Control Hypertension, Naturally of Course

 

Hypertension is such a common health problem that one out of three of you reading this has it.  Uncontrolled hypertension is a serious health concern that can cause heart disease and increase your risk of having a stroke. It’s especially danger­ous because it often has no warning signs or symptoms. 

Many people confuse the term hypertension with being overly tense. However, hypertension simply means that you have high blood pressure. Although tension and anxiety are major contributing factors, it is for the most part not the primary reason why people have high blood pressure.

Medical books will tell you that 95 percent of the causes of hypertension is idiopathic, meaning they don’t know what’s causing it. But that’s not true! We (meaning traditional Chinese medicine practitioners) do know what the cause of hypertension is.   The good news is over 85 percent of those who have hypertension can normalize their blood pressure through lifestyle modifications. Yes, I know that’s a scary thought… we are all very attached to our lifestyles, diet, and adored habits of long making.  Mind set change is the easiest to say and the hardest to achieve.

 

Consider

 It’s important to be aware that drugs that treat hypertension will not change, modify, or in any way address the underlying cause of high blood pressure.  The popular high blood pressure medication does attempt to control the condition.  The normal progression of this goes something like this. Your M.D. puts you on a medication… and ups it or changes it upon your annual check up. Statistics show that over half of people taking multiple medications for high blood pressure are still not able to manage their condition except by increasing meds.

 

What is high blood pressure?

You are generally diagnosed with pre-hypertension if your blood pressure is between 120/80 and 140/80, and anything above 140/80 is generally diagnosed as hypertension.  Keep in mind that your blood pressure changes with thought, emotion and action, so if you have just walked up flight of stairs, and are nervous about seeing a M.D. your blood pressure will be up. Also, it’s important to realize that your blood pressure reading may be inaccurate if you’re getting your pressure measured with an ill-fitting blood pressure cuff. Have your medical professional take your pressure on both arms and take an average between the two.

The first number is your systolic pressure, which should typically be below 120. The second number is your diastolic pressure, which should typically be below 80. If either the systolic or diastolic number is higher than the typical 120/80, you may get a diagnosis of hypertension, or pre-hypertension.

If you’ve been diagnosed with high blood pressure, you should know that a common risk factor for high blood pressure is weight. So if you’re more then 20 lbs over your ideal weight, that is going to increase your risk for developing high blood pressure.

 

What causes High Blood Pressure?  

For the most part, high blood pressure is related to your body producing too much insulin. As your insulin levels rise, it causes your blood pressure to increase.  Insulin levels in the blood rise to break down sugers… so that is a no brainer… cut down on the sugars (and artificial), wheat products and booze.

This crucial connection between insulin resistance and hypertension is yet another example of how wide-ranging the debilitating effects of high insulin, lepton and blood glucose levels can have on your body (Here we go on the sugar witch hunt again).

 You can begin to get a handle on this before  getting  hypertension diagnostic  by taking a fasting insulin level test done by our local medical lab (there is one behind Lans on Morelos)and check your insulin levels or have it sent over to your Dr. I think it’s a good idea to learn to read the results. Usually these tests have normal ranges included in the results to give you an idea of ranges.  The lab tests have written results by the lab tech, another good reason to learn the language. The level you want to strive for is about 2 or 3. If it’s 5, or over 10, you have a problem and you definitely need to lower your insulin levels to lower your risk of high blood pressure and other cardiovascular problems.

Fortunately, there are a few very simple techniques that will lower your insulin levels. And if your hypertension is the direct result of an out-of-control blood sugar level, then normalizing your blood sugar levels will also bring your blood pressure readings into the healthy range.

 

Treat High Blood Pressure without Drugs

A vast majority of people can normalize their blood pressure by implementing a few simple techniques that address the underlying cause, namely high insulin levels.

Exercise – One of the most effective ways to lower your insulin levels is through exercise. A regular, effective exercise program consisting of aerobics, sprint-burst type exercises, and strength training, can go a long way toward reducing your insulin levels and your blood pressure. Of course exercise always helps with weight control and keeping the joints, bones and muscle tissue in wood working order.

Ideally, you’ll want someone to supervise your program and monitor your progress.

An acupuncture treatment has been proven again and again to control blood pressure, low or high.

