WHY BEING A WOMAN OR WORSE A WOMAN WHO LIKES TO SKI CAN BE HAZARDOUS TO YOUR KNEE HEALTH WOMEN AND THE ACL

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What is an Anterior Cruciate Ligament and How do You Tear it Anyway?..If You Ski or Play Football You May Already Know the Answer

If you are a woman than your knee is at increased risk of injury and if you are a woman skier than I sure hope your health insurance is current. At least that's the impression I get from the literature about the infamous anterior cruciate ligament knee tear. The knee is one complicated joint. Apparently the knee is even more complicated in women since they seem to get more anterior cruciate ligament tears than men. It's unclear why women suffer ACL tears more often than men. Some experts think the female anatomy may leave women more vulnerable. Others say the female hormone estrogen may weaken the ligaments.


I saw a newspaper article that claimed that the most common serious injury in skiing is a tear of the anterior cruciate ligament. But wait a second... What's a ligament? And what the heck is an anterior cruciate ligament? A ligament is a band of tissue that helps holds bones together or connected at a joint. The knee joint is packed with various ligaments and cartilage shock absorbers called menisici or meniscus for singular. There are knee ligaments as well as knee menisici. The ligaments bands help to stabilize the knee. The anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments criss cross the knee joint. That's why they are called cruciate. For the knee to operate properly the ligaments and the menisci need to be intact.

Why does Twisting Tear the Anterior Cruciate Ligament?

Twisting of the knee that typically causes an ACL injury happens in skiing as well as football, basketball and soccer. "A football player, for example, might twist his knee running in a zigzag pattern or have it hyper extended during a tackle". In basketball, for example, a would be Michael Jordan might plant his/her foot and then quickly change direction, turning the knee too far.



As I said, anterior cruciate ligament tears are a frequent knee injury especially in sports. "Orthopedists at leading medical centers estimate that several thousand children and young adolescents are getting A.C.L. tears each year, with the number being diagnosed soaring recently. Some centers that used to see only a few such cases a year are now seeing several each week".



"As many as eight times more girls than boys are suffering the acl tears, doctors report. In fact there have been reports that women who play sports are more susceptible to anterior cruciate ligament knee injuries". Twisting motions can cause a tear of the anterior cruciate ligament, scenarios such as when the foot is firmly planted in the ground and the knee is pointed in another direction.

Why are ACL Tears in Skiing Going Up and What May Help.. A New Device

According to a study even though skiing is getting safer overall, "ACL tears soared by 103 percent from 1972 and 2006"." The focal point in ski safety is the ACL "and
"not surprisingly a lot of people have tried to solve the problem...Others have tried to combat the anterior cruciate ligament problem by redesigning the ski binding...A new device called the KneeBinding was shipped to certain ski stores..This binding sense and reacts to the signature load that occurs just before the ACL tears, said Rick Howell, a former college ski racer who invented the KneeBinding."

Avoiding the Dreaded Knee Pop

CARDIOLOGIST STUDIES SUGGEST FUNNY MOVIES FOR THE HEART MAY BE NO JOKE

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What Does Monty Python Have to do with the Heart?

A Video about Heart Health

I went to a cardiologist yesterday and he told me to go watch the movie Ferris Bueller's Day Off or Monthy Python... Actually that didn't happen but it could have. Watching a funny movie could be good for your heart. "Laughing may be important to maintain a healthy endothelium, and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease,” says principal investigator Michael Miller, M.D., director of preventive cardiology at the University of Maryland Medical Center". Using laughter-provoking movies to gauge the effect of emotions on cardiovascular health, researchers at the school suggest that laughter is linked to healthy function of blood vessels. The endothelium is the inner lining of the blood vessels. You may not know it but the blood vessels can dilate (become wider). One of the signs of good cardiovascular function is the flexibility of the blood vessels to dilate. Interestingly, drugs like Viagra improve the dilation qualities of blood vessels. That is how it was discovered when scientists were looking for new heart medicines. Too much dilation can cause low blood pressure and thus the warnings about these drugs in some people, but I digress.


Here is a video about the heart from the same doctor in the laughter and heart study Click the arrow

What is the Connection Between the Inner Lining of the Blood Vessels and the Heart?

“The endothelium is the first line in the development of atherosclerosis or hardening of the arteries, so, given the results of our study, it is conceivable that "laughing may be important to maintain a healthy endothelium, and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease,” says principal investigator Michael Miller, M.D., director of preventive cardiology at the University of Maryland Medical Center and associate professor of medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine".






Anyway, "When the same group of study volunteers was shown a movie that produced mental stress,(in this case Saving Private Ryan) their blood vessel lining developed a potentially unhealthy response called vasoconstriction (blood vessels getting narrower, opposite of dilation), reducing blood flow... The study included a group of 20 non-smoking, healthy volunteers, equally divided between men and women, whose average age was 33. The participants had normal blood pressure, cholesterol and blood glucose levels. Each volunteer was shown part of two movies at the extreme ends of the emotional spectrum. They were randomized to first watch either a movie that would cause mental stress, such as the opening scene of “Saving Private Ryan” (DreamWorks, 1998), or a segment of a movie that would cause laughter, such as “King Pin” (MGM, 1996). A minimum of 48 hours later, they were shown a movie intended to produce the opposite emotional extreme... That finding confirms previous studies, which suggested there was a link between mental stress and the narrowing of blood vessels".








"The endothelium has a powerful effect on blood vessel tone and regulates blood flow, adjusts coagulation and blood thickening, and secretes chemicals and other substances in response to wounds, infections or irritation. It also plays an important role in the development of cardiovascular disease".

UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND SCHOOL OF MEDICINE STUDY SHOWS LAUGHTER HELPS BLOOD VESSELS FUNCTION BETTER

SHOULD I GET HEART SCAN IT DEPENDS WHICH CARDIOLOGIST YOU ASK

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Should I get a heart scan? That's the question many people ask faced with a barrage of advertisements touting the benefits of a heart scan. Now a new study in the New England Journal has poured fuel on the flames of controversy. You know the ads that go something like "My name is Joe Smith and I didn't know anything was wrong but my wife convinced me to get a heart scan and they found out I had blocked arteries". Previously I wrote in healty medical Blog that Medicare had decided to continue to pay for a non invasive test for heart problems called a CT heart scan or ultra fast CT or electron beam CT scan for calcium in the arteries (blood vessels) of people who have symptoms of heart disease.


