New Screening Test for Acid Reflux Unveiled – A Breakthrough in Early Cancer Detection
Long Beach, California – Acid reflux is a common ailment that affects many individuals from time to time. However, constant and persistent acid reflux can pose serious health risks, including the development of a precancerous condition and potential cancer. In light of this alarming concern, medical experts in Long Beach have introduced an innovative screening test that aims to detect precancerous issues before they progress into life-threatening conditions.
A Silent Danger Revealed
“I started with heartburn,” confessed Ignacio Perez, a 68-year-old resident of Long Beach who had been experiencing occasional bouts of acid reflux for the past two years. “Hot food or very spicy food, especially when I bend over,” he added.
Ignacio’s experience resonates with millions across the country who suffer from chronic heartburn. What most people remain unaware of is that chronic heartburn can give rise to Barrett’s esophagus – a condition where the cells lining the esophagus undergo abnormal changes due to regular exposure to stomach acid as stated by Dr. Seper Dezfoli, a distinguished gastroenterologist.
“Barrett’s is when the esophagus cells are being replaced with stomach cells in response to acid exposure.”
This disquieting revelation further emphasizes the urgency for comprehensive screening measures.
A Revolutionary Solution Emerges: Esoguard
Recognizing Perez’s symptoms were not severe enough for an endoscopy procedure; Dr. Dezfoli recommended Esoguard as an alternative method for detecting abnormal cell growth within Ignacio’s digestive system.
“This has a definite role for patients who have risk but don’t necessarily need an endoscopy,” he explained.
Esoguard, a groundbreaking miniature capsule no larger than a multivitamin, has made the screening process significantly more accessible and convenient for patients. With a textured balloon that opens up inside the esophagus to collect cell samples, swallowing the balloon and wire proved to be effortless for Perez:
“I felt it, but nothing was wrong. I was comfortable,” he recalled.
This simplicity should help alleviate any apprehension patients may have about undergoing screening procedures. The collected samples are then diligently analyzed in laboratories for detailed examination.
Urgent Need for Wider Screening
The necessity of comprehensive and timely screenings becomes evident when considering that approximately 22,000 Americans face an esophageal cancer diagnosis each year. To compound this concern, Dr. Dezfoli highlighted a disconcerting truth:
“Ninety percent of them were never tested for Barrett’s esophagus.”
This staggering statistic emphasizes an urgent need to prioritize screenings and improve early detection practices in order to prevent unnecessary suffering from potentially preventable cancers.
The Power of Early Intervention
Awareness of risk factors is crucial in prompting individuals towards proactive measures concerning their health. Being mindful of factors such as being male with a white background, age 50 or above, having individuals within one’s family history affected by esophageal cancer or smoking-related issues along with long-term acid reflux will aid vulnerable individuals in making informed decisions regarding their well-being.
Doctors suggest that if an individual possesses three or more risk factors they should immediately seek screening services.
A Lifesaving Revelation
Perez expressed immense gratitude at having undergone the Esoguard screening test. The results disclosed a positive presence of abnormal cells, leading to early intervention methods that may potentially save his life:
“You put them on medications, you do endoscopies, and you can prevent the cells from progressing,” Dr. Dezfoli affirmed.
Promoting Awareness for Optimal Health
Equipping ourselves with knowledge is the first step towards safeguarding our health and well-being. Perez’s fervent advice resonates profoundly:
“When you eat something hot or spicy and you feel heartburn: Don’t wait.”
Embracing these words of wisdom ensures that individuals don’t delay in taking necessary action when it comes to their health, thus preventing potential risks from transforming into debilitating conditions.
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Navigating the World of Ultra-Processed Foods: What You Need to Know
Photo = Getty Images Korea.
Ultra-processed foods are generally dismissed as harmful foods that harm your health. The impact of the publication of numerous studies showing that it can increase the risk of premature death is significant. But you don’t need to avoid all ultra-processed foods. This is because the effects on the body are different.
For example, there is no risk correlation between processed meats such as sausages or ham, foods and drinks with a lot of added sugar, and breads made from processed grains.
On the 8th (local time), researchers at the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health tracked more than 100,000 US medical professionals for 30 years and studied how consumption of ultra-processed foods affects health.
