WHAT ARE THE HEALTH BENEFITS OF CHLOROPHYLL?

“ What is the benefits of clorophyll 20% and does it increase the red blood cells.”                      (Lauren, New Jersey)

Chlorophyll is a fat soluble, pigment, found in plants, providing all types of vegetation the ability to absorb light during photosynthesis, a necessary process for plant growth.   Chlorophyll gives plants its green color thus, to obtain chlorophyll in your diet, eat green, leafy vegetables, such as spinach, parsley, kale, collard greens, brussel sprouts, blue-green algae, cilantro, green tea, wheatgrass, broccoli, peas, green grapes, green apples, kiwi, honeydew melon, celery, asparagus, and sea vegetation (seaweed). 

Why eat chlorophyll containing foods?  Chlorophyll has anti-oxidant properties, helps wound healing, is effective against Candida albicans fungus, reduces swelling during inflammation and arthritis, has anti-cancer properties, reduces appetite, and treats constipation.

Your question, “does it increase the red blood cells” the answer is yes, chlorophyll has been shown to restore and replenish red blood cells.  Chlorophyll has a ring structure similar to hemoglobin (the molecule that carries oxygen); thus, chlorophyll has been used in combination with other herbal agents as a treatment for anemia.  More specifically, a derivative of chlorophyll, called chlorophyllin, is highly effective against anemia, providing a healthy level of bioavailable iron in the body. 

You are taking (from a bottle) synthetically made “chlorophyll 20%.”  Although this form is beneficial; remember, there are plenty of natural foods you can eat to aid in maintaining an optimal level of iron in states of anemia. 

Thank you for your question and trust.  God Bless you and God Bless New Jersey and thanks for your work in your community. 

Respectfully,

Dr. Roshin






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" CHINESE LADY ASKS WHY FACE & FINGERTIPS HAVE PINS & NEEDLES SENSATION?"

“My mom had her thyroid removed so they have to take a lot of other supplements. One of the supplements is calcium. They originally have to take 4 pills (500 mg +D per pill) 2 times a day but it doesn't seems to work for my mom because once in a while, her fingertips and face feels the pins and needles sensation. When she spoke with the endocrinologist, he didn't bother to think of any alternatives but to increase her intake of pills. which means she would have to take additional 2 more pills each time. So my question is should she still take the additional two pills and wont it affect her her kidneys or even makes her constipate?”  

(Ms. Lin, New York City)

  

Hi Ms. Lin,

After visiting with you this past week, your mother presented with “fingertips and face feels the pins and needles sensation,” a term in medicine called paresthesias.  Based on your mom’s past medical history, your mom’s paresthesias have an unknown etiology which must be identified by the doctor.  Specifically, in the medical paperwork you sent me, your mother’s Hemoglobin A1c level was 6.1 (normal <5.7), an indication that her blood glucose levels are likely running much higher than normal.  Why is this important?  Diabetes mellitus could cause paresthesias.  She must work with her doctor to reduce high blood glucose levels, which will help rule out diabetes as a cause of the paresthesias.  In addition, your mom, every day, has been taking 4000 mg calcium (four 500 mg calcium pills morning and night) for the past two years; yet, on the blood test, her calcium level was below normal at 7.1 mg/dL.   Low calcium can cause paresthesias (especially of the face).  Your mom’s doctor recommending she take two additional 500 mg calcium pills morning and night should be followed, if only to increase blood calcium levels back into the normal range (8-10 mg/dL).  Once your mother’s calcium levels have returned to the normal level, hopefully, her paresthesias will disappear. 

However, you are correct, hypercalcemic states, could lead to constipation, kidney stones…etc; however, since your mother had a total thyroidectomy in 2012, the body’s ability to regulate calcium levels became greatly diminished.  Normal recommended daily calcium consumption for adults is 1000-1500 mg/day.  The higher than normal calcium intake might be the new norm for your mom, a value that must be monitored by her physician, and discontinued or modified, if hypercalcemic signs or symptoms occur.

