(HealthDay News) -- Type 2 diabetes who tightly control their blood sugar levels early, even if only for the first 10 years after diagnosis, have reduced risk of heart attack, death and other complications a decade or more later, British researchers report.
The same cannot be said for type 2 diabetics who control their blood pressure for five years after diagnosis, however. The benefits from blood pressure control are only maintained as long as antihypertensive treatment is maintained, the same group of British researchers found.
"It is real encouraging to know that a prolonged period of good [blood sugar] control followed by a prolonged period of mediocre control, can still have good effect on our health," said Dr. Ping H. Wang, professor of medicine and director of the Center for Diabetes Research & Treatment at the University of California, Irvine.
"Humans are not perfect, it is quite often that diabetic patients go through periods of good control and not-so-good control," noted Wang, who was not involved in the studies. "Now, I can go back to my clinic and tell my patients that even though they are not perfect, the good control they have achieved will have long-lasting effect."
Both of the new studies were published in the Sept. 9 online edition of the New England Journal of Medicine. The findings were also expected to be presented Wednesday at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes, in Rome.
The trial, called The United Kingdom Prospective Diabetes Study (UKPDS), "showed continuing benefit of earlier improved glucose control," said lead researcher Rury Holman, a professor of diabetic medicine and director of the Diabetes Trials Unit at the University of Oxford.
For the first study, more than 4,200 patients with type 2 diabetes were randomly assigned to either a restricted diet aimed at improving blood sugar or to intensive blood sugar control with medicines such as insulin or metformin. The patients were followed for an average of about 10 years. Then, for 5 years after the trial ended, patients were asked to check in at clinics annually, but they were no longer mandated to follow any particular blood sugar-lowering treatment.
Holman's team found that, overall, patients who had initially received intensive blood sugar control with metformin during the 10 years of the trial had a 21 percent reduction in microvascular disease, heart attack, and all-cause mortality during the post-trial 5-year period -- when many had adopted less stringent blood sugar control. In fact, these patients reduced their long-term risk of heart attack by 33 percent, the team found. Their overall risk of death was also reduced by 27 percent, compared to patients who had not entered into medicinal blood sugar control during the trial.
"There was no significant change during or after the trial with respect to microvascular disease," Holman added. However, among patients receiving insulin, there was a 24 percent reduction in microvascular disease.
The bottom line: Strict control of blood sugar appears to have healthful effects that last long after such strategies end, the team found.
Would similar results arise for the control of blood pressure? In their second study, Holman's team randomly assigned more than 1,100 type 2 diabetics with high blood pressure to tight or moderate blood pressure control regimens for a four-year period. After that initial phase, the participants were asked to check in with doctors at annual clinics, but no attempt was made by the researchers to maintain each patient's assigned treatment.
The result: Any difference in blood pressure between the two groups (tight or moderate blood pressure control) disappeared two years after the trial ended, and patients lapsed back into less-than-optimum blood pressure control.
"Any diabetes-related endpoint -- such as diabetes-related death or stroke and microvascular disease -- were not maintained following the loss of within-trial blood pressure and antihypertensive therapy differences," Holman said. "No significant changes were seen during or after the trial with respect to [heart attack] or all-cause mortality," he said.
This leads Holman to believe that control of blood sugar, rather than blood pressure, may be the most effective way to help diabetics over the long-term, in terms of reducing diabetes-linked complications.
"The full benefit of blood pressure lowering was achieved during the trial, but for glucose, the benefits persisted and increased with time in the intensively treated group, even though glucose levels no longer differed with respect to the conventional group," Holman said. "This suggests that early glucose-lowering treatment brings greater benefits than starting later in the course of the disease, reducing not only micro but also macrovascular risks."
Wang agreed.
"Both blood sugar and blood pressure are important for diabetic complications, including heart diseases," he stressed. "However, the effect of blood sugar and blood pressure behave differently. Blood sugar [control] has a long-lasting effect, even after 10 years."
More information
For more on diabetes, visit the American Diabetes Association.
Showing posts with label diabetes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label diabetes. Show all posts
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Ayurveda Herbal Remedy for Regulating Blood Sugar
The term diabetes is derived from the Greek word diabaínein that literally means "passing through," or "siphon", a reference to one of diabetes' major symptoms—excessive urine production.
Because insulin is the principal hormone that regulates uptake of glucose into most cells from the blood (primarily muscle and fat cells, but not central nervous system cells), deficiency of insulin or the insensitivity of its receptors plays a central role in all forms of diabetes mellitus.
There are 20.8 million children and adults in the United States, or 7% of the population, who have diabetes. While an estimated 14.6 million have been diagnosed with diabetes, unfortunately, 6.2 million people (or nearly one-third) are unaware that they have the disease.
In order to determine whether or not a patient has pre-diabetes or diabetes, health care providers conduct a Fasting Plasma Glucose Test (FPG) or an Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT). Either test can be used to diagnose pre-diabetes or diabetes. The American Diabetes Association recommends the FPG because it is easier, faster, and less expensive to perform.
Major Types of Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes
Results from the body's failure to produce insulin, the hormone that "unlocks" the cells of the body, allowing glucose to enter and fuel them. It is estimated that 5-10% of Americans who are diagnosed with diabetes have type 1 diabetes.
Type 2 diabetes
Results from insulin resistance (a condition in which the body fails to properly use insulin), combined with relative insulin deficiency. Most Americans who are diagnosed with diabetes have type 2 diabetes.
Symptoms of Type 2 diabetes may include fatigue, thirst, weight loss, blurred vision and frequent urination. Some people have no symptoms. A blood test can show if you have diabetes. Exercise, weight control and sticking to your meal plan can help control your diabetes. You should also monitor your glucose level and take medicine if prescribed.
Gestational diabetes
Gestational diabetes affects about 4% of all pregnant women - about 135,000 cases in the United States each year.
Pre-diabetes
Pre-diabetes is a condition that occurs when a person's blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough for a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. There are 54 million Americans who have pre-diabetes, in addition to the 20.8 million with diabetes.
Diabetes Symptoms
Symptoms of type 1 diabetes are often dramatic and come on very suddenly.
Type 1 diabetes is usually recognized in childhood or early adolescence, often in association with an illness (such as a virus) or injury.
The extra stress can cause diabetic ketoacidosis.
Symptoms of ketoacidosis include nausea and vomiting. Dehydration and often-serious disturbances in blood levels of potassium follow.
Without treatment, ketoacidosis can lead to coma and death.
Symptoms of type 2 diabetes are often subtle and may be attributed to aging or obesity.
A person may have type 2 diabetes for many years without knowing it.
People with type 2 diabetes can develop hyperglycemic hyperosmolar nonketotic syndrome.
Type 2 diabetes can be precipitated by steroids and stress.
If not properly treated, type 2 diabetes can lead to complications like blindness, kidney failure, heart disease, and nerve damage.
Common symptoms of both major types of diabetes
Fatigue: In diabetes, the body is inefficient and sometimes unable to use glucose for fuel. The body switches over to metabolizing fat, partially or completely, as a fuel source. This process requires the body to use more energy. The end result is feeling fatigued or constantly tired.
Unexplained weight loss: People with diabetes are unable to process many of the calories in the foods they eat. Thus, they may lose weight even though they eat an apparently appropriate or even excessive amount of food. Losing sugar and water in the urine and the accompanying dehydration also contributes to weight loss.
Excessive thirst (polydipsia): A person with diabetes develops high blood sugar levels. The body tries to counteract this by sending a signal to the brain to dilute the blood, which translates into thirst. The body encourages more water consumption to dilute the high blood sugar back to normal levels and to compensate for the water lost by excessive urination.
Excessive urination (polyuria): Another way the body tries to get rid of the extra sugar in the blood is to excrete it in the urine. This can also lead to dehydration because excreting the sugar carries a large amount of water out of the body along with it.
more information about AyurGold: http://www.ayurgold.com/index.htm?aff=dreddyclinic
Because insulin is the principal hormone that regulates uptake of glucose into most cells from the blood (primarily muscle and fat cells, but not central nervous system cells), deficiency of insulin or the insensitivity of its receptors plays a central role in all forms of diabetes mellitus.
There are 20.8 million children and adults in the United States, or 7% of the population, who have diabetes. While an estimated 14.6 million have been diagnosed with diabetes, unfortunately, 6.2 million people (or nearly one-third) are unaware that they have the disease.
In order to determine whether or not a patient has pre-diabetes or diabetes, health care providers conduct a Fasting Plasma Glucose Test (FPG) or an Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT). Either test can be used to diagnose pre-diabetes or diabetes. The American Diabetes Association recommends the FPG because it is easier, faster, and less expensive to perform.
Major Types of Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes
Results from the body's failure to produce insulin, the hormone that "unlocks" the cells of the body, allowing glucose to enter and fuel them. It is estimated that 5-10% of Americans who are diagnosed with diabetes have type 1 diabetes.
Type 2 diabetes
Results from insulin resistance (a condition in which the body fails to properly use insulin), combined with relative insulin deficiency. Most Americans who are diagnosed with diabetes have type 2 diabetes.
Symptoms of Type 2 diabetes may include fatigue, thirst, weight loss, blurred vision and frequent urination. Some people have no symptoms. A blood test can show if you have diabetes. Exercise, weight control and sticking to your meal plan can help control your diabetes. You should also monitor your glucose level and take medicine if prescribed.
Gestational diabetes
Gestational diabetes affects about 4% of all pregnant women - about 135,000 cases in the United States each year.
Pre-diabetes
Pre-diabetes is a condition that occurs when a person's blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough for a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. There are 54 million Americans who have pre-diabetes, in addition to the 20.8 million with diabetes.
