Wednesday, December 23, 2015

More twins, fewer teen moms in latest birth stats

New report marks some significant changes in American birth patterns

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/more-twins-fewer-teen-moms-in-latest-birth-stats/

Study: Marijuana-derived drug reduces epileptic seizures

Children and young adults responded to investigational drug made with cannabidiol

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/marijuana-derived-drug-reduces-seizures-in-hard-to-treat-epilepsy/

Why are you having paranoid thoughts?

Are your “paranoid” thoughts really paranoid? WebMD tells you how to know for sure, and what to do about it.



From: http://www.webmd.com/schizophrenia/features/why-feel-paranoid?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Ask The Mayo Mom: Education & Learning, Part 1-Mayo Clinic



From: Mayo Clinic http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFicy_z5qmg

Ask The Mayo Mom: Education & Learning, Part 2-Mayo Clinic



From: Mayo Clinic http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Uq_vJk5Lb0

​Ky. settles lawsuit with OxyContin maker for $24 million

State officials accused Purdue Pharma of marketing the powerful prescription painkiller, with similar qualities to heroin, as nonaddictive

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/kentucky-settles-lawsuit-with-oxycontin-maker-for-24-million/

Foods and Habits That Stain Your Teeth

Want to keep your teeth white? Check WebMD's list of foods and beverages that stain teeth.



From: http://www.webmd.com/oral-health/features/foods-stain-teeth-feature?src=RSS_PUBLIC

7 Pains You Shouldn't Ignore

Is your pain normal, or is it a sign of something serious? WebMD explores some common pains and what they might be telling you.



From: http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/features/7-pains-you-shouldnt-ignore?src=RSS_PUBLIC

The dangers of walking while texting and talking

More than 2,000 Americans are injured each year in distracted walking accidents

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/the-dangers-of-walking-while-texting-and-talking/

The dangers of distracted walking

Texting, talking or video chatting while walking leads to thousands of injuries each year

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/the-dangers-of-distracted-walking/

New HIV Treatment Shows Promise in Early Research

But new antibody was only helpful for those who hadn't received HIV therapy yet



From: http://www.webmd.com/hiv-aids/news/20151223/new-hiv-treatment-shows-promise-in-early-research?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Social Media 110: Mayo Clinic's Social Media History



From: Mayo Clinic http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPIkcj1rB_s

Safe Weight Loss for Overweight Kids

Dieting isn’t the answer when it comes to weight loss for kids. Learn to avoid crash diets and unhealthy habits when your doctor suggests safe weight loss.



From: http://www.webmd.com/parenting/raising-fit-kids/weight/safe-weight-loss?src=RSS_PUBLIC

How to Be Smart About Sex With Hepatitis C

WebMD explains how to talk to a sexual partner and the best ways to protect them when you have hep c.



From: http://www.webmd.com/hepatitis/features/hep-c-smart-sex?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Glaucoma Patients: False Notions of Pot Treatment

And trend toward legalization of marijuana only fuels misconceptions, researchers add



From: http://www.webmd.com/eye-health/news/20151223/glaucoma-patients-have-false-notions-of-pots-ability-to-treat-their-disease-survey?src=RSS_PUBLIC

FDA Approves New Gout Drug

FDA Approves New Gout Drug



From: http://www.webmd.com/arthritis/news/20151223/gout-drug-approved?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Why finding a cure for the common cold is complicated

While symptoms including sneezing and coughing are annoyingly clear, the path to a cure is not so obvious

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/common-cold-cure-prevention-symptoms-cures-virus-medicine/

Tips to Deal With Hepatitis C Fatigue

When you have hepatitis C, being tired -- really tired -- can be a fact of life. But you can take certain steps to boost your energy.



From: http://www.webmd.com/hepatitis/features/hep-c-fatigue?src=RSS_PUBLIC

How Does RA Affect Your Everyday Life?

Rheumatoid Arthritis can impact your life. WebMD helps you manage with these simple tips.



From: http://www.webmd.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/features/how-rheumatoid-arthritis-affects-your-life?src=RSS_PUBLIC

CBSN business headlines for Dec. 23, 2015

Enrollment for Obamacare increases from last year, more celebrity email accounts are hacked and more

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/cbsn-business-headlines-for-dec-23-2015/

Chipotle tweaks recipes to cut E. coli risk

After dozens got sick and sales plummeted, the chain is changing how it prepares its food

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/chipotle-tweaks-recipes-to-cut-e-coli-risk/

Teen treated for rare case of rat-bite fever

Pet rat lived in teenager's bedroom

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/teen-treated-for-rare-rat-bite-fever/

Rheumatoid Arthritis and Sex

ra_and_sex.jpg

Do you know how RA can affect your sex life? WebMD has the answers.



