Randomization simply means grouping people together who are very similar.  This means that the group is usually in the same age range, weight range, and have a simlar sickness level.  There are many criteria for this grouping which can include things like not smoking and/or drinking or not have other health conditions, etc.  In this type of study, participants may be divided into two or more groups.  One group takes the placebo for a period of time and the other group takes the real medicine.  Then the groups switch so that the group that was taking the placebo now takes the medicine and vice versa.

Unfortunately, there is no minimum sample size or duration.  Normally statistics require that the sample size be statistically valid.  However, there is a formula to compensate for small samples.  I personally am wary of this mathematical manipulation.  Also the duration can be an issue as some side effects for exposure to certain things may take some time to manifest.

Lastly, the problem with randomization is not the randomization itself, but the selection of the participants.  Clincial trials have what is known as a “protocol”, this document states who should be included and excluded from the study.  Participants may not be allowed to take over the counter medications or other prescription medications or even drink alcohol during the study.  However when the drug receives approval, it may very well be prescribed to people who drink alcohol or who take other medications and/or have additional health problems.  Add to that the fact that doctors prescribe drugs for treatments other than what they were originally studied for.  This is known as “off label prescribing”.

Off label prescribing unfortunately is often done for young children.  The reason for this is simple, for some reason children react to drugs very differently than adults do, because of this there is a need for pediatric studies.  However, no one wants their child to be the guinea pig.  As a result if your child gets sick, the end up being the guienea pig for that medicine.

Later I will write what all of this has to do with alternative cures.

There are basically three types of studies involving human subjects.  One of these is counting studies which are also known as population studies.  Counting studies are statistical in nature and can link things to each other such as men who eat fish three times a week have lower cholesterol.  However, these studies do not prove that that one causes the other.

Another study type is observing over time.  These studies can follow a group or groups of people over a course of years or even decades.  Similar to the counting study in the fact that link things like those who start exercising young and continue to do so have less heart disease.  This type of study has the same shortfalls of a counting study, the only real difference is the data is accumulated over a period of time.  This type of study also can not prove cause and effect.

The third type of study is known as manipulating studies.  This type of study is looking at cause and effect.  This type of study can also be called a clinical trial, clinical study or experimental study.  This type of study gives some type of treatment like a medicine or herb and tests for results over a finite period of time.

From this point forward we will refer to manipulating studies as clinical trials.  There are also a few sub types within this group.  They are 1) placebo controlled (some patients receive a placebo rather than the actual medicine) 2) controlled (when one treatment is compared to another treatment) 3) blind (this is when the patients don’t know whether they are getting the placebo or the medicine) 4)generally a study is not designated as blind but as single blind (the doctor know who is getting which but the patients do not) or double blind (this is when neither the patients nor the doctor knows who is getting which).  Lastly there are also some studies known as “open label”  Open label studies do not use placebos and everyone knows that all participants are getting the medicine.

Tomorrow night I will write a post that discusses randomization (a common technique used in clinical trials).  I will also discuss some of the potential draw backs of randomization.

This is the last post of a 3 part series on the subject of health and pets.  Most pet owners are not getting the benefits of the pet/owner bond because they haven’t developed a deep bond with thier pet.

Of course, creating a deep bond starts with picking out a suitable pet.  Yes all puppies are adorable and tug at our heart strings, but they do grow up.  One thing to consider is the size of the animal.  Large dogs not only take up more room in the house, but their tails may knock things over (like off of tables and shelves), they will also eat a great deal more food than a small dog and they mature faster and die younger than small dogs do.

You also need to consider the needs of the breed.  Dogs were breed for certain traits, that why some dogs love to swim while others disdain being wet, and some dogs need to do alot of chasing and running, while others may be too sedentary.  Certain breeds like terriers and rottweilers have strong wills.  Also find out if the breed is good with children if you have any.  Make sure to teach your children not to pull the dogs ears and tail or try to ride on the dogs back.  This could cause even the most passive breeds to snap or growl not to mention the potential for physical damage to the dog.

