2 Days and Counting and We Need Your Help..!

We are excited to announce that the Revised and Updated pH Miracle book will be released on July 2, 2010.

You can preorder now and as our gift to you, you are invited to attend a FREE webinar with Dr. Robert O. Young, the foremost nutritional microbiologist in the world today!

All you need to do is purchase the newly Revised and Updated pH Miracle book at Amazon.com, selling for $11.55—a substantial savings over bookstore prices—then visit www.phmiracleliving.com/t-booklaunch2010.aspx to submit your information. That's it. Then we'll send you the link to the upcoming video webinar.

The new book is already one of the Top 20 Best Sellers at Amazon.com and moving up quickly. . .and you can help Dr. Young and Shelley drive this book straight to the top of the Best Seller list.

This is the fastest way to help the whole world begin to investigate and understand the health benefits of pH alkaline health and nutrition, as well as the life-work of Dr. Robert O. Young and Shelley Redford Young.

So, never count calories, fat grams, or food portions again! Say good-bye to low energy, poor digestion, extra pounds, aches and pains, and disease. Say hello to renewed vigor, mental clarity, better overall health, and a lean, trim body. The key? Your health depends on the pH balance of its blood; striking the right 80/20 balance between alkaline and acidic foods creates the optimum environment. Now this innovative, proven diet program works more effectively than ever with your body chemistry to help revitalize and maintain your health. This new edition includes the latest information on living the pH lifestyle:

* New ways to cleanse and detox the system to improve your body's digestion and metabolism;

* The latest advice on ridding your body of harmful bacteria, yeast, and molds;

* New details on alkaline foods—tomatoes, avocados, and green vegetables-and how to mix them with mildly acidic foods like fish, grains, and certain fruits to create tempting and delicious meals;

* Adding the right types of water and salt to your diet—and the major difference they can make in your health;

* More than 35 delicious new recipes.

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Valley Center, California 92082 US

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Robert O. Young, Ph.D., D.Sc.

pH Miracle Living Center

16390 Dia Del Sol

Valley Center, California 92082 US

"Medical Truth"

How many more medical lies have to be perpetuated before we stand up for the truth? How many more people need to be poisoned with antibiotics, vaccinations and other cancer causing pharmaceuticals until we stand up and say "Enough!"? How many more children’s lives need to be destroyed before we take a stand? Please help save a life by passing this information on…

• Harvard University and National Cancer Research Journals now confirm that ONE Aspirin or Tylenol each day will cause up to an 80% increased risk of Cancer and Heart Disease. A Prospective Study of Aspirin Use and the Risk of Pancreatic Cancer in Women, Eva S. Schernhammer, Jae-Hee Kang, Andrew T. Chan, Dominique S. Michaud, Halcyon G. Skinner, Edward Giovannucci, Graham A. Colditz, Charles S. Fuchs, Affiliations of authors: Channing Laboratory, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (ESS, JHK, ATC, HGS, EG, GAC CSF); Ludwig Boltzmann-Institute for Applied Cancer Research, KFJ-Spital, Vienna, Austria (ESS); Gastrointestinal Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston (ATC); Nutritional Epidemiology Branch, National Cancer Institute, Rockville, MD (DSM); Departments of Nutrition (EG) and Epidemiology (HGS, GAC), Harvard School of Public Health, Boston; Harvard Center for Cancer Prevention, Boston (GAC); Epidemiology Program (GAC) and Department of Adult Oncology (CSF), Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston. Correspondence to: Eva S. Schernhammer, MD, DrPH, Channing Laboratory, 181 Longwood Ave., Boston, MA 02115 (e-mail: eva.schernhammer@channing.harvard.edu


• Take ONE 50 mg. pill of Vioxx for 5 days? A study undertaken two years ago showed that this increases the chances of getting coronary artery disease by 70%. Lancet Oct 5, 2002


• A University of Washington study found that if you filled 25 or more prescriptions for antibiotics over 17 years, you double your risk of cancer (TIME, Dec. 6, 2004) This equates into taking less than ONE antibiotic each year, an activity in which almost every American participates.


