How Fast You Walk May Predict How Long You’ll Live
Jan 4, 2011 | 5:02 PM ET | By Iris Tse, MyHealthNewsDaily Contributor
Doctors who are interested in measuring life expectancy may now have a simple way to do it — researchers have discovered that walking speed can be a useful predictor of how long older adults live.
Those who walked 1 meter per second (about 2.25 mph) or faster consistently lived longer than others of their age and sex who walked more slowly, the study showed.
"We're able to show that a person's capacity to move strongly reflects vitality and health," said study researcher Dr. Stephanie Studenski, a professor of medicine at the University of Pittsburgh.
However, the researchers also emphasized that the purpose of this study wasn't to get people to walk faster in hopes of living longer.
"Your body chooses the walking speed that is best for you, and that is your speed, your health indicator," Studenski said. "And that's what it really is: an indicator. Going out and walking faster does not necessarily mean you will suddenly live longer. You still need to address the underlying health issues."
The researchers showed they could reliably predict the 10-year survival rate of a group of people based on how fast they walked along a 4-meter track.
The walking speed for those with the average life expectancy was about 0.8 meters per second (about 1.8 mph) for most age groups of both sexes. Walking speed was a more accurate predictor of life expectancy than age or sex, the study showed.
The numbers were especially accurate for those older than 75. This suggests that for older people, walking speed could be a sort of "vital sign," like blood pressure and heart rate, the researchers said.
"When you think about it, a sick person would not have that certain spring in their steps. Therefore, it should not be surprising that walking speed can provide a simple glimpse into aging and health status," Studenski said.
The findings were based on analysis of nine previous studies that examined the walking speed, sex, age, body mass index, medical history and survival rate of almost 34,500 people.
The way we walk and how quickly we can walk depends on our energy, movement control and coordination, which, in turn, requires the proper functioning of multiple body systems, including the cardiovascular, nervous and musculoskeletal systems, Studenski told MyHealthNewsDaily. Because of this, researchers have associated walking speed with health in the past.
"But in the past, we simply knew that walking faster was better," said Dr. Matteo Cesari, who wrote an editorial accompanying the new findings, but was not involved in the study.
"This study provides us the numerical basis to estimate survival for each walking speed measured on an older person," Cesari said.
"When we measure, for example, blood pressure, we need a cut-off point to understand whether it is normal or not. Similarly, we now have a cut-off point to understand whether the overall health of a person is normal for his/her age by simply testing their walking speed," Cesari told MyHealthNewsDaily.
Studenski said this finding will have many practical applications. It is a quick and inexpensive way for seniors to gauge their own health. Similarly, doctors can monitor and remedy their patients' quality of life based on this. Walking speed, and in turn, mobility, will be a useful way to measure whether someone is still maintaining a healthy, active and independent lifestyle.
The study will be published tomorrow (Jan. 5) in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Pass it on: Older adults who walk faster than 1 meter per second may live longer than those who walk more slowly.
MY THOUGHTS
maybe i should slow down a little.i don't want to live forever.
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Friday, January 28, 2011
Hot Flashes Eased by Antidepressant
Hot Flashes Eased by Antidepressant
Jan 21, 2011 | 4:05 PM ET | By Rachael Rettner, MyHealthNewsDaily Staff Writer
Women who suffer from hot flashes may get some relief from their symptoms by taking a particular antidepressant, according to a new study.
The antidepressant escitalopram reduced the frequency and severity of hot flashes in menopausal and postmenopausal women during an eight-week study comparing the use of escitalopram against a placebo treatment.
The only treatments currently approved by the Food and Drug Administration for hot flashes are hormone therapies, such as those that use estrogen and progesterone, but long-term use of these hormones has been linked to an increased risk of breast cancer, among other adverse effects, the researchers said.
Researchers were seeking an alternative drug that could confer the benefits of hormone therapy without the risks.
"It provides an option, or another treatment for hot flashes," study researcher Ellen Freeman, of the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, said of escitalopram.
However, other experts said more research is needed before it can be used by women. The new study was too brief, and it did not compare escitalopram with estrogen, the current "gold standard" treatment for hot flashes, some said.
The study appears in the Jan. 19 edition of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Antidepressants and hot flashes
Antidepressants known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), which are normally prescribed for conditions such as depression and anxiety, have already been investigated for treating hot flashes. However, those studies showed mixed results and involved very small numbers of patients.
Freeman and colleagues examined the effectives of escitalopram, an SSRI, in 205 women who, ranging in age from 42 through 60, either were going through menopause or were postmenopausal. To be included in the study, the women had to have experienced at least 28 hot flashes per week for three weeks.
The participants were randomly prescribed either the antidepressant or the placebo, and not even the doctors knew who received which treatment. The participants kept diaries to track the frequency of their hot flashes and rated them as 1, 2 or 3 for mild, moderate or severe.
Before the study, the women reported an average of 9.78 hot flashes per day. After the eight weeks of the study, the women who took escitalopram had a daily average of 5.26, while those who unknowingly took the placebo reported a daily average of 6.43.
The drug also significantly decreased hot flash severity. Initially, the average rating for severity was 2.17 out of 3. After eight weeks, those who received escitalopram gave their hot flash severity an average rating of 1.63, while those on the placebo gave it a rating of 1.89.
Women who took the drug also sounded more satisfied with their treatment than women who took the placebo, and they were more likely to want to continue with the medication.
Three weeks after the participants stopped their treatment, those in the escitalopram group reported that the frequency of their hot flashes had increased, while those in the placebo group reported no change.
The drug is believed to increase the availability of the neurotransmitter serotonin at receptors in the brain, Freeman said. The findings suggest serotonin plays some role in hot flashes, she said.
What's good enough?
Drugs for hot flashes should be evaluated for at least 12 weeks to gauge their effectiveness, said Dr. Anne Nedrow of the Oregon Health and Science University, who was not involved in the study.
Nedrow helped review alternative treatments for hot flashes in 2006 for the National Institutes of Health, and she said studies were included in the review only if they were at least 12 weeks long.
"The reason for that is because menopausal symptoms wax and wane so much, day to day, week to week, month to month," Nedrow said. "And unless it was at least 12 weeks long, we felt that any improvement was too likely just to be coincidence."
