The Danger of Nasal Decongestants

November 8, 2006

images.jpgIt’s the cold season and your family may have contracted the virus spreading around your house.  The problem then comes when with nasal congestion where the usual reflex is to grab an over the counter drug decongestant.

Certain decongestants have already been pulled out in the US market due to the bad side effect profile.  I thought of writing this post to warn the readers after my wife was taking decongestants 2 x a day in the past 2 days due to congested nose.  Interestingly, the drug contained the banned substance but still being sold in our country is really amazing!

Here’s an FDA Fact sheet on this banned substance called Phenylpropanolamine:

What is phenylpropanolamine?Phenylpropanolamine is an ingredient used in prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) drug products as a nasal decongestant to relieve stuffy nose or sinus congestion and in OTC weight control drug products to control appetite.

Why is phenylpropanolamine unsafe when this product has been in use for many years?

On May 11, 2000, FDA received results of a study conducted by scientists at Yale University School of Medicine that showed an increased risk of hemorrhagic stroke (bleeding of the brain) in people who were taking phenylpropanolamine. Phenylpropanolamine has been used for many years and a very small number of people taking the drug have had strokes. The Yale study helped show that the number of people having strokes when taking phenylpropanolamine was greater than the number of people having strokes who were not taking phenylpropanolamine. Although the risk of hemorrhagic stroke is very low, FDA has significant concerns because of the seriousness of a stroke and the inability to predict who is at risk. Because of continued reports to the FDA of hemorrhagic stroke associated with phenylpropanolamine and the results of the Yale study, we now feel that the risks of using phenylpropanolamine outweigh the benefits and recommend that consumers no longer use products containing phenylpropanolamine.

Are there any population groups at higher risk when using products containing phenylpropanolamine?

The Yale University study showed that the risk of hemorrhagic stroke was found mostly in women; however, men may also be at risk.

What types of products contain phenylpropanolamine?

Phenylpropanolamine is found in some prescription and OTC nasal decongestants and cough/cold products and OTC products for weight control.

So before you grab another tablet of a decongestant…be sure it does not contain the label”phenylpropanolamine”!

Be Safe…Always Read The Label !

Posted in General Health Tips, Medical News Bits | 19 Comments »

Healthy Food Tips For The Family

November 7, 2006

29874014331.jpgI came accross this simple regimen to our life long struggle to find better ways to serve best foods for the family.  “Struggles with food and obesity frequently start in childhood” and therefore addressing these early results in long term gains.

Here’s some pointers from the Johns Hopkins University Bayview Medical Center.

“Here are some ways you can help your child avoid a weight problem:

  • Never put your child on a low-calorie deprivation diet. You can lower dietary fat, but maintain calories by increasing the consumption of fruit, vegetables, cereals, and breads.
  • Children who eat full meals do better nutritionally than children who merely snack. Your child should come to the table hungry, learn how to control hunger, and wait for his meal to be served.
  • Remove snack temptations around the house.
  • Don’t use desserts and sweets as rewards.
  • Have family meals, and set a good example by eating a wide variety of foods.
  • Make mealtime pleasant. Don’t use this time for criticizing and scolding. ” 

Simple… Common sense… but take note of them for they may help you…

Build better and healthier families…

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Posted in General Health Tips, Lifestyle Measures, The Truths on Obesity | 1 Comment »

Beware of The Weight Loss Myth

November 6, 2006

1458670218.jpgIt is often said that losing weight is as difficult as maintaining weight.  It is therefore not surprising that out of frustration..maybe… that a lot of patients then resort to over the counter drugs, herbal supplements or even chinese teas just to lose weight.  It is for this reason that I thought of sharing with you a survey presented in the Annual Meeting of the Obesity Society in Boston this year.

In that survey, more than 60 percent of the 1,444 respondents, had misconceptions of weight loss drugs.  They mistakenly said that:

  •  such supplements have been tested and are proven to be safe (65 percent)
  • over the counter weight loss drugs are effective (63 percent).
  • Over half (54 percent) wrongly stated that such supplements are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

It is important to note that there are currently no over-the-counter drugs for weight loss approved by the FDA.  FDA approval of drugs require rigorous research and testing to prove the drugs are not only effective but also safe!  These supplements may have a label in them as “approved by FDA or BFAD in our country” AS SUPPLEMENTS and therefore are not required to test their drugs for safety and efficacy!

