Podcasts

• Dr. Robert Abel, Jr., an ophthalmologist who serves on the scientific advisory council for Cooper Complete supplements, talks about eye health and explains the importance of sunglasses, supplements, staying hydrated, and exercise as it relates to eye health.
  

• Dr. Tedd Mitchell, president of Cooper Clinic, discusses stretching. In 2004, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported its review of studies evaluating whether or not stretching is beneficial. The studies looked at the effect stretching had on athletic performance and injury prevention.
• Gina Kolata, reporting for The New York Times, recently wrote an article about stretching. It’s easy to assess aerobic or strength conditioning, but much more difficult to assess flexibility.
• There are lots of questions about stretching. Does it help or harm? Should we stretch before or after exercise? Should we stretch before or after a warm-up? These questions are difficult to answer.
• Dr. Mitchell gives his recommendation for the average person exercising.
  

• Dr. Tedd Mitchell, president of Cooper Clinic, and Todd Whitthorne discuss the recent Men's Health article, "5 Ways to Add Years to Your Life." Researchers identify five ways we can add more than 20 years to our lifespan.
  

• Dr. Tedd Mitchell, president of Cooper Clinic, discusses a study reported in the March/April 2008 issue of Health Affairs reporting better education translates into longer life expectancy.
• Researchers reported that individuals with more than 12 years of education have a predicted life expectancy of 82 years, while those with 12 years of education or less have a life expectancy of 75 years. Researchers are also seeing life expectancy lengthen for the group with more than 12 years of education. Dr. Mitchell comments on how the biggest difference between the two groups seems to be tobacco use.
• Dr. Mitchell also discusses a report in the March 15, 2008, edition of British Medical Journal reviewing the effect telling patients their "lung age" has on smoking quit rates. This study contained 561 current smokers older than 35, and is part of the Step2quit randomized controlled trial. Researchers found that telling smokers their "lung age" significantly improves their likelihood of quitting the habit.

• Dr. Tedd Mitchell, president of Cooper Clinic, discusses the study reported in the American Journal of Medicine March 2008 issue, " Adopting Moderate Alcohol Consumption in Middle Age: Subsequent Cardiovascular Events." This study tries to answer the question of whether or not a non-drinker should consider moderate drinking as part of their health habits.
• Historically, Cooper Clinic has counseled patients who drink to limit their drinking to one to two drinks per day (one for women, two for men), with the recommendation that "if you don't drink, don't start."
• The study examined individuals 45 to 64 years of age who started drinking. The study found that after four years of follow-up, new moderate drinkers (less than one drink per day, per woman, or less than two drinks per day, per man) had a 38 percent lower chance of developing cardiovascular disease than their non-drinking counterparts.. One drink was defined as 12 ounces beer, 5 ounces wine, or 1 1/2 ounces liquor.
• The study also found that very few of the new drinkers had any issues related to alcohol consumption.
• Dr. Mitchell discusses how the therapeutic window for alcohol is small - a little bit is beneficial while a lot can be harmful. It's important to remember that the problem is the amount of alcohol that gets us in trouble isn't much more than the amount that's shown to provide health benefits. Dr. Mitchell advises, "If you'll think of alcohol like any other drug, there's a certain dose that might be helpful."

• Dr. Cooper and Todd Whitthorne discuss a study conducted at Yale University School of Medicine that reviewed vitamin E levels and their ability to ward off physical decline. Almost 700 patients 65 years and older participated in the study. The article, published in the Jan. 22, 2008, edition of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), suggests a link between vitamin E and subsequent decline in physical function for older adults.
• If the level of vitamin E was less than 1.1 on the scale used, there was a marked increase (almost 60 percent) of cognitive impairments that occurred over a three-year period. The study used subjects living in Italy.
• Dr. Cooper is interested in measuring plasma levels of vitamin E as a stand-alone test, like the test Cooper Clinic currently does with vitamin D.
• There's another article in JAMA that reviews testosterone supplementation in older men. During the study, lean body mass increased and fat mass decreased in the testosterone group compared with the placebo group, but cognitive function and bone mineral density did not change. Dr. Cooper discusses the findings, and advises on what circumstances prompt him to prescribe testosterone supplementation for a patient.

• Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States. Dr. Tedd Mitchell, president of Cooper Clinic, discusses a paper presented at the 2007 American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology meeting, which found that quality of life has a significant impact on lung cancer survival rates.
• The study looked at the overall health of the patients, their mobility, emotional stability, and both social and financial support to predict mortality. The study's findings include:
• Patients who received the necessary emotional and physical support had better survival rates than those who didn't.
• Lung cancer patients with a below average quality of life before their treatment, in poor health, or those with inadequate support networks had nearly 70 percent higher death rates than patients with stronger support networks.

• Dr. Cooper is interviewed on ReachMD.com about the invention of Aerobics.

• Dr. Cooper and Todd Whitthorne discuss the latest data on cholesterol. The discussion includes a brief review of how the body uses LDL cholesterol, and an explanation of why it's a bit of a misnomer that LDL cholesterol is the “bad” cholesterol.
• Raising HDL cholesterol, the “good” cholesterol through aerobic/cardiovascular conditioning is suggested.
• The question of whether lowering the LDL cholesterol with statin medications is an effective way to reduce death from cardiovascular disease is raised. Dr. Cooper recommends steps to reduce cholesterol naturally first, with statin medication as an option if natural methods don't move the score enough.
• The cost and side effects of taking a statin are discussed. In a large study, 3 percent of the subjects taking the placebo (sugar pill) had heart attacks, while 2 percent had heart attacks while taking the statin. In terms of real numbers, the difference between the two groups was very small.
• Dr. Cooper talks about an article published in the September issue of The New England Journal of Medicine, “HDL Cholesterol, Very Low Levels of LDL Cholesterol, and Cardiovascular Events.”
• There is disagreement in the medical community about whether statin medications are beneficial. “Do Cholesterol Drugs Do Any Good?” BusinessWeek cover story, Jan. 17, 2008, is discussed.
• Dr. Cooper's book Controlling Cholesterol the Natural Way is a resource for people who want to control their cholesterol without drugs.
• The SPARCL (Stroke Prevention by Aggressive Reduction in Cholesterol Levels) findings are reviewed.
• Dr. Beatrice A. Golomb's statin effects study is reviewed. Dr. Golomb has been actively researching statin medications and their risk-benefit balance, including possible side effects.

• Dr. Cooper and Todd Whitthorne discuss recent data coming from the National Center for Health Statistics as it relates to heart disease. Researchers believe medical advancements (early detection and treatment) and lifestyle changes (not smoking, blood pressure control, exercise, and stress control) have all helped to reduce the incidence of and deaths from heart disease.
• There's a bill pending before Congress that Medicare will not cover CT scans. Dr. Cooper discusses why he believes passing of this bill would be a tragedy.
• Dr. Cooper discusses the EPIC Study (and how four healthy habits extended life by an average of 14 years), and the Framingham Heart Study is discussed.
• National Center for Health Statistics
• EPIC Study and see PODCAST titled EPIC Study
• Framingham Study
• Medicare Showdown

• Dr. Tedd Mitchell, president of Cooper Clinic, discusses the recent study reported in American Journal of Preventive Medicine that obese children who watched two to four hours of TV each day were 2.5 times more likely to have high blood pressure than their peers who watched less TV.
• Dr. Mitchell explains the role of NEAT, Non-Exercise Activity Thermogenesis (the energy expended for everything we do that is not sleeping, eating, or sports-like exercise), and how it impacts overall weight. Sitting still burns few calories, standing burns more calories than sitting, and walking burns more calories than standing. Healthy children need to keep moving.
• Children have access to TV, computers, electronic games, and other gadgets that keep them sitting and inactive. Dr. Mitchell suggests removal of the TV and computer from the bedroom (so time can be monitored), and urges parents to enforce a household rule of "no eating in front of the TV.”

