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#146 From: "grehert" <grehert@...>
Date: Wed Oct 21, 2009 8:10 pm
Subject: My radio interview on Bioidentical Hormones. 		grehert
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My radio interview on bioidentical hormones went well.  People who heard it said I did a good job.  There was a lot more I had to say but ran out of time...   maybe there will be a sequel.
 
I have posted an MP3 file on-line which you can download if you'd like to hear 55 minutes of me talking about the fascinating but complex subject of bioidentical hormones.  (I really did try to simplify it.)  It is available on-line for 30 days.
 
Go to https://sth-se.diino.com/drrehert  and use the password  "alerts"  (no quotes). 
 
Then click on the file:  "Bioidentical Hormones Dr Rehert.mp3" and either "Save" it to your computer to play later.  Or click "Open" to download it and play it immediately.
 
A lot of internet service providers won't let you download a 12 MB file.  I tried to compress it, and tried to cut it in half but was unsuccessful. 
 
So if you want to know my views on the subject of bioidentical hormones, it's there for the downloading.
 
Good Luck,
 
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.
 
Best wishes,  Dr. Rehert

Gerald M. Rehert, M.D.
Atlanta, Georgia
 

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.

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#145 From: "grehert" <grehert@...>
Date: Sun Oct 18, 2009 8:55 pm
Subject: Important Announcement from Dr. Rehert 		grehert
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Important Announcement from Dr. Rehert

 

Remember, 3 hours from now, tonight from 8 pm to 8:55 pm, Eastern Daylight Time, (EDT), I am being interviewed on Internet radio by famous interviewer Eva Herr.  Her show is called, "The Infinite Consciousness" and the subject is Bioidentical Hormones.   

 

I plan to give my views on bioidentical hormones and clear up some of the confusion that so many people have about this very interesting subject.

 

So tune tonight at 8 pm.  Go to bbsradio.com and click on "BBS Station 1".   Or click on  www.bbsradio.com/infiniteconsciousness.  Either link should get you there. 

 

On the website you may see the show listed as 5 pm.  That's because it is 5 pm "Pacic Daylight Time."  But in Atlanta it starts at 8 pm.

 

 Hope you can tune in.

 

 Dr. Rehert

 


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#144 From: "grehert" <grehert@...>
Date: Mon Aug 17, 2009 7:49 pm
Subject: Vitamin D & Hormone Therapy 		grehert
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It seems like I'm always finding a new reason to take my Vitamin D.  But I'm not surprised since taking a Vitamin D pill is like getting a little extra sunlight...  and sunlight is up there in importance with water and oxygen.  So here's the latest word on Vitamin D, the Sunshine Vitamin: 
Vitamin D supplements may cut depression symptoms
Aug 12, 2009
 
Treating women with seasonal depression using a vitamin D supplement can reduce depressive symptoms, according to a study published in...Applied Nursing Research.

Clarissa Shipowick... and colleagues conducted a study of nine women with serum vitamin D levels of less than 40... The subjects experienced an average increase in vitamin D levels of 27... after taking a daily supplement of 5,000 IU of the vitamin, and depressive symptoms eased after supplementation, the investigators found...

Click Here For The Complete Story=> http://www.modernmedicine.com/modernmedicine/Modern+Medicine+Now/Vitamin-D-Supplements-May-Cut-Depression-Symptoms/ArticleNewsFeed/Article/detail/612327?contextCategoryId=46736
 
Our second article is about Dr. Leon Speroff who is one of the thought leaders of modern Gynecology.  Here are his most recent opinions on the fascinating and constantly changing subject of menopausal hormone therapy...  and views that I totally agree with.  Dr. Rehert
Hormones reduce heart disease risk in younger women
Sunday, August 16, 2009

The headlines contending that hormone therapy increases the chance of heart attacks and cancer are not completely accurate, according to one expert.

Hormone therapy for older women, in their 60s and 70s, does carry increased risk of heart attacks, says Dr. Leon Speroff... But for younger women, that's not the case. A number of studies indicate estrogen therapy very likely does reduce heart disease in women under 60... The much publicized Women's Health Initiative found that heart attacks increased only in women over the age of 70, he said.  A re-analysis of the data published in 2007 showed that women ages 50 to 60 who participated in the study had a reduction in coronary heart disease...

So the message today is different from the original message in 2002... "Slowly but surely, an accurate assessment of the Women's Health Initiative data has emerged," says Speroff, a national expert in the field of reproductive endocrinology and professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the Oregon Health and Science University...

Speroff believes estrogen's relationship to breast cancer has been overstated...  "If it is real," he said - it is less than the risk associated with a positive family history, drinking every day or being overweight.  Speroff believes hormone therapy most likely increases the chances of detecting tumors already in progress rather than causes cancer... In fact, hormone therapy may be helpful, he says.

Click Here To Read More On This Ever Developing Subject=>  http://journalstar.com/news/local/article_a6ba8f90-8a00-11de-a130-001cc4c002e0.html
 
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

Gerald M. Rehert, M.D.
Atlanta, Georgia

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.

Reply | Forward | Messages in this Topic (1)
#143 From: "grehert" <grehert@...>
Date: Mon Jul 27, 2009 4:43 pm
Subject: Walk faster, and take your hormones. 		grehert
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Here are two articles that may interest you.  First, for all of you who get your exercise from walking, there's good scientific evidence that fast walking is better for you than slow walking or "moseying" as we used to say in Baltimore.  Read about it here:

Study: Faster walkers may live longer

By Jeannine Stein

Los Angeles Times, July 23, 2009

Walking is a terrific and convenient form of exercise, especially as people get older. But is a leisurely stroll as good as a fast clip? A recent study measuring walking speed and longevity says maybe not, at least when it comes to life expectancy.

In a presentation at the IAGG World Congress of Gerontology and Geriatrics this month in Paris, researchers analyzed nine previous studies that included 34,000 men and women whose average age was almost 74.

Overall, faster walkers lived longer than slower walkers, with those walking at a gait speed of 1.4 meters a second or faster more than twice as likely to be alive after 10 years than those who walked at 0.4 meters a second or slower.

Click Here For The Complete Story=> http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/health/2009520943_walk23.html
 
And next is one of the best articles I've seen recently on hormones.  It was published on a website called lifescript.com.  (The pendulum continues to swing back.) 
 
 
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

Gerald M. Rehert, M.D.
Atlanta, Georgia
 

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.

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#142 From: "grehert" <grehert@...>
Date: Mon Jul 20, 2009 2:52 pm
Subject: Fish oil keeps you smart. 		grehert
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So don't forget to take your fish oil every day.  Here's one reason why:

Senior Citizens Have Less Dementia if They Eat Omega-3 Rich Fish, Finds 7-Nation Study

Results inconclusive on impact of dementia risk from eating meat

July 17, 2009 – A large study of almost 15,000 senior citizens in seven countries has determined that eating more fish, which contain omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, results in older people having less dementia. 

Click here for the rest of the story==>http://www.seniorjournal.com/NEWS/Nutrition-Vitamins/2009/20090717-SenCitHaveLessDementia.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 me their email address and I'll add them to the list.
 
Best wishes,  Dr. Rehert

Gerald M. Rehert, M.D.
Atlanta, Georgia
 

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.

Reply | Forward | Messages in this Topic (1)
#141 From: "grehert" <grehert@...>
Date: Wed May 27, 2009 1:49 am
Subject: Vitamin D - the latest. 		grehert
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So you're still not taking vitamin D? 
What are you waiting for?    Dr.Rehert
 
May 26, 2009 

 

Vitamin D May Help Keep Aging at Bay
Researchers speculate that brain might benefit from supplements

FRIDAY, May 22 (HealthDay News) -- High levels of vitamin D might help keep the brain healthy as people age, new research suggests.

For the study, which included more than 3,000 European men aged 40 to 79, the researchers assessed the men's memory and how quickly they processed information. They also examined other factors that affect mental agility, such as physical activity levels and mood. Blood samples were taken to measure the men's circulating levels of vitamin D, which the body produces through exposure to sunlight and obtains through dietary sources.

The study authors found that high circulating vitamin D levels were associated with high scores on memory and information-processing tests, while low vitamin D levels were associated with poor scores. The findings appear online in advance of publication in the print issue of the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry.

The exact link between circulating vitamin D levels and mental agility isn't clear, but it's possible that vitamin D increases certain hormonal activity or protects neurons and chemical-signaling pathways, according to the researchers.

"Previous studies exploring the relationship between vitamin D and cognitive performance in adults have produced inconsistent findings, but we observed a significant, independent association between a slower information processing speed and lower levels of vitamin D," said study author David M. Lee, of the University of Manchester in the United Kingdom, in a news release from the university.

"The main strengths of our study are that it is based on a large population sample and took into account potential interfering factors, such as depression, season and levels of physical activity," Lee added. "Interestingly, the association between increased vitamin D and faster information processing was more significant in men aged over 60 years, although the biological reasons for this remain unclear."

If vitamin D supplements can help reduce the effects of aging on the brain, the health implications could be significant because many people, particularly the elderly, are vitamin D-deficient, the researchers pointed out.

More information

The American Psychological Association explains memory changes in older adults.



-- Robert Preidt


 
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

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.

Reply | Forward | Messages in this Topic (1)
#140 From: "grehert" <grehert@...>
Date: Sat May 16, 2009 4:07 pm
Subject: Some healthful advice from "60 Minutes." 		grehert
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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

Gerald M. Rehert, M.D.
Atlanta, Georgia


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#139 From: "grehert" <grehert@...>
Date: Mon Apr 6, 2009 6:12 pm
Subject: DrRehertsAlerts 		grehert
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From Harvard University:  Now you can prevent up to 75% of cancer deaths so says this article.

You don't have to be an international scientist to understand how you can try to protect yourself and your family. The 10 commandments of cancer prevention are:

1. Avoid tobacco in all its forms, including exposure to secondhand smoke.

2. Eat properly. Reduce your consumption of saturated fat and red meat, which appears to increase the risk of colon and prostate cancers. Limit your intake of charbroiled foods (especially meat), and avoid deep-fried foods. Increase your consumption of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Although other reports are mixed, two large 2003 studies found that high-fiber diets may reduce the risk of colon cancer. And don't forget to eat fish two to three times a week; you'll get protection from heart disease, and you may reduce your risk of prostate cancer.

3. Exercise regularly. Physical activity has been linked to a reduced risk of colon cancer, and it may even help prevent prostate cancer. Exercise also appears to reduce a woman's risk of breast and possibly reproductive cancers. Exercise will help protect you even if you don't lose weight.

4. Stay lean. Obesity increases the risk of many forms of cancer. Calories count; if you need to slim down, take in fewer calories and burn more with exercise.

5. If you choose to drink, limit yourself to one to two drinks a day. Excess alcohol increases the risk of cancers of the mouth, larynx (voice box), esophagus (food pipe), liver, and colon; it also increases a woman's risk of breast cancer. Smoking further increases the risk of many alcohol-induced malignancies.

6. Avoid unnecessary exposure to radiation. Get medical imaging studies only when you need them. Check your home for residential radon, which increases the risk of lung cancer. Protect yourself from ultraviolet radiation in sunlight, which increases the risk of melanomas and other skin cancers. But don't worry about electromagnetic radiation from high-voltage power lines or radiofrequency radiation from microwaves and cell phones. They do not cause cancer.

7. Avoid exposure to industrial and environmental toxins such as asbestos fibers, benzene, aromatic amines, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs).

8. Avoid infections that contribute to cancer, including hepatitis viruses, HIV, and the human papillomavirus. Many are transmitted sexually or through contaminated needles.

