Future of Healthcare. Healthcare as an industry is changing through technology, medical and research innovations, physician reform and hospital re-organizations. Dr. David Samadi will explore long term issues, debates innovations directly influencing the healthcare industry and what both healthcare professionals and patients need to know.
Very few of us would argue that walking is simply a naturally wonderful way of getting and keeping yourself in shape. It’s free, accessible and there is minimal investment in expensive equipment with the exception of a good pair of walking shoes.
Read MoreDehydration is a condition that occurs when the body loses more fluids (mostly water) that it takes in. Dehydration causes more water to leave our bodies than we take in through water consumption. It is normal for us as humans to excrete a certain amount of water each day.
Read More· According to new guidelines published by the UK’s Department of Health, consumption of any level of alcohol increases the risk of a range of cancers
· The guidelines, based on findings of research worldwide, aim to decrease the risk of mortality from cancers and other disorders
· When the original guidelines were published in 1995, the links between alcohol and cancer were not fully understood
· Now, new evidence shows that the risks start from any level of regular drinking, and the more one drinks, the higher the risk
· According to the UK’s Royal Society for Public Health, alcohol contributes to over 60 medical conditions, including heart disease, stroke, and some cancers
· About 1 in 20 of all new cancers in the UK stem from alcohol consumption
· Drinking even a small amount of alcohol increases the risk of some cancers, compared with people who do not drink at all, according to the UK’s Committee on Carcinogenicity
· The risk of developing some alcohol-related cancers reduces over time when people stop drinking, but it can take many years to return to the levels found in people who have never drank alcohol
· Lower limits for men’s consumption
· The benefits of alcohol for heart health only apply for women aged 55 and over
o These women should limit their intake to around 5 units per week, or the equivalent of around 2 standard glasses of wine
· Drinking alcohol can increase women’s risk of mouth, throat and breast cancer
· The recommended upper limit of consumption for women remains at 14 units per week
· However, where men were previously advised not to exceed 21 units a week, that limit has now dropped to 14 units, or around 6 pints of average-strength beer
· In the UK, men account for 65% of alcohol-related deaths
· People are also being advised not to "save up" the 14 units for 1-2 days, but to spread them over 3 or more days.
· Having several alcohol-free days a week is suggested as a way to reduce intake.
· Having one to two heavy drinking sessions each week increases the risk of death from long-term illnesses, as well as accidents and injuries.
· Pregnant women should avoid alcohol
o Pregnant women are now being told to avoid all alcohol; no level of alcohol is safe to drink in pregnancy.
o The previous advice to limit intake to 1-2 units of alcohol once or twice per week has been removed to provide greater clarity as a precaution.
o While small amounts of alcohol consumed before becoming aware of the pregnancy present a low risk to the baby, there is no "safe" level of alcohol for pregnant women to drink.
· New advice on single episodes of drinking includes limiting the total amount of alcohol consumed on any one occasion and drinking slowly.
· People are also advised to consume food while drinking and to drink water alternately with alcohol.
· Since the short-term risks for individuals vary widely, guidance about a set number of units for a single occasion or day are not currently included in the guidelines.
· Those who should be particularly careful include young adults, older people, those with low body weight or other health problems, and those using medicines or other drugs.
FACTS ABOUT ALCOHOL
· In the US, a standard drink contains 0.6 ounces of alcohol
· This is equivalent to 12 ounces of beer at 5% alcohol content, 5 ounces of wine at 12% or 1.5 ounces of liquor at 40%
· "Heaving drinking" is defined as eight drinks or more a week for women and fifteen or more for men.
BENEFITS OF RED WINE
· Red wine, in moderation, has long been thought of as heart healthy.
· Antioxidants in red wine may help prevent heart disease by increasing levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (the "good" cholesterol) and protecting against artery damage.
· Antioxidants in red wine called polyphenols may help protect the lining of blood vessels in your heart.
o A polyphenol called resveratrol is one substance in red wine
· RESVERATROL: may be a key ingredient in red wine that helps prevent damage to blood vessels, reduces low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (the "bad" cholesterol) and prevents blood clots.
o The resveratrol in red wine comes from the skin of grapes used to make wine.
o Because red wine is fermented with grape skins longer than is white wine, red wine contains more resveratrol.
o Simply eating grapes, or drinking grape juice, has been suggested as one way to get resveratrol without drinking alcohol.
o Red and purple grape juices may have some of the same heart-healthy benefits of red wine.
o Most research on resveratrol has been done on animals
o Research in mice given resveratrol suggests that the antioxidant might also help protect them from obesity and diabetes, both of which are strong risk factors for heart disease.
o Research in pigs has shown that resveratrol may improve heart function and increase the body's ability to use insulin.
o Some research shows that resveratrol could be linked to a reduced risk of inflammation and blood clotting, both of which can lead to heart disease.
o One study showed that resveratrol may actually reduce the positive effect of exercise on the heart in older men.
o It's also important to know that resveratrol's effects only last a short time after drinking red wine, so its effects may not last in the long term.
HOW DOES ALCOHOL HELP THE HEART?
· Various studies have shown that moderate amounts of all types of alcohol benefit your heart, not just alcohol found in red wine. It's thought that alcohol:
o Raises high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, the "good" cholesterol
o Reduces the formation of blood clots
o Helps prevent artery damage caused by high levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, the "bad" cholesterol
o Produces changes in blood pressure
DRINK IN MODERATION — OR NOT AT ALL
· Red wine's potential heart-healthy benefits look promising.
· Those who drink moderate amounts of alcohol, including red wine, seem to have a lower risk of heart disease.
