Naturally, I’m conscientious about salt in my diet. I don’t even own a saltshaker! And I take a daily pill that keeps my blood pressure under control.

I’m one of the lucky ones. For many people with hypertension, medication is not effective. And until now, the reason for this was a mystery.

Science has always believed that hypertension begins in the kidneys, and medications are based on this assumption.

However, new brain imaging techniques are now proving that we’ve got it all wrong…

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Too much salt may inflame the brain

It’s commonly thought that hypertension begins in the kidneys, which filter blood to regulate the amount of sodium and water in the body.

When blood pressure rises, the kidneys excrete more sodium and water to reduce blood volume and lower pressure.

High blood pressure also damages the delicate blood vessels in the kidneys, triggering the release of the hormone renin, which in turn causes hypertension. Thus, a vicious cycle occurs.

But now we’re learning that when high blood pressure is resistant to treatment, it may be that the drugs are aimed at the wrong organ and the wrong hormone.

Researchers at McGill University in Montreal have discovered that cases of drug-resistant hypertension may originate not in the kidneys but in the brain.

They gave rats a solution of water and two percent salt. This is comparable to a daily diet high in fast food and processed foods like bacon.

The high-salt diet activated immune cells in a specific brain region, leading to inflammation and a surge in another hormone, vasopressin, which also increases blood pressure.

The researchers used rats instead of the more commonly studied mice because rats regulate salt and water more like humans. That makes the findings more likely to apply to people, noted lead author Prof. Masha Prager-Khoutorsky.

“This is new evidence that high blood pressure can originate in the brain, opening the door for developing treatments that act on the brain,” says Prof. Prager-Khoutorsky.

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Avoid triggers that raise blood pressure

Giving up salt can be difficult, but an alternative that most people don’t know about is potassium-enriched salt.

It looks the same as traditional salt (sodium chloride), except some of the sodium chloride has been replaced with potassium chloride.

Not only does this salt help reduce your sodium intake, but potassium also works to strengthen your heart muscles.

But in light of this new connection between the brain and inflammation, lowering inflammation should be addressed.

A safe and easy way to do that is by adding omega-3s to your diet by eating fatty fish weekly or supplementing.

An analysis published in the Journal of the American Heart Association has identified the optimal daily amount of omega-3s needed to lower blood pressure.

However, hidden sources of sodium can sabotage all of these efforts. Be sure to check labels, especially on condiments and processed foods.

Finally, another one that most people don’t know: not all hypertension triggers are edible. Other proven hypertension triggers include:

• Loneliness
• Sleep apnea
• Thyroid problems
• Antidepressants
• Holding on to a full bladder
• Cold and migraine medications

I hope the information I’ve given you here has provided some good ammunition against hypertension.

Sources:

Too much salt can hijack your brain — Science Daily

Microglia regulate neuronal activity via structural remodeling of astrocytes — Neuron

The post Resistant blood pressure linked to surprising cause of brain inflammation appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

But my favorite episode offers so much more than a few good laughs…

In it, Frasier’s brother Niles – who, with his fussy tendencies and idiosyncrasies, was always my favorite character – keeps complaining of a throbbing toothache.

His pain turns out to have nothing to do with his tooth itself — but is actually referred heart pain that lands him in cardiac surgery for blocked arteries.

I’m sure it seemed far-fetched to some viewers at the time, but in the years since, studies have demonstrated that certain species of bad bacteria in the mouth can increase inflammatory proteins that accelerate the deposition of buildup in the coronary arteries.

Now, research is revealing that while poor oral health can damage the heart and blood vessels, a focused dental care routine that’s easily accessible could actually reduce narrowing of the arteries over time.

Here’s what you need to know…

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How gum disease leads to thick arteries

Periodontists and cardiologists conducted a gold-standard randomized trial at a dental hospital in central London. They followed 135 people with severe periodontitis (also known as gum disease).

For each person, they took blood samples for markers of inflammation and oxidative stress. They also measured how much the arteries dilated when blood flow increased, a measure of blood vessel functioning, and measured the thickness of their artery walls via ultrasound — a key marker for cardiovascular disease risk.  

The participants were randomly split into separate groups to receive dental care — but it wasn’t the same old standard care for all participants…

• The first group received “intensive periodontitis treatment,” which included a thorough cleaning of the whole mouth and a deep cleaning below the gum line to remove plaque and tartar.
• The rest received a regular cleaning — with just a scale and polish — typical of a yearly dental visit.

Then, the participants were followed over the next two years, and each received further dental treatments at regular intervals throughout that time. Researchers also reassessed the carotid artery at the one-year and two-year marks, took blood samples and measured blood-vessel function at five different times.

