Your Health: Music good for young brains

Music for the mindJust as exercise for the body is good for the brain, music helps fire up the inquiring mind.That's the conclusion of Northwestern University researchers who suggest musical training helps people improve their language, speech, memory, attention and vocal emotion.The research in the journal "Nature" suggests the neural connections made during musical training prime the brain for other aspects of communication.Musicians are better at picking up sounds for a new language and children who are musically trained have a better vocabulary and reading ability.Like physical education, researchers suggest musical training should be an important part of the school day.Free housecleaningA nonprofit group offers free housecleaning for women with cancer.Cleaning for a Reason is a national group that matches cancer patients with professional maid services.The businesses offer to clean house once a month for four months, at no charge.McMaid, Maid Brigade, and Fresh Tech Maids are a few of the participating services across Chicago's suburbs.For information, go to cleaningforareason.org, or call (877) 337-3348.Weight-loss drugA new drug has proved effective in helping people lose weight over the long term.The drug, lorcaserin, was tested against a placebo on 3,200 overweight or obese patients, combined with nutrition and exercise counseling.After a year, almost half of the lorcaserin patients had lost at least 5 percent of their body weight, compared to one out of five patients taking the placebo. And they were more likely to keep the weight off after two years in the study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine.Shingles shotMcHenry County is offering vaccinations against shingles, the painful rash caused by the chickenpox virus.The shot is recommended for those 60 and over who previously have had chickenpox or shingles.The clinic runs from 8:30 to 11 a.m. Wednesday, July 28, at the Department of Health office at 100 N. Virginia St., a block south of Routes 14 and 176, in Crystal Lake.The cost is $200 by cash, check or Medicaid. Call (815) 334-4500 to make an appointment.Doctor tantrumsTemper tantrums can happen in any workplace, but a survey by the American College of Physician Executives found they're the "dirty little secret" of health care.As the Institute for Healthcare Improvement discussed this week, a survey of doctors and nurses last year found the problem was pervasive, with 98 percent of respondents reporting behavior problems - 10 percent saying it happens weekly.Degrading comments and insults were the most frequent complaint. Yelling, cursing and inappropriate comments were also common.Other incidents included surgeons hurling surgical instruments and a doctor trying to stuff a nurse into a garbage can. One group of nurses banded together to get a doctor's privileges revoked.- Robert McCoppinFalse12602000Temper tantrums can happen in any workplace, but a survey by the American College of Physician Executives found they're the "dirty little secret" of health care. False