The FDA's Stand on Chelation

Chelation has long been under attack by its own critics, but the latter has won the long alternative treatment debate having been favored by the Food and Drug Administration. The FDA sent several companies, letters notifying that the chelation substances they sell without prescription are actually unapproved drugs and devices, illegal drugs in short.

Chelation substances should be available only with prescription, and must be administered only by a trained medical professional. It cannot be done by just anyone wearing Cherokee scrubs or Grey’s Anatomy scrubs because of the risks of complications. Serious possible effects include dehydration, kidney failure, and possible death. Subsequently, FDA sent warnings to World Health Products; Hormonal Health; Evenbetternow; Maxam Nutraceutics/Maxam Laboratories; Cardio Renew; Artery Health Institute; and Dr. Rhonda Henry.

Chelation is believed by proponents to be effective in treating atherosclerosis and many other serious health problems involving exposure to high levels of metal. Chelation claims to restore blood flow and reverse arterial hardening on atherosclerosis sufferers, as well as able to correct underlying causes of arterial blockage. It is also believed to help prevent production of free radicals.

Chelation might work by removing calcium in fatty plaques that block arteries, by lowering cholesterol levels or by reducing inflammation in the arteries and improving blood vessel function. None of the ideas has been well tested in scientific studies. Meanwhile, a large study sponsored by the National Institutes of Health will determine whether such claims are correct, and results are expected to be release on 2012, washingtonpost.com reports

Basic Ways to Reduce Risk of Cancer

66 years ago, 10-year survival of breast cancer patients was only 25 percent. In 2004, it climbed to 76.5 percent! Early detection and effective modern ways of breast cancer treatment made possible of the notable rise of survival rate. Significant improvements can still be achieved by making the public more aware of the deadly disease. Even the simple steps of taking care of ones health can give a great deal of help in avoiding breast cancer.

You are right if you’re thinking of exercise and healthy diet. These things are the same ways a person needs in order to keep the cardiovascular health in optimal state. Keeping the right weight, eating healthy food, and enough exercise do not guarantee that one will not contract the disease. However, it sure helps improve the odds.

How did we come to the conclusion that these common health tips actually reduce breast cancer risk? Well, according to the American Cancer Society, of the 550,000 deaths among American cancer patients, about 1/3 is linked to obesity, poor diet and inactivity. In the case of lung cancer, smoking is the strongest link.

Reduce Weight. According to American Institute of Cancer Research, breast cancer and several more types of cancers are believed to have something to do with estrogen stored in and produced by fat cells, insulin-like growth factor, and chronic inflammation, with which obesity is a major factor. By watching weight responsibly, the possible risk booster is controlled.
Be physically active. A study found 50% reduced colon cancer risk can be achieved through moderate exercise. In 2003, another study reported 20% reduced breast cancer risk through 30-minute walk everyday.
Drink less alcohol. One drink a day for women. Heavy drinking has long been found to dramatically increase risk of mouth, esophagus, pharynx, larynx, and liver cancers. But as to breast cancer, even moderate amounts of alcohol have recently been linked to increased risk of the disease. Alcohol’s association to breast cancer is still unclear, though. Estrogen levels and genetic differences are among the aspects that researchers are looking into.
Say no to tobacco. Stop smoking, chewing or breathing somebody else’s smoke and live longer. If smoking among those people in Dickies scrubs, health care workers themselves will be able to set a good example to patients and the public in general about the importance of quitting tobacco use. Whether they wear mens scrubs or womens scrubs, they should lay a healthy lifestyle for people to look up to.
Eat right. The Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention found in a study that eating variety of fruits, vegetables, as well as herbs and spices could decrease certain types of cancer. While there are foods that are believed to reduce cancer risk, there are also those that can increase.

Teens Apparent Hearing Loss Linked to Earphones

Aside from enabling teens to isolate themselves from others whenever they feel like doing so, ipods, mp3s, and other portable stereo devices using earphones have more debilitating effects than we might actually think. A recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association suggests earphones are a main cause of the increase in number of American teenagers who are suffering from hearing loss.

