Friday, December 27, 2013
Green Tea Fights Prostate Cancer
Six cups of green tea a day may slow the progression of prostate cancer, a new study suggests.
The finding stems from research that showed prostate patients scheduled for a type of surgery known as a prostatectomy, where the prostate is removed, reduced their levels of some disease-associated inflammation by drinking lots of brewed green tea in the weeks preceding the operation. And that reduction in inflammation may inhibit tumor growth, the researchers suggested.
Their results were to be presented Thursday at the American Association for Cancer Researchs annual prevention conference in Anaheim, Calif.
The notion that the polyphenol compounds found in green tea might have a protective effect against prostate cancer has yet to be confirmed outside a laboratory setting. However, this latest report builds on previous Italian research that suggested that consuming green tea extract may help lower the risk that a precancerous condition will develop into full-blown prostate cancer.
And related research that was also presented at the cancer research conference suggested that the flavonoids found in fruits and vegetables may be associated with a lower risk of developing aggressive prostate cancer.
However, at least one urologist, Dr. Mark Soloway, chairman emeritus of urology at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, pointed to the new studys limitations, and said it was too soon to say that green tea had any impact on prostate cancer.
Scientific findings presented at meetings should be viewed as preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal.
In this latest green tea study, men who drank the beverage for three to eight weeks prior to surgery experienced a noticeable drop in both serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) concentrations and PSA protein expression by the time they went under the knife. The fall-off in such telltale signs of disease was accompanied by reductions in both disease-linked inflammation and oxidative DNA damage, the study authors said.
"To see this effect, you would need to drink a lot of green tea," stressed study author Susanne Henning, a registered dietician and adjunct professor with the University of California, Los Angeles David Geffen School of Medicine. "Two cups a day is not going to help. In fact, we had our men drink six cups spread out all throughout the day, which I think was beneficial because green tea polyphenols are excreted very rapidly, so if you drink it that way you keep your levels up. And that seems to be the important factor in keeping the protection going."
To explore the anti-cancer potential of green tea, the authors focused on 67 prostate cancer patients, all of whom were weeks away from surgery. About half the men were randomly assigned to a six-cup-a-day regimen of green tea leading up to surgery, while the others consumed water instead.
The result: Blood and urine samples analyzed alongside tissue samples taken during surgery revealed that the green tea group fared significantly better on key signs of inflammation, PSA levels and expression and DNA damage.
However, no notable difference was found between the two groups in terms of tumor cell growth.
Henning stressed the need for more research on the potential green-tea/prostate cancer connection, and her team is currently planning new animal investigations involving combinations of green tea and other natural foods.
While this research showed an association between green tea and prostate cancer, it did not prove a cause-and-effect link.
"Actually, several food agents have been under investigation for their protective impact," she noted. "Lycopene and omega-3 fatty acids, for example. So, I would say that if you have cancer and you want to make a decision about all of this, then think of incorporating all of those as a part of a lifestyle change. I know that if I was diagnosed with prostate cancer, I would try to change my lifestyle. And that would mean, in addition to eating lots of fruits and vegetables and trying to lose weight and exercising, that I would definitely drink green tea."
The University of Miamis Soloway said that while drinking green tea probably does not have a downside, this "limited study" does not confirm its impact as a prostate cancer intervention.
"[Theres] not much solid data to prove it," he said. "This is a small study, and it would take a longer study with hundreds of patients to prove its benefit."
Soloway also noted that the jury is still out on whether inflammation even plays a significant role in cancer development. "It is very much a question," he said. "Not proven at all."
But, he agreed that until larger studies come along to explore green teas potential, "it might be worth giving it a shot."
Top 10 Links of the Week 1 8 10 – 1 14 10
First, thank you guys so much for your responses to Tuesday’s Ask the Internet question. They helped a lot, and I feel much more confident hitting up Crate & Barrel with a scanner gun. I think the Oxo company will be very, very pleased by the time we’re finished.
Second, Haiti’s been on a lot of people’s minds this week. If you’d like to pitch in, Epi-Log has a good rundown of donation sites for food relief, and Partners in Health is looking for any help they can get.
Third, my fellow compatriots of Team Conan, it’s time for the links.
1) Food Politics: Genetic Causes of Obesity – 1%
The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition just found that only 1% of us can blame obesity on genetics, thus obliterating my last excuse for not exercising. Of course, environment (where family plays a huge role) is still a significant factor, but it seems that most of us can no longer say we’re fat because our grandmas were, too.
2) Mark Bittman: A Sound Piece by Russ Parsons
Guest blogger Parsons proposes some ground rules for discussing large-scale farming in the new decade. Actually, these sound, forward-thinking ideas would help navigate just about any disagreement. Just replace “food” with “boss,” and you’re good to go.
3) NPR: Going with Whole Grains
Excellent introduction to the wonderful world of amaranth, quinoa, and farro. Includes cooking methods, recipes, and a nice narrative from writer Nicole Spiridakis.
4) The Simple Dollar
Trimming the Average Budget – Food at Home
Trimming the Average Budget – Eating Out
Trent recently did a breakdown of the average household budget. Now, he’s going over each budgetary area, post by post, and offering hints on how to trim expenditures. A neat series overall, with quite good entries on food.
5) Queen of Shake-Shake: Proof that God Exists – He Loves a Housewife Martyr
Heather bought AN ENTIRE SET of Le Creuset cookware off Craigslist for … are you ready for this? … I don’t know if you are … brace yourselves, because here it is anyway … $200. I’m still gasping three days later. (Thanks to Meredith for the link.)
6) Lifehacker: Make Your Own Snack Packs to Lose Weight
If you did everything Lifehacker suggested, you’d be ruling the planet by now. Here, they highlight a smart Parent Hacks post that could help you drop some pounds and save some dough.
7) The Atlantic: Cultivating Failure
Look, writer Caitlin Flanagan, your largely insane article does contain one or two valid criticisms of Alice Waters and the school garden movement, but insulting your readership right off the bat ("ACORN-loving"?) doesn’t do wonders for your argument. May I suggest not starting your next book, about the emotional lives of teenage girls, with “We all know an emotionally volatile and somewhat promiscuous 14-year-old space cadet”? Ed Levine has a full breakdown/takedown.
8) Food Network Humor: How to Make an Episode of Barefoot Contessa
The only thing that would have made this better is a stand mixer appearance. If you’re an Ina fan, definitely check it out.
9) Science Daily: Restaurant and Packaged Foods Can Have More Calories Than Nutrition Labeling Indicates
The title is pretty self-explanatory, but just in case, here’s a follow-up from the article itself: “Measured energy values of 29 quick-serve and sit-down restaurant foods averaged 18% more calories than the stated values. Likewise, measured energy values of 10 frozen meals purchased from supermarkets averaged 8% more calories than stated on the label.” Crap!
10) Boing Boing: “Cruel Kindness” – a 1967 UK Educational Film About Childhood Obesity
I’m a sucker for educational films (“Meat and You”), but the most interesting parts about this video are the kids themselves, who were apparently considered overweight in 1967. Maybe it’s a testament to our shifting culture, or maybe the film itself is a little skewed, but they look like pretty average compared to children in 2010. Is it just me?
via videosift.com
HONORABLE MENTIONS
Casual Kitchen: How to Feel Less Hungry on Fewer Calories – Hacking the Satiety Factor of Foods
What’s filling? What’s not? Break it down with Dan.
Dad Cooks Dinner: Rules for Losing Weight
Nine more basic tenets for healthy eating.
The Kitchn: 20 Recipes for Roasted Vegetable Roundups
I seriously need to stop reading The Kitchn, because I inevitably end up linking to half the dang blog. Anyway, it’s another great recipe roundup, this time on roasted winter veggies.
The Kitchn: Alton Brown on Eating at Home and Eating Light
Breakdown of and links to Alton Brown’s Good Eats weight loss ep.
New York Times: Michael Pollan Offers 64 Ways to Eat Food
The high priest of healthy eating is back with a new book. The Gray Lady gives us an interview/preview.
Re-Nest: Green Eating – Leon Seasonal Food Chart
In-season chart that as pretty as it is useful. So, very.
Serious Eats: Is Heirloom Wheat the Next Big Baking Trend?
Neat piece shows that how you cook something is often just as important as what you put into it (if not moreso.)
Serious Eats: What Kitchen Items Would You List on a Bridal Wedding Registry?
Adam Kuban and I are in similar situations this week! See how Serious Eaters responded.
Wise Bread: Sex Up Your Sandwich – Ideas for Budget-Conscious Brown Baggers
Please read the article, so you don’t accidentally sex up your sandwich in the wrong way. It could have some weird consequences.
Thank you so much for visiting Cheap Healthy Good! (We appreciate it muchly). If you’d like to further support CHG, subscribe to our RSS feed! Or become a Facebook friend! Or check out our Twitter! Or buy something inexpensive, yet fulfilling via that Amazon store (on the left)! Bookmarking sites and links are nice, too. Viva la France!
Second, Haiti’s been on a lot of people’s minds this week. If you’d like to pitch in, Epi-Log has a good rundown of donation sites for food relief, and Partners in Health is looking for any help they can get.
Third, my fellow compatriots of Team Conan, it’s time for the links.
1) Food Politics: Genetic Causes of Obesity – 1%
The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition just found that only 1% of us can blame obesity on genetics, thus obliterating my last excuse for not exercising. Of course, environment (where family plays a huge role) is still a significant factor, but it seems that most of us can no longer say we’re fat because our grandmas were, too.
2) Mark Bittman: A Sound Piece by Russ Parsons
Guest blogger Parsons proposes some ground rules for discussing large-scale farming in the new decade. Actually, these sound, forward-thinking ideas would help navigate just about any disagreement. Just replace “food” with “boss,” and you’re good to go.
3) NPR: Going with Whole Grains
Excellent introduction to the wonderful world of amaranth, quinoa, and farro. Includes cooking methods, recipes, and a nice narrative from writer Nicole Spiridakis.
4) The Simple Dollar
Trimming the Average Budget – Food at Home
Trimming the Average Budget – Eating Out
Trent recently did a breakdown of the average household budget. Now, he’s going over each budgetary area, post by post, and offering hints on how to trim expenditures. A neat series overall, with quite good entries on food.
5) Queen of Shake-Shake: Proof that God Exists – He Loves a Housewife Martyr
Heather bought AN ENTIRE SET of Le Creuset cookware off Craigslist for … are you ready for this? … I don’t know if you are … brace yourselves, because here it is anyway … $200. I’m still gasping three days later. (Thanks to Meredith for the link.)
6) Lifehacker: Make Your Own Snack Packs to Lose Weight
If you did everything Lifehacker suggested, you’d be ruling the planet by now. Here, they highlight a smart Parent Hacks post that could help you drop some pounds and save some dough.
7) The Atlantic: Cultivating Failure
Look, writer Caitlin Flanagan, your largely insane article does contain one or two valid criticisms of Alice Waters and the school garden movement, but insulting your readership right off the bat ("ACORN-loving"?) doesn’t do wonders for your argument. May I suggest not starting your next book, about the emotional lives of teenage girls, with “We all know an emotionally volatile and somewhat promiscuous 14-year-old space cadet”? Ed Levine has a full breakdown/takedown.
8) Food Network Humor: How to Make an Episode of Barefoot Contessa
The only thing that would have made this better is a stand mixer appearance. If you’re an Ina fan, definitely check it out.
9) Science Daily: Restaurant and Packaged Foods Can Have More Calories Than Nutrition Labeling Indicates
The title is pretty self-explanatory, but just in case, here’s a follow-up from the article itself: “Measured energy values of 29 quick-serve and sit-down restaurant foods averaged 18% more calories than the stated values. Likewise, measured energy values of 10 frozen meals purchased from supermarkets averaged 8% more calories than stated on the label.” Crap!
10) Boing Boing: “Cruel Kindness” – a 1967 UK Educational Film About Childhood Obesity
I’m a sucker for educational films (“Meat and You”), but the most interesting parts about this video are the kids themselves, who were apparently considered overweight in 1967. Maybe it’s a testament to our shifting culture, or maybe the film itself is a little skewed, but they look like pretty average compared to children in 2010. Is it just me?
via videosift.com
HONORABLE MENTIONS
Casual Kitchen: How to Feel Less Hungry on Fewer Calories – Hacking the Satiety Factor of Foods
What’s filling? What’s not? Break it down with Dan.
Dad Cooks Dinner: Rules for Losing Weight
Nine more basic tenets for healthy eating.
The Kitchn: 20 Recipes for Roasted Vegetable Roundups
I seriously need to stop reading The Kitchn, because I inevitably end up linking to half the dang blog. Anyway, it’s another great recipe roundup, this time on roasted winter veggies.
The Kitchn: Alton Brown on Eating at Home and Eating Light
Breakdown of and links to Alton Brown’s Good Eats weight loss ep.
New York Times: Michael Pollan Offers 64 Ways to Eat Food
The high priest of healthy eating is back with a new book. The Gray Lady gives us an interview/preview.
Re-Nest: Green Eating – Leon Seasonal Food Chart
In-season chart that as pretty as it is useful. So, very.
Serious Eats: Is Heirloom Wheat the Next Big Baking Trend?
Neat piece shows that how you cook something is often just as important as what you put into it (if not moreso.)
Serious Eats: What Kitchen Items Would You List on a Bridal Wedding Registry?
Adam Kuban and I are in similar situations this week! See how Serious Eaters responded.
