Thursday, June 16, 2016

Philly becomes first major U.S. city with soda tax

Soda tax proposals have failed in more than 30 cities and states in recent years, including twice before in Philadelphia

From: http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cbsnews.com%2Fnews%2Fphiladelphia-becomes-first-major-us-city-with-soda-tax%2F&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8

How to help Orlando heal

Alicia Homrich, a professor of graduate studies in counseling, spoke with to CBS News' Dr. Jon LaPook about ways to counsel and heal those traumatized by the attack on the Pulse nightclub.

From: http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cbsnews.com%2Fvideos%2Fhow-to-help-orlando-heal%2F&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8

New weight-loss device makes some medical experts queasy

The stomach-draining device "is like giving someone bulimia"

From: http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cbsnews.com%2Fnews%2Faspireassist-weight-loss-device-stomach-drain-has-some-medical-experts-queasy%2F&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8

Fertility Facts for Men

affectionate couple at home together

Healthy sperm are essential to fathering a child. But they're not a given. WebMD explains.



From: http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.webmd.com%2Fmen%2Ffeatures%2Ffertility-older-men%3Fsrc%3DRSS_PUBLIC&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8

Single Working Moms Carry a Heart Burden

Stress, finances may boost cardiovascular risks for U.S. mothers, study says



From: http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.webmd.com%2Fheart%2Fnews%2F20160616%2Fsingle-working-moms-carry-a-heart-burden%3Fsrc%3DRSS_PUBLIC&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8

Strength Training Isn't Just for Adults

boy hanging on jungle gym

Kids can get started with light weights early for stronger muscles, bones, and bodies. WebMD has the details.



From: http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.webmd.com%2Fchildren%2Ffeatures%2Fstrength-training-kids%3Fsrc%3DRSS_PUBLIC&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8

3 babies born in U.S. with Zika-related birth defects

The CDC is tracking the pregnancies of more than 200 women in the U.S. whose babies might be affected

From: http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cbsnews.com%2Fnews%2F3-babies-born-in-u-s-with-zika-related-birth-defects%2F&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8

Are Eye Creams a Must-Have?

Womans Eye

WebMD shares expert advice on what to dab on and when to keep hands-off.



From: http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.webmd.com%2Fbeauty%2Feyes%2Feye-creams-aging-wrinkles%3Fsrc%3DRSS_PUBLIC&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8

Extensive Surgery Best for This Brain Cancer

Although larger procedure carries more risk, odds of longer survival are higher, researchers say



From: http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.webmd.com%2Fcancer%2Fbrain-cancer%2Fnews%2F20160616%2Fextensive-surgery-best-for-an-aggressive-brain-cancer-study%3Fsrc%3DRSS_PUBLIC&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8

Teen Obesity May Mean Liver Disease Later

Study found risk increased as weight went up



From: http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.webmd.com%2Fdiet%2Fobesity%2F20160616%2Fteen-obesity-may-mean-liver-disease-later%3Fsrc%3DRSS_PUBLIC&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8

Coffee may lower your risk of certain chronic illnesses

CBS News medical contributor Dr. Holly Phillips discusses the World Health Organization's announcement that coffee is no longer considered carcinogenic

From: http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cbsnews.com%2Fvideos%2Fcoffee-may-lower-your-risk-of-certain-chronic-illnesses%2F&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8

Mayo Clinic Men’s Health Program



From: Mayo Clinic http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DtgeUwevt1Og&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8

Acne Scars



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

Mayo Clinic Minute: Can Work Stress Hurt Your Heart?



From: Mayo Clinic http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DXuXN9er2GjU&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8

Farewell to the fasting cholesterol test?

At a recent meeting I offered a visitor lunch which she declined with obvious regret. She was hungry, and it was noon. But she was headed to her annual physical, and eating beforehand would mean returning another morning for a fasting cholesterol level. Most of us can relate to her annoyance, but thankfully this may soon be a thing of the past.

Doctors have traditionally ordered cholesterol tests to be drawn after an overnight fast. But this requirement causes a significant burden on both sides of the health care equation. Most people hate to fast. Skipping meals is particularly difficult for active people, people with diabetes, and children. Yet coming back for another visit is even more of a hassle, so many people just don’t bother. And it has been a drain for doctors, too, resulting in repeat test orders, phone calls, and patient visits.

International guidelines published last month in the European Heart Journal became the latest official recommendation against routine fasting for cholesterol tests. These guidelines defend what many health care systems and many doctors (including me) have been practicing for several years already. They should be met with universal acceptance, even if takes a while. There are several scientific reasons supporting this change.

The history behind fasting cholesterol tests

When doctors test for cholesterol, we almost always order a group of tests called a lipid panel (lipids are fat-containing molecules). This panel typically includes four separate measures:

  • Total cholesterol concentration.
  • Low-density lipoprotein* (LDL) – cholesterol, often called the “bad” cholesterol. The amount of LDL in your blood strongly predicts your risk of cardiovascular disease, as higher levels are associated with development of plaque in the arteries.
  • High-density lipoprotein (HDL) – cholesterol, often called “good cholesterol” because higher levels protect against heart disease.
  • Triglycerides (a different type of lipid molecule). High levels of triglycerides are also associated with vascular disease, although this relationship isn’t as well defined.

*Lipoproteins are the “packages” that transport cholesterol in the bloodstream.

Lipids have traditionally been drawn after a fast for two main reasons. The first was to minimize variation, since eating can affect some lipid levels. The second was to produce a better calculation of LDL-cholesterol, which is often derived from an equation thought to provide highly distorted results after eating. However, more recent studies have largely negated these concerns.

