Frequent Hot Flashes Linked to Heart Disease Risk

Menopausal women who have lots of hot flashes could face a higher risk for early-stage heart disease, a new study suggests. WebMD explains.

From: http://www.webmd.com/menopause/news/20151007/hot-flashes-menopause-heart-disease?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Some May Face Suicide Risk After Bariatric Surgery

Expert says that the life changes that follow can make it hard for these patients to cope

From: http://www.webmd.com/diet/obesity/20151007/suicide-risk-may-rise-for-some-after-weight-loss-surgery?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Administration drops sustainability from upcoming dietary guidelines

Updated dietary guidelines out at the end of the year won't factor in environmental sustainability

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/administration-drops-sustainability-from-upcoming-dietary-guidelines/

Weight-loss surgery may raise suicide risk for some

Researchers have a number of theories about why the risk may rise after dramatic weight loss

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/weight-loss-surgery-may-raise-suicide-risk-for-some/

Mayo Clinic Minute: Asthma and Sleep Apnea

From: Mayo Clinic http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PG4XtJ7xLTI

Ovarian tissue transplant may help women get pregnant

Results of small study offer hope for cancer survivors who want to have children

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/ovarian-tissue-transplant-may-help-cancer-survivors-become-pregnant/

Medical Marijuana Seems Safe for Chronic Pain

And the drug modestly reduced people's pain scores

From: http://www.webmd.com/pain-management/news/20151007/medical-marijuana-seems-safe-for-chronic-pain-patients-study-finds?src=RSS_PUBLIC

More Than 730 Sick in Latest Salmonella Outbreak

Four deaths have also been linked to tainted cucumbers, CDC officials report

From: http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/food-poisoning/20151006/more-than-730-illnesses-reported-in-latest-salmonella-outbreak?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Breast Cancer Survival: Early Detection Still Key

Despite advances in treatment, finding smaller tumors linked to better results

From: http://www.webmd.com/breast-cancer/news/20151006/early-detection-still-key-to-breast-cancer-survival-study?src=RSS_PUBLIC

This May Help Fertility After Cancer Treatment

Researchers in Denmark report a success rate of about 30 percent

From: http://www.webmd.com/infertility-and-reproduction/news/20151006/ovarian-tissue-transplant-can-help-some-women-have-kids-after-cancer-treatment?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Toddler dies from E. coli after visiting Maine fair

The CDC is investigating a possible link between the deadly infection and animals at the fair's petting zoo

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/toddler-dies-after-contracting-e-coli-at-maine-fair/

Teen smoking: How to help your teen quit

From: http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/tween-and-teen-health/in-depth/teen-smoking/art-20046474

Too little sleep and too much weight: a dangerous duo

You’re walking down the street early in the morning after having been up all night completing a project for your boss. The coffee shop on the corner beckons you as always. But today, this siren song is about more than just a cup of joe. Somehow, there is an irresistible urge to buy a donut or two as well.

If you’ve ever wondered why, read on.

The amount of sleep Americans say they get every night has declined from an average of approximately 8.5 hours in the 1960s to slightly less than 7 hours today. There are probably lots of reasons why, but they likely include 24/7 occupations, prolongation of the “day” with artificial lighting, the use of electronic devices at bedtime (blue-wavelength light from these devices delays sleep onset), and the widespread belief that sleep is less of a priority compared to other activities, whether they are work- or pleasure-related.

And today, not only do more of us sleep less, but we tend to weigh more, too. More than 30% of adult Americans are now obese, compared with less than 15% of adults in the 1960s. This “obesity epidemic” also has spread to children, with approximately 17% now considered obese. This is an alarming trend because obese children are likely to become obese adults.

Is there a link between the decrease in sleep duration and the rise in obesity? Compelling evidence suggests that there is. A number of large studies involving thousands of adults have generally found that short sleepers (defined as 5 hours or less per night, but sometimes 6 hours or less) were up to 45% more likely to be obese. We don’t have as much data on children, but one study found that kids who slept less than 7.5 hours per night had a three-fold greater risk of developing obesity over a 5-year period.

Studies also demonstrate that short sleepers don’t eat healthfully. Over all, their diets have less food variety, a greater percentage of calories from snacks, and higher amounts of sugar, caffeine, and alcohol. Furthermore, they tend to skip the main meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner), and also tend to snack more. These habits promote weight gain and the eventual development of obesity.

Is there a scientific explanation for the eating behavior of short sleepers? Experimental studies indicate that sleep restriction leads to abnormalities in the processing of blood sugar (glucose) and changes in hormones that control appetite. For example, the hormone ghrelin stimulates appetite, whereas the hormone leptin reduces it. With sleep restriction, levels of ghrelin rise and those of leptin fall, thus leading to an increase in hunger and appetite. Additionally, these studies have observed that sleep-restricted individuals have a greater desire for high-calorie, high-carbohydrate foods.

So what do the data that link inadequate sleep with weight gain tell us?

The take-home message is that getting enough sleep is one way to lower your risk for weight gain and obesity. There is a tendency to put on pounds as one grows older. Inadequate sleep will only worsen this trend. If a person is already overweight or obese, weight loss will be more difficult without adequate sleep. From a societal perspective, the obesity epidemic, with its associated increases in the rates of several chronic conditions (e.g., heart disease, diabetes), places a greater burden on the health care system and contributes to rising health care costs. Adequate sleep deserves to be included with exercise and good nutrition as one of the essentials of good health.

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The post Too little sleep and too much weight: a dangerous duo appeared first on Harvard Health Blog.

From: Stuart Quan, MD http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/too-little-sleep-and-too-much-weight-a-dangerous-duo-201510078396

Wyoming woman dies of rabies after being bitten by bat

Officials are tracking down people who've had contact with woman who was believed to be state's first confirmed human rabies case

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/wyoming-woman-dies-of-rabies-after-being-bitten-by-bat/

Public health emergency declared in Flint, Michigan, due to contaminated water

When Flint, Michigan, disconnected their water supply from Detroit and started drawing from the Flint River, they were thinking of $15 million in savings

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/public-health-emergency-declared-in-flint-michigan-due-to-contaminated-water/