Medical

Do You Get Heartburn?

Posted on February 1, 2017 by The Healthy Habit Lady

This is information that I am sharing from a friend.  Her husband, John, is fighting Esophageal Cancer (EC).  If you are the praying kind, please pray for John and his family.

Did you know that heartburn can cause cancer?  Most people are not aware of this and assume that Esophageal Cancer is caused by smoking. In some cases, it is, but that is generally squamous cell EC. Adenocarcinoma is usually caused by heartburn. Incidence of EC has increased 600% in the past 20 years. It is one of the fastest growing cancers mostly due to our diets and obesity.

Esophageal Cancer  is considered a silent killer because by the time symptoms appear (difficulty swallowing, food getting stuck) it is too late. The five year survival rate for stage 3 or 4 with only lymph nodes involved is 21%. The five year rate for stage 4 with distant mets is 4%. However, if it is caught early, the survival rate jumps to 40% with most stage 1 and 2 patients living longer.

That being said, anyone with regular heartburn should get an endoscopy. It’s a minimally invasive procedure and could save your life. John has had heartburn since he was a child. He had scar tissue removed when he was 12. He’s been on antacids his entire life and still got EC. SO,  just because you think you’re controlling it doesn’t mean you’re in the clear. Annual monitoring via endoscopy is the only way to catch it early enough. John has a tumor in his esophagus that has paralyzed his vocal cords and blocked his ability to eat, but it doesn’t show on a CT because it’s still within the esophagus.

April is EC awareness month.  As we get closer to April, if anyone local to me wants posters or pamphlets for their office or anywhere else, I can give you the link to get them for free. Feel free to email me anytime HERE.    Please help us spread awareness.  Feel free to visit and share this link: https://salgi.org/.

aprilawarenesscancer

As always, make champion choices,
The Healthy Habit Lady

 

Categories: Medical | Tags: , , , , | 1 Comment

The Mutant Super Taster Mama

Posted on July 9, 2014 by The Healthy Habit Lady

So apparently I have a genetic mutation. Found this out after talking with my doctor.

Now, my Gene mutation is called MTHFR C677T homozygous (A) — in case any bored person wants to Google it, lol. I am totally wondering and curious if this gene mutation could be related to my SED {Selective Eating Disorder}?? After Reading some about particular kind of mutation yesterday, and getting totally overwhelmed with information overload, it seems like there have been a few studies done; but everything is relatively new. It also seems like a lot of incomplete/conflicting data and opinions are out there. I’m understanding that my type of mutation causes high levels of homocysteine which likely mucks up all kinds of things like chronic disease, thyroid, ability to purge toxins or makes me more sensitive to toxins.  High levels of homocysteine leads to inflammation and thus the inflammation can cause related damage. My doctor said all of my labs are good and I’m healthy EXCEPT my folic acid is too low and this gene mutation causes people to not absorb folic acid well, so I need a prescription for it .. and not to take an over the counter vitamin for this.A couple of things that stand out are early heart disease, blood clots in the legs which I’ve had before, and Parkinson’s disease. Now note that my mother died of heart disease at age 45 and my grandfather died of Parkinson’s at 83. It actually sounds like it could be an underlying cause for all kinds of endocrine/thyroid/brain chemistry issues. But without a lot of guidance some bloggers take this little bit of information and go toholistic toxin nutrition vitamin crazy land where everyone’s opinion is a fact.

Now if you’ve stayed with me this far, here is the weird thing. My 17 year old daughter ironically has the exact same mutation, same string and all. And in case you didn’t know, she is ADOPTED! So how weird is it that my only adopted child (rest are natural born to me) has the exact same genetic mutation as me? This mutation also is said to cause ADHD … Which she has big time!

Well that is what’s new with me. What is new with you?

