Commonly used painkiller medications may act as partial shields against skin cancer, according to new research from Denmark.

The study found that people who routinely took non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs known as NSAIDs – which include Aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen – were less likely to develop some forms of skin cancer than those who seldom used these medications.

For the study, the researchers examined the medical records of more than 18,000 Danes who were diagnosed with skin cancer between 1991 and 2009. Their case histories – including their medication use – were compared to a control group of non-cancer patients.

The analysis, published in the journal Cancer, showed that NSAIDs were associated with a 15 per cent reduction in squamous cell carcinoma, and a 13 per cent drop in melanoma – the most deadly form of skin cancer.

The anti-cancer properties of NSAIDs likely stem from their ability to dampen the activity of so-called COX enzymes, which play a role in inflammation, speculated the lead researcher, Sigrun Alba Johannesdottir of Aarhus University Hospital.

“Previous studies show that elevated levels of these enzymes are found in skin cancer and that they are involved in important steps of cancer development,” she said in an e-mail. “Therefore, inhibition of these enzymes may protect against skin cancer development.”

Even so, popping NSAIDs regularly isn’t the best way to safeguard your skin because these medications can potentially cause serious side effects. Aspirin, for instance, can lead to gastrointestinal bleeding.

But Ms. Johannesdottir hopes the study might provide fresh insights into the development of skin cancer and how it might be prevented.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/health-and-fitness/common-painkillers-may-prevent-skin-cancer/article4223698/

With the new school year approaching, the Heart and Stroke Foundation is urging parents to take some time to plan breakfast, a child’s most important meal of the day.

"We know that a healthy breakfast helps children concentrate better in school and makes it easier for them to learn," said Heart and Stroke Foundation registered dietitian Carol Dombrow. "We all want to give our kids the power to be their best and the truth is, breakfast plays a big part. Fibre, iron and protein are the powerful nutritional trio that make up a healthy and well-rounded breakfast.”

Lack of time and picky eaters provide big challenges for parents trying to steer away from highly-processed and unhealthy foods during the morning rush.

Check out our easy-to-follow guide on the most common forms of alternative medicine and find out which ones are right for you.

Three Canadian cities, including Toronto, have been ranked by The Economist as among the world’s top five most livable cities.

Along with T.O., Vancouver and Calgary have been named to the top ten in the annual list.

The ranking scores 140 cities from 0-100 on 30 factors spread across five areas: stability, health care, culture and environment, education, and infrastructure.

Vancouver was the highest-ranking Canadian city, with an overall score of 97.3. Toronto was just slightly behind in fourth position, at 97.2. Calgary tied for fifth plea with Adelaide, Australia with a score of 96.6

And the winner is…

But what city gets the honour as the world’s most livable (according to The Economist, anyway?)

For the second straight year, Melbourne, Australia was awarded that title with a score of 97.5. Vienna, Austria came in second (but barely) at 97.4.

The Economist states the cities that do best in this ranking are mid-sized urban areas in countries with low population densities. This is most likely to result in low crime rates, good infrastructure and accessible recreational activities.

For example, The Economist notes that the murder rates in Melbourne, Vienna and Vancouver in 2010-2011 was 2.7, 1.1 and 2.5 per 100,000 people.

No Love For The USA?

No American cities made the top ten — in fact, the best entry is Honolulu, which placed 63rd. This is attributed to a high population density, among other things.

Conflict during the past year seriously impacted the scores of a number of cities. London and Manchester, the sites of riots last summer, fall nine and two places respectively to 51st and 55th.

What city got the dubious distinction as the world’s least livable city?

According to The Economist, that “honour” goes to Dhaka, Bangladesh with a score of 38.7 due to particularly poor health care and infrastructure.

Check out the complete top 10 list:

1. Melbourne, Australia
2. Vienna, Austria
3. Vancouver
4. Toronto
5. (tie) Calgary and Adelaide, Australia
7. Sydney, Australia
8. Helsinki, Finland
9. Perth, Australia
10. Auckland, New Zealand

http://www.theredpin.com/blog/canada/canadian-cities-named-among-the-worlds-most-livable

A colourful ceremonial parade will launch the 134th year of the Canadian National Exhibition. The official ceremony takes place in front of the historic Princes’ Gates and features CNE’s 2012 First Family, dignitaries and CNE Officials. This year, the celebrations will pay tribute to the War of 1812 since two American invasions in that war took place on this very site.

http://www.theex.com/concerts-events/special-events/

We've all heard the phrase "Buyer Beware". Well @United Airlines takes that to the next level!

