Global Health Tribune - April 2011 issue by Global Health Tribune

APRIL ISSUE • 2011

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Ozone layer faces record loss over Arctic Also in this issue

CT screening reduces lung-cancer deaths in heavy smokers PAGE 8

Tips for Keeping Young Athletes Safe. PAGE 12

Britain's Prince Harry, left, tries out an immersion suit, during training for the Walking with the Wounded expedition, on the island of Spitsbergen, situated between the Norwegian mainland and the North Pole, on March, 2011. PAGE 2

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Dark Chocolate May Harbor Benefits for the Heart. PAGE 5

Ozone layer faces record loss over Arctic..................................2 Your foot… the body’s most used part?..................................3 Breast Cancer Awareness and the Special Population .......4 Dark Chocolate May Harbor Benefits for the Heart .................5 Health risks of radiation depend on dose, duration ..........6 Sex can be heart attack trigger for couch potatoes .........7 CT screening reduces lungcancer deaths in heavy smokers .....................................8 Royal Palm Art & Music Festival.....................................10 Diabetes Mellitus a silent malady .....................................11 Tips for Keeping Young Athletes Safe ............................12 Exercise Is Key for People With Arthritis: Expert ...............13 Freezing Wrinkles a Possible Alternative to Botox..................14 Medical Marijuana Might Slow Thinking Among MS Patients ....................................15

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2 APRIl ISSUE

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Ozone layer faces record loss over Arctic The depletion of the ozone layer shielding Earth from damaging ultraviolet rays has reached an unprecedented low over the Arctic this spring because of harmful chemicals and a cold winter, the U.N. weather agency said.

he Earth's fragile ozone layer in the Arctic region has suffered a loss of about 40 percent from the start of winter until late March, exceeding the previous seasonal loss of about 30 percent, the World Meteorological Organization said. The Geneva-based agency blamed the loss on a buildup of ozone-eating chemicals once widely used

from balloons and satellites over the Arctic. Atmospheric scientists who are concerned about global warming focus on the Arctic because that is a region where the effects are expected to be felt first.

Britain's Prince Harry tries out an immersion suit, during training for the Walking with the Wounded expedition, on the island of Spitsbergen, situated between the Norwegian mainland and the North Pole, March 2011.

as coolants and fire retardants in a variety of appliances and on very cold temperatures in the stratosphere, the second major layer of the Earth's atmosphere, just above the troposphere.

temperatures some Arctic winters experience almost no ozone loss while others with exceptionally cold stratospheric conditions can occasionally lead to substantial ozone depletion, U.N. scientists say.

Arctic ozone conditions vary more than the seasonal ozone "hole" that forms high in the stratosphere near the South Pole each winter and spring, and the temperatures are always warmer than over Antarctica.

This year the Arctic winter was warmer than average at ground level, but colder in the stratosphere than normal Arctic winters. U.N. officials say the latest losses — unprecedented, but not entirely unexpected — were detected in observations from the ground and

Because of changing weather and

Ozone scientists have said that significant Arctic ozone depletion is possible in the case of a cold and stable Arctic stratospheric winter. Ozone losses occur over the polar regions when temperatures drop below -78 degrees Celsius (-108 Fahrenheit), when clouds form in the stratosphere. Average temperatures in January range from about -40 to 0 C (-40 to 32 F), while average temperatures in July range from about -10 to 10 C (14 to 50 F). "The Arctic stratosphere continues to be vulnerable to ozone destruction caused by ozone-depleting substances linked to human activities," said WMO secretarygeneral Michel Jarraud. "The de-

gree of ozone loss experienced in any particular winter depends on the meteorological conditions." The loss comes despite the U.N. ozone treaty, known as the 1987 Montreal Protocol, which has resulted in cutbacks in ozone-damaging chemicals, such as chlorofluorocarbons, halons and other, that were used in the making of refrigerators, air conditioners, fire extinguishers and even hairspray. The 196-nation ozone treaty encourages industries to use replacement chemicals less damaging to ozone, the atmospheric layer that helps protect against the sun's most harmful rays. But because these compounds have long atmospheric lifetimes, it takes decades for their concentrations to subside to pre-1980 levels as was agreed in the Montreal Protocol. U.N. officials project the ozone layer outside the polar regions will recover to pre-1980 levels sometime between 2030 and 2040.

Japanese fishermen with regulations about nuclear plant crisis After a haul turned up last Friday off the coast of Ibaraki Prefecture, with levels of radioactivity double the current standards set for vegetables, Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano announced that the nation’s authorities would begin regulating the radiation levels in seafood.

ater samples taken from concrete pits outside the reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station showed radiation 5 million times the legal limits – down from a reading of 7.5 million, according to an official with the Tokyo Electric Power Company, which runs the plant. Groundwater outside reactor No. 6 was similarly affected. The levels dropped steeply just several dozen meters out, but still remained several hundred thousand times above legal limits.

Radioactive iodine-131 is at the center of health experts’ concerns. The element iodine, in its non-radioactive isotopic form, is an essential part of thyroid regulation in the human body. Chronic exposure to its radioactive form, such as iodine-129 or iodine-131, can, according to the Environmental

Protection Agency, cause thyroid problems such as nodules or cancer. Iodine-131 loses half its radiation every eight days and is further diluted by active ocean waters. Still – it’s making its way into seafood at levels exceeding those the Japanese government have deemed safe for consumption. These new Japanese governmental standards - which will now allow up to 2,000 becquerels (a unit of radioactivity equal to one nuclear transformation or decay per second) per kilogram of fish, of iodine-131 – will rely upon enforcement at the town level, rather than the prefecture, according to Edano. He announced that if the radiation level of an area’s fish, milk or vegetables remains below the legal limits for three consecutive weeks, the ban on sales and distribution will be lifted – though radiation checks may continue

would disallow tainted Japanese seafood to reach American tables. Not only do the high-end chefs and purveyors dishing it out to consumers have a reputation to at stake – the fish just simply wouldn’t make it past the testing phase.

even after this time has elapsed. The people of Japan – and even the United States – put tremendous faith in the standards set by the Japanese government, a sentiment expressed repeatedly by the vendors at a recent seafood show in Boston. Ippei Nakao of Medallion Foods Inc., manning a booth at the event said, "Consumers believe Japanese food is safe because Japanese standards are very strict." His co-exhibitor Terry Hasegawa of True World Foods – a major importer of wholesale seafood – concurs. "Everything we're getting from Japan is being inspected by the Japanese government and the

health department and also the USDC and the FDA are working very closely to inspect our fish. I'm standing here all day long and not many people are asking questions about radiation in the fish. I don't think people are worried too much." Additionally, the deep-water fish – like tuna and halibut - that generally make it to U.S. restaurants are far enough offshore that contamination is not yet thought to be a risk. Even if that level of scrutiny was proven insufficient, supply chain expert and CEO of Demand Foresight Gene Tanski says that postGulf oil spill scrutiny of seafood, both imported and domestic,

