Dr. Jeff B. Brown

No More Prostate Cancer Screening? Another Major Blow to Black Men’s Health

admin — Wed, 23 May 2012 03:38:08 +0000

On Monday 5/21/12 the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, an independent group of medical experts in prevention and evidence-based medicine, advised that physicians no longer offer routine screening for prostate cancer with the PSA (prostate specific antigen) blood test. Previous guidelines had stated that most men should undergo screening for prostate cancer with the PSA blood test beginning at age 50 or much earlier if they’re at high risk for prostate cancer.

The task force’s reasoning for recommending against routine PSA screening in men without symptoms was that routine screening often lead to the over-diagnosis of prostate cancer and unnecessary treatment that can leave men impotent and incontinent. The task force concluded screening may only help one man in every 1,000 to avoid dying from prostate cancer; whereas up to five in 1,000 men will die within a month of prostate cancer surgery, the panel said, and between 10 and 70 per 1,000 men will suffer lifelong adverse effects, such as urinary incontinence, erectile dysfunction and bowel dysfunction.

So how does this new recommendation relate to black men’s health? About 242,000 new cases of prostate cancer will be diagnosed in Americans this year, and about 28,000 will die from it, according to the U.S. National Cancer Institute. Prostate cancer is the fourth most common cause of death in black men. Here are a few more unfortunate facts about prostate cancer in black men:

The worldwide incidence of prostate cancer is higher among American black men than any other male group.
Black men in America continue to have the highest incidence rate of prostate cancer in the world — 180.6 per 100,000 population.
Between 1996 and 2000 in the United States, the death rate of prostate cancer among black men was more than double that of white men.
Among black men, 19 percent — nearly one in five — will be diagnosed with prostate cancer, and five percent of those will die from this disease.
African-American men with an immediate family member who had prostate cancer have a one in three chance of developing the disease. Their risk rises to 83 percent with two immediate family members having the disease, and skyrockets to 97 percent if they have three immediate family members who developed prostate cancer.

It is not clear that the studies on which the task force made its recommendations included sufficient numbers of black men, despite the fact that they have the highest disease burden of all ethnic and racial groups. Furthermore, the task force is made up of the same panel that in 2009 rejected regular mammograms for women in their 40s, after also concluding the benefits don’t outweigh the harms; in spite of the fact that black women in their twenties to fifties are twice as likely to die of breast cancer as white women who have breast cancer and about 33% of African-American women who get breast cancer are younger than 50 years old.

I’m not sure what’s behind the task force’s recommendations – just ignorance of the facts or indifference to the health concerns of minority populations, but this decision does not preclude a man choosing to be screened. There’s just no other way to detect prostate cancer early than through PSA testing.

Furthermore not everyone agrees with the task force recommendations: A spokesman for the Prostate Cancer Foundation, Dan Zenka, described the proposed recommendation as “a tremendous mistake.” The American Urological Association said there is strong evidence that PSA testing saves lives. Dr. Otis Brawley, chief medical officer at the American Cancer Society and an outspoken figure on the pros and cons of cancer screening tests, encouraged men to make their own choice about PSA screening while keeping the risks and benefits in mind. Certain men, including blacks and those with a family history of the disease, are at significantly higher risk of developing prostate cancer, he noted.

The American Cancer Society recommends that African-American men discuss testing with their doctor at age 45, or at age 40 if they have several close relatives who have had prostate cancer before age 65.

No one really knows why African-American men are more likely to develop prostate cancer, but we know that they are more likely to die from prostate cancer in part because of delayed diagnosis. The new task force recommendations only add more confusion about when to screen or when not to screen which may lead to even further delayed diagnosis of prostate cancer in black men. The bottom line is black men and all men for that matter need to have a discussion with their doctor about the benefits and limitations of screening for early prostate cancer detection.

What are the signs of prostate cancer?

Signs and symptoms of prostate cancer can include:

Urinating in the middle of the night,
Needing to urinate more frequently, and
Feeling like the bladder doesn’t completely empty.
Blood in the urine may also be a sign of prostate cancer.

Early prostate cancer screening is important because by the time that symptoms appear, the cancer is likely in an advanced stage. The earlier the prostate cancer is caught — before symptoms appear — the better the chances for recovery.

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Is Alcohol Really Healthy for You?

admin — Tue, 08 May 2012 19:24:46 +0000

In the Bible, the Apostle, Paul, recommended that Timothy drink wine for his stomach’s sake and for his continuous ailments (1 Timothy 5:23). Recent studies in the United States found that a drink of almost any type of alcohol can lower death rates by reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease.

So it seems the ancients and even modern scientists agree that drinking moderate amounts of alcohol is good for you. By moderate, I mean no more than one serving a day for women and no more than two servings per day for men. Examples of one serving:

• 5 ounces of wine – about half a glass

• 12 ounces of a beer or wine cooler

• 8 ounces of malt liquor

• 1.5 ounces of 80 proof distilled spirits such as gin, vodka, whiskey, etc.

The Darker the Alcohol the Better

Darker alcohol such as red wine and dark brown beer are in a more natural state so that’s why I recommend them over the lighter forms of alcohol, but research does not distinguish between red wine, white wine, or any other type of alcohol for that matter. The health benefits are seemingly the same if consumed according to the recommendations of one serving per day for women and no more than two servings per day for men.

How Does Alcohol Actually Work to Improve Health?
Some think that the health benefits of drinking wine is due to the antioxidant action of polyphenol compounds or, resveratrol, in grapes used to make wine. Alcohol is also believed to protect the heart by preventing clotting of the blood. Also proven is that alcohol increases HDL (good cholesterol), and lower LDL (bad cholesterol), while decreasing blood pressure.

No matter what the results are from the final research, maybe the real benefit of drinking alcohol is its ability to allow people to relax in a very stressful world.

Drinking moderate amounts alcohol is believed to:

• Prevent heart disease

• Prevent or control diabetes

• Lower risk for dementia as well as boost memory

• Prevent certain types of cancer – such as kidney cancer

Drinking Moderates Amounts of Alcohol May Help You Lose Weight

In a study of almost 50,000 women, those who drank moderately (one drink per day) gained less weight than women who abstained—and less than those who had two or more drinks per day. The researchers conducting this study are not sure how this works but they think alcohol may help burn calories if consumed in moderate amounts.

Over Drink Alcohol and You Will Suffer

When it comes to the health benefits of drinking, more alcohol is certainly not better. Once you exceed one glass of wine per day for women or two glasses a day for men you are entering into the land of possible complications. By exceeding the daily limit of alcohol your liver goes into overdrive in order to clean out your system. This excessive work by the liver can ultimately lead to liver failure.

Other problems can also occur in the body due to consuming excessive amounts of alcohol such as:

• Breast cancer

• Uterine cancer

• Liver cancer

• Colon cancer

• Cancers upper GI tract – mouth, throat, and esophagus

• Osteoporosis

• High triglycerides (a type of bad fat)

• High blood pressure

• Heart failure

• Strokes

Yikes! The above list is one you want to avoid.

Remember Alcohol is Very Additive

If you drink, be aware of the risks of alcoholism. People who have a family history of alcoholism, have about three times the risk of becoming alcoholics, so make certain you are aware of your family history if you are considering drinking for health benefits.

Also, if you know in your heart that you are not able to stop at one to two drinks a day, you just shouldn’t drink. In addition, people with liver disease and heart failure (a weak heart) shouldn’t drink. Neither the American Heart Association nor the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute recommend that you start drinking alcohol just to prevent disease.

Have Wine with Foods that are Filling

If you drink alcohol with a well balanced diet of whole grains, quality protein, healthy fats and veggies you’ll feel full, and subsequently, you will drink less. You should never drink on an empty stomach.

Also a good rule of thumb is to have one glass of water for every serving of alcohol.

Give yourself a chance to recover after drinking alcohol

It takes four to six hours for the body to break down alcohol, so if you know you have to be at work at 7 AM and you need to be sharp and alert don’t drink alcohol too late the night before.

Summary About Drinking Alcohol

1. Any type of alcohol, in moderation, appears to provide some health benefits.

2. Darker colored alcohol is healthier

3. Over drinking poses risks for alcoholism and other health problems

4. Never consume alcohol on an empty stomach and drink plenty of water while drinking alcohol.

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Are there Other Sources of Protein Other Than Meat?

admin — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 01:56:35 +0000

The other sources of protein not from animal sources are beans, soy, and nuts. By consuming these alternative sources of protein is how people can live healthy lives as vegetarians; although I think having some high quality meat in the diet is natural. In addition, to get enough protein from non-animal sources will likely result in simultaneous intake of excessive amounts of carbohydrates which are plentiful in these alternative protein sources.

In the bean category, go for high protein content and low starchy beans such as quinoa (pronounced keen-wah), and minimize green beans and large starchy beans such as lima, kidney, and great northern if you’re eating beans as a source of protein.

When it comes to soy products, go with tempeh [pronounced tem-pey] over tufu and other “mock meats.” Tempeh is a fermented whole soybean product which retains a higher content of undamaged protein, dietary fiber, and intact vitamins, and actually pretty tasty. Tufu and “mock meats” are heavily processed with poor quality proteins, added sodium, chemicals, and starchy fillers.

As for nuts, almonds, walnuts, pecans, Brazil nuts, pistachios, cashews, and cedar nuts are consider the healthiest and dense in protein. Generally avoid or minimize peanuts; although they have an almost equal amount of protein as the other nuts they’re considered less nutritious and associated with more food allergies.

