( CNN) - - The wind whistles by like a gentle caress, propelling you forward, as you build up momentum. Legs begin pumping. Scenery is whooshing by, yet you glide down the road as if one with the ground. You and your bicycle are operating in perfect harmony, literally balancing on two wheels.

It' s something most people take for granted: riding a bike. Yet, it' s an activity many learn early in life.

In fact, some would say it' s even a childhood rite of passage in many cultures. & quot; You get a sense of ease of motion, & quot; says Walt Kenzie of Roswell, Georgia, an mateur cyclist who has raced his bike on occasion. & quot; It' s relaxing. It' s very mentally relaxing from the standpoint of you are always experiencing something new, because everything' s changing very quickly, yet you' re still getting a lot of exercise, & quot; he says. And that' s something about cycling that people have loved from the very beginning, when the first European bicycle made its appearance in the United States more than 100 years ago.

In the late 1800s there were nicknames for the bicycle, like & quot; steel horse, & quot; & quot; silent stead, & quot; and & quot; hobby horse. & quot; It also sparked a growing craze. But, for women, the bike symbolized much more than a trendy craze or a favorite pastime. & quot; The bicycle created this opportunity for them to leave, to see the outside world quite literally, & quot; says author Sue Macy, who recently released a new book called & quot; Wheels of Change: How Women Rode the Bicycle to Freedom. & quot; Macy explained most adult women in the late 1800s were pretty much confined to their homes, as young women or wives, unless they were factory workers. They even socialized in their homes, usually in the parlors with their beau. And their parents would sit there and watch them.

Then the bike rolled onto the scene. & quot; It was extraordinary. It affected the way women dressed, women' s sense of themselves, women' s ability to travel beyond the confines of their homes, & quot; Macy told CNN Radio. For one thing, the layers of heavy petticoats and wide crinolines had to go. & quot; When they started riding bicycles it became clear that this wouldn' t work, & quot; Macy says. & quot; The petticoats were getting caught in the spokes. Women were really getting injured just because of the clothing they wore. So quite quickly alternatives to the way they dressed were introduced.

They were no longer wearing such heavy clothing. & quot; Macy said the petticoats gave way to the bloomers, the puffy underpants worn under skirts. Even with the bloomers, though, women weren' t riding for speed or to get somewhere at that time.

Beth Emery is a biking teacher in Connecticut. She' s also a historian on women' s athletics. Emery said women weren' t really riding in the way that biking is thought to today because biking at the time was mostly about being out and being seen. & quot; It was like parading around and part of getting the fresh air and exercise, & quot; says Emery.

She has an extensive collection of turn- of the- century photographs and drawings of cyclists and says, at that time, it wasn' t an activity or a hobby for the masses, at least not yet. & quot; Bicycling was a very middle- class or upper- middle- class activity because to buy a bike was hugely expensive. & quot; But the biking craze caught on.

Macy argues in her book that as biking grew in popularity, it helped advance the the women' s movement.

She points to famous women' s rights advocates of the day, including Susan B. Anthony, who thought the bicycle not only helped change women' s fashion, but how they behaved socially. Macy offered a quote from Anthony, who said, & quot; Let me tell you what I think of bicycling. I think it has done more to emancipate women than anything else in the world. & quot; These days thousands of women routinely hop on their bikes and think nothing of the shorts they' re wearing or the comfortable shoes they' re wearing to pedal.

They' re thinking about other things, like maybe how environmentally friendly biking really is.

Biking fan Lori Kenzie, Walt Kenzie' s wife, explains it this way: & quot; It' s a green thing to do. Our daughter has made us even more aware of how green ( it is) because she is totally into protecting the planet, recycling, ( reducing) the carbon footprint, that kind of thing. She thinks we should all be either riding a bike or using horses instead of cars. & quot; And that would that be a true example of riding full circle. CNN Radio' s Pat St. Claire, Chip Grabow and Susanna Capelouto contributed to this report.

Your dentist or oral surgeon will take a number of steps to ensure proper healing of the socket and to prevent dry socket. You' ll be instructed on steps you can take to prevent the complication. What your dentist or oral surgeon may do Oral antibiotics, particularly for people with compromised immune systems What you can do before surgery Seek a dentist or oral surgeon with experience in tooth extractions. If you take oral contraceptives, schedule your extraction, if possible, during days 23 to 28 of your menstrual cycle, when estrogen levels are lower. Stop smoking and the use of other tobacco products at least 24 hours before tooth extraction surgery.

Consider talking to your doctor or dentist about a program to help you quit permanently. Talk to your dentist or oral surgeon about any prescription or over- the- counter medications or supplements you' re taking, as they may interfere with blood clotting. What you can do after surgery You' ll receive instructions about what to expect during the healing process after a tooth extraction and how to care for the wound. These instructions will likely address the following issues that can help prevent dry socket: Activity. After your surgery, plan to rest for the remainder of the day.

Resume normal activities the next day, but for at least a week, avoid rigorous exercise and sports that might result in dislodging the blood clot in the socket. Beverages. Drink lots of water after the surgery. Don' t drink alcoholic, caffeinated, carbonated or hot beverages in the first 24 hours.

Don' t drink with a straw for at least a week because the sucking action may dislodge the blood clot in the socket. Food.

Eat only soft foods, such as yogurt or applesauce, for the first 24 hours. Start eating semisoft foods when you can tolerate them.

Avoid hard, chewy, hot or spicy foods that might get stuck in the socket or irritate the wound. Cleaning your mouth. Don' t brush your teeth, rinse your mouth, spit or use a mouthwash during the first 24 hours after the surgery. After that time, gently rinse your mouth with warm salt water every two hours while awake and after meals for a week after your surgery. Mix 1/ 2 teaspoon ( 2.

5 milliliters) of table salt in 8 ounces ( 237 milliliters) of water.

After the first 24 hours, resume brushing your teeth, being particularly gentle near the surgical wound. Tobacco use.

If you smoke, don' t do so for at least 24 hours after surgery. If you chew tobacco, don' t use it for at least a week. Any use of tobacco products after oral surgery can delay healing and increase the risk of complications. & copy; 1998- 2011 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research ( MFMER) .

There are several ways to treat periodontitis, depending on its severity. The goal of periodontitis treatment is to thoroughly clean the pockets of bacteria and to prevent more damage. Treatment may be performed by a periodontist, a dentist or a dental hygienist. Treatment is most successful when you adopt a daily routine of good oral care. Nonsurgical treatments If your periodontitis isn' t advanced, treatment can include less invasive procedures, including: Scaling.

Scaling removes tartar and bacteria from your tooth surfaces and beneath your gums. It may be performed using instruments or an ultrasonic device. Root planing.

Root planing smoothes the root surfaces, discouraging further buildup of tartar. Antibiotics.

The use of antibiotics to treat periodontitis remains open to debate. Your periodontist or dentist may recommend using topical or oral antibiotics to help control bacterial infection. Topical antibiotics are generally the treatment of choice. They can include antibiotic mouth rinses or insertion of threads and gels containing antibiotics in the space between your teeth and gums or into pockets after deep cleaning. However, oral antibiotics may be necessary to completely eliminate infection- causing bacteria.

Surgical treatments If you have advanced periodontitis, your gum tissue may not respond to nonsurgical treatments and good oral hygiene. In that case, your periodontitis treatment may require dental surgery, such as: Flap surgery ( pocket reduction surgery) . In this procedure, your periodontist makes tiny incisions in your gum so that a section of gum tissue can be lifted back, exposing the roots for more effective scaling and planing. Because periodontitis often causes bone loss, the underlying bone may be recontoured before the gum tissue is sutured back in place.

The procedure generally takes from one to three hours and is performed under local anesthesia.

Soft tissue grafts. When you lose gum tissue to periodontal disease, your gumline recedes, making your teeth appear longer than normal. You may need to have damaged tissue replaced.

This is usually done by removing a small amount of tissue from the roof of your mouth ( palate) or another donor source and attaching it to the affected site. This procedure can help reduce further gum recession, cover exposed roots and give your teeth a more cosmetically pleasing appearance. Bone grafting. This procedure is performed when periodontitis has destroyed the bone surrounding your tooth root. The graft may be composed of small fragments of your own bone or the bone may be synthetic or donated.

The bone graft helps prevent tooth loss by holding your tooth in place. It also serves as a platform for the regrowth of natural bone.

