DID YOU KNOW THAT...?

Dr. Reedy was voted 'Best Physician' by readers of the Auburn Reporter in September, 2011! Congratulations Dr. Reedy!

A recent article in Time Magazine communicated critical points from a controversial YouTube video by Dr. Robert Lustig, a pediatric endocrinologist at the University of California, San Francisco. The 90 minute video conveys the professor's clinical observations and research. Lustig's argument: Sugar is poisonous to the body. Watch it here.

Despite the immense amount of nutrition information available in today's health-conscious America, many are beginning to look to their current work situation for answers to heart and psychological problems.

According to U.S. News and World Report, February 2010 edition on "How to Live to 100," studies from America, Finland and the United Kingdom are all showing evidence that job insecurity and workplace pecking order can in fact lead to earlier death as well as illness and psychological problems. The strains of higher demands and lower pay in today's economy are leading to stress and exhaustion producing less active and health conscious adults.

When workplace stress and strain dominates our thoughts and ability to function as spouses, parents, good neighbors, friends, etc. it is time to ask the tough questions regarding our quality of life. Yes, we are currently living in a 'tough' economy, but when we lose what is truly valuable (family, health, mental stability) to the comfort of a paycheck it's time to make a life assessment.

Consider whether the negative your current work situation is causing is worth the positive relational and health aspects you are losing. If you put the fear aside, maybe you'll find the courage to examine your heart, talk to your friends and family and take a chance on increased quality and decreased health risks via a job change, some time off or following a life long dream. Who knows where some personal TLC could take you!

At Sports Activity Medicine, we not only care about your physical health, but also your mental, emotional and spiritual wellbeing. Read more about our philosophy in About us.

Reference:
Hobson, K. (2010, February). Beware: your job may be killing you. U.S. News & World Report, 50.

That's correct, the rate of diabetes incidents have gone up 700 percent since World War II and currently there appears to be no medical solution in sight. Despite "refined forms of insulin and a plethora of bioengineered medications," over 45 percent of American adults are labeled as 'overweight' and another 30 percent are weighing in at 'obese' both contributing to Type II Diabetes. America is facing a diabetes epidemic. (Wellness Councils of America, 2007)

With businesses and manufacturers accommodating our ever growing waistlines, the question is to be begged – are we cooperating with the disease, treating the symptoms or uprooting the cause of the problem?

It is easily concluded that standard westernized medicine is not helping the diabetes culture. Without promoting health from the beginning, the healthcare system has become specialized in the "management of victims," practicing "patch-up medicine" via surgery, coronary care units, kidney dialysis machines and cancer therapy and treatments. Diabetes has become so prevalent in the doctor's office that the disease has overshadowed health. Without education and personal responsibility in action, a cultural transformation is not easily attained. (Robert F. Allen, 2007)

When it comes to medicine, medical care is different than healthcare. Health is "largely a function of how people take responsibility for their own actions," and given the resources and education to do so.

At Sports Activity Medicine, we feel strongly about empowering you with the knowledge you need to take charge of your health within the context of your current needs and genetic endowment. If you have diabetes currently or it exists in your family, contact us to speak with someone about how you can better your health now and for the future.

References:
Wellness Coucils of America (2007). The problem with western medicine. Absolute Advantage: The Workplace Wellness Magazine, 3 (8), 7-9.
Allen PhD, R. F. (2007). Treating symptoms of causes? Absolute Advantage: The Workplace Wellness Magazine, 3 (8), 8.

When most people think of vitamin D, they think of the sun as playing a role in their health. This is in fact true as for 90% of people sunlight is their main source of vitamin D. But did you know that you can also obtain vitamin D through a small variety of foods, including mackerel, salmon, sardines, cod liver oil, sun-dried mushrooms, milk and dairy products, some brands of orange juice, cereals and even some breads and margarines can be fortified with varying amounts of vitamin D?

Unfortunately, it is difficult to maintain the correct levels of vitamin D that your body needs by dietary sources alone. Not only that, but most of us are unable to absorb enough of this important vitamin via the sun due to increasing age, sunscreen protection levels and other factors.

Because vitamin D plays such a crucial role in reducing our risk of cancers of all kinds, especially breast cancer as well as Type 1 diabetes, fractures, multiple sclerosis and even depression, heart failure and obesity, it is very important to ensure our bodies are absorbing the right amount. Testing for vitamin D deficiency is as easy as a blood draw and a serum hydroxyvitamin D or calcifediol test, ensuring that you are at an optimal level. Intake necessary for you to maintain correct levels of vitamin D can vary from person to person so it is very important that you are tested which can easily be done via our in-house lab at Sports Activity Medicine. Contact us for more information.

It is certainly common knowledge that children must undergo certain vaccinations from an early age to prevent major diseases, but is it possible the same is true for adults?

According to an article in Prevention Magazine, adults are forgoing lifesaving immunizations or have never had what are now considered common vaccinations. You probably recognize the names from you childhood: tetanus, whooping cough, measles, mumps, and rubella. But what about preventative measure for pneumonia and shingles? All of these vaccinations are available to adults. Check out the article below to learn more and contact us to discuss what vaccinations are right for you.

Gilman, Lauren. "5 Vaccines You Need to Update Now." Prevention December 2010. 1 March 2011

Most of us in the northwest are aware that eating fish is good for our health. Salmon and other oily fishes contain numerous vitamins that our body needs to be healthy. It is the omega-3 fats in fish oil that get the health savvy's primary attention due to their known heart-health benefits. However, research at Tufts University is showing that the omega-3 that we love may actually reduce the effects of aging at a cellular level.

The study conducted found that patients with "stable coronary artery disease" who had the "highest blood levels of omega-3s also showed the least shortening of telomeres." A telomere is the region at the end of a chromosome which protects the chromosome from deterioration. If omega-3s are increasing the life-span of the telomeres, this means potential reduced aging for you.

Find out more about the benefits of omega-3s by viewing the article cited below or by contacting us.

"Omega-3s in Fish May Help Slow Biological Aging." Tufts University Health & Nutrition Letter 28.2 (2010), 1-2.

Every time you turn on the television these days, there is a commercial for Viagra or Levitra. And anyone who has a faulty spam filter is certainly aware of Cialis. Clearly erectile dysfunction is a hot topic of the day. But erectile dysfunction is not just about getting older, it is directly linked to testosterone. Testosterone levels can vary based on diet, exercise, weight fluctuations, smoking or development of diabetes or high cholesterol levels.

According to Dr. Richard Spark, "These are behaviors that individually and collectively start damaging blood vessels in [a man's] body limiting the flow of blood to his vital organs." It has been thought that medication is the only solution for men with erectile dysfunction. However, in addition to low blood flow, many men also have low serum testosterone levels.

Low testosterone levels are not only vital for a man's sexual health, but can also "be critical for his emotional health and possibly his longevity as well." Is it time we started testing for serum testosterone measurements during a man's routine annual physical? Some think so as a recent study followed 794 men for 11.8 years and found that those with the lowest testosterone levels were, "more likely to have died during those 11.8 years than age-matched men with normal testosterone levels."

Read more of Dr. Sparks finding here and request your serum testosterone level test at your next physical provided by Sports Activity Medicine.

Contact us for more information.