Posts Tagged informational tests
It’s Allergy Season: Are You Treating the Right Things at the Right Time?
Posted by Maureen in Clinical Tests, Wellness on April 17, 2013
What if you knew exactly which tree was about to bloom and you could jump on top of your allergy medication rather than being smacked with the horrible red eyes, congestion and wheezing, out of the blue? Would that make your life better, more comfortable, and possibly, change your perspective on spring from “Oh No!” to “Wow, what a beautiful day!”. OK, that might be too extreme, but, maybe it would be enough tonot be completely miserable and to be able to be outside briefly without having a complete allergy 
breakdown. Getting an allergy test is easier than ever, with simple blood tests that are able to identify antibodies to specific allergans so you know whether it’s oak trees or ragweed that is causing you to sneeze, wheeze and sniffle. This coming month, May of 2013, has been declared Allergy Awareness Month because it is peak allergy season in many parts of the country. If you live in the south, as I do, we are already experiencing peak pollen records and have already set new records for extremely high pollen levels.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, food and digestive allergies in the US have been on the rise with an increase of 18% of US children now dealing with allergies up from 1997 levels and 25 million people are now living with asthma which is often triggered by allergies. Why? There are several reasons that scientists have proposed including the “hygiene hypothesis” which claims that we are keeping our houses too clean so children are no longer exposed to bacteria for which their bodies can develop immunities. But newer research says that it is more complex than that, the dirt isn’t the issue. We have moved away from our “microbial friends“, microbes which we have evolved with us and have been in our digestive systems for centuries. These microbes help us battle toxins and allergans. This theory says that perhaps we need to be outside and exposed to the right kind of dirt, eliminate pollutants and reduce stress so that our immune systems are better able to resist allergans. Some allergies are life threatening such as some people’s allergies to nuts and shellfish or bee stings so this issue addresses not just feeling awful, but some very serious business.
To prepare for the upcoming (or current) seasonal allergy symptoms you expect to be feeling there are some steps can help:
- Get tested and know what you are allergic to.
- Monitor the pollen levels in your area. If it has been a very rainy spring or summer you can expect a worse than usual allergy season.
- Protect yourself from the allergy triggers:
- Stay inside on days with very high pollen levels and if you go outside, wear a hat and sunglasses to protect your eyes from the pollen.
- Keep windows closed.
- Rinse off yourself and pets when you come back inside to remove the irritants. Pets can carry pollen inside with them on their paws.
- Get the proper treatment: nasal lavage, antihistamines, eye drops, nasal spray and even allergy shots or immunotherapy.
- Be aware that some foods may trigger your allergy symptoms as well. This is called the “oral allergy syndrome” idea and bananas, cucumbers, melons, zucchini, sunflower seeds, and chamomile tea may interact to trigger symptoms according to the AAAAI.
Get on top of your symptoms early and you can prevent some very uncomfortable days. Knowing what you’re up against is a great first step in having a much better spring!
Written by www.labtestingnow.com
Autoimmunity and Salt: Are You Low Sodium Yet?
Posted by Maureen in Clinical Tests, Wellness on March 11, 2013
Have you adjusted your diet to a low sodium version yet? If not, you have another reason to do it as soon as possible. High salt foods have been shown to raise blood pressure, increase the risk of edema (swelling) and numerous other health problems due to the retention of water caused by excess salt. With the right amount of salt we are able to hold onto just enough water for our bodies to funcgtion properly and electrolytes to move to the body parts where they do the most good. Reducing your salt intake is important for many reasons: a lower sodium intake has been associated with other health benefits, including a reduced risk of dying from a stroke, reversal of heart enlargement, and a reduced risk of kidney stones and osteoporosis.
