10 replies to this topic

[Jnavin]

I'm 55, returned to Colorado from a lower elevation in Utah two months ago. I wanted to give myself plenty of time to re-acclimate to the altitude. It's above 50 this afternoon in Boulder County. I've been walking regularly, but I've been missing the running. It's 2 miles around Waneka Lake, spectacular view of the Rockies from the Flatirons over to Long's Peak. Very nice decompression after a hard day of watching red digits from cyberspace. If I'm still alive when I get back, I'll let you know how I did.

[greenie]

>Running today Short or long ? BTW, I thought you are 42 from your picture.

[Jnavin]

That photo is about 5 years old, Greenie. Nicely re-touched by the pro who shot it. I'm a health nut -- run, take vitamins, stay away from saturated fats, the whole thing.

[hiker]

Hi John - I bet that run felt good. You have any good resources or info. you would like to share about vitamins. I am always looking to learn more about that subject. I have my favorite brands and dosages....I do not take a multiple vitamin, but instead opt for taking each individually...split between the daily meals: E - natures way brand C - solaray brand B complex - twin lab brand calcium, magnesium, boron, and other mineral blend with D - twin lab brand zinc - solaray selenium - solaray other supplements: flax oil, high lignan in liquid form - barleans brand acidophilus capsules raw bee pollen Someone from this board recently sent me info. from Life Extension which is of interest. btw, I am listening right now to Dave's nightly indicator review at TW, and I suggest you ck out the transcript tomorrow because what Dave is seeing in the MCO's is of import.

Edited by hiker, 07 February 2006 - 07:51 PM.

[Jnavin]

My wife picks the vitamins, hiker. That's right, I take the pills that my wife tells me to take. I take a one-a-day from Twin Labs, a B-complex from Solgar, Lysine and something called Zyflamend, an herbal anti-aging formula. I'm also hooked on Odwalla's Super Food -- a green drink full of spirulina and fruits and vegetables. Amazingly tasty and it hits the spot after a run or work-out.

[PorkLoin]

Good man, John. Nothing like doing the "severe" aerobic stuff, and even a slow run can be a magnitude above most walking, IMO anyway. Last time I ran was Christmas Eve, down near Atlanta. I live in Ohio and now it's cold and nasty but there's always a bunch of reasons not to.... I have an aunt in Seattle who has been into vitamins, life-extention, etc., for decades. (To an almost implausible extent.) Anyway, she has always sworn by Twin Lab, saying they are one of the extreme few where you can be sure you're getting what's on the label. Best, Doug

[Rogerdodger]

I take the pills that my wife tells me to take.

THAT is THE sercret to a long life.

Note: Be sure to download the Guinness.com countdown to St. Patrick's Day screensaver.

It helps me keep on my "workout" schedule. I'm up to 2 a day!
Cheers!

[maineman]

Trends in Alternative Medicine Use in the United States, 1990-1997

Results of a Follow-up National Survey

David M. Eisenberg, MD; Roger B. Davis, ScD; Susan L. Ettner, PhD; Scott Appel, MS; Sonja Wilkey; Maria Van Rompay; Ronald C. Kessler, PhD


JAMA. 1998;280:1569-1575.

Context.— A prior national survey documented the high prevalence and costs of alternative medicine use in the United States in 1990.

Objective.— To document trends in alternative medicine use in the United States between 1990 and 1997.

Design.— Nationally representative random household telephone surveys using comparable key questions were conducted in 1991 and 1997 measuring utilization in 1990 and 1997, respectively.

Participants.— A total of 1539 adults in 1991 and 2055 in 1997.

Main Outcomes Measures.— Prevalence, estimated costs, and disclosure of alternative therapies to physicians.

