State of emergency in Flint, Michigan, as feds probe tainted water

Michigan Governor Rick Snyder has declared a state of emergency after the water supply in the city of Flint was found to be contaminated with lead

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/state-of-emergency-in-flint-michigan-as-feds-probe-tainted-water/

Humanitarianism in War: Medicins Sans Frontieres and Beyond

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

Equity and Global Health

From: Mayo Clinic http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHaDuePK7KM

Thirty percent of U.S. adults need more sleep

New research shows a lot of us could use more sleep

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/thirty-percent-of-u-s-adults-need-more-sleep/

DEA investigates painkiller epidemic in West Virginia

Dozens of doctors, pharmacies and distributors throughout West Virginia are being investigated by the DEA due to a painkiller problem

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/dea-investigates-painkiller-epidemic-in-west-virginia/

Study: A third of adults don't get enough sleep

Americans are sleep-deprived; and one category of person is particularly hard hit

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/study-single-moms-get-least-about-of-sleep/

West Virginia allows painkiller addicts to sue prescribing doctors

The DEA is investigating dozens of doctors throughout the state of West Virginia, where painkiller addicts are now suing the doctors who got them hooked

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/west-virginia-allows-painkiller-addicts-to-sue-doctors-who-got-them-hooked/

Digital eye strain a growing problem

How to reduce the risk of digital eye strain from hours spent staring at computer, smartphone and TV screens

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/digital-eye-strain-a-growing-problem/

Emergency landing helps woman reach hospital in time

Pilot's action may have been lifesaving, as speed is of the essence when a stroke strikes

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/emergency-plane-landing-helps-stroke-victim-reach-hospital-in-time/

Heart Attack, Stroke, and Angina Symptoms

Chest pains, pressure, or dizziness may be something serious. See the warning signs of heart attack, angina, and stroke. WebMD has the details.

From: http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/features/recognizing-heart-attack-stroke-angina?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Mayo Clinic Minute: Easy Ways to Get Moving at Work

From: Mayo Clinic http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJ_IFs2sFEs

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack Announces 2015 Wildfires Burned Record Acres, Urges Congress to Pass Wildfire Funding Fix

WASHINGTON, Jan. 6, 2016 -- Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that in 2015, wildfires burned a record 10,125,149 acres across the United States, surpassing the previous record set in 2006. The Secretary renewed the call for Congress to pass the bi-partisan Wildfire Disaster Funding Act.

From: http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?contentid=2016/01/0006.xml&contentidonly=true

Next-gen wheelchairs help users stand

New medical device offers a second chance to those who have lost their mobility; "It's more emotional than it is physical," paralyzed man says

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/next-gen-wheelchairs-help-users-stand/

What causes women to experience broken-heart syndrome?

Many elderly women have been hospitalized with what they believe is a heart attack, but it's actually what doctors call "broken-heart" syndrome

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/what-causes-women-to-experience-broken-heart-syndrome/

What to do about digital eye strain

The growing problem of digital eye strain could be affecting your health

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/how-digital-eye-strain-affects-your-health-and-what-to-do-about-it/

Keeping Up With the Diabetes News

With the new year came a variety of diabetes-related news. First, reality show star Rob Kardashian was reportedly diagnosed with diabetes and hospitalized for diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). We can’t confirm or deny the specifics of these reports or what type of diabetes Kardashian may have, but we did notice many medical inaccuracies in the news, which is unfortunately all too common in content written about diabetes. As always, our thoughts are with the Kardashians and the thousands of families who face a diabetes diagnosis every day.

Source: American Girl

And as of Jan. 1, American Girl dolls can be outfitted with their own diabetes care kits, complete with an insulin pump, glucose tablets, a log book and more—all items used by people to take care of their diabetes, especially when they must take insulin. We celebrate any efforts to embrace diabetes awareness and inclusion, especially if it helps young people with diabetes feel more understood and less alone.

