SALUD (142)
(StatePoint)
Everyone has heard about a cosmetic procedure that left a patient unsatisfied or worse. But don’t let those anecdotes scare you. There are plenty of qualified, talented doctors available for every procedure. Whether you’re investigating a tummy tuck or laser fat removal, don’t rush to the first doctor in the phone book.
For better results, do your research:
• Ask your friends for referrals, particularly if you like their results.
• While cost may be a factor, remember, less is not always more. This is your body, so opt with the best choice. Many doctors offer their patients financing choices that can help make procedures more affordable.
• Read reviews online. What kind of reputation does the doctor have? Begin your research process at a site which offers patients an easy way to directly connect to multiple doctors in a matter of minutes, and offers valuable resources on various procedures. For example, www.LocateaDoc.com, a top online physician directory of 150,000 doctors, connects patients with cosmetic and plastic surgeons, hair restoration specialists, and ear nose and throat doctors. Prospective patients can search by body part to find a specialist, by procedure or treatment name, location or doctor’s last name.
• Schedule a consultation with several doctors so you can get a sense for how knowledgeable they seem and how comfortable you feel with them, their staffs and offices. Develop a list of questions in advance and take notes so you can remember the specifics about each doctor and experience.
• A picture is worth a thousand words, so compare doctors’ work visually. For instance, you can review over 60,000 before and after cosmetic surgery pictures at LocateaDoc.com. The searchable gallery includes botox pictures and images of other procedures done by doctors listed in the system. Filter results by procedure, gender, age, height and weight to see the results of patients similar to you.
• Investigate multiple procedures that deliver similar results to determine which is right for you. By doing appropriate leg work in advance, you can walk into your procedure with confidence that you’ve made a good decision.
HOUSTON
Although proper diet and nutrition is important for everyone, athletes who are involved in competitive sports and endurance training have different needs than others, according to a sports medicine expert at Baylor College of Medicine (www.bcm.edu). “If you’re actively working out, training at a high volume or preparing for a competition, you really need to take in enough calories and nutrients to support the level of activity that you’re doing,” said Dr. Theodore Shybut (http://www.bcm.edu/ortho/index.cfm?pmid=23059), assistant professor of orthopedic surgery at BCM. “For an average person, the daily caloric intake might be 1,800 to 2,000 calories. An athlete who is a competitive heavyweight rower or training for long distance running races, for example, may need to eat two or three times that amount of calories daily.” For those athletes who are injured and are taking a break from training, Shybut says to bring the caloric intake down appropriately. A high carbohydrate diet has shown to be important for performance in endurance events lasting more than 90 minutes, particularly two to three days before the event. Examples of complex carbohydrates that should be consumed include whole-grain bread, pasta, cereal and brown rice. However, Shybut advises that these athletes not skimp on other nutrients during their day-to-day training. “You want to be sure you’re getting enough protein, which is important for rebuilding tissue from the breakdown that occurs during exercise,” Shybut said. “So-called ‘healthy fats’ such as Omega-3 fatty acids are also part of a balanced diet.” He also emphasizes the importance of proper fluid intake since performance will suffer if the body is dehydrated. Sports drinks containing electrolytes can replenish some carbohydrates and are good for performance in high intensity endurance sports, he said. “If you are training at high volume and high intensity, you shouldn’t skip these sports drinks because you’re worried about extra calories. When you’re competing at that level of intensity, you need the caloric support,” he said. One of the common mistakes Shybut identifies, especially in junior high and high school athletes, is skipping meals. Eating regular meals is an important part of a training routine, he said. Another mistake that Shybut commonly sees is athletes not eating enough fruits and vegetables because they are focusing on consuming carbohydrates and protein. Research has shown that antioxidants in fruits and vegetables can be helpful in the recovery of day-to-day training. Although caffeine can increase performance in endurance events, Shybut recommends that it be used carefully. If an athlete has never consumed caffeine during training, Shybut advises that they not try it out on game day for the first time. Shybut suggests that if the sporting event or competition is late in the day, eat a meal high in carbohydrates about three hours prior to the event. Don’t consume foods that are hard to digest, such as those high in fat or protein, right before competition. “Your body will have to work to digest the food as opposed to pumping blood to working muscles,” he said. Breakfast is a common meal that is skipped, but Shybut emphasizes that if the event is not right after breakfast, it’s a good meal to get some protein in the body. Breakfast is also important for the brain, which uses glucose as well. A sharp brain is important in the arena of sports competition, Shybut said.
