HEALTH ALERT!! Death risk is doubled with this type of surgery and ACE inhibitors

There are so many people on blood pressure medication that this warning needs passing on if you know they are about to have heart surgery. There is a very real danger associated particularly with coronary artery bypass graft surgery and ACE (angiotensin-converting enzyme) inhibitors.

This information comes from a study done at the Bristol Heart Institute and your GP and surgeon should both be aware of it, but I believe in being proactive when it comes to healthcare so make sure you discuss it with them.

The recommendation is that you stop taking ACE inhibitors for 2-5 days before the surgery, then restart a few days afterwards the operation. You might also like to consider that ACE inhibitors can have severe side effects such as kidney failure, dangerous potassium overload, and angioedema that can lead to fatal airway blockage.

There are other ways of dealing with hypertension including diet, exercise and stress reduction and it is worth exploring these so that you could be able to reduce the dosage of the ACE inhibitors or dispense with them altogether.

Mindfulness and weight loss

Still on the weight loss front, it is probably the sight of myself in a bikini in the holiday snaps that has made this so much in the forefront of my mind, but here’s another good reason to take up yoga. A study done at a cancer centre has shown that regular yoga practice is associated with mindful eating, and people who eat mindfully are less likely to be overweight.

If you are concerned about middle-age spread, then it seems that regular yoga practice may help prevent it. An earlier study found that middle-age people who practice yoga gained less weight over a 10-year period than those who did not. This was independent of physical activity and dietary patterns and the researchers suspected that the weight-loss effect had more to do with increased body awareness, specifically a sensitivity to hunger and satiety than the physical activity of yoga practice itself.

Mindfulness is a skill learned either directly or indirectly through yoga and it does seem to affect eating behaviour according to the Head of a Cancer Prevention Program.

What does it mean?

Eating mindfully means being aware of why you eat, and stopping eating when full. Non mindful eating occurs when we eat when we are not hungry or in response to anxiety or depression. The way that eating a chocolate from a box is fine, but looking at the box and not remembering you ate them all definitely fits into the concept of mindless eating.

Yoga cultivates mindfulness in a number of ways, such as being able to hold a challenging physical pose by observing the discomfort in a non-judgmental way, with an accepting, calm mind and focus on the breath. This ability to be calm and observant during physical discomfort teaches you how to maintain calm in other challenging situations, such as not eating more even when the food tastes good and not eating when you’re not hungry.

Practice:

If you want to practice mindfulness around food, try looking at these points when eating:

** awareness – look at your food and observe how it looks, tastes and smells

** emotional response – are you hungry, or eating in response to sadness or stress

** disinhibition – are you continuing to eat even though you are full?

** external cues – have you chosen the food in response to advertising or peer pressure

** distraction – are you just focusing on your food, or on other things like making or taking a phone call or watching TV

Cognitive therapy helps insomnia & pain

Sufferers from osteoarthritis often experience sleeplessness and around 60 percent report feeling pain at night due to their condition. Now some new research suggests cognitive behavioural therapy could be an effective way of dealing with the problem.

The Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine has reported on a study done at the University of Washington, USA that specifically tested behavioural therapy on patients with arthritis. The majority of the test subjects were female, so it can’t be deemed conclusive for men as well, but the older adults in the study initially reported sleeping 21 minutes longer per night on average and 27 minutes longer a year after treatment.

That might not sound like much, but for anyone who has known the exhaustion of sleep deprivation then any increase is a bonus. Further, the patients also experienced a significant reduction in arthritis pain compared to those in a control group.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is a well established method for helping facilitate behavioural change and attitude. For the study the subjects took part in for two months in weekly two-hour group classes led by an experienced clinical psychologist. They were put on a strict schedule of bedtimes and waking times, beginning with the amount of time they were actually sleeping told to lie in bed awake no longer than 15 minutes and to engage in no activities in bed other than sleep and sex. If they began to spend more of their time in bed asleep, their hours of sleep were increased by a maximum of one-half hour each week.

Cognitive restructuring techniques helped participants change unrealistic beliefs and irrational fears regarding sleep or lack of it. They also received relaxation training and instruction about other factors that might affect their sleep, such as getting enough sunlight and exercise and avoiding alcohol and caffeine.

They kept both sleep and pain logs and for the majority in the study there was a definite, and continued, improvement in both these areas. since most of the participants were women.

Men are better than women at dieting

Most men do not embrace the concept of dieting unless pushed to it by a health problem or a few gentle (ie nagging) remarks from their partner. But research shows that when they do decide to got it they are better at it than women.

Men have not been well served by the diet industry, partly because of inertia, but also because of embarrassment. The traditional dieting aids for women like slimming groups just do not attract men. Do not despair though because I have found a couple of resources that can really help.

First is a clever woman who realised men don’t like dieting in public, for example asking for a gin and slimline tonic still isn’t quite the thing – and actually from a health point of view that slimline tonic is worthless. It may have fewer calories but it also has a cocktail of chemicals in it – go for the real thing and get the benefit!

