Swimming for Joint Pain Relief

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Experts say that swimming is one of the best full body workouts, particularly for individuals with arthritis. Here’s why swimming could be the perfect addition to your joint-friendly exercise routine.

  • It’s low-impact – Pool water provides buoyancy to support your body weight, cushion the joints and minimize pain.
  • It promotes weight loss – Excess weight is a major contributor to arthritis because it places undue stress on the joints. The average person burns anywhere from 400 to 600 calories during one hour of swimming, making it an excellent aerobic activity for weight loss.
  • It improves circulation – It doesn’t matter if you’re an expert swimmer or a novice. Just moving your body in the water will increase blood flow to the affected joints to reduce inflammation and relieve muscle tension.
  • It increases range of motion – Swimming keeps joints loose and limber, allowing you to work on increasing your range of motion.
  • It builds muscle – In addition to building cardiovascular fitness, swimming is a great muscle-building exercise. Water provides natural resistance for your muscles to work against, helping you increase muscle tone in a safe, low-impact environment.
  • It’s fun – The best kind of exercise routine is the one you stick with! Swimming is just as entertaining as it is effective, which means you’re more likely to stay committed.

If you need more variety than just swimming laps, try water walking, water aerobics, or water Zumba! There are plenty of options to keep you motivated, so try them all!

Antibiotic Use Could Influence Polyp Development

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This statistic may seem irrelevant, but the steady increase in antibiotic use is posing a serious global health threat. Our reliance on antibiotics leads to bacterial resistance.

A recent study suggests another danger of overusing antibiotics. The medical journal Gut published a study which found that long-term use of antibiotics significantly increased the chances of polyp formation, which could develop into colon cancer. Using data from the Nurses Health Study, researchers discovered that subjects who took antibiotics for two or more months between the ages of 20 and 39 were 36 percent more likely to be diagnosed with an adenoma or polyp compared to those who did not take antibiotics for an extended period during their 20s and 30s. The risk for adenoma development was even higher in the age category of 40 to 59. 

Although more research needs to be done to determine what exactly happens in the colon during antibiotic use, the theory is that antibiotics kill some of the normal gut bacteria, which allows for abnormal bacteria to thrive. Developing diarrhea after taking a course of antibiotics is quite common, and it could be a direct result of the elimination of the healthy gut bacteria.

Does this mean that doctors should stop prescribing antibiotics? The obvious answer to this question is “no.” Antibiotics are essential to treating bacterial infections, some of which could be fatal if left untreated. However, according to a study cited in the Washington Post, almost one-third of antibiotics that are prescribed in doctors’ offices, emergency rooms and clinics are not needed. This translates to 47 million unnecessary prescriptions distributed each year for viral conditions that do not respond to antibiotics. Some of these conditions include colds, sore throats, bronchitis, and flu.

Associate Professor Graham Newstead, the head of the colorectal unit at the Prince of Wales private hospital and director of Bowel Cancer Australia, shared some important insight. Newstead advises that antibiotics should be taken responsibly and only when necessary. “It does seem to indicate that people who have too many antibiotics might be at more risk of getting polyps than people who have less of them,” Newstead said. There is an undeniable link between antibiotics and polyps, and Newstead reminds us, “… not all polyps turn to cancer but the cancer comes from the polyps. If you have more polyps or tendency to get polyps then maybe you are slightly more at risk of getting cancer.”

Antibiotics are useful when prescribed correctly. This new study provides useful information to help patients examine their own symptoms before asking their doctor for an antibiotic. Matching an antibiotic to a condition which it will effectively treat will help prevent resistant strains of bacteria and may also help you prevent colon polyps (Source: The Guardian).

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6 Causes of Back Pain You Might Not Expect

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Back pain often occurs as a result of injury, overuse or mechanical issues, but not all causes of back pain are easy to identify. If you struggle with back pain that is chronic or recurrent, you may want to consider some of these surprising culprits:

  • Smoking – Smoking damages nearly every organ in the body, and some studies have linked it to chronic back pain. A study at Northwestern University found that smokers are three times more likely to experience chronic back pain than people who do not smoke. “We found that [smoking] affects the way the brain responds to back pain and seems to make individuals less resilient to an episode of pain,” researchers said.
  • Diet – Sugary snacks could be the reason for your back pain flare-ups. According to Vijay Vad, M.D., an assistant attending physiatrist at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City, sugars can spike inflammation and trigger back pain. Poor diet also leads to weight gain, which increases pressure on the back and may contribute to pain. Individuals who are overweight are four times more likely to develop back pain.
  • Cell phone use – Do you look down at your phone while texting or use your shoulder to hold your phone against your ear during conversations? This can place repeated strain in your neck that extends to the back. If your work requires you to use your phone and computer at the same time, consider purchasing a hands-free device to avoid neck strain. When texting, try holding your phone in front of you instead of placing it in your lap.
  • Stress – Stress can manifest itself through numerous physical symptoms, including back pain. If you notice that your stress symptoms and back pain tend to coincide, look into stress management techniques that can help relieve muscle tension. Yoga, meditation and stretching are excellent therapies to help clear your mind and relax the muscles.
  • Sedentary behavior – Lounging on the couch might seem like the perfect ending to a stressful day, but this habit could be the culprit behind your back pain. Sitting places pressure on the back discs, decreases blood supply and increases the risk of injury. Whether you’re sitting at a desk for work or on the couch watching television, try to take walking or standing breaks at least once every 30 minutes (Source: Huffington Post).
  • Footwear – The shoes you wear can change your posture, which in turn can affect back pain. Backless shoes or high heels create lack of stability and cause your body weight to be unevenly distributed over the spine. Opt for shoes that hold your feet firmly in place, and keep heels under three inches (Source: Health).

Get Your Man to do Something About His Health During Men’s Health Week

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Men have many strengths. They are experts at efficiency and completion of tasks, especially the “honey–do list.” But men tend to be weak in one area: communicating with their doctor.

You may not hear about Men’s Health Week on the news, radio or on your social media feed, but open your eyes and take a look around you. Hospitals, clinics and community centers will offer free programming and convenient health services to males around the country. The initiative is growing each year as people continue to spread the word. Men’s Health Week is always a valuable time to communicate about preventable conditions and diseases, available screenings, and early detection for those conditions. We all agree that preventing a disease is always easier and less expensive than treating a disease, so Men’s Health Week focuses on awareness and education.

Whereas women would rather talk through problems to discover possible solutions, men would rather do something proactive to solve the problem. If you have a man in your life who likes to be productive and tackle difficult tasks, you may want to encourage him to organize or participate in some activities such as:

  • Health Fair that offers free screenings for prostate cancer, blood pressure, diabetes, and kidney, liver, heart, and thyroid issues
  • Lectures by sports figures
  • Seminar on a condition or disease that runs in his family
  • Meatless Monday, a national health campaign to help Americans prevent heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and cancer – four of the leading causes of death in America
  • Softball Tournament and Home Run Derby which would also offer health screenings
  • Couch to 5k program
  • Community carnival that includes free blood pressure checks, tips on healthy eating, family safety tips, a workshop emphasizing the importance of regular check-ups, and a kids workshop

Distributing brochures about the dangers of smoking and how to get help to quit
Add celebrating Men’s Health Week to your man’s to-do list, and wait to see what happens. You may be surprised to see how much he enjoys taking an active role in his health. Sometimes men need a little bit of prompting to get started, but they will pick up the ball and run with this one.

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Symptoms of Cataracts

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The best way to prevent cataract-related vision loss is to know its symptoms. 

A cataract is a clouding of the lens of the eye, which is made of water and protein (Source: Mayo Clinic). As we age, the protein in the lens can clump together and blur an area of the lens.

The most common symptoms of this eye disease are:

  • Dim, blurry or clouded vision
  • Sensitivity to light and glare
  • The appearance of “halos” around lights
  • Increasing difficulty with night vision
  • Fading or yellowing of colors
  • Need for brighter light for reading
  • Frequent changes in eyeglass or contact lens prescription

You may not notice any changes in your vision when the cataract is small. But as it grows, the cataract will distort more light that passes through the lens. You may gradually notice that it is becoming more challenging to read, drive at night or do activities like sewing.

Staying current with your comprehensive eye exams is the best way to detect cataracts as early as possible. Your doctor will be able to detect the presence of a cataract in an eye exam before you notice a change in your vision. Cataracts are reversible with surgery, so your eye doctor can discuss treatment options with you at your appointment. Stay one step ahead of cataracts by keeping up with your eye exams—and what better way to celebrate Cataract Awareness Month by scheduling an eye exam today?

