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Eat Your Curry! Spice Found To Help Prevent Infection

2012-05-28T13:50:07Z

A spice used in curry dishes helps to prevent infection and now scientists think they've got a lead on how.

Curcumin is a compound found in turmeric, a flavourful, orange and yellow spice that is a key ingredient in South Asian and Middle Eastern cuisine. The spice has also been used in India's traditional Ayurvedic remedies for 2,500 years.

Now American and Danish scientists have found curcumin increases levels of a protein called CAMP that helps the immune system to fight off bacteria, viruses and fungi the first time they try to attack.

CAMP is the only known antimicrobial of its type in humans, researchers say.

"This research points to a new avenue for regulating CAMP gene expression," said Adrian Gombart, an associate professor of biochemistry and biophysics at the Linus Pauling Institute in Corvallis, Ore.

"It's interesting and somewhat surprising that curcumin can do that, and could provide another tool to develop medical therapies," he added in a release.

SEE: Tips for ordering healthier Indian takeout. Story continues below:

In Friday's issue of the Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry, Gombart and his colleagues said curcumin caused levels of CAMP to almost triple in laboratory experiments on human cells.

Vitamin D also increases levels of CAMP but high amounts of the vitamin can lead to more calcium being released into the blood. That's one reason researchers are testing other natural alternatives like curcumin.

CAMP seems to kill a broad range of bacteria including those that cause tuberculosis and also seems to protect against the development of sepsis, a serious body-wide response to infection that patients often acquire while being treated in hospital.

Earlier this month, researchers in England announced the first human trials testing curcumin to fight cancer. They hope it will increase the effectiveness of chemotherapy while reducing side-effects.

"We've shown that [curcumin] has well over 100 mechanisms of damaging cancer cells, particularly colon cancer cells," Professor Will Stewart from England's University of Leicester told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

"One of the major mechanisms is affecting the way that they grow blood vessels into themselves."

Butt Seriously Folks, Did You Hear The One About the Colonoscopy?

2012-05-28T13:29:00Z

Which is the medical test most dread by mid-lifers that also is a staple of a lot of comedians' repertoire? The colonoscopy, of course.

There is some good news on the serious side of the test which many a boomer has been known to avoid because -- aside from imagining the unimaginable being done to your body -- the preparation required to get your colon squeaky clean and ready for its closeup has pretty much remained unchanged since the Dark Ages. Until now.

There is now a non-invasive alternative to the traditional optical colonoscopy that skips all the nasty parts, including the gallon of industrial-strength laxative you're supposed to drink that shackles you to the bathroom for two days before, and the anesthesia that leaves you wiped out for two days after. The only problem is, while the alternative is a whole lot easier on the body, it's way tougher on the wallet because there is an excellent chance your health insurance -- including Medicare -- won't cover it.

The alternative, known as a virtual colonoscopy, or a computerized tomography (CT) colonoscopy, creates a three-dimensional view of the colon's interior and can detect about 90% of precancerous polyps that are 10 millimeters (0.4 inches) or larger. Most studies say that the virtual colonoscopy is just as effective, if not better, than the old camera-scope-up-the-behind way. The other thing the virtual colonoscopy does is eliminate patients' dread of the procedure, which means maybe they won't skip screenings. We'd point out that no screening equals no early detection.

Dr. Otis Brawley, chief medical officer for the American Cancer Society and author of "How We Do Harm," said eliminating the need for anesthesia by doing the colonoscopy virtually is a huge boon in itself. While maybe not the aspect of the procedure that most patients object to -- the prep and invasive nature of having a camera scope inserted generally steal that top billing -- not having to be knocked out "is a big advantage," Brawley said.

In a traditional optical colonoscopy, a camera scope is inserted while the patient is anesthetized. If polyps are spotted, they are generally removed and biopsied right on the spot, which Brawley said, may be the one advantage to the old method. "If the doctor sees something suspicious during a virtual colonoscopy, the patient will still need to be prepped and anesthetized to have the polyp removed." That happens about 15 percent of the time.

The other advantage of the virtual colonoscopy method is that you can hit the rewind button for a second look at a suspicious spot. In an optical colonoscopy, the scope is inserted and the doctor looks at the colon as the scope is pulled out. There is no pushing it back in for a second look.

For the record, not all locations are able to do the virtual view without the cleansing prep, and some insurance companies will pay for the virtual colonoscopy if it can be established that the anesthesia is a concern for the patient's health. But overall, the cleansing prep vanishes and nobody is paying.

Now exactly what will happen to all those colonoscopy joke-telling comics should the procedure actually catch on is a different matter. Lest they face extinction, here is a sampling of our favorite online colonoscopy joke finds:

Looking Out My Back Door video: http://youtu.be/wmKnf7QhuSo

Some one-liners: http://www.colonjoke.net/category/ccuu/

Dave Barry on his colonoscopy: http://shooterspagetxforums.yuku.com/topic/6822/Dave-Barry-s-colonoscopy#.T7u6a59Yvqo

Study Finds Soy Formula Safe For Babies

2012-05-28T13:06:08Z

Despite theoretical concerns about brain development in babies fed soy protein-based formula, a new report says they do just as well as babies given milk-based formula.

Breastfed infants still have an advantage over both groups of formula-fed babies in terms of cognitive development.

"While we feel there are significant benefits to breastfeeding, parents who cannot or do not breastfeed should not feel guilty or worried that their children will have adverse growth and development outcomes," said report author Thomas Badger, director of the Arkansas Children's Nutrition Center. (Badger is also a member of the science advisory board for the Soy Nutrition Institute.)

In the study, published Monday in the journal Pediatrics, researchers tracked nearly 400 babies at three-month intervals over their first year of life. They tested the babies' progress using infant development and expressive communication scales, adjusting for such factors as the mother's age, IQ and socioeconomic status.

Babies in all three groups fell within the normal range for brain development. However, the breastfed babies outscored both groups of formula-fed babies in their mental development and their ability to combine cognitive function and physical movement.

"Breast-fed infants test better in some -- not all -- standardized behavioral tests than formula-fed infants, although the differences are very small," Badger summarized in an email.

