http://www.successmagazine.com/13-Ways-to-Create-a-Fit-Family/PARAMS/article/641/channel/221
Here is a good little article on how to keep your family active and healthy:
13 Ways to Create a Fit Family
Lay the groundwork for a lifetime of health.
March 17, 2009
One in three kids is overweight or obese, according to The New England Journal of Medicine, and an increasing number of children are showing early warning signs of heart disease.
Fast-food meals and sedentary lifestyles of watching TV and playing computer games are adding to the problem. The key for parents is to “live a healthy-body-weight message, every day, and your kids will naturally come along for the ride,” says author Tom Gilliam, co-author of Move It. Lose It. Live Healthy: The Simple Truth about Achieving & Maintaining a Healthy Body Weight.
He offers these tips for a fit family:
Teach kids good health is their responsibility. Explain that their body weight is connected to their overall health, and that their health is the most precious asset they will ever possess.
Use hard numbers to measure body weight. For kids 10 and older, teach them about BMI—a body mass index chart that uses height and weight data as a measuring stick for fitness or obesity. A BMI measurement between 18.5 and 25 is optimal. Visit NHLBIsupport.com/bmi/.
Educate older kids in how to read food labels. When kids learn how to read food labels, they will be able to see that sodas (for example) are prohibitively high in sugar.
Chart their progress. It’s always helpful for kids to see what they have achieved in black-and-white terms. Get a calendar and have your kids write down their fitness activities for the day, such as “walked the dog” or “went hiking.”
Find fun activities you can do as a group. Don’t just sip a cool drink and watch, be part of the action! Join your kids and take regular walks in the woods, go inline skating at the park, jump rope or do a yoga DVD.
Model good eating habits for your kids. When you reach for an orange instead of a bag of chips, your kids will go for the good stuff, too. Try stocking up on healthy snacks like fresh fruit, raisins and natural peanut butter.
Make a game out of shopping for healthy foods. Introduce an unusual fruit or vegetable—like artichokes or guava—to your children each week at the store.
Pair your child with a buddy for exercise. If your daughter’s friend is into horseback riding or ballet, encourage your daughter to get involved, too. Make peer pressure positive.
Challenge your kids to help you find ways to sneak in exercise. Take the stairs in the mall, not the elevator or escalator.
Connect exercise with activities kids already like to do. If your kids are interested in science, take them on weekly nature walks to identify plants or bugs.
Use books, videos and other stories to help drive the point home. If you have a teenager who loves to read, consider a subscription to a fitness magazine.
Let your child wear a pedometer every day. Kids who love gadgets will love measuring their steps.
Consider exercise in the morning. Between after-school events, dinner and homework, it’s difficult to squeeze in exercise at the end of the day. Try getting up earlier and going for a walk as a family. You will feel better all day.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Friday, March 27, 2009
How your nails reflect your health
Here is an interesting article from sympatico msn:
http://healthandfitness.sympatico.msn.ca/News/ContentPosting?newsitemid=1666403032&feedname=CP-HEALTH&show=False&number=0&showbyline=True&subtitle=&detect=&abc=abc&date=False&paginationenabled=false
Fingernails can reveal an amazing amount about a person's health, medical experts say, with a surprising number of conditions manifesting themselves with changes in the shape, colour or overall state of the nails.
"It may be the first sign, it may be the herald sign of ... an internal disease," says Dr. Yves Poulin, a Quebec City dermatologist and president-elect of the Canadian Dermatology Association.
Lung disorders, nasal polyps, anemia, inflammatory bowel syndrome and liver diseases can provoke changes in the fingernails.
In some cases those alterations can prompt people to seek medical attention, in the process bringing to light previously undiagnosed conditions. In others, the state of a patient's nails will help a physician clarify what is at play.
"For us, it helps to make the correct diagnosis to look at the nail," Poulin says.
The bed of the fingernails of healthy individuals should be a light pink. Nail beds that are white may suggest anemia - a red blood cell deficiency which itself can be a symptom of other, sometimes serious, diseases. When the nails themselves grow opaque and white, it can be a sign of liver disease.
White nails with a dark band at the tip - a condition called Terry's nails - can be a sign of aging but could also signal congestive heart failure, diabetes or liver disease, according to a photo slide show on fingernail conditions on the Mayo Clinic website. (http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/nails/WO00055)
Kidney problems are suspected with a condition known as half-and-half nail, in which the lower part of the nail bed is white but a portion towards the tip of the nail is pink.
Bluish nails can signal a lack of oxygen, a sign a person might be suffering from one of a number of lung conditions. Green nails can be caused by infection with Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a bacterium which is common in the environment. Antibiotics can clear up this condition.
Poulin says respiratory tract problems - such as nasal polyps and chronic sinusitis - can trigger yellow nail syndrome, which he describes as rare. It can be corrected in some cases, depending on the cause.
"I had a guy in recently, he was an attorney, he was 40 and he had yellow nails on all his nails. And he had a nose surgery and it all went away," Poulin says.
Strangely shaped or marked nails are also indicative of a variety of conditions.
Thickened, misshapen and cloudy nails - sometimes on the fingers, but more often on the toes - are generally a sign of infection with a fungus. Called onychomycosis, the condition is unsightly and makes the nails difficult to trim and maintain.
Onychomycosis can and should be treated, Poulin says, and the earlier the better. The longer the problem festers, the harder it is to treat, he says.
And while thickened toe nails may be merely an esthetic problem for a 60-year-old, when that person is 80 and diabetic, toenails that can't be trimmed can trigger infections in the skin around the nail bed, erode foot health and threaten mobility.
"It may be an open door for cellulitis, for infections of the skin, in diabetic people," Poulin says. "(But) this is often neglected. People don't look too much at their toenails."
A brown or black streak or dot under a nail that persists can be skin cancer - melanoma, which can be deadly if it isn't caught early. And if there is no evident reason for the change in pigmentation, it should be checked out, says Dr. Mark Davis, a dermatologist at the Mayo Clinic's Rochester, Minn., campus.
"If patients can remember some trauma to their nail - that they actually have a reason for getting blood under their nail and it's usually painful - then it's nothing to be worried about," Davis says.
"But if somebody develops a new pigmentation on their nail, just like a new mole on your skin, it's best to have a dermatologist look at it and make the judgment as to whether it could be a melanoma or whether it's just a mole. And sometimes that can be quite difficult even for the dermatologist to decide."
Melanomas under the nail aren't common, but they do occur. But because people don't necessarily know of the possibility, such melanomas can go undetected, threatening chances of survival.
"People come very late with melanoma of the nail plate," says Poulin. "They have a black streak in the nail for years."
Someone who has horizontal groves across all their fingernails has experienced an illness that has interrupted the growth of the nails. The condition, called Beau's lines, is associated with uncontrolled diabetes, circulatory diseases or illnesses associated with high fever, the Mayo Clinic says.
While nail changes can signal something is going on with a person's health, sometimes the message they send isn't specific to a particular disease.
"For example, when you see clubbing of the nails, there's like 20 different things that can be associated with that," Davis says. He adds the warning, though, that "if that happens and it's new, it can be a sign of lung cancer."
The term clubbing is used to describe the swelling or enlarging of the tips of the fingers, with the nails curving downwards over the tip. While some people are born with clubbing, if it develops later on it can be a symptom of lung disease, congenital heart disorders, inflammatory bowel disease or liver problems.
Spoon nails, on the other hand, come about when the fingernails soften and curl inward from the sides, creating a concave surface. Also known as koilonychia, spoon nails can be a sign of iron-deficiency anemia.
Davis suggests paying attention to, but not fretting unduly, over changes to fingernails.
"If they notice a change in their nails, I think it's reasonable to check on it, but not to get overly alarmed about it. Because there's lots of things that happen to the nails themselves that have nothing to do with any underlying conditions."
http://healthandfitness.sympatico.msn.ca/News/ContentPosting?newsitemid=1666403032&feedname=CP-HEALTH&show=False&number=0&showbyline=True&subtitle=&detect=&abc=abc&date=False&paginationenabled=false
Fingernails can reveal an amazing amount about a person's health, medical experts say, with a surprising number of conditions manifesting themselves with changes in the shape, colour or overall state of the nails.
"It may be the first sign, it may be the herald sign of ... an internal disease," says Dr. Yves Poulin, a Quebec City dermatologist and president-elect of the Canadian Dermatology Association.
Lung disorders, nasal polyps, anemia, inflammatory bowel syndrome and liver diseases can provoke changes in the fingernails.
In some cases those alterations can prompt people to seek medical attention, in the process bringing to light previously undiagnosed conditions. In others, the state of a patient's nails will help a physician clarify what is at play.
"For us, it helps to make the correct diagnosis to look at the nail," Poulin says.
The bed of the fingernails of healthy individuals should be a light pink. Nail beds that are white may suggest anemia - a red blood cell deficiency which itself can be a symptom of other, sometimes serious, diseases. When the nails themselves grow opaque and white, it can be a sign of liver disease.
White nails with a dark band at the tip - a condition called Terry's nails - can be a sign of aging but could also signal congestive heart failure, diabetes or liver disease, according to a photo slide show on fingernail conditions on the Mayo Clinic website. (http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/nails/WO00055)
Kidney problems are suspected with a condition known as half-and-half nail, in which the lower part of the nail bed is white but a portion towards the tip of the nail is pink.
Bluish nails can signal a lack of oxygen, a sign a person might be suffering from one of a number of lung conditions. Green nails can be caused by infection with Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a bacterium which is common in the environment. Antibiotics can clear up this condition.
Poulin says respiratory tract problems - such as nasal polyps and chronic sinusitis - can trigger yellow nail syndrome, which he describes as rare. It can be corrected in some cases, depending on the cause.
"I had a guy in recently, he was an attorney, he was 40 and he had yellow nails on all his nails. And he had a nose surgery and it all went away," Poulin says.
Strangely shaped or marked nails are also indicative of a variety of conditions.
Thickened, misshapen and cloudy nails - sometimes on the fingers, but more often on the toes - are generally a sign of infection with a fungus. Called onychomycosis, the condition is unsightly and makes the nails difficult to trim and maintain.
Onychomycosis can and should be treated, Poulin says, and the earlier the better. The longer the problem festers, the harder it is to treat, he says.
And while thickened toe nails may be merely an esthetic problem for a 60-year-old, when that person is 80 and diabetic, toenails that can't be trimmed can trigger infections in the skin around the nail bed, erode foot health and threaten mobility.
"It may be an open door for cellulitis, for infections of the skin, in diabetic people," Poulin says. "(But) this is often neglected. People don't look too much at their toenails."
