DrH Blog-Newsletter

Butter...... Parkay !!!

2009-10-05T21:23:00.000-04:00

October 5, 2009

Butter..... Parkay !!!

Remember that commercial.

I do!

Here is a link to its youtube video !

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EvM-5LYMohM

I am often asked whether to eat butter or margarine.

Growing up it was cool to eat margarine instead of butter. Better eating through better science, or so we thought!!

Here is how butter is made.
Milk a cow.
Skim off the cream.
Add salt.
Churn the cream until it’s thick and chunky and tastes awesome.

Here is one of the processes for making margarine:
Farmers grow seeds.
The seeds are harvested.
The seeds are crushed to extract some of the oil.
The rest of the oil is extracted by mixing the seeds with hexane, a chemical solvent.
The hexane is (supposedly) all removed.
The oil is pumped full of hydrogen gas and nickel powder.
The remaining oil is subjected to heat and high-pressure CO2 gas.
The oil is mixed with sodium hydroxide and passed through a centrifuge.
The oil is mixed with water and passed through another centrifuge.
At this point, the margarine is a gray, speckled, oily mass that doesn’t smell so good.
The oil is mixed with hydrated aluminum silicate that binds to and filters out the unwanted pigments.
The mix is heated again and the oil is extracted.
The oil is passed through a steam distillation chamber to remove unwanted odors.
Yellow food coloring and artificial flavors are added.

Margarine.

Mmm Mmm good!!!

Not !!!

So what would you rather eat?

Most margarines are chemically altered vegetable oils and contain dangerous and unhealthy trans-fats otherwise known as trans-fatty-acids. While vegetable oils have received good press coverage, most contain an abundance of omega-6 fatty acids, which may counter the healthy effects of omega-3 fatty acids.

So what are we supposed to eat?

Cardiologists say butter is bad, because it contains saturated fat which they argue is responsible for an increased rate of heart disease.

But is this fact or fiction?

Let us look back at history for a moment.

In America, the rate of heart disease soared during a period when saturated fats consumption fell sharply while cholesterol intake remained roughly unchanged.Before 1900, heart disease was rare in America, affecting about 8 percent of the population.

By 1950, heart disease caused 30 percent of all deaths in America. Today, it causes about 45 percent of all deaths.During this period, consumption of butter, which is high in saturated fats, fell from over 18 lbs per person per year at the turn of the century, to about 10 lbs per person per year by 1950.

Today it is even lower, yet the rate of heart disease continues to escalate.In the same period, Margarine consumption rose from about 2 lbs per person at the turn of the century to about 8 lbs per person.

Ok now.

Do we follow the advice of clever advertisers and marketers?

Or do we follow the logic of our ancestors who relied on a very low processed foods diet?

Listen to your ancestors !!!

They ate saturated fats.

They did not eat processed food.

Pass on the Parkay and vegetable oils.

Eat butter!!

To Good Health!!!

Steven Horvitz, D.O.
Board Certified Family Practice
Founder of The Institute For Medical Wellness
128 Borton Landing Road, Suite Two
Moorestown, NJ 08057
Phone 856-231-0590
Fax 856-294-0311

Hey Ma, No more Foie Gras !!

2009-09-29T20:35:00.009-04:00

What is Foie Gras and how will reading about it help me to understand improved nutrition?

Should we ask The Donald?

Or maybe this Donald would be more apropo!!

Well, my guess is that "The Donald" partakes in foie gras, while "Donald Duck" hopes not to be on the menu.

From wikipedia: Foie gras (pronounced / fwa:gra:/ in English; French for "fat liver") is a food product made of the liver of a duck or goose that has been specially fattened. This fattening is typically achieved through gavage (force-feeding) corn.

Interesting.

When ducks, are force fed a starchy carbohydrate such as corn, their livers fill up with fat.

Does a similar mechanism occur in humans?

I am so glad you asked!!

There is a medical disorder called, Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Otherwise known as NASH, this is a chronic condition that affects 2 to 5 percent of people in the United States. NASH involves inflammation or damage to the liver that can be severe and may lead to cirrhosis, liver failure, or liver cancer. What I find especially concerning is that NASH may affect about 70 percent of people with Non-insulin dependent Diabetes (Type 2 Diabetes).

The liver has many functions in our body. One of the most important is as a major detox center or sewage treatment plant, helping to remove and make less harmful, many substances in our body. Our liver also plays a part in sugar metabolism. If our bodies sense we do not have enough sugar or glucose to burn, our liver can manufacture glucose for use.

Sounds like a good thing!

It is unless it starts over-manufacturing sugar that we do not need and is one of the mechanisms involved in Type 2 Diabetics and why they have a high incidence of fatty liver. In Type 2 Diabetics, even though they have plenty of excess energy stored in their bodies fat cells, they have trouble converting this fat to energy for use inside their cells. So their liver starts producing more sugar- glucose, which gets into their bloodstream, raising their glucose levels even further, in the hope that their cells can make use of this energy. A big problem with this mechanism is that the now higher levels of sugar in the bloodstream then gets converted into triglycerides (fat) and once again get stored in the liver, furthering the fat accumulation problem. Talk about spinning in circles!!

Sometimes a picture helps to get a point across.

Caution- some pictures below may not be suitable to view prior to a meal.

Below are three different livers which show the progression of fatty liver disease.

normal->--fatty-> Cirrhotic liver

The liver furthest to the left is a normal liver. It is smaller in size and has a deeper-rich and healthy color.

The center-middle liver is a fatty liver. It is somewhat bloated and misshapen, with a dull yellowish color.

The liver furthest to the right is a cirrhotic liver. It is huge and misshapen, with a pebbled appearance and coarser in texture.

OK, ugly pictures to look at, especially before eating!

So what can we do to prevent NASH or reverse it?

1) We must lower the amount of processed carbohydrates we eat to an amount that our bodies can handle. We accomplish this by closely monitoring diet, weight, waist size, and metabolic parameters. Each and every individual has a different "carb-tolerance", so to be succesful you need to find your own.

As we read earlier, to make Foie Gras, ducks are force fed large amounts of corn, a very starchy carbohydrate. In real life, we are feeding ourselves large amounts of processed carbohydrates such as cereals, breads and soft drinks, which act in our bodies just like corn!

2) Increase the burning of excess fat cells by change to a lower carbohydrate diet and if possible an increase in exercise. In other words, change your metabolism from a storer of excess energy (storing fat) to one that burns more energy than it stores ( a burner of fat).

The key to burning fat for fuel, is to limit the amount of glucose available. We accomplish this by a low processed carbohydrate diet.

If you are succesful in this dietary approach, the excess fat stored in your organs may diminish and hopefully allow your organs to once again work efficiently.

So let's recap:

If our bodies are overburdened by carbohydrates and sugar, excess carbohydrates get converted into sugar which gets converted to triglycerides which gets stored in our liver and other internal organs, eventually "gumming up" their efficiency. Consider it like rust occuring on metal. Just as the rust will destroy the metal, the excess fat will prematurely age and destroy our organs.

So that ends this lesson in, Hey Ma, please no more Foie Gras !!!

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So hopefully Foie Gras gives you some added motivation to start a low processed carbohydrate diet. As mentioned in my previous newsletter, we have wellness programs set up to help you with the transition and also to provide extra guidance.
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Other Institute For Medical Wellness Events

Our massage therapist, Julie, is limbering up for the fall season.

If you are enrolled in a Wellness plan, and have not yet experienced the benefits of massage, you can receive one one-hour massage for $35, or one 1.5 hour massage for $50. That is 50% off regular prices.

Package discounts are also available:

A 3 hour massage package, regularly $210, is now available at a 10% discounted price of $189.

A 5 hour massage package, regularly $350, is now available at a 15% discounted price of $299.

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One of our newer network affiliates is Master Ting, from Silver Tiger Tai Chi in Hainesport. Master Ting is now offering one complimentary Tai Chi session for individuals enrolled in any Institute For Medical Wellness plan. More information on Master Ting can be found here.

One of Master Ting's long time students, David, is also offering a Tai Chi class. The Tai Chi classes begin October 1, running from 7pm to 8:30pm.

Classes will be held at the Boudinot Elementary School, corner of Pearl and Ellis Streets in Burlington, NJ.
Call 609-387-5895 to register.

To Good Health!!!

Steven Horvitz, D.O.
Board Certified Family Practice
Founder of The Institute For Medical Wellness
128 Borton Landing Road, Suite Two
Moorestown, NJ 08057
Phone 856-231-0590
Fax 856-294-031
www.drhorvitz.com

Fall is here and the time is right for....

2009-09-29T17:36:00.003-04:00

Hear ye, Hear ye !!

I have hereby proclaimed October 2009 as Healthy Weight and Lifestyle month at the Institute For Medical Wellness.

Achieving a healthy weight is more than diet and exercise. It takes skill and good sound advice.

Many an individual presents to my office wanting to lose weight.

The most common phrases I hear include, "But my metabolism is slow", or "I am metabolically challenged".

For these "metabolically challenged" individuals or anyone looking to get to a healthier weight, our wellness plans are a "perfect fit" to convert you to a more metabolically energized life!

The following wellness plans are available:

1) Our Traditional Wellness Plan- $525 yearly fee.

2) Traditional Weight Loss Plan- $750 yearly fee includes our traditional wellness plan along with 5 hours of personal exercise training.

3) Holistic Weight Loss Program- for $999 yearly fee, includes our traditional wellness plan along with our Naturopathic physician Dr. Jennifer Phillips to help you achieve your healthy weight and lifestyle needs.

4) Healthy Weight, Body and Life Program- $1500 yearly fee, being reduced to $1400 thru October 31, 2009. This program includes the Traditional Wellness Plan along with 5 hours of personal exercise training, holistic nutritional guidance from our Naturopathic physician Dr. Jennifer Phillips, a one hour introductory acupuncture session with Paula Andersen, and 3 hours of therapeutic massage with Julie Fischer.

All of the above yearly plans are also available with affordable monthly payment options.

So if you have some excess pounds to lose, and need help or guidance without gimmicks,
look no further than The Institute For Medical Wellness.
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As part of proper diet and nutrition, the Institute For Medical Wellness is proud to offer the following nutritional supplements, available individually or in grouped packages. You can view these supplements here.

Supplements available at The Institute For Medical Wellness include:

Multivitamin: RX Vitamins ReVitalize Iron-free 90 caps - $30

Vitamin-minerals: Carlsons Labs B-12-SubLingual 1000 mcg 90 tabs - $15
Douglas Labs Amino-mag magnesium chelate 100 tabs - $12
RX Vitamins Liquid-D3 2000 IU 1 oz - $18

Fish Oils: Carlson's Labs Finest Fish Oil Omega 3 200 ml - $18
Carlson's Labs Finest Fish Oil Omega 3 500 ml - $36
Carlson's Labs Finest Fish Oil Omega 250 capsules - $42

Probiotics: Integrative Therapeutics Probiotic Pearls Pro Flora Immune 30caps - $15

Urinary Tract: Bio-Tech d-Mannose 50 caps - $15

Misc: Coenzyme Q10- 200mg - 60 tabs-capsules or lozenges - $50

We also have supplement packages available at a discount:

General Health Package:

RX Vitamins ReVitalize Iron-free 90 caps
+
RX Vitamins Liquid-D3 2000 IU 1 oz

Buy these together for $43, a $5 savings

Healthy Immune System Package- may help you get ready for the cold and flu season.

Integrative Therapeutics Probiotic Pearls Pro Flora Immune 30caps
+
RX Vitamins Liquid-D3 2000 IU 1 oz

Buy these together for $28, a $5 savings

Healthy Heart Package:

Coenzyme Q10- 200mg - 60 tabs-capsules or lozenges
+
RX Vitamins Liquid-D3 2000 IU 1 oz
+
Carlson's Labs Finest Fish Oil Omega 3 500 ml or Carlson's Labs Finest Fish Oil Omega 250 capsules.

Buy these together for $97, a $10 savings
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Our massage therapist, Julie, is limbering up for the fall season.

If you are enrolled in a Wellness plan, and have not yet experienced the benefits of massage, you can receive one one-hour massage for $35, or one 1.5 hour massage for $50. That is 50% off regular prices.

Package discounts are also available:

A 3 hour massage package, regularly $210, is now available at a 10% discounted price of $189.

A 5 hour massage package, regularly $350, is now available at a 15% discounted price of $299.
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One of our newer network affiliates is Master Ting, from Silver Tiger Tai Chi in Hainesport. Master Ting is now offering one complimentary Tai Chi session for individuals enrolled in any Institute For Medical Wellness plan. More information on Master Ting can be found here.

One of Master Ting's long time students, David, is also offering a Tai Chi class. The Tai Chi classes begin October 1, running from 7pm to 8:30pm.

Classes will be held at the Boudinot Elementary School, corner of Pearl and Ellis Streets in Burlington, NJ.
Call 609-387-5895 to register.

To Good Health!!!

Steven Horvitz, D.O.
Board Certified Family Practice
Founder of The Institute For Medical Wellness
128 Borton Landing Road, Suite Two
Moorestown, NJ 08057
Phone 856-231-0590
Fax 856-294-0311
www.drhorvitz.com
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I would like to thank everyone for sending me topics for future newsletters. While I am not able to accommodate all the requests, I will continue to try. So keep em coming!!
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Please feel free to forward these newsletters to friends and family.

Lies and Thighs.....

2009-09-04T20:01:00.001-04:00

September 4, 2009

Lies and Thighs .........

First the Lies !!!!!

Pfizer pharmaceuticals pleads guilty to a felony for fraudulent marketing of some prescription medications and will pay record fines amounting to over two billion dollars.

You can read the Department of Justice (DOJ) documents describing the settlement here .

Here are some quotes from our federal government gloating over this news:

First, Kathleen Sebelius, Secretary of Department of Health and Human Services was quoted as saying:

"This historic settlement will return nearly $1 billion to Medicare, Medicaid, and other government insurance programs, securing their future for the Americans who depend on these programs. The Department of Health and Human Services will continue to seek opportunities to work with its government partners to prosecute fraud wherever we can find it. But we will also look for new ways to prevent fraud before it happens. Health care is too important to let a single dollar go to waste."

