Marion County Medical Center

Health Shorts

January 2008

Healthy Resolutions Times 2
Have you made a New Year’s resolution to start exercising? lose weight? lower your cholesterol? quit smoking? If so, you may be making a healthy resolution that benefits two, rather than just one.

A Yale study involving three thousand married couples found that when one person makes a healthy change, the spouse is about five times more likely than other persons to make the same change.
[SOURCE: “Wellness Facts: two for the price of one,” University of California Wellness Letter, January, 2008]

Are Organic Oranges Better for You?
Consumers who seek out organic foods usually do so because they believe they are getting greater health benefits. One study confirmed this belief by demonstrating that organically grown red oranges had higher levels of beneficial phytochemicals such as phenolics, anthocyanins and ascorbic acid than other red oranges. The organic fruit also demonstrated greater antioxidant activity when fed to laboratory rats.
[SOURCE: A. Tarozzi, et al, “Antioxidant effectiveness of organically and non-organically grown red oranges in cell culture systems,” European Journal of Nutrition, April, 2006]

Lycopene, Tomatoes Fail Test
Several epidemiological studies have linked lycopene, an antioxidant substance found in tomatoes and tomato products to a reduced risk of prostate cancer. A recent study of 28,000 men followed over an eight-year period, failed to confirm that view.

Researchers found no significant difference in blood lycopene levels between those who developed prostate cancer and those who did not.
[SOURCE: “Tomatoes no help in preventing prostate cancer,” Duke Health, August, 2007; Cancer Epidemiology: Biomarkers and Prevention, August, 2007]

Do You Dare To Eat Your Peels?
If you’re the type of person who savors the peel of a fresh peach, pear or apple, you know it’s the most delicious part of the fruit. The peel or skin is also rich in flavonoids and other phytochemicals that have been linked to numerous health benefits.

It’s important, of course, to wash the fruit since pesticide residue may be concentrated in the skin.
[SOURCE: “Ask Tufts Experts: to peel or not to peel,” Tufts Health & Nutrition Letter, April, 2006]

How Do Antioxidant Foods Stack Up?
You’ve probably read about the health benefits of eating brightly colored, intensely flavored foods that are rich in antioxidants. But how do individual foods stack up? The USDA now has a database covering 277 foods and their estimated antioxidant capacity, which can be accessed online at www.ars.usda.gov/nutrientdata/ORAC.

In terms of total antioxidant capacity (TAC), wild blueberries rank high with 13,427 TAC/serving, followed by cultivated blueberries (9,019) and blackberries (7,701).
[SOURCE: “Raising the fruit bar,” IDEA Fitness Journal, June, 2006; “Flavonoid database; an antioxidant showcase,” Agricultural Research, March, 2003]

MS Has Impact on Relationships
Persons with multiple sclerosis (MS) reported more problems in their marital relationships and sexual functioning than subjects from the general population, according to a recent Australian study. No difference in sexual satisfaction was found, however.

Partners of MS patients were more likely than others to feel a negative impact on physical and emotional support in their relationships. The authors said the results demonstrated the need for support programs for MS patients and their partners.
[SOURCE: Marita P. McCabe and Elizabeth McDonald, “Perceptions of relationship and sexual satisfaction among people with multiple sclerosis and their partners,” Sexuality and Disability, December, 2007]

MS Patients–Good Nutrition Essential
Good nutrition is important for everyone and essential for persons with multiple sclerosis (MS). A healthy diet, weight control and regular exercise are necessary to keep the immune system functioning well and provide energy to fight off fatigue.

Eat a variety of foods, including five to nine servings of fruits and vegetables.
Limit your consumption of saturated fats and trans fats.
Reduce your intake of sugar and salt.
Drink at least eight glasses of water a day.
Avoid excessive consumption of caffeine and alcohol.

