How Long Do Menopause Symptoms Last For?

 

Menopause is a natural biological occurrence signaling the end of a woman's ability to reproduce. This happens with the end of her last menstrual period. Medically, menopause is said to happen 12 months after a woman menstruates for the final time.
Menopause is a normal part of a woman's life, just like puberty. Even though a woman may experience many symptoms as she goes through menopause, it is not a disease or condition. Every woman experiences menopause differently, although there are many common symptoms.

Contents of this article:

1. When does menopause start?
2. Symptoms of menopause
3. Treatment options
4. What happens after menopause?

When does menopause start?

Hot flashes are a common symptom of menopause and occur mainly in a woman's upper body.

Though menopause is defined as starting one year after the end of her last period, a woman may begin experiencing symptoms earlier.
According to the Mayo Clinic, the average age for a woman to reach menopause in the United States is 51 years. However, this age range varies.
Menopause may happen early, when a woman is in her 40s, or later, when she is in her 50s.
Symptoms of menopause often last for many years. They can begin years before the menopause, and they often continue for years afterward.

Symptoms of menopause

Symptoms of menopause generally start when a woman's estrogen levels begin to drop. This generally happens in the 3-5 years before menopause begins. This is known as perimenopause.

• Irregular menstruation: As estrogen levels drop, a woman's menstrual cycle may change. She may miss periods or experience longer lengths of time between periods. Menstruation may also be heavier or lighter than previously.
• Vaginal dryness: Decreases in estrogen levels can cause vaginal lubrication to change and decrease. As lubrication decreases, the vaginal tissues also become thinner. This can lead to pain during intercourse, and a woman may also experience vaginal inflammation.
• Decreased fertility: As estrogen levels drop in perimenopause, it becomes harder for a woman to become pregnant. When a woman reaches menopause, her body no longer releases eggs. This means she can no longer get pregnant.
• Weight gain: A woman's metabolism tends to slow during menopause, and she may suddenly gain weight, especially around the midsection. This weight gain can happen without the woman changing her diet or exercise routine.
• Hot flashes: Fluctuations in hormone levels might lead to hot flashes or an abrupt feeling of heat and flushing. These flashes may be mild, occurring primarily in a woman's upper body, or they may spread throughout her body. Hot flashes can last anywhere from a few seconds to many minutes.
• Night sweats: Night sweats are caused by hot flashes that happen during sleep and may cause such intense sweating that they wake a woman up.
• Low mood: Some women may experience mood changes during menopause. This may be due to hormonal changes, but it might also be made worse by common life circumstances that tend to occur around the time menopause occurs. Low mood may also be linked to feeling tired as a result of sleep trouble, or mourning the loss of fertility.
• Trouble sleeping: Menopause often makes it harder to sleep. Many women find sleep disturbances occur more often around the time of menopause. The disturbances may or may not be related to night sweats.
• Attention problems: Many women find they have problems concentrating, and it may be harder to remember things during menopause. Scientists are not sure if this is due to falling estrogen levels or aging.
• Thinning skin and hair: Extreme fluctuations in hormone levels can cause skin to thin. Some women may experience hair loss.
• Urinary frequency and incontinence: Around menopause, women may experience urinary changes due to weakened muscles that control the pelvic floor.

Treatment options

Hormone replacement therapy can relieve some menopause symptoms and reduce the risk of bone loss.

Menopause itself does not require any medical treatment, but many women seek relief from their symptoms. They may want to prevent some of the health effects of aging that often appear around the time menopause begins.
Many women find estrogen therapy the most effective option for relieving menopause-related hot flashes. Doctors often prescribe the lowest dose of estrogen possible to relieve symptoms. Sometimes, progestin is also needed.
Aside from relieving hot flashes, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can help to prevent bone loss and osteoporosis.
Studies are mixed as to whether HRT is helpful in protecting against heart disease. Some suggest low doses of estrogen may protect against heart disease if started within 5 years of menopause.
There are many other treatments available that alleviate symptoms and prevent aging-related issues. Options include:

• Medications to treat hot flashes: Low-dose antidepressants and some anti-seizure medications may decrease hot flashes. A low-dose antidepressant may not only help to manage hot flashes, but may help women to cope with mood-related changes that occur during menopause as well.
• Vaginal estrogen: Vaginal estrogen helps to relieve uncomfortable vaginal dryness caused by the plummet in estrogen levels come menopause. Estrogen can be applied directly to the vagina via a cream, tablet, or inserted ring. The vaginal tissues absorb just enough estrogen to relieve dryness and discomfort during intercourse. It may also help with urinary issues that occur during this time.
• Medications to prevent osteoporosis: Because bone density starts to decrease more rapidly during menopause, some doctors prescribe medications to prevent this loss of bone density.

When to see a doctor

Menopause is not a cause for immediate medical attention, but a woman should schedule regular doctor visits for preventive healthcare starting at perimenopause.
Around perimenopause, most doctors recommend certain health screenings like a colonoscopy, mammogram, and certain blood tests.
A woman should not hesitate to seek a doctor's care and advice to deal with disruptive menopausal symptoms. If vaginal bleeding occurs after menopause, a woman should seek medical attention.

What happens after menopause?

The risk of ovarian cancer rises after menopause.

After menopause, the risk of some medical conditions increases.
These include:

• Cardiovascular disease: As estrogen levels decline, the risk of heart disease rises.
• Osteoporosis: Osteoporosis is a condition that causes bones to weaken, making them subject to an increased risk of fracture. For the first years after menopause, women lose bone density very rapidly. This increases the risk of osteoporosis and related fractures.
• Certain cancers: The risk of breast and ovarian cancer rises after menopause. The reasons vary but this could be due to aging, hormonal changes related to menopause, and HRT, if used.

Apart from these risks, most women continue to enjoy a healthy life as long as they maintain their health by eating healthily, exercising, maintaining a healthy weight, and checking in with a doctor regularly.

