For many years, aromatherapy has been on the fringe of alternative medicine. And yet, many people (including the late Princess Diana) strongly believe that aromatherapy has a therapeutic value.
Recently, an open-label, single-blind controlled study was conducted in Japan to example volunteer patients who were undergoing an aromatherapy session. The subjects were healthy males ranging in age from 24 to 40 years, and they were evaluated on two separate evenings. They were put in a quiet, dark room and told to relax for 30 minutes. Then, their blood was tested in order to determine their level of serum cortisol (one measure of stress hormones). After getting that baseline measurement, the researchers administered the lavender aromatherapy for 30 minutes.
The blood was tested again after the aromatherapy. The following night, they had all the same procedures, but this time without the aromatherapy.
Scientists conducting this study found that mean serum cortisol was significantly lower after the aromatherapy than before. Coronary circulation was also improved after aromatherapy. Of course, this study only shows us the effect after a single aromatherapy session, but it does appear to confirm the traditional view of lavender, as a relaxing aromatherapy agent.
Dave
Monday, June 30, 2008
Friday, June 27, 2008
Have you had a stroke without realizing it?
Stroke is the No. 3 cause of death in the United States, behind heart disease and cancer, but a new study shows that there is a significant group of people who could suffer a stroke and not even know it. Perhaps you are one of these.
Ordinarily, the warning signs of a stroke include changes in balance, slurred speech or a droopy face, weakness in one side, partial vision loss and severe headache, according to the American Stroke Association. But sometimes there are no symptoms at all. In the study, routine brain scans were conducted on a group of middle-aged people, and these showed that 10 percent of them had suffered a stroke without knowing it. This raises their risk for further strokes and memory loss, researchers say.
People with atrial fibrillation, the most common type of irregular heart beat in people over 65, had more than twice the rate of these silent strokes. Silent cerebral infarctions (often called SCIs) are brain injuries caused by a blood clot that interrupts blood flow to the brain.
"The findings reinforce the need for early detection and treatment of cardiovascular risk factors in midlife," Dr. Sudha Seshadri of Boston University School of Medicine and colleagues wrote in the journal Stroke. This is especially true since SCIs have been associated with an increased risk of cognitive impairment.
The researchers based their findings on routine MRI scans from about 2,000 people with an average age of 62. Brain scans of these people found that 10.7 percent had a stroke even though they showed no stroke symptoms. Of these, 84 percent had only a single lesion in the brain. The researchers then looked back to their medical records to see if these people had a risk profile that might predict a stroke.
What they found was that atrial fibrillation more than doubled the risk of silent stroke. In atrial fibrillation, the heart's two upper chambers do not pump effectively enough to empty properly, leaving blood to pool and raising the risk of blood clots. 3 to 5 percent of people over age 65 have this problem.
Silent stroke can also be triggered by high levels of blood homocysteine, a sulfur-containing amino acid found in the blood. Other factors include carotid artery disease or high blood pressure (especially high systolic blood pressure -- the top number in the blood pressure reading).
About two-thirds of people over the age of 65 have high blood pressure, according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. High blood pressure has long been implicated as a risk factor for silent strokes.
Dave
Ordinarily, the warning signs of a stroke include changes in balance, slurred speech or a droopy face, weakness in one side, partial vision loss and severe headache, according to the American Stroke Association. But sometimes there are no symptoms at all. In the study, routine brain scans were conducted on a group of middle-aged people, and these showed that 10 percent of them had suffered a stroke without knowing it. This raises their risk for further strokes and memory loss, researchers say.
People with atrial fibrillation, the most common type of irregular heart beat in people over 65, had more than twice the rate of these silent strokes. Silent cerebral infarctions (often called SCIs) are brain injuries caused by a blood clot that interrupts blood flow to the brain.
"The findings reinforce the need for early detection and treatment of cardiovascular risk factors in midlife," Dr. Sudha Seshadri of Boston University School of Medicine and colleagues wrote in the journal Stroke. This is especially true since SCIs have been associated with an increased risk of cognitive impairment.
The researchers based their findings on routine MRI scans from about 2,000 people with an average age of 62. Brain scans of these people found that 10.7 percent had a stroke even though they showed no stroke symptoms. Of these, 84 percent had only a single lesion in the brain. The researchers then looked back to their medical records to see if these people had a risk profile that might predict a stroke.
