Read for Your Health. You May be Suffering from this Sickness

This article is a long one.  I tried summarizing but it just won't do.  The whole thing is too valuable, I decided not to cut anything and just share the whole thing

 

How to Treat Arthritis Joint Pain

Learning the Symptoms and Finding Relief

By Edward C. Geehr, M.D., Lifescript Chief Medical Officer

Published November 11, 2012 

 

 Your knees ache and hips creak. Did you do too much over the weekend? Or is it age? If you're a woman in your 40s, you may have osteoarthritis. But what is osteoarthritis? Learn what causes this painful joint disease and how to ease the aches and stiffness...

You feel great after that six-mile hike, those rousing sets of tennis, that morning jog. But lately, there’s an ache in your step. Some days walking feels more like hobbling.

You may be paying for living a longer, more active life than Mom or Grandma. Hobbies like hiking, tennis and gardening keep us fit and youthful into our senior years, but they also conspire against us.

The result of the wear and tear?

Osteoarthritis, a degenerative joint disease that causes pain and stiffness.

Arthritis has many forms, but osteoarthritis is the most common: More than 27 million Americans suffer from it, and women over age 45 are 10 times more likely to have osteoarthritis than men. Researchers don't know why, but it could be blamed on women's bone structure, or even the high heels women sometimes wear.

Former competitive athletes – from runners to divers to gymnasts – are particularly vulnerable.

Aging, excess weight and having a joint injury also increase risk of getting osteoarthritis symptoms. The disease usually targets weight-bearing joints, such as the hips, knees and lower back, but also the neck, fingers and big toe. 

 

The most common osteoarthritis symptoms include:

• Joint soreness after overuse or inactivity
  
• Morning stiffness that improves with activity
  
• Changes in posture or walking because of stiffness

What Causes the Pain?
Osteoarthritis breaks down cartilage, the primary shock absorber covering the joint ends. The subsequent damage occurs in several stages:

• First, the cartilage cushion loses elasticity and is more easily damaged from injury or use.
  
• As the cartilage wears down, the underlying bone thickens and develops growths or spurs. At this stage, bits of bone and cartilage float in the joint.
  
• The joint lining then becomes inflamed and releases irritants that damage cartilage even more. The normal lubricant also deteriorates, further exposing the joint surfaces to injury.
  
• Eventually, the joint becomes so painful and stiff that replacement may be the only option. The procedures are hugely successful: A study published in the journal Arthritis and Rheumatism showed that 77% of 112 knee replacement patients were satisfied or very satisfied with the results; 80% said they would have the surgery again.

Where You Feel Osteoarthritis Symptoms Most Hips: If you have osteoarthritis of the hips, you may feel pain in the groin, inner thigh or buttocks.

The discomfort may radiate to the thigh or knee and force you to limp when walking.

Knees: Osteoarthritis of the knees usually causes pain, grating or catching at the joint as you move, especially on stairs.

Women tend to wear out their knees differently than men. First, women are more likely to tear one of their key knee ligaments, the anterior cruciate ligament, or ACL. (Female college basketball players, for example, are up to eight times more likely to sustain an ACL injury than their male counterparts.)

The resulting knee instability increases the risk for developing arthritis.

Women also are more likely to wear down the outer knees. Our broader pelvis force the legs to angle inward at the knee instead of straight down.

Researchers have developed gender-specific joint replacements for a more comfortable fit.

High-heel shoes also increase osteoarthritis risk. Shoes with three-inch heels, whether stilettos or platform, put at least 22% more pressure on knee joints than low-heeled shoes because they strain muscles and tendons. 

Hands: It’s common in the fingers too, causing joints to ache and swell. They may develop boney outgrowths and your hand may lose its grip strength or fine motor skills that help you pick up small items or hold a pencil.

Back: Repetitive stress on the spinal discs that cushion the vertebrae can cause them to break down. Again, boney spurs may develop, placing pressure on the nerves exiting the spinal canal.

Osteoarthritis of the back can lead to stiffness and pain in the neck, shoulder, arm, lower back and legs. It can also cause pinched nerves, which leads to weakness in arms and legs.

Treatment for Osteoarthritis and Joint PainSo how do you get rid of the pain?

Step 1: See a physician for tests, such as a blood count, joint X-rays and possibly a joint MRI.

Sometimes the doctor will remove some joint fluid to look for deterioration and to rule out other forms of arthritis, which are treated differently than osteoarthritis.

Early diagnosis and getting treatment for osteoarthritis are key to managing the disease. You can’t reverse the clock, but you can minimize joint damage and maintain range of motion.

You can also control pain and swelling, improve function and slow osteoarthritis' progression. Often treatment for osteoarthritis includes weight management (the less weight, the less stress on the joint), exercise, physical therapy and medication.

Traditional medications include:

• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) such as aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) and naproxen (Aleve)
  
• Pain relievers such as acetaminophen (Tylenol)
  
• Topical pain relievers, such as creams and rubs containing wintergreen oil or camphor
  
• Steroids and viscosupplements, such as Synvisc, that a doctor can inject into the knee to supplement its normal lubricating fluid

 Fitted braces can also relieve some stress and reduce damage over time. Arthroscopic surgery may be necessary to clean up the joint, trim worn or torn cartilage and remove debris.

For advanced osteoarthritis, you may need a total joint replacement. Partial replacements (often called joint resurfacing) repair only the damaged area, allowing you to retain more of the original joint.

Relief, Naturally
Alternative treatments like glucosamine with chondroitin sulfate and methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) can help, often in combination with conventional methods.

Among the most popular:

Glucosamine: This sugar seems to play a role in cartilage formation and repair. One study showed that 50% of osteoarthritis patients had less pain when taking glucosamine supplements, particularly among those with mild to moderate symptoms.

But watch out: Glucosamine may upset your stomach and raise blood sugar levels. Also, don’t take it if you are allergic to shellfish. 

  Chondroitin sulfate: This protein part gives cartilage its elasticity. It may improve its shock-absorbing properties and help it retain water. Like glucosamine, chondroitin can upset your stomach.

Glucosamine and chondroitin: They've been used in combination for years in Europe to manage joint pain.

A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2006 showed that the supplements were more effective together. They had little effect on mild pain, but showed a significant benefit in people with moderate to severe pain.

Methylsulfonylmethane or MSM: This naturally occurring sulfur compound found in fruits, vegetables and grains may also reduce pain and inflammation.

A pilot study of 50 men and women with osteoarthritis showed that MSM reduced pain and improved physical function without major side effects, but no controlled trials substantiate the claim.

Before you add a nutritional supplement to your treatment regimen, check with your doctor.

Exercise for OsteoarthritisDoctors are increasingly recommending physical activity as a means for improving joint health.

As tempting as it may be to rest aching joints, structured mobility programs, combined with muscle-strengthening exercise and weight loss, seem to be the best methods of treatment for osteoarthritis.

Besides weight control, a range of exercises are prescribed by doctors to help manage osteoarthritis. Each pound of weight loss reduces pressure on the knee by four pounds. So even modest amounts of weight loss can reduce the risk of osteoarthritis or improve symptoms.

Exercises that improve flexibility can help decrease joint stiffness and improve range of motion. These include hamstring and calf stretches, knee-to-chest flexing and neck and back stretches.

Activities that strengthen muscles are also important, as long as they don’t put undue stress on affected joints. Ideal exercises include cycling, elliptical trainers, Pilates, yoga, swimming and Tai Chi.

For more information and expert advice, visit our Arthritis Health Center.

My Thoughts

One of the reasons I started walking and dancing. Maybe I should do some yoga, too.  I figured, I needed to do something to take care of my health.  This is a sickness I don't want. 

Exercise and Hypertension

High Blood Pressure? Lose Weight With Exercise

By Malia Frey, About.com Guide

Updated August 27, 2012

About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by our Medical Review Board

If you’ve been diagnosed with high blood pressure, your doctor may have recommended that you lose weight with exercise. But starting an exercise program and trying to lose weight while managing hypertension can be confusing. Use this article as a starting point, along with advice from your physician, to come up with a plan that works for you.

Exercise Benefits for People Who Have High Blood Pressure

One of the greatest benefits of starting an exercise program is weight loss. Losing even a small amount of weight can bring your blood pressure numbers into the normal range. But even if weight loss doesn’t happen right away, just participating in a regular program of moderate exercise can have a positive effect on hypertension.

