It seems that both red and white wine are “equal acidic offenders” when it comes to increasing the risk of breast cancer, according to a study published today.
“We were interested in teasing out red wine’s effects on breast cancer risk. There is reason to suspect that red wine might have beneficial effects based on previous studies of heart disease and prostate cancer,” Dr. Polly Newcomb, of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, noted in a hospital statement.
“The general evidence is that alcohol consumption overall increases breast cancer risk, but the other studies made us wonder whether red wine might in fact have some positive value,” she explained.
However, in their analysis, Newcomb’s team found no difference between red or white wine in relation to breast cancer risk. “Neither appears to have any benefits,” she said.
Among a large group of women with and without breast cancer, Newcomb and colleagues found that women who drank 14 or more acidic alcoholic drinks per week — regardless of whether they drank red or white wine, liquor or beer — faced a 24 percent increase in breast cancer compared with non-drinkers.
“If a woman drinks,” Newcomb told Reuters Health, “she should do so in moderation — no more than one drink per day. And if a woman chooses red wine, she should do so because she favors the taste, not because it may reduce her risk of breast cancer.”
Thursday, 26 March 2009
experience on statins
"I was a competitive runner with a number of sub 3 hour marathons under my belt before I was prescribed statins for elevated cholesterol 2 years ago. The first go round was 40mg zocor but muscle soreness and loss of strength started within 2 months. Switched to NIASPAN but couldn't tolerate it. The last 7 months have been on 10mg of Lipitor and now have intense pain in my legs, soreness in my wrist and thumb and swollen feet. I can still run but much less than before and much slower. I regularly go to the gym but have seen a steady decrease in the amount of weight I am able to lift. I have a blood test in a couple of days and will be looking for myalgia again. I have discontinued the statin and don't plan to start again. I was healthier before the DR decided to "help" me with my cholesterol problem."
-- By runinva
-- By runinva
Monday, 23 March 2009
back pain and acupressure research
Back pain affects approximately 17.3 million people in the UK - over one third of the adult population.
For around 3 million people their pain lasts throughout the year.
Acupressure is more effective in reducing lower back pain than standard physical therapies, a study suggests.
Researchers in Taiwan found the effects of the therapy which involves applying pressure on points stimulated by acupuncture lasted for six months.
They gave 129 patients six doses of either acupressure or physical therapy over a month and compared the results.
The study in the BMJ Online also found those who had acupressure had improved body function and were less disabled.
The acupressure group received sessions using a uniform technique.
The research team from the Institute of Preventive Medicine at the National Taiwan University in Taipei questioned all patients on their symptoms before the treatment and afterwards, and then again six months later.
They asked them how much pain they were in, whether it interfered with work and how many days off they had had.
They also asked how much their sleep was disturbed and how satisfied they were.
Combination of therapies
The team found acupressure resulted in an 89% reduction in disability compared to physical therapy.
They also found those in the acupressure group reported greater benefits in terms of leg pain, interference with work and days off from work or school.
For around 3 million people their pain lasts throughout the year.
Acupressure is more effective in reducing lower back pain than standard physical therapies, a study suggests.
Researchers in Taiwan found the effects of the therapy which involves applying pressure on points stimulated by acupuncture lasted for six months.
They gave 129 patients six doses of either acupressure or physical therapy over a month and compared the results.
The study in the BMJ Online also found those who had acupressure had improved body function and were less disabled.
The acupressure group received sessions using a uniform technique.
The research team from the Institute of Preventive Medicine at the National Taiwan University in Taipei questioned all patients on their symptoms before the treatment and afterwards, and then again six months later.
They asked them how much pain they were in, whether it interfered with work and how many days off they had had.
They also asked how much their sleep was disturbed and how satisfied they were.
Combination of therapies
The team found acupressure resulted in an 89% reduction in disability compared to physical therapy.
They also found those in the acupressure group reported greater benefits in terms of leg pain, interference with work and days off from work or school.
Monday, 16 March 2009
"Herniated discs just go away"
from Dean Moyer:
"Study Shows Herniated Discs Do Heal
In a previous article we saw a number of clinical studies that indicated that herniated discs were not the major cause of pain we once thought they were. [1] And, while that’s great news, it still doesn’t dismiss the fact that we need to do something about them. After all, just because they may not be painful, that doesn’t mean they aren’t a degenerative condition.
Fortunately, there have been a number of major breakthroughs along those lines starting a few years back when two doctors set out to test a theory. A theory that is very near and dear to us here at Rebuild Your Back as you’ll see in a moment.
