(HealthDay News) -- An enlarged heart is usually considered a sign of cardiac trouble. But the cause of the enlargement is critical in determining whether there's actual heart disease, researchers are reporting.
In fact, the nature of the stress that created the enlargement is more important than the duration of the stress, according to the researchers.
"We set out to answer a longstanding question in cardiac biology, which is what happens to the heart during periods of stress," said lead researcher Dr. Howard Rockman, a cardiologist at Duke University Medical Center.
The researchers looked at different types of stress, such as stress from exercise, as well as so-called pathological stress that causes damage to the heart. High blood pressure is an example of pathological stress, Rockman said.
Although both types of stress can be severe, the way the heart responds to exercise or high blood pressure is very different, Rockman said. "Exercise is beneficial. The heart adapts in a good way," he said.
Endurance runners have large hearts, Rockman noted, but without damage to the function of the heart. "In contrast, someone with longstanding high blood pressure can develop a dilatated heart and heart failure," he said.
To test the reactions of the heart to these different types of stress, Rockman's team did a series of experiments in mice.
The findings appear in the June 1 issue of the Journal of Clinical Investigation.
The experiments demonstrated that intermittent cardiac stress from high blood pressure starts a series of events that eventually leads to abnormalities in heart muscle cells as well as damage to blood vessels. The researchers also found that these harmful responses can begin before the heart itself begins to get bigger.
To induce high blood pressure in the mice, Rockman's group tied a slipknot around each mouse's aorta. Then they manipulated the knot from outside the mouse through a small incision in the back. The researchers tied off the aortas in one group of mice for 90 minutes twice a day. A second group of mice exercised for 90 minutes twice a day, either by swimming or running in a wheel.
"After seven days, the hearts of the swimming mice were gorgeous," Rockman said.
The hearts of the mice with high blood pressure were similarly enlarged and appeared to be functioning normally, but individual heart muscle cells showed significant structural and cellular abnormalities, the researchers found.
"The heart is more sophisticated than we thought," Rockman said. "The type of stress you apply on the heart determines whether it's going to develop a deleterious phenotype or whether it's going to be an adaptive and beneficial phenotype," he added.
Rockman speculated that the same findings would hold for humans. Exercise is beneficial for the heart, he said, adding that "it increases the number of blood vessels in the heart, and the cells activated in the heart are all on the good side.
"The opposite things that you do, the things that raise blood pressure, even intermittently, may not be good," he added.
Dr. Gregg C. Fonarow, a professor of cardiology at the University of California, Los Angeles, said, "This study provides important new insights into the mechanisms behind cardiac hypertrophy (enlarged heart)."
The study addresses a common theory on why cardiac stress induced by exercise does not produce changes in the heart similar to the cardiac stress from high blood pressure, Fonarow noted. "The theory was that stress from exercise was intermittent, whereas that from high blood pressure was more continuous," he said.
"Better understanding of these mechanisms may lead to new treatments that can better protect the heart from hypertrophy and heart failure," Fonarow said.
More information
The American Heart Association can tell you more about enlarged hearts.
Saturday, September 23, 2006
Long Work Days Linked to High Blood Pressure
(HealthDay News) -- Long hours on the job may lead to a greater risk of high blood pressure, particularly for people who don't have much control over their work, a new study found.
"Other studies have focused on job stress, we focused on long work hours," said Dr. Dean Baker, director of the University of California, Irvine's Center for Occupational and Environmental Health, and lead author of the report in the September issue of Hypertension.
Baker said that focus was possible because the study relied on a mass of data from a 2001 survey of more than 55,000 California households. "It gave us the statistical power to control for lots of causes of high blood pressure," he said.
After accounting for many other causes of high blood pressure, the researchers said they found a significant association between working more hours and self-reported high blood pressure.
For example, people who worked 40 hours a week were 14 percent more likely to say they had high blood pressure than those working 11 to 19 hours weekly. For those working 41 to 50 hours a week, the incidence was 17 percent higher.
"We found the type of occupation was independently significant," Baker added. "Clerical workers and unskilled workers had more high blood pressure than those in the professions."
Clerical workers were 23 percent more likely to report high blood pressure than professionals, as were 50 percent of unskilled workers.
High blood pressure can lead to a variety of potentially deadly health problems, including heart attack and stroke.
The findings should be taken into account by the people in charge of work hours, Baker said. "We would like employers to understand the health effects of requiring people to work long hours," he said.
Doctors should also pay attention, Baker said. There's a standard list of risk factors for high blood pressure, including obesity, smoking, physical inactivity and diabetes. "Something I would change is to add long work hours to the list," he said.
But Dr. David Meyerson, a senior cardiologist at Johns Hopkins University and a spokesman for the American Heart Association, said, "We need more information before this finding can be translated into legislation limiting work hours."
"The implication now that Americans seem to be working more hours than their European or Asian counterparts has become an issue," Meyerson said.
But because workers with little control over their jobs report more problems, "if one reads between the lines, the key may be whether job satisfaction plays a role," he said.
Meyerson offered this advice to control high blood pressure: "Get plenty of exercise, eat properly, know what your blood pressure is." At the same time, he added, "If at all possible, find a job that offers satisfaction. And if possible, spend more time with the persons you love, rather than at work."
More information
The risks of high blood pressure and what should be done about them are described by the American Heart Association.
"Other studies have focused on job stress, we focused on long work hours," said Dr. Dean Baker, director of the University of California, Irvine's Center for Occupational and Environmental Health, and lead author of the report in the September issue of Hypertension.
Baker said that focus was possible because the study relied on a mass of data from a 2001 survey of more than 55,000 California households. "It gave us the statistical power to control for lots of causes of high blood pressure," he said.
After accounting for many other causes of high blood pressure, the researchers said they found a significant association between working more hours and self-reported high blood pressure.
For example, people who worked 40 hours a week were 14 percent more likely to say they had high blood pressure than those working 11 to 19 hours weekly. For those working 41 to 50 hours a week, the incidence was 17 percent higher.
"We found the type of occupation was independently significant," Baker added. "Clerical workers and unskilled workers had more high blood pressure than those in the professions."
