Health related information and news from around the world.

In Group #1, eleven subjects presenting with mild to moderately severe osteoarthritis and one with reactive psoriatic arthritis were supplied with 16 capsules, two capsules to be taken each morning and evening for four days. Nine reported about 20% to 30% improvement in articulation and inflammation and about 40% to 50% relief of arthritic pain within 36 hours. In these nine subjects improvement continued rapidly for the next 60 hours, reaching a 70% to 80% overall improvement by the end of the four days. Two of the three latter subjects continued to improve over the following week despite the fact that they were no longer taking the capsules.

However, about half of this group experienced the return of some mild arthritic symptoms after about three to five weeks. (Although not included as part of this study, all of the subjects in this group were treated again and their symptoms have not returned.) The patient with reactive psoriatic arthritis also experienced an almost complete reversal of his associated very severe psoriatic skin condition affecting about 20% of his total skin area.

*60\142\2*

Symptoms: runny nose, red eyes, cough, fever, rash.

Home care:

Give aspirin for fever and a cough medication for severe cough.

Give the child extra liquids.

Bright light bothers (but does not injure) the eyes; keep the child out of brightly lit areas.

Precautions:

-    A vaccine is available to prevent measles. Be sure that your child receives the proper vaccination.

-    If your child has not been vaccinated, is under the age of three, and has been exposed to the measles virus, call the doctor.

-    When a child has measles, the fever and cough should subside as the rash peaks. If they do not, watch for signs of complications.

-    Earache during measles may indicate a middle ear infection. Consult the doctor.

Measles, which is also known as rubeola, is a highly contagious disease caused by a specific virus. It affects mainly the respiratory system, the eyes, and the skin, and is spread from person to person in airborne droplets of moisture from an infected person’s respiratory system. The incubation period-the time it takes for symptoms to develop once the child has been exposed to the virus – is ten to 12 days. Measles can be passed to other people between the fifth day of the incubation period and the sixth day after the appearance of the rash that is characteristic of this disease.

Measles used to be one of the more dangerous of the childhood diseases, but it is relatively uncommon today because a vaccine is now available to protect against it. Most children are now vaccinated against measles by an injection given at around the age of 15 months. If a mother is immune to measles (because she has either had it or been vaccinated against it), her baby before birth will receive temporary protection against the disease. This protection lasts only three to six months after birth. The reason that vaccination is delayed until the baby is 15 months old (and not given as soon as the temporary immunity acquired from the mother wears off) is that the vaccination is not fully effective in a baby under 15 months. It’s also fairly unlikely that a child under that age will be exposed to measles. It’s important to note, however, that measles is dangerous in a child under three years old, and if an unvaccinated young child is exposed to the virus you should consult the doctor at once. Measles is also likely to be serious in children who have chronic (long-term) diseases.

Measles is considered dangerous mainly because of the complications it can cause, among them pneumonia (infection of the lungs), middle ear infection, and encephalitis (inflammation of the brain). Encephalitis occurs in only one or two out of every 1,000 cases of measles, and today death from measles or its complications is very rare.

*146/84/5*

The “Polypill” was an idea proposed by British researchers Wald and Law in 2003. It was to be an all in one drag that combines six drags that act to lower cholesterol, lower blood pressure, aspirin to act as an anti inflammatory, and folic acid to lower homocysteine levels. The researchers claimed that if everyone over the age of 55 took this pill daily, rates of cardiovascular disease could be reduced by more than 80 percent. The Polypill generated a lot of publicity, but it has not been proven to be safe or effective. The biggest problems with it are cost, side effects (especially if the individual already takes other medication), and the fact that one dose cannot possibly suit everyone.

More recently, researcher Oscar Franco and colleagues have come up with the concept of the “Polymeal”. This is a combination of foods that they claim can reduce cardiovascular disease by more than 75 percent if consumed daily. The Polymeal is a much safer alternative with no side effects. The foods it comprises are almonds, dark chocolate, fish, wine, fruits, vegetables and garlic.

The benefits of the components of the Polymeal are as follows:

Ingredient         % Risk reduction for cardiovascular disease

Wine 150mL/day     32%

Garlic 2.7g/day     25%

Fruit & vegetables 400g/day     21 %

Dark chocolate 100 g/day     21 %

Fish 114g four times a week     14%

Almonds 68g/day     12.5%

These results were obtained from data from the Framingham heart study and the Framingham offspring study.

A modified version of the Polypill, containing four drags (two blood pressure drags, a statin and aspirin) is to be trialed on patients with cardiovascular or cerebrovascular disease in Australia this year. The study will be funded by the National Health and Medicine Research Council (NHMRC). It may prove effective for some, but it is a lot less expensive, safer and tastier to include the above heart protective foods in your diet regularly.

