Brain Benefits of Exercise

A recent study conducted at the Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Dublin, Trinity College in Dublin asked a group of male college students who described themselves as "sedentary" to take part in a memory test followed by vigorous exercise. After exercising, they were asked to take the test again.

The study found that volunteers who exercised prior to the memory test performed better the second time around. Those who did not exercise did not show improvement.

What's more, blood samples taken during the test show that immediately after working out, the volunteers had higher levels of a protein known as BDNF, which is known to promote the health of nerve cells.

While scientists are still trying to figure out which parts of the brain are positively affected by exercise, this study conducted by the University of Dublin suggests that higher levels of BDNF brought about by exercise may improve memory and perhaps, overall brain function.

Other Brain Benefits

The cognitive upsides to regular exercise don't stop at memory. In fact, research has found that physical activity can have a variety of brain benefits:

1. Prevents cognitive decline such as dementia or Alzhemier's disease.

2. Improves symptoms associated with depression and bipolar disorder.

3. Combats stress and anxiety.

4. Enhances abilities associated with "planning, scheduling, inhibition, task coordination," according to a study conducted at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam.

Get Started Today

Going for a brisk walk three days a week, getting to the gym often, and running or riding your bike regularly can benefit you physically, emotionally, and intellectually. Research has supported this.

However, what if balancing work (maybe even two jobs), a family, and a personal life leaves you with little-to-no extra time or energy? What do you do then? A study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine found that remaining active, even if it means cleaning, gardening, or walking to the store regularly can "[protect] against cognitive impairment."

So whether you're running five miles a day or cleaning five rooms a day, remaining active and keeping yourself moving can, and will, benefit your brain.

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Sources:

Activity Energy Expenditure and Incident Cognitive Impairment in Older Adults
http://archinte.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/171/14/1251

Exercise Appears To Improve Brain Function Among Younger People
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/12/061219122200.htm

Growing Stronger - Strength Training for Older Adults
http://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/growingstronger/why/index.html

Aerobic exercise improves hippocampal function and increases BDNF in the serum of young adult males.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21722657

How to Make Exercise Fun

People have a million excuses why they slack off on exercise like, "I don't have time," "it's too much work," "it's boring," or "I'd rather be with my friends." But what if exercise was fun? What if you enjoyed it so much that you made the time, looked forward to putting in the effort, found it exciting, and could do it with your friends and family?

These tips will make exercise fun again:

Make it a game. Soccer, tennis, golf, dodge ball, track meets, bowling, racquetball, and basketball are part of an endless list of sporting events that turn plain-old-exercise into game time with friends. These sporting events provide excellent opportunities to bump up your heart rate and stretch those muscles while you go out to play.

You can burn about 280 calories with a half-hour pick-up game of basketball and about 240 playing racquetball. Don't worry if none of your friends are game to join you. Exercise provides plenty of opportunities to meet new people.

Call your local golf course and ask to be added to a foursome. Show up at the park with your ball or sign up for your gym's handball tournament. Once you've found your buddies, schedule regular workouts to keep your game on.

Make it a party. When you exercise with other people, doing something you enjoy, suddenly, is no longer tedious. Try out the Zumba® class at your local community center or sign up for Tango lessons. Dance, kickboxing, spinning, and other group fitness activities pack all the exercise you need into super-social, fun events. Gather a group of friends and host a Wii^TM fitness party in your living room or take turns in each other's homes doing a new workout DVD every week. Nobody says you can't follow your fitness with a glass of something sparkly if that's what it takes to keep the party going.

Make it creative. If you've been doing the same old fitness routine for too long, it's time to mix it up. Get off the treadmill and try something new. Challenge yourself to try things you've never done before like kayaking, Pilates, ballroom dancing, power-yoga, swimming, skiing, and even wrestling. The point is to make your fitness routine challenging, motivating, and rewarding. If you try something and discover it's not for you, cross it off your list and move on to something else. Before you know it, you'll be toned, fit, and inspired.