Next we have Michael L. Levy, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. He is quoted as saying:

"This resolution protects the FDA in its vital mission of ensuring that drugs are safe and effective. When manufacturers undermine the FDA’s rules, they interfere with a doctor’s judgment and can put patient health at risk. The public trusts companies to market their drugs for uses that FDA has approved, and trusts that doctors are using independent judgment. Federal health dollars should only be spent on treatment decisions untainted by misinformation from manufacturers concerned with the bottom line."

Now I have also complained about some of the practices of Big Pharma.

Some of my past newsletters on this subject can be found below:

http://drhorvitz.blogspot.com/2008/10/state-sues-merck-for-deceptive.html

http://drhorvitz.blogspot.com/2008/10/experts-conclude-pfizer-manipulated.html

http://drhorvitz.blogspot.com/2008/09/top-selling-prescription-drug.html

http://drhorvitz.blogspot.com/2008/09/pharmaceutical-advertising-good-or-bad.html

http://drhorvitz.blogspot.com/2008/04/ghostwriters-for-medical-research.html

So I correctly predicted last year that the government would be going after Big money from Big Pharma.

If you think I am skeptical that this will help individuals, then it proves that great minds think alike.

But Why????

Here are questions I would like answered.

Will other pharmaceutical companies change their ways as a result of this judgement?
What will happen to the 2 billion dollars the government receives?
Will the money go where it is intended, back to Medicare and Medicaid???
Are other pharmaceutical companies being investigated as part of a shakedown, and being forced to strike a deal with the federal government to help pass healthcare reform legislation?
Are the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA's) guidelines too difficult and bureaucratic to allow new medications to be brought to market?
Is the FDA itself corrupt?

The timing of this announcement, as the White House likes to say, seems "a little fishy" to me. While Pfizer did break the law, and deserves to be dealt with, I am not so sure there are not other motives.

My solution would be to end third party payment systems that use "other people's money". These systems invite fraud and abuse. Just look at our ever growing federal debt as an example. It is time to bring power away from Big Govt, away from Big Business and Big Corporations, away from Wall Street, and give it back to the individual. Individuals are better at sniffing out fraud, as it is their own money on the line, not "other people's money"! The real problem is how prescriptions are paid. As long as there are third party middlemen with all their rules and regulations, then fraud will occur. The government can better help individuals in need by setting up a "medical food stamps" program, that puts money to be used specifically for healthcare into a bank account for the individual. This would streamline healthcare transactions, and get rid of the third party bureaucracy that invites fraud. If it works well for food, why not healthcare?

But enough about Big Pharma, Big Government and conspiracy theories..........

Bring on the Thighs !!!!!

If you receive this email on your "blackberry", for the best visual effects, please also view on your computer email.

Take a look at the two pictures below. Who has the better chance of living longer?

To help determine the answer, I will refer you to the following article, Thin thighs - maybe not your heart's desire

This article comments on a study which showed that individuals with bigger thighs lived longer than those with smaller thighs. Now the pictures above may be a bit of a stretch when comparing thin thighs to, shall I say, thick thighs, but my take on this study goes back to not how much weight you carry, but where you carry it.

Many of you have heard the distinction between having an apple or pear shaped body. The difference can be seen in the pictures below.

This first side angle picture shows the apple shaped man on the left, with all of his excess weight stored in his abdomen and trunk. Note that his thighs are very thin compared to the rest of his body. The person to the right in the first picture has a pear shaped body, with excess weight more evenly distributed throughout their body.

This middle picture I included just because I liked the picture !!

The third picture shows a frontal view of an apple and pear shaped body.

While many would argue that the thin thighed women is more attractive and healthier, that may not be the case. If you want to read further about this study, it can be found here. Pear shaped bodies tend to live longer as they distribute their fat away from the major vital internal organs, such as the liver and heart.

Pearl from this article: Having a supermodels figure is not always healthy. A healthy weight can not be determined just by getting on a scale. There are many factors that come into play. Here is a previous newsletter about a healthy weight.

So before you say you are unhealthy and put yourself on a diet to "improve your health", look to The Institute For Medical Wellness to make sure you are on the right track. Our goal has always been to give you individualized, non-biased health guidance, regardless of what the so-called experts or majority say.

When we are working with you, only two votes count, ours and yours!!

Best Wishes to All for a happy, healthy and safe Labor Day weekend!!

To Good Health!!!

Steven Horvitz, D.O.
Board Certified Family Practice
Founder of The Institute For Medical Wellness
128 Borton Landing Road, Suite Two
Moorestown, NJ 08057
Phone 856-231-0590
Fax 856-294-0311
http://www.drhorvitz.com/

Also please check out our new Wellness Plans offering more holistic and heart healthy options.

I would like to thank everyone for sending me topics for future newsletters. While I am not able to accommodate all the requests, I will continue to try. So keep em coming!!

Bladder Infections and other things that make me want to ....

2009-08-29T12:41:00.001-04:00

August 29, 2009

One of the more common reasons patient's visit my office is due to bladder infections, otherwise known as cystitis or UTI (urinary tract infection). These infections are much more common in women than in men until later in life and account for over 8 million doctor visits each year.

Symptoms of bladder infections can include:
-Pain or a burning feeling during urination
-A feeling of urgency, or feeling the need to urinate frequently
-An altered appearance of the urine, either bloody (red) or cloudy (containing pus)
-Pain or pressure in the rectum (men) or in the area of the pubic bone (women)
-Passing only a tiny amount of urine even when the urge to urinate is strong

The most common traditional evaluation for these infections include a history and physical exam, along with a urine sample that is tested for signs of an infection.

The most common traditional treatment includes antibiotics to sterilize the bladder contents. While antibiotic treatments usually work, they are not without potential side effects, which can include but are not limited to allergy to the medication, drug interactions, diarrhea and yeast infection.

But what can be done to prevent these infections from occurring in the first place?

-Everyone should drink plenty of water to dilute your urine and help flush out bacteria.
-Avoid coffee, alcohol, and soft drinks containing citrus juices and caffeine until your infection has cleared. They can irritate your bladder and tend to aggravate your frequent or urgent need to urinate.
-Empty your bladder frequently. "Holding in" your urine allows bacteria more time to cause trouble in your bladder before you empty.

For women the following is especially important:
-Wipe from front to back. Doing so after urinating and after a bowel movement helps prevent bacteria in the anal region from spreading to the vagina and urethra.
-Empty your bladder as soon as possible after intercourse. Also, drink a full glass of water to help flush bacteria.
-Avoid potentially irritating feminine products. Using deodorant sprays or other feminine products, such as douches and powders, in the genital area can irritate the urethra.
-Avoid wearing tight clothing such as swimsuits and leotards for long periods.

But if all the above has not worked to prevent an infection, is there something else that can be done without needing antibiotics?

To answer this question, first I must let you know that about 90% of bladder infections are caused by a bacteria called E. Coli.

E Coli causes urinary tract infections by attaching itself to the wall of the bladder. Once stuck, it can reproduce and cause an infection.

So other than antibiotics, is there a way to remove the E. Coli form the bladder wall?

There just happens to be a way to trick the E. Coli into detaching itself from the bladder wall, thereby allowing you to empty your bladder of urine and this pesky bacteria.

This solution is to use a simple sugar called D-Mannose.

This sugar, when ingested, is processed through the body and stored in the bladder. Once in the bladder, D-Mannose makes the bladder wall more difficult for E. Coli to attach to. It is also thought that bacteria enjoy feeding on D-Mannose and detach from the bladder wall to better feed in the urine. The next time you urinate, the E.Coli along with the D-Mannose is flushed out of your bladder.

I have used this treatment in about half a dozen patient's so far with excellent results. Further research has indicated that D-Mannose can be used not only for treatment, but also for prevention of bladder infections.

If you are interested in trying this natural treatment, we now have this nutritional supplement at our office.
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Now what would a newsletter be without another opinion on healthcare reform. I would ask that you read the following opinion article linked here. It describes how the present healthcare reform bill WILL ration care, and will attempt to change the healthcare system to a population or community based system, instead of one that focuses on the individual.

In 2008 I terminated my participation with health insurers, and founded the Institute For Medical Wellness to provide patient-centered healthcare. Any system that puts more power to any third party, whether it be government or an insurer, and away from the individual is a system doomed to fail, as this type of government dominated system will put doctors and patient's on opposing sides. We need a more just system that will extend coverage to the uninsured without degrading quality for everyone, while keeping doctor's and patient's united for better health.

My opinion.

Throw the present proposals and bills in the trash.

The two political parties are diametrically opposed on too many aspects contained in the present bills under review.

Why not instead, have both political parties sit down and write a proposal in no more than 2-3 sentences that they both can agree upon.

Yes I said 2-3 sentences, not over 1000 pages!!

Read the 2-3 sentences, then vote!!

How about these four for starters:

1) End pre-existing conditions- Have the government start a high-risk pool for everyone with pre-existing conditions. Once individuals have health insurance, if they have a pre-existing condition, the government high risk insurance pool will cover those pre-existing conditions for one year, and after one year the private health insurer will again be responsible. This would bring some of the uninsured back to being insured.

2) Allow employers to give tax free money to employees to buy their own coverage. Employers can offer a company plan, but employees may group together with whoever they want to form their own group. This puts the individual in control of their own healthcare, without destroying employer participation. And this makes insurance portable, as it is owned by the individual.

3) Increase competition by allowing individuals and groups to purchase insurance coverage across state lines. If a policy in Nebraska costs $200/month and a policy in New Jersey costs $500/month, let people purchase the Nebraska policy. I do not know the actual rates for either state, but I have seen insurance rates differ dramatically between states.

4) Allow individuals the same tax benefits for healthcare that corporations have.

If we can start with areas we agree, it will be easier to find solutions to those we do not!!

To Good Health!!!

Steven Horvitz, D.O.
Board Certified Family Practice
Founder of The Institute For Medical Wellness
128 Borton Landing Road, Suite Two
Moorestown, NJ 08057
Phone 856-231-0590
Fax 856-294-0311
www.drhorvitz.com

To view previous newsletters

Swine Flu - Should we be worried?

2009-08-21T20:31:00.002-04:00

August 21, 2009

Swine Flu- Should we be worried?

The Swine Flu, now known as the H1N1 flu has already hit our area, and so far has been no worse than the normal seasonal flu. This may be due to the outbreak beginning in the spring, as the weather was warming up. The flu is always at its peak in the winter months, so a springtime start to a flu helps to slow its spread. There are different theories on why the winter months are worse for the flu. One theory I believe has to do with Vitamin D and our immune system. Vitamin D, which our bodies manufacture in response to strong sunlight, is at it highest level during the summer months and at its lowest level during the winter months. Higher Vitamin D levels have been shown to enhance our immune systems abilities to fight off infections, including influenza. So flu's generally hit when our Vitamin D levels are at our lowest level, in the winter months.

There are many questions yet to be answered about this potential outbreak.

1) Is this flu similar or different to the 1918 version?

Some scientists believe the H1N1 flu is similar to a 1918 flu outbreak that killed 50-100 million people worldwide. But, if you ask 5 experts on this subject, you will probably get 7 different answers. What we do know, is that the virulence of the H1N1 flu may be higher than seasonal flu as it is much more capable of reproducing in lung tissue, and thus responsible for the increased hospitalization rates due to pneumonia.

I am waiting on data from the southern hemisphere, where the winter season should be more conducive for the H1N1 virus. If the flu is causing widespread hospitalizations and deaths, moreso than the normal "flu", then I will take it a bit more seriously. Until then, I am cautiously waiting for more true data that I can analyze.

2) Is the government hysteria over this flu warranted and are they giving any recommendations to decrease its spread?

The CDC (Centers for Disease Control), has issued guidelines for businesses and employers to respond to the anticipated 2009-2010 flu season and can be found here. These guidelines deal with workplace recommenddations to reduce the spread of the H1N1 flu. Again, I am waiting on data from the southern hemisphere, where the winter season should be more conducive for the H1N1 virus. If the flu is causing widespread hospitalizations and deaths, moreso than the normal "flu", then I will take it a bit more seriously. Until then, I am cautiously waiting for more true data that I can analyze.

Never letting a potential crisis go to waste, our government has contracted with pharmaceutical companies to ramp up production of an H1N1 vaccine.

I recently came across a quote from the late Robert Novac, which sums up my views on government involvement in healthcare issues.

"Always love your country — but never trust your government!"

There are many more questions I must answer before advising on the need for the H1N1 vaccine, including:

3) Is the vaccine safe?

This question has not been answered because it has not been thoroughly tested. The swine flu vaccine of 1976, caused more problems than the flu did. The British government, aware of those issues, recently wrote a letter to neurologists to be on alert for Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS), a rare nerve disorder which could be triggered by the vaccine. The 1976 swine flu vaccine caused an eight-fold increase in Guillain-Barre cases in the United States, which at its worst can cause respiratory failure and even death. More information about this government letter can be found here.

4) Is the vaccine effective?

Again, this question has not been answered because it has not been thoroughly tested.

5) Are there side effects, and if so what are they?

Again, this question has not been answered because it has not been thoroughly tested.

The World Health Organization, has posted some information on their website as it relates to side effects. One part in particular concerns me, and the quote is as shown:

"Since new technologies are involved in the production of some pandemic vaccines, which have not yet been extensively evaluated for their safety in certain population groups, it is very important to implement post-marketing surveillance of the highest possible quality. In addition, rapid sharing of the results of immunogenicity and post-marketing safety and effectiveness studies among the international community will be essential for allowing countries to make necessary adjustments to their vaccination policies."

Does the word guinea pig strike a chord?

6) Does the vaccine benefit my patients?

Again, this question has not been answered because it has not been thoroughly tested. I am not anti-vaccines, nor am I anti-pharmaceutical companies. I do my best to research each vaccine and company and make my own independent opinion. However there are some physicians who do not like flu vaccines. To present an anti-vaccine physicians opinion, please visit the following website.