9. Consider taking low-dose aspirin. Men who take aspirin or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs appear to have a lower risk of colon cancer and possibly prostate cancer. It's an unproven benefit, and aspirin can produce gastric bleeding and other side effects, even in low doses. On the plus side, though, low-dose aspirin does protect men from heart attacks and the most common type of stroke; men at the highest risk reap the greatest benefits.

10. Get enough vitamin D. Many experts now recommend 800 to 1,000 IU a day, a goal that's nearly impossible to attain without taking a supplement. Although protection is far from proven, evidence suggests that vitamin D may help reduce the risk of prostate cancer, colon cancer, and other malignancies. But don't count on other supplements. Careful studies show that selenium, vitamins C and E, beta carotene, folic acid, and multivitamins are not protective, and that some may do more harm than good.

These lifestyle changes will yield another cancer-preventing benefit: if you stay healthy, you won't need cancer treatments (chemotherapy, radiotherapy, drugs that suppress the immune system) that have the ironic side effect of increasing the risk of additional cancers.

As always, prevention is the best medicine.

Click Here For The Complete Story=>

https://www.health.harvard.edu/newsletters/Harvard_Mens_Health_Watch/2009/April/The-10-commandments-of-cancer-prevention?utm_source=mens&utm_medium=pressrelease&utm_campaign=mens0409
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

Reply | Forward | Messages in this Topic (1)
#138 From: "grehert@..." <grehert@...>
Date: Wed Aug 29, 2007 1:12 am
Subject: Hormones and weight; airplane rides and blood clots; and the latest on estrogen therapy. 		grehert
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This first story is an interesting study done on rats. (Hey, don't laugh -- probably 98% of our genes are the same as rats.)  Anyway, when rats are deprived of estrogen (i.e. like in menopause) their weight goes up, as well as their blood pressure.  This could very well lead to some valuable (human) research.  Stay tuned.
August 13, 2007
 
Less Estrogen may Mean More Pounds
 
A new study lends more fodder for the debate regarding the health benefits of estrogen supplements after menopause. Researchers link estrogen deficiency to a greater risk of developing high blood pressure and becoming obese.
 
Investigators from the University of Texas conducted the study using 24 elderly rats. Two-thirds of the rats had their ovaries removed. The rest kept their ovaries and served as controls. Then half of the rats without ovaries were given estrogen replacement therapy.
 
Blood pressure readings were highest in rats with no ovaries and no estrogen. Readings were lowest in the rats treated with estrogen.  Rats without ovaries and not on estrogen also gained twice as much weight as the control rats.  Rats who had the surgery but were treated with estrogen escaped all of the adverse effects.

Whenever I fly in an airplane, I prepare for the trip by taking a course of aspirin.  This reduces the chance of getting potentially fatal blood clots in my legs since aspirin reduces the bloods ability to clot.  So far it's never failed me.  Here's a story from the AP that details this very risk of a deep vein thrombosis/DVT (or blood clot) developing from airplane travel.  They're not recommending aspirin, but its the same principle; and a valuable one you should be aware of.
Air travelers should exercise legs
 
Associated Press
Jun 28, 2007
 
GENEVA - The World Health Organization recommended Friday that passengers on long flights exercise their legs and resist taking sleeping pills to reduce the risk of potentially fatal blood clots.
 
Although the danger of developing deep vein thrombosis — normally in the form of a blood clot in the calves — is small, it increases if people are immobile for long periods in cramped conditions.
 
Studies showed the risk of developing blood clots during any form of travel longer than four hours was 1 in 6,000 among the general population. That would translate into one case for every 15 fully booked jumbo jets.
 
"The risk to an individual stepping on a plane is tiny," said Patrick Kesteven, a British doctor.  "The problem is, vast numbers of people step on planes, and so it's a tiny risk multiplied by a huge denominator, so that in terms of a public health issue it's a highly significant problem," he said.
 
Shanthi Mendis, a WHO expert on the issue, said the risks vary depending on a person's condition and how they behave, but added that the most important factor was immobility.  By getting up for a short walk, or doing exercises to contract the calf muscles every hour, passengers can greatly reduce the risk of blood clots, she said.
 
Mendis said research was needed to determine the precise impact of these risk factors, but one study had shown that women who take birth control pills are 10 times more likely to develop blood clots during long-distance travel than the average person.
 
Symptoms of blood clots include pain or cramps in the calves, and swelling of the leg, Mendis said.
 
As you all know, estrogen therapy has been through the "media ringer" these past few years.  Every now and then I come across an article that does a remarkable job of bringing all the latest thoughts on estrogen into focus.  This next piece, from June 2007, is just such an article.  Enjoy it and I hope it leads to a healthier populace.
Doctors change course again on estrogen therapy
 
Those who take the hormones shortly after menopause may benefit, researchers say, clarifying earlier findings that scared many away from the treatment.
 
June 21, 2007
 
Nearly five years after government scientists told women that estrogen replacement therapy increased their risks of heart attack and stroke, researchers have largely reversed their position, concluding that the drugs are beneficial for many after all.
 
Continuing analysis of the original data indicates that the researchers raised a false alarm for most women and that, if women begin taking the hormones shortly after menopause, the drugs do not raise the risk of heart disease and might even lower it.
 
The latest findings, published in today's New England Journal of Medicine, show that taking estrogen for seven years or more after menopause reduces calcification of the arteries — a key indicator of atherosclerosis — by as much as 60%. High levels of calcification are generally considered a predictor of increased heart attack risk.  The only group of women at significant risk from the drugs are those who delay taking them for at least 10 years after menopause, experts said.
 
The findings "provide some additional reassurance for women who have been denying themselves relief" from hot flashes and other symptoms of menopause, said Dr. JoAnn Manson of Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, who led both the original and the latest research.  Virtually all researchers agree that women should not fear using estrogen replacement therapy to mitigate menopausal symptoms. The debate is over how long they may safely continue to do so.
 
Dr. Howard N. Hodis, director of USC's Atherosclerosis Research Unit, countered: "There is absolutely no evidence, none, zero, that if you start a woman on estrogen at menopause and continue until she is 80, the risk goes up as she gets older."  There is an increased risk of breast cancer with age for estrogen when combined with progestin, Hodis said at a news conference Tuesday sponsored by Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, and it is not clear whether the risk outweighs the benefits.
 
"We will never know when we should stop hormones," said Dr. Michelle Warren of the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, who spoke at the news conference and urged the shortest use possible. But "if you have been on the hormone since the time of menopause, I am not worried anymore."
 
Dr. Jacques Rossouw, who heads the heart institute's Women's Health Initiative branch, said it was virtually impossible to conduct a study on long-term hormone use because the risks are so low that the number of women required would be prohibitive.
 
The new study involved a subset of 1,064 women in the Women's Health Initiative study who were ages 50 to 59 and had undergone surgically induced menopause through a hysterectomy. Half were randomized to receive a Wyeth-produced estrogen called Premarin and half a placebo.
 
The women were on the drugs for an average of 7 1/2 years. About a year after the study was stopped, physicians used CT scans to measure the buildup of calcium deposits, or atherosclerotic plaque, in their blood vessels.
 
Overall, they found, women taking estrogen had 42% less calcification of their arteries. Women who had taken at least 80% of their daily doses of the drug had 61% less calcification.
 
The results were "clear and striking," wrote Dr. Michael E. Mendelsohn and Dr. Richard H. Karas of the Tufts University School of Medicine in an editorial accompanying the study. "Now, some clarity about hormone replacement therapy and heart disease is emerging."
 
Another analysis by Manson and Rossouw, published in the Journal of the American Medical Assn. in April, found a 30% decrease in the number of deaths from any cause among women receiving estrogen during the course of the research.  They concluded that the use of estrogen by women in their 50s would reduce the number of heart attacks per 10,000 women to 17 from 27, and the number of strokes to 15 from 17.
 
The newest findings probably will not drastically change clinical practices, said Dr. Robert Greenfield, a cardiologist at Orange Coast Memorial Medical Center in Fountain Valley. "Women who are thinking about taking them should do so because they have peri-menopausal symptoms," and not to prevent heart disease, he said. "Using them in modest doses for symptoms is the way to go."
 
For younger women, there seems to be little downside, added Dr. Suzanne R. Steinbaum of Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. "With a much younger and healthier population, we can easily go forward in reassuring women that HRT will not be the cause of future heart attacks," she said.
 
The change in attitudes about hormone replacement therapy is an outgrowth of the development of what is known as the "timing hypothesis," Mendelsohn and Karas said.
 
The initial negative findings in the Women's Health Initiative resulted because the investigators included a substantial number of older women in the study in the hopes of observing enough heart attacks to be able to draw conclusions. But those women are rarely considered for hormone replacement therapy.
 
Dr. Robert W. Rebar, executive director of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, concluded: "We are clearly learning that the benefits of estrogen in young, healthy, symptomatic post-menopausal women outweigh the risks."
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

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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285 Boulevard, NE, #520
Atlanta, GA 30312
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#137 From: "grehert@..." <grehert@...>
Date: Fri May 25, 2007 2:22 pm
Subject: Two stories on Hormones - Good News! 		grehert
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Some new material has come out recently on hormone therapy and I wanted to bring you all up to date. 

 

As you know, the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) research in 2002 totally reversed medicine's thinking about hormone therapy.  Prior to WHI we thought hormone replacement therapy (HRT) was a healthy anti-aging option for women.  After the release of WHI, we considered hormones a death sentence through their causation of heart attacks, strokes and breast cancer.  My simplistic mind could never understand how natural low dose hormones from a woman's ovaries could be so deadly (as compared to their absence), but some 40 million women stopped their hormones due to this flawed research and the resulting media hype which followed. 

 

Dr. Leon Speroff, one of gynecology's "thought leaders" has come out recently with an editorial which attacks this subject by asking the question, "How much harm has been done."  Read more of his thoughts just below:

What have we learned from the WHI 
 
May 1, 2007 
Leon Speroff, MD 
 
After reading the latest report from the Women's Health Initiative (WHI), I've struggled with my emotional reaction. Without success, I've tried to suppress my anger. I ended up wondering: "How much harm has been done?"

 

The WHI investigators conducted a secondary analysis, assessing cardiovascular results by age groups (50–59, 60–69, and 70–79) and according to years since menopause (<10, 10–19, and =20)

 

An increased risk for coronary heart disease (CHD) was present only in the oldest women in the trials. The authors calculated absolute risks and found no increases for heart disease, stroke, or total mortality in women aged 50 to 59. In fact, only the increase in heart disease events in women 20+ years since menopause reached statistical significance. The authors concluded that there was no apparent increase in cardiovascular disease risk in treated women close to their menopause.

 

The data in this WHI report are not new.  What is new is that the WHI is finally reporting this finding to the public, almost 5 years since the first dramatic publication in July 2002.

 

Do these results rule out the possibility that hormone therapy given to young postmenopausal women may prevent coronary heart disease? I think not. There continues to be a growing story that adequate estrogen exposure prior to the clinical presence of atherosclerosis provides protection against cardiovascular disease. How many heart attacks and fractures will be documented in the coming years arising in the population of women who discontinued their hormone therapy following the WHI publicity?

 

Click Here For The Complete Story=>  http://www.contemporaryobgyn.net/obgyn/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=426598

 

 

Another and more provocative story on the same subject from England (where the politics may have less influence) is printed next:

 

U-turn on the risks of HRT as experts say it CAN cut heart disease

 

04.09.07

 

Stressful times, but experts are now saying HRT does not increase the risks of heart disease and strokes. 

 

Millions of women may have been scared into abandoning HRT unnecessarily according to a new report.  The U.S. report which linked the treatment to heart disease and strokes has been shown to be dramatically flawed. 

 

A detailed new look at its research results revealed that hormone replacement therapy may actually protect many patients against such illnesses.  British experts said the revised analysis of the Women's Health Initiative Study virtually reversed the 2002 warning that led millions of women to stop HRT or not start it.  

