janvier 2017

Smoking Costs World $1.4 Trillion a Year in Disease, Lost Productivity

mardi 31 janvier 2017

MONDAY, Jan. 30, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Nearly 6 percent of the world's health-care spending is tied to smoking, a new study reports.

That amounted to $1.4 trillion worldwide in 2012, with developing nations shouldering 40 percent of the burden, the researchers said.

"Smoking imposes a heavy economic burden throughout the world, particularly in Europe and North America where the tobacco epidemic is most advanced," the study authors wrote.

Mark Goodchild, of the World Health Organization (WHO), led the analysis of data from 152 countries, representing 97 percent of the world's smokers.

The researchers considered direct costs -- such as medical treatment -- as well as indirect ones -- such as lost productivity and disability -- to estimate the overall cost of smoking.

To make that estimate, the investigators reviewed 33 studies of direct costs along with data from the WHO and the World Bank.

Goodchild and his colleagues reported that in 2012, smoking-related diseases caused 12 percent of deaths among adults aged 30 to 69, with the highest proportion in Europe and the Americas. That included 1.4 million people who would have been working.

The researchers traced nearly 40 percent of the global economic toll to low- and middle-income countries. Of those, Brazil, China, India and Russia accounted for one-quarter of all smoking-related costs.

The calculations did not include the health and economic harms caused by second-hand smoke or smokeless forms of tobacco, the investigators said.

In 2015, the U.N. General Assembly adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The agenda includes 17 goals for member states to achieve by 2030. One of the targets of Goal 3 is to cut the number of deaths from non-communicable diseases, such as those caused by smoking, by one-third, the study authors explained.

"These findings highlight the urgent need for all countries to implement comprehensive tobacco-control measures to address these economic costs, while also helping to achieve the sustainable development goals of the member states," the authors concluded.

The study was published Jan. 30 in the journal Tobacco Control.

SOURCE: Tobacco Control, news release, Jan. 30, 2017

News stories are written and provided by HealthDay and do not reflect federal policy, the views of MedlinePlus, the National Library of Medicine, the National Institutes of Health, or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

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Exercise May Help Black Americans Lower Blood Pressure Risk

MONDAY, Jan. 30, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Regular sports or exercise may lower black Americans' risk of high blood pressure, a new study finds.

The new research included more than 1,300 black people living in or near Jackson, Miss. Black Americans have a higher risk of high blood pressure than other racial groups in the United States, the researchers noted.

At the start of the study, volunteers had normal blood pressure and their average age was in the late 40s.

During about eight years of follow-up, nearly half developed high blood pressure, also known as hypertension, the investigators found.

The risk of high blood pressure was 16 percent lower among those with intermediate levels of physical activity (less than the recommended 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity exercise) compared with those who didn't exercise at all, the findings showed.

High blood pressure risk was 24 percent lower among those with ideal levels of physical activity (about 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity exercise or at least 75 minutes per week of vigorous exercise) versus non-exercisers, the study reported.

But the researchers also found that while sports- or exercise-related physical activity -- such as swimming, cycling and brisk walking -- lowered the risk of high blood pressure, work- or household chore-related physical activity didn't help.

The study was published Jan. 30 in the journal Hypertension.

"High blood pressure is a major health issue for many African Americans," study lead author Keith Diaz said in a journal news release.

"Instead of waiting for full-blown hypertension or abnormally high blood pressure to develop in African Americans, health professionals should prescribe a dose of physical activity, just as they would prescribe a medication," he suggested.

Diaz is an assistant professor at Columbia University Medical Center's Center for Behavioral Cardiovascular Health in New York City.

The researchers believe that work- and household chore-related physical activity didn't reduce the risk of high blood pressure because it "is often not done in bouts long enough to cause healthy changes in your heart, blood vessels and muscles," Diaz said.

"Other research has shown that for physical activity to be beneficial, it needs to be done for at least 10 consecutive minutes at a time, and at intensity levels that get you breathing harder and your heart beating faster," he explained.

The researchers also pointed out that because the study volunteers were all from Mississippi, the results might not be the same if conducted all across the United States.

SOURCE: Hypertension, news release, Jan. 30, 2017

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Bilingual People May Have an Edge Against Alzheimer's

MONDAY, Jan. 30, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- People who speak two or more languages appear to weather the ravages of Alzheimer's disease better than people who have only mastered one language, a new Italian study suggests.

Bilingual people with Alzheimer's outperformed single-language speakers in short- and long-term memory tasks, even though scans showed more severe deterioration in brain metabolism among the bilingual participants, the scientists said.

The ability to speak two languages appears to provide the brain with more resilience to withstand damage from Alzheimer's, said lead researcher Dr. Daniela Perani, a professor of psychology at Vita-Salute San Raffaele University in Milan.

The more often a person swapped between two languages during their lifetime, the more capable their brains became of switching to alternate pathways that maintained thinking skills even as Alzheimer's damage accumulated, the researchers found.

Previous studies have shown that lifelong bilingualism can delay the onset of dementia by as much as five years, Perani said. However, no one has yet examined what causes that effect in the brain.

To examine this more closely, Perani and her colleagues performed brain scans and memory tests on 85 seniors with Alzheimer's. Among the participants, 45 spoke both German and Italian, while 40 only spoke one language.

The bilingual people dramatically outscored monolingual speakers on memory tests, scoring three to eight times higher, on average.

Bilingual people achieved these scores even though scans of their brains revealed more signs of cerebral hypometabolism -- a characteristic of Alzheimer's in which the brain becomes less efficient at converting glucose into energy.

The brain scans also provided a clue why this might be. People who were bilingual appeared to have better functional connectivity in frontal brain regions, which allowed them to maintain better thinking despite their Alzheimer's, Perani said.

Constantly using two languages appears to make the brain work harder. During a lifetime this causes structural changes to the brain, creating a "neural reserve" that renders the bilingual brain more resistant against aging, Perani said.

Bilingualism also sets up a person for better "neural compensation," in which the brain copes with its own degeneration and loss of neurons by finding alternative pathways through which to function, she said.

"Our finding suggests that in bilingual patients with Alzheimer's dementia both mechanisms are at play, since neuronal loss is accompanied by compensatory increase of connectivity, allowing bilingual patients to maintain high neuropsychological performance and cognitive functioning longer than monolingual [patients]," Perani said.

Heather Snyder, senior director of medical and scientific operations for the Alzheimer's Association, said these results make sense given what is known about the aging brain.

"It's that idea of cognitive engagement -- continuing to use it or you lose it," Snyder said. "People who are bilingual and are going back and forth with two different languages throughout their day are activating a specific way of thinking that's making those brain connections."

"It's a small study, so you can't draw too many conclusions from it, but it is the kind of research we do want to see more of," Snyder added.

The study also suggests that kids who learn a second language and use it often will benefit in their old age, Perani said.

"Considering that delaying the onset of dementia is a top priority of modern societies, governments and health systems should be stimulated to activate social programs and interventions to support bilingual or multilingual education, and to maintain the use of more languages in aging," she said.

Understanding these Alzheimer's-resistant brain mechanisms could also lead to future therapies where medications and lifestyle changes are combined to protect seniors' minds, Snyder said.

The new study was published Jan. 30 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

SOURCES: Daniela Perani, M.D., professor, psychology, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy; Heather Snyder, Ph.D., senior director, medical and scientific operations, Alzheimer's Association; Jan. 30, 2017, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

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For Ice Skating, Sharpen Up on Safety

lundi 30 janvier 2017

(*this news item will not be available after 04/29/2017)

By Mary Elizabeth Dallas

Sunday, January 29, 2017

SUNDAY, Jan. 29, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Ice skating is a great source of exercise for the whole family, but injuries could take the fun out of this winter activity.

Adhering to several essential safety tips can help prevent ice skating injuries, according to the U.S.-based National Safety Council.

The first step is to ensure a proper fit. Ice skates should be comfortable and offer adequate ankle support to prevent falls, the group cautions.

The safety council provides other tips to avoid skating injuries:

Have ice skate blades professionally sharpened at the beginning of each season.
Avoid sketchy or possibly thin ice. Skate only on specially prepared rinks that are known to have strong ice.
Before skating, always check the ice for cracks, holes or debris.
Learn the basics. Before venturing out, make sure you know how to stop and fall safely.
Dress warmly and be sure to rest if you're cold or tired.
Never skate alone.

