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.
