Don't miss any of Bottom Line's Daily Health News. Add our address, dailyhealthnews@news.bottomlinepublishing.com, to your Address Book or Safe List. Learn how here. June 30, 2011 In This Issue... - Is There a Cure for Type 2 Diabetes?
- Safer Clotbuster Saves Lives
- Erase Tumors in 2 Months
- Clove Oil for "Itch Mites"
Is There A Cure For Type 2 Diabetes? Conventional medicine says no. But Dr. Stefan Ripich has perfected a method that gets his Type 2 patients off their diabetes drugs in as few as 30 days. In no time they became diabetes-free and are now living normal, healthy lives. No weight-loss, dieting, or exercise are necessary. And his method has never failed. Watch this brief video of ex-diabetics who swear they have cured their Type 2 with Dr. Ripich’s successful approach. Click here to try it risk-free Safer Clotbuster Saves Lives Blood clots are bad anywhere... but terribly frightening when they travel through your heart and then to your lungs, cutting off your body’s oxygen supply and keeping your heart from working properly. Having had friends with close calls, I read with excitement about a new ultrasound treatment for blood clots in the lung. Wanting to find out more, I called the surgeon conducting the trials, Tod Engelhardt, MD, head of cardiovascular and thoracic surgery at East Jefferson General Hospital in Metairie, Louisiana. A clot that reaches the lungs is called a pulmonary embolism (PE). Unless the clot is treated quickly after it reaches the lungs, the patient may die of heart failure. In fact, the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute says that at least 100,000 people a year experience PEs in the US and about 30% of them die. PE patients typically are given anticoagulants such as heparin and warfarin (Coumadin). These don’t dissolve the clot -- they just help prevent the clot from growing and new clots from forming. However, for "massive" PEs, doctors can administer a risky drug called a tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) to dissolve the clot. The problem, Dr. Engelhardt said, is that high doses of tPA often result in catastrophic bleeding. A HIGH-TECH APPROACH That’s where ultrasound comes in. With the use of an ultrasonic drug-delivery catheter, tPA can be delivered directly into the clot. The ultrasonic energy makes the clot more permeable to the drug, and much less drug is used -- resulting in fewer side effects (i.e., bleeding). "The way that it works is that you have a catheter with small ultrasound transducers attached. There also are holes in the catheter, so it works as a tiny drug-delivery hose as well as a source of ultrasonic energy," Dr. Engelhardt explained. "That means that I can give a much lower dose of tPA. The traditional systemic dose is 100 milligrams given over two hours, versus 20 milligrams over 12 hours with the ultrasonic-enhanced catheter." "My first case was an extreme emergency -- a patient who was dying. So I decided to use the device, and it worked very well," Dr. Engelhardt told me. That was about two and a half years ago. Since then, he has treated 36 PE patients with this new ultrasonic-enhanced catheter, and he’s gotten "great results" each time. The catheter was approved earlier this year in Europe for treating PEs. In the US, the Food and Drug Administration has okayed ultrasound for treating clots in the arms and legs but has not yet specifically approved it for use in the lungs. Dr. Engelhardt, who has made it a personal mission to campaign for the ultrasound technique, said East Jefferson and several other hospitals will begin clinical trials for FDA approval late this summer. Until ultrasonic-enhanced catheter use becomes more widespread in treating PEs, Dr. Engelhardt urges anyone diagnosed with a PE to ask his/her doctor if he is aware of the new technology. PREVENTION To reduce the chance of developing a blood clot that can travel to the lungs, the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute advises people to exercise their calf muscles whenever they sit for a long time. The Institute also advises people to get out of bed and move around as soon as possible after surgery or an illness... drink plenty of fluids to keep the blood thin... and follow the doctor’s advice on anticlot medication after certain types of surgery. See a doctor immediately if you have any symptoms of a PE -- chest pain... unexplained shortness of breath, problems breathing or persistent coughing... an irregular heartbeat... coughing up blood... light-headedness... an unexplained sudden feeling of dread or anxiety. Source(s):
