11 Sep 2014

Chronic Pain & Painkillers: Why You Should Consider Alternatives

By Ginny Grimsley
Physician Offers 4 Natural Ways to End the Pain

Roughly 100 million Americans suffer from chronic pain lasting more than six months, according to a report from the Institute of Medicine. Throughout the past decade, the use of painkillers such as Vicodin, Percocet and OxyContin has soared by 300 percent. For many - 17,000 people per year, or 46 each day - the treatment is worse than the pain; those are the number of users who die from the medicine, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

For every person who dies from the use of painkillers, 30 more are admitted to emergency rooms due to complications.

"Those figures are appalling," says Dr. Frank King, a doctor of naturopathy, president of King Bio natural medicine company, and author of The Healing Revolution (www.kingbio.com).

"Death is just one of the many side effects of heavy-duty pharmaceuticals, and researchers unanimously agree that addiction to painkillers has risen drastically in recent years. People are so focused on pain that they miss the fact that it is a signal of deeper health problems. Don't shoot the messenger! Listen to the pain, and it will lead you to the root causes."

With decades of experience helping patients, Dr. King offers four natural suggestions for pain management.

•  Identify the root causes of pain. Pain is a signal of deeper problems, similar to the warning light on the dashboard of your car. You can mask the light with duct tape, which is what prescription drugs do with pain. You can cut the wires, which might symbolize a surgical approach. Or you can look for the root causes, which is what our more natural, holistic approach seeks to do. Address the problem, and the pain will subside.

•  Make good choices. Most chronic conditions are caused by bad lifestyle choices. Try walking more, eating and sleeping better, eliminating stress and bad habits from your life, and watch pain decrease and health increase. It's that simple. Moreover, surround yourself with a healing community of like-minded "healing buddies" who support your healthy choices.

•  Explore natural healing techniques, and if necessary, see a natural healing practitioner. You are your best doctor, on call 24/7. I developed many self-healing techniques that address the needs of every aspect of mind-body health. These techniques are free and easy to implement at home, on the job, and wherever you might be. You might also explore meditation, yoga and other approaches for filling the holes in your wholeness.

•  Look into homeopathy. Homeopathy predates modern medicine. Homeopathic medicines are safe and effective, with no known side effects or negative drug interactions. They target the root causes, not the superficial pain. I have personally seen homeopathy dramatically raise the quality of life and happiness for countless of my patients.

With the appalling death toll due to pharmaceutical pain medication, natural solutions like homeopathy are our safest, brightest hope for the future of pain management.

About Dr. Frank King

Dr. Frank King is a chiropractor, doctor of naturopathy, and founder and president of King Bio, an FDA-registered pharmaceutical manufacturing company dedicated to education, research, development, manufacture and distribution of safe and natural homeopathic medicines for people and pets. Dr. King is also the author of, The Healing Revolution: Eight Essentials to Awaken Abundant Life, Naturally! (www.kingbio.com). A fourth-generation farmer, Dr. King raises yak, camel, boar, wisent and American bison sold under the Carolina Bison brand. He is a member of the Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia Convention of the United States.

09 Sep 2014

THE POWER OF ADULT DAY SERVICES - THE FUTURE OF CARE

By Rick Martin

Jane's Place Adult Day Services Celebrates National Adult Day Care Week - September 14-20

Davenport, IA - September 8, 2014 - Every 60 seconds, someone in the United States is diagnosed with Alzheimer's, and one in three adults living with Alzheimer's will die from the disease.* These are staggering statistics that thousands of Quad City families face daily as they deal with the challenge of providing care for a loved one with Alzheimer's. Help is available with the Power of Adult Day Services at Jane's Place Adult Day Services Center in Davenport. The Quad City community is invited to learn more about the benefits of adult day services for individuals living with Alzheimer's and/or dementia at an open house Sunday, September 14 from 1-3 p.m. at Jane's Place Adult Day Center, 1035 West Kimberly Road, Davenport, IA 52806.

Jane's Place, the only adult day services center in Scott County, is located in the Center For Active Seniors, Inc. (CASI), and provides a low-cost alternative to nursing home placement with a secure, structured home-like environment that encourages fun interaction through social and therapeutic activities within a friendly group setting. "Alzheimer's is a devastating disease for the patients and their families," said Dr. Lynn B. Geick, Family Physician, John Deere Medical Group. "Jane's Place is a wonderful option to help the patient and the family deal with the transition as the disease progresses." Jane's Place works with participants who require assistance in daily living activities, such as personal hygiene, ambulation, and toileting.

