Arizona Panoramic Horizons Magazine Online

Health Tips from Doc Weekly articles from Dr. Aldemir Coelho Dr. Coelho practices medicine in Phoenix Arizona and can be reached at www.mydocllc.com Click on topic below to see articles: Allergies Arginine Arthritis Keep Moving To Relieve Arthritis Pain Artificial Sweeteners Cancer D Vitamin Deficency Eleven vitamins and supplements Fingernails Food as Medicine Fruit=Alkaline Body Glutathione Gum Disease Handwashing Obesity Overactive Bladder Slowing Down Aging Tumeric You Are What You Eat Water Notes from DOC Slowing Down Aging February 13, 2015 Mentally we can feel as if we are 21 years old. But our bodies are telling a different story. Pain and weakness, slow to heal, wrinkles and graying all betray our true age and sometimes even older. As we age and our body changes and begins to break down, it’s even more important that we focus on eating a healthy, well-balanced diet. You are what you eat and our bodies are not as forgiving as they were in our youth. Aging causes the metabolism to slow, the muscles to deteriorate and even the digestive system to change. As a senior, it’s imperative to take these factors into account when it comes to your diet. To slow down the aging process taking control of your diet is essential. If you want to feel young and live a vibrant life, as you get older, the food you put in your mouth along with exercise, matters almost more than anything else. Here are a few suggestions that will go a long way in slowing aging. 1. If you are feeling sick and run down, pay attention to your body - it’s talking to you and giving you feedback. It’s time to make a change. 2. Replace unhealthy fats with healthier ones such as seeds, nuts, avocados, olives, olive oil and coconut oil. Healthy fats aid digestion and help to keep you satisfied longer. 3. Swap white rice, white bread and potatoes for brown rice, whole grain or sprouted grain breads, red-skinned potatoes or vitamin rich yams. 4. Fill your plate at least half full with veggies that are fresh and lightly steamed or sautéed. 5. Savor your food. Slow down when you eat. Taste each bite. This will help your digestion, and prevent overeating which can tax the digestive system and age the body 6. Eat calcium rich leafy greens such as kale, swiss chard, collard greens and spinach. This will ensure that your bones stay strong. 7. Be creative with your food. Find fun recipes that are healthy and pack a nutrient-dense punch 8. Drink plenty of water, half an hour before your meal, as little as possible during the meal, and an hour after the meal. Staying hydrated is key in keeping our metabolism firing and energy up. 9. Eat only lean proteins that are palm-sized, such as wild-caught fish, free-range chicken or grass fed beef or bison. 10. Eat a raw green salad every day to give your body plenty of fiber and roughage. This helps keep things moving right along. 11. Eat fruit instead of processed, sugar-laden pastries, cookies or candies. Fruit has natural sugar and fiber, so you will feel satisfied and still be able to have sweetness in your life. 12. Stay away from processed foods as much as possible. 13. Exercise, especially walking, as often as you can. 14. Take care of your feet. Massage them with olive oil or natural lotions and cover with white socks every day. Wear good arch supports and protect your feet. ### Notes from DOC February 6, 2015 Overactive Bladder It seems everyone I know is constantly running to the restroom. Maybe it’s the age group I hang out with, or maybe we just drink a lot! So how often is too often? What constitutes an overactive bladder? A lot of it has to do with the urgency and frequency of trips to the bathroom when your bladder is nowhere near full. If that’s the case you may have an overactive bladder. According to the national Association for continence, 17% of women experience a sudden and involuntary urgency to urinate when the muscle in the wall of the bladder contracts suddenly. Everyone’s bladder is less efficient as you get older. Some people experience bladder problems as a result of injury or infection. But there are a lot of other triggers that you might be able to control. Caffeine including coffee, tea, soft drinks and even chocolate work as a diuretic, which increases the amount of urine you produce. It also can diminish the ability of your bladder muscles to relax fully. Alcohol can have a similar effect. Citrus introduces citric acid which may cause irritation to a sensitive bladder, causing it discomfort and triggering the need to relieve oneself. Likewise tomatoes, chili peppers, soy sauce, and mayonnaise are highly acidic or have bladder irritants. They have been known to cause urine leakage in some people. Dairy products including cheeses, sour cream and yogurt are triggers for an over active bladder for some people as well. Artificial sweeteners and carbonated beverages are well known as irritants. Some people don’t drink enough water and have excessively strong urine. And others may drink too much. You want to drink enough water to keep your urine clear. Nicotine irritates the bladder muscle as well as being a risk factor for bladder cancer. Smoker’s cough can also lead to urine leakage. If you’ve tried adjusting the irritants listed above and you’re still having an overactive bladder, it’s a good idea to see your doctor. Bladder issues can be anything from an infection, a tumor or other situations that require medical treatment. Notes from DOC January 27, 2015 Keep Moving To Relieve Arthritis Pain Both osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis are painful. When your joints are tight and surrounded by inflamed muscles the best way to relieve the pain is to keep moving. Arthritis is caused by the wearing down and destruction of joints. This causes inflammation and swelling