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11/23/2005
Welcome & Happy Thanksgiving!
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pssst...
Know of any friends or colleagues who would enjoy this
newsletter? Don't forget to forward them a copy of this issue.
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Welcome to the November edition of
our newsletter. Be sure to take a moment this Thanksgiving and
reflect on your health and the actions you can take to improve or
maintain it. We often times do not take the time to reflect on
our health and the habits which may improve or undermine our health.
Health is relatively easy to maintain, but can be most difficult to
regain.
Our Breast Cancer Awareness
Thermography special was a huge success. Many of you took
advantage of the special. Congratulations to all who took the
extra step to safeguard their health!
Newsletter Format. I
would appreciate any comments you have on the format of this
newsletter. I want it to be easy and quick to read and offer
information which you can use to improve your health and keep you
informed. What I think is an effective format may not be
meeting your needs. Please take a moment and let me know if
you have any thoughts or suggestions to make this newsletter more
beneficial to you. We all benefit.
Please send in your questions and comments to
pacmnewsletter@yahoo.com
Michael Wedge
L.Ac., M.Ac.O.M.,DCH
Information You
Can Use To Improve Your Health Today
Caffeine and High Blood
Pressure
Habitual consumption of sugar and diet colas, but
not of coffee, is linked to increased risk for hypertension in
women, according to the results of a prospective cohort study
reported in the Nov. 9 issue of JAMA. In these studies,
155,594 U.S. women free from physician-diagnosed hypertension were
followed up with questionnaires during a 12-year period, from
1990-1991 to 2002-2003. The primary outcome was incident
physician-diagnosed hypertension. When studying
individual classes of caffeinated beverages, habitual coffee
consumption was not associated with increased risk for hypertension,
but consumption of cola beverages was associated with increased
risk, regardless of whether it was sugared or diet cola.
Cabbage and Breast Cancer
Cabbage may be at the heart of why
the breast cancer risk of Polish women triples after they
immigrate to the United States, rising to match the rate of
U.S.-born women, investigators reported today.
Young women who eat four or more servings per week of raw or
lightly cooked cabbage -- such as coleslaw or steamed sauerkraut
-- may significantly reduce their risk of breast cancer later in
life, according to results of a study led by Dorothy R. Pathak,
Ph.D., of the University of New Mexico. That's the way they do
it in Poland.
Compared with women who ate 1.5
servings or less of cabbage per week during adolescence, those
who ate four or more servings were 72% less likely to develop
breast cancer as adults, Dr. Pathak and colleagues reported here
today at the American Association for Cancer Research's annual
cancer prevention meeting. Cabbage contains anti-carcinogenic
glucosinolates and myrosinase enzymes.
PACM Comments: The supplement
Indole 3-Carbinol contains the apparent
active ingredients in cabbage and other vegetables that appear
responsible for the reduction in breast cancer. Although I
am not aware of any studies using Indole
3-Carbinol as a treatment for breast cancer, the theoretical
benefit makes it a potentially useful supplement in breast
cancer treatment and in other breast pathology.
Cancer Risk Reduction
More Than One Third
of Cancer Deaths May Be Attributable to Nine Modifiable Risk
Factors
News Author: Laurie Barclay, MD
CME Author: Désirée Lie, MD, MSEd
Following is an excerpt from the above mentioned
continuing education article.
"With respect to reducing
mortality, advances in cancer treatment have not been as
effective as those for other chronic diseases; effective
screening methods are available for only a few cancers," write
Goodarz Danaei, MD, and the Comparative Risk Assessment
collaborating group (Cancers) from the Harvard School of Public
Health in Boston, Massachusetts, and the Initiative for Global
Health at Harvard University in Cambridge. "Primary prevention
through lifestyle and environmental interventions remains the
main way to reduce the burden of cancers. In this report, we
estimate mortality from 12 types of cancer attributable to nine
risk factors in seven World Bank regions for 2001."
To evaluate exposure to risk factors and relative risk by age,
sex, and region, the investigators analyzed data from the
Comparative Risk Assessment project and from new sources, and
they applied population-attributable fractions (PAFs) for
individual and multiple risk factors to site-specific cancer
mortality provided by the World Health Organization.
Of the seven million deaths from cancer worldwide in
2001, approximately 2.43 million (35%) were attributable to nine
potentially modifiable risk factors. Of these deaths, 0.76
million were in high-income and 1.67 million in low- and
middle-income nations; 1.6 million were in men and 0.83 million
deaths were in women.
