In this new weekly feature, CNN. com highlights five recommended Twitter feeds about a hot topic in the news. ( CNN) - - The U. Senate Finance Committee this week passed a 10- year, $ 829 billion health care reform bill - - partly because of a & quot; yes& quot; vote from a lone Republican, Sen. Olympia Snowe of Maine. Snowe doesn' t appear to be on Twitter. Too bad.

But plenty of other people are posting about health care reform and the U.

S. health care system on the micro- blogging site. This list of health care twitterers is by no means comprehensive, so feel free to tell us about your favorites in the comments section below. 1. : The health care reform debate has been nothing if not confusing. & quot; Death panels, & quot; & quot; tea parties, & quot; Rep. Joe Wilson shouting & quot; You lie! & quot; at the president.

It' s a mess to sort through, especially on a vat of commentary and opinion like Twitter. Luckily, there are feeds like @ Politi. Fact to help. This Pulitzer- Prize- winning news group, which is part of the St. Petersburg Times, sorts fact from fiction on the health care debate and other topics.

That & quot; You lie! & quot; comment, for instance? A lie, Politifact says. Followers: More than 4, 800 Sample tweet: We fact- check whether the Baucus # healthcare bill would tax medical devices such as X- ray tests and surgical needles 2. : Fox is a researcher at the Pew Internet and American Life Project. Doesn' t sound very health- care- relevant, huh? But Fox' s Twitter feed is packed with anecdotes and statistics about how social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook are changing doctor- patient relationships and the state of health care at large.

Followers: More than 2, 150 Sample tweet: Pew Internet: 38% of internet users look online for information about hospitals or other medical facilities 3. : Blogger and doctor Kevin Pho offers up commentary on his life as a physician and the health care system. His random tidbits of medical information can be a riot, especially if you' re looking in from outside the medical community.

Followers: More than 15, 300 Sample tweet: Should medical journals use the term nauseous, nauseated, or nauseating? http: / / bit. ly/ 1yffx 4. : Buildings can type? Apparently.

The official White House Twitter feed covers a slate of topics, but heath care has been especially big on the administration' s recent tweeting agenda. Followers: More than 1. 3 million Sample tweet: Jibber jabber on costs in reform from protectors of the status quo. Take it from the expert instead: 5. : This doctors' group tries to spice up the health care debate with its purple font!

Oh, and tons of newsy updates on the latest votes, disputes and developments. Followers: More than 5, 600 Sample tweet: Why do # healthcare costs keep rising?

An in- depth analysis of America' s health system. @ This. American. Life http: / / ow. ly/ u 0JX All About & bull;

Doing the environmentally correct thing can be a challenge. After all, there aren' t many of us who actually have the time or enterprise to compost or the spare cash to replace the washer, dryer, or other appliances with the latest energy- efficient models.

But here' s a convenient truth: Small changes really do make a big difference - - not only for but for your own health - - and may even save you some money. Here, a few to try today. Take shorter showers Install a waterproof timer in your shower, and set it to five minutes. Even better: Replace your showerhead with one of the new & quot; low- flow& quot; or & quot; water- saving& quot; models.

They' re easy to install and available at home- improvement stores. Look for a flow rate of 2. 5 gallons per minute ( gpm) or less; older showerheads have flow rates of around 5. 5 gpm. ( And, don' t worry, you' ll still be able to get the suds out of your hair. ) Why it' s good for the Earth: Using a low- flow showerhead, a family of four can conserve almost 15, 000 gallons of water per year.

Why it' s good for you: Hot water strips skin of its natural oils, so spending less time in the shower can result in better- hydrated skin. Bypass the dry cleaner Buy fewer clothes labeled & quot; dry- clean only. & quot; Also, look for a cleaner that wet- cleans, using nonhazardous solutions and special equipment. ( Find out where the service is available in . ) You can hand- wash many dry- clean- only garments in cold water, too. Why it' s good for the Earth: Perc ( short for perchloroethylene) , the standard solvent used in conventional dry cleaning, eventually breaks down into other chemicals - - some of which are toxic and may deplete the ozone layer, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Why it' s good for you: In high doses, perc has been linked with dizziness, headaches, fatigue, nausea, and skin irritation Go easy on beef Make it a tuna or salmon burger instead.

Why it' s good for the Earth: Red meat production is responsible for about two- and- a- half times more greenhouse- gas emissions than chicken or fish. Why it' s good for you: Fish rich in omega- 3 fatty acids, like tuna and salmon, not only are good for your heart ( helping lower triglycerides and blood pressure) but can help prevent dry skin, too. Eat fish twice a week.

Ditch air fresheners Indoor air may be up to three times more polluted than the air outdoors, so go fresh the natural way by opening your windows.

For a light, citrusy fragrance, place orange peel mixed with sage in small bowls throughout your home.

Why it' s good for the Earth: The Natural Resources Defense Council ( NRDC) tested 14 air fresheners and found that 12 contained phthalates, chemicals linked to hormone abnormalities, birth defects, and reproductive problems. Even products billed & quot; all- natural& quot; or & quot; unscented& quot; weren' t chemical- free. Why it' s good for you: In addition to phthalates, the NRDC says, air fresheners may contain allergens, volatile organic compounds ( VOCs) , and cancer- causing chemicals like benzene and formaldehyde. Buy organic coffee Besides & quot; Certified , & quot; look for & quot; Shade Grown& quot; ( a process that preserves more nutrients) and & quot; Fair Trade& quot; ( these coffee farmers are paid a fair price, so they don' t look for growing shortcuts) . Why it' s good for the Earth: Pesticides and fertilizers used in conventional coffee production can harm soil and seep into water supplies.

Why it' s good for you: Fewer synthetic agents involved in chemical treatment means a healthier cup of Joe. Skip the liquid soap Stick with the bar kind. Why it' s good for the Earth: Many liquid soaps, though convenient, contain triclosan, an antibiotic agent toxic to wildlife. Why it' s good for you: You can easily overdo it with liquid soap, which can dry out your skin and make it susceptible to germs. Plus, antibacterial soaps don' t always deliver the germ- killing benefits they promise.

Toss that flea collar Baths are a great way to de- flea your sans chemicals. Wash your animal friend' s bedding in hot water once a week, too. Why it' s good for the Earth: Pesticides used in flea collars may contain toxic chemicals, including possible carcinogens, that can contaminate water. Why it' s good for you: Many pesticides are designed to obstruct the nervous systems of bugs. But they can also interfere with human hormones over time, says Sarah Janssen, M.

D. , NRDC environmental- health expert. Nix the screen saver Set your to & quot; sleep& quot; after five minutes of inactivity. Why it' s good for the Earth: Animated screen savers consume electricity unnecessarily, says Taylor Grant, executive environmental advisor of the Environmental Media Association. Why it' s good for you: Eco- psychologists say even a small Earth- friendly gesture can have a positive affect on mental health. to win a monthly Room Makeover Giveaway from My. Home.

Ideas. com Copyright All About & bull; & bull; & bull;

Editor' s Note: Actor and environmentalist Harrison Ford is also the Vice Chairman of , an organization that seeks to protect and conserve the Earth' s natural resources. He' s at the Convention on Biological Diversity conference in Nagoya, Japan, where delegates are working to agree new targets for biodiversity over the next 10 years. Nagoya, Japan ( CNN) - - This week, I have had the opportunity to meet with ministers and country delegates from around the world who have gathered in Nagoya, Japan, to set a global conservation action plan for the next ten years.

This is a critical moment in time for environmental ministers gathered here to work together to set bold, ambitious targets to protect nature and the services it provides. Decisions made here will not only impact our planet' s environmental health, but every person, family, and nation that depend on nature to survive and thrive. Biodiversity is the foundation of all life on Earth. Human societies cannot provide for themselves the essential services provided by nature and healthy ecosystems. Among them: A stable climate, clean air, fresh water, insect populations that pollinate our food crops, healthy soils, and sources of pharmaceuticals for human health.

However, biodiversity loss and ecosystem destruction pose a global challenge of unprecedented proportions. The current rate of species extinction is 1, 000 times the expected natural rate. While the concept of biodiversity can be complicated, think of it as is the very fabric of life on earth and each species a thread. How many threads can we lose before the fabric is in tatters?

