Exercise and sleep can help to prevent cancer

A study in Maryland found that people who had less sleep had a greater chance of getting breast cancer.  The CDC recognizes sleep deprivation as a serious health problem with fewer and fewer people getting the sleep that they need to be healthy.  Lack of sleep is associated with many chronic ailments, including obesity, depression, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease.  Where are the studies that demonstrate effective techniques to get people sleeping and exercising more?

Another reason to sleep longer – short sleepers and cardiovascular disease

In most people, blood pressure decreases while they sleep – a phenomenon that is thought to decrease the strain on the heart and blood vessels during the night.  Japanese researchers showed that individuals who had less sleep also had higher sleeping blood pressure, and consequently had more cardiovascular disease.

Vit B3 prevents the progression of alzheimers in mice

Nicotinamide (Vit B3) has long been used by Naturopathic Physicians as a treatment for neurological problems, and to enhance cognition.  This recent study suggests it may limit the progression of alzheimers disease in mice, but it is too soon to recommend it in humans because Vit B3 is toxic if taken in too high a dose.  Which begs the question…should I stop drinking water because it could kill me if taken in too high a dose?  B3 is very safe when taken in the right form and the right dose – consult your physician before using it.

You mean there is more to heart disease than blood pressure and cholesterol?

Cholesterol is a good measure of cardiovascular disease risk, but it is definitely not the only story behind heart disease.  With the widespread use of statin medications, cholesterol is becoming better controlled, but other risk factors like body weight and blood triglycerides are still increasing – evidence that we need to start treating the causes of heart disease instead of trying to mask its symptoms with costly medications that come with side effects.

Watch what you eat – for your children’s sake

A recent pediatric study proves that children will mirror the eating habits of their parents, underlining the importance of learning healthy eating habits not just for your own health, but for the health of your children as well.

British study associates coffee drinking with low birth weight babies

In light of a recent study, Britain has decreased its guidelines for caffeine intake to a maximum of 200mg/ day.  This is probably the equivalent of 2 small cups of coffee.  This same article from the BBC also mentions that the FSA may actually relax its guideline for alcohol consumption during pregnancy, as alcohol consumption is currently not recommended.

Another possible role for the hormone seratonin – controlling bone density?

A recent paper published in the journal Cell, discusses how Seratonin that is formed in the gut actually promotes the breakdown of bone in genetically modified mice.  Commonly referenced for its relationship to positive moods, seratonin is actually most plentiful in the human digestive tract, and the full scope of its effects have yet to be discovered.

Waist measurement – a simple and very effective risk analysis

Researchers in Europe are doing a good job at discrediting the old body mass index (BMI) model for cardiac risk analysis, in favor of a simpler and more effective waist to hip ratio.  It is the size of your waist (the area around your belly button) and your body shape that really matters when it comes to predicting your risk of dying from heart disease.

Probiotics – Good for your gut…and your curtains…?

Simply applying ‘good bacteria’ to curtains and other surfaces in hospitals has shown to cut down on infection rates, and the effects are comparable to that of antibiotic solutions.

Professor Gilbert Welch, MD, wrote a very interesting article in the New York Times recently about the current state of preventive medicine and how it pertains to the US presidential campagnes.

Today, Preventive Medicine should really be called early disease detection.  People are encouraged to come in to see the doctor at various ages in order to make sure they don’t have an illness that they are unaware of.  This approach is effective at detecting some diseases before they are out of control, but it does little to prevent disease and it ends up costing us more money.

In contrast, health promotion prevents disease.  The best preventive medicine involves educating patients (the word doctor means teacher) about how to care for their bodies, eat properly, exercise properly, and encouraging them to adopt healthy lifestyle habits and a positive outlook on life.

So next time you hear someone talking about preventive medicine, you may want to clarify: are they talking about disease detection or are they talking about promoting health so that disease is less likely to occur.

At his medical practice at the Sage Clinic in Vancouver, Dr Oughtred emphasizes health promotion, disease prevention and the enhancement of athletic performance.

St John’s Wort Shown shown to be effective for depression

-The herb St John’s Wort has shown to be better than placebo, comparable to pharmaceutical antidepressants in effectiveness, and has less side effects than standard antidepressant medications.  This from a recent Cochrane review that compared 29 scientific studies with over 5,000 patients.

Ginko may offer protection from the damaging effects of Stroke

-The herb Ginko Biloba, well known for its ability to promote vascular health, has been shown to mitigate the brain damage in mice who have had a stroke.  Researches showed the herb to be effective if used both before or after a stroke.  This recently from the journal, Stroke.

Pregnant women may be gaining too much weight

-A recent study published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association suggests that habitual dieters and overweight women were more likely to put on too much weight during pregancy.  The authors suggested that these women may be looking at pregnancy as an excuse to eat whatever they want, and should be instructed not to increase their caloric intake during the first trimester of pregnancy.

Topical Antioxidants may Prevent Skin Cancer

-In September’s issue of the American Academy of Dermatology, an antioxidant cream containing Vitamin C, E and ferulic acid prevented skin from burning, an established cause of skin cancer.

More Links Between Low Vit D and MS

-The evidence for supplementing with Vit D is becoming overwhelming.  Now the question is, how much should you take?  Your health care provider can do diagnostic tests as well as functional tests to help you choose your best dose.

Acupuncture More Effective than Medications for Hot Flashes

-Dr. Eleanor Walker and researchers of Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit found that acupuncture was just as effective as medications used to treat hot flashes in breast cancer patients, and the effects lasted longer without the negative side effects.

Eating fish can prevent eczema in children

-A recent finding the British Medical Journal states that fish consumption in children before the age of 9 months is associated with less cases of eczema.  Fish, a common aldult allergen, is often avoided at such an early age in infants because it is thought that allergies to fish could be result in later life.  Whatever the reasons, it appears that small amounts of fish before the age of 1 may be a good idea for your infant.

Do doctors have time for empathy?  Does it improve outcomes?

-The answers are yes, and yes.  This was an interesting article in the New York Times written by a medical doctor, reviewing the benefits of taking short periods to express empathy for their patients in their busy schedule.  This article is a reminder the of the importance of the doctor-patient relationship, and the positive effects that it can have for the health of patients.

Health on the Web

-An interesting article in the New York Times that outlines 6 intersting, online health resources.

Cortisol Levels Linked to Antisocial Behavior

-University of Cambridge researchers have been able to show that teenaged boys who lack the normal surge in the stress hormone cortisol, experience more antisocial behaviors.  This is an interesting finding because Naturopathic Physicians have been marginalized over the years by the medical community for its philosophies and treatment strategies around this hormone.  The idea that the adrenal gland (the main producer of cortisol in humans) could be weak in some patients, seemed to be far fetched.  I look forward to more research on Corticol and behavior.

Aerobic exercise may prevent age related changes in the brain

- The research to support the benefits of exercise continues to mount, this time in support of enhanced cognition and executive function in the aging brain.  With all of the positive research findings for exercise, you would think people would become more active, but that is not the case.  Perhaps some of that research should move toward discovering the best methods to get our society more active; telling people that exercise is good for them is clearly not enough.