Clerical workers were 23 percent more likely to report high blood pressure than professionals, as were 50 percent of unskilled workers.
High blood pressure can lead to a variety of potentially deadly health problems, including heart attack and stroke.
The findings should be taken into account by the people in charge of work hours, Baker said. "We would like employers to understand the health effects of requiring people to work long hours," he said.
Doctors should also pay attention, Baker said. There's a standard list of risk factors for high blood pressure, including obesity, smoking, physical inactivity and diabetes. "Something I would change is to add long work hours to the list," he said.
But Dr. David Meyerson, a senior cardiologist at Johns Hopkins University and a spokesman for the American Heart Association, said, "We need more information before this finding can be translated into legislation limiting work hours."
"The implication now that Americans seem to be working more hours than their European or Asian counterparts has become an issue," Meyerson said.
But because workers with little control over their jobs report more problems, "if one reads between the lines, the key may be whether job satisfaction plays a role," he said.
Meyerson offered this advice to control high blood pressure: "Get plenty of exercise, eat properly, know what your blood pressure is." At the same time, he added, "If at all possible, find a job that offers satisfaction. And if possible, spend more time with the persons you love, rather than at work."
More information
The risks of high blood pressure and what should be done about them are described by the American Heart Association.
Male Preemie Babies at Higher Risk for Hypertension As Adults
(HealthDay News) -- Male infants born prematurely are at increased risk of developing high blood pressure decades later, Swedish researchers report.
The reasons for this rise in risk are unclear; however, the researchers don't think it can be explained by family history or genetics. Rather, they believe environmental challenges linked to prematurity may explain an increased risk for high blood pressure later in adulthood.
"Preterm-born men have an increased risk of high blood pressure and the risk is inversely proportional to the degree of prematurity -- the more premature, the higher the risk," noted lead author Dr. Stefan Johansson, a neonatologist at Karolinska University Hospital in Stockholm.
The study only included male babies -- experts note that a similar study in females might turn up similar trends.
The report appears in the November 29 edition of Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association.
In their study, Johansson's team collected blood pressure and birth data on nearly 330,000 Swedish men born between 1973 and 1981.
They found that, compared with males born full-term, males who were born extremely preterm -- less than 29 weeks -- have almost twice the risk of developing high systolic blood pressure in adulthood. Systolic pressure refers to the first number in a blood pressure reading.
In addition, those who were very preterm -- 29 to 32 weeks -- had a 45 percent increased risk of high systolic blood pressure, while those born moderately pre-term -- 33 to 36 weeks -- had a 24 percent higher risk.
"The risk associated with preterm birth is most probably not explained by familial factors," Johansson said. "Our study further supports the concept that diseases in adulthood are associated with very early exposures [to environmental challenges]," he added.
Johansson thinks more research is needed on why preterm birth is associated with this risk of high blood pressure and recommends intervention as early as possible. "I think that clinical follow-up programs of children born more than three months before term should include blood pressure checks during their visits," he advised.
Another expert pointed out that these findings were confined to males only.
"At the present time, the study cannot be extrapolated to women born preterm because only men were included in this study," said Dr. Nieca Goldberg M.D., chief, Cardiac Rehabilitation and Prevention Center, Lenox Hill Hospital, and assistant clinical professor, medicine, New York University School of Medicine, in New York City.
"Other studies should be done to see if this relationship can be applied to women and people of various racial and ethnic backgrounds," she said. "Work like this will help us to identify risk factors earlier in life and apply preventive strategies that will ultimately reduce risk of heart disease and stroke."
Another expert said the study may shed more light on the causes of high blood pressure.
"This is a very interesting study," said Dr. Roger S. Blumenthal, an associate professor of medicine and director of the Johns Hopkins Ciccarone Center for the Prevention of Heart Disease in Baltimore. "It shows that what happens to us when we are born can affect the development of high blood pressure 40 plus years later, which is quite fascinating. This may help to shed light on some of the other causes of high blood pressure."
Blumenthal adds that knowing this makes it even more important to make the lifestyle changes that help fight high blood pressure.
"People need to remember that the best way to prevent or control hypertension and type 2 diabetes is to exercise more and follow better dietary habits," he noted. "For now, that should be the focus of our efforts in America and elsewhere."
More information
The American Heart Association has more on high blood pressure.
The reasons for this rise in risk are unclear; however, the researchers don't think it can be explained by family history or genetics. Rather, they believe environmental challenges linked to prematurity may explain an increased risk for high blood pressure later in adulthood.
"Preterm-born men have an increased risk of high blood pressure and the risk is inversely proportional to the degree of prematurity -- the more premature, the higher the risk," noted lead author Dr. Stefan Johansson, a neonatologist at Karolinska University Hospital in Stockholm.
The study only included male babies -- experts note that a similar study in females might turn up similar trends.
The report appears in the November 29 edition of Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association.
In their study, Johansson's team collected blood pressure and birth data on nearly 330,000 Swedish men born between 1973 and 1981.
They found that, compared with males born full-term, males who were born extremely preterm -- less than 29 weeks -- have almost twice the risk of developing high systolic blood pressure in adulthood. Systolic pressure refers to the first number in a blood pressure reading.
In addition, those who were very preterm -- 29 to 32 weeks -- had a 45 percent increased risk of high systolic blood pressure, while those born moderately pre-term -- 33 to 36 weeks -- had a 24 percent higher risk.
"The risk associated with preterm birth is most probably not explained by familial factors," Johansson said. "Our study further supports the concept that diseases in adulthood are associated with very early exposures [to environmental challenges]," he added.
Johansson thinks more research is needed on why preterm birth is associated with this risk of high blood pressure and recommends intervention as early as possible. "I think that clinical follow-up programs of children born more than three months before term should include blood pressure checks during their visits," he advised.
Another expert pointed out that these findings were confined to males only.
"At the present time, the study cannot be extrapolated to women born preterm because only men were included in this study," said Dr. Nieca Goldberg M.D., chief, Cardiac Rehabilitation and Prevention Center, Lenox Hill Hospital, and assistant clinical professor, medicine, New York University School of Medicine, in New York City.
