Tag: Preventative Care

Brain Food: Five Things You Can Consume To Help Fend Off Mental and Neurologic Illness

What we consume daily can have a significant implication on how our brain functions and what mental illnesses we may acquire.

An unhealthy diet may increase your risk for psychiatric and neurologic conditions such as depression and dementia.

Healthy diets may be protective.

Here are five dietary items to keep your brain on the right track:

  • Fish oil is loaded with DHA and EPA two polyunsaturated fatty acids (omega 3 fatty acids) that can decrease psychosis and depression.
  • Berries have polyphenols which reduce the oxidative stress of free radicals in the bloodstream and slow cognitive decline.
  • Alcohol, always in moderation (one drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men), can improve your cholesterol decreasing cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease and prevent Alzheimer’s disease.
  • Coffee has anti-oxidant properties and may increase insulin sensitivity improving blood sugar and has been found to reduce your risk for stroke and improve depression.
  • Chocolate (the darker the better) because of plant polyphenols called flavanols, has anti-oxidant properties and has been shown to reduce heart attacks and stroke and possibly improve mood in the short term.

The bottom line is a diet that is Mediterranean, based on high intake of fruits, vegetables, nuts, whole grains, fish and unsaturated fats, or what is termed a “whole diet” which is fruits, vegetables, whole grains and high quality meats and fish, can help make you less likely to develop depression or anxiety and reduce your risk of dementia, heart disease and stroke.

Teen Depression: How Parents Can Help Prevent This By Promoting Physical And Mental Health

Teen depression is a serious problem that can cause long-lasting physical and emotional problems.

By promoting your child’s physical and mental health, you can help him or her handle stressful situations that might trigger teen depression.

There is no single cause of teen depression. Genetics and environment may play a role.

Some teens are more prone to depression than others:

  • Children of depressed parents.
  • Children who have anxiety or behavior problems.
  • Teen girls may be more vulnerable than teen boys.
  • Children with health problems, stress or the loss of an important person in their life.

Teens dealing with depression are more likely to experience teen pregnancy, abuse drugs and alcohol, and perform poorly at school and at work than other teens.

Teen depression is linked to an increase risk of suicide and suicide attempts.

How can parents prevent teen depression?

  • Praise your child’s skills. Self esteem and self perceptions are affected by poor performance in school, get involved with their teachers, praise their other strengths-whether in music, athletics, relationships or other areas.
  • Promote participation in organized activities. This will boost self-esteem and increase his or her social network.
  • Encourage physical activity. Have them get one hour or more physical activity a day.
  • Provide parental support. Remind your child that you care by listening, showing interest in his or her problems, and respecting his or her feelings.
  • Talk to your child. An early warning sign of teen depression is isolation. Set aside time to talk to your child.

If you’re concerned that your child will develop or has developed teen depression, consult your Doctor to find out about depression prevention programs or cognitive behavioral therapy as studies have shown taking extra steps such as these can help.

Diabetes: An Epidemic In America, What Can You Do To Prevent You From Developing Type 2 Diabetes!

By 2020, 1 in 2 Americans could have Diabetes!

Type 2 Diabetes (Adult Onset) can be prevented with weight loss, diet and exercise.

Always try to maintain a healthier weight: know your ideal BMI (body mass index) for your heighth and sex.

Exercise daily: 2 1/2 hours of moderate exercise per week.

Eat healthier.

Here are some ways to approach your diet to help prevent Diabetes:

  • Total amount, not the type, of carbohydrate is key: limit the amount.
  • Dish out proper portions of the food groups, no measurement needed: your plate has 1/2 vegetables, 1/4 starch/grains, 1/4 protein.
  • The right “white” bread: white whole wheat flour only.
  • Learn to love whole grains: whole wheat and brown rice.
  • Instead of brown rice some strange but great alternatives: bulgur, quinoa, couscous, millet, barley, or wheat berries.
  • Watch out for “faux” whole grains: “multigrain” or “cracked wheat” are mostly made of flour.
  • Alternative sweet snacks: low fat yogurt with sliced banana and blueberries/blackberries.
  • Can have all the “free food” you want: zero calorie foods like edamame.
  • Drink smarter: replace soda with herbal tea or seltzer water, coffee (yes, coffee may increase insulin sensitivity).
  • Add some spice to your life: cinnamon may increase your insulin sensitivity.
  • Chromium in your supplements: this trace metal may also increase insulin sensitivity.
  • Popcorn: yes, popcorn is a whole grain and a great alternative to chips (but hold the fattening butter).

The Bottom Line: lose weight, exercise daily, limit your carbohydrates, eat those whole grains and cut out the junk food and you can help stop this epidemic from becoming a reality!

So You Think You Want Your PSA Tested?

Recently the US Preventative Task Force issued new guidelines for Doctors to follow regarding the use of PSA (prostate-specific antigen) for screening men for prostate cancer.

Their recommendation came from a communication actually dated November 2009, and now recommends against routine screening by the use of the PSA blood test in all men, not just those greater than 75 years old, as the old guideline stated.

This new recommendation is not supported by many in the medical community that deal with mens’ health and prostate cancer on a daily basis.

Here are some of the facts surrounding this controversy.

  • What is the prostate-specific antigen (PSA)? This a protein produced by the cells of the prostate gland and is used as a ‘biological marker’ to detect disease of the prostate.
  • Why is the PSA test performed? The US FDA has approved the PSA to be used along with a digital rectal exam (DRE) to detect prostate cancer in men 50 years or older.
  • For whom might a PSA screening test be recommended? Prior to the USPTF report, Doctors recommended routine screening by PSA and DRE for men 50 years of age and older or younger if they had a family history or were high risk for prostate cancer.
  • What if the screening test results show an elevated PSA level? A man should discuss an elevated PSA test with his Doctor as there can different reasons for an elevation including prostate cancer, benign prostate enlargement, inflammation, infection, age and race.
  • What are some of the limitations of the PSA test? Detecting tumors does not always mean saving lives as prostate cancer tumors can be very slow growing or fast growing and aggressive. There can be false-positive and false-negative tests leading to unnecessary tests or false reassurance.
  • Why is the PSA test controversial in screening? It is not yet known for certain if this test actually saves lives and some of the follow up diagnostic tests and treatments for prostate cancer can cause harmful side effects.

The bottom line: PSA testing, by itself, is not recommended for screening for prostate cancer but requires discussion between the Doctor and the patient to determine his overall risk of prostate cancer and when this test should be performed.

Men’s Preventative Health

Why Men Avoid The Doctor

  • Stoicism
  • High cost
  • Busy schedules
  • The challange of getting an appointment
  • Embarrassment-getting the DRE
  • Afraid of what the Doctor might tell them-stop smoking, eat too poorly, drink too much, not enough exercise

Men’s Preventative Health Screenings

  • Blood pressure check every 2 years starting at age 18
  • Cholesterol blood test starting at age 20
  • Fasting blood sugar test every 3 years starting at age 45
  • PSA blood test and DRE starting at age 40
  • Colonoscopy every 10 years starting at age 50
  • Skin exam if find any changing or irregular moles
  • Testicular exam starting at age 20
  • Immunizations-tetanus every 7-10 years