Guest guest Posted September 4, 2003 Report Share Posted September 4, 2003 Thu, 4 Sep 2003 07:15:17 -0500 HSI - Jenny Thompson Before the Knife Before the Knife Health Sciences Institute e-Alert September 4, 2003 ************************************************************** Dear Reader, A friend of mine named Sylvia has been scheduled for some fairly routine surgery. But " routine " doesn't mean " easy, " and she's understandably apprehensive. She and I talked about last week's e-Alert " Five Stars " (8/26/03), in which HSI Panelist Allan Spreen, M.D., gave his insights on five immunonutrients that have been shown to improve immune system function after surgery. Wanting to prepare herself as best she can for the procedure, she also asked me about an e-Alert she had read last spring in which Dr. Spreen recommended discontinuing vitamin C before surgery. She wondered if I had more information on the topic, so I asked Dr. Spreen to revisit the subject of " C " and surgery, and to give his opinion on modifying the use of any other supplements before or after a surgical procedure. ----------------------------- Going under ----------------------------- As Dr. Spreen told us in the May 28th e-Alert " C Saw, " high levels of vitamin C can complicate the anesthesia process. Here's how Dr. Spreen explains the interaction: " The specifics of vitamin C apply to the mega-vitamin takers. Very high doses of C over time cause the body to 'awaken' dormant enzyme systems that more fully utilize high doses of the nutrient. If you take low doses, the body shuts these pathways down for your benefit. If it didn't it would too rapidly empty the body's 'C pipeline' and you'd be constantly deficient. " For those people I tell them to TAPER the C over time, reaching nearly zero just before surgery (not weeks before). This is because such high doses are good enough detoxifiers that more anesthetic drugs may be necessary for the anesthesiologist to keep you under. BUT, the absolute INSTANT you tolerate oral intake, you jack the C back up to heroic levels. Surgery is one of the biggest stresses the body can endure. " ----------------------------- The herb question ----------------------------- In one of the commentaries I found on the immunonutrients report that appeared in the British Medical Journal, osteopathic physician Dr. Joseph Mercola stated his opinion that herbal supplements should be discontinued prior to surgery, noting that some of these supplements powerful enough to function like drugs. I asked Dr. Spreen about the herbal issue, and he agreed with Dr. Mercola... to a point. " Yes, herbs are like drugs. The simple reason is that no drug companies design their drugs using mere brilliance. Pharmaceutical developers get their ideas from herbal effects, then try to alter the molecule enough to patent the thing (and cause all sorts of toxic side effects), hoping it'll still do what the herb did, without killing you first. " The developers are good, however, at picking good herbs. Proscar is an excellent example. It is a derivative of the herb Serenoa repens (saw palmetto), which does work against benign enlargement of the prostate (better than Proscar), and with no side effects. Of course, the drug company will admit neither detail. " As to when, and whether, to quit an herb, the situation is much the same as with prescription drugs. You should seek advice from someone educated in the agent's effects to know whether to stop it and when (or whether to increase it and how much!). I'd certainly never stop my saw palmetto weeks before surgery (or the day before, or ever). " ----------------------------- Beyond vitamin C ----------------------------- Returning to the subject of non-herbal supplements, Dr. Spreen had this final note: " Surgery is a major stress, and for that you want the maximum dose of nutrients for the body to choose from for the repair function. Vitamin C, and probably NAC should be discontinued (my sister-in-law required half-again as much medication to put her under as she was pumping the vitamin C heavily as 'insurance'... the anesthesiologist even commented on it). However, the instant I could hold something down I'd be right back at them (and tons of other supplements) full force - C, A, E, B-complex, NAC, alpha lipoic acid, milk thistle extract, zinc, essential fatty acids, and others. " ----------------------------- Don't forget the aspirin ----------------------------- I'm sure that Sylvia's doctor and surgeon have already discussed whatever medications and supplements she may currently be taking. It's important to be forthcoming on this subject with your doctors as far in advance of the surgery as possible. And when I say " medications, " that includes aspirin and other over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications. Most patients are advised that any sort of " aspirin therapy " for heart health should be discontinued well before surgery to minimize bleeding. The question is; when should you begin taking aspirin again? In the case of coronary bypass surgery, this question was addressed by a 2002 study of more than 5,000 coronary bypass patients. As