*49/53/5*

Couples who smoke have high levels of cadmium, a heavy toxic metal that can stop the utilization of zinc needed for both male and female fertility. Cadmium will not leave the body just because you or your partner stops smoking. It needs to be actively tackled by supplementing your diet with antioxidant supplements. Even if you give up smoking the cadmium already in your body can concentrate in the placenta once you get pregnant. So it’s important to be tested for heavy toxic metals and make sure that your levels are back to normal before you try to conceive.

What if your partner smokes? Research has shown that chemicals in tobacco smoke can damage the DNA in sperm and deplete the amount of vitamin E, which works as an antioxidant, protecting the sperm. But there is a bigger potential problem resulting from your partner smoking. Dramatic findings from an Oxford Survey on Childhood Cancers, published in 1997 in the British Journal of Cancer? found that men who smoke when their partner doesn’t run a higher risk of fathering children who develop cancer. One in seven childhood cancers, including leukemia and brain tumours, could be due to the father’s smoking habits. Just 1-9 cigarettes per day increased the risk by 3 per cent, 10-20 by 31 per cent and 20 or more cigarettes by 42 per cent. The study concluded that the man risks damaging his sperm more, the more he smokes.

So alcohol and smoking clearly affect fertility for both men and women. If you are really serious about getting pregnant they therefore have to be eliminated for at least four months to give you the best possible chance. I cannot say ‘a little bit won’t harm’ because it certainly can if it is at a vital stage of egg or sperm development.

How to Stop Smoking

Acupuncture can be extremely helpful to get over the withdrawal symptoms when you give up smoking, and I have seen many couples who have used hypnotherapy successfully.

You should not use nicotine patches, nicotine gum or any other anti-smoking aids of this kind once you have started the Four-Month Preconception Plan.

Case History

Ann was 30 when she came to see me in summer 1997 after suffering three miscarriages in quick succession. Her mother had had difficulties as well -she had lost one baby at four months old, and had had three miscarriages. She had told Ann that as a result she had been ‘pumped full of hormones’ while she was expecting her, to stop her miscarrying. Ann worked long and stressful hours as a stockbroker and felt exhausted. Her partner also worked long and stressful hours and smoked 20 cigarettes a day with 5 units of alcohol each weekday and 10 each day at the weekend. Ann drank every day but less than her partner. We discussed the effects of all these factors on the risk of miscarriage. They were tested for genito-urinary infections but these were negative.

Their mineral results were very interesting. Her partner had extremely low levels of zinc and unacceptable levels of cadmium, the toxic poison present in tobacco smoke. Cadmium, like alcohol, can be teratogenic which means that it can cause abnormalities in the foetus. The autopsy on the last miscarriage had shown chromosomal abnormalities but both Ann and her partner were tested for genetic problems and both were fine. So the abnormality was not inherited from the parents but was caused by something happening to the developing cells around conception. Ann’s tests also showed that she was low in zinc and manganese.

I explained to them that their best chance of preventing another miscarriage was to stop drinking, which they did, and Ann’s partner also stopped smoking. They also made other changes, by looking at their diet and lifestyle, and waited four months until they were both back to optimum health before trying again. Ann then became pregnant and had a healthy baby boy. She wrote to me later, saying that they were convinced that the preconception plan I suggested they followed, as outlined in this book, not only helped them have the baby and avoid another miscarriage but that people had commented on how healthy and contented he is.

*43/73/5*

What are they?

A heart attack occurs when the muscle of the heart cannot get sufficient oxygen-containing blood for it to function. Angina pectoris (a tight chest pain that comes on exertion am goes) is often the earliest sign that something is wrong. In this condition there is insufficient blood getting to the heart muscles, especially on exertion, and the person complains of tightness in the chest as the heart muscle goes into cramp.

A heart attack is like a very severe bout of angina. Sometimes the loss of blood supply is sufficiently severe to kill off a part of the heart’s muscle, and less commonly the damage from a shortage of blood is so severe that it causes almost instant death.

The heart finds itself in this lethal condition as a result of a lifetime’s abuse which causes a progressive narrowing of the arteries (atherosclerosis) that supply the heart with oxygen. Blood clots may obstruct the arteries further.

Heart disease is now the prime killer in the western world; although in the US death rates have fallen by a quarter over the last fifteen years. Given that much of this improvement is caused by lifestyle changes it makes sense to look at heart attacks as substantially preventable. Historic evidence and evidence from populations who migrate from one country to another also strongly suggest that mankind doesn’t have to suffer from coronary artery disease and heart attacks.

