Dear Health-Conscious Friend,
Does your energy sometimes run out before youve crossed the last item off your To Do list?Well, youre definitely not alone. In fact, a new study shows you could be one of about 13 million American with an undiagnosed problem that could be zapping your energy
Ill tell you what may be causing your power outages in todays Monday Edition of Health News Weekly.
Youll also find out about a potentially embarrassing side effect of using tobacco products. And check out what some doctors are doing to ease shoulder and joint pain.
Read on to find all this and MORE!
Feeling Tired and Sluggish? It Could Be
Time to Check Your Thyroid!
If youve been feeling exhausted and run downan afternoon nap might not be enough to charge your batteries.
You could have a problem with your thyroid glanda disorder far more common than previously thought.
The thyroid is a small gland located just below your Adams apple. Its main responsibility is to regulate your body metabolism.
According to a WebMD report, the most common thyroid problems stem from abnormal production of hormones.
If your body produces too many thyroid hormonesa condition known as hyperthyroidismyou could experience excess weight loss rapid heart beats brittle bones and even heart failure.
When your body doesnt produce enough of these vital body chemicalsyou can experience a condition known as hypothyroidism.
This disorder becomes more common as you age. In folks over age 60, up to 17% of women an 8% of men have it.
Besides draining your energy, hypothyroidism can cause:
- Elevated cholesterol levels
- Weight gain
- Depression
- Constipation
- Brittle hair and nails
The most common cause of hypothyroidism is scarring of the gland caused by inflammation. This condition is called Hashimotos disease.
Viral infection lithium and iodine drugs and radiation therapy to the neck can also cause damage to your thyroid gland.
Mild cases of this disorder often go undetected. This is because you probably wont notice the subtle symptoms right away.
In fact, findings from the Colorado Thyroid Disease Prevalence Studypublished in the Archives of Internal Medicineshow as many as 13 million Americans may have undiagnosed thyroid conditions!
The easiest way to detect hypothyroidism is a simple blood test for the thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH).
Your pituitary gland makes TSH to stimulate the production of thyroid hormones. If the test shows abnormally high levels of TSHthis is a clear sign that your thyroid isnt producing enough hormones.
Everyone age 50 or older should have their TSH levels checked at least once every five years.
You should start getting tested at age 35 if you have:
- A parent, sibling or child with thyroid trouble
- A swollen thyroid gland (goiter)
- Prematurely gray hair (before age 30)
- Insulin-dependent diabetes
- Pernicious anemia
Talk to your doctor about testing and treatment options. The sooner you know about any potential problemsthe faster youll be on the road to better health!
Are You Puffing Away Your Potency?
If you smoke, youre probably well aware of the health risks associated with using cigarettes, cigars and chewing tobacco.
But you might not know your nicotine habit may also increase your risk of experiencing erectile dysfunction!
New research shows men with a pack-a-day habit are almost 40 percent more likely to suffer from erectile dysfunction than men who dont smoke.
Erectile dysfunctionalso called ED or impotenceis the inability to achieve or sustain an erection on repeated occasions.
Estimates show two of every 100 American men have erectile dysfunction serious enough to warrant a doctors visit, according to the U.S. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disorders.
The nicotine in tobacco products actually causes your blood vessels to narrow and close. This includes the blood vessels in your penis.
Researchers studied more than 8,000 Australian men between the ages of 16 and 59. They found that those who smoked less than a pack of cigarettes each day had a 24 percent increased risk of erectile problems.
And the more cigarettes you smokethe greater risk of erectile dysfunction. According to the study published in the journal Tobacco Control, men who averaged more than 20 cigarettes a day increased their risk of erectile dysfunction by 39 percent.
Smoking isnt the only lifestyle choice which can cause impotence. Obesity, heavy alcohol consumption and recreational drug use can all cause erectile dysfunction. And if you dont exercise regularlyyou might also experience erectile problems.
All of these conditions or lifestyle factors contribute to impotence by:
- Reducing blood flow
- Causing nerve damage, or
- Changing your hormone balance
While there are medications that can help treat erectile dysfunctionadopting a healthier lifestyle can be a safe, effective way to maintain good sexual health!
Fast Fact
Vegetables, Grains & Fruit
Whole foods and raw fruits, vegetables and grains should be part of your daily menu for optimal health.
When you include healthy doses of these foodsyou can help offset the effects of unhealthy fats in your diet. This includes those which have been hydrogenated through cooking and processing.
Fruits and vegetables provide the soluble fiber your body needs to bind unwanted materials and remove them from your intestines.
They also are a rich sources of the vitamins, minerals and enzymes you need to nourish every cell in your body!
Researchers Say A Shot of Botox® May
Do the Trick for Arthritis Pain Relief!
You might know that many folks use Botox® injections to reduce the appearance of laugh lines and other facial wrinkles. But the results of a small trial study indicate this cosmetic treatment may provide relief from arthritis shoulder pain!
Doctors often prescribe Botox injections to treat conditions ranging from bladder problems and migraine headaches to excess sweating.
But according to a HealthDay report, doctors think the botulinum toxin may ease osteoarthritis pain as well.
Osteoarthritis is the type of arthritis resulting from wear-and-tear on your joints. According to estimates from the Arthritis Foundation, about 21 million Americans have this form of arthritis.
Whats more, age and obesity can increase your risk for feeling this type of pain.
Study author Dr. Jasvinder Singh, a staff physician at the Minneapolis VA Medical Center, said more than 5 percent of American adults suffer shoulder pain lasting more than a month in a given year.
The research team randomly assigned 43 patients with moderate-to-severe osteoarthritis shoulder pain to one of two groups. One group received a single dose of the botulinum toxin type A and the local anesthetic lidocaine.
The other group received saline (salt water) and the lidocaine. Neither group knew what they were receiving.
At the start of the study, the participants pain levels were greater than 4.5 on a scale of zero to 10, with 10 being the worst pain.
Researchers compared the pain levels before the botulinum treatment to levels assessed 28 days later. They found that 38 percent of the botulinum group had a 30 percent or better reduction in their pain scores. Only 9 percent of the saline group reported similar pain reduction.
Participants who got botulinum also reported more improvement in shoulder function than the saline group.
Singh speculates the toxin may reduce the release of certain proteins from nerves in the joint. This, in turn, may decrease pain sensations.
But the researchers dont recommend that people start using it until they have a more definitive study.
The new study was funded by the North Central chapter of the Arthritis Foundation, the Mayo Clinic Center for Clinical and Translational Research, and the Minneapolis VA Medical Center.
In the past, Singh has received travel funds for other research projects from Allergan Pharmaceuticals, which makes Botox, he said.
Health E-Hints
How to Make Vitamin Stew!
Contrary to what you might thinkthe refrigerator is the WORST place for you to store your vitamins.
When you open the bottle, warm outside air can mix with the cold vitamins. This can cause condensation on the inside of the bottle.
Over time, your pills will become stickyand eventually will dissolve!
The same is true for storing vitamins in the bathroom. Heat and humidity can also shorten their shelf life. An exception is supplements such as lactobacilli and other intestinal flora. These should be kept in the refrigerator.
But for the majority of vitamins, a better storage spot is a pantry shelf or the kitchen counter. This will help keep your vitamins dry and at the right temperature to deliver the health benefits you expect!