BLOOD PRESSURE PILL ACE INHIBITOR FOR DIABETICS EVEN WITH NORMAL BLOOD PRESSURE
ACE Inhibitors are one class of blood pressure pills
Should all people with diabetes take a blood pressure pill ACE inhibitor? Blood pressure pills with names like lisinopril, captopril,etc are used to treat other things beside blood pressure. ACE Inhibitors are known to reduce kidney problems in diabetics.There are two main types of diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is more common and tends to occur in older adults(but can happen in kids too). The problem in Type 2 diabetes is frequently "insulin resistance". Your pancreas may produce insulin but your body does not respond properly (resists) to the insulin. In Type 2 diabetes, the body has trouble using insulin, even if it is available.
Your brain needs a constant supply of blood glucose(sugar). Not enough glucose to the brain and you faint. Too much glucose circulating in the blood and you feel sick. The job of regulating blood glucose depends on a Yin and Yang relationship of two hormones. Insulin drives sugar from the blood into the cells of the body. Glucagon helps to increase sugar in the blood.
Symptoms of diabetes can include:
increased thirst or hunger
fatigue and weight loss
increased urination, especially at night
blurred vision
sores that do not heal
Kidney Problems are a Complication of Diabetes
Among the complications of diabetes is kidney trouble a.k.a diabetic nephropathy. Many diabetic people have high blood pressure. So doctors often prescribe a blood pressure pill. Ace inhibitors are a class of blood pressure pills with names like lisonopril, captopril, enalapril, benzapril,etc. Ace inhibitors treat many things besides blood pressure,migraines,for example. ACE inhibitors block the enzyme ACE in the body from producing angiotensin II, a chemical that does things like narrow blood vessels and cause sodium retention.
"We know that ACE inhibitors slow the progression of diabetic kidney trouble (diabetic nephropathy). So they’re indicated for that, they’re indicated for hypertension why not just put all diabetics on them?" In other words doctors wonder should all people with diabetes be on an ace inhibitor blood pressure pill to protect their kidney even if they don't have a diagnosis of high blood pressure.
A Medical Journal Report About ACE Inhibitors even in Diabetics Without Known Hypertension
In this article in the medical journal The Lancet, researchers report about putting patients even without a diagnosis of high blood pressure on a fixed dose combination of ACE inhibitor and diuretic.The results were that diabetics who were on ace inhibitors and a diuretic (water pill) did better. "We assessed the effects of the routine administration of an angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor-diuretic combination on serious vascular events in patients with diabetes, irrespective of initial blood pressure levels or the use of other blood pressure lowering drugs".
The findings:
"The relative risk of death from cardiovascular disease was reduced by 18%… and death from any cause was reduced by 14%. Although the confidence limits were wide, the results suggest that over 5 years, one death due to any cause would be averted among every 79 patients assigned active therapy".
A VIDEO ABOUT WHAT ARE SYMPTOMS AND HOW IS OVARIAN CANCER TREATED
A Video What Do These Gynecologic Cancer Specialists Say About Ovarian Cancer
I recently wrote about a test for ovarian cancer that is under development. That test for ovarian cancer involves searching the urine for the presence of a chemical that may indicate early ovarian cancer. That is the key, the earlier cancer is detected the better. Elaborating on the previous discussion of ovarian cancer here is a video about ovarian cancer including two specialists in gynecologic cancer. Listen to what they have to say about it.
IF YOU ARE GOING TO CHOKE ON FOOD TRY TO SIT NEAR A REPUBLICAN POLITICIAN REPUBLICANS AND THE HEIMLICH MANEUVER
What do John Sununu, Mike Huckabee and the Heimlich Maneuver have in common? If you are going to choke on some food it might help to be in the vicinity of a Republican politician. The Heimlich Maneuver has had some controversy in recent years. Yet it seems that every day you read about someone saving a choking friend by performing the Heimlich maneuver. "Mike Huckabee did more than just give a speech at the North Carolina Republican Party convention. He also may have saved a life. North Carolina GOP spokesman Brent Woodcox says the former Arkansas governor did the Heimlich maneuver on Robert Pittenger, the Republican candidate for lieutenant governor, at a lunch before Huckabee gave his speech Saturday".
This sounds a lot like like this story. "When a piece of chicken got stuck in journalist Al Hunt's windpipe Friday night, Sen. John Sununu came to the rescue. "John was terrific," said Hunt, 65, executive editor for Washington at Bloomberg News. "He quickly jumped up, put his arms around me, did the Heimlich Maneuver. Within about two seconds, it came out."
