Thursday, January 25, 2007

Health Notes

This is some interesting information about heart bypass surgery, whether you’re black or white. (You might need to click it again to get it) I think what you want is a bypass performed off the pump rather than on the pump, because “there is evidence that being on the heart lung-machine can cause brain damage in some cases.” Read the article, and please talk to your doctor.

As if you didn’t have enough to worry about when going into surgery, blood taken from women and used in transfusions may sometimes cause a serious condition called transfusion-related acute lung injury. Another reason to opt for bloodless surgery if available?

This study says that Prilosec OTC may be just as effective against heartburn and acid reflux as some prescription medications, and could save the user at least a thousand dollars a year.

Apparently your microwave oven can effectively sterilize your kitchen sponges, but you probably need to wet the sponge first. Otherwise you could have big problems.

In this study, taking selenium may have boosted the immune systems of AIDS patients. Wow, that’s cool. We all want to boost our immune systems, don’t we? Brazil nuts are supposed to have a lot of selenium, maybe too much. I think you only need about 70 mcg per day?

While we’re on the subject of immunity, here is an article on immunity, T-cells, and autoimmune disease. Scientists are working on curing lots of diseases. That seems like cause for optimism.

I had no idea that newer birth control pills were less effective than the old birth control pills.

There is evidence that anger management might help some women avoid heart problems.

Since fruits and vegetables are often sprayed with pesticides, wash all produce before eating it, and use organic whenever possible.

Here is an article about peanut butter and partially hydrogenated oil, or trans fat. I guess the article would make me feel better about eating peanut butter, although these days I don’t eat it because it makes me gain too much weight.

If you’re having trouble sticking to an exercise routine, the suggestions in this article might help.

Drinking fruit or vegetable juice more than three times a week may reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease by 76 percent.

Recent studies suggest that continuing to learn new things, or even just stimulating your brain, might ward off Alzheimer’s disease.

This article talks about strengthening the synapses of your brain and improving your memory. Some of the suggestions offered include:

1. Reduce stress: Make time for leisure activities. Learn relaxation techniques such as meditation. Cut down on unnecessary responsibilities and avoid over-scheduling. 2. Stimulate your brain: Avoid routine. Enjoy new sensory experiences. Challenge your mind and body with new situations. 3. Exercise: A brisk walk or other cardiovascular workout oxygenates the brain and promotes brain growth factors. 4. Challenge your mind: Tackle puzzles, games and demanding intellectual tasks. Make an effort to learn new information through classes or reading. 5. Stay healthy: Eat a nutritious diet, get adequate sleep, avoid smoking, and if you use alcohol, drink in moderation.


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Note: links that look good today often are no longer good in the future. I make every effort to create good links. When I discuss a topic, I also attempt to provide enough pertinent information so that readers won’t have to rely solely on the link at hand for their understanding, or for their further research.


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