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

Scalp cooling therapy used to minimize hair loss from chemo

Hair loss seemed to be an unavoidable result of chemotherapy. But two new studies are showing the effectiveness of cold cap therapy to prevent hair loss, reports Barry Petersen.

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/scalp-cooling-therapy-used-to-minimize-hair-loss-from-chemo/

Most Texas schools have scant sex ed, study says

25 percent of Texas districts didn’t offer any sex education, and about 58 percent only taught abstinence

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/most-texas-school-districts-have-scant-sex-education-study-says/

Studies reveal effectiveness of cooling caps in fighting chemo-induced hair loss

One study found that half of the women who got scalp cooling kept at least 50 percent of their hair

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/cooling-caps-fighting-chemo-induced-hair-loss-new-studies-effectiveness/

Heart disease could cost $1 trillion a year by 2035

The American Heart Association estimates that nearly half of Americans will have heart disease in less than 20 years

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/heart-disease-could-cost-us-1-trillion-per-year-by-2035/

New HIV infections in U.S. falling rapidly, CDC says

While the number of people diagnosed with HIV has been falling for years, health officials now measure the number of new infections to better track how the epidemic is unfolding

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/new-hiv-infections-in-united-states-falling-rapidly-centers-for-disease-control/

Parents of preemies get Valentine's Day surprise

Hospital staff warms hearts on Valentine's Day with special treats for parents of preemies

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/babies-at-saint-lukes-hospital-celebrate-first-valentines-day-in-style/

Carb Counting for Diabetes Made Easy

This helpful chart illustrates what 15 grams of carbs actually look like.

From: http://www.webmd.com/diabetes/features/carb-counting-for-diabetes-chart?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Strangers reach out to teen in need of kidney

Mom's unusual plea for her sick 15-year-old daughter leads to thousands of responses from people across the world

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/strangers-help-seek-match-for-arizona-teen-in-need-of-kidney/

Company Delays Launch of Muscular Dystrophy Drug

The U.S. launch of a drug for a rare disorder called Duchenne muscular dystrophy will be paused due to concerns about its price

From: http://www.webmd.com/brain/news/20170214/muscular-dystrophy-dru?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Geneticists Get to the Roots of Hair Loss in Men

Researchers spot close to 300 genetic regions linked to baldness, which could provide targets for treatment

From: http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/hair-loss/news/20170214/geneticists-hair-loss-men?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Hugh Jackman Urges Followers to Wear Sunscreen After Skin Cancer Scare

The Australian actor shared a personal photo after his treatment for basal cell carcinoma. Here's what you need to know about the condition.

From: http://www.webmd.com/cancer/features/hugh-jackman-skin-cancer?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Belly Size Genes Also Linked to Heart Disease

Large study found association, but did not prove cause and effect

From: http://www.webmd.com/diabetes/news/20170214/genes-tied-to-belly-size-also-linked-to-heart-disease?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Statements from previous years

WHO official statements on health issues.

From: http://www.who.int/entity/mediacentre/news/statements/previous/en/index.html

ADA scientist offers expertise at international standards meeting

The ADA in January was one of six U.S. representatives at a workshop aimed at helping promote and inform the use of medical device regulations and standardization processes in developing countries.

From: http://www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2017-archive/february/ada-scientist-offers-expertise-at-international-standards-meeting

Louisville sees record 52 overdoses in 32 hours

In response, dozens of people received free training on how to administer naloxone, a drug used to counter the effects of opioids like heroin​

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/louisville-kentucky-reports-52-heroin-fentanyl-overdoses-in-32-hours/

'Cooling Caps' May Halt Chemo-Linked Hair Loss

One of two trials was stopped early because results were so strong

From: http://www.webmd.com/breast-cancer/news/20170214/cooling-caps-may-halt-chemo-linked-hair-loss?src=RSS_PUBLIC

What I Wish I Had Known Before Having a Heart Attack

These survivors' stories have valuable lessons you can take away for your own heart health.

From: http://www.webmd.com/heart/features/what-i-wish-i-knew-before-having-a-heart-attack?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Why these weather events are linked to heart attacks

Researchers believe they know why heart attacks seem to follow this pattern for men but not women

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/men-women-heart-attack-after-shoveling-snow/

Professor Mary Hickson: Future Dietetic Workforce

From: BritishDietetic http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFicAxYfbtM

ADA 2017 registration just around the corner

Save the date. Registration for ADA 2017 – America's Dental Meeting in Atlanta will open May 10 at 9 a.m. Central time.

From: http://www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2017-archive/february/ada-2017-registration-just-around-the-corner

Advanced Dental Leadership program registration deadline Feb. 28

The Advanced Dental Leadership program through King's College London is designed for undergraduates, postgraduates, dental assistants and receptionists — any dental personnel who has contact with the public.