SOURCE: National Safety Council

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For Ice Skating, Sharpen Up on Safety

Ways to Stay Active in Winter

SATURDAY, Jan. 28, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Adults should get at least 30 minutes of physical activity each day -- even in the depths of winter, a leading group of dietary and nutrition professionals advises.

And children should get at least an hour of daily exercise, whatever the weather, the experts at the American Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics added.

If the ground is covered in ice or snow, however, outdoor activities like jogging or biking can be difficult, or even dangerous.

But cold weather isn't an excuse for inactivity, the academy said in a news release. There are several ways families can stay active throughout the year.

The group recommends the following workouts that can been done indoors:

If it's too cold outside, try walking in the local mall.
Avoid the elevator and escalators, and opt for the stairs instead.
Walk the hallways of your office building during your lunch hour or a coffee break.
Start spring cleaning a bit early. Vacuuming, cleaning closets and washing windows can help you stay active indoors.
Rather than curling up on the sofa and watching a movie, follow an exercise video or DVD.

Outdoor winter fun can also burn calories. Bundle up, head outside and enjoy the following physical activities:

Have a snowball fight.
Go ice skating.
Sled downhill and climb back up a few times.
Make snow angels in the yard.

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Fecal Transplant Shows Early Promise Against Autism

vendredi 27 janvier 2017

THURSDAY, Jan. 26, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- A small study suggests a novel treatment for kids with autism: Give these young patients a fresh supply of healthy gut bacteria via a fecal transplant.

After the procedure, the children experienced a 25 percent reduction in symptoms related to language, social interaction and repetitive behaviors, said study co-author James Adams, an autism researcher at Arizona State University.

Not only that, the kids also became less hyperactive, irritable and lethargic, Adams said.

"It's not a cure for autism, but in 10 weeks we were able to make a substantial dent," he said.

Many children with autism suffer from chronic gastrointestinal problems like diarrhea and constipation, often from infancy, Adams explained. That may be because they either carry harmful gut bacteria or lack many healthy strains.

"Most people have about a thousand different species of bacteria in their gut, mostly beneficial," he said. "In previous studies, we found kids with autism were missing several hundred of those species."

Earlier studies showed that powerful antibiotics can temporarily improve autism symptoms, but the symptoms returned when the drugs wore off, Adams said.

"It's not just wiping out the bad bacteria, but allowing the good bacteria to regrow so they fight off the bad bacteria," he said.

Adams and his colleagues decided to see whether giving children a brand new gut ecosystem could provide longer-term relief of autism symptoms.

Special antibiotics were given to 18 children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, to wipe out their gut bacteria, Adams said. The children also fasted for half a day and underwent a bowel cleanse.

"Then we gave them a fecal transplant of very healthy gut bacteria from very, very healthy, carefully screened donors," he said.

A laboratory purified the samples to remove nearly all waste material, leaving a "super probiotic" that was 99 percent healthy bacteria, Adams said.

The kids took high oral doses of the "super probiotic" for two days, and then lower doses daily for eight weeks, he said. They also took a stomach acid suppressant to make sure more of the bacteria made its way into their gut.

Five weeks into the study, the children had experienced an average 80 percent reduction in the GI symptoms most had experienced for years, Adams said.

Slowly but surely, the kids also experienced a steady improvement in their autism symptoms.

"By the end of the treatment, there was about a 25 percent reduction in autism symptoms," Adams said.

Follow-ups conducted eight weeks later showed that their new gut bacteria were still healthy, and that both their GI and autism symptoms were stable, he said.

Mathew Pletcher is vice president and head of genomic discovery at Autism Speaks, an advocacy group. He said the study's results "are encouraging but need to be repeated on a larger group of individuals before we can be confident that there is a positive benefit to be had from fecal transplant for individuals with autism.

"Digestive issues are common in individuals with autism and effectively addressing them through medical treatments have been shown to impact behavioral and social issues associated with autism," Pletcher acknowledged.

"So, if changing the microbiome environment in the stomach and intestines through fecal transplant can reproducibly restore digestive health of individuals with autism, there is the potential to ease some neurological symptoms of autism as well."

The researchers have received funding to proceed with a much larger trial, Adams said.

Adams hopes the larger trial's results will lead to FDA approval of fecal transplants for people with autism. Currently, the agency only allows the procedure to treat infections of C. difficile, a dangerous bacteria that can cause life-threatening diarrhea.

There are several theories that could explain an interaction between gut bacteria and autism.

First, the gut releases a number of substances that affect the brain, said senior study author Rosa Krajmalnik-Brown, an associate professor of fundamental and applied biomics at Arizona State's Swette Center for Environmental Biotechnology.

These include vitamins like folic acid and biotin, substances like short-chain fatty acids, and neurochemicals like serotonin, tryptophan and GABA, Adams and Krajmalnik-Brown said.

In addition, certain harmful bacteria can produce toxins that interfere with the immune system and potentially disrupt thinking, Adams added.

But it might just wind up being a simple matter of profound relief for these children.

"These kids have had GI problems like diarrhea or constipation for years, since infancy," Adams said. "I think just relieving that discomfort makes them feel better, makes them be more sociable, less irritable and better able to learn."

The study was published Jan. 23 in the journal Microbiome.

SOURCES: James Adams, Ph.D., professor and autism researcher, Arizona State University, Tempe; Rosa Krajmalnik-Brown, Ph.D., associate professor, fundamental and applied bionics, ASU's Swette Center for Environmental Biotechnology; Mathew Pletcher, Ph.D., vice president and head, genomic discovery, Autism Speaks; Jan. 23, 2017, Microbiome

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Lack of Exercise Might Invite Dementia

THURSDAY, Jan. 27, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Parking yourself in front of the TV may make you as likely to develop dementia as people genetically predisposed to the condition, a Canadian study suggests.

In a study of more than 1,600 adults aged 65 and older, those who led a sedentary life seemed to have the same risk of developing dementia as those who carried the apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene mutation, which increases the chances of developing dementia.

Conversely, people who exercised appeared to have lower odds of developing dementia than those who didn't, the five-year study found.

"Being inactive may completely negate the protective effects of a healthy set of genes," said lead researcher Jennifer Heisz, an assistant professor in the department of kinesiology at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario.

However, the study didn't prove that lack of exercise caused dementia risk to increase. It only found an association between the two.

The APOE mutation is the strongest genetic risk factor for vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia, Parkinson's disease and, especially, Alzheimer's disease, the researchers said.

People with a single APOE "allele" may have a three to four times increased risk of dementia than non-carriers, the study authors said.

How exercise may reduce the risk for dementia isn't known, Heisz said.

These study results, however, suggest that your physical activity level can influence your dementia risk as much as your genetics, Heisz said. "You can't change your genes, but you can change your lifestyle," she added.

The kind of exercise that's best isn't known, although the people who were physically active in the study reported walking three times a week, Heisz said.

"Which means you don't have to train like an Olympian to get the brain health benefits of being physically active," she said.

The report was published Jan. 10 in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease.

Dr. Sam Gandy directs the Center for Cognitive Health at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. He said the study findings aren't "really a surprise, but it is good to see it proven."

Other scientists showed some years ago that people with the APOE mutation could virtually erase the risk of developing amyloid plaques in the brain if they became regular runners, Gandy said. Amyloid plaques are one of the hallmark signs of Alzheimer's.

"That was an amazing report that, I believe, has been underpublicized," Gandy said.

However, this new study suggests that if you are blessed with genes that lower your risk for Alzheimer's, you could lose that benefit if you don't exercise, he said.

"I cannot understand why the fear of dementia is not sufficient to induce everyone to adopt a regular exercise program," Gandy said.

"I tell all my patients that if they leave with one, and only one, piece of advice, that the one thing that they can do to reduce their risk of dementia or slow the progression of dementia is to exercise," he said.

About 47.5 million people around the world are living with dementia, the researchers said, and that number is expected to surge to 115 million by 2050. With no known cure, there's an urgent need to explore, identify and change lifestyle factors that can reduce dementia risk, the study authors said.

