Wellness Weekly

Scanning for Lung Cancer: There is concern, even offense, over the disclosure that tobacco money has been used in research on lung cancer. A study (or studies) that are meant to determine if screening for lung cancer with a CT scanner is effective in preventing lung cancer death is the trigger for this concern. I wrote about the results of the study before, as there was unease that there are many false positives, invasive follow up procedures, and uncertainty to whether or not the expensive test can save lives. Further, there is the risk of radiation. Having a CT on a regular basis is hardly without risk. The concern that tobacco companies funded the research or some of it, is less disconcerting to me than the disclosure of a CT Scanning company contributing to the funds. NOW that is bias. It is interesting to hear the health groups weigh in as supporters of CT scans. The point they make is how having smokers regularly screened for lung tumors may save their lives. I will tell you what will prevent smokers from dying of lung cancer. Stopping Smoking.

Zyprexia: This medication is a psychotropic often used to treat bipolar disorder or schizophrenia. It has a warning that it may increase weight, raise blood sugar levels and lead to diabetes. I have seen the weight gain. The interesting thing is this. First of all, people gain weight when they eat more calories than they need. Sometimes medications do change the way we metabolize food and or medicine can make us hungrier so we need to eat differently. I believe that persons who are prescribed these drugs should be given nutrition counseling. This week however, the state of Alaska won law suit against the makers of zyprexia. They claimed that the use of the medication had raised the rates of obesity and diabetes in their Medicaid patients. They have been compensated. Other states may also sue. I think that this is a good thing. Here is why. These medications come with warning labels and I have known at least three doctors in my personal experience who knew the risks and chose to use the drugs anyway. A lot of the time the doctors said, well, they just have to list that as a side effect it won’t really happen.

Kraft is Insane: Well no they are not, we are. Mind you I think Kraft is awesome and I appreciate the many products that they offer which are low in fat, sugar and calories. I am frustrated by their so called functional food lines. This LiveActive business where they add pre and pro biotics to foods like cereal because they feel that we would rather pay extra money for that product than eat a healthful diet baffles me. The company did research to learn that we do not have good digestive health. Well, this is because we eat highly processed foods and not enough fruits, veggies and fiber. You do not need to eat those chemical altered foods and chances are, they do not work the way unprocessed foods work. So, well, you just have a lot of expensive waste and little improvement to your health.

Anorexia: Switching gears for a minute here. Italy is beginning a campaign across their country to prevent further rises in the cases of anorexia. They have two or three million cases, pretty average for developed countries, though their 10 percent of males may be higher. They have laws in place regarding rules for modeling that are noble. Health organizations in that country note that families are more in tune with what their children eat as there may be more of a focus on eating together. I was raised by an Italian and have been to Italy. Eat Eat Eat, is a phrase I am used to hearing in both
English and Italian. I was surprised to see that there was this problem and that the government seemed so vested in addressing it. One thing I really liked was a statement that the children were not “sick” but overly concerned about appearance. Yes.. Labeling people as sick, in my experience, only makes them so.

Obesity: Since there are quite a few more people in this category, let me get back to it. Research from Canada was discussed at a meeting this week. Comprehensive approaches to battling this problem are needed. In fact, some of the findings may have me, in time, rethink my simple tagline “energy in and energy out”. But not just yet. It is true that one’s weight or in aggregate, the weight of our countrymen, is affected by personal genetics, environment, social standing, behavior and more. What we eat absolutely matters but being able to get the food also matters. Waist circumference is being touted more and more often as an important measurement for heart disease and diabetes risk. Persons who carry their weight in the abdomen are at higher risk. So where your fat goes is genetic, but what you eat is behavioral. Do you know you hip to waist ratio?

Schools and Farmers: In addressing the nutrition of our children, some states are using local produce from local farmers to get fruit and vegetables to the cafeteria. This is a time consuming and sometimes expensive process. Farmers sacrifice some expediency in payment and schools may pay more, however if it reduces obesity rates and improves overall health it seems worth it to me. Most schools continue to cut costs with foods that are processed and easy to prepare. Hopefully, more money will be available to buy and use the more natural foods. This type of intervention would fit in perfectly with nutrition course work, physical activity and the Go Slow Whoa program.

Bipolar Diagnosis: A scientist has created a test based on his research into the genetic make up of bipolar disorder. It is very disconcerting to some and to me. First of all, he has identified some genes, but admits that not everyone who has them gets the disease. The test only applies to white people of particular ethnic descent. The test can be wrong. The test involved spitting in a cup and sending the sample by mail. The results of your spit test go to a physician who may or may not have experience in diagnosing or treating the illness. The result of the test may lead to medication and those medications will have side effects. Diagnosing this illness with a genetic test has too great a risk in my opinion. Marketing the test to consumers is dangerous. I also feel that just as marketing the drugs to us directly results in unnecessary pharmacotherapy and labeling so will this. Of course, this could also lead to more cases of disability or claims of disability because of mental illness.

Risk, Cost, Benefit: Lastly, an article that brings us back to blurb one. Insurance companies are requiring precertification for diagnostic exams such as a CT, PET or nuclear cardiology tests. All of these do put the patient at risk from radiation exposure and also cost a lot of money because the equipment was expensive to purchase. There has been some concern that hospitals and doctors buy these machines and then order the scans to increase revenue or to pay for the machine. In other words the scans may be unnecessary. Then again, there are some who order less expensive or risky tests which are also less effective only to later ask the patient and his or her insurer to also have the more advanced test. The cost of scans like this doubled in just five years and when I say doubled, I mean from costs in the billions. I still, when appropriate, like to ask the doctor, okay, what would you do if these machines didn’t exist and what will you advise me to do if it says what you think it is going to say? In other words, how will the scan impact the course of treatment. I consider health care to be a resource and do not want to be a part of the exploitation. I also do not want to expose myself to danger or discomfort without just cause.

wishing you wellness