7) Are we to ASSUME that this flu season will be better or worse than in previous years?

Have you ever heard the saying, never assume anything, or you could make an -ass- out of -u- and -me-.

8) Do we trust the pharmaceutical companies to produce a safe and effectice vaccine on short notice?

I'll leave you to decide if you have faith in the pharmaceutical companies. I have received the seasonal flu vaccine each of the past fifteen years, and other than some male pattern baldness, have not had any adverse effects. But this is not the seasonal flu vaccine. This is a new vaccine that is being rushed to market. And to increase production in a quick fashion, the vaccine manufacturers are using experimental additives. More on the additives can be found here. This sounds an awful lot like Congress and the Senate trying to rush through health reform without thinking about the consequences. My solution is to first give this new vaccine to all of our elected officials and politicians. Why not use them as the guinea pigs for once?

I prefer to practice medicine on facts, not on fear or emotion. A little extra time spent talking, researching and thinking, can prevent and even cure many problems. So are there other
ways to protect yourself from the flu or from its complications, until we find out more about the swine flu vaccination?

Steps to enhance your immune system such as stress reduction and an increase in exercise may be beneficial.

Many flu related deaths are caused by a secondary pneumonia infection. Recent evidence has shown that decreased stomach acid, resulting from the use of prescription acid reducers, may increase your risk of pneumonia. Please talk to your physician if you are on one of these medications.

Earlier in this newsletter, I wrote about a benefit of Vitamin D. I have been testing vitamin D levels for many years now, and have found the optimal range for good health and hopefully flu prevention is a Vitamin D3 level of greater than 50 ng/ml. If you have not yet had your Vitamin D level tested, please call our office to schedule. If your Vitamin D level is sub-optimal, summertime sun exposure is a cheap and effective way to increase your levels. It only takes about one hour of daily summertime sun exposure to produce Vitamin D.

If you are unable to get adequate summertime sun exposure, my office sells a Vitamin D3 supplement that is cheap and effective. Call for more details.

In conclusion, it is a personal decision about whether to get a swine flu vaccine. At this point I am not recommending them, although I do recommend the seasonal flu vaccine. Hopefully my shipment of seasonal flu vaccine will arrive and be ready in October. I'll be sure to send out an email alerting everyone when they arrive.

I would also like to thank everyone who has forwarded my newsletters to friends and family. We are adding more readers with every edition.

Let me also wish everyone an enjoyable end to the summer, and to getting as much natural Vitamin D production as you can.

To Good Health!

Steven Horvitz, D.O.
Board Certified Family Practice
Founder of The Institute For Medical Wellness
128 Borton Landing Road, Suite Two
Moorestown, NJ 08057
Phone 856-231-0590
Fax 856-294-0311

www.drhorvitz.com

Fish Oil supplements as a potential cure for global warming ???

2009-08-01T00:00:00.009-04:00

August 1, 2009

Fish Oil supplements as a potential cure for global warming ???

I know it sounds far fetched, and I also know there is a lot of debate on whether global warming exists.

And hey, why does it look like Al Gore wearing a clip on his nose?

Please keep reading and humor me for a second....

Let's for a moment or two assume that global warming does exist.

While our politicians debate about global warming, and different options to reduce emissions that contribute to it, can fish oils be helpful?

First a little bit of info on fish oils. Fish oils contain omega-3 fatty acids that have been shown to have many positive effects such as:

--improving good cholesterol (HDL)
--lowering triglycerides
--cancer prevention
--helpful for Bipolar illness
--helpful for Rheumatoid Arthritis
--helpful for Inflammatory Bowel Disease
--less pain and inflammation

I am sure there are other benefits that we have not yet discovered, but will in the future.

I have been taking fish oils for the past 5 years as a supplement to my diet. The brand I use, from Carlson's Labs, has been tested by an independent lab and found free of impurities and toxic chemicals. This is important when you look to a supplement to use. There are other qualities to look for, and please ask at your next visit. If you have trouble finding a fish oil supplement, we do have Carlson's Fish Oils available at our office in both capsule and liquid form.

But let me get back to fish oils as it relates to global warming.

Wouldn't it be nice to be able to improve your health and help prevent global warming at the same time?

Well, some researchers may have found a way, at least with cows !!

Huh????

Here is an excerpt form an online article in Natural News:

(NaturalNews) Adding fish oil to the diets of cows and other ruminants may significantly reduce the amount of methane that the animals emit via belching or flatulence, according to a study conducted by researchers from University College Dublin and presented at a meeting of the Society for General Microbiology.

Their theory is that adding fish oils to cow feed reduces the amount of bacteria that produce methane gas. This methane, when released in the form of belching or flatulence, is one of the leading global warming gases on our planet. More fish oils, less methane in cow flatulence, less global warming. So if we believe this theory, the above list of uses for fish oils now looks like this:

--improving good cholesterol (HDL)
--lowering triglycerides
--cancer prevention
--Bipolar illness
--Rheumatoid Arthritis
--Inflammatory Bowel Disease
--less pain and inflammation
--REDUCES GLOBAL WARMING

Personally, I feel a better cure for global warming would be to stop all the gases coming out of our Washington, D.C. politicians. They are a truer cause of global warming!!

Send then home to get real jobs, not government jobs that allow them to follow their own special rules, instead of what everyone else follows!

By the way, be sure to ask your senators and representatives if they will accept the same healthcare options that they want you, the American public to take?

When they say no, doesn't that tell you something????

It tells me that something smells in Washington, D.C. !!!!

Please visit www.freeourhealthcarenow.com and sign the petition to keep the government out of your healthcare. So far, the petition has almost 1 million signatures. If you have already signed, please forward to all your friends and family.

To Good Health!!!

Steven Horvitz, D.O.
Board Certified Family Practice
Founder of The Institute For Medical Wellness
128 Borton Landing Road, Suite Two
Moorestown, NJ 08057
Phone 856-231-0590
Fax 856-294-0311
www.drhorvitz.com

Healthcare Reform - Is it Gloom and Doom for Seniors?

2009-07-26T19:52:00.003-04:00

July 26, 2009

Healthcare Reform - Is it Gloom and Doom for Seniors?

I apologize in advance if the purpose of this newsletter is once again reform, but with the daily debates in Washington about overhauling the healthcare system, I feel I have no choice.

Let me be clear.

Our healthcare system needs reform, but the reform must start at home and not in Washington. I founded the Institute For Medical Wellness because the present third party insurance, government and corporate dominance of our healthcare system is unsustainable and detrimental to high quality patient-centered care. I removed myself from the system to be able to provide the patient-centered care that you deserve, not the care that a insurance or government bureaucrat feels you are worth. The present reform bills in Washington, both House and Senate, are focused not on improving care, but on controlling costs by putting more roadblocks into obtaining medical care. These reform proposals aim to incrementally and permanently move individuals and businesses into a government controlled system. This has already been tried in Massachusetts and Tennessee and has not worked, with the costs of the programs and waiting time for medical care both rising exponentially. When government medical costs rise, taxes rise and rationing of care soon follows. In a freer market based system, where individuals have more control of their healthcare decisions and dollars, medical costs and waiting times decrease as medical innovation increases. As costs decrease, care becomes more affordable and accessible to all. Look to the car industry. The cost of a new car today is about the cost of a new car a decade ago. This is not due to government intervention, but due to free market economics. On the other hand, Medicare and Medicaid , both government programs that fix costs, thereby not a free market, have had tremendous costs increases.

At the present time, I participate in Traditional Medicare. But the reform proposals aim to change the Medicare system, and not in a way that is good for patient care. When I stopped participating in insurance plans, some of the plans paid me better than Medicare, some worse. I did not risk my practice due to payments from insurers being too low. I dropped the insurers because they were meddling in the care that I needed to provide. Presently Medicare does not have these roadblocks. Under the present reform proposals, that will all change, and I truly fear for the medical care of seniors. Senior citizens will bear the biggest brunt of the reform due to cuts to Medicare of half a trillion dollars over the next ten years. These cuts will happen even though Medicare enrollment is expected to increase by 30% as the "Baby Boomers" become eligible. So how do we improve care, cut the budget to pay for this care, all while having people enrolled in this care increase by 30%? We can not! The math just does not add up!!

No, you have it wrong doc.

That is not what the reform bill is all about.

We will all get access to better healthcare.

Sorry, but that is just political rhetoric. One of the OBama administrations healthcare advisors, Zeke Emmanuel, has written extensively that the elderly should get less care, especially for incurable illnesses such as dementia, because, they "no longer contribute to society." The following is a quote from Dr Emmanuel:

"An obvious example is not guaranteeing health services to patients with dementia. A less obvious example Is is guaranteeing neuropsychological services to ensure children with learning disabilities can read and learn to reason."

Sorry Mom and Dad.

Sorry Grandma and Grandpa.

It was nice knowing you !!

Sorry children. You do not deserve the chance to learn to read and reason!!

I am sorry, but this is not reform, and is not the type of healthcare I expect from our country! This is a planned political medical power grab and medical rationing by the government. Any other conclusions or statements to the contrary is rhetoric, outright lies and deceptions.

There are better ways that benefit individuals and business of all size to better afford medical care, while keeping medical freedoms. Some proposals I agree with are listed below:

1) Allow individuals and small businesses to band together to negotiate better rates with insurance companies.
2) Allow insurance companies to sell policies across state lines. This will increase cost competition and hopefully end state mandates that lead to higher insurance rates.
3) Allow individuals the same tax deductibility for health insurance and healthcare that businesses now enjoy.
4) Decrease defensive medical costs by passing tort reform. Many doctors order tests that may be unnecessary for fear of getting sued. Patient's truly injured by medical malpractice will still be able to sue for damages, but the frivolous lawsuits must be ended.
5) We need more HSA's, (Health Savings Accounts), tied to higher deductible or catastrophic insurance policies. These policies are much, much cheaper than present policies, allow tax free savings for medical care, and protect from medical bankruptcies. It also puts the power of the healthcare decision making and the power of the healthcare dollar back in the hands of the patient, and away from insurers and government bureaucrats.
6) End pre-existing condition clauses in health insurance.
7) Make health insurance portable and not tied to employment. If individuals are allowed to band together as a group to negotiate better insurance rates, why do we need employers to do it for us? Allow employers to give employees, as part of their compensation package, tax free money to purchase their own coverage, if they do not like the coverage offered by their employer. If the government wants to help, they can cover part of the costs of coverage if an individual is between jobs.

There are many other suggestions for reform, the key point in reform is to allow the power of healthcare to remain with the individual, and not a government or third party. If the present reform package becomes law, I truly fear for the health of our country! We need reform that will restore the doctor-patient relationship as the predominant factor in healthcare!! Ask yourself, "Who do you trust to help you make healthcare decisions? Your doctor or Washington politicians??

If you care about healthcare choice and healthcare freedom, I strongly urge that you visit the following website, http://www.defendyourhealthcare.us/ , which contains more in-depth information on the present reform proposals. Please do not be left on the sideline, or say it is too late to stop these reforms. You may agree or disagree with the views on the above website, but you need to be informed, and make certain that your political representatives hear from you!

Steven Horvitz, D.O.
Board Certified Family Practice
Founder of The Institute For Medical Wellness
128 Borton Landing Road, Suite Two
Moorestown, NJ 08057
Phone 856-231-0590
Fax 856-294-0311
http://www.drhorvitz.com/

You call that Healthcare Reform???

2009-07-21T16:02:00.002-04:00

July 21, 2009

We are all hearing alot of hubbub about healthcare reform.

This is too important a topic, so let me speak on this subject for just a moment.

First a little background. I grew up in my father's medical office, back in the 70's when an office visit was $8 and when you paid your bill, you left with a smile and a lollypop. I watched these interactions with patient's. I saw trust and confidence that the doctor-patient interaction was always all about the patient. There were no third party intermediaries.

Fast-forward to 2009. The healthcare system has changed. Some have said the sytem has been stolen by special interests. Physicians and hospitals, in agreeing to work with government and private insurance plans, have all but given up control of the healthcare system. When in the 70's, medical decisions were made by the doctor and the patient, now these decisions need to go through bureaucratic entanglements that place your medical care outside the scope of your physcian. The doctor-patient interaction has now become the doctor-insurer-bureaucrat-actuary-patient interaction.

For example:

If you need an MRI, it is no longer as simple as getting a doctor's prescription, making the appointment and getting it done. Now, the MRI "request" has to be pre-authorized by your insurance plan. You can not make the appointment until this pre-authorization has occured. This pre-authorization is just one set of guidelines that slow down the acquisition of care, and in many cases deny it altogether. Your insurance plan is not examining you, yet is somehow is able to deny you care your doctor wants you to have!

If you need a prescription medication that is not generic, most likely it will not be "On Formulary". This means that you have no coverage for this medication and your insurer will offer to switch to a cheaper drug, all to save money for the insurance plan. What if using an alternative insurance approved medicine does not work, and you end up worse, or even needing hospitalization? Saving money is wonderful, if it is effective and in the best interests of each individual patient. But these rules are not for patient's benefit, but for the benefit of the power holding the dollar, in this case, the insurance plan.

Insurance companies AND government regulators are playing doctor with your health. They have power and control over how your healthcare dollar is spent. Your insurer's goal is to make a profit off of your insurance premiums and to spend as little as possible, even if it means delaying or denying care. The government's goal is to spend as little as possible and meddle in your healthcare decisions to attain that objective. Now, I have no problem with saving money. There is a lot of waste in healthcare. But this waste began when the third parties, the government and health insurers inserted themselves into the medical decision making process. If our system is ever to change for the better, we need these third parties out of our exam rooms. We need health insurance to once again be insurance, that covers large bills, or catastrophic costs, so medical illness will never cause one to lose their home. We do not need them in our exam rooms telling doctors and patient's what tests to run or what treatment to prescribe.

