Orlistat (Alli or Xenical) Significantly Reduces Obesity
December 4, 2011 by admin
Filed under Alli, Hypertension, Nutrition, Robert Wascher, Uncategorized, Weekly Health Update, Weight Loss, Xenical, diabetes, diet, exercise, fat, health, heart disease, high blood pressure, obesity, orlistat
Welcome to Weekly Health Update
New research suggests that the over-the-counter drug orlistat can significantly improve weight loss when combined with a low-fat diet.
ORLISTAT (ALLI or XENICAL) SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCES OBESITY Approximately two-thirds of the population in the United States is overweight, while at least a third of all people are obese. Excess weight has clearly been linked to serious illnesses, including high blood pressure (hypertension), diabetes, cardiovascular disease, lung disease, liver disease, gallstones, and arthritis, among other potentially life-threatening ailments. As I note in my book, A Cancer Prevention Guide for the Human Race, the extremely high concentration of fat and calories in modern processed foods, when combined with the sedentary lifestyles that most of us lead, almost guarantees a high level of obesity in our population. Orlistat, which is available in both prescription and non-prescription forms, blocks the activity of lipase, an enzyme within the GI tract that breaks down dietary fats so that they can be absorbed. Previous clinical research studies have shown that the addition of orlistat to a low-fat diet can significantly reduce body fat, and, in turn, can reduce the risk of illnesses that are associated with obesity. Now that orlistat is available without a prescription, there have been concerns that this medication may be less effective, as it can now be purchased and taken without first having to enroll in a structured weight loss program. A newly published study, which appears in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, suggests that non-prescription doses of orlistat (trade names Alli and Xenical) may still be an effective addition to the standard weight loss strategies of a healthy low-fat diet and exercise. In this study, 27 obese research volunteers took over-the-counter orlistat (60 milligrams three times a day, with meals) for three months. At the beginning and end of this study, the 27 volunteers were subjected to specialized imaging tests, including MRI scans, to measure the amount of fat in their bodies. Blood pressure, heart rate, and cholesterol levels were also assessed. In this clinical study, the use of over-the-counter orlistat, in combination with a reduced calorie, low-fat diet, was associated with a significant 11 percent reduction in body fat after 3 months. Moreover, cholesterol levels, blood pressure, and heart rate all decreased, as well, following three months of orlistat combined with a prudent diet. The findings of this study suggest that even over-the-counter orlistat, in conjunction with healthy eating habits, can significantly reduce both body fat and at least some of the adverse health effects associated with obesity. Now for the bad news… orlistat works by blocking the absorption of fat from the GI tract, which means that 25 to 30 percent of the fat consumed while taking orlistat will remain within the GI tract until it is eliminated in the feces. Unfortunately, high levels of undigested fat in the stool can lead to some rather unsettling symptoms, including flatulence, greasy/oily stools, bloating, and in some patients, an urgent desire to have a bowel movement. On the other hand, while these symptoms are very common during the first few months of orlistat use, they appear to improve over time, such that only about one-third of patients taking orlistat will still have these symptoms four years after starting the drug. Moreover, in patients who conscientiously maintain a low-fat diet while taking orlistat, the incidence and severity of these GI tract side effects are even lower. (Another potential complication of orlistat is the reduced absorption of the fat soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K, although vitamin supplements will prevent significant deficiencies of these vitamins.) While orlistat is associated with significant potential side effects, and thus should not be taken by everyone, the results of this small study do strongly suggest that orlistat is an effective option for obese patients who are able to both tolerate the drug’s side effects and remain compliant with a low-fat diet. As always, however, I strongly recommend that you check with your primary physician prior to starting any new diet or medication, including orlistat.
For a groundbreaking overview of cancer risks, and evidence-based strategies to reduce your risk of developing cancer, order your copy of my new book, “A Cancer Prevention Guide for the Human Race,” from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million,Vroman’s Bookstore, and other fine bookstores! On Thanksgiving Day, 2010, A Cancer Prevention Guide for the Human Race was ranked #6 among all cancer-related books on the Amazon.com “Top 100 Bestseller’s List” for Kindle e-books! On Christmas Day, 2010, A Cancer Prevention Guide for the Human Race was the #1 book on the Amazon.com “Top 100 New Book Releases in Cancer” list! Disclaimer: As always, my advice to readers is to seek the advice of your physician before making any significant changes in medications, diet, or level of physical activity Dr. Wascher is an oncologic surgeon, professor of surgery, cancer researcher, oncology consultant, and a widely published author For a different perspective on Dr. Wascher, please click on the following YouTube link: I and the staff of Weekly Health Update would again like to take this opportunity to thank the more than 100,000 health-conscious people, from around the world, who visit this premier global health information website every month. (More than 1.2 million health-conscious people visited Weekly Health Update in 2010!) As always, we enjoy receiving your stimulating feedback and questions, and I will continue to try and personally answer as many of your inquiries as I possibly can.
