Can Noise Increase Blood Pressure?

February 21, 2008

Go to fullsize imageA sudden noise or commotion can make your heart rate go up and can be felt as sudden chest beating or palpitation.  We all know that one reason for an increased BP is an increase in heart rate.

A new study published in the European Journal of Hypertension Februaury 12, 2008 looked at this relationship and examined the population living near the airport. The BP and heart rates were checked and evaluated during the noise caused by the airplanes and the results were interesting.

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Non-invasive ambulatory BP measurements at 15 min intervals were performed. Noise was measured during the night sleeping period and recorded digitally for the identification of the source of a noise event.

  • An increase in BP 6.2 mmHg for systolic and 7.4 mmHg for diastolic was observed over 15 min intervals in which an aircraft event occurred.
  • A non-significant increase in HR was also observed (by 5.4 b.p.m.).
  • When the actual maximum noise level of an event was assessed there were no systematic differences in the effects according to the noise source.

Conclusion: Effects of noise exposure on elevated subsequent BP measurements were clearly shown. The effect size of the noise level appears to be independent of the noise source.

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This study has clinical implications on the future risk of heart disease and stroke with elevated BP. It would be nice to know the future risk of these population compared to the general population in terms of heart disease in relation to their exposure to noice.

Environment plays an important role in how stress manifests in our body. Noise generated from any source will definitely have the same effect as the study population and in itself increases a patient’s risk for heart disease due to rises in BP.  What is important is that the study also found that any level of noise including traffic sounds and other bedtime noise like snoring can cause a BP to spike!

For me… relaxing in between stresses in life can make a difference.  Any noise generated while at work can be stressful in itself and taking time to relax and listen to music or the waves of the sea and enjoy can spell a huge Difference!

Take a Break From Noise…Why Not Enjoy a Spa?

Posted in General Health Tips, Lifestyle Measures, Medical News Bits, Personal Thoughts, Tips on Hypertension, Tips To Protect Your Heart | 3 Comments »

Can I Eat Dark Chocolate Everyday?

February 20, 2008

Go to fullsize imageIt’s in the headlines and magazines…that dark chocolate is healthy and in fact protective to the heart.  But does this mean, any dark chocolate can have that effect? And if so, can we then eat dark chocolate everyday?

The Harvard Heart Letter commented on this specific topic recently to dispell myths that all dark chocolates are the same.

The main ingredient that has a positive effect on the heart is the flavanol compound.  This is present in abundance in certain foods not only cacao but also fruits like apples, vegetables like beans and also present in onions.  These flavanoids in cacao give the chocolate a bitter taste and unfortunately this is almost always removed during the processing of chocolate to give it a yummy taste!  Chocolates that also contain alkali during the processing removes most of the flavanoids. 

Unfortunately one can’t tell the content of the flavanoids based on the color of the chocolate.  So here are some tips to get the best dark chocolate from Dr Thomas Lee, the Editor of the Harvard Heart Letter:

  • Look for the least-processed chocolate you can find.
  • Skip those that have been treated with alkali.
  • Keep in mind that you don’t need much.
  • Studies showing the benefits of cocoa have used an ounce — sometimes less — of flavanol-rich chocolate. The tough part of this dietary “therapy” is stopping with a small piece. But stop you should. An ounce of dark chocolate delivers about 150 calories. Eat that much every day without cutting back elsewhere and the girth you gain would far outweigh any benefit from chocolate.

In short… you may eat chocolate everyday but make sure it’s only a bite size.  If you cant handle the satisfaction of that… then hold it for more on special occasions.  Remember… dont fool yourself into believing that you are eating dark chocolate to help your heart… there are other ways to do that. It is the calories that count and chocolates give you more than what you need in a day if you over indulge in it!

Gaining weight is not worth the benefit that you’ll get from eating chocolates if you can get the same amount of flavanoid from eating apples!  They may not taste the same but the health benefits maybe more with fruits!

Enjoy Chocolates Wisely!

Posted in General Health Tips, Lifestyle Measures, Medical News Bits, Nutrition Health Tips | 4 Comments »

Stress and Heart Disease: A Close Circuit!

February 18, 2008

Stress from work?  Who isnt? But the way we handle stress can make a difference in how it affects our lives.  We always associate it as part of our day to day activity otherwise, it is not living if we dont have stress.  It gives us the challenge to move on and to pursue what we have in mind to achieve. But along the way comes the roadblocks called “Stress”

Recently an nice article examined how stress can affect out health.  I am a believer of stress as a big factor in increasing a patient’s risk to develop chronic illnesses like diabetes and high blood pressure.  Now published in the European Heart Journal is a detailed examination of how stress can affect the heart!

