Health Habits That Can Backfire

Sometimes too much of a good thing is actually pretty bad--especially when it comes to your health. While you certainly don't want to skimp on healthy habits like exercising, sleeping and eating plenty of vitamin-rich food, overdoing any of these can be dangerous. Here's why.

Sleeping Too Much

Of course you want to be well rested, and most of us aren't. But oversleeping has its downsides, too. If you tend to get only six hours during the work week, but sleep nine to 10 hours on Saturday morning, don't be surprised if you wake up with a headache, says Margaret Lewin, MD, clinical assistant professor of medicine at Weill Medical College of Cornell University in New York City and medical director of Cinergy Health. "When you're asleep, you breathe in and out more slowly, so you get rid of less carbon dioxide," she says. When you sleep in on the weekends, carbon dioxide can build up a bit and lead to headaches. You may also wake up with a pounding head if you sleep past the time when you normally have a cup of coffee.

While a headache might be the biggest downside to sleeping in periodically, if you always feel like you need a ton of sleep--or if you feel like you need a lot more than you used to--talk to your doctor. People who get excessive amounts of sleep are more prone to depression, heart disease and even early death, says Dr. Lewin.

Taking Too Many Vitamins

Vitamins--whether they're from food or pills--are essential ingredients your body needs for so many functions. But did you know you can actually "overdose" on them? According to nutritionist Lyssie Lakatos, RD, women need to be cautious about fat-soluble vitamins like A, because they can build up in the body's fat stores. (Extra water-soluble vitamins, like C, are easily excreted in the urine after your body uses what it needs.) (See Choosing a Vitamin Supplement.)

You'll find vitamin A--which is important for vision, reproduction and a strong immune system--in many types of fruits and vegetables, as well as in eggs and milk. The problem is that many foods are also fortified with large amounts of vitamin A, plus it's commonly found in multivitamins. "If you have a serving of vitamin A-fortified cereal with milk, take a multivitamin and eat an egg, you will probably exceed the recommended level for the day," says Lakatos. Do this once in a while and it's not a big deal, but over time the results aren't pretty: Lakatos has seen clients who've had hair and eyebrows falling out, rough skin and cracked lips as a result of an A overdose. One major culprit: energy bars. "Many contain a lot of vitamin A, and some people eat several of them daily." Whenever possible, get your vitamins from whole foods instead of "bars" and consider whether you really need a multivitamin (ask your doc if you're not sure).

Exercising Too Much

True, most Americans are so sedentary that they aren't in any danger of moving too much. But what happens when couch potatoes get inspired to step up their exercise big time? Ouch. "People who are new to exercise are more prone to injuries since they are often excited to start or just want to get it over with,'" says Carly Cummings, a personal trainer and founder of Hyp-Yoga Inc. "The biggest tip I can give to beginner exercisers is to remember that this is a journey that you will continue for the rest of your life, so pick something you really enjoy. If you're forcing yourself to do something and pushing through pain, then injury is more likely to happen."

If you're new to exercise, start slow and always warm up first. Before you try intense activities like running or kickboxing, make sure you're comfortable just walking, then jogging a little, etc. "Building up to a group exercise class is also a good idea. Don't be afraid to go into a class and only stay for the first half," says Cummings.

Using Too Much Hand Sanitizer

Experts say that alcohol-based hand sanitizer can help you stop the spread of germs and avoid getting sick. That's especially important this time of year, when colds and flu are going around. But don't think you can skip the soap and water. "Sanitizer is good if you need to cleanse your hands after getting off the subway or before lunch and you don't have access to a sink," says Dr. Lewin. "But if you use it several times in a row without washing [with soap and water], some of the gel can build up and bacteria will start to stick to it." A good rule: If you've already used sanitizer three times in a row on a given day, get yourself to a sink.

Eating Too Much Fiber

Fiber is great for keeping your digestive system healthy and your blood sugar levels on an even keel. It's also a friend to dieters, since it helps you stay full. But if you're not getting very much right now, you need to slowly work your way up to those recommended 25 grams per day. Otherwise you may find your tummy aching. "Some of our clients have reported flatulence, diarrhea and stomach cramps from eating too much fiber," says nutritionist Tammy Lakatos Shames, RD, who is the coauthor (with twin sister Lyssie) of The Secret to Skinny.

