PRE-CANCER COLON POLYPS

Colonoscopies are used to spot and remove lesions, or polyps that are pre-cancerous. People without adenomas – the pre-cancerous type of polyp – were researched studied in a 2010 study and found substantial overuse of the test for low-risk people. In that study, people in one group had no adenomas on their first exam, had another negative exam, and came back for a third exam, says Robert E. Schoen, M.D., M.P.H, lead author of the study and a professor of medicine and epidemiology at the University of Pittsburgh. “More than 90 percent had all three tests within nine years – whereas current guidelines say the first exam was sufficient,” he says.

Who might have them: Anyone 50 or older and those with inflammatory bowel disease or a family history of adenomas or colorectal cancer. Twenty to 50 percent of adults will have adenomas in their lifetime, and 5 to 6 percent will develop cancer.

How to reduce your risk: Eat more fruit and vegetables and less fatty foods, exercise, and lose excess weight. Do not smoke, an avoid alcohol. Get plenty of calcium and vitamin D, and do weight bearing exercises such as walking and muscle strengthening exercises.

How to avoid over-treatment: Begin at age 50 for average-risk people. For those with a family history of colon cancer, or personal history of colon polyps or inflammatory bowel disease, doctors might recommend earlier or more frequent colon examinations. After age 75, routine screening might not be needed. If pre-cancerous polyps are detected, they can be removed at the time of the procedure. If normal it may not need to be repeated for 10 years. Other recommended tests include an annual stool test which can detect tiny amounts of blood in stool samples.

EXERCISE HURDLES 2

Extra challenges are faced by those who already have the issue of joint pain. Water aerobics can lighten the load and make it possible to move in ways that otherwise might be too painful. Some medical centers offer exercise programs specifically for people with arthritis and other chronic pain problems. A clinical trial looked at a yoga program for people with the disabling disorder called fibromyalgia. Volunteers not only managed to exercise but also showed significant improvement in measures of pain, fatigue, stiffness, sleep, depression and anxiety.

The Morning Star presents regular articles by Dr. Denise De Monte, a naturopathic physician at De Monte Centre of Natural Medicine in Vernon. For improved health, most doctors recommend reducing your sugar intake. But when it comes to joint pain, you need sugar, the injectable kind, and the sweet relief it can provide. Doctors can use a fine needle to inject the sugar, and monitors the response to minimize any discomfort. Recently showcased on the TV program “The Doctors,” this new effective treatment for joint pain is called prolotherapy. When the results are compared to your current pain and suffering, any discomfort is minimal and short term since injections are completed within 15 minutes.

EXERCISE HURDLES

“I never have enough time.” Successful exercisers made exercise a priority. Walking or bicycling to work, even if only partway is a good start, or parking a few blocks from the office, and then taking the stairs instead of the elevator. A few brief bouts of moderate exercise can be as beneficial as longer, continuous workout. One doesn’t need fancy equipment; a few dumbbells or resistance bands, a stability ball, and some exercise videos or DVDs can work nicely.

“I’m too old.” It is never too late to start exercising for aerobic fitness and muscular strength. One study followed inactive men who started exercising at age 50. By age 60, they had achieved survival rates comparable to men who had been active for far longer. Both men and women in their 80s who had started resistance training in clinical trials gained strength as rapidly as younger adults did. After age 45 men, and women over 55, should get a physician’s clearance first before jumping into a vigorous routine if you have diabetes or another ongoing health problem.

“But is my health good enough?” Exercise is a prudent treatment for diabetes, depression, high blood pressure, osteoarthritis, peripheral vascular disease and other problems common to older age. In clinical tests involving people with osteoarthritis of the knee who did strength training, for example, and pain scores fell by nearly 50 percent.

“If I’m not overweight, should I still exercise?” Sedentary living can make you more vulnerable to cancer, heart disease, osteoporosis, type 2diabetes, and premature death, even if you are lean. Inactivity ranks about as high as smoking. A study that tracked 2,603 men and women age 60 or older for about 12 years, normal-weight people who were unfit were more likely to die than obese volunteers who exercised enough to maintain aerobic fitness. Exercise works in many ways to boost health and life span. It helps the body to manage blood sugar, which helps control diabetes. It can even lower blood sugar, in part by keeping artery walls supple, and weight bearing exercise builds bones to help them resist osteoporosis, and halt the breakdown of muscles and tendons, once considered an inevitable part of aging, and restore muscle power to level you had earlier. This could spur a change at the cellular level that slow or even reverse some of the root causes of aging. Tune in tomorrow to find out how to reduce any skeletal or any other possible discomfort.

