UC Berkeley Wellness Letter.com

About your editor…
JOHN EDWARD SWARTZBERG, M.D., F.A.C.P. is the Chair of the Editorial Board of the University of California, Berkeley Wellness Letter and co-author of the Complete Home Wellness Handbook. An internist and a specialist in infectious disease, with over 30 years of clinical experience, he is Clinical Professor of Medicine at UC Berkeley and UC San Francisco and Director of the UCB-UCSF Joint Medical Program in the Division of Health and Medical Sciences at Berkeley’s School of Public Health.

JOYCE C. LASHOF, M.D., F.A.C.P., is former Dean and Professor Emeritus of Public Health in the School of Public Health at the University of California, Berkeley and the Associate Chair of the Wellness Letter Editorial Board. A member of the Institute of Medicine, she has served as President of the American Public Health Association and Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health Programs and Population Affairs, U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare.

About the publisher…

Founded in 1984, the Wellness Letter has more than 225,000 subscribers in the U.S. and Canada, plus thousands of readers of its foreign-language editions. It has been rated No. 1 by U.S. News & World Report, Baltimore Sun, Money Magazine, and the Washington Post for its "brisk," "reasoned" coverage of health issues.

The Wellness Letter relies on the expertise of the School of Public Health faculty and other researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, as well as top scientists from around the world. It translates this leading-edge research into practical advice for daily living—at home, at work, while exercising, and in the market or health-food store.

Rather than simply reporting quick health stories of the day, the Wellness Letter puts the news in perspective and evaluates it. In particular, it clarifies the often conflicting and superficial health information presented by the popular media. It doesn't promote faddish diets or other anecdote-based regimens. Nor does it simply repeat conventional medical advice from mainstream health organizations or pharmaceutical companies.

Founded in 1868, the University of California, Berkeley was recognized by the American Council on Education as "the best balanced distinguished university in the country." Nobel Prizes in science, literature, and economics have been awarded to 20 members of the Berkeley faculty. Berkeley is consistently rated as the country’s #1 public university by U.S. News and World Report in its "America’s Best Colleges."

The campus is recognized as a leading research center in chemistry, biology, and many other scientific fields. The discovery of vitamin E, the isolation of the human polio virus, and the discovery of new chemical elements are among the many accomplishments at Berkeley.


Our Board of Advisors

Joyce C. Lashof, M.D.
Professor Emerita and former dean, Public Health

Lily Chaput, M.D., M.P.H.
California Department of Health Services

Diane Driver, Ph.D.
UC Resource Center on Aging

Lois Swirsky Gold, Ph.D.
Director, Carcinogenic Potency Project

Janet C. King, Ph.D.
Professor Emeritus, Nutritional Sciences

Ronald M. Krauss, M.D.
Adjunct Professor, Nutritional Sciences

Guy Micco, M.D.
Clinical Professor, UCB/UCSF
Joint Medical Program

William A. Pereira, M.D., M.P.H.
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

James P. Seward, Ph.D., M.P.P.
Clinical Professor, Public Health

Stephen Shortell, Ph.D., M.P.H.
Dean, School of Public Health

Kirk R. Smith, Ph.D.
Professor, Environmental Health Sciences

Craig Steinmaus, M.D., M.P.H.
Associate Adjunct Professor, Public Health

S. Leonard Syme, Ph.D.
Professor Emeritus, Epidemiology

 
 

 


The editors of the University of California, Berkeley Wellness Letter reveal…

How Women Nationwide Are Feeling Better, Getting Fitter, and Staying Healthier

If you want to live a long life without getting sick or becoming infirm, there has never been a better time in human history to be a woman than today…

Our new report reveals how you can achieve optimal health … reduce your risk of heart attack, breast cancer, stroke, and other illness … and stay active and energetic — while feeling 5 … 10 … even 20 years younger!

For a risk-free 30-day preview copy of this vital research report on women’s health, just click here now.

Dear Reader:

To your grandmother — and others of her generation — getting older was a thing to fear.

They risked broken bones any time they fell … their skin became wrinkled and covered with “liver spots” … their eye sight dimmed … hearing diminished … and many lost their lives to lung cancer, breast cancer, diabetes, and other serious illnesses.

But thanks to incredible breakthroughs in medical treatments, pharmaceuticals, early detection diagnostic tests, and nutrition, the outlook is considerably rosier for women today:

Although heart disease remains the number one killer of both men and women in the United States, there are now simple things you can do at home to lower your risk of cardiac illness by as much as 50%.

In 2007, the FDA approved a new vaccine that prevents women from becoming infected with the human papilloma virus. And clinical trials have proven that the vaccine does in fact protect most women from cervical cancer.

Although breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women, the mortality rates from breast cancer have declined steadily for nearly two decades, most notably among women under age 50. Among the factors credited for this drop: increased use of mammograms and improved methods of treatment.

