CELEBRATING CHRISTMAS IN 2012

    Our main Celebration of Christmas came early this year on the 22^nd of December so Grandmother Stewart could catch a flight to meet with her brother in Florida.  My grandson’s wife, Stephanie, and her mother worked together preparing a sumptuous feast.  Grandma Stewart placed the roast beef entrée in her oven to have it ready.  The numerous delicious salads Stephanie had brought included Yorkshire pudding and other amenities.  Grandma packed up the leftovers that included some of the cherry and pumpkin pies and sent them home with Luke and family for the next day.  Uncle Keith had made his special chocolate coated mini bars and that too was very popular with all, especially among my four great grandchildren. 

 Soon gifts were being unwrapped by eight busy little hands as four dollies emerged from their long sleep into the light of the afternoon sun.  Their pale brown faces seemed to almost smile suggesting they too enjoyed the excitement of the freedom into the big wide world as they became models.  Blue jean styles were folded for possible use next day that might take them out for a hike into their on-again off-again clearing the walk as small patches of tree-clad branches released their overnight collections of snow.  Taking me home in the evening, Luke took the opportunity to ask about all my brothers and sisters who were part of my childhood.  He said their children had recently been asking many questions about them.  “Starting with my Great-uncle Paul, tell me everything,” he said.  “That’s a big order during just a 20 minute ride but I’ll try.  Your uncle Paul was born on November 19, 1916, eleven months after the Christmas week marriage of my parents.  It was a two day sleigh ride for the 65 mile trip to Medicine Hat to buy a marriage license.  That meant an overnight stay half way there, and two bedrooms to rent since they were still not married.  Paul became a wonderful example to the rest of their children.  He was a very kind person and sheltered my sister Helen and me from the bitterly cold north winds during the mile walk to our country school near Orion, Alberta.  Forty below zero was common during December and January.  Other parents loaded their children in wagons after changing the wheels to sleigh runners.   Paul also protected us from Seafoam, the neighbours bull who kept a distant watch over his harem of cows.  Paul would direct us to get under a small bridge midway to school and Seafoam couldn’t reach us.  Paul’s slender six foot four frame could wriggle behind us and give us a push..   My parent’s next child was Uncle Fred.”  “But wait, my grandson interrupted, I want to know still more about your brother Paul.”  That will have to be for another day I tell him.  We have arrived back to my home in Orchard Valley, Centre.   

THE DIABETIC DILEMMA

    Medical Doctors can confirm the presence of diabetes that may be developing in the patient’s health system.  Taking a blood sample will reveal a reading that should be kept under six.  Doctors usually offer advice regarding how to eat wisely.  The rest is up to the patient to carry out the doctor’s instructions.  Even first grade children in the school system soon learn to prick a finger and get the necessary reading and be able to understand that this reading can keep them safe when it is the number six or under. 

    A close friend was invited to join a group of a dozen other people to meet together at the local hospital to help them better understand their recently diagnosed case of diabetes and make the necessary changes in their lifestyle.  Being overweight needed to be corrected. 

     Researchers followed 810 people for 18 months and found that those who consumed an average of one less 12-ounce sugar-sweetened drinks a day – such as sodas and fruit drinks – tended to have lower blood pressure levels than those who drank more.  Many facets of developing a healthy lifestyle also influence other areas of the body and ways to restore health. For example, people who correct vision problems with implanted contact lenses have lower complications than those who have laser surgery, according to a May 2010 Cochrane review.  Implantable contacts are reversible.                        

     Antibiotic resistance, from animals to humans, show the bacteria that cause urinary-tract infections resistant to antibiotics may have developed first in animals, according to a study in the Journal of Medical Microbiology.  Researchers think that the cause may be the widespread use of antibiotics in animal feed.

     Italian researchers analyzed the most healthful way of cooking foods in the microwave oven or otherwise.  Brussels sprouts, broccoli, and cauliflower were tested.  In general fresh vegetables retained more of their nutrients than frozen ones and steaming preserved, and in some cases enhanced their nutritional profile better.

KEEPING WELL IN COLD WEATHER

     A well balanced healthful diet and a less stressful lifestyle can boost immunity.  There isn’t a vaccine for everything, including that wintertime invader, the common cold, but exercising and eating wisely and getting plenty of sleep can help.  Long exhausting workouts can weaken immunity but moderate exercise like walking or riding a bicycle to work for half an hour strengthens defences.

    People whose diets are low in certain nutrients – may require extra nutrients, mainly vitamins A,C,D, and folic acid – as well as the minerals iron, selenium and zinc that tend to have fewer and less active types of white blood cells that defend against invading microorganisms.  Most people can maintain a strong immunity by eating a balanced diet rich in fruit and vegetables, along with modest amounts of lean meat, fish, nuts and vegetable oils.  People over 50 should check with their physician about whether to take the supplements vitamins B12 and D.  A story on today’s CBC news told of a mother’s young son who wished to drink six glasses of milk each day. Tests have shown that too much cow’s milk could cause depletion of iron and the mother was able to convince him to reduce it to four half-glasses of milk each day.

    People with higher stress levels tend to have more infections, develop more severe illnesses and take longer to recover.  Easing stress may enhance immunity.  Activities that have promising evidence for boosting immunity include tai chi, meditation, and relaxation training.  Other steps that are equally important include getting adequate sleep, quitting smoking, and cultivating social support from friends and relatives.  It was shocking to hear another CBC news item today that gave the percentages of teenagers who think they can
maintain good health by eating macaroni and cheese only for the main meal of the day.

THE BODY'S BEST FRIEND

    The most multi-tasking organ of the body is the liver with 300 functions, including the body’s main filter and processing every form of food and drink plus chemicals absorbed by the skin.  It breaks down and distributes all components into the needy body areas and directs all waste products into the exit.  The liver emulsifies fats to be more easily absorbed in the body’s entire system.  A warehouse for sugar, another form of glucose is released into the bloodstream when needed.  Because the liver is such a large organ it is able to provide energy to all areas quickly and remains on standby at all times as each need arises.

    During special celebrations like Christmas and New Year’s celebrations, it is tempting to take too many alcoholic drinks.  At a teen-age house party last weekend one person drank too much alcohol and passed out on the kitchen floor.  A couple of other party attendants took advantage of him and poured an inflammatory on him and lit him on fire.  One of them took pictures to post some on a computer.  The Vernon Jubilee Hospital is busy trying to keep him alive and the police are now involved in the situation.

     According to Gary Levy, M.D, a hepatologist and director of the Multiorgan Transplant Center at the Toronto General Hospital Center with The Canadian Medical Association says, “Because the liver is so large it doesn’t manifest it until it is very late, and by the time specialists see patients, they may have irreversible end-stage liver disease.  Here is his advice for a healthy liver: 

* Do Not Drink Alcohol.  As little as two average-size drinks a day can contribute to liver damage.

* Avoid Unnecessary Medications.  Even over-the-counter drugs can be harmful at high doses.  Even Acetaminophen (Tylenol) may be the main culprit.  Taken with alcohol, it has been known to cause liver failure.

