Author Archives: ewperttulamd

World Asthma Day May 7th-Try Acupuncture

May 7th is World Asthma Day, and today’s post will examine the use of acupuncture as an add-on therapy for treatment of asthma for patients already using conventional treatments for asthma.

According to statistics from the CDC, nearly 8% of American adults have asthma, while slightly more than 8% of children have asthma. Asthma is the most common chronic disease among children. It is estimated that over $50 billion is spent each year on medical expenses related to asthma.

A research group from China performed a review and meta-analysis of published studies, examining the role of acupuncture as an add-on therapy to conventional treatments for asthma. Nine separate studies were included in their analysis, involving nearly 800 participants, from China, Korea, and Russia.

What the researchers discovered was that when acupuncture was added to conventional asthma treatment, acupuncture significantly improved the asthma symptom response rate, and also decreased IL-6 levels. IL-6 is a pro-inflammatory cytokine produced in the smooth muscle cells of many blood vessels.

There is a significant amount of interest in alternative health therapies among asthma sufferers, particularly in China, where acupuncture has been used for thousands of years. There remains interest in using acupuncture for asthma among health professionals as well, as there is another large study of this topic currently underway in China.

Given the promising results of this study, and the generally very good safety profile for acupuncture, perhaps adding on acupuncture to a conventional asthma treatment regimen may be worthy of consideration.

“It’s strange that words are so inadequate. Yet, like the asthmatic struggling for breath, so the lover must struggle for words.”– T.S. Eliot

(Source- Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Volume 2019)

This blog is a review of published medical and scientific literature, and should only be used for informational purposes. It does not constitute medical or health advice, nor does it create a physician-patient relationship with anyone. Discuss and health concerns with your personal physician.

 

 

Sesame Seeds May Help Knee Arthritis

In recognition of Arthritis Awareness Month, today’s post reviews research from Iran that shows that supplementation with sesame seeds may help with the symptoms of osteoarthritis of the knee.

Sesame can grow in areas where it is difficult to propagate other crops. These include areas where drought and high heat are common. Among the largest producers of sesame are Tanzania, Myanmar and India. Japan is the largest importer of sesame.

Researchers studied 50 patients with arthritis of the knee, using two different screening tools. The subjects in the treatment group ate 40 grams of sesame seeds daily, which had been ground into a powder. The control group was not treated with sesame but instead were treated with acetaminophen and glucosamine only.

Both groups in the study completed two different clinical assessment tools at the start of the study, and then again after two months. At the end of the two month trial the sesame treatment group showed clinical improvements in the signs and symptoms of knee arthritis.

Osteoarthritis is a significant medical problem worldwide, affecting millions. Statistics from the CDC indicate nearly a quarter of American adults have been diagnosed with arthritis. The medical costs associated with arthritis are substantial. It is estimated that these costs may approach $140 billion annually. Unfortunately many of the medications typically used to treat osteoarthritis have significant side effects, such as increasing the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding and are potentially damaging to the liver and kidneys.

It should be noted that sesame seeds and oil are a significant allergen to some people, and that there is some cross-reactivity with those who have peanut or tree-nut allergies.

This pilot study indicates promise for the use of sesame seeds in treatment for osteoarthritis.

“I don’t deserve this award, but I have arthritis and I don’t deserve that either.”– Jack Benny

(Source- International Journal of Rheumatic Diseases 2013, 16)

This blog is a review of medical and scientific literature, and should only be used for informational purposes. It does not constitute medical or health advice, nor does it create a physician-patient relationship with anyone. Discuss any health concerns with your personal physician.

Stressed Out? Try Meditation

April is Stress Awareness Month in the UK, and our last post of this month will examine the effects of meditation programs on stress and wellness.

The definition of stress is somewhat elusive. While most of us would probably agree as to what constitutes “stress”, such as rush hour traffic or public speaking, pining down an exact definition has proved difficult. Even Dr. Hans Selye, the Hungarian-Canadian endocrinologist and pioneering researcher in stress theory, stated famously that “Everyone knows what stress is, but nobody really knows”.

While some stress in our life  may be beneficial, leading to positive changes and adaptations, long-term chronic stress is generally harmful. Chronic stress can induce harmful effects on physical and mental health.

Dr. Selye described three phases to his General Adaptation Syndrome. Phase 1 or the Alarm Stage is when the stressor occurs, which induces the sympathetic nervous system (aka “fight or flight response”). During Phase 2, the Resistance Stage, our body does it’s best to resist the stress. However during Phase 3 or the Exhaustion Stage we are unable to overcome the stress any longer and reach a stage of exhaustion. It is felt that the increase in stress hormones such as cortisol seen in chronic stress are one of the factors leading to the harmful effects on physical and mental well-being.

