The human body constantly replaces its’ cells to help maintain homeostasis (stable balanced environment).

We have approximately 60 trillion cells in our bodies.

40 trillion are not even human, they are bacterial (symbiotic mutualism).

Out of the 20 trillion human cells, we will shed approximately 600,000 cells every hour.

The rate at which cells are reproduced varies:

Basal cells (skin) are replaced instantly with full repair in approximately 2 weeks.

Corneal cells (outer surface of the eye) are replaced daily.

Epithelial cells (stomach and small intestine) are replaced in 3-10 days with full turnover of the intestinal muscular wall being approximately 16 years.

Olfactory cells (brain cells responsible for sense of smell) are replaced every 2 to 4 weeks.

Alveolar cells (lung cells) are replaced every 3 to 4 weeks.

Keratin cells (epithelia of fingernails) are replaced instantly with full growth in approximately 9 months (handedness changes rate i.e., if you are Right handed, your Right hand will grow faster).

Hair cells (epithelia of hair) are replaced daily with eyebrow turnover at approximately 4 months and skull turnover at approximately 4 yrs.

Red blood cells (immune system et al) are replaced daily with a full cycle being 3 months.

Hepatocytes (liver cells) are fully turned over at 10 months to one year.

Osteocytes (bone cells) are fully turned over at approximately 10 years.

Myocytes (muscle cells) are fully turned over at 15 or more years.

Cardiomyocytes (heart cells) 1% are replaced per yr. at age 20 and frequency declines with age.

Neurons in the cerebral cortex are NEVER replaced. Brain cells slough off daily.

~Interesting note: Regeneration of a cell is not possible without Apoptosis. Apoptosis is programmed cell death and the recycling of its’ contents. After necrosis or death of a cell, the body is programmed to replace it.

Knowledge is Power! Maybe now we will treat our bodies a little better .

When I saw the news last night, it prompted me to think about the caution one must take in order to prevent heat related illness or even death. The news was telling of another tragedy to a small child that was left in an enclosed car too long. One of the saddest news stories I hear during the hotter months and yet one of the most preventable. This time, I decided to blog about heat safety and even better, educate people about it on my next show.

In a typical year, approximately 200 Americans will die from heat-related deaths. Last year alone there were 80 deaths of children who were left in a car that overheated. The temperature of a vehicle enclosed on a hot summer day can reach one hundred fifty degrees. Even being in a car for an hour with a cracked window on a hot summer day is like being cooked in an oven. To prevent that tragedy it will take a bit more than a discussion on how to keep hydrated. Nonetheless, half the battle in prevention is to know how serious heat-related injuries can get.

Those most likely to be affected in extreme heat are children, the elderly and the chronically ill. However, there are many professions that work outdoors including construction, landscaping and even athletes that can also be at risk due to physical activity. Over-exertion is responsible for 75% of all heat-related illness.

Most people think the temperature needs to be hot in order to be at risk. This is not always true. During over exertion, lower temperatures can cause harm.

For sports, football is the most likely sport to suffer heat related injury due to the amount of gear necessary to play. Usually these injuries will be sustained during the first month of training due to inadequate acclimatization. Golf is associated with heat-related injuries for adults. It can be physically demanding and requires long periods of sun exposure.

Two Major Types or Heat Related Injury

Heat Exhaustion: Fluids are lost through sweating. The body with overheat to 104 degrees.

Heat Stroke: Medical emergency. The cessation of one’s internal cooling system. Core temperature rises above 105 degrees causing damage to brain and other organs.

Causes:

~Hot weather.

~High humidity (can be hazy) prevents sweating.

~Age (children or elderly).

~Obesity.

~Fever.

~Heart Disease.

~Mental Illness.

~Sunburn.

~Caffeine & Alcohol Use.

~Medications (diuretics/narcotics/dietary supplements/ephedra).

Signs to Watch For:

~Overheated person stops sweating.

~Muscle cramping.

~Nausea.

~Headache.

~Light-headedness.

~Confusion.

~Weakness.

~Faint.

~Unconsciousness.

~Convulsion (seizure).

~Difficulty breathing.

~Restlessness.

~Rapid heart rate.

~Red, hot and dry skin (early phase may produce sweating).

~Severe vomiting & diarrhea.

What do you do after you call EMS?

~Move the person into a cool place, out of direct sunlight.

 ~Remove the person's unnecessary clothing, and place the person on his or her side to expose as much skin surface to the air as possible.

~Cool the person's entire body by sponging or spraying cool—not cold—water, and fan the person to lower the body temperature.

