NIH: Zika virus at "pandemic" level

World Health Organization warns the Zika virus is "spreading explosively" and could infect four million people by the end of the year

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/zika-virus-at-pandemic-level-national-institutes-of-health-says/

Study: Breastfeeding could save 800,000 lives a year

"We want to encourage breastfeeding but I've also seen patients in tears who can't do it"

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/breastfeeding-could-save-lives-babies-mothers/

Rio mayor: No threat to Olympics from Zika virus

As global health experts warn the Zika virus is "spreading explosively," Rio's mayor says timing of Olympics reduces danger

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/rio-mayor-no-threat-to-olympics-from-zika-virus/

These are the healthiest, happiest states

Find out where your state's well-being ranks in the Gallup and Healthways index

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/media/healthiest-happiest-states/

In face of Zika virus, women ponder abortion, childlessness

Concerns over Zika virus are raising anxiety for millions of would-be and could-be mothers in affected areas

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/in-face-of-zika-virus-women-ponder-abortion-childlessness/

Bernie Sanders: I'm "blessed with good health"

The Democratic presidential candidate released a letter from his doctor proclaiming him in "overall very good health"

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/bernie-sanders-im-blessed-with-good-health/

6 things a food poisoning expert won't eat

A few common foods are more likely than others to make you sick; one expert avoids them "like the plague"

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/6-things-a-food-poisoning-expert-wont-eat/

El Virus del Zika: Lo que necesita saber (Dr. Pritish Tosh on Zika Virus- Spanish)

From: Mayo Clinic http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81YrRxFhf4o

Exercise: Is More Always Better?

If a little exercise is good, then more is better in terms of calorie burn and weight loss, right? That's what most of us tend to believe. WebMD has the details.

From: http://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/20160128/exercise-diet-calories-weight?src=RSS_PUBLIC

As Zika Virus Spreads, Doctors Try to Calm Fears

Public health officials said Thursday they're concerned about the fast-spreading Zika virus, and they're racing to understand its relationship to the troubling rise in birth defects seen in Brazil and other countries. WebMD has the details.

From: http://www.webmd.com/news/20160128/zika-virus-pregnancy?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Zika Vaccine Efforts Get Boost From Prior Research

U.S. health officials say valuable lessons were learned during battles against other mosquito-borne viruses

From: http://www.webmd.com/news/20160128/zika-vaccine-efforts-get-boost-from-prior-research?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Having memory problems? Don't forget to tell your doctor

Fear, embarrassment, and denial may keep people from bringing up memory troubles - but sometimes treatments can help

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/memory-problems-dont-forget-to-tell-your-doctor/

Hepatitis C Reported at 19 Dialysis Clinics: CDC

Health officials blame lapses in infection control practices

From: http://www.webmd.com/hepatitis/news/20160128/hepatitis-c-reported-at-19-dialysis-clinics-cdc?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Mayo Clinic Minute: Sex, Exercise and Pregnancy

From: Mayo Clinic http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0IpDleipkc

Dr. Stacey Rizza talks about tuberculosis

From: Mayo Clinic http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SlVDvjdurE

WHO to convene an International Health Regulations Emergency Committee on Zika virus and observed increase in neurological disorders and neonatal malformations

WHO Director-General, Margaret Chan, will convene an International Health Regulations Emergency Committee on Zika virus and observed increase in neurological disorders and neonatal malformations.

The Committee will meet on Monday 1 February in Geneva to ascertain whether the outbreak constitutes a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.

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

Obama establishes cancer moonshot task force

The new group aims to accelerate cancer research and progress towards prevention and a cure

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/obama-establishes-cancer-moonshot-task-force/

Wearable Electric Patch May Ease PTSD

Researchers found symptoms decreased in civilians who tried the device; vets are now being tested

From: http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/news/20160128/wearable-electric-patch-may-ease-ptsd?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Study Finds No Proof of 'Seasonal' Depression

Rates of mood disorder don't vary by time of year or sunlight exposure, researchers say

From: http://www.webmd.com/depression/news/20160128/study-finds-no-proof-of-seasonal-depression?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Bedbugs Biting Back Against Insecticide

Researchers find a strong resistance to the most widely used pesticide group

From: http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/news/20160128/bedbugs-biting-back-against-insecticide?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Most Consumers Satisfied With Health Plans: Poll

The survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation shows that 71 percent of people with insurance believe their services are excellent or good.

From: http://www.webmd.com/health-insurance/20160128/despite-kvetching-most-consumers-satisfied-with-health-plans-poll?src=RSS_PUBLIC

USDA Seeks Proposals for Market-Based Wetland Protection Systems

WASHINGTON, Jan. 28, 2016 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced the establishment of the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Wetland Mitigation Banking Program, made possible by the 2014 Farm Bill.

