Breast Implants still have Safety Concerns

After a decade of worries over silicone, they have had a number of years without bad press. But now comes news of an increased risk of a rare cancer.

Though modern breast implants have been around for decades, questions of safety continue to plague augmentation even as the artificially enhanced bosom has become common.

The latest development: On Wednesday, the Food and Drug Administration announced it was investigating a possible link between breast implants and an increased risk of a rare cancer called anaplastic large-cell lymphoma, or ALCL.

As many as 60 women have developed ALCL among the 5 million to 10 million worldwide with implants. That compares to the rate of breast tissue ALCL in the normal U.S. population — about 3 in 100 million. The disease arises in scar tissue that forms around the implant, either silicone or saline, and is treatable.

The cancer risk, if it exists, is miniscule, and women with implants need not undergo tests or have implants removed if they are not having problems, the FDA said. But they should be aware of the symptoms of ALCL, which include swelling, pain or lumps around the implants.

The news shouldn't be cause for panic, said Los Angeles plastic surgeon Dr. Geoffrey R. Keyes, president of the California Society of Plastic Surgeons. "But it will require substantial research to determine exactly what the risk is," he said.

The development comes at a time when breast implants have had a number of years without bad press. Indeed, breast augmentation remains the most popular elective cosmetic surgery in the U.S.: Even with a drop during the recession, the surgeries have risen 36% since 2000.

Much of the popularity involves resolution of a decade-long battle over the safety of silicone implants.

In 1992, the FDA placed a ban on silicone implants, except as part of clinical trials, because of fears that silicone leaking from the implant could trigger autoimmune disease and other health problems. The agency lifted the ban in 2006, but asked the two U.S. manufacturers, Mentor and Allergan, to continue to collect data on 40,000 women for 10 years to further monitor safety.

Today, although both silicone and saline implants are available, "virtually nobody picks the saline anymore" because the safety concerns over silicone have been alleviated and because silicone looks and feels more natural, said Santa Monica plastic surgeon Dr. Michael McGuire, former president of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. "Breast implants are the most studied device in the history of medicine. When you look at the magnitude of the studies around the world, there is just about no evidence to support many of the fears that arose in the '90s," he said.

But though the FDA no longer considers autoimmune disease a risk, the agency lists other complications. The main ones are the need for additional operations, pain, changes in nipple and breast sensation, capsular contracture (shrinkage of a lining of scar tissue that forms around the implant, causing pain and breast hardness), rupture, and, for silicone-gel implants, migration of silicone should a rupture occur. Implants can also make it more difficult to read mammograms.

The rate for the most common and bothersome problem, capsular contracture, is roughly 10% in the first five years for saline implants and about 30% in the first three to five years for silicone implants, according to FDA data. More data are available at http://www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices.

Researchers are continuing to explore the pros and cons of a growing variety of implant designs, including textured silicone-gel implants — versus the traditional smooth silicone gel — and so-called extra-high-projection implants, which are larger implants that project out further from the chest. Recent studies suggest highly textured implants may increase the rate of capsular contracture.

Manufacturers are testing a different type of implant, the cohesive gel implant, available for now only in clinical trials.

The FDA cautions that most women will need operations to correct ruptures, complications or poor cosmetic outcomes. Complication rates increase for each revision surgery. But many don't heed the warnings, Keyes said. Even when doctors explain the risks, "patients … often de-emphasize the negatives and accentuate the positives."

The market for breast implants, which have with a price tag of about $4,000, is expected to grow about 7% per year over the next four years, said Sana Siddiqui, manager of the aesthetic division at Millennium Research Group, a Toronto-based market research company. Women ages 19 to 34 are a fast-growing segment of the market.

How to stay Healthy during the Winter Season

Lower temperatures and stressful holidays can present a host of challenges to your health. Try these simple tips to help ward-off winter blues.

• Dance away the blues

Short days and frigid temps turn you crabby. But a good workout (and that includes boogying to your favorite tunes) can hike feel-good endorphins. In fact, studies show that music activates parts of the brain linked to happiness.

• Phone a friend. Feeling that strong emotional bond may raise your levels of progesterone, a mood-boosting, stress-reducing hormone.
• Have sex. Estrogen and prostaglandins in semen may ease feelings of depression, a State University of New York study says.
• Cue a comedy. Just anticipating how much you’ll laugh while watching a funny movie is enough to boost endorphins.

