Pneumonia is one of the world's deadliest diseases for young children in developing countries. Now, a new study shows pneumonia could be treated with the oral antibiotic amoxicillin rather than injectable penicillin to produce better health outcomes and reduce treatment costs.
The World Health Organization has recommended penicillin given by injection as the treatment for severe pneumonia. Yet, if oral amoxicillin proves equally effective, it could reduce referral, admission and treatment costs.
The study included 1,700 children between the ages of 2 months and 5 years old from developing countries in Africa, Asia and South America. The children were randomly treated with injectable penicillin or oral amoxicillin. The outcome, as measured by treatment failure after 48 hours, was the same in both groups (19 percent). The treatment outcomes were also the same between the two groups at the five-day and 14-day follow-ups.
The study authors say if their findings were applied to public health policy, oral amoxicillin would reduce needle-borne infections, the need for referral and admission to medical care, treatment costs, and transport, food and lost income costs for the family.
In an accompanying editorial, Keith P. Klugman, from Emory University in Atlanta, agrees with many of the benefits shown in this study. However, he says the evidence is less clear for the suggestion that oral amoxicillin could reduce the need for hospitalization of children with severe pneumonia.
Klugman says, "All the children enrolled in this study were initially admitted to the hospital. Therefore, they also received the probable benefits of medical attention, nutritional support, and supplemental oxygen therapy." He concludes this study warrants further study on the efficacy of oral antibiotics for these children, but along with improved access to nutritional support and oxygen.
SOURCE: The Lancet, 2004;364:1141-1148
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Combo Treatment Touted for Pneumonia
People who are critically ill with pneumonia and a common complication of the disease are more likely to survive if they receive two antibiotics rather than just one.
Researchers came to this conclusion after studying 844 patients with bacteremic pneumococcal pneumonia -- a complication in which the bacteria enters the bloodstream -- in 21 hospitals in 10 countries. Outcomes were compared between those who received a two-drug treatment and those who received just one drug to combat the problem.
Results showed little difference in mortality rates between the two groups for patients who were not considered critically ill. After 14 days, about 16 percent of both groups had died. But in the 94 patients who were considered to be critically ill, the two-drug treatment significantly improved survival rates. Among the 47 patients who received the two-drug combo, the mortality rate after 14 days was about 23 percent. Among the 47 who received one drug, the 14 day mortality rate was about 55 percent.
The authors conclude, “Findings from this large, prospective, international investigation suggest that the administration of combination antibiotic therapy results in increased survival among critically ill patients with pneumococcal bacteremia.”
SOURCE: American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, 2004;170:440-444
Researchers came to this conclusion after studying 844 patients with bacteremic pneumococcal pneumonia -- a complication in which the bacteria enters the bloodstream -- in 21 hospitals in 10 countries. Outcomes were compared between those who received a two-drug treatment and those who received just one drug to combat the problem.
Results showed little difference in mortality rates between the two groups for patients who were not considered critically ill. After 14 days, about 16 percent of both groups had died. But in the 94 patients who were considered to be critically ill, the two-drug treatment significantly improved survival rates. Among the 47 patients who received the two-drug combo, the mortality rate after 14 days was about 23 percent. Among the 47 who received one drug, the 14 day mortality rate was about 55 percent.
The authors conclude, “Findings from this large, prospective, international investigation suggest that the administration of combination antibiotic therapy results in increased survival among critically ill patients with pneumococcal bacteremia.”
SOURCE: American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, 2004;170:440-444
Antibiotics for Pneumonia -- Some say the Sooner, the Better
Hours count when it comes to taking antibiotics for pneumonia.
A new study finds giving older patients antibiotics within four hours of their arrival to the hospital for treatment of pneumonia reduces the time they spend in the hospital and increases their chance of survival.
Pneumonia is the second leading cause of hospitalization among Medicare beneficiaries. It is also the fifth leading cause of death among Americans over 65.
In the past, guidelines have recommended antibiotics and Medicaid services within eight hours of when a person with pneumonia is hospitalized. However, new research shows receiving the drugs within four hours is more beneficial.
For the study, researchers from the Centers for Medicare examined medical records of 18,209 Medicare patients who were hospitalized with pneumonia. Three quarters of the patients did not receive any treatment before coming to the hospital.
Among these patients, study authors say administering antibiotics within four hours of arrival to the hospital reduced death in the hospital, reduced the likelihood of dying within the next 30 days, and reduced the length of hospital stay.
Researchers say 60 percent of the patients received antibiotics within four hours of arriving to the hospital, but note there is still room for improvement. They write, “Given the growing size of Medicare population, any additional improvement in administration timing could prevent a substantial number of deaths each year and preserve health care resources.”
SOURCE: Archives of Internal Medicine, 2004;164:637-644
A new study finds giving older patients antibiotics within four hours of their arrival to the hospital for treatment of pneumonia reduces the time they spend in the hospital and increases their chance of survival.
Pneumonia is the second leading cause of hospitalization among Medicare beneficiaries. It is also the fifth leading cause of death among Americans over 65.
In the past, guidelines have recommended antibiotics and Medicaid services within eight hours of when a person with pneumonia is hospitalized. However, new research shows receiving the drugs within four hours is more beneficial.
For the study, researchers from the Centers for Medicare examined medical records of 18,209 Medicare patients who were hospitalized with pneumonia. Three quarters of the patients did not receive any treatment before coming to the hospital.
Among these patients, study authors say administering antibiotics within four hours of arrival to the hospital reduced death in the hospital, reduced the likelihood of dying within the next 30 days, and reduced the length of hospital stay.
Researchers say 60 percent of the patients received antibiotics within four hours of arriving to the hospital, but note there is still room for improvement. They write, “Given the growing size of Medicare population, any additional improvement in administration timing could prevent a substantial number of deaths each year and preserve health care resources.”
SOURCE: Archives of Internal Medicine, 2004;164:637-644
Diagnosing and treating pneumonia
Diagnosing and treating pneumonia in patients who are receiving mechanical ventilation is a challenge for physicians. For example, if the patient has a fever, it could be pneumonia or it could be a noninfectious problem. Now, new research finds certain cells in the patient’s fluid may be helpful in diagnosing bacterial or fungal pneumonia.
Close to 150 patients receiving mechanical ventilation were included in the research. Doctors suspected pneumonia in all study participants. They performed a test looking for the presence of a cell known as sTREM-1 in the patient’s bronchial fluid. This cell, researchers say, could be indicative of pneumonia. Two doctors who were not aware of the cell test results also diagnosed the patient’s with community-acquired pneumonia and ventilator-associated pneumonia.
Researchers say the final diagnosis was community-acquired pneumonia in 38 patients, ventilator-associated pneumonia in 46 patients and no pneumonia in 64 patients. Researchers say the presence of the sTREM-1 by itself was more accurate than any clinical findings or laboratory values in identifying pneumonia. In fact, researchers say sTREM-1 was the strongest independent predictor of pneumonia.
Study authors conclude testing the fluid in a patient on mechanical ventilation could be a rapid, accurate and inexpensive way to diagnose pneumonia.
SOURCE: New England Journal of Medicine, 2004;350:451-458
Close to 150 patients receiving mechanical ventilation were included in the research. Doctors suspected pneumonia in all study participants. They performed a test looking for the presence of a cell known as sTREM-1 in the patient’s bronchial fluid. This cell, researchers say, could be indicative of pneumonia. Two doctors who were not aware of the cell test results also diagnosed the patient’s with community-acquired pneumonia and ventilator-associated pneumonia.
Researchers say the final diagnosis was community-acquired pneumonia in 38 patients, ventilator-associated pneumonia in 46 patients and no pneumonia in 64 patients. Researchers say the presence of the sTREM-1 by itself was more accurate than any clinical findings or laboratory values in identifying pneumonia. In fact, researchers say sTREM-1 was the strongest independent predictor of pneumonia.
Study authors conclude testing the fluid in a patient on mechanical ventilation could be a rapid, accurate and inexpensive way to diagnose pneumonia.
SOURCE: New England Journal of Medicine, 2004;350:451-458
Preemies at High Risk for Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia
A new study finds extremely premature infants who must receive mechanical ventilation to help them breath are at high risk for a type of pneumonia associated with being on a respirator.
Ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP) is common among people who require mechanical assistance to help them breath during a critical illness. People who develop the condition usually have to stay in the hospital and intensive care unit longer and have higher rates of death. Many studies have been done on adults who develop VAP to identify factors that put them at increased risk for the condition and to gauge overall outcomes for those who develop VAP. This study looked specifically at preterm infants to find risk factors for VAP and measure outcomes in this population.
The study was conducted among 229 infants with low birth weights who were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit at St. Louis Children’s Hospital from October 2000 to July 2001. Among the group, 67 had estimated gestational age of less than 28 weeks, meaning they were born extremely premature. The rest had gestational ages of more than 28 weeks.
Researchers noted the development of VAP among 19 of 67 infants who were put on mechanical ventilation. The rate of VAP for those with the lower birth weights was higher than that for those with the higher birth weights. Having a bloodstream infection raised the risk an infant would develop VAP. VAP was also identified as an independent risk factor for death, particularly among infants who remained in the NICU for more than 30 days.
SOURCE: Pediatrics, 2003;112:1283-1289
Ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP) is common among people who require mechanical assistance to help them breath during a critical illness. People who develop the condition usually have to stay in the hospital and intensive care unit longer and have higher rates of death. Many studies have been done on adults who develop VAP to identify factors that put them at increased risk for the condition and to gauge overall outcomes for those who develop VAP. This study looked specifically at preterm infants to find risk factors for VAP and measure outcomes in this population.
The study was conducted among 229 infants with low birth weights who were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit at St. Louis Children’s Hospital from October 2000 to July 2001. Among the group, 67 had estimated gestational age of less than 28 weeks, meaning they were born extremely premature. The rest had gestational ages of more than 28 weeks.
Researchers noted the development of VAP among 19 of 67 infants who were put on mechanical ventilation. The rate of VAP for those with the lower birth weights was higher than that for those with the higher birth weights. Having a bloodstream infection raised the risk an infant would develop VAP. VAP was also identified as an independent risk factor for death, particularly among infants who remained in the NICU for more than 30 days.