Be especially careful about all those products that have extra fiber added to them. "Companies have been adding isolated fibers like inulin and polydextrose to foods such as Stonyfield Farm yogurt, Weight Watchers cereals and Fibersure fiber supplement, claiming that they are as good as the fiber that's naturally found in whole grains, fruits and vegetables," says Lakatos Shames. "Although there isn't good evidence to support or deny this, inulin may cause gas or other stomach distress, and polydextrose may result in ‘a laxative effect from excessive consumption,' as the packages warn."

Brushing Your Teeth Too Much

We all want to keep those pearly whites sparkly. Good oral health has been linked to a lower incidence of heart disease, stroke and diabetes. But don't scrub too hard or too often, warns Dr. Lewin. "All toothpastes contain small amounts of abrasives [to get rid of stains], and if you use too much you can start wearing away the enamel." And, brushing too vigorously can damage your gums and cause them to recede. She recommends brushing two to three times a day using a pea-sized amount of toothpaste and a toothbrush with soft-medium bristles.

Washing Your Face Too Often

If your skin is oily or acne-prone, you may be tempted to scrub it several times a day. But over-washing can irritate sensitive skin and aggravate conditions like acne. "The goal of washing is to eliminate dirt and bacteria, not to strip the protective layers off your skin," says dermatologist and Woman's Day advisory board member Debra Wattenberg, MD. "For most people, washing your face twice a day with a gentle cleanser is sufficient."

Getting Too Many Medical Tests

You've probably seen ads for heart scans and even full-body CT scans that claim to catch diseases early on. But unless your doctor has recommended a particular test for you, think twice. While most traditional X-rays--like the kind you get at your dentist's office--expose you to minimal amounts of radiation, CT scans are more detailed and therefore expose you to higher levels, which could increase your cancer risk over a lifetime.

"A lot of procedures are done because patients are curious, not because they're medically necessary," says Dr. Lewin. Even if your doctor is the one to suggest a test, there's nothing wrong with asking if you really need it, how much radiation it will expose you to and if there's a lower- (or no-) radiation option worth considering. For example, a regular colonoscopy doesn't expose you to any radiation, but a virtual one does because it uses CT scans (and the prep, which is the worst part, is the same for both types of colonoscopy). (See Colonoscopy or CT Colonography.)

Ten Big Companies That Are Veering Toward Bankruptcy

Despite a few green shoots in the economy and a rocketing stock market, many large companies are still struggling to avoid bankruptcy.

A new report by Audit Integrity identifies some high-profile names "that have the highest probability of declaring bankruptcy among publicly traded firms."

Which companies appear the worst off? We took the list and removed any company with a market cap under $3 billion. We then ranked the remaining names by a simple measure of the market's perceived bankruptcy risk - Market Cap (MC) divided by Enterprise Value (EV). The less MC vs. EV, the less residual shareholders' value (above what debt holders can claim) the market is pricing-in for the company. Thus a lower MC/EV means the market thinks the company is more likely to go bankrupt.

1. Hertz

When you have tons of debt financing your fleet of cars, falling rental demand really hurts.

While the company raised new capital in May for some breathing room, Fitch and Moody’s actually cut their ratings for the company in July.

Ignoring the downgrade, shares kept rallying and are now at over five times the March $2 low. Best of luck.

Market Cap (MC)/Enterprise Value (EV) = 32%

2. Textron

What a tough time to be selling business jets.

Textron wrote down $2.3 billion its backlog this year after it canceled a new jet design, and demand for its other aircraft-related offerings has plummeted.

Shareholders may be heartened by the company’s ability to push back some debt maturities lately, but deteriorating credit quality at the company’s leasing arm makes the outlook uncertain at best.

MC/EV=39%

3. Sprint Nextel

Sprint Nextel is bleeding customers, and could lose as many as 4.4 million net post-paid subscribers this year.

This is a huge problem when you have large amounts of maturing debt over the next few years.

A recent Deutsche Telekom acquisition rumor offered some hope, but that appears to have faded. Facing a difficult road ahead on its own, the company better keep its lawyers on speed-dial.

MC/EV=41%

4. Macy's

Does anyone even shop at department stores anymore?

Same store sales will likely keep falling at Macy’s right through 2009. With $2.4 billion of maturing debt over the next five years, the company is trying to cut costs, and has already reduced its dividend.

Hopefully the US consumer will bounce back soon, and actually want to shop at Macy's.

