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August 2008 Mayo Clinic Health Letter Highlights Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Artery Disease, Triglycerides and Heart Disease Risk, and Hunched Back

Posted on: Wednesday, 6 August 2008, 15:00 CDT

ROCHESTER, Minn., Aug. 6 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Here are highlights from the August issue of Mayo Clinic Health Letter. You may cite this publication as often as you wish. Reprinting is allowed for a fee. Mayo Clinic Health Letter attribution is required. Include the following subscription information as your editorial policies permit: Visit http://www.healthletter.mayoclinic.com/ or call toll-free for subscription information, 800-333-9037, extension 9771.

For Easier Breathing Ways to slow progression of chronic obstructive pulmonary artery disease

ROCHESTER, Minn. -- A chronic cough or change in breathing shouldn't be dismissed as smoker's cough or a sign of being out of shape.

These can be early symptoms of chronic obstructive pulmonary artery disease (COPD). The August issue of Mayo Clinic Health Letter discusses COPD, a progressive lung disease usually caused by smoking.

COPD is most commonly a combination of chronic bronchitis -- characterized by persistent cough and phlegm production -- and emphysema, which causes shortness of breath. These conditions develop gradually and produce few signs and symptoms in the early stages. But COPD, among older adults, is a leading cause of death in the United States.

Fortunately, when COPD is detected at a mild-to-moderate stage -- as the majority of cases are -- symptoms can remain mild if a person stops smoking and adopts a healthier lifestyle.

Strategies that can help mild-to-moderate COPD include:

-- Avoid respiratory infections -- Get the pneumonia vaccine and an annual flu vaccination and take basic preventive precautions such as frequent hand washing.

-- Get daily exercise -- The efficiency of the muscles and circulatory system will increase.

-- Use short-acting bronchodilators -- They can help relax muscles and prevent spasms and, as a result, relieve coughing and make breathing easier.

-- Avoid irritants -- Stop smoking and avoid secondhand smoke, air pollution, wood smoke, strong odors and dust.

-- Maintain a well-balanced diet and healthy weight -- Too thin can lead to frailness, while being overweight can increase shortness of breath.

Treatments for more severe COPD include long-acting bronchodilators, corticosteroids and supplemental oxygen.

Triglycerides Count in Managing Heart Disease Risk

ROCHESTER, Minn. -- Cholesterol, both good and bad, gets plenty of attention when the subject is reducing the risk of heart disease. Yet triglycerides, a form of fat that circulates in the blood, merit similar attention, according to the August issue of Mayo Clinic Health Letter.

Some studies suggest that the increase in heart disease risk from elevated triglycerides may rival that of high low-density lipoprotein (LDL) or "bad" cholesterol. Another concern is that high triglyceride levels increase the risk of pancreatitis, a painful, life-threatening inflammation of the pancreas.

The National Cholesterol Education program recommends triglyceride levels below 150 milligrams per deciliter (mg/DL). Mayo Clinic cardiologists recommend triglyceride levels below 100 mg/DL.

For most people, elevated triglycerides are caused by three related factors: consuming too many calories, inadequate exercise, and being overweight or obese. As food is consumed, the digestive system makes triglycerides, an important source of energy. Once immediate energy needs have been met, extra triglycerides can be stored in the body's fat cells for use later.

Other factors can increase triglyceride levels. They include health conditions such as type 2 diabetes, hypothyroidism, kidney or liver disease; medications including thiamine diuretics, beta-blockers or hormone therapies; and alcohol. For some people, alcohol alone dramatically raises triglycerides.

A doctor can develop a treatment plan to help lower triglycerides. Weight loss from diet changes and exercise are the first steps. Supplemental niacin or high-dose fish oil are often effective. Drugs in the statin class can have a modest benefit. A physician also can evaluate whether medications or other health conditions are part of the problem.

Preventing Kyphosis -- A Hunched Back

ROCHESTER, Minn. -- Slouching is bad for you, according to the August issue of Mayo Clinic Health Letter.

Poor posture, in combination with bone changes that sometimes come with aging, can result in the appearance of a hump on the back. The medical term for the rounding of the back is kyphosis (ki-FO-sis).

Fractures due to osteoporosis -- thinning of the bones -- are common in the vertebrae. Compression fractures can occur, and the bone can become weakened to the point of collapse within its own structure. Sometimes these compression fractures in the spine cause pain, stiffness and tenderness. However, they often are not detected until an X-ray is done for another reason.

In older adults, kyphosis associated with osteoporosis is typically found in the vertebrae of the thoracic spine, the portion that supports the shoulders, arms and trunk. Multiple compression fractures in the vertebrae can reduce a person's height and also curve the spine. The result is what looks like a hump on the back. Stooped posture due to compression fractures adds to pressure along the spine, which creates the potential for more compression fractures.

Conversely, straight posture reduces excess pressure that can contribute to kyphosis curvature. Another way to prevent kyphosis is to do exercises that help strengthen the back muscles and improve posture. A care provider can recommend appropriate exercises. As a general rule, people with osteoporosis should avoid exercises that round the back and, instead, do exercises that gently straighten the trunk and back.

Mayo Clinic Health Letter is an eight-page monthly newsletter of reliable, accurate and practical information on today's health and medical news. To subscribe, please call 800-333-9037 (toll-free), extension 9771, or visit http://www.healthletter.mayoclinic.com/.

Mayo Clinic

CONTACT: Ginger Plumbo of the Mayo Clinic, +1-507-284-5005 (days),+1-507-284-2511 (evenings), newsbureau@mayo.edu

Web Site: http://www.healthletter.mayoclinic.com/

Source: PRNewswire-USNewswire

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