BBRAeNEWS No.424 - MEASLES OUTBREAK ALERT.

MEASLES OUTBREAKS ALERT

in Bandar Botanic

Free Screening & Immunization

for Residents of Bandar Botanic
(specially for children age 1-7 yrs old)

Date: Sunday, 9th Sept, 2012

Time: 8.00 - 11.00am

Venue: Badminton Hall, Bandar Botanic

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For more information call

012-2020369

Organized by:

Klinik Kesihatan Bandar Botanic and

Bandar Botanic Residents Associations (BBRA)

BBRAeNEWS No.420 - Vista Free Consultations

Venue : VISTA Eye Specialist Klang

Date : 10 Feb to 12 Feb 2012

Time : 9am - 5pm

Activities : Free Eye Screening with Dr, Hearing Screening, Cholesterol check etc.

Feel free to call me if you need further clarifications.

Sincerely,

Rafidah Asmuni, Marketing

+6 03 7711 3820 / 6012 6648542

VISTA EYE SPECIALIST

1 800 88 3937 | vista.my

BBRAeNEWS No.408 - Gotong Royong at Bidara & Bungor.

The Gotong Royong held at Bungor & Bidara on Oct,2 2011 was organized by BBRA and assisted by residents who were keen and interested in seeing a clean environment.

For more pictures, kindly visit

www.facebook.com/bbra klang.

BBRAeNEWS No.407 - Beware of Dengue.

Danger from Dengue.

Recently a resident in Jalan Jenaris 6 was admitted to the Hospital due to dengue fever and as a result the Hospital Kementerian came to fog the area of 200m around the house.

Residents should be aware of the danger and to make sure the surrounding areas are cleared of stagnant waters.

More important, the Township must work as fast as possible to start getting the waters moving around the Lake near end of Phase 8. The illegal fishing there is also a cause of dengue because once the fishes are gone, mosquitoes breeds easily.

BBRAeNEWS No.406 - Gotong Royong in Bungor and Bidara.

Upcoming Gotong Royong in Bungor and Bidara on October 2, Sunday morning.

BBRA have confirmed the Gotong Royong for both Bidara and Bungor on October 2, Sunday morning at 7 am. Residents are welcome to come out and give their support as much as they can, in keeping the environment clean and beautiful.

BBRAeNEWS No.402 - BBRA Gotong Royong Big Bins.

Dear all,


BBRA Gotong Royong Big Rubbish Bins

Please note that BBRA have arranged with MPK to place big bin in 3 locations covering Kiara, Jenaris and Angsana between September 16 – 18 as part of BBRA Gotong Royong Campaign.Residents can dispose the garden and other waste around except construction waste or debris.

We will let you know the exact location of the Bins in due course. We will also have 3 banners within the next 2-3 days to indicate the whereabout for this purpose.

The Collection Bin Locations are as follow:

Kiara

Left hand side after Jalan Kiara 11

Angsana

Junction at Jalan Angsana 6

Jenaris

Junction between Jalan Jenaris 9 & 10

BBRAeNEWS No.399 - Dengue Alert.

Dear all,

DENGUE ALERT

Please be aware and alert for DENGGI. There were 4 cases reported in August, 2011 .

1. Jalan Camara 8

2. Jalan Bungor 2

3. Jalan Cassia 5

4. Jalan Bungor 6

We would appreciate each one of your help in spreading this news for prevention. MPK health dept is going to have inspections around and be prepared to avoid any site of mosquitoes around our houses. We also need to check any empty land around our houses.

BBRAeNEWS No.362 - VISTA Merdeka Carnival @ Klang

Dear Residents,

In conjunction with the Merdeka month of August, VISTA - vision specialist will be organising a Merdeka Carnival from the 20th to 22th August 2010 (Friday to Sunday) with a complimentary Doctor's General Eye Check to the public at its Klang centre. 

There will also be other exciting events, free goodies as well as Merdeka packages. For more information on the carnival and location details, please refer to the following VISTA announcement. 

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Let’s celebrate MERDEKA with the assurance of good eye health!

Never take your clear vision for granted! Grab this opportunity to safeguard your vision! Appointments are limited, call us today!