In addition, future studies might want to compare the effectiveness of escitalopram with that of estrogen, Nedrow said.
Another important question to answer when conducting these studies is whether the women themselves consider the reduction in their symptoms to be enough to keep them off estrogen therapy, Nedrow said.
"If it's not good enough to keep women off estrogen, it doesn’t matter," she said.
Future studies will investigate the effectiveness of other treatments for hot flashes, including yoga, physical exercise and supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids, Freeman said.
Pass it on: The antidepressant escitalopram might relieve symptoms of hot flashes.
MY THOUGHTS
i guess i got lucky. my hot flashes are rare. 1 or 2 a day, sometimes none. i don't know why. i never bothered to see a doctor cause i'm not experiencing any discomfort. or should that bother me?
Jan 21, 2011 | 4:05 PM ET | By Rachael Rettner, MyHealthNewsDaily Staff Writer
Women who suffer from hot flashes may get some relief from their symptoms by taking a particular antidepressant, according to a new study.
The antidepressant escitalopram reduced the frequency and severity of hot flashes in menopausal and postmenopausal women during an eight-week study comparing the use of escitalopram against a placebo treatment.
The only treatments currently approved by the Food and Drug Administration for hot flashes are hormone therapies, such as those that use estrogen and progesterone, but long-term use of these hormones has been linked to an increased risk of breast cancer, among other adverse effects, the researchers said.
Researchers were seeking an alternative drug that could confer the benefits of hormone therapy without the risks.
"It provides an option, or another treatment for hot flashes," study researcher Ellen Freeman, of the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, said of escitalopram.
However, other experts said more research is needed before it can be used by women. The new study was too brief, and it did not compare escitalopram with estrogen, the current "gold standard" treatment for hot flashes, some said.
The study appears in the Jan. 19 edition of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Antidepressants and hot flashes
Antidepressants known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), which are normally prescribed for conditions such as depression and anxiety, have already been investigated for treating hot flashes. However, those studies showed mixed results and involved very small numbers of patients.
Freeman and colleagues examined the effectives of escitalopram, an SSRI, in 205 women who, ranging in age from 42 through 60, either were going through menopause or were postmenopausal. To be included in the study, the women had to have experienced at least 28 hot flashes per week for three weeks.
The participants were randomly prescribed either the antidepressant or the placebo, and not even the doctors knew who received which treatment. The participants kept diaries to track the frequency of their hot flashes and rated them as 1, 2 or 3 for mild, moderate or severe.
Before the study, the women reported an average of 9.78 hot flashes per day. After the eight weeks of the study, the women who took escitalopram had a daily average of 5.26, while those who unknowingly took the placebo reported a daily average of 6.43.
The drug also significantly decreased hot flash severity. Initially, the average rating for severity was 2.17 out of 3. After eight weeks, those who received escitalopram gave their hot flash severity an average rating of 1.63, while those on the placebo gave it a rating of 1.89.
Women who took the drug also sounded more satisfied with their treatment than women who took the placebo, and they were more likely to want to continue with the medication.
Three weeks after the participants stopped their treatment, those in the escitalopram group reported that the frequency of their hot flashes had increased, while those in the placebo group reported no change.
The drug is believed to increase the availability of the neurotransmitter serotonin at receptors in the brain, Freeman said. The findings suggest serotonin plays some role in hot flashes, she said.
What's good enough?
Drugs for hot flashes should be evaluated for at least 12 weeks to gauge their effectiveness, said Dr. Anne Nedrow of the Oregon Health and Science University, who was not involved in the study.
Nedrow helped review alternative treatments for hot flashes in 2006 for the National Institutes of Health, and she said studies were included in the review only if they were at least 12 weeks long.
"The reason for that is because menopausal symptoms wax and wane so much, day to day, week to week, month to month," Nedrow said. "And unless it was at least 12 weeks long, we felt that any improvement was too likely just to be coincidence."
In addition, future studies might want to compare the effectiveness of escitalopram with that of estrogen, Nedrow said.
Another important question to answer when conducting these studies is whether the women themselves consider the reduction in their symptoms to be enough to keep them off estrogen therapy, Nedrow said.
"If it's not good enough to keep women off estrogen, it doesn’t matter," she said.
Future studies will investigate the effectiveness of other treatments for hot flashes, including yoga, physical exercise and supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids, Freeman said.
Pass it on: The antidepressant escitalopram might relieve symptoms of hot flashes.
MY THOUGHTS
i guess i got lucky. my hot flashes are rare. 1 or 2 a day, sometimes none. i don't know why. i never bothered to see a doctor cause i'm not experiencing any discomfort. or should that bother me?
Thursday, January 27, 2011
WEIRDEST MEDICAL CONDITIONS
7 Weirdest Medical Conditions
Jan 12, 2011 | 12:10 PM ET | By Amanda Chan, MyHealthNewsDaily Staff Writer
There are some real health conditions that even the greatest hypochondriac couldn't dream up: Persistent, unwanted orgasms, an inability to feel fear, or strange fibers growing out of the skin.
While some are more controversial than others, here's a look at seven medical conditions that top out on the strangeness scale — and make your weird zit look like child's play.
Morgellons disease
We've all experienced some smarmy, icky incidents that make our skin crawl. But there are people who actually think there are things crawling beneath their skin.
Morgellons disease is a poorly understood condition in which people feel itching, biting and crawling under their skin. People with this condition also see filaments or fibers growing out of their skin, and can experience skin lesions, fatigue and memory problems, according to the Morgellons Research Foundation.
There is no known cause for the disease, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention started investigating potential causes in 2008. The medical community is divided on the disease — some doctors say the symptoms are the result of mental illness, while others say the disease stems from a skin disorder, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Some health experts say the disease is caused by an unknown infectious agent. But others say that idea is flawed, because most patients with Morgellons don't show evidence of an infection (such as elevated levels of white blood cells), according to a study to be published in February in the American Journal of Clinical Dermatology.
