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#118 From: <grehert@...>
Date: Sat Aug 13, 2005 5:24 pm
Subject: Viagra, fish oil and obesity. 		grehert
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Viagra has been one of the biggest blockbuster drugs of all times.  It has solved many a marital problem.  Now here's a story about how it's causing some new, unanticipated trouble for couples.
Women complain of too much sex
07/16/05 
 
Some New Zealand women say Viagra is giving their sex life too much of a lift.  They complain that their partners insist on having sex - regardless of their own mood - because the men want to get their money's worth. A 48-year-old, who said Viagra made sex inevitable, said the attitude was: "I've taken the pill, OK, let's go". And a 60-year-old, explaining the difficult adjustment to a sudden, vigorous sex life, said: "All of a sudden Viagra became the focus in the house for a while".
 
The Montreal Gazette reported that while much scientific research had been done on the safety of drugs aimed at improving sexual performance of men - and increasingly, more on women - few had looked at the emotional and relational impacts.
 
Meika Loe, of Colgate University, said the success of Viagra had been a double-edged sword: "What is new is the pressure that comes with the Viagra phenomenon and the pressure to be sexual".
 
In Ms Potts' study, some women complained that their husbands could have multiple erections over a 24-hour period and even though the women didn't want to have sex, they felt a duty to endure it to help their partners repair their battered self-esteem.
 
When one 57-year-old was asked what would happen if she told her partner she wasn't in the mood for sex, she replied: "I think he'd be pretty deflated, really, and I think it would be worse because of the fact that he'd taken that pill. I'm frightened that it would hurt his feelings."
 
Some women reported that less time was spent on pleasurable activities other than intercourse while others said they'd get angry with their husbands for not consulting them before popping a pill.
 
 
If you take daily fish oil (omega 3 fatty acids), or if you take soy supplements (i.e. Estroven) for hot flashes, here's something that might interest you.  And it's from Emory University.
Soy and fish oil may help prevent heart attacks
12 Apr 2005
 
Taking daily supplements of fish or soy oil may improve cardiac function and protect against heart attacks in the short-term. Study results published in the April issue of CHEST are the first to show that soy oil increases heart rate variability (HRV), a measure of cardiac autonomic function.
 
Fernando Holguin, MD, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA. "In fact, our study group showed improvements in heart function in as little as two weeks."
 
Researchers from Atlanta, GA, Boston, MA, and Cuernavaca, Mexico, took the HRV of 58 elderly patients every other day for two months to establish a baseline for each participant. For 11 weeks, half of the study participants took a daily 2 g supplement of fish oil, which contains marine-derived omega-3 fatty acids, and the other half took a daily 2 g supplement of soy oil, which contains plant-derived omega-3 fatty acids. The omega-3 fatty acids improve heart function by providing greater variability between beats, therefore reducing the risk of arrhythmia and/or sudden death.
 
Researchers discovered that while patients in both groups experienced a significant increase in HRV, those who took the fish oil supplements achieved a greater increase in a shorter time period.
 
"Studies like this demonstrate that there are additional approaches we can take to protect ourselves from heart attacks," said Paul A. Kvale, MD, FCCP, President of the American College of Chest Physicians. "It's exciting to see the potential for omega-3 fatty acids in improving heart function when it complements a healthy lifestyle of exercising, maintaining a healthy weight, and getting eight hours of sleep."
 
Obesity is the talk of the media as well as the medical community.  Here's an interesting story that argues that obesity starts in the nursery and argues for more breast feeding.
First Week Critical in Childhood Obesity - U.S. Study
 
Mon Apr 18 Reuters
 
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - What you feed a newborn baby during the first week of life could be critical in deciding whether that baby grows up to be obese, U.S. researchers said on Monday. They found that formula-fed babies who gained weight rapidly during their first week of life were significantly more likely to be overweight decades later.
 
"It suggests that there may be a critical period in that first week during which the body's physiology may be programmed to develop chronic disease throughout life," said Dr. Nicolas Stettler, a pediatric nutrition specialist at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.
 
Writing in the American Heart Association journal Circulation, they said each additional 100 grams (3.5 ounces) of weight gained during the first eight days of life increased a baby's risk of becoming an overweight adult by about 10 percent.
 
The study also helps reinforce recommendations that mothers breast-feed their babies. "For a variety of health reasons, the American Association of Pediatrics recommends exclusive breast-feeding during a baby's first six months of life," Stettler said. Breast-fed babies are less likely to be overweight.
 
The above is not meant to be medical advice or a substitute for professional evaluation or treatment.  Seek the advice of your physician or healthcare provider before any modification in the treatment of any medical condition.  Also, please read the attached Disclaimer, Etc. 
 
If you know anyone you think would like to receive "DrRehertsAlerts," CLICK HERE to send me their email address and I'll add them to the list.
 
Coming soon:  www.drrehert.com.
 
Best wishes,  Dr. Rehert

Gerald M. Rehert, M.D.
285 Boulevard, NE
Suite 520
Atlanta, Georgia
Phone: 404-688-2800

DISCLAIMER:  The articles discussed in "Dr. Rehert's Medical Alerts Email List”
are solely intended to entertain, inform and educate its readers.  They are not
to be considered medical advice.  You should not alter any of your lifestyle
behavior without the advice of your personal physician.

“Dr. Rehert’s Medical Alerts Email List” is open to anyone who wants to join. 
Either send your Email address to grehert@... (recommended)  OR  you may
go to the website http://groups.yahoo.com/group/drrehertsalerts/ and follow the
“Join This Group!" instructions.  Also you can read all the earlier Emails by
clicking on http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DrRehertsAlerts/messages

If you respond to this Email list, DO NOT include any personal information . 
Though the list is configured so that all Email responses only go to the
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transmitting personal information would be a violation of The U. S. Government
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).

Some of the "complete article" links require a username and password (for
example MedScape.com articles).  You can access these "complete articles" using
the username: drrehertsalerts, and the password: drrehertsalerts.  If you have
any questions or problems with the email list, contact me at grehert@....

Best wishes,

Gerald M. Rehert, M.D.
285 Boulevard, NE, #520
Atlanta, GA 30312
404-688-2800

Reply | Forward | Messages in this Topic (1)
#117 From: <grehert@...>
Date: Wed Jul 6, 2005 12:57 pm
Subject: Walking, your memory, and the morning-after-pill. 		grehert
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This first story confirms that if you're overweight, walking is good exercise.  Walk fast, walk slow - but walk to lose weight and stay healthy.  Bottom line of this story - walking slow is safer for your knees - though walking faster benefits your heart more.  So listen to your knees but walk!
Walk Slowly For Weight Loss, According To University Of Colorado Study
 
Leisurely walking for distance combined with low-impact cardiovascular activity appears to be the best formula for obese people seeking to get into shape and stay healthy, according to a University of Colorado at Boulder study.
 
Ray Browning at University of Colorado said the results show that people who walk a mile at a leisurely pace burn more calories than if they walk a mile at their normal pace. In addition, those who walk at 2 miles per hour rather than 3 miles per hour reduce the loads on their knee joints by up to 25 percent.
 
"The message is that by walking more slowly, obese individuals can burn more calories per mile and may reduce the risk of arthritis or joint injury," he said.
 
The researchers tested 20 men and 20 women on treadmills and sidewalks, half of whom were of normal weight and half classified as class 2 obese, meaning they have a body mass index, or BMI, of 30 to 40. A 5-foot 4-inch tall woman with a BMI of 30 weighs about 175 pounds, while a 6-foot man with a BMI of 30 weighs about 225 pounds.
 
The results show that brisk walking dramatically increases the knee joint forces, which can lead to a variety of problems including joint injuries and arthritis, the researchers said.
 
"This study also pointed up the phenomenal accomplishments of obese people," said Kram. "Our test subjects lead productive lives, and if you weigh 300 pounds, many everyday activities are athletic endeavors."
 
Because walking slowly may not significantly improve an obese person's level of cardiovascular fitness, performing other vigorous lower-impact activities like swimming, cycling, step routines and elliptical training workouts also are recommended, said Browning.
 

Click Here For The Complete Story=> http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/06/050616061516.htm

 

If you take supplements, this next story gives you the latest research on a very popular one - Folic Acid.  Several benefits have been reported.  Now it's good for your memory . . . and it's very safe. 

Extra Folic Acid May Help Memory 
Jun 21
 
WASHINGTON - High-dose folic acid pills — providing as much of the nutrient as 2.5 pounds of strawberries — might help slow the cognitive decline of aging.  So says a Dutch study that's the first to show a vitamin could really improve memory.
 
The research, unveiled Monday at a meeting of Alzheimer's researchers, adds to mounting evidence that a diet higher in folate is important for a variety of health effects. It's already proven to reduce birth defects, and research suggests it helps ward off heart disease and strokes, too.
 
But as people age, some decline in memory and other brain functions is inevitable. Taking 800 micrograms of folic acid a day slowed that brain drain, reported lead researcher Jane Durga.
 
In the study, 818 cognitively healthy people ages 50 to 75 swallowed either folic acid or a dummy pill for three years.  On memory tests, the supplement users had scores comparable to people 5.5 years younger, Durga said. On tests of cognitive speed, the folic acid helped users perform as well as people 1.9 years younger.
 
Previous studies have shown that people with low folate levels in their blood are more at risk for both heart disease and diminished cognitive function.
 
Durga said it's not clear how folic acid might work to protect the brain. Some studies suggest folate lowers inflammation; others suggest it may play a role in expression of dementia-related genes.
 
Folate is found in such foods as oranges and strawberries, dark-green leafy vegetables and beans. In the United States, it also is added to cereal and flour products. The recommended daily dose here is 400 micrograms; doctors advise women of childbearing age to take a supplement to ensure they get that much.
 
 
I don't always agree with the Canadians, but here's an example where they're cutting edge.  They approved the morning-after-pill as "over the counter" in April of this year.  Our government still doesn't think it's a good idea.  Someday they'll see the light.
Canada Oks Non-Prescription 'Morning After Pill'  
  
April 20, 2005
 
TORONTO (Reuters) - The Canadian government decided the controversial "morning after pill," under the brand name Plan B, would be allowed to be dispensed by pharmacists without a prescription.
 
The pill is 95 percent effective in preventing unintended pregnancy if taken within 24 hours of unprotected sex and is 85 percent effective if taken within 72 hours.
 
"Emergency contraception has the potential to significantly reduce the incidence of unintended pregnancy and the number of abortions performed," said Andre Lalonde, with the Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada.
 
However, some groups such as Campaign Life Coalition slammed the decision, calling Health Canada irresponsible. 
 
Vyta Senikas, a doctor and an executive with the Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, rebuffed claims that the drug would be used as a regular method of birth control.  "People seem to have the idea that adolescents are going to run rampant because they have this emergency contraceptive available and that due diligence will not be done. But there are several studies that show repeat offenders don't exist or exist in extremely small portions." she said.
The above is not meant to be medical advice or a substitute for professional evaluation or treatment.  Seek the advice of your physician or healthcare provider before any modification in the treatment of any medical condition.  Also, please read the attached Disclaimer, Etc. 
 
If you know anyone you think would like to receive "DrRehertsAlerts," CLICK HERE to send me their email address and I'll add them to the list.
 
Coming soon:  www.drrehert.com.
 
Best wishes,  Dr. Rehert

Gerald M. Rehert, M.D.
285 Boulevard, NE
Suite 520
Atlanta, Georgia
Phone: 404-688-2800

DISCLAIMER:  The articles discussed in "Dr. Rehert's Medical Alerts Email List”
are solely intended to entertain, inform and educate its readers.  They are not
to be considered medical advice.  You should not alter any of your lifestyle
behavior without the advice of your personal physician.

“Dr. Rehert’s Medical Alerts Email List” is open to anyone who wants to join. 
Either send your Email address to grehert@... (recommended)  OR  you may
go to the website http://groups.yahoo.com/group/drrehertsalerts/ and follow the
“Join This Group!" instructions.  Also you can read all the earlier Emails by
clicking on http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DrRehertsAlerts/messages

If you respond to this Email list, DO NOT include any personal information . 
Though the list is configured so that all Email responses only go to the
original sender, your Email may inadvertently be sent to the list.  Also,
transmitting personal information would be a violation of The U. S. Government
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).

Some of the "complete article" links require a username and password (for
example MedScape.com articles).  You can access these "complete articles" using
the username: drrehertsalerts, and the password: drrehertsalerts.  If you have
any questions or problems with the email list, contact me at grehert@....

Best wishes,

Gerald M. Rehert, M.D.
285 Boulevard, NE, #520
Atlanta, GA 30312
404-688-2800

Reply | Forward | Messages in this Topic (1)
#116 From: <grehert@...>
Date: Thu May 26, 2005 10:38 am
Subject: Pear-shaped, apple-shaped, cell phones and doughnuts. 		grehert
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You've probably all heard about 'pear-shaped' women and 'apple-shaped' women.  'Pear-shaped' means your buttocks is disproportionately large to your abdomen.  'Apple-shaped' suggests a big abdomen. 
 
The theory goes that  'Pear shaped' women tend to be 'heart-healthier.'  Their buttocks fat tends to be 'good' fat - correlates better with 'good' cholesterol (HDL).  Abdomen fat tends to be 'bad' fat - correlates more with 'bad' cholesterol (LDL). 
 
With that background, here's an article that suggests estrogen is still believed by many physicians to be heart-healthy in the 'early-menopause' women.  Estrogen tends to keep your buttocks fat on your buttocks where it belongs. 
 
(In case you were wondering, all men are considered apple shaped - and therefore their higher risk of heart disease.)
Study on 'apple-shaped' women explains heart risk
By Maggie Fox
Mon May 2
 
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Women who develop thick waists and high cholesterol at menopause may be at higher risk of heart disease because they also have more damage to their arteries, U.S. researchers reported on Monday.
 
Moreau and colleagues studied 31 healthy women and found that the arteries of women past menopause were 56 percent less elastic than those of premenopausal women.  They tested oxidative stress by giving the women intravenous infusions of ascorbic acid (vitamin C) a powerful antioxidant.
 
When the postmenopausal women were given ascorbic acid, elasticity in their carotid arteries improved by about 26 percent.  What it may show is that estrogen therapy may help prevent some of this damage, if used before it happens.
 
"We can't say you should take estrogen," she stressed.  But several researchers have noted that the studies that were the basis of pulling millions of women off hormone replacement therapy included women with an average age of 65 -- well past menopause and perhaps suffering from already damaged arteries.  "Chances are the vessels are already aged and they could be getting stiffer," Moreau said.  "So maybe if you initiate hormone therapy in a healthy vessel, right around the age of menopause, we could probably see some different things."
 
She agrees with others who want to investigate the possibility that HRT given to younger women, just going through menopause at 45 to 55, might prevent the damage.
 
Here's some good news for all you cell-phone junkies.
Cell Phone Use Not Linked To Brain Tumors: Study
April 11, 2005
 
A new study by Danish researchers has found no link between cell phone use and the risk of developing brain tumors.
 
For the study, Danish researchers questioned 1249 people about their cell phone use, 427 of whom had brain tumors and 822 people without brain tumors.  They found no link between the cell phone use and brain tumors, including years of use and frequency of use. It also found no connection between the location of brain tumors and the side of the head where people most often held their cell phones.
 
Johansen said until more long-term studies are performed that can confirm his results, firm conclusions cannot be made.
 

Click Here For The Complete Story > http://www.healthtalk.ca/cell_phone_tumors_041105_89932.php
And last, something I didn't have to tell you.  But here's the reason doughnuts are so addicting?
Experts Agree Doughnuts a Totally Worthless Food
New York Times May 3, 2005
 
For many Americans, there's nothing quite like biting into a warm, hot-off-the-grease, doughnut. Yet whether they're frosted or sprinkled, sugar-glazed or plain, one truth remains: Doughnuts' lack of nutritional quality makes most nutritionists wince.
 
What makes doughnuts so damaging to your health? For starters, they're packed with:
 
Trans fats
Artificial flavorings
Refined sugar and flour
... all the "goodies" that contribute to a massive, health-harming outcome. (Even the typical glazed blueberry doughnut from Krispy Kreme contains artificial fruit made from sugar, high fructose corn syrup, corn cereal and other assorted chemicals.)
 
Tasty, feel-good foods like doughnuts are not only difficult to resist, they can actually lead to addiction for people who have stronger than normal genetic tendencies to enjoy foods that are especially high in fat and sugar.
 
Moreover, brain scan research found that high-carbohydrate foods like doughnuts--with their appealing texture and high sugar and fat content--artificially raise serotonin (linked to mood) and dopamine (associated with pleasurable sensations) levels in the brain, fueling addiction.
 

Click Here For The Complete Story >http://www.mercola.com/2005/may/21/doughnuts.htm
The above is not meant to be medical advice or a substitute for professional evaluation or treatment.  Seek the advice of your physician or healthcare provider before any modification in the treatment of any medical condition.  Also, please read the attached Disclaimer, Etc. 
 
If you know anyone you think would like to receive "DrRehertsAlerts," CLICK HERE to send me their email address and I'll add them to the list.
 
Coming soon:  www.drrehert.com.
 
Best wishes,  Dr. Rehert

Gerald M. Rehert, M.D.
285 Boulevard, NE
Suite 520
Atlanta, Georgia
Phone: 404-688-2800

DISCLAIMER:  The articles discussed in "Dr. Rehert's Medical Alerts Email List”
are solely intended to entertain, inform and educate its readers.  They are not
to be considered medical advice.  You should not alter any of your lifestyle
behavior without the advice of your personal physician.