• Infants exposed to ONE single round of antibiotics during their first years of life are twice as likely to develop asthma as those who don’t. The more courses of antibiotics, the worse the immunity and the greater the risk of asthma. (Newsday, March 6, 2006)


• Take ONE Benadryl for your allergies, and here are your possible side-effects: Difficulty breathing, closing of your throat, swelling of your lips, tongue, or face, hives, sleepiness, fatigue, dizziness, headache, dry mouth, difficulty urinating, enlarged prostate and a dramatic reduction in energy.


• Take ONE aspirin per day? Daily aspirin intake shows a significantly increased risk of pancreatic cancer among women. This cancer is fatal 90% of the time. Source: American Association for Cancer Research, October 27, 2003


• Take just ONE Crestor pill/day to lower your cholesterol? This drug has been shown to cause 75 times the level of kidney damage than other statin drugs. Public Citizen Oct 29, 2004


• ONE vaccination can leave your child with brain damage or worse a form of Autism: Children are 27 times more likely to develop autism when exposed to vaccines containing mercury: Lori McIlwain, National Autism Association, (919) 272-8192/ Studies suggest that there is a link between neuro-developmental disorders, such as autism, and mercury exposure from thimerosal-containing childhood vaccines. Centers for Disease Control, Jan. 16, 2004.


• Taking just ONE pain killer can cause death. There are over 16,500 deaths from NSAIDs (Pain Killers) each year in the hospitals alone. JAMA July 26, 2000 Vol. 284. Just as many die from AIDS each year!


• Thinking of taking a cough suppressant or giving to your child just ONE time: cough suppressant is linked to Birth Defects: Dextromethorphan, the major ingredient in most OTC cough medicines, has been shown to cause birth defects. Source: Pediatric Research January 1998:43:1-7


• Taking cold medications like Robitussin, Triaminic, PediaCare, Comtrex, etc. just ONE time can cause stroke, brain bleeding, and seizures. This year the F.D.A. completely banned these cold medications for adults and children, especially under the age of 6.


• L. A. Times states: Antibiotics aren’t the answer to treating sinus infections: “The widespread use of standard antibiotics to treat sinus infections does not help cure patients and taking just ONE round may harm them by increasing their resistance to the drugs.


Below is more truth is it applies to some of the most commonly ingested pharmaceuticals in the world


1. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) use is the number-one reason for acute liver failure in the United States. It is also responsible for 8 percent to 10 percent of the end-stage renal disease in the U.S. The New England Journal of Medicine December 20, 2001; 345:1801-1808. Hepatology Volume 40, Issue 1, Pages 6 – 9. Published Online: 30 Jun 2004, American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases.


2. In 2004, the American Academy of Pediatricians reversed its guidelines, pointing out that in more than 80 percent of the children with ear infections, symptoms would subside on their own, without the need for antibiotics.


3. DO NOT take antibiotics or any of the above drugs without the facts!


4. The flu shot and childhood vaccines can be deadly. We have been told to get flu shots that contain mercury, formaldehyde, aluminum and many other dangerous chemicals! Now according to the Vaccine Journal, they said, “flu vaccines offer no protection and have never saved any lives.”


*Mercury!!! 2nd most dangerous substance on earth. Destroys the nervous system and immune system. Associated with Multiple Sclerosis, Central Nervous System Disorders, Autism and Alzheimer's Disease!


*Ethylene glycol (antifreeze) Exposure to ethylene glycol can damage the kidneys, heart, and nervous system.


*Phenol (disinfectant) Exposure to phenol can produce skin burns, liver damage, dark urine, irregular heartbeat, and even death.*Formaldehyde (known cancer causing agent)


*Neomycin and Streptomycin (antibiotics)


*Aluminum associated with Alzheimer's disease and seizures and also cancer producing in laboratory mice. Is this something you want to inject directly into your blood or your children’s?


5. The flu vaccine is manufactured to fight the flu from 2 years previous, so it is IMPOSSIBLE for this year’s flu vaccine to protect you against this year’s exact strain of circulating flu virus!


