I just lost a friend and former co-worker this weekend from her battle with esophageal cancer. She was such a hard worker all her life that it only suits her that she passed away on Labor day weekend.

We’ve all had people that we’ve lost whether they be close friends, family or acquaintances. It serves to give us a wake-up call in our own lives and questions our own mortality. What have we done in our lives? Am I where I want to be?

We may have intermittent periods in life that we think about how precious life is and that things can rapidly change. But it’s not until someone we know has died, that makes us evaluate our own lives and ask, “Am I on the right path?”

As a nurse practitioner, I have seen patients with cancer and other chronic diseases so incredibly unfair that it hurts my head trying to think about why or how they got these illnesses. Knowing that life can change at anytime is both a blessing and a curse. The blessing is that I take very little for granted anymore. I look at the mountains outside my door as though it’s the first time I’ve seen them. I hug my husband and kids alittle harder each night and feel tremendous gratitude for everyday knowing that miracles are taking place all around me. However, I also know that life can change at any time and can be very unpredictable, so that any slight pain, headache or “off” day brings thoughts of some deadly disease and wondering what my memorial service would look like. UGH!

My philosophy is to be present and grateful as much as possible. And always follow your heart….I know Carol did.

Good-bye Carol

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Here are some important things to practice to keep your mind sharp…

10 Tricks for Improving Your Memory: “”

(Via .)

Another study that confuses the public and tells us nothing except that we need better research.

This study included over 4000 Dutch heart attack patients between the ages of 60 and 80. The majority of participants were men. These patients had already experienced a heart attack within the last decade which put them at high risk for another cardiac event. These men and women had high blood pressure, high cholesterol and were at high risk for blood clots. They were also taking blood pressure medications, anti-clotting drugs and statins.

So they took these people at high risk for heart disease and gave them margarine mixed with a small amount of omega-3 fatty acids. Why would you do that? It’s a good fat mixed with a bad fat!
Even though we’ve heard bad things about butter, its nothing compared to margarine. Margarine is very high in trans-fatty acids which not only raises total cholesterol, LDL, and lowers the protective cholesterol (HDL), but also raises the risk of cancer, decreases the immune response and insulin response.

Trans-fats are typically hydrogenated. Hydrogenation is a chemical preservative technique, and during the process of hydrogenation, liquid fats are infused with hydrogen atoms to make them semi-solid at room temperature. Unfortunately, the process produces trans-fatty acids, often in large amounts.

There are numerous studies showing that diets high (up to 60%) in omega-3 fatty acids had the lowest rates of heart disease. The amount of omega-3 fatty acids used in the study is negligible. One needs a minimum of 2000-3000 mg of EPA/DHA to obtain any health benefits. These are just a few of the major studies linking the reduced risk of heart disease with essential fatty acids:

The DART trial demonstrated a 29 percent reduced mortality among 1015 men that consumed two portions of oily fish per week compared with those who did not consume oily fish.

The GISSI-Prevenzione trial showed supplementation of 850 mg per day of EPA/ DHA as purified ethyl esters reduced risk of death, nonfatal heart attack or myocardial infarction, and stroke among 11,323 patients, who experienced a recent heart attack, during a 3.5-year follow-up. The risk of sudden cardiac death was reduced by 45 percent among the participants using the supplements.

This study cannot make a general conclusion that Omega-3 fatty acids do not reduce the risk of additional cardiovascular events such as myocardial infarction or heart attack. So many questions remain to be answered on the other variables of the study, such as the subjects’ diet, whether they were obese, and their activity level as well as genetics. The study involved primarily Dutch men, so are these results applicable to American men (and some women)?

As for me, the studies on the benefits of omega-3 fatty acids far outweigh avoiding these foods or supplements. So I’ll stay on these supplements for now.

Low-Dose Omega-3 Fatty Acids Don’t Protect Heart Patients: “”

(Via .)

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The nation is undergoing it’s largest egg recall- a half billion eggs that were shipped to 22 states- and we need to know what we can do to avoid food poisoning from Salmonella.

How does this bacteria get into the egg in the first place?

One way is when hens eat contaminated feed. Salmonella can infect the ovaries of healthy hens and contaminate the eggs before the shells are formed.
This bacteria can also lurk on the outside of eggs when they are not properly washed. Strict procedures for cleaning and inspecting eggs were implemented in the 1970s to avoid this kind of contamination of egg shells.