“Dr. Rehert’s Medical Alerts Email List” is open to anyone who wants to join. 
Either send your Email address to grehert@... (recommended)  OR  you may
go to the website http://groups.yahoo.com/group/drrehertsalerts/ and follow the
“Join This Group!" instructions.  Also you can read all the earlier Emails by
clicking on http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DrRehertsAlerts/messages

If you respond to this Email list, DO NOT include any personal information . 
Though the list is configured so that all Email responses only go to the
original sender, your Email may inadvertently be sent to the list.  Also,
transmitting personal information would be a violation of The U. S. Government
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).

Some of the "complete article" links require a username and password (for
example MedScape.com articles).  You can access these "complete articles" using
the username: drrehertsalerts, and the password: drrehertsalerts.  If you have
any questions or problems with the email list, contact me at grehert@....

Best wishes,

Gerald M. Rehert, M.D.
285 Boulevard, NE, #520
Atlanta, GA 30312
404-688-2800

Reply | Forward | Messages in this Topic (1)
#115 From: <grehert@...>
Date: Sat May 7, 2005 2:47 pm
Subject: Parkinson's Disease, baby aspirin, and the future of videogames. 		grehert
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The first story describes a new found benefit of taking estrogen.    If Parkinson's Disease runs in your family, this may be especially important for you.
Ovary removal increases risk of Parkinson's disease
 
14 April 2005  -  Roxanne Khamsi
 
Women who have had both their ovaries removed are at double the normal risk of developing Parkinson's disease, according to a study of medical records stretching back half a century.
 
Women's ovaries produce significant amounts of the hormone estrogen, which has been shown to protect certain types of nerve cell. "It acts on cells to make them less susceptible to toxins," says Kieran Breen, director of research at the Parkinson's Disease Society in London.
 
Walter Rocca of the Mayo Clinic searched medical records from 1950 to 1987 from Olmstead County in Minnesota.  In addition to searching through the historical data, Rocca and his team conducted thousands of medical checks to follow-up patients among the 5,000 women in the dataset.  About half of the women in the study had undergone an ovariectomy.
 
Doctors sometimes suggest an elective ovariectomy - removal of the ovary - for patients who must have an abdominal hysterectomy - removal of the uterus. This extra step eliminates the future risk of ovarian cancer.  But the new findings cast some doubt on whether this is the wisest choice for all patients.
 
Of the 2,485 women who had one or both ovaries removed, 43 developed Parkinson's symptoms, 25 of whom developed the full-blown disease. In contrast, among the roughly 2,500 women who did not undergo ovariectomy, only 29 developed symptoms, with 18 cases of full Parkinson's.
 
Removing the second ovary put patients at greater risk.
 
When considering ovariectomy as a preventative measure, Rocca's team advises women to examine their family medical history for either cancer or Parkinson's disease. "You have to weigh the two sides and decide," says Rocca.
 
 
An alternative would be to have the ovaries removed and then to take estrogen therapy. 
Dr. Rehert
 
 
Next for my over 50 y/o patients who ask me why I advise them to take  a baby aspirin every day . . .  here's the story. 
Daily aspirin advised for those over 50
 
UNITED PRESS INTERNATIONAL
April 13, 2005
 
CARDIFF, Wales -- A researcher at Cardiff University's medical school in Wales says everyone over the age of 50 should take a mini-aspirin daily to reduce the risk of stroke.
    
Prof. Peter Elwood claimed the occurrence of strokes and heart attacks can be reduced by about a third with a low-dose aspirin taken daily, London's Daily Telegraph reported Wednesday.
    
Elwood, who has studied the effects of aspirin for 30 years, spoke at a London conference organized by the Aspirin Foundation.  "We feel the time is now right for this debate. People should be given the evidence of the benefits and risks so that they can decide what they want to do," he said.
    
Another researcher, Antony Bayer, senior research fellow in geriatric medicine at Cardiff, said 80 percent of North American specialists believe aspirin should be given to patients with dementia and cardiovascular risk factors.  A research paper calling for a debate on the use of aspirin in older people has been accepted for publication by the British Medical Journal. But the subject is contentious, since aspirin also raises the risk of bleeding, the newspaper reported.
 
http://www.wpherald.com/storyview.php?StoryID=20050413-031243-9529r
 
But remember - aspirin, like all therapies, has its risks as well as its benefits.
 
 
And on a lighter note, here's a look into the future from Sony Corporation.  Won't this be something when it's perfected?
Sony Invention Beams Sights, Sounds Into Brain
 
LONDON (Reuters) - If you think video games are engrossing now, just wait: PlayStation maker Sony Corp (SNE.N). has been granted a patent for beaming sensory information directly into the brain.
 
The technique could one day be used to create videogames in which you can smell, taste, and touch, or to help people who are blind or deaf.  The U.S. patent, granted to Sony researcher Thomas Dawson, describes a technique for aiming ultrasonic pulses at specific areas of the brain to induce "sensory experiences" such as smells, sounds and images.
 
"The pulsed ultrasonic signal alters the neural timing in the cortex," the patent states. "No invasive surgery is needed to assist a person, such as a blind person, to view live and/or recorded images or hear sounds."
 
 
The above is not meant to be medical advice or a substitute for professional evaluation or treatment.  Seek the advice of your physician or healthcare provider before any modification in the treatment of any medical condition.  Also, please read the attached Disclaimer, Etc. 
If you know anyone you think would like to receive "DrRehertsAlerts," CLICK HERE to send me their email address and I'll add them to the list.
 
Coming soon:  www.drrehert.com.
 
Best wishes,  Dr. Rehert

Gerald M. Rehert, M.D.
285 Boulevard, NE
Suite 520
Atlanta, Georgia
Phone: 404-688-2800

DISCLAIMER:  The articles discussed in "Dr. Rehert's Medical Alerts Email List”
are solely intended to entertain, inform and educate its readers.  They are not
to be considered medical advice.  You should not alter any of your lifestyle
behavior without the advice of your personal physician.

“Dr. Rehert’s Medical Alerts Email List” is open to anyone who wants to join. 
Either send your Email address to grehert@... (recommended)  OR  you may
go to the website http://groups.yahoo.com/group/drrehertsalerts/ and follow the
“Join This Group!" instructions.  Also you can read all the earlier Emails by
clicking on http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DrRehertsAlerts/messages

If you respond to this Email list, DO NOT include any personal information . 
Though the list is configured so that all Email responses only go to the
original sender, your Email may inadvertently be sent to the list.  Also,
transmitting personal information would be a violation of The U. S. Government
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).

Some of the "complete article" links require a username and password (for
example MedScape.com articles).  You can access these "complete articles" using
the username: drrehertsalerts, and the password: drrehertsalerts.  If you have
any questions or problems with the email list, contact me at grehert@....

Best wishes,

Gerald M. Rehert, M.D.
285 Boulevard, NE, #520
Atlanta, GA 30312
404-688-2800

Reply | Forward | Messages in this Topic (1)
#114 From: <grehert@...>
Date: Wed Mar 23, 2005 1:56 pm
Subject: Agression, low-carbs and baby aspirin. 		grehert
Offline Offline
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For the men, here's a simple test to see how aggressive you might be.  Hormones act in many diverse and mysterious ways, beginning in the womb.. 
The Secret to Man's Aggression: in His Finger?
 
Fri Mar 4, 2005  -  By Alison McCook
 
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - How long a man's second finger is relative to his fourth finger appears to predict whether he is prone to be physically aggressive toward others, according to a new study by researchers at the University of Alberta in Canada.
 
But it's not finger length that causes aggression; the important factor is the male hormone testosterone. Fetuses are exposed to various levels of this hormone in the womb, and research shows that men who were exposed to higher levels tend to have shorter second fingers, relative to their fourth fingers. "More testosterone, relatively longer ring finger."
 
"More than anything, I think the findings reinforce and underline that a large part of our personalities and our traits are determined while we're still in the womb," says researcher Peter Hurd of the University of Alberta, in a news release.
 
This is not the first study to link the ratio between a man's second and fourth fingers to his personality. Previous reports have found that men with smaller ratios - meaning, their second finger is much smaller than their fourth - tend to do better in sports, and are perceived as more dominant and masculine by women.
 
The researchers found that shorter second-to-fourth finger ratios predicted proneness to physical aggression, but not other types of aggression, and only in men, not in women.   And in general, men had smaller finger ratios than women.
 
SOURCE: Biological Psychology, March 2005.
 
 
I've many times found that "sugar makes me hungry" a few hours after eating it.  Well it turns out it's no joke.  And here's proof.  
New Theory on Why Low-Carb Diets Work
By E.J. Mundell, Monday March 14th
 
(HealthDay News) -- A new study involving obese individuals suggests the reason the Atkins, Zone and other low-carb regimens help people lose weight is that they simply eat less food.
 
"Take the carbohydrates away, and I expected the participants would just eat more of the other stuff," said researcher Dr. Guenther Boden.  "But they didn't. In fact, it turned out they ate 1,000 calories less every day," he said.  The findings were published in the March 15 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.
 
To help determine the correct answer, his team sequestered 10 obese patients in a controlled, clinical environment where diets were strictly monitored for three weeks.
 
For the first week, participants ate their usual mixed diet. But during the last two weeks the researchers restricted their intake of carbohydrates from 300 grams per day to just 20 grams a day.  At the same time, a tempting array of fatty, sugary and other foods was readily available to all.  "We told them 'Look, you can eat as much of anything else as you want, whenever you want.' "
 
The result: By the end of the two-week low-carb regimen, patients lost an average of 3.6 pounds and reduced their daily caloric intake by nearly 1,000 calories -- from an average of 3,111 calories before they began the diet, to just 2,164 calories while on the low-carb regimen.
 
"In other words, they self-corrected their previously excessive appetites down to normal," Boden said.
 
 
 
For all women who take that baby aspirin every day, here is the reason why it's beneficial.  But, like everything else, it's not without some risk.  Read this next story to learn more.
Study: Aspirin Prevents Strokes in Women
 
By MARILYNN MARCHIONE, AP Medical Writer
 
ORLANDO, Fla. - Middle-age women can cut their risk of strokes but not heart attacks by regularly taking low doses of aspirin, and the pills help prevent both problems in women 65 and older, a major study found.
 
The results are opposite what is known about aspirin in men, where its benefit for stroke is limited and its ability to prevent heart problems is legendary. Since women proportionately suffer more strokes and men more heart attacks, this is generally good news, specialists said.
 
The new information comes from the Women's Health Study, the first rigorous, scientific test of whether long-term use of aspirin or vitamin E made a difference in cardiovascular risk in females. Previous research has been almost exclusively in males.
 
Findings were reported Monday at an American College of Cardiology meeting and also were being published online by the New England Journal of Medicine.
 
The study has "major public health implications," said Dr. Elizabeth Nabel, director of the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.
 
In the study, 40,000 female health professionals 45 and older were randomly assigned to take either fake pills or 100 milligrams of aspirin every other day.
 
After 10 years, aspirin users had a 17 percent lower risk of stroke, and a 24 percent lower risk of strokes caused by blood clots, owing, researchers believe, to aspirin's well-known anti-clotting properties.
 
Women 65 and older got even more benefit: They were 30 percent less likely to have a stroke caused by a blood clot and 34 percent less likely to suffer a heart attack.
 
Aspirin's benefits didn't vary among women who did or did not use hormones after menopause.
 
But the benefits did come with a cost.  Aspirin can cause internal bleeding.
 
The study "demonstrates the importance of studying medical therapies among women as well as men," Buring said. "We finally have the evidence base needed for women to make rational decisions about the use of aspirin in preventing cardiovascular disease."
 
The above is not meant to be medical advice or a substitute for professional evaluation or treatment.  Seek the advice of your physician or healthcare provider before any modification in the treatment of any medical condition.  Also, please read the attached Disclaimer, Etc. 
 
If you know anyone you think would like to receive "DrRehertsAlerts," CLICK HERE to send me their email address and I'll add them to the list.
 
Coming soon:  www.drrehert.com.
 
Best wishes,  Dr. Rehert

Gerald M. Rehert, M.D.
285 Boulevard, NE
Suite 520
Atlanta, Georgia
Phone: 404-688-2800

DISCLAIMER:  The articles discussed in "Dr. Rehert's Medical Alerts Email List”
are solely intended to entertain, inform and educate its readers.  They are not
to be considered medical advice.  You should not alter any of your lifestyle
behavior without the advice of your personal physician.

“Dr. Rehert’s Medical Alerts Email List” is open to anyone who wants to join. 
Either send your Email address to grehert@... (recommended)  OR  you may
go to the website http://groups.yahoo.com/group/drrehertsalerts/ and follow the
“Join This Group!" instructions.  Also you can read all the earlier Emails by
clicking on http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DrRehertsAlerts/messages

If you respond to this Email list, DO NOT include any personal information . 
Though the list is configured so that all Email responses only go to the
original sender, your Email may inadvertently be sent to the list.  Also,
transmitting personal information would be a violation of The U. S. Government
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).

Some of the "complete article" links require a username and password (for
example MedScape.com articles).  You can access these "complete articles" using
the username: drrehertsalerts, and the password: drrehertsalerts.  If you have
any questions or problems with the email list, contact me at grehert@....

Best wishes,

Gerald M. Rehert, M.D.
285 Boulevard, NE, #520
Atlanta, GA 30312
404-688-2800

Reply | Forward | Messages in this Topic (1)
#113 From: <grehert@...>
Date: Tue Feb 22, 2005 11:28 am
Subject: Heart Disease Risk, Be Fidgety and a New Diet Book. 		grehert
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If you ever worry about your risk of having a heart attack, there's a new way to measure it.  Get out your tape measure and read the first article.
Waist Circumference Predicts Heart Disease Risk
 
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - The circumference of your waist correlates more closely with several known risk factors for heart disease than does your body mass index (BMI) -- the measure of weight in relation to height -- according to a report in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.  The findings are based on an analysis of data from 10,969 subjects.
 
Dr. Shankuan Zhu, from the Medical College of Wisconsin, found that waist circumference was more strongly tied to cholesterol levels, blood pressure, and blood glucose levels than was BMI.
 
Waist measurements of 35 and 40 inches in men conferred a cardiovascular risk comparable to BMIs of 25 (overweight) and 30 (obese).   The waistlines with the corresponding risks for women were 33 and 37 ins.
 
"Our findings indicate that waist circumference is a better indicator of cardiovascular disease risk than is BMI."  Click Here For The Complete Story
 
 
Next here's new evidence that's it's not only diet and exercise that determines your weight . . . it's best to be a little fidgety.
Fidgeting Helps Separate the Lean From the Obese, Study Finds
 
By Rob Stein - Washington Post - January 28, 2005
 
Strolling to the bus stop, fidgeting during a meeting, standing up to stretch, jumping off the couch to change channels, and engaging in other minor physical activities can make the difference between being lean and obese, researchers reported yesterday.
 
The most detailed study ever conducted of mundane bodily movements found that obese people tend to be much less fidgety than lean people and spend at least two hours more each day just sitting still. The extra motion by lean people is enough to burn about 350 extra calories a day, which could add up to 10 to 30 pounds a year.
 
They also discovered that people appear to be born with a propensity to be either fidgety or listless, indicating that it would take special measures to convert the naturally sedentary into the restless -- especially in a society geared toward a couch-potato existence.
 
The new study provides powerful new evidence that a major cause of the obesity epidemic is the pattern of desk jobs, car pools, suburban sprawl, and other environmental and lifestyle factors that discourage physical activity. And despite generations of parents' admonitions to the contrary, people should be encouraged to be fidgety.  "We all know people who can't seem to stand still and others who hardly move," said Eric Ravussin of the Pennington Biomedical Research. 
 
For the study, Levine and his colleagues developed a system that can detect the smallest tap of a toe -- high-tech underwear resembling bicycle pants and sports bras or T-shirts embedded with sensors, originally designed for fighter jets, that take measurements every half-second.
 
Based on millions of bits of data, the researchers determined that each day, the lean subjects spent at least 150 more minutes moving in some way.
 
"We can begin to say to people, 'Yes, it would be good if you went jogging, and it would be good if you went to the gym. But it's also good to keep getting up, moving around.' Fidgeting and doing all those small things will make a difference," said Paul Trayhurn of the University of Liverpool in England.  Click Here For The Complete Story
 
 
And finally another story for the weight conscious.  Here is a new diet for those of you who are sick and tired of hearing about "Atkins" and "Southbeach."
Get Sexual for Ultimate Weight Loss - "The Desperate Housewives Diet"
By Denise Mann - Reviewed By Brunilda Nazario, MD - Feb. 7, 2005.
 
Many newly engaged women drop weight without even trying from the stress and anxiety of planning a wedding.  New York City-based model and actress Kerry McCloskey was no exception. She lost 23 pounds in the six months after she got engaged, but it wasn't from stress. It was from sex -- lots of it!
 
"It was during a particular time of romance and passion after I got engaged and I saw the effects that increased sex had on my body," she tells WebMD. This epiphany led to more research and her new book called the Ultimate Sex Diet. "I felt better immediately," McCloskey says, "because sex is a mood enhancer; the more you have it, the more endorphins that are released." Endorphins are the brain's feel-good chemicals.
 
According to McCloskey and a growing body of research, we can all learn something from the wanton women of Wisteria Lane on ABC's hit comedy Desperate Housewives who bed-hop in and out of their marriages and all have rather exceptional figures. 
 