Symptoms of ovarian cancer

Ovarian cancer has several signs and symptoms that resemble the symptoms of menopause.
These symptoms tend to appear only when the cancer has spread, and the most common ones overlap with menopausal symptoms.
They include:

• Urgent or frequent urination
• Fatigue
• Pain during intercourse
• Menstrual changes

If a woman experiences any of these symptoms, in addition to bloating, back pain, upset stomach, and abdominal swelling with weight loss, she should consult a doctor. These symptoms do not necessarily indicate ovarian cancer, as they can stem from other conditions.

Written by Jenna Fletcher

Baking Soda for Acid Reflux: Does it Work?

 

Acid reflux occurs when some of the acid in the stomach flows back up into the food pipe, or esophagus. The acid irritates the lining of the food pipe and a person may experience a burning sensation in the chest, known as heartburn. A person with acid reflux might also have a sour taste in their mouth.
According to the American College of Gastroenterology, over 60 million Americans experience acid reflux at least once a month, with some studies suggesting over 15 million experience it daily.
If a person experiences acid reflux more than twice a week they should see a doctor as they may have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). If left untreated, GERD can cause ulcers and permanent damage to the food pipe. It also increases the risk of cancer of the food pipe.
Baking soda can be used as an antacid to counteract the acid in the stomach caused by acid reflux.

Contents of this article:

1. Baking soda and acid reflux
2. Risks and side effects
3. Other acid reflux treatments

Baking soda and acid reflux

Baking soda, also known as sodium bicarbonate, is a salt made up of sodium ions and bicarbonate ions. It is typically found as a white crystalline solid or a fine powder, although tablets and capsules containing sodium bicarbonate are also available.

Baking soda is a common home remedy for acid reflux, but should not be used too frequently.

Baking soda is primarily used in baking as a rising agent, but it is also used in other ways, including as an ingredient in dental hygiene products and as a natural cleaning agent.
In addition to being used as an antacid, sodium bicarbonate is used in certain medical situations to make the blood and urine more alkaline.

Treating acid reflux

As it has an alkaline pH, baking soda is a common remedy for the relief of heartburn and acid reflux. It works by neutralizing the excess stomach acid that causes symptoms.
In general, adults and children over 12 years take ½ teaspoon of sodium bicarbonate powder mixed with a glass of water every 2 hours until symptoms go away. The dosage of tablets and other forms of sodium bicarbonate varies, so always follow the directions on the label.
Doctors only recommend using baking soda temporarily, at the first onset of symptoms. This is because other problems may develop if the body becomes too alkaline.
As with other medications, it is important to talk to a doctor about suitable dosages of sodium bicarbonate.
Children under 12 years old should always have their dosage prescribed by a doctor. Antacids are not commonly prescribed to children under 6 years of age.

Risks and side effects

Common side effects of baking soda include gas and bloating. Increased thirst and stomach cramps are other possible reactions. If any of these symptoms persist, or are severe, contact a doctor.
Baking soda can interfere with how the body absorbs some medications. Users should also bear in mind that baking soda has a very high salt content.
More serious side effects are rare. They include:

• Blood in the urine, stool, or vomit
• Difficulty breathing normally
• Loss of appetite
• Muscle spasms and contractions
• Nausea
• Seizures
• Severe headache
• Swollen feet, ankles, or legs
• Weakness or lethargy

Anyone experiencing any of the above symptoms should stop taking baking soda and contact a doctor without delay.
If a person experiences heartburn for longer than 2 weeks, they should see a doctor.

Baking soda and existing medical conditions

People with the following medical conditions should avoid taking baking soda, unless told to do so by their doctor:

• Alkalosis: When the body's pH is higher than normal
• Appendicitis: Inflammation of the appendix
• Edema: Swelling caused by excess fluid in the body's tissues
• Heart disease
• High blood pressure
• Kidney disease
• Liver disease
• Preeclampsia: A condition during pregnancy characterized by high blood pressure, edema, and excess proteins in the urine

Pregnant women should not take baking soda for acid reflux without discussing it with their doctor first.

Sodium bicarbonate interactions

Sodium bicarbonate should not be taken within 2 hours of other medications. It lowers stomach acid levels, which means it can interfere with the body's ability to break down and absorb medications.
In addition, baking soda can interact with the following types of medications:

Baking soda can lower stomach acid levels, making it harder for the body to break down and absorb drugs.

• Alprazolam
• Amphetamine
• Aspirin
• Benzphetamine
• Dasatinib
• Dextroamphetamine
• Elvitegravir
• Gefitinib
• Iron sulfate or ferrous sulfate
• Ketoconazole
• Ledipasvir
• Methamphetamine
• Memantine
• Pazopanib
• Tacrolimus

This list is not exhaustive, and sodium bicarbonate can interact with other medications. Therefore, it is always important for individuals to provide their doctor with a complete list of the prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) medications they are taking when discussing the use of baking soda as an antacid.

Other acid reflux treatments

There are many other treatments for acid reflux, including lifestyle changes, prescription and nonprescription medications, and surgical interventions.

Lifestyle changes

Heartburn and acid reflux may be reduced naturally by implementing some, or all, of the following changes:

• Maintaining a healthy weight: Staying within a healthy weight range in relation to height can reduce some of the pressure on the stomach. This means the stomach acid isn't being forced up the food pipe.
• Knowing and avoiding food triggers: Certain foods and drinks trigger acid reflux. Although triggers vary from person to person, the most common include alcohol, chocolate, garlic, onions, caffeine, fried foods, and high-fat foods. Avoiding triggers is a simple way to reduce heartburn.
• Avoiding overeating or eating too quickly: Eating large meals makes it difficult for the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) to close properly. The LES acts like a valve that separates the food pipe from the stomach, and stops acid from rising. Eating too quickly can also contribute to heartburn.
• Avoiding eating while lying down.
• Waiting at least 2 to 3 hours before lying down after eating.
• Wearing loose clothing: Tight-fitting clothing puts pressure on the stomach.
• Quitting smoking: There is a clear link between smoking and GERD.
• Raising the head of the bed: People who experience acid reflux at night may benefit from raising the head of their bed with blocks or wooden wedges.

