Bone and joint problems associated with diabetes

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

Germs: Understand and protect against bacteria, viruses and infection

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

Flu season hitting its peak in 43 states

This season has seen a lot of the H3 virus, and145 million doses of the vaccine have shipped out

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/flu-season-hitting-its-peak-43-states/

Peak flu season hits 43 states

The CDC says the flu is "widespread" in 43 states as health officials are recording nearly 14,000 cases per week. Dr. Jon LaPook reports on some of the outbreaks.

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/peak-flu-season-hits-43-states/

Flu Cases Spiking Across the United States: CDC

Hospitalizations and deaths among kids and adults on the rise

From: http://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/news/20170210/flu-cases-spiking-across-the-united-states-cdc?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Healthy breakfast: Quick, flexible options

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

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

Air Pollution May Raise Risk of Type 2 Diabetes

Study of obese Hispanic children suggests smog might boost chances of developing the blood sugar disorder

From: http://www.webmd.com/diabetes/news/20170210/air-pollution-may-raise-risk-of-type-2-diabetes?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Amphetamine Abuse Abuses the Heart

Study finds arteries of recreational users look older than their years

From: http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/addiction/news/20170210/amphetamine-abuse-abuses-the-heart?src=RSS_PUBLIC

What's Next for the Obamacare Insurance Exchanges?

Trump administration draft regulation reportedly could raise rates for older adults, shorten open enrollment for 2018

From: http://www.webmd.com/health-insurance/20170210/whats-next-for-the-obamacare-insurance-exchanges?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Daylight Savings Time May Affect IVF Success

Rates of miscarriage higher for those with a previous miscarriage

From: http://www.webmd.com/infertility-and-reproduction/news/20170210/daylight-savings-time-may-lower-chances-of-ivf-success-for-some-study?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Senate Confirms Rep. Tom Price as Health Secretary

Surgeon from Atlanta is outspoken critic of Affordable Care Act

From: http://www.webmd.com/health-insurance/20170210/senate-confirms-rep-tom-price-as-health-secretary?src=RSS_PUBLIC

FDA Approves Drug for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

New Drug for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Approved by FDA

From: http://www.webmd.com/children/news/20170210/health-highlights-feb-10-2017?src=RSS_PUBLIC

USDA Reminds Individuals and Small Businesses in Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming that USDA Offers Disaster Assistance Programs to Help

WASHINGTON, Feb. 10, 2017 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reminds farmers and ranchers, families and small businesses that could potentially be affected by the recent storms that USDA has several programs that provide assistance before, during and after disasters. USDA staff in the regional, State and county offices in the states of Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming are ready to help.

From: /wps/portal/usda/usdahome?contentid=2017/02/0013.xml&contentidonly=true

The dangers of drinking peroxide as a "natural" cure

It's sometimes promoted as "super water," but ingesting it carries big risks, doctors warn

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/the-dangers-of-drinking-peroxide-as-a-natural-cure/

Do older men really prefer younger women?

A new study questions the stereotype that older men are usually attracted to much younger women

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/do-older-men-prefer-younger-women-new-study/

Millions sign up for Obamacare despite its problems

Even with the uncertainty created by President Trump’s vow to repeal and replace​ it, more than 12 million people have signed up for coverage

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/millions-sign-up-for-obamacare-despite-price-hikes-repeal-threat/

Charlie Rose recovering after successful heart surgery

The "CBS This Morning" co-host underwent surgery to replace a heart valve Thursday, and he says he's excited to get back to work soon

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/charlie-rose-recovering-successful-heart-surgery/

Why New York Fashion Week is going pink

Fashion designers partner with Planned Parenthood to raise awareness and take a stand

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/new-york-fashion-week-goes-pink-for-planned-parenthood/

FDA Approves Biosimilar to Humira – IBD in the News

From: Mayo Clinic http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OS9vypKqK5c

Drinking Peroxide “Cleanse” Leads to Blood Clots

So-called 'super water' carries big risks, doctors warn

From: http://www.webmd.com/dvt/news/20170209/drinking-peroxide-as-natural-cure-leads-to-dangerous-blood-clots?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Charlie Rose recovering after successful heart surgery

We're happy to report "CBS This Morning" co-host Charlie Rose's heart surgery Thursday to replace a heart valve went very well. He is resting comfortably as he recovers, and he says he's excited to get back to work soon.

