Health Tip: Be Wary of Fad Diets

(HealthDay News) -- If you're looking to help kick start your weight loss program, it's important to carefully research a diet plan before you commit to one.

Look for these warning signs of an unhealthy fad diet, courtesy of the American Academy of Family Physicians:

• A diet that promises very fast weight loss -- anything more than a pound or two per week.
• A diet that promises weight loss without changing diet habits or engaging in an exercise program.
• A diet that is promoted by "scientific" testimonials and pictures of "before" and "after" success stories.
• A diet that involves expensive seminars, medications, or pre-made meals.
• A diet that focuses on very few acceptable foods, and doesn't focus on a healthy, balanced diet.
• A diet that points to simple explanations drawn from confusing research.

Database Helps Assess Your Breast Cancer Risk

(HealthDay News) -- If you want to learn more about the key risk factors for breast cancer, such as obesity, pollutants or smoking, a database can guide you to the available evidence that confirms or quells an association.

"Breast cancer is multifactorial. It would be rare for there to be a single environmental chemical that alone would be sufficient to cause an increase in breast cancer," said Dr. Robert Schneider, co-director of breast cancer research at New York University School of Medicine in New York City.

"In many cases, an increased risk of breast cancer is quite small, and we don't yet know how each factor affects the risk of breast cancer," he said, explaining that it's similar to a puzzle. "We need to know how all of the pieces fit together, and this database begins to help us start assessing some of that."

The database, a joint project of Susan G. Komen for the Cure and the Environmental Factors and Breast Cancer Science Review project led by the Silent Spring Institute, includes information on 216 chemicals, diet, smoking, physical activity and weight that may play a role in the development of breast cancer.

Fewer than 100 chemical compounds have been identified as human carcinogens by the International Agency of Research on Cancer. However, that doesn't mean that all other chemicals are safe, just that they haven't been tested. And, an estimated 80,000 chemicals have been registered for commercial use in the United States, according to the database study, which was published in a recent issue of the journal Cancer.

Although many factors have been associated with breast cancer, Schneider said his top three would include the chemical bisphenol A, radiation exposure from CT scans and delayed first pregnancy.

Bisphenol A (BPA) is an estrogenic chemical found in many products made of polycarbonate plastic (clear, hard plastic), such as baby bottles, reusable water bottles, food storage containers, food cans and water supply pipes, according to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. Although no human studies have confirmed an association with breast cancer, a study done in mice suggests there may be a link. However, the U.S Food and Drug Administration recently said the agency felt there were "adequate margins of safety" for the chemical in the amounts commonly consumed.

"We don't know what constitutes an unacceptable level," said Schneider who would prefer to err on the side of caution and limit BPA exposure, especially in infants and young girls.

Schneider said another concerning risk factor is the amount of radiation people are exposed to for routine health problems, particularly from CT scans.

Although the last risk factor from Schneider's top three -- delayed first pregnancy -- isn't one people are likely to change, he said it's important to be aware of it. "In a modern society, it's exceedingly difficult to have a pregnancy before 20 when it would be quite protective," said Schneider.

Dr. Jay Brooks is chair of hematology/oncology at Ochsner Health System in Baton Rouge, La. He said, "When you look at environmental and chemical risk factors, you have to remember that we live in a sea of chemicals, and those chemicals have made our lives so much nicer, and it's hard to know exactly what each one does to an individual's risk.

"I advise my patients to try to control the things you have good control over. Weight is a huge issue in breast cancer, as is the use of combined estrogen/progesterone after menopause," he added.

Brooks said extra weight is a risk factor that many women underestimate, but being overweight clearly increases risk. And, he said, estrogen therapy alone used to ease menopausal symptoms doesn't seem to increase risk the way the estrogen/progesterone combination does.

More information
To learn more about breast cancer risk factors, check the searchable database from the Silent Spring Institute.