While we are probably all familiar with the effects of chronic stress on our mood leading to increased anxiety and depression, as well as interfering with our sleep, it is important to consider the potential effects of stress on physical health. For example, data from the REGARDS study demonstrated that those with high stress and high depressive symptoms have a 48% increased risk of heart attack or death, compared to those with low stress and fewer depressive symptoms.

A research group from John Hopkins evaluated the use of meditation on improving stress related outcomes. The researchers conducted a review and meta-analysis, which included nearly 50 trials, and over 3500 participants.

The researchers discovered that mindfulness meditation showed “moderate” evidence for improving anxiety, depression, and pain. In addition, of the nine trials that reported this particular information, none reported any adverse side effects from the meditation.

There are a multitude of ways to help manage and lower our stress levels, included a proper diet, regular exercise, good sleep hygiene, and nurturing healthy relationships with others. Given the results of this well done study at John Hopkins, we can add mindfulness meditation as another tool to help with stress.

“Adopting the right attitude can convert a negative stress into a positive one.”–  Dr. Hans Selye

(Source- JAMA Internal Medicine, January 6, 2014)

This blog is a review of published medical and scientific literature, and should only be used for informational purposes. It does not constitute medical or health advice, nor does it create a physician-patient relationship with anyone.

 

Tea Lowers Risks of Oral Cancers

April is Oral Cancer Awareness Month, and in recognition of this today’s post will examine recent research on the consumption of tea and risk of oral cancer.

Statistics from the American Cancer Society estimate about 53,000 Americans will develop oral cavity or oropharyngeal cancer in 2019. It is also estimated that nearly 11,000 will die from these types of cancer. The main risk factors appear to be tobacco use, alcohol, and HPV infection.

A recent study was performed by a group of researchers in China. They performed a review and meta-analysis of 14 case-control studies, examining the role between tea consumption and oral cancers. These studies included participants from the Africa, Asia, Europe and the US.

The researchers discovered that increased tea consumption was associated with a decreased risk of oral cancer. A dose-response analysis indicated that the risk of oral cancer was decreased when the dose and duration of tea consumption was increased. For example, with every cup of tea intake increased, the risk of oral cancer dropped by 6.2%.

Tea is known to contain many bioactive compounds, such as catechins. Catechins are flavonoid compounds, and have antioxidant properties. It is thought that catechins have anti-carcinogenic properties as well, and hence may be one of the compounds in tea that work to lower cancer risk.

The 5 year survival rate of oral cancers is about 65%. Early detection is the key to the survivability from many types of cancers, as is avoidance of known risk factors. Given the results of this study, perhaps consider tea as a healthy beverage of choice.

“You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me.”– C.S. Lewis

(Source- Medicine (2018) 97:51)

This blog is a review of published medical and scientific literature, and should only be used for informational purposes. It does not constitute medical or health advice, nor does it create a physician-patient relationship with anyone. Discuss any health concerns with your personal physician.

Tea Lowers Bad Cholesterol

April 21st is National Tea Day in the UK, and this post is the second in recognition of this important day. This post will examine research regarding black tea and cholesterol.

Tea remains one of the world’s most widely consumed beverages. It is estimated that the size of the global tea market is more than $70 billion. While coffee remains more popular than tea in the US, Americans still drink their fair share of tea, averaging over 8 gallons per capita consumption. Nearly a quarter of Americans drink tea daily.

A group of researchers in China investigated the relationship between black tea consumption and cholesterol parameters. They performed a review and meta-analysis of ten studies, which included over 400 participants.

The researchers discovered that the consumption of black tea led to a significant reduction in LDL concentration. LDL is the low density or so-called “bad cholesterol”. LDL contributes to the build-up of fat in the arteries, or atherosclerosis.

Given the possible reduction in “bad cholesterol”, consider tea as a healthy beverage choice. And celebrate National Tea Day!

“But indeed I would rather have nothing but tea.” – Jane Austen

(Source- Clinical Nutrition, 2014)

This blog is a review of published medical and scientific literature, and should only be used for informational purposes. It does not constitute medical or health advice, nor does it create a physician-patient relationship with anyone. Discuss any health concerns with your personal physician.

 

 

Enjoy a Cup of Tea Today (or three)

April 21st is National Tea Day in the UK, and in recognition of this today’s post will examine research regarding tea consumption and cardiovascular outcomes.

Tea is one of the most widely consumed beverages in the world. Tea is derived from Carmellia sinesis leaves, and leaf buds. Carmellia sinesis is an evergreen shrub or small tree, which grows at elevation in warmer weather climates. Approximately 40% of the global tea production comes from China, with India producing about 22%. Other leading producers include Kenya, Sri Lanka, and Turkey. Turkey is the largest per capita consumer of tea, at 5 1/2 pounds per person per year. According to statistics from the Tea Association of the USA, Americans consumed over 84 billion servings of tea last year. Over 84% of that was black tea, with about 15% being green tea.

