The Land of the Common Cold
200 Units of Prevention
When the seasons change, my office suddenly turns into the land of the common cold, full of sneezing, sniffling, coughing patients. Colds are annoying, but, unfortunately, the only thing that really gets rid of them is time. What's better is to prevent them in the first place, and there's a pretty simple way to do that.
A recent study found that adding some extra vitamin E to your daily multivitamin can cut down the number of colds you get by 20 percent. This study included 617 nursing home patients, all over age 65 -- the people most likely to get hit with lots of colds. Half of the group got an extra 200 IU of vitamin E every day for a year, and those folks got the fewest colds.
The vitamin E they used was a particular kind, called DL-alpha-tocopherol, a synthetic alpha form. You may see even better results with mixed natural tocopherols (like alphas, deltas, and gammas) since these have better synergy with your body. You can pop into any drugstore or health food store to get these beneficial supplements -- just read the labels to find a bottle that contains natural mixed tocopherols.
Colds aren't the only thing folks over 65 worry about. By that age, a lot of my patients are starting to worry about more age-related conditions, like Alzheimer's disease. That's another case where prevention trumps treatment any day. I'll tell you about one of the best ways to help head Alzheimer's off at the pass below.
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Eat Fish to Diminish Dementia Risk
One of the keys to keeping your brain in great shape is nourishing it with the right foods. Remember when your grandma told you that fish was brain food? Well, she was right. Omega-3 fatty acids, like the ones found in fish, are among the best nutrients to feed your brain. So good, in fact, that eating fatty fish just once a week can lower your risk of developing Alzheimer's disease by up to 60 percent!
In the study that proved the old wives' tale true, the eating habits of 815 adults (aged 65 to 94) were followed for four years. None of them had signs of Alzheimer's at the start. And at the end of the study, the researchers compared the diet records and the development of Alzheimer's. The folks who ate fish at least once a week fared much better than those who almost never ate seafood, with a 60 percent lower risk of dementia.
Fish are a great source of omega-3 fatty acids, especially fatty fish like salmon, herring, and sardines. If you can't stomach a weekly dose of seafood, try fish oil instead. It comes in flavored syrups and in capsules, so there's sure to be something that suits you.
Sometimes, though, even the best attempt at prevention don't work. I can think of a few conditions that older people are especially susceptible t pneumonia, sinus infections, and urinary tract infections. And when those strike, doctors are quick to write a prescription for antibiotics. That's what I'd probably do too, but with a lot of care for which antibiotic is the best for that patient. Because when it comes to antibiotics, some can do more harm than good. Keep reading...
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When Antibiotics Hurts Your Achilles Heel
Antibiotics can do a lot of good for tough bacterial infections. The trick is knowing which one fights which bug and is the least harmful to the patient. A lot of my patients are older folks, and already taking some regular medications and that can complicate the antibiotic question even more.
Some of the most commonly prescribed antibiotics are called quinolones, but you'd know them as Cipro, Avelox, Levaquin, and Tequin. These are powerful drugs, for sure, and can help wipe out some serious illnesses. But for older folks, especially those taking oral steroids (like prednisone), they can also cause serious problems. All of these medications can increase the risk of achilles tendon rupture -- a mighty painful condition that makes it mighty hard to get around.
If you're in the highest risk group -- over age 80 and taking steroids -- make sure you talk to your doctor about which antibiotic he's prescribing.
Until next time,
Dr. Alan Inglis
House Calls