No matter how powerful our drive for improving the human condition we will not succeed over the long haul if Nature is not healthy. Evidence is everywhere around the globe. For example, more than one billion people currently lack reliable access to clean drinking water, and 2. 6 billion lack adequate access to sanitation. Global fish stocks - - food security for one billion people - - have fallen by 90 percent.

NATURE doesn' t need people. PEOPLE need nature. Over the next 30 years, three billion people are expected to join us. Within this short space we will need to double our food output and fresh water availability. And all of this must be achieved on a planet whose ecological foundation is already severely stressed.

If we honestly assessed the economic value of the services that nature proves humanity, we would understand that we have undervalued our healthy ecosystems. These are daunting problems, but a solution to these challenges is available. Protected areas - - both on land and in our oceans - - constitute a pivotal cornerstone in halting biodiversity loss.

In fact, in a world facing tremendous pressure to convert intact ecosystems into other forms of land use - - from agriculture to urbanization - - protected areas are likely to be the ONLY intact natural environments that will remain in many regions impacted by human activity.

To this end, I urge our global leaders to strongly support policies to protect at least 25 percent of Earth' s land mass and 15 percent of Earth' s oceans by 2020. As important as the number is the fact that these areas are chosen carefully. They must include those areas of our planet that are particularly important to global biodiversity AND ALSO provide critical ecosystem services. Simply put - - those areas that nature and humanity most need to survive.

It is clear that the costs of protecting intact ecosystems, with their multitude of services, are far outweighed by the benefits. Protecting biodiversity is in our self- interest.

As the father of five children, I can think of no greater responsibility. While important decisions are being made here in Nagoya about the future health of our planet, one country is missing: The United States. Seventeen years ago, President Clinton committed the United States to ratifying the Convention on Biodiversity. It has still not happened. We are essentially alone in refusing to join this agreement that we, as a nation, were instrumental in drafting.

What this means is that our country does not have a seat at the table in shaping global environmental policies that support the protection of nature and long- term sustainable economic development. Our national interests in the agricultural, research, pharmaceutical and biotech sectors will be affected, but we will have no vote. That makes no sense.

As an American citizen I urge my government to ratify this convention' s treaty. I hope you join me in encouraging your political leaders to do the same.

The future of each of our nations, of the entire community of nations, will be impacted by the choices made this week. Our world is at a tipping point, and we can choose to save it - - and ourselves - - but we must act decisively, and we must act now. There has been news that gives us cause for hope with the announcement of the & quot; Life in Harmony& quot; Initiative by the Government of Japan. This $ 2 billion investment provides critical assistance to countries that are focused on the conservation and sustainable use of their natural ecosystems.

This is exactly the type of leadership that is needed by our governments to ensure the protection of our global biodiversity, and the future of humanity. The opinions in this commentary are solely those of Harrison Ford.

( ) Childhood obesity is caused by eating too much and exercising too little. The solution is eating healthier foods and increasing physical activity, but it' ll be tough for your child to do it alone. The most effective way to treat & mdash; and prevent & mdash; childhood obesity is to adopt healthier habits for the entire family.

Change family behaviors Rather than singling out your child, encourage the whole family to make healthy lifestyle changes. Consider these helpful hints: Start small. Gradual changes are easiest to incorporate into the daily routine & mdash; and to maintain long term.

Start by making a few small changes, such as turning off the TV during dinner, switching from soda to skim milk or water, and taking a family walk after dinner once a week. Set goals. Set realistic, measurable goals for each family member, and then determine family goals. For example, your child' s goal might be to eat fruit for afternoon snacks. Your goal might be to take a brisk walk three days a week.

The family' s goal might be to limit fast- food meals to once a month. Recognize triggers. Be prepared for situations that may tempt you to fall back to your old habits. If you' re used to eating popcorn at the movies, for example, bring only enough money for admission & mdash; or agree that you' ll share a small carton of popcorn with your child rather than ordering separate treats.

Celebrate success. Frequent rewards can help keep your family motivated. When your child meets a goal & mdash; by asking for fruit rather than cookies after school, for example & mdash; offer praise and attention.

When your family meets a goal, brainstorm healthy ways to celebrate your success. You might try a family movie night, a weekend picnic or a trip to the pool. Keep it positive. Focus on healthy lifestyle changes, rather than your child' s appearance or a number on the scale.

Remember, treating childhood obesity isn' t a race. It takes time and dedication to replace established behaviors with new, healthier behaviors. Be flexible. It' ll take time to get used to your healthier habits.

Encourage everyone to stick to the plan & mdash; but if the goals aren' t working for your family, consider making adjustments. It' s better to create a new plan than to stick to one that isn' t working.

Create a healthy- weight environment As you work toward healthy habits and behaviors, create an environment that supports these efforts. For example: Keep healthy foods on hand. Stock your kitchen with fruits, vegetables, whole- grain foods and other healthy choices.

Keep junk food and sugary drinks out of the house. Eat in. Reduce the number of meals your family eats in fast- food and other restaurants. Better yet, sit down together for family meals.

Plan weekly menus using new recipes or healthier alternatives to family favorites.

Keep portion sizes reasonable and allow seconds only on salad, fruits and vegetables. Encourage your kids to get involved in shopping and meal preparation. Build physical activity into the daily routine.

Put as much emphasis on moving more as on eating less. Organize family outings that involve physical activity, such as walking to the library or taking a family bike ride. Include children in active chores, such as washing the car or walking the dog. Encourage your kids to participate in school or community sports & mdash; or to dance, jump rope or do other physical activities on their own. Limit household screen time.

Set reasonable rules for TV, computer and video game time, such as one to two hours a day for each family member & mdash; including mom and dad. Keep TVs and computers out of the bedrooms, and don' t allow eating in front of the TV or computer. Be a positive role model Remember, the best way to get your child excited about an active lifestyle is to commit to the changes yourself. Your actions teach your child what to eat, how much to eat and when to eat.

You also encourage your child to be physically active every day if you make it a priority yourself. Stress the importance of healthy lifestyle choices, rather than a number on the scale Making lifestyle changes can be challenging, especially when you' re busy juggling the demands of daily life. If your family works together and supports each others' efforts, however, you' re more likely to succeed. Eventually healthy habits will become routine & mdash; and you' ll be well on your way to treating childhood obesity and improving your family' s health.

( CNN) - - Leading Chinese activist and artist Ai Weiwei declared that China' s government has no humanity - - and that the Communist Party is trying to silence anyone who disagrees with it. & quot; They crack down on everybody who has different opinions - - not even different opinions, just different attitudes, & quot; Ai told CNN' s Christiane Amanpour in an exclusive interview on Tuesday. & quot; Simply to have different opinions can cost ( dissidents) their life; they can be put in jail, can be silenced, and can be disappeared, & quot; he said.

Ai is no stranger to controversy or danger.

He helped design the iconic Bird' s Nest stadium for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, but then called for a boycott of the games because in his opinion China was using them as propaganda. He also faced a barrage of official criticism in 2008 when he assembled activists to collect the names of thousands of unidentified students who were killed in the massive Sichuan earthquake. He also slammed local governments for allowing the construction of shoddy schools that collapsed.

Ai has paid a heavy price for his dissent.

He says he was beaten in a hotel room by Chinese police and later needed emergency brain surgery for injuries he suffered in the assault. Even as Ai spoke to CNN, Google appeared to be moving closer to leaving in a showdown over Internet censorship and hacking from inside the communist nation.

Popular Western social networking sites are already banned from China. & quot; There' s no Twitter in China, there' s no You. Tube in China, now we' ll have no Google in China, & quot; Ai said. & quot; They shut down three of my blogs in seven minutes, so you can see how fearful ( Chinese officials are) about somebody speaking out their mind. & quot; He said 12 million people were reading his blog posts until they were closed. Ai though said there are new technologies that can help people overcome what he called the Great Firewall, but it' s available to only a small number of people. & quot; Now we have about 50, 000 people - - writers, editors, journalists - - who can get the information. And they can get whatever we say in the West, & quot; he added. & quot; It has a great effect on the government.

Young people see what we are talking about on Twitter and blogs ( and) they would speak the words to different kinds of media. So that can have great potential, if millions of people read them. & quot; Ai said he believes new technology is the only way to bring change to China and he' s convinced it will happen one day.