They decided to test their theory on 24 consecutive patients with cervical disc herniations. All the patients were diagnosed via MRI to have disc herniations greater than 4mm. All complained of arm pain and “the majority had neurological deficits,” which means there was serious nerve impingement and they were experiencing things like numbness and tingling in their arms, hands and shoulders.
What Was different About This Study
What makes this study particularly interesting for us is that the doctors decided to treat their patients with exercise instead of surgery. Which is pretty surprising when you consider that, based on their symptoms, these patients were prime surgical candidates.
I don’t think I can overstress that point. These were not just people with ordinary neck pain and minor disc bulges. This study was conducted on people who fell into the one to two percent range for whom surgery would typically be recommended. Which makes the results that much more exciting when we learn that “22 of the 24 had good or excellent outcomes” and “19 of 22 returned to work at the same job.” [2]
Only 2 of the participants actually had to have surgery, which seems to indicate that perhaps even from within the small percentage of people for whom surgery “might be beneficial” only a tiny fraction of those surgical procedures are actually necessary. [2]
"Study Shows Herniated Discs Do Heal
In a previous article we saw a number of clinical studies that indicated that herniated discs were not the major cause of pain we once thought they were. [1] And, while that’s great news, it still doesn’t dismiss the fact that we need to do something about them. After all, just because they may not be painful, that doesn’t mean they aren’t a degenerative condition.
Fortunately, there have been a number of major breakthroughs along those lines starting a few years back when two doctors set out to test a theory. A theory that is very near and dear to us here at Rebuild Your Back as you’ll see in a moment.
They decided to test their theory on 24 consecutive patients with cervical disc herniations. All the patients were diagnosed via MRI to have disc herniations greater than 4mm. All complained of arm pain and “the majority had neurological deficits,” which means there was serious nerve impingement and they were experiencing things like numbness and tingling in their arms, hands and shoulders.
What Was different About This Study
What makes this study particularly interesting for us is that the doctors decided to treat their patients with exercise instead of surgery. Which is pretty surprising when you consider that, based on their symptoms, these patients were prime surgical candidates.
I don’t think I can overstress that point. These were not just people with ordinary neck pain and minor disc bulges. This study was conducted on people who fell into the one to two percent range for whom surgery would typically be recommended. Which makes the results that much more exciting when we learn that “22 of the 24 had good or excellent outcomes” and “19 of 22 returned to work at the same job.” [2]
Only 2 of the participants actually had to have surgery, which seems to indicate that perhaps even from within the small percentage of people for whom surgery “might be beneficial” only a tiny fraction of those surgical procedures are actually necessary. [2]
Tuesday, 10 March 2009
Whiplash
Whiplash Injury
Miss X, a thirty six year old cleaning supervisor arrived at her local Chiropractic Clinic on 12 August 2003 complaining of neck and top of shoulder pains as well as headaches to the back, sides and front of the skull. She described the pain as tense and seized-up in the neck and shoulders with constant dull headache which sometimes woke her up in the early hours of the morning. The symptoms began August 2003 after a road traffic accident when she was hit from behind. Further questioning into the patient's history revealed no other pertinent problems.
An examination of the neck and upper back was performed checking reflexes, muscle strength and movements. This revealed tight muscles and joints especially at the base of the skull and top of shoulders in line with the spine. This is typical of a whiplash-type injury with the head forced forward and backward which stretches and compresses joint and muscle in the neck. Symptoms do not always occur immediately after the road traffic accident; they sometimes take many months to show themselves with the type of pains this patient suffered.
The patient has been treated using chiropractic manipulation and muscle techniques, advice on how to use ice packs to decrease pain as well as specific exercises when the patient showed enough improvement to do them.
She felt "much better" by the second treatment and has gradually improved with a total of nine treatments.
Miss X, a thirty six year old cleaning supervisor arrived at her local Chiropractic Clinic on 12 August 2003 complaining of neck and top of shoulder pains as well as headaches to the back, sides and front of the skull. She described the pain as tense and seized-up in the neck and shoulders with constant dull headache which sometimes woke her up in the early hours of the morning. The symptoms began August 2003 after a road traffic accident when she was hit from behind. Further questioning into the patient's history revealed no other pertinent problems.
An examination of the neck and upper back was performed checking reflexes, muscle strength and movements. This revealed tight muscles and joints especially at the base of the skull and top of shoulders in line with the spine. This is typical of a whiplash-type injury with the head forced forward and backward which stretches and compresses joint and muscle in the neck. Symptoms do not always occur immediately after the road traffic accident; they sometimes take many months to show themselves with the type of pains this patient suffered.
The patient has been treated using chiropractic manipulation and muscle techniques, advice on how to use ice packs to decrease pain as well as specific exercises when the patient showed enough improvement to do them.
