Better Treatment After a Heart Attack

I like to focus on preventative medicine whenever possible. It’s always better to catch a disease in its early stages and do as much as possible to reverse it. Even better, making healthy lifestyle choices now can mean you don’t have to deal with devastating diseases later in your life at all.

But sometimes, the unexpected does happen. You get that diagnosis for cancer or you find yourself in the emergency room with a heart attack. Under those circumstances, I still advocate natural care in addition to traditional care, but the advances of modern medicine can be literal lifesavers.

Clot-busting drugs have long been the standard of care for people who’ve had a heart attack. If you had a heart attack, your emergency room doctor would administer these drugs, and the drugs would help to break up the clot that is blocking the flow of blood to your heart.

But new research shows that taking a second step beyond clot-busting drugs can improve your overall outcome after a heart attack. Canadian researchers studied the affects of emergency angioplasty done within six hours of treatment with clot-busting drugs. In an angioplasty procedure, the doctor uses balloons and stents to open a blocked coronary artery. For a long time, doctors believed that doing angioplasty too soon after giving a patient clot-busting drugs could increase the risk of bleeding, but this study shows different.

The researchers found that angioplasty soon after drug treatment reduced second heart attacks by 40 percent and other major complications by 36 percent. Patients who received the angioplasty were also more comfortable during their recovery, experiencing less chest pain.

If you or a loved one has heart disease, it’s worth calling around to the hospitals in your area to find which of them have angioplasty facilities on site. If the unthinkable should happen and you suffer a heart attack, that’s the hospital you want to go to if at all possible. It’s also a good idea to discuss treatment plans with your doctor and your spouse before something like a heart attack happens. The old adage says hope for the best and plan for the worst. If you have heart disease, that adage is definitely worth following.

Stay well,
Meghan Krohn

When it Comes to Follow Up, Take the Lead

Have you ever had blood work done with your doctor? He takes your blood and then asks you to call back a few days later for the results. If you have, then I have an important question for you.

Do you make that call or do you assume the doctor’s office will call you if there’s a problem?

If you’re like a lot of people, you mean to make the call, but you don’t worry too much about it. After all, if there’s a problem, it’s a sure thing that your doctor will call you. But new research shows that isn’t true.

A study published in Archives of Internal Medicine found that it’s commonplace for doctor’s offices to overlook follow up calls. This happens routinely even if there’s something problematic in your test results. The researchers estimate that 1 in 14 tests don’t receive any follow up, regardless if the test is normal or not.

This is alarming if you think about it. In so many diseases early treatment can make a big difference to the end result. Early treatment can mean a better quality of life and a longer life. To get early treatment, though, you have to know there’s a problem.

Based on this study, I hope you realize that you need to be proactive about your test results. It’s up to you to follow up. If you’re having tests done, before you even leave the doctor’s office write a reminder in your calendar to follow up regarding test results. If you don’t carry a calendar with you, set an alarm on your cell phone to remind you to call the doctor for your results. If you don’t have a cell phone, ask the doctor if you can call use the phone. Then call your home voice mail and leave a reminder for yourself.

The best way not to forget something important is to create a reminder for it right when you’re thinking about it. Your test results are very important, so take a moment to make sure you’ll remember to call and find out what they are.

Stay well,
Danny Wallace

Four Ways to Reduce Your Risk of Metabolic Syndrome

Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of conditions that puts you at high risk for diabetes and heart disease. The syndrome includes a combination of high triglyceride levels, low HDL levels, high blood pressure, high blood sugar levels, and a large waistline.

If you take steps to prevent metabolic syndrome, you’ll also be lowering your risk of developing adult-onset diabetes and heart disease. Fortunately, there are some simple things you can do that will drastically reduce your chances of developing metabolic syndrome and improve your overall health.

First up is exercise. There’s no escaping it. Your body needs to move in order to be healthy. The good news is that you don’t have to go to extremes. New research out of the University of Illinois shows that moderate exercise successfully reduces your risks of metabolic syndrome. Researchers found that walking for a half hour a day five days a week is enough to help you reduce your belly fat—a major risk factor for metabolic syndrome.

