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Breast Cancer — a Growing Danger for Overweight Men and Women

Talk about breast cancer and naturally, people reckon of the disease that is the number one cancer among women. But the truth is that breast cancer is on the rise among both women and men, and researchers reckon the national obesity crisis may be to blame.

With two-thirds of Americans now overweight, we can probably expect more obesity-related cancers. But on the brighter side, weight problems are extremely treatable, even preventable. So to the extent overweight is contributing to cancer, this is one risk factor we may really have some real control over.

Just how we go about getting that control appears to be critical, though. Even among the most motivated of people, we see that very few are successful in independent efforts to lose weight, even if their life depends on it. And among cancer patients, it clearly does.

Consider some of the numbers: breast cancer in women increased by 52 percent from 1973 to 1998. Part of that increase can be accounted for by better detection, because mammography is much more available than it was 30 years ago. But use of post-menopausal estrogen supplements has also become routine, and these have been clearly linked to cancer in women.

But in that same period, incidence of breast cancer among men increased by 26 percent, and that’s without the ingested estrogen and without the extra detection offered by mammography, since men typically don’t pursue that procedure.

So what else is going on? Experts say the increase in breast cancer in both sexes seems to closely track the increase in American obesity, giving rise to the theory that the obesity crisis may really be to blame for the boom in breast cancer.

Obesity has been shown to have a clear relationship with some cancers, but not with others. For instance, there does not appear to be any correlation between overweight and prostate cancer in men. Or sometimes, the relation is clear, but the reasons aren’t. Hence, researchers are looking at whether acid reflux in overweight people might account for their greater incidence of esophogeal cancer.

But with breast cancer, there is at least one known culprit: all that excess estrogen. Fatty tissue produces estrogen, in both men and women.

Studies of menopausal women make the case most clearly. Before menopause, the ovaries are the primary source of estrogen. But after menopause, when the ovaries have retired from that duty, fatty tissues are the main estrogen source.

Among postmenopausal women, estrogen levels are 50 to 100 percent higher in heavy women, compared to those of healthy weight. Similar ratios are found among men.

And when estrogen-sensitive tissues get more estrogen exposure, that leads to more growth of estrogen-responsive breast tumors.

Researchers figure that between 11,000 and 18,000 breast cancer deaths per year could be avoided in American women over age 50, if they could maintain a healthy body weight throughout their adult lives. There are no similar guesstimates for men, because while breast cancer is a growing problem for men, there is small research on mortality rates among males, and it is still less of a concern than heart disease or prostate and colon cancer.

But obesity puts men at higher risk for these diseases, as well, so the imperative is to drop that excess weight, or at least some of it. There’s abundant evidence that even a minor weight loss reaps huge rewards for health. So how do you do it?

It’s tough, especially if you’re an older person, and the average age of diagnosis for breast cancer is 62 among women, and 67 among men.

Motivation counts, but the research shows that it’s not enough. People need help. For instance, who would be more motivated to lose weight than a heavy person who had already survived cancer?

An overweight survivor has a double whammy when it comes to risk of recurrence, but a study published earlier this year in Obesity Research said that even among that motivated group, people left to their own devices, or those who only had a group program did not achieve much weight loss.

This is no surprise to those of us who have treated obesity for years. We see people who have tried diet after diet, joined gym and club and fellowship alike, all to no avail. But when they are treated with a comprehensive diet and lifestyle modification program that has been designed specifically for them, things change.

In this latest study, the researchers were pretty unequivocal, concluding that “for breast cancer survivors to lose weight to reduce risk factors, intervention is necessary. Of the different intervention regimens, individualized counseling combined with attending weekly … meetings was most effective….”

When you’re facing a chocolate éclair, death is perhaps too abstract an thought, even if you’ve only narrowly escaped it. Without some real retraining, it’s hard to equate even the greasiest burger with a lethal tumor. But professional support makes all the difference.

For instance, I’ve been tracking insulin levels in weight management patients for years, because we know that high insulin levels indicate a metabolic abnormality that leads to diabetes and weight gain. Now recent research shows that elevated insulin levels are also a risk factor for breast cancer recurrence.

Yet very specific changes in lifestyle and diet can significantly reduce insulin levels in days to weeks, immediately reducing those disease risks. The disembodied threat of disease is sometimes hard for people to get their arms around, but when patients can look at their lab results and see how their behavioral changes directly affect their blood chemistry, it hits home.