From: http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?contentid=2016/01/0028.xml&contentidonly=true

Certain Fruits, Veggies May Aid Weight Control

Study found those who ate apples, pears, berries, peppers had better weight management in long run

From: http://www.webmd.com/diet/20160127/eating-certain-fruits-veggies-may-help-a-bit-with-weight-control?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Studies Lacking Youth Antidepressant Effects Data?

New analysis finds much greater risk of aggression, self-harm

From: http://www.webmd.com/depression/news/20160127/did-studies-lack-key-data-on-link-between-antidepressants-youth-suicides?src=RSS_PUBLIC

MS Drug Tied to Higher Risk for Brain Virus

Patients taking Tysabri were more prone to show signs of exposure to JCV, which can cause a brain disease

From: http://www.webmd.com/multiple-sclerosis/news/20160127/ms-drug-tied-to-higher-risk-for-potentially-deadly-brain-virus?src=RSS_PUBLIC

HIV Can Persist in Body Despite Drug Therapy

Scientists find virus replicates in lymphoid tissue and see a possible target for a cure

From: http://www.webmd.com/hiv-aids/news/20160127/hiv-can-persist-in-body-despite-drug-therapy?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Zika "spreading explosively," global health experts warn

World Health Organization calls special session on outbreak of virus linked to birth defects and neurological problems

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/zika-virus-outbreak-spreading-explosively-world-health-organization/

Why are doctors writing opioid prescriptions — even after an overdose?

A group of researchers at Boston Medical Center recently looked at nearly 3,000 patients who had survived an opioid-related overdose between 2000 and 2012. According to their recently published study, over 90% of these patients continued to receive opioid medications from doctors — even after their overdose. Given the soaring numbers of opioid-related overdose deaths and heightened scrutiny on how these medications are being over-prescribed, the study findings are alarming and disturbing.

The researchers identified almost 3,000 patients nationwide who had had a nonfatal overdose while being treated with opioid medications for chronic pain. These patients were followed for 300 days, on average, after their overdose. During those 300 days, an additional 7% of the patients overdosed a second time. In the majority of cases, the same doctor wrote the opioid prescription before and after the initial overdose.

The study did show that as a whole, patients received smaller doses of opioid medications after the overdose. But many patients were still receiving very high doses, and those receiving the higher doses were more likely to overdose yet again.

The study raises many questions. How could doctors continue to write prescriptions for opioid medications, even after an overdose? How could doctors be so ignorant to the dangers of these medications?

The problem with gaps in communication — and education

The truth is that the doctors who wrote the prescriptions probably did not know that the patients in their clinic had recently overdosed. Unless the patient was sent to an emergency room or hospital affiliated with the prescribing doctor, there is a good chance that the information about the overdose never made it back to the doctor. Indeed, doctors may never know unless the patient voluntarily discloses this information.

This communication gap is well known to those in the health care system. And this study further highlights the potential consequences of this poor communication. At the least, information about opioid overdoses must be communicated back to the prescribing doctor so that he or she can adjust pain treatment and offer addiction treatment where indicated.

The study authors give some recommendations for how to fix the communication problem. For example, the prescription monitoring program — the electronic database that doctors use to see if patients are obtaining multiple prescriptions from different doctors — could include information about overdoses. Or the insurance companies could alert the prescriber about a recent overdose.

While these measures would certainly help, the reality is that doctors have relatively little training in safely managing chronic pain and treating addiction. Whether in medical school or in residency training, very little curricular time is devoted to helping doctors safely prescribe pain medications, recognize patients at high risk for overdose, intervene when patients need to be taken off of opioids, and adequately treat opioid addiction. As such, a critical component in reducing the overprescribing of opioid medications is for medical schools and residency programs to improve how doctors are educated.

What you can do for a loved one who’s had an overdose

Family members and loved ones of those who recently survived an overdose can also help:

• If someone you love has had an overdose, make sure his or her doctor is aware.
• Consider obtaining a naloxone rescue kit, which can be used to treat an opioid overdose in an emergency situation. These kits are now available at drugstores such as Walgreens and CVS.
• If you think your loved one is addicted to opioids, encourage him or her to seek professional addiction treatment. Medication-assisted treatment with buprenorphine (Buprenex), for example, has been shown to save lives.

Related Post:

• The problem with prescription painkillers
• The “right” goal when managing pain
• Number of babies born in withdrawal from prescription…
• Report highlights the dangers of opioid painkillers
• Better use of medicines could save billions

The post Why are doctors writing opioid prescriptions — even after an overdose? appeared first on Harvard Health Blog.

From: Joji Suzuki, MD http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/why-are-doctors-writing-opioid-prescriptions-even-after-an-overdose-201601289060

Living with Diabetes in College: Erykah

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

The following are stories shared by College Diabetes Network (CDN) Students, involved in CDN’s Student Advisory Committee (SAC), about their experiences heading off to college, and navigating life on campus, with diabetes.

