Tonight I sit here going through emails, which include synopses from various medical journals, highlighting medical research. I have to admit that over the past 18 years of being a veterinarian, I have come to the conclusion that in many instances, we are doing things wrong or have our priorities incorrect. We all sit around in front of the TV and hear commercials for various prescription medications and in today's world, it seems like there is a medication for every known condition. The old adage "Just because we can...doesn't mean we should" always comes to mind when I hear about new medications or therapies being offered. In some cases, the therapy/medication makes sense to me as a caregiver, but then again, the majority of them just seem to be a "bandaid" for a common medical condition, doing very little to resolve the problem itself.
Case in point are statin medications, which are commonly used to reduce blood cholesterol levels. I was once prescribed one of these medications for elevated cholesterol, but quickly developed signs of muscular pain or myopathy and discontinued the medications. After a brief recalling of clients that I have talked to over the years, I would have to guess that about 50-60% of these people are on some form of statin to control cholesterol. Myself, I have changed over to a niacin supplement, along with other dietary supplements and dietary alterations. I also exercise routinely every morning. Now, I will admit that I don't eat perfectly but I do exercise and try my best. The last visit I had with my doctor, my total cholesterol was way down as well as triglycerides. Actually, the values were down about 40 points and about 4 points out of the normal level. The crapper, as I will say, is that my physician recommended a statin medication despite my lowering the overall level on my own.
The thing that bothers me in these scenarios is that I feel that these medications are used as a crutch instead of doing what should be done and that is dietary corrections, changes in lifestyle and exercise. Too many people that I know on these medications lead sedentary lifestyles and their diets are severely lacking overall. The statins may be lowering their cholesterol levels, but none of these people have remarked to me that their levels are normal. Why? Simply because they are not the answer in my opinion. The other thing that bothers me about these types of medications are the long term side effects noted as a result of chronic use. First, cholesterol is a major component of various hormones that are present in our bodies, including testosterone and progesterone. It has been noted in a few studies that mid-aged and elderly men are exhibiting low testosterone levels which coincides with their use of statin medications. The low testosterone levels are contributing to poor overall health. It also makes one wonder about the recent commercials regarding "LOW T" in men. Hmmm, wonder if this population is taking statins? Statin use is also connected with a low level of CoQ10, which is a potent antioxidant present in the bloodstream. Higher levels of CoQ10 are associated with improved cardiovascular health....so a lower CoQ10 level is associated with poor cardiac health. So...are those taking statins more predisposed to cardiovascular disease despite having lowered cholesterol levels? I don't know the answer to this, but maybe there is a paper out there somewhere. Tonight, I was reading an abstract discussing that users of statins are 50% more prone to cataracts that those that are not and diabetics taking statins are even more predisposed to cataracts. Why?? It appears that the lens within the eye depends on cholesterol for cellular health and the statins are lowering the available cholesterol. Interesting as I did not know that.
The bottom line is that I think we need a different approach to disease in general, whether if that is impacting our pets, horses or ourselves. Just because a scientist localizes a cellular pathway involved in a disease process, does not mean that we create a medication to block it WITHOUT evaluating the long term potential down the road for other metabolic pathways that might be impacted. That is a tough thing to ask, especially in today's world of the pharmaceutical industry, who is looking at the bottom line dollar in terms of gross product sales versus the actual health of the patient. I think we all need to be our own advocates regarding our health as well as that of our pets and horses. We need to research and use our intuition when it comes to various therapies and not just do it because someone recommends it.
I believe that ultimately nutrition is going to be the key to all of our health problems. The downside is that a proper diet requires work on our end and often requires supplementation to be complete. I don't have all of the answers, but I certainly do have questions.
To you health,
Tom
Monday, August 20, 2012
Sunday, August 12, 2012
Cancer and Inflammation
Being an avid follower of various medical research information, I get emails continuously from various journals spotlighting new research information. Just this past week, I received an email highlighting a published paper reviewing the possibility of a decreased mortality in patients that received aspirin therapy. In the article, one researcher was noted to have stated that in their analysis they found upwards of a 37% reduction in cancer mortality in those patients taking aspirin on a routine basis, information cited in The Lancet 2012 as well as the Journal of National Cancer Institute. The overall conclusions to the studies were that there was a noted reduction in overall mortality in cancer patients, but it was too early to determine which dose would be recommended, how often and whether or not the benefits would outweigh the risks.
