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Stress Relief Part 2: BodBeat Episode 15

Stress be gone! Simple and safe herbal and vitamin remedies you can use to reduce your stress. That’s today on BodBeat. To reduce stress, you want to support the adrenal glands as much as you can. Here are some safe and effective herbal and vitamin solutions to help you do just that. B Vitamins B Vitamins are especially helpful, B5 B6 support the Adrenals, whenever you take a single B Vitamin you must take a multi as well. The single B vitamin will leach out the other B vitamins from your body. Herbal Remedies: Herbal Remedies include Rehmannia root, Schisandra Fruit, Chinese salvia a little Don Quai Root, Licorice Root ,Ashwagandha Root Asian Ginseng root Extract, and Rhodiola Root Extract can help maintain equilibrium, restore inner calm , and support immune function, Adrenal Adaptogens Increase energy, enhanced mental clarity, promote balanced hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis function for enhanced ability to adapt to stress Glandualar Formulas Provide nutritional support for adrenals by combining high quality nutrients that are involved in hormonal regulation that come from a bovine source. Extremely effective formula to use…but should only be used for a few months at time. Other Symptoms of Stress Sleeplessness: Inositol is an essential fatty acid that helps to calm the brain and allows you to fall a sleep and stay a sleep longer Anxiety/Depression: 5 HTP also known as Tryptophan is an amino acid (protein) that helps to increase the production of happy hormones like Serotonin, Melatonin which is naturally produced in the body at night and helps you sleep and Niacin which increases circulation. L-Tyrosine is another amino acid that increase the body production of Seratonin EPA/DHA omega 3 fish oils help with depression Digestive Problems: A good modified elimination diet and or a detoxification program can clean up your digestion system very well. Have a question or comment? Contact us at bodbeat.com. Plus, follow us at twitter.com/bodbeatshow Thanks for watching. We’ll see you next week. -Dr. L Read More

Stress Relief: BodBeat Episode 14

You’re stressed. I’m stressed. We’re all stressed out. So how do you get rid of it? Stress Relief! That’s today on BodBeat! Stress is physical and emotional tension that can have a negative or positive effect on your life. It can motivate you and at times it can debilitate you. How you choose to manage stress will either bring you relief or grief, health or disease. Your reaction to stress is your choice. Only you and you alone can take control of your stress. There are many simple techniques/programs available to relieve stress. Sometimes we might need a little coaching to help recognize the origin and effects of stress on our lives, but the majority of us can take advantage of the following stress relief tips to stay healthy. 1. Identify the Stressors/Seek Solutions. 2. Exercise/Sleep/Nutrition 3. Yoga/Meditation/Breathing 4. Chiropractic Treatments & Trigger Point Therapy 5. Massage Therapy 6. Consciousness of Thoughts 7. Psychoanalysis…are just a few. You will experience first hand the improvement in your health and life once stress has been managed. Next week … simple and safe herbal and vitamin remedies you can use to reduce your stress. Have a question or comment. Contact us at bodbeat.com. Plus, follow us at twitter.com/bodbeatshow Thanks for watching. We’ll see you next week. -Dr. Loretta Read More