What they found was that atrial fibrillation more than doubled the risk of silent stroke. In atrial fibrillation, the heart's two upper chambers do not pump effectively enough to empty properly, leaving blood to pool and raising the risk of blood clots. 3 to 5 percent of people over age 65 have this problem.
Silent stroke can also be triggered by high levels of blood homocysteine, a sulfur-containing amino acid found in the blood. Other factors include carotid artery disease or high blood pressure (especially high systolic blood pressure -- the top number in the blood pressure reading).
About two-thirds of people over the age of 65 have high blood pressure, according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. High blood pressure has long been implicated as a risk factor for silent strokes.
Dave
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Government Regulations ALERT for US Citizens
GlaxoSmithKline, a major pharmaceutical company, has written a "citizen petition" to the US FDA in order to request that the FDA consider changing its rules about dietary supplement claims. In this writer's opinion, this is one of the first steps to giving unlimited power to the pharmaceutical industry.
The claims in question are those by dietary supplement companies regarding "weight loss." As it stands currently, supplement manufacturers of any product that aids in weight loss are allowed to make that claim. What GSK would like to do is to have the FDA make this supplement claim illegal, by declaring that being overweight is a disease. (For example, supplements can not claim to "cure cancer," or anything similar). This could be the first step in broadening of government powers to stop us from buying products that are natural or herbal in nature.
You can see why GSK is doing this . . . This is the manufacture of "Alli" which is an over the counter (OTC) non-prescription version of the drug orlistat, (Xenical®, Roche), the only FDA approved OTC drug for weight loss. Alli is one of the largest-selling weight loss products in the world, with cumulative sales at approximately $315 million (USD) since its launch in June 2007. I am sure that some natural products dampen GSK's sales levels each year, and the company is out to target dietary supplement makers.
Paul Dijkstra, CEO of InterHealth, a producer and marketer of clinically-researched, patented dietary supplement ingredients, submitted comments on behalf of his company earlier in June. He wrote (e-mail June 17, 2008):
"There are many reasons for people who are overweight to want to lose weight. Weight loss supplements are purchased and used by many people whose concern is not disease prevention, but appearance driven. Many people want to simply look better, feel better and have more energy. It is common for people to want to lose 10 to 20 pounds to help boost their self esteem or look good for an upcoming event such as a wedding, class reunion or bathing suit season. Ruling that weight loss claims are disease claims would be unjust and would give an immense power to the pharmaceutical industry, which would not be in the best interest of consumers trying to achieve improved body composition and weight loss goals with proven supplements. In addition, many people take these supplements to help maintain their healthy lifestyle, not to lose weight. For instance, some weight loss ingredients exert their effect by controlling appetite. These ingredients can help people sustain satiety, reduce daily caloric intake and have more energy and time to concentrate on their busy lives."
I agree 100% with this executive. But my biggest concern is that I do not want anyone in government to regulate my ability to buy natural products and herbs, which are a gift from the creator; they should be available freely to all who want them.
Dave
The claims in question are those by dietary supplement companies regarding "weight loss." As it stands currently, supplement manufacturers of any product that aids in weight loss are allowed to make that claim. What GSK would like to do is to have the FDA make this supplement claim illegal, by declaring that being overweight is a disease. (For example, supplements can not claim to "cure cancer," or anything similar). This could be the first step in broadening of government powers to stop us from buying products that are natural or herbal in nature.
You can see why GSK is doing this . . . This is the manufacture of "Alli" which is an over the counter (OTC) non-prescription version of the drug orlistat, (Xenical®, Roche), the only FDA approved OTC drug for weight loss. Alli is one of the largest-selling weight loss products in the world, with cumulative sales at approximately $315 million (USD) since its launch in June 2007. I am sure that some natural products dampen GSK's sales levels each year, and the company is out to target dietary supplement makers.
Paul Dijkstra, CEO of InterHealth, a producer and marketer of clinically-researched, patented dietary supplement ingredients, submitted comments on behalf of his company earlier in June. He wrote (e-mail June 17, 2008):
"There are many reasons for people who are overweight to want to lose weight. Weight loss supplements are purchased and used by many people whose concern is not disease prevention, but appearance driven. Many people want to simply look better, feel better and have more energy. It is common for people to want to lose 10 to 20 pounds to help boost their self esteem or look good for an upcoming event such as a wedding, class reunion or bathing suit season. Ruling that weight loss claims are disease claims would be unjust and would give an immense power to the pharmaceutical industry, which would not be in the best interest of consumers trying to achieve improved body composition and weight loss goals with proven supplements. In addition, many people take these supplements to help maintain their healthy lifestyle, not to lose weight. For instance, some weight loss ingredients exert their effect by controlling appetite. These ingredients can help people sustain satiety, reduce daily caloric intake and have more energy and time to concentrate on their busy lives."
