A Publication of NewsmaxHealthGet Healthy No Matter What Your Age

By Vera Tweed

By far, the most popular New Year’s resolution is to lose weight

and get in shape. Many of us make this vow year after year — and we fail year after year.

The reason? We’ve been indoctrinated with bad information about dieting and exercise that kills whatever chance we might have of getting thinner and healthier, says Jonathan Bailor, author of a groundbreaking new book, The Calorie Myth.

“We’ve received so much contradictory, damaging advice over the years — often resulting in frustration and extra pounds,” he says. “It’s high time for us to make a better choice.”

Here is weight loss “conventional wisdom” that can actually stop you from getting in shape.

Myth: You need to count calories to lose weight.

In his book, Bailor notes that our ancestors never counted calories. They didn’t even know what a calorie was.

Yet, somehow, very few people

were obese before food started becoming mass produced in the early part of the 20th century.

“Studies show that 95.4 percent of the time, counting calories does not keep off body fat over the long term,” Bailor observes.

“Counting calories is like frantically zigzagging through a mindfield.” Instead, if we stick to healthy, natural foods and stop worrying about calories, our bodies will naturally settle at a healthy weight.

Myth: We can eat anything in moderation.

For years we’ve been told that it’s not what we eat that matters, it’s how much. Bailor says this common advice is doing nothing but keeping us fat. In reality, it is the quality of the food that is important, not the quantity.

“By eating plenty of higher-quality food, we unconsciously avoid overeating and provide our body with nutrition that reprograms the body to behave more like a naturally thin person,” he says.

Quality foods mean those that are unprocessed, low in sugar, with

Contents

Vol. 4, Issue 1 / January 2014

4 Dr. Mehmet Oz and Dr. Michael Roizen

Diet that stops cancer

5 Blood Pressure Simple hand exercise

eases hypertension

6 Supplements SAMe: Powerful relief for

depression

7 Kidney Disease Protect yourself against

the silent epidemic

8 Ask the Doctor Help for Graves’ disease

9 Brain Health Are medications wrecking

your memory?

10 Infectious Disease The right way to use

antibiotics

11 Latest FDA Approvals Device stops epileptic

seizures

13 Breaking News Chocolate fights obesity

15 Skin Care 7 things you never want to

see on a skin care label

16 Breakthroughs Stanford researchers:

Bleach reverses aging

Everything You Think You Know About Weight Loss Is Wrong

Health Radar

Page 2 / January 2014

COVER STORY

healthy oils such as coconut and olive oil.

Myth: All calories are created equal.

Some foods don’t satisfy, even if they’re high in calories. “You crave calories but you also crave nutrients,” says Andrew Larson, M.D., medical director of the Bariatric Wellness and Surgical Institute at JFK Medical Center in Lake Worth, Fla.

He recommends eating foods that are filling, low in calories, and high in nutrients, such as salads, because they will be more satisfying than the same number of calories from low-nutrient foods. Taking a multivitamin can also help. In Canadian studies published in the British Journal of Nutrition, those who took multivitamins during a diet and exercise program were less hungry and lost more weight.

Myth: Sex burns lots of calories.The average session of

lovemaking burns a paltry 21

calories according to a recent study in the New England Journal of Medicine. So it’s best not to think of a bedroom romp as a substitute for exercise.

Myth: You burn as many calories walking a mile as you do running a mile.

On the surface, this sounds logical because it takes much longer to walk a mile than it does to run it. So the calories burned should be equal, right? Only they’re not.

A study in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise showed that women burned an average of 91 calories running a mile. Walking burned only 43.

Myth: Bariatric surgery brings patients down to their target weight.

“The surgery really does make people less hungry and think about food less,” Dr. Larson told Health Radar. But that doesn’t mean all the excess weight will disappear. Most people, he says,

lose between 50 and 65 percent of their excess weight after gastric band, gastric bypass, or similar procedures. For example, where a 100-pound loss would be ideal, the actual long-term loss is more likely to range between 50 and 65 pounds, depending upon the type of surgery.

Myth: The new weight-loss drugs are game-changers.

Two new drugs approved recently by the FDA might get your attention but they don’t replace the need for diet and exercise. They produce relatively small weight loss and both have disturbing side effects.

Belviq: In studies, people taking the drug for a year, along with a diet and exercise program, lost 3 to 4 percent more weight than those taking a dummy pill. Belviq works on serotonin in the brain, somewhat like some antidepressants. Side effects include nausea, fatigue, dry mouth, dizziness, agitation, muscle spasms, hallucinations, suicidal thoughts,

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Please note: All information presented in Health Radar (including answers to reader questions) is for informational purposes only, and is not specifically applicable to any individual’s medical problem(s), concerns, and/or needs. No content is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. All information presented in Health Radar should not be construed as medi-cal consultation or instruction. You should take no action solely on the basis of this publication’s contents. Readers are advised to consult a health professional about any issue regarding their health and well-being. Any action you take on the basis of the information provided is solely at your own risk and expense. The opinions expressed in Health Radar do not necessarily reflect those of Newsmax Media, Inc.

January 2014 / Page 3

COVER STORY

changes in blood pressure and heart rate, and possibly a painful erection lasting for hours (priapism).

Qsymia: Pronounced “kyoo-SIM-ee-uh,” the drug is a combination of phentermine, an appetite-suppressant, and topiramate, which is used to treat epilepsy and migraines but also reduces the urge to eat.

In studies, in combination with a year-long diet and exercise program, weight loss with Qsymia was 7 to 9 percent greater than with a dummy pill.

Side effects include heart palpitations, constipation, dry mouth, insomnia, tingling in the toes and fingers, altered taste, problems with mood and memory, and increased risk for glaucoma, kidney stones, low blood sugar, and birth defects.

“I don’t think there are any current weight loss drugs that are likely to improve the quality of life,” says Dr. Larson. And for most people in their 50s or 60s, risks of

all these drugs generally outweigh the potential benefits.

Myth: Exercise is all you need.Diet plays a much bigger role

than exercise in weight loss. One study, published in the journal Obesity, compared results of year-long lifestyle programs that involved changes in diet only, exercise only, or a combination of both, among 399 obese postmenopausal women.

These were the results, on average:•Diet alone: lost nearly 16

pounds (8.5% of initial weight)•Exercise alone: lost nearly 4.5

pounds (2.4% of initial weight)•Diet plus exercise: lost nearly 20

pounds (10.8% of initial weight)

Myth: Working out on an empty stomach burns more fat.

Actually, it’s the opposite: Eating before exercise will help you burn more fat.

