REPORTING POINT EXPRESS 09-02
AEROMEDICAL NEWS
Live healthy...live well”
HEALTH NEWS
by Larry Kline
SWAPA Voice Mailbox 511/email: skyguy737@cox.net
MINIMIZING COLON CANCER RISK - researchers at the University of Utah Medical School found that subjects who consumed large amounts of the antioxidant lutein were afforded protection from colon cancer. The study shows that it is important to start eating lutein-rich foods - spinach, broccoli, tomatoes, oranges, and carrots - early in life to reduce the odds of having cancer of the colon. Men’s Fitness 5/00.
PLASTIC PERIL - according to the EPA, some of the “plasticizers” or softening compounds found in plastics can migrate into foods and beverages. These chemicals, phthalates and adipates, can pose health and developmental problems. Some of these plastics, like polyvinyl chloride (PVC), have come under scrutiny for containing hormone disrupters. These compounds, also called endocrine disrupters, have been linked to lowered sperm counts, birth defects such as hypospadias, and a higher risk of testicular cancer.
Researchers have found that certain plastics, when microwaved at extremely high temperatures, will leach plasticizers into food. The plastics break down with some of the compounds of the plastics migrating into food. If you consume food that is high in oil or water content from a plastic container, the plastic can become unstable. A recent Consumer Reports test reported water bottles made from polycarbonate leached plasticizers into their contents. The amounts transferred was very small, but the chemical leached (bisphenol-A) is known to disrupt the human hormone system.
To protect yourself and your family, learn the recycling codes, which are found on the packaging of plastic storage products and most plastic food containers. Know which plastics are considered safer. If a product you buy is packaged in an unsafe plastic container, transfer it to another container right away.
Unfortunately, many products, including most cling wraps, don’t include these helpful codes. Wraps with PVC are bad. Store brands tend to be made of polyethylene, which is safer. According to Environmental Nutrition, the plasticizer DEHA, found in deli-style cling wraps, is one of the worst plastics.
There are substitutes. Ceramic containers, which have a fitted plastic lid that never comes into contact with the food, or Pyrex, reinforced-glass containers, are safe. The FDA also recommends aluminum foil and wax paper as safe storage for leftovers.
Some scientists feel you should never microwave with plastic cookware. If you must cook with plastic, do not cover the container with cling wrap. At the least, do not allow the cling wrap to come into contact with food while it is heating. It is best to remove the food from the plastic container and microwave it in glass or ceramic cookware. When microwaving food, it is better to cover food with a paper towel than plastic wrap.
Another area to watch for is beverages served in Styrofoam cups. Sytrofoam contains styrene and p-nonylphenol, two suspected hormone disrupters, which makes it a bad choice for food storage. Potato salad and beer stored in Styrofoam containers are more likely to absorb dangerous chemicals since these foods have oil and alcohol, respectively.
Discard plastic containers that have discolored or have tears or knife marks on them. Old, unstable plastics are more likely to leak plasticizers into food. Ziploc brand plastic bags are made of ultrasafe LDPE, which makes it a good storage substitute.
RECYCLING CODES
1. PVC - polyvinyl chloride (vinyl) - contains phthalates, which are suspected endocrine disrupters.
2. PET - polyethylene terephthalate - contains no known carcinogens.
3. PS - polystyrene (Styrofoam) - contains styrene, a carcinogen, and p-nonylphenol; both chemicals are suspected hormone disrupters.
4. HDPE - high-density polyethylene - contains no dangerous chemicals.
5. LDPE - low-density polyethylene - no known dangers
6. PC - polycarbonate - contains bisphenol-A, an endocrine disrupter.
7. PP - polypropylene - no known dangers. Men’s Fitness 3/01.
OVERWEIGHT INCREASES PANCREATIC CANCER RISK - a new study suggests that being overweight increases the risk of developing pancreatic cancer. Harvard researchers analyzed 20 years’ worth of health data from more than 165,000 people and found that individuals who were overweight, especially people with body mass index (BMI) higher than 30, had the greatest risk of the disease. Lowering your BMI by just a few points can significantly reduce your cancer risk. Men’s Health 3/02.
CRANBERRY JUICE TO PREVENT UTIs - a study of Finnish women has confirmed that those who suffer from frequent urinary tract infections may reduce the risk of recurrences by half with daily consumption of cranberry juice. UTIs are usually caused by E. coli, a common intestinal bacterium. Substances in cranberries help prevent the bacteria from sticking to the lining of the urinary tract. All it takes is about 10 ounces daily of cranberry juice cocktail. If you drink the undiluted, unsweetened juice sold in health-food stores, you’ll need to drink much less, but it is very tart. University of California Berkeley Wellness Letter 4/02.
AIDS VACCINE - the first AIDS vaccine is about to enter clinical trials. The drug helps the body build immunity against two of the proteins that form the AIDS virus. Once the body is immune to these proteins, further HIV infection is impossible. Results of the trial should be available sometime this year. Men’s Health 3/02.
