Gout

I was recently asked about gout and what medications work best. Of course there are some that work extremely well, but instead of going right for the prescription or even over the counter medications try this first. If you are in an acute flare up of gout you will need medication to get it under control.

If you have had gout in the past, try drinking more water. Studies have shown that individuals with a history of gout were 40% less likely to develop another attack if they drank 5-8 glasses of water a day. It's simple, dehydration allows uric acid to concentrate in the blood stream which makes uric acid crystal formation more likely. These ccrystals get deposited around joints which results in the red, hot painful joint.

Stem Cells and 10 Illnesses #10

The last area where stem cells may be helpful is in the growth of new organs where there is organ failure. One of the problem we face today is a shortage of transplantable organs for those needing them. Many patient's die because there are not organs available.

Two years ago researchers were able to grow a beating rat heart in the lab from stem cells from newborn rats. This hold great potential for the future.

Stem Cells and 10 Illnesses #9

Another area where stem cells are being considered in terms of correcting problems is in blood disorders. There is a lot of research that is looking at the use of stem cells in Sickle cell anemia.

Studies have been done with mice with the sickle cell trait and have shown a complete cure with stem cells made from their own skin cells. This is truly a hopely finding for those who suffer from this disease.

Stem Cells and 10 Illnesses #8

One of the diseases that I think there is real potential for is arthritis, specifically osteoarthritis which is the most common form of arthritis. You may also have heard it called degenerative joint disease. This is a disease that is the result of the wearing away of the protective cartilage in joints. Once gone, it is gone.

Researchers are looking at ways to use stem cells to replace the lost cartilage and repair these degenerated joints.

Stem Cells and 10 Illnesses #7

Next in my list of disease is lung disease. Texas researchers have successfully developed stem cells into lung cells in the lab. They have shown strong evidence that these cells can actually repair lung tissue damage in mice.

Some of the conditions that this could help would be lung damage from a variety of diseases as well as from trauma to the lungs from car accidents, gun shots or sports injuries.

Stem Cells and 10 Illnesses #6

Another disease where stem cells could be useful is Lou Gehrig's disease. This is a very debilitating disease that many who are diagnosed with only live for 3 to 5 years. This disease damages the muscle controlling motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord.

Scientists are researching ways to help stem cells become motor neurons that could be transplanted into these patients.

Stem Cells and 10 Illnesses #5

Number 5 on my list falls in the same category with the neurodegenerative diseases. Alzheimer's is a disease that progresses by degrading and killing brain cells, which leads to memory loss, cognitive decline, and sometime behavior problems.

There is a lot of skepticism as to whether stem cells could help in this disease, but I feel there is potential here.

Stem Cells and 10 Illnesses #4

The fourth disease you might have already guessed if you thought about it. Since stem cells have the potential of repairing nerve damage, using them to help in Parkinson's Disease is a logical step.

Because of the effect of Parkinson's on the motor function of patient's suffering from the disease, researchers have put stem cells into mice with a similar neurodegenerative disease. what they found was an increase in the motor function of these mice.

Stem Cells and 10 Illnesses #3

The third disease where stem cells could prove to be very helpful is in heart disease. Because this is the leading cause of death in the United States, researchers are looking at this strongly.

The hope is that stem cells could regenerate normal heart muscle to replace heart muscle that has been damaged. There has been success with this in mice.

Stem Cells and 10 Illnesses #2

The next disease that I think stem cells have potential in is Diabetes. Now it is only going to work in Type 1 diabetics where the function of the islet cells has ceased in the production of insulin. Not the same as in type 2 diabetes.

Scientists have been able to coax human stem cells into producing insulin in diabetic mice. I think it is just a matter of time before they can do this in humans.

The matter of type 2 diabetes is not that the islet cells are not producing insulin, but rather they are shooting out lots of insulin. There is a problem at the cell receptor site with the insulin attaching there - we call it insulin resistance.