Smoking, alcohol use, and low
consumption of fruits and vegetables were the leading risk
factors for death from cancer worldwide and in low- and
middle-income countries. In low- and middle-income regions,
Europe and Central Asia had the highest proportion (39%) of
deaths from cancer attributable to the nine risk factors
studied.
Cancers with the largest
proportions (more than 60%) attributable to these risk
factors were cervix uteri cancer, lung cancer, and esophagus
cancer.
* The main risk factors for these cancers
included sexual transmission of HPV, persistent infection
with oncogenic viruses, smoking, alcohol use, and low fruit
and vegetable intake.
* More than 37% of all
risk-factor-attributable deaths were from lung cancer, 12%
from liver cancer, and 11% from esophageal cancer.
* High-income countries accounted for 29% of
the 7 million deaths from cancer worldwide, and 31% of the
2.43 million that was attributable to the selected risks.
* Except for cervix uteri cancers, joint PAFs
were greater in high-income than low- to middle-income
countries for all cancer sites.
* This is due to higher and longer population
exposure to smoking and alcohol use and is particularly
evident for lung, mouth, and oropharynx and esophageal
cancers, especially in men.
* Lung, liver, and esophageal cancers had the
largest number of attributable deaths in low- and
middle-income countries.
*
In high-income countries, lung cancer accounted for 52% of all
risk-factor-attributable deaths from cancer and other
cancers contributed to less than 7%.
* Smoking was responsible for a higher
fraction of deaths from cancer in high-income countries
(29%) than in low-income countries (19%).
* Smoking alone caused at least 21% of deaths
from cancer worldwide.
* Alcohol use and low fruit and vegetable
intake caused 5% each.
* Liver and esophageal cancers had the
largest number of deaths attributable to alcohol use.
* The risk factors studied caused twice as
many deaths in men as women (1.6 vs 0.83 million) in all
regions.
* The
fraction of deaths from cancer attributable to these risks
was 41% for men and 27% for women.
* The largest male-female difference in PAFs
was for mouth or oropharynx cancer, both strongly affected
by alcohol use and smoking (66% for men and 23% for women).
* Mouth and
oropharynx cancer had the largest sex difference in low- to
middle-income countries (63% for men and 17% for women).
* In high-income countries, liver cancer had
the highest sex difference (59% for men and 37% for women).
* HPV was the leading risk factor for
cervical cancer women in low- and middle-income countries.
* In the youngest age group (younger than 30
years), leukemia claimed the largest total number of deaths.
PACM Comments
You probably all know multiple people
dealing with cancer. In the past cancer was primarily seen in
older people, but we are now seeing it in much younger people. Cancer impacts all of us in
profound, life changing ways. As prevalent as cancer is, as
difficult as it is to diagnosis and treat, I don't understand why
people are not taking the steps to try to protect themselves.
It is certainly possible to do everything right - exercise, reduce
stress, healthy low fat diet, proper supplement intake, not smoking,
etc., and still be diagnosed with cancer. But why not control what
you have the ability to control? Take the time to learn the
early warning signs of cancer. Become familiar with your body.
I am astounded at how many do not realize that rectal bleeding is a
potential sign of colorectal cancer. Sure, rectal bleeding may
simply be hemorrhoids, but it may be cancer. I have heard from
many women that they do not practice breast self exam, obtain
mammograms or breast thermograms because they are afraid something
might be found and they don't want to deal with it. Of course
we all see the flawed reasoning here, but fear is a powerful enemy
in this case.
I have chosen to work in the area
of attempting to reduce breast cancer rates by improving breast health and in
improving diagnostic accuracy through the use of breast
thermography. Although thermography has attracted considerable
attention, both from the medical community and the public, many
women do not make use of this technology. Ignoring a problem
or potential problem will not make it go away. The problem
only gets worse. I realize you know this, but I wanted to
bring it to your attention again.
Your health is the most valuable
gift you have. It can be taken from you at any time.
Take a moment this Thanksgiving and reflect on your health.
Commit to taking the necessary steps to reduce your chance of a life
threatening illness. You are important to many people - your
parents, spouse, children, grandchildren, bothers and sisters,
friends and others. You are important to me. Take the
time keep yourself healthy. I too am guilty of occasional poor
dietary habits and lack of exercise. I know I will be
evaluating my health promoting and disease promoting habits this
Thanksgiving, I again invite you to do the same.
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Women's Health |
Evening Primrose Oil (EPO)
EPO has a long history of use in the
treatment of breast pain, fibrocystic breast changes and other
breast problems. The Gamma Linolenic Acid (GLA) is the
component of EPO apparently responsible for its benefits.
Recent research has indicated that
GLA can inhibit the Her2 breast cancer gene. GLA also has the
benefit of increasing the effectiveness of Herceptin.
