Friday, July 16, 2010

Watsons and Orchard Clinic Promo

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- Free Spinal Check Up or Free Podiatrist Consultation worth $110.

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Arthritis is a disease that causes loss of movement and pain in the joints. Affecting both adults and children alike, over 40 million people in the United States have arthritis, many with chronic pain which affects daily life. Read on to learn more about this debilitating disease and what you can do about it.

1. According to the Arthritis Foundation, nearly one in three adults has arthritis or chronic joint symptoms, and arthritis is the leading cause of disability among Americans older than age fifteen.

- David Winston, RH(AHG), and Steven Maimes, Adaptogens: Herbs for Strength, Stamina, and Stress Relief

2. Enzyme therapy has been used to treat arthritis for many years, particularly because of the ability of certain enzymes to reduce inflammation.

- Tom Bohager, Everything You Need to Know About Enzymes to Treat Everything from Digestive Problems and Allergies to Migraines and Arthritis

3. The two most common types of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Fibromyalgia often is considered an arthritis-related condition, but it is not a true form of arthritis because it does not cause inflammation or damage to the joints.

- David Winston, RH(AHG), and Steven Maimes, Adaptogens: Herbs for Strength, Stamina, and Stress Relief

4. The most common form of arthritis, osteoarthritis, afflicts 12 percent of the United States population age twenty-five and older (approximately 21 million people).

- Jonathan W. Emord, The Rise of Tyranny

5. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that is related to but distinct from osteoarthritis. In rheumatoid arthritis antibodies are formed against components of bone, cartilage and synovia of joints, and the immune cells of the body attack the joints of most parts of the body, causing inflammation, fibrosis and joint destruction. Although this disease can affect children in the juvenile form of rheumatoid arthritis, most sufferers from arthritis are middle-aged or elderly.

- Kilmer S. McCully, The Homocysteine Revolution

6. Juvenile arthritis is a form of rheumatoid arthritis that strikes children under the age of sixteen. It affects 71,000 young Americans, most of them female. The onset of rheumatoid arthritis is associated with physical or emotional stress, poor nutrition, and bacterial infection. Rheumatologists have discovered that the blood of many people with rheumatoid arthritis contains antibodies called rheumatoid factors, a finding that can aid in the diagnosis of the condition. While osteoarthritis affects individual joints, rheumatoid arthritis affects all of the body's synovial joints.

- Phyllis A. Balch, CNC, Prescription for Nutritional Healing, 4th Edition: A Practical A-to-Z Reference to Drug-Free Remedies Using Vitamins, Minerals, Herbs & Food Supplements

7. Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis is the most prevalent form in children, and there are three major types: polyarticular (affecting many joints), pauciarticular (affecting a few joints), and systemic (affecting the entire body). The signs and symptoms of juvenile rheumatoid Arthritis vary from child to child. There is no single test that establishes conclusively a diagnosis of juvenile Arthritis, and the condition must be present consistently for six or more consecutive weeks before a correct diagnosis can be made. Heredity is thought to play some part in the development of juvenile Arthritis.

- Phyllis A. Balch, CNC, Prescription for Nutritional Healing, 4th Edition: A Practical A-to-Z Reference to Drug-Free Remedies Using Vitamins, Minerals, Herbs & Food Supplements

8. Today there is a very simple, effective, and inexpensive treatment for arthritis: powdered dried chicken cartilage — specifically, 1 teaspoonful in a glass of fruit juice once a day. Shark cartilage, which is quite rich in various nutrients, also works well in this application. According to a study performed by Harvard Medical School, arthritis sufferers who had previously been treated by conventional means with no results took this dosage of chicken cartilage and found that all pain and inflammation disappeared in ten days. In three months, they had recovered lasting mobility.

- Marie-France Muller, M.D., N.D., Ph.D., Colloidal Minerals and Trace Elements: How to Restore the Body's Natural Vitality

9. The sulfur content in fingernails of arthritis sufferers is lower than that of healthy subjects without arthritis. Ginger contains anti-inflammatory compounds called gingerols. These substances are believed to explain why so many people with osteoarthritis experience reduction in their pain levels and improvement in their mobility when they consume ginger regularly. Although most scientific studies have used powdered gingerroot, fresh gingerroot at an equivalent dosage is believed to yield even better results because it contains active enzymes. Most studies utilized 1 gram of powdered gingerroot.