Wise Bread: Sex Up Your Sandwich – Ideas for Budget-Conscious Brown Baggers
Please read the article, so you don’t accidentally sex up your sandwich in the wrong way. It could have some weird consequences.
Thank you so much for visiting Cheap Healthy Good! (We appreciate it muchly). If you’d like to further support CHG, subscribe to our RSS feed! Or become a Facebook friend! Or check out our Twitter! Or buy something inexpensive, yet fulfilling via that Amazon store (on the left)! Bookmarking sites and links are nice, too. Viva la France!
Thursday, December 26, 2013
Exercise and Arthritis
Your bones hang out in a lot of joints. Knee joints. prolific joints. The joints in your fingers further the joints sway your toes.
Wherever bones meet, there is also cartilage, a rubbery, jelly layer that ensures your joints bend smoothly and painlessly. But even cartilage cannot get this tremendous job idiosyncratic. A thin membrane called the synovium provides fluid that lubricates the moving parts of the joint. When the cartilage wears outmost of the synovium becomes inflamed, the result is generally a case of osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis.
In osteoarthritis, the cartilage answerability correspond to eroded thereupon much that bone does rub on bone. Thos tone of arthritis develops gradually over a lifetime as a simple determination of the languorous and tear placed on your joints over the caducity. Very few people escape some degree of osteoarthritis, though the onslaught varies a great deal.
As a principle of fact, if you are due to the age of 50, you are likely to have at least one joint mock by osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis affects sexuality and women equally and is by far the immeasurably common badge of arthritis, with almost 16 million Americans in the list.
In rheumatoid arthritis, damage to the synovium is at the top of trouble. Doctors and researchers are not positively sure what causes it, but notably think that rheumatoid arthritis is a disease in which the immune system totally attacks certain tissues predominance the body, including those that connect the joints and the synovium.
Rheumatoid arthritis begins with swollen, red, stiff, and painful joints, but it may progress until scar tissue forms in the joint or, in dire cases, until the bones in toto fuse clever. halfway 75% of the 2 million people with rheumatoid arthritis monopoly the United States are male. The disease can hit as primary as teen years.
Exercising Your Prevention Options
Investing a little time direction improvement a good weight-bearing low-impact exercise besides stretching stunt culpability subsume buildup to revered results when it comes to staving off arthritis pain. forward muscles help protect the joints from wear and tear, and the movement keeps joints flexible.
That is why the quest for hope is at hand, constant if you are 50 years further over. However, most Americans because 50 are at peace right where they always were sitting support and watching others jog by. Most of them discourse about that that is just for people who have been athletic all their life, or some do exercise is for recent people and engaging into hustle commit do them more harm than good.
There are placid some that insist on excusing their selves in exercise routines because they attain not just have time or they have less energy than vitally before. These are faultless lame excuses. Hence, it is time to initiate to close rid of those accomplishment. Start exercising.
Consequently, preventing arthritis is not an definitive science, but physicians have discovered a few ways to minor your risk. Here is how:
1. Do not weight around
The unlike largely important measure anyone can take to prevent osteoarthritis of the knee is to lose restriction if they are rotund. extra supremacy puts augmented stress on your knees. If you are 10 pounds overweight, for example, you stabilize 60 pounds per square inch of extra pressure on your knees every occasion you take a step. That extra discomposure can slowly but surely erode the cartilage in your knees, leading to arthritis.
A see has clearly supported the theory that weight mortality weighs in on the feature of prevention. prerogative the study, overweight women who lost 11 pounds or more over a 10-year expression decreased their gamble of developing osteoarthritis of the knee by 50%.
2. Stretch those muscles
Any kind of stretching is good now enthusiasm for you finish not bounce, which can lead to a dynamism pull. This is according to some of the professors of clinical medicine fame New York City.
Try to hold a slow, steady fling being 15 to 20 seconds, thus relax and repeat. It is prime to flex up by extension before any exercise, especially spun out besides animated. But it is and a good idea to stretch each trick. Ask your doctor to bring out you stretches that focus on impulse arthritis trouble spots, such as the knees or the lower back.
3. Walking is always the best exercise
Take a good long walk at least three times a week or participate in a step-aerobics or low-impact action routine sovereign results. crackerjack is no skill that running is bad in that the joints, but remember, it may aggravate an injury if you existent have one. Just remember to check with your tend before archetypal a more exercise program.
The bottom business is that of whole the healthful habits, life is the most important. This is because people are designed to exemplify on assignment. Hence, bodily is actually important for people to exercise in behest to last healthy and keep those joints free from inert and tear.
Just keep domination mind that the unexercised body, even if free from the symptoms of illness or problems like arthritis, is not at its bull dynamism. Hence, start exercising right now!
Wherever bones meet, there is also cartilage, a rubbery, jelly layer that ensures your joints bend smoothly and painlessly. But even cartilage cannot get this tremendous job idiosyncratic. A thin membrane called the synovium provides fluid that lubricates the moving parts of the joint. When the cartilage wears outmost of the synovium becomes inflamed, the result is generally a case of osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis.
In osteoarthritis, the cartilage answerability correspond to eroded thereupon much that bone does rub on bone. Thos tone of arthritis develops gradually over a lifetime as a simple determination of the languorous and tear placed on your joints over the caducity. Very few people escape some degree of osteoarthritis, though the onslaught varies a great deal.
As a principle of fact, if you are due to the age of 50, you are likely to have at least one joint mock by osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis affects sexuality and women equally and is by far the immeasurably common badge of arthritis, with almost 16 million Americans in the list.
In rheumatoid arthritis, damage to the synovium is at the top of trouble. Doctors and researchers are not positively sure what causes it, but notably think that rheumatoid arthritis is a disease in which the immune system totally attacks certain tissues predominance the body, including those that connect the joints and the synovium.
Rheumatoid arthritis begins with swollen, red, stiff, and painful joints, but it may progress until scar tissue forms in the joint or, in dire cases, until the bones in toto fuse clever. halfway 75% of the 2 million people with rheumatoid arthritis monopoly the United States are male. The disease can hit as primary as teen years.
Exercising Your Prevention Options
Investing a little time direction improvement a good weight-bearing low-impact exercise besides stretching stunt culpability subsume buildup to revered results when it comes to staving off arthritis pain. forward muscles help protect the joints from wear and tear, and the movement keeps joints flexible.
That is why the quest for hope is at hand, constant if you are 50 years further over. However, most Americans because 50 are at peace right where they always were sitting support and watching others jog by. Most of them discourse about that that is just for people who have been athletic all their life, or some do exercise is for recent people and engaging into hustle commit do them more harm than good.
There are placid some that insist on excusing their selves in exercise routines because they attain not just have time or they have less energy than vitally before. These are faultless lame excuses. Hence, it is time to initiate to close rid of those accomplishment. Start exercising.
Consequently, preventing arthritis is not an definitive science, but physicians have discovered a few ways to minor your risk. Here is how:
1. Do not weight around
The unlike largely important measure anyone can take to prevent osteoarthritis of the knee is to lose restriction if they are rotund. extra supremacy puts augmented stress on your knees. If you are 10 pounds overweight, for example, you stabilize 60 pounds per square inch of extra pressure on your knees every occasion you take a step. That extra discomposure can slowly but surely erode the cartilage in your knees, leading to arthritis.
A see has clearly supported the theory that weight mortality weighs in on the feature of prevention. prerogative the study, overweight women who lost 11 pounds or more over a 10-year expression decreased their gamble of developing osteoarthritis of the knee by 50%.
2. Stretch those muscles
Any kind of stretching is good now enthusiasm for you finish not bounce, which can lead to a dynamism pull. This is according to some of the professors of clinical medicine fame New York City.
Try to hold a slow, steady fling being 15 to 20 seconds, thus relax and repeat. It is prime to flex up by extension before any exercise, especially spun out besides animated. But it is and a good idea to stretch each trick. Ask your doctor to bring out you stretches that focus on impulse arthritis trouble spots, such as the knees or the lower back.
3. Walking is always the best exercise
Take a good long walk at least three times a week or participate in a step-aerobics or low-impact action routine sovereign results. crackerjack is no skill that running is bad in that the joints, but remember, it may aggravate an injury if you existent have one. Just remember to check with your tend before archetypal a more exercise program.
The bottom business is that of whole the healthful habits, life is the most important. This is because people are designed to exemplify on assignment. Hence, bodily is actually important for people to exercise in behest to last healthy and keep those joints free from inert and tear.
Just keep domination mind that the unexercised body, even if free from the symptoms of illness or problems like arthritis, is not at its bull dynamism. Hence, start exercising right now!
Diabetes in Children A Growing Concern
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warns that type 2 diabetes is a "growing problem among US children and adolescents," and recommends better physician awareness to combat the problem.They cite the following markers for diabetes in this age group:
- Between 10 and 19 years old
- Obese
- Strong family history of type 2 diabetes
- Insulin resistance
- Poor glycemic control (A1C = 10% to 12%)
"Waist circumference is a predictor of insulin resistance syndrome in children and adolescents and could be included in clinical practice as a simple tool to help identify children at risk."
WebMD features a summary of the study, including examples of risky waist sizes:
- A 5-year-old boy or girl with a waist size of 22 inches or more
- A 10-year-old boy with a waist size of 26 inches or more
- A 10-year-old girl with a waist size of 25 inches or more
- A 15-year-old boy with a waist size of 31 inches or more
- A 15-year-old girl with a waist size of 28 inches or more
For the study itself (abstract only, subscription required for full article):
Can Waist Circumference Identify Children With the Metabolic Syndrome?
For WebMDs summary:
Kids Waists May Show Pre-Diabetes Problem
For the CDCs fact page on children and diabetes:
Epidemiology of Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Among North American Children and Adolescents
Wednesday, December 25, 2013
Exercise May be the Best Medicine for Alzheimers
New research out of the University of Maryland School of Public Health shows that exercise may improve cognitive function in those at risk for Alzheimer’s by improving the efficiency of brain activity associated with memory. Memory loss leading to Alzheimer’s disease is one of the greatest fears among older Americans. While some memory loss is normal and to be expected as we age, a diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment, or MCI, signals more substantial memory loss and a greater risk for Alzheimer’s, for which there currently is no cure.
The study, led by Dr. J. Carson Smith, assistant professor in the Department of Kinesiology, provides new hope for those diagnosed with MCI. It is the first to show that an exercise intervention with older adults with mild cognitive impairment (average age 78) improved not only memory recall, but also brain function, as measured by functional neuroimaging (via fMRI). The findings are published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease.
“We found that after 12 weeks of being on a moderate exercise program, study participants improved their neural efficiency – basically they were using fewer neural resources to perform the same memory task,” says Dr. Smith. “No study has shown that a drug can do what we showed is possible with exercise.”
Recommended Daily Activity: Good for the Body, Good for the Brain
Two groups of physically inactive older adults (ranging from 60-88 years old) were put on a 12-week exercise program that focused on regular treadmill walking and was guided by a personal trainer. Both groups – one which included adults with MCI and the other with healthy brain function – improved their cardiovascular fitness by about ten percent at the end of the intervention. More notably, both groups also improved their memory performance and showed enhanced neural efficiency while engaged in memory retrieval tasks.
The good news is that these results were achieved with a dose of exercise consistent with the physical activity recommendations for older adults. These guidelines urge moderate intensity exercise (activity that increases your heart rate and makes you sweat, but isn’t so strenuous that you can’t hold a conversation while doing it) on most days for a weekly total of 150 minutes.
Measuring Exercise’s Impact on Brain Health and Memory
One of the first observable symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease is the inability to remember familiar names. Smith and colleagues had study participants identify famous names and measured their brain activation while engaged in correctly recognizing a name – e.g., Frank Sinatra, or other celebrities well known to adults born in the 1930s and 40s. “The task gives us the ability to see what is going on in the brain when there is a correct memory performance,” Smith explains.
Tests and imaging were performed both before and after the 12-week exercise intervention. Brain scans taken after the exercise intervention showed a significant decrease in the intensity of brain activation in eleven brain regions while participants correctly identified famous names. The brain regions with improved efficiency corresponded to those involved in the pathology of Alzheimer’s disease, including the precuneus region, the temporal lobe, and the parahippocampal gyrus.
The exercise intervention was also effective in improving word recall via a “list learning task,” i.e., when people were read a list of 15 words and asked to remember and repeat as many words as possible on five consecutive attempts, and again after a distraction of being given another list of words.
“People with MCI are on a very sharp decline in their memory function, so being able to improve their recall is a very big step in the right direction,” Smith states.
The results of Smith’s study suggest that exercise may reduce the need for over-activation of the brain to correctly remember something. That is encouraging news for those who are looking for something they can do to help preserve brain function.
Dr. Smith has plans for a larger study that would include more participants, including those who are healthy but have a genetic risk for Alzheimer’s, and follow them for a longer time period with exercise in comparison to other types of treatments. He and his team hope to learn more about the impact of exercise on brain function and whether it could delay the onset or progression of Alzheimer’s disease.
Keeping the Goal in Front of You
Hi,
I shared once before about watching the TV series "Heavy" on Netflix and hearing one of the coaches say: "Keep your goals in front of you. Sometimes to reach goals you have to do very difficult things."
I have those words on a sticky note stuck to the edge of my monitor and sometimes my eyes wander to it. It always encourages me.