of the membrane surrounding the joints. So you want to reduce the inflammation as much as possible. By exercising the joints you can strengthen the muscle surrounding them which helps reduce grinding in the joints and improves flexibility. Movement helps to circulate the fluid surrounding the joints and improve the fluid viscosity. Some people find taking supplements such as glucosamine and chondroitin, along with plenty of water to stay hydrated reduces the pain and improves the strength of joints. The rule of thumb has been to drink 1 ounce of water for every pound of bodyweight each day. So 100 pound person would drink 100 ounces of water. The type of water you drink is important as well. I recommend Kangen water, an alkaline processed water that delivers micro-clustered 9.5 pH, water with an electrical charge that delivers high oxidation reduction potential or antioxidant value. It’s very important that you have water that has not been stripped of all the minerals yet has been filtered to remove the toxins. One benefit of moving your body is weight loss, which is really helpful in relieving knee pain. When you drop 1 pound of bodyweight, you’re actually dropping 4 pounds of pressure off your knees. Heat from a warm shower or hot packs will warm the joints to help relieve pain. Warming up can be accomplished by walking in place and squeezing a tennis ball to loosen the fingers. Try to keep your back as flat as possible and don’t do anything that causes sharp pain. Focus on exercise that will support the core which will help improve spinal and back pain issues. Stretching is fantastic for people with arthritis, because when muscles become tight, they start pulling and aching. Tight hamstrings develop low back curves. A great way of stretching the hamstring is to lie on the floor on your back and then pull your knee up. Reach behind the knee, pull back behind the knee, slowly pull your foot up so you start feeling that nice burn – not sharp pain – behind the back of your thigh. Always maintain a flat back when doing any of these exercises. Roll your foot over the top of a tennis ball so the arch of your foot starts feeling that stretch. Just keep moving and stay lubricated! Handwashing Washing hands with soap and water is the best way to reduce the number of microbes on them in most situations. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Many studies have found that sanitizers with an alcohol concentration between 60–95% are more effective at killing germs than those with a lower alcohol concentration or non-alcohol-based hand sanitizers. Non-alcohol-based hand sanitizers may 1) not work equally well for all classes of germs 2) cause germs to develop resistance to the sanitizing agent; 3) merely reduce the growth of germs rather than kill them outright, or 4) be more likely to irritate skin than alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Many studies show that hand sanitizers work well in clinical settings like hospitals, where hands come into contact with germs but generally are not heavily soiled or greasy. Some data also show that hand sanitizers may work well against certain types of germs on slightly soiled hands. However, hands may become very greasy or soiled in community settings, such as after people handle food, play sports, work in the garden, or go camping or fishing. When hands are heavily soiled or greasy, hand sanitizers may not work well. Hand washing with soap and water is recommended in such circumstances. Either way washing your hands is the best way to prevent germs and stay free from colds and flu so common this time of year. December 22, 2014 Health Tips From DOC FRUIT = ALKALINE BODY = CANCER PREVENTION We all think eating fruits means just buying fruits, cutting it and just popping it into our mouths. It's not as easy as you think. It's important to know how and when to eat. What is the correct way of eating fruits? IT MEANS NOT EATING FRUITS AFTER YOUR MEALS! FRUITS SHOULD BE EATEN ON AN EMPTY STOMACH.* If you eat fruit like that, it will play a major role to detoxify your system, supplying you with a great deal of energy for weight loss and other life activities. FRUIT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT FOOD. Let's say you eat two slices of bread and then a slice of fruit. The slice of fruit is ready to go straight through the stomach into the intestines, but it is prevented from doing so. In the meantime the whole meal rots and ferments and turns to acid. The minute the fruit comes into contact with the food in the stomach and digestive juices, the entire mass of food begins to spoil.... So please eat your fruits on an empty stomach or before your meals! You have heard people complaining every time I eat watermelon I burp, when I eat fruit my stomach bloats up, when I eat a banana I feel like running to the toilet, etc. actually all this will not arise if you eat the fruit on an empty stomach. The fruit mixes with other food and produces gas and hence you will bloat! Graying hair, balding, nervous outburst, and dark circles under the eyes all these will NOT happen if you take fruits on an empty stomach. There is no such thing as some fruits, like orange and lemon are acidic, because all fruits become alkaline in our body, according to Dr. Herbert Shelton who did research on this matter. If you have mastered the correct way of eating fruits, you have the Secret of beauty, longevity, health, energy, happiness and normal weight. When you need to drink fruit juice - drink only fresh fruit juice, NOT from cans. Don't even drink juice that has been heated up. Don't eat cooked fruits because you don't get the nutrients at all. You only get the taste. Cooking destroys all the vitamins. But eating a whole fruit is better than drinking the juice. If you should drink the juice, drink it