WHOLE-GRAIN BENEFITS - an epidemiologist from Harvard University believes that consuming whole grains can greatly cut the risk of heart disease and strokes. In analyzing data from the 25 year Nurses’ Health study, the researcher determined that those who had eaten the most whole grains (2.7 servings/day) reduced their risk of ischemic stroke by more than 40 percent compared with women who had consumed the least, less than half a serving - which is exactly the amount consumed by the average American. Most people eat refined grains like white bread and pasta that have been stripped of the nutrients that are critical - antioxidants, vitamins B-6, B-12, E, and minerals like magnesium and potassium.
Getting more whole grains is easy - try substituting foods - replace white rice with brown, processed cereals with bran, whole-wheat bread instead of white bread, and have some popcorn (air-popped or cooked in olive oil). Health 1/01.
TROUBLE SWALLOWING? - if you have trouble swallowing pills, take a swallow of water before you put the pill in your mouth - advance lubrication helps. And put the pill or capsule as far back on your tongue as possible or try drinking from a soda bottle or any similar bottle - by keeping your lips on the bottle as you drink, you will set up a sucking action that makes the pill go down more easily. University of California Berkeley Wellness Letter 4/02.
HUM TO PROTECT YOUR EARS - the body has a natural “mute” button - humming. Humming causes a protective muscle in the ear call the strapedius muscle to contract, reducing the amount of noise that travels to the inner ear by 15 to 20 decibels. The ears can still be damaged by excessively high noises, so continue to wear ear protection when in noisy environments, but humming may assist in preserving your hearing during those noisy pre- and postflight checks. Men’s Health 3/02.
PREVENTING MUSCLE CRAMPS - those engaged in vigorous physical activity may experience occasional muscle cramps. Although these cramps usually occur in the calf or foot, they can also occur in other muscles.
Researchers are not quite in agreement as to the cause of muscle cramps. It is believed that cramps may strike during exercise because of an imbalance of minerals called electrolytes (potassium, sodium, calcium, and magnesium) in the blood, often a result of excessive sweating and dehydration. Other researchers believe that muscle fatigue, which may disrupt the normal contracting of the muscle, or poor conditioning may also contribute to cramps, as may overexertion, being overweight, or not stretching enough. The tendency to have muscle cramps may also run in families.
Relief from muscle cramps consists of stretching and massaging the muscle, and applying an ice pack to the affected area.
Preventing muscle cramps can be aided by drinking plenty of water before and during exercise, especially in hot weather. Most people easily get plenty of sodium and potassium from their diets - it is not necessary to supplement these minerals.
Overdoing exercise may lead to muscle cramping. Increase physical activity gradually.
Finally, stretch regularly. Stretching the muscles, particularly after strenuous exercise, allows the muscles to remove lactic acid, a by-product of exercise, which promotes muscle recovery and growth, and lessens muscle soreness due to activity. University of California Berkeley Wellness Letter 1/02.
DETECTING COLON CANCER - colon cancer is curable when caught early, yet it remains the third leading cancer killer, largely because the best screening tests - colonoscopy and sigmoidoscopy - are so uninviting, and stool tests, though less invasive, are not very reliable. The is a new, improved stool test being developed - unlike other stool tests, which check for blood, the one under study detects genetic markers that are shed by cancerous and precancerous lesions. In one study it detected 91 percent of colorectal cancers and 73 percent of polyps. Health 1/01.
From the Flight Surgeon:
"HOW MANY CANDLES?"
(Insert photo here)
(Margaret, MaryJane, and Dr. Joe)
by Joe Battersby, D.O.
FAA Medical Examiner
(edited for this publication from “America’s Flyways” 5/01-LK)
I’m looking forward to the end of April when I have every reason to expect to wake up in the morning without a hangover - knowing where I’ve slept.
After a few cups of coffee (what, me smoke cigarettes?) and going through the morning paper, it’s shower time and off to work for a group of people I really like a lot - you!
It isn’t the end of April yet and, of course, there are no guarantees, but it’s really lookin’ good in the birthday department.
This is as good a time as any to reflect a little about the aging process. First of all, aging doesn’t mean you have to become disabled and/or ill. Fact is that roughly 75 percent of people age 75-84 report no major disability. You make a face and say, “Fine, but these are the ones that survived. Look at all the others that kicked off before them.”
Yes, well, not exactly that simple because it is quite possible to take preventive health steps accordingly. It is not completely a matter of genetics. It’s dumb to assume that damage has been done with the passage of years, so just let things slide.
Sure, as we age it’s tougher to process new data. Still keeping your mind active can keep you sharp. After all, only 20 percent of people at age 80 develop Alzheimer’s. There’s always a lot of new things to learn and develop interest in if you’ll take trouble to look around.
Besides, all the experience you’ve acquired make you a lot “smarter” than some (?) of the younger guys - certainly me at age 30.
My best wishes to you all for your next birthdays.
Best,
Joe
If you don’t follow the advice from this column ... Your Golden Years:
I cannot see
I cannot pee
I cannot chew
I cannot screw
Oh My God What can I do?
My memory shrinks
My hearing stinks
No sense of smell
I look like hell!
My mood is bad ‑ can you tell?
My body's drooping
Have trouble pooping
The Golden Years have come at last
The Golden Years can kiss my ass.
(With apologies to Dr. Seuss - LK)