Catch our Daily Events
• Cataract Screening
• Glaucoma Screening
• AMD Screening
• General Eye Checks
• Personal consultation with our Doctor
• Fun Activities & Games for Kids
• Educational Booths
• Refreshments
• FREE Goodies

We will also be offering Merdeka packages:
No-Blade IntraLASIK :From RM92 a month
(36 months EzyPay)

Correction of Reading Vision: From RM292 a month
(24 months EzyPay)

Cataract : From RM95 a month
(36 months EzyPay)

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Date: 20 - 22 August 2010
(Friday - Sunday)

TIME: 10am - 6pm

Venue:
15, Jalan Mahogani 5/KS 7
Bandar Botanic
41200 Klang
Selangor, Malaysia
t +603 3325 8937

Carnival is also available @ VISTA Bangsar & Curve,PJ.

VISTA Facebook : http://www.facebook.com/vista.eyes

Business hours:  Tue-Sat 9am-6pm, Sun 10am-5pm, Close every Monday

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Curve, Petaling Jaya       : +603 7711 3937
Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur : +603 2092 3937
Klang, Selangor                : +603 3325 8937
City Plaza, Johor Bharu   :  +607 332 3937
Bukit Mertajam,P.Pinang : +604 539 3937

BBRAeNEWS No.328 - Miss Donna's Dengue Special Package.

Dear Residents,
A resident Miss Donna Wong is offering Special Accident Coverage Package Promoting her company's Aniversary PA, with special coverage on death due to dengue fever.
Promotions ends on 31st March 2010.
If interested, please contact her at donna_flip@yahoo.com

BBRAeNEWS No.268 - A Nutritionist's Corner - Misai Kuching.

BBRA - A Nutritionist's Corner - Misai Kuching.
We have right in our garden a very lovely looking whitish flower that looks like the whiskers of a cat. It is known as Misai Kuching (Orthosiphon species) or Remujung.
Misai Kuching is used for the treatment of a variety of ailments – gout, arthritis, rheumatism and similar inflammatory conditions.
It is also used as a remedy for kidney stones and can be useful as part of a detoxification programme as it would safely help escort acids out of joint.

It is :
A safe and effective mild herbal diuretic, it causes the body to throw out excess fluids.
It has a mild but sustained anti-inflammatory effect that could be used in arthritic conditions.
Misai Kuching basically flushes out the body acids that irritate and inflame joints. It also seems to gently flush out excess water from the joints.
It contains ample potassium to replace what is lost from the body in the diuretic process. It does not provoke or aggravate the kidneys like modern diuretic drugs do.
Clinical trials have confirmed the plant’s positive effect in the treatment of kidney stones (which are merely compacted acid salts).
It seems to remove uric acid and is commonly used as remedy for gout.

Uses
Misal Kuching leaves are slowly brewed in hot water, allowing the water-soluble active ingredients to enter into the solution.
The old housewife’s remedy is to boil a handful of fresh leaves.
Increasingly, the leaves are dried and a hot water infusion is made as and when needed.
Note:
Taking the Misai Kuching tea can cause you to urinate more often in response to the diuretic action. To avoid dehydration, just drink more water.

BBRAeNEWS No.238 - BBRA's A Doctor's Corner - Final Part 5.

Dear Residents,

This is the final part 5 of Heart Health.


Supplementing Your Heart Health: Omega-3, Plant Sterols, and More 5
If you have high cholesterol, or if you're at high risk for heart disease and heart attack, some supplements can help lower your cholesterol.
(continued)
Lifestyle Solutions for Healthy Hearts
Supplements are no panacea. If you use them, use them in connection with proven lifestyle habits that benefit the heart -- and with medications prescribed by your doctor.
After all, a bad diet and an inactive lifestyle are the biggest risk factors for heart disease. Making changes to improve your lifestyle can make a big difference.
Food is medicine: "Food comes first," says Guarneri. "There are reams of research showing that the Mediterranean diet -- high in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, olive oil, nuts, wine, and fatty fish -- help decrease blood pressure and stroke." It's possible to reduce heart-related events (like heart attack) by 50% to 60% by following this type of diet, she adds.
One long-term study of 15,700 adults found these four factors were the most important:
· Eating five fruits and vegetables daily
· Walking or getting other exercise for at least 2.5 hours weekly
· Keeping BMI (body mass index) out of the obese range
· Don't smoke
Salmon, mackerel, sardines, tuna, and other omega-3 fatty fish should be staples, she says.
Daily exercise is a must: The Clinical Council on Cardiology advises 40 minutes to one hour of aerobic activity every day and strength training three days a week.
A 2002 study showed that more intense exercise works better than moderate exercise in reducing cholesterol. The study involved sedentary, overweight men and women -- all with mild-to-moderately high cholesterol -- who did not change their diet. Researchers found that those who got moderate exercise (12 miles of walking or jogging a week) lowered their LDL levels, but those who did more vigorous exercise -- jogging 20 miles a week -- got even better LDL results.
Stress reduction is key: Stress increases cortisol (a hormone), which puts fat on the midline -- which increases heart risks. Stress also produces inflammation that leads to increased plaque in blood vessels, Guarneri explains. Two stress hormones -- adrenaline and norepinephrine -- raise cholesterol, blood pressure, and cause heart rhythm problems. They also constrict coronary arteries, cause blood pressure to go up. When we're under stress, our ability to fight infection is reduced.
"We have to factor in true mind-body-spirit approaches -- eating right, exercising, taking steps to reduce stress and anger," she says.
While any type of meditation is helpful, Guarneri advises using transcendental meditation. "It is well studied; there is a lot of research showing that it decreases blood pressure and improves insulin resistance. I also encourage people to look into computer programs that teach biofeedback -- helping people control their autonomic nervous system. Healing Rhythms and HeartMath are two biofeedback programs."
"It's all about lifestyle," she says. "It's not only what you eat, but who you're eating with. If you're in a bad relationship, you can eat all the Brussels sprouts in the world and it won't help your heart."

