FDA warns on nicotine packaging that can appeal to kids

Liquid nicotine meant for e-cigs is being put in what look like juice boxes and other kids' snack packages

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/fda-warns-on-nicotine-packaging-that-can-appeal-to-kids/

Doctors Fret Over Cases of Rare Eye Cancer

Ocular melanoma typically occurs in just six of every one million people, but has been diagnosed in a group of 18 patients in North Carolina and Alabama.

From: https://www.webmd.com/cancer/news/20180501/doctors-fret-over-cases-of-rare-eye-cancer?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Illnesses from ticks, mosquitoes surge, CDC says

Lyme disease, Zika, and other diseases spread by bug bites tripled in the U.S. from 2004 through 2016, according to a new report

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/ticks-mosquitoes-fleas-illnesses-from-insects-tripled-13-years-cdc-says/

Worst cities for spring allergies in 2018

The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America ranks the most challenging places in the U.S. to have allergies this year. Is your town on the list?

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/worst-places-to-have-spring-allergies-2018-aafa/

FDA Cracks Down on Dangerous E-Cig Liquids That Resemble Cookies, Candy

The action, taken in concert with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, also cited some of these companies for illegally selling these products to minors. In all, 13 warning letters were issued.

From: https://www.webmd.com/children/news/20180501/fda-slams-e-cig-liquids-that-look-like-junk-food?src=RSS_PUBLIC

CMS finalizes rule rescinding Parts C, D enrollment requirements

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services on April 16 published a final rule revising the Medicare Advantage program (Part C) regulations and Prescription Drug Benefit program (Part D) regulations and to implement certain provisions of the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act.

From: By Jennifer Garvin
https://www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2018-archive/may/cms-finalizes-rule-rescinding-parts-c-d-enrollment-requirements

What Foods Can Hasten, or Delay, Menopause?

For the study, the researchers surveyed a group of English, Scottish and Welsh women to establish their nutritional patterns with respect to 217 specific foods. All of the women were aged 40 to 65, and none were told to alter their eating patterns.

From: https://www.webmd.com/menopause/news/20180430/what-foods-can-hasten-or-delay-menopause?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Fentanyl: What You Should Know

Illegal versions of fentanyl were largely responsible for the tripling of overdose deaths from synthetic opioids in just 2 years -- from 3,105 in 2013 to 9,580 in 2015, according to the National Institutes of Health.

From: https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/addiction/news/20180501/fentanyl-what-you-should-know?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Mayo Clinic joins NIH in launching All of Us Research Program

From: Mayo Clinic https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2pQ3BRfSns

Speed of Heart Attack Treatment Can Vary by State

In this study, researchers looked at more than 19,000 heart attack patients treated at 379 hospitals in 12 states between 2013 and 2014. Six of the states had hospital bypass policies.

From: https://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/news/20180501/speed-of-heart-attack-treatment-can-vary-by-state?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Even Living Near Farm Might Help Prevent Allergies

Specifically, people living within about 1,600 feet of a pig farm were 37 percent less likely to have allergies than those who lived more than roughly 1,900 feet away. And living no more than 1,300 feet from a cattle farm was linked with a 32 percent lower risk for allergies, the study found.

From: https://www.webmd.com/allergies/news/20180501/even-living-near-farm-might-help-prevent-allergies?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Nearby Lightning Shut Down a Woman's Brain Implant

Checking her IPG, the woman noticed the "Power On Reset" warning had appeared, so she took the device to a clinic and found that the lightning had turned it off. Luckily, the device was otherwise undamaged.

