Can The Internet Replace Your Doctor?

November 29, 2007 | Leave a Comment

The Internet vs. The Doctor. Which would you turn to first for medical advice?

According to a 2005 report by the Pew Internet & American Life Project, in a typical day more Americans went online for medical information than went to see their doctor. In 2005, 95 million Americans had turned to the Internet for medical information and that number has been rising ever since.

This is not too surprising. We spend unlimited amounts of time on the web these days. While during doctor visits, we are very limited to the amount of time we get to speak with our doctor and often times even feel rushed. As a result, we turn to Google to find needed information and then go to the doctor with any remaining questions. If at times you think you know more about your condition than does your doctor, you may be right. Many primary care physicans do not keep up with the latest details in areas such as cancer developments. If they aren’t specialists, they don’t have the time to track everything. Then when they need the extra knowledge, they too turn to the Internet for the most current information.

Why do we thirst for online medical information?

There are several reasons for our thirst for online medical information.

We turn to the Internet for help in making better informed decisions regarding treatments and our fates.
As patients, we are limited to time with our doctors. On the Internet we have more time to absorb information.
As we age, more chronic conditions pop up and it is easier and quicker to turn to the Internet for our research.
We are being asked by our insurance companies to take a bigger role in our insurance. With co-pays and reimbursements, we are required to be much more involved and we need to be fully informed.
Most of the diseases that killed our grandparents we knew little about. But now we know many of them can be managed and kept under control so we seek information through the Internet on how to do so. Take for instance heart disease or diabetes. A Google search for “heart disease” brings up nearly 112,000,000 pages of information.

How do we know the information is reliable?

While Google may lead us to millions of websites for us to research, no website can ever replace a doctor. Online information may be used to inform, but should never be used to diagnose. And while you may read thousands of articles on a particular illness, it could end up being a lot of conflicting information. But like there are great doctors, there are also great online medical sites available and they are loaded with reliable information. The trick is to be able to distinguish the good sites from the bad. You are more likely to do that by:

Determining where the site gets its information. Does it use good sources?
Find out the site’s intent. What is it’s goal? You can find out simply by reading the “About” page.
Be wary if a site endorses a particular product. Selling a product it endorses (or perhaps created) just may be it’s main goal.

To sum it up, you can get a lot of good online medical help. It could even be similar to getting a second opinion. However, no medical site is going to know your medical history or be able to properly diagnose your illness. And you most likely will never get the one-on-one advice that you will get from your doctor.

Technorati Tags: online medical information

Posted by Julie Alexander | Filed Under Blog, Health

The Power Of The Pomegranate

November 28, 2007 | 2 Comments

Pomegranates are now in season. And they are delicious. But more importantly, they are healthy!

The pomegranate is a superfood which should be consumed daily (unless your doctor tells you otherwise). It is a pinkish-red round fruit with hundreds of seeds in a juicy pulp. It is rich in antioxidants which protects against cancer, heart disease, diabetes, urinary tract infections, and Alzheimer’s. Plus, the antioxidants in the pomegranate help protect the skin and the body from free radical damage (cell aging). The level of antioxidants in a pomegranate is much higher than that found in other fruits, even blueberries.

How to eat a pomegranate.

Eating the seeds of the pomegranate is like taking anti-cancer medicine. Fresh and straight from the rind is a very beneficial way to eat pomegranate. However, it can be quite messy if you don’t know how to eat it. The best way to eat one is to first cut off the crown and then cut into the rind. Separate the seeds in a bowl of warm water so as not to splatter the red juice everywhere (although I hate to wash away the extra juice). Strain and eat!

You can opt to buy already prepared juice instead. Another great way to consume it. Unfortunately, though, just because a product says “100% Pomegranate Juice” on the front label does not mean you are getting a good dose of the juice. Some companies are experts at deceptive advertising so as to convince us to buy what we believe to be a quality product and to save themselves money. So read the label before buying the juice.

What to look for on juice labels.

Common wording to look for include:

“Cocktail” or “Blend” … means the juice has been blended with cheap filler juices, such as apple, pear, or grape juice. There is absolutely nothing wrong with apple, pear, or grape juice if that is what you want. But a company calling their product Pomegranate Juice and then having a cheaper and less healthy juice such as apple juice as their main ingredient is quite misleading. Blueberry, however, is another high-antioxidant superfood and is a good blend with promegranate.
“100% Pure Juice” … this is true in some cases; however, often times the main ingredients are water, sugar, or high fructose corn syrup. With these ingredients, how can it be considered pure juice?
Concentrate … means it is not freshly squeezed and it contains chemical preservatives such as sodium benzoate, juice fillers, water, and malic or citric acid (an added flavor to hide the fact that the product is watered down). as many companies find it too difficult and expensive to make juice freshly squeezed. And while concentrate contains fewer nutrients than freshly squeezed, it can still be a very good product. However, if it is made without the sodium benzoate … that would be a big plus!

