The Medical Advisor

People who take vitamin D supplements may be less at-risk for developing late stage and even fatal cancer, new research suggests. A study led by experts at Harvard University found people taking the daily pills were 17 percent less likely to develop advanced cancer. And those who were of a healthy weight were even more likely to benefit, with a risk reduction of 38 percent. It comes as growing evidence suggests the 'sunshine vitamin' might be protective against  coronavirus  too.  Vitamin D is primarily known for helping to regulate calcium and phosphate, minerals that are key to developing and maintaining healthy bones, teeth and muscles.  But in recent years, there's been mounting evidence the vitamin D - which we primarily absorb from sunlight - is also involved in the life cycle and growth of many types of cells, including those that make up the immune system.   The new Harvard research, published in the  JAMA Network Open medical journal , overt...

What Is Vitamin D? Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin, meaning that it dissolves in fats and oils and can be stored in your body for a long time. Two main dietary forms exist ( Trusted Source ): Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol). Found in some animal foods, like fatty fish and egg yolks. Vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol). Found in some plants, mushrooms, and yeasts. Of the two, D3 (cholecalciferol) seems to be almost twice as effective at increasing blood levels of vitamin D as D2 (ergocalciferol) ( Trusted Source ,  Trusted Source ). What Does It Do in Your Body? Vitamin D needs to undergo two conversion steps to become active  ( Trusted Source ,  Trusted Source ). First, it is converted to calcidiol, or 25(OH)D, in your liver. This is the storage form of the vitamin. Second, it is converted to calcitriol, or 1,25(OH)2D, mostly in your kidneys. This is the active, steroid-hormone form of vitamin D. Calcitriol interacts with the vitamin D receptor (VDR), which is found in almost ev...

We've been asked the following questions frequently: What shampoos are sulfate free? What happens when you switch to sulfate free shampoo? Is sulfate free shampoo really better for your hair? Sulfates are the foaming agents found in traditional shampoos. These foaming agents can have negative effects when they prove too harsh for your hair, stripping it off its natural oils and drying it to the point where it’s brittle and limp. One sulfate commonly used in shampoos is called SLS (Sodium Lauryl Sulphate). Sulfates are also listed under the  Hazard List of MadeSafe.org  under the 'surfactants'  category. That’s why people reach for sulfate-free formulas or 'tanpa SLS' in malay. They’re thought to keep hair color and curls preserved more effectively and for longer than shampoos with these foaming agents. Although they might not lather up like you’re used to, know that your hair is still getting clean while becoming healthier at the same time. There are many shampoos i...

Collecting data on oxygen levels is crucial because people with covid-19 may suffer from "silent hypoxia", a dangerous condition in which they do not outwardly appear to be short of breath, but are  confirmed to be so through a pulse oximeter test . Pulse oximeters, or pulse ox, measure the amount of oxygenated blood (SpO2) in your body, giving medical professionals an idea of how much oxygen your body is carrying to vital organs and tissues.  Patients with covid-19 who don’t need immediate hospital attention but are at high risk of developing serious symptoms are to be given pulse oximeters to use at home to reduce the risk of serious deterioration, The BMJ has learnt ( BMJ, published 27 October 2020 ). NHS England is believed to have purchased around 200,000 pulse oximeters for the scheme, which clinical commissioning groups across England will be able to access. Be careful, however. Many cheap models found on the internet don’t do much to measure accurately. They’re la...

One of the new normal SOPs include taking temperature of customers before they are allowed to enter the premises. Temperature checks have been a common ongoing SOP for most of the business premises in Malaysia. For those businesses who have yet to purchase the thermometers for their premises, which one should you buy? There are many types of thermometers i.e. digital, infrared, forehead, ear, oral, touch, no-touch etc.  The most popular is the infrared no-touch forehead thermometer. Touch thermometers are discouraged as you will need to sanitise it in between each customer and you might spread the virus from one face to another. Most thermometers will read your temperature accurately. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, thermometers may be in high demand and sold out quickly.  Here's our pick for best forehead thermometers in Malaysia. 1.  Non-contact Hands Free Infrared Forehead Thermometer (Fast Measurement with Tripod) > Check Price on Lazada - Accurat...

As many as 8 out of 10 Americans struggle with back pain, and many resort to surgery as a solution. Unfortunately, this often does not resolve the problem, and in some cases simply worsens the situation. Dr. David Hanscom, an orthopedic surgeon with a practice in Seattle, is unusual in that he tells most of his patients they don't need surgery. He's written a book detailing his novel approach to chronic pain treatment, called "Back in Control: A Surgeon's Roadmap Out of Chronic Pain." Spinal Fusions Rarely Cure Chronic Back Pain Spinal Fusions are a lucrative business and great source of revenue for the hospital and surgeon. Unfortunately, they rarely work for the patients. Spinal fusions arose from the assumption that disc degeneration was a source of back pain.Therefore, it was thought that by fusing the disc together with the bone, which eliminates motion, you would get rid of the pain. However, that has since been proven false. "Disc degeneration actually...

Can Vitamin C actually protect you against the flu virus or even the current coronavirus? Are you taking enough of vitamin C? From the dozens of different brands and products, which one should you choose? Many varieties of vitamin C supplements are available online and offline at your local health stores and pharmacies such as Guardian and Watsons. As consumers, we'd like to think that the vitamins and supplements we buy are almost the same. In reality, this isn't always the case. Some third-party organizations, such as NSF International, ConsumerLab and LabDoor test supplements for purity and label accuracy. You may want to choose a vitamin C supplement that has been tested by one of these companies. We have done our research and shortlisted the best for you. The list is based on recommendations by third party organizations and poularity on the local search results. Here are the best vitamin C supplements that you can buy in Singapore today. 1. NOW Foods Vitamin C Sustained Re...