Alien hand syndrome
The movie "Dr. Strangelove" tells the story of a man whose right hand seems to have a mind of its own. The strange condition is a reality for some people, and it's known as alien hand syndrome. People with the condition usually have a hand that reaches, grabs and holds onto things without the intention of the patient, according to a description of the syndrome in a 2004 article in the journal Archives of Neurology.
For example, a 1998 case reported in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry told the tale of an 81-year-old woman right-handed woman whose left hand was uncontrollable. Her left hand choked her neck and hit her face and shoulder involuntarily, and the woman also had sensory processing and visual problems.
A 2009 article in the Journal of Stroke and Cerebrovascular Diseases found that a stroke in the brain's right parietal lobe was the impetus for a case of alien hand syndrome. And an article published in December in the journal PLoS One reported that parts of the brain that control voluntary movements may be uniquely activated in cases of alien hand syndrome.
Cotard's syndrome
Cotard's syndrome, also called Cotard's delusion and walking corpse syndrome, is a rare condition where people think that they have either died or part of their body has decayed, according to a 2004 study in the European Journal of Neurology. The syndrome is most commonly witnessed in people who have schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, but some who suffer from migraines, tumors or trauma have also reported having Cotard's syndrome.
People with Cotard's syndrome may also believe they are missing certain organs or body parts, or they may believe their soul has died, according to a 2002 article in the journal Neurology.
The syndrome is named after Dr. Jules Cotard, a Parisian neurologist who was one of the first to induce loss of brain cells in animals, according to the Neurology article.
Ehlers-Danlos syndrome
It sounds like something out of a superhero movie, but the syndrome is all too real. People who have the heritable Ehlers-Danlos syndrome have hyperflexibility — the ability to bend their limbs in seemingly impossible directions. Many people with the syndrome also have super-stretchy skin; however, they also bruise easily and have slow wound healing, according to a 2010 article in the journal Genetics in Medicine.
Half the people with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome have mutations in their COL5A1 and the COL5A2 genes, with one in 5,000 people around the world thought to have the syndrome. However, the true number of people with these mutations may be a lot higher, according to the Genetics in Medicine article. There are eight known mutations associated with the syndrome, and they lead to a reduced amount of collagen in the patients' connective tissues, the article said.
There are six types of the syndrome, with varying effects on the skin and joints, according to the National Institutes of Health.
Urbach–Wiethe disease
The case of a woman incapable of feeling fear has this disease, which is a rare genetic disorder that can lead to hardening of brain tissue, according to a 2010 report in the journal Current Biology. As is the case with the woman in the study, known as SM, the disease destroyed her amygdala — the almond-shaped structure in the brain that generates fear responses.
The woman was exposed to haunted houses, live snakes and spiders and films that would normally elicit a fearful response. But she didn't exhibit anything beyond a mild fear response to any of the stimuli. SM also didn't record anything indicative of fear in a daily journal she was required to keep.
The researchers said the finding could mean progress for treatments for post-traumatic stress disorder.
Persistent sexual arousal syndrome
For people with persistent sexual arousal syndrome (PSAS), orgasms may bring more embarrassment and distress, rather than being pleasurable sensations.
That's because this condition, which occurs mostly in women, causes hypersensitivity to orgasm with the slightest application of pressure — and sometimes without any trigger at all — even without feelings of sexual desire, according to Boston University School of Medicine.
The syndrome was first diagnosed in 2001, but little is known about its cause, according to BUSM. People who have PSAS often feel embarrassed, isolated and distressed because of the syndrome, a 2005 study in the Journal of Sexual Medicine reported. In fact, 40 percent of people in the study told of high levels of distress about the condition, with 35 percent reporting moderate levels of distress.
Haemolacria
Haemolacria is a condition in which a person cries tears of blood. It most often occurs in fertile women who are menstruating, according to a 1991 article in the journal Acta Ophthalmologica, but even then the blood is not visible to the human eye. Haemolacria can also occur as a result of severe conjunctivitis.
In October, a woman in India named Rashida Khatoon was reportedly crying tears of blood, even though doctors weren't able to find anything medically wrong with her besides the haemolacria.
Pass it on: There are lots of strange medical conditions out there, from alien hand syndrome to super-bendy joints.
MY THOUGHTS
for once, i'm speechless. this is not weird. this is creepy.
Jan 12, 2011 | 12:10 PM ET | By Amanda Chan, MyHealthNewsDaily Staff Writer
There are some real health conditions that even the greatest hypochondriac couldn't dream up: Persistent, unwanted orgasms, an inability to feel fear, or strange fibers growing out of the skin.
While some are more controversial than others, here's a look at seven medical conditions that top out on the strangeness scale — and make your weird zit look like child's play.
Morgellons disease
We've all experienced some smarmy, icky incidents that make our skin crawl. But there are people who actually think there are things crawling beneath their skin.
Morgellons disease is a poorly understood condition in which people feel itching, biting and crawling under their skin. People with this condition also see filaments or fibers growing out of their skin, and can experience skin lesions, fatigue and memory problems, according to the Morgellons Research Foundation.
There is no known cause for the disease, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention started investigating potential causes in 2008. The medical community is divided on the disease — some doctors say the symptoms are the result of mental illness, while others say the disease stems from a skin disorder, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Some health experts say the disease is caused by an unknown infectious agent. But others say that idea is flawed, because most patients with Morgellons don't show evidence of an infection (such as elevated levels of white blood cells), according to a study to be published in February in the American Journal of Clinical Dermatology.
Alien hand syndrome
The movie "Dr. Strangelove" tells the story of a man whose right hand seems to have a mind of its own. The strange condition is a reality for some people, and it's known as alien hand syndrome. People with the condition usually have a hand that reaches, grabs and holds onto things without the intention of the patient, according to a description of the syndrome in a 2004 article in the journal Archives of Neurology.
For example, a 1998 case reported in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry told the tale of an 81-year-old woman right-handed woman whose left hand was uncontrollable. Her left hand choked her neck and hit her face and shoulder involuntarily, and the woman also had sensory processing and visual problems.
A 2009 article in the Journal of Stroke and Cerebrovascular Diseases found that a stroke in the brain's right parietal lobe was the impetus for a case of alien hand syndrome. And an article published in December in the journal PLoS One reported that parts of the brain that control voluntary movements may be uniquely activated in cases of alien hand syndrome.