Houston
The message is the same each year, but the significance has not faltered. Regular screenings for colon cancer can catch the deadly disease before it even begins. Doctors at Baylor College of Medicine (www.bcm.edu) say by scheduling an appointment, you could be saving your life! “Getting screened regularly is one of the most effective ways to prevent colon cancer,” said Dr. Waqar Qureshi, professor of medicine and chief of endoscopy at BCM (http://www.bcm.edu/medicine/gi/index.cfm?pmid=6600). “Colon cancer is known as the silent killer because symptoms are not present until it is too late.” Symptoms include rectal bleeding, abdominal pain, weight loss or anemia. But if symptoms are apparent, then more than likely the cancer has already spread. Screening can catch precancerous growths at a time when life-saving treatments are still effective. Qureshi suggests talking to a gastroenterologist to discuss the different screening options. However, he said a colonoscopy is the most accurate way to find precancerous growths, which almost always begin as polyps. “Using a colonoscope, a thin, flexible device with a small video camera, doctors look for polyps and abnormalities on the colon wall,” Qureshi said. “If a polyp is found, then it can be removed at that time, during the colonoscopy.” A colonoscopy takes up to 20 minutes, and patients are sedated so most don’t even remember the procedure, Qureshi said. “Usually screenings start at age 50 and continue every 10 years after that,” said Qureshi. “However, if colon cancer runs in your family, screenings should be more frequent and begin sooner. Talk to you doctor to find out what is best for your personal health.”
HOUSTON
School cafeteria food has a come a long way in terms of nutrition, and now it’s time for brown bag lunches to catch up. According to an expert at Baylor College of Medicine (www.bcm.edu), lunches packed from home are often lacking in healthy options. A recent study led by Dr. Craig Johnston, assistant professor at the USDA/ARS Children’s Nutrition Research Center (www.bcm.edu/cnrc) at Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children’s Hospital (www.texaschildrens.com), compared the foods in lunches brought from home versus those offered in the school cafeteria. “What is clear through the study is that the majority of kids with packed lunches are not bringing what we would consider a healthy lunch,” Johnston said. Many parents just want to make sure their children eat something during the school day, so they pack items they know their kids like, Johnston said. “Parents are concerned that if they provide a fruit and vegetable, their kids won’t eat it. But they might be surprised, because their kids are probably hungry and are likely to eat what’s there,” Johnston said.
Options for a healthy lunch packed from home include:
-A vegetable such as cut-up carrots or celery
-A fruit, either fresh or packed in juice or water
-Dairy, such as milk, yogurt or cheese
-A healthy drink, such as 100 percent juice, milk or water
-Whole-grain bread
-Protein from peanut butter, lean lunch meat, beans and nuts
“It’s great news that national initiatives have resulted in healthy lunch options provided by the school but parents should ensure their home lunches are packed with the same nutrients,” Johnston said.
