Diabetes Guidelines

After being diagnosed with diabetes, many people work on improving their health to decrease the likelihood of complications. Kidney disease, skin disorders, blindness and foot problems are well-known complications of the condition. However, there is another risk that often hides in the background, unbeknownst to the patient.

Heart disease and stroke are major complications associated with diabetes, yet nearly 70% of people with diabetes aren’t aware of the connection between heart attack, stroke and diabetes.* Because people with diabetes often experience high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels along with other health problems, they are at an increased risk of developing arterial disease – a condition that can ultimately lead to a stroke or heart attack. Although this may seem dire, the long-term outlook for diabetics can be positive if risk factors are managed properly.

A Heart-to-Heart Matter

If you’re wondering how diabetes affects your heart, here’s how: A spike in blood sugar, blood pressure or cholesterol can harm your blood vessels by making it easier for fat deposits to cling to the arteries. Arteries and blood vessels can become blocked, leading to a heart attack or stroke. Fortunately, there are strategies for warding off arterial disease.

One of the first steps in determining whether you are at risk for diabetes complications is to assess your overall health. If you smoke, drink heavily and/or eat poorly, your health may be at risk. These factors can harm anyone’s health, but are especially dangerous for a person with diabetes. Making changes to your lifestyle takes effort, but can greatly reduce complications. To help maintain heart health, the American Diabetes Association suggests following the ABCs of diabetes care.

Lower your Hemoglobin A1C. Keeping your Hemoglobin A1C (a blood test that indicates how your blood sugar control has been over the past three months) below 7% can help prevent complications.

Monitor blood pressure. Have your blood pressure checked regularly. If your doctor tells you it’s high, you may need to work on reducing stress or following an exercise routine. Medication may also be an option for getting blood pressure under control.

Tackle bad cholesterol. LDL cholesterol is unhealthy for your heart. This type of cholesterol can lead to fat build-up in your arteries, increasing the chance that you’ll develop cardiovascular disease. By lowering your cholesterol, you can help keep your heart in working order.

On the Right Path

If you have diabetes and are concerned about your risk for heart attack or stroke, talk to your physician. Your health care provider can help monitor your diabetes and suggest ways to improve your health.

Learn how to live healthy with diabetes. Research your questions at: http://living-healthy-with-diabetes-swicki.eurekster.com/

* Source: Mayo Clinic.com.

Diabetes Info
http://www.articlesbase.com/diseases-and-conditions-articles/manage-the-risk-the-link-between-diabetes-heart-disease-and-stroke-112130.html

Copyright (c) 2008 Katie Kelley

Recently a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that type 2 diabetes patients who were treated with low-dose aspirin were found to have no significant decrease of antherosclerotic events, also known as hardening or clotting of the arteries, although those over the age of 65 with heart disease and type 2 diabetes did see a reduction of antherosclerotic incidence.

The American Diabetes Association (ADA) reports that the development of diabetes means more than just managing insulin levels, but it also requires the management of potential risks such as heart disease, heart failure and stroke. According to the ADA, “people with diabetes must also manage blood pressure and cholesterol and talk to their health provider to learn about other ways to reduce their chance for heart attacks and strokes.”

What is Cardiovascular Disease?

Cardiovascular disease occur for many reasons but often leads to heart failure, which occurs when the blood backs up into the pulmonary veins, according to the American Heart Association (AHA). There are an array of disease and conditions related to cardiovascular disease including:

* 
 arrhythmia

* 
 cardiac rehab

* 
 cholesterol

* 
 congenital heart disease

* 
 diabetes

* 
 heart attack

* 
 heart failure

* 
 high blood pressure

* 
 obesity

* 
 peripheral artery disease

* 
 stroke

Additionally, there are several signs and symptoms that individuals who have type 2 diabetes should watch for, as they may be developing heart failure related to their diabetes or other heart disease: 
 * shortness of breath

* persistent coughing or wheezing

* 
 edema

* tiredness/fatigue

* 
 nausea

* 
 confusion, impaired thinking

* increased heart rate

Developing, Treating Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is when the body cannot or does not produce enough insulin, also known as blood sugar, in order to provide the body with energy. A small sampling of type 2 diabetes drugs available for prescription purposes include the following:

* 
 Avandia

* 
 Actos

* 
 Byetta

Commonly these drugs are used to either introduce insulin to the body or to use the body?s natural insulin levels within the body. However, there are an array of type 2 diabetes drug side effects that can occur. One such drug is known as Byetta, exenatide, from Amylin Pharmaceuticals and Eli Lilly, which has been associated with severe risks among type 2 diabetes patients.

Byetta has allegedly been causing pancreatitis among patients. Those consuming the drug Byetta for their condition may need to consult medical attention or speak to their doctor about potential risks common among the drug’s side effects. It may also be necessary for a patient to contact a pharmaceutical attorney to develop litigation or a Byetta class action lawsuit. 


