Sunday, October 31, 2010
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
We can learn to use makeup to emphasize our eyes or downplay a feature. But self-assurance involves learning to live with (and treasure) those fundamental things we can't change: the very features that make each of us beautiful and unlike anyone else.
Sunscreen Concerns Unfounded, Experts Say - Cancer reports questionable; skin protection essential, they note
Recent reports questioning the safety of many sunscreens have experts worried that some people may shun the very products that could save their lives, not to mention their skin.
The research behind these allegations -- that many topical sunscreens can cause skin cancer, including melanoma -- has mostly been in lab animals and is dubious at best, said Dr. Jeffrey Dover, president of the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery.
"Are you going to make a decision that could impact your -- or your kids' -- future by allowing yourself to get skin cancer and wrinkle and age prematurely based on some information from a lab study on animals in Europe? The answer is no," Dover said.
"I don't put that much stock [in the reports]," agreed Dr. Doris Day, a dermatologist with Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. "The important thing is we do know that all waves of light are dangerous for the skin and can cause skin cancer. We know that. We know that protecting yourself from the sun makes a difference in minimizing skin cancer."
The controversy started last spring when the Environmental Working Group (EWG), which began annual sunscreen safety reports in 2007, called on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to finish a review of data on the safety of retinyl palmitate, a derivative of vitamin A added to many sunscreens.
The compound, EWG stated, elevates the risk of skin cancer.
The EWG also objected to oxybenzone (benzophenone-3), another ingredient of many sunscreens, which it says is a hormone disruptor.
On June 14, Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) voiced his concern, too, and demanded the FDA finish its review and release the results to the public, especially given this is the time of year more people are slathering on sunscreen.
Shelly L. Burgess, FDA spokeswoman, on Friday said the FDA is awaiting a final review of data on retinyl palmitate by the National Toxicology Program of the U.S. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. The findings should be in next January, she said.
"We continue to monitor the safety of all sunscreens, including those containing oxybenzone," Burgess added. "If we become aware of safety data indicating that sunscreens are unsafe, we will take necessary action to ensure consumers have access only to safe and effective sun protection products."
But while dermatologists agree that sunscreen is helpful, not harmful, they're also clear that it's not enough to shade us from the sun's penetrating rays.
"We recommend sun protection as opposed to sunscreen. People depend more on sunscreen than they should," said Dover.
"Sunscreen gives a false sense of security," added Day. "You put it on in the morning. You spend the whole day out. You think, 'It's cloudy out, I don't have to worry.' Sunscreen is just one component [of smart sun behavior]."
Use sunscreen but follow this advice, too, the dermatologists advise:
Wear a hat and protective clothing, for example, brands that have a UV protection factor built in. Make sure the hat is not one with a lot of holes and also has a one-inch rim that goes all the way around, Day said.
Try to walk or do other activities in the shade.
Avoid being out in the sun between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Keep in mind that "the shorter your shadow, the more dangerous the rays of the sun. UVB rays are at their highest intensity at the middle of the day," Day said.
Never go to tanning salons because they emit the same damaging rays as the sun, she warned.
There are ways to maximize the effectiveness of sunscreens as well. Use an SPF of 30 or above, Dover said.
Look for packaging that says "broad spectrum coverage," Day advised. That means the product offers UVA and UVB protection. It should also provide long-lasting protection, meaning four to five hours.
Finally, look for sunscreens that contain the active ingredients benzophenone (oxybenzone) or avobenzone, Day said.
"Any risk from using sunscreen is less than the risk from chronic damage from the sun," she pointed out.
More information
The Skin Cancer Foundation has more on sunscreen.
SOURCES: Jeffrey Dover, M.D., president, American Society for Dermatologic Surgery; Doris Day, M.D., dermatologist, Lenox Hill Hospital, New York City; Shelly L. Burgess, spokeswoman, U.S. Food and Drug Administration; May 28, 2010, news release, Environmental Working Group
Last Updated: July 26, 2010
The research behind these allegations -- that many topical sunscreens can cause skin cancer, including melanoma -- has mostly been in lab animals and is dubious at best, said Dr. Jeffrey Dover, president of the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery.
"Are you going to make a decision that could impact your -- or your kids' -- future by allowing yourself to get skin cancer and wrinkle and age prematurely based on some information from a lab study on animals in Europe? The answer is no," Dover said.
"I don't put that much stock [in the reports]," agreed Dr. Doris Day, a dermatologist with Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. "The important thing is we do know that all waves of light are dangerous for the skin and can cause skin cancer. We know that. We know that protecting yourself from the sun makes a difference in minimizing skin cancer."
The controversy started last spring when the Environmental Working Group (EWG), which began annual sunscreen safety reports in 2007, called on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to finish a review of data on the safety of retinyl palmitate, a derivative of vitamin A added to many sunscreens.
The compound, EWG stated, elevates the risk of skin cancer.
The EWG also objected to oxybenzone (benzophenone-3), another ingredient of many sunscreens, which it says is a hormone disruptor.
On June 14, Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) voiced his concern, too, and demanded the FDA finish its review and release the results to the public, especially given this is the time of year more people are slathering on sunscreen.
Shelly L. Burgess, FDA spokeswoman, on Friday said the FDA is awaiting a final review of data on retinyl palmitate by the National Toxicology Program of the U.S. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. The findings should be in next January, she said.
"We continue to monitor the safety of all sunscreens, including those containing oxybenzone," Burgess added. "If we become aware of safety data indicating that sunscreens are unsafe, we will take necessary action to ensure consumers have access only to safe and effective sun protection products."
But while dermatologists agree that sunscreen is helpful, not harmful, they're also clear that it's not enough to shade us from the sun's penetrating rays.
"We recommend sun protection as opposed to sunscreen. People depend more on sunscreen than they should," said Dover.
"Sunscreen gives a false sense of security," added Day. "You put it on in the morning. You spend the whole day out. You think, 'It's cloudy out, I don't have to worry.' Sunscreen is just one component [of smart sun behavior]."
Use sunscreen but follow this advice, too, the dermatologists advise:
Wear a hat and protective clothing, for example, brands that have a UV protection factor built in. Make sure the hat is not one with a lot of holes and also has a one-inch rim that goes all the way around, Day said.
Try to walk or do other activities in the shade.
Avoid being out in the sun between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Keep in mind that "the shorter your shadow, the more dangerous the rays of the sun. UVB rays are at their highest intensity at the middle of the day," Day said.
Never go to tanning salons because they emit the same damaging rays as the sun, she warned.
There are ways to maximize the effectiveness of sunscreens as well. Use an SPF of 30 or above, Dover said.
Look for packaging that says "broad spectrum coverage," Day advised. That means the product offers UVA and UVB protection. It should also provide long-lasting protection, meaning four to five hours.
Finally, look for sunscreens that contain the active ingredients benzophenone (oxybenzone) or avobenzone, Day said.
"Any risk from using sunscreen is less than the risk from chronic damage from the sun," she pointed out.
More information
The Skin Cancer Foundation has more on sunscreen.
SOURCES: Jeffrey Dover, M.D., president, American Society for Dermatologic Surgery; Doris Day, M.D., dermatologist, Lenox Hill Hospital, New York City; Shelly L. Burgess, spokeswoman, U.S. Food and Drug Administration; May 28, 2010, news release, Environmental Working Group
Last Updated: July 26, 2010
5 Anti-Aging Supplements Worth Taking
No one stays young forever, but some nutritional supplements promise to add some time to your life – or at least make you healthier now. We examined the claims and found 5 worth considering...
In a culture that puts a premium on youth, it’s easy to see why we’re always looking for anti-aging remedies. But can nutritional supplements really slow the process?
The answer lies in looking at scientific studies and separating truth from hype, which isn’t always easy. Still, there are some supplements for which the evidence is promising.
Since most of us already live more than 70 years, it’s difficult to test the effects of these products on people. As a result, most anti-aging research is done on animals – from mice, which typically live 1-3 years, to fruit flies, which only live about two weeks.
And if a supplement does effectively slow some aspects of human aging, it might work so gradually you wouldn’t notice, says naturopath Alan C. Logan, N.D., author of The Brain Diet (Cumberland House).
“It many cases, it may be the opposite of the way fast food accelerates aging,” he says. “Usually, people can consume fast food over time, not really aware of its toll on the body. The reverse is generally true of supplements purported to slow aging.”
For now, subjective changes may be your best measure of whether a supplement has benefits. Ask yourself: Does it make you feel good? Keep you energetic? Combat fuzzy memory?
“It should make a difference in mood and energy levels over 3-6 months,” Logan says.
Here are 5 products worth trying. Remember, any supplement may interact negatively with certain drugs or health conditions, so consult your doctor before taking them.
Coenzyme Q-10
Our bodies naturally make CoQ10 (also known as ubiquinone), a nutrient necessary for basic cell function. It enters the mitochondria (our cells’ “energy centers”), where it helps transform fats and sugars into energy. As we age, CoQ10 levels naturally decline.
Test-tube and animal studies show that CoQ10 acts as a protective antioxidant in mitochondrial membranes and may prevent cognitive decline.
“But we still need human data,” Logan says.
When taken with other antioxidants – selenium and vitamins C and E – CoQ10 may also improve arterial elasticity, making you less vulnerable to the hardening of the arteries that leads to heart disease, according to a 2010 study published in Nutrition & Metabolism.
Recommended dose: 30-200 mg per day, according to the University of Maryland’s program in complementary medicine. CoQ10 may be especially helpful if you’re taking statins to lower cholesterol levels or beta blockers for irregular heartbeats, because they reduce CoQ10 levels.
Resveratrol
Known as the “red wine” chemical, resveratrol is a polyphenol found in the skin of grapes and berries. Some researchers believe it’s partially responsible for the “French paradox,” in which people who drink wine have fewer health problems from eating fatty foods.
Animal research has shown that resveratrol increases the lifespan of worms, fruit flies and fish. In mice, it raises insulin sensitivity, decreases glucose levels and improves cardiac health, which suggests it may help prevent type 2 diabetes, heart disease and cancer.
Resveratrol also may influence sirtuins, proteins that keep cells healthy, and the Sir T1 gene, a gene that governs cellular longevity, says Leonard Guarente, Ph.D., an anti-aging specialist and MIT biology professor.
A 2006 Harvard study compared mice fed a standard diet, a high-calorie diet, or a high-calorie diet with resveratrol. Mice given resveratrol survived longer than both other groups, the researchers found.
Recommended dose: Most resveratrol supplements come from polygonum cuspidatum, a giant knotweed grown mainly in China and Japan. The actual resveratrol content varies from 50%-99%, depending on how it’s processed.
Guarente recommends taking between 100 mg and 1 gram per day. But much smaller amounts may also be good for you, since red wine has less than 2 mg per glass.
Because of the publicity surrounding resveratrol products, they’re vulnerable to scams. Buy from a company you trust, and avoid any that claim celebrity endorsements or offer a dubious “free trial.”
Blueberry Extract
Blueberries have proven to be incredibly healthy – for animals. Rats fed blueberries navigated mazes better. Mice fed blueberry supplements avoided behavioral problems associated with Alzheimer’s disease. Studies have also found that the fruit may extend lifespan in worms.
But human research is sparse. A small 2010 study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry found that older adults who drank wild-blueberry juice every day improved their memory.
Exactly what makes blueberries good for you isn’t clear. Research suggests it’s their healthful anthocyanins, pigments that give berries – and other blue and red plants – their color, says Robert Krikorian, Ph.D., lead author of the juice study and a University of Cincinnati Health Center researcher.
Recommended dose: Eat 1/2-1 cup of blueberries a day, fresh or frozen. Juice is good, too, though high in sugar. (Make sure it isn’t adulterated with other juices.)
If you want a blueberry-extract supplement, take one that’s made from the whole fruit and minimally processed. Too much heat and exposure to moisture during processing can reduce the amount of micronutrients, Krikorian says.
Turmeric
The ancient Indian spice that gives curry its yellow color is an anti-inflammatory and protective antioxidant. A member of the ginger family, it has been found to help shield against a variety of age-related conditions.
A 2010 University of California-Irvine study found that turmeric’s active ingredient, curcumin, extended the lifespan of fruit flies by up to 20% by influencing genes associated with aging. University of Arizona research in 2010 suggested that the extract can help prevent arthritis and bone loss in aging women.
But you don’t have to be a curry fanatic to reap its health benefits. Older adults who reported having curry “occasionally” scored better on mental-health tests than those who “never or rarely” consumed the dish, according to a 2006 study in Singapore.
Recommended dose: Currently, there’s no suggested dose for turmeric, but ongoing human studies use 1-gram supplements daily, Logan says. Look for one that’s standardized for high curcumin content. And be careful – very high doses can cause indigestion.
If you like Indian and Southeast Asian foods, include turmeric in your diet. Add it to yogurt for a great vegetable dip, suggests Christine Gerbstadt, M.D., R.D., a spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association.
Multivitamins
Nearly everyone knows that a daily multivitamin can make up for nutritional deficits in your diet. Now, new research suggests that it could lead to a longer life.
Women who took multivitamins regularly had longer telomeres, the protective caps at the end of chromosomes that grow shorter with age, according to a 2009 National Institutes of Health study. Longer telomeres are associated with youth and health, shorter ones with aging and disease.
The study also found a link between longer telomeres and higher intake of vitamins C and E from food. But another reason may be vitamin D, which increases telomere length in women, according to a 2007 study at the London School of Medicine.
“Vitamin D is a real winner,” says Fred Pescatore, M.D., a New York physician and author of Thin for Good (Wiley). “It does everything from cancer protection and lowering blood pressure to strengthening bones.”
How to take it: With so many multivitamin formulas on store shelves, choosing the right one may be difficult. Here are some tips:
Women of childbearing age need a multi folic acid, a B vitamin that guards against neural tube defects in unborn children.
All women should take a multivitamin with calcium and vitamin D, a potent combination that helps prevent osteoporosis. Recommendations vary, but Pescatore suggests 2,000 IU of vitamin D and 750 mg of calcium per day.
Women also need biotin and boron, two micronutrients important for balancing estrogen and progesterone, Pescatore says.
And don’t just grab for your husband’s multivitamin – men’s formulas may not have enough calcium, folic acid and iron.
In a culture that puts a premium on youth, it’s easy to see why we’re always looking for anti-aging remedies. But can nutritional supplements really slow the process?
The answer lies in looking at scientific studies and separating truth from hype, which isn’t always easy. Still, there are some supplements for which the evidence is promising.
Since most of us already live more than 70 years, it’s difficult to test the effects of these products on people. As a result, most anti-aging research is done on animals – from mice, which typically live 1-3 years, to fruit flies, which only live about two weeks.
And if a supplement does effectively slow some aspects of human aging, it might work so gradually you wouldn’t notice, says naturopath Alan C. Logan, N.D., author of The Brain Diet (Cumberland House).
“It many cases, it may be the opposite of the way fast food accelerates aging,” he says. “Usually, people can consume fast food over time, not really aware of its toll on the body. The reverse is generally true of supplements purported to slow aging.”
For now, subjective changes may be your best measure of whether a supplement has benefits. Ask yourself: Does it make you feel good? Keep you energetic? Combat fuzzy memory?
“It should make a difference in mood and energy levels over 3-6 months,” Logan says.
Here are 5 products worth trying. Remember, any supplement may interact negatively with certain drugs or health conditions, so consult your doctor before taking them.
Coenzyme Q-10
Our bodies naturally make CoQ10 (also known as ubiquinone), a nutrient necessary for basic cell function. It enters the mitochondria (our cells’ “energy centers”), where it helps transform fats and sugars into energy. As we age, CoQ10 levels naturally decline.
Test-tube and animal studies show that CoQ10 acts as a protective antioxidant in mitochondrial membranes and may prevent cognitive decline.
“But we still need human data,” Logan says.
When taken with other antioxidants – selenium and vitamins C and E – CoQ10 may also improve arterial elasticity, making you less vulnerable to the hardening of the arteries that leads to heart disease, according to a 2010 study published in Nutrition & Metabolism.
Recommended dose: 30-200 mg per day, according to the University of Maryland’s program in complementary medicine. CoQ10 may be especially helpful if you’re taking statins to lower cholesterol levels or beta blockers for irregular heartbeats, because they reduce CoQ10 levels.
Resveratrol
Known as the “red wine” chemical, resveratrol is a polyphenol found in the skin of grapes and berries. Some researchers believe it’s partially responsible for the “French paradox,” in which people who drink wine have fewer health problems from eating fatty foods.
Animal research has shown that resveratrol increases the lifespan of worms, fruit flies and fish. In mice, it raises insulin sensitivity, decreases glucose levels and improves cardiac health, which suggests it may help prevent type 2 diabetes, heart disease and cancer.
Resveratrol also may influence sirtuins, proteins that keep cells healthy, and the Sir T1 gene, a gene that governs cellular longevity, says Leonard Guarente, Ph.D., an anti-aging specialist and MIT biology professor.
A 2006 Harvard study compared mice fed a standard diet, a high-calorie diet, or a high-calorie diet with resveratrol. Mice given resveratrol survived longer than both other groups, the researchers found.
Recommended dose: Most resveratrol supplements come from polygonum cuspidatum, a giant knotweed grown mainly in China and Japan. The actual resveratrol content varies from 50%-99%, depending on how it’s processed.
Guarente recommends taking between 100 mg and 1 gram per day. But much smaller amounts may also be good for you, since red wine has less than 2 mg per glass.
Because of the publicity surrounding resveratrol products, they’re vulnerable to scams. Buy from a company you trust, and avoid any that claim celebrity endorsements or offer a dubious “free trial.”
Blueberry Extract
Blueberries have proven to be incredibly healthy – for animals. Rats fed blueberries navigated mazes better. Mice fed blueberry supplements avoided behavioral problems associated with Alzheimer’s disease. Studies have also found that the fruit may extend lifespan in worms.
But human research is sparse. A small 2010 study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry found that older adults who drank wild-blueberry juice every day improved their memory.
Exactly what makes blueberries good for you isn’t clear. Research suggests it’s their healthful anthocyanins, pigments that give berries – and other blue and red plants – their color, says Robert Krikorian, Ph.D., lead author of the juice study and a University of Cincinnati Health Center researcher.
Recommended dose: Eat 1/2-1 cup of blueberries a day, fresh or frozen. Juice is good, too, though high in sugar. (Make sure it isn’t adulterated with other juices.)
If you want a blueberry-extract supplement, take one that’s made from the whole fruit and minimally processed. Too much heat and exposure to moisture during processing can reduce the amount of micronutrients, Krikorian says.
Turmeric
The ancient Indian spice that gives curry its yellow color is an anti-inflammatory and protective antioxidant. A member of the ginger family, it has been found to help shield against a variety of age-related conditions.