Reducing Inflammation: BodBeat Episode 13

While there is a tendency to consider the inflammatory response as a reaction that is harmful to the body, a more balanced view is that it is actually a protective and restorative response. I explain to my patients that inflammation stops them from doing the very movement that causes pain or injury. The splinting or spasming they feel in adjacent muscles is a signal to STOP, the muscle are actually protecting the deeper structures ( discs, ligaments, and tendons) from further injury. The healing process is very complex and involves more than just an inflammatory response.  Tissue that has been injured must be repaired.  It is well established that nutrients can be rate-limiting factors for tissue repair and wound healing.  For example, vitamin C deficiencies have been directly linked to slow wound healing. THE INFLAMMATORY RESPONSE The classic signs of inflammation are local redness, swelling, heat, pain, and loss of function.  The events of inflammation that underlie these manifestations are induced and regulated by a large number of chemical mediators, including eicosanoids, kinins, complement proteins, histamines, and monokines.  Some forms of anti-inflammatory therapy involve regulating the production of some of these chemical mediators.  For instance, the regulation of eicosanoids synthesis is a classic mechanism for controlling inflammation Eicosanoids Eicosanoids are short-live, hormone-like substances present in tissues throughout the body.  They function as mediators of a variety of physiological responses such as inflammation, blood clotting, vascular dilation, and immunity.  Eicosanoids can be divided into four classes: Prostaglandins Leukotrienes Thromboxanes Prostacyclins Beyond ibuprofen.  Natural ways to reduce inflammation There  are a number of herbal remedies that have been reported to help reduce inflammation when you have an injury. The number of chemical compounds, called phytochemicals, found within the plant kingdom is truly vast and some of the phytochemicals found in certain herbs and plants are reported to demonstrate pain and inflammation-reducing properties.  Like aspirin, many are presumed to work by blocking the cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase pathways and possibly by other mechanisms as well.  Bioflavonoids are a broader class of phytochemicals found largely in citrus fruits, tea, and wine.  Research suggests that bioflavonoids, such as quercetin, may reduce pain and inflammation by inhibiting cyclooxygenase, lipoxygenase, and phospholipase. Ginger and Tumeric Ginger (Zingiber officinale) and turmeric (Curcuma longa), two very popular herbs used within the East Indian system of medicine (Ayurveda), have long been used in folk medicine for a variety of both acute and chronic inflammatory conditions such as sprains and arthritis.  Numerous animal and in vitro studies have demonstrated significant anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities for both ginger and turmeric.  These studies suggest that both herbs may block cyclo-oxygenase and lipoxygenase activity, thereby inhibiting prostaglandin and leukotriene release.  In addition, turmeric may inhibit the release of histamine. The anti-inflammatory properties of curcumin, the principal compound found in turmeric, were studied in a double-blind clinical trial of 49 patients with rheumatoid arthritis.Significant improvement was seen, with relief of morning stiffness and joint swelling Cayenne Pepper Another compound structurally related to those found in ginger and turmeric is capsaicin, the main constituent of cayenne pepper (Capsicum annuum).  Capsaicin may play a role in inhibiting prostaglandin synthesis by blocking cyclooxygenase activity.  In addition, cayenne pepper has been shown to possess powerful antioxidant compounds, reduce platelet aggregation, and improve blood circulation, and thus may play a role in reducing inflammation. Boswellia Boswellia gum resin, derived from the Boswellia serrata tree, is a traditional Ayurvedic remedy that is used for a variety of inflammatory diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and cervical spondylitis.  Boswellic acids have also been shown in vitro to inhibit the complement system, a set of enzymes that work with antibodies to attack foreign cells and bacteria.  Pathologically prolonged and sustained activation of the complement system is implicated in a variety of inflammatory disorders. Boswellic acids have been shown to possess anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic activity in a variety of animal experimental models as well as human studies.  Unlike traditional NSAIDs, Boswellia extract appears to exhibit no significant side effects or toxicity. PROTEOLYTIC ENZYMES A great deal of the research that describes an anti-inflammatory effect of proteolytic enzymes centers around acute (e.g., sports) injuries, although post-surgery and degenerative joint conditions have been studied as well.  In most cases, the patients that received the enzymes demonstrated significant reductions in pain and inflammation and faster recovery rates compared to the placebo groups (the duration of healing was reduced by half in some instances). *The anti-inflammatory activity of proteolytic enzymes is believed to be, in part, the result of eicosanoid modulation.  Animal studies suggest that oral proteases may inhibit the synthesis of pro-inflammatory prostaglandins. Supplemental proteolytic enzymes are derived from plant and animal sources.  Common proteases include bromelain from pineapple; papain and chymopapain from papaya; the fungal protease from the Aspergillus oryzae fungi; and trypsin, chymotrypsin, and pancreatin usually from porcine (pig) or bovine (cow) origins.  However, porcine sources yield higher specific activity than do bovine sources. HOMEOPATHIC REMEDIES Homeopathic remedies for pain and inflammation have been around for over 100 years.  Believed to provide an "energetic" stimulus to the natural healing qualities of the body, homeopathic remedies are reported to be highly effective and at the same time quite innocuous.  Traditionally, they have been used for both acute and chronic injuries.  The growing interest in alternative medicine and the numerous anecdotal reports of homeopathy's effectiveness have led to an increase in the number of clinical trials performed.  While these trials  may not provide scientific explanations as to how homeopathy works, many do support their use. INFLAMMATION INCREASES FREE RADICAL DAMAGE A direct result of inflammation is an increase in free radical reaction with the polyunsaturated fatty acids of cell membranes leading to the eventual destruction of the cell.  One single free radical can destroy an entire membrane through a self-propagating chain reaction.  The body defends itself against free radical damage with an integrated antioxidant defense system that utilizes antioxidants produced naturally within the body and from antioxidants found within foods.  During inflammation, the need for a variety of antioxidant nutrients may be increased. Vitamin E, which is an important membrane antioxidant, provides chain-breaking free radical protection. It may be especially important to include vitamin E with routine essential fatty acid supplementation since fatty acids are readily oxidized.  It has been suggested that long-term fish oil supplementation, for example, may increase lipid peroxidation and compromise vitamin E status. CONCLUSION Basically, the idea is to shift the balance of eicosanoid synthesis toward anti-inflammatory mediators and away from pro-inflammatory mediators.  Furthermore, it has been suggested that a healthful balance of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids leads to better overall health and may help reduce the risk of several common diseases such as hypertension, heart disease, and cancer. For acute pain and inflammation, a more natural method for inhibiting cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase pathways (the mechanism behind NSAIDs) is with herbal support such as ginger, turmeric, and Boswellia, and with bioflavonoids.  In addition, homeopathic remedies and proteolytic enzymes are widely used as part of a comprehensive holistic approach to managing pain and inflammation. Have a question or comment.  Contact us at bodbeat.com. Plus, follow us at twitter.com/bodbeatshow Thanks for watching.  We'll see you next week. -Dr. Loretta Read More