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Can Poor Nutrition Ruin the Sex in Your Relationship?

admin — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 20:18:52 +0000

A sexually satisfying relationship with one’s partner is a crucial component of any healthy intimate relationship. March is National Nutrition Month, a time designated to focus attention on the importance of making informed food choices and developing sound eating and physically active habits. Throughout this article, you will learn how poor nutritional habits can have a devastating effect on the sex in your relationship and on your overall health and well-being.

Good food, good sex. Bad food, bad sex.

The average American diet is actually a killer of good sex. To fully enjoy the natural delights of good sex, the human body must have the following:

1. A desire for sex

2. Adequate blood flow to the genitals

3. The endurance/stamina to get the job done

It turns out that the desire for sex, maintaining adequate blood flow to the genitals, and physical endurance are all chemically driven processes that are largely determined by the food you eat.

It all starts with desire

The desire for sex in both men and women is largely driven by the sex hormone testosterone. It’s a well-known, scientifically documented fact that low testosterone levels in either gender can lead to low sexual desire. The ability of your body to make adequate amounts of testosterone is based on the raw ingredients that you feed your body through the food you eat.

For example, foods rich in zinc and vitamin E have been associated with an increased production of testosterone, but due to increasingly nutrient-depleted soil, many American foods, including fruits and vegetables, lack adequate amounts of these essential elements. In addition, the typical American diet lacks adequate amounts of omega-3 fatty acids, which are the essential building blocks the body uses to make testosterone from scratch.

To combat these deficiencies in your diet and, in return, improve your desire for sex, you should

• eat natural, real foods (food that you can recognize or that you could theoretically pick, fish, or hunt in nature);

• choose organic or wild meat, fish, and poultry over farm-raised or corn-fed; and

• take a daily high-quality multivitamin to supplement your diet.

Foods high in zinc are oysters, toasted wheat germ, veal liver, sesame seeds, roasted pumpkin, squash seeds, dried watermelon seeds, dark chocolate, and peanuts. Foods high in vitamin E are wheat germ oil, sunflower seeds, almonds, peanuts, broccoli, cooked spinach, and avocados. Foods high in omega-3 fatty acids are cold- and deep-water fish (mackerel, wild salmon, halibut, sardines, herrings, black cod, and bluefish), flaxseed, nuts, and oils (including olive oil and soybean oil). And if you can’t stomach the taste or smell of fish, consider taking 1,000 milligrams (or one gram) of fish oil supplement daily.

It’s all about blood flow

As mentioned above, after desire must come blood flow to the right places in both men and women. When a man has the desire for sex, to get things started he must have adequate blood flow to his sexual organs in order to achieve and maintain an erection. Likewise, a woman must have adequate blood flow “downstairs” for proper lubrication and enhancement of stimulation.

Blood flow to the genitals is fully controlled by the opening, closing, and/or blocking of arteries in the sex organs. One of the leading causes of impotence or erectile dysfunction in men is inadequate dilation (opening) of arteries leading to the male genitals; one common cause of inadequate dilation of these arteries is a buildup of plaque within the artery walls due to diets high in bad fats. Bad fats are generally considered trans fats and saturated fats.

• Trans fats are also called partially hydrogenated fats. These fats are man-made and used as commercial cooking oils to prepare French fries, donuts, and other fried foods, including fried chicken.

• Saturated fats are found in fatty meats, egg yolks, whole-milk dairy products (cheeses and butter), and tropical plant oils (palm oil, palm kernel oil, coconut oil and cocoa butter).

Plaque buildup in genital artery walls can occur in both men and women, leading to inadequate blood flow. And think about it: if you have plaque buildup in your genital artery walls, you also likely have plaque buildup in your heart arteries and brain arteries as well, which can ultimately lead to a whole other set of undesirable health problems.

So, to avoid excessive plaque buildup and to keep the blood flowing to all the right places, maintain a diet devoid of trans fats, low in saturated fats, and high in the good fats. As mentioned above, sources of food rich in omega-3 fatty acids not only increase your desire for sex by allowing your body to make adequate amounts of testosterone, but they also reduce plaque buildup in arteries, thereby improving circulation, increasing sensation, and helping you avoid a stroke or heart attack.

Another powerful item that helps keep your genital arteries open is an amino acid called L-arginine, which is used by the body to make nitric oxide. Nitric oxide enhances the sexual arousal response. This common amino acid is found in food sources such as oatmeal, granola, nuts, seeds, and seafood.

Making it last

Sexual endurance is a multifaceted process that not only includes physical conditioning but also a balanced psychological state of mind. This article is certainly not long enough to fully explore the psychological aspects of sexual endurance; therefore, it focuses on the following things that can enhance one’s endurance and improve the overall experience:

• Taurine is an amino acid found in shellfish such as oysters that has been found to have caffeine-like effects (it’s used in Red Bull) for alertness and physical endurance.

• Chocolate contains caffeine, which helps perk you up and also boosts the production of serotonin and dopamine in the brain. Both serotonin and dopamine contribute to a feeling of well-being and happiness, which adds new meaning to eating those decadent chocolate-covered strawberries as you set the mood. Chocolate also contains phenylethylamine, a chemical with an amphetamine-like effect that temporarily mimics feelings of falling in love.

• Avocados contain vitamin B6, which helps produce the feel-good hormone serotonin in the brain.

In addition to the above, consider these points as well:

• Avoid large meals just before sex, as the body naturally shunts blood flow to the gut to aid digestion. This is believed to be the reason you get sleepy after a large meal.

• Try sniffing lavender – some studies have shown that the scent of lavender increases blood flow up to 40 percent!

Remember, there is one last important aspect to this conversation: when all is said and done about sexual endurance, you hold your partner’s confidence in your hands. You can choose to either build it up or tear it down.

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Prevent diseases such heart disease, diabetes, stroke, and cancer by getting the proper screening test at the right time!

admin — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 00:42:31 +0000

Click to View Women’s and Men’s Health Screening Tests

How to Enjoy Holiday Parties and Not Feel Guilty About Indulging

admin — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 02:48:56 +0000

From now until New Year’s, you will be tempted and titillated to taste the bountiful treats of pastries, drinks, and lavish meals put before you at parties, family gatherings, and other social events. So how do you come up with a plan to indulge during the holidays but not regret your mischievous oral delights?

Prepare for the party. The best way to prepare to indulge yourself at a party, but not overdo it, is to never go to a party hungry or thirsty.

Be sure to drink plenty of water before you attend an event. This will help you handle whatever alcohol you may consume, and staying well hydrated will boost your metabolism by up to 3% to handle the extra calories.
In addition, have a small meal that is well balanced with green leafy veggies, good fats, good protein, and complex carbs several hours before the event. This will allow you to indulge at the party but not succumb to gluttony.

Practice the new exercise called “Push-Aways.” This means to enjoy the food while at the party but “push-away” from the table before overeating.

A lot of us eat, not because we’re hungry, but because someone puts another dish before us. Just “push-a-way” slowly from the table …

Stay true to portion control. Decide before you attend an event that you’re going to eat only one-quarter, one-half, or two-thirds of what you’re served – no matter what! That is, of course, unless you’re served a whole gallon of ice cream.

For example, decide to yourself before the event that you’re going to enjoy the heck out of a single slice of pie – but no more!

Savor the food and drinks. Eat every piece of delectable goodness and drink each enticing beverage slowly and purposefully. Take the time to feel the richness of the food and drink in your mouth before swallowing.

By practicing this method, you will allow your brain a chance to notice that you are full and avoid overeating. Sometimes we eat so fast that our brain can’t keep up and let us know when the body is replenished.

Stay the same weight. Trying to lose weight around the holidays is hard and sometimes impossible; so weigh yourself today, and make this your goal: “I may not lose any weight during this time, but I will not gain any weight over the holidays.”

There is only one way not to gain any weight over the holidays if you’re indulging in new food adventures – you must adjust your calorie intake.
For example, if you know you’re going to go to a party in the evening and you plan to have a few drinks, you should adjust your calorie intake during the day by not drinking those two sodas and having water instead.
Another example is if you know you’re going to a dinner party later in the evening, don’t overdo it at lunch.
Finally, if you know you may consume an extra 500 calories, for example, at a holiday party, then add this to your workout regimen so you burn an extra 500 calories before the event. It’s just that simple; think about calories in and calories out.

The bottom line here is to enjoy yourself during the holidays by “tasting” a lot of food that you normally would not eat, but don’t become your own worst Cookie Monster, or Cake Monster, or Pie Monster, or whatever, which you will surely regret in the new year.

Peace, love, and long living from your doctor in the family,

Dr. Jeff Brown

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Untreated Depression May Be the Real Reason Someone You Know Still Smokes

admin — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 07:18:14 +0000

It is hard to imagine how anyone who lives in America today is unaware of the myriad of health problems associated with smoking cigarettes — from developing lung cancer to colon cancer to even breast cancer. You know the ol’ saying that “ignorance is bliss,” but when it comes to the dangers of smoking, I highly doubt that anyone can claim ignorance as a defense for continuing to smoke.

So the question remains: How could anyone continue to do something that is so obviously unhealthy and associated with very few, if any, social benefits? The answer to this question, I think, lies in the fact that any human behavior acting in direct contradiction to common public knowledge and well-known social norms almost always points to some underlying and hidden pathology.

