New High-Tech Tools to Help Control Diabetes

New high-tech devices may make it easier for many of the nation’s 21 million people with diabetes to control the disease.

From: https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/condition-15/diabetes/gadgets?src=RSS_PUBLIC

When Someone You Love Has Multiple Sclerosis

Get tips on how on how to be a caregiver for a friend or relative who has multiple sclerosis (MS).

From: https://www.webmd.com/multiple-sclerosis/features/when-someone-you-love-has-multiple-sclerosis?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Yoga + Aerobics Doubles Heart Benefits

Combined, these exercises are better than either alone, study suggests

From: https://www.webmd.com/heart/news/20171020/yoga-aerobics-doubles-heart-benefits?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Lawsuit: Prison did nothing as fungus ruined inmate's brain

Marques Davis complained for months about symptoms before his death from meningoencephalitis in April

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/lawsuit-prison-did-nothing-as-fungus-ruined-inmates-brain/

Wind-Up Musical Toys Recalled Over Choking Hazard

More than 500,000 of the toys were sold at Carter's, Target and Walmart.

From: https://www.webmd.com/children/news/20171020/wind-up-musical-toys-recalled-over-choking-hazard?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Remembering Chris Rosati, who spread happiness while battling ALS

Chris Rosati's journey came to an end this week. He died of ALS at just 46 years old

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/remembering-chris-rosati-who-spread-happiness-while-battling-als/

Jambalaya at fundraiser may have sickened dozens, killed 1

A small town in Louisiana has been hit by a severe gastrointestinal illness authorities are linking to jambalaya at a softball team's fundraiser

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/fundraiser-jambalaya-may-have-sickened-dozens-killed-1-in-louisiana/

Study investigates treatment regret among prostate cancer survivors

As they get older, do men with prostate cancer come to regret the treatment decisions they made? A new study of men diagnosed during the mid-1990s indicates that some of them will.

Richard Hoffman, a professor of internal medicine and epidemiology at the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine in Iowa City, led a team that reviewed survey data that men filled out one, two, five, and 15 years after they were treated for prostate cancer. All 934 men included in the study were 75 or younger when diagnosed, each with localized tumors confined to the prostate gland. Approximately 60% of the men had low-risk prostate cancer that was expected to grow slowly, and the others had riskier cancers. Most of the men (89%) were treated with surgery or radiation. The rest were lumped together as having had conservative treatment: either medications to suppress testosterone (a hormone that makes prostate cancer grow faster), or “watchful waiting,” meaning doctors delayed treatment until there was evidence that the cancer was spreading.

Overall, 14.6% of the entire group expressed some treatment regret — 16.6% of the radiation-treated men, 15% of the surgically-treated men, and 8.2% of the men treated conservatively. Among the causes of regret, treatment-related bowel and sexual problems were cited most frequently. Surgically treated men reported the highest rate of significant sexual side effects (39%), while radiation-treated men reported the highest rate of significant bowl problems (15.6%). Remarkably, complaints over urinary incontinence differed little between the groups, ranging from a low of 15.5% for the conservatively-treated men to a high of 17.6% among men treated with radiation.

Results also showed that regret tends to increase with time, suggesting that when initial concerns over surviving prostate cancer wear off, the quality-of-life consequences of treatment become more apparent. Regrets were especially pronounced among men who felt they hadn’t been sufficiently counseled by their doctors before settling on a particular treatment option, and also among men who were preoccupied with changing levels of prostate-specific antigen, a blood test used to monitor cancer’s possible return.

Given these findings, the authors emphasized how important it is that men be counseled adequately and informed of the risks and benefits associated with various treatments. But men should also be reassured that treatment for prostate cancer has improved since the mid-1990s, and that bowel and urinary side effects in particular “don’t occur as frequently now as when the men in this study were diagnosed,” says co-author Peter Albertsen, a professor of surgery and chief of the division of urology at UConn Health in Farmington, Connecticut.

The post Study investigates treatment regret among prostate cancer survivors appeared first on Harvard Health Blog.

From: Charlie Schmidt https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/treatment-regret-prostate-cancer-2017102012535

What Does Your Medical Record Say About You?

Patient advocates urge transparency with medical records, but getting them isn't always easy -- or wise.

From: https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/news/20171013/what-does-your-medical-record-say-about-you?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Solving the Mystery of Chronic Fatigue

Researchers want to better understand the origins of, and possible treatments for, a badly named disorders that affects millions of Americans.

From: https://www.webmd.com/chronic-fatigue-syndrome/news/20171020/solving-the-mystery-of-chronic-fatigue?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Oral Sex Plus Smoking a Cancer Danger for Men

Risk of head and neck tumors tied to HPV infection jumps to 15 percent for this group, study finds

From: https://www.webmd.com/men/news/20171020/oral-sex-plus-smoking-a-cancer-danger-for-men?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Hep C Screen May Boost Opioid Treatment Success

When people find out they have the infection, they're more likely to stay off drugs

From: https://www.webmd.com/hepatitis/news/20171020/hep_c_screen_may_boost_opioid_treatment_success?src=RSS_PUBLIC

How Many Mutant Genes Drive Cancer?