- Michael Murray, N.D. and Joseph Pizzorno, N.D., The Encyclopedia of Healing Foods

10. The swelling and deformity that takes place in arthritic joints can result from a thickening of the synovial membrane, an increase in the secretion of synovial fluid, enlargement of the bones, or some combination of these factors.

- Phyllis A. Balch, CNC, Prescription for Nutritional Healing, 4th Edition: A Practical A-to-Z Reference to Drug-Free Remedies Using Vitamins, Minerals, Herbs & Food Supplements

11. The anti-inflammatory action of the following adaptogens makes them useful for relief from arthritis: amla, ashwagandha, Asian ginseng, cordyceps, eleuthero, guduchi, holy basil, jiaogulan, licorice, reishi, rhodiola, schisandra, and shilajit.

- David Winston, RH(AHG), and Steven Maimes, Adaptogens: Herbs for Strength, Stamina, and Stress Relief

12. Arthritis can sometimes be exacerbated by a deficiency in minerals, including phosphorous, magnesium, calcium, and manganese, and also by a lack of vitamins E and C.

- Dharma Singh Khalsa, M.D., Brain Longevity: The Breakthrough Medical Program that Improves Your Mind and Memory

13. Research has shown that fish-oil supplements can sometimes reduce the pain, swelling, and stiffness of rheumatoid arthritis, says Dr. Prosch. Take 6 grams, or six 1,000-milligram capsules, a day for 4 to 6 months, he recommends. The capsules provide 1,080 milligrams of EPA and 720 milligrams of DHA, which is the average amount needed by most patients, he says. You can take them all at once or in divided doses, according to Dr. Prosch. As with most natural treatments for chronic disease, don't expect the pain to vanish overnight. For most people, it takes 3 to 4 months before the treatment begins to soothe aching joints. After about 5 months, Dr. Prosch recommends reducing the dosage to three capsules, or 3,000 milligrams, daily.

- Bill Gottlieb, Alternative Cures: The Most Effective Natural Home Remedies for 160 Health Problems

14. Athletes are not necessarily more likely to develop osteoarthritis than couch potatoes, though football players and those who damage their joints are at greater risk. In some respects the couch potato may be in greater danger of developing joint problems than many athletes. If you are overweight, you put more strain on your knees and hips and increase your risk for later problems. We are also beginning to learn that what you eat may influence your risk of arthritis.

- Joe Graedon, M.S. and Teresa Graedon, Ph.D., Best Choices From the People's Pharmacy

15. Lyme disease can mimic arthritis, causing many of the same symptoms.

- Phyllis A. Balch, CNC, Prescription for Nutritional Healing, 4th Edition: A Practical A-to-Z Reference to Drug-Free Remedies Using Vitamins, Minerals, Herbs & Food Supplements

16. Another autoimmune disease that often manifests itself as arthritis is systemic lupus erythematosus (Lupus). For reasons unknown, the body produces antibodies that act against its own tissues. In its early stages, ulcerative colitis can cause symptoms like those of arthritis. Because this may occur before there are any abdominal symptoms, it can lead to misdiagnosis and delayed treatment. More information about arthritis is available from the Arthritis Foundation.

- Phyllis A. Balch, CNC, Prescription for Nutritional Healing, 4th Edition: A Practical A-to-Z Reference to Drug-Free Remedies Using Vitamins, Minerals, Herbs & Food Supplements

17. In nearly half of the women with unexplained arthritis tested in one study, chlamydia was found in the joints. Seventy-five percent had elevated levels of antibodies to chlamydia in their blood.

- Phyllis A. Balch, CNC, Prescription for Nutritional Healing, 4th Edition: A Practical A-to-Z Reference to Drug-Free Remedies Using Vitamins, Minerals, Herbs & Food Supplements

18. Benefits of cayenne for specific health conditions include the following: Arthritis, diabetic and herpes-related nerve Damage, psoriasis, and sore muscles. Capsaicin in cayenne acts as a counter-irritant, causing temporary pain to the skin that depletes the chemical messengers of pain for the joint.