Bone grafting may be performed during a technique called guided tissue regeneration. Guided tissue regeneration. This allows the regrowth of bone that was destroyed by bacteria.

In one approach, your dentist places a special piece of biocompatible fabric between existing bone and your tooth.

The material prevents unwanted tissue from entering the healing area, allowing bone to grow back instead. Enamel matrix derivative application. Another technique involves applying a specialized gel to a diseased tooth root. This gel contains the same proteins found in developing tooth enamel and stimulates the growth of healthy bone and tissue. & copy; 1998- 2011 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research ( MFMER) .

Reprise is a barbershop quartet assembled in 2001 at Brigham Young University.

The singers, Tim Workman ( tenor) , Joel Gillsepie ( lead) , Rex Kocherhans ( baritone) , and Tad Harris ( bass) are alumni of the internationally- renowned BYU Singers. Strangely enough for a barbershop, all are classically trained. The year of the group' s conception ( 2001) , Reprise won the MBNA America Collegiate Barbershop Quartet Contest held in Nashville, Tennessee with their renditions of the barbershop classics & quot; What' ll I Do? & quot; and & quot; Dinah& quot; .

They have since performed with the Saltaires Show Chorus for the 2002 Winter Olympics, as guest performers with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, and others. User- contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By- SA License and may also be available under the GNU FDL.

Pitted to be the UK’ s next big female soloist, Kyla La- Grange has already been compared to a young Marianne Faithful and shot in Glamour magazine.

Bel Trew grabs her between recording sessions. ‘ The first instrument I ever played was probably a kazoo’ , says singer- songwriter Kyla La- Grange.

Recently featured in Glamour magazine as hot new talent, Kyla has just recorded her latest track ‘ Courage’ and thankfully the kazoo is not present. Part South- African and part Zimbabwean, Kyla grew up in London ( mind you there’ s not much Watford in her music) . Her Indie- Folk- Rock- Pop ( it’ s hard to put a label on it) is putting some glorious oomph into the world of female vocalists. Kyla’ s voice is what sets her apart.

It’ s odd. It doesn’ t seep out of your stereo into a syrupy puddle at your eardrum. Her voice has all the gritty, awkward vulnerabilities of a major Folk- singer with a smoky punch of Blues. Her music has drama with intimate starts, large choruses and smashing beats.

Vampire Smile, her first recorded song, surges towards a kind of delicious bacchanalian rally- cry at the end.

Courage, her latest offering, takes a more decisive step towards a vast folk symphony. ‘ We’ re building up these big walls of sound’ explains Kyla, ‘ with thick layered guitar bars and vocal harmonies’ and a mixture of female and male voices. Kyla is also demonstrating the real versatility of her voice. There is definitely something of Elliott Smith in her delivery and Leonard Cohen in her lyrics – both icons of hers. Courage is based on a friend: ‘ It' s about wanting to be brave enough to walk away from someone because you know they don' t love you as much as you love them, ’ before adding, ‘ I' ve never been brave enough to do that and I' m amazed by people who can. ’ Kyla has played at Glastonbury but some her favourite gigs are little acoustic ones ‘ where everyone is so quiet you could hear a pin drop’ . The Flowerpot and the Troubadour in London, she says, are the best places to hear and play music.

Despite doing well, Kyla admits its hard making music: ‘ You can get caught up in that dilemma between writing for yourself and writing for an audience’ .

It’ s also not an industry that promotes self- esteem, something she bizarrely lacks. ‘ But, ’ she jokes ‘ I think it gives me a lot too. Patience.

Callouses on my fingertips. ’ Kyla is irritatingly talented. A Cambridge University Philosophy graduate, she’ s good at sports, astonishingly beautiful and, of course, a bloody good singer.

When I asked her for any more hidden talents, it turns out she can even speak to her dog. So she’ s busy recording her album at the moment in London. ‘ No one has really heard the new stuff yet so it’ s exciting to be at the point where I know these songs are the blueprint for how I want the album to sound. ’ If her previous efforts are anything to go by, the album is set to be gutsy and beautiful. When will it be ready? Soon. Watch this ( my) space.

User- contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By- SA License and may also be available under the GNU FDL.

Shook Ones are a band from Bellingham, Washington that formed in 2004. They have done several tours of the United States and a three- week tour of Europe. In April 2007, the band toured Japan playing several shows with Easel. In November of the same year, Shook Ones left Revelation Records, along with many of the other bands that Revelation had worked with between 2005 and 2007. The Summer of 2008 saw the release of a split EP with End of a Year, a band who had also left Revelation Records the previous fall.

Philadelphia based Runner Up Records handled the release of the split, which features four songs from Shook Ones and one from End of a Year. Future releases include a split EP with Hour of the Wolf on No Idea Records and a new LP to be released on Paper + Plastick.

User- contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By- SA License and may also be available under the GNU FDL.

Should political debate be about jobs not debt? Zakaria: Cutting too fast slows growth Terror warning for utility companies An initiative that could save lives Are tabloid papers good for America? Do we coddle female athletes?

Social media background checks? If you can' t beat them, eat them! TV producer Al Taylor: I met with Casey Chihuahua chases off robbers British phone hacking inquiry widened Shuttle Atlantis makes final landing If you can' t beat them, eat them! NASA: What' s next? New breast cancer screening guidelines First Lady' s new food initiative Fallout after Murdoch testimony Geyser of water lifts car into air Bolden: NASA is very busy Are fast food calorie counts accurate?

Hacking groups' possible agendas Man served time for elaborate fraud Ridicu. List Classic: The best of Snooki Neutrality policy impacting bullying?

School district' s policy under scrutiny Teenager known as the ' Barefoot Bandit' Corzine, Fiorina on debt ceiling debate Dems, GOP spew rhetoric on tax issue Man faked his identity for decades Murdoch in the hot seat Ex- nuclear plant operator speaks out CNN' s new video experience on i. Pad The Shot: Caption casts spell on Cooper Should politicians do religious events? Young People Want Debt Deal Edwards ordered to repay $ 2. 3M Social media background checks? Finding ' voice' with cerebral palsy 11 million starving in Somalia Famine strikes Somalia 9/ 11 families to meet with Justice Dept.

PM Cameron addresses hacking allegations Bachmann questions farmers' claims Mrs.

Murdoch to the rescue Granderson: Debt talks need more women Dr. Drew Bristol Palin talks teen pregnancy TV producer Al Taylor: I met with Casey Bizarre deaths at millionaire' s mansion Behind- the- scenes with Bristol Palin Preview: Dr. Drew with Bristol Palin Murray to blame for Jackson' s death? Casey interview: Bonanza or backlash?

Summers on America' s growth prospects Fareed' s Take: Afghanistan' s future What in the World: Brazil overheating?

Most expensive city in the world Lawmakers fighting like cats and dogs Fareed Zakaria answers your questions Bernard- Henri Levy speaks out on DSK Peter Godwin on Sudan Getting a Picasso into a war zone Abrams: Murdochs ' got to be thrilled' Zakaria: Cutting too fast slows growth Ex- player: NFL abandoned me after injury Ex- insider: ' Murdoch is on the run now' Gergen: Prospects for default above 50% Debt crisis: Whatever happened to jobs?

House vote ' one way of herding the cats' Experts skeptical of Murdoch' s ignorance Campbell: Cameron should admit ' error' ' Revolving door' guarded Murdoch paper?

Who is winning debt ceiling debate? Hacking whistle- blower was ' a good guy' Paris Hilton walks off set of GMA Gay man turns himself ' straight' Can Casey Anthony ever be forgiven? Roseanne: I' m not good at marriage Chubby teen becomes beauty queen Shannon Tweed walks out on Gene Simmons Would Casey' s attorney let her babysit?

My father was ' The Grim Reaper' Fergie: I' m addicted to being liked Clinton nudges India, upsets China Docs: Mammograms each year starting at 40 Will migraines impact Bachmann campaign? Murdoch acting like himself? Gadhafi: Brega will be ' hell' Republican social issues in 2012 An initiative that could save lives Missouri mother of three is missing TV producer claims he met with Casey Murray' s defense wants jury sequestered Tot mom allegedly spotted at airport Cops: Son kills parents, throws party Where is Casey Anthony?

