Huron Daily Tribune Medical Directory - August

Parents Can Help Kids Keep Their Weight In Check

Obesity poses a significant threat to adults and children across the globe. Being overweight or obese is a particular concern for children because the extra pounds gained in childhood can follow them into adulthood, potentially leading to serious health issues down the road.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the prevalence of obesity was 19.7 percent and affected about 14.7 million children and adolescents between the ages of two and 19 in the United States between the years of 2017 and 2020. The Government of Canada reports that roughly 30 percent of Canadian children and adolescents between the ages of five and 17 are overweight or obese. Carrying extra pounds puts children at risk for chronic diseases and health conditions like asthma, type 2 diabetes and heart disease. A healthy lifestyle can turn the tables on the obesity epidemic. Parents and other caregivers are instrumental in helping children avoid the pitfalls of obesity, and the following are some ways they can help kids make healthy choices.

• Involve children in health discussions.

When children visit the pediatrician for periodic health examinations and physicals, inform them in age-appropriate ways about their health.

Doctors frequently use charts and body mass index numbers to explain healthy weight ranges.

Use these diagrams and data sets to show children where they rank, but don’t make it seem like they made mistakes. Assure them that everyone will work together to get on track.

• Stock the home with healthy foods. Easy access to high-calorie junk foods is a problem for many kids. Children may be more inclined to reach for a bag of chips than an apple if the chips are easier to access.

Parents can keep plenty of healthy food on hand, and limit the propensity to keep sweets or other foods available.

• Model good behavior. Parents who are overweight themselves and do not eat a healthy balance of foods may be setting the wrong example for their children. Make maintaining a healthy weight a family affair by cooking and exercising together.

• Encourage physical activity. Parents can set strict parameters on screen usage so that children will have to find other activities to fill their time. When video games or TV shows are no longer available, kids will venture outdoors to ride bikes or play sports.

Parents should be vigilant in their efforts to prevent childhood obesity. Learning to manage weight is an important life lesson that can pay lasting health dividends.

The Health Bene ts Of Being In Nature

Nature enthusiasts are known to say that spending time in the great outdoors has a positive effect on their mental and physical well-being. Such an outlook is more than mere speculation, as it turns out spending time in nature provides a host of health benefits that might surprise even the most devoted outdoors enthusiasts.

Nature and cognitive health

A 2010 study published in the American Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease & Other Dementias found that engaged persons with dementia in horticultural therapy-based (HT-based) programming solicited higher rates of participation than traditional activities (TA) programming. In addition, a separate 2013 study in the journal Dementia found that exposure to a therapeutic garden had a positive impact on quality of life for people with dementia. And it’s not just dementia patients who can experience the cognitive benefits of time spent

in nature, as the Hagley Museum and Library reports that numerous studies have found exposure to nature improves cognitive function.

Nature and vitamin D

The potential health benefits of vitamin D are increasingly drawing the attention of medical researchers, and for good reason. According to the Harvard Medical School, recent research has suggested that vitamin D may offer added protection against conditions such as osteoporosis, cancer, heart attack, stroke, and depression. Exposure to sunshine can help the body generate vitamin D, thus providing further reason to spend time in nature.

Nature and overall well-being

Given the aforementioned health benefits related to spending time in nature, it’s easy for even non-scientists to conclude that being outdoors

has a profound impact on overall well-being. But non-scientists can rest assured that recent research has confirmed such conclusions. A 2019 study published in the journal Scientific Reports found that individuals who spent at least 120 minutes a week in nature were significantly more likely to report good health and psychological wellbeing than those who spent less time outdoors. Though the authors of the study cautioned that the exposure-response relationship was under-researched, and therefore likely needed to be studied more extensively, in the meantime individuals, after a consultation with their physicians and confirmation that it’s safe to get out more often, can aspire to spend at least 120 minutes in nature each week. The results may speak for themselves.

Nature has a lot to offer, and the benefits of spending more time outdoors may be even more significant than people recognize.