But the reasons why are not fully understood.

"We do not know if this is due to factors in the breast milk that are missing in formula, or if this is because the [breastfeeding] moms have higher IQ and the kids live in higher socioeconomic-status homes," Badger said.

Moreover, "when you're breastfeeding a baby, there's a physiological response, which involves the release of oxytocin," said Dr. Lane Strathearn, an assistant professor of pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine, explaining how mother-baby bonding might influence early development. "Oxytocin does have a pro-social effect."

Despite the differences the study revealed, the authors say it should come as welcome news to parents who feed their babies soy-based formulas -- a growing population.

The American Academy of Pediatrics estimates that soy protein-based formula now makes up nearly one-quarter of the formula market in the United States. The academy has issued guidelines reiterating that breast milk is best, but stating that soy-based formulas may be appropriate for babies who come from strict vegan families or who can't tolerate lactose.

Soy-based formulas are "supposed to be more easily digested, although the evidence for all of this is not really strong," said Strathearn. "But infants who are having difficulties with digestion of milk-based formulas seem to respond better to the soy-based formulas."

Some studies have questioned the safety of soy isoflavones, suggesting they might negatively affect sexual and neurobehavioral development -- concerns that thus far appear to be unfounded. However, most studies showing the safety of soy-based formulas have focused on growth; the authors of the new study say theirs is the first to focus specifically on behavioral development.

And the experts stress that when it comes to safety, the takeaway from the new study is positive.

"People can be reassured that there is not a major disadvantage versus other formulas," said Dr. Michael Katz, senior vice president for research and global programs for the March of Dimes, adding, however, that breastfeeding is best.

In the United States, breastfeeding rates still lag behind public health goals. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that babies be breastfed exclusively for the first six months of life and that breastfeeding should continue for at least the first year.

However, recent estimates suggest that just 43 percent of mothers in the U.S. were still breastfeeding at six months, and only 23 percent were breastfeeding at one year.

"What we should be saying is that breastfeeding is the gold standard," said Strathearn.

Scientists 'Definitively Link' Gut Bacteria To IBS (Plus How To Spot The Signs)

2012-05-28T12:42:55Z

The results of a new Cedars-Sinai study suggest that an overgrowth of bacteria in the gut has been 'definitively linked' to Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS).

The study, published in the current issue of Digestive Diseases and Sciences, examined samples of patients' small bowel cultures to confirm the presence of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth - or SIBO - in more than 320 subjects.

This is the first study to use this "gold standard" method of connecting bacteria to the cause of the disease, one of the most common digestive conditions in the UK. It's thought that 10%-20% of people experience IBS at some point, and is twice as common in women as in men.

In addition, manufacturers of probiotic drink Symprove today claimed their £2 concoction could provide relief for IBS sufferers. Health drink manufacturers claim probiotic bacteria play an important role in digestive health and the immune system - although this has yet to be proved.

A study involving 186 people, aged 18 to 65, who had been diagnosed with moderate to severe IBS, found that two-thirds of patients given the drink reported a reduction in the severity of their symptoms at the end of a 12-week trial.

According the Daily Mail, more than one in five receiving the probiotic drink saw their symptoms fall from the severe category to mild.

Previous studies that have explored the role bacteria plays in the disease, have used breath tests to detect methane - a byproduct of bacterial fermentation in the gut. However, this study was the first to make the link using bacterial cultures.

Scroll down to find out if you have IBS

In patients with IBS, more than a third also were diagnosed with small intestine bacterial overgrowth, compared to fewer than 10% of those without the disorder. Of those with diarrhoea-predominant IBS, 60% also had bacterial overgrowth.

"While we found compelling evidence in the past that bacterial overgrowth is a contributing cause of IBS, making this link through bacterial cultures is the gold standard of diagnosis," said Mark Pimentel, director of the Cedars-Sinai GI Motility Program and an author of the study, in a statement.

"This clear evidence of the role bacteria play in the disease underscores our clinical trial findings, which show that antibiotics are a successful treatment for IBS."

Patients with IBS suffer symptoms that can include painful bloating, constipation and diarrhoea.

Kidneys For Sale: Illegal Organs ‘Sold Every Hour’

2012-05-28T12:29:54Z

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has revealed that more than one human organ is illegally purchased every hour worldwide.

Trade has risen to worrying heights warns WHO, despite a small decline in illegal organ donation in 2006-2007, and the organisation estimate that more than 10,000 black market operations (using illegally purchased organs) take place every year, reports the Guardian.

Kidneys are currently the most in-demand organ (accounting for 75% of overall trade), with demand believed to be fuelled by the rise in diet-related conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure and heart problems.

Figures released by WHO show that of the 106,879 organs transplanted (legally and illegally) in 2010, around 73,179 were kidneys.

SEE ALSO:
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High levels of poverty across the world mean there is never a shortage of volunteers, with some illegal traders luring donors with the promise of up to £5,000 in exchange of a kidney via a speedy operation – all in just 10 days.

It’s estimated that black market traders pay cash-strapped donors around £3,200 for their kidney – and sell them on for approximately £128,000 to wealthy patients in need.

Responding to the worrying statistics, Luc Noel from WHO, told The Guardian: “There is a growing need for transplants and big profits to be made.

"It's ever growing, it's a constant struggle. The stakes are so big, the profit that can be made so huge, that the temptation is out there."

Noel also believes the lack of law enforcement in certain countries is making it easy for traders to exploit poor people.

"While commercial transplantation is now forbidden by law in China, that's difficult to enforce; there's been a resurgence there in the last two or three years.

"Foreigners from the Middle East, Asia and sometimes Europe come and are paying $100,000 (£63,000) to $200,000 (£127,000) for a transplant. Often they are Chinese expats or patients of Chinese descent."

44 Michigan Children Treated With Medical Marijuana

2012-05-28T12:21:24Z

By Paul Egan

LANSING -- Rebecca Brown says she tried every prescription drug she could find to control the frequent seizures her son suffered because of a severe form of epilepsy.

When nothing worked consistently, and the drugs and special diet caused kidney stones and pancreas problems as side effects, the Oakland County woman turned to medical marijuana.

