Even modest diet swaps could reduce risk of death

New research shows making simple changes to your diet can have a big impact on health

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/even-modest-changes-to-diet-could-reduce-risk-of-death/

The toll ongoing stress can take on a child's brain

"We know that if they don't feel safe then they can't learn," but it's possible to help some kids become more resilient

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/childhood-stress-can-take-a-toll-on-young-brains-learning/

JFK's secret struggle with back pain

The former president's vibrant public image belied his debilitating battle with back pain

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/jfk-john-f-kennedy-back-pain-secret-struggle/

Woman dies after contracting rare tick-borne virus

Doctors say she's only the fifth confirmed case of the deadly Bourbon virus since it was first discovered in 2014

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/missouri-woman-dies-after-contracting-rare-tick-borne-bourbon-virus/

CAR-T gene therapy for leukemia clears FDA hurdle

A panel of cancer experts voted on what could become the first gene therapy widely available in the U.S.

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/car-t-leukemia-cancer-gene-therapy-fda/

Blood test may hold promise for pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic cancer is usually discovered late and survival is poor, but researchers hope an experimental blood test could help change that

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/pancreatic-cancer-blood-test-earlier-detection/

Palliative Care

From: Mayo Clinic https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9h_U6c9VoM

Boy high-fives with new 3D-printed prosthetic arm

Life has changed for 8-year-old Garrett Clark thanks to the "Fab Lab" at the University of Texas at Arlington

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/3d-printed-prosthetic-university-of-texas-arlington-fab-lab/

After a storm: Staying safe following a hurricane

From: Mayo Clinic https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CiF4xQW-cA

Several Obamacare tax increases will be included in revamped GOP health care bill

It's unclear if the changes in the new bill will be enough to unite enough conservatives and moderates in order to advance to debate on the bill and vote on it

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/several-obamacare-tax-increases-will-be-included-in-revamped-gop-health-care-bill/

Bad sleep may be an evolutionary survival tool

A new study suggests our ancient ancestors may have pulled the night shift to watch for danger

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/bad-sleep-may-be-an-evolutionary-survival-tool/

Mom makes emotional plea after trampoline accident injures 3-year-old

The case has circulated nationally on social media and raised questions about age restrictions for trampolines

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/3-year-old-in-body-cast-after-visiting-trampoline-park/

Wellness Wednesday: How to Strengthen and Stretch With One Full-Body Challenge

From: Mayo Clinic https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y34DazYzZss

Tour of Mayo Clinic School of Medicine in Arizona

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

Hurricane safety: Staying safe and healthy during severe weather

From: Mayo Clinic https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYbCAUV5Mvc

Mayo Clinic Minute: Fast-track breast cancer treatment

From: Mayo Clinic https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLyUoe3RLyI

Tips for staying safe before a hurricane

From: Mayo Clinic https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yoi8deB_NyE

Belize humanitarians seeking help for autumn missions

The Belize Mission Project is looking for volunteers to assist dental humanitarian missions in the Central American country in October and November.

From: http://www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2017-archive/july/belize-humanitarians-seeking-help-for-autumn-missions

Touro dental school names new dean

Touro College and University System announced July 10 it named Dr. Ronnie Myers as dean of the Touro College of Dental Medicine.

From: http://www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2017-archive/july/touro-dental-school-names-new-dean

WHO: We will end Tuberculosis - Global Ministerial Conference on TB

From: World Health Organization https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51RDclab5nc

Taming the pain of sciatica: For most people, time heals and less is more

Despite being a less common cause of low back pain, sciatica is still something I regularly see as a general internist. Primary care doctors can and should manage sciatica, because for most individuals the body can fix the problem. My job is to help manage the pain while the body does its job. When a person’s symptoms don’t improve, I discuss the role of surgery or an injection to speed things up.

What is sciatica?

Sciatica refers to pain caused by the sciatic nerve that carries messages from the brain down the spinal cord to the legs. The pain of sciatica typically radiates down one side from the lower back into the leg, often below the knee. The most common cause is a bulging (“herniated”) disc in the lower back. Discs are tire-like structures that sit between the bones of the spine. If the outer rim of the disc tears, usually due to routine pressure on the lower back, the jelly-like inner material can come out and pinch or inflame the nearby nerve. Sciatica is most common in people 30 to 50.

How do you know if it is sciatica?

The key to diagnosing sciatica is a thorough history and a focused exam. Unfortunately, many patients expect an x-ray or MRI, and doctors, often facing time constraints, order one even though we know imaging tests don’t really help us treat early sciatica any better. The symptoms of sciatica are often worse with sitting or coughing, and may be accompanied by numbness or tingling in the leg. A physical exam can confirm that the sciatic nerve is involved, and I look for weakness or diminished reflexes in the legs that suggest that someone needs early referral to a specialist. (This doesn’t happen often.) With this information, I can make an initial diagnosis and start treatment.