A brown or black streak or dot under a nail that persists can be skin cancer - melanoma, which can be deadly if it isn't caught early. And if there is no evident reason for the change in pigmentation, it should be checked out, says Dr. Mark Davis, a dermatologist at the Mayo Clinic's Rochester, Minn., campus.
"If patients can remember some trauma to their nail - that they actually have a reason for getting blood under their nail and it's usually painful - then it's nothing to be worried about," Davis says.
"But if somebody develops a new pigmentation on their nail, just like a new mole on your skin, it's best to have a dermatologist look at it and make the judgment as to whether it could be a melanoma or whether it's just a mole. And sometimes that can be quite difficult even for the dermatologist to decide."
Melanomas under the nail aren't common, but they do occur. But because people don't necessarily know of the possibility, such melanomas can go undetected, threatening chances of survival.
"People come very late with melanoma of the nail plate," says Poulin. "They have a black streak in the nail for years."
Someone who has horizontal groves across all their fingernails has experienced an illness that has interrupted the growth of the nails. The condition, called Beau's lines, is associated with uncontrolled diabetes, circulatory diseases or illnesses associated with high fever, the Mayo Clinic says.
While nail changes can signal something is going on with a person's health, sometimes the message they send isn't specific to a particular disease.
"For example, when you see clubbing of the nails, there's like 20 different things that can be associated with that," Davis says. He adds the warning, though, that "if that happens and it's new, it can be a sign of lung cancer."
The term clubbing is used to describe the swelling or enlarging of the tips of the fingers, with the nails curving downwards over the tip. While some people are born with clubbing, if it develops later on it can be a symptom of lung disease, congenital heart disorders, inflammatory bowel disease or liver problems.
Spoon nails, on the other hand, come about when the fingernails soften and curl inward from the sides, creating a concave surface. Also known as koilonychia, spoon nails can be a sign of iron-deficiency anemia.
Davis suggests paying attention to, but not fretting unduly, over changes to fingernails.
"If they notice a change in their nails, I think it's reasonable to check on it, but not to get overly alarmed about it. Because there's lots of things that happen to the nails themselves that have nothing to do with any underlying conditions."
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Massachucetts Doctor Accused of Fabricating Results in Pain Studies
A US doctor has been accused of fabricating results in nearly two dozen studies of pain results after surgery, pertaining to vioxx and celebrex.
http://healthandfitness.sympatico.msn.ca/News/ContentPosting?newsitemid=1141437026&feedname=CP-HEALTH&show=False&number=0&showbyline=True&subtitle=&detect=&abc=abc&date=True
http://healthandfitness.sympatico.msn.ca/News/ContentPosting?newsitemid=1141437026&feedname=CP-HEALTH&show=False&number=0&showbyline=True&subtitle=&detect=&abc=abc&date=True
Canadians are Healthier than Americans
When I was travelling in Florida, I was surprised that I felt surprising slim. In a weak moment, I thought maybe I should move there, it would be good for my self esteem! Many Floridians that I had seen were seemingly overweight. I thought that Canadians were much leaner than Americans, however my research shows that we are not far off.
According to statistics, 23.1% of Canadians have a body mass index over 30 compared to 31% for Americans. In other countries such as England it is 24%, Spain 15%, Italy 10% and France 7%. These lower ratings in Spain, Italy and France may correlate with a Mediterranean diet, working less hours and spending more time walking and less time sitting and in cars. The Mediterranean diet consists of many fresh fruits and veggies, beans, olive oil and fish, not to forget the daily glass of red wine.
I did some research on this topic and I found an interesting article posted by
Sound Medicine from the University of Indiana
In the ages-old US vs. Canada debate, the U.S. has a few clear advantages. Our climate, overall, is better. And our professional football league definitely puts Canada's to shame. But when it comes to health, Canadians have the advantage. According to a study recently published by the American Journal of Public Health, Canadians are, on average, healthier than Americans.
To wit: Americans are 42% more likely than Canadians to have diabetes and 32% more likely to have high blood pressure. Also, not surprisingly, Americans are fatter than Canadians. Of those surveyed, 21% of Americans reported being obese, compared to 15% of Canadians.
What makes Canadians healthier? Some experts surmise that Canada's system of universal health coverage makes a large difference. According to the study, Canadians on average endure longer waits for doctor appointments, but more Canadians overall receive care. And, also according to the study, many more Americans than Canadians can't afford the medicine they need to ward off disease.
There is a bit of good news on the American side. According to the study, we tend to smoke less than Canadians. Still, less smoking hasn't enabled us to match the healthiness of our northern neighbors.
To wit: Americans are 42% more likely than Canadians to have diabetes and 32% more likely to have high blood pressure. Also, not surprisingly, Americans are fatter than Canadians. Of those surveyed, 21% of Americans reported being obese, compared to 15% of Canadians.
What makes Canadians healthier? Some experts surmise that Canada's system of universal health coverage makes a large difference. According to the study, Canadians on average endure longer waits for doctor appointments, but more Canadians overall receive care. And, also according to the study, many more Americans than Canadians can't afford the medicine they need to ward off disease.
There is a bit of good news on the American side. According to the study, we tend to smoke less than Canadians. Still, less smoking hasn't enabled us to match the healthiness of our northern neighbors.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
National Body Urges Three Provinces to Regulate Lab Techs
An interesting article by MSN on Health news:
http://healthandfitness.sympatico.msn.ca/News/ContentPosting?newsitemid=0444095027&feedname=CP-HEALTH&show=False&number=0&showbyline=True&subtitle=&detect=&abc=abc&date=True&pagenumber=2
National body urges three provinces to regulate lab technologists
04/03/2009 10:51:00 AMTara Brautigam, THE CANADIAN PRESS ST. JOHN'S, N.L. - Patient safety in three provinces and northern Canada may be at risk because medical laboratory technologists there aren't regulated, a national body warned Wednesday in the wake of Newfoundland and Labrador's botched breast cancer testing scandal.
Kurt Davis, executive director of the Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Science, urged Newfoundland, British Columbia, Prince Edward Island and the Territories to introduce professional regulation of lab technologists.
"This is very concerning because employers can basically hire whoever they want," he said at a news conference. "There are no restrictions on who can work in a medical laboratory in the absence of professional regulation.
"There's issues of patient safety, in worker safety, in patient confidentiality."
Davis singled out B.C. for "procrastinating" on a 10-year-old proposal to regulate the profession.
He also called on P.E.I., Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and the Territories to implement mandatory external accreditation of their medical labs to meet internationally accepted standards.
The laboratory medicine director of the Newfoundland health board at the centre of the faulty tests said she agrees regulation and accreditation are needed.
"Accreditation has certainly been a needed entity in laboratory medicine to ensure standards of practice, competency in training," said Lynn Wade of Eastern Health.
Up to 85 per cent of decisions by physicians are based on medical lab results, according to the Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Science, which represents more than 14,000 medical laboratory technologists across Canada.
Davis's call for action came a day after the release of a public inquiry report that found glaring errors at the St. John's lab that processed hundreds of botched breast cancer tests in Newfoundland.
Quality control at that lab was "so little and so haphazard as to be non-existent," provincial Supreme Court Justice Margaret Cameron wrote in a 495-page report.
"We are concerned that similar situations exist but have not erupted in this fashion across Canada," Davis said, citing cutbacks to medical lab sciences across the country in the 1990s.
Cameron issued 60 recommendations that, among other things, call for more training for clinicians, improved record-keeping and mandatory continuing education for laboratory technologists.
She has asked the Newfoundland government to report on the status of her recommendations by March 31, 2010.
The inquiry was launched in 2007 to probe how at least 386 men and women had their breast cancer tests botched.
The tests were intended to determine the most appropriate course of treatment.
At least 108 patients whose tests were misread have died in what is the province's biggest public health failure. But it will likely never be known how many of them, if any, died as a result of missing out on potentially life-saving treatment.
http://healthandfitness.sympatico.msn.ca/News/ContentPosting?newsitemid=0444095027&feedname=CP-HEALTH&show=False&number=0&showbyline=True&subtitle=&detect=&abc=abc&date=True&pagenumber=2
National body urges three provinces to regulate lab technologists
04/03/2009 10:51:00 AMTara Brautigam, THE CANADIAN PRESS ST. JOHN'S, N.L. - Patient safety in three provinces and northern Canada may be at risk because medical laboratory technologists there aren't regulated, a national body warned Wednesday in the wake of Newfoundland and Labrador's botched breast cancer testing scandal.
Kurt Davis, executive director of the Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Science, urged Newfoundland, British Columbia, Prince Edward Island and the Territories to introduce professional regulation of lab technologists.
"This is very concerning because employers can basically hire whoever they want," he said at a news conference. "There are no restrictions on who can work in a medical laboratory in the absence of professional regulation.
"There's issues of patient safety, in worker safety, in patient confidentiality."
Davis singled out B.C. for "procrastinating" on a 10-year-old proposal to regulate the profession.
He also called on P.E.I., Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and the Territories to implement mandatory external accreditation of their medical labs to meet internationally accepted standards.
The laboratory medicine director of the Newfoundland health board at the centre of the faulty tests said she agrees regulation and accreditation are needed.
"Accreditation has certainly been a needed entity in laboratory medicine to ensure standards of practice, competency in training," said Lynn Wade of Eastern Health.
Up to 85 per cent of decisions by physicians are based on medical lab results, according to the Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Science, which represents more than 14,000 medical laboratory technologists across Canada.
Davis's call for action came a day after the release of a public inquiry report that found glaring errors at the St. John's lab that processed hundreds of botched breast cancer tests in Newfoundland.
Quality control at that lab was "so little and so haphazard as to be non-existent," provincial Supreme Court Justice Margaret Cameron wrote in a 495-page report.
"We are concerned that similar situations exist but have not erupted in this fashion across Canada," Davis said, citing cutbacks to medical lab sciences across the country in the 1990s.
Cameron issued 60 recommendations that, among other things, call for more training for clinicians, improved record-keeping and mandatory continuing education for laboratory technologists.
She has asked the Newfoundland government to report on the status of her recommendations by March 31, 2010.
The inquiry was launched in 2007 to probe how at least 386 men and women had their breast cancer tests botched.
The tests were intended to determine the most appropriate course of treatment.
At least 108 patients whose tests were misread have died in what is the province's biggest public health failure. But it will likely never be known how many of them, if any, died as a result of missing out on potentially life-saving treatment.
Friday, February 20, 2009
Health Canada Warns of Side Effects from MS Drug
A drug called Tysabri, used in the treatment of MS, has been in the news. It has been found that this drug has been linked to a brain infection called PML in five cases. PML or progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy usually happens in those with a weakened immune system.
