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Air pollution link to irregular heartbeat and lung clotting

Helen Briggs
BBC
Thu, 05 Jun 2014 12:16 UTC
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Particulate matter in air pollution can have an adverse effect on heart health
Air pollution is linked to increased risk of developing an irregular heartbeat and blood clots in the lung, research suggests.

The impact of air pollution on the risk of heart attack and stroke is less clear, say UK experts.

Analysis of data from England and Wales shows air pollution is particularly harmful in the elderly.

Further research is needed on pollution and cardiovascular health, says the British Heart Foundation.

A team at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine analysed data collected in England and Wales between 2003 and 2009 on links between cardiovascular problems and short-term air pollution.

They found short-term air pollution was linked to arrhythmia (abnormal heart rhythm) and blood clots in the lung.

The strongest link was in the over-75s and in women, lead researcher Dr Ai Milojevic told BBC News.
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Bulb

What we didn't know about the brain that changes everything

Dr. Kelly Brogan, M.D.
Greenmedinfo.com
Mon, 02 Jun 2014 06:46 UTC
Sometimes science gets things wrong. With acknowledgement of these fundamental misapprehensions, whole swaths of dogma have to be unraveled, deconstructed, and rebuilt. The sooner the better.
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Vaccines may be the most egregious example of head-in-the-sand "science" that has failed to incorporate modern theories of intersystem immunology – gut, endocrine, adrenal – as well as the vast personalization required for such an intervention based on genetics and preexisting environmental exposures.
Ten years ago, science assumed that immunity was in the body, not the brain, which was thought to have "immune privilege". What does it mean to learn that the brain has an immune system? Does this change our understanding of mental illness? Neurology? Cancer? What about risks of side effects to pharmaceutical interventions that target the immune system such as vaccines?

A seminal paper entitled, Novel roles for immune molecules in neural development: implications for neurodevelopmental disorders, helps to elucidate the history of this paradigm shift. Scientific dogma had it that the immune system might infiltrate a brain in acute trauma or pathology. The earliest observations of the role of the immune system in even healthy brains arose from observations of cognitive impairment in severe combined immunodeficient mice who had peripheral T-cell depletion (but no specific blood-brain-barrier breach).

With the activity of agents called cytokines, complement, and complexes that help to identify invasive pathogens such as MHC, the presence alone, of these agents represents a new way of thinking about brain function. Then there is the consideration that patterns of immune functioning change over the course of neurodevelopment with immune agents participating in learning and brain growth. Sprinkle in the daunting complexity of genetic individuality as demonstrated in this quote:
"One of the defining features of MHC molecules and their receptors is their complexity. They are both polygenic-containing multiple genes and polymorphic-containing multiple variants of each gene. The MHC genes are the most polymorphic genes known."
...and we end up with more questions than we have answers.
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Health

The AHA's absurd and unethical saturated fat obsession

Dr. Barbara H. Roberts
The Daily Beast
Thu, 05 Jun 2014 06:32 UTC
The nonprofit is defending its 'heart healthy' diet in a response post to The Daily Beast that purports to 'set the record straight.' So, we'll take it from here.
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© The Daily Beast
When it comes to AHA recommendations, do the opposite and you won't be far off from ideal health. Founded and heavily financed by the food industry, its studies and health policies have been responsible for the world's epidemic of heart disease by promoting carbohydrates as a replacement of anti-inflammatory animal fats. The science behind this simple and common sense concept is irrefutable.
The day after my article lambasting the American Heart Association's 2013 dietary guidelines came out in The Daily Beast, Dr. Rose Marie Robertson posted a response on blog.heart.org titled: Chief Science Officer 'sets record straight' about diet, science, AHA.

