Did You Know?

Antidepressant Risk with the Elderly

For some people antidepressants can be a life saver and help them turn around their lives in ways they might not be able to do on their own. All patients that make the decision to use antidepressants deal with a dizzying array of side effects that can at times make one wonder why they started taking the medication in the first place. It is well noted in many scientific journals and publications that the main reason for people stopping a course of depression medications is the side effects of the antidepressant.

Even when patients and consumers take over the counter medicine, they often find a long list of potential side effects from even the simplest medicine available. The lists can go on and on, but typical side effects for antidepressants and other medications are dry mouth, urinary retention, blurred vision, constipation, sedation, sleep disruption, weight gain, headache, nausea, diarrhea, abdominal pain, loss of libido, agitation, anxiety and a whole long list of many other side effects.

Researchers in Australia and New Zealand have come out with updated information on antidepressants and the elderly patients taking the medications and a peculiar side effect that has been studied before. It seems that when taking antidepressants, elderly patients over the age of 60 years old are more susceptible to falls and getting themselves injured in those falls. This specific study focused on 21,900 patients in the 60 and above age group and studied their use of antidepressants and the occurrence and recurrence of falls within a 12 month period. It was found 24 percent had one fall while on antidepressants, 11 percent reported they injured themselves in the fall and 8 percent of the participants had to get medical attention due to injuries from the fall.

The newest research can be studied with it's full analysis and abstract at the PLoS ONE Journal. Another study was released in 2002 by a group of psychiatrists and researchers through the Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center and found similar results. Although the study completed in 2002 didn't have as many participants in the study it found a greater percentage of subjects that fell when using antidepressants. When looking at just the first 6 weeks of treatment about half of the participants or 53 percent fell.

With the elderly population it is a a fairly serious problem that the medications that are there to help them are increasing their falling rates. In the cases of falls in elderly individuals, fractures occur because of the fall in 4% of cases, with hip fractures being associated with the highest in mortality rates. Women have a much higher risk of injury from the falls and one statistic from the most recent study stated, "A number of factors interacted to multiply the risk of falls, such that over 60% of women older than 80 years with depression and using an SSRI fall and sustain injury."

With all of the studies involving the elderly and increased rates in falling and injury due to antidepressants, one thing rings true in most cases. The class of antidepressants that seems to be causing the most problem with falling is the SSRI group of medications. Another direct quote from the study states, "Antidepressant use (particularly SSRIs) was strong associated with falls regardless of presence of depressive symptoms." This leads to a pretty close conclusion that depression alone is not the cause but the introduction of the SSRI class of antidepressants.

Elderly patients run high rates of depression and the solution is obviously not to take away the antidepressants that may be helping their quality of life. An important piece of information to take away from these studies however is the need for professional evaluation of each elderly person and their increased liability of falling that could increase their potential for injury or even death. When the elderly population is diagnosed and prescribed antidepressants, efforts should be made to prevent falls and make their surroundings safer to prevent the unfortunate phrase, "I've fallen and I can't get up!"

 
Grape-seed Could be Future Food Preservative

Grape-seed extract revealed an excellent ability to preserve meat in a recent study conducted at the University of Illinois, and may prove to be a viable alternative to synthetic preservatives. With the increased availability of ready-to-eat products, the discovery could be a boon for both the food industry and consumers. The finding was published in the May, 2007 issue of the Journal of Food Science.

Synthetic preservatives currently in use provide their benefit by retarding fat oxidation; however, the phenolic compounds in grape-seed appear to be even more effective antioxidants. “We’ve known for years that certain natural compounds, including some herbs and spices, have powerful antioxidant activity," commented lead researcher and University of Illinois professor of food science, M. Susan Brewer. "Food scientists have been trying to isolate the flavoring parts of these spices from the components that have the functional effects we’re looking for."

