4RX Health Blog - Formerly XLPharmacy March 2009 News Archive

Cycling Linked to Osteoporosis

While maintaining a steady exercise regimen is one of the best things people can do for their general good health, recent studies suggest an alarming correlation between bicycling and the onset of osteopenia (lower-than-normal bone density) or osteoporosis (very low bone mineral density), even among those who are young and fit.

A low-impact sport that puts little mechanical load on the bones and joints, bicycling is a wonderful cardiovascular exercise that people can enjoy into their later years. When it comes to the risk of thinning bones, however, it’s the weight-bearing nature of exercise that signals bones to create more mass. Without such stress, bones do not get stronger, and become more prone to injury.

We recently ran across a new study that appeared in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise and found that competitive male road cyclists showed significantly lower bone mineral density in their spines than a control group of men who were moderately physically active. Although the cyclists had a greater calcium intake, they were still more likely to have osteopenia and osteoporosis than those in the control group. A similar study in Bone illustrated that male road cyclists had lower bone mineral density than male mountain bikers after adjusting for body weight and age. The distinction could be found in that mountain biking, with its variable terrain, provides more impact for bone growth than road cycling or racing. Swimmers may also be at risk, because that sport requires similarly little mechanical loading, leaving the lower spin particularly vulnerable.

Another challenge facing cyclists and swimmers in relation to bone density is caloric intake. Cycling and swimming are notorious for burning up calories (recall Michael Phelps’s notorious 12,000 calorie diet), however, hard-core cyclists may not be eating enough to offset what they burn when they exercise, depriving their bodies of bone-strengthening nutrients such as calcium and vitamin D. These caloric shortfalls could also trigger physiological problems such as lower levels of estrogen in women and testosterone in men, both hormones that have protective effects on bones and slow the rate of bone breakdown.

Of course, exercise is good for people, but in order to maintain healthy bones, avid cyclists and swimmers should be mindful of incorporating cross-training weight-bearing exercise into their routines. People do not achieve peak bone mass until their late twenties, so if cyclists or swimmers are in their early or mid twenties, and they’re not doing any exercise that’s going to load their spine and help them achieve peak bone mass, they may be putting themselves at risk for a fracture.

Current Month Stories II - Wine Lowers Risk of Barrett’s Esophagus

Red and White Wine - Barrett's Esophagus at 4RX Blog

Wine Lowers Risk of Barrett’s Esophagus

Drinking one glass of wine a day may lower the risk of Barrett's Esophagus by 56 percent, according to a new study by the Kaiser Permanente Division of Research in the March issue of Gastroenterology. Barrett's Esophagus is a precursor to esophageal cancer, the nation's fastest growing cancer with an incidence rate that's jumped 500 percent in the last 30 years.

Barrett's Esophagus affects 5 percent of the population and occurs when heartburn or acid reflux permanently damages the esophageal lining. People with Barrett's Esophagus have a 30- to 40-fold higher risk of developing esophageal adenocarcinoma (a type of esophageal cancer) because the Barrett's Esophagus cells can grow into cancer cells.

Because there are no symptoms or warning signs of Barrett's Esophagus, people discover they have Barrett's Esophagus when an endoscopy for anemia, heartburn or a bleeding ulcer reveals esophageal cells that were damaged, then changed form during the healing process. Currently nothing can be done to treat Barrett's Esophagus; it can only be monitored.

This is the first and largest population-based study to examine the connection between alcohol consumption and risk of Barrett's Esophagus. Funded in part by the National Institutes of Health, the Kaiser Permanente study looked at 953 men and women in Northern California between 2002 and 2005 and found that people who drank one or more glasses of red or white wine a day had less than half the risk (or 56 percent reduced risk) of Barrett's Esophagus. There was no reduction of Barrett's Esophagus risk among people who drank beer or liquor.

The study findings are echoed by two other studies published in the same issue of the Gastroenterology journal: Australian researchers found that people who drank wine were at a lower risk of esophageal adenocarcinoma, and Irish researchers found that people who drank wine were at a lower risk for esophagitis, an irritation of the esophagus that follows chronic heartburn and often precedes Barrett's Esophagus and cancer.

Researchers are not certain why wine reduces the risk of Barrett's Esophagus and esophageal cancer. One theory is that the wine's antioxidants neutralize the oxidative damage caused by gastroesophageal reflux disease, a risk factor for Barrett's Esophagus. Another theory is that wine drinkers typically consume food with their wine as opposed to drinking straight liquor without food, thereby reducing the potentially damaging effect of alcohol on esophageal tissue.

