REPOST: Nothing fishy about health benefits of plant-based omega-3 fatty acid

Good tidings for health buffs: additional evidence supports the long-held claim that omega-3 fatty acids are also present in substantial amounts in plant sources like flax seeds. Hence, even with a strictly vegetarian diet, anyone can enjoy the heart-friendly benefits of this health-giving substance. Science Daily provides more details of the Penn State University study.

Image Source: kimberlysnyder.com

Increasing the amount of omega-3s in your diet, whether from fish or flax, will likely decrease your risk of getting heart disease, according to Penn State nutritionists.

A substantial amount of evidence exists supporting the heart-health benefits of eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid (EPA and DHA), marine-derived omega-3 fatty acids. However, much less evidence exists to demonstrate the positive effects of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), a plant-based omega-3 fatty acid.

"The benefits reported for EPA and DHA are stronger because supplements of EPA and DHA were tested, and EPA and DHA was the only difference between the treatment and control groups," said Jennifer Fleming, instructor and clinical research coordinator in nutritional sciences. "In contrast, in the ALA studies, there were diet differences beyond ALA between the treatment and control groups."

Image Source: nutraingredients.com

EPA and DHA can be found in seafood and fish oil, and are often consumed in the form of dietary supplements. ALA is found in flaxseed and its oil, vegetable oils, and some nuts, and is now available in supplement form. EPA and DHA have been available for much longer. Other sources of ALA, EPA and DHA are fortified foods such as orange juice, eggs, peanut butter, margarine and bread, among others. While there are many other omega-3 fortified foods in the market place, most are relatively low in omega-3 fatty acids.

Omega-3 fatty acids are considered essential for human health, but the body does not produce them -- therefore they must be consumed in order to maintain appropriate levels.

In reviewing existing literature on the subject, the researchers have come to the conclusion that ALA is likely just as effective in preventing cardiovascular disease as EPA and DHA have proven to be, as they report on the current issue of Advances in Nutrition.

"Our understanding of the cardiovascular disease benefits of ALA has advanced markedly during the past decade," said Penny Kris-Etherton, Distinguished Professor of Nutrition. "Based on the current evidence, ALA decreases CVD risk."

Fleming and Kris-Etherton believe that dietary recommendations should be amended to increase the amount of ALA consumed, but note that randomized controlled clinical trials need to be conducted in order to determine the amount recommended.

 

Image Source: fatx101.com

"Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the country," said Fleming. "Learning what you can do to prevent heart disease is important and relevant for everybody."

Dr. Steven Farber, a board-certified physician, advocates a holistic approach to health care. Follow this Twitter account the latest news in preventive medicine and health care.

Why doctors should check for secondhand smoke exposure when treating heart disease patients

 Image source: Dailymail.co.uk

Smoking poses substantial health risks not just to the smoker, but also to the people within his or her immediate vicinity.  Constant exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS) can lead to heart disease and other cardiovascular ailments, increasing the risks by up to 30 percent.  However, not all heart disease patients know about the harmful effects of SHS.  A new study submitted by specialists from the Tobacco Research and Treatment Center at Boston’s Massachusetts General Hospital suggests that doctors assessing heart disease patients should take into account the patients’ history of exposure to SHS. 

 Image source: Ncsl.org

The researchers interviewed 214 heart disease patients hospitalized at Massachusetts General Hospital, with an emphasis on their history of smoke exposure.  They found that 14 percent of the patients lived with a smoker, while 20 percent have been exposed to SHS within a month prior to hospital admission.  The study further notes that of those interviewed, only 37 remember the doctor inquiring about SHS.  

 Image source: Diabetescare.net

“The findings of this study make a strong case for the need to address secondhand smoke exposure more effectively in inpatient cardiology practice,” the authors of the study conclude.  “Hospitals and healthcare systems are missing an opportunity to identify and intervene in this major modifiable cardiovascular risk factor.”

For a more detailed inquiry about the effects of SHS and how doctors can use SHS history in their diagnoses, a copy of the study is available here.  