FOOD AND INFLAMMATION

FOOD AND INFLAMMATION

A writer asks if certain foods can make inflammation worse. Doctors with Consumer Reports give a “yes” answer. Inflammation is a process in which our bodies essentially go into attack mode in response to a trigger, such as allergens, infection, injury or even food. Sometimes that response is helpful – for example, fighting off an infection. It can also be painful (like joint inflammation due to arthritis. Saturated fat, triglycerides, trans-fats, and high-glycemic foods – those high in starch and added sugar can cause or worsen inflammation, raising the risk of cancer, heart disease and other conditions.

Specific foods can trigger inflammation in people with certain allergies and sensitivities such as gluten in those with celiac disease. My cousin went to her doctor for testing and he told her that often the patient is the best detective. He gave her a list of foods with a high-glycemic index (G.I.) and now she avoids foods like white potatoes, and products made with wheat flour. Your local health food stores keep extra copies of that list in a handy file and will give you a copy that shows the major foods that those with type 2 diabetics require. For example white potatoes have a high glycemic index and sweet potatoes (called yams in southern U.S.) have been found make a preferable substitute.

FAT SOLUBLE VITAMINS

A writer asks if it is necessary to consume fat in order to absorb vitamin D from food and does it matter what type of fat.

According to Consumer Reports on Health, one should stick mainly to unsaturated fats, found in most vegetable oils and also found in fish oil. Saturated fats can raise LDL (bad cholesterol). Foods that contain healthful fats are themselves often rich in fat soluble vitamins, which include A, E and K, in addition to D. Good sources include avocados, nuts, vegetable oils, fatty fish such as wild salmon and trout. But don’t take the need for a little fat as license to over do it. Even with the healthful kind, fat should account for only about 15 to 35 percent of your daily calories.

Medical consultants include Larry B. Goldstein, M.D., director of the Duke Stroke Center, Durham, North Carolina, and Neil A. Busis, M.D., director of neurology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Shadyside Hospital.

ELECTROLYTE REPLENTISHING DRINK

Electrolytes are minerals in your body that help maintain proper muscle and nervous system function. The best known are sodium, potassium and chloride. Anything that seriously depletes your body’s store of fluids – including diarrhea, vomiting or excessive sweating – can also disrupt your balance of electrolytes. To make your own formula for replacing them, mix 4 cups of water with two tablespoons of sugar ad l/2 teaspoon of salt, and stir thoroughly. You can add lemon juice or sugar-free flavouring if desired. Have a banana along with it to get some potassium. Unless you do endurance sports, steer clear of electrolyte sports drinks such as Gatorade. They have plenty of calories, and the added sugar can actually worsen diarrhea and nausea.

Tip of the month from Consumer Reports on Health, April 2011

PREVENTING HOSPITAL ERRORS

According to a study in the April 2011 issue of Health Affairs, drug mix-ups, hospital-acquired infections, and other hospital errors are far more common than previously thought.

Researchers reviewed the medical records of 795 patients at three large hospitals, looking for adverse events that were voluntarily reported and those that were detected by an automatic system that reviews billing and discharge records. They also looked for events that had gone undetected. Only four evens were voluntarily reported, and 35 were detected by the automated review. But the researchers themselves found an extra 354 events.

Overall, adverse events occurred in about one-third of all hospital admissions. Researchers suggested that their findings probably underestimate the problem since they took a retrospective review, not a real-time observation.

If you are headed for a hospital stay here are some steps to take:
* Bring a list of all drugs and supplements you take as well as a brief health history.

* Keep a log of all tests, treatments and consultations. Check medications and doses before you take them.

* Have one person coordinate your care, whether it’s a physician, a hospital social worker, or a case manager. Keep your medical doctor in the loop too.

* Have a friend or relative with you whenever possible.