 

It has discovered that any extra risks may apply only to older patients - with HRT actually boosting the health of the women in their 50s who are most likely to use it to fight symptoms of the menopause.  Their risk of stroke is no higher and their risk of dying prematurely is actually 30 per cent lower.

 

Dr John Stevenson, an HRT expert from London's Royal Brompton Hospital, launched a furious attack on the original researchers and warned that women who stopped taking hormones would go on to suffer heart attacks and other illnesses they 'didn't deserve'.  He said: "This is a U-turn of dramatic proportions. These conclusions are at complete variance with the widely-publicised 2002 results on which our guidance on prescribing is based.  "We are astonished that a study which made such a claim for the dangers of HRT is now showing just the opposite. It is an affront to science, adding insult to injury for the thousands of women in the UK alone who abandoned HRT."

 

Patrick Shervington, of the charity Women's Health Concern, said the original analysis "dissuaded both women and their doctors from using HRT, with the result that thousands of women have suffered menopausal complaints and may have done untold harm to their future health".

 

HRT, which can take the form of pills, patches or a nasal spray, is known to protect against the bone-thinning disease osteoporosis and may even stave off the development of Alzheimer's disease in later life.

 

The 2002 trial looked at the overall health of more than 16,000 women between 50 and 79, half of whom took HRT.  It reported that those on HRT were 29 per cent more likely to have heart problems, 41 per cent more likely to have a stroke and at 26 per cent greater risk of breast cancer.  The researchers were so concerned about their health that the trial was stopped three years early.

 

British doctors pointed out at the time that most of the women taking part were much older than those typically given HRT.  But the safety fears led to UK doctors being told to prescribe the treatment for the shortest period possible. The number of women taking HRT any one time halved to just 900,000.

 

The latest analysis, carried out by many of the same researchers and published in the respected Journal of the American Medical Association, looked at the same results.  Crucially, however, it focused for the first time on whether the health effects varied with age.

 

Wide differences were quickly discovered. It emerged that women who start HRT  shortly after the menopause are not more likely to get heart problems. Their risk is actually 24 per cent lower than those not using hormones.

 

They also have a lower risk of dying, so for every 10,000 women from 50 to 59 using hormones there would be 10 fewer deaths than among 100,000 non-users.

 

In contrast, women who start HRT 20 years or more past the menopause face a 28 per cent higher risk of heart problems.

 

It is thought that if HRT is taken early, when the arteries are still relatively healthy, it may protect against heart problems developing.  Taken later in life, when the arteries are more likely to have suffered damage, it may make matters worse.

 

The new analysis did not look in detail at the breast cancer dangers, although it found that younger women taking the form of HRT which combines oestrogen-with synthetic progesterone were at greater risk.  But Dr Stevenson said the link with breast cancer was still unclear and any increased risk was 'incredibly small'.

 

He added: "The latest analysis confirms what most European clinicians have been saying, namely that the HRT used in the study was appropriate and beneficial for women under 60.

 

"The study says these women have a lower risk of coronary disease, a lower risk of death from any cause and no increased risk for stroke.  "There have to be women who, in years to come, are going to get a fracture they didn't deserve or a heart attack they didn't deserve."

 

Dr Stevenson, who is also a member of the British Menopause Society and Women's Health Concern, called on the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, which is responsible for drug safety, to consider the new findings 'as a matter of urgency'.

 

The MHRA said last night: "We look at all new research in this area and will issue further advice if necessary."

 

Click Here For The Complete Story=>   http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=447476&in_page_id=1770

 

 

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

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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Atlanta, GA 30312
404-688-2800

Reply | Forward | Messages in this Topic (1)
#136 From: "grehert@..." <grehert@...>
Date: Sun Feb 18, 2007 4:48 pm
Subject: Fw: Olive oil, Folic Acid and Cesarean Sections. 		grehert
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First a story about olive oil.  If you use it regularly, it turns out you may be reducing your risk of cancer . . . just another example of how vegetable fats benefit your health.  Read more here:
Researchers have found that olive oil can be used to prevent cancer
 
Four teaspoons of olive oil a day can help protect against cancer, scientists claim.  A study of 182 European men found a diet rich in olive oil reduced levels of chemicals in the blood which can trigger cancer.
 
The Danish team said it could explain why many cancer rates are higher in northern Europe than in the south, where olive oil is a major part of the diet.
 
Researchers at Copenhagen University Hospital measured levels of 8-oxodG - a substance which indicates damage to cells - in men's urine.  After taking olive oil the men were found to have around 13 per cent less.
 
Dr Henrik E Poulsen, of Rigshospitalet, Denmark, who led the study, said: "Every piece of evidence so far points to olive oil being a healthy food. By the way, it also tastes great."
 
A diet rich in olive oil, combined with fruit, vegetables and carbohydrates such as wheat pasta, has been cited as contributing to higher life expectancy rates in Mediterranean countries.
 

Click Here For The Complete Story=>http://e-ciasa.blogspot.com/2007_01_01_archive.html
 
Here's one of the reasons I take my Folic Acid every morning.  There's also evidence that Folic Acid prevents heart attacks and strokes. 
Folic acid improves cognitive performance
 
January 18, 2007  
 
Wageningen, the Netherlands - A randomized, placebo-controlled trial has shown daily folic acid significantly improves cognitive performance in older adults—specifically as it relates to memory and information processing.
 
The study, which included 818 subjects aged 50 to 70 who were folate deficient, showed those who took 800-µg oral folic acid daily for three years had significantly better memory and information-processing speed than subjects in the placebo group.  "We have shown that three-year folic-acid supplementation improves performance on tests that measure information-processing speed and memory, domains that are known to decline with age."
 
Study subjects were men and women from the Netherlands who were participating in the Folic Acid and Carotid Intima-Media Thickness (FACIT) trial, which is investigating the effect of folic-acid supplementation on atherosclerotic progression. However, this article reports on one of the study's secondary outcomes—the effect of folic-acid supplementation on cognitive performance.
 
Among individuals in the placebo group, sensorimotor speed, information-processing speed, and complex speed declined significantly. In contrast, those in the folic-acid group experienced a much slower rate of decline. Furthermore, the three-year change in cognitive function was significantly better in the folic-acid group in terms of information-processing speed.
 

Click Here For The Complete Story=>http://www.theheart.org/article/765625.do
 
The Cesarean section rate in the United States is currently between 20 and 30%.  If anything might increase this rate further, it could well be this next article.
Bleeding in brain common at birth
 
By Thomas H. Maugh II, Los Angeles Times
 
A quarter of babies born vaginally suffer small hemorrhages in their brains, perhaps from compression of the head during delivery, according to researchers who performed the first high-resolution MRI studies on healthy newborns.
 
The bleeding heals quickly and most likely does not produce long-term effects, the team reported Monday in the online version of the journal Radiology.
 
"After all, women have been delivering vaginally for millions of years," said Dr. Honor Wolfe of the University of North Carolina School of Medicine. No bleeding was observed during Caesarean deliveries, but the authors cautioned that this should not be taken as an argument to support C-sections.
 
"At this point, neither parents nor providers should change their plans for delivery," Wolfe said.
 
The Carolina researchers studied 88 newborns, an average of three weeks after birth. Seventeen of the 65 who underwent vaginal delivery suffered small hemorrhages in the brain but none of the 23 who had C-sections.
 

Click Here For The Complete Story=>http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2003547131_babies30.html
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

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)
#135 From: "grehert@..." <grehert@...>
Date: Fri Jan 19, 2007 5:27 pm
Subject: Vitamin D, hormones and the dangers of water. 		grehert
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Today we'll start off with a story about vitamin D.  Many scientists believe this is one of our most valuable supplements.  I take 800 units every morning and hardly ever get a cold.  Who knows - maybe there's something there. 
 
Read more about vitamin D, the sunshine vitamin, below.
The ABCs of D - Almost Everyone Needs More of the Sunshine Vitamin.
 
By Deborah Kotz
 
A single nutrient that keeps bones strong, wards off diabetes, and protects against tuberculosis, cancer, colds, and the flu. Sound too good to be true? There's more: It's free. But you're almost certainly not getting enough.
 
Research on vitamin D, the sunshine vitamin, has flooded out over the past few months, linking a growing array of health ills to low levels of the nutrient. Last week, for example, University of Pittsburgh researchers reported that a D deficiency doubles the risk of dangerous hypertension during pregnancy. In March, a study examining how the vitamin affects the pancreas's release of insulin found the risk of diabetes to be one-third lower in people with the highest levels. "The vitamin D story is becoming clear. I think it's very exciting," says Robert Heaney, a professor of medicine at Creighton University who now thinks supplements are a good idea.
 
Prior to the industrial revolution, humans had no trouble getting an abundance of the sunshine vitamin; a mere 10 to 15 minutes outdoors at midday gives the average fair-skinned person 10,000 international units. That's far above the government's dietary recommendations.  But most people nowadays spend little time outdoors, and food sources such as milk and salmon contain relatively modest amounts. What's more, the rash of new findings suggests to the experts that the guidelines are way too low. "There's no one working in the field who thinks these levels still make sense," says Walter Willett, a professor at Harvard University.
 
But having too little appears to cause the immune system to weaken as well. An immune system link might explain why the flu seems to strike only during the winter. A review of more than 100 studies on vitamin D found that low levels probably allow the viruses to penetrate the immune system. "It's the first comprehensive theory set forth to explain the seasonality of influenza," says vitamin D expert John Cannell. What's now needed, he says, is a trial to see if those exposed to flu viruses are less likely to come down with an infection if they take supplements.
 
With cancer, it's thought that vitamin D might prevent tumors from rapidly growing by controlling the expression of certain genes that regulate cell division. Harvard University researchers led by Walter Willett found that people who took in the highest amounts of vitamin D cut their risk of pancreatic cancer almost in half. Earlier, they'd found a similar degree of protection against colon cancer. "The epidemiological evidence is very strong; we know there has to be something going on," says Anthony Norman, a professor of biochemistry at the University of California.  Is the evidence strong enough to recommend supplements for cancer prevention? "Unequivocally yes," he says.
 
How much to take? The government last year suggested that African-Americans and the elderly might want more than the guidelines suggest, but it has set 2,000 IUs as its ceiling for safety. Most experts think the limit is too conservative, noting that there's no evidence of toxicity at much higher doses.
 
 
As you may already know, there is a big controversy regarding HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy).  Most physicians have concluded that HRT is harmful to women in menopause.  A minority of physicians, including myself, feel that HRT is overwhelmingly beneficial to women if started early in the menopause.  
 
At long last research is being planned to show, once and for all, if starting hormones at the onset of menopause protects a woman from heart disease and numerous other ailments.  It's called the "KEEPS" study.  Hopefully this study will provide clear answers to guide physicians about prescribing HRT.  Please read about it below:
HRT Could Prevent Heart Disease.
 
Hormone therapy might be an effective heart disease treatment, despite a major US study which suggested it caused harm, scientists say.  The Women's Health Initiative study was stopped in 2002 amid concerns over raised heart disease and cancer risk.  But now other US experts say the WHI may have covered the wrong age group and used the wrong dose of HRT.  They hope a new study will pinpoint those women at risk of heart disease who would benefit from hormone therapy.
 
Women are protected against all forms of cardiovascular disease, including heart disease, stroke and high blood pressure, until the menopause.  But their risk then rises to be the same as men's'.  This has led researchers to conclude the sex hormone oestrogen, levels of which fall after the menopause, must be involved.
 
Animal studies have shown this is the case. But the Women's Health Initiative, a study of 16,000 women, found hormone therapy had no benefit - and may even be harmful.
 