But the benefits don’t end there. Increasing your physical activity level can also help to decrease your risk of heart disease, prevent type 2 diabetes, reduce stress, decrease your body fat and improve your cholesterol levels. These are all improvements that will boost your overall health profile.

How to Lose Weight Safely

If you’ve been diagnosed with hypertension, be sure to discuss any new fitness program with your doctor. Mary Moon, M.D., a practicing family physician, counsels many of her patients to lose weight. She explains that many of them have high blood pressure along with other conditions including obesity or type 2 diabetes. While a weight loss exercise program may improve these conditions, she explains that it is important to seek specific guidelines.

“There is no question that exercise is an essential element that will help normalize blood pressure but individuals need to make sure they are doing the right exercises at the right intensity tailored to their particular exercise level or else it may be dangerous for them.”

She recommends that you start off slowly and gradually increase the time and intensity of your workout as your exercise tolerance improves.

Exercise Guidelines for People Who Have High Blood Pressure

When you discuss a weight loss program with your physician, you can use these guidelines as a starting point for setting up goals. Then, tailor a schedule that works for you.

• The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute recommends 30 minutes of moderate activity most days of the week for treatment of high blood pressure.


• The American Heart Association recommends 150 minutes per week or 30 minutes each day (most days of the week) to achieve heart health.


• The American College of Sport Medicine recommends at least 250 minutes per week of moderate intensity exercise to achieve significant weight loss.

If you are on blood pressure medication, you should also talk to your physician about the best way to monitor your exercise intensity. To lose weight, you want to make sure that you are working at the correct exercise intensity level, but some methods of measuring your level may not be effective if you are on a prescription pill. Heart rate monitors, for example, might not work if your medication keeps your heart beating at a steady rate.

Getting Started with a Program

Whether your goal is to control your high blood pressure, lower your blood pressure or just to prevent hypertension, a weight loss program that includes exercise will help you reach your goals. Get started by talking to your health care team. Then, come up with a plan that you are willing and able to stick to over the long term. 

_{Sources:
High Blood Pressure. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Accessed: August 21, 2012. http://www.cdc.gov/bloodpressure/about.htm
Mary Moon, M.D., Interview. August 21, 2012.
Prevention and Treatment of High Blood Pressure. Title of Page. American Heart Association. Accessed: August 21, 2012. http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/HighBloodPressure/PreventionTreatmentofHighBloodPressure/Prevention-Treatment-of-High-Blood-Pressure_UCM_002054_Article.jsp
Your Guide to Lowering Blood Pressure. National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. Accessed: August 21, 2012. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/hbp/bp/bp.htm
American College of Sports Medicine. ACSM Position Stand on Physical Activity and Weight Loss. Accessed: August 21, 2012. http://www.acsm.org/about-acsm/media-room/acsm-in-the-news/2011/08/01/acsm-position-stand-on-physical-activity-and-weight-loss-now-available}

  

My Thoughts

I've been lucky!  I've never experienced high blood pressure. But this doesn't mean I shouldn't be careful.  Put the extra pounds and the age factor together - that makes anyone a candidate for hypertension.

30 minutes of moderate activity everyday - that's not asking much, is it?   I think I'd rather push myself to walk or to clean the house instead of making that trip to the drugstore for maintenance medicine.

Just be careful - remember I do not have hypertension.  I do not need to consult a doctor.  If you've already been diagnosed with this medical condition, you should be guided accordingly.

 

Protect your Joints

Last year, I saw a doctor who gave me a picture of what I could look like 10, 20 years from now - if I don't take care of my joints.  He scared the hell out of me.  He couldn't understand English and I couldn't understand Japanese.  But the picture he showed me was more than enough to get me thinking and to push me to do some research.

 

There's a wealth of resources on how we can take care of our joints.  I found this article most helpful - Managing Your Condition,12 Ways to Protect Your Joints,By Fran Smith, Special to Lifescript

Reviewed By Edward C. Geehr, M.D.,Published May 10, 2012 

 

The article spelled-out 12 ways of how we can keep our joints healthy.  

 

1.  Lose weight - the knee can't handle the extra load.

2.  Get active - physical activity reduces the stress to our joints

3.  Strengthen your abs - gives stability and movement control

4.  Lear Tai Chi - physical and mental exercises, combined, reduces risks t o our joints

5.  Run, but do it moderately

6.  Eat fish, fish, fish

7.  Stand straight, sit straight, walk straight

8.  Avoid high heels

9.  Lighten your handbag

10.  Exercise throughout the week, not just on weekends

11.  Eat healthy - process foods are harmful to the joints

12. When it's painful: stop and rest

 

There's  a lot more to it and you can go on and read the whole article.  But what struck me most was that - there's really nothing new in this list.  The tips are very simple, very easy to understand.  So, why are we not following them?

What To Do With Tummy Aches

 What to Do When Your Tummy Hurts

By Suzy Cohen, R.Ph., Lifescript Pharmacist

Published April 1, 2012 

 

Heartburn? Constipation? When your digestive system is out of whack, you don’t have to suffer. Here are simple tips for squelching 4 common digestive disorders...

Bad food can cause a digestive upset. So can chronic conditions such as celiac disease, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis (UC).

But no matter what the cause, you can ease an assault on your gastric system.

Here are 4 common digestive problems and ways to tackle them:

1. Constipation Do you have fewer than three bowel movements a week?

You’re officially constipated and you have plenty of company: More than 4 million Americans - mostly women and the elderly - are frequently constipated, according to the National Institutes of Health, and that can lead to bigger problems.

Constant straining can cause painful hemorrhoids and, over time, it raises the risk of developing tiny pouches in your colon that can become infected.

Constipation can also be a sign of colon or colorectal cancer, but your age, weight, exercise habits, diet, ethnic background and genetics all play a part in determining your risk.

 

 Medications and supplements that may make constipation worse:

• Allergy pills (antihistamines)
• Painkillers that contain hydrocodone, oxycodone, morphine and fentanyl
• Tricyclic antidepressants
• Parkinson’s medications
• Cholesterol-reducing drugs (statins)
• Iron and calcium supplements

How to fix itTo get things moving down there, first try small lifestyle changes.

Eat more high-fiber foods, such as oatmeal, apples or prunes. Drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water and get at least a half-hour of exercise every day.

Another option?

Take probiotic supplements: The live bacteria will reestablish a healthy ecosystem in your gut.

If you’re still straining or not going at all, try an over-the-counter laxative. The following two remedies may help. 

 

Stool softeners (bisacodyl; brand name Dulcolax® ): Within hours, this popular over-the-counter drug softens waste and stimulates your colon’s muscles to contract and squeeze out its contents.

The tablets must be swallowed whole — don’t crush or chew them because they’re specially coated to minimize gastric irritation and allow the drug’s active ingredient to be released only in the colon. If swallowing pills is troublesome, buy the liquid version or suppositories.

How to use it: Take bisacodyl with an 8-ounce glass of water.

Watch out: Some people feel faint or crampy after using bisacodyl tablets or suppositories. This is more likely if you take antacids, acid blockers or eat dairy products within one hour of taking it; they reduce stomach acidity and prematurely destroy the medication’s coating, causing the side effects.

Aloe vera (brand name Lily of the Desert): Most people use aloe vera gel to heal burns, but you can also buy the juice. Drink 2-4 ounces a day.

Expect more normal bowel movements within a couple of days. It prevents your intestines from absorbing liquid, so feces stay soft and exit easier.

How to use it: Aloe vera juice is virtually tasteless, so drink it plain or add it to tea, smoothies, juice or cereal. It’s also loaded with vitamins and minerals.  

Watch out: Drinking too much can cause diarrhea or cramps.

If these don’t work, ask your doctor for a prescription-strength laxative.

2. Painful cramps and chronic diarrheaThese symptoms point to many digestive disorders, including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), ulcerative colitis, (an inflammatory condition that produces sores in the lining of the colon) and Crohn’s disease, an inflammatory bowel disease similar to UC.

Chronic diarrhea is dehydrating and robs the body of essential nutrients like B-vitamins and minerals, leaving you weak, tired and without appetite.

Medications and supplements that make cramps and diarrhea worse:

• Antibiotics
• Anti-viral drugs
• Anti-parasitic drugs
• Potassium
• Cough syrups, especially those containing guaifenesin (an expectorant)
• Magnesium
• Thyroid medication
• Antacids containing aluminum
• Acid blockers

 How to fix itProbiotics (Culturelle or florastor): These probiotic supplements can drive out bad bacteria and fungus, such as Candida albicans, a common cause for diarrhea, cramps and other illnesses like IBS. You can take one or both together.