The supermajority of doctor's are for reform of the present system. We want to get back to where decisions are made solely between doctor's and patient's. While I can not speak for all doctor's, I can speak for myself. In fact I did it with my pen and my feet 2 years ago, when I terminated my contracts with insurers, and founded The Institute For Medical Wellness. This was the only way I knew to be able to work solely for you, without any third party intruder. Many more doctor's are now starting to follow my lead.

You may have heard that the AMA (American Medical Association) has given their support to the present healthcare bill going through committees in Congress. Let me make it known that I have never been a member of the AMA, and I do NOT support the present bills. These bills give more power to bureaucrats, and less to patients and doctors and will only make the system worse and more costly. The AMA, unfortunately, is a political organization, that does not necessarily represent doctor's, but actually represents it's own corporation. The AMA makes millions of dollars selling and licensing medical coding books to sell to doctor's and hospitals. These coding books contribute to the massive overhead of the present third party system. So any reformed system that continues this coding system, will benefit the AMA's corporation, thus their apparent support of the present reforms being debated. Physician's have finally wised up and are quitting the AMA in droves. A recent poll on Sermo, a doctor's only website, has over 94% of physicians against the present healthcare reform package. So when you hear in the media that doctors are for the present reform package, it is untrue. The AMA does not speak for nor represent physicians.

If healthcare reform is to work, patient's and physicians must unite. If healthcare reform is to work, the power of the healthcare dollar needs to be returned to individuals. Health insurance must once again be insurance, and not healthplans with thousands of strings attached. Patient's must have choices in insurance and physicians. Third party involvement in the exam room must end! Unfortunately, the present reform bills want the opposite, less patient choice, more third party bureaucracy, and decreased patient-physician autonomy. Too much power of the healthcare dollar in the hands of any third party, whether it be an insurer or government agency will harm our system beyond repair.

There is a better way, and it is why in 2008 I started The Institute For Medical Wellness. We act as your personal health advocate, not that of your insurance company. You receive personalized, individualized care without regards to any third party. We are an independent practice committed to offering the absolute best care- without compromise.

Now to get off my soapbox, I would like to announce a new offer at The Institute For Medical Wellness. As many of you already know, Julie Fischer has been providing therapeutic massage services for the past few months. She would like to extend a special birthday offer. A one hour massage is regularly $70. But during your birthday month, you can receive this 1 hour massage for only $45. We are confident that once you have tried Julie's massage, you will come back for more.

I would also like to remind you of our new Wellness Plans, which may include holistic, nutritional, and heart healthy options. They can be found here.

To Good Health!

Steven Horvitz, D.O.
Board Certified Family Practice
Founder of The Institute For Medical Wellness
128 Borton Landing Road, Suite Two
Moorestown, NJ 08057
Phone 856-231-0590
Fax 856-294-0311

www.DrHorvitz.com

A few extra pounds, Good or Bad ???

2009-07-05T21:54:00.004-04:00

July 6, 2009

I came across an interesting article from Reuters news service. My comments will follow.

A few extra pounds can add years to your life: study
Wed Jun 24, 2009 4:04am EDT

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Carrying a little extra weight may actually be good for you, according to a Canadian study that showed a few pounds appear to protect people from an early death. Researchers found that while underweight and extremely obese people die earlier than people of a normal weight, people who are slightly overweight actually live longer than those of a normal weight. The findings of the new study were published online in the journal Obesity by researchers at Statistics Canada, Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research, Portland State University, Oregon Health & Science University, and McGill University.

To read the entire Reuters article... http://www.reuters.com/article/lifestyleMolt/idUSTRE55N0C720090624?sp=true

Interesting study. I read only part of this article the first time I saw it. I was too busy eating my Five Guys Burger and Fries!!

Mmm Mmm Good !!!

But back on topic...

To understand this study better, let me first introduce you to medical definitions from the NIH (National Institutes of Health) that helps to determine if a person is overweight. The method that experts believe is best is to measure a person's body mass index (BMI). BMI is a calculation derived from your height and weight. A calculator to determine your BMI can be found at http://www.nhlbisupport.com/bmi/

Adults with a BMI between 25 and 29.9 are considered overweight. There are exceptions. For example, an athlete may have a higher BMI but not be overweight.

Adults with a BMI greater than 30 are considered obese.

Anyone more than 100 pounds overweight is considered morbidly obese.

My electronic medical record is able to calculate your BMI for you. Just ask the next time you are at the office.

So is evaluating your health as simple as placing you into the following categories of underweight, average, or overweight?

No !!

Does looking like magazine supermodels make us healthy?

I'll answer that for you as well. NO!!! Most supermodels are underweight and even malnourished. Many have eating disorders. So while they may have fame and fortune, they do not necessarily have their "health".

So what does weight have to with health??

First you must answer why I chose this topic for a newsletter?

1) I was bored and felt like writing
2) My daughter is away at overnight camp, which left me with more free time.
3) It is important to advise my practice that while weight management is important for your overall health, the "number of pounds" that you weigh is only one indicator of you overall health.
4) I am trying to promote the idea that health and wellness is more than just monitoring your weight.

The answer is all of the above !!!

At The Institute For Medical Wellness, we use different methods and also different types of healthcare professionals to help you determine your overall health risk factors. Your weight is one factor. Your lab results may be another. What about your diet and exercise? Yes, we use that as well. Family History?? Extremely important!! I could go on and on, but then I may be giving away too many of my trade secrets ; )

But one thing we do, and do well, is think outside the box when it comes to your care. So before you say you are unhealthy and put yourself on a diet to "improve your health", look to The Institute For Medical Wellness to make sure you are on the right track. Our goal has always been to give you individualized, non-biased health guidance, regardless of what the so-called experts or majority say. When we are working with you, only two votes count, ours and yours!!

To Good Health !!!

Steven Horvitz, D.O.
Board Certified Family Medicine
Founder of The Institute For Medical Wellness
128 Borton Landing Road, Suite Two
Moorestown, NJ 08057
Phone 856-231-0590
Fax 856-294-0311
http://www.drhorvitz.com/

So Easy A Caveman Can Do It ???

2009-05-27T20:47:00.000-04:00

May 27, 2009

So easy a caveman can do it??

No that is not my college yearbook picture !!! Although I would not mind the hair ; )

It is the popular caveman from the Geico commercials. In the commercials, the caveman acts like a normal everyday 21st century individual, until he sees the Geico slogan, "So easy a caveman can do it". Then he gets annoyed and I don't blame him.

But what does this have to do with your health?

Let me explain.

It is now 2009, and it goes without saying that we are more technologically advanced than our caveman ancestors. We have hospitals, doctors, surgeons and antibiotics. We have nurses, therapists, and a whole host of other healthcare providers, (just look at our Wellness Network), to help treat and cure disease. Our healthcare choices are plentiful. That may change if the federal government passes new healthcare legislation, but let me get back on topic.

So are we healthier than the caveman?

NOPE !!!!

Let me explain.

While we are more technologically advanced than our caveman ancestors, we still share over 99% of their DNA. So in essence, we are not that different, just more civilized? I know, another off-topic conversation.

Our 21st century diet and lifestyle are much different than our ancestors and not necessarily for the better!

Today I will focus on diet.

Our caveman ancestors lived off the earth and were known as hunter-gatherers. They did not go to Wegmans for their produce, Papa Johns for their pizza, or make reservations for dinner. They hunted and gathered for all their food on a daily basis. Their diet is said to have consisted of fresh fruits and vegetables, greens, nuts and seeds, as well as hunted wild game. They ate fish and foraged for eggs. Their nutritional status was heads and tails above present day man. Their foods contained no preservatives or added hormones. Today's processed foods, while having a long shelf life, easy to read nutritional labels and easy to prepare microwave instructions, has far less nutritional value than fresh food. Less nutrients in today's diet set us up for many Diet Related Diseases or DRD's. I am sure you have heard of the following DRD's:

Obesity
High Blood Pressure
High Cholesterol
Diabetes
Arthritis

There are many others but I think I made my point.

Oh well, I am on a roll so I'll make another point!

Did cavemen eat Cheerios? Bagels? Ice Cream? Pepsi? Pizza? ............. NO!

How bout eggs? apples? tomatoes? fish? chicken? .............. YES !!

Pearl of the day:

If you want to improve on, or prevent your Diet Related Diseases,

the solution may be,

"So easy a caveman can do it".

Steven Horvitz, D.O.
Board Certified Family Medicine
Founder of The Institute For Medical Wellness
128 Borton Landing Road, Suite Two
Moorestown, NJ 08057
Phone 856-231-0590
Fax 856-294-0311
http://www.drhorvitz.com/

To celebrate the end of the school year, for the month of June, all schoolteachers can receive $10 off a 1 hour massage, or $15 off a 1.5 hour massage from Julie Fischer, our certified massage therapist at The Institute For Medical Wellness. And if you refer a friend for a massage, you both will receive $5 off your next massage.

To view previous newsletters
To view Insitute For Medical Wellness Network events

Cheers or Jeers for Cheerios??

2009-05-17T16:54:00.002-04:00

Excerpts From Yahoo News

Popular cereal is a drug, US food watchdog says

Tue May 12, 10:05 pm ET

WASHINGTON (AFP) – Popular US breakfast cereal Cheerios is a drug, at least if the claims made on the label by its manufacturer General Mills are anything to go by, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has said.

"Based on claims made on your product's label, we have determined that your Cheerios Toasted Whole Grain Oat Cereal is promoted for conditions that cause it to be a drug," the FDA said in a letter to General Mills which was posted on the federal agency's website Tuesday.
Cheerios labels claim that eating the cereal can help lower bad cholesterol, a risk factor for coronary heart disease, by four percent in six weeks.

Citing a clinical study, the product labels also claim that eating two servings a day of Cheerios helps to reduce bad cholesterol when eaten as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol, the FDA letter says.

Those claims indicate that Cheerios -- said by General Mills to be the best-selling cereal in the United States -- is intended to be used to lower cholesterol and prevent, lessen or treat the disease hypercholesterolemia, and to treat and prevent coronary heart disease.

The rest of the Yahoo News article can be found here.

Now how silly is this?

Doesn't the FDA have anything better to do than go after the number one sold cereal in the country?

Is accusing Cheerios of being an illegally marketed drug just a little bit over the top?

I can see the news headlines.

Just Say No to Cheerios !!!!

Let us look at how silly this is on many levels, as Cheerios claims and the FDA's claims are both inaccurate.

Cholesterol, by itself, does not cause heart disease, although it can be used as a marker for heart disease. Taking cholesterol lowering drugs makes it more difficult to stratify your level of heart disease risk by masking your true cholesterol levels. If you knock out a radar station, does that mean that incoming missiles will be prevented? Just because you do not see the missiles coming in (high cholesterol levels on your bloodwork), does not mean they are not there. I use cholesterol levels taken off of medication to be a truer reading of risk.

Cheerios, being a processed carbohydrate, will raise your sugar levels, thereby raising your insulin levels, which leads to an increase in vascular inflammation in your arteries. This will increase your risk of heart disease. Not exactly what Cheerios advertises!!

Lowering bad cholesterol (LDL) without knowing your good cholesterol (HDL), triglycerides, and total cholesterol is not helpful. So any statement about lowering your bad cholesterol, without mentioning the effects on your good cholesterol, is misleading. Don't believe what you see advertised on food, especially if approved of by the FDA. Approvals are based more on politics and profits than health.

I have found the lowest heart disease risk in patient's whose Total Cholesterol divided by their Good Cholesterol (HDL) is below 4. The higher risk individuals have this ratio above 5. I have also seen many people lower their bad cholesterol, but also lower their good cholesterol and actually increase their heart disease risk. This can happen more frequently when on a low fat diet.

Who do you think has the lower risk of heart disease based on cholesterol levels alone?

Patient #1) Total Cholesterol = 240
HDL Cholesterol = 60
LDL Cholesterol = 145
Triglycerides = 110

Patient #2) Total Cholesterol = 180
HDL Cholesterol = 30
LDL Cholesterol = 115
Triglycerides = 100

Answers will appear later.

My opinion....

The FDA is playing games with the food industry and the public and I am not sure of their intentions. In the past, the FDA almost always tended to side with big business to promote sales of their products. In fact, the FDA food pyramid, which was formulated by our federal government with backing from all the major food industries, has for years encouraged an abundance of carbohydrates in the diet, with cereals produced by American industry at the forefront. This is not my view of the healthiest way to eat, and it has contributed to an increase in heart disease. But things are now changing in Washington. The FDA appears to be going after certain industries that were previously immune. When I figure out why the change of heart, I will be sure to let you know.

As for the purported health claims that Cheerios will lower your risk of heart disease, if you believe that I have a bridge in Brooklyn I would like to sell you!! Cheerios is a processed man-made breakfast food product, made up primarily of processed carbohydrates. As previously mentioned, processed carbohydrates, when eaten in abundance has been linked to an increase in heart disease, as well as obesity and diabetes. My suggestion is to pass on Cheerios, as well as most processed cereals.

OK, so getting back to my cholesterol quiz, which patient has a lower risk of heart disease based solely on cholesterol measurements?

Patient #1 has higher levels of all the cholesterol components and triglycerides. Patient #1 also has a ratio of 240/60 = 4.0

Patient #2 has lower levels of all the cholesterol components and triglycerides. Patient #1 has a ratio of 180/30 = 6.0

The envelope please.............

Patient #1 has a lower risk of heart disease based on the ratio of 4.0 . Why??The HDL or good cholesterol, in theory goes through the body and scavenges up or cleans up after the bad cholesterol or LDL. The best way to improve your ratio is too lower your processed carbohydrate intake, increase your healthy fat, protein and fiber intake, increase your exercise, and if able supplement with fish oils. This will raise the amount of good cholesterol (HDL) and lower your ratio to healthier levels.

For more information, or too develop a personalized wellness plan to include tips on healthy eating, please schedule your annual wellness exam.