Why The Need For Adult Day Services Week?

It is projected that more than 5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer's. The need for adult day services has never been greater as more than 13% of Iowa adults age 65 and older currently have this diagnose.* Often family members and caregivers don't think about adult day services until they are overwhelmed and feel they have nowhere to turn.

On September 27, 1983 President Ronald Reagan highlighted the need for adult day service centers when he signed Proclamation 5107, recognizing the third week of September as National Adult Day Care Week.

In this proclamation President Reagan called upon "every American community to consider the value of adult day care centers and to give appropriate recognition to centers offering these important services." In 2004 former President Regan died from complications associated with Alzheimer's.

Today, Jane's Place is one of more than 3,500 adult day centers supporting the needs of families and caregivers who offer an alternative to nursing homes and assisted living.**

Jane's Place Adult Day Services Community Open House is from 1-3pm, on Sunday, September 14, at 1035 West Kimberly Road, Davenport, IA 52806. For more information about the services provided by Jane's Place call 563-386-7477 Ext. 236 or visit the CASI website, www.CASISeniors.org.

04 Sep 2014

Davenport, Iowa Supports a Strong Today - Falls Free® Tomorrow on Falls Prevention Awareness Day

By Rick Martin

Milestones Agency on Aging, St. Ambrose University, and the Center for Active Seniors, Inc. (CASI) join forces for the Falls Prevention Awareness Day Workshop

Milestone Area Agency on Aging, the Center for Active Seniors, Inc. (CASI), and St. Ambrose University encourage seniors to attend the Fall Prevention Awareness Day Workshop on Tuesday, September 23, from 8:30-11:30 a.m. at CASI 1035 W. Kimberly Road, Davenport, IA 52806. The workshop will include helpful information and instruction on how to live a Fall Free lifestyle.

Sessions will include balance and mobility assessment, pharmacy screening (please bring a list of your current medications), vision and hearing assessment, blood pressure checks, fitness and exercise demonstrations and door prizes!

The event is free, but advance registration is required. Please call or stop at CASI (1035 W Kimberly Rd, Davenport, IA?563-386-7477) to reserve your spot today. Space is limited.

Falls are the leading cause of both fatal and nonfatal injuries for those 65 years of age and over. Every 14 seconds, an older adult is seen in an emergency department for a fall-related injury. The chances of falling and of being seriously injured in a fall increase with age.

This year's theme, Strong Today - Falls Free® Tomorrow, highlights the important roles professionals, older adults, caregivers, and family members play in raising awareness and preventing falls in the older adult population.

"Falls are not a normal part of aging and the resulting injuries can steal quality life from seniors and their families," said Albert Terrillion, NCOA Senior Director, Clinical Community Partnerships. "This awareness day is an opportunity for older adults and their support communities to learn how to reduce falls risks so our seniors can stay independent for as long as possible."

Studies show that a combination of interventions can significantly reduce falls among older adults. Experts recommend: 

  • A physical activity regimen with balance, strength training, and flexibility components.
  • Consulting with a health professional about getting a fall risk assessment.
  • Having medications reviewed periodically.
  • Getting eyes checked annually.
  • Making sure the home environment is safe and supportive.
  • Having an annual hearing assessment.

###

About the Falls Free® Initiative Led by the National Council on Aging, the Falls Free® Initiative includes more than 43 states and 70 national organizations, professional associations, and federal agencies working collaboratively to bring education, awareness, and evidence-based solutions to local communities. Falls Free® seeks to provide hundreds of thousands of older Americans with the resources and education needed to reduce their risk of injury. For more information, please visit: www.ncoa.org/FallsFreeInitiative. Use #FPAD14 to join the conversation on social media.

About NCOA The National Council on Aging is a nonprofit service and advocacy organization headquartered in Washington, DC. NCOA is a national voice for millions of older adults?especially those who are vulnerable and disadvantaged?and the community organizations that serve them. It brings together nonprofit organizations, businesses, and government to develop creative solutions that improve the lives of all older adults. NCOA works with thousands of organizations across the country to help seniors find jobs and benefits, improve their health, live independently, and remain active in their communities.