Video Heart Scan CT Click the Arrow





Heart scans, heart CT scans or electron beam CT test are touted as a non invasive way to look for heart disease and chances of a heart attack. It's not a simple decision even for doctors. It's a common problem in medicine where the old conservatism of many doctors meets science and the profit motive. Doctors would like to find a non invasive test (that is where you don't stick things inside the person) to detect and predict heart disease and who is going to have a heart attack. But do you need an invasive and potentially dangerous angiogram to do it or is there an easier way? Now a new study in the New England Journal has poured fuel on the flames of controversy.






Coronary arteries are the blood vessels that supply the heart itself. If a coronary artery is blocked so that blood doesn't flow to a part of the heart it causes a heart attack. One of the most informative heart tests to look for blocked coronary arteries in the heart is a coronary angiogram. But a coronary angiogram involves inserting a catheter into the blood vessels and has some risks. Generally an angiogram is recommended when there are indications of blocked heart arteries. So for example, when David Letterman had chest pains his doctors wanted him to get an angiogram to look for blockage. A non invasive test for coronary artery blockage would encourage more people to get tested.




Writing about the NEJ study, the NY Times writes there is "a deep rift among heart specialists over the use of the 64 slice or CT angiography which produces mesmerizing 3-D images of the heart and blood vessels". In the NE Journal Study "researchers assessed the accuracy of Ct angiography in identifying blockages of 50 percent or greater in patient's arteries". "Slightly more than half of the patients had obstructive coronary artery disease (blockage)and the CT heart scans were almost as accurate as conventional angiography in diagnosing the blockages".



So what does this mean? Well, like almost everything in medicine, it depends who you ask. According to Dr. Redberg, "the study had failed to address the most important questions about CT scans: whether they improve patient outcomes". Also the CT scan misclassifed the severity of disease in 13 percent of patients she pointed out". On the other hand, Dr. Lima of Johns Hopkins "suggested that Ct angiography could be a good screening test for patients not known to have heart disease who develop sudden chest pain".

Medicare Will Still Pay for Heart Scan

Cardiologists Debate Expensive Heart Scan

Diagnostic Performance of Coronary Angiography by 64 Row CT

GUEST POST: Trusting your Doctor – Is it the Right Treatment?

Welcome to All Scrubbed Up's 4th guest blogger... Sarah Scrafford! Enjoy her views on the patient-doctor relationships. We think this one may draw some comments...

There are some people who treat their doctors like Gods – they think they can do no wrong, that they can cure any malaise, and that they have their best interests at heart. And then there are others who are extremely reluctant to trust anyone connected to the medical field, who move from doctor to doctor in search of the perfect one they can trust but never find one at all, and who generally prefer to treat themselves unless it’s a life-threatening situation. In my opinion, neither extreme is advisable – while you must trust your doctor to do the best for you, it’s also prudent to exercise caution and do a bit of research before you throw yourself at the complete mercy of a total stranger.

We hear horror stories of medical malpractices that occur because of both negligence and/or incompetency; the victims of these tragedies escape with no lasting damage if they’re lucky, but if they’re not, they could end up with chronic conditions, or worse, die. Medical lawsuits are extremely complicated affairs that end up becoming costly and difficult to prove, which is why it’s best to be prepared and do your homework before going to a doctor to seek treatment:

* Talk to other patients: Before you commit yourself to going under the knife of a particular surgeon, talk to his or her other patients so that you get proper feedback from the right sources. Long time patients are your best bet – they’re the ones who know exactly how competent and how trustworthy your soon-to-be physician is.

* Check the Internet: Some doctors have a web presence, but then again, you can’t believe their own publicity. Run a search to see if people have blogged about their efficiencies or inefficiencies – this being the age of free and available information, most people are not hesitant to air their views from a public soapbox, especially when the medium is as vast and diverse as the World Wide Web.

* Talk to your doctor itself: Some doctors are open to honest communication, and if you’re a good judge of character, you’ll know if you’re in good hands or not.

* Use relatives or close friends in the medical community: People who have close connections to the medical industry are usually in the inner loop regarding doctors and their methods of treatment. If you know someone in the medical community, don’t hesitate to pick their brains and seek their opinion.

* Bedside manner is not everything: Don’t be fooled by the bedside manner of doctors – that’s all there is to some of them. Style over substance never works, more so when it’s a question of your life. So take what doctors say with a pinch of salt, and double check your facts if you want to life a long and healthy life.

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This article is contributed by Sarah Scrafford, who regularly writes on the topic of Radiology Technician Schools. She invites your questions, comments and freelancing job inquiries at her email address: sarah.scrafford25@gmail.com.

VIDEOS ABOUT DIAGNOSTIC AND SCREENING TESTS FOR BREAST CANCER MAMMOGRAMS MRI AND VITAMIN D

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There is a lot of research, discussion and study of breast cancer. Is there a connection between nutrition and breast cancer? What is the difference between a diagnostic and screening mammogram? And what about an MRI for breast cancer? Are there any new tests that detect breast cancer earlier? It's confusing even for doctors as you can see by these posts from healty medical Blog.
For example, how about a so called "pap smear for breast cancer"?

Pap Smear Like Test for Breast Cancer









And recently I wrote about a spitting test for a genetic propensity for breast cancer.

Scientists Get Jewish Women to Spit in Breast Cancer Study

And the story of Christina Applegate highlighted the role of MRI in breast cancer.

Christina Applegate and MRI and Screening for Breast Cancer





And more....

How to Do a Breast Self Exam and Why It Matters

Low Vitamin D Study of Possible Connection with Breast Cancer

Whats the Difference Between a Diagnostic and Screening Mammogram

POCKET DIGITAL CAMERA THAT COULD BE USEFUL IN SCIENCE AND MEDICINE THE SONY DSC W120 IS NO SLOUCH WHEN IT COMES TO LOW LIGHT AND BURST MODE

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O.k I admit it. My inner geek is showing. If you look at the posts here on healty medical Blog you may have noticed several discussions about digital cameras and high definition camcorders. Digital cameras are super useful in medicine and science and frankly,they are just plain cool. Doctor or not, many times you just wish you had a camera with you to catch a great shot. Many things in science and medicine (and sports) happen in the blink of an eye. Previously I wrote about the Casio FH 20, a digital camera that can take an amazing 40 shots in one second. In my never ending quest for digital cameras that could be useful in science and medicine I have discovered a 7 megapixel pocket camera, the Sony DSC W120 that seems to be on sale at every office supply and big box retailer. You know that old saying don't judge a book by it's cover? Well I guess in this instance don't judge a camera by it's housing. This little camera packs a lot of wallop for it's size. Just for the record I don't have any ties with Sony or any other company for that matter.