HOUSTON
On the football field, the neophyte fan focuses on the receiver, whose daring catch and dash for the goal line captures the attention. However, focusing on that one player means the fan misses the contributions of the quarterback, the blockers and the other players who make that run happen. The same is true in the cell, where too often a single finding about one protein, enzyme or receptor seems to solve a problem. In an online report in the journal Nucleic Acids Research (http://nar.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2013/02/26/nar.gkt100.long), Dr. Michael Mancini, professor in the department of molecular and cellular biology (http://www.bcm.edu/mcb/index.cfm?pmid=9330) at Baylor College of Medicine (www.bcm.edu) and his colleagues demonstrate how the interaction of two nuclear receptors – the glucocorticoid receptor and estrogen receptor alpha – modifies the transcription of DNA into RNA. In the laboratory, graduate student and first author Mike Bolt used a unique model cell system comprised of a multicopy estrogen responsive reporter gene array and high throughput microscopy to determine how estrogen receptor alpha affects DNA transcription and what other cellular components are involved. This novel system enabled them to actually see and simultaneously count the steps that the estrogen receptor took in regulating DNA transcription. “The experimental platform we developed over the last approximately six years has become ideal for measuring a wide range of biological activities at the same time, and it now can be performed at high throughput speeds,” said Mancini, who is also director of the Integrated Microscopy Core at BCM (http://www.bcm.edu/microscopy/) and the co-director of the, John S. Dunn Gulf Coast Consortia for Chemical Genomics (https://www.google.com/search?q=john+s.+dunn+gcc&hl=en&sourceid=gd&rlz=1Q1GGLD_roUS488US489). He and his colleagues found that the glucocorticoid receptor could not affect transcription at the array without the presence of another – estrogen receptor alpha. Glucocorticoid receptor was recruited to the response element through two steroid receptor coactivators (SRC-2 and SRC-3) and a mediator component called MED14. (Steroid receptor coactivators are master regulators of cellular activities.) “In this way, we identified a previously unknown mechanism through which DNA binding of one nuclear receptor can influence the binding of a different receptor (i.e., the glucocorticoid receptor) through use of coregulator intermediates that fine tunes transcriptional readout,” said Bolt. Then, with additional guidance of Dr. Fabio Stossi, assistant professor of molecular and cellular biology at BCM, he and his colleagues further studied cultured breast cancer cells to validate this cross-talk among molecules. “Often, glucocorticoids are administered to women with breast cancer together with chemotherapy in order to alleviate side effects,” said Stossi. “Here, we are performing an increasingly high throughput basic science approach to push toward a more translationally relevant system.” “If you reduce your science to one hormone, one stimulus, it physiologically underrepresents what the cell sees. We have to see more biology at the same time to better appreciate how gene regulation works in a cellular context,” said Mancini. This finding may play a role in diseases such as Cushing’s syndrome in women, which results from exposure to high levels of cortisol and/or steroids. “Could this interplay also occur in bone where estrogen receptor alpha and glucocorticoid receptors are both expressed?” said Stossi. “According to recent literature, high glucocorticoid receptor levels reflect a better prognosis in estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer. Could mechanisms like this be the reason?” Future work along these lines may help to explain these issues, they said.
(StatePoint)
For many of the 12 million Americans with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD, breathlessness, coughing and mucus production may not be symptoms of a nagging cold, but serious, daily effects of a progressive, irreversible lung disease that includes the respiratory illnesses chronic bronchitis and emphysema. While COPD is a leading cause of death and disability in the U.S. and worldwide, many Americans are not aware that the disease even exists. “Awareness is important to help ensure people are being diagnosed and treated properly,” said Dr. Antonio Anzueto, a pulmonary specialist and professor of medicine at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. “Symptoms of COPD -- such as shortness of breath and a lingering cough -- can often be attributed to something else. With increased awareness, we are able to diagnose and treat COPD earlier, which can limit the amount of lung damage and help improve the quality of life for patients.”
Facts You Should Know About COPD
• COPD is the third leading cause of death in the U.S. and kills more than 120,000 Americans each year. That’s approximately one death every four minutes. In recent years, COPD death rates for women have risen steadily. Today, more women than men die from COPD each year.
• Only half of the people living with COPD in the U.S. have been correctly diagnosed, potentially leaving an additional 12 million Americans with undiagnosed COPD. One reason for under-diagnosis is that the symptoms of COPD can be mistaken for other conditions, such as asthma, another chronic inflammatory lung disease. While COPD and asthma have similar characteristics, they are two distinct conditions with varying treatment strategies.