Results.— Use of at least 1 of 16 alternative therapies during the previous year increased from 33.8% in 1990 to 42.1% in 1997 (P
The therapies increasing the most included herbal medicine, massage, megavitamins, self-help groups, folk remedies, energy healing, and homeopathy. The probability of users visiting an alternative medicine practitioner increased from 36.3% to 46.3% (P=.002). In both surveys alternative therapies were used most frequently for chronic conditions, including back problems, anxiety, depression, and headaches. There was no significant change in disclosure rates between the 2 survey years; 39.8% of alternative therapies were disclosed to physicians in 1990 vs 38.5% in 1997. The percentage of users paying entirely out-of-pocket for services provided by alternative medicine practitioners did not change significantly between 1990 (64.0%) and 1997 (58.3%) (P=.36). Extrapolations to the US population suggest a 47.3% increase in total visits to alternative medicine practitioners, from 427 million in 1990 to 629 million in 1997, thereby exceeding total visits to all US primary care physicians. An estimated 15 million adults in 1997 took prescription medications concurrently with herbal remedies and/or high-dose vitamins (18.4% of all prescription users). Estimated expenditures for alternative medicine professional services increased 45.2% between 1990 and 1997 and were conservatively estimated at $21.2 billion in 1997, with at least $12.2 billion paid out-of-pocket. This exceeds the 1997 out-of-pocket expenditures for all US hospitalizations. Total 1997 out-of-pocket expenditures relating to alternative therapies were conservatively estimated at $27.0 billion, which is comparable with the projected 1997 out-of-pocket expenditures for all US physician services.

Conclusions.— Alternative medicine use and expenditures increased substantially between 1990 and 1997, attributable primarily to an increase in the proportion of the population seeking alternative therapies, rather than increased visits per patient.



Is it possible that the increase in diabetes, asthma, obesity, etc. etc. is due to the increased spending on alternative therapies? maineman

Edited by maineman, 13 February 2006 - 10:19 PM.

[calmcookie]

I take the pills that my wife tells me to take.

I'd like to know where she found you and / or if you have any good looking brothers.

[Rogerdodger]

Mainman:

Conclusions.— Alternative medicine use and expenditures increased substantially between 1990 and 1997, attributable primarily to an increase in the proportion of the population seeking alternative therapies, rather than increased visits per patient.
Is it possible that the increase in diabetes, asthma, obesity, etc. etc. is due to the increased spending on alternative therapies? maineman

Possibly but I doubt it.
I think it's partly because the "baby boomer" generation which is numerically large is getting older and more likely to become obese and diabetic.
And I think "alternative" medicine is a fading fad which in most cases has proven to be ineffective except for the placebo effect.
But the mind has one of the most powerful influences on our body for good or bad. (See "Nocebo effect".)
People are finding out that the "Herb DuJour" is not cure-all but often has no benefit and in excess can cause constipation, nausea, skin rashes, and worse.

But here is the deal:
Some of us are spending MUCH more time online since 1990 rather than playing golf, tennis, gardening, exercising, etc.
I can't get my 13 year old grandson to do anything that does not have a mouse, keyboard or joystick attached. Kids don't rollerskate or ride bikes like us old timers did.
We seem to be getting excitement and stimulation sitting on our fat @ss while "playing" football on a screen.

This is having huge health consequences already and I believe it will only become a bigger problem.
But if you can advertise an herb which "is used to cure a fat @ss" you can get rich.

PS: Note the wording in Herb advertising.
To avoid legal prosecution they will say: "St. John's Wart is used for depression."
They can't legally say: "St John's Wart effectively treats depression."
Because it is not true.


From "Nocebo" link above:
"More than two-thirds of 34 college students developed headaches when told that a non-existent electrical current passing through their heads could produce a headache."
"In one experiment, asthmatic patients breathed in a vapor that researchers told them was a chemical irritant or allergen. Nearly half of the patients experienced breathing problems, with a dozen developing full-blown attacks. They were "treated" with a substance they believed to be a bronchodilating medicine, and recovered immediately. In actuality, both the "irritant" and the "medicine" were a nebulized saltwater solution."
"In the Framingham Heart Study, women who believed they are prone to heart disease were nearly four times as likely to die as women with similar risk factors who didn't believe."

Edited by Rogerdodger, 14 February 2006 - 12:02 AM.