mouthful by mouthful slowly, because you must let it mix with your saliva before swallowing it. You can go on a 3-day fruit fast to cleanse your body. Just eat fruits and drink fruit juice throughout the 3 days and you will be surprised when your friends tell you how radiant you look! KIWI: Tiny but mighty. This is a good source of potassium, magnesium, vitamin E and fiber. Its vitamin C content is twice that of an orange. Health Tips From DOC December 16, 2014 Arthritis With the colder damp weather many people are experiencing aches and pains in the joints we call arthritis. Your doctor will tell you that one way of relieving joint pain is with heat. Here are some ideas on how to relieve your pain with heat. The good old fashion Electric heating pad. Wrap it in a towel and apply heat for about 20 minutes. It’s good for a hip, back, shoulder, or knee. The Microwaveable pad is a variation on the electric heating pad. You simply pop it in the microwave. Capsaicin creams or gels that contain the chemical that makes cayenne pepper hot. It irritates the sensory nerve endings in the skin so the body reduces pain signals throughout the nervous system. There are Air-activated heat packs, such as ThermaCare HeatWraps which use chemicals – iron powder, vermiculite, cellulose, charcoal, salt – mix with air, producing heat for about eight hours. Paraffin baths, such as HoMedics ParaSpa Plus Paraffin Bath, in which you melt paraffin wax and dip your hand or foot several times to coat with wax, wrap in a plastic bag to retain heat for about 20 minutes, then peel off wax. Nanotechnology pain relief patches, such as Lifewave work without chemicals or heat but use RF waves to intercept the pain signal to your brain and turn it off. Most people find these inexpensive patches to be very effective. They work for 12 to 24 hours after application and can be re-applied everyday without ill effect. Health Tips From DOC November 24, 2014 Allergies – Hay Fever Season It’s back! Hay fever season is upon us once again. As soon as the temperatures drop below 100 degrees, everything seems to bloom. If you are like me, your nose is a constant drip, your throat is slightly sore, coughs and sneezes are more frequent. Here in Arizona allergies are commonly due to grass and tree pollen. Our allergy season usually starts in mid-February. But even now we were starting to see symptoms with windy conditions lately. So is it allergies or a cold? If you have nasal allergies, chances are, you also have itchy, watery eyes. That typically doesn't happen with a cold. And if you do suffer from allergies, you'll want to start treatment before symptoms arrive. There are any number of pharmaceuticals available at your local drugstore. Be careful how much and how frequently you take these drugs as you can easily overdo it and become very drowsy or sick. There are a few herbal remedies including butterbur (Petasites hybridus), one of the most time-tested European allergy remedies. It’s been used since the 17th century to stop coughs and treat upper-respiratory symptoms. Bromelain an enzyme found in pineapples is a powerful anti-inflammatory that relieves swelling (especially in the nose and sinuses) and aching joints. The amount of bromelain in a slice of pineapple or a glass of juice isn’t enough for an allergy cure. Take 80 mg-320 mg by capsule, 2-3 times per day. Quercetin is a natural antioxidant, anti-decongestant and antihistamine, found in fruits (such as apples, red grapes and grapefruit) and vegetables (such as onions). It helps stop the body’s immune cells from releasing histamines, the inflammatory chemicals that cause allergy symptoms. Vitamin C is a natural immune-system booster, and helps stabilize the cell membranes of mast cells, which release histamine. For hay fever symptoms, take 1,000 mg. Eucalyptus is a fragrant leaf (Eucalyptus globulus) that thins mucus and is excellent for a deep, heavy cough in a lozenge, cough syrups, tea, steam, salves or ointments. Or add up to five drops of eucalyptus oil in a vaporizer (or some boiling water) and take a few whiffs. Water is the most important remedy for allergies. If your sinuses are not properly hydrated, pollens can easily take root and cause irritation. Drink plenty of good quality filtered high pH water and you will find your allergies slip away naturally. Notes from notes from DOC November 19, 2014 Vitamin D Deficiency Doctors are prescribing Vitamin D supplements, especially for their older patients, for good reason. The latest research suggests that vitamin D could play a vital role in the prevention and treatment of a number of different conditions, including type1 and type 2 diabetes, hypertension, glucose intolerance, and multiple sclerosis. Vitamin D deficiency can occur for a number of reasons: 1. You don't consume the recommended levels of the vitamin over time. This is likely if you follow a strict vegan diet, because most of the natural sources are animal-based, including fish and fish oils, egg yolks, cheese, fortified milk, and beef liver. 2. Your exposure to sunlight is limited. Because the body makes vitamin D when your skin is exposed to sunlight, which may be the case as we all try to avoid too much sun to reduce our skin cancer risk and age spots.. 3. You have dark skin. The pigment melanin reduces the skin's ability to make vitamin D in response to sunlight exposure. Some studies show that older adults with darker skin are at high risk of vitamin D deficiency 4. As people age, their kidneys are less able to convert vitamin D to its active form, thus increasing their risk of vitamin D deficiency. 