But the average age of women in the WHI study was 63 - a decade later than the average menopause.
 
Virginia Miller, professor of surgery and physiology at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, who is one of the researchers in the new eight-centre KEEPS study, said that starting hormones at age 63 was too late, and women may already have an increased heart disease risk. "If you start treatment 10 years later, that's 10 years where damage has been accumulating."  Professor Peter Weissberg added: "It is probable that many of the women participating already had a  atherosclerosis before they started taking HRT, which lead to an increased risk of a heart attack. 
Although the science is still unclear, Miller believes it is likely that the estrogen in HRT helps prevent the build-up of fatty plaque inside women's arteries when given early. If given late, when plaque is already established, it could cause it to break up, triggering blood vessel blockages and heart attacks.
 
"It may not benefit everybody but we think there is a group of women where you can intervene early to provide protection not only for cardiovascular but also other diseases of aging, such as osteoporosis and cognitive function," Miller said.
 
The KEEPS study will look at over 700 healthy women aged 42 to 58 who have recently gone through the menopause and are already taking hormone replacement medication.  It will also compare oral oestrogen treatment and patch therapy.   "The trial may establish whether HRT can protect against heart disease if treatment is started early enough."

Click Here For The Complete Story=>http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/6190903.stm

 
We all know that too much salt is bad for your health, and too much fat in your diet can lead to heart disease.  But too much water? . . . . .  As your mother always told you - everything in moderation.
Woman in Water Drinking Contest Dies
 
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A woman who competed in a radio station's contest to see how much water she could drink without going to the bathroom died of water intoxication, the coroner's office said Saturday.
 
Jennifer Strange, 28, was found dead Friday in her suburban Rancho Cordova home hours after taking part in the "Hold Your Wee for a Wii" contest in which KDND 107.9 promised a Nintendo Wii video game system for the winner.
 
"She said to one of our supervisors that she was on her way home and her head was hurting her real bad," said Laura Rios, one of her co-workers in Sacramento. "She was crying and that was the last that anyone had heard from her."
 
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

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)
#134 From: "grehert@..." <grehert@...>
Date: Fri Nov 24, 2006 4:53 am
Subject: Arthritis, early menopause and memory. 		grehert
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It's been known for years that estrogen prevents osteoporosis (brittle bones) which is a painless condition that leads to boney fractures.  What's not so well known is that estrogen also prevents osteo-"arthritis" - the disease responsible for most of the pain we get in our joints.  Here is an article which shows that estrogen reduces this very common, crippling disease.
Association of estrogen replacement therapy with the risk of osteoarthritis of the hip in elderly white women.
 
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, USA.
 
The objective of the study was to determine whether postmenopausal estrogen replacement therapy is associated with a reduced risk of X-ray findings of osteoarthritis (OA) of the hip.
 
In the study, X-rays of the pelvis were obtained in all subjects and were assessed for features of osteoarthritis (OA) of the hip on a scale of 0 (none) to 4 (severe). Postmenopausal estrogen use was assessed by interview. The association of current and past estrogen use with OA of the hip was analyzed, adjusting for potential confounding variables.
 
The results showed that women who were currently using oral estrogen had a significantly reduced risk of any osteoarthritis of the hip (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 0.62; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.49-0.86) and moderate to severe manifestation of disease (OR, 0.54; 95% CI, 0.33-0.88).
 
The above odds ratio [OR] of 0.54 means that taking estrogen reduced the risk of moderate to severe osteoarthritis of the hip by 46%, which is a very significant number.  Dr. Rehert
 
Though nobody knows the reason why, the next story demonstrated that if you are a twin, your chance of having an early menopause is increased by about 500%.
Twins five times as likely to suffer early menopause
 
JOHN VON RADOWITZ
 
WOMEN with a twin are up to five times more likely to suffer a premature menopause than those without, new research has shown.  A study of more than 1,600 Australian and UK twins found the women had a significantly increased risk of premature ovarian failure (POF).
 
Twins taking part in the research were between three and five times more likely to have suffered premature ovarian failure (POF) by the age of 40 than women from the general population.
 
Professor Roger Gosden, of Cornell University, New York, who led the investigation, said:  "The differences were large, at three to five-fold at both the 40 and 45-year threshold, and were similar in both the national registers."

Click Here For The Complete Story=> http://news.scotsman.com/uk.cfm?id=1578822006

 
 
And last, another benefit of hormone therapy.  These scientists showed that estrogen not only improves a women's memory, but it also increases brain activity as seen on an MRI scan.
Keep Memories Alive with Hormone Therapy
 
Sunday, November 19, 2006
 
By Dr. Manny Alvarez
 
A large number of women experience a loss in their memory function during and after menopause. Memory loss is a natural part of aging, but women in menopause tend to lose their memory faster and in a shorter period of time.  Memory loss related to these kinds of events has been linked to changes in the prefrontal cortex, a region in the brain responsible for memory function.
 
In this new study, ten women aged 50-60 years old were given hormone therapy or a placebo for four weeks. After the initial four weeks they received no treatment for a month and following that women who were previously taking hormones received the placebo for an additional four weeks, and visa versa.  The women were given a memory test and hooked up to an fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging) machine. The fMRI is able to “map” brain activity in real time and play it back on a screen.
 
Researchers noted that women who were taking the hormone replacement therapy showed more brain activity in their prefrontal cortex. These findings suggest that women who use hormone replacement therapy for even relatively short periods of time could benefit in terms of memory function.

Click Here For The Complete Story=> http://www.foxnews.com:80/story/0,2933,230617,00.html

 
 
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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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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Reply | Forward | Messages in this Topic (1)
#133 From: "grehert@..." <grehert@...>
Date: Sun Nov 5, 2006 7:30 pm
Subject: Brain function, weight loss and tea. 		grehert
Offline Offline
Send Email Send Email
 
 
First a little something about one of my favorite subjects, Hormone Therapy.   Hormones have been known to effect brain function for some time now.  From improving memory and mood, to delaying dementia.  Here's some of the latest research on this rejuvenating subject.
The U of G's Department of Biomedical Sciences is studying how two common groups of hormones can boost brain function and memory. 
  
GUELPH (Oct 30, 2006)
 
Estrogen and androgen, two common groups of hormones, are known for their effects on the human reproductive tract. But Guelph researchers say they may have another function in the human body -- in the brain.
 
Professor Neil MacLusky, says estrogen and androgen may help improve memory and synapse formation -- the bridges between nerves that enable movements and responses to occur -- warding off diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and other forms of dementia.
 
"It turns out that androgens and estrogens are important to maintaining the health of the brain," he says.
 
His timing couldn't be better. One in 10 people over the age of 65 and nearly half of those aged 85 or older have Alzheimer's disease. The situation represents a potentially serious public health risk as life expectancy continues to rise.
 
In one project, he and a team of researchers at Toronto's Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre are studying the impact of using estrogen therapy on aging women who are beginning to show symptoms of Alzheimer's. Early results look promising, and the team hopes to shed light on the potential of hormone therapy to reverse or at least slow some mental degeneration.
 
 
Want an easy way to lose 5 to 7 pounds a year -- year after year?  (Thought that might grab your attention.)  Then read the article just below.
Study concludes:  Drink more water, lose more weight
 
By Nanci Hellmich, USA TODAY
 
BOSTON — Dieters who replace sugary drinks with water lose an extra 5 pounds a year, and those who drink a couple of more cups of water a day increase weight loss by 2 pounds a year, a study presented Tuesday at the annual meeting of the Obesity Society suggests.
 
Most popular diet programs and books advise drinking plenty of water to aid digestion and to help reduce intake of sodas and other high-calorie drinks, but there haven't been many studies to back up the advice.
 
So researchers analyzed weight-loss data on 240 overweight women, ages 25 to 50, who were following one of several popular diet plans, including Atkins and The Zone, programs that restrict carbohydrate consumption to varying degrees.
 
Before beginning their programs, the women drank an average of about two cans a day of sugary drinks (about 200 calories total), including soda and juice. Findings:
 
•Dieters who replaced virtually all sweetened drinks with water, lost on average 5 pounds more in a year than dieters who didn't.
 
•Those who drank more than four cups of water a day lost an additional 2 pounds more than dieters who did not drink that much.
When you are trying to lose weight, it's easy to change the beverages you drink, says Barry Popkin, nutrition professor at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill.  "It doesn't matter if you drink bottled water or tap water.  Just drink more water. It's a powerful way to cut weight."
 
Adults haven't changed their water intake over the past decade, but they are drinking about 20 more ounces a day of caloric beverages. "This is the major cause of our overall caloric increase during this period, and it's clearly linked with the increase of obesity."

Click Here For The Complete Story=>http://www.usatoday.com:80/news/health/2006-10-24-water-diet_x.htm

(I've always believed the consumption of sugary sodas is a major contributor to the obesity epidemic.  Dr. Rehert)

 
Tea's sedative effects have been know since way before the first glass of Lipton's was ever poured.  Finally science is trying to unlock the key to this benefit.  Read the article below for more information.  (I think I'll go and have a cup, myself.) 
Tea soothes a troubled mind, say scientists
 
The soothing power of a regular cup of tea has been given more backing from science with research that shows it can reduce the harmful effects of stress.  Stress hormone levels fell by nearly twice as much in tea drinkers compared with those given a tea-like drink, after all had been put under stress.  
 
The research involved 75 young men who were regular tea drinkers. All gave up normal tea, coffee and decaffeinated drinks for six weeks and drank one of two "tea" mixtures, four times a day instead.  The real tea was disguised so that the volunteers could not derive accustomed comfort from the brew.
 
After six weeks they were given role-playing tasks to put them under stress.
 
Both groups exhibited significant levels of stress measured by increased levels of cortisol, the stress hormone, increased heart rate and raised blood pressure. But fifty minutes after the task, levels of cortisol in the real tea group had fallen by 47 per cent compared with 27 per cent in the fake tea group.
 
"Many people believe that drinking tea helps them relax after facing the stresses of everyday life. However, scientific evidence is quite limited."  He said they did not know which of the many constituents of black tea produced the beneficial effects.  He added: "Although it does not appear to reduce the actual levels of stress we experience, tea does seem to have a greater effect in bringing stress hormone levels back to normal."
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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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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Reply | Forward | Messages in this Topic (1)
#132 From: "grehert@..." <grehert@...>
Date: Sat Sep 2, 2006 6:49 pm
Subject: High Blood Pressure, Diabetes and Sex while you're pregnant. 		grehert
Offline Offline
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We know hormones prevent heart attacks in women under 59 years of age, but what do hormones do to your blood pressure?  This first article attempts to answer this important question.  My comments follow.
Cardiovascular effects of 6 months of hormone replacement therapy versus placebo: Differences associated with years since menopause
 
Objective: This study evaluated cardiovascular effects of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) versus placebo in postmenopausal women grouped according to time since menopause. 

Study design: Resting and stress blood pressure (BP) levels were obtained in 69 women randomly assigned to placebo or HRT in a 6-month double-blind study. Analyses evaluated if treatment effects differed among those postmenopausal less than 5 years, versus those postmenopausal 5 years or more.

Results: Compared with the placebo-treated and HRT>5 yrs since menopause groups, the HRT<5 yrs since menopause group showed reduced BP and trends toward reduced vascular resistance and norepinephrine. HRT>5 yrs group generally did not differ from placebo.
 
Conclusion: Reduced BP is evident in some HRT users, with diminishing benefit after the initial postmenopausal years. Time since menopause may be an important consideration in making individualized patient treatment decisions.
 
What this article is saying is that if a woman begins taking hormones within 5 years of her menopause, and takes them for 6 months, she will see her blood pressure (BP) drop 8.5 points on average.  If she begins her hormones after 5 years since her last menstrual period, she gets little to no BP effect.  Time since menopause seems to be critically important regarding the benefits of hormone therapy.
 
