Can Cardio Exercise Actually Prevent Diabetic Neuropathy?
You know that aerobics is beneficial for diabetic neuropathy, but what about cardio exercise to prevent this condition in the first place?
Diabetic neuropathy is a painful condition of the lower extremities. (more…)
Can Acid Reflux Cause a Vocal Cord Spasm?
A vocal cord spasm is insanely frightening because it prevents you from getting adequate oxygen as you struggle to breathe.
The question is if acid reflux can shoot up high enough to the throat to irritate the vocal cords. (more…)
Malignant Melanoma vs. Benign: The Difference
Have you seen the term “benign melanoma” or “non-malignant melanoma” and thus wonder what the difference is between malignant and benign melanoma?
• “Mela” refers to pigment-producing cells (melanocytes)
• “Oma” refers to mass or concentration.
As far as the prefix and suffix, it would seem that “melanoma” literally means a mere mass of pigment-producing cells. But a mass isn’t always malignant, either.
A benign mass of pigment-producing cells or melanocytes is a nevus (knee-vus) – also called a mole.
A malignant mass of melanocytes – cells growing wildly out of control – is called melanoma.
Why Do We See the Terms “Malignant Melanoma” and “Benign Melanoma”?
Can a melanoma ever be benign?
“I understand the confusion here,” begins Erum Ilyas, MD, a board certified dermatologist who performs adult and pediatric medical dermatology, cosmetic dermatology and skin cancer treatment with Schweiger Dermatology Group.
“The answer is no; melanoma is never benign. It is always malignant,” continues Dr. Ilyas.
“However, the history behind this confusing terminology has to do with an old confusing name for another type of spot.
“A Spitz nevus is a type of mole that presents in childhood. It can be mistaken for a melanoma based on how it presents and how it looks under the microscope.”
Spitzoid nevus in child. Expert Rev Dermatol 2009
A Spitz nevus (mole)
“The older name for a Spitz nevus was benign juvenile melanoma. This was a very confusing name — but based on the evolution of understanding melanoma at the time.
“To put ‘benign’ and ‘melanoma’ in the same name was only to indicate that the lesion was benign but can be misdiagnosed as a melanoma.
“Spitz nevi can develop quickly, grow and change — and on biopsy have some features that can be misinterpreted as a melanoma. However, these are overall benign lesions.”
Reason for the Term ‘Malignant Melanoma’
Dr. Ilyas continues, “I understand the confusion, but it’s important to understand that the term melanoma was first introduced in 1838. There was very little understanding of these tumors.
Melanoma. Laurence Meyer, MD/cancer.gov
“In 1910, a young boy presented with a tumor on his nose growing quickly. It was identified as a melanoma, but it was realized that it didn’t behave like a melanoma.
“In 1948, a pathologist by the name of Sophie Spitz described a group of these tumors as ‘juvenile melanomas’ identifying distinguishing features from ‘melanomas’ that occurred in adults.
“In 1954, the name ‘benign juvenile melanoma’ was proposed to distinguish these further. This likely led to true melanomas as being referred to as ‘malignant melanoma.’
Why Does this Confusing Terminology Still Exist?
Dr. Ilyas explains, “The confusion around Spitz nevi does persist because there are types of Spitz nevi that are known to metastasize or spread.
“Typically, Spitz nevi do not spread. The type that is more likely to spread has been termed atypical Spitz nevus.
“However, this is why it is best to leave the distinction to your dermatologist because our training is based on providing the whole picture.
“A substantial portion of our training is in both clinical dermatology — examining, diagnosing and treating patients directly, AND dermatopathology – the examination of specimens under the microscope.
“This permits us to use all pieces of the puzzle to provide the best care possible to our patients.”
Dr. Ilyas has practiced dermatology in the Philadelphia area and Boston for 15+ years and has served as Assistant Professor of Dermatology at Drexel University College of Medicine.
