Tell Your Doctor The Truth!

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When people go to their doctors for a regular check up or physical, the doctor tends to ask questions which make people nervous or respond with a white lie. Although to many these may just be another white lie, these minor lies can go a long away in affecting your health and future. Recent studies done by The Cleveland Health Clinic explained that the information people are giving to their physicians is how they decide medicine dosage and how to accurately diagnose symptoms.alcohol-meds-190x155

Dr. Neides who spoke about the study done by the Cleveland Health Clinic, he explained, “At the same time, patients must provide accurate, honest information to their physician, he says. Many patients worry about being judged about their alcohol intake. But they should put those fears aside, he says.” Many patients are embarrassed about what their doctors might think of them if they tell them the truth of how much they are drinking or even smoking on a weekly basis.

The study went into depth about how physicians base the amount of a patients drinking habits goes into understanding what medicine they should receive, but if they are not telling the truth, they could severely injure or even die from the wrong medicine dosage. They mentioned in the study, “If you take aspirin and drink, your risk of stomach or intestinal bleeding is increased. Alcohol used with large doses of acetaminophen, a common painkiller, may cause liver damage. Alcohol used with some sleeping pills, pain pills, or anxiety/anti-depression medicine can be deadly.”

Doctors and study suggest telling the truth since it will only better the health in the future and decrease the amount of timely deaths due to wrongful medicine intake. If the number can drop from 10,00 of patients who take medicine with alcohol to a more reasonable number or even cut that in half, great strides would be made.

For more medical and health updates, please visit Scott Filler‘s official website.

Precision Medicine Update

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With so many genetic illness’s out there, many wonder why some with the illness such as Alzheimer’s can survive up to twenty five years with the illness, while others die within five years from the same illness. President Obama and the National Cancer Institute are willing to spend $70 million in order to fulfill the total of $215 million needed to fund the research. Dr. Green explained, “Everyone with every disease wants to do this, is is the Type 2 diabetes that results in the loss of a limb the same disease as the one that is easily controlled with diet? Right now, we lump them together.” The New York Times have spoken how people with the illness and how they all agree funding needs to happen for this issue.

“The first, with breast cancer, would today have her tumor analyzed to determine which drugs would probably work against it. She might also have genetic tests to reveal whether she had a risky gene mutation. The second patient, not so lucky, would have Type 2 diabetes, “an imprecise category,” the report said. “No concrete molecular information is available to customize Patient 2’s therapy to reduce his risk for kidney failure,blindness or other diabetes-related complications. No tests are available to measure risk of diabetes for his siblings and children.” The Times spoke about how spending this money could potentially decrease the amount of disease we see in the country based solely on understanding why some illness’s work slowly on some individuals and run so rapidly on some individuals.

For more please visit: http://scottfiller.net

Potential Ebola Vaccine

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Dr. James Crowe of Vanderbilt University has been on an extensive search to find, and extract blood from patients who have overcome the Ebola virus.

Dr. Crowe plans to use this blood he extracts to break down the proteins and see exactly what goes into making the virus so deadly, and ways to use this information to potentially come up with a treatment. This fight against Ebola is a world wide fight, the virus has already claimed over 7,000 lives and infected countless others.portrait

The goal of this research is to successfully extract the antibodies from the blood. Dr. Crowe has had a difficult time the past two years finding an applicable sample since many people with the virus have passed away or are located in Africa and suffer from other virus’s and diseases disqualify them from the sample pool. Fortunately for the sake of the research, Dr. Crowe was able to find a participant, Dr. Sacra who was infected with the virus while helping out earlier this year. “They can take antibodies they find in my blood and map them out,” Sacra said in an interview. “They are looking for the ones that are most important in neutralizing the virus.”

Many scientists and doctors are behind and back the research of  Dr. Crowe, they believe this is a great step in helping get rid of Ebola. Although this is an uphill battle, fighting the virus with the virus seems like the best way to find the vaccine. According to Dr. Crowe, they are working day and night to analyze the blood from Dr. Sacra in hopes to come up with a vaccine as soon as possible.

