March 2007: Health Briefs from Baylor Health Care System
Don't be Fooled by Certain "Health" Foods- Some May Surprise You
If you're one of the millions of Americans hoping to lose weight by buying fat-free, cholesterol-free, or all-natural products you may be surprised. Experts say it's those so-called "healthy" foods that often sabotage diets."These are the foods we naturally look to as we try to lose extra pounds; however, they are the ones that we need to be careful about," says Dee Rollins, PhD, R.D., dietitian with Baylor Regional Medical Center at Grapevine.
Case and point—granola.
"Everyone thinks granola bars are wonderful and yet if you turn it over and look at the ingredients you'll see that it has high fructose corn syrup and a lot of sugars," adds Dr. Rollins.
In fact, the average granola bar contains more than 300 calories and 10 grams of fat—not a healthy snack at all.
Now what about some of those bran cereals?
"You'll find that there's a lot of hidden sugar, perhaps even some hidden salt, even a little fat in those cereals that you don't anticipate finding," says Dr. Rollins.
The meat aisle is no safer—a pound of ground turkey can really ruffle a dieter's feathers, sometimes containing more fat grams than a pound of ground beef.
"If you flip that label over and read the ingredients, you'll see that it's high salt, maybe they added some fat, maybe they added some sugar and those products might not be as healthy as you think they are," explains Dr. Rollins.
And don't look down the bread aisle for any less deceptive packaging.
"Multi-grain, honey wheat, seven-grain.we're looking at all of those names and inside that brown bread wrapper we think it's going to be a really good product," adds Dr. Rollins.
But experts say it's actually 'whole grain' that's the only indication that it's a truly healthy buy.
And the ultimate in diet deception—"low-fat."
"When they take the fat out they almost always put the sugar in so check the calorie count. There's probably more calories in a low-fat or low-carbohydrate product than in a regular product," says Dr. Rollins.
And here are some other "healthy" foods to watch out for:
- 100 percent fruit juice—it's still full of calories
- all-natural potato chips—made from real potatoes, but still loaded with fat and sodium
- 'cholesterol-free' anything—if it's not an animal product it doesn't have cholesterol in it at all so keep in mind that usually when you see the label 'cholesterol-free' it means nothing.
Stroke is not Just a Man's Disease- Women are at High Risk Too
It's thought of as a man's disease, but three times more women die from strokes each year than breast cancer. Now new research is discovering what all women should know about this killer."Once again it's the mindset.Stroke is a man's disease, so if it doesn't affect me I don't even need to think about what the symptoms are," says Lise Labiche, M.D., stroke program director, Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas.
But research in fact shows women are at high risk.
"Three-out-of-five strokes in the United States occur in women. Why do the majority occur in women? Because women have a longer lifespan," explains Dr. Labiche.
We now know too that women are twice-as-likely to die from a stroke than men and the first problem researchers hypothesize is under-recognition of symptoms.
"It's amazing that up to 60 percent of women don't recognize that weakness on one side of the body is a sign of stroke," says Dr. Labiche.
And there is a possibility women may experience some a-typical symptoms likely related to hormonal differences.
"One study showed that women reported more often either a decrease of consciousness or an actual loss of consciousness. Additionally there were more reports of pain, particularly headaches, or pain on the affected side of the body," says Dr. Labiche.
Right now researchers are also looking into whether women have separate risk factors for stroke and whether they may respond differently to therapies.
"There is still a lot to be learned and we're just now recognizing that women are equally affected maybe even more so than men by these diseases," adds Dr. Labiche.
Dr. Labiche says that the most common symptoms of stroke for both men and women include sudden loss of sensation or strength on one side of the body, sudden loss of vision or sudden headache.
Be a Great Patient: The Key to Great Health Care is You
When it comes to your health care, you want the best there is. Sure, it helps to have an excellent physician and superb specialists, but they are not the key to your health care—you are.Here's how to get the care you need:
1. Find Dr. Right.
Choose a primary care physician whom you're comfortable with and have confidence in. Before committing, ask him or her questions such as what the office hours are, what the doctor's treatment philosophy is and who will care for you when your doctor is unavailable.
"Ask yourself if this is someone you'd want caring for you if you were critically ill," says Ellen Pitcher, R.N., vice president of patient services and chief nursing officer at Baylor Regional Medical Center at Plano. "You have to have someone you trust."
2. Go prepared.
Even the best doctors are not mind readers. So tell them everything about your health.
When asked about your personal and family medical history, be honest and disclose as much information as possible.
If you are experiencing symptoms, tell your doctor what they are, how severe they are and when you experience them. Report even small changes in your health; they may indicate an underlying problem.
3. Ask lots of questions.
When your doctor tells you something you don't understand—whether it's about heart disease or a hangnail—ask questions.
"Quality health care is dependent on good physicians, but also knowing what questions to ask," says Jeremy Denning, M.D., neurosurgeon on the medical staff at Baylor Regional Medical Center at Plano.
Start by repeating back in your own words what your doctor tells you. "This will ensure that you understand what he said and will open up a dialogue if you didn't," says Dr. Denning.
4. Seek a second opinion.
If you are uncomfortable with a diagnosis or treatment plan your doctor gives you, get a second opinion. And don't worry about offending your doctor. "A good physician will want you to be comfortable with your diagnosis," says Pitcher. "If he's offended, then he's not the doctor for you."