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A total of 10 308 London-based male and female civil servants aged 35–55 of the Whitehall II study were studied. Exposures included work stress and outcomes included behavioural risk factors, the metabolic syndrome, heart rate variability, morning rise in cortisol, and incident CHD on the basis of CHD death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, or definite angina.

  • Chronic work stress was associated with CHD and this association was stronger among participants aged under 50 by 68%.
  • There were similar associations between work stress and low physical activity, poor diet, the metabolic syndrome, its components, and lower heart rate variability.
  • Cross-sectionally, work stress was associated with a higher morning rise in cortisol.
  • Around 32% of the effect of work stress on CHD was attributable to its effect on health behaviours and the metabolic syndrome.

Conclusion: Work Stress may be an important determinant of CHD among workiing-age populations, which is mediated through indirect effects on health behaviours and direct effects on neuroendocrine stress pathways.

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The above results are clear: once you’re stressed out… you produce stress hormones through the nueroendocrine system resulting in an increase of serum cortisol which can be harmful to the body including the way it signals how the heart beats! End result: Heart disease….

Further examination revealed that work stress is associated with a poorer diet in terms of eating less fruit and vegetables, and less exercise which also then contribute to increasing one’s risk for heart disease further.  I am sure a lot of the readers are guilty of this!  Too little time…too much to do! In fact in this study around 32% of the effect of work stress on CHD could be explained by its effect on health behaviors and the metabolic syndrome.

In short….Enjoy your work…problems come but solutions are abundant.  It is a matter of finding them!

Mind Your Heart… Eat Healthy, Exercie Freely and Be Stress Free!

Posted in General Health Tips, Healthy Practice Tips, Medical News Bits, Personal Thoughts | 3 Comments »

The Plenary Debate… Good Luck To Me!!!!

February 13, 2008

plearny-board.jpgplenary-debate-inside.jpg

This will be a fun learning debate and will be the highlight of the joint annual convention of the  Philippine Society of Hypertension and Philippine Lipid Society in Manila.

 As doctors… we continue to study and learn non stop!

And as a lecturer and speaker… that’s where I study more and as a result I learn more!

Again.. In Health…Learning is NonStop!

Posted in Medical News Bits, Personal Thoughts | 4 Comments »

Exercise As An Investment In Life…. Offers Great Returns!

February 12, 2008

Go to fullsize imageExercise can reduce risk of death!!!

Exercise can make you live longer and make you enjoy your life better. We know this for centuries but lifestyle continues to be one big struggle for doctors to ask their patients to comply. 

That’s the conclusion reached in a study recently published in Circulation Feb 2008.

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Methods and Results— We assessed the association between exercise capacity and mortality in  male veterans with and without cardiovascular disease who successfully completed a treadmill exercise test at the Veterans Affairs Medical Centers in Washington, DC, and Palo Alto, Calif. Fitness categories were based on peak metabolic equivalents (METs) achieved. Subjects were followed up for all-cause mortality for 7.5±5.3 years.

Among clinical and exercise test variables, exercise capacity was the strongest predictor of risk for mortality. The adjusted risk was reduced by 13% for every 1-MET increase in exercise capacity

  • Compared with those who achieved <5 METs, the mortality risk was 50% lower for those with an exercise capacity of 7.1 to 10 METs
  • 70% lower for those achieving >10 METs 
  •  The findings were similar for those with and without cardiovascular disease.

Conclusions— Exercise capacity is a strong predictor of all-cause mortality !

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So the study suggests…the more we exercise and the more calories we burn resulting in a better shape and better exercise capacity, the longer we live!  A 70% reduction in the risk of death is GREAT news for exercise lovers! There you go guys…. it’s about time that we sit down and think…how much do we love ourselves.  Are we doing things to satisfy our ambitions in life with great disregard to our well being?

We may be great thinkers, scholars or successful businessmen… we may be great in everything we do BUT our body also deserves to be treated right.  Success in life comes in different forms and all come from doing what you think is best!

If you therefore want to to enjoy that success and live longer…enjoy the fruits of your labor longer…enjoy life and have more fun times with your kids and family… then take the extra steps to health.  Just like what you do in taking the extra effort to be successful in your careers and goals in life.  So take time to Exercise…It is indeed an investment worthy of its great returns…..

Take The Extra Time To EXERCISE!!!

Posted in Exercise and Activity Tips, General Health Tips, Healthy Practice Tips, Lifestyle Measures, Medical News Bits, Personal Thoughts | Leave a Comment »

The Truth About The Medical Myths….

February 9, 2008

Go to fullsize imageCame across a light article published in the reputable British Medical Journal December 2007 issue on the common myths in Medicine that have been passed from generations to generations and carried on in our practice as facts!