Dr. Steven Farber is a cardiologist, community leader, and public speaker. Find more insightful articles on cardiovascular health here.

REPOST: Prescription-drug abuse can be curbed

While no single solution can eradicate prescription drug abuse, public awareness can help curb the problem. This article from Poughkeepsie Journal discusses the issue in depth.

Image Source: Poughkeepsiejournal.com

Prescription-drug abuse can have deadly consequences, as we have witnessed in the mid-Hudson Valley and across the country. 

No one solution will eradicate the problem. But sometimes simple, common-sense steps can mean a lot. Far too often, people carelessly leave their unused and unneeded portions of prescription drugs in places where others can gain access. Instead, people should be discarding these drugs in a responsible way that keeps them out of the hands of those who shouldn’t have them. 

Both Dutchess and Ulster counties have taken this matter seriously, placing drug disposal boxes at key locations. In Dutchess, those locations include the New York State Police headquarters in Salt Point, Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office in the City of Poughkeepsie and various local police departments. In Ulster, the locations include Kingston police station and the the campus of SUNY New Paltz. 

Next month, this movement should grow dramatically on a federal level. Beginning Oct. 9, pharmacies and community organizations will be allowed to establish secure drop boxes for disposing of unused prescription drugs; final regulations were announced Monday by the Drug Enforcement Administration. 

This initiative is coming about through the Secure and Responsible Drug Disposal Act of 2010, legislation co-sponsored by
U.S. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y. It should greatly increase the number of drop boxes and, thus, make it more convenient for people to use them. What’s more, people may be more apt to use a box at their local pharmacy than going to a law enforcement agency. 

Far too often, friends and family members, especially teens, are able to obtain prescription drugs from their parents’ medicine cabinets because those medications were never disposed of properly. While some adults might be inclined to simply flush the medicines down the toilet, health experts warn this practice can have alarming effects on water safety. 

Clearly, the best and safest way to dispose of unused medication is to bring it to an official prescription drug disposal site. 

In and of itself, prescription-drug abuse is a major problem, but the tragic consequences are magnified when you consider the connection between this type of abuse and heroin use. National studies, in fact, have shown that people who abuse prescription drugs are far more likely to escalate to heroin use. 

Of course, convenient drop boxes are a relatively small part of what must an overall strategy to curb abuse, including improving physician prescribing practices and getting those who need help proper treatment. But the public does have a role here and raising awareness of how to help must not be overlooked. 

Meeting set 

Dutchess County Executive Marcus Molinaro and Legislator Gwen Johnson and the county’s Health & Human Services Cabinet will host a “Community Forum on Opiates, Heroin and PCP - Drug Addiction & Prevention” from 6-9 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 18 at Poughkeepsie High School, 70 Forbus St., Poughkeepsie. The meeting will focus prevention and treatment of substance abuse. The Dutchess County Sheriff Office will also have a medication drop box available at the forum from 6- 7p.m. when people can safely and anonymously dispose of unused and expired medication.

Renowned cardiologist Dr. Steven Farber shared his battle with drug addiction and his journey to recovery in the book “As Sick As Our Secrets.” Follow this Facebook page for more discussions on drug abuse prevention and therapy.

REPOST: Sodium studies blur the picture on what is heart healthy

Medical science is a long and continuing process, and studies can reveal contradictory results that have widespread ramifications on the best practices. Dr. Robert Schmerling of the Harvard Health Blog discusses the complications of two studies on sodium and heart health that reached opposite conclusions.  

 

Image Source: health.harvard.edu

We often look to science to solve life’s difficult questions. But sometimes it hands us more uncertainty. Take three reports in this week’s New England Journal of Medicine. One shows that eating less sodium (a main component of salt) could save more than a million lives a year worldwide. A second came to a nearly opposite conclusion — that current average sodium intake is okay for cardiovascular health while getting too little or too much is a problem. The third study essentially agreed with the second, but found that getting too little potassium may be as bad as getting too much sodium.