Brands I trust and recommend:

Purely Pomegranate - my preference and which I drink daily
POM Wonderful - a very trusted and popular brand
R.W. Knudsen Just Pomegranate Juice - but not their “Blueberry and Pomegranate” where the primary ingredients are water and apple juice

Another little good-to-know tidbit about pomegranate juice … most of the phytonutrients are found in the rind. Pomegranate juice squeezed by machine is healthier than juice squeezed only from the seeds. The taste will be more bitter, but the bitterness means more phytonutrients.

Technorati Tags: Pomegranate, superfood

Posted by Julie Alexander | Filed Under Blog, Superfoods

The Formula For The Perfect Pearly White Smile

November 27, 2007 | Leave a Comment

If you’ve ever wondered just how white your teeth should be, we’ve got the answer!

One of the first things people notice about other people’s smile is the color of their teeth. And that is why so many of us opt for whitening procedures. But sometimes when people bleach their teeth, they go way beyond what is normal and wind up with embarrassingly white teeth. (For all you “Friends” fans, think back to the hilarious episode where Ross leaves his teeth whitener on too long and his teeth turn an “insanely” bright white.) Researchers have come to our rescue though. Using Jessica Simpson as an example, they share with us the formula to the perfect smile.

What did they conclude?

1. Bright white should be avoided. They say the whiteness of the teeth should match the whiteness of the eyes. This is so the smile is not more dominant than the eyes and detract from the rest of the face.

2. The ideal width of a smile should be no less than half the width of the face. Both the upper and lower lip should be symmetrical each side of the mid-line of the face.

3. The top row of the teeth should be dominant with very little of the bottom teeth to be seen.

4. All teeth should be straight with no visible sign of restoration work.

5. The teeth should diminish in size from front to back.

6. A very minimal amount of gums should be showing so as not to have a “horsey” look.

7. And all stains should be removed with regular “mouth manicures.”

Apparently, the size of the teeth is equally important. The lateral teeth, next to the two central teeth, should be 61.8% the size of the central teeth. And then the next set of teeth should be 61.8% the size of the lateral teeth.

So does this mean we should all run for expensive cosmetic dentistry? Absolutely not! Not to achieve perfection that is. Unfortunately, not all of us can have the perfect smile. How boring it would be if we all had the same smile anyway. But having a good healthy smile can do amazing things for self confidence and health. While it is very important to tend to the basics so as to maintain a good healthy smile, it is not necessary to spend thousands of dollars in an effort to achieve perfection. Heck, even Jessica’s teeth in the picture above are not perfectly straight.

Posted by Julie Alexander | Filed Under Blog

Obese Men May Have Less Chance Of Surviving Prostate Cancer

November 20, 2007 | Leave a Comment

Obesity New research suggests that obese men are twice as likely to die after being diagnosed with prostate cancer than men of normal weight.

This research doesn’t claim that obesity causes cancer, but that the chance of survival is lower among the obese. Add this to diabetes and heart disease, and it’s just one more sign that too much weight equals bad health. The researchers found that 6.5 percent of men with normal weight died from prostate cancer within five years while the death rate for overweight men was 13.1 percent. The death rate for obese men was 12.2 percent.

What’s the link?

It is unclear as to why there is a link between obesity and prostate cancer death rates, but doctors suggest the following:

metabolism rates in heavy men may make the cancer more aggressive
obesity could render cancer treatments less effective
hormone changes may impact the cancer behavior
obese individuals tend to eat high-fat foods and few fruits and vegetables and therefore may be lacking key vitamins needed to help control cancer growth

When is it too late to make lifestyle changes?

Researchers say that what they don’t know is whether improvements made in lifestyle after diagnosis would improve the outcome for prostate cancer victims. But it doesn’t take a researcher to tell us that prevention is always the best route to take. Your chances of surviving any disease are greater if you start taking precautions prior to diagnosis. If you are a man with a body mass index of higher than 25, than now is the time to start making lifestyle changes, before it is too late. If you don’t know your current BMI, you can find out through a BMI calculator provided by The New York Times. A personal favorite book of mine for helping to make the proper lifestyle changes is The Abs Diet. While I do have a couple of very small concerns with this book (namely its suggestions of using the microwave which can destroy food nutrients and its lack of information regarding the dangers of using chemical sweeteners), it is loaded with great tips for losing weight safely and it provides wonderful healthy recipes with power foods that don’t leave you feeling like you need to eat more.

Posted by Julie Alexander | Filed Under Men's Health, Weight Loss

Smoking Bans Are Everywhere, Almost

November 17, 2007 | Leave a Comment

Are smoking bans going too far?