Diagnosing dry macular degeneration Testing for defects in your central vision. During a complete eye exam, your eye doctor may use a test called the Amsler grid to test for defects in the center of your vision.

If you have macular degeneration, when you look at the grid some of the straight lines may seem faded, broken or distorted. Examining the back of your eye. Your eye doctor will examine the back of your eye to look for a mottled appearance that' s caused by drusen & mdash; yellow deposits that form in people with macular degeneration. To examine the back of your eye, your eye doctor will dilate your eyes using eyedrops and then use a special magnifying lens.

Creating images of the blood vessels in your eye ( angiogram) . During an angiogram of your eye, a colored dye is injected into a vein in your arm. The dye travels to the blood vessels in your eye. A special camera is used to take pictures of your eye.

The pictures show the dye highlighting the blood vessels in your eye. Your eye doctor uses the information from the angiogram images to determine whether the back of your eye shows blood vessel or retinal abnormalities, such as those that might be associated with wet macular degeneration. Optical coherence tomography. This noninvasive imaging test helps identify and display areas of retinal thickening or thinning.

Such changes are associated with macular degeneration. It' s often used to help monitor the response of the retina to macular degeneration treatments. Determining the stage of your dry macular degeneration Early stage. Several small drusen or a few medium- sized drusen are detected on the macula in one or both eyes. Generally, there' s no vision loss in the earliest stage.

Intermediate stage.

Many medium- sized drusen or one or more large drusen are detected in one or both eyes. At this stage, your central vision may start to blur and you may need extra light for reading or doing detail work. Advanced stage. Several large drusen, as well as extensive breakdown of light- sensitive cells in the macula, are detected.

This causes a well- defined spot of blurring in your central vision.

The blurred area may become larger and more opaque over time. & copy; 1998- 2011 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research ( MFMER) .

Dear Jeffery, I get so many questions that I am unable to answer definitively that it is a great pleasure to get a question that I can answer unequivocally. If you believe you are suffering from depression my recommendation is simple: You should make an appointment with a mental health professional for an evaluation.

Nothing takes the place of this type of face- to- face interaction in terms of determining whether you have a condition that requires treatment and what that treatment should be. I know from your email that you are fortunate to live in a large city with tremendous psychiatric resources, so you should have no problem seeing someone with the expertise to help assess your situation. So that' s the easy part. Your question of whether your symptoms qualify as depression is a bit more complicated. Your description of mood swings and extreme sleeping suggests to me that your issues might transcend a simple major depression diagnosis.

I don' t know your age, but I am going to make the assumption that you are under the age of 40 because of the symptoms you describe. Sleeping too much and rapid mood swings make me worry that you may be suffering from a bipolar condition. I say this because both mood swings and hypersomnia ( i. e. too much sleep) are classic descriptors of the types of mood disturbances that characterize bipolar disorder.

In fact, whenever I hear of a man who is feeling depressed and sleeping too much - - especially a young man - - the first thing that crosses my mind is to wonder if he has a bipolar disorder that is being missed. Men are only half as likely as women to get depressed before their 50s. Men have other ways of manifesting their misery, mostly in drugs/ alcohol and behavioral disturbances. Whenever a man has really significant depressive problems before middle age, a clinician usually finds one of two explanations.

The first is that he has some type of bipolar condition. The second is that that patient has experienced some type of early life abuse or trauma. Often people will have both situations operating at once, i. e. a bipolar condition that is being fueled by early trauma. If any of this rings true to your personal story, I hope it provides further encouragement to seek professional help. To sum up my concerns: You may indeed be suffering from depression, but your very short description of symptoms makes me worry that your depression may be occurring within the context of larger issues such as bipolar disorder or significant childhood adversity.

Again, whatever your particular truth is, the best course of action is to see a professional, and sooner rather than later.

( CNN) - - Emerson Donnell III had heard that 80 percent of marriages that include a child with autism end in divorce.

And he felt certain it would happen to him. About two years after the birth of his son, he found himself feeling disconnected from his family. His wife, Jennifer, devoted most of her time and energy to Emerson IV, and they rarely had time for each other. His son barely acknowledged him. & quot; Autism is something you can' t swallow all at once, & quot; he said. & quot; You' re first run over by the truck, overwhelmed and shut down. I sometimes wished I could be the guy who could say, ' I' m out of here. ' That' s the easy road.

The hard road is sticking in. & quot; It' s a common problem for families with the disorder, autism experts say. Overwhelmed by the needs of their children with autism, parents can neglect their marriages. Conventional wisdom has held that families of autism have a higher rate of divorce than others, but a study released Wednesday challenges this notion.

Researchers from Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore, Maryland, found that 64 percent of children with an autism spectrum disorder have married parents, compared with 65 percent of children without the condition. The authors are scheduled to present their findings Friday at the International Meeting for Autism Research in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Despite widely held beliefs, the results of the study, based on nearly 78, 000 children from the 2007 National Survey of Children' s Health, showed that divorce is not more common in families of autism, said Brian Freedman, the lead author of the study and clinical director of the Center for Autism and Related Disorders at Kennedy Krieger Institute.

The study was based on a snapshot - - the marital status of the survey participants at the time. It was not a study over time. When families receive a diagnosis of autism and then hear about high divorce rates, it can be crushing, Freedman said. & quot; It leaves many families with a sense of hopelessness about family and relationship.

I felt like it was important to get better info about this out there, & quot; he said.

It' s unclear where the the 80 percent divorce rate figure originated. Autism experts said they had not found any scientific research citing that number. The notion that parents of autistic children are more likely to get divorced is a & quot; a little bit like an urban myth, & quot; said Dr. Patricia Manning- Courtney, director of the Kelly O' Leary Center for Pervasive Developmental Disorders at the Cincinnati Children' s Hospital Medical Center in Ohio. & quot; There' s an assumption that the divorce rate is higher, & quot; she said. & quot; Why would people perceive it to be higher?

Is it because we hear about families that end in divorce? Maybe it' s more public and gets talked about more? I don' t know. & quot; Despite the conclusions from the recent study, Donnell, a Califon, New Jersey, resident, said he has a hard time believing that autism divorce rates are no different. & quot; With the additional financial and emotional stress, I can' t imagine it' s the same across the board, & quot; he said. Donnell recalled the strain in his family life three years ago.

After a long day at work, Donnell wanted nothing more than a hug from his young son when he came home. But the 2- year- old would wince and push away all affection. & quot; It' d send me into an emotional tailspin, & quot; Donnell said of not being able to connect with his son. & quot; I' d get frustrated, so I' d throw the keys on the counter and look for wine - - now my wife had two dysfunctional children on her hand. & quot; His wife was absorbed in Emerson' s care. & quot; Mothers focus just on the child. They put their own needs aside, their husband' s needs aside, and their whole adult life aside, which is completely unhealthy.

It consumes you, & quot; said Donnell, who wrote the book & quot; Dads and Autism: How to Stay in the Game. & quot; & quot; Next thing you know, you don' t have a relationship as a husband and wife, & quot; he said. & quot; All you do is sit there and talk about autism. & quot; These schisms among parents of autism tend to occur, Manning- Courtney said. From her 13 years of practicing, she observed that mothers and fathers reacted differently. & quot; The primary one is the division of labor, & quot; she said. & quot; Moms sort of take over all care, and dads take over everything else - - breadwinning, money earning, the resource- providing role. That harsh division of labor can be tough over a long period of time. & quot; Even when Donnell and his wife made an effort to get out of the house, dinner dates turned into discussions about autism therapy and doctor' s appointments, Donnell said.

While the two never argued, both of them felt angst. & quot; The picture of what parents have in mind of raising a child is different when raising a child with autism, & quot; Freedman said. & quot; Many children with autism have behavioral challenges.

Those can be challenging to handle. Taken together, it can cause stress for families. & quot; Donnell felt irrelevant in his son' s life, but he decided to take charge. He set a routine where he would greet his son with a hug when he arrived from work.

Little Emerson fought & quot; tooth and nail& quot; against this, but he eventually started to comply, even though the whole process of hugging and interacting was a mystery, Donnell said. A few months later, Donnell was holding the then- 2- year- old and trying to get him to say & quot; Pop& quot; to describe a Popsicle stick.