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Tanski says, “"If you think about Japanese imports from a safety point of view, given the fact that there was this bright spotlight of concern because of nuclear radiation, the FDA is going to be very concerned that the food coming in is safe. That's not to say that fish with slight radiation won't come in, but chances are that they'll put it aside and say, 'Hey – not this crate.'" He also notes that while the risk at this point - at least to Americans is minimal, the economic impact on Japan could be quite severe. Tanksi says, "Japan exports two to two and a half billion dollars worth of seafood to the U.S. every year. Twenty percent of that comes from the affected area. The risk may not increase, but the prices are certainly likely to." The batch of radioactive eels that triggered the new set of strictures was subsequently destroyed, but they've certainly put a new appetite for awareness on the menu.

CONTRIBUTING ARTICLES U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, ARA Content, Hispanic PR Wire, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, METRO Editorial Services, Family Features, © SEA PUBLICATIONS, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Printed in United States.

Florida Health News is a newspaper published every month in Palm Beach county and surrounding areas. Copyright 2010, all rights reserved by SEA Publications, Inc. Contents may not be reproduced in any form without the written consent of the publisher. The publisher reserves the right to refuse advertising. The publisher does not accept responsibility for advertisement error beyond the cost of the advertisement itself. All submitted materials are subject to editing.

APRIl ISSUE • 2011

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Your foot… the body’s most used part?

Arthur Hansen DPM, M.S.

“

My feet are killing me'' may very well be one of the most common health complaints heard each day. But, who really does anything about it? Very few people heed the advice of their feet and continue to stand, walk and work through pain. Feet are the most used and abused parts of the human body. According to a study conducted by the Pennsylvania College of Podiatric Medicine, the average American walks 115,000 miles in a lifetime. That is the equivalent of more than four times around the world. Each step exacerbats minor abnormalities in foot structures or shoes that don't fit right, or both, resulting in pain. It has been estimated that 87 percent of Americans suffer from some form of a foot problem. Even though these problems are not life threatening, they do inhibit the ability to fully partake in daily activities and most definitely take the joy out of many life-enhancing activities, while making others impossible.

The recent surges in the body weights in Americans and the subsequent craze that has millions of American feet jogging, running, dancing and jumping have greatly increased the ranks of podiatric and orthopedic patients. In addition, medical problems like diabetes, obesity and circulation problems predispose patients to foot problems that require professional attention. Before seeking professional attention for those foot pains many people try to manage their foot problems on their own usually wasting money on over-the-counter fixes. Many times self treatment can make the problems much worse. Fortunately, many foot ailments are avoidable. Shoe gear should fit well and feet should be washed daily with soap and water. Shoes and socks should be changed daily. Some of the most common foot complaints are corns and calluses. These are located over high pressure areas on the foot and are layers of dead skin cells. They are the result of repeated friction or pressure against parts of the foot and actually represent the body's attempt to protect sensitive tissue. On the top of toes corns can form where the toe rubs against the shoes. Hard corns are usually found on the tops of toes, where skin rubs against the shoe. Sometimes a corn will form on the ball of the foot beneath a callus, re-

sulting in a sharp localized pain with each step. Corns are coneshaped, with the tip pointing into the foot. When a shoe exerts pressure against the corn, the tip of the cone can hit sensitive underlying tissue, causing pain. Self-treatment can be risky, since the chemicals used to soften corns also damage healthy tissue. Follow the directions carefully and limit self-treatment to five applications. People with poor circulation, such as diabetics, should seek professional help. Removal of corns with a razor blade should never be attempted. Hard corns are best prevented by protecting any rubbed area with a pressure relieving non-medicated corn pad or horseshoe-shaped piece of moleskin or foam rubber and by not wearing the shoes that are the culprits. Soft corns, which are rubbery, form between toes where the bones of one toe exert pressure against the bones of its neighbor. To help prevent their formation, use lamb's wool or cotton between toes that rub together. Once established, these corns are best treated professionally. Callouses form over a flat surface and have no tip. They usually appear on the weight-bearing parts of the foot like the ball or heel. Each step presses the callus against underlying tissue and may cause aching, burning or tenderness. Callouses may result from the friction of loose-fitting shoes or the

pressure of shoes that are too tight. Women who wear high-heeled shoes are especially vulnerable to calluses. People with high arches are also vulnerable since the heel and ball of the foot bear all the weight. Arch supports may help to relieve the pressure and cause the callous to disappear slowly. Cushioned innersoles may also help. Callouses can be gradually eliminated by rubbing the callused area with a pumice stone after soaking or bathing has softened the dead skin. Then apply a moisturizing lotion. Do not try to remove too much of the callus at once. Diabetics should see a professional rather than attempt self-treatment. Bunions appear as swollen and inflamed protrusions on the side of the foot at the joint of the big toe. A similar swelling can occur at the outside of the foot, where it's called a bunionette. Dynamic forces during the gait cycle cause imbalances at the joints and over time deformities such as bunions do occur. Bunions are most often irritated by the persistent wearing of shoes that are too tight and short. Not surprisingly, bunions are four times more common among women, many of whom wear high-heeled and pointed shoes that cause undo pressure on the big toe. Bunions cannot be self-treated and only surgery can correct the problem. However, considerable relief

may be obtained through conservative measures. These include devices in the shoes that change the foot's dynamic forces and by wearing shields to protect the bunion from friction against the shoe. Hammer toes are deformities of the toes where the joints bend causing pressure points. Hammertoe deformities can affect all the toes but the most common toe affected is the second toe, which on most people is longer than the big toe. Blisters commonly appear where a shoe rubs against skin that is unprotected by a corn or callus. Ease the friction with moleskin padding, wear socks and change shoes. Don't pop blisters, since they may then become infected. If a blister breaks on its own, apply an antiseptic and keep the area covered with a sterile bandage. Remove the bandage at night to promote healing. Your feet have a long way to go, take care of them. Call to make your appointment

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4 APRIl ISSUE

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Interest in Toys May Predict Success of Autism Home Therapy

Breast Cancer Awareness and the Special Population

t is no secret that early detection of breast cancer is very important. While mammography seems to the most popular method for early detection, not all cancers are found through mammography. In many cases a complete examination is necessary which includes a combination of mammography, annual physical examination and monthly breast self-examination. In fact, our American Cancer Society Guidelines recommend screening mammograms, and physical breast examination each year beginning at age 40, especially if there is a family history of breast cancer which is sometimes associated with an increased risk of developing breast cancer. In our efforts to increase breast self-awareness for our special needs population, and their care takers, Twin Palms Center, (a nonprofit, 501(c) 3 organization that provides a unique day program for adults with disabilities) is hosting the “MammoVan” on Thursday, April 21, 2011 from (7:30a.m.–

