March 2016

Thursday, March 31, 2016

The toll of Alzheimer's disease on caregivers

Nearly 16 million Americans care for a loved one with Alzheimer's disease

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/the-toll-of-alzheimers-disease-on-caregivers/

NFL concussions more common on colder game days

The study also found ankle injuries were more common at colder temperatures

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/nfl-concussions-more-common-on-colder-game-days/

Husband puts off retirement to afford wife's Alzheimer's care

73-year-old Mike Daly is committed to caring for his ailing wife, but his bank account and his own health are feeling the heavy toll

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/aging-husband-puts-off-retirement-to-afford-wifes-alzheimers-care/

Autism rate in U.S. kids remains steady

Unchanged autism rates are stabilizing among U.S. children, say government researchers

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/autism-rate-in-us-kids-remains-steady/

U.S. Autism Rate Unchanged at 1 in 68 Kids: CDC

It's not yet clear if the rate will stabilize over the long-term, experts say

From: http://www.webmd.com/brain/autism/news/20160331/us-autism-rate-unchanged-at-1-in-68-kids-cdc?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Machine Makes Prescription Drugs 'On Demand'

Technological advance produced thousands of doses a day; could be used on battlefields, during epidemics, scientists say

From: http://www.webmd.com/news/20160331/fridge-sized-machine-makes-prescription-drugs-on-demand?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Diabetes Meds Vary in Safety, Effectiveness: Study

Every drug or drug combo for type 2 disease has its benefits and risks, British team says

From: http://www.webmd.com/diabetes/news/20160331/diabetes-meds-vary-in-safety-and-effectiveness-study-shows?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Evening Snacking May Up Breast Cancer Return Odds

Women who fasted less than 13 hours had 36 percent higher risk of cancer recurrence, researchers say

From: http://www.webmd.com/breast-cancer/news/20160331/evening-snacking-might-raise-odds-for-breast-cancers-return?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Smoking During Pregnancy Seems to Alter Fetal DNA

Discovery could help explain link between expectant moms' tobacco use and kids' health problems

From: http://www.webmd.com/smoking-cessation/news/20160331/smoking-during-pregnancy-seems-to-alter-fetal-dna-study-finds?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Fluoridation flourishes, new CDC stats say

Nearly 74.7 percent of the U.S. population on community water supplies — or about 214.2 million people — received the benefit of fluoridated water in 2014, according to statistics released March 25 by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

From: http://www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2016-archive/march/fluoridation-flourishes-new-cdc-stats-say

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to Travel to Germany and France

WASHINGTON, March 31, 2016 –Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack will travel to Berlin and Paris next week to discuss areas of mutual interest between the European and American agricultural sectors.

From: http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?contentid=2016/03/0082.xml&contentidonly=true

Germs may be lurking in your deli's meat slicer

You may want to put that sandwich down: a new CDC report uncovers troubling findings about delis' meat slicer cleaning habits

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/germs-lurking-in-deli-meat-slicer/

Live Webinar: Comprehensive Training: What Hockey Players Should Know

From: Mayo Clinic http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0bAGQl0qrk

Endometriosis and Heart Disease: Is There a Link?

From: Mayo Clinic http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qThNxJkZ8OM

The Importance of Exercise & Staying Motivated

From: Mayo Clinic http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYZje0BNivk

2016 The Ronald L. Linscheid, M.D. & James H. Dobyns, M.D. Memorial Disorders of the Wrist Course

From: Mayo Clinic http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGsOOB54pFM

USDA Issues Final Rule Extending New Religious Liberty Protections to Beneficiaries of Federally-Funded Programs

WASHINGTON, March 31, 2016 – Today the U.S. Department of Agriculture, along with other federal agencies, published a final rule that will provide new religious liberty protections for beneficiaries of federally funded social service programs, while also adding new protections for the ability of religious providers to compete for government funds on the same basis as any other private organization.

From: http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?contentid=2016/03/0081.xml&contentidonly=true

FDA OKs Experimental Zika Test for Blood Donations

But agency still asks those who've possibly been exposed to the virus to forgo giving blood right now

From: http://www.webmd.com/news/20160330/fda-approves-experimental-zika-test-for-blood-donations?src=RSS_PUBLIC

FDA Eases Restrictions on Abortion Medication

Women will have an easier time accessing mifepristone

From: http://www.webmd.com/baby/news/20160330/fda-eases-restrictions-on-abortion-medication?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Minecraft helps kids with autism build richer lives

For kids living with autism spectrum disorder, building new worlds with Minecraft offers more than just fun

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/minecraft-helps-kids-with-autism-build-richer-lives/

CDC warns more U.S. cities could face Zika threat

The mosquitoes that transmit the virus may live more areas of the country than previously thought

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/cdc-warns-more-u-s-cities-face-zika-threat/

Flu Shot Might Cut Stillbirth Risk

Australian researchers find possible link in large-scale study

From: http://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/news/20160331/flu-shot-might-cut-stillbirth-risk?src=RSS_PUBLIC

ADA calls for increased licensure portability

This is the second in a series of articles on licensure reform, a debate occurring in various states as students, educators and dental leaders seek alternatives and/or changes to the licensure process.

From: http://www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2016-archive/march/ada-calls-for-increased-licensure-portability

Federal, Philanthropic Partners Join to Strengthen Local Food Supply Chains

ATLANTA, March 31, 2016 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) officials today joined 15 national and regional philanthropic partners to announce a new initiative to bolster the supply chain for local food systems around ten key U.S. cities.

From: http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?contentid=2016/03/0080.xml&contentidonly=true

USDA Invests $103 Million in Vital Watershed Projects

WASHINGTON, March 31, 2016 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing up to $103 million in post-disaster recovery and the rehabilitation of aging dams in 19 States.

From: http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?contentid=2016/03/0079.xml&contentidonly=true

More Evidence This Drug Raises Bladder Cancer Risk

But odds are small, and experts want it to remain on market, although newer drugs are available

From: http://www.webmd.com/cancer/bladder-cancer/news/20160330/more-evidence-diabetes-drug-actos-raises-bladder-cancer-risk-a-bit?src=RSS_PUBLIC

CDC warns of expanding Zika threat in U.S.

