REPORTING POINT 08-04
HEALTH NEWS
“Live healthy...live well”
by Larry Kline
SWAPA Voice Mailbox 4337/email: livehealthy-livewell@cox.net
(Past issues of “Health News” are available on my son’s website, which includes a word-search engine - just go to the site with your browser and insert the key word to find past articles: http://home.earthlink.net/~candace_ball/healtharticles/frameset.htm) - LK
SHINGLES? - if you think you may have shingles, see your doctor right away. Early treatment with antiviral drugs can minimize the pain, promote healing, and reduce the chance of complications. The first symptoms of shingles are burning pain, tingling, and extreme sensitivity in one area of skin, usually along a band on one side of the torso or buttocks and sometimes include an arm, leg, or the face. These symptoms may be accompanied with mild chills, fever, and headache. It will usually take one to three days before the skin reddens at the site and the characteristic blistering rash appears. The virus that causes shingles is a member of the herpes-virus family, the same that causes chickenpox. About 10 to 20 per cent of people who have had chickenpox develop shingles, usually after age 50. If you have not had chickenpox, you cannot get shingles. University of California Berkeley Wellness Letter 12/03.
HOW TO LOWER YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE - a new study by researchers at the University of Texas compared three types of drugs prescribed for hypertension and found that diuretics work best at lowering blood pressure and preventing cardiovascular events also, diuretics are the cheapest way to treat high blood pressure - 10 cents a day - compared with 78 cents per calcium channel blocker and 30 cents for each ACE inhibitor.
Diuretics are simply pills that act on the kidneys to increase urine flow. They alter the body’s distribution of sodium and water into the urine, resulting in changes in total body water and reducing blood pressure. Men’s Health 6/03.
NUTRITIONAL QUIZ 9 - Tea is good for you, but which of the following are best?
a) Green tea
b) Black tea
c) Decaf tea, either green or black
d) Herb teas
Answer is below.
SHAMPOO INGREDIENTS - if you have ever wondered what certain ingredients in shampoos are suppose to do for your hair, here is a partial list and their purpose:
Ammonium laureth sulfate, ammonium lauryl sulfate: Clean hair and add lather.
Citric acid: Adjusts the shampoo’s pH.
Cocamide DEA, cocamido-propyl betaine, lauramide DEA: Add to the lather’s richness and volume.
DMDM Hydantoin, iodopropynyl butylcaramate, methylcholoroisothiazolinone: preservatives.
Panthenol: Added as a hair conditioner, but experts feel it is poor as a conditioner.
Propylene glycol: Keeps shampoo clear and homogenized and prevents freezing (must be applied within 5 minutes of take-off!)
Sodium chloride, ammonium chloride: Product thickeners.
Tetrasodium EDTA: Assists preservative in shampoo and removes trace metals from ingredients and hair.
Water: dissolves and dilutes.
Colorants: added to make shampoo attractive - for esthetics.
Kiwi fruit extract, passionflower extract, hydrolyzed whey protein, chamomile, aloe barbadensis extract, thiamine HCl: At the low concentrations in shampoos, these and other “natural ingredients” are mainly added to market the product, but they do little to help your hair. Consumer Reports 1/04.
CONSIDERING PROSTATE SURGERY? - weigh the surgeon’s experience when deciding which physician will perform the surgery. A study that compared the numbers of prostatectomies surgeons had performed with their outcomes found that patients of surgeons who do at least 40 such procedures a year have significantly better results than those whose surgeons do fewer procedures.
Men whose doctors had the most experience with prostatectomy were nearly half as likely to suffer postoperative complications and also had shorter hospital stays.
Asking your prospective surgeon the number of radical-prostatectomy surgeries performed in the last year and the rates of incontinence and impotence for the last 100 patients are important questions you should ask before choosing your surgeon. Men’s Health 6/03.
NUTRITIONAL QUIZ ANSWER: a) and b) Both green and black tea contain enough fluoride to combat tooth decay; and both have been shown in studies to have other potential health effects, including some protection against heart disease and cancer if you drink it daily over a lifetime. Red or oolong teas probably have the same benefits. All of these teas are made from the leaf of the same plant, camellia sinensis. Decaf teas have not been studied. Herbal teas lack the beneficial compounds found in black and green teas; they lack the fluoride and probably most of the beneficial compounds. Black tea is a fermented version of green tea. University of California Berkeley Wellness Letter 6/03.
“THE LOW CARB CRAZE”
by Stephanie Campbell, M. Ed.