"It begins with thinking sexy thoughts and making sex a priority," she says.  On average, sex burns 150 to 250 calories per half hour. "Since it's free and so much fun, I've found making love is the ultimate exercise machine."  Click Here For The Complete Story
 
The above is not meant to be medical advice or a substitute for professional evaluation or treatment.  Seek the advice of your physician or healthcare provider before any modification in the treatment of any medical condition.  Also, please read the attached Disclaimer, Etc. 
 
If you know anyone you think would like to receive "DrRehertsAlerts," CLICK HERE to send me their email address and I'll add them to the list.
 
Coming soon:  www.drrehert.com.
 
Best wishes,  Dr. Rehert

Gerald M. Rehert, M.D.
285 Boulevard, NE
Suite 520
Atlanta, Georgia
Phone: 404-688-2800

DISCLAIMER:  The articles discussed in "Dr. Rehert's Medical Alerts Email List”
are solely intended to entertain, inform and educate its readers.  They are not
to be considered medical advice.  You should not alter any of your lifestyle
behavior without the advice of your personal physician.

“Dr. Rehert’s Medical Alerts Email List” is open to anyone who wants to join. 
Either send your Email address to grehert@... (recommended)  OR  you may
go to the website http://groups.yahoo.com/group/drrehertsalerts/ and follow the
“Join This Group!" instructions.  Also you can read all the earlier Emails by
clicking on http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DrRehertsAlerts/messages

If you respond to this Email list, DO NOT include any personal information . 
Though the list is configured so that all Email responses only go to the
original sender, your Email may inadvertently be sent to the list.  Also,
transmitting personal information would be a violation of The U. S. Government
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).

Some of the "complete article" links require a username and password (for
example MedScape.com articles).  You can access these "complete articles" using
the username: drrehertsalerts, and the password: drrehertsalerts.  If you have
any questions or problems with the email list, contact me at grehert@....

Best wishes,

Gerald M. Rehert, M.D.
285 Boulevard, NE, #520
Atlanta, GA 30312
404-688-2800

Reply | Forward | Messages in this Topic (1)
#112 From: <grehert@...>
Date: Sat Jan 22, 2005 6:08 pm
Subject: Pregnancy Hoax, Testosterone Patch & Beer Belly Gene. 		grehert
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You probably read about the 59 y/o Georgia woman (with tubes tied) who accidentally got pregnant with twins . . . Miracle of miracles.    (Made you nervous, didn't it.) 
 
Well there's nothing to worry about.  Here's the final chapter in that story.        Dr. Rehert

Woman, 59, Admits Pregnancy Hoax
 
SYLVESTER, Ga., Jan. 4, 2005
 
(AP) A 59-year-old great-grandmother who claimed in an Associated Press story last year that she was pregnant with twins admitted Tuesday that she is not.  "To the surprise of even her family, it was recently discovered that Harris is not pregnant with twins," Harris said in a statement distributed Tuesday by her 39-year-old son, Fred Jackson. "Due to some personal issues that are still being evaluated, Mrs. Harris believed that she was pregnant with twins and was able to convince her family and friends that she was expecting as well."
 
Harris did not answer the door or phone at her rural home Tuesday. She has not responded to questions from the AP for weeks.
 
"The family of Mrs. Frances Harris regrets that this situation has occurred and apologizes for any inconvenience that may have caused," said the statement, signed by Mrs. Harris and Jackson. "At this time, the family wishes to put this situation behind them and will not be making any more statements."
 
A mother of five, grandmother of 14 and great-grandmother of six, Harris said in November that she had not been trying to get pregnant and even had her tubes tied 33 years earlier.
 
The FDA recently considered the approval of a testosterone patch for women to treat a newly defined condition, HSDD (hypoactive sexual desire disorder).  It was felt that because of all the recent FDA controversy regarding the drugs Vioxx, Celebrex and others, they put approval of this patch on hold for now.  Fortunately testosterone treatment in women has been used successfully for years.  Contact my office should you have any concerns in this area.

Drug boost for female sex drive stirs debate - Is lack of interest a medical issue?
 
By Judy Peres
Published November 28, 2004
 
The first-ever drug for the treatment of female sexual dysfunction--a testosterone skin patch--almost got the go-ahead from government experts, offering help to women with medical reasons for their lost libido.  But critics fear that when the drug inevitably is used by women outside the target group, it could wreak significant damage. Some believe the patch could change expectations about normal sex drive and add to women's anxieties.
 
The controversy highlights the ongoing debate over what constitutes sexual dysfunction in women and who gets to define it. Is lack of interest in sex a medical problem? Or will such quick fixes just cause more suffering, given that women's sexual complaints are so often caused by ignorance, abuse, psychological conflicts or inept partners?
 
"Doctors are already prescribing testosterone and other things off-label," said Amy Allina of the National Women's Health Network.  Leonore Tiefer, a psychologist at New York University School of Medicine, is concerned that the blitz of direct-to-consumer advertising that is sure to follow approval of the patch will change expectations about what's normal in the bedroom, just as the market for antidepressants made many people think they should be happy all the time.
 
It's unclear how many women actually suffer from hypoactive desire. Pharmaceutical companies commonly cite a 1999 study that found 43 percent of U.S. women ages 18 to 59 have problems with some aspect of sexuality.  But only a fraction of those women are considered to suffer from sexual dysfunction, because to qualify for the diagnosis the problem must be accompanied by personal distress. And although women tend to lose desire as they age, distress also decreases, because older women are less concerned about being sexual.
 
Allina noted that even for women who are correctly diagnosed with hypoactive desire disorder--women who lack libido and are distressed by it--"testosterone won't help all of them, either. Maybe the real problem is their husband is a jerk."
 
Nevertheless, there is some scientific evidence that testosterone improves women's desire and may also contribute to their sense of well-being, bone mass, and strength.
 
And last a little animal research from across the pond about an ever expanding issue.
'Beer gut' gene?  -  Rats with beer bellies may hold key in understanding middle-age bulge
 
British scientists have bred rats with beer bellies and expect the rats may reveal whey middle-aged men accumulate fat around the middle.
 
"We know that fat in the abdomen is associated with a range of risks including heart disease, stroke, diabetes and hypertension but we don't yet know why, and these rats may help us find out," said Professor Iain Robinson of London's National Institute for Medical Research.
 
His team of researchers dubbed the rats SLOBs -- Severe Late On-set oBesity -- and they are the first test animal with true middle-aged spread. This "beer gut" typically hits men in their forties and women after the menopause. "We have stumbled on the fact that there is a genetic component to it, but, more importantly, it may give us a clue to why the fat accumulates in that place, and why there is a difference between males and females," Robinson said.
 
The above is not meant to be medical advice or a substitute for professional evaluation or treatment.  Seek the advice of your physician or healthcare provider before any modification in the treatment of any medical condition.  Also, please read the attached Disclaimer, Etc. 
 
If you know anyone you think would like to receive "DrRehertsAlerts," CLICK HERE to send me their email address and I'll add them to the list.
 
Coming soon:  www.drrehert.com.
 
Best wishes,  Dr. Rehert

Gerald M. Rehert, M.D.
285 Boulevard, NE
Suite 520
Atlanta, Georgia
Phone: 404-688-2800

DISCLAIMER:  The articles discussed in "Dr. Rehert's Medical Alerts Email List”
are solely intended to entertain, inform and educate its readers.  They are not
to be considered medical advice.  You should not alter any of your lifestyle
behavior without the advice of your personal physician.

“Dr. Rehert’s Medical Alerts Email List” is open to anyone who wants to join. 
Either send your Email address to grehert@... (recommended)  OR  you may
go to the website http://groups.yahoo.com/group/drrehertsalerts/ and follow the
“Join This Group!" instructions.  Also you can read all the earlier Emails by
clicking on http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DrRehertsAlerts/messages

If you respond to this Email list, DO NOT include any personal information . 
Though the list is configured so that all Email responses only go to the
original sender, your Email may inadvertently be sent to the list.  Also,
transmitting personal information would be a violation of The U. S. Government
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).

Some of the "complete article" links require a username and password (for
example MedScape.com articles).  You can access these "complete articles" using
the username: drrehertsalerts, and the password: drrehertsalerts.  If you have
any questions or problems with the email list, contact me at grehert@....

Best wishes,

Gerald M. Rehert, M.D.
285 Boulevard, NE, #520
Atlanta, GA 30312
404-688-2800

Reply | Forward | Messages in this Topic (1)
#111 From: <grehert@...>
Date: Fri Dec 31, 2004 4:56 pm
Subject: Exercise, laptop computers and Tsunami victims. 		grehert
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Everyone knows that exercise is good for you, but here's an article that confirms if you exercise and lower your body fat, you not only  lower your blood pressure, but you also reduce your risk of getting heart disease and diabetes.  So exercise to live longer  --  in other words, "Here's WHY you should exercise!"                 Dr. Rehert
Exercise Away Risk of Early Death
 
By Jeanie Lerche Davis -- Reviewed By Brunilda Nazario, MD
 
Dec. 29, 2004 - Want to live longer?  Start exercising regularly and melt fat away. An hour of exercise can improve fitness, but losing body fat staves off the deadly "metabolic syndrome," according to new research.
 
High blood pressure, high cholesterol, elevated blood sugar, and excess belly fat are the mix of risk factors known as "metabolic syndrome." This cluster of risk factors increases your risk for heart disease, diabetes, and early death.
 
Exercise has been recommended to reduce a variety of these risk factors. Studies have shown that exercise works to reduce body fat, especially fat around the waistline. It also helps with heart disease factors like high blood pressure and high cholesterol. But this current study looks at the broader effects of regular exercise on this mix.
 
The study involved 115 people aged 55 to 75 -- the typical older American with mild high blood pressure, many of whom were overweight.
 
Half were assigned a six-month moderate-intensity exercise program about one hour long, three days a week. However, they stuck with their regular eating habits.
 
The exercisers' risk factors improved, whereas those of the comparison (non-exercise) group didn't, he says. The exercisers lost more body and waistline fat and gained more muscle than the comparison group. Heart disease risk factors, like high blood pressure and cholesterol, also improved more in the exercisers.
 
"Older people can benefit greatly from exercise, especially to reduce their risk for developing the metabolic syndrome," says Stewart in a news release. "Our results show that this population can be motivated to follow through with a moderate exercise program, and for some risk factors, such as abdominal fat, exercise can be as effective as what is accomplished today with drugs."
 
Other examples of moderate-intensity activities include walking briskly, recreational swimming, or bicycling 5-9 miles per hour on level terrain.
 
For the men in the audience, if you use a laptop computer on your "lap," be careful --  you're at risk for the following syndrome:
Sperm does not compute

BY Corky Siemaszko -- DAILY NEWS
 
Want to be a dad? Keep the laptop off your lap.  Scientists from SUNY Stony Brook have discovered that heat generated by laptop computers can potentially affect sperm quality and quantity.
 
"The body needs to maintain a proper testicular temperature for normal sperm production," said lead researcher Dr. Yefim Sheynkin. "Portable computers in a laptop position produce scrotal hyperthermia."  That's a fancy way of saying toasted testicles.
 
To see how those oven-like conditions might affect a man's ability to produce a bun in the oven, researchers tested 29 volunteers ages 21 to 35. They discovered that, after an hour of computer surfing on their laps, testicular temperature jumped by 3.6 degrees. Any increase of 2 or more degrees above the average scrotal temperature of 94 to 96 degrees can cause changes in sperm count, Sheynkin said.
 
 
And finally we all know of the monumental suffering and needs in SE Asia.  If anyone of you would like to help the Tsunami-Earthquake victims, you can easily contribute on-line through many relief agencies.  Here I've given you links to two of the best: "Save the Children" and the "American Red Cross."  All you need is an amount and your credit card . . .  Go ahead, It'll make you feel good.
 
You can donate through "Save the Children" --
 
Or you can contribute through the "Red Cross" --
 
And have a Happy and Safe New Years.   Dr. Rehert
 
The above is not meant to be medical advice or a substitute for professional evaluation or treatment.  Seek the advice of your physician or healthcare provider before any modification in the treatment of any medical condition.  Also, please read the attached Disclaimer, Etc. 
 
If you know anyone you think would like to receive "DrRehertsAlerts," CLICK HERE to send me their email address and I'll add them to the list.
 
Coming soon:  www.drrehert.com.
 
Best wishes,  Dr. Rehert

Gerald M. Rehert, M.D.
285 Boulevard, NE
Suite 520
Atlanta, Georgia
Phone: 404-688-2800

DISCLAIMER:  The articles discussed in "Dr. Rehert's Medical Alerts Email List”
are solely intended to entertain, inform and educate its readers.  They are not
to be considered medical advice.  You should not alter any of your lifestyle
behavior without the advice of your personal physician.

“Dr. Rehert’s Medical Alerts Email List” is open to anyone who wants to join. 
Either send your Email address to grehert@... (recommended)  OR  you may
go to the website http://groups.yahoo.com/group/drrehertsalerts/ and follow the
“Join This Group!" instructions.  Also you can read all the earlier Emails by
clicking on http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DrRehertsAlerts/messages

If you respond to this Email list, DO NOT include any personal information . 
Though the list is configured so that all Email responses only go to the
original sender, your Email may inadvertently be sent to the list.  Also,
transmitting personal information would be a violation of The U. S. Government
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).

Some of the "complete article" links require a username and password (for
example MedScape.com articles).  You can access these "complete articles" using
the username: drrehertsalerts, and the password: drrehertsalerts.  If you have
any questions or problems with the email list, contact me at grehert@....

Best wishes,

Gerald M. Rehert, M.D.
285 Boulevard, NE, #520
Atlanta, GA 30312
404-688-2800

Reply | Forward | Messages in this Topic (1)
#110 From: <grehert@...>
Date: Mon Dec 20, 2004 5:25 pm
Subject: Happy Holidays from Dr. Rehert and the staff! 		grehert
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Happy Holidays
 
 
 From April, Arlesia, Nicole, Sue and Dr. Rehert
 
(A little Christmas humor is attached!)

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#109 From: <grehert@...>
Date: Thu Nov 25, 2004 2:17 pm
Subject: Chocolate, hormones, and going to church. 		grehert
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First, here's some news for all you chocolate lovers.
Libido linked to love of chocolate
November 15, 2004
 
Women have compared chocolate to sex for decades. Now doctors have discovered a scientific link between the two.  According to Italian researchers, women who eat chocolate regularly had the highest levels of desire, arousal and satisfaction from sex.
 
Urologists from Milan's San Raffaele hospital questioned 163 women about their consumption of chocolate and their sexual fulfillment. "Women who have a daily intake of chocolate showed higher levels of desire than women who did not have this habit," the study found. "Chocolate can have a positive physiological impact on a woman's sexuality."
 
Dr Andrea Salonia, author of the study  (funded by a university, not by the confectionery industry)  said women who had a low libido could become more amorous after eating chocolate. "Chocolate is not like a food, it's like a drug," Dr Salonia said.
 
The research also looked at smoking and coffee consumption, but found no links with sexual enjoyment.
 
 
 
Next, there is more good news about hormones from the Women's Health Initiative Trial (WHI).  Studying a very large number of women (15,000+), they found that hormones reduced the incidence of diabetes by 21%. 
Effect of oestrogen plus progestin on the incidence of diabetes in postmenopausal women: results from the Women's Health Initiative Hormone Trial.
 
AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: Studies examining the effect of postmenopausal hormone therapy on concentrations of glucose, insulin and diabetes incidence have been inconclusive. We examined the effect of oestrogen plus progestin on diabetes incidence and insulin resistance. The study compared the effect of daily PremPro with that of placebo during 5.6 years. The participants were 15,641 postmenopausal women enrolled in the Women's Health Initiative Hormone Trial, aged 50 to 79.
 
RESULTS: The cumulative incidence of treated diabetes was 3.5% in the hormone therapy group and 4.2% in the placebo group (hazard ratio 0.79, 95% CI 0.67-0.93, p=0.004).  During the first year of follow-up, changes in fasting glucose and insulin indicated a significant fall in insulin resistance in actively treated women compared to the control subjects.
 
INTERPRETATIONS/CONCLUSION: These data suggest that combined therapy with oestrogen and progestin reduces the incidence of diabetes, possibly mediated by a decrease in insulin resistance.
 
Diabetologia. 2004 Jul;47(7):1175-87. 2004 Jul 14.
 
 
And for you church goers out there, you better not sit too close to all those candles.
Spending too much time in church could be hazardous to your health
 
BY MIGUEL BUSTILLO
Los Angeles Times
 
Going to church may be good for the soul, but some Dutch researchers say it may not be so healthy for the lungs.  The candles and incense regularly burned during religious services emit high levels of particulate matter, tiny airborne flecks that are considered one of the most harmful forms of air pollution, according to a new study by scientists at Maastricht University in the Netherlands.
 
The researchers measured air quality at a small chapel and a large basilica in Maastricht, and found the air in both places contained particulate matter at levels up to 20 times higher than what is considered safe to breathe under European air pollution standards. The levels were similar to those found in the air beside roads traveled by 45,000 cars a day.  The researchers cautioned that the pollutants should not affect the well-being of most churchgoers, but that priests and especially devout congregants who spend long periods inside poorly ventilated chapels could be endangering their health.
 

Click Here For The Complete Story
The above is not meant to be medical advice or a substitute for professional evaluation or treatment.  Seek the advice of your physician or healthcare provider before any modification in the treatment of any medical condition.  Also, please read the attached Disclaimer, Etc. 
 
If you know anyone you think would like to receive "DrRehertsAlerts," CLICK HERE to send me their email address and I'll add them to the list.
 
Coming soon:  www.drrehert.com.
 
