I had brain surgery, what's your excuse? My Review

I Had Brain Surgery, What's Your Excuse? by Suzy Becker
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I found the earlier parts of the book somewhat irksome and it took me a little while to identify with the author, who I initially viewed as a bit melodramatic. However, it is likely that each of us experience health concerns in our own unique ways, and I am one who prefers to remain positive instead of thinking that I’m going to drop down dead at any instant, despite the severity of a disorder.

Another irritation was her lack of knowledge of pituitary disease, which resulted in her flippant rejection of pituitary tumors as being “real tumors” (page 67), simply because some of them can now be removed through the nose due to their location via improved technologies. Within the same calendar year, I underwent a transsphenoidal resection for a pituitary tumor AND a craniotomy for another separate lesion in my temporal lobe. Although neither operation is without risk, I admit that the latter surgery was more challenging in terms of both hospital recovery and surgical risk. Nevertheless, my pituitary disease has proved to be far more problematic and debilitating than the TL lesion, which merely necessitates anti-seizure medication at the present time. I understand that Becker was trying to affiliate with someone who has a tumor “with some odds of being malignant” but her dismissive attitude can be viewed as offensive to those with pituitary tumors. Another point to note is that all tumors have the potential to grow and to cause damage in the brain, and malignancy isn’t the only fact to consider. The location and type of tumor is also important due to the fact that different parts of the brain are used for higher cognitive functioning. Also, some pituitary tumors can grow as large as a plum before a diagnosis has been made, and some may secrete too much or too little of a critical hormone, which can cause a myriad of physical and psychological problems or even death (e.g. cortisol).

That being said, as a whole, the book is very readable and the author deserves credit for portraying such a distressing personal journey with a great deal of frankness and entertainment value. I also appreciate the fact that Becker included a few useful tidbits throughout the narrative, such as information about a clinical paper (page 242) regarding mild brain damage. It is also good to know that by the end of the book she is recovering well and is able to resume her career and many of her other life passions.

I’m not sure if I would recommend the book to anyone I know in particular, but I will certainly find a place on my bookshelf on which to keep it, if not only to remind me of the hilarious title!


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The DHEA Breakthrough: Look younger, live longer, feel better: My Review

The DHEA Breakthrough by Stephen A. Cherniske
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Although somewhat outdated and a little oversimplified in parts, Stephen Cherniske, does provide some useful information about the therapeutic potential of DHEA when used in conjunction with a healthy lifestyle, such as good nutrition, stress reduction techniques, exercise and supplementation to increase energy and to protect bone and joint health. One must note, however, that many findings are not based on any long-term double blind clinical studies, which Cherniske does objectively declare throughout the book.

It is incorrect that by the age of 50, growth hormone production in most individuals is too low to measure, as stated on page 57. Indeed, recent work demonstrates that some patients around this age actually suffer from adult growth hormone deficiency - due to pituitary gland damage - and thus require prescription supplementation via daily injections (obviously, not all people of this age are shown to be deficient via GH stimulation testing).

I also wonder where the author draws his evidence for stating that women were the primary inventors up until recently. Although he may have used some ethnographic evidence, one cannot apply such a sweeping notion to the whole of the Paleolithic and Mesolithic periods. Indeed, the statement on p 107, “the first tools, it turns out, were not the weapons of men but the implements of women, which clothed, fed, and transported us through the ages.” is not backed up with any anthropological/archaeological credibility. Indeed, the first archaeological evidence we have for tools relate to those created by our predecessor Homo habilis, and not by modern humans at all. Additionally, many experiments and modern analyses conducted on Paleolithic stone tools have shown that many may have been used for butchering purposes. This would suggest a hunting or more male dominated role. Similarly, the subsequent Mesolithic period (following the last Ice Age) shows that modern humans invented a whole new stone tool tradition (called microliths), where tiny tools were adapted and utilized in order to hunt smaller woodland animals (e.g., deer). I could go on but I am veering off course. However, the author really needs to be more precise about what he is referring to.

All that aside, Cherniske has provided some compelling arguments about why one should consider DHEA as an important facet of good health and longevity. I, for one, shall be discussing this issue with my endocrinologist at my next appointment.



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Smoking & Health: Just the Facts!

 "Sometimes I just sit in front of a mirror and watch myself inhaling that poison gas. If I was in a concentration camp and someone tried to make me do that, I'd want to kill them."

http://smokeforwhat.com/no-smoking-quotes.php

Everyone knows that smoking is bad for one's health. The intention of this post is not to get on my podium and rant about the contentious issues that have long been smoldering between smokers and non-smokers, and I apologize in advance for any unintentional conflict that may ensue. Instead, I merely aim to present some basic facts about smoking in order to help those wishing to make informed decisions about protecting their health from unsafe exposure.

