American Health is an all volunteer civilian task force doing community service for community good. We're looking for a volunteer grant writer presently with experience in proposal writing. We're in our 14th year of service with chapters nation-wide and in 47 countries.

If you are interested please call 561 361 9091 and ask for Mimi.

Do YOU have the volunteer spirit?

The sweet truth! Best and worst sweeteners

The Sweet Truth! Best & Worst Sweeteners

ORLANDO, Fla. (American Health Newswire) -- Some of our favorite sweeteners can be harmful to us and the environment, but there are a few that can actually boost your nutrient intake! We'll give you the sweet truth for your sweet tooth!

Not everything sweet is good for you, new research shows the chemical sweetener in diet drinks known as aspartame, becomes toxic to the brain when mixed with food coloring. Bad guy number two is agave. It has up to 80 percent fructose in it, that's more than what is in high-fructose corn syrup! Also, sucralose, also known as Splenda is processed with chlorine. Scientists found that when passed through our bodies it can't be broken down.

On the sweeter side is Stevia. It can be 30 times sweeter than sugar and can regulate blood sugar levels. It's a good option for diabetics . Sugar alcohols are natural sweeteners with fewer calories than sugar. Studies show they can help prevent cavities. Finally, organic raw honey has plenty of cancer fighting antioxidants and a low glycemic index that won't lead to energy drops later in the day.

Most people have a tendency to overuse powders, in which the sweetener is highly concentrated. When shopping for sweeteners, try liquid forms to reduce your intake.

(Sources: MSN Health, Stevia.com)

Blood pressure breakthrough

Blood Pressure Breakthrough

LOS ANGELES, CA (American Health Newswire) -- High blood pressure affects 75 million Americans every year and costs the United States 76 billion dollars. Now, a new device to measure blood pressure could not only save more lives, but change the way blood pressure's been monitored for more than a century.

One in three adults has it. If left untreated, it can become a ticking time bomb; leading to heart disease, stroke or kidney failure. It's high blood pressure, something Caroline Lee wants to avoid.

"I'd like to think that I'm really active," Caroline Lee told American Health.

Caroline gets her blood pressure checked regularly, but now she can get an even better reading by testing what's happening in the large arteries close to her heart, known as central blood pressure. Normally, blood pressure is measured with a cuff in the upper arm for convenience, but recent studies show brachial blood pressure is not as accurate as central blood pressure for measuring your risk for disease.

"Based on the change of your central pressure, you can find out what your risk for heart diseases are," Dr. Nicole Weinberg, Cardiologist, Saint John's Health Center, told American Health.

Being able to measure blood pressure in the aorta, which is closer to the heart and brain, is important because this is where high blood pressure can cause significant damage. Until now it could only be measured directly by surgically placing a catheter or pressure sensor into the aorta, but a new FDA approved machine, The Sphygmocor, is changing that, a sensor the size of a pen is pressed at the wrist.

"We put a probe on the radial artery and through the pressure from your heart in the radial artery we are able to measure what the central pressures are," Dr. Weinberg explained.

In minutes, doctors can recommend either life style changes or drug therapy. As for Caroline...

"I don't know what it means to have 30-year old arteries, but I'm happy about it," Caroline explained.

Now she can get back to her active lifestyle, without worrying about her blood pressure.

If you're unable to try the new test the next time you get your blood pressure checked, make sure to get it checked in both arms. A new study published in the journal Lancetshows if the readings for the left and right arm have markedly different top numbers, it could be a sign of vascular disease and an increased risk of death.

Obstructive sleep apnea

Obstructive Sleep Apnea

(American Health Newswire)-- Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a disorder in which there is a recurring collapse of the upper airway during sleep with an ongoing effort to breathe. OSA is estimated to affect 1 in 5 adults in the United States.

Recently a landmark study which found that middle-age and older men with even mild levels of OSA were in danger of increased risk of stroke and death.

While a link between OSA and stroke is clear, OSA's effect on the cerebral (brain) vessels is not. In an effort to better understand this relationship, researchers developed a novel model that mimics OSA in humans. Their model has found that after just 30 days of OSA exposure cerebral vessel function is changed, which could lead to stroke.

Intermittent hypoxia (IH) is the most common animal model used to study OSA today it relies solely on exposing animals to a decrease in blood oxygen levels. The new model incorporates all physiological consequences involved in OSA by inducing true apnea (closure of the airway). The revised model creates a more complete picture of the apnea process and one that more accurately mimics how OSA unfolds in humans.

