Will examining Vegas shooter's brain yield clues?

Stephen Paddock's brain is being sent to Stanford University for a months-long examination to find any possible neurological problems

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/stephen-paddock-doctors-examine-brain-las-vegas-shooting/

"Wolves ahead of the pack": How opioid epidemic compares with past crises

The current opioid crisis is the most widespread and deadly drug epidemic in the nation's history, but there has been a long string of others

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/opioid-epidemic-shares-chilling-similarities-with-the-past/

Mayo Clinic Minute: Some sexually transmitted infections reach record highs

From: Mayo Clinic https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wIH4WsPGg_E

Acetaminophen in Pregnancy Tied to ADHD Risk

Acetaminophen is considered the go-to pain medication during pregnancy. But a new study adds to evidence linking the drug to an increased risk of behavioral issues in kids.

From: https://www.webmd.com/add-adhd/childhood-adhd/news/20171030/acetaminophen-in-pregnancy-tied-to-adhd-risk?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Fitting in fitness for busy people

Today I led a small group of medical students on inpatient rounds. We had a patient on the seventh floor of the hospital. As I always do, I headed for the stairs, but told the students they could take the elevators if they wanted. (I promised them that they wouldn’t lose any points on their academic performance!)

And as they usually do, they decided to join me in the stairwell. Yes, we huffed and puffed a bit, but we still chatted, discussing fitness the whole time.

I take the stairs for many reasons, not the least of which is a frightening malfunctioning elevator experience from several years ago (a long story involving a team of maintenance personnel and a crowbar).

But a bigger factor is my own vigorous, unapologetic self-care regimen. I know I need regular exercise to maintain my mood and my health, so I fit it in wherever I can. If I have a patient on the seventh floor — or even the 22nd floor — I look at it as a terrific opportunity for a mini-workout in the middle of my workday.

We know it’s good for us, so why don’t we do it more?

The proven benefits of exercise are endless. Most people already know that mountains of research show that regular physical activity improves every aspect of our health: it decreases cardiovascular risk, manages stress, improves mood, delays dementia, eases chronic pain, and on and on.

Some people are committed to fitness and get more than enough exercise. But, most are not. One of the biggest barriers to regular physical activity is that it can be difficult to figure out how to “make” exercise happen.

Modern life is just so darned busy. Our workdays are long, our commutes are longer, and home responsibilities can easily take up the rest of our time.

Exercise as self-care

Here’s where the self-care concept is key: yes, I know that I need regular exercise to maintain my own mood and health, and as a primary care doctor, I know that everyone needs regular exercise to maintain their mood and health.

So how do we make this work?

1.   Exercise doesn’t have to mean going for a run or to the gym. Any activity counts. The goal is to avoid sitting for prolonged periods. Let go of the idea that it needs to be an hour of aerobics class or spinning or a several-mile powerwalk or run. It doesn’t! There are great benefits from all activities for any amount of time: it all adds up.

2.  Exercise can fit into the busiest workday. If you have to go to another floor, take the stairs. Try walking across the office to chat with a colleague, instead of sending an email. Someone going for coffee? Go with them. Your next meeting? Make it a walking meeting, especially if it’s nice out. If all you can do is stand up from your desk every half-hour and stretch, maybe walk around your office, then do that.

3.  Keep track of what you do. If you have a wearable step-counter, this can be a fun way to keep track of your activity and your progress. If you realize you haven’t moved much one day, then try to get up and move around more. Invent a reason to go for a walk. It can be motivating to see how your stamina (in steps and flights) improves over time.

4.  Make it fun! My kids love it when we do things together, and if it can be something active, we all get exercise as well. Win-win. We’ll walk or hike in the town park or nearby nature reserve; dance around the living room to boppy kids’ faves; jump on the trampoline; or I’ll run with them while they practice bike riding. I don’t care if I look silly (especially when we’re on the trampoline) because I know that all activity is good for me and for them.

If you think about exercise this way, none of us is too busy. And we all need to keep moving.

Official U.S. Physical Activity Guidelines for Adults Our government has provided longstanding guidance on amount and type of physical activity, based on the evidence (and new guidelines will be coming out in 2018). All adults should avoid inactivity. Some physical activity is better than none, and adults who participate in any amount of physical activity gain some health benefits. For substantial health benefits, adults should do at least 150 minutes a week of moderate-intensity, or 75 minutes a week of vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity, or an equivalent combination. Aerobic activity should be performed in episodes of at least 10 minutes, and preferably, it should be spread throughout the week. For additional and more extensive health benefits, adults should increase their aerobic physical activity to 300 minutes a week of moderate-intensity, or 150 minutes a week of vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity, or an equivalent combination of moderate- and vigorous-intensity activity. Additional health benefits are gained by engaging in physical activity beyond this amount. Adults should also include muscle-strengthening activities that involve all major muscle groups on two or more days a week.

 

The post Fitting in fitness for busy people appeared first on Harvard Health Blog.

From: Monique Tello, MD, MPH https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/fitting-in-fitness-for-busy-people-2017103012633

5 things parents and teachers need to know about ADHD

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is a childhood disorder that affects as many as one out of 10 children in the United States. Even though it’s fairly common, many misconceptions still persist. So here are five important things you should know if you are a parent or a teacher of a child with ADHD.

1. The hallmark symptoms of ADHD are inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. Most kids are inattentive, impulsive, and hyperactive at times. But for a diagnosis of ADHD, these symptoms must interfere significantly in multiple places, such as at school and at home. This is a childhood disorder, meaning the symptoms must be present before adolescence. The symptoms can start in preschool, but most kids aren’t diagnosed until later in childhood. The symptoms may change over time, with hyperactivity and impulsivity being more pronounced in young children, while high-schoolers and young adults often display more difficulty with attention. Many children (perhaps as many as half) will outgrow their symptoms but others do not, so ADHD can affect a person into adulthood.