For more information, please visit: www.ncoa.org |www.facebook.com/NCOAging | www.twitter.com/NCOAging

02 Sep 2014

Carbohydrates in the Diabetes Diet

By Dennis Thompson Jr. and Lindsey Marcellin, MD, MPH
Carbs count in a diabetes diet because they directly affect blood glucose levels. If you're not producing enough insulin to regulate those levels, serious medical issues can develop.

When you have diabetes, following a careful diabetes diet is a key aspect of diabetes management, and controlling carbohydrate intake is an essential part.

Along with proteins and fats, carbohydrates are one of the three major components of food. Your body converts carbohydrates into glucose, which your cells burn for energy. Since glucose is transported to cells through your bloodstream, eating carbohydrates will cause your blood glucose level to increase.

Because carbohydrates directly affect your blood sugar level, eating too many carbs ? or the wrong sort of carbs ? can undo whatever other actions you're taking to keep your diabetes in check.

How Carbs Affect Different Diabetes Types

It's important to control your carbohydrate intake no matter which of the three major forms of diabetes you have:

  • Type 1 diabetes. If you have this type of diabetes, you cannot produce insulin, a hormone that helps cells use glucose. That means you must take insulin and other medication to regulate blood sugar. A healthy diabetes diet with controlled carbohydrate intake will make it easier to predict when you will need to administer insulin and how much to use.
  • Type 2 diabetes. People with type 2 diabetes have developed a resistance to insulin, often due to obesity or poor diet. By maintaining steady blood sugar levels through carb counting, you may be able to reduce the amount of insulin or medication you need or avoid taking the drugs altogether.
  • Gestational diabetes. If you develop diabetes during pregnancy, you need to count carbs because unchecked blood sugar levels can damage the fetus as well as your own body.

Diabetes Management: Carbs and the Diabetes Diet

There are three main types of carbohydrates:

  • Sugars, often called simple carbohydrates, are converted quickly to glucose. Think of them as dry wood in a fire, burning fast and hot.
  • Starches, often called complex carbohydrates, are formed by long chains of sugars and take longer for your body to break down into glucose. Think of them as big logs that burn slowly in a fire.
  • Fiber is present in different amounts in all plant-based foods, especially in whole grains (starches). It's great for digestive health, but because it isn't digested the way the other two types of carbs are, fiber grams don't count in your carb totals.

People with diabetes need to count all the starch and sugar carbohydrates they take in every day as part of their diabetes management plan. The American Diabetes Association recommends that diabetics eat around 45 to 60 grams of carbohydrates per meal, although you should consult with your diabetes care team to determine the right amount of carbohydrates to fit your needs and lifestyle.

Most of your carbohydrates should come in the form of starchy carbohydrates, which will convert into glucose more slowly and help your blood sugar remain steady. Healthy choices include whole grains, beans, and lentils, and starchy vegetables like peas, corn, and potatoes. Avoid refined starches like white flour or white rice, as they tend to burn as fast as sugars.

Some of your carbohydrates still can come in the form of sugars, particularly if they are natural sugars in healthy foods like low-fat dairy products, fruits, or vegetables. Just avoid added sugars such as table sugar and the high-fructose corn syrup and other types of sugars you'll find in sodas, sweets, and other processed foods.

To keep track of your carbohydrates, you need to read the nutrition facts label included on most packaged foods. Check out the serving size to figure out how much constitutes one serving, and then scan down to find the total amount of carbs contained in a serving. Usually, the label also will show how many of those carbs are sugars and how many are dietary fiber, which helps to slow the release of sugar. Always read the ingredient label closely because product names can be deceiving ? for instance, you may find a number of different forms of sugar in a processed food that isn't even a sweet.

You need to be a part-time detective to find out all the facts about carbs, but your undercover work will make it much easier to manage diabetes.

29 Aug 2014

World Alzheimers Month

By Ginny Grimsley

5 Brain-Health Tips from Bodybuilding Neurosurgeon
During World Alzheimer's Month, Take Steps
to Care for Your Most Vital Organ

As a fitness expert and neurosurgeon, Dr. Brett Osborn says he appreciates the growing public interest in general health and fitness. Now, he says, that attention needs to extend to arguably our most essential organ - the brain.

"There are several, multi-billion dollar industries out there dedicated to burning fat and building muscle; cognitive health, on the other hand, has been largely overlooked," says Osborn, author of "Get Serious, A Neurosurgeon's Guide to Optimal Health and Fitness," www.drbrettosborn.com.

"Of course, any good health expert is quick to remind readers that it's all connected. For example, what's good for the heart will be, directly or indirectly, good for the brain."

