Osphena: Is it the Answer You’ve Been Looking For?

Since menopause, many of my over-50 female patients tell me that they’ve lost a lot of their sexual desire.  They also report another type of sexual dysfunction that’s putting a big damper on their sex lives as well – pain with intercourse that they didn’t have before.  As a result, many women aren’t having very fulfilling sex lives with their husbands or significant others.  In some cases, the relationships have deteriorated because of the lack of intimacy and discomfort, in completing sexual intercourse.

Now, there’s a little pill called Osphena that can help.  It’s being touted as the “female Viagra” as it aims to re-awaken sexual desire in women the way Viagra does with men.  But Osphena doesn’t really work the way Viagra works on a man’s system.  Osphena aims to treat a fairly common condition that affects about half of menopausal women – dyspareunia or painful intercourse.

Dyspareunia occurs from decreased estrogen levels that create another gynecological condition called vulvo-vaginal atrophy.  This is a condition where a woman’s vaginal tissues become inflamed, dry, thin, and shrink.  With attempted intercourse, a woman often feels pain from the burning that these dry tissues create.  She may often experience bleeding of the very thin vaginal wall tissues with the friction of intercourse as well.  It suffices to say that this kind of sexual experience is not very pleasant for either the woman or her partner and can significantly dampen desire.

What Are the Pros and Cons of Osphena?

The good news is Osphena’s manufacturers claim it can boost estrogen levels which help to re-thicken and re-lubricate vaginal tissues making painful intercourse a thing of the past. Think of giving a beautiful, yet wilted, flower much needed water.  The moisture revitalizes and plumps up all its tissues literally reviving it back to life.  Osphena is also what’s called in drug manufacturing circles, a SERM – selective estrogen-receptor modulator – in the same class of drugs as tamoxifen (treats and prevents breast cancer) and Clomid (stimulates ovulation).  SERMs help women better utilize estrogen circulating in their body.

On the downside, Osphena, like tamoxifen and Clomid, also comes with “black box” risk label warnings, which include blood clots and stroke. In trials of Osphena, women reported increased amounts of urinary tract infections, yeast infections, and hot flashes.  It also shouldn’t be taken with the drug fluconazole – the very drug used to treat yeast infections.   Also in trials, the results were that that only 14% of women experienced relief of their dysfunction symptoms and just as many experienced some type of adverse event – like infection, etc.  Generally, when deeming a treatment successful, you want to see the benefits outweigh the harm by a better margin.  Yet, the FDA approved Osphena ruling that it did just that – its benefits outweigh any potential risks.  You may want to see how it works for, and affects, you.

Is There Anything Else I Can Do To Treat Dyspareunia?

In the world of medicine, there’s always something else you can do besides taking a drug that may help some symptoms yet cause a lot of others.  In the case of dyspareunia women have the following options:

• Bioidentical Hormone Replacement.  Many women can take “bioidentical” hormones consisting of plant-based phytoestrogens and progesterones that do not carry the side effects of synthetic hormones.  They are by prescription only though.
• DHEA.  Recent studies out of Italy revealed that supplementing DHEA at low levels daily helped about half of the women in the study revive sexual interest and activity.  DHEA is a hormone precursor which provides the “building blocks” that allow your body to make its own specific hormones, in the amounts it needs, both estrogen and testosterone.  DHEA was shown to relieve hot flashes, rejuvenate vaginal tissues, as well as boost mood and participation in sexual intercourse.
• Topical Estrogen Cream.  Estrace is a common low-dose estrogen cream that women can get through prescription from their GYN doctor.  It works locally inside the vagina and only trace levels are absorbed by the entire body.
• Olive Oil.  Women in Italy, Sicily and Greece have long used olive oil (an Omega-3/6 natural fat) to treat vaginal dryness and discomfort.  Olives also contain beneficial plant estrogens which can have a revitalizing effect on vaginal tissues.
• Grapeseed Oil. From grapes, contains traces of resveratrol a powerful antioxidant, and Vitamin C which fights breakdown of skin tissues.  Many skin specialists recommend it as a pure, chemical-free moisturizer that works particularly well on thin-skinned areas like eyes and neck.  For this reason, many women use grapeseed oil as a vaginal moisturizer as well.
• Commercial lubricants:  Replens is an over-the-counter vaginal re-moisturizer that actually binds to vaginal wall tissues helping them heal and get stronger with regular use.  It restores the normal pH within the vagina and decreases inflamed tissues.
• Omega-3 Fats.  Diets deficient in these essential fatty acids may experience more vaginal dryness than others.  Get 2,000 mg a day in your diet.
• Kegal Exercises.  Kegel exercises have been used for many years to help restore proper tension to lax pelvic floor muscles and ligaments, which support the vagina and bladder.  Doing Kegels everyday can enhance sexual relations, and orgasm, by tightening the surrounding muscles.

Just because you hit menopause doesn’t mean you have to pause your sex life too.  Just as men have many options to deal with low testosterone issues which affect their ability and desire to have regular sexual relations, there are options for women as well.  Osphena is just one of your options to treat dyspareunia that may work well for you. Do not be afraid to bring up the subject to your doctor – that’s what we’re here for!  Voicing your concerns and symptoms can help you reclaim a healthy, happy, satisfying sex life long into your old age!

Stay Well,
Mark Rosenberg, M.D.
Natural Health News

Will This Pill Fix Your Sex Life? http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2013/04/29/will-this-pill-fix-your-sex-life.html

DHEA Hormone May Help Women Through Menopause, http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/12/20/us-menopause-dhea-sex-idUSTRE7BJ00A20111220

Caretaking Can Take a Toll on The Caretaker

I have a patient; I’ll call her Mary, age 53, who has been a caretaker for her elderly, 90-year-old father for the last few years.  Her father has Parkinson’s disease and the drugs that are used to treat his condition have added a side effect of dementia to his usual Parkinson symptoms that Mary deals with everyday.  Most of the time her father seems like his normal self, can get around on his own, sometimes with the help of a walker, and just needs supervision.

