Vote on healthcare reform stalled until September

As the debate over healthcare reform intensifies, news came from Washington that the vote on a new healthcare plan would be postponed until September. A Washington Post article suggests that both sides of the issue will have to draw up new media campaigns to win support during the next two months. Last Thursday, the Post says, the Obama Administration launched advertisements about "the cost of doing nothing" via the Democtratic National Committee, the article said. On the other side of the issue, the organization Americans for Prosperity is buying better than $1 million of advertisements on a national cable television station this week to criticize the Canadian-style health care the Obama Administration's plan would allegedly institute. The Obama camp's Organizing for America group also is expected to step up its e-mail campaign to seek support for the plan. The truth is we won't really know if a national health care plan works until it is up and running for several years. There are undeniable pros and cons of such a system, but with the economy shaky and unemployment rising, Americans may be too afraid of another big government program that further increases the deficit. On the other side of the argument, the longer we wait on healthcare the more those without coverage face sure financial ruin if a catastropic event strikes their families.

Aromatherapy and stress: It really is helpful to take time to smell the flowers

Taking time to smell the flowers may prove very helpful to lowering your stress levels. New research reports that certain fragrances, such as lemon, mango, and lavender, can alter gene activity and blood chemistry in ways that lower your stress levels. Japanese researchers studied rats who were given linalool, reporting that it returned stress-elevated levels of neutrophils and lymphocytes — key parts of the immune system — to near-normal levels. Inhaling linalool also reduced the activity of more than 100 genes that go into overdrive in stressful situations. The findings of this study could aid in the development of new blood tests for identifying fragrances that can soothe stress, the researchers say.

Two studies support benefits of healthy lifestyle for heart health

A lifestyle with healthy diet, exercise and other good health measures has genuine heart benefits, according to two new studies released this week and summarized in a Boston Globe article. The first study followed about 20,000 men with the average age of 52 for about 22 years. They report that men who exercised regularly , drank only moderate amounts of alcohol, did not smoke, and ate a diet that included breakfast cereal, fruits and vegetables and had a 1 in 10 risk of developing heart failure over their lifetimes. Men who adopted none of those practices had a 1 in 5 lifetime risk of heart failure. In the second study which examined women with hypertension, in a study about women and hypertension. researchers followed more than 83,000 healthy women for 14 years in the Nurses' Health Study. They were measured on how close they came to a normal weight, daily exercise, modest drinking, and a diet high in fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains but low in salt. They also took painkillers no more than once a week and took a folic acid supplement. Women who displayed all six "positive" health behaviors were 80 percent less likely to develop high blood pressure than women who followed none. Each behavior helped some, but having a normal weight made the greatest difference. It helped lower the risk of high blood pressure by 40 percent. Both research teams were from Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston.

Johns Hopkins and Mayo Clinic top new list of best U.S. hospitals

U.S. News & World Report released its list of the nation's best hospitals yesterday. Johns Hopkins, the Mayo Clinic and UCLA Medical Center topped the list. Johns Hopkins received the highest ratings for rheumatology, urology and ear, nose and throat specialties. The Cleveland Clinic, Massachusetts General, New York Presbyterian, the University of California/Sn Francisco Medical Center and the Hospital of the University of Pennsyvania also received high marks, while Barnes Jewish Hospital/Washington University and a tie between Brigham and Women's Hospital/Boston and Duke University Medical Center rounded out the top ten. U.S. News said it ranked hospitals in 16 specialties, from cancer and heart disease to respiratory disorders and urology. A total of 4,861 hospitals were examined for this 20th annual survey. According to the publication, only 174 hospitals scored high enough to be ranked in even one of the 16 specialties. Just21 qualified for th U.S. News Honor Roll by ranking at or near the top in at least six specialties.

Changes in white matter of brain may signal dementia

Older adults suffering from memory problems are more likely to later develop thinking problems if they show signs of growing "brain rust," or small areas of brain damage, according to a Science Daily article. The study was published in the July 14, 2009, print issue of Neurology®. After49 people who began the study with no memory problems were followed for 9.5 years, the researchers found 24 participants who developed cognitive impairment or other memory problems that are precursors to Alzheimer's or dementia. In participants with the fastest rate of growth in the amount of small areas of brain damage, or white matter hyperintensities, the researchers said they were more likely to see development of permanent thinking problems that in many cases led to dementia than those with a slow rate of growth in these types of brain lesions. For each cubic centimeter (less than a quarter of a teaspoon) increase in the amount of brain lesions in the participants, there was an associated 94 percent increased risk of developing cognitive impairment. That's an incredibly high risk factor...

