02/03/17

Friday, February 3, 2017

Price increases for drug used to treat heroin overdoses

Cities across the country are fighting to stem the tide of opioid overdoses, but one tool is becoming much harder to afford. The cost of life-saving drug Narcan, used on patients who have overdosed, has recently doubled. Anna Werner reports.

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/price-increases-for-drug-used-to-treat-heroin-overdoses/

Narcan price spike felt by emergency responders

Several cities, including Indianapolis, say they are spending more taxpayer dollars on the life-saving drug because the price has doubled

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/narcan-price-spike-felt-by-emergency-responders/

Sweatcoin app pays you to exercise

An iPhone app called Sweatcoin not only tracks your steps, it pays you in virtual currency for the miles you log. The "coins" can then be exchanged for real products. CBS News' Teri Okita reports.

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/sweatcoin-app-pays-you-to-exercise/

Sweatcoin app makes exercise pay off – literally

The more steps you take, the more virtual currency you earn with this with this motivational fitness app

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/sweatcoin-app-makes-exercise-pay/

Why Certain Noises Really Irritate Some People

'Misophonia' is a disorder that can make a person's brain go into overdrive, researchers report

From: http://www.webmd.com/brain/news/20170203/why-certain-noises-really-irritate-some-people?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Give Kids A Smile’s 15th anniversary brings bright grins

The children receiving dental treatment Friday did not care that it was Give Kids A Smile's 15th anniversary or that leaders of the ADA, ADA Foundation, officials and sponsors commemorated the occasion by ringing the opening bell at the Nasdaq stock market that morning in Times Square.

From: http://www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2017-archive/february/give-kids-a-smiles-15th-anniversary-rings-in-bright-grins

Why certain noises really drive people nuts

Brain scans show an unusually strong reaction to "trigger sounds" in people with a condition called misophonia, researchers say

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/misophonia-certain-noises-really-drive-people-nuts/

Early cancer diagnosis saves lives, cuts treatment costs

New guidance from WHO, launched ahead of World Cancer Day (4 February), aims to improve the chances of survival for people living with cancer by ensuring that health services can focus on diagnosing and treating the disease earlier.

From: http://www.who.int/entity/mediacentre/news/releases/2017/early-cancer-costs/en/index.html

VCU School of Dentistry packs the house for GKAS

The VCU School of Dentistry hosted its annual Give Kids A Smile Event Feb. 3 with more than 100 dental students, dental residents, faculty members, hygiene students and staff working together to provide a wide range of services to some 200 area children.

From: http://www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2017-archive/february/vcu-school-of-dentistry-packs-the-house-for-gkas

Six hundred children in Louisville screened on Give Kids A Smile Day

University of Louisville dental students joined the Give Kids A Smile Day effort Feb. 3 by screening 600 public school children for dental decay and notifying parents and guardians of the findings, according to a news release from the university.

From: http://www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2017-archive/february/600-children-in-louisville-screened-on-give-kids-a-smile-day

The reason synthetic marijuana isn't safe

A closer look at the side effects of the compounds that make synthetic marijuana like K2, Spice

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/why-synthetic-marijuana-k2-spice-weed-isnt-safe/

Obese Couples May Take Longer to Conceive

His weight appears to affect pregnancy success, too, study finds

From: http://www.webmd.com/parenting/baby/news/20170203/obese-couples-may-take-longer-to-conceive?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Millions Have Condition That Can Cause Infertility

Pelvic inflammatory disease often caused by sexually transmitted infections, CDC experts say

From: http://www.webmd.com/sexual-conditions/news/20170203/25-million-us-women-have-condition-that-can-cause-infertility?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Just the Facts — February 6, 2017

General dental practices were about as likely as specialty practices to have patients covered by public assistance in 2015.

From: http://www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2017-archive/february/just-the-facts-february-6

ADA leaders attend Army All-American Bowl

A group of ADA and military leaders attend the Army All-American Bowl in San Antonio and toured the Brooke Army Medical Center.

From: http://www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2017-archive/february/ada-leaders-attend-army-all-american-bowl

Patients try psychedelic drug therapy for mental health

Some doctors are testing the use of drugs like magic mushrooms, LSD and MDMA to help with a number of serious conditions

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/psychedelic-therapy-tried-by-patients-for-mental-health-psychological-conditions/

Can Pregnancy Harm Your Heart?

Links uncovered between preterm birth, multiple children and future cardiac problems

From: http://www.webmd.com/baby/news/20170202/can-pregnancy-harm-your-heart?src=RSS_PUBLIC

U.S. High School Kids Abandoning Sweetened Sodas

CDC study finds daily intake of these and other sugary drinks fell to just 20 percent by 2015

From: http://www.webmd.com/parenting/news/20170202/us-high-school-kids-abandoning-sweetened-sodas?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Breast Density May Be Top Indicator of Cancer Risk

Study suggests it outweighs obesity and family history, but oncologists say more research is needed

From: http://www.webmd.com/breast-cancer/news/20170202/breast-density-may-be-leading-indicator-of-cancer-risk?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Bone and joint problems associated with diabetes

From: http://www.mayoclinic.com/diseases-conditions/diabetes/in-depth/diabetes/art-20049314

Germs: Understand and protect against bacteria, viruses and infection

From: http://www.mayoclinic.com/diseases-conditions/infectious-diseases/in-depth/germs/art-20045289

Healthy breakfast: Quick, flexible options

From: http://www.mayoclinic.com/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/food-and-nutrition/art-20048294

When a nasty stomach virus strikes…

There has been a nasty stomach bug going around this winter.

Just before Christmas, our hospital sent out an email alerting staff to an “increase in gastrointestinal illness consistent with Norovirus in the staff and in the community,” followed by reminders of how to avoid getting (or spreading) it.