The findings are certain to fuel the already heated debate on sodium and the international efforts to get people to take in less of it.

Sodium study results

 

Too much sodium consumption can increase blood pressure and cause the body to hold onto fluid. High blood pressure (hypertension) is a major risk factor for heart attack, stroke and other cardiovascular problems.  Excess fluid can cause swelling in the legs and even more serious problems (such as congestive heart failure) in people with poor heart function.

In the U.S., guidelines for the average adult recommend getting no more than 2,300 milligrams (mg) of sodium a day. That’s the amount in just one teaspoon of salt. The American Heart Association and other groups recommend a lower target of 1,500 mg a day, especially for certain groups. The average American currently consumes more than 3,400 mg/day.

In one of the New England Journal articles, an international team of researchers led by Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian, a former Harvard Medical School faculty member who was recently appointed Dean of the Friedman School of Nutrition and Public Policy at Tufts university, combined data from more than 100 prior studies regarding sodium intake in 66 countries. They estimated the impact of sodium intake on blood pressure and death due to cardiovascular disease. Here’s what they found:

• Average sodium intake was nearly 4,000 mg a day
• There would be 1.65 million fewer deaths per year worldwide if average sodium intake was closer to 2,000 mg a day.
• 40% of deaths linked to excess sodium intake occur in individuals younger than age 70.
• Reducing sodium intake to recommended levels would prevent about 10% of deaths related to cardiovascular disease.

Although these are only estimates, the numbers are impressive. High blood pressure (hypertension) is among the most modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular disease and cardiovascular disease is among the leading causes of premature death worldwide. So, it’s hard to ignore these findings.

Another study in the journal found that the picture might be more complicated. Researchers with the international Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiology study compared sodium excretion in urine (an indirect measure of sodium intake) with rates of death and major cardiovascular disease among more than 100,000 men and women from 17 countries. Higher rates of death and cardiovascular disease were seen among those with high sodium intake, defined as higher than 6,000 mg a day. But the researchers also saw high rates among those with low sodium intake, defined as less than 3,000 mg a day. The sweet spot was between 3,000 and 6,000, or where most Americans are now.

How could lower levels of sodium consumption be riskier than higher amounts? One reason could be that people with high blood pressure, other cardiovascular risk factors, or cardiovascular disease are usually advised to lower their salt intake. Their higher than average rates of cardiovascular disease and related deaths could then be erroneously linked to their lower salt intake.

The third report, also from the Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiology study, compared sodium and potassium intake with blood pressure among more than 100,000 men and women in 18 countries. The higher the sodium intake, the higher the blood pressure. And the lower the potassium intake, the higher the blood pressure.

Too soon to change recommendations

 

Taken as a group, these three reports raise plenty of questions. Until there are good answers, I think it’s too soon to throw out recommendations to reduce sodium intake, especially in high-risk groups, including:

• anyone over age 50
• African Americans
• individuals with high blood pressure, chronic kidney disease, diabetes, or heart failure

Limiting sodium intake can help people in these groups prevent or control high blood pressure and avoid “fluid overload” in which the body holds on to fluid beyond its capacity to get rid of it.

If you want to take in less sodium, or need to, keep in mind that most sodium in the U.S. diet comes from prepared foods like canned foods, breads and pastries, crackers and chips, deli meats, and restaurant foods. A good way to reduce your consumption of sodium is to prepare your own food or read nutrition labels on prepared foods so you can choose low sodium options.

Another lesson from the three New England Journal articles is worth keeping in mind. The human diet, once rich in potassium, is now low in potassium in developed countries like the United States. Getting more potassium from fruits, vegetables, and other foods is a good way to help keep your heart and arteries healthy. The Harvard Heart Letter has compiled a list of potassium-rich foods and their potassium-to-sodium ratios.

