Severe Knee Pain after Joint Replacements

15% of the 600,000 knee replacements each year suffer severe pain after the operation. The pain usually starts soon after the surgery and can last indefinitely. My experience is that it can usually be treated pretty well with a healing laser. However, the best approach might be to try prolotherapy injections prior to the surgery, and you might be able to avoid the need for surgery completely. See getprolo.com (click here) and healthcelebration.com (click here)

Should You Get a PSA?

The US Preventive Services Task Force says no, not as a screening test. The majority of the scientific evidence shows that screening with a PSA identifies additional cancers but does not result in improvements in prostate-specific mortality. Such screening does result in additional surgeries, some of which are unnecessary and cause complications. See the US Preventive Services Task Force draft guidelines in PSA screening (click here). If you want further guidance, contact us at healthcelebration.com.

Eat Fish to Protect your Brain, but Not Fried

WebMD.com reports on a study centered at University of Pittsburgh of 70 year olds that consumed at least one serving of fish a week for 10 years. Their brains were larger and the incidence of Alzheimer’s disease was one-fifth of control patients. The effect was nullified if the fish was fried. Eat your fish baked or broiled! See WebMD.com(click here) or come our web site at healthcelebration.com for more info. (click here)

Heavy Metals in Fruit Juice

A study in Consumer Reports found elevated levels of lead and arsenic in 3 out of 31 popular brands of grape and apple juice. High levels of these metals can increase the risk of heart disease, cancer, memory problems and other illnesses later in life. The source is probably pesticides. I would limit the consumption of these juices. We can test people of all ages to see if they have accumulated high levels of lead, mercury and arsenic. See Consumer Reports in December of 2011 (click here) or go to healthcelebration.com to find out more about heavy metals.

Fatty Food Snacks Might Cause Inflammation from Leaky Gut

In a European study of diabetics, it was found that fatty food snacks such as potato chips causes leaky gut. Thus increased amounts of bacterial endotoxins that are normally contained in the gut are absorbed. This can lead to inflammation and possible infection, at least in diabetics. It is food for thought in the general population as well. Spreading your food consumption out by including snacks can be healthy but not if the food is high in fat. See the proceedings of the annual meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes(click here).

Resistant Vaginal Yeast Infections on the Rise

Candida vaginal infections have been treated with newer drugs in recent years and resistance has developed. Studies have shown that the old standby, nystatin, might be more effective. Nystatin also has the advantage that it is not absorbed well, so systemic side effects are rare. Whether we treat localized vaginal infections or yeast imbalance in the digestive tract, which can affect the entire body from release of toxins, we find that a comprehensive approach is often needed. That might include a yeast-control diet, probiotics, at least two anti-yeast agents and sometimes a homeopathic to stimulate the immune system. See Family Practice News,(click here) October 1, 2011, p. 28, report on the annual meeting of the Infectious Diseases Society for OB-GYN.

Flu Vaccine in Children

In 2010 in the USA, a total of 53 deaths from the flu occurred in children younger than 5 years old. 23% of those children were fully vaccinated for the flu. Many had poorly functioning immune systems. The data are limited by a poor surveillance system, but it seems to me that the goal of vaccinating all children with a shot that contains the potent toxins of mercury and/or aluminum is misguided. The vaccine was not even effective enough to prevent death in these unfortunate children. I recommend mucococcinium homeopathic to help prevent the flu in adults and children as my first choice. See the Center for Disease Control statistics for flu in children.