Health. iyouproject » NEW START

Combination of antibiotics for tuberculosis.

laimisk — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 11:26:18 +0000

A new study led by Harvard School of Public researchers provides a novel explanation as to why some tuberculosis cells are inherently more difficult to treat with antibiotics.

The discovery, which showed that the ways mycobacteria cells divide and grow determine their susceptibility to treatment with drugs, could lead to new avenues of drug development that better target tuberculosis cells. The study appeared Thursday in an advance online edition of Science.(...)
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Top 10 Foods For Healthy Eating.

laimisk — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 13:40:31 +0000

With or Without Diabetes
by Roberta Kleinman, RN, M.Ed., CDE

Hello ! Roberta Kleinman, RN, M.Ed., CDE…

The new FDA nutrition guidelines have changed from the food pyramid to the plate method of eating. As a nation, we are trying to decrease our ever growing rate of obesity which can lead to multiple chronic diseases.

Trying to eat balanced meals of small portions and nutrient dense foods are a challenge for almost everyone. Here is a list of some recommended choices to get you started on your way to healthy eating.(...)
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The exercise would help people with diabetes.

laimisk — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 09:02:29 +0000

Now we have multiple high quality studies that confirm it improves blood glucose control, it positively affects lipids, blood pressure, decreases cardiovascular events, decreases mortality and improves quality of life.

It also states that a combination of aerobics and resistance training are needed to get the benefits more effectively than either exercise alone.

”This information embraces the joint position of the A.D.A. (American Diabetes Association) and the A.C.S.M. (American College of Sports Medicine).

Another study states that “39% of adults with diabetes exercise regularly compared to 58% of adults who do not have diabetes.” We need that percentage to increase for those with diabetes to obtain multiple rewards.

I would like to review the four components of an exercise program that should be included in your life to help reduce blood sugars, increase strength and improve general well-being.
1. Aerobic Exercise - the most up-to-date information continues to be 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous aerobic exercise that uses the large muscle groups and increases the heart rate.

Brisk walking, swimming laps or walking in the pool, stationery or outdoor bicycle riding are among a few suggestions. This should be done over a minimum of three days with no more than a day break, but exercising up to five days is even better.

Using a pedometer is also recommended since studies have shown that it helps increase activity by 27%. This eventual goal should be 10,000 steps a day or 5 miles for those who are able.

Remember to take precautions and check with your physician before starting any aerobic program. Be aware of hypoglycemia especially if on insulin, peripheral neuropathy, proliferative retinopathy, osteoporosis, arthritis, intermittent claudication, or any other problem which could present more of a risk.

2. Resistance or weight training – utilizing either machines or free weights like dumb bells or bar bells can help control blood sugars by adding muscle mass.

This increases your insulin sensitivity and blood sugar uptake. Remember to start slowly and work with a trainer at the beginning to learn your routine and reduce your injury risk.

Your goal should be two-three times a week for about 30 minutes and incorporate 5-10 machines. Start with 10-15 light weight repetitions and increase weight gradually until you can get 8-12 heavier repetitions with good form and proper posture.

3. Stretching - several studies support stretching prior to exercise and several do not. Add a 5 minute warm-up prior to stretching to increase blood flow and leave most of the stretching to after the main activity when the muscles are limber.

The ACSM suggests it include static (holding) and dynamic (moving) stretches. Remember that flexibility adds to your range of motion which can help with resistance training and easier movement.

Never hold your breath, stretch until you feel muscle tension and then try to slowly relax. Stretching can improve posture and blood circulation.

4. Balance - as we age, we all suffer from decreased balance but people with diabetes are at increased risk due to neuropathy, problems with proprioception, medication side effects, vision problems, or vertigo.

Balance is a motor skill that needs to be practiced and should be part of a fitness protocol. Yoga or Tai Chi can increase balance, improve posture, create a strong core, as well as increase endurance and strength.

Practice balance exercises daily by standing on one foot until you can reach one minute and then close your eyes to make this activity more difficult. You can do this when you are waiting in line or while brushing your teeth. Also, getting up from a chair without holding on to the sides increases balance.

Exercise must be done consistently to maintain the benefits. Consider adding social support to keep you motivated and add unstructured activity like taking the steps as much as possible throughout your day.

There are so many positive things about exercise especially if you have diabetes!

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New research suggests omega-3.

laimisk — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 12:07:55 +0000

Retinopathy causes abnormal blood vessels to grow in the retina, the light-sensitive tissue lining the inner surface of the eye. This growth can cause the retina to detach from the back of the eye leading to vision loss.

