Updated:
6/10/05
 MISCELLANEOUS MEDICAL
INFORMATION
Because of our other (non-CFS) illnesses, we subscribe to various
medical journals.  From time to time, we run across information we
feel everyone might want to be aware of.  We are adding this
section to broaden the effective use of the website.  As usual, if you
have anything you feel should be added, please give us an email.

  • THROAT INFECTIONS:  According to "The New England Journal of
    Medicine HEALTHNEWS, sore throats prompt about 6.7 million doctor visits
    a year are caused by viruses, against which antibiotics aren't effective.  
    Because patients want the doctor to do something, many are given totally
    ineffective antibiotics; it is estimated that 40% receive unnecessary
    antibiotics..  Sore throats caused by streptococcus (strep) bacteria should
    be treated with antibiotics.  Usually, a throat culture is the common method
    to verify strep.  There is also a rapid test (which is not quite as accurate but
    much quicker.  Kids have a higher risk with strep than adults because of
    rare, but possible, rheumatic fever.  There are other protocols for treating
    sore throats than antibiotics.  Watch out taking antibiotics unless your strep
    test is positive.

  • GRAPEFRUIT INTERACTS WITH MANY MEDICATIONS:
    We learned this right after my transplant because it effects many of my
    medications.  The "HEALTHNEWS" cites a case where a woman had been
    taking Zocor for two years with no side effects.  However, after four days on
    a new breakfast diet which included grapefruit, she developed muscle pain
    and weakness.  Blood tests revealed her muscles were slowly disintegrating,
    a condition known as rhabdomyolysis that is a potentially fatal complication
    of satin (cholesterol reducing drugs) use.  We have heard that other
    medications can also be effected by grapefruit; so, we avoid grapefruit and
    grapefruit juice at all times when we are taking medications.  If grapefruit is
    something you really like, please consult your doctor.

  • ANTIBACTERIAL SOAP: ALL WASHED UP?  This is another
    headline in a recent "HEALTHNEWS".  Most of the usual infections, colds
    and flu, we get are transmitted from person to person usually by your hand
    touching something infected, like another hand, door know, phone, etc.  
    Colds and flu are caused by viruses, not bacteria.  We have been told by
    several doctors that thew best way to avoid infections is to wash our hands
    frequently with antibacterial soap.  The article states that they followed 238
    families with at least one child for 48 weeks.  They found that there was
    minimal difference in virus type illnesses between the families using
    antibacterial soap and regular soap.  There only comment was "good
    hygiene is an excellent way to avoid infections", and regular soap seems
    fine.

YOUR DIETARY ARSENAL AGAINST 8 SERIOUS DISORDERS Is a
heading in the 'JOHNS HOPKINS MEDICAL LETTER Health After
50".  Dietary changes can be a powerful weapon against several
leading chronic diseases.  The formed the following through several
studies and coordination with several medical specialists groups.  
The following is a quick summary of the article.

  • CORONARY HEART DISEASE AND STROKE
• Limit saturated fat and trans fatty acids to less than 10% of calories (or less than
7% if you have high blood cholesterol levels). To do this, restrict your intake of the
major sources of saturated fat (fatty meats, poultry skin, full-fat dairy products, and
tropical oils) and by restricting your intake of hydrogenated fat (found in
commercially prepared baked and fried foods and margarines), the major source
of trans fatty acids.
• Center your diet around fish, skinless poultry, and plant-based, unprocessed
foods, such as whole grains, fruits, vegetables, legumes (such as beans), and nuts.

• Eat at least two servings of fish per week, particularly fatty fish, that contain
omega-3 fatty acids, a fat believed to be "heart healthy."
• Include soy foods in your diet— replace foods high in saturated fat and
cholesterol with 25 grams of soy protein daily. This is particularly important to
people with high LDL (bad cholesterol.
• Opt for fat-free and low-fat dairy products. The leanest cuts of meat are loin,
flank, and round.
• Get at least 15% of total calories from 'monounsaturated fats such as olive oil.
Choose unsaturated fats instead of saturated and trans fats.
• Limit cholesterol to 300 mg daily for people with normal cholesterol and 200 mg
daily with high cholesterol.
• Get 20 to 30 grams of fiber daily; include plenty of soluble fiber.
• Consume at least 400 mcg of folic acid daily from fruits, vegetables, fortified
grains, and/or a supplement.
• Limit intake of refined carbohydrates, particularly white flour and sugar.
• Maintain a desirable weight to prevent metabolic syndrome, a major risk factor for
CHD.

  • HYPERTENSION
• Maintain a desirable weight.
• Limit daily sodium intake to 1,500 mg, about 2/3 teaspoon of table salt. Since
blood pressure rises with age, after age 50 strive for 1,300 mg daily; after age 70
reduce daily intake to 1,200 mg.  You can make up flavor with other spices.
• Increase intake of fruits and vegetables to get enough potassium. Recently
revised guidelines recommend consuming 4,700 mg daily, about double the
current consumption.
• Switch to 2 to 4 servings of fat-free or low-fat dairy products daily for adequate
calcium and protein.
• Include plenty of whole grains, fish, and poultry.  And, restrict intake of fat, red
meat, and sugary foods and drinks.
• Limit consumption of alcohol to no more than one drink daily for women and no
more than two daily for men. One alcoholic drink equals one 12-oz. beer or one 5-
oz. glass of wine.