Is Congress less partisan than we think? Prince Alwaleed on Apple, News Corp. Panel judges Murdoch' s performance Cornel West and Tavis Smiley speak out Piers Morgan: Behind the scenes Piers Morgan blasts Mensch' s ' lie' Trump: Bachmann is ' highly underrated' Murdoch takes pie in the face Piers Morgan: CNN host, ' AGT' judge Tom Arnold discusses his dark past Nancy Grace opens up on fiance' s murder Tom Arnold talks Arnold Schwarzenegger Claustrophobic fighter pilot ' Mini Darth Vader' talks health care Impact of concussions to brain Ex- players sue NFL over concussion risks Brain injury patient back on the road Katy Perry' s 9 VMA noms; Gaga snubbed? Ryan Reynolds on the fame game Chris Brown to star in a romantic movie Will Nancy Grace interview ' tot mom' ? Bounty hunter wants to sue Casey Anthony Khloe Kardashian' s Twitter outrage Hollywood hacking outrage J.

Lo and Marc Anthony split shocker Justin and Selena: Wedding crashers? Casey Anthony in disguise?

Kim Kardashian' s mom gets facelift Al- Qaeda uses cartoons to get recruits al- Awlaki: Wanted Dead or Alive? Musharraf to U. S: Keep your guard up Drone of the future tested Terror warning for utility companies Musharraf: I think Perry will run Lobbyists battle amid deficit cuts Debt debate gets ugly New TSA body scan less invasive Hackers turn tables on Murdoch empire Migraines a deal breaker for Bachmann? ' Nobody proved Murdoch was involved' How Giuliani would negotiate debt talks Rudy Giuliani weighs in on debt talks Sound of Sunday with Candy Crowley Politicos agree: GOP field leaderless Candy' s post- show analysis Giuliani: ' Not sure' I could win in NH Graham has no confidence in compromise WH Budget chief: Time to act is now

( CNN) - - As a toddler, Ian Barrier got expelled from day care. & quot; They just said that he was all over the place, he couldn' t handle the structure, they didn' t have the staff or the skills to deal with it, & quot; said his mother, Amy Barr. & quot; They said, ' We think he has or ADHD' and I' m like, ' What is that? & quot; Ian, now 11, and his 9- year- old brother Aidan are just two examples of some 5 million children in the United States who have received the diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder ( ADHD) , a condition marked by impulsive behavior and a lack of focus. But although this is a medical condition with medical treatments available, often doctors aren' t the ones suggesting a diagnosis. Many parents begin their struggles with treating their children' s ADHD the way that Barr did: with a suggested diagnosis from a school or day care setting. That' s a problem, doctors say, when there could be many other factors contributing to a child' s behavior. For a teacher to suggest that a child has ADHD is & quot; inappropriate and dangerous, & quot; says Dr.

Elizabeth Roberts, child psychiatrist in Murrieta, California. Depression, anxiety and abuse are all possibilities in a child' s life that could lead to attention problems, Roberts said. That means that many children are receiving medication for the wrong problem. Roberts wants to say to all educators: & quot; There are many, many diagnoses that cause these problems, including abuse and depression and anxiety. So please, withhold your judgment. & quot; But Barr is happy that her son' s day care center mentioned the condition to her.

It explained Ian' s behaviors that she had been excusing with the adage & quot; boys will be boys. & quot; The center also directed her to a facility where he could get tested. & quot; I' m just glad that they brought it up, because I was living in it and didn' t know any better, & quot; she said.

In Barr' s case, having gotten her kids tested for ADHD even before school, the educational system has been supportive. But the question of medication has plagued her, with years of trying different combinations of drugs - - sometimes four or five at a time. Despite medication, Ian pulled the fire alarm at his fourth day care center, dispatching the same fire department that would get him out of a tree at age 9, Barr said. And both brothers have spent time in a psychiatric ward at a children' s hospital;or the younger one, it may have been because of overmedication, Barr said. & quot; You go through all of that, and it' s just various different medications, and then you start to feel guilty: I' m drugging my kid, & quot; said Barr, of Fleming Island, Florida.

Her boys are now both on just one medication - - Vyvanse ( lisdexamfetamine) - - for focusing in school. All too often, parents come to pediatrician Dr. Claudia Gold' s office asking for a prescription for ADHD, based on a recommendation from school. When she consults with parents alone, however, she' s likely to hear stories of trauma: a death in the family, an abusive relationship, and other life experiences that the teacher knew nothing about. & quot; I think that sometimes folks want an immediate answer and they want to help a child as quickly as possible, & quot; said Cheryl Rode, Director of Clinical Operations at the San Diego Center for Children in California. & quot; Medication is quick and easy but it' s not the answer alone for working with kids who have ADHD. & quot; Experts agree that ADHD does exist as a real disorder, and that some children really do benefit from medication. Studies have shown a biological basis to the disorder and a genetic component, suggesting it can be passed down in families.

But it' s not the teacher' s place to make diagnoses, or to recommend medication, Gold said. Teachers and related school personnel have an important role in identifying learning and social challenges faced by students, including those with ADHD, says Clarke Ross, CEO of CHADD ( Children and Adults with Attention Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder) . But teachers should never give a diagnosis for the purpose of medication use, or advise the use of medications, he said. Alana Morales, of Thornton, Colorado, is one of those teachers who has brought up the subject of ADHD testing with many parents.

She doesn' t tell parents to medicate their kids, but brings up the subject of getting children tested because she thinks it' s important for parents to know. & quot; You have to be so careful because, again, we are not doctors, & quot; she said. & quot; But does that mean we don' t recognize it? No. & quot; Not every child with ADHD needs medication, doctors say, and Morales said some students benefit more from counseling, special adjustments in school, a tutor, or a different environment for doing homework. It' s helpful for parents to get informed about the condition and become advocates for their children - - but some may make the situation worse by having a closed mind to interventions and denying that there' s anything wrong, she said. & quot; You' re really setting them up for failure, because it' s not a crime, it doesn' t mean you' re less of a parent if your child learns differently, & quot; she said.

Rode agrees with Roberts that teachers should not recommend medication, but thinks that teachers have an excellent frame of reference for what is typical or normal development. Also the parent of two children with ADHD, Morales has specific strategies she uses when there are kids with ADHD in her class: don' t seat them together, put them on the edges of the classroom so she can see them better, and sometimes modify assignments.

Providing an environment conducive to helping kids with conditions such as this is getting harder as budget- tightening schools cut back on teachers, Morales said. Last year, teaching at a public school in Arizona, Morales had one classroom with 37 students, which included at least four kids with ADHD and one with Asperger' s syndrome. And teachers whose job it is to provide extra help to those kids get responsibility for more students, leaving them with less time for each one. Roberts estimates that only about 10 to 20 percent of children who receive the diagnosis of ADHD actually need medication. While parents like Barr have tried to inform themselves as much as possible about ADHD and treatment options, some doctors say the condition gets misapplied because it is a quick and easy catch- all diagnosis for a variety of behavior problems, with drugs available to treat it.

Parents are also culprits, and bear some responsibility for their children' s behavior, Roberts said. She thinks a lot of kids just need better structure and discipline in the home. & quot; Parents want to leap- frog over the parenting job and get right to the grandparenting, & quot; she said. & quot; Everyone wants to have fun with their kids and everyone wants to be popular with their kids like Grandma is.

But the reality is: Someone has to be the bad guy or the kid never learns. & quot; Morales recommends that parents stay involved in their child' s school lives by helping them with homework, assisting with organizing their papers, and writing notes to teachers so that everyone is on the same page. On behalf of her own two children with ADHD, Morales is writing letters now to their teachers explaining how her kids learn differently and what accommodations have been made in the past ( they are both on medication) . She is also asking the teachers to let her know about any problems this school year.

Looking back, Barr wishes that when her children first got the ADHD diagnosis and then started school, she could have had a teleconference with the school and the psychiatrist at the me time.

Instead, she had to relay what the teachers said about her children' s behavior to the psychiatrist, and then the psychiatrist' s treatment decisions back to the school.

( CNN) - - After almost 3, 000 miles of rowing, bouts of seasickness, equipment failure and salt sores, Paul Ridley is back on land. On day 88, Ridley, 25, completed his solo rowing trip across the Atlantic Ocean, becoming the youngest American ever to do so. & quot; I' m exhausted.