5. Your digestive tract cannot adequately absorb vitamin D. Certain medical problems, including Crohn's disease, cystic fibrosis, and celiac disease, can affect your intestine's ability to absorb vitamin D from the food you eat. 6. You are obese. Vitamin D is extracted from the blood by fat cells, altering its release into the circulation. People with a body mass index of 30 or greater often have low blood levels of vitamin D. Your doctor can test for vitamin D deficiency. Treatment for vitamin D deficiency involves getting more vitamin D through diet and supplements. The (RDA) of vitamin D to 600 IU for everyone ages 1-70, and 800 IU for adults older than age 70 to optimize bone health. Notes from DOC November 15, 2014 You are what you eat Hippocrates 460 BC "Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food" Benjamin Franklin 1/17/1706 " The best doctor gives the least medicine." Thomas Edison 2/11/1847 " The doctor of the future will no longer treat the human frame with drugs, but rather will cure and prevent disease with nutrition." You may have seen some of the reports from the World Health Organization about the healthiest countries in the world. Surprisingly the United States of America ranks about 40^th. Why is it the country with the most widely available medical treatment could be rated with impoverished countries when it comes to being healthy. Perhaps it has something to do with our medical system looking to replace nutrition with medicine. Pharmaceuticals have become the quick fix for almost everything that goes wrong with the human body. The real answer is educating ourselves to what our body really needs. Eliminating the toxins, the empty calories, the non-nutritional foods, would go a long way towards making us healthier. Eating a substantial amount of fruits and vegetables every day, limiting red meat and carbohydrates, and drinking good clean healthy water would nourish and hydrate our bodies into well-being. Then getting enough exercise and good health the air, there would be little opportunity for disease to get a foothold. Treat your body right and you will have something no amount of money can buy, good health. Notes from DOC October 27, 2014 11 vitamins and supplements List of the top 11 vitamins and supplements to see what ailments await you if you’re lacking a key nutrient like calcium or vitamin C. Already ailing from one or more of the following afflictions? You can start reversing your ailments by starting a vitamin and supplement program now. B-Vitamins (B Complex) Without adequate vitamin B complex, you can experience one or more of any one of these symptoms: • mental problems • heart palpitations • heart arrhythmias • fibrillation • indigestion • chronic fatigue • chronic exhaustion • paranoia, vague fears, fear that something dreadful is about to happen • nervousness • ADD (attention deficiency), inability to concentrate, irritability • feeling of uneasiness • thoughts of dying • easy agitation, frustration • inability to sleep (insomnia) • restlessness • tingling in hands • tingling fingers and toes • rashes • crying spells, inability to cope • soreness all over Calcium Without an adequate, constant supply of calcium your bones become weaker and develop tiny holes. These “porous bones” lead to osteoporosis. A Surgeon General report warns that by 2020 half of all Americans older than 50 will be at risk for fractures from osteoporosis and low bone mass. Populations most at risk of a calcium deficiency are post-menopausal women. Coenzyme Q10 CoQ10 levels decrease with age and are low in patients with chronic diseases such as: • heart conditions • muscular dystrophies • Parkinson's disease • Cancer • Diabetes • HIV/AIDS Fish Oil (essential fatty acids) • hardening of the arteries (buildup of atherosclerotic plaque) • breast cancer • diabetes • heart disease • depression • memory loss • acne • aging • allergies • arthritis • asthma • high blood pressure • obesity • stroke Folic Acid Folic acid is a B vitamin that helps the body make healthy new cells. A lack of folic acid can lead to: • major birth defects of baby’s brain or spine • heart disease • stroke • cancer • Alzheimer’s disease • anemia • weakness Glucosamine When you have a glucosamine deficiency, cartilage hardens and bone spurs develop which leads to deformities in the joints. Your mobility becomes limited and osteoarthritis develops. Iron A deficiency of iron limits oxygen delivery to cells, resulting in fatigue, poor work performance, and decreased immunity. Having iron deficiency anemia may cause you to feel tired and often look pale. Iron deficiency anemia is common, especially in women. One in five women and half of all pregnant women are iron deficient. You can usually correct iron deficiency anemia with iron supplementation. Magnesium Magnesium is needed for more than 300 body reactions. Even a mild deficiency causes: • sensitiveness to noise • nervousness • irritability • mental depression • confusion • twitching • trembling • apprehension • insomnia • muscle weakness • cramps in the toes, feet, legs or fingers. Vitamin C • tiredness • weakness • sore muscles • bleeding gums • wounds that don’t heal quickly, if at all Vitamin D • bones become thin, brittle or misshapen • rickets for children • osteomalacia in adults • osteoporis (vitamin D works with C to strengthen bones) • inflammation Vitamin E • destruction of vital red blood cells • weakened immune system In extreme cases vitamin deficiencies can even lead to death. Dr. Aldemir Coelho Notes from DOC October 20, 2014 GLUTATHIONE Glutathione, termed the “ultimate” or “master” antioxidant, is a vital intracellular tripeptide molecule and plays a central role in cellular physiologic functions. It is very important in cellular detoxification and protection from damage caused by free radicals, peroxides and toxins. Blood glutathione levels are indicative of overall health. Glutathione metabolism and its cause and effect relationship to diseases such as cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, cystic