It turns out that up to 30% of people who smoke cigarettes actually smoke because they’re depressed. The nicotine they’re consuming acts in the brain in a way similar to how some antidepressant medications act. Yes, the nicotine found in cigarettes literally improves the mood of some people. The fact of the matter is that approximately 30% of people who smoke are likely not smoking for the ‘joy’ of smoking; they’re actually smoking in an effort to self-medicate their depression.

This insight was first revealed in the U.S. while researchers were conducting clinical trials on an antidepressant drug called Wellbutrin. During the trial to determine if Wellbutrin was effective for treating depression, a substantial number of patients in the study suddenly stopped smoking. Wellbutrin was repackaged and renamed Zyban, which was marketed as a non-nicotine treatment to help stop smoking.

So what’s the bottom line? The bottom line is that your spouse, your loved one, or even you may be smoking in an effort to self-medicate depression, and if the depression was appropriately addressed and treated, you or a loved one could lose the desire to smoke altogether! So if you need (or someone you know needs) to stop smoking, think about and discuss with your healthcare provider how your mood may be playing a role.

Frank Talk About HIV/AIDS with Black Men

admin — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 03:15:33 +0000

HIV/AIDS is increasingly an epidemic in the black community. African Americans account for a whopping 50% of all those living with HIV today, 45% of those newly infected each year and about half of all deaths.

If black America were its own country, it would rank 105th in the world for life expectancy, behind places like Algeria, the Dominican Republic and Sri Lanka (the US as a whole is 49th).

It is past time to have some FRANK talk about HIV in the black community! So watch this video below and join in on the discussion…

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Depression Explained

admin — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 04:37:59 +0000

Facts About Depression

Depression is a common health condition—5-20 percent of people will experience significant depression at some time in their lives.
True depression or clinical depression is not the same as just feeling down or depressed about something.
Most people find it hard to determine whether they are just feeling down or depressed about something or if they have true clinical depression. Feeling down or depressed about something is an emotional state thatcomes and goes whereas clinical depression is a disease. As a result, clinical depression stays with us until it is treated.
Some people like to refer to the depression of feeling down as depression spelled with a “little d” and the depression from true clinical depression as depression spelled with a “big D.”
The bottom line is “little d” depression is a normal part of life and it usually fixes itself, but “big D” depression is not normal and should be treated like any other disease. You shouldn’t expect to be able to fix “big D” depression by yourself; you will need help.

Causes and Triggers of Clinical Depression
There are many causes or triggers for clinical depression. Some common causes are:

Life stresses
Losses
Learned behaviors
Genetics (just runs in your family)

Whatever the cause or trigger is for clinical depression, the end result is the same. In clinical depression, the brain has low levels of certain neurotransmitters.

Neurotransmitters are chemicals made by nerves. The most common neurotransmitters that are too low in clinical depression are serotonin (ser-raton-in) and norepinephrine (nor-epi-nef-rin). Nerve cells use neurotransmitters to communicate with each other. Without these neurotransmitters nerve cells cannot communicate and do their job.

Some of the nerve cells in your brain are responsible for keeping your emotions stable and they need normal levels of neurotransmitters to do this. Remember, in clinical depression the neurotransmitter levels are too low. As a result, the nerve cells in the brain that are responsible for keeping emotions stable are not able to do their job.

Therefore, your emotions cannot be kept stable and remain low or depressed. Think about it, it is impossible to truly feel good or normal when your emotions are depressed because your brain cannot do its job.

By looking at the list of the common causes of depression, you will probably notice that only one is totally out of your control. If depression runs in your family, there is nothing you can do about that. But life stresses, losses, and learned behaviors, although all are realities of life, must be dealt with properly before they lead to clinical depression.

It’s important to understand that there are some common diseases that can cause depression as a secondary effect. Here are the most common:

Hypothyroid (low thyroid) or hyperthyroid (high thyroid) diseases
Organic brain diseases—like brain damage
Diabetes
Certain vitamin deficiencies: Vitamin B12, niacin
Medication side effects
Alcohol abuse

All of these diseases should be considered as a reversible cause of depression— which means if you fix the primary problem, the secondary problem (depression) goes away on its own.

Symptoms of Clinical Depression

Clinical depression is characterized by a depressed mood and/or a decreased interest in things that used to give pleasure. These symptoms are present for a minimum of two weeks or more. Furthermore, they are seen with at least four of the following additional symptoms:

Change in appetite—weight loss or weight gain
Sleep disturbance—either can’t sleep (insomnia) or sleeping too much (hypersomnia)
Fatigue—tiredness that is out of proportion to the amount of energy expended
Physical or mental agitation—restlessness, irritability, or withdrawal
Poor self-image
Poor memory, difficulty in concentrating, unable to make decisions
Thoughts of suicide

How Is Depression Diagnosed?

Clinical depression is a clinical diagnosis, meaning that there are no blood tests or scans to make the diagnosis. A health care provider (clinician) makes the diagnosis based on the patient’s history and symptoms.

Tests are only done to rule out other conditions, such as those previously mentioned that can cause depression as a secondary effect. Tests that should be considered by your health care provider to rule out these other conditions if depression is suspected are:

EEG—only done if other brain diseases are suspected like brain damage
Brain CAT scan or MRI—only done if other brain diseases are suspected like a brain mass.
Thyroid blood test [thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH)] —to rule out low or high thyroid states
Vitamin B12 and niacin blood test

Treatment for Depression

Treatment for depression usually involves taking certain medications that increase the levels of neurotransmitters in the brain. If the problem in clinical depression is low levels of these neurotransmitters, then the treatment should be to give a medication that increases their levels.
Support groups, counseling, and psychotherapy are sometimes used along with medication to treat this disease.
For some people, prayer is helpful, when included along with other methods of treatment.

Depression and African Americans
According to a National Mental Health Association survey on attitudes and beliefs about depression:

Approximately 63% of African Americans believe that depression is a “personal weakness.”
Only 31 % of African Americans said they believed depression is a “health” problem.
Close to 30% of African Americans said they would “handle it’ (depression) themselves if they were depressed, while close to 20% said they would seek help for depression from friends and family.
Only 25% African Americans recognize that a change in eating habits and sleeping patterns are as symptoms of depression; only 16% recognize irritability as a sign.
Only 33% of African Americans said they would take medication for depression, if prescribed by a doctor, compared to 69% of the general population.
Almost 66% of respondents said they believe prayer and faith alone will successfully treat depression “almost all of the time” or “some of the time.”

So what’s the bottom line about depression for African American? The bottom line is that depression and other mental illness still carry a heavy stigma in the black community, but it is passed time that we accept depression and treat it like any other disease of the body to that more minds can be healed and lives saved!

For more helpful information on depression, and to take the Mayo Clinic Self-Assessment Quiz click the link below

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Five Common Health Issues That Can Ruin Your Marriage or Any Relationship If Ignored

admin — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 05:27:27 +0000

1. Premature ejaculation

Premature ejaculation (PE) is a very common condition affecting many men. For the average male, the time from insertion to ejaculation is less than three minutes. The definition of PE is ejaculation that occurs prior to when a man wishes or occurs too quickly during intercourse to satisfy his partner.

It’s thought that PE at least partially originates during the late adolescent to late teenage years, when young men often experiment with masturbation. During those younger years, they essentially need to please only themselves. As a result, they learn to do it quickly. Additionally, they often had to “speed things up” in the bathroom while masturbating because they surely did not want to be busted by the home police (a.k.a. mom or sister).

This learned behavior is often very difficult for men to change and can lead to sexually dissatisfied partners. A sexually dissatisfied spouse is vulnerable to temptations outside of the marriage, which can lead to very complex and often irreversible problems. An adage states that “bad sex” has a much greater impact on ruining a relationship (up to 70%) than “good sex” has on improving it (15%).

Thankfully, there is help for men with this condition. Essentially, men must learn to control their pubo-coccygeal (PC) muscles, which originate from the pubic bone, go under the genitals, and attach to the tailbone. A man can discover these muscles by attempting to stop his urine flow midstream. Men with this condition need to go to reputable websites and talk to a doctor or other qualified health professional about how to gain more control over these muscles to stop PE.

2. Chronic, loud snoring

Chronic, loud snoring is often due to a condition called obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). OSA is caused by a collapsing of the upper air passages during sleep, causing a blockage of air to the lungs, which results in low blood oxygen and disrupted sleep.

People who leave this condition untreated can suffer from many complications including depression, loss of sex drive, hyperactive behavior, leg swelling (if severe), heart arrhythmia, heart failure, high blood pressure, and stroke.

In addition to all the above serious personal health problems, the spouse of someone with OSA suffers a great deal too. The non-snoring spouse may be forced to sleep in a different room or may endure many sleepless nights in the room with a snoring spouse. Either way, OSA may be the source of lots of stress in a marriage and can potentially lead to many serious marital problems.

Thankfully, there is a solution to this common health problem. The fix for most people is to get a doctor-prescribed sleep study and likely wear a CPAP device (a small machine attached to a facial mask that blows air through the nose and/or mouth while you are asleep). Be sure to talk to your doctor or your spouse’s doctor about this condition so you can both sleep happily ever after in the same bed!

3. Untreated depression or other mental illness

The time has come for all of us to start recognizing mental illnesses such as depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder as true medical conditions — just as we recognize high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and heart disease. As a physician, I can tell you that some people are just born prone to depression or to some other mental illness.

Most common mental illnesses have a biological basis, not just an emotional or spiritual basis. Most are due to either overproduction or underproduction of certain neuro-hormones in the brain. For example if your brain is significantly under-producing serotonin (the cause of clinical depression), there is nothing you can do about it other than seek treatment. Think of it like this: If your blood pressure were too high and you tried different self-treatments without success, it would be time to start formal treatment options.