Cotard's syndrome
Cotard's syndrome, also called Cotard's delusion and walking corpse syndrome, is a rare condition where people think that they have either died or part of their body has decayed, according to a 2004 study in the European Journal of Neurology. The syndrome is most commonly witnessed in people who have schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, but some who suffer from migraines, tumors or trauma have also reported having Cotard's syndrome.
People with Cotard's syndrome may also believe they are missing certain organs or body parts, or they may believe their soul has died, according to a 2002 article in the journal Neurology.
The syndrome is named after Dr. Jules Cotard, a Parisian neurologist who was one of the first to induce loss of brain cells in animals, according to the Neurology article.
Ehlers-Danlos syndrome
It sounds like something out of a superhero movie, but the syndrome is all too real. People who have the heritable Ehlers-Danlos syndrome have hyperflexibility — the ability to bend their limbs in seemingly impossible directions. Many people with the syndrome also have super-stretchy skin; however, they also bruise easily and have slow wound healing, according to a 2010 article in the journal Genetics in Medicine.
Half the people with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome have mutations in their COL5A1 and the COL5A2 genes, with one in 5,000 people around the world thought to have the syndrome. However, the true number of people with these mutations may be a lot higher, according to the Genetics in Medicine article. There are eight known mutations associated with the syndrome, and they lead to a reduced amount of collagen in the patients' connective tissues, the article said.
There are six types of the syndrome, with varying effects on the skin and joints, according to the National Institutes of Health.
Urbach–Wiethe disease
The case of a woman incapable of feeling fear has this disease, which is a rare genetic disorder that can lead to hardening of brain tissue, according to a 2010 report in the journal Current Biology. As is the case with the woman in the study, known as SM, the disease destroyed her amygdala — the almond-shaped structure in the brain that generates fear responses.
The woman was exposed to haunted houses, live snakes and spiders and films that would normally elicit a fearful response. But she didn't exhibit anything beyond a mild fear response to any of the stimuli. SM also didn't record anything indicative of fear in a daily journal she was required to keep.
The researchers said the finding could mean progress for treatments for post-traumatic stress disorder.
Persistent sexual arousal syndrome
For people with persistent sexual arousal syndrome (PSAS), orgasms may bring more embarrassment and distress, rather than being pleasurable sensations.
That's because this condition, which occurs mostly in women, causes hypersensitivity to orgasm with the slightest application of pressure — and sometimes without any trigger at all — even without feelings of sexual desire, according to Boston University School of Medicine.
The syndrome was first diagnosed in 2001, but little is known about its cause, according to BUSM. People who have PSAS often feel embarrassed, isolated and distressed because of the syndrome, a 2005 study in the Journal of Sexual Medicine reported. In fact, 40 percent of people in the study told of high levels of distress about the condition, with 35 percent reporting moderate levels of distress.
Haemolacria
Haemolacria is a condition in which a person cries tears of blood. It most often occurs in fertile women who are menstruating, according to a 1991 article in the journal Acta Ophthalmologica, but even then the blood is not visible to the human eye. Haemolacria can also occur as a result of severe conjunctivitis.
In October, a woman in India named Rashida Khatoon was reportedly crying tears of blood, even though doctors weren't able to find anything medically wrong with her besides the haemolacria.
Pass it on: There are lots of strange medical conditions out there, from alien hand syndrome to super-bendy joints.
MY THOUGHTS
for once, i'm speechless. this is not weird. this is creepy.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Cancers You Can Ward Off with Exercise
7 Cancers You Can Ward Off with Exercise
Nov 12, 2010 | 3:53 PM ET | By Natasha Allen, MyHealthNewsDaily Contributor
A cancer diagnosis can be a devastating event — but some may also be preventable. In fact, an estimated half of all cancer deaths are avoidable by practicing healthy lifestyle habits, according to the American Cancer Society.
One of the most potent cancer-fighting weapons is exercise. While the benefits of a regular fitness program include keeping the pounds off, improving blood pressure and mental outlook, exercise can also halt the onset of some diseases. Several studies have shown that physical activity is linked with decreased risk of some cancers, particularly breast and colon cancer.
It is never too late to begin a fitness program, said Dr. Priscilla Furth, a professor of oncology at Georgetown University Medical Center's Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center.
"The good news is that it doesn't matter [when you begin], in that you will see a benefit from exercise at whatever age you are," Furth said.
Here are seven cancers that scientific research has shown can be stalled by exercise:
Endometrial cancer
Women who exercised for 150 minutes a week or more had a 34 percent lower risk of endometrial cancer (a cancer that begins in the lining of the uterus) than those who weren't active, researchers from the Yale School of Public Health reported this week at the Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research Conference.
The researchers also found women with a body mass index (BMI) below 25 had a 73 percent reduced risk, compared with inactive women whose BMI was above 25. People with a BMI of over 25 are considered overweight.
Colorectal cancer
People who followed healthy lifestyle habits, including exercising for more than 30 minutes daily, lowered their risk of colorectal cancer, according to a study published online in October in the British Medical Journal.
In fact, 23 percent of colorectal cancers were preventable, had study participants adhered to the five lifestyle recommendations, according to researchers from the Institute of Cancer Epidemiology in Copenhagen. The study was based on a survey of 55,489 men and women between the ages of 50 and 64, who were followed for almost a ten-year period.
Prostate cancer
Though several studies were inconclusive, some findings suggest a link between physical activity and a reduced risk of aggressive prostate cancer.
Men who had regular recreational exercise showed a lower risk of developing advanced prostate cancer or dying from the disease, compared with those who reported no physical activity, according to a 2006 study in the International Journal of Cancer. And a 2005 study of Chinese men in the European Journal of Epidemiology showed moderate exercise may shield against prostate cancer.
Furth advises personalizing an exercise routine. Pick an activity that you enjoy doing, then focus on intensity, she said.
"It is not so much what you are doing but how intense you're doing it," she said. "You can do some vigorous gardening, and you're out there working really hard, digging. Alternatively, you could be going out running so slowly you never even get you heart rate up."
