REPORTING POINT 04-01
AEROMEDICAL NEWS
“Live healthy...live well”
HEALTH NEWS
by Larry Kline
SWAPA Voice Mailbox 511/email: skyguy737@cox.net
ALMOND JOY FOR YOUR HEART - according to a study published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition, eating almonds can help reduce cholesterol levels. Forty-five people with equal cholesterol levels were placed on an almond-rich diet, a diet high in olive oil, or a diet rich in dairy products. After four weeks, the almond eaters had low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels an average of 16 mg/dl lower than the olive-oil group, and an average of 33 mg/dl lower than the dairy group. According to the study’s leader, plant compounds, fiber, monounsaturated fat, and protein all play a part in the reduction of LDL cholesterol levels. He suggests eating half a handful of almonds five times a week. Men’s Health 10/98.
GUM FIGHTS TOOTH DECAY - gums containing xylitol, a sweetener usually made from birch bark, has been shown in recent studies to suppress the growth of cavity-promoting bacteria in the mouth. Chewing any sugarless gum will help somewhat, by stimulation saliva flow, which reduces the harmful acidity produced by the bacteria. Chewing also helps squeeze saliva into the spaces between the teeth. To get the most benefit from gum, chew the gum within five minutes after eating and chew it for at least five minutes. Gum chewing, of course, does not replace brushing and flossing. University of California Berkeley Wellness Letter 1/01, Health 10/00.
DRINK MILK, LOSE WEIGHT - in a study of 54 subjects, those who took in at least 1,000 mgs of calcium a day (about 3 cups of skim milk) gained 6 to 7 fewer pounds over 2 years than those with low-calcium diets. Calcium probably prevents weight gain by increasing the breakdown of body fat and decreasing its formation. According to the study’s author, calcium worked best when taken from dairy foods rather than through supplements or leafy greens. Men’s Health 12/99.
CHECKING UP ON BAD DOCS - you can find out about your prospective physician online with these tools. A search of www.certifieddoctor.com, maintained by the American Board of Medical Specialties, can confirm if a physician really is board-certified (meaning he actually passed extra competency exams) in his specialty.
A visit to DocFinder at www.docboard.org offers biographical and disciplinary notes with some malpractice information.
Questionable Doctors by the Public Citizen’s Health Research Group lists doctors nationwide who have been fined, suspended, or defrocked, and the reasons. Many libraries have this book or call 202-588-7780 or click on www.citizen.org.
Remember that a few malpractice suits doesn’t necessarily mean the physician is bad - maybe he takes risky cases. But numerous complaints should be a red flag to the patient. Men’s Health 9/98.
AVOIDING HEART SURGERY - a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that heart patients who lowered their cholesterol fared better than those who had angioplasty. Those heart-disease who had taken the cholesterol-lowering drug atorvastatin needed a third fewer follow-up treatments (such as bypass surgery) over the next 18 months than the patients who had undergone angioplasty, in which a balloon is used to unblock arteries. According to the study’s author, “If you have mild heart disease, ask your doctor if you should lower your cholesterol before you undergo angioplasty.” Men’s Health 12/99.
CHRONIC SINUSITIS - a new finding may give the 37 million sufferers of incurable sinusitis song relief. Mayo Clinic researchers mucus samples from test subjects and found most cases of chronic sinusitis may be caused by a fungus. When these people breathe in an airborne fungus, their immune cells attack and cause the symptoms of sinusitis. New treatments may be available within a year or so. Men’s Health 12/99.
WATCH OUT FOR LICORICE - genuine black licorice, which contains real licorice root, raises blood levels of the hormone cortisol, which increases blood pressure. Even a small amount can significantly raise blood pressure.
Real licorice root is also present in some dark beers and herbal teas, which generally list the product on the label.
Finally, don’t eat real licorice when taking a laxative. The combination can cause potassium levels to dive, which can lead to irregular heart rhythms, or muscle weakness and twitches. Health 10/00.
PICKING A “WONDER” BREAD - pick a bread made from whole grains. It must say “whole-wheat flour” or other whole grains to be the most beneficial. “Wheat flour”, is refined wheat. Whole grains means that all three components of the grain - the bran, germ, and endosperm - remain in the mix. Other flours (not whole grain) remove the germ and the bran.
Several studies have confirmed the benefit of whole grains. One ten-year study of 34,000 subjects found that those who ate less than one serving of whole grains per day were 50 percent more likely to die of a heart attack than those who got two or three servings per day. (One slice of whole wheat bread or one cup of cereal is one serving).
The researchers also found that those who ate whole grains have about a 20 percent lower chance of developing Type 2 diabetes (adult onset), lowered cancer rates for some types of cancers, lower blood pressure and hypertension rates, and finally, lower rates of bowel conditions like diverticulitis.
Recent studies have diminished the effect of the high-fiber in whole grains. The positive results of consuming whole grains might be attributed to the combination of elements: folate which helps prevent heart disease and birth defects, selenium - an antioxidant essential for heart health and normal fetal development, lecithin - a nutrient that keeps cell membranes from drying up, and magnesium - a mineral essential for bones and muscles. Whole grain products also offer calcium, phosphorus, B vitamins, potassium and iron.
According to officials at the Harvard School of Public Health, kernels eaten whole are better than coarsely ground ones, which are better than those finely milled. Research shows that intact, unmilled grains slow the rate at which carbohydrates are digested and absorbed as sugar into the bloodstream. By slowing the rate of glucose release, the pancreas doesn’t have to send out as much insulin, the hormone that regulates the amount of sugar in the blood. Insulin spikes, over time, can lessen the body’s sensitivity to insulin, heightening the risk of Type 2 diabetes.
Yet with all this information available, only about 1/3 of Americans are eating the recommended amount of whole-grains daily. To ensure that you are getting yours, read the labels - the first ingredient should be whole grain (look for the word whole). If it is bread you are examining, there should be 2 or 3 grams of fiber per slice. Health 10/00, University of California Berkeley Wellness Letter 1/01.
EXERCISE TO MINIMIZE LUNG CANCER RISK - moderate exercising may help prevent lung cancer. Researchers who examined data collected from test subjects over 16 years found that those who burned roughly 3,000 calories or more a week (about 6 to 8 hours of moderate exercise) were 39 percent less likely to develop lung cancer than less active men. They concluded this even after controlling for other factors, such as smoking. Exercise strengthens the immune system, making it easier to fight cancer and other diseases. Men’s Health 12/99.
FROM THE FLIGHT SURGEON
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by Joe Battersby, D.O.
FAA Medical Examiner
(edited for this publication - LK)
