Author Archives: Christine Buske

Natural Remedies Against Hot Flashes

Studies show that treating menopausal women with a pill containing Rhubarb extract reduces the frequency and severity of hot flashes. Especially in perimenopausal women the extract had a positive effect. This is a period just before menopause really sets in, when women start experiencing irregular menstrual cycles. Traditionally, hot flashes were treated with hormone replacement therapy, but the relationship between these hormones and heart disease and breast cancer has led to the search of alternatives. Hormone replacements should only be used in the short term, and are not a good long term treatment plan. A less risky substance could be … Continue reading →

Causes of Anemia

There are several different types of anemia, with a wide range in causes. It is important to understand the type of anemia you may be facing in order to understand and/or get adequate treatment for it. Anemia caused by loss of blood If you get severely hurt and loose a lot of blood you generally receive donated blood to make up for it. There are however conditions that result in chronic bleeding which can go undetected for a long period of time, and as such cause blood loss related anemia. These conditions include ulcers, hemorrhoids, gastritis and cancer. Women can … Continue reading →

Understanding Anemia

If you have been very tired lately, without a rational explanation (e.g. not getting enough sleep), then anemia could be one option your doctor may want to look into as a possible explanation. Anemia develops when your body is not producing enough healthy red blood cells. Because red blood cells are our main oxygen transporters, a deficiency pretty much means you are not getting enough oxygen to circulate your body. Having said this, it makes sense one of the symptoms of anemia is fatigue: oxygen is necessary for energy release. If on top of this your red blood cells are … Continue reading →

How Does Your Medication End Up Where It Should?

Have you ever wondered how that pill you are taking for migraines really end up where it is supposed to be? Absorption of drugs into the body is a complicated process, but it is interesting to know a little bit about the different methods by which our body absorbs the medication we take. It can help us appreciate why it can take ten years or more to develop a drug when we consider that each tissue type and each condition requires a drug that responds to very specific characteristics in order for it to work. One of those being the … Continue reading →

Why We Have a Blood Brain Barrier

Our brain is connected to the rest of our body through countless blood vessels, however unlike other organs and regions of the body not everything that is in the blood, can actually get into the brain, and visa versa. This is called the blood brain barrier. Often people mistake it with the meninges, although the meninges are chemically connected to the rest of the body and medication can freely pass it. The blood brain barrier exists because many of the molecules used in our body for signalling processes between tissues are the same molecules used in the brain for signalling. … Continue reading →

Are Your Kids Active?

Adults regularly attribute weight gain to a largely sedentary lifestyle and bad eating habits, for good reason. However, the sedentary life style is starting earlier and earlier. Studies have shown that obesity in kids has been attributed to more TV time, and less physical activity (i.e. playing a sport, playing outside with friends, etc) in young children. Now, you may have read in the news recently that another study was performed suggesting more activity does not lead to less obesity in young children. As a researcher, here is my take on this study as it was portrayed in the media. … Continue reading →

Healthy Foods for Menopause

Menopause is a period in a woman’s life when it becomes even more important than normal to maintain a healthy diet. During menopause you loose estrogen, so it becomes imperative that you go have access to sufficient vitamins and minerals to boost your overall health and wellbeing. Aside from a loss of estrogen, you will also loose calcium more easily. This can set on (early) osteoporosis, a condition you should be careful about because over time it leads to brittle bones and other complications. If you know which foods can support your health during menopause, and you start eating more … Continue reading →

Cancer Drug can Cause Heart Failure

Novartis announced that Gleevec, a cancer drug they produce, could cause diminished hear function in some patients. This is tremendously important for cancer patients who also suffer from heart disease, or an unrelated heart condition. The active drug imatinib mesylate is used in two types of cancer: chronic myeloid leukemia and gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GIST). Patients with heart disease or a heart condition who need this drug can still take it, if no other alternatives are suggested by the doctor, however they have to be closely monitored for heart failure. It is not wise to discontinue the drug without talking … Continue reading →

New Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: Compulsive Shopping

A study performed to determine how many people shop compulsively found that almost as many men suffer from compulsive shopping as women do. The American Journal of Psychiatry published an editorial discussing whether compulsive buying is really a disorder, or whether it is really compulsive. Compulsive buying involves buying items you don’t need. Basically compulsive shoppers get a “high” from browsing for deals, or for items they think they need. A good indicator of shopping becoming compulsive is when you feel remorse after buying the product, you realize you don’t really need it and it will likely not be used. … Continue reading →

Gestational Diabetes: Risk Factors and Complications

Only about 4% of pregnant women develop gestational diabetes and there are certain factors that will increase the risk of becoming part of this group. But at the same time, many women to whom none of the risk factors apply still develop gestational diabetes. Keeping the risk in check though, will still diminish your chances of developing it. Risk Factors: Being overweight before becoming pregnant (20% or more above ideal body weight). Family history of diabetes Being Hispanic, black, Native American, or Asian (certain ethnic groups are at higher risk of developing diabetes, period). Having given birth to a baby … Continue reading →