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Sound Medicine -- November 15, 2003

Hosts Barbara Lewis and Dr. David Crabb talk to physicians and researchers about:

Indiana Cancer Report

Mind-Body Healing

Coronary Heart Disease Risk Factors

Real Media | Windows Media

Indiana Cancer Report

According to a recent report on cancer in Indiana, the Hoosier state ranks below the US average in the number of cancer cases, but we rank above the national average in cancer deaths. A major factor in this discrepancy is health insurance. Many Indiana residents have minimal or no health coverage, so they are reluctant to see a doctor for preventive screening, and they may not receive adequate healthcare.

That is just one of the issues facing the director of the Indiana State Department of Health. Dr. Greg Wilson talks about the many findings in the state's comprehensive report for the state, providing us with facts and figures for one of the most troubling diseases.

Resources:

Read the report: Indiana Cancer Facts and Figures: 2003 (PDF format)

The National Institutes of Health offer an abundance of cancer information regarding treatment, support groups and specific conditions.

Edward Creagan, M.D., a cancer specialist at Mayo Clinic, offers his advice on what to expect from cancer and how to cope.

Mind-Body Healing

"Mind over matter?" This saying may be more truth than cliché. But can the mind really have a healing effect on the body? The ancient Indian culture that created the practice of yoga believed in the mind/body connection, and so does Dr. Herbert Benson of the Mind/Body Medical Institute at Harvard University. He has spent over thirty years studying the mind/body relationship and is a pioneer in mind/body medicine.

Dr. Benson is credited with defining the relaxation response and has proven through research the efficacy of mind/body medicine for stress-related complaints, which comprise between 60-90% of all physician visits. Dr. Benson's latest area of work deals with maximizing untapped abilities to enhance mental function, creativity, productivity and performance. He is the author of The Breakout Principle, a book on the subject.

Resources:

Learn more about mind/body medicine on the Web sites for the Mind/Body Medical Institute and the Center for Mind-Body Medicine.

Read how mental health affects mind/body wellness.

Coronary Heart Disease Risk Factors

Recently, the role of family history in determining one's risk for coronary heart disease has received much attention within the medical research community. It has been estimated that 50% of patients with coronary heart disease do not have any of the traditional risk factors: smoking, diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure.

Recent research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, however, disproved this theory. Studies showed that conventional risk factors were present in 80% or more of patients with coronary heart disease. The lead investigator of one study, Dr. Umesh Khot, discusses these significant findings. Dr. Khot is a cardiologist with Indiana Heart Physicians at St. Francis Hospital in Indianapolis.

Resources:

Read an article from USA Today.com about the findings of Dr. Khot's research as well as a similar study.

Learn some important preventive measures you can take to reduce your risk of heart disease.

How does smoking lead to heart disease? This article explains why smokers should quit.