• Dr. Michele Kettles, medical director and vice president of Cooper Clinic in Dallas, discusses the latest scientific data on vitamin D, and explains why vitamin D is important.
• Traditional bone health recommendations may have overemphasized the importance of calcium in bone health and underemphasized the importance of vitamin D. Vitamin D isn't just for bone health. Dr. Kettles explains that low levels of vitamin D are also associated with certain disease states.
• Cooper Clinic started routinely checking vitamin D levels of all patients in June 2007. Your physician can check your vitamin D level with a simple blood test. The test to take is a 25-hydroxy vitamin D level.
• The Cooper Complete scientific advisory team suggests vitamin D supplementation of 1,000 IU daily. Vitamin D-3 is a better supplement compared to vitamin D-2, and when purchasing vitamin D-3, look for the word "cholecalciferol” on the supplement facts label.
• An article entitled, “Vitamin D Deficiency and Risk of Cardiovascular Disease” was published in the journal Circulation on Jan. 22, 2008.

• The prevalence of esophageal cancer in men 50 years and older is increasing. Dr. Tedd Mitchell, president of Cooper Clinic, discusses this situation, and explains the difference between the two types of esophageal cancer.
• The gold standard for screening for esophageal cancer is an EGD (Esophagogastroduodenoscopy) test. Cooper Clinic recommends a baseline screen at age 50.
• Dr. Mitchell discusses long-time use of over-the-counter acid reflux medications, from TUMS to Prilosec. Dr. Mitchell recommends evaluation and treatment if acid reflux occurs more than once or twice each week.

• Dr. Tedd Mitchell, president of Cooper Clinic, discusses the United Kingdom study Combined Impact of Health Behaviours and Mortality in Men and Women: The EPIC-Norfolk Prospective Population Study reported in PLoS Medicine. Researchers examined the prospective relationship between lifestyle and mortality in a prospective population study of 20,244 men and women aged 45-79, and found that four healthy lifestyle habits resulted in participants living an average of 14 years longer than those who didn't practice any of the four lifestyle habits.
• We also give the calculation for Body Mass Index (BMI), and explain the categories.

• The ENHANCE (Effect of Combination Ezetimibe and High-Dose Simvastatin vs. Simvastatin Alone on the Atherosclerotic Process in Patients with Heterozygous Familial Hypercholesterolemia) trial results were released on Jan. 14, 2008. Dr. Tedd Mitchell, president of Cooper Clinic, discusses results of the ENHANCE trial (which compared Vytorin to Zetia), and gives Cooper Clinic’s recommendation of what to do if someone currently takes either of these medications

• There are two things that play a huge role in how long and how well you live. One is how you move and the other is how you eat. We'll talk about both today, including a new study showing how the Mediterranean diet is incredibly beneficial.
• Also, ladies even if you don't have any of the classic risk factors for heart disease, if you have any coronary calcification, it is a significant red flag
• Dr. Cooper answers listeners' calls.

• There are two things that play a huge role in how long and how well you live. One is how you move and the other is how you eat. We'll talk about both today, including a new study showing how the Mediterranean diet is incredibly beneficial.
• Also, ladies even if you don't have any of the classic risk factors for heart disease, if you have any coronary calcification, it is a significant red flag
• Dr. Cooper answers listeners' calls.

• New evidence reinforces the fact that despite your weight regular physical activity can help you live longer. How much physical activity do you need? Dr. Cooper discusses his recommendation.
• Parents and grandparents pay attention. Weak, brittle bones in old age actually get their start in childhood. We discuss why many experts are predicting an epidemic of both rickets and osteoporosis and exactly what you can do to protect your little ones.
• A new study shows fiber dramatically lowers your risk of pancreatic cancer, while one food in particular will increase the risk. Just more proof that we are what we eat.
• Dr. Cooper answers listeners' calls.

• As we get older, if there is one thing we want to avoid, it's a hip fracture. Ladies, you're especially at risk. If you're a postmenopausal woman, a new study identifies 11 factors associated with hip factors.
• Two new studies predict that the epidemic of childhood obesity will dramatically increase the number of deaths from heart disease and that those deaths will come at younger ages.
• Meanwhile in England, maternal death rates are at a two decade high and obesity seems to be the culprit.
• Dr. Cooper answers listeners' calls.

