4* BENNETT BANNER - APRIL 4, 1997
• HEALTH & FITNESS • HEALTH & FITNESS • HEALTH & FITNESS •
Aging differences
(NAPS)—Although mostpeople
would say they want to grow
older, few want to feel older.
Fortimately, biotechnology holds
out some hope for a more
vigorous old age.
Carl B. Feldbaum, president
of the Biotechnology Industry
Organization, predicts we will
one day see headlines like the
following: “80-Year-01d Runs
New York Marathon in Less
Than Three Hours,” and “115-
Year-Old Couple Renews
Wedding Vows.”
As unlikely as those headlines
sound they won’ the the real news.
According to Feldbaum, the big
story will be the lack of surprise
when they appear. “Most of us
share some common hope that
we will live longer than our
parents and grandparents. B ut we
must question, will our longer
lives be what we expect them to
be? Will there be,” Feldbaum
asks, “more life in life?”
Recently, his group, the
world’s largest industry
organization to serve and
represent the biotechnology
industry, co-hosted a symposium
to look into that question with the
Alliance for Aging Research
(AAR). “More than 100
biotechnology companies are
engaged in research and
development for new medicines to
treat age-related disorders. Aging
is one of our industty’s most
significant areas of research,”
added Feldbaum.
The program featured a national
survey on attitudes and concerns
about growing older.
Staying mentally sharp, the study
found, is more important to most
women than appearance and sex
drive. Men, on the other hand,
tended to rank sex drive and
appearance as more vital concerns.
Overall, however, the survey
found that staying healthy was the
predominant choice between being
“healthy, wealthy, or wise.”
Recent biotechnology research
suggests the human immune
system may hold the key to
overcoming or controlling many
diseases. Researchers believe they
can use the body’s own immune
system to more effectively fight
cancer and other diseases
associated with aging.
Saving face for spring
(NAPS)—With warm weather
just around the comer, now is a
good time to evaluate your skin
care regimen and take steps to
ensure your skin is soft and
beautiful for the season ahead.
Dermatologist Dr. Debra
Wattenberg offers the following
advice:
Drink, drink, drink. Eight glasses
of water a day will give your skin
the essential moisture it needs—
from the inside out.
You are what you eat. For
healthy, supple skin, make sure
your diet includes five to nine daily
servings of fruits and vegetables.
Cleanse skin frequently.
Breakouts are common during
warmer weather, as people are
more active, so be sure to shower
immediately to remove
perspiration and oils.
An opportunity to get ahead
Bennett College
Summer School
May 21-July 3, 1997
Plan to attend
Calcium blockers used for
Blacks with hypertension
(N APS)—At age 22, Kevin
Greenlee thought he had to worry
about. Yet, like thousands of young
African Americans, he discovered
that he had to live with a disease
that required him to make lifestyle
modifications involving diet,
exercise and a daily medication to
control his blood pressure.
This story is not uncommon
among African American young
adults.
In fact, African Americans
develop hypertension at a much
earlier age and with increased
severity than white Americans.
This early rate of development
contributes to the nearly one-third
(32.4 percent) of all black adults
that suffer from hypertension
versus only 22 percent of the
general population.
Young African Americans have
to be aware of their increased risk
says Dr. W. Dallas Hall of Emory
University School of Medicine.
“It is not uncommon to see an
African American man or woman,
in their 20's, with severe
hypertension, whereas it is
extremely uncommon in
Caucasians.”
Early diagnosis is crucial
because untreated hypertension can
eventually lead to stroke, heart
disease and renal failure. The exact
reasons for the difference in rate
and severity have not been clearly
determined; however many
physicians such as Dr. James W.
Reed of the Morehouse School of
Medicine in Atlanta, cite various
factors including socioeconomic
status, genetic predisposition and
dietary habits.
Many physicians, including
Drs. Hall and Reed, agree that stress
related to a low-economic status
may contribute to health problems
in many black hypertensive
patients.
Although many treatments for
hypertension are available, cost
may be a barrier to the most
effective treatments for particular
patients. According to Dr. Reed,
many calcium channel blockers
have shown to be effective in the
African-American population.
However, among this diverse group
of drugs there is also a wide range
in terms of cost.
A new study. Calcium Anta
gonists in Blacks (CAB) is the
first study designed to specially
compare the efficacy of three
commonly used once-daily
calcium channel blockers (Adalat
CC, Procardia XL and Norvasc)
in the African American
population.
“All three drugs used in this
study have proven to provide 24-
hour blood pressure control in
the general population, and if
this is true in African Americans,
we can begin to explore and reap
the benefits of cost differences
between each drug,” Dr. Reed
said. This is good news for
doctors who treat patients of all
races and ages given the fact that
among these three drugs, there
are considerable price
differences.
The CAB study data, likely to
be released in summer, 1997 will
be especially importantto African
Americans who have a greater
chance of developing the disease.
Avoid using soap which can
leave skin dry and flaky. Instead,
try a mild, moisturizing beauty bar,
which doesn’t dry your skin like
soap.
Take shorter showers. Using
lukewarm water instead of hot
helps skin retain natural body oils.
Less is more. Switch to a lighter,
oil-free moisturizer with a 15+
SPF, as skin needs less hydration
in warmer weather because of
higher humidity.
Beware, the demon sun. Never
leave the house without a hat, or
sunscreen, which should be applied
at least 20 minutes before going
outside.
Test your current cleanser. If
your skin feels extremely dry, oily,
itchy or tight after washing, it may
be time to switch to a moisturizing
soap.
You don’t have to know
someone really well
to give the perfect
in fact, you don't
have to know them at all.
Pl(!;is(! ifivc hlmul,
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Call 1-800 GIVE LIFE
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American Red Cross
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