A 2010 University of California-Irvine study found that turmeric’s active ingredient, curcumin, extended the lifespan of fruit flies by up to 20% by influencing genes associated with aging. University of Arizona research in 2010 suggested that the extract can help prevent arthritis and bone loss in aging women.
But you don’t have to be a curry fanatic to reap its health benefits. Older adults who reported having curry “occasionally” scored better on mental-health tests than those who “never or rarely” consumed the dish, according to a 2006 study in Singapore.
Recommended dose: Currently, there’s no suggested dose for turmeric, but ongoing human studies use 1-gram supplements daily, Logan says. Look for one that’s standardized for high curcumin content. And be careful – very high doses can cause indigestion.
If you like Indian and Southeast Asian foods, include turmeric in your diet. Add it to yogurt for a great vegetable dip, suggests Christine Gerbstadt, M.D., R.D., a spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association.
Multivitamins
Nearly everyone knows that a daily multivitamin can make up for nutritional deficits in your diet. Now, new research suggests that it could lead to a longer life.
Women who took multivitamins regularly had longer telomeres, the protective caps at the end of chromosomes that grow shorter with age, according to a 2009 National Institutes of Health study. Longer telomeres are associated with youth and health, shorter ones with aging and disease.
The study also found a link between longer telomeres and higher intake of vitamins C and E from food. But another reason may be vitamin D, which increases telomere length in women, according to a 2007 study at the London School of Medicine.
“Vitamin D is a real winner,” says Fred Pescatore, M.D., a New York physician and author of Thin for Good (Wiley). “It does everything from cancer protection and lowering blood pressure to strengthening bones.”
How to take it: With so many multivitamin formulas on store shelves, choosing the right one may be difficult. Here are some tips:
Women of childbearing age need a multi folic acid, a B vitamin that guards against neural tube defects in unborn children.
All women should take a multivitamin with calcium and vitamin D, a potent combination that helps prevent osteoporosis. Recommendations vary, but Pescatore suggests 2,000 IU of vitamin D and 750 mg of calcium per day.
Women also need biotin and boron, two micronutrients important for balancing estrogen and progesterone, Pescatore says.
And don’t just grab for your husband’s multivitamin – men’s formulas may not have enough calcium, folic acid and iron.
Study identifies potential stroke triggers
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Downing a few drinks or contracting an infection such as the flu seem to be connected to a short-term spike in the risk of stroke, a new research review finds.
The findings, reported in the journal Stroke, do not prove that alcohol and infections act as stroke "triggers" in some people, but they "strongly support" the notion that they do, the researchers say.
On the other hand, there is insufficient evidence on whether other suspected triggers -- like extreme stress or physical exertion -- do in fact contribute to stroke, lead researcher Dr. Vincent Guiraud, of Hopital Sainte-Anne in Paris, told Reuters Health in an email.
Triggers refer to behaviors or exposures that set off a temporary increase in a person's risk of a disease. A number of studies, for example, have suggested that factors like heavy physical exertion, extreme stress and infections may trigger heart attacks in some people.
The question of whether there are stroke triggers, however, has been less studied.
The new review attempted to pull together what is known about potential triggers of ischemic stroke -- the most common form of stroke, in which a blood clot disrupts blood flow to the brain.
Guiraud and his colleagues found 26 studies conducted since the 1980s that identified a dozen factors related to a short-term increase in stroke risk. Most of those studies focused on the potential roles of alcohol and infections in triggering a stroke over the following hours to weeks.
Overall, the review found, people who downed 40 to 60 grams of alcohol -- equivalent to three or four standard drinks in the U.S. -- showed a near-tripling in the risk of stroke over the next 24 hours.
A similar increase was linked to having more than 150 grams of alcohol, or about 10 standard drinks, in the past week.
Meanwhile, contracting any type of infection, such as a cold or flu, was linked to a two- to three-fold increase of suffering a stroke over the next week to one month.
Only a few studies looked at other potential stroke triggers. One UK study of 200 stroke patients did find associations between "negative emotion," anger and exposure to a "startling event" and an increased risk of stroke in the next two hours. Another study linked psychological distress to a heightened stroke risk over the next three days, while a third -- of more than 40,000 Canadian stroke patients -- found that people had a higher risk on their birthdays compared with other days.
If alcohol, infections or other factors do serve as stroke triggers, the absolute risk of any one person suffering a stroke because of such an exposure would likely be small, according to Guiraud.
In theory, triggers would have a greater impact on people already at increased risk of stroke, due to factors like established heart disease, smoking, diabetes or high blood pressure. However, Guiraud said his team lacked the data to study that issue.
The study is important in that it offers an appraisal of the current knowledge on potential stroke triggers, according to Dr. Craig Anderson of the George Institute for Global Health in Australia, who was not involved in the research.
"There have been substantial anecdotal case reports and case series suggesting certain triggers for ischemic stroke, but until recently there has been a paucity of good epidemiological studies and sensible (physiological) explanations for the link," Anderson, who is also a professor of stroke medicine and clinical neuroscience at the Sydney Medical School, told Reuters Health in an email.
Even many of the studies in the current review had limitations that made them prone to error or biased results, Anderson noted.
Among the weaknesses is the fact that most of the studies were so-called case-control studies, where people who had suffered a stroke were interviewed about various exposures before their stroke, and compared with "control" individuals who were asked about those same exposures.
A stronger design, according to Guiraud and his colleagues, would be the "case-crossover" study. In this type of study, each stroke patient would serve as his or her own control, being asked about a particular exposure during a defined period before the stroke, and during a different time period.
Case-crossover studies are not perfect either, but they make it easier for researchers to account for the many lifestyle habits and other factors that vary from person to person.
Still, despite the limitations of studies done so far, Anderson said that there is an "increasing appreciation" that most research on stroke risk factors has focused on more stable factors like average blood pressure. But, he said, daily fluctuations in heart rate, blood pressure, hormonal activity and muscle function could also create fluctuations in short-term stroke risk.
In theory, drinking could, for example, cause heart-rhythm disturbances that dislodge a blood clot from the heart that then travels into an artery supplying the brain, Guiraud and his colleagues note.
Similarly, infections could also contribute to heart-rhythm disruptions or have inflammatory effects in the blood vessels that might lead to a stroke.
For now, the practical implications of the current findings "are still hypothetical," Guiraud said.
But, he added, it's possible that for people at heightened risk of stroke, avoidance of any established triggers could complement the treatment of traditional stroke risk factors like high blood pressure.
For example, flu vaccination or antibiotic treatment of bacterial infections might help lower the odds of any short-term spike in stroke risk. Some research, Guiraud's team notes, has found a link between flu vaccination and decreased stroke risk.
However, studies are still needed to show whether any steps to avoid potential stroke triggers are actually effective, according to Guiraud.
SOURCE: http://link.reuters.com/zyt32q Stroke, online October 14, 2010.
The findings, reported in the journal Stroke, do not prove that alcohol and infections act as stroke "triggers" in some people, but they "strongly support" the notion that they do, the researchers say.
On the other hand, there is insufficient evidence on whether other suspected triggers -- like extreme stress or physical exertion -- do in fact contribute to stroke, lead researcher Dr. Vincent Guiraud, of Hopital Sainte-Anne in Paris, told Reuters Health in an email.
Triggers refer to behaviors or exposures that set off a temporary increase in a person's risk of a disease. A number of studies, for example, have suggested that factors like heavy physical exertion, extreme stress and infections may trigger heart attacks in some people.
The question of whether there are stroke triggers, however, has been less studied.
The new review attempted to pull together what is known about potential triggers of ischemic stroke -- the most common form of stroke, in which a blood clot disrupts blood flow to the brain.
Guiraud and his colleagues found 26 studies conducted since the 1980s that identified a dozen factors related to a short-term increase in stroke risk. Most of those studies focused on the potential roles of alcohol and infections in triggering a stroke over the following hours to weeks.
Overall, the review found, people who downed 40 to 60 grams of alcohol -- equivalent to three or four standard drinks in the U.S. -- showed a near-tripling in the risk of stroke over the next 24 hours.
A similar increase was linked to having more than 150 grams of alcohol, or about 10 standard drinks, in the past week.
Meanwhile, contracting any type of infection, such as a cold or flu, was linked to a two- to three-fold increase of suffering a stroke over the next week to one month.
Only a few studies looked at other potential stroke triggers. One UK study of 200 stroke patients did find associations between "negative emotion," anger and exposure to a "startling event" and an increased risk of stroke in the next two hours. Another study linked psychological distress to a heightened stroke risk over the next three days, while a third -- of more than 40,000 Canadian stroke patients -- found that people had a higher risk on their birthdays compared with other days.
If alcohol, infections or other factors do serve as stroke triggers, the absolute risk of any one person suffering a stroke because of such an exposure would likely be small, according to Guiraud.
In theory, triggers would have a greater impact on people already at increased risk of stroke, due to factors like established heart disease, smoking, diabetes or high blood pressure. However, Guiraud said his team lacked the data to study that issue.
The study is important in that it offers an appraisal of the current knowledge on potential stroke triggers, according to Dr. Craig Anderson of the George Institute for Global Health in Australia, who was not involved in the research.
"There have been substantial anecdotal case reports and case series suggesting certain triggers for ischemic stroke, but until recently there has been a paucity of good epidemiological studies and sensible (physiological) explanations for the link," Anderson, who is also a professor of stroke medicine and clinical neuroscience at the Sydney Medical School, told Reuters Health in an email.
Even many of the studies in the current review had limitations that made them prone to error or biased results, Anderson noted.
Among the weaknesses is the fact that most of the studies were so-called case-control studies, where people who had suffered a stroke were interviewed about various exposures before their stroke, and compared with "control" individuals who were asked about those same exposures.
A stronger design, according to Guiraud and his colleagues, would be the "case-crossover" study. In this type of study, each stroke patient would serve as his or her own control, being asked about a particular exposure during a defined period before the stroke, and during a different time period.
Case-crossover studies are not perfect either, but they make it easier for researchers to account for the many lifestyle habits and other factors that vary from person to person.
Still, despite the limitations of studies done so far, Anderson said that there is an "increasing appreciation" that most research on stroke risk factors has focused on more stable factors like average blood pressure. But, he said, daily fluctuations in heart rate, blood pressure, hormonal activity and muscle function could also create fluctuations in short-term stroke risk.
In theory, drinking could, for example, cause heart-rhythm disturbances that dislodge a blood clot from the heart that then travels into an artery supplying the brain, Guiraud and his colleagues note.
Similarly, infections could also contribute to heart-rhythm disruptions or have inflammatory effects in the blood vessels that might lead to a stroke.
For now, the practical implications of the current findings "are still hypothetical," Guiraud said.
But, he added, it's possible that for people at heightened risk of stroke, avoidance of any established triggers could complement the treatment of traditional stroke risk factors like high blood pressure.
For example, flu vaccination or antibiotic treatment of bacterial infections might help lower the odds of any short-term spike in stroke risk. Some research, Guiraud's team notes, has found a link between flu vaccination and decreased stroke risk.
However, studies are still needed to show whether any steps to avoid potential stroke triggers are actually effective, according to Guiraud.
SOURCE: http://link.reuters.com/zyt32q Stroke, online October 14, 2010.
Your No-Fail Guide to Stop Smoking
Let’s face it: It’s hard to quit smoking. You’ve tried and failed several times. This time, though, you have lots of help — from support groups, new therapies and drugs to smart phone apps. Check out these 15 tips to kick the stinky habit for good…
You know smoking is bad for you. It's the leading cause of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It also causes cancer, heart disease and stroke. It kills 440,000 people a year. And we’re not even counting its hit on your pocketbook and social life.
But you just keep coming back for more. Many others — about 23 million women smokers, according to the American Heart Association — feel your pain.
In fact, smoking among adults rose for the first time in 15 years, according to statistics released this month by the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention.
In a phone survey of 22,000 adults, about 20.6% said they smoked in 2008, an increase from 19.8% in 2007.
But there’s good news: If you want to quit, it’s easier than ever before thanks to a host of new tools and techniques.
Medications, a promising new vaccine, nicotine replacement therapies, counseling services, telephone support lines, smart phone apps and social media tools like Twitter and Facebook can help even longtime smokers free themselves from tobacco’s iron grip.
So stub out that smoke and throw away that pack. Here are 15 tips to get cigarettes out of your life for good – no ifs, ands or butts.
1. Don’t be discouraged by past failures.
You’ve tried to quit and failed. Are you thinking: There’s no way I can ever succeed?
Don’t let past failures derail your healthy future. Instead, start thinking of quitting as a journey that stops and starts. If you slip, just begin again.
Smokers learn from each slip, so build on that knowledge, says Thomas Glynn, director of international cancer control for the American Cancer Society.
People rarely succeed on the first try, he says. “It usually takes five to seven serious attempts before they finally quit.”
2. Figure out why you want to quit.
Quitting is like giving up a best friend. It’s not a decision to make lightly, Glynn says.
So take a deep breath and consider your motivation for quitting. Do you want to watch your children or grandchildren grow up? Walk up a flight of stairs without wheezing? Save money?
Whatever your reason, write it down on a paper and laminate it. Carry it with you at all times. When the urge to smoke overwhelms you, read it.
“You need to remind yourself of that motivation,” Glynn says.
3. Don’t go cold turkey.
Everyone seems to know the person who decided to quit, tossed the packs and never picked up a cigarette again. Beware: Those people are rare.
Going cold turkey may be the most popular quit-smoking method, but it’s “a fairly spectacularly, ineffective way,” says Douglas E. Jorenby, professor of medicine and director of clinical services at the Center for Tobacco Research and Intervention at the University of Wisconsin.
About 95% of quitters who go cold turkey relapse within a year, he says.
The most successful quitting programs had three components: counseling, social support and medication, according to the U.S. Public Health Service’s 2008 analysis of 30 years of smoking-cessation research. Your plan should incorporate all three.
“Quitting smoking is hard enough, why not … help that process?” asks Erik Augustson, clinical psychologist and behavioral scientist with the tobacco control research branch of the National Cancer Institute.
4. Call-in tech support.
Quality counseling is as close as your cell phone or iPhone app.
Call a quit line or text a friend if the urge to smoke gets too strong.
Look for communities on the Web, such as women.smokefree.gov and its accompanying Facebook page and Twitter feed.
You can even download applications, some free, to your iPhone to track your smoking and set goals for cutting back. Check out My Quit Line (search on your iPhone or iTunes or tobacco-cessation.org) or Smokeless (iphonehealthapps.net/).
All 50 states have free quit-smoking telephone lines, usually staffed with well-trained counselors to help devise a plan and give you medical advice, Jorenby says.
The national access number to state-based quit services is (800) QUIT NOW (784-8669), usually open during business hours.
Surprisingly, only 1%-4% of smokers use them.
5. Try nicotine replacement therapy (NRT).
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved five forms of over-the-counter NRTs: gum, patch, lozenge, nasal spray and inhaler.
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist to see which might be best for you and check your health insurance policy to see which might be covered.
Also, before you choose a method, think about your smoking habits. Do you need something to do with your hands? The inhaler or nasal spray might be best.
Do you need an oral fix? Try gum.
Would you prefer to not think about it at all? Slap on a patch in the morning and forget about it.
6. Consider prescription drugs.
The FDA has approved two prescription medications to help smokers quit. Both act on the brain, where nicotine stimulates the pleasure centers.
One is the antidepressant bupropion (brand name Zyban), because smokers typically suffer from depression more than non-smokers do, Glynn says.
In a study of 707 smokers comparing bupropion to a placebo, researchers found that the drug relieved depression and helped them drop the habit. After a year, 21% of the bupropion users had stayed away from cigarettes; only 11% of the placebo group did, according to the findings published in 2003 in the Journal of Internal Medicine.
The second medication, Varenicline (brand name Chantix), reduces cravings by blocking the brain from getting pleasure from nicotine. For it to be effective, however, smokers must stick with the prescribed 12-week regimen, Glynn cautions.
“On average, medication can double your chances of successfully quitting, and if you can combine the medication with [counseling] you can triple your chances,” he says.
More promising is a vaccine that will prevent nicotine from arousing the brain’s pleasure sensors.
The National Institute on Drug Abuse, a division of the National Institutes of Health, gave Nabi BioPharmaceuticals a $10-million grant to take its anti-nicotine vaccine, NicVAX, to Phase III clinical trials.
Any public release is years away, but “it holds a lot of potential,” says the NCI’s Augustson. “I don’t think there’s going to be a magic bullet. Smokers may still have to do work.”
7. Don’t limit yourself to one method.
Smoking is such a pernicious addiction that no one treatment has produced a quit rate of more than 30%, Augustson says.
But combining NRTs or medications may help overcome the odds, studies show.
Jorenby, for example, was one of the lead researchers on a clinical trial that compared several smoking-cessation therapies. The results, published this year in the Archives of General Psychiatry, found that combining the patch and lozenge was the most effective method.
The study’s 1,504 smokers were randomly assigned to one of six treatment groups: nicotine lozenge alone, nicotine patch alone, bupropion alone, patch plus nicotine lozenge, bupropion plus nicotine lozenge or placebo. They also received counseling.
After six months, those using the patch and lozenge had a 40% quit rate. (That percentage, however, was expected to decline over time, researchers said.) This may be due to the steady nicotine supply from the patch and periodic boosts from lozenges, according to the scientists.
8. Set a Quit Day.
Saying “I’ll quit tomorrow” without planning is a surefire way to fail.
Set a Quit Day several weeks ahead so you begin to picture yourself as a nonsmoker, Glynn says.
That way you can start to make small changes to smoking behavior. For example, don’t have that cigarette with your first cup of coffee.
9. Clean house.
Before Quit Day, ransack your house and toss all stashes of cigarettes.
Get that pack out of the sock drawer and the car’s glove compartment. Clean up ashtrays and butts that you’ve flicked into the bushes around your house.
It may seem revolting to think of smoking used butts, but what seems “absolutely disgusting today may not be three or four days after your quit date,” Jorenby says.
10. Get your friends and family on board.
Before Quit Day, warn your family that you’ll be grouchy or nervous. Tell your friends not to let you bum cigarettes, no matter how much you plead. Recruit a buddy to help talk you through bad moments – even when 2 a.m. cravings hit.
“Social support tends to be more important for women than for men,” Augustson says.
But some women want someone checking in; others want support, but not nagging.
“Define what kind of help you want,” Augustson advises.
Women are also more likely than men to seek formal treatment from counselors, support groups or smoking clinics; guys often try to tough it out, experts say.
11. Avoid triggers.
Stay away from situations that trigger a craving for a smoke. If you once smoked with buddies outside the office lobby, avoid it.
“Most people who smoke are very good at being able to anticipate [triggers] because their smoking is so regular,” Jorenby says.
Alcohol can set off potent cravings because a smoke and drink often go together. So stay away from martinis or beer for several months or go to a smoke-free bar.