From: http://www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2017-archive/february/advanced-dental-leadership-program-registration-deadline-feb-28

Florida Give Kids A Smile attended by Jaxson de Ville

From: http://www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2017-archive/february/florida-give-kids-a-smile-attended-by-jaxson-de-ville

GKAS in Exeter, N.H., serves 13 children

From: http://www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2017-archive/february/gkas-in-exeter-nh-serves-13-children

ADA Health Policy Institute joins Twitter

The ADA Health Policy Institute is the latest ADA department to join the conversation on Twitter.

From: http://www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2017-archive/february/ada-health-policy-institute-joins-twitter

Two hospitals in eastern Pennsylvania work together for Give Kids A Smile

From: http://www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2017-archive/february/two-hospitals-in-eastern-pennsylvania-work-together-for-give-kids-a-smile

Maryland office helps underserved children for Give Kids A Smile

From: http://www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2017-archive/february/maryland-office-helps-underserved-children-for-give-kids-a-smile

New and Emerging Speaker Series applications due in June

The submission period for the ADA's New and Emerging Speaker Series at ADA 2017 – America's Dental Meeting is open.

From: http://www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2017-archive/february/new-and-emerging-speaker-series-applications-due-in-june

Sponsors help Give Kids A Smile thrive

In 2002, Drs. Jeffrey Dalin and B. Ray Storm held the first Give Kids A Smile event in a soon-to-be-demolished dental clinic in St. Louis, with only 15 patient chairs.

From: http://www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2017-archive/february/sponsors-help-give-kids-a-smile-thrive

New recommendations for back pain treatment

A quarter of Americans have had low back pain at least once in the past three months. The American College of Physicians is now telling doctors prescription medication should be considered a last resort in most cases. Dr. Tara Narula joins "CBS This Morning" to discuss the new recommendations to treat back pain.

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/new-recommendations-for-back-pain-treatment/

Mary Hickson: Future Dietetic Workforce

From: BritishDietetic http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHPd4TrSct8

Mayo Clinic Minute: Are puppy kisses good or bad?

From: Mayo Clinic http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w91WJW5Rqb0

2017 update to the immunization schedule for kids

Follow me on Twitter @drClaire

Every year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) update the recommendations for immunizing children from birth to 18 years. This past week, the latest changes were published.

The changes are usually small, and this year is no exception. But they are important — and they are a sign of how these organizations, and all the scientists who study immunization, take immunization effectiveness and safety very seriously. There is ongoing research to be sure that vaccines do everything we want them to do. As that research is done, discoveries are made that change what happens when kids come in for their checkups and shots.

Sometimes the changes in the schedule aren’t actually changes. Sometimes the experts want to emphasize something about a vaccine that not everyone knows — and sometimes they tweak the way the schedule looks to make it easier to read and understand.

Here are the latest changes, reminders and tweaks:

• There are two for the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine:
  • A reminder that it can be given as early as age 9-10, something many people don’t realize
  • And a reason to start early: if kids get the first dose of vaccine before their 15^th birthday, they only need 2 doses (6 months apart) instead of the previously recommended 3 doses. Anyone who starts on or after the 15^th birthday still needs those three doses
• The LAIV or nasal spray version of the flu vaccine is officially out of the schedule (since it was found not to work very well)
• Babies should get their first dose of Hepatitis B vaccine within the first 24 hours of life, if possible, to give the best protection in case of an undiscovered infection in the mother.
• Pregnant adolescents (like all pregnant women) should get a dose of TdaP vaccine between 27-36 weeks of pregnancy.
• A separate column was added to the schedule for 16-year-olds to emphasize that they should get a booster dose of the meningococcal vaccine.
• A new tab was added to help doctors know which vaccines are recommended for children with special health conditions. For example, children with sickle cell disease, chronic heart disease, severe asthma, as well as certain kidney and immune system problems should get the PPV23 version of the pneumococcal vaccine along with the one routinely given in infancy.

The schedules, both for routine immunization and for catching up when kids get behind, can be found on both the CDC and AAP websites. Check them out, and let your doctor know if you have any questions.

The post 2017 update to the immunization schedule for kids appeared first on Harvard Health Blog.

From: Claire McCarthy, MD http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/2017-update-immunization-schedule-kids-2017021411187

Drug-Free Low Back Pain Options Recommended First

Recommendations state opioid painkillers should be last resort for long-lasting pain

From: http://www.webmd.com/back-pain/news/20170213/try-drug-free-options-first-for-low-back-pain-new-guidelines-say?src=RSS_PUBLIC

The Best State to Find Your Valentine

Mississippi, Utah and Wisconsin top list of best states for lovers, survey finds

From: http://www.webmd.com/sex-relationships/news/20170213/the-best-place-to-find-your-valentine?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Gay Men Less Likely to Have Safe Sex Now: Survey

Better treatments may translate into complacency, HIV experts say

From: http://www.webmd.com/hiv-aids/news/20170213/gay-men-less-likely-to-have-safe-sex-now-survey?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Seniors' Brains Can Be Affected By Multiple Meds

Psychiatrist cautions doctors and patients to consider risks and benefits of each drug

From: http://www.webmd.com/healthy-aging/news/20170213/many-seniors-take-multiple-meds-that-can-affect-the-brain?src=RSS_PUBLIC