If the risk of cardiovascular disease and high blood pressure isn’t enough to scare you into skipping those super salty fries and salty snacks like chips, maybe a new study linking high salt intake to autoimmune disorders such as type 1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis would make a difference. The specifics of how they are linked has to do with high levels of salt that produce higher levels of TH17 cells in your body. These cells produce an inflammatory protein: interleukin-17. I have recent experience with an autoimmune disease, hyperthyroidism or Graves Disease. Antibodies are produced that cause the thyroid to become overactive, producing excessive levels of thyroid hormone. Could this be caused by excess salt? It is certainly possible and makes me want to look at my overall sodium intake. Now I’m in a position of needing to take replacment thyroid hormone for the rest of my life because my body is attacking my thyroid. Did my days of fast food and bags of chips and dip for dinner do me in? Maybe and I’m lucky. This is an easy autoimmune disease to treat. arthritis and diabetes are much more difficult and painful.
It’s easy to have your blood pressure tested and to be tested for inflammation or water retention that can lead to health problems including heart disease and hypertension. If you aren’t sure where to begin, check out a great way to reduce sodium in your diet: the DASH diet. It’s not too late to start and you may have time to delay the onset of one of these diseases if you start today without the salt shaker.
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Do You Know the ABCs of Heart Disease?
Posted by Maureen in Clinical Tests, Wellness on February 1, 2013
Today is the 10th “National Wear Red Day” to promote heart health and awareness of heart disease risks and prevention. Did you put on something red this morning? Are you aware of your own risks or are you planning to think about it “one day” when you have time? Ignoring warning signs and risk factors won’t pay off in the end, so today is a good day to do a few simple things. You don’t have to do it all today, or this week, but each little step gets you closer to a healthier, longer life.
The Million Hearts Initiative, launched by the Department of Health and Human Services has a very quick way to check your risks and help you pick one or two goals that will help you focus on what’s important rather than a huge list of changes. The ABCs of heart health are something you should think about every day to keep you on the right track and focused on your heart. Start with a visit to get your blood pressure and cholesterol checked so you have a starting point and then get going with these easy steps:
A: Appropriate Aspirin Therapy for those who need it
B: Blood Pressure Control
C: Cholesterol Management
S: Smoking Cessation
Think about these when you start the day, when you talk to your health care provider or get your blood pressure and cholesterol checked and at any point that you know you can make a difference. Or pick one and focus on that first to get started. Taking care of your health isn’t rocket science, but it does take some attention to detail: Your Details. Start today! Red shirt or not, you can make a difference in your health right now.
Written by www.labtestingnow.com
Managing Blood Sugar – The Diabetics Ongoing Struggle
Posted by Maureen in Clinical Tests, Wellness on November 8, 2012
Have you been diagnosed with diabetes? If you are like many diabetics, you are discovering (or have already found) that maintaining a steady blood sugar level is easier said than done. November is American Diabetes Month and worth our attention because this disease is one of the largest health issues our country currently faces. An estimated one in three Americans will develop diabetes by 2050 if we don’t make major changes to our 
lifestyles. If you have already been diagnosed with Type 1 as a child or young adult or Type 2 as an adult, the prevention information isn’t much use to you. I already have it so what do I do now? Your doctor has most likely already discussed diet and exercise with you and, if you are overweight, suggested that you need to lose some. Based on current research studies here are some tips:
- Follow your doctor’s advice and lose some weight. Even though recent studies, specifically one conducted by Look AHEAD subsidized by the National Institutes of Health, are now showing that losing weight may not affect your risk of having a stroke or a heart attack, the benefits to you from even small amounts of weight lose are huge: Improved hemoglobin A1c readings (which look at average blood sugar levels for the past three months), better blood pressure numbers, better fitness and, less medication required to control the diabetes. Overall, losing weight is one of the best things you can do for yourself if you are overweight, whether or not you have diabetes.
- Tight Control: This method as described by the American Diabetes Association is not for everyone and should be followed in conjunction with advice and supervision from your doctor. The intent is to keep your blood sugar levels as close to non-diabetic levels as possible. There are risks of hypoglycemia and weight gain, but this method can prevent or control the onset or progress of complications from diabetes, providing you with additional years of healthy, active life.
