A day after Rep. John Murtha passed away following gallbladder surgery, it has emerged that the Congressman’s large intestine was damaged during the procedure and the complications led him to be hospitalized, according to a Pennsylvania Congressman and longtime friend.

As I mentioned in my blog yesterday, gallbladder removal, or cholecystectomy, is considered “routine” surgery because of its prevalence and new, minimally invasive techniques that have helped to decrease risks and shorten recovery time.  But the truth is, no matter how common the procedure, we should never consider surgery “routine.” 

Click here to watch a video of gallbladder removal surgery.

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All surgeries carry risks from the general anesthesia used during the procedure, to the risk for infection afterwards – and sometimes, human error.

For the most part, the complications of gallbladder surgery are minimal. Many patients may complain of an upset stomach/diarrhea or pain at the surgical site, but dying from gallbladder surgery — although not common — can happen.

However, like anything else, there are multiple factors that can increase the risk of death after this surgery. Some of them include:
                                                       
1. Underlying medical conditions, age and overall health

2. Partial obstruction vs. total obstruction: What was the severity of the blockage by gallstones?

3. Was the gallbladder infected before surgery, or has an infection formed since?

4. The skill of the surgeon doing the operation

If at some point during the surgery, an inadvertent perforation is created in the bowel and the defect is not recognized during the time of the procedure, intestinal bacteria can leak into the abdominal cavity creating a severe infection in the abdomen. Of all the complications from this surgery – this is probably the most severe because the bacteria can then be absorbed into the bloodstream, which can lead to septic shock and organ failure.

Of course, if the injury is recognized during the surgery, doctors can repair the defect in the intestine and institute a very aggressive antibiotic regimen, which can help the patient recover. But at the end of the day, when dealing with this type of complication, time is of the essence, and you really have very little room to prevent significant complications.

The Pennsylvania Democrat was admitted to Virginia Hospital Center in Arlington, on Jan. 31., when he developed an infection and fever, just days after having the procedure at National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md. He died Monday afternoon.

Needless to say, a great American was lost, but one of the most important things we can learn from his tragic death is an awareness that all surgeries carry risk, and we should never take our health for granted.

My column on the cover page of today’s LA Times health section is about the film Extraordinary Measures, a fictionalized version of the book by WSJ reporter Geeta Anand which details the discovery of a replacement enzyme for the severe neuromuscular disease Pompe disease.

The treatment is lifesaving, and its creation was quite dramatic and involved the best we have in the U.S. in terms of science and business. The new drug, known as an “orphan drug” because it treats a rare disease, is very expensive, ranging from $50,000 a year for infants to $400,000 a year for adults. There are production problems and distribution problems, and mostly, there are reimbursement problems, because most insurance companies won’t cover it.

So how will this problem be addressed if we extend low quality on-size-fits-all insurance to millions more people? In my opinion it won’t be. It is exactly this kind of high tech state of the art treatment that will be in grave jeopardy. A collision of cultures: technology and insurance.

Dr. Marc Siegel is an internist and associate professor of medicine at the NYU School of Medicine. He is a FOX News medical contributor and writes a health column for the LA Times, where he examines TV and movies for medical accuracy. Dr. Siegel is the author of a new ebook: Swine Flu; the New Pandemic. Dr. Siegel is also the author of “False Alarm: The Truth About the Epidemic of Fear“ and “Bird Flu: Everything You Need to Know About the Next Pandemic.” Read more at www.doctorsiegel.com

This year, Valentine’s Day falls on a Sunday, allowing us to spend some true quality time with our loved ones.  Today’s blog ideas are to help get your creative juices flowing to say “I love you” in a healthful way.  Of course it’s okay to indulge- remember everything in moderation- but here are some ideas to prevent overindulging. 

–Whether you’re dining out or staying in, make smart choices.  For example, choose to have wine OR an appetizer, larger portions OR dessert, but not all four.  And of course, be a good listener. The more you listen, the slower you’ll eat, the less you’ll eat, and the more aware you will be of how full you’re getting. Lending an ear shows you care- and might even save a few calories!

