Guinea pigs can harbor a hidden health hazard

Doctors in Europe report three people were hospitalized due to infections from these pets

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/guinea-pigs-hidden-health-hazard-chlamydia-caviae-bacteria/

As Hurricane Irma looms, don’t forget senior citizens

Experts offer practical tips to help ensure the safety of this vulnerable population

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/hurricane-irma-florida-senior-citizens-safety-tips/

"Striking" findings in kids exposed to 9/11 dust

New research finds about half of those tested had higher levels of a certain chemical in their blood

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/striking-findings-blood-tests-on-kids-exposed-9-11-dust/

USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue Fire Funding

From: USDA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7cQelGgNdmc

Breast-Feeding Linked to Lower Endometriosis Risk

Hormonal changes may play a role, researchers say

From: http://www.webmd.com/parenting/baby/news/20170908/breast-feeding-linked-to-lower-endometriosis-risk?src=RSS_PUBLIC

University of Texas dental school volunteers provide emergency oral care to Hurricane Harvey evacuees

Volunteers joined the Hurricane Harvey relief effort by treating nearly 100 patients who were among those who sought shelter with the Red Cross at the George R. Brown Convention Center.

From: http://www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2017-archive/september/university-of-texas-dental-school-volunteers-provide-emergency-oral-care

Can Cold Med Be Blamed in Woman's Murder?

North Carolina man tells authorities he took cold medicine, woke up to find his wife dead.

From: http://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/news/20170908/can-cold-med-be-blamed-in-womans-murder?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Pfizer Did Not Investigate EpiPen Problems: FDA

Manufacturer allegedly new of defects, failed to act.

From: http://www.webmd.com/allergies/news/20170908/pfizer-did-not-investigate-epipen-problems-fda?src=RSS_PUBLIC

How to handle online negative reviews

Patients can use websites such as Yelp or Angie’s List to search for dentists with good reviews.

But what happens if a dentist finds that a patient has posted an unfavorable review? Can they do anything about it?


From: By David Burger http://www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2017-archive/september/how-to-handle-online-negative-reviews

Hurricane Irma poses major challenges for medical care

As Hurricane Irma approaches southeast Florida, the state's health system is mobilizing for a surge in demand for medical care. At least 11 medical facilities in the Florida area are being evacuated and health officials are warning residents to take action now to avoid an emergency. Dr. David Agus joins "CBS This Morning" to offer advice for patients in Irma's path.

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/hurricane-irma-poses-major-challenges-for-medical-care/

Mayo Clinic Minute: The 60-60 rule for safe listening

From: Mayo Clinic https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5pKM9ATzZw

Mayo Clinic Minute: Facts about the opioid epidemic

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

Statins May Help People With COPD Live Longer

Deaths from lung-related causes were reduced by as much as 45 percent, study suggests

From: http://www.webmd.com/lung/copd/news/20170908/statins-may-help-people-with-copd-live-longer?src=RSS_PUBLIC

HPV Shot May Even Protect Women Who Never Got It

'Herd immunity' effect shows U.S. females now less likely to contract the cancer-causing virus

From: http://www.webmd.com/sexual-conditions/hpv-genital-warts/news/20170908/hpv-shot-may-even-protect-women-who-never-got-it?src=RSS_PUBLIC

ADA member travel benefits could save dentists money

ADA members planning travel can take advantage of ADA member travel benefits and save significantly on hotels and car rentals.

From: http://www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2017-archive/september/ada-member-travel-benefits-could-save-dentists-money

Center for Professional Success features help on amalgam recycling compliance

The ADA Center for Professional Success has updated material on the amalgam recycling rule, including new information from the Environmental Protection Agency on deadlines, forms and submission processes.

From: By David Burger http://www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2017-archive/september/center-for-professional-success-features-help-on-amalgam-recycling-compliance

Webinar will teach how to use video in practice marketing

The ADA Center for Professional Success and ADA Business Resources will host an upcoming webinar that will teach dentists how they can incorporate video into their marketing skills.

