Lifestyle
Changes Credited in Drop in Heart Deaths British Medical Journal (online) August
16, 2005 Aug 25 (Reuters Health) – Healthier eating habits and a decline in smoking may explain a large share of the drop in heart disease deaths the UK has seen since the 1980s, a new study suggests. Research has shown that since the 1980s, heart disease deaths have fallen by roughly one-half in many industrialized countries. The relative importance of the various reasons for this decline is not fully clear, however. A central question is whether “primary” or “secondary” prevention is more important. Primary prevention refers to the prevention of heart disease in healthy people, while secondary prevention means reducing potentially fatal complications like heart attack in people with diseased heart arteries. Right now, the priority in the UK and the U.S. seems to be on the latter, according to Dr. Belgin Unal of Dokuz Eylul University in Izmir, Turkey. But in their study, Unal and his colleagues found that primary
prevention was responsible for about half of the steep decline in heart disease deaths in
England and Wales since 1981 -- with diet changes and a reduction in smoking getting most
of the credit. All told, primary prevention was four times more effective at preventing deaths compared with treatment of existing heart disease, according to the researchers’ estimates, which were published online by the British Medical Journal. Primary prevention works, Unal told Reuters Health, because it targets people who are generally healthy, encouraging smoking cessation and lifestyle changes to cut cholesterol and blood pressure before they rise too high. Medications are also part of preventing heart disease, but they are prescribed only after cholesterol and blood pressure climb to a concerning level. Unal and his colleagues arrived at their estimates using a statistical model that synthesized data on more than 35 million adults in England and Wales. The data came from various sources, including official statistics, national surveys and clinical trials. Overall, the researchers found, heart disease deaths fell by 54% between 1981 and 2000. The single largest factor, they say, was the concurrent 35% decline in smoking prevalence. They estimate that this trend prevented nearly 30,000 deaths from heart disease – mostly among people who had no known heart problems at the time they quit. During the same period, there were more modest dips in adults’
cholesterol levels and blood pressure, which the researchers credit with an accordingly
smaller reduction in heart disease deaths. For people without existing heart disease, the
study authors estimate, the biggest
factor here seems to be changes in diet – including higher intakes of fruit, fiber. Lifestyle Changes to Manage
Headaches by Debra Wood, RN Almost all headaches respond to
lifestyle changes. Specific recommendations are suggested to limit the number or intensity
of each type of headache. Managing Tension Headaches Exercise Regularly: Exercise helps control stress and can decrease the number and intensity of headaches. Improve Your Posture: Poor posture contributes to tension headaches. Do not slouch. Hold the phone, rather than cradling it on your shoulder, or use a headset. Consider seeing a physical or occupational therapist for posture tips more specific to your individual situation. Learn Stress Management Techniques: Stress can contribute to a headache. A mental health
professional can work with you to develop stress management skills and learn relaxation
techniques. The counselor may be able to help you identify events that trigger the
headaches and work toward resolution. Get Plenty of Sleep: Maintaining
regular sleep routines will help you fall asleep. Sleep helps decrease tension and
irritability. Take Breaks From Tasks: Regular
breaks help prevent your muscles from tightening up and can decrease stress. Managing Migraine Headaches Keep a Diary to Help Identify Your Migraine Pattern: Identifying what triggers migraines and what relieves
them will help your doctor and you develop a plan to manage your migraines. Learn Stress Management and Relaxation Techniques: Stress can contribute to a headache. A mental health professional can work with you to develop stress management skills and learn relaxation techniques. Exercise Regularly: Exercise helps control stress. Regular swimming and walking can decrease the number and intensity of migraine headaches. Avoid Foods That Trigger Migraines: Some foods bring on migraines. These may include:
Interesting, isn’t it, that many of those foods are also on
the list of those that have a high fungal quotient? Eat Small Meals More Often: If low blood sugar precedes your migraines, eating
small amounts of food more frequently may help prevent your blood sugar from dropping. Do Not Change Your Regular Sleep Pattern on the Weekend or During Vacation: Sleeping and waking at regular times may help prevent headaches. Limit Stimuli During an Attack: 1) Apply cold compresses to painful areas of your head, 2)
Lie in a dark, quiet room, 3) Massage your scalp and temples, 4) Try to fall asleep. Managing Cluster Headaches Seek out a physician who is a
headache specialist and work together to devise a plan for treatment of acute headaches
and preventive treatment. Do Not Drink Alcoholic Beverages: Even a small amount of alcohol can trigger a headache
during a cluster period. Learn Stress Management Techniques: Stress can contribute to a headache. A mental health
professional can work with you to develop stress management skills and learn relaxation
techniques. Do Not Smoke: Tobacco may
interfere with medication to relieve the headache. Limit Stimuli During an Attack: During cluster periods avoid: 1) Bright lights and
glare, 2) Heights and high altitudes, 3) Hazardous activities. Managing Sinus Headaches Keep Nasal Passages Moist: This can be done by: 1) Breathing in warm, moist air, 2) Using a mist of saline nasal spray; a saline spray can be used up to six times a day, 3) Nasal irrigation; ask your doctor how to do this at home. Avoid Exposure to Anything That Triggers Allergy or Sinus Symptoms: Allergic reactions increase the amount of secretions in and swelling of the nasal passages, which can lead to sinusitis. Seek Medical Treatment for Allergies or a Persistent Cold: Medical management of allergies and upper respiratory infections helps prevent sinusitis. If you are prone to sinus problems, ask your doctor about using a decongestant before air travel. A decongestant will help keep nasal passages open. Wash Your Hands Frequently to Avoid Colds: Hand washing helps prevent colds and other infections
