Imagine being in the world famous Gold's Gym in Venice Beach, California, where the likes of Arnold Schwarzenegger once trained. Now, imagine entering an entirely different fitness center, one that Einstein himself may have frequented if he were alive today. Keeping our bodies fit is important, but there is a new gym that is very serious when they talk about TOTAL body fitness. It's called SharpBrains, and it's doors (virtual as they may be) are open for business.

SharpBrains has launched the first online brain fitness center, making it the ideal place for people to keep their minds as fit as they are keeping the rest of their bodies. Complete with an array of science-based mental exercises, brain trainers, interactive blog posts, and problem solving puzzles, SharpBrains is the mental equivalent of that very same Gold's Gym in Venice Beach.

Specific mental exercises are designed and tailored to meet each member's needs. You can even target-train; improve memory, better concentration, work on stress management, build decision making skills -- just as you could specialize a cardio or resistance training workout.

And, just like a regular gym, you must become a member of SharpBrains online gym. As is the case when working the rest of your body, best results can be achieved at ShaprBrains.com by spending at least 30 minutes per day, three times per week at the "gym."

Check it out for yourself here: www.sharpbrains.com

Good news -- and bad -- for women with breast implants. They don't cause more breast cancer or make you more prone to heart disease, according to a new study. In fact, because women who opt for voluntary invasive surgery are required to be in the best of health prior to laying out on the operating table, most actually have a lower than average risk of dying from such diseases. A relief for the implanted.

The bad? The studies consistently found that women who opt for cosmetic enhancement surgery -- not because they need it mind you -- are 73 percent more likely to commit suicide. It's very sad. Of course, the study wasn't able to say why -- however researchers suspect low self-esteem and depression as major reasons. They also recommend that plastic surgeons refer their patients to mental health practitioners if they suspect depression or suicidal tendencies in their patients.

By Food and Drug Administration (FDA) estimates, one million adults and two million children have prescriptions filled each month to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The drugs are stimulants and as such, pose potential risk for heart problems, stunted growth, seizures, vision problems and psychotic behavior.

Recent decisions will now require drug makers to include a warning with the medication about the possible risk of serious health problems and sudden death.

According to the Reuters news release, Canadian health authorities have already publicly warned people with high blood pressure, heart disease and other medical problems to avoid taking medications for ADHD.

The two drugs specifically mentioned as requiring the new warning are GlaxoSmithKline Plc's Dexedrine and Novartis AG's Ritalin. There are other ADHD drugs prescribed, Johnson & Johnson's Concerta and Eli Lilly's Strattera, but it has not been confirmed if these two will also be required to carry the new warning.

The National Institute of Mental Health has published a comprehensive booklet online about ADHD that gives the reader a detailed idea of what ADHD is and might offer an understanding of why many critics state that ADHD is not only over-diagnosed but over-medicated as well.

Medline Plus attributes hyperactivity and hyperactive behavior to a group of characteristics that can include constant activity, easy distractibility, impulsiveness, inability to concentrate, and aggressiveness. Children suffering from hyperactivity display behaviors often observed as fidgeting or constant moving, wandering, excessive talking, and difficulty participating in quiet activities -- like reading a book.

Researchers who conducted a study that followed 708 children into adulthood, have found girls who were hyperactive, socially isolated and had other problems interacting successfully with people are more likely than other children to develop lifestyle habits that increase the risk for heart disease later in life.

In addition, according to the researchers, girls who suffer from hyperactivity tend to suffer from negative mood, low self-control and aggressive outbursts, and are more likely as adults to have issues of weight gain, clogged arteries and high blood pressure. They are also likely to take up smoking cigarettes.

Interestingly, the researchers hypothesis that the reason hyperactive girls suffer from heart health problems more than girls who do not display hyperactive behaviors -- is because of the stress of constantly being told to stop their hyperactive behaviors -- and not from anything physical resulting from the psychological state of hyperactivity itself.

For more information and resources on hyperactivity, visit CHADD: Children and Adults with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder; the National Resource Center on AD/HD; and The National Institute of Mental Health on Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

In another study promoting physical activity for seniors, this time in retirees over age 60, the risk of death and development of heart disease is reduced by regular volunteer work. Seniors serving as tutors in elementary schools became twice as active daily as they were prior to the study.

Seniors mentored elementary school children 15 hours a week, through a nation-wide program run by Experience Corps. Helping children read, solve problems and learn cooperation was not only mentally and socially stimulating for the seniors, it also helped them become more active in their daily lives. According to researchers, volunteering gave them even more energy, and these seniors spent more time being active at home as well-- burning 40 percent more calories a week.

For those seniors not motivated by the idea of spending time in schools, another national volunteer program called Senior Corps. offers a variety of other opportunities to help retirees stay active.

A recent Canadian study documented higher blood pressure in workers with high job strain and low levels of co-worker support. High job strain is defined as work that is high in mental and emotional demand, with little independence or feeling of authority in decision making.

Researchers followed nearly 7,000 workers for 7.5 years. More men than women had high blood pressure associated with job strain, and those that did not feel encouraged or supported by their bosses or fellow workers were particularly stressed. The authors emphasize that job strain could be lessened if employers loosened up the methods of achieving results, allowing employees to be more independent in choosing how they attained success. In addition, deadline pressure need be lessened and stimulating opportunities for employee growth could counter-balance job stress.

Overwork or stress-induced illness, such as heart attack and stroke, is on the rise in Japan-- causing suicide statistics to sky-rocket. Overwork illness is so common in Japan, it even has its own name-- karoshi.

The Health Ministry reported the government officially recognized a record 330 Japanese as suffering from these illnesses in 2005, compared to 294 in 2004. Out of the 330 overwork patients, 157 died. According to police records, 32,552 people took their own lives in 2005. Two-thirds were men who decided suicide was the best answer to financial and health problems.

One of the reasons cited for the statistical rise in official overwork-illness patients is the increase in applications for recognition of illness, which is the first step in gaining workers compensation for the affect. "I believe this is mainly due to people no longer feeling ashamed to admit that they are suffering mentally from work-induced stress," a ministry official said. Suffering from overwork is not limited to mental issues, but creates great physical damage as well.

May is Better Sleep and Mental Health Month. Sleep is equally critical to physical, mental and emotional health. The Better Sleep Council (BSC) and the National Mental Health Association have teamed up to educate the public on the importance of a good night's sleep to overall health.
  
Studies have shown that inadequate sleep, in both quality and quantity, is directly linked to depression, obesity, and hypertension. A 2005 study reported that 70 percent of women get inadequate sleep -- stress being a major contributor. Stress and obesity are two leading causes of heart disease, the #1 killer of American women. "While it's easy to blame external factors like stress and illness for our lack of sleep, it is important for women to realize there are things they can control to improve the quality of their sleep, like their sleep environment and a good mattress," says Dr. Amy Wolfson, sleep expert and author of  The Woman's Book of Sleep.

Better sleep tips include exercising and eating right (but not too close to bedtime), maintaining a regular sleep schedule all week long, and avoiding caffeine, alcohol and nicotine close before bed.