11/15/16

Tuesday, November 15, 2016

Memory loss: 7 tips to improve your memory

From: http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/healthy-aging/in-depth/memory-loss/art-20046518

Weight loss: Strategies for success

From: http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/weight-loss/in-depth/weight-loss/art-20047752

Memory loss: 7 tips to improve your memory

From: http://www.mayoclinic.com/healthy-lifestyle/healthy-aging/in-depth/memory-loss/art-20046518

Weight loss: Strategies for success

From: http://www.mayoclinic.com/healthy-lifestyle/weight-loss/in-depth/weight-loss/art-20047752

Could common heartburn drugs increase stroke risk?

Higher doses of certain popular heartburn drugs may be of most concern, suggests new research

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/nexium-prevacid-prilosec-common-heartburn-drugs-stroke-risk/

Denver approves first-in-the-nation law allowing pot use in bars, restaurants

Denver voters weighed in on Proposition 300 as eight other states legalized marijuana for medical or recreational purposes last week

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/denver-approves-first-in-the-nation-law-allowing-pot-use-in-bars-restaurants/

Prices of Generic Heart Failure Drugs Vary Widely

Patients can spend from $12 to $400 a month to fill common prescriptions, study reveals

From: http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/news/20161115/prices-of-generic-heart-failure-drugs-vary-widely?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Years after twin's death, family learns his legacy

“When we had him with us, we didn’t know the impact he was about to have. He’s an important baby.”

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/years-after-twin-newborns-death-family-learns-his-legacy/

Tiny twin's family makes inspiring gift

When Sarah Gray and her family faced the heartbreaking prospect of losing one of their newborn twin boys, they decided to take an unusual step to help others. CBS News' Weijia Jiang reports.

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/tiny-twins-family-makes-inspiring-gift/

Early bird, night owl? Expert says there are 4 types of sleepers

Dr. Michael Breus says people need to tailor their morning routines to their circadian rhythms and sleep drive

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/early-bird-night-owl-4-types-of-sleepers-dr-michael-breus/

How to Get Better Sleep

WebMD shares eight hidden causes of sleep troubles.

From: http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/features/why-cant-i-sleep?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Exercise Good During, After Cancer Treatment

Studies show better physical function, quality of life for those who did strength training, aerobic activity

From: http://www.webmd.com/breast-cancer/news/20161115/exercise-good-for-cancer-patients-during-after-treatment?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Lower Cholesterol From a Twice-a-Year Shot?

Injectable drugs could provide major advance in heart-disease prevention, researchers say

From: http://www.webmd.com/cholesterol-management/news/20161115/coming-soon-lower-cholesterol-from-a-twice-a-year-shot?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Ulcerative Colitis: Building Strong Relationships

Ulcerative colitis can pose challenges to dating, sex, and even friendships. These strategies can help you build strong and satisfying relationships.

From: http://www.webmd.com/ibd-crohns-disease/ulcerative-colitis/features/uc-relationships?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Quitting smoking: 10 ways to resist tobacco cravings

From: http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/quit-smoking/in-depth/nicotine-craving/art-20045454

Weight loss: Strategies for success

From: http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/weight-loss/in-depth/weight-loss/art-20047752

Memory loss: 7 tips to improve your memory

From: http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/healthy-aging/in-depth/memory-loss/art-20046518

Tips to help you save for retirement

CBS MoneyWatch's Jill Schlesinger has budgeting tips for Americans saving before retirement.

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/tips-to-help-you-save-for-retirement/

Migraine and Stroke Risk Linked Again

Researchers suggest doctors consider severe headaches a potential risk factor for brain attack

From: http://www.webmd.com/migraines-headaches/news/20161115/migraine-and-stroke-risk-linked-again?src=RSS_PUBLIC

USDA Awards Funds for Fiscal Year 2017 Market Development Programs

WASHINGTON, Nov. 15, 2016 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) is awarding $200 million to more than 70 U.S. agricultural organizations to help expand export markets for U.S. farm and food products through the Market Access Program (MAP) and the Foreign Market Development (FMD) Program.

From: http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?contentid=2016/11/0242.xml&contentidonly=true

Weight loss: Strategies for success

From: http://www.mayoclinic.com/healthy-lifestyle/weight-loss/in-depth/weight-loss/art-20047752

Memory loss: 7 tips to improve your memory

From: http://www.mayoclinic.com/healthy-lifestyle/healthy-aging/in-depth/memory-loss/art-20046518

Quitting smoking: 10 ways to resist tobacco cravings

From: http://www.mayoclinic.com/healthy-lifestyle/quit-smoking/in-depth/nicotine-craving/art-20045454

Pregnancy Blood Sugar and Baby's Heart Defect Risk

Study strengthens tie between gestational diabetes and these congenital anomalies

From: http://www.webmd.com/baby/news/20161114/tracking-blood-sugar-in-pregnancy-might-lower-heart-defect-risk-for-baby?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Trouble Sleeping Tied to Higher Risk for AFib

Atrial fibrillation can trigger strokes, study authors note

From: http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/atrial-fibrillation/news/20161114/trouble-sleeping-tied-to-higher-risk-for-irregular-heartbeat?src=RSS_PUBLIC

What the germs on your smartphone say about you

Are you eating a healthy diet, taking medications, using hair dye or cosmetics? Your smartphone germs may reveal all your secrets

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/what-do-the-germs-on-your-smartphone-say-about-you/

Brain implant helps ALS patient "speak"

Brain implant technology is a step toward creating implanted neuro-prosthetics for people with paralysis, expert says

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/brain-implant-helps-als-patient-speak/

Average 30-year mortgage rates rise to 4%, and other MoneyWatch headlines

Trump bond-market rout sends mortgage rates higher; ex-Goldman Sachs banker in line for Treasury Secretary; and Chinese state-media warn against tough trade talk. These headlines and more from CBS MoneyWatch.