The first thing that struck me about the Sony W120 was the low light ability. That is the ability to get a good picture even in low light or at night without a flash. The Fuji f31d was a pocket camera a few years back that had it's own fan club because of it's legendary low light ability. I didn't see it but this Sony W120 has got to be a contender. Usually in most cameras, to get good pictures in low light you hike up the ISO setting. But as the ISO goes up so does the noise in the picture. The W120 seems to do a good job at least up to ISO 800.



Another thing that surprised me was that this little camera had a burst mode that could take full 7 megapixel pictures at a fairly rapid pace and keep it up. If a camera has a burst mode at all,it usually involves a trade off of speed of pictures taken with size of picture. More pictures equal less size. But the W120 can take 7 megapixel shots at a fairly decent continuous rate. We aren't talking frames per second but maybe 1 to 1 and a 1/2 frames per second.



It has the obligatory face detection feature and another even more geek attractive feature, whose use in medicine I am not sure about, called the the smile shutter. You can guess from the name, this camera will "watch" your subject and snap a picture when they smile. It works! (some of the time).



Previously I wrote about the Casio FH 20,(not a pocket camera) a digital camera that can take an amazing 40 shots in one second. Many things in science and medicine happen in the blink of an eye. This camera can record them.

Video Review of the Casio FH 20 High Speed Burst Mode Camera

WATCH THESE VIDEOS ABOUT ANOTHER WAY TO SCREEN FOR BREAST CANCER ANALOGOUS TO A PAP SMEAR IN ADDITION TO MAMMOGRAM MRI AND ULTRASOUND

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For women, breast cancer is still among the scariest two words in the English language.(By the way, men can get it too) I have seen women patients who told me they had breast cancer 20 years ago and are doing fine and others who didn't do so well. Scientists and doctors continue to search feverishly for new ways to diagnose and treat breast cancer. I have been reading and watching videos about a relatively new screening test for breast cancer. Different than a mammogram or ultrasound it gets a sample of cells in the breast fluid.It sounds like it might be unpleasant,but apparently it's not. This breast cell sample is analogous to a Pap smear in a woman. According to the video, Dr. Papanicolau (inventor of the Pap Test) is the one who suggested that breast fluid could be analyzed for atypical (cells that are different). In a pap smear a sample looking for different cells is taken from the cervix, the entrance to the womb. The Halo Breast Test takes a sample from the breast fluid. It was approved by the FDA in 2005 but has been in the news lately with mentions on the Rachel Ray Show and in newspapers. You can read about the Halo Breast test here and see the videos explaining how Halo breast test works.




Video About Halo Breast Cytology Test for Breast CancerClick the Arrow











A recent TV health reporter was asked "What was the name of the new breast cancer screening technique that was mentioned during the 5 p.m. news? The test costs approximately $75 and was said to be highly effective in detecting breast problems well in advance of a regular mammogram".



"ANSWER: The device is called the Halo Breast Pap Test. I decided to consult further with one of our 10 On Your Side Health experts about whether it was worth making a trip several hours away to go through the diagnostic exam. Dr. Bill Fintel with Blue Ridge Cancer Care says, “It is new and exciting technology to be sure, and using modern molecular examination, even better than the light microscope used in PAP smears. But, there are many questions."






Video About Halo Breast Cytology Test for Breast CancerClick the Arrow

ASK KAREN: Is breast screen a good idea?

Paper about the Halo test

WITH THE NEW JUPITER STATIN LOWERING HEART ATTACK STUDY SHOULD WE PUT CHOLESTEROL MEDICINE IN DRINKING WATER

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Statins are the most powerful and popular cholesterol lowering drugs. You don't need to be Einstein to notice how much is written about them. Just search here on healty medical Blog or read a newspaper. The latest wrinkle in the statin story unfolded last week when a "study was released showing that the cholesterol-lowering drug rosuvastatin (Crestor) reduced heart attacks and strokes in patients without high cholesterol but with elevated high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) levels" C Reactive Protein is the name of a chemical in a blood test. A high CRP, (C Reactive Protein) is tied to inflammation. What does inflammation have to do with a heart attack? Having a heart attack is more complicated than just having a lot of cholesterol in the arteries (though you don't want that).




Video About Heart Attack Risk and C Reactive Protein and StatinsClick the Arrow












Inflammation is also involved with the formation of a blockage in the coronary arteries,the blood vessels that feed the heart muscle itself. The study found that the cholesterol lowering drug lowered heart attacks even in people with not so high cholesterol but who had an indication of inflammation as seen by higher CRP. So as Parker-Pope asks in the NY Times, is it time to put cholesterol-lowering statin drugs in every medicine cabinet? It depends who you ask.





"The JUPITER Study (Justification for the Use of statins in Primary prevention: an Intervention Trial Evaluating Rosuvastatin) was designed to determine if treating patients with no evidence of pre-existing cardiovascular disease and low to normal LDL-C( low density lipoprotein the so called bad cholesterol) but elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) with CRESTOR 20mg once daily would reduce major cardiovascular events. CRP is a recognized marker of inflammation and is associated with an increased risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular events".




According to the article in the Times "This (finding of the Jupiter Study) was definitely a pretty stunning result," said Dr. Steven E. Nissen, chairman of cardiovascular medicine at the Cleveland Clinic. “I, for one, will be checking CRP in more patients. If it’s elevated, we will be treating them.” On the other hand "This study does not indicate that we should be putting statins in the drinking water or fortifying cereal with statins,” said Dr. Goldberg, of N.Y.U. “There are millions of people who haven’t gone in and even gotten their cholesterol checked, but everybody wants the new thing. They want to believe the new thing will be the total answer."




Video About Crestor and the Jupiter Study Click the Arrow






There have been reports before that statins may help the heart in other ways. There have even been suggestions that statins might lower the chance of Alzheimer's with the evidence going back and forth. This isn't the first battle in the war of the statins. So what to do? Well statins definitely lower cholesterol and have been shown to lower heart attacks in people with high cholesterol. But they can have nasty side effects in some people such as rhabdomyolysis, dangereous muscle breakdown that may come without warning and can lead to kidney failure. Also statins work by blocking a chemical in the liver and the liver should be monitored on a regular basis for signs of any problems.



"As a result, of this new study, some doctors say they will start testing for CRP (actually many doctors have been testing for it already but weren't sure how useful the result was) and will offer statin therapy to patients whose levels are high".



