The Duke University Health System and other area hospitals are curbing patient visitations as a precaution to limit the spread of the H1N1 and other seasonal flu viruses. Because children are at a greater risk for the H1N1 flu strain, visits are limited to adult members of the patient’s immediate family or designated caregivers in order to minimize patient exposure to the virus.

For more information on the limited visiting hours and other precautions, go to duke.edu/flu.

People tend to procrastinate more when shopping online due to fear of regret, according to Dan Ariely, a professor of behavioral economics at Duke and author of the best-selling book, Predictably Irrational.

Online retailers use strategies such as telling shoppers an item is almost sold out, or that an item is only available for a limited time. These strategies create urgency and “get people to fear that they will regret not acting” instead of acting, Ariely told The New York Times. He said people often spend more time researching a product after buying it online than before, to prove that they should not regret the purchase.

Teddy Bear Ball

Duke employees and others are invited to attend the 20th annual Teddy Bear Ball on Saturday, Dec. 5 at the Durham Marriott Convention Center. The black-tie fundraiser, which celebrates the history of Duke Children’s Hospital & Health Center, will feature a silent and live auction and entertainment.

The event also includes special recognitions. Samuel L. Katz and Michael M. Frank, two former chairs of the hospital’s pediatric department, will be honored at this year’s ball. Radio station MIX 101.5 FM and Capitol Broadcasting will also be recognized for raising more than $10 million over 15 years for the hospital through their annual radiothon.

To find out more about the ball, call the Duke Children’s Development Office at 667-2562 or go to dukechildrens.org. 

Sweet Tooth?

Cupcakes, cookies, bundt cakes, custard, pies, mousse, pastries and all things sweet will be the main attraction at the Duke Dessert Expo. Durham chefs and members of the Duke community will prepare their favorite homemade desserts for sampling at 5 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 9 in the Great Hall on West Campus. The event is open to the public. The Duke Culinary Society will judge the best desserts based on taste, creativity and presentation. The winner will receive a $50 gift certificate for a local restaurant. For more information on this and other culinary society events, go to duke.edu/web/culinary/calendar.html.

Only 30 Minutes a Day

If more people knew they were supposed to exercise for at least 30 minutes each day, it would help reduce rates of chronic health problems, according to Gary Bennett, an associate professor of psychology and neuroscience at Duke. Yet, many people are not aware of this recommendation. Bennett and others conducted a study that found the lack of awareness of the federal guidelines regarding exercise is greatest among men, the unemployed and people born in the United States. The study’s findings came from an analysis of data from 2,381 people who took part in the 2005 Health Information National Trends Survey.

Bennett told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that physical activity protects against developing many chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, some cancer, diabetes and even some cognitive disorders.

"We've seen a lot of discussion about prevention in healthcare reform debates over the last few months, and it's becoming clear that increasing physical activity among Americans may, in the long run, reduce some of the major costs that burden our healthcare system," Bennett said.

A report on the study was published in the October issue of Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise.

The Power of Prayer

The state of our inner life – whether we call it faith, religion or spirituality – has an effect on the state of our bodies and how we function, according to Jeff Levin, an adjunct professor of psychiatry at Duke and a leading researcher on faith and healing.

Levin reviewed more than 1,200 studies of religion and health and found that expressions of faith are potentially therapeutic. His article, “How Faith Heals: A Theoretical Model,” was published earlier this year in the journal Explore.

He says there is “tons of empirical evidence” linking the role of spirituality and faith to health and healing.

“These studies are mostly telling us that groups of people with higher rates of faith commitment or religious or spiritual involvement seem to have lower rates of subsequent health problems, on average. These studies are mostly not telling us that if you or your loved one is sick or in the hospital that by being or becoming religious you or they will somehow magically get better, irrespective of medical treatment,” Levin told reporters at canada.com.