11/16/17

Thursday, November 16, 2017

One man's secret to living stronger is going from 18 wheels to 2

There is no stopping Lew Cox or the riders who proudly consider themselves the oldest and fittest biker gang in all of Colorado

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/living-stronger-sticky-bun-riders-denver-colorado/

Report sheds light on Chicago's death rate from opioids

Report also claims that while in the suburbs and among whites the main approach is treatment, the strategy in Chicago among African Americans is arrest and prosecution

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/opioids-chicago-death-rate-higher-among-african-americans-report/

Toxic algae becoming severe threat nationwide

Outbreaks have been reported in every state, a trend likely to accelerate as climate change boosts warmer temperatures

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/toxic-algae-severe-threat-nationwide/

Groups Help Children Grieve After A Parent Dies

A growing number of groups are offering support to children and young adults after a parent dies.

From: https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/news/20171116/groups-help-children-grieve-after-a-parent-dies?src=RSS_PUBLIC

CDC Wants America to Eat Its Fruits & Veggies

Just 9 percent of adults eat enough vegetables and only 12 percent get the recommended amount of fruit daily

From: https://www.webmd.com/diet/news/20171116/cdc-wants-america-to-eat-its-fruits-amp-veggies?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Dog helped man detect cancer

Michael DiZoglio was diagnosed with testicular cancer, thanks to help from his father's dog

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/michael-dizoglio-dog-testicular-cancer-denver/

NFL Star Was 1st Living Person Diagnosed with CTE

The first case of a living person to be diagnosed with the degenerative brain disease chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is described in a new case study.

From: https://www.webmd.com/brain/news/20171116/nfl-star-was-1st-living-person-diagnosed-with-cte?src=RSS_PUBLIC

If Dad Has Depression, Kids Might Develop It, Too

Having a father with depression may put teens at a heightened risk for the mental health problem, a new study suggests.

From: https://www.webmd.com/men/news/20171116/if-dad-has-depression-kids-might-develop-it-too?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Hospital Midwives, Lower C-Section Rates?

Expectant mothers seeking to lower their risk of a cesarean delivery might want to consider getting a midwife involved, a new study suggests.

From: https://www.webmd.com/parenting/news/20171116/hospital-midwives-lower-c-section-rates?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Kids still getting risky painkiller after tonsillectomy

Despite warnings from the FDA, some U.S. children are still being given the opioid painkiller codeine after having their tonsils removed, a new study finds

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/despite-warnings-kids-still-getting-risky-painkiller-after-tonsillectomy/

Mayo Clinic Minute: Alexa offers Mayo Clinic First Aid

From: Mayo Clinic https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQfezyjzU78

Town under orders to boil water after E. coli detected

Officials are advising customers to not drink the water without boiling it first to kill off any contaminants

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/westerly-rhode-island-e-coli-boil-water-order/

UN leaders appeal for immediate lifting of humanitarian blockade in Yemen – lives of millions are at risk

UN leaders appeal for immediate lifting of humanitarian blockade in Yemen – tens of thousands of lives at imminent risk

From: http://www.who.int/entity/mediacentre/news/statements/2017/appeal-yemen-blockade/en/index.html

Dietetic Education Forum - 7 December 2017

From: BritishDietetic https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJrFDNpEuM4

Legionnaires' disease outbreak tied to Disneyland

Health officials say three more cases of Legionnaires' have been reported, bringing the total to 15, and may be tied to the popular theme park

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/legionnaires-disease-outbreak-disneyland-california/

Death By Birth: Bearing the Burden of Maternal Mortality

When 32-year-old Calista Johnson died 5 days after giving birth this summer, she became part of a troubling trend of moms dying in childbirth in the U.S.

From: https://www.webmd.com/baby/news/20171116/bearing-burden-of-maternal-mortality?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Getting Care in the '4th' Trimester

Most pregnancy-related deaths in the U.S. happen after a baby is born, prompting some doctors to say the postpartum period should be treated as the "Fourth Trimester."

From: https://www.webmd.com/baby/news/20171116/getting-care-in-4th-trimester?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Kids Still Get Risky Painkiller Post-Tonsillectomy

Despite safety warnings from drug regulators, some U.S. children are still being given a risky painkiller after having their tonsils removed, a new study finds.

From: https://www.webmd.com/children/news/20171116/kids-still-get-risky-painkiller-post-tonsillectomy?src=RSS_PUBLIC

One Type of Diet Can Add Years to Your Life

Obese people who follow a low-fat weight-loss plan could tack extra years onto their life, a new review of medical evidence suggests.

From: https://www.webmd.com/diet/news/20171116/one-type-of-diet-can-add-years-to-your-life?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Breathing Dirty Air May Raise Miscarriage Risk

Chronic exposure seemed to increase that risk by more than 10 percent, according to researchers who tracked hundreds of pregnancies among couples in Michigan and Texas.

From: https://www.webmd.com/women/news/20171116/breathing-dirty-air-may-raise-miscarriage-risk?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Mayo Clinic Minute: Amazon Alexa offers Mayo Clinic First Aid

From: Mayo Clinic https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsVbqnjCdA4

Self-care: 4 ways to nourish body and soul

There’s a lot of talk about self-care these days, but what is it really? Self-care means paying attention to and supporting one’s own physical and mental health. It is also a big part of treatment for many physical and mental health disorders.

It’s so, so important.

But, it’s also one of the first things to fall by the wayside in times of stress, especially for those who are primary caregivers. This includes parents, people caring for elderly relatives, healthcare providers, and first responders. These are the people who often put the well-being of others above themselves.

This is a big problem.

Why is self-care important?