As such, Mary has moved into her father’s home and has even created an office there.  In addition to caretaking her father, she continues to work full-time at her business.  In the morning, she helps her father get up and dressed, gets his breakfast, and settles him down with his newspaper or a television show.   Some days she takes him to a doctor’s appointment or grocery shopping. If the weather’s good, she’ll go with him for a walk – with his walker or in some cases his wheelchair.  Other than her father’s occasional falls, the days can be pretty uneventful and “normal”, but tiring.

Often in the evening, Mary’s father experiences a condition called “sundowning” which makes him hallucinate – sometimes badly.  When this happens her father can become very difficult for Mary to handle on her own.  He can become combative and verbally abusive as he doesn’t recognize her.  He becomes scared and paranoid and can do dangerous things like trying to escape, not realizing that he’s actually home.

At these times, her father doesn’t sleep well, even with the medications his doctor has prescribed, and he often has traumatic nightmares.  These hallucinations and rambunctious behavior often keep both Mary and her father up a good part of the night.  In the time she has been caretaking for her father, I’ve noticed that Mary looks tired, stressed out, and overwhelmed.  Her normally low blood pressure started to go up, she wasn’t sleeping well, started having headaches, stomach upsets, and even developed gingivitis – an inflammation of her gums.  Caretaking stress was making Mary sick. This is a fairly common thing amongst caretakers in general. Following are some tips I recommend to my patients about safeguarding one’s own health while caretaking.

Taking Care of the Caretaker

First, let me congratulate you on putting forth the effort to become the caretaker of a sick parent or child, or anyone who’s suffering from an illness.  It can be a daunting task but can also offer a lot of positive emotional benefits to both you and the person you’re caring for.   Secondly, understand that it’s not selfish to take time to take care of yourself while caretaking.  You can’t be much help to an ill person if you become ill.  Be sure to keep up with the following things:

1.  Take time to exercise:  At least 30 minutes, or more if you can fit it in, a day.  Caretaking is a stressful, demanding situation and exercise helps burn off the stress hormones that get released into your system.     

2.  Eat a healthy diet.  Caretaking occupies a lot of hours in your day and you might think it’s easier to grab fast food or junk food to keep your energy up.  If you start your day with a good breakfast high in protein and low glycemic carbs (oatmeal, oat bran, etc), your energy levels will be higher throughout the day.  Be sure to include a lot of high antioxidant fruits and vegetables, and/or supplement with extra Vitamin C, E, D, and B vitamins – especially B12 – to prevent deficiencies.

3.  Keep your own medical appointments.  Many caretakers start to neglect their own regular check-ups, dental appointments, etc and problems can arise.  High stress levels can increase blood pressure and blood sugar levels, and aggravate conditions like periodontal disease that can lead to other tooth and gum issues.

4. Know your limits.  In caretaking, there may be certain physical jobs – like lifting, bathing, or transporting an immobile person in a wheelchair, picking them up when they fall, etc, that you just may not be physically able to do.  Find someone to assist you with these activities.  Trying to accomplish tasks that require more physical strength than you have is dangerous for both you and the patient.  You could drop them and cause them further injury, or you could seriously damage your back.

5.  Learn.  Read materials, talk to physicians, to learn about the special symptoms that go along with the person you’re caring for.  Learn how to work with the person’s symptoms instead of working against them.  For example, getting upset with a person who’s incontinent is not going to help either of you. Experiencing hallucinatory dementia can be frightening if you don’t know how to handle the condition.  Mary learned that rather than try and convince her father that his hallucinations were not real when they happened, she began to “go along” with them, talking about them with him, making light of them when she could, as if they weren’t important.  This had the effect of de-escalating them into nuisances rather than frightening experiences for both.

6.  Seek help.  You can’t be a caretaker 24 hours a day – even nurses rotate shifts at hospitals. Recruit other family members to help out or hire professional caregivers for part of the time so you can take a necessary break.  Get other people to help you with non-caretaking duties like preparing meals and/or cleaning the house – this saves a lot of your time and energy for actual caretaking.  In your break time, do something you enjoy, something that rejuvenates you, so you can keep a positive attitude towards your role as a caretaker.  Becoming depressed, exhausted and resentful doesn’t help you do the job you wanted to do as a caretaker for your loved one.

Taking care of your own health while caretaking, is just as important as taking good care of the ill person.  You want to create a positive caretaking experience for both you and the person you’re taking care of.  Making time to ensure that you remain healthy and maintain a refreshed and positive outlook toward your caretaking role will help ensure that the person you’re caretaking gets the best of your love.

Stay Well,
Mark Rosenberg, M.D.
Natural Health News

http://www.caregiver.org/caregiver/jsp/content_node.jsp?nodeid=847

http://www.wfmh.org/PDF/Caring%20for%20the%20Caregiver%2011_04_09%20FINAL%20%283%29.pdf

Cataract Awareness – Know Your Risk

Cataracts currently affect nearly 23 million Americans and it is the #1 cause of vision loss throughout the world.  Secondarily, cataracts can also lead to an increased rate of falls and serious fractures from impaired vision.  Yet, many people really don’t know what a cataract is or what it does. That’s what Prevent Blindness America’s June’s Cataract Awareness Month is all about – educating the public about the significance of cataracts and what you can do to prevent them.  First, let me tell you what cataracts are…

Cataracts are a clouding of the lens of your eye making it harder for you to see clearly and making you especially sensitive to light glare.  This clouding occurs when the structural proteins of your eyes – alpha crystallin – begins to clump together and form little deposits – or cataracts.  These can grow in size and eventually cause complete loss of vision.  The presence of cataracts can cause the following symptoms:

Symptoms of Cataracts

• Blurred or clouded vision – like there’s a film over your eye.
• Lights seem too dim for reading or close-up work – you may become particularly sensitive to strong lights.  Car headlights, or traffic lights, might start to develop a “star” appearance to them.
• Needing to change your eye glasses prescription often.
• The cataract may even be visible to you – it may appear like a whitish/yellowish spot in the black center of your eye.

What makes these proteins start to build-up into a cataract in the first place? Well, a number of things can cause that to happen.

