Excellent guide for all, both patients and doctors.

From Information is Beautiful

Doc : Good afternoon, Patient.
Patient : Good afternoon, Dr Dana.
Doc : How can I help you, Patient?
Patient : I will like to get rid of the dark spots on my face.
Doc : Sure. Before I get to that, I will like to know if you had done any other treatments from other doctors, and the types of treatments that they performed for you.
Patient : The treatments that I have done so far are in the spas. You know, the facial scrubs, extraction, massage etc.
Doc : In that case, let me introduce to you 2 methods of reducing pigmentation. One is to use a facial peel and the other laser treatments.
Patient : How are these 2 treatments different?
Doc : A facial peel uses modified-natural occurring acids to exfoliate the superficial layers of the skin, and this will enable new skin to grow faster from below.
There are a few laser types for aesthetic treatments. They fall on a spectrum from a mild to the more intensive. These laser treatments also enable new skin to grow faster.
The 2 methods differ in that the facial peels uses a chemical reaction means, while the lasers uses light physics for their effects.
Patient : So doc, how will you choose which one is best for me?
Doc : It depends on a few things.
Firstly, the current condition of your skin. An older person has a worse skin condition than a younger person because of the simple reason of longer exposure duration to the environment, if you have not been taking care of your skin before.
Secondly, your lifestyle will depend on which treatments are best suited for you.
Thirdly, it depends on your preference of which treatment is comfortable for you. You will want to choose a treatment that you feel most comfortable so that you can benefit from it in the long run.
Patient : Are these treatments harmful to my skin?
Doc : Any treatment to your face or body has potential problems if the treatments are not done in a safe manner. This is why for the facial peels, we use light concentrations of acids and for the laser treatments, we come up with a treatment plan that ensures safety for any skin type. Should there be any complications from the treatment, following the treatment plan will ensure that these will be kept to the minimum and reversible.
Patient : How effective are these treatments?
Doc : These treatments are effective so long as your skin is able to follow through the treatment plan. Also, the duration needed for reduction of the pigmentation also depends on the type of pigmentation that you have. Most pigmentations are caused by sun exposure. These are the easy ones to treat. For those pigmentation that is caused by hormonal changes, these can be more difficult to treat. The more intensive the treatment is, better results can be achieved, because other benefits like skin tightening will begin.
Patient : What other benefits can these treatments have?
Doc : These treatments, as we progress to more intensive ones, can also help to minimize open pores, tighten lax skin, get rid of fine lines and scars.
Patient : Can I start out with the more intensive treatments?
Doc : Yes, you can, provided if you know that you did not have any complications from other laser treatments of lower intensity. What I recommend for anyone who has not done any laser treatments before is to start off with a laser treatment that is comfortable for you and build up from there.
Patient : I hear from my friends that doing such treatments to the face will thin the skin. Is this true?
Doc : This is not true. This is because the healing process of the skin will regenerate the growth of new skin. It is this healing process that gets rid of the pigmentations and fine lines of the skin.
Patient : I also hear that after starting this treatment, and I decide to stop later on, will my skin condition get worse than before?
Doc : If you do not start any treatment, your skin condition is guaranteed to get worse. What any of these treatments do is to slow down the degeneration of your skin. If you decide to stop at a later stage, your skin can only be as bad as what you started out with. All patients will have better skin than when they first started out with, provided the treatment plan is being followed.
Patient : I will like my pigmentation to be removed by the next week. Can this be done?
Doc : Based on the recommended treatment plan, the interval between laser treatments is at 2 weeks. Subsequently, the interval can be lengthen to one month.
At a later stage, when we recommend you to go on to the more intensive laser treatments, the interval can be further lengthen to between 3-6 months. This will be the maintenance phase.
Patient : Why do I need maintenance treatments?
Doc : Just like exercise, you will need maintenance treatments to upkeep the results that you have achieved from the treatment plan.
Patient : Can I continue with my facial treatments while on your treatment plan?
Doc : I encourage all to carry on with other treatments at the spa, so long as they are not done on the same day. Give yourself at least 2 weeks after any peel or laser treatments before doing any treatments at the spa.
Patient : Can I have both treatment methods?
Doc : Yes, it will be more beneficial to have both treatments done. Both treatments complement each other. I usually perform them alternately.
Patient : Can I also have Botox or Filler treatments while on these treatments?
Doc : Yes, you can, provided that they are not done on the same day.
Patient : Thank you Dr Dana for your time.
Doc : Your welcome.