I don't know Dr. Robertson personally, but there are interesting parallels between our careers. We're about the same age and went into cardiology at a time, when female cardiologists were rare. We have both headed up centers devoted to treating heart disease in women. Since 2003 Dr. Robertson has been the AHA's Chief Science and Medical Officer (receiving more than $500,000 a year in salary and benefits) while I have continued seeing patients and engaging in clinical research and teaching. In other words, in the war against heart disease, you might say that Dr. Robertson is an officer and I am a foot soldier. But it is often in the trenches that the truth is most apparent.

Dr. Robertson employs a "Their Story" vs. "The Facts" method for the post, in which she purports to show how The Daily Beast's arguments were "based on falsehoods, questionable allegations and personal attacks." In part to "honor" the American Heart Association's "good name," Dr. Robertson says she's also writing it "out of concern for the health of the public, all the people we work hard every day to protect."

Her rebuttal begins by bashing the Cambridge University study that questioned the link between saturated fat intake and heart disease. While there was criticism of this study, and minor corrections posted by the authors, the fundamental findings stand: Saturated fat intake and the risk of heart disease do not appear to be related.

Comment: When it comes to AHA recommendations, do the opposite and you won't be far off from ideal health. Founded and heavily financed by the food industry, its studies and health policies have been responsible for the world's epidemic of heart disease by promoting carbohydrates as a replacement of anti-inflammatory animal fats. The science behind this simple and common sense concept is irrefutable. For more information see:

The Big Fat Surprise by Nina Teicholz

Straight from the horse's mouth:

Consequences of replacing saturated fats with carbohydrates or Ω-6 polyunsaturated fats: The dietary guidelines have it wrong
From the Heart: Saturated fat is not the major issue
Sweden touts low-carb diet as key to weight loss
Swedish Expert Committee: A Low-Carb Diet most effective for weight loss

For more information see:

The Ketogenic Diet - An Overview
The Obesity Epidemic, Courtesy of the Agricultural Industry
Saturated fat heart disease 'myth': UK cardiologist calls for change in public health advice on saturated fat
Heart surgeon speaks out on what really causes heart disease

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Family

Who's in charge?

oneduffy
Where I am
Tue, 03 Jun 2014 00:00 UTC
parents, children, kids, rights
© thepelsers.com
Yesterday I wrote about a sign in my doctor's office, informing parents that all 12 - 17 year olds must have a private conversation with a nurse. Seeking clarification, I emailed my medical group. The next day, I received a phone call from Kim in the privacy department. She could not have been more pleasant or patient as she explained why my office had posted that notice:

The medical group has developed an on-line system for making appointments and asking questions of health care professionals. You can also access test results and messages from your health care provider there. This online portal is now available to 12 - 17 year olds; they can sign up for their own account. Because of current law, these minors have the option of denying their parents access to the on-line account. This information would be included in the private conversation mentioned on the sign.

The five minute conversation would also inform the minor that he can receive reproductive care without parental consult or consent. This would include information on STDs, HIV and birth control. This is also a result of legislation - but this has been on the books for years.
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Candle

Block it out! The plague of light in our bedrooms

Tom de Castella
BBC News Magazine
Wed, 04 Jun 2014 20:26 UTC
sleep
© Thinkstock
Researchers warn of the health dangers of too much light while we try to sleep. But how did our bedrooms become so bright?
There are regular warnings that people aren't sleeping properly. Too much light from electronic devices before bedtime. Not enough time in bed. Excessive caffeine. Now there's another potential worry - too much light in the bedroom.

Previous studies have linked light at night with ill health in rodents. Now a study of 113,000 women suggests that it could cause obesity in humans. The work by Oxford University researchers for the Institute of Cancer Research found that women had larger waistlines if their bedroom was "light enough to see across", the researchers found.

Prof Derk-Jan Dijk, of the Surrey Sleep Centre, said people "should assess their bedroom and see how easy it would be to make it darker". But have our bedrooms got lighter?

There has probably been a trend towards lighter rooms over the past century, says Alex Goddard, curator at London's Geffrye Museum, which is devoted to the history of the home.