Generally, protein clumping in your eyes is caused from free radical damage which begins to increase as you get older – especially if your diet is particularly deficient in certain key nutrients.    Free radical damage is the result of tissues oxidizing – kind of like the way rust affects a car.  There are a number of things that can cause free radical damage – many of which you can avoid.  They include:

• Strong sunlight.  Going out in bright summer sun without adequate protection from sunglasses.
• Poor nutrition.  If your diet is deficient in specific nutrients, your eye health and vision could suffer.  These include Vitamins C, B vitamins – especially B6, B9 and B12, Vitamins A and E.  Other substances like astazanthin, lutein, bilberry, alpha lipoic acid, L-carnosine, glutathione, essential fatty acids (Omega-3’s), melatonin are strong antioxidants that can help prevent free radical oxidizing of eye tissues.  Minerals zinc, selenium, chromium have also been research proven as protective against cataract formation. There are many eye-health specific supplement products available that you can take on a daily basis and include most of these substances.
• Certain medications.  Statins – cholesterol lowering drugs – have been found in research to contribute to cataract formation.
• Environmental exposures.   Along with strong sunlight, other environmental pollutants can cause free radical oxidation of eye tissues.  These include smoking (#1 worst offender), working around spray paints, chemicals, etc without adequate eye protection.

How Can You Prevent Cataracts?

Some ophthalmologists will tell you that developing cataracts is a foregone conclusion of getting older.  They say that everyone who gets older will develop cataracts and there’s nothing you can do to prevent them. I disagree with that as there are cases around the world in which very young children develop cataracts, so they can’t entirely, be a function of aging.  I personally think the answer lies in nutritional deficiencies, that likely increase with aging, and how much exposure to free radicals you have.

Most ophthalmologists also say that surgical removal of cataracts is the only effective way to treat them. Yet, groundbreaking research out of Russia, China, Sicily, and even the U.S. (University of Missouri)  have shown that n-acetyl carnosine, and a sister-amino acid n-acetyl cysteine, applied directly to the eyes in drops have been very effective in reducing, and in some cases completely clearing, cataract formations.  Both have very strong antioxidant properties that are delivered to the eye directly.  These drops are available online, under names like Can-C, Nu-Eyes, et al, but have not been approved by the FDA as treatment for cataracts.  In general, here are some ways you can prevent, or decrease worsening of cataracts:

DIET:  Many ophthalmologists also say that what’s bad for your heart is also bad for your eyes.   This means that diets loaded with heavy animal fats not only build up cholesterol deposits in your heart arteries but in your eye veins as well, which can reduce blood flow.  Reduced blood flow results in not enough tissue-preserving nutrients and oxygen reaching your eye tissues. So, watch your levels of saturated fats and stay completely away from trans-fats. Supplement with extra essentially fatty acids (Omega-3’s) and/or get them in EFA-rich fish like salmon, mackerel and tuna 3 times a week.

Glutathione.   Deficiency in glutathione has been seen in many degenerative eye disorders like cataracts and AMD (age-related macular degeneration).  Glutathione is a major antioxidant that boosts the power of all other antioxidants.  Getting enough glutathione in your diet (eggs, kale, garlic, eggs, yogurt, broccoli, onions, asparagus, Brussels sprouts, watercress, wheat germ, oat flakes, watermelon, poultry and pork) can keep your antioxidant levels high.

Herbs and Botanicals.  Natural substances like the herb eyebright have been used for years in Europe and China for eye health.  Bilberry is a bioflavonoid research proven to help night vision;   rutin, found in green leafy vegetables, citrus fruits and other tart fruits like cranberry and mulberry, are both helpful in keeping eye tissues from breaking down.

Minerals.  Zinc, copper and selenium have been shown in research to be helpful in fighting free radical damage from UV blue light of the sun that can up your risk of cataract formation.

Spices.   Kitchen spices like turmeric, garlic and saffron have been used in Indian, Russian, and Chinese cultures for many years as substances that promote and maintain clear vision.  Raw garlic crushed into a vegetable drink is reported to help clear the eye’s lens from the crystalline deposits that become cataracts. Turmeric is a strong antioxidant that fights free radicals.

EXERCISE:  Believe it or not, regular exercise helps prevent cataracts by reducing stress and decreasing inflammation. Inflammation is one of the biggest promoters of free radical damage throughout your entire body.

Good vision is important to you all your life but even moreso as you get older.  It can help you stay active and independent as well as help prevent life-threatening falls and fractures. Do all you can to protect your vision against cataracts and other degenerative eye conditions – get on a nutrient rich, eye-healthy diet, stop smoking, exercise and stay away from environmental pollutants as much as possible. And don’t forget your sunglasses!

Stay Well,
Mark Rosenberg, M.D.
Natural Health News

Carolyn M. Machan, Patricia K. Hrynchak, Elizabeth L. Irving. Age-Related Cataract Is Associated with Type 2 Diabetes and Statin Use. Optometry and Vision Science, 2012; 89 (8): 1165 DOI: 10.1097/OPX.0b013e3182644cd1

Food for the Eyes, http://www.naturaleyecare.com/eye-disease-prevention/food-sources-for-nutrients.asp

New Evidence that Popular Dietary Supplement May Help Prevent/Treat Cataracts,  http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/07/090715101443.htm

Cataract Awareness Month http://www.preventblindness.org/cataract-awareness-month

Reinventing Yourself: You’re Never Too Old To Get Happy

You’ve heard it, or read it, a zillion times – stress kills.  It’s true.  Stress makes you sick and causes your body to produce more stress hormones that make blood pressure rise, blood sugar levels to go out of whack and create dangerous, disease causing inflammation throughout your body.  Health researchers have deemed inflammation as the #1 cause of major diseases like heart disease, Alzheimer’s, and even cancer.  As a cardiologist, I see it all the time.  Patients who develop heart disease often have significant life stressors.

Life stress can come from many different places – your job, your relationships, your financial situation – you name it.  At the root of that stress is conflict – conflict of feeling powerless in a situation that you feel you can’t change. The truth of the matter is, some stressors may not be changeable, but changing the ones you can, will help you become happier and healthier almost instantly.  It can literally take a load off your heart. I’ve seen patients’ dangerously high blood pressures normalize after either changing an unfulfilling job, getting a divorce, reconnecting with their family – just remedying the source of their stress.