Breast cancer
Women who had a family history of breast cancer reduced their risk by one-fourth by doing 20 minutes of moderate or vigorous physical activity at least five times a week, along with maintaining a healthy lifestyle in other ways, according to a study published in October in the journal Breast Cancer Research.
Even ex-couch potatoes can reap immediate anti-cancer rewards: postmenopausal women who gave up their sedentary ways and engaged in a moderate- to vigorous- intensity exercise program showed changes in hormone and protein levels consistent with a reduced risk of breast cancer, according to a study published online in February in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Some findings suggest that starting an exercise program during adolescence may delay the onset of breast cancer for women who may carry a mutation in their BRCA genes (which are associated with an increased risk for the disease), but it doesn't prevent the disease from developing, Furth said.
Lung cancer
Exercise may reduce the risk of lung cancer for current or former smokers.
University of Minnesota researchers gave questionnaires to 36,929 cancer-free women from Iowa, and followed the participants for 16 years. They found that women with high exercise levels were less likely to develop lung cancer than those who reported low exercise levels, according their 2006 study in the journal Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers & Prevention.
And men and women who participated in moderate and vigorous activities showed a reduced of lung cancer, especially those with low or medium body mass index, and smokers, according to a 2003 study in the American Journal of Epidemiology.
Ovarian cancer
Though additional studies are needed, some evidence suggests a link between exercise and a reduced risk of epithelial ovarian cancer (cancer that is found in the cells on the surface of the ovary). Women who engage in high-intensity activity most often had a reduced risk of invasive ovarian cancer compared to women who reported no regular physical activity, according to a study published in April in the journal Cancer Causes & Control.
Furth's advice to those beginning an exercise program: begin at a low intensity, and gradually work your way up to a moderate level. "What you are aiming for is a cardiovascular workout that really gets your pulse up and gets you sweating," she said.
Gastric cancer
People who reported at least a moderate level of recreational physical activity had a 50 percent reduced risk of gastric cancer, according to a 2008 study in the journal Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers and Prevention.
People who did strenuous physical activity throughout their lifetime also had a decreased risk of incident stomach cancer, according to a 2007 study in the European Journal of Cancer. Cancer Care Ontario researchers found an estimated 20 to 40 percent reduced risk of stomach cancer in those who did strenuous exercise more than three times a week compared with those who exercised less than once a month.
Still, other studies are inconsistent about the link between gastric cancer risk and exercise, and differ in their results based on factors such as diet, body mass index and height.
MY THOUGHTS
if this won't make me move my butt (excuse my french!) then nothing could. fitness is certainly not for beauty only. it's nice to look nice. but it's a lot nicer to have a clean bill of health.
Nov 12, 2010 | 3:53 PM ET | By Natasha Allen, MyHealthNewsDaily Contributor
A cancer diagnosis can be a devastating event — but some may also be preventable. In fact, an estimated half of all cancer deaths are avoidable by practicing healthy lifestyle habits, according to the American Cancer Society.
One of the most potent cancer-fighting weapons is exercise. While the benefits of a regular fitness program include keeping the pounds off, improving blood pressure and mental outlook, exercise can also halt the onset of some diseases. Several studies have shown that physical activity is linked with decreased risk of some cancers, particularly breast and colon cancer.
It is never too late to begin a fitness program, said Dr. Priscilla Furth, a professor of oncology at Georgetown University Medical Center's Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center.
"The good news is that it doesn't matter [when you begin], in that you will see a benefit from exercise at whatever age you are," Furth said.
Here are seven cancers that scientific research has shown can be stalled by exercise:
Endometrial cancer
Women who exercised for 150 minutes a week or more had a 34 percent lower risk of endometrial cancer (a cancer that begins in the lining of the uterus) than those who weren't active, researchers from the Yale School of Public Health reported this week at the Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research Conference.
The researchers also found women with a body mass index (BMI) below 25 had a 73 percent reduced risk, compared with inactive women whose BMI was above 25. People with a BMI of over 25 are considered overweight.
Colorectal cancer
People who followed healthy lifestyle habits, including exercising for more than 30 minutes daily, lowered their risk of colorectal cancer, according to a study published online in October in the British Medical Journal.
In fact, 23 percent of colorectal cancers were preventable, had study participants adhered to the five lifestyle recommendations, according to researchers from the Institute of Cancer Epidemiology in Copenhagen. The study was based on a survey of 55,489 men and women between the ages of 50 and 64, who were followed for almost a ten-year period.
Prostate cancer
Though several studies were inconclusive, some findings suggest a link between physical activity and a reduced risk of aggressive prostate cancer.
Men who had regular recreational exercise showed a lower risk of developing advanced prostate cancer or dying from the disease, compared with those who reported no physical activity, according to a 2006 study in the International Journal of Cancer. And a 2005 study of Chinese men in the European Journal of Epidemiology showed moderate exercise may shield against prostate cancer.
Furth advises personalizing an exercise routine. Pick an activity that you enjoy doing, then focus on intensity, she said.
"It is not so much what you are doing but how intense you're doing it," she said. "You can do some vigorous gardening, and you're out there working really hard, digging. Alternatively, you could be going out running so slowly you never even get you heart rate up."
Breast cancer
Women who had a family history of breast cancer reduced their risk by one-fourth by doing 20 minutes of moderate or vigorous physical activity at least five times a week, along with maintaining a healthy lifestyle in other ways, according to a study published in October in the journal Breast Cancer Research.
Even ex-couch potatoes can reap immediate anti-cancer rewards: postmenopausal women who gave up their sedentary ways and engaged in a moderate- to vigorous- intensity exercise program showed changes in hormone and protein levels consistent with a reduced risk of breast cancer, according to a study published online in February in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Some findings suggest that starting an exercise program during adolescence may delay the onset of breast cancer for women who may carry a mutation in their BRCA genes (which are associated with an increased risk for the disease), but it doesn't prevent the disease from developing, Furth said.
Lung cancer
Exercise may reduce the risk of lung cancer for current or former smokers.
University of Minnesota researchers gave questionnaires to 36,929 cancer-free women from Iowa, and followed the participants for 16 years. They found that women with high exercise levels were less likely to develop lung cancer than those who reported low exercise levels, according their 2006 study in the journal Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers & Prevention.