Below is my edited and shortened version of the original article which I hope you’ll all find useful inofrmation.

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People should drink at least eight glasses of water a day

The advice to drink at least eight glasses of water a day can be found throughout the popular press. One origin may be a 1945 recommendation that stated: A suitable allowance of water for adults is 2.5 litres daily in most instances…the statement could be interpreted as instruction to drink eight glasses of water a day. The complete lack of evidence supporting the recommendation to drink six to eight glasses of water a day is exhaustively catalogued in an invited review by Heinz Valtin in the American Journal of Physiology.

Hair and fingernails continue to grow after death

Johnny Carson even perpetuated this myth with his joke, “For three days after death hair and fingernails continue to grow, but phone calls taper off.

Dehydration of the body after death and drying or desiccation may lead to retraction of the skin around the hair or nails. The skin’s retraction can create an appearance of increased length or of greater prominence because of the optical illusion created by contrasting the shrunken soft tissues with the nails or hair. 

Shaving hair causes it to grow back faster, darker, or coarser

Strong scientific evidence disproves these claims. As early as 1928, a clinical trial showed that shaving had no effect on hair growth.  More recent studies confirm that shaving does not affect the thickness or rate of hair regrowth.  

Reading in dim light ruins your eyesight

Suboptimal lighting can create a sensation of having difficulty in focusing. It also decreases the rate of blinking and leads to discomfort from drying, particularly in conditions of voluntary squinting.  The important counterpoint is that these effects do not persist.

Mobile phones create considerable electromagnetic interference in hospitals

After publication of a journal article citing more than 100 reports of suspected electromagnetic interference with medical devices before 1993, the Wall Street Journal published a front page article highlighting this danger. Since that time, many hospitals banned the use of mobile phones, perpetuating the belief.

At the Mayo Clinic in 2005, in 510 tests performed with 16 medical devices and six mobile telephones, the incidence of clinically important interference was 1.2%.  

We Use only 10% of our Brain

The belief that we use only 10% of our brains has persisted for over a century, despite dramatic advances in neuroscience.  Some sources attribute this claim to Albert Einstein, but no such reference or statement by Einstein has ever been recorded. Evidence from studies of brain damage, brain imaging, localisation of function, microstructural analysis, and metabolic studies show that people use much more than 10% of their brains.  Detailed probing of the brain has failed to identify the “non-functioning” 90%.

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There you go guys…common myths that have been practiced by medical professionals as facts. We continue, for example to recommend patients to drink at least 8 glasses of water but so far based on the evidence…it is limited or nil.

As the author of the article concluded: “Medical practitioners should at least recognise when their practice is based on tradition, anecdote, or art.  Speaking from a position of authority, as physicians do, requires constant evaluation of the validity of our knowledge.“

Posted in Medical News Bits, Personal Thoughts | 4 Comments »

Fish Oil and Weight Loss

February 7, 2008

Go to fullsize imageA new look at Fish Oil as a supplement with significant impact in terms of improving health. This new study looked at fish oil in patients without high triglycerides and found some interesting results.

The study was published by French Investigators in the December 2007 issue of the Americal Journal of Nutrition:

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Conclusions:

A moderate dose of n–3 PUFAs for 2 mo reduced adiposity and atherogenic markers without deterioration of insulin sensitivity in subjects with type 2 diabetes. Some adipose tissue inflammation-related genes were also reduced. These beneficial effects could be linked to morphologic and inflammatory changes in adipose tissue.

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I usually discourage my patients from taking fish oil because of its propensity to increase blood sugar.  The above findings though showed that a dose of 1.8 gms has negligible effects on sugar but actually have beneficial improvement in adiposity (or deposition of fat tissue) as well as biochemical parameters of inflammation ( parameters that increase the risk of heart disease) is a welcome news to all especially those who hate eating fish!

Caution however should be made to patients who are concomitantly taking anti-clotting medications since majority of patients taking fish oil have concomitant heart disease.

There you go… studies on supplements that are acceptable to the medical community is really a welcome endeavor. Although more similar researches should be done to confirm the findings.

Fish Oil May Indeed Have Health Benefits!

Posted in General Health Tips, Medical News Bits, Nutrition Health Tips, The Diabetes Facts | 1 Comment »

MODY : Another Form of Diabetes That You May Have!

February 6, 2008

Go to fullsize imageI was just scanning through some articles and this interesting review on MODY caught my attention because definitely some of our patients that are labelled Type 2 as insulin resistant diabetes may actually have MODY where the tissues are actually insulin sensitive.  As a result the way we treat these patients will actually change. 

