Daily glass of red wine may help manage type 2 diabetes

New medical research says a glass of wine a day may help manage type 2 diabetes

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/daily-glass-of-red-wine-may-help-manage-type-2-diabetes/

Worry about prescription narcotic abuse is high

Almost 20 percent of Americans admit they've taken someone else's prescription painkillers

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/worry-about-prescription-narcotic-abuse-is-high/

Is sitting as bad for our health as we think?

New research challenges claims that sitting for long periods of time leads to risk of earlier death

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/is-sitting-as-bad-for-our-health-as-we-think/

Confirm High Blood Pressure Outside Doctor's Office, U.S. Task Force Says

Expert group advises ambulatory or home monitoring before starting treatment

From: http://www.webmd.com/hypertension-high-blood-pressure/news/20151012/confirm-high-blood-pressure-outside-doctors-office-us-task-force-says?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Red Wine Boosts Heart Health in Type 2 Diabetes

Having a daily glass of red wine modestly improved some measures of heart health, a study shows.

From: http://www.webmd.com/heart/news/20151012/red-wine-boosts-heart-health-type-2-diabetes?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Many children with mental health needs only see a pediatrician

Primary care docs saw more children with ADHD than other mental health providers

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/1-in-3-children-with-mental-health-needs-only-see-a-pediatrician/

How to Plan for Recovery at Home After Surgery

WebMD explains how to prepare your house so that you can have a smooth recovery from surgery when you return from the hospital.

From: http://www.webmd.com/healthy-aging/all-about-surgery-15/home-self-care?src=RSS_PUBLIC

What to Expect When You're Sent Home After Surgery

WebMD explains what to expect on the day you get sent home from the hospital after surgery.

From: http://www.webmd.com/healthy-aging/all-about-surgery-15/surgery-post-op?src=RSS_PUBLIC

What to Ask Your Surgeon Before an Operation

WebMD has advice on how to get tips from your surgeon about how to prepare for your operation.

From: http://www.webmd.com/healthy-aging/all-about-surgery-15/ask-surgeon?src=RSS_PUBLIC

7 Tips to Help Decide if Surgery Is Right for You

WebMD explains what you need to consider if you're trying to figure out if surgery is the right treatment for you.

From: http://www.webmd.com/healthy-aging/all-about-surgery-15/consider-surgery?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Study: Cesarean delivery won't harm children's health

New study refutes previous research that claimed C-section births are linked to long-term child health problems

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/cesarean-delivery-wont-harm-childrens-health/

Cesarean Delivery Won't Harm Kids' Health

Still, too many babies are born that way, expert says

From: http://www.webmd.com/children/news/20151012/cesarean-delivery-wont-harm-kids-health-study?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Primary Care Docs Often Treat Kids' Mental Ills

Shortage of child psychiatrists helps explain findings, expert says

From: http://www.webmd.com/children/news/20151012/kids-with-mental-ills-often-treated-solely-by-primary-care-doctors?src=RSS_PUBLIC

More Women Choosing This for Early Breast Cancer

Lumpectomy plus radiation results in nearly 90 percent survival over 10 years, study says

From: http://www.webmd.com/breast-cancer/news/20151009/for-early-breast-cancer-more-us-women-choose-less-invasive-treatment?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Charles Koch on drug use and the presidency

He talks about decriminalization for non-violent drug offenders who are sent to prison while presidents and candidates for the White House have admitted past drug use

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/charles-koch-on-drug-use-and-the-presidency/

Calif. enacts strictest limits on antibiotics in livestock

The law's proponents hope it will help reduce cases of antibiotic-resistant superbugs in humans

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/california-enacts-strictest-law-limiting-antibiotics-in-livestock/

Child Safety Seats Often Incompatible With Cars

Parents should take measurements to ensure seats fit properly inside vehicle, researchers advise

From: http://www.webmd.com/children/news/20151011/child-safety-seats-often-incompatible-with-cars-study?src=RSS_PUBLIC

New Clues: How Gene Affects Women's Body Shape

Study found variants determine where body fat is stored, regulation of fat cells

From: http://www.webmd.com/women/news/20151010/new-clues-to-how-gene-affects-womens-body-shape-diabetes-risk?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Many doctors would work while sick

Survey found a suprising number of doctors who said they'd treat patients knowing they had the flu

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/many-doctors-would-work-while-sick/

Adult Bipolar Disorder Drug May be Safe for Kids

Study finds lithium can benefit pediatric patients, at least for the short term

From: http://www.webmd.com/children/news/20151012/standby-drug-for-adult-bipolar-disorder-may-be-safe-effective-in-children?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Summer Babies May Be Healthier Adults

Researchers link warm-weather birthdays to taller adult height, later puberty

From: http://www.webmd.com/children/news/20151012/summer-babies-may-be-healthier-adults?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Premenstrual dysphoric disorder: When it’s more than just PMS

Most women are at least somewhat familiar with the miseries of premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Nearly 75% of women experience symptoms of PMS during the two weeks before their menstrual periods. Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) is PMS with a twist.