Best wishes,  Dr. Rehert

Gerald M. Rehert, M.D.
285 Boulevard, NE
Suite 520
Atlanta, Georgia
Phone: 404-688-2800

DISCLAIMER:  The articles discussed in "Dr. Rehert's Medical Alerts Email List”
are solely intended to entertain, inform and educate its readers.  They are not
to be considered medical advice.  You should not alter any of your lifestyle
behavior without the advice of your personal physician.

“Dr. Rehert’s Medical Alerts Email List” is open to anyone who wants to join. 
Either send your Email address to grehert@... (recommended)  OR  you may
go to the website http://groups.yahoo.com/group/drrehertsalerts/ and follow the
“Join This Group!" instructions.  Also you can read all the earlier Emails by
clicking on http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DrRehertsAlerts/messages

If you respond to this Email list, DO NOT include any personal information . 
Though the list is configured so that all Email responses only go to the
original sender, your Email may inadvertently be sent to the list.  Also,
transmitting personal information would be a violation of The U. S. Government
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).

Some of the "complete article" links require a username and password (for
example MedScape.com articles).  You can access these "complete articles" using
the username: drrehertsalerts, and the password: drrehertsalerts.  If you have
any questions or problems with the email list, contact me at grehert@....

Best wishes,

Gerald M. Rehert, M.D.
285 Boulevard, NE, #520
Atlanta, GA 30312
404-688-2800

Reply | Forward | Messages in this Topic (1)
#108 From: <grehert@...>
Date: Sun Nov 14, 2004 11:15 pm
Subject: Cervical cancer vaccine, abortions and breast cancer & praise for olive oil. 		grehert
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First, anyone who is experienced in Pagemaker 6.5 or 7.0, please contact me at grehert@... about a small job I have.   Thank you,  Dr. Rehert.
 
Next here is some very good news!  This first story suggests that in the not too distant future women may not need to get those yearly Pap smears.  (Of course I'll be retired by then.  Dr. R)
Promising Cervical Cancer Vaccine
 
Nov. 12, 2004
 
There's new hope that cervical cancer could be progressively eradicated in a global campaign, much like the ones against smallpox and polio. Researchers say a second experimental cervical cancer vaccine appears to broadly protect against infection and risky precancerous conditions for more than two years.
 
Worldwide, 511,000 women are stricken with cervical cancer each year, and about half die. It is the leading cancer killer among women in the developing world.
 
Cervical cancer is caused by infection with human papilloma virus, or HPV, which is spread through sex. There are dozens of HPV strains, but two of them — HPV-16 and HPV-18 — account for more than 70 percent of cervical cancers.
 
The GlaxoSmithKline vaccine is designed to prevent infection from both major strains. Of the women who received the vaccine, 94 percent were protected from infection and the virus that causes most cervical cancers, McDermott reported.
 
None of the vaccinated women developed infections or cervical precancerous lesions, said Dartmouth obstetrician Diane M. Harper, the study's lead author. The vaccine also protected 93 percent against conditions that lead to abnormal Pap tests, she said.
 
In the placebo group, 10 women developed HPV-16 infections and four developed HPV-18 infections by the study's seventh month.
 

Next, there is a lot of dishonesty in the world.  But when your government starts lying to you about health issues I feel a responsibility to tell you the truth.   And it has been well documented that having a termination of pregnancy does not increase your risk of getting breast cancer.
Some Women Considering Abortion Are Wrongly Told It Could Hike Breast Cancer Risk
The Associated Press
 
WASHINGTON Nov 10, 2004 — Women seeking abortions in Mississippi must first sign a form indicating they've been told abortion can increase their risk of breast cancer. They aren't told that scientific reviews have concluded there is no such risk. Similar information suggesting a cancer link is given to women considering abortion in Texas, Louisiana and Kansas, and legislation to require such notification has been introduced in 14 other states.
 
"In my experience, this inaccurate information is going to dissuade few women from going ahead and having the abortion," said Dr. Vanessa Cullins, vice president for medical affairs at Planned Parenthood Federation of America. "What it does do is put a false guilt trip and fear trip on that woman."  Still, information suggesting a link is being given to women to read during mandatory waiting periods before abortions. In some cases, the information is on the states' Web sites.
 
The issue continues to be debated in state legislatures, with bills considered this year in Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Vermont, Washington and West Virginia.
 
On the federal level, several members of Congress complained last year after the NCI (National Cancer Institute) Web site included material suggesting a link between breast cancer and abortion or miscarriage. An expert panel that was asked to review the data reported in March 2003 that "well established" evidence shows no link.
 
"The virtually complete consensus was that the studies that purported to show a link were methodologically flawed," said Dr. Martin Abeloff, director of the Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins University. Those studies that showed no link, he said, were almost all well done.
 
 
 
If you like to add olive oil to just about everything you cook, as I do, you'll be very happy to read this next article.  Dr. Rehert

FDA- Olive Oil May Boost Heart Health
 
WASHINGTON - AP - The monounsaturated fat in olive oil may reduce the chances of suffering coronary heart disease, the Food and Drug Administration said Monday, opening the door to revised food labels.
 
As long as people don't increase the number of calories they consume daily, the FDA found "limited but not conclusive evidence" suggesting reduced risk of coronary heart disease when people replace foods high in saturated fat with the monounsaturated fat in olive oil.
 
It's the third time the FDA granted a qualified health claim for conventional food.
 
Olive oil and certain food containing olive oil can now indicate that "limited and not conclusive scientific evidence suggests that eating about two tablespoons of olive oil daily may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease due to the monounsaturated fat in olive oil," the agency said. 
 
The above is not meant to be medical advice or a substitute for professional evaluation or treatment.  Seek the advice of your physician or healthcare provider before any modification in the treatment of any medical condition.  Also, please read the attached Disclaimer, Etc. 
If you know anyone you think would like to receive "DrRehertsAlerts," CLICK HERE to send me their email address and I'll add them to the list.
 
Coming soon:  www.drrehert.com.
 
Best wishes,  Dr. Rehert

Gerald M. Rehert, M.D.
285 Boulevard, NE
Suite 520
Atlanta, Georgia
Phone: 404-688-2800

DISCLAIMER:  The articles discussed in "Dr. Rehert's Medical Alerts Email List”
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#107 From: <grehert@...>
Date: Mon Nov 1, 2004 12:11 pm
Subject: Hormones, vitamins and the testosterone patch. 		grehert
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For those of you who are afraid you are taking your estrogens for too long a period of time, there's good news from The North American Menopause Society (NAMS), a leading authority on hormone therapy.  At their most recent meeting they dropped the phrase "limited to the shortest duration" in their yearly "Position Statement" which gives their most up-to-date consensus of experts on hormone therapy.  This is a very big change as more and more physicians are realizing that the recommendations which came out of the WHI study were harsher than they needed to be.  Read more below. 
September 29, 2004 09:48 AM US Eastern Timezone
 
The North American Menopause Society Updates Position Statement on Estrogen and Progestogen Use in Peri- and Postmenopausal Women
 
CLEVELAND--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 29, 2004--
 
The third annual report, titled "Recommendations for estrogen and progestogen use in peri- and postmenopausal women: October 2004 position statement of The North American Menopause Society," contains several significant revisions based on clinical trial data published in the past year. It will be published in the Nov/Dec 2004 issue of the Society's official journal, Menopause.
 
In each of the last three years, NAMS has convened a Hormone Therapy Panel composed of experts in many fields to review newly published studies and to determine whether recommendations need revised or if new recommendations need to be added.
 
The following are some of the significant revisions contained in the 2004 document:
 
-- Placed no limit on ET/EPT treatment duration, provided it is consistent with treatment goals and is monitored regularly; no stipulation was made regarding when to reduce or stop therapy.
 
-- Revised the breast cancer statement to indicate that the risk of breast cancer probably increases with EPT (Estrogen-Progestogen Therapy) use but not ET (Estrogen Therapy) use.
 
-- Noted that the role of both ET and EPT in the primary prevention of coronary heart disease (i.e., preventing the disease from occurring) remains unclear, especially in younger women starting therapy early and continuing for a number of years.
 
NAMS is North America's leading nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting women's health during midlife and beyond through an understanding of menopause.  (www.menopause.org).
And for you vitamin takers (like myself), here's the latest on one of my favorite supplements, folic acid.
High Folate Intake Lowers Women's Risk of Hypertension
 
By Martha Kerr
 
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) Oct 11 - Women consuming 800 micrograms per day or more of folate (folic acid) have a significantly lower risk of high blood pressure than women consuming lesser amounts, according to data reported Monday at the American Heart Association's 58th Annual Fall Conference.
 
Dr. John P. Forman of Boston's Brigham and Women's Hospital reported the data from the Nurses' Health Studies I & II, comprising 155,000 women between 26 and 70 years old.
 
None of the women had high blood pressure at baseline. The investigators divided the women into five categories according to folate intake. Younger women who consumed 800 micrograms or more per day had a 29% lower risk of high blood pressure than those who consumed less than 200 micrograms daily. Older women in the highest category had a 13% lower risk of high blood pressure.  "It is very hard to get [800 micrograms folate daily] from diet alone," Dr. Forman noted. "Essentially all the women in the highest category took supplements."                                               
 
Last, here's the latest research on the testosterone patch for women  -  due out next year.
Testosterone Patch Hailed As Female Viagra
 
Wed Oct 20, 1:14 AM ET   Health - AP
 
By MARILYNN MARCHIONE, AP Medical Writer
 
PHILADELPHIA - Menopausal women had more sex and were happier about it when using an experimental hormone patch hailed by some as a possible female equivalent of Viagra, doctors reported Tuesday. Women on the testosterone patch had sex about four times more than they usually did in two months compared to only one additional session for women given a fake patch containing no hormone, a study found.
 
"We found an increase in activity, an increase in desire and a decrease in distress," said Dr. Robin Kroll, a Seattle gynecologist. "The testosterone patch looks very promising. It may be the answer for what women are looking for for a libido lag in menopause," said Dr. Marian Damewood, a University of Pennsylvania gynecologist who is president of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine.
 
Those on the hormone patch improved in all measures. Side effects were mild — mostly excess facial hair and red or irritated skin from the patch, Kroll said. "None of those patients wanted to stop taking the testosterone," she added.
The above is not meant to be medical advice or a substitute for professional evaluation or treatment.  Seek the advice of your physician or healthcare provider before any modification in the treatment of any medical condition.  Also, please read the attached Disclaimer, Etc. 
 
If you know anyone you think would like to receive "DrRehertsAlerts," CLICK HERE to send me their email address and I'll add them to the list.
 
Coming soon:  www.drrehert.com.  (Under construction -- check it out.)
 
Best wishes,  Dr. Rehert

Gerald M. Rehert, M.D.
285 Boulevard, NE
Suite 520
Atlanta, Georgia
Phone: 404-688-2800

DISCLAIMER:  The articles discussed in "Dr. Rehert's Medical Alerts Email List”
are solely intended to entertain, inform and educate its readers.  They are not
to be considered medical advice.  You should not alter any of your lifestyle
behavior without the advice of your personal physician.

“Dr. Rehert’s Medical Alerts Email List” is open to anyone who wants to join. 
Either send your Email address to grehert@... (recommended)  OR  you may
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If you respond to this Email list, DO NOT include any personal information . 
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Some of the "complete article" links require a username and password (for
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Best wishes,

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285 Boulevard, NE, #520
Atlanta, GA 30312
404-688-2800

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#106 From: <grehert@...>
Date: Tue Oct 12, 2004 1:53 pm
Subject: Female vs. Male, Menopausal Hormones and Diet Pills. 		grehert
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Have you ever wondered about the differences between the male and the female brain?    
 
There is a theory from England that says the female brain is predominantly hard-wired for empathy, while the male brain is predominantly hard-wired for understanding and building systems. It's called the "empathising-systemising (E-S) theory."  And through the wonders of the internet, you can easily find out what kind of brain you have.

If you would like to know if your brain is predominantly female or male, read the next story and take the two (60 question) tests linked below.  Email me and let me know your results.     Dr. Rehert     

(It's funny how those British people spell things a little differently)

The Essential Difference - How male or female is your brain?

The following tests were developed by Simon Baron-Cohen, director of the Autism Research Centre at the University of Cambridge in England.
 
Baron-Cohen's theory is that the female brain is predominantly hard-wired for empathy, and that the male brain is predominantly hard-wired for understanding and building systems. He calls it the empathising-systemising (E-S) theory.
 
Empathising is the drive to identify another person's emotions and thoughts, and to respond to these with an appropriate emotion. The empathiser intuitively figures out how people are feeling, and how to treat people with care and sensitivity.
 
Systemising is the drive to analyse and explore a system, to extract underlying rules that govern the behaviour of a system; and the drive to construct systems.
 
 
 
Next, here's an article that compares three different ways to take menopausal hormones.  1.) "estrogen alone" (for woman who've had a hysterectomy),  2.) "sequential" HRT (giving you a monthly period),  and 3.) "combined continuous" HRT (where you take an estrogen and a progestogen, together, every day).
Risk of Breast Cancer Depends on Type of HRT (hormone replacement therapy) Used
 
Recent reports of an increased risk of breast cancer in women taking continuous combined hormone replacement therapy (HRT) caused significant controversy and distress for the millions of American women using hormones postmenopausally.  Weiss and colleagues studied nearly 4,000 postmenopausal women to determine odds ratios for breast cancer risk with different forms of HRT. Specifically the researchers calculated odds ratios for breast cancer following use of "estrogen alone" (i.e. Premarin or Vivelle), "sequential" HRT (i.e. Premarin or Vivelle ever day and Provera for the first 12 days of each month), and "continuous combined" HRT (i.e. PremPro).
 
Increasing risk for breast cancer with duration of HRT was found only in patients taking "continuous combined" HRT.  The odds ratio for "estrogen alone" was 0.82 for five years or more, indicating a lower rate of breast cancer in "estrogen alone" users than in nonusers.  For "sequential" HRT, the odds ratio at five years or more was 0.98, indicating close to or slightly less than the risk of nonusers.  For "continuous combined" HRT, the odds ratio at five years or more was 1.45, indicating an increased risk over nonusers.
 
The authors conclude that the risk of breast cancer varies with the HRT regimen used and is not increased for estrogen alone. The only significantly increased risk in this study was with use of continuous combined HRT for five years or more.  The authors state that the absolute risk of breast cancer may be low for individual women and that much more research is needed about the effect of different regimens of HRT.
 
Weiss LK, et al. Hormone replacement therapy regimens and breast cancer risk. Obstet Gynecol December 2002;100:1148-58.

Click Here For The Complete Story

So what exactly does this mean?  First we must realize that this study is just one of many, many studies . . . but it pretty much agrees with the results of the larger and more authoritative Woman's Health Initiative (WHI) study.  Assuming that this study and the WHI study are valid and correct (and that's a rather large assumption), it suggests the following:

If you take "estrogen alone" you may be decreasing your risk of breast cancer by 0 to  23%.

If you take "sequential" HRT you may be having no effect on your risk of getting breast cancer. 

And if you take "combined continuous" HRT you may be increasing your risk of breast cancer by 24 to 45%. 

I think it's interesting that the most natural method of taking hormones (i.e. "sequential" HRT - having a menstrual period every month) gave the least difference from the control group - a small endorsement for the idea of keeping things "natural" to avoid disease.   "Best to not mess with nature."

And last, you've probably heard the many radio ads for CortiSlim.  Read below and learn the latest on this popular dietary supplement.
CortiSlim is served a lawsuit by FTC

Ads for the weight-loss product feature false claims, according to the government agency
By Linda Fantin
 
CortiSlim may have to change its name to CortiSorry after a federal crackdown on misleading ads for the weight-loss supplement developed by a University of Utah part-time professor.
    A Federal Trade Commission lawsuit alleges Shawn Talbott and his associates made false and unsubstantiated claims about the dietary supplement in radio, television and print ads, infomercials and on Web sites. As a result, CortiSlim marketers have agreed to stop claiming, among other things, that the product:
    Eliminates cravings, controls appetite or causes weight loss of 10 to 50 pounds for virtually all users;
    Causes users to lose weight specifically from the abdomen, stomach and thighs;
    Helps shed pounds without the need for diet or exercise;
    Has been demonstrated effective or is supported by more than 15 years of scientific research.
The above is not meant to be medical advice.  Please read the attached Disclaimer, Etc. 
 
If you know anyone you think would like to receive "DrRehertsAlerts," CLICK HERE to send me their email address and I'll add them to the list.
 
Coming soon:  www.drrehert.com.
 
Best wishes,  Dr. Rehert

Gerald M. Rehert, M.D.
285 Boulevard, NE
Suite 520
Atlanta, Georgia
Phone: 404-688-2800

DISCLAIMER:  The articles discussed in "Dr. Rehert's Medical Alerts Email List”
are solely intended to entertain, inform and educate its readers.  They are not
to be considered medical advice.  You should not alter any of your lifestyle
behavior without the advice of your personal physician.

“Dr. Rehert’s Medical Alerts Email List” is open to anyone who wants to join. 
Either send your Email address to grehert@... (recommended)  OR  you may
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Best wishes,

Gerald M. Rehert, M.D.
285 Boulevard, NE, #520
Atlanta, GA 30312
404-688-2800

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#105 From: <grehert@...>
Date: Sat Sep 25, 2004 8:20 pm
Subject: Two articles on breast cancer. 		grehert
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Here are two stories about breast cancer:
 
First, we've known for a long time that overweight women have double the risk of developing breast cancer, as compared to their skinnier counterparts.  This next article blames high-carbohydrate intake for this curious disparity.           Dr. Rehert
High-Carb Diet Linked to Breast Cancer
 
By Miranda Hitti, WebMD Medical News
 
Aug. 6, 2004 -- Eating a diet high in carbohydrates -- particularly the sugary kinds -- may be linked to an increased risk of breast cancer in women.
 
