 |
submitted by /u/YouHaveTakenItTooFar [link] [comments] |
source https://www.reddit.com/r/Health/comments/e49tcu/infant_male_circumcision_a_medical_perspective/
Infant Male Circumcision: A Medical Perspective
source https://www.reddit.com/r/Health/comments/e49tcu/infant_male_circumcision_a_medical_perspective/
Samoa measles cases, deaths more than double over past week
Samoa measles cases, deaths more than double over past week
Reuters: Health
The number of suspected cases of measles on the Pacific island of Samoa has more than doubled over the past week to 3,530 and deaths related to the outbreak rose to 48 from 20 a week ago, the country's Ministry of Health said on Sunday.
Reuters: Health
The number of suspected cases of measles on the Pacific island of Samoa has more than doubled over the past week to 3,530 and deaths related to the outbreak rose to 48 from 20 a week ago, the country's Ministry of Health said on Sunday.
Infant Male Circumcision: A Medical Perspective
Infant Male Circumcision: A Medical Perspective
https://ift.tt/2rEFIDM December 01, 2019 at 09:20AM https://ift.tt/1R552o9
|
submitted by /u/YouHaveTakenItTooFar [link] [comments] |
Seizing the Opportunity in America’s Opioid Crisis
“Perhaps everything that is terrible is, in the deepest sense, something that wants our love.” – Rilke
The overdose epidemic in the U.S. has been called “the greatest public health crisis of our time.” It’s also our greatest opportunity.
The opioid crisis is an identity crisis: it’s a challenge to how we see ourselves. Do we truly believe that we are all in this together? One answer leads us deeper into despair. The other, into a hopeful future.
It’s been said that “doing more things faster is no substitute for doing the right things.” What are the “right things,” the measures that can resolve the crisis, not just postpone it? The right actions come from the right thoughts. Those thoughts come from feelings, and feelings are never right or wrong. But there are some feelings we are born with. They are our birthright. And one of them is love.
The Kindness of Strangers
“Hatred never ceases by hatred, but by love alone is healed.” — The Buddha
Behind the opioid epidemic is a prevailing lack of compassion, of caring about everyone equally. At the heart (or lack of it) of this societal disease is rampant inequality. The social determinants of health: stress, unemployment, lack of support, poor health care, etc. are major drivers of addiction. Many authors promote this view, including Gabor Mate, Bruce Alexander, Sam Quinones, Robert Putnam, and Harry Nelson.
Our increasing fragmentation affects everyone, poor or rich.
“Drug overdose is the leading cause of death for Americans under the age of fifty…Our material lives may be outwardly prosperous, but our psychological and spiritual lives are in freefall. What is driving us to self-destruction? There are many factors, all with one unifying theme: we are no longer living in community with one another and, consequently, we are lonely.” — Francie Hart Broghammer
We all hunger for the same thing. The question is this: do we love our neighbor as ourselves? That’s not just a commandment; it’s a requirement. How do we rebuild community? First, by taking full responsibility for the fallout of not being one.
For Whom the Boom Tolls
“Compassion is not a relationship between the healer and the wounded. It’s a relationship between equals. Compassion becomes real when we recognize our shared humanity.” — Pema Chodron
I live in Asheville, a city that has recently, like the opioid crisis, exploded. Tourism is at an all-time high, and Asheville has appeared in dozens of destination top ten lists. It has also been ranked second in the country in gentrification.
Asheville sits in the heart of Appalachia, where the opioid crisis is at its worst. In 2017, North Carolina had the second highest increase in opioid deaths in the country. The Blue Ridge Parkway runs through town and I spend a lot of time there, mostly foraging. That’s where last summer, for the first time, I found not mushrooms, but needles.
Despite the crisis, the city just spent six months trying to shut down the local syringe exchange. The same thing is happening in other cities. In Asheville, the exchange had been operating without incident for over two years — until the houseless (a.k.a., homeless) in adjacent areas were kicked out to make way for new development.
Addiction depends on denial. What if development is the real addiction? Will we face up to the dark side of gentrification or just try to make it “go away?”
If a canary dies in a coal mine, you don’t blame the canary. Yet blaming the victim is exactly what we’ve been doing.