SOURCES: Jennifer Heisz, Ph.D., assistant professor, department of kinesiology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada; Sam Gandy, M.D., Ph.D., director, Center for Cognitive Health, Mount Sinai Hospital, New York City; Jan. 10, 2017, Journal of Alzheimer's Disease

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Depression Often Untreated in Dialysis Patients

THURSDAY, Jan. 26, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Depression is common among kidney failure patients undergoing dialysis. But efforts to get them on antidepressants often fail, a new study finds.

Many patients refuse to start or modify depression treatment. And in some cases kidney specialists don't want their patients taking antidepressant medication, researchers reported.

"Our study demonstrated that many patients on chronic hemodialysis have depressive symptoms but do not wish to receive aggressive treatment to alleviate these symptoms," said study co-leader Dr. Steven Weisbord.

"We also noted that when patients are willing to accept treatment, renal [kidney care] providers commonly do not prescribe treatment," said Weisbord, who's with the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System.

When kidneys fail, dialysis treatment is needed to remove wastes and salt from the blood. It's often done at a hospital, dialysis center or at home with a special machine.

The study included 101 dialysis patients who completed monthly questionnaires about depression symptoms. They were followed for at least one year.

Thirty-nine patients were diagnosed with depression, based on assessments from a total of 147 sessions with health care staff.

But not all got treated with an antidepressant -- only 70 percent of sessions showed evidence that the patient was getting antidepressant treatment. And in 70 percent of cases where a nurse recommended that the patient intensify treatment, the patient refused to do so.

In 11 of 18 cases where patients agreed they needed depression medication, kidney specialists were unwilling to provide it, the study found.

The main reason patients refused to take antidepressants was because they felt their depression was attributable to an acute event, chronic illness or dialysis.

The study was published Jan. 26 in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.

A U.S. government improvement program for end-stage renal disease recently mandated that all dialysis facilities report individual patient screening and treatment plans for depression, Weisbord said.

"However, there is a paucity of evidence documenting the effectiveness of antidepressant treatment in this patient population and it remains unknown whether patients on dialysis want treatment for depression," he explained in a journal news release.

The prognosis for depressed dialysis patients can be bleak, said the authors of an accompanying commentary.

"Depression in people receiving dialysis treatment is associated with lower quality of life, increased hospitalizations and, in all likelihood, shortened survival," wrote Maree Hackett and Meg Jardine of the University of Sydney, Australia.

SOURCE: Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, news release, Jan. 26, 2017

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Improving Your Odds for Cervical Health

jeudi 26 janvier 2017

FDA Encourages More Participation, Diversity in Clinical Trials

Help Keep a Sick Child Safe: Learn How to Use a Hospital Crib

1 in 4 U.S. Adults, 1 in 10 Teens Use Tobacco

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 25, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Despite the dangers, many American adults and teens still use tobacco products, a new study finds.

Researchers looked at more than 46,000 people and found that 28 percent of American adults currently use some form of tobacco, while 9 percent of teens said they used tobacco in the past month.

Tobacco products included cigarettes, cigars, cigarillos, filtered cigars, pipe tobacco, hookahs, snus pouches and other smokeless tobacco.

Even more worrisome, 40 percent of tobacco users turned to more than one product, with cigarettes and e-cigarettes being the most common combination, the researchers said.

"We know with certainty that cigarette smoking is incredibly harmful," said lead researcher Andrew Hyland. He is chairman of the department of health behavior at Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo, N.Y.

"Cigarette smoking is responsible for 480,000 deaths in the U.S. each and every year, but getting completely off cigarettes quickly leads to improved health," he said.

According to the study, cigarette smoking continues to remain the most common form of tobacco use, Hyland said.

E-cigarettes trailed only cigarettes in popularity for both youths and adults, and hookah (waterpipe) smoking was very high among 18- to 24-year-olds, he added.

Among adults, 23 percent smoked cigarettes and 7 percent of those smokers also used e-cigarettes. Among kids aged 12 to 17, just over 13 percent smoked regular cigarettes, while 11 percent used e-cigarettes as well, the researchers found.

"Another surprising finding was that about four in 10 youth and adult tobacco users reported being current users of two or more tobacco products," Hyland said.

These statistics serve to help identify areas where additional tobacco regulation may be needed, he said.

The report was published Jan. 26 in the New England Journal of Medicine.

This study underscores the importance for fully implementing the Tobacco Control Act, said Erika Sward, assistant vice president for national advocacy at the American Lung Association.

"The act specifically tasks FDA with looking at tobacco use and whether or not certain products or actions by companies would cause people to switch instead of quit," she said. "These findings call into question any positive impact e-cigarettes might have on public health," Sward said.

The lung association is concerned about people using both cigarettes and e-cigarettes, she added.

"We recognize that in many ways, at least for the larger tobacco companies, e-cigarettes are a way for people to keep using their 'cash cow' product, which is regular cigarettes," Sward said. "It's another way to discourage smokers from ending their tobacco addiction for good."

Gregory Conley, president of the American Vaping Association, said these findings have been available for two years or longer, but the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has been dragging its heels when it comes to its mission to regulate tobacco products, including e-cigarettes.

SOURCES: Andrew Hyland, Ph.D., chairman, department of health behavior, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, N.Y.; Gregory Conley, president, American Vaping Association; Erika Sward, assistant vice president, national advocacy, American Lung Association; Jan. 26, 2017, New England Journal of Medicine

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1 in 4 U.S. Adults, 1 in 10 Teens Use Tobacco

Mental Health May Affect Chances Against Cancer

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 25, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Anxiety and depression may increase the risk of death from certain cancers, early research suggests.

After analyzing studies involving thousands of patients in Great Britain, researchers found that people with greater levels of psychological distress had higher death rates for colon, esophageal, pancreatic and prostate cancers and leukemia.

The study was published Jan. 25 in the BMJ.

"Our findings contribute to the evidence that poor mental health might have some predictive capacity for certain physical diseases, but we are a long way off from knowing if these relationships are truly causal," said researcher David Batty in a journal news release.

Batty is with University College London.

He and his colleagues reviewed 16 English and Scottish studies that included more than 163,000 people, aged 16 and older. The people were initially cancer-free and followed for an average of nearly 10 years. During that time, there were 4,353 deaths from cancer.

The researchers said the findings held up even after compensating for factors such as age, sex, education, wealth, body fat, smoking and alcohol use.

Because this was an observational study, no firm conclusions about cause and effect can be made. However, the results add to increasing evidence that mental distress could be linked to certain health problems, the researchers said.

SOURCE: BMJ, news release, Jan. 25, 2017

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Rates of Early Deaths Rise for Whites, Drop for Blacks

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 25, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Premature death rates in the United States have fallen for some groups but risen in others, a federal study says.

Researchers looked at death certificate data from 1999 to 2014. They found that rates of premature death (between ages 25 to 64) declined among blacks, Hispanics and Asian/Pacific Islanders. At the same time, the rates went up for whites and American Indians/Alaska Natives.

"Death at any age is devastating for those left behind, but premature death is especially so, in particular for children and parents," said study senior author Amy Berrington, from the U.S. National Cancer Institute.

"Our study can be used to target prevention and surveillance efforts to help those groups in greatest need," she said in an agency news release.

There were fewer deaths from cancer, heart disease and HIV for blacks, Hispanics and Asian/Pacific Islanders. Success in public health programs to reduce tobacco use is one reason for these drops. Another is medical advances to improve diagnosis and treatment, the researchers said.

Despite these improvements, overall premature death rates are still higher among blacks than whites.

Significant jumps in accidental deaths -- mainly drug overdoses -- were the primary reason for the increase in premature deaths among whites and American Indians/Alaska Natives. There were also increases in suicides and liver disease, the study reported.

Death rates rose as much as 5 percent a year for 25- to 30-year-old whites and American Indians/Alaska Natives during the study period. That's similar to increases seen at the height of the AIDS epidemic in the United States, researchers said.

One positive trend was seen in whites -- cancer and heart disease deaths went down, the study found.

The findings were published Jan. 25 in The Lancet.

Lead author Meredith Shiels is also with the National Cancer Institute. She said, "The results of our study suggest that in addition to continued efforts against cancer, heart disease and HIV, there is an urgent need for aggressive actions targeting emerging causes of death, namely drug overdoses, suicide and liver disease."