What happens to patients’ bodies on the inside as they lose weight is more vital than the changes they get on the outside, but even at the best health clubs or peer support groups, they won’t have an opportunity to see that.

It’s inspiring to see how people embrace a fitness and weight-loss program when they have more than just a bathroom scale to tell them that it’s working. Consistent and reliable guidance is essential because nobody goes from obese to healthy overnight. It takes time.

But cancer takes time, too, so the race is on. With the proper help, this is a race both men and women have fantastic odds of winning.

THROUGH THICK & THIN

Breast cancer is a growing risk for both men and women, and it’s a cancer for which the obesity link has been clearly established. Stout produces excess estrogen; excess estrogen produces breast cancer. And in the reverse, weight loss reduces cancer risk. The data are clear, but it doesn’t make the task any simpler. What does make it simpler, and more successful, is professional help-—-and the sooner the better.

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Caroline J. Cederquist, M.D. is a board certified Family Physician and a board certified Bariatric Physicians (the medical specialty of weight management). Dr. Cederquist is the founder of Bistro MD formerly Diet To Your Door, a home diet delivery program that specializes in low calorie gourmet food that is delivered to your home or office. Bistro MD serves as culmination of Dr. Cederquist’s expertise and experience in the world of medical weight loss.

Natural Allergy Cures

Allergies plague millions of people worldwide each year. Different people are allergic to different types of irritants, but the pain and discomfort they feel is always the same. The stuffy nose, watery eyes, sneezing, and other adverse affects caused by allergies, can make you miserable anytime of the year. Many people resort to using expensive and often unsafe medication to treat their allergies, just to get a small bit of relief. But, there is a better way to get relief, natural allergy cures are both inexpensive and effective, and can often provide you with instant relief.

Prepare a Clean Environment

The first step in treating your allergies with natural methods is to make a clean home environment. Take the time to clean every inch of your home, and to wash all of your clothing and bedding in an allergy free detergent. Removing irritants from your home will ensure that you can breathe simpler there.
Consider investing in an air purifier for your home that is made for reducing allergy causing irritants. An air purifier will take in and cleanse the air in each room of your home. They come in a wide variety of sizes, and can clean anywhere from one room to an entire house within a few hours time.

Stinging Nettles

Once used for joint relief many years ago, stinging nettles are also useful when used as an expectorant. They are a wonderful natural allergy cure for helping to clear up your sinuses and solving any breathing problems you may be having as well. The best part is that they are available in convenient capsule form, and can be taken every day.

Gingko Biloba

Gingko Biloba is a sacred Chinese medicine that has many different healing properties. As a natural cure for allergies, it is often used to treat pressure in the sinuses. This unique substance helps to increase circulation of blood and remove discomfort, especially from behind the eye area.

Eyebright

As its name might imply, Eyebright was originally used in Greece to treat diseases of the eyes. Since then, it has been found that Eyebright is effective in treating congestion of the chest, and reduces the allergy symptoms in those who are suffering from hay fever. This herb can be bought at any health or vitamin store, and is inexpensive as well.

Echinacea

Echinacea is an ancient natural allergy cure once used only by the Native Americans. While Echinacea cannot directly cure your allergies, it can help to boost your immune system, so that your body is better able to fight the effects of allergy symptoms. Since allergies ruin and tear down your immune systems defenses, Echinacea can also help to keep you from becoming ill.

There is no reason to spend a lot of money trying to fight your allergies. Natural allergy cures do exist, and they are just as, if not more effective than expensive prescription medications. With safe natural remedies like the ones listed above, you can breathe simpler, and recover quicker from debilitating allergy symptoms.

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Night Vision Rifle Scopes

 

In tactical and real life combats, there is always the need to be equipped with the right rifle and rifle scope. But not at all times, these things are favorable. It is often said that in combats, the best defense for a weathered fighter is preparedness at all conditions. Therefore, when nighttime crawls in, you have to be fully aware and equipped with night vision tools and firearms. This is mostly vital with your rifle scope that needs to be with night vision. Of course, law enforcers are provided with night vision rifle scopes because they are supposed to be supplied with it on combats and offense projects. But what if you are just an ordinary person or your job requires it? Well, you have nothing to worry as these modern gadgets are now made available to all. You don’t need to be a law enforcer or someone in the military just to be protected or delight in the benefits of these types of military devices. All you need is to identify why there is a need for it to come out with the right choice. And then you invest on your pick.

