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How Helpful Is Exercise?

Sometimes it sounds that if you exercise enough that you won’t get any diseases and will be skinny. How helpful is exercise really?

There was an interesting article in the NYT that discusses exercise and whether, when and how it is helpful.

One of the problems of studying exercise is that those who tend to regularly exercise often have different habits from those who do not exercise. Additionally, when a person who has been doing no exercise decides to take up exercise they are likely to alter other things like smoking less, or eating more fruit and vegetable. This makes it very hard to study just the effects of exercise alone.

There is no doubt for overweight people, that when compared to those that do not exercise, those that do exercise have a lower risk of diabetes. Exercise has been shown to help control blood sugar in those whose blood sugar is starting to rise (prediabetic). It has also been shown to have positive effects on blood pressure, for those with high blood pressure.

One benefit that seems to be universally agreed upon is the benefit of exercise for the elderly. This is a case of keeping strength and mobility. This reduces the likelihood of falling and keeping active helps with general well being including less depression.

The benefit of exercising on losing weight, has been known for a while, to be quite small. Those that exercise only lose weight slightly faster than those who do not exercise. The benefit of exercising (or is it lifestyle changes?) is seen more for weight maintenance. Those who exercise are more likely to keep the weight off.

Why is exercise not of greater value to weight loss? The answer is that most people do not do enough exercise to burn that many calories. Most people burn less than 100 calories per mile.

The benefits on other diseases is much less clear. Even the effects of exercise on heart disease are open to argument. The effects on various cancers that have been studied is even more controversial.

This has led to some thinking that moderate exercise is good for you, but is not going to fix as much as is often indicated. It is just part of a healthy lifestyle.

For why exercise is important for slowing aging see How helpful is exercise? Part 2.

photo credit: akunamatata

Technorati Tags: exercise, health, helpful, benefit

Stomach Weight Loss Surgery Through The Vagina!

A woman had part of her stomach surgically removed via her vagina in order to lose weight.

Gastrectomy is removal of part of the stomach that is used for weight loss. This restricts the amount of food that can eaten. Normally this is done through an abdominal incision.

Apparently a woman, who is 5 feet tall and weighed 253 pounds before the surgery, had about 80% of her stomach removed.

The surgeons went up the vagina, made a small incision behind the uterus (womb) into the abdomen to access the stomach. The stomach was stapled to make it small and then the excess was pulled through the abdomen and out of the vagina.

The idea of this method of access is part of a new trend to use natural body openings. The aim is to have less pain and trauma to the body. This is being called Natural Orifice Translumenal Endoscopic Surgery, which is abbreviated to NOTES.

Other NOTES surgeries have included appendix removal through the mouth and also through the vagina. Thinking about the appendix being removed through the mouth, is much worse than the vagina.

Article with more details.

photo credit: soapbeard

Technorati Tags: stomach, weight loss surgery, vagina

Yes! Chocolate Really Is Good For The Heart

With the financial and housing meltdown continuing to scare us all, we can take comfort in chocolate. A study in Italy indicates that a small amount of dark chocolate is good for the heart.

Chocolate is known to be high in antioxidants including epicatechin. The first really good evidence that cocoa may be beneficial came from the Kuna Indian population of Panama. Those Indians that lived on islands consumed lots of cocoa, whereas those that lived on the mainland did not drink much cocoa. Those that lived on the islands had much lower rates of heart disease and cancer. It was suggested that the reason was the cocoa. However, of course, there were other differences in the lifestyle and eating habits between the different two populations. So, though it is likely that cocoa was the main reason for the difference it was not conclusive.

There have been a number of studies that have suggested that chocolate is good for us. In a study of smokers it was suggested to slow hardening of the arteries. Another study suggested it can lower blood pressure and lower cholesterol. All these studies were done in controlled studies with volunteers being assigned to different groups for comparison.

The newly published study looked at one population of people. In large population studies other confounding factors such as smoking, weight, age and sex can be separated from the parameter being studied. There are 20,000 people from a region of Italy enrolled in a study that is looking at a range of things. One part of the study compared regular chocolate consumption to levels of C reactive protein (hsCRP). C reactive protein is a good marker for the development of cardiovascular disease.

