Forty years ago the Apollo 11 mission
The Apollo 11 mission was the first manned mission to land on the Moon. It was the fifth human spaceflight of Project Apollo and the third human voyage to the Moon. Forty years ago men from Earth made history on the moon. Apollo 11 was launched on July 16, 1969. On July 20, 1969 astronauts Neil Armstrong (Mission Commander) and Buzz Aldrin became Earth's first human emissaries to set foot on the lunar surface while crewman Michael Collins orbited high above.
mission (noun) - a flight by an aircraft or spacecraft to perform a specific task
spaceflight (noun) - flight into outer space in a spacecraft
voyage (noun) - a long journey to a distant or unknown place especially over water or through outer space
launch (verb) - to send or shoot (something, such as a rocket) into the air or water or into outer space
astronaut (noun) - a person who travels in a spacecraft into outer space
commander (noun) - a person who is in charge of a group of people —often used as a title
emissary (noun)- a person who is sent on a mission to represent another person or organization
lunar (adjective ) - of or relating to the moon
surface (noun) -an outside part or layer of something
orbit (verb) - to travel around (something, such as a planet or moon) in a curved path : to make an orbit around (something)
Need a few minutes to relax?
Transcript
Need a few minutes to relax?
Get comfortable in your chair. Loosen any tight, uncomfortable clothing. Let your arms rest loosely at your side. Allow yourself a few moments to relax.
If your thoughts wander, just let them while gently moving your attention back to the relaxation. If you become anxious or uncomfortable, stop the relaxation by clicking on the pause button.
To begin, focus your eyes on the candle flame. Notice its simplicity and its beauty.
Take time to notice your breathing, gradually slowing down the rate of inhaling and exhaling as you become more comfortable.
Now relax and enjoy the feeling.
Close your mouth and relax your shoulders, releasing any tension that's built up.
Inhale slowly and deeply through your nose. Let the air you breathe in push your stomach out.
Hold your breath in as you slowly count to four.
Breathe out slowly through your mouth as you continue counting up to six.
Breathe in (three, four, five, six).
Hold (two, three, four).
Breathe out (three, four, five, six).
Breathe in (three, four, five, six).
Hold (two, three and four).
Breathe out (three, four, five, six).
Breathe in (three, four, five, six).
Hold (two, three, four).
Breathe out (three, four, five, six).
Breathe in (three, four, five, six).
Hold (two, three, four).
Breathe out (three, four, five, six).
Breathe in (three, four, five, six).
Hold (two, three, four).
Video and Transcript are the property of © 1998-2009 MayoClinic.com
US Declaration of Independence
This quotation the opening of The Declaration of Independence opens with the quotation written by Thomas Jefferson in 1776. Many of the ideas in the Declaration were borrowed from John Locke, the great English liberal political philosopher.
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."
The Declaration of Independence is the document that established the United States of America's independence from the colonial rule of Great Britain in 1776. This anniversary is celebrated as Independence Day every 4th July in the United States.Before The Declaration of Independence, the US was made up of thirteen colonies under British rule, and relations were wearing thin. Using this political document, delegates and politicians from each 'colony' declared themselves independent of the Kingdom of Great Britain and explained their reasons for doing so. The handwritten copy with the signatures of all the delegates has been preserved and is on show in Washington DC.
