STROKE PREVENTION- READ THIS!!!!
Two simple tests can help prevent stroke. One is called a carotid ultrasound. Carotid refers to the arteries in the neck that transport blood to the brain. When a pulse is taken in the neck, these are the arteries used. Ultrasound spots fatty plaque buildup in the arteries which can block blood flow and cause a stroke. "Experts estimate that such carotid strokes account for one-third to one-half of all strokes." 80% of all strokes are "ischemic," meaning a blockage of blood flow to the brain. About 12% are "hemorrhagic," involving a burst artery or aneurysm in or near the brain.

The other test is called an Ankle-Brachial test. This is simply a reading of the blood pressure taken in two places: your arm (brachial- the standard place) and your leg just above the ankle. The ratio of the ankle blood pressure to the brachial blood pressure is taken. Anything less than 0.9 is considered a positive test. This test is a direct measure of fatty plaque buildup in the leg arteries and an indirect gauge of plaque accumulation throughout the entire body.

Risk factors for stroke include high blood pressure, cigarette smoking, heart disease, diabetes, high cholesterol, obesity and lack of physical activity and family history of stroke. For more information on risk factors see the American Heart Association. Also see Legs For Life for a screening near you.
From The Wall Street Journal 9/24/04 p. A1 and A12.

"Overfed, Undernourished"
"A new federal report finds that much of the population-which is overweight and overfed- often falls short in consuming essential nutrients. In short, Americans are eating too much of the wrong stuff.

That's one of the conclusions of the Dietary Guidelines Scientific Advisory Committee, which issued its report in August. Written by a group of 13 experts from academia, the report notes that more than one half of adults and children fail to consume enough calcium, vitamin E, fiber, magnesium and potassium. Intake is low enough to be 'of concern,' the committee reported, noting that most adults also fall short in consumption of vitamins A and C."
From the Washington Post 9/21/04, pp.F1 and F6.

This study shows the importance of performing a 7-Day Diet Diary. This is the ONLY way you can really know what you are eating. Unfortunately, "nutritionists" usually do not perform this. Please contact the office to schedule an appointment to start your 7-Day Diet Diary.

Clinical Trials.gov
See the website Clinical Trials for information "about federally and privately supported clinical research in human volunteers. ClinicalTrials.gov gives you information about a trial's purpose, who may participate, locations, and phone numbers for more details."