SOURCE: U.S. National Cancer Institute, news release, Jan. 25, 2017

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Fitter Seniors May Have Healthier Brains

mercredi 25 janvier 2017

TUESDAY, Jan. 24, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Good heart and lung fitness can benefit older adults' brains, researchers report.

They assessed the heart/lung fitness of healthy young adults (aged 18 to 31) and older adults (aged 55 to 74), and compared their ability to learn and remember the names of strangers in photos. MRI scans recorded images of their brain activity as they learned the names.

The older adults had more difficulty with the memory test than the young adults. But older adults with high levels of heart/lung fitness did better on the test and showed more brain activity when learning new names than those of their peers with lower levels of heart/lung fitness.

The increased brain activity in those with higher levels of heart/lung fitness occurred in regions typically affected by age-related decline. The findings suggest that heart/lung fitness may also help keep the brain healthy as people get older, according to the researchers. But the study did not prove a cause-and-effect link.

"Importantly, [heart/lung fitness] is a modifiable health factor that can be improved through regular engagement in moderate to vigorous sustained physical activity such as walking, jogging, swimming or dancing," said study corresponding author Scott Hayes. He's an assistant professor of psychiatry at Boston University School of Medicine.

"Therefore, starting an exercise program, regardless of one's age, can not only contribute to the more obvious physical health factors, but may also contribute to memory performance and brain function," Hayes said in a university news release.

The researchers said high levels of fitness will not prevent brain decline, but may slow it.

The findings were published recently in the journal Cortex.

SOURCE: Boston University, news release, Jan. 13, 2017

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Body Cooling Little Help to Kids When Heart Stops: Study

TUESDAY, Jan. 24, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Body cooling offers no advantage over normal temperature control in treating infants and children whose hearts suddenly stop beating, a new study suggests.

The study included 329 children, aged 2 days to 18 years, who suffered cardiac arrest in a hospital. Some had their body temperature maintained within normal range, while others had their body temperature lowered below the normal range to try to reduce brain damage.

Current guidelines recommend the use of either approach.

Both treatments helped control fever and led to similar survival rates and brain function outcomes one year later.

"Some hospitals and physicians have routinely used body cooling for all patients who experience cardiac arrest because they believed it might lead to better outcomes," said study author Dr. Frank Moler, a pediatric critical care physician at the University of Michigan's C.S. Mott Children's Hospital.

"Our study found no evidence that there was improved survival or better functional outcome with therapeutic hypothermia [cooling] compared to actively maintaining a normal temperature in infants and children experiencing cardiac arrest in a hospital," he said in a university news release.

Study co-author Dr. Michael Dean, division chief of pediatric critical care at the University of Utah, noted the study was carefully controlled.

"The important difference between this study and many of the previous studies is that both groups of children who were in this study had active temperature control," Dean said. "In our study, we did not allow any children to develop fevers."

About 6,000 children suffer in-hospital cardiac arrest each year in the United States. During cardiac arrest, the heart stops pumping and blood no longer flows to the brain and other vital organs. It often leads to death or long-term disability. This is different from a heart attack, where blood flow to the heart is blocked and some heart tissue may be damaged.

A 2015 study by the same team of researchers found that the two body temperature management approaches led to similar outcomes in children who suffered out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.

"The goal of this body of research was to identify the optimal temperature management for critically ill children who remained comatose following cardiac arrest resuscitation," Moler said.

"Our two trials found that long-term survival and neurobehavioral outcomes did not differ between groups," he concluded.

This latest study was funded by the U.S. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.

The findings were presented Tuesday at the annual meeting of the Society for Critical Care Medicine, in Honolulu. It was published simultaneously in the New England Journal of Medicine.

SOURCE: University of Michigan, news release, Jan. 24, 2017

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HPV Vaccine Doesn't Eliminate Need for Pap Test

TUESDAY, Jan. 24, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- The HPV vaccine helps prevent cervical cancer but that doesn't mean women should forgo Pap test screening, cancer experts say.

Women of all ages need to continue to undergo this screening test for precancerous or cancerous cells on the cervix even if they've received the vaccine, advised gynecologic oncologist Dr. Jayanthi Lea, from UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas.

"The vaccine reduces the risk of cancer, but has not yet been shown to eliminate the need for screening," Lea said.

Lea and her colleagues said that once women have been vaccinated against the human papillomavirus (HPV) -- a virus that can cause cervical cancer -- they don't need to get screened every year as in the past.

"Routine cervical screening for women under age 21 and over 65 is no longer recommended. Research has found that testing every three years is sufficient, unless the patient has a health history that requires more frequent screening," Lea said.

"There is also the option of combining a Pap test with HPV testing. When testing is done this way, it is typically performed every five years," she said.

January is Cervical Health Awareness Month.

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HPV Vaccine Doesn't Eliminate Need for Pap Test

Pediatricians Say No to Wearable Smartphone Baby Monitors

TUESDAY, Jan. 24, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Parents should think twice before buying "smart" clothing with vital signs monitors to keep tabs on their baby's health, pediatricians recommend.

A new class of home baby monitor has come to the market. Electronic sensors attached to socks, onesies, buttons and such continually check "vitals" like breathing, pulse rate and oxygen levels. They notify parents of any abnormalities via smartphone.

But repeated false alarms from the monitors jangle parents' nerves and lead to unnecessary tests performed on babies, said Dr. Christopher Bonafide.

Bonafide is a doctor with the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. He's also lead author of an editorial in the Jan. 24 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).

These baby vital signs monitors have not been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and there's no evidence the devices prevent any potentially fatal problems in normal infants, said Bonafide.

"I worry about the unnecessary care and even potential harm to babies that can be associated with alarms from these devices," Bonafide said. "There's not a role for these devices in the care of healthy infants."

One such device is Owlet Baby Care's sensor-laden "smart sock." It's worn on a baby's foot to monitor vital signs and sells for $250, according to the manufacturer.

"By giving parents the right information at the right time, we empower them to make informed choices," Owlet said in a response to the JAMA opinion piece. The company said its mission is to "help parents take a proactive approach to their baby's health and wellness."

Bonafide learned of these new baby monitors when a parent brought her healthy baby to the emergency room after an alarm sounded.

"Her baby was completely fine, yet because there was an alarm, it had prompted the family to come to the emergency room," he said. "The docs there were prompted to say, 'Well, if this alarm went off, maybe we should admit for observation.' "

False alarms can occur if babies set off the monitor by kicking or rolling, or experience a harmless change in their vitals that the device reads as life-threatening, Bonafide said.

For example, research has shown that babies occasionally experience sudden declines in their blood oxygen levels that would set off a monitor, he said.

"They're just normal fluctuations," Bonafide said, adding that the alarm would have parents think otherwise.

Babies brought in on a false alarm are likely to undergo blood tests, X-rays and other procedures that are expensive and potentially harmful, Bonafide said.

These false alarms also fray the nerves of sleep-deprived young parents, he added.

One mother told Bonafide that her baby monitor had been waking her up an extra three or four times a week with false alarms. "That's a big deal if you're already being woken up every two or three hours a night by the baby," he said.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends against using these high-tech baby monitors in healthy infants, said Dr. Rachel Moon, who chairs the academy's Task Force on SIDS.

The AAP's main concern is that there's no evidence the devices even work, said Moon, head of pediatrics for the University of Virginia School of Medicine.

By not claiming that the monitors prevent sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), the manufacturers can avoid FDA medical device regulation, Bonafide and his co-authors noted.

"These companies ... have gone straight to market," Bonafide said. "And so the public actually doesn't know anything about the accuracy of the devices or safety of these devices."

However, according to the editorial, a video advertising the Owlet device mentions SIDS. It hints the app may signal parents when something is wrong, the authors said.

Owlet responded that the company has performed "extensive product safety testing," adding that its Smart Sock is in compliance with Consumer Product Safety Commission requirements.

The AAP is also concerned that parents using the devices might not follow safe sleep guidelines that have been proven to prevent SIDS deaths, Moon said.

"We're worried people will become complacent," Moon said. "If they have a monitor they might feel they can put their baby on its belly to sleep, or sleep with their baby."

Bonafide said he doesn't want the devices yanked from the market altogether, as they could provide needed monitoring of babies with breathing or heart problems.

But, he would like the FDA to step in and require studies that verify the accuracy and safety of the monitors.