One such stressor can be dissatisfaction, unhappiness – even boredom – with yourself and your life and what you have or haven’t achieved.  It may be that the life you imagined yourself having, the person you wanted to be when you were younger, may be way out of synch with who you are and what your life is like today. No apologies or regrets…you did what you had to do to support your life, marriage, raise kids, career, and try to keep your wits about you as you did so.  However, as a more mature person, you can start to work on those situations that are causing you chronic unhappiness and life-threatening stress.  Believe it or not, you’ve actually arrived at the right age to go after your dreams, with all the physical and mental skills you’ve learned along the way.  So where do you start?

How Do I Reinvent Myself?

When you think about your life, who do you imagine yourself to be? What kind of life do you have? What are you doing in it? Psychologists say that, often, the key to what’s missing, or what would really make you happy, in your “real” life is hiding in your most private daydreams. You could be much happier – and healthier – if you allow that version of yourself to step out of your dreams and grow into reality.  Here are a few good tips to bring your dream to life.

1.  Establish your goal.  Pin down exactly what you want to do and commit your plan to paper.  Open your own business?  What kind, where, and who will be your customers?  Lose weight? How much, how will you do it?  Write that book that’s been floating around your head for years?  Pre-outlining how you will go about achieving your goal/dream is crucial to making it a reality.  You can’t reach a new destination if you don’t know how to get there.

2.  Seek support.  Hopefully your spouse and kids, significant other, etc, are supportive of your goals.  But often times your best cheerleaders are people you don’t know who can offer you objective opinions.  Join a group that’s specifically devoted to the goal/dream you’re seeking.  It can really help fire up your inspiration for pursuing your dream by attending even a once a month meeting.  For example, Meetup.com hosts thousands of different groups of people with a similar goal.

3.  Carve out time.  You’ll only achieve whatever you give time to. That means, in your busy day of trying to maintain your “day job” and your family life, carve out at least 1 hour a day, or a few hours every weekend that belongs only to the pursuit of your new goal or dream.  In those hours, do all you can to perfect how you’re going to arrive at your goal. Contact people who can act as mentors, spend the time researching material, etc, only doing things related to achieving your goal.  Set one doable goal for each block of time and achieve it.

4.  Feed your passion.  If you’ve carried the torch of an old dream in your head and heart for years, it’s likely that you were meant to do it in the first place.  It’s who you really are, and you have the passion that’s needed to breathe life into it and make a happy success out of it. You’re probably well equipped to be your own cheerleader, but keep renewing your enthusiasm for taking another step on your new path by immersing yourself in everything related to your goal/dream (in the time you a lot to it) to keep your passion fires burning. Watch out for all those well meaning friends and relatives who unwittingly may rain on your parade by telling you that you’re too old, it’s too late, or it’s too hard.  Keep a journal and frequently read everything you’re doing to achieve your goal.

The amazing Eleanor Roosevelt once said, “You must do the things you think you cannot do”.   I think those words couldn’t be more true.  I think people are meant to do certain things in their lives and many get sidetracked from their dreams by just trying to pay the bills and survive everyday.

They start thinking that the dream they had is so far away now they couldn’t possibly get back to it.   Yet, working at an unfulfilling job, or maintaining social relationships that may have reached their expiration date, can sap all the vitality and joy of living out of you.  As a heart doctor, I can tell you that regaining that joy in your life can go a long way to helping your heart – and the rest of you – stay healthy.  Take a step everyday toward creating the roadmap you need to help get you back on the path to happiness and better health.  You can reinvent the old, worn out version of you and replace it with a new, improved, and healthier, you.

Stay Well,
Ron Blankstein, M.D.
Natural Health News

What Are You Waiting For? Are You Still Dreaming? http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kathi-sharpeross/personal-reinvention_b_2189350.html

What’s Your Passion? Is it Time to Reinvent Your Life? http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kathi-sharpeross/reinvent-yourself-_b_2077638.htm

What Are Dental Implants?

The world of dentistry has advanced so far that in the year 2013 you no longer have to worry about replacing a lost tooth with removable dentures or bridges.  If you’ve ever had one, you know that they can become loose and fall out, causing embarrassment, and they can also be uncomfortable and even cause problems with your other teeth as well.

Now you have the option of replacing that lost tooth with a dental implant.  Dental implants were designed to work just like your own permanent teeth.  They are more stable and comfortable than removable dentures.  They can even safeguard the health of your surrounding teeth while giving you back your smile.  They can also improve your speech.

Here’s how dental implants work.  An implant consists of the base – or the anchor – of the tooth.   It looks like a cylinder or screw that is surgically implanted into the site of your former tooth.  The base, or anchor, takes the place of your former tooth “root” which held your real tooth in your jaw.  Then, the artificial tooth, or perhaps it’s a crown or a bridge with a few teeth attached, are then attached to that base.  These artificial teeth are then able to feel, look and most importantly, perform like your former real teeth.

The Pros of Dental Implants

Like all medical/dental procedures, devices, they have their pros and their cons.  Here are some of the best things about dental implants:    

1.  They don’t need to be removed.  No more removing for soaking or cleaning – they can be cleaned – brushed – just like your regular teeth.

2.  Stability.  Dental implants are more stable than removable dentures.

3.  They’re more comfortable than removable dentures.  Removable dentures that rely on temporary adhesives to hold them in, may not seat properly, or the adhesive may pull away, making the denture slip, or come out entirely.  The adhesive itself can sometimes give off a noticeable odor.

4.  They’re safer for your surrounding teeth.  Removable bridges have to hook onto the teeth on either side and can put pressure on them.  This can eventually cause problems with those teeth as well.

5.  They can improve your speech.  Actually, implants share this quality with removable denture as replacing a missing tooth with either method can improve the sound of your speech.  Missing teeth causes sound to reverberate differently and can be embarrassing.

The Cons of Dental Implants

And, they do have a few drawbacks to them.  .  .  .

