Health News - October 2004The Olive Branch |
========================================== 1. HEALTH BYTES: Facts and Tips for Better Living!
2. FEATURED ARTICLE: "Major Source of Hospital-Borne Infections"
3. WELLNESS QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
4. THE HERBAL CORNER: Cranberry - "Natural Remedy for Urinary Tract Infections"
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==================================================================== 1. HEALTH BYTES - * Facts and Tips for Better Living
BANISH BAD BREATH WITH CINNAMON -- Everyone's breath needs help now and then. According to Prevention magazine, here is a quick and easy mouth fresher that tastes as good as cinnamon gum but will not leave you with a sore jaw from chewing. Try this: Combine 1 quart of water, 2 broken-up cinnamon sticks, and 4 whole cloves in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, cover, and simmer for 5 minutes. Set aside to steep, covered, for 20 minutes. Strain and drink for spicy fresh breath.
HONEY: GOOD STUFF -- Honey contains low levels of immune-protecting antioxidants according to research conducted at The University of Illinois. Honey made from buckwheat had antioxidant activity 20 times higher than sage honey. Darker honeys are found to be more nutrient-rich than lighter colored honeys.
APPROPRIATE FOOTWEAR -- Proper-fitting, well-cushioned, and supportive athletic shoes are a must for most forms of exercise. Feet absorb up to three times total body weight each time they land on the ground. Shoes that are well cushioned help absorb this force and go far toward avoiding injuries to the knees, legs, and feet. Finding the right shoe depends on the type of exercise for which it is needed. Because the heel hits the ground first, jogging and running shoes provide extra cushion in the heel of the shoe. However, this extra cushion could actually be harmful in an aerobic dance class. Aerobic shoes provide more lateral support to help prevent excessive side-to-side movement. And walking shoes require low heels and strong arch supports to provide extra stability. When buying shoes, walk around the store wearing them for at least ten minutes to determine if they are comfortable. Request information on the store's policy on exchanging shoes. Many stores have a liberal return policy for exchanging shoes if the shoes cause problems to the feet.
VITAMINS C AND E REDUCE CANCER RISK -- A study of prostate cancer patients indicates men who take either vitamin E or vitamin C may benefit from as much as a twenty-three percent reduction in risk of prostate cancer. The study, conducted by researchers at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center in Seattle was published in "Cancer, Epidemiology, Biomarkets and Prevention." Researchers at the Center studied data from 1,453 men, of whom 753 were prostate cancer patients in King County, Washington; the remainder were free of prostate cancer. Among test patients, twenty-one percent of the men took vitamin C supplements and fourteen percent took vitamin E. The research team headed by Dr. Alan Kristal, found both vitamins seemed to lower the risk of prostate cancer significantly - by as much as 23%!
GOLDENROD FIGHTS BLADDER INFECTIONS -- The Goldenrod herb (Solidago species) is one of the safest genito-urinary antiseptic herbs. Widely used in Europe to treat kidney and bladder infections as well as the elimination of kidney stones, goldenrod has also been shown in clinical studies to be effective in the treatment of chronic and acute nephritis.
==================================================================== 2. FEATURED ARTICLE - * "Major Source of Hospital-Borne Infections"
Hospital admittance may one day include having your nose tested for possible contamination of Staphylococcus aureus, an infectious bacteria that causes troublesome secondary infections among patients in hospitals. Staphylococcus aureus, or "staph" as it is commonly referred to in most cases, is also known to be a common cause of food poisoning. The extent of how often this contamination takes place in hospital patients today is quite alarming. Researchers at the University of Munich collected samples from the noses of more than 2,000 patients in hospitals all over Germany. They found that the nose is where a surprisingly large percentage of the hospital infections originate.
The German researchers also found that more than 80% of the various strains of Staphylococcus found in the noses of newly admitted hospital patients were identical to those found in blood samples of already infected patients. The researchers published the results of their study earlier this year in the "New England Journal of Medicine." In this study they suggested that hospitals need to develop better strategies for the prevention of the introduction of these various forms of staph infections.
Dr. Michael W. Climo, assistant professor of medicine at the Medical College of Virginia, who also co-authored an accompanying editorial in the journal, believes that more studies are needed to determine whether patients enter the hospital with already existing staph infections or if they actually pick them up while in the hospital. He also questions if isolating infected patients is worthwhile because many patients arrive at the hospital with active staph colonies in their noses that can spread serious infections. He believes that all newly-admitted patients should be tested for nasal staph, and a more efficient and faster diagnostic test would help.