Katie Kelley

Deciphering the Alphabet Soup of Medical Professionals’ Initials

If you’ve ever wondered what the meanings are behind the letters and abbreviations at the end of your healthcare practitioner’s name, you’re not alone. Beyond the commonly known credentials, MD (medical doctor), RN (registered nurse) and PA (physician assistant), there is a litany of titles that signify a medical professional’s specialization, training and professional affiliations. Chances are, as a patient, you know which ailments your doctor or medical professional is capable of treating. However, the medical apparel industry is tasked with understanding medical and technical titles to best serve their clients, who wear lab coats and clinician scrubs in clinical settings, at the hospital, in laboratories and at the office. Lab coats typically bear the names and titles of their owners, who are educated and trained in their chosen profession. When ordering lab coats and scrubs as gifts for graduation, white coat ceremonies or for the holidays and birthdays, it’s important to obtain the recipient’s correct title before it is embroidered on the coat. These abbreviations can sometimes be found on a clinician’s business card but to ensure that you have the right title before ordering, check the list provided below.

A Summary of Common Medical Professional Titles

CDE – Certified Diabetes Educator
CNM – Certified Nurse Midwife
CPT – Certified Phlebotomy Technician
DHM or DHm – Doctor of Homeopathic Medicine
DMD – Doctor of Dental Medicine
DMFT – Doctor of Marriage and Family Therapy
DDS – Doctor of Dental Surgery
DO – Doctor of Osteopathy
DOM – Doctor of Oriental Medicine
DPM – Doctor of Podiatric Medicine
DVM – Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
EMT – Emergency Medical Technician
EENT or ENT – Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat specialist (MD)
EPC – Certified Exercise Physiologist
FAAD – Fellow  American Academy of Dermatology
FAAFP – Fellow American Academy of Family Physicians
FAAO – Fellow American Academy of Optometry
FAAP – Fellow American Academy of Pediatrics
FACE – Fellow American College of Endocrinology
FACP – Fellow American College of Physicians
FACS – Fellow American College of Surgeons
FADA – Fellow  American Dietetic Association
FAGD – Fellow  Academy of General Dentistry
FAPhA – Fellow  American Pharmaceutical Association
FASHP – Fellow American Society of Health-System Pharmacists
FNP – Family Nurse Practitioner
FNP-C – Family Nurse Practitioner, Certified
GP – General Physician
HMD – Homeopathic Medical Doctor
IBCLC- International Board Certified Lactation Consultant
ICCE - Certified Childbirth Educator
ICPE – Certified Postnatal Educator
LAc - Licensed Acupuncturist
LCCE- Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator
LCSW – Licensed Clinical Social Worker
LM – Licensed Midwife
LMA – Licensed Masters of Social Work, Adv Clinical Practitioner
LN – Licensed Nutritionist
LNC – Licensed Nutritionist Counselor
LNHA- Licensed Nursing Home Administrator
LPN – Licensed Practical Nurse
LVN – Licensed Vocational Nurse

MA – Medical Assistant
MAc – Masters in Acupuncture
MD – Medical Doctor
ME - Medical Examiner
MHSc – Master of Health Science
MNNP – Master of Nursing, Nurse Practitioner
MPH - Master of Public Health
MS – Master of Science Degree
MSN – Master of Nursing
MSW – Master of Social Work
ND – Naturopathic Doctor
NMD - Naturopathic Medical Doctor
NP - Nurse Practitioner
NP-C – Nurse Practitioner, Certified
OB/GYN – Obstetrician who is also a Gynecologist
OCN – Oncology Certified Nurse
OD – Doctor of Optometry; Optometrist
ONC – Orthopaedic (Orthopedic) Nurse, Certified
OPA-C – Orthopaedic (Orthopedic) Physician Assistant, Certified
OT – Occupational Therapist
PA – Physician Assistant
PA-C – Physician Assistant, Certified
PharmD – Pharmacy Doctorate
PhD – Doctorate Degree
PsyD – Doctor of Psychology
PT - Physical Therapist
PTA – Physical Therapist Assistant
RAc – Registered Acupuncturist
RD – Registered Dietitian
RDH – Registered Dental Hygienist
RDN – Registered Dietitian and Nutritionist
RKT – Registered Kinesiotherapist
RN – Registered Nurse
RN-C – Registered Nurse, Certified
RNCS - Registered Nurse Clinical Specialist
RN/NP – Registered Nurse, Nurse Practitioner
RPA-C – Registered Physician Assistant, Certified
RPh – Registered Pharmacist
RRT – Registered Respiratory Therapist

There are some medical apparel manufacturers that offer online ordering of lab coats and medical scrubs. Medelita’s web site offers custom embroidery on women’s scrubs, lab coats and nursing scrubs, for an additional charge.

Kimberly Green
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/what-do-all-the-titles-mean-715878.html

Omega 3 fish oil supplements are normally inspected by federal inspection agencies to ensure that they meet quality health standards. These supplement products are pharmaceutical grade fish oil and totally reliable and safe. In order to offer fish oil capsules at a discounted rate, many companies sell omega 3 fish oil in bulk. There are many online sources where you can go to buy these supplements. These products are available in the form of capsules as well as liquid oil in a bottle.