Barre and Ballet Workouts: Get a Leg Up on Fitness

Using a combination of ballet moves, weight training, stretching, and isometric body-weight exercises, barre/ballet workouts kick you into ballerina shape. It's not just for dancers, though. This workout may be the toughest one you've ever done in a leotard.

Three popular barre exercise methods are being taught in studios and on DVD all over the world. They all stem from The Lotte Berk Method total body workout. Developed by the late dancer Lotte Berk, this combination of strength-training, dance, back exercises, and Hatha yoga (choreographed to fast-paced, pulse-pumping music) provides an intense, hour-long (or longer) mind-body workout.

Newer methods like The Bar Method, Physique 57, and barre 3 all offer varying intensities on Berk's basics by adding hand weights and/or exercise balls.

Don't worry if you don't have a barre studio nearby or a barre in your own home. A sturdy chair in your living room, some hand weights, (three or eight-pounds, depending on which method you choose) and an exercise ball are all you need.

Each workout includes upper body/arm exercises using hand weights interspersed with stretching exercises.

The Bar Method uses three-pound hand weights while Physique 57 uses eight-pounders. Next, they focus on lower body/leg exercises that mimic those performed by dancers.

This is no lightweight workout. Be prepared to feel your leg, hip, and seat (that's ballet-speak for butt) muscles work harder than they've ever worked before. Then, you'll focus on abdominal exercises.

Physique 57 and barre 3 use an exercise ball for their six-pack workout. You'll finish with a cool-down and leave class feeling long, tall, tired, and toned.

The Bar Method studios have been around since 2000 with franchised studios all over the world. Classes last as long as 85 minutes and provide a solid workout using three-pound weights, push-ups, planks, tricep dips, and more. By focusing on safety and alignment and offering seven different fitness levels, the Bar Method is a good choice for dance or exercise beginners.

Physique 57 (Classic 57-minute workout) uses a wider variety of movements and eight-pound weights. The DVD shows several dancers at various fitness levels, which makes this workout do-able for beginners and non-dancers. Expect to feel the burn at the end of this one-hour workout, but also expect to see sculpted muscles and tight abs with diligent practice. Physique 57 is said to be Kelly Ripa's workout of choice.

Barre 3 is popular with celebrities like Madonna because the challenging workout also focuses on posture and elongation. This 40-minute workout could provide a nice supplement to your cardio workout.

Will Beetroot Juice Improve Your Running?

Beetroot is the bulbous, reddish-purple part of a beet plant. The other part of the plant is the beet top (or beet greens), which are also highly nutritious. Beetroot juice is obtained by putting beets through a juicer and extracting its liquid.

This liquid is high in nutrients including folate, potassium, and vitamin C. It also has a high nitrate content, which is being credited for boosting runner's performances. Scientists aren't certain, but they think having more nitric oxide (a byproduct created by metabolizing nitrate) in your body helps athletes exercise with less oxygen.

Beetroot's impact on athletic ability was tested in two small studies performed at Exeter University. In these studies, athletes drank a half liter of beetroot juice several hours before taking part in cycling. Tests performed on the athletes determined they were able to exercise using less oxygen than normal and for twenty percent longer than control subjects who drank a placebo of black current juice.

The scientists concluded that the beetroot juice allowed them to reduce the amount of energy their muscles required, which increased their stamina.

Casual runners shouldn't expect that drinking beetroot juice will turn them into marathoners, but scientists think it can improve performance for serious runners. It might also help athletes bump past stubborn performance plateaus.

Beetroot juice provides benefits for athletes and non-athletes alike. Studies show that drinking beetroot juice lowers blood pressure and keeps it low for up to 24 hours.

It may also help fight inflammation, which is a risk factor for type 2 diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular disease.

What's the downside of drinking beetroot juice? It takes a lot of juice to receive all the athletic and health benefits that have been attributed to beet juice and it has a strong, distinct flavor that not everyone loves.

You can mix it with other juices to improve its flavor, but watch out that you're not adding too many extra calories to your diet by drinking all that juice.

Can you get the same benefits by eating beets? Beets are high in antioxidants, fiber, and vitamins and are a healthy ingredient for any diet, but it appears it's the juice (consumed in high quantities) that's responsible for increased athletic performance.