• The statement, "You are what you eat," has never been more true. An enormous new study reinforces that 30 percent to 35 percent of cancers are caused by diet. We'll tell you which cancers and explain what foods you need to include and avoid.
• Can beta carotene improve your memory? The answer is both yes and no. We explain.
• Dr. Cooper answers listeners' calls.

• A new report warns that the risk of cancer may be going up as a result of CT scans. Is there cause for alarm? Dr. Cooper gives his thoughts.
• We know that clots in your arteries increase the risk of heart attack and stroke, but about the clots in veins? It turns out they maybe much more dangerous than previously thought.
• Dr. Cooper answers listeners' calls.

• Dr. John Ho, a cardiologist at Cooper Clinic in Dallas, joins us today to talk about heart health. In addition to discussing specific steps we can take to avoid heart disease, we'll also explain what tests can be taken to detect heart disease, and what treatment options are available if heart disease is identified.
• We'll also discuss a new study that indicates taking cholesterol-lowering medication might increase the risk of cancer.
• And why having a hostile personality takes a toll on your heart.
• Also, we explain how to calculate maximal heart rate.
  
• Dr. Ho answers listeners' calls.
  

Program Reference:

• "Hostility, anger linked to chronic inflammation." Reuters, Aug. 2, 2007
• What’s my target heart rate and why should I care? Cooper Aerobics Center web site
• "Taking statins may increase cancer risk." www.timesonline.com, posted July 24, 2007
• "Statins' Cancer Benefits Challenged. Study Shows Cholesterol-Lowering Drugs Don't Cut Cancer Risk." www.webmd.com,
  posted Jan. 3, 2006
• "Statins and the Risk of Colorectal Cancer." The New England Journal of Medicine, Vol. 352, No. 21, May 26, 2005

• The brain is certainly not the largest organ in the body, but it is the most complex. There are many things we do that can harm the brain, but the latest research shows if you want to enhance the function of your brain, exercise will help you do that.
• Today we are joined by Dr. John Ratey, a clinical associate professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and the author of a new book, SPARK: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain, which will be released soon.

Program Reference:

• SPARK The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain, John J. Ratey, M.D.

• Knowing exactly what to do in terms of preventive medical exams can be pretty confusing especially if you're a woman. Between new advances in technology and conflicting results from scientific studies, it's sometimes hard to keep up on all the latest recommendations. Today we hope to bring you up to speed.
• Our special guest is Dr. David Rodgers, a board certified OB/GYN surgeon and director of gynecologic services for Cooper Clinic.
• We'll discuss the latest options regarding mammograms, what can be done for PMS, and how anti-depressants may have some side effects you're not aware of.
• Dr. Rogers answers listeners' calls.

• Today is Ladies Day on "Healthy Living," but guys don't go anywhere. You'll want to hear the information we'll be sharing because it pertains to all wives, moms, sisters, and daughters.
• We'll cover hormone replacement therapy (HRT), a new study that indicates diet may play a big role in ovarian cancer, and osteoporosis.
• Our special guest is Dr. David Rodgers a board certified OB/GYN surgeon and director of gynecologic services for Cooper Clinic.
• Dr. Rogers answers listeners' calls.
  

• From a nutritional standpoint, fish is incredibly beneficial. It is one of the best foods we can eat. There are many reasons why fish is so good for us, but primarily it's the presence of the omega-3 fatty acids.
• Dr. Joseph Hibbeln, a psychiatrist and lipid biochemist at the National Institutes of Health and one of the leading authorities on the benefits of fish and fish oil supplements, joins us.
• Dr. Hibbeln answers listeners' calls.

• Dr. Joseph Hibbeln, a psychiatrist and lipid biochemist at the National Institutes of Health and one of the leading authorities on the benefits of fish and fish oil supplements, joins us to discuss the nutritional benefits of omega-3 fatty acids.
• Dr. Hibbeln answers listeners' calls.