In the past 15 years, a sharp increase of hearing loss among U.S teens has become apparent, and the number is high among boys. The study found 14.9 percent increase in the 1988 to 1994, and further increase of up to 19.4 percent in 2005 to 2006 period. The data was collected from 4,600 12-19-year-old boys included in ongoing federal surveys.

Mild or worse hearing loss increased by 77 percent, affecting one in every 20 children in the said age group. Number of affected teens is higher with high-frequency hearing loss than that in low frequencies, and most of the time damaging only one ear.

How loud is the sound that can damage the sensitive structures of our inner ears? The level of damaging noise can depend on duration or length of time a sound is heard, frequency or pitch described in cycles per second called hertz, and amplitude or strength which is measured by decibel.

Normal range of audible frequency foe healthy hearing is from 20 – 20,000 cycles per second, while normal conversation has amplitude of 60 decibels. Anything louder than 85 decibels will eventually lead to hearing loss. And as the sound goes louder, the risk of hearing loss climbs higher as well. According to a Newsweek magazine, "Your ear can safely handle two hours with a power drill (100 dB), but not more than 30 minutes in a noisy video arcade (110 dB). Every 10-decibel increase on the sound scale represents 10 times more ear-battering noise.” Sounds reaching about 120 decibels, the noise level of a passing jet plane, are painful already.

It is wise to protect hearing and take good care of ears as hearing loss is normally irreversible. Even those experts in lab coats can do nothing to bring back healthy hearing than give you a hearing aid.

Dodge Waterborne Diseases, Dodge Hospital Bills

It’s just too odd that water, being the very essence of life, poses threats to the human race. Waterborne diseases, for instance, result to different levels of threats to people contracting any of the disease-causing pathogens. The very common cholera, for instance, although causes mild diarrhea and vomiting to some, can lead to death on others. According to CDC, 8,000 to 18,000 people are hospitalized each year because of Legionnaires’ disease alone. Cryptosporidiosis costs each patient hospitalized for 6 days $19,400 on average.

How can waterborne diseases be prevented?

Disease: Legionnaires’ disease
Cause: Legionella pneumophila bacteria

Symptoms: Pontiac fever producing milder symptoms that resemble to acute influenza but without pneumonia. Other severe symptoms include fever, chills, pneumonia (with cough that sometimes produces sputum), ataxia, anorexia, muscle aches, malaise as well as occasional diarrhea and vomiting

Prevention: (1) Stop smoking as it is the number one factor in acquiring Legionnaires’ disease due to chronic lung problems. (2) Avoid contaminated hot tubs and whirlpool spas. (3) If you work for aid conditioning or water treatment systems, use respiratory masks while at work. (4) Persons with weaker immune system, such as elderly, children, and people with preexisting conditions must avoid places of possible contamination.

Disease: Cryptosporidiosis
Cause: Cryptosporidium parvum protozoa
Symptoms: Flu-like symptoms, watery diarrhea, loss of appetite, substantial loss of weight, bloating, increased gas, and nausea
Prevention: (1) Wash hands often with soap and water, especially after handling human or animal feces. (2) Practice safer sex; never do rimming. (3) Be careful around animals as well as with handling their cages. (4) Help yourself from swallowing water in swimming pools and public hot tubs. (5) Do not swim in public pools and hot tubs when you have diarrhea so as to protect other people. (6) Properly wash and cook food. (7) Drink boiled water, distilled water, filtered water, and or bottled water.

Disease: Giardiasis
Cause: Giardia lamblia protozoa
Symptoms: Diarrhea, abdominal discomfort, bloating, and flatulence
Prevention: (1) Practice good hygiene. (2) Wash hands often. (3) Wash food carefully before eating or cooking. (4) Do not drink contaminated water by not swallowing water in recreational water as well as untreated water. (5) Avoid exposure to fecal matters during sexual activity.