"Other studies should be done to see if this relationship can be applied to women and people of various racial and ethnic backgrounds," she said. "Work like this will help us to identify risk factors earlier in life and apply preventive strategies that will ultimately reduce risk of heart disease and stroke."
Another expert said the study may shed more light on the causes of high blood pressure.
"This is a very interesting study," said Dr. Roger S. Blumenthal, an associate professor of medicine and director of the Johns Hopkins Ciccarone Center for the Prevention of Heart Disease in Baltimore. "It shows that what happens to us when we are born can affect the development of high blood pressure 40 plus years later, which is quite fascinating. This may help to shed light on some of the other causes of high blood pressure."
Blumenthal adds that knowing this makes it even more important to make the lifestyle changes that help fight high blood pressure.
"People need to remember that the best way to prevent or control hypertension and type 2 diabetes is to exercise more and follow better dietary habits," he noted. "For now, that should be the focus of our efforts in America and elsewhere."
More information
The American Heart Association has more on high blood pressure.
Blood Pressure Woes Start Earlier Than You Think
(HealthDay News) -- Until recently, doctors treating high blood pressure limited their concern to blood pressure that exceeded a reading of 140 systolic (the upper number) and 90 diastolic (the lower number).
About two-thirds of Americans over age 65 have this level of high blood pressure, according to federal health statistics.
But now medical experts say the damage done by elevated blood pressure starts at levels much lower than that, when people are experiencing a less severe condition known as "prehypertension." That's the term given to blood pressure ranging from 120/80 to 139/89, higher than normal but not within the traditional danger zone.
"There's always been this ambiguity about this blood pressure that's not normal, but not high blood pressure either," said Dr. Adnan I. Qureshi, director of the cerebrovascular program in the Zeenat Qureshi Stroke Research Center at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. "But we now know that when you have prehypertension, you have a three-times greater risk of having a heart attack than people with normal blood pressure."
Blood pressure is the force exerted by blood against the walls of arteries. High blood pressure is dangerous because it makes the heart exert itself too hard and contributes to atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries, according to the National Institutes of Health.
High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, increases the risk of heart disease and stroke, which are the first- and third-leading causes of death among Americans. It also can result in other conditions, such as congestive heart failure, kidney disease and blindness.
Nearly one of every three American adults, some 65 million people, has high blood pressure. People tend to develop high blood pressure as they get older, with middle-aged Americans facing a 90 percent chance of having it during their lives.
African-Americans are at greater risk of developing high blood pressure and have been shown to get it earlier in life and more often than whites. Others at risk for developing high blood pressure are people who are overweight, those with a family history of hypertension and those with prehypertension.
Recent studies have shown that people with prehypertension are three times more likely to have a heart attack and 1.7 times more likely to develop heart disease. An estimated 59 million Americans have prehypertension.
It's important to detect and treat high blood pressure early, to limit the condition's effects on the body, said Dr. Jeffrey Cutler, a senior advisor for the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.
"Over the years, the higher pressure damages and aggravates diseases of the arteries," Cutler said.
Luckily, blood pressure is a condition that receives regular medical attention. "When you go see a doctor for anything, you get your blood pressure checked," Cutler said.
He recommended that people not rely on automatic blood-pressure machines, like those found in drug stores or supermarkets. "Those cuffs are not well-maintained or very accurate, and we discourage dependence on them for reassurance that your blood pressure's OK," Cutler said.
Once you've got high blood pressure, or prehypertension, a range of treatments are available.
Lifestyle changes are the first line of defense -- keeping your weight down, exercising regularly, reducing salt in your diet, cutting down on drinking, quitting smoking, and following a healthy eating plan that emphasizes fruits, vegetables and low-fat dairy foods.
But that only goes so far, Cutler said.
"Studies have shown that the majority of patients will need some medication," he said. "Some well-motivated people can get there with lifestyle changes, but not many."
The problem with prehypertension is that it falls within a gray area where medicine will not necessarily help, Qureshi said.
"With hypertension, we know that medication may be beneficial. With prehypertension, we don't know that yet," he said.
"It's still an evolving body of knowledge," Qureshi added. "We know prehypertension needs to be addressed, but we don't know what to do with these patients, and there are so many of them that we can't ignore the problem. Whatever we come up with will have true public impact."
For now, doctors are recommending that prehypertensive patients follow the same lifestyle changes as people will full-blown high blood pressure, Qureshi said.
"The real message for the public is that if you are prehypertensive, do not ignore it," he said. "You do have something to worry about."
More information
To learn more about prehypertension, visit the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.
About two-thirds of Americans over age 65 have this level of high blood pressure, according to federal health statistics.
But now medical experts say the damage done by elevated blood pressure starts at levels much lower than that, when people are experiencing a less severe condition known as "prehypertension." That's the term given to blood pressure ranging from 120/80 to 139/89, higher than normal but not within the traditional danger zone.
"There's always been this ambiguity about this blood pressure that's not normal, but not high blood pressure either," said Dr. Adnan I. Qureshi, director of the cerebrovascular program in the Zeenat Qureshi Stroke Research Center at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. "But we now know that when you have prehypertension, you have a three-times greater risk of having a heart attack than people with normal blood pressure."
Blood pressure is the force exerted by blood against the walls of arteries. High blood pressure is dangerous because it makes the heart exert itself too hard and contributes to atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries, according to the National Institutes of Health.
High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, increases the risk of heart disease and stroke, which are the first- and third-leading causes of death among Americans. It also can result in other conditions, such as congestive heart failure, kidney disease and blindness.
Nearly one of every three American adults, some 65 million people, has high blood pressure. People tend to develop high blood pressure as they get older, with middle-aged Americans facing a 90 percent chance of having it during their lives.
African-Americans are at greater risk of developing high blood pressure and have been shown to get it earlier in life and more often than whites. Others at risk for developing high blood pressure are people who are overweight, those with a family history of hypertension and those with prehypertension.
Recent studies have shown that people with prehypertension are three times more likely to have a heart attack and 1.7 times more likely to develop heart disease. An estimated 59 million Americans have prehypertension.
It's important to detect and treat high blood pressure early, to limit the condition's effects on the body, said Dr. Jeffrey Cutler, a senior advisor for the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.
