Fingernail Ridges?
Q. What does it mean when fingernails develop vertical ridges, and is it cause for concern?
A. Nail ridging is a common condition that is almost always a normal sign of aging. In many ways it is analogous to wrinkles on your skin. Typically, you may develop vertical ridges from the cuticle to the tip of your nail on one or two fingers, but ridges are likely to occur on all of your nails as you get older. Ridges can appear on someone’s fingers as early as in their 30s, but it is more common to begin when someone is in their 50s or 60s.
There isn’t much that can be done to prevent nail ridging, but there are things you can do to ensure that your nails are as healthy as possible. Eat foods that are high in biotin, such as green leafy vegetables, brown rice, soybeans, sunflower seeds, liver, egg yolks, cheese and sweet potatoes. File your nails with a coarse nail file to help smooth ridges, and continue filing with a gradually finer file and a buffer until they have a smooth, polished look. Soaking nails in olive oil helps keep them from drying out. Avoid pushing your cuticles back, and after washing your hands, apply moisturizer and rub it into your nails.
Allison A. Cannon, M.D.
Cannon & Cannon
Memorial Health Partner
721 Glenwood Drive, Suite 462 B
Chattanooga, TN 37404
(423) 624-2611
Passing on Tooth Decay to a Child?
Q. Is it possible for a mother to pass bacteria to her infant that can cause cavities? If so, what can be done to avoid it?
A. Studies show that a mother with high bacteria counts specific to cavities, especially Streptococcus mutans, will have a child with high bacteria counts. Furthermore, high bacteria counts of Streptococcus mutans are associated with very active decay rates.
Studies show that if a mother takes precautions before the birth of a child and lowers the bacteria presence, her child will have a lower bacteria presence, as well, presumably leading to a lower incidence of dental decay.
If a mother wants to lower her own bacteria counts, she should have any outstanding cavities filled, get professional dental cleanings on a regular basis, and maintain a great dental care routine at home. While these things are simple, they make a big difference in the amount of bacteria – especially harmful bacteria – in the mouth.
Mark McOmie, D.M.D.
McOmie Family Dentistry
5999 Shallowford Road
Chattanooga, TN 37421
(423) 899-1112
www.mcomiedentistry.com
Chocolate Good
for the Heart?
Q. Is it true that chocolate is good for your heart?
A. Increasingly, research shows that dark chocolate, specifically, can lower blood pressure and boost the “good cholesterol,” HDL. This is due to cocoa flavanols, which are powerful antioxidants. A recent study published in the scientific journal Nature revealed that dark chocolate, but not milk chocolate, is full of antioxidants. This study also indicates that drinking milk with the chocolate may interfere with the absorption of antioxidants from the chocolate and should be avoided.
The more chocolate is processed, the more flavanols and their antioxidant properties are lost. While the main powerful effect of dark chocolate comes from the cocoa (cacao) flavanols, it is important to know how much of cacao content the chocolate has. The experts recommend consuming at least 60 percent cacao dark chocolate.
The most powerful evidence comes from a just-published prospective study (European Heart Journal, 2010) in which 20,000 people without heart disease were consuming several grams of chocolate a day for a decade. Those who ate the most chocolate – 7.5 grams a day – had lower blood pressure and a significantly lower risk of having a heart attack or stroke than those who ate the least chocolate.
However, more is not better when it comes to chocolate because of the calories. One square of dark chocolate a day – about 30 calories worth – may provide the cardiovascular health benefit.
Ondrej J. Lisy, M.D., Ph.D.
The Chattanooga Heart Institute
2501 Citico Avenue
Chattanooga, TN 37404
(423) 697-2000
Allergies Helped
by Local Honey?
Q. Will ingesting local honey help
alleviate the terrible allergy symptoms I experience every spring?
A. Although local honey may help the symptoms of spring allergies, it hasn’t been proven in the recent scientific literature. The belief that local honey consumption helps with pollen allergies is a widespread belief in this area. I have read publications stating that ingestion of local honey may improve allergy symptoms. This is plausible because locally grown honey may contain very small amounts of local plant pollens. Upon ingestion of the honey, an immunologic response may be triggered and the patient may have improved allergic symptoms. However, the truth is that the scientific literature does not support this notion.
For those with spring allergies, allergy shots are the most effective research-proven treatment available. There have been several placebo-controlled studies done to research the treatment of allergies with honey and none of them have shown improvement of allergic symptoms upon the ingestion of locally grown honey. Although rare, the scientific literature has reported severe allergic reactions to honey, called anaphylaxis.
In short, if ingestion of honey makes you feel better and causes no harm, enjoy!
Dr. Susan Raschal, D.O.
Covenant Allergy & Asthma Care
1350 Mackey Branch Drive, Suite 114 Chattanooga, TN 37421
(423) 468-3267
www.covenantallergy.com
Supplements for a Vegetarian Diet?
Q. Does my teenage daughter, who recently decided to become a vegetarian, need to take certain supplements to make sure she gets enough nutrients?
A. Vegetarian diets have become increasingly popular and are usually healthier than the standard American diet. As a word of caution, some adolescents will use a vegetarian diet to reduce calories as part of an eating disorder.
The major nutrients of concern are iron, zinc and vitamin B12, which can be adequately covered with a multivitamin with iron. Omega-3 fatty acids and calcium are also often deficient in a vegetarian diet. Good sources of omega-3 fatty acids include flaxseed, walnuts, canola oil and soy. Soy milk, cheese and yogurt, juices and breakfast bars fortified with DHA (an omega-3 fatty acid) and calcium are also available.
Jeff Jump, M.D.
Medical Director
The Center for Integrative Medicine
1100 East 3rd Street, Ste. G-100
Chattanooga, TN 37403
(423) 643-2246
www.cim.md