Family history is considered a risk factor for various diseases, and breast cancer is no exception. According to Cancer Research UK, having a rst degree relative, which includes a mother, sister or daughter, diagnosed with breast cancer approximately doubles a woman’s risk for breast cancer. However, the American Cancer Society notes that only about 5 to 10 percent of

breast cancer cases are thought to be hereditary. Hereditary cases of breast cancer are those that result directly from gene mutations passed on from a parent. The relatively small percentage of hereditary cases is important to note, as it means that the vast majority of women who are diagnosed with the disease have no family history of breast cancer.

The Basics of ADHD

September marks the beginning of a new school year for millions of children. A new school year contains a host of challenges for every student, but some, particularly those with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), may face steeper challenges than others.

ADHD is common in both the United States and Canada. The American Academy of Pediatrics reports that ADHD affects between 4 and 12 percent of school-aged children, while the Center for ADHD Awareness, Canada indicates between 5 and 7 percent of Canadian youngsters have the condition. Such figures are disconcerting, particularly when considering the adverse effects of ADHD on academic performance. In fact, a 2019 study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry found that ADHD was associated with substantially lower performance in school independent of socioeconomic background factors.

The stakes are high regarding ADHD and academics, so as a new school year begins, students and their families can familiarize themselves with the

condition to ensure it does not interfere with their efforts to do their best in the classroom in the year ahead.

What is ADHD?

The AAP describes ADHD as “a chronic condition of the brain that makes it difficult for children to control their behavior.” Such characterization explains why the link between ADHD and poor academic performance is so strong. The AAP notes that children with ADHD often have trouble getting along with other children and, if they have issues with attention, they can have difficulty learning.

Behavioral symptoms of ADHD

The AAP notes that ADHD includes three distinct groups of symptoms: inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity. Children with inattention may daydream and have a hard time paying attention, often do not seem to listen, may be easily distracted from work or play, and may not follow through on instructions or finish tasks. Children with hyperactivity may be in constant motion, exhibit difficulty staying seated, frequently squirm or fidget, talk too much,

and be incapable of playing quietly. Children with impulsivity may frequently act and speak without thinking, run into a street without first looking for oncoming traffic, be incapable of waiting, and frequently interrupt others.

It’s important for parents to recognize that children with ADHD will not necessarily have all the symptoms. Symptoms are classified by the type of ADHD a child has, and a physician will indicate that upon diagnosis. ADHD cases are usually determined to be inattentive only, hyperactive/impulsive or combined ADHD, which includes symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity.

When should I alert a physician?

The AAP notes that all children exhibit the symptoms noted above from time to time. However, a physician should be alerted when children exhibit those symptoms on a regular basis for more than six months.

ADHD can affect children both academically and socially. More information can be found at healthychildren.org.

Obesity affects children across North America. The Government of Canada estimates that 30 percent of Canadian children and adolescents between the ages of five and 17 are overweight or obese, while the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports the prevalence of obesity was 19.7 percent among children ages two to 19 in the United States

between the years of 2017 and 2020. Overall, millions of children are diagnosed as overweight or obese and may need assistance in getting their weight on track. Parents and doctors can work together to help children maintain a healthy weight or lose weight if they are currently overweight or obese.

Risk factors for thyroid cancer

The International Agency for Research on Cancer reports that roughly 586,000 new cases of thyroid cancer wer diagnosed across the globe in 2020. That made thyroid cancer the ninth most commonly diagnosed cancer in the world, with more new diagnoses than melanoma of the skin, cancer of the ovaries and pancreatic cancer. Thankfully, IARC data indicates thyroid cancer deaths across the globe were relatively low compared to the number of new cases in 2020, a fact that underscores how effective awareness of the disease can be in preventing negative health outcomes. Measures to reduce cancer risk can never guarantee a person will not ultimately be diagnosed with the disease. However, recognition of risk factors may compel people to avoid certain behaviors that can exacerbate existing risks. Such recognition also may encourage individuals to keep a more watchful eye on their bodies, a vigilance that could compel them to report issues earlier than they otherwise might, thus increasing the chances of successful treatment should they receive a cancer diagnosis. With that in mind, individuals can study these risk factors for thyroid cancer, which the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center notes differ depending on the type of

the disease.