Toronto Medical Officer is Calling for An Increase in Funding for Food
Dr. David McKeown, Medical Officer for Health in Toronto is requesting an increase in monthly funding for those on social assistance. Many people on social assistance are using foodbanks, which is on the rise. People are having to chose between less expensive food or rent. Fresh foods are more pricey and people's health is suffering.
Mediterranean Diet Associated with Less Heart Disease in Women
Another great article from LEF
http://www.lef.org/newsletter/2009/0220_Mediterranean-Diet-Reduction-in-Deaths-Heart-Attack-and-Stroke.htm?source=eNewsLetter2009Wk8-2&key=Article&l=0#article
Close on the heels of the publication of a study in the AMA journal Archives of Neurology linking the consumption of a Mediterranean diet to a lower risk of mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease, an article published online on February 17, 2009 in the American Heart Association journal Circulation reports an association between greater adherence to a Mediterranean diet and a reduction in deaths from coronary heart disease and stroke in women.
Teresa T. Fung of Simmons College in Boston along with colleagues at Harvard University and Brigham and Women’s Hospital evaluated data from 74,886 participants in the Nurses’ Health Study for the current analysis. Dietary questionnaires administered six times during the follow-up period were scored for adherence to the Mediterranean diet, which is characterized by a high intake of vegetables, fruits, nuts, whole grains, legumes, fish, and monounsaturated fat, a low intake of saturated fat, red and processed meats, and moderate alcohol consumption (between 5 and 15 grams per day).
Over two decades of follow-up, 1,597 nonfatal and 794 fatal cases of coronary heart disease, and 1,480 nonfatal and 283 fatal strokes occurred. Women whose Mediterranean diet scores were in the top 20 percent of participants had a 29 percent lower adjusted risk of coronary heart disease, a 42 percent lower risk of fatal heart disease, a 13 percent lower risk of stroke, and a 31 percent lower risk of fatal stroke compared to women whose scores were among the lowest fifth. Combined coronary heart disease and stroke risk was lowered by 22 percent, and the risk of cardiovascular fatality by 39 percent, for those whose diet scores were in the top 20 percent.
Consumption of a Mediterranean diet has been associated with reductions in inflammatory markers (such as C-reactive protein), lipids and blood pressure, all of which increase cardiovascular disease risk when elevated. The beneficial effect of the diet on the vascular system may also explain the reduced risk of mild cognitive impairment observed in the Archives of Neurology study. The higher fish intake that characterizes the diet could explain, in part, the lower risk of fatal coronary heart disease events observed in the current study, since greater fish intake has been linked with a lower risk of death from heart disease.
“Greater adherence to the Mediterranean diet, as reflected by a higher Alternate Mediterranean Diet Score, was associated with a lower risk of incident coronary heart disease and stroke in women,” the authors conclude. “Because this analysis is conducted in women and because it is the first report on the effects of Mediterranean diet on stroke, our results need to be replicated in other populations, especially men.”
http://www.lef.org/newsletter/2009/0220_Mediterranean-Diet-Reduction-in-Deaths-Heart-Attack-and-Stroke.htm?source=eNewsLetter2009Wk8-2&key=Article&l=0#article
Close on the heels of the publication of a study in the AMA journal Archives of Neurology linking the consumption of a Mediterranean diet to a lower risk of mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease, an article published online on February 17, 2009 in the American Heart Association journal Circulation reports an association between greater adherence to a Mediterranean diet and a reduction in deaths from coronary heart disease and stroke in women.
Teresa T. Fung of Simmons College in Boston along with colleagues at Harvard University and Brigham and Women’s Hospital evaluated data from 74,886 participants in the Nurses’ Health Study for the current analysis. Dietary questionnaires administered six times during the follow-up period were scored for adherence to the Mediterranean diet, which is characterized by a high intake of vegetables, fruits, nuts, whole grains, legumes, fish, and monounsaturated fat, a low intake of saturated fat, red and processed meats, and moderate alcohol consumption (between 5 and 15 grams per day).
Over two decades of follow-up, 1,597 nonfatal and 794 fatal cases of coronary heart disease, and 1,480 nonfatal and 283 fatal strokes occurred. Women whose Mediterranean diet scores were in the top 20 percent of participants had a 29 percent lower adjusted risk of coronary heart disease, a 42 percent lower risk of fatal heart disease, a 13 percent lower risk of stroke, and a 31 percent lower risk of fatal stroke compared to women whose scores were among the lowest fifth. Combined coronary heart disease and stroke risk was lowered by 22 percent, and the risk of cardiovascular fatality by 39 percent, for those whose diet scores were in the top 20 percent.
Consumption of a Mediterranean diet has been associated with reductions in inflammatory markers (such as C-reactive protein), lipids and blood pressure, all of which increase cardiovascular disease risk when elevated. The beneficial effect of the diet on the vascular system may also explain the reduced risk of mild cognitive impairment observed in the Archives of Neurology study. The higher fish intake that characterizes the diet could explain, in part, the lower risk of fatal coronary heart disease events observed in the current study, since greater fish intake has been linked with a lower risk of death from heart disease.
“Greater adherence to the Mediterranean diet, as reflected by a higher Alternate Mediterranean Diet Score, was associated with a lower risk of incident coronary heart disease and stroke in women,” the authors conclude. “Because this analysis is conducted in women and because it is the first report on the effects of Mediterranean diet on stroke, our results need to be replicated in other populations, especially men.”
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Reverse Fatty Liver Through Weight Loss
Another great article from LEF Daily News:
http://www.lef.org/news/LefDailyNews.htm?NewsID=7908&Section=NUTRITION&source=DHB_090219&key=Body+Title
Reverse fatty liver disease; 9% weight loss can improve it
McClatchy-Tribune Information Services -- Unrestricted
02-18-09
People with fatty liver disease now have a goal to shoot for as they try to turn their illness around.
In a new study, researchers at St. Louis University found that weight loss of at least 9 percent helped patients reverse non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, more commonly known as fatty liver disease.
The finding will allow doctors to give patients specific weight-loss goals that are likely to improve their livers, researchers say. The results come from a study of the diet drug orlistat (Xenical and Alli), which did not itself improve liver disease.
"It's a helpful study because we can now give patients a benchmark -- a line they need to cross to see improvement," said Dr. Brent Neuschwander-Tetri, a hepatologist at the St. Louis University Liver Center and one of the study researchers.
His work followed 50 patients with NASH, a disease characterized by excessive fat, which causes inflammation and damage to the liver. The aim of the study was to see whether orlistat, which limits fat absorption, along with calorie restriction could lead to weight loss and improve liver disease in overweight patients with NASH.
The patients followed a 1,400-calorie-per-day diet. Half also received orlistat for 36 weeks, at which time another liver biopsy was performed.
Researchers found that patients who lost at least 5 percent of their body weight over nine months showed improvement in insulin resistance and fat accumulation in the liver. However, those who lost 9 percent or more of their weight showed actual reversal of their liver damage.
The findings about the drug were less clear. Those in the orlistat group lost 8.3 percent of their body weight while those in the other group lost 6 percent, a difference that is not statistically significant. Orlistat did not itself improve liver enzymes, insulin resistance or liver damage.
"The bottom line is that weight loss can help improve fatty liver disease," Neuschwander-Tetri said. "Now we know how much weight loss is needed for improvement, and we can give patients specific goals as they work to improve their health."
The study was published in last month's issue of Hepatology. It was funded by Roche Pharmaceuticals, which makes orlistat. To see more of the Belleville News-Democrat, Ill., or to subscribe, visit http://www.belleville.com. Copyright (c) 2009, Belleville News-Democrat, Ill. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.
http://www.lef.org/news/LefDailyNews.htm?NewsID=7908&Section=NUTRITION&source=DHB_090219&key=Body+Title
Reverse fatty liver disease; 9% weight loss can improve it
McClatchy-Tribune Information Services -- Unrestricted
02-18-09
People with fatty liver disease now have a goal to shoot for as they try to turn their illness around.
In a new study, researchers at St. Louis University found that weight loss of at least 9 percent helped patients reverse non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, more commonly known as fatty liver disease.
The finding will allow doctors to give patients specific weight-loss goals that are likely to improve their livers, researchers say. The results come from a study of the diet drug orlistat (Xenical and Alli), which did not itself improve liver disease.
"It's a helpful study because we can now give patients a benchmark -- a line they need to cross to see improvement," said Dr. Brent Neuschwander-Tetri, a hepatologist at the St. Louis University Liver Center and one of the study researchers.
His work followed 50 patients with NASH, a disease characterized by excessive fat, which causes inflammation and damage to the liver. The aim of the study was to see whether orlistat, which limits fat absorption, along with calorie restriction could lead to weight loss and improve liver disease in overweight patients with NASH.
The patients followed a 1,400-calorie-per-day diet. Half also received orlistat for 36 weeks, at which time another liver biopsy was performed.
Researchers found that patients who lost at least 5 percent of their body weight over nine months showed improvement in insulin resistance and fat accumulation in the liver. However, those who lost 9 percent or more of their weight showed actual reversal of their liver damage.
The findings about the drug were less clear. Those in the orlistat group lost 8.3 percent of their body weight while those in the other group lost 6 percent, a difference that is not statistically significant. Orlistat did not itself improve liver enzymes, insulin resistance or liver damage.
"The bottom line is that weight loss can help improve fatty liver disease," Neuschwander-Tetri said. "Now we know how much weight loss is needed for improvement, and we can give patients specific goals as they work to improve their health."
The study was published in last month's issue of Hepatology. It was funded by Roche Pharmaceuticals, which makes orlistat. To see more of the Belleville News-Democrat, Ill., or to subscribe, visit http://www.belleville.com. Copyright (c) 2009, Belleville News-Democrat, Ill. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
CRP more powerful indicator for heart disease than cholesterol levels
According to the latest research CRP or C-Reactive Protein, a marker for inflammation is a more accurate measure for a pending heart attack than cholesterol levels. Your medical doctor can order this test for you.
There are many natural supplements that improve CRP levels, such as Fish Oil, a high intake of vegetables and less animal proteins and a supplement called TLC.
There are many natural supplements that improve CRP levels, such as Fish Oil, a high intake of vegetables and less animal proteins and a supplement called TLC.
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Losing Weight Can Help Urinary Incontinance in Overweight Women
An Extract from Life Extension Foundation
http://www.lef.org/news/LefDailyNews.htm?NewsID=7850&Section=NUTRITION&source=DHB_090206&key=Body+ContinueReading
Weight loss in overweight and obese women reduces urinary incontinence
NewsRx.com
02-05-09
Reducing urinary incontinence can now be added to the extensive list of health benefits of weight loss, according to a clinical trial funded by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) and the Office of Research on Women's Health (ORWH), both part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The paper reporting the results of the trial will be published in the January 29 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine (see also NIH/National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases).
