Breast Cancer is the Leading Cancer in Women

Most women share a common fear, developing breast cancer.  So what do the latest statistics show about this disease?

• Every three minutes a woman in the United States is diagnosed with breast cancer.
• Breast cancer is the leading cancer amoung Causcasian and African American wormen.
• Breast cancer incidence in women has increased from one in 20 in 1960 to one in eight today.

From a statistical view what every we have been doing to curb the disease hasn’t worked, it is getting worse!  The American Cancer Society and National Cancer Institue estimates that roughly on-third of all cancer deaths are related to diet and activity.  But diet alone is unlikely to be the cause or cure of cancer.  However, findings do suggest that physical activity and healthy diet low in certain fats and high in vegetables and fiber, and a healthy weight can help reduce the risk of breast cancer or the cancer returning.

Diet and Cancer

What you eat can hurt you, but it can also help you.  Many vegetables and oils contain important phytochemicals forming antioxidants that neutralize the damage caused by free radicals.  There isn’t a single element in a particular food that does all the work, the combined foods work synergistically when consumed as a whole plant not just active ingredients from the plants.  The best thing to do is eat a variety of whole foods.  The challenge is most people do not eat enough of these unique whole foods to allow your body to process what it needs to combate the effects of oxidation.  This creates a state of oxidative stress that is a hot topic of research today.

Foods to Consider

Studys done recently have shown that the healthful compounds in different foods work together to provide health benefits.  The benefits of any single food must be evaluated as a part of your whole diet.  The following list are some commonly not eaten but necessary foods and oils that are good for your health.

• Black Currant Seed Oil.  This wonderful oil is a natural source of gamma-linolenic acid (GLA).  GLA is one of two essential fatty acids that are necessary for maintaining normal functioning and growth of cells, nerves, muscles and organs.
• Cruciferous Vegetables.  Specifically less eaten Kale and Brussel Sprouts.  The more commonly used Brocholi and cauliflower are also very helpful to keep in your diet.
• Omega-3 Fats.  Scientific data implicat omega -3 fatty acids as inhibitors of development and progression of a range of human cancers.  The ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 in diet is equally as important.  The typical American diet contains up to 20 times as much omega-6 fats as it does omega-3 fats, the optimum ratio is 1:1.  Research has found that women with the highest omega-3 fats in breast fatty tissue were less apt to have breast cancer.
• Fiber.  Research has shown that a high fiber diet works to reduce hormone levels that may be involved in the progression of breast cancer, and that fiber increases the amount of estrogen removed from the body.
• Healthy Weight.  Maintaining a healthy weight may help reduce the risk of breast cancer coming back.  Overweight women were shown to be at a higher risk for all types of cancer in recent studies.  Along with regular body movements (sometimes called exercise) will maintain a healthy body.

Should you get a flu vaccination?

Vaccination clinics abound in the community. Should you visit one?

With the weather turning unseasonably colder in northern California the flu season is in full swing.  The annual influenza is taking its annual toll on the population and with the addition of the Swine flu that has accounted for a few deaths locally, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention along with local county health agencies have begun an advertising campaign geared toward motivating the masses to get the flu vaccine.

 This year, that campaign has been even more urgent due to outbreaks of the H1N1″swine flu” virus, which have spread from one country to the next in the past six months or so. Local H1N1 vaccine centers have been set up around the Sacramento County making the new Swine Flu vaccine available to most anyone that wants it.

 Should you get yourself and your children vaccinated against the flu? Just like all vaccines and medications, there are potential side effects associated with the flu shot. Minor side effects can include but are not limited to soreness, redness or swelling at the injection site, low-grade fever and other aches and pains. More severe, life-threatening complications have proven to be rare, but the danger still exists that someone can suffer severe effects from this alleged beneficial vaccine.

 The most common dangerous side effect is an allergic reaction. Since the vaccine is grown in eggs, it is more dangerous for those who have had an allergic reaction to other vaccines in the past. These reactions can include breathing problems, hoarseness or wheezing, hives, paleness, weakness, and a fast heartbeat or dizziness.

