Omega-3 fatty acids reduce risk of death from heart attack

Eating foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids may lower the risk of death from heart attack. This is the finding of new research published in JAMA Internal Medicine.

Eating foods rich in omega-3 may reduce the risk of death from heart attack, say researchers.

Each year, around 735,000 people in the United States have a heart attack, which occurs when a section of the heart fails to receive enough oxygen-rich blood.

Adopting a healthy diet is considered a key factor in reducing the risk of heart attack, and many studies have suggested that includingomega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids as part of such a diet is particularly beneficial for heart health.

Other studies, however, have questioned the heart benefits of omega-3s, with some suggesting that fish oil supplements - a major source of the fatty acids - do not lower the risk of heart-related events.

Omega-3s are essential fatty acids that the body needs for certain functions, including blood clotting, digestion, muscle activity, and cell division and growth. However, the only way the body can get omega-3 is through the foods we eat.

Fatty fish - such as salmon, trout, tuna, sardines, and anchovies - is a key source of omega-3s, including eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Other sources include leafy vegetables, walnuts, and some vegetable oils, which normally contain the omega-3 alphalinolenic acid (ALA).

For this latest study, lead researcher Liana C. Del Gobbo, Ph.D., of the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine at Stanford University School of Medicine in California, and colleagues set out to gain a better understanding of how omega-3s affect heart health.

Specifically, they looked at how omega-3s derived from seafood- and plant-based foods influence the risk of death from heart attack, or myocardial infarction.

Risk of fatal heart attack 10 percent lower with higher omega-3 levels

The team analyzed the data of 19 studies that included 45,637 individuals from across 16 countries, including the U.S., the United Kingdom, Italy, Norway, and Australia.

Over time, 7,973 of the participants experienced a first-time heart attack, with 2,781 dying as a result.

The team found that participants who had higher concentrations of seafood- and plant-based omega-3s in their blood were around 10 percent less likely to die from heart attack, compared with participants who had lower omega-3 concentrations.

However, the researchers identified no reduced risk of non-fatal heart attack with higher blood levels of seafood- and plant-based omega-3s, which they say indicates there is a highly specific mechanism by which the fatty acids lower heart attack death risk.

These findings remained after accounting for a number of possible confounding factors, such as participants' age, sex, race/ethnicity, the presence of diabetes, and use of aspirin or cholesterol-lowering drugs.

Overall, the authors say their results indicate that consuming foods rich in omega-3 may lower the risk of non-fatal heart attack.

Source: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/

Obesity Could Be The Biggest Danger To The US Economy

If We Don’t Do Anything, Obesity Will Bankrupt The US Economy by Patrick Cox, Mauldin Economics

A recent study reported that 40% of American women are now obese; the highest percentage in history. Men have a slightly lower rate of obesity at 35%.

This is not the world that Malthusians like Paul Ehrlich and John Holdren (President Obama’s science advisor) predicted a few decades ago. By now, we were supposed to have run out of resources due to overpopulation and starved to death…

The opposite has happened. Abundance replaced scarcity, which brought a new problem: obesity.

Americans are getting fatter

The abundance of adipose tissue is the most obvious sign that we’ve entered the age of abundance. Go to any mall and you will see that we are increasingly obese. This is not just perception. It’s a statistical fact.

Being fat is a source of serious personal angst for many people. My concern, however, isn’t about the feelings of obese people. I feel no desire to shame people for their BMI. The problem I have with obesity is strictly and personally financial, as I view it as a larger economic and societal problem.

Excess fat is a serious financial burden for society

More than a third of the US population has a body mass index (BMI) of 30.0 or higher, the definition of obesity. A third of the population is overweight (BMI of 25–29.9), and slightly less than a third is considered normal weight (BMI less than 25).

As an economist, I can’t ignore the fact that obesity significantly increases healthcare costs, even if it hurts feelings. It’s interesting that so many people in the fat acceptance movement are proponents of “free” healthcare. Yet, they don’t seem to grasp that their obesity is causing serious financial problems for our entire society.