Traffic is Bad for You

A medical study done in Denmark shows exposure to traffic noise can raise a person's risk of having a stroke, especially in people age 65 and older.

Researchers found stroke risk in that age group rose by 27 percent for every ten decibels of higher road traffic noise.

The lead researcher says the finding adds to evidence from previous studies on how traffic noise may cause cardiovascular problems such as high blood pressure and heart attacks.

She says noise acts as a stressor and disturbs a person's sleep while increasing stress hormones.

The tendency for older people to have more fragmented sleep patterns and sleep disturbances may explain why the link between traffic noise and stroke risk was seen mainly in the study's older participants.

Sick-Proof Yourself for the Winter

A hot cold cure

Not a tea drinker? Any warm liquid—including chicken soup and fruit drinks—can help relieve cold and flu symptoms. Heated drinks help loosen congestion and stimulate the flow of mucus, as well as keep you hydrated.

 

Citrus Firewall

Stock-up on fresh oranges and grapefruit.

Private juice bar

Sip antioxidant-rich juice with the help of a juicer. Pop the fruit on top, and it extracts the juice in seconds.

Whistle blower

Next time you're feeling under the weather, put on this cheery Copco Camden kettle ($20; amazon.com) and curl up with a cup of tea. (Snuggly blanket and trashy TV optional).

Lather, rinse, repeat

It may seem old-school, but washing hands with soap and water is your first line of defense against bugs. No need for harsh antibacterial suds—a luxe version like L'Occitane Soap with Verbena Leaves (soap, $6, dish, $8; loccitane.com) is just as effective.

Clean swipe

After you're done with your yoga routine, de-grime your mat with Herban Essentials Yoga Towelettes ($15 for pack of 20; herbanessentials.com). They're infused with lavender essential oil, believed to have antibacterial properties.

Sharing isn't caring!

Avoid drink mix-ups (and sickness-spreading) by using ClinQs ($6; clinqs.com), chic reusable stickers for marking glasses or bottles. Cheers to not taking a swig from someone else's water bottle! These are great when you host parties.

Brush off germs

Keep your toothbrush clean with the Zapi Toothbrush Sanitizer ($30; violight.com), which uses ultraviolet-light technology to eliminate up to 99% of bugs (such as E. coli, H1N1, and salmonella).

You can never have enough

Change pillowcases often, especially when you or anyone who shares your bed feels ill. Stock up on fun linens like these Garnet Hill Zinnia Sateen pillowcases ($30 for a pair; garnethill.com), and wash 'em at least once a week.

Why You should not Smoke

I find it ironic that I don't smoke and like to smoke having come from a family of smokers. My mother smoked, but quit many years ago when I was a child. My father was a heavy smoker and smoked well into my adult years. He only stopped upon progression of his cancer. My sister still smokes to this day, but is in process of quitting. Good for her.

  

For all the reasons you should not smoke, this piece of information should make your decision much easier and clear.

Cigarettes damage the body within minutes of taking a puff, new research suggests. In a small study, scientists tracked the level of a chemical associated with cancer—one polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH)—in 12 smokers and found it began damaging their DNA within 15 to 30 minutes of finishing a cigarette, according to a report published in the American Chemical Society's journal Chemical Research in Toxicology. "Almost everybody knows that smoking can cause lung cancer," Martin Dockrell, director of policy and research at the advocacy group Action on Smoking and Health, told BBC News. "The chilling thing about this research is that it shows just how early the very first stages of the process begin—not in 30 years, but within 30 minutes of a single cigarette. But it is never too late to quit."

 

 

Home Gym Ideas for $100 or Less

You don't have to break you budget to get in shape. In fact, you don't even have to join a gym with their pricey membership fees.

Here are some great tips for making your open home gym for $100 or less.

