Why hearing loss may be on the decline

The problem is still common, and no one knows yet whether the “earbud” generation will pay a price later in life

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/hearing-loss-declines-in-us-adults/

The “thinking” benefits of doodling

Follow me on Twitter @srinipillay

Have you ever found yourself listening to something really boring, then wafting off into your own mind, your hand scribbling random things on a piece of paper in front of you? Whether it’s a conference call or a tedious lecture, being all ears can be a challenge when your hands want to be a part of the moment. Nobody is immune to this either. Even American presidents have found themselves sketching away: 26 of 44 American Presidents doodled, from Theodore Roosevelt, who doodled animals and children, to Ronald Reagan, who doodled cowboys and football players, and John F. Kennedy, who doodled dominoes. Traditionally, we have thought of these doodles as a sign of distraction — an indication that your mind was not where it was supposed to be. Yet, recent research has shown that doodling is not an enemy of attention; it may in fact be a friend.

Doodling and memory

In 2009, psychologist Jackie Andrade asked 40 people to monitor a 2-½ minute dull and rambling voice mail message. Half of the group doodled while they did this (they shaded in a shape), and the other half did not. They were not aware that their memories would be tested after the call. Surprisingly, when both groups were asked to recall details from the call, those that doodled were better at paying attention to the message and recalling the details. They recalled 29% more information!

While there are no definitive reasons for why this occurred, we are learning more about how this can happen. When you’re bored, your fight-or-flight system will do all that it can to rally and stay alert. Doodling (a form of fidgeting) may be a last-ditch attempt at staying awake and attentive. Doodling keeps you from falling asleep, or simply staring blankly when your brain has already turned off. The permission to “free-draw” keeps your brain online just a little while longer.

In addition, paying continuous attention places a strain on the brain, and doodling may be just the break your brain needs to keep attending without losing total interest. A report on the learning styles of medical students (who generally have to absorb large amounts of information) indicated that even they may find doodling helpful, as long as they limit the time they do it. A simple 30-minute doodle helps them remember information, fills in gaps in their thinking, and provides a much-needed reprieve from the loads of information they must wade through.

Doodling for stress relief and improved focus

Spontaneous drawings may also relieve psychological distress, making it easier to attend to things. We like to make sense of our lives by making up coherent stories, but sometimes there are gaps that cannot be filled, no matter how hard we try. Doodles fill these gaps, possibly by activating the brain’s “time travel machine,” allowing it to find lost puzzle pieces of memories, bringing them to the present, and making the picture of our lives more whole again. With this greater sense of self and meaning, we may be able to feel more relaxed and concentrate more.

Although doodles may look like a scribble, random words that make no sense, or a partial face that suddenly becomes something extraterrestrial, they are not quite as random as we might think. Dr. Robert Burns, the former director of the Institute for Human Development at the University of Seattle, uses doodles to diagnose the emotional problems of his patients. He believes that doodles can reveal what is going on in the unconscious. He asserts that, in the same way that EEG leads transmit brain activity to a piece of paper, your hand also does the same. Many other doodle researchers would agree.

It seems then that if you’re struggling to concentrate, find yourself stuck or feeling “incomplete,” a time-limited doodle expedition could be just the thing you are looking for. It will likely activate your brain’s “unfocus” circuits, give your “focus” circuits a break, and allow you to more creatively and tirelessly solve a problem at hand.

The post The “thinking” benefits of doodling appeared first on Harvard Health Blog.

From: Srini Pillay, MD http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/the-thinking-benefits-of-doodling-2016121510844

States accuse generic drugmakers of fixing prices

Prosecutors claim pharmaceutical firms violated antitrust laws by conspiring to artificially inflate drug prices

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/states-accuse-generic-drugmakers-of-fixing-prices/

Once-conjoined twins going to rehab weeks after separation

The twins were separated in a 20-hour procedure at Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx last month

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/formerly-conjoined-twins-jadon-anias-mcdonald-going-to-rehab-weeks-after-separation/

Making Mayo's Recipes: Sweet Potato Gnocchi

From: Mayo Clinic http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0PWzAdXGOw0

2017 Updates on Myeloproliferative Neoplasms

From: Mayo Clinic http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gOtxIy2mRk

Pregnant Women Should Avoid Zika-Hit TX Town: CDC

Advisory follows reports of 5 cases of local infection

From: http://www.webmd.com/news/20161215/pregnant-women-should-avoid-zika-hit-texas-town-cdc?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Fewer Americans Under 70 Have Hearing Loss

It's still common, but noise-safety rules and changing smoking patterns may have helped, researcher says

From: http://www.webmd.com/healthy-aging/news/20161215/fewer-americans-under-70-have-hearing-loss-study-finds?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Many Early Colon Cancers Linked to Inherited Genes

One in 6 diagnosed under 50 has at least one gene mutation that ups risk, study says

From: http://www.webmd.com/colorectal-cancer/news/20161215/many-early-colon-cancers-linked-to-inherited-genes?src=RSS_PUBLIC

EPA will require dental offices to use amalgam separators

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released a final rule Dec. 15 requiring dental practices nationwide to install amalgam separators.