Papillary thyroid cancer

The MSKCC reports that most cases of thyroid cancer are papillary thyroid cancer. Papillary thyroid cancer is characterized by a slow-growing tumor that typically begins in one lobe of the thyroid. Risk factors include:

• Radiation exposure: Individuals exposed to radiation as children have a higher chance of developing papillary thyroid cancer.

• Inherited conditions: A family history of multiple colon growths is considered a risk factor for papillary thyroid cancer. Similarly, the MSKCC reports that roughly 5 percent of people with papillary thyroid cancer have family members with the disease, though researchers are still working to identify which gene is responsible for this link.

• Gender: Papillary cancer occurs roughly three times more often in women than in men. However, the tumor grows and spreads more rapidly in men than in women.

Follicular thyroid cancer

This is a slow-growing form of thyroid cancer that

can often be cured with the correct treatment. Risk factors include:

• Low-iodine diet: Follicular carcinoma is more likely to develop in places where iodine is not added to the salt used in food.

• Familial conditions: The MSKCC reports that follicular thyroid cancer is part of certain inherited disorders, including Werner’s syndrome.

Medullary thyroid cancer

According to the MSKCC, medullary thyroid cancer appears in older adults. Risk factors include:

• Family history: Roughly one in four individuals diagnosed with medullary thyroid cancer have inherited a mutation in the RET gene.

The Cancer Treatment Centers of America reports that the five-year survival rate for localized thyroid cancer is roughly 99.9 percent. Individuals who recognize their own risk factors for the disease will put themselves in strong position to overcome it should they ever be diagnosed. More information is available at mskcc.org.

What to know about AFib

The heart has been characterized as the engine that makes the human body run. If that metaphor is not exactly spot-on, it still serves as a good indicator as to just how vital a healthy heart is to the human body. Despite the importance of a healthy heart, diseases that affect the heart remain the single greatest cause of death across the globe. According to the World Health Organization, cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of death globally, claiming roughly 18 million lives each year. Various factors can adversely affect how well the heart functions, and that includes irregular heart beat, also known as arrhythmia. Atrial fibrillation (AFib) is the most common form of arrhythmia, and it behooves anyone to gain a greater understanding of this condition.

What is AFib?

The Cleveland Clinic notes that AFib is an arrhythmia that begins in the upper chambers of the heart known as the atria. When a person has AFib, these chambers beat irregularly, and the American Heart Association reports that, when this occurs, blood pools in the area because not enough blood is being pumped out of the atria. That pooled blood can clot and pose a serious threat.

What happens if a blood clot forms?

The AHA notes that, if a clot forms, the blood can be pumped out of the heart to the brain, which blocks the blood supply to the brain and ultimately results in stroke. In fact, AHA data indicates between 15 and 20 percent of people who have strokes have AFib. In addition, the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada reports that onefourth of all strokes affecting people 40 and older are caused by AFib.

Does AFib produce symptoms?

The Cleveland Clinic notes that some people with AFib experience no symptoms. Such is the case in people whose ventricles are beating at a normal or slightly elevated pace. When ventricles begin to beat faster, then individuals may experience symptoms that can include:

• Extreme fatigue

• Irregular heartbeat

• Heart palpitations

• Feeling of butterflies or fish flopping in the chest

• Dizziness or lightheadedness

• Fainting

• Shortness of breath

• Chest pain

Can I lower my risk for AFib?