SOURCE: Pediatrics, 2003;112:1283-1289
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
List of foods you should get rid of right now
Bologna and Hot Dogs
It’s no baloney – these delicounter bad boys are no good. For one thing, they’re processed meat, which recent studies have linked to colon cancer and heart disease, among other health woes. For another, they’re high in fat and sodium and lack nutritional value. Still hungry? Just skip the bologna and search out 100 percent all-beef franks if you have a hot dog. You may be surprised that no suggestion for chicken or turkey hot dogs, but these can be made with chicken parts rather than lean meat, so they may not be any better for you than traditional dogs. And they don’t’ taste as good.
Full-fat Cottage Cheese
Wait, isn’t cottage cheese a healthy diet food? Not if you’re eating the full-fat version, which has 110 calories per half-cup and – shocker – 5 g of fat, including 3 g of saturated fat, which means that almost half of what you’re eating is fat. Opt for the low-fat version and you can knock the fat grams down to 2 per serving. Go for a half cup of nonfat cottage cheese things look even better – you’ll be consuming less than 1 g of fat (and only 60 calories). Now it’s diet food, and you’re getting a good dose of calcium and protein, to boot.
Alfredo Sauce
Mama mia! This pasta topping is delicious, but the calorie and saturated fat counts are off the charts. Bertolli’s Alfredo sauce packs in 110 calories for only a quarter of a cup, with 5 g of saturated fat. And then there’s the pasta! Steer clear of creamy sauces, and chose tomato-based toppings instead. For example, Bertolli’s Tomato & Basil sauce has only 70 calories per half cup (40 fewer calories for twice the previous serving) and zero grams of saturated fat. Like a lot of prepared sauces, however, both types do contain a fair bit of sodium, so consider cooking up a tempting marinara sauce yourself, using fresh tomatoes or canned low-sodium ones.
Fruit Punch or Cocktails
Once again, sugar is the culprit. If you’re not drinking 100 percent juice, you’re drinking something with added sugars. And excess sugars mean empty, excess calories – and really, who needs those? Also, like soft drinks, fruit drinks go down easily. It’s so easy to take down extra calories in the form of a juice. You don’t realize how much you’re drinking. Choose real fruit juice instead. It’s not calorie-free, but at least shoe calories contain nutrients like vitamin C and potassium, as well as fiber and antioxidants.
Frozen Fried Foods
You probably know to rid your cabinets of fried snacks like potato chips and snack on baked chips instead. But did you know that fried foods might be hiding out in your freezer? If you buy packaged, prepared fish filets or chicken nuggets – the kind you bake in the over – you’re eating fried fish or chickens because it’s been battered and fried before you bought it. (The oil that cooks out when you bake it is a tip-off). Gorton’s Beer Better Fish Fillets have 250 calories per serving, and 160 of those calories come from fat. You’re better off buying fresh fish and baking it yourself.
Breads and Cereals that aren’t 100% whole-grain
Whole or unrefined grains are better sources of fiber, protein, and nutrients like selenium, potassium, and magnesium than refined flours. But it can be tricky to figure out which products are made completely from these nutritious grains. For one thing, some brown breads are colored with caramel, which can be misleading. And words like “multigrain” or “cracked wheat” may appear on products that are made at least partly with white flour. It’s up to you to read the nutritional information on the package and make sure that a whole grain is the first ingredient listed. Look for breads with 3 g or more of fiber per servings. And when it comes to cereal, buy ones with 5 g or more of fiber per serving.
It’s no baloney – these delicounter bad boys are no good. For one thing, they’re processed meat, which recent studies have linked to colon cancer and heart disease, among other health woes. For another, they’re high in fat and sodium and lack nutritional value. Still hungry? Just skip the bologna and search out 100 percent all-beef franks if you have a hot dog. You may be surprised that no suggestion for chicken or turkey hot dogs, but these can be made with chicken parts rather than lean meat, so they may not be any better for you than traditional dogs. And they don’t’ taste as good.
Full-fat Cottage Cheese
Wait, isn’t cottage cheese a healthy diet food? Not if you’re eating the full-fat version, which has 110 calories per half-cup and – shocker – 5 g of fat, including 3 g of saturated fat, which means that almost half of what you’re eating is fat. Opt for the low-fat version and you can knock the fat grams down to 2 per serving. Go for a half cup of nonfat cottage cheese things look even better – you’ll be consuming less than 1 g of fat (and only 60 calories). Now it’s diet food, and you’re getting a good dose of calcium and protein, to boot.
Alfredo Sauce
Mama mia! This pasta topping is delicious, but the calorie and saturated fat counts are off the charts. Bertolli’s Alfredo sauce packs in 110 calories for only a quarter of a cup, with 5 g of saturated fat. And then there’s the pasta! Steer clear of creamy sauces, and chose tomato-based toppings instead. For example, Bertolli’s Tomato & Basil sauce has only 70 calories per half cup (40 fewer calories for twice the previous serving) and zero grams of saturated fat. Like a lot of prepared sauces, however, both types do contain a fair bit of sodium, so consider cooking up a tempting marinara sauce yourself, using fresh tomatoes or canned low-sodium ones.
Fruit Punch or Cocktails
Once again, sugar is the culprit. If you’re not drinking 100 percent juice, you’re drinking something with added sugars. And excess sugars mean empty, excess calories – and really, who needs those? Also, like soft drinks, fruit drinks go down easily. It’s so easy to take down extra calories in the form of a juice. You don’t realize how much you’re drinking. Choose real fruit juice instead. It’s not calorie-free, but at least shoe calories contain nutrients like vitamin C and potassium, as well as fiber and antioxidants.
Frozen Fried Foods
You probably know to rid your cabinets of fried snacks like potato chips and snack on baked chips instead. But did you know that fried foods might be hiding out in your freezer? If you buy packaged, prepared fish filets or chicken nuggets – the kind you bake in the over – you’re eating fried fish or chickens because it’s been battered and fried before you bought it. (The oil that cooks out when you bake it is a tip-off). Gorton’s Beer Better Fish Fillets have 250 calories per serving, and 160 of those calories come from fat. You’re better off buying fresh fish and baking it yourself.
Breads and Cereals that aren’t 100% whole-grain
Whole or unrefined grains are better sources of fiber, protein, and nutrients like selenium, potassium, and magnesium than refined flours. But it can be tricky to figure out which products are made completely from these nutritious grains. For one thing, some brown breads are colored with caramel, which can be misleading. And words like “multigrain” or “cracked wheat” may appear on products that are made at least partly with white flour. It’s up to you to read the nutritional information on the package and make sure that a whole grain is the first ingredient listed. Look for breads with 3 g or more of fiber per servings. And when it comes to cereal, buy ones with 5 g or more of fiber per serving.
Monday, January 24, 2011
First aid for families
Everyone at some time has been, or will be faced with a minor or major injury to themselves or others: Cuts, burns, and stings and more serious things such as heart attacks and broken bones.
Knowing what to do in these situations can prevent excessive trauma or pain, and in some cases can save a life.
Many injuries need professional help as soon as possible: The dirt in a seemingly innocent cut can carry infections such as tetanus; the pain of earache may be a symptom of middle ear infection, a potentially serious condition.
There are three things needed in order to be an effective helper.
First, take a short first-aid course with a reputable organization such as American Red Cross or St John Ambulance. Buy a good reference book on first aid and keep it handy. If possible, familiarize yourself with the most common procedures before something happens: The middle of a crisis is not a good time to have to learn a new skill.
Second, provide the car and house with well-equipped first-aid boxes. Check them regularly and re-stock as supplies run low. Ideally, the containers should be robust, weatherproof, and, if you have children, lockable. You can use a small, bright red, metal toolbox.
Keep a list of emergency numbers (ambulance, doctor, hospitals, poisons information center) both in the first-aid boxes and next to the telephone.
The first-aid box
Every home and car should have a well-equipped first-aid box. The ability to give prompt assistance can often prevent excessive pain and trauma and, in some cases, save a life.
The following first-aid box contents are in addition to the usual bandages, sticking plasters, tweezers, and scissors. If you are a frequent traveler (particularly overseas), you may find it easier to carry an essential oil first-aid kit rather than the more conventional one.
You can make some items for your first-aid box from your home-grown herbs, while others are best bought ready-made from the health food shop or pharmacy.
You may, of course, wish to vary these suggestions for your first-aid supplies to suit your own family needs. A first-aid box should contain immediate remedies for all sorts of injuries, including sport. Keep the contents of the first-aid box clean to avoid cross infection.
Aloe vera gel
Buy a reputable brand of pure aloe vera gel and use it on minor burns and scalds.
Arnica cream
This is a wonderful remedy for bruising but must never e used on broken skin.
Castor oil
Castor oil comes from the seed of the castor oil plant and was once used as a laxative, but is no longer considered safe treatment. As an external remedy, it has amazing drawing power, soothing as it draws splinters or foreign bodies from the flesh.
Chamomile tea bags
Idea to calm tension, depression and anxiety, insomnia, internal inflammation such as gastritis, diarrhea, cystitis, menstrual pain, PMS.
Charcoal tablets
This antacid remedy is a powerful absorbent in the stomach and intestinal tract, acting like a sponge. Modern charcoal is “activated”, treated with steam to make it even more absorbent. It disinfects and deodorizes, picks up harmful bacteria and passes them from the body. Some say it can cure a hangover. Use it with care as it can cause constipation if overused, but it is useful to treat simple diarrhea.
Knowing what to do in these situations can prevent excessive trauma or pain, and in some cases can save a life.
Many injuries need professional help as soon as possible: The dirt in a seemingly innocent cut can carry infections such as tetanus; the pain of earache may be a symptom of middle ear infection, a potentially serious condition.
There are three things needed in order to be an effective helper.
First, take a short first-aid course with a reputable organization such as American Red Cross or St John Ambulance. Buy a good reference book on first aid and keep it handy. If possible, familiarize yourself with the most common procedures before something happens: The middle of a crisis is not a good time to have to learn a new skill.
Second, provide the car and house with well-equipped first-aid boxes. Check them regularly and re-stock as supplies run low. Ideally, the containers should be robust, weatherproof, and, if you have children, lockable. You can use a small, bright red, metal toolbox.
Keep a list of emergency numbers (ambulance, doctor, hospitals, poisons information center) both in the first-aid boxes and next to the telephone.
The first-aid box
Every home and car should have a well-equipped first-aid box. The ability to give prompt assistance can often prevent excessive pain and trauma and, in some cases, save a life.
The following first-aid box contents are in addition to the usual bandages, sticking plasters, tweezers, and scissors. If you are a frequent traveler (particularly overseas), you may find it easier to carry an essential oil first-aid kit rather than the more conventional one.