"Innovation in the way we monitor kids is pretty valuable," Bonafide said. "The problem is these companies have bypassed all of the steps that exist to really protect the public from harm from these devices."

SOURCES: Christopher Bonafide, M.D., Children's Hospital of Philadelphia; Rachel Moon, M.D., chairwoman, American Academy of Pediatrics Task Force on SIDS and head, pediatrics, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, Va.; Owlet Baby Care, statement, Jan. 20, 2017; Jan. 24/31, 2017, Journal of the American Medical Association

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Pediatricians Say No to Wearable Smartphone Baby Monitors

Exercise Rates Often Decline After Cancer Diagnosis

mardi 24 janvier 2017

MONDAY, Jan. 23, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Exercise can help cancer patients cope with their treatment, but as many as 75 percent reduce their physical activity after diagnosis, a new study finds.

Getting motivated to exercise can be difficult when faced with a serious illness. And along with the fatigue and pain associated with cancer treatment, many patients may give up exercising, the study authors said.

"We have about 25 million cancer survivors in the United States, and there is mounting evidence that suggests that physical activity and exercise improve many outcomes in patients with cancer," said lead researcher Dr. Jun Mao. He's chief of integrative medicine service at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City.

These outcomes include a better quality of life and physical function and, potentially, survival, he noted.

Many patients feel that being sick and receiving chemotherapy are reasons not to exercise, Mao said.

"Patients say: 'I'm going to feel horrible and I'm going to do as little as possible,' " he said. "They don't realize that not being physically active can slow down their recovery from treatment."

Medications and alternative treatments, such as acupuncture or yoga, can help alleviate pain and fatigue, he said.

Programs to help cancer patients maintain their physical activity are rare. "There need to be more exercise programs within health centers and in gyms to provide cancer patients with guidance to help them remain physically active," Mao said.

In addition, doctors need to ask their patients about physical activity and encourage them to be active, he said.

"Physical activity is not about running marathons. Moderate activity -- such as walking, riding a bike, or yoga or tai chi -- are all good," Mao said. "Any physical activity is better than none."

The results of the study are scheduled to be presented Friday at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) meeting in San Diego. Findings presented at meetings are generally viewed as preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal.

Samantha Heller is an exercise physiologist and senior clinical nutritionist at NYU Langone Medical Center in New York City. She said, "It is difficult enough for people who feel well to include daily exercise in their lives. Imagine how hard keeping up an exercise regimen is if you feel deeply fatigued, nauseated, depressed, scared or are in pain."

Exercise, however, has been shown to help reduce the side effects of cancer and many cancer treatments, and improve survival, she explained.

"Working with trained professionals, such as physical therapists and certified cancer exercise trainers, can offer patients the motivation and guidance they need to exercise regularly," Heller said.

Some cancer centers offer group-fitness classes for their patients, which also provide emotional support. "Caregivers and friends can help motivate their loved ones by joining them at the gym, on walks or in fitness classes," she suggested.

"Dealing with cancer is challenging for everyone involved, and exercise is a great way to reduce fatigue and stress, boost mood and improve sleep," Heller said.

The study included about 660 cancer patients being treated at 12 Philadelphia clinics. Most of the patients (65 percent) were overweight or obese women. Their average age was 60.

Surveys revealed that 75 percent of patients said they had reduced their physical activity since being diagnosed with cancer. Sixteen percent said they had kept up the same level of activity as they had before diagnosis, and 4 percent said they had increased their exercise since diagnosis.

ASCO guidelines urge doctors to encourage cancer patients to participate in a moderate level of physical activity -- at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise a week.

SOURCES: Jun Mao, M.D., chief, integrative medicine service, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York City; Samantha Heller, R.D., exercise physiologist and senior clinical nutritionist, NYU Langone Medical Center, New York City; Jan. 27, 2017, presentation, American Society of Clinical Oncology, Cancer Survivorship Symposium, San Diego

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When Loved One Has Breast Cancer, Partner Suffers, Too

MONDAY, Jan. 23, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Breast cancer can take a heavy toll on the partners of patients, too, a new study finds.

The stress of managing breast cancer care provokes symptoms of anxiety in more than 42 percent of partners and caregivers. And this stress-induced anxiety can last years after their loved one's illness, researchers found.

Those who coped poorly with the bad news fared even worse, according to the study.

Partners were more than twice as likely to report anxiety if they became emotionally withdrawn, went into denial about the situation, turned to drink, started blaming others for their problems or grew agitated and aggressive, said lead researcher Nancy Borstelmann.

"Caregivers' mental health and how they cope needs attention," Borstelmann said. "This not only has implications for their own well-being, but also survivors' health and quality of life."

Borstelmann is director of social work at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston.

It's well-known that providing care to a cancer patient is complex and stressful, but Borstelmann said there's been limited research addressing the partners of younger adults with cancer.

To investigate, Borstelmann and her colleagues surveyed 289 partners of patients diagnosed with breast cancer at age 40 or younger.

Of those partners, 284 were male, and three out of four were parenting children at the time of the diagnosis.

Partners who already faced stress from financial concerns, insufficient social support and the demands of being a parent were more likely to suffer anxiety from a breast cancer diagnosis, Borstelmann said.

But the two factors most strongly associated with stress were poor coping skills and lack of a college education, Borstelmann said.

Less education could be a sign of other problems in a person's life, including a lower income level or a lack of understanding about how the health care system works, she said.

"Sometimes individuals with lower levels of education may be a little more hesitant to speak up" and ask for badly needed help, Borstelmann said.

The study results show that health care professionals need to do a better job reaching out to partners early on and identifying potential problems, she said.

"The best work we can do is to try to intervene earlier and identify what are their concerns, what are their needs and make sure they have adequate support," Borstelmann said.

Support groups, social workers, other partners of breast cancer survivors, and a host of other types of help are available to partners. But they might not learn of them if the patient's health care team never realizes the partner is struggling, Borstelmann said.

Dr. Merry Jennifer Markham, a member of the American Society for Clinical Oncology, agreed.

"The reality is when a loved one is diagnosed with cancer, the caregiving partners often set aside their own health and well-being to focus on their loved ones," said Markham.

"We need to better understand the specific issues facing caregivers in order to address their anxiety more effectively and find ways to help them cope," added Markham, an associate professor of medicine at the University of Florida. "When partners of cancer patients take care of themselves, it really does benefit everyone."

There's also much that can be done to help young parents, Borstelmann said.

"We want to help you talk with your children about what's going on in your family," she said.

For example, social workers can prepare parents for the kinds of questions children are likely to ask, so family conversations about the illness will go more smoothly, Borstelmann said.

The new study will be presented Saturday at a meeting of the American Society for Clinical Oncology in San Diego. Study findings presented at meetings are usually considered preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed medical journal.

SOURCES: Nancy Borstelmann, M.P.H., director, patient and family support and education, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston; Merry Jennifer Markham, M.D., associate professor, medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville; abstract for presentation, Jan. 28, 2017, American Society for Clinical Oncology

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When Loved One Has Breast Cancer, Partner Suffers, Too

Early Family Deaths May Create 'Grief Gap' for Blacks

MONDAY, Jan. 23, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Black Americans tend to lose a parent, other close relatives and spouses at earlier ages than whites, creating a potentially devastating "grief gap," new research suggests.

Studying more than 42,000 racially diverse Americans, the researchers found that death strikes black families significantly earlier than whites on average.

"Blacks were three times more likely to lose a mother, twice as likely to lose a father, and 2.5 times more likely to lose a child by age 30," said study lead author Debra Umberson. "And they're 90 percent more likely to experience four or more family deaths by age 60."

The full effect is unclear, said Umberson, a professor of sociology at the University of Texas at Austin. Still, earlier research has shown that the death of a parent, child or spouse is the most stressful life event you can experience, which can lead to other stressors such as divorce or poverty, she and her colleagues noted.

"This is a tragedy, one that reverberates throughout these family networks to affect many people in ways that surely take a toll on their lives," Umberson said.

The study doesn't explain why this gap exists. But, violence may play a role, and blacks also suffer from higher rates of diseases such as cancer and diabetes, she said.

In some communities, premature deaths are a common experience that should be addressed in schools and by pediatricians, Umberson added. "There should be interventions and strategies that address grief, bereavement and loss," she said.