3:30p.m.) at the Twin Palms Center, 306 NW 35th St., Boca Raton, Florida 33431. The Boca Raton Regional Hospital lynn Women's Health & Wellness Institute “MammoVan” screening consists simply of a low dose X-ray of the breast. It is performed on women that are asymptomatic on an annual basis to detect early breast cancers that are clinically unsuspected. This has been proven to decrease breast cancer deaths by over 40%. If you have no insurance, the Komen Grant is available. To apply call Merari Rodriquez at 561955-4294. No prescription is needed for screening mammograms (over the age of 40). Bring prior images to expedite your results. Insurance covers 100% for one mammogram per year. Appointments must be made by calling 561-955-4700 (options 1 & 2). At Twin Palms Center we are concerned that new breast cancer statistics show an increase in the number of women diagnosed each

year, raising from around 45,500 to 47,700, increasing the lifetime risk to one in eight. What is encouraging is that while breast cancer incidences are on the rise, the survival rate continues to improve. These improvements are direct results of early diagnosis and treatment. It therefore remains crucial that women continue to participate in screenings, as early diagnosis will increase the chances of longterm survival. Please join us on our wellness effort on Thursday, April 21, 2011. “Don’t let the van leave you.” TO MAKE YOUR APPOINTMENT PLEASE CALL 561.955.4700 (OPTIONS 1 & 2) For direction to Twin Palms Center contact: Wendy Friswell, Director Twin Palms Center for the Disabled Address 306 NW 35th Street Boca Raton, FL 33431 Phone: 561-391-4878 twinpalmscenter@aol.com

Tots who played the least seemed to benefit most from parent-guided autism program, study found.

he level of interest toddlers with early signs of autism show in toys may predict how well they will respond to a parent-guided treatment program, a new study suggests.

The study included 51 boys and 11 girls younger than age 2 who met the criteria for autism disorders. The children were randomly assigned to receive either standard treatment (the control group) or enrolled in the Hanen's More Than Words program, which is designed to promote communication, language development and social skills. In the program, parents learn ways to help their toddlers communicate, such as encouraging eye contact and saying simple sentences from the child's perspective. Overall, the communication skills of the children in the program showed no improvement compared to those in the control group. However, the program did appear to benefit a subset of children. Among toddlers who played with fewer toys when

they were assessed at the start of the study, those enrolled in the program showed more improvement than those in the control group. Specifically, they had more instances of making eye contact, pointing or reaching for items of interest, and showing or giving a toy to a researcher, according to the report. This effect lasted for at least four months after the program ended, the researchers noted. The study, funded by the Marino Autism Research Institute and the advocacy organization Autism Speaks, was published online in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry. "This report adds to our emerging knowledge about which interventions work for which kids. It will help match children with the right intervention and not waste time enrolling them in treatments that are not well-suited for them," coauthor Wendy Stone, director of the Autism Center at the University of Washington, said in a university news release.

Weaker Bones, Cellphone Use Linked in Small Study Research in 24 men found less mineral content, density in hips, but more study needed, experts say.

small study out of Argentina suggests that cellphone users might be at heightened risk for a weakening of bone in the hip area. Researchers measured bone mineral

content and bone mineral density in the left and right hips of 24 men who carried their cellphones in a belt pouch on their right hip for at least one year and 24 men who did not use cellphones. Mineral content and density are standard markers of bone strength. The two groups of men had similar average hip bone mineral content/density measurements, but the men who carried cellphones on their right hip had lower mineral

content in the right femoral neck, the area near the top of the thigh bone, the team reported. Cellphone users also had reduced mineral content and density at the right trochanter, an area at the outside top of the thigh bone. Among cellphone users, the difference between the right and left trochanter was significantly associated with the total estimated hours carrying a cellphone on the right hip, said the researchers.

The findings appear in the issue of the Journal of Craniofacial Surgery. "The different patterns of rightleft asymmetry in femoral bone material found in mobile cellphone users and nonusers are consistent with a nonthermal effect of electromagnetic radiofrequency waves not previously described," wrote study author Dr. Fernando D. Sravi, of the National University of Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina.

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APRIl ISSUE • 2011

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Dark Chocolate May Harbor Benefits for the Heart

Bishop receives Eagle Scout Award

Despite possible upside, cocoa carries risks and won't overcome bad health habits, expert says.

f you can handle the fat and calories, there may be a health benefit to enjoying dark chocolate on occasion. New research suggests that the cocoa ingredient may lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels while preventing diabetes and improving the health of blood vessels. So why not chow down on a candy bar or two every day? Here's the rub: Scientists aren't sure whether the downsides of cocoa consumption -- such as potential obesity -could outweigh the benefits.

The research relied on mostly sugar-free dark chocolate, not the kind of chocolate normally found on the candy shelves. Participants who ate the chocolate, which contained cocoa rich in substances known as polyphenolic flavonoids, did better in several areas, including blood pressure. levels of bad cholesterol went down in those younger than 50, and levels of good cholesterol went up. The findings, which came from an analysis of data from 21 high-

quality studies that included a total of 2,575 participants, were scheduled for presentation at an American Heart Association conference in Atlanta. Experts note that research presented at meetings should be considered preliminary because it has not been subjected to the rigorous scrutiny given to research published in medical journals. It remains unclear, the researchers said, as to just why chocolate appears to have the effect that they found. It's also not known how much people would need to eat to get the benefits.

is processed makes a difference in whether or not the chocolate drink or bar it is contained in will have health benefits." "In other words, not all chocolate or cocoa is created equal," she said. Though chocolate in moderation may be fine for many people, Sandon said, there are better and healthier ways to boost heart health.

Then there's the cocoa itself, another possible complication.

"Weight loss is king when it comes to preventing high blood pressure and improving insulin resistance," she said. "I do not see cocoa having the power to overcome poor health habits."

"The research looks at the benefits of cocoa and used a very specifically prepared cocoa," said lona Sandon, assistant professor of clinical nutrition at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas. "Cocoa is an ingredient of chocolate. How the cocoa

However, she said, there are ways to add cocoa to the diet that may keep fat and calories under control -- such as drinking hot cocoa with skim milk, adding dark cocoa powder to the top of a cappuccino and using cocoa powder in recipes.

