Best Of - 2nd - Week of May 2023

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Mediterranean Diet Reduces Preeclampsia: Best Of: Jan, 2023

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/3H-aiHzvheA

 

Following a diet rich in fish, vegetables, fruit, whole grains, beans, nuts, and olive oil reduces the risk of preeclampsia by 28%.  Columbia University epidemiologists led a multi center cohort study of 7798 first time mothers with single pregnancies and complete dietary data.

 

Adherence to the Mediterranean diet was associated with a 21% lower risk of any adverse pregnancy outcomes, a 28% reduction in preeclampsia, and, wait for it, a 37% lower risk of gestational diabetes.

 

We know that a Mediterranean diet lowers risks of cardiovascular disease and metabolic problems.  Now we add a lowered risk of preeclampsia with its elevated blood pressure, kidney and liver problems, and later seizures to the list of benefits.

 

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2799855

 

#Mediterraneandiet #pregnancy #preeclampsia #diabetes

Mediterraneandiet, pregnancy, preeclampsia, diabetes

 

 

Yoga Beats Simple Stretching As A Cardio Exercise Supplement: Best Of: Dec, 2022

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/9SOtveGuvt8

 

Fifteen minutes of structured yoga added to a half-hour aerobic exercise program more effectively tones your cardiovascular system than 15 minutes of stretching added to vigorous exercise.  Researchers at the Quebec Heart and Lung Institute demonstrated this phenomenon  in 60 individuals with high blood pressure over a 3 month period.

 

Those with yoga added to their exercise program enjoyed a greater reduction in their systolic blood pressures, reduced resting heart rates, lower lipid levels, reduced blood glucose, and a lower assessed 10 year risk of cardiovascular disease.  

 

So far, the investigators cannot explain the mechanism of yoga’s superiority to simple stretching, but studies are ongoing.

 

https://www.onlinecjc.ca/article/S0828-282X(22)00892-3/fulltext

 

#yoga #aerobics #stretching #bloodpressure #cardiovascular

yoga, aerobics, stretching, bloodpressure, cardiovascular

 

 

Weight Reduction Surgery Reduces Cardiovascular Risks: Best Of: Nov, 2022

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/PueruKojsc4

 

Bariatic surgery for obese individuals with non-alcoholic liver disease cuts their risk of heart attacks and strokes by nearly 50%.  Ohio State University informatics researchers along with gastroenterologists and surgeons completed a cohort study of 86,964 morbidly obese persons.

 

Compared with those who were treated medically, bariatric surgical patients enjoyed a 49% lower risk of all cardiovascular disease.  The surgery group showed a 47% lower risk of heart attack, heart failure, and stroke and a 50% lower incidence of angina, transient ischemic attacks, focal arterial blockage, and generalized atherosclerosis.

 

This OSU study underlines the fact that reaching a health weight is life-saving.  Many can do so with healthy eating habits and medically-supervised dietary strategies.  When that fails, it’s time for a trip to the operating room.

 

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2797180

 

#obesity #bariatric #surgery #dieting #cardiovascular #heartattack #chf #stroke #tia #atherosclerosis

obesity, bariatric, surgery, dieting, cardiovascular, heartattack, chf, stroke, tia, atherosclerosis

 

 

 

Teens Eating More Omega 3 Fatty Acids Pay Better Attention: Best Of: Oct, 2022

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/-J_p8GDOGPs

 

Teens with higher levels of omega 3 fatty acids have longer attention spans and reduced impulsivity.  Spanish epidemiologists measured the levels of fish-based DHA and plant-based ALA score in the red blood cells of 332 teens with a mean age of nearly 14 years.

 

Their data revealed that those with the highest levels of DHA scored best on tests of attention span and focus and shorter reaction times.  Higher levels of ALA in contrast correlated best with low impulsivity. 