* Do Daily Exercise.  When combined with a healthy diet, exercise helps ward off obesity, a risk factor for the disease.

*Get Tested.  When getting a regular physical exam make sure your liver is being checked for abnormalities.  Illicit drugs, piercings and tattoos from risky establishments increase the risk of viral hepatitis.  Ask your doctor about the hepatitis vaccine, if travelling out of North America.  Herbal as well as homeopathic remedies have been suggested.  Some are inconclusive but have helped a compromised liver, especially B vitamins.  Eggs and green leafy vegetables like spinach are good sources of folic acid. 

      

FACING ALLERGIES

     Grass skirts may be fun to watch but there are other types of grass that can harm some people and are not always the best choices at Christmas.  If you are headed for Hawaii there is some advice from the Canadian Medical Association.  “Be advised that the grass in this tropical paradise pollinates year around.  Find out which plant will be pollinating in your vacation spot when you book your flight.”  Taking family members as well as one of the grandmothers to Hawaii one year, our niece had to rush the grandmother to the hospital as soon as they arrived back in Canada.  The diagnosis was difficult and the hospital was overcrowded.  This year the grandmother is happy to stay at a care home while some of the others have left for Hawaii.   

     During any high allergy season – next spring for example – one should use caution because there is a lot more allergen laden air outside, like there was in 2003 when serious forest fires added to the problem.  The Canadian Health Magazine further states, “Sorry, to tell you about convertible cars, keep windows closed and air conditioning on when travelling by car.  Avoid long-wear contact lenses.  Dust or pollen particles can become embedded in them, increasing exposure to irritants.  Daily disposable contact lenses cause less redness, grittiness and cloudiness of vision.  You can dilute some allergens with artificial tears.  Allergy eye drops may help.  Protect your eyes with sunglasses, wraparounds are good.

     Exercise indoors in high allergy seasons.  “When you are physically active outdoors, you breathe in a lot more allergen-laden air,   Keep your walks short.  Avoid ambitious excursions such as hikes and bike rides in the early morning which is peak pollen time,” says Allan Becker, one of the writers for the above mentioned magazine.  Scientists believe that allergies and asthma are different facets of the same disease due to outdoor inhaling.  One doesn’t have to give up gardening   Try to minimize some of the plants listed below for possible allergic reactions.  They may include any one of these: crabapple, cherry, dogwood, alder, ash, beech, bottlebrush flower, camphor, cedar, elm, juniper, red maple, mulberry, oak, poplar and willow.  Certain people have challenges with begonia, clematis, crocus, daffodil, daisy, geranium, gladiolus, impatiens, iris, pansy, peony, petunia, rose and tulip when in flower.  When people eat more nourishing foods our own health improves to the point where we can handle most allergies.  In addition to the entrée, we need the green salad, the baked potato and three vegetables instead of just two vegetables on our dinner plates.

AN ANTICANCER LIFESTYLE

    Being proactive with your health suggests that changing the diet and making other lifestyle changes could eliminate 40 percent of colorectal cancer, according to Consumer Reports on Health.

·        EAT LESS RED MEAT:  During digestion, red and processed meats form carcinogenic chemicals.  According to a 2011 meta-analysis combining results of 21 studies, the colorectal cancer risk was 22 percent greater among people who ate five ounces of red and processed meat a day compared with those who ate less than an ounce. 

·        Eat more vegetables, fruit, and fiber.  A recent study using data from the U.S. Polyp Prevention Trial looked at the impact of diet on 1900 people with a history of pre-cancerous polyps.  Those who met goals for cutting fat and consumed at least 18 grams of fiber and 3.5 servings of vegetables and fruit per 1,000 calories each day were 35 percent less likely to develop new polyps during this study.

·        Exercise.  Sedentary people are about twice as likely to develop colorectal cancer as highly active exercisers.  Aim for at least 30 minutes a day of moderately intense exercise.

          Maintain a healthy weight.  Being overweight increases the risk of colorectal cancer no matter how active you are.  Excess abdominal fat (indicated by a waist size that exceeds 35 inches for women and 40 inches for men) could be a more important factor than over-all body weight.

           Don’t rely too much on drugs or supplements.  Some, such as aspirin and related NSAIDs, calcium supplements, and for women, postmenopausal hormone therapy, might lower the risk, evidence shows.  But all additional health risks, and there is not enough proof of their effectiveness and safety to recommend use to prevent colon cancer.  Limit alcohol.  People who have an average of two to four drinks a day have a 23 percent higher risk than those averaging less than one drink a day.  Researchers have enough evidence to conclude definitely that smoking tobacco contributes to colorectal cancer.  Women appear to be more susceptible to precancerous polyps from smoking than men according to a study published online in July 2011 in the journal Digestive Diseases and Sciences.

  

ADVANTAGES OF EXERCISE

     In a study in the journal Cephalgia researchers divided 91 people with migraines on medication or relaxation training.  Exercise was as effective of reducing the frequency of migraines as medication was for groups that either used an indoor cycle three times a week for 40 minutes, practiced relaxation techniques or took the anti-migration drug topiramate (topamax and generic).  Check with your pharmacist.  After three months, the groups had comparable reductions in migraine frequency.

BLOOD PRESSURE AND STROKES

    You might be at increased risk of having a stroke even if your blood pressure is only slightly above normal, according to a review of 12 studies involving 518,000 adults in the October 4, 2011 issue of Neurology.  Those with hypertension – a systolic (top) reading between 120 and 139 and a diastolic (bottom)) number between 80 and 89 – were 55 percent more likely to have a stroke over a median of 10 years than those with normal blood pressure.

HPV IN THE NEWS

    Two recent studies suggest that the dangers of the sexually transmitted human (HPV) might extend beyond cervical cancer, its best-known risk.  In one study, researchers found a sharp increase in cases of throat cancer between 1984 and 1994 in both men and women due to HPV. An analysis of risks from data, 2,450 women found a correlation, albeit preliminary, between HPV and cardiovascular disease.

PROTECTING YOUNG VISITORS ON SUPERBOWL SUNDAY   

      

    Large TV’s, furniture and appliances can be serious hazards if they are not anchored to prevent being tipped over, especially for young children who might be tempted to use shelves for climbing.  More than 43,000 of them go to emergency rooms each year for injuries due to falling household items, nearly half of them are age 8 and under.  Anti-tip brackets and straps that secure furniture to walls can help by placing TVs on low sturdy bases.

   

CAN TOO MANY DOCTORS SPOIL YOUR CARE?

    This question is posed by Orly Avitzur, M.D., M.B.A., medical advisor to Consumer Reports, Board certified in neurology, a fellow in The American Academy of Neurology and clinical instructor at the Yale University School of Medicine.  She is also a medical consultant to the New York Rangers.