On a recent trip from Buffalo to LAX, I noticed at check-in that my boarding pass was not the same as my flight itinerary. Upon returning to the counter, I was told my flight had been cancelled and I was put on the next available flight which left two hours later. Even though I had subscribed to United Airlines' email updates, the cancellation had not been brought to my attention until this moment. Nor did the United staff member alert me of this change, which certainly messed up my plans for the evening in LA, as a group of us were to meet prior to a conference which started the next morning. I figured two hours wasn't that big of a deal. Subsequently, this later flight was delayed almost another two hours for reasons only United would know. Even their flight crew sitting across from me were questioning the announcements being made. One flight attendant asked the pilot "why don't they just tell people the truth?". I found it humorous at the time, but this was just the beginning.

My return trip on United was even more of a nightmare.

I had selected flights from LA to Buffalo to match with my children's flight from NJ to Buffalo. I would be arriving NJ at 5:59am and be on the same plane as my kids at 6:30am back to Buffalo. Arriving at LAX, everything seemed perfect. Next, my flight was delayed for 20 minutes. This 20 minute delay turned into a 2 hour delay. As I approached the counter and asked the United representative to call Newark and make sure my kids don't board the 630am flight and are put on the same flight as me, I was assured that there were 24 people on board that would be connecting on the same flight and that the flight would be held. This was quite a relief. As the flight landed at 745am, I turned my phone on and emails came through advising me of my connecting flight being delayed until 8am. Perfect! They waited. I ran through the terminal and came to the gate. The attendant stated I had missed my flight. I said "impossible, it is leaving at 8am and they are waiting for our flight to arrive from LAX". I showed her the email sent from United about the delay to 8am. As she showed me on the screen, the flight had indeed left at 7:14am with only 34 people on board - including my family!!!

I stormed over to Customer Service, and was not at all happy to notice 20 people in line. Another 25 people had joined the line after me. I tweeted a picture of this and within minutes, golf carts began picking up people and taking them to other Customer Service areas to shorten the line we were in. All had the same problem, delayed United flights resulting in missed connections. As an irate lady questioned compensation, she was told by representative Darren that this was Customer Service - they do not offer compensation, they just rebook. Apparently, United's Customer CARE decides if you are compensated or not, and they are only available on-line! As people in line disagreed, Darren responded with a "I'm dealing with this lady, not you". At this time I stepped in to let Darren know that all of us in line had the same issue and he needs to deal with it or call in a Supervisor to do so. Ironically, United does not have any Managers or Supervisors employed at their Newark Hub. People that wanted to give up their ticket and rent a car were told they could not do so at Customer Service, they would have to call United and let them know of their decision to do so.

As I approached the counter, I was told that I would be booked on a flight leaving the next day. I told the representative that this was not acceptable. After 10 minutes of arguing I was told there were three remaining flights to Buffalo that day that were all full, and I could take the next day flight or take my chances on stand-by. I chose stand-by as I needed to get to Buffalo to pick up my family who were already there. Furthermore, United reps would not assist in contacting Buffalo to advise them that I would be on a later flight. This was not their responsibility according to the Customer Service reps. Their job, I guess, is merely to sit on their stool and rebook.

I went to my gate and waited as a stand-by passenger for the next flight only to find that I was 10th on the stand-by list and there were only four seats available. I headed back up to wait for the next flight as a stand-by passenger and hoping for better luck. I had 2 1/2 hours before the next flight. I went to customer service and asked if they had any meal vouchers. Who was I kidding. This wasn't Customer Care. There were no meal vouchers.

As I grabbed a bite to eat, I decided to look up other airlines and just buy a seat. As I searched Expedia, Travelocity, CheapoAir, I kept seeing United Flights. Some said 3 seats available, some said 5 seats available. Pricing was around the $521 mark. I stormed back to Customer Service, showed them the flights on my phone and asked if they wanted me to PAY for the flight! As I placed my credit card down, the lady just printed me off a boarding pass and said "you're in seat 10C". Although I was happy to be heading home, I was furious with the way United conducts its business. However having faced delays and receiving false information on both legs of the journey, I was not at all surprised.

