Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Memory Loss & Vitamin B12

Low levels of one vitamin might be one reason for memory loss as we get older.

We're talking about vitamin B12 and according to a new study, elderly folks with low levels of this vitamin also ended up having the smallest brains and the most memory problems.

This new study, just published in the Journal Neurology, looked at 121 people aged 65 and above. They tested their B12 levels, had them perform memory and brain function tests, and then did a brain scan. And since blood levels of B12 don't always match up with how much of this vitamin someone actually has, they also looked at what are known as B12 markers, called Methymalonate and Homocysteine in the blood. It was lower levels of these markers, which meant lower levels of B12 in the body, that also matched up with those people who had poorer memories on the tests and smaller brains on the scan.

This adds to previous studies where researchers found out that giving B vitamins, including B12, B6 and Folic Acid, to those over age 70 actually helped improve their memory during a two-year period.

So, although this new study was small, only 121 people, and researchers aren't yet ready to tell everyone to take more of this vitamin, it's always a good idea to eat foods rich in vitamin B12. Not only might they help keep your memory sharp, but they can also help protect against heart disease.

Bedbug Treatment Can Make You Sick

Although bedbugs won't make you sick, what you do to get rid of them might.

The concerning thing is that over 100 people have gotten sick and one has died because of the treatment they used to try and get rid of bedbugs. And the treatment in common to all of these cases were the use, or in most cases misuse, of insecticides to try to get rid of the pests.

According to the CDC, these cases occurred in seven different states over the last eight years. Insecticide poisonings occurred either because too much was used, the wrong type was used or the treated bedding wasn't changed after. In most cases the insecticides were applied by the home occupant themselves or by a non-certified exterminator.

The one death occurred in an elderly woman with multiple medical problems whose husband used 18 cans of an insecticide fogger over a two day period. The couple did not air out the house before reentering.

Although this is an extreme example of what can happen, the CDC does go on to say that this and other cases highlight the misinformation about bedbug treatment. They recommend using professional exterminators and what they call an integrated pest management system that uses a variety of different methods to dispose of what is becoming a more common problem... the bedbug. The main goal here is to get rid of this pest without hurting you or your family members.

Thursday, September 22, 2011

Talk To Your Doctor About Depression

Some people dealing with depression might not even let their doctor know about it and that means they may not be getting the treatment they need.

The surprising finding behind this new survey is just how many people are reluctant to talk with their family doctor about their depression and the reasons behind it. This survey screened more than 1,000 adults for depression like symptoms. It also asked them about their beliefs about treatment and any barriers to treatment they thought might be in place.

According to the researchers involved in this study, nearly half of the adults surveyed had some misgivings about talking with their primary care provider about any symptoms of depression they might be having. Surprisingly, those "showing" signs of depression were also more likely than most to not want to talk with their doctor about it.

Those getting surveyed had a few main concerns. Many thought that this wasn't something their doctor dealt with, when in fact your primary car provider is trained to deal with depression screening and treatment and is the best choice for an initial conversation about how you are feeling. They also felt that there was a possibility an employer might see the diagnosis of depression on their medical chart. Government privacy laws ensure that your chart, especially when it comes to mental health issues, is only seen by those you give permission and definitely not by your employer, even if they pay for your medical insurance. But the top concern was that they would get prescribed an antidepressant. Although, like all medications, antidepressants do have side effects, they have also proven to be very effective in treating depression. On top of this, if you don't want to be placed on medication, just talk with your doctor about your concerns and you both can decide an avenue of treatment that you, as the patient, feel very comfortable with.

The bottom line is to go ahead and talk with your doctor about any depression symptoms so they can both get it out into the open where you can talk about it and together seek treatment that can help you get back to a normal life.

Children & Poisonings

Over half-a-million kids a year get poisoned, but what they are getting poisoned with might surprise you.

Unfortunately, around 50,000 of those children end up in the emergency room after getting poisoned by prescription medications adults have in their homes.

Anyone with a toddler or preschooler knows just how fast they can get themselves into trouble and how much they like to explore their surroundings. So imagine what happens when they come across bottles or prescription medications. And even keeping these potentially deadly medications, from blood pressure pills to narcotic pain relievers, up and out of the way doesn't always work. So, your best bet is to, number one, get rid of any and all medications that are expired or no longer needed. Storing them for future use might leave young ones vulnerable. Number two, keep a close eye on your young ones. Be especially careful when grandparents are visiting. Ask them to keep their medicines stored properly and maybe even keep their door locked.

If your child does get into pills, then your best action is to call the Rocky Mountain Poison and Drug Center. They have toxicologists on hand to walk you through what to do and when to take the kids to the ER if necessary. That number is 1-800-222-2222.

Monday, September 19, 2011

Eyelids & Health Risks

They say the eyes are windows to the soul, but can your eyelids be windows to your heart health?

It's amazing how much information about our health you can get by looking at certain body clues and now it looks like an eyelid condition might be a hint that our heart health isn't doing too well.

Yellow markings on the upper of lower eyelids are known as Xanthelasma. These are basically yellow "pockets" that appear on the eyelids and are mostly made up of cholesterol. A new study out of the British Medical Journal has found that these eyelid fatty deposits also end up being a sign of an increased risk of someone having a heart attack. The researchers involved in this study followed people both with and without these eyelid deposits since the 1970s. They found that over the last 33 years, those with the eyelid deposits also ended up having more heart attacks than those without them. Part of the reason could be that these fatty cholesterol deposits also mean higher cholesterol in the body. That higher cholesterol leads to more heart attacks over the years.

These researchers hope more patients will start to look for these eyelid deposits and bring them to the attention of their doctors so they can use that as a sign to check for high cholesterol and heart problems.

Monday, September 12, 2011

Drinking & Women's Health

Is drinking alcohol good for a woman's health?

It depends.

Whether it's good for you to have a drink a day depends on what you're most at risk for, a heart attack or breast cancer.

New Research is showing that overall, one drink a day, which is considered moderate drinking for women, can mean being overall healthier once you reach 70. It seems to be particularly protective when it comes to keeping heart attack and stroke risks down.

But, other research has shown that even moderate drinking can increase a woman's risk for certain types of cancer, in particular breast and liver cancer.

So what does it all mean? Should you drink to be healthy or not drink to avoid cancer? Now we get back to the "it depends" part of all this. You need to look and see what you're at the greatest risk from, based on your personal and family history. If you're at a higher risk for these cancers and particularly breast cancer, drinking alcohol can be bad for you. If, on the other hand, you're at a bigger risk of having a heart attack or stroke, then one drink a day can help keep you healthy.

Your best bet is to talk this over with your doctor and see where you stand.

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Colon Cancer & Vitamin D

When it comes to reducing your chances of getting colon cancer you might want to think about the sunshine vitamin.

It looks like having high levels of vitamin D can lower your chances of getting colon cancer.

Over the last few years we've found out that vitamin D is a lot more important than we used to think. It was originally thought to be important for the development of strong bones. But now we're finding out that it also having high levels of vitamin D seems to decrease our chances of having heart disease or strokes and might even cut down on our chances of getting certain cancers.

The problem is that many of us don't have enough vitamin D in our bodies. Over half of us even have levels low enough to be considered vitamin D deficient. And according to this latest study, those with the higher levels of vitamin D also had a much lower risk of getting colon or rectal cancer.

So, your best bet is to make sure you get at least the daily recommended amount of this crucial vitamin. For most of us the government recommends 600 international units a day. Your best source is sunshine but you also have to remember to reduce your risk of getting skin cancer at the same time. Other sources include fortified foods and drinks as well as supplements or daily vitamins.