The findings were that those who regularly consumed dark chocolate had lower levels of C reactive protein. The researchers calculated that the lower levels were equivalent to a reduction of cardiovascular risk (heart disease and stroke) of a third for women and a quarter for men.

Interestingly the intake of dark chocolate only needed to be equivalent to about 2/3 of an ounce every 3 days. The researchers suggest that those that had high consumption lost some of the benefit. This study did not look at milk chocolate or consumption of cocoa as a drink.

Perhaps we should think about dark chocolate (with at least 70% cocoa solids) as another supplement and take a small amount on a regular schedule.

photo credit: EverJean

Technorati Tags: dark chocolate, cocoa, C reactive protein, hsCRP

Older Dieters Lose Muscle If Not Exercising

When dieting the loss of muscle as well as fat certainly occurs in all age groups, but as we age muscle loss will have more and more of a negative impact. Why?

After about 25 years of age, we all start to lose muscle mass, strength and get reduced muscle function. Then from about age 40 there is a more rapid loss. This loss of muscle mass and strength is known as sarcopenia.

The loss of muscle strength and function due to sarcopenia, leads to decreased ability to lift things, less injury, finding it harder to balance and more likely to fall. Generally life gets a bit more difficult.

Sarcopenia is a natural part of the aging process. However, the rate at which it occurs and the impact sarcopenia has on the quality of life can be moderated by exercising.

A new study looked at weight loss in an older study population. The main finding was that those who did not combine exercising with eating less, lost muscle as well as fat.

The loss of muscle due to dieting in an individual who already has a significant level of sarcopenia can have major consequences. If you already don’t have a lot of muscle, loss of more muscle is going to have a very negative impact on life.

The study showed that those who exercised lost fat rather than muscle. Additionally, by the end of the study, those that exercised had the benefit of better muscle function too.

So as we age exercise has even more benefit, not only for cardiovascular health, but also for weight loss and general quality of life. Slow down sarcopenia!

photo credit: rileyroxx

Technorati Tags: older dieters, lose muscle, exercising, muscle strength, muscle function, sarcopenia

Does Lipitor (Atorvastatin) Help Women?

This was a surprise. It is being suggested that Lipitor may not be of benefit to women. Lipitor (atorvastatin) has been, and may still be, the best selling drug in the world.

Lipitor is one of a class of drugs called statins. These drugs are cholesterol lowering drugs. The inhibition of a rate limiting enzyme (HMG CoA reductase) in the synthesis of cholesterol is the main target of all the statins. There are a number of statins, each with slight differences from each other. Lipitor has been aggressively marketed and is sold as being one of the most effective of the statins.

In addition to lowering cholesterol, the statins have been shown to lower the risk of heart attack and stroke.

A new study indicates that the data presented by the manufacturer and in trials does not show a reduced risk of heart attack for women who take Lipitor.

Analysis of the data on Lipitor trials suggest that the decreased risk of heart attack applies to men but not to women.

Apparently, Pfizers advertising does not include the part of the FDA approved labeling that states there is no evidence of a decreased risk for women.

The abstract for the article ends with:

Billions of health-care dollars may be being wasted on statin use by women but the current regulatory regime does not create incentives to prevent such behavior.

Strong words!

Whether this applies to any of the other statins (lovastatin (Mevacor), simvastatin (Zocor), fluvastatin (Lescol), pravastatin (Pravachol), rosuvastatin (Crestor)), is not clear.

This difference between men and women in their response to Lipitor, is consistent with other differences that occur between men and women with regards to their hearts. For instance the symptoms of heart attack are often different between men and women. See a description of women and heart attack.

Women lose out yet again?

photo credit: Gunnar Wrobel

Technorati Tags: Lipitor, women, cholesterol, heart attack

Estrogen Creams May Not Be Effective For Sun Damaged Skin

Estrogen is touted for making us look younger. When women go through menopause, some of the changes that occur are said to be due to decreasing levels of estrogen. Now there is a study that studied the effects of estrogen cream on skin. The conclusions of the study were that estrogen creams are not effective for sun damaged skin.

