Don't Ignore Aches And Pains

(NAPSI)-Staying active can keep you healthy and feeling younger. Whether it's recreational sports, going to the gym or just working around the house, physical activity helps both body and mind.

Sometimes an active lifestyle may lead to minor strains, sprains, and bruises, but there are ways to minimize injury. One way to prevent minor injuries is to slowly strengthen muscles with exercise. Before starting an activity--whether it's cleaning the garage or going for a jog--it's important to get your blood pumping by stretching and warming up.

If you do get injured, know when to consult a health care professional. Nearly 60 percent of people with acute back pain or other minor muscle strains and sprains did not see a health care professional for their pain, according to a recent American Pain Foundation survey of 2,192 Americans. Many of them said they felt they could tough it out. Experts say this isn't the best approach.

"Because minor strains and sprains are common, people can underestimate their possible long-term effects, especially if not properly treated," said Dr. Bruce Thomas, a physician at MIMA Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine and Assistant Professor of Family Medicine/Sports Medicine, Florida State University College of Medicine.

Treatment of minor strains, sprains, or bruises may include resting and icing the injured area. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can be used to help decrease the short-term pain. These can be taken by mouth or in a patch that goes on the skin.

More tips can be found online at RealAge.com/StrainsAndSprains. The site also has a quiz to help you find out if you need to see a health care professional about your injury.

It's important to take proper care of even minor injuries to reduce the chance of a more serious problem later.

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New Report Finds Only 25 Percent of Adults Aged 50-64 Get Recommended Preventive Screenings

/PRNewswire/ -- Only about 1 in 4 Americans aged 50-64 regularly take advantage of preventive services such as screenings and immunizations, according to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in collaboration with AARP and the American Medical Association (AMA).

The report, "Promoting Preventive Services for Adults 50-64: Community and Clinical Partnerships," focuses on opportunities to improve the health of the growing number of adults in the 50-64 age bracket to broaden the use of potentially lifesaving preventive services.

The report identifies recommended preventive services such as influenza vaccine, cholesterol screening, breast and cervical cancer screening, as well as preventive screenings for behaviors that could negatively impact health such as binge drinking.

"People aged 50-64 need access to preventive services to help them improve their overall health and to live vibrant, productive lives," said CDC Director Thomas Frieden, M.D., M.P.H. "CDC and our partners, AARP and AMA, are excited about this new resource because it enables our partners and others to more easily and effectively monitor improvements in health behaviors, screenings and immunizations. Our goal is to enhance the delivery and use of these recommended preventive services."

By 2015, an estimated 63 million U.S. adults will be between the ages of 50 and 64, comprising 20 percent of the nation's population. They are at greater risk of developing chronic diseases such as heart disease and cancer than younger adults. Almost one-third of adults in this age group are uninsured or underinsured, which heightens the challenges of ensuring they receive critical preventive services.

Wayne Giles, M.D., M.S., director of CDC's Division of Adult and Community Health, and a member of the committee that prepared the report, emphasized the importance of addressing disparities in the use of preventive services. "The racial and ethnic composition of adults in the United States is becoming more diverse. We must take this trend into account as we promote the use of clinical preventive services to ensure that appropriate strategies are implemented to improve the health of all adults."

The report describes proven, science-based strategies that highlight clinical and community efforts to promote the delivery of multiple or bundled preventive services. The report also highlights model programs, policies and strategies that communities can adopt, in concert with health care partners, to make sure services reach those in need. Calls to Action identify existing gaps and barriers in research, data and action, and highlight opportunities through model programs, policy and environmental strategies, and enhanced health tracking.

CDC's healthy aging program develops tools and programs designed to help older adults live longer, more productive and independent lives. By promoting health and disease prevention, CDC works to improve the quality of life of older adults and slow the expected growth of health care and long-term costs for this and future generations.