There has been controversy in recent years about abdominal thrusts and in what situations to use the Heimlich Maneuver. But it seems that every day you read stories like the one about the senator saving a choking victim or a child saving a friend or sibling who is choking on a piece of a toy or food. It would probably be a good idea to familiarize yourself with how to do the Heimlich Maneuver as well as visit the web site of the Red Cross.
DOES A CHEMICAL IN RED WINE RED GRAPES SLOW DOWN AGING AND DOES IT WORK LIKE CALORIE RESTRICTION SOME SCIENTISTS THINK SO
Scientists Examine Resveratrol's Effect on the Genes Might it Slow Aging?
Red wine may be much more potent than was thought in slowing down aging. Instead of "let them eat cake" the French are more likely to "let them drink red wine" resulting perhaps in something called the French Paradox where the French allegedly have better heart health despite a diet that may not be the healthiest. An article in the NY Times talks about the efforts of scientists to determine if a chemical found in red grapes and red wine called resveratrol can lead to slowing down aging and longer life. And if so does resveratrol work like calorie restriction in extending lifespan?
Resveratrol, a natural compound found in grapes and red wine has previously been shown to extend lifespan in some organisms. Calorie restriction while getting adequate nutrition has been shown in mice as well as primates to extend lifespan at least in some studies. That is to say eating fewer calories while getting good nutrition does seem on average to make animals live longer. "Caloric restriction retards several aspects of the aging process in mammals, including age-related mortality, tumorigenesis, physiological decline and the establishment of age-related transcriptional profiles".
Scientists are examining resveratrol, the chemical found in red grapes and red wine to see if the effect is consistent and why and how it works. In a report that appears in the online science journal called PLOS One, they say "Our studies suggest that dietary consumption of a low dose of resveratrol partially mimics calorie restriction, and inhibits some aspects of the aging process". "The study is based on dosing mice with resveratrol, an ingredient of some red wines. Some scientists are already taking resveratrol in capsule form, but others believe it is far too early to take the drug, especially using wine as its source, until there is better data on its safety and effectiveness".
According to the Times article "A critical link in establishing whether or not caloric restriction works the same wonders in people as it does in mice rests on the outcome of two monkey trials. Since rhesus monkeys live for up to 40 years, the trials have taken a long time to show results. Experts said that one of the two trials, being conducted by Dr. Weindruch, was at last showing clear evidence that calorically restricted monkeys were outliving the control animals. But no such effect is apparent in the other trial, being conducted at the National Institutes of Health".
DEVELOPING A NEW DIAGNOSTIC TEST FOR OVARIAN CANCER TO DETECT OVARIAN CANCER AT AN EARLIER MORE CURABLE STAGE
What tests are available to detect ovarian cancer?
A problem with ovarian cancer is that it may not be detected until an advanced stage. In general, the earlier a cancer is detected the easier it is to treat. Early detection is especially important for ovarian cancer. Although many people have heard of CA 125 as a test for ovarian cancer detection, it has not been enough to detect ovarian cancer early. CA 125 is more often used as a test to follow the progress of treatment. So the search has been on for ways to detect ovarian cancer at an early stage.
What are Scientists at University of South Florida Studying?
Scientists at the University of South Florida have been evaluating a urine test for a protein called Bcl-2 in urine as a method to detect ovarian cancer at an early stage. Bcl-2 is a chemical, a protein that may appear in greater quantities with many cancers but the USF scientists were looking at Bcl-2 in urine and it's association with ovarian cancer. Geo Pharma, a pharmaceutical company has licensed the rights to use the University of South Florida work as an early stage diagnostic urine test for ovarian cancer.
As Dr. Kruk of the University of South Florida said in an interview in 2006 "BCL-2 is a protein that normally prevents cell death. In your normal cells, there is constantly a homeostasis between cells that have to die or survive depending upon how much damage or trauma they might have experienced. For cancer cells, there are unique characteristics. Obviously cancer cells have a tendency to be able to survive in situations where a normal cell would not. As a result, the protein that we have been looking at, called BCL-2, is normally a protein that prevents cell death. We have found in a lot of other people that this protein, BCL-2, is over expressed in a lot of cancers, not just ovarian cancer, but our study has focused on ovarian cancer. Where we have found BCL-2 is expressed in high levels in the urine with women with ovarian cancer".
How is Ovarian Cancer Detected and Diagnosed?
If a woman or her doctor suspects ovarian cancer, diagnosis begins with a medical history of the patient, review of her symptoms, and complete physical examination, including a pelvic exam, in which the physician feels the vagina, ovaries, fallopian tubes, bladder, and rectum to check for any growths. A Pap test may also be done because, even though it cannot reliably detect ovarian cancer, it may detect cancer cells that have migrated to the uterine cervix from the ovaries.