In fact, whether you have diarrhea or not, take a probiotic daily to boost your overall digestive health.

How to use it: Take probiotics whenever you take antibiotics (and for three days afterward) to reduce the risk of a vaginal yeast infection. You can buy them at health food stores.

Watch out: Eating yogurt or kefir — a fermented milk drink available in some health food stores — isn’t a good idea for people with digestive disorders. For one thing, probiotics die in sweetened yogurt. But most important: A protein in dairy foods called casein can exacerbate existing digestive woes.

Ginger: The gnarly-looking roots at your farmer’s market or grocery store are Mother Nature’s best defense against digestive pain, cramps (including menstrual cramps), nausea and inflammation.

How to use it: Grate an inch of the root into pulp and add it to hot water. After 10 minutes, strain and sweeten the tea, if you like. Drink a cup twice daily. Add ginger to smoothies, soups, marinades and sauces.

Watch out: The maximum recommended dose is 4 grams daily. Ginger is a blood-thinner, so if you take aspirin or anticoagulants, talk to your doctor before using it.

Peppermint oil: The herb and essential oil calm the GI tract and may have antibiotic effects. It helps with IBS, indigestion, bloating and gas. It calms stomach muscles, so food passes to the bowel and helps you pass gas. It also improves bile flow, essential to digestion and fat absorption.

How to use it: Try peppermint tea, supplements, add fresh leaves to your salad and smoothies or just eat them raw.

Watch out: Peppermint supplements may exacerbate conditions like reflux (the backup of liquids from your stomach into your esophagus) and heartburn, the burning caused from reflux. Buy supplements with an enteric coating, which prevents them from dissolving until they reach the small intestine.

3. Hemorrhoids
Chronic constipation, IBS and other digestive disorders can lead to problems outside the gut, including hemorrhoids (swollen, painful veins in and around the anus).

Medications and supplements that may make hemorrhoids worse:

• Allergy pills (antihistamines)
• Painkillers that contain hydrocodone, oxycodone, morphine and fentanyl
• Tricyclic antidepressants
• Parkinson’s medication
• Cholesterol-reducing drugs (statins)
• Iron or calcium supplements

Conventional medicine’s answer is often surgery, but first try these non-invasive steps.

How to fix it
Ice packs: Put them on your anus for 15 or 20 minutes - no longer - to relieve inflammation. 

Stool softeners (Docusate sodium; brand name Colace): This stool softener is essential for people with a heart condition or “vagus nerve” disorder because straining can be dangerous for them. Stool softeners make it easier for you to pass bowel movements, so there’s less pressure on touchy nerve endings and sensitive hemorrhoids.

How to use it: Drink lots of water! It makes the drug work better and prevents dehydration, which causes constipation and more hemorrhoids.

Watch out: Side effects include stomach pain, mild cramping and diarrhea.

Silica: Found in seafood, seaweed and horsetail (whose leaves look like a horse’s tail), this crystalline mineral strengthens the delicate blood vessels around the anus.

How to use it: Squirt silica solution on a cotton pad and press it to your rectum to soothe the burn or take horsetail supplements.

Watch out: When you buy horsetail, make sure the ingredient label says Equisetum arvense and organic to ensure that it’s pesticide-free.

If you take too much silica or use an inferior brand, you may get mild digestive upset. The herb also has mild diuretic effects, so long-term use could deplete your body of potassium and other important minerals.

4. Heartburn
Mild, occasional heartburn is the result of reflux, the backup of acidic liquids from your stomach into your esophagus.

If heartburn and reflux accompany other chronic digestive disorders, you may be allergic to gluten, a protein in wheat, or the milk protein casein. See a GI specialist before taking any drugs or supplements.

Medications and supplements that may make heartburn worse:

• Bone-building drugs (brand names: Fosamax, Boniva, Actonel)
• Blood pressure medications
• Nitrates (like nitroglycerin) for the heart
• Breathing medications (theophylline)
• Asthma inhalers (albuterol)
• Some antidepressants and psychiatric medications
• Some sleeping pills

How to fix it
Antacids (Maalox and Tums): These work within minutes to relieve the burning sensation in your chest and throat.

But those symptoms could also mean something more serious, such as a heart attack. If the pain does not subside quickly after taking an antacid, call 911.

How to use it: Take them orally, in chewable, liquid or tablet form, according to package directions.

Watch out: People with kidney conditions should use antacids only under a doctor’s care. Long-term use can rob your body of B-vitamins and minerals.

DGL (deglycyrrhizinated licorice): Found in health-food stores, this natural supplement comes from licorice, but eating the candy won’t help. DGL’s active component is glycyrrhizinic acid, an anti-inflammatory that helps create digestive mucous and relieves ulcers, indigestion, heartburn, gastritis and upset stomach. 

How to use it: Chew a tablet before meals. DGL can help bring up mucus and other material if you have a cough or cold.

Watch out: Get the version marked deglycyrrhizinated. Plain licorice root extract can raise your blood pressure; DGL may lower it or thin the blood.

For more information on tummy troubles, visit our Digestive Health Center.

What’s Your Indigestion IQ?Are you familiar with the lingering discomforts associated with gastrointestinal issues? The good news is that you can take steps to prevent the unnecessary side effects brought on by certain behaviors. Do you know how? Take this indigestion quiz to find out.

Check out Health Bistro for more healthy food for thought. See what Lifescript editors are talking about and get the skinny on latest news. Share it with your friends (it’s free to sign up!), and bookmark it so you don’t miss a single juicy post!

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The information contained on www.lifescript.com (the "Site") is provided for informational purposes only and is not meant to substitute for advice from your doctor or health-care professional. This information should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, or prescribing any medication. Always seek the advice of a qualified health-care professional regarding any medical condition. Information and statements provided by the site about dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Lifescript does not recommend or endorse any specific tests, physicians, third-party products, procedures, opinions, or other information mentioned on the Site. Reliance on any information provided by Lifescript is solely at your own risk.

 

My thoughts

 

Don't you just hate it when your tummy aches?  I do!  Lucky for me, I rarely experience stomach pains.  

 

I like the tips in these articles, especially the natural remedies recommended.  There's really no need to run to a regular drugstore immediately.

Why Wait for the Doctor?

Do You Need a Wake-Up Call?

Daily Inspiration

John H. Sklare, Ed.D

Published December 19, 2006

 

So you’ve been thinking about starting an exercise routine to feel better and lose weight.  You’ve been thinking about walking every evening, eating healthier and making real changes in the present to lay the groundwork for a healthier future.  The problem is that you haven’t yet moved beyond the thinking stage.  Well, perhaps I can help you do that today because, when it comes to your health, you don’t want the proverbial wake-up call.

 

The kind of wake-up call that I’m talking about is typically delivered by your doctor.  He or she will look you in the eye, get that very serious look on their face and tell you that it’s time to get serious about your health.  They then tell you that you have to lose weight because you have or are on the verge of developing diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol or some other obesity-related illness.  This is a wake-up call I’d prefer you avoid.  However, even a poor health report from your doctor isn’t enough motivation for some to change, but for the wise, they take action.  So, in an attempt to help you avoid that wake-up call from your doctor, allow me to perform a wellness intervention.  If this scenario strikes too close to home for you, why not use me as your wake-up call and avoid that more serious one from your doctor later!

 

Wishing You Great Health,

Dr. John H. Sklare

 

My Thoughts

 

I know a lot of people who don't want to see doctors.  They keep putting things off until it's too late to do something.  Putting off can be caused by a lot of things:  the expense, lack of time or simply fear of knowing we're in a state of sickness and not in a state of health.

 

The fear of seeing the doctor is magnified when we know we have not been taking care of ourselves: no exercise, lack of sleep, unhealthy food intake, stressful way of life.

 

If we're honest with ourselves, we don't really need our doctors to wake us up.  Who wants to be sick?  I would rather die peacefully in my sleep than in a hospital bed, thin and wasted after a series of radiations.

 

Dr. Sklare is right.  Absolutely. This article should be a wake-up call.  We have the choice between sickness and health.  Better start working on the latter.  Now.  Not soon.