Medications for acid reflux

If lifestyle changes do not help acid reflux, medication is usually the next treatment option. Some common prescription and OTC medications include:

• Antacids: There are several antacids available other than baking soda for the relief of acid reflux and heartburn. A doctor or pharmacist can advise on the different options.
• H-2-receptor blockers: These medications lower acid production in the stomach for up to 12 hours. They are available from the pharmacy, with stronger versions available on prescription.
• Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs): These medications are stronger than H-2-receptor blockers, and block acid production for longer periods of time. This allows the damaged tissue in the food pipe time to heal. PPIs are available over the counter or on prescription.

Surgery for acid reflux and GERD

Medication is usually enough to treat GERD and acid reflux in most people.
If not, surgical solutions can be considered. These include surgery to tighten the lower esophageal sphincter, or surgery to insert a magnetic device which helps the LES remain closed to stomach acid.

When to see a doctor

It is advisable to discuss taking baking soda for acid reflux with a doctor.
Those with existing medical conditions, or people on prescription or OTC medications, should consult their doctor before taking baking soda.
As acid reflux can lead to more serious conditions if left untreated, those who experience symptoms for more than 2 weeks should contact their doctor.

Written by Jayne Leonard

Probiotics Good for Fighting Alzheimer’s Disease

 

Growing evidence suggests that beneficial bacteria, also known as probiotics, could play a role in reversing Alzheimer’s disease. This approach is supported by experts’ increasing understanding of the human microbiome (the combined microorganisms residing on the surface and internally, including the gastrointestinal tract), the fact that gastrointestinal health has been linked to brain health and the idea that if we tackle the many factors that contribute to Alzheimer’s disease as a group instead of one at a time, we potentially have a chance to reverse early progression of the disease.
One of the growing number of researchers who embraces these notions and who has specifically studied the latter is Dr. Dale Bredesen, director of the Mary S. Easton Center for Alzheimer’s Disease Research at UCLA. He conducted a small (10 patient) novel therapeutic program that resulted in improvement in cognitive decline in nine of the participants. (The tenth patient had advanced Alzheimer’s when entering the program.) At the most recent follow-up done at two and one-half years, improvement was marked and sustained.
[The 6 Key Things to Do to Outsmart Alzheimer’s]
Bredesen’s program is comprehensive, drug-free and addresses stress management, optimization of sleep, fasting, nutritional and herbal supplementation, a low glycemic/inflammatory/grain diet, regular exercise, hormone balancing and use of probiotics and prebiotics. According to Bredesen, his results “suggest that, at least early in the course, cognitive decline may be driven in large part by metabolic processes.”
Probiotics and the microbiota are a key part of those processes. Given that there are an estimated 100 trillion bacteria and up to 1,000 different bacterial species living in the human GI tract, it’s easy to understand why deciphering the connection may prove to be a challenge.
Thus far, research delving into the relationship between probiotics, cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease has been limited but the findings are revealing. For example, the GI tract is home to an abundant number of Lactobacillus and various Bifidobacterium species (common probiotics), which breakdown glutamate to produce GABA (gamma-amino butyric acid), a critical neurotransmitter in the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord).
[Don’t Fear the Fat (or Probiotics): The Gut-Brain Axis Explained]
A short supply of GABA or its dysfunction is associated with cognitive impairment, depression and anxiety. Therefore, it’s reasonable to assume that an imbalance of good vs. bad bacteria in the gut (i.e., not enough probiotics) could contribute to an insufficient amount of GABA and thus cognitive decline.
Another example of a relationship between beneficial bacteria, the microbiome and cognitive decline concerns something called brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Experts have noted that levels of BDNF are decreased in the brain of individuals who have Alzheimer’s disease. In experimental infection models that result in changes to the microbiota, expression of BDNF was reduced in the hippocampus (area of the brain involved with memory) of the test mice, and this reduction of BDNF is associated with progressive cognitive dysfunction.
In an animal study, a team of Iranian researchers gave probiotics to diabetic rats and then tested them with tasks involving memory and learning. From their observations they concluded that “probiotics efficiently reverse deteriorated brain functions in the levels of cognitive performances.”
[Read Maria Shriver’s latest ‘I’ve Been Thinking’ essay]
Researchers are still connecting the dots between probiotics and Alzheimer’s disease, so you won’t hear a lot of physicians recommending you include them as part of your dementia-prevention plan. However, given what we know thus far about their relationship and the fact that probiotics are also helpful for boosting the immune system, aiding digestive health, helping with urinary tract infections and women’s vaginal health and fighting allergies, among other benefits, including probiotics in your daily lifestyle seems like a wise choice.
On that note, according to neurologist David Perlmutter, MD, author of Grain Brain, emerging research is showing that eating foods rich in beneficial bacteria (e.g., yogurt, sauerkraut, kimchee, kefir, fermented vegetables) can influence brain behavior and may help with depression, anxiety and stress. Perlmutter also recommends choosing a probiotics supplement that contains at least 10 billion active cultures.

A research team from Iran are the first to show how a daily dose of probiotics for 3 months could be effective for improving memory and thinking abilities in individuals with Alzheimer's disease.

Researchers found older adults with Alzheimer's who drank probiotic-enriched milk showed improvements in cognitive functioning.

The researchers found that Alzheimer's patients who consumed milk enriched with beneficial live bacteria every day for 12 weeks showed significant improvements in cognitive functioning.
Senior study author Prof. Mahmoud Salami, from Kashan University in Iran, and colleagues recently published their findings in the journal Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience.
Probiotics are defined as live microorganisms that are "helpful" to human health. These include bacterial groups such as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, as well as yeasts, including Saccharomyces boulardii.
According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, probiotics can act in a number of ways. They can help create a favorable community of microbes in the gut, for example, and help stimulate immune response.
Research has shown that these friendly microorganisms - many of which are added to food products, topical medications, and dietary supplements - may help protect against numerous infections and diseases, including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), eczema, certain allergies, colds, and tooth decay.
Previous animal studies have also shown probiotics to improve learning and memory - an association that has been attributed to beneficial alterations in the gut microbiome that affect the brain. Whether probiotics have the same effect in humans, however, has been unclear.

