The stress of being a busy media star with MSNBC and a history of competitive sports injuries may have taken a toll on Rachel Maddow’s low back.

Rachel Maddow Tweet …
Bad things come in 3s, right? So far in the last 24 hrs, I got a ticket & have thrown out my back. Cowering in fear of bad thing #3.

According to an article from SFGate (Sept. 11, 2008), Rachel Maddow, 36, is 5′ 11″ tall and was a competitive three-sport athlete. She participated in volleyball, basketball and the swim team at Castro Valley High School. She was “the sort of intense player who was frequently injured diving for balls.”

When Valerie Bertinelli first started a diet program with Jenny Craig in 2007, she weighed 172 pounds. After a nine month diet and training program, Valerie dropped her weight to 132 pounds. She began exercising 10,000 steps per day before hiring a personal trainer in December.

Workout Details …
Valerie Bertinelli worked out four to five days per week, 60-minutes per workout. She followed a two-category approach: cardio and strength training.

Cardio:
Treadmill 30-45 minutes
Some days she rotated 5-minute warm-up run, 5-minute strength exercises, and back to the 5-minute run.

Strength Training (Progressive Resistance Exercise):
Resistance bands and weights
Dips, 25 reps
Push-ups, 20 reps
Squats, 30 reps
Sit-up, 100 reps
Step-ups

Bertinelli says “this is just the beginning of the journey.”

Valerie Bertinelli is a spokesperson for Jenny Craig weight-loss program. She reportedly lost more than 40 pounds on the plan.

Bertinelli’s results have been featured on People, “The Today Show”, FOXNews, and more. She’s scheduled to appear on Oprah on April 1, 2009.

On Monday March 16, 2009 Natasha Richardson, 45, was taking a ski lesson without a helmet (she declined the offer to wear a helmet) on a beginner slope at the Mont Tremblant ski resort north of Montreal, with an instructor. Toward the end of the lesson, Richardson fell and struck her head and the ski instructor called the ski patrol for assistance. She was alert and conversational afterward, even joking about her fall, and did not complain of any ill effects. One hour later, in her hotel room, she developed a severe headache.

Ambulance dispatch records obtained by the New York Times show that Richardson was not hospitalized until almost four hours after suffering the brain injury that ultimately killed her — three hours after developing symptoms.

Yves Coderre, director of operations for Ambulances Radisson, which provided the emergency transport for Natasha Richardson, had told the Toronto Globe and Mail that when paramedics initially arrived 1 p.m. at the Mont Tremblant resort, they were told they were not needed. As they were turned away, paramedics did observe from a distance that Natasha Richardson was sitting on a stretcher at the resort.

The next request for the ambulance for Natasha Richardson, still conscious, came at about 3:00 p.m. followed by a reported “enroute hospital” time of 3:42 p.m. to Centre Hospitalier Laurentien in Ste. Agathe — a 25-mile trip from Mont Temblant.

At 4:20 p.m. Natasha Richardson was examined by a physician.

A transfer was ordered to a larger hospital in Montreal, the Hôpital du Sacré-Coeur de Montréal. Natasha Richardson arrived at the Montreal hospital at about 7:00 p.m. Monday.

Tuesday, Natasha Richardson was accompanied by husband Liam Neeson and flown to Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City in critical condition, where she died on Wednesday after surgery.

Epidural or extradural hematoma (haematoma) is a type of traumatic brain injury (TBI) in which a buildup of blood occurs between the dura mater (the tough outer membrane of the central nervous system) and the skull. The dura mater also covers the spine, so epidural bleeds may also occur in the spinal column. Often due to trauma, the condition is potentially deadly because the buildup of blood may increase pressure in the intracranial space and compress delicate brain tissue. Because the bleed come from an artery the pressure can build up quickly while there is an eye before the storm giving the condition the name ‘Talk and die syndrome.’ The condition is present in one to three percent of head injuries.Between 15 and 20% of patients with epidural hematomas die of the injury. Epidural hematoma is usually found on the same side of the brain as impact.

Skull fractures often accompany epidural hematomas.

Signs & Symptoms of Epidural Hematoma
Expanding hematoma causes headache, nausea, and vomiting. Shifting brain tissue causes local brain dysfunction such as weakness, numbness, or speech problems. If severe progression of the hematoma occurs, central areas of the brain and the brainstem become displaced, causing loss of conscious, abnormal positioning of the arms and legs (decerebrate posture). At this point irreversible brainstem damage can occur. Documentation exists of rapid deteriorating conditions from injury to decerebrate posture in as little as two hours.