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Sources:

A toast to health and performance! Beetroot juice lowers blood pressure and the O₂ cost of exercise
Journal of Applied Physiology, December 2010
Leonardo F. Ferreira and Bradley Jon Behnke

Have Diabetes-Related Complications? Exercises to Avoid

Chances are, you've heard about the benefits of exercise so often, you could list them in your sleep: it can lower your bad cholesterol and raise your good cholesterol, help you lose weight, reduce body fat, reduce your stress level, and give you more energy. But if you're dealing with any diabetes-related complications, the rules are a little different.

"The benefits of exercise are enormous," says Kellie Rodriguez, RN, CDE, CPT, director of patient education at the Diabetes Research Institute. "But you need to be super-careful about doing exercise that is high impact, or that involves lifting weights and straining, when you have certain complications from diabetes."

Here are a few of the complications that should be a yellow light for you. Depending upon your doctor's recommendation, you'll be able to switch to a different form of fitness. There is an exercise program out there for nearly everyone; it's just a matter of finding one that's right for you.

● Peripheral neuropathy. When this complication occurs, an individual may not have good sensation in the feet, Rodriguez explains. And if you have no sensation, you could injure yourself while running, jogging, or skiing-or even just walking-and not even realize it. "This can be incredibly dangerous," Rodriguez says. "If you have peripheral neuropathy, after exercise you need to look at the bottoms of your feet for scratches, cuts, and blisters." Also be sure to wear cotton socks and well-fitting, comfortable shoes for exercise. One good activity for those who aren't supposed to be jogging, Rodriguez suggests, is swimming.

● Eye disease (diabetic retinopathy). If you develop this condition, you'll want to stay away from weight lifting. "It can raise the blood pressure, which can lead to bleeding in the back of the eye," Rodriguez says. Be sure to check with your eye specialist to find out what types of exercise are safe for you to do.  

 ● Autonomic neuropathy. This condition affects the nerves that control such organs as the bladder, genitals, and intestinal tract. When an individual has autonomic neuropathy, he may no longer feel the symptoms of low blood sugar or he may even have a silent heart attack, Rodriguez explains. Be sure to get medical clearance before doing exercise, and plan a fitness program carefully.

Most individuals will be able to safely do a variety of exercises, says Hope Warshaw, RD, CDE, MMSc, co-author of the "Real-Life Guide to Diabetes."  "Your doctor may want you to see an exercise physiologist or physical therapist to help you figure out what exercise is right for you," she says. "For people with type 2 diabetes, exercise has myriad benefits.  It's all about finding the right program."

When you do choose an exercise program, be safe by following some simple rules. Wear your medical identification bracelet or necklace, carry your ID in your pocket, and always travel with food or glucose tablets to treat low blood sugar. Check your blood sugar regularly if you exercise for over an hour: you may need a snack before you finish.

Sources:

"What I need to know about physical activity and diabetes." National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse (NDIC), National Institutes of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases,  National Institutes of Health.
http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/physical_ez/index.aspx

Colberg, Sheri R., Sigal, Ronald J., Fernall, Bo, Regensteiner, Judith G., Blissmer, Bryan J., Rubin, Richard R., Chasan-Taber, Lisa, Albright, Ann L., Braun, Barry. "Exercise and Type 2 diabetes." Diabetes Care. Volume 33, Number 12, December 2010.
http://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/33/12/e147.abstract

What's Really Causing Your Foot Pain?

Your feet bear the weight of your entire body and when they're not properly supported or they're expected to bear more than they're designed to carry, they react with pain. The delicate network of bones that make up the feet and allow us to walk and balance can get pushed out of alignment, which can irritate the joints, skin, nerves and connective tissue. 