A study in the International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism found that those who ate before a workout not only burned more calories, but they continued to burn more calories for hours after the exercise session. Eat a small snack before a workout to get the fat-burning benefits.

Misinformation AboundsA study funded by the National

Institutes of Health evaluated various weight-loss myths against science.

Published in the New England Journal of Medicine, debunked myths included these:•Small changes produce big

weight loss. Not so. For example, burning an extra 100 calories daily (or eating 100 fewer calories daily) might produce a 10-pound weight loss in 5 years, averaging 2 pounds per year.•Small, realistic goals are best.

Studies show that more ambitious goals lead to greater weight loss.•Fast weight loss won’t last. In

fact, very slow weight loss can be discouraging and thwart efforts.•Eating more fruits and

vegetables always produces weight loss. Not necessarily; it depends on what else you eat.

Important

As a subscriber to Health Radar, you may have opted to get this newsletter with our Convenient Automatic Renewal program. If you decide not to cancel your subscription, your credit card will be billed each year and read NMX*HEALTH RADAR on your credit card statement. Thank you.

How Many Calories Can You Burn?Here are the number of calories burned by common activities in one hour.

Activity 130-lb person 155-lb person 205-lb person

Gardening 236 281 327

Shoveling snow 354 422 490

Walking the dog 177 211 245

Walking slowly at 2 mph 148 176 204

Walking briskly at 3.5 mph 224 267 311

Walking uphill at 3.5 mph 354 422 490

Playing ping pong 235 281 327

Bowling 177 211 245

Ballroom dancing, slow 177 211 245

Ballroom dancing, fast 325 387 449

Running at 5 mph 472 563 654

Page 4 / January 2014

XXXX

Diet That Stops CancerThe most-feared health risk in North America is

the big “C,” but in one recent survey, not even half of all adults were hip to the do-it-yourself steps that can help wipe out an estimated 400,000 new cases a year. The great news: There’s a bushel basket of fresh reports that reveal how a delicious, disease-fighting diet can protect you and your family from becoming one of those 400,000.

A peanut butter habit in tweens and teens lowers risk for benign breast disease (BBD) by 39 percent. BBD is a common problem that raises breast cancer risk later in life by as much as 56 percent. Since one out of every four women develops BBD, this is big news.

Nuts are breast-friendly, too (peanuts are actually legumes), and girls who eat some every day are a whopping 68 percent less likely to have BBD. So make it a habit to put peanut butter (it’s got be 100 percent peanuts with no added sugar or bad oils!) and tree nuts (we love walnuts and almonds) on your daughter’s plate — and yours.

Fruits and vegetables slash a woman’s risk for estrogen receptor-negative breast cancer and cut bladder cancer risk 65 percent for women and for men who smoke. (Half of all bladder cancers are associated with smoking).

Phytochemicals found in vegetables and fruits may protect bladder cells by mopping up damaging free radicals. Your best cancer-fighting choices are yellow-orange vegetables (carrots, winter squash), crucifers (broccoli, kale, cabbage, mustard greens) and citrus. Commit to having nine servings a day of fruit and veggies.

Less-sugary food plus a healthy weight equals 59 percent less endometrial cancer. When our friends at the American Institute for Cancer Research weighed the evidence, they concluded that 29,500 of the

50,000 cases of endometrial cancer diagnosed each year could be avoided if women made food choices that helped them maintain a healthy weight and kept blood sugar levels low and steady. Extra pounds double or triple the risk of endometrial cancer. The link? Fat cells store estrogen, which fuels tumor cells in the lining of the uterus.

The best diet choices: Choose 100 percent whole grains over processed grains and foods. Remember, if it doesn’t say 100 percent whole grain, it’s not the choice you want to make. And skip any food with added sugar or any sugar syrup.

Low-fat, calorie-moderate choices may slash your risk for pancreatic cancer. A lab study showed that a high-fat, high-calorie diet boosts precancerous cell changes that lead to the development of this super-aggressive cancer.

In other words, weight gain causes an increase in inflammation within the pancreas. This is the most direct evidence yet of a link between food choices and pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasias; lesions that precede this cancer. But fortunately, lesions take a long time to develop, giving you time to change what you put on your plate at breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

So your smart step is to show saturated and trans fats the door. Choose lean proteins such as beans, tofu, skinless poultry, and proteins that are loaded with healthy fats, such as salmon and ocean trout.

Meanwhile, if you’re sipping your morning java while reading this column, you’re off to a good start. Coffee, it turns out, also helps your body fend off cancer of the colon, prostate, mouth, and lining of the uterus by switching on your body’s defenses and helping to keep your body’s sugar-processing system humming.

Dr. Mehmet Oz is host of The Dr. Oz Show and a professor in the Department of Surgery at Columbia University. Dr. Mike Roizen is chief medical officer at the Cleveland Clinic Wellness Institute. Dr. Oz and Dr. Roizen are co-authors of the best-selling You book series.

© 2013 Michael Roizen, M.D. and Mehmet Oz, M.D. Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.

Making YOU Live Healthierwith Mehmet Oz, M.D. & Michael Roizen, M.D.

DR. OZ & DR. ROIZEN

January 2014 / Page 5

HYPERTENSION

Researchers: Simple Hand Grip Exercisers Lower Blood Pressure

By Shana Aborn

High blood pressure is one of the most pervasive health

issues in this country — one out of every three Americans has been diagnosed with hypertension, which increases risk of stroke, heart attack, and other serious health problems.

If you have been diagnosed with high blood pressure, you know that lifestyle changes can help keep your numbers under control. A low-sodium diet, regular exercise, and stress reduction are the usual measures suggested by doctors. Now, researchers have added a new weapon to the arsenal: an isometric handgrip.

Getting a GripResearchers at Canada’s

McMaster University recently asked volunteers with hypertension to spend several minutes three times a week squeezing a spring-loaded handgrip device (similar to the kind you can find in any sporting-goods store).

After just eight to 10 weeks, and without any change in their diet or exercise habits, the patients saw their systolic blood pressure — the higher number, reflecting the pressure in the blood vessels during a heartbeat — drop by 15 points.

Their diastolic number — the pressure in between beats — fell by three points. These are considered large

drops, comparable to what is accomplished by medications.

Additional research found that handgrip exercises make the walls of the carotid artery and other blood vessels more flexible, allowing for greater blood flow to the heart.

Mystery MechanismWhy does this work? “We

are still not sure of the exact mechanisms that result in reduced blood pressure, but it’s likely related to the nervous system regulation of the heart and blood vessels,” explains Maureen MacDonald, professor of kinesiology and the lead author of the study.