Overwhelmed with all the excitement from my arrival, & quot; Ridley told CNN. & quot; Physically feeling good but will be feeling a lot better when the soreness starts to heal and once that happens I will be back to fundraising because cancer research is still in need of funding, so we still have a lot of work to do. & quot; For nearly three months, Ridley has been rowing up to twelve hours a day on the 2, 950- mile journey to raise awareness and hopefully raise money for cancer research. His organization & quot; Row for Hope& quot; was inspired by the death of his mother from skin cancer in 2001.

He set out from the Canary Islands off the north African coast in his 19- foot boat on January 1; he landed on the Caribbean island of Antigua at 2: 30 p. m. on March 29. & quot; It was incredible, & quot; he said. & quot; The whole Island of Antigua came out to greet me. The harbor was swarming with boats. A big crowd on dry land. It' s really been an amazing reception. & quot; Only 85 people have attempted the nearly 3, 000 miles east- to- west crossing, according to the Ocean Rowing Society International, but most failed. & quot; I' m definitely suffering from exposure to the elements and I' ve lost 20 pounds. This is definitely different from my life at home. & quot; Ridley told CNN this week before hitting land.

Ridley is the youngest - - and only third American - - to complete the voyage by rowing. Dedicating the trip to the memory of his mother, Ridley' s goal was to cross the Atlantic Ocean with only oars and raise $ 500, 000 for research at the Yale Cancer Center.

While he arrived at his destination, he still has to raise $ 400, 000 to meet his goal. After their mother died, Ridley and his sister Joy Ridley created Row for Hope, a fundraising effort in memory of their mother. & quot; I was a rower at Colgate University. I love the sport.

I' m not a scientist, but I can row, & quot; he said. The project has been three years in the making. For two of those, Ridley worked with a rowing coach and nutritionist. Beginning in March 2008, he trained by rowing up to 10 hours a day, every day. He put on an extra 15 pounds, knowing he would lose weight during the crossing.

He and his sister spent $ 60, 000 of their own savings to have his boat custom built, and he took a leave of absence from his financial services job.

There was no support vessel following in his wake, and his food was largely the same freeze- dried variety as astronauts eat in space. Ridley' s sister and fellow fundraisers tracked his progress via GPS navigation devices and kept in touch via a satellite phone. & quot; I have electricity from a solar- powered electrical system which is how I power the computer and also the satellite phone, & quot; he explained. & quot; That keeps me connected back home and is one of the real mental pick- me- ups I have out here. & quot; Out in the , even when he rested his arms, his fingers were busy documenting his adventure on his blog, transmitted over satellite phone. & quot; My hands may be blistered, my seat is sore but I love the journey, & quot; he wrote. The courage to confront and even embrace his discomfort and the danger from winter ocean weather comes from his mother Katherine. & quot; Her fight was courageous but short, & quot; Paul said. & quot; After she was gone I remember wondering how anyone ever moves on from that kind of loss. & quot; But even once on land, this journey is not over. In fact, it' s just the beginning of a bigger expedition. & quot; We' d like to keep Row for Hope alive to support other athletes who want to take on similar adventures for cancer research, & quot; he said. & quot; We' ve learned a lot in the last several years, and we' ve set up the framework for other people to use. Basically, we want to help people use their big dreams to create big change in the fight against cancer. & quot; All About & bull;

( CNN) - - When Dr. Danielle Ofri first read the headlines, she was horrified: Doctors were prescribing placebos to their patients instead of real medicine.

How awful, she thought. How deceptive. But then, as Ofri read on, she thought, & quot; Wait a second. By the definitions of this study, I' ve prescribed placebos. & quot; Ofri, an assistant professor of medicine at New York University Medical School, says when patients complain about being tired, for example, she' ll sometimes suggest they take a multivitamin, even though there' s no proof they work against fatigue. & quot; First, I' ll do the million- dollar workup on the patient, & quot; Ofri says. & quot; I check them out for anemia, diabetes, cancer, asthma, depression, and other sorts of other things.

When I can' t find anything wrong, I' ll explain vitamins have worked for some of my patients, and there' s no downside. I don' t think that' s being deceptive. & quot; Last week' s study on placebos published in the British Medical Journal has sparked debate: What precisely is a placebo, and might you, the patient, actually in some cases benefit from one? Placebos, it turns out, are in the eye of the beholder. Dr. Ezekiel Emmanuel, one of the study authors and director of the department of bioethics at the National Institutes of Health, says it' s unethical for a doctor to suggest a that hasn' t been proven to work.

Other doctors say it' s OK - - and sometimes beneficial - - to prescribe something that hasn' t been shown to work in studies, as long as it' s not harmful. Perhaps, they reason, the treatment - - say a vitamin, or an aspirin - - could have a physiological effect not yet found in studies. Or maybe a treatment will have & quot; a placebo effect, & quot; meaning it will make you feel better just because you have confidence it will make you feel better.

So how would you even know if your doctor' s prescribing you a placebo? And should you take it? & quot; Not all placebos are created equal, & quot; says Dr.

Christiane Northrup.

Below are four placebos that the study found are commonly prescribed, with advice on questions to ask about each of them.

Vitamins Vitamins have several proven purposes. & quot; If you' re a young woman about to become pregnant, it' s important you take folate.

And Vitamin B12 is necessary to prevent certain medical conditions like anemia, & quot; Emanuel says. Beyond a few solid examples like these, some doctors think vitamins might help for certain conditions, such as fatigue, while others think they don' t.

The solution: Ask your doctor if the vitamin has been proven to help your problem.

If it hasn' t, ask her if she has any reason to think it will work ( perhaps, as with Ofri, she' s had anecdotal success among her patients) . Finally, ask if there' s any downside to taking the vitamin, then make your decision. Over- the- counter painkillers You' ve heard of the saying & quot; take two aspirin and call me in the morning& quot; ?

The most commonly prescribed placebo in Emanuel' s study was over- the- counter analgesics, such as aspirin. In Emanuel' s view, these doctors were prescribing aspirin without any reason other than that that it might elicit the & quot; placebo effect. & quot; But Northrup disagrees. & quot; Why would an over- the- counter analgesic be a placebo? Aspirin' s a powerful anti- inflammatory, and inflammation is an important part of many diseases. & quot; The advice here is similar to the advice with vitamins. If your doctor suggests you take aspirin for what ails you, ask if there' s any proof the aspirin will work. Even if there is proof, ask if the pain reliever could harm you in any way.

Antibiotics Everyone agrees there are cases where doctors prescribe antibiotics when they shouldn' t, often because the patient insists on them. In the NIH study, 13 percent of doctors reported using antibiotics as placebos. & quot; Antibiotics for a viral illness may be dangerous, and it' s not a good idea, & quot; Emanuel says. & quot; If your doctor prescribes an antibiotic, ask if you actually have a bacterial infection. & quot; Ofri adds there' s not always a clear answer to that question. & quot; If I had a patient who' s had bronchitis for two weeks, it' s probably because of a virus. But it' s not out of the realm of reasonableness that it could be bacterial, & quot; She says it can tough to detect bacterial infections when someone has bronchitis, so sometimes she' ll prescribe an antibiotic.

Sedatives In the study, 13 percent of doctors also said they' d prescribed a sedative as a placebo. This is the only & quot; placebo& quot; our doctors agreed on: Sedatives can be addictive, and you want to take them only if you have a condition, such as an anxiety disorder, where they' re clearly indicated. & quot; If your doctor prescribes you a sedative, ask them why, and ask if there' s some other treatment, something that' s not addictive, that you could do instead, & quot; Northrup says. All About & bull;

It' s no secret that cold and flu season peaks in winter. And if you' re looking for ways to stay well, one priority, say experts, is simple: Follow a wholesome diet, just as you should any time of year. But that can be a tall order during the busy holiday season, when hectic social schedules and family commitments often interfere with regular meals. Food alone can' t protect against the common cold or influenza, and the science isn' t yet clear on which or how much of some nutrients may help bolster immunity to reduce your risk of getting sick. But experts agree that a rich in a variety of produce, whole grains, lean proteins, and low- fat dairy products - - along with adequate sleep, moderate exercise, and minimal - - contributes to a well- functioning immune system and may promote a faster recovery if you do come down with a cold or flu.

Stay hydrated Water is the largest single constituent of the human body - - contributing to at least half your body weight - - but it' s & quot; also a forgotten nutrient, & quot; says Jennifer K.

Nelson, M. S. , R.