–Start your day off right with some exercise. Love your body first and you’ll find loving someone else just that much better. 

–Vote to be on portion patrol, or opt for a sweet indulgence that’s pre-portioned for you.  Here are a few I like:

   –Fiber One 90 Calorie Chewy Bars (90 Calories)

   –Yoplait Chocolate/Raspberry Delight Parfait (100 Calories) — 15% calcium & 15% vitamin D

   –Betty Crocker Warm Delights Mini Molten Chocolate Cake (150 Calories)

   –Lindt Lindor truffle (70 Calories each)

   –Archer Farms Cheesecake Bite (75 Calories each)

–Take a walk with your loved one. A walk hand-in-hand can be just what you need to feel connected. As an added bonus, enjoy the endorphins you release after exercise!

–Eat family dinner- whip up that recipe you’ve been meaning to try and cherish the time with everyone gathered around the table.

–You can’t go wrong with breakfast in bed- save money and calories by cooking up your own start to the day.

–Get creative with heart-shaped cookie cutters- and it doesn’t have to be a baked good!  Ever seen an “egg in a frame”?  Use a heart-shaped cookie cutter to create the “frame” in a piece of bread.  Place the bread in a small amount of butter or non-stick spray and crack an egg into the heart.  Now that’s a special breakfast.  Feeling more like pancakes?  Spell “I love you” with a whole grain pancake recipe.  Add some fresh fruit or even homemade, fresh-squeezed juice to the menu. 

–As always, don’t be so hard on yourself.  If you have a “bad day” from overindulgence, be happy for the time you got to spend with people you love.  Tomorrow is a new day when you can re-focus on you and your diet and exercise goals. 

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Tanya Zuckerbrot, MS, RD is a nutritionist and founder of Skinnyandthecity.com. She is also the creator of The F-Factor Diet™, an innovative nutritional program she has used for more than ten years to provide hundreds of her clients with all the tools they need to achieve easy weight loss and maintenance, improved health and well-being.  For more information log onto www.FFactorDiet.com.

Dr. Cynara Coomer

I’m a strong believer in the old adage “you are what you eat.”  That’s why I always advise my patients to incorporate bright, colorful foods into their diets.

Preventing cancer and your diet go hand-in-hand.  Antioxidants, vitamins and polyphenols are paramount in staving off this devastating disease.  I’ve compiled a list of foods that are rich in cancer-fighting properties.

1. Avocados: Rich in the antioxidant glutathione, which attacks free radicals in the body, avocados are an excellent source of potassium and beta-carotene.

2. Carrots: They’re good for your eyesight, but also good for nixing cancer. Beta-carotene can help reduce many cancers including lung, throat, stomach, intestine, prostate and breast cancers.  Be aware that some research has suggested that taking beta-carotene supplements has actually been linked to higher rates of lung cancer in high-risk groups like smokers.

3. Chili peppers and jalapenos: Not only do they spice up your favorite dishes, but they have a chemical called capsaicin in them that can help keep certain cancer-causing elements called nitrosamines at bay.

4. Flax: Chock full of healthy ingredients like antioxidants, which can block cancerous changes in the body,  it is also high in omega-3 fatty acids, which have been shown to protect against breast and colon cancers.

5. Garlic: It will help to boost your immune system and breakdown cancer-causing substances.  The allium compounds found in garlic block carcinogens from getting into your cells and slow down tumor development.  Studies have linked a lower risk for stomach and colon cancers with garlic.  One study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that garlic supplements did not have the same effect, so stick with the whole clove.

6. Green tea: According to many studies, green tea is a cure-all.  It has been known to help prevent skin, esophageal, stomach, colon, pancreas, lung, bladder, prostate and breast cancers.  This tea contains polyphenols, which have antioxidant properties.  Studies have shown that polyphenols shut down and prevent cancerous tumors by cutting off the blood supply to tumors.