- Frequent testing of your blood glucose level. Even if the tight control idea is too much for you, consider testing your blood sugar more often. This is a step in the right direction and, in conjunction with weight loss and exercise, can help you control your blood sugar better by letting you know where you stand before you eat and two hours after eating. Getting a hemoglobin A1c test every few months will also let you know how you are doing and help you make adjustments.
If you are pre-diabetic or obese and worried about the possibility of developing diabetes you may want to consider drinking black tea. Studies are showing a very high correlation between a low incidence of diabetes and the consumption of black tea.
Controlling your diabetes, however you choose to do it, is key to preventing many of the devastating complications of diabetes such as amputations and blindness. There is no doubt that managing your blood sugar is difficult, time consuming and an overall hassle, but the rewards are extremely high.
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Heart Health Needs to Come First!
Posted by Maureen in Clinical Tests, Wellness on October 18, 2012
It’s hard not to notice all the pink around us right now…from scarfs and umbrellas to NFL socks and neon pink shoes. For many people who have been personally touched by cancer and specifically, breast cancer, these signs of support for the search for a cure are deeply meaningful. Unfortunately, for others who haven’t been affected the pink has become overwhelming. Are you aware that 
more women die of heart disease than all types of cancer combined? For those who are at a high risk of breast cancer either through genetics (mothers, aunts and sisters who have had it) or through lifestyle (obesity, smoking, lack of exercise) getting mammograms, self exams and possibly CA-125 tests can be critical.
For the rest of us, after we’ve taken the basic preventive steps and tests, there is all the rest of our lifestyle and genetics to look at. How many of us have had grandparents, parents and siblings with heart disease and are on statins to lower cholesterol? I have it coming at me from both sides of my family. Have you taken the first important step to have your cholesterol and blood pressure checked? Do you try to eat healthy or have you given up because losing weight and taking a walk is just too hard? If it matters to you, go ahead, wear pink. But do it while you’re having a salad or going to the gym or out for a walk. In the long run, this will save many more lives.
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Would You Recognize the Symptoms of Ovarian Cancer?
Posted by Maureen in Clinical Tests, Wellness on September 6, 2012
Ovarian cancer has been called the “silent killer” for years but this isn’t completely accurate. Do you know what to watch for? If you suspect a problem what should you do next? There is a lot of information out about breast cancer screening: mammograms, sonograms and self examination, but not much about ovarian cancer, which is the deadliest of gynecologic diseases and the fifth leading cause of cancer death among women. The good news is that 90% of early ovarian cancer can be cured, but because women aren’t aware of the warning signs, it isn’t usually found until the cancer is at an advanced stage.
The Ovarian 
Cancer National Alliance has laid out guidelines for symptoms that may indicate ovarian cancer. Although these symptoms aren’t definitive should be checked to rule out cancer. The symptoms include:
- Bloating
- Pelvic or abdominal pain
- Urinary urgency or frequency
- Difficulty eating or feeling full quickly
If you have any of the symptoms listed above and have had them for several weeks or are at a high risk of breast or ovarian cancer either through family history or the presence of the BRCA gene mutation you should definitely speak to your doctor. The CA 125 test (Cancer Antigen 125) can be a valuable tool for detecting ovarian cancer, but shouldn’t be used alone. This test, in conjunction with a transvaginal ultrasound, a vaginal exam and a discussion of symptoms with your doctor, should be the next step. An elevated level on the CA 125 test, with symptoms and the evidence from a transvaginal can help you and your doctor make a determination about whether a biopsy is needed. A definitive diagnosis can only be made with a biopsy.
If a biopsy and/or surgery is necessary, studies have shown the most successful results with a gynecologic oncologist performing it because they are more familiar with the process for reducing a cancerous tumor as much as possible and performing the multiple biopsies necessary to determine the correct stage of the disease to allow for the right treatment.