• Smoking is identified as the most common risk factor for COPD. However, as approximately 20 percent of smokers develop COPD, it is believed that genetic and environmental factors can also influence the risk of developing COPD. It is also now recognized that 10 to 20 percent of COPD patients have never smoked. Nonetheless, smoking accounted for as much as 90 percent of COPD-related deaths.
• The assessment of COPD should determine the severity of airflow limitation in the lungs, the impact of symptoms on a patient’s health and a patient’s future risk of events, such as a COPD flare-up or exacerbation that could lead to physician office visits or hospitalization. This evaluation helps determine the progression of disease and guide therapeutic recommendations for each patient.
• While there is no cure for COPD, it is manageable. Lifestyle changes, such as smoking cessation, healthy eating and exercise, are recommended for COPD patients. According to Dr. Anzueto, “Shortness of breath can steer COPD patients away from exercise. However, there are many health benefits from regular exercise that can help COPD patients.” Pulmonary rehabilitation, which includes breathing strategies and exercise training, can help improve COPD symptoms. Various prescription medications are also available to help COPD patients at all stages of severity manage their disease. Dr. Anzueto recommends that COPD patients speak with their doctor about the available treatment options. “Today, treatment options are available that can help people with COPD, no matter how severe their disease,” said Dr. Anuzeto. “When medications are combined with healthy lifestyle changes, many people with COPD find that they can continue doing the things they love doing.” For further information about treatment options and COPD, visit: www.MoreMatterswithCOPD.com.
(StatePoint)
Eating right is essential to keeping your body running at its best. But nutrition advice doesn’t always account for people’s varied lifestyles, health needs and tastes. March, which is National Nutrition Month, is an excellent opportunity to review your diet and make positive, sustainable changes. So what’s the “right” way to eat for you? Experts say it’s not as restrictive as you may think. “There’s sometimes a misperception that eating properly means giving up favorite foods,” says registered dietitian and President of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Ethan A. Bergman. “But including foods you love in your diet can help you stick to your goals.”
As part of the “Eat Right, Your Way, Every Day” campaign, Bergman suggests that those looking to eat a healthy diet, tailor food choices to meet lifestyle, needs and preferences:
• Business People: Busy work days can lead to on-the-fly meals. For desktop dining, keep single-serve packages of crackers, fruit, peanut butter, low-sodium soup or canned tuna in your desk. Always on the go? Tuck portable, nonperishable foods in your bag for meals on the run. Try granola bars, peanut butter and crackers, fresh fruit, trail mix or single-serve packages of whole-grain cereal or crackers.
• Athletes: Whether you’re a competitive athlete or just enjoy working out, what you eat affects your performance. Eat a light meal or snack before exercising, such as low-fat yogurt, a banana or cereal with low-fat milk. Before, during and after exercise, drink plenty of water or a sports drink, if you prefer.
• Students: For nutritious, budget-friendly snacking, combine protein and carbohydrates, such as apples and peanut butter, low-fat cheese and whole-grain crackers or hardboiled eggs and fruit. These also double as quick grab-and-go breakfasts. At the cafeteria, salad bars are a great choice -- just go easy on the high-calorie add-ons.
• Families: Family meals allow parents to be role models to ensure kids eat right. And, just because a meal is made quickly doesn’t mean it can’t be nutritious. Keep things simple. Choose ingredients you can use for more than one meal. For example, cook extra grilled chicken for salad or fajitas the next day. Get the kids involved. They can make the salad, set the table or do other simple tasks.
• Vegetarians: A vegetarian diet can include just as much variety as one including meat. For example, nutrient-rich beans are a great choice. Enjoy vegetarian chili, a hummus-filled pita sandwich or veggie burger. Many popular items are or can be vegetarian -- pasta primavera, veggie pizza and tofu-vegetable stir-fry.
• Meat lovers: Keep your meaty meals heart-healthy by selecting lean cuts and choosing chicken, turkey and fish more often. Avoid deep fried foods. Instead, bake, broil, roast, stew or stir-fry your meals. This month, set yourself up for success. Consider working with a registered dietitian to develop a personalized eating plan. More tips can be found at www.EatRight.org. Remember, good nutrition isn’t meant to make you suffer. With exercise and moderation, you can enjoy your favorite foods regularly.