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New Research Says that Chocolate DECREASES Cardiovascular Disease Risk and Diabetes
October 2, 2011 by admin
Filed under Cancer Prevention, Chocolate, Cocoa, Hypertension, Metabolic Syndrome, Nutrition, Peripheral Vascular Disease, Saturated Fat, Weekly Health Update, cardiovascular disease, coronary artery disease, diabetes, diet, flavonoids, health, heart attack, heart disease, hyperglycemia, obesity, polyphenols, stroke
Welcome to Weekly Health Update
New research suggests that moderate chocolate consumption can significantly decrease the risk of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. NEW RESEARCH SAYS THAT CHOCOLATE DECREASES CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE RISK AND DIABETES
Cocoa, from which chocolate is made, is known to be rich in flavonol antioxidants, as well as other compounds that appear to reduce the risk of developing the cholesterol plaques that cause coronary artery disease, stroke, and peripheral vascular disease. Cocoa has also been shown to improve the function and health of critical blood vessels in the body, which can lower elevated blood pressure. Moreover, additional research has shown that cocoa may also decrease the risk of diabetes. Milk chocolate contains considerably more fat and sugar than dark chocolate, and these milk chocolate additives are well known to increase the risk of obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Therefore, dark chocolate has been more often recommended than milk chocolate as a possibly healthy treat. However, several public health studies have suggested that even milk chocolate may still possess clinically significant cardiovascular health benefits, despite its high fat and high sugar content. A newly published meta-analysis study, which appears in the British Medical Journal, adds weight to the possibility that even milk chocolate might have heart-healthy properties. In this meta-analysis study, seven previously published public health research studies, which included 114,009 research volunteers, were analyzed. This analysis revealed that 5 of these 7 previously published public health studies found that increased chocolate consumption was associated with a significant decrease in the risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Specifically, research volunteers who reported the highest levels of chocolate consumption were observed to be 37 percent less likely to develop heart disease, 31 percent less likely to develop diabetes, and 29 percent less likely to have a stroke when compared to the volunteers who reported the least chocolate consumption. Now, for the (possibly) bad news…. None of these seven public health research studies were randomized clinical research studies. All were so-called “observational” studies, wherein groups of volunteers completed questionnaires regarding their diet and lifestyle habits, and were then observed over time for the development of new health problems. The obvious weakness of observational studies, in general, is their reliance upon the often inaccurate self-reporting by research volunteers on questionnaires designed to assess their dietary and lifestyle habits. The other weakness of these particular research studies is that they did not identify which types of chocolate were associated either with the least or the greatest health benefits (nor is it clear from these studies whether or not there is an optimal amount of chocolate intake necessary to produce the greatest possible health benefits). All of these important disclaimers aside, multiple clinical research studies have previously shown very significant potential health benefits associated with regular chocolate consumption. At the same time, in view of the clear association of increased fat and sugar intake with obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, and cardiovascular disease risk, among other health problems, my recommendation to my patients and readers is to take moderate amounts of dark chocolate, and other lower-fat and lower-sugar chocolates, as part of a heart-healthy lifestyle!