Full symptom list in severe head injury:
A lasting headache which worsens, or is still present over six hours following the injury.
Extreme difficulty in staying awake, or still being sleepy several hours after the injury.
Two or more bouts of vomiting.
Unconsciousness, either for a short or extended period of time.
Unequal pupil size.
Straw colored or blood stained fluid coming from the nose or ears. This is cerebrospinal fluid which normally surrounds the brain.
Severe dizziness or loss of balance.
Confusion or strange behavior.
Problems with memory.
Bleeding from the scalp that cannot be quickly stopped.
Not being able to use part of the body, such as weakness in an arm or leg.
Difficulty seeing or double vision.
Slurred speech
Unusual breathing patterns.
Ringing or deafness in one or both ears.
Having a seizure or fit (when your body suddenly moves uncontrollably).

An autopsy revealed that a torn artery bled between the outer lining of the brain and the skull.

Natasha Richardson picture collage.

Sources:
Bor Seng Shu E, de Almeida Leme RJ, Aguiar PH, de Andrade AF, Teixeira MJ, Plese JP. Traumatic acute giant epidural hematoma in a hydrocephalic shunted child. Pediatr Neurosurg. 2000 Apr;32(4):176-9.

Gerlach R, Dittrich S, Schneider W, Ackermann H, Seifert V, Kieslich M. Traumatic epidural hematomas in children and adolescents: outcome analysis in 39 consecutive unselected cases. Pediatr Emerg Care. 2009 Mar;25(3):164-9.

Dr. Drew Pinsky has co-authored “The Mirror Effect” with Dr. Mark S. Young — publishing their striking study of narcissism among celebrities. The Celebrity Rehab host and addiction specialist (Dr. Drew) and business/entertainment expert (Dr. Young) discovered that a high proportion of celebrities suffer from traits associated with clinical narcissism—including vanity, exhibitionism, entitlement, exploitativeness, self-sufficiency, authority, and superiority.

The authors warn that in the last decade, the entertainment industry has changed dramatically and dangerously. Not only are stars hurting themselves, as exemplified by the daily dose of celebrity bad behavior and crash and burn news (DUI’s, drug overdoses and reality-TV presentations); the public consumption is affecting vulnerable people who mirror the celebrity traits in their own behavior.

The book explores how YouTube, online social networks such as Facebook and Myspace, and personal blogs offer the dangers of instant celebrity to the most vulnerable of citizens in America.

The book also offers distinct examples of stars like Britney Spears, Paris Hilton, Amy Winehouse and media enablers, such as TMZ, Perez Hilton, and Gawker, have changed the definition of “normal behavior.”

The Mirror Effect raises important questions about our changing culture—and provides insights for parents, young people, and anyone who wonders what celebrity culture is doing to America.

The Mirror Effect: How Celebrity Narcissism Is Seducing America was made available on Amazon on March 17, 2009.

After her appearance in the State of Union address in February, the cover Vogue magazine in March, bare arms in the official White House portrait, and a People Magazine interview; the upper arms of Michelle Obama, 44, are the buzz.

Michelle Obama has said she exercises in 90-minute workout three times a week with a personal trainer and told People magazine that during an average day in the White House, she and President Barack Obama get up about 5:30 a.m. and usually work out and have breakfast.

A friend Sandy Matthews, an executive at a children’s advocacy firm in Chicago who used to work out with Michelle in early morning workouts, reports that the first lady is a fan of cross-training, a mix of strength and cardio exercises usually involving weights, the treadmill, the stair-stepper or a spin bike.

In a speech in early 2008, Michelle Obama told an audience at the National Congress of Black Women in Washington:

The saddest reality is that we as black women still don’t love ourselves enough. We don’t eat right, ladies, we don’t exercise, we don’t demand healthy relationships, we wait too long to address our health care problems…So the question that we must ask ourselves as black women is, ‘Are we really ready for fundamental change?’

Michelle Obama, 44, an accelerated student who skipped second grade, worked as a high-level administrator at the University of Chicago Medical Center before she took leave to help her husband’s campaign and eventually because First Lady. Working mothers performance issues of time management and multitasking are top issues as first lady.

The arms issue isn’t without some controversy. Some say that because the State of the Union Address was formal and the season was winter, a sleeveless dress showing her arms was out of place. Reaction also ranges from “good for her for showing off her assets” to “who cares … we have much bigger problems to worry about.”

Michelle Obama: Official White House Portrait (photo)

Michelle Obama deltoids and upper arms in official White House portrait

Some helpful exercises that promote upper arm fitness and definition …

Front Raises — Anterior Deltoid exercise (standing preferred for this exercise).

Front Raises can also be done with exercise tubing, such as SPRI tubing (info from CoolFitnessGifts.com).

Lateral Raises — Middle Deltoid exercise (standing preferred for this exercise).

Lateral Raises can also be done with exercise tubing, such as SPRI Tubing (info from CoolFitnessGifts.com).

Dumbbell Lying Lateral Raise — Posterior Deltoid exercise.

