"Significant" increase in kids with autism

A new report from the CDC estimates that 1 in 59 children in the U.S. live with autism spectrum disorder. That's a 15 percent increase over a four-year period. CBS News' Laura Podesta reports on some of the possible reasons behind the rise.

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/video/significant-increase-in-kids-with-autism/

More U.S. Kids Being Diagnosed With Autism

The new estimate means that autism rates have more than doubled since 2000, the researchers reported.

From: https://www.webmd.com/brain/autism/news/20180426/more-us-kids-being-diagnosed-with-autism?src=RSS_PUBLIC

A Bit of Dark Chocolate Might Sweeten Your Vision

The observed change in vision was small, but significant. However, the study authors stressed that it's too early for ophthalmologists to recommend chocolate as medicine for the eyes.

From: https://www.webmd.com/eye-health/news/20180426/a-bit-of-dark-chocolate-might-sweeten-your-vision?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Breast Cancer Genes a Real Risk for Men, Too

BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations put women at high risk for breast and ovarian cancers, but  these mutations also increase men's risk for certain cancers.

From: https://www.webmd.com/breast-cancer/news/20180426/breast-cancer-genes-a-real-risk-for-men-too?src=RSS_PUBLIC

May JADA: Researchers seek long-term solutions to access after studying Mission of Mercy events

Incorporating systematic data collection into Mission of Mercy events could help build lasting solutions such as developing emergency department referral programs that find patients a dental home, according to research in the May issue of The Journal of the American Dental Association.

From:

By Michelle Manchir

https://www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2018-archive/april/may-jada-researchers-seek-longterm-solutions-to-access-after-studying-mission-of-mercy-events

Doctors Fret as Firm Stops Making Cancer Drug Pump

The Codman pump is implanted in the abdomen and sends high doses of chemotherapy directly into the liver for cancer that has spread there, typically from colorectal tumors, The New York Times reported.

From: https://www.webmd.com/cancer/news/20180426/doctors-fret-as-firm-stops-making-cancer-drug-pump?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Genetic sleuthing helps investigate food poisoning outbreaks

Researchers hope the technique will help the ongoing E. coli outbreak linked to romaine lettuce

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/genetic-sleuthing-latest-tool-in-investigating-food-poisoning-outbreaks/

Autism may be more common than previously thought

About 1 in 59 children in the United States live with autism spectrum disorder, according to the latest estimates – a significant jump

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/autism-higher-than-previously-thought-cdc-1-in-59-children/

Veterans push lawmakers to legalize hemp products

Hemp is derived from the cannabis plant, but does not contain THC, the chemical that makes you high

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/veterans-push-congress-to-legalize-hemp-cbd-oil-from-cannabis/

A Better Clot-Buster Drug for Strokes?

The researchers specifically looked to see which drug was better at restoring blood flow to clot-blocked blood vessels in the brain, and which drug resulted in patients having better outcomes.

From: https://www.webmd.com/stroke/news/20180426/a-better-clot-buster-drug-for-strokes?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Unused Meds? Saturday Is National Drug Take Back Day

Last fall, more than 912,000 pounds of prescription drugs were turned in at more than 5,300 Take Back Day sites operated by the DEA and nearly 4,300 state and local law enforcement partners.

From: https://www.webmd.com/drug-medication/news/20180426/unused-meds-saturday-is-national-drug-take-back-day?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Heart attack versus cardiac arrest

If you’re confused by the terms used to describe heart attacks, you’re not alone. They’re often described as “mild” or “massive,” or even the ominous-sounding “widow maker.” But these terms are not necessarily helpful, and they may create confusion and anxiety.

The good news: most people who have a heart attack survive. The bad news? “Any heart attack can be fatal, no matter how big, how small, or where it occurs in the heart,” says Dr. James Januzzi, a cardiologist at Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital. “Furthermore, there’s a lot of misunderstanding among the general public about what a heart attack actually is,” he says.

The connection between heart attack vs. cardiac arrest

Perhaps the most common source of confusion is the difference between a heart attack and cardiac arrest. A heart attack (what doctors call a myocardial infarction or MI) is defined as damage to part of the heart muscle caused by inadequate blood flow to that area. Most of the time, this happens due to a blockage in one of the heart’s arteries. Known as a type 1 heart attack, such blockages typically occur when cholesterol-laden plaque lining an artery ruptures. A clot forms, obstructing the vessel.