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Aetna Makes $30,000 Grant to Atlanta Urban League to Support ‘Get Body Beautiful’ Program

(BUSINESS WIRE)--More than 15,000 women in the metro Atlanta area will have a chance to participate in the Atlanta Urban League’s “Get Body Beautiful” program, thanks to a $30,000 grant from Aetna (NYSE: AET) and the Aetna Foundation.

The “Get Body Beautiful” program, which kicked off Nov. 1, is an interactive, multi-media program that includes: on-site community fitness classes at local malls and churches; radio programs; Internet-based tracking; and a dedicated Web site to help women track their progress.

“Get Body Beautiful” is the brainchild of Atlanta’s Andrea Riggs, a national lifestyle and wellness expert. Her company, “Body Beautiful,” a minority- and women-owned firm founded in 1998, helps women of color achieve better health through lifestyle, nutrition and fitness.

“The health disparities that exist in the African-American and Hispanic communities are simply unacceptable,” says Nancy Flake Johnson, president and CEO of the Atlanta Urban League. “Whether you’re talking about heart disease, diabetes, obesity or breast cancer, all of these conditions are preventable with proper nutrition and regular physical activity. The Atlanta Urban League is thankful for the Aetna grant and proud to partner with Andrea Riggs and ‘Body Beautiful’ to bring ‘Get Body Beautiful’ to women of color throughout the metro Atlanta area, because it’s a fun and effective way to learn about nutritious delicious food, shopping and cooking techniques and strategies and to get physically active with other women who care about their health. And Andrea makes it so much fun we know we can help metro Atlanta women to engage in healthier lifestyles for themselves and their families with this program.”

“Body Beautiful” focuses on health and wellness campaigns for corporate and community groups, and produces high-energy, fitness content for TV and distribution. Riggs is a regular on the Atlanta business and social scene, the “Atlanta’s Biggest Loser” trainer on WXIA Alive, and contributes monthly to several national publications. She often trains celebrities and Atlanta’s business executives, all while doing business and building the Body Beautiful and GET LEAN brands with leading corporations and consumers.

“With 78 percent of African American women overweight and at risk for major illnesses like heart disease and diabetes, this program equips women with the lifestyle and fitness tools they need to increase their physical activity and improve their health, feeling and looking good for life,” Riggs said.

“This is a dynamic, upbeat program that empowers African-American women to take control of their lives, improve their health and serve as positive role models for everyone they touch,” said Cynthia Follmer, president of Aetna’s Georgia market. “As a company that shares that passion for promoting wellness and healthy living, Aetna is proud to participate in this effort.”

Aetna provides health benefits to more than 600,000 members in Georgia.

About the Atlanta Urban League

The National Urban League, founded in 1910 and headquartered in New York City, spearheads our nonprofit, nonpartisan, community-based movement. The heart of the Urban League movement is our professionally staffed Urban League affiliates in over 100 cities in 34 states and the District of Columbia.

Founded in 1920, the Atlanta Urban League was organized to encourage, assist and engage in activities, which lead to the improvement of opportunities for disadvantaged persons and families in Metropolitan Atlanta. The League identifies community needs in education, employment, housing, health and welfare and develops programs and initiatives to meet those needs.

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How to Care for Someone at Home Who Has H1N1 (Swine) Flu

/PRNewswire/ -- Montefiore Medical Center wants you to have the latest information on influenza (flu) so you can best protect yourself and your family. If you are taking care of someone at home who has H1N1 (swine) flu, it is important for you to prevent other people in the house from getting sick, according to Gary Kalkut, MD, MPH, Senior Vice-President, Chief Medical Officer of Montefiore Medical Center. Dr. Kalkut and his colleagues at Montefiore offer the following information and advice on preventing illness during this flu season.

One of the easiest ways people can protect themselves, their family, and others from getting sick is to clean their hands. Use soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub to prevent getting sick:

-- Especially after coughing and sneezing.
-- After every contact with the sick person.
-- Even after handling the sick person's room or bathroom or their dirty
laundry.