The new study compared the effects of estradiol cream on skin of the face, the arm and the hip. The face and arms were considered to be sun damaged whereas the hip was not.

In both men and women there was improved collagen synthesis in the hip area but not on the face or forearms. The authors conclude that topical estradiol is not an effective treatment fof sun damaged skin.

However, before we throw the baby out with the bath water, there are a couple of things to consider.

First the study was only 2 weeks long. It is possible that long term application could start to increase the amount of collagen.

The study used estradiol which is the most common estrogen in the premenopausal woman but is not the only one. Perhaps one of the other forms would be effective.

Perhaps the estrogen cream did not penetrate into the sun damaged skin which tends to be coarser. Possibly a different formulation of cream would have been effective. It is generally accepted that estrogen taken by mouth does seem to increase collagen production. Interestingly the authors discuss a study that combined both topical application of estrogen with estrogen pills, that found increased collagen production.

The study does show that there are more differences between none damaged and sun damaged skin than had previously been thought. Perhaps the differences in the effectiveness of estrogen may provide more information for improving sun damaged skin.

photo credit: Michael_L

Technorati Tags: estrogen cream, estradiol, sum damaged skin, collagen

New Plastic Surgery To Remove Back Fat Rolls

One spot that many women hate is the mid to upper back. The sight of rolls of flesh on either of bra straps is a common complaint. Now there is new back surgery that will remove tissue in this area with the scar placed so it is under the bra line.

The majority of women have fat and excess skin at the middle and upper back. Men probably do too, but since they don’t wear bras it is not obvious. It is depressing to put on a nice fitting top that looks really good until you look at the back and side view, and see the rolls of flesh on either side of the bra straps.

The mid back seems to be an area that is a favorite for fat deposition and loose skin. Even women who are thin and active will often have the dreaded rolls round the bra straps at the back. For some reason this area never seems to get toned or taut.

To make matters worse as you age the skin gets looser, so the rolls become larger and more obvious.

In a report of new surgery, the surgeons outlined the area of women’s bras and then placed the incision in this area so it would not be visible. Excess skin was then removed. According to the report “sometimes up to 8 to 10 inches” of skin was removed!

I expect this will soon become quite a common surgical procedure. For some reason it has much more appeal. Perhaps because it would make us feel “less fat” and more sleek.

photo credit: bethography – melting mama

Technorati Tags: back fat rolls, plastic surgery, bra straps

Moderate Alcohol Consumption And Heart Attack

It has been known for quite a while that moderate alcohol consumption is linked to a lower severity of heart attack. Generally, those who drink moderately when they have a heart attack have less damage.

It had been noted as long ago as the early 1800’s that the French had a lower rate of cardiovascular disease than other European nations such as the British. This has become known as the French Paradox. There have been numerous explanations suggested for this including a better diet, a lower intake of saturated fat and the drinking of red wine.

It was the French Paradox that was partly responsible for the investigation of the properties of red wine. Though red wine contains reseveratrol (for more about the health benefits of resveratrol) and other compounds such as procyanidins all of which are healthy, this is not the whole story.

Moderate consumption of any form of alcohol is protective to hearts, though red wine may offer some additional benefits. This is known as preconditioning.

When a heart attack occurs, much of the lasting damage is not from the attack itself when there is a period of no oxygen in part or all of the heart, but when areas of the heart are reoxygenated by blood flowing again. This is known as reperfusion injury, and results in inflammation and oxidative damage.

Preconditioning by alcohol (and other methods) can lessen the severity of the reperfusion injury.

Finally the point of this post! New research has found that one form of an enzyme {mitochondrial aldehyde dehydrogenase 2) that is important in processing alcohol, in addition also plays a role in protecting the heart. The enzyme converts acetaldehyde, which is formed from alcohol (ethanol) by the body, to acetic acid. It is primarily high levels of acetaldehyde after drinking too much that cause hangovers.

Aldehydes are formed when there is oxidative damage, such as occurs during and after a heart attack.