Cognitive functioning scores improved with probiotics

For this latest study, Prof. Salami and team set out to determine the effects of probiotics on the cognitive functioning of 52 men and women aged 60-95 who had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.
Participants were randomized to one of two groups. One group was required to drink 200 milliliters of normal milk every day for 12 weeks, while the other group drank 200 milliliters of milk containing four probiotic bacteria: Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus fermentum, and Bifidobacterium bifidum.

Fast facts about Alzheimer's

• More than 5 million adults in the United States are living with Alzheimer's
• Every 66 seconds, someone in the U.S. develops the disease
• Alzheimer's kills more people than breast cancer and prostate cancer combined.

Learn more about Alzheimer's

Before and after the 12-week study period, researchers collected blood samples from the participants, and the subjects' cognitive functioning was assessed using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scale.
As part of this examination, subjects are required to complete a number of tasks that test learning and memory, such as naming objects, counting backward, and copying a picture.
Compared with participants who consumed the untreated milk, those who received the probiotic-enriched milk demonstrated significant improvements in cognitive functioning, the team reports.
Subjects who consumed the treated milk saw average MMSE scores increase from 8.7 to 10.6 (out of a possible 30) during the 12-week study period, while scores dropped from 8.5 to 8.0 for those who drank the untreated milk.
The researchers stress that all participants remained severely cognitively impaired, but their findings are the first to show that probiotics might lead to some cognitive improvements.
"In a previous study, we showed that probiotic treatment improves the impaired spatial learning and memory in diabetic rats," notes Prof. Salami, "but this is the first time that probiotic supplementation has been shown to benefit cognition in cognitively impaired humans."

Cognitive benefits of probiotics may be down to metabolic changes

On assessing the participants' blood samples, the researchers found that subjects who consumed probiotics had lower triglycerides levels, lower levels of "bad" very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) cholesterol, and reduced high-sensitivity C-reactive protein - a marker of inflammation.
Additionally, participants who received probiotics showed a reduction in two measures of insulin resistance and the functioning of insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas - HOMA-IR and HOMA-B.
The team says these findings indicate the cognitive benefits of probiotics may be down to the metabolic changes they provoke. "We plan to look at these mechanisms in greater detail in our next study," notes Prof. Salami. 

Walter Lukiw, a professor at Louisiana State University who was not involved in the study, hails the team's findings as "interesting and important," noting that they provide further evidence of a link between the gut microbiome and cognitive functioning.
"This is in line with some of our recent studies which indicate that the GI [gastrointestinal] tract microbiome in Alzheimer's is significantly altered in composition when compared to age-matched controls, and that both the GI tract and blood-brain barriers become significantly more leaky with aging, thus allowing GI tract microbial exudates (e.g. amyloids, lipopolysaccharides, endotoxins and small non-coding RNAs) to access central nervous system compartments," he adds.

high-protein diets safe for weight loss?

 

For most healthy people, a high-protein diet generally isn't harmful, particularly when followed for a short time. Such diets may help with weight loss by making you feel fuller.
However, the risks of using a high-protein diet with carbohydrate restriction for the long term are still being studied. Several health problems may result if a high-protein diet is followed for an extended time:

• Some high-protein diets restrict carbohydrate intake so much that they can result in nutritional deficiencies or insufficient fiber, which can cause problems such as bad breath, headache and constipation.
• Some high-protein diets include foods such as red meat and full-fat dairy products, which may increase your risk of heart disease.
• A high-protein diet may worsen kidney function in people with kidney disease because your body may have trouble eliminating all the waste products of protein metabolism.

If you want to follow a high-protein diet, choose your protein wisely. Good choices include soy protein, beans, nuts, fish, skinless poultry, lean beef, pork and low-fat dairy products. Avoid processed meats.
The quality of the carbohydrates (carbs) you eat is important too. Cut processed carbs from your diet, and choose carbs that are high in fiber and nutrient-dense, such as whole grains and vegetables and fruit.
It's always a good idea to talk with your doctor before starting a weight-loss diet. And that's especially important in this case if you have kidney disease, diabetes or other chronic health condition.
Finally, keep in mind that weight loss may be temporary, especially if you return to your previous way of eating. The best eating plan is one that you can stick to long-term.

A number of studies have suggested that a diet high in protein is beneficial for health, boosting metabolism, and aiding weight loss. For older women, however, a high-protein diet may be more harmful than helpful; researchers suggest it may raise their risk of heart failure, particularly if the majority of protein comes from meat.

Researchers have linked a high-protein diet to increased risk of heart failure among older women.

Heart failure occurs when the heart is no longer able to pump enough oxygen-rich blood around the body to support other organs.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), around 5.7 million American adults have heart failure, and in 2009, heart failure contributed to around 1 in 9 deaths in the United States.
A diet high in fat, cholesterol, and sodium is known to raise the risk of heart failure, but according to study co-author Dr. Mohamad Firas Barbour, of Brown University Memorial Hospital of Rhode Island, and colleagues, a diet high in protein may be just as harmful.
The researchers recently presented their findings at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2016, held in New Orleans, LA.
Protein is found in foods such as meat, poultry, dairy products, seafood, beans, peas, and nuts, and it is considered essential for healthy bones, muscles, and skin.
While some studies have suggested a diet high in protein may aid weight loss by suppressing appetite, other research has cited the downfalls of a high-protein diet.
A 2014 study published in the journal Cell Metabolism, for example, suggested a link between a high-protein diet and greater risk of cancer, diabetes, and all-cause mortality.
Such studies claim animal-derived proteins are more to blame for negative health implications than plant-derived proteins, and the new research is no exception.