Pascal J. Goldschmidt, MD, FACC, chief of cardiology at Duke University, agrees. “It’s not an accident that people have been doing acupuncture for so long,” he tells WebMD. The findings are “pretty clear that it’s not a placebo effect. Acupuncture seems to be having a relatively specific effect on the control of blood pressure.”

Avoid foods that boost insulin levels – Another effective method is to avoid foods that will raise your insulin, such as sugar-type foods and grains. 

If you have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or obesity, you’ll want to avoid foods like: 

• Breads
• Pasta
• Cereal
• Potatoes
• Booze
• Desserts
• Sugar in all forms

While vitamin C may be helpful, you’ll also want to avoid eating too many fruits;  

Reduce your stress – You’ll also want to take steps to reduce your mental and emotional stress, as that is a factor for most people.  Yoga, yoga, yoga, meditation, tai chi, music therapy, art therapy, there is a long list these days.

Normalize your vitamin D levels – Normalizing your vitamin D levels can have a powerful effect on regulating your blood pressure.  Lower Vitamin D level is also unquestionably associated with an increased risk for heart disease. Vitamin D has been shown to have a positive impact on diabetes, so it’s all linked together.  Take your sun bath before 11 a.m. and after 5 in the evenings… best Vit.D….

Balance your omega-6 to omega-3 fat ratio –. The ideal ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fats is 1:1. Therefore, you’ll want to lower the amount of vegetable oils in your diet, and make sure you have a high quality, animal-based source of omega-3s.  I personally like chia seeds and trill oil supplement.

 

A Warning if You have Very High Blood Pressure, or are currently on Medication for Hypertension 

As most of you already know, I’m opposed to taking medications and drugs, my path being one of prevention  The long term goal is to get off as many medications as possible due to the secondary effects which many times are worse then the condition for which they are being prescribed. 

However, if you are on a medication, you will want to wean yourself off it under the guidance of a healthcare professional.  

Additionally, it’s VITAL that you do adhere to your Med’s prescribed medication to lower your blood pressure if your blood pressure is very high while attempting a more holistic approach. Clearly make sure you’re not increasing your risk for stroke until you’re able to implement these lifestyle changes. Once the cause of your problem has been addressed, then that will allow you to slowly wean off medication.

50 Years of the PILL..what we learned

Yep, its hard to believe that oral contraception has been around for half a century.  Our little friend that lived through hippies, dippies, yuppies and all the free love fads which has been part of the baby boomers American dream offered sex without consequences.  

However… it appears there seems to be some rather serious consequences that where not known at the time.

Take a look.

For the sake of argument, let’s remove the Pill from its primary purpose as a birth control and look at it as a method that alters your hormones.

The Pills are a combination of the of the hormones estrogen and progestin. They work by mimicking the hormones in your body, essentially fooling your intricate hormonal system into producing the following effects:

• Preventing your ovaries from releasing eggs
• Thickening your cervical mucus to help block sperm from fertilizing an egg
• Thinning the lining of your uterus, which would make it difficult for an egg to implant.

In 2002, one of the largest federal studies of hormone replacement therapy was halted because women taking synthetic hormones had a greater risk of breast cancer, heart attack, stroke and blood clots. The news made headlines because millions of women were already taking these synthetic hormones, it prompted many of them to quit.  A year after millions of women quit taking hormone replacement therapy (HRT), breast cancer incidents was lowered by 7 percent!

Birth control pills contain the SAME type of synthetic hormones — estrogen and progestin — that were used in the ill-fated study!

Clearly, nearly all medicinal estrogen is unhealthy and can cause more problems than it prevents. Studies have found that HRT increases your breast cancer risk by at least one percent per year, and HRT with progestin increases your risk by eight percent per year.

Here are some more stats for you…

• Cancer: Women who take birth control pills increase their risk of cervical and breast cancers, and possibly liver cancer as well.
• Fatal blood clots: All birth control pills increase your risk of blood clots and subsequent stroke. And if your prescription contains the synthetic hormone desogestrel, your risk of fatal blood clots doubles!
• Thinner bones: Women who take birth control pills have lower bone mineral density (BMD) than women who have never used oral contraceptives.
• Impaired muscle gains: A recent study found that oral contraceptive use impairs muscle gains from resistance exercise training in women.
• Long-term sexual dysfunction: The Pill may interfere with a protein that keeps testosterone unavailable, leading to long-term sexual dysfunction including decreased desire and arousal.
• Heart disease: Long-term use of birth control pills may increase plaque artery buildups in your body that may raise your risk of heart disease.