The toddler looked frustrated, but instead of having a meltdown, he reached up to his father and gave him a hug and kiss on the cheek. That left tears in Donnell' s eyes.

These days, Donnell takes care of Emerson' s therapies and schoolwork. His wife takes charge of Emerson' s medical needs and his doctor' s appointments. As they worked as a team, they bonded. & quot; We have real mutual respect for each other' s strengths - - luckily in different places, & quot; he said. & quot; It has opened both of our eyes. & quot; He and his wife have tried to focus more on their relationship. After putting Emerson to bed, they have a baby sitter come over so they can go out for a date. & quot; It doesn' t sound romantic, but that' s the reality, & quot; he said.

Los Angeles ( CNN) - - Former & quot; American Idol& quot; contestant Pia Toscano has signed a record deal with Interscope Records and will release her debut single next week, the label said Wednesday. Within hours after she was voted off the 10th season of the talent show in April, reports surfaced that Toscano had been signed by Interscope head - - and & quot; Idol& quot; mentor Jimmy Iovine. But at the time, Toscano told CNN it was not a done deal. On Wednesday, the label said Toscano' s debut single, & quot; This Time, & quot; will arrive July 12.

The album comes out later in the year. & quot; Jimmy Iovine was an amazing mentor during my time on Idol and I' m looking forward to working with him and everyone at Interscope Records and 19 Recordings, & quot; Toscano said. & quot; This is a dream come true. & quot; The single was penned by Esther Dean, who has written songs for Katy Perry, Mary J. Blige and Rihanna, the label said.

( CNN) - - My piece about a has generated a lot of tweets itself. Enrique Legaspi, a history teacher in East Los Angeles, recently began requiring his students to tweet to foster greater participation in his classes - - especially among shy students. The reaction to this phenomenon was sharp on both sides. People seem to be either for it or against the idea of students tweeting their way through an education - - with not much middle ground. @ cwindon: & quot; The concept is fine but Twitter shouldn' t be taught in school.

What about the parents who don' t want kids using social media? & quot; @ meanmindyjean: & quot; I hope my own children' s teachers will consider this. My son would benefit.

Twitter finds a place in the classroom. & quot; @ Barney. STJ: & quot; Not sure if i agree with how this teacher is using twitter in the classroom but I definitely agree with the attempt. & quot; @ mightyjackstar: & quot; The changing face of the classroom, and I think it' s great - Twitter helps shy kids speak up in class. & quot; Readers also sent in their thoughts with comments on the story page. Here' s a sampling of those.

Note: Some comments have been edited for clarity: clindsey 35: & quot; wow sure let' s teach the new generation to be even more horrible @ face - face communication! & quot; guitarharry: & quot; Getting attention of the kids is not teaching them!

This is one of the biggest flaws with integrating technology into classrooms. . . . My students learned the most when they were listening to me and then using information they found to create responses that I could evaluate based on established norms. Technology was mostly a distraction. & quot; terroh 8er: & quot; Just because it sounds like a novel and adaptive idea doesn' t make it a good idea. I' m pretty much a big technology geek, and having graduated from high school ~ 6 years ago, I am of the opinion that all modern technology should be kept out of the classroom. & quot; DRoy. Lenz: & quot; I don' t think that this is for every teacher, and every classroom, but this looks to me like an attentive teacher who has enough awareness to recognize a gap in the education he' s trying to provide. & quot; Thanks for your responses to the story.

If you' ve got something else to add, feel free to use the comments section below, or send us a note on Twitter, either to my personal account - - - - or on .

( CNN) - - Ira Botnick didn' t expect to love the view of Los Angeles from the back of a garbage truck, much like Keara Mc. Carthy thought she would love selling ice cream. Then again, summer jobs aren' t often what they appear to be.

From awkward tan lines to undesirable duties, these seasonal jobs fulfill a simple hope: getting paid at a young age. And love it or hate it, the experience remains long after spending the last paycheck on rock concerts and ice cream.

We asked i.

Reporters about their memorable summer jobs, and they waxed nostalgic on the best and worst of their sweltering summer experiences.

The best Alan Limke had the time of his life working in the Clown Band at the similarly named theme park in Mason, Ohio. Between 1985 and 1987, Limke spent three magical summers performing as a clown musician with his college buddies, sweating and smiling the whole time. & quot; We were a zany 12- piece band that snaked through the park, making guests laugh, scaring children, embarrassing cute girls and generally acting like idiots . . . and getting paid for it, & quot; he said. The band became like a family, performing sometimes eight or nine times a day.

Limke remains nostalgic about the experience and wishes amusement parks hadn' t eliminated the live musician positions. Like Limke' s passion for music, El& eacute; onore Maudry already had a love for mountaineering when she was growing up in the Swiss Alps. Getting a summer job as a Swiss Alpine Club mountain hut hostess was a natural progression. Although she was at an elevation of 9, 000 feet, about four hours from civilization with unreliable phone service, scarce water and solar electricity, Maudry enjoyed spending her summers as a hostess from 16 to 21.

Her duties included getting up at 2 a. m. , cooking, cleaning, chopping firewood and fetching lost hikers, but the hardships were overshadowed by meeting diverse people from all over the world and helping them discover her beloved Alps. Maudry hopes to return and be a & quot; guardian& quot; once again. The worst Hot and miserable, Rick Williams worked through & quot; golf course hell. & quot; Post- college, he had a liberal arts degree and no employment options other than working at Christmas Lake Country Club, in Santa Claus, Indiana.

He admits he did it for the money. From working in temperatures of more than 100 degrees to getting hit by golf balls, Williams' early- rising, lawn- mowing and hole- digging days lasted for several summers. & quot; I would have to be paid very large sums of money to ever do this again, & quot; he said. & quot; And I haven' t even played golf for several years! & quot; Unlike Williams, Keara Mc. Carthy was optimistic about her summer job operating an ice cream truck in Boulder, Colorado. & quot; It all seemed so great on paper: Pick up your truck every morning, fill it with ice cream, and head out into the world to spread joy to children and adults alike, & quot; she said. & quot; The problem was that on the best days of the summer, you' re stuck in this truck, with no air conditioning and that xylophone- esque song playing on a loop for hours. & quot; Mc. Carthy soon discovered she wasn' t a great saleswoman. While other drivers made more than $ 200 daily, she barely broke even, earning only $ 20 to $ 40. & quot; Finally, I declared the whole thing not worth it, and one hot, sunny day, perfect for some ice cream, I didn' t go pick up my truck, didn' t fill it with ice cream, and spread no joy, & quot; she said.

And Mc. Carthy is still haunted by the truck' s tinkling song. The surprising & quot; It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, and I wouldn' t change one moment, & quot; Christa Reinwall said. & quot; For seven hot and sweaty summers I worked at in Allentown, Pennsylvania. & quot; Beginning at age 14, Reinwall went through teen angst, love and heartbreak while working 12- hour- days, six days a week at the amusement park, but she loved it. & quot; Even when those days were filled with screaming children, screaming adults, cleaning toilets, cleaning up vomit, we always had each other and fun times, & quot; she said. From directing traffic in the parking lot and running the rides to being named supervisor of ecology her last three years at the park, Reinwall made numerous friends amongst the diverse crowds. & quot; There were days the job lost its luster, and I wanted to run out of there screaming or crying, but most of the days, I walked out of there laughing with some of the best friends I' ve ever made, & quot; she said. & quot; Which is fortunate because most of the close friends I have are from the Dorney days, and I know the same is true for most of those friends. & quot; Perhaps even more surprising is how Ira Botnick found peace by clinging to the back of a garbage truck during the summer of 1968 in Los Angeles.

Botnick began each day as a garbage collector at 6: 30 a. m. , often finishing his route in time to hit the beach before noon. & quot; It' s the only job I ever had where I didn' t have to think! & quot; he said. & quot; I literally let my mind wander while I was on the back of that garbage truck. & quot; While Botnick didn' t particularly like the smell, he enjoyed the time off before his junior year at the University of Colorado. And making money. & quot; I went back to school with an extra $ 1, 000 in my pocket, & quot; Botnick said. & quot; It was one of the happiest times of my life. & quot; Tell us about your own best or worst summer job in the comments area below.