BBRAeNEWS No.234 - A Doctor's Corner - Part 4

Dear Residents,

BBRA's A Doctor's Corner.

Heart Health Part 4 of 5.


Supplementing Your Heart Health: Omega-3, Plant Sterols, and More 4
If you have high cholesterol, or if you're at high risk for heart disease and heart attack, some supplements can help lower your cholesterol.
(continued)
Green Tea Extract for Heart Health
Green tea extract is made from the dried leaves of Camellia sinensis, a perennial evergreen shrub. Green tea is a staple in Chinese traditional medicine.
This supplement is one of Guarneri's favorites and is shown to decrease LDL by 16%. She advises 375 milligrams of theaflavin-enriched green tea extract daily.
B Vitamins: B-6 (pyridoxine), B-12, and Folic Acid for Heart Health
B-complex vitamins help keep nerves and red blood cells healthy. They may also lower blood levels of homocysteine, an amino acid that’s possibly linked to heart disease, blood clots, heart attack, and strokes.
More studies are needed to fully understand the link between homocysteine and vitamin supplements, researchers say.
Coenzyme Q10 for Heart Health
Coenzyme Q10 is produced by the body and is necessary for basic cell functioning. Small studies have suggested that CoQ10 may reduce chest pain (angina). For people with clogged arteries, CoQ10 may make exercise easier.
Guarneri recommends CoQ10 supplements for patients taking statin drugs for high cholesterol. Some researchers believe that statins may block the natural formation of CoQ10 in muscle cells, which could contribute to heart muscle damage. The evidence, however, isn’t clear. A 2008 Canadian study showed that statins did not significantly reduce tissue concentrations of CoQ10.
Policosanol for Heart Health
Policosanol is a natural plant mixture used to lower cholesterol. Studies have shown policosanol helps reduce LDL cholesterol.
An analysis of 52 studies found that taking policosanol reduced LDL cholesterol by 24%; taking plant sterols reduced LDL by 10%. Policosanol also improved total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and triglyceride levels more favorably than plant sterols.
Guarneri, however, is not a big fan of policosanol. No large studies of policosanol have been conducted in the United States.
A cautionary note: Don't take policosanol if you're taking blood thinners or drugs that lower cholesterol. Talk to your doctor first.
Soy for Heart Health
Soy has been shown to decrease total and LDL cholesterol, with smaller benefits to triglycerides. However, soy supplements have not been proven to reduce long-term risk of heart attack or stroke.
Two big cautions: Women with hormone-sensitive cancers (breast, ovarian, uterine cancer) or endometriosis may be advised not to take soy. People taking blood-thinning drugs should also talk to their doctors before taking soy.
Other Herbs, Spices, Extracts
Artichoke leaf extract, yarrow, and holy basil may help lower cholesterol, according to early studies. These and other commonly used herbs and spices -- like ginger, turmeric, and rosemary -- are being studied for their potential in preventing heart disease.
Globe artichoke leaf has become increasingly available in the United States. Preliminary studies suggest that these extracts may reduce total cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
Multiple studies of garlic extract have reported small reductions in total and LDL cholesterol over short periods of time (4 to 12 weeks), but it's not clear whether this benefit is lasting or short-term. Also, effects on HDL are not clear.

