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.