(StatePoint)
Cleaning your home from top to bottom this spring? Do so with care. From falls off ladders to muscle pain, heavy-duty chores can be hazardous to your health and wellness if you’re not careful.
So before you roll up your sleeves and get into the thick of it, take a moment to review some essential safety precautions:
Avoid Outdoor Mishaps
When mowing the lawn, wear sturdy, closed-toe shoes. Clear your lawn of stones, toys and other potentially hazardous debris before you begin, to prevent flying objects. Keep children away from your yard while you’re mowing. Reduce the risk of a ladder fall by always using a stable ladder. Be sure to use the correct height ladder for the job and follow all weight restrictions. Only set ladders on level surfaces. Pay close attention to what you’re doing and climb up and down the ladder slowly and deliberately.
Treat Muscles Right
From lawn work to scrubbing floors, unusual repetitious motions can really take a toll, resulting in muscle pain or bruising. Treat your spring clean like a workout and stretch your major muscle groups before you get started. When lifting those boxes in your basement and any other objects with heft, bend at the knees to avoid throwing your back out. If a chore is causing you pain, stop what you’re doing. “Start out slowly to avoid placing a sudden demand on your muscles that are not use to this activity,” says Anne Meyer, MD who focuses on sports rehabilitation medicine. If you feel stiff or sore after a long day of reaching, bending and lifting, Dr. Meyer recommends minimizing physical activity, elevating an injured arm or leg, and treating the first sign of muscle pain by applying a quick absorbing topical muscle pain reliever like Arnicare Gel. Instead of masking pain, this homeopathic medicine works naturally with the body to relieve muscle pain and stiffness, as well as swelling from injuries and bruising. Pain management tips can be found at www.arnicare.com, where coupons are available to save $1.00 on pain relievers. Remember to take frequent breaks. And end your long day with a relaxing bath.
Clean Safely
Cleaning products can be extremely stringent, causing irritation to your eyes, nose and throat. If opting for natural alternatives, such as vinegar or lemons is not an option, use the harsher stuff with care. Open all windows when using harsh cleaning products, especially ammonia. Wear gloves and consider protecting your nose and mouth with a surgical mask. Place products out of reach when you’re not using them if you have pets or small children. By following a few safety measures, you can make your spring clean a rejuvenating experience.
(StatePoint)
For parents of newborns, those first months can be exciting, challenging and even a little frightening. While your instincts will kick in to guide you through many parenting challenges, when certain issues arise, it’s important to seek help from your best-informed resource: your pediatrician. “Whether you’re having difficulty breastfeeding or have questions about vaccinations, your pediatrician is the best person you can turn to for answers,” says Dr. Thomas McInerny, president of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). “Certain problems can worsen if they aren’t addressed quickly, so keep your pediatrician’s number accessible.”
Feeding and Nutrition
Breastfeeding is a great step mothers can take to safeguard their baby’s health. Human milk benefits the immune system and protects your baby from infections. Research suggests that breastfeeding may help protect against obesity, sudden infant death syndrome, and some cancers.
To ensure a successful start, McInerny advises:
• Take breastfeeding classes before giving birth.
• Place your newborn skin-to-skin against your chest or abdomen within an hour after birth.
• Sleep in the same room as your newborn.
• Breastfeed eight to 12 times a day.
• Monitor urine and stool output. If you’re having problems, find a lactation consultant or talk with your pediatrician. Waiting to seek help could interfere with your ability to produce milk or your baby’s ability to get crucial nutrition. And dehydration can be dangerous or even life-threatening.
McInerny advises new mothers experiencing any of the following symptoms to call their pediatricians right away:
• Nursing sessions are consistently briefer than about 10 minutes or longer than about 50 minutes during the first few months.
• Your baby still seems hungry after most feedings or is not gaining weight on the recommended schedule.
