We're told to see our doctor on a regular basis and get the tests we need. Well, now we know just how well one of those tests saves live.
We've known for sometime that pap smears save lives, but new information is showing just how important they really are. Especially when it comes to surviving cervical cancer.
Pap smears are used to detect cervical cancer and the HPV virus that can lead to cervical cancer. And like all cancers, the earlier it's detected the easier it is to treat. And if it's HPV that's found then the cancer can be avoided before it takes hold. But now we are finding out just how effective pap smears really are.
A new study out of Sweden, just published in the British Medical Journal, found that women whose cervical cancer was detected by a pap smear increased their chances of getting cured by 26%. And those women who didn't have any symptoms, but had their cervical cancer found earlier because of a pap smear had a 95% survival rate 5 years out. That's an incredibly effective test.
Currently, the U.S. recommends healthy women aged 21 to 65 have a pap smear every 3 years. This study didn't address how often these tests are needed, but did show that getting tested on a regular basis is important and can be life saving.
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Sleeping Pills Dangers
Sleeping pills are supposed to help you get some shut eye, but they might also be causing some serious health problems.
While sleeping pills might help you get some sleep, they are now being linked to both a higher risk of death and a greater chance of developing certain types of cancers. And that is getting some experts concerned about how much and how often they are used.
A new study, just published in the British Medical Journal, found that adults taking sleeping pills were nearly 4 times more likely to die early on. And they were also more likely to be diagnosed with certain types of cancer including lung, colon, prostate cancer and lymphoma.
The surprising part of the study was that even those taking sleeping pills only once in a while, up to 18 times per year, had this increased risk. And the more you took, the higher the risk went. But experts are arguing about what all this really means. Is this risk of dying and developing cancer higher because of something in the pills or is it higher because those with sleep problems already have other health issues?
Like all medicines, sleeping pills can have side effects, so they should only be taken when needed. And the shorter amount of time they are taken the better. Plus, if you find yourself needing them more than not, then it's best to visit a sleep expert to see if you can fix whatever is causing your sleep issues and not just cover it up with medication.
While sleeping pills might help you get some sleep, they are now being linked to both a higher risk of death and a greater chance of developing certain types of cancers. And that is getting some experts concerned about how much and how often they are used.
A new study, just published in the British Medical Journal, found that adults taking sleeping pills were nearly 4 times more likely to die early on. And they were also more likely to be diagnosed with certain types of cancer including lung, colon, prostate cancer and lymphoma.
The surprising part of the study was that even those taking sleeping pills only once in a while, up to 18 times per year, had this increased risk. And the more you took, the higher the risk went. But experts are arguing about what all this really means. Is this risk of dying and developing cancer higher because of something in the pills or is it higher because those with sleep problems already have other health issues?
Like all medicines, sleeping pills can have side effects, so they should only be taken when needed. And the shorter amount of time they are taken the better. Plus, if you find yourself needing them more than not, then it's best to visit a sleep expert to see if you can fix whatever is causing your sleep issues and not just cover it up with medication.
Dehydration Impacts Mood
Colorado has a dry climate and it's that dry climate that may be affecting your mood.
This dry climate means more of us are dehydrated day in and day out, and new information is showing that dehydration may affect our mental health. But although it affects our mental health, interestingly it turns out that dehydration does different things to men and women.
Dehydration in general can cause you to have dry skin, chapped lips and maybe even cause you to get a headache from time to time. But in a new study, researchers found that even mild dehydration caused changes in mood. For men, dehydration caused problems with their alertness and memory. In women, it caused more fatigue, tension and anxiety. And surprisingly, it didn't take much dehydration for these issues to happen. Even being just a little dry caused the problems. And living here in Colorado, many of us walk around mildly dehydrated every day. So one key to feeling better, both physically and mentally may be to grab a glass of water every now and then during our typically dry days.
This dry climate means more of us are dehydrated day in and day out, and new information is showing that dehydration may affect our mental health. But although it affects our mental health, interestingly it turns out that dehydration does different things to men and women.
