West Virginia AG's past with drug companies questioned

Patrick Morrisey was once a lobbyist representing pharmaceutical trade group funded by some drug distributors that West Virginia is now suing in opioid crisis

From: http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cbsnews.com%2Fnews%2Fquestions-raised-about-west-virginia-attorney-generals-past-with-drug-companies%2F&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8

CDC documents raise concerns about lab safety

Newly released documents read "like a screenplay for a disaster movie," detailing the malfunction of a decontamination chamber at biosafety lab

From: http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cbsnews.com%2Fnews%2Fcdc-documents-raise-concerns-about-lab-safety-transparency%2F&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8

Trump no billionaire, Mark Cuban says, and other MoneyWatch headlines

Mark Cuban doubts Donald Trump is a billionaire; millions more cars added to airbag recall; Feds want to curb payday lender abuses. These headlines and more from CBS MoneyWatch.

From: http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cbsnews.com%2Fvideos%2Ftrump-no-billionaire-mark-cuban-says-and-other-moneywatch-headlines%2F&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8

Number of U.S. cancer survivors expected to jump

Over the next decade, millions more Americans will be living with cancer, and experts say they'll have growing medical and psychological needs

From: http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cbsnews.com%2Fnews%2Fnumber-of-u-s-cancer-survivors-expected-to-jump-in-next-decade%2F&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8

Prince's death blamed on fentanyl overdose

The 57-year-old singer was found dead April 21 at his Minneapolis-area estate

From: http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cbsnews.com%2Fnews%2Fap-prince-died-of-an-opioid-overdose%2F&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8

Medical breakthrough for cancer on the horizon?

Dr. Roshini Raj discusses the steps taken to create a universal cancer vaccine.

From: http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cbsnews.com%2Fvideos%2Fmedical-breakthrough-for-cancer-on-the-horizon%2F&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8

How pregnant women can stay safe from Zika virus

"We have to do everything possible to protect pregnant women," CDC director Dr. Tom Frieden told "CBS This Morning"

From: http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cbsnews.com%2Fnews%2Fzika-virus-how-pregnant-women-can-protect-themselves%2F&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8

Here's how the FDA is limiting the amount of salt you eat

Dr. Roshini Raj breaks down the FDA's new sodium guidelines, which aim to make Americans more aware of the serious health risks from eating too much salt.

From: http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cbsnews.com%2Fvideos%2Fheres-how-the-fda-is-limiting-the-amount-of-salt-you-eat%2F&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8

FDA proposes slashing sodium in prepared foods

Americans currently take in nearly 50 percent more than the recommended daily limit of sodium

From: http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cbsnews.com%2Fvideos%2Ffda-proposes-slashing-sodium-in-prepared-foods%2F&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8

CDC director on protecting pregnant women against Zika virus

The first-known baby born in the mainland U.S. with Zika birth defects faces a "very poor" prognosis

From: http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cbsnews.com%2Fvideos%2Fcdc-director-on-protecting-pregnant-women-against-zika-virus%2F&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8

Recalled General Mills flour largely comes from Missouri plant

Several varieties of Gold Medal and Signature Kitchens flour sold at Safeway, Albertsons and other supermarkets recalled over E. coli outbreak

From: http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cbsnews.com%2Fnews%2Frecalled-general-mills-flour-largely-comes-from-missouri-plant%2F&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8

FDA releases new sodium guidelines

The FDA is suggesting food companies and restaurants gradually reduce sodium levels in food by a third over the next decade

From: http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cbsnews.com%2Fvideos%2Ffda-releases-new-sodium-guidelines%2F&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8

Problems for Obamacare: Largest Texas insurer asks big price hike

Citing financial losses under the health care law, many insurers around the country are requesting bigger premium increases for 2017

From: http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cbsnews.com%2Fnews%2Fproblems-for-obamacare-largest-texas-insurer-asks-big-price-hike%2F&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8

The ever-escalating cost of cancer drugs

Novel but pricey new therapies and old-fashioned price hikes are combining to put unprecedented strain on patient budgets

From: http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cbsnews.com%2Fnews%2Fthe-ever-escalating-cost-of-cancer-drugs%2F&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8

Prince Died From Fentanyl Overdose

Pop superstar Prince, found dead more than a month ago at his estate outside Minneapolis, died from an overdose of the powerful opioid fentanyl, authorities said Thursday. WebMD has the details.