1. Don't buy anything that's going to gather dust. Buy what you'll use. Determine what fitness goal you want to accomplish and buy the equipment that will help you accomplish it.
2. Look at what you already have. Chances are you already have all the equipment you need. Before you spend any money, look in that basement, garage, or closet. Items around the house can make for good substitutes: chairs for dips and push-ups, a towel for resistance training, Cans of food and jugs of milk or detergent for free weight exercises. You can even craft a homemade jump rope from cords or other ropes you have around the house.
3. DIY. Buy foam roller and you've got your own self-massage tool. Use tennis balls for a self-massage. Lie on you back and bend your knees, then put them under you butt and hips to work out those tight spots. Use One ball on each side of your spine to work out knots there. Use a hot-water bottle for your feet.
4. Buy the basics. Keep it simple. Usually a plain set of dumbbells is all you need. You can find dumbbells for just 50 cent per pound of weight. For women 5-12 pounds is sufficient, for men 12-25 pounds. Inflatable stability balls and medicine balls can be bought for $25 or less. An adjustable chin-up bar is also helpful.
5. Technology. There are many exercise DVD's and videos available for less than $10. Try Amazon.com. Your local dollar store might even carry some exercise DVD's or CD's.
6. Don't forget your shoes. A pair of good sneakers is essential for exercising. But that doesn't mean it has to be expensive. Just make sure the shoe fits you well and is appropriate for the activity you're doing.
7. Go outside. Alternatively, hit the park. Stand on rocks, this will challenge your balance, use rocks as weights. Hang from a tree branch for chin-ups. Do sprints across the grass.
   
    Remember, people have been exercising for thousands of years without any equipment. They used what was around them and you can too.

Snow Business

For some, snow means fun, but for those of us who have to shovel it, now can mean the onslaught of injuries when you to shovel it. Back injuries are especially common this time of year, as more people are out doing this laborious task.

  

In a study, from Cornell University, the L5/S1 disk is the weakest link in the spinal column/body chain and most susceptible to injury. For us non-doctors, this is the lower back area. Which unfortunately, gets a lot of wear and tear during a task such as snow shoveling.

 Some helpful tips to make your snow shoveling safer and smarter:

• Stretch. Stretch your muscles before shoveling. This will help avoid pulled cramps and other muscles injuries.
• Be heart smart. Don't eat or smoke before shoving snow. Avoid caffeinated drinks and other products. Caffeine will increase your heart rate and cause blood vessels to constrict. Not good when shoveling snow.
  Dress for the weather. Wear clothing that is easy to move in. Always wear a hat-most of your body heat is lost through your head. Proper boots are essential. Make sure they will keep your feet warm and dry. They should have a good grip to help prevent slipping on the snow and ice. Choose gloves that will keep your hands warm and dry, and have a good grip to them for easy handling of the shovel. A thick-layered glove is recommended.
• Shovel ergonomics. Choose a with a curved handle. The special of the handle helps keep your back straight. This is ideal for anyone who has back issues. You can find these shovels at many hardware or improvement stores.
• Consider a shovel with a plastic blade. Plastic blades are lighter than the metal blades, thus making the shoveling chore easier.
• Smaller is better. A smaller blade may mean less of a load per shovel, but it will be lighter and less strain on the back.
• Pushing instead of lifting. It's actually easier to push snow aside than to lift it. There shovels specifically-made to push snow. Check your hardware store to see if they have them.
• Technique. You've probably heard it all before, but it's true. Lift with your legs, not your back. Squat with your legs about a shoulder's width apart. Lift small amounts, nothing too heavy. Don't twist your body. Dump the snow in front of you. Not over your shoulder.
• Feeling cold. When you start feeling cold, that's the time to go inside and warm-up.
• Stop when feeling tired. Don't shovel to the point when you're feeling exhausted. Know your body and limits.
• Hire help. If shoveling snow is out of the question for you, budget to pay someone do it for you. Advertise in local newspapers, even social networks like Facebook or Twitter can be good places to find someone near you willing to help.
  
   

Team Challenge

Once again, the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America is gearing-up for the Team Challenge Half Marathon Training Program. The event leads up to the Half Marathon on June 4th, 2011 in northern Virginia. You can join the team through a local chapter in your area. As a member of the team, you'll receive training from a professional coach over a 16 week period. Everything you need to get into top running-shape for the half marathon event. There is also a new Team Challenge Cycle program for those who prefer to ride.

  

This is a great way to get in shape and improve your overall health while helping out for a good cause.

  

In case you're wondering, Crohn's and Colitis are digestive diseases which affects 1.4 million people, many of them children. Crohn's and Colitis is not often discussed in public forums, but events such as Team Challenge help raise awareness of Crohn's and Colitis as well as raise funds for research towards a cure.

For more information about Team Challenge, visit http://www.ccteamchallenge.org/. Also visit the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America at http://www.ccfa.org/.