November 24, 2008

In rheumatoid arthritis, kicking the habit brings relief

Navigenics Medical Director

Posted 11:28 AM PDT

Got rheumatoid arthritis? Get rid of your cigarettes. New research suggests that your aching joints will thank you for it.

For years, scientists have known that smoking increases a person’s risk for developing this inflammatory condition, which causes pain, swelling and stiffness in the joints.

Studies also indicated that tobacco smoke increases the severity of the disease in those who have it.

Now comes the first solid evidence that kicking the habit may actually help arthritis sufferers control their disease.

Rheumatoid arthritis patients who stop smoking “may see an improvement in the number of joints that hurt them every day and in how they feel overall,” said Dr. Mark C. Fisher, leader of the new study in a written statement. The results were presented recently at the Rheumatology Annual Scientific Meeting in San Francisco.

Your brain—a smart reason to kick the habit

Michael Nierenberg, M.D.,

Navigenics Medical Director

Posted 01:45 PM PDT

In one of the more famous public service announcements ever to hit American television, a man cracks open an egg, drops it into a hot frying pan and says “This is your brain on drugs. Any questions?” In another memorable segment, actress Rachael Leigh Cook smashes an egg – and the entire kitchen – with a skillet to illustrate what happens to the brain on heroin.

But what happens to the brain after many years of smoking? New research indicates the picture is no less disturbing. Smoking side effects go beyond the heart and the lungs; they go to the very core of your being—your mind.

In a study of more than 5,000 civil servants living in London, researchers determined that smoking is associated with an increased risk of poor memory. Smoking in middle age was linked not only to a significant memory deficit, but also to a decline in reasoning ability.

The concern, however, isn’t just that smokers might forget where they put their keys or glasses. The researchers noted that cognitive impairment is often a precursor to dementia.

Don’t let this healthy catch get away

Michael Nierenberg, M.D.,

Navigenics Medical Director

Posted 09:55 AM PDT

An apple a day isn’t enough anymore. Now you also need to think fish or flaxseed in your diet to help keep the doctor away. That is why Navigenics has new recommendations to encourage our members to be sure they get enough omega-3 fatty acids in their diet.

Omega-3 fatty acids aren’t snake oil, promising to cure all ills; rather, they are oils from fish or certain nuts and plants, and researchers have found strong evidence that they have many potential health benefits.

These polyunsaturated fatty acids are found primarily in fish and fish oils, but also in some plant-based oils, such as canola oil or flaxseed oil, and certain leafy green vegetables, including spinach, kale, broccoli and seaweed. They are essential to human health, but cannot be made by the body. That is why it is so important for people to make sure they get sufficient amounts of them through diet or supplements—and to know how much they need.