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A wide-ranging site devoted to the subject of pain, intended for both consumers and professionals. There's an “Ask the Pain Doctor” section, regularly updated news and a library on pain resources.
A wrinkly smile in time
Back in 1965, when he was 20 years old, rock star Pete Townshend penned the line: “I hope I die before I get old” in the song, “My Generation.”
Townshend's now 61 and probably in no hurry to die, but his words reflect a commonly held sentiment: Most people believe their happiest days are in their youth, and that old age is a drag.
And they're wrong, say researchers at the University of Michigan and VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, who found that young people tend to “mispredict” their happiness in old age, and old people tend to “misremember” how happy they were in their youth.
Researchers surveyed 540 adults between the ages of 21 and 40 and over the age of 60. They were asked to rate or predict their individual level of happiness at their current age, at age 30, and at age 70, and to judge how happy most people are at these ages.
“Overall, people got it wrong, believing that most people become less happy as they age, when in fact this study and others have shown that people tend to become happier over time,” said Heather Lacey, one of the study's authors.
“Not only do younger people believe that older people are less happy, but older people believe they and others must have been happier 'back then.' Neither belief is accurate.”
Lacey and colleagues say that most people mistakenly believe that happiness is simply a matter of circumstance, that happiness or misery are the result of stuff happening, whether it's winning the lottery or becoming disabled by disease.
But Dr. Peter Ubel, another study author, said happiness is more the result of underlying emotional resources that grow with time. “People get better at managing life's ups and downs, and the result is that as they age, they become happier – even though their objective circumstances, such as their health, decline.”
Body of knowledge
Human tears are approximately 0.9 percent salt, about one-third as salty as seawater.
Get me that. Stat!
More than 4.5 million American lives are saved each year by blood transfusions, according to the American Red Cross. An estimated 5 percent of eligible Americans donate blood annually. Every two seconds, an American requires a transfusion.
Phobia of the week
Homichlophobia – a fear of fog
Best medicine
“Is it true Anna's son is seeing a psychiatrist?” the woman asked her friend.
“That's what I heard,” the friend replied.
“What's the problem?”
“The psychiatrist says the boy has a profound Oedipus complex.”
“Oedipus-schmoedipus,” scoffed the first woman. “As long as he loves his mother.”
Stories for the waiting room
Minoxidil (Rogaine) and finasteride (Propecia) are merely the latest purported remedies for hair loss and baldness. In 1550 B.C., the Egyptians concocted a tonic that, according to surviving manuscripts, called for a mixture of lion, hippo, crocodile, cat, serpent and ibex fat to be applied liberally to the barren scalp.
What connection crocodiles and serpents had with hair is unclear.
Observation
One out of four people is mentally unbalanced. Think of your three closest friends. If they seem OK, then you're the one.
– Ann Landers
Fixing famous people
All of the following have had Botox treatments, according to Mitchell Symons, author of “This Book of More Perfectly Useless Information.” A partial list, to be sure: Madonna, Cliff Richard, Patsy Kensit, Joan Rivers, Elizabeth Hurley, Celine Dion, Kirstie Alley, Tom Cruise and Jamie Lee Curtis.
HEALTH SCREENINGS
“Boot Camp”
11 a.m. and 7 p.m. today, FitTV
Fitness expert Cathe Friedrich leads eight cycles involving cardio activity, upper and lower strength work, and core conditioning.
“Anatomy of Sex”
9 tonight, Discovery Health
Discover the biological responses to attraction and mating. Investigate the evolutionary story of natural selection and caregiving as a couple tries to start a family.
“Fit Family”
8 p.m. Thursday, Discovery Health
The Scardas are ready to take the “Fit Family” challenge. With the help of two tough New York personal trainers, the overweight parents and their inactive teenagers will be off the couch and ready for the beach in just 10 weeks.
CALENDAR
Lose weight: Healthy Directions of Poway will hold a weight-loss program at 6:30 tonight at Gateway Medical Center, 15725 Pomerado Road, Suite 106, Poway. Free. Information: (858) 335-2140.
Help yourself: Local Health Care Professionals will present “Helping You Help Yourself,” a seminar featuring Dr. John “Chip” Rowe, orthopedic surgeon, and physical therapist Rusty Tassinari on life without shoulder pain; 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at St. Brigid Parish Hall, 4735 Cass St., San Diego. Free. Reservations: (858) 581-6900.
Senior health expo: Various North County health care and social service agencies are sponsoring a Senior Community Health Expo from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at Villa Del Rey, 1351 Washington Ave., Escondido. Proceeds from food booths and raffle tickets will benefit the Alzheimer's Association and the Joslyn Senior Center in Escondido. Information: (760) 741-3055.
Science simplified: Oasis Life Sciences will offer “Science Made Simple” from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. June 27 at the Doubletree Hotel San Diego/Del Mar, 11915 El Camino Real. Topics will include metabolism and how to eat better. Free. Reservations: (858) 259-8827.
Eat right: The OASIS Center will offer “Eating for Longevity,” presented by Vicky Newman, associate clinical professor, UCSD School of Medicine, at 1 p.m. June 28 at the center in the Mission Valley Robinsons-May, third floor. Cost: $3. Registration: (619) 574-0674.
E-mail calendar items to
health@uniontrib.com