"Doctors said one worrisome trend did emerge in the study. In the statin group, 3 percent of the people developed diabetes during the study period, compared with 2.4 percent in the placebo group. Moreover, because the study was stopped early (so those in the placebo group could begin taking statins for their presumed heart benefits), it did not yield much insight into the drugs’ long-term safety. Nor is it clear that the early benefit shown in the statin group would have held up over a longer period or whether other risks might have emerged".

WHAT ABOUT TAKING A STATIN DRUG AND OMEGA 3 FOR HIGH CHOLESTEROL AND HIGH TRIGLYCERIDE SOME STUDIES SUGGEST FOR COMBINED DYSLIPIDEMIA

Call to Caution

Statins Side Effects Under Fire

Take More Vitamin D Stay Healthier?

A VIDEO ABOUT A NEW EXPERIMENTAL WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY NO ABDOMINAL INCISION UNLIKE OTHER GASTRIC BYPASS BARIATRIC SURGERY

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"The surgeons had just stapled her stomach to form a thumb-sized tube that would hold only a small amount of food. The operation resembled others done for weight loss, with one huge difference". In this there was no cutting. "Instead, the surgeons had passed the stapler down her throat and stapled her stomach from the inside". What if you could get gastric bypass weight loss surgery without making an incision, cutting open the abdomen? For sure, many people are pleased with the outcome of gastric bypass weight loss surgery. Bariatric surgery, as it's called is often successful but like any surgery it is not risk free.




Watch Video about Trial of Less Cutting Weight Loss Op Transoral Gastroplasty Click the Arrow









I know two teens who after struggling with their weight had weight loss surgery and have successfully become thinner and are happy with the results. However, just read some the older posts here on healty medical Blog about gastric bypass and bariatric surgery and you'll realize it requires careful thought and planning. Could there an alternative? Maybe the answer is Toga as in transoral gastroplasty. As you can see in this video about weight loss surgery, a company called Satiety is getting clinical trials of it's experimental no abdominal incision method of weight loss surgery called TOGA, Transoral Gastroplasty.Transoral, trans oral, get it? means through the mouth, while the word “gastroplasty” means shaping of the stomach.





A company called Satiety is getting clinical trials of it's experimental no abdominal incision method of weight loss surgery called TOGA, Transoral Gastroplasty. "The TOGA Procedure is performed without surgical incisions using a flexible device that is passed through the mouth and down to the stomach. Using specialized instruments, doctors are able to manipulate the stomach and staple it from within to create a small pouch. This pouch is intended to give patients a feeling of fullness after a small meal".






The NY Times had an article about a 25 year old woman's experience with the new type of bariatric surgery. "In Mexico and Europe over the past two to three years, 98 patients have had the new weight-loss surgery, named Toga (for transoral gastroplasty). On average, those who have passed the one-year mark have lost about 40 percent of their excess weight. Only time will tell whether they will be able to avoid gaining it back". "There are older, well-established operations that produce more weight loss, and in the United States 200,000 people have them each year. Known as bariatric surgery, it is often done through slits".

Weight Loss No Cutting

TOGA Clinical Study

5 Posts about Gastric Bypass and weight Loss

A VIDEO AND A STATISTICAL ANALYSIS SAYS EATING THE MEDITERRANEAN DIET KEEPS PEOPLE HEALTHIER AND HELPS THEM LIVE LONGER

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A new meta analysis study, which is a kind of super statistical analysis of other studies, of the Mediterranean diet has been published. I have written a lot here in healty medical Blog about the Mediterranean diet. People who lived in countries around the rim of the Mediterranean Sea consume (or at least they used to before they switched to fast food) certain foods such as olive oil that seemed to keep them healthier and live longer. The Mediterranean diet is low in saturated fat. However, it views two types of fat, omega-3 fatty acids and monounsaturated fats as healthy and places no restrictions on their consumption. The Mediterranean diet does not regard all fat as bad. In fact, the focus of the Mediterranean diet is not to limit total fat consumption, but rather to make wise choices about the type of fat in the diet.



Watch a Video on the Mediterranean Diet Click the Arrow






A new meta analysis study, which is a kind of super statistical analysis of other studies, of the Mediterranean diet has been published. The authors of the meta-analysis conclude that their analysis "shows that adherence to a Mediterranean diet can significantly decrease the risk of overall mortality, mortality from cardiovascular diseases, incidence of or mortality from cancer, and incidence of Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease". That study is called Adherence to Mediterranean diet and health status: meta-analysis.







The Mediterranean diet is low in saturated fat. However, it views two types of fat, omega-3 fatty acids and monounsaturated fats as healthy and places no restrictions on their consumption. The omega-3 fatty acids are found in fatty fish (e.g, salmon, trout, sardines, tuna) and in some plant sources (e.g, walnuts and other tree nuts, flaxseed, various vegetables). Monounsaturated fat is abundant in olive oil, nuts, and avocados. Eating plenty of fruit, vegetables and fish instead of meat, not to mention olive oil rather than saturated fats.

Adherence to Mediterranean diet and health status: meta-analysis

More from PMB on How to Eat Like You Live on the Mediterranean

Videos On Studies Recommending Taking More Vitamin D for Health

VIDEO WHAT WAS REPORT ABOUT THE CHOLESTEROL DRUG CRESTOR ROZUVASTATIN AND POSSIBILITY OF LESS HEART ATTACK EVEN IN PEOPLE WITH NORMAL CHOLESTEROL

A study suggested that people with a high level of a chemical marker for heart trouble but normal cholesterol seemed to be helped by the cholesterol drug Crestor. As you may know, the most famous and most powerful class of cholesterol lowering drugs are the class called statins, with names like Zocor, Lipitor and Crestor. It's been demonstrated pretty clearly that they do work to lower cholesterol and doctors use them effectively to lower the numbers in people with high cholesterol. But what about people with normal cholesterol?




Watch this Video on the JUPITER Study of Crestor ROZUVASTATIN and Normal Cholesterol Click the Arrow







The Heart Association reported on a study called the Jupiter Study of people who have normal level of the so called bad cholesterol LDL cholesterol but a high CRP. CRP stands for C Reactive Protein, a chemical that doctors have been viewing as a possible proxy for a heart disease marker. In other words, a high CRP means a higher risk of heart problems. The Heart Association said "Study results were released today showing that the cholesterol-lowering drug rosuvastatin (Crestor) reduced heart attacks and strokes in patients without high cholesterol but with elevated high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) levels".