The goals: 1. Normalize blood sugar levels, 2. Lose body fat, 3 Reduce body pain
Practical application to reach the goals: eat only fresh raw vegetables and some kind of animal protein for every meal and snack for six days. On day seven for one meal, eat a high carb "no holds barred" cheat meal that can last up to one hour at some time during the day. On day eight begin again with the fresh raw veggies and protein. Exercise three times a week.
I think I may begin referring to these two phases as "Six day" eating and "Cheat meal" eating for simplicity. (For complete information on lowering your blood sugar levels with this eating plan see: http://blogspot.com/2012/01/normal-0-false-false-false-en-us-x-none.html )
Is this diet for everyone? No. There are people out there who do not have Diabetes hanging over their heads. They can eat some other way and be healthy and happy. This diet is for that person who has pre-diabetes, or type II diabetes, and who is also grossly obese, too. This diet is for the one who has "tried everything" and nothing works. This one works even for the woman who is post-menopausal. Yippee!! It took quite a while for me to figure this one out. I think it took a long time because it was difficult for me to accept that I had to do something that seems so drastic to the American eye.
I wanted to be able to eat anything I wanted. I still do. But if I am going to normalize my blood sugars, reduce my A1c to below 6.0 and keep it there, and also lose weight and reduce the body pain, I have to cleanly follow this program. Whenever I add in something that is not on the shopping list (see link above) I will see the effects by the end of the day -- or in the morning.
For one thing, it will actually affect my emotions. It will be a very subtle change, but my body will feel "differently." I will put on water weight so my weight will go up the next morning instead of going down. My ankles will swell up a little larger than normal by the end of the day. I will feel a bit "foggy." And the feeling of "full" will have a different sensation to it. I am not sure I can describe it so another person can understand but in giving it a go I would say: when I eat the fresh raw veggies and protein, I feel full, clean, and satisfied. When I eat in some other way, including things that are not on this program, for a couple of days, I feel full and hungry at the same time. This means the addiction has kicked in and if I dont get myself back in line, I will be out of line for quite a while. This means my weight will steadily go up, day by day. My morning blood sugar numbers will start to creep up. And my aches and pains will become persistent, again.
This diet is supremely simple, but it is not easy if you have never done it before. Sometimes we need to be reminded why we are eating this way and not eating from the middle of the grocery store. I know I need to be reminded. I consider myself to be a relatively intelligent person with an addiction to processed foods and starchy carbohydrates. The addiction sometimes shows its ugly head in the form of "forgetfulness" or in "justifications" and most often it is both. I call it "magical thinking." Somehow my mind will just magically begin to think it is OK for me to eat a forbidden food and it will seem perfectly justified at the time. Dont laugh. It can sneak in at any moment.
The one thing that really keeps it real for me is to keep personal records and to blog -- so this blog is as much (and more so) for me as it is for you, the reader. The one thing that allows me to re-apply the practical habits I need is to make the decision to do so. The one decision that has the most positive effect and keeps me in line the most, is to decide not to eat "that forbidden food."
Keeping the goal in front of me, helps me to make the right decisions.
I hope you are doing well. Here is to the next meal being clean and good for us. Hear! Hear!
Be back soon,
Marcia
I shared once before about watching the TV series "Heavy" on Netflix and hearing one of the coaches say: "Keep your goals in front of you. Sometimes to reach goals you have to do very difficult things."
I have those words on a sticky note stuck to the edge of my monitor and sometimes my eyes wander to it. It always encourages me.
The goals: 1. Normalize blood sugar levels, 2. Lose body fat, 3 Reduce body pain
Practical application to reach the goals: eat only fresh raw vegetables and some kind of animal protein for every meal and snack for six days. On day seven for one meal, eat a high carb "no holds barred" cheat meal that can last up to one hour at some time during the day. On day eight begin again with the fresh raw veggies and protein. Exercise three times a week.
I think I may begin referring to these two phases as "Six day" eating and "Cheat meal" eating for simplicity. (For complete information on lowering your blood sugar levels with this eating plan see: http://blogspot.com/2012/01/normal-0-false-false-false-en-us-x-none.html )
Is this diet for everyone? No. There are people out there who do not have Diabetes hanging over their heads. They can eat some other way and be healthy and happy. This diet is for that person who has pre-diabetes, or type II diabetes, and who is also grossly obese, too. This diet is for the one who has "tried everything" and nothing works. This one works even for the woman who is post-menopausal. Yippee!! It took quite a while for me to figure this one out. I think it took a long time because it was difficult for me to accept that I had to do something that seems so drastic to the American eye.
I wanted to be able to eat anything I wanted. I still do. But if I am going to normalize my blood sugars, reduce my A1c to below 6.0 and keep it there, and also lose weight and reduce the body pain, I have to cleanly follow this program. Whenever I add in something that is not on the shopping list (see link above) I will see the effects by the end of the day -- or in the morning.
For one thing, it will actually affect my emotions. It will be a very subtle change, but my body will feel "differently." I will put on water weight so my weight will go up the next morning instead of going down. My ankles will swell up a little larger than normal by the end of the day. I will feel a bit "foggy." And the feeling of "full" will have a different sensation to it. I am not sure I can describe it so another person can understand but in giving it a go I would say: when I eat the fresh raw veggies and protein, I feel full, clean, and satisfied. When I eat in some other way, including things that are not on this program, for a couple of days, I feel full and hungry at the same time. This means the addiction has kicked in and if I dont get myself back in line, I will be out of line for quite a while. This means my weight will steadily go up, day by day. My morning blood sugar numbers will start to creep up. And my aches and pains will become persistent, again.
This diet is supremely simple, but it is not easy if you have never done it before. Sometimes we need to be reminded why we are eating this way and not eating from the middle of the grocery store. I know I need to be reminded. I consider myself to be a relatively intelligent person with an addiction to processed foods and starchy carbohydrates. The addiction sometimes shows its ugly head in the form of "forgetfulness" or in "justifications" and most often it is both. I call it "magical thinking." Somehow my mind will just magically begin to think it is OK for me to eat a forbidden food and it will seem perfectly justified at the time. Dont laugh. It can sneak in at any moment.
The one thing that really keeps it real for me is to keep personal records and to blog -- so this blog is as much (and more so) for me as it is for you, the reader. The one thing that allows me to re-apply the practical habits I need is to make the decision to do so. The one decision that has the most positive effect and keeps me in line the most, is to decide not to eat "that forbidden food."
Keeping the goal in front of me, helps me to make the right decisions.
I hope you are doing well. Here is to the next meal being clean and good for us. Hear! Hear!
Be back soon,
Marcia
Tuesday, December 24, 2013
Shirataki Noodle Verdict is IN!
Hi
I tried the shirataki noodles (no tofu) and I think I am in love!! I tested my blood sugar and it was 109 one hour after, and two hours after it was 98. Hip-Hip-Hooray!! Finally something that actually does not raise my blood sugars and is pretty darned good to eat.
I ate one whole seven-ounce package (about 2.5 cups) of spaghetti-like shirataki noodles that I rinsed very well in my colander in the sink. I let them sit to drain very well, also, as I had seen in a video, and then tossed them into the skillet in which I had browned a few scallions along with about a pound of hamburger with kalimari olive slices, garlic powder, curry powder, salt and two kinds of cheese. (I removed half of the hamburger for later before putting the noodles in.) I forgot to cut the long noodles into shorter lengths so they sort of bunched up in one spot in the pan, but that was not that big a deal. I think that if I remember to cut them, they will mix better next time.
The texture on the noodles was not precisely like pasta, but was very very close. Close enough that I am planning on getting used to it. It is more gel-like in texture than pasta but was very far from being obnoxious. On my first bite to test one strand, I noticed the slight texture difference, but as I ate them with the other ingredients I really did not notice it any more. They are about the size of thin spaghetti and have about the same amount of "body" as angel hair pasta -- which is my preference, anyway.
I had been afraid that I might have the same reaction to the smell that my niece, Natalie, had, so I did not test it out that well. I could not smell them unless I put my nose in the bag. I did take a small wiff of the bag after I emptied it and it smelled like fish but I rinsed the noodles (and the bag) and did not wiff them again. If I did not get close, I did not smell them, so it was not overpowering or anything like that. By the time I ate them, the smell had completely disappeared. They did not even remotely smell of fish. Just as everyone that I read or watched on YouTube said, they take on the smell and flavor of what I cooked them with. They were really quite delightful, in my book. And now I know I can eat them with my craving reducing meals without worry. I have four more packages of them for now so will enjoy them over the next five or six days and plan on placing a larger order at a new web site I found: http://www.konjacfoods.com/
I am completely thrilled with the no-blood-sugar reaction -- and I am hoping for the plumbing help that Ive heard about, as well. (And... uh... the plumbing has worked once already.) Two birds with one stone.
This is a few hours after having eaten them and Ive also been watching for other reactions, in case there is some side effect, or something. I noticed that my tummy felt really full, almost before I was done eating them. And right now, I feel just a touch dizzy... which is not a sign I was looking for, but, I shall see how it goes. If all goes well, Ill try another package in a day or two and see how it goes then. It may be that I just need to get used to it -- or eat a smaller amount until I do get used to it.
I also had a smaller than usual salad with the meal, but about an hour later, I finished up the rest of the hamburger and cheese. Not a "No-No" on a low carb program.... but it is a little curious, I think. Ive not had that reaction with any other low carb meal. Making sure to drink all the water for the day should also help.
Aside: I watched a video on YouTube ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pF7Yzv_T2Bg ) made by a guy who was taking glucomannan powder (the same thing the shirataki noodles are made from) and dumping it on a plate, onto which he also poured what appeared to be water from a bottle. He did not stir it. Then you get to listen to him tell us about a man he met at a hospital who had lost weight so quickly by eating only homemade glucomannan noodles that he needed to have his excess deflated balloon of skin surgically removed. For the most part you get to watch him burning what he calls noodles in a frying pan on high electric heat. He cuts them up into cracker shapes with his spatula as he talks and sprinkles a little ranch dressing on them for flavor. When the noodles are fried to his perfection he dumps them into a deep dish pot and tastes them from time to time saying how wonderful they are. It is oddly enlightening. One amazing thing is to watch him pick up the puddle of powder and water which has turned into a sort of pancake and put it into the pan for frying. I think you ought to watch it just for the pleasure!! I learned a lot from that video.
Oh, and by the way, there are also recipes for making your own noodles but they all contain lime water or baking powder along with the glucomannan powder and water, so I dont know how the guys homemade noodles with only the powder and water would be -- or why they add the lime water. (That is not lime juice in water -- that is lime water -- meaning the mineral not the juice.)
Well, I waited and the light dizziness is now gone. Who knows what could have caused it. I thought back over what I had eaten and I ate so many ingredients from sources that I had never eaten before it could have been from anything. The grass fed beef was, surprisingly, not all that good, it must have been made from very odd and tough parts of the animal. The olives were bulk pack from the Dekalb Farmers Market, which I had never tried before. And then there is the shirataki noodles. I shall try them again, in a smaller "dose," and see if I have the same reaction.
Anyway. I hope I find that the SNs work out because I like them... and I especially like the fact that there really are no carbs in them at all. The package says they have 3g of carb, and 3g of fiber which cancels it out... result: no carbs. My blood sugar non-reaction is proof enough for me.
Be back soon,
Marcia
I tried the shirataki noodles (no tofu) and I think I am in love!! I tested my blood sugar and it was 109 one hour after, and two hours after it was 98. Hip-Hip-Hooray!! Finally something that actually does not raise my blood sugars and is pretty darned good to eat.
I ate one whole seven-ounce package (about 2.5 cups) of spaghetti-like shirataki noodles that I rinsed very well in my colander in the sink. I let them sit to drain very well, also, as I had seen in a video, and then tossed them into the skillet in which I had browned a few scallions along with about a pound of hamburger with kalimari olive slices, garlic powder, curry powder, salt and two kinds of cheese. (I removed half of the hamburger for later before putting the noodles in.) I forgot to cut the long noodles into shorter lengths so they sort of bunched up in one spot in the pan, but that was not that big a deal. I think that if I remember to cut them, they will mix better next time.
The texture on the noodles was not precisely like pasta, but was very very close. Close enough that I am planning on getting used to it. It is more gel-like in texture than pasta but was very far from being obnoxious. On my first bite to test one strand, I noticed the slight texture difference, but as I ate them with the other ingredients I really did not notice it any more. They are about the size of thin spaghetti and have about the same amount of "body" as angel hair pasta -- which is my preference, anyway.
I had been afraid that I might have the same reaction to the smell that my niece, Natalie, had, so I did not test it out that well. I could not smell them unless I put my nose in the bag. I did take a small wiff of the bag after I emptied it and it smelled like fish but I rinsed the noodles (and the bag) and did not wiff them again. If I did not get close, I did not smell them, so it was not overpowering or anything like that. By the time I ate them, the smell had completely disappeared. They did not even remotely smell of fish. Just as everyone that I read or watched on YouTube said, they take on the smell and flavor of what I cooked them with. They were really quite delightful, in my book. And now I know I can eat them with my craving reducing meals without worry. I have four more packages of them for now so will enjoy them over the next five or six days and plan on placing a larger order at a new web site I found: http://www.konjacfoods.com/
I am completely thrilled with the no-blood-sugar reaction -- and I am hoping for the plumbing help that Ive heard about, as well. (And... uh... the plumbing has worked once already.) Two birds with one stone.