My ‘Mutant’ Adopted Daughter
was a Zombie for Halloween
As always, make champion choices,
The Healthy Habit Lady
July 9, 2014
Categories: Genetics, Medical | Tags: , , , | Leave a comment

Doctor Adventures

Posted on October 15, 2013 by The Healthy Habit Lady

So I have three medical conditions that I deal with. These conditions need monitoring, and they make my weight loss adventures quite slow and challenging. Here are the conditions:

(1) Anemia (2) PCOS and (3) Hypothyroidism.

Because of these 3 conditions, they take my blood regularly and monitor things like iron, testosterone levels (problem I deal with because of PCOS) and thyroid levels, etc. I really oh really hate having to get blood drawn because I have skinny veins that roll a lot, and it is an ordeal. Very few people actually get it right on the first stick, so I usually end up with them having to get someone else and several pokes/sticks and a bruised arm or arms/hands to show for the trouble.

Recently, I went to do the blood thing, as usual. I am a good girl and follow orders so even though it is an inconvenient irritation, I do it because my dr. needs those numbers to monitor my health. This last time I went, I waited well over an hour. Fast forward a few days later and the dr. calls and says your lab results are ‘abnormal’ but we can’t discuss it over the phone, come in for a visit. Had to wait a week to even get the appointment.

So today I go in for that appointment. Doctor says thyroid levels are wonky and he wants to change my medication. Okay fine, no big deal. Then he tells me that the lab messed up and they did not check everything they were suppose to check and only tested thyroid and therefore I have to go draw blood AGAIN. Oh yes, I’m just thrilled at the wasted time I spent there before, so eager to do it again, note the sarcasm in my voice.

So they shuffle me off to the lab on another floor, I sign in, wait for an eternity. They finally call my name, I go to the window and she says ‘are you fasting?’. Um, no I am not – I wasn’t suppose to draw blood today, I ate breakfast. She says ‘oh okay, let me call dr. to see if that is really necessary’. So I wait and wait and wait some more. Then she calls me back to the window to tell me that yes I do indeed need to be fasting. Gee, it would have been nice to know that BEFORE I wasted all this time waiting, ya think? Then GET this … she says to me, and I quote ‘so you’ll just have to come back in tomorrow morning when you’re fasting, unless of course you want to change your answer’. Um, say what? She was dead serious. OMG, why on Earth would I LIE about my health to lab professionals or a doctor. I have no interest or desire to have false results and have to do this yet again. I cannot believe she actually asked me if I wanted to change my answer.

So, yes, I will go to do blood work tomorrow, but you better believe it will be somewhere different.

Sorry for the rant, this just annoyed me to no end. But I’m okay – I’m not dying or anything … I don’t have any terminal illness and in the big picture, I’ll be okay – so I have much to be thankful for.

Choices, people, we have choices. And I am greatly appreciative that I can choose a different lab, and if need be, a different doctor.


Photo Source:  Unknown
As always, make champion choices,
The Healthy Habit Lady

October 15, 2013

 

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No Flu Tea? Really?

Posted on December 12, 2012 by The Healthy Habit Lady

Is There Really a No Flu Tea?

Photo Source:  Homemade Mommy

Since 70% or your immune system is in your intestinal tract, it is important to nourish your gut. Soups made with meat, poultry or fish stock help to improve immune function, conserve energy through easier digestion and they nourish the intestinal tract itself.   Now while this meme up above calls itself ‘NO Flue Tea’, I’m thinking it is probably more like ‘No Flu Soup’.  At any rate, sounds like a good thing to create.

I have been lucky (or blessed) … I have not had the flu this year and none of my family has battled this either.  Do you guys believe in the flu shot?  Do you believe in home remedies?  Has anyone here battled the flu this season?  I surely hope not.  If you have tips or tricks – – please share!  Meanwhile, stay healthy!  Build up that immune system.  And by all means – – wash those hands!
As always, make champion choices,
The Healthy Habit Lady
December 12, 2012
Categories: Medical, Recipes | Tags: , , , | Leave a comment

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