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/average-30-year-mortgage-rates-rise-to-4-and-other-moneywatch-headlines/

Depression rising among teens – especially this group

About 1 in 11 American teens and young adults experiences a major depressive disorder every year

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/depression-rising-among-teens-girls/

Guidelines May Have Helped Curb ADHD Diagnoses

Still, too few with disorder receive behavior therapy, child psychologist says

From: http://www.webmd.com/add-adhd/news/20161115/guidelines-may-have-helped-curb-adhd-diagnoses-in-preschoolers?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Mosquitoes Can Deliver Virus Double Whammy

And like Zika, dengue and chikungunya can also cause neurological problems, study found

From: http://www.webmd.com/news/20161114/mosquitoes-can-deliver-zikachikungunya-double-whammy?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Mayo Clinic Minute: Best way to get your fruits

From: Mayo Clinic http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxZzHxaaAw4

Kidney Failure Disorder Glomerulonephritis (GN) Explained

From: Mayo Clinic http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IiyO7436oQU

Parents: How smart are you about antibiotics?

Follow me on Twitter @drClaire

It’s National Get Smart about Antibiotics week, an annual effort by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to help make sure that we use antibiotics wisely.

Out of all the visits children make to health care providers, 1 in 5 result in a prescription for antibiotics. That’s about 50 million prescriptions a year. But here’s the worrisome part: 10 million of those prescriptions are for respiratory illnesses that antibiotics aren’t likely to help. Basically, 1 in 5 of those 50 million prescriptions shouldn’t have been written in the first place.

This is a real problem. Antibiotics can be lifesaving and should absolutely be used when they are needed — but they are not without risks and problems. They can cause side effects, such as vomiting, diarrhea or allergic reactions. By killing off bacteria that grow naturally in the body, they can lead to other health problems. Also, the more we use antibiotics, the more bacteria figure out how to outsmart them, leading to antibiotic resistance. If we want our antibiotics to work at all, we are going to have to use them less.

Now, obviously patients don’t write prescriptions. Ultimately, the medical profession is responsible for this problem. But patients and families can make a difference. It helps when families don’t ask for or expect a prescription — and it helps when families ask questions anytime an antibiotic is prescribed.

Take this quick quiz to check your antibiotic smarts

Question: (True or false) Any time the doctor says your child has an ear infection, you should leave the office with a prescription for antibiotics.

Answer: False. Turns out that most ear infections get better without antibiotics. In some circumstances, such as in young infants, severe infections, or children with immune system problems, antibiotics are necessary. But for most healthy children, all that is really needed is some acetaminophen or ibuprofen for pain, some time, and some TLC.

Question: Which of the following set of symptoms means your child has sinusitis?

A. A cough for a week, with fever at the beginning and not since

B. Green nasal discharge and cough for four days, fever to 101

C. Both of the above

D. None of the above

Answer: D. The common cold, caused by a virus, can give you cough, fever, and green nasal discharge — and antibiotics are not only unnecessary, they won’t do a thing. Antibiotics should only be considered if:

There is nasal congestion and cough, preferably with fever, that has lasted for 10 days or more (it still may be a cold, your doctor needs to examine and be sure)
There is new fever, congestion, and cough after a cold seemed to be getting better
There is high fever (103 F or more) and severe congestion and cough for three days

Question: Your child has a bad sore throat and fever. You take your child to the doctor, who says that the throat is very red and has pus, but doesn’t find anything else that worries her. What should happen?

A. You should get antibiotics, because pus means there must be a bacteria

B. You should get a strep test and antibiotics

C. You should get a strep test, but no antibiotics unless the rapid strep test or culture comes back positive.

Answer: C. Turns out that pus doesn’t necessarily mean there are bacteria. Some of the nastiest throat infections are caused by viruses — which, again, antibiotics don’t treat.

Question: (True or False) Since sometimes colds can lead to ear infections or sinusitis or pneumonia, it’s a good idea to take an antibiotic to prevent that from happening.

Answer: False. While it’s really understandable to want to “be on the safe side” and ward off a bacterial infection, most colds don’t lead to bacterial infections — and if you are in touch with your doctor, you should be able to pick up the signs of anything that needs to be treated by antibiotics.

To learn more about smart use of antibiotics, check out these resources from the CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics.

The post Parents: How smart are you about antibiotics? appeared first on Harvard Health Blog.

From: Claire McCarthy, MD http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/parents-how-smart-are-you-about-antibiotics-2016111510678