Looking ahead

 

From my perspective, the scientific evidence demonstrating the hazards of high salt intake is difficult to ignore. I believe that salt consumption will fall over time in the U.S. and in other places where salt intake is high. Long-term clinical trials comparing people placed on diets containing varying amounts of sodium are needed to better understand just how much is too much – and how little is too little. In fact, the ideal amount will likely vary for different groups of people.

Craving salty foods is learned. And it can be “un-learned.” It takes time to get used to foods that are less salty – but for many, I think it’s worth the effort.

Having an accomplished career lasting more than 25 years and counting, Dr. Steven Farber is a cardiologist and noted community leader. Visit this blog for more health and wellness updates.

REPOST: Does energy healing really work? The Daily News puts four methods to the test

New York Daily News investigates four of the most popular energy healing treatments today. The verdict: the processes help alleviate stress, which is linked to an improvement in various health conditions. However, patients are advised to complement energy therapies with other known treatments to achieve holistic healing.

(JUPITERIMAGES/WWW.JUPITERIMAGES.COM | Reiki master Gianantonio Corna told the News he can’t even remember the last time he got sick, which he thinks is due to the healing practice.) Image Source: nydailynews.com

Can a slight touch, a firm touch or even no touch really heal what's ailing you?

Energy healing — tapping into the body's own frequencies as a type of alternative medicine — is being taken seriously by health practitioners trained in both eastern and western modalities of medicine.

And science is backing up its powers: One 2013 study found that 10 minutes of energy healing was as effective as physical therapy in improving the range of motion in people with mobility problems. UCLA even has en electromyography (EMG) lab that studies electrical activity in the body.

But many remain skeptical. Dr. Edzard Ernst, a professor of Complementary Medicine at the University of Exeter in England (the first-ever professor of this branch of study), has repeatedly refuted the efficacy of energy healing, stating once that just five percent of alternative medicine has evidentiary support.

I put four energy-based alternative healing practices to the test to find out if any of them are worthwhile complements to Western medicine. But first a disclaimer. While I don't have any major medical issues that required serious healing, I did try these to get a feel for what each procedure is like.

Reiki

What it is: A practitioner places his palms lightly on or over various parts of the body in an effort to redistribute energy. What the expert says: "Reiki is a self-healing technique, a profound meditation technique that you can learn," said Gianantonio Corna, a third-generation energy healer and the owner of Reiki Vitae in SoHo. "I don't even remember the last time I got sick." He recommends at least three sessions to really feel its effects on both physical and emotional levels. So with Reiki, he argues, those stress-related conditions you're fighting can start to subside. He compares it to a GPS for your body, "going around the different energy channels that we have and detecting where the traffic is not good, and giving the information on that spot that (leads) to rebalance."

My verdict: I lay flat on the back in a dark room, while soothing music played in the background. Gianantonio did not touch me once, just hovered his hands over my body. It was slightly awkward, but I reminded myself that Corna does this every day and it doesn't faze him.

Corna told me to expect various memories to pop up in my mind during our 90-minute introductory session. He was right — random slices of life crept back into my conscious during our time together. Corna explained that that is the Reiki energy's way of storing those memories on our human "iCloud," so that they don't take up space on our hard drive anymore. The memories aren't being erased, but rather moved so that we can let go of old patterns and make room for positive encounters.

After the treatment, I felt relaxed. After all, I was just lying down for an extended period of time! And Corna was spot-on in his diagnosis of an area of myself I wanted to work on, even giving me practical advice for self-improvement. It was pretty incredible he knew so much about me without me giving him any details!

(ROLPHOT/GETTY IMAGES/ISTOCKPHOTO | Contrary to popular belief, reflexology is not just done on the feet.) Image Source: nydailynews.com

Reflexology

What it is: Not just confined to the feet, reflexology stimulates specific pressure points on the feet, hands, face and ears to affect various organs, glands and parts of the body. Each reflexology pressure point is said to correspond to, and connect with, a different body part. Whereas a massage uses big, broad strokes, reflexology is just the fingers and thumbs pressing on reflex pressure points.