In order to obtain essential fatty acids, an external food source is required. People who eat fish on a regular basis have high levels of these acids in their body. However, those who do not like to eat fish, are vegetarians or do not have access to wild or fresh fish, often rely on other food sources for the consumption of omega 3 fatty acids. Omega 3 fish oil benefits include treatment of heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, Crohn’s disease, depression, arthritis and cancer.

Omega 3 is a type of fat essential for the overall health of an individual. Omega 3 acids belong to the family of polyunsaturated fatty acids, generally considered to be good fats. Fish oil is a rich source of omega 3 and can be consumed as a dietary supplement to fulfill the needs of essential fatty acids in the body. Omega 3 fish oil is known to provide numerous health benefits including proper growth of body tissues, prevention of heart attack, correct functioning of the nervous system and the excretory system, and fat loss.

There are a number of different agencies that have recommendations for the omega 3 fish oil daily dosage and they are all fairly similar and uniform in the discoveries that hey have made and in the suggestion of using fish oils. For example, the National Institute of Health recommends approximately 650mg of omega 3 fish oil daily dose while the American Heart Association recommends 650-1000mg per day.

Omega 3 essential fatty acids can lower triglycerides. They also help to lower bad cholesterol and high blood pressure. Omega 3′s are beneficial in weight loss as well. The body doesn’t make its own so they must come from food sources.

Omega 3 Fish Oil Capsules is a perfect for your health to improve and benefit due to the high content of Omega 3 fatty acids that is essential to the body. Maybe you’ve even seen or heard of Omega 3 Fish Oil Capsules on television or the radio and thought about getting some or seen it in the local grocery store. These products are picky to choose in the way that not all fish oils can be in the same classification of quality. It is highly important that you purchase pharmaceutical grade fish oil.

peterhutch
http://www.articlesbase.com/supplements-and-vitamins-articles/omega-3-fish-oil-benefits-dosage-715000.html

French bean: French bean is one of the most commonly used vegetables all over the world. There are several varieties, the most widely used being the French bean, is also known as common or kidney bean. Beans are high in carbohydrates and fiber. They should be eaten liberally to keep diabetes under control.

A decoction prepared from the beans is an excellent remedy for diabetes. This decoction is prepared by boiling 60 grams of fresh kidney bean pods, after removing their seeds, in four liters of water on a slow fire for four hours. It is then strained through fine muslin cloth and allowed to stand for eight hours. One glass of this decoction every two hours during the day is recommended. This treatment should be continued for four to eight weeks along with the prescribed diet restrictions. The decoction must be made fresh every day, as it loses it medicinal value after 24 hours.

The juice extracted from French beans is also valuable in controlling diabetes. It stimulates the production of insulin. This juice is generally used in combination with the juice of Brussels sprouts. The patient must, however be on a controlled diet.

Dr. James Anderson of the Human Nutrition Research Center of the US Department of Agriculture insists that the same foods that lower cholesterol and fight heart disease are also excellent for diabetics, who are at high risk of heart disease. This puts foods like beans that are high in soluble fiber in “highly recommended” category. Dr. Anderson quotes confirm that high fiber foods significantly reduce blood sugar along with cholesterol.

Lettuce: Lettuce belongs to that group of vegetables that contain three percent or less of carbohydrates. It is among the important foods that can be prescribed for diabetes. Diabetics can use it freely.

Onion: The onion has been used as a treatment for diabetes since ancient times. Recent research studies have proved that this pungent vegetable can lower blood sugar in diabetes. In recent investigations in India, scientists fed onion juice and whole onions in does of 25 to 200 grams to a group of diabetics and found that the greater the dose, the faster the decrease in blood sugar levels. It made no difference whether the onion was eaten raw or cooked. It was found that the onion affected the liver’s metabolism of glucose, or release of insulin, or prevented the destruction of insulin. The probable active hypoglycaemic substances in the onion are allyl, propyl, disulphide and allicin. In fact, as early as 1923, researchers had detected the blood sugar lowering properties of onion. And in the 1960s, scientists isolated anti-diabetic compounds from onions, which are similar to the common anti-diabetic pharmaceuticals that are used to stimulate insulin synthesis and release.

Soya bean: Soya bean is one of the most nutritious foods of the great value in the treatment of diabetes. The journal of the American Medical Association quotes from an article by Dr. Christian Becker published in an authoritative German Medical journal. In this article, Dr. Becker points out that the Soya bean bread is a valuable food for diabetics. It contains very little starch, but is rich in fat and protein, both the excellent quality. Soya bean has steadily grown in importance from a therapeutic point of view, since 1910 when studies indicated it to be a valuable part of diabetic diet. Its usefulness in diabetes is attributable not only to its richness in protein and its palatability, but also to its ability to cause, in some unexplained way, a reduction in the percentage and the total quantity of urinary sugar in diabetes patients on the usual dietary restrictions.

