FROM THE EDITOR'S KEYBOARD

"Why am I so tired?" As this year draws to a close, many are voicing those sentiments. The busy-ness of the holidays, the shorter daylight hours, and less outdoor activity all contribute to decreased energy reserves.

However, fatigue is not only a problem during the year-end holiday season. It is a problem that faces literally millions every day of every year. Furthermore, it compromises performance, health, relationships, and--sometimes--even life itself.

Remarkably, fatigue is often easily treated. Many of the most powerful energy-boosting solutions are neither complicated nor costly. They are right at hand. Unfortunately, few of us take advantage of those readily accessible resources.

In the New Year ahead, "The WellnessWise Electronic Journal" will continue to emphasize sound health principles that help to maximize our energy level, our vitality, and our productivity. Our subject matter will continue to be broad. We plan to look at non-drug approaches to physical health, focusing on issues such as exercise, diet, and breaking free from destructive habits. We also plan to periodically revisit the important dimensions of spiritual, emotional, and social health. Each subject we choose will provide insights to help you attain and/or maintain aspects of an integrated lifestyle that contributes to optimal wellness, vitality, and longevity.

In this issue we feature special selections from Phylis Austin's Science/Health Abstracts. Each of her summaries provides information about the fatigue/human performance dimension. The articles cluster around two of the most basic "energizers": sleep and exercise.

Three scripts from the WellnessWise radio program round out the educational content of this issue. They present a potpourri of interesting and important subjects, not chosen particularly for their bearing on fatigue.

In this issue I am also introducing a "health resource network." This network has two facets. First is an opportunity to benefit from the collective wisdom of our readers. Second is an opportunity to secure a valuable educational resource. These offerings are purely experimental. I will be relying heavily on each of you to let me know whether this is valuable or not.

First: your chance to give and/or receive fatigue-fighting solutions. Here's how this works. I will accept any post from any reader that deals with the subject of "help for fatigue." You can describe techniques you have used to beat fatigue, you can mention educational resources, you can even talk about products. Feel free to share anything that has been valuable to you: physical resources, spiritual resources, dealing with interpersonal issues, etc. My only requests are that you keep your responses relatively short (around 100 words or less); label them "Help for Fatigue;" and send all submissions to me by January 15. Anyone who submits a response or requests the uncensored compilation (also by that January 15 date) will be e-mailed the compiled replies by the end of January. NOTE: these replies will not be automatically sent out to anyone on the mailing list--you must request them.

Second: the educational resource. I'm happy to tell you about the new Fatigue Busters (TM) video, a production of Total Life Creations, Inc.(TM) We think highly of Dr. Fred Hardinge, the program's creator. After negotiations over a number of months, Dr. Hardinge has agreed to present a special "Fatigue Busters" seminar at Living Springs (during President's Day weekend in February 1996). He has also decided to offer WEJ readers a discount on his new "Fatigue Busters" video. (See details in the sponsorship

SECTION BELOW.) AGAIN, THIS VIDEO IS BEING OFFERED BECAUSE OF MY REQUEST TO

I trust that our contributions via the electronic word, including these new introductions to health resources, will help you to have a truly prosperous, productive, and healthy 1996.

SECTION II

TRANSCRIPTS FROM THE WELLNESSWISE RADIO PROGRAM

(all scripts copyright 1995 by David J. DeRose, MD, MPH)

LEFT HANDERS AND MORTALITY

Do left handers die sooner than right handers? I'm Dr. David DeRose. We'll look at the evidence in a moment on WellnessWise.

In 1991, a series of medical reports asserted that left handers died sooner than right handers. One of the main arguments for this theory was that in various population groups there are few older people that are left handed.

For example, in American studies as many as 15% of children are left handed. However, in Americans over 80 years old, only 2 to 6% of them are left handed.

Some researchers speculated that these differences occurred because the average left hander died up to 9 years earlier than a similar right hander. This would leave fewer left handers alive in the older age groups.

In 1993 Dr. Lauren Julius Harris published a detailed review of some 200 medical reports dealing with this subject. Dr. Harris concluded there was a better explanation for why there are less left handers in older age groups: Simply put--several generations ago there was more social pressure on left handed children to become right handers. Thus, older individuals living today who were born left handed were more likely to be subtly or overtly pressured to become "righties."

The available data do not support the concept that left handers die sooner than right-handers.

For WellnessWise, I'm Dr. David DeRose.

PRENATAL CARE

Its one factor that can increase the likelihood you will have a healthy baby. I'm Dr. David DeRose. "Prenatal Care" in a moment on WellnessWise.

Public health professionals are concerned about an alarming trend in our nation: fewer pregnant women are having medical evaluations during their pregnancy.

These routine pregnancy exams, called "prenatal care," are designed to ensure the health of the mother and the infant. Many diseases and conditions can be identified and addressed prior to delivery. Early identification can make a profound difference to the mother and child. Research has demonstrated that a woman who does not have prenatal care is more likely to have her infant die, or to die herself.

This is why it is so alarming that the number of pregnancies lacking prenatal care has increased over 30% since 1980. All told, each year, as many as 70,000 pregnant women in our country may not receive such services.

