Everyone knows that having the typical "apple" shape where your belly is larger than your hips is worse for your health down the road. All that fat centered around your organs and hanging over your pants can lead to heart disease and blood sugar problems like insulin resistance and diabetes. But can it cause dementia as well? Researchers say "yes!"
In the March issue of Neurology, they found that total body weight is a strong predictor of dementia, conferring a 75% increased risk among those with the highest BMI! Eek!
They also found that individuals who were both obese and who had a large belly were 3.6 times more likely to develop dementia than those of normal weight and belly size.
The thing is, visceral fat (there in your belly) is actually quite active! It produces hormones and inflammatory markers AND is a storage place for toxins. Now they are finding it can really play havoc on your brain.
Dementia is the loss of mental skills that affects your daily life. It can cause problems with your memory and how you plan. According to Wikipedia, it's the progressive decline in cognitive function due to damage or disease in the brain beyond what might be expected from normal aging.
Alzheimers is the most common form of dementia but stroke, tumors, head injuries, hypothyroidism and low Vitamin B12 can also be the cause.
If you find your memory isn't what it used to be, make an appointment with your doctor and start healthy habits that will get rid of that belly fat!
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Stopping HRT - Are you still at risk for cancer?
After the big Women's Health Initiative (WHI) study that came out a few years ago, women around the world have been wondering, am I still at risk for breast cancer? I stopped my estrogen and I stopped my progestin (fake progesterone) so now what?
In the March 8th issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (big deal to get published in here!) the news was not so good. Immediately stopping these hormones lowered cardiovascular risks such as heart attacks and blood clots. This is a good thing. However, they also found that women who took HRT remained at a higher risk for breast cancer even up to 3 years after stopping!
The study happened between 2002 and 2005. Being that it is 2008, the study does not say if it was ongoing and the effects of HRT after 3 years, ie. from 2002 - 2008.
What can women do? Be diligent! Go get your breast exams and mammograms! Eat healthy, exercise, limit your alcohol intake, limit your estrogen exposure, drink plenty of filtered water and perform monthly breast self exams (or have your partner do it!)
I have a good friend who went to the doctor for her yearly check-up. She brought her husband for moral support. During the breast exam, the doctor found a lump and remarked if my friend had ever felt it? Was it new? Had it been growing? How long had it been there? My friend was at a loss for words...she didn't know.
Suddenly her husband piped in, "I've been feeling that lump for awhile now. It hasn't grown. It hasn't changed."
The moral of the story is communication!! The lump turned out to be normal but had he told her about it, she would have been in for evaluation much sooner. I now tell all of my patients this story so they will let their significant others know a breast exam can be both fun AND medical at the same time!
In the March 8th issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (big deal to get published in here!) the news was not so good. Immediately stopping these hormones lowered cardiovascular risks such as heart attacks and blood clots. This is a good thing. However, they also found that women who took HRT remained at a higher risk for breast cancer even up to 3 years after stopping!
The study happened between 2002 and 2005. Being that it is 2008, the study does not say if it was ongoing and the effects of HRT after 3 years, ie. from 2002 - 2008.
What can women do? Be diligent! Go get your breast exams and mammograms! Eat healthy, exercise, limit your alcohol intake, limit your estrogen exposure, drink plenty of filtered water and perform monthly breast self exams (or have your partner do it!)
I have a good friend who went to the doctor for her yearly check-up. She brought her husband for moral support. During the breast exam, the doctor found a lump and remarked if my friend had ever felt it? Was it new? Had it been growing? How long had it been there? My friend was at a loss for words...she didn't know.
Suddenly her husband piped in, "I've been feeling that lump for awhile now. It hasn't grown. It hasn't changed."
The moral of the story is communication!! The lump turned out to be normal but had he told her about it, she would have been in for evaluation much sooner. I now tell all of my patients this story so they will let their significant others know a breast exam can be both fun AND medical at the same time!
Born earlier than 37 weeks? How it affects the future!
When you're pregnant, sometime it seems like that baby is never going to come out! Your friends, family and even doctor will tell you that when the time is right it will happen as it should. However, there are instances when you may go into labor prematurely and not have a choice in the matter. And then you hear of moms scheduling their c-section 'out of convenience' either for them or for the doctor.
Has anyone looked at what happens long-term when a baby is born pre-maturely? Were you or your partner born pre-maturely?
In the March 26th issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (this is a big-deal place to get published!) researchers looks at 1,167,506 singleton births (not multiples like twins) to establish what happens long-term with their health and future reproduction. Of those millions kids, 5.2% were born early (before 37 weeks).
What they found was astonishing! Mortality rate (number of deaths in a given population) was highest for a shorter gestation which in this study was anything between 22 - 36 weeks. Infant mortality rates (age < 1 year) were increased in all age categories of preterm girls and boys vs term children. Girls born at 28 to 32 weeks' gestation vs term had higher mortality rates through age younger than 1 year while boys born at 28 to 32 weeks' gestation vs term had higher mortality rates through age 12.9 years!! That's almost 13 years old for boys!