You can make some items for your first-aid box from your home-grown herbs, while others are best bought ready-made from the health food shop or pharmacy.
You may, of course, wish to vary these suggestions for your first-aid supplies to suit your own family needs. A first-aid box should contain immediate remedies for all sorts of injuries, including sport. Keep the contents of the first-aid box clean to avoid cross infection.
Aloe vera gel
Buy a reputable brand of pure aloe vera gel and use it on minor burns and scalds.
Arnica cream
This is a wonderful remedy for bruising but must never e used on broken skin.
Castor oil
Castor oil comes from the seed of the castor oil plant and was once used as a laxative, but is no longer considered safe treatment. As an external remedy, it has amazing drawing power, soothing as it draws splinters or foreign bodies from the flesh.
Chamomile tea bags
Idea to calm tension, depression and anxiety, insomnia, internal inflammation such as gastritis, diarrhea, cystitis, menstrual pain, PMS.
Charcoal tablets
This antacid remedy is a powerful absorbent in the stomach and intestinal tract, acting like a sponge. Modern charcoal is “activated”, treated with steam to make it even more absorbent. It disinfects and deodorizes, picks up harmful bacteria and passes them from the body. Some say it can cure a hangover. Use it with care as it can cause constipation if overused, but it is useful to treat simple diarrhea.
Friday, January 21, 2011
Which oil to choose for massage?
• Arthritis and rheumatism – Benzoin, black pepper, cedarwood, chamomile, eucalyptus, ginger, marjoram, rosemary
• Asthma – Chamomile, cypress, eucalyptus, frankincense, lavender, peppermint, thyme
• Bronchitis, coughs, and catarrh – Cedarwood, eucalyptus, lavender, marjoram, peppermint, pine, rosemary, tea tree, thyme
• Circulation and toning – Black pepper, eucalyptus, ginger, rosemary
• Colic – Black pepper, chamomile, fennel, ginger, lavender, marjoram, peppermint
• Constipation – Black pepper, fennel, marjoram, orange
• Fluid retention – Angelica, cypress, fennel, grapefruit, juniper, rosemary
• Frigidity – Jasmine, neroli, patchouli, rose, rosewood, sandalwood, ylang-ylang
• Immune system – Eucalyptus, lavender, manuka, rosewood, tea tree
• Indigestion or flatulence – Aniseed, chamomile, fennel, lavender, orange, peppermint
• Muscular aches, pains, and stiffness – Black pepper, chamomile, eucalyptus, ginger, juniper, lavender, marjoram, rosemary
• Muscular cramps – Black pepper, cypress, lavender, marjoram, rosemary
• Pain relieving – Black pepper
• Slack tissue with poor tone – Black pepper, grapefruit, marjoram, rosemary
• Sprains and strains – Black pepper, chamomile, lavender, marjoram
• Stress, nervous tension, and similar problems – Cedarwood, chamomile, cypress, geranium, juniper, lavender, peppermint
• Toxin build-up – Angelica, fennel, grapefruit, juniper
• Urinary tract problems – Cedarwood, eucalyptus, lavender, pine
• Asthma – Chamomile, cypress, eucalyptus, frankincense, lavender, peppermint, thyme
• Bronchitis, coughs, and catarrh – Cedarwood, eucalyptus, lavender, marjoram, peppermint, pine, rosemary, tea tree, thyme
• Circulation and toning – Black pepper, eucalyptus, ginger, rosemary
• Colic – Black pepper, chamomile, fennel, ginger, lavender, marjoram, peppermint
• Constipation – Black pepper, fennel, marjoram, orange
• Fluid retention – Angelica, cypress, fennel, grapefruit, juniper, rosemary
• Frigidity – Jasmine, neroli, patchouli, rose, rosewood, sandalwood, ylang-ylang
• Immune system – Eucalyptus, lavender, manuka, rosewood, tea tree
• Indigestion or flatulence – Aniseed, chamomile, fennel, lavender, orange, peppermint
• Muscular aches, pains, and stiffness – Black pepper, chamomile, eucalyptus, ginger, juniper, lavender, marjoram, rosemary
• Muscular cramps – Black pepper, cypress, lavender, marjoram, rosemary
• Pain relieving – Black pepper
• Slack tissue with poor tone – Black pepper, grapefruit, marjoram, rosemary
• Sprains and strains – Black pepper, chamomile, lavender, marjoram
• Stress, nervous tension, and similar problems – Cedarwood, chamomile, cypress, geranium, juniper, lavender, peppermint
• Toxin build-up – Angelica, fennel, grapefruit, juniper
• Urinary tract problems – Cedarwood, eucalyptus, lavender, pine
Do people who pray live longer?
People who pray, who are involved in their religious community and go to church, and have a strong religious faith have better mental health. They have better physical health and, in general, they tend to live longer.
Many of the studies show that people who have a strong religious faith and attend religious services that they have better mental health. They cope better with stress in their life. In particular, when people get older -- as they face health problems and losses and go through struggles with dependency -- that's a time in life when religion and spirituality appear to be very important with regard to maintaining mental health. So studies have shown that people who are more involved in their religion have lower rates of depression and have less anxiety. Now that has physical health ramifications.
As people become depressed and anxious and are experiencing stress, they have problems with their immune system because of changes that occur with regard to hormones in their body. People who are stressed experience a flight response and they're adrenal glands start producing steroid hormones that then pour out and affect the immune system. It's just like a person who's getting steroids to suppress their immune system. The steroids that the body produces during stress are the same chemicals that the doctors give patients when they want to suppress their immune systems. Now the problem with that is if your immune system is suppressed then your body cannot fight off illnesses such as viruses, certain forms of cancer and all sorts of different illnesses that would affect your body. So that's one way we think that religion helps people's health -- by enhancing their mental health and therefore reducing the negative affects of stress on the body and therefore resulting in better physical health and longer survival as well.
If you have people who are depressed or anxious and they have a strong religious faith, that is often seen together as well. So, you can't necessarily conclude if someone is depressed or anxious that they don't have a lot of faith. Or even if they're very sick because there are lots of people who are very sick, very depressed, anxious and struggling with major factors in their life who are really still just hanging in there and surviving because of their faith -- they will readily tell you that. That the one factor in their life that keeps them going through these just horrendous life situations is their faith in God.
Many of the studies show that people who have a strong religious faith and attend religious services that they have better mental health. They cope better with stress in their life. In particular, when people get older -- as they face health problems and losses and go through struggles with dependency -- that's a time in life when religion and spirituality appear to be very important with regard to maintaining mental health. So studies have shown that people who are more involved in their religion have lower rates of depression and have less anxiety. Now that has physical health ramifications.
As people become depressed and anxious and are experiencing stress, they have problems with their immune system because of changes that occur with regard to hormones in their body. People who are stressed experience a flight response and they're adrenal glands start producing steroid hormones that then pour out and affect the immune system. It's just like a person who's getting steroids to suppress their immune system. The steroids that the body produces during stress are the same chemicals that the doctors give patients when they want to suppress their immune systems. Now the problem with that is if your immune system is suppressed then your body cannot fight off illnesses such as viruses, certain forms of cancer and all sorts of different illnesses that would affect your body. So that's one way we think that religion helps people's health -- by enhancing their mental health and therefore reducing the negative affects of stress on the body and therefore resulting in better physical health and longer survival as well.
If you have people who are depressed or anxious and they have a strong religious faith, that is often seen together as well. So, you can't necessarily conclude if someone is depressed or anxious that they don't have a lot of faith. Or even if they're very sick because there are lots of people who are very sick, very depressed, anxious and struggling with major factors in their life who are really still just hanging in there and surviving because of their faith -- they will readily tell you that. That the one factor in their life that keeps them going through these just horrendous life situations is their faith in God.
Fighting Skin Infections
Scientists believe they may have discovered a new way to treat skin infections in people who suffer from the most common form of eczema. They say a skin cream that containing infection-fighting substances missing in the patients' own skin could be an effective treatment in the future.
Atopic dermatitis is a form of eczema usually associated with asthma and allergies. The condition afflicts children and adults and is thought to run in families. Like psoriasis, the disease is characterized by a defective skin barrier, which causes itchy, red, and swollen skin. About 30 percent of people with atopic dermatitis are likely to suffer from skin infections caused by bacteria and viruses.
Studies show substances in the skin called peptides play a key role in fighting infections. Now, researchers from the National Jewish Medical and Research Center and elsewhere theorized this difference could be due to a lack of peptides in the skin of those with atopic dermatitis. They studied skin samples from three groups -- 6 healthy adults, 8 atopic dermatitis patients, and 11 psoriasis patients. They analyzed the samples for the presence of infection-fighting peptides, which generally develop naturally in response to skin infections.
As suspected, the healthy volunteers showed little or no evidence of the peptides because their skin had not been afflicted with infections. The psoriasis patients showed high levels of the peptides, indicating their damaged skin was being afflicted with infections and effectively fighting them off. However, the atopic dermatitis patients had levels of peptides similar to the healthy volunteers, suggesting their skin was not capable of making the substances required to fight off infections.
Of particular significance was the fact that the level of peptides in the psoriasis skin was sufficient to fight off the Staphylococcus aureus infection, while the level in the atopic dermatitis skin was not. S. aureus is known as a chief cause of skin infections in the latter group.
According to the investigators, a cream containing these infection-fighting peptides could help clear up S. aureus and other infections in atopic dermatitis patients.
SOURCE: New England Journal of Medicine, 2002;347:1151-1160
Atopic dermatitis is a form of eczema usually associated with asthma and allergies. The condition afflicts children and adults and is thought to run in families. Like psoriasis, the disease is characterized by a defective skin barrier, which causes itchy, red, and swollen skin. About 30 percent of people with atopic dermatitis are likely to suffer from skin infections caused by bacteria and viruses.
Studies show substances in the skin called peptides play a key role in fighting infections. Now, researchers from the National Jewish Medical and Research Center and elsewhere theorized this difference could be due to a lack of peptides in the skin of those with atopic dermatitis. They studied skin samples from three groups -- 6 healthy adults, 8 atopic dermatitis patients, and 11 psoriasis patients. They analyzed the samples for the presence of infection-fighting peptides, which generally develop naturally in response to skin infections.
As suspected, the healthy volunteers showed little or no evidence of the peptides because their skin had not been afflicted with infections. The psoriasis patients showed high levels of the peptides, indicating their damaged skin was being afflicted with infections and effectively fighting them off. However, the atopic dermatitis patients had levels of peptides similar to the healthy volunteers, suggesting their skin was not capable of making the substances required to fight off infections.