From: http://www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2017-archive/september/webinar-will-teach-how-to-use-video-in-practice-marketing

The Best Way to Diagnose a Food Allergy

Oral food challenges are safe and rarely result in a serious reaction, researchers say

From: http://www.webmd.com/allergies/news/20170908/the-best-way-to-diagnose-a-food-allergy?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Dennis Wigle , M.D., Ph.D: Thoracic Surgeon

From: Mayo Clinic https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oby1R_M0SG4

Shanda Blackmon, M.D., M.P.H.

From: Mayo Clinic https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=skMVgog_JP0

Here's the Recipe to Keep Colon Cancer at Bay

Increase whole grains and exercise, limit booze and processed meats: report

From: http://www.webmd.com/colorectal-cancer/news/20170907/heres-the-recipe-to-keep-colon-cancer-at-bay?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Can getting quality sleep help prevent Alzheimer’s disease?

It’s amazing how a good night’s sleep can rejuvenate the mind, or “rest the little grey cells” as Hercule Poirot, Agatha Christie’s famed sleuth, liked to say.

But sound slumber may boost the brain another way by protecting you against Alzheimer’s disease. Research has begun to show an association between poor sleep and a higher risk of accumulating beta-amyloid protein plaque in the brain, one of the hallmarks of the disease.

“Observational studies have found that adults over age 65 with amyloid plaques in their brain have reduced slow-wave sleep, which is thought to play an important role in memory function, even though these people do not yet show signs of Alzheimer’s, like memory loss and cognitive decline,” says Dr. Brad Dickerson, associate professor of neurology at Harvard Medical School. “It may be that quality sleep could play a role in who may get Alzheimer’s.”

Sweeping out amyloids

Any talk about Alzheimer’s often begins with amyloid proteins. They accumulate in the brain daily and are thought to be a waste product from the energy used when brain cells communicate.

Your brain sweeps out excess amyloid proteins during slow-wave sleep, which is the deep sleep phase during which your memories are consolidated. Some studies suggest that when your sleep gets interrupted during the slow-wave phase, amyloid proteins build up and form plaque on brain tissue. Scientists believe this is the first stage of the development of Alzheimer’s, and it can occur years before symptoms appear.

Which comes first

The relationship between poor sleep and amyloid plaque is also a classic chicken-and-egg scenario: does poor sleep cause amyloid plaque, or does plaque buildup cause poor sleep?

It’s not clear.

A 2015 study in Nature Neuroscience explored the question by using brain imaging on 26 older adults, ages 65 to 81, who had not been diagnosed with dementia and did not report any sleep problems. First, the group received PET scans to measure levels of amyloid in their brains. Then they were asked to memorize 120 pairs of words and tested on how well they remembered a portion of them.

The people then slept for eight hours, during which their brain waves were measured for sleep disruptions, especially to find out if they awoke during the slow-wave phase. The next morning, their brains were scanned as they tried to recall the memorized words. Over all, the people with the highest levels of amyloid in the brain had the poorest quality of sleep and performed worst on the memory test — some forgot more than half of the information.

Sleep on it

Does all this mean that improving poor sleep or practicing good sleeping habits can protect you against Alzheimer’s? Maybe. But it also may mean that quality sleep should be part of a multipronged effort to stave off Alzheimer’s, according to Dr. Dickerson.

“Other research has found strong evidence that aerobic exercise also may help to lower a person’s risk,” he says. “Exercise also helps with better sleep quality, so they may work in conjunction. Weight loss also plays a factor, as people who are overweight tend to have more sleep problems.”

Until more is known, Dr. Dickerson suggests that the best approach is to not ignore sleep problems, such as insomnia, sleep apnea, or waking up often to use the bathroom. “See your doctor for an evaluation,” he says. It could go a long way toward protecting your little grey cells.

The post Can getting quality sleep help prevent Alzheimer’s disease? appeared first on Harvard Health Blog.

From: Matthew Solan https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/waking-up-to-alzheimers-can-getting-quality-sleep-help-prevent-the-disease-2017090812293