What the expert says: "Reflexology is a science and an art," said Laura Norman, a certified reflexologist and author who also teaches classes on the subject in Midtown, the Berkshires and South Florida. The feet are the most popular not only because they are "the most neglected and abused," parts of our body, but also because they are the furthest from the heart and contain almost 15,000 nerves. Because of gravity, toxins tend to settle in the feet, which can affect our health.

When reflexologists work on the feet, they're "balancing energy flow, calming the nervous system, improving circulation, and assisting the body to eliminate toxins while helping a variety of health conditions," Norman said.

My verdict: Whether it was the early morning appointment or Norman's magic fingers, or both, I easily drifted in and out of sleep on Norman's table. Some of Norman's clients have told her that reflexology is more relaxing than massages they've had, and I'd have to agree — peeling myself off the table when it was time to go was torture. My tired soles were feeling lighter by day's end, and I noticed a slight change in my sinuses later in the night. Did I feel like all of my problems were solved in the hour? No, but I was able to melt into the treatment and experience a new type of relaxation. It was my favorite of all the treatments (if you really want to know).

Tapping

What it is: Gentle self-taps on various acupressure points in the body (under the eye, the collarbone) to signal to the brain that it's OK to calm down. Also known as Emotional Freedom Technique.

What the expert says: "When we feel stressed, it's not a sensation we just experience in our head — we feel it in our entire body," said Jessica Ortner, author of "The Tapping Solution for Weight Loss and Body Confidence."

"By stimulating these acupressure points while focusing on the thought that is causing the stress, your body is communicating to your brain that it's safe to relax," she said. Ortner swears the practice is effective for everything from back pain to weight trouble. She cited one study in her book that found 89 women lost an average of 16 pounds over eight weeks without diet and exercise — just by adding two hours of tapping a week, which averages to 15 minutes a day.

My experience: Having just started my job at the News, and adjusting to leaning on my phone's headset for much of the day (a big no-no...I'm aware!) I told Ortner I was feeling some tension on my left side.

Ortner guided me as I very gently tapped nine pressure points on my body six times, while using affirming self-talk. After initially tapping on the side of my hand, I moved up to the eyebrow, side of the eye, under the eye, under the nose, on the chin, on the collarbone, under the arm and the top of the head. Afterwards, I did notice the pain had subsided.

The great thing about this treatment is that you don't need a practitioner's help once you have it down. I have since used tapping when I've found myself in stressful circumstances, and I especially love tapping the underneath my eye — I find it instantly relaxes me.

(THE RECONNECTION | Dr. Eric Pearl, center, teaches people how to do reconnective healing.) Image Source: nydailynews.com

Reconnective healing

What it is: A practitioner moves his hands above the client's body in a way that opens up the body to different types of frequencies. From there, the intelligence of the body is supposed to intercede — without the practitioner manipulating or touching the body. For example, someone coming in with a knee problem might not realize that the body's intelligence might need to fix something else in the body or mind, which is only presenting itself with a knee issue. It's a quick practice, with three sessions being the maximum recommended.

What the expert says: The practice allows us to "step into our limitless potential," said Dr. Eric Pearl, the movement's founder and the author of "The Reconnection: Heal Yourself, Heal Others." "People come in to have the experience of more fully embodying and embracing their lives." Pearl explained that we need to let go of our belief that the body heals solely through chemicals produced by within the body, and instead embrace the idea that the body can heal through frequency, vibration, resonance, informational exchange and light. "If you're lucky, your healing will come in the form your desires, but if you're truly fortunate, your healing will come in the form that you've not dreamed of, one that the universe has in mind specifically for you," Pearl said.

My experience: I had one of Pearl's associates lead our session. He had me lay face-up and flat on the table and close my eyes. He waved his arms over me in all sorts of rhythmic patterns and, wow, I felt a tingling, pins-and-needles sensation in my body almost immediately. My ears almost felt like they were filling up with water as well.

The pins and needles came and went for the half hour I was on the table, as did a soft whirring sound in the room. It was the most visceral treatment I had, and put me into a trance-like state. I felt uneasy being a bit "out of control."