Cut back on coffee too. Because nicotine helps to metabolize caffeine in the body, you may find that you’re bouncing off the walls with your normal consumption.
Of course, some situations just can’t be avoided, so you’ll just have to stay strong.
“I’ve had people tell me with a straight face, ‘Doc, my car won’t start unless I have a cigarette in my hand,’” Jorenby says.
12. You can beat that craving.
A craving is like a wave that peaks and falls away.
“No matter how intense the craving is, it will fade on its own,” Augustson says.
So how do you get through those times when you think you’ll explode without a cigarette?
First, try a chewing nicotine gum or popping a lozenge. If that doesn’t help, distract yourself. Take a walk or hot bath – or call a friend. The desire will eventually fade.
13. Get real about weight gain.
Let’s face facts: Most quitters gain 5-10 pounds during the process.
More women than men fear losing the battle of the bulge after quitting, though guys admit they worry about it too, Jorenby says.
But concentrate on the big picture here: The health problems from smoking far outweigh those from a slight weight gain. You’d have to put on 100 pounds to equal the damage of smoking, Glynn says.
Remember: Quitters often get more active and feel better about walking, running and exercising.
And keep healthy munchies — carrot and celery sticks or fruit — on hand to help get your oral fix or curb the craving to eat.
14. Reward yourself.
Don’t think of quitting as denying yourself. Instead, reward your progress and efforts with treats one week, two weeks and three weeks after Quit Day.
But to avoid weight gain, don’t reward yourself with food. Get a massage, a new exercise outfit or spend a day at a spa.
“People who feel they’ve lost a best friend need positive reinforcement and something to look forward to during what feels like self-deprivation,” Jorenby says.
15. Avoid smoking scams.
Don’t invest in stop-smoking devices that seem to be too good to be true. They probably are.
There’s no data proving the effectiveness of replacement electronic cigarettes or e-cigarettes — battery-powered devices in which you inhale nicotine vapor, but take in none of the other harmful chemicals found in tobacco smoke, Glynn says.
“You have to question whether you want to be a guinea pig,” he says.
What about hypnosis or acupuncture? All three experts agree that clinical trials haven’t proven that these methods work.
You know smoking is bad for you. It's the leading cause of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It also causes cancer, heart disease and stroke. It kills 440,000 people a year. And we’re not even counting its hit on your pocketbook and social life.
But you just keep coming back for more. Many others — about 23 million women smokers, according to the American Heart Association — feel your pain.
In fact, smoking among adults rose for the first time in 15 years, according to statistics released this month by the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention.
In a phone survey of 22,000 adults, about 20.6% said they smoked in 2008, an increase from 19.8% in 2007.
But there’s good news: If you want to quit, it’s easier than ever before thanks to a host of new tools and techniques.
Medications, a promising new vaccine, nicotine replacement therapies, counseling services, telephone support lines, smart phone apps and social media tools like Twitter and Facebook can help even longtime smokers free themselves from tobacco’s iron grip.
So stub out that smoke and throw away that pack. Here are 15 tips to get cigarettes out of your life for good – no ifs, ands or butts.
1. Don’t be discouraged by past failures.
You’ve tried to quit and failed. Are you thinking: There’s no way I can ever succeed?
Don’t let past failures derail your healthy future. Instead, start thinking of quitting as a journey that stops and starts. If you slip, just begin again.
Smokers learn from each slip, so build on that knowledge, says Thomas Glynn, director of international cancer control for the American Cancer Society.
People rarely succeed on the first try, he says. “It usually takes five to seven serious attempts before they finally quit.”
2. Figure out why you want to quit.
Quitting is like giving up a best friend. It’s not a decision to make lightly, Glynn says.
So take a deep breath and consider your motivation for quitting. Do you want to watch your children or grandchildren grow up? Walk up a flight of stairs without wheezing? Save money?
Whatever your reason, write it down on a paper and laminate it. Carry it with you at all times. When the urge to smoke overwhelms you, read it.
“You need to remind yourself of that motivation,” Glynn says.
3. Don’t go cold turkey.
Everyone seems to know the person who decided to quit, tossed the packs and never picked up a cigarette again. Beware: Those people are rare.
Going cold turkey may be the most popular quit-smoking method, but it’s “a fairly spectacularly, ineffective way,” says Douglas E. Jorenby, professor of medicine and director of clinical services at the Center for Tobacco Research and Intervention at the University of Wisconsin.
About 95% of quitters who go cold turkey relapse within a year, he says.
The most successful quitting programs had three components: counseling, social support and medication, according to the U.S. Public Health Service’s 2008 analysis of 30 years of smoking-cessation research. Your plan should incorporate all three.
“Quitting smoking is hard enough, why not … help that process?” asks Erik Augustson, clinical psychologist and behavioral scientist with the tobacco control research branch of the National Cancer Institute.
4. Call-in tech support.
Quality counseling is as close as your cell phone or iPhone app.
Call a quit line or text a friend if the urge to smoke gets too strong.
Look for communities on the Web, such as women.smokefree.gov and its accompanying Facebook page and Twitter feed.
You can even download applications, some free, to your iPhone to track your smoking and set goals for cutting back. Check out My Quit Line (search on your iPhone or iTunes or tobacco-cessation.org) or Smokeless (iphonehealthapps.net/).
All 50 states have free quit-smoking telephone lines, usually staffed with well-trained counselors to help devise a plan and give you medical advice, Jorenby says.
The national access number to state-based quit services is (800) QUIT NOW (784-8669), usually open during business hours.
Surprisingly, only 1%-4% of smokers use them.
5. Try nicotine replacement therapy (NRT).
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved five forms of over-the-counter NRTs: gum, patch, lozenge, nasal spray and inhaler.
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist to see which might be best for you and check your health insurance policy to see which might be covered.
Also, before you choose a method, think about your smoking habits. Do you need something to do with your hands? The inhaler or nasal spray might be best.
Do you need an oral fix? Try gum.
Would you prefer to not think about it at all? Slap on a patch in the morning and forget about it.
6. Consider prescription drugs.
The FDA has approved two prescription medications to help smokers quit. Both act on the brain, where nicotine stimulates the pleasure centers.
One is the antidepressant bupropion (brand name Zyban), because smokers typically suffer from depression more than non-smokers do, Glynn says.
In a study of 707 smokers comparing bupropion to a placebo, researchers found that the drug relieved depression and helped them drop the habit. After a year, 21% of the bupropion users had stayed away from cigarettes; only 11% of the placebo group did, according to the findings published in 2003 in the Journal of Internal Medicine.
The second medication, Varenicline (brand name Chantix), reduces cravings by blocking the brain from getting pleasure from nicotine. For it to be effective, however, smokers must stick with the prescribed 12-week regimen, Glynn cautions.
“On average, medication can double your chances of successfully quitting, and if you can combine the medication with [counseling] you can triple your chances,” he says.
More promising is a vaccine that will prevent nicotine from arousing the brain’s pleasure sensors.
The National Institute on Drug Abuse, a division of the National Institutes of Health, gave Nabi BioPharmaceuticals a $10-million grant to take its anti-nicotine vaccine, NicVAX, to Phase III clinical trials.
Any public release is years away, but “it holds a lot of potential,” says the NCI’s Augustson. “I don’t think there’s going to be a magic bullet. Smokers may still have to do work.”
7. Don’t limit yourself to one method.
Smoking is such a pernicious addiction that no one treatment has produced a quit rate of more than 30%, Augustson says.
But combining NRTs or medications may help overcome the odds, studies show.
Jorenby, for example, was one of the lead researchers on a clinical trial that compared several smoking-cessation therapies. The results, published this year in the Archives of General Psychiatry, found that combining the patch and lozenge was the most effective method.
The study’s 1,504 smokers were randomly assigned to one of six treatment groups: nicotine lozenge alone, nicotine patch alone, bupropion alone, patch plus nicotine lozenge, bupropion plus nicotine lozenge or placebo. They also received counseling.
After six months, those using the patch and lozenge had a 40% quit rate. (That percentage, however, was expected to decline over time, researchers said.) This may be due to the steady nicotine supply from the patch and periodic boosts from lozenges, according to the scientists.
8. Set a Quit Day.
Saying “I’ll quit tomorrow” without planning is a surefire way to fail.
Set a Quit Day several weeks ahead so you begin to picture yourself as a nonsmoker, Glynn says.
That way you can start to make small changes to smoking behavior. For example, don’t have that cigarette with your first cup of coffee.
9. Clean house.
Before Quit Day, ransack your house and toss all stashes of cigarettes.
Get that pack out of the sock drawer and the car’s glove compartment. Clean up ashtrays and butts that you’ve flicked into the bushes around your house.
It may seem revolting to think of smoking used butts, but what seems “absolutely disgusting today may not be three or four days after your quit date,” Jorenby says.
10. Get your friends and family on board.
Before Quit Day, warn your family that you’ll be grouchy or nervous. Tell your friends not to let you bum cigarettes, no matter how much you plead. Recruit a buddy to help talk you through bad moments – even when 2 a.m. cravings hit.
“Social support tends to be more important for women than for men,” Augustson says.
But some women want someone checking in; others want support, but not nagging.
“Define what kind of help you want,” Augustson advises.
Women are also more likely than men to seek formal treatment from counselors, support groups or smoking clinics; guys often try to tough it out, experts say.
11. Avoid triggers.
Stay away from situations that trigger a craving for a smoke. If you once smoked with buddies outside the office lobby, avoid it.
“Most people who smoke are very good at being able to anticipate [triggers] because their smoking is so regular,” Jorenby says.
Alcohol can set off potent cravings because a smoke and drink often go together. So stay away from martinis or beer for several months or go to a smoke-free bar.
Cut back on coffee too. Because nicotine helps to metabolize caffeine in the body, you may find that you’re bouncing off the walls with your normal consumption.
Of course, some situations just can’t be avoided, so you’ll just have to stay strong.
“I’ve had people tell me with a straight face, ‘Doc, my car won’t start unless I have a cigarette in my hand,’” Jorenby says.
12. You can beat that craving.
A craving is like a wave that peaks and falls away.
“No matter how intense the craving is, it will fade on its own,” Augustson says.
So how do you get through those times when you think you’ll explode without a cigarette?
First, try a chewing nicotine gum or popping a lozenge. If that doesn’t help, distract yourself. Take a walk or hot bath – or call a friend. The desire will eventually fade.
13. Get real about weight gain.
Let’s face facts: Most quitters gain 5-10 pounds during the process.
More women than men fear losing the battle of the bulge after quitting, though guys admit they worry about it too, Jorenby says.
But concentrate on the big picture here: The health problems from smoking far outweigh those from a slight weight gain. You’d have to put on 100 pounds to equal the damage of smoking, Glynn says.
Remember: Quitters often get more active and feel better about walking, running and exercising.
And keep healthy munchies — carrot and celery sticks or fruit — on hand to help get your oral fix or curb the craving to eat.
14. Reward yourself.
Don’t think of quitting as denying yourself. Instead, reward your progress and efforts with treats one week, two weeks and three weeks after Quit Day.
But to avoid weight gain, don’t reward yourself with food. Get a massage, a new exercise outfit or spend a day at a spa.
“People who feel they’ve lost a best friend need positive reinforcement and something to look forward to during what feels like self-deprivation,” Jorenby says.
15. Avoid smoking scams.
Don’t invest in stop-smoking devices that seem to be too good to be true. They probably are.
There’s no data proving the effectiveness of replacement electronic cigarettes or e-cigarettes — battery-powered devices in which you inhale nicotine vapor, but take in none of the other harmful chemicals found in tobacco smoke, Glynn says.
“You have to question whether you want to be a guinea pig,” he says.
What about hypnosis or acupuncture? All three experts agree that clinical trials haven’t proven that these methods work.
CBS 2′s David Goldstein Uncovers the Hidden Truth About Bed Bugs
Everyone has been up in arms about the recent swarms of bed bugs found in hotels and even in their own home, and many services are taking advantage of the public’s fear of these micro-mites to cash in.
David Goldstein from CBS 2 and his team decided to do a hidden camera investigation of these bogus companies who claim to be bed beg “experts” and expose their schemes. Hear the ugly truth about bed bugs from David Goldstein.
David Goldstein and the CBS 2 investigation team set up a hidden camera to bust cheating companies claiming they are bed bug “experts” just so they can charge for examining your house for mites. They set up in a local apartment that didn’t have traces of bed bugs and let the cameras roll.
They found that while some companies were truthful in their inspection, other companies took advantage of the situation and lied about finding bed bugs so the client would need their services. Too bad their fraud was all caught on camera on an investigation on CBS 2. Look it up online at CBS 2.
David Goldstein from CBS 2 and his team decided to do a hidden camera investigation of these bogus companies who claim to be bed beg “experts” and expose their schemes. Hear the ugly truth about bed bugs from David Goldstein.
David Goldstein and the CBS 2 investigation team set up a hidden camera to bust cheating companies claiming they are bed bug “experts” just so they can charge for examining your house for mites. They set up in a local apartment that didn’t have traces of bed bugs and let the cameras roll.
They found that while some companies were truthful in their inspection, other companies took advantage of the situation and lied about finding bed bugs so the client would need their services. Too bad their fraud was all caught on camera on an investigation on CBS 2. Look it up online at CBS 2.
The Secret Ways To Lose Weight With Fast Food
Hearing you can lose weight by eating fast food you probably automatically think it’s an oxymoron. But according to Men’s Health Magazine, you actually can lose weight when you eat fast food. But, before you go and buy yourself a number seven super-sized, you need to know what you can and can’t eat.
Here are the secret to a fast-food diet.
1. Don’t fall for combos
Saying yes when asked if you’d like the combo, is pretty much the same as saying you’d like to super-size your meal. Not only is it a way for the fast food chain to make some extra dollars, it’s also a way to add unnecessary fat and calories to your meal.
2. Chew it over
Believe it or not, how much you chew your food can determine how many calories you consume overall. According to a 2009 study by researchers, they found chewing each bite for 3 extra seconds could help you consume fewer calories because your brain senses the food and makes you feel full quicker.
3. Beware of the “heath halo”
The health halo is when you believe food from a fast food chain that’s perceived as being “healthy” actually is healthier for you, compared to food from an “unhealthy” chain. More often than not, when someone is ordering food from somewhere they think is “heathier” they tend to order more food and in the long run eat more calories.
4. Side with Wendy’s Chili
The Chili at Wendy’s (a personal favorite) actually provides 25% more food and three times as much protein as a large order of fries. Plus, it will save you 320 calories. Their Jr. Cheeseburger paired with a side chili together total less than 500 calories!
5. Give milk shakes the cold shoulder
There is a reason why milk shakes are so delicious. It’s a combo of two of the worst ingredients for us, liquefied sugar and liquefied fat. Most orders are over 1,000 calories! You’re better off with a single scoop of ice cream from your favorite ice cream parlour.
6. Beware of the deli “salad”
When we think of salad, usually it’s lettuce and other veggies in a bowl. But at many fast food restaurants, when you see salad it’s usually paired with a little bit of tuna, egg or chicken mixed with a ton of fattening mayo. Gross! Stay away! Some of these salad sandwiches are over 1,000 calories!
7. Think thin (crust)
The part of the pizza which packs on the calories isn’t the toppings…it’s the crust! Go thin crust! Most deep-dish pizzas are over 1,000 calories even BEFORE any of the toppings.
8. Order a cappuccino over a latte
Why you may ask? Cappuccinos start with a base of steamed milk, which adds more air into the mix. Compared to a latte, with no air. More air = fewer calories!
9. Go fresco at Taco Bell
When heading to the border, order off their fresco menu. Not one item has more than 340 calories and they’re complete with tons of protein and fiber which will fill you up.
10. Choose bacon over sausage
Ham is always the clear winner when it comes to breakfast meats. But since most people would rather have bacon or sausage, go with bacon.
11. Skip the soda…and the juice and sweet tea
All of those tasty beverages are loaded with sugar. And the more sugar you drink the more calories you’re taking in. A study from The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that after six months, subjects who cut 100 daily calories from sweetened beverages lost five times more weight than people who cut 100 daily calories from food.
12. Order by number
Now that most chains in California are required to post calorie content, order by that number. That way you know exactly how many calories you’re eating. Who knows, you may even find something new you like!
13. Go to Chipotle, but skip the burrito.
Chipotle in SoCal is huge! Everyone seems to love the burritos. But even though you’re getting a ton of great proteins and fiber to fill you up, the tortilla is what raises the red flag. Instead of opting for the burrito, have a bowl instead. That will save you almost 300 calories alone!
14. Build your own sandwich
Put yourself in control. You decide exactly what you want on your sandwich. Opt-out from all the fattening sauces and oils. Go with whole grain, lean meats and tons of veggies. And use mustard as your condiment!
15. Hold the mayo
Mayo alone can add up to almost 200 extra calories on any burger or sandwich. Be sure to say “hold the mayo” whenever possible. Request ketchup or barbecue sauce instead.
16. Grill the chicken at KFC
Ordering a two-piece grilled breast and wing meal will save you almost 300 calories and 71 mg of sodium. Or head to El Pollo Loco, who grills all of their chicken.
17. Call in the dogs
You can easily save almost 200 calories by order a hot dog instead of a hamburger. The size of the American hamburger has risen to be two to five times larger than they were 20 years ago, compared to the unchanged in size hot dog.
18. Skip the “secret sauce”
Once again, it all goes back to mayo. These sauces tend to be three parts mayo to two parts ketchup, with a few herbs. Just like a relationship, no secrets!
19. Skip the breakfast muffin and bagels
Both of these lack one of the main ingredients that will keep you full, protein. You’re just eating a bunch of carbs, which will turn to sugar, which will turn to fat. Stick to egg bases sandwiches.
20. Order from the secret menu
This is where the word secret is a good thing. There are two which are worth remembering: he Chicken Marinara at Subway makes a great alternative to the Meatball Marinara, and it saves you 260 calories and 19 grams of fat. At Starbucks, ask to have your sweetened coffee drink served from a “short” cup, which you won’t see listed on the menu. Both will save you calories!
Here are the secret to a fast-food diet.
1. Don’t fall for combos
Saying yes when asked if you’d like the combo, is pretty much the same as saying you’d like to super-size your meal. Not only is it a way for the fast food chain to make some extra dollars, it’s also a way to add unnecessary fat and calories to your meal.
2. Chew it over
Believe it or not, how much you chew your food can determine how many calories you consume overall. According to a 2009 study by researchers, they found chewing each bite for 3 extra seconds could help you consume fewer calories because your brain senses the food and makes you feel full quicker.
3. Beware of the “heath halo”
The health halo is when you believe food from a fast food chain that’s perceived as being “healthy” actually is healthier for you, compared to food from an “unhealthy” chain. More often than not, when someone is ordering food from somewhere they think is “heathier” they tend to order more food and in the long run eat more calories.