From: http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.webmd.com%2Fnews%2F20160602%2Fprince-fentanyl-overdose%3Fsrc%3DRSS_PUBLIC&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8

Low-Dose Aspirin and Longer Colon Cancer Survival

Study found most benefit seen in those taking the drug before their cancer diagnosis

From: http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.webmd.com%2Fcolorectal-cancer%2Fnews%2F20160602%2Flow-dose-aspirin-tied-to-longer-colon-cancer-survival%3Fsrc%3DRSS_PUBLIC&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8

Wild-Type Transthyretin Cardiac Amyloidosis - Mayo Clinic

From: Mayo Clinic http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DRnWxzRD1NVk&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8

Hopi-Kaibab National Forest Springs Restoration Project

From: USDA http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DX5eeAoJVzaI&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8

Meditation Can Help Breast Cancer Survivors

Six-week class reduced fear of recurrence, fatigue and anxiety, researchers report

From: http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.webmd.com%2Fbreast-cancer%2Fnews%2F20160602%2Fmindfulness-meditation-seems-to-soothe-breast-cancer-survivors%3Fsrc%3DRSS_PUBLIC&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8

Clean Pools Can Still Pose Health Hazards

When disinfectants combine with sweat, personal care products and urine, dangerous byproducts can form, study says

From: http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.webmd.com%2Fnews%2F20160602%2Fclean-pools-can-still-pose-health-hazards%3Fsrc%3DRSS_PUBLIC&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8

15.5 Million Americans Now Surviving Cancer: Report

But better tools needed to support their long-term recovery, experts say

From: http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.webmd.com%2Fcancer%2Fnews%2F20160602%2F155-million-americans-now-surviving-cancer-report%3Fsrc%3DRSS_PUBLIC&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8

Dr. Pritish Tosh Discusses Yellow Fever

From: Mayo Clinic http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3D3NWIx2d0BvI&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8

Mayo Clinic Minute: Prescription Exercise

From: Mayo Clinic http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DFO2yae8o6jw&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8

What to do when blood test results not quite “normal”

Picture this: you’re reading the results of your recent bloodwork, and you notice some numbers are teetering on the edge of the normal range. Should you be concerned? “It’s tricky, because in some tests, a borderline result makes no difference. In others, it might indicate an important change in health that we need to follow or act on,” says geriatrician Dr. Suzanne Salamon, assistant professor at Harvard Medical School.

About normal ranges and interpreting the numbers

When you look at a printout of your lab results, you’ll find the normal ranges for each blood test next to your personal results. For example, if your routine blood work includes a test for calcium in the blood, your lab may list the normal range for calcium as 8.3 to 9.9 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL). If your result is a 9.1 mg/dL, right in the middle, you can feel confident that your calcium level is normal.

But what if a blood test result is at the very low or high end of normal, or even slightly outside the normal range? Is that a red flag? “Don’t jump to conclusions,” warns Dr. Salamon. “Blood test results can vary a little bit, depending on the lab. And many people are consistently on one side or the other of the normal range, and for them, that’s healthy,” says Dr. Salamon.

Take, for example, a routine measure of blood urea nitrogen (BUN), a waste product created as your body breaks down the protein in your diet. Excess urea is removed from the blood by the kidneys, so high levels of BUN in the blood can indicate that kidney function is declining. So, what does it mean if your BUN level is at the very high end of the normal range? “If I see that it’s borderline high, I might ignore it,” says Dr. Salamon. “It’s common for BUN to go up if you don’t drink enough, and that can happen when someone is fasting before having blood drawn.”

Minor fluctuations in test results may also reflect

• recent infections
• medication side effects
• stress
• gender
• age
• inaccurate lab procedures.

Dr. Salamon emphasizes the need to look at someone’s entire picture of health to interpret a blood test. In our BUN example, a number just above the normal range might actually be a sign of a bleeding ulcer in the stomach or small intestine, not failing kidneys. “It depends on the person, the symptoms, and the other conditions that are present,” she says.

When to be concerned

Instead of looking at a one-time test result on the high or low end of normal, Dr. Salamon says she looks at trends. “I get concerned if there’s a change from what’s been normal for years, for you. If your test result is always in the high normal range, I’m not concerned. But if it’s always been in the low normal range, and today it’s high normal, that’s different.”

For example, let’s say you have your blood sugar (glucose) measured every three years (that’s how often the American Diabetes Association recommends routine blood sugar testing for everyone over age 45, if previous test results have been normal). The normal range is between 60 and 100 mg/dL. Levels between 100 and 125 mg/dL are considered “prediabetes” — that is, not quite full-blown diabetes, but approaching it. If your results have usually been 81 or 82 mg/dL, but your latest result is suddenly 98 mg/dL, it’s still considered normal, but the change might spark a conversation about your diet. Dr. Salamon says she would, for example, ask you questions like “Have you put on weight? Are you eating more carbohydrates and sugary foods?” as a way to start investigating why your blood sugar is suddenly going up.