Top Health Headlines for Friday Feb. 5 2010

HEADLINES

Top 10 super foods for SuperBowl Sunday http://is.gd/7L8av

FDA concerned dissolvable tobacco appeals to kids http://is.gd/7L7XW

'Gene doping' may be next wave of sports tampering http://short.to/1653j

Experts ponder the next season of Swine Flu http://is.gd/7L853

INTERESTING

Many US adults skip routine vaccinations http://bit.ly/8ZgHs6

Study could lead to new fat burning drug http://is.gd/7L7P1

Insulin study could lead to new dosage devices http://short.to/1653o

Internet addiction spreads web of depression http://is.gd/7L7Eh

Government to pay more than half US health care costs http://bit.ly/9MmWz0

The government has your baby's DNA http://short.to/1653m

Court rules sex-change surgery is tax deductible http://bit.ly/cGt3OM

GOOD ADVICE

Want to lose weight, change your location http://bit.ly/b071Nv

20 new anti cancer rules http://short.to/165nk

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What Makes a Good Doctor? BodBeat Episode 11

 A good doctor should have three qualities: knowledge, empathy and philosophy. First, a good doctor should be knowledgeable and should keep abreast of developments in his or her field of expertise. A good doctor should be a skillful diagnostician. A good doctor should neither under-prescribe nor over-prescribe medication to his patients. Second, a good doctor should have a high Emotional Quotient or EQ. There were two doctors, a younger man with a high tech practice and an older man with a low tech practice. I noticed that most of my colleagues chose to go to the older man. Why? Probably because he had a warmer personality, was a better listener and communicator and was able to inspire his patients’ confidence in him. Third, a good doctor should also be a good philosopher. A good doctor should treat his patients in a holistic way. He should counsel his patients on their diet, exercise, and stress management. A good doctor should understand the limits of efficacy of western medicine and should have an open mind to what is called ‘alternative medicine’. A good doctor should be wise and humble not dogmatic and arrogant. What seems more important to a patient during a medical crisis however, is the attitude of the doctor. I’ve learnt in coping with my parents’ illnesses that doctors may be sure of their diagnosis but among different specialists, their treatment recommendations can vary. Ultimately the patients and family members have to decide how they want to manage the illness of their loved ones and their process of dying. Which means, they have to remain rational and clear despite being traumatised by the sad news of an illness. It is under these circumstances that a doctor’s ‘human touch’ becomes significant. His/her patient-focused sincerity in taking time to explain to a patient his or her condition reflects a doctor’s compassion, concern and empathy. It is simply caring for another fellow being. These attributes have been seen as hallmarks of the medical profession. Some observers lamented however that the increasing commercialisation of the profession has led to some doctors setting themselves up as tradesmen, driven more by financial considerations than by noble ideals of service to humanity with honesty, integrity and compassion. As a result doctors become callous and careless, spend limited time with patients, over-prescribe expensive drugs, recommend unnecessary investigation and treatment modes, prolong hospital stay, and so forth, all for personal gains. If this commercialisation ethos is a perceived threat to the profession, then a sincere, compassionate, caring and empathetic doctor who spends significant time with patients and their families to explain to them the illness and prognosis and attends to their fragile emotional states, will be a doctor that makes the difference. Personally, I need a doctor who is clear and logical in thinking, warm with a sincere heart, skilled with his/her hands for surgery, easy to reach in an emergency, empathetic in his communication patterns to restore in me a level of calm and confidence and makes me feel ‘he/she is there’ for me, does not over-charge me and is discreet by not talking about my condition to others. I would like my doctor to be humble and confident enough to collaborate with other specialists in the medical community to tackle an illness which he or she is uncertain about, in order to offer to me best practices in management and treatment. Fortunately, I have seen a lot of such ‘good doctors’ in my life-time, to whom I am grateful. Dr. Loretta Read More