Diabetes ought to be front-page news year-round; we need a robust national conversation to fuel the fight against America’s most urgent chronic health crisis. Diabetes, in all its forms, is a very serious disease. But while every headline shines a much-needed spotlight, it can also leave room for confusion about type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

The complexity of diabetes makes it ripe for myths and misinformation—so let’s get back to the basics. While there are certainly distinct differences between type 1 and type 2 diabetes, you may be surprised to learn how much they also have in common.

It starts with understanding the hormone insulin, which is produced in the pancreas. It’s what gets glucose from the food we eat out of the bloodstream and into the cells of the body, giving us the energy necessary for life. In short, you can’t survive without it.

In people with type 1 diabetes, the immune system attacks the cells that make insulin. Eventually, all of these cells are destroyed and the body no longer makes its own insulin. Those with type 1 diabetes must inject insulin as a medication for the rest of their lives. Although most often diagnosed in children, type 1 diabetes can affect people at any age.

Type 2 diabetes is the more common form, affecting 90 to 95 percent of Americans with diabetes. With type 2, the body typically still makes some insulin but is not able to use it correctly and may not make enough of it. Type 2 diabetes is more common among adults, but children can develop it as well. It is treated with healthy eating, physical activity, oral medications and sometimes insulin or other injectables.

An additional 86 million Americans have a condition called prediabetes, which puts them at serious risk for developing type 2 diabetes. And as many as 9.2 percent of women develop a usually temporary form of diabetes during pregnancy, called gestational diabetes, which can cause health risks to the developing fetus and during labor. Gestational diabetes also puts a mother at higher risk for type 2 later on and may set up her infant for health problems later in life, too.

With these fundamentals outlined, let’s explore some striking similarities that unite all people affected by diabetes.

Diabetes is genetic. Two factors are important in both type 1 and type 2 diabetes: You inherit a predisposition to the disease, then something in your environment triggers it. In most cases of type 1 diabetes, people inherit risk factors from both parents. Researchers speculate that the triggers could be anything from weather to viruses, but exact causes are still unknown. Meanwhile, type 2 is influenced by genetics, family history, age and inactivity. Being overweight is a major risk factor for developing type 2, but it’s important to note that most overweight people never develop type 2, and many people with it are at a normal weight or only moderately overweight. (For the record, diabetes is not directly caused by eating or drinking too much sugar.)

Diabetes has a common set of symptoms. Frequent urination, blurry vision, extreme thirst and fatigue are all hallmarks of diabetes, though the onset for type 1 is typically more sudden and some people with type 2 have symptoms so mild that they go unnoticed.

Both types of diabetes require a healthy lifestyle—and sometimes insulin treatment. Just to survive, people with type 1 must take multiple injections of insulin daily or continually infuse insulin with a pump. Multiple daily blood glucose checks and healthful eating and regular physical activity are also important in their everyday diabetes management. For most people, type 2 diabetes is a progressive disease. Over time, the body gradually produces less and less of its own insulin, and eventually oral medications may not be enough to keep blood glucose levels normal. The need for insulin treatment doesn’t mean the person with type 2 has failed—or that his or her diabetes has suddenly become type 1. It just means that person’s body needs more insulin than the body can produce on its own.

All types of diabetes are serious. High blood glucose levels and long-duration diabetes can lead to devastating and life-threatening, long-term complications, including heart attack, stroke, kidney disease, blindness and limb loss. Severe low blood glucose and high blood glucose can pose immediate health dangers and death if untreated. Diabetes takes a staggering physical, emotional and financial toll on our country—to the tune of $245 billion—every year.

Diabetes has no cure. At this time there is no cure for diabetes. We don’t yet know how to prevent type 1 diabetes. We know that type 2 can sometimes be prevented or delayed through lifestyle changes, such as increased exercise and healthful eating. But even if people with type 2 manage to bring their blood glucose levels to a normal range without medication, they still have diabetes. We work with researchers every day to unlock the puzzles of diabetes. Finding a cure, preventing the disease and its complications when we can and supporting those affected by diabetes is at the very core of the mission of the American Diabetes Association®.