Jeni Blaskett decided to create a slimming group in which men would flourish and lose weight. One that meant that men could go about their daily routines without feeling they were losing face so she set up a website www.Beltdown.com exclusively for men

Beltdown’s key diet plan principle is unique, and couldn’t be easier to follow – ‘If you can’t wash it, try to avoid it’. So a cooked breakfast of eggs, bacon, tomatoes and mushrooms makes it onto the tick list, cake and biscuits do not. The website has plenty of info aimed specifically at men, such as which are the lowest calorie beers and curries, and the format allows for men to stay totally anonymous, whilst still getting the challenge, competitiveness and interaction of a group – but online.

If you have an internet connection, it costs £8 a month membership and is available 24/7 – so no more excuses skip over to www.beltdown.com

Men only

If you want a programme designed by a man who has been there and done that himself, then I can recommend Robert Paterson’s book ‘Warriors’. He found the same problems in going to slimming groups as Jeni describes so he put together a very successful programme that has all the elements needed for successful weight loss. It is particularly aimed at those who have found success in their careers but who, due to hectic lifestyles and lack of time, have lost their healthy body in the process.

He created a specially developed ‘business plan’ to show you how to: – Set targets you can meet – Devise sensible day-to-day eating plans – Motivate yourself when the going gets tough – Achieve long term success – Treat your body as your business

Robert was an international banker weighing 22 stone who lost 8 stone on his regime, and kept the weight off. He is now Chairman of the Emerging Markets Group and Chairman of Performance Consultants, Brasil. He is a spokesman for the British Heart Foundation and regularly competes in events to raise funds for them. You will find his book on Amazon by typing in his name and Warriors in their search box.

Dogs are as intelligent as a 2 year old

I have never met a pet owner yet who isn’t convinced of the intelligence of their own particular love object, whether it’s an Akita or an armadillo, but science has come down on the side of the dog.

Stanley Coren is the canine researcher at the University of British Columbia and presented his findings on “How Dogs Think” at the American Psychological Association’s 117th Annual Convention this month.

Apparently they can also understand more than 150 words (though heel doesn’t seem to be universally obeyed) and can be manipulative enough to intentionally deceive other dogs and people to get treats. Has this man never watched a dog sitting gazing soulfully at its owner during dinner? Did he really need a research project to tell him that?

He is the author of more than a half-dozen popular books on dogs and their behaviour, and his reviews of numerous studies led him to conclude that dogs have the ability to solve complex problems and are more like humans than previously thought.

According to several behavioural measures, Coren says dogs’ mental abilities are close to a child age 2 to 2.5 years. In my experience they are also as stubborn, as the ‘terrible two’s’ but he doesn’t go into that.

Before you enrol Fido in play school, it seems the intelligence of various types of dogs does differ according to breed. It seems there are three types of dog intelligence: instinctive (what the dog is bred to do), adaptive (how well the dog learns from its environment to solve problems) and working and obedience (the equivalent of ‘school learning’).

Who is top dog?

In order of intelligence they are:

** Border collies

** Poodles

** German shepherds

** Golden retrievers

** Dobermans

** Shetland sheepdogs

** Labrador retrievers

Although the average dog can learn 165 words, including signals, the best dogs (those in the top 20 percent of dog intelligence) can learn 250 words. They can also count up to four or five and have a basic understanding of arithmetic and will notice errors in simple computations, such as 1+1=1 or 1+1=3. So no trying to cheat on the dog biscuit allowance or they will report you to Carol Vorderman.

Four studies he examined looked how dogs model the behaviour of humans or other dogs to learn the location of treats or toys, route mapping to find the fastest way to a favourite chair, how to operate mechanisms (which is how they can open the back door) and the meaning of words and symbolic concepts like fetch although ‘no’ doesn’t seem to register too often.

The most amazing characteristic to me is that during play, dogs are capable of deliberately trying to deceive other dogs and people in order to get rewards. Not only capable, but are nearly as successful in deceiving humans as humans are in deceiving dogs.

Remember, it always pays to tell the truth to people, and your pets.

Aloe vera for Healthy Teeth

I always carry aloe vera gel when travelling as it is invaluable for healing cuts and burns, and it is a useful plant to have around the house. A new use for it is in tooth gel where it cleanses and soothes teeth and gums, and it is as effective as toothpaste to fight cavities according to, the Academy of General Dentistry’s (AGD) clinical, peer-reviewed journal.

Aloe vera tooth gel helps eliminate disease-causing bacteria in the mouth and some dentists have been sceptical about that in the past. However, this new research compared the germ-fighting ability of an aloe vera tooth gel to two commercially popular toothpastes and revealed that the aloe vera tooth gel was just as effective, and in some cases more effective, than the commercial brands at controlling those organisms that cause cavities.

It is also good for those with sensitive teeth as Aloe latex contains anthraquinones, which are anti-inflammatory chemical compounds used in healing and stopping pain. Because aloe vera tooth gel tends to be less harsh on teeth, as it does not contain the abrasive elements often found in commercial toothpaste, it is a great alternative for people with sensitive teeth or gums.

You should be able to find aloe tooth gel in health stores, but if not here are a couple of useful websites: www.ernestonealoevera.co.uk and www.aloeveraproductsonline.co.uk

Complete Exercise Kit for Pregnancy

Celebrity mums go overboard in trying to return to their pre-baby shape, but there is a simpler solution that any pregnant woman can turn to.