    A colleague had referred her father to me with apologies.  He was a 78 year old business man visiting from Florida for the month and asked me to set up appointments with half a dozen specialists.   He had well-controlled blood pressure, an enlarged prostate and occasional bouts of pneumonia, but otherwise was in good health.  He came to see me complaining of recent headaches.  He already had seen a cardiologist, an internist, and an urologist during his visit and was taking a variety of painkillers and muscle relaxants.

    It is common to find people who are already on the same drugs, such as the patients I see after car accidents.  A doctor may then order another test.    In a health survey last year, 87 percent respondents said they somewhat agreed that “it’s better to have a scare that turns out to be nothing than not get tested at all.”  Only 18 percent recognized the risk of having a false alarm.  While genuine medical problems should never be ignored, overtreatment takes time away from more pleasurable endeavors.  It is estimated that overtreatment alone was responsible for “158 billion to 228 billion in wasteful spending in 2011, while failure to coordinate care cost 25 to 45 billion.  Besides the overall implications for health care spending and the threat to worthy government programs, your own pocket book is affected.  Even with the best insurance plans copayments for office visits, tests, procedures and pharmacy bills can add up quickly. 

    Undergoing frequent tests, waiting for results, and trying to make sense of conflicting opinions can cause undue tension.  In the case of my colleague’s father, stress undoubtedly contributed to his headaches.  The multiple painkillers he was taking had contributed to a rebound effect.  With reassurance and gradual discontinuation of the drugs, the headaches were eventually resolved.       

SURGICAL RECOVERY

STAY SAFE AT THE HOSPITAL:  Two of the main risks at any hospitalization are medical errors and infections.  They are largely out of the doctor’s control but family and friends can help mitigate the risk by having a friend or relative there with you during the time to ask questions, monitor hand washing and administration of medication, make sure catheters and IV lines are kept clean and removed when they are no longer needed (that doesn’t always happen), and speak up in general if something doesn’t seem right.  If that is not possible, consider hiring a private-duty nurse for the job.

“It may set back your recovery,” warns Della Valle, M.D., an orthopedic surgeon in the Hospital for Special Surgery and an associate professor of orthopedic surgery a Weill Cornell Medical College in New York.  “Good pain control allows them to rehabilitate faster and develop a range of motion.”  Taking pain killers, if needed, can also make it easier to breathe and cough, which opens the airways and clears out secretions that can increase the risk of pneumonia,” adds Ann Bauman, M.D., medical director for women’s health and community relations.  “A combination of narcotic painkillers, anesthesia, and restricted food and drink may require stool softeners.  A high fiber diet may need plenty of fluids to help get things moving again.  As for the bladder, one risk is urinary retention, or the inability to urinate despite having a full bladder, a possible side effect of certain medications.”   The treatment is catheterization. 

TEND TO YOUR INCISION:  Common errors include touching the incision with unwashed hands and applying peroxide, lotion or antibiotic ointment to it.  Don’t bathe or swim until your doctor says it is OK, because water can soften the skin and cause the incision to pull apart.  Don’t pick at the scab.  Incisions should be checked several times a day.  Ask about taking walks when returning home, necessary to help the system get moving again.  Patients recovering from open heart surgery have to learn to get out of chairs without using their hands to avoid straining the breastbone, which was cut in half during surgery.  “Older patients are more vulnerable and may feel disoriented that can cause postsurgical delirium or acute alteration of the mental state but doesn’t always completely resolve and can lead to cognitive impairment when using sedatives,” according to Sharon K. Inouye, M.D., M.P.H., professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School.

CANCER TESTS AND TREATMENTS THAT RAISE QUESTIONS

    Some tests, treatments, and procedures are not only unnecessary but could also be harmful.  “Sometimes less really is more,” says Lowell E. Schnipper, M.D., chief of hematology oncology a Beth Israel Deaconess Medical in Boston and clinical director at its cancer center.  “It’s important to assess if what you are doing will help you stay well longer.”  Choose wisely to avoid unneeded – and possibly harmful – intervention.

    Schnipper heads an expert task force that is identifying cancer-related tests and treatments that are not supported by evidence for most patients.  The panel was convened by the American Society of Clinical Oncology a professional medical society dedicated to research, education, prevention and high quality, high value cancer care.  This is not a ‘never’ list says Douglas Blayney, M.D., medical director of the ASCO task force  at the Stanford Cancer Institute in California and a member of the ASCO task force that developed the recommendations.  It’s a tool to help you discuss options with your health provider and choose wisely among them.  For example, if you are enrolled in a clinical trial you may need to receive the therapy in order to continue participating.

    When a patient is diagnosed with cancer, doctors use tissue and biochemical analysis to “stage” the disease, that is, to find out how aggressive it is and whether it has the potential to invade other parts of the body.  If, based on these tests, if the cancer has spread, or metastasized, doctors can proceed with imagine tests to find out where in the body the cancer is lurking.

    If staging indicates that a patient has a tumor with a low risk of metastasis ASCO recommends against imaging tests.  Low-risk tumors include:

*  Early breast cancer at stages I and II, and at stage 0 (ductal carciuoma) in which situation the cancer is confined to the ducts of the breast).

     *   Early stage low-grade prostate cancer with a 6 or less Gleason score of a PSA level of less than 10 nanograms per milliliter.  Further information and follow-ups are available in the October 2012 issue of Consumer Reports on Health.         

MEMORY LOSS

     Is it Alzheimer’s or just normal ageing and how to distinguish the difference by understanding how our digestive systems work together to make nourishment available for each body system to successfully absorb this nourishment.  Enzymes keep our system’s workers busy and happy.  These enzymes work together with tools provided with the cooperation and motion of jaws and teeth.  Each has its own perfect system working together with the help of these tools.  Let’s say we are making toast for breakfast.  To begin with the ingredients have been assembled which include the whole grains, yeast, fluid and raisins and perhaps a little honey to “tune it up” the system.  Last week a news item carried the story of a man who was trying to prove he was the fastest eater.  But he did not use his required “tooth and jaw” tools and the ambulance had to rush him to the hospital for help and this time was able to live through it.  The key solution was the enzyme needed by the digestive system with the action of tooth and jaw tools. 

     You may wonder from where the enzyme ingredient came.  You were likely sleeping at the time the stomach was whipping up this ingredient to have it ready for the next day.  They had their own little tummy crew working together during the night to provide the proper mix for the following days absorption of nourishment.  Now we have come to the secret storehouse that the body’s system has ready to be released when needed.  There is also another system being readied and it is sometimes referred to as the emotional system.  No wonder this system is one that is referred to in ancient scriptures as being “fearful and wonderfully made.”  The silent and helpful soul waits for your decision for each final action. 

     We come now to the basic food systems that are raised in gardens, orchards and other provisions found in oceans and grasslands.  This is sometimes called the “Mediterranean Diet,” to provide basic all-purpose nutrients for both mind and body.  You’ve heard of them all before, The Omega-3 fatty acids, Vitamins B6, B12, sage and turmeric to stave off depression.  Even coffee and chocolate have been resurrected when used in moderation.  Other behaviours enter the scene such as eating breakfast within about 90 minutes of waking to keep blood sugar steady and not skipping meals as well as drinking enough fluid to prevent dehydration.  In a study of athletes, it was found that even mild dehydration can alter game team’s results that can lead to a negative mood.   