Top Health Headline for Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2010

HEADLINES Five day limit for post sex pill http://is.gd/7u8wQ Antidepressants may help stroke victims http://is.gd/7yrcB HIV researchers solve key puzzle http://is.gd/7u8RW Weight loss supplements undergo scrutiny http://bit.ly/a9txM8 American Heart Month http://is.gd/7u8sM INTERESTING Study: the mental benefits of fish oil http://short.to/15jpg Can mushrooms save the world? http://bit.ly/9dh5uu Antidepressants: the Emperor's New Drugs? http://is.gd/7u905 It may not be vanity, but body dismorphic disorder http://is.gd/7yqUU Herbal remedies may be risky with heart drugs http://is.gd/7yqQ4 Gisele Bundchen's baby born in bathtub http://bit.ly/9Jc6yg Inmates get time off sentences for taking yoga http://short.to/15dzl Study: abstinence only classes reduce sexual activity http://short.to/15jp9 Menopause: the ultimate sleep challenge http://bit.ly/bCzXF7 GOOD ADVICE Margaret Thatcher's rigorous diet secret http://short.to/15dzm To boost your memory, take a break http://short.to/15dzk Read More

Top Health Headlines for Monday Feb. 1 2010

HEADLINES Overweight older people live longer Donda West law won't boost patient safety State to probe birth defects spike in California town RECALL: 'Princess and the Frog' pendants sold at Walmart contain high levels of cadmium Breast milk for Haiti: why donations are being discouraged INTERESTING What happens in sex rehab? Why sleeping separately is good for some relationships Physicians must treat 'transplant tourists' Heroes of Children's Hospital Three fourths of cancer patients have severe flares of pain How changing gender roles are affecting marriage Obama's word choice reveals his mood GOOD ADVICE 10 medical tests women need this year Tune up your health Fake Drugs Bought on the Web Pose Big Health Risks Drinking tea may trim men's waistlines Too little vitamin D may worsen asthma Read More

Health Headlines for Tuesday, Jan 26, 2010

HEADLINES Video Games may help fight aging http://short.to/14k3m 1 in 5 teens have cholesterol problems http://is.gd/6Wi6r A Haitian mother's futile effort to keep her daughter alive http://bit.ly/4n6oZZ Photos: Progress in Haiti http://is.gd/6WhJV GOOD ADVICE How to beat the winter blues http://short.to/14ks6 Blueberry juice may boost memory http://short.to/14ks5 Ease pain ... with food http://bit.ly/4T1w2r INTERESTING Gastric bypass can increase life expectancy of obese people http://bit.ly/6gBfZr Drug combo blocks AIDs infection in mice http://short.to/14ks2 Life without a pulse: Heart Pump Aids Cardiac Patients http://short.to/14ks0 Despite treatment, depressed workers have decreased productivity http://short.to/14k3n Read More