Treating pain… and managing expectations

Many people think (understandably) that the worse the pain, the more likely something bad is going on. However, this isn’t true for sciatica. The body can reabsorb the disc material that is causing symptoms, even for those with severe pain. So, treatment focuses on controlling pain and keeping people as active as possible. If the pain is excruciating, lying down for short periods can help, but prolonged bed rest does not. So once the pain diminishes, I tell patients to get up and start walking short distances. Since sitting increases pressure on the discs in the lower back, I recommend avoiding prolonged sitting or driving. Many people try treatments like physical therapy, massage, acupuncture, and chiropractic manipulation, but evidence suggests that while these approaches may help typical low back pain, they are less helpful for sciatica. Over-the-counter pain medicines like ibuprofen and naproxen can help. When they don’t I may recommend short-term use of stronger, prescription pain medicines.

The good news is that for most (roughly three out of four) people, symptoms improve over a few weeks. Rarely, I’ll find weakness on exam, such as a foot drop, and refer for immediate surgical evaluation. For those not improving after six weeks, surgery is an option. We know surgery can speed up recovery, but by six to 12 months people who have surgery are usually doing about as well as those who decide to just give the body more time to heal on its own. Surgery involves removing the disc material that is affecting the nerve. It is generally a very safe procedure, and while complications are rare, they can happen. What’s more, 5% to 10% of people who have surgery will not be helped by it, or may have worse pain afterwards.

Patients often ask about spinal injections — where steroid medicine is injected into the affected area. It is worth considering for those with uncontrolled pain or for those with persistent, bothersome symptoms who want to avoid surgery. Injections can provide short-term relief. Like any procedure, it has uncommon risks including more pain, and it doesn’t seem to decrease the need for future surgery.

Staying patient-focused… and “hurt” doesn’t always mean “harm”

For most patients with sciatica, it’s worth seeing your primary care doctor. Patients who come in are often scared. Typically, it is pain the likes of which they may have never had. They want relief and, rightly, they want it now. That is the appeal of surgery and injections, but I also know that most will get better with time and can avoid even the uncommon risks of these procedures. When I see a patient in my office I can assess and identify the few who need immediate referral to a specialist. But for most, I try to reassure that hurt doesn’t mean harm, and that my treatments are geared to managing pain and keeping them active while the body fixes itself. For those not improving, I will get an MRI prior to referring for surgery or an injection, if the patient decides that speeding up recovery is right for them. For those who feel that they can manage the pain, I can reassure them that they can delay surgery for up to six months without risking long-term problems down the road.

Sources

1. Herniated lumbar intervertebral disk. New England Journal of Medicine, May 2016.
2. Evaluating and managing acute low back pain in the primary care setting. Journal of General Internal Medicine, February 2001.
3. Epidural corticosteroid injections for radulopathy and spinal stenosis. Annals of Internal Medicine, September 2015.

The post Taming the pain of sciatica: For most people, time heals and less is more appeared first on Harvard Health Blog.

From: Steven J. Atlas, MD, MPH http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/taming-pain-sciatica-people-time-heals-less-2017071212048

American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association merges with Cleft Palate Foundation

The American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association and the Cleft Palate Foundation, two nonprofit organizations dedicated to the treatment of cleft palate and other craniofacial conditions, merged June 30.

From: By David Burger http://www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2017-archive/july/american-cleft-palate-craniofacial-association-merges-with-cleft-palate-foundation

CPAP Mask Not a Prescription for Heart Troubles

Device helped with sleep apnea, but didn't cut deaths from cardiovascular causes, study finds

From: http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/sleep-apnea/news/20170711/cpap-mask-not-a-prescription-for-heart-troubles?src=RSS_PUBLIC

FDA panel to vote on revolutionary gene therapy for cancer

An FDA panel meets Wednesday to decide whether to recommend the first government-approved gene therapy. CAR T-cell treatment uses the body's own immune system to attack cancer. USC Norris Westside Cancer Center director and CBS News medical contributor Dr. David Agus joins "CBS This Morning" from Los Angeles to discuss the treatment that could be a life saver for some patients.

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/fda-panel-to-vote-on-revolutionary-gene-therapy-for-cancer/

2.1 billion people lack safe drinking water at home, more than twice as many lack safe sanitation

Some 3 in 10 people worldwide, or 2.1 billion, lack access to safe, readily available water at home, and 6 in 10 people, or 4.5 billion, lack safely managed sanitation, according to a new report by WHO and UNICEF.

From: http://www.who.int/entity/mediacentre/news/releases/2017/water-sanitation-hygiene/en/index.html

Is it time to take a sick day for mental health?

A woman's tweet about a sick day "to focus on my mental health," and her boss's response, spark discussion about depression on the job

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/calling-in-sick-for-mental-health-work-job-employee/