You might suggest to your mom’s physician to run a B12 level, which is also a potential cause of paresthesias.

I will address your brain tumor question in a different post.   Thank you for your question and trust.  God Bless you, God Bless China, God Bless New York, and God Bless New York City.   Stay in touch, and remember, “Always walk in peace.”

Respectfully,

Dr. Roshin








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           "PHILIPPINE MAN HAS PSA TEST DONE.  DOES HE HAVE CANCER?"

“Hello! Doc, busy? My husband Doc. on this coming tuesday he has a check up again. Can I send you a result of his ultra sound? He feel that he has a frostate enlargement but I said to him you need to go to the doctor to make medical check up, then he noticed that he has a milk calcium syst in the left kedney!” (Ms.DD, Philippines)

Dear Ms. DD,

The last time we visited, you had sent your husband’s sonogram report which confirmed a benign, renal milk calcium cyst.  In addition, I mentioned the following statement to you and your husband (Pepe), “since your husband “feel he has frostate enlargement,” I suggest that your husband ask his doctor to perform a digital rectal exam and run a PSA test (prostate specific antigen) test.  The PSA test results provide a snap shot of potential prostate conditions including benign prostatic hypertrophy, and along with a digital rectal exam, this test will help rule out prostate cancer.  We should make sure that the prostate is not evolving into a future, serious problem.”

Subsequent to our discussion three weeks ago, your husband had a PSA test completed, and you forwarded a scanned picture of the result.  Your husband’s PSA result was a 0.435 ng/ml, a value well within the normal range of 4.40 ng/ml.  Since this is your husband’s first prostate blood test completed, we have no previous reference number to gauge whether Pepe’s symptoms mirror the test result found.  However, he should rest peacefully tonight knowing that the 0.435 result, at face value, does not appear to reflect any pathology or condition of his prostate gland.  My recommendation, is to ask that your husband repeat a PSA test one year from today.  When that result is in hand, please contact me, as a means to guide further treatment if needed.

However, if your husband experiences worsening symptoms including 1) frequent urination at night, 2) urgent need to urinate, 3) difficulty urinating, 4) weak urine stream, 5) a urine stream that repeatedly starts and stops, 6) blood in the urine and or 7) the inability to completely empty the bladder during urination, your husband should have the PSA redone in six months with urgent consultation with his doctor or a urologist to include a prompt digital rectal exam.  The symptoms mentioned above could reflect a worsening prostate condition even though today’s PSA blood test result indicates otherwise.

I am deeply humbled by your trust in me.  Although we are miles apart, do know that I care about the health and well-being of all people who inquire medical assistance.  You all are, in essence, my patients; however, my advice is never a substitute for seeking professional medical services from a doctor or health personnel within your locale.

God Bless you, God Bless Pepe, and God Bless the Philippines.

“Always, walk in peace.”

Respectfully,

Dr. Roshin

       "IS HAITI READY FOR A MAJOR HURRICANE?"

Dear Readers,

In addition to writing DoctorAdvice4u medical columns, people, both internationally and in the United States, have asked that I track global tropical systems.   Since childhood, I have tracked hurricanes in the Atlantic basin, and after Facebook and Twitter were created, requests from people living overseas, asked that I cover tropical systems for their countries.  Thus, whether hurricanes, typhoons, and or tropical cyclones, I voluntarily analyze, blog, and post informational maps to help people stay informed of impending tropical dangers.  Information and 24/7 updates on tropical systems, can be acquired at the DoctorAdvice4u.com website and my Facebook pages (“Roshin Rowjee” & the “Hurricane, Typhoon, and Cyclone Global Alerts Page”).   Please feel free to send a Facebook friend request, and I will gladly accept.  My only motivation is to assist people/friends/neighbors to stay informed and make the best decisions possible to protect life and property.

