Surgery-Vitamin C-Herbs-aspirin

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Subj: FW: Before the Knife - HSI 

Date: 9/4/2003 11:10:51 AM Eastern Standard Time

From: <A HREF= " mailto:sandym@... " >sandym@...</A>

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Before the Knife

Health Sciences Institute e-Alert

September 4, 2003

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Dear Reader,

A friend of mine named Sylvia has been scheduled for some

fairly routine surgery. But " routine " doesn't mean " easy, "

and she's understandably apprehensive. She and I talked about

last week's e-Alert " Five Stars " (8/26/03), in which HSI

Panelist Allan Spreen, M.D., gave his insights on five

immunonutrients that have been shown to improve immune system

function after surgery.

Wanting to prepare herself as best she can for the procedure,

she also asked me about an e-Alert she had read last spring

in which Dr. Spreen recommended discontinuing vitamin C

before surgery.

She wondered if I had more information on the topic, so I

asked Dr. Spreen to revisit the subject of " C " and surgery,

and to give his opinion on modifying the use of any other

supplements before or after a surgical procedure.

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Going under

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As Dr. Spreen told us in the May 28th e-Alert " C Saw, " high

levels of vitamin C can complicate the anesthesia process.

Here's how Dr. Spreen explains the interaction:

" The specifics of vitamin C apply to the mega-vitamin takers.

Very high doses of C over time cause the body to 'awaken'

dormant enzyme systems that more fully utilize high doses of

the nutrient. If you take low doses, the body shuts these

pathways down for your benefit. If it didn't it would too

rapidly empty the body's 'C pipeline' and you'd be constantly

deficient.

" For those people I tell them to TAPER the C over time,

reaching nearly zero just before surgery (not weeks before).

This is because such high doses are good enough detoxifiers

that more anesthetic drugs may be necessary for the

anesthesiologist to keep you under. BUT, the absolute INSTANT

you tolerate oral intake, you jack the C back up to heroic

levels. Surgery is one of the biggest stresses the body can

endure. "

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The herb question

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In one of the commentaries I found on the immunonutrients

report that appeared in the British Medical Journal,

osteopathic physician Dr. ph Mercola stated his opinion

that herbal supplements should be discontinued prior to

surgery, noting that some of these supplements powerful

enough to function like drugs.

I asked Dr. Spreen about the herbal issue, and he agreed with

Dr. Mercola... to a point.

" Yes, herbs are like drugs. The simple reason is that no drug

companies design their drugs using mere brilliance.

Pharmaceutical developers get their ideas from herbal

effects, then try to alter the molecule enough to patent the

thing (and cause all sorts of toxic side effects), hoping

it'll still do what the herb did, without killing you first.

" The developers are good, however, at picking good herbs.

Proscar is an excellent example. It is a derivative of the

herb Serenoa repens (saw palmetto), which does work against

benign enlargement of the prostate (better than Proscar), and

with no side effects. Of course, the drug company will admit

neither detail.

" As to when, and whether, to quit an herb, the situation is

much the same as with prescription drugs. You should seek

advice from someone educated in the agent's effects to know

whether to stop it and when (or whether to increase it and

how much!). I'd certainly never stop my saw palmetto weeks

before surgery (or the day before, or ever). "

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Beyond vitamin C

--------------------------------------------------------------

Returning to the subject of non-herbal supplements, Dr.

Spreen had this final note:

" Surgery is a major stress, and for that you want the maximum

dose of nutrients for the body to choose from for the repair

function. Vitamin C, and probably NAC should be discontinued

(my sister-in-law required half-again as much medication to

put her under as she was pumping the vitamin C heavily

as 'insurance'... the anesthesiologist even commented on it).

However, the instant I could hold something down I'd be right

back at them (and tons of other supplements) full force - C,

A, E, B-complex, NAC, alpha lipoic acid, milk thistle

extract, zinc, essential fatty acids, and others. "

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Don't forget the aspirin

--------------------------------------------------------------

I'm sure that Sylvia's doctor and surgeon have already

discussed whatever medications and supplements she may

currently be taking. It's important to be forthcoming on this

subject with your doctors as far in advance of the surgery as

possible.