When someone has an untreated mental illness, essentially this person is not himself or herself. It is very difficult to maintain any relationship, let alone a marriage, if you are not “yourself.” People with untreated mental illness often come back to themselves after starting treatment and realize how many past relationships they inadvertently destroyed while they were just not themselves.

4. Obesity/letting yourself go

Obese, how dare someone call you that! For many people, being told they are overweight or obese seems downright insulting. But it is important for people to know that the term obesity is not a social judgment; it is a medical term that health care providers use to define how much fat is in a person’s body.

Obesity and being overweight can make a person sick in many ways, including serious conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and arthritis. In addition to the obvious potential health problems, letting yourself go physically may lead to your spouse finding you less attractive, and you may have less energy for the things that you used to love to do with your spouse.

Keeping your temple/body as fit as you can will not only make you more attractive to your spouse, but will also help you avoid the obvious health problems that can easily derail whatever ambitions you may have for yourself, your spouse, and your family. To stay fit:

Get 30 to 40 minutes of physical activity three to five times a week. Start out by walking (walk like you’re running late).
Never try to lose more than one to two pounds a week. Lose more than this and you will likely gain all the weight back plus extra because you have tricked your brain into thinking there is a “famine” in the land (a reflex from our ancient past).
To lose one pound in a week, you’ll need to burn an extra 3,500 calories a week, or 500 calories a day.
Remember, being fit is not just about being thin; it is and should be about being healthy!

5. Female sexual dysfunction (FSD)

FSD involves several female sexual symptoms, including pain during sexual intercourse, not finding sex pleasurable, lack of desire for sexual activity, an inability to orgasm, and/or a lack of vaginal lubrication (arousal). It’s been estimated that 43 percent of women complain of some type of sexual dysfunction.

While the causes of FSD are not fully known, they likely involve complex interactions between women’s emotions, hormones, stress levels, certain medication side effects, and certain diseases. A number of health problems can interfere with a woman’s ability to enjoy sex and feel pleasure, including:

Chronic health conditions (e.g., depression, diabetes, hypertension, and high cholesterol) can affect sexual function in a variety of ways.
Pelvic surgeries (e.g., hysterectomy) can damage and narrow blood vessels and prevent the flow of blood to genital tissues, thus reducing arousal.
An underactive thyroid gland (hypothyroid) can reduce a woman’s sex drive.
Genital and urinary tract infections can cause discomfort and sometimes painful sex.
Vulvovaginal atrophy is common due to the loss of estrogen production associated with menopause and other conditions (e.g., postpartum), which leads to atrophy of the vulva, vagina, and urinary tract.

Although researchers have yet to determine the exact causes of FSD, many symptomatic treatments exist, so it’s important for a woman suffering from any sexual dysfunction to bring it up to her primary care provider or ob-gyn. Women should enjoy sex just as much as men do!

by Jeffrey B. Brown, MD

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African American Women Die from Breast Cancer Twice that of Whites??

admin — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 01:45:24 +0000

Breast cancer in African American women is something we can’t afford to stop talking about. Each year, an estimated 40,000 women will die from breast cancer. Nearly 6,000 will be African-American women. You do the math. African American women make-up roughly about 7% of the U.S. population but account for 15% of the deaths from breast cancer every year. It’s been estimated that African American women ages 35 to 44 have a death rate from breast cancer twice that of white women the same age.

Black women in their twenties to fifties are twice as likely to die of breast cancer as white women who have breast cancer. About 33% of African-American women who get breast cancer are younger than 50 years old.

Part of the reason for this difference may be due to that fact that studies have estimated that 20 to 30 percent of breast cancers in African-American women are triple-negative breast cancers. Triple-negative breast cancers lack estrogen, progesterone, and HER-2 receptors. Typically these receptors are found on breast cancer cells and are used by drugs/ chemo to target and kill the cancer cells. Obviously if cancer cells don’t have these receptors they won’t respond to many available drug treatments known to block the cancer’s growth. Genetics are likely behind this difference, but no one knows for sure.

Additionally, some studies suggest African American women don’t get screened for breast cancer as early and as often as white women, and aren’t being referred to specialists in a timely fashion. Some studies also suggest that the difference in death rates may be due to black women in America experiencing more stress than whites, but this factor has yet to be fully explored.

Taking all these factors into account and in lieu of the Task Force’s recent new recommendation of not starting screening mammograms until age 50, one could easily conclude that a lot of African American women are being missed as it relates to early diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer. This also suggest that there should be consideration made for creating separate guidelines for African-American women other than the task force’s recommendation of starting at age 50.

As a physician, I’m still recommending that black women, and all other women for that matter, continue getting screening mammograms starting at age 40, or even sooner in African American women who may be at higher risk. The key message here is that you must take charge of your own health. Don’t expect or wait for someone else to do it for you. It may be too late if you do.

As usual be sure to talk to your health care provider about your risks for breast cancer and be your own best health care advocate!

by Jeffrey B. Brown, MD

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Lower Vitamin D Levels in African-Americans May Up Heart Disease Risks

admin — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 01:22:01 +0000

New research suggests that low blood levels of vitamin D may increase a person’s risk of heart disease and stroke, among other serious illnesses such as:

diabetes,
peripheral artery disease,
high blood pressure,
cancer and
kidney disease.

Vitamin D is found very rarely in unfortified food, and is mostly produced in the body when sunlight interacts with skin cells. This is particularly concerning for people of color, because the darker the skin the less vitamin D that is produced in the body.

This lower level of production of vitamin D usually is not a problem when people of color are exposed to high levels of sunlight (at low latitudes or near the equator), but becomes a problem when people of color live in places of low sunlight (higher latitudes) or get very little sun exposure.

The researchers in the study looked at data on more than 15,000 U.S. adults in a national nutritional study. They found that, overall, the 25 percent of adults with the lowest levels of vitamin D had a 40 percent higher risk of cardiovascular death. When they singled out African-Americans, the report found a 38 percent higher incidence of such deaths than among whites. As vitamin D levels rose, however, the risk of death was reduced.

The jury is still out on this research, but the evidence for a real cause-and-effect relationship between low levels of vitamin D and cardiovascular disease is growing. I think the simplest way to approach this potential health problem for all people and particularly people of color is to have your blood vitamin D level checked by your health care provider; if it is too low, make the proper adjustments to your diet and/or use vitamin supplements to get it within a normal range.

The current recommendation is a daily intake of 400 international units (IUs) of vitamin D for most adults, and 600 IU for those over 70. Some experts are recommending a higher amount for most people — up to 2,000 IU a day — and some are even recommending that African-Americans probably need closer to 3,000 to 5,000 IU a day.

Again, this issue is not yet resolved. But at a minimum, people of color should work with their health care providers to try to get their blood vitamin D level within the current standard of normal limits: 30 to 74 nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL); 40ng/mL would be ideal.

As always, be sure to discuss these issues with the primary health care provider who knows your unique health status best. I will continue to keep you posted on this important and evolving issue.

Written by Jeffrey B. Brown, M.D.

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Good Sources of Protein

admin — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 17:28:00 +0000

Seafood

Seafood is an excellent source of protein because it’s usually low in fat. Fish such as salmon is a little higher in fat, but it is the heart-healthy kind: omega-3 fatty acids.

White-Meat Poultry

Stick to the white meat of poultry for excellent, lean protein. Dark meat is a little higher in fat. The skin is loaded with saturated fat, so remove skin before cooking.

Milk, Cheese, and Yogurt

Not only are dairy foods — like milk, cheese, and yogurt — excellent sources of protein but they also contain valuable calcium, and many are fortified with vitamin D. Choose skim or low fat dairy to keep bones and teeth strong and prevent osteoporosis.

Eggs

Eggs are one of the least expensive forms of protein. The American Heart Association says normal healthy adults can safely enjoy an egg a day.

Beans

One-half cup of beans contains as much protein as an ounce of broiled steak. Plus, these nutritious nuggets are loaded with fiber to keep you feeling full for hours.

Pork Tenderloin

This great and versatile white meat is 31% leaner than 20 years ago.

Soy

Fifty grams of soy protein daily can help lower cholesterol about 3%. Eating soy protein instead of sources of protein higher in fat — along with a healthy diet — can be heart healthy.

Lean Beef

Lean beef has only one more gram of saturated fat than a skinless chicken breast. Lean beef is also an excellent source of zinc, iron, and vitamin B12.

Protein on the Go

Grab a meal replacement drink, cereal bar, or energy bar. Check the label to be sure the product contains at least six grams of protein and is low in sugar and fat.

Protein at Breakfast

Research shows that including a source of protein like an egg or Greek yogurt at breakfast along with a high fiber grain like whole wheat toast can help you feel full longer and eat less throughout the day.

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Personal Medical History Record, Do You Need One?

admin — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 00:46:19 +0000

The command “Know Thy Health” is not one of the Ten Commandments, but it should be. Most people likely know their car’s history better than their own health history. Why is it that we keep track of the details about certain things in our lives, such as our cars and investments, but we often have no clue about the details of our most precious asset, our health?