From: http://www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2016-archive/december/epa-will-require-dental-offices-to-use-amalgam-separators

Zika study in U.S. pregnant women tracks birth defect rate

Study finds even some women who did not have symptoms had babies with birth defects

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/zika-study-us-pregnant-women-tracks-birth-defects-microcephaly/

Florida neurosurgeon uses unusual method to rush to stroke patients

Dr. Ritesh Kaushal could take up to 45 minutes to drive to the emergency room and every minute is critical when treating a stroke victim, so he got creative

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/florida-neurosurgeon-stroke-victims-emergency-lights-personal-car-treat-patients-faster/

Woman who had ovary frozen in childhood gives birth

She is believed to be the first woman in the world to have a baby after having ovarian tissue frozen before the onset of puberty

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/woman-frozen-ovary-gives-birth-to-baby/

FDA warns of anesthesia risk in pregnant women, kids

Health officials spell out just how long under anesthesia could pose risks to the developing brain

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/fda-anesthesia-warning-pregnant-women-fetus-children-kids/

Angelina Jolie's Mastectomy and Gene Testing Rise

But, researchers did not find a corresponding increase in breast removal surgeries

From: http://www.webmd.com/breast-cancer/news/20161215/angelina-jolies-mastectomies-tied-to-rise-in-genetic-testing?src=RSS_PUBLIC

CDEL seeks scholarship applicants for Institute for Teaching and Learning

The ADA Council on Dental Education and Licensure is granting tuition scholarships to the Academy for Academic Leadership's Institute for Teaching and Learning — as part of a commitment to support dental education and ADA general dentist members interested in academia.

From: http://www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2016-archive/december/cdel-seeks-scholarship-applicants-for-institute-for-teaching-and-learning

USDA Issues Report on Investments to Grow the Rural Economy

WASHINGTON, Dec. 15, 2016 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today released the final year-end report of the Obama administration’s results creating jobs and investing in rural communities nationwide.

From: http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?contentid=2016/12/0265.xml&contentidonly=true

Holiday health hazards: How to stay safe this season

ER doctors reveal the season's most common illnesses and injuries, and how to side-step the worst of them

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/holidays-health-hazards-illnesses-accidents-how-to-stay-safe/

Drugmakers push profitable, but unproven, opioid solution

Pharmaceutical companies are promoting harder-to-abuse painkillers but proof is scant on whether or not they help reduce overdoses

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/opioid-epidemic-drugmakers-promote-profitable-but-unproven-solution/

"Historic" decision approves 3-parent DNA technique

Experts say the procedure can help prevent a small number of children from inheriting potentially fatal diseases from their mothers

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/uk-regulators-ok-3-parent-dna-technique-in-certain-cases/

Ethics and Integrity at USDA

From: USDA http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=laBR_v_Eqls

Beating Breast Cancer But Still Paying a Price

Small study suggests few long-term survivors receive adequate symptom relief

From: http://www.webmd.com/breast-cancer/news/20161215/beating-breast-cancer-but-still-paying-a-price?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Could a Germ Link Gum Disease and RA?

Study may offer new insight into the cause of the joint disorder

From: http://www.webmd.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/news/20161215/could-a-germ-link-gum-disease-rheumatoid-arthritis?src=RSS_PUBLIC

More Than 1 in 10 Pilots Suffer From Depression

Report highlights need for accurate screening

From: http://www.webmd.com/depression/news/20161215/more-than-1-in-10-pilots-suffer-from-depression-survey-finds?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Women Denied Abortion Endure Mental Health Toll

Finding conflicts with previous research that found abortion caused mental health problems

From: http://www.webmd.com/women/news/20161214/women-denied-an-abortion-endure-mental-health-toll-study?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Holiday Tips for Children With Autism

These tips can help your loved one stay calm amid the holiday chaos.