Scientists now agree that eating has only slight, clinically insignificant effects on three parts of the lipid profile: total cholesterol, and both HDL- and LDL-cholesterol. Food does raise triglyceride levels for several hours, usually to a modest degree. After a high fat meal these increases can be striking. Therefore, a doctor may still order a fasting test of triglycerides if non-fasting values are significantly elevated.

Perhaps more important, large-scale analyses have shown that non-fasting lipids don’t weaken the connection between cholesterol levels and harmful events like heart attack and stroke. In fact, post-meal measures are thought to strengthen the ability of lipid levels to predict cardiovascular risk. This observation may stem from the fact that most people eat several meals plus snacks during the day. That means we spend most of our time in a “fed” state, not a fasting state. So lipid levels after eating may best reflect our normal physiology.

An end to the dreaded overnight fast?

Guidelines for lipid panels have evolved over the past decade, supported by evidence from studies involving hundreds of thousands of people. Most recommendations now support non-fasting cholesterol tests for routine testing. (You can find a summary of these recommendations here.)

Some fasting lipids tests will remain necessary, especially in people with very high triglycerides. And some people will still need to fast for blood sugar levels, although an alternative test for diabetes (hemoglobin A1c) has replaced much of this testing. But for most, including those having routine cholesterol tests to weigh cardiovascular risk and for those taking drug therapy, this news is good news.

So ask your doctor if you really need to skip breakfast before your next blood draw. Traditions die hard, but both science and convenience may ultimately steer this one to its end. This is one change doctors and patients should celebrate together.

The post Farewell to the fasting cholesterol test? appeared first on Harvard Health Blog.



From: Naomi D. L. Fisher, MD http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.health.harvard.edu%2Fblog%2Ffarewell-fasting-cholesterol-test-201606169784&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8

ADA thanks Rep. Noem for bill to expand tribal health care

A new bill seeking to expand provider access to individuals living on Indian Reservations has the support of the ADA.

From: http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ada.org%2Fen%2Fpublications%2Fada-news%2F2016-archive%2Fjune%2Fada-thanks-rep-noem-for-bill-to-expand-tribal-health-care&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8

Indian Health Services receives $186 million for 2017

The House Appropriations Committee approved legislation June 15 that includes $186 million for the Indian Health Service's Division of Oral Health for fiscal year 2017.

From: http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ada.org%2Fen%2Fpublications%2Fada-news%2F2016-archive%2Fjune%2Findian-health-services-receives-186-million-for-2017&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8

Popularity of rowing races ahead

The sport has been called a symphony in motion, and its renaissance is also happening on land

From: http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cbsnews.com%2Fnews%2Frowing-exercise-rise-in-popularity-row-house-yale%2F&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8

Skin cancer could be hiding where you'd never expect

Research suggests that stress and damage may contribute to melanomas on parts of the body where the sun rarely shines

From: http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cbsnews.com%2Fnews%2Fskin-cancer-melanoma-body-parts-sole-of-foot%2F&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8

Zika birth defects linked to certain trimesters

Study of thousands of pregnancies suggests that the timing of Zika infection may affect risk of birth defects

From: http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cbsnews.com%2Fnews%2Fzika-birth-defects-linked-to-infection-in-first-2-trimesters%2F&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8

Jamie-Lynn Sigler Opens Up About Life With MS

jamie lynn siegler

The actor and recently married mom tells WebMD how fear and worry led her to hide her condition.



From: http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.webmd.com%2Fmultiple-sclerosis%2Ffeatures%2Fjamie-lynn-sigler-ms-sopranos%3Fsrc%3DRSS_PUBLIC&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8

10 Questions With Actor Laura Linney

laura linney

Laura Linney shares thoughts on recent roles, motherhood, and cancer awareness.



From: http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.webmd.com%2Fa-to-z-guides%2Ffeatures%2Flaura-linney-questions%3Fsrc%3DRSS_PUBLIC&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8

More options for colon cancer screening in new guidelines

Health experts issue new colon cancer screening recommendations and say multiple tests save lives

From: http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cbsnews.com%2Fnews%2Fcolon-cancer-screening-colonoscopy-test-options%2F&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8

Experts Warn of Dangerous New Synthetic Drugs

Opioid fentanyl and related street drugs highly lethal, addiction experts say



From: http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.webmd.com%2Fpain-management%2Fnews%2F20160616%2Fpainkiller-that-killed-prince-part-of-dangerous-wave-of-new-synthetic-drugs%3Fsrc%3DRSS_PUBLIC&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8

Combos Snack Products Recalled

Combos Snack Products Recalled



From: http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.webmd.com%2Ffood-recipes%2Ffood-poisoning%2F20160616%2Fcombos-snacks-recall%3Fsrc%3DRSS_PUBLIC&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8

WHO: Health challenges and needs in South Sudan



From: World Health Organization http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DuF_17x1w36A&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8

Panel: Start Colon Cancer Screening at Age 50

U.S. advisory group says there's not enough evidence to endorse one screening method over another



From: http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.webmd.com%2Fcolorectal-cancer%2Fnews%2F20160615%2Fexpert-panel-reaffirms-need-for-colon-cancer-screen-beginning-at-age-50%3Fsrc%3DRSS_PUBLIC&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8

Increases In 2017 Obamacare Premiums Projected

A Kaiser Family Foundation analysis forecasts rates could jump 10 percent next year in 14 major metro markets.



From: http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.webmd.com%2Fhealth-insurance%2F20160615%2Fstudy-projects-sharper-increases-in-obamacare-premiums-for-2017%3Fsrc%3DRSS_PUBLIC&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8

Symptoms of pregnancy: What happens first

Even before you miss a period, you might suspect — or hope — that you're pregnant. Know the earliest clues.

From: http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mayoclinic.org%2Fhealthy-lifestyle%2Fgetting-pregnant%2Fin-depth%2Fsymptoms-of-pregnancy%2Fart-20043853&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8