Categories: Uncategorized | July 19th, 2007 | by admin | 4 comments
My acoustic neuroma story began in the winter months of 2003. I felt as though I had an ear infection and continually needed to “pop” my ears. I went to my GP a few times, and she kept telling me everything looked fine and that I should just take an over-the- counter decongestant. So I did…nothing really changed, but I figured doctors know best. In February 2004, I was in Whistler, Canada for a snowboarding adventure and kept getting tremendous headaches on the same side of my head that my ear had been bothering me—so I said as soon as I get back home, I’m going back to the doctor and telling them that something is wrong. So that is exactly what I did. The doctor sent me for a hearing test, which showed that I had moderate hearing loss on my left side, the same side that was bothering me. Now, considering I was a 27-yearold female, in otherwise good health, this alerted my doctor who referred me to an ENT. My ENT seemed confused as to what was going on, so he thought an MRI would be a good preventative measure. I just didn’t think it was necessary, but figured “why not”. So I went for my MRI at the end of March 2004, and the very next day I got a phone call that explained it all—you have an acoustic neuroma.
These words really scared me. Being an internet feign, I had already researched all the possibilities of what the MRI may show and was confident that I was safe from having a brain tumor since the odds were so much in my favor. But once I found out that one of my greatest fears had been made reality, I couldn’t understand why, a healthy, young female such as myself could be the anomaly. In any case, I was on it—determined that nothing would stop me from being 100% in no time. I made multiple appointments with various doctors in the area (luckily living in the Bay Area made this quite easy). I was pretty convinced by all my research and the doctors I talked to that surgery was the only way to go. However I made an appt. with a doctor I knew at Stanford just to see what his thoughts were being he was a neurosurgeon and an old family friend. When I went to see him, all my researching and previous thoughts were thrown out the window. He brought in a team of doctors who had worked on other AN patients and completely blew me away with the statistics they had gathered on the success of using the CyberKnife as a treatment for this condition. What made me stop and think this was the way to go was when he told me if one of his daughters had been diagnosed with an AN, there was no doubt he would want them to have radiosurgery over traditional surgery any day.
Wow. Now I really had a decision to make. I did a lot of talking, soul- searching and finally decided upon CyberKnife as my treatment of choice. Besides all the amazing statistics on success rates, I was swayed by the chance of keeping some of my hearing, which surgery was sure to take away from me. My dad also had a great point—if for any reason this treatment method didn’t work, at least I’ve bought some time and let technology advance even more so that in the future who knows what will be held in store for people diagnosed with this disease.
So, in May 2004, I underwent three consecutive days of CyberKnife treatments, and I must say, they were pretty anti-climatic! Piece of cake—went out for coffee, shopping and some relaxation every day after my treatments. The hardest part was over—now it was time to be positive, wait and see the how the results shaped up over the next few years.
In November 2004, I underwent my sixth-month check up and everything looked on track. The size of my AN had increased by about 20%, but that is okay (due to swelling from the trauma) and it will go down over time. The good news was that the inside was of the tumor was dying—yeah! It was evident on the MRI because the color is darkened due to lack of blood flow. My hearing test showed my clarity in word recognition had been reduced. I knew this was the case because it was muffled when I would try to talk on the phone. So, I went on a short course of steroids to reduce swelling to see if this was the cause. Sure enough, I had my hearing tested a month later and the results were much more in line with my hearing before the treatments. For now I’m going to wait and see what happens as time reduces the swelling since I do not want to be on steroids for the long term. If muffled hearing (on only one side) is the only thing that happens to me from this treatment, I’ll be eternally thankful! Conventional surgery would have taken away all my hearing and that just wasn’t an option!
In January 2005 I was back out on my snowboard, just like normal. I promised myself that nothing would stop me from being 100% in no time—and CyberKnife truly helped me make that a reality.
Categories: Uncategorized | July 19th, 2007 | by admin | 154 comments
Although most women don’t like to think about breast cancer, we can’t ignore the facts - by age 75, the average woman has a nine percent chance of developing the disease. The odds of beating breast cancer, however, are better than ever. During October, National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, take the time to learn what you can do to increase your chances of survival.