• Macular degeneration is the leading cause of blindness in older Americans, and like most diseases, there are many things you can do to reduce the odds of ever getting it. Grab a pen and a piece of paper because you might want to write these down.
• What about eye exercises? Do they work or are they a huge waste of time?
• Those are just two of the topics we’ll discuss today with our special guest Dr. Robert Abel, one of our country's leading ophthalmologists.

• It's well know that omega-3 fatty acids are great for the heart and the brain, but did you know they are also good for the eyes? In fact, there are many nutrients, along with some simple habits, that can help maintain and restore your vision.
• Today our guest is Dr. Robert Abel, author of the Eye Care Revolution. We'll discuss what steps you should take to maximize the health of your eyes, and answer listeners' calls.

• Dr. Kenneth Cooper and Dr. Tyler Cooper will discuss their new book Start Strong Finish Strong.
• They answer listeners' calls.
  

• If you are a smoker or a former smoker, should you have a CT scan to screen for lung cancer?
• Dr. Cooper will discuss the use of preventive screenings including the role MRI plays in the detection of breast cancer.
• We know red meat increases the risk of colon cancer, but what is its role related to the reoccurrence of the disease? We will discuss the results of a brand new study.
• And yet another positive report regarding coffee.
• Dr. Cooper answers listeners' calls.

• There's yet more ammunition touting the health benefits of vitamin D, but if you think you're getting enough, you may want to think again.
• Most older women have their bone density checked, but does it make sense for a man to have the screening done?
• We'll discuss new information showing that heart attacks in diabetics are much more severe and this week's incredibly misleading headlines regarding vitamin supplementation and the impact on heart disease in women.
• Dr. Cooper answers listeners' calls.

Program Reference Notes:

• "Low Vitamin D Levels Linked To Poor Physical Performance." Posted on www.medicalnewstoday.com, April 24, 2007
• "Vitamin D and Insulin." Posted on Feel Great Coaching Wellness Blog, Aug. 1, 2007
• "One dose of vitamin D boosts TB immunity." Reuters, Aug. 2, 2007
• "Common vitamins no help for women's hearts: study." Reuters, Aug. 14, 2007
• "Japan study finds coffee may prevent colon cancer" Reuters, Aug. 1, 2007
• "Are antioxidants worthless against heart disease?" Posted on Honest Nutrition blog, Aug. 15, 2007
• "A Randomized Factorial Trial of Vitamins C and E and Beta Carotene in the Secondary Prevention of Cardiovascular Events in Women." Archives of Internal Medicine, Vol. 167, No. 15, Aug. 13/27, 2007
• "Cost-effectiveness of Bone Densitometry Followed by Treatment of Osteoporosis in Older Men." Journal of the American Medical Association, Vol. 298, No. 6, August 8, 2007
  

• With more than 30 percent of Americans now officially obese, two new studies indicate that gastric bypass surgery not only helps patients live longer but it also dramatically lowers the rate of diabetes, cancer, and heart disease. But, who is going to pay for it?
• Can unintentional weight loss predict Alzheimer's disease? New research says yes but only in one gender...which one?
• And parents, heads up! Does your child suffer from high blood pressure? The problem appears to be much worse than we ever thought.
• Dr. Cooper answers listeners' calls.

Program Reference Notes:

• Kids' High Blood Pressure Goes Untreated
• "Gastric bypass cuts obesity death rate: studies" Reuters, Aug. 22, 2007
• "Childhood Obesity: What It Means for Physicians" Journal of the American Medical Association, Vol. 298, No. 8, August 22/29, 2007
• "Obesity and Risk for Chronic Renal Failure" Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, April 2006
• "Weight loss may foreshadow Alzheimer's in women" Reuters, Aug. 20, 2007

• When it comes to food and staying healthy, there are really only two factors to consider – what you eat and how much you eat.
• Today, Jennifer Neily, a registered and licensed dietitian at Cooper Clinic in Dallas, will help you address both areas. You'll learn exactly what you can eat to lower your cholesterol, lower your blood pressure, and lower your weight.
• We also answer listeners' calls.

