The Body Corporate Wellness News April 2004
Positive Prevention

Hi. This month we're still focusing on winter with some self-help tips to beat the winter blues. We have also chosen two topical health areas that have had a lot of media attention in recent times - Hormone Replacement Therapy and Prostate Health.

New Addition

We mentioned in our last Newsletter that Karin was no longer working in the office, so we would like to take the opportunity to introduce Maia Elby, our new Office Administrator. Maia will be in the office Monday - Friday from 9am - 3pm. Feel free to introduce yourself to her when you ring.

NZ is the first English speaking country Maia's lived in for 20 years so communication is much more straightforward, though the accent is sometimes a bit unfamiliar. She's Scottish. After leaving school she studied and later worked in England, then lived and worked in Salonika and subsequently Athens, Greece for more than a decade, followed by a few years in Seoul, South Korea and another few in Budapest, Hungary.


Beat The Winter Blues

Can you believe May is nearly here already? The weather is just starting to turn and feel a little wintry. It's often in times like these that we get caught out and find ourselves trying to fight off colds and viral infections every few weeks.

The difference this year is that you all have access to much more information on how to prevent this happening, and in particular, our last newsletter. As winter does draw in, it is time to ensure the basics are in place and that we don't skimp on them because we're feeling cold and tired.

Beat the Winter Blues Checklist:
  • Continue to drink at least 8 plus glasses of water per day
  • Be careful not to replace water with coffee and tea, try hot water or herbal teas instead.
  • Remember your 2-3 pieces of fruit per day, which is easily forgotten with the colder weather. You can even try stewing it, if you prefer something warm.
  • Now that summer is over keep up your intake of green leafy vegetables by way of good healthy cooked vegetables and hearty soups.
  • Even though the weather brings the cold and rain, keep your exercise programme on track and try to take the stairs more during the day, or hire some exercise equipment for the home.
  • Plan a little quiet time to curl up in front of a fire with a good book.
  • Ensure there is time in your diary that is not accounted for to enable some spontaneity.
  • If you have a cold, the best thing you can do is rest. Don't try to exercise through it as you are using valuable energy needed to fight the virus and will delay your recovery. Refer to the tips in our last newsletter and visit our Wellness Shop on www.bodycorp.co.nz for health care products that can help recovery.
  • Don't get caught out, after all of the warm weather, with not enough warm clothes to wrap up in going to and from work.
  • Try some T'ai Chi, Yoga or meditation for relaxation, clarity and stamina.

HRT

With so much more research coming out on HRT in the last 2 years, it is important that women make an informed choice, and a choice that they are comfortable with.

Health Risks Associated With Menopause:
The two main health concerns associated with menopause are heart disease and osteoporosis. Lowered estrogen levels contribute to both of these conditions.

Risk Factors Associated With Cardiovascular Disease And Osteoporosis

Cardiovascular disease - once women enter menopause they move into the same high risk group for CV disease as men over 50, and in New Zealand figures are very high with Heart disease being one of our major causes of death.

  • Reduced estrogen levels - naturally occur in Menopause
  • Smoking - lowers oestrogen levels
  • High blood pressure
  • High cholesterol
  • Elevated blood lipids
  • Diabetes
  • Obesity
  • Excessive stress
  • Lack of exercise/activity
  • Family history

Osteoporosis

  • Reduced estrogen levels
  • Physical inactivity - this is a major risk for osteoporosis
  • Smoking - bone mass may be reduced by up to 25%
  • Heavy alcohol consumption
  • Heredity
  • Premature menopause - before age 40
  • Drugs such as corticosteroids, laxatives, GNRH Analogues, anticonvulsants and diuretics may accelerate bone loss
  • Low body fat
  • Excessive consumption of animal protein, sugar, carbonated drinks, alcohol, tea, coffee and caffeine containing drinks- all leech calcium and other vital mineral from the bones

In ladies with an increased risk of either of these conditions, hormone replacement therapy has often been recommended in the past.

However, the latest analysis of data from the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) shows that estrogen replacement therapy after menopause doesn't improve long-term health. While it decreases the risk of fractures, it increases the risk of strokes. It was also found that the treatment has no significant effect on coronary heart disease or death from all causes, according to the new report. Along with this, we also know that HRT increases the risk of some cancers, particularly breast cancer.

It is estimated that about 100,000 NZ women are using the drug for menopause symptoms and to prevent age-related conditions such as osteoporosis and heart disease, but new data shows that the hormones may actually be doing more harm than good.

The acclaimed large Women's Health Initiative trial halted prematurely in October 2002 revealed what many had feared - that two years' use of combined hormone replacement by healthy women increases the risk of blood clots by 100 percent, strokes by 41 percent, and heart attacks by 29 percent.