As Ben Franklin once said, " An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure! "

Steven Horvitz, D.O.
Board Certified Family Medicine
Founder of The Institute for Medical Wellness
128 Borton Landing Road, Suite Two
Moorestown, NJ 08057
Phone: 856-231-0590
Fax: 856-294-0311

For more information about Dr. Horvitz and The Institute for Medical Wellness.
To view upcoming Wellness Network Events.
For previous newsletters.

High Blood Pressure- What treatments are best for you?

2009-05-05T14:00:00.002-04:00

May 2, 2009

High Blood Pressure, also known as Hypertension is said to affect 1 in 3 U.S. adults, or about 73 million Americans over the age of 20. It has been called the "silent killer" as many people have this condition for years without ever knowing it. So what is the problem?? Well, untreated high blood pressure leads to an increased risk for heart disease, stroke, congestive heart failure, kidney failure, peripheral artery disease, and aortic aneurysms.

So, just what is blood pressure and what do the numbers mean? When we measure blood pressure we record two readings. The top number is the systolic pressure. This is the pressure generated when the heart contracts (pumps). It reflects the pressure of the blood against arterial walls. The bottom number is the diastolic pressure. This is the pressure when the heart is filling and relaxing between beats. The so called average blood pressure for an adult is 120/80, but each adult may have a different "normal" blood pressure. High blood pressure in adults is defined as a consistently elevated blood pressure of 140 mm Hg systolic and 90 mm Hg diastolic or higher.

It is important that your blood pressure be taken accurately. Improper size cuffs, calcified arteries and arm positioning can give false readings. If your blood pressure is elevated on 3 consecutive readings on different days or if your systolic pressure is 160 or above, or your diastolic pressure is 105 or above, treatment is indicated.

OK, so what treatment or approach is right for you?

There are many different treatments available and medications that can be used, but I prefer to use medications only after lifestyle changes are explained, taught and implemented. One of the reasons I started the Institute For Medical Wellness was to give my patient's more choice in the treatments available. Medications when used properly are safe and effective. But exercise, lifestyle changes and proper diet can also bring many high blood pressure readings back to normal.
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For a Naturopathic perspective on high blood pressue, Dr Jennifer Phillips, affiliate of The Institute For Medical Wellness has prepared the following:

Naturopathic approach to hypertension

High blood pressure (hypertension) is one of the leading causes of disability or death due to stroke, heart attack, heart failure and kidney failure. It's also the most common chronic illness Americans face. Despite the importance of these observations, blood pressure is poorly controlled in the United States. An estimated 25% of all American adults have high blood pressure, and only 27% have it under control. Conventional drug therapy consists of Diuretics, ACE inhibitors, Beta-blockers, Vasodilators, and Calcium-channel blockers. Side effects of these meds can include fatigue, depression, weight gain, and bone loss, so many patients are eager to find alternatives. If you are one of these patients, read on!
Diet Priniciples

Diet should be low in sugar, high in complex-carbohydrates (such as whole fruits and vegetables). Grains should only be eaten in moderation (3 or fewer servings daily, and only whole grains), nuts, seeds, legumes (beans), fish. Meat and poultry should be limited to free-range and/or organic varieties to avoid chemicals and hormones. Increase foods rich in potassium, calcium and magnesium (carrots, spinach, celery, alfalfa, mushrooms, lima beans, potatoes, avocados, broccoli, and most fruits). Salt restriction may be indicated for some types of hypertension, but not all types. I recommend salting food to taste after cooking, and use only natural sea salt. A diet rich in garlic and onion is as important as any other supplements, so be prepared to smell like an Italian restaurant!

Life-style Changes
Weight loss -- The United States is in the midst of an epidemic of obesity involving more than one-third of the adult population. Weight gain is very high risk in determination of hypertension. It is very critical to lose weight in a slow fashion to control hypertension. Rapid weight loss is not advised. Many studies have shown those overweight-hypertensive patients can reduce their medication with weight loss.

Exercise -- Sedentary people have a 35% greater risk of developing hypertension than athletes do. Keep in mind that people with hypertension should always consult with their physician (ie Dr. Horvitz or a cardiologist) before starting a new exercise program.

Good Sleep Habits -- Insufficient sleep can contribute to high blood pressure in hypertensive people. Are you getting your 8-10 hours each night?

Stress reduction - Stress management and relaxation techniques such as meditation can help in controlling high blood pressure. I feel that hypertension is similar to a pressure cooker- but a pressure cooker always has a valve to let off steam. If we don’t have a valve to "let off steam" or a way to prevent the pressure from rising, then our internal blood pressure goes up!

Specific Supplements
Supplements that have been clinically studied and shown to reduce blood pressure include: Magnesium, Potassium, Coenzyme Q10, Omega-3 Oils, Vitamins C and E; amino acids L-arginine and Taurine; herbs such as Hawthorn, Arjuna, Olive leaf, and Garlic.

You are advised to consult with a naturopathic physician to check for interactions between supplements and medication before embarking on any supplement plan that may reduce blood pressure, especially if you are currently taking medication. In my own practice I have helped many patients reduce or eliminate medication through natural means. The changes also help to reduce other cardiovascular disease risk factors, so the benefit is not just limited to blood pressure.
Jennifer Phillips, ND

If you would like to consult with Dr. Jennifer Phillips, she evaluates patients at my office on Thursdays.

For more information about Dr. Jenn.
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Have you ever had a massage and felt rejuvenated after? Julie Fischer, our massage therapist has the following thoughts on the benefits of massage on high blood pressure.

The lasting health benefits of massage are many, and yet it is often thought of as a luxury. In fact, studies have confirmed that one of the most effective ways of lowering high blood pressure is through receiving massage on a consistent basis. After a few weeks of regular massage, profound effects are found in groups of people who had been struggling to improve their heart's health. Blood Pressure levels are significantly lowered, levels of stress hormones decrease, and feelings of general well being return. As is the intent with all massage programs, the ultimate goal lies in a pain free and relaxing lifestyle. Controlling blood pressure is just one of the many benefits of massage therapy.

As a way to introduce Julie's massage skills, and hopefully bring or keep your blood pressure to a healthier level, she is now offering the following promotions:

Mini Massage! No time for a full session? Come by for a 15 or 30 minute refresher for your back, neck and shoulders! Feel the tension and stress release during your lunch break or between appointments in your busy day. Return to your schedule energized and renewed after this fully clothed, oil free mini massage. Be sure to call ahead to check time availability.

$20 - 15 minutes
$40 - 30 minutes

Relax Packages:
5 massage package 10% off
10 massage package 15% off
*must be used within 6 months

Healthy glow plan:
1 hour session per week - $250 monthly rate

Referral special:
Refer a friend for a first time visit, and receive $5 off of your next massage!
*Make sure your friend lets us know you are the referral source so that we can thank you!

Mothers Day Gift Certificates available!
What better way to show your appreciation than with a gift of renewal! Whether she chooses Thai, Hot Stone, Deep Tissue or Swedish, she will receive a healing treatment that will feel like absolute pampering.

Lockheed Martin employees -
Show your corporate ID and receive $5 off a 1 hour massage and $10 off a 2 hour massage!

For more information about Julie's sevices.
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Proper exercise can also play a key roll in controlling blood pressure. Andy Dick of Optimum Fitness has prepared the following:

Regular exercise is a great way to naturally lower your blood pressure and keep it regulated and nearly any form of regular exercise is proven to help. Both cardiovascular (running, biking, etc…) and strength training has been proven effective in controlling blood pressure. While diet alone can accomplish this, exercise has the added advantage of getting your heart involved in the work. Plus, while you are burning calories, your are also maintaining and/or improving your muscle tone. Regular exercise improves your circulation and allows your body to more efficiently use oxygen in the bloodstream. Sweating out excess amounts of stored water and sodium in the body during exercise can help regulate some of the important components in the body that contribute to high blood pressure. Exercise forces the body to release insulin, which lowers sodium, which helps to lower blood pressure naturally. Any exercise is good, so my advice would be start on any program that you will enjoy and that fits your lifestyle and personality.

Andy Dick

Please feel free to take advantage of a special offer available only to patients in Dr. Horvitz's Wellness Programs at The Institute for Medical Wellness: Enjoy a free initial consultation that will include body composition analysis, goal setting, program planning, and a comprehensive question and answer session to go over all of your concerns. After this, members of Dr. Horvitz’ Wellness Program are able to take advantage of an introductory 2 for 1 training package to get started. This is a $120 value for only $60 to get you on your way to a better, more rounded lifestyle.

For more information on Andy's services.
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High Blood Pressure has many different causes, and many different treatments. You should never feel forced or coerced into any one treatment plan. At The Institute For Medical Wellness, we will work with you to find the treatment plan that meets the following criteria:

It is Safe, Healthy, and will make you Happy!!

Steven Horvitz, D.O.
Board Certified Family Medicine
Founder of The Institute for Medical Wellness
128 Borton Landing Road, Suite Two
Moorestown, NJ 08057
Phone: 856-231-0590
Fax: 856-294-0311

For more information about Dr. Horvitz and The Institute for Medical Wellness.

To view upcoming Wellness Network Events.

For previous newsletters.

www.DrHorvitz.com

Institute For Medical Wellness Vision

2009-04-27T09:19:00.005-04:00

April 27, 2009

I have often been asked how and why I developed The Institute For Medical Wellness.

So here goes.

It all came down to following my vision of what makes a true Family Physician and developing a practice with this mission. This vision has been shaped and reshaped over the past 18 years. Upon graduation from medical school in 1991, and completing an internship and residency in Family Practice in 1994, I felt very well trained to begin my career. My first four years were spent working for another family physician with two offices. One was based in Cherry Hill and the other in North Camden. During those years I matured alot as an individual and as a physician. I learned that being a physician is not just about diagnosis and treatments. It is about building relationships based on trust and mutual respect.

My goal since childhood has always been to have a private practice. So in 1998 I started my own solo private practice in Moorestown. At the time I was told by a majority of physicians that I would never succeed. The prevailing thought in 1998 was that independent medical practices were too risky. In 1998, hospitals were buying up independent practices and physicians became employees of large hospital orgaizations. Well, if you do not know me well yet, I have my own views, many of them contrarian. I do not believe that the majority opinion is always correct. I also do not always play well with others, so an independent practice was my best career decision and I have never looked back and never regretted it.

Now starting a practice from scratch was not easy, but it was the right thing for me. It was slow the first year, but by the second and third year, things were moving along nicely. I was busy enough to be happy, but not so busy that I couldn't take the time necessary for each patient, as well as have enough time for my own family. Health insurance companies were strong, but they were not yet planting themselves between me and my patient's. But year after year insurance companies started requiring more and more bureaucratic nonsense in order for the proper delivery of care. Back in 2004-5 I stopped participating with 2 health plans due to their nonsense. My practice grew nonetheless. But again, each year brought more bureaucratic and governmental regulations that hindered the proper delivery of care. Referalls, preauthorizations, precertifications, electronic billing, HIPPA, and many others were not part of running an efficient and effective medical office when I started medical school. But this is what happens when Big Business and Big Government takes control of your healthcare.

In 2007, I was at a crossroads. My career goal was not to be the richest or poorest physician, but to be the best physician I could be. I explored two opportunities. One would have meant joining a large group practice that would deal with all the bureaucratic nonsense for me. The other was to convert my practice to a Concierge model. Both had many advantages, but also came with one big disadvantage, that being loss of control of how my practice is run. And as I stated before, I do not play well with others. So I needed another direction. I needed a practice model that fit my views of proper patient care and yet still remain viable in the community. So I brainstormed and put together the vision of The Institute For Medical Wellness. Special thanks to my wife, my daughter Nori, and great friend Ivy for all your help with bringing a name to my vision.

So in January 2008, The Institute For Medical Wellness was born and has been growing and evolving every day. It has not been all smooth sailing, and I have hit some bumps along the way, but overall I am moving in the right direction. Being in practice for 18 years, I have become more realistic in my views on medical care. I have learned that traditional medical care does not have all the answers. So while I received a traditional medical school education, my views now also include holistic approaches. In the treatment or prevention of illness, we need first to do it safely and effectively. I do not like to order tests just to order tests. I do not prescribe medications just for the sake of medications or expediency. I do not like calling in a prescription over the phone without a proper evaluation. That is not the best care I can provide. When I do prescribe medications or order tests, it will be the least amount necessary to do the job right. More is not necessarily better when it comes to medical treatment. My views are also that most disease can be classified as mild, moderate or severe. A holistic approach may work very well for prevention of disease as well as for mild disease. But when we get to moderate to severe disease, a traditional approach may be necessary. That being said, nothing makes me happier than lowering medication use by way of a healthier and more holistic lifestyle. Treatment without medications is always the number one goal.

So it is now the Spring of 2009. The Institute For Medical Wellness is 16 months old and is still in its infancy. But like all infants learning to walk, our legs are getting stronger each day. We are learning what our patients want and expect and are doing our best to accomodate in the safest and most effective way possible. The most frequent question has been about offering a closer integration of holistic approaches to treatment. So in future newsletters I will be introducing some holistic integrations available to improve your overall health and wellness. Many of our affiliates listed on my wellness network page will become more visible and available for your care.

So please stay tuned and be certain that The Institute For Medical Wellness is focused not on Big Business or Big Government, but instead on each and every individual who steps through our door. Our focus has always and will always be focused on you!

Steven Horvitz, D.O.
Board Certified Family Medicine
Founder of The Institute for Medical Wellness
128 Borton Landing Road, Suite Two
Moorestown, NJ 08057
Phone: 856-231-0590
Fax: 856-294-0311

For more information about Dr. Horvitz and The Institute for Medical Wellness, please click here.

To view upcoming Wellness Network Events, please click here.

Your Metabolism and You- Part Two

2009-04-08T17:11:00.008-04:00

April 8, 2009

Dr. Steven Horvitz- Reading between the Lines:
Bringing you healthcare information you can trust!