Weight loss, proper hygiene, and the right shoes are among of the most common recommendations doctors make when their patients come in with painful feet and ankles. They might also look for medical conditions associated with foot pain like diabetes and heart disease, (which can cause nerve damage and circulatory problems in the lower extremities) or broken bones. But while those conditions do cause feet to become painful, the most common causes of foot pain are:

• Fallen arches, flat feet, or high arches that don't get enough arch support in a shoe
• Bunions, calluses and corns, often caused by poorly fitting shoes
• Hammer toes that curl down into a claw-like shape
• Arthritis, inflammation of the joints in the foot
• Plantar warts, which form on the sole of the foot and become painful when stepped on
• Bursitis or tendonitis of the ligaments, tendons and surrounding areas
• Morton's Neuroma, a bundle of thick nerve tissue between the toes
• Gout, a disease process caused by buildup of uric acid in the toe
• Sprains, especially in the ankle
• Plantar fasciitis, inflammation of the connective tissue in the bottom of the foot
• Stress fractures, caused by pressure, impact, or trauma
• Fungal infections like athletes foot

Foot Pain Prevention

How do you avoid becoming a foot-pain victim? Try these methods:

1. Wear good shoes with low to medium heels and good arch support. Make sure they're appropriate for the activities you engage in. Don't substitute tennis shoes for running shoes or wear your old Keds to play basketball. Instead, consult a sport shoe expert and invest in the right shoe for your sport. Wear high heel shoes and flip-flops as rarely as possible. 

2. Practice good foot hygiene. Wash and dry your feet thoroughly every day, wear clean socks, and contact your doctor if you see any rashes, cuts, sores, or abrasions. Always wear non-skid shoes on wet, slippery surfaces and locker room floors. 

3. Exercise regularly and cross train to keep all the muscles in your ankles, legs, and back strong and to prevent overuse injuries in your ankles and feet.

Have your feet checked as part of your regular physical examinations. If you have diabetes or heart disease, have your doctor examine your feet every time you see him/her and as soon as you notice any alterations.

How to Get an Accurate Blood Pressure Reading

Blood pressure measures the force of blood against the walls of your arteries as your heart pumps. The top number (systolic) indicates the maximum pressure the heart exerts while beating. The bottom number (diastolic) is the pressure in the arteries between beats. Physicians consider a difference of more than 40 mm Hg between the two abnormal (this is called pulse pressure).

Factors That Affect Blood Pressure Readings

Stress and anxiety. A stressful situation can cause a dramatic, temporary spike in your blood pressure. A single incident is not cause for alarm; however, if this happens frequently, it can damage your blood vessels, heart, and kidneys. Stress can also cause you to engage in behavior that may further damage your heart, such as smoking or drinking.

The season. Blood pressure tends to be higher in the winter because low temperatures cause your blood vessels to narrow so you need more force to push the blood through your body.  

Alcohol. Drinking three or more drinks at once may cause a temporary uptick in blood pressure. Over time, excessive drinking may cause a long-term increase.

Daily patterns. Your blood pressure is usually lower while you sleep and shortly after waking, then rises throughout the day, peaking in mid-afternoon.

Caffeine. Coffee and other caffeinated beverages can also cause a short but dramatic increase in your blood pressure.

Measurement errors. Your blood pressure measuring device may not be working properly, or you (or your healthcare provider) may not take your blood pressure correctly, which can cause a false high reading. Even something as innocuous as a tight belt can affect your reading.

If you experience a high blood pressure reading, try again later. Take a walk or practice slow, deep breathing so you're calm before you try again. Drinking water and avoiding certain foods, such as dark chocolate, garlic, and bananas beforehand may help ensure an accurate reading. If you continue to get high readings and you've ruled out outside factors as possible culprits, then see your physician. You can make simple lifestyle changes to lower your blood pressure, or if appropriate, seek medical care.

Sources:

Sheldon G. Sheps, M.D. "High blood pressure." Mayo Clinic. Web. 26 August 2011.http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/white-coat-hypertension/AN02014

Mayo Clinic. "High blood pressure." Web. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/blood-pressure/AN01786

Ray, Claiborne. "Pressure Problems." New York Times. Web. 13 December 2010.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/14/science/14qna.html

10 Ways to Eat Well When Life Is Stressful

If you eat in response to stress, you are not responding to real hunger but instead to a coping mechanism—comfort food.