Girls and boys born at 33 to 36 weeks' gestation vs term had higher mortality rates up to age younger than 1 year.
What about future fertility? How does a pre-term birth affect their ability to reproduce when they are grown-up and ready (or not)?
Unfortunately, reproduction rates were lower for preterm vs term women of 22 to 27 weeks' gestation (25%) and 28 to 32 weeks' gestation (59.2%) while reproduction rates were lower for preterm vs term men of 22 to 27 weeks' gestation (13.9%) and 28 to 32 weeks' gestation (38.6%).
If you are planning a pregnancy and finding fertility difficult, find out if you or your partner were born early...it may play a major factor.
If you are pregnant - take it from the researchers and allow your baby to stay in the bun unless medically necessary.
Has anyone looked at what happens long-term when a baby is born pre-maturely? Were you or your partner born pre-maturely?
In the March 26th issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (this is a big-deal place to get published!) researchers looks at 1,167,506 singleton births (not multiples like twins) to establish what happens long-term with their health and future reproduction. Of those millions kids, 5.2% were born early (before 37 weeks).
What they found was astonishing! Mortality rate (number of deaths in a given population) was highest for a shorter gestation which in this study was anything between 22 - 36 weeks. Infant mortality rates (age < 1 year) were increased in all age categories of preterm girls and boys vs term children. Girls born at 28 to 32 weeks' gestation vs term had higher mortality rates through age younger than 1 year while boys born at 28 to 32 weeks' gestation vs term had higher mortality rates through age 12.9 years!! That's almost 13 years old for boys!
Girls and boys born at 33 to 36 weeks' gestation vs term had higher mortality rates up to age younger than 1 year.
What about future fertility? How does a pre-term birth affect their ability to reproduce when they are grown-up and ready (or not)?
Unfortunately, reproduction rates were lower for preterm vs term women of 22 to 27 weeks' gestation (25%) and 28 to 32 weeks' gestation (59.2%) while reproduction rates were lower for preterm vs term men of 22 to 27 weeks' gestation (13.9%) and 28 to 32 weeks' gestation (38.6%).
If you are planning a pregnancy and finding fertility difficult, find out if you or your partner were born early...it may play a major factor.
If you are pregnant - take it from the researchers and allow your baby to stay in the bun unless medically necessary.
Friday, March 28, 2008
The Fertility Diet and Lifestyle Factors
In the November 2007 issue of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the researchers looked at 17,544 women ages 25 to 42 years old to see how diet and lifestyle affected their fertility...especially when it came to an ovulation disorder. What they found supported the recommendations that I have been making in my practice for my fertility patients.
First of all, fertility concerns affects 1 in 6 couples and ovulation problems are the cause 18-30% of the time. In order for sperm to meet egg and create a baby the egg must first be released from the ovary and travel into the tube. If the egg is not released (no ovulation) then the sperm are unfortunately out of luck.
The Fertility Diet as described by the article includes higher amounts of mono saturated fats (olive oil, olives, avocados, and many nuts and seeds), vegetables and higher fiber/low-glycemic carbohydrates (actual whole grains).
The article also found that women who had a healthy Body Mass Index (BMI) of 20-24.9 had a lower risk of infertility than those women with a BMI below 20 or above 30. To calculate your BMI, visit www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/bmi. You will need your height and current weight.
The risk for ovulatory infertility was lower for each additional low-risk lifestyle habit followed, up to 69% lower risk for women adhering to 5 or more habits. This includes smoking, exercise, alcohol consumption, coffee consumption, weight control and diet.
They did conclude that diet composition had a greater impact on fertility than either BMI or vigorous physical activity alone.
***In order too maximize your fertility outcome, why not incorporate all 3 into your lifestyle? 69% lower risk are pretty good odds. While you're at it...make sure you include your partner in these changes to improve their fertility as well.
First of all, fertility concerns affects 1 in 6 couples and ovulation problems are the cause 18-30% of the time. In order for sperm to meet egg and create a baby the egg must first be released from the ovary and travel into the tube. If the egg is not released (no ovulation) then the sperm are unfortunately out of luck.
The Fertility Diet as described by the article includes higher amounts of mono saturated fats (olive oil, olives, avocados, and many nuts and seeds), vegetables and higher fiber/low-glycemic carbohydrates (actual whole grains).
The article also found that women who had a healthy Body Mass Index (BMI) of 20-24.9 had a lower risk of infertility than those women with a BMI below 20 or above 30. To calculate your BMI, visit www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/bmi. You will need your height and current weight.
The risk for ovulatory infertility was lower for each additional low-risk lifestyle habit followed, up to 69% lower risk for women adhering to 5 or more habits. This includes smoking, exercise, alcohol consumption, coffee consumption, weight control and diet.
They did conclude that diet composition had a greater impact on fertility than either BMI or vigorous physical activity alone.
***In order too maximize your fertility outcome, why not incorporate all 3 into your lifestyle? 69% lower risk are pretty good odds. While you're at it...make sure you include your partner in these changes to improve their fertility as well.
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