Maybe some of us believe that it’s someone else’s job. Or maybe some of us don’t keep track of the details of our health because we don’t understand the importance of doing so, or we don’t know how. The best way that I can explain why I think some people don’t do a better job keeping up with the details about their health is with the use of an analogy about driving an automatic transmission car versus a manual transmission car. For most people their health early in life is like driving an automatic transmission car where no work has to be done changing gears, but as we grow older and/or encounter health problems we go from driving an automatic transmission car to driving a manual transmission car. Some people simply do not want to acknowledge this change in their health, and instead of learning how to properly drive a stick shift (manual transmission) they continue to putt-putt along until things ultimately breakdown. Whatever the reason, the bottom line is the more you keep track of your health history details the healthier you’ll be. It is the first step in becoming an empowered proactive patient.

According to Bill Thomas, M.D., a geriatric medicine and eldercare expert and AARP visting scholar, “Keeping a personal medical history is one of the most important steps people can take to improve the safety and quality of the health care they receive. Nowadays, patients are partners with their doctors, and things work best when both partners are involved with the task of keeping accurate records,” he says. “A personal medical record can be a real lifesaver.”

So what is the best, simplest, and quickest way to keep track of your health history? At the end of this blog, you’ll find a link to a sample letter to request your health information from your health care providers. This information along with what you can recall about your personal and family’s health history can be used to create your own personal medical history record. Yes, creating and maintaining your own personal medical history record is the answer to keeping up with your health history and maintaining good health.

Your personal medical history record will act as your own medical chart. It will not only be your guide to staying healthy, but also your most important tool for managing whatever health problems you may have. It will provide critical information about you to your health care providers. And guess what? By creating and maintaining a health record, it can speak for you if you’re unable to talk due to a health problem or if you just feel uncomfortable expressing the details about your health. That’s right, just hand over your personal medical history record to a doctor or other health care professional and they’ll have everything they need to take good care of you. One major complaint that doctors have about patients is that patients usually give too much unnecessary information when they try to describe their health problems and health history. Your health record will help you avoid this common mistake and increase the chances that your doctor will make the right diagnosis. The right diagnosis could save your life!

So how do you get started? There are many ways you go about creating your own personal medical history record, but we’ve made it quick and easy for you. You can create a personal medical history by using the Health Power 101 Organizer. The Health Power 101 Organizer was created and designed to present your health information in a clear, organized, easy to use manner. You can learn more about the Health Power 101 Organizer at , and remember if you decide not to use our personal medical history record please use someone else’s or create your own; it’s just that important that you take charge of your health today!

Download Free Letter to request your medical records

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Do Women Really Need Annual Mammograms starting at Age 40??

admin — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 20:28:14 +0000

Guidelines were published on 11/16/09 by the U.S. Preventive Service Task Force, a government-backed physician group, that said women 40 to 49 years of age no longer need to get annual mammograms, unless at high risk for breast cancer. The task force made these recommendations largely due to a study conducted by them which suggests that women who are at low risk for breast cancer are more likely to get false-positive tests that can lead to unnecessary biopsies and anxiety if starting mammograms before age 50.

The new guidelines have not been accepted by many health organizations such as the American Cancer Society and the Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Both organizations strongly disagree with these new guidelines and are still recommending that women 40 to 49 get annual mammograms.

Breast cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer-related deaths among U.S. women, after lung cancer, killing 40,480 women in 2008, according to the task force report.

I too must strongly disagree with these new guidelines, and would continue to encourage women to start getting mammograms at the age of 40. About a year ago, I treated a thirty-five year old female patient who requested that her physician give her a prescription for a mammogram. The mammogram was positive for a breast mass, and the breast mass biopsy returned positive for invasive breast cancer. Just imagine if she had waited until age 45 or God forbid age 50!

Furthermore, I’m very concerned that these new guidelines will confused women by the conflicting advice from health experts. Due to these new guidelines, it’s more important than ever for women to talk about this issue with their health care provider, and to make very informed decisions about their breast health. A women’s life depends on it!

Jeffrey Brown, MD

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Goal Numbers for Good Health

admin — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 22:57:03 +0000

Total Cholesterol	Less than 200
LDL (“Bad”) Cholesterol	Less than 160—for people who are low risk of heart disease Less than 130—for people who are medium risk for heart disease Less than 70-100— for people who are high risk for heart disease
HDL (“Good”) Cholesterol	50 or higher—in women 40 or higher—in men
Triglycerides	Less than 150
Blood Pressure	Less than 120/80—in people without diabetes Less than 130/80—in people with diabetes
Fasting Glucose (“sugar”)	Less than 100
Body Mass Index (BMI)	Less than 25
Waist Circumference	35 inches or less—for women 40 inches of less—for men
Exercise	Minimum of 30 minutes – most days of the week

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Can Snoring Kill You?

admin — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 12:50:35 +0000

Some people who snore may have a health condition call obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) or just sleep apnea for short. Often people take this condition for granted, but if you or a loved one has this condition that is not being treated it can cause very serious health problems.

Facts About Sleep Apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea is caused by a collapsing of the upper air passages during sleep, causing a blockage of air to the lungs.
The blockage of airflow to the lungs causes the oxygen in the blood to be too low and disrupted sleep.
The snoring in people with obstructive sleep apnea is caused by the air trying to squeeze through the narrowed or blocked airway.

Symptoms of Obstructive Sleep Apnea

The symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea are easy to recognize. The most common symptoms are listed here. A person who has obstructive sleep apnea often is not aware of the apnea episodes during the night. Often, family members witness the periods of apnea.

If you have a few of these symptoms, discuss obstructive sleep apnea with your doctor. This condition can be treated.

Loud, habitual snoring
Snoring interrupted by pauses (usually lasting for about 10 seconds or more), then gasps
Gasping for air during sleep
Awakening frequently
Morning headaches
Poor quality of sleep and not feeling refreshed upon awakening
Excessive daytime sleepiness
Irritability
Poor performance at work or school

Other problems that may occur with this condition:

Depression that becomes worse
Loss of sex drive
Hyperactive behavior, especially in children
Leg swelling (if severe)

Complications of untreated sleep apnea

Heart arrhythmias
Heart failure
High blood pressure
Stroke

Because of daytime sleepiness, people with sleep apnea have an increased risk of:

Motor vehicle accidents from driving while sleepy
Industrial accidents from falling asleep on the job

Testing and treatment
Obstructive sleep apnea is easily diagnosed by undergoing a painless test called a polysomnography or simply a sleep study. This test is performed at night in a qualified sleep lab by a trained technician. The results of the sleep study are read by a doctor who specializes in sleep disorders.

The treatment goal in sleep apnea is to keep the airway open so that breathing does not stop during sleep. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is the most likely first treatment for obstructive sleep apnea in most people. CPAP is delivered by a machine while wearing a tight-fitting face mask.

Lifestyle changes that may relieve symptoms of sleep apnea in some people (in mild cases of sleep apnea):

Avoiding alcohol or sedatives at bedtime, which can make symptoms worse
Avoiding sleeping on the back may help with mild sleep apnea (some people have sewed a tennis ball in the back of a t-shirt to keep themselves off their back while sleeping)
Losing weight may decrease the number of apnea spells during the night

Again, if you or a loved one has a few of these symptoms, talk to your health provider about having this serious and debilitating condition diagnosed and treated. For more helpful information on obstructive sleep apnea, visit the National Sleep Foundation Web site at www.sleepfoundation.org.

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How to Quit Smoking

admin — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 22:49:15 +0000

Cigarette smoking causes many health problems. I don’t believe that thereis a single person in America who does not know that smoking is bad for theirhealth. Simply put, I think there are very few people who are smoking because they truly want to smoke. For most people, I think that there are complexphysical and psychological reasons for them to continue to smoke despite theoverwhelming evidence of its dangers.We will now explore some deeper reasons why people continue to smokein spite of convincing evidence of health dangers and available methods of quitting.

The Hard Facts About Smoking

If you smoke, you have a good reason to worry about its effects on your health, the health of your loved ones, and the health of others. Cigarette smoking tops the list of major risk factors for heart disease, stroke, and lung cancer. In fact, almost one-fifth of deaths from heart disease are caused by smoking. Unfortunately, by smoking you could become one of more than 438,000 annual smoking-related deaths in the U.S. Smoking also harms thousands of nonsmokers exposed to cigarette smoke, including infants and children.

The need to smoke may be deeper than you think. Many studies have shown a strong relationship between smoking and depression. These studies suggest that people may smoke cigarettes to self-treat the blue feelings of depression. The nicotine found in cigarettes works in the brain in a similar way as some antidepressant medications do. In some people, the successful treatment of depression needs to happen at the same time they quit smoking, or even before they do. If you think depression may play a role in your smoking habits, I recommend that you speak to your health care provider about being evaluated for depression and treatment options.

Motivation and Help for Quitting

The fact is, it is never too late to quit. When you quit, you reduce your health risk tremendously. Here’s the great news:

No matter how much or how long you’ve smoked,
when you quit smoking, your risk of heart disease and stroke starts to drop.
Believe it or not, in time your risk will be about the same as if you’d never smoked!

There are many products that can help you quit. Several nicotine replacement systems are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to help you quit smoking. All of these medications will more or less double your chances of quitting and quitting for good:

Nicotine gum: available over-the-counter
Nicotine skin patch: available over-the-counter and by prescription
Nicotine inhaler: prescription only
Nicotine nasal spray: prescription only
Chantix (pill): prescription only
Nicotine adjunctive therapy: an anti-depressant medication given together with a nicotine replacement system. The medicine most commonly used in this way is bupropion (Wellbutrin, Zyban). Note this combination is usually the most successful treatment system of them all.