Your Metabolism and You- Part Two

As mentioned in my previous newsletter, You and Your Metabolism - Part One, your weight is a result of a balance between anabolism-the storing of energy, and catabolism- the burning of energy. If you are overweight you tend to store more energy than you burn. If you are underweight, you tend to burn more energy than you store. During your yearly wellness exam, I take the time to review your diet and food choices. It also tends to be the time when my patient's eye contact starts drifting away. But back to your metabolism. The most common discussion if you are overweight is about becoming more of a burner than a storer of energy. While we all know that exercise increases the burning of energy, all the exercise in the world will not make you lose a whole lot of weight if you still store too much energy as fat. So how can you tip the balance towards becoming a burner as opposed to a storer?

Let me explain by bringing insulin into the equation via carbohydrates and sugar.

When you eat carbohydrates, and that includes both simple and complex carbohydrates, they are digested and broken down into glucose which enters your bloodstream. Elevated concentrations of glucose in blood stimulate the release of insulin, and insulin acts on cells thoughout your body to stimulate uptake, utilization and storage of glucose. When glucose is overabundant, it gets converted into triglycerides and stored as fat.

See the diagram below:

Excess carbohydrates---> increased glucose (sugar) ---> increased insulin---> increased storage of fat ---> increase in bad cholesterol ---> increase in weight.

So if you want to lose weight, and have that weight loss come from loss of fat, then by decreasing your carbohydrates the following occurs:

Low carbohydrates---> normal glucose---> normal to low insulin---> decrease in storage of fat---> decrease in bad cholesterol --->burning of fat for energy--->decrease in weight.

Let us look at this another way. When we need energy to burn, our body first uses glycogen (liver glucose store), followed by glucose available from our bloodstream. When these are used up, the next most available energy source is from our fat cells. So if we keep our carbohydrates low, thereby lowering the amount of glucose available for use, our bodies become better at burning our fat cells for fuel. Our metabolism shifts to burning more fat than we store, and weight loss comes predominantly from our fat stores. In men this is usually a decrease of weight around the abdomen. In women the weight loss occurs from the hip, legs and buttocks.

Now, if we want to build muscle, insulin as an anabolic hormone helps. When we eat abundant protein, this is digested into amino acids. Insulin acts upon the amino acids to form proteins. Proteins are the building blocks of muscle. To increase your muscle tone, start a good exercise program, to stimulate insulin to build muscle. This is why body builders can eat a whole lot of calories, put on a lot of muscle, but keep their body fat low. This is opposite to sumo wrestlers. Sumo wrestlers eat a high carbohydrate diet, thereby increasing their fat storage, and thus increasing their weight.

So take your pick.

Low carbohydrate diet with moderate exercise:

Or,

High carbohydrate with minimal exercise:

Any questions???

If you have any suggestions about topics for future newsletters, or how to make the newsletter better, please send me an email at DrHorvitz@DrHorvitz.com.

To Good Health!!

Steven Horvitz, D.O.

Board Certified Family Medicine

Founder of The Institute for Medical Wellness
128 Borton Landing Road, Suite Two
Moorestown, NJ 08057
Phone: 856-231-0590
Fax: 856-294-0311

To view previous newsletters, please click here.

For more information about Dr. Horvitz and The Institute for Medical Wellness, please click here.

To view upcoming Wellness Network Events, please click here.

http://www.drhorvitz.com/

Your Metabolism and You- Part One

2009-04-04T20:40:00.006-04:00

April 4, 2009

Your Metabolism and You- Part One

The most common health complaint I hear in my practice deals with weight management. Upon visiting my office. my patient's often get grumpy when asked to step on the evil scale.

When the evil, vile scale is read, I often hear the phrase, "It must be that I have a slow metabolism". But we should all remember that evil spelled backwards is live, so a scale is not always such a bad thing, but a necessary part of my job, and helps to keep you a-live!

Overall, metabolism is not just about being overweight, but is also responsible for being underweight. How can this be? Let us take a look at metabolism, and its definition.

Metabolism is the set of chemical reactions that occur in living organisms in order to maintain life. These "metabolic" processes allow us to grow and reproduce, maintain our organs, and respond to our environments. Metabolism is actually a balance between anabolism-the storing of energy, and catabolism- the burning of energy.

If you store more energy than you burn, you gain weight and may look like the figure on the right in the above cartoon. If you burn more energy than you store, you lose weight, and may look like the figure on the left.

How we maintain balance to get to a healthy weight is where the fun, or pain begins, and has been the subject of numerous diet books, of which, I have read a great many. Some have made me laugh out loud, while others have changed the way I eat and the way I practice. The first book I read was Protein Power, by Dr Eades. This book went over the metabolic processes of how we store and burn energy. It advocated we lower carbohydrates in our diet along while increasing both proteins and fats. It went against most of the lessons I was taught in medical school, yet it made tremendous sense. But I was not yet convinced and was not about to change my views based on one book. So I continued to research. Dr Atkins diet revolution, The Schwarzbein Principle, and Life Without Bread were all books that had similar concepts to Protein Power, but with their own distinct flavor. These books all based their theories on real human physiology. But just like life and politics, theories are one thing and reality can be another.

Would the theory of eating a low carbohydrate diet help the overweight and obese to lose weight? The only true way to know would be to test it out. But try convincing anyone to go against what all the so called experts on television and radio say about a healthy diet.

Well, the stars must have all been aligned, as a patient came to my office who had recently read Protein Power and wanted to try out the diet. I agreed to help and to monitor their progress by watching their weight, blood pressure, cholesterol and sugar levels. The low carbohydrate diet was a huge success. Weight loss with normal sugars and a much improved cholesterol profile. Blood pressure dropped so much that we had to stop blood pressure medications, and energy levels rose. How did this happen while eating more protein and fat, and less carbohydrates? Could all I was taught in medical school, and all the "media pundits" be wrong? More on this later. But if you want a sneek peek, check out the books mentioned above. It may open your eyes, slim your waistline, improve energy levels and balance out your metabolism!

If you have any suggestions about topics for future newsletters, or how to make the newsletter better, please send me an email at DrHorvitz@DrHorvitz.com.

To Good Health!!

Steven Horvitz, D.O.

Board Certified Family Medicine

Founder of The Institute for Medical Wellness

128 Borton Landing Road, Suite Two

Moorestown, NJ 08057

Phone: 856-231-0590

Fax: 856-294-0311

Please visit http://www.drhorvitz.com/ for more information about Dr. Horvitz and The Institute for Medical Wellness.

To view upcoming Wellness Network Events, please click here.

Prostate Cancer Screening. Is it Worthwhile?

2009-03-28T22:08:00.010-04:00

March 28, 2009

Dr. Steven Horvitz- Reading between the Lines:
Bringing you healthcare information you can trust!

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There has been a recent hubbub about prostate cancer screening. For many years, men over the age of 40 have been advised to have an annual PSA (prostate specific antigen) blood test along with a digital rectal exam.

In theory, PSA screening would detect prostate cancer at an early and more treatable stage. If the PSA level was above normal, or increasing quicker than expected, further evaluation for prostate cancer was begun. Ask any man who has undergone further evaluation. It is neither fun, nor pleasant.

Yet screening for prostate cancer via the PSA test seems worthwhile, if the alternative is a higher risk of prostate cancer. But two recent studies raise questions concerning the PSA tests effectiveness.

The first involved over 76,000 men. These men were divided into two groups. The first group had annual PSA and digital rectal exams for six years, while the second group had usual care. Although more prostate cancer was diagnosed in the first group, they did not have more prostate cancer related deaths after both seven and ten years.

The second study, involved 182,000 men followed over nine years. The first group had PSA screening every four years, while the second group did not. There were 20% more prostate cancers diagnosed, and slightly fewer prostate cancer deaths in the first group. But as we look closer at the studies statistics, for every 1,410 men screened with the PSA test, only 48 would be treated, or just over 3%. Of the 48 men treated only one cancer death would be prevented, or just over 2%. Of the 1,410 men screened, prostate cancer death would be decreased by less than 1/10 of one percent. There was no difference in overall death rates between the two groups.

So let us analyze this conundrum by going from point A to point B.

Point A is PSA testing. We want to get to Point B, which is prevention of prostate cancer deaths, while causing little or no harm. Yet, neither of these studies showed a significant decrease in prostate cancer or other causes of death.

A (PSA testing) -----XXX------>>>> B ( Decreased Prostate Cancer Deaths)

Most men identified as having abnormal tests will probably never develop a prostate cancer that will kill them. Some will say that the risk is worth it, and that is a valid opinion. But tell that to the men who had an abnormal PSA test, underwent further testing, biopsy and/or treatment, ended up impotent or incontinent, and were found not to have prostate cancer. Sometimes the investigation and treatment of a disease is worse than the disease itself.

Now, by sending out this newsletter, I am not advocating for the end of the use of PSA testing. PSA testing is especially useful in men with a family history of prostate cancer. It may also be useful for men between the ages of 40-60, as prostate cancer at a younger age tends to be more aggressive. But we need to further understand who and how often we need to screen. Should we screen yearly, every 2-3 years or every 5 years? Should we screen men over 70 or 80 years of age, when their risk of dying from other causes is higher than their risk from prostate cancer? The decision to screen should be left to each individual. Diagnosis of any disease at an early stage is a worthwhile goal and is something I strive for in my medical practice. But it must be accomplished without causing harm. The two studies mentioned above indicate that a harmful outcome is just as likely as a good outcome in PSA screening for prostate cancer. So what do we do to improve our odds of not having a bad outcome from prostate cancer without causing harmful side effects? How about teaching lifestyle modifications that can decrease your overall risk. Let me point to another recent study. In this study, intake of 500mg of omega-3 fatty acids daily, like those found in dark fish like salmon, reduced the death rate from advanced prostate cancer by up to 63%. Eating salmon sounds a bit more pleasant than a prostate biopsy ; ) I, for one, will eat more salmon and continue with my omega-3 fatty acid supplementation.

On another note, our politicians are debating about an overhaul of our healthcare system. My fear is that they will try to change the system to a cookbook style that is more concerned with costs than on good health outcomes. If that turns out to be the case, a less expensive alternative for prostate cancer screenings may soon look like the picture below.

I can hear it now.

Attention Wal*Mart shoppers.

Please head over to aisle four for your free prostate check ; )

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Please note that next week, Julie Fischer will begin performing massage therapy in my office on Tuesdays and Thursdays. She performs Thai, swedish and deep tissue massage, as well as hot stone massage. For the month of April, Julie's massage services will be offered at a 10% discount. Wellness Plan members get even better pricing. Please click on the above link for more information.

If you have any suggestions about topics for future newsletters, or how to make the newsletter better, please send me an email at DrHorvitz@DrHorvitz.com.

To Good Health!!

Steven Horvitz, D.O.
Board Certified Family Medicine
Founder of The Institute for Medical Wellness
128 Borton Landing Road, Suite Two
Moorestown, NJ 08057
Phone: 856-231-0590
Fax: 856-294-0311

For more information about Dr. Horvitz and The Institute for Medical Wellness, please visit our website at http://www.drhorvitz.com/

To view upcoming Wellness Network Events, please click here.

Anniversary Newsletter

2009-03-25T17:08:00.001-04:00

March 25, 2009

Dr. Steven Horvitz- Reading between the Lines:
Bringing you healthcare information you can trust!

It has been just over a year since my initial email newsletter, all of which are archived at my blog site located at http://drhorvitz.blogspot.com/ . What started out as a whim, has become enjoyable and fun. Being a science major in college, I never enjoyed writing. But I guess when you find the right topics, it can end up being fun. Thank you to everyone who has encouraged me to continue.

My newsletters are an easy 21st century segway to promoting a healthy lifestyle and serves as an extension of my practice, and of my philosophy of family medical care. A physicians duty is not just about treating the ill, but more importantly preventing illness from occurring. This takes planning and lots and lots of time. The majority of physicians in today's insurance and government dominated healthcare system do not have the luxury of time for prevention and wellness counseling. They are too busy "running the health insurance mill". I have overheard patient's say they were treated less like a number at the deli counter, than at their doctor's office. This is not a criticism of other doctors, but more of a criticism of the system in which they work. This dysfunctional system was the strongest motivating factor towards the evolution of the Institute for Medical Wellness.

On average, individuals visit their doctor's office about 3-4 times a year. During these visits, they are lucky to have 10-15 minutes in the exam room before the doctor is running to the next patient. Do you think this is adequate for healthy lifestyle promotion? I do not! Fifteen minutes is barely enough time to "put out the fires", let alone teach and encourage healthy behaviors. These time stressors made my transition away from health insurance contracts towards an individual patient-centered practice much easier. This style of practice puts the emphasis back on the doctor-patient relationship, and makes certain that this relationship is paramount. It limits the ability of any third party involvement in the decision making pertaining to your care. The strong doctor-patient relationship was the hallmark of medical care that past generations enjoyed, and is the practice style that I prefer.

To help promote wellness, I have continued to network with other like minded professionals. My website has a Wellness Network page that can serve as an introduction to their specialties, which includes a Naturopathic physician, personal trainer, yoga instructor, and Physical therapist. I am pleased to announce starting in April, Julie Fischer will begin performing massage therapy in my office on Tuesdays and Thursdays. As the need expands, so will Julie's availability. For the month of April, Julie's massage services will be offered at a 10% discount. Wellness Plan members get even better pricing.

I hope you will look to the wellness network within the Institute for Medical Wellness for more of your healthcare needs. If there are other areas of wellness that you feel would be a good addition, please let me know. As for the newsletters, I plan on continuing to write them as long as useful information pops up in the news. So it looks like you are stuck with them for quite a while! At the bottom of each newsletter is a "manage your subscription" link where you can opt out of receiving the newsletter if you choose. But then you would be missing out on a whole lot of my unbiased medical opinions ; )

If you have any suggestions about topics for future newsletters, or how to make the newsletter better, please send me an email at DrHorvitz@DrHorvitz.com.

To Good Health!!

Steven Horvitz, D.O.
Board Certified Family Medicine

http://www.drhorvitz.com/

Are you ready for Spring ???

2009-03-16T12:10:00.006-04:00

Dr. Steven Horvitz- Reading between the Lines:
Bringing you healthcare information you can trust!