Yoga Modifications to Protect Your Joints

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Fitness crazes come and go, but yoga is one program that truly stands the test of time. This ancient art form originated in northern India nearly 5,000 years ago, and it has continued to grow in popularity throughout the centuries. A 2008 market study in Yoga Journal estimates that 16 million Americans currently practice yoga, and they spend at total of $5.7 billion annually on yoga gear (Source: The Better India).

More than 21 million Americans have osteoarthritis, a degenerative joint disease characterized by inflammation and loss of cartilage within the joints. However, some individuals may need to take extra precautions to protect their bodies – specifically their joints – when practicing yoga.

Knees
Pay close attention to the position of your front knee when doing poses like Warrior I, Warrior II, and High Crescent Lunge. Your knee should form a 90 degree angle and stay vertically in line with your ankle. Make sure your knee does not extend beyond your toes or cave inward, as this can stress the knee ligaments and cause pain.

Elbows
When doing plank positions, keep your elbows about shoulder width apart and tuck them firmly against your rib cage. Allowing your elbows to buckle outward can contribute to joint pain.

Wrists
Downward dog is an excellent pose to stretch and strengthen the shoulders, arms and legs, but it can be quite hard on the wrists if you aren’t careful. When doing this pose, press through your palms to evenly distribute your weight throughout your hands. If your wrists are particularly sensitive, you can modify this pose by lowering onto your forearms.

Shoulders
Keep shoulders relaxed and away from your ears when doing yoga or any other form of exercise. If you notice your shoulders beginning to creep upwards, take a deep breath and roll them back, pinning your shoulder blades down and towards each other.

Neck
Resist the urge to crane your neck when trying to get into some of the more difficult yoga poses. This creates unnecessary strain on your muscles and could cause pain. Keep your head in line with your spine, and release any neck tension by moving your head left to right or rolling it side to side (Source: Huffington Post).

People with Disabilities Have Lower Colon Cancer Screening Rates

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Researchers at the University of Missouri School of Medicine performed an observational study which examined screening adherence rates of individuals with intellectual disabilities, spinal cord injuries, or blindness or low vision and compared them with the general U.S. population. The study included data from South Carolina Medicaid and Medicare claims, state health plan claims and hospital discharge forms from 2000 to 2009.

The researchers discovered that individuals with certain disabilities had lower screening rates than the general population. Only 34 percent of people with intellectual disabilities, 44 percent of people with spinal cord injuries and 46 percent of people with blindness or visual impairment followed screening guidelines for colon cancer. The overall screening rate for the general public was 48 percent.

Study author Chelsea Deroche, Ph.D., explained that several barriers could be responsible for this disparity. “I think a lot of it has to do with access to the care, and also [the disparity has] a little bit of providers not giving these people the information that they need,” she said. Deroche went on to explain that those with physical limitations may not have easy access to transportation to complete colon cancer screenings. Those with intellectual disabilities may be in group homes that do not prioritize preventative screenings, and doctors may not thoroughly discuss screening recommendations with these patients.

Deroche would like to see screening rates increase in the future, particularly among individuals with disabilities. However, she admits that further research on a broader scale is needed. “We want to do a wider study — because we did just do South Carolina – [with] a general US population to validate what we’ve done here and that these findings are nation-wide,” she said. Future research will likely include a larger population of patients and include various tumor types, including breast cancer and cervical cancer (Source: Oncology Nursing News).

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Schedule an Eye Exam for Cataract Awareness Month

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Cataracts are the principal cause of blindness in the world and the leading cause of vision loss in individuals over the age of 40.

A comprehensive eye exam provides many more benefits than just cataract detection and intervention. When you have your eyes examined, your doctor evaluates you for:

  • Refractive errors like nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism
  • Focusing problems like presbyopia, strabismus, amblyopia, and binocular vision
  • Eye diseases like glaucoma, macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy
  • Systemic conditions like high blood pressure or high cholesterol

If your eye doctor detects a cataract during a comprehensive eye exam, he or she can suggest possible treatments and a timeline that suits your schedule and budget. Cataracts often develop very slowly, so you have time to decide when you want to have your cataract removed. The great news is that cataract surgery is one of the safest, most routine surgeries performed today. You can feel confident that your doctor will discuss the most innovative and cutting-edge procedures to treat your cataracts. You and your doctor will also discuss the type of intraocular lens (IOL) that meets your unique vision needs: monofocal, astigmatism-correcting or multi-focal.