The first problem is more light outside houses. Houses in built-up areas are surrounded by streetlights, car headlights, advertising and other buildings.

Comment: For more information, see our forum discussion "Are You Getting Enough Sleep? Sleeping properly?" and the following links:

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Family

I. Am. The. Mom.

oneduffy
Where I am
Mon, 02 Jun 2014 00:00 UTC
vaccine, school, children
© oneduffy
Let's get one thing straight: no doctor or nurse is going to sequester my children in an exam room and talk to them privately. Period. This public service announcement made necessary because of this sign, posted at the check-in counter of my doctor's office:

I was there last week for an appointment for Amy. She hurt her foot, which makes dancing difficult, so we had to get that checked out. Amy is 17; I asked if this policy was in effect and if so, how could I opt out. The receptionist told me it's a new law and there is no opting out. Working to keep my cool, I said, "I'm sure there is." She said, "No, there isn't." At which point I asked if I needed to leave and go to the urgent care center because I was not submitting my daughter to such a conversation.

That did not go over well
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Arrow Down

Glaxo's China scandal exposes big-pharma's ugly underworld

Ulson Gunnar
New Eastern Outlook
Wed, 04 Jun 2014 19:20 UTC
GSK
© Near Eastern Outlook

An immense scandal involving pharmaceuticals giant GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has been unfolding in China over the last year. It centers on a massive bribery operation uncovered by Chinese police that included nearly every aspect of GSK's business in China. Billions of yuan in bribes were channeled through an immense network to buy off doctors, hospitals, healthcare organizations, and even government officials to boost sales of GSK drugs.

The most recent headlines involve GSK's former head in China, Mark Reilly of the UK, who is accused of ordering staff to carry out the widespread campaign of bribery and subsequent cover-up. The Wall Street Journal's May 14, 2014 report, "Glaxo's Ex-China Chief Accused of Ordering Staff to Commit Bribery," would claim, "Gao Feng, a ministry official spearheading the probe of the U.K. pharmaceutical company, said revenue that came from alleged bribery amounted to several billion yuan since Mr. Reilly joined Glaxo's China operation in 2009. Glaxo pushed up the prices of drugs in China - in some instances as much as seven times the price compared with other countries - to fund its own bribery, Mr. Gao alleged."

The article would also claim (emphasis added), "Mr. Gao alleged that in previous years, Glaxo formed an emergency team to disrupt law-enforcement investigations into whether it engaged in bribery. "Glaxo's acts of bribery penetrated all aspects of the company's business operation," he said."
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Magic Wand

The power of Vitamin C - It saves lives

Paul Fassa
Natural Society
Mon, 02 Jun 2014 14:32 UTC
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Heavy doses of vitamin C have helped countless individuals solve their health issues, and have even rescued many from the brink of death. The larger doses are usually injected as ascorbic acid or drip-delivered intravenously (IV). I'm not talking tablets for colds here. Mega-dosing vitamin C has treated terminal pneumonia, polio, and controversially, even cancer.

Prior to LET (liposomal encapsulation technology), mega-dosing vitamin C was not so accessible; most doctors don't believe in it. But LET allows six grams of orally ingested vitamin C to have the clinical results of 25 to 50 grams of mega-dose IV C.

Liposomal C lipid encapsulated ascorbic acid molecules penetrate cells much better than the aqueous vitamin C from IVs and injections. And liposomal vitamin C is much less expensive and more accessible, even online, than IV treatments. The 'curing' capacity may surprise you.
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Chalkboard

Decoding how the brain miswires, possibly causing ADHD


ScienceDaily
Wed, 04 Jun 2014 13:27 UTC
Neuroscientists at Mayo Clinic in Florida and at Aarhus University in Denmark have shed light on why neurons in the brain's reward system can be miswired, potentially contributing to disorders such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

They say findings from their study, published online today in Neuron, may increase the understanding of underlying causes of ADHD, potentially facilitating the development of more individualized treatment strategies.