Mr. Bill Daniel (Troop Leader #132) and Eagle Scout Zachary Bishop.

achary Thomas Bishop has earned the rank of Eagle Scout. An Eagle Court of Honor ceremony will be held on Friday April 8, 2011, at Trinity United Methodist Church in Palm Beach Gardens, where Zachary will be presented with the award. Eagle Scout is the highest rank a Scout can attain. Zachary, age 15, is a member of Boy Scout Troop 132 in Palm Beach Gardens, and becomes the Troops’ 152nd Eagle produced since 1970. Zachary has earned 36 Merit Badges and has hiked over 100 miles in New Mexico and Virginia. Zachary has received letters of recognition from President Obama, Vice President Biden, Presidents George W. Bush and H.W. Bush, Congressman Tom Rooney, Congressman Alan

West, Representative Pat Rooney and Mike Rowe of Dirty Jobs (a former Eagle Scout). Zachary’s Eagle Scout project consisted of constructing an oyster reef. He planned and coordinated a group of volunteer Scouts, friends and parents to bag oyster materials creating over 250 individual reef pods that were placed off the Town of lantana in the lake Worth lagoon. The reef is already working as evidenced by new oysters that have attached to the reef pods. Each oyster can purify up to 50 gallons of water per day. Zachary is a Freshman at W.T. Dwyer High School, He is on the swim team and plays tuba in the Dwyer Marching Band. He is the son of Dr. Jeffrey Bishop of Royal Palm Beach and Julie Bishop of Jupiter.

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6 APRIl ISSUE

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Health risks of radiation depend on dose, duration Concern is mounting about from radon gas in the soil. The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission says doses of less potential health risks of than 10 rems over a long time period are not radiation from the crippled a health concern. nuclear reactors in Japan. Q. When does it threaten health?

ow much radiation you get depends on the dose, duration and method of exposure. Some types of radioactive particles are more dangerous or longer lasting than others. Some basics:

Q. How are people exposed to radiation? A. Radioactive particles in fallout can be inhaled into the lungs, fall on the skin or be ingested through contaminated food or water. The level can vary greatly even between short distances, said Dr. Fred Mettler, a University of New Mexico radiologist who led an international study of health effects after the 1986 Chernobyl disaster. "You can come around a corner and the dose rate can be very high, and you get back behind a column and the dose rate is much lower," depending on what type of particles are in the fallout, whether you're standing under a roof where they've accumulated or shielded you from them, etc., he said.

Q. How does radiation harm? A. In the short term, radiation damages rapidly dividing cells — hair, the stomach lining, bone marrow. That can cause nausea, vomiting, fatigue, loss of infection-fighting blood cells and clotting problems. Children are most at risk because they have so many rapidly dividing cells. One type of radiation, radioactive iodine, is taken up by the thyroid gland and can lead to thyroid cancer if pills are not taken right away to prevent this uptake. long term, radiation can damage DNA and raise the risk of many types of cancer years down the road.

Q. How much radiation is unsafe? A. Most people get around three-tenths of a rem (a measurement unit of dose) each year from radiation in the environment, mostly

A. Symptoms of radiation sickness — nausea, vomiting and hair loss — can occur at exposures of 50 to 100 rems, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Death within two months becomes a possible risk at around 400 rems; within two weeks at 1,000 rems, the EPA says.

Q. What about medical radiation? A. A chest X-ray delivers about one-tenth of a rem of radiation; a CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis is 1.4 rems. A person's dose accumulates over time, which is why medical experts say we should avoid unnecessary tests that involve radiation.

Q. What's the antidote once there is radioactive fallout? A. Potassium iodide pills can block uptake of radioactive iodine and protect the thyroid gland, but they must be used quickly. "Ideally, you'd give it before they're exposed or at the time" of exposure, Mettler said. "After 12 hours, it's hardly useful" unless exposure is continuing.

Q. If fallout is occurring, should people flee or stay? A. Each situation is different and can change rapidly. Japanese officials urged tens of thousands of people to evacuate from a 12-mile zone, but now have told many more in a broader region, about 20 miles from the troubled plant, to seal themselves indoors.

Q. Is this like Chernobyl? A. No. That Russian plant had no containment vessel around its reactor, so when an explosion occurred, large chunks of radioactive fuel from the core spewed out. That fuel contained cesium, a longer-lasting and more hazardous radioactive material than the shorter-lived radioactive iodine that has mostly been released in Japan. Still, there have been reports of some cesium release in Japan, prompting worries that a meltdown may be occurring.

Is It a Cold? Or an Allergy?

olds and allergies can cause similar symptoms, and finding out which condition you have is the first step in getting relief, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI). Colds are caused by one of more than 200 viruses that get transmitted from person to person. Allergies, which are not contagious, are caused by allergens, such as pollen, that prompt the immune system to overreact. In spring, high levels of tree and grass pollens cause sneezing and other cold-like symptoms for the estimated 60 million Americans with allergic rhinitis, more commonly known as hay fever.

There are a number of ways to distinguish between spring allergies and a cold, says the ACAAI. Colds generally evolve, starting with a stuffy nose, throat irritation and low-grade fever, followed by sneezing and a runny nose with thickening mucus that often turns yellow or green. Common allergy symptoms include sneezing, itchy eyes and nose, but the mucus is typically clear. While colds usually last a week or two, allergy symptoms persist and can even get worse with continued exposure to the allergen causing your symptoms. Spring allergies can last six weeks or more. Aches and fever most likely indicate a cold, while itchy eyes are strong evidence of allergies.

APRIl ISSUE • 2011

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Yoga May Also Calm a Sex can be heart attack Dangerous Irregular Heartbeat trigger for couch potatoes I

CHICAGO – Sex and exercise can trigger heart attacks in older people who don't get much of either, a new analysis finds.

he risk is low, but it's a good reminder that slackers should change their exercise habits gradually, especially in middle age. People who exercise regularly have a much smaller risk of having a heart attack immediately after sexual or physical activity, said lead author Dr. Issa Dahabreh of Tufts Medical Center in Boston. "It would be really bad if someone thought our paper means people should not exercise," Dahabreh said. "If anything, it's the opposite."

The analysis, appearing in Journal of the American Medical Association, combined results from 14 studies involving more than 6,000 patients. The studies involved only people who'd had heart attacks or had died suddenly from a heart prob-

"If you were to follow 10,000 people for a year and if they all decided to increase their physical activity by an hour a week, you could expect to see two to three more heart attacks," Dahabreh said.

lem. The studies looked at what the people were doing during the hour or two before their heart attacks and compared that to the same people's activity on normal days with no major heart problems. That study design is used to try to answer the question, "Why did the heart attack occur now?" Physical activity and sex increased the risk of heart attack by a factor of about three, according to the analysis of the pooled results. Exercise increased the risk of sudden cardiac death by nearly five times. The researchers didn't find a triggering relationship between sex and sudden cardiac death, that is, a sudden death from a heart problem. The risk for any one person is extremely low.