6. According to Hugh Fudenburg, MD, one of the world’s premier immunogeneticists, the chance of getting Alzheimer’s is ten times higher if an individual has had 5 consecutive flu shots(this is due to the Mercury). Dr. Fudenburg is the 13th most quoted biologist in the world today.


7. A British Medical Journal shows the medical profession to only be about 4% scientific. http://www.vet-task-force.com/CtiM.htm


“Our drugs don’t work.” Dr. Allen Roses, worldwide vice-president of Genetics at GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), Britain’s giant pharmaceutical company, acknowledged at a scientific meeting in London that fewer than half of the patients prescribed some of the most expensive drugs actually derived any benefit from them.

What’s Behind the New APA Conflict of Interest Code

The APA today released its new code of conduct for working with the pharmaceutical industry. The principles and guidelines don’t provide a lot of specifics and reflect a lot of what the APA has already said it would do, focusing on transparency and the need to be clear about what is education and what is marketing.

Perhaps the most interesting aspect of the guidelines was the organization’s purpose in putting them out — not to eliminate a relationship with Big Pharma, but rather to develop a “collaborative relationship” with industry, APA immediate past president Alan Schatzberg, who convened the task force to develop the guidelines, tells the Health Blog. “It really is not in anyone’s best interest to shut out an industry voice.”

Schatzberg, also the chairman of the psychiatry department at Stanford University, has faced past criticism for his ties with drug makers.

James Scully, CEO of the APA, agrees. “We want a good relationship with the pharmaceutical industry,” he tells the Health Blog. “They have a role to play in developing new drugs.” The APA cares less about whether doctors accept pens from drug sales reps than about larger issues, Scully says. “What we wanted to clear about is that our educational programs were free of bias.”
( A article: Fiber in your Diet )
The American Psychiatric Association is a member of the Council of Medical Specialty Societies, which recently announced its own code covering conflicts of interest, financial disclosure, independent program development and independent leadership. The APA wasn’t among the original 13 adopters of the code.

Special thanks: WSJ.com's Health

Obesity in the pregnancy

An pregnant one to that one woman who begins her pregnancy with an excess of weight average of the 20% or for her ideal theoretical weight is considered more obese. In order to consider an obese pregnant woman it is taken as parameter an increase of more than 15 kilograms at the end of the gestation.

Being one of them the case, both have majors probabilities of undergoing complications during their pregnancy. For example:

a) It has seven times more possibilities of undergoing hypertension.
b) It has many more possibilities of undergoing hemorrhages in the childbirth.
c) It has more possibilities of undergoing edemas, swelling, etc.
d) It has more probabilities of suffering várices.
e) Work of prolonged childbirth (in a percentage of 25%).
f) Caesarean with complications (in a percentage of 33%).
g) Diabetes after the pregnancy in a percentage of until 40%.
h) Weight of new born more stop from the normal thing.

The control of weight of the pregnant woman with obesity problems must be under a strict medical checkup, since any deficiency or upheaval in the calories of the diet, can influence negatively in the baby and she herself. The pregnant woman does not have to lower of weight, but to increase between 9 and 11 kilograms.

In this sense, she must be indicated that a hypocaloric diet does not have to contain an amount inferior to the 1,600 daily calories, since otherwise an inadequate advantage of proteins of the diet would be determined, even though their contribution is greater of the habitual thing. During the lactancia, the same conduct must be observed, with an increase of calories until the 1,800 daily ones.

It must consider whenever its problem of obesity is solved in the future, after the gestation and to the childbirth of his baby; in addition it is advised to consider the diet of the appendix, and to observe it if it is possible before being pregnant.

Between 30% and 40% of the weight acquired during the pregnancy are conserved after the childbirth (between 3 and 4 kilograms in a normal pregnancy). The kilos of due to a hypercaloric feeding are more difficult to lose later and, often, the same problem of excess of weight is repeated in the later pregnancies. What must consider so that the pregnancy does not completely transform the body of the woman it is the feeding and the desire of which that change means upheavals neither in the health of the pregnant woman nor in the one of the baby.

It is necessary to exclude any type from medicines to cut the tiroideas appetite, as well as diuréticos and hormones; drugs dangerous of in case, and prohibited completely during the period of the pregnancy due to the injurious effects for the fetus.