Paul Rosenblatt is a University of Minnesota professor emeritus who has studied racial differences in health. He praised the new study, recalling his own experiences interviewing blacks about family losses.

In one case, a woman who was young when her mother died acutely missed the wisdom, advice and help she might have received over the years. A young widower described the challenge of raising a teenager on his own. Someone else Rosenblatt interviewed had lost a sibling early and felt greater responsibility in caring for their parent, he said.

However, Rosenblatt added that not all the aftereffects of a family death are negative. "I would not wish loss and grief on anyone, but some people, as they grieve, get to places that could be called wiser, better grounded, clearer about the meaning of life," he said.

"To the extent that African-Americans have significant losses and more of them earlier in life, that may mean that relatively speaking more African-Americans get to these more wise places at an earlier age," Rosenblatt said.

For the study, Umberson and her colleagues analyzed two databases. One included whites and blacks in the United States who've been interviewed at various times since 1992, when they were 50 years and older. The other database tracked younger whites and blacks born from 1981 to 1984 who have been surveyed 16 times since 1997.

The researchers looked for deaths of spouses, parents, siblings or children.

Blacks were 20 percent more likely than whites to have lost a sibling by age 10, the researchers found.

Among the older group surveyed, blacks were twice as likely to have lost a mother and about 50 percent more likely than whites to have lost a father by age 20, the study revealed.

And from ages 50 to 70, blacks were more than three times more likely than whites to have had a child die.

It's unusual for whites to outlive their children, "but it's not unusual for black parents to have lost a child," Umberson said.

And compared to whites, blacks were nearly twice as likely to have lost a spouse by age 60. They were also 50 percent more likely to have had a sibling die by age 60.

If you consider higher rates of death among the extended family -- friends and neighbors of black Americans -- early bereavement is even more common, Umberson said.

In some cases, deaths of relatives or spouses may come as a relief or allow newfound freedom, Umberson noted. However, "while there may be positive effects for some people, all of the evidence and science suggest they're greatly outweighed by the negative effects," she said.

The deaths "are almost certainly taking a significant toll on health," she added.

The study appears Jan. 23 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

SOURCES: Debra Umberson, Ph.D., professor, sociology, University of Texas at Austin; Paul Rosenblatt, Ph.D., professor emeritus, Department of Family Social Science, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis; Jan. 23, 2016, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

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Countdown to Quitting: Make 2017 Your Year To Quit

lundi 23 janvier 2017

Notepad with quit smoking written on it Make 2017 your year to quit

Making a New Year’s resolution on January 1 can be one of the most exciting things about ending one year and starting the next. If you're one of the nearly 7 in 10 U.S. smokers who want to quit, why not make a resolution to get started in 2017? Smoking is the leading cause of preventable disease and death in the United States, and quitting now can cut your risk and leave you feeling stronger and healthier.

Beatrice, a former cigarette smoker living in New York, made the decision to quit in 2010. She had smoked regularly since the age of 13 and finally quit for good after 25 years of smoking. Beatrice’s greatest motivator was her son, who wrote her a letter at age 11 asking her to quit. “When I was going through the process of quitting, that letter was very motivating for me,” she says. She encourages anyone who wants to quit smoking to do it—and to get help. Beatrice found additional support online from friends who encouraged her to stay smoke-free, as well as from her family. “You're going to need support, because it's not always easy,” she says, “but the main thing is, you really have to want to quit.” In the video titled, “ I told everyone I stopped smoking ,” from CDC's Tips From Former Smokers ^TM campaign, Beatrice describes some of the quitting techniques that helped her recognize and avoid her smoking triggers. Although it was hard to do, by making a plan and sticking to it, she beat her addiction to cigarettes and stopped smoking for good.

Develop a Quit Plan

Beatrice quit smoking in 2010.

Like Beatrice, most smokers who want to quit try several times before they succeed, but you can take steps that can improve your chances. Planning ahead is a major part of successfully quitting smoking. Smokefree.gov offers details on how to create an effective quit plan , including:

Picking a quit date. Starting the new year smokefree is a great idea.
Letting loved ones know you're quitting so they can support you.
Listing your reasons to quit smoking.
Figuring out what triggers make you want to smoke so you can avoid them, especially during the early days.
Having places you can turn to for help right away, including the free resources listed below.

Use Free, Effective Resources

There are many free resources for people trying to quit smoking:

1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669) or 1-855-DÉJELO-YA (1-855-335-3569) (for Spanish speakers). This free service offers a lot of resources, including coaching, help with making a quit plan, educational materials, and referrals to other resources where you live.
Smokefree TXT. This free 24/7 texting program sends encouragement, advice, and tips to help smokers quit smoking for good. To get started, just text QUIT to 47848, answer a few questions, and you'll start receiving messages.
Online help. This Tips From Former Smokers web page provides helpful online quit resources.
Smokefree App. The QuitGuide is a free app that tracks cravings, moods, slips, and smokefree progress to help you understand your smoking patterns and build the skills needed to become and stay smokefree.

Talk to your health care provider about medicines that may help you quit smoking.

Find a Medication That's Right for You

You can also talk to your health care provider about medicines that may help you quit smoking.

Because cigarettes contain nicotine, a powerfully addictive drug, when you first quit, your body may feel uncomfortable until it adjusts. This is known as withdrawal, and there are medications that can help lessen this feeling and the urge to smoke. Studies show that smokers who use medicine to help control cravings, along with coaching from a quitline, in a group, or from a counselor, are much more likely to succeed than those who go it alone. Talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider before using any medications if you:

Are pregnant or nursing
Have a serious medical condition
Are currently using other medications
Are younger than 18

Many options are available if you are considering using medications to help you quit smoking. The most common smoking medications are nicotine replacement therapies (NRTs), which give your body a little of the nicotine that it craves without the harmful chemicals found in burning cigarettes. Examples of Food and Drug Administration-approved NRTs that you can buy over the counter include:

Nicotine patches
Nicotine gum
Nicotine lozenges

NRTs that need a prescription include nicotine inhalers and nasal spray. Your doctor can also prescribe medication that does not contain nicotine (such as bupropion or varenicline) to help you quit smoking completely.

Although quitting was difficult for Beatrice, and she had made several attempts, today she has more energy than when she smoked. You too can begin a healthier life in 2017 by making a quit plan, using free resources, and finding a smoking medication that's right for you. Even if you don't smoke yourself, you can use this article to help a friend or family member become smokefree in 2017!

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Keep Active this Holiday Season: Take a Walk in the Mall!

Man tying shoes Take a Walk in the Mall!

The holidays are here again! Not only does this festive season bring egg nog, cookies, candy canes and stuffing with extra gravy, in many areas it also means cooler temperatures. Although being physically active can help you avoid some holiday weight gain, what should you do if it is too cold or icy outside? Why not beat holiday shoppers to your nearest mall for a morning walk?

Although mall walking can be done by almost anyone, it tends to be most popular among people middle-aged and older. This isn't surprising because malls have features that make walking in them particularly appealing to older adults. They are protected from the weather, are well-lit, have flat and even walking surfaces, have convenient restrooms, and have seats and benches where one can rest for a little while in the middle of the walk.

Mall walking and mall walking programs can provide safe, convenient, and warm places for you to be active this season.

Become a Mall Walking Champion!

Does mall walking sound like something you'd like to try? If so, you can do it by yourself, or you can call a few friends to meet you there and walk with you. Or, if you need a more formal, organized program to get you out of bed and into your sneakers, check to see if your local mall has an official mall walking program. If not, you can become a mall-walking champion and work with mall leadership to help establish one [5.2 MB]!

Get Healthy this Holiday Season!

Did you know that middle-aged and older adults are among the most physically inactive age groups in the country? About 31 million adults over the age of 50 are inactive.

Regular physical activity, including walking, can help lower your risk for heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, depression, and some cancers. These diseases occur more often as people get older. Regular physical activity can also help control weight, improve sleep and, for older adults, help maintain independence, reduce the risk of falling down and delay the start of mental decline, such as being forgetful.

Enjoy the mall’s holiday decorations and music and take advantage of where you are to do some shopping for your kids and grandkids.

Happy and Healthy Holidays to You!