2. There are different types of ADHD: predominantly hyperactive/impulsive presentation; predominantly inattentive presentation; combined presentation. Most children with ADHD have a combination of inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity and would be diagnosed with ADHD-combined presentation. Other children who struggle most with hyperactivity and impulsivity would get the diagnosis of ADHD-hyperactive/impulsive presentation. A third group has predominantly problems with attention. While you often will hear these children described as ADD (attention deficit disorder), the correct term is ADHD-predominantly inattentive presentation. Girls tend to have inattentive symptoms more than boys.

3. ADHD is a brain-based disorder. Kids can’t overcome symptoms of ADHD by “trying to concentrate harder” or by willing themselves to “pay attention.” Brain imaging studies have shown that people with ADHD have structurally different brains than people without ADHD. It also runs in families. Children whose parents have ADHD have a 40% to 60% chance of also having ADHD. Sometimes a child’s diagnosis can be the first clue that a parent may have ADHD.

4. The symptoms of ADHD can make school, family, and social relationships difficult. School requires attention and organizational skills, things that can be difficult for kids with ADHD. They may lose homework, have difficulty organizing their thoughts, and have problems thinking ahead and planning. In addition, it’s common for children with ADHD to also have learning disabilities, such as dyslexia, that make schoolwork even more challenging. While kids with ADHD don’t generally have a specific problem with social skills, difficulty with emotion regulation and impulsivity can interfere with personal relationships, and so it can be hard for them to keep and maintain friendships. It can also be hard for them to follow social rules, control their emotions, or say the appropriate thing. Finally, problems with organization, planning, and focusing on what’s being said to them can make many aspects of home life quite difficult. Relationships with parents and siblings can take a lot more work.

5. There are great treatments available for children with ADHD. There are a variety of research-backed therapies that can help relieve symptoms of ADHD. Some of the most effective approaches combine several therapies, for example:

• Medication: Many parents are fearful of trying medication, but ADHD medications are some of the most well-studied across all areas of medicine. Stimulant medications (such as Ritalin, Adderall, or Concerta) are the most commonly prescribed. These drugs stimulate the parts of the brain that are understimulated. These parts of the brain are related to thinking and attention. The goals of these medications are to reduce hyperactivity/impulsivity and increase focus/attention.
• Behavior therapy: Behavior therapy teaches the child to be aware of, monitor, and eventually modify disruptive behaviors. The therapist will teach social skills, such as waiting your turn, reading facial expressions, sharing, asking for help, and reacting appropriately when teased. Cognitive behavioral therapy emphasizes mindfulness, and teaches a child to be aware of her thoughts and emotions as a way of improving attention and focus.
• Education and training: Knowing oneself, or one’s child, can help parents understand how ADHD and its symptoms affect the family unit. Parents and teachers can learn tools that can help the child learn new, pro-social, and positive behaviors. Adults can learn how to cope with inappropriate behaviors and encourage positive ones. This can help reduce ADHD symptoms.
• ADHD coaching: A coach can help students with ADHD work toward goals, see change as a positive thing, improve productivity and functioning, and keep a student accountable. This is particularly useful for older kids.

Getting informed about ADHD is the first step in finding help. For more information, see www.mghclaycenter.org and www.understood.org.

The post 5 things parents and teachers need to know about ADHD appeared first on Harvard Health Blog.

From: Ellen Braaten, PhD https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/5-things-parents-and-teachers-need-to-know-about-adhd-2017102712643

Michael J. Fox's fight against Parkinson's

Actor Michael J. Fox is known to millions for the "Back to the Future" films and the TV series "Family Ties" and "Spin City." But for the past two decades it's been his battle with Parkinson's disease, and his search for a cure, that may have generated the most attention. Looking back, he tells anchor Jane Pauley that sharing his battle publicly and joining with others to raise money has been "one of the great gifts of my life." He is now launching an online study to help researchers develop new therapies for the disease.

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/michael-j-foxs-fight-against-parkinsons/

Mayo Clinic National Health Checkup: Mayo Clinic Radio

From: Mayo Clinic https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VsEIn8tuoIM

Advances in Prenatal Screening: Mayo Clinic Radio

From: Mayo Clinic https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jMb5H-t89I

Pediatric ENT Problems: Mayo Clinic Radio

From: Mayo Clinic https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6P8ZrJgX-rg

Morning Rounds: Unpaid caregivers, forecasting flu strains

CBS News contributor Dr. Tara Narula joins "CBS This Morning: Saturday" to discuss a new poll of unpaid caregivers, a recent study about the most common types of irregular heartbeat, and a new forecasting model that might help predict which strains of the flu will threaten us.

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/morning-rounds-unpaid-caregivers-forecasting-flu-strains/

December webinar to help dentists collect what they produce

Dentists sometimes have patients concerned about financing treatment plans, even though many practices have policies, programs or systems in place to help the patient.

From: http://www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2017-archive/october/december-webinar-to-help-dentists-collect-what-they-produce

This drug is driving rapid rise in opioid deaths

New report shows fentanyl is a major factor in the deadliest drug crisis in U.S. history

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/fentanyl-opioid-overdose-deaths-rapid-increase/

Mayo Clinic Minute: Nipple-sparing mastectomy, pre-pectoral reconstruction

From: Mayo Clinic https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YsTiKUaJ-qY

$295 million settlement reached in Stericycle class action

The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois on Oct. 26 granted preliminary approval for the settlement.

From: By Kelly Soderlund http://www.ada.org/en/publications/ada-news/2017-archive/october/295-million-settlement-reached-in-stericycle-class-action