But too obese being is also a risk for the pregnant one. The increase of weight implies an increase of work of the liver, the kidneys and the circulatory apparatus; what would mean to add to the efforts of the body to ahead take to the pregnancy own problems of the obesity (hypertension, diabetes, edemas, swelling, etc.). The ideal would be to begin with the ideal weight and in good form, so that later the control of the weight is transformed into an obsession neither for the doctor nor for the pregnant woman.

Medicine for the liver cancer

The FDA approved for the first time in 30 years the indication of the anti-tumour Nexavar for the treatment of the liver cancer. Also, the medicine received approval of the European authorities.

The authorization of the FDA was based on the obtained positive results in the international study of phase III, controlled by placebo, SHARP (Sofafenib HCC Assessment Randomized Protocol; “Protocol randomized for the evaluation of sorafenib in CHC”) ( Aloe Vera ) that demonstrated that Nexavar prolongs in a 44% the global sobrelife of the patients of cancer of liver compared with placebo.

Two Nexavar years ago one became the first new medicine against the advanced renal cancer, the drug was developed jointly by Bayer HealthCare Ag and Onyx Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

The hepatocellular carcinoma is the most frequent type of hepatic cancer, and is the person in charge of around 90% of primary the malignant tumors of the liver in adults. ( Protein in diet ) It is the sixth more frequent type of tumor anywhere in the world and the third type of cancer that more deaths causes. Annually they are diagnosed more than 600 thousand new cases anywhere in the world and the incidence increases.

The radioactive globe - cancer

It is a treatment form that uses x-ray to very short distances. Direct radiation in the cancer is administered through implants radioactive, generally when placing removable radioactive seeds within the surgical site. He is able to administer radiation to the exact area where the tumor has been extracted, with minimum impact in the rest of mammary weaves.

The therapy is carried out through placing a catheter in the surgical cavity, after the lumpectomía or surgery of conservation. This it contains in his end a small globe that is inflated inside.
By means of this catheter a small radiation source in the interior and the center of the globe is placed thus giving uniform radiation in the weave that is near the surface of the globe.

The radiation is only limited the area of the lumpectomía, where there is always a recurrence possibility. This treatment lasts five days, twice for day for a total of ten therapies. ( skin type )

When the therapy finishes, the globe is deflated and the catheter is removed easily. And although until now it requires hospitalization, in a moment will be possible like traveling therapy.

It cannot be applied to all the women, but only in cases in that internal radiation and local can be applied, in which the cancerous tumors have been small and they have not extended to the nodules. ( hair care ) Also the patients do not have to be majors of 45 years. The concentrated and direct radiation has its opponents in the specialists who fear that other cancerous cells outside the area, are without trying; nevertheless, in ten years of use, it has demonstrated to be effective.

Placebo effect in Allergy and Asthma

In Japan, to allergic people to a poisonous ivy an arm with the plant rubbed to them saying that she was innocuous and the other arm with an inoffensive ivy assuring that was poisonous. The 13 patients had sarpullidos in the arm rubbed with the inoffensive plant and only two presented/displayed reactions to the poisonous ivy. Far from to reframe their attitude towards the patient, those in favor of the pro-government medicine find in these results a confirmation on their accusations to the natural or alternative medicine of benefitting from the effect placebo.
Nevertheless, the studies realised with Acupuncture, medicinal Homeopathy and plants, among others, have demonstrated that it is not thus, at least not more than with the pharmacological treatments.