License to Ill
“A man came to the Rabbi and said, ‘Rebbe, my son has turned against me. What should I do?’ The rabbi said, ‘love him even more.'” — Hasidic story
Most people by now have heard that naloxone (Narcan) can prevent a deadly overdose. So many Americans are dying — often from a mix of drugs, but mainly due to opioids — that naloxone should be as ubiquitous as aspirin. Everyone using a drug that may contain opioids should carry it like an EPI pen. And with the increasing prevalence of fentanyl, a single dose may not be enough. Everyone should know how to tell how much naloxone to give someone in the midst of an overdose. This should be basic, universal knowledge.
But keeping someone alive is just the beginning. In fact, while naloxone may be physically safe, it does have one significant side effect: precipitated withdrawal. And not helping someone through it is like catching them from falling only to drop them from higher up.
A Devil’s Bargain
“Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.” — Ian Maclaren
As one response coordinator describes it, precipitated withdrawal is like “the worst flu you’ve had… times 100.” For some, the feeling is so bad that they find themselves dying, so to speak, to use again.
“To the uninformed, it is inconceivable that someone who nearly died from a drug would run out that very same day and buy more of it. Narcan works by binding to opioid receptors, blocking the effect of narcotics like heroin. In drug users with a physical dependency, it also has the effect of causing severe withdrawal symptoms. This all but guarantees that the first thing a user will think of after their overdose is reversed is getting another fix…” — Christopher Moraff
Naloxone is not just a “bandaid on a bullet hole.” It can feel like ripping open a wound. For “withdrawal is the very situation that [users] are seeking to avoid in the first place.”
“A dose of naloxone,” according to the Chief Medical Officer for a Connecticut health agency, “is a chance. But if it’s not coupled with immediate offers of treatment, it may be a slim chance that leaves the revived individual running back to the same dealer who sold them their last lethal dose.”
Overdose survivors need more than a second (or third) chance: they need a parachute.
When you’re in free fall, a little more time isn’t much help…
Find out why Alan feels we should take responsibility for the opioid crisis — and why this crisis is an opportunity and a “wake-up call” — in the original article The Opioid Crisis Is Our Greatest Opportunity at The Fix.
When Every ADHD-Friendly Organizing Tool and Trick You’ve Tried Hasn’t Worked
You feel like you’ve tried every technique, tool, and trick to get organized. But nothing seems to work. Tasks still go unfinished, and you still find yourself frustrated and stressed out.
The problem?
Maybe your systems have simply lost their spark. “The ADHD brain likes novelty,” according to Barb Hubbard, M. Ed, AAC, an ADHD specialist and life strategies coach. “So, when you find a system that works, expect the newness to wear off after a while. Know that it’s OK to change systems often or make small changes that allow you to feel like it’s new again.”
Maybe you’re fixated on perfection. “When you set yourself up to do something ‘perfectly,’ it’s not going to work and perfection is a big barrier to the outcome of your success,” said Annie Varvaryan, PsyD., a clinical psychologist working with adolescents, adults, and couples in private practice in San Jose, Calif. Instead, realize that “some of it will work and other parts will pan out differently than expected,” she said.
Maybe you’re skimping on self-care and other focus-bolstering habits. Gayle M. Gruenberg, a coach and professional organizer in chronic disorganization who specializes in working with clients with ADHD and other brain-based challenges, noted that these habits include: getting good sleep; exercising; eating nutrient-rich foods; going outside; and working in an optimal environment for you (which might mean quiet and calm or lots of commotion).
Maybe some strategies haven’t worked because you need a pharmacological solution. Or maybe you need to switch medication or increase your dose. This is when it’s important to see a psychiatrist who specializes in treating ADHD (if possible).
Whether you’re taking medication or not, there are plenty of other strategies that can help—like the ones below.
Have ongoing support. Gruenberg has found that this is the most effective technique for people with ADHD. “Whether it’s a family member, friend, or a professional—organizer, coach, therapist—having someone to be accountable to is very helpful.”
She noted that having an external support system can assist with everything from helping you find strategies that work to validating your challenges and surrounding emotions.