4. Side with Wendy’s Chili
The Chili at Wendy’s (a personal favorite) actually provides 25% more food and three times as much protein as a large order of fries. Plus, it will save you 320 calories. Their Jr. Cheeseburger paired with a side chili together total less than 500 calories!
5. Give milk shakes the cold shoulder
There is a reason why milk shakes are so delicious. It’s a combo of two of the worst ingredients for us, liquefied sugar and liquefied fat. Most orders are over 1,000 calories! You’re better off with a single scoop of ice cream from your favorite ice cream parlour.
6. Beware of the deli “salad”
When we think of salad, usually it’s lettuce and other veggies in a bowl. But at many fast food restaurants, when you see salad it’s usually paired with a little bit of tuna, egg or chicken mixed with a ton of fattening mayo. Gross! Stay away! Some of these salad sandwiches are over 1,000 calories!
7. Think thin (crust)
The part of the pizza which packs on the calories isn’t the toppings…it’s the crust! Go thin crust! Most deep-dish pizzas are over 1,000 calories even BEFORE any of the toppings.
8. Order a cappuccino over a latte
Why you may ask? Cappuccinos start with a base of steamed milk, which adds more air into the mix. Compared to a latte, with no air. More air = fewer calories!
9. Go fresco at Taco Bell
When heading to the border, order off their fresco menu. Not one item has more than 340 calories and they’re complete with tons of protein and fiber which will fill you up.
10. Choose bacon over sausage
Ham is always the clear winner when it comes to breakfast meats. But since most people would rather have bacon or sausage, go with bacon.
11. Skip the soda…and the juice and sweet tea
All of those tasty beverages are loaded with sugar. And the more sugar you drink the more calories you’re taking in. A study from The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that after six months, subjects who cut 100 daily calories from sweetened beverages lost five times more weight than people who cut 100 daily calories from food.
12. Order by number
Now that most chains in California are required to post calorie content, order by that number. That way you know exactly how many calories you’re eating. Who knows, you may even find something new you like!
13. Go to Chipotle, but skip the burrito.
Chipotle in SoCal is huge! Everyone seems to love the burritos. But even though you’re getting a ton of great proteins and fiber to fill you up, the tortilla is what raises the red flag. Instead of opting for the burrito, have a bowl instead. That will save you almost 300 calories alone!
14. Build your own sandwich
Put yourself in control. You decide exactly what you want on your sandwich. Opt-out from all the fattening sauces and oils. Go with whole grain, lean meats and tons of veggies. And use mustard as your condiment!
15. Hold the mayo
Mayo alone can add up to almost 200 extra calories on any burger or sandwich. Be sure to say “hold the mayo” whenever possible. Request ketchup or barbecue sauce instead.
16. Grill the chicken at KFC
Ordering a two-piece grilled breast and wing meal will save you almost 300 calories and 71 mg of sodium. Or head to El Pollo Loco, who grills all of their chicken.
17. Call in the dogs
You can easily save almost 200 calories by order a hot dog instead of a hamburger. The size of the American hamburger has risen to be two to five times larger than they were 20 years ago, compared to the unchanged in size hot dog.
18. Skip the “secret sauce”
Once again, it all goes back to mayo. These sauces tend to be three parts mayo to two parts ketchup, with a few herbs. Just like a relationship, no secrets!
19. Skip the breakfast muffin and bagels
Both of these lack one of the main ingredients that will keep you full, protein. You’re just eating a bunch of carbs, which will turn to sugar, which will turn to fat. Stick to egg bases sandwiches.
20. Order from the secret menu
This is where the word secret is a good thing. There are two which are worth remembering: he Chicken Marinara at Subway makes a great alternative to the Meatball Marinara, and it saves you 260 calories and 19 grams of fat. At Starbucks, ask to have your sweetened coffee drink served from a “short” cup, which you won’t see listed on the menu. Both will save you calories!
Saturday, October 30, 2010
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
Each time you make a decision to move toward the life you say you want, you are doing your most important spiritual work. I call these daily choices your 'holy moments'.
Eat These 3 Fall Foods to Lose Weight
Now that fall's in full swing, it's time to take advantage of the season's bounty. And what a bounty it is, filled with delicious and healthy veggies that can help you lose weight and satisfy your cravings for great-tasting food. Here are three especially tasty and somewhat unusual treats to try this autumn:
1. Parsnips: Often called "white carrots," parsnips have an earthy, slightly sweet taste, and are perfect for a side dish or snack. They're high in complex carbs and fiber, which will help fill you up, and are an excellent source of vitamin C and folic acid. Roast them to bring out the most flavor.
2. Turnips: This root vegetable has a mild taste when cooked, and its abundant fiber and water will make you full fast. Plus, turnips are a good source of calcium, vitamin C and folate, and only have about 45 calories each. Try them in stews or stir-fries, or mashed like potatoes.
3. Kabocha squash: Even sweeter than butternut squash, kabocha is also known as Japanese pumpkin. Its fiber will satisfy your stomach, and it's also an excellent source of vitamin A. Try kabocha roasted, steamed, mashed or in a bisque or soup for a flavorful fall dish.
1. Parsnips: Often called "white carrots," parsnips have an earthy, slightly sweet taste, and are perfect for a side dish or snack. They're high in complex carbs and fiber, which will help fill you up, and are an excellent source of vitamin C and folic acid. Roast them to bring out the most flavor.
2. Turnips: This root vegetable has a mild taste when cooked, and its abundant fiber and water will make you full fast. Plus, turnips are a good source of calcium, vitamin C and folate, and only have about 45 calories each. Try them in stews or stir-fries, or mashed like potatoes.
3. Kabocha squash: Even sweeter than butternut squash, kabocha is also known as Japanese pumpkin. Its fiber will satisfy your stomach, and it's also an excellent source of vitamin A. Try kabocha roasted, steamed, mashed or in a bisque or soup for a flavorful fall dish.
Q&A - How Do I Deal With Narcissistic People?
Q: I’ve been dealing with many narcissistic people lately. Once I see how self-involved they are, I walk away. How can I get along with them?
-Paula Z.
A: Hi Paula,
Welcome to the new world! With so many “ME”-oriented technologies these days – like Twitter, YouTube and Facebook – there’s a tremendous push toward self-involvement. Narcissism comes in two forms: The first is where the person is full of self-admiration and self-centeredness. The second is a psychiatric personality disorder in which the narcissistic behavior is more extreme and the person shows an excessive need to be admired.
So how do you deal with a narcissist? It depends on which of the above definitions best describes the person’s behavior. Unless the people you’re referring to are family, clients or co-workers, I don’t think that avoiding them is a bad idea at all. We’re all better off if we minimize or eliminate the amount of contact we have with unhealthy, inconsiderate or toxic personalities.
Wishing You Great Health,
Dr. John H. Sklare
www.innerdiet.com
-Paula Z.
A: Hi Paula,
Welcome to the new world! With so many “ME”-oriented technologies these days – like Twitter, YouTube and Facebook – there’s a tremendous push toward self-involvement. Narcissism comes in two forms: The first is where the person is full of self-admiration and self-centeredness. The second is a psychiatric personality disorder in which the narcissistic behavior is more extreme and the person shows an excessive need to be admired.
So how do you deal with a narcissist? It depends on which of the above definitions best describes the person’s behavior. Unless the people you’re referring to are family, clients or co-workers, I don’t think that avoiding them is a bad idea at all. We’re all better off if we minimize or eliminate the amount of contact we have with unhealthy, inconsiderate or toxic personalities.
Wishing You Great Health,
Dr. John H. Sklare
www.innerdiet.com
Smoking doubles dementia risk in late life: study
CHICAGO (Reuters) - Heavy smoking during middle age can double the risk of Alzheimer's disease and dementia two decades later, researchers said on Monday.
Smoking already causes millions of deaths each year from cancer and heart disease.
"Our study suggests that heavy smoking in middle age increases the risk of both Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia for men and women across different race groups," Rachel Whitmer, a research scientist with Kaiser Permanente in Oakland, California and colleagues wrote in the Archives of Internal Medicine.
They said smoking also causes cancer and heart disease. The new findings show it threatens public health in late life, when people are already more likely to develop dementia.
Whitmer's team analyzed data from 21,123 members of a health plan who took part in a survey when they were in their 50s and 60s.
About 25 percent of the group, 5,367 volunteers, were diagnosed with some form of dementia in the more than 20 years of follow up, including 1,136 people who were diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.
Alzheimer's, the most common form of dementia, is a fatal brain disease in which people gradually lose their memories and their abilities to reason and care for themselves. It affects more than 26 million people globally.
People who smoked more than two packs of cigarettes a day had a higher risk of both Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia.
"The increase in risk is not just for heavy smokers," Whitmer said in a telephone interview. "It's not if you smoke less you are in the clear, that is for sure."
She said compared with nonsmokers, those who smoked more than two packs a day had a 114 percent increased risk of dementia, a 157 percent increased risk of Alzheimer's disease and a 172 percent greater risk of vascular dementia.
Whitmer said it has been difficult to study the effects of smoking on brain health because heavy smokers often die from other conditions first.
"This is the first time someone has been able to look really over the long term," Whitmer said.
"We've known for some time that smoking is bad for your respective health," she said. "This really adds to our understanding that the brain is also susceptible.
The World Health Organization says 5 million people die every year from tobacco-related heart attacks, strokes and cancers. Another 430,000 adults die annually from breathing second-hand smoke.
A report last month said the worldwide costs of coping with dementia will reach $604 billion in 2010, more than one percent of global GDP output, and those costs will soar further as the number of sufferers triples by 2050.
SOURCE: http://link.reuters.com/ryj22q Archives of Internal Medicine, online October 25, 2010.
Smoking already causes millions of deaths each year from cancer and heart disease.
"Our study suggests that heavy smoking in middle age increases the risk of both Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia for men and women across different race groups," Rachel Whitmer, a research scientist with Kaiser Permanente in Oakland, California and colleagues wrote in the Archives of Internal Medicine.
They said smoking also causes cancer and heart disease. The new findings show it threatens public health in late life, when people are already more likely to develop dementia.
Whitmer's team analyzed data from 21,123 members of a health plan who took part in a survey when they were in their 50s and 60s.
About 25 percent of the group, 5,367 volunteers, were diagnosed with some form of dementia in the more than 20 years of follow up, including 1,136 people who were diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.
Alzheimer's, the most common form of dementia, is a fatal brain disease in which people gradually lose their memories and their abilities to reason and care for themselves. It affects more than 26 million people globally.
People who smoked more than two packs of cigarettes a day had a higher risk of both Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia.
"The increase in risk is not just for heavy smokers," Whitmer said in a telephone interview. "It's not if you smoke less you are in the clear, that is for sure."
She said compared with nonsmokers, those who smoked more than two packs a day had a 114 percent increased risk of dementia, a 157 percent increased risk of Alzheimer's disease and a 172 percent greater risk of vascular dementia.
Whitmer said it has been difficult to study the effects of smoking on brain health because heavy smokers often die from other conditions first.
"This is the first time someone has been able to look really over the long term," Whitmer said.
"We've known for some time that smoking is bad for your respective health," she said. "This really adds to our understanding that the brain is also susceptible.
The World Health Organization says 5 million people die every year from tobacco-related heart attacks, strokes and cancers. Another 430,000 adults die annually from breathing second-hand smoke.
A report last month said the worldwide costs of coping with dementia will reach $604 billion in 2010, more than one percent of global GDP output, and those costs will soar further as the number of sufferers triples by 2050.
SOURCE: http://link.reuters.com/ryj22q Archives of Internal Medicine, online October 25, 2010.
The Best Supermarket Snacks
Let's say you're craving something salty and crunchy for a snack. You're at the supermarket, walking down the snack food aisle, staring at all the endless varieties of chips and other snacky items. You narrow it down to three items that look relatively harmless: tortilla chips, baked potato chips and multigrain chips. But how do you know which will best satisfy your craving without throwing your diet all out of whack?
If you ended up with the multigrain chips, congratulations! Because they contain whole grains, they're higher in healthy B vitamins, and they also have about 3 grams of fiber per serving, which will fill you up faster than the alternatives.
But don't despair if you chose the baked potato chips as your snack food. Since they're baked instead of fried, they contain about 20 fewer calories and 6 fewer grams of fat per serving than regular chips. That said, they don't have much other nutritional value.
If the tortilla chips were calling your name, you'll want to rethink your choice next time. Though they have fewer calories than other crunchy snack choices (at 140 calories per serving), they also have about 7 grams of fat per serving. If you stick to just one serving—7 to 10 chips—that's okay. But any more than that could send your healthy eating plan into enemy territory.
If you ended up with the multigrain chips, congratulations! Because they contain whole grains, they're higher in healthy B vitamins, and they also have about 3 grams of fiber per serving, which will fill you up faster than the alternatives.
But don't despair if you chose the baked potato chips as your snack food. Since they're baked instead of fried, they contain about 20 fewer calories and 6 fewer grams of fat per serving than regular chips. That said, they don't have much other nutritional value.
If the tortilla chips were calling your name, you'll want to rethink your choice next time. Though they have fewer calories than other crunchy snack choices (at 140 calories per serving), they also have about 7 grams of fat per serving. If you stick to just one serving—7 to 10 chips—that's okay. But any more than that could send your healthy eating plan into enemy territory.
This will make sense if you read what's underneath this, Thank You.
“Give Me 15 Minutes a Day, and I’ll Help You Safely Lose 2 Pounds a Week!”
Now, Get Rid of Excess Fat with the Same Safe, All-Natural, 7-Step Weight Loss Program That Helped “SM” Shed 77 Pounds in No Time Flat.
Dear Health Conscious Reader,
When SM came to my office, he looked like he was on his last legs: red-faced, huffing, sweating, and 100 pounds overweight – with a body fat level over 50%.
“I can’t stop eating,” he complained to me, “and I can’t lose weight. Dr. Sears, I’m sick and tired of being fat. Is there anything you can do to help me?”
I sat down with SM, and for perhaps the 500th time in my medical practice, began outlining my unique 7-step method for losing weight safely and rapidly.
None of my suggestions involved counting calories … low-fat dieting … or other weight-loss “fads.”
The advice I gave SM was new to him -- but not, of course, to me.
I have repeated my 7-step weight loss plan -- almost word-for-word – to hundreds of my patients, readers, business associates, and friends over the years.
And the results they’ve achieved have been nothing short of spectacular:
EJ, an attractive young woman, weighed 169 pounds with 34% body fat. She lost 10 pounds in 10 weeks, and her body fat dropped down to 28%.
BD lost 13 pounds and lowered his body fat from 35% to only 16%. He also feels better, sleeps more soundly, and has more energy.
JM lowered his body fat from 35% to 15% -- and says that his “spare tire” and double chin have both completely disappeared.
Once again, I presented my battle-tested 7-step fat-loss program. And although SM was a tad skeptical, he promised to give it a try … because the idea that he could lose weight without crazy diets or endless hours in the gym appealed to him.
Well, I kind of forgot about SM … until, that is, his next appointment 3 months later.
When I stepped into the examining room, SM was grinning from ear to ear – and I saw a changed man before me.
He had lost 77 pounds. And when I measured his body fat, it had gone from 50% to only 18.8%.
Hundreds of my patients – SM included – have gotten amazing results with my breakthrough 7-step fat-loss program.
The word of mouth here in Florida is nothing short of incredible.
Every week I get e-mails, letters, and calls from people for whom nothing else has worked -- men and women who, no matter how hard they’ve tried, just haven’t been able to lose weight. Until now.
Introducing Dr. Sears’
7 Steps to High-Speed Fat Loss
By studying the science behind human metabolism and weight gain, we’ve finally developed a sure-fire way for anyone to lose as much weight as they want. Our patients tell us it’s nothing short of a miracle!
Now, if you … or someone you care about … wants to lose weight, there’s no easier, safer, or faster way than with Dr. Sears’ High-Speed Fat Loss in 7 Easy Steps program. Throw your metabolic switch -- and burn up the fat
All 7 steps in the High-Speed Fat Loss system are important. But none is more important than the first step: telling your body not to store fat by eating more protein than you need.
Why? Well, early humans never knew when they would have plenty to eat … or starve. There were no refrigerators or freezers to store food. So they ate meat only when the hunters caught fresh game.
But the hunters were not always successful. When they went without a kill, the tribe would go hungry – no meat, no protein.
Evolution trained the human body to survive this feast or famine cycle. When protein levels are low, it signals our bodies to store fat – even today – to survive what it perceives as a coming famine.
Conversely, when protein levels are high, it triggers a metabolic switch. The switch tells your body that times are good, and it does not need to store fat. Result: it can now burn fat for other things.
The Journal of Obesity published a study of 65 patients in which half ate a high-protein diet while the other half ate a low-protein diet. After 6 months, the group eating high protein lost more weight than the low protein group.
And here are the 7 steps….
>> Step #1: Power up Your Metabolism with This Vital Nutrient … eating this one food throws a “metabolic switch” that ignites high-speed fat loss – burning your food for calories instead of storing it as body fat.
>> Step #2: Purge Empty “Energy Robbers” from Your Diet … foods containing these compounds increase your glycemic load, undermining your fat loss goals.
>> Step #3: Eat Fats Your Body Can Burn … eliminate from your diet those fats your body stores, and eat more of the fats that your body oxidizes, keeping you lean.
>>Step #4: Ingest Fat-Burning “Catalysts” … these are nature’s fat-loss nutrients – specific minerals that help your body metabolize fat more rapidly.
>>Step #5: Teach Your Body Not to Store Fat … a unique exercise program that stops your body from storing fat, helps you lose weight quickly. It doesn’t require endless hours in the gym. And anyone can do it!
>>Step #6: Adjust Your Metabolism to Get Lean and Mean … control your metabolism so you attain – and maintain – your ideal weight and body fat levels.
>>Step #7: Eat Like a King or Queen and Still Lose Weight … delicious fat-loss foods that let you lose weight while walking away from every meal satisfied and satiated.
Those are the broad strokes: the key concepts, the big ideas behind the 7-step weight loss system that’s been helping my patients lose fat for years.
But you need more than ideas. You need the specifics: dietary supplements to take, meals to eat, foods to avoid, exercises, ways to monitor progress, and more.
And now, you can get them … without coming to my Florida clinic … in my new guide and workbook….
Dr. Sears’ High-Speed Fat Loss
In 7 Easy Steps
The sad reality is: most weight-loss programs simply don’t work.
The proof is that 90% or more of those people who lose weight when they diet or follow a weight loss plan will regain it all – and in some cases, even more – within 5 years.
Americans spend $37 billion a year on weight loss products. Yet, 64.5% of adults in the U.S. are overweight or obese.
Obviously, something is rotten in the state of Denmark.
That’s the reason I’ve written Dr. Sears’ High-Speed Fat Loss in 7 Easy Steps.My new guide enables my readers worldwide to put Dr. Sears’ proven 7-step weight loss program to work in the comfort and privacy of their own homes.
Follow the simple instructions and watch the pounds disappear. Fit into jeans you haven’t worn since high school. Get rid of that spare tire. Vanish those “thunder thighs.” Watch cankles – and your extra chins – disappear.
You’ll look – and feel – better than you have in years. Without all that extra fat around your middle … or in your rear … you’ll enjoy hiking, playing sports, even swimming once again. You’ll be proud – not embarrassed – to stroll in shorts or hit the beach in your bathing suit. These tasty foods won’t make you fat….
How do carbohydrates make us fat?When your blood sugar rises, your body releases insulin into your bloodstream. The excess insulin tells your body to store more of the calories you consume as body fat.
The “glycemic index”, (GI) measures how the carbohydrates in foods increase your blood sugar. Foods with a high GI trigger the release of excess insulin, making you fat.
The higher the glycemic index of a food, the more it causes your blood sugar to rise.
Foods with a GI of zero do not raise your blood sugar or trigger insulin production. Foods with a GI of 100 elevate your blood sugar as much as pure glucose.
What to do: To achieve high-speed fat loss, make sure most of the foods you eat have a glycemic index below 40.
A table listing the glycemic of 215 grains, cereals, breads, pastas, beverages, fruits, potatoes, beans, nuts, and other popular foods begins on page 63 of Dr. Sears’ High-Speed Fat Loss in 7 Easy Steps.
Tip: Even foods most people think of as “healthy” often have too-high GI ratings. Example: Kellogg’s Corn Flakes have a glycemic index of 92! So check whatever you eat against this table first.
Your complete “Fat Loss Coach” in a box
In the Deluxe Edition of Dr. Sears’ High-Speed Fat Loss in 7 Easy Steps, you get my big 177-page guide and workbook -- PLUS all of the following:
Caliper set -- for measuring your body fat to lean muscle mass ratio according to simple instructions on page 44. Ideal body fat is 10-20% men and 15-25% women. Calipers let you measure your own body fat in the privacy of your home, without going to a personal trainer or doctor for measurement.
Myotape measure – for measuring thighs, calves, hips, and waist. It’s a real thrill to put the tape around your waist and see the inches melting away week after week!
Audio download: How to Beat Diabetes – Listen to Dr. Sears in his own words as he reveals the real culprit behind diabetes and how to beat it. This recording features Dr. Sears’ unique strategy for wiping out diabetes including a few inexpensive minerals most doctors don’t know about.
FREE bonus report #1, Use the Right Fats – mouth-watering fatty foods that are absolutely delicious – but won’t make you gain weight because they contain only healthy fats your body can oxidize instead of store.
FREE bonus report #2, Dr. Sears Super Fat Loss Tips – little-known weight-loss tips and techniques that aren’t part of our core 7-step system, and can help you shed even more pounds in less time.
Worksheets – for tracking weight, body fat, lean body mass, waistline, hip measurements, daily exercises. Starts on page 121.
Praise for our 7-step fat loss program
--Bill D. “I have lost 13 pounds. But what’s more amazing is that I am leaner than I have been in years. My body fat went from 35% to 16%.”
--E.D.“After 11 years of dieting, I finally lost the weight! I went from about 210 pounds to 160 pounds in about 6 months.”
--Sandy T.“These treatments have allowed me to lose body fat and gain lean muscle mass. I now have incredible energy and a sense of well-being that I have not experienced for years.”
--Lisa S.“Everyone has commented on my weight loss and said ‘you look great!’ My husband noticed a big change. I feel more confident and my clothes are so loose.”
--Maureen V.“Dr. Sears helped me go from a size 16 to a size 10. I am very happy with the way I look now. My neighbor hadn’t seen me in 3 months and could hardly recognize me."
--Theresa W.“I came to Dr. Sears and ended up losing 24 pounds right off the bat. I’m so happy!”
Lose weight fast or your money back
When your copy of Dr. Sears’ High-Speed Fat Loss in 7 Easy Steps arrives, examine it carefully. Study the workbook. Start following the food guidelines and doing the easy exercises. Keep a log of your daily activities by completing the worksheets.
Compare your weight before and after using Dr. Sears’ program. And then decide.
If you have not lost all the pounds you wanted to shed … if you are not leaner, trimmer, and more energetic …
Or if you are not 100% satisfied with Dr. Sears’ High-Speed Fat Loss in 7 Easy Steps for any reason … or for no reason at all …
Just return the workbook and any other materials received within 60 days for a full and prompt refund.
That way, you risk nothing. So what are you waiting for? To start losing fat the natural way – quickly, safely, and easily – without fad diets, weight loss pills, or spending your life at the gym, call toll-free 866-792-1035 today. Or just click below now:
To Your Good Health,
Al Sears, M.D.
Now, Get Rid of Excess Fat with the Same Safe, All-Natural, 7-Step Weight Loss Program That Helped “SM” Shed 77 Pounds in No Time Flat.
Dear Health Conscious Reader,
When SM came to my office, he looked like he was on his last legs: red-faced, huffing, sweating, and 100 pounds overweight – with a body fat level over 50%.
“I can’t stop eating,” he complained to me, “and I can’t lose weight. Dr. Sears, I’m sick and tired of being fat. Is there anything you can do to help me?”
I sat down with SM, and for perhaps the 500th time in my medical practice, began outlining my unique 7-step method for losing weight safely and rapidly.
None of my suggestions involved counting calories … low-fat dieting … or other weight-loss “fads.”
The advice I gave SM was new to him -- but not, of course, to me.
I have repeated my 7-step weight loss plan -- almost word-for-word – to hundreds of my patients, readers, business associates, and friends over the years.
And the results they’ve achieved have been nothing short of spectacular:
EJ, an attractive young woman, weighed 169 pounds with 34% body fat. She lost 10 pounds in 10 weeks, and her body fat dropped down to 28%.
BD lost 13 pounds and lowered his body fat from 35% to only 16%. He also feels better, sleeps more soundly, and has more energy.
JM lowered his body fat from 35% to 15% -- and says that his “spare tire” and double chin have both completely disappeared.
Once again, I presented my battle-tested 7-step fat-loss program. And although SM was a tad skeptical, he promised to give it a try … because the idea that he could lose weight without crazy diets or endless hours in the gym appealed to him.
Well, I kind of forgot about SM … until, that is, his next appointment 3 months later.
When I stepped into the examining room, SM was grinning from ear to ear – and I saw a changed man before me.
He had lost 77 pounds. And when I measured his body fat, it had gone from 50% to only 18.8%.
Hundreds of my patients – SM included – have gotten amazing results with my breakthrough 7-step fat-loss program.
The word of mouth here in Florida is nothing short of incredible.
Every week I get e-mails, letters, and calls from people for whom nothing else has worked -- men and women who, no matter how hard they’ve tried, just haven’t been able to lose weight. Until now.
Introducing Dr. Sears’
7 Steps to High-Speed Fat Loss
By studying the science behind human metabolism and weight gain, we’ve finally developed a sure-fire way for anyone to lose as much weight as they want. Our patients tell us it’s nothing short of a miracle!
Now, if you … or someone you care about … wants to lose weight, there’s no easier, safer, or faster way than with Dr. Sears’ High-Speed Fat Loss in 7 Easy Steps program. Throw your metabolic switch -- and burn up the fat
All 7 steps in the High-Speed Fat Loss system are important. But none is more important than the first step: telling your body not to store fat by eating more protein than you need.
Why? Well, early humans never knew when they would have plenty to eat … or starve. There were no refrigerators or freezers to store food. So they ate meat only when the hunters caught fresh game.
But the hunters were not always successful. When they went without a kill, the tribe would go hungry – no meat, no protein.
Evolution trained the human body to survive this feast or famine cycle. When protein levels are low, it signals our bodies to store fat – even today – to survive what it perceives as a coming famine.
Conversely, when protein levels are high, it triggers a metabolic switch. The switch tells your body that times are good, and it does not need to store fat. Result: it can now burn fat for other things.
The Journal of Obesity published a study of 65 patients in which half ate a high-protein diet while the other half ate a low-protein diet. After 6 months, the group eating high protein lost more weight than the low protein group.
And here are the 7 steps….
>> Step #1: Power up Your Metabolism with This Vital Nutrient … eating this one food throws a “metabolic switch” that ignites high-speed fat loss – burning your food for calories instead of storing it as body fat.
>> Step #2: Purge Empty “Energy Robbers” from Your Diet … foods containing these compounds increase your glycemic load, undermining your fat loss goals.
>> Step #3: Eat Fats Your Body Can Burn … eliminate from your diet those fats your body stores, and eat more of the fats that your body oxidizes, keeping you lean.
>>Step #4: Ingest Fat-Burning “Catalysts” … these are nature’s fat-loss nutrients – specific minerals that help your body metabolize fat more rapidly.
>>Step #5: Teach Your Body Not to Store Fat … a unique exercise program that stops your body from storing fat, helps you lose weight quickly. It doesn’t require endless hours in the gym. And anyone can do it!
>>Step #6: Adjust Your Metabolism to Get Lean and Mean … control your metabolism so you attain – and maintain – your ideal weight and body fat levels.
>>Step #7: Eat Like a King or Queen and Still Lose Weight … delicious fat-loss foods that let you lose weight while walking away from every meal satisfied and satiated.
Those are the broad strokes: the key concepts, the big ideas behind the 7-step weight loss system that’s been helping my patients lose fat for years.
But you need more than ideas. You need the specifics: dietary supplements to take, meals to eat, foods to avoid, exercises, ways to monitor progress, and more.
And now, you can get them … without coming to my Florida clinic … in my new guide and workbook….
Dr. Sears’ High-Speed Fat Loss
In 7 Easy Steps
The sad reality is: most weight-loss programs simply don’t work.
The proof is that 90% or more of those people who lose weight when they diet or follow a weight loss plan will regain it all – and in some cases, even more – within 5 years.
Americans spend $37 billion a year on weight loss products. Yet, 64.5% of adults in the U.S. are overweight or obese.
Obviously, something is rotten in the state of Denmark.
That’s the reason I’ve written Dr. Sears’ High-Speed Fat Loss in 7 Easy Steps.My new guide enables my readers worldwide to put Dr. Sears’ proven 7-step weight loss program to work in the comfort and privacy of their own homes.
Follow the simple instructions and watch the pounds disappear. Fit into jeans you haven’t worn since high school. Get rid of that spare tire. Vanish those “thunder thighs.” Watch cankles – and your extra chins – disappear.
You’ll look – and feel – better than you have in years. Without all that extra fat around your middle … or in your rear … you’ll enjoy hiking, playing sports, even swimming once again. You’ll be proud – not embarrassed – to stroll in shorts or hit the beach in your bathing suit. These tasty foods won’t make you fat….
How do carbohydrates make us fat?When your blood sugar rises, your body releases insulin into your bloodstream. The excess insulin tells your body to store more of the calories you consume as body fat.
The “glycemic index”, (GI) measures how the carbohydrates in foods increase your blood sugar. Foods with a high GI trigger the release of excess insulin, making you fat.
The higher the glycemic index of a food, the more it causes your blood sugar to rise.
Foods with a GI of zero do not raise your blood sugar or trigger insulin production. Foods with a GI of 100 elevate your blood sugar as much as pure glucose.
What to do: To achieve high-speed fat loss, make sure most of the foods you eat have a glycemic index below 40.
A table listing the glycemic of 215 grains, cereals, breads, pastas, beverages, fruits, potatoes, beans, nuts, and other popular foods begins on page 63 of Dr. Sears’ High-Speed Fat Loss in 7 Easy Steps.
Tip: Even foods most people think of as “healthy” often have too-high GI ratings. Example: Kellogg’s Corn Flakes have a glycemic index of 92! So check whatever you eat against this table first.
Your complete “Fat Loss Coach” in a box
In the Deluxe Edition of Dr. Sears’ High-Speed Fat Loss in 7 Easy Steps, you get my big 177-page guide and workbook -- PLUS all of the following:
Caliper set -- for measuring your body fat to lean muscle mass ratio according to simple instructions on page 44. Ideal body fat is 10-20% men and 15-25% women. Calipers let you measure your own body fat in the privacy of your home, without going to a personal trainer or doctor for measurement.
Myotape measure – for measuring thighs, calves, hips, and waist. It’s a real thrill to put the tape around your waist and see the inches melting away week after week!
Audio download: How to Beat Diabetes – Listen to Dr. Sears in his own words as he reveals the real culprit behind diabetes and how to beat it. This recording features Dr. Sears’ unique strategy for wiping out diabetes including a few inexpensive minerals most doctors don’t know about.
FREE bonus report #1, Use the Right Fats – mouth-watering fatty foods that are absolutely delicious – but won’t make you gain weight because they contain only healthy fats your body can oxidize instead of store.
FREE bonus report #2, Dr. Sears Super Fat Loss Tips – little-known weight-loss tips and techniques that aren’t part of our core 7-step system, and can help you shed even more pounds in less time.
Worksheets – for tracking weight, body fat, lean body mass, waistline, hip measurements, daily exercises. Starts on page 121.
Praise for our 7-step fat loss program
--Bill D. “I have lost 13 pounds. But what’s more amazing is that I am leaner than I have been in years. My body fat went from 35% to 16%.”
--E.D.“After 11 years of dieting, I finally lost the weight! I went from about 210 pounds to 160 pounds in about 6 months.”
--Sandy T.“These treatments have allowed me to lose body fat and gain lean muscle mass. I now have incredible energy and a sense of well-being that I have not experienced for years.”
--Lisa S.“Everyone has commented on my weight loss and said ‘you look great!’ My husband noticed a big change. I feel more confident and my clothes are so loose.”
--Maureen V.“Dr. Sears helped me go from a size 16 to a size 10. I am very happy with the way I look now. My neighbor hadn’t seen me in 3 months and could hardly recognize me."
--Theresa W.“I came to Dr. Sears and ended up losing 24 pounds right off the bat. I’m so happy!”
Lose weight fast or your money back
When your copy of Dr. Sears’ High-Speed Fat Loss in 7 Easy Steps arrives, examine it carefully. Study the workbook. Start following the food guidelines and doing the easy exercises. Keep a log of your daily activities by completing the worksheets.
Compare your weight before and after using Dr. Sears’ program. And then decide.
If you have not lost all the pounds you wanted to shed … if you are not leaner, trimmer, and more energetic …
Or if you are not 100% satisfied with Dr. Sears’ High-Speed Fat Loss in 7 Easy Steps for any reason … or for no reason at all …
Just return the workbook and any other materials received within 60 days for a full and prompt refund.
That way, you risk nothing. So what are you waiting for? To start losing fat the natural way – quickly, safely, and easily – without fad diets, weight loss pills, or spending your life at the gym, call toll-free 866-792-1035 today. Or just click below now:
To Your Good Health,
Al Sears, M.D.
Easy Ways to Balance Leptin and Drop Weight
Mainstream medicine tells you that the only way to drop weight is to cut your calories by eating low-fat food.
Yet, despite eating less fat, more Americans are fat today than at any time in history.
But researchers discovered a hormone that can help us unlock the mystery of weight gain – and weight reduction.
The discovery is important. It’s a hormone called leptin.
Leptin is a hormone made from fat cells, and tells your brain how much energy you have and how to use it. When you have enough, leptin tells your brain to stop eating and start melting fat. When your energy is low, leptin tells your brain to increase your appetite, so you’ll start eating.
More new research shows that you can become “leptin resistant” in the same way you can become insulin resistant.1 When your cells can no longer hear or understand the messages coming from hormones, we say they are resistant.
This happens when too much of the hormone is in the bloodstream for an extended period. In fact, leptin resistance can lead to insulin resistance. This in turn, puts you at risk for obesity, heart disease, diabetes and cancer.
When you eat foods that spike your blood sugar, both insulin and leptin get thrown out of balance. High blood sugar will trigger a surge of insulin. When that sugar is metabolized in your fat cells, those fat cells release a surge of leptin.
Like “crying wolf,” if this surge happens too often, the cells become resistant to leptin’s message. As a result, your brain never gets the message that you have enough energy stores to melt fat or control your appetite.
In addition to weight regulation, leptin plays a pivotal role in controlling your brain’s hypothalamus. This in turn regulates your “autonomic” functions – the ones that happen without you having to think about them.
These include:
• Body temperature
• Heart rate
• Hunger
• Stress response
• Fat melting and storage
• Reproductive behavior
• Bone growth and blood sugar levels
When you realize there’s so much more to this pathology than just weight gain, it’s no wonder weight gain is associated with so many chronic diseases.
Easy Ways to Balance Leptin and Drop Weight
Fortunately, there are simple ways of restoring balance. A study from a university in Canada shows that exercise and supplementing with fish oil can help your body become sensitive to leptin.1
Fish oil puts back essential omega-3 fatty acids into your system. And any amount of exercise seems to help with leptin resistance. At my clinic, we use my PACE program to gradually recondition your exercise capacity. You can do it in as little as 12 minutes a day.
Here’s another simple tip. High Fructose Corn Syrup is one of the leading culprits behind leptin and insulin resistance.2 It tells your brain to eat more and to build more fat. Think twice before you drink your next soda…
But these are just a couple of easy steps to start you off. If you want to drop more weight easily, safely and quickly, there’s no better or faster way than with my High-Speed Fat Loss in 7 Easy Steps program. I show you dietary supplements to take, meals to eat, foods to avoid, exercises, ways to monitor progress, and much more.
Go to; Al Sears MD on line and look this up to help yourself!
To Your Good Health,
Al Sears, MD
Yet, despite eating less fat, more Americans are fat today than at any time in history.
But researchers discovered a hormone that can help us unlock the mystery of weight gain – and weight reduction.
The discovery is important. It’s a hormone called leptin.
Leptin is a hormone made from fat cells, and tells your brain how much energy you have and how to use it. When you have enough, leptin tells your brain to stop eating and start melting fat. When your energy is low, leptin tells your brain to increase your appetite, so you’ll start eating.
More new research shows that you can become “leptin resistant” in the same way you can become insulin resistant.1 When your cells can no longer hear or understand the messages coming from hormones, we say they are resistant.
This happens when too much of the hormone is in the bloodstream for an extended period. In fact, leptin resistance can lead to insulin resistance. This in turn, puts you at risk for obesity, heart disease, diabetes and cancer.
When you eat foods that spike your blood sugar, both insulin and leptin get thrown out of balance. High blood sugar will trigger a surge of insulin. When that sugar is metabolized in your fat cells, those fat cells release a surge of leptin.
Like “crying wolf,” if this surge happens too often, the cells become resistant to leptin’s message. As a result, your brain never gets the message that you have enough energy stores to melt fat or control your appetite.
In addition to weight regulation, leptin plays a pivotal role in controlling your brain’s hypothalamus. This in turn regulates your “autonomic” functions – the ones that happen without you having to think about them.
These include:
• Body temperature
• Heart rate
• Hunger
• Stress response
• Fat melting and storage
• Reproductive behavior
• Bone growth and blood sugar levels
When you realize there’s so much more to this pathology than just weight gain, it’s no wonder weight gain is associated with so many chronic diseases.
Easy Ways to Balance Leptin and Drop Weight
Fortunately, there are simple ways of restoring balance. A study from a university in Canada shows that exercise and supplementing with fish oil can help your body become sensitive to leptin.1
Fish oil puts back essential omega-3 fatty acids into your system. And any amount of exercise seems to help with leptin resistance. At my clinic, we use my PACE program to gradually recondition your exercise capacity. You can do it in as little as 12 minutes a day.
Here’s another simple tip. High Fructose Corn Syrup is one of the leading culprits behind leptin and insulin resistance.2 It tells your brain to eat more and to build more fat. Think twice before you drink your next soda…
But these are just a couple of easy steps to start you off. If you want to drop more weight easily, safely and quickly, there’s no better or faster way than with my High-Speed Fat Loss in 7 Easy Steps program. I show you dietary supplements to take, meals to eat, foods to avoid, exercises, ways to monitor progress, and much more.
Go to; Al Sears MD on line and look this up to help yourself!
To Your Good Health,
Al Sears, MD
Friday, October 29, 2010
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
All these years I've been feeling like I was growing into myself. Finally, I feel grown.
Infections, Alcohol May Trigger Strokes
Downing a few drinks or contracting an infection such as the flu seem to be connected to a short-term spike in the risk of stroke, a new research review finds.
The findings, reported in the journal Stroke, do not prove that alcohol and infections act as stroke "triggers" in some people, but they "strongly support" the notion that they do, the researchers say.
On the other hand, there is insufficient evidence on whether other suspected triggers — like extreme stress or physical exertion — do in fact contribute to stroke, lead researcher Dr. Vincent Guiraud, of Sainte-Anne hospital in Paris, told Reuters Health in an e-mail.
Triggers refer to behaviors or exposures that set off a temporary increase in a person's risk of a disease. A number of studies, for example, have suggested that factors like heavy physical exertion, extreme stress, and infections may trigger heart attacks in some people.
The question of whether there are stroke triggers, however, has been less studied.
The new review attempted to pull together what is known about potential triggers of ischemic stroke — the most common form of stroke, in which a blood clot disrupts blood flow to the brain.
Guiraud and his colleagues found 26 studies conducted since the 1980s that identified a dozen factors related to a short-term increase in stroke risk. Most of those studies focused on the potential roles of alcohol and infections in triggering a stroke over the following hours to weeks.
Overall, the review found, people who downed 40 to 60 grams of alcohol — equivalent to three or four standard drinks — showed a near-tripling in the risk of stroke over the next 24 hours.
A similar increase was linked to having more than 150 grams of alcohol, or about 10 standard drinks, in the past week.
Meanwhile, contracting any type of infection, such as a cold or flu, was linked to a two- to three-fold increase of suffering a stroke over the next week to one month.
Only a few studies looked at other potential stroke triggers. One U.K. study of 200 stroke patients did find associations between "negative emotion," anger, and exposure to a "startling event," and an increased risk of stroke in the next two hours. Another study linked psychological distress to a heightened stroke risk over the next three days, while a third — of more than 40,000 Canadian stroke patients — found that people had a higher risk on their birthdays compared with other days.
If alcohol, infections, or other factors do serve as stroke triggers, the absolute risk of any one person suffering a stroke because of such an exposure would likely be small, according to Guiraud.
In theory, triggers would have a greater impact on people already at increased risk of stroke, due to factors like established heart disease, smoking, diabetes, or high blood pressure. However, Guiraud said his team lacked the data to study that issue.
In theory, drinking could, for example, cause heart-rhythm disturbances that dislodge a blood clot from the heart that then travels into an artery supplying the brain, Guiraud and his colleagues note.
Similarly, infections could also contribute to heart-rhythm disruptions or have inflammatory effects in the blood vessels that might lead to a stroke.
For now, the practical implications of the current findings "are still hypothetical," Guiraud said.
But, he added, it's possible that for people at heightened risk of stroke, avoidance of any established triggers could complement the treatment of traditional stroke risk factors like high blood pressure.
For example, flu vaccination or antibiotic treatment of bacterial infections might help lower the odds of any short-term spike in stroke risk. Some research, Guiraud's team notes, has found a link between flu vaccination and decreased stroke risk.
However, studies are still needed to show whether any steps to avoid potential stroke triggers are actually effective, according to Guiraud.
The findings, reported in the journal Stroke, do not prove that alcohol and infections act as stroke "triggers" in some people, but they "strongly support" the notion that they do, the researchers say.
On the other hand, there is insufficient evidence on whether other suspected triggers — like extreme stress or physical exertion — do in fact contribute to stroke, lead researcher Dr. Vincent Guiraud, of Sainte-Anne hospital in Paris, told Reuters Health in an e-mail.
Triggers refer to behaviors or exposures that set off a temporary increase in a person's risk of a disease. A number of studies, for example, have suggested that factors like heavy physical exertion, extreme stress, and infections may trigger heart attacks in some people.
The question of whether there are stroke triggers, however, has been less studied.
The new review attempted to pull together what is known about potential triggers of ischemic stroke — the most common form of stroke, in which a blood clot disrupts blood flow to the brain.
Guiraud and his colleagues found 26 studies conducted since the 1980s that identified a dozen factors related to a short-term increase in stroke risk. Most of those studies focused on the potential roles of alcohol and infections in triggering a stroke over the following hours to weeks.
Overall, the review found, people who downed 40 to 60 grams of alcohol — equivalent to three or four standard drinks — showed a near-tripling in the risk of stroke over the next 24 hours.
A similar increase was linked to having more than 150 grams of alcohol, or about 10 standard drinks, in the past week.
Meanwhile, contracting any type of infection, such as a cold or flu, was linked to a two- to three-fold increase of suffering a stroke over the next week to one month.
Only a few studies looked at other potential stroke triggers. One U.K. study of 200 stroke patients did find associations between "negative emotion," anger, and exposure to a "startling event," and an increased risk of stroke in the next two hours. Another study linked psychological distress to a heightened stroke risk over the next three days, while a third — of more than 40,000 Canadian stroke patients — found that people had a higher risk on their birthdays compared with other days.
If alcohol, infections, or other factors do serve as stroke triggers, the absolute risk of any one person suffering a stroke because of such an exposure would likely be small, according to Guiraud.
In theory, triggers would have a greater impact on people already at increased risk of stroke, due to factors like established heart disease, smoking, diabetes, or high blood pressure. However, Guiraud said his team lacked the data to study that issue.
In theory, drinking could, for example, cause heart-rhythm disturbances that dislodge a blood clot from the heart that then travels into an artery supplying the brain, Guiraud and his colleagues note.
Similarly, infections could also contribute to heart-rhythm disruptions or have inflammatory effects in the blood vessels that might lead to a stroke.
For now, the practical implications of the current findings "are still hypothetical," Guiraud said.
But, he added, it's possible that for people at heightened risk of stroke, avoidance of any established triggers could complement the treatment of traditional stroke risk factors like high blood pressure.
For example, flu vaccination or antibiotic treatment of bacterial infections might help lower the odds of any short-term spike in stroke risk. Some research, Guiraud's team notes, has found a link between flu vaccination and decreased stroke risk.
However, studies are still needed to show whether any steps to avoid potential stroke triggers are actually effective, according to Guiraud.
Vitamin B12 tied to Alzheimer's
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Vitamin B12 may help protect against Alzheimer's disease, according to a study out Monday.
The study suggests that seniors with more of the active part of the vitamin in their blood have a lower risk of developing the disease, which eats away at the minds of one in eight Americans aged 65 and older, according to the Alzheimer's Association.
However, the findings don't necessarily mean that taking B vitamin supplements will stave off mental decline.
Just last summer, for instance, a pair of studies deflated long-held hopes that B vitamins -- like B12 and folic acid -- would help patients who had suffered strokes or heart attack (see Reuters Health stories of June 22 and August 4, 2010).
"More research is needed before we can get a conclusion on the role of vitamin B12 supplements on neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease," said Dr. Babak Hooshmand from Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, Sweden, whose findings appear in the journal Neurology.
But he added that many elderly people suffer from B12 deficiency, so the results could turn out to be important.
"Our findings indicate that vitamin B12 and related metabolites may have an important role in Alzheimer's disease," Hooshmand told Reuters Health by e-mail.
The researchers took blood samples from 271 Finnish seniors without dementia. At a second examination about seven years later, they found 17 (six percent) had developed Alzheimer's.
Those who did had higher levels of holotranscobalamin -- the active portion of vitamin B12 -- and lower levels of homocysteine, an amino acid tied to mental decline, stroke and heart disease. Folic acid was not linked to Alzheimer's.
B vitamins decrease homocysteine levels, and so have attracted a lot of attention as a potentially cheap and safe treatment. But it is unclear if they are just a sign of disease or have a causal role.
Neurologist Dr. Sudha Seshadri, of Boston University, said she wouldn't advise taking extra B vitamins unless a doctor had diagnosed signs of deficiency.
"Too much folate in the presence of B12 deficiency can be harmful," she told Reuters Health by e-mail.
However, she added, "A healthy diet with adequate B12 may still be useful in reducing risk despite the failure of initial clinical trials to show a benefit on cognition."
Vitamin B12 is found in a variety of foods, including dairy, eggs, fish and meat.
SOURCE: http://link.reuters.com/bar78n Neurology, October 19, 2010.
The study suggests that seniors with more of the active part of the vitamin in their blood have a lower risk of developing the disease, which eats away at the minds of one in eight Americans aged 65 and older, according to the Alzheimer's Association.
However, the findings don't necessarily mean that taking B vitamin supplements will stave off mental decline.
Just last summer, for instance, a pair of studies deflated long-held hopes that B vitamins -- like B12 and folic acid -- would help patients who had suffered strokes or heart attack (see Reuters Health stories of June 22 and August 4, 2010).
"More research is needed before we can get a conclusion on the role of vitamin B12 supplements on neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease," said Dr. Babak Hooshmand from Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, Sweden, whose findings appear in the journal Neurology.
But he added that many elderly people suffer from B12 deficiency, so the results could turn out to be important.
"Our findings indicate that vitamin B12 and related metabolites may have an important role in Alzheimer's disease," Hooshmand told Reuters Health by e-mail.
The researchers took blood samples from 271 Finnish seniors without dementia. At a second examination about seven years later, they found 17 (six percent) had developed Alzheimer's.
Those who did had higher levels of holotranscobalamin -- the active portion of vitamin B12 -- and lower levels of homocysteine, an amino acid tied to mental decline, stroke and heart disease. Folic acid was not linked to Alzheimer's.
B vitamins decrease homocysteine levels, and so have attracted a lot of attention as a potentially cheap and safe treatment. But it is unclear if they are just a sign of disease or have a causal role.
Neurologist Dr. Sudha Seshadri, of Boston University, said she wouldn't advise taking extra B vitamins unless a doctor had diagnosed signs of deficiency.
"Too much folate in the presence of B12 deficiency can be harmful," she told Reuters Health by e-mail.
However, she added, "A healthy diet with adequate B12 may still be useful in reducing risk despite the failure of initial clinical trials to show a benefit on cognition."
Vitamin B12 is found in a variety of foods, including dairy, eggs, fish and meat.
SOURCE: http://link.reuters.com/bar78n Neurology, October 19, 2010.
Statin drugs may lower colon cancer risk - study
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Statin drugs may lower the risk of colon cancer by as much as 12 percent, U.S. researchers reported on Monday.
The longer people took the cholesterol-lowering pills, the lower their risk of later developing colon cancer, the researchers told a meeting of the American College of Gastroenterology.
Many researchers have found that statin drugs, which include Lipitor and Crestor, have effects far beyond lowering cholesterol and reducing the risk of heart disease.
"Observational studies have suggested that long-term use of statins is associated with reduced risk of several cancers, including breast, prostate, lung, pancreas and liver," said Dr. Jewel Samadder of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, who led the study.
"Our findings suggest that randomized controlled trials designed to test the hypothesis that statins reduce the risk of colorectal cancer are warranted," Samadder added in a statement.
Samadder's team did what is known as a meta-analysis, combining the findings of 22 scientific studies with more than 2.5 million volunteers.
Overall, patients who took statins had a 12 percent lower risk of being diagnosed with colon cancer than people who did not take the drugs, they found.
Statins are not risk-free, however. In May, British researchers reported that patients taking them have higher risks of liver dysfunction, kidney failure, muscle weakness and cataracts.
And U.S. health officials have been watching data that suggests some statins such as Vytorin may actually raise the risk of cancer, although they have said this is unlikely.
The longer people took the cholesterol-lowering pills, the lower their risk of later developing colon cancer, the researchers told a meeting of the American College of Gastroenterology.
Many researchers have found that statin drugs, which include Lipitor and Crestor, have effects far beyond lowering cholesterol and reducing the risk of heart disease.
"Observational studies have suggested that long-term use of statins is associated with reduced risk of several cancers, including breast, prostate, lung, pancreas and liver," said Dr. Jewel Samadder of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, who led the study.
"Our findings suggest that randomized controlled trials designed to test the hypothesis that statins reduce the risk of colorectal cancer are warranted," Samadder added in a statement.
Samadder's team did what is known as a meta-analysis, combining the findings of 22 scientific studies with more than 2.5 million volunteers.
Overall, patients who took statins had a 12 percent lower risk of being diagnosed with colon cancer than people who did not take the drugs, they found.
Statins are not risk-free, however. In May, British researchers reported that patients taking them have higher risks of liver dysfunction, kidney failure, muscle weakness and cataracts.
And U.S. health officials have been watching data that suggests some statins such as Vytorin may actually raise the risk of cancer, although they have said this is unlikely.
Why I’ll Never Get a Flu Shot
I’m 54 years old, and I’ve never gotten a flu shot. Here’s why.
The effectiveness of the flu vaccine is exaggerated. The strains for the vaccine are selected a year in advance. That’s important for you to know because researchers guess on what strain will prevail each flu season. They have no other way of knowing. And if they guess wrong, the vaccine is useless.
So, many people who get the flu vaccine wind up getting the flu anyway. But it’s worse than that because the flu vaccine comes with some pretty significant toxins, like:
Thimerosal – a preservative used in multi-dose flu vaccines. It contains 49.6% mercury by weight.1 Mercury has been linked to brain injury, organ failure and muscle weakness.
Triton X-100 – a detergent and mercury derivative
Polysorbate 80 – a potential carcinogen
Formaldehyde – classified as a human carcinogen by the Environmental Protection Agency
What’s more, it really isn’t good for the very young or the very old – the folks who are supposed to need it most. For example, more people than ever age 70 and older are getting flu shots.2
Meanwhile, the University of Alberta did a study in which one group of people got a flu shot, and one didn’t. More people died in the group that didn’t get the vaccine … but when researchers looked more carefully and adjusted for other factors like existing health conditions, there was no difference between the groups.3
Children as young as six months are being recommended for flu shots, too. But get this: One study presented at an American Thoracic Society conference in San Diego revealed that children who took the flu vaccine had three times the risk of being hospitalized soon after taking the shot, compared to those who didn’t. For children with asthma, the number was even higher.
But this isn’t the only side effect of the flu vaccine. It can cause everything from headache, vomiting, fever and muscle aches to encephalitis, Guillain-Barre Syndrome4 and neurological disorders.
Here are some easy ways to avoid the flu without taking a shot:
Get a boost of Vitamin D. A study published in Nature Immunology this year found that T-cells – your body’s major infection fighters – don’t mobilize against viruses without vitamin D.5 Vitamin D essentially activates these cells and supercharges your immunity. So soak up at least 20 minutes of sun a day. And eat vitamin-D-rich foods like cod liver oil, eggs, milk and orange juice fortified with vitamin D, sardines, tuna, beef liver and Swiss cheese. Or you can supplement. I recommend at least 2,000 I.U.
Eat foods rich in Vitamin C. Eat plenty of citrus fruits, broccoli, beef steak and oysters. This will help you maintain a super strong immune system. You also can take supplements. I recommend 2,000 mg daily.
Add some immune-boosting herbs
Garlic is one of nature’s best germ killers.
Oregano oil and turmeric help prevent viruses and ease cold symptoms.
Green tea contains anti-bacterial properties.
Get plenty of rest. You need eight hours of sleep each day. By losing sleep, you rob your immune system of the energy it needs to fight infection,6 and you’ll catch more colds and flu viruses.
Exercise. Get some each day but don’t go overboard. Too much exercise can actually stress the body and weaken your immunity. Twenty minutes a day of varied intensity exercise is all you need.
To Your Good Health,
Al Sears, MD
The effectiveness of the flu vaccine is exaggerated. The strains for the vaccine are selected a year in advance. That’s important for you to know because researchers guess on what strain will prevail each flu season. They have no other way of knowing. And if they guess wrong, the vaccine is useless.
So, many people who get the flu vaccine wind up getting the flu anyway. But it’s worse than that because the flu vaccine comes with some pretty significant toxins, like:
Thimerosal – a preservative used in multi-dose flu vaccines. It contains 49.6% mercury by weight.1 Mercury has been linked to brain injury, organ failure and muscle weakness.
Triton X-100 – a detergent and mercury derivative
Polysorbate 80 – a potential carcinogen
Formaldehyde – classified as a human carcinogen by the Environmental Protection Agency
What’s more, it really isn’t good for the very young or the very old – the folks who are supposed to need it most. For example, more people than ever age 70 and older are getting flu shots.2
Meanwhile, the University of Alberta did a study in which one group of people got a flu shot, and one didn’t. More people died in the group that didn’t get the vaccine … but when researchers looked more carefully and adjusted for other factors like existing health conditions, there was no difference between the groups.3
Children as young as six months are being recommended for flu shots, too. But get this: One study presented at an American Thoracic Society conference in San Diego revealed that children who took the flu vaccine had three times the risk of being hospitalized soon after taking the shot, compared to those who didn’t. For children with asthma, the number was even higher.
But this isn’t the only side effect of the flu vaccine. It can cause everything from headache, vomiting, fever and muscle aches to encephalitis, Guillain-Barre Syndrome4 and neurological disorders.
Here are some easy ways to avoid the flu without taking a shot:
Get a boost of Vitamin D. A study published in Nature Immunology this year found that T-cells – your body’s major infection fighters – don’t mobilize against viruses without vitamin D.5 Vitamin D essentially activates these cells and supercharges your immunity. So soak up at least 20 minutes of sun a day. And eat vitamin-D-rich foods like cod liver oil, eggs, milk and orange juice fortified with vitamin D, sardines, tuna, beef liver and Swiss cheese. Or you can supplement. I recommend at least 2,000 I.U.
Eat foods rich in Vitamin C. Eat plenty of citrus fruits, broccoli, beef steak and oysters. This will help you maintain a super strong immune system. You also can take supplements. I recommend 2,000 mg daily.
Add some immune-boosting herbs
Garlic is one of nature’s best germ killers.
Oregano oil and turmeric help prevent viruses and ease cold symptoms.
Green tea contains anti-bacterial properties.
Get plenty of rest. You need eight hours of sleep each day. By losing sleep, you rob your immune system of the energy it needs to fight infection,6 and you’ll catch more colds and flu viruses.
Exercise. Get some each day but don’t go overboard. Too much exercise can actually stress the body and weaken your immunity. Twenty minutes a day of varied intensity exercise is all you need.
To Your Good Health,
Al Sears, MD
A “Nobel” Way to Avoid Cancer
Have you heard of telomeres yet? I’ve written about them and lectured to the World Conference on Anti-Aging. It’s big news in the world of anti-aging. In fact, research into telomeres won the Nobel Prize for Medicine in 2009.
I call telomeres “countdown clocks” because they determine how long your cells can live. Each time a cell divides, your DNA copies itself. Telomeres are caps on the ends of your DNA strands that lay down the blueprint for the copies.
But, each time your cells divide, a little bit of each telomere is used up, and each gets a tiny bit shorter. When your telomeres become too short, DNA can’t copy itself correctly, and the cell stops dividing… and it dies. Overall, the shorter your telomeres, the “older” your body is, regardless of your actual age.1
You can alter your aging clock by how you eat and how you live. Obesity and smoking will shorten your telomeres and speed up your countdown clock. But exercise appears to slow telomere shortening,2 which slows your clock down, too.
This is all great news because we now know the mechanism by which you age, and we can alter it. But there’s another reason this is so significant…
A new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that longer telomeres can dramatically reduce your risk of cancer.3
There’s a lot of evidence linking short telomeres to a higher risk of cancer. For instance:
A Virginia study found that breast cancer cells had shorter telomeres than normal cells.4
A research team at Harvard discovered that having short telomeres nearly doubled the risk for bladder cancer.5
According to Japanese researchers, cancers of the mouth begin in cells with short telomeres.6
Even colon cancer cells have shorter telomeres.7
Here’s where that new Italian study comes in, because it measured overall cancer risk. These doctors found that people with the longest telomeres were the least likely to develop cancer. In fact, they were more than 10 times less likely to develop cancer than people with short telomeres.8
And people with short telomeres are twice as likely to die from cancer.
By taking a few simple steps to promote longer telomeres, you may boost your chances of enjoying your extra years cancer-free.
Exercise is one of the best ways to slow the aging of your cells to a crawl and reduce your risk of cancer. One reason was discovered by researchers in Germany. They found that intensive exercise keeps your cardiovascular system from aging by preventing shortening of telomeres.9
Another comes from a study done at the University of California in San Francisco. It found that vigorous exertion protects you from high stress by protecting your telomeres.10
Feeding yourself properly can also lengthen your telomeres. Cold-water, high-fat fish like mackerel, wild salmon, lake trout and herring are good sources of omega-3, which can lengthen your telomeres.11 Also, you can eat plenty of raw nuts and seeds. Walnuts, brazil nuts, almonds and pumpkin seeds are some of my favorites.
Besides exercise and eating the right foods, did you know that supplements also offer protection for your telomeres?
For example, according to the National Institutes of Health, women who simply take a multivitamin have 5 percent longer telomeres than those who don’t.12
And nutrients – such as vitamins C and E and resveratrol – also appear to slow the shortening of telomeres.13,14
One vitamin is actually linked with lengthening your telomeres, and you don’t even need a pill to get it. It’s vitamin D.15 Just 10 minutes in the sun gets you 10,000 units.
To Your Good Health,
Al Sears, MD
I call telomeres “countdown clocks” because they determine how long your cells can live. Each time a cell divides, your DNA copies itself. Telomeres are caps on the ends of your DNA strands that lay down the blueprint for the copies.
But, each time your cells divide, a little bit of each telomere is used up, and each gets a tiny bit shorter. When your telomeres become too short, DNA can’t copy itself correctly, and the cell stops dividing… and it dies. Overall, the shorter your telomeres, the “older” your body is, regardless of your actual age.1
You can alter your aging clock by how you eat and how you live. Obesity and smoking will shorten your telomeres and speed up your countdown clock. But exercise appears to slow telomere shortening,2 which slows your clock down, too.
This is all great news because we now know the mechanism by which you age, and we can alter it. But there’s another reason this is so significant…
A new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that longer telomeres can dramatically reduce your risk of cancer.3
There’s a lot of evidence linking short telomeres to a higher risk of cancer. For instance:
A Virginia study found that breast cancer cells had shorter telomeres than normal cells.4
A research team at Harvard discovered that having short telomeres nearly doubled the risk for bladder cancer.5
According to Japanese researchers, cancers of the mouth begin in cells with short telomeres.6
Even colon cancer cells have shorter telomeres.7
Here’s where that new Italian study comes in, because it measured overall cancer risk. These doctors found that people with the longest telomeres were the least likely to develop cancer. In fact, they were more than 10 times less likely to develop cancer than people with short telomeres.8
And people with short telomeres are twice as likely to die from cancer.
By taking a few simple steps to promote longer telomeres, you may boost your chances of enjoying your extra years cancer-free.
Exercise is one of the best ways to slow the aging of your cells to a crawl and reduce your risk of cancer. One reason was discovered by researchers in Germany. They found that intensive exercise keeps your cardiovascular system from aging by preventing shortening of telomeres.9
Another comes from a study done at the University of California in San Francisco. It found that vigorous exertion protects you from high stress by protecting your telomeres.10
Feeding yourself properly can also lengthen your telomeres. Cold-water, high-fat fish like mackerel, wild salmon, lake trout and herring are good sources of omega-3, which can lengthen your telomeres.11 Also, you can eat plenty of raw nuts and seeds. Walnuts, brazil nuts, almonds and pumpkin seeds are some of my favorites.
Besides exercise and eating the right foods, did you know that supplements also offer protection for your telomeres?
For example, according to the National Institutes of Health, women who simply take a multivitamin have 5 percent longer telomeres than those who don’t.12
And nutrients – such as vitamins C and E and resveratrol – also appear to slow the shortening of telomeres.13,14
One vitamin is actually linked with lengthening your telomeres, and you don’t even need a pill to get it. It’s vitamin D.15 Just 10 minutes in the sun gets you 10,000 units.
To Your Good Health,
Al Sears, MD
Collards and carrots may ward off breast cancer
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Eating lots of carrots and cruciferous vegetables -- collard greens, cabbage, broccoli -- could reduce breast cancer risk, particularly an aggressive form common among African American women, suggests a large new study.
The researchers looking at data from the ongoing Black Women's Health Study did not find a similar benefit from fruit intake.
Previous studies of the relationship between fruit and vegetable consumption and breast cancer in white women have led to conflicting results, and no prior research has investigated this link separately among African American women, lead researcher Dr. Deborah A. Boggs, of Boston University, told Reuters Health in an e-mail.
Boggs noted her team's earlier work showing that a so-called "prudent diet" high in vegetables, fruits, whole grains and fish led to a lower risk of estrogen receptor-negative breast cancers among African American women.
The ER-negative form of breast cancer, which is insensitive to the hormone estrogen, is more common in this population than among white women. It is also more difficult to treat and more often fatal than estrogen-sensitive cancers.
Overall, breast cancer is the second leading cancer-killer for both African American and white women, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Approximately 1 in 8 American women will develop the disease at some point in life, although age, heredity and environmental factors can increase an individual's risk.
Boggs and her colleagues wanted to find out whether fruits and vegetables drove the beneficial effect they saw in women eating the prudent diet and whether specific varieties are particularly protective.
They tracked the diets and health of more than 50,000 African American women from across the U.S. for 12 years. About 1,300 of the women developed new cases of breast cancer during that period, 35 percent of them ER-negative.
The researchers found, however, that women who ate at least two servings of vegetables a day had a 43 percent lower risk of ER-negative breast cancer compared with women who ate fewer than four servings of vegetables each week.
Further, they identified certain types of vegetables that appeared to reduce the risk of all types of breast cancer, including broccoli, collard greens, cabbage and carrots.
Women who ate three or more servings a week of carrots, for instance, had a 17 percent lower risk of developing breast cancer than women who ate carrots less than once a month.
The results for all vegetables held after accounting for other potential breast cancer risk factors, such as physical activity, smoking, alcohol consumption and education level, as well as consumption of other components of the prudent diet, the researchers report in the American Journal of Epidemiology.
Still, it is too early to determine if this is a true cause-and effect-relationship, they note. High vegetable consumption could mark a healthier lifestyle in general or some other unknown mechanism that accounts for the apparent protection. Vegetables' cancer-staving power needs to be confirmed in further studies, the researchers write.
"Most Americans do not meet the recommendation of five servings of vegetables per day, based on a 2,000-calorie diet, and African Americans in particular eat fewer vegetables on average than do whites," said Boggs.
"It is clear that, in addition to potential protective effects against breast cancer, higher vegetable consumption can lead to many health benefits, including lower risk of cardiovascular disease," she added. "Therefore, we recommend that African American women try to increase their daily intake of vegetables to meet the established guidelines."
SOURCE: http://link.reuters.com/pyf69p American Journal of Epidemiology, online October 11, 2010.
The researchers looking at data from the ongoing Black Women's Health Study did not find a similar benefit from fruit intake.
Previous studies of the relationship between fruit and vegetable consumption and breast cancer in white women have led to conflicting results, and no prior research has investigated this link separately among African American women, lead researcher Dr. Deborah A. Boggs, of Boston University, told Reuters Health in an e-mail.
Boggs noted her team's earlier work showing that a so-called "prudent diet" high in vegetables, fruits, whole grains and fish led to a lower risk of estrogen receptor-negative breast cancers among African American women.
The ER-negative form of breast cancer, which is insensitive to the hormone estrogen, is more common in this population than among white women. It is also more difficult to treat and more often fatal than estrogen-sensitive cancers.
Overall, breast cancer is the second leading cancer-killer for both African American and white women, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Approximately 1 in 8 American women will develop the disease at some point in life, although age, heredity and environmental factors can increase an individual's risk.
Boggs and her colleagues wanted to find out whether fruits and vegetables drove the beneficial effect they saw in women eating the prudent diet and whether specific varieties are particularly protective.
They tracked the diets and health of more than 50,000 African American women from across the U.S. for 12 years. About 1,300 of the women developed new cases of breast cancer during that period, 35 percent of them ER-negative.
The researchers found, however, that women who ate at least two servings of vegetables a day had a 43 percent lower risk of ER-negative breast cancer compared with women who ate fewer than four servings of vegetables each week.
Further, they identified certain types of vegetables that appeared to reduce the risk of all types of breast cancer, including broccoli, collard greens, cabbage and carrots.
Women who ate three or more servings a week of carrots, for instance, had a 17 percent lower risk of developing breast cancer than women who ate carrots less than once a month.
The results for all vegetables held after accounting for other potential breast cancer risk factors, such as physical activity, smoking, alcohol consumption and education level, as well as consumption of other components of the prudent diet, the researchers report in the American Journal of Epidemiology.
Still, it is too early to determine if this is a true cause-and effect-relationship, they note. High vegetable consumption could mark a healthier lifestyle in general or some other unknown mechanism that accounts for the apparent protection. Vegetables' cancer-staving power needs to be confirmed in further studies, the researchers write.
"Most Americans do not meet the recommendation of five servings of vegetables per day, based on a 2,000-calorie diet, and African Americans in particular eat fewer vegetables on average than do whites," said Boggs.
"It is clear that, in addition to potential protective effects against breast cancer, higher vegetable consumption can lead to many health benefits, including lower risk of cardiovascular disease," she added. "Therefore, we recommend that African American women try to increase their daily intake of vegetables to meet the established guidelines."
SOURCE: http://link.reuters.com/pyf69p American Journal of Epidemiology, online October 11, 2010.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
There is no greater gift you can give or receive than to honor your calling. It's why you were born. And how you become most truly alive.
Surgery to Relieve Foot Pain
Question: The bones in the joint of my foot were surgically fused about six months ago. Prior to the surgery, I had undergone the usual cortisone shots, physical therapy, etc. for over a year. The surgery was supposed to take the pain away, but it's more painful than before. CT scan and X-rays look OK, and my surgeon has no explanation. Any ideas?
Dr. Hibberd's Answer:
Foot surgery involving fusion intended to relieve pain is usually done as a last resort. Post-operative foot pain can be as elusive as victims of back pain who see no improvement in their pain after surgical fusion.
Unfortunately, fusion of painful joints will only relieve pain if the primary cause was joint- or bone-related, and even then the results are not 100 percent. We, of course, assume that the fusion was technically successful … not all fusions actually achieve the fusion desired … and perhaps further procedures may be necessary to achieve a complete fusion.
Our feet are actually composed of multiple small bones held together by a weave of ligament and tendon structures within tendon sheaths. Disruptions and misalignments of the support structures around the bones of the foot and ankle will also cause pain. These structures are usually visualized well by MRI.
Unfortunately, surgical fixation using wire and screws may preclude you from having an MRI, so other diagnostic modalities are going to be needed. I recommend you seek a second opinion from an orthopedic surgeon who specializes in the foot and ankle, and you may even seek a neurology consultation to be sure this pain is not related to nerve damage.
Dr. Hibberd's Answer:
Foot surgery involving fusion intended to relieve pain is usually done as a last resort. Post-operative foot pain can be as elusive as victims of back pain who see no improvement in their pain after surgical fusion.
Unfortunately, fusion of painful joints will only relieve pain if the primary cause was joint- or bone-related, and even then the results are not 100 percent. We, of course, assume that the fusion was technically successful … not all fusions actually achieve the fusion desired … and perhaps further procedures may be necessary to achieve a complete fusion.
Our feet are actually composed of multiple small bones held together by a weave of ligament and tendon structures within tendon sheaths. Disruptions and misalignments of the support structures around the bones of the foot and ankle will also cause pain. These structures are usually visualized well by MRI.
Unfortunately, surgical fixation using wire and screws may preclude you from having an MRI, so other diagnostic modalities are going to be needed. I recommend you seek a second opinion from an orthopedic surgeon who specializes in the foot and ankle, and you may even seek a neurology consultation to be sure this pain is not related to nerve damage.
Is Flaxseed Oil Heart-Healthy?
Question: Do you believe flaxseed oil helps the heart? My husband was on fish oil and had four stents placed in his heart. In six months, two of the stents were closing. He started on flaxseed oil, and the stents cleared within six months. We've remained on flaxseed oil (high-lignan, cold-pressed, organic) for nine years and the heart has remained stable.
Dr. Hibberd's Answer:
Flaxseed oil is heart healthy, but our current data emphasizes the superiority of fish sources of omega-3. Flaxseed oil contains omega-3 fatty acids in the form of ALA. ALA has to be converted by the body to produce EPA and DHA. Fish oil contains DHA and EPA.
There is no longer any debate that omega-3 fatty acids are cardio-protective. We now have a prescription version of omega-3 supplements intended for cardiac and at-risk patients that increases HDL (good) cholesterol by up to 9 percent and decreases triglycerides (bad fats) by up to 45 percent but has an overall neutral effect on the LDL (bad) cholesterol.
The debate between flaxseed oil and fish oil begins with the fact that there are three main types of omega-3 fatty acids: DHA, EPA, and ALA. They are similar in structure, but each has different benefits.
Our bodies need DHA. Our brain needs DHA. DHA provides us with the vascular protection seen with omega-3 supplementation. Fish products provide EPA and DHA without requiring metabolic conversion that is so often interrupted by elements of our modern diets. You will find that although ALA is a precursor for EPA, its necessary transformation to EPA and then to the beneficial DHA has many roadblocks.
Fish is the preferred source of DHA simply because it is readily bio-available without multiple steps of metabolic conversion that are often inefficient and inadvertently blocked by our diets or other supplements we might take.
Our bodies will usually convert large amounts of ALA (alpha-linoleic acid) rapidly into smaller amounts of EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid), and then our bodies will in turn convert this into even smaller amounts of protective DHA (docosahexaenoic acid). These conversion steps will be slowed, and in some cases minimized, by certain foods and additives in our diets.
Most hydrogenated oils contain trans-fatty acids (seen in margarines, chips, cookies, popcorn). Diets rich in these will interrupt or eliminate the ALA to EPA to DHA conversion, reducing the full potential benefit.
We also need the correct balance of omega-3 to omega-6 fatty acids. For the typical person, we recommend a ration of two to four times more omega-6 fatty acids to the amount of omega-3 fatty acids in our diet. Too much omega-6 also reduces and may block the conversion of ALA to DHA and EPA.
Unfortunately, most of our diets have 15 to 25 times more omega-6 fatty acids than omega-3 fatty acids because of the prevalence of vegetable oils such as sunflower and corn oil. As you can see, this also cuts down on the conversion from ALA to EPA and DHA. You will need 11 grams of ALA to produce one gram of EPA and DHA, without considering the negative effect other items in your diet may have on this conversion.
In summary: Eat cold-water fish two to three times a week. Fish is a very good source of protein and omega-3 fatty acids. Fish oil may not be the best supplement unless you are careful with its purity.
Be alert that all fish oil products are not the same. Some may have additional unwanted toxins, especially if sources are known to have higher levels of mercury or other toxins. This happens most often when they do not come from a cold-water source. In addition, some fish oils come from the by-products of the processed fish meal which has often been oxidized by the heat and air exposure of the fish-processing process, in some cases making it rancid. Consumer beware!
Also, Infants and small children should generally not use fish oil supplements, especially cod liver oil. Cod liver oil should be avoided as a source of omega-3 fatty acids because fish-liver oil contains toxic amounts of vitamin A at the higher dosages.
Foods high in ALA (walnuts and flaxseed oil) are useful adjuncts for anyone desiring a healthy diet, and may be consumed in conjunction with a diet containing cold-water fish and/or well-standardized prescription-grade fish oil supplements.
It sounds like your husband has a combination that is palatable to him, and any changes are best probably made in consultation with his cardiologist. Most of us should probably follow the recommended guidelines of adding omega-3 in the form of fish products or supplements to achieve maximum protection.
Dr. Hibberd's Answer:
Flaxseed oil is heart healthy, but our current data emphasizes the superiority of fish sources of omega-3. Flaxseed oil contains omega-3 fatty acids in the form of ALA. ALA has to be converted by the body to produce EPA and DHA. Fish oil contains DHA and EPA.
