01/13/16

Wednesday, January 13, 2016

Age Related Muscle Loss

From: Mayo Clinic http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MyHthrJ2p20

Child Life Specialist - Mayo Clinic

From: Mayo Clinic http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rczxG9_2dZw

How Plagiocephaly Can be Treated & Prevented - Mayo Clinic

From: Mayo Clinic http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-L3nd2SX0zI

Gene Therapy for Neuromuscular Diseases: Surprising Lessons Learned from Dogs

From: Mayo Clinic http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQe3Fe-lW84

How often do vasectomies fail?

NY Jets' Antonio Cromartie is expecting twins despite having undergone the procedure, prompting questions about its effectiveness

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/how-often-do-vasectomies-fail/

High Uric-Acid Levels, Lower Risk of Parkinson's?

Link found only in men, researchers say

From: http://www.webmd.com/parkinsons-disease/news/20160113/high-uric-acid-levels-lower-risk-of-parkinsons?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Did Painkiller Crackdown Cause Heroin Epidemic?

New commentary says no, but others disagree

From: http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/addiction/news/20160113/did-painkiller-crackdown-cause-heroin-epidemic?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Hospital vaccine mishap affects hundreds of children

More than 800 kids need to get revaccinated after hospital discovers a problem

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/hospital-vaccine-mishap-affects-hundreds-of-children/

CDC: Evidence may link mosquito-borne virus, birth defects

Health officials find worrying signs that the Zika virus may harm unborn babies

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/cdc-evidence-links-mosquito-borne-virus-birth-defects/

Scientists extend lifespan of lab mice by 40 percent

The findings could one day help humans live longer and healthier lives, researchers say

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/study-finds-hormone-that-extends-lifespan-40-percent-in-lab-mice/

President Obama Touts Cancer Research Goals

In his last State of the Union speech, President Barack Obama announced a national initiative to find a cure for cancer, an ambitious "moon shot" that Vice President Joe Biden will direct in the remaining months of the administration. WebMD has the details.

From: http://www.webmd.com/cancer/news/20160113/president-obama-cancer-research?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Potatoes linked to pregnancy risk, study finds

New research shows that women who eat a lot of potatoes may be more likely to develop gestational diabetes

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/potatoes-linked-to-pregnancy-risk-study-finds/

Could Doctor Bias Be Affecting Your Treatment?

Your emotional state, your weight, and even your intelligence or insurance coverage may affect the way your doctor perceives you, according to a Medscape survey of more than 15,800 doctors. WebMD has the details.

From: http://www.webmd.com/news/20160113/doctor-bias-treatment?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Acetaminophen Tops for Accidental Infant Poisoning

Other common dangers included cough/cold meds, ibuprofen and diaper rash creams, data shows

From: http://www.webmd.com/children/news/20160113/acetaminophen-tops-list-of-accidental-infant-poisonings?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Can You Reverse Type 2 Diabetes?

Is type 2 diabetes reversal possible? Yes, with a combination of diet, exercise, and genes. WebMD explains.

From: http://www.webmd.com/diabetes/type-2-diabetes-guide/reversing-type-2-diabetes?src=RSS_PUBLIC

HIV and Food: Key Principles for Your Diet

If you have HIV, nutrition is key. WebMD offers tips on getting the calories you need and minimizing the symptoms that make eating more difficult.

From: http://www.webmd.com/hiv-aids/features/hiv-and-diet?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Male Sex Enhancement Supplements May Be Risky

Many contain potentially risky ingredient found in drugs like Viagra, researchers add

From: http://www.webmd.com/erectile-dysfunction/news/20160113/male-sexual-enhancement-supplements-often-ineffective-possibly-harmful-study?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Newborn Withdrawals Tied to Prenatal Painkillers

Rise in 'neonatal abstinence syndrome' may be due to prescription narcotic use in pregnancy, expert says

From: http://www.webmd.com/parenting/baby/news/20160112/spike-in-newborn-drug-withdrawal-tied-to-prenatal-painkiller-use?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Pre-Pregnancy Potatoes and Gestational Diabetes

Five cups of spuds weekly boosts odds by 50 percent, research suggests

From: http://www.webmd.com/women/news/20160112/pre-pregnancy-potato-consumption-linked-to-gestational-diabetes?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Drug May Drop Risk of Falls For People With This

Those who took rivastigmine in study were 45 percent less likely to have an accident

