PHOENIX,April 27 /Christian Newswire/—Remuda Ranch Programs for Eating and Anxiety Disorders reports elderly men and women may have eating disorders more often than most health professionals realize.  Recent research reports eating disorders in elderly women have increased and the majority of deaths from anorexia nervosa occur in people over age 65. 

Dr. Anne Martin-Matthews, Scientific Director, CIHR Institute of Aging

While Canadians struggle to go green, one thing’s certain: as a society we’re going grey. In fact, we’re on the cusp of a historical first in Canada – in two decades almost a quarter of us will be “old”.

I’ve often asked myself this question, “How much better could I treat patients if I had also studied forms of “alternate therapy”? After all those of us with traditional medical degrees haven’t learned everything. This week, an interesting story of a Harvard physician who had a first hand experience with one form of alternate medicine.

“Eat three pineapples a day, take hot baths with Epsom salts, followed by cold showers, and call me in a week!” This was the advice given by a Chinese naturopath to a Harvard doctor whose backache could not be cured by conventional medicine.

Por primera vez, la investigación científica muestra que el cáncer tiene el impacto económico más devastador que cualquier otra causa de muerte en el mundo, y le cuesta a la economía mundial casi un billón de dólares al año. La Sociedad Americana del Cáncer y LIVESTRONG(R) se han unido para lanzar el primer estudio en su género sobre el costo económico de todas las causas de mortalidad a nivel mundial, incluso el cáncer y otras enfermedades transmisibles y no transmisibles. Según las previsiones de la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS), este año, el cáncer se convertirá en la principal causa de muerte en el mundo, seguido por las enfermedades cardíacas y los derrames cerebrales. Este nuevo análisis crítico y oportuno, realizado por investigadores de la Sociedad Americana del Cáncer, John M. Rijo, Ph.D., director de la investigación internacional de control del tabaco, y Hana Ross, Ph.D., directora estratégica de la investigación internacional de control del tabaco, muestra que el cáncer tiene el mayor impacto económico por muerte prematura y discapacidad de todas las causas de muerte en el mundo.

Last week I reported on a study conducted by Peter Gotzsche (Stop Lying To Women About mammography), a leading Danish researcher. His study claimed there’s no convincing evidence that annual mammograms decrease the risk of dying from breast cancer. But can repeated exposure to radiation cause breast cancer?

28 years ago I reported a shocking discovery. Some x-ray machines were exposing patients up to 60 X the amount of radiation necessary for some procedures. X-ray equipment was often old, others rarely calculated for radiation exposure, and some technologists were incompetent. This column did not win me friends. But it resulted in a crack down by the government.

Why is research that could save countless lives unknown to Canadian and U.S. doctors?  This week, a report that Dr. Sydney Bush, an optometrist in Hull, England, has made an historic discovery. He claims that atherosclerosis (hardening of arteries) can be reversed. And his research, which could save millions from heart attack, should have made headlines around the world.

It’s been said that the eye is the window to the heart. It’s the only part of the body through which doctors can see arteries and veins during an eye examination. This allows doctors to see changes in retinal vessels, the result of aging, hypertension, diabetes and atherosclerosis. And it’s been believed for years that blockages in arteries due to cholesterol deposits could not be reversed.

What’s one of the most important rules in medicine today? It’s “Never take a drug if a natural and safer remedy provides the same relief”. Today millions of people are taking cholesterol-lowering drugs to prevent heart attack. But this therapy comes with a price. Some patients develop muscle cramps, liver and kidney problems and some have died. Good sense dictates that it’s prudent to first try other ways to lower blood cholesterol.

Linus Pauling, two-time Nobel Prize winner, says a high dose of vitamin C before breakfast is a smart way to start the day. How much you take depends on your tolerance of C. Too much may cause diarrhea. But most people can tolerate 2,000 milligrams (mg). Ascorbic acid powder (vitamin C) is the least expensive way to buy this vitamin. A flat teaspoon equals 5,000 mg and can be mixed with orange juice.

My initial reaction was, “It can’t be true!”. I’ve enough gray hair to know that if something sounds too good to be true, it’s normally an easy way to lose money. But this was one of my editors talking. And I’ve also got enough gray hair to know you don’t tell your editor he’s full of baloney. That’s a speedy way to get fired. So I politely listened. Particularly, since preserving healthy teeth has always been a good way to preserve your health. 

Why is it that some people are thin and others prone to obesity? Hundreds of books have been written to explain this dilemma. Some blame the under-active thyroid. Others cite genetics. But Dr. James Levine, an endocrinologists and Professor of Nutrition at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, has a “neat theory” supported by “Magic Underwear” to explain the difference.

Three letters, ACL (anterior cruciate ligament), could end the golfing career of Tiger Woods. As much as he tried, it was impossible for Woods to keep his pain to himself as he held his left knee, and limped and grimaced through 91 holes of the U.S Open. But was it prudent for Woods to play with an injured knee and risk further damage to this vulnerable joint?

Anyone interested in a hot tip on how to make a lot of money without any risk? It’s not my job to pass along financial advice, but in this instance I can’t resist the urge. Invest in a hearing aid company, because the next generation is going deaf and they don’t know it.