More bad news for hormone replacement therapy

Ever since studies several years ago linked hormone replacement therapy to an increased risk of breast cancer, many women stopped taking the treatment, and coincidentally, breast cancer rates have consistently dropped each year. Now another study links HRT to an increased risk of ovarian cancer among women who have taken the therapy, compared with those who have never taken it. And this study has similar risk reduction when women stopped taking the treatments. The HRT group had an overall 38 percent increased risk of ovarian cancer, according to a Danish report that appears in the July 15 issue of JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association). The research team at Copenhagen University notes that the risk of ovarian cancer declined with longer time since last HRT use, but the risk of ovarian cancer did not differ significantly regardless of particular formulations, regimens, types of progestin or routes of administration. So once again, it appears that HRT is linked to a type of cancer and that once women stop using it, the risk declines. The researchers caution that because ovarian cancer is often fatal, doctors and patients should weigh the benefits vs. the risks accordingly.

Mixed results for omega-3 fatty acid DHA in Alzheimer's study

Some health gurus have suggested that omega-3 fatty acids, commonly found in fatty fish, fish oil and in supplement form, can help ward off Alzheimer's disease (AD) but two new studies of DHA have returned mixed results, according to a release from the Alzheimer's Association. The results of the first study, conducted by the Alzheimer's Disease Cooperative Study (ADCS)and supported by the National Institute on Aging (NIA), did not find any benefit to taking DHA supplements in people with mild to moderate AD who took DHA for 18 months. Another study of DHA by Martek Biosciences had a positive result on one test of memory and learning, but that study was in healthy older adults, not people with AD or another dementia. The researchers presented data from both studies at the Alzheimer's Association 2009 International Conference on Alzheimer's Disease (ICAD 2009) in Vienna. Early detection could be the key to tackling AD and dementia. "These two studies – and other recent Alzheimer's therapy trials – raise the possibility that treatments for Alzheimer's must be given very early in the disease for them to be truly effective," said William Thies, PhD, Chief Medical & Scientific Officer at the Alzheimer's Association. "For that to happen, we need to get much better at early detection and diagnosis of Alzheimer's, in order to test therapies at earlier stages of the disease and enable earlier intervention." So, maybe older adults should start taking DHA as a preventive meaasure to keep their memories fine-tuned while they are still healthy, instead of waiting until they see the first signs of memory problems.

Perpetual diet may be the answer to longer life

Everyone knows someone who is on a perpetual diet and now new research suggests these folks who practice daily calorie reduction may be on a health track that prolongs their lives. At least that's what a study of rhesus monkeys on a restricted diet for decades has shown, according to a report in the Los Angeles Times. In a study funded by the National Institutes of Health and published in a recent issue of the journal Science, results from primates showed that calorie restriction had the same benefits observed in mice, rats worms,and spiders. The researchers suggest that it might have the same effects in humans. The monkeys' risk of dying from cancer, heart disease and diabetes fell by more than two-thirds, according to the study.

"Mild caloric restriction is beneficial to everybody," Dr. Luigi Fontana, a medical professor at Washington University in St. Louis told the L.A. Times. Fontana examined people who have been practicing caloric restriction for an average of 6 1/2 years and said their heart function was equivalent to those of people 16 years younger. That's something to think about...breaking the bad habit of eating too much, too often, is the challenge facing most of us.

Rapamycin: Can it slow the aging process?

We all want to stay young and slow the natural aging process. A new drug found in South Pacific soil may eventually be the answer to many older adults' prayers. A study published in the journal Nature reports that rapamycin, a drug used in humans to prevent transplanted organ rejection, extended the lives of mice by up to 14% — even when the mice received the drug late in life. The one glitch in the findings is that rapamycin also suppresses the immune system and that could complicate its development as an anti-aging drug. Researchers are expected to continue studying the drug to see if they can separate the immune suppression from the anti-aging effect. One researcher who worked on the project said it might someday be possible to tweak rapamycin in this way, or to target the other molecules in the pathway instead. His lab is already working on these challenges.

Of mice, men and coffee...

I am returning to blogging after a few days vacation followed by the hospitalization of my mother...Will the reactions of little mice with induced Alzheimer's disease ring true for humans, too? A recent study fed the equivalent of 500 milligrams of caffeine to mice who had the same memory changes as those seen in Alzheimer's disease, according to a CBS News report and the San Francisco Chronicle. The researchers said the caffeine, roughly equivalent to five cups of coffee in humans, had a positive effect on memory and thinking actions over a two-month period. The brains of the mice receiving caffeine also showed a 50% reduction in the protein that contributes to dementia. This could mean that caffeine can reverse Alzheimer's progress, although more research is needed to obtain definitive results. The studies appeared in the July 5 online edition of the Journal of Alzheimer's Association.

