Make Your Knees Last Longer

Don't miss any of Bottom Line's Daily Health News. Add our address, dailyhealthnews@edhn.bottomlinesecrets.com, to your Address Book or Safe List. Learn how here. December 30, 2010 In This Issue... Perfect Painkillers... How People With Arthritis Can Avoid Joint Replacement -- Natural Remedies to Soothe Arthritis Agony Prescription Drugs to Avoid Like the Plague Worried That a Loved One Might Have Dementia? How to Tell Blast Away High Cholesterol. Lose 67 Points in Just 28 Days Perfect Painkillers... Work in seconds, cost 23 cents and heal your gut! We're all trying alternatives now that painkilling drugs are proving so deadly. There's got to be a better way! And now there is, thanks to a brilliant physician named Dr. Mark Stengler. In a famous case that's making fellow doctors gasp in admiration, Dr. Stengler's patient, Todd, could barely believe how fast his arthritis agony disappeared after all those drugs had failed him. Read on for more details... How People With Arthritis Can Avoid Joint Replacement Arthritis is easily the most common cause of physical disability in America. A newly released report from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) says that nearly 50 million Americans have doctor-diagnosed arthritis (including both osteoarthritis, or OA, and rheumatoid arthritis, or RA) and predicts that that number will soar to 67 million in the next 20 years. That’s a lot of stiff, painful knees, hands, shoulders and feet! While some folks joke that they’re headed straight for joint replacement, the truth is that arthritis responds well to many natural therapies, including dietary supplements. The staggering numbers in the new NIH report motivated me to check in with Kimberly Beauchamp, ND, a licensed naturopathic physician and health and nutrition writer in Kingston, Rhode Island, who treats many arthritis patients. Pain Soothers for Arthritis Patients Dr. Beauchamp shared some supplements and natural therapies that many arthritis patients find helpful: Zyflamend. This proprietary blend of supplements contains 10 anti-inflammatory plant extracts that can be helpful for many people with both OA and RA. Dr. Beauchamp has patients take one capsule twice daily with meals. (Available online at www.NewChapter.com and at many health-food stores.) Red Seaweed Extract. Red seaweed extract (Lithomanion calcarea) can help people with OA. One study reported in Nutrition Journal and funded by Marigot, the company that makes Aquamin (a patented red seaweed extract), found that taking the extract for one month was associated with a 20% reduction in arthritis pain. Patients also reported less stiffness and better range of motion and were able to walk further than those taking a placebo. A typical dose would be 2,400 mg of seaweed extract in capsule form each day, Dr. Beauchamp said. (Note: Seaweed contains iodine in amounts that may be dangerous to thyroid patients.) Vitamin D. New research indicates that vitamin D may play a key role in slowing the development and progression of both OA and RA. If you have either, it’s a good idea to get your blood level of vitamin D checked, said Dr. Beauchamp. If you are deficient, she suggests taking at least 1,000 IU of vitamin D-3 (cholecalciferol) each day. Peat/Peloid Packs (also called balneotherapy). Commonly used in Europe, this is a form of thermal mud therapy that holds heat particularly well. Peat (or peloid packs that are sheets of peat mud on fabric) is applied to the aching area for about 20 minutes. The treatment can be done at home, but Dr. Beauchamp said it is far better to work with a physical therapist or doctor who is knowledgeable in the technique, as the packs are cumbersome and must be carefully applied to protect the skin from burning. Peat therapy treatments are typically administered over the course of several visits, declining in frequency as the patient’s pain begins to ease -- the results are long-lasting and you can resume treatment if and when the pain returns. Oldies But Goodies Here are some other remedies that you’ve likely already heard about but that shouldn’t be overlooked if you are searching for relief from arthritis pain... Fish oil (omega-3 fatty acids). Effective at reducing inflammation for both RA and OA, studies show that omega-3s can be so helpful for RA patients that they sometimes can reduce their medications. OA patients usually see results quickly -- Dr. Beauchamp said two grams of fish oil daily is a common dosage, while RA patients may require higher levels to benefit. Ask your doctor about the appropriate amount for you. Glucosamine sulfate/chondroitin sulfate (or chondroitin sodium sulfate). Dr. Beauchamp often prescribes 1,500 mg of glucosamine and 1,200 mg of chondroitin daily, divided into three doses. Caution: Glucosamine and chondroitin often are derived from crabs and other hard-shelled sea creatures, so do not take them if you are allergic to shellfish. Glucosamine and chondroitin should also be avoided by people on blood-thinning medications such as warfarin (Coumadin). Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) is a sulfur derivative that is beneficial for some people with OA . It may help prevent cartilage degeneration, and it’s also known to decrease pain and improve physical function. It’s thought that MSM works better when combined with glucosamine -- take one gram of MSM twice daily with meals. And Don’t Forget About These! Massage and acupuncture. Many people, including those with RA or OA, find these treatments to be soothing -- it makes sense, since both techniques increase blood flow to the muscles and ligaments around the joints (particularly the knees and hips), which are stressed by arthritis. Exercise. Acknowledging that this often is the last thing people in pain feel like doing, Dr. Beauchamp says exercise is still essential for both OA and RA patients. The primary benefit: Exercise delivers fresh blood cells to the affected areas, bringing in nutrients and removing waste, including acidic waste products in the muscles that may provoke inflammation. She suggests swimming, walking or perhaps working with a trainer who is knowledgeable about arthritis. Weight control. Keeping your weight down reduces the pressure on painful joints for both OA and RA patients. The NIH study mentioned earlier in the story found twice as much arthritis in obese people as in people of healthy weight. One study showed that losing just 11 pounds reduced risk for