Dead Sea Herbs

December 26, 2011|By Cory Franklin

Chicago tribune

Big business

The tragic tale of Flight 447 should not only be a case study in aviation but also in medicine. Medicine is becoming less of a hands-on science and more dependent on sophisticated tests and high-tech scans. As in aviation, there is an overall benefit; diagnosis and treatment are better than ever. But the same problem bedevils medicine, perhaps more commonly — in difficult situations, inexperienced doctors are often uncertain of how to interpret sophisticated information presented to them, resulting in incorrect diagnoses or inappropriate treatment.

An example of this was recently demonstrated by Dr. James Andrews, one of the country’s leading orthopedic surgeons, who has operated on many of the country’s top professional athletes. He and some colleagues believe the MRI, a staple of orthopedic evaluation, is becoming overused. The test is extremely sensitive and sometimes indicates abnormalities that are not actually a source of problems.

Andrews proceeded to obtain MRIs on 31 professional baseball pitchers, none of whom was injured or had pain. The MRIs showed abnormal shoulder cartilage in 90 percent and abnormal rotator cuff tendons in 87 percent. Andrews’ blunt conclusion, “If you want an excuse to operate on a pitcher’s throwing shoulder, just get an MRI.”

In the context of experience and technology, prominent surgeons like Atul Gawande have promoted operating-room checklists and better communication to assure medical personnel adhere to certain standards, paralleling the experience in aviation. Without question, this process-oriented approach is a positive development that eliminates mistakes and saves lives.

However, the analogy is simplistic and does not extend to every facet of medicine, since medicine involves far more human judgment. In general, aviation operates according to certain predictable rules of engineering and physics. The limited number of variables in a routine flight can generally be anticipated. In contrast, medicine operates according to many poorly understood and less predictable rules of biology and physiology. Where pilots can sometimes elect to cancel a flight or avoid dangerous weather, doctors cannot avoid many unpredictable emergencies in sick patients.

Dr. Richard Karl, the former health chair of surgery at the University of South Florida and a licensed pilot for more than four decades, has long advocated medicine adopt routine safety techniques, training, evaluation and continuing education from the aviation industry to enhance physician experience and minimize the chances of catastrophic disasters. But he candidly acknowledges, “Without intending to diminish either glorious profession, as a pilot type-rated in the Boeing 737 and as a surgical oncologist, I can say unequivocally that surgery is much harder than flying.”

The takeaway is the essential value of human experience — we can never have too many Capt. Sullenbergers, in aviation or medicine. Dr. Cory Franklin lives in Wilmette.

Communication and diagnostics.

It used to be the doctor would start the diagnostic process by talking to the patient, discussing lifestyle, habits and symptoms and manually checking the patient. In many cases that was enough for correct diagnose.

“Nicely explained the relationship between aviation and medicine. Your comment is truer in Western nations where doctors do not have adequate clinical knowledge, as they totally depend on the sophisticated tests for diagnosis, unlike in developing countries, where doctors has to depend on clinical knowledge.”  Health guy…

My mom was brought to the hospital with the pain in the spine. Young “doctors” obviously trained in technology started with multiple tests, sticking tubes and needles all over. My mom was 89 years old. Why did these “doctors” did the test? I don’t know. I wonder if the new. My mom passed away next day. I still think because of all the tests.

It is time for doctors to become doctors again. Not technicians.

inseparable

“No one wants to die. Even people who want to go to heaven don’t want to die to get there. And yet death is the destination we all share. No one has ever escaped it. And that is as it should be, because Death is very likely the single best invention of Life. It is Life’s change agent. It clears out the old to make way for the new. Right now the new is you, but someday not too long from now, you will gradually become the old and be cleared away. Sorry to be so dramatic, but it is quite true.”

- Steve Jobs

Chicago tribune health

Earlier this year, a pair of influential bioethicists argued in an essay in The New Republic that the amount of money the country spends on Medicare is unsustainable. With senior citizens the fastest-growing age group in the country, they say, the only way to control the ballooning costs is to try to bring the entire population up to a life expectancy of 80 and stop using most expensive technologies and medicines to extend life beyond that, even if some people will die.

“If you want to save all lives, you’re in trouble,” said Callahan, co-founder of The Hastings Center, a bioethics research institute in New York, and a faculty member at Harvard Medical School, in an interview. “And if you want to save all lives at any cost, you’re really in trouble.”

Medicare was signed into law in 1965, a time when life expectancy was 67 for men and 73 for women, and half of people 65 and older had no health insurance. In 2007, life expectancy had grown to 75 for men and 80 for women, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In contrast, in 1900, life expectancy was 46 and 48, respectively.

“Doctors can keep you alive until you are 105, but that may not be a particularly good aim of the health care system,” Callahan said. Senior citizens should receive good basic health care, but the main resources should go to children and the adult population, he believes.