But some tests don’t have any room for fluctuation, such as tests for liver enzymes, called AST (aspartate aminotransferase) and ALT (alanine aminotransferase). “If these levels were always normal, and now one of them starts to go up one or two points, there might be something wrong with liver function, and I’d want to know why,” says Dr. Salamon.

What you should do

Get an annual check-up, and don’t skip routine bloodwork. Even if you feel that you’re healthy, it’s still a good idea to have a continuous record of standard blood markers so your doctor can look for trends. If you have some results at the high or low end of normal, ask your doctor if you should repeat the test or investigate them further. But remember: “Each test has its own rules, and it takes years to understand how the numbers work together,” says Dr. Salamon. “Leave the interpretation up to your doctor.”

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• Prehypertension increases stroke risk
• Muscle problems caused by statins: Can a genetic test reveal

The post What to do when blood test results not quite “normal” appeared first on Harvard Health Blog.

From: Heidi Godman http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.health.harvard.edu%2Fblog%2Fblood-test-results-not-quite-normal-201606029718&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8

Pharmacogenomics for Your Practice – Grand Rounds Presentation

From: Mayo Clinic http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3Df-WbtyaZsb0&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8

USDA Celebrates National Homeownership Month

WASHINGTON, June 2, 2016 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today kicked off National Homeownership Month by highlighting USDA’s ongoing role to help people buy homes in rural areas.

From: http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.usda.gov%2Fwps%2Fportal%2Fusda%2Fusdahome%3Fcontentid%3D2016%2F06%2F0134.xml%26contentidonly%3Dtrue&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8

ADA, others ask Senate to fund military dental research

The ADA, along with 129 other health care professional groups, is asking the Senate to strike language from the 2017 National Defense Authorization Act.

From: http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ada.org%2Fen%2Fpublications%2Fada-news%2F2016-archive%2Fjune%2Fada-others-ask-senate-to-fund-military-dental-research&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8

Vilsack Announces New Promise Zone Designation for Puerto Rico, Other Steps to Lift Puerto Rican Economy

RIO PIEDRAS, P.R., June 2, 2016 — Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced several measures to strengthen rural opportunity in Puerto Rico, including that the Eastern Region of Puerto Rico has been selected as a federal Promise Zone.

From: http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.usda.gov%2Fwps%2Fportal%2Fusda%2Fusdahome%3Fcontentid%3D2016%2F06%2F0136.xml%26contentidonly%3Dtrue&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8

USDA Awards More Than $14.5 Million to Support Plant Health and Resilience Research

WASHINGTON, June 2, 2016 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today awarded more than $14.5 million in grants to support research into plant health, production and resilience. These grants were made through the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) Foundational program, authorized by the 2014 Farm Bill and administered by USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA).

From: http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.usda.gov%2Fwps%2Fportal%2Fusda%2Fusdahome%3Fcontentid%3D2016%2F06%2F0135.xml%26contentidonly%3Dtrue&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8

Exploring the Link Between Estrogen and Migraines

Study sees big drop in levels of the female hormone in the days before menstruation

From: http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.webmd.com%2Fmigraines-headaches%2Fnews%2F20160601%2Fexploring-the-link-between-estrogen-and-migraines%3Fsrc%3DRSS_PUBLIC&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8

Brain Cancer Treatment Promising in Early Trial

Injectable virus appears to extend lives of glioblastoma patients

From: http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.webmd.com%2Fcancer%2Fbrain-cancer%2Fnews%2F20160601%2Fbrain-cancer-treatment-shows-promise-in-early-trial%3Fsrc%3DRSS_PUBLIC&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8

FDA proposes slashing sodium in prepared foods

Americans currently take in nearly 50 percent more than the recommended daily limit of sodium

From: http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cbsnews.com%2Fvideos%2Ffda-proposes-slashing-sodium-in-prepared-foods%2F&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8

'Hard' Tap Water Linked to Eczema in Babies

Skin condition seems more likely in areas with high mineral content in water, study finds

From: http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.webmd.com%2Fchildren%2Fnews%2F20160601%2Fhard-tap-water-linked-to-eczema-in-babies%3Fsrc%3DRSS_PUBLIC&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8

CDC director on protecting pregnant women against Zika virus

The first-known baby born in the mainland U.S. with Zika birth defects faces a "very poor" prognosis

From: http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cbsnews.com%2Fvideos%2Fcdc-director-on-protecting-pregnant-women-against-zika-virus%2F&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8