Several months ago, our local hospital set a new rule … no smoking on hospital grounds, indoors or out. Now, the entire city seems to be following suit by setting its own clean-air ordinance. On January 1, a new smoking ban will go into effect in my town which states smoking is not allowed in any business facility or even within a 20-foot radius around the building. Similar bans have previously been passed in numerous other cities. More than 2000 cities and counties have ordinances that restrict indoor smoking. And more than 680 cities place restrictions on outdoors as well. Many people can comprehend prohibiting smoking inside a business, especially in restaurants, but 20 feet around the building sounds ridiculous to them. So, are smoking bans going too far?

Smokers have rights too.

Many smokers, and even some non-smokers, argue this ban. They feel smoking is a freedom and they feel each business should be able to decide individually whether their business will be smoke free or not. I do tend to agree with them on this issue. They also feel including bars in this ban is going overboard as there are no children there to be exposed to the smoke and people go to bars expecting to see smokers. Again, I see their point. They feel that their rights are being stripped away by not allowing them to smoke in public.

Good points, but consider this.

According to Health Matters, smoking related diseases remain the most preventable cause of death in our society. Half of the Americans who continue to smoke will die from smoking-related diseases. In the U.S., tobacco use is responsible for nearly one in five deaths. And if you agree that is bad, here is another stunning fact … each year, about 3000 non-smoking adults die of lung cancer as a result of breathing secondhand smoke. Secondhand smoke does cause lung cancer. And it is estimated that more than 126 million non-smoking Americans are exposed to secondhand smoke. When you consider these facts, it appears that the persons whose rights are being violated are in actuality the non-smokers. The new ordinance does not prevent smokers from smoking. It just causes them to be more respectful of those who don’t want to smoke.

So why not just quit smoking?

There have been reports that new smoking bans have convinced some smokers to quit. If you have been a smoker for many years, you may be thinking that the damage is done and there is no use in quitting. But according to the National Cancer Institute, if you stop smoking, your body will rather quickly start healing itself and your chance of dying from lung cancer decreases. Plus,

1. Your chance of having a heart attack goes down.
2. Oxygen levels in your blood return to normal.
3. Your ability to taste and smell will improve.
4. Your blood pressure, pulse, and body temperature return to normal.
5. Your lung capacity goes up and you start breathing easier.
6. Coughing, sinus congestion, fatigue, shortness of breath decrease.
7. Your overall energy level increases.

How do you kick the habit?

It takes an average of five attempts to kick the habit. Research shows that smokers are most successful in kicking the habit when they have some means of support. Smokers who want to quit can find help by calling the American Cancer Society Quitline at 1-800-ACS-2345.

Technorati Tags: smoking bans, dangers of second hand smoke

Posted by Julie Alexander | Filed Under Blog

Impotence Drugs May Lead To Sudden Hearing Loss

November 12, 2007 | Leave a Comment

Viagra Warning

Viagra, Cialis, and Levitra can cause sudden hearing loss.

That is the new warning the FDA has asked erectile dysfunction drug makers to put on their product labels. This latest alert came after a case was reported of sudden hearing loss in a man taking Viagra. A search of FDA records found 29 similar reports since 1996 involving the drugs. The reports involve hearing loss in one ear, which in a third of the cases was temporary. While the hearing loss cases are rare and it is not certain that the hearing loss is caused by the drugs, the FDA decided they saw enough that they couldn’t ignore it and they proceeded to issue the warning.

Hearing loss is common in men in their 50’s (the age group most likely to take these drugs). However, age-related loss tends to be gradual while the hearing loss connected to this new drug warning is sudden. Viagra, Cialis, and Levitra will all bear the new warning on their labels, as well as Revatio, a drug for pulmonary hypertension, which contains the same ingredient as Viagra. The FDA urges users of Viagra, Cialis, and Levitra who experience hearing loss or ringing in the ears to stop taking the drugs and promptly call their doctors. However, users of Revatio should remain on the drug until they talk with their doctor

This new warning comes two years after impotence drugs were linked to cases of vision loss. Similarly, the vision loss cases are rare. However, impotence drugs have been on the market for nearly a decade now and have generally maintained an excellent safety record.

Posted by Julie Alexander | Filed Under Men's Health

Popular Children’s Toy Coated With Chemical That Converts To Date Rape Drug

November 12, 2007 | 2 Comments

Kids love Aqua Dots, a popular craft kit which tops the Christmas list of many children. In Australia, Aqua Dots are sold under the brand name of Bindeez and, in fact, Australia named Bindeez as the country’s “Toy of the Year.” But with just a few weeks before Christmas, you will unfortunately have to tell your kids that this toy product has to be moved from their “Christmas list” and put on the “dangerous toys” list. That is because the beads (which look like candy) in Aqua Dots and Bindeez have been found to have a coating which contains a toxic chemical that turns to GHB … better known as the date rape drug … thus resulting in the most recent recall of Chinese made toys.

