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4A – Daily News – Monday, November 15, 2010 Vitality & health Are you among the 23 million Americans that suffer from acid reflux symptoms (like chronic heartburn) at least twice a week? If so, it is time to see your doctor. Before you make your appointment, check what you know about this condition. “Acid reflux occurs when digestive juices and food flow backward from the stomach through a valve into the esophagus,” said reflux expert Dr. Robert Taylor. “Sufferers of acid reflux — or chronic heartburn — are all too familiar with the symptoms: an uncomfortable burning sensation in the chest or throat, sleepless nights, intolerance to certain foods, dry cough, persistent hoarseness or sore throat, and even asthma-like symp- toms such as wheezing.” (MCT) — November marks the culmination of the walnut harvest in Cali- fornia. It's also prime season to consume the fibrous treat, preferably while sitting in front of your TV watching "The Nutcracker." Take our quiz: 1. Nutritionists say the proper serving size for chopped (or shelled) wal- If you experience symptoms like these at least twice per week, you might have Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease, or GERD. GERD destroys quality of life. It causes heartburn, chest pain, sore throat and other symptoms. Nighttime reflux may hinder a good night’s sleep and affect alertness and productivity the next day. It may make certain trig- ger foods and beverages off limits. GERD can also become a constant nagging concern: "did I take my pills, am I eating too late, am I choosing the right foods…." while costing thou- sands of dollars annually in medica- tions and lost productivity from work. If left untreated, GERD can even progress to more serious conditions like Barretts Esophagus and nuts is 1 ounce, which is 183 calories. How many shelled walnut halves con- stitute an ounce? a) 7 b) 14 c) 21 d) 28 2. Most people overindulge once they start eating walnuts. Be careful. Eating a cup of chopped esophageal cancer. Doctors often recommend diet and lifestyle changes to treat GERD. If symptoms persist, the next step is the use of over-the-counter or prescription medications — known as PPIs. For those whose symptoms cannot be managed with lifestyle changes or medications, surgery is also an option. On Dec. 1, from 6-7:30 p.m. at the Gaia Shasta Hotel in Anderson, St. Elizabeth Community Hospital and Taylor will host a free educational forum on GERD and an innovative new solution for treating the cause of acid reflux called Transoral Incision- less Fundoplication (TIF). Space is limited. RSVP to 529- 8038. For more information, visit http://mycureforGERD.com . Nutrition Quiz: Walnuts — The snack choice of fall a) 1 \ McDonald's Big walnuts is akin to eating what? Macs b) 3 slices of cheesecake c) 2 KFC extra-crispy thighs d) any of the above 3. A cup of walnuts, however, does contain 31 percent of the daily value for fiber. That high fiber Fibromyalgia? Please call Suffering With (530) 529-6544 Rory Lengtat, D.C. content leads to a feeling of fullness, researchers say, and so helps with weight loss. According to the Har- vard School of Public Health, nut eaters were how much more likely to lose weight and stick to a diet than non-nut eaters? a) three times b) twice c) four times d) not likely 4. The Harvard study also found that women who ate five or more servings of walnuts per week were 30 percent less likely to devel- op what? a) gout b) Type 2 diabetes c) heart disease d) shingles Yoga may be better for stress LOS ANGELES (MCT) — Yoga has many proven health benefits, but does it stand up to other forms of exercise? Researchers pitted it against a walking routine and found that those who practiced yoga showed greater improve- ments in mood and anxiety. Researchers randomly assigned 19 people to an Iyengar yoga program and 15 to a metaboli- cally matched regular walking regimen. Both groups took part in the programs for an hour three times a week for 12 weeks. Study participants were tested several times to measure mood and anxiety. They were also given mag- netic resonance spectroscopy scans to measure levels of the brain chemical gamma-Aminobu- tyric acid, a neurotransmitter that quiets brain activity, reducing anxiety and producing a state of calm. The scans were done at the beginning and end of the study and immediately following a yoga or walking session. Those in the yoga group saw better changes in mood and less anxiety than those in the walking group. The yoga group also saw increases in GABA levels linked with improvements in mood. The study was published recently in the Jour- nal of Alternative and Complementary Medi- cine. Losing Your Edge . . . or Could It Be Your Hearing? Experts agree that one of the most effective ways to boost cognitive function is to maintain a healthy social network. However the challenge of understanding and following conversation in social settings often causes people with hearing loss to drop out of an active life. “When people are experiencing hearing loss, the extra effort needed to decipher words and keep track of who is speaking can be mentally exhausting,” says Dr. Timothy Frantz of North Valley Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) in Red Bluff, “because they can’t keep up with the give-and-take of everyday social and business interactions, they assume they are los- ing their edge.” Dr. Frantz recommends that before investing in electronic games and gadgets to tone up cognitive muscles, adults who feel they are not “keeping up” should consider a hearing check-up. “With the many discreet, advanced technology hearing solutions now available, there is no reason why anyone should allow untreated hearing loss to drain away energy that could be used to stay engaged and active,” Frantz states. North Valley ENT’s team of physician, audiologist and hearing aid dispensers have recently begun to fit patients with the new Oticon Agil hearing instruments. Agil is the first hearing instrument designed to enable people with hear- ing loss to minimize the cognitive energy expended in typical listening environments without compromising speech understanding. “Agil processes sound the way the human auditory system naturally does,” explains Frantz. “By preserving natural speech cues, less energy is needed to translate and interpret the meaning of sounds— allowing the brain to perform other important cognitive tasks.” Staying connected to modern life through high-tech communication and entertainment devices is another way that people experiencing hearing loss can maintain an active, vital lifestyle. New Oticon Agil connects wirelessly to TVs, cell and landline phones and other popular devices through the Oticon Streamer, an optional accessory that resembles a sleek MP3 music player. “With increasing regulation of cell phone use while driving, I find that patients especially like Agil’s hands free‚ cell phone option,” notes Frantz. Oticon Agil can accommodate approximately 90 percent of hearing losses. The new hearing solution is available in a range of styles—from small mini behind-the-ear device that is almost invisible to a tiny CIC model that is worn completely in the ear canal. This month for three days only from November 15th to November 17th, North Valley ENT is offering a FREE demonstrations of Oticon Agil. An appointment is required and space is limited. For more information on hearing loss and the new Oticon Agil or to schedule a demonstration, contact 331 Elm Street, Red Bluff North Valley ENT at 530-528-1220 or visit www.ENTpatient.com. What is acid reflux? Free seminar fitness ANSWERS: 1: b; 2: d (1 cup of walnuts: 765 calories); 3: a; 4: b