Dehydration in general can cause you to have dry skin, chapped lips and maybe even cause you to get a headache from time to time. But in a new study, researchers found that even mild dehydration caused changes in mood. For men, dehydration caused problems with their alertness and memory. In women, it caused more fatigue, tension and anxiety. And surprisingly, it didn't take much dehydration for these issues to happen. Even being just a little dry caused the problems. And living here in Colorado, many of us walk around mildly dehydrated every day. So one key to feeling better, both physically and mentally may be to grab a glass of water every now and then during our typically dry days.
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Memory Loss & Too Much Food
Keeping your memory intact as you get older might mean cutting down on how much you eat.
It sounds strange, but it turns out that eating too much during our senior years might also set us up for memory loss.
As we get older, we all tend to forget a thing or two like where we put our car keys or what we came into a room to do. That's normal. But more intense memory loss could signal dementia which can have big consequences as we get older. So doing what we can to preserve our memory as we age is important. And besides exercising our brain with puzzles or social outings, it looks like watching how much we eat could have an impact on our memory as well.
Researchers have found that those seniors 70 and older who ate between 2,100 and 6,000 calories per day doubled their risk of developing memory problems. While they aren't sure why this happens, the ones presenting this study at the American Academy of Neurology's annual meeting think it might have to do with too much food leading to structural changes in the brain as we get older.
So, keep in mind that in addition to exercising your brain as you get older, controlling your diet might also help keep your memory as strong and sharp as possible.
It sounds strange, but it turns out that eating too much during our senior years might also set us up for memory loss.
As we get older, we all tend to forget a thing or two like where we put our car keys or what we came into a room to do. That's normal. But more intense memory loss could signal dementia which can have big consequences as we get older. So doing what we can to preserve our memory as we age is important. And besides exercising our brain with puzzles or social outings, it looks like watching how much we eat could have an impact on our memory as well.
Researchers have found that those seniors 70 and older who ate between 2,100 and 6,000 calories per day doubled their risk of developing memory problems. While they aren't sure why this happens, the ones presenting this study at the American Academy of Neurology's annual meeting think it might have to do with too much food leading to structural changes in the brain as we get older.
So, keep in mind that in addition to exercising your brain as you get older, controlling your diet might also help keep your memory as strong and sharp as possible.
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Baby Boomers Getting Hurt
Baby boomers listen up. There's a very good reason why you keep getting hurt.
It's because baby boomers are refusing to slow down, but all that activity comes at a price.
I tell my patients that we aren't 18 anymore. That doesn't mean we need to stop doing all that we are doing, just that we need to listen to our bodies a little bit more and give it a break when it's asking for one.
As a matter of fact, researchers just released information showing that 1 in 20 Americans over the age of 50 have some type of artificial joint. And some of those with these artificial joints might need a second one 15 or 20 years down the line. But it's not just artificial joints that are the issue. As we get older and stay more active than ever before, we are also having more pulled or torn muscles, strained ligaments that refuse to heal and just plain old pains that we never had before.
The best way to avoid these things is to simply listen to our bodies. If you are constantly getting hurt doing a certain activity, say running, then switch to something else for a while to give your body a break. Also, make sure if you are starting a new activity that you start off slow and build up as time goes one. The main point is to keep exercising because it's good for your overall health, but make sure it's not making things worse while you're at it.
It's because baby boomers are refusing to slow down, but all that activity comes at a price.
I tell my patients that we aren't 18 anymore. That doesn't mean we need to stop doing all that we are doing, just that we need to listen to our bodies a little bit more and give it a break when it's asking for one.
As a matter of fact, researchers just released information showing that 1 in 20 Americans over the age of 50 have some type of artificial joint. And some of those with these artificial joints might need a second one 15 or 20 years down the line. But it's not just artificial joints that are the issue. As we get older and stay more active than ever before, we are also having more pulled or torn muscles, strained ligaments that refuse to heal and just plain old pains that we never had before.