A study reported in Physiology Behavior found that 73 percent of participants reported eating more sweets and fewer meal-type foods, such as meat, seafood, fruits, and vegetables, during periods of stress.

Whether you overeat or eat poorly during times of stress, it helps to do a little "self-monitoring," and pay attention to your eating habits and the types of foods you eat.

Stress management tactics such as exercise or meditation usually require a long-term plan. But you can start with these tips to help you take control of emotional eating:

• Maintain a normal eating schedule. Start with a healthy breakfast and eat a meal or a healthy snack every three to four hours. Eat enough to feel satisfied but not stuffed.
• Don't skip meals. When you skip or delay meals, you become overly hungry and are more likely to overeat and less likely to make healthy food choices.
• Keep healthy snacks on hand and ready to eat. If you start to randomly eat during stressful times, stock up on nutritious snacks such as cut-up raw vegetables, vegetable juice, fresh and dried fruit, whole-grain cereals, reduced-fat cheese sticks, and yogurt.
• Plan your snacks. Schedule "mini meals" once or twice during the day so that you won't get too hungry. Rather than grabbing a handful of chips or cookies from the store, sit down to a healthier combination of foods such as a dozen grapes and a small container of yogurt sprinkled with cereal.
• Pay attention to hunger. If it's not your normal meal or snack time but you are reaching for food, ask yourself if it's real hunger or emotional hunger. There are ways to tell: Real hunger comes on gradually, while emotional hunger is usually sudden and intense. Emotional eating involves cravings for specific types of foods as opposed to the combination of foods normally eaten at a meal.
• Eat slowly and mindfully. Use mealtimes and snack times as rest periods. That way, you'll slow down and focus on your food rather than on the events that are causing you stress.
• Pay attention to feelings of fullness. If you're eating while stressed, you are more likely to eat when you're not really hungry, and to keep eating even when you're full.
• Enjoy your favorite foods in moderation. There's no point in denying yourself simple pleasures when you're under stress. Enjoy your favorite comfort foods in reasonable portions and in the context of an otherwise healthy diet.
• Drink plenty of water. When you go to grab food, grab a cup or bottle of water instead. Use the time while you're drinking water to figure out if you're really hungry or just desire food for comfort.
• Avoid consuming excess caffeine or energy drinks when you are already feeling over-stimulated.

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Sources:

Oliver, G and Wardle, J; "Perceived Effects of Stress on Food Choice" Physiology & Behavior 1999 66(3)511-515 Web 25 Nov 2011
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0031938498003229

Purdue University Student Wellness Office: Cut it! Keep it Small; don't eat it all.
http://www.purdue.edu/swo/nutrition/KnowItAll/HealthyEatingWeightManagement/CutIt.pdf

Temple University: Emotional Eating: Hunger vs. Stress Web 25 Nov 2011
http://www.temple.edu/hr/EmotionalEatingHungervs.Stress.htm

Apple Cider Vinegar: Is It a Super Tonic?

Used as a salad dressing, apple cider vinegar could also be used as a natural remedy to help ease a sore throat, relieve sinus congestion, calm intestinal troubles, and rid your scalp of dandruff. Also, if you have diabetes, apple cider vinegar could even help keep your blood sugar balanced.

Although cider vinegar has not been subjected to a great deal of scientific investigation, many documented personal anecdotes and clinical reports seem to confirm what advocates of natural folk medicine have been saying for centuries about its curative powers.

If you want to test the effectiveness of apple cider vinegar for any of the following conditions, use these formulas as guides:

• Sore throat. Gargle with a small amount of slightly diluted apple cider vinegar sprinkled with a pinch of hot (cayenne) pepper.

• Cold and cough. According to Penny C. Royal, author of Herbally Yours, homemade cough syrup made with apple cider vinegar, honey, and spices can help soothe a persistent cough. Combine 1/4 teaspoon of ground ginger and cayenne pepper, two tablespoons of water, one tablespoon of honey, and one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar. Cover and refrigerate the mixture until ready to use, then take one teaspoon at a time.

