Vidcast:  https://www.instagram.com/p/CsS_qKEMkbk/

Dr. Smith and Peggy Keating, Duke University exercise physiologist speak with a WBZ Radio caller about using exercise to help manager depression.

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/depression/in-depth/depression-and-exercise/art-20046495

#depression #exercise #aerobics #endorphins #anxiety #wbznewsradio 

Vidcast:  https://www.instagram.com/p/CsS-sHIPGFj/

We all must screen for colon cancer.   New data suggests that  you might be able to use a simple chemical test at home to replace that nasty bowel prep followed by either colonoscopy under anesthesia or a CT scan.  

A meta-analysis by Indiana University of some 31 studies testing more than 120,000 persons shows that the so called FIT test, the fecal immunochemical test, is so sensitive and specific that it may be used on an annual basis by many of us in place of the screening colonoscopy.

The FIT test may be purchased over the counter online for $10 to $30 and looks specifically for a chemical trace of blood in the stool. You need not follow any special diet or avoid any medications before using the test.  

Each FIT test is different.  With some, you simply place a bit of stool on the test surface and cover the zone before dropping on developing liquid or mailing it off to the lab.  With others, you toss an indicator strip into the toilet bowl with the stool and watch for a color change.

This test is only appropriate for healthy persons without a history of polyps and without a family history of bowel disease including polyps and cancer.  It can only detect blood in the stool and will not reliably detect polyps.  It must be repeated yearly, and, if the test is positive, you must have a colonoscopy.

Thomas F. Imperiale, Rachel N. Gruber,Timothy E. Stump, Thomas W. Emmett, Patrick O. Monahan. Test Characteristics of Fecal Immunochemical Tests for Colorectal Cancer and Advanced Adenomatous Polyps: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Annals of Internal Medicine, 2019 DOI: 10.7326/M18-2390

#colonscreening #colonoscopy #FIT #fecalimmunochemicaltest #healthnews

Vidcast:  https://www.instagram.com/p/CsS-sHIPGFj/

The strains of holding down a job and maintaining social relationships increases a woman’s risk of developing heart disease by 21%.  Public health scientists at Philadelphia’s Drexel University report this and other conclusions following their study of 80,825 postmenopausal women over nearly a quarter century.

Relationship stress including a spousal death or a divorce/separation increases the heart disease risk by 12%. General, non-relationship social strains, increase the risk by 9%.  Job stress alone does not appear to increase heart disease risk, but data reveals a strong association between social strain and job strain.

All women must closely monitor their health and consistently use stress reduction strategies.

https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/JAHA.120.017780

#women #heart #coronary #stress #work #relationships #marriage #social

Vidcast:  https://www.instagram.com/p/CsS80wipVCf/

Thiazide blood pressure drugs including hydrochlorthazide can bump up the risk of deadly skin cancer by 60%.  This the conclusion from a University of Toronto study comparing 302,634 adults on hypertensive medications and 605, 268 unmedicated matched controls. 

Increasing doses of thiazide medications were associated with increasing incidence of melanoma and the less lethal keratinocyte carcinoma.  On the whole those on this medication had a 60% higher incidence of melanoma, a 52% higher incidence of advanced keratinocyte carcinoma, and a 44% increased rate of keratinocyte carcinoma.

Those with light, sensitive skin prone to cancer should use another blood pressure med.  Those on thiazides should have their skin checked carefully by a dermatologist.

https://www.cmaj.ca/content/193/15/E508

#thiazide #hydrochlorthiazide #melanoma #skincancer #hypertension

Vidcast:  https://www.instagram.com/p/CsS7-_oryhv/

Women with heart attack symptoms are significantly less likely than men to receive timely therapy.  This the conclusion of an NYU study just presented at the American College of Cardiology’s spring scientific sessions.

Though women with chest pain arrived at the ED as quickly as men, they were less likely to be triaged as first priority emergencies, they waited for attention 11 minutes longe.  Women were less likely to undergo a timely EKG, less likely to begin cardiac monitoring, and less likely to have a timely cardiology consult.

FYI: potential heart attack victims should be seen and evaluated with an EKG within 10 minutes.  Don’t be put off ladies!

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/05/210506105435.htm

#women #heartattack #ekg #delay #emergency #chestpain

Vidcast:  https://www.instagram.com/p/CsS7IwFJATL/

Young women consuming more than two servings a day of sugar-sweetened drinks more than double their risk (2.2) of bowel cancer.  Public health researchers at St. Louis’ Washington University issue this warning after comparing the dietary records of 95,464 women participating in the Nurses’ Health Study.

The cancer risk escalates 16% for every extra sugary drink serving/day.  That risk doubles to 32% for those consuming an extra beverage during their teen years.   Conversely, eliminating that sugary drink in favor of coffee, milk, or diet drinks reduces the colon cancer risk from 17-36%.

Your bowels may not tolerate sugar well, but colon cancer feeds off it.

https://gut.bmj.com/content/early/2021/05/09/gutjnl-2020-323450

#cancer #sugar #softdrinks #colon

Vidcast:  https://www.instagram.com/p/CsS4QMwNlT_/

You’ve no doubt heard that pomegranates are chock full of fiber, vitamins, minerals, and those cancer-killing antioxidants.  A Scottish study now adds appetite-suppression to the pomegranate’s beneficial powers.

Twenty-eight subjects with a mean age of 35 years were randomized to receive a 3 week priming course of pomegranate extract or a placebo. On the test day, the test subjects and controls all consumed a breakfast and lunch also with pom juice.  Those subjects who had the pom prime over the previous 3 weeks, felt fuller, more satiated, and, later, less hungry than the group without a pom prime and only pom juice at the meals.

Regular pomegranate juice will likely keep you healthy, in part, because it may kill your appetite and keep you at a healthy weight.

https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/11/17/2639

#pomegranate #satiation #obesity #antioxidant