The AHA notes that adopting and maintaining a heart-healthy lifestyle is the best way to control AFib risk. Such a lifestyle includes:

• Regular physical activity

• Adherence to a heart-healthy diet that is low in salt, saturated fats, trans fats, and cholesterol

• Controlling blood pressure, including management of high blood pressure

• Avoid excessive consumption of alcohol and caffeine

• Avoid smoking

• Maintain healthy cholesterol levels

• Maintain a healthy weight

Researchers behind a 2021 study published in the journal Progress in Cardiovascular Diseases note that AFib has sometimes been characterized as the cardiovascular epidemic of the twenty-first century. Such a characterization underscores how significant a global health threat AFib can be. More information about AFib can be found at heart.org.

Breast cancer FAQ

The World Health Organization reports that roughly 2.3 million women were diagnosed with breast cancer in 2020. By the end of that year, there were nearly eight million women alive who had been diagnosed with the disease in the previous half decade. A breast cancer diagnosis inevitably leads to questions about the disease. The bulk of those questions undoubtedly are asked by the millions of women who are diagnosed with breast cancer. But millions more individuals, including friends and family members of recently diagnosed women, may have their own questions. Women can discuss the specifics of their diagnosis with their physicians. In the meantime, the following are some frequently asked questions and answers that can help anyone better understand this potentially deadly disease. What is breast cancer?

Cancer is a disease marked by the abnormal growth of cells that invade healthy cells in the body. Breast cancer is a form of the disease that begins in the cells of the breast. The National Breast Cancer Foundation notes that the cancer can then invade surrounding tissues or spread to other areas of the body.

Can exercise help to reduce my breast cancer risk?

The NBCF notes that exercise strengthens the immune system and women who commit to as little as three hours of physical activity per week can begin to reduce their risk for breast cancer. However, even routine exercise does not completely eliminate a woman’s risk of developing breast cancer. Is there a link between diet and breast cancer?

The organization Susan G. Komen®, a nonprofit source of funding for the fight against breast cancer, reports that studies have shown eating fruits and vegetables may be linked to a lower risk for breast cancer, while consuming alcohol is linked to an increased risk for the disease. In addition, the NBCF reports that a high-fat diet increases breast cancer risk because fat triggers estrogen production that can fuel tumor growth.

Is there a link between oral contraceptives and breast cancer?

The NBCF reports that women who have been using birth control pills for more than five years are at an

increased risk of developing breast cancer. However, the organization notes that risk is very small because modern birth control pills contain low amounts of hormones.

Can breastfeeding reduce breast cancer risk?

Breastfeeding and breast cancer are linked, though the NBCF notes that the role breastfeeding plays in lowering cancer risk depends on how long a woman breastfeeds. The World Cancer Research Fund International notes that evidence indicates that the greater number of months women continue breastfeeding, the greater the protection they have against breast cancer.

Is there a connection between stress and breast cancer?

The NBCF notes that researchers have found that traumatic events and losses can alter how the immune system functions, which can provide an opportunity for cancer cells to establish themselves within a person’s body. The NBCF urges women to identify ways to keep their stress levels in check. Breast cancer education can be a valuable asset as women seek to reduce their risk for the disease.

What To Know About Breast Cancer Recurrence

Millions of women across the globe are survivors of breast cancer. Those women serve as inspiration to millions more individuals, even as they bravely live with the threat of recurrence.

The Cleveland Clinic notes that most local recurrences of breast cancer occur within five years of a lumpectomy, which is a common breast cancer treatment during which cancer cells and a small margin of healthy breast tissue are removed. Even if recurrence is unlikely and/or beyond a woman’s control, the lingering notion that breast cancer return at any moment can be difficult to confront. Learning about recurrence could calm the nerves of breast cancer survivors and their families.

Defining recurrence

A second diagnosis of breast cancer does not necessarily mean women are experiencing a recurrence. The Cleveland Clinic notes that breast cancer that develops in the opposite breast that was not treated and does not appear anywhere else in the body is not the same thing as recurrence. Recurrence occurs when the cancer is detected in the same breast in which the disease was initially detected. Breastcancer. org notes that cancer found in the opposite breast is likely not a recurrence.