fibrosis, HIV, aging and others have been shown in biomedical literature. Currently the undeniable connection between glutathione and good health is very well established It is used in metabolic and biochemical reactions such as DNA synthesis and repair, protein synthesis, prostaglandin synthesis, amino acid transport, and enzyme activation. Thus, every system in the body can be affected by the state of the glutathione system, especially the immune system, the nervous system, the gastrointestinal system and the lungs. Lifewave has a special patch for glutathione. Based on ancient Chinese acupuncture, the Lifewave patch stimulates the body acupressure points to produce more glutathione to help you maintain strong physical health. Since wearing these patches myself I feel revitalized. At a minimal cost per patch I feel it is a good investment as part of my daily health plan. What is your plan of action to keep your body healthy? If you would like to learn more about Lifewave we have a meeting every Wednesday night. It is good to keep yourself educated to all of the possibilities to maintaining good health. Dr. Aldemir Coelho Notes from Doc October 14, 2014 Food as Medicine Have you heard the saying “You are what you eat” ? Well it is true. If you think of food, everything you eat, as medicine contributing to the health of your body you would be much healthier. Over the last 100 years, with the industrialization of our food supply, our diet has changed dramatically. This highly processed, high-sugar, high-fat, low-fiber diet has substantially altered our gut bacteria, contributing to the epidemic of obesity. We also see dramatic increases in auto immune diseases and cancers. The food we eat not only feeds our fat cells, but also determines what is growing in our guts. Your gut is filled with bugs that determine your health and your emotional and mental well-being! Getting your gut bacteria healthy is one of the most important things you can do to get and stay healthy. First eat natural and raw as much as possible. Increase your fruits and vegetables and reduce red meat and dairy. A probiotic helps maintain a healthy gut. Stay away from chemicals in your food and life as much as possible. If the label has ingredients you don’t understand, don’t eat it! Look for super foods that help the body heal and grow healthy. Little changes can mean big results! Stay healthy! Notes from Doc October 8, 2014 FINGERNAILS Just like the skin, the fingernails tell a lot about your health. And just like the skin, your nail benefit from proper hydration. Make sure you drink half your body weight in ounces of water each day. Example: 100 pounds drink 50 ounces. Nail shape, texture, color, and overall condition can clue you in on what’s happening with your health over the last six months. Here are some nail issues: Brittle nails are often a normal result of aging and/ or over processing with nail treatments (polish, gels, etc.). They can also be due to certain diseases and conditions. Be sure to replenish the moisture in your hands with a rich nail conditioner. You may also be deficient in vitamin A, which helps your body process protein, a key ingredient in your nails, vitamin C, or biotin, which is a B vitamin that can help strengthen nails and speed their growth. Yellow nails from nail fungus, psoriasis, or stains from smoking or your affection for dark nail polish. If your nails are stained, simply soak them in denture cleaner to remove the stain. If the yellowing persists, gets worse, or is accompanied by pain, it could be a fungal infection. Roughly 50% of all nail discoloration is caused by fungus. Kangen 2.5pH water for soaking or spraying on nails has been an effective treatment. Yellowing is also seen in psoriasis patients, as a side effect of certain medications. Yellow nails can be a sign of tuberculosis or several other lung conditions. Nails which are brown could indicate thyroid disease or pregnancy. Sometimes one part of the nail is coloured white and the other part is dark, known as 'half and half nails'. This can be a sign of kidney failure. The NHS says the link is not fully understood, but one theory is that kidney failure causes chemical changes in the blood that encourages a skin pigment to be released into the nail bed. Half-and-half nails have also been seen in some people with Aids Nails that look scooped out called “Spoon nails” signify a deficiency in iron and the blood supply doesn’t reach the middle of your nail to make it grow. In some cases, spoon nails can be a sign of heart disease or hypothyroidism, a condition marked by an underactive thyroid gland. Also called koilonychia, it can also be a sign of lupus. Koilonychia has raised ridges and is thin and curved inward. This disorder is associated with iron deficiency anemia. You need to see your doctor. Leukonychia is white streaks or spots on the nails. White dots on the nails are usually due to some type of trauma—even something as simple as a banged finger or a too-aggressive cuticle trim from your manicurist. Give them some time to grow out and fade. But if they aren't going away, see your dermatologist. Beau's lines are depressions across the fingernail. These lines can occur after illness, injury to the nail, during chemotherapy for cancer, or when you do not get enough nutrition. Most commonly uncontrolled diabetes, circulatory diseases, and any illness associated with a high fever (like pneumonia or mumps). Loose nails which have not been caused by an injury could sometimes indicate poor circulation, or Raynaud’s phenomenon which affects the blood supply to parts of the body. A loose nail could also be a sign of an overactive thyroid or an allergic reaction to medicine Pigmented vertical bands are common in dark-skinned people and they can also be benign moles in the nail