From: http://www.webmd.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/features/rheumatoid-arthritis-and-sex?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Rheumatoid Arthritis and Lymphoma

ra_and_lymphoma.jpg

It’s your arthritis, not your drugs, which slightly raise your risk of lymphoma. WebMD explains why it happens.



From: http://www.webmd.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/features/the-link-between-rheumatoid-arthritis-and-lymphoma?src=RSS_PUBLIC

U.S. Births Up, Teen and Preterm Deliveries Down

Positive trends mean healthier babies, doctors say



From: http://teens.webmd.com/news/20151223/us-births-up-teen-and-preterm-deliveries-down-cdc?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Tiny Turtles Carry Salmonella Threat

Though banned as pets in U.S., they're still sold illegally and children are often the ones sickened, CDC finds



From: http://www.webmd.com/children/news/20151223/tiny-turtles-carry-salmonella-threat?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Why I Give: Barbara’s Story

ADA12050046

During the holiday season, the American Diabetes Association® encourages people to share their story on why they give to our mission. Whether it’s through local events, planned giving, one-time donations or in memory of a loved one, these gifts go a long way in helping us save lives and continue the search for a cure.

The following are stories from our generous supporters and organizations that have donated or fundraised on our behalf throughout the years.


 

ADA12050046Treating diabetes looked very different when the American Diabetes Association first
began directly funding research in 1952. Diabetes management involved thick needles and embarrassing, slow-acting and inaccurate urine tests.

Today, thanks to decades of critical research made possible through generous supporters, people with diabetes are living longer, healthier lives. They have better treatment options. They have more advanced technologies. Their health care providers have access to the most up-to-date and relevant information to guide their care.

But there is so much work left to do. The Association is committed to funding the research that promises tomorrow’s advances and, one day, a life free of diabetes and all its burdens.

That is why Barbara, from New York City, supports the Association through an IRA and Annuity contribution Diabetes has impacted Barbara’s family, including her maternal grandmother, who had type 1 diabetes, and father, who had type 2 diabetes.

Although Barbara doesn’t live with diabetes herself, she knows quite a few people who do, and this has sparked her great interest in diabetes research. She attends various lectures on diabetes and scientific programs and feels strongly that with more funding for research, diabetes will one day be eliminated.

“So many people all around the world and in the United States have diabetes, so we really need to do more about it,” Barbara told the Association. “I recently met another person with diabetes who currently has complications. I was happy to pass along helpful information about managing diabetes from your organization to her.”

Barbara recently attended the Association’s Supporter Tele-Town Hall on Dec. 7, 2015, featuring Chief Scientific and Medical Officer Robert E. Ratner, MD, FACP, FACE. During the town hall Barbara was able to hear firsthand the latest news about research and diabetes care. She hopes to see progress toward a cure so diabetes will no longer affect so many people.

“I’m most proud of doing something worthwhile with the money I have saved,” Barbara said. “It’s important to me that I leave a legacy that will go a long way toward helping many people. Some people gamble and do other things with their money; I prefer to give it to something important.


 

We hope you’re inspired by Barbara’s story as much as we are. Please take a moment now to make a generous year end gift to change the future of diabetes. Your donation, no matter what size, will help us fund cutting-edge research and also allow us to advocate for billions of dollars of federal government research and provide community-based programs to help people across the U.S. live healthier lives today.

Visit diabetes.org/donate to help make a difference.



From: American Diabetes Association http://diabetesstopshere.org/2015/12/23/why-i-give-barbara/

USDA Trade Mission Spurs Record Ethanol Exports to China

WASHINGTON, Dec. 23, 2015 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced a significant jump in ethanol exports to China this year, following a USDA-led trade mission to the country last year. Representatives from nine state departments of agriculture and 28 U.S. companies, including renewable fuels businesses, traveled to northeast China to explore opportunities for trade in the region.