This is a few hours after having eaten them and Ive also been watching for other reactions, in case there is some side effect, or something. I noticed that my tummy felt really full, almost before I was done eating them. And right now, I feel just a touch dizzy... which is not a sign I was looking for, but, I shall see how it goes. If all goes well, Ill try another package in a day or two and see how it goes then. It may be that I just need to get used to it -- or eat a smaller amount until I do get used to it.
I also had a smaller than usual salad with the meal, but about an hour later, I finished up the rest of the hamburger and cheese. Not a "No-No" on a low carb program.... but it is a little curious, I think. Ive not had that reaction with any other low carb meal. Making sure to drink all the water for the day should also help.
Aside: I watched a video on YouTube ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pF7Yzv_T2Bg ) made by a guy who was taking glucomannan powder (the same thing the shirataki noodles are made from) and dumping it on a plate, onto which he also poured what appeared to be water from a bottle. He did not stir it. Then you get to listen to him tell us about a man he met at a hospital who had lost weight so quickly by eating only homemade glucomannan noodles that he needed to have his excess deflated balloon of skin surgically removed. For the most part you get to watch him burning what he calls noodles in a frying pan on high electric heat. He cuts them up into cracker shapes with his spatula as he talks and sprinkles a little ranch dressing on them for flavor. When the noodles are fried to his perfection he dumps them into a deep dish pot and tastes them from time to time saying how wonderful they are. It is oddly enlightening. One amazing thing is to watch him pick up the puddle of powder and water which has turned into a sort of pancake and put it into the pan for frying. I think you ought to watch it just for the pleasure!! I learned a lot from that video.
Oh, and by the way, there are also recipes for making your own noodles but they all contain lime water or baking powder along with the glucomannan powder and water, so I dont know how the guys homemade noodles with only the powder and water would be -- or why they add the lime water. (That is not lime juice in water -- that is lime water -- meaning the mineral not the juice.)
Well, I waited and the light dizziness is now gone. Who knows what could have caused it. I thought back over what I had eaten and I ate so many ingredients from sources that I had never eaten before it could have been from anything. The grass fed beef was, surprisingly, not all that good, it must have been made from very odd and tough parts of the animal. The olives were bulk pack from the Dekalb Farmers Market, which I had never tried before. And then there is the shirataki noodles. I shall try them again, in a smaller "dose," and see if I have the same reaction.
Anyway. I hope I find that the SNs work out because I like them... and I especially like the fact that there really are no carbs in them at all. The package says they have 3g of carb, and 3g of fiber which cancels it out... result: no carbs. My blood sugar non-reaction is proof enough for me.
Be back soon,
Marcia
Ragi Paal Kozhukattai
Happy Vinayagar/Ganesh Chathurthi to you all!!
This year am celebrating this fabulous festival with healthy kozhukattais with ragi, actually i want to make some modaks but somehow i feel like making some paal kozhukattais with ragi flour..Paal kozhukattai can be prepared either with milk,coconut milk and sugar or else with jaggery syrup and coconut milk..This time i went for jaggery syrup and coconut milk, this healthy ragi paal kozhukattais turned out super delicious.
For my surprise even my kids enjoyed thoroughly this healthy delicious cute dumplings,personally i felt really happy to see my ragi paal kozhukattais vanished very much quickly.These kozhukattais can be served chilled or warm,eventhough i love slightly warm kozhukattais..I prepared this kozhukattais with ragi flour combined with rice flour,even its time consuming its worth to make this fabulous delicious paal kozhukattais.Sending to Pritis Festive Food Ganesh Chaturthi.
This year am celebrating this fabulous festival with healthy kozhukattais with ragi, actually i want to make some modaks but somehow i feel like making some paal kozhukattais with ragi flour..Paal kozhukattai can be prepared either with milk,coconut milk and sugar or else with jaggery syrup and coconut milk..This time i went for jaggery syrup and coconut milk, this healthy ragi paal kozhukattais turned out super delicious.
For my surprise even my kids enjoyed thoroughly this healthy delicious cute dumplings,personally i felt really happy to see my ragi paal kozhukattais vanished very much quickly.These kozhukattais can be served chilled or warm,eventhough i love slightly warm kozhukattais..I prepared this kozhukattais with ragi flour combined with rice flour,even its time consuming its worth to make this fabulous delicious paal kozhukattais.Sending to Pritis Festive Food Ganesh Chaturthi.
3/4cup Ragi flour (roasted)
1/4cup Rice flour (roasted)
Salt (a pinch)
1tbsp Oil
3cups Coconut milk
1cup Jaggery syrup
1tsp Cardamom powder
Heat a cup of water with salt and oil, take the ragi flour and rice flour in a large bowl,add gradually this hot water and knead the flour as a stiff dough.
Make small balls from this dough and keep aside..
Meanwhile bring to boil the coconut milk and jaggery syrup together, add now the rolled balls to the boiling coconut milk-jaggery syrup, put the flame in simmer and cook for 10-15minutes.
Once the cooked balls starts floating,put off the flame and add the cardamom powder, give a stir..
Serve warm..
1/4cup Rice flour (roasted)
Salt (a pinch)
1tbsp Oil
3cups Coconut milk
1cup Jaggery syrup
1tsp Cardamom powder
Heat a cup of water with salt and oil, take the ragi flour and rice flour in a large bowl,add gradually this hot water and knead the flour as a stiff dough.
Make small balls from this dough and keep aside..
Meanwhile bring to boil the coconut milk and jaggery syrup together, add now the rolled balls to the boiling coconut milk-jaggery syrup, put the flame in simmer and cook for 10-15minutes.
Once the cooked balls starts floating,put off the flame and add the cardamom powder, give a stir..
Serve warm..
Monday, December 23, 2013
6 Things Your Doctor May Have Trouble Telling You
What your doctor may not mention could matter to your health.
Patients often have trouble talking to their doctors. It can be hard to get the words out when the topic is emotionally charged or one you’d never bring up in polite conversation.
And for various reasons, sometimes including their own embarrassment, doctors may find it hard to bring up certain topics -- and that can compromise the care their patients receive.
“Communication is an inexact science,” says Bob Arnold, MD, professor of medicine at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and director of its Institute for Doctor-Patient Communication. “Communication between doctors and patients is especially hard because the stakes are high and there are strong emotions on both sides.”
Some doctors are better than others at broaching touchy topics. Here are six things some doctors leave unsaid -- and what to do about it.
1. “You need to do something about that.”
Doctors are often reluctant to bring up a topic that might cause offense, even when there are pressing medical reasons to discuss it. A patient’s weight problem is one topic doctors sometimes shy away from. Others include whether the patient is depressed, smokes, abuses drugs or alcohol, has marital or sexual problems, or is experiencing financial hardship.
What to do: If your doctor fails to broach a topic that might be relevant to your health, bring it up yourself.
“Patients often think, ‘I will tell the doctor about this only if he or she asks me,’” says Richard M. Frankel, PhD, professor of medicine at Indiana University School of Medicine in Indianapolis. “They should be thinking, ‘Am I telling the doctor everything that I ought to be telling him or her?”
2. “You don’t need that drug.”
Direct-to-consumer pharmaceutical ads can be pretty effective at convincing patients that they need a particular medication (drugs to treat depression, diabetes, or erectile dysfunction are among the most heavily advertised) -- and even doctors can be swayed by these ads, notes David H. Newman, MD, director of clinical research in the emergency department at St. Luke’s Roosevelt Hospital Center in New York and the author of Hippocrates’ Shadow. And when asked for a prescription, some doctors find it hard to say no--even when the patient doesn’t really need that particular drug.
Why is that? Ultimately, medical practices are businesses, and doctors sometimes fear that turning down a request for a drug could leave the “customer” feeling disappointed. “Doctors are terrible at saying ‘no,’” Newman says.
What to do: Newman says there’s nothing wrong with asking the doctor ifmedication might be helpful. But it’s a mistake to push a doctor to write you a prescription. “It can be dangerous to ask for things,” Newman says.
3. “I don’t know what’s going on.”
For all the advances in medical care, many ailments remain hard to diagnose and treat.
Back pain is one. Doctors are sometimes quick to blame it on a specific anatomical cause -- for instance, muscle strain or a bulging spinal disk -- even though most back pain is of unknown origin.
Doctors are sometimes understandably reluctant to admit uncertainty. Some are so fearful of looking ignorant or incompetent that they act as if they know what’s causing a particular symptom even when they don’t. When this happens, they tend to order tests and treatments that are likely to prove needless.
What to do: How do you avoid the rush to possibly inappropriate care? Anytime a doctor suggests a test or treatment, ask questions. What will happen if you don’t get that test or treatment? How much will you benefit if you do? Don’t consent to the intervention until all your questions are answered. “You have to keep probing to know whether what the doctor is recommending is really supported by science,” Newman says.
4. “I’m not sure you got what I said.”
Doctors sometimes worry that what they tell a patient goes in one ear and out the other. Unfortunately, that’s often the case. On average, studies suggest, patients grasp only about half of what doctors tell them.
Yet the fault sometimes lies not with the patient’s inattention, but the doctor’s poor communication skills.
“Physicians tend to deliver information in long, dense mini-lectures,” says Debra Roter, DrPH, professor of health, behavior, and society at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore and the author of Doctors Talking with Patients/Patients Talking with Doctors: Improving Communication in Medical Visits. “They’ll say things like, “Let me explain to you the function of the pancreas” when what the patient wants to know what a diagnosis of diabetes means in practical terms.
To avoid misunderstanding, doctors could initiate a back-and-forth discussion with their patients. But not all do.
“Doctors are not good about assessing the patient’s understanding of our explanations,” says Dean Schillinger, MD, professor of medicine at the University of California at San Francisco. “We’re infamous for saying, ‘Are you clear about what I’ve told you?’ What we should be doing is asking patients to restate what we’ve told them.”
What to do: At the end of your appointment, if your doctor doesnt ask you to recap what theyve told you, do so anyway, Schillinger suggests. Simply tell the doctor you want to make sure you understand, and then use your own words to relate what you think you were told.
5. “This is risky.”
Just about every drug and surgical procedure poses risks to the patient. Even something as seemingly benign as a course of antibiotics can cause diarrhea, yeast infections, allergic reactions, and other unpleasant and potentially dangerous side effects.
Yet some doctors understate the risks posed by the treatments they recommend.
Similarly, when doctors order X-rays, cardiac catheterizations, and other diagnostic tests, they sometimes fail to explain the risks. These include the risk of a false-positive (indicating a medical problem that doesn’t exist), which can lead to needless anxiety and to even more tests.
”Doctors are very good at talking about benefits,” says Newman. “They’re not good at talking about risks.”
What to do: Ask the doctor to explain any risks posed by a recommended test or treatment.
6. "I dont have anything to offer you."
Some doctors may paint an overly optimistic picture when talking about life-threatening ailments, Newman says. Some encourage patients to undergo debilitating treatments when these are almost certain to fail. Even when death is imminent, Newman says, many doctors put off talking about it out of a sense of failure.
“Giving bad news makes us feel bad,” says Arnold. “Sometimes we feel inadequate and worry that our patients will blame us.” If you’d like the doctor not to pull punches when talking about your prognosis, say so, says Frankel.
What to do: Newman recommends talking to your doctor about end-of-life care while you’re still healthy. Do you want doctors to do everything possible to save your life, even if there’s little chance of survival? Or would you prefer to forgo treatment likely to keep you on a ventilator and a feeding tube? Either way, let your doctor know.
In addition to talking with your doctor, it’s prudent to draw up an advance directive that allows you to detail your wishes regarding end-of-life care and designate a health-care proxy (someone to direct your care in the event that you are incapacitated). And of course, communicate your wishes to your loved ones.
Patients often have trouble talking to their doctors. It can be hard to get the words out when the topic is emotionally charged or one you’d never bring up in polite conversation.
And for various reasons, sometimes including their own embarrassment, doctors may find it hard to bring up certain topics -- and that can compromise the care their patients receive.
“Communication is an inexact science,” says Bob Arnold, MD, professor of medicine at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and director of its Institute for Doctor-Patient Communication. “Communication between doctors and patients is especially hard because the stakes are high and there are strong emotions on both sides.”
Some doctors are better than others at broaching touchy topics. Here are six things some doctors leave unsaid -- and what to do about it.
1. “You need to do something about that.”
Doctors are often reluctant to bring up a topic that might cause offense, even when there are pressing medical reasons to discuss it. A patient’s weight problem is one topic doctors sometimes shy away from. Others include whether the patient is depressed, smokes, abuses drugs or alcohol, has marital or sexual problems, or is experiencing financial hardship.
What to do: If your doctor fails to broach a topic that might be relevant to your health, bring it up yourself.
“Patients often think, ‘I will tell the doctor about this only if he or she asks me,’” says Richard M. Frankel, PhD, professor of medicine at Indiana University School of Medicine in Indianapolis. “They should be thinking, ‘Am I telling the doctor everything that I ought to be telling him or her?”
2. “You don’t need that drug.”
Direct-to-consumer pharmaceutical ads can be pretty effective at convincing patients that they need a particular medication (drugs to treat depression, diabetes, or erectile dysfunction are among the most heavily advertised) -- and even doctors can be swayed by these ads, notes David H. Newman, MD, director of clinical research in the emergency department at St. Luke’s Roosevelt Hospital Center in New York and the author of Hippocrates’ Shadow. And when asked for a prescription, some doctors find it hard to say no--even when the patient doesn’t really need that particular drug.
Why is that? Ultimately, medical practices are businesses, and doctors sometimes fear that turning down a request for a drug could leave the “customer” feeling disappointed. “Doctors are terrible at saying ‘no,’” Newman says.
