A woman in Texas went to great lengths to deliver on a promise she made to her daughter years earlier
From: http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/surrogate-mother-delivers-special-gift-for-daughter/
Friday, January 8, 2016
Surrogate mother gives birth to own granddaugther
A Texas woman proved a (grand)mother's love knows no bounds
From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/texas-grandmother-surrogate-gives-birth-to-her-own-granddaugther/
From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/texas-grandmother-surrogate-gives-birth-to-her-own-granddaugther/
How Old Are Your Arteries?
As you get older, atherosclerosis can narrow your arteries. WebMD explains.
From: http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/features/atherosclerosis-your-arteries-age-by-age?src=RSS_PUBLIC
Experimental drug shows promise for bladder cancer
A new immunotherapy drug is being tested in patients whose cancer has spread
From: http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/experimental-drug-shows-promise-for-bladder-cancer/
From: http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/experimental-drug-shows-promise-for-bladder-cancer/
New drug offers hope to bladder cancer patients
The first new treatment for metastatic bladder cancer in 30 years is showing encouraging results, doctors say
From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/new-drug-offers-hope-to-bladder-cancer-patients/
From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/new-drug-offers-hope-to-bladder-cancer-patients/
Should your employer do more for your health?
CBS News medical contributor Dr. David Agus argues that every company should appoint a chief health officer
From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/should-your-employer-do-more-for-your-health/
From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/should-your-employer-do-more-for-your-health/
Palliative Care Cuts Costs for These People
Relieving symptoms and stress helps families as well, study says
From: http://www.webmd.com/palliative-care/news/20160108/palliative-care-cuts-costs-for-cancer-patients-with-other-health-problems?src=RSS_PUBLIC
High Blood Sugar May Up Heart Attack Complications
Scientists find glucose causes strong contraction of blood vessels
From: http://www.webmd.com/diabetes/news/20160108/high-blood-sugar-may-increase-heart-attack-complications-study?src=RSS_PUBLIC
Bonding With Others: Crucial for Long-Term Health?
For young and old, strong social ties as important as diet and exercise, researchers say
From: http://www.webmd.com/balance/news/20160108/bonding-with-others-may-be-crucial-for-long-term-health?src=RSS_PUBLIC
Illegal Hits Play Role in Youth Hockey Concussions
Training kids to follow the rules may reduce odds of these head injuries, experts say
From: http://www.webmd.com/children/news/20160108/illegal-hits-play-big-role-in-youth-ice-hockey-concussions-study?src=RSS_PUBLIC
2016 Health Law Exchange Enrollment Tops 11.3M
The government’s most detailed release of figures shows insurance plan sign-ups beat the Obama administration’s goal for the year.
From: http://www.webmd.com/health-insurance/20160107/2016-health-law-enrollment-tops-113m?src=RSS_PUBLIC
Campbell announces plans to label GMOs in products
The company says genetically engineered ingredients are safe, but customers have a right to know what's in their food
From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/campbell-announces-plans-to-label-gmos-in-its-products/
From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/campbell-announces-plans-to-label-gmos-in-its-products/
More women report having same-sex relationships
New report sheds light on sexual behavior in Generation X and millennials
From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/more-women-report-same-sex-relationships/
From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/more-women-report-same-sex-relationships/
Mayo Clinic Minute: Flu Shot and Heart Attack
From: Mayo Clinic http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_iq1DjM7eMI
USDA Awards $46 Million to Boost Energy Efficiency in Vermont
BURLINGTON, Vt., Jan. 8, 2016 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today awarded $46 million in assistance to the Vermont Energy Investment Corporation (VEIC) to support energy efficiency and renewable energy improvements in rural areas across the state.