From: http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?contentid=2015/12/0347.xml&contentidonly=true

The Pill, Hormone Therapy Safe With Blood Thinners

Finding may lay to rest the notion that hormonal treatments raise odds for recurrent clots, expert says



From: http://www.webmd.com/women/news/20151222/the-pill-hormone-therapy-safe-for-women-taking-blood-thinners-study?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Weight-Loss Surgery Lowers Risk of These

British researchers say procedure provides many long-term health benefits



From: http://www.webmd.com/diet/obesity/20151222/weight-loss-surgery-lowered-risk-of-heart-attack-type-2-diabetes-in-study?src=RSS_PUBLIC

ESPN: NFL pulls CTE brain study funding over researcher

The NFL is denying ESPN's claim

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/espn-nfl-pulls-cte-brain-study-funding-over-researcher/

Lifesaving benefits of skin-to-skin cuddling for preemies

"Kangaroo care" between new moms and premature babies should start in hospital, study suggests

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/lifesaving-benefits-of-skin-to-skin-cuddling-with-preemies/

Mayo Clinic Minute: Tips for Washing Fruits and Vegetables



From: Mayo Clinic http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vlPNIk3i5cg

Finding omega-3 fats in fish: Farmed versus wild

Recently, a Harvard Heart Letter subscriber emailed us a question: Is there a difference between farm-raised and wild-caught salmon in terms of omega-3 fatty acid content?

I’ve wondered about this myself while standing at the fish counter at my local grocery store. I can often find farm-raised Atlantic salmon for about $6.99 a pound, while the wild-caught salmon may be nearly twice as expensive. Salmon and other fatty fish are the main dietary source for omega-3 fatty acids, which are known to lower the risk of heart disease.

It turns out that you probably won’t shortchange your heart if you choose the less-costly farmed salmon, as both types seem to provide similar amounts of omega-3s per serving. But that’s likely because farm-raised salmon tend to have more total fat — and therefore more omega-3 fat — than wild ones.

How the total fat content of salmon measures up

As Dr. Bruce Bistrian, professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, explained to me, fish are what they eat. “In the wild, salmon eat smaller fish that are high in EPA and DHA — the beneficial, long-chain omega-3 fatty acids.” Farm-raised salmon eat high-protein food pellets. While location and environmental changes can affect the diet of a wild salmon, the flesh of a farmed fish reflects the farmer’s choice of pellets. In particular, farmers often feed the young salmon pellets made from plant and animal sources, then add the more expensive fish- and fish-oil–enriched pellets later in the fish’s lifespan.

A study that measured fatty acids in 76 different fish species from six regions of the United States found big variations in the omega-3 content in the five different salmon species tested — especially the two farm-raised varieties. The omega-3 content ranged from 717 milligrams (mg) to 1,533 mg per 100 grams of fish (equal to a “standard” 3.5-ounce serving). Compared to the wild-caught varieties, farmed fish tended to have higher levels of omega-3s, but they also contained higher levels of saturated and polyunsaturated fats. But the amount of saturated fat isn’t alarming. For comparison, a serving has about 1.6 grams, which is about half as much in the same amount of flank steak.

The best choices for salmon — and the rest of your plate

Bottom line: Don’t stress too much about your salmon selection. Follow the American Heart Association’s advice to eat two servings of fish a week, letting affordability and availability guide your choices. As for me, I often opt for farmed salmon for dinner once a week or so, but I’ll splurge on wild salmon if it looks especially good. When I have canned tuna, I look for the “chunk light” variety, which is lower in mercury than other varieties. (For more on that topic, see one of my previous blogs). Other good fatty fish choices include sardines, herring, bluefish, and mackerel.

And don’t forget to keep the big picture in mind when choosing what to eat. Nutrition experts like Dr. Bistrian stress that much of the most compelling evidence about a heart-healthy eating patterns comes from studies of the Mediterranean diet, which includes fish as well as lots of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, nuts and olive oil but minimal amounts of meat and dairy. “If you eat more fish in the context of other changes in your diet, that’s more likely to confer a benefit,” says Dr. Bistrian.

The post Finding omega-3 fats in fish: Farmed versus wild appeared first on Harvard Health Blog.



From: Julie Corliss http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/finding-omega-3-fats-in-fish-farmed-versus-wild-201512238909

Slight Signs of Lingering Brain Damage Seen in Young Athletes After Concussion

But study did not prove concussion caused minor differences detected in scans, thinking tests



From: http://www.webmd.com/children/news/20151222/slight-signs-of-lingering-brain-damage-seen-in-young-athletes-after-concussion?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Why science can’t find cure for common cold

Most adults get two to three colds a year

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/why-science-cant-find-cure-for-common-cold/

Living with Diabetes in College: Katie

katie

For young adults living with diabetes, preparing for college can be a difficult time. Managing diabetes while trying to make sense of a new world, social network and expectations can be especially challenging. You’re not alone! There are many resources in place to help support this transition.

