Wounded veteran, double amputee undergo groundbreaking surgery

Jace Badia, an Army veteran, and Gary Molock, a double amputee who lost his legs in a truck crash, are the first patients ever to get an artificial leg with a porous metal collar permanently implanted

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/jace-badia-wounded-veteran-gary-molock-undergo-groundbreaking-surgery/

Home sleep studies may help identify sleep apnea

What if I need a sleep study? If you are one of the approximately 35% of Americans who snore, perhaps this has crossed your mind. You have read on the internet or watched a newscast about sleep apnea, a condition associated with an increase in heart attack and stroke risk. Loud snoring, daytime sleepiness, fatigue, and observed pauses in breathing at night are the most frequent symptoms. A sleep study is necessary to make the diagnosis.

To many people, the thought of a sleep study raises visions of being restrained in a bed with wires attached everywhere and complete strangers watching you, in other words, “Big Brother on steroids.” They frequently tell their doctors that they never will be able to sleep under such circumstances, and sometimes they are correct. A number of studies have shown that the first night of sleep in a laboratory may not be representative of a person’s usual sleep pattern. Fortunately, there is a solution: a home sleep study.

Increasingly, driven by the necessity to reduce health care costs, health insurance companies have been requiring that limited home sleep studies be done to confirm the diagnosis of sleep apnea. In addition to being less expensive, these studies allow the patient to sleep in his or her familiar home environment. A major disadvantage is that brain wave activity is not recorded, which means that important sleep information isn’t captured. In addition, because the study is not directly observed by a technician, the quality of the signals may be inadequate. So it’s been unclear whether the treatment outcomes of those studied with a home test are the same as those who are studied in a sleep laboratory.

In a recent large study of patients suspected of having sleep apnea, effectiveness of treatment for patients who were diagnosed using information from replicated home sleep studies was compared to those diagnosed with data from a sleep laboratory. The investigators found that improvements in sleepiness and quality of life were the same. These results are reassuring, and add to the increasing amount of information indicating that home sleep studies may be used to confirm the diagnosis of sleep apnea in most patients.

Although a home sleep study can be used to confirm a diagnosis of sleep apnea in the majority of patients, some really should be studied in a sleep laboratory — these include persons with underlying heart or lung disease and certain chronic medical conditions, as well as those who are suspected of having sleep disorders other than sleep apnea. Most importantly, home sleep studies can be incorrect and miss the diagnosis of sleep apnea, or underestimate its severity. If a home sleep study suggests the presence of sleep apnea, then it makes sense to go ahead and treat it. However, if the home sleep study is negative, a laboratory sleep study should be performed.

The post Home sleep studies may help identify sleep apnea appeared first on Harvard Health Blog.

From: Stuart Quan, MD http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/need-sleep-study-home-sweet-home-2017022311096

For a longer life, eat this many fruits and veggies per day

A new analysis finds eating more servings of fruits and vegetables per day can reduce the risk of heart attack​, stroke, cancer, and early death

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/for-a-longer-life-researchers-say-eat-this-many-fruits-and-veggies-per-day/

Making Mayo's Recipes: Overnight Refrigerator Oatmeal

From: Mayo Clinic http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwOyRKujR5w

Study Links Psychiatric Disorders to Stroke Risk

Mental health woes may trigger chronic fight-or-flight response, researchers suggest

From: http://www.webmd.com/stroke/news/20170223/study-links-psychiatric-disorders-to-stroke-risk?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Belly Fat vs. Being Overweight in Older Women

While a few extra pounds doesn't up death risk, weight around the middle does, study contends

From: http://www.webmd.com/women/news/20170223/belly-fat-more-dangerous-in-older-women-than-being-overweight?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Longevity Recipe: 10 Fruit, Veggie Servings Daily

Reductions seen in risk of heart disease, stroke, cancer and early death

From: http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/news/20170223/10-daily-servings-of-fruits-veggies-a-recipe-for-longevity?src=RSS_PUBLIC

More Evidence Ties Gum Health to Stroke Risk

Study shows increasing risk of brain blockage with more severe gum disease

From: http://www.webmd.com/oral-health/news/20170223/more-evidence-ties-gum-health-to-stroke-risk?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Dentists at the Front Line in Diabetes Epidemic

Severe gum disease can signal undiagnosed case of blood sugar disease

From: http://www.webmd.com/diabetes/news/20170223/dentists-at-the-front-line-in-diabetes-epidemic?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Heartburn meds linked to risk of kidney damage, study finds

About 15 million Americans take prescription medications known as PPIs for heartburn or acid reflux

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/heartburn-acid-reflux-drugs-ppi-associated-with-increased-risk-kidney-damage/

A Stressed Life May Mean a Wider Waistline

Study finds chronic anxiety might raise risk of obesity

From: http://www.webmd.com/balance/stress-management/news/20170223/a-stressed-life-may-mean-a-wider-waistline?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Too Many Stroke Victims Don't Get Clot-Buster Drug

Minorities, women, seniors on Medicare, rural residents less likely to be diagnosed in time for tPA

From: http://www.webmd.com/stroke/news/20170223/too-many-stroke-victims-dont-get-clot-busting-drug-study?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Are antidepressants safe for "off-label" health issues?