Blood and urine tests may also be done, as well other procedures, depending on the woman's symptoms and results of her physical exam. Procedures that might be done in the search for ovarian cancer include:
abdominal or transvaginal ultrasound--helps distinguish fluid-filled cysts from a solid tumor
CT scan--produces x-ray images of cross-sections of body tissues
lower GI series (barium enema)--visualizes the bowel on x-ray to detect abnormal areas that may be caused by ovarian cancer
intravenous pyelogram (IVP)--produces x-ray pictures of the kidneys, bladder and ureters (tubes carrying urine from the kidneys to the bladder). Often, ovarian cysts or tumors can cause pressure on these organs, which may show up on an IVP.
The only sure way to diagnose ovarian cancer, however, is through microscopic examination by a pathologist of abnormal-looking fluid or tissue. While fluid can sometimes be obtained by needle aspiration or other techniques, more commonly a laparatomy or laparoscopy is done. Laparotomy is an exploratory operation in which the surgeon examines the abdomen thoroughly and removes fluid or tissue for examination. In laparascopy, a flexible, lighted tube is passed through a small incision in the abdomen, allowing the surgeon to examine the area and extract tissue for a biopsy.
What is the Most Common Medical Procedure for Varicose Veins?
Sclerotherapy is probably the most common procedure for varicose veins. Sclerotherapy procedure uses a liquid chemical to close off or sclerose the varicose vein. Varicose veins and Spider veins are those bulging veins that people develop on their legs and sometimes elsewhere. Sclerotherapy is probably the most common procedure for varicose veins. Veins have one way valves. If the valves don't close properly the blood may fall back and exert pressure on the vein walls leading to varicose veins. You see all sorts of confusing advertisements in the newspapers for how to treat varicose veins. A plethora of medical and surgical treatments involving everything from radio waves to lasers have been developed to either remove varicose veins or close them.
What are Side Effects of Sclerotherapy?
Common side effects from varicose vein treatment following a procedure can include bruising, swelling, skin discoloration, cramping, and itching. Swelling and skin discoloration may last for several months. Less common side effects of varicose vein treatments include blood clots or nerve damage. An uncommon side effect of sclerotherapy is liquid chemical leaking out of the vein, which could cause tissue damage or ulcers.
Removing or closing varicose veins usually doesn’t create circulation problems because the blood reroutes itself through other veins. These therapies range from approaches that don’t involve incisions or injections to those that are surgical procedures. It may be necessary to combine therapies, depending on the condition and lifestyle.
A Video Explains Sclerotherapy for Varicose Veins and What to Expect Click the Arrow to Start
Sclerotherapy is probably the most common procedure for varicose veins. Sclerotherapy procedure uses a liquid chemical to close off the varicose vein. The solution is injected into the vein to cause irritation and scarring inside the vein, which causes the vein to close off and fade away. It’s usually used to treat smaller varicose veins and spider veins. Sclerotherapy is usually done in the doctor’s office. You may need several sclerotherapy treatments to close off a vein completely. In this case, treatments are typically given every 4 to 6 weeks. Following treatments, your legs are wrapped in elastic bandaging to help healing and decrease swelling.
LESS FAT SMALLER CUTS CERTAIN MARINADES MAY HELP WHAT CAN YOU DO GRILLING BURGERS AND BARBECUE MEAT TO REDUCE CANCER CAUSING CHEMICALS
Outdoor barbecue and grilling is fun and no one would tell you to stop grilling, it tastes great! But there are steps you can take to decrease the chance of cancer causing chemicals produced from cooking over flame and grilling. When you grill meat the high heat produces possibly cancer causing chemicals and also some of the fat drips down on to the charcoal and when fat meets that really high temperature it develops a carcinogen and the smoke carries the carcinogen back up to the meat. That smoke contains potentially dangerous cancer causing chemicals.
How can something that tastes so good be so bad? Grilling meat can produce carcinogenic (cancer causing) chemicals. There are two risk factors associated with grilling and cooking over flames. 1.The high heat of grilling reacts with proteins in red meat, poultry, and fish to create heterocyclic amines (HCAs). Studies have linked these chemicals to cancer. 2.Another form of cancer-causing agents, called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), are found in the smoke produced from grilling and flame cooking. They form when fat and juices from meat products drip on to the heat source. As the smoke rises, it can stick to the surface of the meat.
Which of the following variables determine how many carcinogens (cancer causing chemicals) are formed when you grill or barbecue meat?