The next step to preventing metabolic syndrome is to make sure you get enough chromium. Chromium is a mineral that your body uses to regulate blood sugar and insulin. People who get enough chromium are less likely to develop insulin resistance. Studies show that chromium may also help to control blood pressure levels. Most people get enough chromium from their diet. This is especially true if you eat a diet rich in natural foods rather than processed foods.

If diabetes and heart disease run in your family or if you are already showing signs of insulin resistance, then a chromium supplement is something to consider. Chromium is a mineral, so you want to use care when you supplement—you can get too much. Take 50 to 100 micrograms a day for the best results.

Alpha lipoic acid is another important supplement in the fight against metabolic syndrome. ALA also helps to promote insulin sensitivity and good blood sugar regulation. It has the added benefits of working as a powerful antioxidant and promoting good brain function.

Finally, cut down on the refined grains that you eat. Refined grains are the number one cause of spikes in triglyceride levels. If you choose foods rich in fiber and protein then you will see a dramatic reduction in your triglyceride levels. Eating such a diet will also promote healthier cholesterol levels, lower inflammation levels, and a healthier weight.

Taking steps to prevent metabolic syndrome now will help to protect you from dangerous diseases later on in your life. You know the saying—an ounce of prevention beats a pound of cure every time!

Stay well,
Heather Robwell

Overtreatment for Prostate Cancer

New studies show that many men are over-treated for prostate cancer, undergoing prolonged hormone therapy that destroys their sex life and leaves them prone to uncomfortable symptoms like hot flashes.

If you’ve been diagnosed with early-stage prostate cancer, it’s important that you discuss treatment options with your doctor. Today, I’ve got some information that can help prepare you for that conversation.

The first question to ask is how widespread your cancer is. If your cancer is limited to the interior of the prostate, the best course of treatment will be different than if the cancer has spread to the exterior of the prostate. Treatment will be different still if the cancer has spread to other parts of your body.

For cancer that is limited to the interior of the prostate, radiation therapy is often sufficient, but many doctors prescribe a six-month or three-year round of hormone therapy, too. They do this to be on the safe side, but at this time, there’s no evidence to support hormone treatment unless the cancer has spread to the exterior of the prostate.

It’s important to discuss your specific situation and the possible benefits and drawbacks of hormone therapy before committing to it. The good news is that while hormone therapy is disruptive to your quality of life—especially your sex life—should you and your doctor decide you need hormone therapy, your sexual function will return in full once you complete the therapy.

Currently in the US, many researchers believe that most men are being over-treated for their prostate cancer, especially early stage cancers. By discussing these findings with your doctor, you can help come up with the best treatment plan for your specific needs and hopefully minimize the discomfort and stress that go along with fighting any cancer.

Stay well,
Danny Wallace

Is Your Computer a Health Risk?

Any more if your household is without a computer that makes you an oddity. Many homes have two or three computers. These wonderful tools give you the power to connect with family and friends, to stay more organized, to research any question that comes up, and to be more productive.

But these wonderful tools also present some unexpected health risks.

Computer-related injuries have jumped 732 percent in the last decade, according to an upcoming study scheduled to appear in the American Journal of Preventative Medicine. Most computer-related injures are do to a fall from tripping over cords.

You can immediately improve the safety of your home by making sure your computer cords are out of the walkways. It’s a good idea to bundle cords using zip ties and then run them along the wall. If a cord bundle must cross a walkway, tape it down so it’s less of a trip hazard.

Long hours in front of the computer can strain your back and neck. You can help prevent this by taking regular breaks to stretch. Set an alarm for every sixty or ninety minutes and then spend five minutes stretching.

Wrist strain and repeated stress injuries are another concern. When you take your five minute stretch break, take an additional minute to run through some wrist exercises.
• First, hold your hands out in front of you with your palms facing the floor. Rotate your wrists so that your palms face up and then rotate them back to the starting position. Repeat this motion five times.
• Next, hold one arm out in front of you with your palm facing up. Use your other hand to gently pull the hand of your extended arm back toward your body. Hold the stretch for a count of ten, and then switch sides.
• Finally, just shake your hands out a bit.
These exercises will help to keep your wrists relaxed during the day, which can help reduce injuries.

We all spend more time sitting and less time moving than we probably should. To help counter this, limit your off-work computer hours. Instead of surfing the Internet, go for a walk. After you catch up on your personal email, break out your bike and go for an evening ride. Or set an hour limit in the evenings. When the time is up, go dancing or swimming or play a little basketball or Frisbee.

