Preventing Heart Attack

DID YOU KNOW?

• In 2008, heart related diseases accounted for 24% of all deaths caused by non-communicable diseases. In other words 12,57,936 people died of heart diseases or cardiovascular diseases (CVDs).
• In 2004, total number of deaths due to ischaemic heart disease (IHD) was 5,54,194. Out of that 2,55,782 people died in urban areas while 2,98,412 died in rural areas.
• The total number of DALYs for IHD in 2004 was estimated at 1,60,00,808. (1 DALY equals one lost year of healthy life.) The total number of YLL (Years of Life Lost due to premature death) for IHD stood at 49,52,150.
• Cardiovascular disease (CVD) related deaths are expected to rise from 27 lakh in 2004 to 40 lakh by 2030.
• The prevalence of coronary heart disease (CHD) ranges from 6.6% to 12.7% in urban and 2.1% to 4.3% in rural India, among those aged 20 years or older.
• It is estimated that there are currently 3 crore CHD patients, with 1.4 crore residing in rural and 1.6 crore in urban areas. But these are likely underestimates given that surveys do not include those CHD patients without the symptoms.
• As compared to other countries CVD in India is characterized by early onset and premature death and higher cases of deaths related to complications from CVD. Also the diseases manifest more easily in Indians than their Western counterparts, particularly from risk-factors like overweight and obesity.
• CVD disproportionately affects the young in India with 52% of deaths occurring under the age of 70 years compared to just 23% in Western countries.
• Consequently, the country suffers a very high loss in potential productive years of life because of premature CVD deaths among those aged 35 to 64 years: 92 lakh years lost in 2000 and 1.79 crore years expected to be lost in 2030.

HOW DO I KNOW IF I’M HAVING A HEART ATTACK?

A heart attack takes place when blood supply to a part of the heart is interrupted, causing heart cells to die. The interruption is caused by accumulation of fatty particles called plaque inside the walls of the pipes (arteries) carrying blood to the heart. A lack of blood supply results in the shortage of oxygen, which if left untreated for a sufficient period of time leads to death.

A heart attack is a medical emergency and should be attended to with highest priority. The most common symptom for a heart attack is chest pain. The sensation is often described as tightness, pressure or squeezing. The pain may be felt in only one part of the body or it may also move from the chest to the left arm (most often), lower jaw, neck, right arm, back, and upper central region of the abdomen. Other symptoms of a heart attack include anxiety, cough, fainting, light headedness/dizziness, nausea or vomiting, palpitations, shortness of breath and sweating which may be heavy.

HOW CAN I PREVENT IT?

Cardiovascular diseases such as coronary heart disease (CHD) or ischaemic heart disease (IHD) lead to a heart attack. Such diseases are non-communicable, i.e., they do not spread through infection or contamination. Also known as lifestyle diseases, their onset depends on health habits in most cases. Keeping the blood pressure in strict control by eating food that is less in fat and oil content, cessation of smoking, limitation of alcohol intake and regular physical exercise can reduce the incidence of heart diseases and heart attacks by a great margin. In addition, regular screening of the heart with a preventive health check-up helps in early detection of blockage. Some of the tests commonly recommended are lipid profile, 2D echocardiogram, CT scan, etc.

References:

1. NCD Country Profile 2011 (WHO)
2. Assessment of Burden of NCDs in India (WHO India)
3. Chronic NCDs in India 2011 (PHFI)

Exercise Can Overpower the ‘Obesity Gene’

Study Shows Physical Activity Can Reduce the Effects of a Genetic Predisposition for Obesity.

By Denise  Mann

Reviewed by Laura J. Martin, MD

Nov. 2, 2011 — Obesity may be in your genes, but that is no excuse not to exercise.In fact, physical activity can reduce the effects of the ‘fat mass and obesity-associated’ (FTO) or obesity gene in adults. Previous research has shown that about 74% of all people in the U.S. with European ancestry have a genetic variation associated with the FTO gene that can lead to weight gain that raises the risk for becoming obese. According to the study,  the obesity-causing effects of the obesity gene are weakened by 30% when adults are physically active. The study is published in PLoS Medicine. “Despite the fact that you have the gene, there are things you can do to prevent it from influencing how heavy you are,” says Louis Aronne, MD, founder and director of the Comprehensive Weight Control Program at New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center. He reviewed the study. “There is no question that the FTO gene is associated with an increased body weight,” he says. But “we can prevent these genes from taking their full course by doing something.” Genes — at least this one — are not destiny, Aronne says. “If you have the gene, that doesn’t mean it is over.” Aronne says people with the FTO gene should put on gloves and fight even harder. “There are things you can do and should do to fight it as hard as you can,” he says. Regular exercise tops this list. The study researchers agree: “Our findings … emphasize that physical activity is an effective way of controlling body weight, particularly in individuals with a genetic predisposition toward obesity,” they write. The findings contrast with the determinist view held by many that genetic influences are unmodifiable.” Researchers led by Ruth J. F. Loos of the Medical Research Council Epidemiology Unit in Cambridge, U.K. looked at data from more than 218,000 adults to confirm that this gene does increase risk for becoming obese. It does, but adults who exercised regularly had 33% lower odds of being obese compared to non-active adults.