~Watch for signs of rapidly progressing heatstroke (below).

~Apply ice packs to the groin, neck, and armpits, where large blood vessels lie close to the skin surface.

~Do not immerse the person in an ice bath.

~Check the person's rectal temperature frequently, and try to reduce it to 102 F or lower as soon as possible.

~ If a person has stopped breathing, begin rescue breathing. 

~Do not give medicine to reduce a high body temperature that can occur with heatstroke. 

 ~If the person is awake and alert enough to swallow, give the person fluids (32 fl oz to 64 fl oz over 1 to 2 hours) for hydration. Most people with heatstroke have an altered level of consciousness and cannot safely be given fluids to drink.

PREVENTION…Helpful hints in the heat:

 ~Keep well hydrated and don’t wait until you are thirsty. The “thirst” urge diminishes with age.  Most people do not drink enough water (urine should run light yellow to clear).

~During heavy exercise in a hot environment it is recommended to drink 2-4 glasses (16-32 ounces) of clear cool fluids every hour. Gatorades & Powerades are loaded with salts and sugars (electrolytes) and should be used in moderation and should not be consumed by the sedentary).

~Wear light colors.

~Pace yourself, take breaks under circulating air.

~Try to work in the shade.

~Try to work outside of the hottest mid-day hours (New Englanders avoid 2PM-4PM).

~Remove excess clothing.

~New mom’s dress babies like they would dress themselves (light clothing).

~Give children popsicles throughout hot day of playing outside.

~Keep in air conditioned environment (public places i.e., mall).

~Buddy System (keep your eyes on coworkers/teammates).

~Check on a loved one during a heat wave.

~Use sunscreen to help prevent sunburn which keeps you from sweating (UV A & B protection at least SPF 15). Reapply every 30 minutes.

~Take cool baths or showers.

~Avoid high protein diets (high protein diets require 8-12 glasses of water/day.

~Steer clear of salt tablets.

~Vitamin C influences the part of the brain and nerves that influence the body's heat-regulating centers (add lemons to water).

~Daily multivitamin with proper electrolyte (sodium, potassium, magnesium) balance.

 ~If the person is awake and alert enough to swallow, give the person fluids (32 fl oz to 64 fl oz over 1 to 2 hours) for hydration. Most people with heatstroke have an altered level of consciousness and cannot safely be given fluids to drink.

 PREVENTION…Helpful hints in the heat:

~Keep well hydrated and don’t wait until you are thirsty. The “thirst” urge diminishes with age.  Most people do not drink enough water (urine should run light yellow to clear).

~During heavy exercise in a hot environment it is recommended to drink 2-4 glasses (16-32 ounces) of clear cool fluids every hour. Gatorades & Powerades are loaded with salts and sugars (electrolytes) and should be used in moderation and should not be consumed by the sedentary).

~Wear light colors.

~Pace yourself, take breaks under circulating air.

~Try to work in the shade.

~Try to work outside of the hottest mid-day hours (New England 2PM-4PM).

~Remove excess clothing.

~New mom’s dress babies like you dress yourself (light clothing).

~Give children popsicles throughout a hot day of playing outside.

~Keep in air conditioned environment (public places i.e., mall).

~Buddy System (keep your eyes on coworkers/teammates).

~Check on a loved one during a heat wave.

~Use sunscreen to help prevent sunburn which keeps you from sweating (UV A & B protection at least SPF 15). Reapply every 30 minutes.

~Take cool baths or showers.

~Avoid high protein diets (high protein diets require 8-12 glasses of water/day}.

~Steer clear of salt tablets.

~Vitamin C influences the part of the brain and nerves that influence the body's heat-regulating centers (add lemons to water).

~Daily multivitamin with proper electrolyte (sodium, potassium, magnesium) balance.

Ancient Fertilization:

The Egyptians, Greeks, and, Romans, recognized the value of adding wood ash and river or ocean sediment to the land to adjust the soil's acidityGreco-Roman Farmers

The Asians also used the ashes of burned plants to feed the soil, and treated animal bones with ash or lime in order to add potassium.

Later on, The Indian "Stinking Water Pot" containing plant husks, sesame oil cake, honey, gram and ghee (clarified butter).

Here in Plymouth, Massachusetts he Indians taught Pilgrims to set a fish head under each hill of planted corn. It was custom toNative Americans to pair nitrogen rich beans with certain crops in the soil.

Nineteenth Century Commercial Fertilizers

On a broad scale in the1840s, fertilizers were made from bat guano (Peru), mined sodium nitrate (Chile) providing nitrogen to crops.