* Be respectful, and don’t hesitate to ask to speak to a nursing supervisor if you think your needs are not being met.

* Make sure all visitors – including hospital staff members – wash their hands often to prevent transmitting germs.

* Understand the plans for your discharge, including the drugs you may need once you go home, as well as dietary or other changes that need to be followed.

STRENGTH TRAINING AND OTHER HEALTH TIPS

Older women who did resistance training once a week were still reaping the cognitive, physical, and even financial benefits a year later, according to a study in the December 13, 2010, issue of Archives of Internal Medicine. Researchers assigned a monetary value of falls based on healthcare costs. The weekly muscle-building group had fewer falls compared with a control group that didn’t strength-trained twice a week. As a result they spent less on health care.

Waistline Creep: Adults, especially women, who maintain regular, vigorous workouts gain less weight as they age than those who exercise moderately or rarely, a 20-year study found.

Boosting mood enhances learning: People who watched a video of a laughing baby and listened to upbeat music did better on a cognitive test than those who watched a report on earthquake and heard sad music, according to a study published in the December 2010 issue of Psychological Science.

No safe Cigarette: There is no safe level of your exposure to cigarette smoke, according to a December 2010 report from the U.S. surgeon General. That’s because hundreds of hazardous chemicals are rapidly absorbed by the body’s cells, which can eventually lead to serious illness, and premature death. Cigarette smoking raises blood pressure, decreases exercise tolerance, promotes plaque buildup in arteries, and makes blood more likely to clot. It roughly doubles the risk of ischemic strokes and triples the likelihood of a type of hemorrhagic stroke. Studies now find that secondhand smoke also boosts stroke risk. When smokers quit their smoke risk is cut in half within a year and falls to a nonsmoker’s risk after five years. If you smoke, talk to your doctor about quitting. Options include counseling, nicotine replacement, and other medication.

AUTOGENIC TRAINING AT HOME

Here are some tips from C. Norman Shealy, M.D., PhD. He is a neurosurgeon, psychologist, and the founding president of the American Holistic Medical Association, as well as president of the Holos Institute for Heath. He has published 25 books and over 300 articles, including his new book, Energy Medicine.

In 1974 this medical doctor entered the Humanistic Psychology Insitute, now Saybrook, to get a PhD. in psychology, which led to the concept of Biogenics. He explains:

* Begin as of now – being grounded in present time. Most people spend too much time reliving traumas of the past.

* Positive self-esteem – virtually all psychological problems – arose because of poor self esteem.

* Balancing body feelings – sensory biofeedback to become aware of physical tension held in the body and to learn to turn body sensations on or off.

* Balancing emotions – learning to let go of anxiety, anger, guilt, and depression, and all their synonyms which are a basic foundation for virtually all physical problems.

* Spiritual attunement – getting in touch with soul, divine, and God.

Training at Home: As you breathe in, say slowly to yourself “My arms and legs” As you breathe out, “are heavy and warm”.

Imagine the sun beaming down upon your arms and legs. Do this for three minutes daily for one week. Second week, after three minutes of “my arms and legs are heavy and warm,” add, as you breathe in “M heartbeat is” and as you breathe out “Calm and regular” Continue for three minutes, while visualizing something calm and regular like the pendulum of a clock. Continue daily for a week. Third week do the two earlier exercises and add, as you breathe in: “My breathing is “Free and Easy” as you breathe out. Tune in at a later date for three further suggestions. 888-273-0020.

PRE-DIABETES

Soon after the term pre-diabetes was coined – with lifestyle interventions the only recommended treatment – the maker of Avandia, a medication for type 2 diabetes partly funded a trial which the drug was found to reduce the risk of the disease in people with borderline blood sugar levels “that prompted aggressive marketing of the drug for prevention, and some physicians responded by treating people who had not yet developed diabetes, says Victor Montori, M.D., a professor of medicine and diabetes specialist at the Mayo Clinic, in Rochester, Minn. Last year the FDA restricted the use of Avandia due to concerns it would cause a heart attack or stroke.

Who has it: People with a fasting blood sugar level of 100 to 125 milligrams per deciliter. Risk factors include being 45 or older, being overweight or physically inactive, not having a family history of diabetes.