September's an appropriate time to talk brain health: its World Alzheimer's Month, and it's the beginning of football season. By now, we know that football players in the NFL, college and even high school suffer considerable head trauma, whether through big hits resulting in concussions or moderate, repeated blows, he says.

It's also soccer season in other parts of the world. Concern continues to mount about the neurological damage done to players from repeated headers, where the ball is hit by the head. The long-term effects, including depression and other mental-health problems, are similar to those suffered by American football players, he says.

"Sports can impart great habits to kids, including discipline, fellowship and an emphasis on strength and endurance," says Osborn, a bodybuilder and father. "As our children return to school and sports, health-care providers, coaches and parents need to make it a top priority to protect our student-athletes' brains."

Osborn offers five tips to help everyone maintain brain health:

•  Learn new skills. "Just as with other health concerns, brain health should be rooted in the prevention of disease," he says. Alzheimer's is a neurodegenerative disease, the causes of which, and the cure, are unknown. However, it's widely thought that brain stimulation and activity can delay the onset of the disease. The acquisition of a new skill - whether it's learning to play an instrument or taking up waterskiing - exercises the brain "muscle."

•  Commit to actual exercise. Everyone knows that exercise helps protect the heart, but not everyone knows that physical activity is also good for the brain. The brain is not a muscle, but it can be worked as muscle is worked during exercise, which forges new neuron pathways.

"Let's face it, there is a component of learning in exercise," Osborn says. "You cannot master the squat overnight; the brain has to change. Neuronal connections, or 'synapses,' are formed through very complex biophysical mechanisms. That takes time."

•  Don't sweat stress. There is such a thing as good stress, including the acute bodily stress involved in strength training. Of course, there's the bad stress, such as psychological stress associated with work or interpersonal relationships, and environmental stress, derived from pesticide-laden food - toxins. As always, you have a choice. You don't have to accept mental stress in your life. Reconsider toxic relationships. Rethink how you handle pressure at work. Perhaps adopt a lunchtime exercise routine.

•  Fuel a better body and brain. "I don't believe in 'diets,' " Osborn says. "Fit individuals were around for eons before the term existed, and I associate the term with temporary and, often, self-destructive behaviors."

Again, it's all connected. A healthy balance of food and activity will inevitably be good for the entire body: the heart, skeleton, muscles, brain, etc. Proper nutrition is a natural mood enhancer, and good health will inevitably improve self-esteem.

•  Feed your head with smart drugs. Some pharmaceuticals may help enhance cerebral blood flow and increase concentration, including Hydergine, Deprenyl and Prozac, to name a few. Ask your doctor about these. There are also over-the-counter smart drugs to consider. Piracetam is one of the oldest and has been shown to have a variety of positive effects in patients with cognitive disorders like dementia and epilepsy. Vinpocetine has potent anti-inflammatory effects, and inflammation is a key component in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease, and others. You may also want to check out gingko biloba and pregnenolone.

About Dr. Brett Osborn

Brett Osborn is a New York University-trained, Board-Certified neurological surgeon with a secondary certification in Anti-Aging and Regenerative Medicine. He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Neurological Surgery and of the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine. He holds a CSCS honorarium from the National Strength and Conditioning Association. Dr. Osborn specializes in scientifically based nutrition and exercise as a means to achieve optimal health and preventing disease. He is the author "Get Serious, A Neurosurgeon's Guide to Optimal Health and Fitness," www.drbrettosborn.com.

28 Aug 2014

Humane Cosmetics Act Highlights the Cost of Beauty - Paid By Animals

By Rick Martin
4 Unnecessary Tests that Harm or Kill Animals

More and more, we are living in an age of information, the substance of which is increasingly difficult to ignore, says animal rights advocate Santosh Krinsky.

Are our coffee and chocolate products fair trade? Were poor workers in developing countries brutalized in the process of making our clothes? How was the food sourced in the groceries we buy, and what exactly is in it, anyway?

Increasingly, the answers to these questions matter to more consumers, Krinsky says.

In the same vein, Rep. Jim Moran is sponsoring the Humane Cosmetics Act, which would phase out animal testing for U.S.-made cosmetics within a year and imported cosmetics within three years.

"Consumers value cosmetics and manufacturers want them to be safe for daily use, but we do not have to blind, maim and kill scores of animals to ensure our beauty-enhancing products won't hurt us," says Krinsky, head of the international personal-care brand Beauty Without Cruelty (www.beautywithoutcruelty.com) -- the first to ban animal-testing for its products in 1963. BWC's products are all produced with no animal testing and contain no animal ingredients.