A French proverb says, “I do not like noise unless I make it myself”. This proverb must have been uttered centuries ago when someone was enjoying a glass of chardonay in a sleepy French village. Today, we’re running out of quiet places to hide and escape noise. And excessive sound from MP3 players such as the iPod is a gift from Heaven for those selling hearing aids.

What’s the best way to stay symptom©free during the allergy season? It used to be an impossible task. But that’s past history. Here are some answers to the most common questions that arrive in my mail.

Question © What is an allergy?

Allergies are triggered by pollen, molds, food and dust. In some cases the body’s immune system is sensitized and over©responds to these substances. The most common condition is “allergic rhinitis” resulting in a runny, stuffy, and itchy nose. 

Would you like to have your picture taken in the nude sitting on a toilet? Then have the photo published in The Globe and Mail, Canada’s national newspaper? Surely, we’d all sue for such an indignity. But a recent photo showed Diew, a bull elephant whose been trained to sit on an elephant-sized toilet. No doubt the photo meant to stress that the irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is an elephant-sized problem. But editors published the wrong photo.

It’s ironic that an elephant can be trained to sit on a toilet seat, but humans can’t be taught how to avoid IBS. It’s estimated that 25 percent of North Americans suffer from this disconcerting disease. 

I’d bet a thousand to one that 99.9 percent of readers have never heard of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Yet a recent report from Johns Hopkins University claims that 25 percent of North Americans suffer from this disorder. What is it, how can it be prevented and treated?

Today you would have to be living on Mars not to know that heart disease and diabetes are often related to obesity. Now excessive pounds are also causing liver disease. We all tend to forget that whether we’re dealing with war, love or medicine one problem often leads to a greater one.

What would I do if I were a woman at the age of menopause and read the headline, “Breast cancer drop linked to decline in hormone therapy”? I’d be scared as hell if I were already taking estrogen. And I’d consider flushing it down the toilet. But what should menopausal women do then if they have an whelming desire to kick the cat, or their husband?

In 2002, a study of 16,000 women aged 50 to 79 showed that hormone replacement therapy (HRT) increased the risk of breast cancer by 26 percent, stroke by 41 percent, heart attack by 29, cardiovascular disease by 22 , and it doubled the rate of blood clots. 

Do many rapists know that a condom could put them on the operating table? Not many. And how many people believe that barbecuing can have a lethal outcome? Not many. Life is indeed full of surprises.

Sonette Ehlers, a South African, has invented an anti-rape device called, “Rapex”. It’s made of latex and is placed like a condom inside the female vagina. But there the comparison to the male condom ends. Rapex also has a number of sharp barbs that hook onto the penis during sexual assault. I imagine it must be like having a dozen fish hooks attached to your John Henry. “Ouch”

It was not a good day at the office. My morning was just ending, when two female investigators from the College of Physicians and Surgeons, arrived without notice and asked to see me. I was handed an envelope and one woman immediately started to take notes. This was not a good sign. So I asked the reason for the sudden visit and was shocked to hear I had been accused of sexual misconduct.

That same day I was meeting my wife for lunch so I told her with trepidation what had just occurred. She immediately laughed and said, “Congratulations! At your age you should be proud of yourself!” But I didn’t share her sense of humour at the time. 

Are you fed up reading about war, our failing health care system and crooked CEOs? If so, let’s discuss a more pleasant topic, the way to ensure a long and healthy life. Some are convinced that jogging, a variety of diets or a daily glass of red wine is the answer. But what about sex? The fact is that making love is downright good for you. Here are eight reasons why you should put more amore into your life.

Some patients you never forget. Years ago, a young talented pianist after years of dedicated study, was scheduled to give her first piano recital in Toronto. But for months beforehand she noticed vaginal discharge and did nothing. Finally, due to abnormal bleeding she consulted me. Pelvic examination revealed an extensive cancer of the cervix. She died a few months later and never gave her recital. Now, a new vaccine, “Gardasil”, will prevent needless deaths such as hers.

Cervical cancer strikes half a million women worldwide each year and 250,000 die from this disease. The cause of this cancer evaded researchers for years. However, recent studies show that the majority of cervical tumours are due to infection with Human Papillomavirus (HPV). 

“What a unique way to get attention” I thought as I opened the morning’s mail. What usually arrives on my desk is a host of medical reports. So I was surprised when two condoms fell out of one envelope. I wondered what was expected of me at 10:00 a.m.? And have I since put these condoms to good use?

Eventually I discovered that Toronto Public Health had initiated a communication campaign for doctors to alert young people to the dangers of sexually transmitted infections (STI), particularly chlamydia. To see the whole campaign visit http://www.gettested.ca

What’s in a bottle of beer? 99.9 per cent of my beer-drinking friends didn’t realize that beer contains health benefits. A Canadian brewer agreed that distributing information about the contents of this popular drink in beer cases would be beneficial. He also agreed that it must be stressed that excessive alcohol consumption causes serious health problems. But he soon learned the government forbids beer companies to claim any health benefits of any kind.