So what is the solution? Who decides who lives and who dies? There is simply not enough money in the system to do everything for everybody. And the first time in history of this country the post baby boomers generation will have a shorter life expectancy than their parents.

There is no short term solution other than to educate the aging parents and their adult kids on how to make the sensible decision on when is it time to go.

In the mean time we need to learn how to maintain a healthy life style so we stay healthy and die gracefully.

Is this life?

“We get selfish families, and it’s often easier for doctors to pull out prescription pads,Doctors need more often to say no, to say (if a patient is dying): ‘We will give you palliative care, but not give you chemotherapy. We will not give you new expensive drugs because it will not make you better.’”

“More importantly, this article ignores another reality for doctors who must make these difficult decisions: the nearly unlimited liability exposure if the family members disagree with all members of the health care team, including hospital ethics panels.

Once again, because of special interest resistance to malpractice reform, centralized government control will become the default option.

And maybe, just maybe, we need to rethink our stand on direct-to-consumer advertising of expensive medications to the populace on the Nightly News.”

By PETER SINGER

Published: July 15, 2009 

Life's wisdom

We all know that we will die eventually.

We were all born and we will all die

It is the way of nature to assure the continuation and progress of the species.

And death is just as natural as birth and life and just as necessary for the success of species.

As we age we think about life and death and quality of life as we near the end.

And it is scary. After all this is one in a lifetime experience.

We all like to have a healthy and happy life.

The true wisdom, I think, is the understanding of the beginning and the end and the knowing when the time comes to go. And to go with dignity.

And even as the primal instinct of self preservation kicks in I hope that wisdom will prevail and I will be able to make the right decision

Wisdom and happiness.

One of the reasons I am writing on this subject is the lack of understanding of life and death and the medical establishment on keeping terminally ill people alive artificially at any cost causing suffering to patient and the families and, due to limited resources denying life saving treatment to those who could be saved.

It is a complicated issue and we all should learn the wisdom of living and dying.

So enjoy life and learn how to stay healthy naturally.

Meanwhile Happy Holidays to all our readers and Happy and Healthy New Year!

Pearls of wisdom

Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. ~World Health Organization, 1948

I wear Alpaca socks during winter and summer. For sport and at home. Alpaca is by far my favorite fiber.
Here is why:

Did you know???

Healthy feet

With 26 bones and many joints, muscles, tendons and ligaments, the human foot is very complex. In a lifetime, each person logs an average 70,000 miles on their feet. With all that use on such a small percentage of our body it’s a wonder we get around at all! Kind of gives you a new respect for your feet, doesn’t it? That’s why proper foot care, and wearing the right socks and shoes is essential. If you treat your feet right, they will treat you in kind!

Feet perspire about 20-30 gallons in total, per year, even per foot that’s a lot of sweat! Where does it go? Well 5-8 gallons of that perspiration gets absorbed by each sock, and shoes get their fare share as well. Fiber content does make a difference in your socks! Avoid 100% cotton socks. Cotton is a great absorbing material, but then where does the moisture go? Nowhere! It stays right there against the foot. This moisture softens the skin, increases friction and, in turn, causes blisters. Avoid Wool socks! Wool is a coarse fiber, about as thick as a human hair (80-100 microns or so) and can cause itch and irritation. It too absorbs moisture, as much as 30 percent of its weight! This moisture in wool has an odor all its own. Additionally, wool contains lanolin which is a fairly popular allergen. Many people are allergic to this old world staple

Alpaca

What then to you use to keep your feet happy and healthy? Alpaca! Alpaca is a natural fiber, free from lanolin and naturally hypoallergenic. It is hollow and wonderfully thermal. It does not absorb moisture, rather it wicks it away. It is a super fine fiber with a far better fineness compared to wool; in fact it is so fine that four or five strands equal the width of a single human hair! In other words, it is 25% the size (or 18-25 microns) of wool while being just as warm! So ideally, it is lighter and far less irritating! Just try one pair of Alpaca Socks and you’ll be a believer!

Alpaca Socks are designed to help keep feet dry and comfortable, no matter what the temperature. It all begins with alpaca and other micro fibers that wick moisture away from feet. Filled with a soft cushion of terry loops these socks will protect the tender areas of the foot from irritation and provide you with the best foundation for an outstanding performance.
High-performance socks protect feet against cold or excessive heat and assist the foot’s own temperature regulating function. Under varying climatic conditions, socks help balance the body’s temperature and manage perspiration creating a pleasant feel next to the skin.