Who can take care of someone with the flu?
-- If possible, only one adult in the home should take care of anyone who
is sick. Try not to have people with the flu care for infants.
-- People most at risk for flu (pregnant women, those with chronic
disease or immune issues) should not take care of people with the flu,
if possible.

Caring for someone with the flu
-- Try to keep the sick person from breathing, sneezing or coughing close
to your face. If close contact with a sick individual can't be helped,
think about wearing a mask to cover your nose and mouth.
-- Try to keep the sick person in a separate room with the door closed.
Keep the sick person away from other people as much as possible,
especially others who are at high risk of getting sick from the flu.
-- The sick person should not have visitors. A phone call, e-mail or text
message is safer than a visit.
-- Do not eat food from dishes and glasses being used by someone who is
sick. Dishes and glasses used by a sick person can be washed with the
family's dishes.
-- Use separate cloth towels for each person in the household for
bathing. Wash bed sheets and towels by using household laundry soap.
Dry clothes on a hot setting. Avoid putting laundry used by sick
family members against your body before washing it.
-- Keep areas that can be covered by germs clean by wiping them down with
a household cleaner daily. These areas include:
-- Bedside tables.
-- The bathroom.
-- Door knobs.
-- Toys.

Managing coughing and sneezing
-- When holding small children who are sick, place their chin on your
shoulder so they will not cough in your face.
-- Throw away tissues and other throw-away items used by the sick.
-- If possible, maintain good air flow in shared areas of the home. Open
windows in the kitchen and bathroom for a short time to bring in fresh
air.

Using medications

If someone already has flu symptoms, over-the-counter cold and flu medications may help. These medications lessen some symptoms such as cough and congestion. Over-the-counter medications may help the sick person to feel better. A sick person can still make others sick up to 24 hours after their symptoms stop and they have stopped taking medication.

-- Children 5 years of age and older and teenagers with the flu can take
medicines without aspirin to ease symptoms. These include
acetaminophen (Tylenol(R)) and ibuprofen (Advil(R), Motrin(R),
Nuprin(R)).
-- Do not give over-the-counter cold medicines to children 4 years old
and younger without first speaking with a health care provider. In
children 2 and younger, use a cool mist humidifier and a suction bulb
to help clear any mucus.
-- Warning! Do not give aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) to children or
teenagers who have flu-like illness. Aspirin can cause a rare but
serious illness called Reye's syndrome. Check ingredient labels on
over-the-counter cold and flu medicines to see if they have aspirin.
If they do, do not use these medicines.
-- In adults, fevers and aches can be treated with acetaminophen
(Tylenol(R)) or ibuprofen (Advil(R), Motrin(R), Nuprin(R)), or
nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS). Adults with kidney
disease or stomach problems should check with their health care
provider before using these medications.


Antiviral medicines may help with flu symptoms, but you will need a prescription. Most people with the flu do not need these antiviral drugs to get better. Some people at higher risk for severe flu complications might benefit from antiviral medications.

Influenza infections can lead to, or occur with, bacterial infections. Some people may need to take an antibiotic. More severe illness or illness that seems to get better, but then gets worse again, may be a sign that a person has a bacterial infection. Check with your health care provider if you have concerns.

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U.S. Gets a 'D' for Preterm Birth Rate

/PRNewswire/ -- For the second consecutive year, the United States earned only a "D" on the March of Dimes Premature Birth Report Card, demonstrating that more than half a million of our nation's newborns didn't get the healthy start they deserved.

In the 2009 Premature Birth Report card, seven states improved their performance by one letter grade and two fared worse. Criteria that affect preterm birth improved in many states:

-- 33 states and the District of Columbia reduced the percentage of women
of childbearing age who smoke;
-- 21 states and the District of Columbia reduced the percent of
uninsured women of childbearing age;
-- 27 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico lowered the late
preterm birth rate.