How serious is it? Most people with pre-diabetes develop the full-blown disease within 10 years.

How to reduce your risk: Lose 5 to 10 percent of your body weight through diet and moderate exercise, such as brisk walking, 30 minutes a day, five days a week.

How to avoid overtreatment: If you have pre-diabetes, you should be checked for diabetes every one to two years, according to the Amercan Diabetes Association. Aim for a fasting blood glucose level close to 110 mg/dl, or lower. No drug is approved by the FDA to treat pre-diabetes, or prevent pre-diabetes, but only by people who are at very high risk for the disease, or prevent pre-diabetes. The ADA says that metformin might be considered for use in preventing type 2 diabetes but only by people who are at very high risk for the disease, have a BMI of at least 35, and are under age 60. Other drugs that have delayed the onset of Type 2 diabetes have side effects or haven’t shown long-lasting benefit.

PRE-OBESITY

Being overweight is now categorized as pre-obesity, but some researchers point out that unlike obesity, it doesn’t clearly increase the risk of death. And the body mass index (BMI) , a standard measure for excess weight, doesn’t always reflect health. The term has relevance because many people who are overweight continue to gain weight, says Robert Kushner, M.D., clinical director of the Northwestern Comprehensive Center of Obesity in Chicago. People who are told by their doctors that they’re overweight and continue to gain weight are more than twice as likely to try to lose weight than their less informed counterparts, according to a 2011 study in the Archives of Internal Medicine.

Who has it: People with BMIs of 25 to 29.9 are considered overweight, although the index might not be valid for very muscular short people. Use the free online calculator at consumer reportsHealth.org, or multiply your weight in pounds by 703, then divide by your height, in inches squared.

How to reduce your risk: If you have risk factors for obesity-related diseases – including a waist circumference exceeding 40 inches (for men) or 35 for women – try to lose 5 to 10 percent of your body weight through moderating diet and exercise. Our advisors advise against taking drugs or supplements for weight loss because the benefits are marginal and side effects can be risky. Food and Drug Administration recently approved the use of the Lap Band, a device wrapped around the stomach to limit food intake. Now it’s available for those with a BMI of 30 to 34 who also have a weight-related condition. Surgery carries serious risks and should not be taken lightly.

PRE-HYPERTENSION OR HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE

Pre-hypertension (or high blood pressure) is a serious condition that can trigger a heart attack or stroke. The risks begin to rise with even moderately elevated blood pressure. Two studies have found that antihypertensive medication reduces the risk of that condition will progress into hypertension. One of the studies was funded by the maker of the tested drug, and many of the authors of the other study had financial ties to drug companies. Neither trial provided evidence that the drugs reduced the risk of heart attack or stroke. Risks and benefits of using medication in this population are still largely unknown, according to Laura Svetkey, M.D., director of the Duke Hypertension Center in Durham, N.C. “Yet it’s been proved repeatedly that the way to treat pre-hypertension is with lifestyle interventions,” she says.

People with blood pressure levels of 120 to 139 millimeters of mercury (the systolic, or upper number) and/or 80 to 89 mmHg (the diastolic, or lower number.) Risk factors include being overweight or sedentary, and having a family history (a parent or sibling) of hypertension. Nineteen percent of the people with pre-hypertension develop hypertension over four years.

How to Reduce your Risk:

Lose excess weight; consume a diet rich in fruit, vegetables, and low-fat dairy products; limit your intake of saturated fat and trans fat, cut back on sodium, exercise regularly and drink moderately if at all. Keep blood pressure below 140/90 mmHg, the cutoff for hypertension. If you also have diabetes or kidney disease, lower it to 130/80 mmHg or less. If not, then one can consider adding medication if lifestyle measures are not enough.

The body mass index (BMI) a standard measure for excess pounds, doesn’t always reflect health but the term has relevance because overweight people continue to gain weight says Robert Kushner, M.D., clinical director of the Northwestern Comprehensive Center of Obesity in Chicago. When people are told by their doctors they are overweight, they are more than twice as likely to try to lose weight than their less-informed counterparts, according to a 2011 study in the Archives of Internal Medicine. People with BMIs of 25 to 29.9 are considered overweight.

