03/31/17

Friday, March 31, 2017

New treatment for dangerous form of cancer to be fast-tracked by FDA

The Food and Drug Administration agreed to give a priority review to what could be a breakthrough in treating a form of cancer that will strike 70,000 people this year. Dr. Jon LaPook has the details.

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/new-treatment-for-dangerous-form-of-cancer-to-be-fast-tracked-by-fda/

Mylan announces nationwide EpiPen recall

Some of the devices may have a defective part that does not allow for the activation of the injector in case of allergic reaction

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/mylan-announces-nationwide-epipen-recall-over-potential-defect/

Promising new lymphoma treatment gets fast-tracked by FDA

CAR-T immunotherapy "puts a GPS navigation" on the patient's own immune cells to attack the cancer

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/promising-new-lymphoma-treatment-gets-fast-tracked-by-fda/

Bed rest during pregnancy: Get the facts

From: http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/pregnancy-week-by-week/in-depth/pregnancy/art-20048007

Pelvic pain

From: http://www.mayoclinic.org/symptoms/pelvic-pain/basics/definition/sym-20050898

Cancer treatment myths: Any truth to these common beliefs?

From: http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cancer/in-depth/cancer/art-20046762

Slide show: What a newborn really looks like

From: http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/infant-and-toddler-health/multimedia/newborn/sls-20076309

More women in some states get preventive mastectomies

In 5 states, nearly half of early breast cancer patients under age 45 opted to have the second breast removed

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/preventive-double-mastectomies-breast-cancer-patients-states/

Tanning's allure tied to other addictions

Some people who feel an urge for year-round tanning are likely to have other addictions, a new study finds

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/tannings-allure-tied-to-other-addictions/

This Waiter Helps a Customer With Huntington’s Disease Every Week

A server's good deed went viral after another customer shared a heartwarming photo.

From: http://www.webmd.com/brain/features/waiter-helps-woman-with-huntingtons-disease?src=RSS_PUBLIC

ADA, others urge Congress to continue funding HRSA programs

The ADA is urging Congress to continue funding critical Health Resources and Services Administration programs in 2018.

From: http://www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2017-archive/march/ada-others-urge-congress-to-continue-funding-hrsa-programs

Bed rest during pregnancy: Get the facts

From: http://www.mayoclinic.com/healthy-lifestyle/pregnancy-week-by-week/in-depth/pregnancy/art-20048007

Pelvic pain

From: http://www.mayoclinic.com/symptoms/pelvic-pain/basics/definition/sym-20050898

Stress management

From: http://www.mayoclinic.com/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/basics/stress-basics/hlv-20049495

Slide show: What a newborn really looks like

From: http://www.mayoclinic.com/healthy-lifestyle/infant-and-toddler-health/multimedia/newborn/sls-20076309

Cancer causes: Popular myths about the causes of cancer

From: http://www.mayoclinic.com/diseases-conditions/cancer/in-depth/cancer-causes/art-20044714

End of life: Caring for a dying loved one

From: http://www.mayoclinic.com/healthy-lifestyle/end-of-life/in-depth/cancer/art-20047600

Cleveland Clinic CEO on what’s next for U.S. health care

Dr. Toby Cosgrove, who is also a member of President Trump’s strategic and policy forum, remains optimistic that positive changes can be made

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/cleveland-clinic-ceo-on-whats-next-for-american-health-care/

Certain ear drops linked to injury after kids' surgery

Kids who are prone to ear infections often get ear tube surgery, but new study raises questions about the follow-up treatment

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/ear-tube-surgery-drops-quinolones-linked-to-eardrum-perforation-in-kids/

Hysteroscopy - Mayo Clinic

From: Mayo Clinic http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3WlBQ6k56KY

Treatment for Uterine Fibroids - Women's Health

From: Mayo Clinic http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tPKE9vAu4U

Transplant 101: Preparing for Your Journey

From: Mayo Clinic http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1DVG7s8vcI