The situation has been evaluated by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. They recognize a need to find out why these thousands of women are not getting prenatal exams. It's one thing if women choose not to take advantage of such exams. It's another if they are unable to afford them, or lack access to providers for other reasons. In these latter cases, it would behoove us as a nation from both the standpoint of compassion and cost containment to remove those barriers.

For WellnessWise, I'm Dr. David DeRose.

Reference: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report 43(50) 939-942. State-Specific Trends Among Women Who Did Not Receive Prenatal Care--United States 1980-1992.

DIABETES: THE CASE FOR EARLY DETECTION

Are you at risk for diabetes? The evidence suggests you shouldn't wait to find out. I'm Dr. David DeRose--we'll look at why in a moment on WellnessWise.

Diabetes affects over ten million Americans. It is the seventh leading cause of death in our country.

Characterized by abnormally high blood sugar values, the disease can be devastating. It dramatically increases the risk of heart and blood vessel disease, amputation, serious infections, kidney failure, eye problems (including blindness), and nerve dysfunction.

Many think they will develop obvious symptoms if they are diabetic--but such is not always the case. Undetected diabetes can be a serious problem. High blood sugar concentrations can be doing cumulative damage to the body even if the person has not been diagnosed with diabetes.

These facts should provide special encouragement to everyone. Each of us should be mindful of the risks for diabetes. High risk groups include the overweight, those with a family history of diabetes, and certain ethic groups.

Some of these individuals may benefit from more frequent blood sugar tests--perhaps as often as yearly--to pick up on diabetes as soon as possible. Check with a health professional to find out the optimal screening recommendations for you.

Early detection and treatment increases the likelihood that you will be spared some of the ravages of this often silent disease.

For WellnessWise, I'm Dr. David DeRose.

SECTION III

SCIENCE/HEALTH ABSTRACTS

Phylis Austin, an experienced medical research librarian and author, continues to allow us to reprint portions of back issues of her bimonthly "Science/Health Abstracts." Send e-mail to WEJ for information on obtaining current subscriptions to "Science/Health Abstracts."

Institutionalized elderly often have sleep problems, which are often treated with sleep medications, which often lose their effectiveness after a few weeks, and expose the patient to increased risk of falls, mental disturbances, and rebound insomnia.

A group of twelve elderly, demented men were placed out-of-doors in a brightly lit area twice a day, from 9-10 a.m. and again from 2-3 p.m. each day. There were no particular activities planned during the sun exposure time; patients who wished to sleep were allowed to do so. Some patients demonstrated improved sleep patterns the first night after sun exposure was begun. The men in the study slept more hours at night (and during the day) and their sleep was much more likely to be uninterrupted.

Earlier studies have demonstrated more sleep disturbances in blind individuals, suggesting that lack of sunlight may contribute to disturbed sleep.

Caretakers in the nursing home observed that the sun exposed men also demonstrated improved appetites, better bowel habits, increased attention spans and improved affect during the sun exposure.

Care should be taken that the patient not suffer sunburn during the exposure. Hats and sunscreen were utilized in this study.

Cancer patients who are confined to bed, or who become sedentary in the face of their disease may suffer irreversible losses of function and energy. A study from Salt Lake City indicates that a walking program is helpful in improving feelings of well-being, and increasing energy levels. (Cancer Nursing 14(5)270-276, 1991)

SECTION IV

PARTING WORDS

ABOUT OUR SPONSORS

We welcome our newest sponsor, Total Life Creations, Inc.(TM), producers of the just-released video, "Fatigue Busters(TM)."

This video documents current research on the alarming and often subtle affects of fatigue on quality-of-life, job performance, and productivity. Through the use of cutting edge research and "expert testimony," the viewer is confronted with the realization that career, family, and personal safety are all jeopardized by this seemingly innocuous problem of fatigue.

"Fatigue Busters" also offers you six proven, powerful, energy-boosting solutions that are neither complicated nor costly, but will help you accomplish more in less time--and do it better!. The 45 minute video comes with a bold guarantee: "Your satisfaction is 100% guaranteed. All you need to do is follow the 6-Step Plan for 60 days and if you don't see the difference in how rested you feel, we'll refund your money. It's that simple."

Regular price: $29.95 plus $4.95 shipping and handling. For a limited time, WellnessWise readers will receive FREE shipping and handling (US & Canada only)!! Get your copy for only $29.95 by calling 1-800-827-9445. (Fatigue Busters is a trademark of Total Life Creations, Inc.)

Other continuing sponsors for WEJ include Living Springs Lifestyle Center and The WellnessWise radio broadcast.

Living Springs Lifestyle Center (1-800-SAY-WELL) continues to offer a New Year's special to WEJ readers: 15% off any stop smoking program, and 10% off any other one week or longer program. Simply mention "WellnessWise" and enroll in any program with beginning dates between December 31 and February 25.

More complete details about these sponsors can be found in back issues at our Web sites as described below.

SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION

We continue to distribute The WellnessWise Electronic Journal free of charge via Internet E-mail to all subscribers. Please address subscription requests and any other correspondence to the address below.

BACK ISSUES

Back issues of WEJ are available at several sites in cyberspace. Two of the more popular sites are as follows: