REPORTING POINT 12-00
AEROMEDICAL NEWS
“Live healthy...live well”
HEALTH NEWS
by Larry Kline
SWAPA Voice Mailbox 511/email: skyguy737@cox.net
DON’T WANT TO BREAK A HIP LATER...EXERCISE NOW - men interested in reducing their risk of breaking a hip in later life should exercise in middle age, according to a new study.
Researchers in Finland followed the exercise habits of 3,262 middle-age men over a 21-year period. They found that those men who were physically active in their 40s and 50s had a much lower risk of hip fracture as they aged than did their more sedentary counterparts. This is a potentially important finding because hip fractures can result in immobility and earlier death.
The study also found that while vigorous activity was associated with a greater reduction in hip fracture risk, even moderate activity had a protective effect.
As it does with women, regular physical activity appears to help protect men from osteoporosis, a condition in which bones lose density. Weight-bearing exercise, such as walking, works directly on bones in your hips to slow mineral loss. Exercise also helps reduce the risk of falls by improving overall fitness.
If you’re already exercising regularly, keep up the good work. If you are not, it is never too late to reap health benefits from exercise. However, if you are middle-age or older and normally sedentary, or if you have health problems, consult your doctor before starting an exercise program. Mayo Clinic Health Letter 7/00.
SWEETENER GUIDE - only four sugar substitutes are used in the U.S. today (several others are awaiting FDA approval). There is also stevia, an herbal extract, plus a group of reduced-calorie sugar alcohols, such as sorbitol. Here is what is known about each of these sugar substitutes.
ASPARTAME (brand name NutraSweet or Equal). Approved by the FDA in the early 80's, aspartame is made from two amino acids (the building blocks of protein) and has almost no calories. It is used in countless foods and beverages, but can’t be used in baked goods. Lately there have been rumors-mainly on the Internet-that aspartame causes everything from multiple sclerosis, lupus, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease to diabetes, Gulf War syndrome, and finally brain tumors. Reputable health organizations have denounced the rumors. Aspartame has been more intensively studied than almost any other food additive. Leading authorities, including the FDA, AMA, and the World Health Organization, have concluded that it is safe. Aspartame’s only proven danger is for people with phenylfetonuria, an uncommon genetic disorder.
ACESULFAME-K, or acesulfame potassium (brand name Sunette or Sweet One), was approved by the FDA in 1989 and is used in soft drinks (sometimes combined with aspartame), candy, baked goods, and other foods. More than 90 studies have given it a clean bill of health, though some consumer groups still worry about it. Acesulfame-K passes through the body unchanged and is thus noncaloric. It contains only a small amount of potassium per serving. It doesn’t break down when heated and can be used in baked goods and other cooked foods.
SACCHARIN. The oldest approved sugar substitute, saccharin has been under a cloud since the 1970s, when studies found that it caused cancer in rats and the FDA proposed a ban on it (overruled by Congress). In May of this year, the U.S. government, citing accumulating evidence from animal and human studies, removed saccharin from its official list of potential cancer-causing agents. It is used in sugar-free soft drinks, jams, salad dressings, mouthwash, and toothpastes. It has a slight aftertaste.
SUCRALOSE. Related to sugar (sucrose), but 600 times sweeter, sucralose has no calories since it is not digested. It tastes like sugar and can be used in just about anything, though so far it is approved for only 15 foods and beverages.
STEVIA. This herbal extract is widely used as a calorie-free sweetener in South America and Japan. Until 1995 the FDA banned its import, on the basis of its unproven safety of a food additive. But under the Dietary Supplement Act of 1994, stevia, like other herbal products, can be sold as a “dietary supplement” in health food stores, on the Internet, and by mail order. It can’t be labeled a “sweetener,” which is a food additive, or used in any commercial food or beverages in this country, Canada, or the European Union because of long-term safety questions. It is 200 to 300 times as sweet as sugar, has a licorice-like aftertaste, and can be used for cooking.
SUGAR ALCOHOLS (xylitol, sorbitol, mannitol, maltitol). These have about half the calories of sugar and are absorbed more slowly, which is a plus for diabetics. They promote little or no tooth decay and are used mostly in “sugar-free” or “dietetic” candies, chewing gums, and cookies. They can cause gas, bloating, and diarrhea in some people.
In summary, sugar substitutes don’t cause tooth decay and since they don’t affect blood sugar, they are good for diabetics. However, it appears that the increased use of sugar substitutes have not helped Americans lose weight. On the contrary, Americans have consistently gained weight during the past 30 years. Remember, artificially sweetened foods tend not to be nutritious. University of California Berkeley Wellness Letter 9/00.
SURVIVE THE OPERATION - researchers at Johns Hopkins University have determined that critical-care specialists can triple the odds of surviving surgery. The researchers evaluated 2,987 heart-surgery patients and found that those receiving postoperative treatment from physicians certified in critical care had only a 7 percent mortality rate, compared with a 21 percent rate for those treated by regular M.D.’s. “A man who is scheduling any major surgery should ask if critical-care specialists are available. If the answer’s no, consider going elsewhere,” says the lead study author. Men’s Health 7/99.
LYCOPENE - HELPS PREVENT AND CURE - lycopene, the compound that makes tomatoes red, can help prevent prostate cancer. Now, a recent study at the Karmanos Cancer Institute found that it may also treat the disease. The researchers gave men with prostate cancer 15 milligrams of lycopene twice a day (equivalent to the amount in 1 ½ cups of tomato sauce). After 3 weeks, 80% of the test subjects had slightly smaller tumors. Lycopene seems to stop prostate cancer cells from multiplying, according to the study’s leader. Men’s Health 7/99.
SUPPLEMENT MAY INCREASE CANCER RISK - chromium picolinate has been used by some to control insulin for weight control and by body builders to enhance muscle growth. When researchers at the University of Alabama exposed cell DNA to low levels of chromium picolinate, the DNA became vulnerable to breakage, which may contribute to cell mutations and cancerous changes. “Given the cell changes we saw in the lab, I wouldn’t take the stuff.” says the study’s author. Men’s Health 7/99.
DO YOU NEED A MULTIVITAMIN? - nearly 40 percent of Americans have turned to multivitamin/mineral tablets, according to a recent survey by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
By correcting common nutritional shortfalls, multivitamin/mineral supplements can help reduce the risk of serious disorders such as birth defects and some dementias. Ironically, studies show that the people most likely to take a multivitamin/mineral supplement are those least likely to suffer nutritional deficits: health conscious individuals who eat a balanced diet.
Do these supplements provide protection from disease? A recent analysis of nearly 90,000 participants in Harvard Medical School’s ongoing Nurses’ Health Study found that women who took multivitamins for at least 15 years were 75 percent less likely to develop colon cancer, even after controlling for diet, family history, and other contributing factors. Another Seattle-based study also linked multivitamin use with a reduced chance of colon cancer.
Further data from the nurses’ study indicate that multivitamins may reduce the risk of breast cancer in a subset of women at possibly increased risk because of moderate to heavy alcohol use.
Concerning cardiovascular disease risk, an elevated blood level of the amino acid homocysteine appears to raise the risk of coronary disease and stroke. High homocysteine levels have been linked to low intake of certain B vitamins: folic acid, B6, and B12. At least one study has indeed found lower homocysteine levels in women who take multivitamins.
A good diet (low in saturated fats) can help guard against many major killers. Risk of heart disease, stroke, and cancers of the colon, stomach, lung, and esophagus is lower for people who eat a varied, lean diet. Eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables includes important substances that multivitamins don’t provide, notably fiber and photochemical - plant-based compounds that help fight disease.
Most multivitamins/mineral pills are relatively inexpensive, costing $1 to $4 per month. They are useful for people who don’t eat a sufficiently nutritious diet, are pregnant, breast-feeding, or seriously ill, or have trouble absorbing enough nutrients from food. These pills don’t contain fiber or photochemical, and they supply only minimal amounts of vitamin E and calcium. Most important, remember that taking a multivitamin doesn’t mean that you can neglect eating a nutritious diet. You don’t have to spend a fortune on “designer vitamins”; usually the generic brands are sufficient. Look for brands that contain: vitamin A, C, D, E, and B vitamins (thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B6, folic acid, and vitamin B12), chromium, copper, iodine, magnesium, and zinc. Consumer Reports on Health 10/00.
FROM THE FLIGHT SURGEON
“It’s to Diet From, Too!”
by Joe Battersby, D.O.
FAA Medical Examiner
(edited for this publication - LK)
Well, so far good, bad and indifferent on the “diet” front from our last article. Let’s talk a moment about a few popular weight loss methods and how they stack up.
1. Diet pills: surely no one in their right mind thinks this is not dangerous. Starting way back with the amphetamines up to and including Fen-Phen and the “Herbal Fen-Phen.” To the docs that prescribe this garbage: “Go get a real job!”
2. Special foods and combinations: the “grapefruit diet” is an example. Happens not to be scientifically proven. Go overboard on this and you’ll compromise nutrition and in time reach a state of “unhealth.”
3. Very low calorie diets: popular at Dachau and Oranienberg. Need I say more? Common sense should tell you that we need a certain amount of gas in our tanks to get from A to B in order to maintain our daily activities. Not so drastic is the now popular “Atkins’ Diet.” (Where has Pritikin gone?) Atkins’ got a nice gimmick! - check your urine for ketones - visual proof that you’re burning stored fats. I don’t quite understand how high fat and protein intake affects cholesterol metabolism and deposition on blood vessel walls, but an attempt to do so is offered. If a large, well-designed study of this relationship to the Atkins’ diet has been published, I haven’t found it yet. Obviously it lets a guy eat good stuff he likes, which is a plus. It certainly isn’t as extreme or boring as some of the avenues open. So I guess it’s OK. Whether it’s the latest and greatest, I don’t know yet. At the moment it’s just the latest.
4. Replacement foods: “Nutrisystem” and others cover their butts by including instructions for exercise. I can’t imagine a steady, prolonged consumption of this prepackaged stuff.
5. Surgery: stomach stapling, gastric resection, bypasses and lipo-suction are options, but only ethically done for people at serious risk from obesity. I have personal experience with only two such cases. (Hardly an adequate sampling). Both cases “relapsed.”
Earlier I said that very few obese people are victims of metabolic or hormonal problems. That still goes. Haunting me a bit is the idea of a genetic influence - Ketchiner’s “body types.” Fat shapes, in between shapes and thin body types. This must fit in somewhere, but I’m not sure how or why. I think genetics would like to rule.
6. Bottom line: many people can lose weight, but fewer can keep it off. As long as some people can and do, we have a chance. Don’t forget that! Stay away from the goofy extreme approaches by all means. Understand that a lifestyle change is mandatory, but difficult. Should you join a “health club?” Find a good reason for a motivation-split rear seam in your pants; being attractive to the opposite sex? Hit on some good personal reason to shed the lard and you will!
It isn’t true that you will never die if you subsist only on tofu and bean sprouts. It’s just that you may be denied the pleasure of good steaks, wines, and Bud Lite during your time here. But then, who would consider lifestyle and pleasure to be more important than longevity? Who has accurate knowledge of the extent of the span of days you have on our planet? Personally, I don’t think I’d want it anyway - it’s more fun and challenging the way it is!
Best,
Joe
Friday, December 1, 2000
Wednesday, November 1, 2000
Health News
REPORTING POINT 11-00
AEROMEDICAL NEWS
“Live healthy...live well”
HEALTH NEWS
by Larry Kline
SWAPA Voice Mailbox 511/email: skyguy737@cox.net
STILL NOT GETTING IT - fewer than one-third of American women of child-bearing age take daily supplements of the B vitamin folic acid, as recommended by the government to help prevent neural tube birth defects. Fortification of grain products with folic acid, in effect since 1998, has helped raise Americans’ blood levels of this vitamin, but not enough to prevent birth defects. Thus all women who might become pregnant should take a multivitamin containing 400 micrograms of folic acid. It is important to start building up levels of folic acid at least four weeks before becoming pregnant. University of California Berkeley Wellness Letter 9/00.
JUST THINK ABOUT IT - according to researchers at the University of Bristol (England), each cigarette a man smokes shortens his life by 11 minutes! Men’s Fitness
6/00.
NEW DRUGS TO FIGHT CANCER - a new class of drugs has been shown to slow tumor growth by selectively killing cancer cells without damaging healthy cells. Researchers studied 96 patients who had prostate-cancer recurrences after prostatectomy and found that Exisulind, a selective apoptotic anti-neoplastic drug (SAAND), acted like a cancer-cell “off” switch. According to the lead researcher, Exisulind makes cancer cells undergo apoptosis-programmed cell death. He believes that SAANDs, which should be available early next year, will make surgery, hormone therapy, and radiation therapy more effective. Men’s Health 10/00.
HOSTILITY AND ANGER CAN KILL...YOU - researchers at Ohio State University have found a link between hostility and the chemical homocysteine. High levels of the chemical may damage the inside of arterial walls, leading to plaque formation. Hostility and stress temporarily elevate homocysteine levels. Foods containing folic acid (beans, spinach, orange juice) help control homocysteine levels. Men’s Health 10/00.
NEWS FROM “DOWN UNDER” - 48,000 men will die from colon cancer this year. Colonoscopy examination will verify your status and colon health. Drinking milk and at least consuming 300 milligrams of calcium daily seems to decrease the recurrence of precancerous polyps. Men’s Health 10/00.
CHEATING DIABETES - the adult-onset type will claim 65,000 Americans this year. Those who exercise regularly seem less likely to acquire this type of diabetes. Also, eating more insoluble fiber (vegetables, fruit, and wheat bran) and soluble fiber (fruit, beans, oats, barley, and rye). According to the New England Journal of Medicine, those who consumed 50 grams of both soluble and insoluble fiber daily reduced their glucose by 10 percent and insulin by 12 percent. Men’s Health 10/00.
ANALYZING BLOOD TEST RESULTS - by now, you should be getting an annual blood test and keeping the results for baseline comparison. Here is a partial analysis and interpretation of some of the most telling blood tests.
TEST NORMAL RESULTS EXCELLENT
______________________________________________________________________Total cholesterol 180 milligrams/deciliter 140-150 mg/dl
HDL cholesterol-cleans arteries >40 mg/dl >70 mg/dl
LDL cholesterol-clogs arteries <120 mg/dl <80 mg/dl
VLDL cholesterol-soft chunks of <15 mg/dl <10 mg/dl
cholesterol that are very likely to
cause blockages
Fasting triglycerides-fat globules in the 150-250 mg/dl 90 mg/dl
bloodstream; the higher the count, the
higher the risk of heart attack/stroke
Fasting blood glucose-the closer to the 70-110 mg/dl 85-105 mg/dl
midrange, the less chance of develop-
ing hypoglycemia or diabetes
Liver bilirubin-gradual alcohol damage 1.2 mg/dl <1 mg/dl
to the liver causes this to increase
Serum ferritin-amount of iron in blood; 250 nanograms/dl <200 ng/dl
too much can cause heart damage
Thyroid T4(free thyroxine)-gauges the 1.3-3.8 ng/dl 2.5 ng/dl
function of the thyroid gland; a midline
score is ideal
Men’s Health 10/00
THE PIERCING TRUTH - body piercing in many forms is very popular today. Health experts are concerned that this fad will bring a rise in serious health complications. One oral surgeon has declared that piercing is “a portal entry to potentially killing viruses...”
Body piercing is largely an unregulated industry - practitioners don’t have to answer to any licensing authority. State health departments don’t check piercing establishments regularly; usually only after a customer complaint. Piercers learn through apprenticeships; there is no school for the trade.
The risk of infection depends on how sterile the equipment is and how well the pierced person cares for the laceration. Many piercing shops are becoming more aware of blood-borne pathogens, so they are posting safety guidelines on websites, such as www.piercing.org, including questions and answers for those interested.
Besides personal care, getting the piercing done in the right studio is key. Shopping for the cheapest price may yield a nasty infection. Prices should range from $35 for smaller piercings, such as the nose, to $100 for more elaborate work, such as the navel.
Finally, to avoid serious infections such as HIV or hepatitis, make sure that everything is cleaned in an autoclave, which uses extreme heat to sterilize surgical instruments. Ask the piercer questions about aftercare, cleanliness, and equipment. Academy of General Dentistry.
AJ CAN LOWER BAD CHOLESTEROL - researchers at the University of California have determined that drinking apple juice can lower LDL (bad) cholesterol oxidation - the process that causes cholesterol to breakdown into its artery-clogging form - by 34 percent. Apple juice contains phenols, the same plant-based compounds found in red wine. Men’s Health 7/99.
HERPES SPREADS WITHOUT SIGNS - people with genital herpes are capable of spreading the virus even when there are no signs of infection, according to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine. It is estimated that as many as one in four American adults may carry the sexually transmitted HSV-2, but only 10 to 25 percent of carriers will get outbreaks of small, genital lesions. Men’s Fitness 6/00.
OLIVE OIL IS GOOD FOR YOUR COLON - a diet rich in olive oil appears to reduce the risk of colon cancer. Colon cancer rates for subjects given olive oil were lower than for those given safflower oil and nearly as low as for those given fish oil, which has already been linked to reduced cancer risk. Other studies have shown that olive oil can also improve the ratio of good-to-bad cholesterol. Men’s Fitness 6/00.
AEROMEDICAL NEWS
“Live healthy...live well”
HEALTH NEWS
by Larry Kline
SWAPA Voice Mailbox 511/email: skyguy737@cox.net
STILL NOT GETTING IT - fewer than one-third of American women of child-bearing age take daily supplements of the B vitamin folic acid, as recommended by the government to help prevent neural tube birth defects. Fortification of grain products with folic acid, in effect since 1998, has helped raise Americans’ blood levels of this vitamin, but not enough to prevent birth defects. Thus all women who might become pregnant should take a multivitamin containing 400 micrograms of folic acid. It is important to start building up levels of folic acid at least four weeks before becoming pregnant. University of California Berkeley Wellness Letter 9/00.
JUST THINK ABOUT IT - according to researchers at the University of Bristol (England), each cigarette a man smokes shortens his life by 11 minutes! Men’s Fitness
6/00.
NEW DRUGS TO FIGHT CANCER - a new class of drugs has been shown to slow tumor growth by selectively killing cancer cells without damaging healthy cells. Researchers studied 96 patients who had prostate-cancer recurrences after prostatectomy and found that Exisulind, a selective apoptotic anti-neoplastic drug (SAAND), acted like a cancer-cell “off” switch. According to the lead researcher, Exisulind makes cancer cells undergo apoptosis-programmed cell death. He believes that SAANDs, which should be available early next year, will make surgery, hormone therapy, and radiation therapy more effective. Men’s Health 10/00.
HOSTILITY AND ANGER CAN KILL...YOU - researchers at Ohio State University have found a link between hostility and the chemical homocysteine. High levels of the chemical may damage the inside of arterial walls, leading to plaque formation. Hostility and stress temporarily elevate homocysteine levels. Foods containing folic acid (beans, spinach, orange juice) help control homocysteine levels. Men’s Health 10/00.
NEWS FROM “DOWN UNDER” - 48,000 men will die from colon cancer this year. Colonoscopy examination will verify your status and colon health. Drinking milk and at least consuming 300 milligrams of calcium daily seems to decrease the recurrence of precancerous polyps. Men’s Health 10/00.
CHEATING DIABETES - the adult-onset type will claim 65,000 Americans this year. Those who exercise regularly seem less likely to acquire this type of diabetes. Also, eating more insoluble fiber (vegetables, fruit, and wheat bran) and soluble fiber (fruit, beans, oats, barley, and rye). According to the New England Journal of Medicine, those who consumed 50 grams of both soluble and insoluble fiber daily reduced their glucose by 10 percent and insulin by 12 percent. Men’s Health 10/00.
ANALYZING BLOOD TEST RESULTS - by now, you should be getting an annual blood test and keeping the results for baseline comparison. Here is a partial analysis and interpretation of some of the most telling blood tests.
TEST NORMAL RESULTS EXCELLENT
______________________________________________________________________Total cholesterol 180 milligrams/deciliter 140-150 mg/dl
HDL cholesterol-cleans arteries >40 mg/dl >70 mg/dl
LDL cholesterol-clogs arteries <120 mg/dl <80 mg/dl
VLDL cholesterol-soft chunks of <15 mg/dl <10 mg/dl
cholesterol that are very likely to
cause blockages
Fasting triglycerides-fat globules in the 150-250 mg/dl 90 mg/dl
bloodstream; the higher the count, the
higher the risk of heart attack/stroke
Fasting blood glucose-the closer to the 70-110 mg/dl 85-105 mg/dl
midrange, the less chance of develop-
ing hypoglycemia or diabetes
Liver bilirubin-gradual alcohol damage 1.2 mg/dl <1 mg/dl
to the liver causes this to increase
Serum ferritin-amount of iron in blood; 250 nanograms/dl <200 ng/dl
too much can cause heart damage
Thyroid T4(free thyroxine)-gauges the 1.3-3.8 ng/dl 2.5 ng/dl
function of the thyroid gland; a midline
score is ideal
Men’s Health 10/00
THE PIERCING TRUTH - body piercing in many forms is very popular today. Health experts are concerned that this fad will bring a rise in serious health complications. One oral surgeon has declared that piercing is “a portal entry to potentially killing viruses...”
Body piercing is largely an unregulated industry - practitioners don’t have to answer to any licensing authority. State health departments don’t check piercing establishments regularly; usually only after a customer complaint. Piercers learn through apprenticeships; there is no school for the trade.
The risk of infection depends on how sterile the equipment is and how well the pierced person cares for the laceration. Many piercing shops are becoming more aware of blood-borne pathogens, so they are posting safety guidelines on websites, such as www.piercing.org, including questions and answers for those interested.
Besides personal care, getting the piercing done in the right studio is key. Shopping for the cheapest price may yield a nasty infection. Prices should range from $35 for smaller piercings, such as the nose, to $100 for more elaborate work, such as the navel.
Finally, to avoid serious infections such as HIV or hepatitis, make sure that everything is cleaned in an autoclave, which uses extreme heat to sterilize surgical instruments. Ask the piercer questions about aftercare, cleanliness, and equipment. Academy of General Dentistry.
AJ CAN LOWER BAD CHOLESTEROL - researchers at the University of California have determined that drinking apple juice can lower LDL (bad) cholesterol oxidation - the process that causes cholesterol to breakdown into its artery-clogging form - by 34 percent. Apple juice contains phenols, the same plant-based compounds found in red wine. Men’s Health 7/99.
HERPES SPREADS WITHOUT SIGNS - people with genital herpes are capable of spreading the virus even when there are no signs of infection, according to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine. It is estimated that as many as one in four American adults may carry the sexually transmitted HSV-2, but only 10 to 25 percent of carriers will get outbreaks of small, genital lesions. Men’s Fitness 6/00.
OLIVE OIL IS GOOD FOR YOUR COLON - a diet rich in olive oil appears to reduce the risk of colon cancer. Colon cancer rates for subjects given olive oil were lower than for those given safflower oil and nearly as low as for those given fish oil, which has already been linked to reduced cancer risk. Other studies have shown that olive oil can also improve the ratio of good-to-bad cholesterol. Men’s Fitness 6/00.
Sunday, October 1, 2000
Health News
REPORTING POINT 10-00
AEROMEDICAL NEWS
“Live healthy...live well”
HEALTH NEWS
by Larry Kline
SWAPA Voice Mailbox 511/email: skyguy737@cox.net
HANDS OFF - women can maximize a stepping-machine workout if they don’t hold the handrails; not even slightly. According to the journal Research in Nursing & Health, women who hold the rails have maximum heart rates up to 5% lower than women who do not. Using the handrails once in a while to regain balance is fine, the study says, but continuously gripping them lessens the workout’s effectiveness - these findings do not apply to men. USA Today 4/11/00.
GLUCOSAMINE WORKS - scientists in Belgium have hard evidence that the supplement glucosamine can stop osteoarthritis. For 3 years, 212 osteoarthritis patients were given either 1,500 mgs. of glucosamine or a placebo daily. Radiographs showed that the placebo subjects had narrowed joint space and less cartilage, but those taking glucosamine had no deterioration. The scientists believe glucosamine may block cartilage-destroying enzymes. This study relied on actual measurements of knees structure rather than self-reported knee pain. Men’s Health 3/00.
SUNSCREEN UPDATE - when purchasing a sunscreen, look for those formulas that block out both ultraviolet B (UVB), the main cause of sunburn and skin tumors, and ultraviolet A (UVA), the prime culprit behind wrinkles. Some new lotions may even reverse some skin damage.
UVB damages the DNA of individual skin cells and weakens the body’s ability to destroy or repair cells that have been damaged. It is estimated that 20% of the American population will suffer significant skin damage or skin cancer due to UVB damage.
UVA, which is responsible for the skin tanning, produces free-radical damage which effects skin cell’s DNA. This damage results in mottled splotches, wrinkles, and loose skin. The free radicals break down the skin’s elastic fibers and underlying collagen that helps keep skin smooth and firm. There is some recent evidence that UVA light may contribute to the formation of melanoma, the most deadly type of skin cancer.
Choose a sunscreen which will block both UVA and UVB - preferably one with zinc oxide or titanium oxide or avobenzone (Parsol 1789). Health 7/00, Men’s Fitness 7/00.
ANOTHER BENEFIT OF GREEN TEA - we’ve written before about the health benefits of green tea, including the strong antioxidants it contains. Now, research another benefit...increased metabolism and weight loss. Swiss researchers found that subjects who daily consumed green tea extract plus 50 mgs. of caffeine burned 4.5% more calories daily. The researchers speculate that caffeine interacts with the flavonoids in the green tea to alter the body’s use of norepinephrine, a chemical transmitter in the nervous system that influences the body’s metabolism - increased metabolism means more calories and fat are burned. Men’s Health 3/00, Men’s Fitness 3/00.
FIBER KEEPS THE POUNDS OFF - adding fiber may be as smart as cutting fat from your diet. Researchers at Children’s Hospital in Boston report that men and women who ate a diet high in fiber gained the least weight over a ten-year period - regardless of how much fat they consumed. The people who gained the most had diets low in both fiber and fat. Health 1/00.
PROSTATE CANCER VACCINE - researchers at Johns Hopkins University are getting closer at developing a vaccine for prostate cancer. GM-CSF, a gene known to trigger immune activity, was implanted into prostate-cancer cells, which were then injected into test subjects with aggressive prostate cancer. Researchers found that the vaccine caused the men’s immune systems to produce T-cells that attacked the prostate cancer. The next step is to make the immune response strong enough to defeat cancer. Men’s Health 3/00.
ACTIVITY CUTS PROSTATE RISK - growing evidence suggest that getting regular exercise can reduce the risk of prostate cancer. Most recently, a study of almost 30,000 men published in Cancer Causes & Control found that those who both walked on the job and engaged in at least moderately intense leisure activity had a 60 percent lower risk of prostate cancer than those who led a purely sedentary lifestyle. Men who were inactive at work but active during their leisure time still had 30 percent less risk than the sedentary men. Consumer Reports on Health 10/98.
CHILD ASTHMA RELIEF - Italian researchers report that eating just one orange a week can help asthmatic kids breathe easier. The researchers also found that youngsters who ate more fresh citrus fruit wheezed and coughed less. Health 7/00.
TEA FOR YOUR BONES - drinking tea may actually lead to stronger bones and lower risk of fracture. A recent English study found that tea-drinking women (age 65 to 76) had greater bone density than women who did not drink tea. Coffee had no effect on bone density. Tea contains fluoride and flavonoids, which may be beneficial to bone retention. University of California Berkeley Wellness Letter 9/00.
PAYBACK FOR SMOKING MOMS - smoking during pregnancy seems to increase the odds of having an obnoxious toddler with behavioral problems.
Researchers at Mount Sinai School of Medicine found that toddlers with mothers who smoked during pregnancy were four times as likely as the others to exhibit negative behavior.
Because maternal smoking narrows the blood vessels in the placenta researchers believe it might affect the structure and function of the baby’s brain. Childhood aggression has been linked to later delinquency. Health 7/00.
BLOOD TYPE HYPE - “Eat Right for Your Type” by Peter J. D’Adamo claims that your blood type determines how you metabolize food. This book lists the best foods for each blood type and makes claims for increased energy and weight loss based on your blood type (A, O, AB, etc.) According to Consumer Reports on Health (10/98), there is absolutely no scientific evidence, or even plausible theory, to support using your blood type as a guide for your diet.
HIDDEN FATS EXPOSED - trans-fats may be just as bad for your heart and arteries as saturated fat, raising cholesterol levels and blood triglyceride levels. There has been no requirement to list these fats on food labels, so you may have been consuming more harmful fat than you realized. Now, the FDA plans to start labeling trans-fats on all food products in a few years. Until this is enacted, trans-fats are found in all oils that are hydrogenated (the label will include “partially hydrogenated”) in its description. Many baked goods and especially stick margarine contain this “hidden fat”. Health 3/00.
AEROMEDICAL NEWS
“Live healthy...live well”
HEALTH NEWS
by Larry Kline
SWAPA Voice Mailbox 511/email: skyguy737@cox.net
HANDS OFF - women can maximize a stepping-machine workout if they don’t hold the handrails; not even slightly. According to the journal Research in Nursing & Health, women who hold the rails have maximum heart rates up to 5% lower than women who do not. Using the handrails once in a while to regain balance is fine, the study says, but continuously gripping them lessens the workout’s effectiveness - these findings do not apply to men. USA Today 4/11/00.
GLUCOSAMINE WORKS - scientists in Belgium have hard evidence that the supplement glucosamine can stop osteoarthritis. For 3 years, 212 osteoarthritis patients were given either 1,500 mgs. of glucosamine or a placebo daily. Radiographs showed that the placebo subjects had narrowed joint space and less cartilage, but those taking glucosamine had no deterioration. The scientists believe glucosamine may block cartilage-destroying enzymes. This study relied on actual measurements of knees structure rather than self-reported knee pain. Men’s Health 3/00.
SUNSCREEN UPDATE - when purchasing a sunscreen, look for those formulas that block out both ultraviolet B (UVB), the main cause of sunburn and skin tumors, and ultraviolet A (UVA), the prime culprit behind wrinkles. Some new lotions may even reverse some skin damage.
UVB damages the DNA of individual skin cells and weakens the body’s ability to destroy or repair cells that have been damaged. It is estimated that 20% of the American population will suffer significant skin damage or skin cancer due to UVB damage.
UVA, which is responsible for the skin tanning, produces free-radical damage which effects skin cell’s DNA. This damage results in mottled splotches, wrinkles, and loose skin. The free radicals break down the skin’s elastic fibers and underlying collagen that helps keep skin smooth and firm. There is some recent evidence that UVA light may contribute to the formation of melanoma, the most deadly type of skin cancer.
Choose a sunscreen which will block both UVA and UVB - preferably one with zinc oxide or titanium oxide or avobenzone (Parsol 1789). Health 7/00, Men’s Fitness 7/00.
ANOTHER BENEFIT OF GREEN TEA - we’ve written before about the health benefits of green tea, including the strong antioxidants it contains. Now, research another benefit...increased metabolism and weight loss. Swiss researchers found that subjects who daily consumed green tea extract plus 50 mgs. of caffeine burned 4.5% more calories daily. The researchers speculate that caffeine interacts with the flavonoids in the green tea to alter the body’s use of norepinephrine, a chemical transmitter in the nervous system that influences the body’s metabolism - increased metabolism means more calories and fat are burned. Men’s Health 3/00, Men’s Fitness 3/00.
FIBER KEEPS THE POUNDS OFF - adding fiber may be as smart as cutting fat from your diet. Researchers at Children’s Hospital in Boston report that men and women who ate a diet high in fiber gained the least weight over a ten-year period - regardless of how much fat they consumed. The people who gained the most had diets low in both fiber and fat. Health 1/00.
PROSTATE CANCER VACCINE - researchers at Johns Hopkins University are getting closer at developing a vaccine for prostate cancer. GM-CSF, a gene known to trigger immune activity, was implanted into prostate-cancer cells, which were then injected into test subjects with aggressive prostate cancer. Researchers found that the vaccine caused the men’s immune systems to produce T-cells that attacked the prostate cancer. The next step is to make the immune response strong enough to defeat cancer. Men’s Health 3/00.
ACTIVITY CUTS PROSTATE RISK - growing evidence suggest that getting regular exercise can reduce the risk of prostate cancer. Most recently, a study of almost 30,000 men published in Cancer Causes & Control found that those who both walked on the job and engaged in at least moderately intense leisure activity had a 60 percent lower risk of prostate cancer than those who led a purely sedentary lifestyle. Men who were inactive at work but active during their leisure time still had 30 percent less risk than the sedentary men. Consumer Reports on Health 10/98.
CHILD ASTHMA RELIEF - Italian researchers report that eating just one orange a week can help asthmatic kids breathe easier. The researchers also found that youngsters who ate more fresh citrus fruit wheezed and coughed less. Health 7/00.
TEA FOR YOUR BONES - drinking tea may actually lead to stronger bones and lower risk of fracture. A recent English study found that tea-drinking women (age 65 to 76) had greater bone density than women who did not drink tea. Coffee had no effect on bone density. Tea contains fluoride and flavonoids, which may be beneficial to bone retention. University of California Berkeley Wellness Letter 9/00.
PAYBACK FOR SMOKING MOMS - smoking during pregnancy seems to increase the odds of having an obnoxious toddler with behavioral problems.
Researchers at Mount Sinai School of Medicine found that toddlers with mothers who smoked during pregnancy were four times as likely as the others to exhibit negative behavior.
Because maternal smoking narrows the blood vessels in the placenta researchers believe it might affect the structure and function of the baby’s brain. Childhood aggression has been linked to later delinquency. Health 7/00.
BLOOD TYPE HYPE - “Eat Right for Your Type” by Peter J. D’Adamo claims that your blood type determines how you metabolize food. This book lists the best foods for each blood type and makes claims for increased energy and weight loss based on your blood type (A, O, AB, etc.) According to Consumer Reports on Health (10/98), there is absolutely no scientific evidence, or even plausible theory, to support using your blood type as a guide for your diet.
HIDDEN FATS EXPOSED - trans-fats may be just as bad for your heart and arteries as saturated fat, raising cholesterol levels and blood triglyceride levels. There has been no requirement to list these fats on food labels, so you may have been consuming more harmful fat than you realized. Now, the FDA plans to start labeling trans-fats on all food products in a few years. Until this is enacted, trans-fats are found in all oils that are hydrogenated (the label will include “partially hydrogenated”) in its description. Many baked goods and especially stick margarine contain this “hidden fat”. Health 3/00.
Friday, September 1, 2000
Health News
REPORTING POINT 09-00
AEROMEDICAL NEWS
“Live healthy...live well”
HEALTH NEWS
by Larry Kline
SWAPA Voice Mailbox 511/email: skyguy737@cox.net
SMOKER? NOW EARLIER DETECTION OF LUNG TUMORS - a new type of CAT scan can detect tumors in the lungs while they are still curable. The low dose CAT scan is capable of finding tumors far quicker than conventional X-rays, which can change the survival rate from 12 or 15 percent to 80 percent. Every year 160,000 people die of lung cancer, the leading cause of cancer death in this country. By the time symptoms appear, the cancer is usually too advanced to treat. Experts recommend that smokers and former smokers consider annual low-dose CAT scans. Men’s Fitness 1/00.
VEGGIES FOR BONE HEALTH - a recent Swiss study shows that eating more vegetables can increase bone density. Subjects who ate more lettuce, tomato, cucumber, and especially onion and parsley showed increases in bone density. This is important to athletes who may suffer stress fractures as well as those in later years who battle osteoporosis. Men’s Fitness 1/00.
HELP FOR SORE KNEES - researchers have found that gentle exercise and physical therapy can dramatically quell the pain of arthritis and even prevent the need for surgery.
Test subjects with moderate knee pain caused by osteoarthritis visited physical therapists twice a week. Half of the group received placebo ultrasound treatments while the other half received therapy that incorporated clinic and home workouts. In the clinic, patients received gentle stretching of tight leg muscles, improved the knee’s range of motion, rode an exercise bike for at least five minutes, and did light strength exercises such as knee extensions. Similar exercises incorporating stretching and strengthening were done at home.
After just eight visits, the stretching and strengthening group indicated that their pain and stiffness decreased by more than 50 percent, making it a lot easier to walk and climb stairs. The placebo group experienced no relief whatsoever. One year later, the placebo group were four times as likely to have undergone knee replacement surgery as the exercise group (only 5 percent of the exercisers underwent surgery). Health 5/00.
GUM REPAIR - the antioxidant Coenzyme Q10 has been found to be a major benefit to anyone suffering from gum disease. Japanese researchers found that taking 50 mgs of CoQ10 for three weeks dramatically improved the health of gum tissue - subjects who were once candidates for surgery no longer had visible symptoms of gum disease. Men’s Fitness 1/00.
IRRADIATED MEATS - beef, pork, and lamb have been approved to be treated with radiation to eliminate salmonella, E. coli, and other bacteria capable of ruining your day. Irradiated meats sold in markets will show the “radura” symbol: a flower inside a broken circle. Health 5/00. (Insert radura symbol here-lk)
ASPIRIN - MORE WONDERS - besides relieving headaches, lowering risk of heart attacks and lowering risk of colon cancer, now a study published in the Journal of Clinical Periodontology found that people who took low doses of aspirin had healthier gums than those who did not take aspirin. Researchers theorize that aspirin protects the fibers and ligaments that attach gums to teeth. Men’s Health 7/00.
MAGNETS ENHANCE CHEMOTHERAPY - researchers at UCLA Medical Center believe magnets may help make chemotherapy more effective. They added particles of iron to a chemotherapy drug before injecting it into an artery feeding a tumor. They then put a magnet right over the tumor and drew the iron-laced chemicals to it. This type of therapy can concentrate the chemotherapy drugs on the tumor site, making it more effective and hopefully, reducing side effects. More studies are scheduled in hopes of receiving FDA approval. Men’s Health 7/00.
FEAR OF FLYING? - for the average American, the odds of being involved in an aircraft accident are 1 in 4 million. The lifetime chances of being involved in a serious or fatal car crash are 1 in 3! Since 1914, the year commercial aviation began, 13,000 people have died in nonmilitary plane crashes. Every year, three times that many Americans die in car crashes. University of California Berkeley Wellness Letter 6/00.
FROM THE FLIGHT SURGEON
“It’s to Diet From”
by Joe Battersby, D.O.
FAA Medical Examiner
(edited for this publication - LK)
Larry Kline, a pal of mine who flies for Southwest, called recently to ask my “take” on the Adkin’s Diet. This dietary approach has undergone a recent resurgence of interest having been first published about 25 years ago. I could do that (Adkin’s) but I thought, why not start with an overview of weight control/obesity as we now understand it?
So here goes. First, how about a little reality perspective? It is estimated that Americans spend 33 million bucks a year on weight control products and services, but the percentage of Americans that are overweight tends to increase by almost 1% a year. Some studies following people who have originally lost weight suggest that after a five-year study period, 95% of the group failed to maintain their lost weight. Simply stated, many people can lose weight - it just seems that they can’t keep it off! So, why bother to fight it? Well, in my observations, there are only a couple of overall motives:
1. In our culture “thin is in”. Or at least “trim is in”. Following this theory, we become more attractive to ourselves and others if we are not flabby. Of course, if continuing to be “fat” is just the way it’s going to be for you and it’s making you severely depressed, I have an idea. Get a job in a Third World country. You are guaranteed admiration. Has anybody ever seen a statue of a skinny Buddha?..Ho-Tai?
2. Aesthetics aside, there is the matter of health, maybe. The bad effects of “overfat” appears in various forms in terms of our body function. You’ve all heard the horror studies about heart disease, hypertension, arthritis, diabetes, etc., associated with “overfat”. In my own practice, if the only indications that a guy is “overfat” are the holes in his belt, I don’t worry a lot about gimmick-like “skin-fold” testing, etc. If, on the other hand, lab findings or physical examination show proven bad effects of “overfat”, then it’s certainly time to talk things over. (Switch to O’Douls???) Lay off the 5 pounds of lasagna at dinner? Whatever... What kind of doctor just waits for someone to have symptoms before he educates or tries to intervene on a patient’s behalf? Just one who works in the real world, that’s all. Anyone who has a TV or reads a newspaper is advised endlessly about healthy life styles, diets and exercise. They don’t seek me out for this as long as they see themselves as being healthy. The “Fen-Phen” diet docs maybe held medical degrees, but they sure as “bleep” weren’t “physicians”. “Orlistat”, now offered as a “fat blocker” can lead to some eye and sphincter-opening experiences. I have more to say about this subject, but I have run out of time and space. We need to talk about the role of genetics and other things. For now, I’ll leave you with these ideas:
We are fat because we eat and/or drink too much in relations to our level of activity. Less than 2% of all of obesity can be traced to a metabolic disorder (i.e. thyroid disease) or hormonal imbalances. No more copping out to that! More on the subject later.
Best,
Joe
AEROMEDICAL NEWS
“Live healthy...live well”
HEALTH NEWS
by Larry Kline
SWAPA Voice Mailbox 511/email: skyguy737@cox.net
SMOKER? NOW EARLIER DETECTION OF LUNG TUMORS - a new type of CAT scan can detect tumors in the lungs while they are still curable. The low dose CAT scan is capable of finding tumors far quicker than conventional X-rays, which can change the survival rate from 12 or 15 percent to 80 percent. Every year 160,000 people die of lung cancer, the leading cause of cancer death in this country. By the time symptoms appear, the cancer is usually too advanced to treat. Experts recommend that smokers and former smokers consider annual low-dose CAT scans. Men’s Fitness 1/00.
VEGGIES FOR BONE HEALTH - a recent Swiss study shows that eating more vegetables can increase bone density. Subjects who ate more lettuce, tomato, cucumber, and especially onion and parsley showed increases in bone density. This is important to athletes who may suffer stress fractures as well as those in later years who battle osteoporosis. Men’s Fitness 1/00.
HELP FOR SORE KNEES - researchers have found that gentle exercise and physical therapy can dramatically quell the pain of arthritis and even prevent the need for surgery.
Test subjects with moderate knee pain caused by osteoarthritis visited physical therapists twice a week. Half of the group received placebo ultrasound treatments while the other half received therapy that incorporated clinic and home workouts. In the clinic, patients received gentle stretching of tight leg muscles, improved the knee’s range of motion, rode an exercise bike for at least five minutes, and did light strength exercises such as knee extensions. Similar exercises incorporating stretching and strengthening were done at home.
After just eight visits, the stretching and strengthening group indicated that their pain and stiffness decreased by more than 50 percent, making it a lot easier to walk and climb stairs. The placebo group experienced no relief whatsoever. One year later, the placebo group were four times as likely to have undergone knee replacement surgery as the exercise group (only 5 percent of the exercisers underwent surgery). Health 5/00.
GUM REPAIR - the antioxidant Coenzyme Q10 has been found to be a major benefit to anyone suffering from gum disease. Japanese researchers found that taking 50 mgs of CoQ10 for three weeks dramatically improved the health of gum tissue - subjects who were once candidates for surgery no longer had visible symptoms of gum disease. Men’s Fitness 1/00.
IRRADIATED MEATS - beef, pork, and lamb have been approved to be treated with radiation to eliminate salmonella, E. coli, and other bacteria capable of ruining your day. Irradiated meats sold in markets will show the “radura” symbol: a flower inside a broken circle. Health 5/00. (Insert radura symbol here-lk)
ASPIRIN - MORE WONDERS - besides relieving headaches, lowering risk of heart attacks and lowering risk of colon cancer, now a study published in the Journal of Clinical Periodontology found that people who took low doses of aspirin had healthier gums than those who did not take aspirin. Researchers theorize that aspirin protects the fibers and ligaments that attach gums to teeth. Men’s Health 7/00.
MAGNETS ENHANCE CHEMOTHERAPY - researchers at UCLA Medical Center believe magnets may help make chemotherapy more effective. They added particles of iron to a chemotherapy drug before injecting it into an artery feeding a tumor. They then put a magnet right over the tumor and drew the iron-laced chemicals to it. This type of therapy can concentrate the chemotherapy drugs on the tumor site, making it more effective and hopefully, reducing side effects. More studies are scheduled in hopes of receiving FDA approval. Men’s Health 7/00.
FEAR OF FLYING? - for the average American, the odds of being involved in an aircraft accident are 1 in 4 million. The lifetime chances of being involved in a serious or fatal car crash are 1 in 3! Since 1914, the year commercial aviation began, 13,000 people have died in nonmilitary plane crashes. Every year, three times that many Americans die in car crashes. University of California Berkeley Wellness Letter 6/00.
FROM THE FLIGHT SURGEON
“It’s to Diet From”
by Joe Battersby, D.O.
FAA Medical Examiner
(edited for this publication - LK)
Larry Kline, a pal of mine who flies for Southwest, called recently to ask my “take” on the Adkin’s Diet. This dietary approach has undergone a recent resurgence of interest having been first published about 25 years ago. I could do that (Adkin’s) but I thought, why not start with an overview of weight control/obesity as we now understand it?
So here goes. First, how about a little reality perspective? It is estimated that Americans spend 33 million bucks a year on weight control products and services, but the percentage of Americans that are overweight tends to increase by almost 1% a year. Some studies following people who have originally lost weight suggest that after a five-year study period, 95% of the group failed to maintain their lost weight. Simply stated, many people can lose weight - it just seems that they can’t keep it off! So, why bother to fight it? Well, in my observations, there are only a couple of overall motives:
1. In our culture “thin is in”. Or at least “trim is in”. Following this theory, we become more attractive to ourselves and others if we are not flabby. Of course, if continuing to be “fat” is just the way it’s going to be for you and it’s making you severely depressed, I have an idea. Get a job in a Third World country. You are guaranteed admiration. Has anybody ever seen a statue of a skinny Buddha?..Ho-Tai?
2. Aesthetics aside, there is the matter of health, maybe. The bad effects of “overfat” appears in various forms in terms of our body function. You’ve all heard the horror studies about heart disease, hypertension, arthritis, diabetes, etc., associated with “overfat”. In my own practice, if the only indications that a guy is “overfat” are the holes in his belt, I don’t worry a lot about gimmick-like “skin-fold” testing, etc. If, on the other hand, lab findings or physical examination show proven bad effects of “overfat”, then it’s certainly time to talk things over. (Switch to O’Douls???) Lay off the 5 pounds of lasagna at dinner? Whatever... What kind of doctor just waits for someone to have symptoms before he educates or tries to intervene on a patient’s behalf? Just one who works in the real world, that’s all. Anyone who has a TV or reads a newspaper is advised endlessly about healthy life styles, diets and exercise. They don’t seek me out for this as long as they see themselves as being healthy. The “Fen-Phen” diet docs maybe held medical degrees, but they sure as “bleep” weren’t “physicians”. “Orlistat”, now offered as a “fat blocker” can lead to some eye and sphincter-opening experiences. I have more to say about this subject, but I have run out of time and space. We need to talk about the role of genetics and other things. For now, I’ll leave you with these ideas:
We are fat because we eat and/or drink too much in relations to our level of activity. Less than 2% of all of obesity can be traced to a metabolic disorder (i.e. thyroid disease) or hormonal imbalances. No more copping out to that! More on the subject later.
Best,
Joe
Tuesday, August 1, 2000
Health News
REPORTING POINT 08-00
AEROMEDICAL NEWS
“Live healthy...live well”
HEALTH NEWS
by Larry Kline
SWAPA Voice Mailbox 511/email: skyguy737@cox.net
SPICE FIGHTS KILLER - non-pasteurized apple cider may harbor E. coli bacteria, as evidenced by a massive recall of several brands several years ago. Studies show that cinnamon kills E. coli tainted juice. Researchers intentionally contaminated 64-ounce containers of apple cider with E. coli, then added cinnamon. After 24 hours, 1 teaspoon of cinnamon reduced the E. coli to undetectable levels. Men’s Health 11/99.
IT’S SMART TO EXERCISE AND EXERCISE MAKES YOU SMART - studies show that aerobic exercise can improve mental fitness. Research done at the University of Illinois split test subjects into two groups: one walked up to 45 minutes a day, three times per week, while the other group stretched for an hour three times a week. After 6 months, the walkers scored 15 percent higher on test that measured ability to focus and perform multiple mental tasks. Researchers believe that aerobic exercise may improve bloodflow to the area of the brain that controls the ability to sort and process information. Men’s Health 11/99.
DON’T GET BURNED - scientists have found that when the skin is gradually exposed to sunlight, its ability to adapt and repair itself is much superior to sudden, massive exposure. Getting sunburned bypasses the skin’s repair mechanisms and may lead to a greater risk of developing skin cancer later on. To help the skin adapt to the sun, wear sunscreen and increase exposure by 15 minutes a day. Men’s Health 9/99.
SAVING YOUR GUMS - taking a multivitamin could be one of the best ways to prevent periodontal disease. Researchers in New York evaluated almost 10,000 subjects and found that those with the highest vitamin A and C levels had half the rate of gum disease as those with the lowest levels, and high levels of the mineral selenium were linked to a 13-fold reduction in cases of gum disease. As the body fights invasion from bacteria in dental plaque, it produces free radicals that can damage gum tissue. Antioxidants help protect against this damage. Don’t forget to brush and floss for better oral health. Men’s Health 9/99.
IBUPROFEN AND ANTACIDS DON’T MIX - nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin and ibuprofen can cause ulcers and bleeding. Taking antacids or acid blockers to relieve this stomach distress can actually increase the risk of gastrointestinal problems.
Scientists warn that antacids and acid blockers may mask the symptoms of gastrointestinal damage and keep people from seeking medical help. If you are taking NSAIDS and experience stomach pain, talk with your physician before taking antacids or acid blockers. Men’s Health 9/99.
ARTHRITIS TREATMENT - recent studies have shown that people with osteoarthritis have responded well to taking supplements of 500 milligrams of glucosamine and 400 mgs of chondroitin twice a day. Subjects report less pain and more mobility.
Glucosamine and chondroitin are compounds that are found in the shells of crabs, lobsters, and shrimp. Chondroitin inhibits the enzymes that destroy cartilage; glucosamine stimulates tissue regrowth in damaged cartilage. Men’s Health 9/99.
“CAB” FOR YOUR HEART - we’ve written before about the health benefits of wine - the antioxidant resveratrol protects against heart disease by lowering levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol and increasing HDL cholesterol. One particular red wine, cabernet sauvignon, has more resveratrol than other types of wine. Grapes that originate in the Bordeaux area make more resveratrol to fight off a fungus that thrives in the moist climate. Cheers - to your health! Men’s Health 9/99.
MAKE LYCOPENE A GUIDED MISSILE - by now you know that lycopene, found in cooked tomato products, may lower your risk of prostate cancer by as much as 35 percent. Now researchers have found adding foods rich in beta-carotene will guide the lycopene to the prostate gland. USDA researchers found that when men were simultaneously given beta-carotene and lycopene supplements, more lycopene ended up in their bodies. Consuming carrots or yellow peppers with tomato sauce will enhance your body’s absorption of this powerful antioxidant. Men’s Health 11/99.
EXERCISE TO BEAT LOWER-BACK PAIN - one likely source of lower back pain is a weak quadratus lumborum, which connects your ribs, pelvis, and lower spine. This muscle stabilizes the spine, especially during twisting sports movements and long periods of sitting. To prevent lower-back pain, you need to train the quadratus lumborum to stay tensed for long periods of time. One spine expert found that horizontal side supports do this job better than any other lower-back exercise.
Start by lying straight on your side, then lift your pelvis so your weight rests on your forearm and feet. Hold this pose for 8 seconds. Roll over on your other side and do the move again. You should complete five repetitions per side, three times per week. Men’s Health 11/99.
AEROMEDICAL NEWS
“Live healthy...live well”
HEALTH NEWS
by Larry Kline
SWAPA Voice Mailbox 511/email: skyguy737@cox.net
SPICE FIGHTS KILLER - non-pasteurized apple cider may harbor E. coli bacteria, as evidenced by a massive recall of several brands several years ago. Studies show that cinnamon kills E. coli tainted juice. Researchers intentionally contaminated 64-ounce containers of apple cider with E. coli, then added cinnamon. After 24 hours, 1 teaspoon of cinnamon reduced the E. coli to undetectable levels. Men’s Health 11/99.
IT’S SMART TO EXERCISE AND EXERCISE MAKES YOU SMART - studies show that aerobic exercise can improve mental fitness. Research done at the University of Illinois split test subjects into two groups: one walked up to 45 minutes a day, three times per week, while the other group stretched for an hour three times a week. After 6 months, the walkers scored 15 percent higher on test that measured ability to focus and perform multiple mental tasks. Researchers believe that aerobic exercise may improve bloodflow to the area of the brain that controls the ability to sort and process information. Men’s Health 11/99.
DON’T GET BURNED - scientists have found that when the skin is gradually exposed to sunlight, its ability to adapt and repair itself is much superior to sudden, massive exposure. Getting sunburned bypasses the skin’s repair mechanisms and may lead to a greater risk of developing skin cancer later on. To help the skin adapt to the sun, wear sunscreen and increase exposure by 15 minutes a day. Men’s Health 9/99.
SAVING YOUR GUMS - taking a multivitamin could be one of the best ways to prevent periodontal disease. Researchers in New York evaluated almost 10,000 subjects and found that those with the highest vitamin A and C levels had half the rate of gum disease as those with the lowest levels, and high levels of the mineral selenium were linked to a 13-fold reduction in cases of gum disease. As the body fights invasion from bacteria in dental plaque, it produces free radicals that can damage gum tissue. Antioxidants help protect against this damage. Don’t forget to brush and floss for better oral health. Men’s Health 9/99.
IBUPROFEN AND ANTACIDS DON’T MIX - nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin and ibuprofen can cause ulcers and bleeding. Taking antacids or acid blockers to relieve this stomach distress can actually increase the risk of gastrointestinal problems.
Scientists warn that antacids and acid blockers may mask the symptoms of gastrointestinal damage and keep people from seeking medical help. If you are taking NSAIDS and experience stomach pain, talk with your physician before taking antacids or acid blockers. Men’s Health 9/99.
ARTHRITIS TREATMENT - recent studies have shown that people with osteoarthritis have responded well to taking supplements of 500 milligrams of glucosamine and 400 mgs of chondroitin twice a day. Subjects report less pain and more mobility.
Glucosamine and chondroitin are compounds that are found in the shells of crabs, lobsters, and shrimp. Chondroitin inhibits the enzymes that destroy cartilage; glucosamine stimulates tissue regrowth in damaged cartilage. Men’s Health 9/99.
“CAB” FOR YOUR HEART - we’ve written before about the health benefits of wine - the antioxidant resveratrol protects against heart disease by lowering levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol and increasing HDL cholesterol. One particular red wine, cabernet sauvignon, has more resveratrol than other types of wine. Grapes that originate in the Bordeaux area make more resveratrol to fight off a fungus that thrives in the moist climate. Cheers - to your health! Men’s Health 9/99.
MAKE LYCOPENE A GUIDED MISSILE - by now you know that lycopene, found in cooked tomato products, may lower your risk of prostate cancer by as much as 35 percent. Now researchers have found adding foods rich in beta-carotene will guide the lycopene to the prostate gland. USDA researchers found that when men were simultaneously given beta-carotene and lycopene supplements, more lycopene ended up in their bodies. Consuming carrots or yellow peppers with tomato sauce will enhance your body’s absorption of this powerful antioxidant. Men’s Health 11/99.
EXERCISE TO BEAT LOWER-BACK PAIN - one likely source of lower back pain is a weak quadratus lumborum, which connects your ribs, pelvis, and lower spine. This muscle stabilizes the spine, especially during twisting sports movements and long periods of sitting. To prevent lower-back pain, you need to train the quadratus lumborum to stay tensed for long periods of time. One spine expert found that horizontal side supports do this job better than any other lower-back exercise.
Start by lying straight on your side, then lift your pelvis so your weight rests on your forearm and feet. Hold this pose for 8 seconds. Roll over on your other side and do the move again. You should complete five repetitions per side, three times per week. Men’s Health 11/99.
Saturday, July 1, 2000
Health News
REPORTING POINT 07-00
AEROMEDICAL NEWS
“Live healthy...live well”
HEALTH NEWS
by Larry Kline
SWAPA Voice Mailbox 511/email: skyguy737@cox.net
TRYING TO QUIT? - a recently cited study in the British Medical Journal determined that using both the nicotine patch and nicotine spray can double a smoker’s chances of successfully quitting. In a test lasting 6 years, twice as many subjects who had used both the nicotine patch and nicotine spray were smoke-free. The researchers feel that the patch/spray combination is effective because it provides both a gradual release of nicotine and a rapid infusion to combat sudden cravings. As always, see your doctor first before attempting any treatment. Men’s Health 5/99.
ALL FROM THE SAME SOURCE - nearly all supplement makers buy their raw vitamins from the same handful of giant multinational manufacturers. Three companies produce as much as 90% of the world’s vitamins. University of California Berkeley Wellness Letter 8/99.
A COOL WAY TO LOSE WEIGHT - drinking 8 pints of ice water per day will result in a loss of one pound every 4 weeks. The body expends 123 calories of heat daily to warm the water to 98.6 degrees F. Men’s Health 5/99.
LOOK FOR THE FIBER - select breakfast cereals that have at least 3 grams of fiber per ounce. Several bran cereals have 10 or more grams per ounce, which goes a long way toward the recommended minimum daily fiber intake of 20 grams. There are two basic types of fiber, each with important benefits. Insoluble fiber, which helps prevent constipation and may be protective against colon cancer, is found in large quantities in whole wheat, especially wheat bran. Soluble fiber, which helps lower blood cholesterol, is found primarily in oat cereals. U.C.Berkeley Wellness Letter 9/98.
CHOLESTEROL-LOWERING DRUG MAY REDUCE CANCER RISK - a recent study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that cancer cells stopped multiplying when they were exposed to the cholesterol-lowering medication lovastatin. Researchers have found a 33 percent lower incidence of all cancers in those subjects taking this medication. If you are prescribed a cholesterol-lowering drug, ask your physician about lovastatin. Men’s Health 11/99.
ZAPPERS NOT EFFECTIVE - electric bug zappers don’t kill the insects that you want to kill. Instead, they kill the insects that live on a diet of biting bugs or the bugs that make up the daily diet of birds. Also, the zapper’s elimination of house flies by electrocution results in an explosion that sprays invisible insect parts, bacteria, and viruses up to a range of six or seven feet. It is recommended to decommission the zapper, or at least not using it in areas where children play or near barbecue or picnic tables. U.C.Berkeley Wellness Letter 9/99.
SURGERY AND HERBS DON’T MIX - the American Society of Anesthesiologists has issued a warning that many herbal supplements are not compatible with surgery. Significant changes in heart rate and/or blood pressure have been noted in patients taking St. John’s wort, gingko biloba, and ginseng. Patients scheduled for surgery are urged to stop taking herbal products two or three weeks prior to surgery to allow the body to cleanse itself. If there isn’t time, bring the product in its original container, to the hospital to show the anesthesiologist. Men’s Fitness 10/99.
DRINKING FOR YOUR HEALTH - according to a study at the Harvard School of Public Health, drinking more liquids throughout the day reduces the risk of bladder cancer (fourth most common cancer in men). Data collected from 48,000 men showed that those who drank 10 eight-ounce (non-alcoholic) beverages per day had half the cancer risk of those who drank less than six beverages daily. Men’s Fitness 10/99.
TOMATOES GET RESULTS - researchers have noted the first direct evidence that lycopene, the phytochemical that turns tomatoes red, seems to protect men against prostate cancer. Prostate cancer patients were given lycopene capsules for 30 days prior to prostate surgery; the pills slowed the spread of cancerous tissue and the development of precancerous cells. Men’s Fitness 10/99.
MINIMIZING SUN DAMAGE - a German study determined that taking high doses of vitamins C and E for several days before sun exposure can help lessen the severity of sunburn. Test subjects took 2,000 mgs. Of vitamin C and 1,000 IU of vitamin E. After exposure to ultraviolet rays, the C and E group developed milder burns. These vitamins may slow the oxidation damage that causes sunburn. The vitamin combination provides an SPF of only 1.4, so topical sun screen is still the best protection from the damage that prolonged exposure to the sun can cause. Also, these are very high doses of these vitamins and should not be taken without consulting with your physician. Men’s Health 6/98.
ANTIDOTE TO A FAT-RICH DINNER - drinking wine with a high-fat meal may curb the damage the food might do to the arteries. Swiss researchers compared test subjects who drank either water or the equivalent of two glasses of wine along with some particularly fatty food. Blood analysis done several hours later showed the alcohol drinkers’ blood contained 20 percent fewer smooth muscle cells, the kind that can collect in the arteries and contribute to clogging. Health 7/98.
PROGRAMMED CELLS BATTLE CANCER - a new approach to cancer treatment has been developed by the University of Chicago. Immune cells that have been “programmed” to attack tumors were injected into eight severely ill patients. Six of these patients went into remission during the initial trials of the treatment. Men’s Fitness 3/99.
AEROMEDICAL NEWS
“Live healthy...live well”
HEALTH NEWS
by Larry Kline
SWAPA Voice Mailbox 511/email: skyguy737@cox.net
TRYING TO QUIT? - a recently cited study in the British Medical Journal determined that using both the nicotine patch and nicotine spray can double a smoker’s chances of successfully quitting. In a test lasting 6 years, twice as many subjects who had used both the nicotine patch and nicotine spray were smoke-free. The researchers feel that the patch/spray combination is effective because it provides both a gradual release of nicotine and a rapid infusion to combat sudden cravings. As always, see your doctor first before attempting any treatment. Men’s Health 5/99.
ALL FROM THE SAME SOURCE - nearly all supplement makers buy their raw vitamins from the same handful of giant multinational manufacturers. Three companies produce as much as 90% of the world’s vitamins. University of California Berkeley Wellness Letter 8/99.
A COOL WAY TO LOSE WEIGHT - drinking 8 pints of ice water per day will result in a loss of one pound every 4 weeks. The body expends 123 calories of heat daily to warm the water to 98.6 degrees F. Men’s Health 5/99.
LOOK FOR THE FIBER - select breakfast cereals that have at least 3 grams of fiber per ounce. Several bran cereals have 10 or more grams per ounce, which goes a long way toward the recommended minimum daily fiber intake of 20 grams. There are two basic types of fiber, each with important benefits. Insoluble fiber, which helps prevent constipation and may be protective against colon cancer, is found in large quantities in whole wheat, especially wheat bran. Soluble fiber, which helps lower blood cholesterol, is found primarily in oat cereals. U.C.Berkeley Wellness Letter 9/98.
CHOLESTEROL-LOWERING DRUG MAY REDUCE CANCER RISK - a recent study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that cancer cells stopped multiplying when they were exposed to the cholesterol-lowering medication lovastatin. Researchers have found a 33 percent lower incidence of all cancers in those subjects taking this medication. If you are prescribed a cholesterol-lowering drug, ask your physician about lovastatin. Men’s Health 11/99.
ZAPPERS NOT EFFECTIVE - electric bug zappers don’t kill the insects that you want to kill. Instead, they kill the insects that live on a diet of biting bugs or the bugs that make up the daily diet of birds. Also, the zapper’s elimination of house flies by electrocution results in an explosion that sprays invisible insect parts, bacteria, and viruses up to a range of six or seven feet. It is recommended to decommission the zapper, or at least not using it in areas where children play or near barbecue or picnic tables. U.C.Berkeley Wellness Letter 9/99.
SURGERY AND HERBS DON’T MIX - the American Society of Anesthesiologists has issued a warning that many herbal supplements are not compatible with surgery. Significant changes in heart rate and/or blood pressure have been noted in patients taking St. John’s wort, gingko biloba, and ginseng. Patients scheduled for surgery are urged to stop taking herbal products two or three weeks prior to surgery to allow the body to cleanse itself. If there isn’t time, bring the product in its original container, to the hospital to show the anesthesiologist. Men’s Fitness 10/99.
DRINKING FOR YOUR HEALTH - according to a study at the Harvard School of Public Health, drinking more liquids throughout the day reduces the risk of bladder cancer (fourth most common cancer in men). Data collected from 48,000 men showed that those who drank 10 eight-ounce (non-alcoholic) beverages per day had half the cancer risk of those who drank less than six beverages daily. Men’s Fitness 10/99.
TOMATOES GET RESULTS - researchers have noted the first direct evidence that lycopene, the phytochemical that turns tomatoes red, seems to protect men against prostate cancer. Prostate cancer patients were given lycopene capsules for 30 days prior to prostate surgery; the pills slowed the spread of cancerous tissue and the development of precancerous cells. Men’s Fitness 10/99.
MINIMIZING SUN DAMAGE - a German study determined that taking high doses of vitamins C and E for several days before sun exposure can help lessen the severity of sunburn. Test subjects took 2,000 mgs. Of vitamin C and 1,000 IU of vitamin E. After exposure to ultraviolet rays, the C and E group developed milder burns. These vitamins may slow the oxidation damage that causes sunburn. The vitamin combination provides an SPF of only 1.4, so topical sun screen is still the best protection from the damage that prolonged exposure to the sun can cause. Also, these are very high doses of these vitamins and should not be taken without consulting with your physician. Men’s Health 6/98.
ANTIDOTE TO A FAT-RICH DINNER - drinking wine with a high-fat meal may curb the damage the food might do to the arteries. Swiss researchers compared test subjects who drank either water or the equivalent of two glasses of wine along with some particularly fatty food. Blood analysis done several hours later showed the alcohol drinkers’ blood contained 20 percent fewer smooth muscle cells, the kind that can collect in the arteries and contribute to clogging. Health 7/98.
PROGRAMMED CELLS BATTLE CANCER - a new approach to cancer treatment has been developed by the University of Chicago. Immune cells that have been “programmed” to attack tumors were injected into eight severely ill patients. Six of these patients went into remission during the initial trials of the treatment. Men’s Fitness 3/99.
Thursday, June 1, 2000
REPORTING POINT 06-00
AEROMEDICAL NEWS
“Live healthy . . . live well”
HEALTH NEWS
by Larry Kline
SWAPA Voice Mailbox 511/email: 71663.153@compuserve.com
VITAMIN A vs. DIABETES - data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reveals that carotenoids (plant pigments related to vitamin A) may help prevent adult-onset diabetes. The researchers found that people with normal glucose levels had the highest carotenoid levels, and those with newly diagnosed diabetes had the lowest carotenoid levels. According to the researchers, increasing fruit and vegetable intake could prevent the development of diabetes. Carotenoids are abundant in sweet potatoes, tomatoes, cantaloupe, carrots, oranges, and broccoli. Men’s Health 5/99.
FOLIC ACID REDUCES COLON CANCER RISK - scientists for years have known that folic acid, a B-vitamin, reduces heart attack risk (it reduces blood levels of homocysteine, an amino acid that may increase the risk of heart attack). Now, research indicates that as many as three-quarters of all colon cancer could be avoided if folic acid is consumed in sufficient quantities.
In a ten-year Harvard University study of 88,000 nurses, those with the highest intake of folic acid -at least 400 micrograms daily - were least likely to have the disease.
Folic acid (or folate) can be obtained by eating leafy green vegetables and drinking lots of orange juice as well as consuming legumes (beans). Since 1997, breakfast cereals, breads and other grain products have been fortified with the vitamin.
Only a small minority of the nurses in the study’s highest folate group received their folate by diet. The most dramatic protection came to subjects who had taken vitamin supplements daily for at least 15 years. Their risk was 75 percent lower than that of subjects not taking the supplements.
Most multivitamins include at least 400 mcg of folic acid. But don’t overdo it - doses ten to 20 times the norm could raise cancer risk.
Several smaller studies of men and women have indicated that daily doses of folic acid in the 400 mcg range might prevent 30 to 40 percent of colon cancers. But if the even greater benefit shown in this Harvard study proves correct, boosting folic acid intake would rank among quitting smoking as a cancer prevention aid. Health 1/99, University of California Berkeley Wellness Letter 8/99.
VASECTOMY AND PROSTATE CANCER RISK - in 1993, a controversial study of more than 47,000 men at Harvard medical school found that subjects who had received vasectomies were 66 percent more likely to have prostate cancer. Now, a recent study review in the journal Fertility and Sterility involving 200,000 men has concluded that prostate cancer is not statistically linked to vasectomies. Physicians reviewing the original study believe that the incorrect conclusions were the result of bias or chance. Men’s Health 5/99.
GETTING BURNED - did you know that certain drugs and even colognes make your skin more sensitive to ultraviolet rays and easier to burn? The following items have been found to make your skin more vulnerable to sunburns:
Aftershaves with musk scents
Diuretics like Diuril, Hygroton, and Oretic
Antibiotics like sulfonamides, and tetracycline
Painkillers containing ibuprofen or naproxen
Antihistamines such as Benadryl, Tavist-1, Actifed, and Chlor-Trimeton. Men’s Health 5/99.
IF YOU MUST SMOKE - fruits and vegetables are important for everybody, but especially for smokers. A recent study in China found that heavy smokers who ate fruit every day reduced their risk of lung cancer by 60 percent. Smokers who ate green leafy vegetables lessened their risk by nearly 70 percent. Men’s Fitness 6/99.
CALCIUM AND COLORECTAL CANCER - calcium supplements may help prevent colorectal cancer by reducing the formation of precancerous polyps. A new study by Dartmouth Medical School researchers on subjects who had already undergone a procedure to remove a polyp from the colon indicates those who took 600 mg of calcium twice a day (in calcium carbonate supplements) developed 24 percent fewer new polyps than those taking a placebo. Research indicates that calcium binds to bile acids, thus reducing irritation to the digestive tract. Self Healing 3/99.
PREVENTING HEART ATTACKS - consuming alpha-linolenic acid, an omega-3 fatty acid, related to those found in fish, seems to lower the risk of a fatal heart attack by 1/3 to ½. Not many foods are rich in it, only canola, flaxseed, soybean oils, as well as walnuts. Heart benefits were noted from consuming the equivalent of a daily tablespoon of canola oil, half an ounce of walnuts, or a little ground flaxseed. Salmon and other cold water fish are rich in this omega-3 fatty acid. University of California Berkeley Wellness Letter 8/99.
SHOCKING SPORTS INJURY THERAPY - shock waves may treat some bone, tendon, and tissue injuries better than surgery. Instead of cutting away damaged tissue, physicians can use shock waves to blast away the calcification (extra bone growth) and scar tissue that can interfere with healing. Surgery can require days in the hospital and months of recuperation, but shockwave therapy is a one-day outpatient procedure. The waves may also trigger a release of chemicals that encourage healing. Men’s Health 5/99.
THE “SKINNY” ON LOW-CARBOHYDRATE DIETS - three new studies on Americans and weight gain were released last fall - all indicated that obesity (the state of being more than 30 percent above one’s ideal body weight) is on the rise - from 12 percent of the population in 1991 to almost 18 percent in 1998. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than half of the adults in this country are now considered at least moderately overweight. All this, despite the fact that total fat consumption in the U.S. has decreased over the past decade.
What is happening is that the importance of limiting fat intake has been recognized by the population, but that overeating has not. Low and nonfat food consumption has skyrocketed and so has daily caloric intake.
The Low-Carb Theory of Weight Loss
As a result there have been many diets that attempt to address these problems. Some of these diets are focusing on a high-protein diet - such as Dr. Atkins’ New Diet Revolution, The Zone, and The Carbohydrate Addict’s Diet. Each of these three diets calls for greatly cutting back on carb-rich foods like bread, rice, and potatoes and increasing high-protein foods such as meat, cheese, and eggs. The low-carb theory of weight loss focuses on carbohydrates (bread and other grains and fruits and vegetables) which are broken down by enzymes into simple sugars. The sugars stimulate the pancreas to produce insulin, the body’s main energy regulator. The insulin allows sugars to enter muscle and other tissue through receptors. The cells then use the sugars for energy. The low-carb theory postulates that any excess sugars are stored as fat for later use. If a lot of sugars are present, the body produces too much insulin, which overwhelms the receptors, and the system breaks down. The receptors lose almost all their ability to take sugars into the cell causing the body to store this excess sugar as fat. By eating fewer carbohydrates, sugar levels are reduced, allowing insulin to begin functioning correctly again. When blood-sugar levels drop low enough, stored fat is used for the body’s energy needs, causing weight loss.
On the Atkins’ diet, the first two weeks you eat as much fat and protein as you like, but eat no more than 20 grams of carbohydrates (sugars and starches) a day - that is the amount in two small slices of bread or one apple. You are not allowed to consume any bread or other grain product, fruit, starchy vegetables, or milk. The small amount of carbohydrates that you are allowed to eat can come only from a few vegetables such as asparagus, broccoli, and cabbage. Eventually, in the “maintenance” phase of the diet, you are allowed 40 to 90 grams of carbohydrates - only 15 to 30% of the amount you would eat on a heart-healthy, high-carb diet - you are eating mainly fat and protein.
During the early stages of this diet, weight loss can be great, since much of it is water loss. By cutting out one major food group, like carbohydrates, people get bored quickly. Many dieters report a quick five-pound drop on the scales after just a week or two that’s largely because when you eliminate carbohydrates, your kidneys start pushing more fluids out of the body. But any weight loss this way will return as soon as you replace those carbs.
According to Pamela Peeke, M.D., a nutrition specialist at the University of Maryland and a senior scientist with the National Institutes of Health, “There’s simply nothing about carbs that makes you eat more or store more fat; likewise, there’s nothing about protein that magically helps you peel off pounds . . . these diets work by limiting your caloric intake to a level so low, you’d lose weight no matter what you were eating.”
On these diets, the body will burn its own fat, as it does eating normally, but without carbohydrates, the body does not burn the fat completely, causing substances called ketones to form and to be released into the bloodstream. This condition, called ketosis, makes dieting easier because it often depresses appetite and may cause nausea. Dr. Atkins considers this state normal and benign. It is the usual body reaction to fasting, but ketosis does have potential dangers.
The Risks
Although Dr. Atkins’ claim that his diet reduces cholesterol and lowers the risk of heart disease, any diet very high in saturated fat is likely to boost blood cholesterol. A 1980 study of people on the Atkins’ diet revealed an average increase of 18% in LDL (bad) cholesterol. Also, ketosis may damage LDL cholesterol, making it more likely to stick to artery walls and increasing the risk of a heart attack. Long-term use of this diet and resulting ketosis may increase blood levels of uric acid - a risk factor for gout and kidney stones in susceptible people.
High-protein diets in general can lead to calcium loss from the body, possibly decreasing bone density and increasing the risk of osteoporosis. This risk is greater if the diet is low in fruits and vegetables, which supply nutrients essential for bone health. Since you cannot get all the vitamins, minerals, and fiber you need on this diet, Atkins recommends supplements - preferably the ones he markets! But remember that supplements are no substitute for the vitamins and minerals that a fruit and vegetable-rich diet can supply.
Other undesirable side effects of these diets include bad breath from dehydration due to a lack of water-retaining carbs and constipation from a lack of high-fiber foods like whole-grains.
Another common symptom after a few weeks on a low-carb diet is fatigue. When the body runs out of carbs to burn, it has to take measures to get energy - not only will it burn its own fat cells, it will burn lean muscle mass, making you feel run down.
Finally, many physicians and scientists caution that sticking to a protein diet for an extended period increases risk for developing heart disease. These high protein/high fat diets may also increase the risk of cancer.
The Zone diet is lower in fats and proteins compared to the Atkins’ plan. But The Zone asks the dieter to take potassium supplements, recognizing that the diet is deficient in certain nutritional necessities, i.e. whole grains and calcium. This diet requires a great deal of attention to diet detail - i.e. eating only three olives and one macadamia nut is allowed. Like the Atkins’ plan, The Zone touts that carbs and insulin make you fat. Author Sears also talks about eicosanoids - but most of the medical and scientific communities feel that there is no scientific basis to Sears’ conclusions.
In Summary
Fruits, vegetables, and whole grains should be your main foods, that, when combined with low-fat dairy products and small amounts of lean meats, poultry, and fish will provide the vitamins, minerals, fiber, and phytochemicals you need. Eating foods that are low in saturated fat and trans-fat cuts the risk of heart disease and possibly colon and prostate cancers. This means eating low-fat versions of meats, cheese, ice cream, and milk, and cutting way back on fried foods and fatty sweets (pies, cakes, pastries, cookies). Also, cut back on empty-calories foods (like soft drinks, desserts, and starchy foods such as potatoes, rice, pasta, and crackers made of refined flour) that don’t add many vitamins, minerals, fiber, or phytochemicals to your diet
Studies have shown that such a way of eating helps protect against heart disease, diabetes, and several cancers, and aids in weight control. Combining this eating plan with regular exercise (both aerobic and strength-training), can help one gradually lose weight and then maintain a healthy weight for the rest of your life.
Dr. Dean Ornish, one of the most respected of the low-fat, heart -healthy advocates has strong feelings concerning these low-carb diets. “These books say you should eat healthy foods that won’t provoke an insulin response, like bacon, as if insulin is the only mechanism that affects health. Most people eat so much sugar that when they stop eating it, they lose weight. But they’re mortgaging their health in the process.” Dr. Ornish challenges these authors to publish results of long-term studies on their diets and their effects, as he has done. Dr. Ornish has enjoyed spectacular results in diminishing heart disease with his low-fat diet that enjoys fruits and vegetables as its main food groups (carbohydrates).
If you follow the Atkins diet, you will lose weight, but the diet can be dangerous beyond a few weeks. All of these diets work in the short term by getting you to cut down on calories therefore resulting in weight loss. These diets have you focusing on carbs, when the real attention should be to total caloric intake . . . eat less . . . lose weight. While starchy carbs should be reduced, fruit and vegetables, along with high-fiber foods are essential to long-term health. Try eating healthy foods and embracing a healthy lifestyle that incorporates exercise. This formula seems to increase the odds of having a long, healthy, active life. Having a healthy, comfortable weight is just a byproduct of this lifestyle. Time 11/1/99, Nutrition Action Healthletter 3/00, University of California Berkeley Wellness Letter 4/00, Healthy Living 3/00, Cosmopolitan 2/00, Nutrition Action Healthletter 5/00.
AEROMEDICAL NEWS
“Live healthy . . . live well”
HEALTH NEWS
by Larry Kline
SWAPA Voice Mailbox 511/email: 71663.153@compuserve.com
VITAMIN A vs. DIABETES - data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reveals that carotenoids (plant pigments related to vitamin A) may help prevent adult-onset diabetes. The researchers found that people with normal glucose levels had the highest carotenoid levels, and those with newly diagnosed diabetes had the lowest carotenoid levels. According to the researchers, increasing fruit and vegetable intake could prevent the development of diabetes. Carotenoids are abundant in sweet potatoes, tomatoes, cantaloupe, carrots, oranges, and broccoli. Men’s Health 5/99.
FOLIC ACID REDUCES COLON CANCER RISK - scientists for years have known that folic acid, a B-vitamin, reduces heart attack risk (it reduces blood levels of homocysteine, an amino acid that may increase the risk of heart attack). Now, research indicates that as many as three-quarters of all colon cancer could be avoided if folic acid is consumed in sufficient quantities.
In a ten-year Harvard University study of 88,000 nurses, those with the highest intake of folic acid -at least 400 micrograms daily - were least likely to have the disease.
Folic acid (or folate) can be obtained by eating leafy green vegetables and drinking lots of orange juice as well as consuming legumes (beans). Since 1997, breakfast cereals, breads and other grain products have been fortified with the vitamin.
Only a small minority of the nurses in the study’s highest folate group received their folate by diet. The most dramatic protection came to subjects who had taken vitamin supplements daily for at least 15 years. Their risk was 75 percent lower than that of subjects not taking the supplements.
Most multivitamins include at least 400 mcg of folic acid. But don’t overdo it - doses ten to 20 times the norm could raise cancer risk.
Several smaller studies of men and women have indicated that daily doses of folic acid in the 400 mcg range might prevent 30 to 40 percent of colon cancers. But if the even greater benefit shown in this Harvard study proves correct, boosting folic acid intake would rank among quitting smoking as a cancer prevention aid. Health 1/99, University of California Berkeley Wellness Letter 8/99.
VASECTOMY AND PROSTATE CANCER RISK - in 1993, a controversial study of more than 47,000 men at Harvard medical school found that subjects who had received vasectomies were 66 percent more likely to have prostate cancer. Now, a recent study review in the journal Fertility and Sterility involving 200,000 men has concluded that prostate cancer is not statistically linked to vasectomies. Physicians reviewing the original study believe that the incorrect conclusions were the result of bias or chance. Men’s Health 5/99.
GETTING BURNED - did you know that certain drugs and even colognes make your skin more sensitive to ultraviolet rays and easier to burn? The following items have been found to make your skin more vulnerable to sunburns:
Aftershaves with musk scents
Diuretics like Diuril, Hygroton, and Oretic
Antibiotics like sulfonamides, and tetracycline
Painkillers containing ibuprofen or naproxen
Antihistamines such as Benadryl, Tavist-1, Actifed, and Chlor-Trimeton. Men’s Health 5/99.
IF YOU MUST SMOKE - fruits and vegetables are important for everybody, but especially for smokers. A recent study in China found that heavy smokers who ate fruit every day reduced their risk of lung cancer by 60 percent. Smokers who ate green leafy vegetables lessened their risk by nearly 70 percent. Men’s Fitness 6/99.
CALCIUM AND COLORECTAL CANCER - calcium supplements may help prevent colorectal cancer by reducing the formation of precancerous polyps. A new study by Dartmouth Medical School researchers on subjects who had already undergone a procedure to remove a polyp from the colon indicates those who took 600 mg of calcium twice a day (in calcium carbonate supplements) developed 24 percent fewer new polyps than those taking a placebo. Research indicates that calcium binds to bile acids, thus reducing irritation to the digestive tract. Self Healing 3/99.
PREVENTING HEART ATTACKS - consuming alpha-linolenic acid, an omega-3 fatty acid, related to those found in fish, seems to lower the risk of a fatal heart attack by 1/3 to ½. Not many foods are rich in it, only canola, flaxseed, soybean oils, as well as walnuts. Heart benefits were noted from consuming the equivalent of a daily tablespoon of canola oil, half an ounce of walnuts, or a little ground flaxseed. Salmon and other cold water fish are rich in this omega-3 fatty acid. University of California Berkeley Wellness Letter 8/99.
SHOCKING SPORTS INJURY THERAPY - shock waves may treat some bone, tendon, and tissue injuries better than surgery. Instead of cutting away damaged tissue, physicians can use shock waves to blast away the calcification (extra bone growth) and scar tissue that can interfere with healing. Surgery can require days in the hospital and months of recuperation, but shockwave therapy is a one-day outpatient procedure. The waves may also trigger a release of chemicals that encourage healing. Men’s Health 5/99.
THE “SKINNY” ON LOW-CARBOHYDRATE DIETS - three new studies on Americans and weight gain were released last fall - all indicated that obesity (the state of being more than 30 percent above one’s ideal body weight) is on the rise - from 12 percent of the population in 1991 to almost 18 percent in 1998. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than half of the adults in this country are now considered at least moderately overweight. All this, despite the fact that total fat consumption in the U.S. has decreased over the past decade.
What is happening is that the importance of limiting fat intake has been recognized by the population, but that overeating has not. Low and nonfat food consumption has skyrocketed and so has daily caloric intake.
The Low-Carb Theory of Weight Loss
As a result there have been many diets that attempt to address these problems. Some of these diets are focusing on a high-protein diet - such as Dr. Atkins’ New Diet Revolution, The Zone, and The Carbohydrate Addict’s Diet. Each of these three diets calls for greatly cutting back on carb-rich foods like bread, rice, and potatoes and increasing high-protein foods such as meat, cheese, and eggs. The low-carb theory of weight loss focuses on carbohydrates (bread and other grains and fruits and vegetables) which are broken down by enzymes into simple sugars. The sugars stimulate the pancreas to produce insulin, the body’s main energy regulator. The insulin allows sugars to enter muscle and other tissue through receptors. The cells then use the sugars for energy. The low-carb theory postulates that any excess sugars are stored as fat for later use. If a lot of sugars are present, the body produces too much insulin, which overwhelms the receptors, and the system breaks down. The receptors lose almost all their ability to take sugars into the cell causing the body to store this excess sugar as fat. By eating fewer carbohydrates, sugar levels are reduced, allowing insulin to begin functioning correctly again. When blood-sugar levels drop low enough, stored fat is used for the body’s energy needs, causing weight loss.
On the Atkins’ diet, the first two weeks you eat as much fat and protein as you like, but eat no more than 20 grams of carbohydrates (sugars and starches) a day - that is the amount in two small slices of bread or one apple. You are not allowed to consume any bread or other grain product, fruit, starchy vegetables, or milk. The small amount of carbohydrates that you are allowed to eat can come only from a few vegetables such as asparagus, broccoli, and cabbage. Eventually, in the “maintenance” phase of the diet, you are allowed 40 to 90 grams of carbohydrates - only 15 to 30% of the amount you would eat on a heart-healthy, high-carb diet - you are eating mainly fat and protein.
During the early stages of this diet, weight loss can be great, since much of it is water loss. By cutting out one major food group, like carbohydrates, people get bored quickly. Many dieters report a quick five-pound drop on the scales after just a week or two that’s largely because when you eliminate carbohydrates, your kidneys start pushing more fluids out of the body. But any weight loss this way will return as soon as you replace those carbs.
According to Pamela Peeke, M.D., a nutrition specialist at the University of Maryland and a senior scientist with the National Institutes of Health, “There’s simply nothing about carbs that makes you eat more or store more fat; likewise, there’s nothing about protein that magically helps you peel off pounds . . . these diets work by limiting your caloric intake to a level so low, you’d lose weight no matter what you were eating.”
On these diets, the body will burn its own fat, as it does eating normally, but without carbohydrates, the body does not burn the fat completely, causing substances called ketones to form and to be released into the bloodstream. This condition, called ketosis, makes dieting easier because it often depresses appetite and may cause nausea. Dr. Atkins considers this state normal and benign. It is the usual body reaction to fasting, but ketosis does have potential dangers.
The Risks
Although Dr. Atkins’ claim that his diet reduces cholesterol and lowers the risk of heart disease, any diet very high in saturated fat is likely to boost blood cholesterol. A 1980 study of people on the Atkins’ diet revealed an average increase of 18% in LDL (bad) cholesterol. Also, ketosis may damage LDL cholesterol, making it more likely to stick to artery walls and increasing the risk of a heart attack. Long-term use of this diet and resulting ketosis may increase blood levels of uric acid - a risk factor for gout and kidney stones in susceptible people.
High-protein diets in general can lead to calcium loss from the body, possibly decreasing bone density and increasing the risk of osteoporosis. This risk is greater if the diet is low in fruits and vegetables, which supply nutrients essential for bone health. Since you cannot get all the vitamins, minerals, and fiber you need on this diet, Atkins recommends supplements - preferably the ones he markets! But remember that supplements are no substitute for the vitamins and minerals that a fruit and vegetable-rich diet can supply.
Other undesirable side effects of these diets include bad breath from dehydration due to a lack of water-retaining carbs and constipation from a lack of high-fiber foods like whole-grains.
Another common symptom after a few weeks on a low-carb diet is fatigue. When the body runs out of carbs to burn, it has to take measures to get energy - not only will it burn its own fat cells, it will burn lean muscle mass, making you feel run down.
Finally, many physicians and scientists caution that sticking to a protein diet for an extended period increases risk for developing heart disease. These high protein/high fat diets may also increase the risk of cancer.
The Zone diet is lower in fats and proteins compared to the Atkins’ plan. But The Zone asks the dieter to take potassium supplements, recognizing that the diet is deficient in certain nutritional necessities, i.e. whole grains and calcium. This diet requires a great deal of attention to diet detail - i.e. eating only three olives and one macadamia nut is allowed. Like the Atkins’ plan, The Zone touts that carbs and insulin make you fat. Author Sears also talks about eicosanoids - but most of the medical and scientific communities feel that there is no scientific basis to Sears’ conclusions.
In Summary
Fruits, vegetables, and whole grains should be your main foods, that, when combined with low-fat dairy products and small amounts of lean meats, poultry, and fish will provide the vitamins, minerals, fiber, and phytochemicals you need. Eating foods that are low in saturated fat and trans-fat cuts the risk of heart disease and possibly colon and prostate cancers. This means eating low-fat versions of meats, cheese, ice cream, and milk, and cutting way back on fried foods and fatty sweets (pies, cakes, pastries, cookies). Also, cut back on empty-calories foods (like soft drinks, desserts, and starchy foods such as potatoes, rice, pasta, and crackers made of refined flour) that don’t add many vitamins, minerals, fiber, or phytochemicals to your diet
Studies have shown that such a way of eating helps protect against heart disease, diabetes, and several cancers, and aids in weight control. Combining this eating plan with regular exercise (both aerobic and strength-training), can help one gradually lose weight and then maintain a healthy weight for the rest of your life.
Dr. Dean Ornish, one of the most respected of the low-fat, heart -healthy advocates has strong feelings concerning these low-carb diets. “These books say you should eat healthy foods that won’t provoke an insulin response, like bacon, as if insulin is the only mechanism that affects health. Most people eat so much sugar that when they stop eating it, they lose weight. But they’re mortgaging their health in the process.” Dr. Ornish challenges these authors to publish results of long-term studies on their diets and their effects, as he has done. Dr. Ornish has enjoyed spectacular results in diminishing heart disease with his low-fat diet that enjoys fruits and vegetables as its main food groups (carbohydrates).
If you follow the Atkins diet, you will lose weight, but the diet can be dangerous beyond a few weeks. All of these diets work in the short term by getting you to cut down on calories therefore resulting in weight loss. These diets have you focusing on carbs, when the real attention should be to total caloric intake . . . eat less . . . lose weight. While starchy carbs should be reduced, fruit and vegetables, along with high-fiber foods are essential to long-term health. Try eating healthy foods and embracing a healthy lifestyle that incorporates exercise. This formula seems to increase the odds of having a long, healthy, active life. Having a healthy, comfortable weight is just a byproduct of this lifestyle. Time 11/1/99, Nutrition Action Healthletter 3/00, University of California Berkeley Wellness Letter 4/00, Healthy Living 3/00, Cosmopolitan 2/00, Nutrition Action Healthletter 5/00.
Monday, May 1, 2000
Health News
REPORTING POINT 05-00
AEROMEDICAL NEWS
“Live healthy...live well”
HEALTH NEWS
by Larry Kline
SWAPA Voice Mailbox 511/email: lwkline@compuserve.com
IS BALDNESS AN INDICATOR OF HEART DISEASE? - Balding men have an increased risk of heart disease, according to "The Physician's Health Study" published recently in
the Archives of Internal Medicine. Risk factors such as family history, smoking, diabetes and high cholesterol levels were also evaluated in this study. Vertex‑pattern baldness seemed to carry the most risk and, indeed, might be a marker for an increased risk of heart disease, especially among men with high blood pressure or high cholesterol levels according to Gary Gerstenblith, M.D., professor of medicine at Johns Hopkins. Intelihealth.com
WATER & EXERCISE = REDUCED RECTAL CANCER RISK - according to a recent study published in the International Journal of Cancer, researchers found that male subjects who consumed the most water had a 92 percent lower risk of rectal cancer than those who drank the least water. Male subjects with the most active lifestyles had an 83 percent lower risk of rectal cancer than sedentary men. The researchers hypothesize that adequate water intake and exercise may be factors in reducing colon cancer by speeding bowel transit time, thus decreasing the time that potential carcinogens in partially digested food are in contact with the intestinal lining. Men’s Fitness 12/99.
THE BEST SUNSCREENS - always buy a sun screen with an SPF (sun protection factor) of 15 or higher for the best protection against ultraviolet B radiation, the kind most responsible for sunburn and tanning. There is not a lot of additional protection from higher ratings, but such sun screens may be worth buying for children or those with very fair skin. Also, chose a product with avobenzone (Parsol 1789), which protects against the widest spectrum of ultraviolet A radiation, which causes skin aging and possibly melanoma. Once hard to find, avobenzone is now used, along with UVB-screening ingredients, in 12 leading brands. Or use a product with titanium dioxide or zinc oxide. University of California Berkeley Wellness Letter, 7/99.
VITAMIN C SUPPLEMENTS MAY REDUCE HEART DISEASE RISK - a daily dose of 500 mg of vitamin C can reverse a condition that leads to heart attacks. A study published in the American Heart Association journal Circulation tracked a group of adults who all had 50 percent blockage in their blood vessels. After just 30 days, the subjects who had been given vitamin C experienced significant improvement in the lining of their blood vessels while the condition of the placebo group did not change. Men’s Fitness 11/99.
VITAMIN E MAY REDUCE RISK OF TYPE 2 DIABETES - those with type 2 diabetes (non-insulin dependent) or those at high risk for developing it should take vitamin E supplements. Several studies have suggested that this vitamin may improve control of blood sugar, notably by enhancing the action of insulin and by affecting cell membranes. In addition, diabetics seem to be particularly prone to the “oxidative stress” caused by free radicals, which contributes to their increased risk for cardiovascular disease as well as diabetic complications. Vitamin E and other antioxidants help combat free radicals. Safe dosages are in the 400-800 IU range per day. University of California Berkeley Wellness Letter, 7/99.
LOW-FAT = HIGH SPF - a low-fat diet seems to boost the body’s natural sun protection. Researchers in Texas found that people on a low-fat diet had a greatly reduced risk of developing pre-malignant growths and non-melanoma skin cancers. They believe that the low-fat diet bolsters the body’s immune system. Self, 5/97.
EAT CARBS TO BURN FAT?? - many people think that carbohydrates are the enemy of anyone trying to lose fat, but some carbs may actually increase your metabolism. A recent study in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise shows that subjects who ate low-glycemic carbs three hours before a cardio workout burned 118 percent more fat and 12 percent less carbs than those who ate foods high on the glycemic index.
Besides helping the body burn more fat, low-glycemic carbs will provide a better source of energy for a longer-more efficient workout. Good low-glycemic carb choices include apples, black beans, and protein-enriched pasta. A fruit smoothie with yogurt and fat-free milk will provide a good source of low-glycemic carbohydrates and protein to fuel any workout. Try passing on the white rice, potatoes, bread, and cookies before a workout as these foods are quickly converted into blood sugars. Men’s Fitness 11/99.
PACKAGED FOODS HIDDEN DANGER - many pre-packaged foods - (margarine, puddings, crackers, cookies, potato chips, etc.) - contain partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. Hydrogenation makes some of the unsaturated fats more saturated and also results in “trans fats” which also act like saturated fat, boosting blood cholesterol and increasing the risk of heart disease. Manufacturers hydrogenate - add hydrogen - to polyunsaturated vegetable oils in order to give them and the processed and packaged foods made from them, a more solid consistency and a longer shelf life.
Fats and saturated fats are required to be listed on the label of foods, but trans-fats are not required at this time to be listed. The trans-fats are just as hazardous to your cardiovascular health as saturated fats. Try avoiding or at least limiting products with partially-hydrogenated oils. University of California Berkeley Wellness Letter, 7/99.
CANCER-FIGHTING CALCIUM - calcium, according to a recent study published in the New England Journal of Medicine is a nutrient that has a potent anticarcinogenic effect in combating colon cancer, the third-leading cause of cancer death among Americans. Besides reducing colon cancer risk, calcium can reduce the risk of osteoporosis. But it should be noted that calcium intake along will not reduce the risk of osteoporosis. Exercising helps the body absorb the calcium, but recent studies have found that a diet heavy with protein actually weakens bones. Most American diets have so much protein, that the body breaks protein into amino acids, then uses the acids to build muscle and other tissues. Any excess protein remains in the bloodstream, causing the blood to become very acidic. The body tries to correct the acid imbalance by removing calcium from the skeleton, to neutralize the acid - high protein intake increases calcium loss. The answer seems to consume enough calcium through diet and supplements to compensate for this loss. Good sources of dietary calcium, beside dairy products, include sardines, fortified orange juice, broccoli, and almonds. Men’s Fitness, 8/99, Health, 7/99.
VITAMIN BUYING GUIDE - the most expensive vitamins may not be any better than a generic multi-vitamin. According to the University of California Berkeley Wellness Letter, you should look for a “USP” on the label, meaning that the product meets the standards of the U.S. Pharmacopeia, including a test for disintegration, and has been tested under controlled laboratory conditions. Most brand-name vitamins aren’t labeled USP, because the manufacturers either don’t want to do the tests, or prefer to guarantee the products via the brand names. Generic or store brands are more often labeled USP and are usually cheaper.
The Wellness Letter also recommends looking for 100% of the Daily Value of the following vitamins: A (some from beta carotene), B1 (thiamin), B2 (riboflavin), B3 (niacin), B6, B12, folic acid, and D.
The following minerals are also recommended for up to 100% of the Daily Value: copper, zinc, magnesium, iron, iodine, selenium (not more than 200 mcg), and chromium (not more than 200 mcg). Most multi-vitamins also contain tiny amounts of trace minerals such as boron, manganese, and molybdenum.
Most of the multis also contain vitamins C and E at 100 to 200% of the RDA, but this is not enough to provide the full antioxidant effects and other potential benefits of these vitamins. It is recommended that everyone consume 200 to 800 IU of vitamin E and 250 to 500 mgs of vitamin C daily.
Premenopausal women should look for 100% of the RDA of iron. Pregnant women should be sure to consume at least 400 IU of folic acid daily. This vitamin helps prevent neural tube birth defects that affect thousands of babies every year in the U.S. This vitamin is actually better absorbed by the body in supplemental form than by ingestion by food source. University of California Berkeley Wellness Letter, 7/99.
AEROMEDICAL NEWS
“Live healthy...live well”
HEALTH NEWS
by Larry Kline
SWAPA Voice Mailbox 511/email: lwkline@compuserve.com
IS BALDNESS AN INDICATOR OF HEART DISEASE? - Balding men have an increased risk of heart disease, according to "The Physician's Health Study" published recently in
the Archives of Internal Medicine. Risk factors such as family history, smoking, diabetes and high cholesterol levels were also evaluated in this study. Vertex‑pattern baldness seemed to carry the most risk and, indeed, might be a marker for an increased risk of heart disease, especially among men with high blood pressure or high cholesterol levels according to Gary Gerstenblith, M.D., professor of medicine at Johns Hopkins. Intelihealth.com
WATER & EXERCISE = REDUCED RECTAL CANCER RISK - according to a recent study published in the International Journal of Cancer, researchers found that male subjects who consumed the most water had a 92 percent lower risk of rectal cancer than those who drank the least water. Male subjects with the most active lifestyles had an 83 percent lower risk of rectal cancer than sedentary men. The researchers hypothesize that adequate water intake and exercise may be factors in reducing colon cancer by speeding bowel transit time, thus decreasing the time that potential carcinogens in partially digested food are in contact with the intestinal lining. Men’s Fitness 12/99.
THE BEST SUNSCREENS - always buy a sun screen with an SPF (sun protection factor) of 15 or higher for the best protection against ultraviolet B radiation, the kind most responsible for sunburn and tanning. There is not a lot of additional protection from higher ratings, but such sun screens may be worth buying for children or those with very fair skin. Also, chose a product with avobenzone (Parsol 1789), which protects against the widest spectrum of ultraviolet A radiation, which causes skin aging and possibly melanoma. Once hard to find, avobenzone is now used, along with UVB-screening ingredients, in 12 leading brands. Or use a product with titanium dioxide or zinc oxide. University of California Berkeley Wellness Letter, 7/99.