Obesity Gene Testing

“It is a really exciting study that shows you can overcome your genes,” says researcher Paul Thompson, PhD. He is a professor of neurology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California at Los Angeles. Thompsonwas not involved in this study, but hehas conducted research on this gene in the past. “If you have this very severe obesity gene, you can reverse your risk with exercise. This gene makes you crave 200 more calories a day. That can be offset by walking two miles a day,” he says. This research may also help pave the way for new drugs that block the effect of the FTO gene, Thompson says. He thinks that testing for the gene could be beneficial. “This may motivate some people to exercise more.” Not everyone is on board with obesity gene testing. In an editorial published with the study, J. Lennert Veerman, PhD, writes that “testing for genetic traits that are associated with obesity makes no difference in the advice to overweight persons: increased physical activity and a healthy diet are indicated regardless of the genes.” Veerman is a senior fellow from the School of Population Health at the University of Queensland in Australia.

Fat Burners

The Real Skinny on Fat Burners

Over the years there have been many new supplements that have came to market promising the world. How does one know what to use? What actually provides a good return on the financial investment? Sure literature may show it works, but compared to a placebo, how much did it work? 1% better? With so much competition for our supplement budget it is essential that a bodybuilder on a limited budget purchase supplements that work.
So, what supplements really work to burn fat? In this article I will attempt to discuss the supplements that I feel are worth the money and that I believe should be in everyone's arsenal.

Thermogenics Supplements 

Thermogenesis is the process by which the body generates heat, or energy, by increasing the metabolic rate above normal. This rise in the body's basal metabolic rate (BMR) is often referred to as the "thermogenic effect". Thermogenesis is activated by a variety of different mechanisms, most notably exercise, exposure to cold (body heat rises through shivering response), through good nutrition and through including supplements.

Regarding thermogenic supplements, unfortunately the only supplement I believe truly issues a real thermogenic response is ephedra. Ephedra increases the heart rate and strongly stimulate the nervous system to release catecholamines, which stimulate fat cells to break down. The best ephedera supplements were the ECA stack products, products that contained ephedera, caffeine, and aspirin.
Unfortunately ephedra is no longer available in the US (at least most compoanies will not sell it after it was first banned by the FDA, even though the ban was subsequently lifted). As far as I have seen, through personal experience and by reviewing scientific studies I do not see any comparable substitute products in terms of effectiveness.
The vitamin companies will tell you differently and hype their "new" ephedra free formulas, and the new "transport systems".
These "new and improved" products were rushed to the marketing my opinion to replace the revenue lost by the FDA banning of ephedra based products.
As far as the current natural "thermo" products, many of them contain similar ingredients, just in different dosages.
Most rely on simple metabolism boosters such as caffeine and synephrine to make you feel the "buzz" while containing any number of combinations of natural herbs and minerals, such as tyrosine, calcium, selenium, green tea, 7-Keto, yerba mate, guarana, guggul products etc.
Some even add niacin so you feel the "heat", so the customer feels that more calories are being burned.
I am not saying that these natural fat burners do not work at all but what I am saying is if you expect them to work as well as the ephedra based products you will be disappointed.
In fact they may even work psychosomatically (in your head), and if it works for you because of that, then it is worthwhile for you. Just remember however, that scientifically there is no basis that these products will raise thermogenic levels appreciably to make it worth the money that these companies are charging (upwards of $50.00 a bottle!).

MCT Oil 

MCT Oil stands for Medium Chain Tryglycerides. MCTs are derived from coconut oil. When MCT oil is metabolized in the body, it behaves more like a carbohydrate than a fat. Remember that the fuel of preference for the body is carbohydrate. Unlike other fats, MCT oil does not go through the lymphatic system. Instead, it is transported directly from the small intestine to the liver by the portal vein.
In the liver, some of the MCTs are turned into ketone bodies, which the muscles can use for energy like a carbohydrate.
Some MCT's are used for thermogenesis, and a portion is converted to ATP, the energy currency of the cell. Because MCTs are processed in the liver, so there is little left to be stored as fat.