Of particular significance was the fact that the level of peptides in the psoriasis skin was sufficient to fight off the Staphylococcus aureus infection, while the level in the atopic dermatitis skin was not. S. aureus is known as a chief cause of skin infections in the latter group.
According to the investigators, a cream containing these infection-fighting peptides could help clear up S. aureus and other infections in atopic dermatitis patients.
SOURCE: New England Journal of Medicine, 2002;347:1151-1160
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
STILL A THREAT: LEAD POISONING
Over the past 30 years, the United States has experienced a dramatic decline in the amount of lead concentrations in children’s blood. This is primarily due to research studies and public education about the dangers of lead exposures. Despite these improvements, lead poisoning is still a major health concern.
Lead poisoning has been linked to lower intelligence, behavioral problems, diminished school performance, and language development delays. Lead can harm virtually every system in the human body.
Before 1970, childhood lead poisoning was defined by a blood lead concentration greater than 60 micrograms per deciliter. Today, the CDC has lowered the level of concern to 10 micrograms per deciliter.
There is no safe amount of lead. Children with high levels of lead in their teeth -- but no outward signs of lead poisoning -- had lower IQ scores, shorter attention spans, and poorer language skills.
At high doses, lead can cause mental retardation, seizures, or even death. At lower doses, it can affect memory, planning, intellect, and social adjustment. It is a powerful brain poisoning.
Earlier this year, a study led by Dr. Needleman concluded that juvenile delinquents are four-times likelier than others their age to have elevated levels of lead in their bodies. The study compared pre-teens and teens ages 12 to 18 who were convicted in the Allegheny county Juvenile Court in Pennsylvania versus students in regular high schools without behavioral problems.
A recent study in the New England Journal of Medicine by primary author Richard Canfield Ph.D., showed that even children with low doses of blood lead concentrations suffer intellectual impairment from exposure. This suggests that more children may be adversely affected by environmental lead than previously estimated.
According to the CDC, 434,000 of children in the United States between the ages of 1 and 5 years have blood lead levels greater than the recommended level of 10 micrograms of lead per deciliter of blood. These levels have continued to decline. The CDC estimates that between 1991 and 1994, 4.4 percent of children aged 1 to 5 years in the United States had toxic blood levels from lead. However, earlier this year, a CDC study showed only 2.2 percent of children had toxic lead levels.
The primary prevention method is the prevention of exposure.
Lead is a soft, heavy, blue-gray metal that occurs naturally in the earth’s crust but has been spread throughout the environment by various human activities. It is present in batteries and roofing materials. In 1978, laws were passed that banned the use of lead-based paint, a major source of lead poisoning. Although this has helped, lead problems still exist.
People can be exposed to lead by breathing air, drinking water, eating food or swallowing or touching dust or dirt that contains lead. In many cases there are no visible symptoms of elevated blood-lead levels or lead poisoning. The main treatment for lead poisoning is to stop the exposure. In some cases, medications are used to lower blood-lead levels. If lead poisoning is suspected, a private physician or the local health department can test for blood-lead levels through a blood test.
TIPS TO AVOID LEAD POISONING
To avoid lead poisoning, The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recommends the following precautions:
At least once a year, take children under six years old to be tested for lead.
Keep children away from peeling paint. If your house was built before 1960 and you have peeling paint, call the Department of Housing Preservation and Development.
Wash children’s hands before they eat, after they play outdoors and before they sleep. Wash your hands before preparing food.
Wet-mop floors, and wipe furniture, window sills and other dusty surfaces
Don’t let children play under bridges, near highways or near heavily traveled roads.
Serve meals high in iron and calcium to help prevent lead from being absorbed into your children’s bodies
Run cold water for at least a minute before using. Never use hot water from the faucet to make baby formula or for cooking.
For testing water, call the Department of Environmental Protection.
Purchase bottled water for home and office consumption.
Lead poisoning has been linked to lower intelligence, behavioral problems, diminished school performance, and language development delays. Lead can harm virtually every system in the human body.
Before 1970, childhood lead poisoning was defined by a blood lead concentration greater than 60 micrograms per deciliter. Today, the CDC has lowered the level of concern to 10 micrograms per deciliter.
There is no safe amount of lead. Children with high levels of lead in their teeth -- but no outward signs of lead poisoning -- had lower IQ scores, shorter attention spans, and poorer language skills.
At high doses, lead can cause mental retardation, seizures, or even death. At lower doses, it can affect memory, planning, intellect, and social adjustment. It is a powerful brain poisoning.
Earlier this year, a study led by Dr. Needleman concluded that juvenile delinquents are four-times likelier than others their age to have elevated levels of lead in their bodies. The study compared pre-teens and teens ages 12 to 18 who were convicted in the Allegheny county Juvenile Court in Pennsylvania versus students in regular high schools without behavioral problems.
A recent study in the New England Journal of Medicine by primary author Richard Canfield Ph.D., showed that even children with low doses of blood lead concentrations suffer intellectual impairment from exposure. This suggests that more children may be adversely affected by environmental lead than previously estimated.
According to the CDC, 434,000 of children in the United States between the ages of 1 and 5 years have blood lead levels greater than the recommended level of 10 micrograms of lead per deciliter of blood. These levels have continued to decline. The CDC estimates that between 1991 and 1994, 4.4 percent of children aged 1 to 5 years in the United States had toxic blood levels from lead. However, earlier this year, a CDC study showed only 2.2 percent of children had toxic lead levels.
The primary prevention method is the prevention of exposure.
Lead is a soft, heavy, blue-gray metal that occurs naturally in the earth’s crust but has been spread throughout the environment by various human activities. It is present in batteries and roofing materials. In 1978, laws were passed that banned the use of lead-based paint, a major source of lead poisoning. Although this has helped, lead problems still exist.
People can be exposed to lead by breathing air, drinking water, eating food or swallowing or touching dust or dirt that contains lead. In many cases there are no visible symptoms of elevated blood-lead levels or lead poisoning. The main treatment for lead poisoning is to stop the exposure. In some cases, medications are used to lower blood-lead levels. If lead poisoning is suspected, a private physician or the local health department can test for blood-lead levels through a blood test.
TIPS TO AVOID LEAD POISONING
To avoid lead poisoning, The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recommends the following precautions:
At least once a year, take children under six years old to be tested for lead.
Keep children away from peeling paint. If your house was built before 1960 and you have peeling paint, call the Department of Housing Preservation and Development.
Wash children’s hands before they eat, after they play outdoors and before they sleep. Wash your hands before preparing food.
Wet-mop floors, and wipe furniture, window sills and other dusty surfaces
Don’t let children play under bridges, near highways or near heavily traveled roads.
Serve meals high in iron and calcium to help prevent lead from being absorbed into your children’s bodies
Run cold water for at least a minute before using. Never use hot water from the faucet to make baby formula or for cooking.
For testing water, call the Department of Environmental Protection.
Purchase bottled water for home and office consumption.
Interventions to Reduce Cardiovascular Disease
Cardiovascular disease is a major health problem in developed and less developed countries. A study shows cost-effective interventions could lower the incidence of cardiovascular events by up to 50 percent.
Research shows systolic blood pressure above 115 millimeters of mercury accounts for two thirds of strokes and nearly half of ischemic heart disease. In addition, high cholesterol is another major risk factor for cardiovascular disease that accounts for 18 percent of strokes and 55 percent of ischemic heart disease.
Investigators from the Netherlands and New Zealand conducted research to determine the cost-effectiveness of implementing health interventions to reduce death and disability from cardiovascular disease worldwide. They specifically examined 17 non-personal and personal factors that could reduce the number of people with cardiovascular disease. Non-personal factors included health education through mass media and legislation to reduce salt content in products. Personal interventions included the detection and treatment of high cholesterol, treatment of high systolic blood pressure and treatment of individuals based on their absolute risk of a cardiovascular problem in the next 10 years.
Researchers evaluated the cost of the different interventions in 14 different regions around the world. They then determined which interventions would not only be effective at reducing cardiovascular problems, but also effective at reducing cost.
The study shows there is a potential for both personal and non-personal interventions to have a substantial effect at reducing cardiovascular events. This finding was true for both developed and less developed countries. Specifically, authors say interventions such as the government taking action to reduce the salt content of processed food could be a cost-effective way to limit cardiovascular disease. They also say treatment with blood pressure - and cholesterol-lowering drugs and with aspirin in people at risk for a cardiovascular problem in the next 10 years is a cost-effective effort. Researchers add this study challenges leaders to come up with public health strategies for less developed regions.
SOURCE: The Lancet, 2003;361:717-725
Research shows systolic blood pressure above 115 millimeters of mercury accounts for two thirds of strokes and nearly half of ischemic heart disease. In addition, high cholesterol is another major risk factor for cardiovascular disease that accounts for 18 percent of strokes and 55 percent of ischemic heart disease.
Investigators from the Netherlands and New Zealand conducted research to determine the cost-effectiveness of implementing health interventions to reduce death and disability from cardiovascular disease worldwide. They specifically examined 17 non-personal and personal factors that could reduce the number of people with cardiovascular disease. Non-personal factors included health education through mass media and legislation to reduce salt content in products. Personal interventions included the detection and treatment of high cholesterol, treatment of high systolic blood pressure and treatment of individuals based on their absolute risk of a cardiovascular problem in the next 10 years.
Researchers evaluated the cost of the different interventions in 14 different regions around the world. They then determined which interventions would not only be effective at reducing cardiovascular problems, but also effective at reducing cost.
The study shows there is a potential for both personal and non-personal interventions to have a substantial effect at reducing cardiovascular events. This finding was true for both developed and less developed countries. Specifically, authors say interventions such as the government taking action to reduce the salt content of processed food could be a cost-effective way to limit cardiovascular disease. They also say treatment with blood pressure - and cholesterol-lowering drugs and with aspirin in people at risk for a cardiovascular problem in the next 10 years is a cost-effective effort. Researchers add this study challenges leaders to come up with public health strategies for less developed regions.
SOURCE: The Lancet, 2003;361:717-725
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Rosemary
One of the best–known and loved herbs, versatile rosemary is a member of the mint family, and has been grown through the centuries for culinary, medicinal, and decorative uses. It is renowned for the fragrance of its foliage, and has a long history as the herb of remembrance, and is used to improve brainpower and failing memory.