The Program to Reduce Incontinence by Diet and Exercise (PRIDE), conducted in Birmingham, Alabama, and Providence, Rhode Island, recruited a total of 338 obese and overweight women who leaked urine at least 10 times per week. The women were randomly assigned to either an intensive six-month weight-loss program of diet, exercise and behavior modification or to a group that received information about diet and exercise, but no training to help them change habits.
The investigators report that women in the intensive weight-loss group lost an average 8 percent of their body weight (about 17 pounds) and reduced weekly urinary incontinence episodes by nearly one-half (47 percent). In contrast, women in the information-only group lost an average 1.6 percent of body weight (about 3 pounds) and had 28 percent fewer episodes.
"Clearly, weight loss can have a significant, positive impact on urinary incontinence, a finding that may help motivate weight loss, which has additional health benefits such as preventing type 2 diabetes," said NIDDK Director Griffin P. Rodgers, M.D.
Urinary incontinence affects more than 13 million women in the United States and accounts for an estimated $20 billion in annual health care costs, according to the paper. Obesity is an established and modifiable risk factor for urinary incontinence, but conclusive evidence for a beneficial effect of weight loss on urinary incontinence has been lacking. The PRIDE trial provides evidence supporting weight loss as a treatment for incontinence.
An important finding of the study is the difference between the two groups in the reduction of incontinence. Among women in the weight-loss group, 41 percent achieved a clinically relevant reduction of at least 70 percent of total incontinence episodes per week, whereas 22 percent of women in the information-only group achieved the same level of reduction.
At six months, women in the weight-loss group were significantly more satisfied with the change in their incontinence than were women in the information-only group. This was assessed through self-reported perceived change in frequency of incontinence, volume of urine loss, the degree to which incontinence was a problem, and satisfaction with the change in incontinence.
"Studies have documented that behavioral interventions help people lose weight, which helps decrease the risk of developing type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure, improve control of high blood pressure and cholesterol levels, and enhance mood and quality of life," said Leslee L. Subak, M.D., of the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) and lead author of the study. "Our results suggest that a decrease in urinary incontinence is another health benefit associated with weight loss and that weight reduction can be a first-line treatment in overweight and obese women."
Keywords: Obesity and Diabetes, Bariatrics, Behavior, Clinical Trial Research, Diabetes, Gastroenterology, Incontinence, Kidney Disease, Non-insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus, Obesity, Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, Urinary Incontinence, Urology, Weight Loss, Women's Health, NIH/National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.
This article was prepared by Diabetes Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2009, Diabetes Week via NewsRx.com.
To see more of the NewsRx.com, or to subscribe, go to http://www.newsrx.com .
http://www.lef.org/news/LefDailyNews.htm?NewsID=7850&Section=NUTRITION&source=DHB_090206&key=Body+ContinueReading
Weight loss in overweight and obese women reduces urinary incontinence
NewsRx.com
02-05-09
Reducing urinary incontinence can now be added to the extensive list of health benefits of weight loss, according to a clinical trial funded by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) and the Office of Research on Women's Health (ORWH), both part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The paper reporting the results of the trial will be published in the January 29 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine (see also NIH/National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases).
The Program to Reduce Incontinence by Diet and Exercise (PRIDE), conducted in Birmingham, Alabama, and Providence, Rhode Island, recruited a total of 338 obese and overweight women who leaked urine at least 10 times per week. The women were randomly assigned to either an intensive six-month weight-loss program of diet, exercise and behavior modification or to a group that received information about diet and exercise, but no training to help them change habits.
The investigators report that women in the intensive weight-loss group lost an average 8 percent of their body weight (about 17 pounds) and reduced weekly urinary incontinence episodes by nearly one-half (47 percent). In contrast, women in the information-only group lost an average 1.6 percent of body weight (about 3 pounds) and had 28 percent fewer episodes.
"Clearly, weight loss can have a significant, positive impact on urinary incontinence, a finding that may help motivate weight loss, which has additional health benefits such as preventing type 2 diabetes," said NIDDK Director Griffin P. Rodgers, M.D.
Urinary incontinence affects more than 13 million women in the United States and accounts for an estimated $20 billion in annual health care costs, according to the paper. Obesity is an established and modifiable risk factor for urinary incontinence, but conclusive evidence for a beneficial effect of weight loss on urinary incontinence has been lacking. The PRIDE trial provides evidence supporting weight loss as a treatment for incontinence.
An important finding of the study is the difference between the two groups in the reduction of incontinence. Among women in the weight-loss group, 41 percent achieved a clinically relevant reduction of at least 70 percent of total incontinence episodes per week, whereas 22 percent of women in the information-only group achieved the same level of reduction.
At six months, women in the weight-loss group were significantly more satisfied with the change in their incontinence than were women in the information-only group. This was assessed through self-reported perceived change in frequency of incontinence, volume of urine loss, the degree to which incontinence was a problem, and satisfaction with the change in incontinence.
"Studies have documented that behavioral interventions help people lose weight, which helps decrease the risk of developing type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure, improve control of high blood pressure and cholesterol levels, and enhance mood and quality of life," said Leslee L. Subak, M.D., of the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) and lead author of the study. "Our results suggest that a decrease in urinary incontinence is another health benefit associated with weight loss and that weight reduction can be a first-line treatment in overweight and obese women."
Keywords: Obesity and Diabetes, Bariatrics, Behavior, Clinical Trial Research, Diabetes, Gastroenterology, Incontinence, Kidney Disease, Non-insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus, Obesity, Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, Urinary Incontinence, Urology, Weight Loss, Women's Health, NIH/National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.
This article was prepared by Diabetes Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2009, Diabetes Week via NewsRx.com.
To see more of the NewsRx.com, or to subscribe, go to http://www.newsrx.com .
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Low Cholesterol Recipes
February, the month of the heart. I had received an excellent few low cholesterol recipes from epicurious. Please follow this link to check out their yummy recipes:
http://www.epicurious.com/articlesguides/healthy/nutritiousdishes/lowcholesterolhearthealth?mbid=RF
http://www.epicurious.com/articlesguides/healthy/nutritiousdishes/lowcholesterolhearthealth?mbid=RF
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
USA Newsblog reports on Mercury in Corn Syrup
Having done some testing for clients, many of them ask where they are getting the heavy metal mercury from. There are a few common sources such as the flu shot, fish and dental fillings. This report found on www.usnews.com reports that mercury is found in high fructose corn syrup. I think I will stay off the sweet for now!
Have a read:
Mercury Found in High Fructose Corn Syrup
January 28, 2009 01:20 PM ET Maura Judkis Permanent Link Print
Quantities of mercury have been found in high fructose corn syrup, the ingredient that has replaced sugar in many of our processed foods. Reports have also come out that the FDA knew about traces of the toxic substance in food, and sat on the information. This news comes out just as we've learned that the peanut butter factory responsible for the salmonella outbreak has a storied history of health violations. What a week for food safety.
Mercury in high fructose corn syrup affects many of the most popular foods in America, including yogurt, soda, candy, juice and jelly. Even a small amount of it can be seriously unhealthy.
"Mercury is toxic in all its forms,” said IATP’s David Wallinga, M.D., and a co-author in both studies. “Given how much high fructose corn syrup is consumed by children, it could be a significant additional source of mercury never before considered. We are calling for immediate changes by industry and the FDA to help stop this avoidable mercury contamination of the food supply."
The Corn Refiners Association is disputing the results of the study, but a watchdog group's study turned up similar results. More research is needed to determine exactly which foods are affected, but some of the foods tested were from the brands Hershey's, Quaker, Hunt's, Manwich, Smucker's, Kraft, Nutri-Grain, and Yoplait. We've already read that high fructose corn syrup can contribute to obesity and diabetes. With this recent scare, will people take a turn away from processed foods to more natural eating habits? Or have processed foods become an irreplacable part of the American diet?
Have a read:
Mercury Found in High Fructose Corn Syrup
January 28, 2009 01:20 PM ET Maura Judkis Permanent Link Print
Quantities of mercury have been found in high fructose corn syrup, the ingredient that has replaced sugar in many of our processed foods. Reports have also come out that the FDA knew about traces of the toxic substance in food, and sat on the information. This news comes out just as we've learned that the peanut butter factory responsible for the salmonella outbreak has a storied history of health violations. What a week for food safety.
Mercury in high fructose corn syrup affects many of the most popular foods in America, including yogurt, soda, candy, juice and jelly. Even a small amount of it can be seriously unhealthy.
"Mercury is toxic in all its forms,” said IATP’s David Wallinga, M.D., and a co-author in both studies. “Given how much high fructose corn syrup is consumed by children, it could be a significant additional source of mercury never before considered. We are calling for immediate changes by industry and the FDA to help stop this avoidable mercury contamination of the food supply."
The Corn Refiners Association is disputing the results of the study, but a watchdog group's study turned up similar results. More research is needed to determine exactly which foods are affected, but some of the foods tested were from the brands Hershey's, Quaker, Hunt's, Manwich, Smucker's, Kraft, Nutri-Grain, and Yoplait. We've already read that high fructose corn syrup can contribute to obesity and diabetes. With this recent scare, will people take a turn away from processed foods to more natural eating habits? Or have processed foods become an irreplacable part of the American diet?
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Local Author and Homeopath Hosts a Community Health Talk with a Fresh New Twist on How to Enhance Longevity and Prevent Disease
Local Author and Homeopath Hosts a Community Health Talk with a Fresh New Twist on How to Enhance Longevity and Prevent Disease
Heather Caruso, a local of Guelph Ontario and author of ``Your Drug Free Guide to Digestive Health, A Handbook of Homeopathic, Dietary and Other Natural Treatments for Common Digestive Disorders`` is hosting a community event to educate the public on the many health benefits of keeping your digestion in top shape.
This health workshop will cover the following:
· Learn how to eat well to enhance your health and longevity.
· What supplements have been researched and found useful to promote immunity through the digestive tract.
· Prevent common diseases through natural remedies and diet.
Date: Saturday March 28th, 10am until 11:30am.
Location: Ann Street Family Chiropractic, 595 Woolwich Street, Guelph Ontario
Space is limited to ten people please call ahead to ensure a spot.
Contact: 519 827 9237 Email: carusohomeopathic@bellnet.ca
Heather Caruso, a local of Guelph Ontario and author of ``Your Drug Free Guide to Digestive Health, A Handbook of Homeopathic, Dietary and Other Natural Treatments for Common Digestive Disorders`` is hosting a community event to educate the public on the many health benefits of keeping your digestion in top shape.