[SOURCE: “Multiple sclerosis: eating right,” reviewed by the doctors at the Mellen Center for Multiple Sclerosis Research at the Cleveland Clinic, WebMD, 2007]

New Approaches for MS Treatment
The wide-ranging symptoms of multiple sclerosis result from inflammation and injury to the central nervous system. One approach to managing the disease involves reducing the inflammation, but recent research suggests that nerve degeneration in an MS patient occurs early in the disease, even with relatively little inflammation. A new direction in research involves investigating agents capable of protecting nerves and slowing the degenerative process.
[SOURCE: “Unmet needs in multiple sclerosis and new data on emerging treatments presented at AAN 2007: an expert interview with Emmanuelle L. Waubant, M.D., Ph.D., Medscape Neurology and Neurosurgery, June 12, 2007]

MRI Aids in Diagnosing MS
The advent of MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) over the past two decades has made it easier for doctors to diagnose multiple sclerosis. With recent applications of MRI techniques such as FLAIR (fluid attenuated inversion recovery), MRS (MR spectroscopy) and magnetization transfer, doctors are able to detect signs of the disease at an early stage and gain valuable information about prognosis and treatment effects.
[SOURCE: Fernando Dangond, “Multiple sclerosis,” emedicine.com Neurology, last updated October 4, 2006]

Eat Fiber, Avoid Diverticular Disease
Persons in third world countries of Asia and Africa who eat a high-fiber diet rarely get diverticular disease, which affects more than half of Americans age 60 and over. To protect yourself or to treat diverticulitis, doctors usually recommend a diet that includes 20 to 35 grams of fiber a day.
Getting adequate fiber requires:

eating plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, including the peels and skins when possible;
choosing whole grain breads and cereals;
including beans and other legumes in your diet, and
avoiding highly processed and refined foods.

For a person diagnosed with diverticulitis, a doctor may also recommend a fiber product such as Citrucel or Metamucil.
[SOURCE: National Digestive Diseases Clearinghouse, “Diverticulosis and Diverticulitis,” October, 2006]

Colonoscopy Often Recommended
Doctors have no clear evidence that diverticulitis, a disorder involving the colon, increases the risk of colon cancer. The disease does make cancer more difficult to diagnose, however, and it often occurs in middle age or later when the risk of colon cancer is elevated. As a result, doctors often recommend colonoscopy as a way to monitor the disease as well as screen for cancer.

While double contrast barium enema may give a better indication of the presence, severity and location of diverticular pouches, this method has a relatively poor sensitivity for detecting pre-cancerous lesions.
[SOURCE: l. Petruzziello, F. Iacopini, M. Bulajic, S. Shah and G. Costamagna, “Review article: uncomplicated diverticular disease of the colon,” Alimentary Pharmacological Therapeutics, May, 2006]

Stress Increases Risk of MS Relapse
Some studies suggest that a person who suffers a stressful life event such as the death of a child has a higher risk of developing multiple sclerosis. And a 2004 analysis of 14 studies found an association between emotional stress and a higher risk of relapse in MS patients.

A mechanism for the association between stress and MS has not been found.
[SOURCE: “Making sense of multiple sclerosis,” Harvard Women’s Health Watch, July, 2005]

Hemophiliacs Benefit from Exercise
Although a person with hemophilia must generally avoid contact sports, doctors usually encourage exercise as a way of enhancing fitness, body composition and overall well-being.

The National Hemophilia Foundation has publications to guide patients and their parents, coaches and physical therapists in ways to participate safely in physical activities and organized sports.
[SOURCE: K. Wittmeier and K. Mulder. “Enhancing lifestyle for individuals with haemophilia through physical activity and exercise: the role of physiotherapy,” Haemophilia, September, 2007]

Comprehensive Care for Hemophilia
The introduction of comprehensive, multidisciplinary care has allowed persons with severe hemophilia to pursue relatively normal lives–attending school, obtaining jobs and enjoying a greatly increased life expectancy.

Comprehensive care clinics give the patient and family access to specialists in hematology, orthopedics, dentistry, surgery, nursing, physiotherapy and social work.
[SOURCE: Hadi Sawaf, M.D., “Hemophilia A and B,” emedicine.com Pediatrics, last updated August 15, 2006]

Have a Healthy Cup of Coffee
If you drink several cups of coffee a day–as many Americans do–you’re probably doing something good for your health.
Among the antioxidants in coffee is chlorogenic acid, which slows absorption of glucose in the intestines. Several studies have suggested that coffee, in moderate amounts, may reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes.

Coffee also contains boron, a trace element that may also be helpful in maintaining proper glucose levels. Other nutrients and minerals in coffee include chromium, magnesium, niacin and potassium.
[SOURCE: “Brewing up health benefits for coffee,” Tufts University Health & Nutrition Letter, January, 2008]

Health Shorts

January 2008

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