- Phyllis A. Balch, CNC, Prescription for Herbal Healing: An Easy-to-Use A-Z Reference to Hundreds of Common Disorders and Their Herbal Remedies

19. Olives and olive oil may also be important in the prevention and treatment of asthma, arthritis, and Cancer. Since healthy oils are important for lowering systemic inflammation, it is not surprising that olive oil intake has been shown to be helpful with arthritis and asthma symptoms as well.

- Michael Murray, N.D. and Joseph Pizzorno, N.D., The Encyclopedia of Healing Foods

20. In the northern hemisphere, communities that are farther north tend to have more Type 1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis, breast cancer, prostate cancer and colon cancer, in addition to other diseases.

- T. Colin Campbell, Ph.D. and Thomas M. Campbell II, The China Study: The Most Comprehensive Study of Nutrition Ever Conducted and the Startling Implications for Diet, Weight Loss and Long-term Health

Dietary Therapy for Feline Arthritis

Lascelles BDX, DePuy V, Thomson A et al: Evaluation of a therapeutic diet for feline degenerative joint disease, J Vet Intern Med 24:487, 2010.

Cats with degenerative joint disease (DJD) or arthritis commonly have radiographic evidence of its presence. DJD is often associated with pain and pain can result in decreased mobility. This study set out to test a diet high in eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) content and supplemented with green-lipped mussel extract and glucosamine/chondroitin sulfate for its pain-relieving and activity-enhancing effects in cats with painful, mobility-impairing DJD. Forty client-owned cats were enrolled in a randomized, blinded, prospective study. Outcome measures were subjective owner and veterinarian assessments, and objective activity monitoring (accelerometry). Results showed that activity significantly increased in the cats fed the test diet over a control diet. Evidence is also accumulating that diets high in DHA and EPA might be beneficial in preventing obesity and promoting weight loss by creating an appropriate physiological environment. [VT]

Related articles:
Lascelles BD, Robertson SA: DJD-associated pain in cats: what can we do to promote patient comfort?, J Feline Med Surg 12:200, 2010.

More on cat health: Winn Feline Foundation Library
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Ultrasound Findings in Cats with FIP

Lewis KM, O'Brien RT: Abdominal ultrasonographic findings associated with feline infectious peritonitis: a retrospective review of 16 cases, J Am Anim Hosp Assoc 46:152, 2010.

Feline enteric coronavirus (FeCV) is especially contagious and present throughout the domestic cat population. Feline infectious peritonitis virus (FIPV) is considered to be a mutated form of FeCV. Risk factors for FIP include cats living in multicat households or a cattery, being sexually intact, being less than 5 years of age, and being purebred. There are two forms of FIP that have been described. An effusive form is an immune-mediated vasculitis with the subsequent loss of protein-rich fluid into such areas as the pleural or peritoneal cavities. The non-effusive form involves pyogranulomatous or granulomatous inflammation in multiple organs. This study was a retrospective review of 16 cases analyzing abdominal ultrasonographic results where necropsy or findings were highly suggestive of FIP. This study found that 75% of diagnosed FIP cases had abdominal effusion. Renomegaly was also a frequent finding in this study, while the majority of the feline livers examined in this study were described as normal on ultrasound. In the majority of cases with FIP, the spleen also had a normal ultrasonographic appearance while the spleen is found to be diffusely affected. Almost half of the study population did not have abdominal lymphadenopathy. None of the ultrasonographic findings were found to be specific for FIP, a combination of findings should increase the index of suspicion for FIP when considered along with appropriate clinical signs. On the other hand, a normal abdominal ultrasound does not exclude the possibility of FIP. [VT]

High Fructose Diet May Contribute to High Blood Pressure

Newswise — People who eat a diet high in fructose, in the form of added sugar, are at increased risk of developing high blood pressure, or hypertension, according to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society Nephrology (JASN). The results suggest that cutting back on foods and beverages containing a lot of fructose (sugar) might decrease one’s risk of developing hypertension.

Hypertension is the most common chronic condition in developed countries and a major risk factor for heart and kidney diseases. Researchers are striving to identify environmental factors that might be responsible for the development of hypertension, and they suspect that fructose may play a role. Over the past century, a dramatic increase in the consumption of this simple sugar, which is used to sweeten a wide variety of processed foods, mirrors the dramatic rise in the prevalence of hypertension.