Find out what else is going on. Often individuals with ADHD have other conditions that can affect how they learn and process information, and thereby the tools that will be effective. This might be anything from a learning disability to a mood disorder. This is why it’s important to get a comprehensive professional evaluation.
Meditate. Today, meditation is a common recommendation for everything. But it can absolutely help to sharpen your focus. For instance, studies show a link between regular meditation and thickening of the prefrontal cortex, home of executive function skills, such as attention, organization, planning, decision making, judgment, and self-regulation, noted Marilyn Abrahamson, a speech-language pathologist and Amen Clinics certified brain health coach.
“People with ADD commonly have behavior changes that are associated with these areas of the brain, which is why meditation is so effective in this population.”
For Abrahamson, who also has ADHD, meditation has been tremendously helpful. She suggested starting with a guided meditation, such as an app (like Calm or Headspace) or a free video on YouTube. The great thing is that there’s a wide array of options, she said—from a single minute to an entire hour, from men’s voices to women’s voices, from soft music to babbling brook sounds.
“I find that what works best for me today is different from what I chose from yesterday’s meditation. The most important thing is that you take the time to do it each day.”
Create rewards. If you’re motivated by them, rewards can inspire you to get things done. Varvaryan noted that “a reward could be something that the person wants to do or build toward doing.” An example, she said, is “If I complete my tasks every week for four weeks, I can buy the concert tickets I want.”
Delegate effectively. Gruenberg’s mantra is: “Do what you do best and delegate the rest.” What are your strengths? What feels easy for you? What feels excruciating? Can you assign the task to someone else? Maybe you can hire out. Maybe a colleague is better suited for that part, while you can focus on a different area of the project.
Always write it down. Abrahamson uses Google calendar to set reminders. She also uses Siri and the iPhone note-taking app to capture thoughts and ideas that pop up, even in the middle of the night. “Just noting it somewhere gives me the confidence that the information is ‘safe’ and I can go back to sleep without worrying that I’ll forget it.” Phones are a great way to record reminders, because, let’s be honest, they’re constantly with us.
Set a timer. Timers create a sense of urgency for all sorts of tasks, and they help you get started. (Often getting started is the hard part!) For example, Hubbard suggested setting a timer for 10 minutes every day to clear your desk. You also might set a timer for tedious tasks (which can’t be delegated).
Create routines. Routines can help you accomplish the tasks that really require effort, because routines allow you to move through everyday activities without much brain power, said Hubbard. For example, she said, you might create this bedtime routine: Turn off all screens by 9 p.m., journal about what went well, meditate for a few minutes, set out clothes for the next day, brush your teeth, take your medication, and settle into bed with a book.
To create routines, Hubbard suggested these tips:
- Always follow the same steps in the same order.
- Identify three things that are vital to you, and create your routine around them. You can add additional steps later.
- Create a visual reminder of your new routine. For example, you might write your list on a post-it note and put it on your bathroom mirror.
- Pair activities that are already routine (e.g., brushing your teeth) with new activities (e.g., taking medication).
- Keep your routines no longer than 15 or 20 minutes. “You want to create a routine that will lead to success and build on it from there.”
Have a minimalist mindset. Instead of adding one more thing, work on subtracting. According to Derek Mihalcin, Ph.D, a psychologist and board-certified behavior analyst, you might: turn off TV during family dinners; keep your phone on silent during meetings; and focus on three tasks (rather than starting your day with a running list of everything). He also stressed the importance of single-tasking. Then if you complete those three tasks, move on to the next three.
When trying a strategy, try not to get discouraged. Think of yourself as a scientist or an explorer. You’re simply experimenting to see what works and what doesn’t. Everything is invaluable information that helps you adjust, pivot, and change course. So, if a strategy doesn’t work, reflect on the reasons why—and then try something else that might be a better fit.
Google attempts to protect users from sketchy stem cell clinics - Google's new policy banning stem cell ads started at the end of October.