7. Licorice root: Studies suggest it may be helpful in preventing prostate cancer because it contains a chemical called glycyrrhizin, which helps block components of testosterone.  You should not take licorice root if you have high blood pressure, and licorice candy doesn’t count – you have to eat the actual root.

8. Rosemary: Studies have shown rosemary helps to inhibit the development of both breast and skin tumors in animals.  There haven’t been any studies done on humans yet,  but rosemary has a long history of other medicinal uses like treating upset stomachs, digestive disorders and headaches.

9. Seaweed: Rich in beta-carotene, protein, vitamin B12, fiber, chlorophyll and chlorophylones,  it contains important fatty acids that could help fight off breast cancer.

10. Turmeric: It’s a powerful anti-inflammatory that can help slow the production of inflammation-related enzymes, which are high in certain cancers like bowel and colon cancers.

I want to be clear – these foods are not cure-alls.  But they might help your body better defend itself from developing cancer, so eat up!

Dr. Cynara Coomer is an assistant professor of surgery specializing in breast health and breast cancer surgery at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City. She is a FOX News Health contributor providing medical expertise on a variety of topics in cancer research with a focus on women’s health, breast diseases and tips for healthy breasts at any age.  If you have a question email her at DrCoomer@foxnews.com

Dear Yvonne,

Does having sex at a higher altitude impact it in any way?

– Alec

Dear Alec,
While little research has been done in this area, high-altitude sex can impact pleasuring. There’s less oxygen in the air the higher you get above sea level. At 8,000 feet, you have much less oxygen to work with. For some people, this can make for a more intense orgasm. Sex in a new place or being on vacation or in the ‘great outdoors’ can also enhance the sexual experience, as is often the case with those finding themselves in high altitudes.

Dr. Yvonne Kristín Fulbright is a sex educator, relationship expert, columnist and founder of Sexuality Source Inc. She is the author of several books including, “Touch Me There! A Hands-On Guide to Your Orgasmic Hot Spots.”

This has been a week for strange pregnancies. First we reported on a 9-year-old from China who gave birth.

The authors of the case study concluded that the only way she got pregnant was by the sperm surviving the entry into the stomach through the defect of the stomach wall and depositing itself in the lower pelvic organs, creating a pregnancy.

I tell you, I respect the British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, but this must have been some super sperm. We all know that sperm can survive for up to 72 hours after intercourse, but clearly the mechanics of how this girl could have possibly gotten pregnant just doesn’t hold water with me.

First, the acidity of the stomach would have almost created an environment that is not consistent with keeping the sperm alive. Second, the anatomy of the stomach in relation to where the fallopian tubes are makes it almost impossible for the sperm to make it to have a normal pregnancy.

If the case had been where the patient had an abdominal pregnancy, rather than an intrauteral pregnancy, I may have concluded that even though it was still highly unlikely, there would be a small possibility that this could happen. But I think that in its current presentation, this case with all of its coincidence, still leaves me wondering whether it is true or not. 

However, it makes for interesting reading and lively conversation. As a health warning, I always talk about oral sex, especially with teenagers, and warn against the possible effects of the human papilloma virus entering into the throat region, which has been linked to many lesions including cancer.

But I still believe you can’t get pregnant through oral sex.

By Deirdre Imus

According to HealthySchools.org, 55 million children attend public and private K-12 schools in the U.S. where poor air quality, hazardous chemicals and other unhealthy conditions can make students sick and compromise their ability to learn.

Whether we are talking about today’s chilling winter weather or the hot, hazy days of summer, the indoor air quality (IAQ) found in most schools not only interferes with a child’s ability to concentrate, it can also contribute to the spread of illnesses and increase asthma related reactions, both resulting in more school absenteeism.

Affecting students and teachers alike, indoor air pollution can cause headaches, dizziness, respiratory problems, coughing, fatigue, nausea, and trigger allergies.

How can we expect children to learn – or educators to teach – if they aren’t feeling well?

In the same way we can improve our own home environment, school indoor air quality is one of the things we can control. One easy way is to encourage your local school officials to switch to safer, non-toxic school cleaners and pesticides. By making this simple and often cost effective change, districts can improve student and teacher productivity, help prevent indoor air quality related ailments, and give our children a healthier learning environment.