Registered Dietitian
A visit to a “fast food” Mexican restaurant was a surprise. They advertised “low carb tortillas!” A closer look showed that the tortillas were made of soy flour and indeed had only 8 grams of carbohydrate, compared to the 15 grams in a regular flour tortilla. This is just an example of how obsessed our society has become with the idea of eating low carbohydrate diets for weight reduction. In reality, the secret to weight loss still lies in eating fewer calories, whether the calories come from fat or from carbohydrates, and burning calories through exercise. Some people have had weight loss success with lower carbohydrate diets such as the Atkins diet; however there are side effects that can occur as a result of eating too little carbohydrate (carb for short!). As reported in a previous edition of SWAPA’s Health News, people with mild kidney problems can experience kidney damage from eating a lot of protein and too little carb, because the kidneys are not prepared to break down and excrete large amounts of amino acids from protein. Other problems with high protein and fat low carb diets may include increased risk for heart and gall bladder disease, rising blood pressure, osteoporosis, and gout.
The key to appropriate intake of carbohydrates lies in the type of carbohydrate you eat. There are simple carbs such as coke, candy, sugary snacks and also the lactose found in milk and the fructose found in fruits. Then there are complex carbs commonly called starches. These include breads, pasta, rice, cereal, and some vegetables such as potatoes and peas. Carbohydrates are often blamed for weight gain because they are not as filling as protein and fat and are more rapidly digested and absorbed. There may be some truth to this theory, since one would then eat more carbohydrates to feel fuller. When insulin increases in response to high blood sugar, after eating a lot of carbohydrate, it promotes fat storage. So people desiring to lose weight would want to have as low an insulin response as possible.
The key is to eat carbohydrates that have a low glycemic index. This is a controversial measurement of how high the blood sugar rises in response to a given amount of carbohydrate. Carbohydrates are provided with a number, their “glycemic index,” to indicate how high the blood sugar goes up when compared to a standard such as sugar or white bread. Low glycemic carbohydrates are such things as legumes (beans), fruits, vegetables and dairy products. The South Beach Diet is based on the “glycemic index” theory. Dr. Argaston, the founder of the diet, believes that the tendency to store fat in the abdominal area is directly related to the insulin response triggered by eating a lot of carbohydrates, particularly simple carbs. He recommends eliminating all foods with carbohydrates from the diet for two weeks to reduce the cravings for sugars and then to gradually add them back in the form of complex carbohydrates. This diet is a much healthier alternative than the Atkins diet, since high fat–high cholesterol foods are not promoted.
There is a web site on the Internet for those people who would like more information about the diet, but in the opinion of most medical professionals, the South Beach Diet is successful because it is just a healthier way of eating, not a “diet” with a lot of restrictions.
THE MORE OFTEN THE BETTER – at least for your prostate. Frequent sexual activity apparently doesn’t increase the risk of developing prostate cancer and might even reduce the danger, according to a recent study of nearly 30,000 men.
Some previous studies have suggested that men who have frequent ejaculations might be more prone to prostate cancer. However, this recent research probed the sexual history of the subjects, including their frequency of ejaculation at various stages of their lives. There was no increased risk of prostate cancer with those men who ejaculated more often, and there appeared to be a decreased risk in men with the highest reported levels.
The two highest activity levels – 13 to 20 ejaculations a month, and at least 21 a month – were linked with decreased cancer risk of 14% and 33% respectively.
One theory is that frequent ejaculations help flush out cancer-causing chemicals or reduce the development of calcifications that have been linked with prostate cancer.
These latest findings are contrary to long-standing beliefs that frequent sexual activity increased the risk of prostate cancer because high sexual activity usually indicated elevated testosterone levels, which are associated with increased prostate cancer risk.
Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in men, after skin cancer. One in every six men will develop it. Wall Street Journal 4/7/04.
COENZYME Q-10 UPDATE – this popular dietary supplement is a vitamin-like compound which is taken for many disorders, including heart disease, hypertension, AIDS, asthma, Parkinson’s and Huntington’s disease, certain cancers, lung disease, gum disease, chronic fatigue syndrome, migraines, and allergies. It is also alleged to improve memory, boost immunity, and combat aging.
Discovered in 1957, CoQ-10 is also called ubiquinone because it belongs to a class of compounds known as quinines and because it is unique in living organisms, especially in the heart, liver, and kidneys. It plays a crucial role in producing energy in cells, and it acts as a powerful antioxidant.