Art Markman, Ph.D.: A Simplified Way To Achieve Your Goals

2012-05-28T11:40:53Z

For most of us, life is just too busy. It is hard to do everything you want and need to do in a day. If you're lucky, then your failures are not that systematic. One day, you get to the gym, but don't get to relax with a book. Another day, you get the shopping done, but don't clean up the kitchen. Those kinds of goal failures are fine. They just reflect that you have to make choices about what you are going to accomplish.

The real problem comes when your goal failures are systematic. If you consistently fail to go to the gym, then you don't accomplish the long-term goal of staying in shape.

Because everyone has some set of goals that they find difficult to achieve, there has been a lot of research focusing on how to get better at accomplishing the most difficult goals. One of the most effective techniques for helping you to achieve your goals is the "implementation intention," which emerged out of research by Peter Gollwitzer and his colleagues.

An implementation intention is a specific plan to achieve a goal. The idea is that many of your goals are defined too abstractly to be able to carry them out. "Going to the gym," for example, is a very general statement. When you create an implementation intention, though, you create specific steps to achieve the goal and to avoid obstacles. You might say that you are going to go to the gym on Tuesdays and Fridays at 4 p.m. You think through specific obstacles like what you will do if a meeting comes up during your gym time, or if you are just feeling too tired to go. These implementation intentions are effective, because they help you to recognize when and where you will take actions that allow you to succeed.

An interesting paper by Amy Dalton and Stephen Spiller in the Journal of Consumer Research suggests that there are limits to the effectiveness of implementation intentions. In particular, implementation intentions get less effective as the number of goals you are trying to achieve goes up.

In one study, the authors asked people to commit to either one new goal (like reading a book for pleasure, calling a friend, or eating a healthy meal each day) or six new goals. They either committed themselves to the goal, or they formed a specific implementation intention. Then, for five days, the researchers asked people which goals they fulfilled. They also asked people for their commitment to the goals. At the end, they asked people how difficult they thought it was to achieve these goals.

When people were focused on one goal, the implementation intention helped people to achieve their goal. They were much more likely to pursue the goal when they formed an implementation intention than when they just committed to the goal. When they were focused on six goals, though, they actually were slightly less likely to achieve their goals when they formed an implementation intention than when they did not.

This finding reflected that when there was only one goal, people were more committed to that goal and thought it would be less difficult to achieve the goal when they formed an implementation intention than when they did not. When there were six goals, though, the implementation intention made people feel that satisfying the goals would be difficult to achieve, and so the plans actually decreased people's commitment to the goals.

The main message of this work is that you have to be careful not to overwhelm yourself with the details when working toward a difficult goal. Implementation intentions have both a positive and a negative part. On the positive side, they help you to figure out exactly how to add goal-related activities to your life. On the negative side, they can also make it clear how difficult it is to achieve the goal.

If you find yourself overwhelmed by the details, then try to scale back your expectations. Even small steps toward a goal are better than no steps at all. For example, if you cannot get to the gym every day, try to get there at least once a week. After you add these new behaviors to your routines, you may find ways to increase your commitment to that goal later.

For more by Art Markman, Ph.D., click here.

For more on success and motivation, click here.

'Female Genetic Fault' Causes Higher Rates Of Bowel Cancer In Men

2012-05-28T08:27:50Z

Men may have higher rates of bowel cancer because of a female genetic fault, research suggests.

Scientists identified an alteration on the female X chromosome, one of the packages of DNA that determine gender, associated with bowel cancer.

The fault appears to be involved in the development of cancer in both men and women. But it may have a bigger effect in men, say the researchers.

The defective X chromosome region is linked to reduced activity of a gene called SHROOM2 that controls how cells develop and take shape.

Women have two X chromosomes, so if one has the fault the other normally functioning version may mask it.

But this would not apply to men, who have just one X chromosome paired with a male Y chromosome.

Professor Richard Houlston, one of the scientists from from the Institute of Cancer Research in London, said: "To our knowledge, this is the first time that anyone has shown that one of the sex chromosomes is involved in the development of a cancer that can afflict both sexes. This may help explain why bowel cancer is slightly more common in men. Ultimately, it could also help us target screening to those who are more at risk of the disease."

The study, reported in the journal Nature Genetics, also uncovered two other genetic risk variants for bowel cancer, bringing the known total to 20.

The scientists analysed data from five international studies looking for single letter changes in the genetic code (single nucleotide polymorphisms, or SNPs) linked to bowel cancer.

A second variant identified was in a gene called CDKN1A which governs a number of tumour suppressing biological pathways.

The third affected a gene called POLD3 which influences two pathways that repair DNA damage.

Bowel cancer is the third most common cancer in the UK affecting 41,000 men and women each year.

Dr Lesley Walker, from the charity Cancer Research UK which funded the study, said: "This research shows how a range of genes could be behaving in bowel cancer, potentially leading to new treatments for the disease."

Does Optimism Make You Live Longer?

2012-05-28T08:19:34Z

People who live longest tend to be those who look on the bright side of life, research has shown.

Scientists in the US who studied 243 centenarians found that, far from being mean-spirited and world weary, most were cheerful, outgoing and sociable.

The positive personality traits may in part be genetically based, the researchers believe.

The study was part of the Longevity Genes Project investigating more than 500 Ashkenazi Jews over the age of 95, and 700 of their offspring.

Ashkenazi Jews, from eastern Europe, are good candidates for gene studies because they are genetically similar.

Lead scientist Nir Barzilai, director of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine's Institute for Aging Research in New York, said: "When I started working with centenarians, I thought we'd find that they survived so long in part because they were mean and ornery. But when we assessed the personalities of these 243 centenarians, we found qualities that clearly reflect a positive attitude towards life.

"Most were outgoing, optimistic and easygoing. They considered laughter an important part of life and had a large social network. They expressed emotions openly rather than bottling them up."

SEE ALSO:
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Tests showed that the study group, who had an average age of 97.6 and were three-quarters women, had lower "neurotic personality" scores than a representative sample of the general population. They also had higher scores for being conscientious.