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/charlie-rose-recovering-after-successful-heart-surgery/

Mayo Clinic Minute: Treating age-related macular degeneration

From: Mayo Clinic http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=joex8lhiUbI

The fix for dry eyes

There are two unopened boxes of contact lenses in the cabinet under my sink. I’m not using those tiny disposables anymore; wearing them makes my eyes so dry they feel like they’re being sucked out of their sockets. Actually, it’s not the contacts — those have many benefits, and I’ve worn some version of them since my teens. But as a middle-ager now, the contacts aggravate a condition I have that’s apparently pretty common: dry eye syndrome. “I’d say at least a quarter of my patients have some degree of complaint about dryness,” says Dr. Matthew Gardiner, an ophthalmologist with Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary.

The eyes have it

Our eyes have a few sources of moisture. One is the lacrimal gland in the upper outer quadrant of the eye. That’s the gland that produces buckets of tears if you cry or something gets in your eye.

Other sources include

• a network of glands embedded in the conjunctiva (the white surface of the eye and the undersurface of the eyelids) that produces water and mucus
• glands at the edge of the lids that produce an oily substance.

The cocktail of water, mucus, and oil from these last two sources make up the tear film on the eye surface. We need it to see properly. “Each time you blink, you reapply a new wet surface,” explains Dr. Gardiner.

No more tears?

As we age, our tear production slows. If the lacrimal glands don’t make as many tears, you’ll have a problem with tear quantity. If some of the other glands slow, such as those that produce oil, you’ll have a problem with tear quality, since you need all three tear components for the tear film. The result is dry eye syndrome, with symptoms that include burning and a feeling of grittiness in the eyes.

But it’s not just aging that can cause dry eye syndrome. Other causes include

• side effects from medications (such as antihistamines or blood pressure medications)
• underlying conditions (such as thyroid problems; diabetes; rheumatoid arthritis; Sjögren’s syndrome, an immune system disorder; or Parkinson’s disease)
• your environment (exposure to dust, smoke, and other pollutants)
• eye surgery
• contact lens use
• looking at electronic gadgets too long without blinking (if you go too long without blinking, you’re not giving your eyes a chance to replenish the tear film).

This last condition linked to electronic gadget use is known as computer vision syndrome, and Dr. Gardiner is seeing it more often. “People tend to stare at their screens and blink less. Their eyes get dry because they’re open more of the time, and they dry out because there’s not as much blinking to refresh the surface the eye,” he explains. Computer vision syndrome can also include symptoms such as blurry or double vision.

Don’t let dry eyes go untreated

Taking care of dry eyes not only relieves discomfort but can help you avoid infection or even scarred corneas. Treatment is pretty simple, too.

For people who make enough tears but have dry eye symptoms, Dr. Gardiner recommends

• warm compresses
• gentle eye massage to stimulate the oil glands on the lid margins.

For people who aren’t making enough tears, Dr. Gardiner recommends

• artificial tears (there are many types and brands)
• medicines that increase tear production, such as ophthalmic cyclosporine (Restasis)
• an in-office procedure to block tear drainage by inserting plugs into the tear drainage ducts.

Some research has even suggested that caffeine can help dry eyes. “Caffeine does increase the production of the lacrimal glands,” says Dr. Gardiner, “but be careful about increasing your caffeine intake. Too much caffeine can cause jitters and insomnia.” In other words, don’t guzzle coffee in an attempt to fix dry eyes.

My own fix for dry eyes has been using artificial tears, leaving my contacts in their boxes (except for special occasions), and wearing eyeglasses. It’s not as convenient as wearing contact lenses, but it’s a lot more comfortable on these middle-aged eyes.

The post The fix for dry eyes appeared first on Harvard Health Blog.

From: Heidi Godman http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/the-fix-for-dry-eyes-2017021011090

Volunteers needed for 2017 Mission of Mercy in Pennsylvania

Organizers of a June Mission of Mercy in Pennsylvania are looking for volunteers to donate their time and talent for the two-day charitable dental event.