In early October, a two-year-old boy in Sydney, Australia, was admitted to a hospital after suffering seizurelike spasms and falling into a coma. A biochemical geneticist, Dr. Kevin Carpenter, discovered traces of GHB in the boy’s urine. After Dr. Carpenter learned that the boy had swallowed Bindeez beads and then vomited them before going into a coma, he began a four-week investigation on the toy product. In his research, he found that the beads contained an industrial chemical which breaks down in the body and becomes GHB.

Following Dr. Carpenter’s research, his hospital sent out a warning to poison control centers around Australia. The next day, a mother living near the hospital brought her 10-year-old daughter to the hospital after finding her daughter first motionless and then vomiting the beads. Late last Wednesday, the Consumer Product Safety Commission ordered a recall stating that two children had fallen seriously ill after eating Aqua Dots. Since then, two children in the U.S. and another in Australia have fallen ill from the beads.

GHB is a highly dangerous drug. The U.S. places GHB in the same category as heroin. When children swallow the beads which contain GHB, they can become comatose, have seizures, and develop respiratory depression, as did both children mentioned above. If you have these products in your home, you should immediately take them away from your children and contact the distributor of the product, Spin Master, which is offering a free replacement of beads (hopefully safe ones) or a toy of equal value. Our suggestion … go for a toy that doesn’t look like candy.

Posted by Julie Alexander | Filed Under Health

Lessons I’ve Learned Along The Way

November 3, 2007 | Leave a Comment

I am more physically fit in my 40’s than I have been in my entire life!

Yes, I was very slim in my 20’s, even after having my first baby. But fit? Not quite. In my teens and 20’s, I was not one who ever had to worry about weight gain. I could eat as I please and not gain an ounce. Therefore, I never felt the need to exercise and I focused all my attention on my career as a legal secretary and my first born. However, in my 30’s things started to turn around. By that time, I had three children, I was promoted to Legal Assistant and overtime, and I developed a body that could no longer be seen in a swimsuit. Although I was nowhere close to obesity, I did have what many call “secretarial spread.” My body shape had changed drastically and something had to be done!

So in my late 30’s I set out on my quest to get my body back. And what did I learn in the process? That all the choices I was making on a daily basis were completely wrong. Those choices go way back to my childhood days and I was paying for them dearly now.

Lessons I’ve Learned

It started when I was a kid.

Like most kids, when I was young I too had a sweet tooth and a craving for my grandma’s home-baked cookies. And when I was young, while I was active in school sports, I did not carry that activity into my adulthood. Although, unfortunately, I did take my sweet tooth into adulthood. I developed poor eating habits when I was young and they only worsened when I moved out of my parents house. And I started handing down my bad habits to my children.

But things were different when I was growing up. We didn’t know back then what we know now. We didn’t have the research that is nowadays provided, and we certainly didn’t have easy access to information through the Internet as we do now.

So, what tips can you share? You ask.

1. Skip the fast food restaurants. Those McDonald’s hamburgers and fries are killing us. Sure, it is okay to eat them once in a while, but too many of us eat them on the run regularly. (That used to be me!) They lead to heart attacks, obesity, and diabetes. Try not to eat fast food more than once a week.

2. Grab healthier foods. I know this is obvious and one which we all learned while young … “eat your veggies.” Our parents knew what they were talking about … in this area anyway. Fruits and vegetables are loaded with the vitamins and nutrients we need. Don’t skip these!

3. Read food labels. Oh my gosh! I used to think if a package had healthy words on the front, it must be a “good for you food.” Wrong! Food companies take pride in deceiving us. We all know we should “read the fine print” before signing our life away on any piece of paper. Well, in a sense, we are signing our lives away by the foods we eat too. Don’t be deceived. Read the fine print!

4. Sleep and sleep some more. Did you know lack of sleep ages us faster? You will age slower, be more alert, feel better, and be way more productive with proper amounts of sleep. Strive for eight.

5. Exercise. This is just as important as sleep. Get lots of it and pick something you love to do. As I mentioned at the beginning of this post, I am more fit today than ever before. I do cardio kickboxing five days a week. I’ve done aerobics before, off and on, but this is the hardest form of exercise I have ever done and I love it! Not only am I stronger than I have ever been but I feel more confident and I have learned self defense skills that hopefully I will never need to use.

There you go! But these are just the basics. I’ve learned so much more and I plan to share them through this blog as well as discuss in depth current health issues. Please join me, read along, and share your comments. I look forward to getting to know you.

Posted by Julie Alexander | Filed Under Blog