( 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.
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.
alternative Unlocked iPhone 4 now available in the U.S. -
alternative
( ) - - 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.
automotive New York gearing up for same-sex marriages -
automotive
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.
car Despite widespread claims, little proof for brain supplements -
car
( 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;
cancer Allen: 'Our first goal is to do no harm' in Gulf -
cancer
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) .