Disease: Cholera
Cause: Vibrio cholera bacteria
Symptoms: In severe forms, it is known to be one of the most rapidly fatal illnesses known. Symptoms include very watery diarrhea, nausea, cramps, nosebleed, rapid pulse, and vomiting. At severe cases, hypovolemic shocks occur, at which point death can occur in 12–18 hours.
Prevention: When going to places with the epidemic, (1) bring safe water and beverage or drink only boiled or treated water, (2) eat only hot and thoroughly cooked food or fruits that you peeled yourself, (3) avoid raw or undercooked foods, and (4) do not ingest street food and drinks.

Disease: Botulism
Cause: Clostridium botulinum bacteria
Symptoms: Dry mouth, blurred and or double vision, difficulty swallowing, muscle weakness, difficulty breathing, slurred speech, vomiting and sometimes diarrhea. Death is usually caused by respiratory failure.
Prevention: Prepare and store food carefully and safely.

Disease: Typhoid
Cause: Salmonella typhi bacteria
Symptoms: Characterized by sustained fever up to 40°C or 104°F, profuse sweating, diarrhea, less commonly a rash may occur. Symptoms progress to delirium and the spleen as well as the liver enlarge if untreated. In this case, it can last up to four weeks and can cause death.
Prevention: (1) Do not take in high-risk food and drinks. (2) Get vaccinated against typhoid fever.

Disease: Hepatitis A
Cause: Hepatitis A virus
Symptoms: Symptoms are only acute (no chronic stage to the virus) and include Fatigue, fever, abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea, weight loss, itching, jaundice and depression.
Prevention: (1) Get vaccinated against Hepatitis A. (2) Always wash hands with soap after using the comfort room, and disinfect often. (3) Eat carefully cleaned or freshly cooked foods. (4) Make sure the water or beverage to drink is clean and safe.

Disease: Dysentery
Cause: Shigella dysenteriae bacteria or entamoeba histolytica amoeba
Symptoms: Frequent passage of feces with blood and or mucus, and in some cases vomiting of blood.
Prevention: (1) Drink only boiled, treated water, or bottled water. (2) Avoid raw, undercooked, and street foods. (3) Wash hands carefully and thoroughly often or as necessary.

Disease: Polio
Cause: Polioviruses
Symptoms: 90-95% of patients show no symptoms; 4-8% have minor symptoms comparative with delirium, headache, fever, occasional seizures, and spastic paralysis; 1% have symptoms of non-paralytic aseptic meningitis; and the rest have serious symptoms resulting to paralysis or death
Prevention: Get vaccinated against polio.

Infectious Disease Is Haiti’s Top Concern

Bed sheets are turned into slings and tourniquets. Amputations without pain medication. Rationing water. These are just a few of the Haiti earthquake aftermath that the government and the Haitians themselves must face. But the already ill situation will worsen in the coming days as infectious diseases are expected to show their face.

This concern is top in Haiti as there is but very limited supply of clean and safe water, which is a primary necessity. Farshad Rastegar, CEO of Los Angeles-based Relief International, said “More people die in the aftermath of a disaster from dirty or bad water than anything else.” The condition is aggravated by the fact that about 300,000 homeless people have nowhere else to go but cluster in streets and public places where there is no clean water or sanitation, not even food.

The terrible condition of the Haitians left them vulnerable to diseases. Diarrheal and respiratory diseases will abound as people ingest contaminated food and water. Decomposing bodies will also likely bring health problems. And as the country is known to be an impoverished country, experts see that malnourished residents will undoubtedly catch communicable ailments and pass them to others.

Haitians can only hope for emergency relief and medical aid from the neighboring countries and internationally. But the unknown number of those in need is hard to calculate, and getting supplies to where they are badly needed proves a real challenge. Help has arrived. Medical supplies, operating rooms and water purifiers are in Haiti but volunteers cannot take them deeper into communities easily. For the moment, doctors and nurses are doing everything to help the injured. More health care workers in nursing uniforms and lab coats are also coming to aid.