The FDA is revising recall procedures

Investigators are calling out the FDA on cases where recalls were not handled quickly and effectively

From: http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cbsnews.com%2Fvideos%2Fthe-fda-is-revising-recall-procedures%2F&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8

Why more Americans are dying accidental deaths

"It's all preventable," yet certain causes of death have become much more common

From: http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cbsnews.com%2Fnews%2Fmore-americans-are-dying-accidental-deaths%2F&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8

Experts warn of teens drinking racing fuel to get drunk

Deadly concoction of methanol and Mountain Dew is known as Dewshine

From: http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cbsnews.com%2Fnews%2Fexperts-warn-of-teens-drinking-racing-fuel-to-get-drunk%2F&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8

Middle-Age Fitness Helps Ward Off Stroke Later

Study finds this one thing reduces risk by 37 percent

From: http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.webmd.com%2Ffitness-exercise%2F20160609%2Fmiddle-age-fitness-helps-ward-off-stroke-later%3Fsrc%3DRSS_PUBLIC&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8

Sex and drugs? Today's teens a "cautious generation"

Survey highlights trends in sexual activity, drug and alcohol use, and smoking among American teens

From: http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cbsnews.com%2Fnews%2Fteen-survey-sex-drugs-smoking-trends%2F&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8

Nature Made vitamins recalled over salmonella, staph

Consumers are urged not to consume products that may be contaminated

From: http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cbsnews.com%2Fnews%2Fnature-made-vitamins-recall-salmonella-staph-contamination%2F&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8

Teen Smoking Down, E-Cigarette Use Up

CDC survey finds adolescents hear some health messages, but not all

From: http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.webmd.com%2Fsmoking-cessation%2Fnews%2F20160609%2Fteen-smoking-down-e-cigarette-use-up%3Fsrc%3DRSS_PUBLIC&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8

Are antidepressants ineffective for teens?

Dr. Roshini Raj discusses a new study that says many antidepressants don't work on teenagers

From: http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cbsnews.com%2Fvideos%2Fare-antidepressants-ineffective-for-teens%2F&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8

What is internal decapitation and how did child survive?

Find out how this rare injury happens and what helped one little boy survive it

From: http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cbsnews.com%2Fnews%2Fwhat-is-internal-decapitation-how-did-boy-survive%2F&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8

Prostate Cancer Clinical Trial: What to Expect

WebMD explains how a clinical trial for prostate cancer works, including what kind of care you get during the study and how you can find one.

From: http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.webmd.com%2Fprostate-cancer%2Fdecision-point-clinical-trials-16%2Fwhat-to-expect%3Fsrc%3DRSS_PUBLIC&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8

Less Heart Care, More Strokes for Women?

Study reflects gender differences in treatment of atrial fibrillation

From: http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.webmd.com%2Fwomen%2Fnews%2F20160609%2Fless-heart-care-more-strokes-for-women%3Fsrc%3DRSS_PUBLIC&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8

Mayo Clinic Minute: New Look for Nutrition Labels

From: Mayo Clinic http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DiN7YPWdO2jE&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8

Lung disease in smokers who don’t have COPD

Smoking cigarettes damages your health in a number of ways. The top three smoking-related causes of death are cardiovascular disease, lung cancer, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In addition to these “top three,” smoking is also linked to a number of other cancers, getting more colds and infections, diabetes, osteoporosis and hip fractures, problems in pregnancy, difficulty with erections, stomach ulcers, gum disease, and the list goes on.

What exactly is COPD?

Emphysema occurs when the tiny air sacs of the lungs become damaged. Chronic bronchitis occurs when the lining of the airways becomes damaged. Many people have a combination of both, so the umbrella term COPD is more accurate. Having COPD makes it harder to get air in and out. Breathing tests, known as pulmonary function tests or “spirometry,” help determine how the lungs are working and are used to make a diagnosis of COPD.

So, if you smoke, or you used to smoke, but you don’t have COPD, does that mean your lungs haven’t been affected by smoking? Not necessarily.

Smoking may damage the lungs — even if you don’t have COPD

The May 12, 2016 issue of The New England Journal of Medicine included a study of smokers or past smokers (with at least 20 pack-years) who had some respiratory symptoms but didn’t quite meet the criteria for COPD. The well-recognized COPD Assessment Test (CAT) was used to measure the presence and severity of these symptoms, such as cough, mucus, shortness of breath, and activity and energy limitations. This group with symptoms (using a cutoff CAT score ≥10) was compared with non-smokers, as well as with smokers and past smokers with no respiratory symptoms.

The results showed that, when compared to those without symptoms, the group of smokers and past-smokers with symptoms had the following:

• more episodes of respiratory illness that required antibiotics, steroids, or doctor’s office and emergency room visits
• a shorter average walking distance on a 6-minute walking test
• more bronchial airway disease (bronchiolitis) as seen on lung CT scans.

This group was also often prescribed medications typically used for COPD, such as inhalers, even though they did not meet the criteria for COPD.

Though it is hard to draw firm conclusions from this study because the participants were volunteers and not randomly selected, it is notable that in this study, a full 50% of smokers and past smokers had some degree of respiratory symptoms, even though they did not have COPD.

What does this all mean?

Many smokers may not reach the cutoff criteria on spirometry for the diagnosis of COPD, but still have symptoms related to smoking — maybe a cough, mucus production, or shortness of breath with minimal exercise and activity. This study affirms that these people can experience serious health consequences, even without COPD. This finding also brings into question how we should classify chronic respiratory disease. So far, we haven’t determined a way of classifying those who have symptoms but don’t quite meet the usual criteria for COPD, and we also don’t have much data or guidance on how best to treat them.

In the meantime, quitting smoking remains the best way to lower your chances of getting COPD — and the best way to lessen any respiratory symptoms you’re having. Most smokers who stop will feel better, with less cough and mucus, within 12 months. They will also lower their risk of getting (and dying from) smoking-related illnesses. Though the benefits of stopping smoking are greater at younger ages, there is always a benefit from stopping, even at the age of 80! If you are a smoker and you want to stop, talk to your doctor. Quitting is a challenge, but there are a number of tools and treatments available to help you through it.

Related Post:

• Quitting smoking doesn’t have to mean big weight gain
• Low-nicotine cigarettes may help determined smokers cut back
• Medicare says it will cover lung cancer scans for long-time…
• New strategies help smokers quit when nicotine replacement…
• Join the Great American Smokeout

The post Lung disease in smokers who don’t have COPD appeared first on Harvard Health Blog.

From: Wynne Armand, MD http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.health.harvard.edu%2Fblog%2Flung-disease-smokers-dont-copd-201606099741&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8

Ebstein's Anomaly Facebook Page - Mayo Clinic

From: Mayo Clinic http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DuZUx0OLJnQM&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8

Rep. Marchant voices support, urges lawmakers to pass H.R. 4062

U.S. Rep. Kenny Marchant, R-Texas, continues to urge lawmakers to pass H.R. 4062, which calls for removing the mandate that Part D prescribing health care providers be enrolled in Medicare in order for pharmacists to be reimbursed.

From: http://redirect.viglink.com?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ada.org%2Fen%2Fpublications%2Fada-news%2F2016-archive%2Fjune%2Frep-marchant-voices-support-urges-lawmakers-to-pass-hr-4062&key=ddaed8f51db7bb1330a6f6de768a69b8