Many women also report more immediate side effects including:

• Migraines and nausea
• Weight gain and mood changes
• Irregular bleeding or spotting
• Breast tenderness
• Yeast overgrowth and infection

 

 Some other choices .

• Male condoms: Condoms have a 98 percent effectiveness rate when used correctly.
• Female condoms: These thin, soft polyurethane pouches fitted inside the vagina before sex are 95 percent effective. (neversawone)
• Diaphragm: Diaphragms, fitted by a doctor, act as a barrier to sperm. When used with spermicidal jellies, they are 92 to 98 percent effective. (I must have been in that 8%)
• Cervical cap: This rubber cap fits tightly against the cervix and can be left in place for 48 hours.  Proper fitting enhances the effectiveness.
• Cervical sponges: polyurethane foam is moistened and inserted into the vagina prior to sex. Working as a barrier between sperm and the cervix, both trapping and absorbing sperm and releasing a spermicid to kill them. (sounds toxic to me) It can be left in for up to 24 hours.  

Natural family planning (NFP) is when a very organized and detailed loving women with time on her hands tracks her ovulating, then avoids sex during that time. Many women feel empowered by NFP because it allows them to get in touch with their fertility cycle.  (I tried this type with my Husband…who said you know what the call women who use this type of birth control? MOTHERS..!  which was exactly the case when I became pregnant with our second delightful child.) 

• Calendar Method: Abstention from sex during the week the woman is ovulating.  
• The Temperature Method: pinpointing the day of ovulation so that sex can be avoided for a few days before and after.
• The Mucus Method: This involves tracking changes in the amount and texture of vaginal discharge, which reflect rising levels of estrogen in your body.

I would say avoid all birth control pills, and inner uterine devices (IUD) Instead,  become actively involved in fertility awareness, and embrace natural family planning or barrier methods that will not interfere with your hormones and health.

  Or, as my Grandmother would say. take an aspirin and press it between  your knees… her idea of effective birth control.

COCONUT OIL… in the RAW

It happened that 10 or so years ago a young women sought us out at Body & Sol  where we were concocting oil formulas for massage and  body work. This lady introduced us to local raw organic coconut oil made on a hacienda near Manzanillo. She also made us aware of some simple but rather amazing facts about the oil .  We did use the oil for creams and in formulas until we lost track of the lady and her coconut oil production.

Recently we took up the coconut oil hunt again when I noticed my daughter was using coconut oil on her morning toast as a NEW SUPER FOOD in Eugene, Oregon.  We heard a rumor, found a link to a link, called a stranger and now we have a direct line to the producer again.

Up until now a small group of Lipid (fat) researchers were familiar with the benefits of a unique group of saturated fats found in coconut oil.  Most of those in the health care industry have been generally ignorant of these benefits, shunning coconut oil due to misconceptions regarding dietary fat.  Fortunately as consumers dig deeper via net working and internet, the nutritional and therapeutic benefits of the tropical oil is becoming more accepted.

COCONUT OIL IS HEART HEALTHY

All of the criticism that has been aimed at the tropical oil is based primarily on the fact that is a saturated fat and saturated fat is said to increase blood cholesterol. No legitimate research, however has demonstrated any proof that consumption raised blood cholesterol levels.

Coconut oil does not affect cholesterol because it is composed of a group of unique fat molecules known as a medium-chain fatty acids (MCFA).  These acids are different from those commonly found in other food sources and are burned almost immediately for energy production, and not converted into body fat or cholesterol. Thereby do not affect blood cholesterol levels.  Numerous studies have clearly demonstrated that coconut oil has a NEUTRAL effect on cholesterol levels.

Another interesting factor in relation to cardiovascular health is the bloods tendency to form clots.  Certain proteins in the blood called platelets cause clotting when they become sticky. Studies have shown that most fats… beef fat, lard, butter, vegetable oil, and even olive oil promote platelet stickiness.  So, it seems, the more you eat, the stickier the blood gets, and the greater risk of developing blood clots.  The omega-3 fatty acids, like those found in fish oil are an exception.  These have the exact opposite effect on blood platelets. And of course, the other group that does not promote blood stickiness are the MCFA of coconut oil.

So… HEY: if this stuff is so great… why doesn’t our DR. tell us to use it..