Certain people should avoid these medications and find other ways to quit. If you fit any of the following descriptions, talk to your healthcare provider before taking a nicotine-replacement medication:

You are pregnant or trying to become pregnant
You are a nursing mother
You are under age eighteen
You have a medical condition

Crucial Questions before You Quit*

Although the reasons to quit smoking are compelling, the decision to quit is not an easy one. Here are a few questions to think through before you try to stop smoking.

1. Why do you want to quit?
2. When you tried to quit in the past, what 2. helped and what didn’t?
3. What will be the most difficult situations for you after you quit? How do you plan to handle them?
4. Who can help you? Your family? Friends? Health care providers?
5. What pleasures do you get from smoking? What ways can you still get pleasure if you quit?

I also recommend that you ask your healthcare provider some questions before you quit.

What medication do you think would be best for me and how should I take it?
What should I do if I need more help?
How does smoking withdrawal feel?
Add your own questions to ask your health care provider here:

Five-Step Plan for Quitting

Step 1: Get Ready by Setting a Quit Date

Perhaps your quit date can be on your birthday or anniversary. Mark it on your calendar.
Give yourself at least a month to prepare.
Pick a week to quit when your stress level is likely to be low.
For a few days before quitting, each time you smoke, || write down the time of day, how you feel, and how important that cigarette is to you on a scale of one to five. This will give you an idea of when you smoke the most and how you feel during these times.
Expect challenges and plan for them.
Review your past attempts to quit. Think about what worked and what did not.

Step 2: Get Rid of Temptations and Reminders of Smoking

By your quit date, get rid of all cigarettes and ashtrays in your home, car, and place of work.
Throw away all matches and lighters.
Change your routine. Use a different route to work. Drink tea instead of coffee. Eat breakfast in a different place.
Ask others not to smoke in your home.
Once you quit, don’t smoke—NOT EVEN A PUFF!

Step 3: Get Medicine to Help You Quit

Ask your health care provider about the medicines discussed in this chapter.

Step 4: Get Help Because Quitting Is Hard

Tell your family, friends, and people you work with that you are going to quit and ask for their support. Support means cheering you on and not lecturing you to stop.
Get together with other people who are trying to quit. You can get online or call a hotline (1-800-227-2345 for the American Cancer Society) to be in touch with other people. In many states, counseling is offered by telephone help-lines. Ask your health care provider for this information.

Step 5: Prepare for a Relapse or Difficult Situations

Most relapses occur within the first three months after quitting. If you make it past three months, you’re virtually there.
Try to distract yourself from urges to smoke. Talk to someone, go for a walk, or get busy with a task.
Don’t give up if you give in to temptation and || smoke. Simply set a new date to get back on track.
Minimize drinking alcohol and avoid being around smokers.
Keep a positive attitude.
Many smokers will gain weight when they quit, usually less than 10 pounds. Combat this by eating healthy and staying active.
Remember, most people try several times before they quit for good.
Usually people make two to three tries or more before finally being able to quit. DON’T STOP TRYING.

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Am I Having a Heart Attack?

admin — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 01:42:14 +0000

Symptoms of a Heart Attack:

Chest Discomfort – Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the chest. It may last more than a few minutes or the discomfort can feel like one or more of the following:

Pressure
Squeezing
Fullness
Pain

Upper Body Discomfort – Symptoms of a heart attack can include pain or discomfort in one or more areas:

One or both arms – typically the left arm but not always
The back – chest pain radiating to the back
Stomach
Neck or jaw

Shortness of breath. May occur with or without chest discomfort. In particular, women may have no chest pain but have shortness of breath as their only symptom.
Other Symptoms:

Breaking out in a cold sweat
Nausea
Lightheadedness

All of the Above Symptoms May Come and Go!

What to Do if You Have Symptoms of a Heart Attack?

Call 9-1-1 immediately – within 5 minutes!!! Treatment options that can save your life and minimize the damage to your heart work best if given within 1 hour of the start of warning signs.
Take one regular strength Aspirin (325mg) or four baby Aspirin (81 mg) – unless your doctor has informed that you shouldn’t take aspirin. Only do this AFTER you’ve call 911!
Remember, if you are having a heart attack, every minute you wait heart muscle is dying.

How can you take action NOW to lower your risk of having a heart attack?

Stop smoking — A smokers’ risk of developing coronary artery disease is 2–4 times that of nonsmokers. People who smoke cigars or pipes seem to have a higher risk of death from coronary artery disease (and possibly stroke) but their risk isn’t as great as cigarette smokers’. Exposure to other people’s smoke increases the risk of heart disease even for nonsmokers.
Lower your high blood cholesterol – Do this through diet and exercise and take medicine if you need to.
Address your high blood pressure — High blood pressure increases the heart’s workload, causing the heart to thicken and become stiffer.
Get more physical activity — An inactive lifestyle is a risk factor for coronary artery disease. Regular, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity helps prevent heart disease. The more vigorous the activity, the greater your benefits. However, even moderate-intensity activities help if done regularly and long term.
Control you weight — People who have excess body fat — especially if a lot of it is at the waist — are more likely to develop heart disease and stroke even if they have no other risk factors. Excess weight increases the heart’s work. By losing even as few as 10 pounds, you can lower your heart disease risk.
Control your diabetes — Diabetes seriously increases your risk of developing coronary artery disease. Even when blood sugar (glucose) levels are under control, diabetes increases the risk of heart disease and stroke, but the risks are even greater if blood sugar is not well controlled. About three-quarters of people with diabetes die of some form of blood vessel or heart disease.
Reduce your stress levels – The best way to reduce stress is to do something that you love, because while you’re doing it you wont be stress out about anything else. You must find a way.
Don’t drink too much alcohol — Alcohol can raise blood pressure, cause heart failure and lead to stroke. The risk of heart disease in people who drink moderate amounts of alcohol (an average of one drink for women or two drinks for men per day) is lower than in nondrinkers. It’s not recommended that nondrinkers start using alcohol or that drinkers increase the amount they drink.

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10 Money-Saving Tips for Prescription Medication

admin — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 19:36:59 +0000

Consider these additional tips to save money on your prescriptions. Most of these helpful suggestions will work for anyone—in other words, no need to qualify to make most of these tips work for you.

Talk to Your Doctor. Tell your doctor if paying for prescription medication is a problem. He or she may have free samples or can tell you about other resources available.

Stop Taking Redundant Medication. Talk to your doctor to see if you still need to take all of the medications you are taking. Stopping a medication that is no longer useful is better for your health. It also saves you money.

Buy Generic. The generic version of a medication is usually a lot cheaper. In 2004, the National Association of Chain Drug Stores reported that the average price of a generic prescription drug was $28.74, while the average price of a brand-name prescription drug was $96.01—that’s three times more expensive! Be sure to discuss this with your doctor to find out if a generic version of your medication is right for you.

State-Sponsored Drug Assistance Programs. Check to see whether you are eligible for drug assistance programs in your state. Go to NeedyMeds.com to see what programs your state has at http://www.needymeds.com/ state_programs.taf

Senior Citizen Discounts. If you are a senior, be sure to ask your pharmacy for any senior discounts available.

Organizational Discounts. If you belong to an organization (like AARP), be sure to ask your pharmacy for any discounts available.

Split Your Pills (if possible). Most medications cost the same per pill, no matter its strength. Your 20mg pill may cost the same as a 40mg. If you feel comfortable in your abilities to take the right amount after splitting a pill, ask your doctor to prescribe the highest dose and split the pill to what you need. Not all pills can be split because they may have a special coating, work on a time-release, or be in capsule form, so ask your doctor or pharmacist. If this is done properly, you can save up to 50 percent on the costs of some drugs! But if you don’t think that you will remember to give the proper dosage, then don’t take the risk of splitting your pills.

Buy in Bulk. Ask your pharmacist if your particular medication has a long shelf life. If it does, and you need to take this medication for a while, talk to the pharmacist about how to buy the medicine at a discounted bulk rate. This will usually involve purchasing your medication through a mail order prescription drug program.

Shop Around. Compare drug prices as you shop around your neighborhood pharmacies and legitimate online pharmacies for the best prices on prescription drugs. Use the FDA resource for buying drugs online at www.fda.gov/buyonline. Also compare prescription drug prices for more than a thousand medications at www.PharmacyChecker.com.

The Walmart Option. Walmart’s Prescription Program includes up to a 30-day supply for $4 and 90-day supply for $10 of some covered generic drugs. You can get a list of drugs available through this program at Walmart.com or at any Walmart Pharmacy.

Additional Resources for Saving Money
The Web sites listed here all offer valuable information to help you find ways to save money on your prescription medications.

www.crbestbuydrugs.org/ This site contains important information from Consumer Reports about saving money on prescription drugs.

www.needymeds.com This site lists information about state programs, discount drug cards, federal poverty guidelines, and patient assistance programs and also includes copies of the forms.

www.helpingpatients.org This site has resources for patient assistance programs run by the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America.

Written by: Jeffrey B Brown, MD. FACP

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A List of Free Health Care Resources

admin — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 01:03:03 +0000

Click on this link to go to page of free health care resources list: http://www.jeffreybrownmd.com/free-health-care-resources

Most of the health resources provide free health-related information, education, and support. The majority of the contacts have toll-free numbers and click-able Web addresses.

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Can You Get Cancer from Drinking Soft Drinks?

admin — Sat, 13 Aug 2011 18:48:22 +0000

A study conducted by scientists at UCLA found that pancreatic cancer cells grew faster when “fed” with fructose (a type of sugar) as compared to other forms of sugar. Fructose is a simple sugar found in vegetables and fruit. Most soft drinks are sweetened with this type of sugar which comes in the form of high-fructose corn syrup. Between 1970 and 1990 consumption of high-fructose corn syrup in the U.S. rose 1,000 percent!

