Questions about pancreatitis linger after Avicii's death

In light of the music star's tragic death at 28, a look at what pancreatitis is and the potential complications that can come with it

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/what-is-pancreatitis-the-condition-avicii-suffered-from-years-before-death/

Girl With Rare Disease Races Time Via Virtual Tech

Pediatric brain disease patients the latest to gather data for clinical trials from the comfort of their own home.

From: https://www.webmd.com/brain/news/20180423/girl-with-rare-disease-races-time-via-virtual-tech?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Wounded veteran receives first penis-scrotum transplant

Surgeons at Johns Hopkins University perform first-of-its-kind operation to address "an unspoken injury of war"

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/veteran-who-survived-blast-receives-penis-scrotum-transplant/

USDA Responds to Opioid Crisis in Rural America

From: USDA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3WUcWubU8I

Mayo Clinic Minute: Why breakfast may be the key to trimming down your belly

From: Mayo Clinic https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LzZsgc3ajk

Aging Brains Gain More From Exercise With Good Hydration

The researchers noted that previous studies have shown that dehydration reduces exercise performance and brain function in young people, but less is known about its impact on seniors.

From: https://www.webmd.com/brain/news/20180423/hydration-may-be-key-to-a-beneficial-workout?src=RSS_PUBLIC

CDC Broadens Romaine Lettuce Warning as E. Coli Outbreak Continues

The sweeping advisory came after information tied to some new illnesses prompted health officials to caution against eating all kinds of romaine lettuce that came from the city of Yuma, Ariz., where the outbreak began.

From: https://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/food-poisoning/news/20180423/cdc-widens-romaine-warning-as-e-coli-fears-continue?src=RSS_PUBLIC

El minuto de Mayo Clinic: 4 mitos sobre los fibromas

From: Mayo Clinic https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pT--2oD1uXs

Sonny Perdue Speaks at 4H National Conference

From: USDA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7L_f_zvNI6k

E-Cig Liquid Remains a Poisoning Danger to Kids

The annual rate of exposures skyrocketed by nearly 1,400 percent from 2012 to 2015, then fell by 20 percent from 2015 to 2016, the researchers said.

From: https://www.webmd.com/parenting/news/20180423/e-cig-liquid-remains-a-poisoning-danger-to-kids?src=RSS_PUBLIC

How a False Alarm Affects Future Cancer Screenings

These scares are common. They affect about half of women who get annual mammograms; almost one-quarter of those who get regular stool tests for colon cancer; and 10 to 12 percent of men who have regular prostate cancer tests, the researchers said.

From: https://www.webmd.com/cancer/news/20180423/how-a-false-alarm-affects-future-cancer-screenings?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Positioning During Radiation Key to Heart Risks

The researchers used the images to assess how precisely the radiation was delivered, and to determine if it shifted closer or farther away from the heart.

From: https://www.webmd.com/cancer/news/20180423/positioning-during-radiation-key-to-heart-risks?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Mucus Test May Help Doctors Treat Sinusitis Better

The mucus was analyzed for cytokines, which are proteins that enable cells to talk to each other. Based on the cytokines findings, the researchers categorized the patients into six different groups.

From: https://www.webmd.com/allergies/news/20180420/mucus-test-may-help-doctors-treat-sinusitis-better?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Chrissy Metz perseveres, shows that she's one of us.

Actor Chrissy Metz, star of the wildly popular NBC television series This Is Us, talks about overcoming childhood difficulties, anxiety, and other setbacks.

From: https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/features/chrissy-metz-perseveres?src=RSS_PUBLIC

10 Questions for Marcia Gay Harden

Marcia Gay Harden talks about her mother's Alzheimer’s disease, the latest 50 Shades movie, age, fitness, and Hollywood.

From: https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/features/10-questions-marcia-gay-harden?src=RSS_PUBLIC

University closes after 100 students fall ill

Officials do not know what's causing the illnesses but say they're "confident" it's not E. coli

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/western-connecticut-state-university-closes-100-students-sick/

How to talk to your doctor about medication

Pharmacology has changed the practice of medicine. Scientists are continually working on new and better drugs to manage medical conditions, from high blood pressure to autoimmune diseases to cancer. The mechanism of a drug — how it actually works on the condition it is mean to treat — is one important factor, but drug delivery, meaning how the medication arrives at the target it is meant to affect, is also key.

As a patient, it’s your right to understand everything about a medication prescribed for you. That doesn’t mean you have to become a scientist or pass an exam about pharmacology. But you can and should ask your doctor to explain to you why she has selected this medication for you, how it works, and what side effects you should expect. An article in Pharmacy World and Science explores what medications mean to patients and why it’s important to think about these concepts. Do I need this medicine? How will it impact my body? What control do I have over the effects of the drug?