Well.

MONEY, POLITICS AND your HEART

As you probably know, treatment for heart disease comes with a hefty price tag.  Coconut oil is cheap and has no bad side effects (only great skin, shiny hair and immune system booster… to name a few) and is mostly available to the seeker.  This is its drawback.  Because it is a natural product that does not require processing, and is available, the pharmaceutical and medical industries have no desire to fund or promote interest in this area. Since most of the information on MCFAs and coconut oil are buried in obscure scientific literature, few people are aware of the benefits…So there you have it again..a misguided popular opinion that is fueled by powerful profit-seeking enterprises.

The properties of coconut oil have not gone unnoticed by food scientists.  Coconut oil, or some derivative of it is used in hospitals to feed the very young, critically ill, and those who have digestive problems.  The MCFA found in coconut oil are easily digested, absorbed and put to use nourishing the body with little strain on the digestive system.

They say it’s the only fat that helps you lose weight as its lower in calories than other fats.

HERE IS HOW YOU CAN GET IT

First, be sure you get the right oil, it is crystal clear when in liquid form, and white when solid… it melts when touched.  I leave some in my bathroom for skin and hair, and in my kitchen for cooking.

Kids love it too.

The recommend supplement is 3 ½ tablespoons a day.  You can take it right out of the spoon as it tastes creamy and mild.

Put it in a fruit smoothie, you can put all 3 ½ tables in and will not taste it.

Hot Cereal… this is one of my favorites… oatmeal with 2 tablespoons of coconut oil and real maple syrup.  For those chilly Vallarta mornings

Toast… replace all butter with coconut oil.

You can replace butter in baking with coconut oil… and it does not affect the taste.

I have a bunch of recipes, so drop me a line and I will pass them on.

BOTTOM LINE

Coconut oil is a traditional miracle food that has been used of ions to support, relieve, protect, improve, expel, anti-viruses, anti- bacterial, preventive, healing and is listed as one of the top 10 most beneficial foods known to man.

You can get it on line in P. V.  area www.organic-select.com

True Work

It happened that a recent injunction concerning our work brought up these thought that I wish to share with our readers in hopes that we ponder a bit when dealing with our employees and employers.

Basically, human beings want satisfaction and fulfillment and to feel a sense of accomplishment in what we are doing with in our daily work, right? I mean, our baker really prizes herself on her lovely loaves, and is constantly messing around inventing new recipes.  Our domestic helper feels our house is actually her home and she feels pride and glory when things are orderly and well run.  The gardener tenderly works through each plant and takes personal pleasure on harvest day..Agonizing over seedlings, bugs and whatever effects the garden.  This attitude we call true work.  Each of our helpers has their responsibility and is free to explore the realms of their chosen work while keeping the common goal in mind.

This promotes healthy growth not only for the business with the influx of creativity problem solving and production, but also invites personal growth.

Achieving a common goal of value to others while feeling balanced and healthy are among the essential reasons for choosing a work place and activity.

Since we spend most of our waking hours doing it, I believe it’s important that we take a look at the nature of our work.

These questions came up as we find ourselves in a field of opportunities as one rather burdensome job draws to a close and doors start opening to create new beginnings.

Upon waking, getting up in the morning and feeling good about starting the day; having a sense of excitement and purpose combined with contribution gives us the creative energy to propel our day forward into productivity.  Knowing our energies are providing a useful service to others and is appreciated goes a long way toward softening difficulties or problems when they are associated with work.  When ones work is carried out with commitment, caring, purpose, passion and support make problem solving less burdensome and stressful.

It seems how we approach life is governed by our attitude and perspective of what we expect.  If ones outlook is negative, paranoid, based on lack, what doesn’t work, colored by cynicism and aggression, it makes it much more difficult to achieve goals and overcome problems as this negativity effects all that come in contact with it.

On the other hand, consider, if we have a sense of gratitude, are generally hopeful, engage life with optimism and have a healthy appreciation of the possibilities inherent in any given situation then we may be better equipped to create what we desire.

As one is able and encouraged to give energy to ones passion, purpose does emerge.  Clarity of purpose comes from honoring what gives your live meaning.