While a heart attack is a plumbing problem, a cardiac arrest is an electrical problem. Cardiac arrest happens when the heart’s electrical system malfunctions, causing it to beat rapidly and chaotically — or to stop beating altogether. Without blood circulating to the brain, lungs, and other organs, the person gasps or stops breathing and becomes unresponsive within seconds.

A heart attack is a common cause of cardiac arrest, but most heart attacks do not lead to cardiac arrest. Other possible causes of cardiac arrest include heart failure, a clot in the lungs, a serious imbalance of potassium, magnesium, or other minerals in the blood, a drug overdose, or a blow to the chest.

Does size matter?

Some heart attacks cause more harm than others. During a heart attack, blood levels of a protein released by damaged muscle (troponin) give some sense of severity. Afterwards, an ultrasound of the heart (echocardiogram) can reveal the extent of the damage. “A large heart attack will significantly reduce the squeezing strength of the heart muscle,” says Dr. Januzzi.

The term “widow maker” refers to a heart attack caused by a blockage near the top of the left anterior descending (LAD) artery, the main artery that supplies blood to the front of the heart. However, heart attacks that involve the LAD are not necessarily fatal, and those involving other arteries can be deadly, too.

What to do

Call 911 right away if you or someone near you has symptoms of a heart attack or cardiac arrest. Common heart attack symptoms include:

• uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, or pain in the chest
• pain or other uncomfortable sensations in an arm, the back, neck, jaw, or stomach
• shortness of breath
• sudden nausea or vomiting
• lightheadedness or dizziness
• unusual fatigue.

Signs of cardiac arrest are a sudden loss of responsiveness and abnormal breathing (either not breathing or only gasping). Give hands-only cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) until help arrives.

The post Heart attack versus cardiac arrest appeared first on Harvard Health Blog.

From: Julie Corliss https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/the-difference-between-a-heart-attack-and-cardiac-arrest-2018042613711

Terminally ill toddler's parents want to bring him home

23-month-old Alfie Evans has incurable degenerative neurological condition, and doctors say he should be allowed to die

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/alfie-evans-update-parents-want-terminally-ill-toddler-home-united-kingdom/

Veterans push Congress to legalize hemp treatments

Veterans are twice as likely as non-veterans to die from accidental overdoses involving prescription opioids. In an effort to lower opioid intake, some veterans are turning to hemp products like CBD oil to treat chronic pain and PTSD. Nancy Cordes reports.

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/video/veterans-push-congress-to-legalize-hemp-treatments/

E. Coli Outbreak Tied to Romaine Lettuce Grows

Illnesses include 18 cases in Pennsylvania, 13 cases in California, 10 in Idaho, seven cases each in Montana and New Jersey, five cases each in Alaska and Arizona, three in Ohio, two cases each in Colorado, Connecticut, Michigan, New York and Washington, and a single case each in Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Missouri, South Dakota and Virginia.

From: https://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/food-poisoning/news/20180425/e-coli-outbreak-tied-to-romaine-lettuce-grows?src=RSS_PUBLIC

HIV Drug Appears Safe During Pregnancy

The study found no difference in the risk for premature birth, low birth weight or other serious complications among those who didn't receive TDF and those who got TDF along with emtricitabine and lopinavir/ritonavir.

From: https://www.webmd.com/hiv-aids/news/20180425/hiv-drug-appears-safe-during-pregnancy?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Many Opioid Overdoses May Be Suicides

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the national suicide rate rose by 24 percent between 1999 and 2014 -- from 10.5 deaths per 100,000 people, to 13 per 100,000.

From: https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/addiction/news/20180425/many-opioid-overdoses-may-be-suicides?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Restless Legs Linked to Brain Changes

The people with restless legs syndrome also had a decrease in the brain region where nerve fibers connect the two sides of the brain, according to the study published online April 25 in the journal Neurology.

From: https://www.webmd.com/brain/restless-legs-syndrome/news/20180425/restless-legs-linked-to-brain-changes?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Vaccines Work - Statement by WHO Director-General for World Immunization Week

From: World Health Organization https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVTN2zTATiQ

More people sickened after eating romaine lettuce tainted by E. coli

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that 31 more people have fallen ill after eating romaine lettuce contaminated with E. coli. An investigation is underway to determine the source of the vegetable, but officials say it likely came from the Yuma, Arizona, region. CBS News' Nikki Battiste reports.

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/video/more-people-sickened-after-eating-romaine-lettuce-tainted-by-e-coli/