Impact of Healthy Eating Practices and Physical Activity on Quality of Life Among Breast Cancer Survivors.

Impact of Healthy Eating Practices and Physical Activity on Quality of Life among Breast Cancer Survivors.

Asian Pac J Cancer Prev. 2013; 14(1): 481-487
Mohammadi S, Sulaiman S, Koon PB, Amani R, Hosseini SM

Following breast cancer diagnosis, women often attempt to modify their lifestyles to improve their health and prevent recurrence. These behavioral changes typically involve diet and physical activity modification. The aim of this study was to determine association between healthy eating habits and physical activity with quality of life among Iranian breast cancer survivors. A total of 100 Iranian women, aged between 32 to 61 years were recruited to participate in this cross-sectional study. Eating practices were evaluated by a validated questionnaire modified from the Women’s Healthy Eating and Living (WHEL) study. Physical activity was assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). A standardized questionnaire by the European Organization of Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life and its breast cancer module (EORTC QLQ-C30/+BR-23) were applied to determine quality of life. Approximately 29% of the cancer survivors were categorized as having healthy eating practices, 34% had moderate eating practices and 37% had poor eating practices based on nutrition guidelines. The study found positive changes in the decreased intake of fast foods (90%), red meat (70%) and increased intake of fruits (85%) and vegetables (78%). Generally, breast cancer survivors with healthy eating practices had better global quality of life, social, emotional, cognitive and role functions. Result showed that only 12 women (12%) met the criteria for regular vigorous exercise, 22% had regular moderate-intensity exercise while the majority (65%) had low-intensity physical activity. Breast cancer survivors with higher level of physical activity had better emotional and cognitive functions. Healthy eating practices and physical activity can improve quality of life of cancer survivors. Health care professionals should promote good dietary habits and physical activity to improve survivors’ health and quality of life. HubMed – eating

Preventing Type 2 diabetes after gestational diabetes: women’s experiences and implications for diabetes prevention interventions.

Diabet Med. 2013 Mar 27;
Lie ML, Hayes L, Lewis-Barned NJ, May C, White M, Bell R

AIMS: To explore factors influencing post-natal health behaviours following the experience of gestational diabetes, and to elicit women’s views about the feasibility of lifestyle intervention to prevent diabetes during the first 2 years after childbirth. METHODS: Qualitative study using semi-structured interviews with women who had gestational diabetes. In phase 1 (31 women), interviews explored the experience of gestational diabetes, ideas about future risk of diabetes and factors influencing post-natal health-related behaviours. Statements were developed summarizing women’s views of lifestyle change to prevent diabetes. In phase 2 (14 women), interviews explored how the passage of time had contributed to changes in health behaviour, and the statements were used to develop views about diabetes interventions. RESULTS: Women were aware of their risk of developing diabetes, but did not always act on such knowledge. Pregnancy-motivated behaviour changes to benefit the unborn child, but after delivery these changes were often not maintained. Tiredness, maternal attachment and childcare demands were prominent barriers in the early post-natal months. Later, work, family and child development became more significant barriers. Many women became more receptive to healthy eating messages around the time of weaning. Women were positive about long-term support for self-management to reduce their diabetes risk. CONCLUSIONS: There is potential to reduce the risk of Type 2 diabetes post-natally among women with gestational diabetes. Interventions need to be developed that take into account contextual factors and competing demands, are flexible and respond to women’s individual circumstances. Randomized trials of such interventions are warranted. © 2013 The Authors. Diabetic Medicine © 2013 Diabetes UK. HubMed – eating

Botulinum toxin injection for the treatment of upper esophageal sphincter dysfunction.

Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol. 2013 Feb; 122(2): 100-8
Kelly EA, Koszewski IJ, Jaradeh SS, Merati AL, Blumin JH, Bock JM

We sought to review the dysphagia-related outcomes and quality of life in a series of patients with upper esophageal sphincter (UES) dysfunction treated with cricopharyngeal (CP) botulinum toxin (BTX) injection, and to identify patient characteristics or CP muscle histologic features that predict efficacy of BTX injection.A retrospective chart review was performed on patients with UES dysfunction who underwent CP BTX injection. Dysphagia-related quality-of-life questionnaires based on the Eating Assessment Tool (EAT-10) were mailed to patients.Forty-nine patients (30 female, 19 male; average age, 59 +/- 16 years) with UES dysfunction have been treated at our institution with CP BTX injection since 2000. Seventeen of these patients also underwent CP myotomy. Injections of BTX were occasionally repeated after the treatment effect subsided, and the BTX dose varied widely (average, 39 +/- 19 units). Improvement in symptoms was noted by 65% of patients. The overall complication rate was minimal, although many patients complained of transient worsening of dysphagia after CP BTX injection. Biopsy specimens of the CP muscle were evaluated in the subset of patients with CP BTX injection who proceeded to myotomy, with results of neuropathic, myopathic, and mixed histologic subtypes. The EAT-10 scores demonstrated a general trend toward improved swallowing outcomes after CP BTX injection.This study reviewed findings from the largest published series of BTX treatment of UES dysfunction and evaluated the efficacy, patient satisfaction, and complications of this procedure. Dysphagia-related quality-of-life outcomes appear to be improved after CP BTX injection. HubMed – eating