Monthly Archives: September 2010

CCR saves more lives than CPR

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For the past 40 years, CPR has been composed of two things—rescue breaths and chest compressions—and this formula for cardiac survival can revive around 25 percent of patients without a pulse. However, emerging evidence suggests there may be a more effective protocol for resuscitation that can save even more lives, and it’s simpler than traditional CPR.

Cardiocerebral resuscitation, or CCR, differs from CPR in that for the first 5 to 10 minutes after cardiac arrest, a rescuer does not breathe for the patient at all. Instead, the focus shifts to performing unrelenting chest compressions at a rate of 100 per minute. One clinical trial in Wisconsin showed this technique saved 30 percent more lives when compared with traditional CPR. Better yet, patients who receive CCR instead of CPR were found to be 24 percent more likely to be neurologically intact upon release from the hospital.

For the full story, click here.

Mindfulness-based Stress & Anxiety Reduction

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M-STAR (Mindfulness-based Stress & Anxiety Reduction) is a mindfulness-based stress management program specially tailored for relaxation and wellness.

It is based on state-of-the-art research in mindfulness and positive psychology. The program will be conducted in didactic and experiential approach to ensure maximum learning and benefits.

It is divided in two parts – M-STAR I (4 weeks) and M-STAR II (4 weeks), with weekly 2-hour meetings and daily exercises and a month break in between M-STAR I and M-STAR II for consolidation of practice.

M-STAR will be conducted at Turning Point Wellness Centre by Dr. Phang Cheng Kar (M.D.). For further information, kindly Download Brochure

Some anti-hypertensive drugs linked to cancer risk

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Angiotensin-receptor blockers (ARBs) have been associated with a modest increased risk of developing cancer, in a new meta-analysis. Specifically, there was a significant 25% increased risk of lung cancer with the use of this drug class, but no link to breast or prostate cancer was seen.

“This is a modest increase, similar to that seen with passive smoking; it’s not a massive increase,” lead author of the study, Dr Ilke Sipahi (University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Cleveland, OH), told heartwire.

Nevertheless, this is the first time such an association has been made, he said. And although the number needed to treat to cause one excess cancer was calculated to be 105 patients for four years, meaning the risk for the individual patient is not huge, “given the millions of patients on these drugs, this is an important number, because it gives us an idea of potentially how many excess cancers could be caused by these medications. On a population level, I think these are very concerning signals.”

For the complete story, click here.

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Vitamin B delays onset of Alzheimer’s disease

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A new study suggests high doses of B vitamins may halve the rate of brain shrinkage in older people experiencing some of the warning signs of Alzheimer’s disease.

Brain shrinkage is one of the symptoms of mild cognitive impairment, which often leads to dementia.

Researchers say this could be the first step towards finding a way to delay the onset of Alzheimer’s.

Experts said the findings were important but more research was needed.

The study, published in the journal Public Library of Science One, looked at 168 elderly people experiencing levels of mental decline known as mild cognitive impairment.

For the complete story, click here.

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Osteoporosis drug may boost cancer risk

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People who take bisphosphonates, or bone-strengthening drugs for osteoporosis, may have a slightly higher risk of developing esophageal cancer, especially if they take them for several years, a study out this week in the British Journal of Medicine finds.

Researchers tracked almost 3,000 people with cancer of the esophagus or throat for eight years and compared them with a group of 15,000 people who did not have the disease. All were over age 40. The scientists found that 90 of the cancer patients had been prescribed the bone-building drugs, while 345 people in the larger group were taking the medication.

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