New guidance shows the two species that carry Zika have a far greater range that could stretch to big cities like New York and San Francisco

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/cdc-warns-of-expanding-zika-threat-in-us/

News flash: Teens need adequate sleep!

There’s been a lot of back-and-forth recently about how much sleep we really need, with recent studies suggesting that some long-held notions about this may be outdated. For example, a recently published study challenged the widely held belief that adults need an average of eight hours of sleep a night to function well. The researchers found that members of pre-industrial societies, free of the technological distractions that often keep us up at night, tend to get an average of 5.7 to 7.1 hours of sleep per night (more on that in a bit).

However, while the actual amount of sleep required to function optimally may vary from person to person, it is still very clear that not getting enough sleep — whatever that “magic number” is for any specific individual — can have serious consequences. This is especially true in children and adolescents, whose developing brains are very sensitive to insufficient sleep.

Studying the effects of sleep deprivation in teens

This was borne out in a new study published in this month’s issue of Sleep. Researchers from Singapore compared two groups of high school students before, during, and after a week in which half were allotted nine hours sleep per night and the other half only five hours per night. Not only did the sleep-deprived kids exhibit impaired cognitive function, alertness, and mood during their week of five-hour nights as compared with their peers, but it took them more than two nights of “recovery sleep” to catch back up again.

One way of looking at this is that not only do you suffer the day after not getting enough sleep, but that the idea of skimping on sleep during the week with the plan to somehow “catch up” on the weekend isn’t a good one: it simply doesn’t work. Even after getting lots of sleep on the weekend, you’ll still be far away from where you could — and probably should — be as far as sharpness and mood go.

Setting up a great night’s sleep for your child

One way of helping kids get the sleep they need is by eliminating some of those things that tempt them into staying awake. There is a lot of evidence that kids with televisions in their bedrooms, for example, not only sleep less but also have poorer-quality sleep. (Increased screen time is also associated with higher rates of obesity and with less time spent reading, but that’s a topic for another post.) The same is probably true for computers, tablets, and smartphones as well. Removing electronic media devices from the bedroom will make it more likely that your child will fall asleep sooner — and sleep better — than she will with the world at her fingertips.

Another way of helping kids fall asleep sooner and with greater ease is by removing stressors from their bedroom and encouraging them to relax before bedtime. This means, for example, not doing homework in the bedroom (and never in bed!), but at the dining room table instead. This creates a distinct boundary between the pressures of the day and the comforting space of the bedroom, which is so important for falling asleep. It may also have the added benefit of keeping them focused on the task at hand instead of the distractions of YouTube, Snapchat, and texting that can turn one hour of homework into a three-hour ordeal. Likewise, ending the day with 20-30 minutes of mindfulness practice, yoga, or quiet reading can help your teen redirect himself to a different plane as he gets ready to sleep.

Finally, keeping to a regular sleep schedule, seven days a week, with fixed wake-up and bed times will help keep your teen’s internal clock synchronized with the external one, preventing the development of a circadian phase delay between the two that may interfere with his or her being able to fall asleep at their appointed bed time on week nights.

The post News flash: Teens need adequate sleep! appeared first on Harvard Health Blog.

From: Dennis Rosen, M.D. http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/news-flash-teens-need-adequate-sleep-201603319333

Urban health: major opportunities for improving global health outcomes, despite persistent health inequities

The new report emphasizes the urgency of addressing health disparities and their determinants in cities as countries strive to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

From: http://www.who.int/entity/mediacentre/news/releases/2016/urban-health-report/en/index.html

Virginia Dental Association takes oral cancer awareness to the street — literally

If patients could get oral cancer screenings in two minutes at the mall or on their way to a concert, would it make a difference for patient wellbeing? It's a question Virginia Dental Association members are attempting to answer with their ongoing "Where's the Chair?" campaign.

From: http://www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2016-archive/march/virginia-dental-association-takes-oral-cancer-awareness-to-the-street-literally

How effective are health "awareness days"?

Researchers looked at the impact of one of the best-known campaigns to see if it's made a difference

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/how-effective-are-health-awareness-days/

Wednesday, March 30, 2016

Study: Longer-Term Antibiotics Won't Ease 'Chronic Lyme Disease'

Dutch trial is latest to show no benefit from extended treatment, but finding unlikely to end the controversy

From: http://www.webmd.com/arthritis/news/20160330/study-longer-term-antibiotics-wont-ease-chronic-lyme-disease?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Doctors Report Groundbreaking HIV-to-HIV Organ Transplants

One donor supplied a kidney to one patient and a liver to another patient

From: http://www.webmd.com/hiv-aids/news/20160330/doctors-report-groundbreaking-hiv-to-hiv-organ-transplants?src=RSS_PUBLIC

FDA eases some restrictions on abortion pill

New FDA labeling rules will make it easier for women seeking to end a pregnancy with prescription drug

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/fda-eases-restrictions-on-abortion-pill-mifeprex/

Vivitrol Cuts Relapse Risk in Opioid Addicts

A once-monthly injection called Vivitrol appears to cut the risk of relapse in half for opioid addicts, at least while they get the shots.

From: http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/addiction/news/20160330/vivtrol-cuts-relapse-risk-opioid-addicts?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Beans, Chickpeas May Help With Weight Loss

'Pulses' like these may help dieters feel fuller and reduce food cravings, new analysis shows

From: http://www.webmd.com/diet/20160330/beans-chickpeas-may-help-with-weight-loss-study?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Famous people with bipolar disorder

On World Bipolar Awareness Day, a look at famous people with bipolar disorder

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/famous-people-celebrities-bipolar/

First HIV-positive transplants offer patients new hope

Johns Hopkins surgeons successfully transplanted two organs from an HIV-positive patient to two patients with the virus

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/first-hiv-positive-liver-transplant-offers-new-hope-for-patients/

Medical community battles infectious celebrity health claims

Controversy over an anti-vaccination documentary pulled from the Tribeca Film Festival is the latest episode of scientists fighting questionable health claims promoted by celebrities

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/medical-community-is-fighting-a-new-germ-celebrities/

Types of Neuroendocrine Tumors and Their Symptoms

WebMD explains what symptoms neuroendocrine tumors can cause and shows you how to find out whether you have one.