Heart failure risk higher for women who eat more meat protein

The researchers came to their findings by analyzing data of 103,878 postmenopausal women aged 50-79 years who were part of the Women's Health Initiative (WHI).
As part of the survey, participants were required to complete a food frequency questionnaire that assessed their daily intake of around 125 different food items between 1993-1998. The researchers looked at subjects' total daily protein intake, as well as the total amount of daily protein consumed from meat and vegetables.

Fast facts about heart failure

• Fatigue, shortness of breath, and weight gain with swelling in the stomach, feet, legs, or ankles may be signs of heart failure
• Around 50 percent of people with heart failure die within 5 years of diagnosis
• Heart failure costs the U.S. around $30.7 billion annually.

Learn more about heart failure

The researchers note that self-reported dietary data can be inaccurate, so they also used biomarker data to get a more reliable indication of participants' protein intake. This involved assessing subjects' urinary nitrogen and doubly labeled water levels - a measure of metabolism.
All women were free of heart failure at study baseline, and heart failure development was monitored until 2005.
A total of 1,711 of the women in the study developed heart failure, the team reports.
Compared with women who had low total protein intake, those who had a higher total protein intake were found to be at much greater risk of heart failure. The risk was greater among women who consumed most of their protein from meat.
The results remained after accounting for age, race/ethnicity, education level, high blood pressure, coronary heart disease, anemia, and arterial fibrillation.
The researchers did uncover an association between high intake of vegetable proteins and lower risk of heart failure, but when the team accounted for body mass index (BMI), this result was not statistically significant.
The team warns that the findings should be interpreted with caution and further research is required, but they do suggest a high-protein diet may be linked to heart failure.

"Higher calibrated total dietary protein intake appears to be associated with substantially increased heart failure risk while vegetable protein intake appears to be protective, although additional studies are needed to further explore this potential association."

Dr. Mohamad Firas Barbour

"Heart failure is highly prevalent, especially in postmenopausal women; therefore, a better understanding of nutrition-related factors associated with heart failure is needed," adds Dr. Barbour. 
 

A recent study in the journal Circulation found that high levels of red meat intake increase your risk for coronary heart disease. You can reduce that risk by shifting to alternative protein sources. Eating more fish and nuts was associated with significantly lower risk. One serving per day of nuts was associated with a 30 percent lower risk of heart disease than one serving per day of red meat. One daily serving of fish had a 24 percent lower risk, while poultry and low-fat dairy also were associated with lower risk, at 19 percent and 13 percent, respectively.
But what specific types of these heart-healthy proteins should you eat and how much do you need?

Fish

Fish is one of the top protein picks to help prevent cardiovascular disease. You should eat one 3- to 6-ounce fillet or one 3-ounce can of fish each week. Some of the best types of fish to eat, which will decrease your risk of heart disease, include:
Tuna
In addition to the lean protein you get from tuna that’s wild, fresh, or canned in water, you’ll also receive the benefit of omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to reduce the risk of several cardiovascular problems. Tuna also contains vitamins B-12 and D, niacin, and selenium. Canned or pouched albacore tuna is slightly higher in mercury, so try “chunk light” tuna instead.
Salmon
Whether the salmon you eat is wild, fresh, or canned pink, it’s a smart choice for your heart. Like tuna, salmon contains omega-3s, as well as phosphorous, potassium, selenium, and vitamins B-6, B-12, and D. Wild salmon is higher in nutrients and omega-3 fatty acids, making that the ideal choice over farm raised salmon. For healthy preparation, try broiling salmon for 10 minutes for each inch of thickness.

The Harvard School of Public Health notes that while a 6-ounce broiled porterhouse steak provides 40 grams of complete protein, it also delivers about 38 grams of fat — 14 of them saturated. The same amount of salmon provides 34 grams of protein and only 18 grams of fat — only 4 of which are saturated.

Nuts and Legumes

According to some studies, nuts are one of the healthiest protein choices you can make for your heart. Options include walnuts, almonds, cashews, pecans, and peanuts.
Legumes such as beans, peas, and lentils are another excellent option. They contain no cholesterol and significantly less fat than meat. The Harvard School of Public Health notes that a cup of cooked lentils delivers 18 grams of protein, and less than 1 gram of fat.
In addition to nuts and beans, natural peanut and other nut butters are heart-healthy choices. Eat between 2 to 4 tablespoons of natural, unsweetened nut butter per week.

Poultry

The Mayo Clinic lists poultry, such as chicken or turkey, as a top low-fat protein source. Once serving of poultry is associated with a 19 percent lower risk of cardiovascular disease than one serving of red meat per day.
Take care to choose options that are truly lower fat. For example, choose skinless chicken breasts over fried chicken patties. Trim away any visible fat and remove the skin when you prepare poultry dishes.

Low-Fat Dairy

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggest choosing the lower-fat versions of the following high-fat items:

• milk
• cheese
• yogurt
• sour cream

Although eggs are not technically a dairy product, the CDC also recommends using egg whites or pasteurized egg white products, instead of whole eggs with yolks. Some research, however, does show that 70 percent of individuals have little to no change in cholesterol levels with whole egg consumption. This same study also reveals that a potential 30 percent of whole egg eaters are considered “hyper-responders” and may see increases in a specific type of LDL, called pattern A, but which are less heart disease-promoting than pattern B LDL.

How Much Protein?

How do you determine how much of these heart-healthy proteins to eat? About 10 to 30 percent of your daily calories should generally come from protein. The recommended dietary allowance for grams of protein needed each day is as follows:

• women (ages 19 to 70+): 46 grams
• men (ages 19 to 70+): 56 grams

For example, a cup of milk has 8 grams of protein; 6 ounces of salmon has 34 grams of protein; and a cup of dry beans has 16 grams. This is around the amount of protein that an adult male would need for an entire day. Consider your protein needs within the context of an overall healthy eating plan. By doing so, you’ll be putting yourself on track for better heart health.