 

Pick your PERSPIRATION DATE to extend your EXPIRATION DATE

Extend Your Expiration Date

Daily Inspiration

By John H. Sklare, Ed.D, Lifescript Personal Coach

Published November 04, 2011

 

We’re all familiar with a certain phrase that appears on perishable items: the expiration date. As you know, that date tells you the item’s expected shelf life. If the item is not purchased by the expiration date, it’s considered no longer safe for consumption and is removed from the shelf. One way that we humans are different from products lies in our ability to extend our expiration dates. With that said, I’d like to offer you a suggestion today about extending your expiration date.

If you’re looking for a way to enhance your health and extend your expiration date, I suggest you begin by picking a perspiration date. In other words, one of the critical keys to enriching your life, enhancing your wellness and extending your time on this planet lies in incorporating exercise into your life. If you’re like most people, you have given a mountain of lip service to starting an exercise program but just never seem to be able to put that thought into action. Pick a perspiration date, and then commit yourself to begin working out on that day. Check with your doctor first if you have serious health problems. I promise you that exercise will bestow physical, mental and emotional benefits that will make you feel reborn, reenergized and full of pride. This is one powerful way to give your old life a makeover, provide your mind and body a healthy wellness inoculation and extend your expiration date at the same time. So let me see a show of hands! Who wants to live a longer and healthier life?

Wishing You Great Health,
Dr. John H. Sklare

www.innerdiet.com  

 

my thoughts

 

i like this!  really! and i really have to squeeze in a perspiration date.  obviously for health reasons.  illness is a no-no.  i don't like hospital bills.  well, i don't like hospitals.  period.  never been confined.  but that's going to change if i don't pick my perspiration date. that's got to be SOON.

What' Healthy Breathing

Nose or Mouth? How You Breathe Matters
YOUR DAILY FIT TIP
By Jennifer Gruenemay, ACE-Certified, Special to Lifescript
Published September 20, 2011
from www.lifescript.com

Should you breathe out of your mouth or nose while exercising? And is this really a crucial part of a good workout? It really depends on what type of exercise you’re doing. For low-intensity, meditative moves like yoga, breathing in and out of the nose is best. Why? Because it forces you to breathe slower, which calms the nervous system and promotes relaxation.

But if you’re headed out for a run or to a high-intensity cardio class, nose-breathing probably won’t cut it. For workouts like this, you don’t want to limit the amount of oxygen you deliver to your brain and working muscles. Limiting oxygen means limiting energy production in your cells.

Basically, what it comes down to is doing what works best for you. Your body will tell you if nose-breathing is limiting your air intake because you’ll get light-headed from lack of oxygen to your brain. If you experience any lightheadedness or dizziness, just switch to mouth-breathing. It’s admirable to give nose-breathing a try, but go ahead and take in a big gulp of air through your mouth if you need to.


Check out Health Bistro for more healthy food for thought. See what Lifescript editors are talking about and get the skinny on latest news. Share it with your friends (it’s free to sign up!), and bookmark it so you don’t miss a single juicy post!

MY THOUGHTS

That's something to look into while exercising.  I never took notice.  But I never get dizzy while dancing or walking. So, I guess, I'm breathing properly? 

366 Million Diabetics: A Sickness and Health Warning

Lifescript.com published an article recently that reported a staggering figure of 366 million diabetics worldwide.  The figure is not only staggering .  It is also disturbing. 


Diabetes is known to cause the death of a person every 7 seconds.  That's scary.  But what is scarier is that majority of those who have the disease have Type 2 diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes is not hereditary.  It's caused by unhealthy lifestyle: poor diet, no exercise, excessive weight, smoking and drinking. These are lifestyles that are very much within our control.  And, yet they continue to lead to a deadly disease.

4.6 million diabetic deaths every year - and we will add up to that statistic if we don't change the way we live.

Where to Get More Calcium

Tips for Getting More Calcium
By Shereen Jegtvig, About.com Guide
Updated September 14, 2011
About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by our Medical Review Board
from about.com

Calcium is one of the major minerals your body needs to function properly. Most adults need from 1000 to 1200 milligrams (mg) calcium per day and teenagers need about 1300 mg per day. Your body also needs adequate amounts of vitamin D to be able to utilize calcium properly.

Choosing Calcium-Rich Dairy Products

Consuming three cups of dairy products each day should provide you with enough calcium. One cup of dairy is equal to one cup of milk, one cup of yogurt or 1.5 to 2.0 ounces of cheese (about the size of two dominoes):

    One cup fluid milk has 300 mg calcium
    One cup plain yogurt has 488 mg calcium
    Two ounces of cheddar cheese has 400 mg calcium
    Two ounces of blue cheese has 300 mg calcium

You can increase your dietary dairy calcium intake a few ways:

    Add dry milk powder to soups and sauces
    Drink milk as a beverage
    Use low- or non-fat milk in smoothies
    Eat low- or non-fat yogurt as a snack or for dessert
    Top cooked vegetables with cheese
    Add a slice of cheese to a sandwich

Dairy products are rich in calcium, but they can also be high in fat. Choose low-fat or non-fat milk and dairy products when possible. Food safety is importent too. Keep fresh milk and dairy products in the refrigerator and avoid raw milk. Pasteurization doesn't change the calcium content of dairy products.

Non-Dairy Sources of Calcium

Not every one consumes dairy products. Vegans don't consume any form of animal products including milk, cheese or other dairy products. People with lactose intolerance can't digest milk sugar properly, and some people just don' t like dairy products. These people can get calcium from non-dairy sources. Green leafy vegetables, broccoli, whole sardines, soy and other legumes, and nuts:

    One cup raw kale has 90 mg calcium
    One cup of pinto beans 80 mg calcium
    Three ounces of canned salmon with bones has 180 mg calcium
    One cup of tofu (soy) yogurt has 310 mg calcium
    Three ounces of canned sardines has 330 mg calcium
    One-half cup cooked turnip greens has 100 mg calcium
    One cup of chopped broccoli has 43 mg calcium

You can also buy calcium-fortified orange juice, breakfast cereal, soy milk and rice beverages. Calcium is also available as a dietary supplement. Speak to your health care provider before taking calcium or other dietary supplements.

Vitamin D

Your body makes vitamin D when your skin is exposed to sunlight. You need a few minutes of sun exposure on your face, arms or legs, about two days each week. Vitamin D doesn't occur in many foods. You can get the daily recommended amount of vitamin D by eating three ounces of salmon or mackerel, or you can get smaller amounts from egg yolks, beef liver and some mushrooms. Vitamin D is often added to dairy products, calcium supplements and foods that are calcium-fortifed.

Calcium-Rich Recipes

These recipes are made with healthy calcium-rich ingredients:

    Dairy-free almond-maple buttermilk pancakes are made with soy milk and almond meal.
    Low-fat broccoli soup is made with broccoli and non-fat milk.
    Vegan colcannon with kale is made with kale and soy milk.
    Easy to make cheese quesadillas are a calcium-rich snack for kids.
    Healthier peanut butter rice crispy treats can be made with calcium-fortifed rice cereal.
    Basic pinto beans can be served as a calcium and protein-rich side dish.
    Canned salmon (with the bones) can be used to make salon patties.

MY THOUGHTS

I stayed away from milk for years. Now, I'm forced to drink it.  Regularly.  Good that I love tofu though.

HOW TO KEEP YOUR MEMORY SHARP

Even Light Exercise Keeps Your Memory Sharp
By Laurie Tarkan | August 2, 2011
From www.bnet.com

Being forgetful is a dreaded affliction of middle age–having words on the tip of your tongue and forgetting what you were just about to say–but it turns out that it doesn’t take much effort to stave off the effects of aging on your memory and your mind.  A growing body of research shows that you can slow the progression of memory loss and dementia by regular light exercise, like by walking or gardening. You don’t have to do moderate to high intensity exercise to get the oxygen flowing to your brain. So if you needed a tad more motivation to walk to work or exercise during your lunch break, here it is:

Go for a walk

In one study published in Archives of Internal Medicine, researchers at the University of Waterloo in Ontario measured the energy expenditure and cognitive functioning of elderly adults for two to five years. The “active” adults did not exercise, but instead did things like walking around the block, gardening and cleaning. But this moderate activity protected them from cognitive decline over several years compared to people who were more sedentary. About 90 percent of those with the greatest daily activity could think and remember just about as well over the course of the study.

