Exploring new ideas

While it’s impossible to point to a single event that is responsible for the American obesity, diabetes, cancer, infertility, and ADHD epidemic, one clear factor is the work of a scientist named Ancel Keys. During World War II, Keys performed starvation experiments on conscientious objectors. He had noticed that heart disease was skyrocketing among well-fed American businessmen, but was dropping significantly in the areas of Europe that had been food deprived by the war. He created the currently-accepted notion that cholesterol was responsible for heart disease, and performed studies to prove it. The backbone of Keys’ hypothesis was a study in which Keys studied heart disease and cholesterol levels versus saturated fat consumption in six countries, and found a direct correlation between the two: the more saturated fat people ate, the more cholesterol and heart disease appeared in those countries. Keys used that study, along with several others created by his students and associates that seemed to support it, to go on a crusade in the 1950s against the then-traditional high fat diet (bacon, eggs, and sausage for breakfast, fatty steak and potatoes with greasy gravy for dinner). Keys fought long and loudly, and eventually got the attention of the government. Unfortunately, Keys’ research wasn’t on the up-and-up. His vaunted six-country study actually had almost two dozen countries’ worth of data behind it – he just picked out the six that “proved” his hypothesis and left out the remainder entirely. The other countries had data that utterly defied Keys’ hypothesis – some had massive cholesterol levels with no heart disease and little saturated fat consumption, others had lots of heart disease with almost no cholesterol or saturated fat, etc. Other scientists even pointed this out at the time the study was being touted as a revolutionary glimpse into the heart health of the civilized world.

There is a hairy little secret no on in the pharmaceutical industry wants to discuss. A surprising number of popular medications can cause hair loss, but all the drug companies want to talk about is hair growth.

Clearly hair loss is an emotional; issue. Until recently, dermatologists believed nothing could be done for male pattern baldness (alopecia). Now that is all changed. However, few drug industry spokespeople ever mentioned that many prescription drugs may cause hair to thin, and doctors rarely mention baldness as a potential side effect. Many physicians don’t realize it is possible. When patients discover through their own experience that their medicine makes their hair fall out, the emotional consequences can be devastating. Baldness is a well-known consequence of many cancer chemotherapy medications. When treating potentially life threatening diseases. Most people are willing to put up with temporary hair loss. But in less dire circumstances – for example hypertension or elevated cholesterol – most people would prefer to be forewarned that their drugs might thin their hair. Medications occasionally reported to be associated with hair loss include oral contraceptives, blood thinners, seizure medications, male hormones (anabolic steroids), and vitamin-A derived drugs. Drug industry spokespeople may not mention baldness as a side effect of common medications, but don’t overlook this upsetting possibility.

I’d often toyed with the idea of electrolysis. But I had been hesitant to try it because of the time and expense required, and because of the possibilities that the hair would grow back and the procedure would leave scars. My biggest fear was that it would hurt. Because electrolysis requires a series of treatments, I wanted to find a local electrologist. Electrologists use several variations on two main types of electrolysis (permanent removal of hair at least partly using electricity). The older type is galvanic, suing electricity to convert body salts to lye to kill a hair root. The other main type, thermolysis, kills the hair roots by converting electricity into heat. The hair also goes through three phases: the first is active growth. In the second, the resting phase, the hair stays in the follicle as it dies. In the third phase, the hair follicle becomes dormant and the dead hair falls out.

Electrolysis is effective only on hairs in the growing phase. Dormant follicles need to be zapped again, because when the dead hair falls out a new hair will take its place. If the discomfort of treatment is closer to pain, or there is re growth, switch to another electrologist. If a bump persists, have it checked by a dermatologist to be sure it is not scarring. Pain, re growth, and scarring should be things of the past.

Liposuction is a surgical procedure with all the complications and health risks that go along with that. And, as more than a few people will attest, there is a chance you won’t achieve cosmetically acceptable results. Proceed with caution. Before you submit, get the facts and, most important, make sure you are in good hands.

To perform liposuction, a doctor inserts a blunt-ended metal tube, called a cannula, through a small incision in the skin, and then tunnels repeatedly under the skin in a radiating pattern to dislodge and remove fatty tissue. The cannula is connected by a plastic hose to a vacuum aspirator, which suctions out the fat, which is mingled with blood and body fluids.

The procedure can be done under local or general anesthesia. Usually, an intravenous line drips a glucose solution into your arm during the 30 to 90 minutes it takes for the surgery. Afterwards, you must wear support garments. Such as a girdle or chin strap, depending on the liposuction site, for a few weeks. This helps prevent dimpling by smoothing out the fat that remains under your skin. If your thighs, buttocks, or hips are suctioned, you may not be able to walk or sit comfortably for a few days. Bruising, selling, and some pain may linger for up to three months.

