Woman dies from flesh-eating bacteria picked up on vacation

What started as a small bump grew into a large, painful and ultimately deadly infection, her family says

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/woman-dies-after-contracting-flesh-eating-bacteria-on-vacation-family-says/

El minuto de Mayo Clinic: ¿Cómo afecta la enfermedad de Alzheimer sobre la personalidad?

From: Mayo Clinic https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvTGj9X8FuY

Mayo Clinic Minute: Acetaminophen aids with fever, pain

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

Knuckle cracking: Annoying and harmful, or just annoying?

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Knuckle cracking is a common behavior enjoyed by many. It can become a habit or a way to deal with nervous energy; some describe it as a way to “release tension.” For some, it’s simply an annoying thing that other people do.

If you’ve ever wondered why stretching the fingers in certain ways causes that familiar noise or whether knuckle cracking is harmful in some way, read on. Despite how common it is, there has been considerable debate regarding where the noise comes from. Fortunately — at least for those of us who are curious about it — knuckle cracking has been the subject of a fair amount of research.

Here’s some of what we know about knuckle cracking

• The “cracking” of knuckle cracking seems to be produced by increasing the space between finger joints. This causes gas bubbles in the joint fluid to collapse or burst. It’s a bit like blowing up a balloon and then stretching the walls of the balloon outward until it pops.
• The reason you can’t crack the same knuckle or joint twice right away is that it takes some time for the gas bubbles to accumulate again in the joint.
• Cracking the knuckles is probably harmless. Although there have been occasional reports of dislocations or tendon injuries from overly vigorous knuckle cracking, such problems seem very much to be the exception and not the rule.

How do we know that knuckle cracking is harmless?

One of the most convincing bits of evidence suggesting that knuckle cracking is harmless comes from a California physician who reported on an experiment he conducted on himself. Over his lifetime, he regularly cracked the knuckles of only one hand. He checked x-rays on himself after decades of this behavior and found no difference in arthritis between his hands. A larger study came to a similar conclusion.

There are rare medical reports of problems associated with this behavior that may relate to how much force is applied and one’s particular technique. For example, joint dislocations and tendon injuries have been described after attempts to crack knuckles. One study published in 1990 found that among 74 people who regularly cracked their knuckles, their average grip strength was lower and there were more instances of hand swelling than among 226 people who did not crack their knuckles. However, the incidence of arthritis was the same in both groups.

And a new study created a mathematical model of a knuckle that helped confirm that the noise comes from collapsing gas bubbles.

What about other sounds coming from the joints?

The origin of most joint noises, such as popping sounds or cracking of the knees when squatting, is uncertain. They may come from the kneecap rubbing on the bones below, or a tendon sliding across an irregular surface. However, in the absence of pain, swelling, or other joint symptoms, these sounds are probably nothing to be concerned about, and there is no reliable way to silence them.

The bottom line on knuckle cracking

If you want to crack your knuckles, it’s unlikely to cause you harm. But if you want someone else to stop cracking their knuckles, you’ll need a better reason than telling them they’re ruining their joints.

The post Knuckle cracking: Annoying and harmful, or just annoying? appeared first on Harvard Health Blog.

From: Robert H. Shmerling, MD https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/knuckle-cracking-annoying-and-harmful-or-just-annoying-2018051413797

Michael Pollan on testing psychedelics to treat depression

The author of "How to Change Your Mind" also discusses his own experience with so-called "magic mushrooms"

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/michael-pollan-on-testing-psychedelics-as-a-treatment-for-depression/

Ethics matters in health

From: World Health Organization https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJ_s51QGbg8

Parents OK with 'Justified' PG-13 Movie Violence

In general, parents were more lenient about letting their own kids see that kind of violence, versus "unjustified," random violence.

From: https://www.webmd.com/parenting/news/20180514/parents-ok-with-justified-pg-13-movie-violence?src=RSS_PUBLIC

More U.S. Parents Smoking Pot Around Kids

Among parents who smoke cigarettes, pot use increased from 11 percent in 2002 to over 17 percent in 2015, the researchers found.

From: https://www.webmd.com/parenting/news/20180514/more-us-parents-smoking-pot-around-kids?src=RSS_PUBLIC

7 Mistakes That Boost Your Blood Pressure Reading

Talking while the cuff is on can boost your blood pressure reading. So can a full bladder or crossing your legs, the American Heart Association (AHA) says.

From: https://www.webmd.com/hypertension-high-blood-pressure/news/20180511/7-mistakes-that-boost-your-blood-pressure-reading?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Michael Pollan on the medical potential of psychedelics

After decades in the shadows, new studies are looking at psychedelic drugs and their efficacy at treating a variety of psychological issues, including depression. Bestselling author Michael Pollan wrote about the potential uses for LSD and psilocybins (so-called "magic mushrooms") in his new book, "How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence." Pollan spoke with "CBS This Morning" about his own experience with psilocybins.

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/video/michael-pollan-on-the-medical-potential-of-psychedelics/

A plan to get trans fats out of food worldwide

The U.N.'s World Health Organization says ending consumption of the industrial oils is critical to saving lives

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/a-plan-to-get-trans-fats-out-of-food-worldwide/

Salmonella outbreak prompting egg recall sickens more people

More people are becoming sick from a salmonella outbreak that prompted a massive egg recall. The CDC says at least 35 people across nine states have been infected by the bacteria. Hospitals treated 11 victims. Anna Werner reports.

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/video/salmonella-outbreak-prompting-egg-recall-sickens-more-people/

New WHO REPLACE initiative launched to eliminate industrially-produced trans fat

From: World Health Organization https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KLVRQNEaL3Y

Salmonella outbreak that prompted egg recall sickens more people

CDC says at least 35 people across nine states have been infected by the bacteria

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/egg-recall-salmonella-outbreak-check-list-of-products/