 The most serious side effect is Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS). This is a disease in which the body damages its own nerve cells, resulting in muscle weakness and sometimes paralysis. While most people eventually recover, some have permanent nerve damage and 5 percent to 6 percent of those who develop GBS will die. The CDC would remind you that only six of every 1 million people injected with the flu shot will develop GBS. That’s small comfort if you’re one of the six, of course.

 The CDC talks about the benefits of being vaccinated, but are those benefits backed up with the facts? The flu vaccine is always changing because the flu strains change from one year to the next. (The swine flu is one such variation.) The manufacturers of the vaccine take a shot in the dark and hope they’ll hit the right strain each year, but the fact is the flu shot is only 70 percent to 90 percent effective.

 The CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics advocate simple health habits to prevent the spread of illnesses like the flu. Taking these steps can help people avoid the flu without having to get a flu shot in the first place:

 Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough/sneeze; throw the used tissue away.

• Wash your hands often with soap and water as soon as possible after coughing or sneezing.
• Keep yourself and any babies and children in your care away from people who are coughing or sneezing.
• Try not to touch your eyes, nose or mouth if you in close contact with people who are sick or have been sick.

 Consider these suggestions, along with the above information regarding risks vs. benefits, before getting a flu shot this year after all, it’s your health and the health of your children at stake.

Natural Solutions to Sinusitis

Clear drainage is better than yellow sticky snot

How do you know if a runny nose should be of concern depends on the type of drainage.  If you have a clear and watery discharge it is likely the result of an allergic reaction to something in the environment causing a histamine reaction.  If the discharge turns yellow or green in color and becomes thick and sticky that indicates a potentially more serious condition and a probable viral or bacterial infection underway in the sinuses.

 Regardless of the cause, sinusitis is a common problem with frustrating symptoms: congestion, cough, sore throat, fatigue, fever, pain and pressure around the eyes, cheeks nose or forehead. What can you do to prevent sinusitis? Harvard Women’s Health Watch offers a few simple suggestions for reducing your risk or relieving early symptoms of the condition.

 First, keeping your nasal membranes moist is a great way to avoid/reduce sinus symptoms. Stir 1 teaspoon salt into 2 cups of lukewarm water; use a squeeze bottle to stream the solution through your nose. Do this 1-2 times daily to keep your nasal passages from drying out and clear excess mucus before it has a chance to cause congestion and/or infection.

 Drinking lots of water every day is another great way to keep mucus from building up; water keeps mucus thin, loose and easy to dissipate with the saltwater solution or simply by blowing your nose.

 If you have sinus symptoms, inhaling steam also can help to reduce congestion and other symptoms. You can do this several ways: by spending a little extra time in a hot shower or steam room; or by boiling water in a pan and then inhaling the steam. (Place a towel over your head to maximize the effect.)

 Finally, sleeping with your head elevated helps prevent mucus from pooling. When mucus builds up in your nasal passages, it’s a veritable breeding ground for infection. It might mean you spend a few days and nights with a runny nose, but it’s better in the long run than the alternative – congestion and infection.

 Remember; always consult with your health care provider to make sure your symptoms aren’t indicative of something more serious. There are other natural methods of treating your sinus problems without having to rely on decongestants or other over-the-counter medications

Give yourself a little TLC

Give yourself some TLC and take control of your health to avoid the chronic diseases of aging

They’re all around you: people suffering from, or at risk of developing, lifestyle-related chronic conditions such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease or arthritis. Perhaps you’re one of them. In fact, in the United States, these chronic diseases have reached epidemic proportions.

A therapeutic lifestyle changes program (TLC) teaches wellness habits such as healthier eating and regular physical activity, with the goal of achieving health that lasts a lifetime. TLC should not be confused with weight-loss programs or diets. Where these programs generally fail, TLC has been remarkably successful in helping people achieve long-term results.