From: http://www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2017-archive/february/volunteers-needed-for-2017-mission-of-mercy-in-pennsylvania

Daily Aspirin May Help Prevent Some Miscarriages

Approach seemed to help women with high blood levels of a 'marker' for inflammation, study found

From: http://www.webmd.com/baby/news/20170209/daily-aspirin-may-help-prevent-some-recurrent-miscarriages?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Confessions of a breakfast skipper

Follow me on Twitter @RobShmerling

As a doctor and a parent, I feel a certain obligation to model healthy behaviors. Even if I were neither, I’d do my best to make healthy choices. And, mostly, I do. I exercise regularly, I pay attention to what I eat and I try to eat reasonable portions of healthy foods. But I regularly break a cardinal rule of healthy living: I skip breakfast.

Is that so wrong? Apparently, most people think so. Ask anyone and my guess is that you’ll hear this a lot: “Everyone knows that breakfast is the most important meal of the day.” And it makes some sense. When you get up in the morning you’ve probably just endured the longest period of fasting for the day. And that’s probably true even if you’re a late night snacker (like me).

But, a new study suggests that skipping breakfast may not be as bad for you as commonly believed.

Researchers enrolled healthy kids, ages 8 to 10, and repeatedly measured attention, impulsiveness, memory, verbal learning, and speed of processing information. For each of these measures, the kids did no better (or worse) on the days they ate breakfast compared to the days they didn’t. Of course, this study only assessed the short-term impact of breakfast on healthy school-age kids. The findings could have been quite different if it included “habitual breakfast skippers,” adults, or people who don’t get adequate nutrition.

What about past research?

Several past studies have demonstrated beneficial effects of eating breakfast on the academic performance, behavior, and psychological function of kids. But most of these studies were also short-term, small, and therefore not definitive. In fact, some of the largest and best studies showed no impact. The biggest benefits of breakfast have been noted among “nutritionally vulnerable” children — that is, kids with the poorest nutrition get the most from eating breakfast regularly.

Breakfast and weight: it’s complicated

Studies on adults are far fewer and the findings are similarly inconsistent and inconclusive. Several have examined the impact of eating breakfast on weight. It might seem counterintuitive that skipping a meal might lead to weight gain, but that’s just what a widely quoted 2007 study suggested: people who choose to skip breakfast tend to be overweight or obese significantly more often than those who eat breakfast. However, such studies have been criticized because of the real possibility that a factor other than breakfast habit might be responsible for the higher rates of obesity among breakfast skippers. Supporting this concern is a recent study finding that people who eat breakfast are more health conscious and exercise more regularly. While one of the largest studies to date found that eating breakfast had no consistent effect on rates of obesity or being overweight, a 2013 study found that adults who skipped breakfast actually consumed fewer calories by the end of the day.

The inconsistency noted in past research may be due to these recent observations:

• people who skip breakfast tend to eat more than breakfast eaters later in the day
• those who eat breakfast tend to be more physically active early in the day than breakfast skippers
• some people actually lose weight when skipping breakfast, because even if they eat more at lunch, it’s often not enough to make up for the average breakfast.

So, what?

These latest studies suggest that eating breakfast may not be as essential as many believe — but they are also unlikely to be the last words on the subject. We need more and better research into how breakfast (and other meals) affect health and disease. But, from the available evidence, I’d say the idea that breakfast is the most important meal of the day may be a myth. In fact, we should probably be paying more attention to what and how much we eat rather than focusing on when.

If you’re like me and you aren’t particularly hungry first thing in the morning, feel free to buck the “must-eat-breakfast” trend. After reviewing the available research, I’m feeling less guilty about my breakfast skipping habit.

The post Confessions of a breakfast skipper appeared first on Harvard Health Blog.

From: Robert H. Shmerling, MD http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/confessions-of-a-breakfast-skipper-2017020911073

Making Mayo's Recipes: Chicken Sausage Meatballs

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

Mayo Clinic Minute: Are you drinking empty calories?

