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Eye Health
Visual
loss is a common occurrence in many people as they get older. The
most common cause of blindness in persons over 60 is age related
macular degeneration (AMD). A new study on people who were in the
earliest stages of AMD shows what you can do to help prevent the
progression of this serious eye problem. It also gives insights
into what to do to help prevent AMD from occurring in the first
place.
Preventing
obesity is one important preventive action. Overweight people are
2.35 times more likely to develop advanced AMD and vision loss than
those who maintain a healthy weight. Those who exercise regularly
are also at lower risk. Those people who got vigorous activity at
least 3 times per week reduced the risk of AMD by 25%. Other helpful
factors include not smoking and eating dark green leafy vegetables
and dark yellow vegetables high in leutein and zexanthein.
Maintaining
a healthy weight, regular exercise, and healthy eating may cut your
risk of AMD by 2-3 times! These changes can also help you feel better
and live longer. See link below for PP slides.
Archives
of Ophthalmology 2003;121:785-92
Magnets and Pain Relief
 Many people recommend magnets for therapy in
pain relief. To test this hypothesis, an 8 week double blind study
using magnets and a placebo (fake magnets) was conducted. The results
are shown in this graph. There was no statistical difference between
the groups. About 1/3 in both groups reported improvement - either
"all better", or "mostly better". If people "believed" that magnets
would relieve pain, they had an even better percent improvement
- 40%.
This
study illustrates two points. One: if you believe that a specific
therapy will help you, it probably will. Two: magnets were no better
in relieving pain than a placebo or fake magnet.
Journal
of the American Medical Association, Sept. 10, 2003
Rate of Wrist Fractures Increasing in
Children
The
number of wrist fractures among kids and teens is on the rise. In
the last 30 years, the number of wrist fractures has increased by
42%. Girls ages 8 to 11 and boys ages 11 to 14 had the highest rates
of fractures. Researchers speculate that this increase in fractures
may be linked to the change in dietary practices of our children.
Children are drinking less milk and drinking more soda pop. This
is not a formula for healthy bones. A decrease in activity may also
lead to weaker bones.Getting outside and getting adequate
vitamin D also helps increase bone health.
Journal
of the American Medical Association, Sept. 17, 2003
Adverse Drug Events
When
indicated, medications may be needed to help control serious health
problems such as high blood pressure, a heart problem, or a life
threatening infection. If taken inappropriately (the wrong medication,
an improper dose, or interaction with another medication being taken)
drugs can cause serious and life threatening problems.
Seniors,
age 65 plus, are the largest users of medication. It is estimated
that 40% of seniors use 5 or more different medications every week.
12% of seniors use 10 or more different medications weekly! The
more medications you take, the greater the likelihood of an adverse
event occurring. A study conducted this year among 27,000 seniors
highlights this problem. Based on their findings they estimate that
nearly 2 million adverse drug events occur each year among seniors
resulting in more than 180,000 life threatening or fatal adverse
drug events.
The
most common, preventable adverse drug effects occurred in the following
medications: cardiovascular drugs, diuretics, analgesics (pain relievers),
hypoglycemics (lowers blood sugar), and anticoagulants.
Here
are practical suggestions for helping eliminate this problem for
yourself, a parent, or a friend.
When taking
medications, be sure to follow the doctor's instructions. If you
are not sure what to do, inquire. Tell your
doctor (and pharmacists) what other medications you are already
taking in order to avoid serious drug interactions. If you have
symptoms that occur after taking the medication, be sure to contact
your doctor right away. Don't take
medicines longer than the time prescribed. Don't take
other people's medicine! If you have
trouble remembering if you took your medication or not, put your
pills in a daily pill box, one compartment for each day of the
week. Or, have someone else administer the medications daily. Lastly, you
may be able to make lifestyle changes (such as losing weight,
cutting back on salt and saturated fat, and getting regular exercise)
that correct problems so that medications need not be taken or
taken so often. Be sure you get your doctor's guidance in making
changes.
By
using medications properly you can greatly reduce the likelihood
of an adverse drug problem.
Adverse
drug events, Journal of the American Medical Association, March
5, 2003
Obesity Top Health Problem in U.S.
Dr.