1.   The process can take up to 9 months. Dental implants are done in a 3-step process starting with the surgical implantation of the anchor and then allowing the surrounding tissues and bone to heal around the implant properly.  After that, the upper part of the implant – the post, the part that will hold the tooth – is attached.  More healing time is needed for the tissues to surround the post properly.  Then, the crown or other tooth structure is created and attached.

2.  Cost.  Dental implants, necessarily, cost more than removable dentures.  Yet, their functionality as real teeth, in both appearance and use, is superior to dentures.

3.  Infection, tissue damage.  Like all surgical procedures, there is always a risk of infection, but this is generally low and can usually be treated quickly with antibiotics.  In addition, some nerves may be damaged during the implantation which may result in numbness of the surrounding tissues.  Sometimes, even sinus problems have been cited with dental implants in the upper jaw that might interact with sinus cavities.

3.  Not for everyone.  Dental implants are most successful in people who have maintained good dental hygiene throughout their life and generally have healthy gums.  If you smoke, or are diabetic, or even if you grind your teeth, your gums and jaw bone structure may not be strong enough to work successfully with an implant.

If you’re thinking about getting dental implants, I hope this quick look at the pros and cons of them will spur you into talking at more length with your dentist.  I always tell my patients that any procedure that more completely restores function, as well as your confidence, can be well worth your time, cost and effort.

Stay Well,
Mark Rosenberg, M.D.
Natural Health News

About Dental Implants http://www.deltadentalins.com/oral_health/implantsdw.html

Dental Implants  http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/dental-implant-surgery/MY00084/DSECTION=risks

Keep Your Brain Young with Brain Exercise

These activities don’t take long and can quickly become part of your daily routine. I recommend permanently adding #1, 2 and 10 to your daily activities but the others you can pick and choose in different, random orders, whichever suits you.  Try to do a few every day though.

1.  Start your day right.  Going for a walk or doing aerobic exercise first thing in the morning really wakes up your body and your brain.  It makes you more mentally alert as well as gives you more energy to get through your day.  Aim for 30 minutes of aerobic exercise – doing it outside in nice weather, in a park, or in other pleasant environments can add to your brain’s stimulation.

2.  Eat breakfast.  It’s not just a saying – breakfast really is the most important meal of the day.  After fasting for 6-8 hours or more, your brain is starved of glucose and other nutrients which need to be replenished.  Aim for a high protein (eggs, cheese, meat, poultry, protein shake supplements) cooked with high Omega-3 fats (olive oil, walnut, flaxseed oil).  Pair with a low glycemic carbohydrate (oatmeal, quinoa, sweet potatoes, wheat bran cereal) and a low glycemic fruit (berries, apples, grapefruit) for long-lasting brain and body energy. Omega-3 fats also help cut down inflammation in your brain as well.

3.  Map a different route.  Figure out a new way to take to work or wherever you’re going for the day.  This stimulates your brain’s problem solving capacity and the new sights and sounds stimulate your brain’s learning centers.

4.  Switch your hand usage.  If you’re typically right-handed, try using your left hand for as many activities as you can, and vice versa if you’re left handed.  This helps you exercise the other side of your brain, as well as equalizes the strength on the other side of your body.

5.  Ditch the calculator.  Do as many math problems that arise in your day with YOUR brain rather than the calculator’s.  Working with numbers stimulates your brain’s problem solving and memory capacity.  If you don’t remember how to do certain math problems, look up a tutorial on the internet to refresh your memory, and/or learn something new.

6.  Read more books, newspapers.  Preferably, paper copies if you can. Reading on computers puts more eye strain into what you’re reading and can rob brain energy. But if that’s the only time you have, then at least read more news and as much new information as you can find.

7.  Play computer, or board games.  Games like Sudoku, Scrabble, Brain Age (Nintendo DS), sites like Giggle Trigger, Rubik cube-like rearrangement puzzles, putting together a landscape puzzle with many same colored pieces, are fun and challenging ways to stimulate the learning, memory, and pleasure centers of your brain. You’ll be surprised at the mood boost these games offer.

8.  Learn something new.  Get a Word-A-Day dictionary to learn, and use, a new word every day.   Paint a picture.  Learn how to read and play music – experts say that learning/playing classical music benefits your brain the most.  Take a class in something you’ve always wanted to learn or had an interest in. Socializing with other people, as well as learning new material, has a beneficial stimulating effect on your brain.

9.  Learn to multitask.  When you’re watching TV, talking on the phone, or exercising, try to also read something, rearrange the moving parts of a puzzle cube. This teaches your brain to do more than 1 thing at once which helps it to expand its perception and learning capacity.

10.  Meditate.  Slowing down your brain and relaxing it, is as important as stimulating it to learn.  Meditation helps calm and de-stress your brain.  Practice meditation in a well-oxygenated area (outdoors in a quiet environment is perfect), it helps your brain, and your entire body, to detox and turn off stress hormones.

As you can see, it really doesn’t take much to stimulate your brain.  You’re likely doing some of these exercises/games already.  It’s even more fun to engage in these activities with a friend! Remember to keep your brain’s nutrition optimal with Omega-3 fats, protein and water! Keeping your brain functioning at its best capacity, by feeding and exercising it properly can help you stay youthful and independent well into your older years.

Stay Well,
Mark Rosenberg, M.D.
Natural Health News

Use It or Lose It:  Brain Games, http://braingames.nationalgeographic.com/

How to Exercise Your Brain, http://www.wikihow.com/Exercise-Your-Brain

Can You Look Younger Using a Derma Roller?

Many of you over the age of 45 are looking for products and treatments that will turn back the clock on your skin’s appearance. There are many devices, creams, and procedures available on the market that promise some rejuvenating or age-reversing quality.  The Derma Roller is one of them.  It is a hand-held device that has a roller barrel end covered with very small needles – often called microneedles.  These microneedles come in different lengths recommended for different skin treatment effects.  For example:

1.  0.25mm – Increased penetration of skin care products; improvement of color and texture
2. 0.5mm – Smoothing of wrinkles, light acne scarring, mild chicken pox or ice pick scars, also recommended for thinning hair
3. 1.0mm, 1.5mm – Softening of deep stretch marks, reduction of cellulite and deep scarring — 1.5mm is generally the maximum needle length recommended for facial use
4. 2.0mm, 2.5mm, 3.0mm – For more severe deep scars and wrinkles, badly damaged skin

How Is A Derma Roller Used?