Herceptin is a drug used in certain types of breast cancer.
Her-2 stands for
Human epidermal growth factor receptor.
PACM comments: There is a considerable
amount of information available and therapies for breast disease,
inclusive of breast cancer. Many of these treatments have been
available for many years to those utilizing natural medicine, but
have been unavailable to most utilizing only conventional allopathic
medicine. Allopathic medicine is the type of medicine your
family physician practices. As allopathic medicine "discovers"
these treatments, more and more are able to benefit form what
natural medicine has been utilizing for decades or in many cases,
much longer.
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In The News |
- NEW YORK (Reuters Health) Nov 16 -
Occupational and recreational physical activity may reduce the
risk of ovarian cancer, results of a study published in the
November issue of the International Journal of Cancer suggest.
- NEW YORK (Reuters Health) Nov 08 - Drinking
alcoholic beverages, especially by women who use postmenopausal
hormone replacement therapy (HRT), raises the risk of
estrogen-receptor (ER)-positive breast cancer, according to data
from the population-based Swedish Mammography Cohort.
- NEW YORK (Reuters Health) Nov 09 - For
maintaining calcium metabolism, intake of calcium levels above
800 mg/d is probably unnecessary provided that vitamin D status
is adequate, according to a report in the Journal of the
American Medical Association for November 9th.
The report also indicates that vitamin D
supplements are needed to achieve an adequate status for people
living in northern climates.
PACM Comments: Those of you that have
been a patient at our clinic or read this newsletter have heard
me talking about the need for supplemental vitamin D intake.
I have discussed in greater detail in previous editions of the
newsletter why this is necessary. Bone health, depression,
breast cancer, neuromuscular disease, colorectal cancer and
other problems are associated with D deficiency. I
continue to believe 1000 - 11250mg of calcium is necessary in
addition to extra vitamin D. How much calcium is in part
dependent on the type of calcium. You would require higher
doses of calcium carbonate over calcium citrate. Vitamin
D3 is the most active form. Consider using this type when
supplementing. The American Women's Medical Association is
recommending 800 - 1000 IU over vitamin D for those over 50
years old. I have been recommending 600 to 1000 IU for all
adults as a starting point. Health history, use of sun
screens, time spent outdoors and time of the year impact dose
recommendations. During the winter we Alaskans do not
obtain enough UV light from the sun to produce vitamin D.
Vitamin D, as you may know is produced in our skin when exposed
to UV light. Note: As I was finishing up this
newsletter I received an article by Michael Holick, MD, PhD. on
the topic of vitamin D. He recommends a dose of at least
1000 IU per day. Much higher doses for those that are
deficient. He concludes his article with the following:
"Vitamin D deficiency is common in all age groups. Even young
children and young and middle-aged adults are at significantly
increased risk of vitamin D deficiency.[28,31-36]
This is in part due to the fact that there is very little
vitamin D in the diet, and increased use of sunscreens and
diminished outdoor activity also contribute to this problem.
More than 90% of the human vitamin D requirement comes from
casual exposure to sunlight.[1] Wearing a sunscreen
with an SPF of 8 reduces the ability of the skin to produce
vitamin D by 95%.[37] Thus, judicious exposure to
sunlight typically no more than 5 to 15 minutes per day
(depending on latitude, time of day and degree of skin
pigmentation) of arms and legs or hands, face, and arms two to
three times per week during the spring, summer, and fall in
latitudes above 37º and throughout the year below 37º is all
that is required to satisfy the body's requirement.[38]
A yearly measurement of 25(OH)D during the annual physical
examination is prudent not only to maximize bone health but also
to prevent many chronic diseases that are linked with vitamin D
deficiency".
PACM Comments continued
Winter in Alaska is a real detriment to obtaining adequate
vitamin D. Add D3 to your supplement intake and keep
yourself healthy. Remember its not only bone health that
is connected to vitamin D levels, but also breast and colon
cancer, neuromuscular disease, depression and more. By the
way, the measurement of your vitamin D level, 25(OH)D is an
excellent test but what is considered normal is debated.
Most likely twice the current minimum acceptable level is where
the line for diagnosing deficiency should be.
4. Postmenopausal Hormone Therapy
Linked to Urinary Incontinence
Within a few months of starting estrogen plus
progestin therapy, there is an elevated risk of urge and stress
incontinence in postmenopausal women, according to a report in the
November issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology. Treatment with HRT
(hormone replacement therapy) increased the risk of urge and stress
incontinence by 50% and 70%, respectively.