From: http://www.webmd.com/parkinsons-disease/news/20160112/dementia-drug-may-lower-risk-of-falls-among-parkinsons-patients?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Boy battling cancer realizes dream of becoming famous

"Before I go to heaven..." 8-year-old Dorian Murray touches thousands of lives with #DStrong

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/social-media-helps-boy-battling-cancer-achieve-goal-to-be-famous/

Charlie Sheen quit HIV meds for "alternative" treatment

Sheen told Dr. Oz he sought treatment in Mexico, but the experiment seems to have failed

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/charlie-sheen-quit-hiv-meds-for-alternative-treatment/

Mayo Clinic Minute: Pets Not Pills

From: Mayo Clinic http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3B_sxI_ioeU

Guns and your health

People choose to own guns for several reasons: hunting, target shooting, collecting… The number one reason now is for protection.

As physicians, we too care about your protection. Our mission is to treat disease, promote quality of life, and prevent injury and death. We discuss matters of health and safety in a confidential, non-judgmental fashion. We ask about depression, domestic violence, and drugs. We make recommendations about practicing safe sex and wearing seatbelts. But some feel that physicians should not talk about guns. In fact, Florida has passed a law limiting such discussion. But guns do affect health and safety. The number of deaths in the U.S. from guns continues to climb (now at roughly 33,000 a year — far more than any other developed country), and is expected to surpass motor vehicle deaths for 2015. It is the second leading cause of death in children.

Death by association

Guns have been used successfully in self-defense. But the reality is that owning a gun is associated with an increased risk of family injury or death. Unintentional shootings and attempted or completed suicides far outweigh the use of guns in self-defense.

In fact, the more households that have guns within a particular state, the more gun deaths there are — even after adjusting for crime, unemployment, urbanization, alcohol, and poverty.

And what is intended to protect can be turned into a threat. In one review of unauthorized entry into homes, 1.5% of cases reported using a gun to defend themselves, but twice as many reported losing their gun to the intruder. What’s more, the majority of homicides (54%) are committed by someone known to the victim and an additional 25% were by family, mostly with guns. When there is access to guns in a household, the risk of a woman dying due to domestic violence increases fivefold.

Suicides

As gun ownership has increased, so has the number of suicides. Two-thirds of gun deaths are from suicides. Yet gun owners do not have more mental health issues, depression, or suicidal thoughts than those who do not own guns. The issue is the easier access. Nobody thinks it can happen to them or their loved ones, but many suicide attempts are unexpected and made on impulse.

Harm to children

Children also use guns to commit suicide; 82% of these suicides involve guns at home, mostly stored unlocked. When children attempt suicide, 90% are successful when guns are used, as compared with 5% with other means. It is hard to prevent because young people often act impulsively and there may be no early warning signs, such as suicidal thoughts.

Children are often shot accidentally by a friend or sibling. We think we know our children — but do not underestimate the secrets they keep. One study found that parents often incorrectly believed their children had never handled their guns. One-third of the children answered otherwise.

Choose wisely

Guns are your right and your choice. But know that though guns can protect, the odds are higher that they will hurt those they intend to save. Education and compromise can help us work toward acceptable ways to stem the rising tide of gun-related deaths. That’s why I will talk to my patients about gun safety.

What can you do?

If you are contemplating whether to keep a gun, consider the real risks to you and your family. If there is a history of domestic violence, or if someone in the household has depression, consider removing any guns.
If you choose to keep a gun, keep it locked away. Though this won’t eliminate all risk, locked-away guns will likely be less subject to theft and curious children. The Bureau of Justice estimates that 1.4 million guns were stolen between 2005 and 2010, mainly from household burglaries.
If you decide to keep a gun, store it unloaded, with the key and ammunition separate. Explore more advanced technology like storage locks with keyless fingerprint scans and newer gun safety features.
Before your child goes on a playdate, consider asking the parents if they have a gun and whether it’s stored safely. This may be hard at first. One day, it might get as easy as asking about food allergies and car seats for carpooling.
Talk to your children about what to do if they find a gun, or if their friend wants to show them a gun. Advise them, “Don’t touch the gun, leave the area immediately, and talk to an adult.”
Support firearm injury research so that we can better understand the problem and find solutions. The CDC firearm injury prevention research came to a halt after funding was barred for anything interpreted as promoting stricter gun laws.

The post Guns and your health appeared first on Harvard Health Blog.

From: Wynne Armand, MD http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/guns-and-your-health-201601138992

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