Hopes are that clinical trials for the vaccine, when completed will begin early to mid 2015. This is a very promising and hopeful expected date for trials considering how recently Dr. Crowe received his sample from Dr. Sacra. According to Crowe, “The antibodies he is working on would be produced in both cell lines and tobacco plants. Vanderbilt will license the most promising drug candidates, and at least four commercial partners, including Mapp, are considering whether to license them.”

For more information regarding Dr. Crowe’s research, please visit CBCarticles for updates.

Tips to Flu Season

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With the seasons changing, comes the yearly Flu epidemic. This year is no different, Flu season is in full effect, and here are some ways to prevent the bug, or for the unlucky ones, recover as quick as possible.

1. Wash your hands

We always tell the children to wash their hands when we often forgot to. This simple task can and will keep you protected and is always a good habit to have in general! 

2. Vitamins, Vitamins, Vitamins

It is important to get your essential vitamins this season, and then some. It will be very easy to feel groggy and tired this winter due to the flu and cold weather. One of the best ways to get out of this rut is to take extra vitamins throughout the day to help boost your immune system and give you that extra kick to get you through the day. The essential vitamins you should try to get a little extra of as Vitamin A, C, D. These will help your body recover from any air-born virus you may catch and essentially be a key factor in not catching the flu virus.

3. Anti-viral herbs (home remedies)

You may not need a doctors note for one of these, but they can truly be a big help in your bodies fight against the flu this Winter. These remedies usually contain many nutrients which are essential to your body when recovering from any sort of illness or just remaining healthy. Which ever family remedy you have, taking it is not a bad idea.

4. Elderberry Syrup

The best way to recover from the flu or any virus is to never get it in the first place. The best kept secret for that is Elderberry syrup, which helps your body fight against viruses before they strike. It can also be taken if you feel a cough or cold coming, if caught early enough, the syrup could potentially stop the virus in its tracks.

5. Get the Flu Shot

The fifth and by far most important tip, get the flu shot. Many people believe they don’t need the shot, but everyone who has access to one, should get one. Many people may be squeamish and are afraid of needles and getting a shot, but the pinch of pain is worth not being sick in bed for weeks.

For a full list of tips, please visit: Chris Kresser 

Stem cells, cure for brain tumors?

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Stem cell research has always been a debate in the medical field for many years. This debate is based on ethic and moral dilemmas. Many doctors feel the use of stem cells can cure and help rejuvenate the body, while others believe it is wrong to use stem cells for medical reasons. This debate will undoubtably continue for many years to come, although the believers who say stem cell research and application is the way to go may have a step up in this debate as of recently.

Dr. Khalid Shah, a neuroscientist at Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, in Cambridge, MA, and also of Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) in Boston, MA, the scientists found the toxin-releasing stem cells eliminated cancer cells left behind in mouse brains following tumor removal.Scott Filler Medical Dr. Shahs recent study showed that filling stem cells with the herpes can kill cancerous brain tumor sells using a secrete toxin which does not kill the stem cell. These secrete toxins carry a cytotoxin which enters the body and stops other cells from producing proteins, which in turn stops the cells from growing, reproducing killing them. Until a recent medical breakthrough were deadly to all cells if these cytotoxins entered the system.

Although Dr. Shah understands that these stem cells can be used to prevent and fight different blood cancers, the likelihood of completely wiping out a solid cancerous tumor is an uphill battle. A state from Dr. Shah, “Cancer-killing toxins have been used with great success in a variety of blood cancers, but they don’t work as well in solid tumors because the cancers aren’t as accessible and the toxins have a short half-life.” After tedious research and experiments, Dr. Shah and his team were able to come to find a stem cell which started to attack the tumor without killing the other sells around it or the stem cells themselves.

With this discovery, Dr. Shah just needs the okay to start testing these cells from the federal government. He hopes and expects to start clinical trials in the next five years if all goes well.  