"In the past, testing was done on dogs, but now it's done on rabbits, guinea pigs, mice and rats. These are conscious creatures with the capacity for immense suffering. Think about it: Tests are done on these animals because they are biologically similar to us. Doesn't that also mean we should be especially empathetic to their suffering?"

Krinsky, who recently partnered with the Humane Society of the United States' "Be Cruelty-Free" campaign, urges voters to call their U.S. representative and ask for him or her to vote in favor of H.R. 4148. Follow up with a personalized mail or email asking reiterating your request.

He reviews some of the tests that mainstream cosmetic companies still commonly conduct on animals.

•  Acute dermal toxicity ... uses 20 rabbits, guinea pigs or rats to determine how much substance causes half of the tested animals to die within two weeks of exposure. A chemical is applied to their shaved skin for 24 hours, and a patch is used to cover the area so they do not lick or clear off the tested area.

•  Eye irritation or corrosion ... tests one to three rabbits; a chemical is applied to their eyes to determine how severe the resulting irritation or damage. The exposure tests for signs of redness, ulcers, bleeding, blindness and other forms of damage.

•  Developmental toxicity ... examines either 480 rabbits - 100 adult females and 480 kittens (babies) - or 1,300 rats - 100 adult females and 1,200 pups - to test for birth defects. Usually by force-feeding, a pregnant female is exposed at the beginning of an implemented pregnancy; exposure persists throughout the term. She is then killed on the day before she is expected to give birth, which is about 22 days for rats, or 31 days for rabbits. Her young are extracted and evaluated for signs of developmental abnormalities.

•  Acute oral toxicity ... subjects seven rats to determine how much of a chemical causes half of the exposed animals to die within 14 days of exposure, when the substance is swallowed. The rats are force-fed the substance, causing them to experience convulsions, diarrhea, bleeding from the mouth, seizures, paralysis and sometimes death.

"The European Union has already banned cosmetics that use these practices, and I think Rep. Moran's efforts are a sign of things to come here in the U.S.," Krinsky says. "In fact, many consumers prefer lipstick, mascara, shampoo, lotion and other products consisting of material that's so safe that they don't require animal testing."

About Santosh Krinsky

Santosh Krinsky has been in the natural products industry since 1974. He has founded and built a number of companies that offer positive alternatives to the toxins and environmentally unfriendly ingredients found in many products, while focusing his attention on developing awareness about the issue of animal testing of cosmetics, which he opposes. Beauty Without Cruelty (BWC) products brand www.beautywithoutcruelty.com was founded in England in 1963 by BWC Charitable Trust, an animal welfare organization. Lotus Brands obtained the American rights to the BWC brand in 2010. BWC Features a complete line of hair, skin and facial/body care products and an extensive range of color cosmetics.

28 Aug 2014

GOV. QUINN SIGNS FIRST-OF-ITS-KIND BILL THAT REQUIRES TRANSPARENCY ON THE EXCHANGE

By Katelyn Yoshimoto

Bill Streamlines Access to Medication, Improves Consumer Health

 

SPRINGFIELD, IL - HB3638, designed to streamline the medication coverage approval process by insurance companies and improve transparency on the Exchange, was signed into law by Governor Quinn earlier this week and becomes effective immediately. The bill aims to improve the state's Health Exchange by requiring insurers to provide consumers with additional information about insurance coverage and medication costs in each plan.

It also guarantees that a prior authorization request for medications must be approved or denied by an insurance company within 72 hours, improving a bottleneck that has resulted in massive and dangerous delays for patients to get the medications prescribed by their doctors.

"Access to medication and transparency around this process is critical for many - it affects their ability to go to work, care for their families and live their day-to-day lives," said Rep. Laura Fine, D-Glenview, the chief sponsor of the legislation in the House. "The signing of this legislation is a huge win for patients across Illinois, eliminating what sometimes can be weeks of delay waiting for crucial medications."

The legislation was supported by dozens of health advocacy organizations in Illinois, including the AIDS Foundation of Chicago, American Nurses Association Illinois, Arthritis Foundation, Epilepsy Foundation of Greater Chicago, Epilepsy Foundation of North-Central Illinois, Epilepsy Foundation of Greater Southern Illinois, Illinois African American Coalition for Prevention, Respiratory Health Association of Metropolitan Chicago and several mental health advocacy organizations such as Mental Health America and Mental Health Summit.