Diabetes Symptoms
Symptoms of type 1 diabetes are often dramatic and come on very suddenly.
Type 1 diabetes is usually recognized in childhood or early adolescence, often in association with an illness (such as a virus) or injury.
The extra stress can cause diabetic ketoacidosis.
Symptoms of ketoacidosis include nausea and vomiting. Dehydration and often-serious disturbances in blood levels of potassium follow.
Without treatment, ketoacidosis can lead to coma and death.
Symptoms of type 2 diabetes are often subtle and may be attributed to aging or obesity.
A person may have type 2 diabetes for many years without knowing it.
People with type 2 diabetes can develop hyperglycemic hyperosmolar nonketotic syndrome.
Type 2 diabetes can be precipitated by steroids and stress.
If not properly treated, type 2 diabetes can lead to complications like blindness, kidney failure, heart disease, and nerve damage.
Common symptoms of both major types of diabetes
Fatigue: In diabetes, the body is inefficient and sometimes unable to use glucose for fuel. The body switches over to metabolizing fat, partially or completely, as a fuel source. This process requires the body to use more energy. The end result is feeling fatigued or constantly tired.
Unexplained weight loss: People with diabetes are unable to process many of the calories in the foods they eat. Thus, they may lose weight even though they eat an apparently appropriate or even excessive amount of food. Losing sugar and water in the urine and the accompanying dehydration also contributes to weight loss.
Excessive thirst (polydipsia): A person with diabetes develops high blood sugar levels. The body tries to counteract this by sending a signal to the brain to dilute the blood, which translates into thirst. The body encourages more water consumption to dilute the high blood sugar back to normal levels and to compensate for the water lost by excessive urination.
Excessive urination (polyuria): Another way the body tries to get rid of the extra sugar in the blood is to excrete it in the urine. This can also lead to dehydration because excreting the sugar carries a large amount of water out of the body along with it.
more information about AyurGold: http://www.ayurgold.com/index.htm?aff=dreddyclinic
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Eye Test Could Spot Diabetes Vision Trouble Early
(HealthDay News) -- A new testing device may give doctors early warning of eye disease, especially vision trouble linked to diabetes, researchers say.The device is able to capture images of the eye that reveal metabolic stress and tissue damage, even before the first signs and symptoms of disease appear, says a team at the University of Michigan. The technology measures a phenomenon called flavoprotein autofluorescence (FA), which is thought to be a reliable indicator of eye trouble.
"The concept behind measuring FA in the retina is to determine whether there's a metabolic dysfunction in the retinal tissue," explained lead researcher Dr. Victor M. Elner, a professor in the University's Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences.
"Our objective in performing this study was to determine whether we could detect abnormal metabolism in the retina of patients who otherwise would remain undiagnosed based on clinical examination alone," Elner added.
The report is published in the July issue of the Archives of Ophthalmology.
In the study, Elner's team measured FA levels in 21 people with diabetes and compared those results with data from people who did not have the disease.
People with diabetes had significantly higher levels of FA compared with nondiabetics, the researchers report. "The diabetics demonstrated consistently abnormal metabolism when compared to the control individuals without disease," Elner said.
His group also measured FA levels in patients with and without diabetic retinopathy. Diabetic retinopathy, which can eventually lead to blindness, is a common complication of diabetes.
"Patients with retinopathy had significantly more abnormality to their readings than patients without retinopathy," Elner said. "This indicated that we can actually use the method to monitor the severity of the disease."
There are a number of advantages to FA testing, Elner said.
"FA testing is less invasive, rapid and gives a test result within five minutes," Elner said. "It compliments glucose tolerance testing in that it actually tells us about tissue dysfunction in the retina, which is indicative of how the whole body is doing."
In addition, because of its rapid, noninvasive nature, the new test can be used to screen patients at risk for a variety of different diseases, Elner said. "Diabetes is the best example of that because of the prevalence of the disease in our population. But the technique is also capable of screening other diseases such as glaucoma or age-related macular degeneration," he added.
Elner has a financial interest in this technology, and started a company to make it commercially available.
There are some 24 million Americans with diabetes and 57 million more who have pre-diabetes, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In addition, 4.1 million people over 40 suffer from diabetic retinopathy.
More information
For more information on diabetes, visit the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Cure Diabetes mellitus (Madhumeha)
According to Ayurveda, the consideration of a patient’s lifestyle, age, type of work, psychosocial needs and willpower is important in a management plan.The latter includes the necessary panchakarmas (cleansing methods), herbal formulas, a healthy meal plan, and regular blood sugar monitoring. A physician needs to evaluate the plan at each visit and make necessary […]
Tuesday, April 08, 2008
Relevence of Ayurveda in today’s life
The diseases pertaining to life science are neither contagious nor influenced by genetics. These diseases breed in exhausted bodies that are out-of-shape due to unhealthy and frenzied lifestyles. These diseases involve both mind and body and hence holistic approach of Ayurveda is essential in bringing about well being and good health and plays a major role in treating diseases prevalent in today’s world.
The advantages of holistic treatments for combating heart diseases, diabetes and cancer, as in Ayurvedic literature has already been proven and accepted in countries like Japan, Singapore and Finland.
Ayurveda emphasizes that an individual should adopt healthy habits like regular routine schedule for sleep, proper cleansing practices, body massage, meditation, regular physical exercises, yoga, good clothing habits, a balanced diet depending on the weather, adequate intake of fluids, avoiding anger and stress and maintaining healthy relationships, sex life that is socially permissible and self education.
The holistic approach of Ayurveda involves usage of drug, behavioral changes and diet in tackling problems of mind and body to ensure vitality and good health. In Ayurveda, an illness is treated by four main procedures; cleansing (Samshodhana), Palliation (Samshamana), rejuvenation (Rasayana) and spiritual and psychological healing (Satvavajaya). When there is an imbalance of doshas, the lifestyles and dietary managements that are based on these doshas get disturbed.
The advantages of holistic treatments for combating heart diseases, diabetes and cancer, as in Ayurvedic literature has already been proven and accepted in countries like Japan, Singapore and Finland.
Ayurveda emphasizes that an individual should adopt healthy habits like regular routine schedule for sleep, proper cleansing practices, body massage, meditation, regular physical exercises, yoga, good clothing habits, a balanced diet depending on the weather, adequate intake of fluids, avoiding anger and stress and maintaining healthy relationships, sex life that is socially permissible and self education.
The holistic approach of Ayurveda involves usage of drug, behavioral changes and diet in tackling problems of mind and body to ensure vitality and good health. In Ayurveda, an illness is treated by four main procedures; cleansing (Samshodhana), Palliation (Samshamana), rejuvenation (Rasayana) and spiritual and psychological healing (Satvavajaya). When there is an imbalance of doshas, the lifestyles and dietary managements that are based on these doshas get disturbed.
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Ayurveda And Geriatric Care
The twenty-first century is witnessing a gradual decline in fertility, and with increase in life expectancy, the society will need to grapple with issues of longevity. The cause of morbidity and mortality world over is shifting from communicable diseases a few decades ago to non-communicable diseases. The leading causes of mortality among aged people comprise respiratory problems, heart diseases, cancer and stroke. Significant causes of morbidity among this group is chronic inflammatory and degenerative conditions such as Arthritis, Diabetes Osteoporosis, Alzheimer’s disease, depression, psychiatric disorders, Parkinson’s disease and age related urinary problems.
The biggest challenge with geriatric problem is that in most of the cases the condition cannot be attributed to a single cause or in certain conditions of neuro-psychiatric disorders like, Senile dementia, Alzheimer’s depression, the structural cause is unknown. In such cases the conventional medical therapy fails to come out with effective management plan and hence is severely compromised. Another challenge with conventional medical therapy is that it does not have health-promoting agents. Ayurveda on the other hand has interventions like chayavanaprasha, triphala that enhance physiological processes that influence metabolic and immunological status. Such interventions are significant in the context of geriatric care.
The twenty-first century is witnessing a gradual decline in fertility, and with increase in life expectancy, the society will need to grapple with issues of longevity. The cause of morbidity and mortality world over is shifting from communicable diseases a few decades ago to non-communicable diseases. The leading causes of mortality among aged people comprise respiratory problems, heart diseases, cancer and stroke. Significant causes of morbidity among this group is chronic inflammatory and degenerative conditions such as Arthritis, Diabetes Osteoporosis, Alzheimer’s disease, depression, psychiatric disorders, Parkinson’s disease and age related urinary problems.
The biggest challenge with geriatric problem is that in most of the cases the condition cannot be attributed to a single cause or in certain conditions of neuro-psychiatric disorders like, Senile dementia, Alzheimer’s depression, the structural cause is unknown. In such cases the conventional medical therapy fails to come out with effective management plan and hence is severely compromised. Another challenge with conventional medical therapy is that it does not have health-promoting agents. Ayurveda on the other hand has interventions like chayavanaprasha, triphala that enhance physiological processes that influence metabolic and immunological status. Such interventions are significant in the context of geriatric care.
Rasayana therapy of Ayurveda is a dedicated stream of medication for immune promotive, antidegenerative and rejuvenative health care and is known for preventing the effects of ageing and improving the quality of life of healthy as well as diseased individuals. Scientific studies have proven the efficacious role of Rasayana remedies in the management of chronic life style related diseases and degenerative changes.
Rasayana is normally advised during the degenerative phase, which starts from around 45 yrs in both male and female. A holistic system like Ayurveda approaches this condition through two-fold methods. One is a radical approach in which it recharges the whole metabolic process of the body by eliminating the toxins from the system by a three to four months rigorous and organized process known as Kutipraveeshika Rasayana. However, this process is seldom practiced due to the extreme intricacy of the physiological process involved and the need for utmost care to be taken by the physician and subject including the environment where the treatment is done. Hence this Kutipraveeshika remains as a textual marvel of Ayurveda than a practical process of contemporary relevance.