Alpaca sport and every day

Alpaca fiber, with its hollow-core, traps air for greater insulation in any weather. Alpaca is very soft and luxurious yet is incredibly strong, providing heavy-duty performance Alpaca can be processed organically, is sustainable, being shorn off the gentle alpaca annually and alpacas are the green alternative to sheep, causing no destruction to the environment.  Alpaca is a lightweight natural fiber, and therefore alpaca socks weigh less than other socks, so wearers carry a lighter load. Alpaca is hypoallergenic, does not absorb water and thus alpaca socks do not foster bacterial growth in the sock, so there is less chance of foot odor. Alpaca socks are machine washable or easily hand washable on the trail in cold water and quick to dry.

Baby Alpaca Fiber is the exact same fiber as alpaca however it is shorn from younger animals, usually alpacas that are 12-18 months old (shearing is a needed and natural process for alpacas!) or animals that have a low micron count. Because of it’s fineness it is softer, more luxurious and more expensive than standard super fine alpaca. Baby alpaca socks are very popular!

Staying cool during the summer – Thermal is the answer!
It’s a myth that your feet will stay cooler if you skip wearing socks in your shoes, unless you wear flip flops or skimpy sandals. In fact, in the summer the natural heat and humidity aggravate perspiration which causes friction between the foot and the shoe, and that can cause hot spots and blisters.

Socks with an inner layer of micro fiber knit against the skin transfer moisture away from the foot to keep it dry. Alpaca, some think is an unsuitable fiber for summer use, but because of the huge thermal capacity it is in fact very comfortable. It does a wonderful job wicking moisture away from the foot in the heat!

Better safe than sorry!

Many people know that dressing in layers and wearing a hat, are key ways to stay warm. However, some overlook the importance of keeping feet equally protected. Remember when Mom told you over and over to go put on socks?  Believe it ~ Mom was right! In fact, because blood goes to protect vital organs first, blood vessels in the feet constrict. This reduces circulation and increases the likelihood of frostbite. The basic concept you should look for in cold weather clothing applies to socks too. The best high quality fibers and fabrics offer insulation from the cold and allow the body to release perspiration. The body needs to do just as much of this in the cold as in the heat, in order to regulate its temperature.

High-quality alpaca socks help retain warmth, and absorb and transfer moisture away from the skin and keep you warm and healthy.

Alpaca is the best natural fiber for warmth. Even in damp conditions, alpaca provides warmth because its hollow fibers trap air in their core continuing to provide insulation. Synthetic fibers, such as micro fiber acrylics, provide superior moisture transfer as well and when combined with alpaca it is a sure fire winner! Thicker socks are generally warmer because their large loop (terry knit) construction traps more air which provides warmth and insulation from the cold. Warrior Alpaca socks with a combination of these natural and manmade fibers and thick terry knit construction offer the greatest protection from the cold.
In addition Alpaca has one of the highest resistance factors of all natural fibers. The resistance factor of a human hair is 100, wool is rated at 122.8 and mohair at 136. Alpaca is rated at 358.5. It is a very strong fiber. The reasons alpaca is incorporated with other fibers are cost and special properties required for some garments.

UV exposure is bad for you

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/09/080918081046.htm

Moderation!

In one of three papers in the series published today, Dr David E Fisher, dermatologist and president of the Society of Melanoma Research, and colleagues from the Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston have explored the social issues and molecular mechanisms related to tanning caused by UV exposure. Reviewing published data in the field, the authors report that both tanning and skin cancer seem to begin with the same event – DNA damage caused by UV exposure. This leads them to suggest that a ‘safe’ tan with UV may be a physical impossibility

Skin cancer is the most common malignancy in the US; the American Academy of Dermatology reports than one American dies every 62 minutes from melanoma. The WHO estimated that, in the year 2000, up to 71 000 deaths worldwide were attributed to excessive UV exposure

Source

Department of Medicine, Section of Endocrinology, Nutrition, and Diabetes, Vitamin D, Skin, and Bone Research Laboratory, Boston University Medical Center, Boston, MA 02118, USA. mfholick@bu.edu

Sun is good for you

Life is good!

Most humans depend on sun exposure to satisfy their requirements for vitamin D. Solar ultraviolet B photons are absorbed by 7-dehydrocholesterol in the skin, leading to its transformation to previtamin D3, which is rapidly converted to vitamin D3. Vitamin D deficiency is an unrecognized epidemic among both children and adults in the United States. Vitamin D deficiency not only causes rickets among children but also precipitates and exacerbates osteoporosis among adults and causes the painful bone disease osteomalacia. Vitamin D deficiency has been associated with increased risks of deadly cancers, cardiovascular disease, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and type 1 diabetes mellitus.

http://www.diet.com/g/rickets

Rickets was once considered an extremely common disorder of childhood. The term itself is derived from the old English word for “twist,” or “wrick,” and throughout history children with rickets could be identified by their bowed legs and knock knees, which gave them a twisted appearance.

