If you've been trying to be kind to your heart by eating oatmeal and need a break at breakfast . . dig into your kid's cereal.
A study, just out, shows eating whole grain cereals, and that means at least 25% oat or bran, helps reduce your heart disease risk.
Of course, eating these cereals 6-7 times a week was best .. just be sure to top it with skim milk. Personally, I'm a fan of yogurt on my cereal - try it, you might like it.
btw: the study was presented at the American Heart Association's annual conference.
For more information on grains check out: http://www.mypyramid.gov/pyramid/grains_why_print.html
Friday, March 2
Thursday, March 1
Morphine and End of Life
Want to share some details of a fascinating letter to a medical journal article about the use of morphine and end of life.
Apparantly there's a belief that morphine can hasten death. The author of the article says that's simply not so.
Writing in the British Medical Journel the author, a consultant in palliative care medicine, says there's 20 years of research showing morphine doesn't shorten life or speed death. In fact, he says, the sedative effect of morphine wears off quickly and toxic doses cause distressing agitatation.
Anyone who's been with a loved one in the last hours of their days may have wondered if letting them have more morphine speeded their death. This article dispells that idea.
To read the entire article check out http://press.psprings.co.uk/bmj/march/ltr440pdf
Not addressed in that letter- the issue of not providing enough pain management.
We have a problem in this country with patients not getting enough pain treatment because of misconceptions about how much pain medicine a patient will use. There's been an ongoing effort to help patients better mange pain. It's something that has to be discussed with doctors.
Apparantly there's a belief that morphine can hasten death. The author of the article says that's simply not so.
Writing in the British Medical Journel the author, a consultant in palliative care medicine, says there's 20 years of research showing morphine doesn't shorten life or speed death. In fact, he says, the sedative effect of morphine wears off quickly and toxic doses cause distressing agitatation.
Anyone who's been with a loved one in the last hours of their days may have wondered if letting them have more morphine speeded their death. This article dispells that idea.
To read the entire article check out http://press.psprings.co.uk/bmj/march/ltr440pdf
Not addressed in that letter- the issue of not providing enough pain management.
We have a problem in this country with patients not getting enough pain treatment because of misconceptions about how much pain medicine a patient will use. There's been an ongoing effort to help patients better mange pain. It's something that has to be discussed with doctors.
Back Pain - the surgery question
It's estimated 80% of Americans will suffer back pain. The big question - when is it time for surgery?
Recently on our noon news we ran a national story on a procedure called the x-stop. I did that story with local doctors about 8 months ago. Seems the procedure is catching on. But even with the x-stop .. a titanium kind of spacer that's put between the angry disks and can be reversed, it's not clear how long it helps.
So what's a person in pain to do? This months Harvard Health Letter explores that.
It says: " Back surgery is an option for people with long-lasting pain due to herniated disks, spinal stenosis, or degenerative disease."
But the article also goes on to say there are questions if too many surgeries for degenerative disease are being performed and if you're suffering a herniated disk, surgical and nonsurgical treatments worked equally well.
As always, talk with your doctor.
If you've had the x-stop procedure and it's helped .. let me know .. just post a comment.
Recently on our noon news we ran a national story on a procedure called the x-stop. I did that story with local doctors about 8 months ago. Seems the procedure is catching on. But even with the x-stop .. a titanium kind of spacer that's put between the angry disks and can be reversed, it's not clear how long it helps.
So what's a person in pain to do? This months Harvard Health Letter explores that.
It says: " Back surgery is an option for people with long-lasting pain due to herniated disks, spinal stenosis, or degenerative disease."
But the article also goes on to say there are questions if too many surgeries for degenerative disease are being performed and if you're suffering a herniated disk, surgical and nonsurgical treatments worked equally well.
As always, talk with your doctor.
If you've had the x-stop procedure and it's helped .. let me know .. just post a comment.
Wednesday, February 28
A good night's sleep
As we age, we often have difficulty falling asleep. My dad battled that in his final years.
The problem - many seniors have the opportunity to nap during the day and that can interfere with a good night's sleep. They often don't realize they're catnapping or don't realize it will bite them later in the day.
In fact, the National Sleep Foundation says insomnia is the most common sleep problem for people over age 55.