BBRAeNEWS No.231 - A Doctor's Corner.

Dear Residents,

BBRA's A Doctor's Corner.

Part 3 of 5 parts.
Supplementing Your Heart Health: Omega-3, Plant Sterols, and More 3
If you have high cholesterol, or if you're at high risk for heart disease and heart attack, some supplements can help lower your cholesterol.
(continued)
Niacin for Heart Health
Also known as vitamin B-3 or nicotinic acid, niacin is a well-accepted treatment for high cholesterol. "Niacin is one of my favorites," Guarneri says. "It is tried and true in raising HDL and lowering triglycerides." She prescribes from 500 milligrams to 2 grams daily, depending on the patient's blood levels.
Numerous studies have shown that niacin can significantly improve HDL cholesterol with better results than with statin drugs. Niacin can also improve LDL levels, but less dramatically. "Niacin is one of the most powerful vitamins -- increasing HDL by 15% to 30%, reducing triglycerides by 20% to 50%," she says.
A very small percentage of patients who take niacin have heart rhythm problems. Some people do get hot flushes from niacin, so it's important to start with small doses and increase slowly, under a doctor's supervision.
Psyllium for Heart Health
Psyllium (ispaghula) comes from the husks of seeds from Plantago ovata. Psyllium, either through supplements or high-fiber foods, provides fiber that can reduce total and LDL cholesterol. Fiber’s effects on HDL “good” cholesterol are less clear, although some research suggests fiber may help increase HDL.
Guarneri likes fiber, including psyllium. Just 15 grams of psyllium reduces LDL by up to 9%, she reports. Psyllium also boosts the effects of statin drugs. In an eight-week study, one group of patients took 10 milligrams of psyllium plus 10 milligrams of Zocor, a statin drug. They were compared to patients taking 20 milligrams of Zocor plus a placebo. In the psyllium group, LDL fell by 63, compared with 55 in the statin-only group.
One caution: Psyllium can decrease absorption of other medications. Make sure you talk to your doctor before taking psyllium.
Red Yeast Rice for Heart Health
Red yeast rice is derived from a specific yeast that grows on rice. This extract has been shown to lower total and LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels, help prevent heart attack, and improve blood flow. "If you want to reduce LDL cholesterol, red yeast rice can do it," says Guarneri. In fact, it contains a substance -- monacolin K -- that is identical to the active ingredient of the cholesterol-lowering statin drug Mevacor.
Data from one study showed that 1,200 milligrams of red yeast rice daily resulted in significant reductions in total cholesterol (19%), LDL cholesterol (26%), and triglycerides (16%). Another study using higher doses of red yeast rice -- 2,400 milligrams to 3,600 milligrams -- found that when red yeast rice was combined with fish oil and lifestyle changes, it lowered bad LDL levels as effectively as the statin Zocor -- about 40%.
Most red yeast rice supplements in the U.S. recommend taking no more than 2,400 milligrams daily. Higher doses increase the risk of side effects, such as muscle pain and tenderness, and possibly liver damage. In addition, do not take red yeast rice if you’re taking a statin cholesterol-lowering medication as this further increases the risk of side effects.
Red yeast rice should not be used by people with liver disease. In addition, it may increase the risk of bleeding and should be used with caution by people taking blood thinners.

BBRAeNEWS No.228 - A Doctor's Corner - Heart 2

Dear Residents,

BBRA's A Doctor's Corner.

BBRAsearch
YOUR RIGHT TO KNOW

Heart Health (Part 2)