Obesity increases the risk of diseases ranging from type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, to fatty liver disease and Alzheimer’s. As a result, negative medical consequences and costs increase geometrically along with the degree of excess adipose tissue.

It’s estimated that healthcare costs for severely obese adults are 81% greater than costs for healthy weight adults. Obese adults also spend 42% more on direct healthcare costs than those of a healthy weight.

The following chart is somewhat dated, but it shows the ongoing trend of increasing obesity and increasing healthcare costs.

And we are all required to subsidize those individuals’ medical care.

How to solve the obesity problem

Our bodies have protective genetic mechanisms that store energy in fat cells. These mechanisms helped our ancestors survive during rare times of plenty. As such, it’s hard to overcome our programming and voluntarily endure hunger.

I’ve had great success in reducing weight with my variation of Valter Longo’s fasting mimicking diet (FMD).This diet replicates the ancient cycles of feast and famine that our ancestors routinely endured. Few seem interested in it despite Longo’s supporting data, though.

That means more radical medical interventions are required to get the population’s BMI under 25. A number of therapies have been shown to work on animals in the lab. This includes brown adipose tissue transplants, vampire (GDF11) therapy, and growth hormone releasing hormone (GHRH) vaccines. I have no doubt, however, that we’ll solve the obesity problem. That’s because the healthcare costs for obese individuals will bankrupt us if we don’t.

We already spend more than we take in to pay the medical costs of an increasingly older population. Now with the steady rise in obesity rates, regulators will eventually have to remove the obstacles that are keeping legitimate obesity cures off the market.

Source: http://www.valuewalk.com

Brain tumor risk linked to high education level

This year in the United States, an estimated 78,000 new cases of primary brain tumors will be diagnosed. The causes of brain and central nervous system tumors are largely unknown, but a new observational study has found a link between increased risk of developing a brain tumor and holding a university degree.

The new study shows that people who studied at university for at least 3 years have a higher risk for gliomas than those with a lower level of education.

The researchers - from University College London in the United Kingdom and the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden - publish their findings in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health.

According to the American Brain Tumor Association, there are more than 100 histologically distinct types of primary brain and central nervous system tumors.

Meningiomas are the most common type of primary brain tumor, representing 36.4 percent of all primary brain tumors. Gliomas - a broad term including all tumors from the "gluey" or supportive tissue of the brain - account for 27 percent of all brain tumors and 80 percent of all malignant tumors.

Gliomas arise in glial cells that surround and support neurons in the brain.

The researchers of this latest study say few risk factors have been identified for brain tumors, but some include exposure to ionizing radiation and certain rare genetic syndromes.

Glioma risk higher for university-educated men and women

To further investigate potential risk factors, the researchers used data on more than 4.3 million Swedes, who were born between 1911-1961 and who were living in Sweden in 1991.

All of the study subjects were monitored between 1993-2010 to see if they developed a primary brain tumor. In addition, the researchers gleaned data on educational attainment, disposable income, marital status, and occupation from national insurance, labor market, and national census data.

From 1993-2010, 1.1 million of them died and over 48,000 emigrated, but a total of 5,735 men and 7,101 women developed a brain tumor.

Results show that men with a university education that lasted at least 3 years were 19 percent more likely to develop a glioma, compared with men whose education did not go beyond compulsory schooling, which was 9 years of primary education. Likewise, women who went on to higher education had a 23 percent higher glioma risk and a 16 percent higher meningioma risk, compared with women who did not.

Furthermore, high disposable income levels were linked with a 14 percent increased risk of glioma among men. Interestingly, however, disposable income level was not linked with heightened risk of any brain tumor in women.

For both men and women, occupation played a role in risk. Men in professional or managerial roles had a 20 percent increased risk of glioma and a 50 percent increased risk of acoustic neuroma - a non-cancerous brain tumor that grows on the nerve affecting hearing and balance - compared with men in manual roles.

Women in professional and managerial roles had a 26 percent higher risk for glioma and a 14 percent higher risk for meningioma, compared with women in manual roles.