  • TYPE 2 DIABETES
• Maintain a desirable weight.
• Limit saturated fat intake to no more 'than 7% of total calories.
• Get at least 15% of total fat calories from monounsaturated fat.
• Limit dietary cholesterol to less than 200 mg daily which includes a restriction of
all dietary sources of cholesterol, including eggs and shellfish.
• Get at least 25 grams of fiber daily; include several servings of whole grains and
plenty of soluble fiber.
• Choose an overall balanced diet that emphasizes produce and whole grains. Aim
for eight servings daily of a variety of fruits and vegetables.
• Restrict intake of refined carbohydrates (white flour and sugar).

  • OSTEOPOROSIS
• Consume 1,200 to 1,500 mg of calcium daily. Besides dairy products, good
dietary sources include canned salmon and sardines, dark green leafy vegetables,
shellfish, and some fortified cereals. Take calcium supplements if the calcium in
your diet is low. - -
• Get an adequate amount—400 to 800 IU daily—of vitamin D, which enhances
calcium absorption from the intestine and also works within bones to strengthen
them. Good sources of vitamin D include milk and fatty fish. A good multiple vitamin
can help to make sure your daily intake is correct.  Carefully read labels.
• Follow a dietary pattern that emphasizes fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.  
And, restrict caffeine consumption to less than 300 mg daily; consuming more than
this may contribute to bone loss in some older women. An average cup (8 oz.) of
coffee contains between 115 and 175 mg caffeine. The caffeine content of an
average can of soda (12 oz.) is between 30 and 50 mg.

  • PROSTATE CANCER
• Limit intake of fat from animal sources, especially meats and dairy products.  If
you eat red meat, the lean cuts and eat small portions (about 3 oz. or the size of
your fist).
• Eat a diet rich in whole grains and have at least five servings daily of a variety of
fruits and vegetables. Include cruciferous vegetables, such as broccoli, cauliflower,
and cabbage; researchers in one study found that consuming three or more
servings of cruciferous vegetables a week was associated with a 41% lower risk of
prostate cancer than that associated with eating less than one serving per week.
• Eat several servings of cooked tomato products (such as tomato sauce) per
week. A high intake of lycopene, an antioxidant found in tomatoes and tomato
products, is associated with a 16% to 21% reduced risk of prostate cancer.

  • BREAST CANCER
• Maintain a desirable weight,
• Limit fat intake, especially saturated • fats and trans fatty acids.  And, try to get at
least 25 grams of fiber daily. Be sure to include several servings of whole grains.
• Eat at least five servings daily of a variety of fruits and vegetables.
• Limit alcohol consumption to fewer than seven drinks per week or even lower
according to some studies.

  • COLON CANCER
• Limit intake of red meat to lean cuts and limit portions to about 3 oz.
• Eat several servings of whole grains and at least five servings of fruits and
vegetables daily. Include plenty of spinach, broccoli, tomatoes, oranges, berries,
and carrots. Try to get 1,200 mg of calcium daily from calcium-rich foods, such as
2 to 3 servings of low-fat or fat-free dairy products.

  • WEIGHT CONTROL is KEY
In addition to controlling your choice of specific foods, probably the most important
aspect of diet for preventing disease is weight control, which means avoiding
weight gain and
reducing your caloric intake if you are overweight. In general, decreasing calorie
consumption by 500 calories daily, especially in conjunction with a modest
increase in exercise, can result in weight loss of 1 to 2 Ibs. a week. Research
shows that even mod-
est weight loss decreases the risk of a wide range of obesity-related illnesses
ranging from CHD and diabetes to some kinds of cancer.

Personally, every time I see an obese person, I want to ask if they know how many
obese people in CCU while waiting for a heart transplant.  The answer is very few.

  • DRUG EXPIRATION DATES:  According to "Health After 50, the
    expiration date on prescriptions and over the counter drugs are dates which
    the manufacture guarantee that they retain their full effectiveness.  
    Recently, the FDA approved a 2 year extension on expiration dates for a
    number of drugs including penicillin, Tagamet, and Valium.  They said that
    most drugs retain their effectiveness for at least 1 to 2 years where they are
    maintained by temperature and humidity.  They suggest to keep your
    medications in a closet or cabinet located in a cool, dry room.  Watch out for
    discolored or powdery pills, and strong smell, cloudy or filmy liquids, and
    tubes of cream that are hardened or cracked.  Some drugs like insulin and
    some liquid antibiotics do degrade quickly and be used by the expiration
    date.

  • SPICE RACK DOUBLES AS MEDICINE CABINET: This is a
    synopsis of an article in our local paper originally published by "The Miami
    Herald".  Spices have long been used as "home remedies".
CAYENNE is a heart-healthy antioxidant that blasts cholesterol and
triglycerides.  Cayenne is loaded with vitamins A. C and E and stimulates your
heart and circulation the way it stimulates your palate and sinuses.  It fires up your
food also; so, spice-sensitive souls should use small amounts.
TURMERIC is the golden spice in curry powder.  It is prized not only for its heat
but also its anti-inflammatory powers.  It could be a player to help Alzheimer's
according to some research.  It also breaks up plaque deposits in the brain.
GINGER earns its reputation as a stomach-settler and a purifier.   It has
cholesterol lowering powers, artery degunking antioxidants and anti-fungal, blood-
clotting, and even cancer fighting properties.  In other words, eat Asian or Indian
cooking or gingerbread.
CARDANMOM is the star of chai, Arabic coffee, and Dutch and African
recipes.  Studies show that it aids digestion and has a mighty congestion-busting
phytochemical.
CINNAMON is anti-microbial, circulation-improving, and antiflammatory which
aids your respiratory and digestive systems.  It can also lower blood sugar levels
with Type 2 diabetes.
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