As a result, despite the negative bias of today’s news media and its frequent health scares — high cholesterol, cancer, heart attack, AIDS — women are living longer … staying healthier … and enjoying more productive lives than ever before.

For instance, the average woman today has a lifespan of 83 years. By comparison, a woman born in the early 1900s had an average lifespan of only 47 years — dying before her fiftieth birthday.

And there’s more good news almost every month — from innovative ways to maintain bone density in your senior years to reviving lost sex drive in menopausal women. In fact, there are so many more health options for women today than when your grandma was a girl, the choices are almost bewildering.

From Oprah to women’s magazines, to the Internet and the bookstore, there’s no shortage of news and information on women’s health. But how do you sort through it, so you can make more informed decisions about your own diet, exercise, treatment, and medications?

Fortunately, there’s a new, authoritative, and up-to-date resource — from one of the world’s most respected public health institutions — you can turn to for evidence-based guidance on how women can live longer, more active, and healthier lives. And you may preview it absolutely risk-FREE in the privacy of your home….

Introducing the new 2008
Women’s Health Wellness Report

With thousands of books … articles … Web sites … magazines … and clinical studies published every day, no single person can keep up with all of the new developments in women’s health. It would be a full-time job — and I’m guessing you already have too much to do.

Also, unless you’re an M.D. yourself, do you really have the background to separate the good science from the hype in modern medicine today?

That’s where the Wellness Report series from the University of California, Berkeley Wellness Letter can help save you time and money while living longer with optimal health and wellness.

Our editorial advisors, all M.D.s or Ph.D.s with impressive credentials in their specialties, conduct exhaustive searches of the medical literature on a particular topic — in this case, breakthroughs in women’s health.

They then review the research to ensure that it’s based on scientifically sound methods … and to confirm the accuracy and reliability of the findings.

Next, our editors painstakingly convert medical jargon, formulas, and statistics into clear, plain English. I know you’ll find it fascinating reading — and useful.

Here’s a sampling of what you’ll discover in our just published UC Berkeley Women’s Health 2008 Wellness Report:

Your chest hurts, your left arm is numb, and you think you may be having a heart attack. Reach into your medicine cabinet, chew, and swallow one of these pills — but don’t wash it down with water. Page 29.

3 crucial nutrients every woman should be aware of. Calcium is the first, iron is the second. Care to guess what the third is? Page 8.
Which restores sex drive faster and more effectively in women -- testosterone or estrogen? Some shocking news on page 50.

Vaginal dryness ruining your sex life? It need not, and here’s how you can bring excitement, passion, and love back to the bedroom while making sex pleasurable instead of painful. Page 43.

The most dangerous vitamin for women to take as a dietary supplement. You can get all you need from these delicious foods instead. Page 40.

You’re a woman in her 50s with blood pressure of 125 over 82. Are you normal … or should your doctor put you on medication for hypertension? Page 28.

8 steps you can take to decrease your chances of getting vaginal infections, itching, and burning. Page 59.

How to live a healthy, active, and productive life at 55 … 65 … 75 … and beyond. Page 3.

5 ways to make your post-menopausal years your happiest and healthiest ever. Page 46.

Hormone therapy (HT) increases risk of heart attack in women in their 50s, right? Wrong … but here’s why you should avoid HT anyway. Page 32.

Your husband keeps Viagra in his nightstand. Can popping one of these blue pills help increase your arousal as much as it does his? Page 52.

10 ways to protect yourself from AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases. Page 54.

You work all day at a demanding job — which is followed by a second demanding job taking care of your home and family. Is this stress bad for your heart? Answer on page 33.

4 ways to get rid of yeast infections — without a doctor’s prescription. Page 58.

How to get rid of hot flashes during menopause without risky hormone therapy. Plus: the shocking truth about black cohosh. Starts on page 44.

Warning: don’t take another soy supplement until you read this urgent warning — especially if you’re pregnant or planning on becoming so. Page 17.

Hidden health danger in lamb skin condoms. Save your life by insisting your lover uses latex instead. Page 54.

Some news reports say women should get mammograms less frequently. Good advice … or pure hogwash? Page 14.

Taking calcium to maintain bone density? Check your medicine chest for these 2 types of medications that block calcium absorption. Page 39.

Why women don’t get tested for cancer nearly as often — or thoroughly — as they should be. Page 4.

Had the new vaccine for prevent cervical cancer? Here’s why you still need a Pap smear anyway. Page 18.

8 simple steps toward preventing heart disease, diabetes, and many other serious illnesses. Page 5.

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You’re looking for a natural alternative to statin drugs to control cholesterol. You can take niacin or red yeast extracts without a doctor’s prescription — but here’s why you should not. Page 30.

This disease occurs mostly in females — and kills 11 times more American women a year than breast cancer. Strategies for keeping it at bay start on page 26.

