One size fits all — isn’t that what we all want? And at a time of exorbitant medical costs, isn’t it practical that scientists have developed the mega-pill that cures all our ills and keeps us from having heart attacks and strokes? I wish it were that easy!

A new study from Canada and India published in the prestigious journal Lancet and presented at the American College of Cardiology meetings takes a look at a pill that combines aspirin, statin, and three blood pressure pills (a beta blocker, an ace inhibitor, and a diuretic) in patients with heart risk factors. The study took place over 12 weeks and showed that the ultimate combo drug continued to lower cholesterol, blood pressure, and be as well tolerated as the drugs taken alone.

Not only that, the results project out to a decreased risk of stroke by 48 percent and heart disease by 62 percent over a longer period.

The obvious advantages are in terms of patient compliance and low cost. But the disadvantages are also worth considering. As I’ve seen in my medical practice, for all combo pills, the problem is not knowing which pill is doing what, and if there is a side effect, which component is causing it. A patient may develop a problem and stop the pill and then refuse to take any of the drugs that make it up. Decisions like that can end up being more expensive in the long run, in terms of health care outcome.

And despite cardiac risk factors, some patients need one of these drugs and not the other. The diuretic may cause electrolyte abnormalities, dry people out, or make them urinate frequently. Not everyone tolerates this the same. Altace can cause a cough and the beta blocker may make some dizzy. In the final analysis, the “one size fits all” approach may not be as cost effective as it first appears.

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 LA Times, where he examines TV and movies for medical accuracy. Dr. Siegel is 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

In these uncertain economic times, it is not unusual for many patients to postpone their regular preventive care. Often viewed as unimportant if there are no obvious problems and “nothing hurts,” the routine dental checkup and cleaning are put on hold in the interest of saving some money.

Unfortunately, nothing can be further from the truth. To begin with, the checkup examination can often help you avoid or detect a dental problem early before it becomes painful both physically and financially. Regular dental care helps ensure healthy teeth and gums, which in turn strengthen a healthy oral immune system.

Good oral health is essential to maintaining total body health as research continues to emerge showing a strong correlation between dental disease and many systemic problems ranging from Alzheimer’s disease to pancreatic cancer. If you are a pregnant woman, you have a seven times higher chance of having a pre-term baby. You also have up to a ten times greater chance of heart attack or stroke, and a seven times higher chance of developing type 2 diabetes. Basically, gum disease is a major source of chronic low-grade inflammation which can have ravaging effects on many body organ systems.

Several recent studies, including one completed with 145,000 patients at Columbia University’s dental school, went even one step further. They found that maintaining or restoring good oral health actually reduced total health care costs up to 21 percent for the management of patients with various systemic diseases. A study performed in Japan concluded virtually the same. The actual potential health care cost savings could easily be in the trillions of dollars if this is considered on a large population scale.

So if you’ve considered putting off your last checkup, think again. There’s a lot to be said about being “penny wise and dollar foolish.”  Now is the time to be more preventive and proactive about your health as a healthy smile is also healthy for your wallet.

Dr. Gerald P. Curatola is a renowned aesthetic dentist and pioneer in the emerging field of rejuvenation dentistry, which improves patients’ overall health and appearance by integrating total wellness with cutting edge oral care and restorative procedures. In addition to his private practice, research, and work as a Clinical Associate Professor at NYU College of Dentistry, he is an internationally sought after speaker, author and expert who has been featured widely in print and broadcast media. For more information, go to DrGerry.net

Today I want to comment on a news piece from the New York Post about Dr. Malcolm Lloyd, a physician who seems to be recommending daily alcohol consumption as a preventative for a variety of ailments from the common cold to Alzheimer’s and certain cancers. He also seems to be indicating that people who drink regularly in moderation seem to live longer than those who don’t. Give me a break!

I know that there have been numerous publications exploring the correlation between alcohol consumption and heart health. For example, we all know that a chemical compound found in wine called resvesterol, is a potent antioxidant that has been shown to complement the stability of a healthy heart.

However, there have been many other studies that have clearly demonstrated increased cancer rates ― especially breast cancer ― in women who consume moderate amounts of alcohol.

Now trust me, I am not, by a long shot, a person who doesn’t enjoy a good drink once in a while. And I do acknowledge that there are cultures in various parts of the world where alcohol is an integral part of the local cuisine. However, these are also the cultures where healthy servings of vital nutrients, vegetables and proteins play a key role in their daily eating habits. They tend to be more physically active, and place a lot of importance on maintaining healthy sleep patterns.

But here in the U.S., we are a “fast-food nation.” For the last 3-5 years, we’ve been hearing about how the obesity rate has reached epidemic proportions – affecting both adults and our children.