PACM Comments: Since the Women's Health
Initiative (WHI) study looking at Prempro for HRT, the downside to
HRT is becoming increasingly evident. Anyone for a more
natural approach?
5.
Cervical Cancer
According to the BMJ (British
Medical Journal) women who have had precancerous cells removed
from the cervix have a higher average risk of developing
cervical cancer over the next 20 years.
PACM Comments:
A large percentage of cervical cancer is connect to HPV
(Human Papilloma Virus) infection, which is sexually
transmitted. About 8 in 10 women will carry HPV by the
time they are 50. In addition to obtaining a PAP, there is
also a test for HPV. The test is generally utilized in
women over 30. HPV as previously mentioned is common, and
does not necessarily lead to cancer. In fact HPV may
resolve on it own. Nutritional considerations seem to play
a part in cellular changes in the cervix. I have seen this
especially in women on birth control pills (BCP). At least
part of the problem apparently stems from folic acid deficiency.
This may have been more of a problem when the dose of hormones
in BCP's was higher.
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Your Questions |
Please note: Your questions
may be rewritten for clarity.
Q: I have been
experiencing pain which starts in my butt and travels down my leg.
I have been to my chiropractor several times and I am not feeling
any better. Can you help with this?
A: Absolutely! Well let me rephrase my
answer. What you are describing sounds like piriformis
syndrome. If that's the case, I can usually resolve it in 1to 3
treatments. Chiropractic does not help because this is not a
chiropractic type problem. The piriformis is a muscle in the
buttock that lives in close proximity to the sciatic nerve.
When the piriformis muscle is injured it may irritate the sciatic
nerve. This is likely the cause of the pain you are
experiencing. Acupuncture is the most direct method of
treating this problem. And it is generally very effective.
Q: This is not a question, but rather a
thank you. I recently came to see you on the recommendation of
my sister who has been a patient of yours in the past. I was
suffering from chronic back pain and had tried everything I could
think of. I was on muscle relaxers and pain medication for intense
low back pain. My chiropractor was unable to relieve the pain,
massage helped for a few hours but the pain soon returned. I had
even gone to physical therapy for over a month. Nothing
helped. Since seeing you my pain is gone and has been gone for
several months. I am very happy with the care you provided and
would recommend you to anyone in pain. Thank you!
PACM Comments: Thank you or the wonderful
comments! The growth of acupuncture and oriental medicine in
this country has been explosive as more and more people are
discovering the healing power of acupuncture.
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JUST FOR FUN |
- For your viewing enjoyment follow this link.
http://boreme.com/boreme/funny-2005/pizza-palace-p1.php
- This story has been around a while, so you may have seen it.
A woman came out of her house and saw three old
men with long white beards sitting in her front yard. She did not
recognize them.
Then she said, "I don't think I know you, but you must be ungry.
Please come in and have something to eat."
"Is the man of the house home?", they asked."No," she said. "He's
out." "Then we cannot come in," they replied.
In the evening when her husband came home, she told him what had
happened. So, he said, "Go tell them I'm home, and invite them
in!"
The woman went out and invited the men in. "We do not go into a
house together," they replied. "Why is that?" she wanted to
know. One of the old men explained. "His name is Wealth," he
said pointing to one of his friends, and pointing to another one he
said, "This man is Success, and I am Love." Then he
added, "Now, go and discuss with your husband which one of us you
want in your home."
The woman went in and told her husband what was said.Her husband was
over-joyed. "How nice!" he said. "Since that's the case, let us
invite in Wealth. Let him come in and fill our home with wealth!"
His wife disagreed. "Why don't we invite Success?" But, their
daughter was listening from the corner of the room. She jumped in
with her own suggestion. "Wouldn't it be better to invite Love? Our
home will then be filled with love!"
The wife agreed. "Then, let us heed our daughter's advice," said the
husband to his wife. "Go out and invite Love in to be our guest."
The woman went out and asked the three old men, "Which one of you is
Love? Please come in and be our guest." Love got up and started
walking toward the house. Then the other two also got
up and followed him.
Surprised, the lady asked Wealth and Success, "I only invited in
Love, as you directed. Why are you all coming in?" The old men
replied together, "If you had invited only Wealth or Success, the
other two of us would have stayed. However, since you invited
Love... wherever He goes, we go with him... because wherever there
is Love, there is also Wealth and Success!"
We at PACM wish you a life filled
with love, health, wealth, and success. Have a wonderful and
blessed Thanksgiving.
Premier Acupuncture & Complementary Medicine
610 S Bailey #150
Palmer AK, 99645
Copyright 2005 Premier Acupuncture And Complementary Medicine. All Rights Reserved.
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