Her studies are based on original findings from the 1960s using pilots who used handgrip exercises to increase blood flow to the brain and avoid G-force-induced blackouts during high-speed flights. Researchers found that pilots’ blood pressure was lowered after using the grips.

Doctors caution that handgrips don’t seem to cure hypertension, which is usually diagnosed when readings are 140/90 or higher. However, isometric handgrips can be an easy and safe addition to high blood pressure treatment.

Although the McMaster researchers used a special ergonomic handgrip in their studies, Dr. MacDonald says that other varieties of grip exercisers would produce the same results. Handgrips can be found for less

than $10 in department stores, on-line, and in sporting-goods shops. Look for a grip that fits well in your hand and that you can squeeze easily, but not too easily.

“By the end of two minutes, the grip should be quite difficult to hold,” says Dr. MacDonald. “In some studies, we had participants use only one hand, but we recommend using both hands and alternating contractions.”

How to Do ItTo start, hold the grip in your

right hand, squeeze it and hold for five seconds, then release. Repeat as often as you can for two minutes, then rest for two minutes.

Switch to your left hand and repeat the squeeze-and-hold pattern for two minutes. Continue until you complete four sets for each hand (for a total of 16 minutes of squeezing). As the exercise becomes easier, try holding your contractions for a few seconds more on each hand until you build up strength.

Aim to do handgrip exercises at least three days a week. Dr. MacDonald says that no research has yet been done to determine whether adding more sessions reduces blood pressure even further, but the exercises have other benefits, too.

Strengthening your grip improves dexterity, builds the muscles in your forearms, and makes it easier to perform activities like opening jars and lifting heavy bags.

Page 6 / January 2014

SUPPLEMENTS

SAMe: Powerful Supplement Fights Depression, Osteoarthritis

By Vera Tweed

Depression, osteoarthritis, and liver disease are distinctly

different conditions, so it may seem odd that one dietary supplement, SAMe (pronounced “sam-EE”) can help all three. But it does — and research proves it.

SAMe influences our health in multiple ways because it is prevalent throughout our bodies. It supports the liver, joints, and is used in making neurotransmitters. And, it is a building block for our internal antioxidant production — an essential mechanism that keeps us in good shape as we age.

Not found in food, SAMe is an abbreviation for s-adenosylmethionine, a substance made by our bodies.

The SAMe StorySAMe was originally discovered

in 1952 in Europe and used as a treatment for depression. But in studies of depression, people who also suffered from osteoarthritis found that it helped their joints, and later, liver benefits were also observed.

In 1999, the supplement became available in the United States and caused quite a stir, making headlines for relieving depression and arthritis.

After a three-year review of 102 studies, the Department of Health and Human Services published a report in 2002 that found the supplement worked as well as pharmaceutical drugs to treat depression and osteoarthritis.

Depression: “Compared to treatment with conventional antidepressant pharmacology, treatment with SAMe was not associated with a statistically significant difference in outcomes,”

the report concluded.Osteoarthritis: “Compared

to treatment with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication, treatment with SAMe was not associated with a statistically significant difference in outcomes.” Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) include aspirin, Advil (ibuprofen), Aleve (naproxen), and prescription drugs such as Celebrex.

With liver disease, the benefits were not as clearly defined, but later studies have discovered more evidence that SAMe helps the liver.

Confirmed BenefitsIn studies of depression, SAMe

has been effective when pitted against SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) and tricyclic antidepressants. But it doesn’t have the side effects of those drugs.

Sexual problems, including erectile dysfunction, are a side effect of antidepressants for up to 73 percent of men.

One recent study, at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston, found that among men taking the drugs, SAMe significantly improved their ability to have sex.

For the liver, SAMe may help with different diseases, including hepatitis, but research is still developing. For alcoholic liver disease, one review of earlier studies with 1,239 patients found that 500 to 1,200 mg of SAMe daily improved the condition.

SAMe is not a dietary vitamin or mineral, so there is no minimum daily requirement. Studies have often used 400 mg, three or four times daily, but some integrative physicians recommend starting with a lower dosage. Although studies have found no significant side effects, some people do experience stomach upset, anxiety, restlessness, or sleep problems with higher dosages.

Since individual responses vary, recommended starting doses range from 50 to 200 mg, once or twice daily. If you don’t experience any relief in a few days, gradually increase the dose, up to 400 mg, three or four times daily, if necessary.

SAMe builds up in your system over time, so once you feel improvement, gradually start cutting back until you find the lowest dose where benefits are maintained. Take SAMe on an empty stomach. Vitamin B12 and folic acid are building blocks for our internal SAMe production, and can be taken in a multivitamin.

How to Use SAMe

January 2014 / Page 7

KIDNEY DISEASE

Kidney Disease: Protect Yourself From the Silent Epidemic

By Rick Ansorge

We usually don’t give much thought to our kidneys. Most of us just take it for granted

that the body’s filters will continue to function as efficiently as the paper filters in our coffeemakers.

Yet, kidney disease is the nation’s eighth-leading causing of death. And it can sneak up on you before you even realize you have it.

“Kidney disease tends to be a silent disease until it’s very advanced,” says Beth Piraino, M.D., President of the National Kidney Foundation.

“It’s very much associated with an increased risk of dying, particularly from a cardiovascular cause.”

Lifetime risk of kidney disease is a surprisingly high 60 percent. And if it is advanced, treatment options are often limited to life-changing options: dialysis or a kidney transplant.

“You can be walking around and think you’re just perfectly fine, but you could have advanced kidney disease and not know it,” Dr. Piraino tells Health Radar.

“Then all of a sudden somebody can say that you need to go on dialysis, which can be a bit of a shock.”

Even less-severe forms of kidney disease can lead to bone disorders, anemia, and a reduced quality of life.

Although kidney disease receives little publicity compared to other major killers, most experts are not hesitant to describe it as an “exploding” epidemic.

“Most kidney disease comes from high blood pressure and diabetes,” says Dr. Piraino.

“Because so many people are overweight, obese, and even morbidly obese in the United States, we

have a lot more of these problems. So we’re getting more kidney disease.”

Experts agree that the toll of kidney disease can be drastically reduced with early detection. That’s why the National Kidney Foundation has issued a new recommendation that all Americans ages 60 and older — not just those with diabetes or hypertension — undergo annual kidney screenings.

The screening is a simple blood test that is used to estimate your “glomerular filtration rate” — or GFR. A rate of less than 60 milliliters per minute may indicate kidney disease.

If a blood test shows a low GFR, a urine test can be given to check for leakage of albumin, a protein that ordinarily does not pass through the kidneys. A measurement of at least 30 milligrams of albumin per gram may confirm kidney disease.

