The latest data from the Osteoporosis Society shows that one in four women over the age of 50 will develop osteoporosis. This statistic often leads us to believe that it's a condition that requires attention in our 40s or 50s. That couldn't be further from the truth! The truth is that nutrition, supplementation, and lifestyle habits of young women between the ages of 13 and 20 are the most important factors that determine the risk of developing osteoporosis in the later years.
Between the ages of 13 and 20 our bodies have the ability to absorb calcium through the intestinal tract with a high degree of efficiency, but this absorption capacity decreases with age. Teenage girls provided with the ideal amounts of calcium are known to drive calcium into their bones at a rate of 400-500 mg per day. If this is accomplished day after day, year after year, throughout the teenage years, they will end up with optimal bone density by the age of 20-24. This is crutial because later in life, when estrogen and other hormones decrease, calcium leaks out of the bones into the bloodstream. Calcium supplements later in life can slow down the rate of calcium loss from the bones, along with resistance exercise and the addition of 1,400-2,000IU of vitamine D. But many women didn't get enough calcium when they were younger and they end up paying the price for it as early as age 45.
During the annual American College of Cardiology convention this year, Dr. Michael Weber presented a ground breaking study. One discovery was that the popular cholesterol-lowering drug Vytorin does nothing to prevent the clogged arteries that can lead to heart attacks. Vytorin is a combination of the tried-and-true statin Zocor and the new post-statin drug Zetia, the curiou part is taht Vytorin actually did lower the levels of the harmful LDL cholesterol in the study subjects more that the statin alone. But it did not lower the risk of heart attack. Now suddenly, Vytorin has fallen out of favor and an older statin Crestor is the preferred cholesterol drug. Crestor has the remarkable ability to lower bad LDL, to keep arterial walls from thickening, and to prevent heart attacks, stroke, and sudden dealth.
Taking the next step in your health:
- If you are currently on Vytorin or Zetia alone, don't panic! They weren't shown to cause harm.
- Stick with statins, especially if you already have signs of heart disease-high LDL, angina, or previous heart attack.
- Question your Vytorin prescription.
- Check you CRP. High levels of C-rective protein may indicate high heart attack risk and suggest the need for preventative medication.
- Ask about statins even if your LDL levels are ok. The Crestor research shows that you may benefit, especially if you have a family history of heart disease or other risk factors.
(Source: Better Homes and Gardens, Sept 2008)
Some fitness enthusiasts relentlessly seek out the latest, trendiest enercise crazes, many others are returning to good old-fashioned walking to help them feel great and get into shape.
Benefits of Walking
- With the exception of a good pair of walking shoes, walking requires no equipment.
- Walking improves cardiovascular endurance, tones the muscles of the lower body, reduces the risk of heart disease, and burns calories (about 80 calories if walking 2miles/hour or about 107 if walking 4.5 miles/hour).
Employees suffering from work-related headaches cost employers an estimated $13 billion a year and 113 million lost days of work, according to a recent survey by the National Headache Foundation. According to the survey, headaches result in missed days of work, decreased productivity, an inability to concentrate, and changes in mood or behavior. Headache sufferers are turning to alternative methods for headache prevention, including chiropractic and physical therapy, to eliminate specific habits that lead to repeatitive and painful headaches, such as bad posture and working conditions. Alternative methods are also being used for pain-relief education, long-term relief from headache pain, and ultimately headache prevention.
(Source: Chiropractic Economics and Heritage Health.)