 After the application of a topical anesthetic, the dermatologist, or esthetician, rolls the Derma Roller over your skin several times to create thousands of microneedle columns.  These tiny needles reach the innermost layers of your skin and stimulate production of collagen and elastin.  These two substances “knit” your skin more tightly together so it can resist developing lines, wrinkles and furrows. The more collagen/elastin your skin has, the less profound the lines and wrinkles will be.  Stimulating the production of collagen and elastin helps rebuild lines and wrinkles from the inside out.  These columns then heal rapidly and create the “wrinkle refill” effect that is visible within 6 weeks, sometimes sooner, depending on the collagen level in the person’s skin to start with.  Usually 3-4 treatments are scheduled, with 6 weeks intervals between for healing.

Reviews from people who have had professional Derma Roller treatments are, for the most part, pleased with their results. They do make your facial skin rather reddened for a few days, which subsides. The cost of Derma Roller treatments can vary in different parts of the country from $100 to over $200 per treatment.  There are also personal Derma Roller devices that you can buy and use at home but the results are largely dependent on the individual person’s understanding of how to properly use the device.

How Effective Are Derma Roller Treatments?

Pros:   Clinical research studies have shown that using a Derma Roller can be a useful, non-surgical, non-ablative (tissue destroying), age-fighting method of skin rejuvenation.  It’s been shown to be helpful in reducing fine lines, as well as deeper wrinkles; reducing the severity/look of stretch mark scars, cellulite, and evening out hyperpigmentation (overly colored) spots.

Cons:  In anecdotal testimonials from customers using at-home Derma Rollers, the drawbacks can vary from a) not working at all, b) fine lines became worse but overall skin tightness improved, c) dryness, redness of the skin (a good moisturizer is always recommended after professional treatments), d) some pain in using them (they’re not getting the topical anesthetic that professional dermatology estheticians use).

What Else Can You Do To Prevent Aging Wrinkles?

There are several diet and lifestyle practices that can make your skin age faster and more profoundly than it needs to. Here are some of the worst offenders:

• Nutritional deficiencies.  Diets deficient in Vitamin C and protein will show up on your face in telltale deep lines and wrinkles as both help build collagen and elastin.

• Toxin exposure.  Smoking also robs your body of its Vitamin C stores as well as oxygen.  It also adds 4,000 toxins to your body each time you smoke.  This overall body toxicity that smoking creates can result in profound reduction in skin elasticity and wrinkling.

• Sun exposure.  A little sun everyday is good to help your body make beneficial Vitamin D which keeps your entire body healthy.  Yet, too much sun can act like a toxin to your skin – decreasing collagen and elastin and causing wrinkling and “sun spots”, or solar keratosis, those brown spots some older people develop.

• Dehydration. Lack of proper water intake everyday can result in your skin losing its water base beneath the surface and result in sagging and wrinkling.  Be sure to drink half your body weight in water ounces per day.  Example:  If you weigh 160 lbs, you need to drink 80 ounces of water per day.  Water also flushes toxins out of your skin which helps your largest organ (your skin) detox.     

How well you take care of your skin (and your general health) to begin with – diet, sleep, water, cleansing routines, sun/weather exposure, etc – can determine how well your skin ages.  I have patients in their 80’s who have beautiful, clear, unlined skin, and much younger patients whose skin makes them look older than they are. The reason is that everyone’s skin ages differently, depending on their overall health and what toxins, stress, etc, they are exposed to.  Following the recommendations above will help your skin stay younger looking much longer.

If you’re interested in possibly getting a Derma Roller treatment, before you go out and buy your own device, I recommend you first try a professional level treatment by a dermatologist or a dermatology esthetician – it can make a big difference in your results.  In addition, there are several videos on YouTube that feature the Derma Roller procedure that you might want to check out as well.

Stay Well,
Jay Brachfeld, M.D.
Natural Health News

Derma Roller and Microneedling, http://www.bcam.ac.uk/about-aesthetic-medicine/treatments/dermaroller-micro-needling.asp

A Review of Derma Roller, Home Micro Needling, Scar, Wrinkle and Cellulite, http://www.dermarollerreview.com/

Derma Roller Stories http://www.realself.com/review/sf-bay-area-derma-roller-hope-pain-equals-gain

The story illustrates what current researchers have come to believe – the mind is much more powerful in causing ill health – and healing it – than previously thought.  That’s what I’d like to talk to you about – how to take control of your emotions to ensure your good health.

How Volatile Emotions Can Sabotage Your Health

You may think of your mind and body as two separate entities that don’t have much interaction with each other.  Yet, think of the last time you got really mad, or very emotionally upset, about something.  You may have noticed that your heart started beating faster, your breathing became more labored, or you might have gotten an immediate headache, stomach cramps, or chest pains.

What happened is that your mind first perceived something that caused a negative response.  Secondarily your body followed the message your mind sent it – prepare to fight.  Your fight or flight responses came into play and adrenaline started pumping through your blood.  All your major physical systems – heart, lungs, and muscles – started gearing up to fight.  These are biophysical, chemical responses that humans have had since our earliest days that helped us survive predator attacks.  Yet, in our modern world our “predators” are more like finances, work, or relationship problems, rather than wild animals.  They are chronic, ongoing stressors that can take a toll on your health by constantly keeping your mind in an angry, depressed, or anxious state.  This results in ratcheting up your stress hormone cortisol.

Cortisol has its place in maintaining your mental and physical equilibrium.  But, too much cortisol, on a chronic basis can suppress DHEA – a powerful immune system protector and precursor to your male and female hormones.  Low estrogen in women and low testosterone levels in men can open the door for heart disease, prostate cancer, and other conditions to walk in.  Too high cortisol creates a known deadly situation in your body – inflammation – research-proven to be the key to developing poor health.  Diseases like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, Alzheimer’s, arthritis, many others – even cancer – have their roots in chronic inflammation.

