CCH Health Review
Ideas & Strategies to Improve Your Health
October 2004
How to Prevent the Flu, Naturally
Arthritis Drug Pulled Off the Market
Blood Chemistry Marker Predicts Longevity
How to Prevent the Flu, Naturally
Current news reports inform us that the flu vaccine will be scarce this year. Due to the contamination at a major vaccine production center, supplies are low and fear has erupted.
Just how successful is the flu vaccine at preventing the illness and what are our alternatives?
The flu vaccine only protects against three specific viruses included in that particular year’s formulation. It does nothing to protect against other common viral or bacterial infections. Each year, health officials observe last year’s patterns of influenza activity around the world and make assumptions about which three flu strains are most likely to affect our population this year. These are the strains included in the current vaccine. It is guess work to a large degree.
It is estimated that only 3-14% of those vaccinated last year were actually protected against the strain of influenza that actually occurred here. Even if the vaccine matches the current virus, it is thought to provide 70-90% temporary immunity in healthy people under the age of 65. For those over 65, the protection rate drops to 30-40%. Only 20% of those with flu-like symptoms actually have influenza. Most often, it is another virus creating symptoms that we interpret as “the flu”.
The vaccine itself can carry certain risks. Thimerosal, a mercury containing substance is used in many vaccines and can cause fever, fatigue, painful joints and headache. A bill is in legislation now to ban the use of thimerosal in childhood vaccines and reduce the amount used in adult vaccines.
So what is the best way to prevent the flu, given the serious limitations and risks of the flu vaccine?
There are several prudent measures to take this season. They sound simple.
Eat a well balanced diet. As we celebrate the holidays many of us are tempted with sugary treats, alcohol and snack food. Minimize these. Eat 2-3 cups of fresh vegetables, 1-2 pieces of fruit per day and include complex carbohydrates and high quality protein. These benefit your immune system.
Get 8 hours of sleep per night. Sleep is restorative.
Even though it is cold outside, let some fresh air into your living space every day. Circulation of air is necessary to move offending viruses and bacteria out of your space. Consider buying a high quality air purifier that also offers the technology of germicidal protection. How to Prevent the Flu, Naturally (continued)
Wash your hands often! This may be the simplest, yet most often ignored suggestion. Proper hand washing with soap and hot water offers excellent protection. Think about all the things you touch in a day -- the supermarket cart, doorknobs, other people’s hands -- the list seems endless, yet most people rarely wash their hands.
We do not recommend anti-bacterial soaps as studies show that they are not any more efficient at cleansing the hands in normal circumstances than regular soap. Anti-bacterial soaps also remove the normal bacteria that live on your skin that can actually protect you. Remember, you aren’t about to perform surgery. You just want clean hands.
There are also a number of natural remedies that offer protection against the flu and other winter viruses. In our office we have successfully used homeopathic preparations such as Mucococcinium in a flu prevention strategy. Combination herbal preparations like Immune Support, Vira Con and Herbal Biotic have been patient favorites. We also blend certain herbal tinctures.
We have used these and other products to successfully treat the flu, other viruses, and bacterial infection symptoms when they occur.
This is a good time of the year to set up an appointment with your physician at The Center to discuss flu prevention and possible treatment options that best suit you. We’ll review your diet, discuss your home and office environmental options and you can take home some natural protection to keep you healthy through the coming winter season.
Arthritis Drug Pulled Off Market
The giant pharmaceutical company, Merck, pulled its arthritis drug Vioxx from the market after a study confirmed earlier concerns that it raises the risk of heart problems, including heart attacks and stroke.
More than 80 million people currently use Vioxx worldwide. It is prescribed for the relief of rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis and menstrual pain.
The FDA advised that all patients currently taking Vioxx should contact their physicians immediately.
Your physician at The Center can advise you about some excellent alternatives to prescription drug pain relievers. Schedule an appointment if you have any concerns about the medications you are taking.