To examine whether increased fructose consumption has contributed to rising rates of hypertension, Diana Jalal, MD (University of Colorado Denver Health Sciences Center) and her colleagues analyzed data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2003-2006). The study involved 4,528 US adults 18 years of age or older with no prior history of hypertension. Study participants answered questions related to their consumption of foods and beverages such as fruit juices, soft drinks, bakery products, and candy. Dr. Jalal’s team found that people who consumed a diet of 74 grams or more per day of fructose (corresponding to 2.5 sugary soft drinks per day) had a 26%, 30%, and 77% higher risk for blood pressure levels of 135/85, 140/90, and 160/100 mmHg, respectively. (A normal blood pressure reading is below 120/80 mmHg.)

“Our study identifies a potentially modifiable risk factor for high blood pressure. However, well-planned prospective randomized clinical studies need to be completed to see if low fructose diets will prevent the development of hypertension and its complications,” said Dr. Jalal.

Study co-authors include Richard Johnson, MD, Gerard Smits, PhD, and Michel Chonchol, MD (University of Colorado Denver Health Sciences Center).

Disclosures: Dr. Richard Johnson is an author of the book, “The Sugar Fix.” All other authors reported no financial disclosures.

Preliminary findings were presented in abstract form at ASN Renal Week 2010 and highlighted in an accompanying press release.

The article, entitled “Increased Fructose Associates with Elevated Blood Pressure,” will appear online at http://jasn.asnjournals.org/ on July 1, 2010, doi 10.1681/ASN.2009111111.

The content of this article does not reflect the views or opinions of The American Society of Nephrology (ASN). Responsibility for the information and views expressed therein lies entirely with the author(s). ASN does not offer medical advice. All content in ASN publications is for informational purposes only, and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, drug interactions, or adverse effects. This content should not be used during a medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. Please consult your doctor or other qualified health care provider if you have any questions about a medical condition, or before taking any drug, changing your diet or commencing or discontinuing any course of treatment. Do not ignore or delay obtaining professional medical advice because of information accessed through ASN. Call 911 or your doctor for all medical emergencies.

Founded in 1966, the American Society of Nephrology (ASN) is the world’s largest professional society devoted to the study of kidney disease. Comprised of 11,000 physicians and scientists, ASN continues to promote expert patient care, to advance medical research, and to educate the renal community. ASN also informs policymakers about issues of importance to kidney doctors and their patients. ASN funds research, and through its world-renowned meetings and first-class publications, disseminates information and educational tools that empower physicians.

The use of tertiary butylhydroquinone in the fast-food chain’s fried chicken pieces meets Chinese food safety standards, McDonald’s unit in the nation said in an e-mailed statement. “The chemical is toxic to some extent,” the China Daily newspaper quoted Liu Qingchun, a nutritionist at the General Hospital of Armed Police Forces, as saying today. Liu said China’s standards allow its use.

McDonald’s has “strict quality control on all its food,” Jacky Sun, a spokesman for the company said by phone today. Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang on April 20 called for authorities to “significantly improve” the safety and reputation of domestic foods, the official Xinhua News Agency reported.

McNuggets served in the U.S. also contain tertiary butylhydroquinone, a petroleum-based product, and dimethylpolysiloxane, an anti-foaming agent used in cosmetics and other goods. McDonald’s Holdings Co. Japan also serves chicken with the additives, which meet Japanese safety standards, Kazuyuki Hagiwara, a spokesman for the company said today. Both chemicals are “harmless,” Sun of McDonald’s China said.

“The State Food and Drug Administration is working with other relevant departments to monitor the products of McDonald’s McNuggets,” the agency said in a statement posted on its website. “The government asks food service providers to strictly follow the national standard use of food additives, and to ensure public food safety.”

Poultry Eaters

Poultry is the second most-consumed meat in China after pork. Demand this year is estimated at more than 12.6 million tons, according to a statement on the industry website China Animal Agriculture Association.

Safety concerns about food have risen in China since contaminated milk powder killed at least six babies in 2008 and sickened about 300,000 children. That same year, pesticide- tainted dumplings imported from China sickened at least 10 people in Japan.