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
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Top image: Shutterstock/Krzysztof Winnik
Are Squats a Good Exercise for People with Diabetes?
Squats are an excellent strength training exercise for people with diabetes including older individuals.
There are many variations of the squat, and which variation the diabetic should do is dependent upon which version he or she likes the most. (more…)
New Risk Factor for ALS: Low Muscle Strength
An unexpected risk factor for later development of ALS has been found: low muscle strength.
Fat & Healthy for How Long? Obesity Thickens Heart in Young Adults
If you consider yourself healthy despite obesit … high blood pressure and a thickened heart muscle may be lurking around the corner –
EVEN if you have normal blood pressure and blood sugar now.
Obese people often hear, “Just you wait, you’ll pay the price in the years to come.”
However, more research shows that being young doesn’t always protect very heavy people from the dangers of obesity.
In young adults, overweight may still cause high blood pressure and a thickened heart muscle.
Thickened Heart Muscle: a Hidden Problem that Doesn’t Show up in a Routine Physical
It’s great when your biceps or thigh muscles becomes thickened from exercise.
But the heart muscle (which is not the same as skeletal muscle) should NEVER become thicker.
It’s very bad news when it thickens. When cardiac muscle thickens, this paves the way for heart disease down the road.
Shutterstock/Designua
“Chronic obesity definitely causes thickening of the heart and blood vessels,” says Susan L. Besser, MD, with Mercy Medical Center, Baltimore, and Diplomate American Board of Obesity Medicine and board certified by the American Board of Family Medicine.
“This is usually asymptomatic and goes undiscovered until the long-term damage shows up — such as heart disease.
“A simple CT scan of the chest will show this thickening, but this is NOT a routine test done for screening and does have its own risks (like radiation exposure).
“The changes can show up early too, in late adolescence or early adulthood. The good news: It can be reversible with improved lifestyle (weight loss).”
A study that appears in Circulation (2018), led by Kaitlin H. Wade, PhD, is the first to investigate the effects of high body mass index (BMI) in young adults.
Data on several thousand healthy people, ages 17 to 21, was collected.
Fat and Healthy NOW, Poor Health Later
If your blood work is currently normal and your blood pressure is normal today, this is but a snapshot in time.
- Normal blood sugar and BP do not tell doctors whether or not your heart muscle is thicker than it should be.
- Nor will low cholesterol show this.
The researchers determined that excess body fat raised blood pressure and enlarged the heart’s left ventricle.
Just because thin people can have high blood pressure and an enlarged left ventricle doesn’t mean that these problems can’t be caused by obesity – or made easier to develop by obesity.
“Thickening of vessel walls is widely considered to be the first sign of atherosclerosis,” says Dr. Wade in the paper.
“However, our findings suggest that higher BMIs cause changes in the heart structure of the young that may precede changes in blood vessels,” continues Dr. Wade in the report.
Having good health isn’t just about the here and now, but about how to preserve it for many years to come.
Dr. Besser provides comprehensive family care, treating common and acute primary conditions like diabetes and hypertension. Her ongoing approach allows her the opportunity to provide accurate and critical diagnoses of more complex conditions and disorders.
Lorra Garrick is a former personal trainer certified through the American Council on Exercise. At Bally Total Fitness she trained women and men of all ages for fat loss, muscle building, fitness and improved health.
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Top image: FatM1ke, CC BY-SA
Source: sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/07/180730090149.htm i
Does Heart Rate Slow Down During an Angina Attack?
Seems that during an angina attack, the heart rate would always speed up and never slow down, being that oxygen supply to the heart during an anginal episode is shorted.
An elevated heart rate means more oxygen to the heart, right? (more…)
Cold Ankles for No Reason? Causes and Solutions
If your ankles seem to be cold on a frequent basis, the cause may be disease.
Not disease of the skin, but conditions such as peripheral vascular disease.
It is not normal to have chilly ankles without an obvious explanation such as wearing only ankle-high booties on your feet in a cool environment while sitting at a computer.