She felt "much better" by the second treatment and has gradually improved with a total of nine treatments.
TM and ADHD
The Transcendental Meditation technique may be an effective and safe non-pharmaceutical aid for treating ADHD, according to a promising new study published this month in the peer-reviewed online journal Current Issues in Education.
The pilot study followed a group of middle school students with ADHD who were meditating twice a day in school. After three months, researchers found over 50 percent reduction in stress and anxiety and improvements in ADHD symptoms.
Effect exceeds expectations
"The effect was much greater than we expected," said Sarina J. Grosswald, Ed.D., a George Washington University-trained cognitive learning specialist and lead researcher on the study. "The children also showed improvements in attention, working memory, organization, and behavior regulation."
Grosswald said that after the in-school meditation routine began, "teachers reported they were able to teach more, and students were able to learn more because they were less stressed and anxious."
The pilot study followed a group of middle school students with ADHD who were meditating twice a day in school. After three months, researchers found over 50 percent reduction in stress and anxiety and improvements in ADHD symptoms.
Effect exceeds expectations
"The effect was much greater than we expected," said Sarina J. Grosswald, Ed.D., a George Washington University-trained cognitive learning specialist and lead researcher on the study. "The children also showed improvements in attention, working memory, organization, and behavior regulation."
Grosswald said that after the in-school meditation routine began, "teachers reported they were able to teach more, and students were able to learn more because they were less stressed and anxious."
useful advice on migraine
MIGRAINE PREVENTION
Requires Acid-Alkaline Balance
(It Is Not As Difficult As It Sounds)
MIGRAINE IS ONE OF THE SYMPTOMS OF YOUR BODY BEING TOO ACID. However, you can change your pH (a measure of the acidity or alkalinity of your body) through what you eat and how you respond to situations. This will take you a long way toward migraine prevention.
What Does Being Acid Mean?
(It Is NOT About Stomach Acid)
Your body contains about ten gallons of fluid, so all your cells are swimming in a 'sea' that can be alkaline, neutral, or acid. However, the systems in your body (enzyme, immune, and repair mechanisms) work best when their environment is very slightly alkaline. (Note: on the pH scale of 0 to 14, 7 is neutral; below 7 is acid; above 7 is alkaline.) Migraine prevention is a by-product of your body operating at an optimal pH.
Where Does The Acid Come From?
(What Does It Take To Get Rid Of It?)
Acid comes from cell metabolism and from food metabolism. Cell metabolism (cells convert into energy the small food units produced by your digestion system) produces a weak acid, which can be eliminated by breathing.
Food metabolism results in a residue (often called an 'ash') which can be alkaline or acid, depending on the minerals in the residue. (When the residue is predominantly calcium, magnesium, potassium and sodium, the food is considered alkaline-forming. Acid-forming foods leave residues that are predominantly sulfur, phosphorous, and chlorine.) The acid from food metabolism is strong and needs to be buffered (combined with something alkaline) before it is eliminated. Clearly, migraine prevention would include increasing the amount of alkaline-forming foods in your diet.
The Body Needs To Be Alkaline On Balance
(Guess How Long People Go Without Eating Anything Alkaline-Forming?)
While leaning too much to either the alkaline or acid side isn't good, the problem with most people in our culture today is being overly acid. Most of the food eaten every day is acid-forming -- pizza, burgers, french fries, soft drinks, fried chicken, donuts, potato chips, pretzels, candy, etc. In fact, studies show that many people may not eat anything alkaline-producing for up to 14 days at a stretch. Migraine prevention seems to be the last consideration when choosing what to eat.
Where Do The Buffering Alkaline Minerals Come From?
(Wherever Your Body Can Find Them)
If you are healthy, you have an alkaline reserve in your tissues. If you don't have these reserves, your body will take alkaline minerals from your bones or muscles. Your body literally eats itself up from the inside. At this point, migraine prevention is not the main concern of your body -- survival is!
(In fact, osteoporosis is more a problem of overacidity than a lack of calcium. When your body is too acidic and can't buffer the acid any other way, it leaches alkaline minerals -- like calcium -- from your bones.)
How Bad Can It Get?
(Fat And Acid -- A Double Whammy)
If your body can't excrete all the acid it needs to get rid of, it will store the acid in your tissues. Acid will get stored everywhere from the heart to the brain. (Sometimes your body will produce fat in which to store the acid. This is why, as you become acid-alkaline balanced, you often lose weight.)
High acid levels in tissues lead to irritation and inflammation, which your body translates into pain. Like a migraine. Low acid levels in your tissues equate to migraine prevention.