In addition to medicine and meteorology, another passion I have is politics.  I feel well versed in domestic and international affairs, with a clear vision on how to solve long standing concerns between nations.  Thus, I wish to write a concern related to politics and meteorology (hurricanes).  On January 12, 2010, Haiti endured a magnitude 7.0 earthquake that killed over 220,000 people, left 300,000 people injured, and left over 1 million people homeless.  These 1 million families were forced to live in improvised tents made of tin, cardboard, and or tarp.  Yet, in the midst of this disaster, a total of $13 billion dollars was donated and pledged to assist Haiti’s recovery and rebuilding. 

Since the 2010 earthquake, the Atlantic Ocean basin has endured five continuous seasons of average to below average tropical development.   In fact, over the past five years, Haiti has had the good fortune of not experiencing a major, Category 3 hurricane.  The lower than average hurricane season activity is traced to the Pacific Ocean’s El Nino weather pattern.  However, the 2016 hurricane season may be the start of renewed normal to above average tropical development.  The Pacific Ocean El Nino is being replaced by a La Nina weather pattern, and the resulting transition causes an increase in Atlantic Ocean tropical systems.  Thus, Haiti, along with other Caribbean island nations, should monitor and be prepared for the possibility of increased activity of tropical storms, hurricanes, and major hurricanes, this season. 

According to the International Organization for Migration, in January 2015, “almost 80,000 Haitians, located in 105 tent cities, live without “a proper roof over their heads.”  In addition, 170 tent cities still exist outside the capital, Port-au-Prince.  Whether the United Nations, the American Red Cross, CARE, and or other charitable entities, all organizations tout substantial gains in infrastructure development and quality of living for native Haitians.  Time will tell if these reports are factually correct.

Let us pray and hope that Haiti’s government established a building code.  Why, you might be wondering?  When, not if, a major hurricane landfalls in Haiti, hopefully, houses, buildings, and other infrastructure, adhered and followed national building code standards, ensuring both life and property safety.  Furthermore, let us hope that Haiti’s Directorate of Civil Protection, developed a national emergency plan (no plan existed prior to the 2010 earthquake) to prepare for impending dangers and respond to present and ongoing disasters.   Finally, since all Haiti has been deforested, let us hope people living on or along the mountain sides have prepared evacuation routes, made evacuation plans, and or located shelters to weather a future, major hurricane.   Hopefully, a plan was devised to channel mountain water out to sea, as well as, an effective plan to prevent any cholera outbreak. These points have been itemized simply due to the fact that without substantial improvement in Haiti’s infrastructure, another disaster is waiting to happen.  The world has had a grace period, of half a decade, to help Haiti rebuild.  Let us hope those people in charge, have fulfilled their promises to the Haitian people.

 Respectfully,  


 Dr. Roshin

* "ARE SWEET POTATOES A TREATMENT FOR RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS?"

“Is it true sweet potatoes helps rheumatoid arthritis pain?” (Ms. J, New Jersey)

Dear Ms. J,

I have to admit, medical school trained me in a western philosophy medicine thought process; thus, your question required in depth research. After reading eastern philosophy medicine textbook(s) and conversing with an herbal specialist; the following information was discerned. Put simply, sweet potatoes, typically called yams (Convolvulacea family), are different from wild yams (Dioscorea villosa family). The wild yams, and their extracts, due to anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic properties, are considered by many alternative and herbal specialists, to contain many health benefits with disease treatment value.

Wild yams, are often used, but not limited to the following conditions:

1) rheumatoid arthritis 

2) menopause symptoms 

3) vaginal dryness 

4) nausea/ vomiting 

5) stomach cramps 

6) gall bladder pains 

7) diverticulitis pain 

8) hiccups 

9) menstrual cramps

Before self medicating or self treating yourself, always consult your doctor and move forward together to gauge both alternative and general medicine treatment success. With that in mind, thank you for your question and trust.

“Always, walk in peace.”