Obesity significantly raises the risk for many diseases and conditions like:
          o          Coronary heart disease

          o          Type 2 diabetes

          o          Cancers (endometrial, breast, and colon)

          o          Hypertension (high blood pressure)

          o          Dyslipidemia (high total cholesterol or high levels of triglycerides)

          o          Stroke

          o          Liver and Gallbladder disease

          o          Sleep apnea and respiratory problems

          o          Osteoarthritis (a degeneration of cartilage and its underlying bone within a joint)

          o          Gynecological problems

 
Americans also deal with high rates of depression — another disease that when coupled with the effects of alcohol can have disastrous results.

We also have to remember that alcohol has addictive properties that for some folks can completely ruin the chances of future health and longevity.

I know that everyone is looking for an excuse to justify their daily cocktail, but I find it irresponsible for one physician to give us a free pass to drink myself to “an everlasting life.”

Watching the worried pundits on the FOX Business Channel for the past few weeks, I’ve been wondering, medically speaking, what the solution is going to be for all the stress that is sure to result from our flailing economy. It has been well documented that stress, including the financial kind, can lead to heart attacks, strokes, depression, suicide, and certain kinds of cancer.     

But as often is the case with health, a complex problem may lead to a simple solution. Coincidentally, in the middle of all our worry, a new study was published that shows the positive effects of touch.

*  A new study from Utah researchers published in Psychosomatic Medicine shows that warm touch decreases stress hormones and lowers blood pressure. The study looked at married couples ages 20 to 39 in their own environment and found that massage, touch, hugging, kissing, had these effects and also increased the calming hormone oxytocin. A key positive feature of this study was the non-laboratory setting. Criticism of previous studies on stress and touch have included concerns about the artificial environment of the laboratory.

*  According to the American Hospital Association 37 percent of hospitals in the U.S. use complementary and alternative treatments including touch therapy. This policy is growing, and may help improve disease outcomes.

*  Previous studies from Miami (Touch Research Institute) show that massage and relaxation therapies enhance mood and immune function for women with breast cancer. The institute has also published data revealing faster growth in premature babies, a better tolerance of pain, lower glucose level in diabetic children who were frequently touched.

*  Another interesting study from Virginia showed a decrease in fear, danger, and threat responses in the centers of the brain when women touched the hands of their husbands while experiencing pain.

* Petting dogs has been shown to be calming, to lower stress, and to have a positive impact on immune function and the fight against disease.

I am advocating touch as a treatment for stress, but there is a downside. Of course touch increases the risk of spreading many bacteria and viruses. And with cold and flu season right around the corner, I am compelled to add that while you are hugging and stroking to compensate for your worry, make sure to wash your hands afterward.

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 LA Times, where he examines TV and movies for medical accuracy. Dr. Siegel is 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

Tales of traders throwing themselves out of windows on Wall Street in the wake of 1929 were essentially myths, as John Kenneth Galbraith noted in his 1955 account of the crash.

Nevertheless, current economic woes are clearly impacting on our country’s mental and physical health. Stress is a well documented cause of depression, suicide, heart disease, stroke, predisposition to infection, and certain kinds of cancer.

Stress is often subliminal, it may overtake you before you realize it.  The last thing a person in financial trouble needs is to be simultaneously dealing with illness, yet stress-induced illness is common.
 
SOME WORRISOME EXAMPLES OF THE EFFECTS OF FINANCIAL TROUBLES:

* In New York, calls to the Hopeline network for people with depression or suicidal thoughts leaped 75 percent to 10,368 in the 11 months ending in July 2008.

* In Chicago, ComPsych Corp., the world’s largest provider of employee assistance programs, logged 21 percent more calls seeking help for stress from financial pressures in July than they received a year earlier.

* Hospital admissions for psychiatric services are up 10 percent this year over last year in claims submitted to UnitedHealth Group Inc., the largest U.S. health insurer.

* ValueOptions Inc., the fourth-largest U.S. provider of behavioral health and wellness services, reported that calls for assistance with home foreclosures, bankruptcy and other financial hardships have grown 89 percent this year over 2007.

* Research based on 17 years of Pennsylvania unemployment records concluded that employees affected by a mass layoff at a plant were 15 percent more likely to die of any cause over the next two decades.

* Harvey Brenner, professor emeritus at Johns Hopkins’s Bloomberg School of Public Health, projects that rising unemployment could cause as many as 47,000 more deaths than would have otherwise occurred, including 1,200 more suicides, as well as nearly 26,000 more heart attacks.

WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT:

* Seek emotional support, from loved ones and if needed, professionals.

* Try to continue to focus on business as usual, and to avoid obsessive negative thoughts.

* Emphasize regular exercise, try relaxation techniques such as yoga or meditation, eat regular meals, and as much as possible, observe regular sleep habits.

* Consult with your physician if your fear over your financial future is spiraling out of control. Anti-anxiety medication may be necessary to break the cycle of worry.