There are several risk factors for breast cancer including age, genetics and family history. These factors play a very important role in determining your chances of getting breast cancer. [protect] For instance, if you have a mother, sister, or daughter with breast cancer, your risk is doubled. If you have two first-degree relatives with the disease, your risk is increased five-fold. If you carry the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutations (as determined by genetic testing in families suspected of having inherited breast cancer), your risk of developing breast cancer is 50-85 percent by age 70, though this is rare.
The good news is that the death rate from the disease has steadily declined over the past decade because of several factors. Thanks largely to widespread use of mammography, many breast cancers are now spotted before they have spread, giving most women an excellent chance of cure. In addition, breast cancer biopsy techniques have become more precise and less traumatic.
Side effects of cancer treatment have also become less debilitating. New classes of drugs have improved survival rates for women with advanced disease, and newer and better agents are on the horizon.
The best thing you can do is to aim for early detection. Here are a few tips:
* Beginning in your 20s, start examining your breasts monthly. Learn the unique features of your own breasts so you can recognize changes. A “lump” will usually seem obvious in an area of normal lumpiness. If you feel something unusual, check it out with your doctor, but don’t panic: 80 percent of lumps and other suspicious lesions are not cancerous.
* Begin having yearly mammograms at age 40. Mammography is the primary tool for evaluating your breasts and can spot 80-90 percent of breast cancers. When something suspicious is found, your physician may order an ultrasound, which provides additional information. Only a biopsy (removal of tissue), however, can accurately tell whether any lump is or is not cancerous.
Although some risk factors cannot be changed, you can also take steps to prevent breast cancer.
* Limit hormone replacement therapy. More than five years of hormone replacement therapy after menopause has been shown to increase breast cancer risk.
* Limit alcohol. Alcohol has been linked to increased blood levels of estrogen, and it may also interfere with the body’s use of folate, which protects against tumor growth. In several studies, women who have two or more drinks per day (or even less in some studies) are about 40 percent more likely to develop breast cancer than are women who do not drink alcohol.
* Avoid weight gain during adulthood. One study found those postmenopausal women who gained more than 45 pounds since age 18 had an increased risk. This may have to do with the production of estrogen from fat.
* Exercise. Postmenopausal women exercising for at least one hour a week are 20 percent less likely to develop breast cancer than sedentary women.
If you would like a free breast self-exam shower card, call the Health Alliance at 1-888-640-CARE today or click here to learn more about this disease.
To learn more about your own breast cancer risk, visit the Harvard Center for Cancer Prevention’s Web site that provides a personal risk assessment. [/protect]
Categories: Uncategorized | July 19th, 2007 | by admin | 62 comments
We have mixed feelings about carbohydrates. On the one hand, we blindly jump on the low-carb bandwagon and follow unhealthy, low-carb or no-carb diets in our pursuit to lose weight quickly. On the other, we love our white bread, enriched pasta and potatoes in any form. Our expanding waistlines witness our confusion.
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While protein is the building block of muscle mass, carbohydrates are what give us the energy not only to lead active lifestyles, but also to complete autonomic functions such as breathing, blinking and heartbeats.
A body denied carbohydrates enters ketosis, an unbalanced, acidic state, and then begins to cannibalize itself in the pursuit of fuel for energy. Talk about an unhealthy state!
The key is in knowing which kinds of carbs help us and which we’d be better off without.
Processed and refined carbs, like those found in white and wheat breads, white crackers, pastas, etc., and white rice, come from grains where the bran and the germ have been removed. That amounts to lost dietary fiber, protein, and a host of other nutrients. What are left are calories that the body can’t completely access without the missing elements.
Complex carbohydrates— like those found in whole grains, legumes, nuts, seeds. seaweeds and vegetables and fruits— provide exactly what our bodies need in just the right proportions and amounts to be most fully utilized.
While the healthfulness of oats made headlines for a while, all whole grains offer similar benefits. They’re low in fat and good sources of fiber, vitamins, minerals, and protein.