For a comprehensive guide to living an evidence-based cancer prevention lifestyle, order your copy of my new book, A Cancer Prevention Guide for the Human Race. For the price of a cheeseburger, fries, and a shake, you can purchase this landmark new book, in both paperback and e-book formats, and begin living an evidence-based cancer prevention lifestyle today! For a groundbreaking overview of cancer risks, and evidence-based strategies to reduce your risk of developing cancer, order your copy of my new book, “A Cancer Prevention Guide for the Human Race,” from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million,Vroman’s Bookstore, and other fine bookstores! On Thanksgiving Day, 2010, A Cancer Prevention Guide for the Human Race was ranked #6 among all cancer-related books on the Amazon.com “Top 100 Bestseller’s List” for Kindle e-books! On Christmas Day, 2010, A Cancer Prevention Guide for the Human Race was the #1 book on the Amazon.com “Top 100 New Book Releases in Cancer” list! Disclaimer: As always, my advice to readers is to seek the advice of your physician before making any significant changes in medications, diet, or level of physical activity Dr. Wascher is an oncologic surgeon, professor of surgery, cancer researcher, oncology consultant, and a widely published author For a different perspective on Dr. Wascher, please click on the following YouTube link: I and the staff of Weekly Health Update would again like to take this opportunity to thank the more than 100,000 health-conscious people, from around the world, who visit this premier global health information website every month. (More than 1.2 million health-conscious people visited Weekly Health Update in 2010!) As always, we enjoy receiving your stimulating feedback and questions, and I will continue to try and personally answer as many of your inquiries as I possibly can. |
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Lifestyle and Diet Modifications Reduce Erectile Dysfunction (ED)
September 25, 2011 by admin
Filed under Cancer, Cancer Prevention, Erectile Dysfunction, Erection, Hypertension, Impotence, Nutrition, Statin Drugs, Statins, Weekly Health Update, Weight Loss, cholesterol, coronary artery disease, diabetes, diet, exercise, health, heart attack, heart disease, hyperglycemia, lifestyle, obesity, smoking, stroke, tobacco
Welcome to Weekly Health UpdateNew research suggests that the same lifestyle and diet choices that reduce cardiovascular disease risk also reduce the risk of erectile dysfunction (ED) in men, and improve male sexual function. LIFESTYLE AND DIET MODIFICATIONS REDUCE ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION (ED) As I discuss in my book, A Cancer Prevention Guide for the Human Race, evidence-based lifestyle and diet modifications can dramatically reduce your lifetime risk of developing cancer, including some of the most deadly forms of this disease. As an “added benefit,” many of the same lifestyle and diet modifications that I discuss in my book have also been shown to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, as well. Moreover, previous research studies have suggested that the risk of male sexual dysfunction, and erectile dysfunction (ED) in particular, might also be reduced by living a heart-healthy lifestyle. The most important risk factors for sexual dysfunction in men, and ED in particular, include heart disease, peripheral vascular disease, elevated blood cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, smoking, obesity, and sedentary behavior. Since the risk of these serious health problems can all be significantly reduced through lifestyle and diet modification, it is worth asking whether or not evidence-based lifestyle modifications associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes can also significantly reduce the risk of ED. A newly published research study, which appears in the current issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine, provides important new insights into this serious men’s health issue. In a meta-analysis of 6 previously published prospective randomized clinical research studies, 740 adult male research study volunteers were evaluated. In this group of men, heart-healthy changes in diet, physical activity, and other modifiable lifestyle factors were associated with a highly significant improvement in sexual function when compared to similar-aged men who did not modify their lifestyle and diet. (Moreover, the addition of cholesterol-lowering statin drugs in men with elevated blood cholesterol levels improved sexual function even further than lifestyle and diet modifications, alone.) Too many men continue to refuse to change their unhealthy lifestyles and dietary habits, and so they face an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, and other largely preventable diseases. However, sexual function is such a very important quality-of-life factor for most men that it is my hope that studies such as this one will get the attention of men who are still living unhealthy lifestyles that increase their risk of ED and other preventable serious illnesses. Also, as ED is now known to be an early warning sign of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and other preventable lifestyle-associated diseases in men, modifying your lifestyle and diet to reduce your risk of ED will also significantly reduce your risk of these other life-threatening diseases at the same time (and cancer, as well)! For a comprehensive guide to living an evidence-based cancer prevention lifestyle, order your copy of my new book, A Cancer Prevention Guide for the Human Race. For the price of a cheeseburger, fries, and a shake, you can purchase this landmark new book, in both paperback and e-book formats, and begin living an evidence-based cancer prevention lifestyle today! For a groundbreaking overview of cancer risks, and evidence-based strategies to reduce your risk of developing cancer, order your copy of my new book, “A Cancer Prevention Guide for the Human Race,” from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million,Vroman’s Bookstore, and other fine bookstores! On Thanksgiving Day, 2010, A Cancer Prevention Guide for the Human Race was ranked #6 among all cancer-related books on the Amazon.com “Top 100 Bestseller’s List” for Kindle e-books! On Christmas Day, 2010, A Cancer Prevention Guide for the Human Race was the #1 book on the Amazon.com “Top 100 New Book Releases in Cancer” list! Disclaimer: As always, my advice to readers is to seek the advice of your physician before making any significant changes in medications, diet, or level of physical activity Dr. Wascher is an oncologic surgeon, professor of surgery, cancer researcher, oncology consultant, and a widely published author For a different perspective on Dr. Wascher, please click on the following YouTube link: I and the staff of Weekly Health Update would again like to take this opportunity to thank the more than 100,000 health-conscious people, from around the world, who visit this premier global health information website every month. (More than 1.2 million health-conscious people visited Weekly Health Update in 2010!) As always, we enjoy receiving your stimulating feedback and questions, and I will continue to try and personally answer as many of your inquiries as I possibly can. |
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Lifestyle, Diet and Diabetes Risk
September 11, 2011 by admin
Filed under Cancer, Cancer Prevention, Kidney Disease, Metabolic Syndrome, Nutrition, Peripheral Vascular Disease, Risk of Death, Weekly Health Update, Weight Loss, alcohol, cardiovascular disease, coronary artery disease, diabetes, diet, exercise, health, heart attack, heart disease, hyperglycemia, obesity, smoking, stroke, tobacco
Welcome to Weekly Health UpdateNew research reveals the profound impact of diet, obesity, and lifestyle factors on diabetes risk.
