Author: Dr. Salomeh Keyhani

Get your shingles vaccine
If you had chicken pox as a child, you are at risk for shingles in your later years. And most people should get vaccinated against it. It’s important for you to understand why the shingles vaccine can be so important for older adults.

The CDC recommends vaccination for all individuals over the age of sixty, unless you have a contraindication, such as a weakened immune system resulting from a chronic illness, or you are about to undergo a transplant or you have severe allergies to any component of the vaccine, such as gelatin. Without the vaccine, the same virus that gave you the chicken pox can stay in your body for decades and re-emerge as shingles.

The older you are when you get shingles, the worse it can be, so please get vaccinated. Shingles will cause you to get a painful rash that blisters and can last for weeks at a time. Other symptoms may include itching, tingling, fever and upset stomach. In some cases, shingles can affect your eyes, along with your vision.

__________

N.B. There are two shingles vaccines, Shingrix and Zostavax. Talk to your doctor about which one better meets your needs.

Here’s more from Just Care:
July 30, 2018
Treating back pain: Often, hot and cold packs and time do the trick
Today I’m talking back pain, one of the biggest issues my patients face. Eight out of ten of you will experience back pain at some point in your lives. Usually, the back pain will go away on its own, though it may take a while. For typical back pain, treatment is simply hot and cold packs and rest.

A few times a day, rest your back on a cold pack for no more than 20 minutes. Then, rest it on a hot pack for up to 20 minutes. It will feel great, and generally your back will start feeling better fairly quickly. You can also help your pain by taking analgesics, such as aspirin or ibuprofen. Make sure you don’t have health problems that prevent you from taking these medications.

There’s really no need for you to see a doctor at first. You should call your doctor only if your pain does not go away after three days. Of course, if your back pain follows a fall or there are other neurological symptoms, such as numbness, you do need medical attention. And, if you have a medical history of cancer or osteoporosis, it is also good to see a doctor.

One treatment that is probably overused for simple back pain is a Magnetic Resonance Imaging test or MRI. An MRI is almost always an unnecessary test. You might see an abnormality on your MRI, but except in the rarest of instances, the treatment will be the same: home care, hot and cold packs and rest.

MRI tests are not therapeutic nor does it change my treatment plan for back pain. An MRI should be used as a diagnostic tool, which is helpful in certain circumstances, but many times should not be ordered. An MRI will not help your back and, generally, will not help your doctor to figure out the source of the pain or how to treat it. Of course, if pain persists, you should see your doctor again. But most often the pain will resolve and not getting tests will save you time and money.

Here’s more from Just Care:
February 11, 2018
Vitamin E supplements: Should you take them?
One question I bet you have because it’s one my patients ask me over and over again is which vitamin supplements you should be taking. For example, should you take Vitamin E supplements? Before I can answer, I want to know what you’re eating because what you eat matters. If you are eating a balanced diet, there should be no need to take vitamin supplements.

Today, I’ll talk about Vitamin E supplements. People mistakenly think that Vitamin E prevents certain cancers. But, if you look at the studies relating to colorectal cancer, they show that Vitamin E does nothing to prevent colorectal cancer. Some people also mistakenly think that Vitamin E helps protect against Alzheimer’s. But three different studies show that taking it has little or no benefit for people suffering from Alzheimer’s disease or people with mild memory loss.

What is also true is that the Vitamin E supplements, along with other vitamin supplements in high concentrations, carry risks. There is no evidence to suggest that taking too much Vitamin E from food is harmful to your health. If you are taking anticoagulants, talk to your doctor about Vitamin E supplements. They have been shown to interact with anticoagulants, which could lead to bleeding risks.

In short, if your diet is balanced, you are probably getting enough Vitamin E. Eating nuts, leafy greens, and any fortified foods Vitamin E can easily let you meet your daily recommended value of Vitamin E. If you’re on a low-fat diet, be sure to eat leafy greens, since many low-fat diets may not provide you with enough Vitamin E.

Don’t take a vitamin supplement without speaking with your doctor about it. A dietary change could help you avoid spending the extra money on supplements and the potential risks associated with them.

Here’s more from Just Care:
May 15, 2017
Vitamin B12 supplements

Is there any evidence that vitamin supplements benefit a healthy person? You’ve heard me ask this question before, about vitamin E supplements , about vitamin B6 supplements, and about vitamin C supplements. The answer is no. And, the answer is no for vitamin B12 supplements as well.

Forget the advertisements. There is no rationale for otherwise healthy people to take a vitamin B12 supplement to improve their cognitive function or for any other reason.

Not only should you stop before buying vitamin supplements–watch John Oliver for a funny explanation here, but there is also concern that supplements you buy at the drug store or vitamin superstore are not what you think they are. Because the FDA does not regulate these supplements, they may not be safe or as described on their label, either as pure or as strong.