It is an excellent energy source on low carb diets, so gone are the "low carb blahs which were often the case. Gone are the "low carb blahs which were often the case when bodybuilders were forced to low carb, and still have to find energy to train. MCT oils can irritate the stomach so when starting a plan with MCT oils work up to a dose that your body can stand.
Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA)

CLA is a naturally occurring fatty acid in a number of foods (CLA such as milk, cheese, beef, lamb, etc.) that exerts a positive effect on protein and fat metabolism by accelerating fat loss. CLA's commercial form is derived from sunflower oil. In addition to increasing lean muscle mass while reducing body fat, studies have also shown CLA to have anti-catabolic, anti-oxidant, and immune support.
An ideal daily dose of CLA for a 200 lb. athlete is approximately 4-5 g/day even divided and taken with meals.

L-carnitine

L-carnitine is a non-essential amino acid (said to be non-essential because human bodies produce it) that burns fat by transferring long-chain fatty acids, such as triglycerides into mitochondria where the compound is oxidized to produce energy. L-carnitine is a key ingredient in the formation of mitochondria membranes (tiny structures in your cells that burn fats for energy).
L-carnitine is also reported to improve the recovery rate for athletes by limiting the production of lactic acid (a waste product in muscle tissue).
Without optimal amounts of L Carnitine, there is not optimal fat burning because the breakdown of long chain fatty acids is slowed. L-carnitine works best with a diet moderately low in carbohydrates (50 percent or less of calories consumed) because high levels of carbohydrates promote high levels of insulin, which inhibits L-carnitine activity.
1,000 mg to 4,000mg (1 to 4 grams) should be taken on an empty stomach; half an hour before a meal, right before a workout or a couple of hours after eating to optimize fat loss.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Omega-3 (along with omega-6) belongs to a family of fats called essential fatty acids. These EFAs are found in polyunsaturated fats.

Studies suggest Omega-3 has positive effects on the body's blood sugar. They also support the bodies metabolic rate resulting in more calories burned.
The richest natural source is flax seed oil (linseed oil) Oily fish such as salmon, herring, sardines, rainbow trout, eels, kippers and mackerel also contain high levels of Omega-3 EFAs.
I recommend 10 to 12 grams per day with meals in equally divided amounts.

Calcium Pyruvate (Pyruvate)

Calcium Pyruvate (Pyruvate) is a naturally formed product (a three-carbon ketoacid produced in the end stages of glycolysis) that enhances the transport of glucose and protein into muscle cells and increases the amount of ATP available to the mitochondria.

(Pyruvate is the "end" product when carbohydrates and proteins are metabolized in the body).
Pyruvate's fat burning benefits are based on its potential to increase resting metabolic rate. Pyrurate increases the body's use of fat as an energy source for cellular respiration thus raising our metabolic rate, and the higher our resting metabolism, the more calories we burn throughout the day. The calories burned are also calories that will not be stored as fat. There is controversy as to what dosage of pyruvate is effective.
Critics argue that while pyruvate may be effective for weight loss, the amount required is too high (30 grams a day) to be safe for daily consumption. Recent studies have shown effectiveness using only six grams of pyruvate a day.
Although there is disagreement, I have found that eight grams of pyruvate divided over three doses works well for me, especially when I am taking CLA and L-carnitine. Higher doses can be irritating to the stomach.

Other Fat Burning Supplements

• Secondary supplements that aid in glucose transport (e.g., chromium).
• Secondary supplements that aid in adrenal gland function and conversion of glucose to energy (e.g., Vitamin B5/pantothenic acid, Magnesium).
• Secondary supplements important for the maintenance of blood glucose levels (Manganese).
• Secondary supplements that support healthy insulin levels that are normal (e.g., chromium, Brewer's Yeast, zinc).
• Secondary supplements that assist with fat loss (e.g., Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA), Ginseng, Inositol)
• Secondary supplements that stabilize fat absorption (e.g., Chitosan).
• Secondary supplements that aid in fatty acid metabolism (e.g., B3,Niacin/Niacinamide).
• Supplements that slows down the body's fat-making process (e.g., calcium).

TRAIN WITH WAYNE  Information from mybsthealthportal 

Weight training 'reduces diabetes risk'

 

 

Weight training can reduce the risk of diabetes, the study concludes 

Weight training helps to prevent type 2 diabetes in men, research suggests.