The results spoke for themselves…

People who went through the intensive periodontitis treatment had:

• Carotid arteries with much lower thickness levels, indicating a lower risk for heart disease
• Better blood vessel function
• Lower levels of inflammatory and oxidative stress markers in their blood, which lead to atherosclerosis

In fact, the benefits patients received from deep gum treatment were “comparable to what has been seen with lifestyle interventions and some pharmacological agents in similar populations,” said Dr. Francesco D’Aiuto, a clinical research periodontist at University College London.

These findings suggest that oral health should be taken seriously as a contributing factor in cardiovascular disease, far more seriously than it has been considered previously, despite past research.

“For many, many years, dentists have been focusing on the teeth, forgetting the rest of the body, and physicians have been focusing on the body, forgetting that there are teeth,” said Dr. Maurizio Tonetti, a clinical and research periodontist. “They are really two worlds that have been separated and need to go back together for the benefit of patients.”

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Making oral health a priority

The good news is, this study proves that when you take care of your teeth and gums, you can support a healthy heart and blood vessels, along with a healthy mouth.

And in addition to seeing your dentist regularly, there are ways to do that at home.

First, be sure to take these six steps for fighting gum disease naturally. They include everything from diet and things to add to your toothpaste to supplements that can help.

I also highly recommend drinking matcha tea or using it in place of your usual mouthwash as it helps take down gum disease-causing bacteria.

I also practice oil pulling, specifically with coconut oil, to leverage a flavonoid known as prunin laurate or Pru-C12. Pru-C12 stops the growth of P. gingivalis, a bacterium frequently detected in deep periodontal pockets, considered to be the most critical bacterium in periodontal disease.

Keep your smile—and your ticker—in tip-top shape!

Sources:

Gum disease treatment slows the thickening of arteries, clinical trial shows – LIVESCIENCE

The post How your dentist can keep your arteries from narrowing appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

That describes what happens when the outer layer of our skin becomes thinner, paler and less stretchy — contributing to the signs of aging we see in the mirror.

It’s also why our skin may tear or bruise much more easily and take longer to heal.

The good news is, however, that a simple vitamin, which is appearing more frequently in anti-aging skincare, may actually restore skin function by reactivating genes essential for skin cell renewal…

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The skin-boosting properties of vitamin C

As we get older, our production of skin cells begins to decline. That’s the first step leading to thinner, more fragile skin. Our bodies also produce less collagen, the protein that gives our skin structure and elasticity.

Researchers in Japan decided to test vitamin C, known for its antioxidant properties and commonly used in skincare products, on laboratory-grown models that mimic real human skin to see how the nutrient impacts skin regeneration. The surface of the skin cell model was exposed to air and nourished from underneath by a liquid nutrient medium, replicating the way human skin receives nourishment from underlying blood vessels while remaining exposed to the external environment.

Using this model, the researchers applied vitamin C at concentrations comparable to those typically transported into the epidermis by the bloodstream, and some amazing things began to happen…

Within seven days, the vitamin C-treated skin model exhibited a thicker layer of epidermal cells, without significantly affecting the stratum corneum, the outermost layer of the skin, which is composed of dead cells. By day 14, the inner epidermal layer had become even thicker, while the outer stratum corneum layer had become thinner.

This suggests something remarkable: Vitamin C promotes the formation and division of keratinocytes, the cells that make up 90 percent of the epidermis.

In other words, vitamin C appears to affect skin cell growth on a genetic level by reactivating genes associated with cell proliferation. It does so by promoting DNA demethylation, a process that spurs gene expression and helps cells grow, multiply and differentiate.

“VC seems to influence the structure and function of epidermis, especially by controlling the growth of epidermal cells,” says Dr. Akihito Ishigami of the Tokyo Metropolitan Institute for Geriatrics and Gerontology (TMIG), Japan.

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Using vitamin C in skincare

According to the findings, vitamin C promotes skin renewal by triggering genetic pathways involved in growth and repair. That means vitamin C may be especially helpful for older adults or those with damaged or thinning skin by boosting the skin’s natural ability to regenerate and strengthen itself.

“We found that VC helps thicken the skin by encouraging keratinocyte proliferation through DNA demethylation, making it a promising treatment for thinning skin, especially in older adults,” Ishigami says.

Of course, this research needs to be confirmed by human studies. Until then, however, it couldn’t hurt to add a vitamin C cream or serum to your skincare regimen and make sure you’re getting plenty in your diet.

One thing to remember is that the vitamin C in creams and serum is prone to breaking down when exposed to light, heat or oxygen. That means as soon as you open your vitamin C skincare product, the clock starts ticking on its longevity.

To help extend your vitamin C’s shelf life, make sure the cream or serum is stored in an opaque bottle or jar and seal it tightly after each use. Never store it in the bathroom, where light and humidity can compromise its effectiveness. Instead, store it in the refrigerator, which will help delay the oxidation process. And once the serum turns yellow or brown, it means it’s oxidized, so discard it.