• Many Americans are struggling to achieve and maintain a healthy weight. In fact, two out of three Americans are either overweight or obese.
• The majority are not gaining 20 to 30 pounds a year; it's more like two to three pounds per year. So how can you develop the skills to stop the expansion?
• Today, Jennifer Neily, a registered and licensed dietitian at Cooper Clinic in Dallas who consults with hundreds of patients every year, will help explain exactly what you need to do in order to get healthy and stay healthy nutritionally

• The brain is certainly not the largest organ in the body, but it is the most complex. There are many things we do that can harm the brain, but the latest research shows if you want to enhance the function of your brain, exercise will help you do that.
• Today we are joined by Dr. John Ratey, a clinical associate professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and the author of a new book, SPARK: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain, which will be released soon.
  

Program Reference:

• SPARK: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain, John J. Ratey, M.D.

• Across the United States communities are facing an increasing number of health issues among children, including childhood obesity, diabetes, and physical inactivity. At the same time we are placing more and more emphasis on improving performance in the classroom. Is there a way to enhance both the physical health and academic potential of our kids? The answer is, ABSOLUTELY!
• Today we have two guests on the show to discuss these issues. Phil Lawler, a leader in physical education, joins us from Naperville, Ill., and joining us from Boston is Dr. John Ratey, a clinical associate professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and the author of a new book, SPARK: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain, which will be released soon.

Program Reference Notes:

• SPARK: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain, John J. Ratey, M.D.

• Dr. John Ho, a cardiologist at Cooper Clinic in Dallas, joins us today to talk about heart health. In addition to discussing specific steps we can take to avoid heart disease, we'll also explain what tests can be taken to detect heart disease, and what treatment options are available if heart disease is identified.
• We'll also discuss a new study that indicates taking cholesterol-lowering medication might increase the risk of cancer.
• And why having a hostile personality takes a toll on your heart.
• Also, we explain how to calculate maximal heart rate.
• Dr. Ho answers listeners' calls.

Program Reference:

• "Hostility, anger linked to chronic inflammation." Reuters, Aug. 2, 2007
• What's my target heart rate and why should I care? Cooper Aerobics Center web site
• "Taking statins may increase cancer risk." www.timesonline.com, posted July 24, 2007
• "Statins' Cancer Benefits Challenged. Study Shows Cholesterol-Lowering Drugs Don't Cut Cancer Risk." www.webmd.com, posted Jan. 3, 2006
• "Statins and the Risk of Colorectal Cancer." The New England Journal of Medicine, Vol. 352, No. 21, May 26, 2005
  

• We'll discuss news regarding many popular prescription and over-the-counter medications.
• If you take red yeast rice to lower your cholesterol and have been experiencing muscle soreness, there may be a very good reason why that's happening.
• What about heartburn? If you take Prilosec, Nexium, Zantac, Pepcid, or Tagamet, you may be at greater risk for heart attack or dementia.
• And if you take aspirin for your heart and ibuprofen for arthritis, Dr. Cooper will explain exactly when and how you should take those medications.
• Dr. Cooper answers listeners' calls.

Program Reference Notes:

• "FDA warns doctors, consumers about red yeast supplements found to contain lovastatin." Posted on www.theheart.org, a WebMD web site
• "Acid inhibitors may raise dementia risk: A study of elderly blacks indicates that those who are chronic users are more likely to develop the disease. The drugs inhibit a chemical involved in memory." Los Angeles Times, Aug. 4, 2007
• "Tonsil Removal May Cure ADHD Behavior in Kids." Arizona Daily Star, Aug. 5, 2007
• "The costly side effects of Nexium's ad blitz: Heartburn pills may be safe enough, but their marketing is hazardous." Posted on msnbc.com, Aug. 14, 2007
• "FDA Is Reviewing Heartburn Drugs After Studies Find Possible Heart Risk." New York Times
• "Exercise Caution When Taking Ibuprofen." Posted on Cleveland Clinic's HeartAdvisor.com web site
• "Aspirin: A user's guide to who needs it and how much to take." Harvard Heart Letter, August 2007