High levels of albumin — a sign of a condition called proteinuria — are also associated with cardiovascular disease and a more rapid progression of kidney disease.

“People don’t know they have these things unless they have the blood testing and the urine testing,” says Dr. Piraino.

If you have proteinuria and high blood pressure, it’s essential to take either an ACE inhibitor or an ARB

for hypertension. “Those drugs have been shown to decrease the

proteinuria and slow the progression of the kidney disease,” says Dr. Piraino.

In general, she adds, anything that protects the heart also protects the kidneys. That includes a well-balanced diet, regular physical activity, and good control of conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure.

The two most important things you can do to protect your kidneys are to get your blood and urine tested for signs of kidney disease, and appropriately managing chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and high cholesterol.

Kidney disease can also be prevented by:uCutting back on salt to 1,500 mg

per dayuEating a heart-healthy dietu Limiting alcoholu Exercisingu Losing weight if you are

overweightu Quitting smokingu Reducing or eliminating over-

the-counter pain relievers acetaminophen, naproxen, and ibuprofen.

Keeping Kidneys Healthy

Page 8 / January 2014

ASK THE DOCTOR with Richard L. Shames, M.D.

Graves’ Disease: Alternative Therapies Can Help

Q: What is Graves’ disease? A: Graves’ disease is named after Dr. Robert J. Graves, a famous Irish surgeon who lived in the 1800s. It is a disorder that causes the thyroid gland to secrete higher than normal amounts of thyroid hormone, resulting in hyperthyroidism, or overactive thyroid. The excess hormone production is caused by the overstimulation of this important gland by antibodies of a patient’s own immune system. The condition strikes seven times more women than men. It is very common, affecting about three million Americans. Typical onset is between 20 and 40 years of age, and we believe it is caused by a combination of genetic tendencies often triggered by environmental factors.

Q: What are the symptoms?A: Symptoms can include fatigue, low stamina, sweaty skin, swelling of the lower legs and ankles, and weight loss. Other signs include muscle tremors and weakness, back pain, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, diarrhea, gas, and bulging eyes. Left untreated, Graves’ may cause cardiac, skin, eye, and mental complications.

Q: What is the standard treatment?A: Your physician may prescribe antithyroid medications that interfere with the thyroid’s use of iodine to produce hormones. These include propylthiouracil (PTU) and methimazole (Tapazole). Sometimes surgery is needed to remove the gland. Another treatment is radioactive iodine that is taken orally and destroys the thyroid gland. Since the body still needs some thyroid hormone to function optimally, thyroid pills are generally

prescribed afterward.

Q: Are there any nondrug treatments that are effective?

A: I have found that many alternative therapies work well to complement standard anti-thyroid prescription medication. Among these are acupuncture, homeopathy, vitamin and herbal supplements that slow the action of the thyroid gland, and relaxation techniques that can calm an overactive immune system. It’s also important to eliminate as many chemicals as possible from the diet.

Q: Is Graves’ curable?A: Most people with Graves’ disease live fully functional and normal lives. But treatment is often, although not always, lifelong. When the disease is well-managed, lifestyle and lifespan is not greatly affected, if at all. Some accomplish this by removing the gland with surgery or using radioactive therapy and

going on thyroid hormone replacement therapy such as Armour or Nature-Throid. Others may avoid surgery or radioactive ablation and get the same results with a personalized mix of alternative therapies combined with anti-thyroid medicine.

Richard L. Shames, M.D., is a Harvard-trained physician and former researcher with the National Institutes of Health. His practice is based in San Rafael, Calif. Dr. Shames’ has published a number of books and his latest is Thyroid Mind Power.

“FIT AFTER 50” FACT

Retirement means improvement in health and fitness for many people, a new study suggests. “Older adults who maintain a level of physical activity — and we’re not talking about marathon running, just brisk walking three or four times a week — do much better over the long term with their health,” said Stephen Kritchevsky, who heads the Sticht Center on Aging at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, N.C. Researchers found that when people retire, they often get healthier because they devote more time to exercise and better diet.

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Declining energy, brain fog, irritability, difficulty sleeping, hearing and vision loss — these are just normal signs of aging, right? WRONG. More often than not, there’s an

easily remedied vitamin deficiency underlying these symptoms. Yet it frequently goes undetected until it manifests as a neurological dis-order, dementia, chronic fatigue, heart disease, cancer...or worse.[1]

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What You Need to Know About Vitamin B12Vitamin B12 is essential to life itself — it’s one of the building blocks of DNA. It also keeps your immune system functioning op-timally,[3] regulates sleep cycles,[4] and is crucial to energy produc-tion, which is why it’s often called the “energy vitamin.”[5] It also protects your brain by keeping nerves communicating in an optimal manner.[6,7] And studies are beginning to show that B12 helps to lower levels of stress hormones, making it vital to heart health.[8,9]

B12 Keeps Your Brain From ShrinkingScientists now understand that age-related cognitive decline is linked to a process that involves a decrease in brain mass.[10] That’s right, your brain actually shrinks as you age! Research shows that B12 supplementation slows the accelerated rate of brain shrinkage and declining cognitive scores in older individuals.[11,12]

B12 Deficiency: The Silent EpidemicRecent studies have shown that 1 in 2 older adults have danger-ously low levels of B12.[13] The older you are, the higher your risk, but younger people aren’t exempt. In a recent Tufts University study, researchers found that 1 in 4 people over age 26 are border-line deficient in B12 and may already be experiencing symptoms.[14]

The reason that most people end up B12 deficient has nothing to do with their B12 intake, but rather, their ability to absorb B12 from food. As you age, the lining of your stomach loses its ability to pro-duce hydrochloric acid, which you need to absorb B12 from food. The use of certain drugs can also lower stomach acid secretion.[15]

WARNING: Some B12 Contains Cyanide The form of B12 that you’ll find in most B12 products is cyanoco-balamin, which is comprised of a cyanide molecule attached to a cobalamin (B12) molecule. Cyanide is a toxic poison that the body

January 2014 / Page 9

BRAIN HEALTH

Are Medications Wrecking Your Memory?

By Lynn Allison

When people diagnosed with Alzheimer’s die and they

undergo autopsies, researchers have found that almost half of them never had the disease at all.

So what is the problem? Why were these people mentally impaired near the end of their lives? Many doctors believe prescription drugs were causing their confusion, and dementia.

Nearly 90 percent of those 65 and older take at least one medication, and many of these drugs can cause cognitive problems.

