07/21/17

Friday, July 21, 2017

Not All Plant Foods Are Equal

Analysis found that only healthy fruits, vegetables and grains guarded against heart disease

From: http://www.webmd.com/diet/news/20170717/not-all-plant-foods-are-equal?src=RSS_PUBLIC

New report outlines lifestyle changes to prevent dementia

A new report shows that preventing dementia can start early in life. Certain lifestyle changes such as maximizing education, aggressively treating hypertension and managing depression can have a dramatic impact in preventing the disease. Dr. Jon LaPook has more.

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/new-report-outlines-lifestyle-changes-to-prevent-dementia/

Senate parliamentarian says some BCRA elements subject to 60-vote threshold

Some provisions in the original GOP Senate health care bill - which is similar to the revised bill - violate the Byrd Rule, which means those elements will require 60 votes, rather than 51

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/senate-parliamentarian-says-some-bcra-elements-subject-to-60-vote-threshold/

Nurse who was stabbed at hospital speaks out

Massachusetts nurse Elise Wilson is pushing for new legal protections for health care workers after she was attacked on the job. Beth Germano of CBS Boston station WBZ reports.

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/nurse-who-was-stabbed-at-hospital-speaks-out/

Nurse stabbed on the job pleads for hospital security law

Health workers "shouldn't have to go to work every day wondering if they're going to go home," the victim's husband testified

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/nurse-stabbed-by-patient-hospital-security-law-elises-law/

Rise in drug-addicted babies prompts judge's controversial solution

In the last decade, states like Tennessee have seen a ten-fold rise in the number of babies born with Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/opioid-crisis-tennessee-judge-neonatal-abstinence-syndrome-birth-control-inmate/

Company recalls coffee with Viagra-like substance

Bestherbs Coffee company issued the voluntary recall after one of its roasts was making some men a bit too excited

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/bestherbs-coffee-recall-viagra-like-herbal-substance/

Having A Soda With That Burger Is Double Trouble

High-sugar drinks combined with protein triggers extra fat storage by body, study finds

From: http://www.webmd.com/diet/obesity/news/20170721/having-a-soda-with-that-burger-is-double-trouble?src=RSS_PUBLIC

20% of Adults Have Mental Illness or Drug Problem

New Jersey is the mentally healthiest state, report finds

From: http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/news/20170721/20-of-adults-have-mental-illness-or-drug-problem?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Athlete overcomes paralysis to race, coach again

After a bike crash left her paralyzed, the elite cyclist thought her competition days were over, but that was far from the truth

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/athlete-beth-sanden-overcomes-paralysis-to-race-and-coach-again/

Fetuses may be able to distinguish between languages

There's more evidence that the "first building blocks in acquiring language" start to develop even before birth

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/fetuses-distinguish-between-languages/

Oxygen therapy revives brain of toddler who almost drowned

Doctor says child's severe brain injury was reversed using the "most misunderstood therapy in the history of science"

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/oxygen-therapy-revives-brain-of-toddler-who-almost-drowned-in-pool/

Will the health care bill debate continue next week?

Senate Republicans are expected to vote next week on whether to begin debating on a health care bill. But right now, it's not clear what that bill will be. Shannon Pettypiece, Bloomberg's White House correspondent, joins "CBS This Morning" to talk about the GOP bill's status, the possible absence of Senator McCain and potential Medicaid cuts.

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/will-the-health-care-bill-debate-continue-next-week/

WHO: Action against HIV drug resistance threat

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

WHO: Mothers, babies and HIV: a story of INSPIRE

From: World Health Organization https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e7VXgYL2xi0

What Sen. John McCain is up against in cancer battle

Sen. John McCain has been diagnosed with glioblastoma, a form of brain cancer that's very tough to beat. CBS News chief medical correspondent Dr. Jon LaPook explains why, and what options McCain has for treatment.

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/what-sen-john-mccain-is-up-against-in-cancer-battle/

Senate GOP eyes Tuesday for health care vote, but exact plan up in the air

When asked if senators would want to know the plan beforehand, Sen. John Cornyn said, "Yeah, but it's a luxury we don't have"

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/senate-gop-eyes-tuesday-for-health-care-vote-but-exact-plan-up-in-the-air/

Official sounds alarm over possible lead in tap water

New Orleans inspector general says some old city water lines - and lines on private properties - are made of lead

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/lead-tap-water-prompt-new-orleans-official-sound-alarm/

Traveling to Europe? Protect yourself from this preventable disease

Thousands of cases of measles have been reported in Europe since January 2016, and in the past year at least 35 children have died

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/traveling-to-europe-protect-yourself-from-measles/

Encouraging milestone in the fight against HIV

AIDS deaths are now down to about to half of what they were in 2005, according to the U.N. AIDS agency

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/hiv-aids-drugs-for-first-time-over-half-taking-meds/

CBO scores modified version of Senate GOP's repeal and replace plan

This score differs from a cost estimate CBO released Wednesday, which analyzed plan to repeal 2010 health care law now and replace it later

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/cbo-scores-modified-version-of-senate-gops-repeal-and-replace-plan/

Family's heartbreaking battle with E. coli

Health officials are investigating how two young siblings in Minnesota were infected with a serious strain of E. coli. The little girl died Sunday and the boy remains hospitalized. Bill Hudson of CBS station WCCO reports.