D. , director of clinical dietetics at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.

This essential nutrient ( meaning it' s one the body can' t produce on its own) promotes healthy muscle, bone, and blood. Adequate hydration is even more important once you' re sick because fluids lost through sneezing, watery eyes, and a runny nose need replacing. & quot; When you have a mild fever, your body becomes more dehydrated as a result. So drinking plenty of fluids is probably the first line of defense, & quot; Nelson says. The Institute of Medicine ( IOM) recommends an average 11 cups of fluids daily ( from beverages and foods) for healthy women, while men need about 15.

5 cups per day. Water, coffee, tea, and juice, as well as water- filled foods such as fruit, vegetables, and stews all count toward daily hydration needs.

Choose food While it' s known that certain nutrients like vitamins C, E, and A, as well as the mineral zinc, are associated with immune functions, it' s hard to attribute specific immunity- boosting benefits to any one nutrient because of inconclusive research. & quot; Many studies have been done in nutrition and immune function, involving numerous nutrients - - and [ they] come out with different, often contradicting results, & quot; says Dayong Wu, Ph. D. , a scientist in the Nutritional Immunology Laboratory, the USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, and assistant professor at the Friedman School of Nutrition and Science Policy at Tufts University. Because a nutritional intervention may have different effects on people of different ages or nutrition status as noted in scientific studies, Wu says, it' s difficult to make broad recommendations based on study findings. & quot; In general, it' s easier to see positive, immune- strengthening results by supplementing someone with a vitamin or mineral that he is deficient in, & quot; he says.

The same benefits may not confer to & quot; people with adequate intake. & quot; That' s why Julia Zumpano, R. D. , of the Cleveland Clinic Department of Preventive Cardiology, recommends foods - - not supplements - - to help you stay strong through the winter. & quot; An overall healthful diet rich in vitamins and minerals is your best bet for the cold weather months, & quot; says Zumpano. & quot; You' ll also benefit from other nutrients not typically found in supplements when you eat a whole food. & quot; She encourages plenty of ( for vitamins C and E) ; whole grains, lean meats, and poultry ( for zinc) ; and low- fat dairy products ( for vitamin A) . For example, in addition to vitamin E, a whole grain like quinoa or rye bread offers fiber, B vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients, which support overall good health. Fruits, vegetables, and seafood may also help you enjoy a healthier winter.

Pumpkin, and other deep- hued orange produce provide beta- carotene, which is converted in the body to vitamin A.

Choose , like grapefruit, oranges, kumquats, tangerines, and clementines as well as canned tomatoes, chiles, or pineapple for vitamin C. Oysters offer zinc. Check out our gallery for that deliver these healthful nutrients, plus information on how green tea and yogurt may help your immune system this winter. For more tips on making healthy taste great, try Cooking Light - Copyright 2009 magazine.

All rights reserved. All About & bull; & bull;

( CNN) - - After actress Mackenzie Phillips spoke about her sexual relationship with her musician father, online and telephone calls to an anti- sexual assault hot line surged. Her interviews in the past few weeks brought a spotlight to an uncomfortable topic.

Incest, a common but highly stigmatized form of , often leaves the victim ashamed, isolated and unable to tell others what' s happening, because the perpetrator is someone related to him or her, mental health experts said. & quot; For any survivor of sexual trauma, it' s challenging, and it takes a lot of courage to come forward, & quot; said Jennifer Wilson, director of the National Sexual Assault hot line. & quot; With incest survivors, it' s particularly difficult, because not only is there social stigma pressuring them to stay quiet, but also there' s pressure that' s within the family to stay quiet. & quot; The Rape, Abuse & amp; Incest National Network, which calls itself the nation' s largest anti- sexual assault organization, said it had seen an 83 percent increase in activity on its online hot line and a 26 percent increase on its telephone hot line after Phillips' interview with Oprah Winfrey aired last week. & quot; Unfortunately, it' s something we hear everyday in our hot line, so to have somebody speak aloud about it was empowering to a lot of victims and survivors who went through similar situations, & quot; Wilson said. spoke about the taboo nature of incest in her interview with CNN' s Larry King. & quot; There' s very little in this world that is taboo today, but this subject is still, like, shove it under the carpet, sweep it away, protect the abuser, deny the reality. . . . You' re just on your own, & quot; the former child star said. This makes it one of the most under- reported and least discussed crimes, experts said. A U.

Bureau of Justice Statistics report found that of the 60, 000 sexual assault cases reported in 12 states in 2000, about a quarter were perpetrated by family members. About half of the sexual assault cases with victims younger than 11 involved family members.

At times, a victim may feel unable to tell other family members what' s happening. And if he or she tells a relative, that family member may have & quot; a knee- jerk reaction, & quot; refusing to believe it. Relatives may try to protect the offender in order to keep the family together or to avoid the shame and stigma, Wilson said. This takes a devastating toll on a victim. & quot; Their sexual selves are damaged.

Their emotional selves are damaged, because ' who do I trust? ' & quot; said Debra Laino, a sex therapist and counselor. & quot; ' My father did this. My mother did this. Who can I trust if I can' t trust my family? ' & quot; Sometimes the reluctance to report the crime comes from the victim, because he or she doesn' t want to see the family member in jail. Although Phillips called the sexual relationship with her famed father, John Phillips, & quot; wrong, & quot; she said, & quot; I don' t want bad things to happen to him, but I also don' t want bad things to happen to me as a result of this. And I was convinced to let it lie. & quot; Her , a co- founder of the Mamas & amp; the Papas, died in 2001.

Father- or stepfather- daughter incest is the most common form, although it also occurs between mother and child, according to the National Center for Victims of Crime. A sexual assault victim could suffer physical effects of the crime such as sexually transmitted infections, genital trauma and urinary tract infections. They could also experience many mental health effects: social withdrawal, isolation, post- traumatic stress disorder and regressive behavior such as bedwetting and thumb sucking. Some become hypersexual and engage in destructive behaviors, experts said.

Humans & quot; have an instinct for avoiding incest or inbreeding, & quot; said Debra Lieberman, an assistant professor of psychology at the University of Miami ( Florida) who researches incest. But alcohol, drugs and mental illness may disrupt that instinct. & quot; Under the heavy influence of cocaine or heroin or whatever else you' re taking, your mental boundaries are skewed, essentially, & quot; Laino said. The offender' s sexual frustrations could also contribute to inappropriate actions. & quot; It also depends on his other mating opportunities, & quot; Lieberman said. & quot; What is the quality of his current relationship with the female' s mother? Is she around?

What is the ability for the guy to attract other mates? & quot; The perpetrator, frustrated by the absence of suitable sexual partners, may turn to whomever is around - - even if it' s kin. Recovery from incest can occur, but it often takes years. A victim of incest has to understand that it' s not his or her fault and get professional help, Wilson said. & quot; It doesn' t make you broken, & quot; Phillips said. & quot; It doesn' t make it so that you can' t go on and be - - once you deal with honestly and realistically what you' ve been through, it doesn' t mean that you can' t be counted on or you can' t be well enough to be a part of the world. & quot; All About & bull; & bull;

Ex- editors: James Murdoch ' mistaken' Is Congress less partisan than we think? Octomom: Baby factory is closed forever Kyron Horman' s mom: ' We want answers' Bristol: I' m not accusing Levi of rape Zakaria: Cutting too fast slows growth Terror warning for utility companies Are tabloid papers good for America?

Husband wanted to divorce missing wife Dogs attack shark Congressman battles home invader Mickelson' s science project Is a deal on the debt ceiling in sight? Owling: The new planking Ex- editors: James Murdoch ' mistaken' Young boy fights for kids' health care NFL owners approve labor deal How will a debt deal affect the economy?

What is a social media background check?

Murdoch paper' s controversial cartoon British phone hacking inquiry widened Ridicu. List Classic: Actor, 51, weds teen ' This is no time to compromise' Consequences of not raising debt ceiling School district' s policy under scrutiny Notorious con man to return to prison Neutrality policy impacting bullying? Teenager known as the ' Barefoot Bandit' Ridicu.

List Classic: The best of Snooki Corzine, Fiorina on debt ceiling debate Dems, GOP spew rhetoric on tax issue Why was Norway targeted?

PM Cameron addresses hacking allegations HLN' s Dr. Drew on Amy Winehouse Murdoch' s wife stands by her man Debate over same- sex marriage in N.