From: Mayo Clinic http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OD_jOEf14BA

Healing Words with Heather McElhatton

From: Mayo Clinic http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ArN-HZ4joQo

How This Couple Lost 300 Pounds Together in a Year

See this duo’s amazing transformation after supporting each other in their journey to better health.

From: http://www.webmd.com/diet/obesity/features/how-this-couple-lost-300-pounds-in-one-year?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Confessions of a breakfast skipper

Follow me on Twitter @RobShmerling

As a doctor and a parent, I feel a certain obligation to model healthy behaviors. Even if I were neither, I’d do my best to make healthy choices. And, mostly, I do. I exercise regularly, I pay attention to what I eat and I try to eat reasonable portions of healthy foods. But I regularly break a cardinal rule of healthy living: I skip breakfast.

Is that so wrong? Apparently, most people think so. Ask anyone and my guess is that you’ll hear this a lot: “Everyone knows that breakfast is the most important meal of the day.” And it makes some sense. When you get up in the morning you’ve probably just endured the longest period of fasting for the day. And that’s probably true even if you’re a late night snacker (like me).

But, a new study suggests that skipping breakfast may not be as bad for you as commonly believed.

Researchers enrolled healthy kids, ages 8 to 10, and repeatedly measured attention, impulsiveness, memory, verbal learning, and speed of processing information. For each of these measures, the kids did no better (or worse) on the days they ate breakfast compared to the days they didn’t. Of course, this study only assessed the short-term impact of breakfast on healthy school-age kids. The findings could have been quite different if it included “habitual breakfast skippers,” adults, or people who don’t get adequate nutrition.

What about past research?

Several past studies have demonstrated beneficial effects of eating breakfast on the academic performance, behavior, and psychological function of kids. But most of these studies were also short-term, small, and therefore not definitive. In fact, some of the largest and best studies showed no impact. The biggest benefits of breakfast have been noted among “nutritionally vulnerable” children — that is, kids with the poorest nutrition get the most from eating breakfast regularly.

Breakfast and weight: it’s complicated

Studies on adults are far fewer and the findings are similarly inconsistent and inconclusive. Several have examined the impact of eating breakfast on weight. It might seem counterintuitive that skipping a meal might lead to weight gain, but that’s just what a widely quoted 2007 study suggested: people who choose to skip breakfast tend to be overweight or obese significantly more often than those who eat breakfast. However, such studies have been criticized because of the real possibility that a factor other than breakfast habit might be responsible for the higher rates of obesity among breakfast skippers. Supporting this concern is a recent study finding that people who eat breakfast are more health conscious and exercise more regularly. While one of the largest studies to date found that eating breakfast had no consistent effect on rates of obesity or being overweight, a 2013 study found that adults who skipped breakfast actually consumed fewer calories by the end of the day.

The inconsistency noted in past research may be due to these recent observations:

• people who skip breakfast tend to eat more than breakfast eaters later in the day
• those who eat breakfast tend to be more physically active early in the day than breakfast skippers
• some people actually lose weight when skipping breakfast, because even if they eat more at lunch, it’s often not enough to make up for the average breakfast.

So, what?

These latest studies suggest that eating breakfast may not be as essential as many believe — but they are also unlikely to be the last words on the subject. We need more and better research into how breakfast (and other meals) affect health and disease. But, from the available evidence, I’d say the idea that breakfast is the most important meal of the day may be a myth. In fact, we should probably be paying more attention to what and how much we eat rather than focusing on when.

If you’re like me and you aren’t particularly hungry first thing in the morning, feel free to buck the “must-eat-breakfast” trend. After reviewing the available research, I’m feeling less guilty about my breakfast skipping habit.

The post Confessions of a breakfast skipper appeared first on Harvard Health Blog.

From: Robert H. Shmerling, MD http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/confessions-of-a-breakfast-skipper-2017020911073

Nephrectomy (kidney removal)

From: http://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/nephrectomy/basics/definition/prc-20014271

Organ donation: Don't let these myths confuse you

Urban legends and misinformation surround organ donation. Separate the fact from fiction.

From: http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/consumer-health/in-depth/organ-donation/art-20047529