Together with the College Diabetes Network (CDN), the American Diabetes Association has been working to fill the information gaps for young adults living with diabetes and transitioning to college and work. The following are stories by college students with diabetes about their transition to happy, healthy college experiences.


 

Name and age: Katie, 21katie

School: Michigan State University (MSU), Class of 2016

I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes last year at my nursing clinical when we were learning how to test blood glucose. So when I was originally researching universities, I did not consider looking at the health services—it wasn’t all that important to me at the time. However, I seemed to have been lucky in choosing MSU, because they have many health services and accommodations that I became aware of after my diagnosis. The Resource Center for Disability Services was very helpful in showing what accommodations I was eligible for if I were to need them, and they were very considerate of any extra needs that I may have because of diabetes.

My parents have been immensely helpful with the transition from home to college. They have helped me with scheduling appointments, finding doctors who would give me the best care and researching ways to make living with diabetes easier, especially while I was away from home. Both of my parents have always been my constant source for inspiration and hope. It is because of them I know that my transition back to college was easy and not at all stressful.

My health care team was also very helpful in my transition. We use a “patient portal,” which is a secure online messaging system where I can message my endocrinologist whenever I have any questions. This system has worked out well for me, especially with me being an hour away from home, and has helped build the great trust I have in my doctor.

When I first arrived at MSU, it didn’t provide any education programs to support people with diabetes or raise diabetes awareness. However, it does now! Our CDN chapter aims to raise awareness for people living with diabetes. We want to plan events and meetings to help educate the campus about a significant part of its population. Although the CDN chapter is just now getting started, I am seeing what a tremendous impact the chapter will have on our campus. We already have members who are very interested in supporting the chapter and have been instrumental in getting everything up and running.

My professors and roommates have been extremely supportive. My nursing professor, now our CDN chapter advisor, was actually there when I was in the emergency room getting my bloodwork done. This year, I did tell my current roommates and professors about my diabetes. I told them because diabetes can be tricky and it is always comforting to have people around you who understand why you might need to take a break to check your blood glucose. And in case there is an emergency, the group of people who you are around the most will be knowledgeable about your condition and can act appropriately for it. It certainly gives me peace of mind, knowing they can look out for me. Every student needs a group of friends, and professors, that they can trust, whether they have diabetes or not.

I started out by explaining the basics of diabetes, telling them that I need to take insulin shots in order to help my body function without a working pancreas. I also used the CDN Friends and Roommates page to further explain the basics of diabetes and what to look for in case of emergencies. I really found the resources to be helpful.

The biggest thing that I have seen on campus is the lack of knowledge about type 1 diabetes. I don’t necessarily get a lot of questions, and I think that is because people are hesitant to ask questions about this disease. Some people don’t really understand diabetes or think that diabetes is caused by eating poorly and not exercising. But I can tell that they want to learn more. If I explain my disease in ways that people can understand, the more help they can be to me and others with diabetes.

For incoming college freshmen or even high school seniors with diabetes, my advice would be to join the College Diabetes Network or any other student groups that help you connect with others! Or start your own chapter if there isn’t already one on your campus.

It’s just like why I joined the MSU Pompon team. Going into college, I knew that I loved my high school Pompon team; the sport had become a large part of who I am. I also knew that in college I wanted to be around other people who loved it as much as me, so I decided to try out for the university team. Connecting with new people who can understand and relate to some of the biggest parts of who you are is a great and comforting way to start the next chapter of your life.


 

The College Diabetes Network (CDN) is a 501c3 non-profit organization, whose mission is to use the power of peers, access to resources, and grassroots leadership to fill the gaps experienced by young adults with diabetes and make their college experience safer and more successful. CDN’s vision is to empower young adults with diabetes to thrive in all of their personal, healthcare, and scholastic endeavors. CDN has over 80 campuses with 60+ affiliated chapters.

Diabetes Forecast magazine and the College Diabetes Network recently published a “Thrive Guide for Young Adults” with tips for doing college with diabetes. Visit diabetesforecast.org and diabetes.org for more information.

 



From: American Diabetes Association http://diabetesstopshere.org/2015/12/23/diabetes-in-college-katie/

Clinton seeks to boost Alzheimer's research spending

The proposal to boost spending is part of a grander plan to increase funding to NIH research

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/hillary-clinton-offers-plan-to-boost-alzheimers-research-spending/