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Thanks for your question. Keratosis pilaris is a very common skin condition that occurs in different degrees of severity in up to 80% of teens and nearly half of adults. Resembling pink or flesh- colored goose bumps, keratosis pilaris is caused when a substance called keratin clogs the hair follicles on the skin, usually on the outer parts of the upper arms and thighs and sometimes also on the face.

Keratosis pilaris is not harmful and if left untreated may eventually clear up, although this can take years. The condition often runs in families and tends to be worst during the teen and young adult years. Some people find their skin improves in the summer with sun exposure, while for others it can get worse. Your daughter may first wish to try simple measures such as taking warm rather than hot baths or showers and running a humidifier in her room. Soap- free cleansers such as Dove or Cetaphil are often recommended, as are general over- the- counter moisturizers.

Exfoliating with a loofah may also aid in removing some of the keratin. There are multiple creams and lotions that may be prescribed for patients wanting to treat keratosis pilaris; however, they don' t always work well. Products containing lactic acid, alpha hydroxy acid, salicylic acid, a retinoid or other acne medicines, or urea can sometimes reduce the bumps. Using a topical steroid for about a week may also help if the bumps are very red or inflamed.

In severe cases, removing the bumps by microdermabrasion, chemical peels or other methods can be successful.

You can ask your pediatrician if any of these therapies may be useful in your daughter' s situation or consider consulting a dermatologist. Because this condition is so common, I hope our readers will share their experiences with treating keratosis pilaris as well.

( ) - - After offering an unlocked version of the i. Phone overseas for some time, Apple has finally of the GSM i. Phone 4 in the U. Rumors had been building over the last several days that Apple was preparing to add such an item to its inventory system sooner than later, and those rumors came to fruition early Tuesday morning.

The unlocked 16GB i. Phone 4 is now available directly from Apple for $ 649, with the 32GB model going for $ 749. ( Bet you' re hankerin' for those subsidized phones again! ) Unlocked i.

Phone 4s are available in both black and white and the device is otherwise the same as the AT& amp; T- locked i.

Phone 4 that many of us are already familiar with. Aside from being beneficial for travel - - GSM is essentially the world standard when it comes to cell phones and travelers will be able to use the device on other GSM networks outside of the U. S. - - an unlocked version of the phone means that users can upgrade without committing to a new contract with AT& amp; T. T- Mobile in the U. S. also offers a GSM network that partially works with the i.

Phone 4, but those who take unlocked phones over to that network won' t be able to use T- Mobile' s 3G - - the device works with T- Mobile' s EDGE only.

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New York ( CNN) - - New York is implementing a lottery for any couple wishing to marry Sunday, the day the state' s same- sex marriage law goes into effect. The city said has made 764 slots available for Sunday, which would be the highest number of marriages & quot; on any single day in city history, & quot; to handle burgeoning demand for marriage licenses and for weddings at city clerk' s offices. & quot; We are going to make history on Sunday, with the eyes of the nation once again turning to New York City, & quot; Mayor Michael Bloomberg said in a statement. & quot; We' ve done our homework, and it' s clear that the number of couples who want to marry on Sunday is more than the city clerk' s offices could possibly handle.

And the last thing we want is for couples to wait on line for hours and hours, only to walk away upset on what was supposed to be the happiest day of their lives. & quot; The lottery slots available, by borough, are 400 in Manhattan, 112 each in Brooklyn and Queens, 98 in the Bronx and 42 in Staten Island.

The lottery guarantees winners access to one of the city clerk' s five offices for either opposite- sex or same- sex couples. It will open for entries at noon Tuesday and will close at noon Thursday. The lottery winners will be notified by e- mail or phone by noon Friday. & quot; The fairest way to determine who gets the chance to wed on Sunday and ensure everyone can properly plan for their own big day is through an even- handed lottery system.

Nobody puts on big events like New York, and we will be ready on Sunday for what will no doubt be an historic and unforgettable moment, & quot; Bloomberg said. As of Tuesday morning, the clerk' s office & quot; had received 2, 661 online applications since July 5, of which the Clerk has estimated that 1, 728 are from same- sex couples. & quot; The city said in a statement that its data & quot; showed that 54 percent of the online applicants planned to visit the Clerk' s Office on July 24th for their marriage license; and that 50 percent of the applicants planned to get married at the Clerk' s Office that day. & quot; Couples who have registered for the marriage license must enter the lottery if they want to marry Sunday. Those who aren' t chosen in the lottery & quot; should plan on visiting a Clerk' s office location at a future date, & quot; the city said. & quot; There is no advantage to registering quickly for the lottery - - all applicants who register in time will have an equal opportunity to be randomly selected. There will be a separate lottery for each of the City Clerk' s five borough offices and lottery applicants must specify one - - and only one - - office where they wish to marry, & quot; the statement said. The previous highs for weddings in one day were 621 marriages on Valentine' s Day 2003 and 610 marriages on August 8, 2008.

New York legalized same- sex marriage in June. The Marriage Equality Act was a priority for Gov. Andrew Cuomo after winning election in November. The law was passed under a Republican- led Senate after days of delays and negotiations between the two parties.

Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa, Vermont and New Hampshire also allow same- sex marriage, as does the District of Columbia.

( CNN) - - In the fight against memory loss, nothing is certain, doctors say. A seemingly steady stream of new research purports to show supplements' and vitamins' promise in preventing or slowing cognitive decline, but in reality no hard evidence supports taking any of them.

At the same time, such supplements have been proved safe, barring drug interactions and other complications, so some doctors recommend trying them anyway. With millions of aging Americans experiencing a decrease in cognitive function, the need for a natural prevention method is obvious. As many as 2. 4 million to 4.

5 million Americans have , according to the National Institute on Aging. Between 1 and 4 percent of people over the age of 65 have vascular dementia, according to the Mayo Clinic. Fish oil At the forefront of the supplement claims to improve brain function has been fish oil. Several observational studies - - which did not involve the scientific rigor of control groups - - have found benefits in cognition, or a lower risk of dementia, among older people who ate a lot of fish, although results overall have been mixed. A study from Britain, to be published in the June issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, has found no benefit in taking fish oil supplements in cognitively healthy older adults.

Researchers looked at more than 800 people ages 70 to 79, comparing the effects of fish oil to a placebo of olive oil. On average, there was no difference in cognitive decline during the two years of study.

Still, the authors caution that this may not have been long enough to see the real consequences of taking fish oil.

The theory is that fish oil could help because it' s rich in omega- 3 fatty acids, which control inflammation and protect cells. Omega- 3s have been suggested to lower the risk of chronic diseases, such as cancer and heart disease. The authors of the new study conclude that although they found no benefit on cognition, they also found no harm, and they acknowledge the benefits that have been found for other conditions. They recommend further study on fish oil and cognitive decline.

Gingko biloba Gingko biloba is a popular botanical supplement that comes from one of the oldest living tree species. Its leaves are thought to have antioxidant properties.

Research has suggested that this herbal medicine improves blood flow to the brain and protects nerve cells, and thus may be used to boost memory in people with dementia. But a study of more than 3, 000 people, followed for six years, could not find any effect of delaying or preventing Alzheimer' s disease or improving memory. The latest published results were in the Journal of the American Medical Association in December. & quot; I do not believe that data suggest it has a role to play in prevention, & quot; senior author Dr. Steven De.

Kosky, dean of the University of Virginia School of Medicine, said in an e- mail. The research did show, however, that the supplement is safe. It is also relatively inexpensive, & quot; so if people insist on taking it, I do not object, & quot; De. Kosky said. The prevention trial has ended, but the group is still working on the mounds of data collected from participants, ages 72 to 96, De.

Kosky said. They are also going to look at whether the presence or absence of amyloid plaques, a marker of Alzheimer' s in the brain, predicts participants' cognitive status over the next five years. A smaller portion of people in the study will take part in a brain imaging study to examine what portion of normal 85- year- olds have these amyloid plaques. Vitamin E Dr.

Alireza Atri, neurologist at Massachusetts General Hospital, gives vitamin E to his patients with Alzheimer' s who wouldn' t have side effects because of other medications but admits that it' s not clear why this nutrient would help or what dose would be ideal. Atri' s group' s findings, presented last year at the annual meeting of the American Geriatrics Society, suggested some potential in vitamin E slowing cognitive decline.