Researchers found regular weights reduced the risk by up to a third, in the study of more than 32,000 men published in the Archives of Internal Medicine journal.

It is already well known that regular exercise can prevent the disease.

But the report is considered important as weights provides an alternative to aerobic exercises such as running for people who are not so mobile.

Researchers from Harvard School of Public Health in the US and the University of Southern Denmark followed the men over an 18-year period, during which time nearly 2,300 developed the condition.

'Difficulty'

They found 30 minutes of weights a day, five times a week could reduce the risk of diabetes by 34%.

But they also reported that even less regular exercise - up to an hour a week - had an impact, cutting the risk by 12%.

Nonetheless, aerobic exercise was still found to be slightly better with regular activity halving the risk.

The two combined had the greatest effect, reducing it by up to 59%, the study found.

Lead author Anders Grontved said: "Many people have difficulty engaging in or adhering to aerobic exericse.

"These new results suggest that weight training, to a large extent, can serve as an alternative."

It is not clear if the same results would be found with women.

Mammograms

Mammograms Have 'Limited or No Effect' on Breast Cancer Deaths: Study

With only a few weeks to go before the annual October rush promoting mammograms begins, a new study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute is raising some doubts on mammography's purported merits.
The findings showed mammograms have little or no influence on reducing the number of women who die from breast cancer … and considering there are serious health risks involved, too, what, then, is the point?

Mammograms Again Shown to Have Little to No Value

Breast cancer mortality rates in Sweden have been declining since 1972. Even though this was before mammography was introduced, the reductions have continued and many have attributed it to mammography screening.
The researchers that authored the current study also expected to see a reduction in breast cancer deaths associated with mammograms, but the results showed otherwise:¹

"County-specific mortality statistics in Sweden are consistent with studies that have reported limited or no impact of screening on mortality from breast cancer among women aged 40-69."

In light of these findings, the study's lead researcher Dr. Philippe Autier, at the International Prevention Research Institute in Lyon, France, noted:²

"Information to women on mammography screening should better reflect uncertainty on the effectiveness of that test, and underline the risk of overdiagnosis and overtreatment."

And this is not the first time the effectiveness of mammograms has been called into question. In 2010, another study concluded that the reduction in mortality as a result of mammographic screening was so small as to be nonexistent—a mere 2.4 deaths per 100,000 person-years were spared as a result of the screening.³

Mammograms May Cause More Harm Than Good

Many women are under the impression that a mammogram is simply an innocuous test that might or might not help you detect breast cancer sooner. But research shows this screening may end up harming more women than it helps.
Earlier this year, the Nordic Cochrane Center issued a leaflet explaining the potential benefits and potential harms of mammography, stating that, based on the available research, it no longer seems reasonable for women to attend breast cancer screening. After systematically reviewing the randomized trials of mammography, they concluded that:⁴

"If 2,000 women are screened regularly for 10 years, one will benefit from screening, as she will avoid dying from breast cancer because the screening detected the cancer earlier.
Since these trials were undertaken, treatment of breast cancer has improved considerably. Women today also seek medical advice much earlier than previously, if they have noted anything unusual in their breasts...
Because of these improvements, screening is less effective today and newer studies suggest that mammography screening is no longer effective in reducing the risk of dying from breast cancer.
... Since it is not possible to tell the difference between the dangerous and the harmless cell changes and cancers, all of them are treated.
Therefore, screening results in treatment of many women for a cancer disease they do not have, and that they will not get. Based on the randomized trials, it appears that:
If 2,000 women are screened regularly for 10 years, 10 healthy women will be turned into cancer patients and will be treated unnecessarily. These women will have either a part of their breast or the whole breast removed, and they will often receive radiotherapy, and sometimes chemotherapy.
Treatment of these healthy women increases their risk of dying, e.g. from heart disease and cancer."

So, to recap, in order for mammographic breast screening to save ONE woman's life:

• 2,000 women must be screened for 10 years
• 200 women will get false positives
• 10 will receive surgery and/or chemotherapy even though they do not actually have cancer

Yet another study, this one published in The Lancet Oncology late last year,⁵ described the natural history of breast cancers detected in the Swedish mammography screening program between 1986 to 1990, involving 650,000 women. Since breast lesions and tumors are typically aggressively treated and/or removed before they can be determined with any certainty to be a clear and present threat to health, there has been little to no research on what happens when they are left alone.
This study however, demonstrated for the first time that women who received the most breast screenings had a higher cumulative incidence of invasive breast cancer over the following six years than the control group who received far less screenings! The study concluded that:

"Because the cumulative incidence among controls did not reach that of the screened group, we believe that many invasive breast cancers detected by repeated mammography screening do not persist to be detected by screening at the end of 6 years, suggesting that the natural course of many of the screen-detected invasive breast cancers is to spontaneously regress."