This bushy, evergreen shrub thrives in a Mediterranean-style climate, and in the right conditions grows to around 5 ft (1.5 m). Its long narrow, shiny, leathery leaves are deep green on top, and pale, almost silvery gray, underneath. The flowers are small, pale to dark blue, and the whole plant is very aromatic if bruised, as the leaves are rich in volatile oils.
In the kitchen, fresh chopped rosemary leaves or sprigs are added to meat dishes (especially lamb or chicken), and to flavor baked potatoes, and other root vegetables. It makes a delicious addition to sauces, soups like minestrone, and stews. The leaves can also be added to biscuits, salads and fruit salads, pickles, vegetable juices, punches and liqueurs, and for making fragrant vinegars and infused oils.
The best essential oil is distilled from the flowering tips and leaves, but sometimes the whole plant is used, resulting in a much inferior oil. The perfume is sharp and penetrating, and blends well with basil, bergamot, cedarwood, all citrus oils, lavender, and peppermint.
Uses: Herb, Essential Oil
Taken as tea, rosemary seems to relieve headaches in the same way that aspirin does, but without irritating the stomach. It can also soothe an upset digestive system where there is flatulence and poor liver function.
Rosemary leaves and flowers are added to ointment blends to fight bacterial and fungal infections, heal cuts, sores, stings, and bites.
A strong astringent, rosemary oil is useful to help contract and tone skin that is loose and sagging. It kills bacteria, and prevents or destroys fungal infections, making it a good oil to treat acne, dermatitis, eczema, athlete’s foot, and scabies.
It’s an excellent hair and scalp treatment, which is why it’s a good idea to include rosemary in shampoo, rinses, and hair tonic, where it will control dandruff, greasy hair, and oily scalp. It is also used in treatments for head lice.
Use rosemary in baths and massage oils to ease the pain of aching muscles, arthritis, bruises, neuralgia, gout, rheumatism, and sport injuries such as sprains and strains.
Restorative rosemary tea slipped in ¼ cup amounts four times a day for one week is a good tonic, and helps ease digestive problems such as colitis, indigestion, flatulence, and cramps and spasms in the intestines.
It has a reputation for having a tonic effect on the lungs, which is useful when treating asthma, bronchitis, colds, coughs, and whooping cough – sip ¼ cup rosemary tea four times a day for one week.
As an aromatic, rosemary is used in potpourri for scenting clothing or linen, and deterring moths. The stripped stems can be burned on a barbeque or in the fireplace.
Caution: Drink no more than one cup of rosemary tea daily for no longer than one week. Not to be sued during pregnancy. Avoid if you suffer from epilepsy.
This bushy, evergreen shrub thrives in a Mediterranean-style climate, and in the right conditions grows to around 5 ft (1.5 m). Its long narrow, shiny, leathery leaves are deep green on top, and pale, almost silvery gray, underneath. The flowers are small, pale to dark blue, and the whole plant is very aromatic if bruised, as the leaves are rich in volatile oils.
In the kitchen, fresh chopped rosemary leaves or sprigs are added to meat dishes (especially lamb or chicken), and to flavor baked potatoes, and other root vegetables. It makes a delicious addition to sauces, soups like minestrone, and stews. The leaves can also be added to biscuits, salads and fruit salads, pickles, vegetable juices, punches and liqueurs, and for making fragrant vinegars and infused oils.
The best essential oil is distilled from the flowering tips and leaves, but sometimes the whole plant is used, resulting in a much inferior oil. The perfume is sharp and penetrating, and blends well with basil, bergamot, cedarwood, all citrus oils, lavender, and peppermint.
Uses: Herb, Essential Oil
Taken as tea, rosemary seems to relieve headaches in the same way that aspirin does, but without irritating the stomach. It can also soothe an upset digestive system where there is flatulence and poor liver function.
Rosemary leaves and flowers are added to ointment blends to fight bacterial and fungal infections, heal cuts, sores, stings, and bites.
A strong astringent, rosemary oil is useful to help contract and tone skin that is loose and sagging. It kills bacteria, and prevents or destroys fungal infections, making it a good oil to treat acne, dermatitis, eczema, athlete’s foot, and scabies.
It’s an excellent hair and scalp treatment, which is why it’s a good idea to include rosemary in shampoo, rinses, and hair tonic, where it will control dandruff, greasy hair, and oily scalp. It is also used in treatments for head lice.
Use rosemary in baths and massage oils to ease the pain of aching muscles, arthritis, bruises, neuralgia, gout, rheumatism, and sport injuries such as sprains and strains.
Restorative rosemary tea slipped in ¼ cup amounts four times a day for one week is a good tonic, and helps ease digestive problems such as colitis, indigestion, flatulence, and cramps and spasms in the intestines.
It has a reputation for having a tonic effect on the lungs, which is useful when treating asthma, bronchitis, colds, coughs, and whooping cough – sip ¼ cup rosemary tea four times a day for one week.
As an aromatic, rosemary is used in potpourri for scenting clothing or linen, and deterring moths. The stripped stems can be burned on a barbeque or in the fireplace.
Caution: Drink no more than one cup of rosemary tea daily for no longer than one week. Not to be sued during pregnancy. Avoid if you suffer from epilepsy.
Sunday, January 16, 2011
OUTGROWING ASTHMA
As quick as kids grow, it seems they outgrow their clothes in a matter of weeks. But did you know they can also outgrow diseases like asthma? As doctors have a pretty good idea of which kids will outgrow asthma and which ones will have to deal with it for life.
Joseph Oliver looks like a typical 13-year-old. He plays basketball in the evenings and plays the clarinet in his school band. But what's different is he has asthma.
Joseph Oliver, Asthma sufferer:
"I'm limited to everything I can do. But I try as much as I can."
Asthma affects the lungs. Airways tighten and fill with mucus -- making it difficult to breathe. It's the most common childhood chronic disease.
David Schaeffer, M.D.,:
"It affects probably some five million children and the prevalence of it has been increasing in the past ten years."
A new study from the University of Arizona says not all children will have to live with asthma for the rest of their lives.
David Schaeffer, M.D.:
"About fifty percent of children outgrow their asthma."
A child is more likely to have asthma for a lifetime if they have a persistent wheezing in their first two years of life, they have bad excema in their first two years of life, or if they still have abnormal lung function at age ten. For Joseph, the news isn't good.
David Schaeffer, M.D.:
"He's thirteen and he still has active asthma symptoms and so he probably is not among the fifty percent who will outgrow it during his teenage years."
Joseph Oliver:
"They said once that it probably would come back but you can't let it hold you down."
The good news is in the last two years, Joseph's asthma has improved. Doctors hope that by determining which children will have asthma for life, it will help to determine the best form of treatment. Dr. Schaeffer says asthma has always been an underdiagnosed disease. If your child coughs every day or has a wheeze along with the cough, he says it's a good idea to have your doctor check it out.
Joseph Oliver looks like a typical 13-year-old. He plays basketball in the evenings and plays the clarinet in his school band. But what's different is he has asthma.
Joseph Oliver, Asthma sufferer:
"I'm limited to everything I can do. But I try as much as I can."
Asthma affects the lungs. Airways tighten and fill with mucus -- making it difficult to breathe. It's the most common childhood chronic disease.
David Schaeffer, M.D.,:
"It affects probably some five million children and the prevalence of it has been increasing in the past ten years."
A new study from the University of Arizona says not all children will have to live with asthma for the rest of their lives.
David Schaeffer, M.D.:
"About fifty percent of children outgrow their asthma."
A child is more likely to have asthma for a lifetime if they have a persistent wheezing in their first two years of life, they have bad excema in their first two years of life, or if they still have abnormal lung function at age ten. For Joseph, the news isn't good.
David Schaeffer, M.D.:
"He's thirteen and he still has active asthma symptoms and so he probably is not among the fifty percent who will outgrow it during his teenage years."
Joseph Oliver:
"They said once that it probably would come back but you can't let it hold you down."
The good news is in the last two years, Joseph's asthma has improved. Doctors hope that by determining which children will have asthma for life, it will help to determine the best form of treatment. Dr. Schaeffer says asthma has always been an underdiagnosed disease. If your child coughs every day or has a wheeze along with the cough, he says it's a good idea to have your doctor check it out.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic disease of the immune system. No one knows its cause, but about 2 million Americans know its effects -- painful and permanent joint damage. Powerful drugs like methotrexate have helped some, but not all affected people. Now, there are new medicines-in-the-making that may do the job.
She's almost 70, but Alice Struzynski is young in spirit. It's her body that feels old. Many of her joints are swollen and painful from rheumatoid arthritis. "Some days I feel fine in the early morning, and by evening I'm in misery," says Alice.
That may not be the case much longer. Alice and her sister, Dorothy, who also suffers with rheumatoid arthritis, are involved in studies to test cutting-edge arthritis medicines. Alice says, "I just want to find a medicine that I can take that won't upset my stomach so much."
Alice may like viox -- a new kind of medicine that doctors say works as well as aspirin but doesn't upset your stomach. Viox, or a medicine just like it, may be available next year. Meanwhile tests on it are ongoing. Trocade can prevent permanent joint damage, and a third drug now referred to as TAC-603 suppresses the immune system. It relieves pain that even the powerful arthritis drug methotrexate can't.
Nancy Wagner, R.N., University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City, Iowa, says, "It's exciting that there are some new therapies out there that could potentially allow arthritis patients to function better in their daily life."
According to the Arthritis Foundation, it's important to diagnose rheumatoid arthritis early in order to prevent permanent joint and bone damage. Symptoms include fatigue, stiffness and soreness. Pain usually occurs in the same joints on both sides of the body, usually the hands and feet.
She's almost 70, but Alice Struzynski is young in spirit. It's her body that feels old. Many of her joints are swollen and painful from rheumatoid arthritis. "Some days I feel fine in the early morning, and by evening I'm in misery," says Alice.
That may not be the case much longer. Alice and her sister, Dorothy, who also suffers with rheumatoid arthritis, are involved in studies to test cutting-edge arthritis medicines. Alice says, "I just want to find a medicine that I can take that won't upset my stomach so much."
Alice may like viox -- a new kind of medicine that doctors say works as well as aspirin but doesn't upset your stomach. Viox, or a medicine just like it, may be available next year. Meanwhile tests on it are ongoing. Trocade can prevent permanent joint damage, and a third drug now referred to as TAC-603 suppresses the immune system. It relieves pain that even the powerful arthritis drug methotrexate can't.