Julie Gerberding, new director for Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDCP) rates obesity as the number one health threat
in the United States. In a statement this month she cites statistics
showing that 65% of U.S. adults are overweight and nearly 40 million
are obese, putting them at high health risk.
In
three states, she pointed out, 25% of the residents are obese -
not overweight but obese! The three states are Louisiana, Mississippi,
and West Virginia. "It's a catastrophe in our country." She said
that the government is working hard and will do more to encourage
better eating and exercise habits. "We really have to change our
behavior in astonishing ways if we are going to get over this bottle
neck to good health," she said.
One
of her first acts as new director of CDCP was to carpet the stair
wells, add pictures on the walls (made by children) to make it look
more appealing, and add music to encourage people to take the stairs.
She also turned off some of the elevators. That's what I call taking
action!
CDCP
News Release, Oct 28, 2003
Restaurants May Soon Have to List Calories
of Meals
There
is a new bill in Congress that would require restaurants to list
how many calories and fat grams are in each meal. Over 1/3 of all
meals are now eaten in restaurants. With the trend for super sized
meals and the problem of rapid increase in obesity, it appears this
kind of information would be most helpful. A poll shows that 2/3
of Americans would strongly appreciate this information. Here is
what customers at certain fast food chains might learn:
A chicken
Burrito at McDonald's-owned Chipotle restaurant has nearly 1,000
calories Wendy's owned
Baja Fresh serves up nachos with over 2,000 calories and 2+ days
supply of saturated and trans fats 2 slices
of Domino's large hand-tossed cheese pizza has 622 calories and
10 grams of saturated fat, while 2 slices of Pizza Hut's hand-tossed
pizza has 440 calories and 9 grams of saturated fat Taco Bell's
taco salad has nearly twice the calories and saturated fat as
its beef burrito supreme Upgrading
from fries to super-sized fries may cost only 80 cents but it
adds an additional 400 calories
With the epidemic
increase of obesity this seems like a great idea. People need this
kind of information to make healthier choices. It should also provide
interesting reading on your menu while waiting to be served.
MSNBC
Health News, Nov. 11, 2003
B Vitamin May Help Ease Depression
Recent
research suggests that there is a link between low folic acid (a
B-vitamin) and depression. The School of Nutrition study (3000 people)
at Tufts University found that those people with major depression
had significantly lower levels of folic acid than those who were
not depressed. People with minor depression also exhibited lower
folic acid levels.
The
researchers state that they don't know if this relationship is causal
or not but they did note that previous research indicated that folate
supplements helped improve depression and also made antidepressants
work better. A multivitamin containing 400 micrograms of folate
has been found effective according to Martha Morris, PhD, lead researcher.
Good food sources of folic acid are lentils, legumes, oranges and
orange juice, wheat germ, food yeast, and leafy greens.
This
adds to the impressive list of serious health problems folic acid
may help prevent: colon cancer, breast cancer, birth defects, high
homocysteine levels in the blood, and now depression.
Tufts
University Health and Nutrition Letter, August 2003
Dietary Fat and Breast Cancer
Animal
studies and human epidemiology studies have long suggested that
a high intake of saturated fat is linked to the risk of breast cancer.
Individual based studies, however, have given conflicting results.
To
help resolve this question, the Ontario Cancer Center of Canada
did a meta-analysis, combining the results of 45 studies (over 600,000
women) to look at fat intake and risk of breast cancer. They compared
women with the highest intake of fat to the lowest and here is what
they found.
The
researchers said their figures may actually underestimate the true
risk. The effect of a high intake of saturated fat seems to be over
and above the increased risk from obesity. This may seem like a
small difference but consider the impact if you could prevent one
of every five cases of breast cancer in women eating a high saturated
fat diet by simply eating less saturated fat and a more balanced
diet, including more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes.
This
is good news for prevention and gives additional emphasis to the
importance of a low saturated fat diet for optimum health.
British
Journal of Cancer 89:1672-1685, Nov. 2003
Costs for Health Care Administration
in U.S.
One
of the concerns about high health care costs in the United States
is the large amount of money required for overhead or administration.
A recent article in the New England Journal of Medicine estimated
these costs to be 31% of all medical expenses. In other words, out
of every dollar spent on medical care in the U.S., 31 cents goes
for overhead, including insurance, employer's cost to manage health
benefits, hospital administration, cost of medical clinics for staff
to bill insurance and do paper work, and administration of nursing
homes and home care services. That leaves 69% for actual medical
services (doctor's services, hospital care, etc.).