Prevent brain shrinkage

Another recent study found that exercise counteracts brain shrinkage that occurs with age. The hippocampus “shrinks” in late adulthood, and this reduced volume is associated with impaired memory and increased risk of dementia, explained Dr. Eric B. Larson, the study’s author. But his study found that hippocampal volume increased by 2% compared with declines in the control groups.

Not Just For The Elderly

One study published in the Journal of Sports Science and Medicine looked at young adults ranging in age from 19 to 29 and found that those who did moderate exercise five times a week for 30 minutes had enhanced memory compared to those who didn’t exercise as much.

Lift Dumbbells

If you can’t get out and walk, strength training may be just as effective. Another study published this month in Neurobiology of Aging found that weight training improved how older women think and changed how blood flows within their brains. Women who lifted weights twice a week for 12 months performed significantly better on mental processing tests than a control group.

“Exercise may turn out to be as close as we can come to the long-sought fountain of youth, and exercise, particularly walking, has no significant adverse effects,” wrote Dr. Larson.

Do you feel your brain works better when you exercise regularly?

MY THOUGHTS

I have to admit that my brain seems to function better when I exercise.  When I'm sedentary, my brain seems to switch off, too. 

CAN YOUR PAIN MEDICATION CAUSE YOU SICKNESS AND ILL-HEALTH?

IS YOUR PAIN MEDICATION HAZARDOUS TO YOUR HEALTH?

"In high doses, one of our most-trusted, over-the-counter and prescription pain relievers – acetaminophen – can kill you. Acetaminophen overdose is the top cause of liver failure among Americans, and women are especially at risk." I am quoting from the article 'Pain Medications: Can You be Overdosing' by Diane Wedner, Lifescript Medical Detective. 

If you're like me and you're taking over-the-counter pain medication like crazy you should read the full article. (click here). It scared the daylights out of me.  I am in now in the process of finding ways to manage my migraines so I won't overdose on the pain relievers.  I would rather do away with some awful habits to prevent sickness.  That's a healthier alternative.  Would you prefer to go through a liver transplant caused by pain reliever overdose.

There's really nothing wrong with pain relievers.  Taken in moderation, it won't result to sickness or other health risks.  But when you buy it over-the counter like vitamins and gobble them up regularly in high doses, then a health problem might be in the offing.

I don't want my simple sickness (migraine) to result to a serious liver health condition.  I'm taking stock.  I'm paying attention.  I'm making changes.  How about you?

In Sickness and in Health: PROTECT YOUR JOINTS

In Sickness and in Health:  PROTECT YOUR JOINTS


Ever heard of osteoarthritis? Dictionary.com defines it as "the most common form of arthritis,  usually occurring after middle age, marked by chronic breakdown of cartilage in the joints leading to pain, stiffness, and swelling."  It's a degenerative joint disease that can cause immobility and extreme pain.  It's a health problem. It's a sickness that can be prevented.

Don't you get scared when you see people who look like this?

I do.  I get really scared.  And that's why I read articles about it.  About health.  About sickness.  And how they can be prevented.

Lifescript.com published "12 ways to Protect your joints" and here's a summary of their suggestions:

1. "Lighten your load" - extra weight causes extra stress to our joints and we become more prone to fractures and injury.  A lot of sickness can be avoided when healthy weight is maintained.  Shedding off those extra pounds can do wonders for our health.

2.  "Get Moving" - a sedentary lifestyle increases the risk of osteoarthritis. We need to be physically active to have stronger muscles and to lubricate our joints. Do some housework.  Park a little further away. Go around the block.  Take those stairs.  Dance if you must. (Or you can).  Anything that will get us moving-away from sickness and toward robust health.

3. "Strengthen your Core" - great abs is not only sexy.  It has a lot of health benefits.  Firm abs is equivalent to a firm core. It gives us stability and better control which mean less pressure on our joints.  A firm core is one sure way of staying in good health.

4. Try Tai Chi - This is a form of Chinese Martial arts that requires slow circular and streching movements. The slow, repetitive movements make us more flexible and strong which, in turn, causes less stress on our joints.  Search youtube for some simple tai chi moves if you're not up to spending for a CD.  On the other hand, wouldn't you rather invest on your health rather than spend on medicine and hospital bills because of sickness.

5.  Run Smart - our joints will certainly get more pounding if we prefer running to walking.  But it can be done without getting yourself injured.  Check out this link for some safe running tips.

6.  Load up on fish - Lifescript suggests "at least two servings a week – 3.5 ounces cooked or 3/4 cup canned."  3.5 ounces is almost 100 grams.  That's not much considering the health benefits.  The Omega-3 fatty acids in fish helps in cartilage formation and reduces the risk of joint inflammation.  I'm lucky I love fish.

7.  Do not slouch - this is my biggest problem.  I'm a sloucher.  A big one.  The chiropractor who treated me confirmed this.  As I have slouched all my life, my neck bones and spinal chord are now misaligned.  This causes my perennial headeaches, back pain, hip and knee pains.  So, if you want to stay away from sickness and be healthy, be conscious of your posture.  Slouching "strains our ligaments" while erect posture allows for "even distibution of our weight".  Needless to say,  when you stand and sit erect, there will be less pressure on the joints.

8.  Minimize the use of stilletos - occasional high heels won't do much harm.  But frequent use of shoes with very high heels puts a lot of pressure on knees and hips. In my younger days, I was a stilleto person.  My health was put to risk and I have long ago switched to the comfortable flats.  You don't need to hurt yourself to be stylish.

9.  Go easy on the handbags - those heavy loads are hazardous to your health-to your "joints and wrists.  I know that for a fact.  Raid your handbags and carry only the essentials.  If you must bring a heavy load, go for the backpack.

10. "Don't be a weekend warrior" - What's a weekend warrior?  Someone who does no exercise on weekdays and tries to compensate on weekends.  According to Lifescript, this is damaging to our health and suggests 30-minute exercises on non-weekends.

11. Avoid Processed Foods - Lifescript calls the fats in processed foods destructive.  Do I need to say more?  For obvious health reasons, the best way is to go natural.

12.  Stop when you Have Joint Pain - Pain and swelling is a sign of too much stress.  If you want to have healthy joints, give it some rest.

These are all very sensible reminders.  If you're reading this, you'reprobably at that age where you're starting to feel the pressure on your joints.  I hope we can influence the younger generation to take heed.  Health is not like school exams and reports where we can cram and still, by sheer luck, pass.  Avoiding sickness requires folowing the law of the harvest.  You cannot harvest what you have not planted. 

via Lifescript -

Hot Dogs Equal Cigarettes, Says Doctor's Group
First Posted: 7/28/11 10:19 AM ET Updated: 7/28/11 09:42 PM ET
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/07/28/hot-dogs-cigarettes_n_911431.html

A provocative new billboard outside the Indianapolis Speedway—home of the Indy 500—claims that hot dogs are just as bad as cigarettes when it comes to health effects. The Physician's Committee For Responsible Medicine, the group sponsoring the billboard, cites as justification for the billboard a study linking once-a-day hot dog consumption to a 22% increase in colorectal cancer.

Northern Virginia magazine noted that the group is closely affiliated with alternative medicine and veganism, casting doubt on its reputability. But it's hard to imagine the statement "you shouldn't eat a hot dog every day of your life" is all that controversial.

MY THOUGHTS

If this is true, then it goes the same for all foods loaded with preservatives. But it can't be as bad as cigarettes.

CAN YOU DRINK TOO MUCH WATER?

IS IT POSSIBLE TO DRINK TOO MUCH WATER?

From the article 'Can You Drink Too Much Water?'
By Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D., About.com Guide

Question: Can You Drink Too Much Water?
Answer: You've probably heard that it's important to 'drink plenty of fluids' or simply 'drink lots of water'. There are excellent reasons for drinking water, but have you ever wondered if it's possible to drink too much water. Here's what you need to know:

Can You Really Drink Too Much Water?

In a word, yes. Drinking too much water can lead to a condition known as water intoxication and to a related problem resulting from the dilution of sodium in the body, hyponatremia. Water intoxication is most commonly seen in infants under six months of age and sometimes in athletes. A baby can get water intoxication as a result of drinking several bottles of water a day or from drinking infant formula that has been diluted too much. Athletes can also suffer from water intoxication. Athletes sweat heavily, losing both water and electrolytes. Water intoxication and hyponatremia result when a dehydrated person drinks too much water without the accompanying electrolytes.

It's Not How Much You Drink, It's How Fast You Drink It!