Nancy Wagner, R.N., University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City, Iowa, says, "It's exciting that there are some new therapies out there that could potentially allow arthritis patients to function better in their daily life."
According to the Arthritis Foundation, it's important to diagnose rheumatoid arthritis early in order to prevent permanent joint and bone damage. Symptoms include fatigue, stiffness and soreness. Pain usually occurs in the same joints on both sides of the body, usually the hands and feet.
A Way to Offer Relief for Sore Throat
Many people find the pain from a sore throat one of the most troublesome symptoms of a cold, the flu, or bacterial infections like strep throat. Now, Mayo Clinic researchers believe they have found a way to offer some relief: treatment with steroids to reduce the inflammation that causes much of the pain.
In a study published in Laryngoscope, researchers report on the use of a single dose of dexamethasone, either by injection or in pill form, as a therapy for sore throat pain. Researchers enrolled 118 patients who came to one of the Mayo Clinic Hospitals in Rochester, Minn., between 1998 and 2000 with a sore throat. A throat culture was done on each patient and all were given a prescription for antibiotics. The patients were also asked to rate their pain on a scale of 1 to 10. Then the group was divided into four segments: One received an injection of the steroid, one received the steroid in pill form, and the other two groups received either placebo injections or pills.
Doctors evaluated patients' sore throat pain 12 and 24 hours later. Results show those who received the steroid in either the injection or the pill form found relief from their pain four hours sooner than did those who received the placebo injections and pills. The degree of relief patients reported was twice that of those in the placebo groups. The treatment was most effective in patients who had positive throat cultures for a bacterial infection. There were no reported side effects of the treatment.
The investigators conclude a single dose of dexamethasone is a safe, effective, and inexpensive treatment for sore throat pain.
SOURCE: Laryngoscope, 2002;112:87-93
In a study published in Laryngoscope, researchers report on the use of a single dose of dexamethasone, either by injection or in pill form, as a therapy for sore throat pain. Researchers enrolled 118 patients who came to one of the Mayo Clinic Hospitals in Rochester, Minn., between 1998 and 2000 with a sore throat. A throat culture was done on each patient and all were given a prescription for antibiotics. The patients were also asked to rate their pain on a scale of 1 to 10. Then the group was divided into four segments: One received an injection of the steroid, one received the steroid in pill form, and the other two groups received either placebo injections or pills.
Doctors evaluated patients' sore throat pain 12 and 24 hours later. Results show those who received the steroid in either the injection or the pill form found relief from their pain four hours sooner than did those who received the placebo injections and pills. The degree of relief patients reported was twice that of those in the placebo groups. The treatment was most effective in patients who had positive throat cultures for a bacterial infection. There were no reported side effects of the treatment.
The investigators conclude a single dose of dexamethasone is a safe, effective, and inexpensive treatment for sore throat pain.
SOURCE: Laryngoscope, 2002;112:87-93
Fixing bad Breath in Children
A new study shows parasites are often responsible for bad breath in children.
Halitosis, or bad breath, is a foul odor that comes from the mouth or nose. It's common in both adults and children and some estimates suggest between 50 percent and 60 percent of the population have it. Most often, the cause is either oral problems, sinus infections or lower respiratory tract disease.
Researchers say it is rare that bad breath is a result of gastrointestinal problems, but not unheard of. This study started because one mother reported her child's bad breath cleared up once he was treated for a parasite. Doctors took that cue and set out to study how the antiparasitic drug worked on bad breath.
One hundred sixty-two children with bad breath, between ages 5 and 16 years, were included in the study. Scientists studied stool samples from the children to look for the presence of parasites, such as pinworms. Children were then randomly assigned to take either mebendazole, an antiparasitic drug, or a placebo pill.
Scientists report 35 percent of the children taking mebendazole had parasites and 33 percent of the placebo group had parasites. Of the children with parasites, 64 percent who were treated with the drug had improvement in their halitosis. Only two of the children treated with the placebo improved. Researchers write, "Parasitosis should be considered a possible cause of halitosis in the pediatric patient population. Mebendazole therapy seems to offer benefit to those children with parasites as a potential cause of their halitosis."
SOURCE: Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, 2002;156:995-998
Halitosis, or bad breath, is a foul odor that comes from the mouth or nose. It's common in both adults and children and some estimates suggest between 50 percent and 60 percent of the population have it. Most often, the cause is either oral problems, sinus infections or lower respiratory tract disease.
Researchers say it is rare that bad breath is a result of gastrointestinal problems, but not unheard of. This study started because one mother reported her child's bad breath cleared up once he was treated for a parasite. Doctors took that cue and set out to study how the antiparasitic drug worked on bad breath.
One hundred sixty-two children with bad breath, between ages 5 and 16 years, were included in the study. Scientists studied stool samples from the children to look for the presence of parasites, such as pinworms. Children were then randomly assigned to take either mebendazole, an antiparasitic drug, or a placebo pill.
Scientists report 35 percent of the children taking mebendazole had parasites and 33 percent of the placebo group had parasites. Of the children with parasites, 64 percent who were treated with the drug had improvement in their halitosis. Only two of the children treated with the placebo improved. Researchers write, "Parasitosis should be considered a possible cause of halitosis in the pediatric patient population. Mebendazole therapy seems to offer benefit to those children with parasites as a potential cause of their halitosis."
SOURCE: Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, 2002;156:995-998
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Children of Depression
Doctors say nearly 80 percent of women experience some sort of “baby blues” after giving birth, and up to 20 percent of new mothers experience postpartum depression. Many women don’t seek treatment because they don’t realize how common the problem is and they feel ashamed or confused about their feelings. Here are some women who say not getting help may be far worse for your newborn than you realize.
A new addition to the family is supposed to bring happiness and joy. So when new mom Melissa Galipeau found herself crying all the time, neither she nor her partner, Henry, understood why. “He would say, ‘Why are you crying?' and I would say, ‘I just don’t know.' I thought I was going crazy,” Melissa tells Ivanhoe.
“You expect it to be difficult, but you don’t expect it to be a karate chop and that’s what it felt like,” says psychologist Margaret Howard, Ph.D., of the Postpartum Disorders Day Hospital at Woman & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island. She says the first step is to recognize you’re not feeling like yourself and get help. “Depression is very treatable. That’s the goods news," Howard says.
New research shows getting help is just as important for your child’s health as it is for yours. British researchers say depressed moms are more likely to have violent kids and American doctors find offspring of depressed moms are twice as likely to be depressed themselves.
Psychiatrist Victoria Hendrick, M.D., of the UCLA Neuropsychiatric Institute, says all depressed moms, including those breast-feeding, should attempt therapy or group support first, but if that doesn’t work, proceed with anti-depressants. She says untreated depression may be more harmful to an infant than anti-depressants. “Depression in the mother can affect the quality of breast milk,” Hendrick says.
Melissa used therapy and relaxation techniques. “I smile, which is something I was unable to do for a while. I’m more upbeat,” she says. And now she says she’s able to enjoy the miracle of her daughter.
Dr. Howard says there is a lot of societal pressure after a woman has a baby for her to be happy and full of joy and bliss. She says this keeps many women from talking about their depression or seeking treatment. She advises new moms to learn to recognize when they need a break from the baby. She says just taking a walk or meeting a friend for a cup of tea can do wonders for your spirits.
This article was reported by Ivanhoe.com, who offers Medical Alerts by e-mail every day of the week. To subscribe, go to: http://www.ivanhoe.com/newsalert/.
A new addition to the family is supposed to bring happiness and joy. So when new mom Melissa Galipeau found herself crying all the time, neither she nor her partner, Henry, understood why. “He would say, ‘Why are you crying?' and I would say, ‘I just don’t know.' I thought I was going crazy,” Melissa tells Ivanhoe.
“You expect it to be difficult, but you don’t expect it to be a karate chop and that’s what it felt like,” says psychologist Margaret Howard, Ph.D., of the Postpartum Disorders Day Hospital at Woman & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island. She says the first step is to recognize you’re not feeling like yourself and get help. “Depression is very treatable. That’s the goods news," Howard says.
New research shows getting help is just as important for your child’s health as it is for yours. British researchers say depressed moms are more likely to have violent kids and American doctors find offspring of depressed moms are twice as likely to be depressed themselves.
Psychiatrist Victoria Hendrick, M.D., of the UCLA Neuropsychiatric Institute, says all depressed moms, including those breast-feeding, should attempt therapy or group support first, but if that doesn’t work, proceed with anti-depressants. She says untreated depression may be more harmful to an infant than anti-depressants. “Depression in the mother can affect the quality of breast milk,” Hendrick says.
Melissa used therapy and relaxation techniques. “I smile, which is something I was unable to do for a while. I’m more upbeat,” she says. And now she says she’s able to enjoy the miracle of her daughter.
Dr. Howard says there is a lot of societal pressure after a woman has a baby for her to be happy and full of joy and bliss. She says this keeps many women from talking about their depression or seeking treatment. She advises new moms to learn to recognize when they need a break from the baby. She says just taking a walk or meeting a friend for a cup of tea can do wonders for your spirits.
This article was reported by Ivanhoe.com, who offers Medical Alerts by e-mail every day of the week. To subscribe, go to: http://www.ivanhoe.com/newsalert/.
Listening to Preemies
Coming into the world after nine months in a mother’s womb is startling enough for any baby, but for preemies, the transition can be even harder. Suddenly they’re thrust out of their dark warm world into one with bright lights, loud noises and unsupported room to move and all without fully developed organs. A group of doctors and nurses is finding that subtle changes in care can make those first days a little easier.
They weigh only a few pounds and can’t talk, but if you pay close attention, these babies speak volumes. “When babies are stressed they’ll do things, for example, like splay their fingers out. They’ll stretch and they’ll arch,” says pediatrician Marilyn Sanders, M.D., of University of Connecticut Health Science Center in Farmington.
Through these unique behaviors, babies are communicating what they need. Doctors and nurses observe the babies’ behaviors before, during and after routine procedures and “listen” to what the babies say. Then they change their own behaviors.
Dr. Sanders says, “Rather than the baby simply lying in the incubator and letting the tube, the food dribble down the tube, you might actually take the baby out of the incubator, interact with the baby, and make eye contact.” Even the environment is adjusted to be more like the womb, with dim lights, fewer loud noises, and special crib bumpers to imitate the womb.
The individualized developmental care seems to be working.