Work has become void of meaning because people are expected to follow instructions rather than be encouraged to explore their own creativity in achieving a goal.  This instruction following many times acts to burden the whole process and throws a monkey wrench in the natural flow of abundance.  When this type of controlling dynamic in place it’s not hard to understands why there is so much wasted energy and struggling to get something done.  As this dynamic builds, the energy manifests into aggression and disappointment.  Aggression creates doubt and confusion then the whole creative process collapses.

Maybe we can depart a bit from the old school of management and open our minds to the creative energy unfolding around us in regards to our attitudes in achieving goals in our work environment. And let’s allow closings of cycles to be graceful, appreciative and an act of growth.

Going bananas

I used to avoid bananas for the simple reason of its high content of sugars and carbs.  Now I see bananas as a super food, already packaged and ready to take along with me to give me a boost when my agenda keeps me running.

Here are some banana facts that may surprise you.

Bananas, containing three natural sugars, sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with fiber, gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy.  Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout.  No wonder the banana is the number one fruit with the worlds leading athletes. Energy is not the only way a banana can help us keep fit.  It can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet.

Depression- According to a recent survey amongst people suffering from depression, many felt better after eating a banana.  This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax and improve your mood, generally making you feel happier.

Anemia-High in iron, bananas con stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anemia.

Blood Pressure- This tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it the perfect food to help control blood pressure.  So much so, the US Food and Drug Administration (I always wondered why they lump food and drugs together) has allowed the banana industry to make official claims for its ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke.

Constipation-High is fiber, including bananas in the diet can help restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives.

Hangovers-Well, if you must know…One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a banana milkshake, sweetened with honey.  The banana calms the stomach, and with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system.

Heartburn- Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating a ripe banana for soothing relief.

Mosquito bites-The locals do not reach for the insect bite cream, but rub the affected area with the inside of a banana skin.  Many people find it amazingly affective in reducing swelling and irritation.

Nerves- Bananas are high in the B vitamins that help calm and restore the nervous system.

Ulcers-The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness.  It is the only raw fruit that can be eate3n without distress in over-chronicler cases.  It also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.

Temperature control- Many cultures see bananas as a cooling fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers.  In Thailand, for example, pregnant women eat bananas to ensure their baby is born with a cool temperament.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)- Let your friends up north know that bananas con help SAD sufferers because again, they contain the natural mood enhancer, tryptophan.

Stress- Potassium is a vital mineral which helps normalize the heartbeat, sends oxygen to the brain, and regulates your body’s water balance.  When we are stressed our metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing our potassium levels.  These can be rebalanced with the help of a high potassium banana snack.

Strokes- According to research in The New England Journal of Medicine, eating bananas as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of having a stroke by as much as 40%.

So, a banana really is a natural remedy for many ills.  When you compare it to an apple, it has four times the protein, twice the carbohydrates, three times the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals.  It is also rich in potassium and is one of the best value foods around.

Thank you Margaret.

Reducing the Risk of Breast Cancer

While having lunch with a friend of mine, we got to chatting about the risk of breast cancer. The numbers involved are amazing.  How could one reduce the risk?.  That set me to the task and I had an encounter with an old forgotten friend.  Black cohosh.

A new laboratory study, published in Phytomedicine, suggests that extracts from black cohosh, an herb most commonly used to reduce menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes, may stop breast cancer cells in their tracks. This adds more evidence to a small but growing body of research suggesting that black cohosh could have a use in breast cancer prevention..

Black cohosh is a perennial plant native to North America, is a member of the buttercup family. It has long been a popular alternative to hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in many countries. .

The inhibition of the growth of breast cancer cells was related to an induction of programmed cell death (apoptosis). ”These results corroborate the results of  previous studies indicating that the growth inhibitory effect of  an extract of black cohosh is associated with activation of specific stress response pathways and apoptosis,” wrote the researchers, referring to their studies published earlier this year in Anticancer Research and the International Journal of Cancer.

Let me make it perfectly clear that while I view herbs as frequently helpful and virtually non-toxic when compared to patent drugs, they rarely treat the cause of the disease. I view most of them as a compliment to treatment..  They should rarely be used without addressing the underlying cause of the disease.

Having said that, black cohosh was first listed in the United States Pharmacopoeia (the nation’s official drug reference book), from 1820 to 1926. But at that point, drug manufacturers began focusing almost exclusively on synthetic molecules that, unlike herbs, could be patented and used to make big profits. So research stopped, and medicinal plants like black cohosh were dropped from use in conventional medicine.