Study limitations

Another interesting finding from the study involved single versus married or co-habiting men. Single men had a lower risk of glioma but a higher risk of meningioma, compared with married or co-habiting men.

The researchers say they did not observe any of these associations among the women.

Although the study benefited from the large, population-based cohort, the researchers emphasize that this is an observational study, meaning that they cannot draw any conclusions about cause and effect.

Additionally, there were some study limitations. For example, the researchers did not have information on lifestyle factors that could influence the risk of brain tumor. It is also possible that the occupational results could be misclassified for those who changed their job after the information was recorded.

Source: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/

Top 10 things you didn't know about blood donation

A blood chart to determine each donor's blood type before they proceed to the donation.

Despite the increase in the number of blood donors in Malaysia, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin recently stated that only 2.5% of Malaysians were blood donors, well below the international average of five percent. MOB takes a look at some facts and figures about blood donation.

1) There are two types of blood donation — whole blood and apheresis.

Whole blood involves donating blood in its full form. Apheresis separates platelets and plasma from the blood while the donor is hooked up to a machine. The remaining blood is pumped back into the donor.

“Apheresis is costly but effective as we are able to separate the components for specific purposes,” said Dr Norasrina Ishak, head of National Blood Bank blood procurement division.

The whole blood donation takes 30 minutes and can only be done once in three months.

In comparison, apheresis donation takes over an hour and can only be done at the centre due to machine availability, but an apheresis donor can donate once every two weeks.

2) Altruism is the top reason driving Malaysians to donate blood.

According to a survey by the National Blood Bank, many come forward because of a genuine desire to help others.

Retiree Low Cheng Har, 60, was doing an apheresis donation when MOB visited the National Blood Bank.

It was Low’s 331st apheresis donation, having been a blood donor since 1994. She takes the bus from her home in Bandar Sri Damansara, Petaling Jaya, to get to the centre in Kuala Lumpur.

“I’m motivated by a sense of wanting to help others. If I were in the patient’s shoes, I hope others would do the same for me,” she said, adding that her husband and sons were also regular blood donors.

3) There are many benefits to being a blood donor.

Apart from helping others, regular blood donors also receive benefits in return.

Malaysians who donate twice in a period of 12 months are entitled to a free Hepatitis B vaccine shot.

Those who donate more than 50 times (whole blood) and 150 times (apheresis) are entitled to free outpatient treatment at any government hospital.

Should they be warded, they will be entitled to a free first-class ward for the first 10 years, and second-class ward after.

Regular blood donors also enjoy free health screenings every six months.

4) Misconceptions about blood donation.

Dr Norasrina said some of the reasons cited by the public for not donating blood were fear of needles, fear of the sight of blood and, surprisingly, fear of gaining weight.

“Some people have a misconception that they will eat more after donating blood because the body needs to be ‘replenished’, but this is untrue so donors should not worry,” she said.

“We sterilise our needles properly so there shouldn’t be a fear of infectious diseases,” she said.

5) Four to five hundred units of blood are needed in a day.

One unit is about 450ml of blood. The National Blood Bank collects 3,200 units of blood in a week.

The collected blood is supplied to government and private hospitals in the Klang Valley, while in other states it is provided by the respective state blood banks.

“Eighty percent of donations come from mobile clinics. Apart from our own donation drives, we also work with various corporations, schools, non-governmental organisations and other government bodies.

“The amount of blood one can donate depends on the donor’s weight.

“If you are below 50kg, you either donate 250ml or 350ml; and 450ml if you are 50kg and above,” said Dr Norasrina.

The donated blood is quarantined and sent to screen for hepatitis B, hepatitis C, HIV and syphillis.

Once the green light is given, the blood is processed into components – plasma, platelets and packed cells (red blood cells), which are then distributed to hospitals or stored.

6) One blood donation can save three lives.

This is a tagline used by the National Blood Bank to encourage blood donation. The reason is because there are three components in the blood which serve different functions.

For example, platelets help dengue patients who are low on platelet count. It is also used for patients undergoing chemotherapy.

