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I have personally seen some fantastic life-enriching results of gastric bypass surgery. But before deciding to have the surgery, be aware of the potential risks.
Two studies weigh in differently on risks of gastric bypass
By Nanci Hellmich, USA TODAY
Two new studies add to the growing debate over the potential benefits and risks of using bariatric surgeries to treat obesity. Extremely obese people who have gastric-bypass surgery may live longer than other obese people who haven't had the procedure, the research suggests.
But one in 50 gastric-bypass patients die within a month after the operation, which is higher than previously reported, one of the studies found. (Other studies have reported one in 200 or one in 500 die.)
Obesity is defined as being 100 or more pounds over a healthy body weight. Excess weight increases the risk of diabetes, heart disease, cancer and other illnesses.
But critics say the risks of the surgery far outweigh the benefits, setting people up for malnutrition and other medical problems that can lead to higher costs.
In one of the new studies, researchers with the University of Washington in Seattle evaluated the health records of 66,109 obese patients. The findings, published in October's Journal of the American College of Surgeons:
• One in 50 surgery patients died within 30 days.
• About 3% of gastric-bypass patients younger than 40 had died in the 13.6 years after the surgery, compared with 13.8% of those who did not have the surgery.
• Overall, 11.8% of gastric-bypass patients of all ages had died after 15 years, compared with 16.3% who hadn't been operated on.
There are risks of dying during or after gastric bypass, but those who make it often get improvements in diabetes, heart disease, lung function and other medical problems and seem to live longer, he says.
In another study, researchers at McGill University Health Centre in Montreal compared 1,035 morbidly obese patients who had bariatric surgery, mostly gastric bypass, with 5,746 who were similarly overweight but did not have the operation. The findings in September's Annals of Surgery showed that gastric-bypass patients lost 67% of their excess weight.
And in a five-year follow-up period, six people died who had the surgery (four because of the operation), compared with 350 who died in the larger group. After adjusting for the different size of the groups, researchers say bariatric patients had an 89% reduced risk of death.
"If you take obese people and invest some money in this surgery, you are going to save lives," says lead researcher Nicolas Christou, who performs many of the gastric-bypass surgeries in Canada.
Bottom line, "bariatric surgery improves long-term survival in extremely obese patients, but there is an increased risk upfront."
Click Here For The Complete Story=>http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2004-10-06-gastric-usat_x.htm
Fish may be good for you but think twice before tackling those fried fish sticks . . . or better yet, take omega 3 fatty acids every morning as I do.
Only Broiled or Baked Fish Help the Heart
Mon May 2
WASHINGTON - Trying to eat more fish for a healthy heart? Fish sticks don't count. So says a study suggesting only fish that's broiled or baked actually protects against heart disease.
A diet high in fish has long been linked with lower levels of heart disease, so much so that the heart association recommends two or more weekly servings - especially of oily fish such as salmon and tuna that are particularly high in the omega-3 fatty acids. Those healthy fats are thought to increase good HDL cholesterol and lower unhealthy triglycerides.
Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian of the Harvard Medical School examined ultrasound images of the hearts of 5,000 older Americans who were given a questionnaire about their diets. After accounting for other factors, he found that people who regularly consumed broiled or baked fish were more likely to have a lower heart rate and blood pressure, and better blood flow to the heart. In contrast, those who regularly consumed fried fish or fish sandwiches showed signs of hardening of the arteries and other heart problems.
There was little evidence of omega-3s in the blood of the fried-fish lovers, probably because the fish species that usually are served fried are cod or other lean types that are much lower in omega-3 fats than fattier fish like salmon, Mozaffarian said.
Click Here For The Complete Story=>
http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2005-05-02-fish-heart_x.htmFinally, here's more evidence for the benefit of estrogen - in this article it comes in the form of having your ovaries.
Ovary Removal May Boost Long-Term Dementia Risk
April 6 New research suggests that removal of the ovaries significantly increases a woman's risk for cognitive problems later in life.
The lead author of a study released this week said the findings shouldn't prevent women from having their ovaries removed when they are diseased. However, Dr. Walter Rocca, a professor of neurology and epidemiology at Mayo Clinic, did advise that women be cautious, especially when they undergo the procedure to prevent a disease that hasn't appeared yet.
He added that, because estrogen might be at the root of the problem, estrogen-replacement therapy might help women who do undergo ovary removal avoid cognitive problems. According to Rocca, researchers have long suspected that estrogen -- which is found in both men and women -- protects the brain.
Click Here For The Complete Story=>
http://www.drkoop.com/newsdetail/93/532012.htmlThe above is not meant to be medical advice. Please read the attached Disclaimer, Etc.
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