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/familys-heartbreaking-battle-with-e-coli/

Cancer expert: McCain's treatment option is "tolerable"

Dr. David Agus joined "CBS This Morning" from Los Angeles to discuss potential treatment options for Sen. McCain's brain cancer

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/senator-john-mccain-glioblastoma-brain-tumor-cancer-david-agus/

Company recalls coffee with Viagra-like substance

Sharks! What They Can Teach Us About Our Health

Scientists studying ancient predators for possible human benefit

From: http://www.webmd.com/cancer/news/20170721/what-sharks-can-teach-us-about-our-health?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Syphilis in Babies: Old Disease Makes A a Comeback

Rates of congenital syphilis are on the rise after years of decline.

From: http://www.webmd.com/sexual-conditions/news/20170721/syphilis-in-babies-makes-a-comeback?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Fetuses may be able to distinguish between languages

There's more evidence that the "first building blocks in acquiring language" start to develop even before birth

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/fetuses-distinguish-between-languages/

Oxygen therapy revives brain of toddler who almost drowned

Athlete overcomes paralysis to race, coach again

Estrogen May Influence Women's Depression Risk

Early menstruation, more frequent periods seem to make sad times less likely, researchers suggest

From: http://www.webmd.com/depression/news/20170721/estrogen-may-influence-womens-depression-risk?src=RSS_PUBLIC

ACL Surgery Often Successful Over Long Term

Even 10 years after procedure, many still playing sports, study finds

From: http://www.webmd.com/pain-management/knee-pain/news/20170721/acl-surgery-often-successful-over-long-term?src=RSS_PUBLIC

FTC bans business from selling OSHA regulatory posters

Washington, D.C. — The Federal Trade Commission announced July 14 that a court order has banned a Florida operation from selling the posters of or misrepresenting itself as an affiliate of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. The company was accused of deceiving small businesses into paying for government-required regulatory posters, which are available at no cost.

From: http://www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2017-archive/july/ftc-bans-business-from-selling-osha-regulatory-posters

To combat opioid crisis, Missouri governor creates prescription drug monitoring program

Through an executive order Gov. Eric Greitens of Missouri directed the state’s Department of Health and Senior Services to create a prescription drug monitoring program.

From: By Kimber Solana http://www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2017-archive/july/to-combat-opioid-crisis-missouri-governor

Will the health care bill debate continue next week?

Rise in drug-addicted babies prompts judge's controversial solution

WHO: Action against HIV drug resistance threat

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

WHO: Mothers, babies and HIV: a story of INSPIRE

From: World Health Organization https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e7VXgYL2xi0

Oxygen Therapy Revives Toddler's Brain

Shrunken areas of brain tissue actually re-grew after treatment, doctor says

From: http://www.webmd.com/brain/news/20170720/oxygen-therapy-revives-toddlers-brain?src=RSS_PUBLIC

What's Ahead for Health Care Reform in 2018?

Higher premiums, fewer choices, less time could confront consumers shopping for insurance, analysts say

From: http://www.webmd.com/health-insurance/news/20170720/whats-ahead-for-health-reform-in-2018?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Vitamin D: Finding a balance

Over the July 4th weekend, my non-physician husband with a history of skin cancer tried to justify not wearing sunscreen in order to get some vitamin D. My husband, of course, has no idea how much vitamin D he needs or why, and I suspect he is not alone.

Why do we need vitamin D?

The easy answer is for bones. Vitamin D facilitates absorption of calcium and phosphate, which are needed for bone growth. Without sufficient vitamin D, bones become brittle (in children this is called rickets and in adults it is called osteomalacia) and break more easily. Vitamin D is likely beneficial for other parts of the body as well; studies suggest an overall decrease in death in addition to reductions in blood pressure, respiratory illnesses, cancer, heart disease, and depression. Adequate vitamin D during pregnancy also appears to reduce the chances of having a low-birthweight baby. However, most of the effects of vitamin D have not been studied in controlled settings. Studies looking at the benefits of vitamin D on various conditions are ongoing. A small study published earlier this month suggested that high-dose vitamin D could reduce redness and inflammation following sunburns, but the dose tested far exceeded the recommended daily dose of vitamin D.

How do I get the vitamin D I need?