Find out why this particular medication

No matter what the health condition is, there is always more than one choice of medication to treat it. Ask why the one your doctor recommends is the best choice for you. You want to know what the medicine is expected to do and how that will be monitored. Will you be expected to keep a log of your pain, symptoms, blood pressure, or blood sugars? Is this a medicine your doctor has used before and is familiar with? It’s a red flag if he says, “Well, I haven’t tried it before with a patient, but it seems like the right choice.”

Sometimes a physician will try a drug that is new to the market, but you need to know exactly what makes this medicine special for your condition. Be wary of medicines that are “brand name only.” That means they are newer to medical practice, will likely be more expensive, and that there is less experience using them. Sometimes, a newer brand name drug is a great choice, but if your doctor just heard about it and isn’t yet familiar with potential side effects and clinical response, you need to know that.

Be sure you know how to take the medication

Morning or evening? Empty stomach or after a meal? What if you miss a dose? Can you have a glass of wine while taking this medicine? Is it okay to drink grapefruit juice (which interacts with many medicines)? Will you need to “titrate up” (meaning to increase slowly until you get to the right dose)?

Your doctor should carefully review medication side effects

All drugs have potential side effects, even acetaminophen (Tylenol). Fatigue, weight gain, and headache are common, but there are lots of others. Some drugs can make your urine turn a different color — scary unless you know to expect it. Your GI system may move more quickly, resulting in diarrhea. Hair loss is an unpleasant drug side effect that can sometimes be prevented by taking supplements with the medicine. Tremor is another side effect that can limit how much of a medicine you’re able to tolerate.

Whatever you experience is real, so make sure you keep a list and let your doctor know. Anyone can be allergic to a medicine (and sometimes it’s just a simple rash that fades when you stop the drug), but a more serious and potentially life-threatening side effect is anaphylaxis. That means that you can actually stop breathing as your body goes into crisis mode. Don’t ignore any new symptoms when you start a drug.

Keep track of your experience and ask questions

It’s often useful to keep a list of questions in a notebook you take to medical appointments, or on your phone. Phone apps are great ways to track responses and side effects, so be sure to ask about options. Make sure you have all the answers about your medication, including how long you’re expected to try it before an adjustment or change.

Medicine can be life-altering. Taking medication prescribed for you can help you feel better or prevent health problems down the road (or both). But if a drug isn’t working for you or you are concerned about new symptoms or side effects, speak up. Your doctor needs to know in order to change the drug or dose, or consider other options.

New choices offer patients incredible options to improve their health. Your job is to understand your medicine and to tell your doctor if you can’t tolerate it or don’t want to take it. Medication adherence starts with you, but treatment is a partnership, so ask the questions you need to understand your treatment.

Source

Understanding the meaning of medications for patients: The medication experience, Pharmacy World and Science, January 2008.

The post How to talk to your doctor about medication appeared first on Harvard Health Blog.

From: Carolyn A. Bernstein, MD, FAHS https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/how-to-talk-to-your-doctor-about-medication-2018042313696

#AsktheMayoMom about Prenatal Cardiac Interventions

From: Mayo Clinic https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYZu7v-loG4

A decade's impact of Alzheimer's on one couple

The toll from Alzheimer's is growing in this country with more than five million people suffering from the disease. On Sunday's "60 Minutes," Dr. Jon LaPook followed the personal story of Alzheimer's impact on one couple over the course of a decade. LaPook joins "CBS This Morning" to discuss his report.

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/video/a-decades-impact-of-alzheimers-on-one-couple/

E. coli outbreak prompts warning about romaine lettuce

CBS News confirms at least 64 people have been infected in 16 states; 31 have been hospitalized

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/e-coli-outbreak-cdc-romaine-lettuce/

When Does Online Gaming Become an Addiction?

The new review looks back at more than 40 investigations conducted worldwide between 1991 and 2016. It concludes that -- like other types of addiction -- internet gaming disorder is a complex condition that arises when fun morphs into a loss of control, turning into an obsession.

From: https://www.webmd.com/parenting/news/20180420/when-does-online-gaming-become-an-addiction?src=RSS_PUBLIC

At least 64 infected in E. coli outbreak tied to romaine lettuce

Federal health officials warn you not to eat any romaine lettuce unless you know where it's from, as an E. coli outbreak spreads across the country. CBS News confirms at least 64 people were infected in 16 states. Anna Werner reports.

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/video/at-least-64-infected-in-e-coli-outbreak-tied-to-romaine-lettuce/