LIFESTYLE, DIET AND DIABETES RISK Along with the incidence of obesity, the incidence of diabetes has recently skyrocketed in the United States and around the world. The list of health complications associated with diabetes is frightening, and includes heart disease, peripheral vascular disease, stroke, kidney failure, progressive blindness, and as I discuss in my book, A Cancer Prevention Guide for the Human Race, an increased risk of cancer. Now, a newly published clinical research study, which included more than 200,000 adult volunteers, sheds important light on the major lifestyle-associated risk factors for this life-threatening disease. Nearly 2 million adults will be newly diagnosed with diabetes this year in the United States, and nearly 80 million Americans are currently living with diabetes at this time. In fact, diabetes has become such a serious public health problem that it is now considered the seventh leading cause of death in the United States! This newly published prospective public health study appears in the current issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine, and was sponsored by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and the National Cancer Institute, as part of the National Institutes of Health-AARP Diet and Health Study. A total of 114, 996 men and 92,483 women, aged 50 to 71 years, participated in this public health study; and this huge group of research volunteers was closely followed for an average of 10 years. Importantly, none of these research volunteers had diabetes, heart disease, or cancer at the time they initially joined this research study. After evaluating diet, level of physical activity, smoking status, and alcohol intake, this enormous group of research volunteers was assessed for the risk of onset of diabetes according to these lifestyle factors. Altogether, about 10 percent of the men and 8 percent of the women went on to develop diabetes during the 10-year course of this public health study. When compared to men who ate poorly and did not exercise, and who also smoked and regularly consumed alcohol, the men who had very healthy behaviors in these same areas had a 39 percent lower risk of developing diabetes, while the women with healthy lifestyle behaviors experienced a 57 percent lower risk of diabetes when compared to the women with unhealthy lifestyle behaviors. Even more impressive was the additive role of obesity on diabetes risk. When all of the previously mentioned healthy lifestyle behaviors were combined with the absence of being overweight or obese, men experienced a whopping 72 percent decrease in the risk of diabetes, while women experienced an extraordinary 84 percent reduction in the risk of developing diabetes. Importantly, these dramatic reductions in the risk of diabetes were maintained even among the men and women who had a family history of diabetes or obesity. This huge prospective public health study adds important and helpful information to our understanding regarding the most important risk factors for diabetes, and reveals just how important eating a healthy diet, maintaining a healthy weight, getting regular exercise, abstaining from tobacco use, and minimizing alcohol intake are to the prevention of diabetes. Other large public health studies have also conclusively linked these healthy lifestyle-associated behaviors with a significant reduction in the risk of cardiovascular disease (including heart disease, peripheral vascular disease, and stroke) and cancer, as well! For a comprehensive guide to living an evidence-based cancer prevention lifestyle, order your copy of my new book, A Cancer Prevention Guide for the Human Race. For the price of a cheeseburger, fries, and a shake, you can purchase this landmark new book, in both paperback and e-book formats, and begin living an evidence-based cancer prevention lifestyle today! For a groundbreaking overview of cancer risks, and evidence-based strategies to reduce your risk of developing cancer, order your copy of my new book, “A Cancer Prevention Guide for the Human Race,” from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million,Vroman’s Bookstore, and other fine bookstores! On Thanksgiving Day, 2010, A Cancer Prevention Guide for the Human Race was ranked #6 among all cancer-related books on the Amazon.com “Top 100 Bestseller’s List” for Kindle e-books! On Christmas Day, 2010, A Cancer Prevention Guide for the Human Race was the #1 book on the Amazon.com “Top 100 New Book Releases in Cancer” list! Disclaimer: As always, my advice to readers is