And men and women who participated in moderate and vigorous activities showed a reduced of lung cancer, especially those with low or medium body mass index, and smokers, according to a 2003 study in the American Journal of Epidemiology.
Ovarian cancer
Though additional studies are needed, some evidence suggests a link between exercise and a reduced risk of epithelial ovarian cancer (cancer that is found in the cells on the surface of the ovary). Women who engage in high-intensity activity most often had a reduced risk of invasive ovarian cancer compared to women who reported no regular physical activity, according to a study published in April in the journal Cancer Causes & Control.
Furth's advice to those beginning an exercise program: begin at a low intensity, and gradually work your way up to a moderate level. "What you are aiming for is a cardiovascular workout that really gets your pulse up and gets you sweating," she said.
Gastric cancer
People who reported at least a moderate level of recreational physical activity had a 50 percent reduced risk of gastric cancer, according to a 2008 study in the journal Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers and Prevention.
People who did strenuous physical activity throughout their lifetime also had a decreased risk of incident stomach cancer, according to a 2007 study in the European Journal of Cancer. Cancer Care Ontario researchers found an estimated 20 to 40 percent reduced risk of stomach cancer in those who did strenuous exercise more than three times a week compared with those who exercised less than once a month.
Still, other studies are inconsistent about the link between gastric cancer risk and exercise, and differ in their results based on factors such as diet, body mass index and height.
MY THOUGHTS
if this won't make me move my butt (excuse my french!) then nothing could. fitness is certainly not for beauty only. it's nice to look nice. but it's a lot nicer to have a clean bill of health.
Monday, January 24, 2011
RESTLESS LEG SYNDROME
Your health: Get help for Restless Leg Syndrome
By Alberto Espay, Guest columnist 12:38 PM Friday, January 7, 2011
It makes no sense: You’ve had a long day, and you’re ready for a restful night’s sleep. But as you lie in bed, you experience an uncontrollable urge to move your legs—perhaps accompanied by unpleasant sensations such as tingling, crawling or even pain.
You may have Restless Leg Syndrome, a neurological condition that is classified as a movement disorder, like Parkinson’s disease or essential tremor. There is no known single cause, but it is associated with dysfunction of the neurotransmitter known as dopamine at the spinal cord level.
The actual prevalence of RLS is not known, but according to the RLS Foundation, positive response rates for the question, “Do you have a creepy, crawly sensation in your legs at night when you attempt to sleep?” are between 3 and 15 percent.
Unfortunately, the vast majority of people don’t necessarily look for treatment for RLS. They may feel like it’s all in their head, or decide that it’s something they’re willing to live with rather than see a doctor. But RLS does respond to treatment in a majority of people, enabling them to improve the quality of their sleep substantially—and with it, enjoy an improvement in their daytime functioning.
A diagnosis of RLS usually involves four criteria, according to the RLS Foundation: An uncontrollable urge to move your legs, accompanied by uncomfortable sensations; the sensations begin or get worse during periods of rest; the symptoms get better when you move your legs; and the symptoms are worse in the evening.
RLS often runs in families, researchers say.
There are no lab tests to determine if you have RLS. If you visit a doctor, he or she will likely review your medical history, conduct a diagnostic interview and rule out any conditions that might be confused with RLS. In addition, you might be asked to stay overnight in a sleep lab.
Dopamine agonists, which mimic the effects of dopamine in the brain, are the first line of pharmacological treatment. The two commercially available (by prescription) are pramipexole (brand name Mirapex) and ropinirole (brand name Requip).
Other drugs, such as those used to treat nerve disorders, are prescribed if dopamine agonists are ineffective or have intolerable side effects. Also, gabapentin, benzodiazepines such as clonazepam or, if needed, opioids such as oxycodone and propoxyphene — medications typically associated with the treatment of pain—can be helpful for those who are unable to benefit from dopamine agonists.
Treatment for RLS typically relies on a low dose of medication taken by pill at bedtime, and people may not ever need an adjustment. So it’s really a good idea to consider visiting a doctor if you have any kind of symptoms that are taking you away from a good night’s sleep.
Alberto Espay, MD, is a UC Health neurologist. For an appointment with UC Health Neurology in West Chester Twp., call (513) 475-8272.
MY THOUGHTS
i'd probably be restless tonight trying to test if i have the restless leg syndrome. sometimes i get those tingly, numb feeling. but crawly?
By Alberto Espay, Guest columnist 12:38 PM Friday, January 7, 2011
It makes no sense: You’ve had a long day, and you’re ready for a restful night’s sleep. But as you lie in bed, you experience an uncontrollable urge to move your legs—perhaps accompanied by unpleasant sensations such as tingling, crawling or even pain.
You may have Restless Leg Syndrome, a neurological condition that is classified as a movement disorder, like Parkinson’s disease or essential tremor. There is no known single cause, but it is associated with dysfunction of the neurotransmitter known as dopamine at the spinal cord level.
The actual prevalence of RLS is not known, but according to the RLS Foundation, positive response rates for the question, “Do you have a creepy, crawly sensation in your legs at night when you attempt to sleep?” are between 3 and 15 percent.
Unfortunately, the vast majority of people don’t necessarily look for treatment for RLS. They may feel like it’s all in their head, or decide that it’s something they’re willing to live with rather than see a doctor. But RLS does respond to treatment in a majority of people, enabling them to improve the quality of their sleep substantially—and with it, enjoy an improvement in their daytime functioning.
A diagnosis of RLS usually involves four criteria, according to the RLS Foundation: An uncontrollable urge to move your legs, accompanied by uncomfortable sensations; the sensations begin or get worse during periods of rest; the symptoms get better when you move your legs; and the symptoms are worse in the evening.
RLS often runs in families, researchers say.
There are no lab tests to determine if you have RLS. If you visit a doctor, he or she will likely review your medical history, conduct a diagnostic interview and rule out any conditions that might be confused with RLS. In addition, you might be asked to stay overnight in a sleep lab.
Dopamine agonists, which mimic the effects of dopamine in the brain, are the first line of pharmacological treatment. The two commercially available (by prescription) are pramipexole (brand name Mirapex) and ropinirole (brand name Requip).