What to do: Newman says there’s nothing wrong with asking the doctor ifmedication might be helpful. But it’s a mistake to push a doctor to write you a prescription. “It can be dangerous to ask for things,” Newman says.
3. “I don’t know what’s going on.”
For all the advances in medical care, many ailments remain hard to diagnose and treat.
Back pain is one. Doctors are sometimes quick to blame it on a specific anatomical cause -- for instance, muscle strain or a bulging spinal disk -- even though most back pain is of unknown origin.
Doctors are sometimes understandably reluctant to admit uncertainty. Some are so fearful of looking ignorant or incompetent that they act as if they know what’s causing a particular symptom even when they don’t. When this happens, they tend to order tests and treatments that are likely to prove needless.
What to do: How do you avoid the rush to possibly inappropriate care? Anytime a doctor suggests a test or treatment, ask questions. What will happen if you don’t get that test or treatment? How much will you benefit if you do? Don’t consent to the intervention until all your questions are answered. “You have to keep probing to know whether what the doctor is recommending is really supported by science,” Newman says.
4. “I’m not sure you got what I said.”
Doctors sometimes worry that what they tell a patient goes in one ear and out the other. Unfortunately, that’s often the case. On average, studies suggest, patients grasp only about half of what doctors tell them.
Yet the fault sometimes lies not with the patient’s inattention, but the doctor’s poor communication skills.
“Physicians tend to deliver information in long, dense mini-lectures,” says Debra Roter, DrPH, professor of health, behavior, and society at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore and the author of Doctors Talking with Patients/Patients Talking with Doctors: Improving Communication in Medical Visits. “They’ll say things like, “Let me explain to you the function of the pancreas” when what the patient wants to know what a diagnosis of diabetes means in practical terms.
To avoid misunderstanding, doctors could initiate a back-and-forth discussion with their patients. But not all do.
“Doctors are not good about assessing the patient’s understanding of our explanations,” says Dean Schillinger, MD, professor of medicine at the University of California at San Francisco. “We’re infamous for saying, ‘Are you clear about what I’ve told you?’ What we should be doing is asking patients to restate what we’ve told them.”
What to do: At the end of your appointment, if your doctor doesnt ask you to recap what theyve told you, do so anyway, Schillinger suggests. Simply tell the doctor you want to make sure you understand, and then use your own words to relate what you think you were told.
5. “This is risky.”
Just about every drug and surgical procedure poses risks to the patient. Even something as seemingly benign as a course of antibiotics can cause diarrhea, yeast infections, allergic reactions, and other unpleasant and potentially dangerous side effects.
Yet some doctors understate the risks posed by the treatments they recommend.
Similarly, when doctors order X-rays, cardiac catheterizations, and other diagnostic tests, they sometimes fail to explain the risks. These include the risk of a false-positive (indicating a medical problem that doesn’t exist), which can lead to needless anxiety and to even more tests.
”Doctors are very good at talking about benefits,” says Newman. “They’re not good at talking about risks.”
What to do: Ask the doctor to explain any risks posed by a recommended test or treatment.
6. "I dont have anything to offer you."
Some doctors may paint an overly optimistic picture when talking about life-threatening ailments, Newman says. Some encourage patients to undergo debilitating treatments when these are almost certain to fail. Even when death is imminent, Newman says, many doctors put off talking about it out of a sense of failure.
“Giving bad news makes us feel bad,” says Arnold. “Sometimes we feel inadequate and worry that our patients will blame us.” If you’d like the doctor not to pull punches when talking about your prognosis, say so, says Frankel.
What to do: Newman recommends talking to your doctor about end-of-life care while you’re still healthy. Do you want doctors to do everything possible to save your life, even if there’s little chance of survival? Or would you prefer to forgo treatment likely to keep you on a ventilator and a feeding tube? Either way, let your doctor know.
In addition to talking with your doctor, it’s prudent to draw up an advance directive that allows you to detail your wishes regarding end-of-life care and designate a health-care proxy (someone to direct your care in the event that you are incapacitated). And of course, communicate your wishes to your loved ones.
Health Benefits of Aspirin Updated
Review of Daily Aspirin Dosage Highlights Concerns About Side Effects
Aspirin for Primary Prevention in Men When Cancer Mortality Benefit Added
Aspirin May Lower Melanoma Risk
Aspirin use = lower risk of death from chronic liver disease
Aspirin blocks tumor growth in some colorectal cancer
Aspirin may decrease risk of aggressive form of ovarian cancer
Aspirin May Slow Brain Decline
Aspirin use and the risk of prostate cancer mortality
Study: daily aspirin linked to lower cancer mortality
Aspirin use responsible for a 57 percent reduction in the risk of prostate cancer death
Aspirin and omega-3 fatty acids work together to fight inflammation
Statin and Aspirin Use Linked to Improved Survival in Women with Endometrial Cancer
Regular use of low-dose aspirin may prevent the progression of breast cancer
Aspirin reduces risk of Barretts esophagus & cancer
Aspirin before heart surgery reduces the risk of post-operative acute kidney failure
Aspirin May Guard Against Skin Cancer
Colon Cancer Survival Improves With Aspirin
Aspirins potential role in reducing the risk of cancer death
Why Dont More Women Take a Daily Aspirin to Prevent Heart Disease?
Aspirin: High or Low Dose? No significant difference.
Aspirin lowers trans fat-related stroke risk in older women
Regular aspirin intake halves hereditary cancer risk
Higher daily dose of aspirin prevents heart attacks
Aspirin reduces the risk of cancer recurrence in prostate cancer patients
Aspirin may lower the risk of pancreatic cancer
Daily Aspirin at Low Doses Reduces Cancer Deaths
Low dose of aspirin wards off bowel cancer
The benefits of aspirin treatment significantly outweigh the risk of a major hemorrhage
Aspirin use lowers breast & ovarian cancer risk
Breast Cancer Patients Who Take Aspirin Reduced Risk of Metastasis and Death by Half
Aspirin can reduce risk of Alzheimers disease
Aspirin at night = significant reductions in blood pressure
Aspirin may reduce risk of breast cancer
Aspirin can prevent liver damage that afflicts millions, Yale study finds
Using Aspirin to Prevent Heart Attack Or Stroke - U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Recommendations
Aspirin Improves Survival in Women with Stable Heart Disease, According to WHI Study
Benefits of aspirin for treating osteoporosis
Aspirin reduces the risk of colorectal cancer.
Aspirin Better Heart Treatment for Men than Women
Aspirin Fights Cancer
Long-term aspirin = reduced risk of dying in women
Aspirin saves lives of cancer patients suffering heart attacks, despite fears of bleeding
Low-dose aspirin offers lower chance of asthma
Researchers at Warwick Medical School have published the most comprehensive review of the benefits and risks of a daily dose of prophylactic aspirin and warn that greater understanding of side effects is needed.
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The possible benefits of a daily dose have been promoted as a primary prevention for people who are currently free of, but at risk of developing, cardiovascular disease or colorectal cancer.
However, any such benefit needs to be balanced alongside a fuller understanding of the potentially harmful side effects such as bleeding and gastrointestinal problems.
The paper, published by the National Institute for Health Research Health Technology Assessment (NIHR HTA) Programme, reviews the wealth of available randomised controlled trials (RCTs), systematic reviews and meta-analyses, allowing the team from Warwick Evidence to quantify those relative benefits and risks.
The reported benefits of taking aspirin each day ranged from 10% reduction in major cardiovascular events to a 15% drop in total coronary heart disease. In real terms, that would ultimately mean 33-46 fewer deaths per 100,000 patients taking the treatment.
There was also evidence of a reported reduction in incidents of colorectal cancer, which showed from approximately five years after the start of treatment. This would equate to 34 fewer deaths from colorectal cancer per 100,000 patients.
The adverse effects of aspirin were also noted with a 37% increase in gastrointestinal bleeding (an extra 68-117 occurrences per 100,000 patients) and between a 32%-38% increase in the likelihood of a haemorrhagic stroke (an extra 8-10 occurrences per 100,000 patients).
Aspirin for Primary Prevention in Men When Cancer Mortality Benefit Added
A research team, including UNC scientists, reports that including the positive effect of aspirin on cancer mortality influences the threshold for prescribing aspirin for primary prevention in men. The benefit of aspirin for cancer mortality prevention would help offset the risks and thus lower the age and increase the number of men for whom aspirin is recommended.
Aspirin May Lower Melanoma Risk
Overall, women who used aspirin had a 21 percent lower risk of melanoma relative to non-users. Each incremental increase in duration of aspirin use (less than one year of use, one to four years of use, and five or more years of use) was associated with an 11 percent lower risk of melanoma. Thus, women who used aspirin for five or more years had a 30 percent lower melanoma risk than women who did not use aspirin. The researchers controlled for differences in pigmentation, tanning practices, sunscreen use, and other factors that may affect skin cancer risk.Aspirin Every Other Day May Lower Womens Colon Cancer Risk
Taking a low-dose aspirin every other day may reduce the risk of colorectal cancer, according to a study that focused on nearly 40,000 women aged 45 and older.
The protection does seem to take some time to surface, said researcher Nancy Cook, a professor of medicine at Brigham and Womens Hospital and Harvard Medical School. "After 10 years, we started to see an effect," she noted.
"After 18 years of follow-up, we saw a 20 percent reduction in colon cancer over the whole time period," she said. When they looked at the 10-to-18 year mark, the reduction was 42 percent, she said.
Aspirin use = lower risk of death from chronic liver disease
Aspirin use is associated with a decreased risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma and death from chronic liver disease (CLD), according to a study published November 28, 2012 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common type of primary liver cancer, occurs mainly among patients with CLD.
Study participants who used aspirin had a 41% reduced risk of HCC and a 45% reduced risk of death from CLD, whereas those who used non-aspirin NSAIDs experienced a 26% reduced risk of CLD mortality but no reduced risk of HCC.
Aspirin blocks tumor growth in some colorectal cancer
Aspirin has the potential to block tumor growth in certain patients with colorectal cancer, according to an editorial in the Oct. 25, 2012 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine by a University of Alabama at Birmingham oncologist. In a study that appears in the same issue, researchers examined the use of aspirin in the treatment outcomes of patients with colorectal cancer and a certain gene mutation. The authors found that the use of aspirin after diagnosis in patients with the gene mutation was associated with a 46 percent reduction in overall mortality and an 82 percent reduction in colorectal cancer-specific mortality.
Aspirin may decrease risk of aggressive form of ovarian cancer
Aspirin May Slow Brain Decline
Aspirin use and the risk of prostate cancer mortality
Study: daily aspirin linked to lower cancer mortality
For the current study, American Cancer Society researchers led by Eric J. Jacobs, Ph.D., analyzed information from 100,139 predominantly elderly participants in the Cancer Prevention Study II Nutrition Cohort who reported aspirin use on questionnaires, did not have cancer at the start of the study, and were followed for up to 11 years. They found daily aspirin use was associated with an estimated 16% lower overall risk of cancer mortality, both among people who reported taking aspirin daily for at least five years and among those who reported shorter term daily use. The lower overall cancer mortality was driven by about 40% lower mortality from cancers of the gastrointestinal tract (such as esophageal, stomach, and colorectal cancer) and about 12% lower mortality from cancers outside the gastrointestinal tract.
The reduction in cancer mortality observed in the current study is considerably smaller than the 37% reduction reported in the recent pooled analysis of randomized trials. The authors note that their study was observational, not randomized, and therefore could have underestimated or overestimated potential effects on cancer mortality if participants who took aspirin daily had different underlying risk factors for fatal cancer than those who did not. However, the studys large size is a strength in determining how much daily aspirin use might lower cancer mortality
Aspirin use responsible for a 57 percent reduction in the risk of prostate cancer death
Aspirin and omega-3 fatty acids work together to fight inflammation
Statin and Aspirin Use Linked to Improved Survival in Women with Endometrial Cancer
Regular use of low-dose aspirin may prevent the progression of breast cancer
Aspirin reduces risk of Barretts esophagus & cancer
Aspirin use appears to reduce the risk of Barretts esophagus (BE), the largest known risk factor for esophageal cancer, according to a new study (July, 2012) in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, the official clinical practice journal of the American Gastroenterological Association. Those taking aspirin were 44 percent less likely to have BE.
Aspirin before heart surgery reduces the risk of post-operative acute kidney failure
Aspirin May Guard Against Skin Cancer
Colon Cancer Survival Improves With Aspirin
Colon cancer patients who take aspirin regularly shortly after diagnosis tend to live longer, researchers from Leiden University Medical Centre, the Netherlands, reported in the British Journal of Cancer. (April, 2012) Those taking a daily dose of aspirin for nine months or more after diagnosis had a 30% lower risk of cancer-related death compared to non-users. Even taking aspirin regularly for any length of time reduced the risk of death (by 23%).
Aspirins potential role in reducing the risk of cancer death
A new report by American Cancer Society scientists says new data showing aspirins potential role in reducing the risk of cancer death bring us considerably closer to the time when cancer prevention can be included in clinical guidelines for the use of aspirin in preventive care. The report, published early online in Nature Reviews Clinical Oncology (April, 2012), says even a 10% reduction in overall cancer incidence beginning during the first 10 years of treatment could tip the balance of benefits and risks favorably in average-risk populations.