I agree 100% with this executive. But my biggest concern is that I do not want anyone in government to regulate my ability to buy natural products and herbs, which are a gift from the creator; they should be available freely to all who want them.
Dave
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Wham: Appetite Suppressing Protein Released During Aerobic Exercise
According to a new study, researchers believe that changes to a central nervous system factor are responsible for weight loss during aerobic exercise. In the study, three months of aerobic exercise decreased body fat and calorie intake in overweight and obese people.
While this isn't the first time that aerobic exercise has been linked to weight loss, it is likely the first time that the central nervous system has been pinpointed as the reason for the loss.
A research team at the University of Chile Clinical Hospital in Santiago, led by A. Veronica Araya, MD, assistant professor, showed that decreased food intake and reduced body mass index (BMI), a measure of body fat, were linked to increased levels of a protein called "brain-derived neurotrophic factor", or what we'll call BDNF. Its main role is promoting the growth and survival of nerve cells, according to the authors.
However, this new evidence shows that BDNF also is also related to obesity and metabolism. The authors speculate after this study that it could suppress appetite. I see this work as potentially leading to new types of weight loss drugs.
The team evaluated blood levels of BDNF before and after a three-month program of aerobic exercise in 15 overweight or obese men and women. The seven men and eight women, ages 26 to 51, worked out on a treadmill and bicycle. They were asked about their calorie intake and told to continue eating their usual number of calories. The participants were unaware that one of the study’s objectives was to evaluate changes in food intake.
At the end of the study, the subjects had decreased BMI, waist circumference, and blood pressure, the data showed. They also reported consuming fewer calories than at the beginning of the study. Over the three months, BDNF levels greatly increased. This higher the concentration of BDNF, the less the subject’s intake of calories and the greater the weight loss, the authors said.
Thus, it is possible that increases in BDNF suppress appetite.
Dave
While this isn't the first time that aerobic exercise has been linked to weight loss, it is likely the first time that the central nervous system has been pinpointed as the reason for the loss.
A research team at the University of Chile Clinical Hospital in Santiago, led by A. Veronica Araya, MD, assistant professor, showed that decreased food intake and reduced body mass index (BMI), a measure of body fat, were linked to increased levels of a protein called "brain-derived neurotrophic factor", or what we'll call BDNF. Its main role is promoting the growth and survival of nerve cells, according to the authors.
However, this new evidence shows that BDNF also is also related to obesity and metabolism. The authors speculate after this study that it could suppress appetite. I see this work as potentially leading to new types of weight loss drugs.
The team evaluated blood levels of BDNF before and after a three-month program of aerobic exercise in 15 overweight or obese men and women. The seven men and eight women, ages 26 to 51, worked out on a treadmill and bicycle. They were asked about their calorie intake and told to continue eating their usual number of calories. The participants were unaware that one of the study’s objectives was to evaluate changes in food intake.
At the end of the study, the subjects had decreased BMI, waist circumference, and blood pressure, the data showed. They also reported consuming fewer calories than at the beginning of the study. Over the three months, BDNF levels greatly increased. This higher the concentration of BDNF, the less the subject’s intake of calories and the greater the weight loss, the authors said.
Thus, it is possible that increases in BDNF suppress appetite.
Dave
Monday, June 23, 2008
Wham: Vitamin D for Aches and Pains?
According to an extensive review of clinical research on Vitamin D, a new report in Pain Treatment Topics says that inadequate vitamin D intake has been linked to a long list of chronic painful maladies, including bone and joint pain of various types, muscle pain, fibromyalgia syndrome, rheumatic disorders, osteoarthritis, and other complaints. Lack of vitamin D also has been implicated in the mood disturbances of chronic fatigue syndrome and seasonal affective disorder.
Pain is the most common complaint leading patients to seek medical care and much of it is chronic, lasting 3 months or longer. It now appears that a lot of this could be due to chronic Vitamin D shortages.