You can live well with diabetes. With good information, education, medical care and support, people with diabetes can enjoy a long, productive life. As barriers to discrimination have been lifted, particularly in the 25 years since the Americans with Disabilities Act was passed, there is very little that people with diabetes can’t do in life or career: play professional sports, join law enforcement, become a Supreme Court justice, you name it!

Diabetes is a dangerous foe, and misinformation about it can directly and indirectly harm people. We urge you to join us in spreading the facts about diabetes.

What do YOU wish more people knew about diabetes? Tell us in the comments!

From: American Diabetes Association http://diabetesstopshere.org/2016/01/06/keeping-up-with-diabetes-news/

How Do New Blood Thinners Compare to Warfarin?

WebMD describes how warfarin compares to new blood thinners that are prescribed to prevent blood clots and stroke.

From: http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/atrial-fibrillation/features/warfarin-new-blood-thinners?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Transcatheter Mitral Valve Repair - Mayo Clinic

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

Statins May Reduce Heart Risks Tied to Sleep Apnea

But it's too early to prescribe them for patients with the disorder, experts say

From: http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/sleep-apnea/news/20160106/statins-may-reduce-heart-risks-linked-to-sleep-apnea-study?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Bob Stallman Appreciation Day Transcript

Deputy Secretary Harden: Welcome to USDA employees of course; but a special welcome to Mr. Stallman, and all of the Farm Bureau friends. We see you from time-to-time doing a lot of work together, but it’s rare that we see so many of you together here, at USDA. So we’re glad that you can join us. And this is a bitter sweet day, I think for all of us that Mr. Stallman has been such a great friend to agriculture, to farmers, and ranchers and landowners across the country, and certainly a great partner for USDA, so I just want to say thank you, Mr. Stallman, from myself on behalf of the work that we’ve done together, I really appreciate the relationship.

From: http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?contentid=2016/01/0004.xml&contentidonly=true

New hope against cancer in the not-too-distant future

Doctors optimistic about treatment alternatives that could help cancer patients live longer, healthier lives

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/how-does-the-battle-against-cancer-look-in-the-not-too-distant-future/

Yeast infection drug linked to miscarriage risk

Doctors caution pregnant women and those trying to conceive about a common antifungal medication

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/yeast-infection-drug-linked-to-miscarriage-risk/

Can Early Menopause Trigger Depression Later?

Research suggests longer estrogen exposure might have protective effect

From: http://www.webmd.com/menopause/news/20160106/can-early-menopause-trigger-depression-later-in-life?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Side Effects From One Weight-Loss Surgery Method

Stomach pain, fatigue were most common symptoms after Roux-en-Y procedure

From: http://www.webmd.com/diet/obesity/20160106/side-effects-seen-with-one-method-of-weight-loss-surgery-study?src=RSS_PUBLIC

90,000 Pounds of Beef Patties Recalled

90,000 Pounds of Beef Patties Recalled

From: http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/food-poisoning/20160106/beef-patties-recall?src=RSS_PUBLIC

New York medical marijuana program to begin

State picked five companies to produce the medication; they will operate 20 dispensaries throughout New York

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/new-york-medical-marijuana-program-to-begin/

Financial Incentives Don't Spur Worker Weight Loss

Workplace wellness programs must get more creative, researchers say

From: http://www.webmd.com/diet/20160106/financial-incentives-dont-spur-employee-weight-loss-study-finds?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Autism Risk Tied to Prenatal Asthma Drug Exposure

But taking beta-agonists during pregnancy also might benefit fetus, researchers say

From: http://www.webmd.com/asthma/news/20160106/study-ties-autism-risk-to-prenatal-exposure-to-asthma-drugs?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Flu shots: Especially important if you have heart disease

From: http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/heart-disease/in-depth/flu-shots/art-20044238

Artificial Pancreas Gets Long-Term Real Trial

Researchers will measure how well the new technology helps people with type 1 diabetes

From: http://www.webmd.com/diabetes/news/20160105/artificial-pancreas-to-get-long-term-real-life-trial?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Almost 90K pounds of Sam's Choice beef recalled

The Walmart supplier is pulling the beef patties nationwide due to possible contamination with wood materials

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/almost-90k-pounds-of-sams-choice-beef-recalled/