to seek the advice of your physician before making any significant changes in medications, diet, or level of physical activity Dr. Wascher is an oncologic surgeon, professor of surgery, cancer researcher, oncology consultant, and a widely published author For a different perspective on Dr. Wascher, please click on the following YouTube link: I and the staff of Weekly Health Update would again like to take this opportunity to thank the more than 100,000 health-conscious people, from around the world, who visit this premier global health information website every month. (More than 1.2 million health-conscious people visited Weekly Health Update in 2010!) As always, we enjoy receiving your stimulating feedback and questions, and I will continue to try and personally answer as many of your inquiries as I possibly can. |
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Even 15 Minutes of Exercise Per Day Reduces Death Risk
August 21, 2011 by admin
Filed under Cancer, Cancer Prevention, Fitness, Risk of Death, Weekly Health Update, Weight Loss, coronary artery disease, death, diabetes, exercise, health, heart attack, heart disease, mortality, obesity
Welcome to Weekly Health Update
A new clinical study shows that as little as 15 minutes of exercise per day, or 90 minutes per week, can significantly reduce the risk of premature death. EVEN 15 MINUTES OF EXERCISE PER DAY REDUCES DEATH RISK As I discuss in detail in my recent book, A Cancer Prevention Guide for the Human Race, regular exercise not only decreases the risk of cardiovascular disease, obesity, diabetes, and high blood pressure, but cancer as well. Most experts recommend at least 30 minutes of moderate or vigorous exercise per day, and for at least 5 days per week. You might respond to this recommendation by saying that you are simply too busy to spend this much time exercising (although, in truth, almost all of us can meet this goal if we are truly committed to living a healthy life…), and so you might, instead, simply choose not to exercise at all. Well, what if I told you, then, that even shorter periods of moderate exercise, when performed regularly, can still significantly reduce your chances of early death due to cardiovascular disease, cancer, and other serious illnesses? An important new prospective public health study from Taiwan appears in the current issue of the prestigious journal, The Lancet. In this extremely large study, 416,175 volunteers (199,265 men and 216,910 women) were followed for an average duration of 8 years. Based upon the amount of weekly exercise claimed by each volunteer, these men and women were then divided into 5 different groups: inactive, low, medium, high, or very high levels of weekly physical activity. This huge cohort of clinical research volunteers were then closely observed during the course of this public health study. In this study, the volunteers in the “low” exercise group, who exercised for an average of only 92 minutes per week, were 14 percent less likely to die of any cause when compared to the “inactive” group volunteers, and these “minimal exercisers,” on average, lived for 3 years longer than the non-exercisers! Moreover, for every additional 15 minutes of daily exercise above the minimum of 15 minutes per day, death from all causes was reduced by an additional 4 percent, and death due to cancer wasreduced by an additional 1 percent! Importantly, the beneficial health effects of even modest-to-moderate levels of exercise were experienced by all of the volunteers in this clinical research study, irrespective of age or gender. (Even volunteers with cardiovascular disease experienced these same significant health benefits from modest levels of regular daily exercise.) The results of this enormous prospective public health study make it clear that even as little as 15 minutes of moderate exercise per day, or 90 minutes per week, can yield impressive health benefits, including a significant decrease in the risk of death due to all causes (including cancer), and a significant increase in lifespan. Therefore, although most of us really can set aside at least half an hour per day, 5 or 6 days per week, to engage in moderate exercise, even more modest levels of regular exercise are still very worthwhile. So, for those of you who are avoiding exercise altogether because you feel like you are unable to put in at least 30 minutes per day, the results of this important research study will, hopefully, motivate you to get up off of that couch and go out for at least 15 or 20 minutes of daily exercise!