FDA Secretly Monitored Mammogram Whistleblowers' Emails

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) secretly monitored the personal e-mail of nine whistleblowers—its own scientists and doctors—over the course of two years. The monitored employees had warned Congress that the agency was approving medical devices that posed unacceptable risks to patients.
Six of the monitored scientists and doctors recently filed a lawsuit against the FDA, charging that the agency violated their constitutional rights to privacy by monitoring lawful activity in personal email accounts, and using that information to harass and ultimately relieve some of them of their positions.
According to the Washington Post⁶:

"All had worked in an office responsible for reviewing devices for cancer screening and other purposes. Copies of the e-mails show that, starting in January 2009, the FDA intercepted communications with congressional staffers and draft versions of whistleblower complaints complete with editing notes in the margins. The agency also took electronic snapshots of the computer desktops of the FDA employees and reviewed documents they saved on the hard drives of their government computers."

The FDA has declined to comment on the allegations, stating it does not comment on cases involved with litigation. However, according to internal FDA documents obtained by the plaintiffs under the Freedom of Information Act, the agency had asked the Department of Health and Human Services' (DHHS) inspector general to conduct an investigation back in May 2010, stating suspicions that the plaintiffs had improperly disclosed confidential business information about the devices.
The HHS inspector general's office found no evidence of criminal conduct, stating the doctors and scientists had legal right to share their concerns with Congress and journalists. Hence no investigation was launched. But the FDA was not satisfied.
On June 28 that same year, Jeffrey Shuren, director of the FDA's Center for Devices and Radiological Health wrote that, "We have obtained new information confirming the existence of information disclosures that undermine the integrity and mission of the FDA and, we believe, may be prohibited by law," and again requested action be taken against the employees in question. After consulting with general prosecutors, the inspector general declined the second request for an investigation as well. Now the question is whether the agency monitored their employees within legal limits, and whether the purpose of the extensive monitoring was reasonable. Senator Charles Grassley doesn't seem to think so, stating that:

"The FDA has a huge responsibility to protect public health and safety. It's hard to see how managers apparently thought it was a good use of time to shadow agency scientists and monitor their e-mail accounts for legally protected communications with Congress."

Former FDA Reviewer Speaks Out About Intimidation, Retaliation and Marginalizing of Safety

A recent article by Martha Rosenberg gives even more details about what’s really going on at the FDA⁷. She writes:

“For reporting the safety risks, the scientists became targets of the now-disclosed spy program and some lost their jobs. "It has been brought to our attention that FDA management may have just recently ordered the FDA Office of Criminal Investigations (OCI) to investigate us, rather than the managers who have engaged in wrongdoing!" wrote the FDA scientists in a follow-up letter a few weeks later to President Obama. "It is an outrage that our own Agency would step up the retaliation to such a level because we have reported their wrongdoing to the United States Congress."

Dr. Kavanagh worked as an FDA drug reviewer from 1998 to 2008, and reportedly encountered the same kind of hostile and coercive working environment as the device reviewers. Rosenberg interviewed Dr. Kavanagh for her article, in which he makes the following shocking statements:

“In the Center for Drugs [Center for Drug Evaluation and Research or CDER], as in the Center for Devices, the honest employee fears the dishonest employee. There is also irrefutable evidence that managers at CDER have placed the nation at risk by corrupting the evaluation of drugs and by interfering with our ability to ensure the safety and efficacy of drugs.
While I was at the FDA, drug reviewers were clearly told not to question drug companies and that our job was to approve drugs. We were prevented, except in rare instances, from presenting findings at advisory committees. In 2007, formal policies were instituted so that speaking in any way that could reflect poorly on the agency could result in termination. If we asked questions that could delay or prevent a drug's approval - which of course was our job as drug reviewers - management would reprimand us, reassign us, hold secret meetings about us, and worse. Obviously in such an environment, people will self-censor.”

Truly, this is an interview you’ll want to read in its entirety. It’s absolutely shocking. Dr. Kavanagh points out several of the ways drugs slip through the system. For example, drug safety studies usually include too few individuals and are too short to adequately evaluate health risks. Just one single adverse event during such a study can therefore be extremely important and must be taken seriously. Alas, according to this insider, in-depth evaluations and follow-up studies rarely take place. He also claims reviewers were specifically instructed to only read the summary and accept drugmakers’ claims without examining any of the submitted data!