Chipotle faces criminal probe over norovirus

California prosecutors hit restaurant chain with grand jury subpoena as part of investigation into contaminated food

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/chipotle-faces-criminal-probe-over-novovirus-outbreak/

Promising new ways to prevent, treat cancer

Cancer experts Dr. David Agus, Dr. Judy Garber and Anna Baker join "CBS This Morning" to discuss the latest in cancer research

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/promising-new-ways-to-prevent-treat-cancer/

Twins study sheds light on family risk for cancer

"If cancer was simply genetic, identical twins would be affected by cancer equally" - but it's more complicated

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/twins-genetics-family-cancer-risk/

Can your coffee habit help you live longer?

Whether they take it hot or cold, black or “regular,” many people say they can’t live without it: Coffee. The dark, seductive beverage that has become a staple in the American diet. But when did we become so obsessed with coffee, and is our obsession, in fact, bad for us?

Researchers have some eye-opening answers.

The origins of coffee are unclear. One legend traces it back centuries ago to the forests of Ethiopia, where a goat herder discovered that his animals were energized after eating the red berries of the coffee bush. But wherever it started from, coffee’s popularity soon spread around the globe and eventually reached Europe and the “New World” by the 17th century.

Although tea was initially the beverage of choice for the American colonists, coffee eventually replaced it after the revolt against the taxation of tea by King George III, which culminated in the Boston Tea Party in December 1773. According to the National Coffee Association, Thomas Jefferson reportedly once described coffee as “the favorite drink of the civilized world.”

In modern times, a cup (or more) of brew has become a daily ritual in the US — with meals, at the office, in coffee shops, and at home. It’s available in every possible size and flavor combination, both with caffeine and without. But for years, experts have debated whether coffee promotes health or threatens it.

In search of coffee’s effects on health

Coffee contains antioxidants, which can help protect cells from damage. In some studies, coffee has been shown to have a protective effect against some cancers, as well as  chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and gout. The caffeine in coffee is a stimulant and may help with mental alertness and fatigue.

However, too much coffee can make you jittery, lead to sleep problems, give you headaches, raise your blood pressure, and trigger heart arrhythmias, and it may even promote bone loss.  But is coffee really dangerous? Are coffee lovers putting their lives on the line when they reach for that next cup of java?

To investigate this further, scientists at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health looked at data from three ongoing studies involving almost 300,000 men and women for up to 30 years. The results of their research were recently published in the journal Circulation.

They found that moderate coffee consumption was actually associated with a lower risk of overall mortality, as well as a lower risk of death from heart and neurological diseases. Both caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee had a protective effect, suggesting that something other than caffeine is at play — perhaps those antioxidants. Heavier coffee drinking did not seem to further decrease the risk of death beyond that of moderate consumption, but it did not seem to increase the risk, either.

In the end, the researchers concluded, “Coffee consumption can be incorporated into a healthy lifestyle.”  Great news for the millions of Americans who need only be “dying” for coffee in the most metaphorical sense — and can happily live for it.

Related Posts:

• Caffeine and a healthy diet may boost memory, thinking…
• Do “energy boosters” work?
• Tea: Drink to your health?
• Take a nap to adjust to Daylight Saving Time
• Experts say no amount of alcohol is safe during pregnancy

The post Can your coffee habit help you live longer? appeared first on Harvard Health Blog.

From: Mallika Marshall, MD http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/can-your-coffee-habit-help-you-live-longer-201601068938

Statement from Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack Proclaiming Today Bob Stallman Appreciation Day

WASHINGTON, Jan. 6, 2016 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack released the following statement proclaiming today, Jan. 6, 2016, Bob Stallman Appreciation Day. Stallman is retiring as President of the American Farm Bureau Federation after 16 years of service.

From: http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?contentid=2016/01/0003.xml&contentidonly=true

Feds fine Lumosity developer over brain benefit claim

The company behind a popular "brain training" app will pay $2 million to settle federal allegations of deceiving customers

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/feds-fine-lumosity-developer-over-brain-benefit-claim/