Google attempts to protect users from sketchy stem cell clinics - Google's new policy banning stem cell ads started at the end of October.
https://ift.tt/2L8XRjY December 01, 2019 at 02:07AM https://ift.tt/1R552o9
 |
submitted by /u/mvea [link] [comments] |
China to use drug bulk-buy program to close price gap
China to use drug bulk-buy program to close price gap
Reuters: Health
China will use its national drug bulk-buy scheme to lower the price of drugs currently sold at higher prices compared with other markets, it said in an official statement. 
Reuters: Health
China will use its national drug bulk-buy scheme to lower the price of drugs currently sold at higher prices compared with other markets, it said in an official statement.
The Great American Eye-Exam Scam
The Great American Eye-Exam Scam
https://ift.tt/2qKnPDB November 30, 2019 at 09:46PM https://ift.tt/1R552o9
 |
submitted by /u/discocrisco [link] [comments] |
Psychology Around the Net: November 30, 2019
This week’s Psychology Around the Net addresses how to handle that dreadful job interview anxiety, why stress is necessary for a rich life, dealing with the holiday blues, why depression hits men harder than women in deprived areas, and more.
A Psychologist’s Guide to Managing Your Anxiety Before, During, and Even After a Job Interview: It’s normal to struggle with anxiety right before a job interview or when starting a new job. But how do you turn down the jitters volume so you can give your best performance? Dr. Sherry Benton, founder and chief science officer of Tao Connect, says, “To enter the optimal mental state for peak performance, you need to analyze your thoughts, determine how you’re feeling, and figure out what you need to do to get to a mental state of balanced arousal. Essentially, do you need to calm yourself down or do you need to pump yourself up?” She goes on to give specific tips on how to tweak your thinking to achieve either state.
Why Stress is One of the Best Predictors of High Life Satisfaction: Most of us would gladly choose to avoid any stress or problems throughout our lives. But not only is this an impossible feat — it’s unhealthy to even think that way. Rather, when we begin to see life’s obstacles as necessary for a rich life, we can experience significant growth, develop resilience and gain new meaning. In this article, an accomplished professor who struggles with a stuttering condition shares his story of finding deep meaning in adversity.
Holiday Blues: What Experts Recommend to Help With Holiday Depression: For many people, the holidays bring more stress and depression than joy and comfort. Financial strain and the pressure to have a “perfect” holiday can be one of the biggest stressors this season. So how can we deal with this? Is it helpful to tell your family you don’t have much money to spend this year?
Depression: Men Far More at Risk Than Women in Deprived Areas: Most research on depression has focused on personal risk factors, such as whether a person has a dysfunctional family or is living with a chronic illness, such as diabetes. In a new study, published in the journal BMJ Open, researchers explored risk factors beyond the individual, and discovered that the community in which one lives has a profound effect on mental wellbeing — but mostly in men. So why do men feel this burden more acutely?
Yoga Poses Can Help You Center Your Harried Life, Improve Your Mental Well-Being: When you’re feeling stressed and mentally frazzled, it’s important to take a moment to ground yourself. In this article, a certified yoga instructor shares two easy-to-do yoga poses that can help you feel more stable and relaxed.
Large Waist in Normal-Weight Elderly Tied to Higher Dementia Risk: Researchers have long looked for links between obesity and dementia, but how should doctors measure excess fat in the elderly? A new study, published in the journal Obesity suggests that, in older people, waist circumference is a much better measure of extra weight than BMI. In fact, they found that normal-weight participants with high levels of abdominal fat had a much greater risk of dementia.
Best 2019 Cyber Monday Discounts on Natural Products
Best 2019 Cyber Monday Discounts on Natural Products
Cyber Monday is a day when many online companies offer their best sales of the year. I’ve found some great deals this year and stocked up on pantry essentials, supplements, and some other gifts for everyone on my list! In fact, my Christmas shopping is done… now I just have to pull the Advent wreath …
Continue reading Best 2019 Cyber Monday Discounts on Natural Products...
November 30, 2019 at 07:30PM Wellness Mama® https://ift.tt/2hMTHxr https://ift.tt/eA8V8JMorphosys CFO says tafasitamab drug sales potential above $1 billion: magazine
Morphosys CFO says tafasitamab drug sales potential above $1 billion: magazine
Reuters: Health
German biotech company Morphosys' tafasitamab, the group's most advanced drug which is currently being tested, has sales potential of significantly more than $1 billion a year, its finance chief said in remarks to a magazine. 