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 LA Times, where he examines TV and movies for medical accuracy. Dr. Siegel is 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

Brain aneurysms have been in the news this past week. First there was the unfortunate sudden death of Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones (D-Ohio) from a ruptured brain aneurysm at age 58. And now with the nomination for vice president of Senator Joseph Biden (D-Delaware), the public has been reminded of his fortunate survival following the surgical clipping of two brain aneurysms back in 1988.

Aneurysms in the news present an opportunity for educating the public about these scary blood vessel bulgings in the brain.

Biden reportedly had two aneurysms, one on each side of his brain, and they were discovered when he suffered pain in his neck.

A neurological work-up revealed the aneurysms, one of which had leaked slightly. The tiniest amount of blood mixing with the brain’s cerebrospinal fluid (the fluid which surrounds and cushions the brain) can be painful. Pain was an alert to Biden, and in 1988, he had the aneurysms surgically clipped before they could rupture.

Tubbs Jones wasn’t nearly as fortunate, and she was found slumped over the wheel of her car, already in a coma, and was soon dead.

 Biden’s neckache was due to a “sentinel leak,” which can be compared to a slow leak of air from a tire in an area where the wall is thinning. Whereas Jones’ aneurysm reportedly burst, like a tire blowing out.

High blood pressure, smoking, and drug use, particularly cocaine can all contribute to the formation (and rupture) of aneurysms. Family history of aneurysms, congenital abnormalities in the wall of the artery, or other related medical conditions such as polycystic ovaries can all play a role in causing aneurysms.

 About 6 million people in the United States have a brain aneurysm. The yearly rate of rupture is about 1 in 10,000 people. Almost half will die as a result of the rupture, and more than half who recover will have significant disability (symptoms of a stroke).

 Aneurysms are most common in middle age, and women are affected more often than men. Aneurysms tend to occur at branch points of the arteries, and are much more common at the front of the brain.

Below are some frequently asked questions regarding brain aneursyms:

Q:   Should I be checked for a brain aneurysm?

A: The incidence in the general population is not sufficient to recommend routine screening, but a MRI of the brain might be considered for a family history or multiple risk factors.

Q: What symptoms should I look for?

A: New onset Headache, neckache, nausea, and blurry vision can all be signs of impending bleed from an aneurysm. These symptoms are reasons to see your physician quickly.

Q: What is the treatment for a brain aneurysm?

A: Since the 1980s, many aneurysms are treated with the insertion through a micro-catheter of tiny platinum coils. These coils are useful to block the flow of blood to the aneurysm, which causes it to shrink.

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 LA Times, where he examines TV and movies for medical accuracy. Dr. Siegel is 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

Plantains, though they look very similar to their cousin, the banana, are actually quite different and act more like potatoes; they must be cooked prior to eating. Throughout Latin America, plantains are more than just wonderful additions to soups and stews. Unlike potatoes, these treats can be used in all stages of ripeness—from green to almost black! Plantains do not contain any cholesterol or sodium and are low in fat. They contain a good dose of calcium, iron, and potassium, are high in vitamin A, and provide an excellent source of fiber.

Pumpkin, another ubiquitous vegetable found throughout Latin America, is full of taste and health benefits! Whether it’s steamed or baked, or added as a flavorful thickener to all kinds of soups and rice and bean dishes, it makes a delicious and healthy addition. Though low in calories, its bright orange flesh is rich in antioxidants and carotenes, as well as potassium and vitamins C and E. It may lower cancer risk, heart attacks, cataracts, and strokes.

Actually the secret is—as always—freshness and variety! These light white meat and natural ocean feeders (not bottom-feeders) have so many attributes beyond great flavor, whether marinated lightly for a ceviche (a wonderful traditional dish found throughout the Americas in which the fish is “cooked” through the acids of citrus juices, such as lime, lemon, and orange) or grilled with a sprinkle of spice and fresh lemon juice. The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends eating fish at least 2 times a week, and Latin Americans have naturally been following AHA recommendations for years. My patients and viewers know that I’ve been touting the virtues of eating fish for a long time (hey, I come from an island!).

Seriously, I’ve learned—and I share this with my patients, audience, and friends—that in addition to being a good source of protein without the high saturated fat found in many meat products, there are many additional health benefits to seafood. For example, because they’re high in 2 kinds of omega-3 fatty acids, seafood not only decreases the risk of arrhythmias that can lead to sudden cardiac death, but also decreases blood clot formation that can lead to heart attacks and strokes, and lower the level of blood fats called triglycerides. These facts alone should push you right out the door to your favorite fish-monger! Another fish-related perk is that cooking it is simple. Peruvians—with their sashimi-like tiradito, which is essentially carpaccio of incredibly fresh fish—know that one of the secrets to eating fresh fish is pure elegance: dress it up lightly and the flavors—along with the healthy benefits—will shine. And there are so many varieties of easy-to-prepare and tasty white fish available in the States, like Chilean congrio.