Barb's Daily Dose

Health Secrets of Red Wine Uncovered: But for Maximum Benefits, Sip Don't Gulp, Research Shows

Guest Writer Peter West, Featured in Caring.Com

THURSDAY, June 11 (HealthDay News) -- Scientists already knew that drinking red wine in moderation is good for your health; now they are figuring out why.

New research is uncovering the disease-prevention secrets of a polyphenol called resveratrol, one of compounds in red wine that seems to improve health. Although the benefits have been touted for years, researchers weren't sure how polyphenols, and resveratrol in particular, worked in the body.

"The breadth of benefits is remarkable -- cancer prevention, protection of the heart and brain from damage, reducing age-related diseases, such as inflammation, reversing diabetes and obesity, and many more," said Lindsay Brown, an associate professor of the School of Biomedical Sciences at the University of Queensland in Australia and co-author of a study that will appear in the September issue of Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research.

To continue reading this article.                       

When a Cough Isn't "Just a Cough"

Written by:  Guest Writer Paula Spencer, Senior Editor of Caring.com

From a discreet tickle in the throat to a relentless "smoker's cough," coughing is a reflex we can't resist. Though these odd noises that come up the respiratory tract and out the mouth are wordless, they have plenty to tell.

In fact, coughing is the top complaint people bring to doctors' offices. "Coughing is a very general symptom that can reflect minor irritation or serious problems in the airways or the lungs themselves," says internist and pulmonologist Norman Edelman, MD, medical director of the American Lung Association.

So what's your cough saying? Here are six questions that lead to important clues.

Simple Treatments for IBS

Irritable Bowel Syndrome is a pain in the ........Well, you know what I mean. People who suffer, spend a lot of time in the bathroom because they either experience diarrhea or constipation. I have family members with this, and I suspect that when I worked in Peds ICU, I also had very strong and rapid reactions to the stress of caring for critically ill children. I just read a review article in the clinical advisor that discussed various simple treatments and found many to be effective.

• Peppermint oil
• Psyllium, a type of fiber
• Antispasmodics - such as Hyoscine (Scopolamine) and Otilonium (Spasmoctyl)

All were found to be more effective than a sugar pill, are inexpensive and safe. Talk to your health care provider about these.

Açaí Berry

As Good As the Hype?

What Is The Açaí Berry?

This is a fruit from palm trees that grow in Central and South American Rain forests. It's a staple in the Amazon, and has been used for centuries to treat diarrhea, fever, and other ailments. Euterpe Oleracea is the one that seems to have lots of amazing potential.

How Do You Pronounce It?  It's pronounced a-sigh-ee.

What Does It Do?

About the size of a large blueberry, with a large pit, the açaí berry is nutrient dense, packing carbohydrate, protein, fat and fiber into one small package. It has essential fatty acids and antioxidants. This juice from this berry packs 10-30 times as much antioxidants as red wine. In fact the National Institute on Aging found that it has the highest amount of antioxidants in any food tested.

Get Your Vitamin D

I've been testing Vitamin D levels on many of the women who come in for their annual exams, and many are way below normal. Vitamin D is an essential nutrient with many important functions. We all know that it helps keep our bones strong and healthy, but you may not know that Vitamin D deficiency has also been associated with an increased risk of breast and colon cancer. 

If you're not out in the sun in the summer soaking up the rays, making Vitamin D and then storing it up for the winter, likely you'll be low.

• Get Tested:   Ask your provider to test your level.  32 is the minimum, closer to 50 is better.
• Get More Vitamin D:   If you can't drink milk that has added Vitamin D, take a supplement with at least 400-800 units. This is probably too low for most people over 40 and I expect the recommendations to change.
• Make Sure You're Getting Plenty of Calcium Too:  Many people don't drink enough milk. Teens aren't getting enough and neither are their parents or grandparents. Calcium is found in milk, yogurt, cottage cheese, and calcium fortified orange juice. Think about a supplement, and look for one with Vitamin D in it.

What Is a Nurse Practitioner?

I'm really a Nurse. I don't just play one on TV. In addition, I'm a Nurse Practitioner, specializing in woman's health. I practice in Silicon Valley at Women Physicians OB/GYN.

Want to Know More About Nurse Practitioners and What We Do?

Please take a moment to view this interesting video clip produced by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners that offers a glimpse of some of what we do.