From: http://www.webmd.com/features/holiday-tips-for-children-with-autism?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Prices Skyrocket on Drugs Widely Used by Seniors

Cost of brand-name meds for chronic conditions rose nearly 130 times faster than inflation rate

From: http://www.webmd.com/healthy-aging/news/20161214/prices-skyrocket-on-drugs-widely-used-by-seniors-report?src=RSS_PUBLIC

The “thinking” benefits of doodling

Follow me on Twitter @srinipillay

Have you ever found yourself listening to something really boring, then wafting off into your own mind, your hand scribbling random things on a piece of paper in front of you? Whether it’s a conference call or a tedious lecture, being all ears can be a challenge when your hands want to be a part of the moment. Nobody is immune to this either. Even American presidents have found themselves sketching away: 26 of 44 American Presidents doodled, from Theodore Roosevelt, who doodled animals and children, to Ronald Reagan, who doodled cowboys and football players, and John F. Kennedy, who doodled dominoes. Traditionally, we have thought of these doodles as a sign of distraction — an indication that your mind was not where it was supposed to be. Yet, recent research has shown that doodling is not an enemy of attention; it may in fact be a friend.

Doodling and memory

In 2009, psychologist Jackie Andrade asked 40 people to monitor a 2-½ minute dull and rambling voice mail message. Half of the group doodled while they did this (they shaded in a shape), and the other half did not. They were not aware that their memories would be tested after the call. Surprisingly, when both groups were asked to recall details from the call, those that doodled were better at paying attention to the message and recalling the details. They recalled 29% more information!

While there are no definitive reasons for why this occurred, we are learning more about how this can happen. When you’re bored, your fight-or-flight system will do all that it can to rally and stay alert. Doodling (a form of fidgeting) may be a last-ditch attempt at staying awake and attentive. Doodling keeps you from falling asleep, or simply staring blankly when your brain has already turned off. The permission to “free-draw” keeps your brain online just a little while longer.

In addition, paying continuous attention places a strain on the brain, and doodling may be just the break your brain needs to keep attending without losing total interest. A report on the learning styles of medical students (who generally have to absorb large amounts of information) indicated that even they may find doodling helpful, as long as they limit the time they do it. A simple 30-minute doodle helps them remember information, fills in gaps in their thinking, and provides a much-needed reprieve from the loads of information they must wade through.

Doodling for stress relief and improved focus

Spontaneous drawings may also relieve psychological distress, making it easier to attend to things. We like to make sense of our lives by making up coherent stories, but sometimes there are gaps that cannot be filled, no matter how hard we try. Doodles fill these gaps, possibly by activating the brain’s “time travel machine,” allowing it to find lost puzzle pieces of memories, bringing them to the present, and making the picture of our lives more whole again. With this greater sense of self and meaning, we may be able to feel more relaxed and concentrate more.

Although doodles may look like a scribble, random words that make no sense, or a partial face that suddenly becomes something extraterrestrial, they are not quite as random as we might think. Dr. Robert Burns, the former director of the Institute for Human Development at the University of Seattle, uses doodles to diagnose the emotional problems of his patients. He believes that doodles can reveal what is going on in the unconscious. He asserts that, in the same way that EEG leads transmit brain activity to a piece of paper, your hand also does the same. Many other doodle researchers would agree.

It seems then that if you’re struggling to concentrate, find yourself stuck or feeling “incomplete,” a time-limited doodle expedition could be just the thing you are looking for. It will likely activate your brain’s “unfocus” circuits, give your “focus” circuits a break, and allow you to more creatively and tirelessly solve a problem at hand.

The post The “thinking” benefits of doodling appeared first on Harvard Health Blog.

From: Srini Pillay, MD http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/the-thinking-benefits-of-doodling-2016121510844

Health Policy Institute reports dentists' earnings remain stable

After six full years of post-Great Recession data, it's safe to say that dentist earnings are not bouncing back, according to the ADA Health Policy Institute.

From: http://www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2016-archive/december/health-policy-institute-reports-dentists-earnings-remain-stable

Obama Administration Takes Steps to Protect Watershed of the Boundary Waters Canoe Wilderness Area

WASHINGTON, Dec. 15, 2016 – The U.S. Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture today announced important steps to protect the watershed of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW), a spectacular area in northeastern Minnesota comprised of more than a million acres of lakes and forests.

From: http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?contentid=2016/12/0264.xml&contentidonly=true

Anesthesia Warning for Pregnant Women, Small Kids

A long time under or repeated episodes of sedation may pose risk to developing brains, agency says

From: http://www.webmd.com/baby/news/20161214/fda-issues-anesthesia-warning-for-pregnant-women-kids-under-3?src=RSS_PUBLIC

How much artificial trans fat is still in our food?