While the physical symptoms of both PMDD and PMS are the same — fatigue, swollen breasts, backache, headache, food cravings, bloating, constipation, diarrhea — PMDD includes emotional symptoms that are much more severe that the mood swings associated with PMS. It is characterized by extreme moodiness, irritability, depression, and anxiety that appear the week before a woman gets her period and go away a few days after it starts. Severe depression and feelings of hopelessness may occur. In especially severe cases, women may even feel suicidal. For these reasons, PMDD is an official psychiatric diagnosis.

How do you know if you have PMDD or PMS? A symptom diary can help. Keep track of the dates of your period, and note when your symptoms occur and how severe they are. (Start with your next period — don’t try to recap the symptoms of your last cycle.) The next step is to meet with your doctor. She or he will review the pattern of your symptoms and try to rule out other causes for them. The good news is that PMDD can be treated. But there is no one-size-fits-all approach. It can take time, as well as trial and error, to find effective relief.

Using “the pill” for PMS and PMDD

My first recommendation for mild PMS is to encourage regular exercise and relaxation techniques. Some women find that cutting back on sodium decreases bloating and swelling. For women with PMS or PMDD who also desire contraception, taking the birth control pill and shortening or eliminating the typical “week off” (in which you get your period) can be very effective.

Several studies suggest the best birth control pills for controlling PMS or PMDD symptoms are those that contain the hormone drospirenone. When I prescribe one of these medications for a woman who wants to control her PMS or PMDD, I usually start with a dosing schedule that includes only a four-day “time-off” interval. If symptoms continue, I recommend a different pill with a higher dose of estrogen. If that still doesn’t improve symptoms, I next have the woman take pills with active hormones every day, completely skipping any “time off.” (This is also called the continuous method.)

Women who take continuous birth control pills will stop having periods but may experience occasional irregular bleeding. Many find the trade-off well worth it to ease the symptoms of PMS and PMDD. Be aware that birth control pills with drospirenone are slightly more likely to cause blood clots than pills with other types and amounts of hormones. However, the risk is still quite low in healthy women.

Doctors used to prescribe progesterone alone for PMS and PMDD. Newer studies suggest that it doesn’t help. Although there is still a great deal of attention given to the use of progesterone, I don’t recommend it.

SSRIs: Another option for symptom relief

A class of antidepressants called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) is another excellent option for treating PMS and PMDD. In fact, most doctors now consider them first-line therapy for these conditions. There are many SSRIs to choose from, and studies suggest that they are equally effective. There are two ways to take an SSRI for PMS/PMDD. The first is to simply take it every day throughout your cycle. Another way is to take it only after ovulation (which usually occurs about 14 days before your period) and to stop when menstruation starts. This is called luteal-phase-only treatment. The results of a recent study suggest that some women may benefit from taking an SSRI only when they are experiencing PMS/PMDD symptoms. Of course, any woman who continues to have symptoms during her period would benefit more from taking the SSRI throughout her period instead.

It may take several cycles before you see improvement. If the initial dose does not work, your doctor may increase it and give the new dose a few cycles to see if it helps. If you don’t find relief from the first SSRI you try, ask your doctor about trying a different one. Some women who do not respond to one SSRI may do better with a different one. Side effects of SSRIs are common and may include nausea, jitteriness, and headache. These drugs can also decrease sexual interest and interfere with the ability to have an orgasm. Taking them only in the luteal phase may ease side effects.

Whether you have PMS or experience the extreme emotional symptoms of PMDD, don’t suffer in silence. Pay close attention to the pattern of your symptoms and ask your doctor for help.

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The post Premenstrual dysphoric disorder: When it’s more than just PMS appeared first on Harvard Health Blog.

From: Hope Ricciotti, MD http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/premenstrual-dysphoric-disorder-when-its-more-than-just-pms-201510128415