Vonnies Health Spot

SIMPLE THINGS TO DO THAT MAINTAIN HEALTH - Two

This week May 19, 2008 through May 24, 2008, we will be covering home remedies and health and nutrition tips that have been proven to work. Folk and traditional medicine practitioners have been dispensing advice for centuries that must be effective, because people are still practicing some of the techniques. Methods of treatment that didn’t work or, in some cases, actually did harm to the patient have gone into the dumper where they belong … at least in the more developed countries. Following are a few updated reports I’ve run across in the last few days.

❑ ANOTHER GOOD REASON TO CHILL OUT

The inability to control anger can slow the healing process. Patients with experimentally induced blisters on their forearms who rated low on anger control scales measured by psychological tests healed less quickly than patients who had more control over the expression of their anger. Patients who frequently had outbursts of anger or who could not stop themselves from losing their temper were four times more likel to heal slowly. People who fail to hold in anger secrete more of the stress hormone cortisol, which may slow wound healing. These results were published in Brain, Behaviour, and Immunity by Janice Kiecolt-Glaser, PhD, and Jean-Philippe Gouin, MPS, psychologists with the University of Ohio, Columbus, who were the leaders of a study comprising 98 subjects.

❑ A LITTLE-KNOWN MARKER OF HEART DISEASE RISK

We all know that heart disease is the number one killer of United States citizens. But did you know that fully half of all heart attacks occur with no advance warning symptoms? However there is one marker that can be listed as a risk factor and is not part of any traditional medical test. It doesn’t show up on any blood test. It doesn’t show on an EKG and it can’t be detected on a stethoscope. It doesn’t show up on any high-tech medical scans, either. What can it be?

Simply this: Several university studies have found that people who interrupt conversations are at greater risk for heart problems. In fact, one study at Duke University found that people who interrupt are up to seven times more likely to get heart disease! Why is this so? The researchers theorize that people who interrupt are excessively competitive and controlling – two hallmarks of the worst “Type A” personalities. But here is the amazing, real kicker: These same high-risk people can lower their risk without totally altering their personalities … and without any drugs, exercise or dietary changes. All they have to do is practice being good listeners. In one study, the test subjects focused on being silent while others talked. The result? They lowered both their blood pressure and their stress hormone levels.

❑ CONTROL PAIN BY USING A NATURAL PHENOMENA

People who spend a lot of time on their feet know all about pain and stiffness. They know they can get relief with aspirin, Tylenol and ibuprofen. But they also know that prolonged use of these drugs can cause bleeding ulcers, liver damage and other nasty side effects. That’s why more and more doctors are avoiding these pills and relying on natural remedies like willow bark and cayenne.

And here’s another pain remedy — one that involves no drugs or supplements whatsoever. It costs practically nothing ... it’s very effective ... and it works in just minutes. What is it? It is static electricity. Yes, static electricity. Medical science has long recognized that the human body is pulsing with tiny electrical currents. And “normalizing” this flow of electricity promotes healing.

Go to your local hardware store and get an ordinary painter’s mitt ... plus a one-foot section of PVC pipe about an inch thick. Create an electric charge by rubbing the pipe vigorously with the mitt for one minute. Then slowly sweep the pipe over the painful area. Move in a head-to-toe direction, about a half-inch away from your skin. After three or four passes, recharge the pipe by rubbing it again with the mitt. Keep repeating the process until the pain subsides. Most people get relief within a few minutes, and the relief is really quite dramatic. Try it you’ll be amazed!

_______________________________________________________________________
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.

QUICK WAYS TO STRENGTHEN YOUR BACK

Your back is an important part of core strength, which includes not only your spine itself, but all the muscles, ligaments and tendons that support it. Dr. David Rothbart has devised ways to help keep your back strong, yet they take only 12-minutes a day. Practice these tips regularly and they can help you maintain good posture, which will, in turn, prevent future back problems, and might even aid digestion,

>It takes one minute to check your chair at work. Make sure your feet are flat on the floor and that your eyes are level with your computer monitor. If you have a tall chair and desk, use a footrest to keep your feet resting flat.

>At night when you settle into bed, take a minute to ensure proper sleeping positions, either on your side or your back. Do not sleep on your stomach. Support your spine by sleeping with a pillow between your knees.

>For two minutes in the morning, stand in from of the mirror facing sideways. Make sure your ears, shoulders, hips, knees and ankles all form a straight line. Notice how your body feels when it is aligned correctly.

>Try to remember to double-check your posture six times throughout the day for about 30 seconds each time. When you’re seated, make sure your shoulders are down and rotated back, thighs parallel to the floor, feet flat. Set reminders on your computer calendar or PDA.

>Take a 60-second break at least five times throughout your workday. Stand tall, take a deep breath, align your posture as you did in the morning. Walk around and get things moving. Standing improves posture.

_______________________________________________________________________
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.