The upshot is – your body’s health follows the state, and health, of your mind and its thoughts.  Researchers have found that negative emotions like chronic anger (“chip on the shoulder” personality), morbid and prolonged grief, anxiety, chronic discontentment, guilt, suspicion, remorse all help fuel the biochemical responses (high cortisol – inflammation)  that lead to disintegration of your health.  You’ve likely heard of people dying from a “broken heart” – that’s not just a saying.  Chronic, morbid, grief can occur after the death of a loved one. When social support is poor, social isolation and profound depression may lead to illness.

On the other hand, positive emotions like hope, faith, love, courage, compassion, sympathy promote good health and longevity.  It’s likely why people who have strong faiths, optimistic “happy-go-lucky” personalities with good social relationships are healthier and live longer.  A 2008 study out of Ben Gurion Hospital in Israel revealed that positive emotions like optimism and happiness can be powerful preventative mechanisms against disease.  Those emotions can also help heal as well.

As a doctor, I’ve seen many patients with poor health conditions turn their physical conditions around by adopting positive mindsets.  In turn, a positive outlook causes them to develop a plan of positive actions that puts their health back on the road to recovery.  I’ve found that people who carry toxic emotions around with them also engage in toxic behaviors – too much alcohol, smoking, little exercise (sitting around worrying), dangerous lifestyles, carrying toxic emotions around, not realizing that their behaviors are derailing their health.

How Can You Banish Toxic Emotions?

It’s simple really.  You can let go of all those toxic emotions by doing the following:

1.  Express yourself.  Trying to constantly keep the peace by bottling up resentment, anger, disappointment, whatever is causing your thoughts and emotions to boil will wind up hurting your health.  Calmly express your feelings to the people involved in the issue.  They may be unaware that you’re feeling this way and hopefully will help resolve the situation.

2.  Meditate.  You might think you don’t have enough time, but meditation need only take 10 minutes out of your day to be effective.  It involves simply clearing your mind of all bothering thoughts and focusing on something that brings you peace.  It’s been proven that clearing your mind in this way helps decrease cortisol levels and dampen inflammation.  Develop a key word or words that you associate with peace – like ocean, or whale calls, rain, etc.  Think of these key words whenever you start to feel out of control or negative thoughts creeping in. The words can help bring back the feelings you associate with them – peace and well being.

3.  Get Help.  Getting an objective, professional opinion can help you learn how to deal with a stressful situation successfully.  Friends may also be of help, but sometimes their opinions are more biased.  However, do stay connected to your friends and social network while you’re working through problems.  Research out of Carnegie Mellon University has shown that people who were socially disconnected were 4.2 times more likely to catch a cold when exposed to a virus than those who had fulfilling social relations.

4.  Stay Positive.  With negative issues going on in your life, it may be hard to keep a positive mindset. Reminding yourself that you can work this out, you can solve this problem, you can surpass it – positive “self-talk”, will help you not only seek ways to solve the issues but will also decrease your stress level and dial down cortisol hormones.

When it comes to your health much of it is within your control.  You can choose the diet you eat, the amount of exercise you do, whether you engage in toxic behaviors, and whether you stay positive about your life.  Research studies prove more and more that negative thoughts precede negative behaviors and both spell trouble for your health.  I think the key word is action – take the first step towards solving those problems in your life that cause you stress.   Adopting a clear plan of action how to do so will go a long way in allowing you to feel peaceful and optimistic in your outlook on life and to saving your health.

Stay Well,
Mark Rosenberg, M.D.
Natural Health News

Are Toxic Emotions Making You Sick? http://phase3ministries.com/wordpress/are-toxic-emotions-making-you-sick

How Your Emotions Affect Your Health and Immune System, http://www.oprah.com/health/How-Your-Emotions-Affect-Your-Health-and-Immune-System

photo credit: findtheneedle.co.uk

As men typically put their health on the back burner, coming up with one excuse or the other not to check out that nagging symptom, or get even a yearly check up, I always encourage my male patients to visit these community health fairs. They provide a no-pressure, casual opportunity to learn so much about their health from all different aspects and even get screened for several issues.  And that’s the goal of Men’s Health Month – to develop awareness of the preventable health issues that impact men and boys specifically.

With men’s health in focus this month, I’d like to make you aware of a few key areas of men’s health concerns – the top 5 urgent male health issues.

Men’s Health:  Do You Know Your Top 5 Risks?

As a man, the focus of your particular health issues will change throughout your life.  When you’re a younger man, ages 20-35, your risks are higher for testicular cancer than when you’re 50-70 when your risks for prostate cancer, heart disease, diabetes are higher.  So, with that in mind, I’d like to tell you about the 5 top health risks to men of all ages. They are issues/symptoms that should not be ignored.

1.  Testicular Cancer.  The risk is highest in younger men, aged 20-35 but also occurs in older men. Thousands of deaths per year worldwide occur from testicular cancer that could have been prevented had men paid closer attention to the early warning symptoms.  A lump, or abnormality of feeling, in the testicles should be examined by your doctor.  Many of these symptoms are not cancer, but could be situations that may develop into that later.

2.  Moles.  Changes in mole size, color, shape, bleeding can affect men of all ages – particularly if you’re outdoors in the sun a lot.  If a long-standing mole starts to look different, becomes itchy, bleeds, you need to have it checked by a dermatologist.  Cancerous, or precancerous, moles can be removed in total to prevent, or treat, cancer.

3.  Depression.  Many men typically think of “bad moods” as more of a woman’s thing and may write off their own low moods as nothing to be concerned about. What you may not know is that men have a higher risk of suicide from depression than women do.  Low, poor, bad moods that persist should be brought to the attention of your doctor.  The mood changes may be a warning light for another health condition – like diabetes or decreased hormones – that can be treated with medication and/or hormone replacement.  Men tend to keep quiet about their feelings – this is one time they really need to speak up.

4.   Urination problems.  Starting to have trouble urinating can occur as early as late 40’s but typically is seen in men 55 and older.  The prostate may begin to swell and put pressure on the bladder – causing frequent urination.  It may also constrict the ureter making urination more difficult and pressured.  Any urination problems that you start to experience should be brought to the attention of your doctor.  This symptom could be a warning sign of prostate cancer and needs to be evaluated in a timely manner.