Watch this Video C Reactive Protein Cholesterol and the Heart Click the Arrow







"The JUPITER Study (Justification for the Use of statins in Primary prevention: an Intervention Trial Evaluating Rosuvastatin) was designed to determine if treating patients with no evidence of pre-existing cardiovascular disease and low to normal LDL-C( low density lipoprotein the so called bad cholesterol) but elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) with CRESTOR 20mg once daily would reduce major cardiovascular events. CRP is a recognized marker of inflammation and is associated with an increased risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular events".




"In JUPITER, investigators identified a further group of patients with elevated hs-CRP levels (a marker of inflammation) but with lower risk than is currently recommended for cholesterol-lowering treatment (those with an LDL < 130mg/dl), and demonstrated a benefit for lowering LDL further with a statin. The group was mixed in terms of other risk factors, such as hypertension, metabolic syndrome, smoking, abnormal glucose tolerance, and a positive family history of premature heart disease".



“This study demonstrated a significant reduction in heart attacks and strokes in treating this group, selected from an initially screened group of more than 89,000". As is the case for just about all medicines, statins can have side effects. Side effects include liver problems or muscle damage

American Heart Association Comment on JUPITER trial

Crestor Outcomes Study JUPITER Closes Early Due To Unequivocal Evidence Of Benefit

SCIENTISTS GET JEWISH WOMEN TO SPIT IN STUDY OF BRCA1 BRCA2 BREAST CANCER GENES AND A VIDEO ON THE RECOMMENDATION MRI FOR SOME BREAST CANCER SCREENING

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Scientists are going around the country getting Jewish women to spit and thus give DNA samples for a study of breast cancer. Spitting vs older blood tests for gene study. The breast cancer genes BRCA1 and BRCA2 are among the most famous and most studied of cancer genes. When they are mutated,i.e an alteration in the genetic sequence of the BRCA1 or BRCA2 they are associated with a heightened risk for a number of cancers. According to a recent newspaper article in the Forward , "For researchers looking at what have become known as the “Jewish breast cancer genes,” much of the last decade has been spent identifying women who have the gene mutations and finding medical procedures to battle the breast and ovarian cancers that result".



"BRCA1 and BRCA2, are about five times more likely to be defective, or mutated, in Ashkenazic Jews (Jews who have tended to live in Europe and North America vs Sephardic Jews) than in the general population. Until now, though, scientists have largely been in the dark about why some women with the mutation get cancer and why some do not, as well as how the cancer-causing process might be stopped".

Read About a Pap Smear for Breast Cancer



In 2007 the Cancer Society recommended that certain women with possible increased risk of breast cancer get an MRI scan of the breasts. See the video.

Video about Recommendation for MRI for Breast Cancer Click the Arrow









"One of the new studies that is looking for answers is the Jewish Women’s Breast and Ovarian Cancer Genetics Study, which launched in late September. The study, which is being run out of New York University, is working from the knowledge that some women who have a defective version of BRCA1 and BRCA2 live long lives without ever developing cancer...Now many of the same scientists are striking out in bold new directions, in search of the finer mechanics of how the gene causes cancer, and in some cases, looking at how the cancer might be prevented altogether..A research team is setting out across the country to collect DNA samples from thousands of older Jewish women".

Why Women Hate Pelvic Exams

Scientific Advances Looking To Stop Cancer Gene

Whats Difference Between Screening and Diagnostic Mammogram

VIDEO REVIEW OF CASIO EX FH20 USEFUL IN SPORTS AND SCIENCE BURST MODE CONTINUOUS SHOOTING DIGITAL CAMERAS PART TWO

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Can digital cameras capture action faster than a speeding bullet? As I discussed in the previous healty medical Blog post, many things in life and nature happen too fast for the naked eye or the naked camera lens to see. Yet there are cameras that can capture that fraction of a second when a balloon bursts or a drop splashes. The so called burst mode or continuous capture picture shoot. You've seen those pictures in magazines. If you frequently use words like "chromatic aberration" you probably know some dSLRs that can take burst mode pictures but how about a camera like that for "the rest of us"? Consumer digital cameras have not in general been able to take many shots in burst mode in a fraction of a second because of limitations of the microprocessor and memory in the digital camera. Casio had rolled out the EX F1, a digital camera that could take 60 frames a second and had a 6 megapixel larger size sensor along with the ability to shoot HD video. But alas, like many great ideas it appears that it was not ready for prime time. Now Casio is back with the Ex FH20, with a smaller sensor yet more megapixels. The FH20 can take 40 frames for second at 7.1 megapixels each.

UPDATE Watch a Video Review of the Canon SX1 IS 4 full resolution frames per
second


FIRST PART OF CASIO FH 20 VIDEO REVIEW OF THE ULTRA BURST MODE FH 20 Click the Arrow














SECOND PART OF CASIO FH 20 VIDEO REVIEW OF THE ULTRA BURST MODE FH 20 Click the Arrow






The FH20 can also take video at high speed. Why they put a smaller sensor in the FH 20 than the F1 I don't know. A bigger sensor generally means a less noisy image. To get an idea of the tricks the FH20 can do watch this video review of the Casio FH 20 from a site called Videopia.
Soon we will also discuss the Fuji S8100fd and the Fuji 2000HD which both have a continuous shooting mode but no where near as extensive as the Casio EX F1 or the Casio Ex FH20.

A Pocket Camera With Burst Mode and Good Low Light Ability

Useful in Sports and Science High Speed Continuous Shooting Burst Mode

Stories from Internship: Elephantitis Man

I'm sure Bongi would agree with me that doctors are only human - and usually have many funny stories to tell from seeing hospital patients - especially during internship. You only have to watch an episode of Scrubs. And yes. Most of the time... Scrubs is true. A lot more realistic than Gray's Anatomy.

This reminds me of a competition that our unit ran for a couple of weeks (between four of us - we left out the two religious interns).

The prize: Lunch. Paid for while you sit and eat it quietly, the rest of the unit picking up the slack of your ward work. As you can understand, a rare gift as an intern.

The Task: Which of our patients had the largest penis?

Yes, it sounds cruel comparing private vital organs, but you all do it on the Net anyway... We weren't cruel or judging. In fact, you would have been disqualified if you laughed, gasped, or in anyway let the patient know what was going on. We became very inventive at showing skin blemishes in the inguinal area on ward rounds, or asking for a second opinion on a catheter insertion.

Needless to say after two weeks we thought we had a winner. Whilst congratulating him before a morning round, one of our religious interns came to ask about the commotion. We told her about the competition and our winner (and the size of the prize penis - "huge" is a good start).

"Can it be any penis, diseased or not?" she asked.

"Anything. This is a hospital of course".

"Well then you should have included me."

Thinking that there was no way our winner could have been surpassed - and also that we couldn't imagine this small, timid girl taking note of any man's penis, we followed...