Symptoms of Salmonella include fever, diarrhea, abdominal cramps, nausea and vomiting — within 12 to 72 hours after eating eggs contaminated with the bacteria. The yolk is what carries most of the bacteria.

Raw eggs are used in many everyday dishes. Read more about what you can do to avoid illness.

Avoid Salmonella from Eggs: 4 Steps to Take Now – US News and World Report: “”

(Via .)

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Another study indicates an increased risk of asthma, rhinitis (related to allergies) and eczema in teens with the use of Tylenol. There have been numerous studies the past 2 decades and it’s time for practitioners to educate parents. Even using Tylenol once a year raised the risk of asthma by 43%.

Aspirin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (Advil) carry the same risks.

Read more…

foodconsumer.org – Does Tylenol Cause Asthma in Teens?: “”

(Via .)

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What can we do to keep our minds sharp and active even as we age?

Here’s my top 7 things to do that I’ve put together from a recent neuroscience conference given by Jonathan Jordan, LCSW.

7. Good Dental Hygiene- cleaning your teeth and flossing keeps inflammation down which helps oxygen and glucose get to the brain.

6. Eat Well- Duh! Lots of Omega-3 fatty acids (wild salmon, tuna and oils), fresh fruits and veges loaded with antioxidants such as Acai berry and blueberries. Even coffee is OK.

5. Challenge your mind- Don’t ever retire and sit in a rocking chair and do nothing. Keep learning, take classes. Explore your environment. Do things differently.

4. Be Social and stay connected. Spend time with friends and family. Isolation is an independent risk factor for depression and heart disease.

3. Sleep Well. Get the rest you need and take naps if needed.

2. Be Active- exercise and move your body. It doesn’t have to be a 10 mile run. Swim, walk, dance…..just move!

1. Be Happy! Have a positive attitude. Focus away from perceived threats and more toward optimism. Relax and enjoy life. Have gratitude and laugh often.

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You may be tired of hearing about mosquito-borne illnesses, but they are not going away anytime soon. New recent cases of Dengue fever have been found in Florida and are predicted to move up north.

Dengue fever is primarily found in tropic and subtropic regions, such as South and Central America and Southeast Asia. Due to world wide travel, diseases from other countries can easily be carried to the U.S.

“Dengue fever is now the No. 1 mosquito-borne disease, causing an estimated 100 million human cases worldwide each year. According to the World Health Organization, the number of cases reported yearly has more than doubled since 1990.”

No vaccines or specific treatments are available. It just makes sense to prevent mosquito bites by using bug spray and covering up, especially during dusk and dawn.

New mosquito threat emerging | The News-Sentinel – Fort Wayne IN: “”

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New research indicates an increase in the risk of heart attack in people who take calcium supplements. It also questions the use of calcium in preventing osteoporosis and whether it really reduces fracture risk.

The body contains more calcium than any other mineral. The majority of it is found in bones and teeth. But calcium is also in muscle cells and blood. Calcium has many functions which includes formation of bones and teeth, muscle contraction, normal functioning of many enzymes, blood clotting, and maintaining a normal heart rhythm.
The level of calcium in blood is regulated primarily by two hormones: parathyroid hormone and calcitonin.

Overall, experiments providing calcium supplements show a consistent, but modest reduction in bone loss in postmenopausal women. But as reported in the New England Journal of Medicine, studies have documented that calcium and Vitamin D supplementation result in reduction of 30-70% in fracture rates over 2-4 years.

Even though it’s possible to take too high a dose of calcium in supplement form, symptoms like constipation, excessive thirst, and urination are common side effects.

The conclusion in this article was way overstated in my opinion without giving details on the other health conditions of its participants. High calcium can come from a problem with the parathyroid glands, as well as from cancer or disorders affecting the bone. Hypercalcemia (too much calcium in blood) can also develop in people with peptic ulcers who ingest too much milk and take calcium antacids. Too much Vitamin D can also increase calcium absorption. This disorder can be diagnosed by simple blood tests.

The researchers didn’t collect data on heart problems from the participants, and none of the studies reviewed were specifically designed to look at heart attack risk.
All this tells me is that more research needs to be done and not to over-generalize and tell all people to stop their calcium supplements. The majority of postmenopausal women only consume an average of 511 mg of calcium per day. This is barely a third of the 1500 mg recommended by the National institutes of Health.
I wrote a blog this past May highlighting the fact that preventing osteoporosis involves more than just taking supplements daily. Stress, diet, exercise, and allergens play a role in our bodies PH and how we absorb and retain our minerals. Talk to your doctor about your supplements and determine what your needs are.