This all said, you should talk to your doctor if you are feeling weak or tired, or have sensory problems, including tingling in your feet or hands or you are experiencing memory problems. Some people cannot absorb B12 from food or are not receiving enough in their food because of dietary choices (e.g, vegetarians) and may benefit from an oral B12 prescription or an injection after laboratory testing demonstrates a B12 deficiency. It could prevent further decline or even reverse these conditions. And, if you are a vegan you should talk to your doctor about taking a B12 supplement because the way to get B12 is through eating clams, salmon, trout, liver, beef, cereal and eggs and drinking milk, most of which is lacking in a vegan’s diet.

Keep in mind though that you should not decide on your own to take a B12 supplement no matter what symptoms you have. Vitamin B12 supplements should be used cautiously if you have any of a number of health conditions or if you are allergic to cobalt. So, do not go out and buy a vitamin B12 supplement without first talking to your doctor.

January 28, 2016
Link found between having a purpose in life and better health

A new study conducted by Eric Kim reveals a link between having a purpose in life and better health. People with a purpose in life are more likely to take charge of their health by getting important preventive care services. Fewer than half of people over 65 get the preventive services they need.

Kim and his colleagues studied more than 7,000 people over 50 for six years. Those with a purpose got more preventive services than those without one. These people also spent 17 percent fewer nights in the hospital. What’s most exciting is that studies show that people can increase their sense of purpose and, in the process, take better charge of their health!

If you like this post, you might also like these:
Having a purpose in life can be as simple as setting goals for yourself and plans for achieving them
Mindful meditation: A way to prolong your life without exercise

December 24, 2014
Colonoscopy: Do you need one?

If you take charge of your health, you can help prevent colon cancer. Colon cancer is the third most common type of cancer in both men women. And, 50,000 people die of colon cancer every year. The overwhelming majority of people with colon cancer are over 50.What can you do to minimize the risk of colon cancer significantly? Get a colonoscopy, which is a colon cancer screening that will identify cancer or precancerous polyps that need removing or monitoring.

When should you get your first screening and how frequently should you get one? It depends on your family history. Generally, without a family history, you should get your first colonoscopy at 50. After that, colon cancer screening frequency varies quite a bit from individual to individual and depends heavily on both the results of your screening and your medical and family history. Talk with your doctor about what is best for you.If your results are normal, with no evidence of growths and you don’t have a family history of colon cancer, you can wait ten years before getting another colonoscopy. That’s because the data show that precancerous polyps take more than ten years to grow into a cancerous form. If the test shows you have polyps (or growths) on your colon, the doctor will generally remove them. When you have to be screened again will depend on the size and type of growth.

The test itself is safe and is generally painless. However, it takes time and can be an inconvenience. For example, you usually have to drink an enormous amount of liquid the night before the test in order to clean out your system. You are also limited in what you can eat and drink the day before and day of the test. And you might need someone to drive you to and from the appointment.

Very rarely, a colonoscopy can cause infections, heavy bleeding or tears in your colon, so it is not completely risk free. However, as always you should weigh your history and risk with your doctor.

November 25, 2014
Muscle matters, but protein shakes matter much less

I’d like to offer some advice on protein shakes. It’s a great thing to be building your muscles, especially as you get older. But, you may be surprised to learn that there is no good evidence that eating more proteins, much less taking protein supplements, builds muscles. In fact, the evidence suggests that most Americans already get all the protein we need in our diet, perhaps even more than we need.That said, one study from the NIH of women and men in their 70’s showed that people who ate less protein lost “significantly more” muscle than people who ate more protein. And, as we age, it is important to maintain muscle, particularly in our legs and hips to prevent falls and injuries.

But, most of us do not need more protein in our diets. As a general rule, weight loss results from eating fewer calories, not from eating less protein. And, as far as protein shakes and powders are concerned, the evidence is paltry at best, that they are a better source of protein than food. In special cases—where an individual cannot take in enough protein–you should talk to a doctor about whether protein supplements could help.There is no conclusive data as to whether too much protein is bad for you. But, some people with particular health conditions, like diabetes, should limit the amount of protein they eat. And, if you have kidney disease, limiting protein intake could delay the onset of kidney failure.Of note, lean meat is a great source of protein. So is chicken, fish, nuts, seeds and vegetables. And, if you’re a vegetarian, rice and beans as well as peanut butter, bread and eggs should give you all the protein you need.Read more about what the NIH has to say about this, by clicking here.

October 23, 2014
Managing migraines

If you have ever suffered from a migraine, you know how awful it can be. I want to let you know that migraines are fairly common. The Centers for Disease Control reports that more than 20 percent of women surveyed said they had suffered from a migraine or severe headache in the last three months and 10 percent of men. And, it is estimated that up to4% of the world’s population suffers from headaches for at least fifteen days of a given month.You might avoid getting them, if you can figure out what might be causing them. Have you noticed that certain foods or drinks trigger your migraines? Have your sleep patterns changed or are you experiencing more stress than normal? Medications, especially those containing estrogen, can cause migraines. Bright lights or noises could be other triggers.

Once you know you are prone to migraines, there are two routes to go to help manage them medically. You can use pain medication after their onset. Or, you can use of preventative medications. If you are suffering from migraines you should talk to your doctor to discuss medication options and their possible side effects as well as strategies to prevent migraines from happening in the first place.Don’t let migraines control your life. Learn your triggers and learn how to manage them.

October 10, 2014