Americans Losing Sleep Over Economy

One-third of Americans are losing sleep over the state of the U.S. economy and other personal financial concerns, according to a new poll released today by the National Sleep Foundation (NSF). The poll suggests that inadequate sleep is associated with unhealthy lifestyles and negatively impacts health and safety.

NSF's Sleep in America TM poll reveals striking disparities in the sleep patterns, health habits and quality of life between healthy and unhealthy Americans. Those in good health are two-times more likely than those in poor health to work efficiently, exercise or eat healthy because they are getting enough sleep.

The number of people reporting sleep problems has increased 13% since 2001. In the past eight years, the number of Americans who sleep less than six hours a night jumped from 13% to 20%, and those who reported sleeping eight hours or more dropped from 38% to 28%.

"It's easy to understand why so many people are concerned over the economy and jobs, but sacrificing sleep is the wrong solution," says David Cloud, CEO of the National Sleep Foundation. "Sleep is essential for productivity and alertness and is a vital sign for one's overall health."

About 40% of Americans agree that sleep is as important as diet and exercise to overall health and well-being; yet, only 32% of Americans who report sleep problems discuss them with their doctor.

Sleep is as vital as eating right and exercising to our health

Lack of sleep is creating a major public safety problem as well—drowsy driving. The 2009 poll finds that more than one-half of adults (54%) – potentially 110 million licensed drivers– have driven when drowsy at least once in the past year. Nearly one-third of drivers polled (28%) say that they have nodded off or fallen asleep while driving a vehicle.

Two out of every ten Americans sleep less than six hours a night. People sleeping too few hours report being too tired to work efficiently, to exercise or to eat healthy. Nearly 40% of these Americans sleeping too few hours have driven when drowsy at least once a month in the past year and nearly 90% report symptoms of insomnia at least a few nights a week in the past month.

"With the economy worsening, we are seeing patients in our clinic who have told as that they would not be returning for treatment because they or other family members have lost their jobs, and they are concerned about costs," says Meir Kryger, MD, Director of Research and Education at Gaylord Sleep Services. "Some patients have elected not to be treated for sleep apnea because they could not afford the co-pay for the equipment. These patients may wind up far sicker. Sleep disorders are often associated with other chronic diseases, like diabetes and hypertension, and they can add complexity and even accelerate each other if untreated."

As experts predict that the U.S. economic situation may get worse in 2009, the National Sleep Foundation encourages Americans to maintain good sleep, exercise and diet routines to help combat anxiety and improve health and productivity. People should speak with their doctor if they are experiencing sleep problems.

Treating Erectile Dysfunction

The conversation about male sexual dysfunction has grown from a whisper to a roar. From Bob Dole to Mike Ditka, erectile dysfunction, or ED, is no longer hush-hush as more men are talking more openly. Non-stop commercials convey help in the bedroom is just a prescription away. And some 35 million men in this country have found a renewed sex life thanks to the “little blue pill".

There are some other options to try before taking the "little blue pill" and hopping into bed...

Stop smoking
Diabetes and high blood pressure restrict blood flow to the penis, leading to erectile dysfunction. But if you can rule those conditions out as causes of ED, the next culprit in line is cigarettes. “The number one thing we can do to stop erectile dysfunction is to stop smoking. It’s the number one environmental cause of ED in our society,” says Mydlo. Again, smoking restricts blood flow. The catch? Don’t expect better erections the minute you stop lighting up. He says it takes 12 to 24 months for better function once you quit the habit.

Control cholesterol
Cholesterol is a trigger of sorts for ED. Men with a cholesterol level of 240 or higher have almost a twofold increase of ED compared to a man who has lower cholesterol numbers. That’s because high levels of cholesterol lead to plaque buildup in tubes in the penis and arteries, which can greatly reduce blood flow. And no blood flow means no erection. So start exercising and check with your doctor about cholesterol-lowering medications.

Cut back on fat
Obesity is to blame not only for men with self-esteem issues involving their appearance, but also their performance. Adipose tissue in body fat converts testosterone to estrogen, and lower levels of testosterone can make it difficult for a man to achieve an erection, no matter how many pills they take. Losing weight will improve the testosterone to estrogen ratio, which may improve sex drive, or libido, as well as erections. It also decreases cholesterol, which will help improve blood flow.

For some of the 18 million men who have erectile dysfunction, these three tips may do the trick. For others, they should make a visit to the urologist to go over options, ranging from pumps to implants to pills, like Viagra®, Cialis®,and Levitra.®

Mental Connection

Stop thinking that if you don’t have good sexual function, no one will want you? Build a connection with your partner. Because the truth is, if you don’t have a mental connection with your partner, everything will be for naught.