Tomato: Tomato with its low carbohydrates contents is very good food for diabetic patients and for those who want to reduce their body weight. It is said to be very effective in controlling the percentage of sugar in the urine of diabetic patients.

Find complete diabetes information, diabetes supply, diabetes treatment, diabetes diet, diabetes causes, diabetes types. More on Diabetes Mellitus Information and Treatment Supply. Also see Natural Ayurvedic Herbal Cure for Diabetes.

Dr John Anne
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/prescribed-foods-for-diabetic-patients-61200.html

We’ve all been told (or told someone else) that finishing all your veggies or eating fresh fruit every day is a good way to keep your body healthy and fit. But there are some other surprising foods (drinks too) that we can add to our diet that bring impressive health benefits, and (in moderation, of course) might just help us reach our weight loss goals.

Here are the five, good for your surprises:

1. Tea – 3 cups per day of any type that comes from the leaves of the plant Carnellia sinensis, which includes black, green, white and oolong varieties. There is strong evidence that tea might just reduce your risk of heart disease, and offer other less researched benefits such as protection from cancer and cutting your risk of Alzheimer’s disease. Tea appears to have a type of flavonoid from that same family of antioxidants found in fruits, veggies and red wine. To get the most out of your cup of tea, make it strong and steep it a good long time-but if you’re watching your weight, keep an eye on the milk and sugar you add to your cup.

2. Dark Chocolate – a little goes a long way, but just like tea, this delicious treat is believed to have an ample supply of the same flavonoids in red wine, fruits and veggies. Small amounts of dark chocolate have been shown to improve blood vessel flow, and may stabilize blood sugar and insulin sensitivity, thus reducing the risk of diabetes. Choose dark chocolate that contains at least 70% cocoa so you get more of these healthy antioxidants, and fewer calories from the milk and sugars used to make milk or white chocolate.

3. Fatty Fish – two servings per week of fish such as salmon, trout, herring, tuna, sardines or mackerel. These fish are rich in omega – 3 fatty acids, shown to reduce cholesterol, which helps to keep clots from forming and causing heat attacks. The research is so compelling that the American Heart Association recommends eating fatty fish on a regular basis. Be sure you choose grilled or broiled recipes as frying removes many of the beneficial substances in the fish and replaces them with calories and saturated fats.

4. Coffee – despite its bad rap, used in moderation, your first cup of morning coffee may have health benefits you haven’t heard about – including stimulating the brain and nervous system as well as lowering your risk of diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, mood disorders and headaches. Coffee has a compound from the antioxidant family and is a good source of magnesium, both are believed to help improve sugar metabolism, help with insulin sensitivity and glucose tolerance. And while black coffee is a tasty zero calorie drink, adding cream, sugar, or other toppings adds calories that you might not want.

5. Avocados – even though these fruits are full of fat, most of it is the heart healthy monounsaturated kind that is believed to lower cholesterol. Avocados have carotenoids, vitamin E and potassium, plus fiber to fill you up. Be aware though, that just because the fats are “good” ones, they still add calories if you aren’t careful about portions. Slice them onto salads, add them to a soup or spread them on bread to keep the potion sizes under control while still getting all the taste and health benefits too.

Adding one or more of these surprisingly healthy options is a great way to improve a diet that could use some help, or boost the healthfulness of one that’s already on the right track. Along with regular exercise, eating a balanced and nutritious diet is still one of the best ways to maintain your weight and your health.

Valerie Slaugther
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/good-for-you-surprises-you-can-add-to-your-diet-today-61635.html

Charlie’s Angels star Kate Jackson underwent adult cardiac surgery to correct a hole in her heart. Oscar-winner Patty Duke lives with coronary heart disease. Comedic actress Phyllis Diller suffered a heart attack in 1999, and celebrated author Joyce Carol Oates lives with tachycardia, or rapid heartbeat. Long thought of as a man’s disease, heart disease is beginning to gain exposure from female celebrities. And what they’re saying may surprise you – heart disease is a reality for women, too.

Heart disease affects more than 8 million women in the U.S., killing 267,000 each year.* It’s the leading cause of death among women – even six times deadlier than breast cancer.* Being aware of the risks and taking steps toward better health is vital for women in battling this potential killer.

Be Heart Smart

Some factors of heart disease are uncontrollable – a family history of heart disease increases your risk, as does age (women’s risk increases after age 55). The good news is that a number of other factors can be controlled by making smart choices on a daily basis. In fact, living a healthy lifestyle can lower your risk of heart disease by 82%.** Take action for better heart health now by following these tips.

Keep blood pressure and cholesterol in check. If your numbers are high, a heart-healthy diet and regular exercise could help lower them. Contact your healthcare provider to assess your risk and determine an individualized course of action.

Maintain a healthy weight. Carrying excess weight puts strain on your heart and increases your risk for heart disease, even if you have no other risk factors.