Vocabularies:
quotation (noun) - something that a person says or writes that is repeated or used by someone else in another piece of writing or a speech
declaration (noun) - the act of making an official statement about something, a document that contains an official statement
independence (noun) - freedom from outside control or support
philosopher (noun) - a person who studies ideas about knowledge, truth, the nature and meaning of life, etc. : a person who studies philosophy
self-evident (adjective) - clearly true and requiring no proof or explanation
equal (adjective) - the same rights for each person
endow (verb) - to freely or naturally provide (someone or something) with something
unalienable (adjective) - impossible to take away or give up
pursuit (noun) - the act of pursuing someone or something: such as a : the act of following or chasing someone or something
colonial (adjective) - of or relating to a colony
colony (noun) - an area that is controlled by or belongs to a country and is usually far away from it
wearing thin (v phr.) - to be weakened or eroded gradually
preserve (verb) - to keep (something) in its original state or in good condition
Omega-3 fatty acids — Get the heart-health benefits
Transcript:
Welcome to Mayo Clinic's podcast. I'm your host, Rich Dietman. In today's podcast we're talking about omega-3 fatty acids and heart health with Katherine Zeratsky, a registered dietitian at Mayo Clinic. Katherine, thanks for being with us today. Let's start by talking about why omega-3 fatty acids are good for your heart.
Katherine Zeratsky: Omega-3 fatty acids are polyunsaturated fatty acids. Unsaturated fatty acids have long been associated with health benefits, due to the fact that they have a link to heart health, specifically lowering cholesterol levels. Other areas of promising research within the omega-3 fatty acids arena are looking more specifically at heart health related to lowering triglyceride levels, reduction in sudden deaths due to heart attacks and abnormal heart rhythms, and possibly lowering blood pressure levels.
Rich Dietman: So omega-3s are good for a lot of things that contribute to heart health, it sounds like. What are the best food sources of omega-3 fatty acids?
Katherine Zeratsky: Fish is truly the best source of omega-3 fatty acids, specifically the fatty fish such as salmon, tuna, herring and sardines.
Rich Dietman: OK, but what if I don't like fish? What are some other foods that contain omega-3s that I could still get a good dose from?
Katherine Zeratsky: Certainly, not everybody likes fish or prefers fish, and there are other foods that are good sources of alpha-linolenic acid, and these are plant sources. And some of those foods are walnuts, flaxseed, soybeans or the oils from those foods.
Rich Dietman: So in the case of flaxseed, most likely it would be the oils, although there are some foods that are made from flax, aren't there?
Katherine Zeratsky: There are. Actually, you can buy flaxseed, ground flax and other varieties of flax in health food or even grocery stores now, and you can add them to yogurt, smoothies and sprinkle them on salads, things like that.
Rich Dietman: Are some food manufacturers adding omega-3s to their manufactured foods — things like yogurt and margarine, and so forth?
Katherine Zeratsky: The food manufacturers have caught on to the health benefits, or potential health benefits, of omega-3 fatty acids, and they are now adding them to foods. Some of the foods that may contain the omega-3s would be margarines, cereals, snack foods and even baby foods, specifically the baby formulas. The addition of these fats is simply, they might add some of those flaxseeds or ground flax into the cereal, or they may use the oils from those foods to add into margarines or other foods.
Rich Dietman: If I wanted to find out whether a manufactured food product had omega-3 added, how would I find that out?
Katherine Zeratsky: The label will state as such. And the FDA does allow for health claims to potentially promoting heart health to be put on products that contain the omega-3 fatty acids.
Rich Dietman: So there might be something in addition to the nutritional information. There might be some claim by the manufacturer on the box or whatever it is that says it contains omega-3s.
Katherine Zeratsky: Exactly. It's likely right on the front of the package.
Rich Dietman: OK. Are omega-3 supplements another option if I don't get enough of it or don't think I'm getting enough of it in my food? Are there supplements that are another option? And do they have the same benefits as getting it more naturally from food?
Katherine Zeratsky: Certainly, there are fish oil supplements available for those people who don't have a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids naturally. However, we prefer most people get their nutrients from food — that is what is recommended. If you are not eating fish or don't prefer fish, are not eating nuts or any of the other rich sources of omega-3 fatty acids, you can take a fish oil supplement. Be aware, however, that at this time the supplement industry is not regulated by the FDA as the medication industry is, the prescription medication industry is. Therefore, what the label claims is in the product may not be exactly what you're getting in the bottle.
Rich Dietman: So you have to trust that what they say is really in it.
Katherine Zeratsky: You do, so choose a manufacturer that you believe has a good reputation.