"Over the years, the higher pressure damages and aggravates diseases of the arteries," Cutler said.
Luckily, blood pressure is a condition that receives regular medical attention. "When you go see a doctor for anything, you get your blood pressure checked," Cutler said.
He recommended that people not rely on automatic blood-pressure machines, like those found in drug stores or supermarkets. "Those cuffs are not well-maintained or very accurate, and we discourage dependence on them for reassurance that your blood pressure's OK," Cutler said.
Once you've got high blood pressure, or prehypertension, a range of treatments are available.
Lifestyle changes are the first line of defense -- keeping your weight down, exercising regularly, reducing salt in your diet, cutting down on drinking, quitting smoking, and following a healthy eating plan that emphasizes fruits, vegetables and low-fat dairy foods.
But that only goes so far, Cutler said.
"Studies have shown that the majority of patients will need some medication," he said. "Some well-motivated people can get there with lifestyle changes, but not many."
The problem with prehypertension is that it falls within a gray area where medicine will not necessarily help, Qureshi said.
"With hypertension, we know that medication may be beneficial. With prehypertension, we don't know that yet," he said.
"It's still an evolving body of knowledge," Qureshi added. "We know prehypertension needs to be addressed, but we don't know what to do with these patients, and there are so many of them that we can't ignore the problem. Whatever we come up with will have true public impact."
For now, doctors are recommending that prehypertensive patients follow the same lifestyle changes as people will full-blown high blood pressure, Qureshi said.
"The real message for the public is that if you are prehypertensive, do not ignore it," he said. "You do have something to worry about."
More information
To learn more about prehypertension, visit the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.
Tuesday, September 19, 2006
Plastic Surgery Clears Nasal Airways
(HealthDay News) -- Plastic surgery may boost airway function in people with severe nasal obstructions, a new study finds.Nasal obstructions include septal deviation, where the wall separating the nasal passages is off-center; valve insufficiency, which is caused by problems with cartilage; and turbinate hypertrophy, where air flow is blocked by swollen areas inside the nose.
However, there's a form of nasal plastic surgery, called "functional rhinoplasty," that treats problems such as nasal obstruction.
The new study, appearing in the September/October issue of the Archives of Facial Plastic Surgery, evaluated 41 people with severe nasal obstructions who underwent functional rhinoplasty at the University of Washington School of Medicine's Cosmetic Surgery Center.
The patients completed questionnaires about the severity of their nasal obstructions before and after having surgery. Based on their answers, the patients were given a severity score of zero to 100, with higher scores indicating more severe nasal obstructions.
The researchers found that the severity scores decreased significantly after surgery -- from 58.4 to just 15.7 after an average of 227 days.
More information
The American Society of Plastic Surgeons has more about plastic surgery.
Saturday, September 16, 2006
Indication for Siberian Ginseng
Indication for Siberian Ginseng
Depression: Depression is, of course, affected by every aspect of our lives. Those suffering from mild to moderate depression can often be helped just by the increase in energy and the resilience towards stress. However, Siberian ginseng also seems to have a specific action against the condition itself.
Stress and associated symptoms: Similar to the other forms of ginseng, Siberian ginseng is used to treat a plethora of conditions. For instance, since Siberian ginseng contains substances that exert beneficial effects on the adrenals (small glands on top of the kidneys that secrete stress-fighting hormones) it effectively combats the symptoms of stress. These include insomnia, moodiness, and fatigue.
Chronic illnesses (such as cancer): The herb is often used as part of a recovery program from chronic illnesses such as cancer. The supplement increases energy stores and helps to relieve the stress of chemotherapy (or other invasive treatments). For these same reasons it is often given to athletes during training. Siberian ginseng is also very effective in the treatment of prolonged exhaustion and debility, resulting from overwork and long-term stress.
Mental functions: Mental acuity can also be improved by Siberian ginseng. Many people swear by the use of it during tests. Often times, stress is the cause for faulty memory, lack of focus, and other common complaints. It’s a cycle in which the symptoms produce more stress, which produces more symptoms. Siberian ginseng seems to be able to defuse this by relieving tension and allowing the mind to focus.
Anorexia nervosa: Increasing energy gradually is important to those struggling with anorexia nervosa. Although, the other forms of ginseng are too strong for this situation, Siberian ginseng seems to work gently and effectively to improve the overall condition of patients. This makes recovery more likely.
Resisting Illnesses: The herb also stimulates immune resistance and is often used as a preventative during flu and cold season. As a general tonic, Siberian ginseng helps to prevent infection and maintain well being. Because of this immune boosting effect, Siberian ginseng is frequently included in nutritional support programs for people with chronic fatigue syndrome or fibromyalgia.
Alzheimer’s disease: It may benefit people who are in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease by increasing mental alertness. Research is still needed in this area but patients given Siberian ginseng seem to respond favorably.
PMS, Menopause, & Fertility: By slightly altering hormone levels and toning the uterus, Siberian ginseng may be effective in treating menstrual irregularities and symptoms of menopause. It also appears to be helpful in preventing female infertility. When alternated with Panax ginseng, it may even be an effective treatment in some cases of impotence.
Other conditions: Other conditions for which Siberian ginseng is occasionally recommended are arthrosclerosis, impaired kidney function, kidney pain, rheumatoid arthritis, chronic fatigue syndrome, blood pressure disorders, symptoms of coronary atherosclerosis, symptoms of radiotherapy- and chemotherapy-induced leukopenia (decrease in white blood cells), and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.
Depression: Depression is, of course, affected by every aspect of our lives. Those suffering from mild to moderate depression can often be helped just by the increase in energy and the resilience towards stress. However, Siberian ginseng also seems to have a specific action against the condition itself.
Stress and associated symptoms: Similar to the other forms of ginseng, Siberian ginseng is used to treat a plethora of conditions. For instance, since Siberian ginseng contains substances that exert beneficial effects on the adrenals (small glands on top of the kidneys that secrete stress-fighting hormones) it effectively combats the symptoms of stress. These include insomnia, moodiness, and fatigue.