passed from the hand to the nose, mouth, or eyes. Colds increase the amount of secretions
in and swelling of the nasal passages, which can lead to sinusitis. Avoid Alcoholic Drinks: Alcohol
can cause swelling of nasal and sinus tissues. Avoid Smoke: Do not smoke;
tobacco may interfere with medication to relieve the headache. Also, avoid second-hand
smoke and polluted air. When to Contact
Your Health Care Provider Contact your health care provider if your headaches do not respond to lifestyle changes and prescribed medications. Are You Taking Drugs You Don’t Need? by Elizabeth Smoots, MD The average older adult takes 4–5 prescription drugs and two
over-the-counter drugs, and fills 12–17 prescriptions a year. Some of these
medications are truly necessary because people tend to accumulate more health problems
with age. But, the more
medicines you take, the greater your risk of suffering an adverse drug reaction. When compared to younger people, seniors are more sensitive to drug
interactions and side effects. And older people are especially susceptible to becoming
confused, dizzy, or falling and breaking a hip (or as we’ll point out later, breaking
a hip, then falling). New Research on Drug Use Previous studies have found unnecessary drugs common in nursing homes, hospitals, doctors’ offices, and the home. Although medical providers have tried to address this issue, misuse of drugs remains a major problem for seniors. In one Journal of the American Medical Association study, researchers analyzed a national sample of people aged 65 or older living at home. They found that 21.3%, nearly 7 million community-dwelling seniors in the U.S., received 1 of 33 potentially inappropriate medications in 1996, the most recent year data was available. Following are details from the study:
List of Inappropriate Drugs In the study, a panel of experts compiled a list of the 33 most commonly misused drugs. You and your doctor can use this list as a tool for reviewing your medications. For your own health and safety, however, do not stop taking any medication
unless you have consulted with your doctor and have his/her approval. Classification of Drugs
Risks for Inappropriate Drug Use When you’re on a lot of medicine, how can you tell if you’re taking more than you require? First of all, you need the help of your doctor to make that determination. The two of you should be on a heightened state of alert for unnecessary medications if any of the following risk factors apply to you:
Talking to Your Doctor The best way to fine-tune your
medications is to work with your doctor. After all, most doctors are experts in the drug
treatment of disease. But your doctor
can only help if you tell him or her about all the medicines you’re taking,
including prescription and over-the-counter drugs and supplements. A study in the Journal
of the American Geriatric Society found that three out of four older adults take
medications that their doctors don’t know about. Thoroughly review your medications with your doctor at least once a year. Write down a complete list, or better yet, bring all of them into the office in a brown bag. And don’t forget to include those in your medicine chest or kitchen cupboard that you only take once in awhile. Another key is to ask questions. Keep inquiring until you understand the dose, frequency, and purpose of the medicine you’re taking. Finally, don’t be afraid to ask about non-drug options that can help you minimize your use of medications. Long-term Aspirin Lowers Colon
Cancer Risk Journal of the American Medical Association, August 24/31, 2005 Aug 23 (Reuters Health) - Regular, long-term use of aspirin – and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen or naproxen – reduces the risk of developing colon cancer, an analysis of data from the Nurses’ Health Study shows. However, the relatively large doses required for a protective effect mean that the benefits must be balanced against the chances of major stomach or intestinal bleeding. The findings are reported by Dr. Andrew T. Chan, from Harvard Medical School in Boston, and his associates in this week’s Journal of the American Medical Association. Their analysis covered 82,911 women who provided information about their use of painkillers, beginning in 1980. During follow-up through June of 2000, there were 962 new cases of colorectal cancer. Dr. Chan and his colleagues found a significant benefit of regular aspirin use (at least two tablets per week) in preventing colon cancer, but not until after more than a decade of use. The more aspirin taken, the lower the risk, the team found, with those taking 14 aspirin per week for longer than 10 years having the lowest risk – a 53% reduction. Analysis of outcomes associated with non-aspirin NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen or naproxen, showed similar results, with significant benefit at higher doses over 10 years or longer in reducing the risk of early-stage colon cancer. However, regular, long-term use of acetaminophen appeared to have no effect on colorectal cancer risk. Based on their findings, the authors estimate that “use of aspirin at the highest-dose category compared with no use of aspirin would prevent one to two cases of colorectal cancer” among 1000 people over a period of 10 years. However, there would also be “an excess of eight episodes of major gastrointestinal bleeding.” They therefore conclude that “future studies will need to thoroughly consider the risk-benefit profile for aspirin/NSAID chemo-prevention among various risk groups and compare such a strategy with other potential prevention efforts.” Interesting. Remember a couple issues back, we showed that aspirin
reduced arthritis pain because it was, after all was said and done, an antifungal
medicine. And, if it is someday proved that cancer has a fungal etiology, then the above
article also has some validity. But, there are many sources of antifungal medicines (food
– Hippocrates) that do not cause your stomach or intestines to bleed like aspirin
does (eat more carrots!). Other News You Might Pursue: Labs tests
indicate nearly two-thirds of the fad diet pill, hoodia gordonii supplements, sold in the http://www.naturalhealthreport.com/A-hoodia-gordonii-exposed.html If the auto
industry operated like Big Pharma: fifteen things you might notice (funny in one sense, worth crying about in another because we let
them get away with it): How to achieve
exercise success, even if you can’t stand to exercise |