The second approach of Ayurveda, which is quite popular today, is called Vataatapika Rasayana – which can go along with the normal day to day life. This type of Rasayana is particularly important in the current scenario, as it is has a relatively easy mode of administration without any restrictive pre-conditions.
Describing the effects of Rasayana, the classical texts of Ayurveda say that from Rasayana one attains longevity, improved harmony and intelligence, freedom from disorder, youthful vigor, excellence of luster, complexion and voice, optimum strength of physique and senses, command over language, respectability and brilliance. Ayurveda considers the physical structure to be composed of 7 dhatus starting from Rasa {Rasadi Dhatus} and Rasayana is the tool to create premium dhatus (body tissues). The main utility of Rasayana therapy is in functional and degenerative disorders that have a chronic or long standing nature. In such cases, in fact, Rasayana is the only solution from the point of view of effective management in any system of medicine. Rasayana becomes more fruitful and effective if it is preceded with suitable panchakarma (purificatory therapy). The reason we see mixed results in many cases where Rasayana is employed is because of the fact that either this purification is not done or improperly done. Panchakarma is a bio-cleansing regimen comprising of five main procedures that facilitates better bioavailability of the pharmacological therapies, helps to bring about homeostatis of body-humors, eliminates disease-causing complexes from the body and checks the recurrence and progression of disease. The five fold measures comprehended in this therapy are-Vamana (Therapeutic Emesis), Virechana (therapeutic Purgation), Asthapana Vasti (Therapeutic Decoction Enema), Anuvasana Vasti (Therapeutic oil Enema), Nasya Karma (Nasal administration of medicaments).
Panchakarma procedures are preceded by Snehana (therapeutic Oleation) and Swedana (Sudation) applications to make the body system conducive for elimination of bio-toxins and cleansing of channels. This is effective in managing autoimmune, neurological, psychiatric and musculo-skeletal diseases of chronic and metabolic origin.
Ayurvedic treatment as such is very individualistic and one medicine found to be useful in a condition in a particular person might not work at all in another. Hence it is a challenge to come out with generalized management solutions for a condition that would suit all. It is difficult to bring out management plans for a particular disease condition and implement the same on a large scale. It is important that we respect both holism of traditional medicine as well as reductionism of modern biomedicine because both are ways of looking at nature and depending on the purpose both the views can be extremely useful. Furthermore the whole and the part are certainly related but it is not a one-to-one relationship.
The understanding that it is not one-to-one relationship and learning how to relate the whole perspective (the systemic theories of Ayurveda & Yoga) with part (structural theories of western biomedicine) is the outlook that should underline the implementation of trans-disciplinary research projects. Today, nobody in the academic field has all the answers of how to combine and correlate part and whole perspectives in the context of clinical research design, clinical practice, content of courses on Ayurveda and Yoga, in the context of laboratory research in pharmacognosy and product development, and in assessment of community based local health practices. It is important to understand that drug trials for evaluating efficacy of Ayurvedic interventions is a reductionist approach and is an inappropriate design. Instead clinical trials should evaluate the efficacy of a whole management package which may consist of drugs, diet, Yoga, Panchakarma including differential diagnosis to identify the specific nature of tridoshic imbalance.
The World population of the elderly is increasing and by the year 2050, adults older than 65 years will comprise 1/5th of the global population. In India 3.8% of the population are older than 65 years of age. According to an estimate the likely number of elderly people in India by 2016 will be around 113 million.
The biggest challenge in the contemporary application of Ayurvedic geriatrics would be to come up with protocols to document, diagnose in an integrative framework and manage geriatric problems. This would require critical investment in establishing advanced research, treatment and teaching centers that have a state of the art facility to deal with geriatrics. It is essential that a multi-dimensional intervention be conceived that will involve a) trans-disciplinary research b) advanced treatment centers and c) specialized postgraduate education. There is a very urgent need to establish centers in the country that would engage in the kind of trans-disciplinary research that we are envisaging in order to take Ayurveda globally and also to bring the clinical services of Ayurveda into the mainstream. This would require a generous funding for undertaking such research and also establishing centers that would provide effective clinical services. There is also a need to support specialized trans-disciplinary PG researches in centres where PG in geriatrics is offered.
Source: PIB
The biggest challenge with geriatric problem is that in most of the cases the condition cannot be attributed to a single cause or in certain conditions of neuro-psychiatric disorders like, Senile dementia, Alzheimer’s depression, the structural cause is unknown. In such cases the conventional medical therapy fails to come out with effective management plan and hence is severely compromised. Another challenge with conventional medical therapy is that it does not have health-promoting agents. Ayurveda on the other hand has interventions like chayavanaprasha, triphala that enhance physiological processes that influence metabolic and immunological status. Such interventions are significant in the context of geriatric care.
The twenty-first century is witnessing a gradual decline in fertility, and with increase in life expectancy, the society will need to grapple with issues of longevity. The cause of morbidity and mortality world over is shifting from communicable diseases a few decades ago to non-communicable diseases. The leading causes of mortality among aged people comprise respiratory problems, heart diseases, cancer and stroke. Significant causes of morbidity among this group is chronic inflammatory and degenerative conditions such as Arthritis, Diabetes Osteoporosis, Alzheimer’s disease, depression, psychiatric disorders, Parkinson’s disease and age related urinary problems.
The biggest challenge with geriatric problem is that in most of the cases the condition cannot be attributed to a single cause or in certain conditions of neuro-psychiatric disorders like, Senile dementia, Alzheimer’s depression, the structural cause is unknown. In such cases the conventional medical therapy fails to come out with effective management plan and hence is severely compromised. Another challenge with conventional medical therapy is that it does not have health-promoting agents. Ayurveda on the other hand has interventions like chayavanaprasha, triphala that enhance physiological processes that influence metabolic and immunological status. Such interventions are significant in the context of geriatric care.
Rasayana therapy of Ayurveda is a dedicated stream of medication for immune promotive, antidegenerative and rejuvenative health care and is known for preventing the effects of ageing and improving the quality of life of healthy as well as diseased individuals. Scientific studies have proven the efficacious role of Rasayana remedies in the management of chronic life style related diseases and degenerative changes.
Rasayana is normally advised during the degenerative phase, which starts from around 45 yrs in both male and female. A holistic system like Ayurveda approaches this condition through two-fold methods. One is a radical approach in which it recharges the whole metabolic process of the body by eliminating the toxins from the system by a three to four months rigorous and organized process known as Kutipraveeshika Rasayana. However, this process is seldom practiced due to the extreme intricacy of the physiological process involved and the need for utmost care to be taken by the physician and subject including the environment where the treatment is done. Hence this Kutipraveeshika remains as a textual marvel of Ayurveda than a practical process of contemporary relevance.
The second approach of Ayurveda, which is quite popular today, is called Vataatapika Rasayana – which can go along with the normal day to day life. This type of Rasayana is particularly important in the current scenario, as it is has a relatively easy mode of administration without any restrictive pre-conditions.
Describing the effects of Rasayana, the classical texts of Ayurveda say that from Rasayana one attains longevity, improved harmony and intelligence, freedom from disorder, youthful vigor, excellence of luster, complexion and voice, optimum strength of physique and senses, command over language, respectability and brilliance. Ayurveda considers the physical structure to be composed of 7 dhatus starting from Rasa {Rasadi Dhatus} and Rasayana is the tool to create premium dhatus (body tissues). The main utility of Rasayana therapy is in functional and degenerative disorders that have a chronic or long standing nature. In such cases, in fact, Rasayana is the only solution from the point of view of effective management in any system of medicine. Rasayana becomes more fruitful and effective if it is preceded with suitable panchakarma (purificatory therapy). The reason we see mixed results in many cases where Rasayana is employed is because of the fact that either this purification is not done or improperly done. Panchakarma is a bio-cleansing regimen comprising of five main procedures that facilitates better bioavailability of the pharmacological therapies, helps to bring about homeostatis of body-humors, eliminates disease-causing complexes from the body and checks the recurrence and progression of disease. The five fold measures comprehended in this therapy are-Vamana (Therapeutic Emesis), Virechana (therapeutic Purgation), Asthapana Vasti (Therapeutic Decoction Enema), Anuvasana Vasti (Therapeutic oil Enema), Nasya Karma (Nasal administration of medicaments).
Panchakarma procedures are preceded by Snehana (therapeutic Oleation) and Swedana (Sudation) applications to make the body system conducive for elimination of bio-toxins and cleansing of channels. This is effective in managing autoimmune, neurological, psychiatric and musculo-skeletal diseases of chronic and metabolic origin.
Ayurvedic treatment as such is very individualistic and one medicine found to be useful in a condition in a particular person might not work at all in another. Hence it is a challenge to come out with generalized management solutions for a condition that would suit all. It is difficult to bring out management plans for a particular disease condition and implement the same on a large scale. It is important that we respect both holism of traditional medicine as well as reductionism of modern biomedicine because both are ways of looking at nature and depending on the purpose both the views can be extremely useful. Furthermore the whole and the part are certainly related but it is not a one-to-one relationship.
The understanding that it is not one-to-one relationship and learning how to relate the whole perspective (the systemic theories of Ayurveda & Yoga) with part (structural theories of western biomedicine) is the outlook that should underline the implementation of trans-disciplinary research projects. Today, nobody in the academic field has all the answers of how to combine and correlate part and whole perspectives in the context of clinical research design, clinical practice, content of courses on Ayurveda and Yoga, in the context of laboratory research in pharmacognosy and product development, and in assessment of community based local health practices. It is important to understand that drug trials for evaluating efficacy of Ayurvedic interventions is a reductionist approach and is an inappropriate design. Instead clinical trials should evaluate the efficacy of a whole management package which may consist of drugs, diet, Yoga, Panchakarma including differential diagnosis to identify the specific nature of tridoshic imbalance.