The kidneys of a healthy adult can process fifteen liters of water a day! You are unlikely to suffer from water intoxication, even if you drink a lot of water, as long as you drink over time as opposed to intaking an enormous volume at one time. As a general guideline, most adults need about three quarts of fluid each day. Much of that water comes from food, so 8-12 eight ounce glasses a day is a common recommended intake. You may need more water if the weather is very warm or very dry, if you are exercising, or if you are taking certain medications. The bottom line is this: it's possible to drink too much water, but unless you are running a marathon or an infant, water intoxication is a very uncommon condition.

MY THOUGHTS

Oh, well! Drink on.  Most people can't even take in the recommended 8 glasses.

Just 10 Minutes for a Healthy Heart?

Just 10 Minutes for a Healthy Heart?

from the article '10 Minutes to a Healthy Heart'
Exercise Your Most Important Muscle
By Jennifer Gruenemay, ACE-Certified, Special to Lifescript
Published September 01, 2010

Heart disease isn’t just an old-age problem. It often begins in your youth and takes a lifetime to develop. Fortunately, you can jumpstart your heart health at any age. Check out Lifescript's 10-Minute Heart Circuit program…

You’ve heard it before: Heart disease is the No. 1 killer in the U.S. But women often gloss over this fact because, after all, isn’t it typically a man’s disease?

The reality? Heart disease kills more women than men each year. And if you’ve been exercising the remote more than your abs at the gym, your risk is double that of women who make fitness a priority, says the American Heart Association (AHA).

“Women have to be active to protect their hearts,” says Miriam Nelson, Ph.D., director of the John Hancock Center for Physical Activity and Nutrition at Tufts University, co-author of Strong Women, Strong Hearts (Putnam Adult) and expert at BeWell.com. Her advice? Lace up your gym shoes and get that heart rate going.

Along with a heart-smart diet, exercise helps keep your stress, blood pressure, cholesterol and weight under control – all important factors for a healthy heart.

“Aerobic fitness keeps the entire cardiovascular system healthy,” Nelson says.

But you don’t have to go from couch potato to marathon runner to get a healthy heart boost. All you really need is 10 minutes.

Three 10-minute bouts of exercise a day improve cardiorespiratory fitness as much as one 30-minute session, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Physical Activity Guidelines Advisory Committee Report.

You need 30 minutes of exercise five or more days a week for a healthy heart.

What kind of exercise is best for a healthy heart? Most experts first suggest cardio.

“Any activity that increases heart rate and breathing rate – like walking, jogging, running, cycling, swimming, hiking, etc. – is good for the heart,” Nelson says.

But weight lifting is also highly recommended.

“Strength training helps the heart too,” Nelson says, “but it’s best when done in combination with aerobic exercise.”

MY THOUGHTS

Dancing is considered as aerobic exercise.  10 minutes spread through out the day is not too much too ask-if you want a healthy heart.  The decision is entirely yours.

Sore, Stiff and Swollen? It Could Be Rheumatoid Arthritis

Sore, Stiff and Swollen? It Could Be Rheumatoid Arthritis
By Rita Baron-Faust, Special to Lifescript

Provided by the Society for Women’s Health Research
Published April 11, 2011

When you hear “arthritis,” you might think of wear-and-tear joint pain that worsens only as you age. But rheumatoid arthritis (RA) can strike in your 30s and leave arms and legs disfigured. Read on for risk factors, symptoms and treatment of this chronic inflammatory disorder…

More than 2 million Americans – about 70% of them women – are affected by rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a chronic inflammation of the lining of the joints (synovium).

Although it can occur at any age, women typically notice symptoms between the ages of 30 and 50. RA is the most common rheumatic autoimmune disease. It can lead to permanent joint damage and can cause chronic pain, loss of function and disability. RA can also be a systemic disease, affecting other parts of the body.

Risk Factors

RA appears to be caused by a combination of genetic vulnerability, environmental triggers and hormonal influences. People with the genetic marker (a portion of DNA used to identify an individual disease or trait) known as HLA-DR4 appear to have an increased risk of developing RA and of having more severe disease.

Some of the suspected environmental triggers include Epstein-Barr virus and bacteria, including streptococci (which causes strep throat and rheumatic fever), salmonella (which causes food poisoning), Escherichia coli (E. coli, which causes urinary tract infections), Heliobacter pylori (which causes stomach ulcers) and Borrelia burgdorferi (which causes Lyme disease). Cigarette smoking is also linked to RA.

Why Your Sex Matters
While women are two to three times more likely to get RA than men, men tend to be affected more severely.

Studies show that women who have never had a child are twice as likely to develop RA as women who have. The disease often improves during pregnancy (when estrogen levels are high) but worsens after delivery (when estrogen levels drop).

The peak age for RA appears to be after 40, when estrogen levels are fluctuating or declining. Recent research suggests that if RA is diagnosed after menopause, it may progress at a faster rate. This has spurred research into the role that estrogen may play in RA; some scientists are studying whether oral contraceptives might be protective.

Women with RA may have reduced fertility, which can predate their diagnosis. Some drug treatments used for RA can also affect fertility. Menopausal symptoms in women with RA can be treated with low-dose estrogen, but hormone therapy needs to be individualized (as it does for any menopausal woman).

The risk of premature atherosclerosis (thickening of artery walls by cholesterol-laden plaques) and coronary artery disease is greater among women with RA. Some research indicates that women under 50 with RA have three times the risk of death from heart attack and congestive heart failure as healthy women of the same age.

Corticosteroids such as prednisone, one of the mainstays of RA therapy, can also increase cholesterol and the risk of diabetes, infections and osteoporosis. Women taking corticosteroids may need bone-building drugs or cholesterol-lowering medications. In addition, RA has been linked to low bone density independent of corticosteroid therapy.

Symptoms
The first symptoms of RA may include swelling, stiffness (often worse in the morning) and general aching of the joints. RA affects joints on both sides of the body, in contrast to osteoarthritis, a disease of wear and tear that may strike joints in one area.

The joints affected by RA also may be warm or red. Other common symptoms are fatigue, weakness, muscle pain and depression.

In 50% of women, symptoms come on gradually and can wax and wane. As the disease progresses, inflamed cells in the joint release enzymes that can digest bone and cartilage, often causing the joint to lose its shape and alignment and increasing pain and loss of movement.

Early diagnosis and treatment are important in minimizing joint destruction, so it is essential to see a doctor if telltale symptoms persist for a number of weeks.

Around 20% of women with RA may develop raised, firm lumps just under the skin, known as rheumatoid nodules. These nodules often occur in areas where there is repeated pressure on the skin, such as the elbows. Because RA can be systemic, these nodules may arise in the eyes, heart or lungs.

Up to half of women with RA may develop inflammation in the lining of the lungs (pleurisy), making it painful to take a deep breath. Inflammation may also develop around the sac enclosing the heart (pericarditis); symptoms include chest pain, dry cough and fever. Even blood vessels may become inflamed in RA; a sign of this vasculitis can be tiny broken blood vessels in the nail bed.

Diagnosis

Doctors may need to perform several tests to diagnose RA properly. The work-up will most likely include a complete medical history, physical exam, lab tests and X-rays. During the physical exam, your doctor will look for evidence of joint swelling, tenderness, redness, misalignment or loss of motion.

Expect to describe your pain, including the times of day it is most and least severe. Blood tests include a test for an antibody called rheumatoid factor (RF); approximately 70% to 80% of people with RA have positive tests for rheumatoid factor (but it may not be detected early on in RA). It is important to note that RF can be present in other conditions (including lupus and even infections), so testing positive is only one factor in making a diagnosis.

Other blood tests look for evidence of inflammation, including an erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR or SED rate), which measures the speed at which red blood cells fall to the bottom of a test tube, and C-reactive protein (CRP), which is elevated with systemic inflammation. A complete blood count may reveal anemia, a low red blood cell count, which often occurs in RA. X-rays are used to determine the degree of joint erosion, cartilage loss and joint distortion.

Treatment
Your doctor will prescribe treatments to attack RA on several fronts: to relieve pain and reduce inflammation and to stop or slow joint damage. The choice of medications takes into account how severe your symptoms are and how far the disease has progressed.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are commonly used to combat pain. These include aspirin and its chemical cousins, ibuprofen and naproxen, diclofenac, and indomethacin, and newer NSAIDs, called COX-2 inhibitors.