According to Dr. Stewart B. Leavitt, MA, PhD, editor and author of the report, “our examination of the research, including 22 clinical investigations of patients with various chronic pain and fatigue syndromes, found that these persons almost always had inadequate levels of vitamin D. When sufficient vitamin D supplementation was provided, the aches, pains, weakness, and related problems in most of them either vanished or were at least helped to a significant extent.”
This report is entitled “Vitamin D – A Neglected ‘Analgesic’ for Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain,” and it was peer-reviewed by a panel of 8 experts. While many close-minded doctors may say this is "kookie medicine," it resonated with my own personal experience.
The following important points were a part of this article:
>> Vitamin D is a complex nutrient that functions as a hormone to benefit numerous body tissues and organs, including bones, muscles, and nerves.
>> A surprising majority of persons in many parts of the world, including the United States, do not get adequate vitamin D from sun exposure or foods. Why such deficiencies are associated with pain in some persons but not others is not always known.
>> The currently recommended adequate intake of vitamin D – up to 600 IU per day – is outdated and too low. According to the research, most children and adults need at least 1000 IU per day, and persons with chronic musculoskeletal pain would benefit from 2000 IU or more per day of supplemental vitamin D3 (also called cholecalciferol).
>> Vitamin D supplements have a highly favorable safety profile. They interact with very few drugs or other agents, and are usually not harmful unless extremely high doses – such as, 50,000 IU or more – are taken daily for an extended period of time.
>> Vitamin D supplements are easy for patients to self-administer, are well tolerated, and typically cost as little as 7 to 10 cents per day.
Dave
Pain is the most common complaint leading patients to seek medical care and much of it is chronic, lasting 3 months or longer. It now appears that a lot of this could be due to chronic Vitamin D shortages.
According to Dr. Stewart B. Leavitt, MA, PhD, editor and author of the report, “our examination of the research, including 22 clinical investigations of patients with various chronic pain and fatigue syndromes, found that these persons almost always had inadequate levels of vitamin D. When sufficient vitamin D supplementation was provided, the aches, pains, weakness, and related problems in most of them either vanished or were at least helped to a significant extent.”
This report is entitled “Vitamin D – A Neglected ‘Analgesic’ for Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain,” and it was peer-reviewed by a panel of 8 experts. While many close-minded doctors may say this is "kookie medicine," it resonated with my own personal experience.
The following important points were a part of this article:
>> Vitamin D is a complex nutrient that functions as a hormone to benefit numerous body tissues and organs, including bones, muscles, and nerves.
>> A surprising majority of persons in many parts of the world, including the United States, do not get adequate vitamin D from sun exposure or foods. Why such deficiencies are associated with pain in some persons but not others is not always known.
>> The currently recommended adequate intake of vitamin D – up to 600 IU per day – is outdated and too low. According to the research, most children and adults need at least 1000 IU per day, and persons with chronic musculoskeletal pain would benefit from 2000 IU or more per day of supplemental vitamin D3 (also called cholecalciferol).
>> Vitamin D supplements have a highly favorable safety profile. They interact with very few drugs or other agents, and are usually not harmful unless extremely high doses – such as, 50,000 IU or more – are taken daily for an extended period of time.
>> Vitamin D supplements are easy for patients to self-administer, are well tolerated, and typically cost as little as 7 to 10 cents per day.
Dave
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Weight Loss Surgery: Dramatic Reduction in Cancer, Diabetes Risk and More
Reuters is reporting that morbidly obese patients who undergo weight-loss surgery greatly reduce their risk of cancer. This statement comes via a new study providing evidence of health benefits from these increasingly common operations.
At McGill University in Montreal, researchers found that the people who underwent bariatric surgery saw reductions in the risk for breast and colon cancer. Although many people see dramatic weight loss after such surgery, there are also those who (like the famous weatherman on TV) sink back into old habits and become obese once again.
The researchers tracked 1,035 such patients who were at least 100 lbs. overweight, and who had bariatric surgery. They watched them for five years. They also monitored 5,746 patients who matched the surgery group in age, sex and weight but who did not have this surgery.
The study showed that those who underwent bariatric surgery had about an 80 percent lower risk of developing cancer.
"The evidence is mounting that weight loss through weight-loss surgery, if you are extremely obese, is extremely beneficial both to your health as well as to your quality of life," Dr. Nicolas Christou, first author, told Reuters. Christou heads a surgical unit doing these kinds of operations so he has access to these patient records, but also a possible conflict of interest.