Cathy Daguio, a developmental specialist and coordinator for University of Connecticut Newborn Intensive Care Nursery, says, "They don’t seem to require staying on the ventilator as long, they’re able to feed by bottle or breast sooner. They have better outcomes in terms of their developmental scores.”
With guidance, mothers, too, become part of the healing process. Melissa Gamble, a mother of a preemie, says, “When she was stretching before, just tucking her back in and giving her that comfort of her in the womb.”
It’s care that makes both mom and babies a little happier.
This article was reported by Ivanhoe.com, who offers Medical Alerts by e-mail every day of the week. To subscribe, go to: http://www.ivanhoe.com/newsalert/.
They weigh only a few pounds and can’t talk, but if you pay close attention, these babies speak volumes. “When babies are stressed they’ll do things, for example, like splay their fingers out. They’ll stretch and they’ll arch,” says pediatrician Marilyn Sanders, M.D., of University of Connecticut Health Science Center in Farmington.
Through these unique behaviors, babies are communicating what they need. Doctors and nurses observe the babies’ behaviors before, during and after routine procedures and “listen” to what the babies say. Then they change their own behaviors.
Dr. Sanders says, “Rather than the baby simply lying in the incubator and letting the tube, the food dribble down the tube, you might actually take the baby out of the incubator, interact with the baby, and make eye contact.” Even the environment is adjusted to be more like the womb, with dim lights, fewer loud noises, and special crib bumpers to imitate the womb.
The individualized developmental care seems to be working.
Cathy Daguio, a developmental specialist and coordinator for University of Connecticut Newborn Intensive Care Nursery, says, "They don’t seem to require staying on the ventilator as long, they’re able to feed by bottle or breast sooner. They have better outcomes in terms of their developmental scores.”
With guidance, mothers, too, become part of the healing process. Melissa Gamble, a mother of a preemie, says, “When she was stretching before, just tucking her back in and giving her that comfort of her in the womb.”
It’s care that makes both mom and babies a little happier.
This article was reported by Ivanhoe.com, who offers Medical Alerts by e-mail every day of the week. To subscribe, go to: http://www.ivanhoe.com/newsalert/.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Surgery and Nutrition
Surgery of any kind, no matter how minor, requires a period of recovery. Implementing a good nutritional program both before and after the procedure will help support the body’s healing process and pave a smooth road to recovery. People who are well nourished are more likely to heal better and more quickly than those who are not. Scientific studies have confirmed that patients who follow a healthy diet-supplement-exercise regimen are less prone to develop infections and other complications after surgery.
It is important to follow your surgeon’s specific pre- and post-operative instructions during this time. As a general rule, however, you can help bolster your health by following the guidelines of the supplement program below. If possible, begin the program about two weeks before the surgery and continue it for four weeks after.
Supplements for before and after surgery
• Alpha-lipoic acid
• Arginine
• Carnitine
• Coenzyme Q10
• EPA/DHA (fish oil)
• Glutamine
• Gota kola
• Grape seed extract
• Magnesium
• Methylsulfonyl-methane (MSM)
• N-acetylcysteine (NAC)
• Phosphatidylserine
• Probiotics
• Selenium
• Taurine
• Vitamin A and mixed carotenoids
• Vitamin C
• Zinc
Supplements to avoid for two weeks before and one week after surgery
• Cayenne
• Garlic
• Ginkgo
• Large doses of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) or docosahexanoic acid (DHA)
• St. John’s wort
• Vitamin E
It is important to follow your surgeon’s specific pre- and post-operative instructions during this time. As a general rule, however, you can help bolster your health by following the guidelines of the supplement program below. If possible, begin the program about two weeks before the surgery and continue it for four weeks after.
Supplements for before and after surgery
• Alpha-lipoic acid
• Arginine
• Carnitine
• Coenzyme Q10
• EPA/DHA (fish oil)
• Glutamine
• Gota kola
• Grape seed extract
• Magnesium
• Methylsulfonyl-methane (MSM)
• N-acetylcysteine (NAC)
• Phosphatidylserine
• Probiotics
• Selenium
• Taurine
• Vitamin A and mixed carotenoids
• Vitamin C
• Zinc
Supplements to avoid for two weeks before and one week after surgery
• Cayenne
• Garlic
• Ginkgo
• Large doses of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) or docosahexanoic acid (DHA)
• St. John’s wort
• Vitamin E
Sun Tanner’s Nutrition
Sunshine, although essential for health and well-being (particularly because it is our primary source of vitamin D), can also be hazardous to the body. Unprotected exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays can cause eye damage, a weakened immune system, and certain cancers – skin cancer in particular. It is also implicated in skin damage, including age spots, wrinkles, and other signs of aging.
Antioxidants like vitamins C and E are important immune system protectors, guarding the body against the harmful effects of free radicals. These vitamins, however, are sensitive to the light – it takes just a few minutes in the sun to significantly reduce their presence in the skin. Along with the damage from UV rays, the lack of vitamins C and E leaves the skin vulnerable, accelerating the aging process. In addition to using a good broad-spectrum sunscreen, applying topical vitamin E to the skin helps fight wrinkles and other signs of aging. (Vitamin E is often contained in sunscreen). Taken internally, supplemental vitamins C and E also help reduce some of the harmful effects of sun exposure.
If you are going to be in the sun for any length of time – whether relaxing at the beach, working in the garden, or playing an outdoor sport – be sure to apply protective sunscreen and topical vitamin E to your skin. Taking the following nutrients will provide you with further protection.
Supplements for Sun Tanners
• Coenzyme Q10
• N-acetylcysteine
• Vitamin C
• Vitamin E
Antioxidants like vitamins C and E are important immune system protectors, guarding the body against the harmful effects of free radicals. These vitamins, however, are sensitive to the light – it takes just a few minutes in the sun to significantly reduce their presence in the skin. Along with the damage from UV rays, the lack of vitamins C and E leaves the skin vulnerable, accelerating the aging process. In addition to using a good broad-spectrum sunscreen, applying topical vitamin E to the skin helps fight wrinkles and other signs of aging. (Vitamin E is often contained in sunscreen). Taken internally, supplemental vitamins C and E also help reduce some of the harmful effects of sun exposure.
If you are going to be in the sun for any length of time – whether relaxing at the beach, working in the garden, or playing an outdoor sport – be sure to apply protective sunscreen and topical vitamin E to your skin. Taking the following nutrients will provide you with further protection.
Supplements for Sun Tanners
• Coenzyme Q10
• N-acetylcysteine
• Vitamin C
• Vitamin E
Friday, January 7, 2011
Sunning Away Cancer
The American Cancer Society estimates one in 70 women will develop ovarian cancer -- only 38 percent will survive more than five years. A new study shows where women live could put them at higher risk.
Enjoying the sunny outdoors can do more than give your spirits a boost. New research shows regular sun exposure may also boost the power of the immune system to ward off some cancers.
Cedric Garland, Ph.D., Professor Community and Family Medicine, University of California, San Diego: "The secret is the duration of exposure. The skin produces vitamin D during approximately the first 10 minutes of exposure."
Dr. Garland says the vitamin D produced during those 10 minutes builds a barrier against the growth of cancer cells. He found a dose of sunshine cut the risk of colon cancer in half and reduced breast cancer risk by as much as 60 percent. His newest research suggests there's also a link between climate and ovarian cancer.
Cedric Garland, Ph.D.: "In particular, women 45 to 54 years old in the northern half of the country were five times more likely to die of ovarian cancer than women in the same age group in the southern half of the country."
Washington, DC, had the highest death rate from ovarian cancer. Next came South Bend, Indiana and Madison, Wisconsin. The lowest death rate was in El Paso, Texas. Tampa, Phoenix and Charlotte, North Carolina also had low numbers. Dr. Garland says you can still get the benefits of sunlight without moving south.
Cedric Garland, Ph.D.:
"Maintain a diet that contains an adequate amount of calcium and vitamin D."
If you're lucky enough to live under sunny skies year-round, Dr. Garland says limit your exposure and protect your face with a hat and sunscreen. You certainly don't want to risk getting skin cancer while you're trying to avoid ovarian cancer.
The researchers did find two exceptions to the link between sunlight and ovarian cancer. For reasons they don't know, San Diego and Los Angeles had high death rates from ovarian cancer despite their sunny weather.
Enjoying the sunny outdoors can do more than give your spirits a boost. New research shows regular sun exposure may also boost the power of the immune system to ward off some cancers.
Cedric Garland, Ph.D., Professor Community and Family Medicine, University of California, San Diego: "The secret is the duration of exposure. The skin produces vitamin D during approximately the first 10 minutes of exposure."
Dr. Garland says the vitamin D produced during those 10 minutes builds a barrier against the growth of cancer cells. He found a dose of sunshine cut the risk of colon cancer in half and reduced breast cancer risk by as much as 60 percent. His newest research suggests there's also a link between climate and ovarian cancer.
Cedric Garland, Ph.D.: "In particular, women 45 to 54 years old in the northern half of the country were five times more likely to die of ovarian cancer than women in the same age group in the southern half of the country."
Washington, DC, had the highest death rate from ovarian cancer. Next came South Bend, Indiana and Madison, Wisconsin. The lowest death rate was in El Paso, Texas. Tampa, Phoenix and Charlotte, North Carolina also had low numbers. Dr. Garland says you can still get the benefits of sunlight without moving south.
Cedric Garland, Ph.D.:
"Maintain a diet that contains an adequate amount of calcium and vitamin D."
If you're lucky enough to live under sunny skies year-round, Dr. Garland says limit your exposure and protect your face with a hat and sunscreen. You certainly don't want to risk getting skin cancer while you're trying to avoid ovarian cancer.
The researchers did find two exceptions to the link between sunlight and ovarian cancer. For reasons they don't know, San Diego and Los Angeles had high death rates from ovarian cancer despite their sunny weather.
Alzheimer's Prevention
Could taking a drug everyday help keep a person with memory loss from developing Alzheimer's disease? A national study is being conducted to answer that question. We'll tell you why this study is so important.
Four million Americans have Alzheimer's disease. At this rate, 10 million Americans will have it by the year 2040. Norman Foster, M.D., hopes to decrease that number by treating high-risk patients before they have the disease.
"We'd all like to prevent Alzheimer's disease. That would be much better than trying to treat people who already have significant brain damage," says Dr. Foster, a neurologist at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.
Ethel Henderson is at high-risk for Alzheimer's. Both of her sisters suffered from the disease. "It's very difficult because the one sister was real bad," she says.