POWER UP WITH PROBIOTICS

    According to Ruth Harper, M.D., a board-certified internist in Austin, TX, who specializes in Nutritional Medicine, “If you’re not getting enough nutrients, your skin for example, gets cheated out of what it needs for optimal health and beauty. Learn to make the most of your body’s skin and stomach connection.”

    Beginning early in the alphabet, let’s look into the benefits of the almond and blueberry connection.  “When stress or antibiotics gets the stomach’s natural flora out of whack it can cause acne, psoriasis memory problems, and wrinkles.  “If your gut’s bacteria balance is not favourable, the toxic bacteria can leak through microscopic holes in the wall of the intestinal track and travel throughout the body, including the skin, causing inflammation that prevents the skin from functioning properly,” says Frank Lipman, M.D., an integrative physician and director of Eleven Wellness Center in New York City.  “To prevent problems keep your digestive tract populated with good bacteria which coats the lining of your gut and helps seal in unwanted substances so they can no longer leak out and cause irritation,” adds Whitney Bowe, M.D., assistant medical director of cosmetic and laser services at Advanced Dermatology in Ossining, N.Y.

    The best way to get the good bacteria into the system is to furnish a probiotic supplement available at most health food stores or consume fermented foods such as yogurt, kefir, buttermilk, miso, kimchi or sauerkraut.  These foods stimulate the growth of good bacteria in the gut. Other beneficial foods include whole grains, as well as bananas, onions and garlic.  Super seeds are rich in beneficial omega-3s like manna from heaven for dry skin that also protects the skin from sun damage and skin cancer.  Eat chia seeds (soak one tablespoons of them each morning or ground flax.) Salmon, sardines (in spring water, no salt added), and mackerel offer a great alternative.  Sometimes I include Brunswick kippered Seafood snacks for a change.  The above listed seeds have six times the recommended daily amount of omega-3s.

TIPS ON MAKING CHOICES

ASPIRIN VS WARFARIN:  Neither of these offers an overall advantage over the other for preventing strokes or death among people with heart failure but a more normal heart rhythm according to the May 17, 2012, New England Journal of Medicine.  Researchers followed 2,305 patients in 11 countries for up to six years who took either WARFARIN (Coumadin and generic) or a 325-milligram aspirin each day.  Those who took WARFARIN   appeared to have a slightly lower risk of serious bleeding.  The researchers wrote there was “no compelling reason” to use it over its less-expensive cousin. 

CAN SKIM MILK CUT STROKE RISK?   A study of 75,000 Swedish adults age 45 and older, was published in the July 2012 of the Journal Stroke.  Researchers examined eating and drinking habits and found that those who ate the most low-fat dairy (about four servings per day) were 12 percent less likely to suffer a stroke over a 10 year period than those who ate no low fat dairy products

ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION ARE COMMON WITH ARTHRITIS:  A survey of l793 adults with arthritis and other rheumatic conditions was published in Arthritis Care & Research.  Thirty one percent reported anxiety 18 percent reported depression, and 15 percent said they had both conditions.  Only half of those affected sought help in the past year. 

TRY A HEALTHIER CONDIMENT:  Ketchup made from organically grown tomatoes had more antioxidants than ketchup from conventionally grown tomatoes in a study of 15 versions.  Researchers said that growing naturally under stressful conditions might lead organic plants to develop more of their own beneficial compounds.

          

COMMON COMPLAINTS AND SOLUTIONS

   INCONTINENCE:  Television ads push drugs as the best way to deal with incontinence, but there are safer, cheaper solutions that might work just as well without the risk of serious effects.  Urinary leakage is brought on by stress.  Incontinence occurs when you sneeze, cough or laugh.  But you can help solve the problem with Kegel exercises.  To do them, squeeze muscles as if you were stopping a stream of urine preventing the passage of gas.  Do two types of squeezes, short ones lasting 2 seconds and longer ones lasting 5 to 10 seconds.  Practice each type 40 to 50 times a day, either all at once or at intervals, five to seven days a week.  An overactive bladder can often be retrained using techniques such as urinating at regular intervals and gradually holding your urine for longer periods of time.  In addition, some people respond to dietary changes, eliminating foods such as caffeine, carbonated beverages, acidic foods, and alcohol that can irritate the bladder.

   PROBLEM FEET:  Eighty percent of women regularly experience foot pain, according to a national study of 356 women.  In three-quarters of the participants, the study authors concluded that ill-fitting shoes contributed to multiple foot problems, such as bunions, hammertoes, pinched nerves, heel pain (plantar fasciitis), calluses, or ingrown toenails.  Much of the blame goes to high heels, which shift undue weight to the front of the foot.  But sandals and flip-flops that lack support can also cause problems such as heel pain.  Backless shoes expose your heels to the elements and allow them to flatten out, so frequent wear can leave your heels cracked and calloused.

   It is not too hard to find footwear that is fashionable and kind to your feet. Look for shoes made of a soft material and has some “give,” with a rounded toe box and a heel that can be 2 inches high or less.  Even when shopping for casual shoes, look for brands that have foot-friendly features, such as shock-absorbing soles and arch supports.  If you wear heels, alternate them with flats, and alternate sandals with closed-heel shoes.  You’ll find a list of brands approved by the American Podiatric Medical Association at apma.org, which have been found to benefit foot health when used in daily foot care and regular professional treatment.  Keep your feet happy when walking and running and it will benefit all other body muscles.    

   

COMMON COMPLAINTS AND SOLUTIONS

    If you sit at a desk, adjust your chair so the work surface is elbow high, your knees in line with your hips, and the back rest pushes your lower back slightly forward.  Position your computer monitor so that it is the center of your gaze when you look straight ahead.  If you are on the phone a lot, invest in a headset or hands-free device so you don’t have to cradle it between your neck and ear.

CHRONIC COUGH:  It is not unusual for a cough to linger after a respiratory infection.  If you have been coughing for a month or longer, you should see your doctor to determine the cause.  If you take an ACE inhibitor, you such as Capoten and generic), for high blood pressure, talk to your doctor about other alternatives, coughing is a side effect of such drugs.  “Nearly all chronic coughers can be successfully treated using a three step approach,” says Dr. Paauw.  “Most people are helped by over-the-counter medications that dry up post nasal drip – an older style antihistamine such as chlorpheniramine or combined with a decongestant such as pseudoephedrine that works in people who do not have a runny or stuffy nose.”

HAND INJURIES: The increased use of computers and ever-shrinking mobile devices are causing people’s hands to take a beating.  Repeatedly tapping, flicking, and clicking can be worse in older users, who may already suffer from degenerative joint disease and are more vulnerable to inflammation and pain, swelling, numbness, weakness and eventually nerve damage.  When hands hurt, take a “tech holiday” from your smart phone, and when you do use it, write shorter and fewer messages.  Rest your hands as soon as you feel strain or pain.