Gay marriages begin in New York ' Fake' Apple store in China Four still missing after Norway attacks Norway bombing witness recalls the scene Winehouse' s body taken from apartment Gay marriage lottery winners to wed Behind the horror in Oslo Dr. Drew Bristol Palin: I was on birth control TV producer Al Taylor: I met with Casey Bizarre deaths at millionaire' s mansion Bristol Palin talks teen pregnancy Behind- the- scenes with Bristol Palin Summers on America' s growth prospects Fareed' s Take: Afghanistan' s future What in the World: Brazil overheating? Most expensive city in the world Lawmakers fighting like cats and dogs Fareed Zakaria answers your questions Bernard- Henri Levy speaks out on DSK Peter Godwin on Sudan Getting a Picasso into a war zone Choi: DADT dead but journey ' not done' Debt talks break down, so what happened? Did James Murdoch mislead Parliament?

Will NFL players agree to owners' offer? Hacking scandal: ' Somebody high up' knew Abrams: Murdochs ' got to be thried' Zakaria: Cutting too fast slows growth Ex- player: NFL abandoned me after injury Ex- insider: ' Murdoch is on the run now' Gergen: Prospects for default above 50% Debt crisis: Whatever happened to jobs? House vote ' one way of herding the cats' Octomom: Baby factory is closed forever Paris Hilton walks off set of GMA Gay man turns himself ' straight' Can Casey Anthony ever be forgiven? Roseanne: I' m not good at marriage Chubby teen becomes beauty queen Shannon Tweed walks out on Gene Simmons Would Casey' s attorney let her babysit? My father was ' The Grim Reaper' Clinton nudges India, upsets China Docs: Mammograms each year starting at 40 Cops: Law grad' s torso found at apartment Parents of missing triplet mom speak out 5- month- old vanishes in front of mom An initiative that could save lives Missouri mother of three is missing TV producer claims he met with Casey Murray' s defense wants jury sequestered My life as a Baldwin Adam Levine on why he loves Twitter Daniel Baldwin intent on divorce Has America lost its mojo?

Is Congress less partisan than we think? Prince Alwaleed on Apple, News Corp.

Panel judges Murdoch' s performance Cornel West and Tavis Smiley speak out Piers Morgan blasts Mensch' s ' lie' Piers Morgan: Behind the scenes Trump: Bachmann is ' highly underrated' Murdoch takes pie in the face The history of cocaine ' Mini Darth Vader' talks health care Impact of concussions to brain Ex- players sue NFL over concussion risks Carrie Underwood earning big Katy Perry' s 9 VMA noms; Gaga snubbed? Ryan Reynolds on the fame game Chris Brown to star in a romantic movie Will Nancy Grace interview ' tot mom' ?

Bounty hunter wants to sue Casey Anthony Khloe Kardashian' s Twitter outrage Sanders: Cut, cap, balance a ' disaster' Buildings severely damaged in Oslo blast Al- Qaeda uses cartoons to get recruits al- Awlaki: Wanted Dead or Alive?

Musharraf to U. S: Keep your guard up Drone of the future tested Terror warning for utility companies Musharraf: I think Perry will run Lobbyists battle amid deficit cuts Debt debate gets ugly New TSA body scan less invasive Debt deal dead? Candy' s post- show analysis On debt, GOP wants solution, not a deal Pawlenty on gay marriage Pawlenty: Is President Obama ' chicken' ?

Feinstein on gay marriage, Libya mission Sen. Feinstein: GOP walked out on Obama Geithner: Default is ' unthinkable' Pawlenty' s tax, economic plan Geithner talks averting default crisis Getting To Know Tim Pawlenty SOTU pre- show rundown

( CNN) - - Defending champions Germany were sent tumbling to a stunning 1- 0 extra- time defeat by outsiders Japan in the women' s World Cup Saturday. Japan had never beaten a European team and went into the quarterfinal in Wolfsburg as long- odds outsiders. But the hosts, roared on by a capacity and partisan crowd, could not press home their territorial advantage and grew increasingly frustrated. The winning goal came in the 108th minute as Japan captain Homare Sawa sent away substitute Karina Maruyama who scored with a brilliantly angled shot past Germany goalkeeper Nadine Angerer. The home side strained every sinew for an equalizer to force penalties, but came up short.

It was the two- time defending champions first defeat in the competition since 1999, having won 14 of their previous 15 matches. Japan will now face either Australia or Sweden, who meet on Sunday, for a place in the final. Earlier, France won a dramatic penalty shootout against England to reach the semifinals of the global competition for the first time. The talented French team will play either Brazil or the United States in the semifinals. The match in Leverkusen ended 1- 1 after extra- time but the French were deserved winners after dominating the latter stages of the match with superior technique and passing ability.

Jill Scott put England ahead just before the hour mark and they looked headed for the last four until the excellent Elise Bussaglia scored the equalizer for France two minutes from the end of regulation play. England had the early advantage in the penalties decider as Karen Bardsley saved the first French effort from Camille Abily. But Claire Rafferty' s weak effort saw the French restore parity and when Faye White blasted her effort onto the crossbar it was the end of England' s campaign, losing the shootout 4- 3. & quot; To get to penalties we did well. It was just unfortunate we missed two, & quot; England coach Hope Powell told BBC Sport. & quot; It was just tired legs. At the end we were dead on our feet.

Unfortunately when it came down to penalties you have to applaud France. & quot; Her side were boosted when Everton midfielder Stt blasted her second goal of the tournament, but her Paris St. Germain counterpart Bussaglia leveled as her shot curled in off the post. England, sporadically dangerous on the break, had the best chance in extra time, but Ellen White shot into the side netting from a a good position.

( ) Meat and poultry can be valuable sources of protein and other important nutrients. But meat and poultry can also be sources of unhealthy fat and cholesterol. Unfortunately, higher fat meat and poultry tend to be tastier & mdash; something celebrity chefs know, which is why they often use higher fat cuts of meat and poultry in their recipes. But before you follow in their footsteps, consider this: With a few simple tricks and tips, you can have it both ways & mdash; taste and health. Learn how to choose the healthiest selections of meat and poultry and how to prepare them using low- fat methods.

With these tips, you can reduce the fat even in higher fat marbled cuts. Selecting meat and poultry Look for lean cuts.

Certain cuts of meat and poultry are lower in fat. Lean cuts of beef include round, chuck, sirloin and tenderloin. Lean pork or lamb includes tenderloin, loin chops and leg. The leanest poultry is white meat from the breast with no skin. Check percentages.

When buying ground beef, look for packages with the highest percentage of lean meat & mdash; 90 percent or higher. Watch the ground. Ground poultry can have as much fat as ground beef has, or more, because it often includes dark meat and skin. To make the leanest choice, choose ground breast meat, or look for low- fat ground chicken or turkey.

Be selective. Choose beef that is labeled " Choice" or " Select" instead of " Prime, " which usually has more fat. If you can' t resist the higher fat choices, use them as an occasional indulgence rather than a regular option. Preparing meat and poultry Trim the fat.

Cut off any visible, solid fat from meat and poultry. This includes the skin on poultry.

When roasting chicken or turkey, it' s OK to leave on the skin for cooking, but remove the skin and the fat underneath before eating. Also, remove any remaining visible fat from pork and beef before eating. Use marinades. Marinades tenderize meat and keep it moist while cooking.

They also can enhance flavor that may otherwise be lost when you trim fat. Choose low- fat marinades, such as mixtures of herbs or spices with wine, soy sauce or lemon juice. Go low. Low- fat cooking methods include grilling, broiling, roasting, sauteing and baking.

Cooking melts away much of the fat in meat and poultry.

So when you cook meat or poultry in your oven, be sure to put it on a rack on a baking pan so that the fat drips away. Skim ahead. Make dishes in which you cook the meat in liquid, such as soups and stews, a day or two in advance and then refrigerate.

As the dish chills, the fat hardens on the top and you can easily skim it off.

Drain the fat. After cooking ground meat, drain the fat from the pan and rinse the meat with hot water.

Blot the meat with a paper towel to remove any remaining fat and the water. Watch serving sizes. Reducing your portion size reduces your fat and cholesterol intake. Don' t exceed 3 ounces ( 85 grams) of meat. That' s about the size of a deck of cards.