Below is a summary of the salient features of MODY from Janet Ruhl published in Diabetes In Control online website:

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1. People with MODY are extremely sensitive to insulin.  A dose of as little as two units may have a strong effect on their blood sugar.

2. People with MODY, no matter how high their blood sugars might be after meals, may have near normal fasting C-peptide levels. This is because the defects characteristic of MODY does not affect basal insulin secretion but only the ability to secrete insulin as blood sugars rise after eating.

3. People with MODY do not have GAD or islet antibodies. Though people with severe expressions of MODY genes may be misdiagnosed in their teens with Type 1 diabetes, they can be distinguished from true Type 1s by the very low doses of insulin they need and the lack of the autoimmune antibodies.

4. People with MODY may respond extremely strongly to sulfonylurea drugs. These drugs are often prescribed as the appropriate treatment for MODY. However, these drugs  are most effective for people whose severe expression of these genes causes blood sugars high enough to be mistaken for Type 1 diabetes. For those whose MODY is milder, even 1/4 of a 1 mg tablet of Amaryl ( Glimipride) may cause a dramatic hypo. For these people the use of very small doses of insulin–no more than 2 to 4 units per meal–is more effective and more easily tailored to varying food intake.

5. MODY should always be suspected in a woman of normal weight who develops gestational diabetes early in a pregnancy and who tests negative for autoimmune antibodies. This is often how MODY first reveals itself.

6. The different forms of genetic diabetes that are lumped together under the heading of MODY have different complication profiles. The two most common forms are MODY-3 caused by a defect in HNF1-a and MODY-2 caused by a defect in the glucokinase gene GCK.

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The point of this post is for us doctors to be aware that this form of diabetes exists and that the way these patients respond to our medications differ from the typical insulin resistant Type 2 Diabetic.

Likewise patients should be aware that this kind of Diabetes exist and may need to inform their doctors if the features of the above fit their kind of diabetes.

I see a lot of diabetic patients and the need to be informed and updated all the time regarding new research on the pathophysiology, diagnosis and treatment of this epidemic is the main reason why I continue to study and learn in whatever mode or material either through books, journals, websites or conventions. 

I guess the same is true to everyone everyday…

We Should Never Stop LEARNING!

Posted in Medical News Bits, The Diabetes Facts, What's New in Diabetes | 10 Comments »

Can Soft Drinks Cause GOUT?

February 5, 2008

Another blow to the soft drinks industry published recently in the British Medical Journal January 31, 2008:

The study showed the risk of developing gout from drinking too much sweetened soda is increased but not with drinking diet soda.  It is the fructose in the drinks that is linked to increase uric acid level which is absent with diet drinks.

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Results During the 12 years of follow-up 755 confirmed incident cases of gout were reported. Increasing intake of sugar sweetened soft drinks was associated with an increasing risk of gout. Compared with consumption of less than one serving of sugar sweetened soft drinks a month the multivariate relative risk of gout for

  • 5-6 servings a week was 1.29 , meaning a 29% increased risk! 
  • for one serving a day was 1.45, meaning a 45% increased risk!
  • for two or more servings a day was 1.85, meaning  an 85% increased risk!
  • Diet soft drinks were not associated with risk of gout.
  • total fruit juice or fructose rich fruits (apples and oranges) were also associated with a higher risk of gout (P values for trend <0.05).

Conclusions Prospective data suggest that consumption of sugar sweetened soft drinks and fructose is strongly associated with an increased risk of gout in men. Furthermore, fructose rich fruits and fruit juices may also increase the risk. Diet soft drinks were not associated with the risk of gout.

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We seldom consider fructose as a culprit since we are used to looking at foods high in protein or purine like red meat or organ meats to be responsible for gout. The pathway at which fructose increases uric acid has not been given much importance until now!

For Gout: Soda is No Better than Beer!

Posted in General Health Tips, Medical News Bits, Nutrition Health Tips | 6 Comments »

Exercise for Life….

February 4, 2008

Go to fullsize imageHarvard News Letter: The HelathBeat just came out with an article solely devoted to the benefits of exercise.  This post is just a reminder to all that exercise is good for the health not only to prevent disease but to live long and enjoy a better life:

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Exercise at a glance

This is what exercise can do:

  • reduce your chances of getting heart disease. For those who already have heart disease, exercise reduces the chances of dying from it.
  • lower your risk of developing hypertension and diabetes.
  • reduce your risk for colon cancer and some other forms of cancer.
  • improve your mood and mental functioning.
  • keep your bones strong and joints healthy.
  • help you maintain a healthy weight.
  • help you maintain your independence well into your later years.

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It’s a matter of taking time to do it and the willingness to do it! 

Because in Health … There is NO Shortcut!