reported in the New England Journal of Medicine, the use of aspirin immediately after bypass surgery was associated with a 48 percent reduction in ischemic complications and a 50 percent reduction in the incidence of stroke. The current rule of thumb is to avoid aspirin for the first 24 hours after bypass surgery because aspirin increases the risk of bleeding. However, in an editorial accompanying the study, Dr. Eric J. Topol of the Cleveland Clinic Foundation called the findings " powerful. " Based on the study, Dr. Topol believes aspirin should be given within the first six hours after surgery. Fortunately my friend isn't faced with bypass surgery. But for those who are contemplating such a procedure, before your surgery, make sure your doctor is aware of this important study about how aspirin may increase your chances of a successful recuperation. ************************************************************** ... and another thing If you're carrying a few extra pounds, your neighborhood might be partly to blame. According to two recent studies, Americans who live in areas of suburban sprawl get less exercise than those who live in a " compact area " like Manhattan. Using data gathered by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the research teams compared health and census statistics to determine the disparities between suburban and city populations. The result: suburban dwellers weigh an average of 6.3 pounds more than city folk, and they also have a tendency toward higher blood pressure. But can you really blame a lack of exercise on the absence of sidewalks? I have a friend named John who's struggling to keep his weight down. He lives in the suburbs of Baltimore, but throughout most of his 30s and 40s he lived on the 5th floor of a " walk-up " near Times Square in Manhattan. He was in comparatively good shape during his city years, referring to those 4 flights of stairs he climbed several times each day as his " built-in stair-climber machine. " He also did considerably more walking. Of course, since he no longer has a built-in stair-climber, he needs to take the initiative to purchase one or find another alternative. In other words, the layout of your neighborhood is no excuse for being out of shape. But this new research does illustrate the point that each of us has different challenges when it comes to keeping our weight down and staying fit. And it's a little too easy to point to only diet and exercise, because each of us has unique needs. We cover this in more detail in an HSI report titled " New Weight Loss Solutions " that goes beyond the simplest weight loss concepts of reducing calories and increasing exercise. In fact, there are factors that you may have never dreamed of that often make it very hard for people to lose weight. For instance, if excess fats and toxins are preventing your liver from performing its many essential functions, weight gain can result. Also, body cells may not be getting enough nourishment, even though calorie intake is high. " New Weight Loss Solutions " addresses these and other hidden problems that can fight against you when you're trying to lose weight. You can use the link below for more information on this report that offers logical solutions to these health issues. http://www.agora-inc.com/reports/610SNWLS/W610D908/home.cfm John is in his 50s now, and no doubt his metabolism has changed since the days when he was hoofing it around Manhattan. So in addition to the absence of his built-in stair-climber, he might easily be able to help keep the pounds off by making a simple dietary change to nourish his cells, or by getting some toxins out of his liver. And of course, even if we live in neighborhoods without sidewalks, we can still get out and walk. That might be good for 6.3 fewer pounds. To Your Good Health, Jenny Thompson Health Sciences Institute ************************************************************** Sources: " Immune-Boosting Nutrients Beneficial After Surgery " Dr. Joseph Mercola, 8/9/03, mercola.com " Aspirin and Mortality from Coronary Bypass Surgery " New England Journal of Medicine, V. 347, No. 17, Pgs. 1039-1317, 10/24/02, content.nejm.org " Do Suburbs Make You Fat? " Associated Press, CBS News, 8/28/03, cbsnews.com Copyright ©1997-2003 by www.hsibaltimore.com, L.L.C. The e-Alert may not be posted on commercial sites without written permission. ************************************************************** Before you hit reply to send us a question or request, please click here http://www.hsibaltimore.com/ealert/questions.html ************************************************************** If you'd like to participate in the HSI Forum, search past e-Alerts and products or you're an HSI member and would like to search past articles, visit http://www.hsibaltimore.com ************************************************************** To learn more about HSI, call (203) 699-4416 or visit http://www.agora-inc.com/reports/HSI/WHSID618/home.cfm. ************************************************************** Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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