Red blood cells carry oxygen and are important for blood transfusion in cases of accidents, operations, thalassemia and heavy bleeding; whereas plasma, which contain blood-clotting factors, can help burn victims.

“This is one of the reasons why we encourage apheresis donation because it is more specific,” Dr Norasrina explained.

“It takes four to six random whole blood units to extract the same amount of plasma or platelets used for one patient’s treatment. In apheresis, the ratio is one donor to one patient. This reduces the risk of adverse reactions,” she added.

7) Blood type “A” tends to run short.

Despite about 25% of the population having A blood type, it often runs short in the blood bank. Registration division head Rosalind Choo said it was possible that many A-blood type donors were not aware or were not coming forward to donate.

“Blood donation levels tend to see a drop during festivals and school holidays, but we have a forecasting system and we plan ahead to make sure there are always stocks in hand,” she said.

8) Blood banks need a continuous supply of donations.

Red blood cells can last 42 days maximum, while platelets can only be kept for five to seven days. Plasma can be frozen and if kept in the right conditions, can keep well for years.

The short lifespan of some components is the reason why the blood bank is constantly in need of supply.

“Red blood cells have a lifespan of about 122 days in the body, of which then they will die and be replenished. Instead of letting it go to waste, donating it can help to save lives,” said Dr Norasrina.

“Many of our donors also report feeling fresher after donating blood,” she added.

9) The largest demographic of donors in Malaysia are between the ages 18 and 30.

Dr Norasrani said most donation drives were currently focused in urban areas.

“If we reach out to the rural areas, the number of donors will definitely rise.

“In 2013, we collected 670,000 units nationwide. Our aim is to get a consistent supply throughout the year,” she added.

Other outreach programmes include regular campaigns in schools and universities to instill awareness from a young age.

10) I want to be a blood donor.

Now that you’re all pumped up to do your part for charity, here is what you need to fulfill to get started.

A donor has to be between 18 and 60 years old, healthy and weigh 45kg and above. They must not have been on medication recently or have any congenital diseases.

The night before donation, they must get a minimum of five hours of sleep. A healthy lifestyle is essential.

Those aged below 18 must get parental consent.

For more information, visit www.sedarahmalaysia.org

Why you feel sleepy even when you’ve enough sleep

You may think that you're having enough sleep, but your sleep patterns could be off. Photo: AFP/Shutterstock

Have you had that experience where you wake up feeling sluggish and lethargic, in spite of getting the full eight hours of sleep at night?

We’ve all been through it, especially on days when our plate is full with responsibilities.

There’s nothing to worry about if you occasionally experience tiredness. But chronic drowsiness during the day might be an indicator that your sleep patterns or health is off-kilter.

Getting enough sleep every night

You’re puzzled over why you still feel tired even when you meet your eight-hour sleep requirement.

While everyone considers the eight-hour requirement to be the golden rule in sleep, the truth is that it is more of a guideline.

Getting eight hours of sleep has been researched thoroughly and found to be the optimum number of sleep hours for many people.

However, the sleep needs of every individual is slightly different, and if you are one of those having trouble feeling good after a night of sleep, you might need some tweaking to tune into a sleep pattern that works well for you.

Your personal body clock can tell when you’ve had too much or too little sleep. It’s important to pay attention to your internal clock when it tells you when to sleep and when to wake.

A healthier lifestyle can improve sleep. Photo: AFP

Let’s take 7.5 hours of sleep as the benchmark for most people. In that time frame, individuals go through five sleep cycles that are 90 minutes each.

During the cycle, we alternate between regular sleep and deep sleep (also known as REM).

So, in order to fine-tune your internal clock, take the time that you need to wake up in the morning and count backwards 7.5 hours. That would be the time you should prepare to go to bed.

Waking up between deep sleep cycles is more ideal than waking up in the middle of the sleep cycle.

If you wake during non-REM sleep, you’re more likely to feel alert and attentive as the day progresses.

But if you wake up in the middle of REM sleep, you will feel tired during the day.

Do a test. Try getting 7.5 hours of sleep for the next three days.

