OLIVE OIL, HEART DISEASE And The GREEKS

The leading cause of death in the world is coronary heart disease and according to modern medicine it can be avoided or at least delayed by addressing its known risk factors. There are many examples of populations with low death rates from coronary heart disease who manage the problem by reducing their exposure to these risk factors through low animal fat, plant based diets and exercise...the Japanese are a great example of a society with low risk factors and low death rates from CHD. So, where does that leave the Greeks who have low death rates from CHD, but high risk factors for the disease...the Greeks say "liquid gold" is the reason, that's Greek for olive oil, and we agree. Read on and decide for yourself if the benefits of "liquid gold" are Greek myth or Greek legend...

THE 7 COUNTRIES STUDY

The ground breaking "7 Countries Study" conducted in the 1950's is what drew attention to Greece's low rate of coronary heart disease. It was conducted on 13,000 men, aged 40 to 59 years, who were supposed to be healthy at the time of the entry examination. They were enrolled in 15 population samples located in seven different countries (Italy, Greece, former Yugoslavia, the Netherlands, Finland, United States, and Japan). Often referred to as the study "in search of Heart Attacks"...the Seven Countries Study came to several important conclusions related to coronary heart disease. The main one is it is credited for establishing that population death rates from CHD can be predicted by knowledge of the average serum cholesterol. Greece was the clear winner in all the studies, even though they were not expected to do well because of their high rate of smoking, hypertension, a surprisingly high rate of obesity and other CHD risk factors, especially on the island of Crete, which had the lowest death rate by CHD of them all, including Greece.

A LESSON FROM THE GREEKS

Oldest olive oil tree in the world is on Crete

The populations that follow The Mediterranean Diet most closely tend to live in the Mediterranean region where they experience good health and live long lives. The ones that live the longest tend to be high consumers of olive oil and have low rates of coronary heart disease...but the Japanese and other countries have low rates of CHD too and they aren't high consumers of olive oil and they don't follow the Mediterranean diet, so it certainly isn't the only way to achieve good results. But if you don't live in Japan or a few other countries then your risk factors for CHD are likely to be high, which means the Mediterranean Diet may be a better choice for you. The other reason we recommend the Mediterranean Diet over the one followed by the Japanese is substituting olive oil for the high sodium content of "Soy Sauce" is a huge plus for most people....
Current proof of the high risk factors among the Greeks for coronary heart disease is not easy to find because most of the studies are old, but we found one that's recent enough to lead us to conclude that while the Mediterranean Diet is a factor, high olive oil consumption is the main driver of the low rates of CHD in the region and especially in Greece. We won't go so far as to say that olive oil is a "Silver Bullet," but the fact that the Greeks are the highest consumers of olive oil in the world cannot be ignored. And since the risk factors common to the Greeks most closely resemble those faced by most of us, we strongly recommend you use fresh high quality extra virgin olive oil as the primary source of fat in your diet to give you an extra edge over CHD. Hopefully you'll make other healthy adjustments as well, but the addition of olive oil into your daily routine is a lesson from the Greeks we believe should be taken seriously.
Should you import your olive oil from Greece...come on you know we can't go there, but if you decide to consider going in that direction you should make certain it is fresh and extra virgin and you might want it to come from Crete...whatever you do read the Label.
The easiest way to incorporate olive oil into your daily routine is to follow the Mediterranean diet which is full of healthy foods olive oil was "born" to enhance. There is little doubt you'll receive other health benefits that go with making this change as well, plus it is a delicious way to enhance the enjoyment of your food. As you can see in the images below The Mediterranean Diet is as nutritious as it is delicious, especially with high quality olive oil...  Tom LeDuc

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Nobody knows the Greeks better than the Greeks...Below is an excerpt from a more recent study completed by the University of Crete that documents the fact that the participants in the heart disease studies continue to have high risk factors for CHD and a low death rate from the disease. The people of Crete were the best performers during the "7 Countries Study" so it is significant these follow up studies are performed by the University of Crete. We think you'll find these excerpts along with the conclusions they reached very interesting...

THE UNIVERSITY OF CRETE STUDY

(EXCERPTS)

BMC Public Health
Published: 18 December 2007
(1) Clinic of Social and Family Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Crete, Greece, (2) Department of Cardiology, University Hospital of Crete, Greece and (3) Clinic of Nutrition and Disease Prevention, School of Medicine, University of Crete, Greece
The main findings that emerged from this study involved an extremely high prevalence of smoking (particularly among men), hypertension, diabetes and a high occurrence of alcohol intake. Most of the population was found to be obese and presented increased cholesterol levels.