For a comprehensive guide to living an evidence-based cancer prevention lifestyle, order your copy of my new book, A Cancer Prevention Guide for the Human Race. For the price of a cheeseburger, fries, and a shake, you can purchase this landmark new book, in both paperback and e-book formats, and begin living an evidence-based cancer prevention lifestyle today! For a groundbreaking overview of cancer risks, and evidence-based strategies to reduce your risk of developing cancer, order your copy of my new book, “A Cancer Prevention Guide for the Human Race,” from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million,Vroman’s Bookstore, and other fine bookstores! On Thanksgiving Day, 2010, A Cancer Prevention Guide for the Human Race was ranked #6 among all cancer-related books on the Amazon.com “Top 100 Bestseller’s List” for Kindle e-books! On Christmas Day, 2010, A Cancer Prevention Guide for the Human Race was the #1 book on the Amazon.com “Top 100 New Book Releases in Cancer” list! Disclaimer: As always, my advice to readers is to seek the advice of your physician before making any significant changes in medications, diet, or level of physical activity Dr. Wascher is an oncologic surgeon, professor of surgery, cancer researcher, oncology consultant, and a widely published author For a different perspective on Dr. Wascher, please click on the following YouTube link: I and the staff of Weekly Health Update would again like to take this opportunity to thank the more than 100,000 health-conscious people, from around the world, who visit this premier global health information website every month. (More than 1.2 million health-conscious people visited Weekly Health Update in 2010!) As always, we enjoy receiving your stimulating feedback and questions, and I will continue to try and personally answer as many of your inquiries as I possibly can. |
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Mammograms Predict Risk of Heart Disease and Stroke
February 10, 2011 by admin
Filed under Breast Cancer, Cancer, Cancer Prevention, Mammograms, Weekly Health Update, cardiovascular disease, coronary artery disease, health, heart disease, stroke
Welcome to Weekly Health Update |
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Gum Disease (Gingivitis) and Breast Cancer Risk
October 26, 2010 by admin
Filed under Breast Cancer, Cancer, Cancer Prevention, Weekly Health Update, gingivitis, health, heart disease, stroke
Welcome to Weekly Health Update“A critical weekly review of important new research findings for health-conscious readers”
OCTOBER IS NATIONAL BREAST CANCER
AWARENESS MONTH
GUM DISEASE (GINGIVITIS) AND BREAST CANCER RISK Gum disease, also known as gingivitis, or periodontal disease, has been closely linked to an increased risk of heart disease. Now, a newly published study from the renowned Karolinksa Institute in Sweden suggests that the risk of developing breast cancer may also be increased by chronic gum disease. The results of this clinical research study appear in the current issue of Breast Cancer Research & Treatment. In this prospective clinical research study, 3,273 women between the ages of 30 and 40 years were evaluated between 1985 and 2001. Young women in this study who had documented chronic gum disease, or who had lost one or more molars due to gum disease, were more than twice as likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer when compared to women without periodontal disease (even after adjusting for known breast cancer risk factors in these young, healthy women). Previous research has linked periodontal gum disease with an increased risk of other cancers, including cancers of the uterus, colon, rectum, prostate and pancreas. However, up until now, there has been hardly any available research data linking gingivitis, or tooth loss due to periodontal disease, to breast cancer. The exact mechanism whereby chronic gum disease increases cancer risk is unknown at this time. (Some experts have proposed that bacteria from chronically inflamed gums may enter into the bloodstream, and induce an inflammatory response that, in turn, causes cancer formation.) Irrespective of the true mechanism, however, certain cancers appear to be more common in people with chronic gum disease, even after adjusting for other known cancer risk factors. If you experience red, swollen, sore, or bleeding gums, or premature tooth loss (or if your gums are retracting away from your teeth), then you may have periodontal disease (gingivitis). Based upon recent research findings, this condition may not only increase your risk of heart disease, peripheral artery disease, stroke, and diabetes, but also cancer as well. (Recent research has also linked periodontal disease in pregnant women with an increased risk of premature birth of their babies.) If you notice any of these signs of periodontal disease, then please make an appointment to see your dentist for a complete check-up.
For a deeper discussion of known cancer risks, and evidence-based strategies to reduce your risk of developing cancer, order your copy of my new book, “A Cancer Prevention Guide for the Human Race,” from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, Vroman’s Bookstore, and other fine bookstores!
Disclaimer: As always, my advice to readers is to seek the advice of your physician before making any significant changes in medications, diet, or level of physical activity Dr. Wascher is an oncologic surgeon, a professor of surgery, a cancer researcher, an oncology consultant, and a widely published author For a different perspective on Dr. Wascher, please click on the following YouTube link: I and the staff of Weekly Health Update would again like to take this opportunity to thank the more than 100,000 health-conscious people, from around the world, who visit this premier global health information website every month. (As of 9/16/2010, more than 1,000,000 health-conscious people have logged onto Weekly Health Update so far this year!) As always, I enjoy receiving your stimulating feedback and questions, and I will continue to try and personally answer as many of your inquiries as I possibly can. |
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High LDL Cholesterol in Young Adults and Heart Disease Risk in Middle Age
August 8, 2010 by admin