“For people who have had diabetes for 25 years, more than half of them will have retinopathy,” says Dr Lois Smith, a professor of ophthalmology at the Harvard Medical School . “It’s a very common disease that’s getting even more common because it increases with obesity.”(...)
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The safety and effectiveness of Sutent.

laimisk — Mon, 23 May 2011 12:20:24 +0000

Neuroendocrine tumors found in the pancreas are slow-growing and rare. It is estimated that there are fewer than 1,000 new cases in the United States each year.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Friday approved Sutent to treat patients with progressive neuroendocrine cancerous tumors located in the pancreas that cannot be removed by surgery or that have spread to other parts of the body.

This is the second new approval by the FDA to treat patients with this disease. On May 5, the agency approved Afinitor.

“FDA believes it is important to provide cancer patients with as many treatment options as possible,” said Richard Pazdur, director of the Office of Oncology Drug Products in the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research.

“The agency is committed to working with companies to bring innovative new therapies to the market and encourages companies to continue exploring additional uses for approved products.”

The safety and effectiveness of Sutent was established in a single study of 171 patients with metastatic (late-stage) or locally advanced (disease that could not be removed with surgery) disease who received Sutent or a placebo (sugar pill).
The study was designed to measure the length of time a patient lived before their disease spread or worsened (progression-free survival).

Results from the study demonstrate that Sutent provided benefit to patients by prolonging the median length of time they lived without the cancer spreading or worsening to 10.2 months compared to 5.4 months for patients who received placebo.

In patients treated with Sutent for neuroendocrine pancreatic tumors, the most commonly reported side effects included diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, anorexia, high blood pressure, energy loss, stomach pain, changes in hair color, inflammation of the mouth, and a decrease in infection-fighting white blood cells.

Sutent is marketed by New York City-based Pfizer.

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Anti-inflammatory compounds contained in coffee.

laimisk — Thu, 19 May 2011 15:43:07 +0000

Coffee is linked to a reduced risk of developing prostate cancer among men, according to a U.S. study released in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute on Thursday.

Researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health said men who drink coffee on a daily basis are around 20 to 60 percent less likely to develop any form of the disease with a higher intake linked to a lower risk.(...)
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New medication… known as Victrelis.

laimisk — Sat, 14 May 2011 13:09:24 +0000

US regulators on Friday approved the first new treatment for hepatitis C in more than a decade, a Merck pharmaceutical known as Victrelis, to be taken with the current two-drug regimen.

Also known as boceprevir, the drug is a protease inhibitor that prevents the liver-disease causing virus from multiplying and studies have shown it “significantly” boosts recovery rates, the Food and Drug Administration said.(...)
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Women health with green tea.

laimisk — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 15:53:50 +0000

Drinking green tea and practicing Taichi may promote bone health of postmenopausal women and reduce the risk of inflammation, a new study suggests.

The study, conducted by researchers at the Laura W. Bush Institute for Women’s Health at the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, focused on postmenopausal women and investigated the potential for green tea to work synergistically with Taichi in enhancing bone strength of postmenopausal women.
(...)
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The pregnant women and iron in their diets.

laimisk — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 16:03:53 +0000

Expectant moms who get a lot of iron in their first trimester tend to have heavier, although still healthy-weight, babies, English researchers say.
They did not find the opposite trend – that insufficient iron intake in early pregnancy led to lower birthweights, however.

Specifically, the more daily iron women got from food or supplements, the bigger their babies, according to the report published in the journal Human Reproduction.

U.S. guidelines recommend that pregnant women get 27 milligrams of iron a day. In the U.K., all women are urged to get at least 15 milligrams a day.

That 15 milligrams equals about three pounds of roasted chicken breast, 15 cups of raw spinach, or a half-cup of iron-fortified breakfast cereal. Most prenatal vitamins contain at least 18 milligrams of iron, and cost between $3 and $40 a month.

“Iron intake affects body iron stores, which are under extra demand during pregnancy,” said study co-author Nisreen Alwan, research fellow at the University of Leeds School of Food Science and Nutrition.

The majority of pregnant women in the U.K. aren’t meeting even the general iron intake recommendation, Alwan said in an e-mail. Most get about 11.8 milligrams of iron per day from both food and supplements.

The researchers surveyed about 1,260 women on what they ate and whether they took iron supplements during all three trimesters of their pregnancies.

They found that for every 10 milligrams per day increase in total iron intake, there was around a 34 gram (1.19 ounce) increase in their babies’ birthweights.

The low cutoff for a normal-birthweight baby is 2,500 grams (five and a half pounds). The average baby in the study weighed about 3,400 grams (around seven and half pounds), and only about one in 25 babies fell into the low-birthweight category.