That risk is offset for most people by the benefits of exercise. The more frequently people exercise, in general, the less risk they have of exercise or sex triggering a heart attack. Most of the patients in the studies were in their late 50s and early 60s, but the findings are a cautionary tale for people in any age group who are slowing down. Exercise might even be considered cross-training for sex, said Mercedes Carnethon, a heart disease researcher at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine, who wasn't involved in the research. "Engaging in regular physical activity is a requirement for maintaining a long, safe, healthy sex life," Carnethon said. "If this isn't more motivation for people to maintain some degree of physical activity, I'm not sure what is," Carnethon said. "Get out and walk. Do something."

n a small preliminary study, the ancient art of yoga appeared to halve the number of episodes of a potentially dangerous irregular heartbeat known as atrial fibrillation. Three sessions of yoga a week also improved quality of life, lowering levels of the anxiety and depression which often plagues patients with this condition, according to research to be presented at the annual meeting of the American College of Cardiology in New Orleans. "These are exciting results," said Dr. Raul Mitrani, director of the cardiac rhythm device clinic at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. Although it didn't cure atrial fibrillation, he added, it did seem to cut the number of "a-fib" episodes. Prior research had shown other heart benefits of yoga, such as lower blood pressure and cholesterol and more elastic arteries, but this is the first study looking specifically at atrial fibrillation, said the authors, from Mid-America Cardiology at the University of Kansas Hospital. Atrial fibrillation, which affects millions of older Americans, is an irregular heartbeat that greatly raises odds for clotting and stroke. Treatments tend to be either invasive surgery (to try to eliminate the abnormality at its origin) or medications that carry

side effects. Some lifestyle tactics are also helpful, Mitrani said, such as moderating alcohol and caffeine to reduce triggers. In the new trial, 49 patients between the ages of 25 and 70 who had atrial fibrillation participated in a supervised yoga program, conducted 45 minutes a week, three times a week for three months. Sessions involved breathing exercises, various positions (asanas), meditation and relaxation. The participants were also given an educational DVD and encouraged to practice daily at home. "Advanced yogis for a long time have disproven the idea that heart rate that automatically determined by physiological need," noted Dr. Scott Shurmur, director of preventive cardiology at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha. "We know that meditation, yoga etc, really do provide some conscious altering of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. This is the first time I've seen results on atrial fibrillation and its tangible evidence."

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8 APRIl ISSUE

• 2011

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CT screening reduces lung-cancer deaths in heavy smokers Studying heavy smokers, the National Cancer Institute’s 33-center National Lung Screening Trial found that significantly fewer who were screened with low-dose CT scans died from lung cancer than heavy smokers screened with standard chest Xrays. By Jim Dryden (PhysOrg.com)

he study involved more than 53,000 people in the United States, including more than 3,800 participants at the Washington University School of Medicine and BarnesJewish Hospital. David S. Gierada, MD, professor of radiology at the Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, directed the study at the Washington University site. He says it already was known that low-dose CT could detect abnormalities in the lung at much earlier stages than a standard X-ray, but until now, it wasn’t known whether using the more sensitive screening technique could help prevent lung cancer deaths. This study, he says, answered that question.

“The patients who were randomized to be screened with the lowradiation dose CT had 20 percent fewer deaths than the group randomly selected to receive chest Xrays,“ Gierada says. lung cancer is the No. 1 cancer killer in the United States, claiming more lives than the next three most deadly cancers combined. This year, more than 220,000 people in the United States will be diagnosed with lung cancer, and more than 157,000 will die from the disease. Smokers in the study had used cigarettes for at least 30 “pack years.” That is, they smoked an average of at least one pack per day for 30 years. They were between 55 and 74 years old when they were enrolled in the study. Subjects received screening exams

for three consecutive years during the study. “It was well-known before the trial even started that CT scans could detect tumors when they were much smaller than can be detected by chest X-ray,” Gierada says. “But what wasn’t known with certainty was whether detecting cancers at that small size would translate into a reduced number of deaths.”

He says one potential drawback to using low-dose CT scans involve false positives. The scans detect a number of abnormalities in the lung that are not cancerous, and when that happens, more extensive follow-up testing is required, which can be expensive, cause anxiety and may, in some cases, even lead to surgical interventions for abnormalities

that turn out not to be malignant. But Gierada says in spite of those potential drawbacks, the study clearly demonstrates that low-dose CT screening can reduce the risk of lung-cancer deaths. “I think the results are pretty clear,” he says. Provided by Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis

Most Breast Tumors Have Unique Genetic 'Fingerprint,' Study Finds Helps explain why it's difficult to predict outcomes, find new treatments, researchers say

Does Stress Reduction Benefit Cancer Patients' Health?

esearchers who sequenced the entire genomes of tumors from 50 breast cancer patients identified more than 1,700 mutations, most of which were unique to individual patients.

The findings help explain why it's difficult to predict breast cancer patient outcomes and to find new treatments, said the researchers at Washington University in St. louis and the Siteman Cancer Center.

American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) annual meeting in Orlando, Fla. Some genetic mutations that are rare in breast cancer are common in other cancers and there may be drugs available to treat them, lead investigator Dr. Matthew Ellis, a professor of medicine at Washington University School of Medicine in St. louis, said in an AACR news release.

After sequencing the tumor genomes, the researchers compared the sequences to the matched DNA of the same patients' healthy cells, which allowed them to find the mutations. They also sequenced the 10 trillion chemical bases of DNA more than 30 times to ensure the data was accurate.

However, treatment is only possible when the cancer's genetics are known beforehand. The ideal goal is to be able to design treatments by sequencing the tumor genome when a patient's cancer is first diagnosed, Ellis said.

All the patients in the study had estrogen-receptor-positive breast cancer, in which cancer cells have receptors that bind to estrogen and help the tumors grow. The study will be presented Saturday at the

He and the other researchers found two common mutations previously found in breast cancer patients, as well as three new ones that occured in an average of one in 10 women. However, "to get through

this experiment and find only three additional gene mutations at the 10 percent recurrence level was a bit of a shock," he said. In addition, the researchers found 21 other mutations that appeared at much lower rates in several patients. Even though these mutations were relatively rare, Ellis emphasized the finding's value. "Breast cancer is so common that mutations that recur at a 5 percent frequency level still involve many thousands of women," he said. "We get good therapeutic ideas from the genomic information," he added. "The near term goal is to use information on whole genome sequencing to guide a personalized approach to the patient's treatment." Because the study is being presented at a medical meeting, the findings should be considered preliminary until published in a peerreviewed journal.