Well, we can’t function very well if we aren’t very well. If it is important to us to be able to take care of others, then we must pay attention to our own well-being.

My favorite analogy for this is clichéd, but accurate. When you get on an airplane and the flight attendant gives that safety spiel, when they get to the part about the oxygen masks, the first thing they tell you is: “If you’re traveling with children or others who need assistance, put your oxygen mask on first.”

Think about it. Let’s say you don’t do that and you fall unconscious due to lack of oxygen, then no one gets the help they need. Lose/lose situation there. It’s the same deal in everyday life. When we don’t take care of ourselves, no one wins.

And yet there is a pervasive cultural pressure to keep pushing ourselves, to ignore the physical needs of our bodies and the emotional needs of our souls, which invariably leads to chronic stress, burnout, depression. Data show that burned-out healthcare providers provide crappy service, depressed parents can’t effectively parent, and the list goes on.

When I talk with my patients about self-care, I often hear things like “But I don’t have time!” or “I’ll feel like I’m being selfish!”

As one of two working parents with two small children, I can empathize greatly with these patients. So, the advice I give is the same advice that I follow.

I know that it can be difficult to fit in self-care when time is at a premium and demands on you are high, but here are four easy things you can consider.

4 things to help revive and nourish body and soul

Be physically active. Exercise busts stress, boosts the mood, and elevates our energy level, not to mention the heart health benefits. Believe it or not, you can exercise just about anywhere, anytime. It doesn’t have to be at the gym. It doesn’t have to be a scheduled class. And it doesn’t have to be more than a few minutes a day. All activity counts. I encourage patients to think of an activity that they enjoy. Anything. Think about how that enjoyable activity can fit into your life: maybe you can ride your bike to work, or take your kids on an easy hike, or get the whole family to rake leaves with you. Let’s brainstorm about activities that will fit into your life: Maybe make your next meeting a walking one, or take a brisk walk at lunchtime. Try a few minutes on the exercise bike in the kitchen, or dancing around your living room in your socks. On my very busy days, I make sure I take the stairs whenever I have the option. I park farther away than I need to and walk a little more. If I’m going to the grocery store and I only need a few things, I use a hand basket instead of a cart. It. All. Counts. And the more, the better.

Eat well. That means eat healthy. The mountain of studies supporting a whole-foods, plant-based diet for our health is almost as large as the exercise one. Stay away from inflammatory, sugar-spiking, insulin-releasing foods like processed carbohydrates (think all added sugars and anything made with flour). Aim for things that grew on plants or trees. The more colorful the fruits or vegetables, the more vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants they have and the healthier they are. Vitamin pills and other supplements just don’t work as well. Not going vegetarian to save your life? Got it. Just get colorful fruits and veggies into your diet wherever you can. We don’t have to be perfect, but the more plant-based our diets are, the better.

Calm your mind. We all have stressors in our lives. What varies is how much we let the stressors stress us. What can we do? Yes, meditation works. The relaxation response works. Yoga works. But for those patients who stare at me blankly when I mention these, I talk about other calming activities. This can mean knitting, baking, walking, swimming. Anything quiet and peaceful, when one can take deep breaths and be calmly, enjoyably focused. Me? I try to do a few favorite yoga stretches at the end of the day, right before bed. This is usually after the kids fall asleep, and I can’t even be bothered to find my yoga mat. I just get right to it on the carpet in my daughter’s room: Downward dog, plank, cobra, and then some of my own moves, to stretch out my back.

Sleep well. Aim for a refreshing amount of sleep. While this will differ for everyone, generally it’s about eight hours. It’s tempting to stay up late to cram in those last household chores or answer email, but really, the world won’t end if the laundry is dirty for another day, or the dishes are piled up in the sink. Sleep deprivation causes irritability, poor cognition, impaired reflexes and response time (think: car accidents!), and chronic sleep deprivation can contribute to depression and anxiety. Create a short, easy bedtime routine. Stretching or yoga, prayer, or reading a book can be relaxing. But stay away from your smartphone, tablet, or laptop, as the light interferes and interrupts the natural sleep onset. Alcohol near bedtime also interferes with sleep, and is a common cause of nighttime or early-morning awakening.

The bottom line

Maybe we can’t do all these things every day. But if we make self-care a goal, and try to address all of these factors regularly, then we will feel and function better. The better we feel and function, the more we can do for the people and things we care about. And that is a win-win.

The post Self-care: 4 ways to nourish body and soul appeared first on Harvard Health Blog.

From: Monique Tello, MD, MPH https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/self-care-4-ways-nourish-body-soul-2017111612736

FDA warns herbal supplement kratom has similar effects to narcotics

Kratom is a plant some people use to treat pain, anxiety and depression. The FDA warns Kratom can be addictive and life-threatening, issuing a public health advisory this week and warning people about its possible dangers. The agency says Kratom has similar risks to opioids and suggested its use could "expand the opioid epidemic." Anna Werner reports.

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/fda-warns-herbal-supplement-kratom-has-similar-effects-to-narcotics/

2017 Rewoldt Lecture with Gerd Leonhard: The Future of Technology and Its Impact on Direct Democracy

From: Mayo Clinic https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7KgLqE_qXs

Mayo Clinic Minute: New Smoking cessation study

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

ADA praises Senate for newly-proposed S-corp tax rate

The Senate Finance Committee on Nov. 14 released an updated tax reform proposal that included changes to the S corporation tax rate that the ADA believes are favorable to the vast majority of S-corp dental practices.

From: By Jennifer Garvin http://www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2017-archive/november/ada-praises-senate-for-newly-proposed-s-corp-tax-rate

Health and Nutrition News, Latest Headlines Source