This health workshop will cover the following:
· Learn how to eat well to enhance your health and longevity.
· What supplements have been researched and found useful to promote immunity through the digestive tract.
· Prevent common diseases through natural remedies and diet.
Date: Saturday March 28th, 10am until 11:30am.
Location: Ann Street Family Chiropractic, 595 Woolwich Street, Guelph Ontario
Space is limited to ten people please call ahead to ensure a spot.
Contact: 519 827 9237 Email: carusohomeopathic@bellnet.ca
It is now illegal in Ontario to smoke in cars with children
I was delighted to hear, on the way to work that it is illegal to smoke with children in the car in Ontario as of today!
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Study finds anti-psychotic meds related to heart problems
NEW YORK - Newer anti-psychotic drugs are no safer than older ones for the risk of suddenly dying from a heart problem, says a study that finds they roughly double that hazard.
http://healthandfitness.sympatico.msn.ca/News/ContentPosting?newsitemid=53895028&feedname=CP-HEALTH&show=True&number=5&showbyline=True&subtitle=&detect=&abc=abc&date=True
http://healthandfitness.sympatico.msn.ca/News/ContentPosting?newsitemid=53895028&feedname=CP-HEALTH&show=True&number=5&showbyline=True&subtitle=&detect=&abc=abc&date=True
Commonly Prescribed Blood Pressure Meds Shouldn't be Combined
Commonly combined blood pressure drugs shouldn't be taken together
THE CANADIAN PRESS
16/01/2009 12:49:00 PM
TORONTO - A commonly prescribed combination of blood pressure drugs should not be taken together, the Heart and Stroke Foundation warned Friday in updated blood pressure management guidelines.
The new advice is based on the results of a large Canadian-led trial that found combining a so-called ACE inhibitor with an angiotensin receptor blocker actually increases the user's risk of sudden cardiac death, kidney disease and the need for dialysis.
"These two popular categories of hypertension medication are each safe and effective treatments - but not together," said Dr. Sheldon Tobe, a Heart and Stroke spokesperson and an executive member of the committee that revised the blood pressure management guidelines.
As many as 175,000 Canadians with high blood pressure may be currently taking the combination of the two medications, the group said in a statement.
Read more: http://healthandfitness.sympatico.msn.ca/News/ContentPosting?newsitemid=51708034&feedname=CP-HEALTH&show=False&number=0&showbyline=True&subtitle=&detect=&abc=abc&date=True
Friday, January 16, 2009
Employer Sponsored Workouts Boost Employees Health
Taken from medicinenet.com
http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=95457
TUESDAY, Jan. 6 (HealthDay News) -- Encouraging your workers to work out works, a new study says.
Home Depot employees who participated in a company-sponsored program to support workers in setting exercise goals notably increased their levels of moderate or vigorous physical activity.
The findings were published in the February edition of American Journal of Preventive Medicine.
For three months, 1,442 participants set weekly personal and team physical activity goals and reaped incentives for meeting them. After six weeks, slightly more than half of the participants did at least five 30-minute moderate exercise sessions or two 20-minute vigorous exercise sessions weekly -- up from about 30% at the study's start. Meanwhile, only 25% of those in a control group of non-participants logged similar exercise sessions.
Throughout the study, the participants maintained their increased levels of activity, and few people dropped out.
"The biggest pleasant surprise was the steady and sustained progress. That can probably be explained by the social incentives and support from personal goals and achievements that had direct impact on team success," study lead author Rod Dishman, a professor of exercise science at the University of Georgia, said in a news release issued by Health Behavior News Service.
Key to the program's success may have been the use of group and organizational goal-setting along with individual goals, because they provide vital peer encouragement, Katherine Alaimo, an assistant professor at Michigan State University, said in the same news release.
"Personal and team goals work best when they are self-set, specific about how much activity and when, realistic but attainable and easily assessed, such as by weekly logs or pedometer steps," Dishman added.
-- Kevin McKeever
SOURCE: American Journal of Preventive Medicine, news release, Jan. 6, 2009
http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=95457
TUESDAY, Jan. 6 (HealthDay News) -- Encouraging your workers to work out works, a new study says.
Home Depot employees who participated in a company-sponsored program to support workers in setting exercise goals notably increased their levels of moderate or vigorous physical activity.
The findings were published in the February edition of American Journal of Preventive Medicine.
For three months, 1,442 participants set weekly personal and team physical activity goals and reaped incentives for meeting them. After six weeks, slightly more than half of the participants did at least five 30-minute moderate exercise sessions or two 20-minute vigorous exercise sessions weekly -- up from about 30% at the study's start. Meanwhile, only 25% of those in a control group of non-participants logged similar exercise sessions.
Throughout the study, the participants maintained their increased levels of activity, and few people dropped out.
"The biggest pleasant surprise was the steady and sustained progress. That can probably be explained by the social incentives and support from personal goals and achievements that had direct impact on team success," study lead author Rod Dishman, a professor of exercise science at the University of Georgia, said in a news release issued by Health Behavior News Service.
Key to the program's success may have been the use of group and organizational goal-setting along with individual goals, because they provide vital peer encouragement, Katherine Alaimo, an assistant professor at Michigan State University, said in the same news release.
"Personal and team goals work best when they are self-set, specific about how much activity and when, realistic but attainable and easily assessed, such as by weekly logs or pedometer steps," Dishman added.
-- Kevin McKeever
SOURCE: American Journal of Preventive Medicine, news release, Jan. 6, 2009
Low Levels of Vitamin D linked to Diabtes, Arthritis and Cancer...
Another great article put out by Life Extension;
http://www.lef.org/news/LefDailyNews.htm?NewsID=7779&Section=DISEASE
Experts: Paucity of vitamin D is a crisis: Low levels linked to diabetes, arthritis, cancer, experts say
McClatchy-Tribune Information Services -- Unrestricted
01-14-09
Here's one more reason to detest the gloom of winter: It zaps the body's natural supply of a vitamin linked to everything from bone health to cancer survival.
Loads of Americans aren't getting enough vitamin D, and those who live under frequently gray skies are hit harder. Studies have shown that as many as half of adults and four in 10 children in this country have too little of the nutrient in their bodies.
The problem is even worse for African-Americans, Latinos and others with dark skin. Other high-risk groups include women of childbearing age, breast-fed infants who aren't receiving vitamin-D supplements and the elderly.
Doctors and scientists are becoming increasingly aware of the importance of the vitamin and the likelihood that patients aren't getting enough. The American Public Health Association recently issued a policy statement on the topic, calling for action by multiple federal agencies and by Congress.
"Vitamin D is much more than bone health," said Azzie Young, who wrote the statement and is president and chief executive officer of Mattapan Community Health Center in Boston.
"It's linked to all kinds of chronic diseases diabetes, high blood pressure, muscle stiffness, most cancers, arthritis."
The group wants to increase education of health professionals and the public, promote research involving diverse populations and add vitamin D to the list of nutrients that manufacturers must include on nutrition labels.
Vitamin D comes in the most bountiful dose from sunshine.
When sun hits the skin, it triggers production of vitamin D in the body. Sunscreen impedes that process.
Experts most often recommend vitamin supplements, given concerns about harmful effects of sun exposure, the absence of sun in some parts of the world for days and weeks on end and the paltry amount found naturally in foods.
The government recommends at least 200 international units of the vitamin a day for children and adults through age 50, 400 units for those ages 51 to 70 and 600 units for those older than 70.
In November, the American Academy of Pediatrics increased its recommendation for infants and children to 400 units a day, beginning soon after birth.
The Institute of Medicine is studying calcium and vitamin D and might adjust its recommendations, spokeswoman Christine Stencel said.
Many experts think that a daily dose of 1,000 units or more would be beneficial for everyone. Garden-variety multivitamins typically contain 400 units.
"It's a public-health epidemic, and it's easy to treat," Young said.
"It's simple, it's effective, it's safe and it's relatively inexpensive."
Prices vary, but the cost of a 1,000-unit vitamin-D tablet is about 5 cents. Excess vitamin D rarely causes problems.
Dr. Elena Christofides, an endocrinologist with Endocrinology Associates in Columbus, is passionate about decreasing the incidence of vitamin-D deficiency and ardently recommends supplements to all her patients.
"This is one of the greatest public-health issues that's going to be facing us for some time," she said.
Dr. Velimir Matkovic, an Ohio State University Medical Center internist who specializes in bone disease, has studied vitamin D and found that Columbus residents, thanks to our cloudy skies, have severe deficiencies from November to April. Levels peak in July and August and begin to fall again after that, he said.
Matkovic said it's safe to take up to 2,000 international units a day in supplements. He also advocates some sun exposure, although not during peak hours.
mcrane@dispatch.com To see more of The Columbus Dispatch, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.columbusdispatch.com. Copyright (c) 2009, The Columbus Dispatch, Ohio Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.
http://www.lef.org/news/LefDailyNews.htm?NewsID=7779&Section=DISEASE
Experts: Paucity of vitamin D is a crisis: Low levels linked to diabetes, arthritis, cancer, experts say
McClatchy-Tribune Information Services -- Unrestricted
01-14-09
Here's one more reason to detest the gloom of winter: It zaps the body's natural supply of a vitamin linked to everything from bone health to cancer survival.
Loads of Americans aren't getting enough vitamin D, and those who live under frequently gray skies are hit harder. Studies have shown that as many as half of adults and four in 10 children in this country have too little of the nutrient in their bodies.
The problem is even worse for African-Americans, Latinos and others with dark skin. Other high-risk groups include women of childbearing age, breast-fed infants who aren't receiving vitamin-D supplements and the elderly.
Doctors and scientists are becoming increasingly aware of the importance of the vitamin and the likelihood that patients aren't getting enough. The American Public Health Association recently issued a policy statement on the topic, calling for action by multiple federal agencies and by Congress.
"Vitamin D is much more than bone health," said Azzie Young, who wrote the statement and is president and chief executive officer of Mattapan Community Health Center in Boston.
"It's linked to all kinds of chronic diseases diabetes, high blood pressure, muscle stiffness, most cancers, arthritis."
The group wants to increase education of health professionals and the public, promote research involving diverse populations and add vitamin D to the list of nutrients that manufacturers must include on nutrition labels.
Vitamin D comes in the most bountiful dose from sunshine.
When sun hits the skin, it triggers production of vitamin D in the body. Sunscreen impedes that process.
Experts most often recommend vitamin supplements, given concerns about harmful effects of sun exposure, the absence of sun in some parts of the world for days and weeks on end and the paltry amount found naturally in foods.