VITAMIN C SUPPLEMENTS MAY REDUCE HEART DISEASE RISK - a daily dose of 500 mg of vitamin C can reverse a condition that leads to heart attacks. A study published in the American Heart Association journal Circulation tracked a group of adults who all had 50 percent blockage in their blood vessels. After just 30 days, the subjects who had been given vitamin C experienced significant improvement in the lining of their blood vessels while the condition of the placebo group did not change. Men’s Fitness 11/99.
VITAMIN E MAY REDUCE RISK OF TYPE 2 DIABETES - those with type 2 diabetes (non-insulin dependent) or those at high risk for developing it should take vitamin E supplements. Several studies have suggested that this vitamin may improve control of blood sugar, notably by enhancing the action of insulin and by affecting cell membranes. In addition, diabetics seem to be particularly prone to the “oxidative stress” caused by free radicals, which contributes to their increased risk for cardiovascular disease as well as diabetic complications. Vitamin E and other antioxidants help combat free radicals. Safe dosages are in the 400-800 IU range per day. University of California Berkeley Wellness Letter, 7/99.
LOW-FAT = HIGH SPF - a low-fat diet seems to boost the body’s natural sun protection. Researchers in Texas found that people on a low-fat diet had a greatly reduced risk of developing pre-malignant growths and non-melanoma skin cancers. They believe that the low-fat diet bolsters the body’s immune system. Self, 5/97.
EAT CARBS TO BURN FAT?? - many people think that carbohydrates are the enemy of anyone trying to lose fat, but some carbs may actually increase your metabolism. A recent study in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise shows that subjects who ate low-glycemic carbs three hours before a cardio workout burned 118 percent more fat and 12 percent less carbs than those who ate foods high on the glycemic index.
Besides helping the body burn more fat, low-glycemic carbs will provide a better source of energy for a longer-more efficient workout. Good low-glycemic carb choices include apples, black beans, and protein-enriched pasta. A fruit smoothie with yogurt and fat-free milk will provide a good source of low-glycemic carbohydrates and protein to fuel any workout. Try passing on the white rice, potatoes, bread, and cookies before a workout as these foods are quickly converted into blood sugars. Men’s Fitness 11/99.
PACKAGED FOODS HIDDEN DANGER - many pre-packaged foods - (margarine, puddings, crackers, cookies, potato chips, etc.) - contain partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. Hydrogenation makes some of the unsaturated fats more saturated and also results in “trans fats” which also act like saturated fat, boosting blood cholesterol and increasing the risk of heart disease. Manufacturers hydrogenate - add hydrogen - to polyunsaturated vegetable oils in order to give them and the processed and packaged foods made from them, a more solid consistency and a longer shelf life.
Fats and saturated fats are required to be listed on the label of foods, but trans-fats are not required at this time to be listed. The trans-fats are just as hazardous to your cardiovascular health as saturated fats. Try avoiding or at least limiting products with partially-hydrogenated oils. University of California Berkeley Wellness Letter, 7/99.
CANCER-FIGHTING CALCIUM - calcium, according to a recent study published in the New England Journal of Medicine is a nutrient that has a potent anticarcinogenic effect in combating colon cancer, the third-leading cause of cancer death among Americans. Besides reducing colon cancer risk, calcium can reduce the risk of osteoporosis. But it should be noted that calcium intake along will not reduce the risk of osteoporosis. Exercising helps the body absorb the calcium, but recent studies have found that a diet heavy with protein actually weakens bones. Most American diets have so much protein, that the body breaks protein into amino acids, then uses the acids to build muscle and other tissues. Any excess protein remains in the bloodstream, causing the blood to become very acidic. The body tries to correct the acid imbalance by removing calcium from the skeleton, to neutralize the acid - high protein intake increases calcium loss. The answer seems to consume enough calcium through diet and supplements to compensate for this loss. Good sources of dietary calcium, beside dairy products, include sardines, fortified orange juice, broccoli, and almonds. Men’s Fitness, 8/99, Health, 7/99.
VITAMIN BUYING GUIDE - the most expensive vitamins may not be any better than a generic multi-vitamin. According to the University of California Berkeley Wellness Letter, you should look for a “USP” on the label, meaning that the product meets the standards of the U.S. Pharmacopeia, including a test for disintegration, and has been tested under controlled laboratory conditions. Most brand-name vitamins aren’t labeled USP, because the manufacturers either don’t want to do the tests, or prefer to guarantee the products via the brand names. Generic or store brands are more often labeled USP and are usually cheaper.
The Wellness Letter also recommends looking for 100% of the Daily Value of the following vitamins: A (some from beta carotene), B1 (thiamin), B2 (riboflavin), B3 (niacin), B6, B12, folic acid, and D.
The following minerals are also recommended for up to 100% of the Daily Value: copper, zinc, magnesium, iron, iodine, selenium (not more than 200 mcg), and chromium (not more than 200 mcg). Most multi-vitamins also contain tiny amounts of trace minerals such as boron, manganese, and molybdenum.
Most of the multis also contain vitamins C and E at 100 to 200% of the RDA, but this is not enough to provide the full antioxidant effects and other potential benefits of these vitamins. It is recommended that everyone consume 200 to 800 IU of vitamin E and 250 to 500 mgs of vitamin C daily.
Premenopausal women should look for 100% of the RDA of iron. Pregnant women should be sure to consume at least 400 IU of folic acid daily. This vitamin helps prevent neural tube birth defects that affect thousands of babies every year in the U.S. This vitamin is actually better absorbed by the body in supplemental form than by ingestion by food source. University of California Berkeley Wellness Letter, 7/99.
Saturday, April 1, 2000
Health News
REPORTING POINT 04-00
AEROMEDICAL NEWS
“Live healthy...live well”
HEALTH NEWS
by Larry Kline
SWAPA Voice Mailbox 511/email: lwkline@compuserve.com
ASPIRIN USE MAY DECREASE COLON CANCER RISK - a recent study of almost 90,000 female nurses found that women who took four to six aspirin a week for 20 years were less likely to develop colon cancer than those who took less aspirin. The results were adjusted for other risk factors such as diet, alcohol use, smoking, physical inactivity, and family history.
Researchers suspect that aspirin may protect against colon cancer by inhibiting enzymes needed for tumor growth. Or, aspirin may restore normal shedding of cells lining your colon. Shedding is delayed with polyps or cancer. Researchers believe aspirin influences early stage tumors that develop slowly. This may explain why protective benefits were seen after years of taking aspirin.
This study did not determine what dosage of aspirin best protects against cancer while minimizing possible complications. Although aspirin sounds like a wonder drug, it is still a drug with possible side effects such as stomach irritation and bleeding.
Another study has indicated that exercise fights colon cancer more than any other malignancy. The most active people have only about half the risk of the least active people. Exercise, like fiber, seems to reduce risk mainly by speeding wastes through the colon, as well as reduce the levels of prostaglandins, insulin, and stress, all risk factors for colon cancer. Mayo Clinic Health Letter 6/99, Consumer Reports on Health 10/99.
PROSTATE PROMISE - in a small, but promising study, an experimental genetically engineered vaccine has “tricked” the body into attacking prostate cancer. The vaccine consists of a patient’s own cancer cells taken from the surgically removed tumor. When injected, the body recognizes the cells in the vaccine, as well as any lingering cells from the tumor, as foreign invaders and the body’s immune system attacks the remaining tumor. Time 11/1/99.
VITAMIN PROVIDES “INSURANCE” FOR DRINKERS - you already know that there is strong evidence that moderate drinkers are less likely than non-drinkers to suffer strokes, high cholesterol, and diabetic risk. But recent studies have linked moderate drinking of alcohol to an increased risk of colon cancer. Harvard Medical School determined that men who drank more than two alcoholic beverages a day doubled their risk of colon cancer. Scientists originally thought that alcohol was directly to blame, but now the Harvard study suggests that alcohol acts by reducing levels of folic acid, an essential B vitamin.
Another long-term study of alcoholics from the University of California at Davis showed that alcoholics have serious folic acid deficiencies. Alcohol seems to make it harder for the intestines to absorb folic acid. When folic acid levels fall, colon cancer risk climbs quickly. One theory as to why this occurs centers on the body constantly replaces the cells of the colon’s lining, which requires folic acid. A folic acid shortfall may lead to genetic errors that make new cells more likely to become cancerous.
The Harvard study found that men who drank more than two drinks a day had double the colon cancer risk; those who drank and consumed little folic acid had three times the colon cancer risk. A parallel study of 89,000 women reported last year indicated those whose daily folic acid intake averaged 200 micrograms or less had a 30 percent higher risk of colon cancer than those getting more than 400 mcg.
The solution to this risk is rather easy: eat plenty of folate-rich foods. These include asparagus, beans, spinach, and orange juice, as well as breads, pasta, and breakfast cereals, which are enriched with the vitamin. Also taking a multivitamin with at least 400 mcg of folic acid can greatly cut your risk.
In addition to protecting your colon, a daily intake of 400 mcg of folic acid can dramatically lower heart disease odds by reducing blood levels of the amino acid homocysteine.
If you tend to heavy drinking, consider the herbal supplement milk thistle. The extract contained in milk thistle, silymarin, appears to fortify the liver against toxic substances. Some studies shows silymarin extends the lives of heavy drinkers with liver problems. Whether silymarin is effective with moderate drinkers is unknown. Best bet: don’t overindulge! Health 5/99.
THE BEST STRETCH - stretching is one of the most beneficial things you can do for your body, increasing the pliability and range of motion of your muscles as well as your ligaments and tendons. However, recent research has shown that too much stretching prior to a workout may not be all good. In studies conducted at LSU and BYU, researchers found that subjects who stretched vigorously for 20 minutes prior to workout lost strength during the workout. The study’s co-author theorizes that this weakening effect may be the result of a relaxing of the tendons, making it difficult for muscles to contract fully. The researchers recommend a warm-up of 5 to 10 minutes before a workout.
Stretching after weight training, however, is highly recommended, with increased muscle strength of 18 percent over those who did not stretch after exercise. Men’s Fitness 11/99.
DOES DOING THE LAUNDRY MAKE YOU SICK? - well, it can, if you are washing diapers or the clothing of someone who is sick. Microbiologists have recently found that bacteria can survive the warm and cold wash cycles and infect a person who handles wet laundry. The researchers inspected the washing machines of 100 subjects and found 44 had e.coli or other illness-inducing bacteria inside their washers.
Washing clothes in hot water will get rid of most bacteria, but according to the researchers, only 14 percent of Americans use the hot-water cycle. The clothes dryer can destroy most of the infectious bugs, but it seems that the biggest risk for infection comes in transferring a load of wet clothes from the washer to the dryer. The bacteria contaminate your hands when handling the wet clothes and can be spread when food is prepared immediately after handling the contaminated clothing.
The researchers suggest washing underwear and baby clothes separately and use a cup of bleach, which kills 99.9% of viruses and bacteria. Also washing your hands after handling laundry and using the hottest washing cycle available can reduce exposure. Health 11/99.
IT’S NEVER TOO LATE - in a study of some 4,300 older men without cardiovascular disease published in The Lancet, those who were moderately active had half the mortality rate of sedentary men. Even light activity was associated with a substantial benefit, though not as much. While those who had been exercising the longest had the lowest death rate, men who had recently started light or moderate exercise benefitted as well. Consumer Reports on Health 4/99.
RAISINS - THE “SUPER SNACK” - in a recent study, volunteers who ate a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, and whole grains, including 400 calories of raisins daily, lowered their total blood cholesterol by an average of 8 percent, including a significant decrease in LDL cholesterol oxidation - a process which must occur before artery-clogging plaque can build.
Besides being good for your heart and vascular systems, the tartaric acid moves food through the colon faster, limiting the time that potentially cancer-causing agents remain in the colon. Also resveratrol, a compound found in grapes, can keep cells from turning cancerous and inhibit the growth of any that are already malignant. In an 18 week study, a group of mice dosed with resveratrol developed fewer skin cancers than a group that was left untouched. When resveratrol was added to cultures of human leukemia cells, resveratrol halted the cell division that signals cancer.
OK, so it’s healthy for you - what about all that sugar? It seems that the sugar in raisins is much better for the body than a can of soda. Both may give an initial sugar “high”, but dried fruit won’t allow those levels to crash as significantly as soda does.
After consuming raisins, test subjects’ blood sugar levels were pretty much stable at the pre-ingestion levels, whereas those who had refined sugars (as in sodas), experienced much lower blood sugar levels after a period of time - they had a sugar letdown.
Dried fruit can lead to an increase in dental cavities unless you thoroughly clean your teeth after eating. Health 11/99.
BEER-THE HEALTH DRINK? - drinking beer decreases your chances of developing kidney stones, according to the results of a recent Finnish study. Doctors are not sure whether it is due to the alcohol or hops, but subjects who drank beer had 40 per cent less chance of developing the stones than those who abstain. Men’s Fitness 11/99.
AEROMEDICAL NEWS
“Live healthy...live well”
HEALTH NEWS
by Larry Kline
SWAPA Voice Mailbox 511/email: lwkline@compuserve.com
ASPIRIN USE MAY DECREASE COLON CANCER RISK - a recent study of almost 90,000 female nurses found that women who took four to six aspirin a week for 20 years were less likely to develop colon cancer than those who took less aspirin. The results were adjusted for other risk factors such as diet, alcohol use, smoking, physical inactivity, and family history.
Researchers suspect that aspirin may protect against colon cancer by inhibiting enzymes needed for tumor growth. Or, aspirin may restore normal shedding of cells lining your colon. Shedding is delayed with polyps or cancer. Researchers believe aspirin influences early stage tumors that develop slowly. This may explain why protective benefits were seen after years of taking aspirin.
This study did not determine what dosage of aspirin best protects against cancer while minimizing possible complications. Although aspirin sounds like a wonder drug, it is still a drug with possible side effects such as stomach irritation and bleeding.
Another study has indicated that exercise fights colon cancer more than any other malignancy. The most active people have only about half the risk of the least active people. Exercise, like fiber, seems to reduce risk mainly by speeding wastes through the colon, as well as reduce the levels of prostaglandins, insulin, and stress, all risk factors for colon cancer. Mayo Clinic Health Letter 6/99, Consumer Reports on Health 10/99.
PROSTATE PROMISE - in a small, but promising study, an experimental genetically engineered vaccine has “tricked” the body into attacking prostate cancer. The vaccine consists of a patient’s own cancer cells taken from the surgically removed tumor. When injected, the body recognizes the cells in the vaccine, as well as any lingering cells from the tumor, as foreign invaders and the body’s immune system attacks the remaining tumor. Time 11/1/99.
VITAMIN PROVIDES “INSURANCE” FOR DRINKERS - you already know that there is strong evidence that moderate drinkers are less likely than non-drinkers to suffer strokes, high cholesterol, and diabetic risk. But recent studies have linked moderate drinking of alcohol to an increased risk of colon cancer. Harvard Medical School determined that men who drank more than two alcoholic beverages a day doubled their risk of colon cancer. Scientists originally thought that alcohol was directly to blame, but now the Harvard study suggests that alcohol acts by reducing levels of folic acid, an essential B vitamin.
Another long-term study of alcoholics from the University of California at Davis showed that alcoholics have serious folic acid deficiencies. Alcohol seems to make it harder for the intestines to absorb folic acid. When folic acid levels fall, colon cancer risk climbs quickly. One theory as to why this occurs centers on the body constantly replaces the cells of the colon’s lining, which requires folic acid. A folic acid shortfall may lead to genetic errors that make new cells more likely to become cancerous.
The Harvard study found that men who drank more than two drinks a day had double the colon cancer risk; those who drank and consumed little folic acid had three times the colon cancer risk. A parallel study of 89,000 women reported last year indicated those whose daily folic acid intake averaged 200 micrograms or less had a 30 percent higher risk of colon cancer than those getting more than 400 mcg.
The solution to this risk is rather easy: eat plenty of folate-rich foods. These include asparagus, beans, spinach, and orange juice, as well as breads, pasta, and breakfast cereals, which are enriched with the vitamin. Also taking a multivitamin with at least 400 mcg of folic acid can greatly cut your risk.
In addition to protecting your colon, a daily intake of 400 mcg of folic acid can dramatically lower heart disease odds by reducing blood levels of the amino acid homocysteine.
If you tend to heavy drinking, consider the herbal supplement milk thistle. The extract contained in milk thistle, silymarin, appears to fortify the liver against toxic substances. Some studies shows silymarin extends the lives of heavy drinkers with liver problems. Whether silymarin is effective with moderate drinkers is unknown. Best bet: don’t overindulge! Health 5/99.
THE BEST STRETCH - stretching is one of the most beneficial things you can do for your body, increasing the pliability and range of motion of your muscles as well as your ligaments and tendons. However, recent research has shown that too much stretching prior to a workout may not be all good. In studies conducted at LSU and BYU, researchers found that subjects who stretched vigorously for 20 minutes prior to workout lost strength during the workout. The study’s co-author theorizes that this weakening effect may be the result of a relaxing of the tendons, making it difficult for muscles to contract fully. The researchers recommend a warm-up of 5 to 10 minutes before a workout.
Stretching after weight training, however, is highly recommended, with increased muscle strength of 18 percent over those who did not stretch after exercise. Men’s Fitness 11/99.
DOES DOING THE LAUNDRY MAKE YOU SICK? - well, it can, if you are washing diapers or the clothing of someone who is sick. Microbiologists have recently found that bacteria can survive the warm and cold wash cycles and infect a person who handles wet laundry. The researchers inspected the washing machines of 100 subjects and found 44 had e.coli or other illness-inducing bacteria inside their washers.
Washing clothes in hot water will get rid of most bacteria, but according to the researchers, only 14 percent of Americans use the hot-water cycle. The clothes dryer can destroy most of the infectious bugs, but it seems that the biggest risk for infection comes in transferring a load of wet clothes from the washer to the dryer. The bacteria contaminate your hands when handling the wet clothes and can be spread when food is prepared immediately after handling the contaminated clothing.
The researchers suggest washing underwear and baby clothes separately and use a cup of bleach, which kills 99.9% of viruses and bacteria. Also washing your hands after handling laundry and using the hottest washing cycle available can reduce exposure. Health 11/99.
IT’S NEVER TOO LATE - in a study of some 4,300 older men without cardiovascular disease published in The Lancet, those who were moderately active had half the mortality rate of sedentary men. Even light activity was associated with a substantial benefit, though not as much. While those who had been exercising the longest had the lowest death rate, men who had recently started light or moderate exercise benefitted as well. Consumer Reports on Health 4/99.
RAISINS - THE “SUPER SNACK” - in a recent study, volunteers who ate a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, and whole grains, including 400 calories of raisins daily, lowered their total blood cholesterol by an average of 8 percent, including a significant decrease in LDL cholesterol oxidation - a process which must occur before artery-clogging plaque can build.
Besides being good for your heart and vascular systems, the tartaric acid moves food through the colon faster, limiting the time that potentially cancer-causing agents remain in the colon. Also resveratrol, a compound found in grapes, can keep cells from turning cancerous and inhibit the growth of any that are already malignant. In an 18 week study, a group of mice dosed with resveratrol developed fewer skin cancers than a group that was left untouched. When resveratrol was added to cultures of human leukemia cells, resveratrol halted the cell division that signals cancer.
OK, so it’s healthy for you - what about all that sugar? It seems that the sugar in raisins is much better for the body than a can of soda. Both may give an initial sugar “high”, but dried fruit won’t allow those levels to crash as significantly as soda does.
After consuming raisins, test subjects’ blood sugar levels were pretty much stable at the pre-ingestion levels, whereas those who had refined sugars (as in sodas), experienced much lower blood sugar levels after a period of time - they had a sugar letdown.
Dried fruit can lead to an increase in dental cavities unless you thoroughly clean your teeth after eating. Health 11/99.