Don’t run out to the drug store to buy vitamin D pills just yet. Your body produces vitamin D when the skin is exposed to sun, and it is estimated that most people need 1,000 to 1,500 hours of sun exposure throughout the spring, summer, and fall to obtain the necessary amount of vitamin D. Vitamin D deficiency is very common and on the rise. This is mostly due to vigilant sun protection, since sunscreen with SPF 30 reduces vitamin D production by 95%. Of course, as a dermatologist I am not advocating for prolonged sun exposure, but small amounts can go a long way, as the skin produces vitamin D that can last at least twice as long the vitamin D you take in through foods or supplements. Vitamin D can also be obtained through other sources, including fatty fish (such as tuna, mackerel, and salmon), foods fortified with vitamin D (such as dairy products, soy milk, and cereals), beef liver, cheese, and egg yolks. Of course, vitamin D supplements are needed for people most at risk for deficiency, including breastfed infants, older adults, people with limited sun exposure, darker skinned individuals, and overweight individuals.

Why shouldn’t everyone just take vitamin D supplements?

Too much vitamin D can be harmful, including (ironically) increasing fractures, falls, and kidney stones, and can be toxic by causing excessive levels of calcium. Although not proven, high vitamin D levels have been associated with prostate cancer, pancreatic cancer, and mortality. A recent study found that use of high-dose vitamin D supplements increased over a 15-year period.

So how much is too much? For adults, toxic effects increase above 4,000 IU per day. The recommended dietary dose of vitamin D is 600 IU each day for adults 70 and younger and 800 IU each day for adults over 70. To put this into perspective, 4 ounces of cooked salmon contains approximately 600 IU of vitamin D.

The post Vitamin D: Finding a balance appeared first on Harvard Health Blog.

From: Emily S. Ruiz, MD, MPH http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/vitamin-d-finding-balance-2017072112070

This just in: Exercise is good for you

Follow me on Twitter @RobShmerling

The evidence continues to mount — physical activity can help you live longer. Of course, that raises some fundamental questions:

Are certain activities better than others?
How much does the intensity of the activity matter?
How much is enough?

There are exercise guidelines, of course. One of the most widely quoted physical activity recommendations comes from the US government’s Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion that recommends everyone exercise at a moderate or greater intensity for at least 150 minutes a week (or 30 to 45 minutes most days of the week). While this may sound reasonable enough, most people don’t follow it. The reasons are many and diverse, but a common one is that physical activity is not part of the daily routine. For example, increasingly we do not rely on walking or biking to get to work.

Two studies, one message

Two recent studies looked at the impact of different types of physical activity and came to similar conclusions. The first study compared rates of heart disease, cancer, and premature death over a five year period among more than 260,000 people who walked to work, cycled to work, or were sedentary during their commute. Compared to those who were sedentary:

Those who biked had almost half the rate of heart disease, cancer, or premature death.
Those who walked had lower rates of heart disease (by 27%) and lower rates of death due to heart disease (by 36%).

The other study was one performed as a follow-up to previous research that linked running for as little as five minutes a day (on average) with a longer lifespan. Further analysis found that runners (as compared with non-runners)

experienced a 40% lower risk of premature death
lived an additional three years
were estimated to gain seven hours of added life for every hour they spent running.

In this study, the benefits of running were noted even for those who had cardiovascular risk factors, such as high blood pressure or smoking. Taken together, the researchers concluded that running might be unique in its health benefits among different types of exercise that have been studied. And while more running provided more health benefits, there did appear to be a limit: additional benefits were not seen with more than four hours of running per week, and three years of added life seemed to be the maximum gained. Cycling, walking, and other physical activity were also beneficial, though not as much as running.

Some caveats

These studies noted an association between certain physical activities (biking or running) and health benefits (lower risk of cancer, heart disease, or death). While it’s possible the physical activity directly caused these benefits, it’s also possible that there’s a different explanation. Perhaps cyclists and runners tend to eat healthier diets, smoke less, or inherit genes linked to longevity. While these studies attempted to account for these other factors, it’s impossible to completely eliminate other potential contributors. In addition, the study subjects may not be representative of the population at large. For example, the study of runners included subjects who were mostly white and middle-class; the results might have been different if others had enrolled.

Your mother was right

Getting up and getting some exercise is good for you. This is, of course, not a new idea. But these new studies are only the latest — and among the most compelling — to suggest that something as simple as walking, biking, or running could be a powerful way to improve your health and have a longer life.

The post This just in: Exercise is good for you appeared first on Harvard Health Blog.

From: Robert H. Shmerling, MD http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/this-just-in-exercise-is-good-for-you-2017072012004

Are certain activities better than others?
How much does the intensity of the activity matter?
How much is enough?

Two studies, one message

Those who biked had almost half the rate of heart disease, cancer, or premature death.
Those who walked had lower rates of heart disease (by 27%) and lower rates of death due to heart disease (by 36%).

experienced a 40% lower risk of premature death
lived an additional three years
were estimated to gain seven hours of added life for every hour they spent running.

Some caveats

Your mother was right

The post This just in: Exercise is good for you appeared first on Harvard Health Blog.

From: Robert H. Shmerling, MD http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/this-just-in-exercise-is-good-for-you-2017072012004