From a study of 1,866 women aged 20 to 75 in Mexico City, researchers interviewed the women about their diets and found that breast cancer risk rose with carbohydrate consumption. Those who ate the most carbohydrates had more than twice the risk of breast cancer than those who ate the least.  The results held after other risk factors like body mass index (a measure of body fat), family history of breast cancer, and the age at which the women first gave birth were screened out.
 
All carbohydrates are not alike. In this study, one kind particularly stood out -- sucrose, or table sugar. "Sucrose intake was significantly related to the risk of breast cancer," write the researchers.
 
The study linked insoluble fiber -- the kind that can't be digested -- with a lower risk of breast cancer.
 
The study failed to show an association between dietary fat and overall breast cancer risk.
 
"Scientists have long suspected that diet was among the factors contributing to breast cancer," says Willet. "We are beginning to gradually understand what elements of diet specifically are associated with the disease."
 
Now a second article on breast cancer.  This one reinforces the value of getting regular mammograms.  It says that when tumors are picked-up on a routine mammogram, they are milder and have better outcomes.  Take note !
Breast Cancer Milder If Caught by Mammogram
 
By Daniel DeNoon, WebMD Medical News  
 
Aug. 31, 2004 -- There's consolation for women who, during regular breast cancer mammogram screening, find out they have a tumor. Outcomes are significantly better when mammograms are the first sign of breast cancer.
 
The finding comes from analysis of detailed medical records from nearly 3,500 Finnish women diagnosed in 1991-1992 with invasive breast cancer. It suggests that women with mammogram-detected breast cancer may not need as aggressive treatment as women whose tumors are found in other ways, says Heikki Joensuu, MD, director of oncology at Helsinki University in Finland.
 
"This study tells us that tumors found in screening mammograms are different than the ones found outside screening. These tumors may be in less need of aggressive systemic therapies."
 
   Click Here For The Complete Story
The above is not meant to be medical advice.  Please read the attached Disclaimer, Etc. 
 
If you know anyone you think would like to receive "DrRehertsAlerts," CLICK HERE to send me their email address and I'll add them to the list.
 
Coming soon:  www.drrehert.com.
 
Best wishes,  Dr. Rehert

Gerald M. Rehert, M.D.
285 Boulevard, NE
Suite 520
Atlanta, Georgia
Phone: 404-688-2800

DISCLAIMER:  The articles discussed in "Dr. Rehert's Medical Alerts Email List”
are solely intended to entertain, inform and educate its readers.  They are not
to be considered medical advice.  You should not alter any of your lifestyle
behavior without the advice of your personal physician.

“Dr. Rehert’s Medical Alerts Email List” is open to anyone who wants to join. 
Either send your Email address to grehert@... (recommended)  OR  you may
go to the website http://groups.yahoo.com/group/drrehertsalerts/ and follow the
“Join This Group!" instructions.  Also you can read all the earlier Emails by
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If you respond to this Email list, DO NOT include any personal information . 
Though the list is configured so that all Email responses only go to the
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Some of the "complete article" links require a username and password (for
example MedScape.com articles).  You can access these "complete articles" using
the username: drrehertsalerts, and the password: drrehertsalerts.  If you have
any questions or problems with the email list, contact me at grehert@....

Best wishes,

Gerald M. Rehert, M.D.
285 Boulevard, NE, #520
Atlanta, GA 30312
404-688-2800

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#104 From: <grehert@...>
Date: Fri Jul 30, 2004 12:15 pm
Subject: More good news about hormones, & ovulation makes you horny. 		grehert
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Every now and then an article is published that is both powerful and far-reaching regarding the effects and the safety of hormone therapy.  I think the article below, from the prestigious Cornell and Stanford Universities, is just such an article. 
 
Data was compiled on 27,000 women - a large number of women.  Half took hormones and half didn't.  In the women over 60 years of age, they found no difference in death from cancer or heart disease in the two groups - that means hormones caused no fatal harm in women over 60.  But more important than that, in women under 60, hormones reduced the overall mortality rate by 39% - that's a very significant finding for such a large number of patients.
 
Read more why women might benefit substantially from starting hormone therapy at menopause.  And click on the links for more details.
Younger Women May Benefit From HRT - Study Shows Benefits When HRT Is Taken Soon After Menopause
 
By Salynn Boyles,  July 15, 2004 
 
After combining the data from 30 trials comparing hormone use to nonuse, the researchers found a survival advantage for women who begin HRT (hormone replacement therapy) before the age of 60.  In women younger than 60, HRT reduced the risk of dying from any cause by 39% compared with women who did not take HRT at all.  "These data indicate that a large distinction needs to be made between the risks for women who start hormone therapy around the time of menopause and those who wait until they are older," researcher Edwin E. Salpeter, PhD, tells WebMD.  Regardless of age, treatment did not appear to influence the risk of dying from cardiovascular disease or cancer. 
 
 
 
And the pendulum swings . . .
Next, here's an article that explodes the myth that your chance of getting pregnant is the same every time you have sex.  New research suggests it may be much more likely than once thought because couples have more sex when a woman is the most fertile.  Possible explanations include (1.) an increase in the woman's libido at ovulation, (2.) an increase in the woman's sexual attractiveness at ovulation (do women secrete pheromones?) or (3.) maybe intercourse stimulates ovulation.  Read on.
Unprotected Sex Around Ovulation Increases Chance of Pregnancy
 
By Jennifer Warner
 
June 9, 2004 -- Your parents or sex education teacher may have told you that it only takes a single act of unprotected sex to make a baby, but new research suggests it may be much more likely than they thought.
 
A new study shows that sexual activity tends to peak during a woman's most fertile time, which means the chances of becoming pregnant from a single unprotected sex act are higher.
 
"There apparently are biological factors promoting intercourse during a woman's six fertile days, whether she wants a baby or not," says researcher Allen Wilcox.  "It's not uncommon for a doctor to hear from an unhappily pregnant patient that she and her partner had taken a chance 'just this once.'"
 
Incidentally, I am reading Suzanne Somers' new book on "bioidentical hormone therapy" called The Sexy Years.  She shares her personal experiences with breast cancer and hormones in an entertaining and joyful manner.  I think she presents some excellent ideas about the benefits of, and the logic behind, menopausal hormone therapy bioidentical to the natural hormone milieu of a woman age 35 . . . similar to the advice I have been giving for many years. 
 
I encourage you to read this book and "reply" to DrRehertsAlerts with any discussion or questions you might have.  It just might develop into a cyber-dialog across the Email list.     Dr. Rehert
The above is not meant to be medical advice.  Please read the attached Disclaimer, Etc. 
 
If you know anyone you think would like to receive "DrRehertsAlerts," CLICK HERE to send me their email address and I'll add them to the list.
 
Coming soon:  www.drrehert.com.
 
Best wishes,  Dr. Rehert

Gerald M. Rehert, M.D.
285 Boulevard, NE
Suite 520
Atlanta, Georgia
Phone: 404-688-2800

DISCLAIMER:  The articles discussed in "Dr. Rehert's Medical Alerts Email List”
are solely intended to entertain, inform and educate its readers.  They are not
to be considered medical advice.  You should not alter any of your lifestyle
behavior without the advice of your personal physician.

“Dr. Rehert’s Medical Alerts Email List” is open to anyone who wants to join. 
Either send your Email address to grehert@... (recommended)  OR  you may
go to the website http://groups.yahoo.com/group/drrehertsalerts/ and follow the
“Join This Group!" instructions.  Also you can read all the earlier Emails by
clicking on http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DrRehertsAlerts/messages

If you respond to this Email list, DO NOT include any personal information . 
Though the list is configured so that all Email responses only go to the
original sender, your Email may inadvertently be sent to the list.  Also,
transmitting personal information would be a violation of The U. S. Government
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).

Some of the "complete article" links require a username and password (for
example MedScape.com articles).  You can access these "complete articles" using
the username: drrehertsalerts, and the password: drrehertsalerts.  If you have
any questions or problems with the email list, contact me at grehert@....

Best wishes,

Gerald M. Rehert, M.D.
285 Boulevard, NE, #520
Atlanta, GA 30312
404-688-2800

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#103 From: <grehert@...>
Date: Mon Jul 19, 2004 4:32 am
Subject: You won't believe this DrRehertsAlerts Email! . . . and you thought Motrin was just for cramps. 		grehert
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There's a wonder drug in our midst that you may not be aware of.  Motrin, (ibuprofen), a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) is useful for more than just cramps and headaches.  Read below about it's preventative effects on breast, colon, prostate, lung and a type of brain cancer, as well as Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's Disease.  Also be sure to read the warnings regarding Motrin at the end of this email.  Links are listed for more details.
 
Think of this the next time you take a Motrin for a headache.    Dr. Rehert
 
"Regular use of ibuprofen (Motrin) also seems to help protect against breast cancer"
 
 
"The study shows low doses of ibuprofen, brands of which include Advil or Motrin, can reduce the risk of breast cancer by 49 percent."
 
 
"Treatment with aspirin, Advil (ibuprofen) and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may protect against a highly lethal type of brain tumor called glioblastoma multiforme"
 
 
"A Mayo Clinic study released in March 2002 suggests that regular use of aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others) may help protect against prostate cancer"
 
 
"Most malignant tumors, including colon, breast, prostate, and lung, appear to be inhibited by NSAID use"
 
 
"since 1988, a series of articles -- from 30 to 35, published by number of groups -- has shown that groups of people taking aspirin or ibuprofen, Motrin, and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs ... reduce risk of colorectal cancer by 50%"
 
 
"The risk for developing Parkinson's disease was cut nearly by half in people taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), researchers say"
 
 
"people 55 and older who took ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) or naproxen (Aleve) for at least 2 years were 80% less likely to develop Alzheimer’s"
 
So that's the good news.  Now Motrin also has it's risks - like so many other drugs.  You should be aware that the risks of taking Motrin, like aspirin, can be substantial.  Serious gastrointestinal toxicity such as bleeding, ulceration, and perforation, can occur at any time. Minor upper gastrointestinal problems, such as dyspepsia, are common, usually developing early in therapy.  Symptomatic upper GI ulcers, gross bleeding or perforation appear to occur in approximately 1% of patients treated for 3-6 months, and in about 2-4% of patients treated for one year.  Click on the attached link for more details about the risks of taking Motrin.
 
The above is not meant to be medical advice.  Please read the attached Disclaimer, Etc. 
 
If you know anyone you think would like to receive "DrRehertsAlerts," CLICK HERE to send me their email address and I'll add them to the list.
 
Coming soon:  www.drrehert.com.  Check it out!
 
Best wishes.  Dr. Rehert
 
Gerald M. Rehert, M.D.
285 Boulevard, NE
Suite 520
Atlanta, Georgia
For appointments call 404-688-2800

DISCLAIMER:  The articles discussed in "Dr. Rehert's Medical Alerts Email List”
are solely intended to entertain, inform and educate its readers.  They are not
to be considered medical advice.  You should not alter any of your lifestyle
behavior without the advice of your personal physician.

“Dr. Rehert’s Medical Alerts Email List” is open to anyone who wants to join. 
Either send your Email address to grehert@... (recommended)  OR  you may
go to the website http://groups.yahoo.com/group/drrehertsalerts/ and follow the
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Some of the "complete article" links require a username and password (for
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Best wishes,

Gerald M. Rehert, M.D.
285 Boulevard, NE, #520
Atlanta, GA 30312
404-688-2800

Reply | Forward | Messages in this Topic (1)
#102 From: <grehert@...>
Date: Sat Jun 26, 2004 2:20 pm
Subject: Yo-Yo dieting, sexual dysfunction, and "talking dogs?" 		grehert
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If you've ever been a Yo-Yo dieter, here's some good news.  Apparently there's little scientific evidence - just a lot of rumors - that Yo-Yo dieting is dangerous to your health. 
 
Bottom line: Yo-Yo dieting is better than No dieting at all.  Read more below.
Yo-Yo Dieting

June 14, 2004
BALTIMORE - More than 65 percent of the population is overweight. Many have tried a laundry list of diets to get the weight off. Even when they work, the results are often short-lived and the weight comes back with a vengeance.
 
But yo-yo dieting may not be all bad. "It's better to be down half the time than not to be down at all, because for at least for that period of time, your health risks are reduced," Dr. Cheskin says.
 
Several studies confirm weight cycling is not harmful. But keeping the weight off is the goal. One way to keep off the weight is to simply cut calories. One pound of fat equals 3,500 calories. If you cut 500 calories a day in one week, you'd cut out the necessary 3,500 calories to lose one pound of fat.
 
To keep weight off, first find your triggers. If you're a stress eater, try yoga instead of food. If you're a social eater, keep a diet drink in your hand at get-togethers and keep your distance from the food tables.
 
 
Coming soon to a drugstore near you - the closest thing to Viagra for women that we will have available.  (In the mean time, there's always DHEA.) 
 
Read here about some new products for sexual dysfunction in women.
P&G Female Sexual Desire Patch Effective in Trial
 
Wed Jun 16,  By Bill Berkrot
 
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Procter & Gamble Co. on Wednesday moved a step closer to becoming the first company with a drug on the market to treat sexual dysfunction in women.  The testosterone skin patch, to be called Intrinsa, significantly improved sexual desire and satisfaction in women whose ovaries had previously been removed.  Although the company declined to discuss when it would file its new drug application with the Food and Drug Administration, P&G spokeswoman Mary Johnson said if approved they hope to have Intrinsa available by prescription sometime next year.  The drug would be prescribed to increase sexual desire in menopausal women who have experienced loss of desire and are distressed by that loss.
 
"This is huge," said Sheryl Kingsberg, an associate professor of reproductive biology at Case Western Reserve University and one of the lead investigators of the trial.  "It's important to get it out there because we don't have any approved medical treatment on the market for female sexual dysfunction that clinicians can look at as safe and effective," Kingsberg said.
 
The search for a so-called female Viagra has so far proved elusive. Even Viagra-maker Pfizer Inc. abandoned their program of testing the drug for women, whose sexual dysfunctions are more varied and complicated than men.
 
Another company, Vivus Inc., is developing a drug to treat the arousal component of female sexual disorder that it hopes to submit to the FDA in 2006. It also has acquired rights to a female sexual desire treatment that may compete with Intrinsa.
 
 
And last, if you ever find yourself talking to dogs, no need to be embarrassed . . . you just might be a little ahead of your time.  And your pet may just understand you.  Read about some cutting-edge research below.
Collie's vocabulary rivals young child's, study says
 
Friday, June 11, 2004
 
By Rob Stein, The Washington Post
 
Rico, a 9-year-old Border collie from Germany, understands 200 human words, according to a new study.
 
Rico, a border collie with what appears to be an uncanny talent for human language, may be the Albert Einstein of dogs or just your average pooch. Either way, scientists are wondering if man's best friend is smarter than they thought.
 
A series of carefully designed studies concluded that the German dog has a stunningly large vocabulary and apparently can do something scientists thought only humans could do: Figure out, by the process of elimination, that a sound he has never heard must be the name of a toy he has never seen.
 
That feat, described in today's issue of the journal Science, suggests that dog owners who claim their pets understand what they're saying and are trying to respond may have been right.  Some scientists are going so far as to speculate that dogs might even have the capacity to speak - like Mister Ed, the talking horse in the 1960s television show - if only they had the necessary anatomy.  Patti Strand, an American Kennel Club board member, called the report "good news for those of us who talk to our dogs."
 
The above is not meant to be medical advice.  Please read the attached Disclaimer, Etc. 
 
If you know anyone you think would like to receive "DrRehertsAlerts," CLICK HERE to send me their email address and I'll add them to the list.
 
Coming soon:  www.drrehert.com.
 
Best wishes.  Dr. Rehert

DISCLAIMER:  The articles discussed in "Dr. Rehert's Medical Alerts Email List”
are solely intended to entertain, inform and educate its readers.  They are not
to be considered medical advice.  You should not alter any of your lifestyle
behavior without the advice of your personal physician.

“Dr. Rehert’s Medical Alerts Email List” is open to anyone who wants to join. 
Either send your Email address to grehert@... (recommended)  OR  you may
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If you respond to this Email list, DO NOT include any personal information . 
Though the list is configured so that all Email responses only go to the
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Some of the "complete article" links require a username and password (for
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Best wishes,

Gerald M. Rehert, M.D.
285 Boulevard, NE, #520
Atlanta, GA 30312
404-688-2800

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#101 From: <grehert@...>
Date: Tue Jun 8, 2004 1:31 pm
Subject: High Fructose Corn Syrup, Neckties and Soda 		grehert
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The nutrition experts have found a new "enemy" in their war against obesity.  High Fructose Corn Syrup was introduced into the world's diets about 20 years ago, and seems to correlate well with the upsurge in obesity and diabetes.  Read more below . . .

Study Blames Corn Syrup for Rise of Diabetes in US
 
By Maggie Fox, Health and Science Correspondent
 
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Corn syrup and other refined foods may be much to blame for the huge increase in type-2 diabetes in the United States over the past few decades.  A study of nearly 100 years of data on what Americans eat show a huge increase in processed carbohydrates, especially corn syrup, and a large drop in the amount of fiber from whole grains, fruits and vegetables.
 