The World population of the elderly is increasing and by the year 2050, adults older than 65 years will comprise 1/5th of the global population. In India 3.8% of the population are older than 65 years of age. According to an estimate the likely number of elderly people in India by 2016 will be around 113 million.
The biggest challenge in the contemporary application of Ayurvedic geriatrics would be to come up with protocols to document, diagnose in an integrative framework and manage geriatric problems. This would require critical investment in establishing advanced research, treatment and teaching centers that have a state of the art facility to deal with geriatrics. It is essential that a multi-dimensional intervention be conceived that will involve a) trans-disciplinary research b) advanced treatment centers and c) specialized postgraduate education. There is a very urgent need to establish centers in the country that would engage in the kind of trans-disciplinary research that we are envisaging in order to take Ayurveda globally and also to bring the clinical services of Ayurveda into the mainstream. This would require a generous funding for undertaking such research and also establishing centers that would provide effective clinical services. There is also a need to support specialized trans-disciplinary PG researches in centres where PG in geriatrics is offered.
Source: PIB
Monday, March 10, 2008
AyurGold-Maintain Optimal Blood Chemistry for Good Health
Blood chemistry is regulated by negative feedback in order to keep the body in homeostasis (optimal equilibrium). The levels of glucose in the blood are monitored by the cells in the pancreas.
If the blood glucose level falls to dangerous levels (caused by very heavy exercise or lack of food for extended periods), some pancreas cells release glucagon, a hormone that acts on liver cells to increase blood glucose levels.
Stored glycogen is converted into glucose by a process called glycogenolysis. The glucose is then released into the bloodstream, increasing blood sugar levels.
Blood sugar levels are also increased by "stress" hormones such as adrenalin, steroids, infections, trauma, and the ingestion of food. When levels of blood sugar rise, whether as a result of glycogen conversion, or from the digestion of a meal, a different hormone is released from beta cells found in the Islets of Langerhans in the pancreas.
This hormone, insulin, causes the liver to convert more glucose into glycogen. This process is called glycogenesis and it forces about two-thirds of body cells (primarily muscle and fat tissue cells) to take up glucose from the blood, thereby decreasing blood sugar levels. A breakdown in body homeostasis can lead to dangerously high or low blood sugar levels.
This can become a chronic condition leading to the onset of diabetes. According to the World Health Organization, in 1985, an estimated 30 million people worldwide had diabetes. By 1995, this number shot up to 135 million. The latest WHO estimate for the number of people with diabetes worldwide is 177 million. This will increase to at least 300 million by 2025.
The number of deaths attributed to diabetes is likely to be around 4 million. These projections take into account the fact that there will be more people in the world due to population growth and that there will be more elderly people due to population aging.
They also account for urbanization - the fact that people are moving from rural areas to cities, particularly in developing countries. This migration affects the number of people who are likely to have diabetes, because people living in cities of developing countries tend to be less physically active and have higher levels of obesity than people in rural areas.
In fact, current trends in obesity suggest that these projections are conservative and that the increase in the prevalence of diabetes may be even greater. In developing countries, people in the middle and most productive years of their lives are particularly affected by diabetes.
In these countries, three-quarters of all people with diabetes are under 65 years old and 25% of all adults with diabetes are younger than 44. In developed countries, more than half of all people with diabetes are older than 65, and only 8% of adults with diabetes are younger than 44. Because of its chronic nature, the severity of its complications, and the means required to control it, diabetes is a costly disease, not only for the affected individuals and the families involved, but also for the health authorities.
Studies in India estimate that, for a low-income Indian family, as much as 25% of family income may be devoted to diabetes care. For families in the USA, the corresponding figure is 10%. The total healthcare cost of a person with diabetes in the USA is between two and three times those for people without the condition.
A recent analysis of healthcare expenditure in the Western Pacific region has shown that 16% of hospital expenditure was spent on people afflicted with diabetes. In the Republic of the Marshall Islands, this figure was 25%. The cost of diabetes affects everyone, everywhere, but they are not only a financial problem. Intangible costs (pain, anxiety, inconvenience, and generally lower quality of life) also have great impact on the lives of patients and their families and are the most difficult to quantify.
Direct costs to individuals and their families include medical care, drugs, insulin, and other supplies. Patients may also have to bear other personal costs, such as increased payments for health and life insurance. Recent treatment cost estimates for Argentina, Brazil, and Mexico were US $3.9 billion, US $0.8 billion and US $2.0 billion, respectively.
Each of these is an annual figure and is rising as prevalence of diabetes increases. For most countries, the largest portion of diabetes expenditure is cost of hospital admissions for the treatment of long-term complications, such as heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, and foot problems.
Western medicine relies on aggressive prescription drugs and surgery to deal with many problems related to irregular blood chemistry in the body. Unfortunately, these methods often result in unwanted and even dangerous side effects. And natural pills provide only fleeting, inconsistent results.
Ayurveda, the science of life, prevention and longevity, is the oldest and most holistic and comprehensive medical system available. Its fundamentals can be found in Hindu scriptures called the Vedas - the ancient Indian books of wisdom written over 5,000 years ago. Ayurveda applies the inherent principles of nature to help maintain optimum health in a person by keeping the individual's body, mind, and spirit in perfect equilibrium with nature.
India Herbs has a seasoned group of Ayurvedic doctors specialized in Vajikarana, one of the eight major specialties of Ayurveda. Vajikarana prescribes the therapeutic use of various herbal and tonic preparations to address the root cause of irregular blood chemistry, while strengthening your body and overall well-being.
India Herbs' Vajikarana scientists combine a proprietary herbal formula based on centuries' old wisdom with advice on diet, exercise, mental training, and relaxation to help men and women overcome their health concerns through safe and natural means.
Results: The precise combination of ingredients in AyurGold along with a mind-body focus precisely addresses your blood chemistry concerns!
more information:
http://www.india-herbs.com/aff/dreddyclinic/ayurgold
If the blood glucose level falls to dangerous levels (caused by very heavy exercise or lack of food for extended periods), some pancreas cells release glucagon, a hormone that acts on liver cells to increase blood glucose levels.
Stored glycogen is converted into glucose by a process called glycogenolysis. The glucose is then released into the bloodstream, increasing blood sugar levels.
Blood sugar levels are also increased by "stress" hormones such as adrenalin, steroids, infections, trauma, and the ingestion of food. When levels of blood sugar rise, whether as a result of glycogen conversion, or from the digestion of a meal, a different hormone is released from beta cells found in the Islets of Langerhans in the pancreas.
This hormone, insulin, causes the liver to convert more glucose into glycogen. This process is called glycogenesis and it forces about two-thirds of body cells (primarily muscle and fat tissue cells) to take up glucose from the blood, thereby decreasing blood sugar levels. A breakdown in body homeostasis can lead to dangerously high or low blood sugar levels.
This can become a chronic condition leading to the onset of diabetes. According to the World Health Organization, in 1985, an estimated 30 million people worldwide had diabetes. By 1995, this number shot up to 135 million. The latest WHO estimate for the number of people with diabetes worldwide is 177 million. This will increase to at least 300 million by 2025.
The number of deaths attributed to diabetes is likely to be around 4 million. These projections take into account the fact that there will be more people in the world due to population growth and that there will be more elderly people due to population aging.
They also account for urbanization - the fact that people are moving from rural areas to cities, particularly in developing countries. This migration affects the number of people who are likely to have diabetes, because people living in cities of developing countries tend to be less physically active and have higher levels of obesity than people in rural areas.
In fact, current trends in obesity suggest that these projections are conservative and that the increase in the prevalence of diabetes may be even greater. In developing countries, people in the middle and most productive years of their lives are particularly affected by diabetes.
In these countries, three-quarters of all people with diabetes are under 65 years old and 25% of all adults with diabetes are younger than 44. In developed countries, more than half of all people with diabetes are older than 65, and only 8% of adults with diabetes are younger than 44. Because of its chronic nature, the severity of its complications, and the means required to control it, diabetes is a costly disease, not only for the affected individuals and the families involved, but also for the health authorities.
Studies in India estimate that, for a low-income Indian family, as much as 25% of family income may be devoted to diabetes care. For families in the USA, the corresponding figure is 10%. The total healthcare cost of a person with diabetes in the USA is between two and three times those for people without the condition.
A recent analysis of healthcare expenditure in the Western Pacific region has shown that 16% of hospital expenditure was spent on people afflicted with diabetes. In the Republic of the Marshall Islands, this figure was 25%. The cost of diabetes affects everyone, everywhere, but they are not only a financial problem. Intangible costs (pain, anxiety, inconvenience, and generally lower quality of life) also have great impact on the lives of patients and their families and are the most difficult to quantify.
Direct costs to individuals and their families include medical care, drugs, insulin, and other supplies. Patients may also have to bear other personal costs, such as increased payments for health and life insurance. Recent treatment cost estimates for Argentina, Brazil, and Mexico were US $3.9 billion, US $0.8 billion and US $2.0 billion, respectively.
Each of these is an annual figure and is rising as prevalence of diabetes increases. For most countries, the largest portion of diabetes expenditure is cost of hospital admissions for the treatment of long-term complications, such as heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, and foot problems.
Western medicine relies on aggressive prescription drugs and surgery to deal with many problems related to irregular blood chemistry in the body. Unfortunately, these methods often result in unwanted and even dangerous side effects. And natural pills provide only fleeting, inconsistent results.