Mom’s Stress Alters Babies’ Gut and Brain through Vaginal Microbiome

 

Stress during the first trimester of pregnancy alters the population of microbes living in a mother’s vagina. Those changes are passed on to newborns during birth and are associated with differences in their gut microbiome as well as their brain development, according to a new study by University of Pennsylvania researchers.
During a vaginal birth, a newborn is exposed to its mother’s vaginal microbes, collectively known as the microbiota, which importantly colonizes the newborn’s gut, helping its immune system mature and influencing its metabolism. These effects take place during a critical window of brain development.
Babies born by C-section miss out on this initial exposure and are more likely to be exposed to and their guts then colonized by other bacteria in the local environment, including the mother’s skin and potential pathogens in the hospital.
The new work, published in Endocrinology, suggests that the maternal vaginal microbiome is one of the ways that a mother’s stress during pregnancy can “reprogram” the developing brains of her children.
One implication is that these changes could put the offspring at an increased risk of neurodevelopment disorders such as autism and schizophrenia, neurodevelopmental disorders where disruption of gut microbiota and gastrointestinal dysfunction are increasingly reported. 
“Mom’s stress during pregnancy can impact her offspring’s development, including the brain, through changes in the vaginal microbiome that are passed on during vaginal birth,” said Tracy Bale, senior author on the study and a professor of neuroscience in Penn’s School of Veterinary Medicine and Perelman School of Medicine. “As the neonate’s gut is initially populated by the maternal vaginal microbiota, changes produced by maternal stress can alter this initial microbial population as well as determine many aspects of the host’s immune system that are also established during this early period.”
In addition to Bale, the study was conducted by postdoctoral researchers Eldin Jašarević and Christopher Howerton and research specialist Christopher Howard, all from Penn Vet.
To conduct the study, researchers used a mouse model of early maternal stress that Bale’s lab had previously developed. An experimental group of pregnant mice were periodically exposed to stressors, such as predator odors, restraint and novel noises, early in gestation, the equivalent of their “first trimester.” The day following birth, the team assessed the microbiota from the mothers’ vaginas and from the offsprings’ colons. In addition, the offsprings’ brains were examined to measure transport of amino acids, a proxy for brain metabolism and development.
Bale’s team found that stress during early pregnancy had surprising long-lasting effects on the mother’s vaginal microbiota. They observed that these changes were reflected in their offspring’s gut microbiota and were associated with alterations in the offspring’s metabolism and amino acid processing in the brain. The neurodevelopmental effects were particularly pronounced in male mice, which is the sex that the Bale lab has previously demonstrated shows a stress-sensitive phenotype later in life.
Taken together, these findings not only underscore the important role that the mother’s vaginal microbiome has in populating her offspring’s gut at birth but also the profound effect of maternal stress experience on this microbial population and on early gut and brain development. The fact that male offspring appeared most affected may have implications for the development of disorders such as autism and schizophrenia, both of which disproportionately affect males.
Interestingly, a subset of offspring that were delivered by C-section and then had their mother’s vaginal microbiota introduced to their gut ultimately had gut microbiota that resembled that of vaginally-delivered offspring.
“These studies have enormous translational potential,” Bale said. “Many countries are already administering oral application of vaginal lavages to C-section delivered babies to ensure appropriate microbial exposure occurs. Knowledge of how maternal experiences such as stress during pregnancy can alter the vaginal microbiome is critical in determination of at-risk populations.”
The research was supported by the Penn Vet Center for Host-Microbial Interactions, the National Institute of Mental Health, the CHOP Metabolomics Core, Perelman School of Medicine Proteomics and Systems Biology Core, and the Next Generation Sequencing Core.

A growing body of research suggests that prenatal stress has a long-lasting impact on an infant's development. A new study adds to the evidence, showing that prenatal stress can negatively affect the child well into adulthood, through a connection via the maternal gut bacteria.

Stress-induced changes in the maternal gut bacteria may affect the child for life, according to new research.

According to an analysis conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), prenatal stress is associated with preterm birth, low birth weight, as well as prenatal and postpartum depression and anxiety in the mother.
An overview of existing research further supports the "fetal origins hypothesis," according to which prenatal environmental factors can have lifelong effects on the brain development and behavior of offspring.
Pregnant women's exposure to a variety of stressors, ranging from common to traumatic, have been linked to significant modifications in the children's neurodevelopment. Stressors such as the loss of a loved one, daily hassles, or financial worries have been connected to autism, affective disorders, and reduced cognitive ability in children.
New research in mice suggests that prenatal exposure to a mother's stress may change the microbiome in a way that negatively affects the baby.

Gut bacteria and mental health

Tamar Gur, assistant professor of psychiatry, behavioral health, neuroscience, and obstetrics and gynecology at Ohio State University, believes the bacteria to be a particularly good medium for researching the connection between a mother and her fetus.
This is why she led a team of researchers to examine exactly how maternal stress affects the offspring. "We already understand that prenatal stress can be bad for offspring, but the mystery is how," says Gur, who is also a member of Ohio State Wexner Medical Center's Institute for Behavioral Medicine Research.
Gur explains that the microbes from a mother's gastrointestinal and reproductive tracts are the first ones to spread to the developing fetus and the newborn. As a result, gut bacteria might provide an explanation for why and how maternal stress can affect a person's mental health for their entire life.
"More and more, doctors and researchers understand that naturally occurring bacteria are not just a silent presence in our body, but that they contribute to our health," says Gur.