Know your risk for diabetes. Two out of three people with diabetes die of heart disease or stroke.*** Your chance of developing type 2 diabetes in adulthood increases if you are overweight, physically inactive or have a family history of diabetes.

Get regular physical activity. Aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate-level activity on most (or all) days of the week. Three 10-minute periods will work, too.

Eat a heart-healthy diet. Fruit, vegetables, low-fat dairy products and whole grains will do your body – and heart – good.

Quit smoking. After kicking the habit for just one year, your risk for heart disease drops by more than half.**

You don’t need to be a celebrity to raise awareness of heart disease. Start taking care of yourself now with a healthful lifestyle and regular screenings. And encourage those in your life – both men and women – to do the same.

* Source: The National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease.

** Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

*** Source: American Diabetes Association.

Diabetes Info
http://www.articlesbase.com/diseases-and-conditions-articles/calling-all-women-take-steps-against-heart-disease-97165.html

Scientists recently garnered a breakthrough for heart failure patients after finding success by administering hypothermic therapy. News reports told of the outcome of a heart failure study that found “only 10 to 15 percent [of cardiac arrest patients] recover without brain damage.

The American Heart Association (AHA) reported in a 2003 study of the therapy that it was used in the 1950s, although it was “subsequently abandoned because of uncertain benefit and difficulties with its use. Currently, the state of New York is attempting to bring the therapy to all hospitals within the state, but the implementation of the therapy is being met with some hostility due to costs and lack of medical equipment at smaller hospitals based in poorer areas of the state.

Cooling Treatment for Cardiac Patients

According to The New York Times, therapeutic hypothermia is “believed to reduce the chances of brain damage and increase the chances of survival, even if it means bypassing the emergency rooms,” however, “only those cardiac arrest patients revived enough to show a pulse and whose heart problems are not associated with some other trauma are eligible for the cooling treatment.”

Studies from both the American Heart Association and The New England Journal of Medicine have boasted the therapies’ usefulness finding “55 percent of the patients who received the cooling treatment ended up with moderate or no brain damage, compared with 39 percent who received standard treatment.”

Heart Failure Causes

There are an array of heart failure causes including the following, according to the American Heart Association:

* coronary artery disease

* past heart attacks

* high blood pressure

* abnormal heart valves

* heart muscle disease

* inflammation

* congenital heart disease

* severe lung disease

* diabetes

* severe anemia

* hyperthyroidism

* arrhythmia/dysrhythmia

Additionally, there is a unique and unintended side effect associated with the consumption of a type 2 diabetes drug, Avandia, which has been found to increase the risk of heart failure and heart damage among patients.

In a New England Journal of Medicine article from 2007, Avandia (rosiglitazone) was found to be the cause of heart failure among patients. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) also issued a health public safety advisory on the drug’s side effects, which also includes the onset of a early osteoporosis among patients and the increased risk of bone loss among women patients.

The severity of the Avandia dangers may require a patient to locate not only a medical professional but a pharmaceutical lawyer as well, as a free legal consultation as to the development of an Avandia class action lawsuit may be necessary.

Peter Kent
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/patients-suffering-from-heart-failure-find-promising-treatment-729009.html

One the most important indicators of the state of health of Americans today may be the ever increasing rate of overweight and obese children. The Institute of Medicine has found that one-third of American children are either obese or at risk for obesity. The Center of Disease Control has found that, since 1980, the proportion of overweight children ages 6-11 has doubled and the number of overweight adolescents has tripled.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, the increase in childhood obesity represents and unprecedented burden on children’s health. “If we don’t deal with children, this could be the first generation that will live sicker and die younger than its parents,” states Dr. James S. Marks, senior vice president of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, which recently announced an unprecedented effort to reverse childhood obesity epidemic by 2015.

Obesity or being overweight is not only harmful to the self-esteem and mental health of youngsters in a society that places such high value on thinness, but there are serious physical health concerns as well. According to Dr. Melissa A. Kalt, Clinical Professor of Internal Medicine/Pediatrics, overweight kids are set up for premature health risks such as Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and even poor behavior in school like inattentiveness, disruptiveness, truancy, and low grade scores.

Some of the environmental factors that are thought to contribute to obesity are: over consumption of fast food, simple carbohydrates, soda, or other high calorie, high fat foods; larger and larger portion sizes; lack of exercise and/or more sedentary lifestyles; under consumption of whole foods, fruits and vegetables. However, what may be underlying all of these factors or at the very least exacerbating the issue is children and media.

Facts:

According to the Task Force on Media and Childhood Obesity of the Federal Communications Commission, children today spend many hours each day watching television and are influenced by the programming and advertising they see.

The Kaiser Family Foundation states that young children cannot distinguish between programming content and advertising.

The U.S. Congress, Children’s Television Act of 1990 reports, by the time the average child is 18 years hold, he or she has spent between 10,000 and 15,000 hours watching television and has been exposed to more than 200,000 commercials.