I still have not received any correspondence from United with respect to any compensation that should be provided for their delays which caused disruption to my schedule both ways. Knowing their track record of recent, I'm sure it is just delayed.

Am I surprised? No, not surprised. Disappointed for sure. When the Customer Service representatives tell you blatantly that they are not responsible for Customer Care, that itself speaks volumes about a company's commitment to their customers.
Until United decides to shape up and put their customers first by adding care into their service guidelines, United travelers will need to keep their expectations to a minimum.

Flyer Beware!

Asif Khan, ABR
Re/Max All-Stars Realty Inc.
Re/Max Hall of Fame
 
click here: http://bit.ly/Phzcqe

There really is such thing as home field advantage:Athletes who travel five or more time zones for competitions are two to three times more likely to wind up sick than when they’re playing at home, says a new study in theBritish Journal of Sports Medicine. (All the more props to Team USA for kicking butt in London!)

When researchers followed 259 rugby players throughout an international tournament, they found players on average were sick just 15.4 out of 1,000 days at home, but 32.6 out of 1,000 days on the road. Chalk that up to everything from changes in surroundings to different food and germs.

While you may not be competing on the international stage any time soon, working up a sweat on the road shouldn’t work up your temperature, too. Here are four ways to fight common on-the-go fitness obstacles. (And for more ways to to keep your body healthy and strong, discover the secret to staying pain-free for life.)

Prevent Jetlag
Almost 31 percent of illnesses reported in the study were respiratory problems. That’s not surprising—jetlag (fatigue, sleep issues, and loss of appetite) can lead to a weakened immune system and even reduced psychomotor coordination during a workout, says Mark Gendreau, M.D., M.S., senior staff physician and vice chair of emergency medicine at Lahey Clinic. The good news: You can prevent it. Hydrate constantly, make sure your urine is clear, and take melatonin (your body’s sleep hormone) a few days before you leave. Studies have shown that 0.5 to 5 milligrams at your destination’s bedtime is best.

Quell Your Stomach
You’re not the only one whose stomach is in knots after a trip overseas. Gas in your belly can expand up to 30 percent during a flight, says Dr. Gendreau. Why? Think back to high school chemistry: Boyle’s Law says volume is inversely proportional to pressure. So, a pressurized cabin means a higher volume of stomach gas. Your move: Fuel your workout ahead of time by avoiding gassy foods, like burritos and cheesy meals. Drink lots of water to fight constipation, which is a common airplane symptom stemming from low humidity on board. Need some ideas? Here are 10 Foods to Get You Through the Flight.

Protect Your Skin
To set yourself—and your skin—up for the best-case scenario, Dr. Gendreau recommends doing some bed bug research before take-off. The trick: Look for trends (which could indicate the hotel isn’t taking the problem seriously), not isolated incidents. Once you’ve found a clean hotel, conduct a five-minute search upon arrival to your room by pulling off the bedding and examining your mattress’s edges. (Yep, you can actually see them.) If you find some, you only need to switch rooms, not hotels, says Dr. Gendreau. And before you suit up for a workout, remember to moisturize your skin. Air travel alone sucks moisture away and can leave you feeling itchy and dry. Choose a lotion that offers both moisture and SPF—after all, you don’t want a sunburn to sideline you.

Fight Infection
Like it or not, you’re the one responsible for most of the infectious diseases you get, says Dr. Gendreau. It’s simple: You touch things, and then touch your eyes, nose, or mouth, where germs enter your body. So here’s a quick fix: Avoid flight attendants—no matter how hot they are. “They have a higher rate of upper respiratory tract infections,” and everything they carry, you can catch, Dr. Gendreau says. At the hotel, skip the glass cups in hotel rooms and opt for the plastic ones in the wrapper instead. “The insides of the glass are wiped to make them shine, but studies have shown that they’re colonized with bacteria.” (For more ways to safeguard your immune system on the road, discover The Filthiest Things in Your Hotel Room.)

http://news.menshealth.com/healthy-traveling/2012/08/16/

CAR CLEANING TIPS

You’ve been collecting inspiring home images from your favorite magazines, websites and blogs. But you’re not sure if those stylish rooms will stand up to the ultimate tests. Like your daughter’s artistic streak. Weekly juice box spills. Or Fido’s shedding habit. Should you just give up on that stylish, grown-up interior until the kids head off to college?

