FitSugar

Are You Up to Date on All Your Shots? What You Need to Know

Leta Shy — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 17:20:01 PST

While February is the month when most people get the flu, hopefully you've already gotten your annual flu shot. But what about the rest of the lesser-known recommended vaccines for adults?

Recently I was surprised when during a routine appointment my doctor told me that because of a recent whooping cough outbreak I should get a Tdap shot, which also contains the booster doses for tetanus and diphtheria. I never think about nonflu vaccines very much, so I probably wouldn't have known that people my age needed one if she hadn't said anything.

I'm sure many of you are the same. In fact, adult vaccinations are so much lower than they should be that a recent CDC study found that most clinics don't even stock all the required vaccines for adults. But, actually, the CDC recommends that we get certain vaccinations long after we turn 18.

Want to know which vaccines you may need to get? Read on to see if you're up to date on your shots.

Hate Shots? Say Goodbye to the Needle

FitSugar — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 03:00:00 PDT

I don't know anyone who likes getting a shot, but I've got some good news to share with anyone who is needle phobic. In the future, you may not have to worry about the painful prick of vaccinations since a Japanese inventor recently created a needle-free injection. Instead of a sharp metal point, this injection method uses air pressure or gases to deliver the drugs. Aside from being fear inducing, needles are less than an optimal method because not only do they hurt; they also create a ton of medical waste. Also, needles are sometimes reused in developing countries, which increases the risk for diseases to spread.

This new injection method will be simpler to use than conventional shots, will cut down on medical waste, and prevent the spread of disease. Seems like a win, win, win situation to me. Plus it has a much nicer name - Mother's Kiss. Sounds a lot more appealing than "shot," don't you think.

America's Drunkards Got Talent!

GiggleSugar — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 07:00:00 PDT

The problem with downing a shot of hard alcohol is that the "fun drinking part" is over before it even begins. So our completely sober friend here has devised a way to stall the sweet swig of vodka and impress the dudes while she's at it. It's a fun act, but I'd much rather guzzle down the goods and then roll around on the floor.

How Does Novocaine Work?

FitSugar — Fri, 11 May 2007 07:30:00 PDT

When I have a cavity filled all I can say is praise to the Novocaine. When my dad was little, his dentist didn't use local anesthetics, and my poor dad had to sit in the chair knowing he was in for a whole lot of pain. My jaw hurts just thinking about it.

I just learned that prior to the invention of Novocaine, cocaine was used as a local anesthetic. Cocaine constricts blood cells, which reduces bleeding, but as we all know it's also highly addictive.

In the early 1900's scientists created a synthetic version of cocaine, but without the nasty side effects, and christened it Procaine. We know it by its trade name Novocaine, and I have no idea why my dad's dentist didn't use it since it was definitely available to the masses when he was a boy. Since its development, stronger local anesthetics have come along like Lidocaine, Septacaine, and Mepivocaine (most dentists still call the shot "Novocaine" though, so ask what they specifically use if you're interested).

These injectable local anesthetics prevent pain in a specific area by blocking the nerves that sense or transmit pain, so the area feels numb for up to 3-4 hours.

All I can say is that even though the shot stinks and can really pinch your gum (and make your mouth really sore for days after), it's still way better than how much it would hurt with NO shot at all.

Fit's Tip: Ask your dentist to apply a topical anesthesia to your gums to numb the area before the Novocaine shot. It makes getting a cavity filled just a little bit easier to bare.

Source

Jennifer Aniston Rocks a Bra For a GQ Shoot With Paul Rudd

Katie Henry — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 11:36:53 PST

Jennifer Aniston wore a bra and a skirt to cover the March issue of GQ with her Wanderlust costar Paul Rudd. The issue, which is out on newsstands Feb. 21, was shot by Jen's pal Terry Richardson - see all the pictures of Jennifer Aniston in GQ. Jen and Paul's romantic comedy hits theaters on Feb. 24, though Jen, Paul, and her real-life love Justin Theroux will be side by side for Thursday's LA premiere. Jen and Paul chatted about their film in the accompanying interview, and she also addressed the joys of aging, not being pregnant, and how to make a marriage work. Here are highlights:

Jen on pregnancy rumors: "I’m not having triplets. Not having twins. Nor am I having one baby. [lifts up sweater and gestures to belly; it appears flat] I did not elope . . . You heard it here. I’m not knocked up now."
Jen on marriage: "It’s a growing, literally living thing. There’s going to be growing pains, there’s going to be awkward moments - your lanky phase, your pimpled phase. I think that’s the beauty of a relationship. But if the road starts to [Paul jumps in to say, "diverge"] and one person is growing this way and the other is growing that way . . . Sometimes that can happen and you can stay together, and sometimes you can’t."
On her 40s: "Forty’s great!! . . . Oh, my God, my thirties blew! Forties are great."

