From eNewsletter 3/25/2019
DID YOU KNOW that a new study published in Nature Communications suggests the body's ability to utilize the mineral manganese may be a cause of severe scoliosis? Researchers discovered that children with severe scoliosis are twice as likely as children without the disease to carry a gene variant that makes it hard for their cells to take in and use manganese. Manganese plays a role in bone and cartilage growth.
Manganese is a trace mineral so should not be taken unless under the auspices of a licensed health professional. Like selenium and other trace minerals, excessive intake or unnecessary supplementation can cause severe side effects.
STUDY SAYS COLONOSCOPY EVERY 10 YEARS
Steve and Bonnie: A study that appeared late last year in JAMA Internal Medicine suggests that screening for colorectal cancer once every 10 years is effective and does not put you at increased risk.
Researchers evaluated more than 1.2 million Californians aged 50 to 75 years. They compared unscreened individuals with those who had a negative colonoscopy result over a 10-year period.
The results showed that the relative risk of developing colorectal cancer in people with a negative result at 10 years was 46% lower than that for unscreened individuals. The relative risk of colorectal cancer death was 88% lower.
The findings suggest that physicians can feel confident about the guideline-recommended 10-year rescreening interval after a negative colonoscopy in which no colorectal cancer or polyps were found.
The at home test, Cologuard, which needs to be prescribed by a physician, is also a wonderful preventive screening tool that can be used in between colonoscopies or in lieu of colonoscopy for those without a family history of colorectal cancer.
Finally, if you need a colonoscopy, you should always ask for the option of doing a virtual. Virtual colonoscopy is non-invasive. If something shows up, you will still need to do the traditional colonoscopy to take a closer look. However, avoiding any invasive procedure is always a good thing!
Allergy & Asthma Update
Steve: Spring started last week. That means those of us with environmental allergies must start to remove and replace dietary cross-reactors. This will greatly reduce symptoms. Tree and flower pollen comes earlier than grass, ragweed, and mold. Our Conquering Allergy & Intolerance Action Plan has the lists for you. Here's the latest research since last allergy season...this article is reserved for NCI Well Connect Members. You can get this article by signing up here.
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