The findings were published in the latest online edition of the journal Aging.

Dr Barzilai added: "Some evidence indicates that personality can change between the ages of 70 and 100, so we don't know whether our centenarians have maintained their personality traits across their entire lifespans.

"Nevertheless, our findings suggest that centenarians share particular personality traits and that genetically based aspects of personality may play an important role in achieving both good health and exceptional longevity."

Previous research on longevity has focused on physiological advantages that may help people live longer, such as naturally high levels of high density lipoprotein (HDL) or "good" cholesterol.

Lisa Firestone: Memorial Day: An Opportunity to Reach Out to Veterans

2012-05-27T15:50:02Z

Memorial Day was established as a day for honoring and acknowledging all of the men and women who have died serving the United States. And in this past decade, there have been many. For those who we've lost, we can offer remembrance. But now is also a time to call attention to the thousands of veterans who've returned from battle whose lives are still at great risk. And for these men and women, we can certainly do even more.

In an eye-opening article in the Daily Beast on veteran suicide, it was reported:

The number of U.S. soldiers who have died by their own hand is now estimated to be greater than the number (6,460) who have died in combat in Afghanistan and Iraq." The article pointed out that about 18 veterans commit suicide each day in the United States and reported data from the National Violent Death Reporting System showing that "male veterans have a twofold increase in death by suicide over their civilian counterparts and that female veterans are three times as likely to kill themselves as their civilian counterparts.

I recently spoke to Jan Kemp, RN, Ph.D., VA National Suicide Prevention Coordinator. She said that although we as a nation are making huge strides, encouraging veterans to seek help and raising community awareness, we have a long way to go:

The holiday is an excellent time to sit back and think about what we can do as individuals to reach out to vets, be a friend, be there for them, encourage them to get services. Friends and family are the people on the ground who can notice the signs and identify that the person needs help and encourage them to get it.

Jan mentioned to me that calls at the of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline are continuing to increase, partly due to the lifeline's recent publicity and their community awareness campaign, but also because more soldiers are coming home. A growing population of vets, many who have spent years at war, is now learning that help is available, and it is okay to seek it. Lives can be saved, which is why it is so important to get the lifeline number and website out to those who need it.

Getting veterans to the help they need is imperative. It is also valuable for us to have an understanding of the many factors that lead to increased suicide risk among veterans. A deployment into a warzone can be traumatic beyond words. The horrors of what veterans have witnessed and what they have done can linger in their memory and impact them long after their service has ended. Even when their actions were in self-defense, in response to an order, or in the name of a cause they believed in, on a human level any act of violence can leave a person with post-traumatic stress.

Another factor involves the stress of multiple deployments. The more times a person is exposed to this trauma, the more hopeless he or she can begin to feel. While soldiers may be able to imagine "getting lucky" and surviving once or twice, they often feel a strong sense that the odds are against them by the time they're deployed for the third time. This leaves them into a state of hyper-vigilance, a state of fear and distrust that persists beyond deployment. After facing constant stress and threat to their lives, how then do they psychologically re-adapt to a safe environment?

A feeling of isolation is another strong factor contributing to increased suicide risk. The uniquely traumatic events veterans experience can leave them feeling distanced from the families and friends they come home to. No one close to them has necessarily seen, heard, or felt what they have. Their sense of alienation is exacerbated when the valuable skills the military equipped them with don't easily translate into their home lives. This period of distance and disconnect can be dangerous for a veteran, who must reestablish their connection to the world around them in order to feel like they are not alone.

In addition, physical injury and stress can take its toll and increase risk for self-harm in veterans. According to the Military Suicide Research Consortium:

Among the U.S. military personnel who were injured while taking part in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom, between 10 and 20 percent suffered traumatic brain injuries ... Research has shown that Veterans with traumatic brain injury are significantly more likely than other Veterans to die by suicide.

Even those who are fortunate to leave a war without a severe physical injury must deal with the many mental challenges that result from combat. The warrior mentality that is encouraged in men and women in the military and their acquired ability to hurt or kill others requires a level of desensitization that can be difficult to emerge from and cope with when soldiers return to their "normal" lives.

Suicide and homicide are both acts of violence. Being capable of one makes a person increasingly capable of the other. That is why we must offer a way for individuals returning from war to break from the warrior mentality and reconnect with themselves. We must re-sensitize them by allowing them to feel their emotions and experience empathy, compassion, and peace.

The military has been taking action to implement programs and collect data to address this crisis and offer veterans the services they need. One measure that would be strongly beneficial would be for the military to conduct multiple aggressive assessment screenings over time of returning military personnel. In the meantime, we as individuals, family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, and associates can take actions now that can help save a life. We can do this by recognizing the warning signs for suicide in veterans and supporting them getting the services they need. We can reach out to veterans and their families, and work together to de-stigmatize struggles with mental health. In doing so, are taking action to protect the lives of those who have been deeply wounded in their effort to protect us.

The Veterans Crisis Line connects veterans in crisis and their families and friends with qualified, caring Department of Veterans Affairs responders through a confidential toll-free hotline, online chat, or text. Veterans and their loved ones can call 1-800-273-8255 and Press 1, chat online http://www.veteranscrisisline.net/, or send a text message to 838255 to receive confidential support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

For more from Dr; Lisa Firestone, visit at PsychAlive.org

For more by Lisa Firestone, click here.

For more on Memorial Day, click here.

For more on mental health, click here.

Need help? In the U.S., call 1-800-273-8255 for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.

Dave Helfert: Memorial Day: Honor the Fallen, Remember the Living

2012-05-27T15:24:16Z

In 1868, the nation set aside the last Monday in May to remember and honor those who had died in her battles. Memorial Day was originally called Decoration Day, and people placed wreaths and bouquets on the graves of the fallen from the Civil War.

One hundred forty-four years later -- seven declared or undeclared wars and dozens of incursions, clashes and confrontations since Lee's surrender at Appomattox Courthouse -- it's still fitting and proper to honor the fallen. But it is every bit as fitting and proper to honor those who have been scarred, visibly or invisibly, by combat. Many combat wounds don't show, and yet the invisible scars can be every bit as painful, every bit as debilitating, last as long and hurt as deeply as any physical injury.