She lead us down the long corridor and we gathered around a bed.

"Mr X, we need to see how the swelling is going," she said to the patient and removed the bed sheets.

If there has ever been a time that I have had to stifle a gasp it was then.

The man had elephantitis and the timid Intern got one HELL OF A LUNCH!

USEFUL IN SPORTS AND SCIENCE BURST MODE CONTINUOUS SHOOTING DIGITAL CAMERAS FUJI S8100FD VS CASIO EX F1 VS CASIO EX FH20 PART ONE

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Is the Casio Ex FH20 the answer to my prayers? Or could it be the Fuji S8100fd or maybe the Casio Ex F1? High speed rapid succession pictures have been used in the study of medicine and science. I have been looking for a digital camera that can shoot many pictures in rapid succession, so called continuous shooting burst mode because sports and science have speed in common. My Sony DSC H5 takes nice pictures and maybe can take 4 or 5 burst mode shots in relatively high resolution. But it's a pretty slow "burst". You can drop down the resolution and get more. The picture here is from one of the most famous examples of rapid burst mode photography in history.





Per Wikipedia "In 1872, former Governor of California Leland Stanford, a businessman and race-horse owner, had taken a position on a popularly-debated question of the day: whether all four of a horse's hooves left the ground at the same time during a gallop. Stanford sided with this assertion, called "unsupported transit", and took it upon himself to prove it scientifically". He turned to Eadweard Muybridge to answer that question. What's called burst mode or continuous shooting is the ability of cameras to take many shots rapidly. Soccer action, for example, when the player kicks the ball and scores a goal or say you are taking golf lessons and the instructor wants to analyze your swing.








Film cameras have been shooting rapid sequence shots for ages but digital cameras especially the consumer Non dSLR versions have had an uphill climb to introduce burst mode continuous shooting. So I have been looking at three models of digital camera which answer the burst mode problem. The Casio Ex F1 was a super powerful digital camera that could take an amazing 60 shots a second! (that's no typo) The Ex F1 was a 6 megapixel digital camera that retailed in the thousand dollar range. I say was because it seems that Casio has decided to offer a newer competitor in the burst mode race, the Casio EX FH20 which shoots 40 frames a second and is over 9 megapixels.



See

Video Review of the Ultra Burst Digital Camera Casio EX FH20

TLA's

TLA's (three letter acronyms) are the best. Both in clinical medicine and in the world of medical aids.

They sound intelligent. And mysterious. And that's what Doctors are, aren't they?

My favourite is FOS (full of shit - can be used in psych or gastroenterology).

I once had a patient who was well versed in TLA's and also liked to read files. After examining her and writing notes, I went off to collect some meds (this was in a polyclinic)...


She became all worried after reading her file. The acronym F.L.U stood out. What could it be? A fancy medical term? Fungating Lipo Ulcerations?

When I looked confused, she said that I had used an abbreviation and she was trying to think what it meant - it sounded serious...

I couldn't help but chuckle and tell her she had the FLU and I wasn't abbreviating.

SMELL A FART SAVE A LIFE COULD HYDROGEN SULFIDE AKA FART GAS LOWER BLOOD PRESSSURE

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It's not April so I don't think this is an April Fool's story. The late night comics are going to go bonkers over this one. Researchers at John Hopkins University, in Maryland, found that "fart" gas, that is hydrogen sulfide gas responsible for the smell of the colloquially known "fart" is "also produced in the cells lining blood vessels by an enzyme called CSE. It seems the gas is also produced by an enzyme in blood vessels where it relaxes them and lowers blood pressure". The findings in mice may lead to new treatments for high blood pressure, the Science journal reported".


Large amounts of Hydrogen Sulfide are toxic and poisonous. For example, it can be encountered during oil and gas exploration as well as around farms.

Fart Gas Hydrogen Sulfide Link to Blood Pressure

Hydrogen sulfide aids blood pressure



"Professor Amrita Ahluwalia, an expert in vascular pharmacology at Barts and The London Medical School, said: "This study shows that smelly hydrogen sulfide is also likely to have a role in regulating blood pressure and it will be a bit of an impetus for scientists to develop more specific tools to work out what's going on.
"We know hydrogen sulfide is not good for us at high levels but it seems that at the lower levels in the body it is essential.""

NOW WILL U LISTEN To YOUR MOTHER SCIENTISTS SAY FRUIT VEGETABLE DIET GOOD FOR HEART BUT FRIED SALTY FOODS EGGS MEAT INCREASE CHANCE OF HEART ATTACK

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Oh No! You better drive right out of that drive thru window if you know what's good for you. If you read healty medical Blog you know I have written over and over about the relationship between eating certain "bad" foods and heart attack and certain "good diets" that seem to protect from heart attack like the Mediterranean Diet. Like vegetables, olive oil and so forth. In the latest salvo in the food and diet wars,a report in the heart medical journal Circulation, scientists presented evidence that the food that many people in the United States and Europe eat, you know the good stuff like salty foods, fried foods, salty snacks, eggs, and meat can make you sick, literally and increase your chance of a heart attack.



People who ate a Western diet had a 35 percent greater risk of having a heart attack compared to those who ate little or no fried foods and meat. Those who followed a Prudent diet, high in fruits and vegetables had a 30 percent lower risk of heart attack compared to those who went light on fruits and vegetables.



"Diet is a major modifiable risk factor for (heart) cardiovascular disease, but it varies markedly in different regions of the world". The scientists looked at what they classified as three of the major diet patterns practiced in the world. They classified them as the Prudent Diet, the Western Diet and the Oriental Diet. The objectives of the present study were to assess the association between dietary patterns and acute myocardial infarction (heart attack) globally.The Prudent Diet, which with a name like that obviously was good for you, lowered your chance of heart attack, the Western Diet increased heart attack risk and they didn't find any association with the oriental diet.



"INTERHEART is a standardized case-control study involving participants from 52 countries. The present analysis included 5761 cases and 10 646 control subjects. We identified 3 major dietary patterns using factor analysis: Oriental (high intake of tofu and soy and other sauces), Western (high in fried foods, salty snacks, eggs, and meat), and prudent (high in fruit and vegetables). We observed an inverse association between the prudent pattern and heart attack AMI, with higher levels being protective... The Western pattern showed a U-shaped association with heart association AMI.. but the Oriental pattern demonstrated no relationship with AMI. Compared with the first quartile, the OR of a dietary risk score derived from meat, salty snacks, fried foods, fruits, green leafy vegetables, cooked vegetables, and other raw vegetables (higher score indicating a poorer diet) increased with each quartile: second quartile 1.29 (95% CI 1.17 to 1.42), third quartile 1.67 (95% CI 1.51 to 1.83), and fourth quartile 1.92 (95% CI 1.74 to 2.11; P for trend <0.001). The adjusted population-attributable risk of heart attack ..AMI for the top 3 quartiles compared with the bottom quartile of the dietary risk score was 30%".