Fresh extra virgin olive oil from Crete

Surprisingly, and against this unfavorable risk profile, signs of coronary artery disease were scarce, with only three men fulfilling definite criteria of a previous myocardial infarction [15]. Lacking a certain explanation for this "paradox", the authors suggested a possible cardio- protective role related to the closely-knit social network, the low unemployment rates and the potential benefit of certain dietary habits (e.g. the high consumption of olive oil).
Background: Crete has been of great epidemiological interest ever since the publication of the Seven Countries Study. In 1988 a well-defined area of rural Crete was studied, with only scarce signs of coronary heart disease (CHD) despite the unfavorable risk profile. The same population was re-examined twelve years later aiming to describe the trends of CHD risk factors over time and discuss some key points on the natural course of coronary heart disease in a rural population of Crete.
Methods and Results: We re-examined 200 subjects (80.7% of those still living in the area, 62.4 ± 17.0 years older). The prevalence of risk factors for CHD was high with 65.9% of men and 65.1% of women being hypertensive, 14.3% of men and 16.5% of women being diabetic, 44% of men being active smokers and more than 40% of both sexes having hyperlipidaemia. Accordingly, 77.5% of the population had a calculated Framingham Risk Score (FRS) ≥ 15%, significantly higher compared to baseline (p < 0.001). The overall occurrence rate for CHD events was calculated at 7.1 per 1000 person-years (95% confidence interval: 6.8–7.3).
Conclusion: The study confirms the unfavorable risk factor profile of a well defined rural population in Crete.

Rheumatic Heart Disease

Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) is a condition in which permanent damage to heart valves is caused by rheumatic fever. Rheumatic fever begins with a strep throat from streptococcal (STREP'to-KOK'al) infection. As many as 39% of patients with acute rheumatic fever may develop varying degrees of pancarditis with associated valve insufficiency, heart failure, pericarditis, and even death.

With chronic rheumatic heart disease, patients develop valve stenosis with varying degrees of regurgitation, atrial dilation, arrhythmias, and ventricular dysfunction. Chronic rheumatic heart disease remains the leading cause of mitral valve stenosis and valve replacement in adults in many countries including in Indonesia.

What are the symptoms of rheumatic heart disease?

The symptoms of rheumatic heart disease vary and damage to the heart often is not readily noticeable. When symptoms do appear, they may depend on the extent and location of the heart damage. The symptoms of rheumatic heart disease vary and damage to the heart often is not readily noticeable. When symptoms do appear, they may depend on the extent and location of the heart damage.

• Fever.
• Weight loss.
• Fatigue.
• Stomach pains.
• Joint inflammation - including swelling, tenderness, and redness over multiple joints. The joints affected are usually the larger joints in the knees or ankles. The inflammation "moves" from one joint to another over several days.
• Small nodules or hard, round bumps under the skin.
• A change in your child's neuromuscular movements (this is usually noted by a change in your child's handwriting and may also include jerky movements).
• Rash (a pink rash with odd edges that is usually seen on the trunk of the body or arms and legs).

How to treat of rheumatic heart disease :

Medical therapy is directed toward eliminating the group A streptococcal pharyngitis (if still present), suppressing inflammation from the autoimmune response, and providing supportive treatment for congestive heart failure. But the specific treatment for rheumatic heart disease will be determined by your physician based on:

1. your overall health and medical history
2. extent of the disease
3. your tolerance for specific medications, procedures, or therapies
4. expectations for the course of the disease
5. your opinion or preference

Since rheumatic fever is the cause of rheumatic heart disease, the best treatment is to prevent rheumatic fever from occurring. Oral penicillin V remains the drug of choice for treatment of group A streptococcal pharyngitis. When oral penicillin is not feasible or dependable, a single dose of intramuscular benzathine penicillin G is therapeutic. For patients who are allergic to penicillin, administer erythromycin or a first-generation cephalosporin.

Other options include clarithromycin for 10 days, azithromycin for 5 days, or a narrow-spectrum (first-generation) cephalosporin for 10 days. To reduce inflammation, aspirin, steroids, or non-steroidal medications may be given. Surgery may be necessary to repair or replace the damaged valve.

Can Rheumatic Heart Disease be Prevented?

The best way to prevent rheumatic heart disease is to seek immediate medical attention to a strep throat and not let it progress to rheumatic fever. The Nurses also have a role in prevention, primarily in screening school-aged children for sore throats that may be caused by Group A streptococci(especially Group A β Hemolytic Streptococcus pyogenes).