For more information on laser treatments, go to www.reviewantiaging.com.

There has been some hype on the use of gene testing to profile the risks of some medical conditions around the world recently.

Since there is a family history of heart conditions in my family tree, I decided to check it out on myself.

Myocardial Infarction ( aka Heart Attack )

My Lifetime Risk
It is estimated that 29 of every 100 males of East Asian ancestry with my genotype variants develop this disease in their lifetime.

Average Lifetime Risk
On average, about 32 of every 100 males of East Asian ancestry develop this disease in their lifetime.

Atrial Fibrillation
This is a chronic irregular heart rhythm that gets more common as one gets older.

My Lifetime Risk
It is estimated that 22 of every 100 males of East Asian ancestry with my genotype variants develop this disease in their lifetime.

Average Lifetime Risk
On average, about 25 of every 100 males of East Asian ancestry develop this disease in their lifetime.

Intracranial Aneurysm
This results when a part of the artery supplying blood to the brain is weaken, a bulge is created. Instant death can occur when this bulge bursts.

My Lifetime Risk
It is estimated that 20 of every 1000 people of East Asian ancestry with your genotype variants develop this disease in their lifetime.

Average Lifetime Risk
On average, about 20 of every 1000 people of East Asian ancestry develop this disease in their lifetime.

So on the whole, I have good genes. But this does not mean that I can relax on my efforts to lead a healthy lifestyle. Got to hit my running shoes soon!

Question
I have been told by my doctor to ‘sweat it out’ with exercise because of high body fat levels. With knee problems and the inability to swim or have access to a swimming pool, what would be my best options?

Answer
There are various causes of knee problems. The general rule is that if you have knee discomfort at rest ( before starting any activities ), please consult a doctor to take a look at that. This may signify medical or surgical problems that may need long term medications or surgery. If you have discomfort during or just after activities, the common problems are due to mild injuries to the knee, or the effects of weight buildup on the knees.

The problem arises when one has discomfort in the knees, one loses the ability to initiate the exercise regime to reduce weight. This is because knee problems can lead to disabilities in the afflicted beyond that from the immediate dysfunction of the joint. Patients with knee problems have lower limb weakness from quadriceps wasting, lower aerobic capacity and lower joint function. The muscle asymmetry leads to uneven loading on the joints with greater strains placed on the surrounding tissues. This in turn leads to greater joint pain and increased restriction of activity with further deterioration of muscle strength and aerobic fitness resulting in a negative vicious cycle.

The insides of your knee is like the fillings of a Chinese delicacy called the “popiah”, and the skin that holds the fillings is the muscles holding your knee together. For those of you who have prepared your own “popiah”, if the skin of your delicacy is loose, the fillings tend to fall out and create a mess on your plate. However, if the skin is taut, you have no problems eating your delicacy without a plate, because the fillings are enmeshed tightly together. So in order to prevent the negative vicious cycle from coming into play, you need to strengthen your muscles first to a point such that the insides of your knees are enmeshed tightly together to prevent further damage and discomfort. When that happens, you can then build up your exercise level to further strengthen your lower limb muscles, thus creating a positive vicious cycle. So what is the best form of exercise to do this?

Before a toddler can stand and walk, they learn to crawl because it is an easier thing to do. Notice the lower limbs of a toddler when they crawl. They mimic the actions of cycling, when both the hips and knees flex and extend at the same time. So, like a toddler, it is wise to start strengthening your muscles first on either a stationary bicycle or a real one. It is important to adjust the level of the seat to a comfortable height, such that your knees are slightly flexed when the foot of that same limb is flat on the pedal. Gradually build up the distance and speed. In no time will you start to feel less discomfort in your knees.

For those who have tried this but still the discomfort is too much to bear, please click on “Knee Exercises” below to look at simplet stretching and strengthening exercises. Pictures are better than a thousand words.

