Most college-age girls get clothes, music, jewelry, even money from their parents for Christmas. My sister got Mylanta.
Oh, she got other stuff too. But I can clearly remember her ripping off the sparkly paper, revealing that sky-blue bottle of chalky white liquid that she drank like water.
I suppose this is further evidence of my family’s warped sense of humor. But to us, my sister’s “nervous stomach” had become part of family lore. While still in college, she had been diagnosed with a bleeding ulcer – and her doctors had advised our parents that it was all due to the stress of her studies and her “worry-wart” personality. At that time, there weren’t many options for treatment – other than avoiding acidic foods and chugging down Mylanta by the bottle.
The same bacterium that gives you ulcers could increase cancer risk
Today, we know that her ulcer probably had less to do with her personality and more to do with the bacterium in her stomach. Research has shown that as many as 85 percent of peptic ulcers can be attributed to an infection with helicobacter pylori, an insidious parasitic bacteria that lives in the gastrointestinal tract. H. pylori infection may be the cause of other health problems as well. Research has suggested that the bacterium may play a role in the development of heart disease, autoimmune diseases, and even skin diseases like rosacea and atopic dermatitis. Recent news from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention has even suggested a link between h. pylori and stomach cancer.
Now, new research shows that h. pylori infection may increase the risk of another deadly disease: cancer of the larynx. For the trial, scientists recruited 26 people with cancer of the larynx and 32 matched controls without cancer. They then took blood samples from each of the participants and tested for the presence of h. pylori antigens. Nearly three-quarters (73 percent) of the cancer patients tested positive for h. pylori antigens, while only 40 percent of controls had the antigens.
All of the participants were men between the ages of 49 and 68 and all smoked cigarettes. Smoking is a known risk factor for larynx cancer, but the results indicate that the h. pylori infection makes smokers even more susceptible. The researchers theorize that the bacterium may somehow make the cells in the larynx lining more vulnerable to known carcinogens, like those found in cigarettes.
Despite a relatively low profile, cancer of the larynx is the most common type of cancer to occur in the head and neck. This year alone, roughly 10,000 Americans will be diagnosed with cancer of the larynx, and approximately 4,000 will die of the disease.
Simple, safe ways to kill off h. pylori and protect your health
Years ago, the mainstream disregarded the whole idea that bacteria caused ulcers. Now, they’ve come around to the idea – yet many doctors still don’t test for h. pylori. And when a patient does test positive for the bacterium, they immediately reach for a prescription antibiotic – a practice that has led to new drug-resistant strains of the bacterium. Even worse, antibiotics can upset the delicate balance of helpful bacteria in your gastrointestinal tract, just paving the way for more problems.
At HSI, we’ve written about several natural therapies that can rid your body of h. pylori without the unwanted side effects of antibiotics. In the August 2001 issue of the Member’s Alert newsletter, we told you about a formula called Probiotics 12 Plus that contains a beneficial bacterial strain proven to destroy resistant pathogens. In vivo (living organism) testing showed that that this formula’s helpful bacteria, called TH 10, inhibits all strains of h. pylori – even those that have become resistant to antibiotics. And in the November 1999 issue, we revealed how lactoferrin, an iron-binding protein found in bovine colostrum, can kill h. pylori bacterium. (It can also help protect you from becoming infected with h. pylori in the first place.) Probiotics 12 Plus is available from Uni Key Health Systems. Contact them at 1-800-888-4353 or visit their website at unikeyhealth.com. For lactoferrin, we recommend Immunoguard from Advanced Nutritional Products. Contact them at 1-888-436-7200 to order.
Many authorities estimate that h. pylori can be found in about half the world’s population. Yet most people never show any symptoms of the infection, whether it be a peptic ulcer or cancer. Scientists still aren’t sure why it affects some people and not others, and why some people never become infected at all. There are still a lot of unanswered questions about h. pylori, and, as this new study shows, we’re learning more every day. But here’s one thing we do know: this bacterium can pose a serious threat to your health. Ask your doctor to test you for h. pylori today. If he won’t, find a doctor who will. If you need to locate a doctor in your area, call the American College of Advancement in Medicine (ACAM) at 1-800-532-3688 or online at acam.org. If you test positive, take immediate steps to eradicate it. You’ll be giving yourself a great gift – reduced risk of peptic ulcers, stomach cancer, and cancer of the larynx. (Sure beats a mouthful of Mylanta!)
Source:
Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2001; 125: 520-521
Copyright 1997-2002 by Institute of Health Sciences, L.L.C.