The allergy and the asthma are two of the diseases whose evolution is more tie to the psychological factors that arise with placebo. An experiment with asthmatic children verified that if were made them smell vanilla at the same time as a rough dilatador was administered to them, when retiring the drug vanilla secured the same results to them that the drug in one of each three cases. ( Homemade Facial Mask ) The allergies are a clear example of disease due to etiológicos factors of different type. In the allergy, an antigen produces a reaction of the immune system, that also is altered by the emotions. Both factors influence although we do not know to what extent it does one of them. The same happens, when pupa leaves one to us. The virus causes that it is there, we have all, but the negative emotions debilitate the defenses and make possible the development of the virus. Emotions as stress and the anxiety depress our immune system, like the depression. A recent study of the University of Ohio is developing that the depressed people are exhibited to a greater risk of suffering cardiovascular diseases and, in the case of the men, increases the risk of death by any disease. On the contrary, the confidence in the treatment increases the perspective of treatment. A work of the University of Texas realised a peculiar experiment with patients with inflamed and painful knees. ( Homemade Facial Cleanser ) The doctors anaesthetised to the patients, they realised three small cuts to them and they pretended that they operated. Two years later, those that had been put under a false surgery felt the same lightening of the pain and the swelling that those that really had been operated.

The problem of stress

What in appropriate situations it can save the life to us, becomes a mortal enemy when it extends in the time. For many, the economic conditions of overcrowding, pressures, the overload of work, the competitive atmosphere, etc., are circumstances that perceive as threats unconsciously in Psychopathology.

This takes to them to react mainly to the defensive, becoming irritable and undergoing injurious consequences the organism:

* Elevation of the sanguineous pressure (arterial hypertension)
* Gastritis and ulcers in the stomach and the intestine
* Diminution of the renal function
* Problems of the dream
* Exhaustion
* Alterations of the appetite
( health beauty )

DESCRIPTION

Stress produces chemical changes in the body. In a stress situation, the brain sends chemical signals that they activate the secretion of hormones (catecholamines and among them, the adrenalin) in the adrenal gland. Hormones initiate a chain reaction in the organism: the heart annoys more express and the arterial pressure raises; the blood is turned aside of the internal to muscles to flee from the danger; and the insulin level increases to allow that the body metabolice more energy.

These reactions allow to avoid the danger. In the short term, they are not harmful. But the situation persists, the resulting fatigue will be injurious for the general health of the individual. Stress can stimulate an excess of stomach acid, which will give to origin an ulcer. Or it can contract damaged arteries or, increasing the pressure and precipitating an angina or cardiac unemployment. Also, stress can cause a loss or an increase of the appetite with the consequent variation of weight in the person.

CONSIDERATIONS

The brief episodes of stress upset the operation of the organism; nevertheless the symptoms disappear when the episode yields.
( eye care )
This happens with greater facility if the person owns effective tactics to face stress and if it express its feelings normally.

CAUSES

Any event that generates an answer emotional, can cause stress. This includes as much positive situations (the birth of a son, marriage) like refusals (loss of the use, death of a relative). Stress also arises by smaller irritations, like waiting for too much in a tail or traffic. Situations that bring about stress in a person can be insignificant for another one.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

Stress affects organs and functions of all the organism. The most common symptoms are

* Depression or anxiety
* Dolores of head
* Insomnia
* Indigestión
* Sarpullidos
* Sexual dysfunction
* Fast palpitations
* Nervousness

Martial Arts Training May Save Seniors’ Hips

Martial arts training appears to be a safe way to teach osteoporosis patients how to reduce the risk of injury when they fall, a new study suggests.

Researchers in the Netherlands studied the potential benefits of fall training in six healthy people.

“For obvious safety reasons, this could not be directly assessed using persons with osteoporosis.
Therefore, we measured the hip impact forces during the martial arts fall exercises in a group of young adults,” researcher Brenda Groen said in a news release.
Women and Obesity
“Based on our results … we believe that fall training would be safe for persons with osteoporosis if they wear hip protectors during the training, perform fall exercises on a thick mattress, and avoid forward fall exercises from a standing position,” she said.

The volunteers in this study were taught how to turn a fall into a rolling movement by bending and twisting the torso and neck. These types of moves can be taught to older people, the researchers said.

“Since martial arts techniques reduce hip impact forces and can be learned by older persons, martial arts fall training may prevent hip fractures among persons with osteoporosis,” Groen concluded.
Reasons for hair loss
The study was published April 21 in the journal BMC Research Notes.

More information

The U.S. National Institute on Aging has more about falls and older adults.

— Robert Preidt

SOURCE: BioMed Central, news release, April 21, 2010

Copyright © 2010 HealthDay. All rights reserved.