"We are seeing this big jump in the number of calories," that people are eating, Dr. Lee Gross.  "We tried to break down where are these calories coming from? We have heard everyone debating is it because of fat, is it because of carbohydrate and it is not really clear," Gross added. "This shows the increase in the past 20 years is almost exclusively carbohydrates and certainly corn syrup consumption has increased dramatically."

Writing in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Gross showed that people have eaten about the same amount of carbohydrates a day on average -- 500 grams -- since 1909. But instead of whole grains and vegetables, people are getting more and more of those carbs in the form of processed grains and sugars -- most of all, in corn syrup, they said.
So be sure to scan those nutrition labels for "High Fructose Corn Syrup."
 
And did you ever wonder why Dr. Rehert doesn't often wear a tie.  Well here's one possible
explanation . . .
 
Study- Doctors' ties may be health threat  -  Neckwear can harbor disease-carrying bugs

By Roni Rabin,  May 24, 2004
 
A small study of neckties worn by doctors at a Queens hospital found almost half the 42 ties tested harbored microorganisms that can cause illness.  By comparison, only one of the 10 ties worn by security guards tested positive for a disease-carrying microorganism.
 
Steven Nurkin, one of the authors, says the findings aren't entirely new: Earlier studies have found bacteria on everything from doctors' stethoscopes to pagers and pens.
 
Nurkin said he got the idea for the research while doing a surgery elective at the New York Hospital Medical Center.  "I watched the doctors come over for a physical exam or procedure and saw the neckties would swing in front of the patient's face, or patients would cough on them," he said.
 
Of the 42 physician neckties sampled, 20 contained one or more microorganisms known to cause disease, including 12 that carried Staphylococcus aureus, five carrying gram-negative bacteria, one carried aspergillus and two carried multiple pathogens.  Of the 10 security guards' ties, only one carried Staphylococcus aureus.
 
While being well-dressed is encouraged by hospital administrators and may add to "an aura of professionalism" and inspire patient confidence, the authors note, "As the clinician moves from patient to patient, the tie may serve to carry microorganisms from patient to patient as well."
Next -- hot off the press -- from today's Associated Press:

Soda May Have Link to Diabetes
 
ORLANDO, Florida June 8, 2004 - Chugging more than one sugar-sweetened soft drink a day appears to
significantly increase a woman's chances of developing diabetes, says a Harvard study that found the extra sugar does more than just add pounds.
 
Women in the study who drank at least one sugar-sweetened soda a day were 85 percent more likely
to develop type 2 diabetes than those who drank less."
 
Diet sodas with sugar substitutes, however, did not increase the chances of developing diabetes, Schulze said. He added that the women who drank diet sodas tended to lose weight.

Remember, the Induction Atkins Diet allows 20 grams of carbohydrates a day.  One Coke has 39 grams.
 
The above is not meant to be medical advice.  Please read the attached Disclaimer, Etc. 
 
If you know anyone you think would like to receive "DrRehertsAlerts," CLICK HERE to send me their email address and I'll add them to the list.
 
Coming soon:  www.drrehert.com.
 
Best wishes.  Dr. Rehert

DISCLAIMER:  The articles discussed in "Dr. Rehert's Medical Alerts Email List”
are solely intended to entertain, inform and educate its readers.  They are not
to be considered medical advice.  You should not alter any of your lifestyle
behavior without the advice of your personal physician.

“Dr. Rehert’s Medical Alerts Email List” is open to anyone who wants to join. 
Either send your Email address to grehert@... (recommended)  OR  you may
go to the website http://groups.yahoo.com/group/drrehertsalerts/ and follow the
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If you respond to this Email list, DO NOT include any personal information . 
Though the list is configured so that all Email responses only go to the
original sender, your Email may inadvertently be sent to the list.  Also,
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Some of the "complete article" links require a username and password (for
example MedScape.com articles).  You can access these "complete articles" using
the username: drrehertsalerts, and the password: drrehertsalerts.  If you have
any questions or problems with the email list, contact me at grehert@....

Best wishes,

Gerald M. Rehert, M.D.
285 Boulevard, NE, #520
Atlanta, GA 30312
404-688-2800

Reply | Forward | Messages in this Topic (1)
#100 From: <grehert@...>
Date: Mon May 17, 2004 12:19 pm
Subject: Iron pills, Low Carbs and nasal therapy. 		grehert
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In case you needed it, here's another good reason to take your iron pills.
Mild Iron Deficiency Affects Thinking, Study Shows
Mon Apr 19, 2004 06:49 PM ET
 
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Women with even a small deficiency of iron may have a little more trouble thinking and remembering than those with adequate iron levels, U.S. researchers reported on Monday.  They found that young women with mild deficiency who took iron supplements for four months significantly improved their performance on tests of attention, short-term and long-term memory. They also did better on cognitive tasks.
 
Iron deficiency also causes poorer physical endurance, an impaired immune response, temperature regulation difficulties, changes in energy metabolism, and in children, a decrease in cognitive performance as well as negative affects on behavior.
 
On the other hand, adult men and women past childbearing age are very unlikely to have iron deficiency and can develop iron overload if they take excessive amounts of iron.
 
 
Different people approach dieting differently.  Below is what I think is a good article about one woman's approach to the Atkins' diet . . . and check out the link at the end of the article.
Kick off your day in low-carb fashion
 
March 30, 2004
 
Dana Carpender / The Dallas Morning News
 
For a long time, I, like everyone, thought plain baked potatoes and pasta salad with fat-free mayonnaise were the path to dietary salvation. A low-fat, high-carb diet plus tons of exercise got me up to 190 pounds at 5 feet 2 inches – not a pretty sight.
 
Then one day, almost nine years ago, I picked up an old nutrition book, Gayelord Hauser's New Treasury of Secrets: Your Passport to a Better Way of Living and one sentence jumped out at me: "Obesity has nothing to do with how much you eat; it is, instead, a carbohydrate intolerance disease."
 
When I was a child, everybody knew that if you wanted to lose weight you gave up potatoes, spaghetti and sweets. I figured, "What the heck do I have to lose?"
 
I've kept 40 pounds off for eight years, and my health and energy levels are superb.
 
My best piece of wisdom about living low-carb is this: There is no finish line. Instead, focus not on how quickly you can lose your weight, but on how enjoyable you can make your low-carbohydrate lifestyle. Since you're stuck with doing this forever, it doesn't much matter if it takes you an extra month or two to reach your goal.
 
 
And just in case you missed this unusual medical story from Austria.  (This Doc just might be onto something.)

Top Doc Backs Picking your Nose
 
Picking your nose and eating it is one of the best ways to stay healthy, according to a top Austrian doctor.  Dr Friedrich Bischinger said people who pick their noses with their fingers were healthy, happier and probably better in tune with their bodies.
 
"Medically it makes great sense and is a perfectly natural thing to do. In terms of the immune system the nose is a filter in which a great deal of bacteria are collected, and when this mixture arrives in the intestines it works just like a medicine.
 
He pointed out that children happily pick their noses, yet by the time they have become adults they have stopped under pressure from a society that has branded it disgusting and anti social.
 
He said: "I would recommend a new approach where children are encouraged to pick their nose. It is a completely natural response and medically a good idea as well."
 
And he pointed out that if anyone was really worried about what their neighbour was thinking, they could still enjoy picking their nose in private if they still wanted to get the benefits it offered.
The above is not meant to be medical advice.  Please read the attached Disclaimer, Etc. 
 
If you know anyone you think would like to receive "DrRehertsAlerts," CLICK HERE to send me their email address and I'll add them to the list. 
 
Coming soon www.drrehert.com.  Stay tuned!
 
Best wishes.  Dr. Rehert

DISCLAIMER:  The articles discussed in "Dr. Rehert's Medical Alerts Email List”
are solely intended to entertain, inform and educate its readers.  They are not
to be considered medical advice.  You should not alter any of your lifestyle
behavior without the advice of your personal physician.

“Dr. Rehert’s Medical Alerts Email List” is open to anyone who wants to join. 
Either send your Email address to grehert@... (recommended)  OR  you may
go to the website http://groups.yahoo.com/group/drrehertsalerts/ and follow the
“Join This Group!" instructions.  Also you can read all the earlier Emails by
clicking on http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DrRehertsAlerts/messages

If you respond to this Email list, DO NOT include any personal information . 
Though the list is configured so that all Email responses only go to the
original sender, your Email may inadvertently be sent to the list.  Also,
transmitting personal information would be a violation of The U. S. Government
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Some of the "complete article" links require a username and password (for
example MedScape.com articles).  You can access these "complete articles" using
the username: drrehertsalerts, and the password: drrehertsalerts.  If you have
any questions or problems with the email list, contact me at grehert@....

Best wishes,

Gerald M. Rehert, M.D.
285 Boulevard, NE, #520
Atlanta, GA 30312
404-688-2800

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#98 From: <grehert@...>
Date: Mon Apr 5, 2004 11:09 am
Subject: Cholesterol and Autism 		grehert
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Here's an article about the latest thoughts on cholesterol.  If you ever want to have your HDL (good cholesterol) and your LDL (bad cholesterol) checked, just let my office know.  Dr. Rehert
New Findings About Cholesterol and Heart Attacks
  
March 31, 2004
 
Sometimes people have the idea that all cholesterol in the blood is bad. But the body needs this fatty substance to create cells and hormones.
 
Low-density lipoprotein, or L.D.L., carries cholesterol into the blood.  L.D.L. is called "bad" cholesterol.  (The lower, the better.)
 
High-density lipoprotein, H.D.L., is considered "good" cholesterol.  (The higher, the better.)  H.D.L. gathers up the unused cholesterol and moves it back to the liver. The liver then destroys it.
 
If L.D.L. levels are too high, then the blood has more cholesterol than the H.D.L. can remove. The extra cholesterol sticks to the inside of the arteries. This can restrict blood flow or cause blockages that result in heart attacks and strokes. For this reason, doctors often place more importance on high levels of H.D.L., the good cholesterol.
 
But new research questions this way of thinking.  Daniel Rader is a professor who does cholesterol research at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine.  Doctor Rader agrees that high H.D.L. is a good thing.  But high H.D.L. alone does not provide enough protection.  Currently doctors are told to treat patients with heart disease or diabetes until their L.D.L. is below a level of 100.
 
The risk of heart disease also increases in people who smoke tobacco, weigh too much or do not exercise. Other influences are high blood pressure, age and family history.
 
 
The differences between women and men have always intrigued me.  Here's a story about autism - including a theory why it strikes 4 boys for every girl.
Autism Theory on Brains Sparks Debate    
 
By RON TODT, Associated Press Writer  
 
PHILADELPHIA - Cambridge University professor Simon Baron-Cohen thinks he knows why autism strikes four times as many boys as girls, but his theory of general differences between male and female brains has generated quite a bit of debate.  Baron-Cohen theorizes that the female brain is predominantly hard-wired for empathy, and that the male brain is predominantly hard-wired for understanding and building systems.  "What seems to be core (to autism) is an empathy problem alongside a very strong drive to systemize," he told an audience of about 150 people Wednesday.  Even day-old baby boys, for example, are more likely to look longer at a mechanical mobile, while girls look longer at a person's face.  
 
Autistic-type disorders, he said, appear to be an extreme version of the male brain. What causes such a shift is unclear, he said, but possible candidates include genetic differences and testosterone.  Baron-Cohen said his ideas and his new book "The Essential Difference: The Truth About the Male and Female Brain," had been greeted with interest rather than the hostility he feared after "decades of political correctness" in which the idea of any biological sex differences was anathema.  
 
"Some individuals have contacted me to say that this kind of work is politically dangerous, so that reaction is still there," he said. 
 
The above is not meant to be medical advice.  Please read the attached Disclaimer, Etc. 
 
If you know anyone you think would like to receive "DrRehertsAlerts," CLICK HERE to send me their email address and I'll add them to the list.
 
Best wishes.  Dr. Rehert

DISCLAIMER:  The articles discussed in "Dr. Rehert's Medical Alerts Email List”
are solely intended to entertain, inform and educate its readers.  They are not
to be considered medical advice.  You should not alter any of your lifestyle
behavior without the advice of your personal physician.

“Dr. Rehert’s Medical Alerts Email List” is open to anyone who wants to join. 
Either send your Email address to grehert@... (recommended)  OR  you may
go to the website http://groups.yahoo.com/group/drrehertsalerts/ and follow the
“Join This Group!" instructions.  Also you can read all the earlier Emails by
clicking on http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DrRehertsAlerts/messages

If you respond to this Email list, DO NOT include any personal information . 
Though the list is configured so that all Email responses only go to the
original sender, your Email may inadvertently be sent to the list.  Also,
transmitting personal information would be a violation of The U. S. Government
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).

Some of the "complete article" links require a username and password (for
example MedScape.com articles).  You can access these "complete articles" using
the username: drrehertsalerts, and the password: drrehertsalerts.  If you have
any questions or problems with the email list, contact me at grehert@....

Best wishes,

Gerald M. Rehert, M.D.
285 Boulevard, NE, #520
Atlanta, GA 30312
404-688-2800

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#97 From: <grehert@...>
Date: Thu Mar 4, 2004 11:57 am
Subject: WHI study, part 2, stopped. 		grehert
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The Woman's Health Initiative Study (WHI) has just stopped the estrogen-only part of the research.  It was back in July of 2002 that the estrogen+progestin part of the research was stopped because the combination-hormone-pill, "PremPro," was shown to increase the risk of breast cancer, heart attacks, strokes and blood clots.  Now, the second part of the study (where women only took the estrogen, Premarin) has been stopped because they found the same increased risk of strokes as they found earlier in the PremPro part. 
 
What was very interesting was that the women who only took Premarin did not have any increase in heart attacks -- and, more dramatically, they did not have any increase in breast cancer.  So from this monumental study, we now have strong evidence that taking estrogen alone does not increase the risk of breast cancer, and does not increase the risk of heart attacks. 
 
The increased risk of having a stroke was 8 per 10,000 woman, per year - in women who took Premarin 0.625 mg. every day.  That is a risk of 0.08% per year.  That means if you take Premarin every day for 12.5 years, you increase your overall risk of having a stroke by 1%.  (Do the math.)
 
Questions remain.  What if you take an aspirin every day with your Premarin?  Aspirin most likely reduces the risk of a stroke more than 0.08% per year . . . so you may come out with an overall reduced risk.
 
Another unanswered question is - what if you get your estrogen transdermally (by way of a skin patch, vaginal ring or estrogen lotion) rather than by taking a pill.  Transdermally the hormone avoids the first pass through the liver and therefore you prevent certain harmful changes in the blood clotting factors that occur as a result of taking hormone pills.  You may avoid the increased risk of having a stroke.
 
The bottom line is, "We don't know."  And as a result of the hoopla, confusion and hysteria surrounding the WHI, we probably never will.  Read the story as just reported:
NIH halts study of estrogen therapy
 
BY RONI RABIN
March 3, 2004
 
For the second time in two years, the National Institutes of Health has halted a massive women's health study, telling postmenopausal participants to stop taking estrogen because it does not protect them from heart disease even as it increases the risk of stroke.  Preliminary review of the study's findings indicates that estrogen does protect women from hip fractures, but also may slightly increase the risk of developing dementia or mild cognitive impairment, NIH officials said.
 
"This reinforces the previous recommendation that women should not take hormone therapy to prevent heart disease," said Dr. Barbara Alving, director of the Women's Health Initiative.  If women are considering estrogen therapy for relief of severe menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes, she said, "they should use it at the lowest doses, for the shortest period of time."
 
Hormone treatments are still approved for relief from moderate to severe hot flashes and symptoms of vulvar and vaginal wasting.
 
The estrogen-only study followed 11,000 healthy postmenopausal women, aged 50 to 79, who had previously undergone hysterectomy. It became apparent fairly early that women taking estrogen faced a slightly higher risk of stroke than the control group taking a placebo pill, NIH officials said, and participants were warned about the increased risk.
 
Women taking estrogen had eight more strokes a year for every 10,000 women, an increase in risk similar to the increased risk of women taking a combination of estrogen plus progestin, NIH officials said.
 
One intriguing finding was that estrogen alone, long suspected as a culprit in breast cancer, did not increase the risk during the time period of the study. "We were surprised," Alving said. "There was a great deal of conjecture about this."
 
More detailed analysis of data from the study will be reported in the next two months and published in medical journals, NIH officials said.
 

Click Here For The Complete Story
The above is not meant to be medical advice.  Please read the attached Disclaimer, Etc. 
 
If you know anyone you think would like to receive "DrRehertsAlerts," CLICK HERE to send me their email address and I'll add them to the list.  Check out the new, www.DrRehert.com (under construction)
 
Best wishes.  Dr. Rehert

DISCLAIMER:  The articles discussed in "Dr. Rehert's Medical Alerts Email List”
are solely intended to entertain, inform and educate its readers.  They are not
to be considered medical advice.  You should not alter any of your lifestyle
behavior without the advice of your personal physician.

“Dr. Rehert’s Medical Alerts Email List” is open to anyone who wants to join. 
Either send your Email address to grehert@... (recommended)  OR  you may
go to the website http://groups.yahoo.com/group/drrehertsalerts/ and follow the
“Join This Group!" instructions.  Also you can read all the earlier Emails by
clicking on http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DrRehertsAlerts/messages

If you respond to this Email list, DO NOT include any personal information . 
Though the list is configured so that all Email responses only go to the
original sender, your Email may inadvertently be sent to the list.  Also,
transmitting personal information would be a violation of The U. S. Government
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).