See how your school district can have a healthy learning environment by implementing my National “Greening Your Schools” Program.  

To learn more about the schools in your state read Sick Schools 2009 America’s Continuing Education Health Crisis for Children.

Deirdre Imus is the Founder and President of The Deirdre Imus Environmental Center for Pediatric Oncology® at Hackensack University Medical Center and Co-Founder and Co-Director of the Imus Cattle Ranch for Kids with Cancer. Deirdre is the author of four books, including three national bestsellers.  She is a frequent speaker on green living and children’s health issues, and is a contributor to FoxNewsHealth.com. For more information go to www.dienviro.com

If only there were something that could help to stem the onset of degenerative disease, inhibit some of the processes of aging, and increase healthspan.  In fact, there is.  OPC is that agent of health, a powerful antioxidant found in the skins of grape seed.  OPC, or oligomeric proanthocyanidins, is found in numerous plants throughout nature, and occurs in abundance in grape seed skins, from which it is commercially extracted.  The manufacturing of grape seed extract to a specific level of OPC is highly specialized, resulting in a biologically active, beneficial product.

In brief, here are the health benefits of OPC, as determined in various clinical studies:

•    Acts as a superior antioxidant, protecting cells in the body against destruction by free radicals.
•    Reduces LDL cholesterol, thus reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease.
•    Reduces blood platelet aggregation, thus reducing the risk of atherosclerosis, a condition where fatty material collects along the walls of arteries.
•    Increases the strength and elasticity of blood vessels, protecting against rupture, leakage and degeneration.
•    Enhances the ability of collagen to repair itself, thereby protecting against age-related and degenerative processes.
•    Inhibits swelling (edema) and inflammation.
•    Relieves functional problems of varicose veins, such as achiness and cramping.
•    Reduces discomfort associated with PMS and menopause.
•    Reduces the tendency toward diabetic retinopathy, damage to the eye’s retina.
•    Improves skin health by reducing damage, increasing nutrient supply and  improving elasticity.

OPC is rapidly absorbed, and quickly distributed throughout the body. As a free radical fighter, OPC comes to the aid of the body more quickly than other antioxidants, thereby reducing the potential for free radical damage and the ravages of aging. OPC is a more powerful antioxidant than vitamin C in scavenging oxygen free radicals in the body. Plus, OPC has a sparing effect on vitamin C by blocking the action of ascorbate oxydase, the enzyme that destroys vitamin C.  OPC is a more effective antioxidant than vitamin E, because it can scavenge more free radicals.

In two important ways, OPC helps to prevent the primary causes of heart attack and stroke. OPC prevents oxidation of LDL cholesterol by scavenging oxidative free radicals.  As a result of this activity, OPC helps to prevent the build-up of oxidized cholesterol on artery walls. Acting in this way, OPC goes after the root cause of cardiovascular disease. Additionally, OPC  modifies the activity of hormone-like factors which prevent blood platelets from clumping together and forming a dangerous clot.

But that isn’t all OPC does to help keep the cardiovascular system healthy. OPC actually strengthens collagen in vascular walls, making vessels stronger and more elastic. OPC alters the membrane receptor conformation of vascular walls, reducing the damaging effects of the destructive enzymes elastase, collagenase and hyaluronidase, by preventing them from attaching to and degrading vascular walls. OPC further prevents destruction of vascular walls by preventing attachment to membranes by histamine and hyaluronidase, both of which can decrease the strength of vessel walls. Thus in addition to preventing the root causes of vessel occlusion, OPC strengthens vessels, thereby reducing the risk of a rupture or hemorrhage.  Thus OPC helps to prevent and relieve conditions of vascular fragility including hemorrhoids, varicose veins, and spider veins.

