06/11/17

Sunday, June 11, 2017

Tick season is here: How to avoid them

CDC warning of particularly severe season for tick-borne diseases this year

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/tick-season-is-here-prevent-lyme-tick-borne-illnesses/

FDA issues nationwide recall for birth control pill

A "packaging error" could lead to unintended pregnancy for users of the drug

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/fda-issues-nationwide-recall-for-birth-control-pill-mibelas-24-fe/

Morning Rounds: Rise in liver cancer deaths?

Dr. Jon LaPook and Dr. Tara Narula join "CBS This Morning: Saturday" to discuss a report that there has been a rise in liver cancer death rates, how Americans deal with stomach problems and whether owning a dog might have a positive impact on your health.

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/morning-rounds-rise-in-liver-cancer-deaths/

CDC expecting severe tick season amid tick-borne disease "epidemic"

The CDC is warning of a particularly severe season for tick-borne diseases. The number of cases of Lyme diseases has spiked in recent years, and experts say the ticks that carry it are spreading to other areas of the country. Anna Werner reports.

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/cdc-expecting-severe-tick-season-amid-tick-borne-disease-epidemic/

In a first, FDA asks drugmaker to yank an opioid from the market

FDA eyed role of Endo Pharmaceuticals' drug Opana ER in opioid epidemic

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/fda-opioid-epidemic-endo-pharmaceuticals-opana-er/

What happens to NBA players who tweet on the eve of a game

Tweeting time may hamper one important habit that keeps pro basketball players at the top of their game, study suggests

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/nba-players-who-tweet-twitter-the-night-before-a-game/

Vaginal Bacteria May Affect Herpes and Zika Virus

Healthy 'bugs' might alter how the viruses work, researcher says

From: http://www.webmd.com/sexual-conditions/news/20170609/vaginal-bacteria-may-affect-herpes-and-zika-transmission?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Mayo Clinic Minute: Why your body's not geared for a late-night snack

From: Mayo Clinic https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R27vlSbPL9Q

Certain low-fat foods linked to Parkinson's risk

The slight rise in risk was linked to those who ate at least three servings a day

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/low-fat-dairy-linked-to-parkinsons-risk/

Child's death highlights risk of "dry drowning"

A 4-year-old boy in Texas died of a rare condition called "dry drowning" nearly a week after going swimming. CBS News' Don Champion reports on the symptoms parents should look out for.

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/childs-death-highlights-risk-of-dry-drowning/

Family warns of "dry drowning" after 4-year-old dies

Rare condition can occur hours or even days after a person inhales water

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/family-warns-of-dry-drowning-child-dies-days-after-swimming/

Recall: Birth Control Pills

From: http://www.webmd.com/sex/birth-control/news/20170609/health-highlights-june-9-2017?src=RSS_PUBLIC

FDA Asks Maker of Opioid Painkiller to Pull Drug

Agency says the powerful medication's risk for abuse now outweighs any benefit

From: http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/addiction/news/20170609/fda-asks-maker-of-opioid-painkiller-opana-er-to-pull-drug-from-market?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Making Mayo's Recipes: Quick quesadillas an easy dinner solution

From: Mayo Clinic https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpWH1jLBvqU

Racket sports serve up health benefits

When I was a kid, my summer sport of choice was baseball. Every day I played in marathon neighborhood games until it was too dark to see the ball. It was about fun and not fitness. But now that I’m older, and my Louisville Slugger has been officially retired, I need a summertime sport that recaptures the playfulness of my youth, but also works to keep my physical and mental skills sharp.

So, I picked up a racket.

It turns out that racket sports are not only fun, but they may help me live longer. A study published online by the British Journal of Sports Medicine examined the link between six different types of exercise and the risk of early death. Researched looked at racket sports, swimming, aerobics, cycling, running, and soccer. Study volunteers included 80,306 people, who ranged in age from 30 to 98. Over the course of the study’s nine years, those who regularly played racket sports were 47% less likely to die of any cause and 56% less likely to die of cardiovascular disease.

“In many ways, racket sports like tennis, squash, badminton, racquetball, Ping-Pong, and other variations are the ideal exercise for many older adults,” says Vijay A. Daryanani, a physical therapist and personal trainer with Harvard-affiliated Spaulding Outpatient Center. “Besides offering a good cardiovascular workout, they can help with both upper- and lower-body strength at one time. They can be played at any age, can be modified to fit most fitness levels, and do not involve a lot of equipment.”