TUMMY TROUBLES:  It could be as simple as wearing looser clothing.  Snug pants and girdle-like garments can interfere with bowel function and cause abdominal pain, bloating and other side effects.  A deficiency in lactase, the enzyme necessary to digest sugars might not link their symptoms to dairy consumption.  Eliminate all milk products for several days.  Many people can tolerate yogurt, hard cheeses and buttermilk.  You can also buy lactose-free products or use over-the-counter lactase tablets or drops before consuming dairy.  Tomorrow we will cover Incontinence and Problem Feet.

     

COMMON COMPLAINTS AND SIMPLE SOLUTIONS

     Not every medical problem requires an extensive diagnostic workup and complicated treatment.  A middle age mother puzzled her doctor because of chest pains.  One day he realized that she was repeatedly bruising her chest by using it to push a baby carriage uphill while holding the hands of her two other children.  She didn’t require an extensive diagnostic workup and extensive complicated treatment so always seek medical attention when symptoms are severe or don’t improve despite your efforts.

    DRY EYES:  Blurred vision (CVS) can cause itchy burning eyes.  To combat CVS, adjust lighting and position from long computer use.  Use a filter over your screen to avoid glare to keep the surface of your eyes moist.  Then look in the distance for 20 seconds to allow your eyes to refocus and take a 15 minute break.

    CHAPPED LIPS:  Lips can become dry, red and chapped despite use of lip balm.  The product itself could be the problem and makes you feel good short term but it is not uncommon to develop an allergy to one of the ingredients.  Amy Newburger M.D., a dermatologist, at St. Luke’s Roosevelt Hospital Center in New York City says, “You wind up using it more and more to counteract the irritation.  She recommends using petroleum jelly for a few days and use a brand free of glycolic acid which causes irritation. 

    NECK, BACK, SHOULDER PAIN:  “This is likely due to simple muscle strain,’ says Douglas Paauw, M.D., a professor of medicine at the University of Washington School of Medicine who points out that with “tincture of time” most cases heal on their own  Paauw recommends taking stock of daily habits, how you sit, sleep, work and what you carry.  It could be as simple as sleeping with your neck propped up too much on an overstuffed pillow,” Paauw says.  Reading or watching TV in bed can also cause neck pain.  Wallets and purses are common culprits.  Back experts recommend that men carry their wallet in their front pocket rather than the back pocket because sitting on it can exert pressure on the sciatic nerve in the buttock causing compression sciatica.  Women should ditch a heavy purse in favor of a smaller version with a wide strap or multiple skinny straps that won’t cut into the shoulder, and consider wearing it across the chest to balance the weight.  A fanny pack is also a good option. In tomorrow’s blog we will evaluate the work environment.

  

  

LEARNING TO RADIATE LOVE

    According to Joseph Schwartzer, M.D., anyone can learn to radiate love and if everyone would start sending out love energy, the effects would multiply exponentially and eventually transform the whole world into a better place.  As a premature newborn he caught an infection from a nurse who had come to work with a strep throat.  He was saved from death with penicillin and oxygen and spent time in an incubator.  Since he had no memory of the experience himself, he wonders if he may have had a near-death experience because of subsequent dreams even as a small child.  At nearly four years of age he awoke one night and found himself floating down the stairs to the basement of the house and could see clearly yet the house was in darkness.  In his speech he told us of other experiences where he could be asleep at night, yet become fully awake and find himself in a beautiful park with perception heightened beyond a normal waking state and could see and sense the grass and speak to others in the park.  Once he encountered a group of children whose leader seemed to be in his early teens and telepathically invited him to join them and offered a bottle of Coke. Feeling cautious he declined since it was an unusual situation.  Not long after on another occasion, he awoke the middle of the night lying on his back in bed and arose from his physical body.  He felt a falling sensation like the heart may have skipped a beat and then fell back to sleep after a jolt.  “It had been difficult, like walking under water and easier to float above the land,” Dr. Schwartzer continued while speaking as a board member of the American Medical Society of the state of Virginia.  He was also a recipient of an exemplary psychiatric award.  

    “Later, when I was 21 years old and attending college I had been at a group meeting one evening.  As I was walking across the campus I decided to silently bless everyone I passed and started to mentally send out positive energy and realized it was actually the energy of love itself.  It was agape type unconditional love energy without any sexual, personal or objective components or attachments.  Others seemed to respond, and be more friendly and relaxed, resulting in more patience, calmness, and being more even tempered, and cheerful.  I had heard Dr. Ritchie speak at a conference who told us of his near-death experience and had met Jesus Christ, whom he described as a being of love and light who radiated so much pure and unconditional love that anyone who felt it would not want to leave its presence and it is God’s will that everyone would evolve into such a being.  For further information call 1-866-322-8209, Canada or 1-333-4499 (U.S.) 

FEEL-GOOD FOOD MAY BE ADDICTIVE

     For some people, getting hooked on super-tasty food seems to cause addiction just like alcohol or smoking and harms the body.  Sugary soda and ice cream, salty French fries and pizza might be partly responsible for their cravings, binge-eating and weight gain.  High levels of sugar, fat, and salt and other food additives can hijack the pathways of the brain in ways that are similar to opiates and other drugs.

     Evidence suggests that sugar, in particular stimulates greater release of chemicals in the brain, including dopamine, the “pleasure molecule” than those triggered by fruit and vegetables.  Over time the brain’s circuitry may become rewired to produce less dopamine in response to high-calorie flavour-enhanced food.  Some people may eat more, attempting to stimulate dopamine with high-calorie foods.  Genetics and environmental factors like consumption of alcohol, nicotine, or narcotics.  “Conceptually, it is clear that highly palatable foods can have drug-like effects in the brain, and can cause compulsive overuse and food addiction,” says Mark S Gold., M.D., chairman of the psychiatry department at the University of Florida in Gainesville and author of many studies on the topic, many done with animals.

     Research involving people has focused on brain-imaging studies, according to a recent review, coauthored by Nora D.Volkow, M.D., director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse.  A 2001 article in which Volkow analyzed dopamine levels in brain scans of obese adults helped to advance the theory that people can be addicted to food.  A recent article, published on-line in October 2011, in Current-topics on Behavioral Neurosciences updates the state of the research.  A team led by the investigators at the Oregon Research Institute in Eugene noticed that MRI’s of the regions of the brain related to reward and the senses lighted up more in obese girls anticipating a chocolate milk shake than when they were actually drinking it, compared with MRI’s of leaner girls.   “There is no longer any question about food addiction” says Kelly Brownell, Ph.D., director of the Yale Rudd Center for Food Policy & Obesity, “the findings raise issues about marketing and selling potentially addictive foods.  The question is where there is an addictive process that gets activated by food that affects enough people in a sufficiently strong way to create a public health menace.”