The healthcare workers involved in this study had no history of cancer, cardiovascular disease or diabetes. They provided information on their health and lifestyle habits every two years from 1986 to 2018. They also completed detailed questionnaires about foods consumed every four years.
Photo = Getty Images Korea.
According to a CNN report, the group that consumed the least amount of ultra-processed food ate on average about three times a day, and the group that consumed the most about seven times a day. Those who consumed the most had a 4% higher risk of all-cause death and a 9% higher risk of neurodegenerative death.
The study’s lead author, Dr. Ming Yang Song, an associate professor of clinical epidemiology and nutrition at the Harvard School of Public Health, said the correlation was “moderate” and not as strong across all types of ultra-processed foods .
“Clear associations appeared primarily in certain subgroups, including processed meats and high-sugar or artificially sweetened beverages,” he said. This means that there are both good and bad things in ultra-processed foods.
This study presents an analysis of various subgroups within the ultra-processed food category.
Dr. Song said there are many types of ultra-processed foods, so he wouldn’t recommend avoiding them all.
“For example, cereals and whole-grain breads are considered ultra-processed foods, but they contain many beneficial nutrients such as fiber, vitamins and minerals,” said Dr. Song. “On the other hand, I think we should avoid or limit the consumption of some ultra-processed foods, such as processed meats and highly sugary drinks,” he added.
He also said researchers should look more closely at components of ultra-processed foods that can affect health, such as food additives, emulsifiers and flavourings, to advise governments and agencies on how to regulate them.
Dr Song said the study found that the most important factor in reducing the risk of death was the overall quality of the diet.
Photo = Getty Images Korea.
Dr Peter Wilde, an honorary life sciences researcher at the Quadram Institute in the UK, said healthy eating means eating a variety of colorful fruit and vegetables and as many whole grains as possible.
“If you are concerned about food additives, choose those with low additive content. “However, carefully consider the nutritional content of the ultra-processed foods you plan to eat,” she advised.
It is also important to recognize that food should be consumed in a balanced way. Fruit juice contains vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that are beneficial when consumed in moderation, but if consumed in excess, its high sugar content can offset the benefits, Dr. Wilde said.
“This is not black and white. “It’s not that some foods are good or bad; they contain elements of both, and the balance between the two can vary depending on how much you eat.”
Park Hae-sik, Donga.com reporter [email protected]
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Navigating the World of Ultra-Processed Foods: What You Need to Know
Vaxzevria: AstraZeneca withdraws corona vaccine
The corona vaccine from the Swedish-British pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca, Vaxzevria, no longer has EU approval. The withdrawal of market approval, which was decided in March, came into force on Tuesday, according to a document from the EU Commission. AstraZeneca requested this step itself, the company said. The background is a lack of demand.
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Since the end of the pandemic, several variants of Covid-19 vaccines have been developed, which is why there is now a surplus of available updated preparations, AstraZeneca said. “This has resulted in a decline in demand for Vaxzevria, which is no longer manufactured or supplied.”
The EU Commission said in a statement that it was not unusual for companies to request the withdrawal of marketing authorization for medicines or vaccines for commercial reasons. The commission can confirm “that the decision is not based on doubts about the safety or effectiveness of the vaccine.”
AstraZeneca must provide information about side effects
The Bamberg Higher Regional Court recently ordered AstraZeneca to provide information about the possible effects of its corona vaccine. In the appeal process regarding alleged vaccine damage, AstraZeneca must disclose which effects and side effects of the vaccine the company was aware of between December 27, 2020 and February 19, 2024, a court spokesman said. The AstraZeneca vaccine was approved on December 27, 2020.
According to media reports, the drugmaker has admitted in court documents that the vaccine causes side effects such as blood clots and low platelet counts.
The corona vaccine from the Swedish-British pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca, Vaxzevria, no longer has EU approval. The withdrawal of market approval, which was decided in March, came into force on Tuesday, according to a document from the EU Commission. AstraZeneca requested this step itself, the company said. The background is a lack of demand.
Since the end of the pandemic, several variants of Covid-19 vaccines have been developed, which is why there is now a surplus of available updated preparations, AstraZeneca said. “This has resulted in a decline in demand for Vaxzevria, which is no longer manufactured or supplied.”
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