As in 2008, no state earned an "A," and only Vermont received a "B." The grades were determined by comparing preterm birth rates to the national Healthy People 2010 preterm birth objective, which is 7.6 percent of all live births. The U.S. preliminary preterm birth rate was 12.7 percent in 2007.

"Although we don't yet understand all the factors that contribute to premature birth, we do know some interventions that can help prevent it, and we must consistently make use of all of these," said Dr. Jennifer L. Howse, President of the March of Dimes. She cited smoking cessation programs; health care before and during pregnancy; progesterone supplementation; and improved adherence to professional guidelines on fertility treatment and early Cesarean-sections and inductions.

According to the March of Dimes, quality improvement programs also are key to lowering preterm birth rates. For example, the Intermountain Health Program in Utah reduced its elective C-sections to less than 5 percent from more than 30 percent. At Geisinger Health System in Pennsylvania, pregnant women are screened for chronic conditions and risks factors that can be treated proactively to lower the risk of preterm birth.

A program run by the Hospital Corporation of America based in Tennessee, which delivers about 5 percent of all U.S. births in the 21 states it serves, reduced the primary C-section rate, lowered maternal and fetal injuries and reduced the cost of obstetric malpractice claims by 500 percent. Also, Parkland Memorial Hospital in Texas reduced its preterm birth rate to 4.9 percent in 2006 from 10.4 percent in 1988 by establishing a comprehensive, community-based public health care system of prenatal care that targets minority pregnant women.

In the United States, more than 540,000 babies are born too soon each year. Preterm birth is a serious health problem that costs the United States more than $26 billion annually, according to the Institute of Medicine. It is the leading cause of newborn death, and babies who survive an early birth often face the risk of lifetime health challenges, such as breathing problems, cerebral palsy, mental retardation and others. A March of Dimes report released in October found that 13 million babies worldwide were born preterm, and more than one million die each year.

The March of Dimes released its second annual report card today, the 7th Annual Prematurity Awareness Day(R), when the March of Dimes focuses the nation's attention on the growing problem of premature birth (birth before 37 weeks gestation). A special Web site - marchofdimes.com/fightforpreemies - includes state profiles on prematurity and ways for volunteers to help reduce the premature rate.

The March of Dimes is the leading organization for pregnancy and baby health. With chapters nationwide, the March of Dimes works to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. For the latest resources and information, visit marchofdimes.com or nacersano.org.

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Tips to tackle the allergens hiding in your house

(ARA) - If sneezing, sniffling and coughing are frequent sounds in your house, don't worry, you're not alone in trying to find ways to stop them.

An estimated 50 million people suffer from indoor and outdoor allergies in the United States, costing Americans nearly seven billion dollars annually, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA).

Asthma and allergy triggers - called allergens - accumulate in unexpected places throughout your home. Furniture, bedding, curtains, drapes and carpeting can each house dust mites, pet dander and outside allergens entering through the windows.

Here are some tips from appliance manufacturer LG Electronics to reduce the number of allergens in every room:

* Use washable floor mats, and run them through the laundry once a week to remove small food particles.

* Don't let damp towels pile up as mold and mites can spread quickly.

* Pet beds hold a lot of dander. Give them their own sleeping area somewhere in the house that isn't a bedroom. Wash the pet beds weekly to cut down on dander collecting.

* Make sure your wash cycle removes allergens. The LG SteamWasher with Allergiene cycle reaches a temperature of 131 F, which is recommended by the National Institute of Health to kill allergens, while still being gentle on fabrics. This cycle has been proven to remove more than 95 percent of household allergens like dust mites and pet dander from washable fabrics. It's the first washing machine to receive "asthma and allergy friendly" certification from AAFA.

In addition to reducing allergens, the SteamWasher is Energy Star rated, reducing bills as it saves consumers more than 8,000 gallons of water each year compared to conventional machines.

* Replace your mattresses every 10 years, and vacuum them regularly.