Ayurveda, the science of life, prevention and longevity, is the oldest and most holistic and comprehensive medical system available. Its fundamentals can be found in Hindu scriptures called the Vedas - the ancient Indian books of wisdom written over 5,000 years ago. Ayurveda applies the inherent principles of nature to help maintain optimum health in a person by keeping the individual's body, mind, and spirit in perfect equilibrium with nature.
India Herbs has a seasoned group of Ayurvedic doctors specialized in Vajikarana, one of the eight major specialties of Ayurveda. Vajikarana prescribes the therapeutic use of various herbal and tonic preparations to address the root cause of irregular blood chemistry, while strengthening your body and overall well-being.
India Herbs' Vajikarana scientists combine a proprietary herbal formula based on centuries' old wisdom with advice on diet, exercise, mental training, and relaxation to help men and women overcome their health concerns through safe and natural means.
Results: The precise combination of ingredients in AyurGold along with a mind-body focus precisely addresses your blood chemistry concerns!
more information:
http://www.india-herbs.com/aff/dreddyclinic/ayurgold
Monday, February 11, 2008
Baseline Exam Is Key to Eye Health
(HealthDay News) -- Even people with no signs or risk factors for eye disease can suffer vision loss and need to get baseline eye exams at age 40, says the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO).
The reminder is part of the academy's EyeSmart campaign to mark Save Your Vision Month in February.
"Many eye diseases progress without any warning sings," Dr. Stephanie Marioneaux, a clinical correspondent for the AAO, said in a prepared statement. "Gradual changes in vision can affect your ability to function independently and have confidence in your abilities. One of the hardest adjustments a person can make is adapting to life with permanent vision loss. That is why nothing replaces a comprehensive baseline eye exam."
Based on the findings from the initial screening, an ophthalmologist will create a schedule for follow-up eye exams.
People of any age who have symptoms of eye disease or at high risk due to family history, diabetes or high blood pressure should consult with their ophthalmologist to determine how often they should have their eyes checked, the AAO recommends.
By 2020, 43 million Americans will be at significant risk for vision loss or blindness due to age-related eye diseases such as cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma and macular degeneration. That's a more than 50 percent increase over the current number of Americans with such vision-threatening diseases.
But many Americans are unconcerned about the risk of vision loss. Only 23 percent of Americans are very concerned about losing their vision, while most feel weight gain or joint or back pain are greater worries than vision loss, according to an AAO survey conducted for its EyeSmart campaign.
"Unfortunately, millions of people with suffer significant vision loss and blindness because they don't know the risks. That is why the academy launched the EyeSmart campaign, because knowing your risks can save your sight," Marioneaux said.
More information
The U.S. National Eye Institute has more about eye disease risk.
The reminder is part of the academy's EyeSmart campaign to mark Save Your Vision Month in February.
"Many eye diseases progress without any warning sings," Dr. Stephanie Marioneaux, a clinical correspondent for the AAO, said in a prepared statement. "Gradual changes in vision can affect your ability to function independently and have confidence in your abilities. One of the hardest adjustments a person can make is adapting to life with permanent vision loss. That is why nothing replaces a comprehensive baseline eye exam."
Based on the findings from the initial screening, an ophthalmologist will create a schedule for follow-up eye exams.
People of any age who have symptoms of eye disease or at high risk due to family history, diabetes or high blood pressure should consult with their ophthalmologist to determine how often they should have their eyes checked, the AAO recommends.
By 2020, 43 million Americans will be at significant risk for vision loss or blindness due to age-related eye diseases such as cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma and macular degeneration. That's a more than 50 percent increase over the current number of Americans with such vision-threatening diseases.
But many Americans are unconcerned about the risk of vision loss. Only 23 percent of Americans are very concerned about losing their vision, while most feel weight gain or joint or back pain are greater worries than vision loss, according to an AAO survey conducted for its EyeSmart campaign.
"Unfortunately, millions of people with suffer significant vision loss and blindness because they don't know the risks. That is why the academy launched the EyeSmart campaign, because knowing your risks can save your sight," Marioneaux said.
More information
The U.S. National Eye Institute has more about eye disease risk.
Sunday, December 30, 2007
Diabetes Group Backs Low-Carb Diets
(HealthDay News) -- For the first time, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) has come out in support of low-carbohydrate diets for people with diabetes who want to manage their weight.
The ADA voiced its support of low-calorie or low-carbohydrate diets in its newly published 2008 clinical practice recommendations.
The recommendations are intended to help physicians guide their patients in diabetes prevention and management.
The ADA estimates that more than 20 million children and adults are living with diabetes in the United States. However, about one-third of those people have the disease but have not yet been diagnosed, according to the association.
Prior to the release of the 2008 recommendations, the ADA did not support low-carbohydrate diets for diabetes management due to a lack of evidence supporting their safety and effectiveness.
Whether a person can stick with a diet is more important than the diet's theme, according to the association. Low-carbohydrate and low-calorie diets are equally effective in helping people lose weight over a year. However, the recommendations do also include guidelines for monitoring the lipid profiles and kidney health of people who choose a low-carbohydrate, high-protein diet.
The recommendations continue to support sustained, moderate weight loss and increased physical activity for people who are overweight, obese, living with diabetes or at risk for becoming diabetic.
"The risks of overweight and obesity are well-known. We recognize that people are looking for realistic ways to lose weight," Ann Albright, president of health care and education for the ADA, said in a prepared statement. "The evidence is clear that both low-carbohydrate and low-fat calorie restricted diets result in similar weight loss at one year. We're not endorsing either of these weight-loss plans over any other method of losing weight. What we want health-care providers to know is that it's important for patients to choose a plan that works for them, and that the health-care team support their patients' weight-loss efforts and provide appropriate monitoring of patients' health."
Being overweight and physically inactive both increase the risk of type 2 diabetes, according to the ADA. Being overweight or obese also make the treatment of type 1 and type 2 diabetes more difficult. The 2008 recommendations state that all adults who are overweight and have an additional risk factor for diabetes should be tested for diabetes or pre-diabetes.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, people who have pre-diabetes can avoid diabetes if they lose 7 percent of their body weight and get more than 150 minutes of activity a week.
Developing and maintaining a disaster kit for diabetes self-management is also included in the new recommendations, along with revised guidelines for care of diabetes in older adults.
More information
To learn more about diabetes, visit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
more discussion: Forum
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The ADA voiced its support of low-calorie or low-carbohydrate diets in its newly published 2008 clinical practice recommendations.
The recommendations are intended to help physicians guide their patients in diabetes prevention and management.
The ADA estimates that more than 20 million children and adults are living with diabetes in the United States. However, about one-third of those people have the disease but have not yet been diagnosed, according to the association.
Prior to the release of the 2008 recommendations, the ADA did not support low-carbohydrate diets for diabetes management due to a lack of evidence supporting their safety and effectiveness.
Whether a person can stick with a diet is more important than the diet's theme, according to the association. Low-carbohydrate and low-calorie diets are equally effective in helping people lose weight over a year. However, the recommendations do also include guidelines for monitoring the lipid profiles and kidney health of people who choose a low-carbohydrate, high-protein diet.
The recommendations continue to support sustained, moderate weight loss and increased physical activity for people who are overweight, obese, living with diabetes or at risk for becoming diabetic.
"The risks of overweight and obesity are well-known. We recognize that people are looking for realistic ways to lose weight," Ann Albright, president of health care and education for the ADA, said in a prepared statement. "The evidence is clear that both low-carbohydrate and low-fat calorie restricted diets result in similar weight loss at one year. We're not endorsing either of these weight-loss plans over any other method of losing weight. What we want health-care providers to know is that it's important for patients to choose a plan that works for them, and that the health-care team support their patients' weight-loss efforts and provide appropriate monitoring of patients' health."
Being overweight and physically inactive both increase the risk of type 2 diabetes, according to the ADA. Being overweight or obese also make the treatment of type 1 and type 2 diabetes more difficult. The 2008 recommendations state that all adults who are overweight and have an additional risk factor for diabetes should be tested for diabetes or pre-diabetes.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, people who have pre-diabetes can avoid diabetes if they lose 7 percent of their body weight and get more than 150 minutes of activity a week.
Developing and maintaining a disaster kit for diabetes self-management is also included in the new recommendations, along with revised guidelines for care of diabetes in older adults.
More information
To learn more about diabetes, visit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
more discussion: Forum
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Thursday, December 27, 2007
Radiancio
Enjoy Beauty from the Inside Out - Guaranteed!
Try a Proprietary Formula for Health And Beauty based on Ayurveda - the Oldest and Most Holistic, Comprehensive Medical System Available.
If you want to maximize your beauty and eliminate dull and fatigued looking skin tone, acne, dry and lackluster hair, or weak and cracking nails, there is proven help available. India's men and women have been reaping the powerful benefits of Ayurveda for the past 5,000 years!
Radiancio is a natural supplement geared towards optimizing and enhancing the appearance and condition of your hair, nails, and skin while strengthening the body and overall well-being.
It will help you: Increase Keratin Formation. Enhance Collagen Synthesis. Reduce Elastin Breakdown. Improve Cellular Regeneration. Reduce Formation of Sebum. Clear Pores and Eradicate Acne. Renew Confidence and Esteem. Radiancio is a product of: 5000 years of Ayurvedic wisdom. Modern testing and research.
Breakthrough encapsulation technique. Laboratory-controlled potency. Doctor-approved, carefully calibrated formula. http://www.radiancio.com/index.htm?aff=dreddyclinic
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Try a Proprietary Formula for Health And Beauty based on Ayurveda - the Oldest and Most Holistic, Comprehensive Medical System Available.