From: http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?contentid=2016/01/0008.xml&contentidonly=true
From: http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?contentid=2016/01/0008.xml&contentidonly=true
Why companies need chief health officers
In a commentary in The Wall Street Journal Friday, Dr. David Agus argues all companies should appoint a chief health officer
From: http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/why-companies-need-chief-health-officers/
From: http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/why-companies-need-chief-health-officers/
Critics: Food Industry influences dietary guidelines
Department of Health and Human Services are supposed to tell you what to eat
From: http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/critics-food-industry-influences-dietary-guidelines/
From: http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/critics-food-industry-influences-dietary-guidelines/
Critics slam new federal dietary guidelines
Some experts allege pressure from the food industry has watered down the guidelines
From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/new-dietary-guidelines-usda-department-of-health-and-human-services-face-criticism/
From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/new-dietary-guidelines-usda-department-of-health-and-human-services-face-criticism/
C-section rates: Consider this when deciding where to have your baby
For many years, there has been criticism that the rates of cesarean births are too high because higher rates have not resulted in improvements in maternal or child health.
Many expectant moms feel strongly about having a natural vaginal birth, and want to do all they can to avoid a cesarean section. But for some, a C-section may seem like a good option for a range of reasons. And for others, a cesarean may be essential to protect the health — or life — of mom and baby.
In parts of the world where C-sections are not readily available, complications of vaginal birth often lead to serious consequences, including loss of life for mother and baby. In contrast, quick access to cesareans has its own problems. Over all, cesarean delivery is a very safe procedure. But it carries higher risks than vaginal delivery, including a three-fold higher rate of infection, hemorrhage, and organ damage. It also has a longer recovery period.
So how many cesareans we’re doing is a number worth paying attention to.
Finding the optimal C-section rate
As it turns out, there is a sweet spot — a certain “rate” of cesareans needed to prevent the terrible suffering and aftermath that can occur when a baby can’t move though the birth canal, or when there’s an emergency requiring immediate delivery.
Recently, a study from researchers at Harvard Medical School and the Stanford University School of Medicine found that the ideal rate of childbirth by C-section appears to be about 19% of all births. This number is higher than previous guidelines have recommended, but lower than the rate in most US hospitals — which can be as high as 70%.
How did the researchers come to this number? They looked at C-section rates from 194 countries and compared them to maternal and infant mortality rates. Their analysis suggests that babies and mothers don’t fare better when cesarean rates are above 19%. Cesarean rates below 19% were associated with more birth-related complications and poorer outcomes.
This research also suggests that some of the reasons commonly cited for high C-section rates — moms who are older or obese, or who’ve had multiple previous births, along with doctors’ fear of being sued — may be only a small part of the bigger picture. In particular, these examples don’t account for why some doctors and hospitals simply do more (or fewer) C-sections than others do.
Dr. Neel Shah is one of the co-authors of the study and an obstetrician in my department at Harvard-affiliated Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. Dr. Shah has uncovered some previously unrecognized factors that help explain the variation in C-section rates. For example, his research suggests that time pressures in some hospitals may lead to more C-sections, since in comparison, vaginal birth can take a great deal of time and staff resources. Providing the clinical team with access to better data and technology can help them make better decisions based on patient volume, staffing, and the overall resources needed to support safe care.
What this means for expectant parents
If you are a healthy woman and have a low-risk pregnancy, the hospital you plan to use may determine the likelihood you’ll have a C-section more than any other factor. So find out the C-section rate at the hospital where you plan to deliver your baby. Talk to your doctor about this as well. If you are early in your pregnancy, you might opt to choose your doctor based on where he or she practices.
Finally, it’s important to remember that there are times when a C-section is the only safe way to deliver a baby. When that happens, a woman may feel a sense of loss for the birth experience she had hoped to have. But doing your homework about quality of care can help assure you that your method of delivery was determined for the right reasons.
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The post C-section rates: Consider this when deciding where to have your baby appeared first on Harvard Health Blog.
From: Hope Ricciotti, MD http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/c-section-rates-consider-this-when-deciding-where-to-have-your-baby-201601088923
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