1.cooking method 2. duration of cooking 3. temperature 4. type of food
When you grill a steak and a potato which is more likely to produce carcinogens? A steak or a potato
The Dana Farber Cancer Institute at Harvard and Purdue University have published some suggestions that might help lower the risk from flame cooking and summer grilling.
Prep the meat. Choose lean cuts of meat instead of high-fat varieties, such as ribs and sausage. Trim all excess fat and remove the skin. When using marinades, thinner is better. Thicker marinades have a tendency to char, possibly increasing exposure to carcinogenic compounds. Look for certain marinades that contain vinegar and/or lemon. They actually create a protective barrier around the meat. According to the tips from Purdue "Marinate meats in marinade that contains anti-oxidants (vinegar, citrus juice, herbs, spices and olive oil) as research suggests that this may help inhibit the formation of carcinogens on grilled meat".
Limit time, limit exposure. Partially cook meat and fish in a microwave for 60 to 90 seconds on high before grilling and then discard juices. This will limit the time they need to cook and reduce risk of smoke flare-ups.
Grilling techniques. Flip burgers often, at least once every minute. Place food at least six inches away from the heat source. Create a barrier to prevent juices from spilling and producing harmful smoke, such as lining the grill with aluminum foil that has holes poked in it or cooking on cedar planks.
Choose meats that are lean, smaller cuts and less fat.Lean meats create less dripping and less smoke. Trim excess fat, and remove skin from poultry. Choose smaller cuts, like kabobs; they take less time to cook. Try grilling your favorite vegetables.
Choose lean cuts of meat to grill, instead of high-fat varieties such as ribs or sausages. Trim fats from meats when possible and remove skin from poultry. Use tongs or a spatula to turn foods instead of a fork. Piercing meat with a fork allows fats and juices to drip down onto the hot coals which causes flame-ups. Removed charred areas from meat before eating.
In January, 2005, The National Institute of Health, officially added heterocyclic amines, chemicals created during the grilling of meat to it's hit list of cancer causing agents. Heterocyclic amines and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are chemicals that are formed during the grilling and frying and barbecuing of certain so called "muscle meats" such as beef, pork, poultry and fish .Muscles have a lot of protein and the building blocks of proteins are called amino acids. When amino acids are exposed to the cooking processes of grilling, barbecuing and frying, heterocyclic amines also called amino-imidazoazaarenes (AIAs) are created.
See the NIH HHS news release with the cheery title
"List of Cancer-Causing Agents Grows". "The Report on Carcinogens, Eleventh Edition, referred to as the “RoC,” lists cancer-causing agents in two categories — “known to be human carcinogens” and “reasonably anticipated to be human carcinogens.” The report now contains 58 “known” and 188 “reasonably anticipated” listings. Federal law requires the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services to publish the report every two years."
According to the NIH article, "Research has shown that cooking certain meats at high temperatures creates chemicals that are not present in uncooked meats. A few of these chemicals may increase cancer risk. For example, heterocyclic amines (HCAs) are the carcinogenic chemicals formed from the cooking of muscle meats such as beef, pork, fowl, and fish. HCAs form when amino acids (the building blocks of proteins) and creatine (a chemical found in muscles) react at high cooking temperatures."
Four Factors in Production of Carcinogenic Heterocyclic Amines
The NIH article goes on to say that "MeIQ, MeIQx, and PhIP are heterocyclic amine compounds formed when meats and eggs are cooked or grilled at high temperatures. These compounds are also found in cigarette smoke. They are listed in the report as “reasonably anticipated to be human carcinogens” because oral studies in animals showed they caused cancer in multiple organs including the forestomach, colon, liver, oral cavity, mammary gland, skin, and cecum. Several human studies suggest there is an increased risk for breast and colorectal cancers related to consumption of broiled or fried foods that may contain these or other similar compounds....
MeIQ is 2-Amino-3, 4-dimethylimidazo [4,5-f]quinoline
MeIQx is 2-Amino-3, 8-dimethylimidazo [4,5-f]quinoxaline
PhIP is 2-Amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo [4,5-b]pyridine
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocabons are substances that enter meat through smoke that’s created when fat drips onto hot coals or stones. The hetrocyclic amines and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are known to be mutagenic, i.e. they produce changes in DNA.According to this article from the National Cancer Institute
National Cancer Institute Heterocyclic Amines in Cooked Meats "research has shown that cooking certain meats at high temperatures creates chemicals that are not present in uncooked meats. A few of these chemicals may increase cancer risk". The article goes on to say that "four factors influence HCA formation" :