"Conclusions: An unhealthy dietary intake, assessed by a simple dietary risk score, increases the risk of heart attack AMI globally and accounts for 30% of the population-attributable risk".

Dietary Patterns and the Risk of Acute Myocardial Infarction in 52 Countries. Results of the INTERHEART Study








"This study indicates that the same relationships that are observed in Western countries exist in different regions of the world," study senior author Salim Yusuf, a professor of medicine at McMaster University and director of the Population Health Research Institute at Hamilton Health Sciences in Ontario, said in an American Heart Association news release".

Gastronomic and Atomic Israel Research on Diets and Health

WHAT A RIP OFF SCIENTIST WHO HELPED DISCOVER GFP JELLYFISH GENE RESULTING IN NOBEL PRIZE VALUE MEDICAL DISCOVERY GETS BUPKIS

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The "scientist who provided an essential piece of the knowledge about the jellyfish gene that codes for the luminescent gfp protein (green fluorescent protein) used in medical research, the basis for the 2008 Nobel Prize in Medicine" now drives a van for a car dealer. An amazing, shocking and flabbergasting story about Dr. Douglas Prasher appears in the NY Times. As my colleagues on the streets outside the hallowed halls of science might say, what a rip-off!




Many sea creatures have the ability to fluoresce or shine in the dark. By figuring out how some of them do this, scientists developed a tool that has found wide uses in biomedical research. "Douglas C. Prasher, who conducted his research on the Aequorea victoria jellyfish while at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in Massachusetts in the early 1990s, now drives a courtesy van for a car dealer in Huntsville, Ala., earning $10 an hour. He said he was not bitter or jealous of this year’s winning chemistry Nobelists: Dr. Tsien of the University of California, San Diego, Dr. Chalfie of Columbia and Osamu Shimomura, the original discoverer of the jellyfish protein in 1961".





If you watch Nova and Discovery you may envision science as being conducted in a logical and deliberate manner by thousands of Mr. Spock like researchers. No place for emotion, vanity or just plain nastiness. Scientists formulate a hypothesis and they test the hypothesis. Or at least that's what you believe, at least if you are in third grade. The reality may be something else again. Ever hear of publish or perish? In the real world a lot of science and scientist's career advancement depends on how much money you can bring in via grants and that in turn may directly effect your chances of tenure.



"In a couple of months, Roger Y. Tsien and Martin Chalfie will head to Stockholm to collect the Nobel Prize in Chemistry and $450,000 each in prize money in recognition of their development of a revolutionary technique that lights up the inner workings of living cells. Meanwhile, the scientist who provided the essential piece that made Dr. Tsien’s and Dr. Chalfie’s work possible — a jellyfish gene" that produces a flourescent light drives a van for a car dealer".

Man Who Set Stage for a Nobel Now Lives a Life Outside Science

More About GFP from Dr. Zimmer: Green Fluorescent Protein History

Primary structure of the Aequorea victoria green-fluorescent protein.

Watching Life in Real Time

Glowing Gene's Discoverer Left Out Of Nobel Prize

DRUG SAFETY INFORMATION WEB SITE WHAT THE FDA KNOWS OR HAS HEARD ABOUT YOUR DRUG OR PRESCRIPTION MEDICINE LIKE WARNINGS AND ALERTS

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So you just got a prescription from the doctor or have been taking a medicine for years. Most medicines are safe for most people when you follow instructions. But many many medications have reports of problems for some people somewhere. Now instead of just wondering or hoping you happen to read a news article you can find out about any warnings or dangers of medicine you may be taking or medication that is prescribed to you, one can look at the new and improved FDA (Food and Drug Administration) web site for the answer. The FDA has a web site where you can search for information about FDA Alerts and what sort of side effects and drug interactions the FDA has heard about or warned against.

FDA Index to Drug Specific Information Web Site

A Possible New Way to Use an Old Drug Against Multiple Sclerosis
Other things the FDA has put on the site are at the site include:

Drug labeling, including patient labeling, professional labeling, and patient package inserts

Drugs that have a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) to ensure that their benefits outweigh their risks

A searchable database of postmarket studies that are required from, or agreed to by, drug companies to provide the FDA with additional information about a drug's safety, efficacy, or optimal use

Clinicaltrials.gov, a searchable database of clinical trials, including information about each trial's purpose, who may participate, locations, and useful phone numbers

Drug-specific safety information, including safety sheets with the latest information about the drug as well as related FDA press announcements, fact sheets, and drug safety podcasts

Quarterly reports that list certain drugs that are being evaluated for potential safety issues, based on a review of information in the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (AERS)

Warning Letters, Import Alerts, Recalls, Market Withdrawals, and Safety Alerts;
Regulations and guidance documents

Consumer information about using medications safely and disposing of unused medicines

Instructions how to report problems to the FDA through its MedWatch program;
Consumer articles on drug safety

VIDEOS ABOUT BENEFIT OF VITAMIN D RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ADULTS AND KIDS COULD VITAMIN D HAVE ROLE IN HEART DISEASE AND CANCER PREVENTION

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Yet another Vitamin D recommendation! This time for kids. Stories about Vitamin D recommendations for adults as well as kids have been all over the Internet for months. I have written posts in healty medical Blog previously about the seemingly accumulating evidence that Vitamin D may do a lot more than we thought. The latest tune in the D hit parade is the recommendation from the Pediatric Association that children get more Vitamin D. I have brought together here videos about Vitamin D and the recommendations about it for kids and adults. You can read the Academy of Pediatrics comments further down the page.




Video About Vitamin D and Kids Click the Arrow













In the past in healty medical Blog I've talked about the Canadian Cancer Society recommendation that many people take Vitamin D and scoped out a report that said that women with breast cancer who had low levels of Vitamin D did less well prognosis wise. Even a study that said "Low levels of 25(OH)D (Vitamin D) are associated with higher risk of myocardial infarction (heart attack) in a graded manner, even after controlling for factors known to be associated with coronary artery disease" (heart problems related to the coronary arteries that supply the heart muscle itself with blood).