Tod Engelhardt, MD, chair of the cardiovascular and thoracic surgery division at East Jefferson General Hospital, Metairie, Louisiana. Erase Tumors in 2 Months "Within two months, every tumor had shrunk, dried up and fallen off," said Tom to Dr. Gary Null about the miraculous disappearance of his rapidly spreading cancer. Tom had already gone through surgery once for skin cancer on his forehead. Unfortunately, his skin cancer was melanoma. Just 10 days after the operation, the cancer was back with a vengeance. It reappeared on his forehead, and quickly spread to his arm, upper body and chest. Four doctors all agreed: There was nothing they could do to cure this cancer. They all still wanted to operate. But Tom wanted to live -- not just get sliced up. Read on to learn what Tom did to save his life... Clove Oil for "Itch Mites" Thinking about the long season of bites and stings that lies ahead of us made me particularly interested in a recent Australian lab study that found that simple clove oil is a match for those nasty little demons known as scabies mites (Sarcoptes scabiei). These "itch mites" burrow into human skin, causing an allergic reaction and severe itching. There has been a recent wave of scabies infestations in the US, typically in nursing homes, day-care centers and other institutions. Lesions formed by scratching can lead to infections. Yikes. I perked up when I saw that Australian study, because it found that essential clove oil kills scabies mites within 15 minutes. Until now, treatment has included medications such as lindane, whose side effects include swelling of the mouth and tongue... difficulty breathing... dizziness... and vomiting. Superceding lindane, premethrin currently is the most widely prescribed medication for the mites. It has fewer side effects, though it also can cause allergic reactions, and an application of the ointment must be left on for eight to 14 hours. Against such a backdrop, whatever help simple clove oil may be able to provide sounds like something of a miracle! Researchers are looking into incorporating clove oil into a new topical medication, though that still is in the works. This would be a welcome relief because the mites are becoming increasingly resistant to the medications currently available. To discuss what one can do right now, I contacted Laurie Steelsmith, ND, who practices naturopathic and Chinese medicines in Honolulu. Dr. Steelsmith says that clove oil does indeed dispatch mites and that you can find clove oil in some mosquito repellents as well. As a bonus, the oil helps soothe the pain and itch of bites, and with its antimicrobial properties, it also sanitizes the skin. But before using, she cautions that it is crucial to make a modification to the oil. Dilute First Clove oil is very strong and much too irritating to put on skin undiluted, says Dr. Steelsmith. Here is how to dilute: - Get a second oil for diluting. Dr. Steelsmith likes almond, olive or coconut oil.
- Place two drops of essential clove oil into one tablespoon of the second oil and mix.
- If you have particularly sensitive skin, slightly increase the amount of the diluting oil.
To apply the diluted clove oil, dampen a cotton ball with it and dab or hold the cotton ball against your bite. Reapply daily for three weeks to the affected areas. Wash your hands thoroughly afterward to prevent getting any oil in or near your eyes. Some people may find even diluted clove oil irritating, so it’s a good idea first to test a very small amount on the inside of one arm to see if there is a reaction before applying it to larger areas of your body. Be well, Carole Jackson Bottom Line's Daily Health News 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. Click here to easily subscribe. You can easily unsubscribe by clicking here. To change your e-mail address click here To update your e-mail preferences click here Important: Help your friends live more healthfully -- forward this E-letter to them. Better: Send it to many friends and your whole family. This is a free e-mail service of BottomLineSecrets.com and Boardroom Inc. Need to contact us? http://www.bottomlinesecrets.com/cust_service/contact.html Boardroom Inc. 281 Tresser Boulevard Stamford, CT 06901-3246 ATTN: Web Team Privacy Policy: BottomLineSecrets.com Web Site Privacy Policy Required Disclaimer: The information provided herein should not be construed as a health-care diagnosis, treatment regimen or any other prescribed health-care advice or instruction. The information is provided with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in the practice of medicine or any other health-care profession and does not enter into a health-care practitioner/patient relationship with its readers. The publisher does not advise or recommend to its readers treatment or action with regard to matters relating to their health or well-being other than to suggest that readers consult appropriate health-care professionals in such matters. No action should be taken based solely on the content of this publication. The information and opinions provided herein are believed to be accurate and sound at the time of publication, based on the best judgment available to the authors. However, readers who rely on information in this publication to replace the advice of health-care professionals, or who fail to consult with health-care professionals, assume all risks of such conduct. The publisher is not responsible for errors or omissions. Bottom Line's Daily Health News is a registered trademark of Boardroom, Inc. Copyright (c) 2011 by Boardroom Inc. |
June 29, 2011 - The Drugs No Senior Should Ever Take
- How to Find an Honest Auto Mechanic
- Perfect Painkillers...