China opened its first 1,000 McDonald’s restaurants faster than any other country outside of the U.S. and is the main focus for investment in the region, Tim Fenton, McDonald’s president for Asia, Middle East and Africa, said in an interview on June 10. The fast-food chain plans to have 2,000 outlets there by 2013, he said.

The company, which opened its first restaurant in Shenzhen in 1990, now has 1,146 stores in China, the world’s third- largest economy.

--Jin Jing, Stephanie Wong in Shanghai, with assistance from Feiwen Rong and Yidi Zhao in Beijing and Naoko Fujimura in Tokyo. Editors: Dave McCombs, Ben Richardson.

Many Vietnamese have diabetes but are unaware of it - and the condition is spreading fast in South East Asia, scientists have warned.

A study by Australian and Vietnamese scientists found about 11% of men and 12% of women in Vietnam's Ho Chi Minh City had undiagnosed type 2 diabetes.

This was in addition to the 4% of people who had been diagnosed.

The scientists, from Australia's Garvan Institute of Medical Research, blamed changing lifestyles and fast food.

"Dietary patterns have been changing dramatically in Vietnam in recent years, particularly in the cities as they become more Westernised," said Professor Tuan Nguyen of the Sydney-based institute.

"There are fast food outlets everywhere," he said, adding that similar studies in Thailand reinforced the link.

"Because of that, we feel very confident that we can extrapolate our findings to other parts of South East Asia including Malaysia, Singapore, Cambodia and Laos," he said.

The study was based on a sample of more than 2,000 people.

The condition is caused by high levels of sugar and fat in the diet and inadequate exercise.

The most common form of diabetes can lead to heart disease, vision loss and kidney failure.

PHILADELPHIA — A recent report in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research, adds to the growing evidence that fish oil supplements may play a role in preventing chronic disease.

Researchers at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, Wash., led by Emily White, Ph.D., a member of the public health sciences division, asked 35,016 postmenopausal women who did not have a history of breast cancer to complete a 24-page questionnaire about their use of non-vitamin, non-mineral "specialty" supplements in the Vitamins and Lifestyle (VITAL) cohort study.

After six years of follow-up, 880 cases of breast cancer were identified using the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results registry.

Regular use of fish oil supplements, which contain high levels of the omega-3 fatty acids, EPA and DHA, was linked with a 32 percent reduced risk of breast cancer. The reduction in risk appeared to be restricted to invasive ductal breast cancer, the most common type of the disease.

The use of other specialty supplements, many of which are commonly taken by women to treat symptoms of menopause, was not associated with breast cancer risk.

This research is the first to demonstrate a link between the use of fish oil supplements and a reduction in breast cancer. Studies of dietary intake of fish or omega-3 fatty acids have not been consistent.

"It may be that the amount of omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil supplements are higher than most people would typically get from their diet," White said.

However, White cautioned against gleaning any recommendations from the results of one study.

"Without confirming studies specifically addressing this," she said, "we should not draw any conclusions about a causal relationship."

Edward Giovannucci, M.D., Sc.D., professor of nutrition and epidemiology at the Harvard School of Public Health and an editorial board member of Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, agreed.

"It is very rare that a single study should be used to make a broad recommendation," said Giovannucci. "Over a period of time, as the studies confirm each other, we can start to make recommendations."

Still, fish oil continues to excite many, as evidence emerges about its protective effect on cardiovascular disease and now cancer.

Harvard researchers are currently enrolling patients for the randomized Vitamin D and Omega-3 Trial (also called VITAL), which will assess the impact of fish oil supplements and vitamin D on cancer, heart disease and stroke.

The researchers plan to enroll 20,000 U.S. men aged 60 years and older and women aged 65 years and older who do not have a history of these diseases and have never taken supplements.

Health News

Pages

Friday, July 16, 2010

Thursday, July 15, 2010

Watsons and Orchard Clinic Promo

Health Book Summaires: Arthritis

Dietary Therapy for Feline Arthritis

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Ultrasound Findings in Cats with FIP

Monday, July 12, 2010

High Fructose Diet May Contribute to High Blood Pressure

McDonald's Says Chicken McNuggets Sold in China Have `Harmless' Additives

Fast food 'fuelling Asia diabetes boom'

Fish oil may reduce risk of breast cancer