10/12/16

Wednesday, October 12, 2016

New study questions value of mammograms for breast cancer screening

Study concludes that a woman is more likely to be diagnosed with a small tumor that is not destined to grow than she is to have a true problem spotted early

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/new-study-questions-value-of-mammograms-for-breast-cancer-screening/

Feeling lonely? So are a lot of other people, survey finds

Loneliness can often be tackled with certain lifestyle changes that might be easier than you think

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/many-americans-are-lonely-survey-finds/

Zika Can Damage Fetal Brain Late in Pregnancy

Finding challenges thinking that fetus is only in danger during first trimester

From: http://www.webmd.com/news/20161012/zika-virus-can-damage-fetal-brain-late-in-pregnancy-study?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Ohio father tells son on camera his mom died of drug overdose

Controversial video of a father telling his son about his mother's overdose death has gone viral and is receiving both heavy criticism and praise

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/ohio-father-tells-son-on-camera-his-mom-died-of-a-drug-overdose/

DEA halts plan to ban natural opioid alternative kratom

Advocates say kratom can be used as a nonaddictive painkiller or can help wean people off other, addictive pain medications

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/dea-no-ban-natural-opioid-alternative-kratom/

Dr. Vandana Bhide discusses Zika concerns post Hurricane Matthew

From: Mayo Clinic http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqANGZz767Q

Heart Rate Wristband Monitors Often Inaccurate

In test of 4 models, 2 provided 'suboptimal' readings during exercise; none as accurate as chest strap

From: http://www.webmd.com/heart/news/20161012/fitbit-other-heart-rate-wristbands-often-inaccurate-study?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Who's more stressed by parenting -- moms or dads?

With parenting, one spouse tends to carry the load of chores and child care while the other spends more play time with kids

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/whos-more-stressed-by-parenting-children-moms-or-dads/

Calcium supplements may not be heart healthy

Calcium from foods does not appear to pose a heart risk, Johns Hopkins researcher suggests

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/calcium-supplements-may-not-be-heart-healthy/

Antidepressants in Pregnancy and Kids' Speech

Study shows a link but can't prove cause and effect, and experts stress that overall risk is small

From: http://www.webmd.com/depression/news/20161012/mom-to-bes-antidepressant-use-may-be-tied-to-speech-issues-in-child?src=RSS_PUBLIC

How Tiny Are Benefits From Many Tests And Pills?

A Maryland physician teams up with an environmental scientist to help patients better understand the risks and benefits of medical tests and treatments.

From: http://www.webmd.com/health-insurance/20161012/how-tiny-are-benefits-from-many-tests-and-pills-researchers-paint-a-picture?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Freeze Therapy: Breast Cancer Surgery Alternative?

Cryoablation looks promising for small tumors, doctors say

From: http://www.webmd.com/breast-cancer/news/20161011/freeze-therapy-an-alternative-to-breast-cancer-surgery?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Calcium Supplements May Not Be Heart Healthy

Another study shows link to poorer cardiovascular health from the pills, but can't prove cause-and-effect

From: http://www.webmd.com/osteoporosis/news/20161011/calcium-supplements-may-not-be-heart-healthy?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Decriminalize illicit drugs, say 2 human rights groups

A new report argues that the decades-long “war on drugs” has failed, with rates of drug abuse still high

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/decriminalize-illicit-drugs-say-aclu-human-rights-watch/

St. Jude warns of battery defects in some heart devices

Two deaths have been linked to the problem and 10 more patients fainted because the devices stopped working

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/st-jude-warns-of-battery-defects-in-some-heart-devices/

WHO recommends weighty taxes on soda, sugary drinks

World health leaders say nearly 40 percent of people globally are overweight and sugary drink taxes would help tackle the problem

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/who-world-health-organization-recommends-taxes-on-sugary-drinks-soda-to-fight-obesity-diabetes/

Battery Problems in St. Jude Medical Defibrillators

From: http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/atrial-fibrillation/news/20161012/defibrillator-battery-problems?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Pediatric Epilepsy Syndromes – Mayo Clinic

From: Mayo Clinic http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQLmGlJXDX8

Blue Bell Cookie Dough Ice Cream Recalled

From: http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/food-poisoning/news/20161012/blue-bell-cookie-dough-ice-cream-recall?src=RSS_PUBLIC

More Evidence Menopause 'Brain Fog' Is Real

Study found memory skills tend to drop as estrogen levels dip, at ages 45 to 55

From: http://www.webmd.com/menopause/news/20161012/more-evidence-menopause-brain-fog-is-real?src=RSS_PUBLIC

NIFA invests $1.4 million in Health and Safety Education for Rural Communities

WASHINGTON, Oct. 12, 2016 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) today announced $1.4 million in grants to enhance the quality of life for citizens in rural areas through the Rural Health and Safety Education competitive (RHSE) grants program.