Today it's called post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD. It's been around as long as war itself. Greek soldiers in the Battle of Marathon in 490 B.C. experienced it on the battlefield and after they'd returned home. In our own country's history, thousands and thousands of Civil War veterans suffered from "soldier's heart." In WWI, WWII and Korea, it was called shell shock or combat fatigue. During the Vietnam War, the military didn't want to admit that anything was wrong. So lots of retuning vets went undiagnosed and were just considered weird or screwed up when they came home.

PTSD wasn't acknowledged and listed in Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders until 1980. The International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, the authoritative medical classification list published by the World Health Organization to code diseases, signs and symptoms, abnormal findings, complaints, social circumstances and external causes of injury or diseases, did not list PTSD until 1992.

And now we have new generations of Americans who have witnessed the abject horror of war and its effect on even the strongest human spirit. They understand the brain-numbing reality of living every hour of every day knowing you could be killed or maimed at almost any time. They understand that to survive in war, you have to be able to kill other people and make incredible deals with yourself to make it okay. They understand that you have to demonize the enemy, even minimize their humanity and turn them into less than people because that makes it easier to kill them. They may have experienced the shock and white-hot anger at losing a buddy. And they assuredly understand that, when snipers have your unit pinned down, or IEDs are detonating, or when you're in the middle of a firefight, all the speeches about building a democracy or keeping the world safe from terrorism are bilious BS. They understand that, in war, the world doesn't extend beyond them and their immediate comrades.

Then, at some point, they come home, where nobody understands any of this. No one knows what they've been through, what they've seen, what they've been called on to do. All they can do is try to forget and put it all behind. It is not easy. And many never do.

"I am blind to beauty for I have seen the ugliness of war, my heart discard my soul's an open sore, my spirits broken and my body is not well, for I have seen the smoke and fire and passed through the gates of hell, I've held a dying man grasping for last breath and been surrounded by the taste of death and the smell of fear, I've buried both friend and foe in fields where no crops will ever grow, there is no honor in taking of a life, and I have done so with my rifle and my knife, and I do not sleep well at night, for in my dreams I still fight, and the enemy I see is a soldier... and it's me."

-- Kevan Lyons

This Memorial Day, honor those who have fallen in service to the nation. They have given the last full measure and they surely deserve our respect and gratitude. But take just a minute to honor those who fought in our wars and lived. For many, their battles are far from over.

For more by Dave Helfert, click here.

For more on Memorial Day, click here.

For more on PTSD, click here.

The Temperature Is Rising .. How Does It Affect Health?

2012-05-27T14:48:25Z

It’s Memorial Day and June is right around the corner -- for many, this is the time to really crank up the air conditioning. But is there a healthy way to get your heat fix outside, or to stay cool indoors? Here’s what you need to know:

Outside

If our bodies aren't acclimated to the sharp temperature rises this time of the year, that could leave some of us feeling ill, says Dr. David Claypool, M.D., an assistant professor of emergency medicine at the Mayo Clinic.

That's because temperature -- while not responsible for the "usual suspects" of disease like bacterial or viral infections -- can still affect how our bodies feel.

"Heat and cold affect physiology, and there's no question that heat can -- and does -- kill a person," Claypool tells HuffPost. Heat-related illnesses can range from heat cramps (which may occur when you exercise in the heat) and heat edema (swelling because of the temperature), to the possibly fatal heat stroke.

In general, our bodies do a pretty good job of acclimating to the heat, but we just have to give them the chance to adapt. The National Institutes of Health notes that while sweating is the body's way of cooling itself down, that may not be enough when the mercury inches higher than is comfortable.

If you know you're going to be spending an extended period of time outdoors in higher-than-normal temperatures, Claypool recommends exposing yourself to the heat in a way that's "moderate at first, so that you're not causing heat illness," he says.

The very young and the very old are particularly susceptible to extreme fluctuations in temperature, and may be at higher risk for heat-related illness. That's because these two groups' defense mechanisms are either immature -- with the young ones -- or worn out -- with the elderly -- thereby making them less resilient to extreme temps.

Little ones also might not be aware of the signs of heat illness and don't have the knowledge to stop and go to a cooler place. And the elderly may be on medications that could cause them to feel ill if they are in extreme heat, he added.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises that when you're outside in the heat, you make sure to get plenty of fluids even if you're not exercising, and replenish salt and minerals in your body as you sweat them out (this can be done by drinking a sports beverage, though people on a low-salt diet should talk with their doctor before doing this).

In addition, it's important to wear clothing that shields the skin from the sun's ultraviolet rays, which can burn the skin, and to only go outdoors when the temperatures aren't at their extreme highs, the CDC says. Don't overdo it -- if you're feeling unwell while exercising outside, make sure to stop to get rest in the shade.

Inside

To keep safe inside in the air conditioning and out of the heat, make sure the AC is running properly and the filters are kept clean. For some people who have asthma or who are allergic to mold, an AC that isn’t working properly could spur mold growth and make their conditions worse, says Dr. Andy Nish, M.D., of the Allergy and Asthma Care Center in Gainesville, Ga.

A study in the Indoor Air Journal showed that improperly maintained air conditioning systems -- particularly humidification systems in poor condition and dirty cooling coils and drain pans -- can increase the risk for a number of health conditions, including headaches and problems with the upper respiratory system, eyes, skin and concentration.

“Symptoms may be due to microbial exposures from poorly maintained ventilation systems and to the greater levels of vehicular pollutants at air intakes nearer the ground,” the researchers wrote in that study.

However, health problems are not typically an issue with well-maintained systems, Nish noted.

In general, air conditioning is actually good for people with these sorts of conditions because “the systems filter pollen and other allergens out of the air and serve to control the humidity, at least to some extent,” Nish told HuffPost in an e-mail.

A 2010 study in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology explored the effects of different air conditioning systems, and researchers of that study say that while the research is not yet conclusive on whether air conditioning can actually prevent disease, some studies have shown a benefit particularly for breathing and for reducing harmful particulate matter.