In numerous studies, TLC has been shown to be highly effective in helping prevent, manage or even reverse some of our most prevalent chronic diseases, including heart disease and diabetes. For example, a study published in the American Journal of Cardiology concluded that many patients with conventional risk factors for coronary heart disease can reduce their risk without medications within 12 weeks of starting a TLC program, refuting the notion that intensive lifestyle modification is not worth the effort.

A study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, involving 3,051 men ages 60-79 years with no diabetes mellitus or diagnosis of heart disease, concluded that modification of lifestyle factors, even later in life, has considerable potential for primary prevention of metabolic syndrome. A randomized, clinical trial of 348 Caucasian, middle-aged adults indicated that a TLC program incorporating various behavior modification tools, such as live lectures, workbooks and professional advice, could reduce the risk factors for cardiovascular disease after six months.

Ask your doctor about TLC – it isn’t just good for patients, it’s also good business for doctors. Your doctor might already be considering it. If not, ask for a referral to another health care professional who practices TLC. You also can ask your employer. Your employer might offer wellness benefits in the form of health insurance coverage or a corporate wellness program. Additionally, ask your tax professional if you can pay for TLC using pre-tax dollars available from an employer-sponsored flexible spending account or federal health savings account.

TLC has been shown to be a powerful tool for the prevention, management, and reversal of many of our most prevalent chronic diseases. Those who participate in a TLC program have the opportunity to protect or regain health for better, more enjoyable living.

30 minutes a day may keep the stroke away

Exercise 30 min. per day at home or go to the gym. Just be consistant with doing something vigorus and make it fun!

As little as half an hour a day of moderate exercise may reduce your risk of suffering a stroke, say researchers at the University of South Carolina’s Prevention Research Center. That’s good news because stroke is the nation’s third leading cause of death.

The research was presented recently at the International Stroke Conference in New Orleans. Researchers studied more than 61,000 adults at the Cooper Aerobics Center in Dallas. After taking an initial treadmill test to assess fitness, study participants periodically answered health surveys. The study divided subjects into four levels of fitness and then looked at how many of them suffered strokes, following them for an average of 18 years. Overall, there were 863 stroke events during the study: 692 in men and 171 in women.

The study found that the more fit men had a 40 percent lower risk of stroke than the least fit men, while the most fit women had a 43 percent reduction in their risk of stroke compared with women in the least fit group. For moderate levels of fitness, the risk reduction ranged from 15 percent to 30 percent for men and 23 percent to 57 percent in women. These risk reductions held true even when considering other known risk factors for stroke, such as smoking, weight, high blood pressure, diabetes and family history.

Many people think they don’t have the time to exercise regularly, but all it takes is 30 minutes a day, five days a week – definitely worth it, considering the health and wellness benefits. Your doctor can help outline an exercise program appropriate to your fitness goals.

Three quick ways to loose weight and stay healthy too

Loosing weight isn’t just about dieting; scientific research indicates the need to keep the metabolic motor running.  Maintaining an active metabolism in the aging process can be challenging, but researchers list three actions that will work for most people.

On a cellular scale, metabolism is the breakdown of fats, proteins or carbohydrates and how cells, organs, and tissues process these fuels. On a broader scale, metabolism is not merely the process of burning up the calories consumed from food, but rather how the various nutrients from that food help maintain a healthy body. Here’s what current science is saying about ways to jump-start the bodies metabolism and keep it working for a lifetime.

Metabolism Booster #1: Consistent Exercise:

At present, exercise is the closest thing to a anti-aging pill that exists. Just 30 minutes of moderate exercise each day can reduce a person’s risk of developing heart disease by 50 percent, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Research has shown that three 10-minute burst of activity are just as beneficial as one long session, so the recommended daily quota could be achieved simply by taking a few short walks during the day. According to the WHO, such simple measures to incorporate 30 minutes of exercise into our daily life could halve the risk of developing inactivity-related disease such as obesity, typeII diabetes, and heart disease.