Is smoking really as dangerous as they say?

A preliminary study in 1950 by epidemiologists Richard Doll and Austin Bradford Hill showed a strong and real association between smoking and lung cancer. The study also indicates that the more one smokes, the higher the risk of developing carcinoma of the lung. Further, the act of smoking appears to cause the same amount of harm whether the smoke is being inhaled or not!

Above the age of 45, the risk of developing [lung cancer] increases in simple proportion with the amount smoked, and that it may be approximately 50 times as great among those who smoke 25 or more cigarettes a day as among non-smokers. ~ Doll & Hill, 1950, p747

In 1951, the British doctors study began, which charted the smoking habits and health conditions of about 40,000 physicians over a period of about 50 years. The first report appeared in 1954, which confirmed an increase in mortality with the amount smoked, with a significantly increased likelihood of lung cancer death amongst those who smoked 25 or more cigarettes a day. The report also proved that there was an increased risk of death from coronary thrombosis as the amount of cigarettes smoked increased.

The results of many decades’ follow-up were published in a final paper in 2004, which confirmed that the hazards of long term smoking had previously been significantly underestimated. About a half of the people who continue to smoke may ultimately die from their addiction. Typically, cigarette smokers shorten their lives by about 10 years. The risks continue to be high with low tar cigarettes.

On average, cigarette smokers die about 10 years younger than non-smokers The risk of being killed by tobacco is doubled with persistent smoking

Other cancers that are linked to smoking are mouth, larynx, oesophagus, kidney, pancreas, uterus and bladder. Studies also suggest that smoking causes heart disease as well as numerous other diseases. The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimate that in 2025 to 2030 there will be 7 million tobacco deaths. Half are likely to die in middle age, between 35 and 69 years old.

Secondhand smoke

Secondhand smoke (also known as passive smoking) can also have serious consequences on the health of children and adults who do not smoke, as it contains many of the same chemicals as the smoke that is breathed in by smokers. Secondhand smoke involves the inhalation of the smoke released either directly from a burning cigarette or from the smoke exhaled by the smoker. It holds a poisonous cocktail of at least 4,000 chemicals (e.g., arsenic used in pesticides, formaldehyde used to embalm dead bodies, and hydrogen cyanide used in chemical weapons), many of which cause a variety of major medical disorders. In fact, because it is created through different temperatures and conditions, the smoke that comes off a cigarette between puffs may even contain more toxins than directly inhaled smoke.

Experts agree that there is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke. Even brief contact can increase the risk of heart attack and lung cancer. According the the U.S. Surgeon General, a nonsmoker’s risk of getting heart disease is likely to be increased by 25 to 30 percent by secondhand smoke, and the risk of developing lung cancer in nonsmokers is increased by 20 to 30 percent. Endeavoring to smoke in a separate area from family or ventilating the home are not successful methods at removing these dangers. The only way to protect yourself and your loved ones to is keep your environment smoke-free.

Exposure to secondhand smoke at home or at work increases a nonsmoker’s risk of developing heart disease by 25 to 30 percent and lung cancer by 20 to 30 percent ~ U.S. Surgeon General’s Report 2006

No if’s, ands, or butts - It’s never too late to burn that habit!

Good news! The follow-up 2004 Britsh doctors study showed that there is decreased risk of dying prematurely when cigarette smoking is stopped…  And the most benefit can be gained by stopping sooner rather than later. If you need help in quitting, you may wish to visit your general physician for appropriate advice and resources or you can refer to some of the links below.

Cessation at age 60, 50, 40, or 30 years gained, respectively, about 3, 6, 9, or 10 years of life expectancy. ~ Doll et. al., 2004, p1

Sources/links

Doll, R., and Hill, A. 1950. Smoking and carcinoma of the lung: Preliminary report. BMJ 1950;739-748:4682

Doll, R., and Hill, A. 1954. The mortality of doctors in relation to their smoking habits: A preliminary report. BMJ 1954, 1451-1455

Doll, R., Peto, R., Boreham, J., Sutherland, I. 2004. Mortality in relation to Smoking: 50 years’ observation on male British doctors. BMJ 2004;328:1519

The Health Consequences of Involuntary Exposure to Tobacco Smoke: A Report of the Surgeon General. 2006.

Horrible Facts About Smoking

How to Quit: Government Resources

Quit For Life Program

QuitSmoking.com

The World Health Organisation (WHO) Report

After the Diagnosis: My Review

After the Diagnosis: Transcending Chronic Illness by Julian Seifter

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I loved this book and found it difficult to put down! After the Diagnoses is written by a doctor battling with his own chronic condition (diabetes). He examines the challenges involved with chronic illness and includes thoroughly enjoyable stories pertaining to real life patient case histories. The book is packed with compassion, insight and humor and is a fascinating read. I would recommend this book to anyone who is concerned with chronic illness, including patients and their loved ones, physicians and medical students.



