Fitness: Create a program that's right for you

From: http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/fitness/in-depth/fitness/art-20044002

New hope for young patients with rare genetic disease

Doctors in North Carolina are using gene therapy to treat patients with GAN, a rare genetic disorder

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/new-hope-for-young-patients-with-rare-genetic-disease/

Discovered "On The Road": Hockey at age 94

Ice may slow the aging process -- the ice rink that is

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/discovered-on-the-road-hockey-at-age-94/

A mother's quest to find cure for rare genetic defect

​The mother of a girl with a rare, heartbreaking illness has decided not to stand idle as her daughter is threatened with death

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/a-mothers-quest-to-find-cure-for-rare-genetic-defect/

FDA OKs Drug to Reverse Blood Thinner's Effect

Praxbind cleared for emergency use with Pradaxa when bleeding can't be controlled

From: http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/atrial-fibrillation/news/20151016/fda-approves-drug-to-reverse-blood-thinners-effect?src=RSS_PUBLIC

First female libido drug could spur more options

Addyi, the first drug approved to boost a woman's sex drive, goes on sale Saturday - with a serious warning

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/first-female-libido-drug-hits-the-market-could-spur-more-options/

Stress-busting mind-body medicine reduces need for health care

This week, researchers at Harvard reported a potent way to keep the doctor away. And it isn’t an apple a day or a new drug — it’s a life skill called resilience. It’s the adult equivalent of crashing into a hedge during your first bike ride without training wheels, shaking the leaves and dirt from your hair, and thinking, “Okay, that wasn’t too bad. Let me try that again.”

People tend to think resilience is something that lucky people have and unhappy people lack, but that’s not true. It’s a skill you can learn. Anyone can strengthen their resilience with practice, starting with the relaxation response — a physiologic state of deep rest induced by practices such as rhythmic breathing, mindfulness meditation, yoga, tai chi, qi gong, or prayer. The relaxation response was first described more than 40 years ago by Dr. Herbert Benson, founder and director emeritus of the Benson-Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine at Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH).

The power of resilience is at the center of a study published this week in the journal PLoS One by Benson and his colleagues at MGH. People who graduated from a resiliency-boosting program developed by the Benson-Henry Institute used considerably less health care services in the year following the course compared with the year before.

The impact of resilience training

Benson-Henry has developed an eight-week course, called the Relaxation Response Resiliency Program (3RP), to enhance resiliency. To measure the effect of this program on health care utilization, the PLoS One study mined a rich database of patient information compiled by Partners HealthCare, a system that includes MGH, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and other Boston-area health care facilities. The study compared health care use by more than 4,400 3RP graduates to that of 13,150 Partners patients who didn’t take the 3RP course. In the year after training, use of health care services by the 3RP graduates dropped by 43%.

“We’ve shown in the past that it works in the laboratory and on the level of individual physiology, and now we can see that when you make people well, they don’t want to use health care so much,” says study leader Dr. James E. Stahl, previously affiliated with the Benson-Henry Institute but now based at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in New Hampshire.

Was the 3RP training ultimately responsible for the reduced health care demand? This study cannot prove that beyond doubt, because it just observed statistical links. The researchers were careful to account for factors besides 3RP training that could affect the amount of health care people seek — especially age, gender, race, education, and income level. “Can you ever really eliminate that? I don’t think anyone can be sure,” Dr. Stahl says.

To policy makers, the study offers the possibility of a safe and inexpensive way to help control rising healthcare costs. But strictly speaking, this study doesn’t provide any conclusive evidence about that. For example, what if some of the 3RP group skipped exams and other services that otherwise would have improved their health? More research is needed before anyone can bank on resilience training as a way to keep costs down. “Looking at utilization is the first step toward measuring costs,” Dr. Stahl says.

You can build resilience without formal training

For those of us who don’t live in Boston and can’t sign up for the 3RP training, it’s still possible to boost our resilience in a variety of ways. Resilience comes in part from making meaningful connections with other people, such as through volunteer work, caretaking for aging relatives, and other service work.

In addition, positive psychology research shows that having an optimistic outlook and a sense of connectedness, meaning, and purpose in your life contributes to resilience. This includes learning how to identify and challenge day-to-day negative attitudes that can undermine health.