I remember my mother taking black cohosh when I was a kid.  In more recent years, studies have shown that black cohosh is nearly as effective as estrogen — and far more effective than placebo pills — at treating hot flashes, and is also useful in managing the mood swings and irritability that can accompany menopause. And now they are  beginning to see its value in dealing with cancer

The catch-22 is that black cohosh has also been found to interfere with drugs and radiation treatments used in conventional cancer therapy by:

• Increasing cell killing by two of the drugs[ (Adriamycin and Taxotere)
• Decreasing the effectiveness of one drug (Platinol)
• Not altering the effects of radiation or a fourth drug (4-hydroperoxycyclophosphamide)

Therefore, if you’re being treated for breast cancer through conventional cancer treatments you should definitely consult with your physician before using black cohosh on your own.

So here are some tips to reduce the risk,

1. Reduce your processed food, sugar and grain carbohydrate intake  Yes, this is even true for whole unprocessed organic grains as they tend to rapidly break down and drive your insulin and leptin levels up, which is the last thing you need to have happening if you are seeking to resolve a cancer.
2. Control your fasting insulin and leptin levels: This is the end result, and can be easily monitored with the use of simple and relatively inexpensive blood tests.
3. Normalize your ratio of omega-3 to omega-6 fats by taking a high-quality krill oil or fish oil and reducing your intake of most processed vegetable oils
4. Get regular exercise. One of the primary reasons exercise works is that it drives your insulin levels down. Controlling insulin levels is one of the most powerful ways to reduce your cancer risks.
5. Normalize your vitamin D levels and vitamin A levels by getting plenty of sunlight exposure and consider careful supplementation when this is not possible.  Most of us get plenty walking around in P.V.  If you take oral vitamin D and have a cancer it would be very prudent to monitor your vitamin D blood levels regularly.
6. Get a good night's sleep
7. Eat according to your nutritional type. I refer to your blood type.  The potent anti-cancer effects of this principle are very much underappreciated.
8. Reduce your exposure to environmental toxins like pesticides, household chemical cleaners, synthetic air fresheners and air pollution
9. Limit your exposure and provide protection for yourself from information carrying radio waves produced by cell phone towers, high tension transmission lines, phones and electrical sub stations, high definition computers or images.
10. Avoid frying or charbroiling your food.  Boil, poach or steam your foods instead
11. Have a tool to permanently reprogram  the neurological short-circuiting that can activate cancer genes. Even the CDC states that 85 percent of disease is caused by emotions. It is likely that this factor may be more important than all the other physical ones listed here, so make sure this is addressed through meditation, prayer, chanting, or whatever seems natural for you.
12. My personal favorite..use broccoli sprouts as an adjunct to everything above unless you simply do not like broccoli..

Pass it on girlfriends.

Sources:

• FoodAndDrinkEurope.com November 13, 2007

• Phytomedicine October 31, 2007 [Epub Ahead of Print]

• Anticancer Research March-April, 2007;27(2):697-712

• International Journal of Cancer November 1, 2007;121(9):2073-83

10 Questions You Must Ask Your Doctor

Assert yourself at your next appointment

I ran across this in my wonderings…read on dear reader..

Most M.D. do not like to be asked much..but its your dime.

1. Do I really need this test?

“Doctors often adhere to a better-safe-than-sorry philosophy, ordering tests just to protect themselves in the event of a lawsuit,” says David Sandmire, MD, co-author of Medical Tests That Can Save Your Life.

A full 16 percent of prostate-cancer screenings, for example, are unnecessary, say Harvard researchers. Since 80 percent of PSA results are false positives, thousands of men undergo needless biopsies each year. Another overused procedure: CT scans. The radiation from these tests causes an estimated 5,695 cancer cases a year, say British researchers.

2. Where would you send your spouse or children?

Like our tax code and the judicial system, medicine is supposed to treat everyone equally, but it’s clear that some people receive better treatment than others. “General practitioners who work within a particular system routinely refer patients to specialists within that health-care system,” says Kevin Soden, MD, co-author of Special Treatment: How to Get the Same High-Quality Health Care Your Doctor Gets. “However, oftentimes the best surgeon is in a completely different facility on the other side of town, and you can bet that’s where your doctor would send his family.”