STROKE RECOVERY

STRENGTH AND BALANCE TRAINING

Patients who received strength and balance training at home showed gains in walking ability comparable with patients who got outpatient therapy or specialized treadmills, according to a study of 408 survivors presented at an American Stroke Association conference in February, 2011. After a year, 52 percent of the participants improved their walking ability regardless of which type of therapy they did.

STRETCHING AND INJURY

Stretching before jogging neither prevents nor causes injuries, according to a study of 1,398 runners presented in February, 2011 at a meeting of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons. But stretching can improve balance and flexibility. It’s best to stretch after you work out when your muscles are warm, which allows maximum gains in flexibility.

HOME REMEDIES

TRICK FOR REMOVING A STUCK RING: Try squirting some Windex on it, suggests the American Society for Surgery of the Hand. Or ice the finger and hold it above your head a few minutes before using soap or oil to slide it off.

ACTIVITY BENEFITS: Older adults who keep busy, whether it’s playing bingo, going out for lunch, or any other activity that gets them out and about, have a reduced risk of becoming physically disabled and unable to do everyday household tasks, a recent study found.

HEALTHY VISION: In a recent study, some students who tried to eat more fruit and visualized themselves doing so fared better than those who merely said they would make an effort to do so.

PHARMACY PRESCRIPTION ALERT

The editor of Consumer Reports on Health writes that since hypertension runs in her family, she consulted her doctor. After his confirmation of the problem, she started eating better, exercising more and taking a beta-blocker. Her blood pressure has been under control ever since.

But as she wrote “Beware of Bad Labeling” that underscored the importance of being a proactive patient, particularly at the pharmacy, she decided to double check in the future.” Years before, she had picked up a prescription at a large retail drugstore and barely glanced at the bag. About to take a pill the next day she was startled to see that the colour and shape were different than usual. "I checked the label and realized that the medicine was not mine but someone else’s. I returned it, but only got an “oops” from the pharmacist when I pointed out the error."

“Drug mistakes are no joke and hardly rare,” Gayle Williams, the editor of ‘Consumer Reports.’ notes that nearly 1.9 million people in U.S. hospitals experienced side effects according to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Nearly 56,000 of them died – and 11 percent increase. Pharmacists must make sure they dispense the right drugs and provide correct information, and consumers should double-check all medication before taking it.

BOOST IMMUNITY

Scientists have yet to find a cure for the common cold. These viruses enter the body through the nose or throat. But eating foods proven to boost immunity are felt to help bar cold viruses that take up residence in the body. Fruits and vegetables are rich in Beta-carotene and Vitamin C so eat them as cold “insurance” all seasons that are high in anti-oxidants.

A British study found that a daily dose of as little as 15 mg beta-carotene 1-1/2 medium or 2 small carrots increased the activity of immune cells. Orange and yellow fruits send a message saying “Stop here for beta-carotene, and we will reduce the severity of your cold, and our vitamin C from citrus fruits kiwi fruit, strawberries broccoli and sweet peppers all help reduce the severity of a cold.”

For power eating include a large vine-ripened tomato or ½ cup of tomato sauce daily. A cup of fat-reduced yogurt will add its benefits. Don’t overlook a clove or two of garlic even though they hide among the coloured fruits and vegetables. Add it to your grandmother’s chicken soup along with a little hot pepper sauce for extra zip, taste and digestion.

FIGHT BREAST CANCER WITH SWEET POTATOES

A daily dose of beta carotene could be vital.

One single serving of a food rich in beta-carotene every day could help you avoid breast cancer, suggests a new Swedish study of women over age 50. Women who consumed at least 3.7 mg of beta-carotene each day from foods – about half a medium carrot’s worth – had up to 68 per cent less risk of cancer than women who ate less beta-carotene – as little as 1/50 of a carrot. Do not rely on beta-carotene supplements. Most likely they need beta-carotene plus the other compounds found in these foods for protection from coming down with cancer.