The government recommends at least 200 international units of the vitamin a day for children and adults through age 50, 400 units for those ages 51 to 70 and 600 units for those older than 70.
In November, the American Academy of Pediatrics increased its recommendation for infants and children to 400 units a day, beginning soon after birth.
The Institute of Medicine is studying calcium and vitamin D and might adjust its recommendations, spokeswoman Christine Stencel said.
Many experts think that a daily dose of 1,000 units or more would be beneficial for everyone. Garden-variety multivitamins typically contain 400 units.
"It's a public-health epidemic, and it's easy to treat," Young said.
"It's simple, it's effective, it's safe and it's relatively inexpensive."
Prices vary, but the cost of a 1,000-unit vitamin-D tablet is about 5 cents. Excess vitamin D rarely causes problems.
Dr. Elena Christofides, an endocrinologist with Endocrinology Associates in Columbus, is passionate about decreasing the incidence of vitamin-D deficiency and ardently recommends supplements to all her patients.
"This is one of the greatest public-health issues that's going to be facing us for some time," she said.
Dr. Velimir Matkovic, an Ohio State University Medical Center internist who specializes in bone disease, has studied vitamin D and found that Columbus residents, thanks to our cloudy skies, have severe deficiencies from November to April. Levels peak in July and August and begin to fall again after that, he said.
Matkovic said it's safe to take up to 2,000 international units a day in supplements. He also advocates some sun exposure, although not during peak hours.
mcrane@dispatch.com To see more of The Columbus Dispatch, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.columbusdispatch.com. Copyright (c) 2009, The Columbus Dispatch, Ohio Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
NY Times Reports on Antipsychotic Drugs Having Side Effects
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/15/health/research/15psych.html?_r=1&ref=health
By BENEDICT CAREY and RONI CARYN RABIN
Published: January 14, 2009
The popular drugs known as atypical antipsychotics, prescribed for an array of conditions, including schizophrenia, autism and dementia, double patients’ risk of dying from sudden heart failure, a study has found.
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Related
Atypical Antipsychotic Drugs and the Risk of Sudden Cardiac Death (NEJM)
The finding is the latest in a succession of recent reports contradicting the long-held assumption that the new drugs, which include Risperdal, Zyprexa and Seroquel, are safer than the older and much less expensive medications that they replaced.
The risk of death from the drugs is not high, on average about 3 percent in a person being treated at least 10 years, according to the study, published Thursday in The New England Journal of Medicine. Nor was the risk different from that of the older antipsychotic drugs.
But it was significant enough that an accompanying editorial urged doctors to limit their prescribing of antipsychotic drugs, especially to children and elderly patients, who can be highly susceptible to the drugs’ side effects, including rapid weight gain.
In recent years, the newer drugs, which account for about 90 percent of the market, have become increasingly controversial, as prescription rates to children and elderly people have soared. Doctors use the drugs to settle outbursts related to a host of psychiatric disorders, including attention deficit disorder and Alzheimer’s disease. Most are not approved for such use. After an analysis of study data, the Food and Drug Administration required that all antipsychotics’ labels contain a warning that the drugs were associated with a heightened risk of heart failure in elderly patients.
The new study, an analysis of more than 250,000 Medicaid records, is the first to rigorously document that risk for the newer drugs in adults over 30 without previous heart problems.
In the study, researchers at Vanderbilt University and the Nashville Veterans Affairs Medical Center analyzed Tennessee Medicaid records for 276,907 people ages 30 to 74. About a third of them began taking an antipsychotic medication in the period studied, from 1990 to 2005, either a newer atypical or an older drug. Two-thirds made up a control group. The researchers excluded patients with heart disease or other problems that might put them at higher risk of cardiac failure. Antipsychotic drugs can affect heart rhythm in some vulnerable people.
They found 478 sudden cardiac deaths among those taking the drugs, about twice the rate of the control group. The risk — equivalent to 3 deaths for every 1,000 patients taking the drugs for a year — was about the same whether people took the newer or older medications. The higher the dose of the drug, the study found, the higher the risk of sudden death.
“The implication of this study is that physicians need to do a very careful cardiovascular evaluation prior to prescribing these drugs,” especially if there are alternative treatments, said the lead author, Wayne A. Ray, a professor of preventive medicine at Vanderbilt and the Nashville veterans’ hospital. “Then, if they’re used, to pay careful attention to using the lowest possible dose.”
Dr. Ray’s co-authors were Dr. Cecilia P. Chung, Dr. Katherine T. Murray, Kathi Hall, and C. Michael Stein, all of Vanderbilt.
In 2005, government-sponsored researchers reported that three of four new antipsychotic drugs tested were no more effective than an older, far less expensive drug in treating schizophrenia — the disorder for which they were originally approved.
In 2006, doctors working on the same large study reported that the drugs were no more effective than placebos for most elderly patients being treated for dementia-related psychosis. Since then, several review articles have come to similar conclusions, and raised concern about a far more common side effect: weight gain.
“When it comes to treating kids, these cardiac events are going to be rare,” said Dr. Jon McClellan, a psychiatrist at the University of Washington. “But heart problems due to obesity are not rare, and the public-health implications of kids on these drugs gaining 10 to 15 pounds are much greater.”
By BENEDICT CAREY and RONI CARYN RABIN
Published: January 14, 2009
The popular drugs known as atypical antipsychotics, prescribed for an array of conditions, including schizophrenia, autism and dementia, double patients’ risk of dying from sudden heart failure, a study has found.
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Related
Atypical Antipsychotic Drugs and the Risk of Sudden Cardiac Death (NEJM)
The finding is the latest in a succession of recent reports contradicting the long-held assumption that the new drugs, which include Risperdal, Zyprexa and Seroquel, are safer than the older and much less expensive medications that they replaced.
The risk of death from the drugs is not high, on average about 3 percent in a person being treated at least 10 years, according to the study, published Thursday in The New England Journal of Medicine. Nor was the risk different from that of the older antipsychotic drugs.
But it was significant enough that an accompanying editorial urged doctors to limit their prescribing of antipsychotic drugs, especially to children and elderly patients, who can be highly susceptible to the drugs’ side effects, including rapid weight gain.
In recent years, the newer drugs, which account for about 90 percent of the market, have become increasingly controversial, as prescription rates to children and elderly people have soared. Doctors use the drugs to settle outbursts related to a host of psychiatric disorders, including attention deficit disorder and Alzheimer’s disease. Most are not approved for such use. After an analysis of study data, the Food and Drug Administration required that all antipsychotics’ labels contain a warning that the drugs were associated with a heightened risk of heart failure in elderly patients.
The new study, an analysis of more than 250,000 Medicaid records, is the first to rigorously document that risk for the newer drugs in adults over 30 without previous heart problems.
In the study, researchers at Vanderbilt University and the Nashville Veterans Affairs Medical Center analyzed Tennessee Medicaid records for 276,907 people ages 30 to 74. About a third of them began taking an antipsychotic medication in the period studied, from 1990 to 2005, either a newer atypical or an older drug. Two-thirds made up a control group. The researchers excluded patients with heart disease or other problems that might put them at higher risk of cardiac failure. Antipsychotic drugs can affect heart rhythm in some vulnerable people.
They found 478 sudden cardiac deaths among those taking the drugs, about twice the rate of the control group. The risk — equivalent to 3 deaths for every 1,000 patients taking the drugs for a year — was about the same whether people took the newer or older medications. The higher the dose of the drug, the study found, the higher the risk of sudden death.
“The implication of this study is that physicians need to do a very careful cardiovascular evaluation prior to prescribing these drugs,” especially if there are alternative treatments, said the lead author, Wayne A. Ray, a professor of preventive medicine at Vanderbilt and the Nashville veterans’ hospital. “Then, if they’re used, to pay careful attention to using the lowest possible dose.”
Dr. Ray’s co-authors were Dr. Cecilia P. Chung, Dr. Katherine T. Murray, Kathi Hall, and C. Michael Stein, all of Vanderbilt.
In 2005, government-sponsored researchers reported that three of four new antipsychotic drugs tested were no more effective than an older, far less expensive drug in treating schizophrenia — the disorder for which they were originally approved.
In 2006, doctors working on the same large study reported that the drugs were no more effective than placebos for most elderly patients being treated for dementia-related psychosis. Since then, several review articles have come to similar conclusions, and raised concern about a far more common side effect: weight gain.
“When it comes to treating kids, these cardiac events are going to be rare,” said Dr. Jon McClellan, a psychiatrist at the University of Washington. “But heart problems due to obesity are not rare, and the public-health implications of kids on these drugs gaining 10 to 15 pounds are much greater.”
BBC Reports on Injectable Ginseng Fatalities
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7660489.stm
Ginseng jabs kill three in Yunnan
In East Asia ginseng is believed to have multiple health benefits
Three people have died in south-western China after receiving an injection of Siberian ginseng extract.
The deaths, announced on China's health ministry web site, occurred in Yunnan province after six hospital patients received the injections.
It said sales and use of the ginseng extract had been suspended.
The ministry is also trying to dampen fears about melamine poisoning of milk, which has killed four babies and made thousands ill in a months-long scandal.
It said that 10,666 babies remained in hospital receiving treatment for renal problems caused by the melamine contamination of baby milk formula.
Some parents are taking legal action against the manufacturer at the centre of the scandal, the Sanlu Group, and the state quality supervision body.
Ginseng treatment
The ginseng injection was manufactured by Wandashan Pharmaceutical, based in the north-eastern Chinese province of Heilongjiang.
Siberian ginseng is often used in China to treat heart disease and thrombosis.
The six patients suffered "serious ill effects" including chills, vomiting and sudden drops in blood pressure after receiving the injections at the Number Four People's Hospital in Honghe prefecture on Sunday.
Some went into a coma. Three of the six died on Monday, official media reported two days later.
The State Food and Drug Administration (SFDA) says it has isolated two problematic batches of the extract, made from a herb called "ciwujia", and has urged immediate nationwide reporting of any adverse effects.
The Associated Press reports that a man who answered the telephone at Wandashan's marketing department in Heilongjiang, in China's north-east, said the company had stopped selling the herbal injection and had sent the two batches to the SFDA for testing.
The man was reported as saying the company had used ciwujia in its products for more than 30 years without any problem.
Poor regulation
He added that the injectable form of the herb was relatively new, saying: "I haven't heard of any bad reaction [to] this injection before."
China's pharmaceutical industry is highly lucrative but poorly regulated.
Last year, the country's former top drug regulator was executed for taking millions of dollars in bribes to approve substandard medicines, including an antibiotic that killed at least 10 people.