From: http://www.webmd.com/cancer/features/neuroendocrine-tumors-types-symptoms?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Take Care of Yourself With Neuroendocrine Tumors

WebMD explains how the right lifestyle -- including diet and exercise -- can help you feel better when you have neuroendocrine tumors (NETs).

From: http://www.webmd.com/cancer/features/neuroendocrine-tumors-self-care?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Neuroendocrine Tumors (NETs): Treatment Options

WebMD describes the treatments for neuroendocrine tumors, including surgery, medication, radiation, and hormone therapy.

From: http://www.webmd.com/cancer/features/neuroendocrine-tumors-treatments?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Lab and Imaging Tests for Neuroendocrine Tumors

WebMD explains the scans or blood tests doctors use to diagnose neuroendocrine tumors (NETs).

From: http://www.webmd.com/cancer/features/neuroendocrine-tumors-tests?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Study: Mechanism Between Zika Virus, Birth Defects

Protein on fetal stem cells provides pathway for Zika; discovery might lead to infection-blocking drugs, researchers say

From: http://www.webmd.com/news/20160330/study-explores-mechanism-between-zika-virus-birth-defects?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Caregivers Often Sacrifice for Alzheimer's Costs

Many skip food and health care, cut back work hours or quit jobs to care for loved ones, survey shows

From: http://www.webmd.com/alzheimers/news/20160330/caregivers-often-give-up-necessities-to-cover-alzheimers-costs?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Study Asks, What Is a 'Good Death'?

Discussions must go way beyond treatments and deal with the patient's sense of peace, experts say

From: http://www.webmd.com/healthy-aging/news/20160330/study-asks-what-is-a-good-death?src=RSS_PUBLIC

How to Find Out About Your Hospital's Performance

WebMD explains how to judge which hospital is the best one to choose for your medical situation.

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

Mayo Clinic Minute: Out of Shape Kids and Diabetes

From: Mayo Clinic http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JO6EAzv9cUI

Why this spring is a perfect storm for allergies

Three big factors are contributing to a longer and more miserable allergy season, but there are ways to fight back

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/why-this-spring-is-a-perfect-storm-for-allergies/

Measles case shuts down California elementary school

The school is located in an area with one of the lowest vaccination rates in the state

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/measles-case-shuts-down-california-school-in-area-with-low-vaccination-rate/

25 Legends: Hillary Liber

This year marks the 25^th anniversary of two American Diabetes Association^® signature fundraising events—Step Out: Walk to Stop Diabetes^® and Tour de Cure^®.

Every dollar raised at these events supports people living with diabetes and funds our life-changing research and programs.

The “25 Legends” blog series highlights personal stories from some of the Association’s most dedicated walkers and riders who live with the disease.

I am turning 63 years old this month and I currently live in San Diego. I have been living
with type 1 diabetes for 25 years.

When I was first diagnosed, I was terrified. My doctor recognized my fear, held my hands in his and asked me what scared me. I told him about my two uncles who had type 1 diabetes. The first was blind and had both of his legs amputated from his knees down. The other died in his 40s. I knew them when they were once just like me—healthy and full of life.

I wondered if their fate would be mine. My doctor promised me it would not, and he was right! All these years later, my only complication has been cataracts.

The American Diabetes Association helped me get through many things, including understanding the differences and similarities between type 1 and type 2 diabetes. They also taught me about insulin pumps and helped me switch from eight injections a day to two pump insertions a week.

The Association is helping everyone manage their diabetes on a daily basis. They support our loved ones with education, family activities and camp programs, and funding leading-edge research in diabetes prevention, treatment and probable cures. It’s my goal to help others the way the Association helped me.

I began walking in Step Out: Walk to Stop Diabetes in 1995 and was proud to raise $750! My team, Hillary’s Havurah, has been supporting me for the past 18 years. “Havurah” in Hebrew means fellowship and coming together for a purpose—in this case, to Stop Diabetes. Each year, I send out 700 letters and 400 emails, and together we raise an average of $15,000. In our best year, we topped $20,000!

Our fundraising goal is always $18,000 because 18 in Hebrew is “Chai,” which means life. We like to say, “We saved 1,000 lives.” Our Step Out team wants a world that is diabetes free, so we work every day to Stop Diabetes! Whether it’s through advocating in our communities and government, educating everyone we meet or raising funds, we support the Association’s great work.

Please join us at a Step Out event! We want you to push us out of the No. 1 fundraising spot in San Diego! It takes sincere effort and lots of dedication, but you can do it.

Unfortunately as many as 1 in 3 American adults will have diabetes by 2050 if present
trends continue. Everyone knows someone with diabetes, and everyone wants to fight it. So just ask them to contribute and provide them the opportunity to help!

Together, we CAN Stop Diabetes.

The Association is so grateful of our 25 Legends! Their tireless efforts as walkers and riders are a tremendous support and inspiration to people with diabetes.

Sign up today! Learn more about these events and find out how to get involved at diabetes.org/stepout and diabetes.org/tourdecure.

From: American Diabetes Association http://diabetesstopshere.org/2016/03/30/25-legends-hillary-liber/

How useful is the body mass index (BMI)?

Do you know your BMI? Increasingly, people know theirs, just as they know their cholesterol.

If you don’t know your BMI, you can use a BMI calculator available online, including this one at Harvard Health Publications. All you need is your height and weight. Or, you can calculate it yourself, using this formula:

BMI = (Weight in Pounds x 703) / (Height in inches x Height in inches).

So, now that you know your BMI, is it worth knowing? What are you going to do with it?

What your BMI means

To understand what your BMI means, it’s useful to take a step back and understand what it’s measuring and why it’s measured.

