Whitney Houston drowned after cocaine use, says coroner

Whitney Houston's death was caused by accidental drowning, but drug abuse and heart disease were also factors, a coroner has ruled.

The pop star was laid to rest in her home state of New Jersey after a star-studded funeral

 

Coroner's spokesman Craig Harvey said drug tests indicated the 48-year-old US singer was a chronic cocaine user.

The announcement ends weeks of speculation over the cause of Houston's death.

She was found submerged in the bath of her Los Angeles hotel room on the eve of the Grammy Awards on 11 February.

In a statement, the LA County Coroner's office described Houston's manner of death as an "accident", adding that "no trauma or foul play is suspected".

The cause was cited as drowning and "effects of atherosclerotic heart disease and cocaine use".

Other drugs found in her blood included marijuana, as well as an anti-anxiety drug, a muscle relaxant and an allergy medication.

But these were not factors in her death, the coroner's statement said.

Patricia Houston, the singer's sister-in-law and manager, told the Associated Press news agency: "We are saddened to learn of the toxicology results, although we are glad to now have closure."

The pop star was laid to rest at a cemetery in her home state of New Jersey after a funeral that was attended by celebrities including Oprah Winfrey, Alicia Keys, Mariah Carey and Mary J Blige.

The singer, who was one of the world's best selling artists from the mid-1980s to late 1990s, had a long battle with drug addiction.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-17483997

Mystery Rash May Be Nickel Allergy

Chemical Sensitivity Can Arise Suddenly and Cause Misery 

Special from Bottom Line's Daily Health News
An allergy to nickel can arise seemingly out of nowhere. In my neighbor's case, it was a watch she had loved and worn often for years. Her wrist and arm got red and itchy and started to blister. She thought it was poison ivy, which she was also allergic to, yet her conventional treatments didn't work. It wasn't until a friend mentioned nickel as a possible cause that she tried not wearing the watch -- and the mystery rash abated. She had to retire the watch to her jewelry box and is now careful to avoid all nickel-containing substances. Other people have far worse cases -- rashes that spread and take a longer time to subside. For details on nickel allergy -- why it has become so much more common and what can be done about it, I spoke with Audrey Kunin, MD, the founder and president of DERMAdoctor (www.dermadoctor.com) and coauthor of The DERMAdoctor Skinstruction Manual (Simon & Schuster).

WHY IS NICKEL ALLERGY GETTING MORE COMMON?

Nickel allergy is one of the 10 most common causes of "allergic contact dermatitis" (inflammation, redness and itching brought on by direct contact with an allergen) and more and more people are developing it. Costume jewelry is often made with nickel, but it can be found in pricy gold and silver as well, notes Dr. Kunin. It can be difficult to avoid nickel because you don't always know where it may be lurking -- I'll provide more information on that in a minute.  

Nickel allergies vary widely from one person to the next. Reactions may develop after an initial exposure but more commonly (as for my neighbor) after prolonged or repeated exposure to nickel. Once the sensitivity has developed, people may experience tingling and itching within minutes of contact with nickel, followed by a rash in the area a day or two later. Bumps and blistering may also develop.  

Dr. Kunin says the reason behind the dramatic increase in the number of people with nickel allergy is that piercing -- ears, noses, belly buttons and what-have-you -- has become so popular. In one study, only 1% of schoolgirls who had no piercings had nickel allergies... while 13% of those with piercings had developed a nickel allergy. It even arises among the very traditional women who just pierce their ears, one hole on each side, since the allergy is triggered by nickel in the piercing-post. Though the sensitivity can develop from other sources, nickel allergies more easily arise with a fresh piercing because the open wound allows the metal to leach directly into the bloodstream over the several days it takes to heal, says Dr. Kunin. Though nickel allergies affect more women (as many as 15% to 30%, by some estimates) than men, it's not just a girl thing -- men get it too. Plus, Dr. Kunin says, some people who are allergic to nickel will also react to chromium and cobalt dyes (green and blue dyes) commonly used in tattoo ink. 

NOT SO EASY TO AVOID NICKEL  

While there's no cure for nickel allergy, most cases are fairly mild and the best strategy is simply to avoid contact. Here is a list of items that commonly include nickel...