Using their model the researchers induced 30 apneas (10 seconds duration) per hour in animals for 8-hours during the sleep cycle for up to one month. After one month of apnea, cerebral vessel dilatory function was reduced by up to 22 percent. This finding correlates with studies that show similar cell dysfunction in arteries and an increased risk of stroke in OSA patients. Damage to the vascular wall in brain arteries could be a factor predisposing an individual with OSA to stroke.

"There are two important findings in these results," Randy Crossland, was quoted as saying.

"The first is the model itself. The new model allows us to study the complete disease and better understand how repetitive exposure to apnea affects the body. The second is that only one month of moderate OSA produces altered cerebrovascular function which could result in a stroke. A finding that highlights the detrimental impact OSA can have on the body."

According to Mr. Crossland, some researchers estimate that up to 85 percent of patients with clinically significant sleep apnea have not been diagnosed. Obesity and aging are strongly associated with OSA.

"As the prevalence of obesity is rising, and the population continues aging, we expect the rates of OSA to rise. It should also be noted that non-obese individuals and even children can have OSA," he said.

And while OSA is seen more often in men than in women for unknown reasons some researchers believe that the actual rate in females has been underestimated.

The common signs and symptoms of OSA include: habitual snoring, daytime sleepiness, enlarged neck size, morning headache, sexual dysfunction, and mood and behavioral changes.

"OSA can have a detrimental impact on a person's body and their life. It is a serious, yet treatable, disorder that should not be taken lightly," Mr. Crossland was quoted as saying.

SOURCE: Experimental Biology, April 23, 2012

Nomination: Veteran of the Year for 2012

What is the American Military Organization?

Since 2003, the American Military Organization, or AMO for short, has conducted various operations including the Orphans of War Campaign.

see orphansofwarcampaign.org) where we've shipped 1.5 million Teddy Bears or beanie babies to our troops in Iraq and now Afghanistan, more than any other charity.

We've been honored with citations and medals by the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines, including the Distinguished Gold Medal for Community Service.

Since 2003 AMO has also sponsored the Palm Beach County Veterans Luncheon on each Veterans Day with distinguished speakers from Congress and the military and have awarded special citations for the Veteran of the Year for Palm Beach County. Now the program has grown to include Broward and Martin Counties. Nominations for this years " Veteran of the Year for 2012" for Broward, Palm Beach and Martin Counties are enclosed now.

Nomination Application here

These programs are part of the American Health Association which is a 501 (c)-3 charity.

The American Veteran of the Year" Nomination Application"

AMERICAN MILITARY ORGANIZATION

(Broward, Palm Beach and Martin Counties)

The American Veteran of the Year" Nomination Application"

(Submit between June 1, 2012 and October 31, 2012)

NOMINEE NAME:_________________________________________________________________

(Last) (First)

MILITARY RANK: __________________________________________________________________

ADDRESS:________________________________________________________________________

CITY: ________________________________ STATE: _____________ ZIP CODE:____________

COUNTY (Check): _______Broward County ______Palm Beach County ______ Martin County

CELL TELEPHONE: ________________EMAIL:____________________________________________

NOMINATED BY: __________________________________________________________________

(Last) (First)

ADDRESS:________________________________________________________________________

CITY: ________________________________ STATE: ______________ ZIP CODE:_____________

CELL TELEPHONE: ________________EMAIL:___________________________________________

Please describe your nominee's volunteer efforts and why he/she should be honored with

this award (You may use an extra sheet of paper if necessary for your comments):

___________________________________________________________________

MAIL OR FAX TO:

American Military Organization

P. O. Box 1772

Boca Raton, FL 33429

(Fax) 561-368-7184

(Ph. #) 561-361-9091

100% of every dollar goes to service the charities programs and services here in Palm Beach County and around the globe Not one cent in 8 years has ever gone to salaries, of any kind, to anyone. We are, from top to bottom all volunteers in service to the community.

MISSION STATEMENT

The American Health Society is a distinguished 13 year old multi-award winning preventative public health & wellness 501(c)(3) charity whose mission is in preventative healthcare, mental wellness, health education, literacy and advocacy aimed at preventing lifestyle based illnesses, diseases and the frailties of aging.

We have a strong "Social Green Philosophy" of Humanitarian Service through our American Volunteer Corps which has a global outreach in 46 countries with members in 37 US States.

J. Robert Gordon - CEO and Founder
American Health Association

561-361-9091

Newsletter Editor and Communications Manager:
Suzanne Parent - suzanne@americanhealthfoundation.com