TECHNIQUES FOR DIAGNOSING THE OFTEN ELUSIVE CAUSES OF BACK PAIN

Persistent or serious back pain will often motivate your doctor to order one or more imaging studies to pinpoint or confirm the cause of the pain. Each of these studies has benefits and limitations, but provide a view of the bones and the soft tissues (muscles, ligaments, cartilage, tendons, and blood vessels) that is especially important if the possibility of surgery looms. Read on for a comparison of the various studies available.

X-RAYS
Your doctor will probably opt for x-rays as the first imaging study for chronic back pain and for new-onset back pain lasting longer than four to six weeks. They are especially useful for detecting fractures and invasion of bone by multiple myeloma (tumors of the bone marrow). People over age 50 are more likely to need spinal x-rays because these individuals have a greater risk of malignancy and vertebral fractures. People should not be concerned about the possible risks of modern x-rays; the radiation doses are low and there is no evidence of harm even from repeated x-rays. Conventional x-rays are available almost anywhere and are relatively low in cost ($150 to $200).

COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY (CT) SCANS
A CT scan, also called a computerized axial tomography (CAT) scan, involves a series of x-rays that are taken as a special detector rotates 360° around the patient. A computer combines all the information into a cross-sectional picture. CT scans, 10 to 20 times more sensitive than x-rays, provide better soft-tissue detail and good detail of the vertebrae. Although MRI scans or CT myelograms (see below) are even more useful for examining the soft tissues (for example, herniated disks), CT scans are still best for studying bone problems — for example, bone destruction due to infection. CT scans are considerably more expensive and deliver more radiation than conventional x-rays (approximately $550).

CT MYELOGRAM
A CT myelogram involves a CT scan after the injection of a contrast material into the spinal canal. The injection carries the risk of infection and such side effects as nausea, headaches, and pain or discomfort at the site of injection. In addition, a person is required to sit or lie with the head elevated for six to eight hours afterward. These scans offer the best detail of bone and soft tissue. CT myelograms are usually performed only prior to surgery or after failed surgery (about $600).

MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING (MRI)
In MRI, the most sensitive imaging technique, the patient is surrounded with a powerful magnet while radio waves are passed through the body. No x-rays are involved. This test provides the best images of soft tissues and is completely safe. However, MRI may not give a useful image of the bones in the spine. MRI is not recommended for early diagnosis of back pain unless the doctor suspects a serious condition, such as cauda equina syndrome (pressure on the nerve bundle that ends near the first lumbar vertebra; can have any number of causes and may cause serious and/or permanent nerve damage). Despite their sensitivity, studies have shown that MRIs should be reserved for preoperative evaluation or for people with a suspected herniated disk whose back pain symptoms do not respond to conservative treatment after four to six weeks.

MRI commonly visualizes disk abnormalities. In one study, at least one disk was affected in 64 percent of people who had no back pain. Disk herniation was present in 27 percent of these subjects (this number increased with age). Thus, the abnormalities revealed by an MRI are not necessarily the cause of a person’s back pain. In addition, this technique is costly, and MRI devices are not available everywhere.

Because people must lie perfectly still for between 30 minutes and two hours in a relatively small space, MRIs may be uncomfortable and poorly tolerated by those who are claustrophobic. (Open MRIs produce less claustrophobia but generally do not provide high-quality views and are not recommended.) In addition, depending on which part of the spine requires the MRI, it usually cannot be used in people with intrauterine devices, metal joint replacements, aneurysm clips, implantable cardioverter-defibrillators, or pacemakers (about $1,000).

BONE SCANS
Bone scans measure the amount of radioactivity emitted from bone after the injection of a bone-seeking compound that contains technetium, a radioactive metal. The bone is scanned two to three hours after the injection, and information about the distribution of the radioactive compound in the bone is fed to a computer, which produces a two-dimensional image of the bone. An area of bone that displays an increased uptake of technetium has a higher rate of bone turnover, which can be the result of a fracture not identified on an x-ray as well as metastatic cancer, Paget’s disease, or osteomyelitis (a bacterial infection of the spine). The amount of radiation delivered is similar to that of a CT scan. This technique can be used to identify fractures in both the central and peripheral areas of the body (about $500).

_______________________________________________________________________
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.

ACUPUNCTURE ENJOYS A 2,000-YEAR-OLD TRACK RECORD

Acupuncture or the practice of carefully placing very fine needles in specific locations along energy paths called meridians has been practiced by the Chinese for more than 2,000 years, but lately its popularity has been growing in the United States. A national health survey recently found that more than eight million US adults have used acupuncture to help heal aches and pains.

HOW IT WORKS
“Acupuncture sends a signal to the body to turn on its own rescue
system,” says Ka-Kit Hui, MD, professor of medicine and director of the Center for East-West Medicine at UCLA. According to Chinese medicine, energy, also known as qi (pronounced chi), flows along 12 pathways or meridian, which correspond to specific organs and body functions. If this energy is blocked, the body becomes ill. Inserting fine needles in acupoints along the meridians helps restore the flow of qi, so the body can heal itself.