They found a modest effect that increased with time. The study has not been published in a peer- reviewed journal and has not been updated since it was presented, said Atri, also at the VA Bedford Medical Center. Research on this subject over the past decade has been mixed. Some studies have found a decreased risk of developing Alzheimer' s in people who take vitamin E, but others have not found this effect.

In terms of slowing the progression of symptomatic patients, a controlled study found no effect, De.

Kosky said. Large doses of vitamin E have been shown to cause serious toxic side effects, but low doses may be beneficial, Atri said. & quot; There' s no evidence- based medicine for this, & quot; he said. & quot; I think evidence- based opinion would say probably 150 to 100 units a day is fine. & quot; People with bleeding problems should not take vitamin E because of interactions, Atri said. What to do Always consult your doctor to find out what supplements are right for you, as even natural remedies can have serious side effects in combination with other drugs or underlying conditions. & quot; I tell people to take a multivitamin because we know that as we get older, we have an increased risk of not absorbing all the nutrients we need, & quot; said Dr. Gary Small, director of the Center on Aging at the University of California, Los Angeles. & quot; Beyond that, there' s no hard, fast recommendation. & quot;

Cedar Key, Florida ( CNN) - - Two weeks after BP plugged its damaged oil well in the Gulf of Mexico with cement and mud from above, the next step in the process to permanently shut down the apparatus is in limbo as scientists gauge the risks posed by pressure inside the well. & quot; Our first goal is to do no harm, & quot; Thad Allen, the government' s point man in the Gulf, said in a teleconference Wednesday. The procedure the first week of August was called a & quot; static kill. & quot; The timeline for the next step - - the & quot; bottom kill& quot; - - is unknown, as scientists try to determine which of two methods would work best to mitigate the pressure issues, Allen said. Crews could remove the capping stack that sealed the oil in the well on July 15, then replace the well' s blowout preventer with a new one stored on the nearby Development Driller II in the Gulf.

The other option would require BP to devise a pressure- relief device for the current capping stack. Once crews get their marching orders, it will take them about four days to prepare, drill the final 50 feet of a relief well and intercept the main well. Then, the & quot; bottom kill& quot; process of plugging the well from below will begin. Allen said Wednesday cementing will require another several days.

Allen also told reporters that seafood coming from reopened Gulf fishing waters is safe to eat. & quot; There' s no problem with Gulf seafood.

It' s being tested more than any other seafood out there right now, & quot; Allen said. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration chief Jane Lubchenco echoed Allen' s comments about Gulf seafood, saying that where water may still be tainted, no fishing is allowed. & quot; Twenty- two percent of federal waters in the Gulf remain closed because we have not yet determined it' s safe& quot; to eat seafood from there, Lubchenco said in the same teleconference. She added that scientists are continuing to conduct testing in the areas that have reopened.

Wednesday is the last day that BP will accept claims from people and businesses affected by the Gulf oil disaster. After that, the oil giant will direct people to the Gulf Coast Claims Facility, led by attorney Kenneth Feinberg. Feinberg is charged with independently administering the $ 20 billion escrow account established by BP to compensate for damage caused by the Gulf disaster. At a town hall meeting in Houma, Louisiana, Wednesday morning, one woman accused Feinberg of working for BP, accidentally referring to him as & quot; Mr.

BP. & quot; & quot; This facility is going to be much more generous, much more efficient, and much quicker than BP, & quot; Feinberg responded. & quot; If anyone here thinks I am not independent and am merely an arm of BP, don' t participate.

It' s a voluntary program. & quot; Feinberg promised that eligible individuals who submit a claim would get a check in 48 hours and eligible business claims would be paid in no more than seven days. But he acknowledged that he' d have to earn the trust of fishermen and others who say they' ve received conflicting information about the oil spill response from BP and various government agencies. & quot; There is only one way that I will earn your trust, & quot; Feinberg said Wednesday, & quot; and that is paying the claims. & quot; Others at the town complained that income they' ve received from BP for helping respond to the spill would be deducted from their payments, pointing out that those who stayed home would be eligible for more money. & quot; There are very few people that I' ve met here in the gulf that are in emergency situations, desperate to pay their mortgages and put food on their tables that have not sought other work, other employment, & quot; Feinberg told CNN' s Wolf Blitzer Wednesday in response to such grievances. BP, which said Tuesday it has paid $ 368 million in claims so far, will continue to handle claims by government entities. On Tuesday, a major environmental watchdog group called for more stringent testing of seafood from the Gulf of Mexico, where the fall shrimping season began this week.

The state of Alabama just reopened its coastal waters to fishing and shrimping on Monday.

The National Resources Defense Council released a statement saying it sent letters to the Food and Drug Administration and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, co- signed by almost two dozen Gulf coast groups. The letters asked the government agencies to: - - Ensure that there is comprehensive monitoring of seafood contamination. - - Ensure public disclosure of all seafood monitoring data and methods. - - Ensure that fishery reopening criteria protect the most vulnerable populations, including children, pregnant women and subsistence fishing communities. & quot; With the opening of shrimping season and near- daily reopening of fishing areas, seafood safety is a major issue right now, & quot; Dr. Gina Solomon, a senior scientist with the National Resources Defense Council, said in the statement. & quot; The government needs to show it is putting strong safety criteria and testing standards in place to ensure that the seafood from the Gulf will be safe to eat in the months and years to come. & quot; The oil spill has hampered the seafood business across the Gulf as federal and state authorities put much of its waters off- limits amid safety concerns. With the once- gushing well capped temporarily for more than a month now, NOAA and the Gulf states have started lifting those restrictions. Pete Barber, president of the Alabama Seafood Association, told CNN affiliate WALA that although the waters are open and the shrimp have been deemed safe, that doesn' t mean seafood buyers want it. & quot; We' ve had major distributors call up some of our processors who have been working with them for years, generations, and they' ve basically said, ' We don' t want Gulf product, ' & quot; Barber said. & quot; Some of those boats have their hulls full of shrimp and no one that' s eagerly looking to buy them. & quot; While some shrimpers are eager to get back out, many are still working for BP, which has hired boats to skim oil off the surface and lay protective booms along the shorelines.

But the need for skimmers appears to be winding down.

The state of Louisiana said Tuesday that of 343 operational skimmers, only 40 were sent out Monday in search of oil - - and they came back to shore with 100 cubic yards of debris, but not even one gallon of oil. Two reports published Tuesday express concern about the lingering effects of oil spilled from the ruptured BP well. Researchers at the University of South Florida have concluded that oil from the Deepwater Horizon spill may have settled to the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico farther east than previously suspected - - and at levels toxic to marine life. & quot; The dispersant is moving the oil down out of the surface and into the deeper waters, where it can affect phytoplankton and other marine life, & quot; said John Paul, a marine microbiologist at the University of South Florida. In addition, a team from Georgia Sea Grant and the University of Georgia released a report that estimates that 70 to 79 percent of the oil that gushed from the well & quot; has not been recovered and remains a threat to the ecosystem, & quot; the university said in a release.

The Georgia study & quot; strongly contradicts& quot; a 2- week- old government report saying that only 26 percent of the oil spilled from the well remains in the Gulf.

Lubchenco addressed the discrepancy Wednesday, saying the Georgia study was based on different parameters than the federal study and, & quot; We stand by the numbers we released in the oil budget. & quot; & quot; We have said all along there is dispersed oil subsurface - - that oil is out there, & quot; she said. & quot; It is dilute, in parts per million& quot; but & quot; dilute and dispersed does not mean benign. & quot; The NOAA chief said scientists will & quot; continue to do additional monitoring and refine the estimate& quot; as new information comes to light. The government believes the water is clean enough for at least one form of sea life to abide. Allen, Lubchenco and some biologists reintroduced 23 sea turtles to the Gulf off Cedar Key, Florida, Wednesday morning.

The Kemp' s ridley sea turtles had been cleaned and de- oiled at the Audubon Aquarium in New Orleans, and at Gulf World in Panama City, Florida. Then, they were temporarily housed at Sea. World Orlando, Mote Marine Laboratory, and the Florida Aquarium, NOAA said in a press release Wednesday. To date, approximately 500 live turtles have been rescued during the Gulf oil spill, and more than 450 stranded or captured turtles have had visible evidence of external oil.