Chronic illnesses (such as cancer): The herb is often used as part of a recovery program from chronic illnesses such as cancer. The supplement increases energy stores and helps to relieve the stress of chemotherapy (or other invasive treatments). For these same reasons it is often given to athletes during training. Siberian ginseng is also very effective in the treatment of prolonged exhaustion and debility, resulting from overwork and long-term stress.
Mental functions: Mental acuity can also be improved by Siberian ginseng. Many people swear by the use of it during tests. Often times, stress is the cause for faulty memory, lack of focus, and other common complaints. It’s a cycle in which the symptoms produce more stress, which produces more symptoms. Siberian ginseng seems to be able to defuse this by relieving tension and allowing the mind to focus.
Anorexia nervosa: Increasing energy gradually is important to those struggling with anorexia nervosa. Although, the other forms of ginseng are too strong for this situation, Siberian ginseng seems to work gently and effectively to improve the overall condition of patients. This makes recovery more likely.
Resisting Illnesses: The herb also stimulates immune resistance and is often used as a preventative during flu and cold season. As a general tonic, Siberian ginseng helps to prevent infection and maintain well being. Because of this immune boosting effect, Siberian ginseng is frequently included in nutritional support programs for people with chronic fatigue syndrome or fibromyalgia.
Alzheimer’s disease: It may benefit people who are in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease by increasing mental alertness. Research is still needed in this area but patients given Siberian ginseng seem to respond favorably.
PMS, Menopause, & Fertility: By slightly altering hormone levels and toning the uterus, Siberian ginseng may be effective in treating menstrual irregularities and symptoms of menopause. It also appears to be helpful in preventing female infertility. When alternated with Panax ginseng, it may even be an effective treatment in some cases of impotence.
Other conditions: Other conditions for which Siberian ginseng is occasionally recommended are arthrosclerosis, impaired kidney function, kidney pain, rheumatoid arthritis, chronic fatigue syndrome, blood pressure disorders, symptoms of coronary atherosclerosis, symptoms of radiotherapy- and chemotherapy-induced leukopenia (decrease in white blood cells), and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.
What is Siberian ginseng?
What is Siberian ginseng?
Siberian ginseng (Eleutherococcus senticosus) is in the same family as American and Chinese (or Korean) ginseng but is not a Panax species. This means that although they share a similar name, use and a distant relation, Siberian ginseng is not "true ginseng" and has distinctly different characteristics from the others.Also called, Eleuthero or Spiny Ginseng, Siberian ginseng is native to eastern Russia, China, Korea, and Japan. It’s a deciduous shrub that can grow to a height of 10ft. It has 3 to 7 toothed leaflets on each stem. The medicinal part is the root, which is 1.5 to 4 cm long, brown to brownish gray, with lengthwise wrinkles. It is twisted and smells aromatic but tastes bitter and astringent. The root is commonly unearthed in autumn, dried whole, and then chopped up for use in supplements.Soviet scientists discovered the eleutherococcus species while they were looking for a cheaper form of ginseng. Ginseng had been used for centuries to help boost the immune system, as well as to enhance sexual and athletic performance. The one drawback was that ginseng was very expensive. In the 1950s, the Soviet Union introduced the world to what US doctors dubbed, "Siberian Ginseng".Tested by the Russians in several trials, this herb was soon hailed as an "adaptogenic" (stress-protective) marvel. Some American doctors greeted this proclamation with skepticism - calling the trials into question since there were seldom the types of controls, such as placebos, that western medicine had come to rely upon. Still, Soviet athletes and military personnel used it to increase physical performance and endurance. This practice was also called into question by western doctors. Even though this herb does not have the extensive historical use, it has become another mainstay in natural healing. Chinese doctors, in particular, have taken great interest. They often prescribe it for many different chronic illnesses. Even American scientists are starting to take a closer look. Europeans have already deemed the herb to be an effective tonic. In 1991 the German Commission E (the European authority on the use of plants in healing) made it official by declaring that it was effective in boosting the immune system.Some scientists now believe that Siberian ginseng was in use by the Chinese for centuries before its official "discovery". Although this theory is gaining in popularity, there has been little evidence one way or the other. One thing is for sure, the Chinese have developed a knack for using this plant that the west has yet to catch onto.
Siberian ginseng (Eleutherococcus senticosus) is in the same family as American and Chinese (or Korean) ginseng but is not a Panax species. This means that although they share a similar name, use and a distant relation, Siberian ginseng is not "true ginseng" and has distinctly different characteristics from the others.Also called, Eleuthero or Spiny Ginseng, Siberian ginseng is native to eastern Russia, China, Korea, and Japan. It’s a deciduous shrub that can grow to a height of 10ft. It has 3 to 7 toothed leaflets on each stem. The medicinal part is the root, which is 1.5 to 4 cm long, brown to brownish gray, with lengthwise wrinkles. It is twisted and smells aromatic but tastes bitter and astringent. The root is commonly unearthed in autumn, dried whole, and then chopped up for use in supplements.Soviet scientists discovered the eleutherococcus species while they were looking for a cheaper form of ginseng. Ginseng had been used for centuries to help boost the immune system, as well as to enhance sexual and athletic performance. The one drawback was that ginseng was very expensive. In the 1950s, the Soviet Union introduced the world to what US doctors dubbed, "Siberian Ginseng".Tested by the Russians in several trials, this herb was soon hailed as an "adaptogenic" (stress-protective) marvel. Some American doctors greeted this proclamation with skepticism - calling the trials into question since there were seldom the types of controls, such as placebos, that western medicine had come to rely upon. Still, Soviet athletes and military personnel used it to increase physical performance and endurance. This practice was also called into question by western doctors. Even though this herb does not have the extensive historical use, it has become another mainstay in natural healing. Chinese doctors, in particular, have taken great interest. They often prescribe it for many different chronic illnesses. Even American scientists are starting to take a closer look. Europeans have already deemed the herb to be an effective tonic. In 1991 the German Commission E (the European authority on the use of plants in healing) made it official by declaring that it was effective in boosting the immune system.Some scientists now believe that Siberian ginseng was in use by the Chinese for centuries before its official "discovery". Although this theory is gaining in popularity, there has been little evidence one way or the other. One thing is for sure, the Chinese have developed a knack for using this plant that the west has yet to catch onto.