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Keep Active this Holiday Season: Take a Walk in the Mall!

Best Ways to Steer Clear of The Flu

(*this news item will not be available after 04/21/2017)

By Mary Elizabeth Dallas

Saturday, January 21, 2017

SATURDAY, Jan. 21, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- The best way for people to protect themselves from the flu is to get vaccinated -- and it's not too late to get a shot, an infectious diseases expert says.

The flu vaccine also protects those who aren't able to get it, including infants younger than 6 months and people with certain allergies and medical conditions, said Dr. Jeffrey Kahn. He is chief of pediatric infectious diseases at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas.

Those who think it's too late to get vaccinated should reconsider since flu season lasts until spring, Kahn said in a medical center news release.

UT Southwestern outlines other ways people can reduce their risk of getting the flu:

Keep your hands clean. Be sure to wash your hands well and often. If soap and water aren't readily available, opt for an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. It's also important to be aware of what you touch, including commonly used surfaces and objects like phones, doorknobs and keyboards.
Cover up. Be sure to cover your nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze. A tissue is best but your sleeve will work if you don't have one handy.
Stay home. If you, your child or someone in your household gets the flu, be sure to keep that person home from school or work so they don't spread their infection to others. It's important for people who are sick to stay home until they fully recover.

Those who do end up with the flu should visit their doctor, Kahn recommended. There's no cure for the flu, but antiviral drugs can ease flu symptoms if treatment is started early. The drugs are most effective for people who take them within 48 hours of developing symptoms, he explained.

Chest pains or trouble breathing are warning signs of pneumonia, and should be treated by a doctor right away.

SOURCE: UT Southwestern Medical Center, news release, January 2017

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Stress May Explain Digestive Issues in Kids with Autism

FRIDAY, Jan. 20, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Many children with autism suffer from gastrointestinal problems, such as belly pain and constipation. And new research suggests that these issues may stem from a heightened response to stress.

"When treating a patient with autism who has constipation and other lower gastrointestinal issues, physicians may give them a laxative to address these issues," said study author Dr. David Beversdorf.

"Our findings suggest there may be a subset of patients for which there may be other contributing factors. More research is needed, but anxiety and stress reactivity may be an important factor when treating these patients," he added.

Beversdorf is an associate professor at the University of Missouri-Columbia's Thompson Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders.

The new study included 120 young people with autism and their parents. The parents provided information about their children's gastrointestinal symptoms. Overall, 51 of the children had these issues and 69 didn't.

The children underwent a 30-second stress test. To evaluate their response to the stress, the researchers collected saliva samples from each participant before and after the test to measure the children's cortisol levels.

Cortisol is a hormone the body releases in times of stress. The body releases cortisol to help prevent inflammation caused by substances called cytokines that are linked with autism, stress and gastrointestinal issues, the researchers said.

The study showed that the children with gastrointestinal symptoms had higher cortisol levels in response to the stress test than those who didn't have these symptoms.

"We know that it is common for individuals with autism to have a more intense reaction to stress, and some of these patients seem to experience frequent constipation, abdominal pain or other gastrointestinal issues," Beversdorf said in a university news release.

"To better understand why, we looked for a relationship between gastrointestinal symptoms and the immune markers responsible for stress response," Beversdorf explained. "We found a relationship between increased cortisol response to stress and these symptoms."

The study was published recently in the journal Brain, Behavior, and Immunity.

SOURCE: University of Missouri-Columbia, news release, Jan. 4, 2017

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8 People Infected in Rare U.S. Outbreak of Rat Virus

FRIDAY, Jan. 20, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Eight people who worked at several rat-breeding facilities in Illinois and Wisconsin have been infected with a virus not commonly found in the United States, federal health officials said Friday.

This is the first known outbreak of Seoul virus associated with pet rats in the United States, although there have been several outbreaks in wild rats, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Seoul virus is a member of the Hantavirus family of rodent-borne viruses and is carried by wild Norway rats worldwide. Most rats infected with the virus do not appear sick.

People typically become infected when they are exposed to body fluids (blood, saliva, urine) from infected rats or are bitten by them. People can't get the virus from other people or from other types of pets, the CDC said in a news release.

Symptoms of Seoul virus infection in people include fever, severe headache, back and abdominal pain, chills, blurred vision, eye redness and rash. In rare cases, infection can lead to kidney disease. Most people infected with the virus recover, according to the CDC.

The CDC is working with state and local health officials to determine how this outbreak occurred and whether any other people might be affected. Anyone who recently bought a rat and has Seoul virus symptoms should contact a health care provider immediately.

To prevent Seoul virus infection and other diseases carried by rats: wash your hands with soap and running water after touching, feeding or caring for rodents; clean and disinfect rodent habitats and supplies; never clean rodent habitats or supplies in the kitchen sink or bathroom sink; avoid urine or droppings when cleaning rodent cages.

Get regular veterinarian checks for pet rodents and be cautious with unfamiliar rodents to reduce the risk of bites and scratches, the agency added.

If you are bitten by a rodent, wash the wound with warm, soapy water immediately, and seek medical attention if: the rodent seems sick; your wound is serious or becomes red, painful, warm or swollen; your last tetanus shot was more than five years ago; or, you develop fever or flu-like illness a week or two after being bitten.

SOURCE: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, news release, Jan. 20, 2017

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Many with Mental Illness Miss Out on HIV Tests

vendredi 20 janvier 2017

THURSDAY, Jan. 19, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- People with severe mental illness are only slightly more likely to be screened for HIV than those in the general population, a new study finds.

And that's true even though they're at higher risk for infection with the AIDS-causing virus, the researchers added.

The study included nearly 57,000 Medicaid patients in California. They were between the ages of 18 and 67. They were all taking medications to treat bipolar disorder, schizophrenia or major depression with psychosis.

Just under 7 percent had HIV testing, compared with 5 percent of the state's general population in 2011, according to the study.

The authors said their findings suggest a missed opportunity to treat HIV infection early in people with severe mental illness. The risk of HIV may be up to 15 percent higher in people with severe mental illness than in the general population, the researchers said.

"This is a missed prevention opportunity to detect HIV early in the course of illness. People with severe mental illness have higher rates of unsafe behaviors that put them at risk for HIV infection," said study first author Dr. Christina Mangurian. She's with the University of California, San Francisco's department of psychiatry.

Those risky behaviors may include having unprotected sex with HIV-positive partners and partners of unknown HIV status, injecting drugs, and episodes of sexual violence, she explained.

"Previous studies have found that people with severe mental illness die up to 25 years earlier than the general population," Mangurian said in a university news release.

Most of those deaths are from early heart disease. But, HIV and other infectious diseases also contribute to earlier deaths in people with severe mental illness, she said.

"Effective treatments are widely available and people with severe mental illness appear to comply with antiretroviral therapies at rates similar to other groups. We believe that annual HIV testing should be strongly considered by public mental health administrators," Mangurian said.

The study was published Jan. 17 in the journal Psychiatric Services.

SOURCE: University of California, San Francisco, news release, Jan. 16, 2017

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Brain-Training May Help Ease Ringing in the Ears

THURSDAY, Jan. 19, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- An online program that "trains" the brain may help people cope with the constant ringing in the ears called tinnitus, a small study suggests.

People with tinnitus can have poorer working memory, deficiencies in attention, and slower mental processing speeds and reaction times. However, an internet-based program to improve mental acuity appeared to help them deal with the bothersome ear noise, researchers said.

"Fifty percent of the patients in the study reported improvements in memory, attention and ability to deal with tinnitus," said study co-author Dr. Jay Piccirillo. He's a professor of otolaryngology at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.

Tinnitus is the perception of sound when no actual external noise is present, according to the American Tinnitus Association.

While it's referred to as "ringing in the ears," tinnitus can cause many different perceptions of sound, including buzzing, hissing, whistling, swooshing and clicking. In some cases, tinnitus patients report hearing music.

Tinnitus can be temporary or ongoing. Millions of Americans experience tinnitus, often to a debilitating degree, making it one of the most common health conditions in the country, according to the association.

For the study, Piccirillo and his colleagues randomly assigned 40 adults who had bothersome tinnitus for more than six months to the online Brain Fitness Program-Tinnitus program, or a non-tinnitus program.