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A Glossary of Selected Medical Terms (a work in progress)

Like any other profession, the medical industry uses specific industry language that can sometimes be tricky to comprehend. Doctors and researchers use many technical terms and Latin nomenclature in order to describe specific diseases, bacteria, human anatomy, pharmaceutical drugs and so forth. I thought about explaining such terms at the end of each blog post, but after much consideration, I decided that it would be more beneficial for a Glossary to be added for better ease of reference. Everyone has to deal with some sort of medical issue at some point in their lives and so it is crucial that we all have access to information that may help us find our way to better health and recovery. As stated throughout this Weblog, I am not a medical or health professional, and the data provided is for informational purposes only and are not intended to replace medical information provided by licensed healthcare professionals. It is important, therefore, that you consult your own doctor for your own individual care.

Using the Glossary

(a) Each term defined in this Glossary is shown alphabetically in bold font.

(b) Terms may be single words or longer phrases and may include domain-specific jargon or abbreviations.

(c) Within the text of definitions, supplementary terms defined elsewhere in the Glossary are shown in italics for ease of cross-referencing.

(d) Within the text of each new blog post, the terms available for access in this Glossary will be shown in bold font.

(e) Glossary entries are provided primarily in US English although UK English is also included where appropriate.

Scope of Glossary

Please note that this Glossary does not provide an all-inclusive list, as the terminology specific to the discipline of medicine appears to be never-ending. Further, this Glossary is a work in progress and further entries may be added with new blog posts. The goal of this Glossary is to provide a quick and easy reference to the meanings of common terms used in the field of medicine. For additional information about the terms defined, it is suggested that you refer to external sources such as those listed in the Bibliography below.

Documents and publications of relevant sources used for the formation of this Glossary are included in the Bibliography. This Glossary is a work in progress and any errors found are my own (I am not a medical professional and I do not have an editor to check my work).

I hope you will find this Glossary useful! 

Bibliography

Parts of this Glossary were brought together with the help of several resources. Valued references include:

Bottom Line. 2006. The World’s Greatest Treasury of Health Secrets. Bottom Line Publications.

Pituitary Network Association. 2007 (4th ed.). It Is All In Your Head! The Pituitary Patient Resource Guide.

Your most important asset: Your health

Generally, it is not until we personally suffer from a serious or chronic health issue that we truly understand how dramatic an impact it can have on our lives. We often take so much for granted in this world, as if we expect to live the same way indefinitely. Poor health, however, can rob us of the many wonderful things that we normally possess, such as a rewarding career, good social life, and even the simple privilege of feeling independent. It can thus dramatically impact our financial stability, personal relationships and future goals.

Such a scenario can also affect our loved ones such as family members, close friends, and co-workers, who often have to step in because of our physical limitations. It is crucial, therefore, that we take preventative measures to in order to avoid or alleviate damage to our bodies before it leads to a situation that may become irreversible. It is inevitable that our bodies will age and deteriorate over time, but there are simple measures that we can take in order to maintain as healthy a lifestyle as possible. Indeed, we endeavor to protect our material belongings in the form of repairing, cleaning and insuring them (preventative conservation), so aren’t we being remiss by not looking after ourselves?

Growing up in the western hemisphere, I felt confident that the medical profession had a solid understanding of the human body and that no matter what illness they faced, doctors would by and large be able to diagnose and treat it, accordingly – Ahhh! Those blissful days of pure ignorance… However, the reality is that this is often not the case. Although modern medical care has improved enormously over the last few decades, we are nevertheless a far cry from where we need to be and, as patients, it is important to be proactive in our overall well-being.

As expected, the majority of government funding is directed towards research for the most common types of disorders, such as cancer, heart disease and diabetes, and so forth. Millions of people (excluding those from third world countries) therefore continue to suffer with other less common chronic problems that may either go undiagnosed or be misdiagnosed… And in some cases, even if they are diagnosed correctly, they may still not be treated sufficiently due to the lack of appropriate treatments that are available for some types of illness. Indeed, some medications carry hefty side effects with them but there is sometimes nothing else available due to lack of clinical trials for that particular disease.

It is crucial, therefore, that you do your homework and make sure that you ask your doctor the right questions. Your doctor is certainly responsible for assisting in your overall medical treatment, but who cares about your future more than you do?

Further information

* WebMD - Better Information, Better Health

* Dr. Andrew Weil – Trusted Health Advisor (Mind & Body)