I felt guilty. I looked like any other health-conscious customer in the grocery store, perusing Nutrition Facts labels. But I was really there to hunt down a dangerous ingredient on store shelves called artificial trans fat. It’s the worst type of fat in our food supply — so bad, in fact, that the FDA is essentially banning it in processed food starting in 2018.

But that’s a long way off. How much artificial trans fat is on store shelves today?

The fuss about the fat

Artificial trans fats come from partially hydrogenated oils, which are made by a process using hydrogen gas to turn liquid vegetable oils into solids. The fats extend a food’s shelf life and improve flavor and texture. That’s made them a mainstay for decades in processed foods like margarines, crackers, cookies, corn chips, and pastries.

We didn’t know the fats were bad for us until the 1970s, when studies began linking them to heart disease. Today we know that trans fats increase “bad” LDL cholesterol, decrease “good” HDL cholesterol, raise the risk of blood clots, and boost inflammation — all of which increase the risk of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.

But it wasn’t until 2006 that the FDA required food makers to start listing trans fats on Nutrition Facts labels.

The hidden fat

Listing the amount of trans fats on a label doesn’t always make them visible, however. “The FDA doesn’t require trans fat to be listed until there’s a half gram or more per serving, so the label may show zero grams of trans fat, even if a serving contains almost half a gram,” says Kathy McManus, director of the Department of Nutrition at Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women’s Hospital.

The trick to finding trans fats: read the ingredient lists on Nutrition Facts labels. If partially hydrogenated oil is among the ingredients, you’ll know the food contains trans fat, even if the label states that a serving has zero grams of trans fat.

My mission

In stealth mode, I picked up package after package. Sure enough, most nutrition labels listed zero grams of trans fat, even when partially hydrogenated oils were clearly listed in the ingredients. And I found many kinds partially hydrogenated oils — soybean, coconut, cottonseed, corn, and canola.

There were the usual foods with trans fat: sugary breakfast cereals, refrigerated dough for biscuits and pastries, cake and brownie mixes, soft-baked chocolate cookies, ready-to-use frosting, granola bars, microwave popcorn, coffee creamer, vegetable shortening, cereals, soup, salad dressing, dips, sauce mixes, peanut butter, taco shells, cocoa mix, and even low-fat ice cream.

But some trans-fatty foods surprised me: fancy frozen fish fillets (potato-crusted cod), coffee drink mixes (double mocha cappuccino), and seasoned Italian breadcrumbs (although I should have expected that, since it’s a bread product).

I was also surprised by what I didn’t find. There weren’t as many products with partially hydrogenated oils as I expected. In some cases, I had to look at dozens of types of products to find partially hydrogenated oils. In other cases, I couldn’t find any partially hydrogenated oils where I knew they once existed (in canned soup, for example).

That ousting of oils is the result of food makers addressing consumer demand to remove trans fats, or getting on board with the FDA program early, since the end for trans fats in processed foods is coming.

Avoiding trans fats

Partially hydrogenated oils won’t go away until the middle of 2018, so we still have to be vigilant about consuming them. They’re out there, although you’re more likely to spot them in ingredient lists rather than trans fat listings. And even if the product contains less than half a gram of trans fat, it’s still bad for you. “No amount of trans fat is acceptable, from a health standpoint,” says McManus. And it’s worse, she points out, if you have a little bit of trans fat in a lot of products; it adds up.

And life without trans fat is healthier. Based on FDA estimates, researchers at the CDC report it is possible that eliminating trans fats in the diet may prevent as many as 10,000 to 20,000 heart attacks and 3,000 to 7,000 deaths from heart disease each year.

So by all means, avoid foods with partially hydrogenated oils. Go on your own fact-finding mission in the grocery store, read those nutrition labels, and let us know what you find; no stealth mode required.

The post How much artificial trans fat is still in our food? appeared first on Harvard Health Blog.

From: Heidi Godman http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/how-much-artificial-trans-fat-is-still-in-our-food-2016121410859

Florida neurosurgeon's fast moves to help stroke victims

On average, a stroke kills one American every four minutes. The odds of survival improve when emergency treatment begins quickly. That's because almost two million brain cells die every minute during a stroke. David Begnaud met one neurosurgeon in Florida who found a new way to rush to the emergency room to help his patients.

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/florida-neurosurgeons-fast-moves-to-help-stroke-victims/

What are #MyPlateMyWins?

From: USDA http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iIu4YJDstVU

Most Want Some Parts of Obamacare to Stay, Survey Finds

Even though the Affordable Care Act is unpopular, a new WebMD/Medscape survey finds broad support for keeping parts of it intact.