Computers are great tools and they make our lives better in so many ways. By taking the steps here, you can keep your computer experience purely positive and cut down on related injuries and health risks.

Stay well,
Meghan Krohn

Does Your Psoriasis Flare Up in the Summer?

For most people the warmer, moister air of summer brings relief to psoriasis symptoms. But that’s not true for everyone. If your psoriasis tends to flare up when it warms up, there are some things you can do to find relief so that you can get out and enjoy the summer weather.

When you have psoriasis, your skin cells are prone to going into overdrive. When that happens, your body’s normal cycle of skin cell production speeds up and patches of scaly skin cells build up on the surface of your skin.

One of things that can cause a psoriasis flare-up is any injury to the skin, even minor ones. That means sunburns and bug bites can both lead to a flare up. In the summer time, when risks of both are high, it’s important to use a good sunscreen and be smart about your sun exposure. You’ll also want to be mindful of mosquitoes. Since you don’t want to spread harsh chemicals on your skin, try finding a natural mosquito repellent. Or try using citronella candles to keep bugs at bay. If neither of those options work, there’s a new type of bug repellant that comes in a container you clip onto your clothes and wear rather than spread onto your skin.

Because chemicals can easily dry and irritate your skin when you have psoriasis, summer swimming can also cause flare-ups. Fresh- and salt-water swimming aren’t a problem—they can actually help ease psoriasis symptoms. Chlorinated swimming pools are a different story. If you swim in a chlorinated pool, be sure to rinse the chlorine off as soon as you can after swimming. Follow your rinse with a gentle moisturizer.

If you do get a summer-time psoriasis flare up, you might find you have some good remedies right in your kitchen pantry.
• Vinegar can help to sooth your skin and may help to soften psoriasis plaques. Mix 1 cup of vinegar with a gallon of cool water. Soak a washcloth in the mixture and then apply the compress to the affected area of your skin.
• To get full-body relief add a tablespoon of olive oil and a cup of milk to a warm bath and then soak for a spell. The combination will soften your skin and make plaques easier to remove.
• To soften skin even further, rub moisturizer on the affected patches and then wrap them in standard kitchen plastic wrap for ten or fifteen minutes.

A psoriasis flare up can be miserable, especially in the summer. If you follow the steps here, you’ll reduce your chances of a flare up and you’ll have safe, natural ways to find relief if you need to.

Stay well,
Danny Wallace

Do You Have Healthy Snack Habits?

If you’re like me, you’re meals are pretty healthy. There’s some lean protein, some whole grains, and lots of veggies. You’re probably careful how you prepare your foods, too. Maybe you use herbs and spices instead of salt. Maybe you steam your veggies instead frying them in oil.

For me—and maybe for you—meals aren’t the problem.

Snacks are the problem. When I get hungry between meals, I tend to reach for junk food. It’s quick. It’s tasty. It’s filling. But it certainly isn’t good for me… and it doesn’t leave me feeling good either.

For a while, I tried those 100-calorie packs. I figured they were a good way to stop me from overeating. But it’s still junk food. And recent studies show that people tend to eat fewer junk food calories out of a regular-sized packages than they do when they grab the 100-calorie packs.

Based on that, I’ve been working on a better way to snack. I have a little cooler, and I pack it with quick, healthy snacks the night before. I try to combine protein and fiber, so the snacks leave me satisfied. On a given day my cooler might contain an apple and string cheese, some peanut-butter-and-whole-wheat-cracker sandwiches, and some cut up veggies with some garlic herb cream cheese. I usually toss a bite-sized chocolate bar in there, too.

Then during the day, when I feel hungry between meals, I just reach for my cooler. I’ve noticed some good changes since using this approach. First, I seem to be hungry less often. Second, I seem to be less cranky and more focused in the mid-afternoon. Third, I’m sinking less money into the vending machine. And fourth, I’m not wasting time debating whether I want a bag of chips or a big cookie—I already know what snack I’m going to have.

Gimmicky packaging and junk food portion control can’t get around the fact that’s it’s still junk food. I recommend you make the switch and start snacking healthier by planning ahead.

Stay well,
Heather Robwell