Sources:

Vitamin C flips your skin’s “youth genes,” reversing age-related thinning — ScienceDaily

Vitamin C Promotes Epidermal Proliferation by Promoting DNA Demethylation of Proliferation-Related Genes in Human Epidermal Equivalents — Journal of Investigative Dermatology

Wrinkles — Cleveland Clinic

How to Store Vitamin C Serum — wikiHow

The post The vitamin scientists call a ‘game changer’ for aging skin appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

This is precisely what happens to your body when its “trash removal system” fails.

But when that happens, it’s more than just an inconvenience. An interruption in how your body takes care of cellular trash could mean an interruption in an organ as vital as your heart…

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Your body’s ‘trash man’

Eliminating damaged cell components is essential for maintaining the body’s tissues and organs—and how they function.

The brain is a good example. During sleep, the glymphatic system clears waste from the brain with the help of cerebral spinal fluid. If that process is hindered, cognitive decline will be close behind.

A similar process holds true for our muscles and nerves, whose cellular components are subject to constant wear and tear.

But how exactly are these damaged pieces of cells eliminated?

The protein BAG3 is the body’s “trash man.”

It constantly identifies damaged cell components and ensures they are enclosed by cellular membranes to form an autophagosome. An autophagosome is like a garbage bag in which cellular waste is collected for later shredding and recycling.

This waste disposal “system” is essential for the longer-term preservation of muscle mass.

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Autophagosomes and your heart

Remember that your heart is nothing more than a giant muscle. It’s made mostly of cardiac muscle, enabling it to pump blood throughout your body. And it undergoes a lot of wear and tear.

Now, think about what could happen if the damaged cells in your heart were just left to lie around rather than being removed.

You guessed it: heart disease.

Luckily, a properly functioning BAG3 system prevents this by enclosing damaged cells and letting your body remove them.

You may be wondering if there is anything you can do to make this system work more efficiently.

Well, researchers have just discovered one way to do that.  And it’s accessible to everyone.

Strength training supports the BAG3 system and your heart

A research team led by Professor Jörg Höhfeld of the University of Bonn Institute of Cell Biology has shown that strength training activates BAG3 in the muscles.

Professor Sebastian Gehlert, a member of the research team, emphasizes how important the findings are: “We now know what intensity level of strength training it takes to activate the BAG3 system, so we can optimize training programs for top athletes and help physical therapy patients build muscle better.”

This means regular strength training (resistance exercise) can keep your heart healthy and strong.

So, although it may seem counterintuitive, the American Heart Association recommends strength training for anyone trying to prevent a second heart attack or stroke after having a conversation with your doctor.

And if you have a family history of heart disease, you’ll also want to get started right away.

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More benefits of resistance exercise and how to get started

You don’t need to be a weightlifter to make resistance exercise part of your life. Any activity that requires your muscles to work against a weight or force counts as strength training.

This includes the use of resistance bands, as well as using your own body weight by doing push-ups, pull-ups, and squats. Even walking counts.

Resistance exercise has other health benefits, too:

1. Stronger bones. As we age, osteoporosis becomes more likely. Strength training can prevent this or keep it from getting worse by triggering bone-forming cells into action. And the joints we use while in training – our hips, spine, and wrists – are also the spots most likely to be affected by osteoporosis.
2. Weight loss. Strength training can rid of body of fat and help you burn more calories. And keeping your muscles healthy can help prevent injuries that will land you in a sedentary lifestyle that will shorten your life expectancy.
3. Improves balance. Strengthening your leg muscles can help counteract the weakness and frailty that can occur with age. A stronger lower half and better balance will cut your risk for hip fracture.
4. More flexibility. Building the muscles around your bones lubricates joints and eases swelling. If you have stiffness from arthritis, this is especially helpful. Being flexible is also tied to healthy longevity.

Sources:

Strength training activates cellular waste disposal — EurekAlert

Force-induced dephosphorylation activates the cochaperone BAG3 to coordinate protein homeostasis and membrane traffic — Current Biology

Strength and Resistance Training Exercise — American Heart Association

The post How to trigger your heart’s waste disposal system and why appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

It’s why we go out of our way to return the favor, giving our dogs the right diet, good exercise and the care they need to remain in our lives as long as possible.

It’s also why we need to be aware of the risks they face, especially when it comes to cancer.

That’s because according to the American Kennel Club, one in three dogs will develop cancer in their lifetime, with cancer reigning as the leading cause of death for our furry friends.

And sadly, there is an additional factor to be aware of that can increase our pets’ cancer risk — one that is not only strange, but strangely enough, they share with us.

Cancer risk by size

A study from researchers at the University of California Riverside has found that like us, dogs experience a higher cancer risk with increased size.

In fact, research on humans has shown that tall people get the short end of the stick when it comes to cancer, with an 11 to 13 percent higher risk of the disease for every 3.9 inches in height.

After surveying dog mortality rates with three different data sets, the researchers found the smallest dogs, including Pomeranians, miniature pinschers, shih tzus and chihuahuas have about a 10 percent chance of dying from cancer.