“It’s crucial to look at the risks versus the benefits of many common medications given to older people,” Jacob Teitelbaum, M.D., author of the best-selling book Real Cause, Real Cure, tells Health Radar. “Physicians need to be more careful when prescribing drugs that can cause loss of brain function.”

The common drugs listed below are associated with memory loss and confusion. If you are taking one or more of them — the mental effects are often more severe when they are taken in combination — talk to you doctor about alternatives.

Benzodiazepines such as the popular antianxiety drug Xanax can cloud areas of the brain that affect both short- and long-term memory. Nonprescription alternatives include herbal remedies such as lemon balm and

iberogast, a plant-based mixture. Tricyclic antidepressants or TCAs

directly affect brain chemistry and have not been proven to be effective for people with mild to moderate depression. Their use should be reserved for severe cases of depression. Some 35 percent of people taking these drugs report memory loss. If you are taking a TCA, ask your doctor if a lower dosage would be safe.

Narcotic painkillers used to treat chronic pain from rheumatoid arthritis, back pain, or injury affect the chemical messengers to the brain that are involved in cognition. Ask your doctor if you can take a non-narcotic painkiller such as Tramadol.

Beta blockers, commonly used to lower blood pressure, have been associated with cognitive problems. They may “block” key chemical messengers in the brain. Examples include propranolol (Inderal), bisoprolol (Zebeta), nadolol (Corgard), and nebivolol (Bystolic). Try a different class of drugs to treat hypertension such as an ACE inhibitor or calcium channel blocker.

Older antihistamines used to treat or prevent allergy symptoms — Dimetane or Chlor-Trimeton are examples — affect the memory and learning centers of the brain. Substitute newer antihistamines such as Zyrtec or Claritin.

Dopamine agonists are often prescribed to treat restless leg syndrome (RLS) or Parkinson’s disease. Major side effects include

memory loss and confusion. Work with your healthcare practitioner or pharmacist to see if your RLS is being triggered by another medication you are taking. Dr. Teitelbaum says sometimes RLS is caused by iron deficiency and will improve or go away if ferritin blood levels are raised with diet or iron supplements.

Nonbenzodiazepine sedative hypnotics or “Z” drugs used for insomnia can not only cause short-term memory loss, they can also cause full-blown amnesia or bizarre behavior. These medications include zolpidem (Ambien), eszopiclone (Lunesta), and zaleplon (Sonata).

Anticholinergics to treat female overactive bladder block the brain messenger acetylcholine, which in turn slows activity in the brain’s memory and learning centers. First, have your doctor rule out possible bladder infections. Cut back on caffeine and alcoholic beverages and practice Kegel exercises to tighten the muscles around the bladder. Also, ask your doctor about a new device called InTone that treats incontinence and may be able to help you.

Antiseizure epilepsy medications are formulated to suppress certain brain functions, which can cause memory loss. Ask your doctor if you can try Dilantin, an antiseizure drug that has less impact on memory. And if you haven’t had a seizure in more than a year, Dr. Teitelbaum suggests that you try a lower dose.

Page 10 / January 2014

INFECTIOUS DISEASE

Antibiotics: The Right Way to Use ThemBy Rick Ansorge

Best practice then: You caught a bug, went to the doctor, and

walked out with a prescription for an antibiotic.

Best practice now: You catch a bug, go to the doctor, and walk out with nothing except some common-sense advice on how to manage your symptoms.

That’s because today’s best-informed doctors recognize that the widespread use of antibiotics — especially broad-spectrum antibiotics which wipe out a wide range of microorganisms — has been a horrible mistake that has led to two grave consequences:•Development of antibiotic-

resistant bacteria, which often cause lethal disease.•Destruction of beneficial

bacteria, particularly in the gut, which are essential for overall health.

Despite growing awareness that antibiotics should be a treatment of last resort, old habits die hard. “In hospitals and clinics, about 50 percent of all antibiotic use is either unnecessary or inappropriate,” says Lauri Hicks, medical epidemiologist and Director of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) program “Get Smart: Know When Antibiotics Work.”

Antibiotic-resistant bacteria now account for more than 2 million illnesses each year and 23,000 American deaths.

“This is actually considered a conservative estimate,” Dr. Hicks tells Health Radar. “We think the

numbers may be quite a bit higher than that.”

The most urgent threats come from C.diff, a serious diarrheal infection, drug-resistant gonorrhea, and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, commonly called MRSA.

Many doctors needlessly prescribe antibiotics against colds, flu, and other viral infections. Other viral conditions that do not warrant antibiotic therapy include most cases of bronchitis, coughs, ear infections, sore throats, and stomach flu.

Bacterial conditions that often warrant antibiotic therapy include severe sinus infections, some ear infections, strep throat, bladder infections, and some wound and skin infections, especially staph infections.

Narrow-Spectrum Antibiotics Are Best

Current research suggests that broad-spectrum antibiotics — the “big guns” such as azithromycin, amoxicillin plus clavulanate, and ciproflaxin — are most likely to contribute to antibiotic-resistant bacteria and the destruction of “friendly” bacteria in the gut.

Whenever possible, choose narrow-spectrum antibiotics such as amoxicillin, which is often prescribed for ear infections and bacterial sinusitis; cephalexin, which is often prescribed for skin infections, and penicillin, which is often prescribed for strep throat.

It’s best to treat the symptoms of common infections with remedies such as nasal saline

sprays, warm compresses, and over-the-counter pain relievers, says Dr. Hicks. To prevent bugs from spreading, she recommends staying home when you’re sick. In better economic times, that used to be a no-brainer. Now that so many people are terrified of losing their jobs, workers often report to work when they’re sick, she notes.

“I should take my own advice,” says Dr. Hicks, who admits she has sometimes gone to work sick under deadline pressure.

Immune-Boosting Supplements

By boosting the immune system, some supplements can be an alternative to antibiotics, according to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine.

Zinc: Research shows zinc helps to reduce the length and severity of the common cold when taken within 24 hours after symptoms start.

Vitamin C: In five trials in people who were exposed to extreme physical stress (marathon runners, skiers, and soldiers training in subarctic conditions), taking vitamin C cut the number of colds in half.

Probiotics: A major review of clinical trials involving more than 3,000 people indicated that probiotics might help to prevent upper respiratory tract infections, such as the common cold. Most people can use probiotics without experiencing any side effects or with only mild gastrointestinal side effects such as gas.