In the current study, Dr Brewer and graduate student Martha Rojas evaluated the efficacy oregano, rosemary, and two concentrations of grape-seed extract on cooked, reheated beef and pork stored at 4 degrees Celsius for eight days The meat samples were tested every other day for oxidative markers and sensory indicators of rancidity. “The higher concentration of grape-seed extract yielded better results than we see with synthetics, which is certainly not what you’d expect," Dr Brewer stated. "Synthetics, after all, have been engineered to maximize effectiveness, but sometimes Mother Nature comes up with a better product.”

“I really think grape-seed extract is a viable, natural way to preserve meat quality in the precooked entrees that are so popular now,” she added. “And, when companies can use the word natural on a label, it’s attractive to consumers. It takes some of the guilt out of using a convenience food.”
Alcohol One drink daily can cut your risk of diabetes by up to 35%. More than that defeats the purpose and can speed your introduction to this crippling disease. 
Arthritis Over 45 million Americans have arthritis which cost the U.S. economy nearly $70 billion per year in medical care and lost wages. The numbers are expected to reach 60 million by the year 2020.
Depression Link People with depression symptoms are 60% more likely to develop diabetes. The likely causes could be a lack of sleep and the effects of stress, both of which can have devastatting consequences.
Our Nations Cleanest City Cheyenne, Wyoming is our cleanest city. The dirtiest? Los Angeles, the city of angels. Anyone surprised?
Save Gasoline Obesity is causing Americans to burn nearly 1 billion more gallons of gasoline a year than they did in 1960. It isn't much per person, but times 300,000,000, the savings ad up.  The average 12,000 mile a year driver would save 18 gallons of gas annually by losing 100 pounds. Sounds like drastic measures to save a few bucks, but it adds another to the long list of incentives to lose weight.  Better yet, this is a good reason to remove much of the junk that clutters the back of our cars and trucks. 
Obesity and Ashma Those that are obese  are 50% more likey to develop ashma than normal sized people.
Napping Benefits Regular nappers lower their risk of dying from heart disease by 37%. Nap away.
Laser Printer Dangers An Austrailian study found that many laser printers omitted high levels of ultrafine particles into the air. The omissions are approximately the same size as the particles in cigarette smoke and car exhaust, meaning that they can get into your lungs. Theses potentially harmful specks have so far been linked to respiratory ailments, but nothing else.  More research is needed. My guess is that at some time these will be found to be harmful and printer manufacturers will take steps to stop the leaks. In the meantime, beware.
Organic Produce is Better Besides keeping us from consuming cancer causing chemicals, eating organic produce has another benefit.  When produce is grown without the use of pesticides, it is under more stress from its surroundings. This causes it to produce more substances that assist the plant in its fight to survive.  Those same substances are the antioxidants that we use for the same purpose. In measuring the level of antioxidants in different fruits and vegetables, researchers consistantly find higher levels in the plants growing organically. The bottom line? Buy organically grown produce when it is economicaly feasible. You'll be able to eat less to get the same amount of benefit as compared to the conventionally grown varieties.
Tridglycerides I.Q. Quiz

A blood test that shows a high level of triglycerides is not good, according to the American Heart Association. How much do you know about this fatty acid radical? Here's a quiz to find out.

1 Triglycerides are the chemical form of fats in food and the body. True or false?

2 Excess triglycerides in the blood is linked to the occurrence of coronary artery disease in some people. True or false?

3 Elevated triglycerides may be the consequence of untreated diabetes. True or false?

4 Calories eaten during a meal and not used immediately by tissues are converted to triglycerides, which are stored in fat cells. True or false?

5 Hormones regulate the release of triglycerides from fat tissue so that they can be used for energy between meals. True or false?

6 Reducing the saturated fat, trans fat and cholesterol in your diet can help reduce triglyceride levels in the blood. True or false?