knee OA by half and significantly reduced pain in the knees of those already afflicted. Arthritis is awful -- no question -- but drugs and/or surgery aren’t the only solutions. Dr. Beauchamp assured me that the research pipeline is filled with other promising new therapies in addition to the intriguing ones we discussed above, so you can count on hearing about these regularly in upcoming issues of Daily Health News. Source(s): Kimberly Beauchamp, ND, a licensed naturopathic doctor and health and nutrition writer based in North Kingstown, Rhode Island. Her blog, Eat Happy, helps take the drama out of healthy eating. www.EatHappyBlog.com. Prescription Drugs to Avoid Like the Plague Some drugs are just so bad, you should avoid them at all costs. If your physician won't prescribe a safer alternative -- or let you use a natural remedy -- then run (do not walk) to one who will. What kinds of drugs? Widely used antibiotic so dangerous to your kidneys that up to 28% of those who use it develop some impairment. This former rat poison is now touted as a cure-all for everything from dental problems to bone loss. Banned in Japan and Europe, it's unavoidable here in the US -- unless the proper precautions are taken. Widely prescribed drug for high blood pressure that is so dangerous, it should be used only as a last-ditch effort if nothing else works for you. Popular osteoporosis drug is just a rehashed version of an older one that built bone of such poor quality, breaks actually increased. Not to mention side effects such as permanent damage to the esophagus and kidneys, stress, diarrhea, constipation, fever, calcium and vitamin D deficiencies, rashes, headaches, and muscle pain. Read on... Worried That a Loved One Might Have Dementia? How to Tell It’s an increasingly common problem -- someone you care about seems to be showing signs of cognitive slippage, but you’re not sure whether it’s serious enough to merit testing or not. Should you schedule an appointment to see what the doctor thinks? Not so fast. It turns out that the best person to judge whether or not there’s a real reason to worry may not be a medical professional but a family member or close friend, a recent study shows. If this doesn’t seem particularly surprising to you (after all, who better to evaluate changes in cognitive function than those who know a person best?), you may still find the study results startling -- because a standard screening test used by health professionals to detect dementia was so much less effective in recognizing serious situations than the observations of family and friends. Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis wanted to see which of two tools to identify early-stage dementia worked better. One, called the Ascertain Dementia 8 (AD8) questionnaire, consists of an eight-question survey that is completed by a family member (usually the spouse or an adult child) or a friend of the person whose cognitive function is in question. The other is the commonly used Mini Mental State Exam (MMSE), a more detailed dementia screening test that is administered to the patient by a health-care professional. Researchers compared the results when both tests were used to evaluate 257 individuals (average age 75.4 years), some of whom were cognitively normal while others had mild Alzheimer’s symptoms. Then they examined these people using imaging and spinal fluid tests that identify Alzheimer’s changes in the brain, such as amyloid plaque. Although there were some "false positive" results, the AD8 questionnaire (the one done without using a doctor) picked up all but five of 101 individuals with dementia... while the MMSE test missed 74 of these mildly affected individuals! Moreover, the AD8 is free, noninvasive and easy to complete in just a few minutes. I spoke with John C. Morris, MD, director of The Charles F. and Joanne Knight Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center at Washington University School of Medicine, who was involved in the research. He told me that the AD8 questionnaire itself is not a diagnostic instrument but a reliably sensitive screening tool to determine the need to seek definitive diagnostic evaluation for Alzheimer’s. "Instead of just saying, 'Dad’s not really remembering to pay the bills like he used to,' this questionnaire can give you a way to structure your concerns and then present them to your physician," he said. Here’s The Test To administer the questionnaire, answer the following yes-or-no questions regarding the loved one you’re concerned about. Two or more "yes" answers may mean that further diagnostic testing is in order... Over the last several years, have you noticed a change in cognitive abilities for your loved one in regard to: Having problems with judgment (e.g., problems making decisions, bad financial decisions, problems with thinking). Showing less interest in hobbies/activities. Repeating the same things over and over (questions, stories or statements). Having trouble learning how to use a tool, appliance or gadget (e.g., computer, microwave, remote control). Forgetting the correct month or year. Having trouble handling financial affairs (e.g., balancing a checkbook, income taxes, paying bills). Having trouble remembering appointments. Having daily problems with thinking and/or memory. If you answered yes to two or more questions, don’t panic -- Dr. Morris stresses that the AD8 isn’t a diagnostic tool, but one that is meant to determine whether more testing should be done. To families facing uncertainty about what to do about a loved one who seems to be declining, this looks like a safe, wise and supportive first step to take. Source(s): John C. Morris, MD, director, Charles F. and Joanne Knight Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis. Be well, Carole Jackson Bottom Line's Daily Health News Blast Away High Cholesterol. Lose 67 Points in Just 28 Days The big drug companies don't want you to know about the alternative cures that can make their drugs obsolete. The alternative medicine believers think drugs and surgery are bad ideas. Guess what? They're both dead wrong. Finally, a maverick M.D. has dared to identify the world's best cures from both sides of the medical aisle. These are the real forbidden cures you want... Read on... You received this free E-letter because you have requested it. You are on the mailing list as healthwellness82@gmail.com.   Or... a friend forwarded it to you. 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