Synthetic Fertilizers:

It wasn’t until the 1920s that by-products of natural gas, steel and coal mining, became a popular form of nitrogen fertilizer. By the 1950s, manufacturers began to bulk-blend nitrogen, phosphate and potassium, or N-P-K.

Today, farmers around the world can find both chemical and organic versions of the macronutrients N-P-K

“Today as it was in history we strive to grow healthy greens, colorful flowers and sweet fruits as one of our cultivation goals.”

Today’s Chemical Fertilizer:

Chemical fertilizers are typically more expensive and can eventually lead to a chemical imbalance in plants. They particularly introduce an excess of nitrogen damaging the ecosystem and ultimately the groundwater. Their high acid content can result in stunted plant growth and kill microorganisms that help supply nitrogen to plants. If used in moderation and appropriately, chemical fertilizer can be an efficient and quick way to obtain a beautiful lawn.

Organic Fertilizers:

Organic fertilizers come from nature. These ingredients include seaweed extract (kelp), manure, guano, fish extract, and composted materials. These types of fertilizers are usually applied to the soil in the form of tea.

Kelp/seaweed can be described as sort of marine algae which are commonly used by human beings in many other ways. Kelp is also used in organic medicine for remedial or culinary purposes, as well as additional health benefits.

Kelp is full of vitamins and minerals, particularly iodine. Kelp is claimed to promote the best function of thyroid glands due to its iodine content. It contains many vitamins and nutrients that help aid in metabolism, digestion, immunity, anemia, constipation, bone development, brain development, obesity, impotence and even baldness.

*Eating produce cultivated in kelp may rejuvenate cells helping your skin to appear smoother and younger.

Seaweed extract/kelp is a very useful natural organic fertilizer. Extract of seaweed represents a powerhouse of more than sixty amino acids and nutrients.
 

Home gardeners tend to favor natural organic fertilizers because of their environmental benefits. Because they are completely natural, they bring no risks of environmental pollution.

This is not news to the farmers of New England and specifically along the coast of Cape Cod. Still today, the wisdom of the ancient farmers is carried out by gardeners all throughout the Southeastern coast of Massachusetts.

Seaweed extract as fertilizer can create larger, healthier fruits and vegetables in your garden. They also produce stronger, showier flowers and potted plants.

Adding seaweed extract and seaweed meal to your garden soil can produce fantastic growth and health. Seaweed also helps to improve the structure and stability of the soil. As the organic components of seaweed meal break down, they provide nutrients for plants and increase the nitrogen content of the soil.

Adding seaweed extract increases the amount of chlorophyll in the leaves of plants. Seaweed also contains plant hormones that encourage the growth of foliage.
 

Plants treated with seaweed extract are more resistant to pests like spider mites and aphids. The seaweed and kelp meal provide resistance to diseases like scab, mildew, and fungus.

Using seaweed extract as a natural pesticide reduces or eliminates the need for chemical pesticides that can help your plant grow but harm your body.

Primary hyperparathyroidism causes hypercalcemia (elevated blood calcium levels) through the excessive secretion of parathyroid hormone (PTH), usually by an adenoma (benign tumors) of the parathyroid glands. It is three times more common in women as men.

*So much calcium may be withdrawn from the bones that they become brittle and break.

Signs and Symptoms

Summarized by the mnemonic:

"stones, bones, abdominal groans and psychiatric moans".

~"Stones" i.e., kidney stones, nephrocalcinosis, and diabetes insipidus (polyuria and polydipsia).

~"Bones" i.e., bone-related complications. The classic bone disease in hyperparathyroidism is osteitis fibrosa cystica, which results in pain and sometimes pathological fractures. Others are osteoporosis, osteomalacia, and arthritis.

~"Abdominal groans" i.e., gastrointestinal symptoms of constipation, indigestion, nausea and vomiting. Hypercalcemia can lead to peptic ulcers and acute pancreatitis.

~"Psychiatric moans" i.e., effects on the central nervous system. Symptoms include lethargy, fatigue, depression, memory loss, psychosis, ataxia, delirium, and coma.

~Left ventricular hypertrophy.

~Increased all-cause mortality.

~The German description of the same symptoms is "Stein-, Bein- und Magenpein", literally "stone, leg, and stomach-pain".

 Diagnosis

The diagnosis of primary hyperparathyroidism is via blood test. Serum calcium levels are found to be elevated.

Urinary cAMP is occasionally measured; this is generally elevated.

Parathyroid hormone activity.