Body and mind games

Racket sports offer something other fitness sports do not — lateral movement. “Most of our lives are spent moving forward, and that includes our exercise,” says Daryanani. “Racket sports force you to move both back and forth and side to side. This helps improve balance and weight shifting, which can lower your risk of falls.”

This kind of activity also exercises your mind. From a cognitive standpoint, it sharpens your planning and decision-making skills, as you must constantly anticipate and execute your next shot.

Racket sports also serve up a strong social component. You play against other people — either as a single or part of a doubles team — while other exercises like running, swimming, and cycling are more isolated activities. Frequent social contact is essential for a long and healthy life. In fact, a 2012 study in the Archives of Internal Medicine found that loneliness was associated with functional decline and an increased risk of death among adults older than age 60.

Pick up pickleball

While there are many types of racket sports to try, one of the fastest-growing among older adults is “pickleball.” It’s a hybrid sport that blends tennis, table tennis, and the backyard childhood game of Wiffle ball.

The paddle is between a table tennis paddle and a tennis racket in size and made of lightweight composite material, such as aluminum or graphite, which cuts down on fatigue. The plastic pickleball resembles a larger Wiffle ball and travels about one-third the speed of a tennis ball, so it is easier to see and hit.

Pickleball is played both indoors and outdoors. The court is 20 by 44 feet, or about the size of a double badminton court. The net is shorter than a tennis net, which makes it easier to hit over. Here are the basic rules:

The ball is served underhanded and must land in the opposite diagonal court just beyond a 10-foot area by the net called the “kitchen.”
The ball must bounce once before being returned, and again before being returned by the serving team.
Once the ball has bounced and been returned by each team, volleying may continue with or without bounces, only if participants are outside of the kitchen.
Games are played to 11 points, with points scored only by the serving team.
A two-point spread wins the game.

Pickleball has become a staple at many YMCAs and senior community centers. You can find places to play at the website of the USA Pickleball Association.

The post Racket sports serve up health benefits appeared first on Harvard Health Blog.

From: Matthew Solan http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/racket-sports-serve-up-health-benefits-2017060911780

University of Maryland School of Dentistry hosts facial protection event

The University of Maryland School of Dentistry brought athletes, dentists and dental students together April 28 to talk to area middle school students about protecting their mouths when playing sports.

From: http://www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2017-archive/june/university-of-maryland-hosts-athletes-students-to-talk-about-mouthguards

Toddler dies after tick bite leads to organ failure

Rocky Mountain spotted fever is "not common here. A child who's tired and has a rash, that can be a lot of kids," doctor said

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/indiana-toddler-dies-tick-bite-organ-failure-rocky-mountain-spotted-fever/

Fitbit users find creative hacks to cheat system

Putting fitness trackers on the dog or in the dryer? As more companies offer incentives linked to activity trackers, some people figure out how to cheat

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/fitbit-users-find-creative-hacks-to-cheat-the-system/

5% of Zika Pregnancies Results in Birth Defects

Report from U.S. territories finds 120 newborns suffered range of devastating developmental problems

From: http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/news/20170608/1-in-20-pregnant-women-infected-with-zika-have-babies-with-birth-defects-cdc?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Texas boy dies from "dry drowning"

A Texas family is mourning their 4-year-old son who died from an unusual condition called "dry drowning." The little boy had water in his lungs and died nearly a week after going swimming. Brett Buffington of KHOU-TV reports.

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/texas-boy-dies-from-dry-drowning/

It's Snakes to the Rescue for Heart Patients

Venom from one slithery serpent might be source of a better blood thinner, early research suggests

From: http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/news/20170608/its-snakes-to-the-rescue-for-heart-patients?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Tattoo Aftercare What to Know

The story looks at how to prevent an infection after getting a tattoo.

From: http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/news/20170608/tattoo-aftercare-what-to-know?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Number of suspected cholera cases reaches 100 000 in Yemen

The number of suspected cholera cases in Yemen continues to rise, reaching 101 820 with 791 deaths as of 7 June 2017.

From: http://www.who.int/entity/mediacentre/news/releases/2017/suspected-cholera-yemen/en/index.html

Diabetes drugs linked to rare but deadly complication

The dangerous side effect is usually seen with type 1 diabetes, not type 2, so doctors are not always on the lookout for it

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/diabetes-drugs-linked-to-increased-risk-for-rare-but-deadly-complication-type-2/

How exercise cheaters hack their Fitbits

Millions of Americans have Fitbits or other fitness devices to track their activity levels, but some have figured out how to get higher readings without breaking a sweat. Gilma Avalos reports.

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/how-exercise-cheaters-hack-their-fitbits/

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