Respectfully,

Dr. Roshin

“I have a friend who ran a marathon without any prior training and a less than adequate diet. After the race he was so exhausted he did not hydrate much, nor did he stretch. Instead he fell asleep for a few hours and when he woke up and went to use the restroom he realized there was blood in his urine. What could be the reason for this? Thank you for your time!” (New York City, Ms. LazKey)

Hello Ms. LazKey,

More often than none, excessive, strenuous activity, including running a marathon, may cause skeletal muscle damage, a condition referred to as exertional rhabdomyolysis. More specifically, rhabdomyolysis results from skeletal muscle injury causing leakage of massive quantities of substances into the blood, some of which are toxic. One such substance is myoglobin, a protein released into the blood after skeletal muscle tissue breakdown. Myoglobin should be bound to haptoglobin; however, during rhabdomyolysis, free floating myoglobin can damage kidney tissue. Damaged kidney tissue generally results in acute renal (kidney) failure, and when the kidney tissue becomes damaged, a person’s urine appears as a dark, red color. Similar to your friend, a patient will not only present with dark colored urine, the urine will be scant in volume, and the patient will likely have muscle aches and weakness. Treating a patient with aggressive fluid replacement may be necessary for survival but often is essential to reduce further kidney damage.

Your friend is fortunate not to have developed heat exhaustion or heat stroke during the marathon; however, in the short term, acute renal failure is likely to have occurred. Thus, as a precaution, your friend should ask his doctor to run the tests necessary to evaluate kidney function. The kidneys are essential to remove toxic substances from the blood and reabsorb nutrients and ions necessary for other organs functioning ability.

Rest assured, running the race, without training, was a serious risk, with potential life altering consequences. Nonetheless, he is alive, and I congratulate him on completing the marathon. Thank you on your inquiry and trust, and please stay in touch, as I wish to know your friend’s kidney function test results, post marathon. God Bless you, God Bless your friend, and God Bless New York City.

Respectfully,

Dr. Roshin

Philippine Man Has Kidney Milk of Calcium Cyst & Family Asks If Harmful

“Hello! Doc, busy? My husband Doc. on this coming tuesday he has a check up again. Can I send you a result of his ultra sound? He feel that he has a frostate enlargement but I said to him you need to go to the doctor to make medical check up, then he noticed that he has a milk calcium syst in the left kedney!” (Ms.DD, Philippines)

Hello Ms. DD,

Thank you for sending your husband’s kidney sonographic report on Facebook.  After viewing the ultrasound report, the radiologist documented “the kidneys are normal in size,” and the “rest of the bilateral renal parenchyma are homogenous.”  Put simply, your forty-seven year old husband, Pepe, has functioning, normal kidneys.   However, “a 1.3 cm cortical cyst with milk of calcium is seen in the left kidney” was also reported by his physician. 

Similar to kidney stones, milk of calcium cysts are composed of precipitated, calcium salts (oxalate, calcium, and phosphate).  These cysts form due to stasis of urine in urinary tract cavities with suboptimal drainage.  You mentioning that “He feel that he has a frostate enlargement” is a potential cause of decreased urine flow; however, kidney stones have serious symptoms not limited to blood in the urine, nausea, vomiting, pain on urination, urinating small amounts of urine, fever, chills, and pain that spreads to the groin.   When I asked you if your husband had any symptoms, you said no major complaints. 

Thus, the renal milk of calcium cyst appears to be an incidental finding on your husband’s ultrasound exam, and to answer your question “You know what is the milk calcium syst? In left kedney? It is need a surgery doc?” my reply is no surgery is needed. 

I am deeply humbled that you contacted me, and I value your trust in my opinion.  Thus, since your husband “feel he has frostate enlargement,” I suggest that your husband ask his doctor to perform a digital rectal exam and run a PSA test (prostate specific antigen) test.  The PSA test results provide a snap shot of potential prostate conditions including benign prostatic hypertrophy, and along with a digital rectal exam, this test will help rule out prostate cancer.  We should make sure that the prostate is not evolving into a future, serious problem.  Thank you for your question and faith in me.  God Bless you, God Bless Pepe, and God Bless the Philippines.

Respectfully,

Dr. Roshin