“Just like fluorinating your water or vaccinating yourself, these are ways of keeping you healthy with, from a public health perspective, minimal investment,” Dr. Stahl says. “My own opinion is that we should probably be teaching those skills in grade school.”

Related Posts:

• Mindfulness meditation helps fight insomnia, improves sleep
• A mindful worker is a happier worker
• Everywhere, hospitals are merging — but why should you…
• Ceremonies, remembrances mark one-year anniversary of Boston
• Feeling young at heart may help you live longer

The post Stress-busting mind-body medicine reduces need for health care appeared first on Harvard Health Blog.

From: Daniel Pendick http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/stress-busting-mind-body-medicine-reduces-need-for-health-care-201510168450

Learn About #HIMSYM15 - Where Art and Healing Sciences Collide - Mayo Clinic

From: Mayo Clinic http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QlLFekiIlBc

Can you have your cake and protect brain health, too?

Researchers find more clues that link diet habits and cognitive decline as we age

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/prudent-diet-cognitive-decline-alzheimers-association-study/

Ebola Doctor: ‘You Can’t Put Out 99% of a Fire’

WebMD asks two infectious disease experts about what the persistence of the Ebola virus means for ending the outbreak and for those who have survived.

From: http://www.webmd.com/news/20151016/ebola-doctors-interview?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Menopause, 'Good' Cholesterol and Heart Protection

HDL cholesterol seems to change, and might encourage plaque build-up, research suggests

From: http://www.webmd.com/menopause/news/20151016/during-menopause-good-cholesterol-may-lose-protective-effect-on-heart?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Laser body sculpting promises to burn off excess fat

A non-invasive laser system called SculpSure was recently approved by the FDA to reduce stubborn pockets of body fat

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/laser-body-sculpting-promises-to-burn-off-excess-fat/

Laser alternative to liposuction promises to zap fat

FDA-approved treatment offers a pain-free way to reduce fat - but it doesn't come cheap

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/laser-alternative-to-liposuction-promises-to-zap-away-fat/

Remaining Uninsured Worry About Costs Of Coverage

The Obama administration expects 1 million more people to be enrolled in marketplace coverage by the end of 2016.

From: http://www.webmd.com/health-insurance/20151015/hhs-remaining-uninsured-worry-about-costs-of-coverage?src=RSS_PUBLIC

A Cause for Celebration

Honorees with their Awards (From Left to Right), Chris Cashman, EVP Independence Blue Cross; Dr. Allen Ho, Dr. Neva White, Dr. Mark Schutta, and event host William George, CEO of Health Partners Plans.

For the American Diabetes Association’s 75^th anniversary, all year long we have been honoring decades of progress in diabetes treatment, management and quality of life, and our role in these advancements. We have come so far, thanks to our members, volunteers, donors and other supporters. It’s important to recognize these accomplishments on behalf of people living with and affected by diabetes, and we’re holding many events across the country to mark the organization’s major milestone.

Just recently on Wednesday, Oct. 7, the Association’s Philadelphia office held their 75^th Anniversary Celebration and Awards Ceremony at the city’s National Constitution Center. This event brought together community influencers from the public and private sectors, state and federal elected officials and many of Philadelphia’s strong community Step Out: Walk to Stop Diabetes® and Tour de Cure® fundraisers. The venue overlooked the iconic and historic Independence Hall, where the U.S. Constitution was signed.

“In addition to raising over $300,000 toward our vital mission, this event was a moment for the Philadelphia market to organize and recognize our most dedicated community stakeholders for a celebration of our progress in the field of diabetes,” said Nathan Hughes, Manager, Special Events and Development. “Overlooking Independence Mall, a place historically renowned for innovation, it marked the beginning of a new era of the Association in this region. I hope our 75^th anniversary serves as reminder of where we’ve been, so we can better focus on what comes next.”

One of the many highlights of the event included recognition by Vice President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. In his letter to the Association, Biden praised this tremendous milestone. The Vice President also extended his sincere appreciation to the people whose work made the celebration possible.