Metabolism Booster #2: The Right Nutrition:

Chromium is an essential trace mineral that helps the body make glucose available for energy and to maintain normal blood sugar levels. It is also important for the metabolism of amino acids and fats. Chromium is widely believed to be useful in the treatment of diabetes. Chromium may lower the risk of heart disease. It is easily found in supplement form at most health food stores.

Green tea increases fat metabolism and helps to regulate blood sugar and insulin levels. Green tea is also thought to prevent cardiovascular disease by lowering cholesterol levels, inhibiting LDL cholesterol oxidation, and reducing the tendency of blood platelets to stick together. It also is a potent antioxidant. It can be found in many forms other than a tea bag for those that don’t like to drink tea.

Magnesium is essential for life, as it plays a major role in the metabolism of glucose. It is also used in the production of cellular energy and to create protein. In addition, magnesium may help to protect against cardiovascular disease. It is easy to find in supplement form.

Potassium is important for intracellular chemical reactions and regulates the transfer of nutrients to the cells. Potassium is required for proper carbohydrate metabolism. Studies have found that potassium can reduce high blood pressure and help to prevent heart attacks. Additionally, potassium supplementation may help to prevent type II diabetes in people taking thiazide diuretics.

Metabolism booster #3; Get plenty of Rest & Breath Deep.

Appropriate amounts of rest and deep breathing increase the metobolic rate by increasing blood flow and oxygen which makes the whole system work.  Oxygen is necessary for the metobolic process to function so like turbo-charging your car engin, practice deep breathing exercises throughout the day.  Breath in through your nose and blow out forcefully through your mouth three times.  You may experience light headedness at first so brace yourself.  Don’t rest just after you eat, but plenty of rest gives you a break from eating and a chance for you digestive system to do the same.  The organs of your body will also have time to detoxify and get rid of waste.  Periodic fasts for upto 24 hours is also a good thing to give your system a natural cleanse.

Breast cancer may be linked to antibiotic use

Studies in the Journal of American Medical Association may cause women to rethink asking for antibiotics as possible links to breast cancer have been brought up.

It all started with a study done in Finland in 2000 that reopened a link between breast cancer and antibiotics.  This study sparked interest in the University of Washington school of Medicine to examine data collected on over 10,000 women enrolled in a large health plan in the state.

Two groups were studied; one group consisted of 2,266 cases of women diagnosed with invasive breast cancer.  The second nearly 8,000 women randomly selected with no breast cancer.  Researchers used health plan data to determine the number of antibiotic prescriptions each person was given, as well as the total number of days that each woman used antibiotics over a 17 year period.

The data was shocking as it showed the risk of breast cancer was doubled among women who received 25 or more prescriptions for any antibiotics when compared to women who took none.  The group of women who took from 1 to 25 prescriptions increased their risk by one and a half times those that took none.

Death from breast cancer was highest among the women with a high rate of cumulative days on antibiotics.  According to the Washington researchers this does not definitely prove that antibiotics cause breast cancer.  There are many other factors to consider such as the possibility that the illness being treated by the antibiotics may play a roll in breast cancer development as well.

As a side note; as much as eighty percent of the total antibiotic production in the U.S. is used in agriculture.  Dairy, livestock and poultry animals are injected or fed antibiotics not for illness but to promote growth.  As these products make their way into the food chain everyone is getting exposed to antibiotics without a prescription.

A University of Maryland study supported the conclusion that agricultural antibiotic use may be introducing new antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria into the human population.

Local Organic Farms make it easy to eat well

Local Farmers markets provide fresh produce and several organic crops that can be delivered directly to your home.

Most local super markets now offer large sections of “organic” food usually in the fresh produce departments. Even Safeway has found success in its Organic brands of several traditional foods that now can be found in most sections of the food ales.

To be classified “Organic”, foods are grown or raised (meat and dairy) in an environment free from anything artificial including chemical fertilizers, pesticides, weed killers, drugs, antibiotics and hormones. Organic food is produced in a manner that helps retain powerful nutritive value and avoids unnecessary exposure to potential toxins.