YOUR FOOD MAY BE MAKING YOU FEEL TIRED AND OLD

    Easy fixes may turn back the clock.  Perhaps the fountain of youth is right in our own kitchens.  The foods we eat – or don’t eat may speed those processes along, aging us before our time.  According to David Katz, MD, director of Yale University’s Prevention Research Center, “We eat too many processed foods.  They are often high in calories and low in nutrients such as vitamin B12 and omega-3s, so we end up with islands of deficiencies in a sea of excess.  These deficiencies can result in symptoms we tend to assume are due to aging.  Your doctor can determine whether adjusting your diet or adding a supplement can help you look and feel younger.

    Vitamin B12 helps regulate the metabolism and energy production and nervous system and is the key to maintain a healthy brain.  “Fatigue is a sign of B12 deficiency that usually occurs in people who eat very little animal protein.” says Danine Fruge, MD, associate medical director of the Pritikin Longevity Center and Spa in Miami.  Chewing a lot of antacids to relieve heartburn can lead to a B12 a deficiency and absorption.  Having two servings of non-fat dairy foods such as non-fat milk or yogurt and up to 3 or 4 sources of lean protein daily, including sea foods such as fish, clams, oysters and mussels, chicken or lean beef or fortified cereal are required.

    If your joints ache, more manganese and copper may be needed to maintain joint cartilage and flexibility.  According to Dale Petersen, MD, Director of the Comprehensive Wellness Center in Sapulpa, “The body can actually repair a significant amount of damage if given the proper support.  Using a simple blood test, your doctor can easily determine whether your joint pain is related to garden-variety wear and tear or a more serious inflammatory disease,” says Dr. Petersen.  Good food sources are nuts, spinach and beef so you might opt for a supplement.

    If your mind is forgetful you may need more Omega-3 Essential Fatty Acids.  “These are part of the brain’s building blocks,” explains Andrew Weil, MD, director of the Center for Integrative Medicine, at the University of Arizona.  Inflammation is how the body heals but it can also do damage when it doesn’t end when it should and can raise the risks of heart attack, stroke, cancer and Alzheimer’s disease.  “Processed foods, especially refined soybean oil, sugar and wheat flour increase inflammation.  Coloured vegetables and fruits, antioxidants in olive oil, ginger, turmeric and special fats in oily fish guard our tissues and organs,” says Dr. Weil.

THE POWER OF SMILES

    According to research conducted by Henry Reed, PhD., and instructor at Atlantic University in Virginia Beach, Va., there is power in a smile.  It not only improves one’s own appearance but has positive effects on others.  Smiling then leads to positive effects on body health, as confirmed by several studies described in Forbes magazine.  It creates a neural feedback to the brain when we smile.  The brain then interprets emotions differently when we smile.  Pain is suppressed and happiness is emphasized.  One study found that the brain responds to a smile as it would to the consumption of chocolate or winning a large sum of money.  When we smile our blood pressure goes down and other positive effects on health results.

    In one study, a comparison of the extent of smiling among graduates in a school yearbook predicted the student’s level of happiness 30 years later.  A study comparing smiles among baseball players in their photograph baseball cards predicted their longevity.  Those players with the biggest smiles lived an average of seven years longer than those with the least smiles.  One participant, Ron Gutman, later told an audience he was inspired to do just that and decided to smile during his next long distance run as well as during all future long distance runs.  The fatigue and pain would disappear and he would experience a new source of stamina and enthusiasm.  It appears that positive meaningful smiles result in great inspiration and power.  At this time of voting in the next president of the United States, it is possible that the one with the most genuine hopeful smile will be the winner.  And it would also be interesting if the one that wins would say “Let’s cut back percentagewise on our huge and unnecessary salaries so the hard working common people can enjoy a better standard of living.”     

TAKING CARE OF YOUR TEETH AND BUILDING HEALTH

    The high acidity of sports drinks can do serious damage to your teeth.  According to a recent study of 22 such drinks like Red Bull Sugar Free and Rock star are especially acidic   Rinsing with water or chewing sugarless gum immediately may mitigate some of the damage. 

    Some researchers in Sweden examined other health care eating and drinking habits.  According to a study of 75,000 adults, age 45 and older, published in the July 2012 issue of the journal STROKE found that those who ate the most low-fat dairy (about four servings a day) were 12 percent less likely to suffer a stroke over a 10 year period than those who ate no low fat dairy products.

    In a recent study in the Archives of Internal Medicine, researchers analyzed 77 older women with self-reported memory problems and the low scores on an objective assessment on a trial of cognitive function.  They were assigned to one of three exercise regimens lifting weights twice a week for an hour, walking outside as a control, doing balance and stretching exercises.  After six months the weight lifters performed better on memory and other mind tests than both the walkers and stretchers.

    Anxiety is common with arthritis and that can carry on into depression, according to a survey of l793 adults with arthritis and other rheumatic problems published in the Arthritis Care and Research journal.  Thirty one percent reported anxiety, 18 percent reported depression and 15 percent said they had both conditions.  Only half of those affected sought help.  Perhaps a gentle start at weight lifting might add some enthusiasm. 

    There is space here for one more health-building item if you are taking antibiotics.  Consider adding probiotics.  Varying doses of the good-for-you bacteria were linked with a 42 percent lower risk of antibiotic-associated diarrhea in a review of 63 studies in the May 9, 2012, Journal of the American Medical Association.  More research is needed to determine which strain of probiotics helps the most. 

     

     

    

STRESS CAN LEAD TO HEART ATTACKS

     Research has found that stress can lead to heart attacks.  In an analysis based on data gathered from 22,086 participants it was found that high stress jobs (where there is little control) were 67 per cent more likely to have a heart attack than those in less intense jobs.  This analysis was based on 22,086 over a ten year period and was published in the July 2012 issue of the journal PLoS One.  “Stress is a natural part of life,” says Michelle Albert, M.D., M.PH, an associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and cardiologist at Brigham and Women’s and a cardiologist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston.  She says that an abundance of stress can overpower the body and put you in a constant “fight or flight” mode which can have negative effects on multiple organ systems, including the heart.

    Research has also linked to type 2 diabetes, impaired immunity, and worsening depression.  A recent poll of 1,200 adults by the American Psychological (APA) suggests that the way people cope can be unhealthy too.  “Stress doesn’t cause a cold or flu, viruses cause them.  For example, 44 percent of respondents reported lying awake at night when they were stressed, and 39 percent said they overate on junk food.  That underscores the need to find healthy coping mechanisms.  Stress does reduce your ability to fight infection in two ways – behavioral and biological – that can lead to illness.  People under stress tend to smoke more, skip exercises, consume sugar drinks, feel tense, and be susceptible to heart disease,” says Dr. Sheldon Cohen, a professor at Carnegie  Mellon University in Pittsburgh.   