BMI is a calculation of your size that takes into account your height and weight. A number of years ago, I remember using charts that asked you to find your height along the left side and then slide your finger to the right to see your “ideal weight” from choices listed under small, medium, or large “frame” sizes.

These charts came from “actuarial” statistics, calculations that life insurance companies use to determine your likelihood of reaching an advanced age based on data from thousands of people. These charts were cumbersome to use, and it was never clear how one was to decide a person’s “frame size.”

BMI does something similar — it expresses the relationship between your height and weight as a single number that is not dependent on “frame size.” Although the origin of the BMI is over 200 years old, it is fairly new as a measure of health.

What’s a normal BMI?

A normal BMI is between18.5 and 25; a person with a BMI between 25 and 30 is considered overweight; and a person with a BMI over 30 is considered obese. A person is considered underweight if the BMI is less than 18.5.

As with most measures of health, BMI is not a perfect test. For example, results can be thrown off by pregnancy or high muscle mass, and it may not be a good measure of health for children or the elderly.

So then, why does BMI matter?

In general, the higher your BMI, the higher the risk of developing a range of conditions linked with excess weight, including:

diabetes
arthritis
liver disease
several types of cancer (such as those of the breast, colon, and prostate)
high blood pressure (hypertension)
high cholesterol
sleep apnea.

Current estimates suggest that up to 365,000 excess deaths due to obesity occur each year in the U.S. In addition, independent of any particular disease, people with high BMIs often report feeling better, both physically and psychologically, once they lose excess weight.

And here’s why BMI may not matter

It’s important to recognize that BMI itself is not measuring “health” or a physiological state (such as resting blood pressure) that indicates the presence (or absence) of disease. It is simply a measure of your size. Plenty of people have a high or low BMI and are healthy and, conversely, plenty of folks with a normal BMI are unhealthy. In fact, a person with a normal BMI who smokes and has a strong family history of cardiovascular disease may have a higher riskof early cardiovascular death than someone who has a high BMI but is a physically fit non-smoker.

And then there is the “obesity paradox.” Some studies have found that despite the fact that the risk of certain diseases increases with rising BMI, people actually tend to live longer, on average, if their BMI is a bit on the higher side.

Should we stop giving so much “weight” to BMI?

That’s exactly what’s being asked in the discussion generated by a new study. For this study, researchers looked at how good the BMI was as a single measure of cardiovascular health and found that it wasn’t very good at all:

Nearly half of those considered overweight by BMI had a healthy “cardiometabolic profile,” including a normal blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar.
About a third of people with normal BMI measures had an unhealthy cardiometabolic profile.

The authors bemoaned the “inaccuracy” of the BMI. They claim it translates into mislabeling millions of people as unhealthy and also overlooking millions of others who are actually unhealthy, but are considered “healthy” by BMI alone.

Actually, this should come as no surprise. BMI, as a single measure, would not be expected to identify cardiovascular health or illness; the same is true for cholesterol, blood sugar, or blood pressure as a single measure. And while cardiovascular health is important, it’s not the only measure of health! For example, this study did not consider conditions that might also be relevant to an individual with an elevated BMI, such as liver disease or arthritis.

Bottom line

As a single measure, BMI is clearly not a perfect measure of health. But it’s still a useful starting point for important conditions that become more likely when a person is overweight or obese. In my view, it’s a good idea to know your BMI. But it’s also important to recognize its limitations.

The post How useful is the body mass index (BMI)? appeared first on Harvard Health Blog.

From: Robert Shmerling, MD http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/how-useful-is-the-body-mass-index-bmi-201603309339

USDA Announces $5.2 Million For Nanotechnology Research

WASHINGTON, March 30, 2016 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced an investment of more than $5.2 million to support nanotechnology research at 11 universities. The universities will research ways nanotechnology can be used to improve food safety, enhance renewable fuels, increase crop yields, manage agricultural pests, and more. The awards were made through the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI), the nation's premier competitive, peer-reviewed grants program for fundamental and applied agricultural sciences.

From: http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?contentid=2016/03/0078.xml&contentidonly=true

Could a Low-Risk Surgery Help Chronic Heartburn?

Death rate from procedure lower than previously reported, study finds

From: http://www.webmd.com/heartburn-gerd/news/20160329/could-a-low-risk-surgery-help-your-chronic-heartburn?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Smoking Triggers Big Changes in Mouth Bacteria

But quitting eventually returns levels to normal

From: http://www.webmd.com/smoking-cessation/news/20160329/smoking-triggers-big-changes-in-mouth-bacteria-study-finds?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Does Your Teen Have a Mental Health Problem?

1 in 5 kids develop a serious problem but many go years without treatment, psychiatrist says

From: http://teens.webmd.com/news/20160329/how-to-tell-if-your-teen-has-a-mental-health-problem?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Why allergy season is getting longer, more intense

Higher temperatures, more rain and El Niño winds may contribute to a perfect storm for allergies

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/why-allergy-season-is-getting-longer-more-intense/

Are your cosmetics really worth your money?

A Senate committee is expected to consider new regulations on what goes into cosmetics

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/are-your-cosmetics-really-worth-your-money/

Some Alzheimer's caregivers make "startling" sacrifices

A new report shows many caregivers give up financial security, even basic personal needs, for loved ones with Alzheimer's

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/alzheimers-patients-caregivers-make-startling-sacrifices/

Many Americans are dangerously wrong about Zika virus

Survey finds common misconceptions about how the virus spreads and what you should do to protect yourself

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/many-americans-are-dangerously-wrong-about-zika-virus/

WHO statements on Ebola

WHO statements on the Ebola outbreak in West Africa

From: http://www.who.int/entity/mediacentre/news/ebola/statements/en/index.html

Tuesday, March 29, 2016

Anesthesia procedures at Mayo Clinic Children's Center

From: Mayo Clinic http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNLDq736iLc

Detection and treatment of subclinical seizures

From: Mayo Clinic http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFzj4ETAg6c

Terminix fined $10M in Virgin Islands toxic pesticide case

Delaware family nearly killed, teens have chronic damage from banned pesticide sprayed at Virgin Islands resort where they were staying

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/terminix-fined-10-million-in-virgin-islands-toxic-pesticide-case/

Pregnant heroin addicts seek treatment at Pittsburgh program

Without this treatment, up to 80 percent of babies of opiate users have withdrawal symptoms when they're born

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/pregnant-heroin-addicts-seek-treatment-at-pittsburgh-program/

Obama Seeks to Expand Opioid Addiction Treatment

President Barack Obama traveled to Atlanta on Tuesday to shine a light on the nation’s opioid abuse epidemic, which continues to get worse. WebMD has the details.