Survival Continues to Improve for Most Cancers

Still, more progress is needed and racial disparities remain, U.S. report finds

From: http://www.webmd.com/cancer/news/20170331/survival-continues-to-improve-for-most-cancers?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Researchers Target Insecticide-Resistant Bedbugs

New fungal-based pesticide might knock out insects that survive current chemicals

From: http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/news/20170331/researchers-take-aim-at-insecticide-resistant-bedbugs?src=RSS_PUBLIC

ADA, others urge Congress to oppose tobacco bill

The ADA and 42 other organizations are urging Congress to oppose, H.R., 1136, legislation that would exempt e-cigarettes, cigars and other tobacco products from "an important product review designed to protect public health."

From: http://www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2017-archive/march/ada-others-urge-congress-to-oppose-tobacco-bill

April awareness month highlights dentists' role in reporting child abuse

April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month and an apt time for dentists to consider their role in reporting child abuse, neglect and other forms of maltreatment.

From: http://www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2017-archive/march/april-awareness-month-highlights-dentists-role-in-reporting-child-abuse

Stress management

From: http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/basics/stress-basics/hlv-20049495

Bed rest during pregnancy: Get the facts

From: http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/pregnancy-week-by-week/in-depth/pregnancy/art-20048007

Slide show: What a newborn really looks like

From: http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/infant-and-toddler-health/multimedia/newborn/sls-20076309

Pelvic pain

From: http://www.mayoclinic.org/symptoms/pelvic-pain/basics/definition/sym-20050898

Cancer treatment myths: Any truth to these common beliefs?

From: http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cancer/in-depth/cancer/art-20046762

Cancer causes: Popular myths about the causes of cancer

From: http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cancer/in-depth/cancer-causes/art-20044714

End of life: Caring for a dying loved one

From: http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/end-of-life/in-depth/cancer/art-20047600

The top 5 sources of salt may surprise you

Seventy percent of sodium in the diet comes from 25 foods, a new report shows

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/saltiest-foods-may-surprise-you-potato-chips-pretzels-didnt-make-list/

End of life: Caring for a dying loved one

From: http://www.mayoclinic.com/healthy-lifestyle/end-of-life/in-depth/cancer/art-20047600

Cancer causes: Popular myths about the causes of cancer

From: http://www.mayoclinic.com/diseases-conditions/cancer/in-depth/cancer-causes/art-20044714

Slide show: What a newborn really looks like

From: http://www.mayoclinic.com/healthy-lifestyle/infant-and-toddler-health/multimedia/newborn/sls-20076309

Cancer treatment myths: Any truth to these common beliefs?

From: http://www.mayoclinic.com/diseases-conditions/cancer/in-depth/cancer/art-20046762

Stress management

From: http://www.mayoclinic.com/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/basics/stress-basics/hlv-20049495

Pelvic pain

From: http://www.mayoclinic.com/symptoms/pelvic-pain/basics/definition/sym-20050898

Bed rest during pregnancy: Get the facts

From: http://www.mayoclinic.com/healthy-lifestyle/pregnancy-week-by-week/in-depth/pregnancy/art-20048007

More Than 300M Worldwide Have Depression: WHO

The UN agency calls it the leading cause of poor health and disability

From: http://www.webmd.com/depression/news/20170331/depression-who?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Is Your TV Making You Fat?

People who eat home-cooked meals and don't watch TV while eating less likely to be obese, study finds

From: http://www.webmd.com/diet/news/20170331/is-your-tv-making-you-fat?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Health Risks Grow as Kids Born With HIV Age

About 10,000 Americans were infected at birth, and many are now young adults with medical issues, study finds

From: http://www.webmd.com/hiv-aids/news/20170331/health-risks-grow-as-young-people-born-with-hiv-age?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Drug Tied to Dementia Overprescribed to Seniors

Lower cost might help drive doctors' choice, researchers say

From: http://www.webmd.com/alzheimers/news/20170330/drug-tied-to-dementia-risk-overprescribed-to-seniors-study?src=RSS_PUBLIC

More E. Coli Cases Linked to SoyNut Butter

12 people have been hospitalized, but no deaths have been reported

From: http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/food-poisoning/news/20170330/ecoli-soynut-butter-recall?src=RSS_PUBLIC

What you need to know before taking opioid painkillers

Before you or your child heads into surgery, check this advice to help reduce the risk of addiction to prescription pain meds

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/opioids-prescription-painkiller-safety-addiction-risk/

Is GOP plan to repeal and replace Obamacare dead or alive?