January 2014 / Page 11

LATEST FDA APPROVALS

New Help for EpilepsyCompiled exclusively by Health Radar, here are the most significant new drugs and medical devices approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

EpilepsyA new implanted device stops seizures in people

with epilepsy. “The neurostimulator detects abnormal electrical

activity in the brain and responds by delivering electrical stimulation intended to normalize brain activity before the patient experiences seizure symptoms,” said Christy Foreman, director of the FDA’s Office of Device Evaluation.

Kelly O’Brien, 28, has epilepsy and said the device — called the RNS Stimulator — has been life-changing. “It has given me an independence I did not have before,” said O’Brien, who lives in Columbus, Ohio. “Since getting the device, my seizures have stopped. I’m now able to drive again.”

Smaller and thinner than an implantable heart defibrillator, the battery-powered, programmable device is placed just under the skull during surgery.

“These are patients who have no other resort for treatment of their epilepsy, and this device offers new hope for them,” said Dr. Dileep Nair, an epileptologist at the Cleveland Clinic.

Meanwhile, the FDA has also approved the drug Aptiom (eslicarbazepine acetate) to help treat adults with partial epileptic seizures. So-called “partial” seizures are the most common type of seizure among people with epilepsy.

LymphomaImbruvica (ibrutinib) has been approved to treat

mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), a rare but aggressive form of blood cancer. MCL represents about 6 percent of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma cases. By the time it’s usually diagnosed, it has spread to other areas such as the lymph nodes or bone marrow.

Imbruvica, designed to inhibit an enzyme that cancer cells need to spread, was granted the FDA’s rare “breakthrough therapy” status as a drug that promises to offer a “substantial improvement over available therapies for patients with serious or life-threatening diseases,” the agency said.

Thyroid CancerApproval for the anticancer drug Nexavar

(sorafenib) has been expanded to include late-stage differentiated thyroid cancer, the most common type of thyroid cancer.

Thyroid cancer is diagnosed in an estimated 60,000 Americans a year, and some 1,800 die annually from the disease.

Nexavar is designed to inhibit proteins that prompt cancer cells to divide and grow. The new approval is meant for people with differentiated thyroid cancer that no longer responds to radioactive iodine treatment.

Hepatitis COlysio, also known as simeprevir, has been

approved as a treatment for chronic infection with the liver-destroying hepatitis C virus. Olysio, a protease inhibitor that blocks a specific protein needed by the virus to replicate, is to be used in combination with interferon, given by injection, and ribavirin, another pill.

Hepatitis C affects about 3.2 million Americans, killing more than 15,000 people each year, mostly from associated illnesses such as cirrhosis and liver cancer.

The often-undiagnosed virus is transmitted through contaminated blood. Infection rates have dropped since the early 1990s, due in part to the introduction of blood and organ screening. Olysio was shown in clinical trials to cure patients with a shorter duration of treatment.

HeartburnThe first generic versions of the anti-GERD drug

AcipHex (rabeprazole sodium) have been approved. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), also known as chronic heartburn, is a very common disorder characterized by backward flow of stomach acid to the esophagus. This process could damage tissue in the esophagus, the tube that connects the throat and stomach.

The drug is among a class called proton-pump inhibitors, which are designed to reduce the amount of stomach acid produced.

Page 12 / January 2014

BREAKING NEWS, STUDIES & MEDICAL UPDATES

MOLD TIED TO PARKINSON’SA compound emitted by mold

may trigger Parkinson’s disease. The neurological condition,

which interferes with the brain’s ability to send messages from one nerve cell to another, occurs when the brain stops making dopamine.

Scientists at Rutgers University found that the compound, 1-octen-3-ol, also known as “mushroom alcohol,” attacks the two genes responsible for the production of dopamine and causes them to malfunction.

The cause of Parkinson’s is still a mystery, but considering the new findings it makes sense to fix any areas of dampness in your home and remove mold.

MAGNETS ERASE AUTISM SYMPTOMS

Magnetic stimulation can boost the social skills of people with autism, according to a study at Monash University in Australia.

Researchers used a technique called “repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation” to deliver magnetic impulses into a part of the brain called the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (dmPFC).

The dmPFC lets people understand other’s feelings, and it is less active in people with autism.

Study volunteers with Asperger’s syndrome, a common form of autism, who were given 15 minutes of magnetic stimulation for 10 days showed a significant increase in social skills compared to the placebo group that didn’t get the treatment.

BLOOD PRESSURE PILLS CAN DAMAGE KIDNEYS

ACE inhibitors, commonly prescribed for high blood pressure, can cause deadly kidney problems, according to new research.

Scientists at Cambridge University found a link between popular hypertension drugs benazepril, enenalapril, lisinopril, and other ACE inhibitors and acute kidney injury.

This condition is fatal in about 30 percent of patients. The British researchers tied a 16 percent increase in prescriptions for ACE inhibitors to a 52 percent rise in hospital admissions for kidney failure during a four-year period.

One in 7 cases of acute kidney injury could be due to these drugs, which are taken worldwide by more than 40 million people, the scientists warned.

GRAPES MAKE CANCER TREATMENTS WORK BETTER

Resveratrol, a chemical found in grape skins and red wine, makes cancer cells more susceptible to radiation treatment, according to a study at the University of Missouri.

When treated with resveratrol, 44 percent of melanoma cells were killed, but when the cancer cells were treated with the compound followed by radiation, 65 percent of the tumor cells died.

“Resveratrol could potentially be very important in treating a variety of cancers,” said researcher Michael Nicholl, M.D. Resveratrol supplements are available in health food stores.

HPV SCREENING BEATS PAP TEST

A study in the journal Lancet found that screening for the human papillomavirus (HPV) was more effective than Pap tests in diagnosing women with cervical cancer.

Pap (smear) tests examine cells

from the cervix to detect changes, while HPV screening examines cervical cells for the presence of HPV, a viral infection that can cause cancer.

A team of Italian researchers analyzed data from more than 175,000 women and found that HPV screening provided 60 to 70 percent greater diagnostic accuracy than the Pap test.

OXFORD: FRIENDS PROVIDE BRAIN BOOST

People with lots of friends have bigger brains, according to an Oxford University study. Researchers found that certain regions of the brain are significantly larger in people who are sociable. The more friends, the larger the brains. Brain size is generally associated with greater intelligence and cognitive skills. Researchers believe that friendships cause people to use certain areas of the brain more often, causing them to grow.

“FIT AFTER 50” FACT

Feel like you’re losing your hearing? It’s important to see a doctor before you start looking for a hearing aid or amplifier, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration says. Despite poor hearing, you may not need a hearing aid. “The problem might be as simple as a wax impaction blocking the ear canal, which is easily treated, or at the other end of the spectrum, it could be something as serious as a tumor pressing on the hearing nerve,” said Dr. Eric Mann, clinical deputy director of the FDA’s division of ophthalmic, and ear, nose and throat devices.

