Sleep and Obesity - Blood Sugar and Memory

Two recent items have come across my plastic surgery desk in Fort Myers,  

First, scientists studying sleep habits found that people who don’t sleep much tend to be overweight.  Apparently, they found that when you are deprived of sleep, changes occur in your brain that cause you to crave high calorie foods.  Less sleep means those chocolate bars and potato chips look even better.  So maybe beauty rest is helpful after all.

Second, if your body has difficulty maintaining normal blood sugar levels you could have diabetes. We know that long term uncontrolled diabetes can lead to a multitude of problems.  Now, we come to find out it can predispose one to dementia.  Researchers tracked more than 2,000 older adults for seven years and found that those who had high glucose levels – but not diabetes – were nearly 20% more likely to develop dementia. 

Among diabetics, those with the highest glucose levels were 40% more likely to develop Alzheimers.  We know high glucose can cause inflammation to the small vessels in the brain.  I guess we need to curb out sweet tooth!

Do you have "healthy" breath?

In a way, apparently we all have "healthy breath".  As a physician and cosmetic surgeon in Southwest Florida, I try to stay up with medical and health news. In that capacity, I read a truly interesting article recently that gave new meaning to “breathe”.

Usually, we think of breath tests or alcoholic breath when you are pulled over by the police and told to breathe, to check for evidence of alcohol in your system.

Doctors are now analyzing patients breath.  By examining a patient's exhaled breath they can monitor for kidney or liver disease. 

For example, elevated levels of hydrogen in your breath may be an indication of bacterial overgrowth in your small intestine signaling irritable bowl syndrome.  Acetone in the breath may mean diabetes.  Each person's breath is unique. It is sort of like a patient's fingerprint.  

Studies are now being conducted to standardize these tests.  Watch this blog for updates.