bed. However, a single new or changing band can be a malignant melanoma—a potentially deadly skin cancer. Paronychia is when the nail fold, the tissue which supports the nail, becomes inflamed. It is often caused by infection, injury or irritation but can also be seen in those who have diabetes or HIV. Pitting is the presence of small depressions on the nail surface. Sometimes the nail is also crumbling. The nail can become loose and sometimes falls off. It can be the result of eczema, arthritis or psoriasis. Up to 50 per cent of patients with psoriasis have pitted nails Vertical beaded ridges resembling a candle's wax drippings is probably hormonal changes, thyroid issues, stress, and/or diabetes. Bacterial infection may cause a change in nail color or painful areas of infection under the nail or in the surrounding skin. Severe infections may cause nail loss. Viral warts may cause a change in the shape of the nail or ingrown skin under the nail. Certain infections (especially of the heart valve) may cause red streaks in the nail bed (splinter hemorrhages). Disorders that affect the amount of oxygen in the blood (such as heart problems and lung diseases including cancer or infection) may cause clubbing. Kidney disease can cause a build-up of nitrogen waste products in the blood, which can damage nails. Liver disease can damage nails. Thyroid diseases such as hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism may cause brittle nails or splitting of the nail bed from the nail plate (onycholysis). Severe illness or surgery may cause horizontal depressions in the nails (Beau's lines). Psoriasis may cause pitting, splitting of the nail plate from the nail bed, and chronic destruction of the nail plate (nail dystrophy). Other conditions that can affect the appearance of the nails include systemic amyloidosis, malnutrition, vitamin deficiency, and lichen planus. Skin cancers near the nail and fingertip can distort the nail. Subungal melanoma is a potentially deadly cancer that will normally appear as a dark streak down the length of the nail. Hutchinson sign is a darkening of the cuticle associated with a pigmented streak and may be a sign of an aggressive melanoma. Poisons cause nail issues. Arsenic poisoning may cause white lines and horizontal ridges. Silver intake can cause a blue nail. Certain antibiotics can cause lifting of the nail from the nail bed. Chemotherapy medicines can affect nail growth. Call your health care provider if you have new or widening dark streak in the nail, Blue nails, Clubbed nails, Distorted nails, Horizontal ridges, Pale nails, White lines, White color under the nails, Pits in your nails or if you have splinter hemorrhages, see the doctor immediately. Do not bite, pick, or tear at your nails (in severe cases, some people may need counseling or encouragement to stop these behaviors). Keep hangnails clipped. Wear shoes that do not squeeze the toes together, and always cut the nails straight across along the top. To prevent brittle nails, keep the nails short and do not use nail polish. Use an emollient (skin softening) cream after washing or bathing. Using the vitamin biotin and clear nail polish that contains protein can help strengthen your nails. Ask your doctor about newer medicines that help with abnormal-appearing nails. Fingernails are notorious for harboring dirt, germs, and other infectious organisms, such as pinworms. People who do not practice good nail hygiene are at risk of becoming ill. Wash your hands well – sing Happy Birthday to yourself to time how long you should scrub. Especially in cold and flu season, starting this month, wash your hands! Disinfectant lotions are also effective. Notes from DOC September 24, 2014 Blood Sugar and Artificial Sweeteners Many people use artificial sweeteners in an attempt to prevent high blood sugar, but still sweeten their coffee or beverages. New research shows artificial sweeteners may disrupt the body’s ability to regulate blood sugar, causing metabolic changes that can be a precursor to diabetes. Research showed sweeteners alter the microbiome, the population of bacteria that is in the digestive system. The different mix of microbes, changes the metabolism of glucose, causing levels to rise higher after eating and to decline more slowly than they otherwise would. Dr. Elinav in Israel published his findings in the journal Nature. His experiments included saccharin (Sweet’N Low), sucralose (Splenda) or aspartame (Equal) as compared to plain water or water supplemented with glucose or ordinary table sugar. After a week, there was little change in those who drank water or sugar water, but the group getting artificial sweeteners developed marked intolerance to glucose. Glucose intolerance, in which the body is less able to cope with large amounts of sugar, can lead to more serious illnesses like metabolic syndrome and Type 2 diabetes. The bottom line is the use of artificial sweeteners is not good for your health. Try to use more natural sweeteners or develop a taste without sweeteners. Notes from DOC September 9, 2014 Gum Disease Did you know that brushing your teeth could help you avoid heart disease? Having clean teeth and healthy gums may cut your chances of atherosclerosis! Your toothbrush is a weapon against heart disease and stroke. Gingivitis is an infection of the gums. Gums become inflamed, swollen, and bleed. Bacteria within plaque (which forms on teeth) leads to chronic inflammation of the gum line and tooth loss. Chronic inflammation caused by periodontal disease has been linked to a greater risk of cardiovascular disease. Every day, an estimated 2,600 people in the U.S. die of heart disease, says the American Heart Association. That's an average of one death every 34 seconds. Every 45 seconds, someone in the U.S. suffers a stroke - or about 700,000 people this