To see the full article, click on groups.yahoo.com/group/drrehertsalerts/files/ and open the file named Hormones and BP.pdf
 
 
With the obesity epidemic growing in America, diabetes is becoming ever more prevalent.  This next paper explores the link between diabetes and hormone therapy.
HRT May Reduce Diabetes Risk

Jan. 6, 2003 -- Despite the negative news about hormone replacement therapy (HRT), research suggests that HRT may provide a significant benefit in helping some women reduce their risk of diabetes.  The study, published in the Jan. 7 issue of Annals of Internal Medicine, found that postmenopausal women with heart disease who took a combination of estrogen and progestin had a 35% lower risk of developing diabetes than those who took a placebo. The women on HRT also had more normal fasting blood sugar levels, which when high suggest the likely onset of diabetes.
 
Researchers say it's the first such benefit found in a large number of women -- based on more than 2,700 postmenopausal women with heart disease who were followed for about four years.
 
Eugene Barrett, MD, president-elect of the American Diabetes Association says that until now there really hasn't been much information on the role of HRT in the development of diabetes, and this study raises some interesting questions.
 
Karen E. Friday, MD, associate professor of medicine at Tulane University, agrees that further studies are needed and says her great hope is that the negative press about HRT has not halted research on estrogens because there is more that we need to know.
 
According to Friday, both animal and human studies suggest that estrogen plays a significant role in how the body regulates the sugar glucose, and she says we don't yet understand all of the potential mechanisms and influences of various forms of estrogen on diabetes.
 
Since diabetes is known to greatly increase a person's risk of heart disease, finding a way to safely reduce that additional risk through the use of HRT could have tremendous potential.

Click Here For The Complete Story=>http://www.webmd.com/content/article/57/66219.htm
 
Sometimes the obvious needs to be confirmed with a little research.  Here's a study that says having sex late in pregnancy, might stimulate labor.  Seems pretty obvious to me.  Dr. R
Sex close to due date may cause spontaneous labor
 
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Women who have sexual intercourse during late pregnancy are more likely to have a spontaneous delivery at 38 to 40 weeks' and less likely to require labor induction, according to results of a study conducted in Malaysia.
 
It is commonly believed that intercourse hastens labor, but very little research has been published to confirm this theory.
 
Dr. Peng Chiong Tan, from the University of Malaya in Kuala Lumpur, designed a study in which 200 healthy, married women with uncomplicated pregnancies completed diaries regarding sexual activity beginning at week 36 of pregnancy. Labor induction was carried out among women who had not delivered by 41 weeks of pregnancy.
 
The results showed that 6.9 percent of sexually active women had not delivered by 41 weeks, compared with 29.8 percent of abstinent women.
 
After factors such as ethnicity, education, occupation, perception of coital safety and husbands' age were taken into account, women who had sexual intercourse were 90 percent more likely to have delivered by 41 weeks and almost 100% less likely to require labor induction compared with women not engaging in sexual intercourse.
 
Although the researchers recommend sexual intercourse as a means of avoiding labor induction, they add that "in potentially compromised pregnancies caution has to be applied because the effect of intercourse and orgasm has been described as being similar to an oxytocin contraction stress test."
 

Click Here For The Complete Story=> http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13923867/
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

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,

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

Reply | Forward | Messages in this Topic (1)
#131 From: "grehert@..." <grehert@...>
Date: Wed Aug 9, 2006 1:14 pm
Subject: Gastric bypass surgery, fried fish and estrogens. 		grehert
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I have personally seen some fantastic life-enriching results of gastric bypass surgery.  But before deciding to have the surgery, be aware of the potential risks.
Two studies weigh in differently on risks of gastric bypass
 
By Nanci Hellmich, USA TODAY
 
Two new studies add to the growing debate over the potential benefits and risks of using bariatric surgeries to treat obesity.  Extremely obese people who have gastric-bypass surgery may live longer than other obese people who haven't had the procedure, the research suggests.
 
But one in 50 gastric-bypass patients die within a month after the operation, which is higher than previously reported, one of the studies found.  (Other studies have reported one in 200 or one in 500 die.) 
 
Obesity is defined as being 100 or more pounds over a healthy body weight. Excess weight increases the risk of diabetes, heart disease, cancer and other illnesses.
 
But critics say the risks of the surgery far outweigh the benefits, setting people up for malnutrition and other medical problems that can lead to higher costs.
 
In one of the new studies, researchers with the University of Washington in Seattle evaluated the health records of 66,109 obese patients. The findings, published in October's Journal of the American College of Surgeons:
 
• One in 50 surgery patients died within 30 days.
 
• About 3% of gastric-bypass patients younger than 40 had died in the 13.6 years after the surgery, compared with 13.8% of those who did not have the surgery.
 
• Overall, 11.8% of gastric-bypass patients of all ages had died after 15 years, compared with 16.3% who hadn't been operated on.
 
There are risks of dying during or after gastric bypass, but those who make it often get improvements in diabetes, heart disease, lung function and other medical problems and seem to live longer, he says.
 
In another study, researchers at McGill University Health Centre in Montreal compared 1,035 morbidly obese patients who had bariatric surgery, mostly gastric bypass, with 5,746 who were similarly overweight but did not have the operation. The findings in September's Annals of Surgery showed that gastric-bypass patients lost 67% of their excess weight.
 
And in a five-year follow-up period, six people died who had the surgery (four because of the operation), compared with 350 who died in the larger group. After adjusting for the different size of the groups, researchers say bariatric patients had an 89% reduced risk of death.
 
"If you take obese people and invest some money in this surgery, you are going to save lives," says lead researcher Nicolas Christou, who performs many of the gastric-bypass surgeries in Canada.
 
Bottom line, "bariatric surgery improves long-term survival in extremely obese patients, but there is an increased risk upfront." 

Fish may be good for you but think twice before tackling those fried fish sticks . . . or better yet, take omega 3 fatty acids every morning as I do.
Only Broiled or Baked Fish Help the Heart
 
Mon May 2
 
WASHINGTON - Trying to eat more fish for a healthy heart? Fish sticks don't count. So says a study suggesting only fish that's broiled or baked actually protects against heart disease.
 
A diet high in fish has long been linked with lower levels of heart disease, so much so that the heart association recommends two or more weekly servings - especially of oily fish such as salmon and tuna that are particularly high in the omega-3 fatty acids. Those healthy fats are thought to increase good HDL cholesterol and lower unhealthy triglycerides.
 
Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian of the Harvard Medical School examined ultrasound images of the hearts of 5,000 older Americans who were given a questionnaire about their diets. After accounting for other factors, he found that people who regularly consumed broiled or baked fish were more likely to have a lower heart rate and blood pressure, and better blood flow to the heart. In contrast, those who regularly consumed fried fish or fish sandwiches showed signs of hardening of the arteries and other heart problems.
 
There was little evidence of omega-3s in the blood of the fried-fish lovers, probably because the fish species that usually are served fried are cod or other lean types that are much lower in omega-3 fats than fattier fish like salmon, Mozaffarian said.
 

Click Here For The Complete Story=> http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2005-05-02-fish-heart_x.htm

Finally, here's more evidence for the benefit of estrogen - in this article it comes in the form of having your ovaries.

Ovary Removal May Boost Long-Term Dementia Risk

April 6  New research suggests that removal of the ovaries significantly increases a woman's risk for cognitive problems later in life.
 
The lead author of a study released this week said the findings shouldn't prevent women from having their ovaries removed when they are diseased. However, Dr. Walter Rocca, a professor of neurology and epidemiology at Mayo Clinic, did advise that women be cautious, especially when they undergo the procedure to prevent a disease that hasn't appeared yet.
 
He added that, because estrogen might be at the root of the problem, estrogen-replacement therapy might help women who do undergo ovary removal avoid cognitive problems. According to Rocca, researchers have long suspected that estrogen -- which is found in both men and women -- protects the brain.

Click Here For The Complete Story=>http://www.drkoop.com/newsdetail/93/532012.html
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

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

Reply | Forward | Messages in this Topic (1)
#130 From: "grehert" <grehert@...>
Date: Fri May 26, 2006 3:03 pm
Subject: Genes, Working Moms and PeriMenopausal depression. 		grehert
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In the field of gene research, things are going gangbusters.  The entire human genome was recently published.  In the next few years many diseases will be defined in terms of the genes that cause them.  Here's the latest on heart disease:
Scientists find genes linked to heart attack risk
 
A study covering more than 2,000 patients has identified two genes that are associated with an increased risk of an early heart attack, researchers said on Thursday.
 
Those with the genes had twice the risk of an early-onset heart attack as those without, according to the researchers.
 
Dr. John Kane, co-author of the study, said the trial sets the stage for a diagnostic test that can predict which people are at greatest risk for a heart attack.
 

Click Here For The Complete Story=>http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060511/hl_nm/celera_dc_2
Why are stay at home Moms heavier than working Moms.  Researchers are trying to figure this out.  Read more about it here.
Working Moms Healthier, Thinner Than Stay at Homes
 
Women who juggle career and family tend to be thinner and healthier as they approach midlife than long-term stay-at-home moms, a new study suggests.
 
Researchers tracked the health of a group of British women from their mid-20s to their mid-50s and found that full-time homemakers were the most likely to be obese in their sixth decade.
 
Women in long-term relationships who had raised kids while they held jobs outside the home were least likely to be overweight, and they also reported being in better overall health.
College London epidemiologist examined data from 1,171 women born in 1946 who had been part of a national health study since birth.
 
They found that at age 54, women who had been wives, mothers, and had a long work history were significantly less likely to report being in poor health than women who did not fulfill all three roles.
 
“This research doesn’t address why working moms tend to be healthier,” McMunn says. “And we certainly aren’t saying that working moms aren’t stressed. But it may be that being able to participate fully in society, both in and outside the home, is important for health.”
 

Click Here For The Complete Story=>http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,195496,00.html
We've always known that certain women suffer from depression as they go through menopause.  Here's research that looked into this association.
Risk of Depression Increases During Perimenopause
 
As women transition through perimenopause, their risk of depression triples, even if they have no prior history of major depressive disorder, according to findings presented here at the annual meeting of the American Psychiatric Association.
 
"In our sample, women were three times as likely to have an episode of depression during this time in their lives; and if they had vasomotor symptoms (hot flashes), they were six times as likely to develop depression," Dr. Cohen said. The 644 women in the study had had no prior depression and had no risk factors for depression.
 
Of these women, the 365 who entered perimenopause during the study period were three times more likely to develop depressive symptoms than were the 226 women, who were similar in age, whose menstrual cycles and ovarian functions remained normal and therefore pre-menopausal.
 
"These findings are consistent with previous research," Sharri Lusskin, MD, told Medscape. "Other investigators have shown that most women don't become depressed as they transition to menopause, and yet there are risk factors that make depression at this time more likely. These include a prior history of major depressive disorder, as well as a prior history of premenstrual syndrome." She added, "Women who have surgically induced menopause through the removal of their ovaries are also at high risk of depression."
 
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

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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#127 From: "grehert@..." <grehert@...>
Date: Sat Apr 1, 2006 6:35 pm
Subject: Earwax, Eggs and Caffein. 		grehert
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A lot of exciting things are coming out of all the latest genetic research.  I'll try to keep you informed of some of the more interesting findings.
Dry earwax? It's genetic

By Dan Vergano, USA TODAY
 
Genetics researchers have uncovered the key gene behind the mystery of human earwax.  The report in Monday's Nature Genetics journal solves a long-running anthropologist's riddle — why many people in China and Korea, as well as elsewhere in Asia, have dry earwax while the rest of humanity enjoys the sticky variety.
 