Be careful with misleading claims especially if they pertain to your health. A “claim all” drug too unrealistic to believe is not worth even a penny from your pocket!  The same advise I can give in those that are based solely on testimonials or publications in “throw away” journals most likely published by the same company that made the drugs!

Be Vigilant When It Comes to Drugs!

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A Guide To Healthy Parenting

November 4, 2006

1012478201.jpgI just read this heart warming story about values formation in practice in a post… in Teaching Values.  And while reading the local papers yesterday, 2 teens returned nearly P200,000 they found while riding a bike.  I believe that a developing mind is critical to a child as well as our obligation as parents on teaching values… and what a way to have tested this trait than from the kids mouth of what being truthful is all about.  The bonding formed between the child and the parents is critical to acquiring these values.  And that I honestly believe… our kids will be kids for only a short time before they grow up and their time with us is merely borrowed that we need to utilize all we have with them to share and enjoy.  As a parent of 3 kids, I thought of sharing with you a survey done on what kids think about their parents and maybe we can all learn from it.  The information was sourced from Family Doctor  a website of the Academy of Family Physicians.

  • Most kids said their parents love them — big time. Nearly 90% of kids said their mom loves them a lot.
  • Far fewer kids — only 8% — said their mom only loved them some and 4% said their mom loved them a little or not at all.
  • When it came to dads, nearly 90% of kids said their dad loved them a lot.
  • Again, fewer kids (8%) said their dads loved them only some and another 8% said their dads loved them a little or not at all.
  • About 73% said they like doing stuff with both parents, while 12% preferred to spend time with mom only and 9% liked being only with dad.

Majority of parents seldom see our kids wake up and go to school.  But the 2 most likely times that we can spend quality times with our kids would be during meals and during school activities. In that same survey,

  • about half of kids said they have meals with their parents at least once a day. The rest of the kids said they have family meals a few days a week (28%) or hardly ever or never (19%). 
  • Forty percent of kids said they’d like their parents to be more involved at their school. That could include chaperoning field trips, coaching a sport, volunteering for class events, or helping in tutoring. 

Since I start work early so I can get home early too , my bonding time with my kids start around 5PM when it’s study time for my eldest kid and have fun learning together.  Literally…a fun bonding time with him.  It was a rewarding experience for me therefore when his name was posted in the bulletin board as first honors in the first quarter of his Grade 1 class!  It was an experience better than me getting a good grade.

Teaching values to the kids require time from us.  Again who is not busy these days but the outcome of all these hard-work we spend with our kids will soon make us realize that we are responsible for shaping the future of these kids… and being honest is one trait that will bring these kids to future success!

Kudos to Parents Who Spend Time With Their Kids!

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Tips on How To Talk To Your Doctor

November 3, 2006

2777525239.jpgSetting up an appointment to see a doctor can be a daunting task for some. Many patients will tell me that their blood pressure usually shoots up the moment they enter the office. Many times, its the thought of missing something that they really want to ask…or may not understand.  So I thought of writing these tips so you can be prepared to see us anytime you deemed necessary.

  • Personal information like allergy or are you stressed?
  • Any family or past illnesses or surgery.
  • Any medicines you are currently taking.  Make sure you can remember the names and strength.
  • Any side effects you experienced while taking the medicine(s).  To include any vitamins or supplements you take.
  • Any laboratory workups done  including Xrays.

When you are inside the doctor’s office…don’t be afraid to speak up. It’s important for you to let your doctor know if you don’t understand something.

  • Ask every time you don’t understand something.
  • Write down your questions ahead of time.
  • React and ask for explanations if you missed something
  • Ask what the drugs are for and what the expected side effects are and for how long will they be taken.