Filed under Calcium score, LDL, Weekly Health Update, cholesterol, heart disease
Welcome to Weekly Health Update“A critical weekly review of important new research findings for health-conscious readers” HIGH LDL CHOLESTEROL IN YOUNG ADULTS AND HEART DISEASE IN MIDDLE AGE Most young adults look upon heart disease as an “old person’s” disease, and many young people therefore assume that they do not need to be concerned with their diet, or with their cholesterol profile, during this early stage of their adult lives. However, a newly published prospective public health study, which appears in the current issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine, should certainly cause young adults to reconsider the relevance of these two very important health-related factors to them. In this study, 3,258 men and women between the ages of 18 and 30 enrolled in the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study between 1985 and 1986. All of these research volunteers underwent blood tests for LDL cholesterol (the “bad cholesterol”), HDL cholesterol (the “good cholesterol”), and triglycerides (fat in the blood, which is also linked to cardiovascular disease risk). Subsequently, these blood lipid tests were repeated throughout the 20-year course of this prospective public health research study. Twenty years later, these now middle-aged adults underwent special scans of their hearts in order to detect and quantify calcium deposits in their coronary arteries (the “coronary calcium score” is used to predict a patient’s risk of experiencing future cardiac events like angina or heart attack). The findings of this study are cause for considerable concern. First of all, fully 87 percent of these volunteers were found to already have one or more abnormalities in their HDL, LDL or/and triglyceride levels, which are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Thus, nearly 90 percent of these young adults, who were recruited into this research study from nearby communities at 4 different locations in the United States, already had abnormal blood lipid test results at the time they entered into this clinical study! After 20 years of observation, coronary calcium scores were obtained on each of these more than 3,000 study participants. Once again, the results were striking (and concerning). When the average LDL levels of these study volunteers were compared with their calcium scores, it quickly became apparent that elevation of LDL levels in the blood during young adulthood is associated with a rising and significant risk of coronary artery disease during middle age (based upon coronary calcium score results). Among the volunteers who maintained normal LDL levels (<70 mg/dL, or <1.81 mmol/L) during their young adult years, there was an 8 percent incidence of coronary artery calcification (coronary artery atherosclerosis) 20 years later. However, among the patients with elevated average LDL levels (160 mg/dL or higher, or 4.14 mmol/L or higher), the incidence of coronary artery disease was 44 percent. Even relatively mild increases in LDL levels during young adulthood were found, in this study, to be associated with an increased risk of coronary artery disease in mid-life. When compared to patients with LDL levels <70 mg/dL (<1.81 mmol/L), patients with LDL levels of 70 to 99 mg/dL (1.81 to 2.56 mmol/L) were 50 percent more likely to have detectable coronary artery disease. Patients with LDL levels between 100 and 129 mg/dL (2.59 to 3.34 mmol/L) were found have a 140 percent increased risk of coronary artery calcifications. Patients with LDL levels between 130 and 159 mg/dL (3.37 to 4.12 mmol/L) experienced a 230 percent increased risk of developing coronary artery disease in middle age. Finally, those patients with LDL levels of 160 mg/dl or higher (4.14 mmol/L or higher) had a whopping 460 percent increase in the risk of developing coronary artery disease by the time they reached middle age! While the finding of coronary artery calcifications in these volunteers does not mean that every one of them will go on to experience heart attacks, or other serious complications of coronary artery disease, coronary artery calcium deposits (due to atherosclerosis) have been proven to significantly increase the risk of angina and heart attack, as well as other complications of cardiovascular disease. This is a powerful public health study, because of its long-term follow-up of a relatively large group of patient volunteers. Its findings tell us at least two very important things that we all should know regarding the risk of developing cardiovascular disease during middle age. The first is that a strikingly large majority of young adults in the United States are already overweight, and already have abnormal blood lipid levels (and which are known to be associated with an increased lifetime risk of cardiovascular disease). Secondly, even relatively mild increases in the level of LDL cholesterol in the blood during early adulthood are associated with a significant increase in the likelihood of having heart disease by middle age. Moreover, significantly elevated LDL levels, over time, are associated with a huge increase in the risk of developing coronary artery disease by mid-life. Based upon the findings of this important study, it is may be necessary to revisit the recommended age at which the routine annual testing of LDL cholesterol levels is initiated, particularly for young adults who are obese, or who have a family history of cardiovascular disease. I also cannot stress enough the direct linkages that exist between diet and weight, on the one hand, and LDL cholesterol levels on the other had. We are facing a true epidemic of obesity in this country, with two-thirds of the population already categorized as overweight or obese (and the proportion of the American population that is overweight or obese continues to rise every year). The results of this study add to other prior research data regarding the lifetime health effects of poor lifestyle and diet choices, even when these poor choices are made during the very early years of our adult lives.
For a disturbing look at the links between obesity and cancer risk, watch for the publication of my new landmark evidence-based book, “A Cancer Prevention Guide for the Human Race,” in late August of this year.
