As many as 4 million Americans have Alzheimer’s disease. The older you get, the greater your risk. Though controversial, DNA testing may be able to predict whether or not you’re at risk for the disease. Would you really want to know if you were?
Doctors predict 10 million Americans will have Alzheimer’s disease by the year 2040. And time isn’t stopping for anyone.
If you could find out you were going to be next, would you want to know?
"We now have good ideas about how we might be able to prevent the development or even stop the development of this disease," says neurologist Norman Foster, M.D.
Recently, researchers offered more than 250 high-risk people a DNA test to measure their chances of getting Alzheimer’s. Only 21 agreed to take it.
In the future, that knowledge could be beneficial. That is, if preventative treatments like the one being studied by Dr. Foster at the University of Michigan prove successful.
"Use of high dose vitamin E can slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease," says Dr. Foster
Neurologist Neill Graf-Radford, M.D., from Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Fla., is looking to anti-inflammatories, like the ones taken by arthritis patients, to slow the disease.
"There are several studies showing that those with arthritis seem to have less chance of developing Alzheimer’s," says Graf-Radford.
Bill Scarborough is in that study. He says, "I go out the front door and get to the garage and say to myself, ’What am I doing out here?’"
His wife Sara is hopeful.
"It’s in his family and we have kids that we love too that we want to - maybe this will help them not to have it," she says.
Together, they are facing the possibility of the disease head on.
Twelve of the 21 patients who took the DNA test had positive DNA results for developing Alzheimer’s. After the testing, researchers say only one patient reported being depressed while two others reported anxiety. More than half found it beneficial.
Source: Ivanhoe News
Showing posts with label Vitamin E. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Vitamin E. Show all posts
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Steps to Ease Mammograms Discomfort
Recently there has been a great deal of controversy over the benefits of mammograms. The question has been: Do they really save lives? A study in The Lancet announced mammograms are responsible for a 21-percent decrease in breast cancer deaths. Still, many women avoid mammograms because of the pain. There are steps you can take, however, to ease the discomfort.
It pinches. It pulls. It squeezes.
It's true -- mammograms can be a real pain, but the test that lasts a few seconds can reveal potentially deadly cancers when they're tiny, and easier to treat. Now a growing number of imaging centers are using a special foam pad to take some of the pinch out of the process.
"What we want to do is try to take away one more barrier to getting a mammogram, because pain is one of the reasons that women don't come back for a mammogram," diagnostic radiologist stated.
It's called The Woman's Touch MammoPad breast cushion, a specially-designed foam cushion that's invisible on X-rays. The cushion is just one way to get a more comfortable test. When scheduling your appointment, remember timing is everything.
You should try to schedule your mammogram for the week after your period.
Some doctors believe taking vitamin E daily starting two weeks before a mammogram can ease breast discomfort. To reduce breast fullness, limit the amount of salt and caffeine in your diet a week before your mammogram. Finally, an anti-inflammatory like ibuprofen can be taken an hour before the exam.
The bottom line -- a few seconds of discomfort is a small price to pay for the chance to find cancer early.
The American Cancer Society recommends women ages 40 and older have a mammogram every year. If you're concerned about discomfort during the mammogram, talk to your doctor about what pain control method is best for you.
It pinches. It pulls. It squeezes.
It's true -- mammograms can be a real pain, but the test that lasts a few seconds can reveal potentially deadly cancers when they're tiny, and easier to treat. Now a growing number of imaging centers are using a special foam pad to take some of the pinch out of the process.
"What we want to do is try to take away one more barrier to getting a mammogram, because pain is one of the reasons that women don't come back for a mammogram," diagnostic radiologist stated.
It's called The Woman's Touch MammoPad breast cushion, a specially-designed foam cushion that's invisible on X-rays. The cushion is just one way to get a more comfortable test. When scheduling your appointment, remember timing is everything.
You should try to schedule your mammogram for the week after your period.
Some doctors believe taking vitamin E daily starting two weeks before a mammogram can ease breast discomfort. To reduce breast fullness, limit the amount of salt and caffeine in your diet a week before your mammogram. Finally, an anti-inflammatory like ibuprofen can be taken an hour before the exam.
