Can our emotions affect our health? I'm Dr. David DeRose--in a few moments--"Emotions and Health" on WellnessWise.

Dr. Redford Williams of Duke University medical school and colleagues have looked at a particular emotional characteristic--hostility--and examined how it affected health.

They compared psychological tests measuring hostility with health 25 years later. Those with the lowest hostility scores had only one quarter the risk of developing heart disease compared to those with the highest scores.

The statistics on mortality were even more startling. The group with the high hostility scores had over six times the risk of death compared to those with the lowest scores.

I was especially interested in Williams' description of the characteristic of hostility: He called it "an absence of trust in the basic goodness of others", grounded in "the belief that others are generally mean, selfish and undependable."

Along these lines Dr. Williams has pointed out in his book, The Trusting Heart, that all of the world's major religious traditions emphasize qualities that would combat tendencies to hostility. This illustrates how values esteemed by faith communities can help improve the health of the entire population.

For WellnessWise, I'm Dr. David DeRose.

Reference. Jon Kabat-Zinn, Ph.D., Full Catastrophe Living, Chapter 15, "Mind and Body: Evidence That Beliefs, Attitudes, Thoughts, and Emotions Can Harm or Heal," p.211-213; Delacorte Press, New York, 1990.

LIVER CANCER PREVENTION

One of the world's most common cancers is largely preventable. I'm Dr. David DeRose--Liver cancer prevention--in a moment on WellnessWise.

Liver cancer strikes more people world wide than leukemia, prostate cancer or ovarian cancer, but it is seldom talked about in America. That's too bad--because it's a cancer that is largely preventable.

Hepatitis B virus is one of the leading causes of this devastating cancer. Individuals who develop a chronic form of hepatitis B may experience anywhere from 10 to 100 times the risk of developing liver cancer.

The good news about hepatitis B infection is that it is largely preventable--vaccination prevents ever developing the illness in over 95% of healthy individuals who receive the recommended three doses.

The vaccine used to be recommended only to health care workers and others at high risk of contact with blood or other body fluids. Now, many of us are recommending the vaccine as a wise general preventive measure. Even my healthy two year old daughter has completed the series.

Other risk factors for liver cancer are equally controllable. These include: alcohol use, tobacco smoking, and steroid hormone use.

Liver cancer--attention to its risk factors may keep you from becoming a statistic.

For WellnessWise, I'm Dr. David DeRose.

Ref.: "Etiology of primary liver cancer and the role of steroidal hormones (editorial)" by Dimitrios Trichopoulos, Department of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, Cancer Causes and Control, 3(1):3-5, 1992.

SALMONELLA AND EGGS

Salmonella infection--you may be at risk. I'm Dr. David DeRose, in a moment we'll look at this potentially life-threatening disease on WellnessWise.

Salmonella enteritidis is a germ that can cause food poisoning. The illness usually includes diarrhea, nausea , vomiting, abdominal pain, and fever. In healthy individuals full recovery is the rule, but deaths have resulted--especially in the elderly or those with weakened immune systems.

Since 1985 there have been over 500 outbreaks of the disease in the US with over 18,000 individuals affected. Nearly 2000 of those suffering from such Salmonella infections have been hospitalized and over 60 have died.

When a specific food can be identified as the cause of the outbreak, 83% of the time it has been due to eggs.

Thoroughly cooked eggs appear to be safe. Raw and undercooked eggs pose the problem. Current research indicates that over 50% of Americans consume egg products that are at risk for contamination. Many are simply not aware that some of their favorite food items contain raw eggs. Foods containing raw eggs include: homemade ice cream, cookie batter, Caesar salad, and hollandaise sauce.

The message is clear, if you choose to eat eggs, make sure they are thoroughly cooked, and be aware of items that use raw eggs as ingredients.

For WellnessWise, I'm Dr. David DeRose.

Reference: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), 43(36): 669-671. September 16, 1994. "Outbreak of Salmonella Enteritidis Associated with Homemade Ice Cream--Florida 1993."

SECTION III PARTING WORDS

INTRODUCTIONS TO THE WEJ EDITOR AND SPONSORS

Hello, I am David DeRose, MD, MPH, the current editor of The WellnessWise Electronic Journal. I want to welcome you as a new subscriber to our e-newsletter. My goal is to share sound health information that will make a difference in your life and the lives of those you love.

I am a board certified Internal Medicine specialist who also holds a Masters degree in Public Health (MPH). My MPH specialization in health education and health promotion complements my current medical practice which is focused on preventive medicine--particularly nutritional and other non drug therapies. I also serve as the Vice President for Medical Affairs at Living Springs Lifestyle Center in Putnam Valley New York. I continue to function as the writer/host of the WellnessWise radio program.

The sponsors for WEJ include Living Springs and The WellnessWise radio broadcast.

For 15 years, Living Springs Lifestyle Center has helped people attain a higher level of personal health and fitness. The Center offers residential health programs of various lengths, but our most popular are our 7 day live-in lifestyle change programs. In addition to our 7 day stop smoking program, individuals come to make lifestyle changes to control stress, lose weight or improve their blood pressure, diabetes, arthritis, etc. In view of its 70 acres with lake front footage and beautiful forests, the Center is surprisingly located within only a one hour drive of midtown Manhattan. Further information about Living Springs is available in a free information packet that can be obtained by calling 1-800-SAY-WELL or by sending your "snail address" to me via E-mail.

The WellnessWise Radio Program airs daily (Monday through Friday). Each day it features a 90 second preventive medicine broadcast along with a 30 second commercial slot for local or national sponsors. Sponsorship opportunities are still available. Audio tapes feature 20-40 programs each and can be purchased. (E-mail address: docderose@aol.com).

SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION

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