New Treatment for Presbyopia

An Interesting Article from April 6, 2009

Dr. Beers at Peninsula Laser Eye Medical Group today announced a new treatment for presbyopia. Presbyopia, the gradual loss of the eye’s ability to focus on objects up close, happens to almost everyone during middle age. Usually beginning some time in the late 40’s, people begin to experience blurred vision while reading, dialing a cell phone or working on the computer. An estimated 90 million people in the United States have presbyopia. As people grow older, the lens inside the eye gradually hardens and becomes less flexible, making it more difficult to focus on nearby objects. Presbyopia is not a disease, but a natural part of the aging process.

“It is really exciting to be able to give patients 50 years or older good reading vision as well as distance vision,” said Dr. Beers. “Most of our patients really do not want to wear reading glasses.”

Craft for Health

I'd like to introduce you to my dear friend, Kathy Peterson. She's one of the host's of Lifetime TV's, The Balancing Act. Kathy and I are teaming up as The Craft Practitioners. Check out our website: CraftForHealth.com.

We're going to be talking about how crafting can help people not only create handmade treasures, but also improve their health. We'll be featuring crafts for everyone in the family. whether you're trying to get your kids unplugged from the video games and reconnect with them, or you're trying to help a parent with Alzheimer's retain their memories.

We'd love to hear your stories and learn about how crafting has impacted your life. 

Please take a moment to view this interesting video clip of Kathy Peterson from Lifetime TV's, The Balancing Act:

Nurse Barb Essential Emergency Kit

Here's a list of everything you need for summertime emergencies. I was just talking about this with Tanya Rivera on Good Morning America Now.

1. Melting Tylenol – Everyone knows you need pain relievers, look for ones that anyone can take, even if they can't swallow a pill.

2. Hydrocortisone Cream – For any itching, red, inflammed rash, a cortisone cream is a must. I like the new pens that spray and fit in a purse or backpack

3 & 4. Dr. Dean Edell's Zoom magnifying glasses and tweezers – The best way to see a splinter and not dig around for it.  If you can't get it the first try, here's a nurse's tip:  Soak the area with a warm, wet washcloth. It will help the wood expand and the skin soften, making it much easier to grasp.

5. Campo-Phenique - This completely natural remedy goes on cuts, insect bites, even sunburn. I love the way it smells, it just seems like it will fight germs.

6 & 7. Band-Aids & New Skin – These come in all shapes and sizes, and for those of us who wash our hands a lot, or have kids on the swim team or like to fish, there's a new type of waterproof bandage, called New Skin.  This goes on as a liquid and dries over the cut, making a clear, flexible and waterproof barrier.

8. Balmex Baby Butt Cream – Not just for babies, though it works great for them. I recommend this cream because it contains zinc oxide, which can help your child who's chafed from their swim suit, to a person using adult diapers.  And, for couples getting chafed from lots of fun in the bedroom, this also cools off the fiery skin irritations.  

9. Benadryl quick dissolving strips – These melt on your tongue for fast relief from seasonal allergies, or allergic reactions to pets or foods. I always keep a supply at home and carry them with me when I'm with my niece Amanda.

10. Purell – Since the H1N1 virus, we all know the importance of washing our hands. But sometimes, it's not practical, In the hospital, I have gloves to protect myself and my patients. If you're going to be giving anyone first aid this summer, please wash your hands first.  Purell is an alcohol based hand cleaner that also fits in your purse, backpack and can travel through airport security.

Be well and have a safe and healthy summer.

Rocket Fuel & Perchlorates: How to Protect Yourself

When you do a Google search for Rocket fuel, you find lots of interesting information and a few unexpected little gems. Apparently there are recipes for Rocket fuel chicken that can be spiced up to be Mexican or Thai.  In case you’re wondering, they don’t add Rocket fuel, that’s just the catchy and fun name for the culinary masterpieces out there.

Some of my friends call Red Bull, Rocket fuel, and one of them is an engineer who works for the Department of Defense on missiles and rockets. No, we’re not talking about Red Bull, but coincidently, we are talking about real rocket fuel.

Perchlorate, aka Rocket Fuel, is a component of fireworks, munitions and yes, rocket fuel.  It can also be found in certain fertilizers from Chile. Back in 2004, and 2005, researchers began to develop more sensitive tests to detect minute amounts of Perchlorate in drinking water and guess what, this stuff is everywhere.  Holy, guacamole!  Read on, because it’s an interesting reminder of how interconnected everything is.

Drinking water, milk and lettuce were tested, as was human breast milk.  What was surprising was that in some cases the levels of Perchlorates in breast milk was 5 times that seen in the milk you could by off the shelf in the dairy section.