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Gerald M. Rehert, M.D.
285 Boulevard, NE, #520
Atlanta, GA 30312
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#96 From: <grehert@...>
Date: Mon Mar 1, 2004 11:21 pm
Subject: Antibiotics, Breast Cancer and Viagra 		grehert
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You may have read the story about how antibiotics increase your breast cancer risk . . . but don't take everything you read as gospel.  Here's the initial story . . . followed next by a critique of this perplexing research.
Research links antibiotics to breast cancer
 
By Warren King
 
Women who take even moderate amounts of antibiotics appear to have an increased risk of breast cancer, Seattle researchers have found.
 
The risk of the disease as much as doubles in those who take the most antibiotics, compared with women who don't take the medications, the scientists concluded in a large study of Group Health Cooperative members.  "A study trend indicated that the more antibiotics taken, the higher the risk for the cancer," said Christine Velicer, an epidemiologist at Group Health's Center for Health Studies. and lead author of the research report appearing in tomorrow's edition of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
 
But don't stop taking your antibiotics.  As mentioned above, not everyone believes this research.  Research isn't always what it seems to be.  Read on for the opposing view:
Dubious antibiotic cancer link
 
By Steven Milloy
 
    Antibiotic use increases breast cancer risk, according to a new study. But after scrutinizing the study, I'm leaning toward linking grant-hungry researchers and a publicity hungry medical journal with reprehensible sensationalism.
    The study in the Feb. 18 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association reported all levels of antibiotic use were associated with increased risk of breast cancer and death from breast cancer.
    The study triggered an avalanche of "Antibiotics Linked to Breast Cancer" news reports, most of which were sensibly tempered with "don't panic," "don't stop taking antibiotics" and "more research is needed" caveats. 
    Antibiotic use for 1 to 50 cumulative days reportedly was associated with a 50 percent increase in breast cancer risk. Antibiotic use for more than 1,000 cumulative days reportedly was associated with a 100 percent increase in risk. The results sound scary, but here's why they're not:
  
 Click here for the rest of the story
 
And if you haven't yet heard, Pfizer, the maker of Viagra, has stopped studying Viagra's effect on sexual dysfunction in women.
 
Pfizer Inc. to end tests of Viagra for women
Associated Press
 
NEW YORK - Pfizer Inc. is ending research on whether the anti-impotency drug Viagra can be used to treat female sexual problems because studies on women were inconclusive, the company said.
 
Experts agree that female sexuality is more complex than male sexuality, involving psychological and physical factors.  Joe Feczko, president of Worldwide Developing at Pfizer, said diagnosing sexual difficulties in women "involves assessing physical, emotional and relationship factors, and these complex and interdependent factors make measuring a medicine's effect very difficult."
 
 
The above is not meant to be medical advice.  Please read the attached Disclaimer, Etc. 
 
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#95 From: <grehert@...>
Date: Wed Feb 11, 2004 9:47 pm
Subject: Do drugs expire & you thought UAE is a country in the Middle East. 		grehert
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Did you ever wonder what the expiration date on your prescription means.  Well so did I.  Here's an article about this very subject . . . very interesting.
 
September 9, 2002
DO MEDICATIONS REALLY EXPIRE?
By Richard Altschuler
 
Does the expiration date on a bottle of a medication mean anything? If a bottle of Tylenol, for example, says something like "Do not use after June 1998," and it is August 2002, should you take the Tylenol? Should you discard it? Can you get hurt if you take it? Will it simply have lost its potency and do you no good?
 
In other words, are drug manufacturers being honest with us when they put an expiration date on their medications, or is the practice of dating just another drug industry scam, to get us to buy new medications when the old ones that purportedly have "expired" are still perfectly good?
 
These are the pressing questions I investigated after my mother-in-law recently said to me, "It doesn't mean anything," when I pointed out that the Tylenol she was about to take had "expired" 4 years and a few months ago. I was a bit mocking in my pronouncement -- feeling superior that I had noticed the chemical corpse in her cabinet -- but she was equally adamant in her reply, and is generally very sage about medical issues.
 
So I gave her a glass of water with the purportedly "dead" drug, of which she took 2 capsules for a pain in the upper back. About a half hour later she reported the pain seemed to have eased up a bit. I said "You could be having a placebo effect," not wanting to simply concede she was right about the drug.
 
Upon my return to NYC and high-speed connection, I immediately scoured the medical databases and general literature for the answer to my question about drug expiration labeling. And voila, no sooner than I could say "Screwed again by the pharmaceutical industry," I had my answer. Here are the simple facts:
 
First, the expiration date, required by law in the United States, beginning in 1979, specifies only the date the manufacturer guarantees the full potency and safety of the drug -- it does not mean how long the drug is actually "good" or safe to use.
 
Second, medical authorities uniformly say it is safe to take drugs past their expiration date -- no matter how "expired" the drugs purportedly are. Except for possibly the rarest of exceptions, you won't get hurt and you certainly won't get killed. A contested example of a rare exception is a case of kidney damage purportedly caused by expired tetracycline.  This outcome (disputed by other scientists) was supposedly caused by a chemical transformation of the active ingredient.
 
Third, studies show that expired drugs may lose some of their potency over time, from as little as 5% or less, to 50% or more (though usually much less than the latter). Even 10 years after the "expiration date,"
most drugs have a good deal of their original potency. So wisdom dictates that if your life does depend on an expired drug, and you must have 100% or so of its original strength, you should probably toss it and get a refill, in accordance with the cliché, "better safe than sorry." If your life does not depend on an expired drug -- such as that for headache, hay fever, or menstrual cramps -- take it and see what happens.
 
 Click Here For The Full Article Story     (Stored in the files section of DrRehertsAlerts)
You may have heard about Uterine Artery Embolization (UAE), a treatment for fibroid tumors of the uterus.  This new approach to fibroids has it's place in medicine but it looks like pregnancy afterwards is definitely not a good idea.
March 24, 2003
Uterine Fibroid Caution

PHILADELPHIA (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Research shows by age 35, one out of two white women and four out of five black women will be told they have uterine fibroids. These noncancerous tumors grow in the uterus. While a new non-surgical procedure may get rid of them, there's controversy surrounding it.
 
Fran appreciates each day with her daughter, Samantha. She went seven years without getting pregnant. A routine exam showed she had fibroid tumors. "So as far as did I have symptoms, I guess I did, I just didn't know I was having symptoms," Fran tells Ivanhoe.  Interventional radiologist Robert Worthington-Kirsch, M.D., treated her with a procedure called uterine artery embolization (UAE). It places tiny particles into the vessels that feed the fibroids.
 
Obstetrician/Gynecologist  Jay Goldberg, M.D., recently studied 50 cases of pregnancy after embolization. Despite the treatment's success, he says his paper raises some questions. "The risk of premature delivery increased from 5 to 10 percent in the general population to 28 percent after embolization, which is a pretty significant jump," Dr. Goldberg tells Ivanhoe.  Miscarriage rates increased from between 5 and 10 percent in the general population to up to 32 percent in women who had embolization. The rate of breech babies nearly tripled.
 
Dr. Goldberg, of Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia, says, "Before you can say it's safe for women to get pregnant with this afterwards, we really need to do better studies that are looking at this."
 
The above is not meant to be medical advice.  Please read the attached Disclaimer, Etc. 
 
If you know anyone you think would like to receive "DrRehertsAlerts," CLICK HERE to send me their email address and I'll add them to the list.
 
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DISCLAIMER:  The articles discussed in "Dr. Rehert's Medical Alerts Email List”
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#94 From: <grehert@...>
Date: Sun Jan 11, 2004 6:06 pm
Subject: Viagra isn't just for men & coffee isn't all bad. 		grehert
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Much research is on-going regarding Viagra's effect on women.   I'm not yet ready to prescribe it for my patients, but it is an area of study that I'm keeping up on.  Read the latest about Viagra below, and if you are interested check out the posted link:

Viagra Effective for Some Women  
Fri Dec 26,11:26 AM ET
 
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - In some postmenopausal women with sexual arousal problems, treatment with Viagra is effective and well tolerated, according to a new study.
 
Compared with women who took an inactive pill, or placebo, those who received Viagra reported "substantial positive effects on sexual function."
 
Researchers led by Dr. Jennifer R. Berman at the University of California-Los Angeles studied 202 women with "a persistent or recurring inability to attain or maintain sufficient sexual excitement that causes personal distress, which may be experienced as a lack of subjective excitement, genital lubrication/swelling, genital sensation or other somatic responses."
 
The benefits of treatment included significant improvements in genital sensation during intercourse or stimulation and in their satisfaction with intercourse or foreplay, or both.
 
While there were significant improvements on Viagra, the authors recommend that doctors take a thorough medical and psychological history from women seeking treatment for sexual problems to determine if other methods of treatment could work.
 
SOURCE: Journal of Urology, December 2003.
 
Personally I drink a lot of coffee.  It's good to occasionally read some positive news about this tasty liquid that gets me going in the morning.

Coffee Cuts Risk Of Diabetes
 
NEW YORK, Jan. 5, 2004
 
(CBS) Coffee has a complicated reputation, reports CBS News Correspondent Elizabeth Kaledin. It's popular worldwide, but over the years, caffeine -- its main ingredient -- has been linked to some cancers, jitteriness and insomnia.
 
But there's new research about our favorite pick-me-up that may "perk" up its image: a study that finds drinking coffee cuts the risk of Type 2 diabetes. "We found that heavy coffee consumption substantially reduced the risk of Type 2 diabetes in both men and women," said Dr. Frank Hu of the Harvard School of Public Health.
 
By "heavy" coffee consumption -- researchers mean 6 or more cups a day -- but what they found was startling. Among the thousands of men and women followed for the study, male coffee drinkers had a 50 percent reduction in diabetes risk. The risk for women was reduced by 30 percent.
 
"Contrary to what was initially thought, coffee is not bad for you. In fact, it may be good for you," said Dr. Peter Martin.
 
The study results are not an invitation to start drinking six cups of coffee a day if you don't already -- it will still keep you up at night. But at least now you won't be kept awake worrying that the coffee you're drinking is only doing you harm.
 
The above is not meant to be medical advice.  Please read the attached Disclaimer, Etc. 
 
If you know anyone you think would like to receive "DrRehertsAlerts," CLICK HERE to send me their email address and I'll add them to the list.
 
Best wishes.  Dr. Rehert

DISCLAIMER:  The articles discussed in "Dr. Rehert's Medical Alerts Email List”
are solely intended to entertain, inform and educate its readers.  They are not
to be considered medical advice.  You should not alter any of your lifestyle
behavior without the advice of your personal physician.

“Dr. Rehert’s Medical Alerts Email List” is open to anyone who wants to join. 
Either send your Email address to grehert@... (recommended)  OR  you may
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If you respond to this Email list, DO NOT include any personal information . 
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Best wishes,

Gerald M. Rehert, M.D.
285 Boulevard, NE, #520
Atlanta, GA 30312
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#93 From: <grehert@...>
Date: Sat Dec 20, 2003 5:48 am
Subject: C-Sections on Demand and Hysterectomy for better sex. 		grehert
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For years patients have been able to choose to have a tummy tuck or a tubal ligation.  Now the trend is to choose to have a Caesarean Section.  Read this timely story below:
MANAGED CARE January 2003.
Not long ago, managed care plans sought to reduce the rate of C-section births in the U.S.  Now, C-sections are going up -- and plans are going along.
 
Changing Medical Evidence Brings Shift in C-Section Stance
By Bob Carlson
 
"Dr. Jennifer Berman has a request that strikes at the heart of a controversy," Diane Sawyer explained as video footage showed Berman's five-month prenatal visit to her Ob/Gyn. "What she's about to ask for is an elective C-section. She wants to have her baby surgically, and she's doing it, she says, because of her first childbirth experience and because the problems she sees in her patients after they have vaginal births."
 
This is a story we're likely to encounter more often. Elective C-sections (also called C-section on demand) are, in part, behind the skyrocketing Cesarean-section birth rate in the United States.
 
Like many Ob/Gyns, Flamm and Lockwood regard C-sections as major surgery with quantifiable risks and that they should be done only if medically indicated. At the same time, they acknowledge that patient choice may become the decisive factor. That scenario gained credibility in 2001 when then- ACOG president Benson Harer, MD, advocated on-demand Cesareans in his organization's newsletter.  Speaking for himself and not for ACOG, Harer argued that Cesarean delivery is less traumatic for baby and mother.
 
"My belief is that Cesarean birth is fundamentally superior for mothers and babies," says Walters, an Ob/Gyn in Mount Vernon, Ill. "The maternal mortality rate in the United States would go down and so would long-term morbidity in terms of injury to the pelvic floor, specifically bladder prolapse, stress urinary incontinence, fecal incontinence, and uterine prolapse -- for all of which, vaginal birth is the number one risk factor."
 
Flamm expects to see an all-time high rate of Cesarean sections in the United States for 2002. Lockwood can conceive of a 50-percent rate within 10 years.  Walters predicts that all American births will be via C-section within 20 years.
 
"I don't think a doctor should tell us how to have a baby," said Berman at the end of her "Healthy Woman" segment on Good Morning America. "We're able to choose whether we want laparoscopic surgery or open surgery, whether we want a boob job or a tummy tuck. Why can't we choose this?"
 

Click Here For The Complete Story

I've thought for years that one of the main reasons my patients have hysterectomies is to eliminate pelvic pain and thereby have better sex.  Here's the latest research that says a hysterectomy improves sexual satisfaction.
Better Sex After Hysterectomy
 
Female Orgasm, Satisfaction, Improves for Most
 
By Jeanie Lerche Davis
Thursday, October 02, 2003 
 
Oct. 2, 2003 -- Sex after a hysterectomy is better, one group of researchers reports.  It's long been thought that, during a hysterectomy, damage to vaginal nerves and support structures may affect women's sexual well-being, writes researcher Jan-Paul W. R. Roovers, MD, an obstetrics-gynecology professor at the University Medical Center in Utrecht, the Netherlands.
 
A hysterectomy can be done either through an incision in the abdomen or the uterus can be removed through the vagina. Surgeons have not known whether one technique leaves better sex after hysterectomy and better female orgasms, than the other. Does an abdominal hysterectomy leave more nerves and blood vessels undamaged? Or does a vaginal hysterectomy offer more protection to those nerves and blood vessels?
 
In this study, Roovers and his colleagues -- in 13 teaching hospitals throughout the Netherlands -- compared effects of vaginal hysterectomy, abdominal hysterectomy, and abdominal hysterectomy with cervix intact in 352 women.
 
Sex after hysterectomy was better, regardless of the surgical procedure they had, he reports. Most of the women -- 310 in all -- were sexually active both before and after hysterectomy. But of the 32 women who were not sexually active before hysterectomy, 53% became sexually active afterwards.
 
However, for some women, problems persisted. Some who had abdominal hysterectomy continued to have lubrication, arousal, and sensation difficulties. Ten women who had been sexually active before hysterectomy were no longer sexually active afterwards.  In fact, there was a trend in new sexual problems in some women but no obvious increase was detected.
 
This study is the first to focus on sex after hysterectomy and female sexual well-being, notes Roovers. Trends in persistent problems warrant further study, he says. 
 
In celebration of the upcoming Holidays, CLICK HERE for a Christmas melody brought to you by the National Health Service of Great Britain.  Happy Holidays To All.
The above is not meant to be medical advice.  Please read the attached Disclaimer, Etc. 
 
If you know anyone you think would like to receive "DrRehertsAlerts," CLICK HERE to send me their email address and I'll add them to the list.
 
Best wishes.  Dr. Rehert

DISCLAIMER:  The articles discussed in "Dr. Rehert's Medical Alerts Email List”
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to be considered medical advice.  You should not alter any of your lifestyle
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“Dr. Rehert’s Medical Alerts Email List” is open to anyone who wants to join. 
Either send your Email address to grehert@... (recommended)  OR  you may
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Best wishes,

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285 Boulevard, NE, #520
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404-688-2800

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#92 From: <grehert@...>
Date: Sat Nov 29, 2003 5:36 pm
Subject: Fibroids and the Morning-After Pill 		grehert
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You may have heard me say that 25 to 35% of all women have fibroid tumors of the uterus.  Well in light of the article below I think I'll have to change my spiel.  It seems that you are "normal" only if you have fibroid tumors.
High cumulative incidence of uterine leiomyoma in black and white women- ultrasound evidence.
 
Day Baird D, Dunson DB, Hill MC, Cousins D, Schectman JM.
 
Uterine leiomyoma, or fibroid tumors, are the leading indication for hysterectomy in the United States, but the proportion of women in whom fibroid tumors develop is not known. This study screened for fibroid tumors, independently of clinical symptoms, to estimate the age-specific proportion of black and white women in whom fibroid tumors develop. Randomly selected members of an urban health plan who were 35 to 49 years old participated (1364 women). Premenopausal women were screened by ultrasonography. We estimated the age-specific cumulative incidence of fibroid tumors for black and white women. The estimated cumulative incidence of tumors by age 50 was >80% for black women and nearly 70% for white women.
 
The results of this study suggest that most black and white women in the United States develop uterine fibroid tumors before menopause.
 
PMID: 12548202 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
 
Once again the FDA is considering making the "morning-after pill" over-the-counter.  This controversy should be decided in the next few months.   
 
The good news is it would be readily available.  The bad news is that insurance companies would stop paying for it.  Read more about it here.

FDA Considers OTC 'Morning After' Pill
 
By LAURAN NEERGAARD, AP Medical Writer
 
WASHINGTON - Federal health officials are debating if it's time to put emergency contraception — also called the morning-after pill — on pharmacy shelves right next to the aspirin, available without a prescription.
 