About Ulna Fracture

What is an ulna fracture?
The ulna is one of two bones of the forearm. The two bones of the forearm, the radius and the ulna, both span the distance from the elbow to the wrist joints.

How does an ulna fracture occur?
An isolated ulna fracture most commonly occurs by the forearm being struck by an object (or an the forearm striking an object).
The common eponym for an isolated ulna fracture is a "nightstick fracture," although there are many other common mechanisms of this injury including falls, car accidents, and others.
(About Lime)
What are the symptoms of an ulna fracture?
By far the most common symptom of an ulna fracture is pain. Other common symptoms include swelling and deformity of the forearm. When you suspect a forearm fracture, you should be seen by a physician and obtain x-rays to determine if there is an ulna fracture present, and if there are any associated injuries. In addition, the elbow must also be carefully examined to determine if there is a dislocation within the elbow causing an injury pattern known as a Monteggia fracture.

What is the treatment of an ulna fracture?
Isolated ulna fractures can most often be treated with a cast or fracture brace. Usually a period of immobilization will allow the bone to heal adequately.

If there is a significant amount of displacement of the ulna fracture, the fracture is considered 'unstable.' In these cases, the patient may benefit from surgical stabilization of the fracture. The usual treatment is to use a plate and screws to secure the fractured bone.

What are the complications of surgical treatment of ulna fractures?
The most common complications include:

o Painful Implants
Occasionally, the metal plate and screws can be tender and painful and require removal. This is usually done at least a year after surgery. Refracture of the bone is possible after plate removal.
(About Women and Obesity)
o Infection
Infection is an unusual complication, but possible after any surgical procedure. If infection is a problem, the metal implant will likely have to be removed.

o Non-Healing Fracture
Non-healing, called a nonunion, occurs in about 5% of patients with ulna fractures. These patients may require another surgical procedure for bone grafting to obtain healing of the ulna fracture.

Heal Broken Bones Faster

(HealthDay News) — Stanford researchers have found a way to significantly speed up the healing of broken bones in mice, a feat which, if replicated in humans, could mean people with fractures would be free of their casts a lot sooner.
“This has huge implications,” said Dr. Victor Khabie, co-director of the Orthopedic and Spine Institute at Northern Westchester Hospital in Mt. Kisco, N.Y. “Broken bones is a big problem, and this is just the tip of the iceberg.”

The technique could help in fusing bones as well, and many other surgeries that rely on bone growth and bone healing to succeed, he added.
health articles
“A lot of the surgeries we do rely on bone growth and bone healing, and a lot of the failures of surgery have to do with the fact that the bone never heals or the fusion never [takes],” Khabie explained.

And this might have applications beyond bones.

“It isn’t limited to bone injuries,” said Dr. Jill Helms, senior author of the study published in the April 28 issue of Science Translational Medicine. “There’s a lot of interest in the role that [the protein used in these experiments] plays in tissue repair and tissue regeneration.”

That also includes blood, neural and cardiac cells, added Helms, who is a professor of surgery and of plastic and reconstructive surgery at Stanford University School of Medicine.

The research borrowed a chapter from the lives of animals that can regenerate on their own, such as zebrafish and flat worms.

Scientists already knew that this capability was partly due to a class of proteins called Wnt proteins.

Although mammals don’t have the same innate ability to regenerate, the researchers speculated that, with a little help from Wnt proteins, maybe they could.
aids and hiv
The researchers actually conducted two experiments, both testing the idea that tissues might heal faster if the Wnt signal was ramped up.

The first used a genetic approach, involving mice that had been genetically engineered to respond better to a Wnt signal, then administering purified Wnt via fat particles known as liposomes.

The second strategy involved raising levels of the Wnt protein in normal mice. Both groups of mice had sustained bone injuries.

“Both experiments showed us the same thing, that when Wnt signals were prolonged in an injury site then healing was much more robust,” Helms reported. “When we delivered this form of the protein in a little lipid [fat] particle to an injury site, we accelerated the healing quite dramatically.”

In fact, within the first three days, those mice had 3.5 times more new bone than the mice in the other groups, according to background information about the study.