There are compelling reasons for rejecting a fatalistic view that heart attacks cannot be prevented. We still have a lot to learn about heart disease, but it does seem clear that it is affected by lifestyle. We have seen that the coronary-artery death rates in the US and Australia have fallen dramatically over the last fifteen years. This improvement pre-dates the widespread use of coronary care units and coronary bypass surgery and even the widespread use of drugs for combating high blood pressure. The fall in heart disease has, however, coincided with a considerable reduction in both cigarette consumption and consumption of saturated fats. However, things are not quite as simple as this suggests, because heart-attack rates are still high in Sweden despite their wealth of medical technology and falling cigarette and fat consumption, and rates in American women are falling despite their rise in cigarette consumption.

What causes them?

No one knows exactly what ultimately causes heart attacks but several fairly clear-cut ‘risk factors’ have been established after vast and complicated studies worldwide.

• Smoking. Several studies have shown the link between smoking and heart disease. A study of particular interest looked at British doctors who stopped smoking between 34 and 55 years of age. It found that their coronary death rate fell by half over five years compared with doctors who continued to smoke. Stopping after 55 appeared to make much less difference. The degree of risk with smoking is related to the number of cigarettes smoked. Filter cigarettes are probably not protective. Cigarettes act along with the contraceptive pill to increase the risk of heart disease in young women twenty fold.

• High blood pressure. Many studies have found that reducing raised blood pressure, provided the treatment is begun in middle age, reduces mortality from strokes, heart failure and kidney failure. There is some evidence that anti-hypertensive drugs reduce mortality from heart attacks.

• High blood fats. The fats in the blood are many and take different forms. They all come originally from the digestion of dietary fat. The fractions of fats that seem to be of greatest significance in heart disease are the lipoproteins. High density lipoproteins (HDLs) appear to protect against heart disease, whereas low density lipoproteins (LDLs) seem to be harmful in this respect. The balance of these two types of lipoproteins can be altered by what we eat.

• Exercise. Studies show that those who take regular, vigorous exercise tend to have fewer heart attacks, though the evidence is not so clear-cut as is that on smoking, high blood pressure and dietary fats.

*164/72/5*

Group therapy is tailor-made to address some of the problems eating disorders cause—loneliness, isolation, hopelessness. As someone found, just seeing other patients in the room shows a patient she is not alone and bolsters her confidence that therapy will be worthwhile. Patients gain hope by meeting others who have gotten better. Hearing other patient express feelings gives her the strength to speak out for herself. If two heads are better than one, imagine having half a dozen heads all working on the same problem!

After group sessions, patients lose the attitude that “nobody understands me,” because they’ve just encountered a lot of people who do understand. Another benefit is a rise in self-esteem. Patients begin to feel useful to other people. Their experience is respected, their advice is welcome. They sense they are helping one another, and thus begin to feel more effective and worthwhile as human beings.

In group therapy, a patient sees that others who are ñ about her health and who challenge her self-destructive behavior aren’t enemies. What a discovery! Ideally, she comes to realize that friends, loved ones, and other patients can be her allies in the struggle to get better.

*87/35/5*

Jane Brennan’s family lost an entire person. Not literally, of course. But between the three of them—56- year-old Jane, her 57-year-old husband, Bob, and their 29-year-old daughter, Jennifer—they’ve taken off more than 150 pounds. They’ve done it by turning weight loss into a family affair, according to Jane.

It all started when Jane finally gave in to her daughter’s constant nagging to do something, anything, to slim down. Jane had put on about 60 pounds over the course of 17 years, going from a size 10 to a 16. And Jennifer seemed to be following in her mother’s footsteps, going from a size 8 to a size 16.

Together, mother and daughter went to Weight Watchers. As they started losing weight, Jane’s husband decided to get in on the act. Over the years, Bob’s own waistline had expanded from 38 inches to 42.

The threesome, from Broomall, Pennsylvania, were determined to take off and keep off the extra pounds. Every day, they compared notes about what they had eaten and how much. They exchanged ideas for keeping their eating habits on track—for example, munching on carrot sticks to fill up. As often as possible, they ate meals together. “No one was moaning and groaning, especially about what we had for dinner,” Jane says. “All of us had the same goal. We talked the same language.”

For Jane, who had tried to lose weight in the past, having the support of her family made all the difference. “I think there’s a definite advantage to losing weight with other people, especially those who share your eating times and rituals,” she says. “That way, you can encourage each other. You might have a bit of friendly competition, too.”

WINNING ACTION

Get your family involved. Ask everyone in your household to join you in your weight-loss efforts. When the entire family participates, meal planning becomes much easier. Plus, family members can support, encourage, and inspire one another.