The scientists looked at dopaminergic neurons, which regulate pleasure, motivation, reward, and cognition, and have been implicated in development of ADHD.

They uncovered a receptor system that is critical, during embryonic development, for correct wiring of the dopaminergic brain area. But they also discovered that after brain maturation, a cut in the same receptor, SorCS2, produces a two-chain receptor that induces cell death following damage to the peripheral nervous system.

The researchers report that the SorCS2 receptor functions as a molecular switch between apparently opposing effects in proBDNF. ProBDNF is a neuronal growth factor that helps select cells that are most beneficial to the nervous system, while eliminating those that are less favorable in order to create a finely tuned neuronal network.

Comment: Regarding ADHD the reader might be interested in knowing that there is enough evidence to conclude, that there is a direct link between the increased cases of ADHD and poor dietary habits, among other things. From Study: Cutting Out Suspect Foods Could Help Calm ADHD Children:
Kids with ADHD are excessively restless, impulsive, inattentive and difficult to handle. Such children often require special care at school and in home.

"Dietary intervention should be considered in all children with ADHD, provided parents are willing to follow a diagnostic restricted elimination diet for a five-week period, and provided expert supervision is available," according to study published in 'The Lancet' medical journal.

Previous studies have suggested that in some cases, ADHD may be an allergic or hypersensitive disorder that gets triggered due to use of artificial colors in food.
Read the following articles to learn more:
Food, toxics and ADHD: Old fears, ever stronger science
Lead poisoning: The hidden villain behind violent crime, lower IQs, and ADHD epidemic
Organic Foods Offer Alternative to Foods Containing Food Dyes & Pesticides Linked to Raising Children's Risk of ADHD
Intestinal protein may have role in ADHD, other neurological disorders

Also, apparently ADHD is Big Pharma's great invention. From Psychiatrist admitted on his death bed that ADHD was a fictitious disease:
As explained by The Sons of Liberty host Bradlee Dean, who also writes for The D.C. Clothesline, ADHD was merely a theory developed by Eisenberg. It was never actually proven to exist as a verifiable disease, despite the fact that Eisenberg and many others profited handsomely from its widespread diagnosis. And modern psychiatry continues to profit as well, helping also to fill the coffers of the pharmaceutical industry by getting children addicted early to dangerous psychostimulant drugs like Ritalin (methylphenidate) and Adderall (amphetamine, dextroamphetamine mixed salts).

"ADHD is fraud intended to justify starting children on a life of drug addiction," said Dr. Edward C. Hamlyn, a founding member of the Royal College of General Practitioners, back in 1998 about the phony condition. Adding to this sentiment, psychiatrists Peter Breggin and Sami Timimi, both of whom oppose pathologizing the symptoms of ADHD, say that ADHD is more of a social construct than it is an objective "disorder."

Psychiatric profession all about generating obscene profits for Big Pharma.


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Shoe

91-year-old woman has record finish in San Diego marathon

Marty Graham
Reuters
Wed, 04 Jun 2014 11:33 UTC
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© Brenny Thompson
91-year-old marathon runner Harriette Thompson
A 91-year-old woman ran a San Diego marathon on the weekend in record time for her age group, also becoming the oldest person ever to finish the race, despite lamenting she was unable to train properly because of cancer treatments.

Harriette Thompson, who ran her first marathon at age 76, set a U.S. record on Sunday for the fastest finish in her 90-and-over age group, finishing the 26.2-mile Rock'n'Roll San Diego Marathon in seven hours, seven minutes and 42 seconds, according to race organizer Dan Cruz.

"I'm elated," the North Carolina resident told Reuters on Monday. "I'm pretty active but I didn't really train for this one because I was treating for skin cancer."

Thompson also became the second oldest person to complete a U.S. marathon and the oldest to finish the San Diego race.
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