 

DHA is found fish including salmon, trout, tuna, cod, herring and a variety of shellfish such as mussels, oysters clams, and crab.  Good sources of ALA are spinach, broccoli, tomato, green peas, brussel sprouts, and rice.

 

Parents adding these foods to their teens’ diets should be rewarded with not only better report cards from school but also enhanced cooperation at home.

 

https://optinghealth.com/foods-high-in-dha/?utm_source=MicrosoftAds&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=foods-high-in-dha&utm_term=foods%20high%20in%20dha&utm_content=Foods-ECPC-PARTNERS-US

https://www.myfooddata.com/articles/foods-high-in-DHA.php

https://superfoodly.com/top-10-list-of-foods-high-in-alpha-lipoic-acid-ala/

 

#omega3fattyacids #DHA #ALA #attention #impulsivity #teenagers

omega3fattyacids, DHA, ALA, attention, impulsivity, teenagers

 

 

E-Cigarette Smoking Increases Erectile Dysfunction Risk: Best Of: Dec, 2021

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/sC9F5gNHb9g

 

Daily smokers of electronic cigarettes are more than twice as likely as those who never smoked e-cigarettes to report erectile dysfunction or ED.  Epidemiologists at NYU report this finding after analyzing data on 45,971 adults 18 years and older.

 

In the study group, 13,711 males provided information about any problems with ED as well as information about their use of e-cigarettes, any history of cardiovascular disease, and exercise habits.  The analysis showed that daily e-cigarette users were 2.2 times more likely than never-users to experience ED. Those e-cig users with a CV disease history were even more likely to have ED at 2.4 times.  The good news is that exercise seems to protect against the development of ED.

 

My advice guys: don’t use e-cigarettes and exercise vigorously.

 

https://www.ajpmonline.org/article/S0749-3797(21)00429-3/fulltext#

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2021-12-e-cigarettes-independently-linked-erectile-dysfunction.html

 

#ecigarette #erectivedysfuction #ed #cardiovasculardisease #exercise

ecigarette, erectivedysfuction, ed, cardiovasculardisease, exercise

 

 

Post Heart Attack Overwork Triggers Heartache and Death: Best Of: Apr, 2021

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/NSKtLZD9FtU

 

Working 55 hours a week or more following a heart attack drives a 67% higher risk of another coronary event including unstable anginal pain, another non-fatal heart attack, or a deadly MI.  Canadian investigators followed 967 first heart attack victims after their return to work.

 

The risk of another often deadly cardiac event was proportional to the hours participants worked each week.  While there were slight risk increases as weekly hours worked increased from less than 35 to 54, 55 hours a week was a level above which disaster lurked.  The other important variable was job stress with those under the greatest stress suffering a 2.5 fold greater risk.

 

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0735109721003764?via%3Dihub

 

#coronary #heartattack #overwork #stress #death #angina

coronary, heartattack, overwork, stress, death, angina

 

 

Nasal Decongestant Can Kill You: Best Of: Mar, 2021

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/R1YEz7vFMRQ

The FDA now issues a warning that the nasal decongestant Benzedrex and its generic propylhexedrine may cause cardiovascular and psychiatric complications which could be fatal.

 

The agent is marketed in a nasal inhalation device to be used for the common cold and nasal allergies.  The proper dosage is 2 inhalations per nostril every 2 hours for adults, children older than 6 years, and teens.

 

Misuse including overuse, ingestion, or even injection has lead to a 7-fold rise in poisoning.  Symptoms include rapid heart rate, agitation, hypertension, chest pain, tremors, hallucinations, delusions, nausea, and vomiting.

 

Those with heart disease or taking MAO inhibitors should not use Benzedrex.

