02/04/16

Thursday, February 4, 2016

CRE bacteria: What you should know

From: http://www.mayoclinic.org/cre-bacteria/art-20166387

Blood banks limit donations due to Zika virus

Major blood centers say people should not donate if they've traveled to Mexico, the Caribbean, South or Central America in the last 28 days

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/blood-banks-limit-donations-due-to-zika-virus/

What Florida is doing to stop the Zika virus

Florida's hot, humid climate puts its 20 million residents at risk -- along with millions more tourists

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/what-florida-is-doing-to-stop-the-zika-virus/

What is Bell's palsy? CBS anchor explains his diagnosis

New York City anchor Maurice DuBois was shocked when he looked in the mirror and saw his face was "frozen, literally locked up"

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/nyc-anchorman-maurice-dubois-talks-bells-palsy-diagnosis/

'Obese' May Not Always Equal Unhealthy: Study

Authors warn against using body size as sole measure of good health, but other experts cite risks of too much weight

From: http://www.webmd.com/diet/obesity/20160204/obese-may-not-always-equal-unhealthy-study?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Michigan officials warned of water, Legionnaires' link

Governor said he had learned of the spike in Legionnaires' cases just days before going public in January; but emails show his office knew in March

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/emails-reveal-michigan-gov-rick-snyder-office-was-aware-of-surge-in-legionnaires-disease/

Could 3-parent IVF be coming to the U.S.?

Government advisers are urging the FDA to approve the new fertility technique

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/could-3-parent-ivf-be-coming-to-the-u-s/

Natural Remedies for Erectile Dysfunction

Are there natural ways to treat ED? WebMD gives you the pros and cons of common herbal remedies.

From: http://www.webmd.com/erectile-dysfunction/features/natural-remedies-for-erectile-dysfunction?src=RSS_PUBLIC

How to Take Care of Your Joints

WebMD explains how exercise and weight loss can help keep your osteoarthritis from getting worse.

From: http://www.webmd.com/osteoarthritis/knee-hip-replacement-14/home-joint-care?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Electric Toothbrushes: Are They for You?

Are electric toothbrushes really worth the extra money? WebMD asks the experts. What we found out may surprise you.

From: http://www.webmd.com/oral-health/healthy-teeth-14/electric-toothbrushes?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Statins May Ease Macular Degeneration for Some

The 'dry' form of the eye disease remains the leading cause of blindness in developed world

From: http://www.webmd.com/eye-health/macular-degeneration/news/20160204/high-dose-statins-may-ease-macular-degeneration-for-some?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Bit of Chocolate in Pregnancy May Help Mom, Baby

No matter what the level of healthy flavanols, improvements seen in circulatory health

From: http://www.webmd.com/baby/news/20160204/daily-bit-of-chocolate-in-pregnancy-may-help-mom-baby?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Bone Marrow Failure and Bone Marrow Transplantation

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

Hidden Causes of Hair Loss

If you're losing hair, the biggest question is why. Here's an in-depth look at factors that may contribute to hair loss, including lifestyle, heredity, and medical causes.

From: http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/hair-loss/hair-loss-women-14/hair-loss-hidden-causes?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Being a morning person could be in your genes

New research from genetics company 23andMe suggests DNA may play a role in whether you're a morning person or a night owl

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/being-a-morning-person-could-be-in-your-genes/

Mayo Clinic Minute: New Health Risks of E-cigarettes

From: Mayo Clinic http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3Wr49xGiTA

Genetics and Celiac Disease: Who is at risk? – Celiac Disease in the News

From: Mayo Clinic http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5pMbdWKTWE

Dr. Pritish Tosh - Zika virus infections

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

ADHD May Be Tied to Obesity Risk for Girls

Impulsiveness, eating disorders may help explain possible link, researcher says

From: http://www.webmd.com/add-adhd/childhood-adhd/news/20160204/adhd-tied-to-obesity-risk-for-girls-study-contends?src=RSS_PUBLIC

WHO: Microcephaly and Zika virus infection - Questions and answers (Q&A)

From: World Health Organization http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0skonVosTJU

New depression screening guidelines outline very helpful, yet achievable goals

Every once in a while, a simple idea comes along that has the potential to bring enormous health benefits. Screening for depression is one of them. It is a low-cost, high-impact intervention that should be a regular part of primary care medicine.

This idea is not new, as we pointed out back in October of last year. But it’s gotten another helpful boost — and was in the news last week — because the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) released updated recommendations reinforcing this message.

Depression is common and potentially disabling. Yet despite decades of research and publicity about the problem, depression often goes unnoticed. Unnecessary suffering can be prevented if the task force recommendations are followed:

They encourage primary care practices to have systems to detect depression: Screening can be done with a simple questionnaire.
If a person is diagnosed with depression, treatment can be offered: psychotherapy, medication, or a combination of the two.
After initiating treatment, provide follow up: A phone call to the person and/or return visits to the primary care provider.

Screening can be as simple as a two-item questionnaire. The Patient Health Questionnaire-2 (PHQ-2) asks,

Over a 2-week period, have you been bothered by (1) little interest or pleasure in doing things; or (2) feeling down, depressed or hopeless?

Answering yes to either item means the problem should be evaluated more fully. The primary care provider may make a referral to a mental health provider, but there is enormous value when initial evaluation and treatment can begin in the primary care setting.