Disclaimer: As always, my advice to readers is to seek the advice of your physician before making any significant changes in medications, diet, or level of physical activity Dr. Wascher is an oncologic surgeon, a professor of surgery, a cancer researcher, an oncology consultant, and a widely published author For a different perspective on Dr. Wascher, please click on the following YouTube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-Tdv7XW0qg I and the staff of Weekly Health Update would again like to take this opportunity to thank the more than 100,000 health-conscious people, from around the world, who visit our premier global health information website every month. As always, we enjoy receiving your stimulating feedback and questions, and I will continue to try and personally answer as many of your inquiries as I possibly can. |
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Coffee & the Risk of Death from Heart Disease & Cancer
May 15, 2010 by admin
Filed under Weekly Health Update
Welcome to Weekly Health Update“A critical weekly review of important new research findings for health-conscious readers”
COFFEE & THE RISK OF DEATH FROM HEART DISEASE & CANCER Last month, I reviewed research showing that increased coffee consumption was associated with a decrease in inflammation and an increase in HDL cholesterol (the “good cholesterol”). However, as I noted in that column, this small study did not address any long-term health outcomes of frequent coffee consumption (Coffee Improves HDL Cholesterol Levels). Now, a newly published prospective public health study, from Japan, suggests that regular coffee consumption may, indeed, have long-term health benefits (at least for half of the population…). (I should also note that, as a disclaimer, I am not a coffee drinker, despite reviewing two coffee-related health research studies in as many months!) The results of this large Japanese research study appear in the current issue of the Journal of Nutrition. In this prospective epidemiological study, 18,287 men and 19,455 women (between the ages of 40 and 64 years) were prospectively included in the Miyagi Cohort Study, which began in 1990. All of these study volunteers were without any clinical history of cancer, heart disease, or stroke when they entered into the Study. After an average of more than 10 years of follow-up, 2,454 of the volunteers died from various causes, including 426 cases of fatal cardiovascular disease and 724 fatal cases of cancer. These volunteers were categorized and analyzed according to their self-reported daily consumption of coffee: “never-drinkers,” “occasional-drinkers,” 1 to 2 cups per day, and 3 or more cups per day. Other known risk factors for cardiovascular disease (including heart disease and stroke) and cancer were also factored into the analysis of the risk of death associated with coffee consumption for each volunteer. Among the women in this study, increasing levels of daily coffee consumption were associated a decreasing risk of death, due to any cause. (This “dose-dependent” relationship between daily coffee consumption and risk of death strongly suggests a direct clinical relationship between increased coffee consumption and a decreased risk of death.) When compared to the women who did not drink coffee at all, the women who drank 3 or more cups of java per day were 25 percent less likely to die, from any cause, during this decade-long public health study. The coffee-associated reduction in the risk of death from cardiovascular disease was even more powerful (and also appeared to be “dose-dependent”), as the women who downed 3 or more cups of coffee per day experienced a whopping 55 percent decrease in the risk of death due to cardiovascular causes! Finally, there was an apparent modest decrease in the risk of dying from colorectal cancer among the female coffee drinkers, but no other reduction in the risk of dying from cancer was observed in association with regular coffee consumption among these women volunteers. Well, I have just shared with you the good news regarding reduced death rates associated with regular coffee consumption from this large, prospective, long-term public health study; and many of you will notice that I have not yet mentioned the health impact of coffee on men! This is because, unfortunately, this study did not identify any apparent beneficial health effects of regular coffee consumption in men. The reason, or reasons, for this gender-related disparity is not clear, although it is well known that there are major differences in both the incidence of cardiovascular disease between men and women, and differences in the way that cardiovascular diseases (and heart disease, in particular) manifest themselves in women versus men. It is, therefore, possible, that cardiovascular disease factors that are more unique to women are directly impacted upon by regular coffee consumption. (At least no adverse effects of regular coffee consumption on male mortality were observed in this large public health study!) So, ladies, keep the favorable results of this clinical research study in mind whenever you order that next cuppa Joe!
To learn more about the role of coffee, and other sources of dietary tannins, as potential cancer prevention nutrients, look for the publication of my new landmark evidence-based book, “A Cancer Prevention Guide for the Human Race,” in the summer of this year.
Disclaimer: As always, my advice to readers is to seek the advice of your physician before making any significant changes in medications, diet, or level of physical activity Dr. Wascher is an oncologic surgeon, a professor of surgery, a cancer researcher, an oncology consultant, and a widely published author For a different perspective on Dr. Wascher, please click on the following YouTube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-Tdv7XW0qg I and the staff of Weekly Health Update would like to take this opportunity to thank the nearly 120,000 new and returning readers who visited our premier global health information website last month. As always, we enjoy receiving your stimulating feedback and questions, and I will continue to try and personally answer as many of your inquiries as I possibly can. |
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