Still, in addition to cutting the incidence of breast cancer by about 85 percent and colon cancer by about 70 percent, those who underwent bariatric surgery also saw reductions in the risk for pancreatic cancer, skin cancer, uterine cancer and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
Obesity raises the risk for several types of cancer, including cancers of the breast, colon, esophagus and kidney, as well as numerous other diseases.
Dave
At McGill University in Montreal, researchers found that the people who underwent bariatric surgery saw reductions in the risk for breast and colon cancer. Although many people see dramatic weight loss after such surgery, there are also those who (like the famous weatherman on TV) sink back into old habits and become obese once again.
The researchers tracked 1,035 such patients who were at least 100 lbs. overweight, and who had bariatric surgery. They watched them for five years. They also monitored 5,746 patients who matched the surgery group in age, sex and weight but who did not have this surgery.
The study showed that those who underwent bariatric surgery had about an 80 percent lower risk of developing cancer.
"The evidence is mounting that weight loss through weight-loss surgery, if you are extremely obese, is extremely beneficial both to your health as well as to your quality of life," Dr. Nicolas Christou, first author, told Reuters. Christou heads a surgical unit doing these kinds of operations so he has access to these patient records, but also a possible conflict of interest.
Still, in addition to cutting the incidence of breast cancer by about 85 percent and colon cancer by about 70 percent, those who underwent bariatric surgery also saw reductions in the risk for pancreatic cancer, skin cancer, uterine cancer and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
Obesity raises the risk for several types of cancer, including cancers of the breast, colon, esophagus and kidney, as well as numerous other diseases.
Dave
Friday, June 20, 2008
Caesarean Births Associated with Much Higher Risk of Asthma
A new study based on data from 1.7 million births has shown that babies born by Caesarean section have a 50% increased risk of developing asthma compared to babies born naturally. The study was performed at the Medical Birth Registry at the Norwegian Institute of Public Health. The goal of the study was to investigate the possible link between being born by Caesarean section and later development of asthma.
Emergency Caesarean sections increase the risk even further. Compared to children born in the natural way (i.e. spontaneously and vaginally), children born by Caesarean section had an approximately 50% increased risk of developing asthma. Children born vaginally, but with assistance from vacuum or forceps, had a 20% increased risk of asthma. For children born between 1988 and 1998, planned Caesarean section was associated with an approximately 40% increased risk of asthma while emergency Caesarean section was associated with a 60% increased risk.
The first question I asked after reading the research summary was why do Caesarean sections give an increased risk of asthma? Mette Christophersen Tollånes, the doctor who works for both the Norwegian Institute of Public Health, is the first author of the article ”Cesarean Section and Risk of Severe Childhood Asthma: A Population-Based Cohort Study” which is published in the Journal of Pediatrics.
"Babies who are born by Caesarean section are not exposed to their mothers’ bacteria during birth, which is detrimental for development of the immune system. The other theory is that babies born by Caesarean section have more breathing problems after birth because they are less exposed to stress hormones and compression of the chest, since these mechanisms contribute to emptying the lungs of amniotic fluid. Maybe this can negatively affect lung function in the long term," says Tollånes.
Dave
Emergency Caesarean sections increase the risk even further. Compared to children born in the natural way (i.e. spontaneously and vaginally), children born by Caesarean section had an approximately 50% increased risk of developing asthma. Children born vaginally, but with assistance from vacuum or forceps, had a 20% increased risk of asthma. For children born between 1988 and 1998, planned Caesarean section was associated with an approximately 40% increased risk of asthma while emergency Caesarean section was associated with a 60% increased risk.
The first question I asked after reading the research summary was why do Caesarean sections give an increased risk of asthma? Mette Christophersen Tollånes, the doctor who works for both the Norwegian Institute of Public Health, is the first author of the article ”Cesarean Section and Risk of Severe Childhood Asthma: A Population-Based Cohort Study” which is published in the Journal of Pediatrics.
"Babies who are born by Caesarean section are not exposed to their mothers’ bacteria during birth, which is detrimental for development of the immune system. The other theory is that babies born by Caesarean section have more breathing problems after birth because they are less exposed to stress hormones and compression of the chest, since these mechanisms contribute to emptying the lungs of amniotic fluid. Maybe this can negatively affect lung function in the long term," says Tollånes.
Dave
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