Remember the following Important Points:Understanding ones disease is key to helping you feel better and managing your disease. These are the times you should call us:

  • Never stop a drug if you were not told to stop or if in doubt… ask your doctor.
  • If you start to feel worse or have problems with your medicine…call your doctor.
  • If you had tests and haven’t gotten the results… call your doctor

Lastly…know when your next check up is.  Remember… as doctors we want to know if the drug we’re giving is working well to help you feel better.  A follow up visit is very essential to help us manage your disease better!

There You go… Simple Tips to make your doctor’s visit smooth and easy

What You Tell Us Helps Us Treat What You Have!

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An Easy Way To Avoid The Common Cold

November 2, 2006

15112982.jpgIt’s the “colds” season again. The rainy season factor in the increasing trend of people catching colds. The problem with colds is that it is highly contagious and the virus is airborne and stays in the air for quite sometime to infect other people.  We are always told to cover out noses when we sneeze and definitely to wash hands when handling objects not ours or just by touching door knobs.  It can be also transmitted by a simple handshake.  So my practice has always been to have a hand sanitizer on my side and use it to clean my hands after every patient that I see and touch.

A new study published in November issue of the American Journal of Medicine showed that moderate daily exercise can actually help fend off the common cold. We know being physically healthy can really boost one immune system but this is the first time that exercise per se is looked at in relation to preventing colds.

In that study “older women who walked for a half-hour daily for a year reported half the number of colds as women of similar age who didn’t exercise.” The Fifty-three of the women were assigned to the exercise group spent 30 minutes daily, five days a week, doing moderate-intensity activity like brisk walking. These are activities we can always do at home.

This adds to the long list of benefits we get from exercise….

Preventing Colds Thru Exercise!

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The Benefits of Red Wine

October 31, 2006

1084423113.jpgThe low rate of heart disease in France despite a diet that includes plenty of butter and cheese has come to be known as the French paradox. The same observations have been noted in other wine drinking countries suggesting that the difference in heart disease risk maybe due to the red wine! More and more benefits in red wine consumption include a reduction in the risk to develop various forms of cancer like leukemia, breast and prostate… this I call The Wine Magic!

Now comes a new study presented in The Healthfinder of the US Dept of Health and Human Servicesthat showed drinking more than three glasses of red wine a week reduced the incidence of abnormal growths and cancers of the intestinal tract by two-thirds or approximately 68% reduction compared to non drinkers. Interestingly, drinking white wine did not have the same protective effect.

What is responsible for the benefits? A single product or a combined action of substances? Whatever it is… Wine Drinkers don’t care….

In the future I would suspect that we will have more data to support the recommendation of taking a glass of red wine to prevent heart disease and cancer just like asking people now to drink milk to prevent osteoporosis.  Until that time comes…I strongly discouraged people to start drinking wine for health benefits. For now… don’t substitute healthy activities and healthy food choices with a glass of wine! However… if you drink… then better choose Red wine.

Cheers to Red Wine!

Posted in General Health Tips, Medical News Bits | 2 Comments »

If You Are At Risk For Diabetes: Lessen Your STRESS!

October 30, 2006

1321931401.jpgThat’s True: Stress can increase ones blood sugar through the effect of the so called stress hormones.  You may have friends or parents who when gets stressed have higher sugar values.  But Can Stress cause one to become a diabetic?

One study says YES!….In this study published in October issue of Psychosomatic Medicine showed that individuals with high stress and high hostility levels have a higher likelihood of developing insulin resistance.

Insulin Resistance is the main defect present among diabetic patients.  This is a state where our body’s insulin production is affected because our body does not interact with the insulin being produced.  If this state remains unabated… it will tire out the pancreas which is the organ responsible for producing insulin leading to its failure to produce the product.  Once this happens, your blood sugar then shoots up because there is no more enough insulin that can bring sugar inside the muscle.  Our thrust in the treatment therefore of diabetes in 2006 is to combat this insulin resistance state through increase physical activity or drugs.

 This study found that there is a statistical interaction between hostility and stress level in predicting insulin resistance. Likewise other components associated with hostility like cynicism was found to strongly increase insulin resistance.  And one preventive strategy therefore for those of us at risk of diabetes  aside from increase physical activity should now include stress management.