Measuring Medicine

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scottfiller_pillsIn a recent article by Fox News, imprecise measure measurements on certain medications could do more harm than good for you and your family and lead to potentially dangerous dosing mistakes. Results of this study have been posted in Pediatrics Magazine. In these results, experts say that people should use droppers and syringes for precise measurements rather than using spoons. In this study, 300 parents were involved with their children- mostly younger than 9 years old. The young children were treated for various illnesses in New York City hospitals and were sent home with prescriptions for liquid medicines.

Parents were afterwards contacted about the method they used to give their children the medication.  They later came in and demonstrated to doctors how they gave their children the medication. According to the results of the study- “50% were more likely to give their children incorrect doses than those who measured out with more precise devices- such as a dropper.”

Incorrect doses include too much and too little of the medication- and both can be equally as dangerous. Underdosing may not effectively treat an illness and can even lead to medication-resistant infections. On the other hand, overdosing on medication can cause illness and can be life-threatening. About one third of the parents gave the wrong dose and 1 in 6 used a kitchen spoon rather than a more precise device. According to the author: “Outreach is needed to promote the consistent use of millimeter units between prescriptions and bottle labels.”

Foods Fighting Disease

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scottfiller_fruitsandveggiesIn a recent news report, certain foods are now being researched and used to fight and prevent some diseases. In San Diego, CA local medical researchers and physicians are stating that food heals and might even be able to heal cancer patients. Some vegetables listed that can be used as medicine include parsley, collard greens, and onions.

Co-founder of UC San Diego’s Natural Healing and Cooking program, Dr. Gordon Saxe wanted to create a program that would provide patients with medicine alternatives to shots and pills to heal their ailments such as headaches, stomach pains and even cancers. One of the cancer patients, Julie Negrin, states “everybody says that they can’t believe I’m going through chemotherapy and I think it’s because I’m eating good food and taking care of myself.” Negrin has stage two cancer and just recently had many cancer infected part of her body removed. After this extensive surgery, Negrin was suffering from fatigue that left her lying on the couch for hours on end. Now she follows guidelines that Dr. Saxe puts in place for her. He encourages her to stick to a whole-plant based diet. Dr, Saxe states, “Theres a great deal of evidence in cancer research that diet is very important for cancer risk and is much more a factor even more than cigarettes.” He goes on to say that nourishing food provides a person strength and the ability to fight off illness.

Dr. Saxe believe that people are yearning to find other ways to feel well and stay well and they can do this by adjusting their diet to include more nourishing and unprocessed foods. Food can be used as medicine and it’s about time that people start using food to heal themselves of their ailments. He hopes this “culinary strategy” sweeps the nation.

Malaria Back In Venezuela

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Experts are once again worried about malaria back in Venezuela after it had been gone for 50 years.  Mosquitos carrying the disease are affecting people from jungles to urban areas and experts are worried that it will take over two years to reverse the problem, a The Guardian article states.

scottfiller_venezuelaThis is worrisome after Venezuela declared itself malaria-free back in the 1960s.  During the 1950s, the country worked tirelessly for a decade and made the country malaria-free through educational campaigns, DDT spraying, and improving housing and sewage systems.  Most residents believe there is a stronger issue at hand.  A health minister from Miranda thinks that the largest obstacle will be the government teaming up with public and private health sectors to eliminate the problem. 

Jesus Javier Parra, a construction worker who lives in Quilombo, which is located less than 30 miles from the capital city of Caracas, was the second confirmed case diagnosed.  While general symptoms take place in between one week and two weeks, Parra had the disease for a month before it was properly diagnosed.  Why so long?  The main reason is because Venezuelans haven’t seen a case of malaria in over 50 years.  Another contributor is that, even though Parra had gone to the doctor beforehand for a fever, they didn’t test for malaria due to Quilombo’s close proximity to an urban area.  One of the doctors stated that, with his symptoms, the initial reaction was to test for tuberculosis and dengue, as Parra’s body was beginning to look “diminished,” but the doctor mentioned that “it never occurred to us” that it could be malaria.

In the same month of Parra’s diagnosis, nearly one dozen of his neighbors went to the doctor with symptoms of malaria and of the 32 reported cases in the state, over half have come from the community of Quilombo, a town with shacks and tin roofs.