- See It...Eat It: Junk-Food Ads Trigger More Eating
- Erase Tumors in 2 Months
Dear healthwellness82@gmail.com, Whether you’re car savvy or know zilch about autos, finding a competent mechanic who won’t overcharge you seems like a tall order. But David Sturtz, CEO of RepairPal.com, an auto-repair information Web site, knows exactly what makes a top-notch repair shop. He tells how to spot one -- and warns about three costly and unnecessary procedures that, if they are ever recommended by any shop, should make you head for the door! And here’s a surprising warning from Jennifer Harris, PhD, director of marketing initiatives at the Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut. She explains why watching certain TV commercials can actually make you gain weight -- and she shares the research that proves it. All the best, Jessica Kent Editor BottomLineSecrets.com Don’t forget to check out Bottom Line President Marjory Abrams’ latest blog posting: Two Books that Changed My Life. And don’t forget to share your thoughts on the blog with Margie. The Drugs No Senior Should Ever Take How to Find an Honest Auto Mechanic David Sturtz An auto mechanic tells you that the clunking sound you hear means that your car needs thousands of dollars’ worth of repairs. But how can you tell whether the mechanic has diagnosed the problem correctly? And how do you know whether he/she would charge a fair price? "Auto mechanic" is among the least-trusted professions in the US, according to a 2010 survey by sales and management training company Sandler Training. Many mechanics are honest and skilled, while others have earned that mistrust -- and it isn’t always easy to tell the good from the bad. Here are ways to improve your odds of selecting a competent, honest mechanic or auto-repair shop, even if you know next to nothing about cars... Choose a Bosch Authorized Service Center and/or an ASE Blue Seal of Excellence repair facility. Bosch, a maker of consumer goods and automotive and industrial technology, is extremely selective about which independent repair shops it allows into its network of more than 1,000 US shops. Membership is a virtual guarantee that a garage is well-equipped and customer friendly and that its mechanics are well-trained and highly skilled. (www.BoschService.com/findsvccenter) Certification from the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) is a strong indication of competence as well. Any mechanic who carries this designation has passed, within the past five years, at least one of the challenging exams administered by the institute. Note: The presence of one ASE mechanic does not guarantee that he is the mechanic who will work on your car or that the shop’s ASE-certified technician passed an ASE exam related to the specific repairs that your car requires. Example: Having ASE certification for brakes does not ensure that a mechanic is skilled with engine or transmission repairs. What to do: Ask specifically whether the shop has earned the ASE Blue Seal of Excellence. This means that at least 75% of the shop’s technicians are ASE-certified and that each area of service offered by the shop is covered by at least one ASE-certified technician (http://Locator.ase.com/blue). Ask for an ASE-certified technician to work on your vehicle. AAA certification is a less reliable indication of a repair shop’s quality. Each AAA regional office sets its own standards, and some do a better job vetting repair shops than others. Look for longevity. It’s a good sign if a repair shop has been around for at least five years and an excellent sign if it has been in business for 20 years or longer. Low-quality and dishonest shops rarely manage to last that long, particularly now that consumers can share complaints on the Internet. If the garage does not say when it was established on its Web site, ask when you call or ask longtime area residents which shops have been around the longest. Possible exception: Bad repair facilities located near highway exits sometimes can survive by taking advantage of drivers from out of town who are unaware of the shop’s poor reputation. Search for the opinions of other consumers on the Internet. Web sites CitySearch.com and Yelp.com provide consumer reviews of local businesses, including auto-repair facilities. My Web site, RepairPal.com, also offers consumer reviews of repair shops. Not all Internet opinions should be given equal weight, however. Some business owners post glowing reviews of their own companies under fake names to trick consumers. And some consumer complaints about auto-repair facilities are unfairly negative -- sometimes car problems are legitimately difficult to diagnose or expensive to fix. Give significant weight to online opinions only if you uncover more than a few reviews and they have a strong positive or negative trend. Take complaints seriously if they report that... The shop billed customers for significantly more than the initial estimate, particularly if the shop did not contact these customers for approval as costs climbed. Vehicles’ problems recurred after the shop claimed that they were fixed. Call a shop that doesn’t handle cars like yours to ask for a repair facility recommendation. A shop that specializes in Japanese cars might not be equipped to repair your European or American car -- but it might know a local shop or mechanic who is. Pick a shop that makes you wait. If a repair shop cannot quickly fit your car into its schedule, it typically means that the shop is good. Shops that cheat their customers usually do not do so by overbilling for parts or