Dr. Gwen's Women's Health Podcasts show

Dr. Gwen's Women's Health Podcasts

Summary: Updates and reports on women's health issues. Selected research reports are reviewed and discussed.----Disclaimer: While this podcast may contain descriptions of dealing with health and various health conditions, the information presented is not intended to substitute for a health care practitioner's diagnosis, advice, and treatment.

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Podcasts:

 Regular Aspirin Use May Protect Against Melanoma; FDA Raises Alert on Azithromycin | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 08:40

The wonder drug Aspirin may help prevent melanoma, along with breast, colorectal cancers and heart disease. In addition, the FDA has raised a "heart alert" on Z-packs (Azithromycin).

 Changing Our Tune on Exercise; Fat and Fit, or Thin and Unhealthy? | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 14:31

A new approach to encourage exercise, focus on the benefit of "feeling good" may make people more motivated to exercise. In the second study new research supports that overweight and obese people are at no greater risk of developing or dying from heart disease or cancer, compared with normal weight people as long as they are metabolically fit despite excess weight.

 Is Obesity a Disease? Moderate Alcohol Intake May Help Prevent Bone Loss in Women | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 10:02

The first report focuses on the perspective of obesity as disease that was recently considered at the American Medical Association meeting. Various issues are reviewed looking at pros and cons. In the second report, a recent study suggests that drinking a moderate amount of alcohol as part of a healthy lifestyle may benefit women's bone health, lowering their risk of developing osteoporosis.

 Tart Cherries have the Highest Anti-Inflammatory Content of Any Food; What Women Need to Know about Hormone Replacement Therapy | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 7:25

The first report reviews the interesting finding that tart cherries may help millions reduce inflammation to manage pain. The second study revisits the hormone replacement therapy issue and reviews the findings of a government panel that confirst that estrogen and progestin replacement theray should be used sparingly, only to ward off the most intense symptoms of menopause (for short term use) and not to protect against chronic disease.

 Cruciferous Vegetable Consumption Linked to Improved Breast Cancer Survival Rates; Long-Term Use of Estrogen Therapy Linked to Higher Risk for Breast Cancer | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 8:02

The first study reports that increased intake of cruciferous vegetables (greens, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli) during the first 36 months after breast cancer diagnosis was associated with a reduced risk for total mortality, breast cancer-specific mortality and recurrence in a dose-response pattern. In the second report, long-term use of estrogen hormone therapy (without progesterone) may increase breast cancer risk.

 New Pap Smear Guidelines; A Simpler Way to Slow the Obesity Crisis | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 9:29

In the first report I review new guidelines for papsmears by the US Preventive Task Force and the American Cancer Society released earlier this week. In the second report I review a research study that looked at telling people to choose healthy foods isn't working and propose a better solution may be to let people eat whatever they want--just not to increase their calories over time.

 Love and Chocolate are Good for Your Heart; Mediterranean Diet is Good for Thought! | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 6:19

The first report reviews the benefits of dark chocolate and supportive, loving relationships on heart health. The second study reviews the benefits of a Mediterranean diet on protection of blood vessels in the brain that may reduce risks of stroke and memory loss.

 Possible Benefit in Old Age of One Drink a Day for Middle-Aged Women | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 4:22

Analysis of data from the US Nurses' Health Study (started in 1976) resulted in the conclusion that women who drink 15 grams or less of alcohol a day (the equivalent of one drink of any alcoholic beverage) at midlife may be healthier when older than women who do not drink at all, who consume more than two drinks a day, or who consule four drinks or more at one time.

 Potatoes Can Reduce Blood Pressure: Getting Doctors and Nurse to Wash Their Hands | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 10:06

Just a couple of servings of potato a day can reduce blood pressure in obese or overweight people with high blood pressure. Best choices are purple potatoes, cooked in the microwave and without all the "fixin's". Changing warning signs that focus on patient safety such as "Wash Your Hands to Protect Your Patients" from "Wash Your Hands to Protect Yourself" may increase handwashing compliance among healthcare workers according to new research.

 More on the Harvard University Nutrition Study; Weight and the Relationship to Breast Cancer | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 14:55

The first report (NY Times) provides more information on the Harvard study that concludes that eating everything in moderation is simply wrong and that what you eat is important. Biggest contributors to weight gain include (in order) french fries, potato chips, sugar-sweetened drinks, red meats and processed meats, other forms of potatoes, sweets and deserts, refined grains, other fried foods, 100% fruit joice and butter. Foods that contribute to weight loss/control include fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts and most importantly yogurt. Other influences to weight gain that were supported include length of sleep each night, amount of television watched, alcohol intake and smoking. The second report validates prior research supporting that weight has the strongest effect on the sex hormones that increase breast cancer risk in post-menopausal women (British Journal of Cancer).

 The New USDA Food Plate; Potatoes Bad, Nuts Good--Harvard Study | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 13:43

The food pyramid is gone and in it's place is MyPlate. This is reviewed (good and bad) and for more information be sure to bookmark http://www.choosemyplate.gov/. The second report reviews findings from a Harvard School of Public Study of more than 120,000 individuals over four years which found that eating potatoes significantly increased calories over time and those that ate nuts and yogurt lost weight. The study challenges the conventional wisdeom of "calories in, calories out" and instead purporst and "all foods are not equal and just eating in moderation is not enough".

 A Master Switch for Fat? Remember, the Leading Killer of Women is Heart Disease! | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 07:28

In the first review, I discuss a recent report from the journal Nature Genetics that has identified on how master regulator gene may contribute to a cascade of metabolic effects in other genes. This gene (KLF14) is linked to type 2 diabetes and cholesterol and is a "master switch" that controls other genes found in fat in the body. In the next report, the importance of recognizing early symptoms of coronary artery disease in women is discussed. These include: jaw discomfort, back pain, heartburn, feeling light-headed, and, cold clammy skin. Heart disease is the number one killer of women and it is important to be proactive.

 Overactive Bladder and Nocturia in Middle-Aged American Women; Sea Salt Just as Salty, Limit the Wine | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 06:31

The first reports reviews experiences of middle-aged women and frequent urination at night time and the importance of doing this with your health care provider. In the second report I review a recent American Heart Association report that found in a survey of 1,000 adults that knowledge about limitation for salt and wine consumption is poorly lacking.

 Making Sense of Medical Statistics; New Efforts to Simplify End-of-Life Wishes | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 14:13

The first report reviews medical statistics commonly used in "risk" shared by physicians when patients are making an informed decision. The second report reviews a new program (Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment or POLST) aimed at refining end of life decisions.

 Why Women Avoid Mammograms; Good News! Hot Flashes are Tied to Lower Breast Cancer Risk | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 08:21

The first report is related to reasons why women may avoid mammograms and a plea to be sure to get yours! In the second report a recent study notes that women who have hot flashes and other symptoms of menopause may give women a significantly lower risk of developing the most common forms of breast cancer. Finally some good news about menopause! Huang, Y., Malone, K.E., Cushing-Haugen, K.L., Daling, J.R., & Li, C.I. (2011). Relationship between menopausal symptoms and risk of postmenopausal breast cancer. Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers and Prevention, DOI: 10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-10-0998

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