    “Fatigue is one of the most common stress symptoms that sends people to a doctor,” says Tracy Stevens, M.D., a cardiologist at St. Luke’s Mid America Heart Institute in Kansas City, Mo.  “Another complaint is heart palpitations, a fast or skipped heartbeats or a sensation that the heart is pounding.  Many go for comfort foods such as French fries or macaroni and cheese.” adds Dr. Stevens.  Stress can be lessened by reading, praying, spending time with family and friends and mental professional help.  Humming a hymn or getting a massage also helps.  In a May 2012 study of 100 adults, researchers wanted to find out if mindful-meditation skills could be learned from an online course.  Participants said their stress-level scores dropped by 10 points out of 40 points by the end of the program.  Results were published in the journal BMJ.  Biofeedback and electronic devices to measure heart rate are other device measurements that can also be tried.

     

      

HARMING THE HEALTHY

   Our Three Minutes Consult today comes from Ray Moynihan, senior research fellow at Bond University, Queensland, Australia, and co-author of “Selling Sickness” (New York, Nation Books, (2005).  Consumer reports on Health, describes the details of “disease mongering,” which means selling disease.  One might say it is really just raising the awareness of diseases, but the other argument says it is driven by vested interests who want to maximize their markets.  Or is it turning shyness into social phobia that needs medication and call it female sexual dysfunction.

   Moynihan believes that some women are told they have a condition called osteopenia and widens the boundaries of illness to catch more healthy people to create a pre-condition such as pre-diabetes, pre-high blood pressure or pre-osteoporosis, and offer prescriptions for it, opening the door to lifelong medication use that may do more harm than the condition.

   What is over-diagnosis?” you may ask.  Some people may believe that you either have a medical condition or you don’t.  A most frightening example is breast cancer, called a ductal carcinoma in situ.  The natural history of this disease is so benign that a few years ago the National Institutes of Health suggested changing the name to get rid of the word “carcinoma.” 

   Something like that is going on with prostate cancer, which is why PSA tests for both prostate and breast cancer is that when early signs are detected, it cannot be possible to know whether that cancer will go on to kill or not.  We need to get better at distinguishing the harmful from the not-so-harmful.  Some experts suggest new approaches to very early signs of breast cancer, such as taking a “watch and wait” approach.

   Most people already know they need to have a healthy skepticism about potentially harmful treatments.  They are also going to have to become more skeptical about labels and diagnoses, because many of them may be unnecessary.  How to better communicate about over diagnosis will be the theme at an international conference being hosted next year by the Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice, in partnership with Bond University, the British Medical Journal, and Consumer Reports (preventingoverdiagnosis.net).

BOOSTING BRAIN POWER

    If you draw a blank when trying to remember a friend’s name, can’t find your car in a parking lot or misplace your reading glasses, it is normal to have some types of memory loss “but some types of memory loss are more substantial than others as we age,” says Arthur Kramer, Ph.D., a professor of psychology and neuroscience at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.  “If you meet someone at a party and can’t remember their name and what you talked about,” Kramer said, “One aspect of memory relates different pieces of information and puts them all together, and that’s the type that isn’t quite what it used to be.” 

    The brain is surprisingly adept at compensating for aging, and other types of memory can improve or remain intact over time.  More encouraging is that a set of relatively simple and inexpensive lifestyle changes, described below can go a long way toward maintaining a vigorous mind.  In late adulthood – the hippocampus – the brain region responsible for forming some types of memory shrinks up to 2 percent annually and increased risk for dementia.  Regular aerobic exercise encourages the growth of new brain cells, even if the workouts are not strenuous.  In a trial published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences in January 2011, older adults were asked to either exercise or stretch.  The exercisers started with 10 minute walking sessions, extending them by 5 minutes each week until they walked for 40 minutes, three times a week.  Over a year, their hippocampus volume increased by 2 percent on MRI brain scans.  Those who only stretched showed a decrease in this volume.  Aim for at least 30 minutes a day five days a week.

    Pleasant helpful people retain brain vitality.  The International Neuropsychological Society followed 1,138 elderly people who did volunteer work and participated in social groups and attended religious services.  Over 5 years, the rate of decline on a broad range of cognitive abilities, was 70 percent lower in the most socially active people compared with the least socially active.  Other activities count, including gardening, playing the piano or other instrument, studying a new language, bird watching, or memorizing dance steps.  Foods for thought include fish, fruit and vegetables including dark leafy greens to protect mental agility.  The University of Pittsburgh tracked diets over 10 years and found those who baked or broiled fish at least once a week had larger and healthier cells in brain areas responsible for memory.     

ABOUT NUTS

     In his One Minute Consult, Consumer Reports on Health has a message for us from Richard D. Mattes, M.P.H., Ph.D., R.D., professor of nutrition science, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Ind.

     “At one time nuts were viewed as problematic for weight gain and heart disease.  But epidemiological evidence almost unanimously shows that people who consume nuts more frequently weigh less than people who don’t.  These findings were surprising and prompted a number of clinical trials.  They found that adding tree nuts as well as peanuts to the diet did not lead to the theoretical change in body weight based on their energy content.  There are several likely reasons for this.  First, nuts are very satiating, so consequently people eat less food than at other times.  This offsets between two-thirds and three quarters of the energy.  Second, people often chew nuts thoroughly, so somewhere between 5 and 15 percent of the fat they contain is not absorbed.  Third, although this is less substantiated by research, consuming nuts regularly may elevate energy expenditure.”

   There is very strong evidence that regularly eating nuts reduces cardiovascular risk factors like elevated LDL (bad cholesterol) and triglycerides.  Nuts are also rich sources of other nutrients – walnuts of omega-3 fatty acids, almonds of Vitamin E, and peanuts for protein.  They are also high in fiber.  The government has approved what is called a qualified health claim for most nuts, based on their effect on cardiovascular disease risk.  It covers almonds, peanuts, pecans, pistachios, and walnuts, but not cashews, which has not been studied as well as the others.  If you wonder about the right amount of nuts – the recommendation is to eat l.5 ounces a day.  An ounce of almonds fits in an Altoids mint tin, and the pack of peanuts you get on airplanes is usually about half an ounce.  The work we’re doing now suggests that whether they are honey-roasted, salted, or raw doesn’t adversely affect their health benefits.  For safety sake one can rub off most the salt if your doctor has warned you about getting too much salt.   

BENEFITS OF A BETTER BREAKFAST

    “It is better to substitute the classic breakfast of high sugar cereal with a whole grain cereal for the first food of the day,” suggests spokeswoman and registered dietician for the American Dietetic Association, Sari Greaves.  “Select a whole grain cereal that has five grams of fiber.  To half a cup of this cereal add a quarter cup of raisins and a quarter cup of ground almonds which is healthier than white sugar and has nine essential vitamins, as well as calcium and other minerals.  Hot cereals like oatmeal are another good choice.  It is high in fiber and has a low glycemic index which means it doesn’t tend to raise blood sugar too quickly.” 