By comparison, many relatively large dogs, such as Burmese mountain dogs, have more than a 40 percent risk of cancer death.  

Now there were some exceptions in the study…

The team discovered that flat-coated retrievers had the highest mortality from cancer, getting a type of sarcoma with higher frequency than they should have for their size.

And Scottish terriers were far more prone to cancer than other small dog breeds.

Additionally, the team found that very large dogs, like Great Danes, have less cancer than medium-sized dogs. However, they say that this is due to their shorter life expectancy.

“For every pound increase in typical breed size you lose about two weeks of life. A very big dog, you’re lucky if they live past nine years, whereas small dogs can go about 14,” said study author Leonard Nunney. 

And as we all know, while cancer can start early, by and large, it’s a disease associated with aging. So a reduced lifespan means a reduced risk of cancer.

According to the researchers, it all boils down to this — larger size and longer lives offer more opportunities for cells to mutate and cancer to take hold.

Cancer prevention

You’re probably asking how you can prevent cancer in your dog.

And the answer is much like what we’re supposed to do ourselves to stay healthy and keep cancer at bay.

This includes:

• Getting good nutrition – A well-balanced diet is vital in the battle against cancer. And for both dogs and humans this can include getting plenty of nutrients from healthy greens that are packed with antioxidants to stop cancer growth. You can easily find a greens supplement for your dog online or in your local pet store.
• Focusing on fitness – Exercise and weight management are important for cancer prevention in both humans and their pets. While overweight dogs are more likely to develop bladder or mammary cancers, studies have shown that in humans belly fat fuels cancer growth.
• Having regular dental checkups – Oral care and cancer prevention go hand-in-hand for us and our furry friends. Seeing your dentist (or your pet’s) can ensure tumors are caught early when they are more treatable.

Sources:

Study reveals cancer vulnerabilities in popular dog breeds — EurekAlert!

Cancer in Dogs: What to Know — American Kennel Club

Everyday Ways to Reduce Cancer Risk for Your Dog — American Kennel Club

The post The strange cancer risk we share with our pets appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

For decades, this has meant making decisions with far too little information on what to expect from treatment — especially regarding effects on sexual function and urinary, bowel and hormonal health.

According to Dr. Bashir Al Hussein Al Awamlh, a fellow in Urologic Oncology at Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC), “Many men with localized prostate cancer survive for 15 years or more, with minimal differences in survival among various treatment strategies.

“Given this long-time horizon and similar survival rates, the choice of treatment for patients may be influenced by the adverse effects of the treatments.”

He and others involved in the study hope the results of the decade-long study may help men feel more empowered when making treatment decisions along with their doctors.

Treatments for men with a favorable diagnosis

The CEASAR (Comparative Effectiveness Analysis of Surgery and Radiation for Localized Prostate Cancer) study, coordinated by VUMC, is a multisite research study conducting long-term follow-up on men who were diagnosed with localized prostate cancer between 2011 and 2012.

The study included 2500 men who were divided into two groups: favorable prognosis and unfavorable prognosis, which is relevant because patients with an unfavorable prognosis receive more intensive treatments.

Men with a “favorable” prognosis can choose from four treatment options:

• Active surveillance – When a man chooses active surveillance, he receives no treatment. Instead, his cancer specialist will closely monitor the tumor, moving to treatment later if necessary. This option is also known as watchful waiting.
• Nerve-sparing prostatectomy – In this case, a man with prostate cancer undergoes a surgical procedure in which the prostate is removed, but the nerves involved in erectile function are left intact. The goal is to maintain as much sexual function as possible.
• External beam radiation therapy (EBRT) – EBRT uses daily radiation to kill off cancer cells.
• Low-dose-rate brachytherapy – Like EBRT, this treatment option utilizes radiation. However, instead of daily treatment, radiation ‘seeds’ are implanted in the prostate.

The research revealed that men who chose prostatectomy (prostate removal) experienced worse sexual function three to five years after the procedure compared to men who opted for other treatments.

Additionally, men who were given a prostatectomy were also more likely to live with urinary issues, with a quarter of these patients reporting “leakage” up to 10 years after the procedure. This is a significant percentage considering that only 4-11% of men who underwent EBRT instead of a prostatectomy experienced the same issues.

Treatments for men with an unfavorable diagnosis

Men with an “unfavorable” prognosis generally only have two treatment options since they require more aggressive treatments.

Options for men in this category included:

• Prostatectomy – Like in the favorable group, this treatment involves full surgical removal of the prostate.
• EBRT plus androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT) – Men in who receive an unfavorable diagnosis may choose to undergo EBRT, but with the addition of ADT, which lowers a man’s levels of circulating hormones. This is done to try to boost the effectiveness of the radiation.

As you can imagine, side effects are more likely in this group due to the aggressive treatment levels.