Ethel has been diagnosed as having mild cognitive impairment or MCI, a condition that increases her risk of getting Alzheimer's.
Dr. Foster says, "It's normal for people to have difficulty recalling names of people they don't see very often, but people who have MCI or Alzheimer's disease won't remember that they've even seen someone."
In this study, MCI patients take either a multi-vitamin as the placebo, vitamin E, which has shown promise in Alzheimer's patients, or the drug donepezil, already approved for treatment of Alzheimer's.
"There is the potential that this actually could prevent the full-blown development of the disease. So, it's worth a try," says Dr. Foster.
Ethel hopes being part of the study, along with her prayers, will make the difference. "I just feel like it's in the Lord's hands now," she says.
Four million Americans have Alzheimer's disease. At this rate, 10 million Americans will have it by the year 2040. Norman Foster, M.D., hopes to decrease that number by treating high-risk patients before they have the disease.
"We'd all like to prevent Alzheimer's disease. That would be much better than trying to treat people who already have significant brain damage," says Dr. Foster, a neurologist at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.
Ethel Henderson is at high-risk for Alzheimer's. Both of her sisters suffered from the disease. "It's very difficult because the one sister was real bad," she says.
Ethel has been diagnosed as having mild cognitive impairment or MCI, a condition that increases her risk of getting Alzheimer's.
Dr. Foster says, "It's normal for people to have difficulty recalling names of people they don't see very often, but people who have MCI or Alzheimer's disease won't remember that they've even seen someone."
In this study, MCI patients take either a multi-vitamin as the placebo, vitamin E, which has shown promise in Alzheimer's patients, or the drug donepezil, already approved for treatment of Alzheimer's.
"There is the potential that this actually could prevent the full-blown development of the disease. So, it's worth a try," says Dr. Foster.
Ethel hopes being part of the study, along with her prayers, will make the difference. "I just feel like it's in the Lord's hands now," she says.
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Health: a three-legged stool
The best way to understand health and well-being is to use a metaphor. We equate it to a three-legged stool -- one leg of drugs, or pharmaceuticals, a second leg of surgery and procedure, and a third leg of self-care. Unfortunately most of our medicine, health and well-being are viewed today as needing only the first two legs - drugs, surgery and procedures. However, 60 to 90 percent are in the mind/body stress-related realm where the drugs and surgery don't work. We need a self-care leg. In that self-care leg we have the relaxation response, nutrition, exercise, stress management and the patient's belief system. When we bring that third leg in, we have truly balanced our approach. It's a much more healthy, complete and effective medicine.
This seems like such common sense, the three-legged stool. So why is it just being recognized? About 150 years ago all we had was a belief system. Then it was the placebo effect -- we had no medicine, no surgery. Then we had spectacular success over the last 150 years with anti-tetanus toxin, the vitamins, insulin, antibiotics, surgeries that are miraculous by biblical standards, etc. Our surgeons are curing blindness on an assembly line basis with cataract operations. This awesome medicine led to arrogance -- we don't need mind/body. We don't need self-care. We can take care of it all. As awesome as these medicines and surgery are, they only treat 10 to 40 percent of cases. We need to balance the self-care aspect of things and weave it into medicine. What prevented that from happening sooner was a lack of scientific base to this self-care. Over the last 30 years or so scientists have brought in a scientific basis for mind/body interactions, the relaxation response, for a belief system. Now it can be on an equal basis woven together with pharmaceuticals and surgery.
There is a very rich legacy of research on how powerful belief is in healing processes. We've ignored it, however. We have tested new medicine against placebos, sugar pills and inert substances. If the new medicine was no better than the placebo, both were thrown out -- never asking the question, "Why is it that the placebo works at all?" So when you go back into the medical literature for studies studying drugs for a number of disorders -- angina pectoris, asthma, duodenal ulcers, skin rashes, all forms of pain, rheumatoid arthritis -- the placebos were used. They were effective in 50 to 90 percent of cases. We never asked the question, "What's going on here?" We simply threw them both out because the new drug was no better than placebo. So you see we have a very rich literature in terms of showing us that the placebo effect works in a number of diseases. We just didn't pay attention. What's happening now is we're getting to a point where we can begin to explain how belief in a drug, how belief in self can work. That gets us into a whole host of new neurobiological research.
This seems like such common sense, the three-legged stool. So why is it just being recognized? About 150 years ago all we had was a belief system. Then it was the placebo effect -- we had no medicine, no surgery. Then we had spectacular success over the last 150 years with anti-tetanus toxin, the vitamins, insulin, antibiotics, surgeries that are miraculous by biblical standards, etc. Our surgeons are curing blindness on an assembly line basis with cataract operations. This awesome medicine led to arrogance -- we don't need mind/body. We don't need self-care. We can take care of it all. As awesome as these medicines and surgery are, they only treat 10 to 40 percent of cases. We need to balance the self-care aspect of things and weave it into medicine. What prevented that from happening sooner was a lack of scientific base to this self-care. Over the last 30 years or so scientists have brought in a scientific basis for mind/body interactions, the relaxation response, for a belief system. Now it can be on an equal basis woven together with pharmaceuticals and surgery.
There is a very rich legacy of research on how powerful belief is in healing processes. We've ignored it, however. We have tested new medicine against placebos, sugar pills and inert substances. If the new medicine was no better than the placebo, both were thrown out -- never asking the question, "Why is it that the placebo works at all?" So when you go back into the medical literature for studies studying drugs for a number of disorders -- angina pectoris, asthma, duodenal ulcers, skin rashes, all forms of pain, rheumatoid arthritis -- the placebos were used. They were effective in 50 to 90 percent of cases. We never asked the question, "What's going on here?" We simply threw them both out because the new drug was no better than placebo. So you see we have a very rich literature in terms of showing us that the placebo effect works in a number of diseases. We just didn't pay attention. What's happening now is we're getting to a point where we can begin to explain how belief in a drug, how belief in self can work. That gets us into a whole host of new neurobiological research.
Monday, January 3, 2011
Dietary Changes Benefit Macular Degeneration
Older people who eat high fat diets may be putting themselves at increased risk for the leading cause of blindness among the elderly.
That’s the finding from a new study on age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a progressive eye disease common in people over age 60. Health officials say about 8 million people have the intermediate stage of the disease. About 1.3 million will go on to develop the advanced stage and significant vision loss. Six percent to 8 percent of people over age 75 are afflicted with the advanced form of the condition.
In this study, investigators from the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary in Boston looked at the effect of dietary fat intake on progression of the disease. The research involved 261 patients who already had signs of the condition in at least one of their eyes. All filled out detailed questionnaires on food intake on a regular basis over about five years.
Results showed people who ate more fatty foods were significantly more likely to progress to the advanced stage of AMD. People who ate the highest amounts of animal fat were two-times more likely to progress as those who ate the lowest amounts. Those who consumed the most vegetable fat had nearly a four-times increased risk. Eating more fish was associated with a lower risk of AMD progression, as was the consumption of nuts.
Investigators conclude, “A substantial number of people may benefit from raising awareness about the importance of a healthy, fat conscious diet as a means of maintaining good eye health, as well as cardiovascular health, in later years.”
SOURCE: Archives of Ophthalmology, 2003;121:1728-1737
That’s the finding from a new study on age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a progressive eye disease common in people over age 60. Health officials say about 8 million people have the intermediate stage of the disease. About 1.3 million will go on to develop the advanced stage and significant vision loss. Six percent to 8 percent of people over age 75 are afflicted with the advanced form of the condition.
In this study, investigators from the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary in Boston looked at the effect of dietary fat intake on progression of the disease. The research involved 261 patients who already had signs of the condition in at least one of their eyes. All filled out detailed questionnaires on food intake on a regular basis over about five years.
Results showed people who ate more fatty foods were significantly more likely to progress to the advanced stage of AMD. People who ate the highest amounts of animal fat were two-times more likely to progress as those who ate the lowest amounts. Those who consumed the most vegetable fat had nearly a four-times increased risk. Eating more fish was associated with a lower risk of AMD progression, as was the consumption of nuts.
Investigators conclude, “A substantial number of people may benefit from raising awareness about the importance of a healthy, fat conscious diet as a means of maintaining good eye health, as well as cardiovascular health, in later years.”
SOURCE: Archives of Ophthalmology, 2003;121:1728-1737
Sunglass Safety
Style or substance ... How do you pick your sunglasses? Ultraviolet rays can harm your eyes, causing cataracts and macular degeneration. But does it have to come at a price? Do more expensive sunglasses mean more UV protection?
Using a UV meter, optician Cathy Nguyen, of Seattle Central Community College in Washington tests three pairs of sunglasses. "What we're doing is just checking for ultraviolet transmission," she tells Ivanhoe.
The shades cost $100, $36 and $8. A flashing zero on Nguyen's UV meter means no UV is coming through and 100 percent of the ultraviolet rays are being blocked.
The results?
"All of the sunglasses had 100-percent UV protection," Nguyen says. She admits that's not surprising at all, because most sunglasses will have 100-percent UV protection.
Nguyen offers sunglasses shoppers some advice: Look for sunglasses that offer 100-percent protection against both UVA and UVB rays, or those with UV-400 protection to prevent the most damaging rays. And remember, children need sunglasses, too.
No matter what your style, UV protection for your eyes is priceless -- at any price.
While price doesn't matter as far as UV protection goes, Nguyen says make sure you buy quality lenses to prevent a distorted or warped view through your shades.
Source: Ivanhoe
Using a UV meter, optician Cathy Nguyen, of Seattle Central Community College in Washington tests three pairs of sunglasses. "What we're doing is just checking for ultraviolet transmission," she tells Ivanhoe.
The shades cost $100, $36 and $8. A flashing zero on Nguyen's UV meter means no UV is coming through and 100 percent of the ultraviolet rays are being blocked.
The results?
"All of the sunglasses had 100-percent UV protection," Nguyen says. She admits that's not surprising at all, because most sunglasses will have 100-percent UV protection.
Nguyen offers sunglasses shoppers some advice: Look for sunglasses that offer 100-percent protection against both UVA and UVB rays, or those with UV-400 protection to prevent the most damaging rays. And remember, children need sunglasses, too.
No matter what your style, UV protection for your eyes is priceless -- at any price.
While price doesn't matter as far as UV protection goes, Nguyen says make sure you buy quality lenses to prevent a distorted or warped view through your shades.
Source: Ivanhoe
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