Reuters: Health
German biotech company Morphosys' tafasitamab, the group's most advanced drug which is currently being tested, has sales potential of significantly more than $1 billion a year, its finance chief said in remarks to a magazine.
Investigational Drugs Reduce Risk of Death from Ebola Virus Disease
Investigational Drugs Reduce Risk of Death from Ebola Virus Disease submitted by /u/Express_Hyena
[link] [comments] https://ift.tt/eA8V8J November 30, 2019 at 02:12PM https://ift.tt/1R552o9
[link] [comments] https://ift.tt/eA8V8J November 30, 2019 at 02:12PM https://ift.tt/1R552o9
New Research Shows Screen Time Is Not Directly Increasing Depression or Anxiety in Teenagers
A new study seeking to establish a correlation between the time spent on social media and depression and anxiety in teenagers is causing ripples among both researchers and parents.
Previously it was widely believed that a lot of time spent on social media had an adverse effect on teens’ mental health, increasing the likelihood of developing issues such as depression or anxiety. However, the findings from this new study debunk this belief and show that increased social media time doesn’t directly increase depression or anxiety in teenagers.
Highlights from the Study
It’s no secret that the amount of time teens spend online has increased in the last decade. So much so that parents everywhere began to worry about the effect it had on teens. With 95% of teenagers having access to smartphones and 45% of them reporting being online almost constantly, logging as much as 2.6 hours daily on social media, it seems that parents’ worries were justified- or were they?
It’s against this background that Sarah Coyne, a professor of family life at Brigham Young University, sought to understand the relationship between time spent on social media and depression and anxiety in developing teens. The 8-year-study published in Computers in Human Behavior involved 500 youth aged between 13 and 20.
These teens and young adults completed a questionnaire once a year over the 8 year period of the study where they were asked how much time they spent on different social media platforms. Their anxiety levels and depressive symptoms were then checked and analyzed to see if there was a correlation between the two variables.
Surprisingly, the researchers found that time spent on social media wasn’t directly responsible for increasing either anxiety or depression in teens. If teens spent more time on social media, they didn’t end up more depressed or anxious. Also, decreasing social media time didn’t guarantee lower levels of teen depression or anxiety. Two teens of the same age could spend the same amount of time on social media and still score differently on depressive symptoms and anxiety levels.
What Does This Information Mean for Parents of Teens?
The study by Sarah Coyne opens up an interesting perspective for parents of teens to consider. The researchers suggest that how teens use social media platforms is more impactful than just the amount of time they spend online.
So as a parent, what can you do with this information?
Here are some suggestions:
Lay off nagging your teen about screen time.
The study quoted above shows that screen time isn’t the problem. Instead of constantly nagging your teens or putting arbitrary restrictions on their screen time, maybe you should challenge how they put that time to use. Encourage them to be more intentional in how they use their screen time, e.g. to learn something new or look for certain information instead of just logging in because they’re bored.
Stop demonizing technology.
Your teens have likely grown up with computers, smartphones, and other screens. They probably can’t remember or imagine life without them. It’s natural for you to struggle with their reliance on tech. However, by asking meaningful questions, you can help shape your teen’s thoughts about technology and help them make good decisions about using tech on their own.
Get a new perspective on mental health and factors influencing it.
Mental health is complex and you can’t blame disorders like anxiety or depression on one stressor alone. There are multiple risk factors that determine mental health outcomes in adolescents including their genes and environment. As a parent, you have to minimize your teen’s exposure to some of these risk factors, learn the symptoms of mental health disorders to watch out for in your teen as well as where to go for help if necessary.
Open up a dialogue with your teen about how they use social media.
Instead of asking your teen to avoid social media completely, teach them to minimize the bad while making the most of its good aspects. The key is to have a responsible and balanced approach towards social media, putting healthy limits around its use and learning how to actively engage and connect with others on these platforms instead of being a passive user.
While increased screen time may have been proven not to lead to teen anxiety or depression, parents should still encourage their teens to find a healthy balance when it comes to social media use and to also prioritize their off-screen time.