Most doctors believe that the needle stick causes the central nervous system to release morphinelike painkillers called endorphins. Over the millennia other Asian cultures have adopted acupuncture and modified it, but acupuncture as practiced by any trained and licensed individual has the same basic aim, to restore the body’s healthy energy flow. “It re-regulates the body,” says Dr. Hui. “It can help turn the pain signals off.”

Another theory (Western) is that acupuncture creates a powerful placebo effect. In other words, acupuncture may work at least in part because a person believes it does. In general, Chinese medicine places greater emphasis than Western medicine on the close relationship of mind, body and spirit. Poles apart, Western medicine tends to split itself into ever more focused specialties while Chinese medicine maintains a holistic, whole body philosophy of treating ailments.

WHAT IT CAN HEAL
The World Health Organization recommends acupuncture for:

>many respiratory diseases
>eye and mouth problems
>orthopedic troubles
>neurological disorders
>gastrointestinal ailments
>helping stroke patients regain movement
>treating depression
>headaches
>low-back pain
>substance abuse
>An early study in Neuroscience Letters suggests that acupuncture may even be a useful strategy for treating Parkinson’s disease.
>According to the National Institutes of Health Consensus Statement on Acupuncture, the therapy has also shown considerable promise in relieving nausea and vomiting associated with chemotherapy.

WHAT IT FEELS LIKE
The needles used are only as thick as a single human hair. A tiny prick when the needle is inserted should be the only sensation. The needles usually stay in place for five to 20 minutes, depending on what’s being treated, while the patient relaxes quietly. Treatment can take place over a few days or for several weeks or longer. There should be no pain. Improper needle placement can cause pain, and perhaps harm. And the FDA requires that sterile, nontoxic needles be used only once. To make sure your acupuncturist follows these rules, seek treatment only from certified practitioners. About 40 states have training standards for acupuncture certification.

A COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH PROGRAM
Discuss the possible benefits of acupuncture with your doctor, and check with your insurance company to see if you are covered. As this treatment protocol becomes more mainstream in Western practice, more insurance companies will accept it. For best results, Dr. Hui recommends that acupuncture be part of a comprehensive wellness program that includes exercise and a healthy diet. “Our goal is to develop a model system of healthcare that will benefit people all over the world.”

For more information, visit the UCLA Center for East-West Medicine's website at www.cewm.med.ucla.edu or www.uewm.edu.

________________________________________________________________________________________ 

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.

CYBERKIDS & WORK-RELATED INJURIES

“Now kids are using computers at age two, so by the time they enter the workforce they’ll already be primed for injuries,” says Alan Hedge, professor of design and environmental analysis in Cornell’s College of Human Ecology and an international authority on office ergonomics. “One-third to one-half of all compensatory injuries are repetitive-motion injuries associated with office-type work.”

Back injuries also account for one-third of all workplace injuries. A decade ago most of these were associated with heavy lifting. Today they are mostly caused by people sitting for longer periods of time—often in front of a computer. The younger onset of computer use makes the current rate of damage claims “the canary in the coal mine.” Hedge has found that there is typically a 10- to 15-year period before injuries start to develop. In the early 1990s he showed that the average age of workers reporting carpal tunnel syndrome was in their late 30s to early 40s; last year, he found the average age of onset had dropped to the mid-20s and even younger for some people.

“This is very serious because an injury can become life-changing; carpal tunnel, for example, is not curable. They’ll have to manage this chronic condition for the rest of their lives,” Hedge says. To better determine how design concepts can prevent such injuries, Hedge’s Cornell Human Factors and Ergonomics Research Group studies innovative products. Among his recent projects are:

➢    A vibrating mouse. To see if a vibrating mouse can prevent upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders in computer users by signaling people to take their hand off the mouse to avoid overuse, Hedge and graduate student Chris Moe reported at the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting in October 207 that although subjects do remove their hands more often with a vibrating mouse than with a conventional mouse, they tended to hold their hands just above the mouse. “This position is potentially more detrimental because of an increase in static muscle activity required to hover the hand,” Hedge says, concluding that people would have to train themselves to rest their hands on a flat surface when they feel the vibration.
➢    Movable arms for monitors. Another study looked at how suspending a flat panel computer monitor on a movable arm affects people’s comfort, posture and preference. Hedge and graduate student Kathryn Boothroyd found that people unanimously liked the monitor arm because they could adjust their LCD screen, and it gave them more room on their desktops for documents.
➢    Undulating chairs. Yet another study examined whether a seat that made a continuous massaging, wavelike movement at an adjustable rate would alleviate back pain in people whose pain increases when they are seated. Although his findings were mixed, Hedge and graduate student Erin Lawler concluded that the movable seat was a concept with promise, particularly for individuals with back problems.

“Everything we do can be summed up in the phrase: Good ergonomics is great economics,” Hedge says. “More than 90 percent of a company’s costs are people costs, so making small investments in improving the workplace by using good ergonomic products pays huge dividends.”

Reported by Cornell University and www.sciencedaily.com, December 27, 2007. 

_______________________________________________________________________ 
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.