PreDisease.com Blog

Sylvia is a busy stay-at-home mother to three active boys. Although slim as a teenager, Sylvia has found that her weight has crept up since giving birth to her sons, and her busy lifestyle means that she doesn’t have as much time to devote to exercise as she would like. On a recent visit to her doctor, she was told that blood tests indicate that her fasting blood sugar is 120 and her HbA1c is 5.5. She was informed that these levels indicate that she is at risk for developing type 2 diabetes.

Sylvia is startled by this news. Several people in her family have diabetes, and she herself has had gestational diabetes with her last two pregnancies. Frantic to find some way to avoid the same fate as many of her family members, Sylvia begins to do some research into natural methods to lose weight and, in the process, lower her blood sugar levels.

In her research, Sylvia stumbles upon a product called PreCrea, an herbal product from plant-based sources that naturally promotes reduction in blood sugar levels and weight loss. She begins the twice-daily formulation and also begins exercising more regularly and watching her diet more carefully. Soon, her entire family is on board- they begin pursuing exercise as a family and planning their meals together. Sylvia is thrilled to discover that within six months she has shed the extra weight from pregnancy and, best of all, her doctor informs her that her blood sugar levels are now in the normal range.

If you would like to learn more about PreCrea, please visit http://precrea.predisease.com/product.php.

John S. went for his yearly physical and was surprised to find out that his cholesterol was high. The doctor explained to John that high cholesterol was a risk factor for developing heart disease. John is also overweight and has borderline high blood pressure. The doctor counseled John that he needed to address these issues or risk having a heart attack or stroke someday, especially given the fact that his father and one brother had already suffered heart attacks at a relatively young age. John’s doctor wanted John to start taking Lipitor to combat his high cholesterol, but John was reluctant to use drugs and preferred to try natural methods first.

John began exercising and attempting to lose weight by watching his diet more carefully and including healthier food choices. A friend told him about PreLipid, an all-natural plant-based product that he had used successfully to lower his own cholesterol. John was a little skeptical but decided to try it for three months. He asked his doctor, who could think of no reason why John should not try it.

John returned to see his doctor in three months and was ecstatic to discover that not only had his cholesterol dropped 25 points, but his weight was down substantially. John’s doctor was astounded that John had been able to accomplish so much in so little time without the use of drugs. John continued to take PreLipid in combination with a healthy diet and exercise and his cholesterol is now within normal limits.

If you want to learn more about lowering your cholesterol using a proven natural product, please visit http://prelipid.predisease.com/.

Research which included 90,000 subjects from 13 different studies has shown that there is an increased risk of developing diabetes in people who use statins to combat high cholesterol. Although the risk is low (a 9% increase in the four-year risk of developing the disease), researchers also looked at the risk of suffering a heart attack or stroke and concluded that the benefits of taking statins outweigh the risk of developing diabetes. The risk of developing diabetes was highest in the studies that included older people. There was no difference in risk among the statins tested, which included Zocor, Crestor, Lipitor, Mevacor, and Pravachol.

The researchers concluded that physicians should be aware of this risk and, in addition to monitoring liver function and CK (creatinine kinase, which might indicate muscle damage if elevated), doctors should also check glucose levels periodically in their patients taking statins to reduce cholesterol. They also recommended that physicians should weigh the risk of developing diabetes in patients who have a lower risk of heart disease before prescribing statins. The study appears in The Lancet.

Pre-Lipid is an all-natural product designed to safely and effectively lower cholesterol using plant-based ingredients, without the side effects associated with the use of statins.

Source: Diabetes Risk of Statins Outweighed by Heart Benefit

The current guidelines for HRT (hormone replacement therapy) are that women take HRT for the shortest time and in the smallest dose possible to treat symptoms of menopause. Studies in the past suggested that taking HRT early on in menopause protected women from heart disease, but new data does not support this idea.