Who has dry gene?  
Estimated percentage of population with dry gene
 
China 100
Japan 69
India 54
American (Native) 30
Pacific Islands 14
Russia 5
American (European descent) 1
Africa 0
Europe (Hungary) 0
American (African descent) 0
 
Source: Nature Genetics
 
The earwax riddle surprisingly comes down to a single gene, dubbed ABCC11, reports a Japanese team led by Koh-ichiro Yoshiura of Nagasaki University.
 
In December, Shriver and colleagues, led by geneticist Keith Cheng of the Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine in Hershey, identified a gene responsible for much of the difference in human skin color between Europeans and Africans.
 
Taken with the earwax find, the trend is toward genetic research finding more of the non-disease genes responsible for physical differences in people worldwide.
 
 
 
We have all heard that eating eggs can be harmful to your health - "Too much cholesterol," thay say.  Well, some experts beg to differ with this opinion.  I personally believe that eggs in moderation are just fine - mainly because there's little carbohydrate found in eggs.  Check out this next story.
Eggs for breakfast aid weight control
 
12/29/05 
 
Eating eggs for breakfast can reduce hunger and caloric intake both at lunchtime and over the next 24 hours, according to a new study published in the latest issue of the Journal of the American College of Nutrition.
 
The study compared the effects on hunger of two calorically-identical breakfasts, one consisting of two scrambled eggs and two slices of toast with low-calorie jelly, and the other a 3 1/2-inch bagel with cream cheese plus a 3-ounce nonfat yogurt.

The researchers found that when participants had eaten the egg breakfast they consumed significantly less, not only at lunch on that day, but also throughout the day and the next morning as compared to the bagel breakfast.  On average they ate about 163 fewer calories for lunch, 263 fewer calories that day, and 418 fewer calories over a 24-hour period.

"Eggs are a convenient, affordable and nutritious food," said Dr. Dhurandhar. "They are an integral and established part of breakfast in many cultures and may be eaten safely on a regular basis. Recent data from the Nurses' Health Study showed that egg consumption did not contribute to the risk of coronary heart disease or stroke. Furthermore, eggs have a 50% higher satiety index than other common breakfast foods.

The findings from this study build upon earlier studies showing that protein-based breakfasts improved weight loss better than carbohydrate-focused breakfasts.

 
And finally we hear so many things about caffein - both good and bad.  Here's a new twist to the caffein story.
Caffeine may put females in the mood for sex, a new study shows.
 
In the study, female rats that got their first shot of caffeine before mating were quicker than uncaffeinated females to scurry back to a male rat after sex.
 
The caffeinated females weren’t just looking for company. “It looks as if they wanted to have sex again,” researcher Fay Guarraci, PhD, tells WebMD.
 
The caffeinated female rats weren’t exactly shy.  “The way we measure their interest is they go back and revisit the male after they’ve just had some sexual interaction with them,” Guarraci explains.  The caffeinated females “would go and visit faster, and they would stay with the males until they received sexual stimulation before they left,” Guarraci says.
 
Using the same formula for humans, the lowest dose would roughly equal the caffeine in “a grande latte at Starbucks ... a pretty high-caffeinated beverage, but not something outrageous,” Guarraci says.
 
Her study shows that the caffeinated females didn’t just skitter around their cages aimlessly.  The caffeinated females seemed motivated to seek sex, not to burn extra energy from the caffeine, the researchers write.
 

Click Here For The Complete Story=>http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,181639,00.html
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

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,

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

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#126 From: "grehert@..." <grehert@...>
Date: Sat Feb 18, 2006 4:33 pm
Subject: Risk of dieing, grappling and hormones in Canada. 		grehert
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If you're curious about your chances of dieing in the next 4 years, here's a test you can take - right now - to find out your odds.
Want to know the odds of you dying in the next four years? 
 
Taking a new quiz put together by researchers whose results are in today's Journal of the American Medical Association can help you figure it out.
 
The 12-question quiz is roughly 81 percent accurate and can give people 50 and older a reasonable idea of their survival chances, says lead author Dr. Sei Lee, a geriatrics researcher at San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center.  There are things you can do to improve your chances, he notes, such as quitting smoking or taking up exercise.  The researchers even warn, "Don't try this at home," saying a doctor can help you put things into perspective.  But for the curious, here it is. Good luck.
     
      1. Age: 60-64 years, 1 point; 65-69, 2 points; 70-74, 3 points; 75-79, 4 points; 80-84, 5 points; 85 and older, 7 points.
      2. Male or Female: Male 2 points.
      3. Body-Mass Index: Less than 25 (normal weight or less), 1 point. (Calculate by multiplying height in inches times height in inches; then divide weight in pounds by that total; then multiply the total by 703.)
      4. Diabetes: 2 points.
      5. Cancer (excluding minor skin cancers): 2 points.
      6. Chronic lung disease that limits activities or requires oxygen use at home: 2 points.
      7. Congestive heart failure: 2 points.
      8. Cigarette smoking in the past week: 2 points.
      9. Difficulty bathing/showering because of a health or memory problem: 2 points.
      10. Difficulty managing money, paying bills, keeping track of expenses because of a health or memory problem: 2 points.
      11. Difficulty walking several blocks because of a health problem: 2 points.
      12. Difficulty pushing or pulling large objects like a living-room chair because of a health problem: 1 point.
 
Score: 0 to 5 points, less than a 4 percent risk of dying within four years; 6-9 points, 15 percent risk; 10-13 points, 42 percent risk; 14 or more, 64 percent risk.
 
(Note: Researchers say the 1-point penalty for having a body-mass index under 25 (normal weight or less) is based on findings that being underweight is a health risk for elderly people.)
 
 
 
From England, their National Health Service is promoting the health benefits of sex.  Read more below. 
Grapple a day keeps the doctor away
 
February 12, 2006
 
It can help to reduce stress, soothe pain, cure insomnia, lower the risk of a heart attack and, as if that wasn't enough, make your hair shine and your wrinkles vanish.
 
"Forget about jogging round the block or struggling with sit-ups," says the British Government's patients' helpline, National Health Service Direct. The key for healthy living is "a good bout of 'sexercise' ".
 
"Regular romps", according to an official posting on the home page of the NHS Direct website, will bring a plethora of health rewards, from staying fit and burning calories to combating cancer.
 
"Orgasms even release painkillers into the bloodstream, helping keep mild illnesses like colds and aches and pains at bay, and produce extra oestrogen and testosterone hormones," the site says.
 
"These hormones will keep your bones and muscles healthy, leaving you feeling fabulous inside and out. The increased production of the hormones will make your hair shine and your skin smooth. And if you're worried about wrinkles, orgasms even help prevent frown lines from deepening."
 
 
 
And from our neighbors in Canada, hormones are getting a second chance.
MDs back HRT (hormone replacement therapy) for menopause symptoms
 
Feb. 7, 2006
CANADIAN PRESS
 
After years of confusion about its safety as a treatment for symptoms of menopause, hormone replacement therapy received the green light from the Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada.
 
In the first rewrite of its guidelines on the issue since 2001, the society gave its blessing to the use of HRT for moderate to severe menopausal symptoms.
 
Those who drafted the report distilled clinical and scientific studies about menopause in an attempt to provide physicians with the most current treatment information. Their report suggests the increased risk associated with taking the drugs is of the magnitude of lifestyle choices women routinely make, such as delaying childbirth until after age 30, smoking or not exercising.
 
“It’s less of a risk than having two glasses of alcoholic beverages a day. So there are many things we do that increase our breast cancer risk,” Blake said.
 
The society recommended health-care professionals offer hormone therapy as the most effective option for moderate to severe menopausal symptoms, including hot flashes, night sweats and mood changes.  While menopause is a natural transition, for some women it isn’t an easy one. Hot flashes can be everything from uncomfortable to an unbearably disruptive condition.
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

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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#125 From: "grehert@..." <grehert@...>
Date: Tue Jan 31, 2006 2:27 pm
Subject: Weight loss, exercise and hormones. 		grehert
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First here's a story that describes a new weight loss procedure.  To me it seems so logical and simple . . . all I can say is, "Why didn't I think of that?"    Dr. Rehert
Stomach Balloons Used to Fight Weight Gain
 
Jan 29, 2006
 
ROME - Vittorio Campati is a 40-year-old restaurant chef. He weighs 308 pounds, likes pasta and sweets and has failed many diets.  His last resort? A balloon inserted into his stomach in a procedure that lasts less than 20 minutes. European doctors hail the technique as a simple, less invasive way to fight obesity.
 
Inserted down the patient's throat, a round silicon balloon is filled with a saline solution and remains in the stomach for about six months.
 
"We introduce a balloon of half a liter volume (about a pint) in the stomach and inflate it so it takes up space and helps slow down the eating," said Dr. Nicola Basso, the obesity surgeon who performed the procedure on Campati. "This causes a sense of fullness, and the patient is helped to lose weight."
 
Basso, who has performed the procedure on about 700 patients in six years, said the technique allows an average drop of 33-44 pounds over six months.  "The efficacy of the treatment depends on how the patient is able to use these six months to change his dieting habits in a more or less stable way," Basso said.
 
You've probably heard of endorphins, those exercise induced chemicals that block pain and create a sense of well being.  Well they just might explain the benefit described in this next article . . . something to try the next time you're down in the dumps.
Single workout can lift mood in depressed patients
Jan 25, 2006
 
By Amy Norton
A single 30-minute walk on a treadmill can give a temporary emotional lift to patients diagnosed with major depressive disorder, the results of a small study suggest.
 
Researchers found that among 40 men and women recently diagnosed with major depression, those who spent just a half hour on a treadmill reported a short-term improvement in energy and emotional well-being.
 
Past studies, he explained in an interview, have shown that regular exercise can help treat depression over time. But the new findings show that "you don't have to wait" to start getting some benefit, he said.
 
A number of studies have found that active adults are less likely to suffer depression than their sedentary peers, while some clinical trials have shown regular exercise can serve as a therapy for the disorder -- and perhaps be as effective as antidepressant drugs in some cases. 
 

 
And finally another nail in the coffin of the WHI (Women's Health Initiative) study.  The more that scientists scrutinize the WHI research, the more they find that our earlier beliefs about hormones were generally correct.  It seems that hormone's benefits substantially outweigh its risks in the early menopausal woman.
Hormone therapy less risky for younger women
 
Jan 23, 2006
 
Younger women may be able to take hormone replacement therapy without raising their risk of heart disease, U.S. researchers reported on Monday in a study aimed at reducing some of the confusion surrounding HRT.
 
Women who started taking the drugs as they began menopause -- which typically starts in the mid-40s and lasts through the mid-50s -- had a 30 percent lower risk of heart disease than women who did not take them, the researchers found.
 
The findings contrast with those of a highly publicized 2002 study called the Women's Health Initiative or WHI, which found HRT raised the risk of heart attack, stroke, breast cancer and other serious conditions.
 
Manson and others who worked on the WHI study noted the women in it were on average 63 -- a decade past menopause.  They wondered what would happen with younger women, just entering menopause.
 
So they used data from the Nurses' Health Study, an ongoing study of 121,700 female nurses, age 30 to 55 when it started in 1976. Every two years these women have filled out detailed questionnaires on their health, habits and medications. When they died, their medical records were carefully added.
 
The nurses' data showed that if women took HRT at younger ages, they had a 30 percent lower risk of heart disease than women the same age who did not take HRT.
 
"It does suggest that women who are good candidates for hormone therapy because they are recently menopausal and having moderate to severe hot flashes and are at low risk of heart disease may not need to be alarmed about the (earlier) findings," Manson said in a telephone interview.

