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WELLderly New Health News

Doctored and Dispense by Dale Anderson, MD

 

Differences widespread among nation’s communities in care cost, quality.

Los Angeles Times (3/14) “the Commonwealth Fund, a New York foundation that studies the US healthcare market, ranked 306 communities nationwide on key areas of health system performance, such as whether patients are getting timely preventive care and avoiding unnecessary hospital stays and whether healthcare is affordable.”—if all local areas could do as well as the top performers it would save billions of dollars on preventable hospitalizations and readmissions.”  St. Paul ranked first in the nation; Dubuque, Iowa, second; Rochester, third; and Minneapolis, fourth.

WELLderly note—Lucky, indeed are those who live in MINNESOTA, also rated in the top three USA states for longevity and happiness.  GO Gophers!

 

Sugary drinks linked to increased heart attack risk.

 MedPage Today (3/13)  participants “who consumed the most sugary drinks — a median of 6.5 per week — were 20% more likely to have a myocardial infarction (MI) during follow-up than those who never drank them— researchers “also found that consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages was linked to inflammation and higher levels of harmful fats in the blood.”

WELLderly note— the big problem with too much  sugar, isn’t sweet.

 

CDC to sponsor $54 million anti-smoking media campaign.

New York Times (3/15,) “For the first time, the federal government will directly attack the nation’s tobacco addiction with a series of advertisements highlighting the grisly toll of smoking.

Boston Globe (3/15) aimed at encouraging smokers to quit and preventing children from starting to smoke. $54 million, 12-week campaign featuresTV, radio, and print ads, and billboard and bus stop signs, —the campaign also includes “an up-close, voyeuristic look at victims of disease” using patients with conditions such as throat cancer.

WELLderly note—youth who start smoking early have harder time stopping.

 

Research shows daily walk may help beat “obesity genes.”

Los Angeles Times (3/15)people who are genetically prone to obesity can offset that influence by half by walking briskly one hour a day.”

WELLderly note—the best way to be slim is to NEVER become overweight in the first place.  Once obese, it becomes “hormonal torture” to loose.

 

Study shows sleep deprivation leads to increased calorie consumption.

ABC World News (3/14) When sleep was reduced by a third each night, the subjects ate    550 more calories each day than the participants whose sleep was great. Research showed that  sleep-deprived tend to eat more high-fat foods and especially ice cream.”

WELLderly note—good reason to buy ice cream by the pint rather than by the gallon.  Out of sight, out of mind

 

Opioid use after minor surgery may lead to long-term use.

Los Angeles Times (3/13) oxycodone given “after simple operations” may be at greater risk for  addicted.  Researchers “looked at 391,139 people age 66 or older who had a short-stay surgery for something minor like cataracts, laparoscopic gallbladder removal, prostate tissue removal or varicose vein stripping. “Patients who received opioids within seven days of surgery were 44% more likely to be using opioids a year later,”

WELLderly note—pain meds after surgery can HOOK some into addiction.  Endorphins are the internal opioids—try hard to put on an UP-beat ACT and dispense from the INNER PHARMACY!

 

Vitamin D may be linked to fewer stress fractures in girls.

Reuters (3/6) young women and girls consuming high levels of vitamin D were less likely to suffer from stress fractures.

Doctors recommends screening for vitamin D deficiency.

New York Times (3/13 of individuals with bone disease, chronic kidney disease, liver failure, malabsorption syndromes (resulting from cystic fibrosis, irritable bowel disease, weight-reduction surgery or abdominal radiation), overactive parathyroid and granuloma-forming disorders.” Individuals “taking drugs like anticonvulsants, glucocorticoids, antiretrovirals, antifungals and cholestyramine also should be tested, as well as older adults with a history of falls or non-traumatic fracture.”

WELLderly note—Some physicians skip the lab tests for low/no risk folks and recommend D3 up to 4000iu/day, especially in the low/no sun months.

 

Produce consumption may add more red, yellow skin tone. 

Boston Globe (3/9 Three servings a day” of fruits and vegetables “to their diet   developed color changes to their skin that made them look healthier and more attractive.” Attributed the changes “to the impact of carotenoids,” skin color reflects better health, the researchers said.” Within 6 weeks.

WELLderly note—WOW! a natural complexion —“touch of red”. And YES, wearing “a bit of red” proves to be a high-LIFE/light in sports, success and romance.

 

WELLderly News

Media News Health Bits

Recent health articles are proof–That an UP-Beat performance that is staged and IN-ACTed can open a cellular pharmacy that dispenses the CHEMISTRY of Health, Happiness & Success.>You can bank on IT!

 

Diet may lower risk for Alzheimer’s.

