Health Quiz: Anil Minocha MD, gastroenterologist, internist and nutritionist reviews myths and realities

Hormone milk, risk of harm or risk free?

Cow's milk is a staple in refrigerator. We start our lives with milk, whether breast milk or cow's milk. Recently, the potential risk of hormone injection to cows and the resultant milk has been news. Does the milk change significantly? Are there risks of milk from hormone injected cows?

The risks of milk from "growth hormone injected" cows are miniscule, so says the scientific community. In fact, there is no good data to support the harm. This may very well be because not much research has been done, and it may be an unknown!

Consider the following facts about cows, growth hormone and milk. The cows injected with horomones are also more likely to have had antibiotics. Again, the question arises, does the antibiotic use pose a harm to the person drinking especially the babies? How would the tiny doses of antibiotics or growth hormone affect the gut flora and eventual health?

The argument against any harmful effects has been based on tiny amounts of these growth hormnones or antibiotics etc eventually appearing in milk. Studies with a large number of patients would have to be done to discern significant impact.

One personal and anecdotal observation (not a scientific study) is that children of first generation immigrants (especially those from Asia) tend to be much taller than their parents. Is it simply because they are getting better nutrition than their parents had in their home countries? Or there is something in the diet they are consuming that makes them taller? I have no idea but I am we could all speculate and debate.

What do you think about hormones or antiotics to cows? What are your thoughts on my observation? Have you seen similar or disimilar experience? Please share your thoughts.

Cancer health myths and realities

cancer occurs due to multiple factors, both genetic and environmental. Can cancer be prevented? Of course, so say CDC.

Okay now the quiz, which of the following is true?

• Cancer risk is increased due to cell-phones?
• Living in polluted city is worse than cigarette smoking?
• Underwire bras cause breast cancer?

Well, all of them are false. Surprisingly many people in surveys believed them to be true as explained by Lillie Shocknes RN from the John Hopkins School of Medicine. According to Leanna Skarmulis, getting hit in the breast does not cause breast cancer either.

Remember, knowledge is power. Learn about your health and pursue goal of positive health.

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Acid reflux complications: rising or falling?

Acid reflux disease or chronic heartburn (GERD) has complications. But over the last several years we have had very potent acid blocking medications like proton pump inhibitors (Nexium, Prevacid, Prilosec etc) as well as anti-reflux surgery (Nissen's fundoplication) to control it. Question arises, are the complications of GERD rising or falling? What do you think?

Well, intuitively one would think that the complications would be decining because of potent medications. The facts are to the contrary.

Complications from heartburn are on the rise including esophagus damage and cancer. In fact, esophageal cancer is the fastest growing cancer in the U.S.

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H pylori, GERD: Does it help or hurt?

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is involved in causing peptic ulcers and gastritis. What is role of H pylori on GERD or chronic acid reflux and its complications? Does H. pylori protect or make GERD worse? Would eradication of Helicobacter pylori make GERD worse or better?

Contrary to popular belief, H pylori actually is protective against GERD or chronic acid reflux. Eradicating H pylori makes GERD worse. So if you have GERD, you don't need to get tested for Helicobacter pylori.

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Is losing first few pounds easier than the last ones on dieting?

Is the weight loss consistent during early or late part of dieting? Are the last few pounds to lose just stubborn, or the difficulty psychological or really harder?

Okay, we all know from experience that more we continue dieting, the harder it gets to shed the same number of pounds for the same amount of diet. This of course has scientific reasons related to metabolism.

According to Julie Upton, MS, RD, of the American Dietetic Association.for a body weight loss of every pound, the body's needs to sustain also decline; specifically for every pound shed, the body needs about 10 less calories to sustain. Assuming you lost 10 pounds, the diet needs to decline by about 100 calories further to continue the weight loss program.

Sometimes there is a decline in the metabolic rate. This also makes continuing the weight loss battle harder.

Remember, the calorie intake is the single most important factor for weight loss. No one ever came out of POW or concentration camp being overweight. Exercise is healthy adjuvant and a must. As such, it is better to reduce some calories along with increasing exercise effort as you continue to lose weight. Julie also recommends appropriate amount of protein with every meal in order to maintain the muscle mass.

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What causes hangover?

Hangover: is it amount of alcohol or type? Is it the person? What do you think?

Hangover depends on amount of alcohol of course. However, type of alcohol also amtetrs. dark alcohols cause more hangover. For the same amount of alcohol, a female of the same weight as a  man is likely to have more hangover. How hydrated or dehydrated you are also matters. Similarly, a well rested person may experience less hangover than the sleep deprived.

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Does heartburn acid reflux mean excess acid?

Heartburn: too much acid-- of course OR of course not? What do you think?

GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) causes chronic heartburn. However, most patients have normal gastric (stomach) acid secretion. In fact, some patients may have reflux of gastric contents but it may not have too much acid. Still others may have heartburn without any gastroesophageal reflux reflux at all. These are termed functional heartburn.

Acid blockers like PPIs (Prilosec etc) and H2RA (Histamine-2 receptor blockers) are used for heartburn or GERD because there are no effective treatments to prevent reflux of gastric contents.

However, acid blockers may not help heartburn of patients whose refluxate into esophagus does not have excess acid.

Did this help you understand heartburn better? Please share your thoughts.

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