Helms and her colleagues believe Wnt causes bone stem cells to divide more and turn into bone-forming cells much sooner.

J. Edward Puzas, a professor of orthopedics and senior associate dean for basic research at the University of Rochester Medical Center, added that the idea might also benefit people who sustain potentially life-threatening fractures as a result of osteoporosis.
immune deficiency syndrome
In separate ongoing studies, Puzas is finding that the osteoporosis drug Forteo is also useful in healing bones.

The Stanford group is now expanding its work to speed tissue regeneration after skin wounds, heart attacks and stroke.

Prevention Program Spares Seniors More Falls

WEDNESDAY, May 12 (HealthDay News) — Elderly individuals who had fallen and then taken part in an intensive program to prevent falls were much less likely to fall again, a new study shows.

But proving something works is often a far cry from actually seeing it implemented, one expert noted.

“People have been proposing intervention programs like this for a long time,” said S. Jay Olshansky, a professor of public health and senior research scientist at the Center on Aging at the University of Illinois at Chicago. “We know that they work. The question is how much all of this costs,” he added.

“The bottom line is it’s sort of an elite intervention program that’s likely to be very expensive,” Olshansky said. “The entire older population is at risk for falls, so how would you implement a program like this? Having said that, it is very interesting they suggested it also improved activities of daily living, which is a good sign. Other normal functioning of these individuals improved as a result of the intervention.”

The study authors, from the University of Nottingham in England, noted that this type of intervention is already provided in many places in the United Kingdom.

“The cost implications of our research are speculative as we have not yet completed an economic evaluation . . . but we would hope that a reduction in falls could lead to maintenance of independence in activities of daily living, and therefore people not needing extra home care costs,” said study author Philippa Logan, postdoctoral researcher and occupational therapist at the School of Community Health Sciences at Nottingham. “We need to complete a larger study to see if there is an effect on the numbers of fractures, so we cannot say at this time that the intervention will reduce hospital days or surgery time.”

“It would be wonderful if we could implement this, but I’m afraid in the U.S. we spend a lot of money on things so if someone falls and calls an ambulance, the person goes to the emergency room, [and] the emergency room charges the government for the fee,” said Dr. Bernard Roos, director of geriatric research at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and Miami VA Hospital. “Nobody in the emergency room sends a person to evaluate the risk of falling so the patient keeps coming back. This is a wonderful model for what we should be doing.”

“Studies like this support the need for evidence-based education classes for community-dwelling seniors,” said Matthew Lee Smith, an assistant professor with Texas A&M Health Science Center School of Rural Public Health in College Station, Texas.

According to background information in the study, which was published online May 12 in BMJ, 25 percent of people aged 70 and over and 50 percent of those aged 80 and over fall every year. And these people will frequently fall again, leading to life-threatening injuries.

Although ambulances are often called, many individuals who have fallen aren’t actually taken to a hospital, the study authors stated.

For this study, 204 adults who were over 60 and who had called an ambulance after a fall but had not been taken to the hospital were randomly assigned to one of two groups.

The first group had access to specialists who helped them build strength and balance, and who offered suggestions for making their homes safer.

The second group of people “were advised by letter to use existing social and medical services as usual,” the authors wrote.

According to diaries kept by the participants and follow-up contact over one year, “the incidence rates of falls per year were 3.46 in the intervention group and 7.68 in the control group,” the study authors reported.

This amounted to a 55 percent decline in the rate of falls in the support group, a larger effect than seen in previous research, the authors stated.

People receiving the extra care and support also improved on measures of daily living (such as bathing, dressing and eating) and were less anxious about falling again.

Not surprisingly, people who fell less often were also less likely to call an ambulance and less likely to suffer fractures.

One question not addressed by the study authors was the extremely high mortality rate in both groups — about 15 percent, Olshansky pointed out.

The probability of an average 80-year-old dying in the United Kingdom is about 5.5 percent for a single year, said Olshansky, citing data from a national life table for the United Kingdom. For an average 70-year-old, it is about 1.9 percent.

“Why are at least three times more people dying than expected? That’s very odd,” he said.

By Amanda Gardner
HealthDay Reporter