MC/EV=47%

5. Mylan

In a classic case of management empire building, Mylan overpaid big time when it bought Merck’s generic business back in 2007 and is now stuck with $5 billion of long-term debt as a result.

From 2007 – 2008, the company lost over $1.3 billion very much due to goodwill write-downs.

While the company could earn $300 million this year, they’ll have to earn far more than that in the future to make their debt manageable.

MC/EV=51%

6. Goodyear

Demand for Goodyear tires has sunk, and the company is saddled with massive debt and pension obligations.

It doesn’t help that The United Steelworkers union prevents the company from proper cost control by forcing factories to stay open.

Shareholders have to wonder how much value will be left of the company after bondholders and the union members have their way.

MC/EV=53%

7. CBS

Weak advertising and falling license fees have sent CBS's earnings off a cliff in 2009.

If they remain depressed for too long, the company could have trouble refinancing $3.2 billion of debt coming due over the next five years.

It will really come down to whether or not CBS’s earnings collapse is merely cyclical, or the result of structural trend whereby traditional TV is dying.

As a business blog, we can't help but feel partly guilty here.

MC/EV=55%

8. Advanced Micro Devices

When will AMD actually make money again? The question is becoming more important by the day since it carries over $5 billion in long-term debt.

After losing almost $3 billion from 2007 – 2008, analysts expect the company to lose more money in 2009 and 2010.

While the shares rallied from their February $2 low, they still appear stuck in a long-term down trend from $40 highs way back in 2006.

MC/EV=55%

9. Las Vegas Sands

Las Vegas Sands over-expanded and over-levered in the last few years and now has over $10 billion in debt to deal with.

Despite jumping 13 times from their March low, Las Vegas Sands shares still face an uphill battle.

Conditions in Las Vegas are horrible, Asian expansion isn’t enough, and if this lasts too long then LVS will end up in bankruptcy court looking like it bit off more than it can chew.

MC/EV=60%

10. Interpublic Group

As one of the largest advertising and marketing companies in the world, IPG was slammed by the global recession.

As the company’s CEO said during recent second quarter results, the downturn “is proving steeper and more lasting than expected”.

Revenues have fallen double digits and the company’s exposure to General Motors as its largest client hasn’t helped.

MC/EV=80%

World's oldest person dies in Los Angeles at 115

LOS ANGELES – Although she liked her bacon crispy and her chicken fried, she never drank, smoked or fooled around, Gertrude Baines once said, describing a life that lasted an astonishing 115 years and earned her the title of oldest person on the planet.

It was a title Baines quietly relinquished Friday when she died in her sleep at Western Convalescent Hospital, her home since she gave up living alone at age 107 after breaking a hip.

She likely suffered a heart attack, said her longtime physician, Dr. Charles Witt, although an autopsy was scheduled to determine the exact cause of death.

"I saw her two days ago, and she was just doing fine," Witt told The Associated Press on Friday. "She was in excellent shape. She was mentally alert. She smiled frequently."

Baines was born in Shellman, Ga., on April 6, 1894, when Grover Cleveland was in the White House, radio communication was just being developed and television was still more than a half-century from becoming a ubiquitous household presence.

She was 4 years old when the Spanish-American War broke out and 9 when the first World Series was played. She had already reached middle age by the time the U.S. entered World War II in 1941.

Throughout it all, Baines said last year, it was a life she thoroughly enjoyed.

"I'm glad I'm here. I don't care if I live a hundred more," she said with a hearty laugh after casting her vote for Barack Obama for president. "I enjoy nothing but eating and sleeping."

Her vote for Obama, she added, had helped fulfill a lifelong dream of seeing a black man elected president.

"We all the same, only our skin is dark and theirs is white," said Baines, who was black.

The centenarian, who worked as a maid at Ohio State University dormitories until her retirement, had outlived all of her family members. Her only daughter died of typhoid at age 18.

In her final years, she passed her days watching her favorite TV program, "The Jerry Springer Show," and consuming her favorite foods: bacon, fried chicken and ice cream. She complained often, however, that the bacon served to her was too soft.

"Two days ago, when I saw her, she was talking about the fact that the bacon wasn't crisp enough, that it was soggy," Witt said.

She became the world's oldest person in January when Maria de Jesus died in Portugal at 115.

The title brought with it a spotlight of attention, and Baines was asked frequently about the secret to a long life. She shrugged off such questions, telling people to ask God instead.