• Dandruff. After shampooing, rinse your hair with a combination of one part cider vinegar to three parts water, or two tablespoons of vinegar diluted in six tablespoons (or 1/3 cup plus one teaspoon) of water.

• Diarrhea. Dilute apple cider vinegar with water and stir in a tablespoon of honey.

• Food Poisoning. Apple cider vinegar's antimicrobial properties may help offset gastrointestinal symptoms associated with food poisoning, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. They recommend adding two teaspoons of apple cider vinegar to one cup of water, and drinking this combination several times a day.

Other Uses for Apple Cider Vinegar

Besides treating minor medical disorders, diluted apple cider vinegar will clean hard surfaces around your house such as kitchen counters and appliances.

Try dabbing a little under your arms for natural odor protection. Vinegar alters the pH of your skin, which discourages the growth of odor-causing bacteria.

As a home remedy, apple cider vinegar may help soothe the symptoms of many common ailments, but it is never a substitute for professional medical care. If your symptoms persist, or if you have a fever or a serious medical condition, speak to your doctor.

Also, too much apple cider vinegar over time can lower your blood potassium levels and increase your risk of developing osteoporosis. If you regularly swallow straight cider vinegar for any reason, Harvard University's Dr. Richard Lee recommends that you rinse your mouth with plain water to preserve the enamel on your teeth.

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Sources:

The Campus Barber/Duke University: Dandruff
http://www.duke.edu/~papabell/cbarber/faqs_dandruff.htm

Hlebowicz, J, et al.; "Efect of Apple Cider Vnegar on Delayed Gastric Emptying in Patients with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus: A Pilot Study."  Gastroenterology 2007; 7:46. Web.  7 Nov 11.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2245945/?tool=pubmed

Lee, R. "Is Vinegar Good for the Arteries?" Harvard Health Publications.  Web. 7 Nov 11.
http://www.health.harvard.edu/healthbeat/lower-back-pain-yoga-therapy-can-help

McMillen, B. "Home Remedy for a Cough." University of Pittsburgh at Bradford, Bradfor, PA  (Royal, Penny C. "Herbally Yours" 1982; Sound Nutrition) Web. 7 Nov 11.
http://www.pitt.edu/~cjm6/sp99cough.html

University of Maryland Medical Center
http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/food-poisoning-000064.htm

Considering a Cardiac Implant? What You Should Know

For some patients with serious heart conditions, a defibrillator (a device that helps the heart do its job) can be lifesaving. As with all medical interventions, however, there are benefits and risks. You may have heard about recent studies that report increased rates of infections in patients who've had one of these devices surgically implanted.

There are two main types of implanted defibrillators:  ICDs (implantable cardioverter-defibrillator) and CRT-Ds (cardiac resynchronization Therapy Defibrillator). A defibrillator monitors the electrical activity of the heart. If it detects a potentially dangerous change in the heart's rhythm, it will send small pulses of electricity to shock the heart back into its normal rhythm. Defibrillators are nicknamed "emergency rooms in the chest" because they can intervene when a patient's heart fails, potentially saving the patient's life.

The use of defibrillators doubled between 1993 and 2008. During the same time, the number of implanted device-related infections tripled. While most surgical wounds are likely to become contaminated from bacteria on the skin or in organs, some may progress and become clinical infections. Cardiologists estimate the risk of surgical site infections at five to 20 percent. Infections can prolong patients' hospital stays and may even lead to death. Patients who undergo surgery are also at risk for respiratory, urinary tract, and other bacterial infections.

Defibrillators can fail, especially CRT-Ds. In one study of 3,253 patients who received a CRT-D, 416 had a device-related event by 18 months, and of those, 390 needed surgical intervention. By four years, 50 percent needed surgery to replace the batteries. During the same time, only 10 percent of patients with an ICD needed an intervention (13 percent for dual-chambered ICDs). Furthermore, the rate of infection in patients with a CRT-D was higher. The researchers emphasized, however, that these events were not associated with worse clinical outcomes and did not change the risk of death.

Some heart specialists are also concerned that many patients who receive defibrillators don't actually need them. In one study, researchers found that nine out of 10 patients received no medical benefits from the device.