Once research study documents that obesity in children increases the more hours they watch television. (Crespo, 2001)

Another research study shows that children who watch more than three ours of television a day are 50 percent more likely to be obese than kids who watch fewer than two hours. (Tremblay, 2003)

Another researcher reports that children who use a lot of media have a lower activity level which is linked to a higher rate of obesity (Vandewater, 2004)

According to the 2004 report “The Role of Media in Childhood Obesity” by the Kaiser Family Foundation, “during the same period in which childhood obesity has increased so dramatically, there has also been an explosion in media targeted to children: TV shows and videos, specialized cable networks, video games, computer activities and Internet Web sites.” And “much of the media targeted to children is laden with elaborate advertising campaigns, many of which promote foods such as candy, soda, and snacks.”

The Advertising Coalition reports that $10-$15 billion is spent annually on kids’ food advertising.

One study documented approximately 11 food commercials per hour during children’s Saturday morning television programming, estimating that the average child viewer may be exposed to one food commercial every 5 minutes (Kotz, 1994)

Another study found that children’s food choices were significantly impacted by which ads they saw, i.e. either an ad for fruit or an ad for candy (Gorn, 1982)

Other researchers found that for each additional hour of television viewed per day, daily servings of fruits and vegetables decreased among adolescents possibly due to television advertising (Boynton-Jarret, R, 2003)
…

While many researchers and studies are still establishing the role of media in child obesity and overweight issues, (the direct link between advertising and obesity has not been officially established), the advertisers certainly know that TV ads can influence children’s and family consumer choices. For example, fast food outlets alone spend $3 billion in television ads targeted to children. And according to “Advertising, Marketing and the Media: Improving Messages from the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies, food and beverage advertisers collectively spend $10 billion to $12 billion a year to reach children and youth.

So, what’s a parent to do to counteract unhealthy advertisements and the big dollars behind them? Here a few pointers on helping children be more healthy and fit:

First, educate them on the factors contributing to being overweight or obese:

1. Too much “fat foods” (fast foods, simple carbs, soda, energy drinks, cereal etc.)
2. Larger than life portion sizes
3. Not enough movement or exercise
4. Not enough whole foods (fruits, vegetables, whole wheat bread, whole grains etc.)

Second, reduce poor food choices in the home. Refuse to buy the sodas and sugar cereals or insist that these only be indulged in after a healthy meal.

Third, make whole food choices easy for them to prepare (i.e. pre washed, cut up fruits and veggies; oatmeal; smoothies; whole wheat bread; pre-cooked healthy snacks/meals like cubed chicken breast, string cheese, hard-boiled eggs, in single serving size containers. Make it tasty and easy (see green smoothie recipe below).

Fourth, encourage them to exercise (i.e. refuse to drive them to school; sign them up for sports; play with them outdoors; get a dog and go for daily walks). Make it fun.

Fifth, limit television hours per day. And teach them how they can mute the commercials or “tevo” the show and fast forward through the commercials.

And finally, teach them that being fit and healthy means eating healthy foods and exercising, in direct contrast to how television shows and advertisements portray super skinny people eating chips and drinking soda, it’s just not true. And educate them on the fact that advertisers make their money by portraying beautiful people eating junk food.

EASY, YUMMY recipe for “green smoothies”:
Give Your Kids a Great Dose of Fresh, Raw Servings of Fruits and Vegetables
(shhhhh, tastes so good, your kids won’t even know there is spinach in there!)

1. Put about 2 cups water in the blender
2. Add a few handfuls of spinach or kale or chard, blend until smooth
3. Add fruit, 1-2 bananas and 1-2 C frozen blueberries or mixed berries or fruit etc.
4. If you must, add a small amount of sweetener of choice.
5. Smoothie will be purple and yummy and you’d never know there were healthy greens hiding in the mix, ENJOY!

(Go for a green smoothie over a soda! Children who drink just one soft drink a day are 60 percent more likely to become obese, according to a 2001 study by Harvard University and Boston Children’s Hospital.)
…

Sources:

Boynton-Jarret, R, et al, (2003) Impact of Television Viewing Patterna on Fruit and Vegetable Consumption among Adolescents, Pediatrics 112(2003)6:1321-1326

Crespo, Carlos J. et al, (2001), Television Watching, Energy Intake, and Obesity in U.S. Children, Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, 155, 360-365

Eating Habits of Infants and Children Affect Health and Performance. HealthLink Medical College of Wisconsin. http://www.healthlink.mcw.edu/article/1031002925.html

Federal Communications Commission: Task Force on Media and Childhood Obesity. http://www.fcc.gov/obesity/

Gorn, G, et al, Behavioral Evidence of the Effects of televised Food Messages on Children, Journal of Consumer Research 9 (1982): 200-205

Kotz, K. et al, (1994), Food Advertisements during Children’s Saturday Morning Television Programming: Are They Consistent with Dietary Recommendations?” Journal of the American Dietic Association 94(1994)11:1296-1300