Approximately 350 turtles are still in rehabilitation facilities and will be released as they are given clean bills of health, according to NOAA. The spill began after an April 20 explosion on the offshore drilling platform Deepwater Horizon that killed 11 men.

Two days later, the platform sank and oil started gushing into the Gulf. CNN' s Chris Turner contributed to this report

Should political debate be about jobs not debt? Lobbyists battle amid deficit cuts Gergen: Prospects for debt default above 50% Trump: Bachmann is ' highly underrated' Impact of concussions to brain Geyser of water lifts car into air Paramedics help dad watch son' s game Cops: Mom admits having teen sex parties Is it child abuse to overfeed children? Chihuahua chases off robbers 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 Astronauts aboard Atlantis reflect UK vs. US tabloid culture Talking to teens about health, obesity Welcome home to U. Womens soccer team Could eye exams detect Alzheimer' s?

Legal analysis of phone hacking scandal 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 Report: Murdoch to step down as CEO? Prioritizing federal spending Tea Party leader on default threat Could Rick Perry shake up GOP W.

H. race? GOP pushes ' cut, cap, and balance' Anderson Cooper answers your questions Marcus Bachmann defends clinic Famine strikes Somalia 11 million starving in 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 Debt talks - what' s the solution? Murdoch' s wife stands by her man James Murdoch discusses 9/ 11 victims Counting calories while eating out Hacking: ' Who signed the checks? ' Dr. Drew Behind- the- scenes with Bristol Palin Murray to blame for Jackson' s death?

Casey interview: Bonanza or backlash?

Preview: Dr. Drew with Bristol Palin Is Casey Anthony mentally ill? 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 Gergen: Prospects for default above 50% Debt crisis: Whatever happened to jobs?

House vote ' one way of herding the cats' Campbell: Cameron should admit ' error' Experts skeptical of Murdoch' s ignorance ' Revolving door' guarded Murdoch paper? Who is winning debt ceiling debate? Hacking whistle- blower was ' a good guy' Abrams: How far will hacking scandal go? Former editor cites Murdoch son, Brooks 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?

Larry David: I want to do standup again My father was ' The Grim Reaper' Fergie: I' m addicted to being liked 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 Murray' s defense wants jury sequestered Tot mom allegedly spotted at airport Cops: Son kills parents, throws party Where is Casey Anthony?

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 Piers Morgan believes Murdoch Murdoch done with newspapers? Nancy Grace: Jury wasn' t listening to me Nancy Grace speaks about fiance' s murder Claustrophobic fighter pilot Impact of concussions to brain Ex- players sue NFL over concussion risks Brain injury patient back on the road 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 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' Computer hackers attack ' Sun' Congressman battles home intruder Murdoch scandal: Who' s next?

Herman Cain against proposed mosque? Bachmann backs ' cut, cap and balance' Warren: " I Really Don' t Get it" Politicos agree: GOP field leaderless Sound of Sunday with Candy Crowley How Giuliani would negotiate debt talks How Giuliani would negotiate debt talks Giuliani: ' Not sure' I could win in NH Candy' s post- show analysis Graham has no confidence in compromise WH Budget chief: Time to act is now Rudy Giuliani on Murdoch, 9/ 11 and more Candy' s pre- show rundown

Blood pressure is a measurement of the pressure in your arteries during the active and resting phases of each heartbeat.

Here' s what the numbers mean: Systolic pressure. The first ( top) number in a blood pressure reading, this is the amount of pressure your heart generates when pumping blood through your arteries to the rest of your body. Diastolic pressure.

The second ( bottom) number in a blood pressure reading, this refers to the amount of pressure in your arteries when your heart is at rest between beats. Current guidelines identify normal blood pressure as equal to or lower than 120/ 80 & mdash; many experts think 115/ 75 is even better. Although you can get an accurate blood pressure reading at any given time, blood pressure isn' t always the same. It can vary considerably in a short amount of time & mdash; sometimes from one heartbeat to the next, depending on body position, breathing rhythm, stress level, physical condition, medications you take, what you eat and drink, and even time of day.

Blood pressure is usually lowest at night and rises sharply on waking. Blood pressure: How low can you go? What' s considered low blood pressure for you may be normal for someone else. Most doctors consider chronically low blood pressure too low only if it causes noticeable symptoms. Some experts define low blood pressure as readings lower than 90 systolic or 60 diastolic & mdash; you need to have only one number in the low range for your blood pressure to be considered lower than normal.

In other words, if your systolic pressure is a perfect 115, but your diastolic pressure is 50, you' re considered to have lower than normal pressure. A sudden fall in blood pressure can also be dangerous. A change of just 20 mm Hg & mdash; a drop from 110 systolic to 90 systolic, for example & mdash; can cause dizziness and fainting when the brain fails to receive an adequate supply of blood. And big plunges, especially those caused by uncontrolled bleeding, severe infections or allergic reactions, can be life- threatening. Athletes and people who exercise regularly tend to have lower blood pressure and a slower heart rate than do people who aren' t as fit.

So, in general, do nonsmokers and people who eat a healthy diet and maintain a normal weight. But in some rare instances, low blood pressure can be a sign of serious, even life- threatening disorders.

Conditions that can cause low blood pressure Some medical conditions can cause low blood pressure.

These include: Pregnancy. Because a woman' s circulatory system expands rapidly during pregnancy, blood pressure is likely to drop. During the first 24 weeks of pregnancy, systolic pressure commonly drops by five to 10 mm Hg and diastolic pressure by as much as 10 to 15 mm Hg. This is normal, and blood pressure usually returns to your pre- pregnancy level after you' ve given birth.

Heart problems. Some heart conditions that can lead to low blood pressure include extremely low heart rate ( bradycardia) , heart valve problems, heart attack and heart failure. These conditions may cause low blood pressure because they prevent your body from being able to circulate enough blood. Endocrine problems.

An underactive thyroid ( hypothyroidism) or overactive thyroid ( hyperthyroidism) can cause low blood pressure. In addition, other conditions, such as adrenal insufficiency ( Addison' s disease) , low blood sugar ( hypoglycemia) and, in some cases, diabetes, can trigger low blood pressure.

Dehydration. When you become dehydrated, your body loses more water than it takes in. Even mild dehydration can cause weakness, dizziness and fatigue. Fever, vomiting, severe diarrhea, overuse of diuretics and strenuous exercise can all lead to dehydration. Far more serious is hypovolemic shock, a life- threatening complication of dehydration.

It occurs when low blood volume causes a sudden drop in blood pressure and a reduction in the amount of oxygen reaching your tissues.

If untreated, severe hypovolemic shock can cause death within a few minutes or hours.

Blood loss.

Losing a lot of blood from a major injury or internal bleeding reduces the amount of blood in your body, leading to a severe drop in blood pressure. Severe infection ( septicemia) . Septicemia can happen when an infection in the body enters the bloodstream.

These conditions can lead to a life- threatening drop in blood pressure called septic shock. Severe allergic reaction ( anaphylaxis) . Anaphylaxis is a severe and potentially life- threatening allergic reaction. Common triggers of anaphylaxis include foods, certain medications, insect venoms and latex.

Anaphylaxis can cause breathing problems, hives, itching, a swollen throat and a drop in blood pressure. Lack of nutrients in your diet. A lack of the vitamins B- 12 and folate can cause anemia, a condition in which your body doesn' t produce enough red blood cells, causing low blood pressure. Medications that can cause low blood pressure Some medications you may take can also cause low blood pressure, including: Sildenafil ( Viagra) , particularly in combination with the heart medication, nitroglycerine Types of low blood pressure Doctors often break down low blood pressure ( hypotension) into different categories, depending on the causes and other factors. Some types of low blood pressure include: Low blood pressure on standing up ( postural or orthostatic hypotension) .

This is a sudden drop in blood pressure when you stand up from a sitting position or if you stand up after lying down. Ordinarily, gravity causes blood to pool in your legs whenever you stand. Your body compensates for this by increasing your heart rate and constricting blood vessels, thereby ensuring that enough blood returns to your brain. But in people with postural hypotension, this compensating mechanism fails and blood pressure falls, leading to symptoms of dizziness, lightheadedness, blurred vision and even fainting. Postural hypotension can occur for a variety of reasons, including dehydration, prolonged bed rest, pregnancy, diabetes, heart problems, burns, excessive heat, large varicose veins and certain neurological disorders.