From: http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?contentid=2016/10/0221.xml&contentidonly=true

6 Symptoms You Shouldn't Ignore

Some medical symptoms are warnings that you need immediate care. WebMD describes how to recognize these six.

From: http://www.webmd.com/women/features/serious-symptoms?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Is there a way to lower the cost of an EpiPen?

When a person with a life-threatening allergy is exposed to his or her “kryptonite” (be it peanuts, bee stings, latex, or something else) the result is an intense immune response called anaphylaxis. The throat tightens, the tongue swells, blood pressure can crash, and it can become hard, maybe even impossible, to breathe. Rapid treatment is critical. “If a reaction is that severe, epinephrine basically saves a person’s life until she or he can get definitive healthcare,” says Dr. Susan Farrell, emergency room physician and assistant professor at Harvard Medical School.

Epinephrine is cheap — about $5 per milligram. The problem is that for people at risk for anaphylaxis, epinephrine needs to be handy and given quickly when an allergy exposure occurs. That’s the “beauty” of the EpiPen. The device makes it easy to keep an emergency dose available and simple to administer correctly. The dose delivered by the adult EpiPen is an inexpensive 0.3 mg. The medication is not costly; it’s the injector that’s expensive. But the high cost of EpiPens is not news. For a person with a high deductible insurance plan (or no health insurance at all), an EpiPen Two-Pak costs $622.09 at Walgreens. It is not much cheaper at other pharmacies and can still cost as much as $400, even with coupons and insurance combined.

Why are EpiPens so expensive?

A lack of competition is one of the reasons that Mylan, the company that makes EpiPens, can continue to increase the price. A similar product called Auvi-Q was pulled off the market due to concerns that the device did not deliver the right dose of medicine, according to Dr. Ana Broyles, allergist and immunologist at Boston Children’s Hospital. Other alternatives have not been that much more successful. Adrenaclick, for example, is significantly cheaper than the EpiPen ($188 at Walmart’s pharmacy) but Dr. Broyles finds it harder to use. It is rarely prescribed. Other companies have been trying to develop generic (and thus cheaper) versions of the EpiPen, but none have received FDA approval yet.

A proposed solution that won’t actually bring down the cost — and has the potential to influence “independent” recommendations

Most people who need this device don’t buy just one. They have them all over the place — the car, the office or school, a pocket or a purse. That’s why it hit consumers especially hard when they were forced to pay upwards of $500 for two EpiPens. Surprisingly, it was Mylan that proposed a solution to the soaring cost. It recently asked the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) to place the EpiPen on its list of preventive medical services. That would make it completely covered by all insurances, including the Affordable Care Act and private insurance companies. There would be no co-pay, which sounds great.

But the mission of the USPSTF is to evaluate strategies to maintain health and prevent Epinephrine is not preventive. It is not something you inject before you’ve been exposed to an allergen. It’s not something you take regularly to prevent a reaction. It’s a medication you inject after you’ve had a reaction. So, should the USPSTF make recommendations on EpiPens at all? Just yesterday, an opinion piece in the Annals of Internal Medicine argues that EpiPens are not only not a preventive service but in order for the USPSTF to remain completely unbiased and evidence-based, its recommendations should not determine insurance coverage at all.

Even if EpiPens did land on the list of preventive medical services, it probably wouldn’t benefit consumers in the long run. Mylan could continue to raise prices with little backlash from the public and would have no incentive to keep prices competitive or reasonable. While you wouldn’t be paying for your EpiPen out of pocket, your employer or your insurance company would. And those costs could simply circle back to you in the form of increased premiums or other lost benefits.

With so many children and adults at risk for severe allergic reactions, this discussion is important. Developing generic versions of the same medication and an equivalent delivery device creates competition. Those with allergies need better options, including improved access at lower cost — and transparency.

The post Is there a way to lower the cost of an EpiPen? appeared first on Harvard Health Blog.

From: Celia Smoak Spell http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/way-lower-cost-epipens-2016101210460

Health and Nutrition News, Latest Headlines Source