Don’t surrender yet. A few tricks of the design trade can give you photo-worthy rooms that don’t require trailing after your kids or pets all day with cleaning supplies.

1. New furniture? Go for the upgrades.

“Buying a sofa is like buying a car,” says Debbie Wiener, owner of Designing Solutions in the Washington, D.C., area. “There’s the showroom option and the 12 other extras.” She upgrades all her clients’ seat cushions without even asking. There’s standard foam, but you can spend more for better foam or even what’s called spring down (a bit like a mattress). The upgrades hold their shape better and longer.

This room features scratch-proof leather on the sofa, upgraded seat cushions all around and Slobproof!-brand chairs with special moisture-blocking fabric.

“It’s so relaxing,” says Warrenetta Baker, whose family lives in this Bethesda, Md., home. “I don’t have to worry about anything. My furniture still looks new even with two dogs and two boys.”

2. Color is your friend. (Pattern, too.)

Is your sofa covered in grape juice stains? Stop fighting the inevitable and replace it with a stylish red couch. “Think of color as camouflage,” Wiener says. “Anything in neutral is just another child that needs to be taken care of. No one walks in the house with neutral mud on their shoes. No one spills neutral-colored fruit juice.”

Don’t be afraid to indulge in a red, blue or green sofa. Then add a patterned chair or rug. As you can see here, a thoughtful mix of color and pattern adds style and punch to a room. Wiener even added a personal color splash to this space by turning family photos into Pop Art.

3. If you really, really want a light-colored room …

It’s all about the latest stain-resistant fabrics. Like Baker’s Bethesda space, this sleek and sophisticated room also stands up to two little boys and two large dogs -- because everything is slipcovered or upholstered in Sunbrella indoor-outdoor fabric. It’s stain-resistant and washable with up to a 4% bleach solution. In addition, the furniture was stain-treated, and while the carpet looks like wool sisal, it’s actually Stainmaster nylon.

“If you haven’t bought furniture in a while, the fabrics out there are so far superior to what was available even five years ago,” says Suzy Watkins, ASID, principal of Sterling Design Group in Warrenton, Va.

Another secret to this room: The distressed dining room table looks even more rustic when it gets dinged.

4. Keeping it sleek. (Or hiding the kid stuff.)

Katrina Kimpel planned to use her new storage ottoman to tuck away her and her husband’s stuff. But when it arrived, her 3-year-old immediately claimed it for his trucks. “I don’t even have to look at toys in my living room now,” says the mom of two, who worked with Wiener. “It gives my husband and me a place to go after the boys are in bed to relax. We’re not stepping on cars, because we’ve giving the 3-year-old a place to put them.”

To keep your home looking chic and stylish, Watkins says you need to take advantage of every inch of storage. She’s helped clients install everything from bookcases under stairways to open wooden lockers to capture backpacks, coats and shoes. A playroom helps, too.

5. The secret to teen and tween rooms.

Your son’s or daughter’s room might not be the most trafficked area of the house, but your inner style diva would still like to avoid walls plastered with images of pop stars. How do you add style that stands up to your teen’s or tween’s sense of independence? Let him or her take the decorating lead, with guidance.

For this room, Jennifer Agus, owner of Agus Interiors in New York, took its 13-year-old occupant shopping and ran the choices by her mom after. “It wasn’t me imposing the mom’s ideas on the child,” she says. “We let the child put her artistic touch on it.”

No budget for a designer? The same approach might work with a favorite aunt or uncle.

http://homes.yahoo.com/news/interior-design-ideas-for-surviving-kids-and-pets.html?page=all

The question: My hardwood floors are incredibly noisy and I don’t know what to do. All it takes is for one member of my household to get up during the night for a visit to the loo and we’re all jolted awake by the creaking floorboards. I have heard of people sinking nails or screws into the floor to quiet the racket, but I imagine that would be pretty unsightly. Is the best solution simply to lay down new boards?