Current guidelines for the use of aspirin in disease prevention consider only its cardiovascular benefits, weighed against the potential harm from aspirin-induced bleeding. While daily aspirin use has also been convincingly shown to reduce the risk of colorectal cancer and recurrence of adenomatous polyps, these benefits alone do not outweigh harms from aspirin-induced bleeding in average-risk populations. But recently published secondary analyses of cardiovascular trials have provided the first randomized evidence that daily aspirin use may also reduce the incidence of all cancers combined, even at low doses (75-100 mg daily).
The report says recently published meta-analyses of results from randomized trials of daily aspirin treatment to prevent vascular events have provided provocative evidence that daily aspirin at doses of 75 mg and above might lower both overall cancer incidence and overall cancer mortality.
Why Dont More Women Take a Daily Aspirin to Prevent Heart Disease?
Heart disease is the leading cause of death among women, and evidence-based national guidelines promote the use of daily aspirin for women at increased risk for cardiovascular disease. However, less than half of the women who could benefit from aspirin are taking it,.
Aspirin: High or Low Dose? No significant difference.
Aspirin lowers trans fat-related stroke risk in older women
Older women whose diets include a substantial amount of trans fats are more likely than their counterparts to suffer an ischemic stroke, a new study shows.
However, the risk of stroke associated with trans fat intake was lower among women taking aspirin, according to the findings from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill researchers.
The study of 87,025 generally healthy postmenopausal women aged 50 to 79 found that those whose diets contained the largest amounts of trans fats were 39 percent more likely to have an ischemic stroke (clots in vessels supplying blood to the brain) than women who ate the least amount of trans fat. The risk was even more pronounced among non-users of aspirin: those who ate the most trans fat were 66 percent more likely to have an ischemic stroke than females who ate the least trans fat.
However, among women who took aspirin over an extended period of time, researchers found no association between trans fat consumption and stroke risk – suggesting that regular aspirin use may counteract trans fat intakes adverse effect on stroke risk among women.
Regular aspirin intake halves hereditary cancer risk
Higher daily dose of aspirin prevents heart attacks
Using information from diabetic patients in these studies, Simpson discovered that patients with previous cardiac episodes who were taking a low dose of aspirin daily had very little benefit in terms of prevention of a second heart attack or a decreased risk of mortality. However, in patients taking higher doses of aspirin, the risk of a repeat heart attack and/or death was significantly lower.
Aspirin reduces the risk of cancer recurrence in prostate cancer patients
After 10-years from completion of treatment, 31% of the men who took aspirin developed recurrence compared with 39% of non-aspirin users. There was also a 2% improvement in 10-year prostate cancer related survival associated with aspirin use
Aspirin may lower the risk of pancreatic cancer
Results showed that people who took aspirin at least one day during a month had a 26 percent decreased risk of pancreatic cancer compared to those who did not take aspirin regularly. The effect was also found for those who took low-dose aspirin for heart disease prevention at 35 percent lower risk.
Daily Aspirin at Low Doses Reduces Cancer Deaths
A daily low dose of aspirin significantly reduces the number of deaths from a whole range of common cancers, an Oxford University study has found.
The 20% drop in all cancer deaths seen in the study adds new evidence to the debate about whether otherwise healthy people in their 40s and 50s should consider taking a low dose of aspirin each day.
Aspirin is already known to be beneficial for those at high risk of heart disease. But among healthy people, the benefit in lower chances of heart problems only marginally outweighs the small risk of stomach bleeds.
The large size of the effect now seen in preventing cancer deaths may begin to tip the balance in favour of taking aspirin.
The results, published in the Lancet, showed that aspirin reduced death due to any cancer by around 20% during the trials. But the benefits of aspirin only became apparent after taking the drug for 5 years or more, suggesting aspirin works by slowing or preventing the early stages of the disease so that the effect is only seen much later.
After 5 years of taking aspirin, the data from patients in the trials showed that death rates were 34% less for all cancers and as much as 54% less for gastrointestinal cancers, such as oesophagus, stomach, bowel, pancreas and liver cancers.
The researchers also wanted to determine if the benefits from aspirin continued over time. By using cancer registries and death records, they were able to follow up what had happened to participants in three of the trials.
They showed that risk of cancer death over a period of 20 years remained 20% lower for all solid cancers among those who had taken aspirin (even though they would have been unlikely to have continued taking aspirin after the trials finished), and 35% lower for gastrointestinal cancers.
It took about 5 years to see a benefit in taking aspirin for oesophagus, pancreatic, brain, and lung cancer; about 10 years for stomach and bowel cancer; and about 15 years for prostate cancer. The 20-year risk of death was reduced by about 10% for prostate cancer, 30% for lung cancer, 40% for bowel cancer and 60% for oesophagus cancer.
Low dose of aspirin wards off bowel cancer
Even the lowest possible dose of aspirin (75 mg) can ward off bowel cancer, if taken regularly, finds research published online in the journal Gut.
After a year, taking daily low dose aspirin was associated with a 22% reduced risk of developing bowel cancer, and the magnitude of the reduction in risk was cumulative, rising to 30% after five years.
The benefits of aspirin treatment significantly outweigh the risk of a major hemorrhage
The American Heart Association:
“Background— Low-dose aspirin is an important therapeutic option in the secondary prevention of myocardial infarction (MI) and ischemic stroke, especially in light of its unique cost-effectiveness and widespread availability. In addition, based on the results of a number of large studies, aspirin is also widely used in the primary prevention of MI. This review provides an update of the available data to offer greater clarity regarding the risks of aspirin with respect to hemorrhagic stroke, as well as insights regarding patient selection to minimize the risk of this complication.
Summary of Review— In the secondary prevention of cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, and ischemic events, the evidence supports that the benefits of aspirin treatment significantly outweigh the risk of a major hemorrhage. The evidence from primary prevention of MI studies, including that from the recent Women’s Health Study evaluation of aspirin use in healthy women, demonstrate that the increased risk for hemorrhagic stroke is small, is comparable to the secondary prevention studies, and fails to achieve statistical significance. A reasonable estimate of the risk of hemorrhagic stroke associated with the use of aspirin in primary prevention patients is 0.2 events per 1000 patient-years, which is comparable to estimates of the risk associated with the use of aspirin in secondary prevention patients.
Conclusions— When considering whether aspirin is appropriate, the absolute therapeutic cardiovascular benefits of aspirin must be balanced with the possible risks associated with its use, with the most serious being hemorrhagic stroke.”
Another study (http://www.ynhh.org/healthlink/neurology/neurology_08_06.html ) had revealed that the 100 mg dose of aspirin every other day caused a 24 percent drop in the risk of ischemic stroke, which is the more common kind of stroke, and an insignificant increase in the risk of hemorrhagic stroke, hence the overall reduction in stroke risk of 17 percent. .
Aspirin use lowers breast & ovarian cancer risk
Breast Cancer Patients Who Take Aspirin Reduced Risk of Metastasis and Death by Half
An analysis of data from the Nurse’s Health Study, a large, ongoing prospective observational study, shows that women who have completed treatment for early-stage breast cancer and who take aspirin have a nearly 50 percent reduced risk of breast cancer death and a similar reduction in the risk of metastasis.
Aspirin can reduce risk of Alzheimers disease
Different types of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen, naproxen, and aspirin, appear to be equally effective in lowering the risk of Alzheimer’s disease, according to the largest study of its kind published in the May 28, 2008, online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. Experts have debated whether a certain group of NSAIDs that includes ibuprofen may be more beneficial than another group that includes naproxen and aspirin.
Using information from six different studies, researchers examined data on NSAID use in 13,499 people without dementia. Over the course of these six studies, 820 participants developed Alzheimer’s disease.
Researchers found that people who used NSAIDs had 23 percent lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease compared to those who never used NSAIDs. The risk reduction did not appear to depend upon the type of NSAID taken.
Aspirin at night = significant reductions in blood pressure
Data unveiled at the American Society of Hypertensions Twenty Third Annual Scientific Meeting and Exposition (ASH 2008) revealed for the first time that people with prehypertension who are treated with aspirin may experience significant reductions in blood pressure—but only if they take the pill before bedtime, and not when they wake up in the morning.
Aspirin may reduce risk of breast cancer
Aspirin can prevent liver damage that afflicts millions, Yale study finds
Using Aspirin to Prevent Heart Attack Or Stroke - U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Recommendations
Patients and clinicians should consider risk factors-- including age, gender, diabetes, blood pressure, cholesterol levels, smoking and risk of gastrointestinal bleeding-- before deciding whether to use aspirin to prevent heart attacks or strokes, according to new recommendations from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. These recommendations do not apply to people who have already had a heart attack or stroke.
• The USPSTF recommends the use of aspirin for men age 45 to 79 years when the potential benefit due to a reduction in myocardial infarctions outweighs the potential harm due to an increase in gastrointestinal hemorrhage.
• The USPSTF recommends the use of aspirin for women age 55 to 79 years when the potential benefit of a reduction in ischemic strokes outweighs the potential harm of an increase in gastrointestinal hemorrhage.
• The USPSTF concludes that the current evidence is insufficient to assess the balance of benefits and harms of aspirin for cardiovascular disease prevention in men and women 80 years or older.
• The USPSTF recommends against the use of aspirin for stroke prevention in women younger than 55 years and for myocardial infarction prevention in men younger than 45 years.
Aspirin Improves Survival in Women with Stable Heart Disease, According to WHI Study
Compared to those who did not report taking aspirin, regular aspirin users had a 25 percent lower risk of death from cardiovascular disease and a 14 percent lower risk of death from any cause. There were no significant differences in death rates or other outcomes between women taking 81 mg of aspirin compared to those taking 325 mg.
Benefits of aspirin for treating osteoporosis
Aspirin reduces the risk of colorectal cancer.
Aspirin Better Heart Treatment for Men than Women
Aspirin therapy is a cornerstone in managing heart disease because it inhibits blood clotting. Aspirin therapy can reduce the risk of a nonfatal heart attack or stroke by about 23 percent, and an estimated 20 million men and women take a low dose of aspirin (81-325 mg daily) to control heart disease.
Aspirin Fights Cancer
A daily dose of adult-strength aspirin may modestly reduce cancer risk in populations with high rates of colorectal, prostate, and breast cancer if taken for at least five years.
Eric Jacobs, Ph.D., of the American Cancer Society in Atlanta, and colleagues looked for associations between long-term daily aspirin use (at least 325mg/day) and cancer incidence in a group of nearly 70,000 men and 76,000 women. Aspirin use was determined by a questionnaire.
During the 12 year follow-up, nearly 18,000 men and women in the study were diagnosed with cancer. The researchers found that daily use of adult-strength aspirin for at least five years was associated with an approximately 15 percent relative reduction in overall cancer risk, though the decrease was not statistically significant in women. Additionally, aspirin use was associated with a 20 percent reduced risk of prostate cancer and a 30 percent reduced risk of colorectal cancer in men and women, compared to people who didnt take aspirin. There was no effect on risk in other cancers examined—lung cancer, bladder cancer, melanoma, leukemia, non-Hodgkins lymphoma, pancreatic cancer, and kidney cancer. Aspirin use for less than five years was not associated with decreased cancer risk.
Long-term aspirin = reduced risk of dying in women
Women who reported using aspirin currently had a 25 percent lower risk of death from any cause than women who never used aspirin regularly. The association was stronger for death from cardiovascular disease (women who used aspirin had a 38 percent lower risk) than for death from cancer (women who used aspirin had a 12 percent lower risk).
"Use of aspirin for one to five years was associated with significant reductions in cardiovascular mortality," the authors write. "In contrast, a significant reduction in risk of cancer deaths was not observed until after 10 years of aspirin use. The benefit associated with aspirin was confined to low and moderate doses and was significantly greater in older participants and those with more cardiac risk factors."
Aspirin saves lives of cancer patients suffering heart attacks, despite fears of bleeding
Heart attack patients with low platelets who did not receive aspirin had a seven-day survival rate of 6 percent, compared with 90 percent survival in those who received aspirin. Dr. Durand notes that there were no severe bleeding complications in patients who used aspirin. Conversely, patients with low platelet counts who formed a blood clot and were not exposed to aspirin died.
The beneficial effect of aspirin also was seen in patients with normal platelet counts. Seven-day survival was 88 percent in aspirin-treated patients as compared to 45 percent in patients who did not receive aspirin, the researchers found.
Durand observed that these deaths rates are abnormally high. "In the non-cancer patient with acute coronary syndrome anywhere in the United States, an expected seven-day mortality is less than 1 percent," he says.
Low-dose aspirin offers lower chance of asthma
In a large, randomized, placebo-controlled study of 22,071 healthy male physicians, taking a low-dose of aspirin every other day lowered the risk of receiving an initial asthma diagnosis by 22 percent.
Sunday, December 22, 2013
Saturday Throwback Cheap Healthy Good’s Ultimate Guide to Kitchen Equipment
Every Saturday, we post a piece from the CHG archives, which are coincidentally located in the same warehouse where Indiana Jones stashed the Ark of the Covenant. This articles comes from November 2007.
One of the most popular, frequently-posted-on topics in all of cooking blogdom is Kitchen Equipment. Everybody (including me) wants to know: what should we buy? In what sizes? Why would anyone need a freezer thermometer, unless he’s trying to preserve a body? (Note to self: maybe cut back on Dexter a bit.)
The problem is, there are oodles of clashing opinions, because everybody comes from different culinary perspectives. In other words, equipment suggestions from a pro chef will be way out of step with a mom of 27, and her advice might be totally useless for a prison lunch lady (who, I assume, is big on gruel).