Here are the Best Ways to Get Beta-Carotene from its Source. Amount (mg)

Baked sweet potatoes ½ cup - called yams in southern U.S. - 9.5
Pumpkin pie (1/6 of an 8 inch pie) made with canned pumpkin 8.5
Baby carrots 2/3 cup 6.2
Canned apricot halves 5.9
Steamed spinach 4.7
Salad with 1 cup raw spinach 3.1
Cantaloupe 1 cup 2.4
Sweet peppers ½ cup and 1 cup romaine lettuce salad 1.9
Steamed broccoli ½ cup 0.9
Sliced mango 1 cup 0.8

THE BREAST CANCER DIET

Diagnosed with breast cancer at age 45, a breast cancer survivor scoured libraries, and reading nutrition studies to find a healthy diet to fight the disease. After her second diagnosis she realized there were no magic bullets, and devised her own plan. Five years later she reports no recurrence and wishes she had been given this nutritional advice by her cancer center after her second diagnosis. She reports renewed energy and doesn’t even require a daily nap. Her diet includes three to six servings of whole grain foods per day, one to two servings of beans a day and a handful of nuts several times a week with plenty of fruits and vegetables.

In a large study in the Netherlands, researchers who examined the diets of nearly 121,000 people found that the more of the eye-watering garlic bulbs they ate, the lower their risk of stomach cancer.

Tofu, soy milk, soy nuts and other soy foods contains rich stores of isoflavones, plant compounds that hundreds of studies suggest may prevent cancer. Lab studies have shown that gentistein, one isoflavone in soy, stunts the growth of cancer and keeps them from multiplying. It has also been shown to thwart the new blood vessels which help tumors grow.

In a study conducted at Michigan State University in East Lansing, researchers added 39 g a day of either soy protein or a soyless protein to the diets of 29 men and 10 women who had either previous colon cancer or polyps, which tend to develop into cancer. One year later, changes in the cells lining the colons of the men and women eating soy protein indicated that their risk of colon cancer had been cut in half.

DOING OUR DUTY FOR DASH

Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) can be our own personal job and we can do it at one of our favourite places – at the dinner table. If our blood pressure reading is greater than 140/90 most of the time, we are living on the edge of high blood pressure (also called Hypertension). We are (along with 50 million other Americans) asking our hearts to work harder than normal to pump blood through our blood vessels and arteries, especially in the heart, kidneys and eyes. It strains the heart as it scars and hardens the lining of blood vessels. The higher the blood pressure reading, the higher the risk of heart disease becomes.

But help is on the way with power eating including a total of four fruits and five vegetables a day and two or three servings of low-fat dairy products per day for extra calcium. For example, a banana contains 650 mg of potassium and may help counteract the effects of our high salt diets (according to recent research.) Eating fatty cold water fish like herring, salmon or white tuna twice a week is also important. Include in your salad one cup of chopped celery ribs as one of the daily servings of vegetables. Add flaxseed to the diet, one of the most potent sources of omega-3 fats on a regular basis and can reduce the development of heart disease by 46 per cent. This keeps red blood cells from clumping and forming a clot which can block an artery. Sprinkle two tablespoons of flax on your cereal or salad each day or buy it pre-ground but better yet zip it through a small coffee or nut grinder. After it is ground keep it in the freezer (or refrigerate for about three months.) These are the main healing foods for hypertension but other proteins like chicken and turkey and other low fat proteins are important especially for vegetarians who otherwise need to include B12 in the diet.

A BIRTHDAY POEM

I don’t feel old though I have watched the decades roll their years,
As 20,000 seasons passed bringing joys and smiles and tears.
Each day provides a challenge new and with it guideposts too,
As inner self keeps cheering on, we try for great reviews.

Coaxing us to mark each day with thoughts of hope and trust,
Discarding negatives that spoil lest dreams turn into dust.
That keeps life’s dreams still riding high, reaching for that star,
That shines so bright when willing hands, help others near and far.

Grateful for the guidance given by parents, friends and kin,
Renewed each day when hearts and hands join with inner twin.
With help for those who need a dream to realize their goals
Walking through life’s hills and vales and helping needy souls.

Here at Carrington a birthday celebration is held the last Wednesday
of each month for residents who have had a birthday that month. A
special table is provided if they wish to be seated with family and friends
who share their day with others born that day. Other residents come
to enjoy birthday cake and special entertainment is provided, a band
or other music where folks can dance if they wish.