FDA Says Most CBD Products May Not Be Safe, & Warns 15 Companies to Stop Selling Them - CBD may pose unknown health risks & cannot be marketed as a dietary supplement, food or therapeutic cure-all.
FDA Says Most CBD Products May Not Be Safe, & Warns 15 Companies to Stop Selling Them - CBD may pose unknown health risks & cannot be marketed as a dietary supplement, food or therapeutic cure-all.
https://ift.tt/33vma1X November 29, 2019 at 07:48PM https://ift.tt/1R552o9
 |
submitted by /u/anutensil [link] [comments] |
Nutrition and Mental Health: What’s the Connection?
Nutrition has far-reaching impacts on the body and mind. Find out how the connection between nutrition and mental health and how a personalized, ancestral approach to food can help you restore your health.
The post Nutrition and Mental Health: What’s the Connection? appeared first on Chris Kresser.
Ohio bill orders doctors to ‘reimplant ectopic pregnancy’ or face 'abortion murder' charges - Ohio introduces one of the most extreme bills to date for a procedure that does not exist in medical science
Public believe more than 1/2 of fake news about healthcare spread online, major study reveals - Trust in such claims increases if a story is seen multiple times
Ohio bill orders doctors to ‘reimplant ectopic pregnancy’ or face 'abortion murder' charges - Ohio introduces one of the most extreme bills to date for a procedure that does not exist in medical science
Ohio bill orders doctors to ‘reimplant ectopic pregnancy’ or face 'abortion murder' charges - Ohio introduces one of the most extreme bills to date for a procedure that does not exist in medical science
https://ift.tt/2DuCeq8 November 29, 2019 at 07:28PM https://ift.tt/1R552o9
 |
submitted by /u/anutensil [link] [comments] |
Public believe more than 1/2 of fake news about healthcare spread online, major study reveals - Trust in such claims increases if a story is seen multiple times
Public believe more than 1/2 of fake news about healthcare spread online, major study reveals - Trust in such claims increases if a story is seen multiple times
https://ift.tt/2XXpmlI November 29, 2019 at 07:24PM https://ift.tt/1R552o9
 |
submitted by /u/anutensil [link] [comments] |
Fired Zimbabwe state doctors reject offer to return to work
Fired Zimbabwe state doctors reject offer to return to work
Reuters: Health
Zimbabwe state doctors who were fired for going on strike have rejected a government offer to return to work, their union said on Friday. 
Reuters: Health
Zimbabwe state doctors who were fired for going on strike have rejected a government offer to return to work, their union said on Friday.
Anthrax may be the next tool in the fight against bladder cancer, suggests new study based on human tumor samples and dogs with bladder cancer. Researchers combine the anthrax toxin with a growth factor to kill bladder cancer cells and tumors, without harming the normal cells in the bladder.
Could white-coat hypertension harm your heart?
http://ifttt.com/images/no_image_card.png
For most people, going to the doctor is usually a bit nerve-racking. But for some, the stress of a medical appointment triggers a temporary rise in blood pressure. If that’s the case for you — and if your blood pressure is normal at home and in other nonmedical settings — you may have what’s known as white-coat hypertension. Now, a large study suggests that people with this condition face a greater threat of heart disease than people whose blood pressure readings are always normal.
According to current guidelines from the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association, normal blood pressure is defined as less than 120/80. High blood pressure is 130/80 and higher.
“If your blood pressure goes up under the relatively nonthreatening situation of seeing a doctor, then what might happen if you’re cut off on the highway, or experience a challenging family or work circumstance?” says Dr. Randall Zusman, a cardiologist at Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital.
Everyone’s blood pressure fluctuates constantly throughout the day. But people with white-coat hypertension may experience more frequent and higher spikes. About one in five people has the condition, which doctors typically don’t treat with medication.
The white-coat effect
For the study, researchers pooled findings from 27 studies involving more than 64,000 people in the United States, Europe, and Asia. Compared with people whose blood pressure was normal both at the doctor’s office and at home, people with untreated white-coat hypertension had a 36% higher risk of heart attack, stroke, and other heart-related events. They were also twice as likely to die from heart disease.