“Other times I was ordered not to review certain sections of the submission, but invariably that's where the safety issues would be. This could only occur if FDA management was told about issues in the submission before it had even been reviewed,” he says.

Dr. Kavanagh’s testimony sends chills up my spine, as it so clearly describes the inner workings of an agency that is putting your health at grave risk instead of protecting you and your family from dangerous drugs and medical devices...

Why Getting a Mammogram Can be a Risky Decision

The long-held conventional medical advice has been for women to get an annual mammogram once they hit 40. A couple of years ago, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force decided to alter their mammogram recommendation, advising women under the age of 50 to avoid mammograms, and limit them to every other year after the age of 50. The revision caused outrage among many cancer organizations. What was overlooked, however, was the reasoning behind the Task Force's decision to change their recommendation.
The prior advice was given in 2002, before a host of new research came out showing the problems of overdiagnosis, including false positives.
If a mammogram detects an abnormal spot in a woman's breast, the next step is typically a biopsy. This involves removing a small amount of tissue from the breast, which is then looked at by a pathologist under a microscope to determine if cancer is present. However, early stage cancer like ductal carcinoma in situ, or D.C.I.S., can be very hard to diagnose, and pathologists have a wide range of experience and expertise. There are actually NO universally agreed upon diagnostic standards for D.C.I.S., and there are no requirements that the pathologists doing the readings have specialized expertise...
Many conventional physicians view DCIS as "pre-cancerous" and argue that, because it could cause harm if left untreated it should be treated in the same aggressive manner as invasive cancer; however the rate at which DCIS progresses to invasive cancer is still largely unknown, with the weight of evidence suggesting it is significantly less than 50 percent -- perhaps as low as 2-4 percent.
This suggests that watchful waiting may be the more sensible approach, but most women are not informed of this option and instead go through invasive breast cancer treatments like surgery, radiation and toxic chemotherapy that often turns out to be unnecessary. As discussed above, it's really hard to justify harming 10 women with surgery and toxic chemotherapy treatment in order to possibly save the life of one woman ...
New York and Virginia followed the lead of Connecticut and Texas and recently passed laws requiring women with dense breasts to be informed they may need to seek alternative screening methods.  The Federal Breast Density Bill is (HR 3102) is also currently being considered.
Mammography and its subsequent tests, such as MRIs and stereotactic (x-ray guided) biopsies, likely contribute to cancer because of the cumulative radiation exposure that occurs over a lifetime and the particularly radiation-sensitive nature of breast cells, e.g. BRCA1/2 genes confer greater risk for breast cancer, in part, because they interfere with the repair of radiation-induced DNA damage. Even the National Cancer Institute states that "repeated x-rays have the potential to cause cancer."⁸
And finally, although receiving a false positive is the major danger of mammograms, false negatives also occur. Mammograms are especially inaccurate for women with dense breasts; New York and Virginia recently passed laws requiring women with dense breasts to be informed they may need to seek alternative screening methods. It's estimated that up to 75 percent of women in their 40s, and up to 50 percent of all women, have dense breasts, which increases the likelihood that a mammogram will be ineffective and inaccurate.⁹

Thermography: Breast Health Monitoring That's as Safe as Taking Your Photograph

Download Interview Transcript

I recently interviewed Gaea Powell about the use of thermography as a safe way to monitor your risk of breast cancer over the long term. Thermographic breast screening is as safe as having your photograph taken and measures the infrared heat emitted by your body, translating this information into thermal images. Thermography does not require mechanical compression or ionizing radiation, and can detect signs of physiological changes due to inflammation and/or increased tumor related blood flow approximately 8-10 years before mammography or a physical exam can detect a mass.
So, if your thermogram shows areas of high inflammation, it doesn't mean you have cancer, but it lets you know you need to address that inflammation to avoid deterioration, and in some cases that the area needs further evaluation.

A New Breast Health Assessment Paradigm - Thermography, BSE/CBE, Ultrasound, then MRI

Although scientific evidence supports elimination of mammography as a screening tool, it is currently considered the standard of care. Replacing it with a new breast health assessment paradigm is warranted and inevitable.  The new paradigm begins with thermography, a non-invasive physiological screening that can only serve to enhance all anatomical screenings that may follow, such as BSE/CBE, ultrasound and/or MRI.  Please understand though that because this paradigm is not yet accepted as the standard of care, most insurance companies will not cover a thermogram, nor an ultrasound or MRI without a "positive" or "suspicious" mammogram.  However, when choosing an MRI as an elective procedure, one can typically shop around and find a facility that will perform one without insurance for under $1,000.