“It was actually a very small effect that they picked up,” said Laura Caulfield, professor at The Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, who was not involved in the study.

The researchers did find that most British women get their iron from eating vegetables rather than meat, which hasn’t been shown before, she told Reuters Health.

There is some previous evidence that iron intake is associated with a greater birthweight, Caulfield said. More iron means that the developing baby can get enough oxygen, she explained.

However, the current study does not prove that the pregnant moms’ higher iron intake is what caused their babies to be bigger, only that there’s some association between the two.

Low birthweight is dangerous for babies, because they’re more likely to have disabilities or die during before they’re 1 year old.

Still, that doesn’t necessarily mean women should take iron supplements during pregnancy, Alwan cautioned in an e-mail.

She suggests that pregnant women be informed about how to get enough iron in their diets, “and also how they can maximize the benefits by eating a varied diet including vitamin C-rich fruit and vegetables.”

Vitamin C helps the body absorb iron. Dried beans, spinach, brewer’s yeast and dried fruits are all good sources of iron, according to the American Heart Association.

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Six healthy habits

laimisk — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 21:58:10 +0000

I dance the Macarena whenever I come across an article that argues against extreme healthy living. I laughed while reading research about dark chocolate firing up the happy brain.

And I high-fived the doctors who warn folks against too much sunscreen because it blocks the vitamin D that all of us need. I hate that stuff and was looking long and hard for an excuse not to look like a clown this summer.

Thank you!

I’ve even performed the opposite of an intervention with one of my friends last week who was trying to give up alcohol and nicotine at the same time.

And now, I bring you one more doctor you will like: Dr. Erika Schwartz, Medical Director of Cinergy Health. She’s here to tell us not to get too carried away with our healthy habits. Thanks, Erika!

As a society, we are constantly striving to lead healthier, happier lives. But with these efforts, we sometimes run the risk of going too far. As a rule of thumb, any extreme is unhealthy, but rarely are we made aware of the “cons” of healthy habits, instead led to think any good thing is better if done as often as possible.

Not so fast…

Here are some examples of healthy habits that can backfire when done in excess:

1. Over-exercising

Your body and mind do not need more than three to four days a week of 30 to 45 minutes of cardio activity. Cardio/aerobic exercises should be done every other day alternating with yoga, pilates, walking, and weight training on the off days.

Hiking, swimming, tennis, golf, team sports and a simple variation in exercise over the course of the week, month, and season is the best way to stay lean, toned, and energized.

2. Staying out of the sun

Our bodies need vitamin D to stay strong by making healthy bones and ward off illness by boosting our immune system. The only way to get vitamin D into our system is via sun exposure.

Don’t make yourself overly neurotic about sunscreen. If you are going to the pool or beach or participating in outdoor sports that involve more than 20 minutes of sun exposure, slather on the SPF 30, but if you are simply doing your daily errands outdoors, enjoy the feeling the sun on your skin.

The only part of your body that should always be protected is the face.

3. Using antibacterial soaps and gels

Antibacterial soaps and gels are good to carry in your purse or car, but becoming obsessed with the sanitization they promise could weaken your body’s ability to fight off “good bacteria.”

Washing your hands with warm water and soap for 20 seconds will do the trick.

4. Sleeping

The average person needs eight full hours of undisturbed sleep at night. If you are regularly getting fewer or more than nine hours sleep, you are not doing yourself much good.

Human beings are not built to think, process, or function optimally on more or less than seven to nine hours of sleep a night. Not to mention too little or too much sleep is bad for our skin and causes bloating, overeating, confusion, and depression.

5. Relying on air conditioning

While air conditioning feels great on a hot, humid summer day, don’t sit and breathe in cold recycled air all day and night long. The air may contain bacteria and germs and certainly all kinds of particles of dust.

Every few hours, turn the air off, open the windows, go for a walk outside and breathe in the fresh air–don’t forget to wash your air conditioning filters with warm water and soap and let them air-dry every month you’re using them.

And if you work in an office building where windows never open, bring a sweater to keep your core temperature warm and get out of the office at least for lunch and a mid-afternoon break.

6. Eating organic food

While organic foods–such as fruits, vegetables, and packaged goods–tend to be expensive, the real problem is that they can still be heavily processed. Make sure to read the labels of the food you are purchasing carefully even if you are buying them from the health food store.

Foods don’t need to be “organic” to be healthy. Stick with labels that have simple and few ingredients, and a low amount of natural sugars (like honey, turbinado sugar, cane sugar), sodium, and processed carbohydrates.

By Therese J. Borchard, DivineCaroline