A “New” Approach to Cancer

An article in the New England Journal of Medicine called “Releasing the Brakes on Cancer Immunotherapy” was really excited about new ways to activate the immune system, rather than to simply destroy it with chemotherapy.  One of the precautions noted is that too much activation can result in autoimmune problems.  Interestingly, there was no mention of high dose IV vitamin C and oral vitamin D3, which are both helpful for immune deficiency as well as autoimmune diseases.  We have been using this approach for many years with good success.

See the NEJM, Sept 8, 2015.

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10 Million Steps to Prevent Falls

Falls are a leading cause of death for people greater than 65 y.o..  You might have missed it, but it is not too late to participate in the 10 Million Steps program centered around September 23, the National Falls Awareness Day.  Walk a mile, take a selfie, and post it on social media using the hashtags #PreventFalls and #10MStepsOH.  Regular walking for 15-30 minutes a day is one of the best ways to prevent falls (and heart attacks too).

Google National Falls Awareness Day.

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Take Aspirin or Not?

The U.S. Preventative Services Task Force recommends that you take 81 mg aspirin daily if you are in your 50’s or 60’s, you have at least a 10% risk of having a heart attack over the next decade, and you have no increased risk for bleeding in the stomach or brain.  You might also get some protection from colon cancer as well.  Personally, I would rather take nattokinase and/or ultra pure fish oils, a more natural approach.

See the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force Report on low-dose aspirin, Sept, 2015

 

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Clinical Guidelines for Treating Recurrent Stones is Painfully Inadequate

The American College of Physicians publishes guidelines for treating recurrent kidney stones.  Once you have one, your chance of having another is at least 50%.  The guidelines recommend increased water consumption, reduced carbonated beverages, and if needed, thiazide diuretics, potassium citrate, or possibly allopurinol.  A more natural approach would be to be sure you balance your calcium intake with magnesium and you add vitamin B6.  Then if the stone is of the most common variety (calcium oxalate), you measure the urine for organic acids.  If the oxalate levels are elevated, you reduce them in your diet.  I went from having stones every two weeks to no stones for 6 years by eliminating cashew nuts from my diet.  So much for Guidelines.

See the American College of Physicians Guidelines on Recurrence of Kidney Stones.

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Heart Attack Survivors Have an Increased Risk of Cancer

A Danish Study confirmed what they knew in Switzerland since the 1970’s, that heart attacks and cancer risk are related, probably because of toxic metal exposure and inadequate anti-oxidants.  The cancer risk was almost twice as great in the patients who had myocardia infarctions.  The Swiss study by Blumer 30+ years ago showed a 90% reduction in cancer over 15 years in patients who had been treated with EDTA chelation therapy.  One more reason to get chelated.

See Family Practice News, April 1, 2015, p. 4.

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Look at Your Kidney Function to Assess Your Heart Attack Risk

Cholesterol and blood pressure readings are common risk factors for heart disease, although the former is probably over-rated.  Now we know that a very common test to assess kidney function may be an even better predictor of coronary artery disease.  Ask your doctor about this important new finding.  Deterioration of kidney function occurs early and usually progresses slowly.  If you are concerned, get an ultra-fast CT scan or IMT carotid artery test to see if you are developing plaque.  Interestingly, chelation therapy reduces cardiac events but also can improve mild to moderate kidney function, according to peer-reviewed research.  The best preventative you can take is chelation.  Don’t wait until it is too late.

See the work of the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, Dr. Matsushita.

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GERD Drugs Can Lead to Heart Attacks

Over-the-counter drugs such as Prilosec and Previcid are linked to an increased risk of heart attacks according to data that extends back 15 years.  It is suspected that the mechanism is promotion of inflammation and clotting.  Other acid suppressors do not have this action, but they are also less effective.  My recommendation is to find the cause, which might actually be too little acid or a response to food allergy, which can be treated with desensitization by many integrative physicians.  If you have to take one of the offending drugs, you should also take nattokinase, an enzyme that reduces inflammation and clotting.
 

See the PLOS One study, which was quoted in the June, 22, 2015 issue of the Toledo Blade, section D, page 1.

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