Supplementing Your Heart Health: Omega-3, Plant Sterols, and More 2
If you have high cholesterol, or if you're at high risk for heart disease and heart attack, some supplements can help lower your cholesterol.
(continued)
Omega-3 Fatty Acids (Fish Oil, Flaxseed Oil) for Heart Health continued...
She advises taking 1 to 4 grams of fish oil daily -- containing 240 milligrams of DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and 360 milligrams of EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) per gram. However, the prescribed dosage will vary depending on the patient's blood samples. "With very high triglycerides, we might use higher doses," she says. High doses of omega-3 supplements -- over 3 grams daily -- may increase the risk of bleeding and should be done only under a doctor’s care.
If you're taking a statin drug to lower your cholesterol, fish oil provides added heart benefits, Guarneri says. A large Japanese study showed 19% fewer heart-related events (like heart attack) in adults taking a fish oil supplement plus a statin drug, compared with those taking only a statin.
Taking fish oil plus a magnesium supplement is also a good combination -- decreasing blood pressure and preventing heart rhythm problems, Guarneri adds. Look for glycinated magnesium, which is more easily absorbed.
She's not as big on flaxseed oil because results are not so dependable, Guarneri says. "Flaxseed oil has to be converted in the body, and conversion will vary from person to person depending on age and metabolism. But flax is soluble fiber and can lower LDL by 8% to 18% with doses of 40 to 50 grams per day."
Plant Sterols for Heart Health
Plant sterols are derived from plant-based foods and are used to enrich margarines and other foods. Many human and animal studies have found that plant sterol-enriched products lower total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol. Plant sterols do not affect triglycerides or HDL levels, however.
"Plant sterols block cholesterol absorption and lower LDL by 10%, Guarneri says. "They also work synergistically with statins and can be more effective than doubling the statin dose." Taking a statin plus plant sterol supplement can reduce LDL by 20%.
Numerous studies have shown that eating more plant sterol-enriched foods lowers total and LDL cholesterol. In a study of 194 adults with moderately high cholesterol, each consumed 2 servings of low-fat milk that was plant sterol-enriched. By the third week, their LDL cholesterol was reduced by 9.5%; by week six, LDL was 7.8% reduced.
Although some margarine and other specialized foods are made with plant sterols, Guarneri recommends powdered plant sterols because she says it’s easier to make sure you’re getting the recommended 2 grams per day.

BBRAeNEWS No.225 - BBRA's A Doctor's Corner.

Dear Residents,
BBRA's A Doctor's Corner.

BBRAsearch
YOUR RIGHT TO KNOW

Today while having a walk at the Botanic Path, I suddenly have the urge to call BBRA's Phase 1 Committee Member and ask how is his health. I promised him I would look up an article on Heart from the BBRA's Doctor and post it into the BBRA's Blog. So Mr Jaya Kumar, here it is. Do take good care of yourself.


Heart Health. (Part I or 5 Parts)
Posted in Alternative medicine on March-27-2008


Coronary Artery Disease or Heart Disease in its more broader term is a deadly disease that effects millions of lives every year the primary treatments for curing or reversing CADS are angioplasty or open heart bypass surgery although effective treatments, both have their drawbacks, angioplasty although effective in clearing the arteries has been shown to leave arterial scarring or scar the inside of the artery wall, which often leads to the reformation of plaque in as little as a few weeks.
Open heart bypass surgery has been proven to be very effective but can be very painful and is financially out of reach for most Americans with no health care coverage, the average cost of open heart bypass surgery in 1995 was $44,820 in 2005 I’m sure the price is much more expensive. The fact is most Americans don’t have health care coverage or can’t afford to pay for such an expensive procedure, not to mention that A 2001 New England Journal of Medicine study shows 42% of Bypass patients experience a decline in intellectual abilities.
So where does that leave the average person or Americans? in many cases less invasive treatments such as blood thinners, beta blockers, calcium blockers, nitro patches are introduced but in terms of reversing heart disease and clearing plaque out of the arteries these can amount to very costly ineffective methods, and are primarily geared toward treating the symptoms and not necessarily reversing the condition.
Change in diet and exercise sound like good ideas, but how effective are they in clearing plaque out of arteries and reversing heart disease? the truth is their not, if you’re not at and advanced stage of CADS these changes may make you feel better, but if your at an advanced stage of heart disease it may bring on a heart attack even sooner and in terms of clearing plaque out of the arteries they do very little. Change in diet and exercise just wont do it, unfortunately in several cases their are no symptoms leading up to a major heart attack one of the complications or results of CADS.
Narrowing of the arteries has also been proven to raise blood pressure significantly because the heart has to work harder to force blood through the narrowed arteries, CADS can basically become the precursor to other health related issues such as High Blood Pressure, Angina, SCD ( sudden cardiac death) even Erectile Dysfunction.
So you ask what the average person can do to reverse heart disease and improve his or her overall health without paying for costly procedures and being asked to spend money that they just don’t have, on treatments that they can’t really afford?
Donald Ray has been a proponent of natural, herbal, treatments for years, and has a passion for and has benefited greatly from the use of all herbal and natural medicines and treatments as an alternative to traditional medical treatments.

BBRAeNEWS No.217 - BBRA's A Doctor's Corner.

Dear Residents,

BBRA's A Doctor's Corner.

BBRAsearch
YOUR RIGHT TO KNOW
How to prevent stroke.
Another reason to control Blood pressure.