It's almost spring. And after sitting around more during the cold weather season, we need to make sure we start our springtime exercise wisely. The most common visits to my office in the spring are for overuse athletic injuries. In other words, people overdoing exercise.

To help prevent this common malady. Andy Dick of Optimum Fitness has prepared the following.
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As warmer weather approaches, all of us in the Northeast get excited for a return to outdoor activities. Whether this means taking the dog for a walk, or training for a triathlon, it is important to approach this extra exercise sensibly.

First off, if you plan on trying something new, make sure it is something that you will enjoy and that it will help you accomplish your personal goals. You should also be careful not to pick a new activity that could aggravate an old injury. Someone with bad knees should not set out to run a marathon!

If you plan on picking up an old exercise that you know you enjoy, be sure to ease into the activity slowly. Your body is very good at learning your routine. This is why you tend to be very sore after your first workout in a long time, but someone who works out daily is rarely sore. However, your body learns specifics; therefore if you have been keeping active on an elliptical all winter, you need to let your body get used to running outdoors slowly. Otherwise, it could be uncomfortable for the days following your first few runs! Not only do we want to avoid being uncomfortable due to the soreness, but we don’t want to have to skip future workouts because you can’t get up off the couch! Although it doesn’t feel like it now, there will be plenty of nice days to get outside and enjoy the weather, so take it slow to start!

Although I will always preach the importance of a good warm-up, cool-down, and post-exercise stretch, it is especially important on the days you are starting something new.

· Always start off exercise with a 5 minute warm-up. This means that you start off slowly and slowly ramp up to your exercise pace over the warm-up time. This is important to get the heart pumping the right amount of blood to the right muscles. Otherwise, you may feel weak to start and you could be unfairly stressing your heart.
· Always end exercise with a 5 minute cool-down period. Slowly ramp your pace from what you have been exercising at to a moderate walking pace. This will allow your heart to slow down at a natural pace (which avoids blood pooling in your lower extremities due to the heart pumping too fast for your pace) as well as allow your body to rid the bloodstream and muscles of some of the waste products that build up during exercise. These waste products are a main cause of muscle soreness.
· Always stretch at the end of exercise! It is important to note not to stretch at the beginning unless you are loosening up an injured area. Muscles should not be too lax (or loose) before exercising. This can weaken them significantly, sometimes leading to injuries of the tendons, ligaments, or muscles surrounding the area.

Choose something that you enjoy! I cannot stress this enough. If you do not enjoy something, you will not stick with it and you will end up mad at yourself for quitting. Also, if you really can’t enjoy an activity for whatever reason, you will find yourself taking shortcuts to finish. Shortcuts are the easiest way to accidental injury.

Finally, don’t push too hard. Remember, most of us are not training for the Olympics. If you get out there with someone who is faster than you that is OK. Keep your eyes on your specific goals and don’t worry about trying to “win.”''

Andy DickOwner, Optimum Results(609) 304-7598
http://www.optimumresults.net/
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Good points Andy.

Thanks again!!

So I hope everyone starts thinking of how to get more exercise as the weather warms up. But if anyone is unsure of their ability to exercise, or has a sudden decrease in exercise stamina, trouble with chest discomfort, or shortness of breath, please stop exercising and give my office a call for evaluation.

Steven Horvitz, D.O.
Board Certified Family Medicine
Founder of The Institute for Medical Wellness
128 Borton Landing Road, Suite Two
Moorestown, NJ 08057

Phone: 856-231-0590
Fax: 856-294-0311

For more information about Dr. Horvitz and The Institute for Medical Wellness, please click here.

To view upcoming Wellness Network Events, please click here.

http://www.drhorvitz.com/

Medical Studies- We can't live with them, and We can't live without them?

2009-03-05T23:59:00.002-05:00

March 6, 2009

Dr. Steven Horvitz- Reading between the Lines:
Bringing you healthcare information you can trust!

Medical Studies- We can't live with them, and We can't live without them?

I graduated from medical school in 1991 and completed my family practice training in 1994. At that time, I was just embarking on my medical career. I was still idealistic. I believed what I was taught in school to be 100% the truth. Part of our training involves keeping up with all the newest and latest treatments of disease. We were taught to believe in peer reviewed placebo controlled medical studies. These studies shaped the way I practiced my new profession.

Fast forward to March 2009. I am 15 years older, and no longer in the early part of my career. I have come to realize that my hairline will continue to recede, and I have also become more realistic about the diagnosis and treatment of disease. With these realizations, I have become more realistic about what it means to be a family physician. Being a family physician means treating each patient as an individual, and to treat these individuals as you would treat your own family member. Please note I am assuming that we all love our family members. If you do not, please insert your favorite pet or your best friend wherever you see the words "family member".

So what does this have to do with medical studies?

As mentioned earlier, by practicing for 15+ years, I realize that medical care is far from idealistic. There is a tremendous amount of bias, especially as it involves medical studies and guidelines. My problem is with how medical studies are performed, who funds the studies, how they find their conclusions, how they promote their results and how they are used for propaganda and profit. One of the biggest offenders are the pharmaceutical companies. They have a tremendous knack for transforming mediocre medical studies into billion dollar drug sales. The two biggest culprits are the statin cholesterol medications and the bisphosphonate osteoporosis medications. Both of these medication classes have been marketed as the best thing since sliced bread. As a low carb proponent, you know how I feel about sliced bread. But if you truly look at the study statistics, you will find the conclusions and recommendations to be heavily biased.

Example: a statin cholesterol medication is advertised to lower your cholesterol by 30-50%. And then they tell us that further studies show a 20% relative decrease in heart disease. Wow!!! I should run and start taking that pill. But if you look closely at the numbers you find out that the 20% relative decrease is a marketing ploy. So I look at it differently. The number that I like to look at is what is called the NNT, or the number needed to treat. It goes like this. If 11 people have strep throat, and I give an antibiotic to all 11, 10 people will be cured and 1 will not. The NNT is 10/11, or a 91% success rate. Pretty good!!! Now, let us look at statins. A Business Week article examined the NNT for a poplular statin drug Lipitor. The NNT of Lipitor to prevent a cardiac event was 1/100 or a 1% success rate. You need to treat 100 people with Lipitor to prevent 1 cardiac event. Wonderful for the one individual, but what about the other 99.

So as I grew older and balder, there is hope. Not for my hairline but the tremendous amount of bias in medical studies that is finally getting some press. A recent article in JAMA, the Journal of the American Medical Association, (2.25.09. vol 301. No.8), wrote about guidelines that cardiologists propose as evidence based, is actually based on weak evidence. I even read in other blogs how these guidelines have been used to increase the need for cardiologists. How is that for self-referral??

So in my practice, I trust less of what the so-called experts propose, and more on common sense, and personal professional experience. I still use guidelines, but not as the holy grail of medical care and treatment. As many of the standards of care that I used 10 years ago, are now obsolete, or even dangerous, I am not close-minded to believe that the treatments proposed today by the "experts" will still be around ten years from now. Instead, I look for the causes and triggers of disease. I look for treatments that work with the bodies normal activities and not against it. I treat each patient as an individual, and I do not use population based medical studies as the determining factor in treatment. I consider these studies as options, but I always try to understand how this treatment will affect the individual sitting across from me. I look for bias in all studies, and all marketing that comes before me. The only way to be true as a doctor is to be true to your patients. And that means not drinking the medical study kool-aid that others in my profession drink. Besides, I prefer water. It tastes better, has no artificial ingredients, and has been around forever.

I will end with one of my favorite quotes:

"The good physician treats the disease; the great physician treats the patient who has the disease" - Sir William Osler

Steven Horvitz, D.O.
Board Certified Family Medicine
Founder of The Institute for Medical Wellness
http://www.drhorvitz.com/
http://drhorvitz.blogspot.com/
856-231-0590

Mental exhaustion makes workouts harder: study

2009-02-25T20:59:00.012-05:00

By Reuters - Tue Feb 24, 3:06 PM PST
CHICAGO (Reuters) - Being mentally exhausted can impair a person's exercise performance, a finding that may help explain why it is sometimes so hard to work out, British researchers said on Tuesday. They said people who did a mentally tiresome task just before exercising reached exhaustion much more quickly than when they had been mentally rested.

Mental fatigue did not affect the performance of the heart or muscles, but it did affect their "perceived effort," Samuele Marcora, Walter Staiano and Victoria Manning of Bangor University in Wales wrote in the Journal of Applied Physiology. "Our study provides experimental evidence that mental fatigue limits exercise tolerance in humans through higher perception of effort," the team wrote. For the study, the researchers had 16 people take a demanding, 90-minute test that required close attention, memory, and left participants feeling tired and listless. Next, they rode a stationary bicycle to exhaustion, while the researchers tracked their heart rate and other vital signs. On a different day, the same group simply watched a 90-minute documentary film before riding the bike. The researchers found participants stopped exercising 15 percent earlier on average when they were mentally exhausted, even though there was little difference in their cardio respiratory or muscle function. "It provides strong evidence that brain function can limit short-term endurance performance," the team wrote. The researchers said the next step is to look at the brain to find out exactly why people with mental fatigue perceive exercise to be more difficult.
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Interesting study. I wonder if the authors wrote this article before or after exercising.

Q1: Does this mean that poor exercise performance can be "all in our heads?"

Q2: Is any other performance decreased due to mental fatigue, such as work or parenting?

I believe the answers are yes, yes and yes, but, a better question would be:

How do we get past the mental fatigue and continue to perform optimally?

As it pertains to exercise, Andy Dick of Optimal Fitness, has the following thoughts on getting past the exhaustion, or as some athletes call it, "getting past the wall".

I believe that this research points out an important point. You can (and should) only focus on so much without breaking down in one aspect or the other. Just like multi-tasking and juggling too many things at work can lead to reduced production in all of your work goals, exercise can suffer as a result of a long day at work. If one can focus on exercise as a method to relieve the day’s stress rather than as a an all-out He-Man workout, it can and should help break up the tightness in your mood. Rather than skipping the workout, re-focus on why you hit the gym!

Andy Dick
Owner, Optimum Results
(609) 304-7598
http://www.optimumresults.net/

Check out Optimum Results - Personal Training for this month's healthy tip!
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Thanks Andy!!

As I mentioned earlier, I believe mental fatigue, or as we should call it "STRESS", decreases our performance in many daily activities which then leads to phrases like "I woulda, I coulda and I shoulda." These phrases only perpetuate the stress and do not help in finding a way to release it.

My favorite stress release methods include reading a favorite book or magazine, or cooking a favorite meal, low carb of course ; )

If you have any favorite methods to reduce your mental fatigue, please visit my blog and post your annonymous methods in the comments section. This is where I hope we can all learn from each other. And I hope they are better than this next cartoon.

Steven Horvitz, D.O.
Board Certified Family Medicine
Founder of The Institute for Medical Wellness

www.DrHorvitz.com

http://drhorvitz.blogspot.com

Vitamin D 'is mental health aid'

2009-02-21T12:45:00.003-05:00

February 21, 2009

Dr. Steven Horvitz- Reading between the Lines:

Bringing you healthcare information you can trust!

As many of you already know, I am a big proponent of prevention of medical illness through easy lifestyle changes. The key to prevention is understanding how the different parts of your day impacts on your health.

The diet you follow is of utmost importance, especially when it comes to getting the proper amount of vitamins and nutrients to not only sustain your energy levels, but also to optimize your body to run efficiently.

While not a believer in megadoses of vitamins, I am a strong believer in getting optimal amounts, which in many cases is very different from the governments RDA, or recommended daily allowance.

Vitamin D is one vitamin that we are learning more and more about, especially with prevention of disease. My belief is that the RDA is much too low for optimum health.

The following article is from BBC online and discusses Vitamin D as a preventive for cognitive decline as we age.

Vitamin D 'is mental health aid'

From the BBC news online: Jan 23, 2009

Vitamin D, found in fish and produced by sun exposure, can help stave off the mental decline that can affect people in old age, a study has suggested.

UK and US researchers looked at 2,000 people aged 65 and over.

They found that compared to those with the highest vitamin D levels, those with the lowest were more than twice as likely to have impaired understanding.

Alzheimer's charities said the research was interesting, but more work was needed to understand vitamin D's role.

Vitamin D is important in maintaining bone health, in the absorption of calcium and phosphorus, and in helping the immune system.

The body makes vitamin D when it is exposed to the sun, or it can be obtained from foods such as oily fish, and those fortified with vitamin D, such as milk, cereals, and soya drinks.

But older people's skin is less able to absorb vitamin D from sunlight so they are more reliant on obtaining it from other sources.

Supplements

Animal and lab studies have previously suggested that the vitamin can have a beneficial effect on cognitive function.

The team from the Peninsula Medical School in Exeter, the University of Cambridge and the University of Michigan, assessed people's cognition, or comprehension skills.

People who have impaired cognitive function are more likely to develop dementia.

The researchers looked at people who had taken part in the Health Survey for England in 2000.

Just over 200 had significant cognitive impairment, assessed by looking at people's attention, orientation in time and space and memory.

The study found that as levels of vitamin D went down, levels of cognitive impairment went up.

The paper will appear in a forthcoming issue of the Journal of Geriatric Psychology and Neurology.

Dr Iain Lang from the Peninsula Medical School, who worked on the study, said: "For those of us who live in countries where there are dark winters without much sunlight, like the UK, getting enough vitamin D can be a real problem - particularly for older people, who absorb less vitamin D from sunlight.

"One way to address this might be to provide older adults with vitamin D supplements.

"This has been proposed in the past as a way of improving bone health in older people, but our results suggest it might also have other benefits.

"We need to investigate whether vitamin D supplementation is a cost-effective and low-risk way of reducing older people's risks of developing cognitive impairment and dementia."

Risk factor?

Rebecca Wood, chief executive of the Alzheimer's Research Trust, said: "Many foods that contain vitamin D, such as oily fish, eggs and breakfast cereals, are also good sources of vitamin B12, which, as previous studies have shown, can help protect the brain.