Rickets is caused by a deficiency in vitamin D. During growth, human bone is made and maintained by the interaction of calcium,phosphorus, and vitamin D. Calcium is deposited in immature bone (osteoid) in a process called calcification, which transforms immature bone into its mature and familiar form. However, in order to absorb and use the calcium available in food, the body needs vitamin D. In rickets, the lack of this important vitamin leads to low calcium, poor calcification, and deformed bones.

Infants and children who are not exposed to sunlight, like those in smog-filled cities or those who remain indoors or covered for cultural or religious reasons, are also at increased risk of developing rickets. In children with darkly pigmented skin, melanin acts in a similar way to block sunlight’s ability to help the skin make vitamin D. Dark-skinned people require almost six times as much sunlight exposure to make the same amount of vitamin D as those with lighter skin.

Researchers have found that as little as twenty to thirty minutes of sun exposure per week in children in temperate climates is sufficient to maintain adequate levels of vitamin D in the blood. Other studies have found that oral supplements of 400 IU of vitamin D daily, often in the form of fish-liver oil, can prevent the disease in at-risk populations.

Too much Water is bad for you

By Alison McCook

Water is good, right?

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) – A new review of three deaths of US military recruits highlights the dangers of drinking too much water.

The military has traditionally focused on the dangers associated with heat illness, which has killed a number of healthy, young enrollees, Colonel John W. Gardner of the Office of the Armed Forces Medical Examiner in Rockville, Maryland told Reuters Health. However, pushing the need to drink water too far can also have deadly consequences, he said.

“The risk has always been not drinking enough,” Gardner said. “And then people who aren’t medically attuned get overzealous,” inducing recruits to drink amounts of water that endanger their health, he added.

Just use common sense and don’t be overzealous.

Sun is good for you-in moderation

Water is good for you-in moderation

Food is good for you-in moderation

Alcohol is good for you-in moderation

Sex is good for you-in moderation

I hope you got my point. Enjoy life and do what you like to do.

Just don’t go crazy!

What fits your busy schedule better, exercising one hour a day or being dead 24 hours a day?

Sometimes a good sweat session is just what the doctor ordered: Exercise has been shown to help ease menstrual cramps, joint pain, headaches, stress and depression, for starters. But if you’re not feeling up to your workout, your body might be trying to tell you that it needs a break. Here are five science-backed reasons to throw in the towel (for today).
Something hurts. There’s the good, normal kind of postworkout pain—the achy soreness you feel for a day or two after you’ve pushed your muscles a little harder than usual or tried something new—and the bad kind that feels like more of an ouch and lingers, explains SELF contributing expert Lisa Callahan, M.D., codirector of the Women’s Sports Medicine Center at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City. If a pain persists longer than 72 hours, causes swelling at the site, keeps you up at night or hurts more when you exercise, it’s time to sit on the sidelines and call your doc.
You’re sleep-deprived. Insufficient zzz’s could be as devastating to your well-being as lack of exercise, says James B. Maas, Ph.D., professor of psychology at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. “Your body uses sleep to restore itself both physically and mentally, yet people continue to put it off as if it’s optional,” says Maas. If you’ve been falling short of the seven to eight hours of nightly shut-eye experts recommend and feel downright exhausted when your alarm goes off in the morning, hit snooze and leave your workout for another day. Bonus: The extra rest will give you more energy to punch through that last mile or set of reps when you do hit the gym again.
You feel dizzy, thirsty or clammy. These are signs of warm weather injuries like heatstroke and exhaustion, cases of which are up 133 percent in the past decade, a study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine warns. Heatstroke can happen even on mild days, so always keep water handy, and if you start to feel the above symptoms, rest, drink up and call it quits for the day. Better safe than sorry!
Your stomach’s been feeling queasy. A little bit of indigestion is no biggie, but if you’re throwing up or experiencing severe diarrhea, you’re already on your way to dehydration and exercise will only make it worse. A 12-hour bug causes most upset stomachs, so you should be fine after a day in bed (or in the bathroom). Just be sure to drink plenty of clear fluids in the meantime.
You have a fever. If the thermometer reads above 100 and you feel exhausted or achy all over, you could have the flu, so trade your gym clothes for your PJ’s and get thee to bed! You’ll likely be too zonked to work up a non-fever-induced sweat anyway. Plus, you’re contagious a full day before you have any symptoms and for the first few days after symptoms strike, and I’m betting your fellow gymgoers don’t want the flu any more than you do. So rest up, drink plenty of fluids and don’t even think about those sneakers until your fever breaks and you’re feeling normal again.

Get off your butt!

My advise: stop looking for excuses and get your butt off the couch! Make it a habit to exercise at least 3 time a week. We are creatures of habit-in a few month you will feel that something is missing if you don’t work out.

Gym is much cheaper than a doctor. And good supplements will help.