Tea is purported to have a range of health benefits, from cardiovascular benefits, to lowering risks of certain cancers, to improvement in cognitive health. Tea is composed of hundreds of bioactive compounds, including flavonoids. Flavonoids are thought to have antioxidant properties, and may be the source of some of the beneficial properties of tea.

Researchers in China performed a meta-analysis of published prospective observational studies to examine the relationship between tea consumption and various cardiovascular outcomes. Twenty-two different studies were included in the analysis, including participants from the US, Europe, and Asia. More than 850,000 subjects were enrolled in these various trials.

Researchers discovered that increased tea consumption was associated with a reduction in cardiac death, cerebral infarction, heart disease, intracerebral hemorrhage and stroke. More importantly, tea consumption was associated with a reduction in total mortality. These results were with a serving of three cups of tea per day.

This was a robust meta-analysis, with a large number of study participants, spanning the globe. Given these results, consider tea as a healthy beverage choice, and salute National Tea Day!

“There are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon tea.”  Henry James

(Source- European Journal of Epidemiology (2015) 30)

This blog is a review of published medical and scientific literature, and should only be used for informational purposes. It does not constitute medical or health advice, nor does it create a physician-patient relationship with anyone. Discuss any health concerns with your personal physician.

Acupuncture Helps With IBS

April is designated IBS Awareness Month, and in recognition of this today’s post will review a recently published study which examined acupuncture for IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome).

IBS afflicts up to 12% of Americans, with women nearly twice as likely to be affected, according to data from the NIH National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Symptoms include abdominal pain and bloating. IBS is often subdivided into either a constipative variety (IBS-C) or a diarrhea predominant variety (IBS-D). The cause of IBS is not clear, but what is clear is that IBS can become quite debilitating.

Medications that are often prescribed for IBS may be minimally effective, and/or have bothersome side effects, so patients with IBS are often considering alternative therapies, including acupuncture.

An international research group including researchers from China, Hong Kong, the UK and Australia recently performed a meta-analysis of the existing research studies regarding acupuncture for IBS. They included a total of 27 random controlled trials in their analysis, encompassing over 2100 subjects, ages 18-77 years. Therapies included in the studies were acupuncture, electroacupuncture, moxibustion and Geshanxiaoyao (a Chinese herbal formula), and a combination of these. The period of follow-up of the various trials ranged from two to seven weeks.

After performing the meta-analysis researchers discovered that the combination of needle acupuncture and Geshanxiaoyao formula had the highest probability of being the best choice for improving global IBS symptoms. The sensitivity analysis indicated that moxibustion, followed by needle acupuncture plus moxibustion, had the highest probability for improving global IBS symptoms. In addition, importantly, no adverse side effects from acupuncture or the other alternative therapies was noted.

Given that many who suffer from IBS do not do well with conventional treatments or do not tolerate them, perhaps in those cases acupuncture or moxibustion should be given consideration.

“Work hard, trust in God, and keep your bowels open.”–  Oliver Cromwell

(Source- Therapeutic Advances in Gastroenterology, 2019, Vol. 12)

This blog is a review of published medical and scientific literature, and should only be used for informational purposes. It does not constitute medical or health advice, nor does it create a physician-patient relationship with anyone. Discuss and health concerns with your personal physician.

 

 

Increasing Glucose Leads to Heart Attacks and Strokes

Today is Diabetes Alert Day, and in recognition our post will review a recently published study on change in fasting glucose levels and subsequent risk of heart attack, stroke and all-cause mortality.

A reasearch group in Korea analyzed data from over 260,000 Korean adults enrolled in the Korean Health Insurance Service. These were adults over 40 years old, and with no diagnosis of diabetes or cardiovascular disease at time of enrollment in the study. The study included both men and women.

At initial enrollment, subjects were divided into two groups- a normal fasting glucose group (glucose <100 mg/dL) and an impaired fasting glucose group (glucose 100-125.9 mg/dL). Data such as smoking status, body mass index, blood pressure, physical activity level, total cholesterol, and alcohol consumption was also collected.

The subjects had a second examination in two years. At this second visit, any changes in fasting glucose between the two visits was noted. On average, these participants were then followed for up to eight years. Data on the number of heart attacks, strokes, and all-cause mortality were collected.