OPC also reduces high blood pressure by inhibiting the activity of ACE (angiotensin converting enzyme). This is the same mode of action by which prescription anti-hypertensive drugs work. Further working in a manner which supports total vascular health, OPC improves the strength of fine vessels, or capillaries, and helps to prevent leakage of blood cells and fluids.  It is also effective in relieving varicosities and venous insufficiency, and strengthens capillary walls in the legs, effectively reducing venous problems.

In the body, there are many types of tissue. One type, connective tissue, binds together and is the support of the various structures of the body.  Skin, tendons, bones and cartilage are all made of connective tissue, which contains as one of its primary constituents a white fibrous protein called collagen.  In this role, collagen is one of the most important agents in the body, for it literally holds us together.

Connective tissue starts out supple and strong early in life, and becomes brittle and weak due to age and exposure to environmental factors such as sun, wind, smoke and pollutants. We have all seen the contrast between the smooth, clear, soft skin of an infant and the wrinkled, spotted, parchment-like skin of an elderly person. The latter is the result of time, wear, and specific biological occurences which are lumped together under the general heading of “aging.”

The integrity of collagen-based tissue is due to what is known as “cross-linking.” Collagen forms delicate strands known as microfibrils. These strands intertwine in pairs, almost like twisted rope. Between the intertwined strands are fibrous links made of collagen, much like the steps between two standing poles of a ladder; thus cross-linking. Adequate cross-linking is necessary to maintain the structural integrity of the body. On the other hand, oxidation causes excessive cross-linking, which leads to brittle, stiff tissue. In skin, excessive cross-linking manifests as wrinkles and sagging skin. In the case of collagen,  OPC plays a dual role. On the one hand, it helps to ensure adequate cross-linking. On the other hand, as a potent antioxidant it effectively fights the adverse biological conditions which result in excessive cross-linking.

As a collagen-promoter, OPC strengthens collagen protein, affixing to vascular walls, thus enhancing vascular integrity by literally becoming part of the tissue structure. When OPC binds to collagen, it modifies the vulnerability of connective tissue membranes, making it more difficult for destructive enzymes in the body to cause damage. One such enzyme is collagenase, which breaks down collagen fibers. OPC prevents the degradation of collagen by the enzyme collagenase. OPC makes collagen resistant to the activity of collagenase by binding tightly to soluble collagen fibers and altering receptor sites so that the enzyme cannot bind to the protein and break it down.  OPC also enhances the ability of collagen to repair itself, thereby helping to protect it against degenerative processes and harmful agents.

Studies of OPC show total biological activity without toxicity. Toxic effects have not been observed, despite decades of use and intensive research into the most minute aspects of OPC’s activities in the body. It can be said with assuredness that OPC is a safe, beneficial agent with great value in the prevention and treatment of a wide variety of health conditions.

Look for brands that specify OPC value. For general health and well-being, an average daily dose of 100 – 200 milligrams of OPC is appropriate. For specific therapeutic purposes, dosages of 300 milligrams or more may be required. If you are dealing with a particular health problem, you are best advised to consult a physician who can help monitor your progress. For while self health care is a sane and sensible practice, medical specialists are needed in cases of cardiovascular disease, edema, diabetic retinopathy, and many of the other conditions for which OPC is proven beneficial.

Chris Kilham is a medicine hunter who researches natural remedies all over the world, from the Amazon to Siberia. He teaches ethnobotany at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where he is Explorer In Residence. Chris advises herbal, cosmetic and pharmaceutical companies and is a regular guest on radio and TV programs worldwide.  His field research is largely sponsored by Naturex of Avignon, France. Read more at www.MedicineHunter.com

The 2010 Winter Olympics begin on February 3rd and the Paralympics shortly thereafter on March 3rd. So many families tune in to watch the awe-inspiring feats of these athletes but tune out once the events are finished. There are many ways you can make the most of these events and your time spent in front of the television. Check out these tips for bringing the Olympics into your home, across the curriculum.

Social Studies
Get a map of the world and flag the countries as you see them participate in events.

Track the number of countries per continent.

Ask your children the following questions:
Why do you think some countries typically perform better in certain events?
Does a country’s location, economy, or climate affect their performance at events?