The College Diabetes Network provides programs for young adults with diabetes to help make their college experience safer and more successful. The American Diabetes Association is working with CDN to help further this goal.

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Name and Age: Erykah, 17

School: Philander Smith College (Little Rock, Ark.), Class of 2019

I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when I was 11 years old and in the sixth grade.

I knew I needed to thoroughly research colleges and universities, because I had already encountered a case of discrimination. I was accepted to one university’s summer program and offered a scholarship. However, the director of the program took it away because I had type 1 diabetes and they didn’t want to burden the other students. The director felt I was not prepared for college due to my diabetes. But I fought to be in the program, informed the university of my rights as a student and proved myself capable. In the end I decided to not attend that school, but I hope they learned a lesson about the rights of people with diabetes and other disabilities.

After this incident I realized that as someone living with diabetes, it is so important for me to know about my rights and the available services and accommodations.

The resources provided by CDN to inform others about living with diabetes have been a tremendous help in my time so far at Philander. Whether through their website or educational programs, my local CDN chapter has helped me connect with others on campus who are also living with diabetes. It’s important to meet and connect with others who are going through the same experiences as me. Although Philander already celebrates Diabetes Awareness Month in November, I am hoping that with the help of CDN and the Project Blue campaign I will be able to have more programs and meetings on diabetes awareness to educate others.

Educating others about diabetes often starts with a simple question. For example, I’ve been asked about my insulin pump and why it is needed to manage my diabetes.

I have also experienced a lack of knowledge about type 1 and type 2 diabetes on my college campus. I have met many students who have no idea what diabetes is, or the difference between type 1 and type 2. Once in class, type 1 diabetes was being discussed and the instructor told the entire class that it developed when parents fed their children candy and sweets all their life. The instructor continued to say that we needed to make sure we ate oranges and apples to ensure we would not get diabetes. These statements really bothered me. That’s why I am glad CDN now has a chapter at my school to educate others and correct these myths.

When someone has a question or concern about diabetes, I try to explain it in the best way possible. I am happy to explain to anyone who is looking for knowledge. Sometimes I may even throw in a few jokes—I want them to realize that I appreciate how diabetes has shaped me as a person.

I chose to tell my college friends and professors about my diabetes, not only for the safety of myself but for the sake of others. It’s important to educate others about what to do in case of an emergency and to teach them about the devices we carry. My diabetes has been a struggle since I was diagnosed. They were surprised that I did open up and let it be known immediately. I am not ashamed; diabetes is just a part of who I am.

Before leaving for college I did not know how difficult it would be to manage my diabetes. It’s very time-consuming, and time management is very important. I have to be a full-time college student while managing my diabetes at the same time. I didn’t even consider that my life would change so much. The foods I eat, the amount of time I exercise, even how late I stay up at night all affect how my diabetes stays controlled.

Before I headed off to college, my mother made sure I had everything I needed, as did my health care team. My school is about six hours away from home, so we ordered supplies in advance and officially changed my address so that I could get certain items shipped directly to my college.

For high school students heading out to college, I would say do your best to get your diabetes managed and develop a set schedule before you even get there. College is extremely time-consuming; you are a student all day, every day. But when dealing with a chronic illness, you have to take time to take care of yourself. Once you arrive, do not be afraid to stand up for yourself, your health and your rights. You only have one body and you must take care of it.

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

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

From: American Diabetes Association http://diabetesstopshere.org/2016/01/28/diabetes-in-college-erykah/

Biotechs aim for noninvasive prostate cancer biopsies

The current procedure is quite painful and often unneeded, but these alternatives use blood and urine samples instead

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/biotechs-aim-for-noninvasive-prostate-cancer-biopsies/

Statement on the 8th meeting of the IHR Emergency Committee regarding the Ebola outbreak in West Africa

The 8th meeting of the Emergency Committee convened by the WHO Director-General under the International Health Regulations (2005) (IHR) regarding the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak in West Africa took place by teleconference on Tuesday, 15 December 2015, and by electronic correspondence from 15-21 December 2015.

The Committee’s role was to provide the Director-General with views and perspectives as to whether the event continues to constitute a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), whether the current Temporary Recommendations should be extended, rescinded or revised, and whether additional recommendations should be considered.

From: http://www.who.int/entity/mediacentre/news/statements/2015/ihr-ebola-8th-meeting/en/index.html

Breaking the silence on male breast cancer

When Michael Singer was first diagnosed with breast cancer, he didn't want anyone to know

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/breaking-the-silence-on-male-breast-cancer/

Male breast cancer survivor empowered, not embarrassed

Michael Singer didn't tell friends about his diagnosis for a year; now the Harley-riding Bronx native is an outspoken advocate for male breast cancer awareness

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/male-breast-cancer-survivor-michael-singer-first-embarrassed-now-empowered/

Hospice care: Comforting the terminally ill

From: http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/end-of-life/in-depth/hospice-care/art-20048050