• The research showed that like with the favorable prognosis group, a quarter of the men who chose to undergo a prostatectomy had urinary leakage.
• EBRT/ADT led to worse outcomes for bowel and hormonal issues at 10 years post-treatment. Unfortunately, ADT also raises a man’s Alzheimer’s and dementia risk.
• For men in the unfavorable group, doctors saw no differences in sexual function whether they received a prostatectomy or treatment using EBRT/ADT.

Arming yourself in the battle against prostate cancer

The good news is that with the results of this study, men can now make a more informed decision on care following diagnosis.

The authors plan to develop a personalized, patient-facing prediction tool using their findings to offer functional estimates through 10 years, based on different treatment strategies, to aid patients in making decisions.

“The findings underscore the importance of counseling men with unfavorable prognosis prostate cancer differently than favorable prognosis cancer regarding expected long-term functional outcomes and suggest that adverse effects of treatments on sexual function may be deemphasized in decision making for some men,” said senior author Daniel Barocas, MD, MPH, professor and executive vice chair of Urology at VUMC.

Outside of the realm of conventional medical treatment are lifestyle factors that may have a positive impact on the prostate cancer battle at home. These include:

• Following the Prostate Diet – The Prostate Diet offers eight dietary principles that can help avoid a prostate cancer diagnosis.
• Staying active – Studies show that even a single exercise session can help slow prostate cancer progression so staying active is a must.
• Drinking green tea – According to the results of a study published in the journal Cancer Prevention Research, men with prostate cancer who consumed the active compounds in green tea demonstrated a significant reduction in serum markers predictive of prostate cancer progression.
• Eating cruciferous vegetables – Broccoli, kale, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts are among vegetables rich in a phytochemical known as DIM (3,3’-diindolylmethane). DIM has been shown effective in inhibiting an enzyme involved in prostate cancer cell growth and in inducing cell suicide (apoptosis) while not impacting healthy cells. Cruciferous vegetables also harbor indole-3-carbinol (I3C), a phytochemical that protects DNA from damage, promotes apoptosis, and prevents growth of cancer cells.

Sources:

Long-term prostate cancer treatment study informs decisions for diverse groups — News Medical Life Sciences

Key Statistics for Prostate Cancer — American Cancer Society

The post Study reveals what men can expect after prostate cancer treatment appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

Absolutely. If they stay where they belong.

But when leaky gut syndrome exists, those bacteria and their toxins escape into your bloodstream, where they do not belong, and wreak havoc.

They can cause chronic bloating, headache, indigestion, diarrhea and nausea, as well as more severe conditions, such as irritable bowel disease and rheumatoid arthritis.

What’s more, researchers have discovered they kickstart a vicious cycle of obesity by interfering with the metabolism of fat cells.

Here’s how that happens, and what you can do about it…

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White fat vs. brown fat

To understand how this vicious cycle works, you’ll need to understand the difference between two types of fat we carry in our bodies.

There’s white fat. That’s the kind your body stores that shows up in bulges around your belly, hips, and thighs. That’s the kind of fat we don’t want.

Then, there’s our hero: brown fat.

Brown fat (the kind you want) helps burn off the calories we eat each day.

Browning is the process that turns white fat into brown fat and can be stimulated by exercise, exposure to cold and calorie restriction.

How leaky gut starts the obesity cycle

An international group of researchers took a look at how weight is affected when substances called endotoxins are released into the blood.

Endotoxins are found within the walls of bacteria. They are a normal part of the digestive tract, and their function is to trigger inflammation when an infection is present.

But when a leaky gut allows endotoxins to escape the gut and enter the bloodstream, it interferes with the normal functioning of fat cells. Specifically, it slows or stops the browning process, which is crucial to reducing the amount of stored fat and maintaining a healthy weight.

And since obese people already have less resilient guts, endotoxins have more chance of escaping into the bloodstream.

And so the cycle goes.

But if you can work to prevent leaky gut and keep endotoxins out of your blood, you’ve already won half the battle.

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How to help a leaky gut

A leaky gut leaks because damage to the lining has made it more permeable. Normally the junctures are just tight enough to allow nutrients to be absorbed and passed into the body, but keep bacteria and waste inside the intestinal walls until they exit the body.

If you’re not sure if you’re affected by leaky gut, first familiarize yourself with the most common symptoms.

Studies have shown that what you eat, and what you don’t eat, are keys to keeping the gut in healthy shape.

One of the most powerful foods to do just that is broccoli. In studies with mice, it was found to contain molecules involved in signaling cells in the intestines to halt inflammatory processes and repair damaged cells. That process helps keep the gut lining intact.

Next are polyphenols, natural antioxidants found in a variety of foods like apples, berries and green tea. In the gut, they increase helpful bacteria, reduce harmful bacteria, and prevent damaging inflammation. A recent study found that eating foods rich in polyphenols increased products of cell metabolism that improve the health of the gut and decreased those that cause intestinal permeability.