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
SARS Treatments Didn't Work: Study
(HealthDay News) -- There is no evidence that any of the treatments used to fight the SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) virus were effective, according to a review in the journal PLoS Medicine.
In 2003, SARS cases numbered over 8,000, including 774 deaths worldwide. The virus is spread by coughing or sneezing, and its main symptoms are pneumonia and fever.
Following the outbreak, the World Health Organization established an International SARS Treatment Study Group, which recommended a review of SARS treatments, with a particular focus on certain antiviral drugs (ribavirin, lopinavir, and ritonavir), steroids, and proteins called immunoglobulins, which occur naturally in human blood.
The review of more than 70 studies found that some of the antiviral drugs reduced the reproduction rates of the SARS virus, but most of the studies of antiviral drugs were inconclusive. Most of the studies of steroid treatment -- used in an attempt to reduce lung inflammation -- were inconclusive, and some concluded that it caused possible harm to patients.
From these studies, it's not possible to determine whether any of the treatments used against SARS are effective, the review authors wrote.
More information
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more about SARS.
In 2003, SARS cases numbered over 8,000, including 774 deaths worldwide. The virus is spread by coughing or sneezing, and its main symptoms are pneumonia and fever.
Following the outbreak, the World Health Organization established an International SARS Treatment Study Group, which recommended a review of SARS treatments, with a particular focus on certain antiviral drugs (ribavirin, lopinavir, and ritonavir), steroids, and proteins called immunoglobulins, which occur naturally in human blood.
The review of more than 70 studies found that some of the antiviral drugs reduced the reproduction rates of the SARS virus, but most of the studies of antiviral drugs were inconclusive. Most of the studies of steroid treatment -- used in an attempt to reduce lung inflammation -- were inconclusive, and some concluded that it caused possible harm to patients.
From these studies, it's not possible to determine whether any of the treatments used against SARS are effective, the review authors wrote.
More information
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more about SARS.
Crustacean Compound Fights Bacterial Biofilms
(HealthDay News) -- Coating common medical devices with a antimicrobial compound found in crabs and shrimp might fight infection in hospital patients, new research suggests.
A sugar called chitosan, which is found in crustacean shells, seems to protect against the build-up of nasty bacteria and yeast colonies called biofilms. So said scientists in a preliminary report presented Sunday at the American Chemical Society annual meeting, in San Francisco.
"The issue is that we're putting more and more plastic and metal into people as part of medical practice these days -- everything from contact lens to artificial hips and catheters, and a long list of other devices and implants," said lead researcher Philip Stewart, director of the Center for Biofilm Engineering at Montana State University in Bozeman, Mont.
"And so every time you do that there is a chance of having bacteria or yeast colonize that surface and start a biofilm -- groups of bacteria which form a persistent infection," he added. "The contribution we've made here is that chitosan can act to defend a surface from such a microbial challenge."
The bacteria or yeast that constitute a biofilm come from a range of sources, such as a patient's skin or tap water collecting at the point of surgical insertion. Once collected into a slimy, sticky layer of infectious cells, a biofilm is typically highly resistant to standard anti-bacterial treatments -- often requiring surgical removal of the affected device.
Biofilms are at the root of 65 percent of American bacterial infections, and are the leading cause of about 400,000 catheter-insertion bloodstream infections annually, according to the researchers.
Stewart and his colleagues chose to explore the potential of chitosan because of its antimicrobial abilities.
The compound is already sold as a nutritional supplement, and is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use in stemming blood loss.
In a lab setting, the researchers used time-lapse fluorescent microscope and dye technologies to observe the behavior of several bacteria and yeast species as they came in contact with a coated surface.
The results, which involved no human or animal trials, suggest the coating helped prevent biofilm formation by, in effect, skewering the incoming microbes. The chitosan sugar molecules functioned like a razor-sharp bed of nails upon which the microbes met their untimely death.
"Now we've known for a long time that chitosans have antimicrobial qualities, so that's not news," said Stewart. "But what's new is the realization that it can actually form a coating that's not just anti-microbial but anti-biofilm, making it harder for the organisms to latch onto the surface and get a hold. And that could provide a real advantage in reducing the infection rate associated with implanted devices."
George O'Toole, an associate professor in the department of microbiology and immunology at Dartmouth Medical School, expressed some reservation as to whether or not the current research team had actually proven its case, but he was enthusiastic about the possibilities.
"This would be a terrific advance if this proved to be true, particularly because there is an advantage in using a non-antibiotic coating that can't be understated," O'Toole said. "Antibiotic coatings in catheters, for example, are a terrible idea because they will likely contribute to the development of [drug] resistance in the long run. So, their non-antibiotic approach is certainly preferred."
"However," he added, "many people have worked on this for many years without -- to my knowledge -- many effective results. So, I would have to see more research."
Dr. Pascal James Imperato, chairman of the department of preventive medicine and community health at the State University of New York Downstate Medical Center in New York City, seconded that opinion.
"It's interesting, but until this type of research is subject to a careful and critical review --which does not appear to have been the case -- we're not really going to know anything about its validity," he cautioned.
"And there are other issues as well, such as what the long-term effects of this kind of coating might be or what the potential resistance could be to these organisms in the future. This is important because one can try to solve one problem, but in the process create others. So, we need much larger and more sophisticated types of studies involving microbiologists, infectious disease specialists and people who are expert in medical devices to confirm the findings."
More information
For additional information on biofilm infections, visit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
A sugar called chitosan, which is found in crustacean shells, seems to protect against the build-up of nasty bacteria and yeast colonies called biofilms. So said scientists in a preliminary report presented Sunday at the American Chemical Society annual meeting, in San Francisco.
"The issue is that we're putting more and more plastic and metal into people as part of medical practice these days -- everything from contact lens to artificial hips and catheters, and a long list of other devices and implants," said lead researcher Philip Stewart, director of the Center for Biofilm Engineering at Montana State University in Bozeman, Mont.
"And so every time you do that there is a chance of having bacteria or yeast colonize that surface and start a biofilm -- groups of bacteria which form a persistent infection," he added. "The contribution we've made here is that chitosan can act to defend a surface from such a microbial challenge."