Researchers explore whether psychological services thwart chromosomal changes.

educing cancer patients' stress may benefit their health, a new study finds. Researchers investigated whether chronic stress associated with cancer diagnosis accelerated shortening of telomeres. These structures on the ends of chromosomes protect the chromosome from deteriorating, breaking apart or joining with other chromosomes, which can lead to mutations. The investigators also wanted to see if counseling sessions designed to lower stress and improve quality of life affected telomere length. Biological samples were collected from both groups at the start of the study and again af-

ter four months. The findings are to be presented Saturday at the annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) in Orlando, Fla. "Improved quality of life and reduced stress response was associated with changes in telomere length," Dr. Edward Nelson, division chief of hematology/oncology at the University of California, Irvine, said in an AACR news release. Still, "there is no doubt that offering psychological services has the potential to improve quality of life and outcomes of patients. After all, making patients feel better should be an outcome that a cancer team should want to have, but whether we can draw conclusions or make recommendations about the capacity of a behavioral intervention to modulate telomere length remains an open question," Nelson said. Experts note that research presented at meetings has not been subject to the rigorous review that precedes publication in a medical journal.

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10 APRIl ISSUE

â&#x20AC;˘ 2011

Royal Palm Art & Music

FlORIDAHEAlTHNEWS-ONlINE.COM

Staci Mishkin and Erika Mejia.

Festival T

his three day event took place from March 25th through March 27th 2011. The festival included activities such as street painting a tradition that dates back to 16th century. The festival transformed Royal Palm Beach into the largest artist's canvas of the Western Communities with several creative works of arts emerging. Other activities included kayak races, bounce houses and carnival rides. Various food vendors and area businesses participated in this festival.

Randall Laurich of The Wellness Experience.

Various area businesses and food vendors participated in Royal Palm Art & Music Festival.

Carly Grant and Holly Gordon of South Florida Radiation Oncology.

Scott and Mary Armand.

David Lepore painting The Joker with chalk.

Lori Hanson and Heather Meares.

Leidy Cuartas, Eva Quiroz, Stephanie Gil and Katherine Valencia.

The Festival included several activities for kids and adults.

APRIl ISSUE • 2011

FlORIDAHEAlTHNEWS-ONlINE.COM

Diabetes Mellitus a silent malady

Shekhar V. Sharma, M.D. Board Certified in Internal Medicine

iabetes Mellitus can be defined as a disease where an individual’s overnight fasting blood sugar is more than 125 mg. Impaired blood sugar is defined as blood sugar levels between 110 mg. and 125 mg. A diabetic can only be diagnosed by the checking of blood sugars. Diabetes Mellitus is definitely a silent disease that can hurt an individual without their knowledge. In fact, one could be totally unaware that one has it most of the time. It is a condition that could become worse if left undiagnosed, untreated, and mishandled. How does one get Diabetes Mellitus? One of the reasons is impairment of insulin secretion from a group of cells in the pancreas called the ‘islets of langerhans’. One of the most common symptoms of Diabetes Mellitus is polyuria which means frequent urination on a daily basis. Other

symptoms are excessive hunger called polyphagia and excessive thirst polydypsia when one drinks a lot of water. Failure to diagnose Diabetes Mellitus can be due to various reasons such as: individuals not seeking medical attention, or the physician not doing a simple blood sugar level. Persons with diabetes usually present themselves to a physician feeling good, with no symptoms. Sometimes the individual may say that they have blurry vision, numbness of the extremity, and feeling weak and fatigued. Studies have shown that complications of Diabetes Mellitus, especially microvascular disease (which means blood vessel disease) has a direct correlation with control of one’s blood sugar. Cardiovascular disease also remains a leading cause of death in Diabetes Mellitus Type II individuals. Other risk factors like hypertension, (which means blood pressure) high cholesterol, and obesity in Diabetes Mellitus should be taken into consideration in coordination with good control of one’s blood sugar. Individuals with impaired fasting blood sugar are at high risk for the development of diabetes and arterial disease. Approximately one third of patients with impaired blood sugar develop full blown Diabetes Mellitus. Diabetes Mellitus also runs in

families and family history is an important indicator of this disease. Complications of Diabetes Mellitus are strokes, heart attacks, kidney disease, peripheral arterial disease, especially of the lower extremities and retinopathy of the eyes which can lead to blindness if left untreated. Treatment for Diabetes Mellitus is first of all DIET CONTROl controlling what you eat. This way you can not only lose weight but you can also control your diabetes. Eating the right foods and avoiding foods such as high carbohydrate/starch, diet and sweets with a high sugar content is important. Reduction of saturated fat intake and the addition of high fiber in one’s diet have become critically important. Exercise has been shown to be beneficial in the prevention of the onset of

Diabetes Mellitus Type II. The added benefits of exercise is lowering of one’s blood pressure, improving cardiac performance and raising the good cholesterol called HDl in the blood. If blood sugars are still high despite diet and exercise, I would recommend a continuation of a diet and exercise program along

with pharmaco therapy. There are various ways of treating Diabetes Mellitus with either tablets or with insulin and blood sugars can definitely be contained. We all need to be aware that there is so much more to this disease that is not understood by the lay person. This is where the physician who is well versed and experienced in the disease steps in and this can be beneficial to any individual with Diabetes Mellitus. Dr. Sharma is Board Certified in Internal Medicine and has been in practice for 19 years in the Western communities. His office is located at 3347 State Rd. 7 (2 miles south of the Wellington Green Mall in the Palomino Park Center) Suite 200, Wellington, Florida. Please contact his office at 561-795-9087 for an appointment.

Dr. Sharma's office in Belle Glade is at 1200 South Main Street, Suite 100 (opposite the Old Glades General Hospital). Dr. Sharma will be seeing patients at this location along with his nurse practitioner Grace VanDyk. He is currently accepting New Patients and the office accepts most insurances

Please call 561-996-7742 for an appointment.

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12 APRIl ISSUE

â&#x20AC;˘ 2011

FlORIDAHEAlTHNEWS-ONlINE.COM

Tips for Keeping Young Athletes Safe Doctor's OK recommended before kids start playing sports, expert says.

t's important to keep injury prevention in mind as children begin spring sports activities, says Dr. Steven Greer, of the MCGHealth Sports Medicine Center in Augusta, Ga.

He offers these tips for parents and children. All children should undergo a physical examination before they participate in sports programs. If they've been inactive for an extended period of time, they should begin increasing their activity level several weeks before they start team practices or game play. Hydration is crucial. Children should drink 16 ounces of water or a sports drink one to two hours before play, another 7 to 10 ounces about 10 to 20 minutes before play, and 6 to 8 ounces every 20 or 30 minutes during play, Greer advises. Before a practice or game, children should warm up with light exercise for 5 to 10 minutes and then stretch. They should hold stretches for at least 20 seconds and preferably 30 seconds.