* Use washable slipcovers on couches if you have pets to help control pet dander. Run the slipcovers through a steam cycle regularly.

* Consider purchasing more products, including kids' toys and table linens, that are machine washable to help reduce the number of dust mites causing you to sniffle.

* Draperies can also harbor allergens. Use vertical blinds or other easy-to-clean window treatments, or wash and dry-clean fabric curtains once a month to keep the allergens to a minimum.

"While removing allergens like dust mites and pet dander in your house won't cure your allergies, it certainly will help you protect your family by reducing their exposure to these asthma and allergy triggers," says Mike Tringale, director of external affairs for AAFA . "By designing a special wash cycle that meets our standards, LG has created a tool that can help Americans in their efforts to reduce their exposure to allergens throughout the year."

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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Have Yourself A Healthy Little Holiday

(NAPSI)-This time of year, seasonal favorites such as pumpkin pie, homemade fudge, eggnog, and sugar cookies can tempt even the most committed to stray from their healthy eating plans. For those also finding it hard to fit physical activity into their hectic routines, the result can be weight gain-and loss of motivation.

The good news is that it doesn't have to be that way. If you've already got a positive weight loss mindset and have resolved to achieve and maintain a healthier lifestyle in the coming year, there are ways to not only survive the holidays-but to thrive during them.

"The key is moderation, not deprivation," says Lisa Talamini, chief nutritionist for Jenny Craig, Inc. "There's no need to pass up your grandmother's apple pie or dressing with your turkey. Just take small servings and balance out higher-fat choices with nonfat dairy products and fresh fruits and vegetables."

Here are Talamini's top 10 strategies for staying on track this holiday season:

1. Learn to say "no, thank you" to an offer of unwanted food. By doing so, you're saying "yes" to yourself and your commitment to a healthier lifestyle.

2. Don't skip breakfast to "save" all of your calories for the big feast. Follow your healthy eating plan for the entire day so you're not starving by dinner time.

3. Bring a vegetable platter to a party so you'll have plenty of crunchy veggies to munch on.

4. Roast your turkey without the stuffing, breast-side down, to keep it moist and allow the fat to run off. For a browned top, turn your turkey right-side up for the last half hour.

5. "Volumize" your meals with fruits, vegetables, lean protein and high-fiber starches to feel full on fewer calories.

6. Enjoy a rousing snowball fight, go sledding or build a snowman.

7. Park far from the mall entrance and walk extra laps around the mall before you begin your holiday shopping.

8. Spend more time on the dance floor-and less at the hors d'oeuvres table-at your next company function. Enjoy higher-calorie beverages only on occasion, and in moderation.

9. Savor the season by taking a few runs down a nearby ski slope or going ice skating on an outdoor rink.

10. Enlist support from others by exchanging healthy recipes, being active together and sharing words of encouragement.

For more healthy holiday tips, visit www.jennycraig.com.


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H1N1 At-Home Flu Risk Assessment Test Developed By Microsoft And Emory University

(NAPSI)-During a normal flu season, sniffling and sneezing are considered common. However, the 2009-2010 flu season has brought new complications with the rise of H1N1, a pandemic flu virus that has infected millions around the world.

As the pandemic has spread throughout the United States and around the world, many hospitals have begun restricting visiting hours for children, while businesses, schools and airlines have advised people who think they might be sick to stay home, all in an attempt to stop the spread of the virus to others. Doctors' offices have directed patients experiencing even mild symptoms or a minor cold to stay at home.

While health officials issue warnings over the continuing spread of the virus, members of the public remain unclear about how to determine if their symptoms are enough to warrant seeing a doctor or going to the emergency room.

Now, consumers have access to tools that can help. H1N1 Response Center (www.h1n1responsecenter.com), developed by Microsoft, includes a risk self-assessment service developed by medical and public health experts at Emory University based on national guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The self-assessment allows people to evaluate symptoms and decide whether they should stay home, schedule an appointment with their doctor or go to the emergency room.