Chronic high blood pressure puts people at risk for a heart attack or stroke. Now a study shows that it may also cause memory problems, ...
August 25, 2009 9:38 am
Chronic high blood pressure puts people at risk for a heart attack or stroke. Now a study shows that it may also cause memory problems, even among middle-aged people.
The research, published in the current issue of Neurology, showed that people with high diastolic blood pressure (that's the bottom number in a blood pressure reading) were more likely to have problems with memory and thinking skills compared to people with normal diastolic readings. For every 10-point increase in the reading, the odds of a person having cognitive problems was 7% higher. The study controlled for other factors that could affect cognition, such as age, smoking, exercise level, education or other illnesses. High blood pressure is defined as a reading equal to or higher than 140/90. The study involved almost 20,000 people, age 45 and older, from across the country who participated in a stroke study but had never had a stroke or mini stroke.
Researchers suggest a higher diastolic reading signals that the smaller arteries in the brain are weakening, which can result in subtle brain damage.
"It's possible that by preventing or treating high blood pressure, we could potentially prevent cognitive impairment, which can be a precursor to dementia," the lead author of the study, Dr. Georgios Tsivgoulis, of the University of Alabama, said in a news release.
The National Institutes of Health is currently organizing a large study to learn whether aggressive control of blood pressure can lower the risk of various conditions, including cognitive decline.
-- Shari Roan

BBRAeNEWS No.205 - BBRA's Health Tips.

Dear Residents,

BBRA's Health Tips.

Every Thursday of the week, BBRA will bring to you a small little something of health. We hopes that the residents of Bandar Botanic would always be healthy.

“Are you drinking enough water? Your body is about 60% water, so it's no big surprise that getting enough of it is essential for optimal health. We've all heard the old "drink eight eight-ounce glasses a day" rule, but that's quite generic and outdated. Instead, use this updated formula to find out your daily needs:

Your weight (lbs) / 2 = Ounces you should drink each day

Take your bodyweight in pounds and divide it by two. That's how many ounces you should drink every day. So if you weight 180 pounds, that's 90 ounces. Sounds like a lot, doesn't it? Let's take that number and get an idea of how much water that really is. Do you have a favorite glass or water bottle you usually drink out of? Most people do. Go get it and use a measuring cup to measure how many ounces it holds. Then just divide the total amount of ounces you're supposed to drink per day by the amount of ounces your glass or bottle holds to get an idea of how many times you would have to fill that container to get to your quota.”

BBRAeNEWS No.203 - A Doctor's Corner.

Dear Residents,


BBRA's A Doctor's Corner.

Every Thursday of the week, BBRA will bring you some medical and physician report in A Doctor's Corner. We hope you like it.

How to Prevent Stroke - Obesity is bad for your brain as well as your body, leads to dementia: study
BY Rosemary Black DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER
Tuesday, August 25th 2009, 1:29 PM
Eating healthy not only keeps you slim: it may also benefit the brain later in life by warding off dementia, one study suggests.

Keeping your weight in check may help keep your brain in shape. Being plump can increase the risk of dementia, according to new research reported in NewScientist.
Earlier studies have shown that obesity in middle age can bump up the chances of getting dementia decades later. But this research shows that older people who are obese have smaller brains on average than leaner oldsters.
Brain scans provide a more complete picture of the differences in brain size between obese people and those of average weight. In older obese people, the brain regions important to cognition are smaller, compared with leaner people, and this makes their brains appear up to 16 years older than their actual age, according to NewScientist.
The research was done at the University of California in Los Angeles by Paul Thompson. He found that in people with a higher body mass index, the brains were smaller, especially the parts of the brain that are important for planning and for memory.
In his research, Thompson notes that increased body fat may up the chances of having clogged arteries. This could reduce the flow of blood and oxygen to brain cells.
Some experts believe that exercise, known to improve blood flow and cardiac health, may be the answer to avoiding dementia.
“To keep your brain young, you need to have good blood flow and the way to have this is through exercise,” says Dr. Amit Shelat, a JustAnswer neurologist and faculty member in the department of neurology at North Shore University in Manhasset.
“As a person gains weight, the body can’t handle all the sugar and so pumps out more insulin,” explains Shelat. “The body becomes more resistant to insulin and eventually this leads to Type Two diabetes. The first thing you’ll be told when you go to the doctor is to exercise.”
An obese person is at an increased risk for a stroke, explains Dr. Albert Favate, neurologist and director of the Stroke Center at St. Vincent’s Hospital. “A person could be having hundreds of small, silent strokes in the brain,” he explains. “And these small strokes can contribute to dementia.”
Staying physically fit and mentally active are important for brain health, says Lou-Ellen Barkan, president and CEO of the New York City chapter of the Alzheimers Association. And eating right helps, too, she says.
“A brain healthy diet is one that is heavy on fruits and nuts and low in fat and cholesterol,” Barkan says. “Obesity is definitely not a good thing for a healthy brain.”