Rich Dietman: Katherine, how much omega-3 does a person need in terms of daily intake?
Katherine Zeratsky: Well, the FDA recommends that, from food sources, that we eat about 3 grams of the omega-3 fatty acids per day, and if we're taking a supplement, we should not exceed 2 grams per day.
Rich Dietman: OK, so it sounds like a relatively small amount.
Katherine Zeratsky: It is. Although it sounds like a small amount, it is fairly difficult to exceed that. To give you some examples, a general recommendation would be to eat about two 3-ounce meals of fatty fish per week. This may get you up to 1 to 2 grams of the essential fatty acids or the omega-3 fatty acids within that week's time. Another example would be walnut oil. Again, if you're not a fish eater and choosing to put walnut oil in a salad dressing, walnut oil has 1.4 grams of the omega-3 fatty acids in 1 tablespoon. And if you're choosing to take a fish oil supplement, a common amount of omega-3 in the fish oil supplement is about 0.3 grams per capsule.
Rich Dietman: Is there such a thing as getting too much omega-3?
Katherine Zeratsky: There is, and if someone were to take too much of a supplement, or have a diet extremely rich in the fatty fishes, you should be concerned about exceeding these limits because they could potentially lead to a side effect such as bleeding — something as devastating as a stroke or as simple as a nosebleed.
Rich Dietman: So, it's good to follow the recommended dietary guidelines?
Katherine Zeratsky: It is.
Rich Dietman: Katherine, thanks very much for joining us today. We've been talking with Katherine Zeratsky, a registered dietitian at Mayo Clinic. You've been listening to Mayo Clinic podcast. I'm Rich Dietman.
fatty acid (n) - an acid that is naturally in fats and various oils
Polyunsaturated (adjective) - used to describe a type of oil or fat that is found especially in nuts and fish and that is better for your health than saturated fats and trans fats
Unsaturated (adjective) - used to describe a type of oil or fat that is found in foods and that is better for your health than other types
Cholesterol (noun) - a substance that is found in the bodies of people and animals
omega-3 (noun) - a type of fat that is good for your heart and is found in fish, green leafy vegetables, and some nuts —called also omega-3 fatty acid
triglyceride (noun) - A naturally occurring ester of three fatty acids and glycerol that is the chief constituent of fats and oils.
alpha-linolenic acid (noun) - a polyunsaturated fatty acid with 18 carbon atoms; the only omega-3 fatty acid found in vegetable products; it is most abundant in canola oil; a fatty acid essential for nutrition
flaxseed (noun) - The seed of flax, the source of linseed oil and emollient medicinal preparations.
Flax (noun) - A widely cultivated plant, Linum usitatissimum, having pale blue flowers, seeds that yield linseed oil, and slender stems from which a textile fiber is obtained.
FDA (abbreviation) - Food and Drug Administration: The Food and Drug Administration is a part of the
Supplement (noun) - something that is added to something else in order to make it complete such as dietary/vitamin supplements
Prescription (noun) - a written message from a doctor that officially tells someone to use a medicine, therapy, etc.
recommend (verb) - to say that (someone or something) is good and deserves to be chosen
recommendation (noun) - the act of saying that someone or something is good and deserves to be chosen
capsule (noun) - a very small container that is filled with medicine and swallowed whole
guideline (noun) - rule or instruction that shows or tells how something should be done
Sudden cardiac arrest
Definition
Sudden cardiac arrest is the sudden, unexpected loss of heart function, breathing and consciousness. Sudden cardiac arrest usually results from an electrical disturbance in your heart that disrupts its pumping action and causes blood to stop flowing to the rest of your body.
Sudden cardiac arrest is different from a heart attack, which occurs when blood flow to a portion of the heart is blocked, depriving the heart muscle of necessary oxygen. Like a heart attack, however, sudden cardiac arrest almost always occurs in the context of other underlying heart problems, particularly coronary artery disease.
