Mid Rivers Newsmagazine 1-9-19

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20 I HEALTH I January 9, 2019 MID RIVERS NEWSMAGAZINE @MIDRIVERSNEWS MIDRIVERSNEWSMAGAZINE.COM 314.205.6200 stlukes-stl.com/urgent-care 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Daily | Special Hours on Holidays On-site X-ray & Lab | Flu Shots Available O’Fallon 5551 WingHaven Boulevard O’Fallon, MO 63368 ½ mile north of Highway 40/I-64 Weldon Spring 1051 Wolfrum Crossing Weldon Spring, MO 63304 Hwy 94 at Wolfrum Road 3-3741 Soy baby formula may cause reproductive health problems for girls later in life, new research suggests. Health capsules By LISA RUSSELL Soy baby formula may create adult health issues for girls New research suggests that girls who are fed soy formula as infants are more likely to develop severe menstrual pain as young adults. Soy formula feeding has also been previously linked to endometriosis, a painful condition where tissue that normally lines the inside of the uterus grows on other organs inside the body. Scientists examined data from more than 1,500 women between the ages of 23 and 35 who participated in the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences [NIEHS] study of environment and reproductive health. They found that those who had been fed soy formula as babies were 50 percent more likely to have experienced moderate to severe menstrual pain between the ages of 18 and 22, and 40 percent more likely to use hormonal contraceptives to reduce that pain. NIEHS postdoctoral researcher and lead author Kristen Upson, Ph.D., presented a possible theory explaining the link. She said previous animal studies show that early exposure to genistein, a naturally occurring component in soy formula, interferes with the development of the reproductive system, including factors involved in menstrual pain. She said these studies have also shown that these developmental changes can continue later into adulthood. The study appeared online in the journal Human Reproduction. New Year’s touch-ups Resolutions are great as long as they last past January. However, according to Dr. Graham Colditz, of Siteman Cancer Center, “those goals often focus on big, sweeping changes, such as losing 40 pounds or training for a marathon.” Colditz suggests heading in the opposite direction by focusing on smaller, easier-toaccomplish “New Year’s touch-ups.” Stand more. Most of us spend too much time sitting, and it’s increasing our risk of weight gain, diabetes, heart disease and maybe even some cancers. If you have to sit for work or school, try to stand up once or twice an hour for a few minutes. Standing desks are even better. At home, try standing when watching TV or spending time on your computer or phone. Step on your bathroom scale. “Easy but not fun” but stepping on your scale regularly [once a day or once a week] is a great way to keep weight in check. If you notice your weight creeping up, you can make small changes to how much you eat and how active you are. Sneak in some vegetables. Adding more vegetables to your diet is always a good idea. And one easy, and somewhat sneaky, way to do it is to grate vegetables into some of your usual dishes. Carrots, squash and cauliflower practically disappear when grated into soups, casseroles and pasta sauce, but they provide a good nutrition boost. Pick low- or zero-sodium canned foods. Most people eat too much sodium, which can increase the risk of high blood pressure, stroke, heart disease, even stomach cancer. Slow down. We tend to rush through our days, and this often includes our meals and snacks. Try to slow down the next few times you eat. Take a minute to sit quietly before you start, then eat much more slowly than you normally would. You may find you’re satisfied with less food than you would be usually. Keep sunscreen within arm’s reach. Broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher sunscreen provides good protection against the sun’s damaging rays. But it can’t do its job if you forgot it at home. So, keep some backup sunscreen in your car, backpack, desk, purse or other easy-access spots. This way, when you’re ready to go outside, you’ll have it ready to put on. Inflammatory bowel disease linked to prostate cancer Men with inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are four to five times more likely to also be diagnosed with prostate cancer, according to a 20-year study from Northwestern University. About 1 million American men currently suffer from these chronic conditions, and they should undergo more detailed screenings for prostate cancer, the Northwestern physicians said. In this long-term study, researchers followed more than 1,000 men with inflammatory bowel disease, comparing them with a control group of more than 9,300 men without these chronic conditions. Over 18 years of follow-up, they found that men with inflammatory bowel disease were far more likely to have elevated PSA levels, and to be diagnosed with prostate cancer as well. Their results show that physicians shouldn’t assume that an elevated PSA is a false or unimportant result, said urologist Dr. Shilajit Kundu of Northwestern Medicine. “Many doctors think [a patient’s] PSA is elevated just because they have an inflammatory condition, [but] if a man with inflammatory bowel disease has an elevated PSA, it may be an indicator of prostate cancer.” In his own practice, he sees many men with inflammatory bowel disease who also have elevated PSA tests, Kundu said. However, there is currently no standardized protocol for treating these patients. He and other Northwestern scientists are now working to understand how and why gut inflammation often leads to prostate cancer. Protect your pooch from winter health problems Winter weather can cause all sorts of health problems, from itchy skin to frostbite – and that doesn’t just hold true for humans. Pets also need extra care during the cold, wet winter months. Following are some tips from the ASPCA to help protect pets from the discomforts and dangers unique to winter. • Make sure your pet has a warm place to sleep, such as a cozy dog or cat bed located off the floor and away from cold drafts. • Repeatedly going out into the cold and snow and back into the dry heat of your home can cause itchy, cracked or flaking skin. Dry your pet with a towel as soon as it comes inside, paying special attention to the stomach, feet and between the toes. Also, bathe pets as little as possible during the winter. Washing them too often can strip essential oils and increase the chance of developing dry skin problems. If your dog must have frequent baths, ask your vet to recommend a moisturizing shampoo.