One of the easiest ways to purchase organic food is locally from farmer’s markets, family farms and food co-ops, many of which use organic production methods. One of the longest and most successful is held in the Sunrise Mall south parking lot every Saturday morning. If you like the idea of consuming an apple grown down the street, picked at the peak of its ripeness without post-harvest pesticides, and that didn’t travel thousands of miles from another country (which may or may not have appropriate pesticide regulations), then a farmer’s market, farm or co-op is an excellent resource.

Home delivery is another great source of organic foods that has been developed near here in the Capay Valley. Farm Fresh to You farms have a unique program of home delivery through out the Sacramento area. These flexible plans bring fresh fruits and vegetables delivered to your home or business as frequently as you want in prices that meet most household budgets.

There is probably no better way to gain access to the healthy organic foods your body craves most than by growing them yourself. More and more people are getting on the home-gardening bandwagon as food, fuel and energy costs continue to rise. Home gardening, especially organic gardening, can be a great help in avoiding the consumption of manufactured foods and offset some of the cost concerns with organic produce. The City of Citrus Heights has begun a large community co-op gardening program just this year at the corner of Sylvan & Stock Ranch Road.

To learn more about the health benefits of organic foods, visit the Organic Consumers Association Web site.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month 2009: Thermography screenings best for early detection

Ask anyone about breast cancer and the most common answer you get is early detection is the key to survival.  Medical statistics prove this with a nearly 95% survival rate for cancer detected early.  So, this begs the question how early can we determine the signs of cancer?

According to Shelley Lesar, director of the Integrative Wellness Center in Roseville, California and a certified thermography technologist, “we can detect physiological changes in tissue as small as twenty to thirty cells.”  This is a significant difference from the traditional mammogram screenings which won’t show anything significant until there are 4 billion cells in growth which can take up to eight years to develop.

Lesar who has the only breast thermography facility in the Sacramento area has been doing screenings for four years.  Relatively new to the U.S. healthcare system this type of screening has been used for decades in Europe and Asia.  “Germany, France and Sweden use thermography as a first level breast screenings.  China and Russia use thermography exclusively,” according to Lesar.

 World health statistics show the U.S. is 38^th in the United Nations World Population in regards to life expectancy. Cancer is the second leading cause of death in this country and the number one cause of premature death among women with 45 thousand deaths from breast cancer every year.  The FDA has approved thermography screenings along with mammograms which has helped in the early detection of breast cancer.  According to Lesar,” several women have taken their thermography screenings to their doctor and were able to start treatment much earlier than otherwise from a physical or mammogram exam.  They definitely feel it saved their lives.”

“We want to give women peace of mind,” said Lesar. “Knowing that with the early detection of any physiological changes in breast tissue changes can be made with less urgency and panic.  We want to keep women well informed which takes the fear out of the situation.”

Keep your balance to avoid hip fractures in the elderly

According to the National Institutes of Health, hip fractures account for up to 300,000 hospital admissions per year in the U.S., many of which are directly attributable to falling. Posture and balance through core muscle strength is a key throughout life, but particularly in the elderly.  Hospital statistics show that in the geriatric population (over 70), elderly hip fractures from falling often lead to other debilitating conditions and pre-mature death.

 Here are three NIH-recommended exercises to help improve your balance.

Side Leg Raises: Stand behind a table or chair, holding it for balance, and slowly lift one leg to the side (6-12 inches), keeping your back and both of your legs straight. Hold, lower, and repeat with other leg. Do 8-15 reps per side.

Heel-to-Toe Walk: Position the heel of one of your feet in front of the toes of your opposite foot each time you take a step. Your heel and toes should touch or almost touch. This can be a little tricky, so start slow and avoid close confines.

One-Foot Stand: As the name of this exercise suggests, stand on one foot for as long as you can without relying on any support. You should be prepared to lean, wobble or fall back to two feet at any time. Repeat while standing on the other foot. Record your times for each side and track improvement.

To learn more, visit www.nihseniorhealth.gov.

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