For people with bad backs or a big stomach who aren’t comfortable lying face down on an incline bench there is an exercise called Posterior Raises. These are performed one arm at a time, bent over a bench. Dumbbell hangs straight down while opposite arm supports upper body (hand on low bench). Hips are bent 90 degrees, knees bent and back is about parallel with the floor and parallel with the length of the bench. The arm holding the dumbbell is lifted with an almost straight elbow — similar in action to the Dumbbell Lying Lateral Raise, but one arm at a time.

Other exercises that help develop the shoulders include …
Biceps curls, bench press, shoulder shrugs

Cardio training — running, treadmill running, treadmill walking with increased grade, elliptical training.

Cheney’s press secretary Megan Mitchell said that during a visit with doctors Wednesday morning, it was a recurrence of atrial fibrillation—an abnormal rhythm involving the upper chambers (let and right atria) of his heart.

Later today, Cheney will visit George Washington University Hospital for an outpatient procedure to restore his heart to normal rhythm. The vice president is expected to be released immediately after the procedure that restores normal heart rhythm.

Atrial fibrillation often shows no signs or symptoms and is generally life-threatening, but atrial fibrillation can result in palpitations, fainting, chest pain, or congestive heart failure. Long-term atrial fibrillation, which involves more stagnant pooling of blood in the upper chambers, can increase the chance of blood clots originating from the atria of the heart. The clotting and associated risk of stroke is increased when other risk factors (advancing age, previous stroke or TIA, hypertension and diabetes) accompany the occurrence of atrial fibrillation. Clots on the move (embolisms) can also affect other organs of the body.

Vice President Dick Cheney experienced a similar incident in November 2007.

The previous heart history of Vice President Dick Cheney is noted below:

JUN 29 2002 — Vice President Dick Cheney served as Acting President of the United States under the terms of the 25th Amendment to the Constitution. President Bush was undergoing a colonoscopy. Cheney acted as President from 11:09 UTC that day until Bush resumed control at 13:24 UTC.

Emergency Cardiac Catheterization
MAR 06 2001 — Vice President Dick Cheney underwent emergency cardiac catheterization late Monday afternoon to open a coronary artery that might be blocked. The vice president had experienced two brief episodes of pain and discomfort. The first episode occurred Saturday when Cheney was working out in the gym at the vice president’s official residence, according to information obtained from a conference call with Cheney’s senior advisors.

Heart Attack #4
NOV 22 2000 0300 — Cheney awoke with chest and shoulder discomfort. Confirmed as small heart attack after ruling out unstable angina. Cheney treated with a coronary artery stent.

NOV 07 2000 — George W. Bush and Dick Cheney win the United States presidential election, 2000

AUG 07 2000 — Time Magazine reports Dick Cheney exercises 30 minutes on a treadmill “several days a week.” The article Can Cheney Take the Heat was a lead up to election day in November 2000 and also reported a Dick Cheney 40-pound weight gain since 1993.

JULY 2000 — Cheney had had a normal exercise stress test in July 2000.

Selected as Vice Presidential Candidate for George W. Bush
JUL 25 2000 — Early 2000 while serving as the CEO of Halliburton, Cheney headed George W. Bush’s vice-presidential search committee. On July 25, after reviewing Cheney’s findings, Bush surprised some political pundits by asking Cheney to join the Republican ticket.

BMI, Height and Weight from Driver’s License Information
1997 — Cheney’s height and weight listed on his driver’s license issued was 5 feet 10 inches and 210 pounds, which calculates to a BMI value of 30.

The National Heart Lung and Blood Institute BMI Categories:
Underweight ( > 18.5 )
Normal weight ( 18.5 – 24.9 )
Overweight ( 25 – 29.9 )
Obese ( 30 + )

FitnessMath.com BMI Calculator — Calculate your BMI …

Served as United States Secretary of Defense
1989-1993 — Dick Cheney served as United States Secretary of Defense under the George H.W. Bush administration and during the Persian Gulf War. Heart history minimal and stable during this period.

Released from Hospital after Quadruple Bypass Surgery
AUG 27 1988 — House Republican leader Dick Cheney released from hospital after quadruple bypass surgery.

Quadruple Bypass Surgery
AUG 19 1988 — Dick Cheney underwent surgery of four vessels with blocked blood circulation to his heart. Blood flow was restored when doctors grafted unblocked vessels from other parts of the body to replace the blocked vessels.

Quadruple Bypass Surgery Decision
AUG 11 1988 — Dick Cheney decides to undergo optional coronary artery bypass surgery Friday after the Republican convention.

Heart Attack #3
Mild heart attack in August, 1988 

Coronary arteriography
Cardiac catheterization showed an increased extent of coronary heart disease.

Heart Attack #2
1984. Serving as U.S. Representative for the state of Wyoming.