From: http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/addiction/news/20160329/obama-opioid-addiction-treatment?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Endometriosis Linked to Heart Disease in Study

Gynecological condition may boost heart risk 60 percent; even more in young women, research suggests

From: http://www.webmd.com/women/news/20160329/endometriosis-linked-to-heart-disease-in-study?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Many Americans Misinformed About Zika Virus

Harvard poll shows they don't know how virus spreads or how it affects health

From: http://www.webmd.com/news/20160329/many-americans-misinformed-about-zika-virus?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Conjoined Texas twins get set for separation surgery

"My daughters are in hands of God," anxious mom says, as doctors prepare to separate babies joined at the hips

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/conjoined-texas-twins-set-for-surgery/

Obama urges more funding for opioid addiction treatment

Speaking at a conference on opioid and heroin addiction in Atlanta, the president said big strides have been made but called for more action from Congress to ensure adequate funding for treatment programs

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/president-obama-urges-more-funding-for-opioid-addiction-treatment/

How do you know if your doctor can be trusted?

Consumer Reports investigation found doctors with history of malpractice or disciplinary action may still be practicing, without patients' knowledge

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/consumer-reports-investigates-malpractice-probation-of-medical-providers/

Antipsychotics Don't Ease Delirium in These People

These drugs won't prevent or effectively treat the condition, review suggests

From: http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/news/20160329/antipsychotics-dont-ease-delirium-in-hospitalized-patients?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Mayo Clinic Minute: The Benefits of a Physical Exam

From: Mayo Clinic http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7GqiAJzREc

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Depression - Patient Info - Mayo Clinic

From: Mayo Clinic http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7LrovlpuE4

Ebola No Longer a Global Health Emergency: WHO

From: http://www.webmd.com/news/20160329/ebola-emergency-who?src=RSS_PUBLIC

CDC to dentists: Understanding and following infection control guidelines easier with new resource

Dentists can access resources designed to help them follow infection prevention guidelines thanks to new materials released March 29 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

From: http://www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2016-archive/march/cdc-to-dentists-understanding-and-following-infection-control-guidelines-easier-with-new-resource

Guiding girls through "complicated" modern hookup culture

Author Peggy Orenstein explains why parents should "break the silence first" and broaden the conversation about sex, love and relationships

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/peggy-orenstein-book-girls-and-sex-navigating-the-complicated-new-landscape/

Questions remain over deadly mystery bacteria in Midwest

Rare bacteria Elizabethkingia has been linked to dozens of illnesses and 18 deaths in Wisconsin and Michigan

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/questions-remain-over-mystery-bacteria-killing-elderly-in-midwest/

The Truth About Soy and Breast Cancer

WebMD clears up the confusion on how this plant protein affects your breast cancer risk.

From: http://www.webmd.com/breast-cancer/features/soy-effects-on-breast-cancer?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Campbell Soup products to go BPA-free

The maker of soup, SpaghettiOs and other canned favorites sets a deadline for cutting the chemical BPA from cans

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/campbell-soup-to-go-bpa-free/

Mayo Clinic Invests $100 Million in Destination Medical Center in the Southeast

From: Mayo Clinic http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jcw0cZVMdPk

From: http://www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2016-archive/april

Your Doctor's Past Records Tough to Find: Report

Consumer Reports survey shows patients think they should be told, but the information just isn't really public

From: http://www.webmd.com/women/news/20160329/is-your-doctor-trustworthy-past-records-tough-to-find-experts-say?src=RSS_PUBLIC

We should be ashamed if we don’t pass Tobacco 21 laws

Follow me at @drClaire

In the United States, the national drinking age is 21. States can make it younger, but if they do they lose federal highway funding. The idea is that youth less than 21 are more likely to run into trouble if they drink, and that having them wait until they are older is better. You can argue about whether this actually works, but the idea is a good one.

And yet when it comes to tobacco, as far as the federal government is concerned, you just have to be 18. Which, for anyone who knows anything about what happens when youth smoke, makes no sense at all.

It was really Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) that drove the national drinking age legislation. It’s true that smoking doesn’t cause immediate impairment in the way alcohol does; one can smoke a couple of cigarettes and drive. But the longer-term impacts of tobacco use are staggering. Cigarette smoking is the leading preventable cause of death in the United States, causing more deaths each year than HIV, illegal drug use, alcohol use, motor vehicle injuries, and firearm-related incidents combined. Even if it doesn’t kill you, smoking markedly increases your risk of heart disease, cancer, lung disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and diabetes, among other health problems. When pregnant women smoke, their babies are at higher risk of being born small, prematurely, or having birth defects. When parents smoke, it’s more likely that their baby will die of sudden infant death syndrome, or SIDS.

Here’s why it’s so crucial to stop youth from smoking: 90% of all smokers tried their first cigarette by 18, and 99% started by age 26. Three-quarters of teen smokers end up smoking into adulthood, even if they intend to quit. And here’s another important fact: most youth under the age of 18 get cigarettes from someone under 21.

If we make it so that nobody under 21 can buy tobacco, the impact could be enormous. And, according to an editorial just published in the New England Journal of Medicine, the time for Tobacco 21 laws may have come.

The editorial quotes a study from the Institute of Medicine that says that if we were to increase the national smoking age to 21, it would lead to, among other benefits:

20-30% less smoking among 15 to 17-year-olds
12% fewer smokers overall
249,000 fewer premature deaths, with 4.2 million fewer lost life years
286,000 fewer preterm births
4000 fewer cases of SIDS

That’s pretty astounding. Many states have already made this change — and yet some, like New Jersey, have balked. Which is interesting, as according to the editorial most people support the idea — especially current and former smokers (66.5% and 73%, respectively). It is also indisputable that raising the smoking age to 21 would lead to huge health care savings. The biggest obstacle? Special interest groups. The tobacco industry has deep pockets and clearly doesn’t want to lose its future smokers, so it has lobbied hard.