Click Here For The Complete Story=>http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060123/hl_nm/hormones_dc

 
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

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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#124 From: "grehert@..." <grehert@...>
Date: Sun Jan 22, 2006 3:08 am
Subject: Cough syrup, magnetic bracelets and wine drinkers. 		grehert
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The next time you have a troublesome cough, remember this first article.  And realize this article isn't saying that codeine (Rx) doesn't work, just OTC cough syrups.
No evidence Over-the-counter cough syrups work
 
Jan 9, 2006,  By Maggie Fox, Health and Science Correspondent
 
Over-the-counter cough medicines do little good and may harm children.  Adults are better off using older nonprescription antihistamines and decongestants to stop the flow of mucus that causes the cough, the American College of Chest Physicians said in its latest guidelines.
 
"Cough is the number one reason why patients seek medical attention," said Dr. Richard Irwin of the University of Massachusetts Medical School.  "There is no clinical evidence that over-the-counter cough expectorants or suppressants actually relieve cough," Irwin added.
 
"There is considerable evidence that older type antihistamines help to reduce cough, so, unless there are contraindications to using these medicines, why not take something that has been proven to work?"
 
The study, published in the journal Pediatrics, showed that children usually recovered quickly

Click Here For The Complete Story=>http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=healthNews&storyID=2006-01-09T220348Z_01_KWA979346_RTRIDST_0_HEALTH-COUGH-DC.XML

 

 
Do you know anybody walking around wearing magnets or copper bracelets to heal their aches and pains.  Ibuprophen might be a better investment.
Health bracelets are a 'waste of money'
 
THE mystical draw of magnetic therapy has seen world leaders from Cleopatra to Bill Clinton convinced of its healing power.  But despite such longstanding popularity with the rich and powerful, new research has led to warnings from the United States that the "alternative" treatment has no proven benefits and simply targets vulnerable people looking for pain relief.
 
The report by American doctors concluded that the rapidly expanding commercial industry selling static magnet therapies is exploiting the people who buy and believe in the products.
 
Billions of dollars are spent annually on "static" magnetic bracelets, insoles, wrist and knee bands, back and neck braces, and even pillows and mattresses in the hope they will cure anything from back pain to migraines.
 
In Britain, Princes William and Harry have been seen wearing copper bracelets, which often have magnetic properties and have become something of a fashion statement.  The Silence of the Lambs actor Sir Anthony Hopkins is a known to be a believer in magnetic therapy, which dates from ancient times.
 
But Professor Leonard Finegold, of Drexel University in Philadelphia, who led the research said: "There is a billion-to-one chance that I am wrong. There is simply no evidence that this therapy works.  These products cost huge amounts of money, and it would be just as effective to strap a fridge magnet to your wrist."
 
"Sometimes people feel pain relief if you tell them a bracelet has magnets in when it does not. It is a placebo effect. If people really must buy a magnet they should buy the cheapest as it will cause the least financial pain."
 
Magnetic bracelets are often pitched as a cure for pain from osteoarthritis, or as a means of warding off the condition. Last year, $4.8 billion was spent on magnets for pain relief.

Click Here For The Complete Story=>http://news.scotsman.com/international.cfm?id=21182006

 

 
You've probably heard that drinking wine is good for your health - and certainly a lot healthier than drinking beer.  Here's an article that suggests it's not 'what' you drink but rather 'what' it washes down.
Beer Drinkers 'Eating More Junk.'  
 
Beer drinkers are more likely to buy unhealthy food such as chips and ready meals than people who prefer wine, a study suggests. 
 
A Danish team studying 3.5 million supermarket transactions found wine buyers bought more olives, fruit and vegetables.  Beer drinkers meanwhile chose fattier, meatier options, the study said. 

According to the research team, at the National Institute of Public Research in Copenhagen, wine buyers also bought more poultry, cooking oil and low-fat cheese than beer buyers.

Beer lovers were attracted to cold cuts, chips, pork, butter, margarine, sausages, lamb and soft drinks.

The team suggested the food factor (rather than the choice of alcohol) may explain why wine appears to have a beneficial impact on health.

Click Here For The Complete Story=>http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/4629560.stm

 

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

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)
#123 From: "grehert" <grehert@...>
Date: Fri Dec 23, 2005 2:42 pm
Subject: Chimeras, abortion, dieting and hormones. 		grehert
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This is the Happy Holidays edition of DrRehertsAlerts. 
May all of the subscribers of DrRehertsAlerts have a happy (no seasonal depression) and safe (no drinking and driving) holiday season. 
 
Best wishes in the New Year from Sue, Arlesia, April, Jocelyn and Dr. Rehert.
 
We'll start off with a story that I'm sure will get everybody thinking . . . and nope, this is not science fiction!
Mice created with human brain cells
 
By Paul Elias, Associated Press
 
SAN FRANCISCO - Add another creation to the strange scientific menagerie where animal species are being mixed together in ever more exotic combinations.
 
Scientists announced Monday that they had created mice with small amounts of human brain cells in an effort to make realistic models of neurological disorders such as Parkinson's disease.  Led by Fred Gage of the Salk Institute, researchers created the mice by injecting about 100,000 human embryonic stem cells per mouse into the brains of 14-day-old rodent embryos.
 
Those mice were each born with about 0.1% of human cells in each of their heads, a trace amount that doesn't remotely come close to "humanizing" the rodents.  Still, the work adds to the growing ethical concerns of mixing human and animal cells when it comes to stem cell and cloning research. After all, mice are 97.5% genetically identical to humans.
 
"The worry is if you humanize them too much you cross certain boundaries," said David Magnus, director of the Stanford Medical Center for Biomedical Ethics. "But I don't think this research comes even close to that."  Researchers are nevertheless beginning to bump up against what bioethicists call the "yuck factor."

Click Here For The Complete Story=>http://www.usatoday.com/tech/science/genetics/2005-12-12-mice-human-brains_x.htm?csp=34

 
If you ever heard that having an abortion causes depression, here's some new research . . .
Abortion cuts risk of later blues

Clara Pirani, Medical reporter
October 29, 2005
 
Proceeding with an unplanned and unwanted pregnancy is more likely to cause depression than having an abortion, a controversial new study has found.  Researchers questioned 1247 women who aborted or delivered an unwanted first pregnancy between 1970 and 1992.
 
The study, published in the British Medical Journal, found that going ahead with an unwanted pregnancy was more likely to lead to depression.
 
"We conclude that, under present conditions of legal access to abortion, there is no credible evidence that choosing to terminate an unwanted first pregnancy puts women at higher risk of subsequent depression than does choosing to deliver an unwanted first pregnancy," said Nancy Russo and Sarah Schmiege from Arizona State University's department of psychology.

Click Here For The Complete Story=> http://www.webmd.com/content/article/114/111286
 
Here's an interesting study that might give us all clues to successful dieting.  "When it comes to food, out of sight is out of mind."
Candy jar psychology
 
October 21, 2005
 
VANCOUVER -- Scientists studying candy-jar psychology have confirmed what most of us know instinctively: Out of sight is out of mind.
 
Secretaries who were given Hershey kisses for Secretary's Week ate more of them when the jars were clear or on their desks than when the chocolates were in opaque containers or placed a short distance away.
 
Wansink and his colleagues gave 40 university secretaries 30 chocolate kisses in either a clear or an opaque candy jar placed on their desks or about six feet away. The dish was refilled each night, and researchers counted how many candies were eaten over the next four weeks.
 
Secretaries ate an average of 7.7 kisses each day when the candies were in clear containers on their desks; 4.6 when in opaque jars on the desk; 5.6 when in clear jars six feet away; and 3.1 when in opaque jars six feet away.
 
"Here's the golden lining: If we move food away from us, even six feet, we eat less and we overestimate how much we have eaten," the researchers concluded.
 

 
And finally, one of the more recent stories on hormones.  More and more people are again beginning to grasp that the benefits of hormone therapy far outweigh the risks in the appropriate population.
Conflicting research debates cardiac benefits of estrogen therapy
 
By Shari Roan
Los Angeles Times
November 7, 2005
 
Richard White toiled in his laboratory at the Medical College of Georgia for eight years trying to understand how estrogen helped prevent heart attacks and stroke. His studies looked promising; estrogen seemed to prime the female cardiovascular system to prevent clotting and relax blood vessels.
 
So when the massive Women's Health Initiative results were released three years ago -- finding that estrogen therapy in older postmenopausal women seemed to cause more heart attacks and strokes -- White was dumbfounded.
 
"It just didn't make any sense," says the pharmacologist. "But you can't doubt it; the information was right there. So we started to try to figure out why this same hormone could produce two different effects."
 
He went back to the drawing board, and so have a lot of other researchers.
 
A growing number of doctors are trying to reconcile the Women's Health Initiative's negative findings with other research suggesting estrogen therapy can't be that bad.
 
These doctors say hormone replacement therapy may still be a valuable option for some younger women. They also say the recommendations emerging from the Women's Health Initiative -- that hormone therapy should be used only in a low dose for the shortest time possible by women who need it the most -- may be needlessly restrictive.
 
"We used to think hormone replacement therapy should be taken by everyone," says Dr. Hugh S. Taylor, an associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Yale University School of Medicine. "Now the pendulum has swung too far the other way."
 
A growing number of doctors now say the WHI study provides an incomplete picture because the average age of the participants was 63. If hormones are taken around the time of menopause -- age 51 on average -- they might protect women from heart attacks, stroke, and possibly even dementia, these experts say.
 
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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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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#122 From: "grehert@..." <grehert@...>
Date: Fri Nov 25, 2005 12:10 pm
Subject: The latest on hormones - part 2 - heart disease. 		grehert
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As reported in my last email I recently attended a conference in New York City where the very latest opinions on postmenopausal hormone therapy were presented by two leading gynecologists, Dr. Leon Speroff and Dr. Allen DeCherney.  
 
My last email was about breast cancer.  In this email I'd like to share with you Dr. Speroff's summary on how heart disease is effected by hormone therapy.  The summary that he wrote is in black. 
 
<<My comments and explanations are interspersed in red.>>

 

Cardiovascular Disease – Conclusion

 

The WHI <<Women's Health Initiative Study>> concluded (and many individuals and organizations did as well) that hormone therapy is not a viable intervention for primary prevention of CHD (coronary heart disease).  We cannot quarrel with the conclusion that postmenopausal hormone therapy does not reduce or slow the progression of established coronary heart disease.  However, the WHI did not study the appropriate population in the appropriate time period to establish that hormone therapy does not exert a primary preventive effect on the risk of coronary heart disease.  <<Here Dr. Speroff is saying that it is becoming increasingly clear that hormones are not good treatment for women who have "established" heart disease.  In other words, once a woman develops atherosclerosis in her heart blood vessels, hormones will not "reduce or slow" this disease.  But he suggests that WHI didn't find the expected "good" effect of hormones because they studied older women (average age was 63), rather than younger women just entering menopause (around age ~50).  These younger women would probably have benefited from hormone therapy.>> 

 

The results of secondary prevention trials provide a reasonably solid basis not to recommend postmenopausal hormone therapy for women with existing atherosclerosis in the anticipation of preventing future cardiovascular events.  <<Again he advises against starting hormone therapy in women who have "existing atherosclerosis" (i.e. hardening of the arteries).>>  The results also indicate that there is no need to avoid the use of medroxyprogesterone acetate (Provera), because there has been no difference observed comparing women treated only with estrogen to those treated with estrogen and progestin.  <<He is saying that the research suggests that taking Provera doesn't increase your risk of getting heart disease.>>

 

The cardiovascular results over the last few years support an emerging theme.  The theme is: Healthy endothelium <<blood vessel lining>> is needed to respond to estrogen.  Experimental evidence in the monkey indicates that the beneficial effects of hormonal treatment are progressively diminished with increasing atherosclerosis.  In postmenopausal women, the vasodilatory effects of estrogen dissipate with increasing age.  By the time the endothelium is involves with atherosclerosis, it is too late for estrogen to exert a beneficial effect.  The clinical trial reports make an argument that the optimal approach to postmenopausal hormone therapy is to start treatment close to the menopause, avoiding a significant period of exposure to low estrogen levels prior to beginning therapy.  <<He repeats the overriding theme that younger women, just going into menopause, with health blood vessels (no atherosclerosis), will benefit from starting hormone therapy.  Older menopausal women who have already developed atherosclerosis (because their estrogen levels were deficient for so many years) will probably not benefit from beginning hormone therapy.>>  And there continues to be good reason (a combination of biologic data and uniform agreement in a large number of observational studies) to believe that hormone therapy can have a beneficial role in the primary prevention of coronary heart disease.  <<And finally Dr. Speroff says that the majority of medical research supports the idea that hormone therapy prevents heart disease when started in an early menopausal woman.>>

Well that's a lot of material on hormones.  But if you are still interested, you can watch an excellent video on-line as it was shown on MSNBC.  CLICK HERE - And then click on "LAUNCH" on the NBC VIDEO screen (under the picture of Dr. Judith Reichman).  I think it's an exceptional discussion of the subject of hormones and their effect on heart disease. 
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.
 
