HIV Prevention in a Pill?
Posted by Maureen in Clinical Tests, Wellness on May 11, 2012
Yesterday an FDA advisory panel recommended approval of Truvada for pre-exposure phylaxis (PrEP) of HIV. While many in the HIV and AIDS medical and research community support the move, many others fear that it will reduce the use of condoms, which are critical for HIV prevention. The question is: Will those in high risk categories, those who engage in risky sexual behaviors or use intraveneous drugs, actually adhere to a medical prevention protocol, especially if they are already having difficulty consistently using condoms? While I think it’s possible that there are those in committed relationships with someone who is HIV positive who may
be able to tolerate the serious side effects, the majority of those at risk for contracting HIV may not be able to stick with the regimen.
Studies have shown that getting tested and realizing that you are positive reduces the risk you will pass it on. Just the awareness that someone is putting someone else in danger may deter people from risky behavior. But getting tested and the use of a preventive medication requires that people actually care about their role in the spread of HIV. The continued large number of new cases every year, which is approximately 50,000 according to the Centers for Disease Control, and the 21% increase in new cases in young men aged 13-29 is fueled by the 34% increase in cases among young gay and bisexual men. It would be great if this could be another tool in the HIV prevention toolbox that doesn’t make people feel safe skipping the condom. Let’s hope that the right message on this “HIV Prevention Pill” gets out and it helps to stem the tide of new HIV infections and unnecessary disease.
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Method Behind the Madness…Is There a Purpose to Our Allergies?
Posted by Maureen in Clinical Tests, Wellness on April 30, 2012
I know I’m not the only one suffering from horrendous allergies this year. With the warmer winter in the south and the earlier spring many more of us are sneezing, sniffling and coughing than usual at this time of year. The number of people with allergies continues to rise and a lot of them don’t even know what is causing their particular sneezing and discomfort. New research printed in Nature last 
week suggests the possibility that some peoples’ bodies are actually trying to protect them from environmental toxins. It is often thought that allergies are your immune responses going haywire. But what if your body is trying to tell you to stay away from something that causes cancer? The article in Nature suggests that the immune response is trying to expel a toxin, such as helminthes (parasites), noxious chemicals, animal venoms, and environmental irritants that may cause cancers, such as gliomas or brain tumors. Alternatively, your immune system may be telling you to avoid that particular toxic environment.
There are now easier ways to determine what you are allergic to, including a simple blood test that can identify hundreds of allergens that you may be allergic or sensitive to, allowing you to avoid it or treat it. The research also suggests that eliminating symptoms, other than those that are extreme, such as anaphylactic shock, may not be the right option. If we stay in a particular environment because we can eliminate the sniffling then we may be continuing to take in the toxin our body is trying to protect us from. This is an interesting study and provides hints of possible treatments and preventatives in the future. For now, since I know I’ll need to go outside at some point, I’ll continue treating my stuffiness with antihistamines, like most of my family and friends.
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Are You Protecting Your Kidneys?
Posted by Maureen in Clinical Tests, Wellness on March 5, 2012
You may be damaging your kidneys without realizing it. Do you drink a lot of soda every day? Even if it’s diet? Do you smoke? These habits are two of the top five that can be putting stress on your kidneys. March 8th is World Kidney Day and March is National Kidney Month, sponsored by the American Kidney Foundation. Your kidney works 24 hours a day filtering toxins out of your body. If your kidney stops working your only alternative is using a dialysis machine and anyone who has ever done this can tell you it is 
not a pleasant way to spend a day.
You can be careful about what you ingest to protect yourself and your kidneys from long term damage starting right now! Get tested with a simple Chemistry Panel to identify Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN), Calcium (Ca), Creatinine (Cr) and Glucose which check for a range of problems that affect the kidneys, including kidney disease. Whether your test results show possible issues with your kidney or not, you should stop doing the following 5 things to prevent future damage:
- Long term use of over-the-counter painkillers, known as NSAIDs (Non-Steroidal Anti Inflammatory Drugs). 3-5% of new cases of kidney disease every year are blamed on the useruse of NSAIDs.
- Smoking: Smokers are more likely to need dialysis or kidney transplants due to the damage that smoking does to the kidneys.
- Consuming large quantities of salt. I think we’ve all been made aware through the media that too much salt can cause hypertension (or high blood pressure) but this high blood pressure can damage the kidneys over time and is the leading cause of kidney failure.