Certain supplements can also help.

Now, the foods you want to eat much less of include processed junk foods because they contain refined oils, added sugars and artificial sweeteners — and are considered inflammatory. They also contain gluten — which can aggravate digestive symptoms.

A whole foods diet, like the Mediterranean diet, is probably the best way to ensure foods that can promote weight loss and a healthy gut — which is ultimately the best way to keep your gut in shape and break the cycle.

Sources:

Toxic Fragments of Bacteria Leaking From The Gut May Drive Weight Gain — Science Alert

The impact of metabolic endotoxaemia on the browning process in human adipocytes — BMC Medicine

The post How leaky gut leads to weight gain appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

At the time, it seemed like the logical thing to do. PSA screening isn’t 100 percent accurate and can lead to false-positive results. And that can result in unnecessary biopsy and treatment, not to mention a lot of anxiety.

However, this scaling back of PSA testing has accompanied a worrying rise in cases of metastatic prostate cancer. Between 2003 and 2017, patients diagnosed with prostate cancer that has spread to other parts of the body increased from 4 percent to 8 percent.

With the 5-year survival rate for metastatic prostate cancer at a dismal 31 percent, it’s extremely important to reverse that statistic. Testing is certainly one way to do this, since the 5-year survival rate for prostate cancer caught in the early stages is nearly 100 percent.

That’s why scientists in the United Kingdom have been exploring ways to identify men at greatest risk of developing prostate cancer — and it looks like they are on the right path…

Web tool predicts those at high risk

CanRisk is a free tool developed by the University of Cambridge and The Institute of Cancer Research, London. It’s used by healthcare professionals worldwide to help predict the risk of developing breast and ovarian cancers.

To date, it has recorded almost 1.2 million risk predictions. And now researchers have added prostate cancer to the CanRisk tool.

“What we need is a way of identifying those men who are at greatest risk, allowing us to target screening and diagnostic tests where they are most needed, while also reducing the harms for those men who have low risk of the disease,” says Antonis Antoniou, a professor at the University of Cambridge.

“This is what CanRisk-Prostate aims to do. For the first time, it combines information on the genetic makeup and prostate cancer family history, the main risk factors for the disease, to provide personalized cancer risks.”

It’s partly in the genes

The researchers developed the CanRisk-Prostate model using genetic and cancer family history data from almost 17,000 families affected by prostate cancer. It employs data on rare genetic faults in moderate to high-risk genes as well as a risk score based on 268 common low-risk variants. It then combines this data with a detailed cancer family history to predict future risk.

One in six men will develop prostate cancer by the time they are 85 years old. Using the model, researchers found predicted risk was higher for men who had a father diagnosed with prostate cancer. The risk ranged from 27 percent if the father was diagnosed at 80 years of age to 42 percent if the father was diagnosed at 50 years of age.

Genetic faults increased the risk considerably. For instance, 54 percent of men who carry an altered BRCA2 gene would go on to develop prostate cancer. However, among those men with BRCA2 gene faults, the risk was substantially lower if they also had a small number of the low-risk gene variants, with risk rising as the number of low-risk variants increased.

By using CanRisk-Prostate, clinicians will be able to use any combination of cancer family history, and rare and common genetic variants to obtain a personalized risk profile for patients.

The researchers ran the risk model on an independent cohort of men from the UK Biobank biomedical database and research resource. All of the more than 170,000 men were free from prostate cancer when recruited to the study, but more than 7,600 developed prostate cancer within the subsequent 10 years.

When validating the model, the team found 86 percent of the UK Biobank participants who developed prostate cancer were in the 50 percent of men with the highest predicted risks. This suggests the possibility of targeting screening and diagnostic tests to the population subgroup at highest risk — since the majority of prostate cancers will likely occur among them.

Eventually, CanRisk-Prostate will enable risk-adapted early detection approaches to the general population.

So far, the data used to develop CanRisk-Prosate is from men of European ancestry, but the researchers hope to include data from men of other ethnicities as further research is done.

What qualifies as high risk?

Lifestyle certainly plays a role in prostate cancer risk. Maintaining a healthy weight and eating a diet low in processed foods and added sugars are two ways you can help lower your risk of the disease.

However, there are three risk factors you need to be aware of that are beyond your control.

Age is one of the biggest risk factors for prostate cancer. Prostate tumors usually develop in men older than 50, with more than 6 in 10 cases occurring in men who are 65 and up. But the good news here is that multiple studies show exercise can shrink prostate tumors and extend survival and quality of life.

Another risk factor is having a family history of the disease. If your father, brother or another close blood relative had prostate cancer, it raises your risk of the disease, especially if they were diagnosed before the age of 60. Inherited genetic factors may be related to between 5 and 10 out of every 100 prostate cancers.