Health Tip: Dizziness During Pregnancy

(HealthDay News) -- Many women feel dizzy during pregnancy, a condition caused by hormones that help increase blood flow to the baby, but may restrict blood flow to you.
The American Pregnancy Association offers these suggestions to help relieve dizziness during pregnancy:

• Try not to stand up for long periods. When you do have to stand, move your feet frequently to help maintain your circulation.
• When you start to stand up, do so slowly.
• Keep a cool body temperature. Avoid very hot baths or showers.
• Don't go too long without eating.
• Make sure clothing is loose and not so tight that it can reduce blood circulation.
• Ask your doctor about other factors that could cause dizziness. In some women, lying on their back may impede blood flow as the weight of the fetus presses on certain blood vessels.

Cholesterol Levels May Not Measure Cardiac Risk

(HealthDay News) -- Nearly three-quarters of patients hospitalized for heart attacks had cholesterol levels indicating they were not at high risk for cardiovascular trouble, a new, nationwide study shows.

The finding points to the possibility that current guidelines on cholesterol levels should be changed, said study author Dr. Gregg C. Fonarow, a professor of cardiovascular medicine and science at the University of California, Los Angeles. His report appears in the current issue of the American Heart Journal.

"The LDL cholesterol range at which people have heart attacks shouldn't be regarded as normal," Fonarow said.

LDL cholesterol, the "bad" kind, collects to form plaques that can eventually block arteries. Guidelines compiled by the U.S. National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute set an LDL cholesterol blood level target of 130 milligrams per deciliter for people with no cardiovascular disease or diabetes and 70 for those at high risk because of factors such as obesity, smoking and high blood pressure.

But the study of nearly 137,000 Americans hospitalized for heart attacks between 2000 and 2006 found that about 72 percent had LDL levels below 130 on admission, while 17.6 percent had LDL levels below 70.

"People with LDL cholesterol levels in the 100 to 130 range may feel they are at low risk," Fonarow said. "In this study, there was nothing normal about having an LDL reading of 100."

The study also looked at levels of HDL cholesterol, the "good" kind that helps prevent artery blockage. Current guidelines recommend an HDL level of 60 or higher, but the study found levels below 40 in 54.6 percent of the heart attack patients.

Only 1.4 percent of patients met the recommendation for both an LDL level of 70 or lower and an HDL reading of 60 or higher, Fonarow noted.

The current National Cholesterol Education Program guidelines were first set in 2001, and were updated in 2004. The NHLBI is expected to review those guidelines in the near future, Fonarow said.

"My opinion, based on the totality of the evidence that has come out, is that it is likely that there will be important revisions to the guidelines, but that should be determined by the individual advisory groups that will be writing them," he said.

In its update of the guidelines, the NHLBI called for more use of measures such as physical activity and weight loss to reduce the risk of heart attack and other cardiovascular problems.

Cholesterol is only one part of the heart risk picture, Fonarow said. Risk climbs higher with age, especially for men and for those with close relatives who have had cardiovascular conditions.

"The good news is that as much as 80 percent of the risk factors are under individual control and are modifiable," Fonarow said. "You can't control your family history, age or sex, but you can keep your blood pressure low, exercise and modify your lifestyle in other ways to reduce risk."

While calling the study "excellent," Dr. Manesh Patel, an assistant professor of medicine at Duke University, added, "The problem is that this is a snapshot, but we're not sure we know all the risk factors and how they interplay."

The researchers did not measure blood levels of other molecules involved in cardiovascular disease, such as the inflammation biomarker C-reactive protein and lipoprotein(a), he said.

But it's quite possible that the cholesterol guidelines will be changed, Patel said. "Ongoing studies have led to getting the LDL level to 100 and then to 70," he said. "As more randomized trials come out, there may be further changes."

More information
For the full cholesterol story, go to the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

Health Tip: Walking for Exercise

(HealthDay News) -- Walking is a great form of daily exercise that can help you achieve and maintain a healthy weight.