Three ounces also equals half of a boneless, skinless chicken breast, or one skinless chicken leg with thigh, or two thin slices of lean roast beef. Eating meat and poultry in moderation The 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends that most people cut back on meat and poultry. When you do eat them, aim for lean versions. Also, consider eating fish and seafood more often and in greater variety by choosing fish or seafood instead of some meat and poultry. Try a few meatless meals, too.

That' s not to say you can' t enjoy meat and poultry if you choose. But keep it healthy by selecting lean cuts and using low- fat cooking methods.

( ) - - Boys and young men who receive the human papillomavirus vaccine appear to be at reduced risk of contracting the virus and developing the genital warts associated with the common sexually transmitted disease, according to a large international study published this week in the New England Journal of Medicine.

In an effort to prevent cervical cancer, which can be caused by HPV, public health officials have been encouraging young women to get vaccinated since the Food and Drug Administration approved the first HPV vaccine, Gardasil, in 2006. The vaccine has been approved for boys and men since 2009, but health officials and doctors haven' t pushed it with the same urgency. & quot; Because the story started with cervical cancer, the studies started with females, & quot; says the lead author of the study, Anna Giuliano, Ph.

D. , of the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute in Tampa, Florida. & quot; The study of HPV in men is a late bloomer. & quot; Gardasil is given in a series of three injections.

In the study, which included more than 4, 000 sexually active males between the ages of 16 and 26, roughly 0. 5 percent of the boys and men who received all three shots developed genital warts during the subsequent 2 to 3 years.

By contrast, about 2.

8 percent of the study participants who received a placebo vaccine developed warts. The vaccine also reduced the risk of contracting an HPV that persists for at least six months, though not as dramatically. HPV can cause certain cancers of the anus and penis in men, although those diseases are far less common than cervical cancer in women.

The study was designed and funded by Merck, the maker of Gardasil ( also known as Silgard) . The National Institutes of Health also provided funding. An estimated 20 million Americans are currently infected with HPV. Symptoms are rare, however, so most people have the virus - - and pass it on - - without realizing it. & quot; Men are such a vital component of the whole prevention cycle when looking at HPV or any sexually transmitted infection, & quot; says Demetrius Porche, a professor of nursing research and evaluation at the Louisiana State University School of Public Health in New Orleans. Vaccinating men provides a & quot; double benefit& quot; in that fewer men with HPV will also mean that fewer women are exposed, adds Porche, who was not involved in the current study but has researched HPV in men.

Earlier this week, for the first time, the .

Porche and Giuliano also urge boys and men to get vaccinated. Most health insurance plans cover HPV vaccination for both males and females. If a child between the ages of 9 and 18 is underinsured, the federal program Vaccines for Children may be able to provide assistance. Copyright

London, England ( CNN) - - An experimental vaccine for cocaine addicts can help some users kick the habit, according to a new study. Researchers at Yale School of Medicine have tested a vaccine that makes people produce antibodies to cocaine. The theory is that high levels of anti- cocaine antibodies can inactivate cocaine before it enters the brain, preventing users from getting high. Dr Thomas Kosten worked on the study at Yale, before moving to Baylor College of Medicine, in Texas.

He told CNN that this is the first time a cocaine vaccine has been tested in people, and that the vaccine approach would be suitable for all kinds of addictive substances, except alcohol. & quot; Antibodies are very large proteins and when the cocaine attaches to those antibodies it can' t get into the brain or heart, so people don' t get high from it, & quot; Kosten told CNN. Because users don' t get high, the thinking is that they will eventually stop taking cocaine. & quot; What was surprising was that we got patients who had limited motivation for stopping cocaine use to basically just run out of money, & quot; said Kosten. Participants received five vaccinations over a 24- week period and their urine was tested for cocaine three times a week. The study, published in the journal of the American Medical Association, found that the vaccine only achieved the desired antibody level of at least 43 micrograms per milliliter in 38 per cent of subjects, and that level was maintained for two months of the study period.

Of the subjects who achieved desired antibody levels, 53 per cent reduced their cocaine use by half, compared to 23 per cent of those with low antibody levels, and significantly more produced cocaine- free urine samples between weeks nine and 16 of the 24- week study than those who were given a placebo, or had low antibody levels. But Kosten told CNN that 75 per cent of subjects had high enough antibody levels to block one or two doses of cocaine, and that should be enough to prevent occasional lapses leading back to addiction.

Icro Maremmani, professor of addiction medicine at the University of Pisa and University of Siena, told CNN he believes the vaccine will be useful, but only for highly motivated patients. & quot; Hard users of cocaine probably will not accept this kind of treatment, & quot; he said. & quot; The situation risks being similar to the use of naltrexone for heroin addicts - - a perfect drug but poor clinical results. & quot; Maremmani said there is also a risk that some patients will increase their intake of cocaine to overcome the antibody effect. Kosten says it usually takes about two years for addicts to become drug- free, and that patients would have to be vaccinated every three months for that period to maintain antibody levels. He says that while the vaccine can stop relapses leading back to addiction, it doesn' t solve the issues that lead to drug use. & quot; The vaccine doesn' t get you new friends, change your depression, get you out of jail, or all the other things that people have trouble with. People could conceivably be on it for the rest of their life if they can' t get it together. & quot;

( CNN) - - Soon after Paul Coskie' s bicycle collided with a car, it became clear to his mother that her son would be sick for a very long time, and indeed he was. The 13- year- old boy went into a coma for a month and spent six months total in the hospital. What his mother didn' t know at the time was that Paul' s collision would eventually claim another victim - - one who was nowhere near the accident scene. After taking care of her son for a year, Dixie Fremont- Smith Coskie started to lose her balance, stumbling at times when she walked. Then she became so weak she couldn' t get out of bed. & quot; I had tingling down my arm and terrible pain in my neck, & quot; remembers Coskie, 50, who lives in Upton, Massachusetts. & quot; I thought I had Lou Gehrig' s disease, but was so frightened I couldn' t even tell my husband. & quot; After performing a battery of tests, her doctor concluded she didn' t have Lou Gehrig' s.

What she had was a reaction to stress. & quot; The tingling in my arm and the pain in my neck - - the doctor explained it was because I had the weight of the world on my shoulders, & quot; says Coskie, who was also tending to the needs of her six other children while caring for Paul. More than 65 million people - - nearly a third of the U. S. population, provide care for a friend or family member during any given year, according to the National Family Caregivers Association. In an editorial in the May issue of the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, psychologist Peter Vitaliano explains that many of these people suffer just as Coskie did. & quot; Thousands of articles have reported greater psychological and physical health problems in caregivers than in noncaregivers, & quot; writes Vitaliano, a professor in the department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the University of Washington School of Medicine.

In the same issue, a team led by researchers at the University of Utah studied 1, 221 elderly married couples and found someone was six times more likely to develop dementia if his or her spouse had dementia. It' s not entirely clear why caregiving can make you sick, but researchers believe depression and chronically high levels of the stress hormone cortisol, both of which often accompany caregiving, take a toll on the body' s immune and cardiovascular systems. Coskie says she never dreamed stress could wreak such havoc on her body, but in retrospect it makes sense. For six months, she and her husband, Steven, drove an hour back and forth from their home to Paul' s hospital in Boston.

Then after his discharge, she needed to feed, bathe and dress her son at home. She says she didn' t really feel the stress effects of Paul' s accident until Paul was finally able to go back to school and the demands decreased. & quot; My body just allowed itself to freak out, & quot; she says.

For tips on how to recognize when you' re experiencing caregiver burnout, see Four months of physical therapy put her on the road to recovery, and Coskie didn' t think much more about the physical effects of stress - - until she was forced to about two years later. In 2005, Paul got a diagnosis of leukemia. Once again, she and her husband didn' t know whether Paul would live or die.

Once again, they took daily one- hour trips back and forth to Boston, where Paul spent three months at Children' s Hospital receiving a bone marrow transplant. Then after he came home, the Coskies had to keep Paul' s surroundings sterile because of his depleted immune system. Plus, there was a new stress, one that wasn' t there after the bike accident: in 2004, the couple had a baby, their eighth child. & quot; I knew what happened to me the first time, and this second time around I didn' t want it to happen again, & quot; Coskie says. & quot; My husband and I sat down and decided we needed to do things differently. & quot; In her book, & quot; Unthinkable, & quot; Coskie explains how she and her family minimized stress with Paul' s second illness. Here are some of her tips, along with advice from experts on stress and caregiving. Control the carbs There' s no question: Stress can make you fat, and being fat takes a toll on your health. & quot; Excess cortisol increases insulin, and that changes the way carbohydrates are metabolized, & quot; says Dr.