7 Small amounts of alcohol can raise triglyceride levels. True or false?

8 Physical activity has no effect on blood triglyceride levels. True or false?

 

 

Answers: 1) True; 2) True; 3) True; 4) True; 5) True; 6) True; 7) True; 8) False

Source: American Heart Association

You Can Set a Good Example For Your Children. Studies show that energetic parents are more likely to produce energetic children. Enough said.
The Egg has Gotten a Bad Rap. Eating an egg a day will not raise your cholesterol. In fact, the lowly egg is one of the best sources of complete protein available to us. As is the case in most other good foods, moderation is the key.  Just one a day will do. By the way; the real cholesterol villain is the consumption of saturated fats from other sources.
Cudos For Your Liver Virtually everything that enters your system via eating, drinking, breathing and even absorbed through your skin gets filtered through your poor, overworked liver.
Most Energy Bars Are junk. The majority of dietary experts consider most supposed energy bars to be "just chocolate in disguise" because of their high content of simple sugars. So unless you're burning lots of calories from an intense workout, you're better off with a piece of fruit or something a little more nutritious.
100,000 People Will Die This Year From

medical errors. Whether its from the wrong prescription or a mistake caused by an overworked hospital employee, approximately 100,000 Americans will meet an untimely death from medical errors alone, And another 100,000 of our citizens will die from infections they received after being admitted to a hospital.  It appears that getting sick can be bad for your health...
45 Million Americans Suffering That's the number of Americans afflicted by arthritis while costing the U.S. economy nearly $65 billion annually in medical care and lost wages. That number is expected to reach 60 million by the year 2020.
The Many Uses of Listerine The little bottle of Listerine under your sink is apparently a very versatile product. Yes, it's a must for bad breath and keeping periodontal disease at bay, but it has a reputation and history for much more.

Named after English phsician Joseph Lister, the father of modern antiseptics, Listerine was originally developed at the turn of the last century and was used as an antiseptic by doctors performing surgery. However, it didn't take too long for its other uses to be discovered. Listerine has been successfuly used to combat dandruff, head lice, toenail fungus and even disinfect a broken blister. It even was reported to help rid a woman of shingles. Eliminate mildew odors, treat acne, use as a deodorant and even fertilize your lawn. Disinfect your washing machine and any minor wound.

Now that you know Listerine is a wonderful antiseptic, how many uses can you find for this product?
Reduce Stress Easier said than done, stress busters come in many forms. Some techniques recommended by experts are to think positive thoughts. Spend 30 minutes a day doing something you like. (i.e.,Soak in a hot tub; walk on the beach or in a park; read a good book; visit a friend; play with your dog; listen to soothing music; watch a funny movie. Get a massage, a facial or a haircut. Meditate. Count to ten before losing your temper or getting aggravated. Avoid difficult people when possible. Thought for the day: When seeing red, think pink clouds….then float on them.
Smoking is on the Decline The jury is definitely in on this verdict. Ever since 1960 when the Surgeon General announced that smoking was harmful to your health, Americans have been reducing their use of tobacco products that kill. Just recently, however, we've seen a surge in smoking in adolescents and teens. Could it be the Hollywood influence? It seems the stars in every movie of late smoke cigarettes. Beware. Warn your children of the false romance or 'tough guy' stance of Hollywood smokers. Thought for the day: Give up just one cigarette…. the next one
We're Consuming Too Much of the Bad Fats Avoid the obvious, such as fried foods, burgers and other fatty meats (i.e. pork, bacon, ham, salami, ribs and sausage). Dairy products such as cheese, cottage cheese, milk and cream should be eaten in low fat versions. Nuts and sandwich meats, mayonnaise, margarine, butter and sauces should be eaten in limited amounts. Most are available in lower fat versions such as substitute butter, fat free cheeses and mayonnaise. Thought for the day: Lean, mean, fat-burning machine…. Then become one!
Move it to Lose it. Make it a daily challenge to find ways to move your body. Climb stairs if given a choice between that and escalators or elevators. Walk your dog; chase your kids; toss balls with friends, mow the lawn. Anything that moves your limbs is not only a fitness tool, it's a stress buster. Think 'move' in small increments of time. It doesn't have to be an hour in the gym or a 45-minute aerobic dance class or tai chi or kickboxing. But that's great when you're up to it. Meanwhile, move more. Thought for the day: Cha, Cha, Cha…. Then do it