Persons who have previously contracted rheumatic fever are often given continuous (daily or monthly) antibiotic treatments, possibly for life, to prevent future attacks of rheumatic fever and lower the risk of heart damage.

disease and treatment of chckenpox

Chickenpox disease is one of the classic childhood diseases. This is a highly contagious illness caused by primary infection with varicella zoster virus (VZV). On the patient with chicken pox, an itchy rash of spots that look like blisters can appear all over the body and be accompanied by flu-like symptoms.

Most people will get chickenpox at some point in their lives if they have not had the chickenpox vaccine. A person usually has only one episode of chickenpox, but varicella zoster virus can lie dormant within the body and cause a different type of skin eruption later in life called shingles (or herpes zoster).

Chickenpox disease actually isn't serious health condition, but it can cause problems for pregnant women, newborns, teens and adults, and people who have immune system disorder that make it hard for the body to fight an infection. Somebody or Children usually catch chickenpox in winter and spring weather. Chickenpox is an airborne disease that spread easily through coughing or sneezing of ill individuals or through direct contact with secretions from the rash.

When someone becomes infected by varicella zoster virus (VZV), the pox usually appear 10 to 21 days later. The contagious period continues for 4 to 5 days after the appearance of the rash, or until all lesions have crusted over.


- Symptoms of Chickenpox Disease

Generally if someone get chickenpox disease they have symptoms such as a fever, headache, tummy ache, or loss of appetite for a day or two before breaking out in the classic pox rash. Other symptom may develop of myalgia, nausea, sore throat, pain in both ears, complaints of pressure in head or swollen face, and malaise in adolescents and adults

Chickenpox disease causes a red, itchy skin rash that usually appears first on the abdomen or back and face, and then spreads to almost everywhere else on the body, including the scalp, mouth, nose, ears, and genitals. Most pox will not leave scars unless they become infected with bacteria from scratching.

The incubation period of chickenpox was known about 14 to 16 days after you have been around someone with the virus. Other illnesses can have symptoms like those of chickenpox, with these reason people are may think they have had chickenpox twice when instead they have had two different infections. Some people can develop serious bacterial infections involving the skin, lungs, bones, joints, and the brain (encephalitis).

Test or examination to make sure if patient has chickenpox are blood tests, and tests of fluid within the vesicles of the rash (Tsanck smear). Prenatal diagnosis of fetal varicella infection can be performed using ultrasound, though a delay of 5 weeks following primary maternal infection is advised.


- Treatment of Chickenpox Disease

There is no specific treatment for chickenpox, it is enough to keep children comfortable while their own bodies fight the illness. Some treatments are however available for relieving the symptoms while the immune system clears the virus from the body, such as paracetamol to relieve fever and calamine lotion and cooling gels to ease itching.

Patient with long-term diseases may need medication to treatment for chickenpox, They may need immunoglobulin (IG) or antiviral medicine. ussually doctor will give them that treatment soon after they are exposed to the virus to help them feel better sooner.

Patient chickenpox disease with skin conditions (such as eczema or recent sunburn), lung conditions (such as asthma), or those who have recently taken steroids, the antiviral medicines may be very important. Antihistamines relieve itch and may be used in cases where the itch prevents sleep, because they are also sedative.

Eye Diseases And Treatment

Eye infections or diseases are very common in all age groups and sexes. Sometimes, the eye disease is caused due to a general infection, but can also be a major problem which can result in loss of vision.

If diagnosis is done in earlier stage, the disease can be prevented. Also, regular and periodic eye checkups should be provided since the symptoms of eye diseases are not very clear. However, pain in the eye, inflammation, and/or discharge of fluid can be considered as few of the symptoms.Some of the most common eye diseases are glaucoma, cataract, and keratoconus.

Due to increased pressure within the eye, glaucoma occurs. In the eyes, a process of discharge and drainage of the fluid occurs continuously. Glaucoma stops the functioning of drainage. As a result, the discharged fluid is accumulated, and the eye pressure increases. The increased pressure damages the optic nerves, which results in loss of vision. Glaucoma can not be treated. However, it can be controlled with surgeries and medication.

The eye lens is one of the major parts of human eye. With increase in age, the clear and transparent lens becomes opaque. This results in vision loss. This disorder is known as cataract. As the person becomes aged, the protein of the eye decreases and cataract occurs. Diabetes and hypothyroidism can also cause cataract. This eye condition can be treated surgically where the lens needs to be replaced by an artificial one.

When cornea of the eye becomes thin, visual problems are noticed. This results in Keratoconus. It is a very slow process. The eyes become very sensitive to light. Keratoconus can be treated with Corneal Collagen Cross-linking with Riboflavin (CXL, C3R). Another treatment method involves Keraring procedure where corneal implants are surgically placed in the eye.