A number of medications can also cause postural hypotension, particularly drugs used to treat high blood pressure & mdash; diuretics, beta blockers, calcium channel blockers and angiotensin- converting enzyme ( ACE) inhibitors & mdash; as well as antidepressants and drugs used to treat Parkinson' s disease and erectile dysfunction. Postural hypotension is especially common in older adults, with as many as 20 percent of those over age 65 experiencing postural hypotension. But postural hypotension can also affect young, otherwise healthy people who stand up suddenly after sitting with their legs crossed for long periods or after working for a time in a squatting position. Low blood pressure after eating ( postprandial hypotension) . Postprandial hypotension is a sudden drop in blood pressure after eating.

It affects mostly older adults.

Just as gravity pulls blood to your feet when you stand, a large amount of blood flows to your digestive tract after you eat. Ordinarily, your body counteracts this by increasing your heart rate and constricting certain blood vessels to help maintain normal blood pressure. But in some people these mechanisms fail, leading to dizziness, faintness and falls. Postprandial hypotension is more likely to affect people with high blood pressure or autonomic nervous system disorders such as Parkinson' s disease. Lowering the dose of blood pressure drugs and eating small, low- carbohydrate meals may help reduce symptoms.

Low blood pressure from faulty brain signals ( neurally mediated hypotension) . This disorder causes blood pressure to drop after standing for long periods, leading to signs and symptoms such as dizziness, nausea and fainting. Neurally mediated hypotension mostly affects young people, and it seems to occur because of a miscommunication between the heart and the brain. When you stand for extended periods, your blood pressure falls as blood pools in your legs.

Normally, your body then makes adjustments to normalize your blood pressure. But in people with neurally mediated hypotension, nerves in the heart' s left ventricle actually signal the brain that blood pressure is too high, rather than too low. As a result, the brain lessens the heart rate, decreasing blood pressure even further. This causes more blood to pool in the legs and less blood to reach the brain, leading to lightheadedness and fainting.

Low blood pressure due to nervous system damage ( multiple system atrophy with orthostatic hypotension) . Also called Shy- Drager syndrome, this rare disorder causes progressive damage to the autonomic nervous system, which controls involuntary functions such as blood pressure, heart rate, breathing and digestion.

Although this condition can be associated with muscle tremors, slowed movement, problems with coordination and speech, and incontinence, its main characteristic is severe orthostatic hypotension in combination with very high blood pressure when lying down. & copy; 1998- 2011 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research ( MFMER) .

( ) - - If Americans cut their salt intake by just half a teaspoon per day, it would produce public health benefits on par with reducing high cholesterol, smoking, or obesity, a new study has found. The number of heart attacks in the U. S. could decline by up to 13 percent if adults could just slash their daily salt intake by 3 grams, or about 1, 200 milligrams of sodium, according to the study, which was published Wednesday in the .

New cases of heart disease and the number of strokes could also be expected to decline, by up to 11 percent and 8 percent, respectively. To achieve a similar reduction in heart attacks and other heart- related problems, the researchers estimate, nationwide tobacco use would need to be halved. Alternatively, obese adults would need to reduce their body mass index by 5 percent, or all adults at low- to- medium risk for heart disease would need to take cholesterol- lowering statins. Even a reduction in daily salt intake of just 1 gram ( or about 400 milligrams of sodium) would produce & quot; large declines& quot; in the rates of cardiovascular events, according to the study. & quot; Just targeting slightly lower salt [ intake] would have some benefit for everyone in the U.

S. , & quot; says the study' s lead author, Dr. Kirsten Bibbins- Domingo, an epidemiologist and assistant professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco. & quot; This is the ideal type of intervention for those who are interested in public health to get behind, because the effects would be so dramatic. & quot; The study suggests that food manufacturers would need to be the primary target of the projected reduction in salt intake, since processed foods - - and not the salt in your salt shaker - - account for between 75 to 80 percent of American salt consumption. & quot; I got interested in this work because, once I started looking at the labels, I was shocked by how much salt I had no control over, & quot; Bibbins- Domingo says. Seemingly healthy staples such as breakfast cereal, pasta sauce, and sandwich bread likely contain more salt than one would think, she adds. & quot; It' s hard for me to tell my patients to make different choices, because it' s hard for me to make different choices. & quot; Bibbins- Domingo and her colleagues at UCSF estimated the benefits of salt reduction using computer models.

The models, which took into account heart disease risk factors such as systolic blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and smoking status, relied on data from government sources and previously conducted studies.

The models assumed that salt intake is directly linked to blood pressure, and that blood- pressure levels have predictable effects on cardiovascular risk. Research has shown that excessive salt intake is associated with high blood pressure ( or hypertension) , which can damage the arteries and lead to heart disease, stroke, and other health problems.

The U. Department of Health and Human Services recommends that adults limit their daily salt intake to 5. 8 grams, or about 2, 300 milligrams of sodium. ( Sodium is a component of table salt. ) People who are especially sensitive to salt - - such as blacks, hypertensives, and adults over 40 - - should limit their intake to 3.

7 grams a day, or about 1, 500 milligrams of sodium, the agency says. The average American far more than the recommended amount of salt in a day, however. American men and women consume about 4, 178 and 2, 933 milligrams of sodium per day, respectively, government data show. & quot; I think a public- health policy is in order, & quot; says Cheryl Anderson, an assistant professor of epidemiology at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, who co- wrote an editorial that accompanies the study. A & quot; more concerted and dramatic& quot; effort that includes educating individuals about the dangers of excessive salt as well as the participation of public agencies and health organizations is needed, she says. & quot; It' s time to take the responsibility fully off the individual, because it hasn' t worked, & quot; says Anderson. & quot; We' ve been trying that for a long time now, and the problem of elevated blood pressure is still here. & quot; The study comes at a time when cities and states in the U. S. are taking steps to reduce the salt intake of its inhabitants.

Most notably, the New York City Department of Health announced last week that it would spearhead a nationwide effort to cut the population' s sodium intake by 20 percent over five years, in large part by persuading the manufacturers of prepackaged foods to reduce the amount of sodium in their products.

The campaign, known as the National Salt Reduction Initiative, is modeled on a similar campaign in the United Kingdom and has been joined by a host of professional organizations ( including the American Medical Association and the American Heart Association) and departments of health in numerous major cities and states, such as Chicago and California. Bibbins- Domingo says that her study was prompted in part by the realization that the U.

S. was & quot; lagging just a little bit behind& quot; other countries in addressing the health effects of salt intake. ( In addition to the U. K. , countries such as Finland and Australia have begun salt- reduction campaigns. ) The study, she says, was intended to provide rough estimates that would help guide policymakers in making decisions. & quot; We' re taking data from other studies - - clinical trials of lowering salt [ intake] and the effect of blood pressure on heart disease, & quot; she says. & quot; We' re taking those data and saying, ' What if we did this thought experiment, and actually applied the effects of these types of interventions across the whole U. S. population? & quot; The salt reduction proposed in the study would reduce health- care costs by $ 10 billion to $ 24 billion, Bibbins- Domingo and her colleagues estimate.

Salt- reduction campaigns have been controversial. Some experts maintain that the evidence linking salt intake and blood pressure isn' t strong enough to justify public policy and regulation of the food industry. Dr. David Mc.

Carron, an adjunct professor of nutrition at the University of California- - Davis and the president of Academic Network, a health- care communication company in Portland, Oregon, says that Bibbins- Domingo and her colleagues were overly reliant on studies that are of questionable validity. & quot; This is not a study. This is nothing but a computer- generated number, & quot; says Mc.

Carron, who has consulted for the food industry and the Salt Institute, a trade association. & quot; Any time you model something, it' s only as good as the basic assumptions you put in it. & quot; Although she acknowledges the methodological limitations of the study, Bibbins- Domingo dismisses the argument that the evidence on the health effects of salt isn' t strong enough to support a public- health initiative. & quot; The existing evidence is overwhelming, & quot; she says. Copyright