At Risk for Diabetes?…embrace this saying… This has been and will always be my motto in life:

LIFE IS TOO SHORT… Enjoy! 

Don’t Let Stress Take that away from you! Know what stresses You Out…Then

 … Know How to Handle The Stress…

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

A Way To Stop Memory Loss!

October 28, 2006

923762090.jpgHave you misplaced our keys… or may have forgotten the name of somebody you just met… signs of aging? or just becoming forgetful? Aging is one process we cant avoid but now we have reason to be hopeful that there may actually be a way to prevent the signs of forgetfulness…and the solution is just within our reach!

Have you heard of the “Mediterranean” diet? It is a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, olive oil, legumes, cereals and fish. All of which except for olive oil are in abundance in our region. This diet as published in the October issue of Archives of Neurology showed that people on this diet had lower risk of being forgetful. The apparent benefit is “by protection from oxidative stress or by reducing inflammation in the brain.”

The study showed thta if you really closely follow the diet regimen, your risk of developing memory problem later on in life can be reduced by 68 percent.

The plus benefit of following the Mediterranean diet is the other benefits we can get from it as proven in other studies: protective for heart disease, heart attack, high blood pressure, obesity and a series of cancers.

The question of whether the benefit is due to Omega three fatty acids?  Most likely… but NOT from taking supplements sold in the market!   In one study from the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, the researchers found no advantage in taking the omega-3 fatty acids supplements at different doses compared to placebo.

What does this study tell us?…Fish Vegetables and Fruits are great for meals… and great for health.  The earlier we intervene in any disease through prevention, the better.

Memory Loss is Better Prevented than Treated!

Read My Other Related Post on Forgetfulness:

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Butter or Margarine? What Is Better?

October 27, 2006

9114985031.jpgI myself have been intrigued by this question: which would I recommend to my patient… margarine or butter?  During medical school, it has been taught to us that margarine as a safer heart healthy alternative to butter. Butter apparently is unhealthy because it contains too much fat as well as cholesterol and therefore bad for the heart.  On the other hand we were taught that margarine  is better since it is being made from unsaturated vegetable oils, and as such it is healthier!

But lately  research has shown otherwise especially with the knowledge we have now of trans fat! Margarine – specifically the hard stick margarine – contains large amounts of trans fats and as such WORSE than butter!  In the study published in Journal of American Medical Association,  women who ate 4 teaspoons of stick margarine a day had a 50 percent greater risk of heart disease than women who ate margarine only rarely.

So, what ‘s my recommendation ? If you can avoid both…much better.  If you want to use margarine… read the label… use those that are trans fat free or non-hydrogenated and if you chose a soft margarine, chose a product that is low in saturated fat.

Butter or Margarine…Neither!

Posted in General Health Tips, Nutrition Health Tips | 2 Comments »

How Much Alcohol Is Acceptable?

October 26, 2006

5484476551.jpgThe debate on the merits and demerits of drinking alcohol has been with us for centuries.  We drink to have fun, or for some… too much fun!  The question always is how much alcohol is safe for me? Or Can I drink?

So far, more than 100 prospective studies show that drinking alcohol in MODERATION can lower the risk of heart attack, stroke, peripheral vascular disease, and sudden cardiac death by as much as 20% to 40%.  These heart benefits we all know are the reasons why we drink!

However the risks associated with alcohol intake begin to exceed benefits until middle age, when cardiovascular disease begins to account for increasingly large share of the burden of disease and death.  The Harvard Health Study Group has given these guidelines as follows:

  • For a person with liver disease, and people taking one or more medications that interact with alcohol, moderate drinking offers little benefit and potential risks.
  • For a 30-year-old man, the increased risk of alcohol-related accidents outweighs the possible heart-related benefits of moderate alcohol consumption.
  • For a 60-year-old man, a drink a day may offer protection against heart disease that is likely to outweigh potential harm (assuming he isn’t prone to alcoholism).
  • For a 60-year-old woman, the benefit/risk calculations are trickier. More than ten times as many women die each year from heart disease than breast cancer! However, studies show that women are far more afraid of developing breast cancer than heart disease, something that must be factored into the equation.