It’s pretty difficult to come up with arguments against federal Tobacco 21 legislation. You could say that it infringes on personal rights. But unlike other rights, the right to an addiction that can kill you and those around you, well, that’s a bit hard to justify — especially among our youth. We have a responsibility to set them on the path to the healthiest life possible.

You could say — and those who fight this legislation do — that it will hurt businesses that sell tobacco products, especially small stores that rely on cigarette sales for income. That’s certainly true. But who are we as a country if we value the health of small businesses over the health of our people?

There is abundant evidence that cigarettes are bad for you — so much evidence that nobody disputes it. If we can’t come together to stop youth from smoking, and in doing so prevent so much disease and death, we should be ashamed.

The post We should be ashamed if we don’t pass Tobacco 21 laws appeared first on Harvard Health Blog.

From: Claire McCarthy, MD http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/we-should-be-ashamed-if-we-dont-pass-tobacco-21-laws-201603299452

Statement on the 9th meeting of the IHR Emergency Committee regarding the Ebola outbreak in West Africa

The 9th meeting of the IHR Emergency Committee states that the Ebola situation in West Africa no longer constitutes a Public Health Emergency of International Concern and the temporary recommendations adopted in response should now be terminated.

From: http://www.who.int/entity/mediacentre/news/statements/2016/end-of-ebola-pheic/en/index.html

WHO Director-General briefs media on outcome of Ebola Emergency Committee

WHO Director-General informed the media that the 9th meeting of the Emergency Committee on Ebola determined that the outbreak in West Africa no longer constitutes a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.

From: http://www.who.int/entity/mediacentre/news/statements/2016/ihr-emergency-committee-ebola/en/index.html

Power of Three initiative for cohesive online brand unveils 50th website

An initiative to help local, state and national dental societies achieve a more cohesive online brand reached a milestone March 28 with the launch of its 50th website.

From: http://www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2016-archive/march/power-of-three-initiative-for-cohesive-online-brand-unveils-50th-website

Could Less Time Online Signal Early Alzheimer's?

Researchers think diminishing mental capacities might be behind drop in computer use

From: http://www.webmd.com/alzheimers/news/20160328/could-less-time-spent-online-signal-early-alzheimers?src=RSS_PUBLIC

How to guide teen girls through love, relationships

The average American girl starts having sex at 17, but talking to kids about the birds and the bees can be confusing for adults and children

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/how-to-guide-teen-girls-through-love-relationships/

N.Y. mom delays brain cancer treatment for unborn baby

For Kim Vaillancourt, 36 and a mom of 5 already, the question of protecting the baby came down to this: "The baby saved me. Now it's my turn to save him"

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/new-york-mom-delays-brain-cancer-treatment-for-unborn-baby/

What you really need to know about your physician

The new cover story in Consumer Reports out Tuesday is called, “What you don’t know about your doctor could hurt you”

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/what-you-really-need-to-know-about-your-physician/

Your Rights, One Voice: Ashlynn’s Story

Education about diabetes and its care can sometimes make a big difference.

The CREST program, run by the city of Santa Monica, California, adds learning adventures to the lives of children who attend the program. This city-funded program provides enrichment classes, including music, art, theater and sports to children in grades K-5. Nine-year-old Ashlynn had been participating in the program since she was five, playing volleyball and participating in track and field.

The program feared liability after Ashlynn’s type 1 diabetes diagnosis.

But in April 2015, Ashlynn was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes and her access to CREST activities became more limited. Ashlynn’s mother, Audrey, learned that the program would not train its staff to administer glucagon. Glucagon is sometimes necessary when a person with diabetes experiences extremely low blood glucose, also known as hypoglycemia. Without trained staff around, Ashlynn would not be fully protected during program activities, unless her mother could also be there to provide it. Audrey was told the City of Santa Monica feared a lawsuit if its staff did not administer glucagon correctly—and that was the reason for this policy.

Ashlynn loved being part of the CREST program.

Audrey, a single mother who could not always be there the entire time, worried that if the CREST staff was not able to provide glucagon when it was needed, Ashlynn could not attend. This was not acceptable. So Audrey contacted the program directors and tried to educate them about diabetes care. She also stressed that it would not endanger Ashlynn’s life if someone gave her glucagon, even if she didn’t need it.

But the program’s policy still did not change. Ashlynn was only able to attend CREST when Audrey could also be there. That meant that Ashlynn had to miss out on many activities she loved.

Audrey contacted the American Diabetes Association® for help.

She confirmed that Ashlynn had the legal right to fully participate in the program. A legal advocate at the Association gave Audrey some information and guidance. Audrey then wrote a letter to the program that outlined Ashlynn’s rights and addressed the program’s concerns about its legal responsibility.

Things turned around.

The directors of CREST program changed the policy and agreed to train their staff about type 1 diabetes, diabetes care (including glucagon administration) and the signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia. Ashlynn would be able to fully attend the program once again.

Audrey’s experience working on this issue was a positive one. She says that the program’s directors were nothing but gracious through the whole process. And the result was what she wanted for Ashlynn.

Audrey’s advice

The Association is here to help. You can fight discrimination when you understand the laws that protect people with diabetes and can educate others about diabetes care. Sometimes information and negotiation go a long way.

“Thank you to the American Diabetes Association’s legal advocate for her time, effort and expertise,” says Audrey Berry. “When you see your child triumph through the daily struggles of managing type 1 diabetes, you will go to great lengths to ensure his or her well-being. For every parent out there who feels defeated by the weight of advocating for your child, remind yourself that there are people out there who will help. When you feel like you are going through a rough journey all by yourself, stay true to yourself and true to your cause. The city of Santa Monica, the American Diabetes Association and I worked positively together to achieve the best outcome for my daughter Ashlynn. For this I am grateful.”