labor -- that would be too easy for a savvy consumer to spot. Instead, dishonest shops tend to inflate bills by recommending expensive, time-consuming repairs that cars really don’t need. Very busy shops have little to gain by doing this because they have enough legitimate business to fill their mechanics’ work hours. Helpful: If you need your car fixed fast and a busy shop can’t get to it immediately, politely ask this busy shop to recommend another shop in the area. Quality shops usually know which other local shops can be trusted. Have routine maintenance performed by a full-service repair facility, not a specialized lube or brake shop. A full-service repair facility might charge a few dollars more for an oil change or a brake pad replacement than a specialty shop would, but this is an effective and inexpensive way to get a sense of whether you like and trust the repair shop before you have a serious car problem. Patronizing a repair shop for routine maintenance also makes you a regular customer, increasing the odds that the shop will treat you fairly and find a way to fit you in when it’s busy. Stay away from repair facilities that push unnecessary add-on procedures. If a shop recommends an "engine flush" or "transmission flush," head for the door. Engine oil and transmission fluid should be changed according to the vehicle manufacturer’s maintenance schedule, but flushing these systems is expensive and almost certainly unnecessary. It even could damage the vehicle. Also, be wary of shops that insist that an alignment is automatically required when brake work is done. Sometimes an alignment is needed, but not always. If a shop pressures you to agree to an alignment beforehand, it is probably just looking to boost your bill. Stay away from repair facilities that fail to recommend sensible add-on procedures. Sometimes tackling multiple auto-maintenance jobs at the same time is a money saver. If a mechanic fails to recommend additional work that could reduce the odds that a problem will recur -- or that might as well be done because a difficult-to-access section of the vehicle will be opened up anyway -- it could mean that the shop hopes to create another big repair or maintenance bill in the future (or that the mechanic is incompetent). To determine if additional procedures are appropriate, go to http://RepairPal.com/estimator, enter the requested details about your vehicle and work that it currently requires, then click the "Get Estimate" button. Scan down to the section labeled "Best Practices." Any additional work that should probably be done will be listed here, along with other useful details. Examples: If you ask a mechanic to change a timing belt, he should recommend replacing your water pump as well with most vehicles. A water pump is unlikely to last for the life of a vehicle, and having it replaced at the same time as the timing belt should reduce the cost of replacement by more than 50%, so replacement generally is seen as a shrewd money move even if the pump is still working. If your vehicle’s cooling system must be opened up, such as when your radiator needs to be replaced, the mechanic likely should recommend replacing the thermostat as well. It’s unlikely that your current thermostat will last for the life of your vehicle, and having a new one installed when the cooling system is open anyway should reduce the cost of replacement by at least 50%. If your car’s heater core fails, the mechanic likely should recommend replacing your engine mounts, too, assuming that these are worn. Worn engine mounts may allow your engine to move around more than it should, damaging the heater core. If the shop does not replace these mounts, the replacement core might become damaged as well. Bottom Line/Personal interviewed David Sturtz, cofounder and CEO of RepairPal.com, an auto-repair information Web site with more than a million visitors each month. RepairPal has a team of 26 expert ASE-certified technician advisers with a combined 500 years of professional experience. The site provides parts-and-labor-cost estimates for repair work, customer reviews of repair shops and other auto information. See It...Eat It: Junk-Food Ads Trigger More Eating Jennifer Harris, PhD Adults watched a TV show with commercials that showed unhealthful foods (candy, cola)... or more healthful fare (oatmeal, orange juice)... or no food. Later: TV off, participants were offered snacks. Those who had watched junk-food ads ate significantly more overall than the others. Lesson: Turn off the TV or leave the room during junk-food ads. Bottom Line/Women’s Health interviewed Jennifer Harris, PhD, director of marketing initiatives, Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, and leader of a study of 98 adults. Important: Help your friends get much more out of life -- forward this E-letter to them. Better: Send it to many friends and your whole family. This is a free weekly e-mail service of BottomLineSecrets.com and Boardroom Inc. Boardroom Inc. 281 Tresser Boulevard Stamford, CT 06901-3229 ATTN: Web Team You received this e-mail because you have requested it. You are on the mailing list as healthwellness82@gmail.com. Or... a friend forwarded it to you. Disclaimer: Bottom Line Secrets publishes the opinions of expert authorities in many fields. But the use of these opinions is no substitute for legal, accounting, investment, medical and other professional services to suit your specific personal needs. Always consult a competent professional for answers to your specific questions. 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