BEER-THE HEALTH DRINK? - drinking beer decreases your chances of developing kidney stones, according to the results of a recent Finnish study. Doctors are not sure whether it is due to the alcohol or hops, but subjects who drank beer had 40 per cent less chance of developing the stones than those who abstain. Men’s Fitness 11/99.
Wednesday, March 1, 2000
Health News
REPORTING POINT 03-00
AEROMEDICAL NEWS
“Live healthy...live well”
HEALTH NEWS
by Larry Kline
SWAPA Voice Mailbox 511/email lwkline@compuserve.com
ANTI-CANCER PILL? - several studies have revealed that selenium may help prevent lung and colon cancers. Now a large-scale study involving 34,000 male physicians tracked for 7 years found that those with the greatest amounts of selenium in their bodies were only one-third as likely as those with the least to develop prostate cancer. The researchers believe that 200 mcgs is a safe daily supplement limit. Health 11/98.
NEW BACK PAIN TREATMENT - a recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that a new non-surgical therapy can reduce back pain by nearly 50 percent. Researchers compared percutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (PENS) - with exercise therapy and TENS (electrical nerve stimulation using pads, not needles). Pain levels in 60 patients dropped by 46 percent after PENS, compared with an 11 percent drop after TENS and only a 2 percent drop after exercise therapy. William Craig, M.D., who developed PENS, say that it works by blocking pain signals to the brain. There are currently 1,500 doctors in the country who are trained to use PENS; 4 half-hour treatments over the course of 4 weeks are the recommended. Men’s Health 6/99.
BETTER FITNESS - BETTER HEARING - researchers at the University of Northern Iowa found that those subjects who were the fittest were least likely to suffer temporary hearing loss when subjected to ten minutes of 108-decibel noise - that which is greater than a chain saw. Health 11/98.
ANTIBIOTICS MAY INCREASE SPORTS INJURY RISK - a report delivered at a meeting of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons indicates that an antibiotic prescribed for bronchial, intestinal, and other infections produces enzymes that break down tendons. Although the phenomenon is fairly rare and researchers don’t know who is at most risk, the authors of the report urge caution when taking any fluroquinolone antibiotics. If exercising vigorously, stop if pain is felt while taking this type of antibiotic. Men’s Health 6/99.
PATIENCE TO BOOST FERTILITY CHANCES - some couples who have had no success with in vitro fertilization may want to try again. A recent study reveals that letting embryos incubate for five days (instead of the usual three) before moving them to the womb improved pregnancy rates fourfold, while reducing the risk of a multiple-birth pregnancy. Health 10/99.
CHOLESTEROL-LOWERING MARGARINES - there has been a great deal written (including Harvey Watt’s “Aviation Medical Bulletin -1/00”) about the recent introduction of margarines like Benecol and Take Control. These products reportedly can reduce LDL (bad) cholesterol by an average of 10% without affecting HDL “good” cholesterol.
However, recent research from Finland suggests that cholesterol isn’t the only thing they lower. In a six-week study, researchers found that a Benecol-like margarine lowered blood levels of beta-carotene by 30%; another study showed that it reduced beta-carotene levels by 25%.
Carotenoids may lowered the risk of heart disease, cancer, stroke, and macular degeneration, the most common cause of blindness in the elderly. If further studies are consistent with these early findings, the new margarines may cut into the potential benefits of eating fruits and vegetables. Nutrition Action Healthletter 12/99.
RETAINING MUSCLE MASS AFTER SURGERY OR LONG-TERM ILLNESS - giving L-glutamine (an amino acid) to post‑operative patients has been shown to spare much of the muscle loss that can occur after major surgery. Since your muscles hold vast amounts of glutamine ‑ which happens to be the favorite fuel source of your immune system ‑ your body will break down muscle tissue in times of stress and disease to get what it needs. Consuming extra glutamine in these circumstances helps keep your muscles intact. Men's Fitness 5/99.
GREEN TEA BENEFIT - recent studies indicate that green tea may help prevent rheumatoid arthritis. Lab mice prompted to develop the painful joint disease showed that those drinking the tea cut the risk in half. Health 10/99.
From the Flight Surgeon:
"Don’t Mix and Match"
by Joe Battersby, D.O.
FAA Medical Examiner
(edited for this publication-LK)
For the past four or five years I’ve been reading and listening to a lot of stuff about “natural” herbal products. Who hasn’t? Selling these weeds has jumped from a three to a fifteen billion dollar a year industry. I’ve written a couple of columns about them, discussing certain compounds on a named basis. My job demands that I know something about them. I have tried to be fair and have usually given prescription drugs equal time, treatment and criticism when I thought it was in order. All of this can be very, very confusing. I thought maybe I could put together a few ideas to help us navigate sensibly through all this “information” available to us as well as a few additional guidelines for harmonious living.
1. Don’t believe everything you hear or read. For example: among the ranks of those who claim to be PhDs, you will uncover some whose “diplomas” were granted by Sam Houston Institute of Technology. You know this. Same with drug claims.
2. It is not a sin to shop in a health food store, but an English major may not be the best source of information concerning physiology. I tend not to ask professional gardeners questions relative to reverse thrusters.
3. Never eat at a place called “Mom’s”.
4. There is no formal FDA control over the herbal products in terms of “proven efficacy”. Likewise with quality control. This means that Marv and I don’t have to prove to anybody that the bathtub in which we mix our product, “STIFFERINO”, is clean, etc...this means an open season for substitution or adulteration. Ironically perhaps, when it comes to non-Rx drugs, the only control required is that bottle labels of the “stuff” must state that the product makes no claim to “diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease and specify that whatever claims are made have not been evaluated by the FDA. This reminds me a little of the TV ads for automobiles. The top screen tells you that you can buy a vintage Rolls Royce for 10 bucks a month. The rest of the ad (about 2/3) contains a statement of qualifications to the sale in print so small I can’t read it at 6 inches from the screen!
5. It has been estimated that approximately 100,000 people a year are killed by prescription medications. Am I being fair or what?
6. If you are taking any of this stuff please remember to tell your Doc. It is most important to avoid the problems that have occurred with mixtures of herbal and prescription meds. Very important!
7. Here’s a bottom line for us...nothing is completely safe-prescription or non-prescription. Be careful. Be skeptical. Be conservative. If you’re a computer buff, try www.quackwatch.com. (This website really exists!)
8. Never play cards with a person called “Doc:.
9. Never, never urinate against the wind.
10. Never kick dog “do-do” on a wet day.
If you remember any of this, remember #6 above, maybe #7, too.
Again, ask your Doc if it’s OK to take the prescription he’s giving you with whatever weeds or snake oil you happen to be buying from the health food store, Walgreens, your relative or neighbor or by mail order.
Here’s a brief list of the bad combinations that we know about so far (do not assume that the combos on this list are the only ones to avoid - these are only the ones that we know about so far):
Herbs known to have undesirable effects with certain prescription meds are:
1. St. John’s Wort
2. Ginseng
3. Feverfew
4. Garlic
5. Ginger
6. Valerian
7. Echinacea
8. Kava-Kava
9. Ginko-biloba
Effects range from increasing bleeding if you are using aspirin or Coumadin, for example, to an increase lowering of blood sugars when ginseng is combined with oral sugar lowering agents.
Perhaps, if for no other reason, this alert may be of value because in this herbal area you probably will not be issued the type of “warning list” the pharmacist gives with the prescription medication. In my opinion, we are perhaps more at risk quantitatively with prescription meds than with herbals. In the latter case, it’s more or less a matter of being “blind sided” because of the lack of readily available information regarding product control, etc.
Best,
Joe
AEROMEDICAL NEWS
“Live healthy...live well”
HEALTH NEWS
by Larry Kline
SWAPA Voice Mailbox 511/email lwkline@compuserve.com
ANTI-CANCER PILL? - several studies have revealed that selenium may help prevent lung and colon cancers. Now a large-scale study involving 34,000 male physicians tracked for 7 years found that those with the greatest amounts of selenium in their bodies were only one-third as likely as those with the least to develop prostate cancer. The researchers believe that 200 mcgs is a safe daily supplement limit. Health 11/98.
NEW BACK PAIN TREATMENT - a recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that a new non-surgical therapy can reduce back pain by nearly 50 percent. Researchers compared percutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (PENS) - with exercise therapy and TENS (electrical nerve stimulation using pads, not needles). Pain levels in 60 patients dropped by 46 percent after PENS, compared with an 11 percent drop after TENS and only a 2 percent drop after exercise therapy. William Craig, M.D., who developed PENS, say that it works by blocking pain signals to the brain. There are currently 1,500 doctors in the country who are trained to use PENS; 4 half-hour treatments over the course of 4 weeks are the recommended. Men’s Health 6/99.
BETTER FITNESS - BETTER HEARING - researchers at the University of Northern Iowa found that those subjects who were the fittest were least likely to suffer temporary hearing loss when subjected to ten minutes of 108-decibel noise - that which is greater than a chain saw. Health 11/98.
ANTIBIOTICS MAY INCREASE SPORTS INJURY RISK - a report delivered at a meeting of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons indicates that an antibiotic prescribed for bronchial, intestinal, and other infections produces enzymes that break down tendons. Although the phenomenon is fairly rare and researchers don’t know who is at most risk, the authors of the report urge caution when taking any fluroquinolone antibiotics. If exercising vigorously, stop if pain is felt while taking this type of antibiotic. Men’s Health 6/99.
PATIENCE TO BOOST FERTILITY CHANCES - some couples who have had no success with in vitro fertilization may want to try again. A recent study reveals that letting embryos incubate for five days (instead of the usual three) before moving them to the womb improved pregnancy rates fourfold, while reducing the risk of a multiple-birth pregnancy. Health 10/99.
CHOLESTEROL-LOWERING MARGARINES - there has been a great deal written (including Harvey Watt’s “Aviation Medical Bulletin -1/00”) about the recent introduction of margarines like Benecol and Take Control. These products reportedly can reduce LDL (bad) cholesterol by an average of 10% without affecting HDL “good” cholesterol.
However, recent research from Finland suggests that cholesterol isn’t the only thing they lower. In a six-week study, researchers found that a Benecol-like margarine lowered blood levels of beta-carotene by 30%; another study showed that it reduced beta-carotene levels by 25%.
Carotenoids may lowered the risk of heart disease, cancer, stroke, and macular degeneration, the most common cause of blindness in the elderly. If further studies are consistent with these early findings, the new margarines may cut into the potential benefits of eating fruits and vegetables. Nutrition Action Healthletter 12/99.
RETAINING MUSCLE MASS AFTER SURGERY OR LONG-TERM ILLNESS - giving L-glutamine (an amino acid) to post‑operative patients has been shown to spare much of the muscle loss that can occur after major surgery. Since your muscles hold vast amounts of glutamine ‑ which happens to be the favorite fuel source of your immune system ‑ your body will break down muscle tissue in times of stress and disease to get what it needs. Consuming extra glutamine in these circumstances helps keep your muscles intact. Men's Fitness 5/99.
GREEN TEA BENEFIT - recent studies indicate that green tea may help prevent rheumatoid arthritis. Lab mice prompted to develop the painful joint disease showed that those drinking the tea cut the risk in half. Health 10/99.
From the Flight Surgeon:
"Don’t Mix and Match"
by Joe Battersby, D.O.
FAA Medical Examiner
(edited for this publication-LK)
For the past four or five years I’ve been reading and listening to a lot of stuff about “natural” herbal products. Who hasn’t? Selling these weeds has jumped from a three to a fifteen billion dollar a year industry. I’ve written a couple of columns about them, discussing certain compounds on a named basis. My job demands that I know something about them. I have tried to be fair and have usually given prescription drugs equal time, treatment and criticism when I thought it was in order. All of this can be very, very confusing. I thought maybe I could put together a few ideas to help us navigate sensibly through all this “information” available to us as well as a few additional guidelines for harmonious living.
1. Don’t believe everything you hear or read. For example: among the ranks of those who claim to be PhDs, you will uncover some whose “diplomas” were granted by Sam Houston Institute of Technology. You know this. Same with drug claims.
2. It is not a sin to shop in a health food store, but an English major may not be the best source of information concerning physiology. I tend not to ask professional gardeners questions relative to reverse thrusters.
3. Never eat at a place called “Mom’s”.
4. There is no formal FDA control over the herbal products in terms of “proven efficacy”. Likewise with quality control. This means that Marv and I don’t have to prove to anybody that the bathtub in which we mix our product, “STIFFERINO”, is clean, etc...this means an open season for substitution or adulteration. Ironically perhaps, when it comes to non-Rx drugs, the only control required is that bottle labels of the “stuff” must state that the product makes no claim to “diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease and specify that whatever claims are made have not been evaluated by the FDA. This reminds me a little of the TV ads for automobiles. The top screen tells you that you can buy a vintage Rolls Royce for 10 bucks a month. The rest of the ad (about 2/3) contains a statement of qualifications to the sale in print so small I can’t read it at 6 inches from the screen!
5. It has been estimated that approximately 100,000 people a year are killed by prescription medications. Am I being fair or what?
6. If you are taking any of this stuff please remember to tell your Doc. It is most important to avoid the problems that have occurred with mixtures of herbal and prescription meds. Very important!
7. Here’s a bottom line for us...nothing is completely safe-prescription or non-prescription. Be careful. Be skeptical. Be conservative. If you’re a computer buff, try www.quackwatch.com. (This website really exists!)
8. Never play cards with a person called “Doc:.
9. Never, never urinate against the wind.
10. Never kick dog “do-do” on a wet day.
If you remember any of this, remember #6 above, maybe #7, too.
Again, ask your Doc if it’s OK to take the prescription he’s giving you with whatever weeds or snake oil you happen to be buying from the health food store, Walgreens, your relative or neighbor or by mail order.
Here’s a brief list of the bad combinations that we know about so far (do not assume that the combos on this list are the only ones to avoid - these are only the ones that we know about so far):
Herbs known to have undesirable effects with certain prescription meds are:
1. St. John’s Wort
2. Ginseng
3. Feverfew
4. Garlic
5. Ginger
6. Valerian
7. Echinacea
8. Kava-Kava
9. Ginko-biloba
Effects range from increasing bleeding if you are using aspirin or Coumadin, for example, to an increase lowering of blood sugars when ginseng is combined with oral sugar lowering agents.
Perhaps, if for no other reason, this alert may be of value because in this herbal area you probably will not be issued the type of “warning list” the pharmacist gives with the prescription medication. In my opinion, we are perhaps more at risk quantitatively with prescription meds than with herbals. In the latter case, it’s more or less a matter of being “blind sided” because of the lack of readily available information regarding product control, etc.
Best,
Joe
Tuesday, February 1, 2000
Health News
REPORTING POINT 02-00
AEROMEDICAL NEWS
“Live healthy...live well”
HEALTH NEWS
by Larry Kline
SWAPA Voice Mailbox 511/email lwkline@compuserve.com
ALTERNATIVE WAYS TO GET SOY BENEFITS - one of the ingredients in soy that makes it so beneficial is a phytoestrogen, genistein, that has been linked to stronger bones, improved cardiovascular health and possible protection against breast cancer and menopause symptoms. Genistein is also contained in many common varieties of beans. Some of these beans contain significantly greater amounts of genistein than soy, and are good sources of fiber and calcium.
Bean Genistein (parts/million)
Yellow split peas 45.8
Black turtle beans 45.1
Baby lima beans 40.1
Large lima beans 34.4
Red kidney beans 29.3
Soybeans 24.1
Pinto beans 22.3
Fava beans 19.9
WATCH OUT FOR CRP - a new blood test for a protein called CRP may provide earlier warning of heart disease. A nine year study of more than 600 men in their late 50s reports that men with high levels of CRP, regardless of their cholesterol level, were more likely to develop heart disease than those with low levels of CRP. CRP or C-reactive protein is made in response to even the slightest amount of damage to the arteries, which is why it is such a potent marker for heart-attack risk. If being tested for CRP, be sure to specify the new ultra-sensitive version of the test. Men’s Health 12/98.
HEALTH INFORMATION ONLINE ‑ according to PC Magazine, one of the best websites for health information and assistance in diagnosing problems is "Ask the Doc." at AmericasDoctor.com (www.americasdoctor.com). You can chat with actual doctors who will answer questions with usable information and good responses at answering follow up questions. AmericasDoctor.com has one of the best research tools ‑ Medline, which connects to Cancernet, the National Institute of Health, and the National Library of Medicine. All three resources have solid search engines and never totally pull you out of the AmericasDoctor.com site. PC Magazine found Medline one of the easiest sites to navigate.
The Healthwise Handbook found at allHealth.com (www.allhealth.com) is a web version of a print handbook that's been published for more than 20 years. It provides diagnostic information on common maladies such as headaches to bee stings and also contains a helpful section on infant and child‑health.
The diagnostic tools at WebMD (www.webmd.com) are similar to other sites. The "Ask Our Experts" section is well organized and you can email questions to WebMD's experts. WebMD's Health & Medical Library has information from a mix of sources that virtually assures you'll find at least some of the information on your subject. The site's "Health Topics A‑Z" is full of articles hand‑picked by WebMD's medical team of researchers. More information is available at "The World Book Medical Encyclopedia", a self‑care guide, a drug reference database, and an archive of WebMD's sponsored chat events.
InteliHealth's Health News section is one of the best (www.intelihealth.com). On the front page, there are ten or so top stores from sources such as John Hopkins Health Insider and Reuters. There is a good search engine located on this site for specific information on many health and medical topics. PC Magazine 1/4/2000
EVEN A LITTLE HELPS - exercise, that is. In a recent study in the Journal of the American Medical Association, one group of subjects exercised vigorously for 20 to 60 minutes up to five days a week, while the other spent 30 minutes a day walking, climbing stairs, and doing yard work. After two years, both groups displayed similar and significant improvements in cholesterol, blood pressure and body fat. However, the lifestyle only set had to exercise three times longer than the gym set to burn the same number of calories. Men’s Fitness 5/99.
PROSTATE CANCER RISK LINKS TO MOTHER’S BREAST CANCER - according to a recent American Cancer Society study that followed more than 480,000 men for 12 years, men whose mothers had breast cancer were 34 percent more likely to die of prostate cancer. Men who had three or more close female relatives with breast cancer were 63 percent more likely to die of prostate cancer. In each case, men under 50 were at the greatest risk. The study’s leader speculates that a high fat diet increases the risk of both prostate and breast cancer. Men’s Health 12/98.
EXERCISE AND SMOG - Dutch researchers found that antioxidant vitamins can protect cyclists’ lungs from the harmful effects of ozone. They found that air pollutants burn your lungs just as the sun burns your skin. People who frequently exercise outside in urban areas, cyclists for example, face the greatest risk. The researchers urge those who exercise heavily outdoors to eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables and to consider taking supplemental vitamin C, vitamin E, and beta-carotene. Men’s Health 12/98.
A CURE FOR OSTEOPOROSIS? - most women begin to lose bone mass by their early thirties. At menopause, the loss accelerates and can lead to osteoporosis. Most treatments only slow the loss. But now scientist may have actually found a way to reverse it.
University of California researchers gave women with osteoporosis daily injections of parathyroid hormone. On average, bone density in the spine increased by 29 percent and hip density increased by 11 percent. The gains were so great that two-thirds of the women no longer have osteoporosis.
The hormone, which occurs naturally in the body, works by increasing the number of bone-building cells called osteoblasts. The more cells you have, the more bone you can build.
Scientists are now conducting long-term studies to ensure that there are no safety concerns. Early tests with rats found that huge amounts of the drug led to bone tumors. Also the researchers want to know if the increased bone density translates into fewer fractures. Health 9/99.
GIVE YOURSELF A HEARING TEST - dialing 800-222-3277 (9-5 eastern time) will connect you with an operator who can give you a local number for an over-the-phone hearing test. If one is not in your area, the operator will connect you to an automated screening test. The 2 minute exam can tell you whether you should have your hearing checked by a professional. Men’s Health 12/98.
From the Flight Surgeon:
"Have a Heart!"
by Joe Battersby, D.O.