 ·  Costume jewelry (rings, earrings, bracelets, necklaces, etc.)·   Belt buckles ·   Zippers, snaps, clasps and other clothing fasteners ·   Watchbands ·   Eyeglass frames ·   Buttons ·   Paper clips ·   Pens ·   Keys ·   Tools ·   Coins ·   Certain eye creams ·   Cigarette smoke 

Orthodontia are not usually problematic, though in extremely rare cases sensitive people may react to nickel in stainless steel wires and brackets used in dentistry,says Dr. Kunin. She reassured me, though, that dental fillings, surgical staples, wires and orthopedic implants are not on the list of potential nickel allergy culprits. Since such allergies can worsen, sometimes (though only very rarely) leading to anaphylactoid reaction, people who are nickel-allergic should make sure their physician is aware of the problem prior to any treatment or procedure. 

WHEN NICKEL ALLERGY IS SEVERE

A very small percentage of people who are nickel-allergic suffer from a severe form in which they may develop not only a local reaction, but a painful and itchy rash over most of the body. Some benefit from adhering to a nickel-free diet, says Dr. Kunin.Foods that contain nickel include....

·   Chocolate ·   Potatoes ·   Salmon ·   Nuts and legumes ·   Canned fruits and vegetables  

Tap water can also contain nickel, according to Dr. Kunin, but for the average individual who is allergic to nickel, this should not pose a problem. However since nickel levels are higher in hot water than in cold, terribly sensitive people should keep temperatures moderate for showering and bathing, she notes, because in theory they could react to it. Running the water for five minutes to flush out impurities (the source of the nickel comes from the plumbing) may also help.  

MORE HELPFUL TIPS

Here are some other ideas that might be of use to people with nickel allergy...

 ·   A helpful product to have on hand is Nickel Solution Detect & Protect ($25), which is a kit that includes both a product to detect nickel and a product that creates a barrier between jewelry and skin. DERMAdoctor carries it, as do some specialty drugstores. You can also search for allergy products on-line.

·   Avoid nickel pierced jewelry! Use hypoallergenic, stainless steel, medical titanium or medical plastic backs. For posts, Blomdahl Medical carries titanium and medical plastic versions that are ideal for anyone with this concern. 
·   To salvage jewelry that is valuable to you, even if only because of a sentimental connection, consider having it professionally electroplated with gold. This will keep nickel particles from coming into direct contact with your skin. Electroplating deposits a very thin coating of a very pure form of gold to help provide a barrier against the nickel particles. Be aware, however, they remain present deeper in the jewelry... and the electroplating will eventually wear away and need to be redone.  

·  Keep cool and dry, especially those parts of your body that come into contact with metal. Perspiration can aggravate nickel contact dermatitis by leaching nickel particles from metal.  

According to Daily Health News contributing editor Andrew L. Rubman, ND, it can be helpful to consult with an ND or other qualified professional who uses natural medicine to improve resistance to the challenge of certain metal exposures, including nickel. The sooner the better though, as the sensitivity increases and the reactions become more severe, the problem gets harder to treat. Typical strategies might include use of antioxidants (with vitamins A, C, E, Zinc, Selenium)... omega-3 supplementation... and avoiding fried foods and foods containing trans fats, all of which can reduce the intensity and frequency of reactions by increasing tissue concentration of natural anti-inflammatory substances. 

As with all allergies, the best solution is to do all you can to avoid what brings on symptoms. For most people with nickel allergy, that's easy -- as much as you may like the jewelry, the rash that accompanies it is both ugly and uncomfortable. That's a higher price than anyone ought to pay for adornment.

First Printed: October 18, 2007

Audrey Kunin, MD, the founder and president of DERMAdoctor, and coauthor of The DERMAdoctor Skinstruction Manual (Simon & Schuster). Visit her Web site atwww.dermadoctor.com.

Reprinted with the permission of:
Bottom Line/Daily Health News
Boardroom, Inc.
281 Tresser Blvd., 8th Floor
Stamford, CT 06901www.BottomLineSecrets.com

For more information about nickel allergy or Nickel Solution visitwww.athenaallergy.com

http://www.athenaallergy.com/pages/nickel_allergy_bottom_line.html

Satiereal and Saffron Safety Information

Saffron is a very safe spice. Annually, over 200 tons are produced worldwide, primarily in the Mediterannean region.  According European Food Science Agency experts, saffron is not a source of any safety concerns.  So the source of Safranal is well-tested and verified for human safety.  Moreover, an analysis of over 500 allergy studies against various spices found that saffron allergy is extremely rare.  In an evaluation of saffron stigma tablets, testing up to 400mg daily of an aqueous extract saffron crocus stigma over 7 days in healthy volunteers, no clinically significant changes occurred in blood or biological markers.  This result is confirmed by a current publication-pending 8-week human clinical study.