The Women’s Health Initiative was a huge study of 16,000 women, half of whom received HRT while the other half received placebos. The study was halted in 2002 when it was discovered that the women taking HRT had higher rates of blood clots, heart disease and breast cancer. It was this study that ignited the fierce debate about HRT therapy and its safety that has raged ever since.

Researchers recently turned their focus to the women in the study who began HRT early in menopause and discovered that there was a slight increase in risk of heart disease, although the numbers were not considered significant. The researchers debunked the theory that HRT taken early in menopause has a protective effect against heart disease. It should be noted that the women in the WHI study took higher doses of hormones than women typically use today.

Women should consider the risks and benefits of HRT and should discuss these factors with their personal physician. Many women are choosing to use lifestyle and natural remedies to cope with menopause symptoms.

PreMenora is a twice-daily all-natural formulation that decreases menopausal symptoms by 80% and provides immediate and long-term results. It is easily affordable and offers a safe alternative to HRT.

Source: Early HRT Doesn’t Reduce Heart Risk

Statins are drugs that help to lower cholesterol in humans. They work by lowering an enzyme (HMG-CoA reductase) in the liver, the end result of which is the increased clearance of LDL (low-density lipoprotein) in the blood. When taken regularly, they start to work in approximately one week, with peak effect seen in 4 to 6 weeks. Drugs in this class include Pravachol, Crestor and Lipitor, to name a few.

Statins are widely prescribed to people with high cholesterol to decrease their risk of heart attack and stroke. However, their use is not without risk. There are several side effects attributed to statins, including:

• Muscle pain
• Liver damage
• Headache
• GI upset (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea)
• Rash
• Headache

By far, the most serious side effects of statins are liver damage and muscle pain, which may indicate rhabdomyolysis, a rare but deadly condition which results in muscle cell death and can lead to kidney failure. Persons who are taking statins should report muscle pain to their physician; as well, liver function should be assessed through blood tests periodically to ensure the liver is functioning normally.

Could a blood test for rheumatoid arthritis predict who will develop the debilitating disorder? A new study points to this possibility. The secret to prediction lies in cytokines, according to researchers.

Researchers studied blood samples from 86 individuals who did not yet have rheumatoid arthritis and compared these samples to 256 matched controls. The researchers were measuring 30 different cytokines and cytokine-related factors. The results? Those people who later went on to develop rheumatoid arthritis had elevated levels of cytokines; furthermore, the patterns of these elevations distinguished them from members of the control group.

What does this mean? The results show that it may be possible to predict with accuracy who will develop rheumatoid arthritis. Being able to identify individuals at risk of developing the disease will allow earlier diagnosis of the condition and may even allow for prevention of this debilitating disease. At present, rheumatoid arthritis can be difficult to diagnose, and persons with the disease may not be treated until the disease is advanced. Knowing earlier will permit aggressive treatment of the disease, before severe joint damage occurs.

Source: Can Blood Samples Predict Arthritic Rheumatism?

A new study shows that changing three behaviors that are common to many American families can reduce childhood obesity by 40%. What are these behaviors?

Ensuring an adequate night’s sleep– children in the study who got at least 10 ½ hours of sleep per night were less likely to be obese. The reason? Children who are well rested most likely are less tired during the day, and therefore more apt to engage in activities that are healthy.

Eating together as a family– the study found that children who enjoy meals with their family more than 5 times a week were less likely to become obese. They postulate that eating at the family dinner table, instead of in front of the television, teaches children good eating habits, such as regulation of food intake. These children may be less likely to eat mindlessly and may be more aware of what and how much they are eating.

Moderating the amount of television watched– children who watch less than 2 hours of television per day are less likely to be obese. The reasoning is obvious- these childen are more likely to be engaged in active play, rather than sitting still and watching television.

The effects of each of these three behaviors was independent, meaning that there was a cumulative effect with each behavior that was added. According to the study, only one in seven children who practiced all three behaviors were obese, in comparison to one in four children who did not practice any of the behaviors.