BBRAeNEWS No.193 - How to Prevent H1N1 Infections.

Dear Residents,

How to Prevent H1N1 Infections.

BBRAsearch

YOUR RIGHT TO KNOW

The following was received from a resident in Bandar Botanic Phase 1.

Measures to prevent H1N1

With the constant fear of H1N1 symptoms, the following measures can be practiced by one and all. This is information received from a Consultant General Surgeon & Gastoenterologist, based in India and I do hope it could be beneficial to the students and their families alike.

Tamiflu does not kill but prevents H1N1 from further proliferation till the virus limits itself in about 1-2 weeks (its natural cycle). H1N1, like other InfluenzaA viruses, only infects the upper respiratory tract and proliferates (only) there. The only portals of entry are the nostrils and mouth/ throat. In a global epidemic of this nature, it's almost impossible not coming into contact with H1N1 in spite of all precautions. Contact withH1N1 is not so much of a problem as proliferation is.

While you are still healthy and not showing any symptoms of H1N1 infection, in order to prevent proliferation, aggravation of symptoms and development of secondary infections, some very simple steps - not fully highlighted in most official communications - can be practiced (instead of focusing on how to stock N95 or Tamiflu):

1. Frequent hand-washing (well highlighted in all official communications).

2. "Hands-off-the-face" approach. Resist all temptations to touch any part of face (unless you want to eat, bathe or slap).

3. Gargle twice a day with warm salt water (use Listerine if you don't trust salt). H1N1 takes 2-3 days after initial infection in the throat/ nasal cavity to proliferate and show characteristic symptoms. Simple gargling prevents proliferation. In a way, gargling with salt water has the same effect on a healthy individual that Tamiflu has on an infected one. Don't underestimate this simple, inexpensive and powerful preventative method.

4. Similar to 3 above, clean your nostrils at least once every day with warm salt water. Not everybody may be good at Jala Neti or Sutra Neti (very good Yoga asanas to clean nasal cavities), but blowing the nose hard once a day and swabbing both nostrils with cotton buds dipped in warm salt water is very effective in bringing down viral population.

5. Boost your natural immunity with foods that are rich in Vitamin C (Amla and other citrus fruits). If you have to supplement with Vitamin C tablets, make sure that it also has Zinc/bioflavonoids to boost absorption.

6. Drink as much of warm liquids as you can. Drinking warm liquids has the same effect as gargling, but in the reverse direction. They wash off proliferating viruses from thethroat into the stomach where they cannot survive, proliferate or do any harm.All these are simple ways to prevent, within means of most households, and certainly much less painful than to wait in long queues outside public hospitals.I do hope, this information could be passed on to one and all, for a healthy and H1N1 free environment.

BBRAeNEWS No.190 - A Doctor's Corner.

Dear Residents,

BBRA's A Doctor's Corner.