“It was a great honor to receive recognition from Vice President Biden on behalf of the Association’s 75^th anniversary,” noted Hughes. “He recognizes that the Association is fighting one of the most devastating epidemics facing the country today. I hope the Vice President’s praise empowers and encourages our staff and volunteers to continue their important work.”

A number of other political supporters and constituents formally recognized and thanked the Association for its many years of service, including members of the both the Delaware and Pennsylvania House of Representatives. Governors Tom Wolf of Pennsylvania and Jack Markell of Delaware were the Honorary Chairs of the celebration. Other notable attendees included U.S. Senators Bob Casey, Tom Carper and Patrick Toomey; U.S. Representatives Brendan Boyle and Bob Brady; and former Pennsylvania governor Ed Rendell.

During the ceremony the Association also recognized several area health care innovators with awards.

• Allen Ho, MD, FACS, Distinguished Physician recipient – Dr. Ho is an internationally recognized retina surgeon and Director of Retina Research of Wills Eye Hospital and Professor of Ophthalmology at the Kimmel School of Medicine at Thomas Jefferson University.

• Mark Schutta, MD, Distinguished Physician recipient – Schutta is the G. Clayton Kyle Associate Professor of Diabetes at the Perelman School of Medicine’s Division of  Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism at the University of Pennsylvania.

• Neva White, DNP, CRNP-BC, CDE, Distinguished Certified Diabetes Educator recipient – White is the Senior Health Educator at the Thomas Jefferson University Hospital’s Center for Urban Health.
  

  Lorina Marshall-Blake, President of Independence Blue Cross’ Foundation; Don Liss, Senior Medical Director IBC; Chris Cashman, Executive Vice President, IBC; Doug Chaet, SVP Provider Networks and Value-Based Solutions, IBC; Scott Post, VP of Corporate and Association Affairs, IBC; Dr. Ron Brooks, Philadelphia CLB Member and Senior Network Medical Director, IBC

• Independence Blue Cross (IBC), Accepted by Executive Vice President Chris Cashman – Independence Blue Cross health insurance organization serves more than 9.5 million people in 24 states and the District of Columbia, including 2.5 million in the Philadelphia region. As an Association supporter, IBC sets the bar high, as a sponsor, a fundraising team and a collaborative partner, raising over a quarter of a million dollars in recent years as a Step Out team alone.

For more information on the Association’s 75^th anniversary, please visit diabetes.org/75years.

From: American Diabetes Association http://diabetesstopshere.org/2015/10/16/a-cause-for-celebration/

Excessive drinking is draining America's economy

A new report from the CDC estimates how much heavy alcohol use costs the U.S., and the numbers are staggering

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/excessive-drinking-is-draining-americas-economy-cdc/

Mayo Clinic Minute: Bullying and Exercise, TV Safety

From: Mayo Clinic http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMdBnTPCk7U

Big Brain Doesn't Mean Big Smarts

Researchers say brain structure plays more of a role in intelligence

From: http://www.webmd.com/brain/news/20151016/big-brain-doesnt-mean-big-smarts?src=RSS_PUBLIC

High Cholesterol Linked to Tendon Trouble

Chronic inflammation could explain possible connection, researchers theorize

From: http://www.webmd.com/cholesterol-management/news/20151016/study-sees-link-between-high-cholesterol-and-tendon-trouble?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Brain Inflammation May Be Linked to Schizophrenia

Findings raise possibility of testing, early treatment, researchers say

From: http://www.webmd.com/schizophrenia/news/20151016/brain-inflammation-may-be-linked-to-schizophrenia?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Artificial skin could give prosthetics sense of touch

Scientists develop plastic skin that can "feel" differences in pressure and send signals to the brain

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/artificial-skin-could-give-prosthetics-a-sense-of-touch/

Positive Outlook May Help Heart Disease Patients

Study found optimists more likely to take meds, exercise and eat healthy

From: http://www.webmd.com/heart/news/20151016/positive-outlook-may-help-heart-disease-patients-heal?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Fed up with heroin, Vermont town fights back

What Rutland is doing to turn the tide against the scourge of heroin addiction

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/fed-up-with-heroin-vermont-town-fights-back/