It’s an asinine law. The government allows food companies to promote all sorts of junk foods that trigger a variety of degenerative diseases. It does nothing to stop pharmaceutical companies from advertising medications that are often not needed and that can kill.

How about opening an English style pub in your local hospital? Just mention this idea to a hospital board and it will question your sanity. Readers may also conclude that I’ve gotten into the sauce before writing this column. But 25 years ago I visited the Boar’s Head Pub in Toronto’s Sunnybrook Veteran’s Hospital and left convinced that it helped patients cope with medical problems better than most medications.

Today hardly a week goes by without hearing that a commonly used drug is causing heart attack, stroke or some other serious complication. Look at any medication and its literature lists potential complications as long as your arm. Alcohol, on the other hand, is one of the oldest drugs known to man and a more useful one, if used with moderation.

The squabbling generated by recently revised mammography screening guidelines showed that in the great American health care reform debate, physicians like myself are not always above the fray. In fact, we can sometimes be the fray.

by Knut Holt
By allergy the immune system react against a substance that it is not supposed to react against, and the reaction is often exaggerated. Objects containing substances that commonly cause allergy are domestic dust, animal hair, household chemicals, chlorine, microorganisms, pollen, nuts, citrus fruits and seafood. Also bacteria and parasites can cause inappropriately strong immune reactions. THE MECHANISMS OF ALLERGY

In Foods and for Medicinal Uses

History. Bananas were not available in the US before 1870. At that time, coincidentally, two men came from different countries and brought the amazing fruit back to America.

In 1870, A Massachusetts sea captain, Lorenzo Dow Baker, brought the fruit back from Jamaica to NJ in his schooner and sold them to merchants for $2 per bunch.

Consider these staggering statistics: according to the American Diabetes Association, about 24 diabetesmillion people suffer from diabetes and a whopping 5 million people are undiagnosed and don’t even know they have the disease!1 Overall, 54 million Americans suffer from some degree of blood sugar imbalance and insulin resistance.1 Most of these people have type II diabetes, which is largely preventable with a healthy diet low-carb, low-sugar diet.

Two new studies cast serious doubt on a widely used and expensive treatment for painful fractures in the spine.
The treatment, vertebroplasty, injects an acrylic cement into bones in the spinal column to ease the pain from cracks caused by osteoporosis, the bone-thinning disorder common in older people. Doctors began performing it in this country in the 1990s, patients swore by it — some reporting immediate relief from terrible pain — and it soon caught on, without any rigorous trials to determine whether it really worked.

by Robert Langard
When looking at the extent of a herniated disc on an MRI () examination there are many words used to describe it. When the soft cushion between the spinal bones ruptures it is termed a herniated disc. This becomes painful when the portion of that herniated disc that pushes out places pressure on the spinal nerves or the spinal cord itself.

REGINA — Crown prosecutors, defence lawyers and judges sit on opposite sides of the bench, but often they grapple with a deep-seated problem — how to deal with people who exhibit symptoms of mental illness.

The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston on Friday began conducting pediatric vaccine trials for the H1N1 virus.

Why am I scratching my head? It’s because I’m writing about head lice and even the thought of having this crawly beast, “Pediculosis capitis”, in my hair triggers this reaction. It also makes me understand the traumatic, emotional and embarrassed reaction of parents (and child) when they’re told, “Sarah (or Johnnie) has head lice”. Now that school has started, over a million parents in this country will hear this news. Fortunately, a new “Sahara Desert” treatment rids families of this common pest.

I am prompted to write this article based on what just happened. I’ve been watching TV lately and have seen how many Americans have been diagnosed with many diseases and are dying of various cancers. I began taking notes in anticipation of doing another article to tell people about the benefits of doing a cleanse.

Doctors were able to surgically remove the so-called Botax from the Senate’s health-care overhaul bill and replace it with a 10% tax on tanning services.

Soothing classical music plays in the background as the surgeon snips thin threads hanging from the corners of the patient’s eyes.
Finished with the scissors, Dr. Daniel Teet tells her that everything went well in the hour-long procedure, adding that she should expect little discomfort during the six days until he removes her stitches. The Chicago woman, who asked that her name be withheld, appears relaxed and insists to observers in the operating room that she feels fine after the surgery that lifted and tightened her upper eyelids.

The American Urological Association Foundation is teaming with the National Football League on a new campaign to boost prostate cancer awareness.

Today, the Golden Rule of medicine should be, “Keep it simple.” The reason is simple. The less complicated the treatment, the fewer the complications. Besides, in an increasingly complex medical environment doctors tend to overlook simple treatments that work. It’s a simple as that. So this week, simple ways to prevent annoying urinary infections (cystitis).

I told you about a divine way to incorporate ricotta into breakfast egg scrambles, but I truly think that ricotta was made for fresh berries--especially blackberries, which are in-season right now. And, in case you haven’t tried it, here’s a brand of fat-free ricotta that’s getting great reviews from food writers.

Are you headed for a heart attack because of “marginal scurvy”, a condition resulting from a lack of vitamin C? Moreover, if vitamin C is sound medicine for gorillas, why isn’t it good for us? And in the 16th century, why did the ship’s cat survive long sea voyages when its sailors died from scurvy?