- Drinking a lot of sodas every day, diet or not. Studies show that consuming two or more sodas every day is linked with a higher risk of developing kidney disease.
- Exposure to the dye used in Angiograms and CT scans. Discuss the risks with your doctor before you undergo a procedure like this.
Is avoiding some of these items worth it in the long run? To live a normal life where I don’t need to be connected to a machine for natural bodily functions: I say yes! You get to make your own choice.
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CDC Offers Up Million Hearts to Heart Health Month
Posted by Maureen in Clinical Tests, Wellness on February 15, 2012
Have you been payting attention? Hopefully you’ve worn red to work and noticed the posters, flyers and promotions for Heart Health month by the American Heart Association. This well publicized program targets those of us, especially women, who need an extra push to pay attention to our own health. Come on, you know you’re 
more likely to be one of those people than not! The addition of the Center for Disease Control’s (CDC) Million Hearts program adds some simple guidelines that are easy to remember, even if we have a hard time following them.
The CDC recommends following your ABCS:
- Aspirin for people at risk – Ask your doctor is this makes sense for you.
- Blood pressure in check – If this is an issue, make sure you have a home BP cuff.
- Cholesterol management – Standard cholesterol tests and more advanced ones such as the VAP and PLAC tests can let you know how aggressive you need to be.
- Smoking cessation – There are so many ways to kick the habit. You just need to pick the right one for you.
These four major steps help to address cardiovascular disease, the leading of death in the United States. In addition, cardiovascular disease and stroke are the leading cause of disability preventing people from leading full lives and enjoying time with their families.
Women are at a higher risk than many of us are aware of. Women are used to taking care of their families and putting their own health last. What we, as mothers and caretakers, may not realize is that putting our health at risk is a terrible way of taking care of our loved ones. What would they do if we weren’t around to take care of all the little things? Saving yourself is the most important thing you can do to be the best mother, partner, and daughter you can possibly be.
Take these American Heart Association and CDC messages to heart and take control of your health today!
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Are Your New Year’s Resolutions Achievable?
Posted by Maureen in Clinical Tests, Wellness on January 12, 2012
Although the ideal is that we all live healthy lives year round, the truth is that it’s not easy to do and this is the time of year we think about what we should be doing. Exercising, not smoking, and going on a diet are among the top resolutions people make every year on January 1. Unfortunately, most of us have already quit by now. It’s been over 10 days and many of these attempts only last about 3 days. Being realistic about what you can do is a big part of making your goals achievable. Did you tell yourself no sweets at all? Or no 
smoking starting NOW? Or that you’ll get up at 5 am and exercise every day? Balance is key to maintaining a habit and starting small can help you get there.
Some tips for being realistic and actually reaching your goals include:
- If you’re trying to do something like lose weight or improve your cholesterol, you need a baseline. Know where you are today and lay out a gradual plan for where you want to be. Get your cholesterol and other critical health values tested with a Basic Check Up test. Decide when you’ll go back for another test to see where you are. Make an appointment so that you have a hard deadline and very specific goal. If it’s weight loss get on the scale today and set a goal for where you’ll be in 3 months, 6 months or a year.
- Start small. Recent studies have shown that small changes can have a huge impact on your health. Walk for 20 minutes a day to start. Or cut out one unhealthy food a day. Once you see success and know that you are able to make one change, add another after a month and continue with small lifestyle changes that will reap large rewards down the road.
- Tell others what you are doing. Saying it out loud and reporting success to others is a big motivator. Even if they don’t ask how you’re doing, you’ll know that they’re thinking it.
- Give yourself an advantage by not surrounding yourself with the temptation you are trying to avoid. Keep your fridge clear of things you shouldn’t eat or drink. Throw away your cigarettes so they are hard to get when the craving hits. Look at restaurant menus before you go out and decide ahead of time, when you’re not hungry, what you will order.
- Give yourself a break! You will probably fall off the wagon. You’ll have that cigarette, eat that candy bar or those fries, or sleep in instead of working out. This doesn’t mean it’s time to give up and throw in the towel. It means you’re human. Try again at the next opportunity and give it another go.
- Finally, be realistic. Losing 20 pounds in a month may not be achievable. Thinking that you will be done with cigarettes in a week isn’t either. Do your research and plan realistically what you can do right now and what you can achieve in the long run.
Good Luck! And, it’s not too late even if you think you’ve already given up. Dust yourself off and give your goals in 2012 another chance!