Proponents say such a move would greatly increase women's ability to get the pills in time to prevent pregnancy: preferably within 24 hours but no more than 72 hours after rape, contraceptive failure or just forgetting birth control.
 
The morning-after pill marks the first in a series of ever more complex over-the-counter switch decisions facing FDA. Next year, the agency will be asked to allow nonprescription Mevacor, one of the popular cholesterol-fighting statins; it expects to eventually consider over-the-counter blood pressure medicine, too.
 
Already, five states allow women to buy the morning-after pill directly from certain pharmacists without a doctor's prescription. They are Washington, California, Alaska, Hawaii and New Mexico. Now the maker of one emergency contraceptive brand, called Plan B, has asked the FDA to go further and allow the pills to sell over-the-counter nationwide, as is done in numerous other countries.
 
FDA's scientific advisers will debate the request next month. Contraception advocates are pushing hard for no restrictions. They say easy over-the-counter access could spur wider use of emergency contraception, in turn preventing up to 1.7 million unplanned pregnancies each year and hundreds of thousands of abortions.
 
But emergency contraception does have opponents, including the Vatican, who oppose any interference with a fertilized egg. Critics contend if regular birth control pills are too risky for nonprescription use then emergency use is, too — and that broader access to emergency contraception actually could increase sexually transmitted diseases.
 
"You will have people ... falling back on this idea we'll all just go to the drugstore in the morning and get a morning-after pill," says Wendy Wright of Concerned Women for America, an organization that opposes abortion. Still, it's a question FDA will consider. As for side effects, the quick-ending hormone dose from emergency contraception doesn't cause problems like blood clots that longtime use of regular birth-control pills can, says FDA drug chief Dr. John Jenkins.
 
The above is not meant to be medical advice.  Please read the attached Disclaimer, Etc. 
 
I hope everyone had a happy Thanksgiving.
 
If you know anyone you think would like to receive "DrRehertsAlerts," CLICK HERE to send me their email address and I'll add them to the list.
 
Best wishes.  Dr. Rehert

DISCLAIMER:  The articles discussed in "Dr. Rehert's Medical Alerts Email List”
are solely intended to entertain, inform and educate its readers.  They are not
to be considered medical advice.  You should not alter any of your lifestyle
behavior without the advice of your personal physician.

“Dr. Rehert’s Medical Alerts Email List” is open to anyone who wants to join. 
Either send your Email address to grehert@... (recommended)  OR  you may
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If you respond to this Email list, DO NOT include any personal information . 
Though the list is configured so that all Email responses only go to the
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Best wishes,

Gerald M. Rehert, M.D.
285 Boulevard, NE, #520
Atlanta, GA 30312
404-688-2800

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#91 From: <grehert@...>
Date: Fri Nov 14, 2003 10:52 pm
Subject: Menopause makes you eat more & The Male Contraceptive 		grehert
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At least monkeys now have an excuse for menopause weight gain.  Maybe humans do to?

Menopause Equals Extra Munching, Study Shows
 
By Maggie Fox, November 12, 2003
 
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - In a possible explanation of why many women gain weight after menopause, a U.S. researcher said on Wednesday that monkeys whose ovaries are removed eat 67 percent more food and gain 5 percent of body weight in just weeks.
 
Reporting to a meeting of the Society for Neuroscience in New Orleans, Judy Cameron said she may be able to help explain why so many women begin to gain weight as they go through menopause, even though many try not to.

"When women go through the menopause, they gain weight. But there are also lifestyle changes," Cameron said in a telephone interview.  Monkeys provide a great model because they have 28-day menstrual cycles like humans and also go through menopause, she said.
 
Her team removed the ovaries of 19 out of 47 monkeys at Oregon Health & Science University.  "In the first two months, they had a 67 percent increase in food intake. These animals are chubby," she said.
 
Mysteriously, some of the monkeys were able to eat much more without gaining much more weight, while others gained large amounts of weight. "There was very little correlation between what the animals were eating and how much weight they gained," she said.
 
Here was the perfect opportunity to test an idea that dieting women have heard for years -- that eating at night puts more weight on than daytime eating.  "Some monkeys eat only daytime meals, she said. "Some get 60 percent of their calories by snacking at night."
 
That made no difference. "Nighttime eaters were not any more likely to gain weight, she said.
 
Cameron's team is testing the metabolisms of the monkeys to see if the lack of estrogen affected that. "People ask, 'So what?"' she said.  "You need to be aware that as you go through menopause, there is going to be a growing desire for food."
 
Menopausal women can watch what they eat and exercise more, she said.
And now the story so many of my patients have been waiting for --   finally . . . the Male Contraceptive:

Male Contraceptive Demonstrates Efficacy and Safety
 
Mindy Hung
 
Nov. 5, 2003 — An injection of androgen and progestin demonstrates high contraceptive efficacy in men, according to results of a study published in the October issue of the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism. The male contraceptive also showed satisfactory short-term safety and recovery of spermatogenesis.
 
"It demonstrates high contraceptive efficacy compared with the benchmarks of condoms, the existing reversible male method, and oral contraception, the major reversible female contraceptive method, which have first year failure rates of approximately 12% and 3%, respectively," write Leo Turner and colleagues from the ANZAC Research Institute in Australia.
 
Investigators studied 55 men aged 18 to 50 years, who were in a stable relationship with a female partner for one or more years and who did not seek pregnancy for at least 12 months. Subjects had to be in good general health and have normal reproductive function.
 
No pregnancies occurred in 426 person-months (35.5 person-years; 95% confidence limits for contraceptive failure rate, 0% - 8%/year) of efficacy exposure among 51 men. Sperm density fell rapidly among the majority of subjects: 94% of men entered the efficacy phase by three months; 2 (3.6%) of 55 men were not sufficiently suppressed to enter the efficacy phase.
 
All men recovered completely after treatment (median, 3.6 months to sperm reappearance and 5.0 months to 20 million sperm/mL) except one patient with an incidental testicular disorder. Four men seeking fertility achieved paternity after completion of the study.
 
J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2003;88:4659-4667
As a follow-up to last week's email, you can now access the complete Wall Street Journal article on hormone therapy and the WHI study.  It's the best analysis I've seen of this very controversial research. 
 
The above is not meant to be medical advice.  Please read the attached Disclaimer, Etc. 
 
If you know anyone you think would like to receive "DrRehertsAlerts," CLICK HERE to send me their email address and I'll add them to the list.
 
Best wishes.  Dr. Rehert

DISCLAIMER:  The articles discussed in "Dr. Rehert's Medical Alerts Email List”
are solely intended to entertain, inform and educate its readers.  They are not
to be considered medical advice.  You should not alter any of your lifestyle
behavior without the advice of your personal physician.

“Dr. Rehert’s Medical Alerts Email List” is open to anyone who wants to join. 
Either send your Email address to grehert@... (recommended)  OR  you may
go to the website http://groups.yahoo.com/group/drrehertsalerts/ and follow the
“Join This Group!" instructions.  Also you can read all the earlier Emails by
clicking on http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DrRehertsAlerts/messages

If you respond to this Email list, DO NOT include any personal information . 
Though the list is configured so that all Email responses only go to the
original sender, your Email may inadvertently be sent to the list.  Also,
transmitting personal information would be a violation of The U. S. Government
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).

Some of the "complete article" links require a username and password (for
example MedScape.com articles).  You can access these "complete articles" using
the username: drrehertsalerts, and the password: drrehertsalerts.  If you have
any questions or problems with the email list, contact me at grehert@....

Best wishes,

Gerald M. Rehert, M.D.
285 Boulevard, NE, #520
Atlanta, GA 30312
404-688-2800

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#90 From: <grehert@...>
Date: Wed Oct 29, 2003 9:35 pm
Subject: Excellent article on Hormone Therapy. 		grehert
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Every now and then I come across a cutting-edge article that I totally and enthusiastically agree with.  Below is a link to such an article that describes my (and many other free-thinking gynecologist's) viewpoint on Hormone Therapy in Menopause.  It is a shortened version of an excellent article that was in the Wall Street Journal, 10/21/2003. 
 
If you are on Hormones, considering taking Hormones, or would like to know my current view on Hormone Therapy, I encourage you to click on the link, print it out and read it.  Unfortunately the complete article is not yet available on the internet but might be found at your library.
 
Click here for the Hormone article=>    http://www.globalaging.org/health/us/thecase.htm
The above is not meant to be medical advice.  Please read the attached Disclaimer, Etc. 
 
If you know anyone you think would like to receive "DrRehertsAlerts," CLICK HERE to send their email address and I'll add them to the list.
 
Best wishes.  Dr. Rehert

DISCLAIMER:  The articles discussed in "Dr. Rehert's Medical Alerts Email List”
are solely intended to entertain, inform and educate its readers.  They are not
to be considered medical advice.  You should not alter any of your lifestyle
behavior without the advice of your personal physician.

“Dr. Rehert’s Medical Alerts Email List” is open to anyone who wants to join. 
Either send your Email address to grehert@... (recommended)  OR  you may
go to the website http://groups.yahoo.com/group/drrehertsalerts/ and follow the
“Join This Group!" instructions.  Also you can read all the earlier Emails by
clicking on http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DrRehertsAlerts/messages

If you respond to this Email list, DO NOT include any personal information . 
Though the list is configured so that all Email responses only go to the
original sender, your Email may inadvertently be sent to the list.  Also,
transmitting personal information would be a violation of The U. S. Government
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).

Some of the "complete article" links require a username and password (for
example MedScape.com articles).  You can access these "complete articles" using
the username: drrehertsalerts, and the password: drrehertsalerts.  If you have
any questions or problems with the email list, contact me at grehert@....

Best wishes,

Gerald M. Rehert, M.D.
285 Boulevard, NE, #520
Atlanta, GA 30312
404-688-2800

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#89 From: <grehert@...>
Date: Sun Oct 26, 2003 2:49 pm
Subject: Two new FDA approvals. Hormones and Herpes. 		grehert
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Here are two articles about new FDA approvals.  First, the FDA has approved a drug to prevent Herpes "shedding."  Anyone who might be a candidate for this therapy, please come in to discuss it.  
October 1 2003 • Volume 38 • Number 19
 
Drug Approved for Lowering Herpes Transmission Risk
Valtrex cut transmissions to susceptible partners by 50%-75% in 8-month study.
 
Elizabeth Mechcatie
 
The Food and Drug Administration has approved valacyclovir (Valtrex) for use as suppressive therapy to reduce the risk of heterosexual transmission of genital herpes to susceptible partners. Approval was based on the results of a landmark study of more than 1,000 heterosexual, monogamous couples. The study showed that a daily suppressive dose of 500 mg Valtrex taken by the infected partner reduced transmission of symptomatic genital herpes (herpes simplex virus type 2) to the uninfected partner by 75% over 8 months.
 
The rationale behind using Valtrex to reduce transmission rates is that the drug suppresses recurrences and reduces viral shedding.  Dr. Handsfield testified that other options for transmission prevention are only partially effective. These other options are the use of condoms, and awareness of subtle signs and symptoms of genital herpes and abstaining from intercourse when these symptoms are present.
 
In the trial, 741 participants who had recurrent genital herpes were randomly assigned to receive 500 mg/day of Valtrex; another 743 infected participants were randomized to placebo. Their susceptible partners had no history of genital herpes. At the end of the study, significantly fewer susceptible partners had become infected in the treatment group, compared with the placebo group (0.5% vs. 2.2%, respectively), representing a 75% reduction in risk.
 
In an interview, Dr. Handsfield said that uninfected partners should be tested to determine whether they have a subclinical infection before their partner starts suppressive treatment. He also emphasized that people given this prescription need to be advised that suppressive therapy is not 100% effective, and that they should still inform their partners that they are infected, be alert for symptoms of breakthrough episodes, and avoid exposing partners when symptoms are present.
 
Copyright © 2003 by International Medical News Group, an Elsevier company. Click for restrictions.
 
Second, there is soon to be a new way for you to get your estrogen - The FDA has approved new Estrasorb (estrogen lotion) that you rub into your skin daily.  Now, as in Europe, we have four different ways to get estrogen: the pill, the patch, the ring and lotion.
October 21, 2003  
 
Topical Estrogen Wins FDA Approval
 
NEW YORK (Reuters) Oct 10 - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Friday approved Estrasorb, a topical estrogen therapy drug used to treat hot flashes in menopausal women.
 
The lotion-like drug, which is applied daily, delivers the female hormone estrogen through the skin.  King Pharmaceuticals expects to begin marketing the drug in early 2004.
 
Incidentally, I recently read a statement on estrogen that impressed me, and that I agreed with.  It was by Dr. Robert Barbieri of Harvard Medical School.  After he considered the latest findings from the WHI research, he said: 
 
(Sept.,2003) "The news about heart disease is much better.  In the WHI, the women studied were predominantly healthy and relatively free of cardiovascular disease at the beginning of the study.  In the first year of treatment, the risk of coronary heart disease in the women treated with Hormone therapy increased; however, after the first year, the risk of coronary heart disease was similar in the estrogen-progestin and placebo groups. 
 
After 6 years of treatment, there was no difference in the cumulative risk of coronary heart disease between the estrogen-progestin and placebo groups.  This means that women who have already completed their first year of estrogen-progestin treatment are unlikely to be at additional increased risk for coronary heart disease based on estrogen-progestin treatment."
 
So if you have been on hormones for over a year, you probably have no increased risk of heart disease from continuing it.   Dr. Rehert
The above is not meant to be medical advice.  Please read the attached Disclaimer, Etc. 
 
If you know anyone you think would like to receive "DrRehertsAlerts," CLICK HERE to send their email address and I'll add them to the list.
 
Best wishes.  Dr. Rehert

DISCLAIMER:  The articles discussed in "Dr. Rehert's Medical Alerts Email List”
are solely intended to entertain, inform and educate its readers.  They are not
to be considered medical advice.  You should not alter any of your lifestyle
behavior without the advice of your personal physician.

“Dr. Rehert’s Medical Alerts Email List” is open to anyone who wants to join. 
Either send your Email address to grehert@... (recommended)  OR  you may
go to the website http://groups.yahoo.com/group/drrehertsalerts/ and follow the
“Join This Group!" instructions.  Also you can read all the earlier Emails by
clicking on http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DrRehertsAlerts/messages

If you respond to this Email list, DO NOT include any personal information . 
Though the list is configured so that all Email responses only go to the
original sender, your Email may inadvertently be sent to the list.  Also,
transmitting personal information would be a violation of The U. S. Government
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).

Some of the "complete article" links require a username and password (for
example MedScape.com articles).  You can access these "complete articles" using
the username: drrehertsalerts, and the password: drrehertsalerts.  If you have
any questions or problems with the email list, contact me at grehert@....

Best wishes,

Gerald M. Rehert, M.D.
285 Boulevard, NE, #520
Atlanta, GA 30312
404-688-2800

Reply | Forward | Messages in this Topic (1)
#87 From: <grehert@...>
Date: Thu Oct 9, 2003 4:08 pm
Subject: Follow-up ti the last email -- More Breast Cancer Risks. 		grehert
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Just a follow-up to my last email . . . here are a few more associations between breast cancer and living life. 
As previously reported in DrRehertsAlerts, drinking alcohol increases breast cancer.  In fact, each drink (per day) increases your risk 7% according to the study below.

Click Here For The Complete Story==>http://www.cancer.org/docroot/NWS/content/NWS_2_1x_Breast_Cancer_Risk_Linked_To_Drinking.asp

Also, as reported here, cigarette smoking increases breast cancer in women who begin smoking within five years of their first menstrual period.

Click Here For The Complete Story==>http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20021004/smoking_breast_cancer_021004/?s_name

But without a doubt the highest risk factor for breast cancer -- the factor that increases your risk 100 times -- in other words it increases your risk of getting breast cancer 10,000%.  That is the increased risk of being a female.  For every case of male breast cancer, there are 100 cases of female breast cancer. 
 
So why are we so surprised to learn that estrogen increases the risk of getting breast cancer 24%.  I'm surprised it's not higher.  Dr.Rehert
The above is not meant to be medical advice.  Please read the attached Disclaimer, Etc. 
If you know anyone who would like to receive "DrRehertsAlerts," send their Email address to grehert@...
 
Best wishes.  Dr. Rehert
DISCLAIMER:  The articles discussed in "Dr. Rehert's Medical Alerts Email List”
are solely intended to entertain, inform and educate its readers.  They are not
to be considered medical advice.  You should not alter any of your lifestyle
behavior without the advice of your personal physician.

“Dr. Rehert’s Medical Alerts Email List” is open to anyone who wants to join. 
Either send your Email address to grehert@... (recommended)  OR  you may
go to the website http://groups.yahoo.com/group/drrehertsalerts/ and follow the
“Join This Group!" instructions.  Also you can read all the earlier Emails by
clicking on http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DrRehertsAlerts/messages

If you respond to this Email list, DO NOT include any personal information . 
Though the list is configured so that all Email responses only go to the
original sender, your Email may inadvertently be sent to the list.  Also,
transmitting personal information would be a violation of The U. S. Government
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).

Some of the "complete article" links require a username and password (for
example MedScape.com articles).  You can access these "complete articles" using
the username: drrehertsalerts, and the password: drrehertsalerts.  If you have
any questions or problems with the email list, contact me at grehert@....

Best wishes,

Gerald M. Rehert, M.D.
285 Boulevard, NE, #520
Atlanta, GA 30312
404-688-2800

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