However, COX-2 drugs carry an increased risk of heart attack and stroke and should not be used if you have or are at increased risk for cardiovascular disease. Recent studies show that all NSAIDs also carry slight cardiovascular risks and should not be used at high doses for prolonged periods.

Corticosteroids such as prednisone are used to combat inflammation and modulate immune overreactivity. Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), including methotrexate and leflunomide, may be used to slow joint destruction. The newest DMARDs are “biologic” agents that inhibit the cytokines that promote inflammation and joint destruction. These include the TNFα (tumor necrosis factor) blockers.

Joint replacement surgery is often needed for RA patients with severely damaged joints. Just about any joint in the body can now be replaced, and the surgery dramatically improves function and pain.

Exercise and stress reduction are important for RA patients. Patients and their health care providers are turning increasingly to alternative and complementary therapies such as massage and acupuncture.

Future Approaches to RA Treatment
Researchers are looking at agents that block the processes by which arthritis begins. One strategy being tested is the use of cancer drugs, such as rituximab, to selectively destroy B cells that contribute to the disease process of RA. Another biological drug being tested for RA, alefacept, targets specific T cells.

Stem cell transplantation is another novel therapy under study. Stem cells are primitive cells in the bone marrow that can multiply into specific blood cells.

In this experimental treatment, a patient’s immune system is destroyed with high doses of chemotherapy drugs and then reconstituted with stem cells from the person’s own red blood cells (autologous stem cells).

Studies are also being done on new markers that could be used to diagnose RA earlier, before joint destruction has begun (or perhaps in women at high risk before the disease process is fully under way).

One such experimental test looks for autoantibodies, called cyclic citrullinated peptides (CCPs); one study found that 93% of those who tested positive for CCPs went on to develop RA after three years, but only 25% of those who tested negative developed the condition.

Excerpted from The Savvy Woman Patient: How and Why Sex Differences Affect Your Health (Capital Books) by the Society for Women’s Health Research.   

MY THOUGHTS

This is scarier than I thought.

HOW TO PREVENT RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS

How to Prevent Symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis
Avoid These 8 Factors for Arthritis Prevention
By Carole Jacobs, Special to Lifescript
Published May 23, 2011
Reviewed By Edward C. Geehr, M.D.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a chronic autoimmune condition that affects 1%-3% of U.S. women, is on the rise – and can be triggered by everything from caffeine to car exhaust fumes. But researchers around the world are discovering new ways to reduce your risks. Learn about the top 8 things that could raise your chances of needing RA treatment, and get expert advice on how to avoid them...

Women are three times as likely to get rheumatoid arthritis (RA) as men, according to the American College of Rheumatology – and the numbers are growing.

The prevalence of RA in women increased by 2.5% between 1995 and 2007, according to Sherine Gabriel, M.D., professor of medicine and epidemiology with the Mayo Clinic, who co-authored a 12-year study on the subject.

Unfortunately, no RA cure is in sight, and research is divided on the exact causes – but scientists are beginning to connect the dots.

Studies show a correlation between RA and family genes, smoking, pollution, environmental toxins, lower estrogen levels and viral infections, says RA researcher Katherine Molnar-Kimber, Ph.D., founder of Rheumatoid Arthritis Decisions, a website for women with RA.

“Studies suggest factors that affect your overall health also contribute to symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis,” Molnar-Kimber says.

Read on for 8 possible reasons behind the rise of RA – and how you can reduce your risks.

Arthritis prevention method #1: Get tested early.
If one or both of your parents have RA, you have a greater risk of developing the disease – but odds are still small, says Steven Soloway, M.D., a rheumatologist and RA advocate in Vineland, N.J.

What to do: While you can’t change your parents, getting diagnosed and treated early and aggressively is the best way to minimize symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis.

“See a rheumatologist at least twice a year to get checked out, even if you have no symptoms,” Soloway says.

“That includes getting an MRI, which can detect joint disease much earlier than an X-ray.”

New medications can even halt RA when it’s caught early.

“Today’s cutting-edge biologic drugs can reverse the course of the disease and stop the destruction and erosion of bone. If caught and treated early, RA is more likely to go into remission,” Soloway says.

Arthritis prevention method #2: Increase estrogen.
Estrogen has been shown to help protect against RA.

The recent rise in women affected by the disease could be a result of lower estrogen levels in newer birth-control pills and hormone replacement therapy, according to the 2010 Mayo Clinic study.

Half of a group of pregnant women experienced relief from RA symptoms during pregnancy because of naturally higher estrogen levels, a 2008 study conducted in the Netherlands found.

What to do: If you want to have kids, no problem.

“Getting pregnant and breastfeeding puts many women with RA into a sustained or even a permanent remission,” Soloway says.

If not, birth control pills, while reformulated, “may also help reduce risk,” says Nathan Wei, M.D., a rheumatologist in Frederick, Md.

Already in menopause? Ask your physician about short-term estrogen therapy. While the landmark Nurses’ Health Study at Harvard University found an increased risk of breast cancer in women who took hormone replacement therapy (estrogen plus progesterone), estrogen therapy alone doesn’t increase the risk when taken for less than 10 years, according to the American Cancer Society.

Arthritis prevention method #3: Don’t smoke.
“Smoking can double your risk of RA,” says Fred Wolfe, M.D., a Kansas-based rheumatologist and former director of the National Data Bank for Rheumatic Diseases.

A series of recent studies bears this out.

Environmental pollutants like cigarette smoke and car and truck exhaust increased both inflammation and the risk of RA, a 2009 Harvard study conducted on 90,297 women found.

Women who smoked for at least 20 years were nearly twice as likely to develop RA than lifelong nonsmokers, according to a 2011 analysis at Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine in Japan. Women who had smoked at any time (including those who quit) were also more likely to develop RA than women who never smoked.

“Any type of smoking constitutes a significant risk factor for the development of RA,” notes study author Shunichi Kumagai, M.D., Ph.D., a professor of clinical pathology and immunology at Kobe University.

The risk of developing RA increased proportionally with the number of “pack-years” smoked, defined as one pack of cigarettes or 20 cigarettes daily for each year, a 2007 study at Denmark’s Danish Epidemiology Science Centre found.

What to do: Quit smoking.

Ask your physician about nicotine replacement therapy, antidepressants like bupropion (Zyban) that decrease your desire to smoke, and hypnosis – all of which have been shown to help smokers quit.

Even if you’re already experiencing symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, you’ll boost the effectiveness of your RA treatment by kicking the habit. Smoking hurt the effectiveness of most RA meds, including methotrexate and biologic treatments, in a 2011 study on nearly 1,500 people conducted at Karolinska University Hospital in Stockholm, Sweden.

Arthritis prevention method #4: Boost your vitamin D.
A vitamin-D deficiency could increase your risk of RA.

“Vitamin D is a powerful antioxidant and hormone, and deficiencies can lead to a host of diseases, including RA and multiple sclerosis,” says Michael Holick, Ph.D., M.D., a vitamin-D researcher, professor of medicine, physiology and biophysics at Boston University and author of The Vitamin D Solution (Hudson Street Press).

Women who live in northern latitudes, which get less D-producing sunlight, are more likely to develop symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, according to a 2010 study conducted on 13,000 women at several universities, including Boston University and Harvard.

Another 2010 report, from Tufts Medical Center, noted that a vitamin-D deficiency has been linked to several autoimmune disorders, including RA.

And several other studies, conducted at Penn State University, Brigham Young University and the University of Genoa in Italy, found that women who suffered vitamin-D deficiency had an increased risk of inflammatory diseases, including RA, lupus, arthritis and Crohn’s.

What to do: The reaction of sunlight on your skin is the key source of vitamin D. Only a few foods contain vitamin D, including egg yolks, salmon, some mushrooms, and vitamin-D-fortified foods, Holick says.

If you don’t eat a lot of foods with D and/or you live in a cloudy climate or regularly use sunscreen (which blocks out most vitamin D), you should take a daily supplement, he adds.

The Institute of Medicine, a branch of the National Academy of Sciences, recommends 600 International Units (IU) a day for women under age 71 and a maximum 800 IU for women age 71 and older.

(For more information, read Are You Deficient in Vitamin D?)

Arthritis prevention method #5: Limit caffeine.
Too much caffeine can do more than give you the jitters.

A 2010 study conducted at the University of Oslo in Norway found that heavy caffeine consumption increased RA risk, and a 2006 study conducted at the Danish Epidemiology Science Centre said the same thing about heavy coffee drinkers.