"This will reduce the number of people needlessly exposed to H1N1 flu in crowded clinics and ER waiting rooms, and allow doctors and nurses to focus their attention on those who need them most," said Dr. Arthur Kellermann, professor of emergency medicine and an associate dean of the Emory School of Medicine.

By answering a few short questions, patients can find out if they or their family members need to see a doctor or nurse for treatment. Through the site, patients can even prepare for their doctor's visit by connecting the questionnaire results with their HealthVault account (www.healthvault.com), a personal health application platform developed by Microsoft that lets people collect, store and share their medical information online with those they trust.

To take the online self-assessment quiz, visit www.h1n1responsecenter.com. To learn more about HealthVault or to create your own HealthVault account, visit www.healthvault.com.

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What's the Skinny on Fat Removal? Dermatologists Believe Emerging Non-Invasive Technologies Shaping Up to Be the Next Big Thing

/PRNewswire/ -- For many people, diet and exercise help keep them looking and feeling healthy. But even those who work hard on staying in shape might have a hard time shaking stubborn love handles or lower belly fat, which can bulge through clothing like a neon sign. While the market for getting rid of unwanted fat has grown over the years to include stomach stapling and behavioral techniques, there is still a demand for procedures that can reduce areas of localized fat safely and effectively.

Speaking today at the American Academy of Dermatology's SKIN academy (Academy), Chestnut Hill, Mass., dermatologist Jeffrey S. Dover, MD, FAAD, associate clinical professor of dermatology at Yale University School of Medicine in New Haven, Conn., and adjunct professor of medicine (dermatology) at Dartmouth Medical School in Hanover, N.H., presented the latest non-invasive technologies being studied to target fat and how these new procedures soon could help people of average weight who struggle with localized areas of fat.

"There is a strong demand for non-invasive procedures that can address the concerns of people who are not considered overweight, but despite diet and exercise, have pockets of fat that bother them," said Dr. Dover. "While traditional liposuction and laser liposuction are invasive surgical procedures that are designed for overall fat reduction, new procedures are emerging that are non-invasive and are showing promise in clinical studies for removing fat without the potential risks and downtime of invasive procedures."

Best Candidates Are Near Their Ideal Body Weight

Dr. Dover stressed that the new procedures under development that target fat are not intended as a weight-reduction program for overweight individuals who would require therapies designed for overall fat reduction. Instead, the best candidates for one of the newer fat removal procedures are people near their ideal body weight who eat well and exercise regularly and have pockets of fat that have not responded to a healthy lifestyle. For example, these areas of fat include the lower belly (from pregnancy), love handles, back fat, saddle bags, and fat under the chin.

While there are several different approaches for non-surgical fat removal, Dr. Dover explained that this field is still in its infancy and many of these techniques are not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). However, studies are demonstrating that fat pockets can be removed without damaging the overlying skin - making these innovative procedures inherently safer by design.

Ultrasound Uses Sound Waves to Selectively Destroy Fat

Considered a promising new technique for fat removal, ultrasound technology uses focused, pulsed waves of non-thermal ultrasound energy (sound waves) to "shake" and selectively destroy fat beneath the skin without harming the skin or surrounding tissues. There are two different types of high-frequency ultrasound procedures undergoing FDA-monitored studies in the U.S. - focused ultrasound and high-intensity focused ultrasound. While focused ultrasound is a lower-energy device that is a comfortable procedure, high-intensity focused ultrasound delivers much higher energy levels and can be painful.

Data from collective clinical studies that used focused ultrasound for abdominal fat removal on more than 600 patients over the past five years concluded that 94 percent of patients experienced a measurable circumference reduction in the treatment area, with 90 percent of patients being satisfied with the treatment. Based on these studies, the average circumference reduction reported ranged from 3.5 to 6.3 centimeters with an overall average of 4.4 centimeters. These measurements are very difficult to make accurately and may overstate the actual reduction. Dr. Dover noted that for three years of these collective studies, patients received three treatments spaced two weeks apart. Prior to this time, only one treatment was administered.