The levels of saffron constituents in Satiereal are safe for human consumption, and the Satiereal Formulation has been tested in the laboratory and in human studies to confirm its safety.   Results of a recent human clinical and laboratory safety study over 8 weeks of supplementation showed it to be well-tolerated with no safety concerns.   This study measured blood sugar and blood fat levels, markers of normal liver and kidney functions, as well as urine laboratory checks.  There were no significant differences between volunteers taking Satiereal and placebo.

Vital signs (blood pressure and heart rate) remained unchanged in both groups at the end of study as compared to baseline. Moreover, there were no changes in clinical biology parameters assessed at baseline and after the study.  Additionally, no significant adverse effect has been reported during the complementary clinical study that is currently in process.

While saffron is a very safe spice, and can easily be identified, sometimes the inexperienced mistake the autumn crocuses of the genus Colchicum for saffron crocuses.  The autumn crocus is extremely poisonous, so never try to prepare saffron from your garden crocuses!  Stick with saffron from culinary suppliers, and to obtain the weight loss benefits of saffron, choose Satiereal, which is standardized to the medicinally relevant  levelof safranal .

http://slimmingfacts.org/satiereal/safety/

Why Laughter is the Best Medicine

ByMatthew D. Della Porta

Tickle your funnybone for stronger relationships, a happier mood and better health.

Laughter is a bold declaration of happiness.

We’re all familiar with its contagious effect, and attempts to stifle it often result in uncontrollable giggles. Professional comedians claim that there is humor to be found in virtually any situation, given enough time. We all know that laughing feels good, but what impact does it have on our daily wellbeing? Let’s turn to the research to find out.

Thinkstock

Recent studies suggest that laughter enhances the quality of romantic relationships. One experiment found that couples instructed to reminisce about occasions where they laughed together reported being more satisfied with their relationships, compared to couples that remembered times when they laughed apart from one another or times when they shared positive (but not funny) experiences¹.

Interestingly, the occasions on which couples laughed together were not always positive. This suggests that the ability to laugh about neutral or even negative experiences together enhances relationship satisfaction, which is highly related to feeling happy.

How can you make this work for your relationship? Next time you and your significant other are caught in traffic or dine at a mediocre restaurant, help each other find the humor in the situation.

Each time you do this, you create one more memory for the both of you to fondly remember.

Research also indicates that laughter is powerful enough to enhance our physical health. A recent experiment found that mothers who watched and laughed at a Charlie Chaplin movie, “Modern Times,” had higher levels of melatonin in their breast milk, which helped reduce allergic responses and promoted better sleep in their infant children. Another group of mothers that watched a video about weather information did not experience this change².

Another experiment revealed that women who watched a humorous movie reported lower stress levels and experienced greater immune system functionality, relative to a control group that watched a tourism video³. Finally, laughing has been associated with decreased levels of prorenin in the blood, which is involved in the onset of diabetic complications⁴.

Laughter may not be the best medicine, but it does seem to have a legitimate medicinal value.

Do you need to laugh more often? Having a lot of responsibilities can make life seem somber and boring. It’s been months since I’ve had a good chuckle paying bills or taking out the garbage! Here are a few tips on how to keep the laughs coming amidst the daily drudgery of life:

• Stand-up comedy. This art form has entertained the masses for decades. Choose a comedian that’s relatable and not offensive to you. Jerry Seinfeld and Bill Cosby, two all-time greats, have clean acts and are truly funny. Listen to their albums or search for them on YouTube. If you’re lucky, you might even catch them on tour.

• Surround yourself with funny people. Determine whether you habitually spend time with others who tend to talk about grim matters. There’s a time and a place for such discussions, but more often than not, hang out with a friend or family member who keeps things light-hearted and makes you laugh.

• Amuse yourself. Consider this wise adage: “Blessed are we who laugh at ourselves, for we will never cease to be amused.” As we mature, it’s easy to take life far too seriously. Whenever you have a moment alone, get in the habit of laughing out loud. Don’t be shy; nobody can hear you! Think of something amusing you saw or heard earlier in the day or imagine a scene from your favorite comedic movie. Whatever it takes to make you laugh, do it! You’ll be glad you took a break from your usual worries.

People often dismiss laughter as a youthful tendency that fades with time. I wholeheartedly disagree with this assumption. Having a good laugh is not just an occasional pleasant experience—it can become a way of life and should be a high priority on any given day.

Indeed, humor has a powerful and unique ability to overshadow virtually any other emotion, even when we feel frightened or sad.  Whether or not you consider yourself “funny,” focus on finding ways to laugh heartily and frequently. You may find that laughter and happiness are a natural pair.

http://www.youbeauty.com/mind/columns/cloud-nine/why-laughter-is-the-best-medicine