# # #

 

 

27 Aug 2014

Why Your Kid Shouldn't Be Guzzling 'Energy' Drinks

By Rick Martin
Vitamins & Minerals are Safer and More Effective than
Artificial Stimulants, Says Food Science Expert

Anxiety, hypertension, elevated heart rates, interrupted sleep patterns and headaches are just some of the side effects commonly associated with energy drinks, and those problems are more pronounced in children, according to a recent University of Miami study.

But that's just the tip of the iceberg. These drinks have also been linked to heart palpitations, strokes and sudden death.

The term "energy" drink is an unfortunate misnomer, says food science expert Budge Collinson. They don't give your body energy; they stimulate you with brief jolts of caffeine and unregulated herbal stimulants, he says.

"Soccer moms and dads buy these 'stimulant' drinks for their kids before matches because both kids and parents want that competitive advantage," says Collinson, founder of Infusion Sciences and creator Youth Infusion, (www.drinkyouthinfusion.com), an effervescent, natural multivitamin beverage that helps people maintain consistent and healthy higher energy levels.

"For a few moments, you'll get that spike, but it's a short-term experience with a heavy long-term toll."

So, what are some ways kids can get a healthy energy boost? Collinson offers the following tips.

•  Go for a speedy bike ride together, take a brisk walk or hold foot-races in the yard. Numerous studies demonstrate the power of vigorous exercise in boosting energy. Exercise pumps more oxygen - pure, healthy fuel -- into the bloodstream and to the brain and muscles for a short-term energy boost. Exercising regularly will increase lung capacity, so the body will gets more oxygen on a sustained level for the long term. Exercise also releases endorphins, the body's natural feel-good chemical, which makes us feel happy. And happy people are energized people.

•  Seek nutrition from a variety of sources. As humans, we need more than 40 different vitamins and minerals to keep our bodies functioning optimally. Since there is no single food that contains them all, it is important for children and adults to eat a variety, including as many different vegetables and fruits as possible. Adding a daily multivitamin supplement with essentials such as CoQ10, arginine, theanine, resveratrol and magnesium can help ensure bodies young and old are running at top speed.

•  Drink plenty of water - the natural energy drink. Even mild dehydration can leave children (and adults) feeling listless, so encourage children to make a habit of drinking plenty of water. Kids need more water than adults because they expend more energy, and they may not recognize when they're slightly thirsty. Parents, too, often don't recognize the signs of dehydration; a national survey of more than 800 parents of kids ages of one month to 10 years found that more than half feel they don't know enough about dehydration. A quick, light pinch of the skin on the child's hand or arm is an easy check. If the skin is slow to resume a smooth appearance, the child is likely at least mildly dehydrated.

About Budge Collinson

Budge Collinson was the beneficiary of his mother's natural health formula as a sick baby, which led to a deep interest in health and wellness at a young age. After years of research and seeing the growing demand for natural products with clinical support, he founded Infusion Sciences, www.infusionsciences.com. Collinson earned a bachelor's degree in food and resource economics from the University of Florida and certification from the National Academy of Sports Medicine. Recently, he became a member of the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine and consistently attends the Natural Products Expo, where he learns the latest science and news about nutritious ingredients. Collinson is also a go-to source for media outlets across the country for healthy lifestyle and food source discussions.

21 Aug 2014

Governor Quinn and Ice Bucket Challenge Creator Pat Quinn Join to Encourage Support for ALS Research

By Katie Hickey

Chicago's North Lawndale Eagles Participate in Ice Bucket Challenge; Governor Proclaims August 20 as "Ice Bucket Challenge Day" in Illinois

CHICAGO - Governor Pat Quinn today was joined by Pat Quinn, creator of the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) "Ice Bucket Challenge," the North Lawndale Eagles football team and the ALS Association Greater Chicago Chapter Executive Director Julie Sharp to raise awareness for the ALS Association. The Governor also proclaimed August 20 as "Ice Bucket Challenge Day" in Illinois and issued the following statement:

"Today I welcome New York native Pat Quinn to the Land of Lincoln and thank him for all his hard work in raising much-needed awareness and funds for ALS research.

"ALS affects tens of thousands of Americans and efforts to find a cure will greatly benefit from the attention and funding generated by the Ice Bucket Challenge.