Baseball, tennis, volleyball and certain other sports often require repetitive movements that can strain or tear muscles and tendons. Exercises that specifically target these areas can help reduce the risk of injury, Greer says. Appropriate, properly fitted safety gear is necessary. Children who play sports that require a lot of running need well-cushioned shoes that aid balance. A specialty fitness store can help. Young athletes should eat breakfast every day and not skip meals. But eating too soon before a workout or game can cause digestive discomfort. Meals are best eaten about three to four hours before exercise, while small snacks, such as a banana, can be consumed an hour to two before exercise, according to Greer.

Pediatrics Group Offers Guidelines to Keep Young Campers Safe, Healthy

Involve kids in camp selection, get med checkups and discuss homesickness beforehand.

pdated guidelines to keep children happy, safe and healthy when they go to camp were released this week by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

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When deciding on a camp, parents should consider their child's interests, skills and overall well-being, to ensure their child can effectively participate at a particular camp. Parents also need to medically and mentally prepare their child for camp, and team with their pediatrician and camp health providers and administrators on a pre-camp health evaluation of their child, the statement recommends. Homesickness is a common problem for children at camp. Here are some tips to help parents and children: Involve children in choosing and preparing for camps. Have a positive attitude about the upcoming camp experience and openly discuss homesickness.

Arrange for children to have practice trips or sleepovers away from home with friends or relatives. Don't make pre-arranged pick-up plans. These can cause children to question their independence. The statement also lists specific health policies and procedures that should be followed by camp administrators. For example, camps with emergency medical devices such as automated external defibrillators, epi-pens or inhalers should keep those devices in easily accessible locations and ensure that medical staff are properly trained in their use. Camps should have an emergency management plan for dealing with outbreaks of infectious diseases and should promote good hygiene/hand-washing habits among campers, the statement said. Camp food should follow federal guidelines for school nutrition and food should never be used as a reward or withheld as punishment. Camps should schedule at least 30 minutes of physical activity per day for children. The policy statement, reviewed and supported by the American Camp Association, appears in the issue of the journal Pediatrics.

APRIl ISSUE â&#x20AC;˘ 2011

FlORIDAHEAlTHNEWS-ONlINE.COM

Exercise Is Key for People With Arthritis: Expert Too much sitting around can worsen the condition.

and decrease the risk of other diseases. About 50 million adults in the United States have arthritis, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

xercise is a good way for people with arthritis to control pain and improve physical function, says an expert.

"People who have arthritis are often scared to exercise because they think they will hurt themselves, but the condition will only get worse if people don't get moving," Valerie Walkowiak, medical integration coordinator at the loyola Center for Fitness in Maywood, Ill., said in a news release. "The best way to start is to talk to your doctor about exercising and then work with a therapist or per-

Osteoarthritis is the most prevalent form. It occurs when cartilage deteriorates, leaving nearby joints with no cushion between bones. Many people also suffer from rheumatoid arthritis, which occurs when inflammation in the joint causes it to lose shape and alignment. sonal trainer to establish guidelines. Be proactive, and take it one step at a time," she advised. Exercise offers a number of benefits for people with arthritis, in-

cluding: increasing muscle strength and endurance to improve joint stability; preserving and restoring joint motion and flexibility; and boosting aerobic conditioning to improve mental health

The best type of exercise program can depend which form of arthritis a person has, but some workouts benefit all patients. All arthritis sufferers can benefit from stretching to increase range

of motion around an affected joint, Walkowiak said. "The type of stretching one should do depends on which joint is affected." Arthritis sufferers may also want to try light weights a few times a week to build muscle strength and low-impact aerobic exercise such as walking. "Start slow, with 10 to 15 minutes of aerobic exercise every other day, to see how it impacts your body," Walkowiak said. "As your body adapts to the new routine, gradually increase duration to 30 to 45 minutes." Other good exercises can include water aerobics, stationary cycling, gardening, swimming, yoga and Tai-Chi.

Babies Who Sleep in Smokers' Rooms Face 'Thirdhand' Smoke Spanish study found nicotine levels in infants' hair 3 times higher than those who slept elsewhere.

evels of nicotine in the hair of infants who sleep in the same room with parents who smoke are three times higher than in babies who sleep in an-

other room, a new study finds. The nicotine is from cigarette smoke particles that impregnate the parents' skin, clothes and hair, which is known as "thirdhand smoke," the Spanish researchers explained. The investigators analyzed hair samples from 252 babies younger than 18 months and interviewed their parents about their smoking

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habits. Seventy-three percent of the parents said they smoked or allowed smoking in their homes, and 83 percent of the babies' hair samples showed high levels of nicotine. The study also found that cigarette smoke toxins are still present in homes even when parents try to take action to protect their children's health, such as smoking by a window, ventilating bedrooms

after smoking, or smoking when the baby is in a different room or not in the house. "Passive smoking is the leading preventable cause of childhood death in developed countries," lead author Guadalupe Ortega said in a Plataforma SINC news release. The study is published in the journal BMC Public Health.

14 APRIl ISSUE

â&#x20AC;˘ 2011

FlORIDAHEAlTHNEWS-ONlINE.COM

Freezing Wrinkles a Possible Alternative to Botox Experimental technology uses cold, not neurotoxin, researchers say.

Palmer is also consulting medical director of MyoScience, Inc., the Redwood City, Calif.-based company developing the "cryotechnology."

The results of the clinical trials were to be presented Friday at an American Society for laser Medicine and Surgery (ASlMS) conference in Grapevine, Texas.

new technology that temporarily zaps away forehead wrinkles by freezing the nerves shows promise in early clinical trials, researchers say.

The technique, if eventually approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, could provide an alternative to Botox and Dysport. Both are injectable forms of Botulinum toxin type A, a neurotoxin that, when injected in small quantities, temporarily paralyzes facial muscles, thereby reducing wrinkles. "It's a toxin-free alternative to treating unwanted lines and wrinkles, similar to what is being done with Botox and Dysport," said study co-author Francis Palmer, director of facial plastic surgery at the University of Southern California School of Medicine in los Angeles. "From the early clinical trials, this procedure -- which its maker calls cryoneuromodulation -- appears to have the same clinical efficacy and safety comparable to the existing techniques."