The FDA collects information about defibrillators, but it's not easy to analyze the data and not all device problems are reported. Furthermore, it's hard to calculate the costs and benefits of cardiac implants and to determine who is actually going to benefit most. If your cardiologist recommends an implanted cardiac device, have a frank discussion with him about all the potential benefits and risks.

Sources:

Bakalar, Nicholas. "Risks: Infections Follow Rise in Cardiac Implants." New York Times. Web. 29 August 2011. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/30/health/30risks.html?_r=2

HealthGrades. "Defibrillator Implant." Web.
http://www.healthgrades.com/procedures/profile/Defibrillator_Implant

Feder, Barnaby J. "Defibrillators Are Lifesaver, but Risks Give Pause."New York Times. Web. 12 September 2008. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/13/business/13defib.html

Douglas, David. "Complex Cardioverter Defibrillators More Problem Prone." Medscape Medical News. Web. 7 June 2011. http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/744136

Grens, Kerry. "Reports of Defibrillator Failures Incomplete." Medscape Medical News.Web.13 September 2011. http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/749585

Gifford, C.,BA (Oxon) BMBCh, Christelis, N., MBBCH FRCA FFPMRCA FANZCA, and Cheng, A., MBBS FRACP MPH PhD. "Preventing Postoperative Infection." Continuing Education Anaesthia, Critical Care & Pain 11(5) (2011): 151-156. Medscape Medical News. Web. 27 September 2011. http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/750224

Eat to Beat Bowel Cancer

Fruits and vegetables provide some of the most important nutrients you can consume, namely, disease-fighting antioxidants in the form of vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals (substances found only in plants that are known to protect your cells from destruction).

One of the many diseases that antioxidants can help prevent is bowel, or colorectal, cancer. But it gets even more specific than that. An Australian survey study, published in the October 2011 issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, found that different fruits and vegetables may affect certain parts of the bowel.

Previous studies that link bowel cancer risk and fruit and vegetable consumption have had conflicting results. The Australian researchers point out that this could be because until now, no study has looked specifically at the relationship between diet and the different parts of the bowel where tumors could form.

Your gastrointestinal tract is a long tube that stretches from your mouth to your rectum, with lots of twists, turns, bulges, and folds in between. The food you eat travels this entire course to be broken down, digested, and stripped of its nutrients along the way. Those nutrients are absorbed through your intestinal wall and travel through your bloodstream to wherever they are needed. What's left of your meal is eliminated, along with any indigestible fiber contained in the food.

Your bowel has three main parts and each part is divided into distinct areas. Your distal colon includes the large intestine, sigmoid colon, and descending colon in your distal colon. Your proximal colon includes the cecum, appendix, ascending colon, and transverse colon. Your rectum leads to your anus, which is the end of your large intestine and the end of your gastrointestinal tract.

More clinical studies need to be performed to confirm these results, but upon analyzing the diets of almost 2,000 adults who participated in this study, the Australian researchers found the following associations:

• Eating more cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts may be linked to a lower rate of cancer in both the distal and proximal colons.
• Eating more apples and dark yellow or orange vegetables, such as winter squash, pumpkin, sweet potatoes, and carrots may be linked to a lower risk of developing distal colon cancer.
• Higher total fruit and vegetable intake may be linked to a lower risk of distal colon cancer, but not proximal colon cancer or rectal cancer.
• Increased consumption of fruit juice may be linked to an increased risk of developing rectal or anal cancer.

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Sources:

Annema, N. et al; "Fruit and Vegetable Consumption and the Risk of Proximal colon, Distal Colon, and Rectal Cancers in a Case-control Study in Western Australia." Journal of the American Dietetic Association 111(10):1479-1490 October 2011 Web 20 Oct 2011
http://www.adajournal.org/article/S0002-8223(11)01215-6/abstract

Science Daily: Fruits and Vegetables Reduce Risks of Specific Types of Colorectal Cancers, Study Finds 26 Sep 2011 Web 20 Oct 2011
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110926083346.htm