Different areas affected more or less by dangerous diseases? Well, one report is releasing stats that show THIS region could be susceptible to more cases of cancer where do you think it is? Be sure to read the Thursday Edition of
Health News Weekly to find out!
Plus, can you name a natural remedy to keep your blood sugar in check? You will after reading todays healthy hint!
Lets get started!
Researchers ID Southeastern States
as the Nations Cancer Belt!
Many folks enjoy living in or visiting Southern states because of their reputation for gracious hospitality. But you might be surprised to learn that researchers have pegged the region as the nations cancer belt!
A research team at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center in Nashville, Tenn., said several forms of cancer strike Southerners more often than people living in other U.S. regions. Whats worse, a rare and deadly form of brain cancer called glioma is especially prevalent in this region!
When you look at a map of brain cancer incidence in the United States, the Southeast just lights up in red, said Reid Thompson, M.D., in a press statement. Thompson is an associate professor and vice-chair of the department of neurological surgery at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
When we found this hot-spot on the National Cancer Institutes mortality maps, we realized something unusual is going on in this region, he added.
Thompson and his colleague, Kathleen Egan, M.P.H., Sc.D., are studying these patterns to determine possible links between cancer prevalence and factors such as diet and exposure to cancer-causing chemicals. Vanderbilt-Ingram is conducting the federally funded research in partnership with four other regional cancer centers.
The group said lung cancer tops the list of cancers that are more prevalent in the Southern states. This is because research shows Southerners tend to smoke more than people in other regionsand are therefore more likely to succumb to lung cancer.
The relationship between tobacco use and lung cancer is fairly clear. But researchers are puzzled about the alarmingly high cancer death rate among African-Americans.
William Blot, Ph.D., and professor of medicine, is leading the Southern Community Cohort Study (SCCS)the largest epidemiologic study in historyto examine why African-Americans and Southerners experience higher rates of many types of cancer.
The SCCS is a collaborative project among Vanderbilt-Ingram, Meharry Medical College and the International Epidemiology Institute. It will also include participating community health centers across the South.
The researchers hope to recruit 90,000 people in 12 Southern states. The study will focus on their lifestyles and medical histories, as well as their risk factors for cancer and other serious diseases. Two-thirds of study participants will be African-Americans and many will be from rural areas.
Most other investigations have not included large numbers of African-Americans and few have included low-income individuals and people from rural parts of the country. This is the first large-scale study and the first in the South to include large numbers of all of those groups, Blot said.
Fast Fact
Be sure to get the most out of the iron content of your food and vitamin supplements by following these suggestions: Take vitamin C or drink orange juice with your supplements steam your veggies which will help them keep their iron content or use iron pots for your cooking.
Iron-rich foods include dark leafy greens, artichokes, peas, eggs, beans, oatmeal, mollusks, whole-grains, prunes, figs and MORE.
NEW Approach to Knock Out
Pre-Diabetes Symptoms!
A group of diabetes and metabolic disorder experts is recommending a two-pronged approach to treating people with pre-diabetes. The treatment recommendations from experts at the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) include lifestyle changes and drug intervention when necessary.
Pre-diabetes is characterized by high blood sugar levels or impaired glucose tolerancebut not as high as with diabetes. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 56 million Americans suffer from pre-diabetes.
According to a July 23, 2008 statement from the AACE, you are considered at high risk for this condition if your blood sugar readings are near diabetic levels. Also, if you have hypertension or high cholesterol levels, you should work with your doctor on a plan to reduce these risk factors.
For some people, lifestyle changessuch as an improved diet and exercise programmight not be enough to arrest the problem.
Although lifestyle can clearly modify the progression of patients towards overt diabetes, it may not be sufficient, said Alan J. Garber, M.D., Ph.D., F.A.C.E., and professor of medicine at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. Medications may well be required, particularly in high risk groups, he said.
Because there are no existing medications for pre-diabeticsthe AACE suggested another approach. They said the medical establishment should consider lowering the number at which blood sugar levels define diabetes. This would make current diabetes medications available to pre-diabetics.
Health E-Hints
Bitter MelonA Sweet Remedy
for Balancing Blood Sugar!
Although it may be unknown to most people in the Westbitter melon has long been used in South America, the Caribbean, East Africa and the Orient as both food and a natural medicine.
And scientific studies prove its value for treating blood sugar problems. For example, two studies showed bitter melon could play a key role in helping to balance insulin in your bodywhich of course means healthy blood sugar control.
Another scientific study showed bitter melon had positive effects on the serum glucose levels of those taking it, following both fasting and eating.
So consider making this superstar nutrient part of your healthy prescription for balanced blood sugar!