How prenatal stress affects offspring in mice

For the study, researchers compared two groups of pregnant mice. One group was subjected to 2 hours of stress-inducing restraint per day for 7 days. The other group was left undisturbed during pregnancy. The gut bacteria of both groups assessed by taking fecal samples.
Researchers found increased markers of inflammation in the placenta, the fetal brain, and the adult brain of the mice's offspring. The scientists also found a decrease in a supportive protein called the "brain-derived neurotrophic factor."
When stressed, pregnant mice displayed a change in their bacterial makeup. These changes could be observed both in the mothers' guts and in the placentas, as well as in the intestines of their female offspring. Bacterial changes lasted all the way into adulthood.
Affected adult mice "were more anxious, they spent more time in dark, closed spaces and they had a harder time learning cognitive tasks even though they were never stressed after birth," Gur explains.
Researchers found a lower ability to learn and behavior indicative of higher levels of anxiety among the female offspring of the mice. According to Gur, the team found alterations in the behavior of male offspring as well, but the details of that part of the study are still a work in progress.
Gur recently presented the study at Neuroscience 2016 - the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience, held in San Diego, CA.

Future research to uncover link between brain and bacteria

The author emphasizes that by no means do the findings suggests mothers should be blamed for their children's adult mental health. Rather, the results of the study highlight the importance of having a discussion about mental health for both the pregnant mother and the baby.

"As a psychiatrist who treats pregnant women, if you're stressed, anxious or depressed, I think pregnancy is a prime time for intervention. And what's good for mom is good for the baby."

Tamar Gur

In the future, Gur and team hope to further study the link between the brain and the gut bacteria by examining pregnant women and their babies.
Ultimately, Gur hopes to investigate the role of probiotics in alleviating the negative effects of stress.

Common Heartburn Drugs Up Stroke Risk?

A popular category of heartburn medications -- including Nexium, Prevacid, Prilosec and Protonix -- may increase your risk of stroke, a new study suggests.

Known as proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), these drugs increased people's overall stroke risk by 21 percent, said study lead author Dr. Thomas Sehested.

However, the risk appears to be driven by people who take high doses, added Sehested, research director at the Danish Heart Foundation in Copenhagen.

"People treated with a low dose of PPIs did not have a high risk of stroke," he said. "Those treated with the highest doses of PPIs had the highest risk of stroke."

The extent of risk also depends on the specific PPI taken.

At the highest dose, stroke risk ranged from 30 percent for lansoprazole (Prevacid) to 94 percent for pantoprazole (Protonix), the researchers said.

Takeda Pharmaceutical, the maker of prescription-only Protonix, did not respond to a request for comment.

PPIs specifically affected risk of the most common type of stroke, ischemic stroke, which occurs when a clot blocks blood flow to the brain.

Proton pump inhibitors treat heartburn by blocking acid-producing cells in the lining of the stomach.

Prior studies have associated PPI use with heart disease, heart attacks and dementia, Sehested said.

However, because of its design, the new study can't establish a direct cause-and-effect relationship between these heartburn drugs and elevated stroke risk. The research only shows an association.

For this study, researchers analyzed the records of nearly 245,000 Danish patients, average age 57. All had undergone an endoscopy, a procedure used to identify the causes of stomach pain and indigestion.

During about six years of follow-up, nearly 9,500 patients had their first ischemic stroke.

Researchers checked to see if the stroke occurred while patients were taking any of these PPIs: omeprazole (Prilosec), esomeprazole (Nexium), Prevacid or Protonix. The researchers also asked about another class of antacids known as H2 blockers, which include Pepcid and Zantac.

The research team found increased risk from PPIs, but none from H2 blockers. The relationship held even after researchers adjusted for other risk factors for stroke and heart disease, Sehested said.

Proton pump inhibitors are a class of drugs commonly used to treat heartburn - pain in the chest or throat caused by the rising of stomach acid into the esophagus. But new research suggests this medication should be used with caution, after finding it could raise the risk of ischemic stroke.

A new study has linked the use of PPIs - drugs that treat heartburn - to greater risk of ischemic stroke.

In a study of almost 245,000 Danish adults, researchers found the risk of ischemic stroke was increased by a fifth with the use of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs).
PPIs work by reducing the amount of acid produced in the stomach, thereby reducing the "backing up" of stomach acid into the esophagus - a condition known as heartburn. Someone who has heartburn more than twice a week may have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
Lead study author Dr. Thomas Sehested, of the Danish Heart Foundation in Copenhagen, Denmark, recently presented his findings at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2016, held in New Orleans, LA.
Ischemic stroke occurs when the artery that supplies the brain with oxygen-rich blood becomes blocked, usually by a blood clot. Ischemic stroke is the most common form of stroke, accounting for around 85 percent of all strokes.
Dr. Sehested and colleagues note that previous studies have associated PPI use with vascular impairment, which led the scientists to investigate whether the drugs might raise the risk of ischemic stroke, "especially given their increasing use in the general population," notes Dr. Sehested.

Ischemic stroke risk 21 percent higher with PPI use

To reach their findings, the team analyzed data of 244,679 adults from Denmark - of an average age of 57 years - who underwent endoscopy to pinpoint the causes of their stomach pain or indigestion.
During an average of 6 years of follow-up, 9,489 patients experienced a first-time ischemic stroke.
The researchers assessed patients' use of one of four PPIs - omeprazole (Prilosec), pantoprazole (Protonix), lansoprazole (Prevacid), and esomeprazole (Nexium) - and looked at whether this was associated with ischemic stroke risk.
Overall, the team found that patients were at 21 percent greater risk of ischemic stroke when they were using PPIs, compared with when they were not using the drugs.
There was little or no greater risk of stroke with low doses of PPIs, the researchers report, and another group of medications used to treat heartburn - called H2 blockers - were not linked to increased stroke risk.
Looking at stroke risk among the highest doses of each of the four PPIs, the researchers found pantoprazole fared worst, increasing the risk of ischemic stroke by 94 percent.

Study 'questions the cardiovascular safety of PPIs'

The researchers accounted for a number of possible confounding factors, including age, gender, high blood pressure, atrial fibrillation, and use of medications that have been linked to poorer cardiovascular health.
Because the study is purely observational, the researchers are unable to prove cause and effect between PPI use and increased stroke risk. Still, they believe the results suggest patients should be cautious about using the drugs, many of which are now available over the counter.

"At one time, PPIs were thought to be safe, without major side effects. This study further questions the cardiovascular safety of these drugs."

