Cancer from cellphones? New studies say no need to hang up

Scientists say they could not find hard evidence for concern about brain tumors linked to cellphone radiation

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/cellphone-radiation-cancer-link-study-little-reason-for-concern/

Flu deaths on the rise

The flu epidemic continues to take a toll, resulting in 53 pediatric deaths so far this season. That's compared to just 15 at this point last year. CBS News chief medical correspondent Dr. Jon LaPook reports.

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/video/flu-deaths-on-the-rise/

Brain 'Pacemaker' Could Lessen Alzheimer's Effects

Researchers have found that implanting an electrical device that sends signals to the brain’s frontal lobe appears to slow the progression of certain symptoms caused by Alzheimer’s.

From: https://www.webmd.com/brain/news/20180202/brain-pacemaker-could-lessen-alzheimers-effects?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Flu Season in U.S.: Deaths, Hospitalizations Mount

From October until the end of January, nearly 15,000 people were admitted to hospitals because of the flu.

From: https://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/news/20180202/flu-season-in-us-deaths-hospitalizations-mount?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Exercise May Make Lung Cancer Surgery Easier

For the study, researchers analyzed reports on 13 clinical trials that included a total of over 800 people who had surgery for cancer.

From: https://www.webmd.com/lung-cancer/news/20180202/exercise-may-make-lung-cancer-surgery-easier?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Midwestern University dental school in Illinois names new dean

Midwestern University announced Feb. 2 it named Dr. Harold J. Haering as dean of its College of Dental Medicine-Illinois.

From: https://www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2018-archive/february/midwestern-university-dental-school-in-illinois-names-new-dean

'Put action to that need'

The more than 200 kids who filled The Ohio State University College of Dentistry's operatories on Feb. 2 for the 2018 Give Kids A Smile national kickoff got cleanings, X-rays, restorations, sealants and other treatment they needed but may not otherwise get.

From: By Michelle Manchir
https://www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2018-archive/february/put-action-to-that-need

Deadly flu season goes from bad to worse

The CDC reports 16 more children died of flu last week and people across the country are being hospitalized with the illness at a record rate. CBS News' Nikki Battiste has the latest.

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/video/deadly-flu-season-goes-from-bad-to-worse/

Go Red for Women: Know your heart disease risk factors

Cardiovascular disease impacts about 44 million women, according to the American Heart Association

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/go-red-for-women-heart-disease/

Florida ER nurse's flu rant video goes viral

Katherine Lockler says 25 to 30 people often sit for hours in hospital waiting rooms as the worst cases get treated first

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/katherine-lockler-florida-er-nurse-viral-video-flu/

Standing several hours a day could help you lose weight, Mayo Clinic research finds

From: Mayo Clinic https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WW5Fv75NsQk

CDC reports more flu deaths, record hospitalizations

"Hospitalizations are now the highest we've seen," said CDC Acting Director Dr. Anne Schuchat

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/flu-season-cdc-reports-more-deaths-record-hospitalizations/

Super Bowl Snacks That Don't Sideline Health

As for avoiding fat-laden dips, use yogurt instead of sour cream for that spinach dip. And try making guacamole dip with some pureed peas and chopped tomatoes, or make a tangy salsa.

From: https://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/news/20180202/super-bowl-snacks-that-dont-sideline-health?src=RSS_PUBLIC

How to Keep Drivers With Dementia Off the Road

In-person license renewal and driver vision testing laws are more effective than mandatory doctor reporting of patients with dementia, researchers found.

From: https://www.webmd.com/brain/news/20180202/how-to-keep-drivers-with-dementia-off-the-road?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Drug companies accused of unfair tactics to stall generic meds

Lawmakers are considering a bill to address what President Trump called a top priority in his State of the Union speech: lowering prescription drug prices. Critics say some drug companies who want to hold onto their exclusive sales of a brand-name drug – and their profits – are playing games to stave off generic competitors, leaving patients out in the cold. Anna Werner reports.

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/video/drug-companies-accused-of-unfair-tactics-to-stall-generic-meds/

5-year-old who had flu dies from apparent brain infection

Health officials in Georgia are looking into whether the flu killed Eli Snook, a 5-year-old boy. His parents say he suffered an infection in his brain. Mark Strassmann reports.

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/video/5-year-old-who-had-flu-dies-from-apparent-brain-infection/

Behind the "games" drug companies play to stifle generic medicine

Critics say some companies who want to hold onto their exclusive sales of a brand-name drug are using unfair tactics to stave off cheaper competitors

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/drug-companies-alleged-tactics-delay-cheaper-generic-drugs/

5-year-old who had flu dies from apparent brain infection

Health officials in are looking into whether the flu killed Eli Snook

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/flu-epidemic-brain-virus-eli-snook/

This year’s flu season: Public health catastrophe or par for the course?

Follow me on Twitter @JohnRossMD

If you think that there’s a lot of flu going around this winter, you’re absolutely right. Every state except Hawaii is reporting widespread influenza activity, making for a lot of miserable people suffering from classic flu symptoms of cough, fever, headache, stuffy nose, and achy muscles. Hospitals across the United States have been flooded with flu patients. Matters have been made worse by national shortages of IV fluids in the wake of Hurricane Maria.

Are we headed toward a historically bad flu season? It’s too early to tell. This year, it could just be that flu season, which is usually at its worst in February, is peaking early. Even an average flu season is a public health disaster, leading to between 12,000 and 56,000 excess deaths in American adults. There have been several tragic and widely publicized deaths of children this flu season, with at least 30 such cases so far. Unfortunately, this is not that unusual. In the United States, 98 kids died of flu-related complications in the most recent flu season. In recent years, deaths of children from flu in the US have ranged from 35 in 2011–2012, to a peak of 282 in the 2009–2010 flu season. Most children who die after influenza have a high-risk underlying medical problem, such as asthma, cerebral palsy, or heart disease, but 43% were previously healthy.

So far this year, the major flu type is H3N2, a strain of influenza A virus. Last year, the flu vaccine was only around 32% effective against H3N2, while providing much better protection against the other two major flu strains. It’s not too late to get a flu vaccine if you haven’t already. Some protection against flu is better than none. Even if the flu vaccine is not completely protective against H3N2, it can reduce the risk of a life-threatening case. It’s also common for other varieties of virus, such as influenza B, to emerge late in flu season, and the vaccine usually provides better coverage for these other strains.

Other measures to protect yourself and others against flu include:

• Handwashing or use of hand sanitizer
• Keeping your hands away from your eyes, nose, and mouth
• Staying home from work, school, or church if you have flulike symptoms
• Covering your mouth and nose when sneezing and coughing; it’s good for public health (not to mention good manners!)
• If possible, avoiding contact with sick patients until 5 to 7 days after they become ill
• Getting both types of the pneumonia vaccine if you are over 65 years old, or if you have an underlying medical condition (bacterial pneumonia is very common after influenza infection)
• Eating well, staying active, and getting a good night’s sleep.

The post This year’s flu season: Public health catastrophe or par for the course? appeared first on Harvard Health Blog.

From: John Ross, MD, FIDSA https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/flu-season-public-health-catastrophe-2018020213207

Vaccine less than 20 percent effective against flu strain, researchers say

The news comes amid a worsening flu epidemic, resulting in deaths across the country

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/flu-vaccine-only-20-percent-effective-for-the-h3n2-strain-researchers-say/