• Your newborn frequently misses nursing sessions or sleeps through the night.
• You’re experiencing pain that prevents you from breastfeeding.
• You think you’re not producing enough milk.
“Pay attention to your baby’s pattern of feeding,” advises McInerny. “Don’t stop asking for one-on-one guidance from your pediatrician or lactation specialist until you get the help you need.” At your appointment, your pediatrician will weigh your baby to make sure he or she is on track nutritionally and can observe your feeding technique and offer guidance.
Vaccinations
Newborns need vaccinations in those first months to protect against potentially dangerous diseases, including hepatitis B, polio, whooping cough (also known as pertussis), tetanus, diphtheria, Hib, pneumococcal and rotavirus. The pediatrician can discuss recommended immunizations at each visit. A new report from the Institute of Medicine confirms the vaccine schedule is safe and significantly reduces your child’s risk of disease. “Talk with your doctor about whether you need a whooping cough booster or flu shot yourself,” says McInerny. “Whooping cough can be deadly to young infants. Immunizing family members creates a ‘cocoon’ of protection around them.” Mothers should receive whooping cough vaccine and flu shots during pregnancy. Anyone who will be around the baby should also be immunized. More information on keeping newborns happy and healthy can be found at www.HealthyChildren.org. When in doubt, call your pediatrician sooner rather than later.
(StatePoint)
Nearly 30 million Americans -- or one in 10 -- are currently affected by a rare disease. Many of these patients are now starting to speak out about the unique challenges they face daily. “Rare disease patients worldwide face many similar challenges, but because their conditions are so rare, they often feel alone and isolated,” said Peter L. Saltonstall, President and CEO of the National Organization for Rare Disorders. “By standing together and sharing our experiences with rare diseases, we can more effectively address these challenges and build a better world for rare disease patients.” In the United States, a disease is considered rare if it affects fewer than 200,000 people. Because of the rarity of their conditions, patients may often be challenged to find information, support, and knowledgeable doctors. Furthermore, it often takes five years or longer to receive an accurate diagnosis of a rare disease. According to the National Institutes of Health, there are about 7000 identified rare diseases, 80 percent of which are genetic. One such rare disease is Cryopyrin-Associated Periodic Syndromes (CAPS) -- a serious, lifelong autoinflammatory disease affecting about one in one million people in the United States. Because there are so few CAPS patients, online resources play an important role in uniting the community. CAPSConnectsUs.com, a new educational Web site from Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, enables CAPS patients in the United States to connect online to share their stories, encouragement, and advice about managing daily challenges. Dave Crawford of Dallas knows firsthand the importance of sharing his story with others. He was diagnosed with CAPS in 2010 after suffering from the painful, mysterious symptoms since childhood. He shared his story with his hometown newspaper last year and was contacted by a local man who had read about his experience. He explained that he and several family members had been experiencing the same symptoms that Crawford had described their whole lives, and following a referral to Crawford’s physician, the man was also diagnosed with CAPS. “I take every opportunity to speak out about CAPS, and it’s a great feeling to know that my story helped others to get a correct diagnosis,” said Crawford. “I remember the frustration of coping with the daily symptoms and not knowing what caused them, and I’m glad I could help end that mystery for another family.” For more than 50 years, Dave Crawford experienced daily red bumpy rashes, fevers, conjunctivitis, headaches, joint swelling, and muscle aches. The symptoms often occurred after exposure to cold or damp air, but also flared spontaneously. His mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother had also lived with the same painful symptoms, but never received a diagnosis. “CAPS is treatable, but often misdiagnosed or undiagnosed because few physicians are familiar with it, and its symptoms can resemble more common conditions,” said Dr. Barbara Baxter, an allergist in Dallas. “Rare disease patients are often undiagnosed for years, and accurately diagnosing a patient who has been struggling to get answers is one of the most rewarding experiences for a doctor.” Visit CAPSConnectsUS.com to see a video of Crawford’s journey and to learn more about CAPS.
