MYTHS AND TRUTHS OF CARING FOR YOUR OWN HEALTH

We’re bombarded daily with scientific press releases telling us how to attain longevity and maintain health, but after awhile we become resistant to every new piece of info that comes out of those hallowed laboratories. Why? Information overload. Also it may be that using the term information is a little too generous. A lot of what we read or hear may be only partial reports. We also have to remember that the pressure on the media to report something “new” is relentless. So they grab at any report or release that may be of benefit, even if the results may not be conclusive or experiments yet have to be repeated with results replicated. Johns Hopkins came out recently with this health tips list that is a good reminder of what has been proven to work and not work. Take a look. Myths are dispelled and truths reinforced. And you might find something you didn’t already know.

• Relax. The rumor that olive oil turns into “bad” trans fat when used in cooking just isn’t true. However, do not cook with flax oil. It forms toxins when subjected to heat.
• A vitamin that works! Niacin — also known as Vitamin B3 — lowers “bad” LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, and increases “good” HDL cholesterol.
• Doctors find it’s best to take certain blood pressure pills first thing in the morning after getting up because people are most active during the day and blood pressure tends to climb as the day goes on.
• You’ve heard that a drink a day may be good for your heart. But did you know that studies in people over 65 show moderate alcohol consumption may also reduce the risk of dementia? (But keep in mind that heavy drinking increases health risks for both heart and mind.)
• A team of Harvard and Spanish researchers reports that red wine protects people against the common cold.
• And have a piece of dark chocolate with your Merlot! Researchers have found that chocolate contains flavonoids — just like green tea and red wine. As a bonus, dark chocolate may also lower your blood pressure!
• In clinical trials St. John’s Wort, the so-called “happiness herb,” was NOT shown to be effective for treating more severe depression.
• Hiccups are usually minor and short-lived, if a little embarrassing and inconvenient. But, hiccups are no laughing matter and can be associated with an underlying medical condition. If you’re having them too often or if they last more than a few minutes, tell your doctor.
• Several studies suggest that coffee has anti-cancer properties. A Japanese study concluded that coffee drinkers were 50 percent less likely to get liver cancer than non-drinkers. It’s also been linked to reduced colon cancer risk.
• Did you know that caffeine can linger in the body for up to 12 hours? Avoiding caffeinated coffee, tea and soft drinks after lunch may help you sleep better.
• To date, researchers have found just one sure way to increase biological life span — eat fewer calories.
• Trans fats — the kind found in cookies, many margarines and fast food — really are the chief villains of the fat world. Trans fats raise “bad” cholesterol, lower “good” cholesterol, damage the inner linings of blood vessels and are linked to diabetes.
• Recent studies report that for many heart attack sufferers, sudden and excessive sweating is the standout symptom and the one most likely to cause them to seek help.
• Still have sunscreen left over from last summer? It’s probably good to use. The FDA requires all sunscreen products be manufactured to last for three years.
• Tea companies assure us that decaf tea is just as rich in beneficial f1avonoids as regular tea. Not true. The decaffeination process reduces the flavonoid content drastically.
• Macular degeneration is the main cause of severe vision loss in older people. Here are six prevention tips: (1) Don’t smoke, (2) Wear sunglasses, (3) Eat kale and spinach, (4) Exercise, (5) Eat fish and nuts, and (6) Keep your weight down to avoid diabetes.
• Potassium can blunt sodium’s tendency to increase blood pressure. But you don’t have to go overboard with supplements; fruits and vegetables supply plenty of this mineral.
• You can skip the marathon. Studies show brisk walking (3–4 miles per hour) for about half an hour a day reduces heart disease and stroke rates in women as much as vigorous exercise.
• Vitamin D does much more than strengthen your bones. It may protect against colon cancer, autoimmune diseases like multiple sclerosis and heart disease.
• Early treatment of Bell’s palsy with a steroid anti-inflammatory like prednisone increases the chances of a full recovery.
• The worst sleeping position for snorers is on the back, try sleeping on your stomach to cut snoring volume and frequency. Caveat: Do this only if you don’t have back trouble, for which stomach sleeping is usually not recommended.
• Aspirin and ibuprofen are not so good together. Ibuprofen seems to cancel out aspirin’s ability to protect the heart.
• The risk of obesity jumps almost 25 percent with each two-hour increase in daily television watching.
• Feel younger than you are? You should. Researchers calculate that 70-year-olds today are equivalent, health-wise, to 65-year-olds who lived 30 years ago.
• Chelation therapy is hot. Direct mail offers claim it’s sort of a Liquid-Plumr for the arteries. Trouble is, the claims don’t pan out — and chelation can have serious side effects, such as kidney failure and convulsions.

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Disclaimer: The purpose of this weblog is not to dispense medical advice nor in any way is meant to be construed as diagnostic or prescriptive. Always check with your physician before beginning any new program or trying any of the items discussed in the posts that appear on this site.

Comments

[Phentermine 37.5]

Great collection of facts and figures. Keep it up.

[Timothy W.]

This is, no doubt, the marvelous cutting-edge info that will dispel those "old," "mysterious," "urban legend" factoids that we have seen and were told by media or others.

Another fabulous report, Vonnie!!! Please keep your great work going!!!

Your Big Fan,
Timothy W.