Other drugs, such as those used to treat nerve disorders, are prescribed if dopamine agonists are ineffective or have intolerable side effects. Also, gabapentin, benzodiazepines such as clonazepam or, if needed, opioids such as oxycodone and propoxyphene — medications typically associated with the treatment of pain—can be helpful for those who are unable to benefit from dopamine agonists.
Treatment for RLS typically relies on a low dose of medication taken by pill at bedtime, and people may not ever need an adjustment. So it’s really a good idea to consider visiting a doctor if you have any kind of symptoms that are taking you away from a good night’s sleep.
Alberto Espay, MD, is a UC Health neurologist. For an appointment with UC Health Neurology in West Chester Twp., call (513) 475-8272.
MY THOUGHTS
i'd probably be restless tonight trying to test if i have the restless leg syndrome. sometimes i get those tingly, numb feeling. but crawly?
Saturday, January 22, 2011
do you have FIBROMYALGIA
Fibromyalgia: Your Most Important Questions Answered
From the National Institutes of Health
Published January 21, 2011
Fibromyalgia is a common and chronic disorder characterized by widespread pain, diffuse tenderness and many other symptoms. So what do sufferers really need to know? Find out now…
Although fibromyalgia is often considered an arthritis-related condition, it’s not truly a form of arthritis (a disease of the joints) because it doesn’t cause inflammation or damage to the joints, muscles or other tissues.
But like arthritis, fibromyalgia can cause significant pain and fatigue that can interfere with a person’s daily activities. Also like arthritis, fibromyalgia is considered rheumatic, a medical condition that impairs the joints and/or soft tissues and causes chronic pain.
People with fibromyalgia may experience a variety of other symptoms, including:
* Cognitive and memory problems (sometimes referred to as “fibro fog”)
* Sleep disturbances
* Morning stiffness
* Headaches
* Irritable bowel syndrome
* Painful menstrual periods
* Numbness or tingling of the extremities
* Restless legs syndrome
* Temperature sensitivity
* Sensitivity to loud noises or bright lights
Fibromyalgia isn’t a disease, but a syndrome: a collection of signs, symptoms and medical problems that tend to occur together but are not related to a specific, identifiable cause. A disease, on the other hand, has a specific cause or causes and recognizable signs and symptoms.
Who Gets Fibromyalgia?
Scientists estimate that fibromyalgia affects 5 million Americans age 18 or older. For unknown reasons, between 80% and 90% are women; however, men and children also can be affected. Most people are diagnosed during middle age, although the symptoms often become present earlier in life.
People with certain rheumatic diseases - such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus (commonly called lupus) or ankylosing spondylitis (spinal arthritis) - may be more likely to have fibromyalgia too.
Several studies indicate that women with a family member with fibromyalgia are more likely to have the condition themselves, but the reason for this – whether it be heredity, shared environmental factors or both – is unknown. One current study supported by the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) is trying to determine whether variations in certain genes cause some people to be more sensitive to stimuli, which leads to pain syndromes.
What Causes Fibromyalgia?
The causes of fibromyalgia are unknown, but there are probably several factors involved. Many people associate the development of fibromyalgia with a physically or emotionally stressful or traumatic event, such as an automobile accident. Some connect it to repetitive injuries. Others link it to an illness. For others, fibromyalgia seems to occur spontaneously.
Many researchers are examining other causes, including problems with how the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord) processes pain.
Some scientists speculate that a person’s genes may regulate the way his or her body processes painful stimuli. According to this theory, people with fibromyalgia may have a gene or genes that cause them to react strongly to stimuli that most people would not perceive as painful. There have already been several genes identified that occur more commonly in fibromyalgia patients, and NIAMS-supported researchers are currently looking at other possibilities.
How Is Fibromyalgia Diagnosed?
Research shows that people with fibromyalgia typically see many doctors before receiving the diagnosis. One reason for this may be that pain and fatigue, the main symptoms of fibromyalgia, overlap with those of many other conditions. Therefore, doctors often have to rule out other potential causes of these symptoms before making a fibromyalgia diagnosis.
Also, there are currently no diagnostic laboratory tests for fibromyalgia; standard laboratory tests fail to reveal a physiologic reason for pain. Because there is no generally accepted, objective test for fibromyalgia, some doctors unfortunately may conclude a patient’s pain is not real, or they may say there’s little they can do.
A doctor familiar with fibromyalgia, however, can make a diagnosis based on criteria established by the American College of Rheumatology (ACR): a history of widespread pain lasting more than 3 months, and the presence of diffuse tenderness.
Pain is considered to be widespread when it affects all four quadrants of the body, meaning it must be felt on both the left and right sides as well as above and below the waist. ACR also has designated 18 sites on the body as possible tender points. To meet the strict criteria for a fibromyalgia diagnosis, a person must have 11 or more tender points, but often patients with fibromyalgia will not always be this tender, especially men. People who have fibromyalgia certainly may feel pain at other sites too, but those 18 standard possible sites on the body are the criteria used for classification.
How Is Fibromyalgia Treated?
Fibromyalgia can be difficult to treat. Not all doctors are familiar with fibromyalgia and its treatment, so it is important to find a doctor who is. Many family physicians, general internists or rheumatologists (doctors who specialize in arthritis and other conditions that affect the joints or soft tissues) can treat fibromyalgia.
Fibromyalgia treatment often requires a team approach - with your doctor, a physical therapist, possibly other health professionals and, most importantly, yourself all playing an active role.
It can be hard to assemble this team, and you may struggle to find the right professionals to treat you. When you do, however, the combined expertise of these professionals can help you improve the quality of your life.
You may find several members of the treatment team at pain and rheumatology clinics that specialize in arthritis and other rheumatic diseases, including fibromyalgia.
Only three medications - duloxetine (Cymbalta), milnacipran (Savella) and pregabalin (Lyrica) - are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for fibromyalgia treatment.
Cymbalta was originally developed for and is still used to treat depression. Savella is similar to a drug used to treat depression but is FDA-approved only for fibromyalgia. Lyrica is a medication developed to treat neuropathic pain (chronic pain caused by damage to the nervous system). These products are not endorsed by the National Institutes of Health or any other government agency. Also, if a particular brand name is not mentioned, this does not mean or imply that the product is unsatisfactory.