Science
Track the weather in Vancouver each day. Make a simple bar graph and record the type of weather each day (sunny, cloudy, or snow). Make a line graph that tracks the daily temperature.

Ask your child the following questions:
How does the weather affect events?
How does the weather affect the athletes?

Language Arts
Write a persuasive paragraph and make a case for a sport that is not in the Olympics now to be included in the next Olympics.

Play Hangman using Olympic-themed words.

Have your children define the words determined, represent, and sportsmanship. Have a discussion on how your child can apply these words in his life. Remind your child that these are amateur athletes who are not paid for their performance at the Olympics. Though some athletes go on to secure major endorsement deals, most do it for the love of their sport.

Math
Make a chart and tally the gold, silver, and bronze medals for the U.S. and countries from which your families hail.

For timed events, calculate the difference in times between participants.

Call family members and friends and conduct a survey. Have each person choose their  favorite event, favorite athlete, and favorite part of the opening ceremony. Create a graph that includes your data.

Jennifer Cerbasi teaches at a public school for children on the autism spectrum in New Jersey. As a coordinator of Applied Behavioral Analysis programs in the home, she works with parents to create and implement behavioral plans for their children in an environment that fosters both academic and social growth. In addition to her work both in the classroom and at home, she is also a member of the National Association of Special Education Teachers and the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.

Over the last several decades, psychiatry has prided itself on becoming a true medical specialty. Hundreds of medications for anxiety and insomnia and depression were added to our therapeutic armamentarium. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders swelled with conditions defined by increasingly specific lists of signs and symptoms.  Technological innovations like Positron Emission Tomography offered the promise of meaningful testing to confirm or refute a psychiatrist’s particular diagnosis.
The excitement of making psychiatry conform to the medical model, just like internal medicine or surgery, led to turning out a generation of psychiatrists many of whom have never been in psychotherapy themselves and are mostly comfortable prescribing medicine and much less comfortable exploring the life stories and stresses and hopes and dreams of their patients.  The idea that problems of meaning, problems of the soul, were the roots of our patients’ suffering, not just problems of brain chemistry, seemed to fall out of fashion.
However, it took more than a tide of technology to nearly sweep away the most powerful way psychiatrists can heal patients—namely by using human empathy to find and change their self-defeating patterns of thinking, feeling and behavior.  I believe it took an underlying fear of the immeasurable power of the human spirit.
The truth is that healing patients suffering with anxiety and depression and psychosis and attention deficit problems requires bringing oneself to the task of intuiting when in life their self-confidence or self-esteem or sense of safety was shaken.  It requires listening with one’s heart to find those moments in childhood or youth or young adulthood that disheartened one’s patients.  It requires taking down the interpersonal walls that leave so many of us strangers to one another and becoming intimate with the conscious and unconscious emotions of those who seek comfort and compassion and, yes, curative therapies from us.
If none of that sounds like something that can be found on a CT scan, that’s because it can’t.  No brain scan or blood test will ever show the way the human spirit, properly harnessed, can heal.  No EEG will explain the power of a moment of epiphany to change the course of a person’s life, nor the potential for a sustained increase in mood or decrease in anxiety or disappearance of psychosis brought about by one human being understanding another’s suffering at the deepest level.
The most powerful healing in psychiatry might be accepted as mystical and immeasurable were it not for a relatively recent historical prejudice in favor of tiny molecules rather than small miracles.  
I have no such prejudice left.
From my perspective as a doctor, I worry not at all whether the medicines I sometimes prescribe or the moments of connection I always attempt to achieve with my patients are the more powerful remedy.  I want only to wrestle their suffering to the ground and I welcome the help of every force I can bring to the battle—whether I can understand it as a scientist or not.

Dr. Keith Ablow is a psychiatry correspondent for FOX News Channel and a New York Times bestselling author. His book, “Living the Truth: Transform Your Life through the Power of Insight and Honesty” has launched a new self-help movement including www.livingthetruth.com. Dr. Ablow can be emailed at info@keithablow.com.