CONTENTS: Section I.......Science/Health Abstracts Turmeric/Leg Ulcers Breast Cancer/Diet Limb Defects/Smoking Mothers Antihistamines/Cancer Growth Breast Feeding/Multiple Sclerosis Ultrasound In Pregnancy/Speech Delays In Infants Section II.......Transcripts from The WellnessWise Radio Program Women and Cardiovascular Disease--Part I Women and Cardiovascular Disease--Part II Physical Therapy and Rheumatoid Arthritis Section III......From The Lifestyle Center of America Section IV.......Parting Words Subscription Information Back Issues
The following abstracts first appeared in Volume Vol. 13(5) of
"Science/Health Abstracts"; copyright 1994 by Phylis A. Austin.
(Send e-mail to WEJ for information on how to obtain a current
subscription to "Science/Health Abstracts.")
Turmeric is known to have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory
properties. Researchers from the Division of Plastic Surgery at
the University of Mississippi Medical Center applied turmeric to
leg ulcers which had not responded to treatment. The turmeric was
followed by wet-to-dressings and compression wraps three times a
day. All patients in the study demonstrated healing of their leg
ulcers. (Clinical Research 42(2)233A, 1994
The intake of vitamin C and beta-carotene by women with breast
cancer appears to improve their survival. (British Journal of
Cancer 69:592-595, 1994)
Infants of mothers who smoke are more likely to suffer limb
deficiencies than are the infants of non-smoking mothers. (British
Medical Journal 308:1473-6, 1994)
Three common antihistamines have been shown to stimulate the growth
of tumors in laboratory animals. (Journal of the National Cancer
Institute 86(10)770-775, May 18, 1994)
A study of multiple sclerosis patients in Naples, Italy revealed
that patients were less likely to have been breast fed for long
periods of time than were healthy controls. (British Medical
Journal 308:1411-1412, May 28, 1994)
Infants exposed to ultrasound while still in utero are about twice
as likely to suffer delayed speech than are non-exposed infants.
(Canadian Medical Association Journal 149:1435-1440, 1993)
(All scripts copyright 1995 and 1996 by David J. DeRose, MD, MPH)
Women as a group are at special risk from heart attacks. I'm Dr. David
DeRose, in a moment we'll look at some of the details on WellnessWise.
Heart attacks used to be considered a man's problem--but that's far from the
truth. Each year in America, an estimated 625,000 women have heart attacks.
And heart disease is *the* leading killer of women--accounting for over one
third of all deaths.
Perhaps more surprisingly, current research indicates that women who have
heart attacks generally fare worse than men. Compared to a man, a woman's
first heart attack is more likely to be fatal. And if a woman survives a
heart attack she is more likely than a man to have problems--problems like
heart failure or another heart attack. Furthermore, women have more
complications from heart disease treatments like bypass surgery and
angioplasty (the so called balloon procedure).
In spite of these statistics, some studies indicate that women with symptoms
of a heart attack often wait longer than men to seek medical help. And men
don't do too well in this department either. The average American waits four
hours before seeking care for a heart attack--even though the best results
occur if treatment is started within an hour of the attack.
The most important message for women is that they *are* at significant risk
from heart disease. If you're having symptoms that you think may be related
to your heart, the time to check them out is now rather than later.
For WellnessWise, I'm Dr. David DeRose.
Ref.: National Institutes of Health--National Heart Lung and Blood
Institute-Office of Prevention, Education, and Control--HeartMemo, Special
Edition, 1994, "The Cardiovascular Health of Women"
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in American women. I'm Dr. David
DeRose, in a moment "Heart Disease Prevention for Women" on WellnessWise.
In America, heart disease kills more women than any other cause. But better
than prompt heart disease treatment is preventing heart attacks in the first
place. Three areas are especially important to prevent heart attacks in
women:
1) Know your blood pressure and control it if high. If your blood pressure
is currently normal, you can decrease your risk of developing high blood
pressure by reducing sodium and alcohol consumption, maintaining a desirable
body weight and increasing physical activity. And beware of the pill: women
who use oral contraceptives for over five years may double or triple their
risk of later developing high blood pressure.
2) Control Cholesterol. Statistics indicate that about 20% of adult women
have dangerously high cholesterol levels. Control strategies should start
with weight reduction (if overweight), increasing exercise, and of course
eating better.
3) Don't smoke. Even in young women, there is a strong relationship between
current smoking and heart attacks. Smoking risks are further increased if a
woman uses oral contraceptives.
For WellnessWise, I'm Dr. David DeRose.
Ref.: National Institutes of Health--National Heart Lung and Blood
Institute-Office of Prevention, Education, and Control. HeartMemo, Special
Edition, 1994, "The Cardiovascular Health of Women"
If you are struggling with the pain or disability of rheumatoid arthritis,
theres new hope for you. I'm Dr. David DeRose, new hope from an old
remedy in a moment on WellnessWise.
Doctors used to think that exercise worsened joint destruction in those
suffering from rheumatoid arthritis. As a result, it was common to recommend
bed rest for people with acute arthritis affecting many joints. But we now
know that bed rest *does not* give any more rapid improvement than being as
active as tolerated. In addition, bed rest increases the risk of developing
stiffness and loss of joint motion. A person loses about 10% to 20% of his
strength per week. Simply lying in bed for a prolonged period of time may
also contribute to osteoporosis, inflammation of veins, blood clot formation,
decreased heart and lung fitness, and other problems.
Recent research indicates that exercise can give further benefits to
rheumatoid arthritis suffers. Intensive physical therapy is one way to
quickly get onto an exercise program that is right for the arthritic patient.
Furthermore, such therapy offers help through the application of heat and
cold. Heat provides local pain relief, increases tissue elasticity and blood
flow, and reduces muscle spasm and joint stiffness. Cooling decreases
swelling and acts as a local pain reliever. It may reduce the activity of a
harmful substance called collagenase, an enzyme which works to break down the
joint.
For WellnessWise, I'm Dr. David DeRose.
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TURMERIC/LEG ULCERS
BREAST CANCER/DIET
LIMB DEFECTS/SMOKING MOTHERS
ANTIHISTAMINES/CANCER GROWTH
BREAST FEEDING/MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS
ULTRASOUND IN PREGNANCY/SPEECH DELAYS IN INFANTS
SECTION II
TRANSCRIPTS FROM THE WELLNESSWISE RADIO PROGRAM
WOMEN AND CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE--PART I
WOMEN AND CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE--PART II
PHYSICAL THERAPY AND RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS
SECTION III
FROM THE LIFESTYLE CENTER OF AMERICA
SECTION IV
PARTING WORDS
SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION
BACK ISSUES
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David J. DeRose, MD, MPH
Email: drderose@brightok.net