From: https://www.webmd.com/brain/news/20180501/nearby-lightning-shut-down-a-womans-brain-implant?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Medical mystery shines light on rare eye cancer

A closer look at ocular melanoma, an extremely rare form of cancer that has been identified in groups of patients in two states

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/what-is-ocular-melanoma-medical-mystery-shines-light-on-rare-eye-cancer/

Hospital: Injected patients face Hep C risk after nurse stole drugs

The hospital said patients at risk received narcotic, antihistamine or sedative injections while the nurse was working

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/hospital-injected-patients-at-risk-of-hep-c-exposure-from-nurse-who-stole-drugs/

"Eaten alive" by scabies? No, but here's what can happen

Reports of a woman's death spark concern about scabies, a disease caused by parasitic mites

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/eaten-alive-by-scabies-no-but-heres-how-scabies-deaths-happen/

Mayo Clinic Minute: How artificial intelligence could improve outcomes for stroke patients

From: Mayo Clinic https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGG4iVD73Nw

Why we all really need Screen-Free Week this year

Follow me on Twitter @drClaire

It’s Screen-Free Week this week: from April 30th to May 6th, families are encouraged to turn off the screens and enjoy the non-digital world. As a pediatrician, I believe that we need to do this more than we ever have before.

It used to be that “screens” were only televisions (with video games possibly attached to them) and computers, which were used more for work than anything else. But now, screens are ubiquitous and intertwined with all aspects of daily life.

There’s no denying that smartphones, tablets, and laptops have the capacity to make our lives easier and better. Information about anything is readily available, shopping is streamlined, we have the ability to be in real-time contact with anyone around the world, education and medical treatment can reach to places where both are scarce… the innovations are incredible.

But there is also no denying that our screen culture has some serious downsides. Smartphones and other screens interfere with parental interactions with children, which can impact a child’s development — and impact relationships (if you haven’t watched Will Ferrell’s video for the Device-Free Dinner movement, you should — it will make you laugh and cringe at the same time). They interfere with everyone’s sleep, especially teens. They get us into accidents while driving or walking. They distract us from the world around us, in general. There is growing concern that some people are actually becoming addicted to their screens.

That’s why it’s increasingly important that every once in a while we take a break from our screens: to help us understand those downsides — and to show ourselves that we can take a break.

So for one week, as a family, try to…

• Leave the cell phones in a basket or something as you come in the door. Really. Maybe set up a charging space and have all the phones live there when you are home.
• During the day, use your cell phone only for necessary calls and texts, and only use the Internet if absolutely needed (like to get directions)
• Avoid using screens for entertainment. Play games, go for a walk, or to a museum. Make stuff. Read books (it’s also Children’s Book Week).
• Spend screen-free time with friends. Remember what it was like when people weren’t always checking their phones.

See, that’s the thing: we are quickly forgetting what it was like when we weren’t always checking our phones, and that’s bad. It’s one thing to make a conscious decision to use a device; it’s entirely another when the devices take over our lives. Stopping for a week can help us gain perspective, and hopefully allow us to make better, more thoughtful decisions about when and how we use electronic devices.

The websites for Screen Free Week, Device-Free Dinner, and Children’s Book Week have all sorts of tips and resources; check them out. The American Academy of Pediatrics also has resources to help you calculate just how much time your kids are spending on media — and create a family media plan that works best for your children and family.

The post Why we all really need Screen-Free Week this year appeared first on Harvard Health Blog.

From: Claire McCarthy, MD https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/why-we-all-really-need-screen-free-week-this-year-2018050113752

First-of-its-kind track at ADA 2018 to examine oral-systemic health connection

ADA 2018 — America’s Dental Meeting in Honolulu will feature a track of courses on this topic

From: By Michelle Manchir https://www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2018-archive/may/first-of-its-kind-track-to-examine-oral-systemic-health-connection

Medical mystery shines light on rare eye cancer

A closer look at ocular melanoma, an extremely rare form of cancer that has been identified in groups of patients in two states

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/what-is-ocular-melanoma-medical-mystery-shines-light-on-rare-eye-cancer/

"Eaten alive" by scabies? No, but here's what can happen

Reports of a woman's death spark concern about scabies, a disease caused by parasitic mites

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/eaten-alive-by-scabies-no-but-heres-how-scabies-deaths-happen/

Mayo Clinic Minute: How artificial intelligence could improve outcomes for stroke patients

From: Mayo Clinic https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGG4iVD73Nw

Why we all really need Screen-Free Week this year

Follow me on Twitter @drClaire

It’s Screen-Free Week this week: from April 30th to May 6th, families are encouraged to turn off the screens and enjoy the non-digital world. As a pediatrician, I believe that we need to do this more than we ever have before.