Sleep researchers suggest no napping and making a standard bedtime.
If you're having trouble getting to sleep or staying asleep - talk with your doctor. Odds are good there's a plan you can work out to help you get your zzz's.
http://www.nationalsleepfoundation.org
The problem - many seniors have the opportunity to nap during the day and that can interfere with a good night's sleep. They often don't realize they're catnapping or don't realize it will bite them later in the day.
In fact, the National Sleep Foundation says insomnia is the most common sleep problem for people over age 55.
Sleep researchers suggest no napping and making a standard bedtime.
If you're having trouble getting to sleep or staying asleep - talk with your doctor. Odds are good there's a plan you can work out to help you get your zzz's.
http://www.nationalsleepfoundation.org
Unexplained Cough - a possible answer
I love finding these tidbits .. reminders that not everything is black and white.
If you've been suffering from a cough and don't have a cold, it may be due to GERD ..
gastro esophageal reflux disease. Stomach acids come up the esophgagus and through the vocal cords. It can cause unexplained hoarseness and unexplained cough.
"But I don't feel like I've got heartburn", you say. Well, you don't have to suffer that discomfort, or have sour stomach to have GERD.
If you're dealing with the hoarseness or cough .. especially in the morning . .discuss GERD with your doctor.
If you've been suffering from a cough and don't have a cold, it may be due to GERD ..
gastro esophageal reflux disease. Stomach acids come up the esophgagus and through the vocal cords. It can cause unexplained hoarseness and unexplained cough.
"But I don't feel like I've got heartburn", you say. Well, you don't have to suffer that discomfort, or have sour stomach to have GERD.
If you're dealing with the hoarseness or cough .. especially in the morning . .discuss GERD with your doctor.
Tuesday, February 27
Statins: a heart helper
Okay, garlic may not be the ticket to lowering your cholesterol levels but new research says statins, are.
Research from the Methodist DeBakey Heart Center in Houston shows a combination statin therapy lowers bad cholesterol by 70%. That's the biggest drop ever seen in a study. Moreover, it also reduced inflammation that can lead to heart disease. Bad cholesterol is the LDL cholestoral. The so called good cholestoral is the HDL.
This study was done on high risk patients... those who already had cholestoral levels that put them in danger of developing heart disease.
The statins used in this study were Crestor and Zetia.
So what does this mean to you? That's something to be decided by talking with your doctor who can assess all your heart disease risks.
Research from the Methodist DeBakey Heart Center in Houston shows a combination statin therapy lowers bad cholesterol by 70%. That's the biggest drop ever seen in a study. Moreover, it also reduced inflammation that can lead to heart disease. Bad cholesterol is the LDL cholestoral. The so called good cholestoral is the HDL.
This study was done on high risk patients... those who already had cholestoral levels that put them in danger of developing heart disease.
The statins used in this study were Crestor and Zetia.
So what does this mean to you? That's something to be decided by talking with your doctor who can assess all your heart disease risks.
Sunday, February 25
Walk up Health Clinics
Just caught a great shopping list of sorts if you use a so called 'doc in a box' .. those walk up health clinics.
While the article is geared for seniors, it's got great info for all of us.
These are the DO items . .click on the link below for all the DON'TS
- Tell the clinic's health care professional about all of your medical conditions and any allergies or problems you have had with medications.
- Bring a complete list of your current medications and ask the health care provider to check this list to be sure these drugs won't interact with any new medications he or she may prescribe.
- Get a report from the clinic that includes your diagnosis and follow-up instructions and take that report with you on your next visit to your geriatrician or primary care doctor.
FHA - Safety Tips for Seniors Considering Visits to Retail Medical Clinics
While the article is geared for seniors, it's got great info for all of us.
These are the DO items . .click on the link below for all the DON'TS
- Tell the clinic's health care professional about all of your medical conditions and any allergies or problems you have had with medications.
- Bring a complete list of your current medications and ask the health care provider to check this list to be sure these drugs won't interact with any new medications he or she may prescribe.
- Get a report from the clinic that includes your diagnosis and follow-up instructions and take that report with you on your next visit to your geriatrician or primary care doctor.
FHA - Safety Tips for Seniors Considering Visits to Retail Medical Clinics
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