"Taking the challenge and donating is a simple way everyone can show our support for those individuals and families affected by ALS. Today I proclaim August 20 as 'Ice Bucket Challenge Day' in Illinois and encourage everyone to get involved in this great cause."

The Governor and Pat Quinn today were joined by the North Lawndale Eagles football team, whose players participated in the challenge.

Pat Quinn, who was diagnosed with ALS in March 2013, and Pete Frates, of Boston, who has also been diagnosed with ALS, are credited with taking the Ice Bucket Challenge from a local fundraiser to a country-wide phenomenon via social media. The campaign has produced more than 300,000 new donors for the ALS Association.

Money raised from the Ice Bucket Challenge will fund research on ALS, commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease, a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, impairing muscle control and movement.  There is currently no known cure for the disease, and treatment options are limited. To date, the Ice Bucket Challenge has raised $15.6 million for the ALS Association.

Governor Quinn took the Ice Bucket Challenge last week and challenged Gordon Beckham, Paul Konerko and Chris Sale of the White Sox to do the same.

 

###
20 Aug 2014

Iowa Court Confirms Prohibition of Dangerous Webcam Abortions

By Tom Ciesielka
Thomas More Society submitted amicus brief and research in support of protecting women's health

DES MOINES, Iowa, Aug. 19, 2014 /Christian Newswire/ -- Polk County District Court Judge Jeffrey Farrell has upheld the Iowa Board of Medicine's ban on "webcam" abortions as dangerous to women's health. Thomas More Society had contributed to this victory by testifying and advocating against webcam abortions in 2010 and again in 2013 before the Iowa Board of Medicine. Additionally, Thomas More Society attorneys submitted an amicus brief to the District Court and sent substantial legal research memos on constitutional and historical issues to the Attorney General, defending the ban as constitutional and fully lawful.

"Planned Parenthood's claim that drug-induced abortion is 'exceptionally safe' is spectacularly inaccurate," said Matthew Heffron, Thomas More Society-Omaha attorney and author of the amicus brief. "Medical evidence overwhelmingly supports the Iowa Board of Medicine's decision, which Judge Farrell has upheld, to prohibit webcam abortions. Drug-induced abortions have caused numerous complications threatening the health and lives of women, and these complications are exacerbated when a doctor is not physically present for the procedure."

In August, 2013, the Iowa Board of Medicine voted 8-2 that a physician must be physically present when administering abortion drugs, rather than simply pushing a button at a remote location to provide the drugs after only a video consultation. The new rule prohibited the practice of webcam abortions, which allowed a woman to take abortion-inducing drugs without being physically examined by a doctor before or after the procedure. Planned Parenthood in Iowa appealed the ruling, alleging that drug-induced abortions are "exceptionally safe."

Thomas More Society's amicus brief, which Planned Parenthood felt compelled to address in a reply brief, argued that, contrary to Planned Parenthood's unsupported claims, drug-induced abortions are unduly dangerous to women's health.

Thomas More Society's brief also cited warnings of the Food and Drug Administration, "the federal agency charged with testing the abortion-inducing drugs at issue, that the 'possible and reasonably likely side effects' of the abortion-inducing drug include 'cramping, bleeding, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, headache, dizziness, back pain, and tiredness,'" on top of Prescribing Information to the effect that "prolonged heavy bleeding and bacterial infection may also occur."

Tracing the history of abortion prohibitions in Iowa, Thomas More Society-Omaha attorneys Matthew Heffron and Christine Delgado also submitted research to Iowa's Attorney General proving that the Medical Board's ban is both constitutionally sound and in keeping with Iowa's history of extensive regulation of abortion in the interest of women's safety.

"Omitting physical exams for abortion patients heightens the risk of complications from an already dangerous procedure," said Tom Brejcha, president and chief counsel of the Thomas More Society. "We applaud Judge Farrell's excellent ruling to uphold the ban against risky webcam abortions and thus to protect Iowa women."

Read Judge Farrell's ruling here.

Read Thomas More Society amicus brief here.

Read Iowa Board of Medicine's statement regulating webcam abortions here.

About the Thomas More Society (headquartered in Chicago):
The Thomas More Society is a not-for-profit, national public interest law firm dedicated to restoring respect in law for life, family, and religious liberty. Based in Chicago and Omaha, the Thomas More Society defends and fosters support for these causes by providing high quality pro bono legal services from local trial courts all the way to the United States Supreme Court. www.thomasmoresociety.org

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