The following are some of the most commonly used categories of drugs for fibromyalgia: (click on the link for details)
MY THOUGHTS
first time i've heard of this. it's alarming because most of the symptoms are so common and especially in women. it's not even age-related so you can have this at a young age. take note that some doctors are not familiar with it. and there are only 3 medicines that have been approved for fibromyalgia. don't be scared. be wise. see the doctor if you have half of the symptoms.
From the National Institutes of Health
Published January 21, 2011
Fibromyalgia is a common and chronic disorder characterized by widespread pain, diffuse tenderness and many other symptoms. So what do sufferers really need to know? Find out now…
Although fibromyalgia is often considered an arthritis-related condition, it’s not truly a form of arthritis (a disease of the joints) because it doesn’t cause inflammation or damage to the joints, muscles or other tissues.
But like arthritis, fibromyalgia can cause significant pain and fatigue that can interfere with a person’s daily activities. Also like arthritis, fibromyalgia is considered rheumatic, a medical condition that impairs the joints and/or soft tissues and causes chronic pain.
People with fibromyalgia may experience a variety of other symptoms, including:
* Cognitive and memory problems (sometimes referred to as “fibro fog”)
* Sleep disturbances
* Morning stiffness
* Headaches
* Irritable bowel syndrome
* Painful menstrual periods
* Numbness or tingling of the extremities
* Restless legs syndrome
* Temperature sensitivity
* Sensitivity to loud noises or bright lights
Fibromyalgia isn’t a disease, but a syndrome: a collection of signs, symptoms and medical problems that tend to occur together but are not related to a specific, identifiable cause. A disease, on the other hand, has a specific cause or causes and recognizable signs and symptoms.
Who Gets Fibromyalgia?
Scientists estimate that fibromyalgia affects 5 million Americans age 18 or older. For unknown reasons, between 80% and 90% are women; however, men and children also can be affected. Most people are diagnosed during middle age, although the symptoms often become present earlier in life.
People with certain rheumatic diseases - such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus (commonly called lupus) or ankylosing spondylitis (spinal arthritis) - may be more likely to have fibromyalgia too.
Several studies indicate that women with a family member with fibromyalgia are more likely to have the condition themselves, but the reason for this – whether it be heredity, shared environmental factors or both – is unknown. One current study supported by the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) is trying to determine whether variations in certain genes cause some people to be more sensitive to stimuli, which leads to pain syndromes.
What Causes Fibromyalgia?
The causes of fibromyalgia are unknown, but there are probably several factors involved. Many people associate the development of fibromyalgia with a physically or emotionally stressful or traumatic event, such as an automobile accident. Some connect it to repetitive injuries. Others link it to an illness. For others, fibromyalgia seems to occur spontaneously.
Many researchers are examining other causes, including problems with how the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord) processes pain.
Some scientists speculate that a person’s genes may regulate the way his or her body processes painful stimuli. According to this theory, people with fibromyalgia may have a gene or genes that cause them to react strongly to stimuli that most people would not perceive as painful. There have already been several genes identified that occur more commonly in fibromyalgia patients, and NIAMS-supported researchers are currently looking at other possibilities.
How Is Fibromyalgia Diagnosed?
Research shows that people with fibromyalgia typically see many doctors before receiving the diagnosis. One reason for this may be that pain and fatigue, the main symptoms of fibromyalgia, overlap with those of many other conditions. Therefore, doctors often have to rule out other potential causes of these symptoms before making a fibromyalgia diagnosis.
Also, there are currently no diagnostic laboratory tests for fibromyalgia; standard laboratory tests fail to reveal a physiologic reason for pain. Because there is no generally accepted, objective test for fibromyalgia, some doctors unfortunately may conclude a patient’s pain is not real, or they may say there’s little they can do.
A doctor familiar with fibromyalgia, however, can make a diagnosis based on criteria established by the American College of Rheumatology (ACR): a history of widespread pain lasting more than 3 months, and the presence of diffuse tenderness.
Pain is considered to be widespread when it affects all four quadrants of the body, meaning it must be felt on both the left and right sides as well as above and below the waist. ACR also has designated 18 sites on the body as possible tender points. To meet the strict criteria for a fibromyalgia diagnosis, a person must have 11 or more tender points, but often patients with fibromyalgia will not always be this tender, especially men. People who have fibromyalgia certainly may feel pain at other sites too, but those 18 standard possible sites on the body are the criteria used for classification.
How Is Fibromyalgia Treated?
Fibromyalgia can be difficult to treat. Not all doctors are familiar with fibromyalgia and its treatment, so it is important to find a doctor who is. Many family physicians, general internists or rheumatologists (doctors who specialize in arthritis and other conditions that affect the joints or soft tissues) can treat fibromyalgia.
Fibromyalgia treatment often requires a team approach - with your doctor, a physical therapist, possibly other health professionals and, most importantly, yourself all playing an active role.
It can be hard to assemble this team, and you may struggle to find the right professionals to treat you. When you do, however, the combined expertise of these professionals can help you improve the quality of your life.
You may find several members of the treatment team at pain and rheumatology clinics that specialize in arthritis and other rheumatic diseases, including fibromyalgia.
Only three medications - duloxetine (Cymbalta), milnacipran (Savella) and pregabalin (Lyrica) - are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for fibromyalgia treatment.
Cymbalta was originally developed for and is still used to treat depression. Savella is similar to a drug used to treat depression but is FDA-approved only for fibromyalgia. Lyrica is a medication developed to treat neuropathic pain (chronic pain caused by damage to the nervous system). These products are not endorsed by the National Institutes of Health or any other government agency. Also, if a particular brand name is not mentioned, this does not mean or imply that the product is unsatisfactory.
The following are some of the most commonly used categories of drugs for fibromyalgia: (click on the link for details)
MY THOUGHTS
first time i've heard of this. it's alarming because most of the symptoms are so common and especially in women. it's not even age-related so you can have this at a young age. take note that some doctors are not familiar with it. and there are only 3 medicines that have been approved for fibromyalgia. don't be scared. be wise. see the doctor if you have half of the symptoms.
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