Is it safe to warm breast milk in a microwave oven?
No, it is not safe to warm breast milk in a microwave oven. Collected breast milk should never be warmed in a microwave oven, because it destroys many important natural protective elements in breast milk that is beneficial to the infant. As a matter of fact, even milk formulas in cans or bottle should never be warmed in a microwave oven. In both instances, the milk, and the bottle itself, can be too hot for the baby and could result in burns, and the bottles can also explode. Many times, the bottle may feel cool but the milk inside can be too hot for the baby. The best way to warm or take the chill out of milk is by soaking the bottle of milk (formula or breast milk) in warm (NOT BOILING) water. Swirl the bottled breast milk a few times to mix it well. Before feeding the baby, let a few drops of milk land on your wrist to check the temperature. If it not too hot for your skin, then it is probably just right for the infant. It is always better to err on the cooler side. Some babies may even prefer milk at room-temperature or cool (not cold) milk. And they will usually let you know, in not so many words.
Is oregano an antibiotic?
Technically, no, oregano, our friendly spice on the kitchen shelf, is not an antibiotic. Not on the drugstore shelf yet anyway. It has recently been found to be a very potent antioxidant, more powerful than many fruits and vegetables. But oregano oil has also been found to kill dangerous, and some drug-resistant, bacteria, including staphylococcus. Researchers from the Georgetown University discovered that a minute amount of oregano oil diluted with olive oil prevented bacterial growth, just like some potent and expensive antibiotics. I won’t be surprised if sometime soon a pharmaceutical company came up with a new antibiotic called “Oregacillin” or something.
Why is improperly cooked pork dangerous?
Poorly cooked or insufficiently barbequed pork (or any meat, for that matter) is dangerous to health, because of the infection, or infestation with parasites, that they can cause. Improperly cooked pork, for instance, can lead to a parasitic disease known as Trichinosis, caused by a round worm called Trichinella spiralis. The larvae are killed by high temperature. If the pork is undercooked, the larvae survive, and when ingested, the digestive juices dissolve the cyst capsule and liberate the larvae in the intestine where they grow to maturity, ready to travel and invade the muscles of the eyelids, the heart, and other muscles in the body. This causes pain, fever, profuse sweating, chills, swelling of tissues, hemorrhages in the retina of the eyes, extreme photophobia (sensitivity to light). All these happen after an incubation period of 7 to 14 days, from the time of ingestion. Mortality is less than 5%. Most patients recover fully with treatment. This disease is 100% preventable, so we do not have any excuse to catch it at all.
How can we live longer?
While waiting for the discovery of the fountain of youth, here are some tips on healthy activities that could add years to your life: abstinence from smoking adds 1.3 years; vegetarian diet (fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grain), 2.4 years; eating nuts five times a week, 2.9 years; healthy weight, 1.5 years, vigorous exercise 3 times a week, 2.1 years. All these good habits alone can add up to more than 10 years to your life, according to the studies conducted by health experts at Loma Linda University in California. This is one of the many scientific investigations that support the same conclusions. Noteworthy too is the fact that persons with high blood pressure and/or diabetes mellitus AND normal total cholesterol level (not higher than 150) do a lot better and have lesser hardening of the arteries, compared to those individuals with high blood pressure and/or diabetes whose total cholesterol is high. Staying away from red meat and concentrating on fish, vegetables, fruits, a high-fiber diet, and following the other tips listed above, do, indeed, pay great dividends in terms of health and longevity.
Can post-open heart patients have sex?
In general, yes, after full recovery, which is usually after a period of two to 3 months, depending on the severity of illness, the extent of surgery, and the individual stamina or tolerance. The aim of open heart surgery is to bring the person back to the normal stream of life, as much as possible. The recommendation is for the patient be the passive partner (lying flat) during the lovemaking, minimizing heavy exertion. Some may even be benefited by taking a nitroglycerine pill under the tongue before the act. It is most prudent for the person who had surgery, whether of the heart or of other organs, to consult with the attending physician or surgeon for advice on this, and other related, matters, including the indication, safety and risk in the use of Viagra as an aid for male erectile dysfunction. Those on any form of nitroglycerine pills MUST NOT take Viagra, because the combination of these two drugs can lead to fatal consequences.
How can we beat a hangover?
Taking a couple of spoonfuls of honey, before or after drinking, may aid in preventing a hangover, according to a research from the US National Headache Foundation. Headache experts say that the fructose in honey speeds up alcohol metabolism and its effects on our body dissipate more rapidly. Tomato juice also has a lot of fructose in it, the reason why Bloody Mary (the virgin type) is considered a treatment for hangover the morning after. Obviously, tomato juice may also be taken before, and/or after, imbibing alcoholic beverages to minimize hangover symptoms.
Is aspirin cardioprotective?
Yes, taking mini-dose (81 mg) of aspirin daily has been found to protect the cardiovascular system, especially the heart. This can significantly lower the risk of coronary heart disease (heart attack) by thinning out the blood to a safe level and prevent blood clots in the tiny coronary arteries and others. This helps reduce the severity of hardening of the arteries (the culprit that causes heart attack and stroke) by as much as 80%. Although they are sold over the counter, they should not be taken without medical advise and supervision. This is not recommended for all persons. There are possible risk and complications, like bleeding in the stomach or in the brain, to mention two. Talk to your physician before starting on any drug/treatment regimen.
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Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus in Northwest Indiana and chairman of cardiac surgery from 1997 to 2010 at Cebu Doctors University Hospital, where he holds the title of Physician Emeritus in Surgery, is based in Las Vegas, Nevada. He is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, the Philippine College of Surgeons, and the Denton A. Cooley Cardiovascular Surgical Society. He is the chairman of the Filipino United Network – USA, a 501(c)(3) humanitarian foundation in the United States. Email: [email protected]