The task force focused special attention this time on women who are pregnant or who have recently given birth to a child. This is quite important because mood problems are surprisingly common during these periods. A majority of women experience transient changes in mood, but up to 15% of new mothers may experience significant depression during pregnancy or after the baby is born.

Anyone who is suffering should not debate what it means to have a “significant” mood problem. If you’ve gotten to the point of wondering about it, that’s the time to speak up, get support, and consider helpful options.

What I find heartening about the current report is its emphasis on matter-of-fact, achievable goals. Identification of mood problems and better access to support and treatment in primary care practices, can significantly improve outcomes for both mothers and children.

You can find more details at the USPSTF website, where you can read the full recommendations or browse a complete list of information for consumers.

The post New depression screening guidelines outline very helpful, yet achievable goals appeared first on Harvard Health Blog.

From: Michael Craig Miller, M.D. http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/new-depression-screening-guidelines-outline-very-helpful-yet-achievable-goals-2-201602049156

Living with Diabetes in College: Jess

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.

Name: Jess

School: St. Norbert College (De Pere, Wisc.), Class of 2016

After already living with type 1 diabetes for 12 years, going off to school was like being diagnosed all over again. As I progressed in my academic career, I realized taking care of diabetes on my own was much more demanding than it had ever been before.

The understanding and support I had at home suddenly disappeared; I was fighting diabetes on my own for the first time. With comments like, “I wish I had that because then I’d be skinny like you,” and “don’t give your shots around me,” I realized fairly quickly that it was my responsibility to educate and inform the people around me, so I could create the support that I really needed. I never thought to reach out to my health care providers because they were hours away.

A huge part of being a young adult with diabetes is having a support system. With that, the difficult days just seem to be more manageable.

It was hard to get people to show an interest in what I had to say about diabetes. This is one thing I would like to change about campuses and communities—not just for diabetes, but for all chronic illnesses. There are battles going on behind closed doors a majority of us will never even realize. I tried desperately to move students toward understanding, but after a while, I knew it would take much more than me.

I decided to create a CDN chapter at my school when the director of student health services offered me the opportunity. I’ve been very involved with CDN since then and attended the last CDN Student Retreat in Maine with many other chapter leaders from across the country. The most prominent takeaway from this experience was the stories I heard and the people I met. Not only did we all share the same burden of diabetes, but we also shared a passion and a drive to inspire and advocate.

What do I wish I knew about managing diabetes before college? Well, first off, I didn’t realize how much different I would feel from the other students. People didn’t want me giving insulin injections around them, or talking about my diabetes too much. I didn’t realize managing my diabetes would complicate my social life, particularly at parties and get-togethers.

I knew going into college that my diabetes was going to be difficult to manage, but I wish I would have known that I didn’t have to do it alone.

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/2016/02/04/diabetes-in-college-jess/

USDA to Invest $150 Million through Conservation Stewardship Program to Help Improve Working Lands

WASHINGTON, Feb. 4, 2016 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that $150 million in funding is available for agricultural producers through the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), USDA's largest conservation program, by acres impacted, that helps producers voluntarily improve the health and productivity of private and Tribal working lands. USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) plans to add an estimated 10 million acres to the rolls of CSP during fiscal 2016.

From: http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?contentid=2016/02/0033.xml&contentidonly=true

Zika case sparks questions about sexual transmission

The disease is mostly spread by mosquitoes, but some patients may catch it through sex

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/zika-case-sparks-questions-worries-about-sexual-transmission/

Should I Get Allergy Shots?

Also called immunotherapy, these shots can help people with severe allergies, our expert says.

From: http://www.webmd.com/allergies/features/should-i-get-allergy-shots?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Could IVF Raise Children's Odds for Blood Cancer?

Study of in vitro fertilization shows slightly elevated risk, but experts aren't sounding alarms

From: http://www.webmd.com/children/news/20160204/could-ivf-raise-childrens-odds-for-blood-cancer?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Meditation May Ease Breast Biopsy Pain, Anxiety

Researchers also found music helps during the procedure

From: http://www.webmd.com/breast-cancer/news/20160204/meditation-may-ease-pain-anxiety-from-breast-cancer-biopsy-study?src=RSS_PUBLIC

New Therapy Might Cure Type 1 Diabetes

From: http://www.webmd.com/diabetes/news/20160204/therapy-diabetes-cure?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Steroids May Help More Than Just Premature Babies

Researchers found they reduced risk for respiratory problems in infants born at 34 to 36 weeks

From: http://www.webmd.com/parenting/baby/news/20160204/steroids-might-help-more-than-just-very-premature-babies-study?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Insurers Accelerate Moves To Limit Health-Law Enrollment

Major changes in broker compensation are designed to discourage enrollment of the sickest, say consumer advocates.

From: http://www.webmd.com/health-insurance/20160204/licking-wounds-insurers-accelerate-moves-to-limit-healthlaw-enrollment?src=RSS_PUBLIC

USDA Finalizes New Food Safety Measures to Reduce Salmonella and Campylobacter in Poultry

WASHINGTON, Feb. 4, 2016 -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) today announced the finalization of new federal standards to reduce Salmonella and Campylobacter in ground chicken and turkey products, as well as in raw chicken breasts, legs, and wings. Based on scientific risk assessments, FSIS estimates that implementation of these standards will lead to an average of 50,000 prevented illnesses annually.

From: http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?contentid=2016/02/0032.xml&contentidonly=true

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