Ginseng jabs kill three in Yunnan
In East Asia ginseng is believed to have multiple health benefits
Three people have died in south-western China after receiving an injection of Siberian ginseng extract.
The deaths, announced on China's health ministry web site, occurred in Yunnan province after six hospital patients received the injections.
It said sales and use of the ginseng extract had been suspended.
The ministry is also trying to dampen fears about melamine poisoning of milk, which has killed four babies and made thousands ill in a months-long scandal.
It said that 10,666 babies remained in hospital receiving treatment for renal problems caused by the melamine contamination of baby milk formula.
Some parents are taking legal action against the manufacturer at the centre of the scandal, the Sanlu Group, and the state quality supervision body.
Ginseng treatment
The ginseng injection was manufactured by Wandashan Pharmaceutical, based in the north-eastern Chinese province of Heilongjiang.
Siberian ginseng is often used in China to treat heart disease and thrombosis.
The six patients suffered "serious ill effects" including chills, vomiting and sudden drops in blood pressure after receiving the injections at the Number Four People's Hospital in Honghe prefecture on Sunday.
Some went into a coma. Three of the six died on Monday, official media reported two days later.
The State Food and Drug Administration (SFDA) says it has isolated two problematic batches of the extract, made from a herb called "ciwujia", and has urged immediate nationwide reporting of any adverse effects.
The Associated Press reports that a man who answered the telephone at Wandashan's marketing department in Heilongjiang, in China's north-east, said the company had stopped selling the herbal injection and had sent the two batches to the SFDA for testing.
The man was reported as saying the company had used ciwujia in its products for more than 30 years without any problem.
Poor regulation
He added that the injectable form of the herb was relatively new, saying: "I haven't heard of any bad reaction [to] this injection before."
China's pharmaceutical industry is highly lucrative but poorly regulated.
Last year, the country's former top drug regulator was executed for taking millions of dollars in bribes to approve substandard medicines, including an antibiotic that killed at least 10 people.
One Third Of Cancer Patients Use Natural Medicine
More great news from BBC
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4228903.stm
Cancer alternative therapy trend
Herbs were the most popular among those surveyedA third of European cancer patients are using complementary and alternative therapies, a survey of 1,000 suggests.
Herbs are used the most, followed by homeopathy and vitamin and mineral supplements, according to European Oncology Nursing Society members.
Given their popularity, governments should rethink the way these treatments are regulated, they said.
Therapists should also be checked more rigorously, the report in the Annals of Oncology journal suggested.
We have a responsibility as professionals to look at this
Lead researcher Dr Alex Molassiotis
'Holistic therapy helped me'
Dr Alex Molassiotis, from the UK's Manchester University, along with European colleagues, surveyed nearly 1,000 cancer patients from 14 European countries.
About 58 different complementary and alternative medicines (CAM) were mentioned in the survey.
Usage rates varied from less than 15% of patients in Greece to nearly 75% in Italy, and averaged at about a third overall.
Patients typically used more than one CAM therapy together, such as a herbal medicine plus homeopathy or relaxation techniques.
Dr Molassiotis said considering the growing popularity of CAM, better regulation was needed.
Therapies used by cancer patients
Herbs
Homeopathy
Medicinal teas
Vitamins and minerals
Relaxation techniques
"Anybody can call himself or herself a therapist and practice.
"There is not a body to assess the quality of therapists.
"There are societies that therapists can register with, but it is not compulsory.
"There is a need for regulation of what is accepted and appropriate training."
Regulation
He said there was also a need for clear guidelines on which treatments work for which conditions.
"We have a responsibility as professionals to look at this and be open-minded."
We have got to make sure people feel as safe as they can through regulation and research
A spokeswoman from the Foundation for Integrated Health
In the UK, osteopathy and chiropractic are already statutorily regulated.
The Prince of Wales Foundation for Integrated Health was given a government grant last year to look into the regulation of other CAM therapies, including homeopathy, aromatherapy and reflexology.
The Foundation estimates that about one in five people are using CAMs for different ailments.
A spokeswoman from the foundation said: "We have got to make sure people feel as safe as they can through regulation and research."
Further research
Dr George Lewith, from the of the University of Southampton's Complementary Medicine Research Unit, cautioned that the study was too small to be able to make generalisations about rates of CAM use, but said there was no doubt that regulation was needed.
Dr Bob Leckridge president of the Faculty of Homeopathy, said many therapists were doctors, which meant they were regulated as an individual.
He thought all CAM practice should be subject to statutory regulation.
Dr Sosie Kassab from the Royal London Homeopathic Hospital said: "Therapies such as homeopathy can be useful as an adjunct to conventional care.
"Patients do say they benefit. We need further research into this."
Professor John Toy of Cancer Research UK said: "The National Cancer Research Institute has recently established a complementary therapies development group, showing the medical profession does not have a dismissive view of this topic."
He advised cancer patients to inform their doctors of all medications and therapies they were taking.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4228903.stm
Cancer alternative therapy trend
Herbs were the most popular among those surveyedA third of European cancer patients are using complementary and alternative therapies, a survey of 1,000 suggests.
Herbs are used the most, followed by homeopathy and vitamin and mineral supplements, according to European Oncology Nursing Society members.
Given their popularity, governments should rethink the way these treatments are regulated, they said.
Therapists should also be checked more rigorously, the report in the Annals of Oncology journal suggested.
We have a responsibility as professionals to look at this
Lead researcher Dr Alex Molassiotis
'Holistic therapy helped me'
Dr Alex Molassiotis, from the UK's Manchester University, along with European colleagues, surveyed nearly 1,000 cancer patients from 14 European countries.
About 58 different complementary and alternative medicines (CAM) were mentioned in the survey.
Usage rates varied from less than 15% of patients in Greece to nearly 75% in Italy, and averaged at about a third overall.
Patients typically used more than one CAM therapy together, such as a herbal medicine plus homeopathy or relaxation techniques.
Dr Molassiotis said considering the growing popularity of CAM, better regulation was needed.
Therapies used by cancer patients
Herbs
Homeopathy
Medicinal teas
Vitamins and minerals
Relaxation techniques
"Anybody can call himself or herself a therapist and practice.
"There is not a body to assess the quality of therapists.
"There are societies that therapists can register with, but it is not compulsory.
"There is a need for regulation of what is accepted and appropriate training."
Regulation
He said there was also a need for clear guidelines on which treatments work for which conditions.
"We have a responsibility as professionals to look at this and be open-minded."
We have got to make sure people feel as safe as they can through regulation and research
A spokeswoman from the Foundation for Integrated Health
In the UK, osteopathy and chiropractic are already statutorily regulated.
The Prince of Wales Foundation for Integrated Health was given a government grant last year to look into the regulation of other CAM therapies, including homeopathy, aromatherapy and reflexology.
The Foundation estimates that about one in five people are using CAMs for different ailments.
A spokeswoman from the foundation said: "We have got to make sure people feel as safe as they can through regulation and research."
Further research
Dr George Lewith, from the of the University of Southampton's Complementary Medicine Research Unit, cautioned that the study was too small to be able to make generalisations about rates of CAM use, but said there was no doubt that regulation was needed.
Dr Bob Leckridge president of the Faculty of Homeopathy, said many therapists were doctors, which meant they were regulated as an individual.
He thought all CAM practice should be subject to statutory regulation.
Dr Sosie Kassab from the Royal London Homeopathic Hospital said: "Therapies such as homeopathy can be useful as an adjunct to conventional care.
"Patients do say they benefit. We need further research into this."
Professor John Toy of Cancer Research UK said: "The National Cancer Research Institute has recently established a complementary therapies development group, showing the medical profession does not have a dismissive view of this topic."
He advised cancer patients to inform their doctors of all medications and therapies they were taking.
BBC News Reports on Red Clover Helping With Hot Flushes
Here is the link to the story:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4738277.stm
Red clover contains hormone-mimicking chemicalsScientists are testing an extract of red clover as an alternative to hormone replacement therapy for symptoms of the menopause, such as hot flushes.
The extract contains chemicals called isoflavones, which mimic the effects of the female sex hormone oestrogen.
A study will be carried out by Queen Charlotte's and Chelsea Hospital's menopause and PMS centre.
Use of HRT has declined in recent years following suggestions of an increased risk of stroke and breast cancer.
Since the scares about HRT some patients are just not taking anything at all
Dr Chun Ng
Guidance issued last year by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists concluded that HRT should only be used for short term relief of menopausal symptoms.
The Queen Charlotte team hope their work will provide women with an effective alternative.
Lead researcher Dr Chun Ng said: "We hope the product may help women with menopausal symptoms such as hot flushes, and also those with premenstrual syndrome.
"Problems such as hot flushes have a negative impact on quality of life, although many women simply suffer in silence.
"Since the scares about HRT, some patients are just not taking anything at all."
Respiratory remedy
Red clover is used as a herbal remedy for respiratory problems, particularly whooping cough.
It is also marketed as a treatment for chronic skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis.
The Queen Charlotte team will also test a second treatment, using low doses of a compound known as desvenlafaxine succinate, which is thought to stabilise the body's heat control mechanism.
Professor David Purdie, of the Centre for Metabolic Disease at Hull University, told the BBC News website, an alternative therapy would be useful for women who either could not or would not take oestrogen-based HRT.
However, he stressed that taking oestrogen was currently by far the best way to tackle menopausal symptoms.
"There is evidence that long-term use of combined oestrogen and progesterone therapy does carry a slight increased risk of breast cancer, although the risk is probably much less for oestrogen-only therapy," he said.
"This has to be put into context. We are talking about just a few cases per 1,000 women over five years.
"Women have to decide whether the better quality of life HRT can offer them outweighs the small increased risks."
Professor Purdie also said the effects of oestrogen-like substances taken from plants had been hyped up somewhat.
He said trials of their effect had to be tightly controlled as previous studies had shown that women with menopausal symptoms often responded positively to dummy treatments.
E-mail this to a friend
Printable version
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4738277.stm
Red clover contains hormone-mimicking chemicalsScientists are testing an extract of red clover as an alternative to hormone replacement therapy for symptoms of the menopause, such as hot flushes.
The extract contains chemicals called isoflavones, which mimic the effects of the female sex hormone oestrogen.
A study will be carried out by Queen Charlotte's and Chelsea Hospital's menopause and PMS centre.
Use of HRT has declined in recent years following suggestions of an increased risk of stroke and breast cancer.
Since the scares about HRT some patients are just not taking anything at all
Dr Chun Ng
Guidance issued last year by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists concluded that HRT should only be used for short term relief of menopausal symptoms.
The Queen Charlotte team hope their work will provide women with an effective alternative.