How recurrence happens

Treatment for breast cancer is often very successful, particularly in patients whose cancer was discovered early. Recurrence can happen when single cancer cells or groups of cancer cells are left behind after surgery. Breastcancer.org notes that tests for cancer cannot detect if single cancer cells or small groups of cells are still present after surgery, and a single cell that survives post-surgery rounds of radiation therapy and chemotherapy can multiply and ultimately become a tumor.

Types of breast cancer recurrence

There are different types of breast cancer recurrence, including:

• Local recurrence: The Cleveland Clinic notes that a local recurrence diagnosis indicates the cancer has returned to the same breast or chest area as the original tumor.

• Regional recurrence: A regional recurrence means the cancer has come back near the original tumor, in lymph nodes in the armpit or collarbone area.

• Distant recurrence: A distant recurrence indicates the breast cancer has spread away from the original tumor. The Cleveland Clinic notes this is often referred to as stage 4 breast cancer. This diagnosis indicates the tumor has spread to the lungs, bones, brain, or other parts of the body.

The risk of recurrence

Johns Hopkins Medicine notes that certain variables unique to each individual affect the risk of breast cancer recurrence. This is an important distinction, as women who have survived breast cancer but are concerned about recurrence should know that they will not necessarily experience one, even if a first-degree relative or friend did. The type of cancer and its stage at diagnosis can elevate risk, which also is highest during the first few years after treatment.

The Cleveland Clinic notes that women who develop breast cancer before age 35, which is uncommon, are more likely to experience a recurrence. In addition, women diagnosed with later stage breast cancers or rare forms of the disease, including inflammatory breast cancer, are more likely, though not guaranteed, to experience a recurrence.

The fear of breast cancer recurrence can be tough for survivors of the disease to confront. Sharing concerns with family members and a cancer care team could help survivors overcome their fears.

Foods That Can Keep Cholesterol In Check

Diet plays an important role in maintaining healthy cholesterol numbers. Although the level of cholesterol in a person’s blood is partly due to factors related to heredity, the foods one eats also affect cholesterol levels. When doctors discuss cholesterol with their patients, they may refer to total cholesterol, bad cholesterol and good cholesterol. What does that mean? Total cholesterol is the combined number of cholesterol in the blood, and should be below 200. Good cholesterol is known as HDL (high-density lipoprotein) and ideally it should be above 60. Bad, or LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol, should be below 100, says the Cleveland Clinic. A person who has a poor lipoprotein profile may be instructed to alter their diet. Learning which foods might help is an important tool in managing cholesterol and triglyceride numbers.

Oats and more

Individuals likely have heard that oatmeal is good for helping reduce cholesterol numbers. Oatmeal has soluble fiber, which lowers LDL cholesterol by reducing the absorption of cholesterol into the bloodstream. Oat bran and other high-fiber grains also are good to enjoy.

Legumes and produce

Eggplant, okra, kidney beans, Brussels sprouts, pears, apples, and more also can be effective at lowering cholesterol levels. These foods tend to be lower in calories and saturated fats but high in

soluble fiber.

Nuts

Almond, walnuts and other foods high in omega-3 fatty acids can lower cholesterol levels by raising the levels of HDL cholesterol. Nuts like almonds also are high in vitamin E, which is an antioxidant that can keep the body healthy in a number of ways. Since nuts are high in calories, it is important to eat them in moderation.

Fatty fish

Eating fish over other meat-based protein sources helps reduce caloric intake. It also means the body gains the benefits of omega-3 fatty acids that lower LDL and triglycerides in the bloodstream.

Sterols and stanols

Sterols and stanols are components of plants that gum up the body’s ability to absorb cholesterol from food, says Harvard Health. Companies add them to foods like margarine and granola bars as supplements. Roughly two grams of plant sterols a day can reduce LDL by 10 percent.

Avocados and olives

Both of these foods are good sources of fiber and also monounsaturated fats that can help improve HDL and lower LDL levels. Substitute olive and avocado oils for lard and butter when cooking to improve cholesterol levels. Certain foods can be beneficial for improving cholesterol numbers. Focusing on the positive can help people feel less restricted by healthy eating plans.