A recent Tufts University study showed that consuming at least three servings of whole-grain foods daily can lower risks for abdominal obesity, high triglycerides, low HDL cholesterol (good cholesterol), high blood pressure and poor blood sugar control. Eating any whole grains— not just oats — can put you in better shape for treating or avoiding diabetes, cholesterol issues, heart disease and even cancer.
Even though diabetics are often advised to restrict carbohydrate intake, the American Diabetes Association encourages even diabetics to include three daily servings of whole grains. Though refined carbs can cause a spike in blood sugar levels because they move through the body so quickly, whole grains are digested slowly, maintaining a glycemic balance while providing a satiated feeling.
Whole-grain diets also promote bowel health through maintaining regular movements and promoting growth of healthy bacteria in the colon.
Look for labels that read “whole wheat” or “whole grain” rather than simply “wheat” or “multi-grain”. Here are some whole grains to help expand our healthy carb repertoire:
* Whole-grain corn (grits/polenta/popcorn)
* Whole oats/oatmeal
* Brown rice
* Whole rye
* Whole-grain barley
* Wild rice
* Buckwheat
* Bulgur (cracked wheat)
* Millet
* Quinoa (the only grain that is a complete protein)
* Sorghum (a gluten-free grain)
Try this light and easy quinoa meal as a tasty alternative to rice, pasta or potatoes. Feel free to build it ahead of time and store it in the fridge until you’re ready to cook it in a fully-preheated oven. When doing this, remember to reserve the liquid and then add it right before cooking or you’ll end up with a quinoa patty!
Southwestern Quinoa
Serves 4
Ingredients
1 1/2 cup quinoa
2 cups broth or water
1 tsp. cumin
1- 1 3/4 lb. beef or turkey tenderloin
1/4 tsp sea salt
2 scallions, sliced into thin rounds
2 fresh green chiles, stemmed, seeded, chopped (Anaheim for milder palates; pasilla, poblano or jalapeno for a spicier meal)
2 small yellow summer squashes, halved, sliced
1 red bell pepper, sliced
6-8 leaves kale or chard, destemmed, roughly chopped
(about 4 cups chopped)
Directions
Preheat oven to 450F. Spray inside of 3 3/2- or 4-quart cast iron Dutch oven and lid with olive oil. Pour in quinoa. Add liquid and cumin and stir to dissolve and evenly coat grains.
Set trimmed tenderloin in next and sprinkle with sea salt, scallions and green chiles. Layer in squash, followed by red bell pepper. Fill to the top with greens, making certain none hang over the edge.
Cover and bake for about 35 minutes, or until about 3 minutes after the aroma of a fully-cooked meal wafts from the oven.
My husband prefers this meal with a sauce such as salsa or gravy, while I appreciate the unadorned elements as presented here and the satisfied-but-not-stuffed way I feel after eating.
Notes
Quinoa is the only whole grain that is a complete protein as it provides all the essential amino acids in a balanced pattern. With more high quality protein than any other whole grain and wheat and gluten-free, quinoa (pronounced “keen-wa”) is also light and delicate with a delicious nutty flavor that is perfect for summer weather.
Once the staple food of the Incas, the ancient Andean civilization respectfully referred to quinoa as the “Mother Grain”.
Nutritional Analysis per serving
(based on using organic chicken broth and skinless turkey meat)
Calories 408
Protein 14g
Carbs 56
Fat 11g
Chol 86mg
Sod 553mg (268 if made with water instead of broth)
Fiber 7g
About the Author:
Elizabeth Yarnell is the inventor and author of Glorious One-Pot Meals: A new quick & healthy approach to Dutch oven cooking. Her recipes are protected under US patent no. 6,846,504. Learn more about Glorious One-Pot Meals at www.GloriousOnePotMeals.com.
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Categories: Uncategorized | July 19th, 2007 | by admin | 112 comments
By Jesse Cannone, CFT, CPRS www.LosetheBackPain.com
Do you want a flat stomach? I don’t know a person who doesn’t!