Dr. Richard P. Novick, professor of microbiology and medicine at New York University Medical Center, believes that since the nose is the primary site of the human body for the Staphylococcus to live, that most people who get infected have the greatest possibility of the infection originating in the nose. He also points out that many nursing homes and other convalescent centers already perform a "swab" test on newly admitted people because most staph infections are difficult, and at times nearly impossible, to treat. Many of these staph infections are known to be resistant to almost all well known antibiotics and can also be very contagious.
No Need To Panic
If you are tested and are found that you do have a form of staph in your nose, there is no need to panic. The bacteria are actually harmless as long as they are isolated only to the nose area. However, the problem becomes more serious when the Staphylococcus leaves the nose area and makes its way into the bloodstream. It is at this point that the infection can become active at just about any site in your body.
Various strains (kinds) of Staphylococci bacteria exist all around us including the air we breath, in dust, sewage, water, milk, food on food equipment, environmental surfaces, humans, and even the animals around us. Humans and animals are the primary reservoirs that harbor the bacteria. Staphylococci are present in the nasal passages and throats and on the hair and skin of 50 percent or more of healthy individuals. This incidence is even higher for individuals who often associate with or make contact with individuals who are sick as well as spending a lot of time in general hospital environments.
Staph infections are probably often a result of what most people call "food poisoning." Although food handlers are usually the main source of food contamination in food poisoning outbreaks, equipment and environmental surfaces can also be sources of contamination. Food-borne infection is usually propagated as a result of food not being kept hot enough (at or above 140°F, 60°C or above), or cold enough (at or below 45°F, 7.2°C).
The onset of symptoms in Staphylococcal food poisoning is usually rapid, depending on individual susceptibility to the toxin, the amount of contaminated food eaten, the amount of toxin in the food that is ingested, and the general health of the person. Some of the most common symptoms are nausea, vomiting and abdominal cramping. In more severe cases headache, muscle cramping, and transient changes in blood pressure and pulse rate may occur. Recovery from most staph-caused food poisoning usually takes two days although it is not uncommon for recovery to take longer.
Commonly Infected Foods
Foods that are frequently involved in Staphylococcal food poisoning include meat/meat products, poultry/egg products, and mayonnaise-containing salads such as egg, tuna, chicken, potato, and macaroni salads. Cream-filled bakery products such as cream pies and chocolate éclairs and dairy products are also included on this list. Any type of food that requires considerable handling during preparation and which is kept at improper temperatures after preparation are frequently involved in Staphylococcal food poisoning.
80,000 People Each Year
Methicillin is a popular antibiotic that is commonly used to treat Staphylococcus infections. Although methicillin is effective in treating most staph infections, amazingly some staph bacteria have actually developed a resistance to this antibiotic and can no longer be killed by it. These resistant bacteria are called "methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus," or MRSA. MRSA can be found on the skin, in the nose, and in blood and urine.
It is estimated that as many as 80,000 people get an MRSA infection each year after they enter the hospital. Staphylococcus aureus is commonly found on the skin of healthy people.
Occasionally, staph can get into the body through a cut or a common wound and cause a systemic infection. The infection can be minor such as pimples, boils, or other skin conditions, or it can be more serious such as pneumonia or other serious conditions.
However, an MRSA infection usually develops in hospital patients who are elderly or very sick, have an open wound such as bedsores or even from a tube entering the body such as a urinary catheter. MRSA can spread from person to person, especially if they are sick with weak immune systems that may not be able to fight off infections. MRSA is almost always spread by physical contact, and not through the air. Hospitals usually take special steps to prevent the spread of MRSA from patient to patient by separating or isolating a patient with MRSA from other patients.
People taking care of a person with MRSA at their home should take the following recommended precautions:
1. Be sure to wash your hands before you leave their room; 2. Clean the person’s room and their personal items periodically with a disinfectant solution such as peroxide or a chlorine bleach solution; 3. Always wear gloves if you handle body substances such as blood, urine, or wound drainage; and 4. Always wash your hands after removing the gloves. If you are healthy there is little risk of getting infected with MRSA from another person. It is alright to be in the same room with a person with MRSA. Casual contact, such as touching or hugging is okay. Just remember to be sure and wash your hands before you leave the infected person’s room or home. Persons who are very ill or who have weak immune systems should avoid handling the body substances of a person with MRSA and should limit their physical contact to no more than casual touching.