I have followed cancer research with an open eye and mind over the past 6 years after my own personal diagnosis in 2006. One of the concluding factors that I can see is that there is a strong correlation between ongoing inflammation in our bodies and the development of cancer. The topic is too in depth for a blog setting, but the overall idea is that various inflammatory proteins are involved in the development and progression of cancer. This, I believe, is where the aspirin therapy comes into play in terms of affecting the outcomes in some cancer patients. Aspirin belongs to the category of medications termed non-steroidal anti-inflammatories or NSAIDS, which inhibits the production of COX-1 and COX-2, resulting in the decreased formation of prostagladins as well as thromboxane from arachidonic acid. This new information also correlates well with the knowledge that we have had for years demonstrating that various tumors exhibit a high level of COX expression. In veterinary medicine, for years we have utilized an NSAID medication called Piroxicam to help us manage Transitional Cell Carcinoma bladder cancer in dogs. In some cases, the medication would help to control further progression, while in others not so much. We have also seen over the past decades the research behind various anti-inflammatory herbs such as Curcumin or Turmeric and how these herbs can inhibit inflammatory pathways associated with various cancers at a much higher level than aspirin. The end results, mainly in-vitro, of these research trials demonstrated various cancer cell line inhibition as a result of the herb activity. In addition to these published studies, I have several years of clinical use of these herbs in our veterinary cancer patients with some surprising results.
The bottom line here to me is that there is emerging proof demonstrating the correlation between inflammation and cancer development. The biggest concern that is being expressed is that there are potential side effects with prolonged aspirin therapy, which are justified. Some individuals may be able to tolerate, while some may have existing health conditions that would increased their risk factors with aspirin therapy. I do think that we all need to be aware of the connection as well as the medical research that is being published and discuss it with our doctors. I personally feel that we are all undergoing a tremendous amount of inflammation on a daily basis as a result of activity, various food being eaten as well as lifestyle influences. This has led to the dramatic rise in various health conditions such as diabetes, obesity, arthritis and cancer development. We need to be proactive and recognize that this problem exists. I feel that aspirin therapy may be a good thing for some individuals, but there is a better opportunity for us to head off this inflammatory pathway by the use of diet and various herbal therapies. The results may be even better in the long term and the side effects much fewer. There are so many herbs that exhibit anti-inflammatory benefits such as Curcumin, Boswellia and Ashwaghanda....the list goes on. Many of these same herbs have supporting data to show benefits against cancer development.
With my cancer diagnosis, it shed new light on natural therapies. I have been a long term user of a product called Cur-OST, which is formulated to target inflammation in the body. I wouldn't go a day without it and honestly, if I miss a day....I know it. Google it and check it out.
Food for thought.
Tom
I have followed cancer research with an open eye and mind over the past 6 years after my own personal diagnosis in 2006. One of the concluding factors that I can see is that there is a strong correlation between ongoing inflammation in our bodies and the development of cancer. The topic is too in depth for a blog setting, but the overall idea is that various inflammatory proteins are involved in the development and progression of cancer. This, I believe, is where the aspirin therapy comes into play in terms of affecting the outcomes in some cancer patients. Aspirin belongs to the category of medications termed non-steroidal anti-inflammatories or NSAIDS, which inhibits the production of COX-1 and COX-2, resulting in the decreased formation of prostagladins as well as thromboxane from arachidonic acid. This new information also correlates well with the knowledge that we have had for years demonstrating that various tumors exhibit a high level of COX expression. In veterinary medicine, for years we have utilized an NSAID medication called Piroxicam to help us manage Transitional Cell Carcinoma bladder cancer in dogs. In some cases, the medication would help to control further progression, while in others not so much. We have also seen over the past decades the research behind various anti-inflammatory herbs such as Curcumin or Turmeric and how these herbs can inhibit inflammatory pathways associated with various cancers at a much higher level than aspirin. The end results, mainly in-vitro, of these research trials demonstrated various cancer cell line inhibition as a result of the herb activity. In addition to these published studies, I have several years of clinical use of these herbs in our veterinary cancer patients with some surprising results.
The bottom line here to me is that there is emerging proof demonstrating the correlation between inflammation and cancer development. The biggest concern that is being expressed is that there are potential side effects with prolonged aspirin therapy, which are justified. Some individuals may be able to tolerate, while some may have existing health conditions that would increased their risk factors with aspirin therapy. I do think that we all need to be aware of the connection as well as the medical research that is being published and discuss it with our doctors. I personally feel that we are all undergoing a tremendous amount of inflammation on a daily basis as a result of activity, various food being eaten as well as lifestyle influences. This has led to the dramatic rise in various health conditions such as diabetes, obesity, arthritis and cancer development. We need to be proactive and recognize that this problem exists. I feel that aspirin therapy may be a good thing for some individuals, but there is a better opportunity for us to head off this inflammatory pathway by the use of diet and various herbal therapies. The results may be even better in the long term and the side effects much fewer. There are so many herbs that exhibit anti-inflammatory benefits such as Curcumin, Boswellia and Ashwaghanda....the list goes on. Many of these same herbs have supporting data to show benefits against cancer development.
With my cancer diagnosis, it shed new light on natural therapies. I have been a long term user of a product called Cur-OST, which is formulated to target inflammation in the body. I wouldn't go a day without it and honestly, if I miss a day....I know it. Google it and check it out.
Food for thought.