year. Each year, heart disease kills 150,000 people younger than 65, says the AHA. The mouth is home to hundreds of bacterial species. Researchers looked at three kinds of bacteria: those known to cause gum disease, those not linked to gum disease, and those that might affect gum disease. In a recent study, participants who had a dominance of bacteria that cause gum disease had thicker carotid arteries. Bacteria enters the bloodstream, traveling to the rest of the body and provoking inflammation which results in the clogging of arteries. Of course, there are lots of ways to help your heart including diet and exercise. So are handling stress, not smoking, and being screened for health problems. Medication, surgery, and/or lifestyle change might be needed. Brushing and flossing your teeth, and regular visits to your dentist for an annual teeth cleaning are certainly among the easiest ways to take better care of your heart. _________________________________________________________________________ Notes from DOC September 1, 2014 Obesity Obesity affects 30% of US adults. Most of us know that carrying around extra weight increases the risk of high cholesterol, heart disease and type II diabetes. But recent studies by researchers at UCLA have uncovered another severe risk. They have found that being overweight reduces the amount of brain tissue and prematurely ages the brain. Severe brain degeneration depletes your cognitive ability putting you at greater risk for Alzheimer’s and other diseases that attack the brain. More bad news. Obesity has been found to cause cancer. A study in the UK shows a significant increase in the risk of cancer for 10 of the 17 cancer types they examined. Cancers of the esophagus, uterine lining, ovary, kidney, pancreas, and breast, where most common. It was also linked to leukemia, multiple myeloma, and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. There is some good news. If you lose weight, your risk of obesity related illnesses decreases as well. For over 5000 years acupuncture has been an effective tool in weight loss. There seem to be certain points on the body when stimulated reduce appetite. Now a new nano technology has developed a silicone-based patch that emits an RF signal that has the same result as acupuncture. Lifewave calls this the SP6 patch. It is effective is controlling cravings and reducing appetite. Along with the Lifewave SP6 patch you should start on a good diet and exercise. You should consider counseling or spiritual guidance to help you maintain a healthy lifestyle. ___________ ______________________________________________________________ Don't drink water with your meal Watching our waitress refill glasses made me think about water with your meal. When you eat you should not drink water which will dilute the acids in your stomach and make it more difficult to digest foods properly. Dr. Parker, an authority on digestion, suggests it is best to drink 30-40 ounces of 9.5pH water 45 minutes before your meal. This hydrates your stomach and intestines to be properly lubricated for peak performance. It also satisfies your body's need for hydration which is often misunderstood as hunger. When properly hydrated you will eat less and be more satisfied. Then when you eat, do not drink anything more alkaline than your stomach acids, in other words, nothing. Reducing the efficacy of stomach acids prevents proper digestion, especially of proteins, and you won't get the full benefit nutritionally out of your foods. If you chew your food well you won't need liquid to wash it down. By retraining your body to this protocol your body will produce the right balance of acids and digestive enzymes reducing acid reflux and improving overall digestive health. Dr. Parker also suggests another 30-40 ounces of 9.5pH water about 45 minutes after your meal. Not all waters are the same. Ask me about Kangen 9.5pH water. ______________________________ Cancer Health Tips from Doc July 22, 2014 Cancer will touch the lives of most of us, either through a family member or friend, or being diagnosed with a cancer yourself. We toss around the news that this or that will cause cancer, yet we seldom take action to prevent it in our lives. In 1932, Dr. Otto Warburg discovered the root cause of cancer is an acidic body. In 1971, President Nixon declared war on cancer, and America has spent trillions on toxic drug treatments and worthless drug research. Back then only 20% of the population experienced cancer in their life. Now percentage is up to over 50%. They seem to have discovered ways to prolong lives with treatment. But they haven’t taught us how to prevent cancer. We know the toxins in our environment are causing a widespread increase in cancer. Compare the average American woman’s chance of contracting breast cancer to the average woman in a Third World country like Gambia. Here it’s almost a 50-50 proposition. There, one woman in half 1 million! So what does that tell us? My suggestion is that we do all that we can to avoid harmful toxins and live as naturally as possible. First drink alkaline filtered water and avoid plastic bottles. The incidence of breast cancer and the use of plastic water bottles have a direct correlation to their increased use. Second wash your fruits and vegetables to remove pesticides using high alkaline pH water. Pesticides are oil based and a simple splash of tap water doesn’t work. Third eat mostly fresh unprocessed natural foods. And finally do all you can to educate yourself on how to stay healthy. Recent research suggests vitamin D plays a role in preventing cancers. L arginine is another supplement you might consider. But mostly eating right, getting plenty of exercise, reduce stress, and a good night’s sleep will go a long way to keeping you healthy. Don’t forget to get lots of laughs and