So what’s moderate drinking? That’s 1-2 drinks a day. 

and What’s a Drink?  Its….12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine, or 1½ ounces of spirits (hard liquor such as gin or whiskey).  Each of the them delivers about 12 to 14 grams of alcohol.

Yes…You can drink… but my recommendation is:

Drink in Moderation! 

Posted in General Health Tips | 83 Comments »

Are You Drinking Enough Water?

October 25, 2006

30465829701.jpgWater is probably one of the most essential elements for daily living.  It is important for our body to function properly…it flushes out toxins , moists our mucosal membranes in the throat, and helps deliver important nutrients to the different cells in the body. It is actually free and available but are we taking enough?

We lose water from our perspiration and breathing… we also lose at most 1.5 liters from the urine.  Together with water from our food , it is estimated that at least 8 cups of water per day should suffice to replenish what is lost daily.  Replacement is important because the body will not function properly if water is deprived.

What is an acceptable recommendation as proposed by the Institute of Medicine is the following:

  • Men should consume roughly 3 liters per day or 13 cups  of water daily
  • Women should consume 2.2  liters per day or 9 cups of water daily

So… how many of us are following this guideline? How many think drinking 3 glasses of water a day is enough because anyway one is not thirsty?

Some symptoms that you will feel if you’re not taking enough water include: dizziness, lightheadedness, muscle weakness, dry mouth and headache.

You will also know that you’re taking enough water if you are producing 1-2 liters of colorless or slightly yellowish urine.

My Healthy Practice Tip: drink one glass of water before and after each meal and at bedtime.  Plus a couple more in between!  That should do the trick.

Drinking Enough Water Can Make A Difference!

Read My Other Healthy Practice Tips Posts:

Posted in General Health Tips, Healthy Practice Tips | 4 Comments »

Can Cell Phones Cause Brain Tumors?

October 24, 2006

imagesquio.jpgIve been asked about this question several times.  We are using cellphones everyday for both personal and business use.  Even some kids are starting to use this technology.  But are they SAFE?

 Evidence so far is pretty limited and the best available studies on this subject was published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2001.  with one follow up case control study done in UK published in the British Medical Journal recently in 2006. 

Both studies reached similar conclusions…that so far the use of hand held phones poses no threat to the general public in terms of increasing one’s risk to develop tumors especially the brain.  That with the data analyzed…there has been no increase in the incidence of glioma or meningioma up to the year 2004.

That’s great news to all of us who can’t live without our cell phones tucked inside our bag or belt.  However the authors cautioned that… the findings should be seen as an estimate of the risk at an early stage of the use of this technology.  We all are aware that technology advances so rapidly that complications arising from their use may be underestimated based on current findings.

My only advise on this matter  is … more of a concern on the rapid use of cell phones among children less than 10 years old.  I strongly recommend to limit the use of cell phones on the kids. We still have no firm data on cellphones and the developing brains of these kids.  Their impact may not be known until decades after.

 Use The Benefits of Your Cell Phones… With Care!  

Posted in General Health Tips, Medical News Bits | 1 Comment »

The Internet Addiction

October 23, 2006

21592908151.jpgInternet has revolutionized the way we do things whether in business, personal life or in Medicine.  We can now diagnose diseases from areas where there are no doctors based on Internet transmission of images.  I find it useful to browse through medical journals every morning to see what’s the latest and what’s no longer acceptable in terms of treatment or diagnostic tools.   However it is said that approximately 5 to 10% of adult population are now hooked to Internet and are spending more time then they should.  The era of Internet ADDICTION!

In one study done by Stanford University researchers recently published in Journal of Neuropsychiatric Medicine,it is estimated that” more than one in eight U.S. adults finds it hard to stay away from the Internet for several days at a time and about one in eleven tries to hide his or her on-line habit.”

The implication of the study is that a sizable number of subjects had their marital or social relationships suffering due to Internet use.  So far however no clinical or medical disorder has resulted arising from Internet addiction.  But what we know about the Internet is that it may promote addictive behaviors and pseudo-intimate relationships like “cybersex.”