BBRAsearchYOUR RIGHT TO KNOW

Reported February 28, 2009
Filtering Out Bad Cholesterol -- In-Depth Doctor's Interview
Do you see a lot of patients with cholesterol problems?
Dr. Goldberg: I see a lot of people with cholesterol problems. One of my interests is a problem called familial hypercholesterolemia, which is an inherited disorder of cholesterol, where people have very high levels of LDL cholesterol, the bad cholesterol, which leads them to be at high risk of heart disease, coronary artery disease.
Do you think high cholesterol is more genetic or environmental?
Dr. Goldberg: It is genetic. This is a genetic problem. The environment plays a small role. About 10 to 20 percent of the high cholesterol level can be related to high saturated fat food that a person eats.
When do high cholesterol levels typically show up?
Dr. Goldberg: People who are born with cholesterol levels that are high, from birth, and they pretty much double the normal number of cholesterol. It ranges anywhere from 250 to 500 with single gene inheritance. If you got a double dose, if you got a bad gene from both parents, you can end up with a child with cholesterol at 600 to 1000 from birth. Those kids are in big trouble because they tend to get very early vascular disease, and unless you start treating them fairly soon, they can end up with heart disease by the time they are in their teens.
Do lifestyle changes help people who are born with high cholesterol?
Dr. Goldberg: The better diet does help, but it is not going to lower their cholesterol levels to normal, and they all need medication. If medications are not enough to get the cholesterol down to where you want it to be, or if they cannot tolerate enough medication to get the cholesterol low enough, then that is where the LDL apheresis procedure comes in.
Tell me about this procedure.
Dr. Goldberg: This is a procedure that is done every two weeks and you take out blood from the person, you separate the blood into the liquid part of the blood and the red cells. The liquid part of the blood is interacted with a compound called heparin, and then that gets run over by a column that acts like a sieve almost, and it basically grabs on to the bad cholesterol, and removes it directly from the blood. Then you put the liquid portion of the blood back together with the red blood cells and put it back to the patient. You are filtering out the bad cholesterol.
How long does it take to do this?
Dr. Goldberg: The length of time it takes is about an hour and a half to two hours for the patient. It takes some time, at least half an hour to an hour to set it up beforehand.
Is this something patients will have to do for the rest of their lives?
Dr. Goldberg: Generally, people are on this indefinitely unless something else comes along that they are able to tolerate that lowers their cholesterol. There are always new things, medications being worked on.
Are the results seen immediately?
Dr. Goldberg: We test cholesterol before and after. If you test the cholesterol before and the LDL is 200, at the end of the procedure, we draw another blood sample and the LDL cholesterol is down to 70 or 80. Normal optimal LDL is under 100.
So is this a cure for high LDL?
Dr. Goldberg: It is not a cure because the LDL goes back up again. The constant production over time leads the levels to go up again, and so you do it every two weeks.
Is this treatment hard on the body?
Dr. Goldberg: No, changing the LDL levels is not a problem, and the amount of blood that is actually processed at any given time is not very much.
How does lowering LDL help a patient?
Dr. Goldberg: You are decreasing the risk of heart disease in the person by lowering the LDL. People have been doing it for a long time, for quite a few months, some of them have a decrease in their heart symptoms. Or some people who have problems with poor blood flow to their legs often have that symptom get better and then they can walk longer.
Have you seen anything work this quickly and be this efficient before?
Dr. Goldberg: This is the most efficient process for lowering LDL, because it happens immediately.
What's the standard treatment for a patient with high LDL?
Dr. Goldberg: The standard of care is one or more medications to lower LDL, and most people are going to be able to get their LDL cholesterol levels down with one or more medications. So the people who have starting LDLs of 250, 300, 400. I am treating with drugs called statins plus additional medications. It is going to be a fraction of people who simply cannot get the levels down with the amount of medications they can tolerate who are candidates for this. The requirements are that if you have vascular disease, if you have heart disease, blockages in the various arteries, and an LDL over 200 on as much medication as you can take. For people do not have heart disease already, so people who are younger and may have the vascular disease already, it's an LDL cholesterol of over 300.
Is Ted one of the most extreme cases you work with?
Dr. Goldberg: His starting numbers are fairly high, but I have people who have higher cholesterol levels than that without any treatment. So he falls into the category of the people who are quite severely affected.
How common is it for people to inherit this extremely high LDL?
Dr. Goldberg: A lot of it is genetic, but not everybody has this severe genetic problem. This problem, the severe inherited high cholesterol problem, affects one in about one in 500 people. Which is a lot, if you have a major metropolitan area of a million people or so, then you are talking about, you know, a couple thousand people in the area. Almost all of them should be on medication at the very least.
How do you know if you have the gene?
Dr. Goldberg: Before people have heart disease, they may not have any symptoms of the high cholesterol, and one of the things is to look at the family history, and then if there is a bad family history of heart disease, to screen everybody, including the kids. If you have one of the family trees that are typical of this, which is male relatives with heart disease in their 30s and 40s, and women in their 40s and 50s and 60s, then you may have this disorder and it is worthwhile screening younger people. If your father had a heart attack at 35, you do not want to wait until 25 to start treating, you want to start treating people in their teens.
How early would you screen?
Dr. Goldberg: I generally start screening by about age 5.
And you are treating people at age 5?
Dr. Goldberg: I usually start the very young kids with diet, and then I start medication some time in the early teens.
Are there any drawbacks to the new treatment?
Dr. Goldberg: It is costly because the materials are costly.
Does insurance cover it?
Dr. Goldberg: It is covered by insurance. It actually has a set of guidelines through Medicare, and most insurance companies follow Medicare.
END OF INTERVIEW