socialize with your friends every Friday at the Wallace luncheon! _________________________________________________________________________ Arginine Health Tips from Doc July 7, 2014 Arginine supplements have gotten lots of attention lately for its potential heart benefits. About 60 million plus Americans have some form of cardiovascular disease. Arginine-rich foods include red meat, fish, poultry, wheat germ, grains, nuts and seeds, and dairy products. Arginine, also known as L-arginine as a supplement, is involved in a number of different functions in the body including: Wound healing, helping the kidneys remove waste products from the body & maintaining immune and hormone function. As a natural dietary supplement, arginine has gained attention for its possible heart benefits. In the body, the amino acid arginine changes into nitric oxide (NO). Nitric oxide is a powerful neurotransmitter that helps blood vessels relax and also improves circulation. Some evidence shows that arginine may help improve blood flow in the arteries of the heart. That may improve symptoms of clogged arteries, chest pain or angina, and coronary artery disease. Since arginine may help arteries relax and improve blood flow, it may also help with erectile dysfunction. There are other potential health benefits with arginine, such as possible reduction of blood pressure in some people and improved walking distance in patients with intermittent leg cramping and weakness known as intermittent claudication. These are many of the same benefits my EECP patients experience with daily treatment on the EECP machine. L-arginine does it with a daily dose of a supplement. Similar results although perhaps not so dramatic. But over time patients should see results. See me if you would like more information about how L-arginine might help you. _________________________________________________________________________ Tumeric Health Tips from Doc July 1, 2014 Tumeric is a medicinal spice that has been used since the beginning of human culture with evidence in ancient archaeological findings suggesting even they knew of its value for benefit to the metabolism. Today we know as supported by modern scientific inquiry, turmeric is unparalleled in its proven value to human health and well-being. Turmeric has a 6,000 year track record of safe use. It has a deep orange-yellow color to the ground powder and is commonly used as a spice in Indian cuisine. One active ingredient in it is curcumin. It has a distinctly earthy, slightly bitter, slightly hot peppery flavor and a mustardy smell. Homeopathic medicine has discovered over 580 potential health benefits of turmeric, and/or its primary polyphenol known as curcumin. Curcumin may treat cancer, Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, allergies, arthritis and other chronic illnesses. It also is known to protect against heavy metal toxicity and reduce inflammation. Turmeric is such a wonderfully safe and beneficial gift from mother nature we should all consider incorporating it into our daily diet. The easiest way is with turmeric supplements in capsule form. I prefer the Ukon brand which is grown and harvested on the island of Okinawa. _________________________________________________________________________ Water - Health Tips from Doc June 20, 2014 As I live the golden years in the latter half of my life, I want to live it better. Life is like a bicycle. If you stop you fall off. So keep moving forward in your life to live it to the fullest. Don’t ignore health issues. Keep up with how your body feels and stay in communication with your doctor and follow his advice. Staying healthy involves a combination of factors. First your body is 70% water and the type of water you put in it is so important. Do not drink reverse osmosis water. It is dead water and leads to osteoporosis. Most bottled water is bad because it is often reverse osmosis water and has been absorbing the toxins of the plastic bottle for months sitting on hot shipping docks. Drink filtered tap water. As you know I prefer Kangen water. Next do everything you can to reduce the toxins in your food. Pesticides contaminate fresh produce and cling to the food even when washed with plain water. Either get organic pesticide free or use a product like Kangen water to dissolve the oil based pesticides. Pesticides cause neurological, skeletal, and digestive problems as the toxins have a cumulative effect in your body. Do you ever wonder why there are so many more strange diseases today that you never heard of in the past? Toxins are saturating our world and you must be vigilant in avoiding them to stay healthy. I will share more ideas for a healthy life next month. Aldemir Coelho, MD HEART ATTACK PROCEDURE A serious note about heart attacks. Women should know that not every heart attack symptom is going to be the left arm hurting. Be aware of intense pain in the jaw line. You may never have the first chest pain during the course of a heart attack. Nausea and intense sweating are also common symptoms. Sixty percent of people who have a heart attack while they are asleep do not wake up. Pain in the jaw can wake you from a sound sleep. Let's be careful and be aware. The more we know the better chance we could survive. ______________________________________________________________________ Alzheimers Day As a Caregiver I deal with Alzheimer everyday. There are 7 stages of Alzheimer disease and my Mom is at stage 5 to 6. That is the point where she can't recognize us and can't recall what you said to her one minute ago. She needs constant attention. Every afternoon at about 4pm she experiences what they call "sundowners syndrome" where she tries to leave. She wants to go home, but doesn't know where home is. Story Continues . If you have any good ideas let me know! email lasharpe@cox.net