Posted in Exercise and Activity Tips, General Health Tips, Healthy Practice Tips, Lifestyle Measures, Personal Thoughts | 3 Comments »

AACE Philippines 2nd CME Update: A Success!

February 2, 2008

Go to fullsize imageThe American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists or AACE Philippines recently held our 2nd CME update in Hongkong where members were invited sponsored by the organization for a 2 day meeting of lectures, comaraderie and family fun!

Dr Augusto Litonjua gave us an update on the Pathophysiology of Daibetes while I gave an update on Pathophysiology of Hypertension.  There was a lively interaction among the members and it was a fun intellectually stimulating CME overall!

The fellowship night was full of fun and excitement as members around 50 attended. Part of the itinerary of course was a full day fun at Disneyland and we all gathered to watch the fire works display. 

AACE Philippines strives to be family oriented. So we try to include the family members in all activities that we do.

We hope to invite more members to our team as our membership has been growing yearly.  Likewise the officers strive to make this organization an asset and a support arm to the members in clinical practice. 

Next in line is the Endocrine Day in March and we are now extra busy finalizing a more exciting program for our Annual Convention to be held again in Mactan Shangrila on August 15 to 17 where more debates, workshops and exciting plenary lectures from distinguished foreign and local faculty members will be on hand.

Check out some photos of the members in action under the catagory: AACE Philippine Chapter News (soon…..)

Posted in Medical News Bits, Personal Thoughts | Leave a Comment »

Red Meat and Fried Foods Linked To Disease….

January 28, 2008

Go to fullsize imageWe have known this association of westernized diet ( read meat, fried foods and refined sugar) and the development of chronic disease all along but this new study published in Circulation this year 2008.  confirmed this even more! This study included the dietary intake using prospective data from 9514 participants (age, 45 to 64 years) enrolled in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study.

Metabolic Syndrome is the combination of 4 major diseases in one: Diabetes, High Blood Pressure, High Cholesterol and Obesity. The clinical implication of having the four diseases is the associated increased risk of heart disease and stroke.

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Findings:

  • Analysis of individual food groups revealed that meat, fried foods , and diet soda also were adversely associated with incident MetSyn.
  • Dairy consumption was beneficial.
  • No associations were observed between incident MetSyn and a prudent dietary pattern or intakes of whole grains, refined grains, fruits and vegetables, nuts, coffee, or sweetened beverages.

Conclusions—These prospective findings suggest that consumption of a Western dietary pattern, meat, and fried foods promotes the incidence of MetSyn, whereas dairy consumption provides some protection. The diet soda association was not hypothesized and deserves further study.

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The above findings suggest only 1 thing:  Be careful with what you eat because what you take in predicts the product and outcome in terms of health or disease!

Red Meat should be taken the least and White meat the most! Diet Soda may make one less guilty to eat steak and I believe that is where the association lies between drinking this no calorie drink and the development of the disease.  In contrast, drinking diary product does not entice one to eat more fried foods and therefore it’s a healthier choice!

It’s a choice of what is good versus bad…what is healthy versus not and what you want versus what you need!

Posted in General Health Tips, Healthy Practice Tips, Medical News Bits, Nutrition Health Tips, The Diabetes Facts, The Truths on Obesity | 1 Comment »

Health Tips To A Successful Retirement

January 24, 2008

I recently read a nice article on tips to a successful retirement in the Wall Street Journal which made a lot of sense to me.  We know of retirement as one event in our lives where for once…we can now have all the time for ourselves…BUT are we prepared enough both emotionally, physically and health wise before we plunge into it?

The bottom line in retiring is to plan this stage in life ahead of time.  It is suggessted that start planning about retirement at least 5 years before you quit the work force.

The research is clear: “People who dont have a purpose in life, dont live long.” So if you retire and then do nothing except golfing, going to the beach…these will not last long before BOREDOM sets in because of not being productive….then Depression!  So plan on doing voluntering work and anything that is intellectually stimulating can make you stay sharp!

Staying Healthy is the most important factor to a successful retirement.  Statistics have shown that in US alone: half of the 60 year old will live up to age 85.  It is for this reason that saving money prior to retirement is also key to enjoy the benefits of all the hard work.  BUT always Remember… being healthy is also KEY! Why? because….a healthy lifestyle and good health can keep your medical costs down.

So if you plan to retire early and enjoy the benefits of retirement … then make sure you keep wellness ahead of everything else in life.   If you are saving enough to spend…make sure you spend them on luxuries you want to enjoy and not the frequent visits to doctors and pharmacies for your medications due to neglect of health!  Again It is thru Health where you enjoy your wealth!

