Dr. Steve Info: Tuesday

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Today, Dr. Steve told us about the link between asthma & being overweight, why cyrves may be very good, the viability of over-the-counter male enhancement & the connection between obesity and breast cancer, plus a few other valuable nuggets of health wisdom.

7:00am Segment Info: Viagra Knock-Offs & Obesity:
If you're like most people you've probably gotten an email spam marketing an herbal alternative to Viagra and other prescription medications that are supposed to enhance a man's performance. But experts say those medications could be dangerous. Especially for men with pre-existing heart and blood pressure problems who are taking medication because most of these herbal alternatives often contain exact copies of the patented drugs. Combining these herbs with their regular medications could lead to heart attack and even stroke.

Why are they allowed to be marketed to people?

Because they're considered "supplements" and herbal remedies they are not regulated by the FDA, so there's no quality control. You really have no idea what you’re getting in that bottle. It's very difficult for the government to police all of these different herbal manufacturers. What consumers need to realize is that anything they take from the health food store. Even vitamins can have a potential side effect or can interact with a prescription medication they're taking. It's very important for men to speak to their doctor before taking any herbal medication for any reason.

In other news, being overweight isn't just bad for your heart.

We already know that being overweight can lead to diabetes, heart disease and stroke. Now a major study, one of the larger ever done, has determined that being overweight can give you cancer. This British study called the "million women study" found that obese women are in fact at a higher risk of getting cancer, and dying from cancer. They say all that excess weight causes cancer of the esophagus, uterus, ovary, kidney, pancreas and breast after menopause. It can also cause leukemia, multiple myeloma and Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.

What's the connection between obesity and breast cancer?

After menopause a woman's ovaries shut down and fat cells become the main source of estrogen production. Women with more fat produce more estrogen, which fuels the growth of abnormal breast cells. There was no link between obesity and colon cancer. But there have been other studies linking obesity to the other cancers that I just mentioned. This British study tracked one point two million women ages 50 to 64 since 1996 and followed the relationship between body mass index and cancer.

8:00 Segment Info: Asthma Control & Curves:

In the last hour i told you about a new study that linked obesity to a number of different cancers.

Now another study has linked weight gain to poor asthma control. The report followed about 24 hundred people for three years and found those who gained 5 pounds or more at the start of the study and one year later.. Reported poorer asthma control and worse quality of life compared to people who maintained their weight or lost weight. This study confirms earlier studies that have linked increased body mass index to poor asthma control.

Which comes first, the weight gain or the lack of asthma control?

That part is not clear. Researchers don't know if gaining weight causes the patients to lose control of their asthma or if worsening asthma causes the weight gain because of the physical restrictions that asthma can cause, and steroids, which are often given to people with severe asthma can cause weight gain. But the relationship between body weight and asthma is complex. More studies are needed to tease this one out.

Speaking of being overweight, apparently having a few curves does have its benefits. This one i can't make up guys. Curves are definitely cool.

And now scientists like them too according to a new report women with hourglass figures tend to be more intelligent and have smarter kids than girls with a "boy body" or those that are "apple shaped". It all comes down to omega 3 fatty acids and a woman's waist to hip ratio. Apparently, the fat on a woman's hips and thighs contains omega 3's which are critical for brain development in developing babies, and the curvier the hips, the greater the omega 3's.

How do you calculate your waist to hip ratio?

You divide your waist measurement by your hip measurement - the lower the number the better.