The bottom line -- a few seconds of discomfort is a small price to pay for the chance to find cancer early.
The American Cancer Society recommends women ages 40 and older have a mammogram every year. If you're concerned about discomfort during the mammogram, talk to your doctor about what pain control method is best for you.
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Vitamin E Functions
Vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin that plays an important role as an antioxidant. It protects vitamins A and C, red blood cells, and essential fatty acids from being destroyed by free radicals, which are unstable substances in the environment and in the body. Vitamin E also helps form red blood cells and helps the body use vitamin K.
Vitamin E has also been shown to play a role in immune function and repair of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), a set of instructions for our genes.
Vitamin E might also play a role in heart healthy by preventing oxidation of bad low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and unhealthy plaque buildup in coronary arteries.
Dietary Sources
Vitamin E is not found abundantly in the diet, although some foods, including vegetable oils, green leafy vegetables, and nuts are natural sources. Some foods are also fortified with vitamin E.
Vitamin E is listed as IUs on food labels and dietary supplement packages. One milligram (mg) of alpha-tocopherol, the form of vitamin E found abundantly in the body, equals 1.49 IUs.
Vitamin E deficiency is rare, mostly only among premature infants and people who cannot absorb dietary fat (such as those with cystic fibrosis). They can experience symptoms such as muscle weakness, balance problems, and impaired vision.
Too much vitamin E can decrease the availability of or interfere with the body’s use of other fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, and K). Symptoms can include nausea and problems with the digestive tract.
Although the upper limit for vitamin E is 1,000 IU, in 2004, the American Heart Association warned that consuming more than 400 IU of vitamin E from supplements can cause harm and increase death risk.
Those who take blood-thinning medications or statins such as Coumadin should speak with their physician before taking vitamin E supplements because they can interfere with the effectiveness of their medications or be harmful.
Essential fatty acids are fatty acids the body needs to obtain from the diet because it cannot make any or enough of them to meet the body’s needs.
Vitamin E has also been shown to play a role in immune function and repair of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), a set of instructions for our genes.
Vitamin E might also play a role in heart healthy by preventing oxidation of bad low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and unhealthy plaque buildup in coronary arteries.
Dietary Sources
Vitamin E is not found abundantly in the diet, although some foods, including vegetable oils, green leafy vegetables, and nuts are natural sources. Some foods are also fortified with vitamin E.
Vitamin E is listed as IUs on food labels and dietary supplement packages. One milligram (mg) of alpha-tocopherol, the form of vitamin E found abundantly in the body, equals 1.49 IUs.
Vitamin E deficiency is rare, mostly only among premature infants and people who cannot absorb dietary fat (such as those with cystic fibrosis). They can experience symptoms such as muscle weakness, balance problems, and impaired vision.
Too much vitamin E can decrease the availability of or interfere with the body’s use of other fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, and K). Symptoms can include nausea and problems with the digestive tract.
Although the upper limit for vitamin E is 1,000 IU, in 2004, the American Heart Association warned that consuming more than 400 IU of vitamin E from supplements can cause harm and increase death risk.
Those who take blood-thinning medications or statins such as Coumadin should speak with their physician before taking vitamin E supplements because they can interfere with the effectiveness of their medications or be harmful.
Essential fatty acids are fatty acids the body needs to obtain from the diet because it cannot make any or enough of them to meet the body’s needs.
Monday, April 26, 2010
Vitamin E, Vitamin K, B Vitamins and Vitamin D
Vitamin E is an important antioxidant that should be supplied at levels well above the RDI of 30 IU (international units) per day. Many authorities recommend 200 to 1,000 IU per day to help prevent age-related degenerative diseases such as cancer and atherosclerosis. Experts recommend that elderly people with risk factors for heart disease and those suffering from Alzheimer’s-related dementia take extra vitamin E. Most natural health care providers prefer the natural d-alpha form of vitamin E over the chemically synthesized dl-alpha form.