· However, more research is needed before we know whether red wine is better for your heart than are other forms of alcohol, such as beer or spirits.
· Neither the American Heart Association nor the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute recommend that you start drinking alcohol just to prevent heart disease.
· Alcohol can be addictive and can cause or worsen other health problems.
· Drinking too much alcohol increases your risk of high blood pressure, high triglycerides, liver damage, obesity, certain types of cancer, accidents and other problems.
· Drinking too much alcohol regularly can cause weakened heart muscle, leading to symptoms of heart failure in some people.
· If you have heart failure or a weak heart, you should avoid alcohol completely.
· If you take aspirin daily, you should avoid or limit alcohol, depending on your doctor's advice. You also shouldn't drink alcohol if you're pregnant.
· If you have questions about the benefits and risks of alcohol, talk to your doctor about specific recommendations for you.
· If you already drink red wine, do so in moderation.
· For healthy adults, that means up to one drink a day for women of all ages and men older than age 65, and up to two drinks a day for men age 65 and younger.
· The limit for men is higher because men generally weigh more and have more of an enzyme that metabolizes alcohol than women do.
t turns out that winter brings more than just cold temperatures, ice, and snow. We know that cold weather can cause influenza, frost bite, and even Raynaud’s disease. The winter also comes with a lack of sunshine and vitamin D which can lead to depression. But heart problems? Many people may not know that cold weather can actually have an impact on your heart health and lead to heart problems. This is significant because heart disease in the number one killer of men and women in the United States.
Read MoreGinkgo biloba has been used medicinally for over 5000 years. Originally extracts were used to treat pulmonary diseases, such as bronchitis and asthma. More recently, however, ginkgo has been favored to prevent memory loss and dementia. It is believed that flavonoids within the plant are responsible for its proposed medicinal effects, with over 40 different flavonoids have been isolated from leaves from the ginkgo tree.
Read MoreTips to improve your immune system Relax more. Research shows that more stress can weaken your immune system. Try to avoid stress when you can. Make it a priority to find ways to relax and more things you enjoy.
Read MoreBack pain is one of the most common complaints. Fortunately, most back pain can be resolved. On the other hand, back pain can also be one of the most difficult and frustrating problems to treat. It is important to understand what causes back pain to get the proper treatment.
Read MoreArginine is an amino acid (L-arginine) that is made by the body and obtained from diet; necessary for the body to make proteins. It is found in many foods that have protein – therefore, deficiencies are rare. Arginine-rich foods include red meat, fish, poultry, wheat germ, grains, nuts and seeds, and dairy products. As a natural dietary supplement, arginine has received a lot of attention lately for its potential heart benefits.
Read MoreA new study from the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center reveals diets that are high in sugar are a major risk factor for certain types of cancers, especially breast cancer.
Read MoreSleep apnea refers to repeated episodes of complete or partial blockage of the upper airways while you are sleeping. When the airways get blocked, your body and the muscles of your diaphragm and chest, work harder to pull air into your lungs. Sleep apnea is characterized by a stopping and starting of breathing. And this stop, start can happen up to 30 times or sometimes even more per hour. For most suffering from sleep apnea, breathing stops when the airway collapses, blocking the flow of air to and from the lungs. This disorder is potentially serious, and can interfere with sound sleep.
Read MoreNight shift work has been associated with sleep disorders, increased risk of obesity, diabetes and heart disease for a long time. Now that the New Year is upon us, one of the most beneficial resolutions we can adhere to is getting enough sleep, for a longer and healthier life.
Read MoreIn the United States, the average person consumes 80 grams or 20 teaspoons each day. In 2012, this averaged out to be about 130 pounds of sugar per person consumed a year. Over the years, our love affair with everything sweet has become a bitter pill to swallow with respect in how it’s harming our health.
Read MoreIs your office making you sick? Tips to avoid
Read MoreKnow the facts. Discuss and learn everything about your surgery with your medical team. Talk to your surgeon and everyone who manages your care during the operation. Ask any and every question until you feel comfortable.
Read MoreA new report says that patients who are undergoing surgery are growing resistance to antibiotics. This is of concern because resisting antibiotics can greatly affect a person’s ability to fight off infections.
Read MoreIt may be possible to prevent schizophrenia by calming the brain's immune system, say scientists. Brain scans found an overactive immune system in patients as well as in those at high risk of schizophrenia.
Read MoreA new electronic drug capsule engineered to deliver medications directly to the colon could potentially offer a more effective and cheaper option for treating people with gastrointestinal conditions, according to researchers at Purdue University in Indiana.
Read MoreA new U.S. study suggests its link to heart disease depends on what else a person eats. Over time, cutting back on saturated fat was tied to a drop of up to 25 percent in heart disease risk - unless people used refined carbohydrates like white bread or pasta as replacements. In that case, there was no benefit.
Read MoreObesity still plagues millions of Americans, as rates remain high in most states, a new report finds. The South and Midwest have the highest adult obesity rates, making up 23 of the 25 states with rates now topping 30 percent. In 42 states, blacks have obesity rates of 30 percent or more, as do Hispanics in 30 states. Obesity rates of 30 percent or more among whites are found in 13 states, the findings showed. The obesity epidemic is one of the nation's most serious health crises
Read MoreCheaper anti-cancer drugs for humans might ultimately stem from a new study. Scientists have developed a kind of microbial 'bandage' that protects yew trees from disease-causing fungi. The researchers found that naturally occurring fungi in the yew's vascular system act like an immune system to swarm a wound site and protect against invading pathogens.
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