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. 
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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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#121 From: "grehert" <grehert@...>
Date: Thu Nov 17, 2005 12:56 pm
Subject: The very latest on Hormones. 		grehert
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This past weekend I attended a conference in New York City that presented the very latest opinions on postmenopausal hormone therapy.  The conference was presented by two of the world's leading gynecologists, Dr. Leon Speroff and Dr. Allen DeCherney.  
 
In this email I'd like to share with you, my patients, the summary Dr. Speroff gave of his current views on postmenopausal hormone therapy and it's effect on breast cancer and heart disease.  Below is his summary as it applies to breast cancer.  My next email will cover heart disease.  Dr. Speroff's summary is in black.  <<My comments and explanations are interspersed in red.>>

SUMMARY – Postmenopausal Hormone Therapy and Breast Cancer

 

  • The WHI (Women’s Health Initiative Study) agrees with some case-control and cohort studies indicating that long-term current use of combined estrogen and progestin has a slightly increased risk of breast cancer.  <<Here Dr. Speroff admits that long-term hormone replacement therapy may increase the risk of breast cancer by 24%.  However in considering this 24%, you should realize that obesity increases the risk of breast cancer by 100%, and heavy alcohol intake also increases the risk or breast cancer by about 100%.  And let's not forget that talking on your cellphone while you drive your car, increases your risk of having a auto-accident by 400%.  And smoking cigarettes increases your risk of lung cancer by 2,000%.>>  It is still not clear whether this finding is due to an effect of hormonal therapy on pre-existing tumors.  <<Here he is stating that despite all the world's research, there is still no strong evidence that hormones cause breast cancer.  They may just speed up the emergence and detection of small breast cancer tumors that were present, totally unrelated to the hormone therapy.>>
  • The epidemiologic data indicate that a positive family history of breast cancer should not be a contraindication to the use of postmenopausal hormone therapy. <<Dr. Speroff finds no evidence that a women with close relatives with breast cancer (mother, sister) has any increased danger from taking hormones.>>
  • Women who develop breast cancer while using postmenopausal hormone therapy have a reduced risk of dying from breast cancer.  This is probably because of two factors:  (1). Increased surveillance and early detection: and (2). An effect on pre-existing tumors so that tumors appear at a less virulent and aggressive stage.  <<Here he cited studies showing that if you get breast cancer while you are taking hormones, your outlook is improved.  Specifically in women who get breast cancer while taking hormones: (1) the breast cancer tumors are found at a younger age, (2) they are less agressive, (3) they are smaller, (4) they have a lower chance of spread, and (5) there's a 40-60% less chance of dieing from the breast cancer.>>
So consider all this when you think about whether it's safe or not to take postmenopausal hormone therapy.  In my next email I will discuss the very latest opinions regarding postmenopausal hormones and their effect on heart disease.
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

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,
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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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#120 From: <grehert@...>
Date: Tue Oct 4, 2005 4:01 am
Subject: Dirty Atlanta men, Hot flashes and Left Handedness. 		grehert
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If you've been to a Braves game recently, you may unknowingly have been part of a research study.  Read on to learn how . . .  

Braves Fans the Dirtiest According to Study

 

Men are dirtier than women. Scientists confirmed this by spying in public restrooms, watching as one-fourth of the men left without washing their hands.  The worst offenders were at an Atlanta Braves game.

 

Wednesday's results mark the American Society of Microbiology's latest look at how many people take what is considered the single easiest step to staying healthy: spending 20 seconds rubbing with soap under the faucet.

 

In 1996, the society first studied how often people wash up after using the toilet. Researchers lingered in public restrooms while surreptitiously counting. They concluded about one-third did not wash.

 

Every few years, the research is repeated. This time, 83 percent of people washed.

 

The worst hygiene was at Atlanta's Turner Field, where 37 percent of the men left the bathroom without washing and 16 percent of the women did.

Click Here For The Complete Story=>  http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/4896734

 

Many of my patients already know that when you stop taking your hormones, your hot flashes usually return.  Somebody not quite as enlightened as you'all wanted to prove this.  And wouldn't you know . . . they proved it. 

Pills May Merely Delay Hot Flashes.  Study of Women who Stopped taking Hormones sees Symptoms of Menopause Recur.

 

By Lindsey Tanner

 

CHICAGO - Judy Smith says she had five blissful years without hot flashes while participating in a landmark study of hormone supplements. But when she quit taking them, the symptoms returned for her and many other participants, suggesting that the pills might postpone but not prevent menopausal symptoms.

 

"You can't necessarily expect to just skip that stage' by taking hormones, said Dr. Judith Ockene of the University of Massachusetts.  The survey, which appears in the Journal of the American Medical Association, also found that menopause symptoms can last longer than many women thought. More than one-third of women who reported symptoms after stopping the study pills were in their 60s and 70s at least 10 years older than the average age of menopause.

 

Click Here For The Complete Story=> http://www.presstelegram.com/Stories/0,1413,204~21474~2962000,00.html

 

I thought this next article was rather interesting.  I cannot explain the association, and I doubt that it's anything but coincidence, but who knows?  Maybe there is something to it. 

Breast Cancer, Handedness Could Be Linked
Study Finds Higher Rate of Disease in Left-Handed Women

 

September 26, 2005

 

Are left-handed women at increased risk for breast cancer? A new study suggests that might be the case.

 

Cuno Uiterwaal of the University Medical Center in the Netherlands examined the relationship between handedness and breast cancer in 12,178 healthy, middle-age women.  Between 1982 and 2000, the left-handed women in the study were more than twice as likely as right-handed women to develop breast cancer before going through menopause, the researchers found. The association held up even after the researchers took into account other factors, such as social and economic status, smoking habits, family history of breast cancer, and reproductive history.

 

Much more research is needed to explore whether the relationship is real and what may explain it. But the researchers speculated that left-handed women may be at risk for breast cancer because they were exposed to higher levels of certain hormones in the womb.  Women exposed to the hormonal drug diethylstilbestrol, or DES, for example, when they were in the womb were more likely to be left-handed, they noted.

 

Click Here For The Complete Story=>

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/25/AR2005092501152.html

 

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

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#119 From: <grehert@...>
Date: Thu Sep 15, 2005 10:26 am
Subject: Chocolate, big thighs and hearing loss. 		grehert
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If you are a chocolate lover, take your sweet time reading article number one . . . all the way to the bitter end.
Good news for dark chocolate-lovers
Jul 19,
 
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Dark chocolate can not only soothe your soul but can lower blood pressure too, researchers reported Monday.
 
The study, published by the American Heart Association, joins a growing body of research that show compounds found in chocolate called flavonoids can help the blood vessels work more smoothly, perhaps reducing the risk of heart disease.
 
Blumberg and colleagues at the University of L'Aquila in Italy studied 10 men and 10 women with high blood pressure.  For 15 days, half ate a 3.5 ounce bar of specially formulated dark chocolate, while the other half ate the same amount of white chocolate.  Then each group "crossed over" and ate the other chocolate.
 
"White chocolate, which has no flavonoids, was the perfect control food because it contains all the other ingredients and calories found in dark chocolate," Blumberg said.
 
When the volunteers ate the special dark chocolate, they had a 12 mm Hg decrease in systolic blood pressure (the top number in a blood pressure reading) and a 9 mm Hg decrease in diastolic blood pressure (the bottom number) on average.
 
Blood pressure did not change when the volunteers ate white chocolate.
 
Eating dark chocolate also seemed to improve how the body used insulin, and reduced low density lipoprotein (LDL) or "bad" cholesterol by about 10 percent on average.
 
"The findings do not suggest that people with high blood pressure should eat lots of dark chocolate in lieu of other important blood pressure-reduction methods, such as medication and exercise," Blumberg said. "Rather, we are identifying specific flavonoids that can have a benefit on blood pressure and insulin sensitivity."
 

Click Here For The Complete Story=> http://www.indiadaily.com/breaking_news/41334.asp
 
You've heard it before, "what fruit are you shaped like?" . . . . This next article investigates why it's better to be shaped like a pear than like an apple.  
Fat thighs may benefit health, say researchers
August 13, 2005
 
For many people, mainly women, fat on legs, hips, and buttocks may actually help ward off heart disease and diabetes, recent research suggests.
 
University of Colorado researchers reported this week that in a study of 95 women past menopause, being bottom-heavy was linked to better scores on several markers in the blood, including triglycerides and high sugar levels. "Our body of research, as well as some others, suggest that leg fat is good fat," said Rachael Van Pelt, the lead researcher.
 
Researchers are not sure exactly why leg, hip and buttocks fat carries benefits, but this latest study complements the growing understanding that all fat is not alike. In recent years it has become clearer that "visceral fat," which swells waistlines and wraps around organs, poses the greatest health danger, while "peripheral fat" on arms, legs, hips and buttocks is more benign and, according to recent research, may even be helpful.
 
Researchers caution that their work does not translate into advice to gain or retain excess weight. Though people tend toward either a bottom-heavy pear shape or a top-heavy apple shape, there is no way to gain only peripheral fat (pear shape) without gaining visceral fat (apple shape), as well.
 
 
And just in case you ever wondered . . .
Men do have trouble hearing women.
 
2005-08-10
 
BEIJING, Aug. 10 -- Men who are accused of never listening by women now have an excuse — women's voices are more difficult for men to listen to than other men's, British scientists found.
 
The Daily Mail, quoting findings published in the specialist magazine NeuroImage, said researchers at Sheffield University in northern England discovered startling differences in the way the brain responds to male and female sounds.
 
Men deciphered female voices using the auditory part of the brain that processes music, while male voices engaged a simpler mechanism, it said.
 
The newspaper quoted researcher Michael Hunter as saying: “The female voice is actually more complex than the male voice, due to differences in the size and shape of the vocal cords and larynx between men and women, and also due to women having greater natural 'melody' in their voices.  This causes a more complex range of sound frequencies than in a male voice.” Hunter explained.  The findings may help explain why people suffering hallucinations usually hear male voices, the report added, as the brain may find it much harder to conjure up a false female voice accurately than a false male voice.
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. <= CLICK HERE
 
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)
#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
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“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
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)
#117 From: <grehert@...>
Date: Wed Jul 6, 2005 12:57 pm
Subject: Walking, your memory, and the morning-after-pill. 		grehert
Offline Offline
Send Email Send Email
 
 
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
Offline Offline
Send Email Send Email
 
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
Offline Offline
Send Email Send Email
 
 
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

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