Celebrate Cataract Awareness Month by scheduling a comprehensive eye exam today. You will get an update on your eye health and stay one step ahead of cataracts! If you do not have an eye care professional, use our Physician Locator tool to find a qualified specialist near you.

Bariatric Surgery Improves Total Joint Replacement Recovery in Obese Patients

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A recent study by Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) found that weight loss surgery can reduce in-hospital recovery times and decrease postoperative complications associated with total joint replacement. However, it does not reduce the risk of needing revision surgery in the future.

Previous studies have linked obesity to postoperative infection, delayed recovery, decreased functionality, and the need for revision surgery after total knee or hip replacement. Obesity is also a significant risk factor for osteoarthritis, which contributes to joint pain and loss of cartilage.

HHS researchers used the New York Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System (SPARCS) database to analyze all morbidly obese patients who underwent total knee or hip replacement surgery in New York State between 1997 and 2011. Researchers then compared the cost and treatment outcomes of patients who underwent total knee replacement with no prior weight loss to patients who underwent total knee replacement two years after bariatric surgery.

Using a statistical technique called propensity score matching, researchers determined that patients who underwent bariatric surgery were 75 percent less likely to suffer in-hospital complications after hip replacement surgery and 31 percent less likely to have complications from knee replacement surgery. The risk for developing 90-day postoperative complications was also much lower in this group, with a 14 percent decreased risk after hip replacement and a 61 percent decrease after knee replacement. Weight loss surgery did not, however, reduce the risk of hip dislocation or revision surgery.

“With our data, I think we can say with confidence that bariatric surgery prior to total joint replacement is not a harmful recommendation,” said orthopedic surgeon and lead study author Alexander McLawhorn, MD, MBA. “As an orthopedic surgeon, you are not going to compromise your joint replacement outcome if you advise a morbidly obese patient to seek an opinion from a bariatric surgeon.”

The findings of this study were presented at the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons Annual Meeting in March (Source: News-Medical.Net).

Vitamin D for Colon Health

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Several studies have shown that people who have higher levels of serum vitamin D have lower rates of colorectal cancer.

Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin that aids in the absorption of nutrients, promotes immune function, and maintains cell communication throughout the body. While vitamin D can be obtained from certain foods, it is also produced naturally when the body is exposed to sunlight.

Vitamin D was first identified as a potential preventive agent for colorectal cancer over twenty years ago. Researchers observed that individuals in the northern and northeastern United States had significantly higher mortality rates from colorectal cancer than those who lived in Hawaii, Florida and southwestern states. These figures were directly correlated with individuals’ serum vitamin D levels.

A more recent meta-analysis, which included data from five observational studies, found that increasing serum vitamin D levels to 34 ng/ml could reduce colorectal cancer incidence rates by half. Increasing serum vitamin D levels even higher produced greater colorectal cancer preventive benefits. Lead researcher Edward Gorham, Ph.D. explained, “We project a two-thirds reduction in incidence with serum levels of 46 ng/ml, which corresponds to a daily intake of 2,000 IU of vitamin D3. This would be best achieved with a combination of diet, supplements and 10 to 15 minutes per day in the sun” (Source: Johns Hopkins Medicine). 

Experts vary in their recommendations for daily vitamin D allowance. However, current guidelines by The Institute of Medicine recommend 600 IU daily for adults between the ages of 19 and 70. Adults over the age of 70 need 800 IU daily.

To meet your daily recommended intake of vitamin D, try to spend at least a few minutes outside soaking up the sun’s rays. Vitamin D production can vary based on season, location, weather conditions, skin tone, and sunscreen use, but estimates show that just 10 to 15 minutes of sun exposure to the arms and legs can produce 3,000 to 20,000 IU of vitamin D (Source: sunshinevitamin.org). You can also increase your vitamin D intake by consuming foods that are naturally rich in this nutrient. These include:

  • Fatty fish such as salmon, tuna, mackerel, and sardines
  • Beef liver
  • Egg yolks
  • Shitake mushrooms
  • Caviar
  • Cod liver oil
  • Vitamin D fortified foods including milk, cheese and orange juice

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