The researchers of this study also concluded that fructose would likely speed the growth of other types of cancers in the body as well. The bottom line is all forms of refined sugar (fructose, sucrose, and glucose) have very few health benefits and all if consumed in excess lead to a variety of health problems such as obesity, diabetes, fatty liver disease and etc.

I know controlling your ‘sweet tooth’ is hard, but battling with some disease or even cancer as a result is much harder. So start today to begin to limit and ultimately eliminate refined sugars from your diet. But be sure to give yourself time – you didn’t developed your desire for sweets overnight nor should you expect it to go away overnight. A great place to start is to begin seriously cutting back on the number of soft drinks you drink a week, and if you can, eliminate all soft drinks from your diet which contain high-fructose corn syrup.

More food for thought: When the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey measured where most of our calories come from, they found that the category making up the largest percentage of our calorie intake (7.1 percent) was not a food at all; it was soda. Yes, not vegetables, nor chicken, nor fish, but soft drinks make up our largest food category!

So what does this mean? This means that if you’re a typical American consuming the typical amount of soft drinks per week, 7% of the calories you consume each day comes from drinking soda, and if you consume on average 2500 calories a day, 175 of those calories come from drinking soft drinks.

Now, here is where it gets interesting; if you were to cut soft drinks from your diet, the number of calories you consume each day would drop from 2,500 to 2,325. This seemingly small difference would equal a weight loss of 1.5 pounds per month or 9 pounds in 6 months!

Written by Jeffrey B. Brown, MD, FACP

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Sample Letter Requesting Medical Records

admin — Sun, 07 Aug 2011 01:45:06 +0000

People often find the thought of requesting medical records somewhat intimidating. If you do, try to remember that it’s your right to request and receive your own medical information. All you have to do is ask for it, and I’ve provided a sample letter for you to copy to make the request even easier (see download link below).

Be sure to request health information from your primary care doctor and the specialists that you see the most, first. Remember, you are truly entitled to request your medical information. It’s your legal right.

Download Free Letter to request your medical records

Written by Jeffrey B. Brown, MD, FACP

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Is Redundant Medication Costing You Money?

admin — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 00:11:43 +0000

Redundant Medication

A very common problem in health care today is over-medication, or even redundant medication. Redundant medication means that a person is taking two or more drugs that have the same or similar effects. This situation is most commonly due to poor communication between the person’s multiple health care providers.

It is not your job to decide what medications you need or don’t need. But it is critical that you keep an updated list of all your medications and other things you may take (e.g., over-the-counter medications, diet pills, vitamins, and/or herbs). Maintaining an accurate list of all your medications and showing it to all your health care providers makes it easier for them to decide what you need to take. This list will help your doctor protect you from medication mix-ups. If you’re taking unnecessary medications, your doctor will be able to find them on your list. If he or she stops an unnecessary medication, it can reduce your risk of health problems. It can also save you hundreds or thousands of dollars each year.

The solution to the problem of redundant medications is simple. And it only requires you to keep an updated list of all your medications in one location.

Written by Jeffrey B. Brown, MD, FACP

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Drug Allergy Versus Drug Intolerance: Why You Should Know the Difference

admin — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 00:07:32 +0000

Drug Allergy Versus Drug Intolerance: Know the Difference

We all need to know the difference between a true drug allergy and drug intolerance. Being aware of the difference could save your life.

Drug intolerance means that your body reacts in a mild to moderate way to a medication. It is usually one of the side effects of the medication. For example, if you get a little nauseated after taking an antibiotic, it is likely due to a drug intolerance.
Drug allergy means that your body reacts severely to a medication. For example, if you developed a rash, shortness of breath, or tongue swelling after taking a medication, it was very likely due to a true drug allergy.

Ask your health care provider to help you figure out whether you have a true drug allergy to certain medications, or simply a drug intolerance. Be sure to do this. A life-saving medication may not be given to you because what is merely a drug intolerance has been recorded in your medical history as a true drug allergy.

Written by Jeffrey B. Brown, MD, FACP

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Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) Orders?

admin — Sat, 25 Jun 2011 21:09:51 +0000

Anytime you are in a hospital, nursing home, or other health care facility you can request a do-not-resuscitate (DNR) order from your doctor. You can do this even if you have not completed a living will or a durable power of attorney for health care. Let’s examine a few facts about choosing DNR.

What It Means
Do not resuscitate means that if your heart stops or you stop breathing on your own the medical staff will not attempt to revive you with cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), artificial breathing, chest compressions, or electrical heart shocks.

How to Arrange It
You have to request a DNR and your doctor must put it in writing. Most doctors will ask you about this when entering the hospital or health care facility.

What to Expect
Even if you refuse life-prolonging measures (do not resuscitate), the health care staff will do everything they can to get you well, except resorting to measures that prolong life.

Changing Your Mind
As long as you are mentally stable, you can change your request for DNR to do-everything-to-save-me by asking your doctor to remove the DNR order.

Written by Jeffrey B. Brown, MD, FACP

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How to Find the Best Doctor for You

admin — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 21:02:50 +0000

Taking care of your health is a life-long job. It is a job that is 100 percent your responsibility. But you must not overlook the importance of picking a smart, reliable, and caring health care team to give you guidance, insight, and support in meeting your health care needs. Your health care team will include a primary care doctor or nurse practitioner, specialists, pharmacists, and other health practitioners.

This article was written to give tips, strategies, and evaluation tools to help you build an all-star health care team.

Picking the Best Team Captain

Every great team needs a great leader. Your health care team captain will be your primary care doctor or nurse practitioner. She will be the person you go to see first when health problems arise. She will act as a wise dispatcher sending you to see the appropriate specialists if your health condition requires it. If you already have a primary care doctor or nurse practitioner that you are happy with, that’s great! If not, here are some suggestions for how to find one.

Where to Look
The “best” team captain for you may not be that Harvard or Johns Hopkins trained doctor in the community, especially if this person is too busy or unable to relate to you. The first step to take in your search for Dr. “Right” is to ask around. Ask friends, family members, co-workers, or anyone else for good referrals. Certainly if you know someone in the health care field, go after them first for referrals. Also consider using the Internet in your search. Try going to www.blackdoctor.org, www.familydoctor.org, www.healthfinder.gov, and a host of other Web sites on the Internet to help you find a potential doctor.

What to Find Out
Do some research on your own. Then, schedule a chat with your potential new primary care doctor. Look for answers to the following questions to convince yourself that he or she is the right health care provider and team captain for you.

Is she board-certified and licensed in my state? This is a simple question to ask the doctor directly or office manager. A board-certified doctor is a doctor who has passed exams in a certain medical specialty. If you have access to the Internet, go to the American Board of Medical Specialties at www.abms.org or call at 1-866-275-2267 to check for yourself if the doctor is board certified. To find out if your doctor is licensed to practice medicine in your state go www.docboard.org and click on your state medical licensing board.
Is this doctor accepting new patients? The best doctor in the world won’t do you any good if you have a medical need, but you can’t see the doctor for six months to a year. But if you have time to wait for that special doctor who comes highly recommended, be persistent. Call his or her office periodically to find out if the doctor can accept you as a patient. Persistence usually pays off!
How many days of the week does the doctor see patients? You want a doctor who at least sees patients three days a week. There are some great doctors who are very involved in important clinical research, management, and other professional activities. These non-patient-care responsibilities can unfortunately get in the way of you having access to them when you need to.
Where did the doctor go to medical school and residency? You want to find a doctor who went to an accredited medical school and residency program. Medical schools and residency programs have to meet certain academic standards to be an accredited program.
Is this doctor considering retirement or relocation soon? Ideally you want to find a doctor who’s going to be practicing in your area for a while so a long-term relationship can be established. Going through the trouble of finding a great doctor then having to go somewhere else in a few years can be very painful and unhealthy.
Does the doctor accept my health insurance? This is a simple and obvious question to ask. Clearly, you do not want to be stuck with a large bill just because someone at the front desk forgot to tell you that they do not accept your type of health insurance.
Is this doctor known for spending quality time to ensure that the patient understands his or her health problems? This question is so important. If your health care provider does not take the time to explain, in simple terms, your health problems to you, how can you help manage them? Remember the day-to-day care of most health problems is mostly the patient’s responsibility. So, you really need to get an understanding of what’s going on from your doctor.
Is this doctor able to relate to a person of my ethnic background? We all do not come from the same cultural background, share the same struggles, or interpret the world in the same way. Because of these differences, many misunderstandings can occur between two people who see and deal with the world differently. It is important to find a health care provider who understands who you are, where you are coming from, and how you express yourself.
Does this doctor speak my natural language? The importance of your health care provider being able to speak your primary language needs no explanation. Two people trying to work together on the same problem with a language barrier between them is usually non-productive.
Does this doctor see patients at my preferred hospital? Ask your doctor directly—or ask the office manager—at what hospitals does he or she have privileges to treat patients. After living in any city long enough, you will learn what hospitals you prefer, and what hospitals to avoid at all costs. Most doctors only see patients at certain hospitals, and if you end up in a hospital where your doctor does not have privileges to see patients, you will be on your own with a brand new doctor at your sickest moment.