Interestingly, women who drank decaffeinated coffee also had an increased risk, according to a 2002 study conducted at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

What to do: Cut back to three or fewer cups daily. Moderate caffeine consumption (about 300-400 milligrams daily, or about three cups of coffee) isn’t likely to cause negative health effects, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Prefer to cut caffeine out of your life altogether?

Don’t go cold turkey. Even light coffee drinkers can suffer withdrawal symptoms, while heavy drinkers could experience a killer headache, according to John Hughes, Ph.D., director of the Human Behavior Pharmacology Laboratory at the University of Vermont.

It’s safer to give it up gradually over several weeks.

Arthritis prevention method #6: Eat more fish.
If you’re not eating enough fatty fish, along with olive oil or nuts and seeds, you could be increasing your risk for RA.

The chance of getting RA was reduced by 20%-30% in women who consumed fatty fish at least 1-3 three times a week, a landmark 1990 study of nearly 2,000 patients at Scotland’s University of Glasgow found.

Omega-3 fatty acids reduce the inflammatory response, says study author Gail Darlington, M.D., a researcher with Epsom General Hospital in Glasgow.

What to do: Eat plenty of cold-water fish high in omega-3 fatty acids, including salmon, tuna, lake trout, herring and mackerel – or else take 1-2 grams of fish-oil supplements per day. Extra virgin olive oil is another good source of omega 3’s, Darlington says.

Arthritis prevention method #7: Prevent viral infections.
“Several studies have shown that infection can be one of the initial causes of rheumatoid arthritis,” Molnar-Kimber says.

Some likely suspects include the hepatitis C virus, Epstein-Barr Virus, herpes simplex virus, human herpes virus type 6, cytomegalovirus, and parvovirus B19.

In a 2009 study conducted at Institute of Experimental Immunology at the University of Zurich, researchers found that viral infection often triggered autoimmune diseases like RA.

Infections were responsible for RA symptoms in about 20% of patients, a 2005 study at Finland’s Helsinki University Central Hospital found.

What to do: Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly. When possible, avoid places germs are likely, such as public rest rooms, drinking fountains, public tables and shopping carts – or clean surfaces with antibacterial wipes.

“See your physician if you’re feeling ill, so infections don’t get out of control,” says Molnar-Kimber.

Arthritis prevention method #8: Avoid environmental toxins.
Scientists are investigating the link between RA and exposure to toxins such as man-made pesticides, organic solvents, compounds like formaldehyde, and heavy metals like cadmium and mercury, Molnar-Kimber says.

Exposure to insecticides was associated with the risk of autoimmune rheumatic diseases such as RA in postmenopausal women, according to a 2010 study at the National Institute for Environmental Health Science in Durham, N.C.

The 2009 Harvard study of 90,297 women found that those who lived within 55 yards of a large road frequented by cars and trucks had a 31% increased risk for RA, compared with women who were less exposed to exhaust fumes.

What to do: “Several studies have shown that rheumatoid arthritis patients have less ability to rid their bodies of toxins due to low levels of glutathione, a protein produced by your liver that plays a key role in neutralizing [harmful] substances in the body,” Molnar-Kimber says.

To beef up your glutathione activity, take a glutathione supplement; an amino acid called L-carnitine may also help raise levels. Also eat foods rich in antioxidants, such as blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, strawberries, prunes, beans and pecans, which help repair cell damage, she says.

MY THOUGHTS

I think I may be at risk.  This runs in the family.  I hate beans.  But I love all those berries. Better go see a doctor first.

DO YOU HAVE ASTHMA?

Question: How Do I Know If I Have Asthma?
Answer:

While the typical person is diagnosed with asthma in early childhood, you can develop asthma at any age. Anyone with one or a combination of the following symptoms could have asthma:

    Cough - often with symptoms worsening at night
    Wheezing
    Chest tightness
    Decreased ability to perform normal activities
    Frequent nighttime awakenings or symptoms

If you have any of these symptoms, you may want to discuss asthma with your healthcare provider. Asthma can sometimes be difficult to diagnose as the symptoms mentioned above can occur in diseases other than asthma.

MY THOUGHTS

So, do you think you should make a trip to your doctor's office?

CAN JUNK FOOD CAUSE CANCER?

Can Junk Food Cause Cancer?

The new documentary Forks Over Knives claims that a diet of processed foods and junk food is to blame for most major diseases

Jill Provost ON May 4, 2011 at 11:19AM

Just when you think you’re living a healthy lifestyle, a documentary like Forks Over Knives comes along to shatter all of your healthier-than-thou notions. Forget patting yourself on the back for adding more fish, olive oil and low-fat dairy to your diet. If you really want to prevent heart disease, cancer, diabetes and just about every other major disease in the developed world, you should be forsaking meat, dairy, sugar and refined or processed foods, say the doctors and researchers in this documentary, which opens in theaters Friday, May 6.

This isn’t just a matter of opinion, say the filmmakers Lee Fulkerson and Brian Wendel. Like an elaborate (vegan) feast, Forks Over Knives lays out all of the scientific evidence that they say proves our diet is killing us. Among them: A study where researchers could turn cancer on and off by adding or removing animal protein from the subjects’ diets. It’s not your genes, it’s not the BPA in your plastics and it’s not the pesticides in your produce, they say. It’s our love affair with meat, sugar and dairy.

The stats that film assails us with are frightening: Two-thirds of Americans are overweight or obese. Fifty percent of us are on at least one prescription medication. The U.S. spends $2.2 trillion on healthcare -- five times as much as we do on defense. One out of three of us will get diabetes –- the same number will die of heart disease. Men in this country have a 47 percent chance of getting cancer; women have a 38 percent chance.

Forks Over Knives profiles, among others, two renowned experts -- Caldwell Esselstyn, M.D., director of the Cardiovascular Disease Prevention and Reversal Program at the Cleveland Clinic Wellness Institute, and T. Colin Campbell, Ph.D., a pioneering nutrition researcher and author of The China Study. A former cardiovascular surgeon, Esselstyn now focuses on reversing heart disease in his patients through a plant-based, whole foods diet. In the documentary, he claims that heart disease is a toothless paper tiger -- it doesn’t even have to exist. Patients have come to him when, after bypasses failed, they were told they wouldn’t live through the year. By limiting them to whole grains, fruit, vegetables and legumes, Esselstyn not only kept many alive for decades, but halted their heart disease as well.

If this diet sounds too extreme for you, consider Dr. Esselstyn’s retort. “With the Western diet, there are going to be half a million people in this country this year who will have to have the front half of their body divided, their heart exposed. Some people would call that extreme,” he says.

According to Esselstyn, autopsies on 18-34-year-old Americans who died in accidents revealed that everyone over 20 has heart disease -- not enough to trigger a heart attack, but the arteries are already damaged. Compare that to rural China, where residents eat mainly plants. There, heart disease is non-existent.

“We know there are certain foods that every time they pass our lips, they will injure our blood vessels,” says Esselstyn. By eliminating those foods, the body has a remarkable capacity to repair itself and stop, or even reverse, heart disease,” he says. “Everybody who’s been eating the western diet has this disease. So one really is left with the personal decision of, ‘Do I continue to eat foods that will grow my disease, or should I stop the disease now in its tracks?’ Nutrition trumps everything. There is nothing more powerful to our health than food.”

Since watching Forks Over Knives last week, I have been struggling hard with this personal choice. I don’t want to give up meat, fish and oils -- I love sushi and cheese and the occasional slab of steak -- but I do know that I can cut back. Yesterday, I bypassed the meat section of the supermarket and filled my cart with tofu, seitan and quinoa instead. I’ve been eating homemade “oatmeal” each morning, made with wild rice, barley, steel-cut oats and dried fruit. I’ve been snacking on homemade kale and apple chips all week. I enjoy these foods, feel good about my choices and don’t feel deprived. But then again, I haven’t given up meat, and I don’t see myself going vegan any time soon, unless my health demands it. I realize that continuing to eat these foods is a bit like playing Russian roulette. But I like to think that adding as many fruits, vegetables and whole grains to my diet as I can is also a bit like donning an (admittedly untested) bullet-resistant vest.

Read More http://www.ivillage.com/can-junk-food-cause-cancer/4-a-346282#ixzz1LXltrV7t
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MY THOUGHTS

I can live without meat.  I cannot live without bread.  Was there any mention of bread?