Sudden cardiac arrest is a medical emergency. If not treated immediately, it is fatal, resulting in sudden cardiac death. With fast, appropriate medical care, survival is possible. Administering cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) — or even just rapid compressions to the chest — can improve the chances of survival until emergency personnel arrive.
Causes
The immediate cause of sudden cardiac arrest is usually an abnormality in your heart rhythm (arrhythmia), the result of a malfunction in your heart's electrical system.
Unlike other muscles in your body, which rely on nerve connections to receive the electrical stimulation they need to function, your heart has its own electrical stimulator — a specialized group of cells called the sinus node, located in the upper right chamber (right atrium) of your heart. The sinus node generates electrical impulses that flow in an orderly manner through your heart to synchronize heart rate and coordinate the pumping of blood from your heart to the rest of your body.
If something goes wrong with the sinus node or the flow of electric impulses through your heart, an arrhythmia can result, causing your heart to beat too fast, too slow or in an irregular fashion. Often, these interruptions in rhythm are momentary and harmless. But some types of arrhythmia can be serious and lead to a sudden stop in heart function (sudden cardiac arrest).
The most common cause of cardiac arrest is an arrhythmia called ventricular fibrillation — when rapid, erratic electrical impulses cause your ventricles to quiver uselessly instead of pumping blood. Without an effective heartbeat, your blood pressure plummets, cutting off blood supply to your vital organs.
Most of the time, cardiac-arrest-inducing arrhythmia don't occur on their own. In a person with a normal, healthy heart, a sustained arrhythmia is unlikely to develop without some outside trigger, such as an electrical shock, the use of illegal drugs, or trauma to the chest at just the wrong time of the heart's cycle (commotio cordis).
consciousness (noun) - the condition of being conscious: the normal state of being awake and able to understand what is happening around you
disturbance (noun) - something that stops you from working, the act of disturbing something
heart attack (noun) - a sudden painful and dangerous condition in which your heart stops beating properly
deprive (verb) - to take something away from someone or something
coronary (adjective) - of or relating to the heart and especially to the vessels that supply blood to the heart
fatal (adjective) - causing death
cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) (noun) - a way of trying to save the life of someone who has stopped breathing and whose heart has stopped beating
survival (noun) - the state or fact of continuing to live or exist especially in spite of difficult conditions
chamber (noun) - a small space inside something
impulses (noun) - a small amount of energy that moves from one area to another
synchronize (verb) - to cause (things) to agree in time or to make (things) happen at the same time and speed, to happen at the same time and speed
momentary (adjective) - lasting a very short time : lasting only a moment
quiver (verb) - to shake rapidly with small movements or tremble
vital (adjective) - needed by your body in order to keep living
organ (noun) - a part of the body (such as the heart or liver) that has a particular function
sustain (verb) - to provide what is needed for (something or someone) to exist, continue, etc.
trigger (noun) - something that causes something else to happen
trauma (noun) - a serious injury to a person's body
Michael Jackson dead at 50
The eccentric icon of American pop music rose to international fame with albums such as 1982's "Thriller." (NBC Video/YouTube)
Mr. Michael Jackson had been scheduled to perform 50 concerts at the O2 arena in London beginning next month and continuing into 2010. The shows were positioned as a comeback, with the potential to earn him up to $50 million, according to some reports.
Dehydration and youth sports: Curb the risk
If you're sweltering in the stands at a youth sporting event, imagine what it's like for the athletes. Learn who's at risk of dehydration — and how to prevent it.
( found on Mayo Clinic.com)
Children don't adapt as well as adults do to exercise in hot, humid weather. They produce more heat, sweat less and may be less likely to drink enough fluids during exercise — all of which increase the risk of dehydration. In turn, dehydration can lead to heat-related illnesses, such as heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heatstroke. But you don't need to worry from the sidelines. Understand how heat-related problems happen and know how to prevent them.
Who's at risk?
