Pollution and IQ: A study relates air pollution, specifically a compound called black carbon, to reduction in IQ points, memory, and other cognitive factors. The researchers equated some of this with the effects of cigarette smoking on children whose mothers smoked while pregnant. Unfortunately, the US Surgeon General has not found a causal association with cigarette smoking and IQ. The researchers note oxidative damage and inflammation as possible causes of brain problems. I wonder myself about oxygen flow as pollution, specifically gases such as carbon monoxide, can effect it.
Hormones and Cancer: When the Women’s Health Initiative study was amended in 2002 women stopped receiving HRT but continued to be followed by the researchers. Those scientists are able to track the women over time to test for continued adverse or protective effects of past hormone use. The most recent analysis continues to say that the risks are greater than the benefits of HRT. The higher risk of heart attack does diminish over time. The risk of cancer, any cancer, remains inflated. A good piece of advice offered in the article was that one should take the least effective dose of a hormone supplement for the least amount of time. I feel that is across the board a sound bit of advice.
Snow: In an article that shares a not so startling bit of news (snow has germs) a comment was redundant enough to repeat here. “It’s a very ubiquitous bacteria that’s everywhere.” Says, Dr. P Dennehy. Too funny. Anyway, no one thinks that snow should not be eaten, but that moderation is wise. Well, as we all can attest if Americans know anything, it’s moderation!
XRays: Last year I wrote about CT scans being radioactive and cautioned against consenting to them too often. I am actually the kind of patient that asks the doctor to try to diagnose me with a clinical exam, you know, the old fashioned way. The study I saw this week regarding x-rays in the ER was actually from Wake Forest University, the University of my former employer, WFU Baptist Medical Center. The researchers were interested in the amount of scans that trauma victims received. Though this kind of diagnostic evaluation is necessary in saving lives, not all scans or complete body scans, are warranted. The researchers and those interviewed about the study do repeat what we learned in the past, this is exposure to radiation and that radiation puts one at risk for developing cancer. It is especially concerning to use CTs and to use the machines on young persons. Tumors do take time to develop so when the scans start early, the dose and time both increase. Safer options may include MRI, though I question that one, and ultrasound.
Fatigue: So nice to see my advice supported in the research. People who do not engage in regular exercise generally feel that they have less energy than those who exercise. Physical activity, movement, increases energy levels, focus, positive mood and health. The most recent proof of these things involves such a small sample size that the results are not considered statistically significant. However, the participants who did begin to exercise with just a 20 minute walk a day had more energy and felt more alert than the non exercising group. It is easy to test actually. Commit to a daily walk, do it for three weeks and then “re eval”. Let me know how you feel.
Rx drugs and Risks: Just a note on how to wrap your mind around reports you hear regarding side effects of medicine. A good example is Chantix, the stop smoking drug. It has a high efficacy rate. This drug is said to be more effective in getting people off cigarettes than the older Zyban(wellbutrin) or the nicotine replacement products. It has also been linked to nightmares, psychosis, and suicidal thoughts. Five million people took the drug and X number had an adverse event. To determine if that is a drug related phenomena, look at five million similar people who have not taken the drug and count the number of similar adverse events. Most people are advising that the general population would have at least as many sleep disturbances, first psychotic episodes and suicidal thoughts.
Wishing you Wellness as you Spring Forward to Good Heal
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