Stem Cells and 10 Illnesses

I just read some more information about another illness that stem cells may be able to help, so I thought I would put together my top 10 list of illness.

Probably one of the illnesses more in the lime light are spinal cord injuries. Last year, researchers started looking at the effects of stem cells on spinal cord injury patients, with hopes that these individuals would regain some feeling and use of their extremities.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Someone remarked to me recently that there seems to be an epidemic of obstructive sleep apnea and she wondered why. To me it seems obvious, because one of the leading causes of sleep apnea is obesity.

With the increasing weight of Americans, you should expect to see more sleep apnea. Yes there can be problems with tonsils and other related causes, but the number one thing is weight. Many people who lose weight stop having the sleep apnea issues.

Potential Symptoms of Ovarian Cancer Part 4

The last thing to watch for is pressure or pain. Sometimes this is very subtle, but if you are experiencing any kind of discomfort in the stomach or pelvic areas, you should be checked out. Especially if you have any of the other symptoms I've talked about over the last 4 days.

While these symptoms can relate to many problems which are easily treatable, discovering ovarian cancer early is essential in terms of optimal treatment.

If you're not sure, see you health care provider and let them evaluate what is going on.

Potential Symptoms of Ovarian Cancer Part 3

The third thing to watch for is a sense of urinary urgency. Now this is also related to a urinary tract infection, so it is definitely something to get checked out. As we age, women have less of the traditional signs and symptoms of a urinary tract infection as they did at younger ages.

If you don't have a urinary tract infection, someone needs to be checking for why you are feeling the urinary urgency. An ovarian tumor as it grows puts pressure on the bladder and causes that sense of urgency.

Potential Symptoms of Ovarian Cancer Part 2

The next symptom to watch for is similar to bloating, but is really an unusual feeling of fullness. This usually occurs during meals that you have a sense of feeling full faster than usual.

Be aware of this and get it checked out.

Potential Symptoms of Ovarian Cancer

Sometimes I think I need to make you aware of subtle symptoms that may indicate that you have a problem. Over the next few days I'll be giving you some symptoms that you should be aware of and see medical attention should they occur.

First of all is bloating. It is easy to write this off to something you ate, but if it happens more often than not, get checked for an ovarian problem. Fluid from ovarian tumors can start to build and a sensation of bloating occurs. Many women can write this off to a few pounds of weight gain, but listen to what your body is saying and get it checked out.

What to Drink?

I just saw another article about what we should be drinking. I have said this before, but it is still worth repeating. Get rid of those sodas. If you're drinking regular sodas or diet sodas, it does not matter. The regular sodas cause weight gain and are definitely linked with Type 2 Diabetes and heart disease as well as any other disease that is a result of obesity.

Diet soda really do not help you lose weight. In fact you may gain weight drinking diet sodas because they increase your appetite, so you end up eating more. Not to mention the fact that you are putting artificial sweeteners, flavors and other chemicals into your body.

You best bet - good old water.

Omega 3 Protects Us Part 5

The last disease I will talk about is one that millions of us have or suffer from, and that is arthritis. For those of you suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, there are some studies that show less morning stiffness, pain and swelling.

Because the omega 3s work as an anti-inflammatory, it is easy to understand why they would be helpful in arthritis. Any disease whose basis is inflammation will be subject to at least some improvement with the use of omega 3s as a supplement or in foods that you eat.

Exercise and HDL

One of the things that I have recommended to my patients for a long time is that exerecise can actually help increase your good cholesterol. For those of you who are concerned about cholesterol levels, look at your HDL - that is the most protective lipid in the body.

And yes exercise does help raise the HDL levels. The higher these levels the better.

Omega 3 Protects Us Part 4

Are you one of the millions of people who have high blood pressure (hypertension)? If so, you should be on an omega 3 supplement. Omega 3 has shown a moderate improvement in blood pressure. This seems to be somewhat dose related in that the higher the dose of omega 3, the more the benefit to the blood pressure.