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For Cascade Discovery October 2002
Health & Medicine Journal
By Paul Van Camp MD
Following are brief summaries of research published in recent
medical journals. Topics are selected to be of interest to
Cascade Discovery readers for general health and significant
medical advances.
Exercise also protects the mind as well as the body.
A study presented at the American Academy of Neurology showed
that, for mature women, regular exercise helped keep the
mind sharp as it kept the body fit. 5,925 women aged 65 and
over had their mental acuity (as measured by the Mini-Mental
Status Exam) compared to their exercise habits. Over an eight-year
period, the women with the greatest number of blocks walked
per week were less likely to have a decline in mental function
compared with those who walked the least.
Buckle up: front, center, and rear.
A study published in the British journal Lancet shows that
rear-seat passengers who do not wear seat belts cause deaths
of front-seat passengers. Information from the Japanese Institute
for Traffic Accident Research for the years 1995 through
1999 was analyzed. It showed that the risk of death for front-seat
passengers increased five-fold when unbelted rear passengers
were thrown forward. They estimate that 79% of all front-seat
deaths could be prevented if rear-seat occupants buckle up.
(Remember that over 41,000 people died in the U.S. in 1998
compared to 700 in airplane crashes.) Show them that you
care: Insist that everyone in your car wear their seat belts.
Vitamin D helps to prevent falls.
Calcium supplements, Vitamin D, weight bearing exercise,
and certain medicines (including the now controversial hormone
replacement therapy) are effective in protecting bone strength
as we age. Now Vitamin D is proving to be effective in preventing
the falls that lead to devastating fractures. This study,
presented at the American College of Rheumatology, looked
at 122 persons who took either Calcium alone or Calcium plus
Vitamin D. Those who also took Vitamin D had 51% fewer falls
than those taking calcium alone. The Vitamin D had a very
limited effect on bone density. However, it seemed to be
helpful in improving muscular function and increased agility.
This opens a new avenue of study for osteoporosis researchers.
Beyond the advances already made in protecting bone density
and strength.
Lower stroke risk by letting your worries go.
How do you reduce your risk for having a fatal stroke? In
the words of one researcher: "Don’t worry, be happy".
Study results presented at the International Stroke Conference
showed that family difficulties increase the risk of fatal
stroke. The Israeli study reviewed 364 cases of men who suffered
fatal strokes. The greater a person’s perceived family
and financial stresses, the greater was his chance of dying
from stroke. Stress reduction and taking life in stride can
provide great health benefits.
Genomics and proteinomics are showing their promise.
With the solving of the human gene code, breakthroughs in
the study of genes, and proteins will bring a revolution
to health and medicine. Two experimental screening tests
illustrate this. One is a test for a protein associated with
Ovarian cancer. There has never been an effective screening
for this common women’s cancer before. A finger-prick
blood test can identify five proteins in the blood associated
with ovarian cancer yet not found in healthy women. When
costs come down this, or a similar test, may become widely
available.
Current screening for the very common colon and rectal cancer
uses fecal blood, or examining the colon with a scope. These
valuable tests currently save many lives. Nevertheless, better
tests may be on the horizon. A gene called APC is an indicator
for the development of colorectal tumors. DNA from stool
analyzed tested positive for the APC gene in the majority
of patients with tumors. It is not yet good enough to supplant
current screening methods. However, look for an acceleration
of breakthroughs in the coming years. It is a very exciting
field that will transform medicine as we know it.
The meanings of "Health" and "Disease".
We all know what health is when we see it. Yet it can be
very difficult to define the words "health" or "disease." The
British Medical Journal had a recent theme issue that explored
this topic. Editors and readers were asked: "What is
not a disease?" They came up with a list of 200 non-diseases
that included aging, work, ugliness, childbirth, pregnancy,
and loneliness. This can be an important debate: Once labeled
as a disease, a diagnosis can change a patient’s life
and affect their self-image.
There is just as much controversy when it comes to defining
health. One definition that I find inspiring was offered
by the writer Paul Twitchell:
" Health means to be rid of fatigue and disease; To
have a good appetite, good humor, and precision in thought
and action. To be free from anxiety and fear; To have a great
capacity for survival over illness and anxieties; To have
joy, long life, and great spiritual adventures. "
The above summaries are presented for education purposes
and not to recommend treatment for any individual or condition.
Dr. Paul Van Camp is a physician and medical director of
Aesthetics MD. 115 SW Allen Road Bend 97702.
Further information is available at www.aesthetics-md.com References
to original publication of the studies discussed is available
upon request.
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