However, people taking blood pressure medication whose blood pressure still rose at the doctor’s office (a phenomenon known as the white-coat effect) did not have a higher risk of heart disease. The study was published June 10 in Annals of Internal Medicine.
According to Dr. Zusman, the findings lend further support for treating people with white-coat hypertension. Research suggests that the condition nearly always progresses to sustained high blood pressure.
What you can do
Treatment doesn’t necessarily mean taking blood pressure medication, however. “Losing weight, exercising, limiting salt, and not smoking are all associated with better blood pressure control. I certainly encourage people to do all those things, whether they have intermittent or sustained high blood pressure,” says Dr. Zusman.
Sometimes, even determined efforts to make these changes aren’t sufficient. If lifestyle changes aimed at controlling hypertension can’t bring your blood pressure down to a normal range, there are many safe, effective medications that can help.
Dr. Zusman advises all of his patients to use a home blood pressure monitor to make sure their treatment is working. “I also have them bring their device in and watch them take their blood pressure to make sure they’re using the monitor correctly,” he says. Doctors often suggest checking your blood pressure once or twice a day for a week or so right after starting or changing medications. After that, two to three times a week at different times of the day is a good idea, says Dr. Zusman.
The post Could white-coat hypertension harm your heart? appeared first on Harvard Health Blog.
Anthrax may be the next tool in the fight against bladder cancer, suggests new study based on human tumor samples and dogs with bladder cancer. Researchers combine the anthrax toxin with a growth factor to kill bladder cancer cells and tumors, without harming the normal cells in the bladder.
Anthrax may be the next tool in the fight against bladder cancer, suggests new study based on human tumor samples and dogs with bladder cancer. Researchers combine the anthrax toxin with a growth factor to kill bladder cancer cells and tumors, without harming the normal cells in the bladder.
https://ift.tt/2q6V4Ra November 29, 2019 at 04:00PM https://ift.tt/1R552o9
 |
submitted by /u/mvea [link] [comments] |
Anthrax may be the next tool in the fight against bladder cancer, suggests new study based on human tumor samples and dogs with bladder cancer. Researchers combine the anthrax toxin with a growth factor to kill bladder cancer cells and tumors, without harming the normal cells in the bladder.
|
submitted by /u/mvea [link] [comments] |
AstraZeneca's Imfinzi gets speedy FDA review for small cell lung cancer
AstraZeneca's Imfinzi gets speedy FDA review for small cell lung cancer
Reuters: Health
British drugmaker AstraZeneca Plc said on Friday its immunotherapy cancer treatment Imfinzi has been granted a speedy review by the U.S. medicines watchdog for the treatment of a particularly aggressive type of lung cancer. 
Reuters: Health
British drugmaker AstraZeneca Plc said on Friday its immunotherapy cancer treatment Imfinzi has been granted a speedy review by the U.S. medicines watchdog for the treatment of a particularly aggressive type of lung cancer.
AstraZeneca's Imfinzi gets FDA priority review for small cell lung cancer
AstraZeneca's Imfinzi gets FDA priority review for small cell lung cancer
Reuters: Health
British drugmaker AstraZeneca Plc said on Friday its cancer drug Imfinzi has been granted a speedy review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of a particularly aggressive type of lung cancer. 
Reuters: Health
British drugmaker AstraZeneca Plc said on Friday its cancer drug Imfinzi has been granted a speedy review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of a particularly aggressive type of lung cancer.
Samoa measles toll hits 42 as nations dispatch medical teams, supplies
Samoa measles toll hits 42 as nations dispatch medical teams, supplies
Reuters: Health
More nations were flying medical staff and supplies to Samoa on Friday to battle a measles outbreak that prompted the Pacific island nation to declare a state of emergency this month, as the death toll rose to 42, most of them children younger than four. 
Reuters: Health
More nations were flying medical staff and supplies to Samoa on Friday to battle a measles outbreak that prompted the Pacific island nation to declare a state of emergency this month, as the death toll rose to 42, most of them children younger than four.