CoQ-10 is one of the substances that tend to decline with age. But this doesn’t mean that lower levels of CoQ-10 cause disease or that supplemental CoQ-10 will combat disease or reverse the effects of aging. Some drugs, including certain cholesterol-lowering statins, beta-blockers, and antidepressants, can reduce CoQ-10 levels in the body, but there has been no evidence that this causes any adverse effects.
Most recent studies have yielded mixed results, and currently most medical professionals do not recommend supplementing with CoQ-10. If you do decide to use CoQ-10 supplements, they do appear to be safe with no adverse effects. Some lab tests indicate that CoQ-10 works well with vitamin E, and since it is a fat-soluble substance, it should be taken with a meal.
There is no proven benefit of taking CoQ-10 supplements, especially in normally healthy people. Some research in Australia has indicated that CoQ-10 may help lower blood pressure in half of older people with hypertension, and it is widely accepted in Japan as a treatment for cardiovascular disease. University of California Berkeley Wellness Letter 5/03.
FIBER FACTS – including a reasonable amount of fiber in the daily diet can be critical to good health and can help facilitate many bodily functions. Fiber has no nutritional value by itself, but some research indicates that it may aid in reducing colon cancer and heart disease.
Insoluble fiber (found in vegetables, wheat, and cereals) appears to fight cancer by binding to carcinogens in the intestines. Soluble fiber (found in fruits, oats, barley, and legumes) forms a gel that traps and transports cholesterol out of the body.
Adding fiber to your diet can also aid in weight loss as high-fiber foods stay in the stomach longer, slowing down the rate of digestion and keeping the blood-sugar level steady; avoiding insulin spikes. Fiber also helps the stomach feel full longer and you eat less at the next meal.
Recommendations include daily fiber consumption of 25 to 35 grams per day. Most Americans are lucky to get 12 to 15 grams per day. Ways to increase your consumption of fiber include:
-choose whole-grain cereals for breakfast, legumes (pinto, black, and kidney beans), whole grain breads, fruits, and vegetables with their skins.
-read food labels carefully to be sure that you are getting whole-grain benefits. The first word on the ingredient list should be whole, as in whole wheat, whole rye, and whole oats. Cracked wheat and popcorn also are good whole-grain sources.
If your current diet is thin on fiber, add fiber to your diet gradually and be sure to drink plenty of water. Adding fiber supplements to the diet may help, but whole foods are naturally rich in fiber and also add many beneficial vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals. Men’s Fitness 7/02.
Radiation Exposure in Flight Crews
Paul E. English, M.D.
(Health editor’s note; Dr. English was kind enough to evaluate numerous articles written that analyzed radiation exposure to flight crews, including the comprehensive Lufthansa study which tracked flight crews for over 20 years. His comments concerning these studies included “…I have read all the material that you dropped off. I wrote a short paragraph about sun protection. All the articles were scientifically flawed in their assumptions. Most admitted that other factors needed to be evaluated. If ionizing radiation is a problem for flight crews, it appears to be limited to myeloprolferative disorders (bone marrow). These are fast turnover cells. Other risk factors were not evaluated. I suspect the
increase of melanoma in one could likely be due to behavior i.e. increased sun
exposure i.e. beach golf, tennis etc.” Dr. Paul English.) LK
Concerns have surfaced over the last several decades concerning risks flight crews face at altitude to ionizing radiation. Some studies have suggested an increased risk for airline pilots to cancers of the lymph system, leukemia and melanoma. Other studies suggest that airline pilots are actually very healthy as a group and experience decreased incidence of all cancer types across the board when compared to the population at large. All these studies have been retrospective and did not factor other risks such as diet, hobbies and other exposures. I think it is premature to make any inferences at this point. More specific studies are in order. All radiation can potentially be injurious. What one can completely control is the amount of leisure and free time spent exposed to UV (sun). The evidence is very strong that increased exposure to the sun and tanning beds increases the risk to all skin cancer types. Summer is here and with it increased activity outdoors. Important tips to remember are: limit exposure to early morning and late afternoon (before 10am and after 4pm). Wear protective clothing when the activity allows. Hats should be broad brimmed and cover the ears and neck. Apply broad-spectrum sunscreen 20-30 minutes prior to sun exposure. Reapply sunscreen every 2 hours if sweating or swimming. There is no such thing as waterproof sunscreen. SPF or sun protection factor should be halved. A SPF 30 when applied by the average person is likely only to give half the protection on the label. The average person only applies half the amount needed. Using common sense and proper protection will reduce the risk for skin cancer and pre-mature aging.