New Study Shows This Vitamin Can Prevent Breast Cancer …

There are a number of lifestyle changes that can help prevent breast cancer from ever becoming a reality for you. For starters, we cannot discuss breast cancer without mentioning the importance of vitamin D. Vitamin D, a steroid hormone that influences virtually every cell in your body, is easily one of nature's most potent cancer fighters. Receptors that respond to vitamin D have been found in nearly every type of human cell, from your bones to your brain. Your liver, kidney and other tissues can convert the vitamin D in your bloodstream into calcitriol, which is the hormonal or activated version of vitamin D.
New research published in the journal Steroids has found that calcitriol inhibits the growth of cancer cells, including breast cancer cells, through the following mechanisms:¹⁰

• Cell cycle arrest
• Promotion of apoptosis (cancer cell death)
• Inhibition of invasion, metastasis and angiogenesis

Vitamin D is actually able to enter cancer cells and trigger apoptosis or programmed cell death. When JoEllen Welsh, a researcher with the State University of New York at Albany, injected a potent form of vitamin D into human breast cancer cells, half of them shriveled up and died within days!¹¹
It is my professional opinion that for those who are diagnosed with cancer it is  criminal malpractice not to recommend vitamin D and aggressively monitor a cancer patient's vitamin D level to get it between 70 and 100 ng/ml.
So please do watch my one-hour free lecture on vitamin D to find out what your optimal vitamin D levels should be for prevention and treatment … and how to get them there. This is one of the most important steps you can take to protect yourself from cancer.

Eight More Breast Cancer Prevention Tips

Prevention truly is worth a pound of cure when it comes to cancer, and the following healthy lifestyle strategies can help you avoid ever becoming a cancer statistic.

• Radically reduce your sugar/fructose intake. Normalizing your insulin levels by avoiding sugar and fructose is one of the most powerful physical actions you can take to lower your risk of cancer. Unfortunately, very few oncologists appreciate or apply this knowledge today. Fructose is especially dangerous, as research shows it actually speeds up cancer growth.
• Optimize your vitamin D level, as mentioned. Ideally it should be over 50 ng/ml, but levels from 70-100 ng/ml will radically reduce your cancer risk. Safe sun exposure is the most effective way to increase your levels, followed by safe tanning beds and then oral vitamin D3 supplementation as a last resort if no other option is available.
• Maintain a healthy body weight. This will come naturally when you begin eating whole foods like those in my nutrition plan and exercising using high-intensity burst-type activities, which are part of my Peak Fitness program. It's important to lose excess weight because excess estrogen is produced in fat tissue, which can contribute to cancer risk.
• Get plenty of high quality animal-based omega-3 fats, such as those from krill oil. Omega-3 deficiency is a common underlying factor for cancer.
• Avoid drinking alcohol, or limit your drinks to one a day for women.
• Watch out for excessive iron levels. This is actually very common once women stop menstruating. The extra iron actually works as a powerful oxidant, increasing free radicals and raising your risk of cancer. So if you are a post-menopausal woman or have breast cancer you will certainly want to have your Ferritin level drawn. Ferritin is the iron transport protein and should not be above 80. If it is elevated you can simply donate your blood to reduce it.
• Breastfeed exclusively for up to six months. Research shows this will reduce your breast cancer risk.
• Avoid xenoestrogens. Xenoestrogens are synthetic chemicals that mimic natural estrogens. They have been linked to a wide range of human health effects, including reduced sperm counts in men and increased risk of breast cancer in women. There are a large number of xenoestrogens, such as bovine growth hormones in commercial dairy, plastics like bisphenol A (BPA), phthalates and parabens in personal care products, and chemicals used in non-stick materials, just to name a few.

These are only the views of one Dr. Many others see it differently. Use your own mind to get what you feel is the best care for you.  as always TRAIN WITH WAYNE

Stress & Depression

Stress & Depression: Mind's Dark Spaces

“I woke up one morning with a heavy head and a damp feeling. It was time to get out of bed, get dressed, take a quick breakfast and rush to work. Rush and hurry so that I don’t get late. Rush and hurry so that I can attend the boardroom meeting. Rush and hurry so that I can reach this month’s target. Rush and hurry so that I can finish the day’s work. Rush and hurry back from work so that I can have some time for family as well. And the drill goes on…

My mind kept repeating the cycle, but I had no will to pull myself up. I felt as though I was tied and bound to my bed with some invisible chain. Nothing made any sense. Family, friends, work… everything was so pointless. Life seemed empty and dry. Something was missing and I knew not what. It had taken away all vitality from my body. I felt sick, though there were no outer symptoms. I FELT DEPRESSED!”