How Do You Know If You Are Overly Acid?
(There Are Easy Ways To Measure It)
Use pH paper -- available inexpensively from many online supplement stores -- to test your saliva (or urine.) Checking it regularly will help you with migraine prevention. Why? You will know when you need to add more alkaline-forming foods to your diet. Steady alkaline saliva pH readings indicate overall well-being and good health.
How Do You Become More Alkaline?
(Fruits And Vegetables Give You A Boost)
Eat more alkaline-forming foods. You can check online for detailed charts of these foods, but in general: fruits and vegetables are alkaline forming; grains, grain products, and all meats and fishes are acid-forming. You can test your saliva with pH paper to measure your progress, but you will also know you are improving because you feel better.
Note: Acid-forming foods are not necessarily 'bad.' Many contain nutrients that you must have for migraine prevention. The point is to strike the right balance -- usually about 70% to 80% alkaline-forming foods and 30% to 20% acid-forming foods -- so that your body stays very slightly alkaline.
Your Emotions Are a Big Contributor to Your Body's pH
(As Much Or More Than Food)
Migraine prevention is not just a food issue. Emotions can be toxic to your body; these include anger, fear, and jealousy. Stress is the greatest acidifying factor. You can eat the best alkaline diet and wipe out its good effects with a very stressful episode.
Sometimes the best thing you can do to help yourself is finding ways to keep your emotions on a fairly even keel. Not only will you feel good, but you will help to provide your body with an alkaline 'cushion' for the stresses and variations in diet encountered in daily life.
Being Balanced Feels Great
Acid-Alkaline balance helps you to feel more comfortable, physically and emotionally.
Note: You are welcome to publish this article as long as you include the signature box below:
Writer Sandra S. Feder had migraines for years. She found 5 areas of imbalance that were connected to her headaches. Stop Migraine Symptoms Naturally is the book she wrote, describing step by step how she stopped her headaches. Read about this book, or sign up for her FREE e-course: 6 Nuggets Of Migraine Help at the website: http://www.avoidamigraine.com
Requires Acid-Alkaline Balance
(It Is Not As Difficult As It Sounds)
MIGRAINE IS ONE OF THE SYMPTOMS OF YOUR BODY BEING TOO ACID. However, you can change your pH (a measure of the acidity or alkalinity of your body) through what you eat and how you respond to situations. This will take you a long way toward migraine prevention.
What Does Being Acid Mean?
(It Is NOT About Stomach Acid)
Your body contains about ten gallons of fluid, so all your cells are swimming in a 'sea' that can be alkaline, neutral, or acid. However, the systems in your body (enzyme, immune, and repair mechanisms) work best when their environment is very slightly alkaline. (Note: on the pH scale of 0 to 14, 7 is neutral; below 7 is acid; above 7 is alkaline.) Migraine prevention is a by-product of your body operating at an optimal pH.
Where Does The Acid Come From?
(What Does It Take To Get Rid Of It?)
Acid comes from cell metabolism and from food metabolism. Cell metabolism (cells convert into energy the small food units produced by your digestion system) produces a weak acid, which can be eliminated by breathing.
Food metabolism results in a residue (often called an 'ash') which can be alkaline or acid, depending on the minerals in the residue. (When the residue is predominantly calcium, magnesium, potassium and sodium, the food is considered alkaline-forming. Acid-forming foods leave residues that are predominantly sulfur, phosphorous, and chlorine.) The acid from food metabolism is strong and needs to be buffered (combined with something alkaline) before it is eliminated. Clearly, migraine prevention would include increasing the amount of alkaline-forming foods in your diet.
The Body Needs To Be Alkaline On Balance
(Guess How Long People Go Without Eating Anything Alkaline-Forming?)
While leaning too much to either the alkaline or acid side isn't good, the problem with most people in our culture today is being overly acid. Most of the food eaten every day is acid-forming -- pizza, burgers, french fries, soft drinks, fried chicken, donuts, potato chips, pretzels, candy, etc. In fact, studies show that many people may not eat anything alkaline-producing for up to 14 days at a stretch. Migraine prevention seems to be the last consideration when choosing what to eat.
Where Do The Buffering Alkaline Minerals Come From?
(Wherever Your Body Can Find Them)
If you are healthy, you have an alkaline reserve in your tissues. If you don't have these reserves, your body will take alkaline minerals from your bones or muscles. Your body literally eats itself up from the inside. At this point, migraine prevention is not the main concern of your body -- survival is!
(In fact, osteoporosis is more a problem of overacidity than a lack of calcium. When your body is too acidic and can't buffer the acid any other way, it leaches alkaline minerals -- like calcium -- from your bones.)