Finally, if you are African American, you’re more likely to develop prostate cancer, and it’s more likely to be advanced when you’re diagnosed.

If you have any of these three risk factors, you’ll want to talk to your doctor about whether (and how often) you should get screened for prostate cancer.

Sources:

Prostate cancer risk prediction algorithm could help target testing at men at greatest risk — University of Cambridge

CanRisk-Prostate: A Comprehensive, Externally Validated Risk Model for the Prediction of Future Prostate Cancer — Journal of Clinical Oncology

Metastatic prostate cancer on the rise since decrease in cancer screenings — Keck Medicine of USC

CDC warns incidence of metastatic prostate cancer on the rise — Urology Times

PSA screening in prostate cancer: The controversy continues — Urology Times

Prostate Cancer: Statistics — Cancer.Net

Prostate Cancer Causes & Risk Factors — Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

The post An important step forward in gauging men’s prostate cancer risk appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

Most of us think, curiously and perhaps even enviously, “how in the world were they able to bring their dog with them on the plane?”

It’s easier than you might think…

Welcome to the era of the Emotional Support Animal, or ESA. An ESA is a domesticated pet who provides comfort and emotional support to a person.

According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, ESAs as “trained or untrained animals that do work, perform tasks, provide assistance, and/or provide therapeutic emotional support for individuals with disabilities.”

So unlike service animals, ESAs do not have specific training or tasks they accomplish for that person. By just like service animals, ESAs can serve important functions for their owners: they provide distraction from physical or emotional pain, they help calm worries and frazzled nerves and they can even serve as companions for a sense of connection and support.

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Strong evidence that pets are good medicine

From a natural health perspective, there is strong evidence to suggest various benefits to a person’s mental and physical health from interacting with a pet, and there is even a name for it — Zooeyia. The term is a combination of the Greek root words for animal (zoion) and health (Hygeia). It was coined in 2011 (Hodgson and Darling). This study found a significant reduction in stress among cardiac patients when compared to non-pet owning cardiac patients with similar conditions. Further, it found that pet owners reported non-judgmental social support which may act as a buffer against pathogenic responses to stress.

The Center for Disease Control lists multiple positive health effects of pet ownership including decreased blood pressure, decreased cholesterol, fewer feelings of loneliness and increased opportunities for exercise and outdoor activities. And with the onset of COVID-19 and the rise of social distancing recommendations, it is likely that many people are experiencing an increase in feelings of loneliness.

In fact, former Surgeon General of the United States (and currently a Distinguished Policy Scholar in Health Policy and Management at Johns Hopkins University) Vivek Murthy has dedicated his work toward ending loneliness. He stated in a 2017 interview that “The greatest gift of animals is they remind us we can love and be loved” and encouraged interaction between people and animals.

Mental health: Changing attitudes, coping strategies and the role of pets

Over the past few decades, our national attitudes toward mental health have been changing — in a very positive way. The younger generations feel more comfortable and confident in talking openly about aspects of their mental health which were once considered taboo. It’s much more common nowadays to have conversations with your friends about experiences with depression or anxiety, conversations that have facilitated the sharing of resources and adaptive coping strategies between peers. With this increased discourse has come a recognition of the many different facets of life which can play a role — helpfully or adversely — in our overall mental health and emotional fitness. And thus, with the proliferation of various animal-assisted mental health therapies, the concept of the ESA was born. So while many folks may not become pet owners with the expressed intent of relieving distress or bolstering their mental health, we’re now better able to recognize just how crucial a role pets often play in guarding the well-being of their owners.

Pets have long been recognized for the health benefits they give to their owners. But more recently, federal law helped establish this linkage by determining that landlords (Federal Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988) and airlines (Air Carrier Access Act of 1986) cannot discriminate against individuals who have a documented ESA. What this means is that ESAs are allowed to travel with their owners on most airlines (without incurring additional fees) as well as able to reside in housing which might otherwise prohibit pets (also without charging a pet deposit or fee).

But just how do get your pet documented as an ESA? Well, any licensed medical professional — including primary care physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, psychiatrists, psychologists and social workers — can validate your pet as an ESA, and all you really need from a legal standpoint is a letter from them stating you have a mental condition that your ESA helps alleviate.

Many of these medical and mental health professionals will now provide this service remotely, saving you an in-office visit (and bill) and improving timely access to this service. The benefits of pursuing the online evaluation option is that you don’t have to wait weeks for an in-person office visit, you won’t incur additional office co-pays or insurance fees and you get a letter that meets all the legal requirements and is written by medical professionals experienced in conducting these evaluations — something not all general medical practitioners are accustomed to doing.

So, if you’re someone who struggles with an emotional issue or mental disorder and your pet helps provide you with relief, wouldn’t it be great to be able to take them with you everywhere you go?