Benefits of Vitamin E
• Acts as a powerful antioxidant
• Prevents deficiency in low-weight infants
• Acts as an anti-clotting agent
• Assists in the formation of red blood cells
Vitamin K
Vitamin K is included in multivitamin formula because it can help prevent bone loss. A daily dose of 80 to 300 micrograms conforms to current RDI standards. Vitamin K is especially important for patients with a history of intestinal malabsorption or chronic antibiotic therapy (antibiotics kill vitamin K-producing intestinal bacteria).
Benefits of Vitamin K
• Helps prevent abnormal bleeding
• Promotes normal growth and development
• Helps prevent bone loss
B-Complex Vitamins
The B vitamin family includes eight distinct vitamins:
• B1 – Thiamine
• B2 – Riboflavin
• B3 – Niacin
• B5 – Pantothenic Acid
• B6 – Pyridoxine
• B7 – Biotin
• B9 – Folic Acid
• B12 – Cyanocobalamin
Each B vitamin is a separately functioning coenzyme that affects a wide-range of processes and functions in the human body. If you have a specific condition for which a single B vitamin is known to be helpful, a separate supplement of this vitamin may be added to a multi, preferably after consultation with a knowledgeable health care provider.
Vitamin D
We get vitamin D from two sources; our food and the sun. Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to higher risks of colorectal and breast cancer, so it’s important to guarantee an adequate intake. In fact, vitamin D was recently shown to reduce the risk of polyp development in the colon, a precursor to colon cancer. For those who don’t get regular exposure to sunlight or eat vitamin D-fortified foods, 400 IU per day may be optimal. Because vitamin D plays a role in bone building, people with an increased risk for osteoporosis may benefit from 800 IU per day.
Benefits of Vitamin D
• Prevents rickets
• Treats low blood calcium in cases of kidney disease
• Helps promote bon formation
• Promotes normal development of children and infants
Benefits of Vitamin E
• Acts as a powerful antioxidant
• Prevents deficiency in low-weight infants
• Acts as an anti-clotting agent
• Assists in the formation of red blood cells
Vitamin K
Vitamin K is included in multivitamin formula because it can help prevent bone loss. A daily dose of 80 to 300 micrograms conforms to current RDI standards. Vitamin K is especially important for patients with a history of intestinal malabsorption or chronic antibiotic therapy (antibiotics kill vitamin K-producing intestinal bacteria).
Benefits of Vitamin K
• Helps prevent abnormal bleeding
• Promotes normal growth and development
• Helps prevent bone loss
B-Complex Vitamins
The B vitamin family includes eight distinct vitamins:
• B1 – Thiamine
• B2 – Riboflavin
• B3 – Niacin
• B5 – Pantothenic Acid
• B6 – Pyridoxine
• B7 – Biotin
• B9 – Folic Acid
• B12 – Cyanocobalamin
Each B vitamin is a separately functioning coenzyme that affects a wide-range of processes and functions in the human body. If you have a specific condition for which a single B vitamin is known to be helpful, a separate supplement of this vitamin may be added to a multi, preferably after consultation with a knowledgeable health care provider.
Vitamin D
We get vitamin D from two sources; our food and the sun. Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to higher risks of colorectal and breast cancer, so it’s important to guarantee an adequate intake. In fact, vitamin D was recently shown to reduce the risk of polyp development in the colon, a precursor to colon cancer. For those who don’t get regular exposure to sunlight or eat vitamin D-fortified foods, 400 IU per day may be optimal. Because vitamin D plays a role in bone building, people with an increased risk for osteoporosis may benefit from 800 IU per day.
Benefits of Vitamin D
• Prevents rickets
• Treats low blood calcium in cases of kidney disease
• Helps promote bon formation
• Promotes normal development of children and infants
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Try Peanut Butter
Peanut butter is not only a good source of protein and vitamin E, it is rich in magnesium, which is good for your metabolism. Other foods rich in vitamin E include almonds, vegetable oils, salad dressing, nuts and seeds, wheat germ oil, and green leafy vegetables.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