 In summary, quoting Hartford’s Ms Mohyde in the article:

“Wellness in retirement maybe one fo the Best Financial Strategies”

Posted in General Health Tips, Lifestyle Measures, Personal Thoughts | 2 Comments »

Can I Exercise Even If I Have Arthritis?

January 21, 2008

A common question indeed! Diabetics are prone to arthropathies.  Or shall we say…joint pains due to arthritis affect almost every pateint after the age of 50.  The tendency of patient with arthritis is to assume a position that they deem less painful and avoid the joint from being moved.  Unfortunately this reflex of patients gets them into more trouble.

Exercise is part of arthritis treatment regimen…it is encouraged and not avoided. Exercise has been shown to help improve joint mobility, increase ones muscle strength as well as sense of well being by improving overall physical conditioning, and helping one lose weight.  Likewise, exercise has been shown to help keep bone and cartilage tissue strong and healthy resulting in improved mobility of the joints involved.

Some exercises that we recommend for patient with arthritis include: Flexibility or stretching exercises to improve the range of motion of the joints involved.  Strenghtening exercises to keep the muscles strong to protect the joints from further injury. For my patients with knee pain,  I usually also recommend stationary bike exercise to provide less strain to the knees while allowing mobility to the feet and arms.  Swimming is best also because the bouyancy helps put less pressure on the kness and joints.

My recommendation to those who suffer from arthritis is: Keep your joints moving. Exercise daily if you can and help make your lives better by making yourself feel better through exercise not only to help you move but likewise move free of pain.  

Here are some tips from the University of Washington regarding exercise and arthritis:

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These exercises can help keep your joints moving. Follow these tips to get the most benefit.

  1. Do these once or twice per day.
  2. Do each exercise 3 to 10 times.
  3. Move slowly. Do not bounce.
  4. Breathe while you exercise. Count out loud.
  5. Begin exercises slowly, doing each exercise a few times only and gradually build up to more.
  6. Try to achieve full range of motion by moving until you feel a slight stretch, but don’t force a movement.
  7. Don’t try to help others do their exercises by moving their arms or legs.
  8. STOP exercising if you have severe pain.

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Make exercise part of your daily routine.  Remeber to start slow and go slow. 

Again this is where Discipline Counts to make life better and easier!

Posted in Exercise and Activity Tips, General Health Tips, Healthy Practice Tips, Lifestyle Measures | 7 Comments »

Can Ginkgo Biloba Improve Memory?

January 18, 2008

I am always asked this question whether there is a vitamin or supplement to improve memory.  There are alreay several claims of ginkgo biloba being a “great” memory enhancer but so far I havent come across a study that says it does.

Ginkgo herbs and supplements are actually derived from the tree leaves and is being marketed in supermarkets everywhere.  Again just like any herbal preparations, it should be taken at your own risk because I dont see any clinical indication in medicine to provide herbal supplements or medications that do not have studies to support any claims.

Medscape Endocrinology Online recently published an article on Gingko which I want to share:

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Studies in the United States have found that ginkgo stabilized — and in some cases improved — cognitive function and socialization in patients with Alzheimer’s disease, although the clinical significance of the improvement was not known. LeBars and colleagues reviewed 2020 patients in an intention-to-treat analysis that resulted in a 1.4-point advantage over placebo in the Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment Scale-Cognitive subscale.

In addition, studies have also demonstrated that the standardized extract of ginkgo biloba (EgB) 761, is effective in reducing symptoms of claudication, giving patients a 50% increase in pain-free walking distance.

In contrast, a recent clinical trial failed to demonstrate any improvement in cognitive function or in the quality of life in cognitively intact, older individuals.

Ginkgo leaves have been associated with mild gastrointestinal side effects and headache. Ingestion of ginkgo seeds may result in serious neurologic and allergic reactions; therefore, they are not used for medical purposes. Ingestion of leaf-based extracts has been associated with a spontaneous hyphema (blood in the anterior chamber of the eye) in an elderly man, and with spontaneous subdural hematomas.

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Whether this supplement will have a place in the therapeutic armamentarium of Alzheimer’s disease or conditions that lead to poor memory remains to be seen.  For now… it is best to ask for advice from your doctors before you take any herbal preparations because they may interact with some drugs that you are taking for your medical condition.

So my recommendtion to those who wish to take ginkgo to enhance their memory for purposes of taking a supplement…I would say NO!  To those who wish to take ginkgo to improve their memory for test taking skills… my advise is: better study more than depend on pills!

In short… no study yet has been done to support an indication of ginkgo as a treatment option. More studies need to be done to prove it works and that its benefits outweigh the risks.

Posted in Exercise and Activity Tips, Medical News Bits, Personal Thoughts | 2 Comments »

The Sun May Protect You Against Heart Disease

January 14, 2008

Recent findings of Vitamin D deficiency as another risk factor for high blood pressure and heart disease made me realized that we always take for granted the beneficial effects of the sun.