    Hot cereals can be made in a slow cooker,” adds Jeanette Bessinger, at the website www.realfoodmoms.com.  “You can also add chunks of raw sweet potato or yams.  For a different take, add leftover quinoa or rice and serve with cinnamon or cardamom.”  For gluten free pancakes, waffles and quick breads, Tracee Yablon-Benner, a registered dietician and author of Real Food Mom, recommends using whole grain mixes with three grams of fiber or more per serving.  “Eating a plain waffle could raise your blood sugar immediately,” Bessinger warns, which can cause a rebound.  Instead spread a toasted waffle with butter or nut butter and slices of fruit and ground flaxseed.  Protein and the fat from this will cause the sugar to be released gradually.  For gluten-free waffles and quick breads, Tracee Yablon-Benner, recommends using teff, a tiny grain that is high in protein or use any other grain that is high in protein and fiber to replace toast or bagels and can be served with cream cheese or a dollop of nut butter or cream cheese.  Teff is a high protein ancient grain that is available here in a Vernon health store called “Simply Delicious.”

     Boost your dairy with low fat cottage cheese and sliced fruit for a healthful breakfast or lunch and more calcium by substituting a part-skim ricotta cheese.  For a smoothie mix, use almond or other nut milk.  A scoop of whey powder and some heart healthy fat such as flax seed or avocado makes the smoothie creamy.  In a restaurant, order broad based vegetable soup.  For lunch Greaves suggests trading a Kaiser roll for a whole grain wrap made of two sturdy romaine lettuce leaves.  In a future blog we will talk more about foods for home and restaurants that are best for all times of the day. 

         

  

COPING WITH A PRE-DISEASE DIAGNOSIS

   A pre-emptive strategy – such as adopting healthful habits to fend off heart disease and stroke – clearly saves lives but critics worry the “pre” label may turn healthy people into patients.  Concerned about what we are doing to the well, Gilbert Welch, M.D., M.PH, lead author of the book “Overdiagnosed” and a professor of medicine at the Dartmouth Medical School advises to go slow with medications.  The pre-disease concept might put pressure on doctors to try medication first rather than to try to convince the patient to make the necessary lifestyle changes.  But people in this category have less to gain from medication because medications can confuse the real situation when lifestyle change is the real need to improve general health to make them better.  The drug could do more harm than good.  The preferred treatment for most diseases is to have a healthful lifestyle.  “If the label calls attention to doing that it is a plus,” says Howard Brody M.D., Ph.D., director for the Institute for the Medical Humanities at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston.  “I’m concerned that the anxiety it causes will outweigh the benefit.”  Patients wonder if there is any evidence that the condition will prevent bad outcomes, like a heart attack or bone fracture when the need is really lifestyle change to reduce a negative risk.  For example, if you are facing cancer surgery, lifestyle changes could eliminate 40 percent of colorectal cancer.

* Eat less red meat.  Red meats and processed meats form carcinogenic chemicals.  According to a 2011 meta-analysis combining the results of 21 studies it could eliminate many other cancers. Data from the U.S. Polyp Prevention Trial, it is important to eat more vegetables, fruit and fiber. A recent study using data from the U.S. Polyp Prevention trial looked at the impact of diet on l900 people with a history of precancerous polyps.  Those who met goals cutting fat and consumed at least 18 grams of fiber and 3.5 servings of fruit and vegetables per l,000 calories each day were 35 percent less likely to develop new polyps during the study.

* Exercise.  Sedentary people are about twice as likely to develop colorectal cancer as highly active exercisers.  Aim for at least 30 minutes a day of moderately intense exercise.  Don’t rely too much on drugs or supplements. All pose additional health risks.  Limit alcohol.  People who average two to four drinks a Day have a 23 percent higher risk than those averaging less than one drink a day.  Don’t smoke.  Researchers have enough evidence to conclude definitively that smoking contributes to colorectal cancer.

TIME, TALENTS AND TREASURES

Thank you Lord for your gift of life,

  With Talents, Time and Treasures

Given from God for Earthly life,

  To practice with His measure.

Gifts to share with those in need,

    Inspiring others as well,

Sharing joys with family,

  That ring heart’s joyous bells.

Borrow three letters from the title above

  Use the second letter from each,

They spell AIR – confirming that

  Hearts and Ears can be used for speech.

This is your gift from Heaven’s trust

  So put them to use each day,

Flashing from those Heavenly spheres,

  Your help is on the way.

Using your life to help Mother Earth

  Our hearts will respond each day,

Her command, “Protect your ozone layer

   Then descendants here can stay.”

She’ll honour us as we honour God,

  With our Talents, Time and Treasures,

Satisfaction with each act and deed,

   Brings joys in generous measure.

  Our souls advise us what to do,

As we practice God’s Rule on Earth,

  “Do to others as you’d like done to you.”

Then you’ll feel and sense your worth.

  The gift of the sun urges plants to respond.

The mix needed for Earth’s care.

   Contentment and happiness restores each life

As we daily become aware. 

October 8, 2012

S.B. Davis,

  

 

ARTHRITIS TREATMENT

   Half of all adults – and two-thirds of obese adults – will develop arthritic knees during their lifetime.  Medical treatments include rubs, shots and pills but offer little help and sometimes cause side effects.  A popular alternative is glucosamine supplements but is largely unproven.  “No one therapy is as effective as we’d like,” says Roy D. Altman, M.D., a professor of medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles.  “Patients are often best served by combining treatments.  Patients sometimes mix and match until they find the combination that works best for them.”

   Lifestyle Changes:   Excess weight can erode the cartilage that can line the bone surfaces between joints, causing stiffness and sometimes a sticking sensation.  Shedding just 10 pounds of excess weight can take 40 pounds of pressure off the knees.  Dropping 15 pounds can cut knee pain in half.  To determine your body mass index (BMI,) divide your weight in pounds by your height in inches squared, and multiply by 703.  Go to: www.ConsumerReportsHelalth.org/BMI.

Physical activity:  “In Cochrane review of 12 studies, aim for 30 minutes a day.  If an aggravated knee deters you, sit high on a stationary bike.” advises John tongue, M.D., vice president of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons.  That takes the stress off hips and knees while lubricating those joints.  Try to walk on soft surfaces wearing a low heel with a soft absorbing sole.  A cane, crutch or walker can be used when walking to work.  Some experts suggest trying a knee sleeve, available at local pharmacies.”  While generally considered safe, glucosamine might pose risks to people who also take blood-thinning drugs such as warfarin.  Acupuncture has been suggested by some.  A friend of mine said it cured her mother’s back ailment.  Our provincial health system covers the major part of it.  Eight weeks of massage relieved painful knees for some participants.  This was published in the Archives of Internal Medicine.  Your doctor can recommend a massage therapist who works with arthritic patients using lotion or oil but warns not to massage a joint that is very swollen or painful.  Tylenol (over the counter acetaminophen) has been tried because it has fewer risks but even it poses some risks.  Excess doses of this can damage the liver.  Tramadol has been modestly effective but side effects such as dizziness, drowsiness and nausea has caused seizures.  Altering the diet by avoiding sweets and including more vegetables and fruits with fish and chicken for protein has helped others.