Knee Exercises

What a great day to start off on Valentine’s Day with giving a talk at the Ritz Carlton to a group of ladies coming together to learn about anti-aging.

Please feel free to go through the slideshow. I will be delighted to answer any questions that you might have.

I am a great believer of patient empowerment. I also believe that patients are smarter than what we doctors perceive them to be.

There are so many diseases that anyone of us can contract. How is anyone able to perform all the preventive measures so that we can lead a long disease-free life?

So in this topic of osteoporosis, instead of giving a presentation on “do this, don’t do that”, I will be giving evidence on the current research that tells us about the genetic risk of developing osteoporosis.

Only by knowing our genetic risk for diseases, can we then channel preventive efforts from those diseases with low genetic risks to focus on those with higher genetic risks.

Any opinions?

Possible Benefits
NanoTek™ Chitosan contains nano-size particles that can be better absorbed into the bloodstream, with significantly enhanced detoxification potential.*

Serving Size : 2 capsules
Servings per Container : 30

Amount per Serving : Chitosan Oligosaccharide and Chitosan (shrimp, crab, lobster) 1200mg

Other Ingredients : Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, cellulose, L-leucine.

Suggested Use : As a dietary supplement, 1 capsule three times daily or 2 capsules two times daily on an empty stomach, or as directed by a healthcare practitioner.

WARNING : Avoid this product if you are allergic to shellfish, pregnant or lactating. If used long-term, additional supplementation with fat soluble vitamins and essential fatty acids is recommended.

These nutrients are of the highest quality and purity obtainable, and do not contain preservatives, diluents, or artificial additives.

Possible Benefits
L-Tryptophan is an essential amino acid that is converted into L-5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) in the body. 5-HTP is then converted into serotonin and melatonin. Normal serotonin levels have been associated with normal moods, appropriate appetite and weight maintenance, and proper sleep.* Our 5-HTP is derived from a plant source, and is carefully tested to ensure its purity and to guarantee the absence of contaminants.

Serving Size : 1 capsule
Servings per Container : 150

Amount per Serving : L-5-Hydroxytryptophan 50mg

Other Ingredients : Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, cellulose, L-leucine.

Suggested Use: As a dietary supplement, 1 capsule one to three times daily, or as directed by a healthcare practitioner.

This nutrient is of the highest quality and purity obtainable, free of all common allergens (antigens), and does not contain preservatives, diluents, or artificial additives.

Possible Benefits
Pure essential oil of oregano derived from Thymus capitatus and other oraganum species, containing 65% carvacrol. Recent studies have shown that certain essential oils such as thyme, oregano and clove may possess properties that affect the balance of microbiology within the GI tract.*

Serving Size : 2 softgels
Servings per Container : 30

Amount per Serving :
Oregano Oil fromThymus capitatus Hoff and/or other Origanum spp. (65% Carvacrol) 200mg
Rice Bran Oil 100mg

Other Ingredients : Gelatin, glycerin, yellow beeswax, annatto extract, water, zinc oxide.

These nutrients are of the highest quality and purity obtainable, free of all common allergens (antigens), and do not contain preservatives, diluents, or artificial additives.

Suggested Use : As a dietary supplement, 1 or 2 softgels two times daily with meals, or as directed by a healthcare practitioner. May also be used topically by puncturing capsule and squeezing contents out onto skin. Individuals with sensitive skin may want to mix with several drops of olive oil or almond oil before applying to the skin. Irritation may result when applied to the skin full strength.

Possible Benefits
L-lysine is an essential amino acid, important for the absorption of calcium, the formation of collagen (contained in cartilage, connective tissue, skin, hair and bone), and the production of bone tissue.* Free form amino acid, high purity, well tolerated.

Serving Size : 2 capsules
Servings per Container : 50

Amount per Serving : L-Lysine 1000mg

Other Ingredients: Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, cellulose, L-leucine.

Suggested Use: As a dietary supplement, 1 or 2 capsules one to three times daily between meals, or as directed by a health practitioner.

This nutrient is of the highest quality and purity obtainable, free of all common allergens (antigens), and does not contain preservatives, diluents, or artificial additives.

Appropriate for food-sensitive individuals.