The bacteria or yeast that constitute a biofilm come from a range of sources, such as a patient's skin or tap water collecting at the point of surgical insertion. Once collected into a slimy, sticky layer of infectious cells, a biofilm is typically highly resistant to standard anti-bacterial treatments -- often requiring surgical removal of the affected device.
Biofilms are at the root of 65 percent of American bacterial infections, and are the leading cause of about 400,000 catheter-insertion bloodstream infections annually, according to the researchers.
Stewart and his colleagues chose to explore the potential of chitosan because of its antimicrobial abilities.
The compound is already sold as a nutritional supplement, and is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use in stemming blood loss.
In a lab setting, the researchers used time-lapse fluorescent microscope and dye technologies to observe the behavior of several bacteria and yeast species as they came in contact with a coated surface.
The results, which involved no human or animal trials, suggest the coating helped prevent biofilm formation by, in effect, skewering the incoming microbes. The chitosan sugar molecules functioned like a razor-sharp bed of nails upon which the microbes met their untimely death.
"Now we've known for a long time that chitosans have antimicrobial qualities, so that's not news," said Stewart. "But what's new is the realization that it can actually form a coating that's not just anti-microbial but anti-biofilm, making it harder for the organisms to latch onto the surface and get a hold. And that could provide a real advantage in reducing the infection rate associated with implanted devices."
George O'Toole, an associate professor in the department of microbiology and immunology at Dartmouth Medical School, expressed some reservation as to whether or not the current research team had actually proven its case, but he was enthusiastic about the possibilities.
"This would be a terrific advance if this proved to be true, particularly because there is an advantage in using a non-antibiotic coating that can't be understated," O'Toole said. "Antibiotic coatings in catheters, for example, are a terrible idea because they will likely contribute to the development of [drug] resistance in the long run. So, their non-antibiotic approach is certainly preferred."
"However," he added, "many people have worked on this for many years without -- to my knowledge -- many effective results. So, I would have to see more research."
Dr. Pascal James Imperato, chairman of the department of preventive medicine and community health at the State University of New York Downstate Medical Center in New York City, seconded that opinion.
"It's interesting, but until this type of research is subject to a careful and critical review --which does not appear to have been the case -- we're not really going to know anything about its validity," he cautioned.
"And there are other issues as well, such as what the long-term effects of this kind of coating might be or what the potential resistance could be to these organisms in the future. This is important because one can try to solve one problem, but in the process create others. So, we need much larger and more sophisticated types of studies involving microbiologists, infectious disease specialists and people who are expert in medical devices to confirm the findings."
More information
For additional information on biofilm infections, visit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Stopping Bacterial 'Chit-Chat' Fights Infection
(HealthDay News) -- Compounds that block chemical signals used by bacteria to communicate may help fight germs from spreading and causing infections, U.S. scientists report.
These "conversation stopper" compounds are small organic molecules that, when combined with antibiotics, could deliver a one-two knockout punch to dangerous bacteria, says a team from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
The research, presented Sunday at the national meeting of the American Chemical Society, in San Francisco, could lead to new drugs to fight infections.
"There is an urgent, global need for new antibacterial therapies. The ability to interfere with bacterial virulence by intercepting bacterial communication networks represents a new therapeutic approach and is clinically timely," study leader Helen Blackwell, assistant professor of chemistry, said in a prepared statement.
Bacteria worldwide are developing increased resistance to antibiotics, and scientists are trying to find ways to counter that resistance and prevent deadly infections.
So far, the University of Wisconsin team has identified two "conversation stopper" compounds that showed promise against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a bacterium that's a common cause of death in people with cystic fibrosis.
More information
The American Society for Microbiology has more about bacteria.
These "conversation stopper" compounds are small organic molecules that, when combined with antibiotics, could deliver a one-two knockout punch to dangerous bacteria, says a team from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
The research, presented Sunday at the national meeting of the American Chemical Society, in San Francisco, could lead to new drugs to fight infections.
"There is an urgent, global need for new antibacterial therapies. The ability to interfere with bacterial virulence by intercepting bacterial communication networks represents a new therapeutic approach and is clinically timely," study leader Helen Blackwell, assistant professor of chemistry, said in a prepared statement.
Bacteria worldwide are developing increased resistance to antibiotics, and scientists are trying to find ways to counter that resistance and prevent deadly infections.
So far, the University of Wisconsin team has identified two "conversation stopper" compounds that showed promise against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a bacterium that's a common cause of death in people with cystic fibrosis.
More information
The American Society for Microbiology has more about bacteria.
Brown Seaweed May Be a Fat Fighter
(HealthDay News) -- That tasty miso soup you had for lunch may be more than delicious -- it could help you burn away excess fat.
That's the conclusion of preliminary research presented Monday at the American Chemical Society's annual meeting, in San Francisco.
Researchers led by Kazuo Miyashita, a chemistry professor at the Hokkaido University Graduate School of Fisheries Sciences in Japan, investigated the effects of brown seaweed, Undaria pinnatifida -- a type of kelp called wakame that is widely consumed in Japan.
They found that fucoxanthin, the brown pigment in the seaweed, promoted a 5 percent to 10 percent weight loss in mice and rats by shrinking abdominal fat. The compound appeared to stimulate a protein that causes fat oxidation and conversion of energy to heat. This protein is found in white adipose tissue -- belly fat -- and that means fucoxanthin might be particularly effective at shrinking oversized guts, the researchers hypothesized.
Fucoxanthin also stimulated the animals' livers to produce DHA, a beneficial omega-3 fatty acid that reduces low-density lipoprotein (LDL), the bad cholesterol that contributes to atherosclerosis.
"The exciting finding is that fucoxanthin may increase metabolism and weight control," said Connie Diekman, director of University Nutrition at Washington University in St. Louis. "But the downside is that this is an animal study, and we can't automatically translate from animals to humans."
Fucoxanthin belongs in the phytochemical food category, and these foods have a lot of benefits, Diekman added. But she cautioned that, "we need to look at these studies for their interest but [also] recognize that the bottom line is, there is no magic when it comes to weight control."