National Institute on Media and the Family: Media Use And Obesity Among Children. http://www.mediafamily.org/facts/facts_tvandobchild.shtml

Tremblay, M.S. et al, (2003), Is the Canadian child obesity epidemic related to physical inactivity? International Journal of Obesity, 27, 1100-1105

The Role of Media in Childhood Obesity: This Kaiser Family Foundation issue brief that reviews more than 40 studies on the role of media in the nation’s dramatically increasing rates of childhood obesity explores what researchers do and do not know about the role media plays in childhood obesity. It also outlines media-related policy options that have been proposed to help address childhood

U.S.News article “Childhood Obesity Epidemic a Long-Term Challenge” http://health.usnews.com/usnews/health/healthday/070920/childhood-obesity-epidemic-a-long-term-challenge.htm

Jessica Rampton
http://www.articlesbase.com/nutrition-articles/how-media-drives-obesity-in-children-and-simple-counter-tactics-682774.html

Although standard blood cholesterol tests (measuring total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, and triglycerides) have helped doctors to accurately assess heart disease risk in many patients, recent advances in medical science have demonstrated that conventional cholesterol testing provides only limited insight into the multiple factors that underlie cardiovascular disease. In fact, these tests identify only 40% of those at risk for coronary heart disease.

The good news is, scientists have developed a more advanced blood test that can far more accurately gauge your risk of heart disease. The Vertical Auto Profile (VAP) test augments the standard cholesterol profile with additional measurements that can identify the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Best of all, the VAP test not only offers a comprehensive assessment of cardiovascular risk, but also supplies vital information that can help you and your doctor formulate a customized disease-prevention program and measure its progress over time. This powerful diagnostic tool can help you take the steps necessary to avoid preventable health catastrophes — like heart attack and stroke — today.

The baby-boom generation understands that as they age, their risk for heart attacks, strokes, and other cardiovascular events continues to increase. Not content to succumb to disease and disability, this population is embracing a proactive, preventive approach to health care that includes advanced techniques of risk assessment such as the Vertical Auto Profile (VAP) cholesterol test.

Awareness of the VAP test is important for anyone who wants to stop cardiovascular disease in its tracks, even before signs and symptoms manifest. The VAP test is performed just like a traditional cholesterol panel: a technician or nurse draws blood and submits it to a laboratory. At reasonable cost, the VAP test provides more information than routine cholesterol tests and expands on this data. The comprehensive information derived from the VAP test enables physicians to more accurately predict their patients’ risk of heart disease, and to customize more aggressive, patient-specific treatment plans.

Even if your doctor’s office does not yet regularly utilize the VAP test, it is very likely that your physician will recognize the value of this advanced cholesterol screening tool, and will use the more detailed information it provides to devise the best treatment program to reduce your cardiovascular risk.

How the VAP Test Works

Routine cholesterol tests provide only the four following measurements:

1. Total cholesterol
2. Triglycerides
3. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL, the “detrimental” lipid), determined by a mathematical calculation, not by direct measurement
4. High-density lipoprotein (HDL, the “beneficial”lipid).

The standard lipid panel above is what physicians have relied on for years to assess their patients’ risk of cardiovascular disease. It has been a successful tool, helping physicians to lower patient cholesterol levels using a variety of medical therapies, including statin drugs, and motivating people to make lifesaving changes in their diet and lifestyle.

However, there are serious limitations to relying solely on the standard cholesterol panel. Most important, it can identify only about 40% of patients at risk for coronary heart disease.2 The truth is, many risk factors are involved in the development of heart disease, and for some people, high cholesterol may or may not be one of them. The well-known Framingham Study illustrated that the higher the cholesterol, the higher the statistical risk of a heart attack.3 Nonetheless, a frightening number of heart attacks still occur every day in people whose cholesterol values are seemingly normal. In fact, the American Heart Association reports that 50% of men and 64% of women who died suddenly of coronary heart disease had no previous symptoms!

Heart disease can lurk silently within, hidden and unsuspected. However, the additional information provided by the VAP test can help identify at-risk patients more accurately than routine cholesterol tests.

The expanded information from the VAP test includes:

• More accurate, direct measurement of LDL.
• Measurement of LDL pattern density. This is important because small, dense LDL (“Pattern B”) triples the likelihood of developing coronary plaque and suffering a heart attack.4
• Measurement of lipoprotein subclasses, which include HDL2 and HDL3, intermediate-density lipoprotein (IDL), very-low-density lipoproteins (VLDL1, VLDL2, VLDL3), and lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)], a particularly dangerous lipoprotein that can lead to heart attacks and strokes.

Patients who test “normal”in a routine cholesterol panel often are found to be at risk for heart disease after taking the VAP test. This is crucially important, not only to diagnose a number of lipid disorders and optimize the choice of medications, but also for tracking improvement when patients are working to reduce their numbers, whether with drugs or lifestyle changes. Clearly, more information means more effective treatment, and thus better health outcomes.