STRESS CAUSES DEPRESSION, DEPRESSION CAUSES STRESS

Stress has become an inseparable part of our lives in the mad rush of modern times. Joy and sorrow seem to produce similar effects on our body and mind. A positive experience creates excitement which in turn creates stress. A negative situation evokes a feeling of sadness, desperation or anger but the ultimate result is a stress on body and mind. Experts in the field describes a positive stress as eustress while a stress that has negative implications is referred to as distress.

Stress causes depression and depression in turn causes stress. The symbiotic relationship between stress and depression makes it a difficult challenge to cope with. As pointed earlier the stress mechanism in the body can be triggered off by any event. The physiological changes related to stress comprise an increased secretion of certain hormones. However the stress itself is a non-material phenomenon. Whereas the physical manifestation of stress appear as a disease, at a psychological level it presents itself as depression. The symptoms of depression may include frequent mood swings, loss of interest in life or day-to-day activities, disturbed sleep, loss of appetite, low self-esteem or feeling of guilt and poor concentration.

FACTS TO KNOW ABOUT DEPRESSION

The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that 45 crore people all over the world are directly affected by mental disorders or disabilities, out of which 12.1 crore people suffer from depression. Depression at its worst can lead to suicide, which according to the WHO takes about 8.5 lakh lives every year. Depression is also the leading cause of disability worldwide. Among the age group 15-44, depression is the second cause of DALYs for both the genders combined. However, fewer than 25% of those affected by the disorder have access to effective treatment.

WHO also reports that 86% of the suicides committed occur in low- and middle-income countries. More than half of the people who commit suicide are aged between 15 and 44.

It is also worthwhile to mention that depression occurs in persons irrespective of gender, age and background.

DEPRESSION & STRESS MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES

Depression & Stress management techniques may vary from person to person and there is no universal method that can be applied indiscriminately. Although psychiatrists usually prescribe anti-depressants to cope with stress and depression, counselling is emerging as a better alternative to handle such mental disorders. However, a lot depends on the individual’s ability and willingness to accept the disorder as temporary and fleeting. By aspiring and working towards a holistic transformation that begins from a deeper psychological level and spreads across the various planes and parts of the being that include the mind, emotions, will, and body, one can accept stress as a challenge and a springboard towards a liberating experience.

Sources

1. Depression, Mental Health/ Mental Disorders The World Health Organisation
2. Depression looms as global crisis “BBC News

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Physical Activity & Exercise

Whether you are new to exercising or have been working out for years, a well-rounded exercise program essentially includes aerobic fitness, strength training, core exercise, stretching and balance training.

Aerobic Fitness

Aerobic exercise, also known as cardio or endurance training, is the basis of overall fitness. It causes your lunges to inhale more deeply and increase oxygen levels in your bloodstream.

Aerobic exercise includes walking, jogging, swimming, biking or dancing. Even cleaning the house, vacuuming or leaf raking counts as aerobic exercise. There is no “best” way to do cardio. You should do whatever you enjoy.
Anything that will increase your heart rate can suffice when you do it for atleast 20-30 Minutes 3-5 times per week.

Contrary to popular opinion, there is no “right” time of the day to do cardio. The most important thing is that you do it on a regular basis.

When it comes to intensity, use your best judgement. If it feels too easy, increase intensity; if it feels to difficult or your form is compromised, decrease intensity.

Strength Training

Muscular Training is another cornerstone of healthy exercise. Done at least 2-3 times per week, it helps increase bone density, posture and muscular fitness. You don’t need to invest in a gym membership to do strength training. Your body weight counts, too. Push- ups, Squats, Lunges or abdominal crunches are highly effective exercises to increase muscular strength.

Core exercise

Your core muscles (abdomen, lower back and pelvis) help protect your back and enable your upper and lower body to move more effectively. Bodyweight Training and functional Training are great ways to exercise the core muscles and build core stability.

Stretching

Being flexible is important to maintain full range of motion of your joints and to promote better posture. Regular Stretching, like Yoga, relieves stress and eases muscle tension. For this reason, stretching and Yoga are key elements of an integral physical activity program.

Balance Training

Older adults in particular should include in their routine exercises to maintain or improve balance. This is important because balance tends to deteriorate with age, which can lead to falls and fractures. Try standing on one leg for increasing periods of time to improve your overall stability. Activities such as tai chi can promote balance, too.

Athletes of all kinds should include regular balance training to prevent injuries and bad posture, as well.