If you want to maximize your beauty and eliminate dull and fatigued looking skin tone, acne, dry and lackluster hair, or weak and cracking nails, there is proven help available. India's men and women have been reaping the powerful benefits of Ayurveda for the past 5,000 years!
Radiancio is a natural supplement geared towards optimizing and enhancing the appearance and condition of your hair, nails, and skin while strengthening the body and overall well-being.
It will help you: Increase Keratin Formation. Enhance Collagen Synthesis. Reduce Elastin Breakdown. Improve Cellular Regeneration. Reduce Formation of Sebum. Clear Pores and Eradicate Acne. Renew Confidence and Esteem. Radiancio is a product of: 5000 years of Ayurvedic wisdom. Modern testing and research.
Breakthrough encapsulation technique. Laboratory-controlled potency. Doctor-approved, carefully calibrated formula. http://www.radiancio.com/index.htm?aff=dreddyclinic
more discussion: Forum
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Sunday, December 23, 2007
School Salad Bar Boosts Kids' Fruit, Veggie Intake
(HealthDay News) -- Simply adding a salad bar to the school lunch room helps elementary school students eat significantly more fruits and vegetables, U.S. researchers say.
The University of California, Los Angeles, study included 337 children in grades 2 through 5 at three L.A. area schools. The children were interviewed before and after their schools started offering a lunch salad bar.
The frequency of the students' fruit and vegetable consumption increased from 2.97 times a day to 4.09 times a day after introduction of the lunch salad bar. There was also a considerable decline in the amount of cholesterol, saturated fat and total fat consumed by the children.
The study, published in the December issue of the journal Public Health Nutrition, included nutrition education for the students.
"One of the major contributing factors to the high rate of overweight children in the United States is that they do not consume the daily recommended servings of fruits and vegetables," lead author Dr. Wendy Slusser, assistant professor of pediatrics at Mattel Children's Hospital UCLA and the UCLA School of Public Health, said in a prepared statement.
"Increasing the availability and accessibility to healthy foods is one way to improve children's diets. In turn, this sets up opportunities for kids to have repeated exposure to healthy food and positively impact their choices," she said.
"The salad bar program showed us that children will indeed eat more fruits and vegetables if offered in an appetizing and accessible manner. Future studies should evaluate parent education with school lunch menu changes, as well as why boys are less likely to eat from the salad bar at lunch than girls," Slusser said.
More information
The Nemours Foundation has more about healthy eating for children.
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The University of California, Los Angeles, study included 337 children in grades 2 through 5 at three L.A. area schools. The children were interviewed before and after their schools started offering a lunch salad bar.
The frequency of the students' fruit and vegetable consumption increased from 2.97 times a day to 4.09 times a day after introduction of the lunch salad bar. There was also a considerable decline in the amount of cholesterol, saturated fat and total fat consumed by the children.
The study, published in the December issue of the journal Public Health Nutrition, included nutrition education for the students.
"One of the major contributing factors to the high rate of overweight children in the United States is that they do not consume the daily recommended servings of fruits and vegetables," lead author Dr. Wendy Slusser, assistant professor of pediatrics at Mattel Children's Hospital UCLA and the UCLA School of Public Health, said in a prepared statement.
"Increasing the availability and accessibility to healthy foods is one way to improve children's diets. In turn, this sets up opportunities for kids to have repeated exposure to healthy food and positively impact their choices," she said.
"The salad bar program showed us that children will indeed eat more fruits and vegetables if offered in an appetizing and accessible manner. Future studies should evaluate parent education with school lunch menu changes, as well as why boys are less likely to eat from the salad bar at lunch than girls," Slusser said.
More information
The Nemours Foundation has more about healthy eating for children.
more discussion: Forum
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Oxy-Powder® $42.95  Top Quality Colon Cleansing |
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Health Tip: Cuticle Care
(HealthDay News) - The tearing of a hangnail, or other cuts and tears in the sensitive skin around the fingernails or toenails, can trigger an infection.
Here are suggestions reduce your risk, courtesy of the University of Michigan Health System:
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Here are suggestions reduce your risk, courtesy of the University of Michigan Health System:
- Do not pick at your nails and avoid cutting the cuticles.
- Push cuticles back from the nail gently, using a sterile instrument.
- Never pull a hangnail.
- Wear gloves if you are performing an activity that may cut or scratch your fingers.
- See your doctor about a diabetes screening if you get frequent nail infections.
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Oxy-Powder® $42.95 Top Quality Colon Cleansing |
Friday, December 14, 2007
Menopause May Be Unique to Humans
(HealthDay News) -- Scientists have found no evidence that female chimpanzees go through menopause in the way that human females do -- even though their ability to reproduce tends to taper off at a similar age.
"When we look at the healthiest individuals, it looks like chimpanzees may actually be reproducing better than humans in their forties," researcher Melissa Emery Thompson, of Harvard University, said in a prepared statement. "The oldest chimpanzee known to give birth in the wild is estimated to have been 55. She began reproductive cycling again shortly before her death at the age of 63."
Thompson's team analyzed fertility rate data on female chimpanzees in the wild. They found that they, like humans, have declining birth rates after the age of 40. This suggests that the "biological clock" in humans has been relatively preserved over the course of evolution, the study authors said.
However, unlike humans, female chimpanzee fertility tends to decline along with their survival odds. Healthy females maintain high birth rates late into life.
"The adaptive significance of human menopause, or post-reproductive life span, is still debated. This study provides greater evolutionary context to this debate," Thompson and her colleagues wrote.
These findings in chimpanzees, along with recent findings in wild gorillas and orangutans, indicate that "menopause is not part of the life cycle of living apes but has been uniquely derived in the human lineage."
The study is published in the Dec. 13 issue of the journal Current Biology.
More information
The U.S. National Institute on Aging has more about menopause.
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"When we look at the healthiest individuals, it looks like chimpanzees may actually be reproducing better than humans in their forties," researcher Melissa Emery Thompson, of Harvard University, said in a prepared statement. "The oldest chimpanzee known to give birth in the wild is estimated to have been 55. She began reproductive cycling again shortly before her death at the age of 63."
Thompson's team analyzed fertility rate data on female chimpanzees in the wild. They found that they, like humans, have declining birth rates after the age of 40. This suggests that the "biological clock" in humans has been relatively preserved over the course of evolution, the study authors said.
However, unlike humans, female chimpanzee fertility tends to decline along with their survival odds. Healthy females maintain high birth rates late into life.
"The adaptive significance of human menopause, or post-reproductive life span, is still debated. This study provides greater evolutionary context to this debate," Thompson and her colleagues wrote.
These findings in chimpanzees, along with recent findings in wild gorillas and orangutans, indicate that "menopause is not part of the life cycle of living apes but has been uniquely derived in the human lineage."
The study is published in the Dec. 13 issue of the journal Current Biology.
More information
The U.S. National Institute on Aging has more about menopause.
more discussion: Forum
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Friday, December 07, 2007
New Kind of Stem Cells Reverse Sickle Cell Anemia
(HealthDay News) --Scientists have succeeded in using cells virtually identical to embryonic stem cells to "correct" sickle cell anemia in mice.
The breakthrough was made possible by another advance announced barely two weeks ago that scientists had created "induced pluripotent stem" (iPS) cells from human skin cells. These iPS cells are very similar, although not exactly identical, to embryonic stem cells. The process bypasses the need to use embryos, and thus circumvents many of the ethical complications surrounding this type of research.
The first research announcement had left open the question of whether iPS cells could actually be used for therapeutic purposes.
That question has now been at least partially answered by this latest report.
"This study is important as a proof of principle that these iPS cells can be used to correct mutations," said Dr. Jacob Hanna, lead author of the study, which is published in the Dec. 6 online issue of Science Express.
Hanna is a postdoctoral fellow in Rudolf Jaenisch's laboratory at The Whitehead Institute in Boston.
"It's very fascinating that they're using these reprogrammed cells to make hematopoietic cells [which can produce different blood and immune cells] to then treat the genetic defect in these mice," said Paul Sanberg, director of the University of South Florida Center for Aging and Brain Repair in Tampa.
Embryonic stem cells are pluripotent, meaning they have the capacity to develop into virtually any cell type in the body. The hope is that such cells may one day yield treatments or cures for diseases such as diabetes, liver failure, spinal injury, stroke, Alzheimer's disease and heart disease.
However, harvesting embryonic stem cells involves destroying a viable embryo, stirring much political debate. In the United States, embryonic stem cell research has been severely limited since August 2001, when President George W. Bush placed limits on federal funding of the field and restricted the number of embryonic stem cell lines that could be used.
Since that time, researchers have been racing to find other sources of viable stem cells -- iPS cells are one outcome of that race.
For this study, Hanna and his colleagues used a process similar to the one revealed two weeks ago, taking skin cells from the tails of mice with sickle cell anemia and using them to produce iPS cells. The researchers then replaced the mutated gene with a healthy gene in the new cells.
Once the iPS cells had differentiated into hematopoietic stem cells, they were reintroduced into the mice, where they began to produce healthy blood cells.
Some 10 percent of the human population, mostly blacks, carry the mutation for sickle cell anemia. The exact mutation is well known, as is the protocol for differentiating embryonic stem cells into precursors of bone marrow adult stem cells, making the condition well-suited to study.
In sickle cell anemia, red blood cells become sickle-shaped and can't move easily through the blood vessels.
Although exciting, the process is still fraught with potential danger.
The procedure to turn skin cells into iPS cells could lead to cancer (although none of the mice in this study showed any evidence of tumors). Also, the healthy genes were introduced into the mice via retroviruses, which can introduce other problems.
"Now the major question in the field is can you make iPSs with a safer method, that don't use retroviruses, because viruses can integrate into the DNA and activate dangerous genes or silence necessary genes," Hanna explained.