“The principal role of air cleaning and ﬁltration in the living environment for those with allergic respiratory diseases might relate more toward the reduction of disease progression rather than a ‘treatment,’” researchers wrote in that study, though they did note that it's not reasonable to expect health problems to go away just by changing an air filter if those issues are caused by "prolonged exposures either in the home, other environments, or both."

For people with asthma or allergy to mold, Nish suggests regularly changing AC filters and using electrostatic filters that trap allergens.

“While it definitely adds some cost, adding a HEPA filter to an A/C unit will filter out even more allergens,” he says. “And also consider a dehumidifier, with the aim to keep humidity 40 to 45 percent, which limits the growth of dust mites and molds, while not making the air too dry.”

And for people without a respiratory condition, Nish says that well-working air conditioning units generally don’t pose any health risk.

In fact, research has shown that air conditioning is linked with positive health outcomes among people who have been hospitalized. A 2010 study in the American Journal of Epidemiology showed that air conditioning use was associated with more positive health outcomes among people hospitalized for a variety of conditions in California between 1999 and 2005.

“These results demonstrate important effects of temperature on public health and the potential for mitigation,” the researchers wrote in that study.

David Volpi, M.D., P.C., F.A.C.S.: Is Daytime Sleepiness The Root Of Learning And Behavior Problems In Children?

2012-05-27T14:35:55Z

For months now, I have been writing about the studies that are being published -- seemingly by the month -- linking obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) to more and more medical conditions, including hypertension, heart disease, mood and memory problems.

The latest research didn't surprise me, but it did upset me more than usual -- because it concerns our children, and the negative effects that poor sleep can have on their ability to pay attention, learn and control their behavior.

On May 1, the results of a study by Penn State researchers was published showing that children who have learning, attention and/or behavior problems may be suffering from a condition known as excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) -- even if tests indicate that they are getting enough sleep at night.

For the study, the researchers conducted sleep testing on 508 children, and asked their parents to report if their child seemed excessively sleeping during the day. Then, the children were divided into two groups: children with excessive daytime sleepiness, and those without EDS. The results, published in the May 2012 issue of Sleep, showed that the children in the parent-reported EDS group were more likely to have "neurobehavioral" problems, including behavior/conduct problems, attention/hyperactivity and poorer performance in learning speed and working memory than children without indications of EDS.

What surprised the researchers was that even if a child was in the EDS group, few also showed signs of short (not enough) sleep when tested. As a result, the researchers did not associate short sleep with any of the learning, attention and behavior problems.

So, what is causing these children's extensive daytime sleepiness if they are getting enough sleep (at least on paper)? Like in adults, perhaps it is not just the length of sleep time, but the quality of sleep that determines restorative rest, or not.

A New York Times article from April 16, 2012 entitled "Attention Problems May Be Sleep Related" also examined the relationship between children's sleep quality and the ability to pay attention at school. The article was on another recent study called "Sleep-Disordered Breathing in a Population-Based Cohort: Behavioral Outcomes at Four and Seven Years," published in the Official Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

What I found disturbing about this article was that it pointed out that many cases of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children may have been misdiagnosed -- that the cause of behavior such as moodiness and hyperactivity might in fact be due to obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) or other sleep disorder, which is causing sleep deprivation in the child. Worse, the drugs diagnosed for the ADHD are probably making the child's symptoms worse!

This should be a call to arms for parents, caretakers, teachers and the medical community. If you know of a child suffering from sleep deprivation and/or extensive daytime sleepiness, and the symptoms that result, such as behavioral and learning problems... Speak up and suggest they get tested for a sleep disorder first.

Impairment due to EDS in daytime cognitive and behavioral functioning can have a significant impact on children's development. This is not to say that ADHD cannot be a true cause, but misdiagnosis of anyone -- especially a child prescribed drugs -- should not be tolerated.

Stay aware of the child's behavior; look for clues, such as inattentive behavior and obesity, take a child's "sleepy" complaints seriously... and then say something. You could be the reason a child's neurobehavioral challenges are properly diagnosed and treated, leading to better behavior, greater ability to learn and a happier child.

Read the abstract of the report, "Learning, Attention/Hyperactivity, and Conduct Problems as Sequelae of Excessive Daytime Sleepiness in a General Population Study of Young Children."

For more by David Volpi, M.D., P.C., F.A.C.S., click here.

For more on sleep, click here.

Mark Hyman, MD: How One Social Experiment Helped 15,000 People Lose 250,000 Pounds

2012-05-27T14:26:33Z

Click here to read Part I of the story.

Part II of my TEDMED 2012 conference...

One day I found Pastor Rick Warren from Saddleback Church in Southern California in my office wanting to get religion about health. After his appointment we went to dinner and over a bowl of cabbage and beet soup, I asked him to tell me about his church -- being a Jewish doctor from NY, I didn't know much about evangelical churches.

He told me his church had 30,000 members and they met every week in 5,000 small groups to study, support and grow together.

It wasn't a mega-church, it was thousands of mini-churches. And the lightbulb went off in my head -- here was a chance to test out this idea of peer support for creating health.

I said, why don't we put together a healthy living curriculum and deliver it through these small groups? Rick said yes because he had recently baptized 800 church members and after about the 500th one, he said to himself, "Wow, we are a fat church, and I am fat, and we need to do something."

We didn't need highly-trained health experts -- except in designing the program...

So a little more than a year ago, with Rick and Dr. Oz and Dr. Amen -- a Christian, a Jewish doctor and Muslim doctor, which sounds like the beginning of a bad joke -- we launched The Daniel Plan, a social experiment to see if community support was more effective than medication or conventional medical care for treating and reversing disease and creating health.

The Daniel Plan (after Daniel, the prophet from the Bible who resisted the king's temptation of bad foods) is a wellness program delivered through small groups in the church.

We thought a few hundred people would sign up. In the first week, 15,000 people signed up and over the last year they have lost an estimated 250,000 pounds -- or the equivalent of 10 tractor-trailer trucks loaded with soda. Thousands of people and many churches around the world signed up.