In addition, VAP is the only cholesterol profile that tests for all the present and emerging risk factors identified in the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP ATP III) cholesterol guidelines.

Prevention Is Key to Cardiovascular Health

I have performed a VAP test for the first time on many patients who have already had heart attacks or strokes, or who have undergone heart procedures such as bypass surgery or placement of a coronary stent. The results have often led me to think that if a VAP test had been performed earlier, maybe the heart attack or stroke could have been prevented, or the surgery would not have been necessary.

Too often in the United States, medical care is reactionary. A heart attack or stroke occurs, the sufferer rushes to the emergency room, and then doctors desperately try to rise to the rescue. All the physicians and patients I know appreciate that this is not the best approach. Part of the beauty of the VAP test is that it can help reduce the likelihood of this scenario occurring. Identifying risks for cardiovascular disease — and then working to correct them in order to prevent heart and vascular disease — is a better choice than costly surgical interventions.

Baby boomers, who have taken more hands-on responsibility for their health than any previous generation, can be even more strongly motivated to adopt wellness strategies when they better understand the specific risks facing them. It is one thing to tell patients that their cholesterol is high and they need to reduce it by changing their diet and lifestyle or by taking medication. It is something else to tell them that they can decrease their risk of heart attacks and emergency room visits by implementing strategies to adjust their cholesterol particles. The more definitively a health threat can be identified, the greater the patients’ compliance with treatment will be.

Since the National Cholesterol Education Program recommends people begin regular cholesterol testing at age 20, young adults can take a VAP test to learn about their cardiovascular disease risk early in life. This will allow them to take aggressive steps now — including diet and exercise — to maintain a healthy heart for life. Taking a VAP test now makes infinitely more sense than waiting until a cardiovascular catastrophe occurs, and then wondering if the event might have been prevented if a more complete cholesterol profile had been obtained earlier.

VAP Cholesterol Testing: What You Need to Know

• Cardiovascular disease is America’s number-one cause of premature death. As adults age, their risk for heart attacks, strokes, and other cardiovascular events escalates.
• Cardiovascular risk assessment using conventional lipid panels (measuring LDL, HDL, total cholesterol, and triglycerides) detects only about 40% of those at risk for a cardiovascular event. An advanced form of lipoprotein testing, the Vertical Auto Profile (VAP) cholesterol test, detects far more patients at risk of heart disease. The VAP test measures all the components of a standard lipid profile, as well as all cholesterol subclasses known to contribute to cardiovascular risk.
• The data provided by a VAP test allows physicians to detect cardiovascular risk long before symptoms manifest, and to use this data to develop personalized prevention and treatment protocols for patients of all ages. Early intervention can help prevent costly hospitalizations and invasive surgery later in life.
• All individuals who wish to fully and accurately understand their cardiovascular risk should consider a VAP test. In particular, adults at high risk — due to family history, previously diagnosed cardiovascular disease, or conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, or known lipid abnormalities — should undergo VAP testing.
• The advanced data provided by the VAP test allow doctors and patients to proactively implement strategies to prevent cardiovascular events and mortality.

Should Everyone Take the VAP Test?

This question is still being debated in the medical community. It is more expensive than routine cholesterol panels, but it provides more information. It is simply the best way for physicians to learn more about their patients and identify heart disease risk earlier. As time goes by, more physicians are recognizing the limitations of conventional lipid assessment and turning to advanced lipoprotein testing for better answers.

Certainly anyone who has reason to believe he or she may be at high risk for cardiovascular disease—because of family history, previously diagnosed coronary or vascular disease, or factors such as high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, any measure of coronary plaque, or identified abnormalities in cholesterol or triglycerides — should strongly consider VAP testing. Even if you are simply concerned about heart disease, you can proactively encourage your doctor to perform this advanced test. It is now widely available in diagnostic laboratories around the country.

Being proactive means being eager to learn about ways to improve your health, and working with your doctor to create a personalized prevention and treatment plan. However, when it comes to tests that involve risk — such as imaging procedures that deliver radiation — I caution you to be wary. Sometimes, being proactive can lead you down that slippery slope to unnecessary surgical intervention. Fortunately, the VAP test has the distinct advantage of providing added information without added risk.

©2008 Michael Ozner, MD, FACC, FAHA

Author Bio
Michael Ozner, MD, FACC, FAHA, is one of America’s leading advocates for heart disease prevention. Dr. Ozner is a board-certified cardiologist, a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology and of the American Heart Association, medical director of Wellness & Prevention at Baptist Health South Florida and a well-known regional and national speaker in the field of preventive cardiology. He is the medical director of the Cardiovascular Prevention Institute of South Florida and symposium director for “Cardiovascular Disease Prevention,” an annual international meeting highlighting advances in preventive cardiology. He was the recipient of the 2008 American Heart Association Humanitarian Award. Dr. Ozner is also the author of the BenBella Books title The Miami Mediterranean Diet.

Michael Ozner, Md, Facc, Faha
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