And when I say " medications, " that includes aspirin and other

over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications. Most patients

are advised that any sort of " aspirin therapy " for heart

health should be discontinued well before surgery to minimize

bleeding. The question is; when should you begin taking

aspirin again?

In the case of coronary bypass surgery, this question was

addressed by a 2002 study of more than 5,000 coronary bypass

patients. As reported in the New England Journal of Medicine,

the use of aspirin immediately after bypass surgery was

associated with a 48 percent reduction in ischemic

complications and a 50 percent reduction in the incidence of

stroke.

The current rule of thumb is to avoid aspirin for the first

24 hours after bypass surgery because aspirin increases the

risk of bleeding. However, in an editorial accompanying the

study, Dr. J. Topol of the Cleveland Clinic Foundation

called the findings " powerful. " Based on the study, Dr. Topol

believes aspirin should be given within the first six hours

after surgery.

Fortunately my friend isn't faced with bypass surgery. But

for those who are contemplating such a procedure, before your

surgery, make sure your doctor is aware of this important

study about how aspirin may increase your chances of a

successful recuperation.

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... and another thing

If you're carrying a few extra pounds, your neighborhood

might be partly to blame.

According to two recent studies, Americans who live in areas

of suburban sprawl get less exercise than those who live in

a " compact area " like Manhattan. Using data gathered by the

U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the research

teams compared health and census statistics to determine the

disparities between suburban and city populations. The

result: suburban dwellers weigh an average of 6.3 pounds more

than city folk, and they also have a tendency toward higher

blood pressure.

But can you really blame a lack of exercise on the absence of

sidewalks?

I have a friend named who's struggling to keep his

weight down. He lives in the suburbs of Baltimore, but

throughout most of his 30s and 40s he lived on the 5th floor

of a " walk-up " near Times Square in Manhattan. He was in

comparatively good shape during his city years, referring to

those 4 flights of stairs he climbed several times each day

as his " built-in stair-climber machine. " He also did

considerably more walking.

Of course, since he no longer has a built-in stair-climber,

he needs to take the initiative to purchase one or find

another alternative. In other words, the layout of your

neighborhood is no excuse for being out of shape.

But this new research does illustrate the point that each of

us has different challenges when it comes to keeping our

weight down and staying fit. And it's a little too easy to

point to only diet and exercise, because each of us has

unique needs. We cover this in more detail in an HSI report

titled " New Weight Loss Solutions " that goes beyond the

simplest weight loss concepts of reducing calories and

increasing exercise. In fact, there are factors that you may

have never dreamed of that often make it very hard for people

to lose weight.

For instance, if excess fats and toxins are preventing your

liver from performing its many essential functions, weight

gain can result. Also, body cells may not be getting enough

nourishment, even though calorie intake is high. " New Weight

Loss Solutions " addresses these and other hidden problems

that can fight against you when you're trying to lose weight.

You can use the link below for more information on this

report that offers logical solutions to these health issues.

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is in his 50s now, and no doubt his metabolism has

changed since the days when he was hoofing it around

Manhattan. So in addition to the absence of his built-in

stair-climber, he might easily be able to help keep the

pounds off by making a simple dietary change to nourish his

cells, or by getting some toxins out of his liver.

And of course, even if we live in neighborhoods without

sidewalks, we can still get out and walk. That might be good

for 6.3 fewer pounds.

To Your Good Health,

Health Sciences Institute

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Sources: 

" Immune-Boosting Nutrients Beneficial After Surgery " Dr. ph Mercola,

8/9/03, mercola.com

" Aspirin and Mortality from Coronary Bypass Surgery " New England Journal of

Medicine, V. 347, No. 17, Pgs. 1039-1317, 10/24/02, content.nejm.org " Do

Suburbs Make You Fat? " Associated Press, CBS News, 8/28/03, cbsnews.com

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