In fact, I met recently with church leaders in Atlanta and Bernice King, Martin Luther King, Jr.'s daughter, who said that she thinks disease is a form of violence -- and health is a basic human right. She said that health is a form of non-violence to yourself and that she wanted to make this part of the King Center's curriculum on nonviolence.

And our social experiment worked.

We got biology to change by using the principles of functional medicine -- the science of systems medicine, of network medicine, the science of creating health, through lifestyle-based interventions that optimized our biological networks.

But we got behavior to change by using community and the power of positive peer pressure and social networks.

Not only did they lose a quarter of a million pounds, but they also used less medication, and many stayed out of the hospital or didn't need to go to the doctor as much. And the program was free. And people reported more energy, better sleep, better blood pressure, better mood, and even better skin and a better sex drive.

One man told me last year he was in the hospital four times and on nine medications, and this year he stayed out of the hospital and is only on one medication. People lost 125 pounds, 90 pounds, 80 pounds, got off insulin for diabetes and high blood pressure medication -- it was like a gastric bypass without the pain of surgery, vomiting and malnutrition.

And those who did the plan together lost twice as much weight as those who did it alone.

E.O. Wilson says in his new book, The Social Conquest of the Earth that it is our drive to join a group that makes us human. It is the longing to belong -- and the power of peer pressure can be a force for both good and evil. It can drive war and violence, but it can also be a force for healing.

Here was the big insight for me: The community was not just a delivery system for health education. The community was part of the cure and the group was the medicine.

So what did we do? We created an interactive curriculum delivered through multiple media -- online education, videos, articles, recipes, webinars -- all done in small groups and community events. We did this at Saddleback by changing the culture: Pastor Steve, who was born again, again went from serving ribs and donuts for breakfast to being a health champion, grabbing donuts out of the mouths of the men in his small group.

Over a thousand people showed up and volunteered to be health champions for their groups. We changed what was served at Bible breakfasts, the menus in the refinery and even what people served in their homes and their small groups. People learned to create health together -- to shop, cook, eat, exercise and play together.

We didn't treat disease. We didn't create a weight-loss program.

We taught people self-care, and combining that with caring for each other, they created a small miracle -- something heath care or health care reform has not been able to achieve.

In the most unlikely place, a large church, we demonstrated that a community-based solution is more effective in treating and reversing chronic disease than our modern health care system. People helped each other create health.

I think this is the seed of a bigger possibility. In every home, community, school, workplace and faith-based organization, there are health champions waiting to be asked to show up and to help each other to take back our health.

We have a vision to scale this to a billion people and turn health care upside down.

And this is possible not just in rich countries. Peers for Progress created pilot programs in the poorest of countries to treat diabetes in Cameroon, Uganda, Thailand and South Africa based on peer support. The peer support group models were more effective than conventional medical care for improving the health of diabetics, and health care costs decreased tenfold.

So after the meal of the skinny Haitian chicken and the beet and cabbage soup, I thought, what if we could tackle this problem not one by one by one in the doctor office and clinics, but by the tens of millions in people homes, and churches, and schools, and workplaces?

What if we could take the 36 percent of Americans who are eligible for work but NOT working, and create a Health Corp like President Kennedy's Peace Corp, or a call to action that would be the equivalent of getting a man on the moon by the end of the decade?

And create millions of community health workers, engage our world's latent health champions because they are out there in every community, in every organization of peers? People helping people: That, with a little training, has been proven to produce better results than doctors or our health care system for the worst problems of our era.

Maybe, I thought, this isn't a medical problem like an infection or broken bone -- maybe chronic diseases like diabetes and obesity are social diseases and we need a social cure.

Maybe it is the power of each one of us supporting each other that will help us all take back our health.

Acute disease can be left to the hospitals, but creating health and healing of chronic disease seems to happen best in the community -- with people helping people where each one of us lives, where we eat, cook, learn, work, play and pray.

That is where health happens.

When I was at Paul Farmer's mountain clinic in Haiti, there was a plaque in French that said, "The happiest man is the one who makes others happy."

An old African proverb says that if you want to travel swiftly travel alone, but if you want to travel far, travel together.

Let's all do this together!!

To help facilitate your journey to health, click here to join my online community.

Now I'd like to hear from you...

What do you think we can do to take back our health?

If you already are part of a community, would you share your experiences?

Please leave your thoughts by adding a comment below.

To your good health,

Mark Hyman, MD

Mark Hyman, M.D. is a practicing physician, founder of The UltraWellness Center, a four-time New York Times bestselling author, and an international leader in the field of Functional Medicine. You can follow him on Twitter, connect with him on LinkedIn, watch his videos on YouTube, become a fan on Facebook, and subscribe to his newsletter.

For more by Mark Hyman, M.D., click here.

For more on personal health, click here.

1 in 5 Americans Will Get Skin Cancer. Here's How To Protect Yourself

2012-05-27T06:22:00Z

By Chai Woodham, for U.S. News

You know you've reached the zenith of pop culture zaniness when Saturday Night Live parodies you. That's exactly what happened to Patricia Krentcil, the overly bronzed New Jersey mom facing second-degree child endangerment charges for allegedly allowing her then five-year-old daughter into a tanning booth. Audiences across America may have laughed at an Oompa-Loompa orange Kristin Wiig spoofing the infamous "Tanning Mom," but doctors say that this is no laughing matter.

A new study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Cancer Institute (NCI) reveals that 50 percent of young adults ages 18 through 29 say they've had at least one sunburn in the past year. "A sunburn is a form of sickness or poisoning," says Cynthia Bailey, a dermatologist practicing in Sebastopol, Calif. "Both a sunburn and a suntan indicate that ultraviolet rays have caused free radicals to form within the skin and DNA damage has occurred." And this, in turn, can lead to skin cancer, the most common form of cancer in the United States.

Sun seekers aren't the only ones putting themselves at risk. The American Academy of Dermatology estimates that some 28 million Americans tan indoors each year, and the age of frequent users is getting younger and younger. A study also conducted by the CDC and NCI found that nearly a third of white women ages 18 to 21 regularly use tanning beds, averaging about 28 visits in 2010. "Ultraviolet radiation from tanning devices [and the sun] is just as carcinogenic to humans as tobacco smoking," says Delphine Lee, a dermatologist and director of translational immunology at the John Wayne Cancer Institute in Santa Monica, Calif. "Studies found a 75 percent increase in the risk of melanoma in those who had been exposed to UV radiation from indoor tanning before the age of 35."