Exercise is available to everyone through classes and videos, but there is a new solution in The Miracle Box. This kit contains an exercise/birthing ball recommended by midwives for core strength, posture and back pain relief during pregnancy and can also be used during labour to help with pain and to get baby in the right position.

The kit has three specific wall charts, one for exercise during pregnancy, one for postnatal exercise and one for general toning along with access to online charts showing you the exercises to make sure that using the exercise/birthing ball is both fun and effective. You also get a free DVD to show you simple, safe and effective core and pelvic floor exercises to strengthen muscles and get you back in shape.

Good for any expectant mum, and an ideal present so find out more at The Miracle Box website at www.themiraclebox.co.uk

Dangers of Blackberry Thumb

No it is nothing to do with seasonal fruit picking, but is a genuine medical condition identified since the rise of texting on mobile phones. Swedish ergonomist Ewa Gustafsson at the Sahlgrenska Academy studied 56 young adults had reported pain in their hands, neck and arms and found their problem was the way they texted.

First they tended to hunch over the phone, and only used one thumb to text instead of two. Bet you never realised the dangers of that, but apparently the electrogoniometer that she used to measure activity in the muscles , showed excessive use of the thumb muscles. If you suffer from this condition, obviously try using both thumbs to type instead of one, do not hunch over too much and don’t type too fast.

It can also help to give your hands some support by varying your position frequently, using the backrest of your chair, resting your forearms against a desk or your thighs.

A natural alternative to Tamiflu

Swine Flu is continuing to cause panic, and I know I have said it before, but it is all about how strong your immune system is that makes the difference between being vulnerable to infection and being less affected by it and swifter to recover from it.

I have suggested ways you can do this, generally with Echinacea and vitamin C as the stalwarts needed, but there is a new supplement that combines western science with Chinese traditional medicine which could be a useful addition to the mix.

BioFlu Vital is a natural herbal supplement that gives a powerful boost to the immune system with its effective combination of four of the most powerful, natural antioxidants: Black Elderberry, shown in human trials to reduce the severity of flu symptoms by 50%, Siberian Ginseng, Star Anise and Shikimic Acid, the plant from which the leading anti-viral drug Tamiflu is made.

Recent reports published in The Journal of International Medical Research has supported the use of Black Elderberry in particular as an effective and natural method of combating the effects of flu symptoms, reducing recovery time by half and if you want to read more of the research you will find it at

http://www.biotivia.com/uk/biofluimmunesupport/evidence.html

BioFlu Vital is produced by Biotivia and you should be able to find it in your local health store or ring Biotivia direct on 020 7900 3305 weekdays from 8am to 5pm.

The great organic debate

Some things are inevitable; global warming, the sun rising every day and the routine argument that organic food has no real value, so here we go again. It’s not unlike the debate on alternative medicine, if you have found it valuable and it has worked for you then you will continue using it, despite what any scientific study tells you.

Homoeopathy is a case in point; it is frequently pointed out that it cannot be proved, but I know it works for me, and the Royal Family, so I consider that I know better because by taking the remedy Nux Vom after a rich meal I can sleep easy with a quiet digestive system. Am I an idiot? Possibly, but I am not stupid as to stop taking something that does me no harm and that I find effective and replace it with a chemical/pharmaceutical alternative.

This debate is up again because the Government’s Food Standards Agency (FSA) says that organically produced food is no better than the same food grown with the aid of chemicals. They asked the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine to review all papers published over 50 years on the nutrient content or health impacts of organic food versus the products of mainstream farming.

Papers, you note, not human experience, and their chief researcher Alan Dangour said: “A small number of differences in nutrient content were found to exist between organically and conventionally produced crops and livestock, but these are unlikely to be of any public health relevance.”

Depends how you define relevant doesn’t it? The organic movement is about having access to natural, untreated food that and also being concerned about larger issues such as animal welfare and the environment. As the researchers did not look into the possibility of contamination of non-organic food by pesticide residues, or into the environmental impacts of the different growing methods, they have certainly upset the Soil Association, responsible for most organic certification.

It said the researchers had set such strict criteria for judging whether other people’s work was worth taking seriously that they had rejected a lot of findings in favour of organics. Even within the facts and figures taken into the review, there was evidence that organic food had more of a whole range of nutrients.

But the FSA stood firm and said the differences the Soil Association referred to were not big enough to be significant and they have been supported, in a way, by the views of biodynamic farmers who have said for some time that the organic standards for food don’t go far enough as even organic farmers are permitted to use certain chemical herbicides on their crops or use antibiotics on their animals. Obviously this will have some impact on their nutritional value and purity and buying organic food from a supermarket does not necessarily give you the information you need.

I am a firm believer in organic and biodynamic farming for my health, and taste buds, and truly the best way to get your produce is directly from those who grow it. Most places now have a regular farmers market, there are over 500 of them round the country, and by talking to the person on the stall you will soon find out exactly what kind of farm they run and how organic they are.

To find your nearest one, go to www.farmersmarkets.net

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