"She told me that she owes her longevity to the Lord, that she never did drink, she never did smoke and she never did fool around," Witt said at a party marking her 115th birthday.

At the party, Baines sat quietly, paying little attention as nursing home staffers and residents sang "Happy Birthday" and presented congratulatory notices from Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sen. Dianne Feinstein and others. But she laughed when told the Los Angeles Dodgers had given her a cooler filled with hot dogs.

With Baines' death, 114-year-old Kama Chinen of Japan becomes the world's oldest person, said Dr. L. Stephen Coles of the Gerontology Research Group, which tracks claims of extreme old age. Chinen was born May 10, 1895.

The oldest person who ever lived, Coles said, was Jeanne-Louise Calment, who was 122 when she died Aug. 4, 1997, in Arles, France.

ഇന്റര്‍നെറ്റിന്‌ 40 വയസ്സ്‌

കാലിഫോര്‍ണിയ: ലോകത്തെ ആശയവിനിമയത്തിന്റെ സുപ്രധാനഘടകമായി മാറിയിരിക്കുന്ന ഇന്റര്‍നെറ്റിന്‌ നാല്‍പത്‌ വയസ്സുതികഞ്ഞു.

1969 സെപ്‌റ്റംബര്‍ രണ്ടിന്‌ ലോസ്‌ ആഞ്‌ജലസില്‍ കാലിഫോര്‍ണിയ സര്‍വ്വകലാശാലയിലെ പ്രൊഫസര്‍ ലിയോനാര്‍ഡ്‌ ക്ലിന്റോക്കിന്റെ ലാബിലാണ്‌ ഇന്റര്‍നെറ്റ്‌ എന്ന സങ്കല്‍പം ആദ്യമായി ഉരുത്തിരിഞ്ഞത്‌.

രണ്ട്‌ കമ്പ്യൂട്ടറുകള്‍ 15 അടി നീളമുള്ള കേബിളിലൂടെ ടെസ്റ്റ്‌ ഡാറ്റകള്‍ വിനിമയം ചെയ്യുന്ന പരീക്ഷണമാണ്‌ ഇന്നത്തെ നിലയിലുള്ള ഇന്റര്‍നെറ്റായി വികസിച്ചത്‌.

ഇപ്പോള്‍ ഇന്റര്‍നെറ്റ്‌ എന്ന്‌ നമ്മള്‍ വിളിക്കുന്ന അര്‍പാനെറ്റിന്റെ തുടക്കം അന്നായിരുന്നു. പിന്നീട്‌ സാന്റ്‌ ബാര്‍ബറയിലെ കാലിഫോര്‍ണിയ സര്‍വ്വകലാശാലയും ഉത്താ സര്‍വ്വകലാശാലയും 1969 അവസാനത്തോടെ അര്‍പാനെറ്റ്‌ ശൃംഗലയില്‍ ചേര്‍ന്നു. അങ്ങനെ അങ്ങനെ ആ നെറ്റ്‌ വര്‍ക്ക്‌ വളര്‍ന്നുകൊണ്ടേയിരുന്നു.

1970ലാണ്‌ ഇമെയില്‍ രംഗപ്രവേശം ചെയ്‌തത്‌. പിന്നീട്‌ ഇപ്പോള്‍ വ്യാപകമായി ഉപയോഗിക്കുന്ന ഡോട്ട്‌ കോം, ഡോട്ട്‌ ഓര്‍ഗ്‌ തുടങ്ങിയ ഇന്റര്‍നെറ്റ്‌ അഡ്രസുകളുടെ സംവിധാനം 1980ലാണ്‌ രൂപം കൊണ്ടത്‌.

ബ്രിട്ടീഷ്‌ ഗവേഷകനായ ടിം ബര്‍ണേഴ്‌സ്‌ ലീ രൂപം നല്‍കിയ വേള്‍ഡ്‌ വൈഡ്‌ വെബ്ബ്‌ രംഗത്തെത്തിയതോടെ ഇന്റര്‍നെറ്റ്‌ വിപ്ലവത്തിന്‌ തുടക്കമായി. ഇന്ന്‌ ലോകത്ത്‌ നൂറുകോടിയിലേറെ ആളുകള്‍ ഇന്റര്‍നെറ്റിനെ ഏറ്റവും നല്ല ആശയവിനിമയോപാധിയായി കണക്കാക്കുന്നു.