How Bad Can It Get?
(Fat And Acid -- A Double Whammy)
If your body can't excrete all the acid it needs to get rid of, it will store the acid in your tissues. Acid will get stored everywhere from the heart to the brain. (Sometimes your body will produce fat in which to store the acid. This is why, as you become acid-alkaline balanced, you often lose weight.)
High acid levels in tissues lead to irritation and inflammation, which your body translates into pain. Like a migraine. Low acid levels in your tissues equate to migraine prevention.
How Do You Know If You Are Overly Acid?
(There Are Easy Ways To Measure It)
Use pH paper -- available inexpensively from many online supplement stores -- to test your saliva (or urine.) Checking it regularly will help you with migraine prevention. Why? You will know when you need to add more alkaline-forming foods to your diet. Steady alkaline saliva pH readings indicate overall well-being and good health.
How Do You Become More Alkaline?
(Fruits And Vegetables Give You A Boost)
Eat more alkaline-forming foods. You can check online for detailed charts of these foods, but in general: fruits and vegetables are alkaline forming; grains, grain products, and all meats and fishes are acid-forming. You can test your saliva with pH paper to measure your progress, but you will also know you are improving because you feel better.
Note: Acid-forming foods are not necessarily 'bad.' Many contain nutrients that you must have for migraine prevention. The point is to strike the right balance -- usually about 70% to 80% alkaline-forming foods and 30% to 20% acid-forming foods -- so that your body stays very slightly alkaline.
Your Emotions Are a Big Contributor to Your Body's pH
(As Much Or More Than Food)
Migraine prevention is not just a food issue. Emotions can be toxic to your body; these include anger, fear, and jealousy. Stress is the greatest acidifying factor. You can eat the best alkaline diet and wipe out its good effects with a very stressful episode.
Sometimes the best thing you can do to help yourself is finding ways to keep your emotions on a fairly even keel. Not only will you feel good, but you will help to provide your body with an alkaline 'cushion' for the stresses and variations in diet encountered in daily life.
Being Balanced Feels Great
Acid-Alkaline balance helps you to feel more comfortable, physically and emotionally.
Note: You are welcome to publish this article as long as you include the signature box below:
Writer Sandra S. Feder had migraines for years. She found 5 areas of imbalance that were connected to her headaches. Stop Migraine Symptoms Naturally is the book she wrote, describing step by step how she stopped her headaches. Read about this book, or sign up for her FREE e-course: 6 Nuggets Of Migraine Help at the website: http://www.avoidamigraine.com
Friday, 6 March 2009
whats the question?
No, it wasn't finding that just recognizing this irradiating intelligence flooding out from the vast expanse was like a baby in the arms of its mother looking up into her eyes.
Tuesday, 3 March 2009
funny bone
Why do they call it your funny bone if it hurts so badly?
The funny bone refers to the site where the ulnar nerve crosses the elbow. The name apparently came from a pun in the 1800's. It’s a play on the word “humorous” and the upper arm bone, the humerus. Try to contain your laughter!
The pain occurs when you bang the ulnar nerve against the bony prominence of the humerus, the medial condyle. There are some severe problems that can come from injuring this vulnerable nerve, including cubital tunnel syndrome, a condition also known as ulnar nerve entrapment neuropathy at the elbow. This is the second most common condition where a peripheral nerve gets compressed. The most common is carpal tunnel syndrome.
It typically causes numbness in the ring and littlefingers of the hand, elbow pain, and hand weakness. The symptoms are worsened by any activity that involves repeated flexing of the elbow.
Three times more common in men than women, it sometimes requires a surgical decompression to take pressure off the nerve. However, these conditions respond extremely well to Chiropractic, so why not try this approach first before surgery?.
The funny bone refers to the site where the ulnar nerve crosses the elbow. The name apparently came from a pun in the 1800's. It’s a play on the word “humorous” and the upper arm bone, the humerus. Try to contain your laughter!
The pain occurs when you bang the ulnar nerve against the bony prominence of the humerus, the medial condyle. There are some severe problems that can come from injuring this vulnerable nerve, including cubital tunnel syndrome, a condition also known as ulnar nerve entrapment neuropathy at the elbow. This is the second most common condition where a peripheral nerve gets compressed. The most common is carpal tunnel syndrome.
It typically causes numbness in the ring and littlefingers of the hand, elbow pain, and hand weakness. The symptoms are worsened by any activity that involves repeated flexing of the elbow.
Three times more common in men than women, it sometimes requires a surgical decompression to take pressure off the nerve. However, these conditions respond extremely well to Chiropractic, so why not try this approach first before surgery?.
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