Some of the signs that a person is suffering from Internet Addiction are:

  1. disregard for health or appearance,
  2. sleep deprivation
  3. decreased physical activity and social interaction with others
  4.  dry eyes
  5. carpal tunnel syndrome and
  6. repetitive motion injuries of hands and fingers. 

Enjoy the benefits of the Internet but as the saying goes…

Too Much of a Good Thing Can be

BAD for Your Health!

Posted in General Health Tips | 8 Comments »

For A Better Sex Life…

October 21, 2006

1953191542.jpgThis post is for the guys…and their partners too! A Hope for Premature Ejaculation!

Do you know that premature ejaculation is the most common sexual problem among men?  Even more common that erectile dysfunction or impotence? It affects approximately 35% of male population…whew that large! Seldom however is this topic ever discussed because most men don’t think this as a problem but the partners actually do….But there’s hope …

A new antidepressant drug called dapoxetine designed specifically to treat premature ejaculation has proven to be safe and effective in a study involving 2000 men published in September issue of Lancet.

This drug works specifically to delay ejaculation. But, continued use of this drug has been shown to produce some side effects like nausea, headache among others.  “It worked both in lengthening ejaculation time and in patients’ feeling control over ejaculation and both subjects’ and partners’ feelings of satisfaction with intercourse” 

The results showed that after 12 weeks, men taking dapoxetine increased their time to ejaculation from less than 1 minute to 2.78 minutes on the 30-milligram dose ,  to 3.32 minutes on the 60-milligram dose.  That a great improvement and for sure makes the men less insecure in bed.

This drug is available in Europe but not yet approved in the US.  So for now…the use of depoxitine for premature ejaculation is considered an ” off label” use.

There you go guys…

Better Sex means Better Satisfaction

for a Better Relationship!

Posted in General Health Tips, Lifestyle Measures | 13 Comments »

The Tale of Too Much Testosterone

October 20, 2006

imagessa1.jpgThe macho image of being fit with bulky bodies has driven a lot of men to self prescribe testosterone… hoping to boost energy and muscle mass.  Indeed too little testosterone can be bad to ones health and well being but too much can have a more lasting ill effect!

A study published in Journal of Biological Chemistry showed that “Too much testosterone can kill brain cells. “ Tests done on brain cells in the lab showed that too much testosterone results in cells to self-destruct… a process similar to what happens with Alzheimer’s Disease.

This finding will definitely have an impact among athletes who tend to abuse steroid and hormones to enhance competitiveness through an increase in endurance and muscle mass.  But at the expense of nerve cell damage… which in the long run can mean dementia.

This is a tale that we want to remain a tale…not a reality!

Be Safe… Be Happy With What You Have!

Posted in General Health Tips, Medical News Bits | 9 Comments »

How To Lower Your Child’s Risk To Allergy!

October 19, 2006

2408478167.jpgMy kids have allergies and I know of a lot more kids of friends with allergies that I equate this problem to diabetes epidemic in adults… such that almost someone in the family is suffering from the disease.

Any study therefore that can help future parents reduce their child’s risk to suffer from allergy will be most welcome. This new study published in the Allergy, August issue  looked at this scenario in detail. This study involved 4000 children from birth to 4 years of age.

What They Found was:

Children who ate fish before 12 months had LOWER odds of developing asthma, allergic skin diseases and nasal allergies by the time they reach age 4!

It is in line with recent evidence that the omega 3 fatty acids present in fish ,which have anti-inflammatory properties help in improving  ones immune system and thereby lower allergy risk.

Clinical Implication of the study is that the result will change the way we view fish.  We are taught to delay fish up to 3 years of age because it may increase a child’s allergy risk… but this new finding will definitely change that view.

Opinions and evidences keep on evolving…this ever changing field of medicine which we call … Science ….

So again…

Let’s Enjoy The Benefits of Fish…This Time…Earlier!