After five years' use, the risk of invasive breast cancer increases by 26 percent. The number of HRT users experiencing a serious adverse event over 5.2 years was about 100 more per 10,000 than those taking placebo.

The best approach is to talk to healthcare professionals - talk to your Doctor about the Pharmaceutical options, and talk to a registered Naturopath, Medical Herbalist about the Natural options available through diet, lifestyle, herbs and supplements.

If you wish to make an appointment for advice on Menopause, Heart Disease, Osteoporosis or other conditions, contact Karen Moffatt Medical Herbalist, Naturopath, Clinical Nutritionist on karenmoffatt@bodycorp.co.nz or phone 09 361 3964. If you are out of Auckland, we may be able to recommend a qualified practitioner in you area.

1. Beckham, N. Why women should not take HRT, Wellbeing Magazine No.67 p's 69-74
2. Cabot, S. Menopause. You Can Give It a Miss, Women's Health Advisory Service, Aug 1991. P's 28-35
3. Glenvile, M. HRT is a last resort, International Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, Nov 1998, p's 8-10
4. Graham, A et al. The use of estrogens and progestins and the risk of breast cancer in postmenopausal women. The New England Journal of Medicine. Vol. 332 No. 24: June 1995. 1589-1593



Prostrate Health

All males should think about prostate health, and especially if there is a family history of Prostate enlargement or Prostate Cancer. Up to 60% of men over forty may experience prostate problems at some stage of their life.

Benign Enlargement of the Prostate (BPH) - So, what is it?
The prostate surrounds the urethra (which is the channel that carries urine from the bladder).

If the prostate enlarges it can "CHOKE" the urethra (Just think about what happens when you get a kink in your garden hose!) causing:

Obstructive symptoms

  • Poor urine stream
  • Feeling of incomplete bladder emptying
  • Intermittent stream
  • Hesitancy (delay in starting urination)
  • Straining while passing urine

Irritative symptoms

  • Frequency (frequent passage of urine)
  • Urgency (a strong desire to urinate that is difficult to suppress)
  • Nocturnal (getting up during the night to pass urine)

Symptoms of complications

  • Blood in urine (hematuria): BPH can cause blood in the urine, but bleeding cannot be assumed to be due to an enlarged prostate unless other more serious causes have been eliminated.
  • Urinary Tract Infection, which has symptoms such as: burning with passing urine, bladder pain, fever and frequent urination.
  • Retention of urine: a complete inability to pass urine.
  • Overflow incontinence: leaking of urine due to an overfull bladder that does not empty.
  • Kidney failure: fatigue, weight loss, fluid overload etc.

Specific Treatments
Herbs such as Saw Palmetto, also known as Seronea Repens Pygeum Africanum - derived from African evergreen tree & Stinging Nettles - in Europe marketed under name Bazoton-r, have all been shown to be effective in relieving many of the uncomfortable symptoms.

What is common in all the plant extract therapies for Benign Enlargement of the Prostate Gland? All contain a chemical with a steroid like preparations that exert a mild hormonal effect. There are many more herbs that have also shown to be effect forms of treatment. Combine these with some supplements, dietary and lifestyle advice for an all-rounded approach.

Low Zinc levels have also been connected to prostate enlargement - and New Zealand has very little zinc in the soils.

Lycopene - derived from tomatoes has also shown to be extremely effective.

Click on www.bodycorp.co.nz to see Microgenics Protech - Complete Prostate Formula.

Medical management with synthetic hormones.

Again - like HRT, it's about making an informed decision on what is best for you for prevention and or treatment.

If you wish to make an appointment for advice on Prostate concerns or other conditions, contact Karen Moffatt, Medical Herbalist, Naturopath, Clinical Nutritionist on karenmoffatt@bodycorp.co.nz or phone 09 361 3964. If you are out of Auckland, we may be able to recommend a qualified practitioner in you area.

References:
1. Lowe, F.C. and Ku, J.C.; Phytotherapy in treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia: a critical review. Urology 48:12-19, 1996.
2. Dreikorn K. and Schoenhoeffer P.S.; Stellenwert von Phytotherapeutica bei der Behandlung der benignen Prostatahyperplasia (BPH). Urologe (A) 34:119-129, 1995.
3. Fitzpatrick, J.M and Lynch T.H.; Phytotherapeutic Agents in the Management of Symptomatic Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia. Urological Clinics of North America. 22:407-412, 1995.

Yours in Health and Wellness,

Karen, Karen, Maia, Rebecca and Jill
The Body Corporate Team

How to contact us
Telephone: 09-361 3964
Mobile: Karen Beard 021-471 386
Karen Moffatt 021-843 860
Facsimile: 09-361 3965
E-mail: info@bodycorp.co.nz
Web: www.bodycorp.co.nz
Address: PO Box 8225, Symonds Street, Auckland
84 College Hill, Ponsonby
   
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