The findings published in Circulation. January 2008 is the first to show prospectively the relationship between Vitamin D and the Heart:

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Hazard ratio for heart disease according to level of 25-OH D

Level of 25-OH D
Hazard ratio (95% CI)
10–15 ng/mL
 1.53 (1.00-2.36)
<10 ng/mL
 1.80 (1.05-3.08)

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The above findings suggest the Vitamin D Deficiency may increase your risk by more than 50% to develop heart disease.  Likewise it may also be an important risk for factor for the development of Hypertension.

It is estimated that approximately 1/3 to 1/2 of middle aged men and women are VitD deficient owing to lack of exposure to the sun.  The sun rays are important for the formation and activation of Vitamin D in the skin.  So hiding ourselves from the sun because of heat will increase our risk to develop Vitamin D Deficiency.

Vitamin D is also important for muskuloskeletal strength and in fact deficiency of Vitamin D may be responsible for a lot of muscle weakness noted in a population.

So how much sun exposure do I recommend?

Just like anything…do it in moderation…meaning not sunbathing but exposing your face, arms and legs to the morning sun at least 15 minutes per day should be sufficient. 

You can also check your Vitamin D level which can be done locally in your lab.

Enjoy the Health benefits of the SUN!

Posted in General Health Tips, Medical News Bits, Nutrition Health Tips, Tips on Hypertension, Tips To Protect Your Heart | 1 Comment »

Anxiety and The Risk For Heart Attack!

January 11, 2008

Are you always Anxious? Jittery? Worried on something? Have you been suffering from anxiety that you just cant help it be worried that something may happen?

Anxiety is defined as a feeling of fearfullness and uncertainty. Transient anxiety due to family problems or death can be normal BUT once anxiety continues overtime and is affecting your daily activities and is getting worse then intervention should be made.

I have long suspected Stress secondary to anxiety can definitely be harmful.  Stress hormones that our body produces can be harmful and in fact Stress is now considered a risk factor for developing diabetes.  Now a new study published in the Journal of Cardiology, January issue considers anxiety as a risk factor for one to develop heart attack.

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Anxiety characteristics independently and prospectively predicted MI incidence after controlling for age, education, marital status, fasting glucose, body mass index, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and systolic blood pressure in proportional hazards models.

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The above study is the first to show this relationship….and am sure more studies will come that will show Stress from whatever cause can lead to what we know now the Diseases of the New Century….

Remember…LIFE is Too Short….

  • Each day is a new day and once it passes…it’s one less day for you!
  • Live each day to the fullest…
  • Do things the best way you can and
  • Enjoy what you do best and Improve on Things you want to learn
  • Thank God for what you have.. and Stop being Bitter!
  • Learn how to appreciate things… understand why some things just dont work the way you desire. 

In short….

To Be Stress Free….ENJOY Being Alive!

Posted in General Health Tips, Lifestyle Measures, Medical News Bits, Personal Thoughts | 3 Comments »

Honey for Cough and Colds ?

January 10, 2008

If cough and colds medicnes are not that effective such that the US FDA recently made an announcement not to use these medications among children less than 6 years old… then what is our altrernative as parents with children arriving from school with cough and colds?

I have long heard about honey and its supposed “healthy” properties so I was not surprised when in a recent article published in Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Dec 2007 , honey was assessed to be a safe alternative to cough and colds medicine which for me is just timely!!!! 

In this study the, the children with cough and colds were given either honey, honey-flavored DextroMethorphan ( a cold remedy), or no treatment 30 minutes before bedtime.  ______________________________________________

Results:  Significant differences in symptom improvement were detected between treatment groups, with honey consistently scoring the best and no treatment scoring the worst.

In paired comparisons, honey was significantly superior to no treatment for cough frequency and the combined score, but DM was not better than no treatment for any outcome. Comparison of honey with DM revealed no significant differences.

Conclusions :  Honey may be a preferable treatment for the cough and sleep difficulty associated with childhood upper respiratory tract infection.

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The study used buckwheat honey which contains more phenolic compounds than other varieties.  Apparently these substances have been shown to have antioxidant properties whihc may have contributed to the improvement of the symptoms of cough and colds.   The question therefore whether the effect is limited to this kind of honey only remains unanswered.

For me honey is easy to get and safe to drink.  Based on the study… it worked. I would definietly try it on my kids and then let’s all share experiences once we have tried it.

Bring Home The Honey! 

Posted in General Health Tips, Medical News Bits, Nutrition Health Tips, Personal Thoughts | 4 Comments »

Foods To Eat To Help Reduce Wrinkles….