The American Diabetes Association leads the effort to prevent and eliminate discrimination against people with diabetes at school, at work and in other parts of daily life. If you need help, call 1-800-DIABETES or visit http://diabetes.org/gethelp.

Through our nationwide Safe at School program, the Association is dedicated to making sure that all children with diabetes are medically safe at school and have the same educational opportunities as their peers. Visit our Safe at School website for information and resources.

Give the gift of fairness — donate now to help people with diabetes facing discrimination, just like Ashlynn.

From: American Diabetes Association http://diabetesstopshere.org/2016/03/29/yrov-ashlynns-story/

Faith and family helped this young cancer survivor

The same week she was set to graduate from college, Adalis Martinez found out she had colon cancer

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/faith-and-family-helped-this-young-cancer-survivor/

Premature births linked to air pollution cost billions

Researchers say thousands of babies each year are put at risk, and the burden is preventable

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/premature-births-linked-to-air-pollution-cost-billions/

Young colon cancer survivor inspired by faith, family

Adalis Martinez was diagnosed with colon cancer the week of her college graduation; faith and her loved ones helped her get through it

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/24-year-old-colon-cancer-survivor-inspired-by-faith-family/

Monday, March 28, 2016

Hawaii lawmakers ask how much marijuana OK before getting behind wheel

Lawmakers want to tackle issue now that Hawaii is setting up medical marijuana dispensaries; no federal rule on what's acceptable limit

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/hawaii-lawmakers-ask-how-much-marijuana-ok-before-getting-behind-wheel/

Utah governor signs bill requiring doctors to give abortion anesthesia

Bill makes Utah the first state to require doctors to give anesthesia to women having an abortion at 20 weeks of pregnancy or later

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/utah-governor-signs-bill-requiring-doctors-to-give-abortion-anesthesia/

Health officials confirm first case of Zika virus in Arizona

Maricopa County woman is Arizona's first case of the Zika virus, health officials have confirmed

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/health-officials-confirm-first-case-of-zika-virus-in-arizona/

Wearable defibrillator may help some heart patients

When an implantable defibrillator isn't possible, new "glorified fishing vest"-style device may be an option

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/wearable-defibrillator-may-help-some-heart-patients/

Acupuncture, Hot Flashes, & Breast Cancer Patients

Italian trial finds the therapy was also linked to better quality of life among women in the study

From: http://www.webmd.com/breast-cancer/news/20160328/acupuncture-may-ease-hot-flashes-for-breast-cancer-patients?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Minnesota Lynx Coach and Player Visit Mayo Clinic Children's Center

From: Mayo Clinic http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sD7bkPS8Omg

Do-It-Yourself Blood Pressure Checks

Compared to doctor's office, morning readings at home better assessed odds of trouble, study finds

From: http://www.webmd.com/hypertension-high-blood-pressure/news/20160328/do-it-yourself-blood-pressure-checks-may-help-spot-heart-stroke-risk?src=RSS_PUBLIC

World's senior population expected to skyrocket

The number of people 65 and over could double in coming years, and the population 80 and over is growing even faster

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/worlds-senior-population-expected-to-double-by-2050/

Skipping Meds Ups Heart Patients' Stroke Risk

Fatal strokes seven times more likely if drugs to control blood pressure, cholesterol aren't taken as prescribed

From: http://www.webmd.com/heart/news/20160328/skipping-meds-greatly-ups-heart-patients-risk-of-stroke-study?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Blood test can detect concussions even days later

Researchers say a blood biomarker can confirm that a concussion occurred and may eventually help guide treatment

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/blood-test-can-detect-concussion-days-or-week-later/

USDA Best Practices

From: USDA http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3yRyGUDeU4

USDA Engaging Volunteers

From: USDA http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-oN6tbGazk

USDA Going Native

From: USDA http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tL2RIl1X82s

Looking into handpiece speed, power?

Hoping to help dentists find the right tools, a team of ADA researchers invented an apparatus to measure the power output of air turbine handpieces.

From: http://www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2016-archive/march/looking-into-handpiece-speed-power

150th anniversary of ADA Code of Ethics celebrated in Wisconsin, U.S.

Did you know that the Association’s Code of Ethics is 150 years old this year?

From: http://www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2016-archive/march/150th-anniversary-of-ada-code-of-ethics-celebrated-in-wisconsin-us

Pros and cons of electronic prescriptions

New York is the first state to make computerized system mandatory to try to cut down on errors and abuse

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/pros-and-cons-of-electronic-prescriptions-for-patients-and-doctors/

This Diet May Lower Women's Hip Fracture Risk

The regimen seemed to provide a slight benefit, researchers say

From: http://www.webmd.com/healthy-aging/news/20160328/mediterranean-diet-may-help-lower-hip-fracture-risk-in-older-women?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Tribeca Film Festival pulls anti-vaccine film from lineup

The filmmakers make the case for a link between vaccines and autism, although critics say the documentary is based on flawed research

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/tribeca-film-festival-pulls-anti-vaccine-film-from-lineup/

Agriculture Secretary Vilsack Announces Next Steps, Funding to Address Substance Abuse in Rural Communities

ATLANTA, March 28, 2016 – At the Operation UNITE Summit in Atlanta today, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced a series of upcoming rural town halls as well as funding rural communities can use to conduct health and safety outreach around prescription painkiller and heroin abuse.

From: http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?contentid=2016/03/0077.xml&contentidonly=true

Beach volleyball player going strong after decades of play

Volleyball is a serious sport on the beaches of Southern California, and being great at the game requires a lot of practice

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/beach-volleyball-player-going-strong-after-decades-of-play-2/

Tee-Guide Cardioversion after Cardiac Surgery

From: Mayo Clinic http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0CrE99RL9CI

Cancer Patients Who Die at Home Live Longer

They and their families should make choice based on preference, researchers say

From: http://www.webmd.com/cancer/news/20160328/cancer-patients-who-choose-to-die-at-home-live-longer-study?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Mayo Clinic Minute: Half of Your Food is Junk

From: Mayo Clinic http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GgAhdwK5-Bc

Ask The Mayo Mom: Congenital Heart Defects, Part 2 - Mayo Clinic

From: Mayo Clinic http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5d819I8QTzI

How simply moving benefits your mental health

Follow me at @srinipillay

While it is obvious that your feelings can influence your movement, it is not as obvious that your movement can impact your feelings too. For example, when you feel tired and sad, you may move more slowly. When you feel anxious, you may either rush around or become completely paralyzed. But recent studies show that the connection between your brain and your body is a “two-way street” and that means movement can change your brain, too!