A third of prescriptions are written for reasons other than depression, but there's little scientific evidence to back that up, study finds

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/are-off-label-antidepressant-prescriptions-safe/

Low weight gain in pregnancy linked to schizophrenia

Poor nutrition during mom's pregnancy may play a key role in child's later mental health issues, study suggests

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/little-weight-gain-poor-nutrition-in-pregnancy-may-increase-risk-of-schizophrenia/

Mayo Clinic Minute: Are you hitting your target heart rate?

From: Mayo Clinic http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRnw-5lBP48

Help get dental patients out of the ER and into a dental chair

Dental professionals interested in strategies for directing dental patients from the emergency department to a dental home are invited to attend a one-hour webinar at noon Central time on March 8.

From: http://www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2017-archive/february/help-get-dental-patients-out-of-the-er-and-into-a-dental-chair

Unhealthy in Middle Age, Dementia in Old Age?

Diabetes, high blood pressure, smoking may set you up for Alzheimer's, research suggests

From: http://www.webmd.com/alzheimers/news/20170222/unhealthy-in-middle-age-dementia-in-old-age?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Heartburn meds could lead to kidney damage, study finds

Long-term use of certain heartburn medications could lead to serious kidney damage, a new study shows. It looked at the use of "proton pump inhibitors," sold under brand names including Prevacid, Prilosec and Nexium. An estimated 15 million Americans use these medications regularly. Dr. David Agus joins "CBS This Morning" to discuss the findings.

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/heartburn-meds-could-lead-to-kidney-damage-study-finds/

Judge: Mentally ill murder suspect can be forcibly medicated

Man charged with killing Yale doctor says he's not mentally ill, but Connecticut judge orders medication for trial

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/mentally-ill-yale-murder-suspect-lishan-wang-can-be-forcibly-medicated-judge-says/

WHO: Health crisis in North-East Nigeria.

From: World Health Organization http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWK7zZzo_dw

Minimally Invasive Heart Surgery for Valve Repair

From: Mayo Clinic http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzHlZ7fzCbM

Home sleep studies may help identify sleep apnea

What if I need a sleep study? If you are one of the approximately 35% of Americans who snore, perhaps this has crossed your mind. You have read on the internet or watched a newscast about sleep apnea, a condition associated with an increase in heart attack and stroke risk. Loud snoring, daytime sleepiness, fatigue, and observed pauses in breathing at night are the most frequent symptoms. A sleep study is necessary to make the diagnosis.

To many people, the thought of a sleep study raises visions of being restrained in a bed with wires attached everywhere and complete strangers watching you, in other words, “Big Brother on steroids.” They frequently tell their doctors that they never will be able to sleep under such circumstances, and sometimes they are correct. A number of studies have shown that the first night of sleep in a laboratory may not be representative of a person’s usual sleep pattern. Fortunately, there is a solution: a home sleep study.

Increasingly, driven by the necessity to reduce health care costs, health insurance companies have been requiring that limited home sleep studies be done to confirm the diagnosis of sleep apnea. In addition to being less expensive, these studies allow the patient to sleep in his or her familiar home environment. A major disadvantage is that brain wave activity is not recorded, which means that important sleep information isn’t captured. In addition, because the study is not directly observed by a technician, the quality of the signals may be inadequate. So it’s been unclear whether the treatment outcomes of those studied with a home test are the same as those who are studied in a sleep laboratory.

In a recent large study of patients suspected of having sleep apnea, effectiveness of treatment for patients who were diagnosed using information from replicated home sleep studies was compared to those diagnosed with data from a sleep laboratory. The investigators found that improvements in sleepiness and quality of life were the same. These results are reassuring, and add to the increasing amount of information indicating that home sleep studies may be used to confirm the diagnosis of sleep apnea in most patients.

Although a home sleep study can be used to confirm a diagnosis of sleep apnea in the majority of patients, some really should be studied in a sleep laboratory — these include persons with underlying heart or lung disease and certain chronic medical conditions, as well as those who are suspected of having sleep disorders other than sleep apnea. Most importantly, home sleep studies can be incorrect and miss the diagnosis of sleep apnea, or underestimate its severity. If a home sleep study suggests the presence of sleep apnea, then it makes sense to go ahead and treat it. However, if the home sleep study is negative, a laboratory sleep study should be performed.

The post Home sleep studies may help identify sleep apnea appeared first on Harvard Health Blog.

From: Stuart Quan, MD http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/need-sleep-study-home-sweet-home-2017022311096

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

Chronic stress linked to a bigger waistline

New research adds weight to the claim that high levels of stress are connected to obesity

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/chronic-stress-linked-to-obesity-weight-gain/

Does Zika Harm Male Fertility?

The CDC is working with a fertility clinic in Puerto Rico to determine if men infected by Zika have lower sperm counts or lower sperm function after infection

From: http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/news/20170222/zika-mice-male-fertility?src=RSS_PUBLIC