 

Night vision rifle scopes are like ordinary military rifle scopes, only that they are modern and able to provide magnified reflection without lights. For that, they become very efficient nighttime safety precautionary devices when the need arises on special military projects and when sniping. But then, you can also use it for your own protection; like when traveling along dark areas and the car lights are not enough to give you a complete and surrounding lighting system. It is also very useful in adventures and recreational activities. Imagine camping or hunting with it, isn’t it very advantageous? It certainly is because you will be able to snipe your game animal even at night with no further troubles. Besides, nighttime is really the best time to shoot and take a wild animal. It is also very useful when checking around the lawn for foreign objects or people. You don have to flex a muscle just to see of there is something unfamiliar going on.

 

Pretty much the same with daytime rifle scopes, night vision rifle scopes are also according to optical magnification and objective lens diameter. Its reticle choices also ranges from fine crosshair, duplex crosshair, German reticle, target dot, Mil-dot, circle, ancient rage finding, modern range finding, and the SVD type. These reticles are also wired or etched into the rifle scope, but depend on the kind of rifle you have. Ancient rifles are using wired reticles, which means that the reticles are made from wires and placed on strategic optical positions; while the newer ones use embeds that are etched into optical lenses of the scope. Acquiring any of these has ever been simple through reputed online providers of ammunition and recreation shops. All you have to do is pick your choice from the wide availability of different brands and production makes. Also, you can find it in kits or as a single stuff. 

 

Global Warming Makes Allergies Worse

Global Warming Makes Allergies Worse

Global warming…I’m sure there are people out there who don’t want to hear one more thing about it!  Right?  Global warming is such a hot topic right now for politicians, environmentalists, and… allergy sufferers? That’s right. As the planet heats up, so does our battle against allergies and asthma. In fact, many scientists now acknowledge the link between global warming and breathing problems.

What does global warming have to do with allergies? As the planet heats up, winter seasons become shorter. That means longer stretches of warm weather – and allergies. Springtime has been arriving earlier, leading to months of misery for those with airborne allergies. How much earlier? 10-15 days earlier in the past three decades alone. And this trend is not expected to stop anytime soon. Thanks to the lengthening seasons, allergies aren’t just lasting longer; they’re becoming more severe as well. The problem is so serious that experts have been scrambling to make new policies and solutions. Even the World Health Organization has commented on the serious health implications of longer pollen seasons.

There is more carbon dioxide in the air during allergy season. This is detrimental to allergy sufferers because plants and weeds thrive when they’re exposed to more carbon dioxide. One sign of a strong plant is the amount of pollen it produces. And with pollen levels on the rise, people with allergies are noticing an increase in their symptoms.

If you’re a city dweller, you could have an even harder time. Cities act like giant greenhouses for weeds. The press of bodies and buildings trap heat, causing weeds to grow larger and release more pollen. The large number of people releasing carbon dioxide into city air also stimulates weed growth. Research has shown that city weeds can grow twice as large as their country cousins. To make matters worse, they also produce stronger pollen that wreaks havoc on allergies.

Global Warming Brings More Allergens

With longer occurrences of warm, wet weather – not to mention the increase in floods and storms – the air contains more mold and fungi than ever. This is terrible news for allergy sufferers, since those are some of the most common allergens. Asthma is on the rise, too, especially among young children who live in the city.

Even in the dry seasons, dust, toxins and smog lurk in the air, making it harder to breathe. But global warming is such a huge problem -what can allergy sufferers do to make living – and breathing – a bit simpler?

Fortunately, there are plenty of options that don’t involve drug therapy (which can have unwanted side effects).

First, take care of your airways. Give yourself excellent air to breathe by investing in a HEPA filter. Clean all the air filters in your home. And don’t neglect your car’s air filter if you spend a substantial amount of time behind the wheel. Keep track of air quality alerts in your area; on days when allergens are high, stay indoors as much as possible and keep the windows closed. On hot days, carry out most of your physical activities in the morning before allergens have a chance to flourish in the midday heat.

Consume foods that help your airways function properly.  This includes things rich in essential fatty acids, such as fish, seeds, and nuts.  You can also take a excellent fish oil supplement.

Make your home as allergy free as possible.  Carpets attract and trap dust, mites, and other allergens. Consider switching to hardwood flooring to improve your allergy symptoms. Regular cleaning of curtains, rugs and linens also helps to keep allergies at bay. And don’t forget about the health benefits of hypoallergenic trees and plants! Not only will they improve the air quality around your home, they’ll add beauty, too.

Not sure what you’re allergic to?  Take a test!  Check out: http://www.foodintolerancenews.com