How exercise can improve mood disorders

Regular aerobic exercise can reduce anxiety by making your brain’s “fight or flight” system less reactive. When anxious people are exposed to physiological changes they fear, such as a rapid heartbeat, through regular aerobic exercise, they can develop a tolerance for such symptoms.

Regular exercise such as cycling or gym-based aerobic, resistance, flexibility, and balance exercises can also reduce depressive symptoms. Exercise can be as effective as medication and psychotherapies. Regular exercise may boost mood by increasing a brain protein called BDNF that helps nerve fibers grow.

For people with attention-deficit disorder (ADHD), another study showed that a single 20-minute bout of moderate-intensity cycling briefly improved their symptoms. It enhanced the participants’ motivation for tasks requiring focused thought, increased their energy, and reduced their feelings of confusion, fatigue, and depression. However, in this study, exercise had no effect on attention or hyperactivity per se.

Meditative movement has been shown to alleviate depressive symptoms. This is a type of movement in which you pay close attention to your bodily sensations, position in space, and gut feelings (such as subtle changes in heart rate or breathing) as you move. Qigong, tai chi, and some forms of yoga are all helpful for this. For example, frequent yoga practice can reduce the severity of symptoms in post-traumatic stress disorder to the point that some people no longer meet the criteria for this diagnosis. Changing your posture, breathing, and rhythm can all change your brain, thereby reducing stress, depression, and anxiety, and leading to a feeling of well-being.

The surprising benefits of synchronizing your movements

Both physical exercise and meditative movement are activities that you can do by yourself. On their own, they can improve the way you feel. But a recent study found that when you try to move in synchrony with someone else, it also improves your self-esteem.

In 2014, psychologist Joanne Lumsden and her colleagues conducted a study that required participants to interact with another person via a video link. The person performed a standard exercise — arm curls — while the participants watched, and then performed the same movement.

The “video link” was in fact a pre-recorded video of a 25-year-old female in a similar room, also performing arm curls. As part of the experiment, participants had to either coordinate their movement or deliberately not coordinate their movement with the other person’s arm curls. They filled out a mood report before and after each phase of synchronizing or falling out of synchrony. They also reported on how close they felt to the other person.

The results were interesting. When subjects intentionally synchronized their movement with the recording, they had higher self-esteem than when they did not. Prior studies had shown that synchronizing your movement with others makes you like them more. You also cooperate more with them and feel more charitable toward them. In fact, movement synchrony can make it easier to remember what people say and to recall what they look like. This was the first study to show that it makes you feel better about yourself, too. That’s probably why dance movement therapy can help depressed patients feel better.

Putting it all together

Your mind and body are intimately connected. And while your brain is the master control system for your body’s movement, the way you move can also affect the way you think and feel.

Movement therapies are often used as adjunctive treatments for depression and anxiety when mental effort, psychotherapy, or medication is not enough. When you are too exhausted to use thought control strategies such as focusing on the positive, or looking at the situation from another angle, movement can come to the rescue. By working out, going on a meditative walk by yourself, or going for a synchronized walk with someone, you may gain access to a “back door” to the mental changes that you desire without having to “psych yourself” into feeling better.

The post How simply moving benefits your mental health appeared first on Harvard Health Blog.

From: Srini Pillay, MD http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/how-simply-moving-benefits-your-mental-health-201603289350

Infant Ear Infections Becoming Less Common

Just under half of U.S. babies have them in first year now, compared to 60 percent in '80s and '90s

From: http://www.webmd.com/children/news/20160328/infant-ear-infections-becoming-less-common?src=RSS_PUBLIC

USDA Launches $41 Million Initiative to Improve Water Quality for Western Lake Erie Basin

WASHINGTON, March 28, 2016 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will invest $41 million in a three-year initiative to support the work of farmers in Ohio, Michigan and Indiana to improve water quality in the Western Lake Erie Basin (WLEB).

From: http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?contentid=2016/03/0075.xml&contentidonly=true

Just in Time for National Garden Month: USDA Launches "Plant a Window Box for Pollinators" Using New People's Garden Initiative Website

WASHINGTON, March 28, 2016 – Today, at the annual White House Easter Egg Roll, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) urged Americans of all ages to "Plant a Window Box for Pollinators" by using a new, free online tool available at the redesigned People's Garden Initiative website.

From: http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?contentid=2016/03/0076.xml&contentidonly=true

Doctors resist new painkiller prescribing procedures

Federal officials, advocates press for them to be forced to check with databases first to prevent "doctor shopping" for addictive meds

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/doctors-resist-new-painkiller-prescribing-procedures/

Sunday, March 27, 2016

Anti-vaccination film pulled from Tribeca Film Festival

After initially defending its inclusion, Robert De Niro removes controversial documentary directed by discredited doctor

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/vaxxed-anti-vaccination-film-pulled-from-tribeca-film-festival-robert-de-niro/

Thursday, March 31, 2016

Studying the effects of sleep deprivation in teens

Setting up a great night’s sleep for your child

Related Post:

Wednesday, March 30, 2016

What your BMI means

What’s a normal BMI?

So then, why does BMI matter?

And here’s why BMI may not matter

Should we stop giving so much “weight” to BMI?

Bottom line

Related Post:

Tuesday, March 29, 2016

Related Post:

Monday, March 28, 2016

How exercise can improve mood disorders

The surprising benefits of synchronizing your movements

Related Post:

Sunday, March 27, 2016

Friday, March 25, 2016