*141\89\8*

- I am nearly sixty and am thinking of starting on HRT. Will I need smaller or larger hormone doses than I would have needed ten years ago when I went through menopause?

It’s likely that your hormone requirements and tolerance will both be somewhat lower than they were ten years ago. This is not the case for women who have been having HRT continuously since menopause: their needs and tolerance will not change much in ten years.

Having said that, your dose will depend on why you are thinking of starting HRT. If it’s for symptom control, you will need lower doses than if the main reason is to prevent or control osteoporosis or heart and blood vessel disease.

- Will HRT make me look younger, by removing facial wrinkles for example?

HRT will not remove wrinkles, but over a period of some months it may improve the texture and thickness of skin by increasing the collagen in it so that the skin looks fuller. An estimated 15 to 30 per cent of collagen is lost from the skin in the first five years after menopause. The best way to prevent wrinkles forming is to avoid excessive sun exposure, wear a hat, and use sunblocks and moisturisers.

- If I forgot to take my oestrogen tablets for a week, would I notice any difference?

Any symptoms you had before starting on HRT would probably return within a matter of days.

*120\38\8*

When Libby Hathorn and Glenn Bates interviewed more than 130 Australian men and women aged up to fifty-five for their book Half-Time, they commented on the diversity of views that women participants held on sex. Regardless of whether they had reached menopause or not, some women found sex disappointing, and less enjoyable as they got older: it wasn’t fulfilling; it had become mechanical, lacked excitement and adventure; or their partner was insensitive to their needs and feelings. The opportunity to reduce or discontinue sexual activities under the socially acceptable excuse of ‘sexless middle age’ was for some a great relief. However, most felt that with age came greater self-confidence, less anxiety, a deep satisfaction in their sexual relations, and a greater enjoyment of cuddling and shared sexual intimacies than they had ever thought possible.

Women who had reached menopause also had varied views on sex. Some had lost interest in it and were not concerned at seeing it lose some of its significance in their lives, while others were taking more initiative in sexual relations. Though women said they needed to have more direct stimulation to get aroused during sex, and orgasms were less frequent for some, they still felt a strong sexual drive and found the total sexual experience very pleasurable.

Feedback from women about their experiences of sex at and after menopause confirms this range of views. Some, such as Betty, who fell in love with a younger man while in her fifties, view sex as a crucial part of the relationship. ‘I feel good about myself and about my partner, and wonderful sex seems to flow from that. Since I’m no beauty, I’ve always tried to make sure I’m interesting company: this means spending time regularly on activities that extend my interests and challenge me. My partner and I are very conscious of looking our best for each other, and so eating healthy foods and taking regular exercise have become part of our life together.’

Others we spoke to had found new opportunities for romance, triggered by a change of partner, a variation or development in the relationship with their existing partner, a greater acceptance of themselves, or simply a freedom from anxieties about contraception and pregnancy. Other couples had compensated for joyless sex by developing satisfying non-sexual activities, or else sex had been relegated to the background because one or other partner felt overwhelmed by problems associated with dependent children, dependent parents or inlaws, or financial burdens.

June’s life is full of pressures from which sex provides no release. She has effectively vetoed sex with her husband, declaring her unwillingness to put any more energy into it. In doing so, she admits that she is also making a statement about her dissatisfaction with her husband for letting himself ‘go to seed’.

*86\38\8*

Little is understood about why these mood swings occur, seemingly without conscious intent or reflection. One theory proposes a direct role for the fluxing ovarian hormones, the brain being one of the organs influenced by oestrogen. Others link menopausal mood swings with the relationship stresses that often occur during this life stage; the expectations, attitudes and personality of the woman; and influences like culture, social class and employment. Then again, maybe there is a biological explanation for mood swings.

Germaine Greer suggests that menopause may put ‘women back in touch with their anger after thirty-five years of censorship by oestrogen’. She adds that the middle-aged female employer (one could add executive, wife or mother), dealing with people who ignore what she says on the basis that she is menopausal, is quite likely to have to think of a number of strategies to get their attention. ‘A good deal of the anxiety of the middle-aged woman is caused by her awareness that she is turning into some kind of a harridan, a scold, a fishwife, but if you can’t get attention any other way, what are you to do?’

Other unproven hypotheses for mood changes have shifted the focus to environmental factors. These include allergies to foods and petrochemical products, and the accumulation in bones during adolescence and early adulthood of lead, which is then released into tissues and blood with the onset of menopausal bone loss.

Studies of the effects of hormone therapy on personality suggest that use of oestrogen may moderate mood swings and cause women to become more agreeable. A recent Oxford University study found that oestrogen in the form of implants reduced shifts in mood, possibly because of changes in neurotransmitter function in the brain.

*51\38\8*