“While most people complain about hot or swollen ankles, some people experience cold ankles which can also be uncomfortable,” says Walter Gaman, MD, FABFM, board certified in family medicine and the author of several award-winning books including “Age to Perfection: How to Thrive to 100, Happy, Healthy, and Wise.”
Reasons for Chilly Cold Ankles Include Disease
“There are a variety of reasons that ankles can be cold,” says Dr. Gaman.
“The most common and obvious reason is that the ankle is exposed to cold air.
“This could happen in the winter or spring, but the summer is the most likely time.
“This is because most people don’t wear socks in the summer, so their ankles are exposed to the air conditioner.”
If your ankles feel chilly, put on a pair of socks. If you’re healthy, the socks should instantly correct the problem. But if they don’t…you may have a problem.
“Medical conditions that can lead to cold ankles include: peripheral vascular disease, Raynaud’s phenomenon and rheumatoid arthritis,” says Dr. Gaman.
What is peripheral vascular disease?
Also known as peripheral artery disease, it’s when the arteries in your legs are narrowed, reducing blood flow.
Reduced blood flow to the feet will make them feel cold.
In addition to this symptom there is often pain when walking.
Think of PVD as “heart disease in the legs.”
The process that causes narrowing of the heart’s coronary arteries is the same process that reduces the diameter of the leg’s arteries.
What is Raynaud’s disease?
This is far less serious than PVD, and results in cold and numb fingers and toes in response to cold temperature or even mental stress.
Small arteries that supply these areas with blood become constricted.
The ankles may be affected.
Dr. Gaman says, “If your cold ankles are also painful, seek medical attention.
“Ankles that are cold intermittently, but are not painful or discolored, are most likely not serious.”
Dr. Gaman is with Executive Medicine of Texas and is with the Staying Young Radio Show 2.0 podcast.
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
Is There a Such Thing As Restless Arm Syndrome?
Is “restless arm syndrome” a real condition? Why would restlessness occur only in the legs? (more…)
Can a General Physician Read an EKG?
Just how well can a general practitioner interpret an EKG of your heart?
This is a very fair question. After all, sooner or later, medical students will be shown how to read an EKG (also known as an ECG).
Furthermore, some patients may not feel comfortable that a general doctor, or one who is not a cardiologist, is the only doctor who’s interpreting their EKG.
What also gets tossed into the equation is when a computer decides when an EKG is “abnormal.”
“An electrocardiogram, also referred to as an EKG or ECG, is used to detect electrical activity within the heart,” says Walter Gaman, MD, FABFM, board certified in family medicine and the author of several award-winning books including “Age to Perfection: How to Thrive to 100, Happy, Healthy, and Wise.”
“An abnormal tracing could be the sign of an active or previous heart attack, poor blood flow (ischemia) or an abnormal rhythm,” continues Dr. Gaman.
“GP or general practitioner refers to someone who is not board certified. Reading and interpreting an EKG for emergency purposes is something most physicians learn during residency.
“A general practitioner may or may not incorporate that skill into practice later during their profession.
“Most physicians who are board certified, such as internists and family medicine physicians, use EKG within the office and have had continuing education on EKG interpretation, as it pertains to overall heart health and disease management.”
The type of doctor who specializes in abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias) is an electrophysiologist. This is a sub-specialty of cardiology.
If you’re concerned about your non-cardiologist doctor’s ability to interpret your recent or future EKG, then certainly you should bring it to a cardiologist — or have a new EKG taken in a cardiologist’s office.
Make sure that it has 12 leads. A 12-lead EKG provides a comprehensive view of the heart’s electrical activity from multiple angles.
Each lead captures a different perspective, allowing accurate detection of arrhythmias, blockages, heart attack and other cardiac conditions.
Six limb leads observe the heart’s electrical activity in the frontal plane, while six chest leads monitor the horizontal plane.
This multidimensional view enhances diagnostic precision.