Bloomberg News(4/13,) reports published online April 12 in the Archives of Neurology, elderly people “who adhered most to diets rich in dark, leafy vegetables, poultry, fish, and nuts and low in red meat, butter, and fatty dairy products had a 38 percent lower risk of getting Alzheimer’s disease than those who followed that plan the least.” theorized that “these foods may protect blood vessels in the brain, preventing tiny strokes that may contribute to Alzheimer’s.”

Researchers followed more than 2,100 “New York City residents over age 65 for about four years, The researchers broke down their dietary reports to gauge their intake of seven nutrients: saturated fatty acids; monounsaturated fatty acids; Omega-3 and Omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids; vitamin E, vitamin B12 and folate.—of the 682 subjects whose diets ranked in the top third of the group in intake of vitamin E, folate, and poly- and monounsaturated fats (nutrients found in poultry, fish, vegetables, and most nuts and vegetable oils), just 50 subjects (or 7%) developed Alzheimer’s.”

WELLderly note—more NEUROBIC (brain building) from the the benefits of fish, RAINBOW and LOW-GLYCEMIC foods. YOU, by playing a WELLderly role WELL demonstrate to understudies that getting an ACT together WELL has DRAMATIC benefits.

 

Eating more high-glycemic index foods may be linked to heart risks.

The Los Angeles Times reported that carbohydrates “with a high glycemic index…may be linked with a higher risk of coronary heart disease “surveyed 47,749 men and women and found that “eating more high-glycemic index foods was more strongly linked with a greater risk of coronary heart disease.

WELLderly note— high-glycemic foods are high in quickly absorbed and digestible carbohydrates that rapidly raises blood glucose levels. Examples of High Glycemic Foods are many WHITE ie. sugary foods and drinks , flour, rice, potato etc.

 

Coffee consumption may lower prostate cancer risk.

Bloomberg News(12/8, Bennett) reported “drinking coffee may lower the risk of developing the deadliest form of prostate cancer.” In fact, “the five percent of” study participants “who drank six or more cups a day had a 60 percent lower risk of developing the advanced form of the disease than those who didn’t consume any.”

 

AND

Research explores role exercise plays in fight against prostate cancer.

Time “Wellness” blog reported. “An analysis of activity levels among 2,686 prostate cancer patients showed that men who jogged, played tennis, or participated in other comparable exercise for an average of three or more hours per week had 35% lower mortality rates than those who exercised less frequently or not at all.”

WELLderly note—these studies suggest taking a good brisk walk, then relax with a cup of JOE and read WELLderly News.

 

Study indicates men who have certain notions of masculinity may be less likely to seek preventive healthcare.

The New York Times reported in Vital Signs, “Men who strongly endorsed old-school notions of masculinity — believing the ideal man is the strong, silent type who doesn’t complain about pain — were only half as likely as other men to seek preventive healthcare services, like an annual physical or a flu shot. They strongly adhered to the ideal of the macho man.

WELLderly note—“ HE-man give up the Manly Role. Accept sooner that too late that ALL humans have weaknesses and frailties that need “adjustments”. As the owners manual suggests get recommended inspections and tune ups. The results will be better milage and ultimately a smoother ride. And your chassis will become a CLASSIC.

 

Researchers studying health effects, causes of loneliness.

USA Today(4/8, Szabo) reports, “Researchers are studying the causes and health effects of loneliness — both on the body and mind — in the hope of helping people and communities stay healthy and connected. Lonely people tend to have higher blood pressure and weaker immune systems. In lonely people, genes that promote inflammation are more active.

 

Dr. WELLderly observes that LONELINESS is the poverty of the 21st Century.

Social networks may influence alcohol consumption. The Time (4/5, O’Callaghan) “Wellness” blog reported, researchers recently “found that, like so many other things, drinking habits can be contagious: if a close connection…drank heavily — defined as an average of one drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men — participants were 50% more likely to drink heavily themselves; if someone connected by two degrees of separation (a friend of a friend) drank heavily, participants were 36% more likely to do so.” The “social impact of drinking continued to three degrees of separation — that is, if your friend’s mom’s cousin drinks heavily, you’re about 15% more likely to do so too — but disappeared after four degrees of separation,” according to the paper in the Annals of Internal Medicine. Boost in mobility-related problems among people 50 to 64 noted.

 

The Los Angeles Times (4/6, Stein) “Booster Shots” blog reported, “Middle-aged men and women are having a tougher time moving around, according to a new study” in Health Affairs “that saw a boost in mobility-related problems among people 50 to 64 years old.” After looking “at mobility-related disability trends among those taking part in the 1997-2007 National Health Interview Survey,” University of Michigan researchers noted that the “number of people reporting difficulty with physical functions didn’t change much, but difficulty with certain functions saw an uptick over the 11 years: stooping, bending and kneeling; standing for two hours; walking a quarter mile; and climbing 10 steps without resting.” In fact, “more than 40% of people surveyed said that due to a health problem they had trouble with at least one of nine physical functions, without using any equipment.”