"I like the fact that they're saying this is a first step, because they're using retroviruses, and they have to show that this is a safe approach," added Sanberg.
More information
Learn more about stem cells at the International Society for Stem Cell Research.
The breakthrough was made possible by another advance announced barely two weeks ago that scientists had created "induced pluripotent stem" (iPS) cells from human skin cells. These iPS cells are very similar, although not exactly identical, to embryonic stem cells. The process bypasses the need to use embryos, and thus circumvents many of the ethical complications surrounding this type of research.
The first research announcement had left open the question of whether iPS cells could actually be used for therapeutic purposes.
That question has now been at least partially answered by this latest report.
"This study is important as a proof of principle that these iPS cells can be used to correct mutations," said Dr. Jacob Hanna, lead author of the study, which is published in the Dec. 6 online issue of Science Express.
Hanna is a postdoctoral fellow in Rudolf Jaenisch's laboratory at The Whitehead Institute in Boston.
"It's very fascinating that they're using these reprogrammed cells to make hematopoietic cells [which can produce different blood and immune cells] to then treat the genetic defect in these mice," said Paul Sanberg, director of the University of South Florida Center for Aging and Brain Repair in Tampa.
Embryonic stem cells are pluripotent, meaning they have the capacity to develop into virtually any cell type in the body. The hope is that such cells may one day yield treatments or cures for diseases such as diabetes, liver failure, spinal injury, stroke, Alzheimer's disease and heart disease.
However, harvesting embryonic stem cells involves destroying a viable embryo, stirring much political debate. In the United States, embryonic stem cell research has been severely limited since August 2001, when President George W. Bush placed limits on federal funding of the field and restricted the number of embryonic stem cell lines that could be used.
Since that time, researchers have been racing to find other sources of viable stem cells -- iPS cells are one outcome of that race.
For this study, Hanna and his colleagues used a process similar to the one revealed two weeks ago, taking skin cells from the tails of mice with sickle cell anemia and using them to produce iPS cells. The researchers then replaced the mutated gene with a healthy gene in the new cells.
Once the iPS cells had differentiated into hematopoietic stem cells, they were reintroduced into the mice, where they began to produce healthy blood cells.
Some 10 percent of the human population, mostly blacks, carry the mutation for sickle cell anemia. The exact mutation is well known, as is the protocol for differentiating embryonic stem cells into precursors of bone marrow adult stem cells, making the condition well-suited to study.
In sickle cell anemia, red blood cells become sickle-shaped and can't move easily through the blood vessels.
Although exciting, the process is still fraught with potential danger.
The procedure to turn skin cells into iPS cells could lead to cancer (although none of the mice in this study showed any evidence of tumors). Also, the healthy genes were introduced into the mice via retroviruses, which can introduce other problems.
"Now the major question in the field is can you make iPSs with a safer method, that don't use retroviruses, because viruses can integrate into the DNA and activate dangerous genes or silence necessary genes," Hanna explained.
"I like the fact that they're saying this is a first step, because they're using retroviruses, and they have to show that this is a safe approach," added Sanberg.
More information
Learn more about stem cells at the International Society for Stem Cell Research.
Monday, November 19, 2007
Mini Strokes: Major Health Threats
(HealthDay News) -- Doctors call them transient ischemic attacks, but they're more commonly known as "mini-strokes."
But make no mistake -- they can be deadly.
What's worse, many people who suffer such an attack rarely seek medical help. Just one in 10 people who experienced symptoms of a transient ischemic attack (TIA) sought the proper emergency care, a recent study published in the journal Stroke found.
Urgent care is critical, because some people who suffer TIAs will have a major stroke as soon as a day or two after the mini-stroke.
"People need urgent medical attention not for the symptoms that have passed but for what might be coming. Many people don't have a TIA before they have a stroke, so, in a sense, it's fortunate to have one. Now you have a chance to intervene," said Dr. Keith Siller, medical director of the Comprehensive Stroke Care Center at New York University Medical Center
.
A transient ischemic attack occurs when blood flow to a part of the brain is temporarily blocked. When this occurs, symptoms come on suddenly and last anywhere from a few minutes to many hours. Symptoms may include:
But make no mistake -- they can be deadly.
What's worse, many people who suffer such an attack rarely seek medical help. Just one in 10 people who experienced symptoms of a transient ischemic attack (TIA) sought the proper emergency care, a recent study published in the journal Stroke found.
Urgent care is critical, because some people who suffer TIAs will have a major stroke as soon as a day or two after the mini-stroke.
"People need urgent medical attention not for the symptoms that have passed but for what might be coming. Many people don't have a TIA before they have a stroke, so, in a sense, it's fortunate to have one. Now you have a chance to intervene," said Dr. Keith Siller, medical director of the Comprehensive Stroke Care Center at New York University Medical Center
.
A transient ischemic attack occurs when blood flow to a part of the brain is temporarily blocked. When this occurs, symptoms come on suddenly and last anywhere from a few minutes to many hours. Symptoms may include:
- Sudden loss of speech or the ability to understand others.
- Rapid onset of weakness or numbness of the face, arm or leg, especially if it occurs on only one side of the body.
- Sudden loss of, or change in, vision that may occur in one or both eyes.
- Sudden difficulty walking or maintaining balance.
One thing you may not feel with a stroke is pain.
"Pain is not the right thing to look for in stroke," said Dr. Christian Schumacher, a neurologist at the Stern Stroke Center at Montefiore Medical Center in New York City. "People expect that like a heart attack, which is often painful, that stroke will cause pain. But stroke symptoms are, in most cases, without pain."
One exception, Siller added, is what's known as a hemorrhagic stroke. In this instance, you would likely experience a sudden, severe, unexplained headache. If you have such a headache or any of the above symptoms, Siller said, you should get to the hospital immediately.
Unfortunately, not many people realize the need for urgent care. In the Stroke study, British researchers surveyed 241 people who had experienced a transient ischemic attack. Just 44.4 percent sought medical care within a few hours of experiencing TIA symptoms, and only 10 percent sought any emergency medical care for their symptoms.
Another 44 percent waited longer than a day after their symptoms to seek care. People who had symptoms that lasted more than one hour -- and those with motor symptoms, such as difficulty walking -- were more likely to seek care. If the TIA symptoms occurred on a weekend, people were more likely to delay seeking treatment.
People "want to wait until they feel better, and most TIAs get better within an hour. If it gets better, people just think, 'Oh, that was weird,' and then they may call their doctor later," Schumacher said.
Or, they may just forget the symptoms altogether, Siller said. "When symptoms are gone, and they feel better, people forget. But, it's a misconception that if it went away, it doesn't mean anything," he said.
"Although TIA is called a mini-stroke; it's like having a real stroke. It's a warning sign for a major disabling stroke," Schumacher said.
Getting to the hospital as soon as possible after TIA or stroke symptoms begin is critical. The reason: Clot-busting drugs that can spare you many of stroke's worst effects -- including paralysis -- have to be administered within several hours after the onset of symptoms to be effective, Siller explained.
"If you wait, we can't do as much to help you," he said.
Siller also recommends discussing your risk factors with your physician. The most common risk factor for stroke is a past history of a stroke or a TIA. People with high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes and those with heart disease also have an increased risk of stroke, making it even more important for them to act quickly if they have any TIA symptoms.
More information
The American Heart Association has more on transient ischemic attacks.
Thursday, November 08, 2007
Kama Yogi
YOUR BODY IS YOUR TEMPLE! Maintain It Through Proven Ancient Practices for Sexual Enhancement! CHARAKA, THE AUTHOR OF ANCIENT AYURVEDIC TEXTS, WROTE . . .
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The 63-page Kama Yogi eBook with 165 color photographs offers a set of ancient spiritual practices geared towards the attainment of sexual vigor, improved vitality, and increased libido.
It will help you: Intensify Your Orgasms. Elevate Your not allowed Drive. Enhance Your Sexual Pleasure. Harden & Prolong Your Erections. Acquire Flexibility for Lovemaking. Satisfy Desires & Be Fulfilled. Kama Yogi is a product of: 5000 years of Yogic wisdom. Tantra and Kundalini principles. Proven Yoga postures. Time-tested Meditation techniques. Focus on physical & spiritual sexuality.
http://www.kamayogi.com/index.htm?aff=dreddyclinic
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"The healthy life has three main pillars - a balanced diet, mental hygiene, and a healthy not allowed life. " Kama Yogi's Powerful Techniques Give Significant, Invigorating, and Enduring Results! If you want to enjoy extraordinary not allowed and reduced chance of low not allowed drive and lack of vigor, vitality, and raw sexual energy, there is proven help available. India's men and women have been reaping the powerful benefits of YOGA for the past 5,000 years!
The 63-page Kama Yogi eBook with 165 color photographs offers a set of ancient spiritual practices geared towards the attainment of sexual vigor, improved vitality, and increased libido.
It will help you: Intensify Your Orgasms. Elevate Your not allowed Drive. Enhance Your Sexual Pleasure. Harden & Prolong Your Erections. Acquire Flexibility for Lovemaking. Satisfy Desires & Be Fulfilled. Kama Yogi is a product of: 5000 years of Yogic wisdom. Tantra and Kundalini principles. Proven Yoga postures. Time-tested Meditation techniques. Focus on physical & spiritual sexuality.
http://www.kamayogi.com/index.htm?aff=dreddyclinic
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Friday, October 19, 2007
Reflux Can Precipitate Chest Pain, Cough
(HealthDay News) -- Severe chest pain and chronic cough are little known, but potentially serious, symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), researchers say.
Many people with these symptoms don't realize they have GERD, the researchers noted in two studies presented this week at the annual scientific meeting of the American College of Gastroenterology, in Philadelphia.