With that in mind, I took an all-encompassing approach to creating this CHG guide. First, I gathered nine different lists from wildly diverse sources. Then, I counted how many times a particular piece of gear was mentioned across the samplings, and finally, compiled the findings into one great big master list. My references consisted of:
(Coming next week: Where can I get this stuff on the cheap, without sacrificing quality?)
THE ABSOLUTE BASICS
(MENTIONED SEVEN TIMES OR MORE)
Cake pans (8” or 9” round or square)
Can opener
Casserole dish (9x13 or 8x8)
Chef’s knife (8” or 10”)
Colander
Cookie sheet
Cutting board
Dutch oven, stock, or large pot (8+ quarts)
Measuring cups
Measuring spoons
Mixing bowl(s)
Pairing knife
Roasting pan (9x13 or larger)
Saucepan (medium – 2-4 quarts)
Saucepan (small 1-cup to 1.5 quarts)
Serrated knife
Skillet (10” and 12” mentioned most often)
Spatulas (Metal, Rubber, and Flipper-style)
Vegetable peeler
Whisk
Wooden spoon
HIGHLY USEFUL STUFF
(MENTIONED FIVE OR SIX TIMES)
Blender (Blender/food processor combo)
Box grater
Glass liquid measures (2+ cups)
Hand mixer
Kitchen shears
Microplane grater
Pie pan
Rolling pin
Tongs
NICE TO HAVE
(MENTIONED THREE OR FOUR TIMES)
Bottle opener
Cast iron skillet
Cooling rack
Knife sharpener
Ladle
Loaf pan
Mandoline
Meat thermometer
Muffin tin
Pastry brush
Pepper grinder
Salad spinner
Slotted spoon
Steamer
Timer
OCCASIONALLY CONVENIENT
(MENTIONED TWICE)
Bulb baster
Carving/slicing knife
Coffee/spice grinder
Coffeepot
Corkscrew
Juicer
Kettle
Masher
Melon baller
Microwave
Nutcracker
Pressure cooker
Rotary eggbeater
Sifter
Skimmer
Slow cooker
Spoons
Toaster or toaster oven
DON’T WASTE YOUR MONEY
(MENTIONED ONCE OR NOT AT ALL)
Apple corer
Boning knife
Bread machine
Butcher knife (I took this to mean cleaver.)
Candy/frying thermometer
Citrus press
Cooking fork
Cotton flour-sack towels
Countertop convection oven
Custard cups
Double boiler
Fondue set (pretty, but useless)
Food scale
Freezer thermometer
Funnel
Garlic press
Griddle
Jar opener
Mortar and pestle
Oven thermometer
Pastry blender
Removable-bottom tart pan
Rice cooker
Ridged grill pan
Ruler
Skewers
Springform pan
Wok
Vegetable brush
(All photos courtesy of Flickr.)
One of the most popular, frequently-posted-on topics in all of cooking blogdom is Kitchen Equipment. Everybody (including me) wants to know: what should we buy? In what sizes? Why would anyone need a freezer thermometer, unless he’s trying to preserve a body? (Note to self: maybe cut back on Dexter a bit.)
The problem is, there are oodles of clashing opinions, because everybody comes from different culinary perspectives. In other words, equipment suggestions from a pro chef will be way out of step with a mom of 27, and her advice might be totally useless for a prison lunch lady (who, I assume, is big on gruel).
With that in mind, I took an all-encompassing approach to creating this CHG guide. First, I gathered nine different lists from wildly diverse sources. Then, I counted how many times a particular piece of gear was mentioned across the samplings, and finally, compiled the findings into one great big master list. My references consisted of:
- Two bloggers: me, Chief Family Officer
- Two newspapers: Houston Chronicle, San Diego Union Tribune
- Two experts: Martha Stewart (via Boston Globe), Mark Bittman (via New York Times)
- One mega-site: About.com
- One almanac: Old Farmer’s Almanac
- One food network: er…Food Network
(Coming next week: Where can I get this stuff on the cheap, without sacrificing quality?)
THE ABSOLUTE BASICS
(MENTIONED SEVEN TIMES OR MORE)
Cake pans (8” or 9” round or square)
Can opener
Casserole dish (9x13 or 8x8)
Chef’s knife (8” or 10”)
Colander
Cookie sheet
Cutting board
Dutch oven, stock, or large pot (8+ quarts)
Measuring cups
Measuring spoons
Mixing bowl(s)
Pairing knife
Roasting pan (9x13 or larger)
Saucepan (medium – 2-4 quarts)
Saucepan (small 1-cup to 1.5 quarts)
Serrated knife
Skillet (10” and 12” mentioned most often)
Spatulas (Metal, Rubber, and Flipper-style)
Vegetable peeler
Whisk
Wooden spoon
HIGHLY USEFUL STUFF
(MENTIONED FIVE OR SIX TIMES)
Blender (Blender/food processor combo)
Box grater
Glass liquid measures (2+ cups)
Hand mixer
Kitchen shears
Microplane grater
Pie pan
Rolling pin
Tongs
NICE TO HAVE
(MENTIONED THREE OR FOUR TIMES)
Bottle opener
Cast iron skillet
Cooling rack
Knife sharpener
Ladle
Loaf pan
Mandoline
Meat thermometer
Muffin tin
Pastry brush
Pepper grinder
Salad spinner
Slotted spoon
Steamer
Timer
OCCASIONALLY CONVENIENT
(MENTIONED TWICE)
Bulb baster
Carving/slicing knife
Coffee/spice grinder
Coffeepot
Corkscrew
Juicer
Kettle
Masher
Melon baller
Microwave
Nutcracker
Pressure cooker
Rotary eggbeater
Sifter
Skimmer
Slow cooker
Spoons
Toaster or toaster oven
DON’T WASTE YOUR MONEY
(MENTIONED ONCE OR NOT AT ALL)
Apple corer
Boning knife
Bread machine
Butcher knife (I took this to mean cleaver.)
Candy/frying thermometer
Citrus press
Cooking fork
Cotton flour-sack towels
Countertop convection oven
Custard cups
Double boiler
Fondue set (pretty, but useless)
Food scale
Freezer thermometer
Funnel
Garlic press
Griddle
Jar opener
Mortar and pestle
Oven thermometer
Pastry blender
Removable-bottom tart pan
Rice cooker
Ridged grill pan
Ruler
Skewers
Springform pan
Wok
Vegetable brush
(All photos courtesy of Flickr.)
Whats Causing My Chest Pain
Chest pain. The first thing you may think of is heart attack. Certainly chest pain is not something to ignore. But you should know that it has many possible causes. In fact, as much as a quarter of the U.S. population experiences chest pain that is not related to the heart. Chest pain may also be caused by problems in your lungs, esophagus, muscles, ribs, or nerves, for example. Some of these conditions are serious and life threatening. Others are not. If you have unexplained chest pain, the only way to confirm its cause is to have a doctor evaluate you.
You may feel chest pain anywhere from your neck to your upper abdomen. Depending on its cause, chest pain may be:
Angina. A blockage in the heart blood vessels that reduces blood flow and oxygen to the heart, causing pain but not permanent damage to the heart. The chest pain may spread to your arm, shoulder, jaw, or back. It may feel like a pressure or squeezing sensation. Coming on the heels of exercise, excitement, or emotional distress, the chest pain from angina is relieved by rest.
Myocardial infarction (heart attack). This reduction in blood flow through heart blood vessels causes the death of heart muscle cells. Though similar to angina chest pain, a heart attack is usually a more severe, crushing pain and is not relieved by rest. Sweating, nausea, or severe weakness may accompany the pain.
Myocarditis. In addition to chest pain, this heart muscle inflammation may cause fever, fatigue, and trouble breathing. Although no blockage exists, myocarditis symptoms can resemble those of a heart attack.
Pericarditis. This is an inflammation or infection of the sac around the heart. It can cause pain similar to that caused by angina. However, it often causes a sharp, steady pain along the upper neck and shoulder muscle. Sometimes it gets worse when you breathe, swallow food, or lie on your back.
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Heart failure occurs when the heart muscle becomes thickened. This makes the heart work harder to pump blood. Along with chest pain, this type of cardiomyopathy may cause dizziness, lightheadedness, shortness of breath, and other symptoms.
Mitral valve prolapse. Mitral valve prolapse is a condition in which a valve in the heart fails to close properly. A variety of symptoms have been associated with mitral valve prolapse, including chest pain, palpitations, and dizziness.
Coronary artery dissection. A variety of factors can cause this rare condition, which results when a tear develops in the coronary artery. It may cause a sudden severe pain with a tearing or ripping sensation that goes up into the neck, back, or abdomen.
Pleuritis. Also known as pleurisy, this condition is an inflammation or irritation of the lining of the lungs and chest. You likely feel a sharp pain when you breathe, cough, or sneeze. The most common causes of pleuritic chest pain are bacterial or viral infections, pulmonary embolism, and pneumothorax. Other less common causes include rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and cancer.
Pneumonia or lung abscess. These lung infections can cause pleuritic and other types of chest pain, such as a deep chest ache. Pneumonia often comes on suddenly, causing fever, chills, cough, and pus coughed up from the respiratory tract.
Pulmonary embolism. When a blood clot travels through the bloodstream and lodges in the lungs, this can cause acute pleuritis, trouble breathing, and a rapid heartbeat. It may also cause fever and shock. Pulmonary embolism is more likely following deep vein thrombosis or after being immobile for several days.
Pneumothorax. Often caused by an injury to the chest, pneumothorax occurs when a part of the lung collapses, releasing air into the chest cavity. This can also cause pain that gets worse when you breathe, as well as other symptoms, such as low blood pressure.
Pulmonary hypertension. With chest pain resembling that of angina, this abnormally high blood pressure in the lung arteries makes the right side of the heart work too hard.
Asthma. Causing shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing, and sometimes chest pain, asthma is an inflammatory disorder of the airways.
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Also known as acid reflux, GERD occurs when stomach contents move back into the throat. This may cause a sour taste in the mouth and a burning sensation in the chest or throat, known as heartburn. Factors that may trigger acid reflux include obesity, smoking, pregnancy, and spicy or fatty foods.
Esophageal contraction disorders. Uncoordinated muscle contractions (spasms), high-pressure contractions (nutcracker esophagus) are other problems in the esophagus that can cause chest pain.
Esophageal hypersensitivity. This occurs when the esophagus becomes very painful at the smallest change in pressure or exposure to acid. The cause of this sensitivity is unknown.
Esophageal rupture. A sudden, severe chest pain following vomiting or a procedure involving the esophagus may be the sign of a rupture in the esophagus.
Peptic ulcers. A vague recurring discomfort may be the result of these painful sores in the lining of the stomach or first part of the small intestine. More common in people who smoke or drink a lot of alcohol, the pain often gets better when you eat or take antacids.
Hiatal hernia. This common problem occurs when the top of the stomach pushes into the lower chest after eating. The pain tends to get worse when you lie down.
Pancreatitis. You may have pancreatitis if you have pain in the lower chest that is often worse when you lie flat and better when you lean forward.
Gallbladder problems. After eating a fatty meal, do you have a sensation of fullness or pain in your right lower chest area or the right upper side of your abdomen? If so, your chest pain may due to a gallbladder problem.
Rib problems. Pain from a rib fracture may worsen with deep breathing or coughing. It is often confined to one area and may feel sore when you press on it. The area where the ribs join the breastbone may also become inflamed.
Muscle strain. Even really hard coughing can injure or inflame the muscles and tendons between the ribs and cause chest pain. The pain tends to persist and it worsens with activity.
Shingles. Caused by the varicella zoster virus, shingles may prompt a sharp, band-like pain before a telltale rash appears several days later.
Call 911 if you have any of these symptoms along with chest pain:
You may feel chest pain anywhere from your neck to your upper abdomen. Depending on its cause, chest pain may be:
- Sharp
- Dull
- Burning
- Aching
- Stabbing
- A tight, squeezing, or crushing sensation
Chest Pain Causes: Heart Problems
Although not the only cause of chest pain, these heart problems are common causes:Angina. A blockage in the heart blood vessels that reduces blood flow and oxygen to the heart, causing pain but not permanent damage to the heart. The chest pain may spread to your arm, shoulder, jaw, or back. It may feel like a pressure or squeezing sensation. Coming on the heels of exercise, excitement, or emotional distress, the chest pain from angina is relieved by rest.
Myocardial infarction (heart attack). This reduction in blood flow through heart blood vessels causes the death of heart muscle cells. Though similar to angina chest pain, a heart attack is usually a more severe, crushing pain and is not relieved by rest. Sweating, nausea, or severe weakness may accompany the pain.
Myocarditis. In addition to chest pain, this heart muscle inflammation may cause fever, fatigue, and trouble breathing. Although no blockage exists, myocarditis symptoms can resemble those of a heart attack.
Pericarditis. This is an inflammation or infection of the sac around the heart. It can cause pain similar to that caused by angina. However, it often causes a sharp, steady pain along the upper neck and shoulder muscle. Sometimes it gets worse when you breathe, swallow food, or lie on your back.
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Heart failure occurs when the heart muscle becomes thickened. This makes the heart work harder to pump blood. Along with chest pain, this type of cardiomyopathy may cause dizziness, lightheadedness, shortness of breath, and other symptoms.
Mitral valve prolapse. Mitral valve prolapse is a condition in which a valve in the heart fails to close properly. A variety of symptoms have been associated with mitral valve prolapse, including chest pain, palpitations, and dizziness.