With the high-intensity focused ultrasound system (which also is not approved for sale or use in the U.S. but has been used in Europe as a cosmetic device since 2008), high-intensity ultrasound energy is focused at precise depths within the fat tissue. This energy thermally dissolves the fat, without harming the skin or underlying tissues and organs.

Dr. Dover stressed that with both ultrasound procedures, results are not immediate and it takes several weeks to see a noticeable improvement in fat reduction in the treated area.

"Although ultrasound technology is still being tested and its effectiveness is limited to early studies, it offers a unique approach to combating localized fat without invasive surgery," said Dr. Dover. "In time, I think it will be a viable option for people who want to target specific areas of fat, such as belly fat."

Cryolypolysis Freezes Fat Cells to Dissolve Them

Another promising new fat removal technology, cryolypolysis uses an innovative approach of freezing fat cells in order to dissolve them. Dr. Dover explained that since fat cells are more sensitive to cold temperatures than other skin cells, they can be altered more easily when targeted with cold rather than with heat. Currently approved by the FDA for chilling the skin, cryolypolysis is not yet approved for body contouring, body shaping or fat reduction.

Cryolypolysis works by freezing the fat beneath the skin, which causes selective crystallization of lipids in fat cells that slowly dissolve without injuring any surrounding tissues. Since fat cell death occurs gradually, there is no trauma or immediate "bursting" of fat cells that can be caused by methods that use heat to destroy fat cells. For this reason, results are not immediate and fat layer reduction becomes visible gradually over the course of two to six months.

In the first human study that used cryolypolysis to treat 32 subjects with love handles, Dr. Dover (the study's lead investigator) treated love handles on one side of the body with cryolypolysis and used the love handles on the opposite side of the body as the control. Four months after the procedure, the majority of subjects experienced a noticeable change in fat reduction in the treated love handle. In addition, Dr. Dover explained that ultrasound measurements taken on 10 of the 32 subjects showed an average fat layer reduction of 22.4 percent in all of these subjects four months after the procedure.

"Based on our early findings, cryolypolysis is a very exciting new approach for the non-invasive removal of localized fat in the belly, love handles, back and saddle bags of the thighs," said Dr. Dover. "Although this technology is still being developed, I think with further clinical testing cryolypolysis eventually could be expanded for use in other areas prone to excess fat, such as the neck, knees and arms."

As mentioned, results in fat layer reduction with cryolypolysis are not immediate. Side effects are limited to slight discomfort, numbness and redness for an hour or two post-treatment, as well as some change in skin sensation in the treated area for up to two to three weeks.

Dr. Dover further explained that for all of the non-invasive technologies studied to date, the research has not shown that the body's blood lipid profile changed after any of the treatments. "This finding is important, as it suggests that these procedures are safe," said Dr. Dover. "While we're not sure where the dissolved fat goes once it is dissolved, we think it gently goes into the bloodstream and that the body is able to absorb and process it in the liver."

Given the recent expansion of clinical research designed to fine tune these non-invasive fat removal technologies and strong consumer interest in procedures that require little downtime, Dr. Dover estimates that this market will expand and consumer options will increase in the next five years.

Headquartered in Schaumburg, Ill., the American Academy of Dermatology (Academy), founded in 1938, is the largest, most influential, and most representative of all dermatologic associations. With a membership of more than 16,000 physicians worldwide, the Academy is committed to: advancing the diagnosis and medical, surgical and cosmetic treatment of the skin, hair and nails; advocating high standards in clinical practice, education, and research in dermatology; and supporting and enhancing patient care for a lifetime of healthier skin, hair and nails. For more information, contact the Academy at 1-888-462-DERM (3376) or www.aad.org.

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