Quit Smoking
1978 — Dick Cheney quit a three-pack-a-day cigarette habit.

Heart Attack #1

No information available on Dick Cheney’s exercise program or workouts.

SEE ALSO …
Wikipedia: atrial fibrillation
PubMed.gov: atrial fibrillation
StopAfib.org — stopafib.org

SOURCES:
CNN: Cheney released from hospital – March 5 2001

Keywords: Richard Cheney dickcheney, richardcheney, Dick Cheny

To work off the stress of the job, Sarah Palin attributes physical activity as a big factor in helping her stay strong and effective.

“I have always been real active in sports,” said Sarah Palin in a video segment on Greta Van Susteren’s ON THE RECORD ‘An American Woman’ — and exclusive documentary on the rise of Governor Sarah Palin that was broadcast September 6 and repeated on September 7, 2008 on FOXNEWS.

Even as a “pregnant lady” she had to work off the stress. She reflected about a workout the day before the interview during her pregnancy with Trig …

I had to get to the gym
I had to sweat
I had to workout

Sarah Palin says she either jogs or lifts weights. Her parents were high school track and cross-country coaches that ran marathons. Palin says in a Wall Street Journal Magazine article Saturday September 6 that “running was a family affair” and that, “thankfully, I’ve never tired of it.” She added that “conventional running is my sanity.” Post partum she is striving to get back to a routine of running 7 to 10 miles almost every day. For cardio work she switched to aerobics classes at her gym when she was pregnant. Currently she is running three miles every other day — about five months after the birth of son Trig (her fifth child) on April 18, 2008.

In summer when the sun doesn’t set, Sarah Palin sometimes runs at midnight. In winter, when it is dark all day, she might run in mid-afternoon or get on the treadmill after work at home or at the gym.

Sarah Palin attributes most of her arm strength to controlling heavy and powerful snowmobiles through hundreds of pounds of powdered snow. She does keep some dumbbells at home.

Gov. Palin would like to run on a hot dusty road in just running shorts and a high-tech top that wicks away sweat, according to the WSJ Magazine article by Jen Murphy. However, Alaska’s cold temperatures have her wearing layers of fleece. Lately she’s been running in Nike Air Structure Triax.

File photos of Nike Air Structure Triax from Amazon

Search Amazon.com for Nike Air Structure Triax …

Palin says she writes her best speeches and letters during ‘inspired time’ while she is running.

Nutritional info is a little scarce. We learned from the WSJ article that Sarah pretty much skips breakfast, except for white-chocolate mocha, and she doesn’t fuel up with a post-workout meal or supplement — just water.

Palin reports that otherwise she eats a healthy diet of wild Alaskan seafood, moose, caribou and fresh fruit.

Check here for details on the nutrition of caribou meat, cooked and roasted:
A 340-gram piece of meat resulting from cooking 1 pound of raw meat yields the following:
Total calories: 568
Total fat: 15g
Saturated Fat: 6g
Cholesterol: 371 mg (VERY HIGH!)
Sodium: 204 mg
Total Carbohydrate: 0g
Protein 101g

The amino acid score is 118 (An Amino Acid Score of 100 or higher indicates a complete or high-quality protein.)

The Inflammation Factor Rating is (-406) A negative number is an unfavorable number. Levels of certain chemicals in your blood are known to increase with increased levels of inflammation. One of these chemical markers for inflammation is a protein called C-reactive protein (CRP). CRP is often measured in conjunction with other blood tests, and normal values are well established. From a clinical standpoint, a CRP level of less than 5 milligrams per liter of blood is considered normal. “Normal” may not be optimal, though. Many medical researchers believe that even slight elevations of CRP are tied to increased risk for heart attack, stroke, and many other diseases.

Roasted moose meat is less inflammatory with less total fat and less cholesterol.

The body creates both inflammatory and anti-inflammatory chemicals, called “prostaglandins” from nutrients in the food that are eaten. Imbalances in diet can lead to the creation of excessive amounts of inflammatory prostaglandins, which activate your body’s inflammatory response. To counter negative effects,the consumption of certain nutrients, like omega-3 fatty acids, allows the body to produce more anti-inflammatory prostaglandins, which it uses to reduce inflammation.

Many experts recommend consuming a diet that results in a diet of Inflammation Factor Rating of +50 or greater. Governor Palin reported that her diet includes wild Alaskan seafood, which could included salmon. Salmon, generally has a favorable score for the Inflammation Factor Rating. Many fruits have a slightly unfavorable rating for the Inflammation Factor Rating, probably due to the estimated glycemic load of sugars in fruit.

See NutritionData information on Caribou and Moose Meat
Search “caribou“
Search “moose“

Sources:
FOXNEWS ON THE RECORD ‘An American Woman’
WSJ Magazine ‘Running Alaska’