3. How many surgeries do you perform each year?

Nowhere is the saying “practice makes perfect” more applicable than in the operating room. Urologists who perform more than 40 prostatectomies a year, for example, experience 50 percent fewer complications than those who perform fewer than 40. The same goes for hospitals performing more than 200 coronary bypass surgeries a year, according to a report in the journal Circulation. Bottom line: However, lets not overdue it with the surgeries, get a second and third opinion and if you still decide to go for it the outcome may hinge on your surgeon’s experience.

4. Can I schedule my surgery for the morning?

Arrive early and you’ll get the undivided attention of an alert medical staff. A recent study of 90,000 surgeries by researchers at Duke University found that patients who had operations in the morning were four times less likely to have anesthesia complications — nausea, post-op pain, fluctuating blood pressure — than those who had them in the afternoon.

5. If I get sick, will you see me in the hospital?

In the past 10 years, the number of hospitalists, a new breed of physicians who specialize in inpatient care, has grown from a few hundred to nearly 20,000. “So if you require hospitalization, odds are your primary-care physician won’t be at your bedside,” says Evan Scott Levine, MD, author of What Your Doctor Won’t (or Can’t Tell You). “You’ll be dealing with a new doctor who doesn’t know you or your medical history.” Make sure your GP makes hospital calls.

6. Do you earn bonuses based on performance?

Before you schedule a surgery, check the hospital’s physician reward system. Insurance companies reimburse hospitals based on the type of treatment provided, not the length of your stay. As a result, “Many hospitals pay their physicians bonuses based on how quickly they move patients out the door,” says Dr. Levine. “Quality of care is sacrificed in the interest of increasing patient turnover.”

7. When did you graduate from medical school?

In an analysis of 62 studies, researchers 1at Harvard Medical School discovered that doctors who have been out of medical school for more than 20 years were up to 48 percent less likely to stay up-to-date on developments in their fields. They are equally likely to be unaware of current treatment guidelines, such as prescribing aspirin to treat angina (chest pain caused by decreased blood flow to the heart).

8. What the hell does that say?

No doctor would prescribe Zoloft for high cholesterol, but that’s what you might end up with if your pharmacist can’t read Zocor in your doctor’s chicken scratch. Poor penmanship isn’t just an old stereotype; it’s responsible for up to 61 percent of medication errors and more than 1.5 million patient injuries per year, according to a recent report from the National Academies of Sciences’ Institute of Medicine. “If you can’t read a prescription, chances are your pharmacist can’t either,” says Dr. Soden. “Get your doctor to print out the name of the medication.”

9. Will you remove that wedding ring?

When scientists at Rush University Medical Center, in Chicago, analyzed the hands of 66 nurses, they found that those with wedding rings had 10 times more bacteria than those without. “Bacterial infections are the leading cause of death in American hospitals; about 98,000 people die from them each year,” says Dr. Soden. “That means you can contract a secondary infection at the hospital.” (scary)

10. What else can I do to treat my condition?

Recent studies suggest that diet and exercise are essential for treating and preventing everything from heart attacks to prostate cancer, yet only one in six doctors discusses how to use nutrition to prevent disease, according to a study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Researchers in Colorado, meanwhile, found that only 28 percent of doctors mention exercise to their patients. Many primary-care physicians work with dietitians and trainers who can help treat patients with lifestyle-influenced health problems, such as type 2 diabetes. So even if your doctor doesn’t have answers regarding nutrition and exercise, he likely knows someone who does.  Or find another Doctor who does.

Thanks for reading Organic Select Blog…

Here is a comment from one reader, Dennis Parkinson. Thank you Dennis.

 

Just wanted to let you know I enjoy and appreciate you article in the Tribune.  It is very informative and this past week you wrote about inflammation and it hit the nail on the head.  I have recurring knee pain and just thought it was age and heredity, but when I cut out carbs the pain goes away.  I at times get onto diet soda and after reading your caution, I will cut it out and be pain free from now on.   Thank you.
 
I have long suspected that the medical community is in business for profit and not really about healing.  They create or find problems that they can fix just enough to keep you coming back.  I have no faith in the system.
 
I believe you have similiar thoughts by how you write.  Maybe some day our paths will cross, but thank you for your insight.
 
   DENNIS PARKINSON

The power of Love…

 

It seems like love is in the air again, we see some of our friends having moved through tough times have come together to be stronger and more committed in their relationship, and others have suffered losses, and walk alone or open their hearts to a new beginnings.