Diet high in fat may increase risk of pancreatic cancer

New research published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute suggests that a fatty diet can increase a person's risk of pancreatic cancer. The researchers reviewed surveys from more than 500,000 people and found that those eating a diet rich in saturated fats were 36 times more likely to get pancreatic cancer, according to a Xinhua wire story. For those who consumed the highest amounts of total fats, the rate of cancer was 53 percent higher for men and 23 percent higher for women, compared to participants with the lowest fat diets, ABC News said. The researchers also linked saturated fat to insulin resistance.

Women offered new breast biopsy technique

A Canadian research team has developed a new breast biopsy technique that could reduce procedure times and lessen patient discomfort and morbidity. In a study performed at Roberts Research Institute, the University of Western Ontario and London Health Sciences Centre, London, ON, Canada, the new technique used a mechanical arm to guide the needle for the biopsy and has a braking system that allows doctors to accurately place the needle and helps avoid needle motion. The study reports that biopsy success rates were greater when using our new guidance system,” said Aaron Fenster, MD, lead author of the study. “We also showed that experienced and inexperienced radiologists performed a biopsy significantly faster when using our needle guidance system,” said Dr. Fenster. The study was published in the June issue of the American Journal of Roentgenology This is good news for women facing a breast biopsy but the new guidance system still requires more testing in a clinical setting later this year before being approved for widespread use.

Drug companies are wearing white hats again after latest deal with Obama

Over the weekend, pharmaceutical companies struck a deal with the Obama administration promising to spend $80 billion over the next decade to defray the cost of drugs for senior citizens, particularly those caught in the so-called "donut hole," and paying part of the costs of Obama's health legislation. President Obama said on Monday that the agreement was "a significant breakthrough on the road to health care reform, one that will make a difference in the lives of many older Americans." The deal is contingent upon Congress passing a comprehensive health care bill, which is currently encountering strong opposition from Republicans, according to an Associated Press report. The AP said the drug industry has traditionally been aligned with Republicans in Congress, so the industry's decision to strike a deal with the White House and Democrats in Congress could have been a calculated move in to head off more costly demands as the legislation heads to draft form.

Father's Day Reminders: Check your health

Happy Father's Day to all our fathers, stepfathers, grandfathers and men who care for children. And while we're thanking them for taking care of us, perhaps we can remind them to take care of themselves by checking their blood pressure and blood glucose levels, controlling their diets and alcohol consumption, eliminating smoking, and checking for colon and prostate cancer as scheduled. Statistics show that men are more likely to put off routine checkups and ignore symptoms of a health problem than women, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). They are more likely to smoke, drink and engage in risky or dangerous behaviors that can threaten health. Men are also less likely to have a regular doctor, HHS said. However, the women in their lives can help them reach better health outcomes through education and awareness. Women obtain health information from doctors, the television, the Internet, and printed materials and pass it on to the men in their lives. It's a good practice to discuss health matters with our significant others so that we prevent illnesses or control them in the earliest stages.

FDA warns against adverse effect of Zicam products

I took a few days off this week but the consumer health news kept on flowing...This time the focus is on a common over-the-counter medicine used to fight congestion from colds. On June 16, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a warning to consumers to stop using three zinc-based nasal spray products marketed by Matrixx as homeopathic cold remedies because they are associated with the loss of the sense of smell (anosmia). This adverse effect can be be long-lasting or permanent, according to the FDA alert, and affects quality of life and the ability to detect dangerous odors, such as gases and smoke. The FDA says it has received more than 130 reports of the loss of the sense of smell reportedly associated with the use of three products: Zicam Cold Remedy Nasal Gel, Zicam Cold Remedy Nasal Swabs, and a now discontinued product called Zicam Cold Remedy Swabs, Kids Size. News reports indicate that the company settled hundreds of lawsuits over the same ill effect in 2006. The agency advises any consumers who have experienced problems with their senses of smell after using Zicam products to contact their doctors immediately. As "homeopathic" remedies that came onto the market before 1999, the products did not need FDA approval. In addition to the FDA action this week, the Federal Trade Commission is also investigating the company regarding deceptive advertising and the Better Business Bureau had urged that Zicam advertisements be toned down, according to an Associated Press report. Other nasal spray products and homeopathic remedies will likely face increased scrutiny from both the FDA and consumers in the coming months and we've not heard the end of this story...My father lost his sense of smell years ago after using a nasal spray for only a few days...so the anecdotal evidence has been out there for years...It's unfortunate that it sometimes takes our government an entire decade to react with action that protects our health from future threats.