In one study, a team at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston measured pH levels in the esophagus of 31 emergency department patients who complained of serious chest pain.
Abnormal reflux of acid into the esophagus that would fit the diagnosis of GERD was found in 57 percent of the patients.
More women than men had chest pain that wasn't related to the heart. Men more often had upright reflux (which occurs when a patient is awake), while women experienced both supine reflux (occurs during sleep) and upright reflux.
"Often the role of acid reflux has been overlooked as a potential factor in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with serious chest pain. But, it is important for patients never to assume their chest pain is caused by GERD, until they have been thoroughly evaluated by a physician to rule out heart disease. If they experience persistent chest pain, they should seek emergency medical care," study lead investigator Dr. Julia J. Liu said in a prepared statement.
The second study, by researchers at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, included patients with persistent cough who took stomach acid-suppressing proton pump inhibitor drugs over a period of three years. The study was conducted to assess the cost-effectiveness of a device (MII-pH) that can detect non-acid reflux. Conventional pH testing only measures acidity.
"The use of MII-pH testing in patients who experience reflux of non-acid stomach contents is cost-effective by helping clinicians determine which patients would benefit from anti-reflux surgery and excluding those for whom surgery may have no benefit. This warrants further evaluation of widespread application of MII-pH testing in the diagnosis of patients with persistent chronic cough on adequate medical therapy," researcher Dr. Deepika Koya said in a prepared statement.
More information
The U.S. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases has more about GERD.
Many people with these symptoms don't realize they have GERD, the researchers noted in two studies presented this week at the annual scientific meeting of the American College of Gastroenterology, in Philadelphia.
In one study, a team at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston measured pH levels in the esophagus of 31 emergency department patients who complained of serious chest pain.
Abnormal reflux of acid into the esophagus that would fit the diagnosis of GERD was found in 57 percent of the patients.
More women than men had chest pain that wasn't related to the heart. Men more often had upright reflux (which occurs when a patient is awake), while women experienced both supine reflux (occurs during sleep) and upright reflux.
"Often the role of acid reflux has been overlooked as a potential factor in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with serious chest pain. But, it is important for patients never to assume their chest pain is caused by GERD, until they have been thoroughly evaluated by a physician to rule out heart disease. If they experience persistent chest pain, they should seek emergency medical care," study lead investigator Dr. Julia J. Liu said in a prepared statement.
The second study, by researchers at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, included patients with persistent cough who took stomach acid-suppressing proton pump inhibitor drugs over a period of three years. The study was conducted to assess the cost-effectiveness of a device (MII-pH) that can detect non-acid reflux. Conventional pH testing only measures acidity.
"The use of MII-pH testing in patients who experience reflux of non-acid stomach contents is cost-effective by helping clinicians determine which patients would benefit from anti-reflux surgery and excluding those for whom surgery may have no benefit. This warrants further evaluation of widespread application of MII-pH testing in the diagnosis of patients with persistent chronic cough on adequate medical therapy," researcher Dr. Deepika Koya said in a prepared statement.
More information
The U.S. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases has more about GERD.
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Hushed Genes Might Mean Higher Lung Cancer Risk
(HealthDay News) -- If the collective activity of 15 genes that protect against lung cancer is too quiet, it could mean that they're being suppressed -- a situation that may lead to lung malignancy, U.S. researchers warn.
A team at the University of Toledo, in Ohio, say a test for these genes in lung cells collected via bronchoscopy could help identify people genetically at risk for lung cancer.
The researchers analyzed the activity of these 15 genes in 25 people with lung cancer and 24 people without the disease.
By doing so, they were able to correctly identify those with lung cancer 96 percent of the time.
The findings were to be presented Tuesday at an American Association for Cancer Research Conference in Atlanta.
The genes included in the analysis encode a protective antioxidant and DNA repair proteins found in lung airway cells.
"Smoking causes about 90 percent of all lung cancer cases, yet only about 10 to 15 percent of heavy smokers will develop lung cancer," lead researcher Dr. James C. Willey, an associate professor of medicine and molecular biology at the University of Toledo's College of Medicine, said in a prepared statement.
"We are looking for new techniques that will allow us to pick out the 10 to 15 percent of individuals at highest risk for lung cancer from the enormous pool of current and former smokers," he said.
The findings from this study justify a larger, prospective study to determine whether this approach is useful in predicting lung cancer in current and former smokers, Willey and his colleagues believe.
More information
The U.S. National Cancer Institute has more about lung cancer risk.
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A team at the University of Toledo, in Ohio, say a test for these genes in lung cells collected via bronchoscopy could help identify people genetically at risk for lung cancer.
The researchers analyzed the activity of these 15 genes in 25 people with lung cancer and 24 people without the disease.
By doing so, they were able to correctly identify those with lung cancer 96 percent of the time.
The findings were to be presented Tuesday at an American Association for Cancer Research Conference in Atlanta.
The genes included in the analysis encode a protective antioxidant and DNA repair proteins found in lung airway cells.
"Smoking causes about 90 percent of all lung cancer cases, yet only about 10 to 15 percent of heavy smokers will develop lung cancer," lead researcher Dr. James C. Willey, an associate professor of medicine and molecular biology at the University of Toledo's College of Medicine, said in a prepared statement.
"We are looking for new techniques that will allow us to pick out the 10 to 15 percent of individuals at highest risk for lung cancer from the enormous pool of current and former smokers," he said.
The findings from this study justify a larger, prospective study to determine whether this approach is useful in predicting lung cancer in current and former smokers, Willey and his colleagues believe.
More information
The U.S. National Cancer Institute has more about lung cancer risk.
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Friday, September 14, 2007
Cialis Eases Erectile Dysfunction After Spinal Cord Injury
(HealthDay News) -- The drug Cialis (tadalafil) appears to help treat Erectile dysfunction (ED) in men with spinal cord injuries, according to a French study of 197 male spinal cord injury patients.The researchers, from Raymond Poincare Hospital in Garches, noted that only about 25 percent of men with spinal cord injuries are able to have erections that are adequate for intercourse.
For the first four weeks of the study, the men received no treatment. They were then randomly assigned to receive Cialis or a placebo for 12 weeks. The men, who averaged 38 years of age, were instructed to take the drug/placebo as needed before sexual activity, with a maximum of one dose daily.
After the 12-week treatment period, all the men filled out a questionnaire to assess erectile dysfunction. Men who took the drug had an average score of 22.6 (mild ED), while those who took the placebo had an average score of 13.6 (moderate ED).
On average, men who took Cialis were 75.4 percent successful when attempting penetration and 47.6 percent successful when attempting intercourse, compared with 41.1 percent and 16.8 percent, respectively, for men who took the placebo.
The most common side effects among the men who took Cialis were headache (8.5 percent) and urinary tract infection (7.7 percent).
The study, funded by Cialis' maker Lilly ICOS LLC, was posted online Sept. 10 and is expected to be published in the November print issue of the journal Archives of Neurology.
More information
The University of Alabama at Birmingham has more about sexual function for men with spinal cord injury.
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Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Experts Sort Out Good Fats From Bad
(HealthDay News) -- U.S. and Canadian experts have teamed up to create Dietary Fatty Acids, a comprehensive recommendation on how much of what types of fats people should include -- or avoid -- in their diets.
Both the American Dietetic Association and the Dietitians of Canada agree that the body needs some fat and that 20 percent to 30 percent of energy needs should be met by dietary fat. The key question is which kind of fats are most healthy.
"Of greatest importance is the type of fat one chooses," registered dietitian and co-author Penny Kris-Etherton said in a prepared statement. "The healthiest choices are unsaturated fats found in liquid vegetable oils, nuts and seeds, and omega-3 unsaturated fats found in fatty fish such as salmon, sardines and shellfish."
She warned against saturated fats and trans fats. Saturated fats are found in tropical oils, fatty meats and high-fat dairy products. Trans fats are found in commercial baked goods, crackers and high-fat snack foods. Consumers should read nutrition labels to find out what kinds of fats are in the foods they buy, said Kris-Etherton.
The Dietary Fatty Acids recommendations guide people to follow a food-based approach for achieving the following fatty acid recommendations:
Eat lots of vegetables and fruits, whole grains, legumes, nuts and seeds.
Eat lean protein such as meats, poultry and low-fat dairy products.
Eat fish, especially those high in omega-3 fatty acids such as salmon.
Use non-hydrogenated margarines and oils.
More information
For a consumer-friendly fact sheet on dietary fats, visit the Dietitians of Canada.
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Both the American Dietetic Association and the Dietitians of Canada agree that the body needs some fat and that 20 percent to 30 percent of energy needs should be met by dietary fat. The key question is which kind of fats are most healthy.
"Of greatest importance is the type of fat one chooses," registered dietitian and co-author Penny Kris-Etherton said in a prepared statement. "The healthiest choices are unsaturated fats found in liquid vegetable oils, nuts and seeds, and omega-3 unsaturated fats found in fatty fish such as salmon, sardines and shellfish."
She warned against saturated fats and trans fats. Saturated fats are found in tropical oils, fatty meats and high-fat dairy products. Trans fats are found in commercial baked goods, crackers and high-fat snack foods. Consumers should read nutrition labels to find out what kinds of fats are in the foods they buy, said Kris-Etherton.
The Dietary Fatty Acids recommendations guide people to follow a food-based approach for achieving the following fatty acid recommendations:
Eat lots of vegetables and fruits, whole grains, legumes, nuts and seeds.
Eat lean protein such as meats, poultry and low-fat dairy products.
Eat fish, especially those high in omega-3 fatty acids such as salmon.
Use non-hydrogenated margarines and oils.
More information
For a consumer-friendly fact sheet on dietary fats, visit the Dietitians of Canada.
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