References: Brown, S. “better Bones, Better Body.” Keats Publishing, 2000.
The Merck Manuals Online Medical Library: Calcium.

Calcium Supplements Linked to Boost in Heart Attack Risk: “”

(Via .)

This article is not just about losing those last 5-10 pounds that feel forever stuck on you. It’s main message is how to avoid those endocrine disruptors that we are swimming in that raises the risk for cancer and other inflammatory diseases.

The guidelines are helpful and something we should all be striving for to avoid toxic overload and degenerative disease.

Why You Can’t Lose Those Last 10 Pounds on Shine: “”

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Kids with very high cholesterol risk having diabetes and heart attacks as young adults. But current screening misses 1 in 3 fifth-graders who need treatment, a study suggests.

…

Read the rest of this post from WebMD Health

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There may be good reason to limit your exposure to TV and video games. Less than 2 hours is recommended and this is why…

HealthDay – MONDAY, July 5– Too much time spent watching
television and playing video games can double the risk of attention
problems in children and young adults, new research finds….

Read the rest of this post from Yahoo! News: Most Emailed – Health

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Lack of sleep can lead to many medical problems and in rare cases may even prove fatal.

Read the rest of this post from NYT > Health

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Small molecules in the blood not only reveal the “metabolic signature” of fitness, but hint at how new sports drinks or drugs might help people more efficiently burn fat.

…

Read the rest of this post from WebMD Health Headlines

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I see many people that have chronic insomnia, low energy, stomach issues, and low sex drive. These may be symptoms of depression. Anxiety is closely related and may have similar symptoms. Before reaching for a prescription pad, I will often recommend suggestions similar to the ones in this article. They may sound simple, but they work.

If you have chronic problems sleeping, talk with your doctor about finding the underlying cause and treatment options. Insomnia can be a symptom of mood disorders, but other causes include sleep apnea, cardiopulmonary problems, side effect to medications, chronic stress, pain syndromes, and others.

Read more about ways to stay healthy and happy…

6 Natural Ways to Feel Happier: “”

(Via .)

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This article “wowed” me and at the same time made me feel quite distressed in reference to our healthcare system. Maybe I’m one of the lucky ones that can spend 1 hour with a patient and really get a sense of how their symptoms are affecting their family, work, kids, finances, and relationships.

Health + care is more then just getting tests done and treating symptoms or disease. It’s about developing a relationship with someone who really listens to you and can give you sound health advice.
Here are some situations where telemedicine won’t work:

I can watch a child’s behavior in an exam room and see how he or she responds to me, plays with toys, or reacts to his/her parent(s).

I am with patient’s when they are crying, emotionally distraught or just need a hug. This requires being present and empathetic.

When a patient sees me to identify and treat a rash, I usually perform an exam that involves feeling lymph nodes or checking their pulses to determine if the rash is systemic and whether this patient needs further testing.
A patient may have pain between his/her shoulder blades, but it’s not unless I perform an abdominal exam that I can determine that the pain is most likely due to gallstones versus a muscle strain.

These are all reasons why face-to-face contact with patents needs to continue to offer the best quality healthcare.

These are instances where telemedicine works:

Follow up care does not always need a visit or exam, unless you need to listen to someone’s lungs or make sure a breast lump is smaller in size.

I triage calls on the weekends and determine whether someone really needs to go to the ER or whether to avoid a thousand dollar visit and safely manage symptoms until they see their doctor on Monday. Having access to more information would be helpful.
Telemedicine would be advantageous for people in rural areas that live far from local health clinics. I can see it’s usefulness for people that are out of the country (like the person in the article).

But lets not get away from the human contact of medicine and health care. It’s hard enough for me to speak to another person on the phone at my bank without going through a barrage of menu options. I know it’s about saving money and laying off people since a machine can give you most of the information you need. But providing medical advice is different than trying to get your correct balance.

Lets not take the “art” of medicine/nursing away from patients. All of us are patients at some time or another. Health practitioners use their intuition to help them make the best decisions.

There is no such thing as “on-line care”. Caring is not just about attending to ones needs. It’s about being present and focused on what people have to say and really listening. That listening is not through a computer screen, but through human touch and the exchange of energy.

Telemedicine may have its place, but lets be careful to avoid replacing it with the relationship you have with your health care provider.

Healing by 2-Way Video – The Rise of Telemedicine – NYTimes.com: “”

(Via .)

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