Lead researcher Dr Chun Ng said: "We hope the product may help women with menopausal symptoms such as hot flushes, and also those with premenstrual syndrome.
"Problems such as hot flushes have a negative impact on quality of life, although many women simply suffer in silence.
"Since the scares about HRT, some patients are just not taking anything at all."
Respiratory remedy
Red clover is used as a herbal remedy for respiratory problems, particularly whooping cough.
It is also marketed as a treatment for chronic skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis.
The Queen Charlotte team will also test a second treatment, using low doses of a compound known as desvenlafaxine succinate, which is thought to stabilise the body's heat control mechanism.
Professor David Purdie, of the Centre for Metabolic Disease at Hull University, told the BBC News website, an alternative therapy would be useful for women who either could not or would not take oestrogen-based HRT.
However, he stressed that taking oestrogen was currently by far the best way to tackle menopausal symptoms.
"There is evidence that long-term use of combined oestrogen and progesterone therapy does carry a slight increased risk of breast cancer, although the risk is probably much less for oestrogen-only therapy," he said.
"This has to be put into context. We are talking about just a few cases per 1,000 women over five years.
"Women have to decide whether the better quality of life HRT can offer them outweighs the small increased risks."
Professor Purdie also said the effects of oestrogen-like substances taken from plants had been hyped up somewhat.
He said trials of their effect had to be tightly controlled as previous studies had shown that women with menopausal symptoms often responded positively to dummy treatments.
E-mail this to a friend
Printable version
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Getting Fit Without Breaking the Budget
I know that gym memberships are up in January due to many of our resolutions. After a few weeks, attendance drops because it is not what people thought, they lose motivation or they don't find the hours that work for them. Sometimes just changing the types of classes you attend, swimming or changing your exercise routine, can be enough to keep you interested.
Using equipment can be boring for some. You may love exercise and if you do, that is awesome.
A few ways that you can exercise and not notice the time passing are as follows:
Using equipment can be boring for some. You may love exercise and if you do, that is awesome.
A few ways that you can exercise and not notice the time passing are as follows:
- take a walk or your cross country skis through a scenic trail or in the country
- go tobaggoning, I recently did and was pooped after an hour, plus it was fun
- go dancing one or two nights a week
- learn to square dance, latin dance or even belly dance
- volunteer to walk dogs from the animal shelter
- help your elderly neighbour shovel or mow their lawn in the summer
If you want to buy exercise equipment you can often find used equipment online. I wasn't sure if I would use a home gym with weights. I just didn't find my hours worked with my gym. I loved the look and hype of a machine called the "bowflex", I decided to buy a used universal gym from www.craigslist.com or www.kijiji.com It only cost me $40.00, the man said he had it for years, used it only 4 times and it had become a place he hung his laudry. He was grateful to move it out of his place. Now my son and I use it a few times a week.
I also found an eliptical trainer at a liquidation store and saved $400.00 from the regular price. That was a real deal. There were also many used eliptical trainers, treadmills and other equipment I found online. If you are like me, you may find aerobic equipment feels like running on a hamster wheel. I used to try all kinds of good music to inspire me. Now I read a book (something I rarely have time for anymore) and I am suprised where the time went.
There are many ways to get active. If we could all move at least a half an hour each day, we will live a longer and healthier life.
Friday, January 2, 2009
Get Active this Year!
In the spirit of exercise, here is a cute funny to brighten your day:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-I7WWYzEHEg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-I7WWYzEHEg
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Happiness Can Be Contagious!
Life Extension puts out another good newsworthy piece again:
http://www.lef.org/news/LefDailyNews.htm?NewsID=7660&Section=AGING&source=DHB_090101&key=Body+ContinueReading
Happiness Just Might Be Contagious
International Herald Tribune
12-08-08
How happy you are may depend on how happy your friends' friends' friends are, even if you don't know them at all.
And a cheery next-door neighbor has more effect on your happiness than your spouse's mood.
So says a new study that followed a large group of people for 20 years - happiness is more contagious than previously thought.
"Your happiness depends not just on your choices and actions, but also on the choices and actions of people you don't even know who are one, two and three degrees removed from you," said Nicholas Christakis, a physician and social scientist at Harvard Medical School and an author of the study, published Friday in BMJ, a British journal. "There's kind of an emotional quiet riot that occurs and takes on a life of its own, that people themselves may be unaware of. Emotions have a collective existence - they are not just an individual phenomenon."
In fact, said his co-author, James Fowler, an associate professor of political science at the University of California at San Diego, their research found that "if your friend's friend's friend becomes happy, that has a bigger impact on you being happy than putting an extra $5,000 in your pocket."
The researchers analyzed information on the happiness of 4,739 people and their connections with several thousand others - spouses, relatives, close friends, neighbors and coworkers - from 1983 to 2003.
"It's extremely important and interesting work," said Daniel Kahneman, an emeritus professor of psychology and Nobel laureate at Princeton, who was not involved in the study.
Several social scientists and economists praised the data and analysis, but raised possible limitations.
Steven Durlauf, an economist at the University of Wisconsin- Madison, questioned whether the study proved that people became happy because of their social contacts or some unrelated reason.
Kahneman said that unless the findings were replicated, he could not accept that a spouse's happiness had less impact than a next- door neighbor's.
A study also published Friday in BMJ, by Ethan Cohen-Cole, an economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, and Jason Fletcher, an assistant professor at the Yale School of Public Health, criticizes the methodology of the Christakis-Fowler team, saying that it was possible to find what look like social-contagion effects with conditions like acne, headaches and height but that contagion effects go away when researchers include environmental factors that friends or neighbors have in common.
"Researchers should be cautious in attributing correlations in health outcomes of close friends to social network effects," the dissenting authors say.
In an interview, Christakis said that criticism and the acne- headache study's methods were flawed.
An accompanying BMJ editorial about the two studies called the Christakis-Fowler study "groundbreaking," but said "future work is needed to verify the presence and strength of these associations."
The team previously published studies concluding that obesity and quitting smoking were socially contagious.
But the happiness study, financed by the National Institute on Aging, is unusual in several ways. Happiness would seem to be "the epitome of an individualistic state," said John Cacioppo, director of the University of Chicago's Center for Cognitive and Social Neuroscience, who was not involved in the study.
And what about schadenfreude or its opposite, good old-fashioned envy when a friend lands a promotion or wins the marathon?
"There may be some people who become unhappy when their friends become happy, but we found that more people become happy over all," Christakis said.
Cacioppo said that suggests that unconscious signals of well- being pack more zing than conscious feelings of resentment.
"I might be jealous of the fact that they won the lottery," he said, "but they're in such a good mood that I walk away feeling happier without even being aware that they were the site for my happiness."
The subtle transmission of emotion may explain other findings, too. In the obesity and smoking cessation studies, friends were influential even if they lived far away. But the effect on happiness was much greater from friends, siblings or neighbors who lived nearby.
The BMJ study used data from the federal Framingham Heart Study, which began following people in Framingham, Massachusetts, after World War II and ultimately followed their children and grandchildren. Beginning in 1983, participants periodically completed questionnaires on their emotional well-being.
http://www.lef.org/news/LefDailyNews.htm?NewsID=7660&Section=AGING&source=DHB_090101&key=Body+ContinueReading
Happiness Just Might Be Contagious
International Herald Tribune
12-08-08
How happy you are may depend on how happy your friends' friends' friends are, even if you don't know them at all.
And a cheery next-door neighbor has more effect on your happiness than your spouse's mood.
So says a new study that followed a large group of people for 20 years - happiness is more contagious than previously thought.
"Your happiness depends not just on your choices and actions, but also on the choices and actions of people you don't even know who are one, two and three degrees removed from you," said Nicholas Christakis, a physician and social scientist at Harvard Medical School and an author of the study, published Friday in BMJ, a British journal. "There's kind of an emotional quiet riot that occurs and takes on a life of its own, that people themselves may be unaware of. Emotions have a collective existence - they are not just an individual phenomenon."
In fact, said his co-author, James Fowler, an associate professor of political science at the University of California at San Diego, their research found that "if your friend's friend's friend becomes happy, that has a bigger impact on you being happy than putting an extra $5,000 in your pocket."
The researchers analyzed information on the happiness of 4,739 people and their connections with several thousand others - spouses, relatives, close friends, neighbors and coworkers - from 1983 to 2003.
"It's extremely important and interesting work," said Daniel Kahneman, an emeritus professor of psychology and Nobel laureate at Princeton, who was not involved in the study.
Several social scientists and economists praised the data and analysis, but raised possible limitations.
Steven Durlauf, an economist at the University of Wisconsin- Madison, questioned whether the study proved that people became happy because of their social contacts or some unrelated reason.
Kahneman said that unless the findings were replicated, he could not accept that a spouse's happiness had less impact than a next- door neighbor's.
A study also published Friday in BMJ, by Ethan Cohen-Cole, an economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, and Jason Fletcher, an assistant professor at the Yale School of Public Health, criticizes the methodology of the Christakis-Fowler team, saying that it was possible to find what look like social-contagion effects with conditions like acne, headaches and height but that contagion effects go away when researchers include environmental factors that friends or neighbors have in common.
"Researchers should be cautious in attributing correlations in health outcomes of close friends to social network effects," the dissenting authors say.
In an interview, Christakis said that criticism and the acne- headache study's methods were flawed.
An accompanying BMJ editorial about the two studies called the Christakis-Fowler study "groundbreaking," but said "future work is needed to verify the presence and strength of these associations."
The team previously published studies concluding that obesity and quitting smoking were socially contagious.
But the happiness study, financed by the National Institute on Aging, is unusual in several ways. Happiness would seem to be "the epitome of an individualistic state," said John Cacioppo, director of the University of Chicago's Center for Cognitive and Social Neuroscience, who was not involved in the study.
And what about schadenfreude or its opposite, good old-fashioned envy when a friend lands a promotion or wins the marathon?
"There may be some people who become unhappy when their friends become happy, but we found that more people become happy over all," Christakis said.
Cacioppo said that suggests that unconscious signals of well- being pack more zing than conscious feelings of resentment.
"I might be jealous of the fact that they won the lottery," he said, "but they're in such a good mood that I walk away feeling happier without even being aware that they were the site for my happiness."
The subtle transmission of emotion may explain other findings, too. In the obesity and smoking cessation studies, friends were influential even if they lived far away. But the effect on happiness was much greater from friends, siblings or neighbors who lived nearby.
The BMJ study used data from the federal Framingham Heart Study, which began following people in Framingham, Massachusetts, after World War II and ultimately followed their children and grandchildren. Beginning in 1983, participants periodically completed questionnaires on their emotional well-being.
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