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons offers these suggestions to help you establish a walking-for-exercise program:

Walk at your usual pace for about 5 minutes, then speed it up to where your heart is beating faster and you feel like you're inhaling more air. Keep up this pace for about 15 minutes. Repeat your warm-up pace for another 5 minutes.

• Always wear a sturdy pair of shoes that offer good arch and heel support.
• While you walk, remember to let your arms swing.
• Walk with your toes pointing straight ahead.
• Flatten your abdomen, straighten your back, and walk with your head up.
• Walk briskly and with long strides, but make sure your stride is comfortable.

Health Tip: After a Heart Attack

(HealthDay News) -- After a heart attack heart attack, it's important to reduce or eliminate risk factors for a subsequent attack.
The American Academy of Family Physicians says these factors increase your risk of another heart attack:

• Getting insufficient exercise.
• Having high blood pressure or high cholesterol.
• Being too stressed.
• Being overweight.
• Having high blood sugar, if you're diabetic.
• Being a smoker.
• Drinking too much alcohol.

Facing a Tough Choice: Should I Have Surgery While I’m Pregnant?

By Erica Kain
123rf

Ever since my first child was born, my wrists have been in pain. When my daughter was just three months old, I was diagnosed with de Quervain’s disease, a kind of tendinitis that can be severely aggravated by motherhood. With this, my third pregnancy, the pain has become unbearable, and I’ve just been told that my only option of finding relief is surgery during pregnancy.
Apparently, the wrist actions required for breast-feeding and carrying an infant can be incompatible with a woman’s wrist structure (which seems antievolution), causing tendons in the wrist to swell and become painful to use. Pregnancy can also aggravate tendinitis, and many women experience their first symptoms of Carpal tunnel syndrome while pregnant. Read More

Winter Workouts Are Cool

(HealthDay News) -- Outdoor exercise in the winter can be wonderful as long as you take a few simple precautions, says the National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA).

The group offers some tips on how to stay active and safe during cold weather workouts:

• Warm up and cool down. Cold weather constricts muscles, so you need to allow enough time for proper stretching to warm up muscles before you exercise. Cooling down with stretches helps keep you limber and flexible. For best results, hold leg, arm and calf stretches for 30 seconds each.
• Wear proper-fitting shoes or boots that prevent your feet from getting wet and cold. Footwear made with GORE-TEX and similar materials are a good choice.
• Consume foods and beverages that will help fuel your body for cold weather activities, such as whole grain breads, nuts and sports drinks.
• With the proper clothing, you can continue your summer activities such as running or walking during the winter.
• Winter sports, such as cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and ice skating, are great aerobic activities that help tone the arms and legs for spring.
• Shoveling snow can be great exercise. Start slowly to build endurance and follow proper technique -- your feet and shoulders should face the shovel in order to avoid injuries to the back, neck and shoulders.
• If you find it too outdoor exercise too tough in the winter, join a gym or head to a mall for a brisk walk.

"Create a workout regimen that will keep you motivated, energized and physically active throughout the winter months," Marjorie J. Albohm, NATA president, said in an association news release. "Set your own fitness goals so you have a real sense of accomplishment -- and some fun -- from your winter activities."

You should always consult your doctor before starting a new exercise routine or if you have pre-existing health conditions, the NATA said.

More information
The American Fitness Professionals & Associates has more about winter exercise.

Health Tip: Relief From Carpal Tunnel

(HealthDay News) -- Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when the median nerve, which runs from the forearm into the hand, becomes pressed or squeezed at the wrist, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. The result may be pain, weakness or numbness in the hand and wrist, radiating up the arm.

Some patients are born with an unusually narrow carpal tunnel, which means they're at higher risk. Other contributing factors include trauma or injury to the wrist, an overactive pituitary gland, hypothyroidism, rheumatoid arthritis, work stress or repeated use of vibrating hand tools.

Anti-inflammatory drugs can ease the pain and swelling, while stretching and strengthening exercises can be helpful in people whose symptoms have abated. Surgery may be necessary if symptoms last for six months.