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Posted in General Health Tips, Medical News Bits, Nutrition Health Tips | 3 Comments »

Foods To Avoid If You Have Arthritis

October 18, 2006

3045974510.jpgAs we age … whatever work we do… we eventually succumb to annoying joint pains.  The aches and pains of growing old so they say.  It is estimated that approximately 2.5 million Americans have a form of joint disease called Rheumatoid Arthritis. Our parents may have and you may have it too as we age.

Often times our patients complain that certain foods affect the onset of joint pains.  Almost always we don’t put too much weight on the food triggers except if we are talking about Gouty Arthritis due to excessive uric acid in the blood.  Here, food triggers are very important.  But with this new study published in the Journal GUT our attitude will have to change.

The study showed that the “production of antibodies to certain foods is strikingly increased in the gut of many patients with rheumatoid arthritis  It may be that hypersensitivity to certain foods leads to a flare-up in the joints.” 

The foods known to trigger the joint pains included : milk, eggs, pork and fish.

This study further elucidates an important fact that medical practitioners always fail to understand:

Patients know what they feel…and that instead of relegating the complaints of food triggers to joint pains as mere psychological in nature… there may in fact be a true immunological basis to it!

My recommendation: If you feel a certain food exacerbates your joint pains then avoid it.  You may be right that certain food that you like can trigger the inflammatory process.

Joint Pains?… Check Your Food!

Posted in General Health Tips | 22 Comments »

The French Fries Freebie!

October 17, 2006

imagesert.jpgGo to any malls in any country… and you’ll see fast-food stations serving the yummy french fries!  Be it the children or the parents… you can see them eating their hearts out after a hectic day of shopping.  What a fun activity to watch and what a way to bond with your kids.  Not only will you show the kids the wrong way to eat but push them to gain the weight we’ve been wanting them to lose. 

As to the parents… do you want Diabetes with your order of Fries?  A recent study showed that Diabetes is now a freebie for every order of your fries!  yahoooo… we all like freebies! 

In a survey done by the Harvard School of Public Health study involving 84,500 women showed that:

  1. those that “splurged” on french fries just once a week were 21 percent more likely to get diabetes than those who ate none. 
  2. those that eat five servings per week of any white potatoes, whether mashed and baked, raised the risk by 14 percent!

The problem with french fries…aside from the fat… is that… it is a food with high glucose load!  I therefore strongly suggest that if you’re obese, or has a family history of diabetes… eating french fries with bread is loading yourself with free sugar!  So the next time you crave for potatoes…switch to sweet potatoes instead! 

Diabetes?…No Thanks For the Freebie!

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No Baby Yet?… Check Your Husband’s Weight

October 16, 2006

imageswer1.jpgInfertility is pretty common nowadays…being blamed includes stress, pollution or just having no luck!  Almost always in general, it is blamed on the woman for not having the right” ground” for conceiving.  However only recently is a study done by a reputable institution, The National Institutes of Health, that looked at the men as being the reason for the infertility.  The study published in the September 2006 issue of Epidemiology,  showed men with increased body mass index (BMI) were significantly more likely to be infertile than normal-weight men.  BMI which is computed based on a person’s weight and height, provides a reliable indicator of body fatness for most people.

It has been known that women who are obese have a difficult time getting pregnant however no data on infertility are known among obese men. 

This new study showed that:

  • A 20-pound increase in men’s weight can increase the chance of infertility by about 10 percent.
  • Men’s BMI was an independent risk factor for infertility. This after adjusting for other known risk factors like cigarette smoking, alcohol intake, and solvent and pesticide exposure.
  • There was a general increase in infertility with increased BMI: reaching a nearly 2-fold increase among obese men.

The most likely explanations for infertility among obese men included:

  • Overweight men usually have less sexual intercourse than their normal weight counterparts and this could influence fertility.
  • Recent studies showed lower semen quality for overweight and obese men, as well as hormonal differences.

This study further illustrates another impact of obesity on ones health… this time on infertility which can be frustrating to the couples trying to have a baby.  Whether achieving a normal BMI among those participants in the study can result in normal fertility remains to be seen… although medically, once a person who is obese loses weight… the medical problems associated with it returns to baseline average population risk.

So Guys… Careful with Your Weight Or Else…

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