 

Cortisol level increases the more dieters restrict calories.

USA Today(4/7, Hellmich) reports, “Trying to lose weight raises a person’s stress levels, even if the dieter doesn’t realize it.” New research “shows there also may be a physical reason for greater stress while dieting.” For the study, researchers “followed 99 women who were randomly assigned to one of four eating groups.” Both “before and after the study, the women completed surveys on their stress levels, and they had saliva tests to evaluate their bodies’ level of cortisol.” The researchers “found that people who restrict calories have an increased level of the stress hormone cortisol.”

 

Comment below with questions. Let’s start a conversation.

WELLderlynews.blogspot.com or to request weekly email delivery contact Dale Anderson, MD [email protected] WEEK 16, 2010 Media News Health Bits

Recent health articles are proof–That an UP-Beat performance that is staged and IN-ACTed can open a cellular pharmacy that dispenses the CHEMISTRY of Health, Happiness & Success. You can bank on IT!

Robots &/or human therapists help patients improve movement long after stroke.

The Providence Journal (4/17, reported, robotic assisted and human assisted physical therapy improved movement in people whose strokes occurred many years earlier.”

“Significant gains in both basic motor function and the time to complete everyday tasks were observed at 36 weeks compared with usual care. There were, however, “no significant differences between the robot-assisted and human-assisted groups on any outcome at any time.” Some previous research “suggested that long-term physical therapy doesn’t help patients if it’s given more than six months after a stroke,” BUT “recent research has contradicted those findings.” HealthDay (4/16, reported. This new study “offers the strongest evidence yet that stroke sufferers can regain limb movement long after the injury.

Dr. WELLderly: More good NEUROBIC news. New neurons and nerve branching can be RE-gained and RE-trained. But the ultimate success is due to THE patients’ effort and persistence. This article does not give enough credit to the determined motivated patient, METHOD ACTOR. William James would say “act as if!” Norman Vincent Peale would suggest the “Power of Positive Thinking.”

Depression associated with heavy smoking.

The Los Angeles Times (4/14, Roan) “Booster Shots” blog reported, “Despite the now well-known and far-reaching effects of smoking, more than one-fifth of Americans still smoke,” and many may find it “hard to quit because they also have depression.” In fact, data compiled by the CDC indicate that “43% of adult smokers age 20 and older” are dealing the condition. “Among men ages 40 to 54, a whopping 55% of those who smoke have depression,” while “among women ages 20 to 39 who smoke, 50% have depression.” investigators also noted that “the number of cigarettes people smoke (over)

increases as their depression deepens. In fact, “nearly twice as many overdepressed smokers as non-depressed smokers average more than a pack of cigarettes each day (28% vs. 15%).” What’s more, “smokers suffering depression grab for that first cigarette of the day sooner than smokers who aren’t depressed.”

Dr. WELLderly: Smokers know that they are being trapped by others and robbing themselves of happiness and health by a self inflected chemical poisoning. They are burning out. And as their life spark is going DOWN—they are going UP in smoke. But, But, Wow! Applaude, this damage can be reversed. Professional help and self DETERMINATION to STOP will rekindle health and happiness.

Physical activity may strengthen the brain.

ABC World News (4/14, story 11, 2:10, Sawyer) reported, “Federal health experts released a report today showing physical activity strengthens the brain. A study of school kids showed improved grades and test scores.” ABC (Wright) added, “At the University of Illinois, Dr. Charles Hillman’s research shows that after a 30 minute stint on the treadmill, students actually do up to ten percent better at problem solving.” Dr. Charles Hillman, University of Illinois: “It’s good for attention. It’s good for how fast individuals process information.” Wright added that at one school that emphasizes physical education to strengthen the brain, a program has “been in place five years.

Dr. WELLderly: Keeping body parts in use and in good repair is healthy treatment at ALL AGES. This Good CHEMISTRY of being active (mind/body) is dispensed from our own, inner cellular pharmacy. On demand! No co-pay.

Increasing mobility problems among people 50 to 64 noted.

The Los Angeles Times (4/6, Stein) study in Health Affairs “that saw a boost in mobility-related problems among people 50 to 64 years old.” After taking part in the 1997-2007 National Health Interview Survey, certain functions saw an uptick over the 11 years: stooping, bending and kneeling; standing for two hours; walking a quarter mile; and climbing 10 steps without resting.” More than 40% of people surveyed said that due to a health problem they had trouble with at least one of nine physical functions.

Dr. WELLderly: Here it is again—exercise and weight. Just a little bit MORE than what is being done now—is a great start. Instead of trying to shed 30 pounds, settle for 3. You can request two articles by email [email protected] or at www.ActHappy.com. One is the LIQUIDATION DIET and the other is CONDUCT YOURSELF WELL! Why orchestra conductors live 5 years longer. They Jog with the Arms. They J’ARM.