According to the American Academy of Pediatrics "Adequate vitamin D throughout childhood may reduce the risk of osteoporosis. In adults, new evidence suggests that vitamin D plays a role in the immune system and may help prevent infections, autoimmune diseases, cancer and diabetes".







Vitamin D for Adults Watch A VideoClick the Arrow








"We are doubling the recommended amount of vitamin D children need each day because evidence has shown this could have life-long health benefits," said Frank Greer, MD, FAAP, chair of the AAP Committee on Nutrition and co-author of the report. “Supplementation is important because most children will not get enough vitamin D through diet alone.”





Watch this video about a possible relationship between Vitamin D and cancer Click the arrow to start









"Breastfeeding is the best source of nutrition for infants. However, because of vitamin D deficiencies in the maternal diet, which affect the vitamin D in a mother’s milk, it is important that breastfed infants receive supplements of vitamin D,” said Carol Wagner, MD, FAAP, member of the AAP Section on Breastfeeding Executive Committee and co-author of the report. “Until it is determined what the vitamin D requirements of the lactating mother-infant dyad are, we must ensure that the breastfeeding infant receives an adequate supply of vitamin D through a supplement of 400 IU per day.”













"The new AAP recommendations include:

Breastfed and partially breastfed infants should be supplemented with 400 IU a day of vitamin D beginning in the first few days of life.

All non-breastfed infants, as well as older children, who are consuming less than one quart per day of vitamin D-fortified formula or milk, should receive a vitamin D supplement of 400 IU a day.

Adolescents who do not obtain 400 IU of vitamin D per day through foods should receive a supplement containing that amount.

Children with increased risk of vitamin D deficiency, such as those taking certain medications, may need higher doses of vitamin D".



"Given the growing evidence that adequate vitamin D status during pregnancy is important for fetal development, the AAP also recommends that providers who care for pregnant women consider measuring vitamin D levels in this population".

NEW GUIDELINES DOUBLE THE AMOUNT OF RECOMMENDED VITAMIN D

Another Study Asks About Association Between Low Vitamin D and Heart Attack

HOW ACCURATE ARE X RAY CT SCANS AND MRI MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING SHOULD YOU GET A SECOND OPINION

You're no spring chicken. In your efforts to prove your vim and vigor you're out jogging when you fall and hit your elbow or hurt your knee. You go to the doctor or urgent care clinic. The doctor examines you and then they do an X ray. They may also order a CT scan or an MRI of the knee or leg. After examining the X ray they tell you they don't see anything broken. Is that it? Usually not. Often X rays are sent for an over read. That is they are sent to a radiologist for a second opinion. Why? Because findings such as fractures seen on X rays can be missed. Even the more sophisticated ct scans and mri, magnetic resonance imaging can be misinterpreted or findings simply missed.















Video of MRI of the Lower Back and the Lumbar Spine Click the Arrow








MRI uses magnetic fields to get a picture of the body. CT scans and X rays use X rays. Each has it's advantages and one technique may be better at illuminating details of a particular medical problem.











Gina Kolata writes "I found out about magnetic resonance imaging tests when I injured my forefoot running. All of a sudden, halfway through a run, my foot hurt so much that I had to stop. But an M.R.I. at a local radiology center found nothing wrong"."That, of course, was what I wanted to hear. So I spent five days waiting for it to feel better, taking the anti-inflammatory drugs ibuprofen and naproxen, using an elliptical cross-trainer, and riding my road bike with its clip less pedals that attach themselves to my bicycling shoes. By then, my foot hurt so much I had to walk on my heel. I was beginning to doubt that scan: it was hard to believe nothing was wrong".



So she went for a second opinion and had another mri. "It showed a serious stress fracture, a hairline crack in a metatarsal bone in my forefoot. It was so serious, in fact, that Dr. Kennedy warned that I risked surgery if I continued activities like cycling and the elliptical cross-trainer, which make such injuries worse".




"Magnetic resonance machines, though, vary enormously, and not just in the strength of their magnets. Even more important, radiologists say, is the quality of the imaging coils they put around the body part being scanned and the computer programs they use to control the imaging and to analyze the images. And there is a huge variability in skill among the technicians doing the scans".





"At the very least, patients should go to radiology centers accredited by the American College of Radiology. But he added that accreditation does not tell you whether your scan will be done with a machine that is several generations removed from the best available today; whether the scanning is programmed to pick up your particular problem; or whether the receiving coil that picks up signals from the magnet is sufficiently sensitive".

The MRI Scan that Didn't

HOW TO DO A BREAST SELF EXAM FOR CANCER AND WHY IT IS STILL RELEVANT

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Breast Self Exam Good Idea and a Video

According to a small study of breast cancer detection that was published in 2007, "Conclusions: Most breast cancers (75%) were found by self-examination, even among women who had regular mammography". Could this actually be the case? It sounds hard to believe. I do think however, that self exam is definitely a wise step. Anyway, Dr. Ramona Bates, a surgeon, has an excellent medical blog. In a recent post she lists 5 steps of breast self exam in her post.

Read about a Pap Smear Test for Breast Cancer

Scientists Get Jewish Women to Spit in Breast Cancer Study



"If you find any breast changes, lumps, or nipple discharge, then call your physician..

Begin by looking at your breasts in the mirror with your shoulders straight and your arms on your hips. Look for any changes in the size, shape, and color. Look for any dimpling, puckering, or bulging of the skin. Has the nipple changed position or become inverted? Is there redness, soreness, a rash, or swelling?


Now, raise your arms and look for the same changes. While you're at the mirror, gently squeeze each nipple between your finger and thumb and check for nipple discharge (this could be a milky or yellow fluid or blood).


Next, feel your breasts while lying down, using your right hand to feel your left breast and then your left hand to feel your right breast. Use a firm, smooth touch with the first few fingers of your hand, keeping the fingers flat and together. Cover the entire breast from top to bottom, side to side—from your collarbone to the top of your abdomen, and from your armpit to your cleavage. Follow a regular grid pattern, so that no areas are missed.Begin examining each area with a very soft touch, and then increase pressure so that you can feel the deeper tissue, down to your ribcage.

Scientists Get Jewish Women to Spit in Breast Cancer Study



Video of a Woman Who Found Lump on Breast Self Exam Click the Arrow

Why Women Hate Pelvic Exams


Finally, feel your breasts while you are standing or sitting. Many women find that the easiest way to feel their breasts is when their skin is wet and slippery, so they like to do this step in the shower. Cover your entire breast, using the same hand movements described previously".



Watch a Video Explaining Mammogram How Mammogram works Click the Arrow to Start

Breast Self Exam

Self Exam Breast Exam Study