Coronary artery dissection. A variety of factors can cause this rare condition, which results when a tear develops in the coronary artery. It may cause a sudden severe pain with a tearing or ripping sensation that goes up into the neck, back, or abdomen.
Chest Pain Causes: Lung Problems
Problems with the lungs can cause a variety of types of chest pain. These are common causes of a pain in the chest:Pleuritis. Also known as pleurisy, this condition is an inflammation or irritation of the lining of the lungs and chest. You likely feel a sharp pain when you breathe, cough, or sneeze. The most common causes of pleuritic chest pain are bacterial or viral infections, pulmonary embolism, and pneumothorax. Other less common causes include rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and cancer.
Pneumonia or lung abscess. These lung infections can cause pleuritic and other types of chest pain, such as a deep chest ache. Pneumonia often comes on suddenly, causing fever, chills, cough, and pus coughed up from the respiratory tract.
Pulmonary embolism. When a blood clot travels through the bloodstream and lodges in the lungs, this can cause acute pleuritis, trouble breathing, and a rapid heartbeat. It may also cause fever and shock. Pulmonary embolism is more likely following deep vein thrombosis or after being immobile for several days.
Pneumothorax. Often caused by an injury to the chest, pneumothorax occurs when a part of the lung collapses, releasing air into the chest cavity. This can also cause pain that gets worse when you breathe, as well as other symptoms, such as low blood pressure.
Pulmonary hypertension. With chest pain resembling that of angina, this abnormally high blood pressure in the lung arteries makes the right side of the heart work too hard.
Asthma. Causing shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing, and sometimes chest pain, asthma is an inflammatory disorder of the airways.
Chest Pain Causes: Gastrointestinal Problems
Acid reflux is a very common cause of chest pain not related to the heart. Heart pain and heartburn from acid reflux feel similar partly because the heart and esophagus are located close to each other and share a nerve network. Other gastrointestinal problems can also cause chest pain.Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Also known as acid reflux, GERD occurs when stomach contents move back into the throat. This may cause a sour taste in the mouth and a burning sensation in the chest or throat, known as heartburn. Factors that may trigger acid reflux include obesity, smoking, pregnancy, and spicy or fatty foods.
Esophageal contraction disorders. Uncoordinated muscle contractions (spasms), high-pressure contractions (nutcracker esophagus) are other problems in the esophagus that can cause chest pain.
Esophageal hypersensitivity. This occurs when the esophagus becomes very painful at the smallest change in pressure or exposure to acid. The cause of this sensitivity is unknown.
Esophageal rupture. A sudden, severe chest pain following vomiting or a procedure involving the esophagus may be the sign of a rupture in the esophagus.
Peptic ulcers. A vague recurring discomfort may be the result of these painful sores in the lining of the stomach or first part of the small intestine. More common in people who smoke or drink a lot of alcohol, the pain often gets better when you eat or take antacids.
Hiatal hernia. This common problem occurs when the top of the stomach pushes into the lower chest after eating. The pain tends to get worse when you lie down.
Pancreatitis. You may have pancreatitis if you have pain in the lower chest that is often worse when you lie flat and better when you lean forward.
Gallbladder problems. After eating a fatty meal, do you have a sensation of fullness or pain in your right lower chest area or the right upper side of your abdomen? If so, your chest pain may due to a gallbladder problem.
Chest Pain Causes: Bone, Muscle, or Nerve Problems
Sometimes chest pain may result from overuse or an injury to the chest area from a fall or accident. Shingles can also cause nerve pain in the chest area.Rib problems. Pain from a rib fracture may worsen with deep breathing or coughing. It is often confined to one area and may feel sore when you press on it. The area where the ribs join the breastbone may also become inflamed.
Muscle strain. Even really hard coughing can injure or inflame the muscles and tendons between the ribs and cause chest pain. The pain tends to persist and it worsens with activity.
Shingles. Caused by the varicella zoster virus, shingles may prompt a sharp, band-like pain before a telltale rash appears several days later.
Other Potential Causes of Chest Pain
Another potential cause of chest pain is anxiety or panic attacks. Some associated symptoms can include dizziness, sensation of shortness of breath, palpitations, tingling sensations, and trembling.When to See the Doctor for Chest Pain
When in doubt, call your doctor about any chest pain you have, especially if it comes on suddenly or is not relieved by anti-inflammatories or other self-care steps, such as changing your diet.Call 911 if you have any of these symptoms along with chest pain:
- A sudden feeling of pressure, squeezing, tightness, or crushing under your breastbone, especially if it doesnt get better with rest.
- Chest pain that spreads to your jaw, left arm, or back.
- Sudden sharp chest pain with shortness of breath, especially after a long period of inactivity.
- Nausea, dizziness, rapid heart rate or rapid breathing, confusion, ashen color, or excessive sweating.
- Very low blood pressure or very low heart rate.
- Fever, chills, or coughing up yellow-green mucus.
- Problems swallowing.
- Severe chest pain that does not go away.
Saturday, December 21, 2013
GlucoTels BG Meter First to Support Wireless Bluetooth
A new blood glucose monitoring system was exhibited at the American Diabetes Associations (ADA) 66th Scientific Sessions this year which takes advantage of wireless technologies.The GlucoTel BG meter was designed to be one of the smallest meters in the current line-up, and one that will be able to transmit data to a cellphone via a wireless Bluetooth connection, and to a database via the cellphone. This enhanced communication may facilitate treatment changes:
"Glucose readings taken by the meter are automatically transmitted to the cellphone, and then forwarded in encrypted form to a server where the data is stored in a web-accessible database. The patient also enters insulin dosage data into the phone which is transmitted to the database. The data can then be reviewed at a call center to track the patient’s history in achieving target goals for glycemic control. If adjustments in the patient’s diabetes management protocol are needed, the patient’s physician or disease management coordinator can call to prescribe the changes, such as an altered insulin dosage schedule."
- Michael Simonsen, Insulin delivery and continuous monitoring top diabetes market, Biomedical Business & Technology, August 2006
The GlucoTel BG meter is due for launch in January, 2007.
For GlucoTels site:
www.glucotel.com
Seven Lifestyle Habits that Significantly Lower Both Cancer and Heart Disease Risk
Lifestyle modifications slash chronic disease risk by lowering inflammation and improving health biometrics
A group of researchers from the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago have published the results of a study in the American Heart Association journal, Circulation that explains how following the American Heart Associations Lifes Simple 7 steps to reduce your risk for heart disease can also help prevent cancer. Lead study author, Dr. Laura J. Rasmussen-Torvik said “We were gratified to know adherence to the Lifes Simple 7 goals was also associated with reduced incidence of cancer… this can provide a clear, consistent message about the most important things people can do to protect their health and lower their overall risk for chronic diseases.”
The team identified the seven critical lifestyle habits that promote a healthy heart as: being physically active, keeping a healthy weight, eating a healthy diet, maintaining healthy cholesterol levels, keeping blood pressure down, regulating blood sugar levels and not smoking. To assess the impact of these habits on cancer risk, the researchers analyzed the health records of 13,253 men and women who were involvedin the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study, which tracked the seven risk factors and the participants’ health outcomes since 1987.
Dramatically Lower Your Risk for Developing Chronic Life-Threatening Diseases
The participants were interviewed at the outset of the study to establish how closely they followed the established heart disease lifestyle risk factors. After a period of twenty years, researchers reviewed hospital records and cancer registries and discovered that 2,880 of the participants were diagnosed with cancer of the lung, colon, rectum, prostate or breast. Scientists found that the incidence of cancer closely paralleled following fewer lifestyle habits, as compared to participants that did not develop the illness.
The team determined that people who followed six of the seven health metrics had a 51 percent lower cancer risk than the participants who did not meet any of the steps. When smoking was removed as a factor, participants who followed five to six of the health steps had a 25 percent lower cancer risk. Dr. Rasmussen-Torvik concluded“This adds to the strong body of research suggesting that it is never late to change, and that if you make changes like quitting smoking and improving your diet, you can reduce your risk for both cardiovascular disease and cancer.” Health-conscious individuals already follow the identified healthy lifestyle practices, but it certainly makes sense to ensure that each of these habits is at the core of your daily regimen to dramatically lower risk of heart disease and cancer.
Friday, December 20, 2013
Reduce Waist Size and Live Longer
(Article first published as Weight Loss Supplements: Which Work, Why? on Technorati.)
It’s no secret that American waistlines are continuing to expand, increasing the risk of disease and sudden death from an early age. The vast majority of overweight and obese individuals are conscious of their excess girth and would like to lose weight, but don’t fully understand the dire health consequences they face from those extra pounds.
Risk of Death Doubles with Waist Size
Large waist size is much more than an inconvenience, as it’s been shown to double the risk of death from all causes in both men and women. According to a report published in the Archives of Internal Medicine which reviewed more 100,000 people aged 50 or older, a waist size above 47” in men or 42” in women doubled the risk of dying.
While the study did not form a conclusion for the increased mortality rate, researchers recognize that abdominal fat is metabolically active and leads to hormonal imbalance and insulin resistance.
Control Your Diet, Extend Your Life
It’s important to understand the implications of this report, and how you can modify your diet and use targeted natural supplements to dramatically lower your risk of dying prematurely. A 100% increase in the risk of death is a very high price to pay for dietary indulgence, yet a large waist size is really the leading preventable cause of death.
Most people know that fresh vegetables are healthy and too much sugar is bad, but it’s very difficult to make the necessary changes to diet, even it could lower your chances of dying early. Begin by taking small steps and use substitutions, and don’t keep tempting foods in the kitchen! Remember that excess junk food is the reason your waist has expanded, and a well balanced diet is the key to reversal.
Replace pancakes each morning with a bowl of berries, eliminate refined carbs at a meal and replace with a serving of broccoli and forget sugary drinks and sweet desserts. You’ll find that after a couple of weeks you won’t even miss those unhealthy staples, and you’ll feel better as your waist size decreases.
Naturally Fuel Weight Loss
Once you’ve learned to control your diet and your waist size has begun to shrink, you should incorporate targeted natural supplements which have been proven effective in stimulating fat release. Stay far away from synthetic diet pills which will ultimately ruin your health. Natural supplements work with your own metabolism as they guide the release of fat from storage.
EGCG from Green Tea: Green tea extract specifically targets abdominal fat stores by inhibiting a brain neurotransmitter which controls metabolic rate and fat burn ability. Interestingly, research has shown that taking the extract in supplement form with meals is more effective than drinking green tea.
L-Carnitine: L-Carnitine is an amino acid which transports fats around the body, and is responsible for ushering fat into the cells where it’s used for energy, rather than being stored as fat. Taken with meals, L-Carnitine has demonstrated significant weight loss results when combined with proper diet.
Capsaicin: Capsaicin in the natural chemical responsible for that spicy kick when eating jalapenos and hot peppers. Capsaicin increases your base metabolic rate for hours, meaning you burn more calories at rest. Fortunately it’s best taken as a coated tablet to avoid potential digestive discomfort.
Sobering research provides important evidence that the excess size of your waist will ultimately determine your risk of dying, regardless of cause. This information should be sufficient to prompt health conscious individuals to correct their dietary shortcomings. Look to assistance from natural supplements in an effort to decrease your risk of unnatural death, lose weight and shrink your waistline for an improved quality of life.
Risk of Death Doubles with Waist Size
Large waist size is much more than an inconvenience, as it’s been shown to double the risk of death from all causes in both men and women. According to a report published in the Archives of Internal Medicine which reviewed more 100,000 people aged 50 or older, a waist size above 47” in men or 42” in women doubled the risk of dying.
While the study did not form a conclusion for the increased mortality rate, researchers recognize that abdominal fat is metabolically active and leads to hormonal imbalance and insulin resistance.
Control Your Diet, Extend Your Life
Most people know that fresh vegetables are healthy and too much sugar is bad, but it’s very difficult to make the necessary changes to diet, even it could lower your chances of dying early. Begin by taking small steps and use substitutions, and don’t keep tempting foods in the kitchen! Remember that excess junk food is the reason your waist has expanded, and a well balanced diet is the key to reversal.
Replace pancakes each morning with a bowl of berries, eliminate refined carbs at a meal and replace with a serving of broccoli and forget sugary drinks and sweet desserts. You’ll find that after a couple of weeks you won’t even miss those unhealthy staples, and you’ll feel better as your waist size decreases.
Naturally Fuel Weight Loss
EGCG from Green Tea: Green tea extract specifically targets abdominal fat stores by inhibiting a brain neurotransmitter which controls metabolic rate and fat burn ability. Interestingly, research has shown that taking the extract in supplement form with meals is more effective than drinking green tea.
L-Carnitine: L-Carnitine is an amino acid which transports fats around the body, and is responsible for ushering fat into the cells where it’s used for energy, rather than being stored as fat. Taken with meals, L-Carnitine has demonstrated significant weight loss results when combined with proper diet.
Capsaicin: Capsaicin in the natural chemical responsible for that spicy kick when eating jalapenos and hot peppers. Capsaicin increases your base metabolic rate for hours, meaning you burn more calories at rest. Fortunately it’s best taken as a coated tablet to avoid potential digestive discomfort.
Sobering research provides important evidence that the excess size of your waist will ultimately determine your risk of dying, regardless of cause. This information should be sufficient to prompt health conscious individuals to correct their dietary shortcomings. Look to assistance from natural supplements in an effort to decrease your risk of unnatural death, lose weight and shrink your waistline for an improved quality of life.
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