Republicans failed to secure enough votes in the House last week to pass legislation to repeal and replace Obamacare

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/is-gop-plan-to-repeal-and-replace-obamacare-dead-or-alive/

Mayo Clinic Minute: What is eosinophilic esophagitis and why is it becoming more common?

From: Mayo Clinic http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7gpPJJpnLI

Eat better, live longer

Follow me on Twitter @RobShmerling

We’ve all heard it before: to be as healthy as you can be, choose a healthy diet. And while that’s easier said than done, the impact of improving your diet may be large. That’s according to a recent study that estimated the impact of dietary modifications on premature cardiovascular deaths in this country. The verdict? More than 400,000 deaths each year could be prevented with dietary improvement.

Exactly how should you improve your diet?

Just what does “improving your diet” mean? Limiting unhealthy foods is a good start. Fewer French fries, less salt, and a little less ice cream are all good ideas and make sense. But this new report, and several expert guidelines, suggest that it’s not only what you don’t eat. What you do eat matters, too. It’s also important to eat more healthy foods.

In this study, researchers analyzed patient surveys between 1990 and 2012, food availability data from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, and data on cardiovascular deaths in 2015. They estimated that the biggest contributors to the premature cardiovascular deaths of more than 220,000 men and about 190,000 women were due to

high consumption of salt and trans fat (a particularly unhealthy form of unsaturated fat commonly found in processed foods as “partially hydrogenated oils”)
low consumption of nuts, seeds, vegetables, and whole grains.

And here’s why it matters: Cardiovascular disease is the #1 cause of death in the U. S.

Cardiovascular disease accounts for an estimated 787,000 deaths each year. And dietary factors can affect one’s risk of cardiovascular disease because

obesity increases the risk of type 2 diabetes, and both obesity and diabetes are risk factors for cardiovascular disease
high blood pressure (hypertension) is more common among those with high salt intake and obesity
diet affects cholesterol levels
research suggests that not eating enough fruits, vegetables, and fiber may increase risk.

Ever started a new diet?

It’s easy to make recommendations about improving dietary choices. Making long-lasting change is hard. Willpower and commitment is often not enough. Just ask anyone who has been frustrated by repeated and unsuccessful efforts to lose weight, lower blood pressure, or lower cholesterol by starting a new diet.

The pervasiveness of unhealthy diets and the epidemic of obesity in this country have led to the suggestion that we should approach this as a public health problem that might be improved by taxing unhealthy foods and subsidizing healthier options. Another new study looked at the impact of this approach. In fact, in places where unhealthy foods were taxed or where healthy foods became less expensive through subsidies, diets tended to improve. Of course, that raises the question of how much government agencies or others should be involved in swaying consumers’ dietary choices. But from a public health perspective, the data seem clear: if you want to encourage healthier eating, one approach is through the pocketbook.

And, finally…

If you’re not sure what constitutes a healthy diet, it might be because there is no one diet that’s best for everyone. However, there a number of dietary guidelines worth considering, including:

The Mediterranean Diet
Choose My Plate from the USDA
the Healthy Eating Plate from the Harvard School of Public Health and Harvard Medical School.

Talk to your doctor about your diet. Depending on your overall health and current diet, it might be a good idea to meet with a nutritionist. The goal is to come up with a healthy diet you can stick with. It may not be easy, but a change that could prevent more than 400,000 deaths per year is a change worth making. After all, one of those prevented deaths could be yours.

The post Eat better, live longer appeared first on Harvard Health Blog.

From: Robert H. Shmerling, MD http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/eat-better-live-longer-2017033111493