January 2014 / Page 13

BREAKING NEWS, STUDIES & MEDICAL UPDATES

NONTOXIC LUPUS TREATMENT

Researchers at Northwestern University have developed a nontoxic therapy for lupus that puts the disease in remission without the side effects of some current treatments.

Lupus is an autoimmune disease that causes the body to create antibodies and attack itself, producing pain and tissue damage to vital organs. The new therapy uses peptides — small bits of protein — to generate special regulatory T cells that stop the production of autoimmune antibodies, thus blocking the lupus disease process.

Current standard therapies, which include steroids and Cytoxan, can be toxic even in small doses.

CHOCOLATE FIGHTS OBESITYFar from being a diet buster, a

study from Spain’s University of Granada found that chocolate can actually help keep you thin.

An analysis of European teens found that those who ate chocolate regularly had lower levels of body fat, including abdominal fat, than those who didn’t eat it. The study confirms earlier research which found that adults who ate chocolate frequently had a lower body mass index.

MUSIC EASES PAINMusic reduces the agony of

chronic pain, according to new research. A survey of people who live with chronic pain found that 41 percent of them found relief by listening to music. The most popular tunes for pain relief? Simon & Garfunkel’s “Bridge Over Troubled Water” and Elton John’s “Candle in the Wind.”

YOU AGE HOW YOU EATHow you eat in your late 50s and

early 60s determines how healthy you’ll be in old age. Those are the

findings of a new study from the French Research Center INSERM which showed that women in late middle age who followed a healthy diet, such as a Mediterranean diet, were 40 percent more likely to live into their 70s.

Furthermore, women with the healthiest diets were also less likely to suffer from chronic diseases, physical impairments, mental problems, or problems with memory. The healthy agers were also more likely to have exercised in midlife.

JAPANESE SUPERFOOD STOPS FLU

A traditional Japanese turnip pickle called Suguki, which has been known for generations in Japan as a “superfood,” prevents flu, say researchers.

In a study, mice were given the bacteria that occurs naturally in the pickle and then exposed to the flu virus.

The bacteria increased the production of flu antibodies. A probiotic drink made from Suguki is being tested in humans.

SODA CAUSES ALZHEIMER’S-LIKE BRAIN DAMAGE

Australian scientists have found that soft drinks cause changes in the brain similar to those seen in Alzheimer’s disease. Rats were fed sugary water containing the same sugar concentration as soft drinks.

After 26 days, their brains showed

“profound” changes, researchers said, especially in the area of the brain that makes decisions.

Differences included alterations in 290 different proteins, as well as long-lasting changes in behavior, including hyperactivity.

About 30 percent of the altered proteins are associated with Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, cancer, and schizophrenia.

FIBROMYALGIA PAIN MYSTERY SOLVED

Fibromyalgia patients process pain signals differently, according to a study in the online journal Arthritis & Rheumatism. That’s why they feel pain more keenly and don’t respond well to painkillers.

Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition characterized by muscle and joint pain along with other symptoms such as fatigue. MRI brain scans found that people who don’t have fibromyalgia can experience more pressure on their muscles before feeling pain.

In addition, when non-fibromyalgia patients know pain is imminent, sections of the brain are activated that release pain-relieving dopamine.

The activated areas also allow people to ease pain by mentally preparing themselves. In fibromyalgia patients, those brain areas don’t activate, leaving them vulnerable to pain and unable to get relief from pain medications, even powerful opioids.

ALMONDS CURB APPETITEAlthough many people trying

to lose weight ban nuts from their diets, a randomized study from Purdue University shows that is a bad move. Almonds have been found to curb appetite.

People who added 1.5 ounces of dry-roasted, lightly salted almonds (about 3 tablespoons) to their daily diets for a month didn’t gain weight and reported feeling less hungry.

Page 14 / January 2014

NUTRITION & WELLNESS

Fructose in Fruit and Juices: What You Need to Know

By Dieter Hogen

I love fruit. I can’t imagine living without the wonderful variety, shapes, colors, smells, and tastes

of this fantastic natural food. Because of its rich vitamin, mineral,

phytochemical, and fiber content there is no doubt about the health benefits of fruit. It fights cancer and heart disease, improves digestion, and helps the body detoxify. It is a great addition to everyone’s diet.

Fruit is an excellent snack any time of the day, but it is also a great addition to many different dishes. Having an apple or a banana with oatmeal; adding berries, grapes, or other fruit to yogurt and smoothies; and making fruit pies are very common practices throughout the world and in different cultures.

How Much Is Too Much?There is one big problem: Fruits contain two

different kinds of sugar — glucose and fructose. Lately there has been a lot of discussion about

fructose, which is also known as “fruit sugar,” and its detrimental effects on our metabolism. World-renowned experts on the subject recently came up with a very specific number of fructose — 25 grams (just under an ounce) — that they say we should not exceed in one day.

Much more fruit sugar than that on a regular basis and we risk insulin resistance, high blood fats, high blood pressure, unusual weight gain and chronic inflammation, so say the experts.

I thought it would be interesting to find out

what my own daily consumption of fructose is and did a little research. On most days I would eat one lemon (squeezed into a drink), one orange or a half grapefruit, plus lots of berries.

Fruit sugar content•Lemon: 1.5 grams •Orange: 8 grams•Berries (10 ounces): 11 grams

This means I get about 20.5 grams of fruit sugar on a typical day. If I substitute a half grapefruit (5 grams of fructose) for the orange, as I sometimes do, I get even less sugar.

There are days when I eat grapes, pineapple, mango, apple, or pear, all of which have more sugar than the fruits I normally eat. But, even then, I’d still be under the 25-gram fructose limit.

So, eating good amounts of fruits on a daily basis doesn’t seem to present problems for health — quite the opposite when you consider all the pleasure and health benefits we get.

You certainly have to be more careful if you’re overweight or have blood sugar/insulin-related issues.

What about fruit juice? Again, I did a test. I took three oranges and juiced

them to fill one small glass. The fructose in that one serving of orange juice is about 24 grams, almost 100 percent of the daily limit.

Without going any further I think it becomes clear that drinking concentrated fruit juice is not a good idea.

Also, be very careful with dried fruit. It is a highly concentrated sugar source and should be eaten in only small amounts at a time.

What’s the solution? Eat whole fruits and use fruit juices other than lemon or lime sparingly — a few sprinkles to flavor a drink, for instance.