People spend millions, if not billions of dollars, each year in the quest for a flat stomach. Right now there are about 200 or more ab exercise devices out there. It would be assumed that with all of these amazing new products most people would be walking around with the nice, lean mid-section they’ve always wanted. Unfortunately, that’s not the case. Most, if not all of these products, will do little or nothing to flatten your stomach. This is because these exercise contraptions cannot eliminate the layer of fat that lies on top of your abs.
Burn the Fat
In order to be successful at thinning your waistline you must have a basic under standing of how the ab muscles function and how your body burns fat. The first thing that needs to be understood is the difference between fat and muscle. Fat is excess calories and is primarily stored in layers on top of muscle tissue. Muscle is made up of fibers that contract or shorten to produce movement. Fat cannot turn into muscle and muscle cannot turn into fat! However, you can lose muscle and you can gain fat, which is what happens to most people.
If your goal is to thin your waist line and have a flat stomach, the first thing you need to do is decrease/eliminate the layers of fat that are on top of your abs. We all have a flat stomach; some of ours are merely covered by excess fat.
The most effective way of flattening your stomach is a combination of strength training (with an extra focus on mid-section), cardiovascular exercise (short, hard workouts), and stable blood sugar (which keeps you from adding additional fat and makes it easier for the body to use body fat for fuel).
Having a flat stomach not only looks good but it also prevents muscle imbalances between the hips and abs which cause more than 80% of all lower back pain! So remember, a strong flat stomach means a strong, healthy lower back! Here are the keys to great abs.
Progressive Strength Training
The primary function of the abdominal muscle is to flex your torso forward. However, there are also muscles that flex your torso to the side and muscles that rotate your torso.
If you want to effectively strengthen your stomach, incorporate the following types of exercises:
# 1-2 forward flexion exercises (reverse crunch, knee raises, crunch, sit-up, etc.)
# 1-2 side flexion exercises (side bends, side crunches, etc.)
# 1-2 rotational exercises (trunk rotations, standing twists, etc.)
Choose at least 1-2 exercises that target the lower abs, 1-2 for the oblique, and 1-2 for the upper abs. The abs should be worked at most 3 times per week. You also want to make sure you are training them progressively, working them harder each time.
Short, hard cardio workouts
Cardio workouts are important because they can, if done correctly, increase your metabolism for 4-24 hours or more. This means you are less likely to store excess calories as body fat because they are more likely to be used by your elevated metabolism. Plus, you are more likely to burn off excess body fat.
The following is a sample interval workout that can be done with just about any activity (walking, bicycling, swimming, stair climbing).
Warm up at an easy pace 2-5 minutes.
Perform 30 seconds of hard work.
Perform 1 minute of moderate work (recovery time to catch breath).
Repeat this process 6-10 times.
Cool down at an easy pace for 2-5 minutes.
Stable blood sugar is key
Most importantly, you must stabilize your blood sugar. This is by far the most important factor when it comes to burning away excess body fat and keeping it off. To effectively stabilize your blood sugar you must feed your body frequently; every 2-3 hours. The key is to give your body only what it needs at that time. Your body burns calories 24 hours a day, so, why would you only feed it once or twice a day? Give your body the fuel it needs.
Many people are too hung up on how much fat is in food, or how healthy of a choice it is. The source of the calories is irrelevant; the fact is that all extra calories are stored as body fat.
Get the help of a professional
Unfortunately, most people don’t know enough about the human body, nutrition, or effective exercise to meet their health and fitness goals. Ask yourself this one question, “Am I happy with my current progress or condition?” If you’re not, you should consider getting the help of a qualified personal fitness professional. Don’t solely depend on the information you get from magazines or from your local gym/health club. A qualified fitness professional can help you achieve your health and fitness goals in less time than you would imagine.
These four strategies can help you take control of your metabolism, burn off excess body fat, and have you looking and feeling great.
To learn more about how to get killer results be sure to grab a copy of my FREE DVD, The ABsolute Truth by going to www.freeabsdvd.com.
About the author: Fitness expert and best-selling author Jesse Cannone, CFT, CPRS, is the co-owner of www.losethebackpain.com.
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