This month is ovarian cancer awareness month. The intention and the hope is that drawing awareness to the disease will save lives and put pressure on the medical community to come up with a better detection test, like the pap smear for cervical cancer or the mammogram for breast cancer. Be aware of your risk and the symptoms and take action if you suspect a problem as soon as possible. Don’t let this “silent killer” catch up with you. Pay attention to potential warning signs your body is trying to send you!
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Does This Mean I Don’t Have to Lose Weight?
Posted by Maureen in Clinical Tests, Wellness on August 10, 2012
An interesting study has been released in the Journal of the American Medical Association showing that obese people who contract diabetes live longer than normal weight people who develop the disease! What’s up with this? So now, if I have diabetes, I don’t have to worry about losing weight? Not so fast. As always, the results aren’t clear cut and the researchers are trying to determine what the results mean for how people with diabetes 
should react. The study followed 2,600 people who developed diabetes during the study. 12% of them were of normal weight. 2.8% of the normal weight participants died during the study while only 1.5% of the obese participants died. The study controlled for age, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and smoking, which are all factors for heart disease. The death rate was twice as high for lean diabetics than for their obese peers. Normally, heart disease is linked to obesity, which is causing some head scratching among the researchers, although this “Obesity Paradox” has been seen in other diseases.
It appears that there may be something about being obese that protects the heart or it could be that those who are of normal weight and develop diabetes have other things going on that causes their higher mortality. The findings apply to a growing segment of the population and will make it more confusing for doctors who are treating the lean diabetes patient. Controlling blood sugar and exercising will still be key for controlling diabetes but losing weight may not be as important. The next step in studies like this may shed more light on how to handle the “Obesity Paradox” as some researchers have dubbed it. Doctors will want to watch normal weight people who contract diabetes more carefully as they are at a higher risk of death, but what should they tell them that they haven’t already been telling diabetic patients? If you have diabetes, you’ll want to follow this study and others like it carefully, along with all the other monitoring of blood sugar, cholesterol, and weight that you are already tracking.
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Prostate Test: Are You Confused?
Posted by Maureen in Clinical Tests, Wellness on July 20, 2012
If you are a male over 50 have you had a PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) test? Should you? The results of a new study, the Prostatectomy Versus Observation Trial (PIVOT) study provided a lot of information but how you and your doctor should interpret the information doesn’t seem any clearer than before. The message that is clear is that each person is different and men will need 
to make decisions based on what they are comfortable with. If you have more than 10 years to live then having a PSA test makes sense, but surgery may not. Prostate surgery carries signficant risks of unwanted and unpleasant side effects like urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction. Physician responses are mixed on these results which suggest that there is not a significant difference in survival for those who had surgery during the study period (1994 and 2002) and those who maintained a watch and wait attitude.
Men who have a aggressive prostate cancer, those with high Gleason scores between 7 and 10 and those with high volume prostate cancer, appear to have benefited most with surgery. A large percentage of men over 85 have prostate cancer but their cause of death is from something else. Up to two-thirds of men who have received a diagnosis of prostate cancer have a low PSA value or low-risk disease, but nearly 90% receive early intervention — typically surgery or radiotherapy. The study appears to show that the early intervention may cause more harm than good. So what would you do? Deaths due to prostate cancer have dropped 50% since the early 1990′s when PSA testing became more common. Ultimately, each man is on his own, wading through the research and their own personal health, to make the decision. And isn’t that true for most important decisions anyway? Read up all you want, but take the precautions that make sense, like knowing your PSA score, and then muddle through.
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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 suffering from allergies in the form of 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 that allergies are 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 for allergies 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 from allergies the future. For now, since I know I’ll need to go outside at some point, I’ll continue treating my allergies with antihistamines, like most of my family and friends.
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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