Researchers discovered that those participants who shifted from the normal fasting glucose group into diabetes (glucose >126 mg/dL) were associated with a much higher risk of stroke and all-cause mortality, compared to the participants who remained in the normal glucose group. In addition, those participants initially diagnosed with impaired fasting glucose who later moved into diabetes had a much higher risk of heart attack and all-cause mortality.

The statistics for diabetes are a cause for alarm- it is estimated that the total cost for diabetes in 2017 was $327 billion. About 84 million Americans are currently in the pre-diabetic category, with one of three adults age twenty and older now being pre-diabetic. Given the results of this very robust study, with over two million person-years of follow-up, serious consideration should be given to those interventions which help those who currently have normal or impaired glucose levels from progressing into diabetes.

“No one had ever told me junk food was bad for me. Four years of medical school, and four years of internship and residency, and I never thought anything was wrong with eating sweet rolls and doughnuts, and potatoes, and breads, and sweets.”– Robert Atkins

(Source- Cardiovascular Diabetology (2018) 17:51)

This blog is a review of published medical and scientific literature, and should only be used for informational purposes. It does not constitute medical or health advice, nor does it create a physician-patient relationship with anyone. Discuss any health concerns with your personal physician.

 

 

Poor Dental Health Linked to Increased Risk of Heart Disease in Women

March 20th is World Oral Health Day, and in recognition of this our post today will examine the relationship between periodontitis and cardiovascular disease in post-menopausal women.

Statistics from the CDC indicate that heart disease is the leading cause of death for women in the U.S., accounting for nearly 1 in 4 female deaths. It is estimated that heart disease costs the U.S. about $200 billion annually.

For this study, researchers enrolled 57,000 females from the Women’s Health Initiative Observational Study, between the years 1993-1998. The women were from 40 health centers nationwide, between the ages of 50 to 79. The participants periodontal status was assessed by a questionnaire at five years. There was also annual follow-up through 2010.

Results of the study demonstrated that total mortality risk was significantly higher in women with either edentualism or periodontitis. Also, women who were edentulous had a significantly higher risk of coronary vascular disease and coronary heart disease. These higher risks held even after data was adjusted for potential confounding factors.

This is a very robust study- a large group of post-menopausal women, a cohort that is generally underrepresented in medical research. Given the results of the study, good oral hygiene may be worthy of consideration as a way to potentially lower risk of cardiovascular disease later in life.

On World Oral Health Day, please remember to thank your dentist and hygienist for all their efforts on behalf of your health!

“You don’t have to brush your teeth- just the ones you want to keep.”– Anonymous

(Source- Journal of the American Heart Association, 2017)

This bog is a review of published medical and scientific literature, and should only be used for informational purposes. It does not constitute medical or health advice, nor does it create a physician-patient relationship with anyone. Discuss any health concerns with your personal physician.

 

Good Oral Hygiene May Prevent High Blood Pressure

In recognition of World Oral Health Day on March 20th today’s post will examine the relationship between periodontal disease and prehypertension, as well as hypertension.

According to statistics from the CDC, more than 25% of the adults in the U.S. have untreated tooth decay. In addition, almost half of U.S. adults have some signs of gum disease. Periodontitis is defined as the inflammation of the gums and support structures of the teeth. It is caused by certain bacteria, and in turn these bacteria cause inflammation. It is thought that perhaps if this inflammatory state becomes chronic, it may have implications for inflammation elsewhere in the body, such as in cardiovascular health.

A research group in Japan performed a prospective cohort study on a group of university students, examining whether periodontal disease was related to the development of prehypertension, or to hypertension. Over 2500 students enrolled in the study, ages 18-27 years.

Dentists assessed the oral health of each student. Periodontal health was evaluated using the Community Periodontal Index (CPI), which is commonly used to measure periodontal disease. The CPI is an objective measure of periodontal health, and also suggests the proper treatment for the given CPI score. In addition to the CPI, the dentists also measured the Bleeding Upon Probing (BOP), which is felt to be a simple way to assess inflammation. While dentists assessed oral health, the resting blood pressure and body mass index of the subjects was also measured. The participants also completed a questionnaire, which assessed both dental and general health measures.

The Japanese university students were followed over a period of three years. What the researchers discovered was that the risk of developing hypertension over the three years was significantly associated with periodontal disease.

Given the results of this study, consider practicing good oral health as a way to lower your risk for developing high blood pressure. And don’t forget to thank your dentists and hygienists on World Oral Health Day, or the next time you see them.

“I told my dentist my teeth are going yellow, he told me to wear a brown tie.” – Rodney Dangerfield

(Source- American Journal of Hypertension, March 2016)

This blog is a review of published medical and scientific literature, and should only be used for informational purposes. It does not constitute medical or health advice, nor does it create a physician-patient relationship with anyone. Discuss any health concerns with your personal physician.