Mammographies and PAP Smears: BodBeat Episode 10

Recently, .. two noted medical groups released their new guidelines for women … basically recommending we cut services for woman to have yearly mammograms and PAP smears. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists ( ACOG ) now recommends that women not get their first pap smear until age 21 and that women 30 and older be tested every three years rather than annually. This comes on the heels of a new guidelines by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force ( USPSTF ) … this a government sponsored group mind now … that now says mammography screening should start at 50 rather than 40 and that women over 50 need only be screened every two years. There are no such things as coincidences, - 192,370 new cases of invasive breast cancer - 40,170 deaths from breast cancer Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in the United States, other than skin cancer. It is the second leading cause of cancer death in women, after lung cancer. The chance of a woman having invasive breast cancer some time during her life is a little less than 1 in 8. The chance of dying from breast cancer is about 1 in 35. Breast cancer death rates have been going down. This is probably the result of finding the cancer earlier and better treatment. Right now there are more than 2½ million breast cancer survivors in the United States. The change comes amid a separate debate over when regular mammograms to detect breast cancer should begin, in the 40s or the 50s. The timing of the Pap guidelines is coincidence, said ACOG, which began reviewing its recommendations in late 2007 and published the update Friday in the journal Obstetrics & Gynecology. The resulting evidence of such research reports (those supported by EPCs) "are used by Federal and State agencies, private sector professional societies, health delivery systems, providers, payers, and others committed to evidence-based healthcare." So, if someone tells you that the "new guidelines" aren't going to affect your choices, they're misinformed. Many doctors will take the recommendations too much to heart and do less listening than they should to women who find suspicious lumps in their breasts. And many women will die.
Let's back up, shall we? And get it right - both what we know and what we don't. Let's remember that research is a process and it takes a considerable amount of time to draw conclusions with confidence. While the two sets of recommendations are unrelated, they come at a time of intense debate over health-care reform. Mammograms in particular have drawn broad attention in Congress, reflecting a more than decade-long debate in the cancer community about how best to perform mammograms. Republicans sought to connect the mammogram recommendations to the health-care overhaul, contending that such findings are the way that medical rationing starts. Under the pending legislation, "nothing would prohibit the federal government from deciding if tests, treatments and procedures are too expensive, and therefore, unnecessary," Sens. Jon Kyl of Arizona, the Republican Whip, and Tom Coburn of Oklahoma, a physician, said in a joint statement. But the PAP guidelines promise to be far less controversial as doctors for years have been told to perform fewer PAP's among many women over 30, to cut back on unneeded care for the least at risk - and there's growing understanding that over-treating younger women is an issue, too. "The tradition of doing a PAP test every year has not been supported by recent scientific evidence," said Dr. Alan Waxman of the University of New Mexico, who headed ACOG's review. The guidelines also say: - Routine PAP's should start at age 21. Previously, ACOG had urged a first PAP either within three years of first sexual intercourse or at age 21. - Women 30 and older should wait three years between PAP's once they've had three consecutive clear tests. Other national guidelines have long recommended the three-year interval; ACOG had previously backed a two- to three-year wait. - Higher-risk women, such as those with HIV, other immune-weakening conditions or previous cervical abnormalities, need more frequent screening. PAP's can spot pre-cancerous changes in the cervix in time to prevent invasive cancer, and widespread use has halved cervical cancer rates in the U.S. in recent decades. About 11,270 new cases will be diagnosed this year, and about 4,070 women will die from it, according to American Cancer Society estimates. Half of women diagnosed with cervical cancer have never had a PAP, and another 10 percent haven't had one in five years. Cervical cancer is caused by certain strains of the extremely common sexually transmitted virus called HPV, for human papillomavirus. There is a new HPV vaccine that should cut cervical cancer in the future; ACOG's guidelines say for now vaccinated women should follow the same PAP guidelines as the unvaccinated. But the updated guidelines reflect better understanding of HPV. Infection is high among sexually active teens and young adults. Women's bodies very often fight off an HPV infection on their own without lasting harm, although it can take a year or two. The younger the woman, the more likely that HPV is going to be transient. Moreover, ACOG cited studies showing no increased risk of cancer developing in women in their 20s if they extended PAP screening from every year to every two years. As for adolescents, ACOG said cervical cancer in teens is rare - one or two cases per million 15- to 19-year-olds - while HPV-caused cervical abnormalities usually go away on their own. Treating them unnecessarily increases the girls' risk of premature labor years later, and preterm birth is a growing national problem. We want to hear what you think. We look forward to your comments on bodbeat.com. Dr. Loretta Read More

Health Headlines: Monday Jan 25th 2010

HEADLINES More sex could mean less heart risk http://is.gd/6WgKb Smokers with cancer could quit and double survival chances http://short.to/14krw Mother's Gum Disease linked to infant's death http://short.to/14k3h Drug that helps MS patients walk faster approved in US http://bit.ly/8B5nDU GOOD ADVICE Video: 5 steps to achieving happiness http://short.to/14k36 Cutting salt intake would boost nation's health http://short.to/14krs INTERESTING Dog flu risk highest where dogs mingle http://is.gd/6WhvN Yoga Day USA http://bit.ly/85jhg7 Why are American teens getting so fat? http://bit.ly/5nOabV The man who could beat AIDS http://short.to/14k38 Read More