Lona Sandon, an assistant professor of clinical nutrition at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, agreed. "Fucoxanthin potentially could help control weight, and help produce more heart-healthy DHA. But these are very preliminary studies done at the molecular level on rats, not on humans," she said. "So, although it looks promising, we've got a long way to go before we know that eating seaweed will keep our waistlines thin."
Consumers should understand that clinicians and researchers have a "whole lot to learn about weight control in humans and this is one study in a long investigation," Diekman cautioned.
"Don't give up on what we know will work -- correct food choices, right portions and regular physical activity. It's hard, but magic isn't going to help you be healthier. A healthier lifestyle is the key."
Still, the Japanese researchers hope that further study could eventually lead to a pill containing fucoxanthin that might be consumed daily or as needed. That pill will be a long time in the making, however. Even though human studies are planned, it will likely be at least five years before a fucoxanthin-based anti-obesity pill would be available to consumers. Until then, people should continue to eat a well-balanced diet and get plenty of exercise, Miyashita said in a prepared statement.
Seaweed isn't the only food promising medicinal powers. According to research presented at the same meeting by scientists at Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine in Japan, mandarin oranges may reduce the risk of liver cancer in patients with chronic viral hepatitis. After one year, no liver cancer was detected in 30 patients who drank one cup daily of a beverage containing mandarin orange juice. On the other hand, 8.9 percent of 45 patients who didn't drink the beverage developed liver cancer.
In other research presented at the meeting, a team at the National Institute of Fruit Tree Science in Japan surveyed 1,073 Japanese people who consumed large amounts of mandarin oranges. They report that chemical markers in the subjects' blood were associated with a lower risk for liver disease, atherosclerosis, and insulin resistance, which can lead to diabetes.
And there's more good food news -- wheat, corn, and rice flour can be modified into an enhanced product that makes the flour's antioxidants more available to the body, according to University of Maryland researchers.
Those same researchers also say they've developed a new type of flour from fruit seeds -- normally waste products from the processing of juice and fruit products. In laboratory studies, the fruit-seed flour appears to have the ability to fight inflammation, cancer and food-borne bacteria, the scientists said.
Finally, researchers at Nihon University in Japan reported that they've made the calcium in soybeans more easily absorbed, by removing an absorption-hindering chemical called phytate. They also modified two amino acids in soybeans so that they form a whiter, smoother product and retain the original taste.
More information
To learn more about weight control, visit the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney
That's the conclusion of preliminary research presented Monday at the American Chemical Society's annual meeting, in San Francisco.
Researchers led by Kazuo Miyashita, a chemistry professor at the Hokkaido University Graduate School of Fisheries Sciences in Japan, investigated the effects of brown seaweed, Undaria pinnatifida -- a type of kelp called wakame that is widely consumed in Japan.
They found that fucoxanthin, the brown pigment in the seaweed, promoted a 5 percent to 10 percent weight loss in mice and rats by shrinking abdominal fat. The compound appeared to stimulate a protein that causes fat oxidation and conversion of energy to heat. This protein is found in white adipose tissue -- belly fat -- and that means fucoxanthin might be particularly effective at shrinking oversized guts, the researchers hypothesized.
Fucoxanthin also stimulated the animals' livers to produce DHA, a beneficial omega-3 fatty acid that reduces low-density lipoprotein (LDL), the bad cholesterol that contributes to atherosclerosis.
"The exciting finding is that fucoxanthin may increase metabolism and weight control," said Connie Diekman, director of University Nutrition at Washington University in St. Louis. "But the downside is that this is an animal study, and we can't automatically translate from animals to humans."
Fucoxanthin belongs in the phytochemical food category, and these foods have a lot of benefits, Diekman added. But she cautioned that, "we need to look at these studies for their interest but [also] recognize that the bottom line is, there is no magic when it comes to weight control."
Lona Sandon, an assistant professor of clinical nutrition at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, agreed. "Fucoxanthin potentially could help control weight, and help produce more heart-healthy DHA. But these are very preliminary studies done at the molecular level on rats, not on humans," she said. "So, although it looks promising, we've got a long way to go before we know that eating seaweed will keep our waistlines thin."
Consumers should understand that clinicians and researchers have a "whole lot to learn about weight control in humans and this is one study in a long investigation," Diekman cautioned.
"Don't give up on what we know will work -- correct food choices, right portions and regular physical activity. It's hard, but magic isn't going to help you be healthier. A healthier lifestyle is the key."
Still, the Japanese researchers hope that further study could eventually lead to a pill containing fucoxanthin that might be consumed daily or as needed. That pill will be a long time in the making, however. Even though human studies are planned, it will likely be at least five years before a fucoxanthin-based anti-obesity pill would be available to consumers. Until then, people should continue to eat a well-balanced diet and get plenty of exercise, Miyashita said in a prepared statement.
Seaweed isn't the only food promising medicinal powers. According to research presented at the same meeting by scientists at Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine in Japan, mandarin oranges may reduce the risk of liver cancer in patients with chronic viral hepatitis. After one year, no liver cancer was detected in 30 patients who drank one cup daily of a beverage containing mandarin orange juice. On the other hand, 8.9 percent of 45 patients who didn't drink the beverage developed liver cancer.
In other research presented at the meeting, a team at the National Institute of Fruit Tree Science in Japan surveyed 1,073 Japanese people who consumed large amounts of mandarin oranges. They report that chemical markers in the subjects' blood were associated with a lower risk for liver disease, atherosclerosis, and insulin resistance, which can lead to diabetes.
And there's more good food news -- wheat, corn, and rice flour can be modified into an enhanced product that makes the flour's antioxidants more available to the body, according to University of Maryland researchers.
Those same researchers also say they've developed a new type of flour from fruit seeds -- normally waste products from the processing of juice and fruit products. In laboratory studies, the fruit-seed flour appears to have the ability to fight inflammation, cancer and food-borne bacteria, the scientists said.
Finally, researchers at Nihon University in Japan reported that they've made the calcium in soybeans more easily absorbed, by removing an absorption-hindering chemical called phytate. They also modified two amino acids in soybeans so that they form a whiter, smoother product and retain the original taste.
More information
To learn more about weight control, visit the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney
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