Intact PTH levels are also elevated.

Causes

The most common cause of primary hyperparathyroidism is a sporadic, single parathyroid adenoma resulting from a mutation. Less common are parathyroid hyperplasia and parathyroid carcinoma (malignant tumor).

Current Medical Treatment

Medications include estrogen replacement therapy in postmenopausal women and bisphosphonates. Bisphosphonates may improve bone turnover. New medications termed "calcimimetics" used in secondary hyperparathyroidism are now being used in Primary hyperparathyroidism. Calcimimetics reduce the amount of parathyroid hormone released by the parathyroid glands. They are recommended in patients where surgery is unwarranted or inappropriate.

Calcitonin may be given by injection to build bone density.

Bisphosphonates, such as tiludronate and alendronate, may be used after surgery to lower calcium levels.

Diuretic, along with intravenous fluids, may be used to lower levels of calcium in the blood.

New clinical trials have begun on a drug (designated R-568) that mimic the action of calcium on the parathyroid glands, resulting in a drop in PTH and blood Ca2+; sparing the calcium stores in the bone.

Treatment is usually surgical removal of the gland(s) containing adenomas.

 Natural Treatment

~TH-One which enables treatment of primary hyperparathyroidism by ablating the adenoma. It is scar-less and non invasive.

~Avoid dehydration.

~Avoid refined foods. such as white breads, pastas, and sugar.

~Eliminate all potential food allergens, including dairy, shellfish, wheat (gluten), soy, nuts, corn, preservatives, and food additives.

~Eat calcium-rich foods, including beans, almonds, and dark green leafy vegetables (such as spinach and kale).

~Eat fewer red meats and more lean meats, cold-water fish, tofu (soy), or beans for protein.

~Reduce or eliminate trans-fatty acids, found in commercially baked goods such as cookies, crackers, cakes, French fries, onion rings, donuts, processed foods, and margarine.

~Limit carbonated beverages. They are high in phosphates, which can leach calcium from your bones.

~Soy in form of milk, tofu and beans will help support bones.

~Add a daily multivitamin.

~Keep the “ACEs up your sleeve” the antioxidant vitamins A, C, E, the element Selenium.

~Vitamin D, daily, for bone support and immunity.

~Fish oils/anti-inflammatories (cold water fish diet rich in salmon, halibut, mackerel, herring and sardines).

~Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale), Horsetail (Equisetum arvense), and Chaste tree (Vitex agnus castus) are good for support of the parathyroid gland.

~Avoid caffeine, alcohol, and tobacco.

~Exercise (elevate heart rate) at least 25 minutes daily, 3 days per week.

**Before taking any products/regimen named above, please discuss with your family physician.

Raynaud's disease is a condition where the blood vessels primarily of the fingers and toes go into spasm when exposed to the cold.

Symptoms can include:

~tingling, burning, paresthesia to numbness, discoloration (white, blue, red).

Can be triggered by stress and/or cold.

Symptoms include:

1. When exposed to cold temperatures, the skin turns pale or white, and becomes cold and numb.
2. When advanced, the skin color turns blue or purple.
3. Events are episodic.

Diagnosis of Raynaud's Phenomenon:
History, physical exam, test for antinuclear antibody and erythrocyte sedimentation rate.Thyroid hormone levels are taken. Your doctor may look for signs of arthritis or vasculitis.Currently there is no single blood test to help the doctor to confirm the diagnosis.

Treatment via medicine:
Calcium channel blockers, Nifedipine, Prazosin, Losartan, and Fluoxetine.

Occupations/ possible causes:

~jobs involving vibration, particularly drilling, suffer from vibration, white finger

~exposure to vinyl chloride, mercury

~exposure to the cold (e.g. by working as a frozen food packer)

Natural Treatment:

~Flavonoids in fruits and vegetables (supplement = Ginkgo Biloba).

~Fish oils/anti-inflammatories (cold water fish diet rich in salmon, halibut, mackerel, herring and sardines).

~Vitamin E. Vitamin E is a key antioxidant reducing frequency and severity of attacks.

~Vitamin C. Vitamin for the synthesis of collagen, a key component of blood vessel walls.

~Niacin. Beneficial therapeutic effects on microcirculation through vasodilation and fibrinolysis.

~Magnesium. Relaxes smooth muscle. Magnesium needs increase with physical stress,

~L-Arginine. L-arginine has been shown to reverse tissue damage caused by Raynaud’s.

~Prolotex FAR Infrared Therapy Gloves.

~Avoid triggers!