January 7, 2008

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Using data from the first National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, we examined associations between nutrient intakes and skin aging in 4025 women (40–74 y).  Clinical examinations of the skin were conducted by dermatologists. Skin-aging appearance was defined as having a wrinkled appearance, senile dryness, and skin atrophy.

Conclusions: Higher intakes of vitamin C and linoleic acid and lower intakes of fats and carbohydrates are associated with better skin-aging appearance.

Promoting healthy dietary behaviors may have additional benefit for skin appearance in addition to other health outcomes in the population.

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Vitamin C as anti-aging has some meat to it.  It is known that vitamin C as an antioxidant play a role in the synthesis of collagen, which is a protein that helps keep skin elastic.  It can therefore be presumed that higher intakes of Vitamin C can bring luster to ones skin.

Great sources of Vitamin C that we can buy anywhere include brussel sprouts, red cabbage, snow peas and broccoli as well as canned and fresh tomatoes and of course our fruits especially the freshly squeezed orange juice.

What is interesting about the study is that those that had a high fat or a high carbohydrate meal developed more wrinkles and senile atrophy of the skin suggesting the long notion that fat is really bad even for the skin!

I do recommend foods rich in vitamin C but not to take any Vitamin C supplements in the form of a tablet especially on top of food.  Not only will these excess supplements adidify the urine but likewise increases the likelihood of stone formation.

Lastly…. 

The Best Way to Prevent Wrinkles?… Sunscreen!

Posted in Lifestyle Measures, Medical News Bits, Nutrition Health Tips, Personal Thoughts | 9 Comments »

Simple Steps To Control Your Blood Pressure

January 3, 2008

Go to fullsize imageAfter the holidays comes the Blues…. high sugar, high cholesterol and high blood pressure. These form the deadly triad which if coupled with obesity forms the Deadly Quartet called the Metabolic Syndrome.  Its deadly because of the complications associated with the combination of diseases resulting in stroke and heart attack.  But we can do something about them if we are dsicplined enough to do it for the new year.

Recently the Harvard Medical School Publication: The Harvard Healthbeat came up with easy suggestions that we can do to help control our Blood Pressure.  Medications come in handy but they can have side effects.

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1. Check it. You can’t do much about your blood pressure unless you know what it is. Your doctor should check it at every visit. Measuring it at home is even better. Relatively inexpensive home monitors are available in most pharmacies.

2. Get moving. Regular exercise, even something as simple as brisk walking, improves blood vessel flexibility and heart function. It can lower blood pressure by 10 points, prevent the onset of high blood pressure, or let you reduce your dosage of blood pressure medications.

3. Eat right. A landmark study called Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) showed that you can eat your way to better blood pressure. The DASH diet emphasizes fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy products, whole grains, poultry, fish, and nuts, and downplays red meat, sweets, sugar-containing beverages, and saturated fat and cholesterol.

4. Control your weight. If you are carrying too many pounds for your frame, losing weight can lower your blood pressure. You don’t need to become rail-thin — losing 10% of your current weight, or even 10 pounds, can make a big difference.

5. Don’t smoke. Nicotine constricts small blood vessels. Smoking a cigarette can cause a 20-point spike in systolic blood pressure. Quitting is tough, but there are now more aids to help.

6. Drink alcohol in moderation. A drink a day for women and one or two a day for men is good for the heart and blood vessels. Going beyond that can contribute to higher blood pressure.

7. Shake up your salts. Too much sodium and too little potassium boost blood pressure in people who are sensitive to salt. The imbalance is so great that the American Medical Association is calling for food makers and restaurants to cut the sodium content of food by 50% by 2016. Aim for less than 1.5 grams of sodium a day, and at least 4.7 grams of potassium.

8. Sleep is good. Burning the candle at both ends night after night can contribute to high blood pressure, not to mention increase the chances of developing heart disease or a sudden cardiac arrest. How much sleep is enough? At least six hours a night, though eight hours is probably more like it for most people.

9. Reduce stress. As surely as mental and emotional stress can raise blood pressure, meditation, deep breathing, and other stress-busting activities can lower it.

10. Stick with your medications. Taking pills to keep your blood pressure in check won’t make you feel any different. But it can keep you from having a stroke, heart attack, or other problem.

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So be warned and be good this new year.  Resolve to keep our body healthy by keeping our lifestyle clean.  Our biggest enemy is really the habit of eating out and enjoying the food too much neglecting to consider that harm that can be done to our body with what we put in!

Following Simple Lifestyle Changes can make a Difference!

Posted in General Health Tips, Healthy Practice Tips, Lifestyle Measures, Medical News Bits, Nutrition Health Tips, Tips on Hypertension | 7 Comments »

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