Also, find out from your primary care doctor, in advance, who will be following you if you need to be in the hospital. A relatively new trend in health care is for some primary care doctors to not follow their patients when they need to be hospitalized. Instead, a hospitalist treats the patient and communicates with the patient’s primary care doctor during the hospital stay. A hospitalist is a physician who practices in the hospital and usually does not have a private practice. The care that hospitalists provide in the hospital can be good because they are very experienced in treating acute illness. But of course, he or she will likely be a doctor that you have never met before.

Tools for Choosing a Physician
Sometimes, just knowing how to do something or knowing the right questions to ask is not enough. We often need tools to go along with our know-how. Download the tools below (Q&A List: Choosing a Health Care Provider, Post New Doctor Visit Quiz, Doctor’s Visit Worksheet) to help sort out all the details that you’ll gather on your search for the best doctor.

Download Free Doctor Search Tools

Written by Jeffrey B. Brown, MD, FACP

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Protect Your Rights as a Patient with Advance Directives

admin — Sat, 11 Jun 2011 16:39:54 +0000

You have the right to choose what kind of health care you want—to determine what happens to you if you’re sick and unable to communicate. In addition, you have the right to determine what should happen to your body parts after you leave this world. These decisions can be made by completing something called advance medical directives.

In short, advance medical directives tell your loved ones what to do. They’re legal documents that allow you to give directions for your future medical care. There are two general types of advance directives: a living will and a durable power of attorney. It is important to know that these advance directives apply only to your medical care. They do not apply to your financial affairs. Please note that the information here is general. Because laws and regulations vary from state to state and are subject to change, the information in this chapter cannot take the place of legal counsel.

Living Will
A living will explains your wishes. This document is a set of written instructions that explain your wishes for the medical treatments you do want and don’t want if you become unable to speak for yourself. It’s important to understand that a living will is limited. It only becomes effective if you are terminally ill or in an irreversible coma and are unable to communicate. A living will specifically outlines your wishes if you find yourself in this type of condition.

Durable Power of Attorney
A durable power of attorney for health care puts someone else in charge. This document lets you name a person (an “agent” or “proxy”) to make your medical decisions if you’re unable to do so. This document may also be called a “health care proxy.” A durable power of attorney as opposed to a living will can apply whenever you are unable to communicate your own medical decisions, due to any illness or injury. In addition, your agent or proxy who knows your concerns can respond to situations that a document cannot address.

You Need Both
Every adult should prepare advance directives—both a living will and a durable power of attorney for health care. Basically, advance directives help protect your rights in the event that you’re unable to state your wishes. They give specific directions for your medical care by letting the medical staff know what medical procedures you would or would not want.

Tragically, an accident or illness can take away a person’s ability to make health care decisions. The trouble is that decisions still have to be made. If you cannot make those decisions, someone else will. As unfortunate as the Terri Schiavo case was, it taught us all a valuable lesson. In this case, the federal government intervened in a private medical matter because there were no clear directives. What became clear was the necessity of completing advanced directives—even if you are young.

Please consider taking steps to control these decisions now, so that they will reflect your own wishes in the future. Do so by preparing both a living will and a durable power of attorney for health care.It is important to note that you will still receive high quality care, even if you refuse life-prolonging measures within your advance directives. Even if you decide to refuse measures that will prolong your life (contained in ado not resuscitate order), the healthcare staff will do everything they canto get you well, except resorting to measures that prolong life, such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), respirators, feeding tubes, and dialysis.

You can print out, for free, advance directives specific to your state at www.caringinfo.org or call at 1-800-658-8898.

Advance Medical Directives Tips
Here are some brief, easy-to-reference tips for advance medical directives.

Plan to review your directives if moving to a new state.
Sort out your feelings and beliefs. Make sure your advance directives reflect the values you live by (what’s most important to you)—for example, the way you feel about death, dying, pain, and suffering, as well as your moral and religious beliefs.
Talk about these issues with people who matter to you the most: your spouse or partner, family members, friends, clergy, and heath care provider(s).
Choose your proxy (agent) carefully. Be sure that he or she is totally committed to carrying out your wishes. Also consider naming a backup proxy in case your first pick is unable or unwilling to carry out your
wishes.
Change your proxy (agent) if you need to. Consider naming an alternative proxy in case your proxy moves, becomes ill, or dies.
Get your directives reviewed before signing. Before you sign your advance directives, ask your proxy and health care provider to review your documents with you.
Be sure to have your forms witnessed or notarized if required by your state.
Keep the original forms in a safe, easy-to-reach place (such as your Health Power 101 Organizer). Give copies to your proxy, health care provider, hospital, nursing home, or anyone else who might be called in an emergency.
Plan for an emergency. Keep a card in your wallet stating that you have advance directives and where they are located. (Your advance directives are included on your Wallet Health ID Card™.)
Change your directives, if you need to. Be aware that you have the right to change your advance directives at any time, even if you’re in the hospital, as long as you have the capacity to understand your health condition and the consequences of your choices and able to express your wishes. If you do change them or revoke them, be sure to destroy the old copies and tell your doctor and anyone else who has a copy of your advance directives.
Review your directives every five years so that they always reflect what you want.
Always travel with your directives. Your advance directives will likely be valid in other state.

Common Terms Used in Advance Directives
As you consider preparing an advance directive or as you try to work with your loved one, it’s helpful to have an understanding of the terms frequently used in these documents.

Here they are:

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Procedures to restore stopped breathing and heartbeat: artificial breathing, chest compressions, and electrical heart shocks.
Coma. A sleep-like state from which a person cannot be awakened.
Do not resuscitate (DNR) order. An order signed by a physician to prevent CPR from being performed.
Irreversible brain damage or disease. Permanent changes that affect a person’s ability to think and communicate.
Life-prolonging measures. Any treatment or procedure to extend life, including artificial nutrition/hydration, respirators/ventilators (machines to keep patients breathing) and dialysis (a special procedure that uses a machine to clean the blood when the kidneys are not working properly).
Palliative care. Measures to relieve pain and suffering, but not to cure.
Persistent vegetative state. A permanent coma.
Terminal illness/terminal condition. A condition in which the patient is expected to die within six to twelve months.

Written by Jeffrey B. Brown, MD, FACP

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Questions to Ask Your Doctor Before Starting a New Medication

admin — Mon, 30 May 2011 16:06:11 +0000

Let’s review a set of questions that you should ask before taking a new medicine. Don’t forget to ask these questions about the medications you currently take as well.

Critical Questions for Your Health Care Provider

Ask these questions of your health care provider before taking a new
medicine:

What is the name of this medication—both brand and generic names?
Is a generic (low cost) version of this medication available? (A generic version of a brand-name drug is not always available or recommended for everyone. Discuss if a generic drug is right for you with your health care provider or pharmacist.)
When should I expect the medication to begin to work? How will I know if it is working?
What are the possible side effects?
Is this medication safe with reduced kidney or liver function? (Ask this question if you have one of these conditions.)
Can the medication interfere with other medication I’m taking?
Which foods or drinks should I avoid? (including alcohol or caffeine)
Which activities should I avoid (driving, operating machinery, etc.)?
What should I do if I miss a dose?
How much water is needed when the instructions say “take with water”?
Can I crush a tablet or capsule into my food?
Can I split the pill into smaller doses?
Can I get a refill? If so, when? (Make sure that you have enough medicine to last until the next visit.)

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Do Cell Phones Cause Brain Cancer?

admin — Sat, 21 May 2011 05:44:25 +0000

Can long-term cell phone use cause adverse health effects and even brain cancer?

The research is split if long-term cell phone use causes adverse health effects or not. Some studies done found no correlation between cell phone use and brain tumors, but yet others have suggested that people who use a cell phone for at least an hour each day over a 10 year period are at an increased risk of developing brain tumors on the side of head used to talk on the phone.

The central issue of concern about long-term cell phone use is the form of radiation that’s produced when a cell phone communicates with its base station. Cell phones work via emitting a radio frequency (RF) – which is a low-frequency form of radiation. This same type of radiation is used in microwave ovens and AM/FM radios. Most of the cell phone’s radio frequency is emitted from the cell phone’s antenna as it transmits back to its base station.

“There is cause for concern,” said Dr. Henry Lai, a professor of bioengineering at the ..University.. of ..Washington.. in ….Seattle…., who has been studying the effects of cell phone radiation on humans since 1980. “But to prove that cell phones cause cancer or other health problems will take more work. At this point the biological research suggests that long term use can have some adverse health effects, with brain cancer being one of those effects.”

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not yet issued a warning against using cell phones long-term, but the agency recommends “minimizing any potential risk by using hands-free devices and keeping cell phone talk to minimum.”

The Federal Communications Commission requires cell phone manufacturers to report the relative amount of RF absorbed into the head by any given cell phone. This number is also called the specific absorption rate (SAR). You can find out how to check your phone’s SAR by clicking here.

I’m certainly not advocating trashing your cell phones because they are amazingly useful devices. But I am saying you should get educated about their potential to harm. Also consider severely limiting the use of cell phones in children as their skulls are thinner than adults and their brains are still developing. Point of fact, the Finnish Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (STUK), a governmental body in the home of the largest cell phone maker in the world (Nokia), is urging parents to restrict cell phone use for children and suggesting that parents encourage kids to text rather than talk.

The bottom line is that more studies need to be performed to confirm or deny that long-term cell phone use can cause health problems such as brain cancer. The take-home message for the average person is that we don’t know yet and since we don’t have all the answers yet, don’t take the risk. Limit use of cell phones as much as possible, and always try to use hands-free device like a BlueTooth.

By Dr. Jeffrey Brown

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