Affairs of the heart seem to have no reason.

We all have a chance finding true unconditional love.  Some of us don’t seem to recognize it, or believe it, or are just plain afraid of it….and lose it…then we go through life seemingly on the margins of fulfilling happiness.  Love and heart break have been the inspiration of our deepest passions that can even erupt into violent reactions that we had thought not to be a part of our character. Learning to love and allowing ourselves to be loved is an art that is developed through experience and history. We certainly are not born with the knowledge of how to find it and less on how to sustain it. Love and its counter part also have a profound link to our ability to maintain health, or sustain disease.  Our emotional bodies are joined directly to our physical bodies where the essential self roots in the flesh.

When I see a patient who has been diagnosed with a degenerative disease I will question them on what was happening in their lives 18 to 24 months before the illness became manifest in the physical body.  ALWAYS they have confessed to having been challenged emotionally and suffered debilitating loss, pain, and anxiety. 

Loving feels like magic: your heart soars, on the physical level the heart actually swells and relaxes.  There’s great excitement and anticipation. But being “in love” may or may not overlap with really loving someone. Is there a difference between “love” and “being in love”?  Some claim both can exist throughout a relationship; others say the “in love” feeling is an idealization of the partner during courtship, and that it can evolve into love.  I believe it is the other way around, you love someone, you respect them, you admire them, you observe them, then you fall in love.  It takes time and certainly a  walk with a few prospective beings to know what you need and want in a life partner. 

Of course we have our links of profound love for our family, children and friends. These too need to be nurtured, respected and allowed to heal and progress. If you impose your own perceptions and expectations onto another person, if your love is based on projection, it won’t last.  Those feelings are erroneously based on the condition that the person conforms to your fantasized image of them.  It can be highly deceptive, destructive and painful when you both realize it,   the disappointment can be enormous.

Some people love those who cannot love them back, treat them well, or provide a compatible partnership. Often there’s something familiar about the way you’re not loved back. This occurs on an unconscious first level, until you begin to see a pattern of choosing wrong partners or negative friendships.  The familiar, even though not fully satisfying, is more comfortable than the unknown. To break this pattern first become aware of it then you can consciously make different choices.

Attachment is a by-product of love. It comes from loving feelings toward the person, spending time together, and sharing experiences and activities. It’s hard to relinquish the sense of security that develops from such closeness. This is a positive thing. Sometimes controlling attachment may lead to obsession and unfounded jealousy.  The best attachment is the feeling of being loved, and understood, cared for and about and being free to explore and develop your personal potential and dreams.

A wise friend of mine recently put it this way.

Life hurts, birth is painful, childhood pain sometimes lasts a lifetime, then there is adolescent and adulthood where we have to face the real world.  It is our human heritance to be in pain.  That is how we grow.  We human beings have a wonderful ability to refill ourselves with joy and love after a painful event recreating ourselves with new found knowledge.  As all mothers know when in the labor of child birth, the more we resist the pain, the more we struggle and hold back, the more stuck we get. But we go through that labor of pain with the knowledge that we will have a beautiful new baby to hold and love when it is all over. It can be the same with dealing with our own pain. 

The trail of tears is one of observation, cleansing and rebirth. Those stuck emotions can very well be the cause of body aches and pains, weight gain or loss, headaches, heart disease, degenerative diseases, inflammation and many more.  As my professor of Chinese medicine points out, if you did not catch the illness, it came from you, through negative thoughts and repressed, conflicted emotions. That explains why one can have a reoccurring illness after a ¨successful¨ medical treatment.  You have merely treated a physical symptom of a deeper disharmony.

Keeping an open heart and mind takes practice, meditation, constant evaluation, clear intention, truth and communication.

Make well thought out and heart-felt commitments first to yourself, then to the ones you love, keep them. And hope for some good weather.

Yoga sessions at Casa Velas

Wouldn’t you love starting every day of your vacation with a relaxing and revitalizing yoga session? At Casa Velas we have made it possible.

Under the guidance of Krystal Frost, one of Mexico’s pioneer in the discipline, let your body and soul strengthen with this Hindu doctrine.

Tuesdays and Thursdays  at 8:30am at hotel Casa Velas

$100 Pesos per class or $700 for 8 classes, water, yoga mats and towels available

Pelícanos #311 Fracc. Marina Vallarta

For more info call   3221169645