Tom
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Responsibility
For the past 18 years we have assisted those in need, owners of animals of all shapes, sizes and temperaments. We have had dogs, cats, pocket pets, a few birds, horses and even cattle grace our doors with multitudes of problems. Some bite, some lick, some shy away in fear and some just don't care one way or the other. The same can be said about the owners of these animals: some lick, some bite, some shy away and yes, some just don't care. The bottom line is that as an animal owner, we are all responsible for their well being and overall health, much the same as each of us is responsible for OUR own health. Essentially, what you put into it, you get out.
Animals are dependent upon us to feed them and trust us to provide a good environment. Our health, as well as theirs, dictates the medical problems that are plagued upon us. We have had very overweight animals, including horses, come through our doors with a variety of medical problems that are directly tied to their diet and body condition. Ironically, many of the owners are in the same condition and most likely have the identical health problems themselves. It can be frustrating, as a veterinarian, to be presented with these animals because the treatment regimen is not an easy one, although the owner would like it to be simple.
If we take poor care of our pets and ourselves in terms of diet, exercise and environmental factors, we have to be prepared for the repercussions. An overweight dog that presents with diabetes entails not only insulin therapy, but a change in diet and weight loss. They go hand in hand. A diabetic human that is overweight, cannot continue to eat candy bars, take insulin and expect to get the disease under control. So, why is this not logical to the many? Why do we have pet owners that get upset when their pet's sugar levels are not controlled, when they have not addressed the diet aspect and have not improved exercise levels? They look to us, as veterinarians, or physicians, as having a magic blue pill that will just make everything go away so that they can continue to feed their pet or themselves junk food as if the disease never existed.
The bottom line is that we have to be responsible for our own health and that of our animals. The only person to be upset with is ourselves on both aspects. If we or our pet is sick with a chronic disease, the fact is that we are to blame. Too many diseases in today's society are highly preventable with adequate exercise, the proper diet and the correct environment. We can make the changes necessary to improve the health of our pets as well as ourselves. It really is simple, but it requires effort. Just do me a favor and don't point the finger at your veterinarian or your family doctor. Look in the mirror for the one to blame.
Food for thought.
Tom Schell, D.V.M.
Animals are dependent upon us to feed them and trust us to provide a good environment. Our health, as well as theirs, dictates the medical problems that are plagued upon us. We have had very overweight animals, including horses, come through our doors with a variety of medical problems that are directly tied to their diet and body condition. Ironically, many of the owners are in the same condition and most likely have the identical health problems themselves. It can be frustrating, as a veterinarian, to be presented with these animals because the treatment regimen is not an easy one, although the owner would like it to be simple.
If we take poor care of our pets and ourselves in terms of diet, exercise and environmental factors, we have to be prepared for the repercussions. An overweight dog that presents with diabetes entails not only insulin therapy, but a change in diet and weight loss. They go hand in hand. A diabetic human that is overweight, cannot continue to eat candy bars, take insulin and expect to get the disease under control. So, why is this not logical to the many? Why do we have pet owners that get upset when their pet's sugar levels are not controlled, when they have not addressed the diet aspect and have not improved exercise levels? They look to us, as veterinarians, or physicians, as having a magic blue pill that will just make everything go away so that they can continue to feed their pet or themselves junk food as if the disease never existed.
The bottom line is that we have to be responsible for our own health and that of our animals. The only person to be upset with is ourselves on both aspects. If we or our pet is sick with a chronic disease, the fact is that we are to blame. Too many diseases in today's society are highly preventable with adequate exercise, the proper diet and the correct environment. We can make the changes necessary to improve the health of our pets as well as ourselves. It really is simple, but it requires effort. Just do me a favor and don't point the finger at your veterinarian or your family doctor. Look in the mirror for the one to blame.
Food for thought.
Tom Schell, D.V.M.
Thursday, August 2, 2012
Beginnings
Welcome to my personal blog! As a veterinarian and avid researcher of medical information, I have several thoughts on my mind at any given time. I think there is much out there that needs to be spoken and brought to light regarding our personal health as well as that of our four legged friends, including horses. As a brief introduction, I have been a mixed animal veterinarian for over 18 years, which means essentially that we have worked on horses, cattle as well as companion animals in our practice. Over the past 6 years, I have become very involved in alternative therapies as well as research investigating the potential for herbs as well as dietary therapies in our overall health, as well as that with our animal friends. This alternative pathway in my career developed after a personal bout with cancer back in 2006, which led me to "see the light" in terms of what the disease was truly about, how it occurs and what treatment options are out there. I also realized quickly how closely connected various disease are to cancer, such as arthritis and other degenerative conditions, leading to a connection in the potential therapies.
I hope to use this blog to relay my personal thoughts on various issues, medical and non-medical, as well as to relay pertinent research information that I feel everyone should be aware of. Feel free to share your thoughts as well, if desired, for we all have a lot to learn from one another.
Until next time. . .
Tom Schell, D.V.M.
I hope to use this blog to relay my personal thoughts on various issues, medical and non-medical, as well as to relay pertinent research information that I feel everyone should be aware of. Feel free to share your thoughts as well, if desired, for we all have a lot to learn from one another.
Until next time. . .
Tom Schell, D.V.M.
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