It used to be that “screens” were only televisions (with video games possibly attached to them) and computers, which were used more for work than anything else. But now, screens are ubiquitous and intertwined with all aspects of daily life.

There’s no denying that smartphones, tablets, and laptops have the capacity to make our lives easier and better. Information about anything is readily available, shopping is streamlined, we have the ability to be in real-time contact with anyone around the world, education and medical treatment can reach to places where both are scarce… the innovations are incredible.

But there is also no denying that our screen culture has some serious downsides. Smartphones and other screens interfere with parental interactions with children, which can impact a child’s development — and impact relationships (if you haven’t watched Will Ferrell’s video for the Device-Free Dinner movement, you should — it will make you laugh and cringe at the same time). They interfere with everyone’s sleep, especially teens. They get us into accidents while driving or walking. They distract us from the world around us, in general. There is growing concern that some people are actually becoming addicted to their screens.

That’s why it’s increasingly important that every once in a while we take a break from our screens: to help us understand those downsides — and to show ourselves that we can take a break.

So for one week, as a family, try to…

• Leave the cell phones in a basket or something as you come in the door. Really. Maybe set up a charging space and have all the phones live there when you are home.
• During the day, use your cell phone only for necessary calls and texts, and only use the Internet if absolutely needed (like to get directions)
• Avoid using screens for entertainment. Play games, go for a walk, or to a museum. Make stuff. Read books (it’s also Children’s Book Week).
• Spend screen-free time with friends. Remember what it was like when people weren’t always checking their phones.

See, that’s the thing: we are quickly forgetting what it was like when we weren’t always checking our phones, and that’s bad. It’s one thing to make a conscious decision to use a device; it’s entirely another when the devices take over our lives. Stopping for a week can help us gain perspective, and hopefully allow us to make better, more thoughtful decisions about when and how we use electronic devices.

The websites for Screen Free Week, Device-Free Dinner, and Children’s Book Week have all sorts of tips and resources; check them out. The American Academy of Pediatrics also has resources to help you calculate just how much time your kids are spending on media — and create a family media plan that works best for your children and family.

The post Why we all really need Screen-Free Week this year appeared first on Harvard Health Blog.

From: Claire McCarthy, MD https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/why-we-all-really-need-screen-free-week-this-year-2018050113752

First-of-its-kind track at ADA 2018 to examine oral-systemic health connection

ADA 2018 — America’s Dental Meeting in Honolulu will feature a track of courses on this topic

From: By Michelle Manchir https://www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2018-archive/may/first-of-its-kind-track-to-examine-oral-systemic-health-connection

WHO Director-General Dr Tedros statement on Female Genital Mutilation

From: World Health Organization https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bgYElxol2M

Mid-Life Stresses May Be Tied to Late-Life Dementia Risk

An abnormal stress response may speed brain cell aging and breakdowns in the central nervous system, thereby increasing vulnerability to dementia, the study authors suggested.

From: https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/news/20180430/mid-life-stresses-tied-to-late-life-dementia-risk?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Even a 'Bad' Flu Vaccine Could Save 61,000 Lives

Computer modeling shows that the number of people who get vaccinated is more important for protecting lives than the actual effectiveness of each season's vaccine.

From: https://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/news/20180430/even-a-bad-flu-vaccine-could-save-61000-lives?src=RSS_PUBLIC

'What's That Word?' Fitness Helps Seniors Find It

The test asked for the names of famous people (for example, authors, politicians and actors) based on 20 questions about them. Study participants also were given definitions of 20 little-used words and 20 easy words, and asked to produce the corresponding word.

From: https://www.webmd.com/healthy-aging/news/20180430/whats-that-word-fitness-helps-seniors-find-it?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Family blames football for child's early death as new CTE data emerges

One California family whose son began playing football at 9 years old is blaming the sport for his early death

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/cte-symptoms-youth-football-before-age-12/