To Your HealthTYH Archives

January 15, 2002[Volume 3, issue 2]

 

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In this issue of To Your Health:

Possible Side Effects Include...

You've probably seen numerous television commercials lately advertising new prescription drugs - advertisements that often include lengthy segments covering possible side effects of the drugs. Although drug therapies may offer cure and relief, negative side effects often accompany therapy. Drugs can even cause death in some cases; adverse drug events (ADEs), or negative side effects from drugs, are one of the six leading causes of in-hospital death in the U.S.

To assess the incidence of death from doctor-administered drugs in a Norwegian hospital and identify patient characteristics that increase odds of drug-related death, the authors of a recent study in the Archives of Internal Medicine examined approximately 750 in-hospital fatalities over a two-year period. Clinical records, autopsy results, and pre- and post-mortem drug analyses were ascertained to determine death from drug side effects.

Drug-related deaths were directly or indirectly linked with one or more drugs in 18% of the patients. Likelihood of fatal drug use was directly related to increases in age, number of diseases, and number of drugs used. The most dangerous drugs were cardiovascular and anti-clotting drugs, and drugs that stimulate the function of internal organs. Over 200 patients, or 25%, were using 12 or more drugs at the time of death; the average number of drugs per patient increased significantly upon arrival at the hospital.

The authors of this study noted that only eight of these drug-related deaths were reported to the health authorities as required by official regulations. Drugs are often necessary for life-threatening conditions, but if you are making a decision on which drugs you will and will not take for your health, consider the saying "Less is more."

Reference: Ebbesen J, Buajordet I, Erikssen J, et al. Drug-related deaths in a department of internal medicine. Archives of Internal Medicine 2001:161(19), pp. 2317-2323.

To find out more about the dangers of drugs, check out https://www.chiroweb.com/find/archives/general/drugs/index.html.

Which Foods Raise Stomach Cancer Risk?

Rising rates of cancer of the stomach and esophagus (the muscular tube connecting your throat to your stomach) have led to large-scale studies over the last decade designed to identify risk factors for these cancers. Some of this evidence suggests that dietary factors may play a significant role in the development of stomach/esophagus cancers.

The goal of a recent study appearing in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention was to determine dietary patterns related to the development of four types of stomach/esophagus cancer. Approximately 1,100 patients with one of the four forms of cancer and almost 700 healthy individuals completed a demographic and food-frequency questionnaire.

Higher intakes of cholesterol, animal protein and fat, and vitamin B12 increased risk of all four forms of cancer. Taking vitamin C supplements reduced the risk of cancer in the middle and lower stomach by 40%. Taking vitamins A, B6, and folate, as well as eating polyunsaturated fats, fiber, and carbohydrates, significantly decreased the risk of the four forms of cancer. Obesity was also strongly associated with these cancers.

To reduce your risk for cancers of the stomach and esophagus, minimize the amount of fatty meats in your diet. Instead, eat plant-based proteins, such as soy and other beans, and plant-based fats, such as avocados, nuts, and olive oil. In addition, eat plenty of fruits and vegetables to ensure adequate amounts of fiber, carbohydrates, and vitamins in your diet. Your doctor of chiropractic can help you come up with the diet that's right for you.

Reference: Mayne ST, Risch HA, Dubrow R, et al. Nutrient intake and risk of subtypes of esophageal and gastric cancer. Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention 2001:10, pp. 1055-1062.

Shed Pounds by Shedding Excuses

For some people, life seems just too hectic to meet the recommended 30 continuous minutes per day of aerobic exercise. The American College of Sports Medicine and the Centers for Disease Control have changed the previous exercise guidelines to meet the demands of an increasingly busy society. A more practical approach: 30 minutes of total moderate physical activity - continuous or intermittent - should be performed most days of the week. The effectiveness of these new guidelines was recently tested, with particular emphasis on cardiovascular fitness and weight loss.

The study, which appeared in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition, compared the effects of variations of a 30-minute exercise program on aerobic fitness and weight loss in college women. Forty-eight overweight women were divided into four groups: no exercise; 30 minutes of continuous exercise per day; two 15-minutes sessions of exercise per day; and three 10-minute sessions per day. Measures of fitness, weight loss, skinfold thickness, and body circumference were taken initially and after three months of exercise training on a stationary bicycle.

All three exercise groups demonstrated significant fitness improvement, weight loss, and decreased body measurements at the end of the study. The results were similar between all three exercise groups. The nonexercise group did not show any significant changes.

Exercise may have similar effects on weight loss and aerobic fitness, whether performed in one long bout or several cumulative short sessions. If your schedule doesn't allow for a long block of time to get in an effective workout, now you have an alternative to stay fit.

Reference: Schmidt WD, Biwer CJ, Kalscheuer LK. Effects of long versus short bout exercise on fitness and weight loss in overweight females. Journal of the American College of Nutrition 2001:20(5), pp. 494-501.

For more information on sports and fitness, go to https://www.chiroweb.com/tyh/sports.html.

"High-Normal" Blood Pressure Not Normal

Blood pressure (BP) is generated when blood is pumped through your body, which exerts force against the inside walls of your blood vessels. It is measured in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) - how high the pressure can raise a column of mercury, and is based on two numbers: systolic (pumping heart) and diastolic (between pumps) BP.

"High-normal" BP, defined as a systolic pressure of 130 to 139 mm Hg and/or a diastolic pressure of 85 to 89 mm Hg, has long been considered a safe range. Yet studies have shown that very high BP is related to a higher risk for cardiovascular disease. The authors of a recent study in The New England Journal of Medicine asked the question: Are those with high-normal BP also more likely to develop cardiovascular disease?

The authors examined data on nearly 7,000 adults in the Framingham Heart Study. For the study, initial BP and cardiovascular disease rates 12 years later were considered. The results for those with high-normal BP are listed below:

Women were 2.5 times more likely and men were 1.6 times more likely to have heart disease than those with optimal BP. Four percent of women and 8% of men ages 35 to 65 with high-normal BP had some form of heart disease, and older individuals with high-normal BP were even more likely to have heart disease. A quarter of those studied had high-normal BP.

If your BP falls within the high-normal range, you may not be safe from cardiovascular disease. Have your BP checked regularly, and be sure it falls within "normal" levels, especially if you are elderly or diabetic.

Reference: Vasan RS, Larson MG, Leip EP, et al. Impact of high-normal blood pressure on the risk of cardiovascular disease. The New England Journal of Medicine 2001:345(18), pp. 1291-1297.

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