Afterwards, I woke up curious about what I had experienced, but Kelly's prompt questions made me feel like the sensations I experienced were normal and to be expected. I can't speak on it healing any condition I have, but I can see how people believe in this practice's capabilities.

What the doctors think

Physicians specializing in both eastern and western medicine both affirmed the power of these healing modalities. Deepak Chopra, a holistic physician who also subscribes to Western teachings, said that science is starting to understand how energy healing works.

"It triggers your own healing system, which is called homeostatis," he said. Homeostatis is what tells your body to create an antibody when you have an infection, or a clot when you fall so that you don't bleed to death.

Dr. Mark Melrose, an emergency medicine physician at Urgent Care Manhattan, said that there's "infinitely more that we don't understand," about medicine, and that alternative therapies such as energy healing could certainly benefit patients, provided that they do no harm and also are complements to traditional treatments.

"If it makes you feel better, then it's probably helping," he said.

The bottom line

If anything, these practices can help with stress reduction, which is linked to an improvement of many health conditions, like heart disease and hypertension. But with so many people extolling the benefits of these techniques, I'm likely to think that there is some unexplainable magic to them. I wouldn't use them as my only method of treating a disease, but I can see how they complement other therapies.



Dr. Steven Farber is a board-certified physician with 25 years of clinical experience. Follow this Twitter account for the latest news in medicine and healthcare.

REPOST: Integrative medicine brings deeper meaning to the term ‘personalized’ health care

In this article on the Vancouver Sun, Dr. Hal Gunn, CEO and founder of non-profit cancer care foundation InspireHealth, discusses how integrative medicine is a patient-centered approach to healing, where bodies are considered individual and unique, and the path to a cure is different for everyone.  

 Image Source: blogs.vancouversun.com

You may have heard terms like “patient-centered” or “personalized” medicine. These buzz words are being used by the medical community to recognize that the ‘one-size fits all’ approach to patient care is quickly changing. Enter integrative medicine.

In many ways, integrative medicine sounds like good common sense. Eat well, exercise, and put yourself into a good frame of mind and you are more likely to have a fulfilled, health and happy life. Those going through cancer or another chronic illness can often struggle with feelings of confusion, stress, and wonder how they can support their own health. Integrative medicine is aimed to treat the whole person—mind, body, and spirit.

For instance, meditation, nutrition, exercise, emotional support and counseling, may help transform the anxiety and fear of a cancer diagnosis, inspiring action and healing. Ann introduction to integrative medicine can help change your outlook – reducing the risk of depression and side-effects of cancer treatment, along with supporting health and wellbeing. Not to mention providing additional support to friends and family, who are an essential part of your care and healing.

Often life-threatening illness can be a catalyst for a radical change in thinking. Interestingly, up to 80 percent of cancer patients seek out ways to support their health and wellbeing. The underlying theme is that people want to take ownership of their health. Integrative medicine can help you to make informed choices about your health while working optimally with your standard medical treatment.

A paradigm shift is happening in the medical community with the growing acceptance of incorporating health and wellness into treatment. The BC Cancer Agency has a website called aftercancer.bccancer.bc.ca which explores the “new normal,” focusing on health and wellness as key strategies to adjust to aid treatment and prevent second cancers. This whole person approach honours the growing awareness that compassion and attention to the mind, body, and spirit have a vital place in healing and prevention of recurrence.

Special event: InspireHealth Integrative Cancer Centre is teaming with the Ottawa Integrative Cancer Centre to offer online programs for cancer patients across Canada who cannot attend in-person consultations. This interactive, live online webinar series starts on June 10. For more information, visit: inspirehealth.ca/life-webinar-series

For over 25 years, widely celebrated cardiologist and accomplished physician Dr. Steven Farber has been incorporating ancient, alternative healing methods into his modern treatment to ensure the holistic wellness of his patients. To keep posted on his news, updates, or new blogs, follow this Twitter account.