To do the procedure, physicians use small needles -- "cryoprobes" -- to deliver cold to nerves running through the forehead, specifically the temporal branch of the frontal nerve, Palmer said. The cold freezes the nerve, which interrupts the nerve signal and relaxes the muscle that causes vertical and horizontal forehead lines. Although the nerve quickly returns to normal body temperature, the cold temporarily "injures" the nerve, allowing the signal to remain interrupted for some period of time after the patient leaves the office. The technique does not permanently damage the nerve, Palmer said. Researchers said they are still refining the technique and could not say how long the effect lasts, but it seems to be comparable to Botox,

which works for about three to four months, Palmer said. Physicians would need training to identify the nerve that should be targeted, he added. The 15-minute treatment is done using local anesthesia, according to the researchers. The current study only looks at forehead wrinkles; future research will study the procedure elsewhere on the face, Palmer said. For the study, researchers tried the technique on 31 people, all of whom had fewer wrinkles after two to eight injections. The most common side effects were headaches and skin redness. The level of discomfort was comparable to that from Botox or fillers, Palmer said.

for people who don't want an injection of a neurotoxin.

Because this study was presented at a medical meeting, the data and conclusions should be viewed as preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal.

The company will eventually seek FDA approval as a medical device. Palmer said the company might first seek approval in Europe. Dr. Brian Zelickson, an associate professor of dermatology at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, said the technique sounds promising, but needs more research to determine how long results last and to make sure no lasting nerve or muscle injury occurs that could cause permanent changes in sensation.

Palmer said he didn't see the new technology as a replacement for Botox, but instead as an alternative

He agreed that the toxin-free cosmetic procedure might win some followers.

But unlike Botox, which takes a few days to kick in, the effects of the cryotechnology are seen immediately, the researchers say.

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"Botox and Dysport are very easy, very quick, the patient satisfaction profile is great and there are very few side effects," said Zelickson, incoming president of ASlMS. "It's a high bar to leap over, but there are some people that don't like the concept of injecting Botulinum toxin into their bodies. If there were a procedure that could be done, that doesn't inject any chemical into the system and could yield the same results for the same duration, there is a market for that." According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, Botox and Dysport injections top their list of nonsurgical procedures.

APRIl ISSUE • 2011

FlORIDAHEAlTHNEWS-ONlINE.COM

Medical Marijuana Might Slow Thinking Among MS Patients Study suggests side effects could sometimes outweigh benefits of pain relief.

Laughter, Music May Lower Blood Pressure, Study Says

s the debate over medical marijuana use continues, a new study among multiple sclerosis patients -- who often use the drug to relieve pain and muscle spasticity -- adds to the argument that smoking pot clouds thinking skills.

Canadian researchers studied two groups of 25 people between the ages of 18 and 65 with MS, an autoimmune disease that attacks the central nervous system and can lead to paralysis, cognitive problems, incontinence and a host of other sensory and functional deficits. One group used marijuana heavily, while the other group reported no marijuana use for many years. Patients using pot performed significantly worse on cognitive tests measuring attention, thinking speed, executive function and visual perception of spatial relationships between objects, the study authors said. Users were also twice as likely to be classified as globally cognitively impaired, meaning they failed at least two of 11 various assessments. The study is published in the issue of Neurology. "We published a paper a few years back that said cannabis use in MS patients might be linked to delays in processing speed, but it was a very small sample," said study author Dr. Anthony Feinstein, a professor of psychiatry at the University of Toronto. "This confirms our

But experts disagree on whether the findings are meaningful. earlier impressions that cannabis could, in fact, have some cognitive side effects . . . but I'm surprised at the breadth. We were thinking we would probably replicate our earlier findings, but it went beyond that." Data suggests that between 36 percent and 43 percent of MS patients have smoked pot at some time, according to the study, and "a substantial minority" find cannabis relieves pain, insomnia, spasticity, tremors, bladder problems and emotional distress. Between 40 percent and 60 percent of MS patients are cognitively impaired to begin with, Feinstein added, but study participants using marijuana scored about one-third lower on a sensitive test of information-processing speed than nonusers. A total of 72 percent of users reported smoking pot daily, while 24 percent reported weekly use. The average duration of marijuana use was 26 years, the study said. "I would stop and think very carefully about cannabis use . . . it concerns me that there's a movement that cannabis can be used as a benign drug," Feinstein said. "So I would want to look at cannabis very closely before using it. The database is still small . . . there are so many unanswered questions." Feinstein noted that the study

Classified

could not conclude that pot use causes clouded thinking, only that the two were linked. He also could not determine whether the slowdowns in thinking among pot-using MS patients was any worse than might be observed among users without MS. Nicholas laRocca, vice president of healthcare delivery and policy research for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, said the study is "sort of a wake-up call about the potential effects of long-term and heavy use of marijuana in people who have MS." While the research could not be randomized because scientists cannot assign participants to ingest a potentially harmful drug, he said, the authors carefully matched the user and control groups and the cognitive evaluations done on both. Clouded thinking "is a potentially very devastating side effect," laRocca said. "It's a high price to pay for whatever relief is being provided. The important thing about the study is it gives people pretty solid information about the risks they may be taking." "Many people find the side effects of a given drug are worse than the symptoms," he added. "I think we're looking at a very familiar dilemma."

aughter and music not only lift the mood, they might also drop blood pressure among middle-aged adults, a new study suggests. Japanese researchers divided 79 adults, aged 40 to 74, into three groups, studying the effects of one-hour music sessions every two weeks on one group, laughter sessions on another group, and no intervention for the remaining participants (the control group). Blood pressure readings taken immediately after the sessions were 6 mm Hg lower in the music group and 7 mm Hg lower among the laughter participants compared to measurements taken just prior to the sessions, the study authors said. Improvements in blood pressure were still seen three months later, according to the results. No change in blood pressure was recorded among participants who received neither intervention. "The [participants'] cortisol level, a stress marker, decreased just after the intervention sessions," said lead author Eri Eguchi, a public health researcher at Osaka University's Graduate School of Medicine in Japan. "We think this is one

of the explanations for the physiological processes." The results of Eguchi's study were scheduled for presentation Friday at an American Heart Association conference in Atlanta. The study does not show a direct cause and effect, merely an association. Also, experts say that research presented at meetings is considered preliminary because it has not been subject to the rigorous scrutiny required for publication in a medical journal. For three months, music therapists guided 32 participants in listening to, singing and stretching with music. They were also encouraged to listen to music at home. laughter sessions were led by trained laughter yogis, with 30 participants performing laughter yoga -- a combination of breathing exercises and laughter stimulated through playful eye contact -- and listening to Rakugo, Japanese sit-down comedy. "We think yoga breathing may play some role for lowering blood pressure," Eguchi said, noting that his team will examine the link in upcoming research. High blood pressure, or hypertension, is linked to serious health problems.

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