"Diet is known to influence dementia risk. The best way of reducing your risk of developing dementia is to maintain a balanced diet with regular exercise and frequent social interactions."

She added: "These findings may be significant, but much more research is needed."

Dr Susanne Sorensen, head of research at the Alzheimer's Society, added: "One in three people over 65 will die with dementia so research into how we can reduce risk is to be encouraged.

"There was some previous evidence to suggest that people with dementia may have a lower level of vitamin D in their blood but it was not clear if this happened after the onset of disease.

"It would be interesting if a low level of vitamin D was found to be a risk factor for cognitive problems as it is cheap and easy to remedy.

"We look forward to seeing the published results of this new research to help us better understand the potential role of vitamin D in reducing risk."

So, yet more information on the potential benefits of Vitamin D. Naysayers will argue that the "studies" were not run properly, or that the study was too small. Instead of focusing on statistics, let's use a little logic. We have found out that Vitamin D has many functions other than calcium and bone development. Please refer to the Vitamin D council website for a long list of other beneficial effects. I like to look at how our body would naturally obtain a nutrient both in today's world and a thousand years ago, before we had vitamin supplements. As our bodies are able to manufacture Vitamin D from sunlight, in amounts of 10,000 - 15,000 units from a good summertime sun exposure, the RDA of 400-800 units seems pretty low.

Question: Why do many retirees first head south for the winter, and then eventually move south for good?

Is it the warmer weather, lower taxes, lower cost of living, OR possibly they feel better due to more sunshine naturally increasing their Vitamin D?

If you have any comments or questions about this newsletter please visit my blog and post it for discussion.

Steven Horvitz, D.O.
Board Certified Family Medicine
Founder of The Institute for Medical Wellness

Steven Horvitz, D.O.

Board Certified Family Medicine

Founder of The Institute for Medical Wellness

www.DrHorvitz.com

http://drhorvitz.blogspot.com/

A few of my past newsletters on Vitamin D are listed below.

The Flu: Vitamin D's use in prevention and treatment

Vitamin D may help curb breast cancer, study finds

Colds and Sleep

2009-02-17T17:12:00.005-05:00

Dr. Steven Horvitz- Reading between the Lines:
Bringing you healthcare information you can trust!

February 17, 2009

I often get asked, "Hey Doc, Why do I always get sick. It seems like I am in here for a cold all the time."

A new study from the Archives of Internal Medicine on Sleep habits and the susceptibility to the common cold may give us a little clue.

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Colds and Sleep

Sleep habits and susceptibility to the common cold.
Arch Intern Med. 2009; 169(1):62-7 (ISSN: 1538-3679)

Cohen S; Doyle WJ; Alper CM; Janicki-Deverts D; Turner RBDepartment of Psychology, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA. scohen@cmu.edu

BACKGROUND: Sleep quality is thought to be an important predictor of immunity and, in turn, susceptibility to the common cold. This article examines whether sleep duration and efficiency in the weeks preceding viral exposure are associated with cold susceptibility.

METHODS: A total of 153 healthy men and women (age range, 21-55 years) volunteered to participate in the study. For 14 consecutive days, they reported their sleep duration and sleep efficiency (percentage of time in bed actually asleep) for the previous night and whether they felt rested. Average scores for each sleep variable were calculated over the 14-day baseline. Subsequently, participants were quarantined, administered nasal drops containing a rhinovirus, and monitored for the development of a clinical cold (infection in the presence of objective signs of illness) on the day before and for 5 days after exposure.

RESULTS: There was a graded association with average sleep duration: participants with less than 7 hours of sleep were 2.94 times (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.18-7.30) more likely to develop a cold than those with 8 hours or more of sleep. The association with sleep efficiency was also graded: participants with less than 92% efficiency were 5.50 times (95% CI, 2.08-14.48) more likely to develop a cold than those with 98% or more efficiency. These relationships could not be explained by differences in prechallenge virus-specific antibody titers, demographics, season of the year, body mass, socioeconomic status, psychological variables, or health practices. The percentage of days feeling rested was not associated with colds.

CONCLUSION: Poorer sleep efficiency and shorter sleep duration in the weeks preceding exposure to a rhinovirus were associated with lower resistance to illness

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ZZZZZZZZZZZZ ........

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ....................

Sorry, sometimes reading medical studies makes me sleepy ; )

To rephrase this study in a language we can all understand, individuals who achieved less than 7 hours of refreshing sleep a night had an almost 3x greater likelihood of "catching a cold".

So in today's rush-rush hectic world, where we do not have time to do all the things we feel are needed, it seems like a good time to adjust our schedules back to include time for a good 8 hours or more of sleep. And sleep should be something we look forward to at the end of the day, not something to dread because " I don't have time for sleep. I am too busy!"

The better we sleep, the better we function during our waking hours, which means better production at work, or at least better than the guy pictured below.

Here are some suggestions to try if you are having issues with sleep:
1) Avoid all products with caffeine after 4 PM.
2) Follow a routine at bedtime-- with consistent adherance to the routine: Example: warm bath and warm decaffeinated drink
3) TV off the same time every night.
4) Save bed for sleep and intimacy. DO NOT read or watch TV in bed.
5) If you are unable to sleep after 30 minutes in bed then get up and do something constructive in another room such as housework, a hobby, or watch TV. The idea is that this will avoid frustration with not being able to get to sleep and tell your brain/body: that if your are going to be awake then you will do "waking hours activities". Should you become sleepy then return to bed.
6) Learn yoga, Tai Chi, or other meditative breathing exercises to help you "turn off your brain" at night. The Mount Laurel Library is offering a one hour class the First Friday of every month, from 7-8 pm, in the ancient healing art of Tai Chi. For more info on this class or Tai Chi please click here.
For further sleep tips, please follow this link to the National Sleep Foundation, http://www.sleepfoundation.org/site/c.huIXKjM0IxF/b.4813227/k.2F67/Sleep_Tips.htm

If you have any sleep tips that you would like to share, please visit my blog at http://drhorvitz.blogspot.com/ and leave your annonymous tips in the comments section. The blog also contains all the previous newsletters with an easier search feature.

Good night and I hope you sleep well !!!

Steven Horvitz, D.O.
Board Certified Family Medicine
Founder of The Institute for Medical Wellness

Valentines Day and Philematology

2009-02-13T00:01:00.000-05:00

Dr. Steven Horvitz- Reading between the Lines:
Bringing you healthcare information you can trust!

February 14, 2009

Philematology.

An excellent spelling bee word and good segway towards Valentines Day.

So what is philematology and how does it relate to a wellness newsletter?

Keep reading.

The answer is written below.
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Kisses unleash chemicals that ease stress levels
By RANDOLPH E. SCHMID, AP Science Writer Randolph E. Schmid, Ap Science Writer

CHICAGO – "Chemistry look what you've done to me," Donna Summer crooned in Science of Love, and so, it seems, she was right. Just in time for Valentine's Day, a panel of scientists examined the mystery of what happens when hearts throb and lips lock. Kissing, it turns out, unleashes chemicals that ease stress hormones in both sexes and encourage bonding in men, though not so much in women.
Chemicals in the saliva may be a way to assess a mate, Wendy Hill, dean of the faculty and a professor of neuroscience at Lafayette College, told a meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science on Friday.
In an experiment, Hill explained, pairs of heterosexual college students who kissed for 15 minutes while listening to music experienced significant changes in their levels of the chemicals oxytocin, which affects pair bonding, and cortisol, which is associated with stress. Their blood and saliva levels of the chemicals were compared before and after the kiss.
Both men and women had a decline in cortisol after smooching, an indication their stress levels declined.
For men, oxytocin levels increased, indicating more interest in bonding, while oxytocin levels went down in women. "This was a surprise," Hill said.
In a test group that merely held hands, chemical changes were similar, but much less pronounced, she said.
The experiment was conducted in a student health center, Hill noted. She plans a repeat "in a more romantic setting."
Hill spoke at the session on the Science of Kissing, along with Helen Fisher of Rutgers University and Donald Lateiner of Ohio Wesleyan University.
Fisher noted that more than 90 percent of human societies practice kissing, which she believes has three components — the sex drive, romantic love and attachment.
The sex drive pushes individuals to assess a variety of partners, then romantic love causes them to focus on an individual, she said. Attachment then allows them to tolerate this person long enough to raise a child.
Men tend to think of kissing as a prelude to copulation, Fisher said. She noted that men prefer "sloppy" kisses, in which chemicals including testosterone can be passed on to the women in saliva. Testosterone increases the sex drive in both males and females.
"When you kiss an enormous part of your brain becomes active," she added. Romantic love can last a long time, "if you kiss the right person."
Lateiner, a classical scholar, observed that kissing appears infrequently in Greek and Roman art, but was widely practiced, despite the spread of skin disease at that time by facial kissing. And there was a potential for social faux pas by kissing the wrong person at the wrong time.
Overall, the science of kissing — philematology — is under-researcherd, Hill concluded.

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Philematology- the science of kissing.

The perfect subject for Valentine's Day.

An interesting article that has some interesting results.

If a well timed hug can relieve stress and anxiety, why not kissing.

Cortisol, the stress hormone, decreases in both males and females with kissing.

And oxytocin, a hormone that helps us bond, went up in males, but down in females. Interestingly, oxytocin rises during pregnancy and childbirth and is critically important in mother-child bonding.
Does this mean that women are better kissers than men?
Or maybe it means that college women have their priorities more in order than college men.

This study was completed at Lafayette College.

As with most medical research, more studies need to be done.

Rumor has it that Lafayette College applied for a research grant from the federal government for future studies. If granted, that would give the "stimulus bill" a new meaning ; )

Now a few words of warning:
1) Any parents of Lafayette college students should be made aware of the planned future studies to be conducted in a "more romantic setting."
2) And any soon to be college students? Lafayette College may warrant a second look ; )

But in all seriousness, being with those we love, and hugging and kissing, does relieve stress, and this study shows how our bodies make this happen. So after a hard day at work, go home and kiss your spouse and hug your kids. We now know that you will probably feel better for the effort!!

Best Wishes to One and All for a Happy Valentine's Day!!

And as for a picture of one of my favorite kisses, it is pictured below:

Steven Horvitz, D.O.
Board Certified Family Medicine
Founder of The Institute for Medical Wellness

Chocolate may be Beneficial for Chronic Fatigue

2009-02-01T16:54:00.001-05:00

Dr. Steven Horvitz- Reading between the Lines:

Bringing you healthcare information you can trust!

February 1, 2009

Article from Natural News- Thursday, January 29, 2009 by: Sheryl Walters, citizen journalist

(NaturalNews) Regularly consuming chocolate could be beneficial to those with chronic fatigue syndrome, according to a study at Hull York Medical School. People who suffered with the illness found that they had more energy when they consumed high cocoa content.

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is an illness that has a vast array of diverse symptoms; the primary one being exhaustion. Most chronic fatigue specialists advise their clients to avoid chocolate because of the caffeine and sugar it contains.

Professor Steve Atkin, who led the study, said he had clients who reported feeling much better after swapping normal milk chocolate for dark chocolate with a high cocoa solid content. This sparked him to investigate further.

The trial consisted of 10 patients who received 45g of dark chocolate or white chocolate dyed to look like dark chocolate everyday for two months. After the month was over, they avoided chocolate for one month and then began taking the other type of chocolate for two months.

When the patients were taking a daily dose of dark chocolate, they reported significantly less fatigue, but felt the fatigue return when they stopped eating it.

Atkin was surprised at what good results were achieved. "Although it was a small study, two patients went back to work after being off for six months."

He explained: "Dark chocolate is high in polyphenols, which have been associated with health benefits such as a reduction in blood pressure. Also high polyphenols appear to improve levels of serotonin in the brain, which has been linked with chronic fatigue syndrome and that may be a mechanism."
Although more research was needed to confirm the findings, Atkin said that patients would not do themselves any harm by eating small amounts of dark chocolate. He added that no one in the study put on any weight.

Chronic fatigue is a very complex illness with many different causes including food intolerances, Candida, heavy metals and parasites. There is no single cure that works for everyone, and most people require quite a few lifestyle changes along with herbs, nutrients and detoxing.
Because of this, chronic fatigue specialists warn against believing that eating chocolate daily is going to completely solve the problem.

Most importantly, consuming chocolate with sugar in it should be generally avoided by everyone, especially those with a disabling illness.

Raw Chocolate

While dark chocolate is high in antioxidants and other nutrients, raw chocolate is even more potent since none of the nutrients have been destroyed through heating and processing. Further, raw chocolate is sugar free. Most people make raw chocolate with agave nectar, stevia or xylitol. All of these are fine in moderation for those with chronic fatigue syndrome because they don`t create blood sugar imbalances and they don`t feed the imbalances like sugar does.

OK everyone.

First I write about breakfast shakes and now I bring you information about the benefits of chocolate. What's next? Maybe telling you that eating lots of protein and fat is healthy. In many cases it is, but that is not the purpose of today's newsletter, which is CHOCOLATE.

When reviewing a patient's diet history, chocolate almost always plays a part, and not one that most want to give up. I have also been known to rummage through the rooms in my office looking for chocolate to "give me a lift".

So should we be excited that this new research allows more chocolate in your diet?

The answer is Yes and No.

Anecdotally, many of us feel more energetic and/or get a "mood lift" when we eat chocolate. So, Yes, if this research is correct, then eating darker, minimally processed chocolate may help with chronic fatigue. So if a chocolate craving occurs, look for the chocolate with a higher cocoa percentage. These are usually the darker variety.

And, No, please do not go and start eating the normal heavily processed milk chocolate that contains more sugar and "fake fat" and that carries other risks. To be fair, this study contained only 10 people, which does not meet criteria for a valid population based study. But I am sure if they want to enroll more volunteers for a future study, that I could fill the group with my practice alone. But get in line behind me, because I am first!!

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I would like to thank everyone who read my previous newsletter and sent in their breakfast shake recipes. These recipes are now posted on my website.

Steven Horvitz, D.O.

Board Certified Family Medicine

Founder of The Institute for Medical Wellness