Source: How to fight childhood obesity in 3 steps

A new study released by the Infectious Diseases Society of America, in conjunction with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Trust for America’s Health, has disclosed that many American adults have not been vaccinated against many of the vaccine-preventable diseases.

Reasons cited for lack of immunizations in adults include lack of access to primary care by the uninsured, the fact that many insurance plans don’t cover immunization, lack of trust in available vaccines and a healthcare system that does not put prevention first. Lack of emphasis on adult vaccination by physicians is another factor cited for the spotty immunization record of many adults.

Adults have a wide array of vaccines available to help fight preventable diseases. These include:

• Pneumococcal vaccine- protects against pneumonia
• Shingles vaccine- protects against shingles, which can cause a painful rash due to activation of the virus which causes chicken pox
• HPV vaccine- protects against the virus that causes human papilloma virus, which is associated with cervical cancer
• DTP vaccine- protects against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (whooping cough)
• Influenza vaccines- protect against seasonal influenza and H1N1 influenza

The report calls for public funding to cover the cost of recommended vaccines, as well as increased public education regarding the need for vaccinations amongst the adult population.

Source: Make Adult Vaccinations as Widespread as Those for Children, Say Immunization Advocates

Pre-diabetes can be defined as the condition of having abnormally high blood glucose levels that are not high enough to warrant the diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. It is estimated that 57 million people in the United States are pre-diabetic (NDIC, 2007). How can you tell if you are one of these people?

Some groups of people are at higher risk of developing diabetes. These groups include the elderly, African Americans, those of Asian descent, Native Americans and those of Latin descent. However, pre-diabetes and diabetes can occur in people of all ethnicities and ages. Other risk factors for pre-diabetes and diabetes include a sedentary lifestyle, high blood pressure, a family history of diabetes, being overweight and a history of having had diabetes during pregnancy.

Two common tests that can help determine whether you have an abnormal metabolism are the Fasting Glucose Test and the Oral Glucose Tolerance Test. Abnormal results on either of these tests signal that your body has an impaired ability to metabolize glucose.

A diagnosis of pre-diabetes does not necessarily mean that you are destined to become diabetic. Studies have shown that lifestyle changes, such as regular exercise and weight loss, can prevent the development of diabetes. Knowing your risk factors for diabetes can help you to avoid developing the disease.

Source: National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse (NDIC) http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/DM/PUBS/statistics/#pre-diabetes

Menopause is an inevitable part of every woman’s life. Some women sail through relatively unscathed, while others experience every symptom in the book. Menopause is an intensely personal experience for every woman. Perimenopause precedes menopause, although some of the symptoms can overlap, and can occur at varying ages.

When does perimenopause begin?

Symptoms perimenopause generally begin when a women is in her 40’s, although they may start sooner than this.

What triggers perimenopause?

Perimenopause is triggered by a gradual and slow reduction in the amount of estrogen produced by the ovaries.

How long does perimenopause last?

Perimenopause can last for many years, with the average being 4 years. For some women, this period may only last for months, while for others perimenopause will last for up to 10 years.

When does perimenopause end?

Just before menopause, the reduction in the amount of estrogen the ovaries produce accelerates. This is when women are more likely to experience menopausal symptoms. Perimenopause is officially over when a woman has not experienced a period for 12 months, at which point she is said to be in menopause. For women who no longer experience menstrual periods due to hysterectomy, levels of hormones can be measured by blood sampling.

What are the symptoms?

• Hot flashes
• Mood changes
• Vaginal dryness
• Fatigue
• Breast tenderness
• Menstrual period irregularities
• Sleep disturbances

Can I still become pregnant during perimenopause?

Yes! Although hormone levels are reduced and fertility declines, you may still become pregnant. You should continue to use birth control if you do not want to become pregnant until you have gone 12 consecutive months without a menstrual period.

Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/perimenopause/DS00554