5.  Impotence. Also usually affecting older men – ages 55 and older – impotence can occur from a decrease in testosterone that starts in andropause – male menopause.  Every man experiences a bout of impotence here and there and can be caused by other things like fatigue, stress, or relationship issues, even obesity.  Often times, adjustment to sleep schedules, stress reduction, exercise, and losing weight can have a positive effect on impotence.  Chronic impotence, though, could be a warning sign of other, larger issues like prostate or colon cancer, heart disease or diabetes.

I think a great Father’s Day activity would be to take your father, your grandfather, your son, your brother, your uncle, for a guys-only outing to a local Men’s Health Fair.  Look around in your community, likely you will find some agency putting on Men’s Health Awareness   activities.  You can get free, or very low cost screening, you can hear lectures on new treatments for prostate cancer, and you can talk to health care professionals about your specific questions.  It really is a good month to learn all you can about your most important asset – your health.

Stay Well,
Mark Rosenberg, M.D.
Natural Health News

Men’s Health Month http://www.menshealthmonth.org/

Five Urgent Male Issues, http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/men1839/Pages/Menshealthweek.aspx

photo credit: facebook.com

20 Common Foods That Boost Your Sex Drive

It’s a no brainer that eating healthier will boost your general health.  It follows that, if your body is healthy, your sex drive will also be healthy.  Yet, there are some specific foods that contain certain natural vitamins and chemical compounds that really do more to boost libido in humans – both men and women alike.   Starting from A to Z, here are 20 of the best sex drive boosting foods out there.

1.  Almonds.  Contain zinc (testosterone production), selenium (antioxidant), and Vitamin E (reproductive health booster).

2.  Apples.  Contain quercetin a natural anti-inflammatory that helps boost prostate health (the seat of male sexual function).

3.  Avocado.  Full of Vitamin B6 which helps the human body make the sex-driving hormone testosterone in both men and women.  It also is rich in Vitamin E, an antioxidant that specifically supports sexual function and reproductive health.

4.  Bananas.  Full of rich, natural sugars for energy, bananas also contain high levels of B6 which boosts testosterone production and energy.  They also contain bufotenine, a mood-boosting compound and bromelain, a natural anti-inflammatory.

5.  Beef.  Rich in protein, B12, iron and zinc for stamina and hormone production.  But go easy on the portions – it’s still chock full of animal fat too.  Grill or broil to get rid of the excess fat.

6.  Celery.  Really? Yes, celery, that often passed-by vegetable in your produce bin.  Celery contains androsterones which are natural male and female hormone precursors. They are responsible for pheromone production as well – that “certain something” you uniquely give off that attracts people to you.  Eat them whole or use crushed celery seeds in your salads.

7.  Chocolate.  Preferably dark, chocolate contains a chemical called methylxanthine which stimulates dopamine (a sedative that lowers inhibitions much like wine) in the brain.  It has been known to increase desire for physical contact and is why it has become the symbol for Valentine’s Day.  It’s also why it’s eating was banned from monasteries hundreds of years ago.

8.  Cinnamon. A spice used as an aphrodisiac for centuries, yet it’s only fairly recently that scientists have figured out why. Cinnamon’s scent somehow stimulates your attraction senses.  Combining it with vanilla only strengthens its powers.

9.  Eggs.  Rich in protein, lutein, and B6 and B5 vitamins that help with hormone production and calm jangled nerves.

10.  Figs.  Long used in the ancient world as an aphrodisiac, figs contain certain amino acids (proteins) that are thought to stimulate hormone production and libido.  Their natural sugars may also fuel sexual stamina.

11.  Fish.  Rich in Omega-3 fatty acids that help produce hormones and dampen inflammation throughout your body, including the vascular system of your reproductive glands.

12.  Garlic.  Contains a potent antioxidant allicin which decreases inflammation and improves blood flow to the reproductive organs.

13.  Ginger.  Also a blood mover, the Chinese have been using ginger for centuries to treat circulation problems.  Erectile dysfunction is often caused by lack of blood supply to the arteries of the penis.  Increasing blood flow to this area can help correct ED.

14.  Oysters.  Rich in zinc which helps boost testosterone production.

15.  Sesame seeds.  Also a good source of zinc which helps boost testosterone production.

16.  Spinach.  Rich in iron, magnesium and Vitamin C, also nixes xenoestrogens (environmental chemical hormones from pollutants, plastics, toxins) before they dampen sex drive.

17.  Strawberries.  Contain good amounts of antioxidant Vitamin C and zinc.

18.  Sweet potatoes.  Rich in Vitamin A which is thought to boost fertility, and potassium which helps erectile dysfunction.

19.  Walnuts.  Also rich in B vitamins and Omega-3 fats, recent research out of the University of California has shown that eating 75 grams of walnuts a day can boost sperm production in men.  But the sex benefits are not just for men.  They’re also rich in L-arginine, which helps boost nitric oxide that boosts a strong blood supply to the genital area to intensify orgasms.

20.  Watermelon.  Contains citrulline found in research to relax blood vessels enabling better blood flow.  It helps make L-arginine which in turn creates nitric oxide that helps dilate blood vessels.  Some researchers have dubbed it a “natural Viagra”.   I don’t know that I would go that far, but it could help prevent erectile dysfunction where Viagra is a temporary cure for it.

Now that you know what foods help excite, and boost, your sex drive, be sure to include many of them in your diet everyday.  They’re not only sex-healthy, they’re general-health supporting, so eating them is win-win. You can also create your own menus combining many of these foods when you want to have a romantic date with your spouse or significant other.  But be prepared for the fireworks…

Stay Well,
Mark Rosenberg, M.D.
Natural Health News

14 Foods To Boost Your Sex Drive, http://www.foxnews.com/photoessay/0,4644,7469,00.html/#/photoessay/image/0616091412_M_spinach_450-jpg

What to Eat for a Better Sex Life, http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20668823,00.html

photo credit: vk.com