Straight talk about cancer risks — and surprising anti-cancer benefits — of long-term use of oral contraceptives. Page 19.

Why 44 million Americans have thinning bones … and how to avoid becoming one of them. Plus: 11 health factors that put you at greater risk for osteoporosis. Starts on page 34.

A surprisingly accurate 7-step medical test tells you whether you’re at risk for heart attack. Page 31.

So are carbs bad for you … or good for you? At last, here’s the answer. Page 5.

You smoke and your husband smokes. Here’s why you’re nearly twice as likely to develop lung cancer as he is — even if you both smoke the same number of packs per week. Page 23.

The 4 early warning signs of ovarian cancer. If you have even one for more than 2 weeks, see your gynecologist right away. Page 20.

10 medical tests every woman over 45 must absolutely have. Don’t leave your doctor’s office until they’re scheduled for you. Page 6.

Start this diet today, and stay out of the cardiac care unit tomorrow. Page 29.

Can a low-fat diet rob your body of healthful HDL “good” cholesterol? The answer may shock you. Page 8.

7 ways you can avoid getting cancer throughout your lifetime. Page 25.

Why Japanese women have much lower rates of breast cancer than American women. Page 16.

9 vaccines every adult woman should have. Have your doctor’s office check your records. If you’re missing even one, make an appointment to get vaccinated immediately. Page 9.

How to get all the exercise you will ever need in just an hour a week. Page 9.

Lung cancer among women has doubled since 1973. Here’s an easy way to dramatically lower your risk. Page 10.

How to reduce your risk of breast cancer by having sex with your partner — and even having a cocktail to get in the mood. Page 12.

14 essential vitamins and minerals that help build strong bones 14 ways. Page 38.

Women should begin having annual mammograms at age (a) 40 (b) 50 (c) 60? Answer on page 15.

And so much more.

The best bargain in women’s health care today

The U.S. Department of Health reports that among the 91% of American women who see health care professionals, the average annual expenditure for health care is $3,219 per person. Even a routine consultation at your doctor’s office could easily cost $50 or more for a 10-minute visit.

But now, benefitting from today’s latest research breakthroughs in women’s health care won’t cost you $3,200 … or $300 … or even $50.

That’s because the University of California, Berkeley’s Women’s Health 2008 Report is just $19.95 — less than you’d spend to take a friend out to dinner tonight.

And that’s what our new report costs only if you agree that it’s the most important — and valuable — women’s health guide you read this year.

If you don’t, it will cost you absolutely nothing, because you can…

…preview the women’s health report absolutely
risk-free in the privacy of your home for 30 days

As soon as we hear from you, we’ll rush a copy of our just-published 2008 women’s health report for your review.

When your copy of Women’s Health 2008 arrives, examine it carefully. Read through the studies. Examine the facts, figures, numbers, and guidelines.

Discuss them with your doctor. Put them to the test.

Then, you decide.

If you are not 100% satisfied with our new women’s health report for any reason … or for no reason at all …simply return it within 30 days, rip up our invoice, and owe us not a cent.

That way, you risk nothing.

Keeps you on the leading edge of women’s health

Great strides are being made all the time in women’s health.

Yet obstacles to living a full, healthy, and energetic life still remain:

345,000 women suffer a heart attack each year — and heart disease remains the #1 killer of women in America.

One in every 57 American women is diagnosed with ovarian cancer.

178,480 new cases of breast cancer were diagnosed last year.

8 million American women suffer from osteoporosis.

Up to six out of ten women suffer from PMS.

43% of American women report loss of libido or other feeling of sexual inadequacy.

As many as one in five women who give birth get post partum depression.

More than half of American women have high cholesterol.

New vaccines … prescription drugs … dietary supplements … hormone treatments … medical procedures … medical tests … and lifestyle changes are being found effective for early detection and treatment of everything from Alzheimer’s to psoriasis.

But as a woman, you can’t wait around for your doctors — even your gynecologist — to ferret it out for you. There’s just too much medical information being created for even the best health care practitioner to keep up with all of it.

But at the University of California, Berkeley, we have a staff of dedicated physicians and medical editors whose job is to keep abreast of the important developments in women’s health care … and alert you, in our annual Wellness Reports, to the ones that can really make a difference in your life.

That way, when it comes to taking care of yourself, you don’t miss a trick.

So what are you waiting for?

To request your FREE 30-day Preview of the UC Berkeley Wellness Report: Women’s Health 2008 … without commitment or obligation of any kind … just click below now:

FREE 30-Day Preview

Send no money now. We will bill you later.


Sincerely,


Stuart Jordan,
Publisher, Wellness Reports

P.S. To keep you up to date on the cutting edge of health and medical issues, we offer an annual update service to our readers.

That way, your Wellness Report on women’s health is always current, never out of date. Click below to find out more:

FREE 30-Day Preview

 

 

© 2008 Health Letter Associates