Psychological Effects of Diabetes
Diabetes is one of the leading causes of disability and death in the United States today. Information about possible physical damage to the body and concern about growing rates of diabetes in children and teens take center stage in most related discussions. But, there are some serious psychological effects as well that must be considered. Handling these might make the difference in whether someone is successful in managing this condition or not.
In a “Wear Blue” campaign, the Diabetes Association of Atlanta and communities across the country are sharing information for National Diabetes Month in November. Many of the over thirty million people affected in the United States and another eighty-four million at high risk of developing Type 2 diabetes may be unaware of how the mind and body work or do not work together to manage diabetes.
Traditional advice – watch your weight, eat healthy, and get more physical activity – can save many people from progressive, system-wide damage to the entire body, but what works for one person may not work as well for another. What looks like simple solutions may not be simple at all. Without addressing the psychological component, the best exercise and menu plans may be useless, especially if co-occurring illnesses are present. Blood glucose levels rise as a result of stress and other physical problems. Depression, anxiety, and other mental health problems also complicate control.
We are driven, to a certain extent, by past behaviors and cultural habits of the people around us. In other words, the way we eat and the comfort we seek from food is learned. To tell a patient with consistently high blood sugar levels that he must change what he is used to doing, how he is accustomed to living, can feel threatening, especially if he has to watch others continue to eat and drink in the old ways. Sometimes, there is little support or consideration of the needs and feelings of a person who is struggling.
Foods high in carbohydrates and sugar are everywhere. They taste good, raise serotonin levels in the body and are generally inexpensive and easy to find. Most “grab and go” snacks fall into this category. Intellectually, a diabetic may understand why these foods are dangerous for him, but the demands to resist advertising and product placement, well-meaning cooks and holiday traditions tied to sweet memories of the past may as well ask him to leave his home planet and take up residence on Mars. The life change may seem – to him – almost that drastic.
New habits can be formed, but the challenges that must be met can be insurmountable at times. Obesity, environment, economic factors, and availability of healthy foods are obstacles that must be overcome daily. In addition, if weight needs to be lost, there are a host of psychological battles involved in that lengthy war. If progress is slow or up and down, discouragement and depression could be the result.
Because of the physical issues in the body, diabetes can affect a person’s mood, causing rapid and severe changes. Adam Felman, of Medical News Today, writes that these changes caused by the stress of living with diabetes can affect relationships as well as potential complications and may also lead to nervousness, anxiety, and confusion. Difficulty in thinking and other symptoms caused by high or low blood sugar hold true for all types of diabetes.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recognizes the mind-body connection and recommends getting active, doing relaxation exercises, contacting an understanding friend, taking breaks to do something for fun, and limiting alcohol along with that healthy eating … but also seeing an endocrinologist for diabetes care and adding a mental health counselor, a diabetes educator, and a diabetes support group to your medical team.
That’s a lot to juggle. Those who take insulin, wear an insulin pump or use continuous glucose monitoring equipment have more complicated issues to handle in their daily routines, but all diabetics need to monitor their glucose levels throughout the day. Testing, using meters and related supplies, finding places to test and even employment and insurance worries are some of the concerns that could keep diabetics up at night. Sleep can be disrupted and have its own undesirable effect on blood glucose levels.
It’s easy to see how a diabetic’s mind might spin with stress. Overwhelming feelings known as “diabetes distress” can look like depression or anxiety but can’t be treated effectively with medicine. The CDC advises setting small goals and taking care of both mental and physical health, to provide the best outcomes. Community support in the form of classes or groups specifically for diabetics can be one of the best ways to accomplish this. Local hospitals, mental health counselors or even the newspaper will provide lists of these opportunities.
Exercise (especially walking and swimming), drinking water, eating healthy food, remembering to take medications, and regular activities that rest the mind are all things that can help. Expecting and finding ways to deal with overwhelming feelings and symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression are the companion pieces that just might complete the puzzle of successful diabetes care.
T2 reversal and real food go together ! #lchf
T2 reversal and real food go together ! #lchf
https://ift.tt/2OUed12 November 29, 2019 at 06:44AM https://ift.tt/1R552o9
 |
submitted by /u/laacis3 [link] [comments] |
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Popular Posts
|