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Christmas Season Wearing You Down?
Posted by Maureen in Clinical Tests, Wellness on December 21, 2011
This is a busy time of year for many of us. Shopping, decorating, baking, hosting family or traveling to Grandma’s house can really be exhausting! Yes, it’s fun and yes, it’s expected of us to do our part and enjoy the season. I don’t know about you but I’m worn out and I’m just now coming into the home stretch with last minute activities. What are you doing to keep your spirits and your energy up? It’s easy to say “Take some time and give yourself a break,” but it’s easier said than done.
It may be the season for exhaustion, as well as cheer, but sometimes our bodies are trying to send a message. One supplement that could help, offered in many forms, has been called the newest energy booster. Used to lose weight, improve the health of your skin, reduce stress and give you an energy boost, the vitamin B12 could be the answer to your short term overload. Our body’s ability to get enough B12 through diet is limited. It is added to many cereals but is also found naturally in shellfish and meat such as liver and beef, and in dairy products including cheese and eggs. Injections have been found to be the most effective method for providing B12 in a usable form, although it is also available in pill and liquid. Vitamin B12 deficiency can be dangerous if extreme and warning signs are fatigue and muscle weakness. Your waning energy may not be caused by a deficiency but you could find some relief and much needed energy with B12 supplements.
Feeling run down makes the holidays more difficult, a time which some people already find depressing. Look into your options for improving how you face the season: get more rest, look into vitamin B12, and yes, try to take some time for yourself. As soon as I wrap one more gift, I’m off to take a bubble bath!
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Saving Your Life: Diabetes Prevention
Posted by Maureen in Clinical Tests, Wellness on November 8, 2011
Do you know anyone who has diabetes? Does it seem like a minor hassle, not a big deal to watch your sugar intake? Children who need to prick their fingers every day and watch every bite they take might make us think about the high price paid by those with diabetes. This high price is now also paid by adults who have developed diabetes type 2. But, if they had thought about it before blowing off exercise and gaining weight, would it have made a difference in their lifestyle? I would like to think so. And so would the American Diabetes Association. The ADA’s Diabetes 
Awareness Month this year is focusing on how individuals can make a difference, both in their own lives and in their communities. Their “Stop Diabetes” campaign includes taking a pledge to stop diabetes in your own life and a test on Facebook to determine your risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Most of us assume that if we don’t have it we don’t have to worry about diabetes but there may be some facts that you didn’t know about diabetes:
- Every 17 seconds someone is diagnosed with diabetes.
- Diabetes costs $174 million per year in the US.
- 1 in 3 Americans will have diabetes by the year 2050 unless we all take action to stop diabetes.
Diabetes isn’t just the well known “prick your finger and inject yourself with insulin” disease. It is the leading cause of kidney failure and blindness and can increase your risk for heart disease and other infections. Many organizations are providing discounted diabetes tests this month in honor of Diabetes Awareness Month including Fasting Glucose to indicate diabetes, Hemoglobin A1c which can identify prediabetes and determine if current diabetes is well controlled and a Diabetic Urinalysis test which indicates how well your kidneys are functioning.
Do your part this month: get yourself tested, look at your risk of contracting diabetes type 2 and do what you need to do to prevent diabetes in yourself, your family and your community. We can save ourselves a lot of money and the pain and misery of living with diabetes, but only if we take action today.
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Pink Is In: The “Pink” Month
Posted by Maureen in Clinical Tests on October 18, 2011
I have to admit something: I have skipped my mammograms for 2 years. I have just been too busy. Anyone else? Too busy? Nervous about a possible negative result? 
One of the reasons I’m too busy is that working and taking care of three other people, 4 pets, and my home is wearing me out! I actually got a letter from my health insurance company this week reminding me to get the test. This is a new step for them and was a really good reminder. There are so many things that come before my health, but if something happens to me, then what good have I done for my family in the long run? I need to/should squeeze in that one hour.
We all know that this is the “pink” month: Breast Cancer Awareness. Pink is everywhere. But this can and should be a reminder about all of the other ways we need to take care of ourselves. Are you getting enough vitamin D? There is a lot of confusion about supplements, but this one, especially for women, still rates high on the list of supplements that are truly valuable. Simple tests can tell you if you are deficient. Diabetes and obesity are soaring in the US. Simple blood tests and a quick step on the scale can remind you to correct your habits to stay healthy long enough to retire, kick back and maybe see some grandchildren get married and raise their own families. We’re living longer, too. Why not have a healthy old age? Start by taking care of yourself so you’re around to keep taking care of your loved ones. Schedule a test today!