From: http://www.webmd.com/health-insurance/20161215/survey-most-want-some-parts-of-obamacare-to-stay?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Dr Halfdan T. Mahler, WHO’s third Director-General, dies at 93

WHO is saddened by the death of Dr Halfdan T. Mahler on XX December 2016. Dr Mahler served as Director-General of WHO from 1973-1988.

From: http://www.who.int/entity/mediacentre/news/statements/2016/dr-halfdan-mahler/en/index.html

How much artificial trans fat is still in our food?

I felt guilty. I looked like any other health-conscious customer in the grocery store, perusing Nutrition Facts labels. But I was really there to hunt down a dangerous ingredient on store shelves called artificial trans fat. It’s the worst type of fat in our food supply — so bad, in fact, that the FDA is essentially banning it in processed food starting in 2018.

But that’s a long way off. How much artificial trans fat is on store shelves today?

The fuss about the fat

Artificial trans fats come from partially hydrogenated oils, which are made by a process using hydrogen gas to turn liquid vegetable oils into solids. The fats extend a food’s shelf life and improve flavor and texture. That’s made them a mainstay for decades in processed foods like margarines, crackers, cookies, corn chips, and pastries.

We didn’t know the fats were bad for us until the 1970s, when studies began linking them to heart disease. Today we know that trans fats increase “bad” LDL cholesterol, decrease “good” HDL cholesterol, raise the risk of blood clots, and boost inflammation — all of which increase the risk of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.

But it wasn’t until 2006 that the FDA required food makers to start listing trans fats on Nutrition Facts labels.

The hidden fat

Listing the amount of trans fats on a label doesn’t always make them visible, however. “The FDA doesn’t require trans fat to be listed until there’s a half gram or more per serving, so the label may show zero grams of trans fat, even if a serving contains almost half a gram,” says Kathy McManus, director of the Department of Nutrition at Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women’s Hospital.

The trick to finding trans fats: read the ingredient lists on Nutrition Facts labels. If partially hydrogenated oil is among the ingredients, you’ll know the food contains trans fat, even if the label states that a serving has zero grams of trans fat.

My mission

In stealth mode, I picked up package after package. Sure enough, most nutrition labels listed zero grams of trans fat, even when partially hydrogenated oils were clearly listed in the ingredients. And I found many kinds partially hydrogenated oils — soybean, coconut, cottonseed, corn, and canola.

There were the usual foods with trans fat: sugary breakfast cereals, refrigerated dough for biscuits and pastries, cake and brownie mixes, soft-baked chocolate cookies, ready-to-use frosting, granola bars, microwave popcorn, coffee creamer, vegetable shortening, cereals, soup, salad dressing, dips, sauce mixes, peanut butter, taco shells, cocoa mix, and even low-fat ice cream.

But some trans-fatty foods surprised me: fancy frozen fish fillets (potato-crusted cod), coffee drink mixes (double mocha cappuccino), and seasoned Italian breadcrumbs (although I should have expected that, since it’s a bread product).

I was also surprised by what I didn’t find. There weren’t as many products with partially hydrogenated oils as I expected. In some cases, I had to look at dozens of types of products to find partially hydrogenated oils. In other cases, I couldn’t find any partially hydrogenated oils where I knew they once existed (in canned soup, for example).

That ousting of oils is the result of food makers addressing consumer demand to remove trans fats, or getting on board with the FDA program early, since the end for trans fats in processed foods is coming.

Avoiding trans fats

Partially hydrogenated oils won’t go away until the middle of 2018, so we still have to be vigilant about consuming them. They’re out there, although you’re more likely to spot them in ingredient lists rather than trans fat listings. And even if the product contains less than half a gram of trans fat, it’s still bad for you. “No amount of trans fat is acceptable, from a health standpoint,” says McManus. And it’s worse, she points out, if you have a little bit of trans fat in a lot of products; it adds up.

And life without trans fat is healthier. Based on FDA estimates, researchers at the CDC report it is possible that eliminating trans fats in the diet may prevent as many as 10,000 to 20,000 heart attacks and 3,000 to 7,000 deaths from heart disease each year.

So by all means, avoid foods with partially hydrogenated oils. Go on your own fact-finding mission in the grocery store, read those nutrition labels, and let us know what you find; no stealth mode required.

The post How much artificial trans fat is still in our food? appeared first on Harvard Health Blog.

From: Heidi Godman http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/how-much-artificial-trans-fat-is-still-in-our-food-2016121410859