Study finds there's no precise number of DNA changes needed to spur a tumor

From: https://www.webmd.com/cancer/news/20171020/how-many-mutant-genes-drive-cancer?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Drug OD Rate Now Higher in Rural U.S. Than Cities

Hardest-hit communities need targeted preventive measures, report suggests

From: https://www.webmd.com/drug-medication/news/20171020/drug-od-rate-now-higher-in-rural-us-than-cities?src=RSS_PUBLIC

New survey highlights ‘unusual’ flossing habits

The survey of 1,005 adults, released in October, found that most Americans say they have used the following items to remove food between teeth: fingernails (61 percent), folder paper or cards (40 percent), cutlery (21 percent), safety pins (14 percent) and strands of hair (7 percent).

From: http://www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2017-archive/october/new-survey-highlights-unusual-flossing-habits

3 Million Americans Say They Carry Handguns Daily

And many keep them concealed, review finds

From: https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/news/20171019/3-million-americans-say-they-carry-handguns-daily?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Backyard chicken trend turns deadly

Popular trend of raising backyard chickens in U.S. cities and suburbs brings a soaring number of illnesses from poultry-related diseases, at least one of them fatal

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/backyard-chicken-trend-turns-deadly/

WHO sending NCDs medicines and materials kits to humanitarian crises

From: World Health Organization https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZvlKWAOo48

New gene therapy "gave me my life back," cancer survivor says

The FDA has approved CAR-T cell therapy for lymphoma, a form of blood cancer, after some patients showed dramatic benefits. CBS Boston's Dr. Mallika Marshall has the story.

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/new-gene-therapy-gave-me-my-life-back-cancer-survivor-says/

WHO: Ending Tuberculosis - Statement by WHO Director-General for Global Ministerial Conference

From: World Health Organization https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ucovBpV2yUE

Can Aspirin Stop Liver Cancer in Hep B Patients?

Study from Taiwan finds link between aspirin use and reduced cancer risk

From: https://www.webmd.com/cancer/news/20171020/can-aspirin-stop-liver-cancer-in-hep-b-patients?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Smartphones, Screens Sabotaging Teens' Sleep

Study found more adolescents getting less rest because of temptations of technology

From: https://teens.webmd.com/news/20171020/smartphones-screens-sabotaging-teens-sleep?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Pollution Tied to 9 Million Deaths Worldwide

Dirty air and water aren't the only culprits, new report says

From: https://www.webmd.com/lung/news/20171020/pollution-tied-to-9-million-deaths-worldwide?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Diagnosis, Education and Planning: Amy’s Type 2 Diabetes Story

When Amy was initially diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, she was both discouraged and overwhelmed. Mustering all the courage she had, she soon took the first step toward managing the disease by pledging to herself that she would do everything in her power to be there for her family in the future.

Amy began eating healthy, but struggled finding the time and energy to exercise. However, that all changed when a friend asked her to run a half-marathon—she accepted the challenge and began training. Since her first race, she’s completed several shorter runs, and exercises at least 3-4 times a week, often running several miles.

Amy’s success didn’t just happen – she needed to take the next step to overcome the challenges of type 2 diabetes. Many other people living with type 2 diabetes may feel the same way. It’s challenging to start exercising, but so important to find ways to incorporate physical activity into your lifestyle. Similar to how Amy ran her first race with a friend, including family and friends into your workout can make fitness fun—especially if you’re just getting started.

If you’re ready to tackle your challenges, check out this video and visit AmericasDiabetesChallenge.com for tips to help people with type 2 diabetes and their loved ones tackle their challenges.

From: American Diabetes Association http://diabetesstopshere.org/2017/10/20/diagnosis-education-and-planning-amys-type-2-diabetes-story/

Why Japanese people keep working themselves to death

"Karoshi," or death from overwork, is a problem that Japan's "corporate warriors" can't seem to alleviate

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/karoshi-japan-deaths-persist-japanese-overwork/

Mayo Clinic Innovation in Action: Aid for hard to manage pain

From: Mayo Clinic https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pf3vBxp1s2s

WHO: Providing "QualityRights" in mental health services (Gujarat, India)

From: World Health Organization https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phd_PoHuL9c

WHO supports containment of rare virus on Uganda-Kenya border

WHO supports containment of rare virus on Uganda-Kenya border

From: http://www.who.int/entity/mediacentre/news/releases/2017/virus-uganda-kenya/en/index.html

State Laws Help Reduce Concussions in Youth Sports

Study finds more students are reporting symptoms, preventing recurring injuries

From: https://www.webmd.com/brain/news/20171019/state-laws-help-reduce-concussions-in-youth-sports?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Study reveals easy and cheap way to reduce risk of early death

American Cancer Society highlights benefit of walking

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/study-10-minute-walk-reduces-risk-early-death-health/

Walking for 10 minutes a day can reduce risk of early death, study says

If you're able to walk 10 minutes a day, you can reduce the risk of an early death, according to a study out Thursday from the American Cancer Society. Dr. Jon LaPook says every step you take is a step in the right direction.

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/walking-for-10-minutes-a-day-can-reduce-risk-of-early-death-study-says/