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Cholesterol Testing – Still Relevant!
Posted by Maureen in Clinical Tests, Wellness on September 6, 2011
There is a lot of conversation, around the watercooler and on the internet that cholesterol is not the only thing to watch out for when it comes to health. This is true to some degree. Some people are able to eat pretty much what they want and stay slim without the negative effects on cholesterol. Some of us, though, really have to watch what we eat and work hard to stay or get slim and to avoid high cholesterol. Although cholesterol may not be the big picture, getting your cholesterol tested and knowing where you stand can help to guide you to the right lifestyle choices to be healthier, longer.
Recent research published in the journal PLoS One describes an interesting and potentially vital tip for keeping your cholesterol low. Apparantly, eating a grapefruit right before a meal that is high in fat and sugar, can reduce the amount of cholesterol that develops by 42% and raise insulin sensitivity by 64%. The study suggests that naringenin, a molecule in grapefruits that gives the fruit its bitter taste, can help to treat arteriosclerosis, hyper-metabolism, and even diabetes.
I love the new information that could mean that a grapefruit before my Big Mac might make it go down easier, or at least cause fewer problems down the road. While researchers are out hunting up these new tidbits of information, the rest of us need to keep on with our healthy diets and cholesterol testing, just to be on the safe side!
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Using Food Stamps at Farmer’s Markets…A Step in the Right Direction
Posted by Maureen in Clinical Tests, Wellness on August 3, 2011
Much of the obesity in people in the lower income bracket has been blamed on the lack of access to fresh fruits and vegetables in their neighborhoods. Inexpensive food found in many inner city stores tends to be high in fat and calories, so it’s easy to get and does nothing to improve your health, other than filling your belly. The state of Massachusetts has found one solution. Until the late 
1990s people could use food stamps at local farmers’ markets to purchase locally grown, fresh fruit and vegetables. Although there was a stigma to using the food stamps, it was possible to do. When the government changed the process, so that the money is put on an EBT (Electronic Benefit Transfer) debit card, the option of buying food at farmer’s markets virtually disappeared. Most farmer’s markets are cash-only operations.
In 2009, the Mass. Department of Agricultural Resources used funding from the Department of Transitional Assistance to help make farmers’ markets more SNAP-friendly (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program). Although there is a cost to the farmers’ markets of $700 plus a $35 per month fee, more and more markets are taking advantage of the program. People using debit cards, or the SNAP EBT cards, can pull money out in wooden coins to be used at the food stalls. The SNAP coins are a different color but the difference is subtle enough to not draw attention to them and allows SNAP users to purchase food or food producing plants with their coins. Over 90% of these farmers’ market shoppers use the machine, not cash, making it easier for everyone to shop there.
I applaud Massachusett’s efforts to help our less advantaged to buy healthier, fresher food. This is definitely a step in the right direction for reducing obesity and improving everyone’s health, therefore saving us all tax dollars. I hope that other states take notice and follow Massachusett’s lead in the fight against obesity and disease.
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CDC H1N1 Flu Updates:- Press Briefing Transcript: Dr. Thomas Frieden's Remarks at the 2010 Influenza Workshop for Journalists
- HHS News Release: WHO Declares End to 2009 H1N1 Influenza Pandemic
- WHO Statement on H1N1 in post-pandemic period
- UPDATE: 2009 H1N1 Flu International Situation Update
- UPDATE: 2009 H1N1 Flu International Situation Update
- MMWR: Regional Influenza A (H1N1) 2009 Monovalent Vaccination Campaign -- Skokie, Illinois, October 16--December 31, 2009
- UPDATE: 2009 H1N1 Flu International Situation Update
- Lab Testing Facility
- Vitamin D's Critical Link to Belly Fat March 30, 2011
- Can We Stop the Obesity Epidemic and Halt Type 2 Diabetes? March 30, 2011
- Can You Establish Paternity for a Missing Father? March 30, 2011
- Not Enough Energy: Is it a B12 Deficiency? March 24, 2011
- American Heart Month: Are You Taking the Right Steps? February 18, 2011
- Holiday Gift Shopping: Toxic Kids' Products Make It Scarier Than Ever! December 2, 2010
- Know Your Baseline November 24, 2010
- Do You Know What Your Teens (or Employees) Are Smoking? November 24, 2010