FACEBOOK.COM/MIDRIVERSNEWSMAGAZINE MIDRIVERSNEWSMAGAZINE.COM January 9, 2019 MID RIVERS NEWSMAGAZINE I HEALTH I 21 Protecting pets’ health in the wintertime requires taking a few extra steps. • Winter walks can become dangerous if ice-melting chemicals are licked off your dog’s paws. Bring a towel on long walks to clean them. Massaging a protectant like petroleum jelly into a dog’s paw pads before going outside also can help protect them from salt and chemicals. If you use ice melt products outside, try pet-friendly products whenever possible. Also be sure to thoroughly clean up any chemical spills from your vehicle, and consider using antifreeze products that contain propylene glycol rather than ethylene glycol. • Never leave pets alone in a car during cold weather as cars can act as refrigerators that hold in the cold and cause animals to freeze to death. If left outdoors for too long in below-freezing temperatures, pets can become disoriented, lost, injured or die. Most patients lie to their doctors How many people are completely honest when asked by their doctors about healthy behaviors such as eating a nutritious diet, how much they drink or how often they exercise? It turns out that those of us who are less than truthful during medical visits are in the majority. Between 60 and 80 percent of people polled in a recent survey said they have lied to their doctors about information that could be relevant to their health, depending on the information requested and the age of the respondent. When asked why they weren’t telling the whole truth, most said that they wanted to avoid being judged, and didn’t want to hear a lecture from their doctors about how bad for them certain behaviors are. More than half said they were simply too embarrassed to be totally honest. Besides fibbing about a healthy diet and the amount of exercise they get, more than a third of respondents said they didn’t speak up when they disagreed with their doctor’s recommendations. Many also said they did not admit when they failed to fully understand their doctor’s instructions. “Most people want their doctor to think highly of them,” said the study’s senior author Angela Fagerlin, Ph.D., chair of population health sciences at University of Utah Health, which conducted the survey. “They’re worried about being pigeonholed as someone who doesn’t make good decisions.” Data for the study came from an online survey of two populations of varying ages. The first collected information from just over 2,000 participants with an average age of 36, and the second was administered to 2,500 participants who were older, age 61 on average. In both groups, people who were younger, females, and those who considered themselves as being in poor health were more likely to report lying about medically relevant information to their doctors or other healthcare professionals. The biggest problem with patients’ dishonesty is that doctors can’t offer accurate medical advice when they don’t have all the facts, according to the researchers. “If patients are withholding information about what they’re eating, or whether they are taking their medication, it can have significant implications for their health. Especially if they have a chronic illness,” Fagerlin said. The study was published online in JAMA Network Open. On the calendar The St. Charles City-County Library presents a free Grow Your Reader program for children ages 3-6 on Thursday, Jan. 17 from 6:30-7 p.m. at the library’s Middendorf-Kredell Branch, 2750 Hwy. K in O’Fallon. Bring the family and a stuffed “friend” for bedtime stories and songs in your pajamas. No advance registration is necessary. • • • BJC offers free Know Your Numbers health screenings on Friday, Jan. 25 from 7:30-9:30 a.m. at Progress West Hospital, 2 Progress Point Parkway in O’Fallon, in Conference Room B. These screenings for adults include fasting glucose, cholesterol, lung function, blood pressure and BMI measurements; participants should fast for at least 10 hours prior to screening. To register, visit bjcstcharlescounty.org/Events. • • • An American Red Cross Community Blood Drive is on Friday, Feb. 1 from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. at Barnes-Jewish St. Peters Hospital, 6 Jungermann Circle in St. Peters [in Suite 117 of the HealthWise Center]. Register online at redcrossblood.org or by phone at 1-800-733-2767. • • • The St. Charles City-County Library sponsors a free program for young children and their parents, Growing Healthy: Yoga Story Time on Tuesday, Feb. 12 from 10-10:45 a.m. at the Deer run Branch, 1300 N. Main St. in O’Fallon, in Meeting Room A. Try out some yoga moves with your preschoolers while enjoying some great stories. A yoga mat or towel is recommended but not required. No advance registration is necessary. Let our family take care of your family's heating and cooling needs. THE AIR INSIDE YOUR HOME IS DRIER THAN YOU THINK. A whole-home humidifier is the answer. $ 20 OFF HUMIDIFIER INSTALL Not applicable with any other offer. Expires 2/9/19 Ask about other offers. 636-332-4141 www.johnson-heatingandcooling.com From investing to advising. We’re here for you. Andrew Weltz Independent Branch Leader O’Fallon Independent Branch 4579 Highway K O’Fallon, MO 63368 andrew.weltz@schwab.com juvie.jimenez@schwab.com (636) 486-8094 schwab.com/ofallon When you walk into your local Schwab branch, you can count on getting the help you need to achieve your goals—from investing to retirement planning. Drop by our local branch anytime for a professional assessment of where you are now and where to go next. ©2018 Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. (“Schwab”) All rights reserved. Member SIPC. MWD103484-18 (0611-3788) ADP85382-00 (9/18) Juvie Jimenez Independent Branch Financial Consultant
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Mid Rivers Newsmagazine 1-9-19

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