Mention melanoma, the most deadly form of skin cancer, and John McCain might come to mind -- the 75-year-old senator who has endured numerous removals of melanoma from his upper body and face. Recent studies, though, show that it's not an older person's disease. Rather than the likes of McCain, people should really remember reggae musician Bob Marley, who died at age 36 from a metastatic melanoma found on his toe. A Mayo Clinic survey of patients published in April revealed that for people under 40, incidences of melanoma have increased eightfold among women and fourfold among men from 1979 to 2009. This rise in cases may be due to the popularity of indoor tanning, researchers speculate. "Fifteen to 30 minutes in a tanning booth is equal to an entire day at the beach, and the UV [rays] absorbed during a session is 20 times stronger than the rays of the sun," says Howard Murad, a dermatologist and associate clinical professor of medicine at the University of California--Los Angeles.

So why do people keep tanning? Surely the thought of thinning skin, fine lines and wrinkles, liver spots, skin rashes from the interaction between UV rays and certain medications, aggravation of autoimmune diseases, and cataracts -- not to mention cancers of the eye and skin -- would deter most folks. New research published in the May issue of Addiction Biology suggests that for some people, tanning is not that easy to resist.

Scientists measured the brain activity and blood flow of study participants subjected to ultraviolet radiation in a tanning bed. What they discovered was that the UV rays stimulated several parts of the brain involved in addiction. Quite simply, tanning could be just as habit-forming as drugs or alcohol. Despite all the awareness of the health hazards of tanning, it appears that some people just can't say no when they should.

The Skin Cancer Foundation reports that more than two million people are diagnosed with skin cancer each year, and one person dies from melanoma every hour. "It would be unrealistic to expect the average person not to get some color by the end of the summer," says Lawrence Mark, a dermatologist at the Indiana University Simon Cancer Center in Indianapolis. "But there is always some risk with tanning. The question is whether the benefit is worth the risk."

To minimize that risk, here's what you can do:

Slather on sunscreen. "I often tell my patients to use an SPF 30 and to reapply their sunscreen every two hours," says Erin Gilbert, a dermatologist and spokesperson for the American Academy of Dermatology. Some products boast a sun protection factor as high as 80. That isn't necessary, says Gilbert, as there is no good evidence that an SPF higher than 30 provides greater protection. What you really need to do, she advises, is "apply a shot glass worth of sunscreen daily to exposed areas like the face, neck, hands, and chest to achieve adequate coverage." Applying too thinly lowers the protection factor of the product.

With the wide array of sun protection products on shelves today, the Food and Drug Administration is implementing new regulations to help consumers determine the best sunscreen for them. Prior standards only addressed protection against UVB rays -- UVB-shielding products just help protect against sunburns. Starting in December, manufacturers will be required to label those sunscreens that protect against both UVB and UVA rays as "broad spectrum." Those that carry the "broad spectrum" designation and have an SPF 15 or higher will show wording indicating they reduce the risk of sunburn, skin cancer, and premature aging with proper sun protection behaviors like limited sun exposure and use of protective clothing. Those that are not labeled "broad spectrum" or that have an SPF value between 2 and 14 only prevent sunburn and will carry a "skin cancer/skin aging alert." Other changes include the rule that manufacturers will no longer be able to call their product a "sunblock" or describe their sunscreen as "sweatproof" or "waterproof." And those sunscreens with an SPF value higher than 50 will simply be labeled as "SPF 50+."

Cover up. Put on a wide-brimmed hat to protect your face and resist the urge to expose too much skin. Yes, the bikini beckons and hemlines hike up when the temperature rises, but you'll be thankful years from now when people mistake you and your smooth skin for someone much younger. Buy sunglasses that offer both UVA and UVB protection. Ocular melanoma, or cancer of the eye, is diagnosed in about 2,500 Americans every year.

Seek some shade. Avoid the outdoors between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. if possible, as UVA and UVB rays are most intense with the midday sun.

Go bronze from a bottle. "Bronzers are temporary self-tanning products containing pigments or dyes that provide instant color. They can be easily removed with soap and water," says Ron Robinson, a cosmetic chemist and research executive who has developed products for companies like Clinique, Avon, and Revlon. "The main ingredient in self-tanners is dihydroxyacetone, a sugar molecule that reacts with the proteins in the skin to give the skin a tanned color that develops in a few hours." And while "bronzers and self-action tanners are safe and effective," says Tina Alster, a clinical professor of dermatology at Georgetown University Medical Center, it should be noted that they do not provide any sun protection and sunscreen is advised.

Be like Bugs Bunny. Studies show that you can get that golden glow from the food you eat. "Beta carotene is a form of vitamin A that has a yellow or orange pigment and is found in certain fruits and vegetables like carrots, winter squash, and cantaloupe," says Bailey. Eating a diet rich in beta carotene imparts a golden hue to the skin. "It's entirely non-toxic and looks good."

Some doctors say a little exposure to the sun is essential when it comes to vitamin D, also known as the "sunshine vitamin." Research has shown that a deficiency in vitamin D may increase the risk of some cancers, heart disease, multiple sclerosis, osteoporosis, tuberculosis, and the flu. The body produces vitamin D from cholesterol through a process activated by sunlight on the skin. Although this is the most efficient way to produce the vitamin, many dermatologists would rather you eat foods rich in vitamin D -- such as fatty fish like tuna and salmon and fortified foods like dairy products and breakfast cereals -- or take supplements instead of basking in the sun. The Institute of Medicine recommends a daily dose of 600 IU for most people under 70. "The amount of sun needed for adequate amounts of vitamin D causes suntans and sunburns," says Lawrence Samuels, chief of dermatology at St. Luke's Hospital in Chesterfield, Mo. "People die from melanoma and metastatic skin cancer. No one dies from vitamin D supplements."