement that the dangers of hot dogs are as risky as smoking . The billboard, located near the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, shows a picture of hot dogs encased in a cigarette pack with the slogan: “Warning: Hot dogs can wreck your health.” The billboard’s location is no fluke since races at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway encourage hot dog consumption – 1.1 million hot dogs were sold during last year’s Indy 500. The doctors’ group believes that hot dogs should come with a warning label, just like a pack of cigarettes, to let people know that consuming processed meats can increase a person’s risk of developing colorectal cancer. High in sodium, a diet full of hot dogs can also lead to high blood pressure and heart disease, says the group. The group’s registered dietitian believes, “A hot dog a day could send you to an early grave,” and has research to back the claim up. A 2007 report by the American Institute for Cancer Research showed that consuming 1.7 ounces of processed meat (about the amount in one hot dog) per day can increase the risk of colorectal cancer by 21 percent . Every year, about 143,000 Americans are diagnosed with colorectal cancer and approximately 53,000 die of it. Consuming processed meats such as hot dogs, deli meats, and (gasp!) the beloved bacon are linked to other types of cancer as well including prostate, leukemia, and ovarian cancer, as well as diabetes. Source: The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine and Thinkstock Would seeing a billboard like this make you think twice about ordering a hot dog? Yes, it’s so eye-opening that I’d skip the hot dogs. No way, I eat what I want. I already avoid eating hot dogs.

Hep C Drugs: Incivek, the hepatitis C drug from Vertex Pharmaceuticals and Johnson & Johnson, won FDA approval, setting up a marketing battle with Merck’s new drug Victrelis, which was approved a week ago, the WSJ reports . Both drugs are added to existing therapies and will be expensive; a course of Victrelis will cost between $26,400 and $48,400, and 12 weeks of Incivek will cost $49,200, the paper says. Paper vs. Paper: Two seemingly conflicting studies have been published on the subject of serotonin levels and bone density, with one research group finding that blocking serotonin production in the guts of mice can help stave off osteoporosis and another group finding no connection, the New York Times reports . The question is important because if there is a causal relationship, it could point the way to new therapies for osteoporosis. Questioning Screening: Patients not at high risk for heart disease but with some risk factors weren’t helped in the short term by screening with CT angiography to detect early plaque buildups, the WSJ reports . Patients in South Korea who had the noninvasive test were more likely to be sent for further, sometimes invasive testing, but were no less likely to have a heart event or death in the subsequent 18 months, according to a study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine. Tightening Medicaid: Congressional Republicans want to pass legislation allowing states to save money on Medicaid by restricting eligibility requirements for the federal-state insurance program for low-income Americans, Kaiser Health News reports . Republicans’ original idea, to turn the program into block grants, is “all but dead,” KHN says; this latest idea, which could leave many without insurance, might become part of the negotiations over raising the federal debt limit. Image: iStockphoto

If you’ve been catching up on YumSugar today, then you already know it’s National Margarita Day. It’s Tuesday, and we’re in the dead of Winter, but somewhere the sun is shining, which provides an excuse to raise our glasses. Before you go out and order the classic cocktail at your local bar or restaurant, make this recipe at home. Not only will it taste better, you’ll save on calories since a lot of restaurant and bar margaritas are made with mixers that contain corn syrup and ingredients you can’t pronounce. This recipe, which purists will love, has only 144 calories – not a bad way to spend happy hour! See the recipe when you read more. Classic Margarita Adapted from the Mr. Boston Official Bartender’s Guide for iPhone The margarita recipe is one that has been riffed on several times over , but, being a purist, I’m a fan of the classic recipe. And while “classic recipe” may be debatable, the popular 3-2-1 formula (three parts tequila, two parts lime juice, and one part Cointreau) is the one I always go back to. Salt is optional, but I prefer to make mine without. If you find this recipe to be too tart for your tastes, the tiniest amount of agave syrup should do the trick. Ingredients Ice 1 1/2 ounces of 100 percent agave blanco tequila (I use Espolón or Herradura) 1 ounce fresh lime juice 1/2 ounce Cointreau Directions Fill rocks glass with ice; add tequila, lime juice, and Cointreau. Stir ingredients together until chilled; enjoy! Makes 1 drink. Print recipe with images | without images

Most everything in life takes effort. Getting your booty to the gym after a long day at work can require iron-clad motivational techniques , and even then, the excuses are quick at hand. The other day after a strength training class I overheard two women talking in the locker room. One asked the other if she was going for a run later, to which the woman replied, “Are you kidding me? I just flat ironed my hair. I’m not doing anything to work up a sweat for a week.” I giggled, empathizing with misbehaving hair issues, but realized that’s just another silly excuse to wiggle out of a workout. I asked fans of FitSugar’s Facebook page to share some of the lamest excuses they’d heard or used to get out of a workout, and the answers were a classic mix of relatable and ridiculous. Here are some of my favorites:

About this time next week, your house may be littered with those leftover “fun” size candy packets. Instead of giving into the ghoulish treats, dive into these healthier snacks that can satiate your sweet tooth for a whole lot less. View Slideshow ›

My primary objective for this site is to assist patients and physicians in improving the quality of health care. A new article appearing in the October 1st issue of the journal Nutrition suggests a timely strategy to accomplish this end. On June 15, the 2010 Dietary Guideline Advisory Committee Report (DGAC) was released. The recommendations Related posts: Dr. Richard Feinman Interview Part Two Food Revelations Choline Research and Food Sources Consulting Services Dr. Richard Feinman Interview Part One