**Before taking any products named above, please discuss with your family physician.

~ 1 TBSP Pectin (found with Mason Jars in local grocery store).

~2 TBSP. Lecithin (granules preferred may be found in health food/nutrition store). 

~1 TBSP. Bran (local grocery store).

~1 TBSP. Wheat Germ (local grocery store).

~1 TBSP. Flaxseed oil (local grocery store).

~3-6 oz. Concord grape juice (Trader Joe's/Wholefoods, sometimes local grocer).

~Red wine (your favorite local liquor store).

Mix together and drink up per need. Great to do before your annual cholesterol check-up! Enjoy!!!

 A great question was posed to Dr. Merolla and myself regarding the risk of radioactive iodine entering the northeast atmosphere during the upcoming storms. It was a group of questions I am sure most of us have. How much radioactive iodine will get into our atmosphere and how much protective iodine should I take? Ultimately, none of us can really say. Even the experts argue daily over who has the correct information. From the past we know that potassium iodide (KI) tablets were given to the children in Poland over 300 miles of the Chernobyl disaster (1986). There were studies done over the following decade studying the health of those who took the KI tabs and those who didn’t. The results showed a high incidence of thyroid cancer for those among the non-recipients of KI and showed no thyroid cancer among those who took the KI. However, none of the people living within 300 miles of Chernobyl were given KI tablets for comparison.

Here are some facts I gathered for thought:

~X-rays are radioactive. Each time you have an x-ray, you absorb radiation. It is cumulative.

~A chest CT scan would expose a person to approximately 7 milliseverts of radiation. The average American gets approximately 6.2 milliseverts annually from medically diagnostic procedures.

~According to Harvard Medical School, a CT scan of the abdomen is about 10 milliseverts.

~The U.S Nuclear Regulatory Commission says that an average person gets approximately 3.1 milliseverts annually from natural resources. 

~ Everyday we are bathed in low levels of radiation from cosmic rays, radon, uranium, radio signals, airport scanners, dental x-rays and cellphones.

~According to the National Academy of Sciences, there are no safe doses of radiation. Research shows that any radiation can increase an individuals risk for the development of cancer.

~Do you live within 300 miles of the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant?

~When adults are exposed to radioactive iodine, it has been difficult for epidemiologists to detect a statistical difference in the rates of thyroid disease compared to an unexposed group. The risk of thyroid cancer later in life appears to diminish with increasing age at time of exposure i.e., children are at greater risk.

~It is suggested, potassium iodide should be taken as a single 130 milligram dose (adults) within three hours of exposure. The protective effect of 130 milligrams of KI last approximately 24 hours. It provides 100 milligrams iodide and 30 milligrams of potassium. This equates to roughly 700 times the recommended daily allowance of iodide per day for an adult.

~For optimal prophylaxis, KI must be dosed daily until a risk of exposure no longer exists.

~Potassium Iodide is ineffective for the contamination of radioactive caesium and tellurium that are also being emitted from this plant into the air, land and water.

~Experiments with dogs showed that a single dose of .0041 milligrams of caesium-137 is lethal within three weeks; smaller amounts may cause infertility or cancer.

~ Prolamine Iodine (Standard Process) contains 3 milligrams of iodine and 20 milligrams of calcium per tablet to help your body maintain iodine serum level; not recommended long term.

~Other supplements that may be protective are vitamin D and vitamin K as they support appropriate apoptosis (programmed cell death). Vitamin D also supports DNA repair. The Institute of Medicine currently recommends the dosage up to age 70 is 600 international units (IU) of vitamin D daily. The recommendation for adults over age 70 is 800 IU daily. Women should consume 65 micrograms a day of vitamin K, and men should consume 80 micrograms a day.

~In sensitive people, iodine can cause side effects including swelling of the lips and face (angioedema), severe bleeding and bruising, fever, joint pain, lymph node enlargement, allergic reactions including hives, and death.

~Foods naturally rich in iodine:

1. Sea Vegetables
2. Cranberries
3. Organic Yogurt
4. Organic Navy Beans
5. Organic Strawberries
6. Himalayan Salt
7. Dairy Products
8. Potatoes
9. Cod/Haddock

**Before taking any products named above, please discuss with your family physician.

    Dr. Mike Merolla, who was the radio show host for "The Holistic Hotline" which aired over 20 years, will be on as a special guest. I'm sure there will be many listeners excited to see him back! Together, Doctors Diane Bottary and Michele Merolla will take your calls about chiropractic, health issues, nutirition and up to date information you need to get back to good health.