The Brain Fitness Program-Tinnitus is a mental training program designed to use the brain's ability to improve thinking and memory skills, the researchers said.

In addition, 20 healthy patients took part in the study for comparison purposes.

Those using the online program spent an hour a day on it, five days a week for eight weeks.

The program is made up of 11 interactive training exercises, including simple sound stimuli, continuous speech and visual stimuli. The goal is to get people to stop paying attention to their tinnitus and let it fade into the background.

The researchers assessed the benefit of the program using brain scans and tests of memory and attention. These were done at the start of the study, and again eight weeks later.

Brain scans of those who underwent the treatment showed changes in the areas responsible for attention and mental control, Piccirillo said.

On specific tests of memory, attention and behavioral measures, the researchers didn't note any differences. But study participants felt there were improvements.

Half of those who completed the online program said they felt there were improvements in their tinnitus as well as improvements in memory, attention and concentration, compared with patients who didn't use the program, Piccirillo said.

The program exercises the brain, he said.

"We think it works by the ability of the brain to change itself based on input," Piccirillo said. "It doesn't take the tinnitus away. We believe it strengthens the parts of the brain that are used in attention. It trains the ability to stop paying attention to tinnitus."

More studies need to be done to replicate these findings, he said. In addition, the program needs to be refined to make it more effective, he added.

Piccirillo said the program they use from Posit Science is currently available online, as are other brain-strengthening programs. He said he encourages people to use them to keep their brains sharp.

Dr. Harrison Lin, an assistant professor in the department of otolaryngology-head and neck surgery at the University of California, Irvine Medical Center, reviewed the study's findings.

"This is an important study that once again demonstrates the considerable benefits of these safe and noninvasive measures that can be provided to potentially improve the lives of people suffering from chronic and bothersome tinnitus," Lin said.

This study captures the functional and positive impact of the cognitive training program on patients' perception of tinnitus and also on the biological activity within specific parts of their brains, he said.

"Health care providers should present these psychological interventions as a form of first-line treatment for their patients with debilitating tinnitus," Lin said.

The report was published online Jan. 19 in the journal JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery.

SOURCES: Jay Piccirillo, M.D., professor, otolaryngology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis; Harrison Lin, M.D., assistant professor, department of otolaryngology-head and neck surgery University of California, Irvine Medical Center; Jan. 19, 2017, JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, online

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Food Stamp Use Linked to Raised Early Death Risk in Study

THURSDAY, Jan. 19, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Americans who use or are eligible for food stamps have a higher risk of premature death than people who aren't eligible for them, a new study finds.

"Our results suggest that the millions of low-income Americans who rely on SNAP for food assistance require even greater support to improve their health than they currently receive," said study senior author Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian. He is dean of Tufts University's School of Nutrition Science and Policy in Boston.

Mozaffarian's team looked at data from 2000 to 2011. There was information on nearly 500,000 adults aged 25 and older who received benefits from the federal government's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). SNAP benefits are commonly called food stamps.

The investigators found that people who used food stamps had a three times higher risk of death from diabetes. The program participants also faced a two times higher risk of death from heart disease or any cause than those who didn't get food stamps.

People who were eligible for food stamps but didn't participate in the program had about a two times higher risk of death from diabetes. They also had a 1.5 times higher risk of death from heart disease or any cause than those who were not eligible for food stamps, according to the study.

The differences in total and in heart disease deaths were similar for blacks and whites, but occurred less in Hispanics, the findings showed. However, diabetes-related deaths were higher across all races and ethnicities, the study authors said.

The findings highlight the need to learn more about poor health among low-income Americans and find ways to improve it, the researchers said.

"It is important to note that our study does not examine cause-and-effect and whether or not SNAP participation itself increases the risk of mortality," study corresponding author Zach Conrad said in a university news release. He is a former postdoctoral fellow in nutritional epidemiology at Tufts.

"Rather, our investigation demonstrates that Americans on SNAP are dying at higher rates, emphasizing the need for strong efforts to improve their health," he said.

Conrad said it's possible that if people weren't getting food stamps, they might have even worse health.

One is six Americans used food stamps in 2015, the researchers said.

For his part, Mozaffarian believes that getting greater health support for people on food stamps should be a priority for policymakers.

The study was published Jan. 19 in the American Journal of Public Health.

SOURCE: Tufts University, news release, Jan. 19, 2017

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Forward-Thinking Tips for Back Pain

jeudi 19 janvier 2017

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 18, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Back pain is common but not inevitable, an orthopedist says.

Roughly eight out of 10 people will suffer significant back pain at least once in their lifetime -- but there are ways to reduce the risk, said Dr. Mark Knaub of Penn State Hershey Medical Center.

Muscle, ligament or tendon strains (soft tissue injuries) are the most common causes of back pain. These injuries can occur from falls or activities involving lifting, twisting or bending, said Knaub, chief of the medical center's adult orthopedic spine service.

When pain strikes, you can ease it with anti-inflammatory drugs and muscle relaxants. And physical therapy can reduce the risk of back pain becoming chronic, he suggested.

"Physical therapy can give you techniques to lessen your symptoms in the short term, and get you back to being active and mobile," Knaub said in a Penn State news release.

"In the intermediate to long term, it can strengthen the core muscles that support the spine, and that could decrease the likelihood of having another episode in the future," he added.

It's not always possible to prevent back pain, but certain things can reduce your risk. These include regular exercise (especially workouts that strengthen the core muscles), maintaining a healthy weight, and avoiding tobacco products, Knaub said.

People in jobs that subject them to vibrations -- such as truck drivers and heavy machine operators -- are at increased risk for back pain. So are people with mental health disorders, such as depression, he noted.

"When people have chronic back problems, there is a large psychological component to it. Being depressed causes pain, and being in pain makes you depressed," Knaub said.

Some studies have found that cognitive behavioral therapy -- a type of talk therapy -- can work as well as traditional medical treatments for that type of back pain, he suggested.

"If you lack coping mechanisms and don't handle the pain and stress well, that can feed into your anxiety," Knaub said.

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Know the Risks, Warning Signs of Ovarian Cancer

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 18, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Women need to be aware their risk for ovarian cancer increases with age. Half of all cases affect women age 63 or older, according to specialists at Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia.

However, the center reminds all women to be aware of other risk factors for the disease, as well as common ovarian cancer warning signs, such as:

Belly bloating or swelling,
Lower belly pain,
Back pain,
Trouble eating or feeling full quickly,
Unexplained weight loss,
Pain during sex,
Menstrual changes,
A change in bathroom habits, such as constipation, diarrhea, or having to urinate very badly or very often.

"While these symptoms are common and may be caused by something other than ovarian cancer, I advise women to take them seriously," said Dr. Christina Chu, a Fox Chase gynecologic oncologist.

"A woman knows what is normal for her own body. If her symptoms don't seem normal and last for two weeks or longer, she should bring them to her doctor's attention," Chu said in a hospital news release.

Ovarian cancer accounts for about 3 percent of all cancers among women but causes more deaths than any other cancer involving the female reproductive system, the American Cancer Society reports.

Aside from older age, the center says risk factors for ovarian cancer include:

A family history of ovarian, breast or colon cancer: If your mother, sister or daughter has had ovarian cancer, you are at greater risk for developing it. The more relatives with the disease, the greater the risk.
Inherited gene mutation: Up to 10 percent of ovarian cancers stem from an inherited gene mutation, such as BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations. Other genetic mutations that cause certain syndromes are also associated with ovarian and other forms of cancer. "I advise women who have a family history of cancers, such as breast, ovarian, colon and endometrial cancer, to speak with their physician regarding their history risk, so they, together, can determine next steps," said Chu.
Reproductive history: Having a full-term pregnancy before the age of 26 can lower risk for the disease. The more children women have, the lower their risk for ovarian cancer. Breast-feeding also lowers women's risk for this type of cancer.
Birth control: Using birth control pills for just three to six months may help lower risk for ovarian cancer. Taking them longer may further reduce risk for the disease. This benefit of the pill may persist for many years after women stop taking it.
Hormone therapy: Hormone replacement therapy after menopause may increase risk for ovarian cancer, particularly if estrogen without progesterone is taken for more than five years.
Other risk factors: Obesity and breast cancer may also elevate a woman's chances of developing ovarian cancer.

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