Dr. Thomas Sehested

Dr. Sehested notes that doctors should also apply caution when deciding whether to prescribe PPIs to patients and for how long. "We know that from prior studies that a lot of individuals are using PPIs for a much longer time than indicated, which is especially true for elderly patients," he adds.
The team concludes that a randomized, controlled trial of the association between PPI use and the risk of cardiovascular disease is needed.

 

Children born to mothers with rheumatoid arthritis may have increased risk of developing epilepsy

 

A new study shows a link between mothers with rheumatoid arthritis and children with epilepsy. The study is published in the November 16, 2016, online issue of Neurology®, a medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease that causes the body's own immune system to attack the joints. It differs from osteoarthritis, which is caused by wear and tear on the joints.
Children born to mothers with rheumatoid arthritis were 26 percent more likely to develop epilepsy than children whose mothers did not have rheumatoid arthritis. Having a father with rheumatoid arthritis did not have any effect on whether the child would develop epilepsy.
"These results suggest that changes in the environment for the fetus may play a role in the development of epilepsy," said study author Ane Lilleore Rom, PhD, of Copenhagen University Hospital in Denmark. "We don't know yet how this may work, but it could involve the production of maternal antibodies that could affect the unborn child."

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For the study, researchers looked at records for children born in Denmark from 1977 to 2008. The nearly 2 million children were then followed for an average of 16 years. Of those, 31,491 children developed epilepsy, or 1.6 percent. A total of 13,556 children, or 0.7 percent, had mothers with rheumatoid arthritis. This also included mothers who were diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis after their child was born; they were considered to have "preclinical" RA.
Compared to children whose mothers did not have RA, children whose mothers had RA at the time of their birth were up to 90 percent more likely to develop epilepsy, while children whose mothers had preclinical RA were 26 percent more likely to develop epilepsy. In absolute numbers this translates to 2 percent of children whose mothers had clinical RA and 3 percent of children whose mothers had preclinical RA at the time of birth who later developed epilepsy.
Since children of mothers with preclinical RA also had an increased risk of epilepsy, Rom said the findings point towards an important role of the disease itself rather than an effect of treatments for RA. However, the specific influence of RA treatments needs further investigation.
The results were the same after researchers adjusted for factors such as the baby's birth weight, gestational age at birth, and whether the mother also had epilepsy.
Rom noted that research has shown an increased risk of epilepsy for people who have autoimmune diseases that directly involve the brain, such as multiple sclerosis. Also, rheumatoid arthritis has been found to increase the risk of epilepsy even though rheumatoid arthritis does not directly affect the brain. "But it is new knowledge that also offspring of mothers with rheumatoid arthritis seem to have an increased risk of developing epilepsy," Rom said.

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease whereby the body's own immune system attacks the joints. New research suggests there may be a link between mothers with the autoimmune disorder and their children who develop epilepsy.

Rheumatoid arthritis in the mother may lead to childhood epilepsy, study suggests.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune condition characterized by inflammation of the joints. It is different from osteoarthritis, which is caused by wear and tear in the joints.
RA affects up to 1.3 percent of the worldwide population, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In the United States in 2005, 1.5 million adults over 18 years old were diagnosed with RA, and the CDC report that the numbers may currently be on the rise.
While there is no known cure for RA, one study found that 75 percent of people with RA experienced remission within the first 5 years of being diagnosed.
Epilepsy is a neurologic disorder consisting of recurrent epileptic seizures that are sometimes of unknown origin. According to the CDC, about 5.1 million people in the U.S. have been diagnosed with epilepsy or have had a seizure disorder. Of these, 2.9 million adults have active epilepsy.
Previous research has connected the presence of an autoimmune disorder in mothers with the risk that the child develops epilepsy. New research looks at the link between RA and epilepsy.

Mothers with RA linked to children with epilepsy

A new study led by Ane Lilleore Rom, Ph.D., of Copenhagen University Hospital in Denmark, examines the link between mothers with RA and the incidence of epilepsy in their children.
Researchers looked at the clinical records of almost 2 million children born in Denmark between 1977-2008. The children were then followed up for an average of 16 years. Diagnoses of RA and epilepsy were obtained from the Danish National Hospital Registry.
A total of 13,511 children from the studied cohort had mothers with RA. The number included mothers who were diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis after their child was born, as they were considered to have "preclinical" PA.
Of these, 31,491 children, or 1.6 percent, developed epilepsy over the 16-year period.
Children whose mothers had RA at the time they were born were 90 percent more likely to develop epilepsy than children whose mothers were healthy, while children whose mothers had preclinical RA also had a 30 percent higher risk of developing epilepsy than mothers without the condition.
The study did not find any effect on whether the child would have epilepsy if the father had RA.
The researchers say the association between preclinical RA and increased epilepsy risk in offspring suggests it is likely RA itself that is to blame, rather than treatments for epilepsy.
The results also remained unchanged after adjusting for other factors, such as the baby's birth weight, the mother's age at birth, and if the mother also had epilepsy.
The results are published in Neurology - the journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

Significance of results and further research

According to Rom, previous research has already found an increased risk of epilepsy in people with autoimmune diseases that involve the brain directly, such as multiple sclerosis (MS) or autoimmune encephalitis.
"But it is new knowledge that also offspring of mothers with rheumatoid arthritis seem to have an increased risk of developing epilepsy," Rom says.
Recently, other autoimmune and inflammatory disorders have been associated with seizures and epilepsy, such as systemic lupus erythematosus, ulcerative colitis, and type 1 diabetes.

"These results suggest that changes in the environment for the fetus may play a role in the development of epilepsy. We don't know yet how this may work, but it could involve the production of maternal antibodies that could affect the unborn child."

Ane Lilleore Rom, Ph.D.

However, researchers point out that more research is needed to look into the consequences of RA treatment.
Also, the study only showed an association between the RA and epilepsy, so further research is needed to confirm causality and explain exactly how RA in the mother might affect the chances of offspring having epilepsy.