As the ovaries’ estrogen production begins to fluctuate, in the early stages of menopause, menstrual periods change. Many women are relieved to find their menstrual flow getting lighter. Others may miss periods for a few months, only to face a period that is heavier than ever. Though common in the menopausal years, heavy menstrual bleeding can have serious ramifications. Periods that are exceptionally heavy or last much longer than usual can put you at risk of iron deficiency – anemia. Of even greater concern, any heavy bleeding that occurs you have gone one year period-free could be a warning sign of cancer.

To counter iron deficiency, look to lean beef and beans, your best dietary sources of iron. Or, if blood tests have determined that you are indeed anemic, consider iron supplements. Also alcohol dilates the blood vessels. And although it can’t cause a heavy period, it can exacerbate the problem. Certain medications, including aspirin, can interfere with the bloods clotting ability. Vitamin E has blood thinning side effects as well. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for guidance.

The best way to avoid either iron overload or iron deficiency is to eat a healthy, balanced diet, with a diversity of nutrient-rich foods. If you get enough iron from foods, you probably won’t need supplements

Since iron deficiency is a far more common problem than iron overload, it’s important for most people to eat iron-rich foods. Lean meat is the best source of iron. Part of the reason is that the iron in meat is in a form that’s easy for the body to absorb. Modest servings of low-fat meats should be eaten several times a week

Although many vegetables contain iron, the amount our bodies can absorb varies because of other chemical compounds present in vegetables. A Swedish study indicates that good iron absorption results from consumption of carrots, potatoes, beets, pumpkin, broccoli, tomatoes, cauliflower, cabbage, turnips, and sauerkraut. These vegetables all contain ascorbic acid, malic acid, or citric acid, which enhance absorption. On the other hand, some vegetables that contain a lot of iron can’t really provide most of it to our bodies because they also contain a lot of phytate. These not-too-good sources of iron include butter beans. Lentils, beet greens, and, believe it or not, spinach.

Everyone needs some iron. Many basic cell functions could not take place without iron, including blood production and the proper use of oxygen. If you don’t get enough iron, your body can’t produce enough red blood cells, which can lead to anemia. Symptoms of anemia include fatigue, weakness, pallor, and cold hands. It rarely causes death, but iron-deficiency anemia may be the world’s most common disease, harming the quality of life of millions, especially in less-developed countries. Iron deficiency also affects many people in this country. The following group of people is more susceptible to anemia.

Poor people, especially children, if their diets are inadequate. Menstruating women, who lose iron with each period, as loss of blood mean loss of iron. They are particularly susceptible if they don’t eat much food because they are watching their weight. It’s been estimated that iron deficiency occurs in a third to half of healthy, young adults. Pregnancy, childbirth, and nursing take a large toll on iron levels, so most pregnant women and new mothers need iron supplements.

While there is plenty of opposition to many home diagnostic tests, the movement toward self testing is growing. Millions of North Americans now spend nearly half a billion dollars annually on devices that monitor blood sugar and blood pressure and tests that detect pregnancy, ovulation, and some types of cancer. Industry analysis expect sales of home medical tests to more than double in the next two years and quadruple to more than $3 billion by 2010. Private companies are developing over-the-counter home tests for allergies, strep throat, thyroid problems, and sexually transmitted diseases. Some of the popular self-tests are pregnancy test, ovulation tests, etc.

Seven to eight million women sue home pregnancy tests. Accurate, fast, and convenient, these kits test urine for the presence of hormones indicating pregnancy. The test costs around $10 to $15 and can detect pregnancy as soon as one day after a missed period. Ovulation tests are also becoming popular especially among women trying to become pregnant. The test predicts ovulation by testing for a sudden surge in the concentration of luteinizing hormone in the urine. Ovulation takes place within one day of such a surge. Ovulation tests cost around $25 and should not be used as a method of contraception.

Iron overload is usually not caused by eating too many iron-rich foods. Instead, it is triggered by a combination of factors: first, a genetic prosperity and, second, years of overdoses of iron from repeated blood transfusion or iron supplementation.

The body stores iron in the liver. The danger is, if levels go too high, they can overload and harm the liver, conditions referred to as hemosiderosis (iron overload) and hemochromatosis (overload to the point of damage). Symptoms of these disorders include bronzing of the skin, diabetes, enlarged heart, heart arrhythmias, loss of libido, abdominal pain, and arthritis. Hemosiderosis used to be quite rare, but in recent years, scientists have found that it is increasingly prevalent ad that cases may be aggravated by iron supplementation.

Not everyone is susceptible to iron overload. People have different abilities to absorb iron. Caucasians of Northern European extraction may be the most susceptible. A small but significant number of them carry a gene that allows for absorption of too much iron. Early studies had indicated that this tendency was quite rare, but now it is estimated that about 2 to 3 per 1000 people in the United States may carry this genetic susceptibility. Up to 10 percent of Caucasians of Northern European extraction are at risk.