The post The natural health benefits of an emotional support animal appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

…try “oak” flavoring… “Mega Purple” dye and TONs of sugar (added because mass-market winemakers often pick their grapes before they mature and then cleverly try to hide it)…

… and that’s not counting all the chemicals left over from vineyards that look more like oil refineries than the great Chateau of old… (for example, a study in California found herbicide in every single bottle tested!)

But better wines do exist… and they don’t cost an arm and a leg either…

…like the wine I am about to describe to you today… made from handpicked grapes fed with natural snowmelt water that trickles down from mountain peaks 10,000 feet high…

…from old vines brought from France over 100 years ago (vines that don’t even exist in Europe anymore!)… no dyes… no filter… a color so deep and dark they call it “black wine”

Problem is… this delicious red wine (with hints of balsamic, leather, and black berry) can only be found in a single isolated corridor of the Southern Hemisphere, in a remote desert valley at the foot of the Andes Mountains — “the world’s most isolated wine region” — at an altitude most grapes could barely survive… 

It’s known as the Gualfin region (and more specifically, the Calchaqui Valley). 

With wild temperature swings (as much as 70 F)… powerful blasts of UV light through the thin atmosphere (80% more intense than Bordeaux)… low oxygen levels and roaring winds…

It’s enough to kill most things.

But for those plants and animals that survive, the “test” comes with major benefits: longevity and good health.

Gualfin’s inhabitants are a small group of homesteaders and natives. They live in near total isolation.

Up at the most remote vineyard — almost impossible to harvest — an elderly woman, Elena, lived in complete self-sufficiency well into her 80s.

(She made — and I can attest to this personally — the best cheese in the valley.)

She had no daily pill regimen (The nearest pharmacy is a day’s journey) and she rarely saw a doctor. Around these parts, if you fall ill, the trek to see a doctor is more dangerous than toughing it out on your own.

In any case, the people here seem to stay active and live far beyond what their rough-hewn lives might dictate.

Longer Life… Less Disease

For scientists, the latter observation would scarcely be surprising. “That which does not kill you…” is actually a scientific fact.

Stressing yeast with short bursts of extreme heat and cold allows them to live up to 30% longer. And studies have linked “caloric stressing” — aka fasting — leads to longer lifespans and less disease.

Of course, we aren’t all going to pack up and move to the edge of civilization to battle it out against the elements. But that’s where wine comes in…

At over 8,400 feet above sea level, in the most extreme growing conditions on earth, Malbec grape vines growing in the Calchaqui Valley adopt some unusual characteristics.

They become ultra-efficient at concentrating the few nutrients they have and they become ultra-resilient against potential bugs and threats. They say there are vines around that must be more than one hundred years old…

I believe it because I’ve seen it.

And the benefits of this struggle against nature don’t just stay in the plant.

They carry on through to the wine… and the wine drinker.

You Can ‘Inherit’ Longevity through Wine

It’s a myth that red wine is good for your health because it contains antioxidants.

The real health benefit of red wine comes from a part of the vine known as the “sirtuin pathway.”

It’s a pathway that springs to life when the vine comes under stress.

The extreme-altitude vineyards of the Calchaquí Valley — faced with low O2, high UV, and sudden temperature swings — cling to the edge of survival.

They survive because sirtuin activation floods the grapes and their skins with a plant chemical known as a flavonoid. This thickens and darkens the skins to protect the grape. You can tell a wine that has had a surtuin activation like this because the wine is so opaque it almost looks black.

We have done no official tests. But the grapes we grow in the Calchaquí Valley may have one of the densest flavonoid concentrations of any grape in the world. It could be 10 times that of other grapes.

Here’s what that means for your health…

When you drink that inky red wine, those flavonoids pass into your body. Once there, they activate your own sirtuin pathway.

Effectively, the resilience of the plant — hard won after years in the wilderness — is passed onto you!

When you drink a glass of extreme-altitude Malbec from the Calchaqui Valley in Argentina, your body quite literally experiences what it is to live on the open range 5,000 miles away, at nearly 9,000 feet above sea level.

And look… sirtuin activation is far from ‘folk science.’

In fact, it’s beginning to attract significant investment from some of the biggest names in medicine.

Investors include pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline (to the tune of $720 million) as well as MIT’s head of aging.

Activating your sirtuin pathway may be a key step in the fighting slow aging and disease.

Safe to say, this is NOT one of those ‘easy’ California Cabs… yet entire vintages of this wine sell out in 24 hours to a list of (mostly very rich) private buyers.  Up until recently, you pretty much had to be a multi-millionaire (or good friends with one) to even taste a ‘black wine’ like this…

But today — you can be among the first Americans to claim your very own supply of this rare extreme altitude “black wine”.

If you are interested, don’t wait.  Check out your invitation at this link, there are about a few hundred cases being held in a secured, climate-controlled warehouse in California.

You may be thinking that this is one of those $500 a bottle wines and maybe it should be. But no question, it’s an incredible value. Click here to find out more…

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