Eating Yourself Smart: Superfoods Help Boost Brain Function
Want to stay alert, stress free and mentally sharp? Feed your brain right. Certain foods can provide an immediate brain boost or work over the long term to fight off aging-related diseases such as Alzheimer's.Get your green leafys. A study published last year in the journal Neurology reports that participants (all 65 or older) who consumed two or more green, leafy vegetables daily had a 35 percent to 40 percent decrease in their decline in thinking ability over six years. This may be due to vitamin E, an antioxidant that neutralizes free radicals that can damage neurons in the brain and contribute to dementia.
"Foods rich in vitamin E are an excellent way to help prevent mental decline as we age," says Nicole Conselman, M.D., a family practice physician on the medical staff at Baylor Medical Center at Garland.
Berry good. "The antioxidants in some foods, such as blueberries, are believed to help preserve brain function throughout the years," Dr. Conselman says. Wild blueberries pack more antioxidant power than any other fruit, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Fat chance. Omega-3 fatty acids and other healthy fats such as olive oil keep the blood flowing to the brain—unlike saturated fats, which contribute to the formation of plaque in the blood vessels. The same study mentioned above showed that eating fish once a week slowed cognitive decline in seniors.
For daily brain function, the most important thing you can do is eat breakfast, Dr. Conselman says. But make sure to add an egg or peanut butter to your toast. "The protein helps get your brain going, making it sharper," adds Dr. Counselman.
Fish Sticks, Frosting and Fries, Oh My! The Truth About Trans Fats
When it comes to packaged and prepared foods, trans fats are just about everywhere. Kristen Albani, M.S., R.D., L.D., a registered dietitian at Baylor Medical Center at Irving, helps answer some questions about the fat that's been grabbing headlines lately.Q: What is trans fat?
A: Most trans fats are artificially created by adding hydrogen to liquid oil. Trans fats don't spoil as quickly as oils, spread easily, and add taste and texture to food. (Some trans fats also occur naturally in meat and dairy products in small amounts.)
Q: What's so bad about trans fats?
A: Like saturated fats, trans fats raise total cholesterol and LDL ("bad") cholesterol. Trans fats may also lower HDL ("good") cholesterol. These changes can increase your risk for heart disease and stroke.
Q: How can I find out how much trans fat is in my food?
A: The FDA requires all packaged food to list the trans fat content on the Nutrition Facts panel. But there's a catch. Foods that have less than .5 grams of trans fats per serving can claim to be trans fat free. If you have several servings you could still be ingesting quite a bit of trans fat. Check the ingredients list to be sure—if you see vegetable shortening, hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated vegetable oil listed, the product contains trans fats.
Q: How much trans fat should I eat?
A: The 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend keeping intake as low as possible, while consuming an overall nutritionally adequate diet.
Q: What foods are high in trans fats?
A: Most fried foods, commercially baked goods, and lots of processed foods made with partially hydrogenated oils, and stick margarine, to name a few. Some food companies substitute palm or coconut oil for trans fats, but those fats are saturated and aren't really any better for your health.
Q: How can I limit my intake of trans fats?
A: Avoid fried foods; consume fewer processed foods; read food labels for trans and saturated fats and limit your intake of foods that contain them; and use mono- and polyunsaturated fats such as canola, olive, sunflower and safflower oil instead of fats that are solid at room temperature. If you use margarine, choose soft varieties labeled trans-fat free that contain liquid vegetable oil as the first ingredient and no more than 2g of saturated fat per tablespoon, and limit the quantity used.
Battling Sinus Pain: Preventing and Treating Sinusitis
Every year, 37 million Americans experience the symptoms of sinusitis. Paul A. Reder, M.D., an ear, nose throat specialist (ENT) on the medical staff at Baylor Medical Center at Waxahachie, answers frequently asked questions about this common infection.Q: What is sinusitis?
A: Sinusitis is inflammation or swelling in the sinuses that can cause pain or pressure in the face, upper teeth, around the eyes or in the head. Nasal discharge or congestion also may be present.
Q: What causes it?
A: Viruses, bacteria and even fungi can cause sinusitis.
Q: Can I prevent it?
A: Not entirely, but you can decrease its occurrence by moisturizing your nose with a humidifier or nasal saline drops. Air filters and air conditioning also can help. Avoid cigarette or other tobacco smoke. Also avoid contact with others who have cold symptoms. Avoid swimming in polluted or stagnant water. Treating nasal allergies can help keep the sinuses open and allow drainage into the nose.
Q: What should I do if I think I might have sinusitis?
A: See your primary care physician. He or she can usually diagnose and treat most cases of acute sinusitis. For unusual or persistent (chronic) cases you may need referral to an ENT.
Q: How can sinusitis be treated?
A: Acute sinusitis, after an upper respiratory illness such as a cold, will likely resolve with only supportive treatment. Decongestants, antihistamines, nasal steroid sprays and saline solutions may help relieve sinusitis symptoms. If bacterial sinusitis is suspected, antibiotics may be helpful. Chronic sinusitis is the persistence of symptoms for six weeks or longer and may require a referral to an ENT physician. A detailed ENT exam will be performed and sometimes a special X-ray called a CT scan may be ordered to help with diagnosis of chronic sinusitis. Chronic sinusitis may require longer antibiotic treatment. Recent studies indicate that fungal disease may cause some chronic sinusitis.
Q: Can surgery help?
A: Thankfully, most sinus disease can be treated and improved without surgery. Surgery may be indicated in some patients who have nasal polyps and/or CT findings showing blocked sinus openings or nasal obstruction coupled with abnormal findings on an ENT exam. Surgery is more often used in adults than children.