FAA Medical Examiner
(edited for this publication-LK)
There’s been interest on the part of the guys in a new screening test designed to detect and quantify the amount of calcium present in the blood vessels supplying the heart. We’re talking about how much narrowing of the vessels has occurred and the possibility of a chunk of plaque breaking loose and blocking a major vessel leading to a “heart attack” by inference.
Like most of the elements of the new technology the new approach has a freight train long name: “Electron Beam Computer Tomography.” The equipment used for this test is quite sophisticated. There are only 30 machines in the U.S., however, we in Phoenix have one of these at the Arizona Heart Institute.
Early diagnosis of heart disease isn’t as easy as it looks. Symptoms are usually not present. Resting EKG’s are very useful in studying the heart, of course, but in the matter of actual damage only show past events or those that are in progress. Stress EKGs will tell us about only 2/3 of the people who have 50% narrowing of a coronary artery, and will miss 1/3 of these guys. Adding perfusion technique that allows an injected substance to be “scanned” as it enters heart muscle thus showing “live and dead” areas of heart muscle is good and ups the diagnosis. We can catch about 85% of the vessels that have been narrowed to 50%. At the end of the list is coronary angiography. It is our present “gold standard.” It allows us a direct view of the coronary arteries. It is “invasive”, which is a euphemism for the fact that the procedure involves actually entering the body. The price of admission for this direct “peek” at the vessels is that it can be dangerous. Definitely not a general screening procedure. When done for sound reasons by expert cardiologists, it is worth the risk, but obvious that a non-risk good screening test for early heart disease would be more than welcome.
I should remind you at this point that you should disabuse yourself of the notion that the “cholesterol factors” are well in hand, completely understood and finally and totally definitive.
If we elect to go for the “Heart Check” study at the Heart Institute, here’s the “package”:
1. The scan
2. Blood checks for cholesterol
3. Health risk assessment
4. Consult with a cardiovascular specialist that will explain finds and offer a rational approach in light of the test results designed to improve your cardiac status.
5. A bill for $550. What are the chances of an HMO or whatever picking up the tab? I don’t know - ask “them.” I clearly remember their past refusals to pay for PSA tests which clearly have proven of value and have prolonged many lives. Of course, you know that I don’t like the way many HMOs provide medical care!
So, bottom line, what do I think of this? Even though it’s new and lacks a broad database (the only kind I take seriously). I like it! First because it is safe. Secondly because as a treating physician I’d rather have something to show a problem in concrete terms rather than simply discuss numerical figures which are abstract compared with pictures, i.e., “She’s 5'3" tall and well put together,” or, “look at those great bleeps and that fine bleep.” Need I say more?
In my view, the “Heart Test” is a good approach. Will I do it? Sure, I’m scheduled soon. It can serve as a great wake-up call or an aid to more restful sleep.
Best,
Joe
AEROMEDICAL NEWS
“Live healthy...live well”
HEALTH NEWS
by Larry Kline
SWAPA Voice Mailbox 511/email lwkline@compuserve.com
ALTERNATIVE WAYS TO GET SOY BENEFITS - one of the ingredients in soy that makes it so beneficial is a phytoestrogen, genistein, that has been linked to stronger bones, improved cardiovascular health and possible protection against breast cancer and menopause symptoms. Genistein is also contained in many common varieties of beans. Some of these beans contain significantly greater amounts of genistein than soy, and are good sources of fiber and calcium.
Bean Genistein (parts/million)
Yellow split peas 45.8
Black turtle beans 45.1
Baby lima beans 40.1
Large lima beans 34.4
Red kidney beans 29.3
Soybeans 24.1
Pinto beans 22.3
Fava beans 19.9
WATCH OUT FOR CRP - a new blood test for a protein called CRP may provide earlier warning of heart disease. A nine year study of more than 600 men in their late 50s reports that men with high levels of CRP, regardless of their cholesterol level, were more likely to develop heart disease than those with low levels of CRP. CRP or C-reactive protein is made in response to even the slightest amount of damage to the arteries, which is why it is such a potent marker for heart-attack risk. If being tested for CRP, be sure to specify the new ultra-sensitive version of the test. Men’s Health 12/98.
HEALTH INFORMATION ONLINE ‑ according to PC Magazine, one of the best websites for health information and assistance in diagnosing problems is "Ask the Doc." at AmericasDoctor.com (www.americasdoctor.com). You can chat with actual doctors who will answer questions with usable information and good responses at answering follow up questions. AmericasDoctor.com has one of the best research tools ‑ Medline, which connects to Cancernet, the National Institute of Health, and the National Library of Medicine. All three resources have solid search engines and never totally pull you out of the AmericasDoctor.com site. PC Magazine found Medline one of the easiest sites to navigate.
The Healthwise Handbook found at allHealth.com (www.allhealth.com) is a web version of a print handbook that's been published for more than 20 years. It provides diagnostic information on common maladies such as headaches to bee stings and also contains a helpful section on infant and child‑health.
The diagnostic tools at WebMD (www.webmd.com) are similar to other sites. The "Ask Our Experts" section is well organized and you can email questions to WebMD's experts. WebMD's Health & Medical Library has information from a mix of sources that virtually assures you'll find at least some of the information on your subject. The site's "Health Topics A‑Z" is full of articles hand‑picked by WebMD's medical team of researchers. More information is available at "The World Book Medical Encyclopedia", a self‑care guide, a drug reference database, and an archive of WebMD's sponsored chat events.
InteliHealth's Health News section is one of the best (www.intelihealth.com). On the front page, there are ten or so top stores from sources such as John Hopkins Health Insider and Reuters. There is a good search engine located on this site for specific information on many health and medical topics. PC Magazine 1/4/2000
EVEN A LITTLE HELPS - exercise, that is. In a recent study in the Journal of the American Medical Association, one group of subjects exercised vigorously for 20 to 60 minutes up to five days a week, while the other spent 30 minutes a day walking, climbing stairs, and doing yard work. After two years, both groups displayed similar and significant improvements in cholesterol, blood pressure and body fat. However, the lifestyle only set had to exercise three times longer than the gym set to burn the same number of calories. Men’s Fitness 5/99.
PROSTATE CANCER RISK LINKS TO MOTHER’S BREAST CANCER - according to a recent American Cancer Society study that followed more than 480,000 men for 12 years, men whose mothers had breast cancer were 34 percent more likely to die of prostate cancer. Men who had three or more close female relatives with breast cancer were 63 percent more likely to die of prostate cancer. In each case, men under 50 were at the greatest risk. The study’s leader speculates that a high fat diet increases the risk of both prostate and breast cancer. Men’s Health 12/98.
EXERCISE AND SMOG - Dutch researchers found that antioxidant vitamins can protect cyclists’ lungs from the harmful effects of ozone. They found that air pollutants burn your lungs just as the sun burns your skin. People who frequently exercise outside in urban areas, cyclists for example, face the greatest risk. The researchers urge those who exercise heavily outdoors to eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables and to consider taking supplemental vitamin C, vitamin E, and beta-carotene. Men’s Health 12/98.
A CURE FOR OSTEOPOROSIS? - most women begin to lose bone mass by their early thirties. At menopause, the loss accelerates and can lead to osteoporosis. Most treatments only slow the loss. But now scientist may have actually found a way to reverse it.
University of California researchers gave women with osteoporosis daily injections of parathyroid hormone. On average, bone density in the spine increased by 29 percent and hip density increased by 11 percent. The gains were so great that two-thirds of the women no longer have osteoporosis.
The hormone, which occurs naturally in the body, works by increasing the number of bone-building cells called osteoblasts. The more cells you have, the more bone you can build.
Scientists are now conducting long-term studies to ensure that there are no safety concerns. Early tests with rats found that huge amounts of the drug led to bone tumors. Also the researchers want to know if the increased bone density translates into fewer fractures. Health 9/99.
GIVE YOURSELF A HEARING TEST - dialing 800-222-3277 (9-5 eastern time) will connect you with an operator who can give you a local number for an over-the-phone hearing test. If one is not in your area, the operator will connect you to an automated screening test. The 2 minute exam can tell you whether you should have your hearing checked by a professional. Men’s Health 12/98.
From the Flight Surgeon:
"Have a Heart!"
by Joe Battersby, D.O.
FAA Medical Examiner
(edited for this publication-LK)
There’s been interest on the part of the guys in a new screening test designed to detect and quantify the amount of calcium present in the blood vessels supplying the heart. We’re talking about how much narrowing of the vessels has occurred and the possibility of a chunk of plaque breaking loose and blocking a major vessel leading to a “heart attack” by inference.
Like most of the elements of the new technology the new approach has a freight train long name: “Electron Beam Computer Tomography.” The equipment used for this test is quite sophisticated. There are only 30 machines in the U.S., however, we in Phoenix have one of these at the Arizona Heart Institute.
Early diagnosis of heart disease isn’t as easy as it looks. Symptoms are usually not present. Resting EKG’s are very useful in studying the heart, of course, but in the matter of actual damage only show past events or those that are in progress. Stress EKGs will tell us about only 2/3 of the people who have 50% narrowing of a coronary artery, and will miss 1/3 of these guys. Adding perfusion technique that allows an injected substance to be “scanned” as it enters heart muscle thus showing “live and dead” areas of heart muscle is good and ups the diagnosis. We can catch about 85% of the vessels that have been narrowed to 50%. At the end of the list is coronary angiography. It is our present “gold standard.” It allows us a direct view of the coronary arteries. It is “invasive”, which is a euphemism for the fact that the procedure involves actually entering the body. The price of admission for this direct “peek” at the vessels is that it can be dangerous. Definitely not a general screening procedure. When done for sound reasons by expert cardiologists, it is worth the risk, but obvious that a non-risk good screening test for early heart disease would be more than welcome.
I should remind you at this point that you should disabuse yourself of the notion that the “cholesterol factors” are well in hand, completely understood and finally and totally definitive.
If we elect to go for the “Heart Check” study at the Heart Institute, here’s the “package”:
1. The scan
2. Blood checks for cholesterol
3. Health risk assessment
4. Consult with a cardiovascular specialist that will explain finds and offer a rational approach in light of the test results designed to improve your cardiac status.
5. A bill for $550. What are the chances of an HMO or whatever picking up the tab? I don’t know - ask “them.” I clearly remember their past refusals to pay for PSA tests which clearly have proven of value and have prolonged many lives. Of course, you know that I don’t like the way many HMOs provide medical care!
So, bottom line, what do I think of this? Even though it’s new and lacks a broad database (the only kind I take seriously). I like it! First because it is safe. Secondly because as a treating physician I’d rather have something to show a problem in concrete terms rather than simply discuss numerical figures which are abstract compared with pictures, i.e., “She’s 5'3" tall and well put together,” or, “look at those great bleeps and that fine bleep.” Need I say more?
In my view, the “Heart Test” is a good approach. Will I do it? Sure, I’m scheduled soon. It can serve as a great wake-up call or an aid to more restful sleep.
Best,
Joe
Saturday, January 1, 2000
Health News
REPORTING POINT 01-00
AEROMEDICAL NEWS
“Live healthy...live well”
HEALTH NEWS
by Larry Kline
SWAPA Voice Mailbox 511/email lwkline@compuserve.com
BEWARE OF “EPHEDRA” - some herbal supplements used for weight loss contain the herbal supplement ephedra, also known as ma huang. It can be dangerous for people with high blood pressure or a heart condition. There have been several dozens of deaths linked to the amphetamine-like substance over that last few years. Texas recently proposed a ban on all supplements containing natural ephedra, but ran into industry opposition. Also, the FDA has proposed restrictions, but so far has taken no action. University of California Berkeley Wellness Letter 10/99.
MUSCLE SORENESS RELIEF - ibuprofen may not effectively relieve muscle soreness. In a Ohio University study, eighty subjects exercised to the point of muscle soreness. They then were given either 400 mg ibuprofen four times a day, 800 mg four times a day, a placebo, or no treatment. Over a six day period, none of the subjects reported less pain. Ibuprofen works by blocking prostaglandin - chemicals that cause inflammation. The researchers believe that the soreness may be caused by some other mechanism. They suggest trying naproxen, which works in a different way to block pain. Men’s Health 10/99, Health 9/99.
ANOTHER GOOD REASON TO QUIT SMOKING - NOW UNCLE SAM WILL HELP - the IRS recently decided that cessation programs, doctors’ bills, and prescription drugs for quitting smoking are no different from tax-deductible efforts to treat alcoholism or drug addiction. Nonprescription items such as nicotine patches or gums are not deductible. As always, your total medical bills must be 7.5% of your adjusted gross income to qualify as an itemized deduction. If you paid for a quit-smoking program within the last three years, you can even file an amended return to claim these costs. University of California Berkeley Wellness Letter 10/99.
BEST WAY TO QUIT SMOKING - EXERCISE! The largest ever study about smoking and quitting has found that those that were physically active and exercised were twice as likely to have quit smoking as non-exercisers, even those that attended lectures on nutrition and disease prevention to help them quit. Over the course of one year, those who worked out were most likely to remain smoke-free and also avoided significant weight gain. Health 10/99.
ATTENTION DESERT HIKERS - a decapitated rattlesnake’s head can bite for up to an hour after death. Even if the snake has been fatally bludgeoned or shot, it may still bite, according to two doctors from Phoenix. They stated that 15% of the people they treated for rattlesnake bites were attacked by “dead” snakes. Infrared sensors in the head allow the reflex-action bites. Best course, avoid the snakes and respect their habitat - they usually only attack when provoked. University of California Berkeley Wellness Letter 10/99.
STRENGTH TRAINING CAN LOWER CHOLESTEROL - you already know that weight training builds muscle mass, boost metabolism, and builds bone. Now researchers have found that lifting weights can also lower cholesterol. In a recent test, volunteers, after 14 weeks in the gym, lost body fat, gained overall strength, and dropped total cholesterol levels by 10 percent (14 percent drop in LDL cholesterol and no change in HDL). Health 9/99.
HAIR DYE WARNING - there have been some recent rumors concerning the safety of hair dyes. Current scientific evidence does not suggest a cancer link. However, different dyes contain different ingredients. Some “progressive” dyes such as Grecian Formula, Youthhair Creme, and Grecian Plus, contain lead. Though these dyes are regarded as safe by the FDA, pregnant women should avoid them, and users should take care not to expose young children to these products. Hair dyed with these products can shed lead. University of California Berkeley Wellness Letter 4/99.
BEST TIME TO TAKE A VITAMIN - it’s a good idea to take a multivitamin with a meal to help your body absorb it more readily. Vitamin E is fat-soluble, so taking it with something slightly fatty, like a small glass of milk, will aid absorption. Calcium may be taken with a meal, as long as spinach, green beans or wheat bran is avoided as these block absorption. Also the tannins in some teas will lessen the amount of vitamin C absorbed. Health 10/99.
MARGARINE’S “DARK SIDE” - a recent study confirmed that stick margarine is even worse for your heart than butter. Choose a tub spread that has no trans-fatty acids. In numerous studies these fats have been shown to boost heart disease risk by raising LDL (bad cholesterol) and lowering HDL (good cholesterol). Some of the trans-fat free spreads currently on the market: Promise Spread, Promise Buttery Light, Saffola, Smart Balance Buttery Spread, and Smart Balance Light. Health 9/99
.
HEART ATTACK FIRST AID - symptoms of heart attack, such as chest pain, should be treated immediately by chewing and swallowing one adult aspirin tablet (325 mg), while seeking medical help. If only baby (low-strength) aspirin is available, chew four. University of California Berkeley Wellness Letter 4/99.
AEROMEDICAL NEWS
“Live healthy...live well”
HEALTH NEWS
by Larry Kline
SWAPA Voice Mailbox 511/email lwkline@compuserve.com
BEWARE OF “EPHEDRA” - some herbal supplements used for weight loss contain the herbal supplement ephedra, also known as ma huang. It can be dangerous for people with high blood pressure or a heart condition. There have been several dozens of deaths linked to the amphetamine-like substance over that last few years. Texas recently proposed a ban on all supplements containing natural ephedra, but ran into industry opposition. Also, the FDA has proposed restrictions, but so far has taken no action. University of California Berkeley Wellness Letter 10/99.
MUSCLE SORENESS RELIEF - ibuprofen may not effectively relieve muscle soreness. In a Ohio University study, eighty subjects exercised to the point of muscle soreness. They then were given either 400 mg ibuprofen four times a day, 800 mg four times a day, a placebo, or no treatment. Over a six day period, none of the subjects reported less pain. Ibuprofen works by blocking prostaglandin - chemicals that cause inflammation. The researchers believe that the soreness may be caused by some other mechanism. They suggest trying naproxen, which works in a different way to block pain. Men’s Health 10/99, Health 9/99.
ANOTHER GOOD REASON TO QUIT SMOKING - NOW UNCLE SAM WILL HELP - the IRS recently decided that cessation programs, doctors’ bills, and prescription drugs for quitting smoking are no different from tax-deductible efforts to treat alcoholism or drug addiction. Nonprescription items such as nicotine patches or gums are not deductible. As always, your total medical bills must be 7.5% of your adjusted gross income to qualify as an itemized deduction. If you paid for a quit-smoking program within the last three years, you can even file an amended return to claim these costs. University of California Berkeley Wellness Letter 10/99.
BEST WAY TO QUIT SMOKING - EXERCISE! The largest ever study about smoking and quitting has found that those that were physically active and exercised were twice as likely to have quit smoking as non-exercisers, even those that attended lectures on nutrition and disease prevention to help them quit. Over the course of one year, those who worked out were most likely to remain smoke-free and also avoided significant weight gain. Health 10/99.
ATTENTION DESERT HIKERS - a decapitated rattlesnake’s head can bite for up to an hour after death. Even if the snake has been fatally bludgeoned or shot, it may still bite, according to two doctors from Phoenix. They stated that 15% of the people they treated for rattlesnake bites were attacked by “dead” snakes. Infrared sensors in the head allow the reflex-action bites. Best course, avoid the snakes and respect their habitat - they usually only attack when provoked. University of California Berkeley Wellness Letter 10/99.
STRENGTH TRAINING CAN LOWER CHOLESTEROL - you already know that weight training builds muscle mass, boost metabolism, and builds bone. Now researchers have found that lifting weights can also lower cholesterol. In a recent test, volunteers, after 14 weeks in the gym, lost body fat, gained overall strength, and dropped total cholesterol levels by 10 percent (14 percent drop in LDL cholesterol and no change in HDL). Health 9/99.
HAIR DYE WARNING - there have been some recent rumors concerning the safety of hair dyes. Current scientific evidence does not suggest a cancer link. However, different dyes contain different ingredients. Some “progressive” dyes such as Grecian Formula, Youthhair Creme, and Grecian Plus, contain lead. Though these dyes are regarded as safe by the FDA, pregnant women should avoid them, and users should take care not to expose young children to these products. Hair dyed with these products can shed lead. University of California Berkeley Wellness Letter 4/99.
BEST TIME TO TAKE A VITAMIN - it’s a good idea to take a multivitamin with a meal to help your body absorb it more readily. Vitamin E is fat-soluble, so taking it with something slightly fatty, like a small glass of milk, will aid absorption. Calcium may be taken with a meal, as long as spinach, green beans or wheat bran is avoided as these block absorption. Also the tannins in some teas will lessen the amount of vitamin C absorbed. Health 10/99.
MARGARINE’S “DARK SIDE” - a recent study confirmed that stick margarine is even worse for your heart than butter. Choose a tub spread that has no trans-fatty acids. In numerous studies these fats have been shown to boost heart disease risk by raising LDL (bad cholesterol) and lowering HDL (good cholesterol). Some of the trans-fat free spreads currently on the market: Promise Spread, Promise Buttery Light, Saffola, Smart Balance Buttery Spread, and Smart Balance Light. Health 9/99
.
HEART ATTACK FIRST AID - symptoms of heart attack, such as chest pain, should be treated immediately by chewing and swallowing one adult aspirin tablet (325 mg), while seeking medical help. If only baby (low-strength) aspirin is available, chew four. University of California Berkeley Wellness Letter 4/99.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)