Folate and Blood Pressure
High folic acid (folate) supplementation lowers women’s blood pressure.
Data from two large studies involving 62,260 women between the ages of 43 and 70 and 93,043 women between the ages of 26-46 revealed important information on the nutrient folic acid (folate).
When women consumed 800mcg per day or more of folate, they were significantly less likely to develop hypertension, than women taking lesser amounts. This news was just reported at the annual conference of the American Heart Association. According to the research scientists, it is very hard to get 800 mcg of folate daily from diet alone, taking supplemental folic acid is necessary.
Blood Chemistry Marker Predicts Longevity
When you get a blood test, the first thing you're likely to want to know is, "what is my cholesterol?" But another marker, "uric acid", is also important for heart disease and overall health. Uric acid is a metabolic byproduct of the liver's breakdown of protein, and is found on every blood chemistry test.
A recently reported clinical study assessed 1,423 middle-aged Finnish men over an 11.9 year period. The researchers found that uric acid levels in the upper third were associated with a greater than 2.5-fold higher risk of death from cardiovascular disease than levels in the lower third.
Men with serum uric acid levels in the upper third were 1.7-fold more likely to die of any cause than men with levels in the lower third.
Serum uric acid level is a strong predictor of cardiovascular disease mortality in middle-aged men. Even if your uric acid is "normal", it could be at the high end of normal which would place you in the zone of increased risk. If you have a blood test from another doctor, bring it in at your next visit and we'll review your uric level with you.
Source: Niskanen LK, et al, Uric Acid Level As a Risk Factor for Cardiovascular and All-Cause Mortality in Middle-Aged Men: A Prospective Cohort Study, Arch Intern Med, 2004;164:1546-1551.
Zinc Helps ADHD
In a study of 400 children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder who took either placebo or zinc for 12 weeks, those taking the zinc showed significant improvement in hyperactivity, impulsivity and socialization scores. Talk to us about zinc and other simple, natural approaches for ADHD.
Source: Zinc Aids ADHD Kids, Autism Res Rev Int, 2004;18(2):5
Vitamins May Protect Against Cataracts
As Americans get older, the incidence of cataracts is expected to triple in the next half century. The risk of this age-related condition, in which the lens of the eye becomes cloudy and impairs vision, may be reduced by taking a daily multivitamin pill for 10 years or more, recent study findings suggest.
"There is evidence that certain dietary components, such as vitamins and minerals involved in protection against oxidative stress, may have a role in slowing cataract development," according to Dr. Julie A. Mares-Perlman from the University of Wisconsin-Madison Medical School. There is "…a body of evidence suggesting lower risk for cataracts among users of vitamin supplements and stronger associations with long-term use,"
In the new study, the researchers examined data from more than 3,000 people aged 43 to 86. Individuals who took a multivitamin or a supplement that contained vitamin C or E for more than 10 years had a 60% lower risk of developing a cataract regardless of other risk factors.
For example, the relationship between long-term supplement use and lower cataract risk remained regardless of smoking, alcohol use, diabetes, age, weight and physical activity. But taking multivitamins or supplements for less than 10 years did not appear to lower the risk of developing a cataract.
This article clearly demonstrates that taking a high-quality multi-vitamin-mineral for the rest of your life will help you maintain your long-term health. Call us today for our multivitamin-mineral recommendation.
Source: Archives of Ophthalmology 2000;118:1556-1563.
Check Your Vitamin D Level!
The benefits of Vitamin D cover a broad range of conditions. Clinical studies suggest the importance of optimum Vitamin D levels in the treatment of the following conditions; high blood pressure, osteoarthritis, MS, depression, epilepsy, migraines, muscle and bone pain, autoimmune and inflammatory conditions, as well as cancer treatment and prevention. Your Vitamin D levels can be checked with a simple blood test. You could be low and never know it. Studies indicate that a blood level of 40-65 is optimum. Make an appointment to discuss your Vitamin D status.