Actually learning to train your pet can help create a very deep bond.  Both animals and children feel more secure and free when they understand the expectations.  Extremely important is taking into consideration the differences in physical activity, etc. of pets.  Some pets were bred for hunting or other longevity activities such as biking and running.  Don’t expect a hound dog to go running with you.

Consider how well your pet would react to another four legged friend if you decide to have two or more pets.  Cats especially can be loners that truly resent sharing their turf with another cat.  The result could be as bad as the cat spraying all over the house to mark their territory.  Dogs can also get confused and have problems when there is more than one and they are treated as equals.  Remember in packs, there is a pecking order.

 If you have a condition such as diabetes, dogs have even been trained to work as a “medic alert”.  To wrap up this post, choose a dog that suits your preferences as far as expense, longevity and personality traits.  Make sure you spend time training your pet and interact with them by taking them for walks and playing with them in an appropriate manner.  Some dogs like cathc, but my terrier just stares at anything you thorw as though she doesn’t have a clue what you are doing.  She does however, like to play sock.  Remember pets are as different as people.

Good luck with any pet that you may choose and it is my sincerest hope that you will be able to get the full health and emotional benefits of having a pet.

Who would have ever thought that pets could be so important to the elderly.  Several studies have found that one month after acquiring a dog or cat, seniors had fewer minor medical problems (ie painful joints, anxiety, hay fever, indigestion, colds and flus, insomnia, back pains and headches).

Seniors need something to keep them active and out in the world, a pet can help them do this.  Being isolated is very conducive to depression.  Another observation made in one study was that seniors who owned pets tended to talk about things in the present while those without pets tended to talk about things in the past.  When we live in the past, we aren’t busy living.

I am sure most of you have read about the studies citing that petting a animal lowers the heart rate and blood pressure.  Of course, it’s not just the petting that we want a pet for.  It’s also the interaction, such as laughter and even disputes.  After all pets can do some of the funniest and most annoying things.  One of the most important benefits of having a pet is that feeling of unconditional love they give us and of course, they never say bad things about us, to us or even verbally disagree or back talk, etc.  You know the things that humans do that we frequently have issues with.

Mike was a communications engineer and a type A personality.  He just thrived on the adrenaline rush he received from being under the pressures of constant deadlines.  One day he received a full physical including a cardio stress test and received a clean bill of health.

The following day he had a major heart attack.  It turned out the he had a 100% blockage of the left side and a 99% blockage of the right side.  He was rushed to the hospital and scheduled for surgery the following morning.  Unfortunately that night he suffered another heart attack and was rushed into surgery for a triple bypass.  Mike determined that the heart attack wouldn’t stop him, threw himself into cardio rehab.  He suffered severe chest pains no matter how easy he took the rehab.  Because of this the clinic wanted his doctor to sign a waiver.  When his doctor refused, Mike gave up rehab.

Staying at home Mike became depressed.  He felt there was no purpose to his life.  His doctor suggested that they get a dog.  There was a study published in 1980 that showed that heart attack sufferers who owned pets had a four time better chance of surviving one year.  This study had recruited 96 people, of which 89 had reported monthly for a year.  Fifty of these people had pets and 39 of them did not.  Amazingly enough the death rate for those without pets was approximately 28% and the death rate for those with pets was only 6% that’s less than 1/4.

Mike’s dog would also “remind” Mike to take his medicine whenever he knew Mike was getting stressed.  Yes, animals do react to the way we feel.  Just observe your pet’s behavior (especially if it’s a dog).  Some other interesting studies have shown that after a heart attack dog owners had 8% fewer doctor visits and cat owners had 12% few doctor visits.  Studies have also shown that the pet owning population also took less medication for high blood pressure and cholesterol and didn’t have as much trouble falling asleep at night than non pet owners.

More about the health benefits of pets tomorrow.

 

It turns out that Canada is doing some serious research on the benefits of massage.  The health benefits of “touch” have been studied long ago by the Swiss and other European countries.  These benefits include stimulating the immune system.  Learn more about the benefits of massage