Christiane Northrup, who writes about caregiving in & quot; Women' s Bodies, Women' s Wisdom, & quot; a new edition of which is being released later this month. & quot; You crave sweets, and that' s why every nurses' station I' ve ever seen has doughnuts and chocolate sitting around. Constant caregiving, so constant sugar cravings, & quot; she says. Eating sweets may make you feel less stressed out temporarily. & quot; Eating sugars and starches has an opiate- like effect on the brain, & quot; Northrup says. & quot; It dulls the pain for a while. & quot; But eventually ( and obviously) a diet of doughnuts will make you gain weight. In his editorial, Vitaliano notes that caregivers had greater calorie and fat intake and were more likely to be obese compared to noncaregivers. After Paul' s leukemia diagnosis, his mother made a deliberate decision to eat better. & quot; The first time, after his accident, I practically lived on coffee and junk food, & quot; Coskie remembers. & quot; When he had cancer, I made sure I actually sat down and ate meals. & quot; 2.

Get rid of the guilt Guilt, like stress, can send your stress hormones skyrocketing, creating a double whammy, Northrup explains. & quot; I' ve had patients who felt so guilty about leaving their loved one they wouldn' t even come in for their own annual exams, & quot; says Northrup, who practiced obstetrics and gynecology for 25 years.

Coskie remembers how after her son' s accident she felt too guilty to do simple things such as go to the movies or take a walk. & quot; How could I possibly think about taking a walk on a beach to escape for a moment when my son could not even walk? & quot; she says. & quot; To feel joy or pleasure or any type of happiness while my son lay incapacitated on a hospital bed just did not feel right. & quot; The University of California, San Francisco, has advice for caregivers - - . Resist & quot; helpless hopeless& quot; That' s Northrup' s term for feeling like you' re stuck and no one can help. & quot; You should assume that help is available, but you just don' t know what form it will take, & quot; she says. When she was 8 years old, Northrup' s baby brother, Bill, was born. He wouldn' t eat, and at a year old weighed just 10 pounds. Northrup' s mother exhausted herself caring for Bill and her four other children. & quot; He needed feedings every hour on the hour, & quot; Northrup remembers. & quot; One day a woman named Edna appeared at our door and said, ' I heard you need help. ' She had the same name and birthday as my mother. & quot; Bill put out his arms and smiled at Edna, who spent years helping care for him.

The key here: Northrup' s mother had been open with people in their community about her tough situation, which is how Edna knew she needed help. Sometimes, it' s hard to say & quot; yes& quot; to help, even when you need it most. & quot; People would say, ' What can I do? ' and I' d think to myself, ' My God, there' s 110 things you could do, ' but I' d say ' Oh no, that' s OK. ' & quot; With Paul' s second illness, Coskie made a deliberate decision to change her ways. & quot; I let down my pride. I knew that if I tried to do this by myself, I' d collapse again, & quot; she says. Coskie advises making a list of the things you need so you can have a quick answer when friends asked what they could do. & quot; You might need help with baby- sitting or carpooling or bringing over a few necessities like milk or bread or eggs. Give them suggestions because they don' t know what to do. & quot; 4.

Reject & quot; hamster head& quot; & quot; Hamster head, & quot; according to psychologist David Coon, is when unhelpful thoughts, worries and anxieties go around and around in your mind. & quot; Write them down and think about positive thoughts you can replace them with, & quot; advises Coon, a professor in the college of nursing and health innovation at Arizona State University who studies caregiving for people with dementia. & quot; Instead of thinking, ' Dad' s really going downhill, ' think about a pleasant interchange you just had with Dad, or remind yourself how you' re doing a great job creating a safe, caring environment for him, & quot; he says. For more advice on caring for someone with dementia, see these strategies from the and the 5. & quot; Surrender, Dorothy& quot; This one is for people who might have disagreements with a parent who needs care. & quot; Right now you have baby boomers caring for people in the World War II generation, and there' s a huge generation gap, because boomers are much more likely to question a doctor' s authority, & quot; Northrup says. For example, a boomer might want a parent to try taking vitamins or some other form of alternative medicine, or to get a second opinion from another doctor, but the parent resists. & quot; It gets abrasive. It' s like sandpaper, & quot; she says. Northrup' s solution: Don' t argue with your parent. & quot; It' s like ' Surrender, Dorothy, ' in ' The Wizard of Oz. ' Just let it go, & quot; she says.

Today, Paul Coskie is 22. His leukemia went into remission and then returned in 2008. He' s receiving daily chemotherapy and his speech is slow and his left side sometimes shakes from his head injury. His mother' s big lesson from her caregiving experience: Try to take time for yourself and meditate. & quot; Be more aware of yourself, & quot; she says. & quot; Be more conscious. & quot; CNN' s Sabriya Rice contributed to this report.

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Dear Sheeza, I am sorry to hear of your difficulties - - you are far from alone in your struggles with postpartum depression. Indeed, up to 20 percent of women become depressed in the six months following delivery, but company doesn' t help much when it comes to depression - - or at least the company we typically provide in the U.

Traditional cultures understood the vulnerability of new mothers and would often surround them with family and friends to help with the significant emotional and practical burdens of coping with the newborn. I am going to make some general recommendations about what you might want to consider doing, based only on the information you have provided above. As always, this should not be taken as specific advice for your actual situation. That kind of advice can come only from a clinician who knows you and is involved in your care.

First and most important, it is very important to continue medication when one is still depressed, so given what you describe, I would counsel against stopping the antidepressant.

It is not clear how long you have been on the Paxil ( generic: paroxetine) , but let' s assume you' ve been on it for at least six weeks. You are on a low dose. A reasonable first step would be to talk with your doctor about raising the dose to 40 mg a day and trying this dose for at least several weeks.

If you see no benefit, there are in general two paths your doctor might recommend ( and I say doctor in the generic sense, given that many folks nowadays see physician assistants or nurse practitioners who often - - in my experience - - do a better job diagnosing and treating depression than do MDs) .

First, your doctor might add a second antidepressant or an atypical antipsychotic to your Paxil. Although they are called & quot; antipsychotics, & quot; these agents ( for example Seroquel, Abilify, Zyprexa) are also widely used to help with severe depression and anxiety and are often quite effective. Second, your doctor might switch you from the Paxil to another antidepressant.

Unfortunately, we have no scientific way of knowing which agent you should switch to - - our best data suggest that they are all about equal. But one thing is clear: Many people who don' t do well with one antidepressant will have a great response to a different one. Anxiety and panic are quite common when one has a bad depression, and they can be more miserable to endure than the feeling of depression itself.

It is unlikely that the low dose of Buspar ( generic: buspirone) you are taking is of much benefit. You might want to discuss with your doctor raising the dose to at least 10 mg three times a day or discontinuing it. The best immediate way to relieve disabling anxiety is through the use of benzodiazepines ( for example lorazepam or clonazepam) .

These medications can be lifesavers, but if you take them for more than three or four weeks your body will become dependent upon them, and should you want to stop, you will have to reduce them slowly under the supervision of a doctor. Let me say a word about exercise. Yes, exercise has been shown in many studies not only to raise a person' s mood immediately, but also to work over time as an antidepressant. Therefore, I strongly recommend adding regular exercise to your treatment regimen.

Try to exercise in the morning, especially when it is sunny.

To get the best effect you will need to work up a sweat.

I find that it is even better if you can exercise in a place with some natural beauty - - as being in nature is itself quite comforting for most of us. I don' t have an answer to your question about how long the depression will last and whether it will ever go away. Everyone is different. We do know, however, that the longer one stays depressed and/ or the more episodes one has had, the harder it is to treat the condition. This is just the frightening truth of the disease, and it really highlights how important it is for you to really get aggressive about your treatment.

My sincere hope is that whatever specific treatment route you follow, you will start feeling like yourself again as quickly as possible.

Finally, whenever I talk about specific pharmacologic treatments I need to disclose that in addition to my academic work I have given lectures for two pharmaceutical companies in the last year: Lilly and Wyeth. I have also served on an advisory board for Lilly in the last 12 months.