Red rice yeast instead of statin can reduce cholesterol, report says

As the baby boomer population ages, more people are being diagnosed with high cholesterol levels. Many doctors prescribe statins to reduce choesterol, but some patients have complained of muscle weakness and other effects from statins. Those looking for an alternative may find success with the supplement red rice yeast, used for years in Asia, according to ABC News. A new study in the Annals of Internal Medicine reports that after 12 weeks, study participants who took 1,800 mg of red rice yeast supplements saw LDL, the "bad cholesterol," drop by 27 percent. Those who did not take the red yeast rice supplements saw their LDL drop by only 6 percent. All participants were counseled on nutrition and exercise during the study. One doctor who co-authored the study said he was pleasantly surprised at the lowering effect and the fact that there were fewer side effects than expected. For those who have had problems with statins or who will not take prescription drugs, this might be an interesting alternative. The only problem is the supplement is not regulated by the FDA and, as with many other supplements, it's hard to know which brand has the most appropriate active ingredient amount, without contamination, but some Internet sites are cropping up that evaluate supplements and objectively list those that are top of the line. Beware of the sites that are just trying to hawk their own versions of the product, based on your keyword search.

Sleep more to improve your health

So many people are sleep-deprived these days due to work and family responsibilities that we can identify walking zombies in almost any setting in the U.S. Yet, research is telling us that the less we sleep the more prone we will be to obesity, high blood pressure and diabetes and that lack of proper rest can also exacerbate other diseases such as muscular sclerosis, arthritis and heart-related ailments. Apparently, a good night's sleep better regulates blood glucose levels, keeps blood pressure in check and also helps us lose more weight when we are dieting. A study in the June 8 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine reported that participants in the study with less sleep saw their blood pressure rise more than those who slept 7 or 8 hours. Just this week researchers presenting at the 23rd Annual Meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies said people with insomnia or those who had less than five hours had the greatest increased risk of developing diabetes, according to Science Daily. Those who slept between five and six hours a night also increased their risk of developing diabetes. It's another correctable risk, but easier said than done for many people whose life challenges just don't allow eight hours of sleep per night.

Want to lose weight? New study suggests boosting Vitamin D levels

Vitamins are in the spotlight lately, from Vitamin-enriched water and juice drinks to supplements to boost the immune system or metabolism. Now a new study suggests that Vitamin D might help us lose more weight when we are on calorie-restricted diets. Researchers at the University of Minnesota report that Vitamin D levels in the body at the start of a low-calorie diet predict weight loss success.
The researchers followed participants who had a calorie-restricted diet to see whether baseline vitamin D levels before calorie restriction had an effect on subsequent weight loss. The higher the Vitamin D level the more weight the person lost. Also, participants with higher baseline vitamin D levels lost more abdominal fat. While the researchers suggest that adding Vitamin D to a reduced-calorie diet might increase weight loss, they caution that more research is need via clinical research. The results of their study were presented at The Endocrine Society's 91st Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C...Perhaps, those of us who work in cubes or windowless offices should try to get out in the daylight sun for at least 15 minutes a day and eat more foods rich in Vitamin D, including fish, low-fat or skim milk, fortified cereal and orange juice, and mushrooms.

World Health Organization says swine flu has reached pandemic status

The World Health Organization held an emergency meeting and has declared the current swine flu outbreak a pandemic, meaning it is intensifying in at least two global regions, with an incresing number of cases being found in Australia, Japan, the United Kingdom and Chile, according to a BBC report. The swine flu has now spread to 74 countries. It's the first time in 40 years that the WHO has declared a global flu pandemic. The last one was in the late 1960s, when the Hong Kong flu killed more than 1 million people. Experts are reassuring that this outbreak currently appears to be more moderate than the last outbreak with many people reporting milder symptoms. They'll be monitoring the virus to see if it mutates in the autumn and winter to produce more serious effects. The pandemic status issued by WHO today will likely speed the production of flu vaccine and efforts to get people vaccinated before the fourth quarter of 2009. So wash your hands, get your flu shot and stay tuned. I think the preventive actions taken in various countries - closing schools and limiting gatherings where there are outbreaks -- has helped to curb the spread in some regions. At Rutgers University's graduation ceremonies, the deans dispensed with the traditional handshakes when graduates received their certificates to avoid spreading germs. Small measures add up!

Health clinics flourish as Americans rush for treatment

Everyone's busy these days, so if you could do your shopping and get your health checkup at the same place, you might think about using one of the health clinics that has appeared recently in your local retail department store, mall or pharmacy chain. Long waits in doctors' offices or emergency rooms have left some patients frustrated and looking for another option. Kalorama Information, a market research firm, says these clinics numbered about 1,200 in 2008 with annual revenue of $545 million, But by 2013, it estimates the number of clinics will double, with revenue of about $2 billion. Wal-Mart, Walgreens, CVS and Rite-Aid are some of the retailers currently operating in-store health clinics, according to CNN.com. If the clinic trend continues in stores, it could redefine the market for primary care. The current attraction of these in-store health clinics is that they boast shorter wait times -- 15 minutes --and lower costs compared with the typical doctor's office. A passing fad or a new trend?...only time will tell.