==================================================================== 3. WELLNESS QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
** Q & A #1: How does anger increase my chance of heart attack?
New information now exists showing that anger tends to increase blood levels of homocysteine, an amino acid resulting from the metabolism of the essential amino acid methionine. Homocysteine is much more damaging to our arteries than cholesterol. So controlling anger, especially anger that you may tend to harbor, even unconsciously, can have an effect on your homocysteine levels. This can ultimately effect the health of your cardiovascular system. In addition, the consumption of foods rich in folate and vitamin B-12 such as orange juice, spinach and beans help to control homocysteine levels. It is a good idea to have your homocysteine levels checked periodically.
** Q & A #2: Is exercise really good for older people?
The old adage of "use it or lose it" has never been truer than with exercise. It has been shown that the muscles of older men and women take up protein at the same rate as younger people; therefore, exercise is an important factor as we age to help prevent muscle loss. Your muscles act as protein "reserves" for your body's metabolism. When it needs extra protein, your muscles become the supplier. For instance, if your immune system needs extra protein to make antibodies, your body can look to your muscles for this needed supply. A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in January of 2001 showed that aging does not cause muscles to get smaller, just the lack of exercise. Obviously, you must maintain enough muscle tissue to keep your strength. By continuing to exercise as you age and maintaining your strength with adequate protein intake, you can enjoy a much more rewarding lifestyle in later years.
** Q & A #3: Should I take my supplements at meals or between meals?
Either is okay; for some, mealtime simply serves as a reminder for them to take their supplements. Also, taking supplements with food you eat may soothe your stomach if you experience any discomfort when taking them. Generally speaking, it is recommended that you take your supplements on an empty stomach. Ideally, you should take enzyme-containing products separately from food. If these products were taken with food, the enzymes they contain may be utilized by the protein in your food instead of being absorbed and utilized throughout your body as designed.
** Q & A #4: What is fiber and does it have calories?
Fiber is actually a carbohydrate. Carbohydrates are categorized by the size of their molecules and their molecular weight. Smaller units called sugars, fructose, and glucose are classified chemically as monosaccharides. Some examples of simple sugars are fructose and glucose (table sugar). As monosaccharides join to make larger molecules, they become more complex and are categorized as disaccharides, such as lactose, maltose, and sucrose. The larger carbohydrates, usually referred to as cellulose, dextrin, glycogen, and starch, or fibers, are polysaccharides. Simple carbohydrates, which are very soluble and readily absorbed into the blood stream, quickly stimulate the release of insulin. The smaller and less complex molecules, like dextrin or polysaccharides, as well as larger starches, are digested slowly, so your body does not have to break them down immediately. Yet the "sugar units" they contain are ultimately digested. The most complex carbohydrate of all is cellulose or fiber. Fiber is divided into two types, soluble, and insoluble. Insoluble fiber passes through the body unchanged, and contributes no calories. Your body does not possess the cellulose enzyme required to digest it. Soluble fibers can be dissolved and absorbed. While the digestive system cannot breakdown the insoluble portion of the fiber, beneficial microorganisms in the colon can digest some soluble fiber components and produce byproducts, which can be absorbed and contribute calories. The microflora in the colon need nourishment so that they can sustain themselves and multiply. By incorporating plenty of the right kinds of soluble fiber in your diet, you are supporting colon health with nourishment for microflora.
==================================================================== 4. THE HERBAL CORNER - * Cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon)
Cranberry is a bitter red berry derived from a low-lying evergreen (Vaccinium macrocarpon) native to North America. Most of the cranberry harvest is use to make sweetened juices but many people now take encapsulated dried extracts for their health benefits.
Cranberry’s main medicinal use, to prevent and treat urinary tract infections, is a relatively modern discovery dating only to the early twentieth century. Earlier traditional applications included its use as a remedy for stomach ailments and gallbladder attacks. Scientific studies have generally found that cranberry does indeed help to prevent or alleviate urinary tract infections. A beneficial effect on kidney stones and chronic kidney inflammation is less proven. Cranberry is also being taken for its vitamin C and its phytonutrients, including flavonoids such as the proanthocyanidins, which are beneficial antioxidants.
More information - Cranberry
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Please note: the information contained herein has been compiled from various sources. The above statements have not been evaluated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. We make no claims, either expressed or implied, that any products mentioned in this newsletter will cure disease, replace prescription medication, or supersede sound medical advice.