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Cost
of Health Care Administration in the U.S.
|
Cost
Category |
Spending/capita |
Insurance
overhead |
$259
|
Employer's
cost to manage health benefits |
57 |
Hospital
administration |
315 |
Nursing
home administration |
62 |
Administrative
costs of doctors |
324 |
Home
health care administration |
42 |
Total
costs |
$1,059 |
Administrative
overhead amounts to $1,059 per year for every person in the United
States (see the breakdown in the chart above). Many feel that if
there were not so much "paper work" health care costs could be much
less expensive. Most doctors would readily agree with this conclusion.
The authors of this study compared the cost of overhead of the U.S.
system to Canada's system. Canada spends approximately 16.7 percent
on administrative overhead in their system or $307 per capita per
year. One way to reduce health care costs is to simplify the system
and cut administrative costs. Look for political proposals in the
coming year that address this issue.
Costs
of Health Care Administration, New England Journal of Medicine,
Aug 21, 2003
Prevention of Heart Disease Should Start
Early in Life
Two
new studies this month highlight the importance of a healthy lifestyle
early in life to prevent heart disease. The University of Texas
studied 486 young adults and found that obesity and high LDL cholesterol
during childhood were directly related to the thickness of the lining
of the carotid artery (main artery going to the brain). A thickening
of this layer indicates the early stages of atherosclerosis, a damaging
of the artery wall which may lead to clogged arteries and eventually
heart attacks and strokes.
The
thickening of the artery walls was directly related to the level
of LDL cholesterol (the "bad" form of cholesterol) and body mass
index (BMI) a measure of body weight during childhood. The authors
suggest the importance of testing for high cholesterol and obesity
in children and that early intervention with good diet and an active
lifestyle may help prevent heart disease later in life.
A
second study of 2,000 young Finns showed similar results. They found
that higher blood pressure, smoking, high BMI, and higher LDL levels
measured in 3-18 year old young people were directly related to
thickening of the carotid artery lining 21 years later.
The
researchers conclude their study with this advice. "The prevention
of atherosclerosis... could be most effective when initiated in
childhood or adolescence." Don't wait until serious symptoms occur
before initiating a heart healthy lifestyle. Start as young as you
can, even in childhood to build lifelong heart health.
Journal
of the American Medical Association, Nov. 5, 2003
New Food Guide Pyramid
The
current food guide pyramid published by the USDA has been heavily
criticized as being inadequate. Dr. Walter Willett, head of Harvard's
Department of Nutrition, is lobbying for a new pyramid that emphasizes
healthy fats, nuts, legumes, whole grains, physical activity, and
weight control. He published such a guide in the December issue
of the Scientific American in 2002.
 Wellsource
has taken this new food guide pyramid and adapted it slightly
by adding information from the Department of Health and Human
Services and the National Institutes of Health's DASH Diet to
lower blood pressure and prevent cardiovascular disease. Until
we get a new government food guide pyramid, Wellsource has adopted
this "New Food Guide Pyramid." A PDF
copy is downloadable if you would like to review it. Put it
on your refrigerator as a reminder and guide to making healthy
eating choices. Here are the major new features in this pyramid
that are improvements over the old:
Emphasis
on daily exercise and weight control Fruits and
vegetables are near the foundation (DASH diet recommends 8-10
servings daily Emphasis
on whole grain breads and cereals Emphasis
on choosing healthy fats (vegetable oils) and olives, avocado,
trans fat free margarines etc. as part of a good diet (Mediterranean
diet concept) Emphasis
on eating more legumes (vegetable proteins and high in soluble
fiber) Eating nuts
daily (linked to less heart disease, a healthy fat) Choosing
lower saturated fat protein foods such as tofu, fish, skinless
poultry, and vegetable protein foods in place of red meats Using low
fat milk and yogurt, or calcium fortified soy milk in place of
high fat dairy Limiting
intake of red meat and butter, if eaten at all Limiting
high glycemic foods such as soda pop, French fried potatoes, and
highly refined foods including baked goods high in trans-fatty
acids
New Diabetes Statistics
New
numbers are out on diabetes. The number of Americans with diabetes
is now estimated to be 18.2 million, up from 17 million in 2000.
HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson remarking on this increase said, "Clearly,
diabetes remains a serious and growing health threat. We are fighting
this terrible disease by promoting better lifestyle choices and
increasing awareness among all Americans." (HHS News Release Nov.
13, 2003)
Here
is a summary of the new findings:
Diabetes
continues as the 6th leading cause of death in the U.S. Of the 18.2
million diabetics, 5.2 million are not aware they have diabetes
yet Diabetes
is the leading cause of blindness in adults ages 20-74 15% of American
Indians and Alaska Natives have diabetes (even higher in certain
select groups) 11% of African
American adults have diabetes 8% of whites
and Hispanic adults have diabetes (1 out of every 12 adults) Direct medical
costs for diabetes has grown to $92 billion per year plus an additional
$40 billion for indirect costs (disability, work loss, premature
mortality etc.) for a total financial impact of $132 billion per
year
CDC
director Dr. Julie Gerberding states," Prevention is the key to
stemming this unfolding epidemic." Eating more healthfully, engaging
in regular physical activity, and trimming excess weight (even as
little as 5-7%) can greatly reduce the risk for type 2 diabetes.
For more information on the latest diabetes statistics and information
you can download the HHS National Diabetes Fact Sheet (8 page PDF).
QuickFacts
Important health stats you need to
know and share.
 Every day 30 million people take over-the-counter drugs known
as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAIDs for relief from
pain, headaches, and arthritis. Serious side effects from these
drugs can occur, such as stomach bleeding, which results in 103,000
hospitalizations and 16,500 deaths each year in the U.S. That's
more deaths than from AIDS and more than 4 times as many deaths
as from cervical cancer each year. See featured health link below
for more information on reducing this risk. American
Gastroenterological Association Web site, Oct. 23, 2003
In people aged 65 plus, 40% take 5 or more medications every
week - 12% take 10 or more medications weekly. Each year seniors
experience 180,000 life threatening or fatal adverse drug events
from taking the wrong medicine, improper doses, or interactions
with other drugs they are already taking (see story above).JAMA, Mar 5, 2003
More people are applying to study medicine in the U.S.,
and for the first time women outnumber men.
Association of American Medical Colleges, Nov. 2003
Headaches, back pain, arthritis, and other muscle and joint
pain costs U.S. businesses more then $60 billion a year in lost
productivity. An estimated one in eight workers in the United States
lose an average of five hours of productivity a week due to a pain
condition. Taking time to determine what is causing the headaches
and backaches then taking corrective steps could save business billions
of lost dollars. JAMA, Oct. 12,
2003
The latest statistics on diabetes now estimate that 18.2
million people in the U.S. have diabetes, up from 17 million just
two years ago. Of this 18.2 million, 5.2 million are unaware they
have diabetes. Diabetes is a rapidly growing disease that is seriously
impacting the quality of life of millions of Americans. 95% of these
diabetics are type 2 or mature onset diabetics. Over 80% of people
with type 2 diabetes are obese. Maintaining a healthy weight and
getting regular exercise is the best way to prevent diabetes.
JAMA, Interview with Tommy Thomson,
DHHS, in USA Today Nov. 12, 2003
The American Diabetes Association has set a new upper limit
for acceptable or "normal" blood sugar levels. Normal fasting blood
sugar used to be less than 110 mg/dL. It is now set at less than
100 mg/dL. That means that if your fasting blood glucose level is
100 to 125, you have prediabetes. Fasting blood sugar levels over
100 damage the heart and circulatory system and put you at high
risk for developing full blown diabetes in the near future unless
you take dramatic steps to adopt a healthier lifestyle.
American Diabetes Association News Release, Oct. 28, 2003 and published
in Diabetes Care, Nov. 2003.
An exercise program that includes both aerobic activities
(like brisk walking) and resistance training (muscle strengthening
exercises) is more effective in reducing blood sugar levels than
aerobic exercise alone. The resistance training builds muscle tissue
which enhances glucose clearance in addition to loss of abdominal
fat tissue caused by the aerobic exercise. Diabetes
Care 26:2977-82, 2003
Smokers are 2-3 times more likely to develop multiple sclerosis
(MS) than nonsmokers.Web/MD
Oct. 27, 2003
Women who take aspirin daily for many years are at higher
risk (58% increase) of developing pancreatic cancer. The
Washington Post, Oct 28, 2003
Power Point Slides
The
following slides are taken from studies reviewed in this newsletter
and are available to view and download for your use in presenting
health information in your local health promotion programs. Do not
copy slides to distribute to other people.