Any child who exercises in the heat may be at risk of dehydration. The concern is often greatest for young athletes who participate in football, soccer, cross-country and other sports that start in late summer.
Your child may be particularly vulnerable to dehydration and other heat-related illnesses during summer workouts if he or she:
- Rarely exercises
- Is overweight or obese
- Has had a recent illness that caused vomiting or diarrhea
- Has had a previous heat-related illness
Football players face special risks in the heat when exercising hard while wearing full protective gear.
Acclimating to the heat
Heat-related problems are most likely within the first few days of practice. That's why it's best to take it easy at first, gradually increasing the amount of activity — and the amount of protective equipment — as the days pass. Young athletes may need up to two weeks to safely acclimate to the heat.
During hot and humid conditions, the
- Reduce the intensity of physical activity lasting more than 15 minutes
- Require young athletes to drink plenty of fluids before practice and during regular beverage breaks — even if they aren't thirsty
- Limit clothing to a single layer of light-colored, lightweight material
Know when to slow down — or call it quits
Sometimes it's simply too hot and muggy to go full throttle on the field. To determine when heat and humidity make strenuous exercise risky for young athletes, your child's coach may monitor the wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT) — the standard index of temperature and humidity combined. If the WBGT is too high, outdoor athletic activities may need to be limited or canceled.
Spotting dehydration and other heat-related problems
Even mild dehydration can affect your child's athletic performance and make him or her lethargic and irritable. Left untreated, dehydration increases the risk of other heat-related illnesses, including heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heatstroke.
Encourage your child to pay attention to early signs and symptoms of dehydration, including:
- Dry or sticky mouth
- Thirst
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Cramps
- Excessive fatigue
Remind your child that he or she is responsible for reporting these signs and symptoms to the coach right away. Don't let embarrassment keep your child on the field. If dehydration is detected early, fluids and rest may be all that's needed. If your child seems confused or loses consciousness, seek emergency care.
Prevention is key
If your child plays sports in hot weather, encourage him or her to drink plenty of fluids before, during and after practices and games. Teach your child the signs and symptoms of dehydration, as well as the importance of speaking up if they occur. Involve your child's coach, too. Talk to the coach about adjusting the intensity of practice depending on the temperature and humidity on the field — and support the coach's decision to cancel games and practices when it's dangerously hot outside.
the stands (noun) - the rows of seats in a stadium that people sit in when they are watching a sports event, concert, etc.
dehydration (noun) – is the loss too much water, a dangerous lack of water in the body resulting from inadequate intake of fluids or excessive loss through sweating, vomiting, or diarrhea
adapt (verb) - to change your behavior so that it is easier to live in a particular place or situation
sweat (noun) - the clear liquid that forms on your skin when you are hot or nervous also called perspiration
cramps (noun) - a sudden painful tightening of muscle in a part of the body
heat exhaustion(noun) - a condition that happens when someone is too active in extremely hot conditions and that causes a person to sweat and feel very weak, dizzy, etc.
heatstroke (noun) - a serious condition that happens when someone has been in high temperatures for a long time and that causes a person to stop sweating, have a very high body temperature, and become exhausted or unconscious
vulnerable (adjective) - easily hurt or harmed physically, mentally, or emotionally
vomiting (verb) - to have the food, liquid, etc., that is in your stomach come out through your mouth because you are sick
diarrhea (noun) - an illness that causes you to pass waste from your body very frequently and in liquid rather than solid form
acclimate (verb) - to adjust or adapt to a new climate, place, or situation
muggy (adjective) - unpleasantly warm and humid
at full throttle (noun phrase) - as fast as possible
strenuous (adjective) - requiring or showing great energy and effort
lethargic (adjective) - feeling a lack of energy or a lack of interest in doing things
irritable (adjective) - becoming angry or annoyed easily
fatigue (noun) - the state of being very tired : extreme weariness
consciousness (noun) - the condition of being conscious : the normal state of being awake and able to understand what is happening around you
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