There is no longer any debate that omega-3 fatty acids are cardio-protective. We now have a prescription version of omega-3 supplements intended for cardiac and at-risk patients that increases HDL (good) cholesterol by up to 9 percent and decreases triglycerides (bad fats) by up to 45 percent but has an overall neutral effect on the LDL (bad) cholesterol.
The debate between flaxseed oil and fish oil begins with the fact that there are three main types of omega-3 fatty acids: DHA, EPA, and ALA. They are similar in structure, but each has different benefits.
Our bodies need DHA. Our brain needs DHA. DHA provides us with the vascular protection seen with omega-3 supplementation. Fish products provide EPA and DHA without requiring metabolic conversion that is so often interrupted by elements of our modern diets. You will find that although ALA is a precursor for EPA, its necessary transformation to EPA and then to the beneficial DHA has many roadblocks.
Fish is the preferred source of DHA simply because it is readily bio-available without multiple steps of metabolic conversion that are often inefficient and inadvertently blocked by our diets or other supplements we might take.
Our bodies will usually convert large amounts of ALA (alpha-linoleic acid) rapidly into smaller amounts of EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid), and then our bodies will in turn convert this into even smaller amounts of protective DHA (docosahexaenoic acid). These conversion steps will be slowed, and in some cases minimized, by certain foods and additives in our diets.
Most hydrogenated oils contain trans-fatty acids (seen in margarines, chips, cookies, popcorn). Diets rich in these will interrupt or eliminate the ALA to EPA to DHA conversion, reducing the full potential benefit.
We also need the correct balance of omega-3 to omega-6 fatty acids. For the typical person, we recommend a ration of two to four times more omega-6 fatty acids to the amount of omega-3 fatty acids in our diet. Too much omega-6 also reduces and may block the conversion of ALA to DHA and EPA.
Unfortunately, most of our diets have 15 to 25 times more omega-6 fatty acids than omega-3 fatty acids because of the prevalence of vegetable oils such as sunflower and corn oil. As you can see, this also cuts down on the conversion from ALA to EPA and DHA. You will need 11 grams of ALA to produce one gram of EPA and DHA, without considering the negative effect other items in your diet may have on this conversion.
In summary: Eat cold-water fish two to three times a week. Fish is a very good source of protein and omega-3 fatty acids. Fish oil may not be the best supplement unless you are careful with its purity.
Be alert that all fish oil products are not the same. Some may have additional unwanted toxins, especially if sources are known to have higher levels of mercury or other toxins. This happens most often when they do not come from a cold-water source. In addition, some fish oils come from the by-products of the processed fish meal which has often been oxidized by the heat and air exposure of the fish-processing process, in some cases making it rancid. Consumer beware!
Also, Infants and small children should generally not use fish oil supplements, especially cod liver oil. Cod liver oil should be avoided as a source of omega-3 fatty acids because fish-liver oil contains toxic amounts of vitamin A at the higher dosages.
Foods high in ALA (walnuts and flaxseed oil) are useful adjuncts for anyone desiring a healthy diet, and may be consumed in conjunction with a diet containing cold-water fish and/or well-standardized prescription-grade fish oil supplements.
It sounds like your husband has a combination that is palatable to him, and any changes are best probably made in consultation with his cardiologist. Most of us should probably follow the recommended guidelines of adding omega-3 in the form of fish products or supplements to achieve maximum protection.
Treating Excessive Sweating
Question: Is there a cure for hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating)?
Dr. Hibberd's Answer:
Hyperhidrosis, or excessive sweating, is very common, is embarrassing, and often stains clothing.
There are three main categories:
1) Axillary (armpit)
2) Palmoplantar (hands)
3) Generalized
There is no cure for idiopathic (no cause found) hyperhidrosis, but we do have effective treatments available:
a) OTC antiperspirants (especially those containing aluminum chloride, but may be irritating);
b) Prescription antiperspirants (usually contain aluminum hexahydrate, such as Drysol);
c) Lontophoresis (mechanism is unknown but involves multiple sessions where painless electrical current is applied using tap water);
d) Prescription medications (anticholinergics such as Robinul which have side effects including blurred vision and dry mouth);
e) Botox (botulinum toxin) for underarm sweating (50 units spread over 20 spots each armpit); and
f) Surgery (sympathectomy is risky and rarely done).
Most often, excessive sweating is triggered by heat and stress, but other cases have no precipitant. The large majority of people do not have an associated infection, internal disease, neurological disorder, tumor, or hormonal cause.
Obesity and stress are common causes followed closely by unknown (idiopathic) reasons. Less common reasons include chronic infections, endocrine conditions (such as hyperthyroidism and diabetes), vascular and cardiac disease, neurologic disorders, and malignancy. If you are not sure, be sure to consult your private physician or dermatologist.
Dr. Hibberd's Answer:
Hyperhidrosis, or excessive sweating, is very common, is embarrassing, and often stains clothing.
There are three main categories:
1) Axillary (armpit)
2) Palmoplantar (hands)
3) Generalized
There is no cure for idiopathic (no cause found) hyperhidrosis, but we do have effective treatments available:
a) OTC antiperspirants (especially those containing aluminum chloride, but may be irritating);
b) Prescription antiperspirants (usually contain aluminum hexahydrate, such as Drysol);
c) Lontophoresis (mechanism is unknown but involves multiple sessions where painless electrical current is applied using tap water);
d) Prescription medications (anticholinergics such as Robinul which have side effects including blurred vision and dry mouth);
e) Botox (botulinum toxin) for underarm sweating (50 units spread over 20 spots each armpit); and
f) Surgery (sympathectomy is risky and rarely done).
Most often, excessive sweating is triggered by heat and stress, but other cases have no precipitant. The large majority of people do not have an associated infection, internal disease, neurological disorder, tumor, or hormonal cause.
Obesity and stress are common causes followed closely by unknown (idiopathic) reasons. Less common reasons include chronic infections, endocrine conditions (such as hyperthyroidism and diabetes), vascular and cardiac disease, neurologic disorders, and malignancy. If you are not sure, be sure to consult your private physician or dermatologist.
Treating Dogs Like Garbage: Illegal Disposal Revealed at Missouri Puppy Mills
With the battle over Prop B in Missouri in its final week, Missourians for the Protection of Dogs today released a follow-up report to its Oct. 5 exposé on 12 of the worst licensed puppy mills in the state—a “Dirty Dozen” review that leaves no doubt that Missouri is in fact the “puppy mill capital of America.” This latest set of findings—released at press events today in four cities—zeroes in on the widespread and illegal dumping of dead dogs, sometimes buried or burned in mass graves, by Missouri puppy mills and the middlemen who profit from their sale.
We have long known that mills impose unrelieved and extreme confinement on dogs in small, often overcrowded and squalid wire cages. We also know that the dogs never get a glimpse or even a sniff of a licensed veterinarian, and are essentially left on their own when their health fails them. And they are also often left to suffer the harsh effects of the elements—confined in outside cages that hardly shelter them from the fierce winds of winter or the unrelenting heat of summer. Now, we have unearthed yet another ugly side of a system rife with cruelty from cradle to grave—the huge number of dogs who die before they can even be shipped to a pet store.
The report examines state and federal documents, including graphic photographs from public agencies and the Humane Society of Missouri, that reveal large numbers of dead dogs and illegal disposal of their bodies. In terms of volume, it appears that nobody beats the Hunte Corporation, the largest broker of puppy mill dogs in the nation. According to reports, Hunte may have illegally disposed of hundreds of pounds of dead dogs each month, and that could amount to more than 1,000 dogs a year from this one facility. Here’s the full report and some troubling images.
It’s yet another body of evidence that Prop B is the right policy reform for Missouri, and that the puppy mill industry has lost any semblance of decency in its treatment of animals. A correction is long overdue, and if the good people of Missouri see the issue clearly, there will be a moral and political reckoning for this cruelest of industries on Tuesday.
We have long known that mills impose unrelieved and extreme confinement on dogs in small, often overcrowded and squalid wire cages. We also know that the dogs never get a glimpse or even a sniff of a licensed veterinarian, and are essentially left on their own when their health fails them. And they are also often left to suffer the harsh effects of the elements—confined in outside cages that hardly shelter them from the fierce winds of winter or the unrelenting heat of summer. Now, we have unearthed yet another ugly side of a system rife with cruelty from cradle to grave—the huge number of dogs who die before they can even be shipped to a pet store.
The report examines state and federal documents, including graphic photographs from public agencies and the Humane Society of Missouri, that reveal large numbers of dead dogs and illegal disposal of their bodies. In terms of volume, it appears that nobody beats the Hunte Corporation, the largest broker of puppy mill dogs in the nation. According to reports, Hunte may have illegally disposed of hundreds of pounds of dead dogs each month, and that could amount to more than 1,000 dogs a year from this one facility. Here’s the full report and some troubling images.
It’s yet another body of evidence that Prop B is the right policy reform for Missouri, and that the puppy mill industry has lost any semblance of decency in its treatment of animals. A correction is long overdue, and if the good people of Missouri see the issue clearly, there will be a moral and political reckoning for this cruelest of industries on Tuesday.
Black Republicans Demand Obama 'Bus' Apology
By: David A. Patten
Black Republican leaders are demanding that President Barack Obama apologize for what they consider a racially insensitive remark that he made on the campaign trail this weekend.
During a campaign swing the president said, "We don't mind the Republicans joining us. They can come for a ride, but they gotta sit in back."
Dr. Timothy F. Johnson, the black Republican who heads the Frederick Douglass Foundation, told Newsmax in an e-mail Wednesday that Obama should immediately apologize for the offensive reference to the Jim Crow era.
"Once again the president is perpetuating the racism that exists, and [is] portrayed by the so-called Civil Rights organizations and their leaders," Johnson stated.
"Americans are sick and tired of these divisive statements the president continues to make," he added. "Our first objective is November 2, 2010.
"Next is to find the next president of the United States, and retire President Obama to Chicago, Hawaii, or Kenya in Nov. 2012," stated Johnson.
Johnson is not alone in finding the president's "sit in back" remark offensive.
Frances Rice, chairman of the National Black Republican Association, tells Newsmax: "As evidenced by his words and actions on numerous occasions, President Obama deliberately engages in the politics of race-baiting for partisan political gain, a tactic Democrats have used since the days of slavery. I believe Obama knew a racially-tinged image would result from his saying Republicans should be put in the back of his metaphorical car, and he would not even consider apologizing."
What if a Republican president had made such a remark? asked Fox News contributor Monica Crowley. She said it would have triggered an uproar from Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson.
"I think after the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s, riding in the back certainly does have some Civil Rights and racial overtones to it, and you can't tell me the president of the United States wasn't aware of it when he said it," Crowley said Wednesday on Fox News. "I found his comment there appalling [and] I found his refusal to address it in a straightforward way also appalling."
The "sit in back" remark is part of a pattern of increasingly divisive rhetoric from the president in the run up to the midterm elections, Crowley said.
In one recent example, on Monday President Obama urged Latinos to "punish our enemies" during a Univision broadcast.
“If Latinos sit out the election," Obama said, "instead of saying, ‘We’re gonna punish our enemies and we’re gonna reward our friends who stand with us on issues that are important to us,’ if they don’t see that kind of upsurge in voting in this election, then I think it’s gonna be harder . . . "
Crowley added: "This is nothing new. Ever since this man became president nearly two years ago now, he has constantly used this kind of incredibly divisive rhetoric. He seems to forget that he's no longer campaigning.
"He's the president of the United States. The president is supposed to be the president of all the people, even those who disagree with his agenda and who disagree with him," Crowley said.
White House press secretary Robert Gibbs did not shy away from the controversial "sit in back" statement when asked about it in a press briefing.
He portrayed it as part of the ongoing metaphor that the president has used to assert Republicans drove the economy into a ditch.
“The president said this weekend that the Republicans are going to ride in the back and the middle class will be in the passenger’s seat,” Gibbs said.
In a none-too-subtle jab he added: “We’re certainly concerned with backseat driving.”
Black Republican leaders are demanding that President Barack Obama apologize for what they consider a racially insensitive remark that he made on the campaign trail this weekend.
During a campaign swing the president said, "We don't mind the Republicans joining us. They can come for a ride, but they gotta sit in back."
Dr. Timothy F. Johnson, the black Republican who heads the Frederick Douglass Foundation, told Newsmax in an e-mail Wednesday that Obama should immediately apologize for the offensive reference to the Jim Crow era.
"Once again the president is perpetuating the racism that exists, and [is] portrayed by the so-called Civil Rights organizations and their leaders," Johnson stated.
"Americans are sick and tired of these divisive statements the president continues to make," he added. "Our first objective is November 2, 2010.
"Next is to find the next president of the United States, and retire President Obama to Chicago, Hawaii, or Kenya in Nov. 2012," stated Johnson.
Johnson is not alone in finding the president's "sit in back" remark offensive.
Frances Rice, chairman of the National Black Republican Association, tells Newsmax: "As evidenced by his words and actions on numerous occasions, President Obama deliberately engages in the politics of race-baiting for partisan political gain, a tactic Democrats have used since the days of slavery. I believe Obama knew a racially-tinged image would result from his saying Republicans should be put in the back of his metaphorical car, and he would not even consider apologizing."
What if a Republican president had made such a remark? asked Fox News contributor Monica Crowley. She said it would have triggered an uproar from Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson.
"I think after the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s, riding in the back certainly does have some Civil Rights and racial overtones to it, and you can't tell me the president of the United States wasn't aware of it when he said it," Crowley said Wednesday on Fox News. "I found his comment there appalling [and] I found his refusal to address it in a straightforward way also appalling."
The "sit in back" remark is part of a pattern of increasingly divisive rhetoric from the president in the run up to the midterm elections, Crowley said.
In one recent example, on Monday President Obama urged Latinos to "punish our enemies" during a Univision broadcast.
“If Latinos sit out the election," Obama said, "instead of saying, ‘We’re gonna punish our enemies and we’re gonna reward our friends who stand with us on issues that are important to us,’ if they don’t see that kind of upsurge in voting in this election, then I think it’s gonna be harder . . . "
Crowley added: "This is nothing new. Ever since this man became president nearly two years ago now, he has constantly used this kind of incredibly divisive rhetoric. He seems to forget that he's no longer campaigning.
"He's the president of the United States. The president is supposed to be the president of all the people, even those who disagree with his agenda and who disagree with him," Crowley said.
White House press secretary Robert Gibbs did not shy away from the controversial "sit in back" statement when asked about it in a press briefing.
He portrayed it as part of the ongoing metaphor that the president has used to assert Republicans drove the economy into a ditch.
“The president said this weekend that the Republicans are going to ride in the back and the middle class will be in the passenger’s seat,” Gibbs said.
In a none-too-subtle jab he added: “We’re certainly concerned with backseat driving.”
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Education Helps Cope With Dementia
Educated people are better able to cope with the physical effects of dementia, and even one extra year of education can significantly cut the risk of developing the brain-wasting disease, scientists said on Monday.
The findings by scientists from Britain and Finland could have important implications for public health at a time when populations in many countries are rapidly aging and dementia numbers are expected to rise sharply.
The researchers found that people who go on to university or college after leaving school appear to be less affected by the brain changes, or pathology, associated with dementia than those who stop education earlier.
"More education is not associated with any differences in the damage to the brain, but people with higher education can cope with that damage better," Hanna Keage from Cambridge University, who worked on the study with an Anglo-Finnish team, said in a telephone interview.
Over the past decade, studies on dementia have shown that the more time you spend in education, the lower your risk of dementia — but, until now, scientists had not known whether this was because education somehow protected the brain against damage, or because it made people better able to cope.
In this study, published in the journal Brain, post-mortem examinations showed that the pathology, or changes, in the brain, were similar in those who were educated for longer and those who were not, but the disease's affects on more educated people was mitigated by their greater ability to cope.
Keage said this may be due to psychological strength, which might allow those with more education to think around problems presented by their disease or find ways to overcome them.
It also found that for every extra year of education there was an 11 percent decrease in the risk of developing dementia.
Around 35 million people around the world have dementia. Its most common form is Alzheimer's disease, in which patients gradually lose their memory, their ability to understand the world, and to look after themselves. Despite decades of research, doctors still have few effective weapons against it.
Developing ways of preventing dementia is becoming more and more important for governments worldwide as the number of dementia cases is expected to almost double globally every 20 years to 66 million in 2030 and more than 115 million in 2050, and the cost of coping with the disease in aging populations is forecast to rise dramatically in the coming decades.
Keage's team said that in the United States, for example, if the onset of dementia could be delayed by two years in those over 50, there would be nearly two million fewer cases of dementia over the next 40 years, a reduction that would also dramatically cut the projected economic costs of the disease.
The scientists examined the brains of 872 people who were involved in three large European studies of aging, and who, before their deaths, had completed questionnaires about their education, when they left school, and if they went to university.
"Our study shows education in early life appears to enable some people to cope with a lot of changes in their brain before showing dementia symptoms," Keage said.
The findings by scientists from Britain and Finland could have important implications for public health at a time when populations in many countries are rapidly aging and dementia numbers are expected to rise sharply.
The researchers found that people who go on to university or college after leaving school appear to be less affected by the brain changes, or pathology, associated with dementia than those who stop education earlier.
"More education is not associated with any differences in the damage to the brain, but people with higher education can cope with that damage better," Hanna Keage from Cambridge University, who worked on the study with an Anglo-Finnish team, said in a telephone interview.
Over the past decade, studies on dementia have shown that the more time you spend in education, the lower your risk of dementia — but, until now, scientists had not known whether this was because education somehow protected the brain against damage, or because it made people better able to cope.
In this study, published in the journal Brain, post-mortem examinations showed that the pathology, or changes, in the brain, were similar in those who were educated for longer and those who were not, but the disease's affects on more educated people was mitigated by their greater ability to cope.
Keage said this may be due to psychological strength, which might allow those with more education to think around problems presented by their disease or find ways to overcome them.
It also found that for every extra year of education there was an 11 percent decrease in the risk of developing dementia.
Around 35 million people around the world have dementia. Its most common form is Alzheimer's disease, in which patients gradually lose their memory, their ability to understand the world, and to look after themselves. Despite decades of research, doctors still have few effective weapons against it.
Developing ways of preventing dementia is becoming more and more important for governments worldwide as the number of dementia cases is expected to almost double globally every 20 years to 66 million in 2030 and more than 115 million in 2050, and the cost of coping with the disease in aging populations is forecast to rise dramatically in the coming decades.
Keage's team said that in the United States, for example, if the onset of dementia could be delayed by two years in those over 50, there would be nearly two million fewer cases of dementia over the next 40 years, a reduction that would also dramatically cut the projected economic costs of the disease.
The scientists examined the brains of 872 people who were involved in three large European studies of aging, and who, before their deaths, had completed questionnaires about their education, when they left school, and if they went to university.
"Our study shows education in early life appears to enable some people to cope with a lot of changes in their brain before showing dementia symptoms," Keage said.
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