- Tips
for Preventing Overweight Children
- Magnets
and Pain Relief
- Eye
Health -- Preventing AMD
- Smoking
and Probability of Dying Before 70
- Saturated
fat and Risk of Breast Cancer
- Resistance
training and Diabetes
- Chocolate
lovers slide! Dark chocolate may help lower blood pressure
- Prevalence
of metabolic syndrome in teens
- New
blood glucose norms
Featured Health Links
Reduce.
A campaign to reduce health risk from NSAIDs (pain relievers) by
the American Gastroenterological Association and American Pharmacists
Association. Learn if you are at risk and ways to reduce your risk
of stomach bleeding. Get a brochure you can give to others who may
need this information too.
Senior HealthA new site for senior health developed by the National Institutes
of Health and the National Library of Medicine. It has articles
on the major health problems of seniors. Print can be enlarged to
make it easier to read, or you can "Turn Speech ON" and click on
the text to have the computer read it for you. An excellent site
for reliable health information. Encourage seniors you know to access
this site for health information.
MEDLINEplus is a
new health information site developed by the National Institutes
of Health and the National Library of Medicine for the general public.
It features health topics, drug information, a medical encyclopedia,
and health news. It has over 165 interactive tutorials with slide
shows, sound, and pictures. This is an excellent health site to
use for reliable health information.
Having
Trouble Sleeping?Check out this article on the "Top 10
Sleep Tips -- for a healthy lifestyle" by the National Sleep Foundation.
4Women.gov is a new
National Women's Health Information Center developed by the Department
of Health and Human Services. It is the best site on women's health
I've seen and is an excellent, reliable resource. For example, if
you have questions about hormone replacement therapy, they have
an excellent document covering the risks and benefits -- Facts About
Postmenopausal Hormone Therapy (PDF)
. It also covers many other key issues women need to know for good
health. Check it out!
AlmondsAreIn.com
is an interesting site on the benefits of almonds. If you enjoy
almonds, you will enjoy this site with recipes and ideas on making
almonds a fun and healthy part of your diet. You can also compare
almonds with other nuts in nutritional value (fat, protein, vitamins
etc.).
Diabetes
Prevention Guide. The National Institute of Health developed
this excellent guide on preventing diabetes for the general public.
It is called, Small Steps, Big Rewards. It outlines in simple steps
what you need to do to prevent diabetes. It is a 20 page PDF.
Healthy Recipes
Looking
for something new and good to eat? Here are a few ideas for you
to try that are tasty and good for you!
Old
Fashioned Fruit Candy - Here is a great idea for the holidays.
Making your own fruit candy can by as fun as eating it. Get the
whole family involved. Savory
Kale with Peppers and Onions - All leafy greens are especially
healthy. Here is a special way to enjoy kale. Indian
Lentil Soup - Soups are warm and comforting, especially in
winter. This lentil soup is also a good source of plant protein. Fresh
Cranberry Relish - Tis the season for cranberries. Here is
a recipe that includes apples, oranges, and nuts -- all good for
you!
Online Wellness Center
With
a comprehensive library of wellness related articles, personalized
health questionnaires, and other resources, Online Wellness Center
is the one-stop source for wellness information.
The Online Wellness Center can be fully branded and customized to
integrate with your existing Web site. The attractive design, relevant
topics, and interactive nature fosters rapid learning. Repeat visits
are encouraged with up-to-date content, monthly features and current
health news. Learn how you can make this site available for your
organization.
Attractive—
Relevant— Interactive
Strong Prevention
Focus
What sets Online WellnessCenter apart from other
Web-based health information sites is the
customization for yourWeb site and it's focus on
prevention and disease management topics.
Take
a tour of the Online Wellness Center and find out for yourself how
good it is. Take
the tour . . .
For
further information on the Online Wellness Center or our upcoming
Wellness Seminar in Las Vegas, visit our website www.wellsource.com,
call a Director of Business Development at 1-800-533-9355, or e-mail
marketing@wellsource.com.
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