Whitney Houston Funeral Plans

Allie Merriam — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 08:52:14 PST

Whitney Houston will be laid to rest in Newark - People
Does Gary Oldman have a shot at the Oscars? - Lainey Gossip
What's Oprah's latest controversy? - HuffPost Entertainment
See Ashanti's out-there look - TooFab
5 things you don't know about Kate Upton - Us Weekly
Are these your 12 favorite Grammy moments? - The Daily Beast
The best of Adele's 60 Minutes interview - BuzzFeed
Could Nicolas Cage top the box office? - Rotten Tomatoes
Katharine McPhee on life after American Idol - Wonderwall
Courteney Cox suggests new names for Cougar Town - Lifeline Live
Check out Taylor Swift's new video - Zap2It
A field guide to Grammy winner Bon Iver - The Frisky
Tax problems for Lindsay Lohan? - Celebitchy

See SI Swimsuit Issue Cover Girl Kate Upton's Bikini Shoot!

Allie Merriam — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 06:41:33 PST

Kate Upton is the cover girl of this year's Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue! Her honor was revealed last night on the Late Show in NYC, where Kate spoke with host David Letterman about nabbing the front of the annual magazine. Kate's the latest in a long line of two-piece-clad models to claim the title - click through to see her bikini shots, and make sure to check out all the Sports Illustrated bikini pictures.

A Few of My Favorite Things: New Orleans and Beyond

OnSugar Blog — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 15:07:26 PST

Get ready for your mouth to water. Food Orleans invites us to share some of her favorite iPhone food photos from New Orleans and beyond.

I've been cleaning out my iPhone photo roll and came across some great shots that made me swoon, laugh, and shake my head at how good this stuff was. This year I got to go to my first LSU game in Baton Rouge, and although I probably lost a small percentage of my hearing, I had a great time. And the jambalaya was great! We're also enjoying some shucking-good oysters these days. Come visit!

Creole Creamery: knock your flip-flops off good!

a fried-potato omelette from Camellia Grill (Riverbend). I think this should be on everyone's to-eat list.

For more, keep reading.

Adele Strikes a Pose For Vogue's March Issue

Chi Diem Chau — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 10:08:21 PST

Last night, Adele raked in six amazing Grammy awards including the win for best album of the year for 21. With millions of fans behind her back, the golden girl, recently recovered from throat surgery, shows no signs of slowing down. Vogue just added more fuel to the fire with the unveiling of Adele as its March cover girl, shot by Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott. With perfect wing-tipped eyes and sexy, voluminous waves, Adele emoted superstar status wearing a gorgeous citron and black lace dress from Oscar de la Renta, leather opera-length gloves, and strapped sandals. Read below to hear what Adele has to say about her love for Beyoncé, making red-carpet appearances, and her loud personality. Then, visit Vogue.com to see the whole story unfold.

On Beyoncé: "She's been a huge and constant part of my life as an artist since I was about ten or eleven. I love how all of her songs are about empowerment. Even when she's married and Jay-Z put a ring on it, she releases 'Single Ladies.' Go get yours. Go get what you deserve. I think she's really inspiring. She's beautiful. She's ridiculously talented, and she is one of the kindest people I've ever met."

On making red-carpet appearances:: "I hate the red carpet. I don't feel insecure, I just feel like, Oh, I don't want to do this. I literally get a stomach cramp."

On her personality: "I am quite loud and bolshie. I'm a big personality. I walk into a room, big and tall and loud."

Photos courtesy of Vogue

Tom and Katie Treat Suri and Connor to a Sunday Night Dinner

Allie Merriam — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 06:45:14 PST

Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes took their children Suri and Connor out to dinner in LA last night. They skipped out on all the happenings at the Grammys, instead choosing to focus on family over a meal at Bouchon Bakery. Tom's home in LA again after finishing up work on One Shot. He's now gearing up to shoot We Mortals Are with director Doug Liman. Another of Tom's projects, Oblivion, is moving forward with production as well, having added Morgan Freeman to the cast. This will be a big month for the Cruise-Holmes clan. Katie and Tom, one of Hollywood's cutest couples, are looking forward to their latest Valentine's Day together tomorrow. He's also gearing up for a return to the Oscars, where he'll be a presenter, on Feb. 26.