Ice cubes and a little lemon, lime, or orange juice added to plain water, sparkling water, or tea makes a tasty, refreshing drink no one must feel guilty about.

A world-renowned nutrition expert and Olympic athletic coach, Dieter Hogen created a nutrition and training regimen in the 1990s that changed the elite athletes’ training paradigm forever. Schooled at Potsdam University in Germany, Dieter brings his nutritional knowledge to Health Radar with one goal in mind: “To simply make you healthier and more energetic, no matter your age or current physical condition.”

January 2014 / Page 15

SKINCARE

7 Ingredients You Never Want to See on a Skin Care Label

By Lynn Allison

If you took the skincare and grooming section of a store and

buried it in the ground, it would be declared a hazardous waste dump. That’s how dangerous many of the chemicals in these products are.

One in eight ingredients used in personal care products are industrial chemicals that include carcinogens, pesticides, reproductive toxins, and hormone disruptors.

“Many of these chemicals are considered safe in low doses by themselves,” Nneka Leiba, senior analyst at the Environmental Working Group (EWG), a consumer watchdog, told Health Radar.

“But we are concerned about the damage they can cause repetitively over time and synergistically with each other. There is no research or data for this.”

The Food and Drug Administration has no authority over cosmetic manufacturers and does not require these companies to test products for safety.

Cosmetic companies may use any ingredient except for certain color additives and substances classified as drugs.

Banned in Other CountriesMore than 500 cosmetic

products sold in the U.S. contain ingredients banned in Japan, Canada, and the European Union.

Nationally known Palm Beach dermatologist Kenneth Beer, M.D., tells Health Radar that certain skincare ingredients should be avoided whenever possible.

“These include dioxin, triclosan, and products with color pigments. These can all cause potential problems,” he says.

Leiba says it is vital to be “vigilant and read labels closely.” Another option is to consult the EWG’s database of more than 80,000 popular cosmetics at www.ewg.org/skindeep.

It rates products from 0–10 in terms of increasing hazard. Any product rated from 7 to 10 is considered a “high hazard.”

Here are seven chemicals you never want to see on a skincare product label:

1. BHA and BHT. These closely related antioxidants are used as preservatives in moisturizers and makeup, particularly lipsticks.

They are both linked to endocrine disruption. BHA has been linked to cancer. They have been proven harmful to fish and other wildlife.

2. Coal tar dyes. These are found in dark hair dyes and antidandruff products. They are widely linked to cancer and also may be contaminated with heavy metals which are toxic to the brain. Sometimes they are listed on labels as p-phenylenediamine or CI (for color index) followed by a five-digit number.

3. PEG compounds. These are found in cosmetic cream bases

and can be contaminated with 1,4-dioxane, a widely known carcinogen.

Some manufacturers use a purification process to remove the 1,4-dioxane, but there is no way of knowing for sure which PEG-containing products are safe, which means it is best to avoid all of them.

4. Benzoyl peroxide. Pregnant women should stay away from this acne medication ingredient, advises Rebecca Baxt, M.D., a New Jersey-based dermatologist. Also, if you use it near your mouth, be careful because it is harmful if swallowed.

5. Dioxin. This ingredient is often found in skin cleansers and other bath products. Dioxin has been linked with cancer, reduced immunity, nervous system disorders, birth defects, and miscarriages.

6. Triclosan. This synthetic antibacterial chemical is used as a pesticide. It’s got the same molecular structure as Agent Orange, the defoliant used during the Vietnam War that was associated with soldiers’ health problems.

7. Parabens. Found in antibacterial hand sanitizers, among other products, these chemicals are suspected endocrine disruptors and may interfere with male reproductive function. They’re commonly used in deodorants and antiperspirants and have also been linked to breast cancer.

Page 16 / January 2014

BREAKTHROUGHS Health Radar

Stanford University Researchers: Bleach Reverses Skin Aging

Common household bleach, when greatly diluted with water, reverses skin damage caused by aging, sunburn, and radiation treatment, according to findings by scientists at the Stanford University School of Medicine.

Doctors have used diluted bleach baths for decades to treat eczema, a condition that causes skin itchiness, redness, and flaking. However, they didn’t know why bleach worked.

Researcher Thomas Leung, M.D., found that a 0.005 percent solution of bleach blocks a human skin molecule called NF-kB that triggers the body’s inflammatory response.

When the solution was used on mice, their skin began to look younger. “It went from old and fragile to thicker, with increased cell proliferation,” Dr. Leung said. Human tests are planned.

Scan Reveals If You’re Close to a Heart Attack

A new noninvasive imaging technique can spot patients in imminent danger of a heart attack. Scientists at Scotland’s Edinburgh University injected a radioactive tracer called F-sodium fluoride into patients with heart disease and then gave them MRIs.

Half had recently suffered a heart attack, and the other half had angina, which put them at risk of a heart attack.

Among the patients who had recently had an attack, the tracer lit up the areas in the arteries where blockages had caused heart attacks in 93 percent of the cases.

In the angina cases, the scanner spotted dangerous blockages in 45 percent of patients, indicating they were in danger of the plaque

rupturing and causing a heart attack. Scientists believe the new technique will allow

patients in peril to be treated with medicine or surgery to stop attacks before they occur and cause damage.

New Test Finds Pancreatic Cancer Before It’s Too Late

Johns Hopkins researchers have developed a simple blood test that detects pancreatic cancer in its earliest, curable stages.

The disease has a five-year survival rate of less than 5 percent due to the fact it’s usually advanced when discovered.

But researchers identified two genes, BNC1 and ADAMTS1, which together were detectable in 81 percent of blood samples from people with early-stage pancreatic cancer.

The genes were not present in the blood of people who didn’t have the disease. This accuracy rate is higher than in some current cancer tests, such as the widely used PSA screening for prostate cancer.

Hopkins researcher Dr. Nita Ahuja hopes the test will soon be routinely given to those at high risk, which include smokers, those who’ve had pancreatitis, and people with a family history of pancreatic cancer.

Nonsurgical Cure for Double ChinsGetting rid of your double chin could soon be

as simple as a few injections, according to research dermatologists.

A randomized, controlled trial published in the British Journal of Dermatology examined a chemical called ATX-101, a synthetic version of bile acid. When it’s injected into fat deposits under the chin, known as submental fat, it destroys the membranes of the fat cells and causes them to break down.

The resulting inflammation sparks an influx of microphages, a specialized cell that keeps unwanted fat from being reabsorbed.

After four injections four weeks apart, 65 percent of patients who received ATX-101 saw a reduction in chin fat.

Researchers believe the treatment is safer and will be less expensive than liposuction, which is often used to treat double chins.

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