The researchers found a compound that increased the activity of this enzyme. This is exciting since it suggests that it may be possible to make a drug that will lessen the damage cause by reperfusion injury and perhaps even lower the risk of heart attack. Or at the very least ease hangovers.

photo credit: Tambako the Jaguar

Technorati Tags: heart attack, preconditioning, alcohol, moderate, acetaldehyde, hangover

Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: What, Why, Who?

Non alcoholic fatty liver disease is on the increase. Many estimates suggest that at least 10% of the adult population has this disease.

Fatty liver disease is divided into two classes, that caused by alcohol, and that which is not alcohol related.

Do you know what non alcoholic fatty liver disease is? Obviously it is a buildup of fat in the liver that is not due to alcohol. A small build up of fat in the liver has no negative consequences. Many people are going to have some fatty areas in their liver. A more significant build up of fat is associated with inflammation of the liver and the development of the disease.

The most common condition that increases the risk of non alcoholic fatty liver disease is metabolic syndrome. This is having several of the following, high fasting glucose, a big waist measurement, high blood pressure, high triglyceride levels and bad levels of cholesterol. (If you want more info on the current definitions and cut off points see the post metabolic syndrome chew drink on it.)

The component of metabolic syndrome that is most associated with development of non alcoholic fatty liver disease is insulin resistance (i.e. prediabetic or diabetic). High levels of fasting glucose are a l indicator of insulin resistance. When your body no longer is very sensitive to insulin there is incomplete control of blood glucose levels.

However, having metabolic syndrome or diabetes does not mean that non alcoholic fatty liver disease will develop; it just means that there is an increased risk. Currently it is not clear why some people will develop the disease and others do not.

The first symptoms of non alcoholic fatty liver disease are fatigue and a general undefined feeling of not being well, and a dull ache in the upper right part of the abdomen. When the disease progresses, there a number of symptoms of the failing liver that can include, loss of weight, yellowish skin and eyes, brownish urine, fluid retention in abdomen and/or legs and mental confusion.

Treatment is for the underlying problems such as blood sugar and diabetes control, improving the triglyceride and cholesterol levels and weight loss. Additionally anything that can cause further damage to the liver should not be consumed, including alcohol and a range of medicines.

To reduce your risk of getting non alcoholic fatty liver disease, try to keep your weight down and get tested and get treatment for high fasting glucose, bad blood triglycerides and/or cholesterol, and high blood pressure.

photo credit: SuperFantastic

Technorati Tags: non alcoholic fatty liver disease, metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance

Credit Card Vs Cash, Mindless Vs Pain

There have been several studies quoted in the media recently that indicate that it you use a credit card rather than cash you are likely to spend more. Since we are now a credit card nation this has to be a part of the why we spend way too much.

Do you always use a credit card? I certainly do. I can go for weeks with just a few dollars in my wallet. Even worse than that, I have never actually used a debit card for purchases, only at the bank ATM for cash.

A number of studies suggest that we feel more pain using cash and that makes us much more careful. Since it is harder to give up our cash than to almost mindlessly charge something, then there is much more thought given to the how we value a purchase. Much less impulse buying.

Additionally if you keep having to go and get more cash, whether from the ATM or your sock draw, then you have to be much more aware of how much you are spending overall, as well as at any one time.

Research suggests that using a gift card invokes similar spending patterns to credit cards. I would have thought that we would feel even less pain than with a credit card. The something for nothing mentality.

Probably one of the most painless (at the time) ways to spend is on the internet. Find something that it looks cool, would be useful or whatever, and before you know what has hit you, you have more stuff on the way. Stuff to add to the house full of stuff that you already have.

It does make you temporarily think about your spending habits, and how mindless using a credit card can be. Perhaps we should all use more cash. However, most places are geared to using plastic. Cash can sometimes be hard to get hold of and many stores do not like to have large amounts of cash on the premises.

Plus paying cash is stressful in the supermarket, drugstore or other places where you make multiple purchases, since often you have to figure out if you have enough money. If we return to cash for all our needs, our mental arithmetic would certainly improve in a hurry.

photo credit: Paul Jerry

Technorati Tags: credit card, cash, gift card, spending

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