A good indicator that you’ve found the right bedtime is when you wake up five to 10 minutes before your alarm sounds.

However, if you sleep on until your alarm goes off, move your bedtime up by 15 minutes until you reach the right time for bed.

Be consistent: once you find a rhythm that works, stick to it. You will be much more attentive during that day, and as a result, much more plugged into your life.

Improving sleep habits

We all need some getting used to sleeping earlier, especially if you enjoy being awake at night. There are a few things you can do to adjust to a new sleep time.

No electronic devices – Artificial blue light from the screens of devices like a phone or tablet can send messages to your brain that tells it to stay awake because the light is associated with daytime. This may interrupt your circadian rhythm, resulting in lower sleep quality.

Keep the light and noise out of your room – Does your bedroom feel like there might be too much light or sound distractions?

Turn all the lights out before heading to bed, or just leave a dim night light in one corner of your room. Turn off the television, radio or mp3 player instead of leaving it on through the night.

Use ‘white noise’ – Putting on music might appear to help lull you to sleep, but it’s quite likely to be causing you uneasy sleep.

If this has been a long-term habit, programme it so that your player turns off automatically not long after you fall asleep.

Another option that actually works better is something called white noise, which is a consistent, background sound that could be emitting from a fan, or a special white noise machine that can drown out other random sounds and help you relax.

Caffeine does not help with sleep – While common wisdom states that caffeine is bad for sleep, many of us still indulge in caffeinated beverages too close to bedtime.

It acts as a stimulant and will cause you to be wide awake at a time when you should be winding down for the day.

Stay away from drinking caffeinated drinks four hours before bed if you want to be on track with your sleep pattern.

Sleep with a healthier lifestyle

Diet and exercise can go a long way towards helping you get better rest at night and being more alert during the day.

Balancing healthy eating choices with routine exercise can dramatically affect the way you perform throughout the day.

Sugar and caffeine might provide the effect of an energy boost, but the crash or drop in energy is drastic and lasts longer than the initial energy boost.

Fatty foods and processed carbs have also been connected to sleepiness during the day. Such foods are filling, but processed carbs do not have adequate minerals and vitamins to fuel your body with the right nutrition.

Late night spicy foods are well-known for being the cause of heartburn, indigestion and acid reflux. Do not lie down if you have heartburn, as acids creep into the oesophagus and create problems for the stomach lining.

Wholegrain, nutrient-rich foods boost your daily energy levels. Such foods can help you feel more alert.

You should consume foods that are high in antioxidants, amino acids, proteins and vitamins. Some examples of nutrient-rich foods are leafy greens, wholegrains, tree nuts, lean meats, eggs and fruits.

Regular exercise can really help your body adjust to a good sleep pattern and eliminate sleep fatigue.

Working out for about 30 minutes a day, three to four times a week, promotes the production of endorphins, a “happy” hormone that will improve your overall mood.

Signs of a sleep disorder

Following the guidelines that we discussed, along with a healthier diet and activity level, increases your chances of getting better quality sleep.

But if you still experience daytime drowsiness, it could be a symptom of a more serious disorder, like sleep apnoea, narcolepsy, depression, restless leg syndrome, anaemia, undiagnosed heart disease, thyroid problems, hormone imbalance, or even deficiencies in key nutrients.

If you think you might be experiencing something more than poor sleep, do visit your doctor for a discussion and for a comprehensive investigation, including testing your blood for your ageing hormone profile and key nutrients.

Source: http://www.star2.com/

How to Use Eye Drops Properly

How to Use Eye Drops Properly

(Using a mirror or having someone else give you the eyedrops may make this procedure easier.)

1Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water.
2Check the dropper tip to make sure that it is not chipped or cracked.
3Avoid touching the dropper tip against your eye or anything else - eyedrops and droppers must be kept clean.
4While tilting your head back, pull down the lower lid of your eye with your index finger to form a pocket.
5Hold the dropper (tip down) with the other hand, as close to the eye as possible without touching it.
6Brace the remaining fingers of that hand against your face.
7While looking up, gently squeeze the dropper so that a single drop falls into the pocket made by the lower eyelid. Remove your index finger from the lower eyelid.
8Close your eye for 2 to 3 minutes and tip your head down as though looking at the floor. Try not to blink or squeeze your eyelids.
9Place a finger on the tear duct and apply gentle pressure.
10   Wipe any excess liquid from your face with a tissue.
11 If you are to use more than one drop in the same eye, wait at least 5 minutes before instilling the next drop.
12 Replace and tighten the cap on the dropper bottle. Do not wipe or rinse the dropper tip.
13   Wash your hands to remove any medication.

Remember

• Follow directions carefully
• Do not miss doses
• Use the exact number of drops recommended
• Store medications out of reach of children

What and how does Januvia work?

What is JANUVIA ?

JANUVIA (jah-NEW-vee-ah) is a once-daily prescription pill that, along with diet and exercise, helps lower blood sugar levels in adults with type 2 diabetes.

JANUVIA should not be used in patients with type 1 diabetes or with diabetic ketoacidosis (increased ketones in the blood or urine). If you have had pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas), it is not known if you have a higher chance of getting it while taking JANUVIA.

How does JANUVIA work in your body?

JANUVIA works by enhancing your body's own ability to lower blood sugar.

JANUVIA works when your blood sugar is HIGH...and works less when your blood sugar is LOW.

Here's a closer look at how JANUVIA works in your body:

When you have type 2 diabetes:

Reference price in RM: 

Januvia 100mg 28s= RM155
Januvia 20mg 28s  =RM175

For Enquiry,

Whatapps: Ben: 012-7334511
(Based in Johor Bahru)

Why you shouldn’t eat too much when you’re pregnant

Researchers say you need to be careful to not give in to food cravings in order to avoid excess weight during pregnancy. Photo: AFP/Istock

New research cautions against indulging too much in pregnancy food cravings after finding that the frequency of cravings is a strong predictor of excess pregnancy weight gain. The results were published online in the journal Appetite.

Recent studies have shown that more than half of women gain more than the recommended amount for pregnancy weight gain set by the Institute of Medicine (IOM), with the lead author of the new study, Julia Hormes commenting that, “Our research is motivated by the fact that excess weight gain in pregnancy has rapidly become a major public health concern. It has significant implications for the health of mothers and their children, including increased risk of gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, a range of complications in delivery, difficulties initiating breastfeeding, increased postpartum weight retention in the mothers, and overweight offspring.”

To carry out her research Hormes and the team looked at two groups of pregnant women, one a group of 40 women recruited from a local hospital and the other a group of 43 women recruited via Facebook.

Both groups were asked to complete online surveys on their eating behaviour, including questions such as how often the women craved food from different categories (sweets, carbohydrates and starches, fast food and high-fat food), as well as how often they gave into those cravings.

Don’t give in to your pregnancy cravings too often. No matter how tempting they are.

The weight of the women before pregnancy as well as their current weight and the stage of their pregnancy was also recorded.

The team found that an increased frequency in food cravings was linked to a significant proportion of the variances in excess weight gain for both groups of women – 25% in the Facebook group and 32% in the hospital group.

All of the women also reported experiencing and giving in to at least one craving, with the most commonly craved foods reported being chocolate, pizza, cookies, and ice cream.

The team believe that the findings suggest that both the frequency of cravings as well as the consumption of craved foods may increase risk of excess weight, and providing support for women experiencing these cravings is needed to help modify food intake.

The results also led Hormes to advise women to try to reduce their food cravings and implement healthy eating habits, both before and during pregnancy, commenting “Women should avoid buying into those prevalent myths around eating habits during pregnancy. Cravings are very fleeting experiences that come and go relatively quickly. It’s important to work on being able to sit through a craving without either trying to push the thoughts aside or act on them.”

It is estimated that between 50 to 90% of expectant mothers will experience food cravings during their pregnancy, especially during the first semester, with IOM recommending that pregnant women consult their care providers about diet and physical activity before, during, and after pregnancy in order to maintain a healthy weight. – AFP Relaxnews

Source: http://www.star2.com/