The best way to avoid these things is to simply listen to our bodies. If you are constantly getting hurt doing a certain activity, say running, then switch to something else for a while to give your body a break. Also, make sure if you are starting a new activity that you start off slow and build up as time goes one. The main point is to keep exercising because it's good for your overall health, but make sure it's not making things worse while you're at it.
Vitamin D & Language Development
Having adequate levels of one vitamin during pregnancy could help language problems in their children.
It's vitamin D and it looks like having enough of it during the pregnancy can help your child avoid language issues even when they are up to 10 years old.
A new study, just published in the Journal Pediatrics, looked to see if there was any connection between a mother's vitamin D levels during pregnancy and how their child developed later in life. The researchers involved specifically looked at how it might affect behavioral, emotional and language issues when the child was anywhere up to 17 years old.
They didn't find much of a connection with behavioral or emotional issues. But they did find a big connection with the mom-to-be's vitamin D level and language development in their child when he or she was 5 and even 10 years old. Those with the lowest levels of vitamin D had children who were twice as likely to have a language problem later on.
This was especially true when it came to vitamin D levels during the second and third trimesters. Probably because this is when language parts of the brain are developing the most.
Some mothers-to-be may need supplements to boost their vitamin D levels. Your best bet is to check with your doctor to see where you stand when it comes to your levels of this vitamin that's important for your health and that of your baby-to-be.
It's vitamin D and it looks like having enough of it during the pregnancy can help your child avoid language issues even when they are up to 10 years old.
A new study, just published in the Journal Pediatrics, looked to see if there was any connection between a mother's vitamin D levels during pregnancy and how their child developed later in life. The researchers involved specifically looked at how it might affect behavioral, emotional and language issues when the child was anywhere up to 17 years old.
They didn't find much of a connection with behavioral or emotional issues. But they did find a big connection with the mom-to-be's vitamin D level and language development in their child when he or she was 5 and even 10 years old. Those with the lowest levels of vitamin D had children who were twice as likely to have a language problem later on.
This was especially true when it came to vitamin D levels during the second and third trimesters. Probably because this is when language parts of the brain are developing the most.
Some mothers-to-be may need supplements to boost their vitamin D levels. Your best bet is to check with your doctor to see where you stand when it comes to your levels of this vitamin that's important for your health and that of your baby-to-be.
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Healthy Fried Food
You like fried foods, but want to make them a little healthier. Maybe the answer is olive oil.
Let's be honest, who doesn't like fried food once in a while.
But the problem is that fried foods can be bad for your health, especially if consumed too much. They can lead to obesity, high cholesterol and even high blood pressure. All of which can increase a person's chances of having a heart attack or stroke.
A group of researchers out of Spain, where both sunflower and olive oil are just about the only oils someone can find, wanted to see what the difference would be if foods were fried in these healthier types of oils. After following over 40,000 adults for 11 years, they found that when people used olive or sunflower oil to fry foods they didn't increase their risk of coronary heart disease or death. But that doesn't give us a blank excuse to consume more fried foods, even if cooked with healthier oils. It's still best to practice my favorite word, moderation, and add in plenty of antioxidant rich fruits and vegetables. That's the best way to keep your heart healthy all year long.
Let's be honest, who doesn't like fried food once in a while.
But the problem is that fried foods can be bad for your health, especially if consumed too much. They can lead to obesity, high cholesterol and even high blood pressure. All of which can increase a person's chances of having a heart attack or stroke.
A group of researchers out of Spain, where both sunflower and olive oil are just about the only oils someone can find, wanted to see what the difference would be if foods were fried in these healthier types of oils. After following over 40,000 adults for 11 years, they found that when people used olive or sunflower oil to fry foods they didn't increase their risk of coronary heart disease or death. But that doesn't give us a blank excuse to consume more fried foods, even if cooked with healthier oils. It's still best to practice my favorite word, moderation, and add in plenty of antioxidant rich fruits and vegetables. That's the best way to keep your heart healthy all year long.
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