 

https://www.fda.gov/drugs/drug-safety-and-availability/fda-warns-abuse-and-misuse-nasal-decongestant-propylhexedrine-causes-serious-harm

 

https://www.fda.gov/safety/medical-product-safety-information/benzedrex-propylhexedrine-drug-safety-communication-fda-warns-abuse-and-misuse-nasal-decongestant

 

 

#benzedrex #propylhexedrine #mao #heart #hypertension #psychosis

benzedrex, propylhexedrine, mao, heart, hypertension, psychosis

 

 

A Common Cold May Fight Other Viruses: Best Of: Sept, 2020

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/2u0hHT9k030

 

Runny, stuffy noses may become more welcome since cold viruses have the unexpected benefit of preventing the flu.  Yale laboratory medicine researchers tabulated 3 years of clinical data from some 13,000 patients.

 

Their data show that rhinovirus-infected cells present closed doors to the influenza viruses for about 5 days.  When cold viruses enter human cells they trigger production of the anti-viral agents called interferons. 

 

Though they have no evidence as yet, the researchers speculate that cold viruses could offer some protection against CoVid19 as well.  I wouldn’t purposely go out looking for a cold but maybe don’t dread one either as it may be the best of 3 evils.

 

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanmic/article/PIIS2666-5247(20)30114-2/fulltext

 

#influenza #colds #covid #rhinovirus

influenza, colds, covid, rhinovirus

 

 

College Concussion Epidemic: Best Of: Dec, 2019

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/beHlmLrCrIw

 

There’s an epidemic of concussions among college students, and surprisingly most victims are not the football, rugby, and lacrosse players.   A new study from the University of Colorado at Boulder shows that the  $  highest concussion rates occur in non-athletes and in women.

 

Non-athletes were 57% more likely than athletes to sustain concussions and women were 11% more likely than men.  The college student concussion rate was more than 2.2 times higher than  that of the general population.  Most non-sports injuries were due to falls, fights, and car accidents. August was the most dangerous month.

 

Be careful out there students and protect your brains.  Otherwise, you’re throwing away your tuition.

 

John Breck, Adam Bohr, Sourav Poddar, Matthew B. McQueen, Tracy Casault. Characteristics and Incidence of Concussion Among a US Collegiate Undergraduate Population. JAMA Network Open, 2019; 2 (12): e1917626 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2019.17626

 

#Concussion #college #women #sports

Concussion, college, women, sports

 

 

Complete That Antibiotic Course: Best Of: WBZ News Radio: Jan, 1991

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/tikwHYWlHmo

 

Dr. Smith speaks with a caller about the necessity for completing a given antibiotic course.  They also discuss rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease.

 

https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/is-the-full-course-of-antibiotics-full-of-baloney-2017081712253

https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2102074

 

#antibiotics #rheumaticfever #rheumaticheartdisease #endocarditis #wbznewsradio

antibiotics, rheumaticfever, rheumaticheartdisease, endocarditis, wbznewsradio

 

 

 

Cholesterol Infiltrates Blood Vessels: Best Of: WBZ News Radio: Feb, 1991

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/AjiNxVgBCZY

 

A WBZ Radio caller with a history of coronary artery disease and a coronary artery bypass graft wonders if only the coronary arteries are affected by cholesterol.

 

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/11918-cholesterol-high-cholesterol-diseases

 

#heartattack #stroke #cholesterol #coronaryarterydisease #carotidarterydisease #highbloodpressure #wbznewsradio

 

heartattack, stroke, cholesterol, coronaryarterydisease, carotidarterydisease, highbloodpressure, wbznewsradio

 

 

Sunscreen Numbers: Best Of: WBZ News Radio: June, 1991

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/Yvlkgs09HM0

 

Dr. Smith and WBZ Newsradio anchor Susan Rist discuss the general confusion about sunscreens and SPF (sun protection factor) numbers.

 

https://health.howstuffworks.com/skin-care/beauty/sun-care/spf.htm

 

#sunburn #sunscreen #spf #sunprotectionfactor #melanoma #wbznewsradio

sunburn, sunscreen, spf, sunprotectionfactor, melanoma, wbznewsradio