Norovirus is one of several viruses that can cause the “stomach flu.” When this alert came, I did not want to have a Norovirus outbreak in our home for the holidays. “Surely, we can do more to stay safe!” I thought.

How the virus spreads…and why it spreads so easily

Food and water are very common ways to pick up the virus. Imagine: A cook who doesn’t get paid sick leave gets a stomach bug. They come back to work as soon as they can stand up, because they have little choice. They’re in a hurry to prepare your salad, and don’t wash their hands properly, and you’re doomed. Infected people can be contagious from a day before symptoms even start, through up to two weeks after they feel better. The general recommendation is to refrain from preparing food and drink for others for at least two days after symptoms go away.
Contaminated items: The virus is very hardy and can survive on surfaces for a few days. Think doorknobs, computer keyboards, subway seats and handles, and shopping carts. You touch these surfaces, then put a piece of gum in your mouth, touch the straw in your drink, or nibble your nails, and you have effectively transmitted the virus right into your body. It only takes 18 to 100 microscopic virus particles to infect someone.
When people vomit, viral particles can travel through the air, so you can inhale it, too. I would imagine that toilets with a more violent flushing mechanism (think: airplane lavatory) would also send viral particles flying. So, when you’re caring for your heaving child, or wondering why that guy keeps going to the airplane bathroom, know that if you can smell it, you can likely inhale it.

The long and short of avoiding the misery of Norovirus? Handwashing

Handwashing is one of the only things you can do to protect yourself and others. But to be effective, you have to wash your hands the right way. So, what is the right way to wash your hands? The CDC has an instructional video, but I’ll just tell you:

1. Wet your hands.

2. Lather with soap and scrub for at least thirty seconds. Helpful hint here: sing a little song. The classic is “Happy birthday,” but I think a modified “Row, row, row your boat” could work as well (and I made this up):

“Wash, wash, wash the germs,
Gently down the drain
Thoroughly, thoroughly, thoroughly, thoroughly,
This is such a pain.”

3. Now rinse. Shut the faucet off with the back of your hand, if it doesn’t shut off automatically.

4. Dry, but whatever you do, do not touch the door handle when you leave the bathroom. Use a paper towel, or at the very least, your sleeve. (Remember, contaminated surfaces…)

Are hand sanitizers helpful? Well, if you really want to use alcohol-based hand sanitizers, you can, but evidence suggests they’re ineffective when used alone. A recent research review looked at multiple studies and concluded that alcohol-based hand sanitizers cannot substitute for handwashing, but you can certainly use them in addition. (5,7,8)

Put on your haz-mat suit and grab the bleach

The Christmas outbreak raged on. The bug hit my husband’s workplace, then mine, and then our kids’ schools. Despite our best efforts, we all got it: My brother’s kids, then my brother and his wife, then Nana and Grandma, and then I got it Christmas Eve. There was a lot of cleaning and laundry going on.

So, how do you clean and wash, to avoid further spreading of this nasty virus?

For contaminated surfaces, first soak any pools and clear any chunks with thick paper towels and dispose in a sealed garbage bag. This will minimize the risk of you or others breathing in viral particles when cleaning.
Wash with a chlorine bleach solution of at least 5 tablespoons of household bleach per gallon of water for things that go into people’s mouths. (utensils, teething toys, etc.) For heavily contaminated surfaces, use 1½ cups of household bleach per gallon of water. Use a new or recently opened bottle of bleach; the longer it’s opened, the less effective it is.
Don’t want to bleach your new microfiber couch? There is a list of other disinfectants registered as effective against Norovirus by the Environmental Protection Agency. (6) Many of these are hospital-grade and/or staining, and may not be ideal for your couch, either. Steam-cleaning can be effective, provided that the cleaner gets to at least 212 degrees F (the less time the steam contacts the surface, the higher the temp needs to be).
For contaminated laundry, you’ll also need to throw in some bleach and run the washer on hot. Viral particles can spread on contaminated clothing, and can survive temperatures well above 140 degrees Fahrenheit. Definitely machine-dry. The generally recommended wash and dry temp is 170 degrees F.

Because people can continue to be contagious for a while, do everyone a favor, and stay home for a few days (and keep the kids home from school). Remember, try not to prepare food for at least two days after symptoms go away. And keep washing those hands.

Sources

Up-to-date: Epidemiology and pathogenesis of viral gastroenteritis in adults
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Norovirus
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Handwashing—Clean Hands Save Lives
Occupational Safety and Health Administration: SHA Fact Sheet—Noroviruses
United States Environmental Protection Agency: EPA Registered Hospital Disinfectants Effective Against Norovirus (Norwalk-like virus)
Clin Microbiol Infect. 2014 Aug; 20(8). Epub 2014 Jul 16. Infection control for norovirus.
J Hosp Infect. 2015 Jul; 90(3). Epub 2015 Apr 10. Reducing viral contamination from finger pads: handwashing is more effective than alcohol-based hand disinfectants.
The Washington Post, Jan. 5 2017 Dreaded ‘stomach flu’ wreaks havoc on families — and it’s only going to get worse

The post When a nasty stomach virus strikes… appeared first on Harvard Health Blog.

From: Monique Tello, MD, MPH http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/when-a-nasty-stomach-virus-strikes-2017020311128

Give Kids A Smile events kick off today

Today marks the 15th anniversary of the ADA Foundation's Give Kids A Smile program, and dental professionals from coast to coast are mobilizing to provide free oral health services to 300,000 children and adolescents from underserved families.

From: http://www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2017-archive/february/give-kids-a-smile-events-kickoff-today