CHRONIC PAIN
• Botox Like Injection to Treat Knee Pain: A
painful knee condition (pain in the front and side of the knee joint) that
affects more than one in eight active people has been treated effectively with
a botulinum toxin injection and physiotherapy. American Journal of Sports
Medicine
• Platelet rich Plasma Injections May Help: A pilot study on patients with shoulder
injuries-rotator cuff tendinopathy due to normal aging- found that platelet rich plasma therapy
works on average people not just elite atheltes. For the first time, we were able
to not only find reported improvements in pain and mobility, but also in the
tissue -- the MRI before and after showed structural change and a decrease in
the size of tears. Plos One
• New Guideline for Use of Prescription Painkillers: Hoping
to stem an epidemic of drug abuse tied to prescription narcotic painkillers
such as Oxycontin, Percocet and Vicodin, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention has issued tough new prescribing guidelines to the nation's
doctors, especially primary care physicians. Avoid addictive "opioid"
painkillers whenever possible for patients with most forms of chronic pain. For
example, this would include patients suffering from joint or back pain, dental
pain (tooth extraction, for example), or other chronic pain treated in an
outpatient setting. It would not include the use of narcotic painkillers for
people dealing with cancer-related pain, or terminally ill patients in
palliative care, the CDC said. JAMA
•
Acetaminophen Won’t Help Arthritis Pain: Acetaminophen, commonly known as
Tylenol, isn't an effective choice for relieving osteoarthritis pain in the hip
or knee, or for improving joint function, a new study finds. Although the drug
rated slightly better than placebo in studies, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory
drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) or diclofenac are better choices
for short-term pain relief. The Lancet
•
Spinal Cord Stimulation Reduces Emotional Aspect of Chronic Pain: Researchers
have shown that patients with chronic pain can reduce their emotional response
to the pain through spinal cord stimulation. Neuromodulation: Technology at
the Neural Interface
COMPLEMENTARY & ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE
• Psychosis Plus Pot a Bad Mix: People
diagnosed with psychosis will probably have a longer, harder struggle to
maintain their mental health if they're regular marijuana users, British
researchers report. And those who just experienced their first episode of
psychotic illness are 50 percent more likely to need subsequent hospitalization
for their condition if they use marijuana. They also spend longer periods in
the hospital, averaging 35 more days in mental health wards during a five-year
period than those with psychosis who don't use pot. Finally, marijuana users
don't seem to respond to anti-psychotic medications as well as non-users BMJ
Open.
• Pot Smokers May Face 5 Times Greater Alcohol Abuse: People
who smoke pot may be five times more likely to develop a problem with alcohol,
such as addiction, a new study says. Marijuana users who have an alcohol
problem may also be less likely to quit drinking, the researchers said. Drug
and Alcohol Dependence
• Can Yoga Help Those Experiencing Depression, Anxiety or PTSD?: A meta-review of 185 articles published
between 2000 and 2013 found that yoga holds potential promise for helping
improve anxiety, depression, PTSD and/or the psychological consequences of
trauma at least in the short term. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse
• Practicing Tai Chi Reduces Risk of Falling in Older Adults: Researchers have compared the effects of tai chi to
leg strengthening exercises (a physical therapy called 'lower extremity
training,' or LET) in reducing falls. After six months of training, people in
the tai chi group were significantly less likely to experience an
injury-causing fall than were people in the LET group. Journal of the
American Geriatrics Society
• Yoga Improves Quality of Life in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation: Yoga
improves quality of life in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation,
according to research published in the European Journal of Cardiovascular
Nursing. Heart rate and blood pressure also decreased in patients who did
yoga.
• Mindfulness
Meditation Provides Opioid free pain relief: Cognitive-based approaches found
to reduce pain, such as hypnosis, acupuncture, distraction and even the placebo
response, have been shown to work through this system. But does meditation also
use opioids to reduce pain? A study published in the current issue of the Journal
of Neuroscience reports that mindfulness meditation does not employ the
endogenous opioid system to reduce pain.
FDA ACTION
• Ordered Black Box Warning Label on Essure long acting implantable birth
control device
• Approved
Xalkor for rare genetic form of lung cancer
PREVENTION
•
Computer Use May Help Deflect Seniors’ Memory Problems:
Seniors who use their computers as little as once a week may help ward off
age-related declines in memory and thinking, new research suggests. The study
found that those who did use a computer showed a 42 percent lower risk of
developing mild cognitive impairment (MCI), a precursor to dementia. American
Academy of Neurology annual meeting
• Different Kinds of Physical Activity Shown to Increase Brain Volume, Cut Alzheimer’s Risk in Half: A new study shows that any aerobic exercise,
from walking to gardening and dancing can improve brain volume and cut the risk
of Alzheimer's disease by 50%. Journal of Alzheimer's Disease
• Want to Keep an Aging Brain Sharp-Try the Stairs: Fitness
seemed key to sharper minds as people got older, a Canadian study found, as was
more time spent reading and studying. The findings show "that education
and physical activity affect the difference between a physiological prediction
of age and chronological age, and that people can actively do something to help
their brains stay young.” Neurobiology of Aging
• Six Ways to Lower Risk of Colon Cancer: Six evidence-based measures you
can take to try to lower your risk of developing colon cancer: Maintain a healthy weight and control belly
fat; Get regular moderate physical activity, which can range from house
cleaning to running; Eat plenty of high-fiber foods. For every 10 grams of
fiber (a bit less than a cup of beans) in your daily diet, your risk of colon
cancer falls by 10 percent; Reduce red meat consumption and avoid processed meats,
such as hot dogs, bacon, sausage and deli meats; Avoid alcohol or limit your intake to no more
than two standard drinks a day for men and one for women; Go heavy on the
garlic. Evidence suggests that a diet rich in garlic reduces the risk of colon
cancer. American Cancer Society
• Cold Turkey May Work Best for Quitting Smoking: New research suggests quitting all
at once beats a more gradual approach. The study found that after four weeks,
nearly half of those who quit "cold turkey" were still not smoking.
But, among people who quit gradually over two weeks, only 39 percent were
smoke-free at four weeks, researchers said. Annals of Internal Medicine
• Long Hours at the Office May Raise Your Heart Disease Risk:
Researchers analyzed data from more than 1,900 people in a long-term study of
work. They found that 43 percent had been diagnosed with a problem related to
cardiovascular disease (CVD), such as angina, coronary artery disease, heart
failure, heart attack, high blood pressure or stroke. Among full-time
employees, the risk rose 1 percent for each additional hour worked per week
over 10 years or more. Starting at 46 hours, additional work hours increased
the risk of heart disease even more. Compared to those who averaged 45 hours a
week for 10 years or more, the risk of heart disease was 16 percent higher
among those who worked 55 hours a week and 35 percent higher among those who
worked 60 hours a week. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
•
Biking or Walking to Work Helps Keep You Fit: Walking, cycling or taking
public transit to work helps middle-aged adults lose body fat and weight, new
research suggests. The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology
• Will a Sit-Stand Desk Make You Healthier?: Sit-stand desks are fixtures in
many offices today. But new research finds little proof of health benefits
associated with their use. Cochrane Library
• A Healthy Heart May Protect An Aging Brain: Seniors who met more of seven
goals for heart-healthy living-manage blood pressure, control cholesterol,
reduced blood sugar, active, eat better, healthy weight and not smoking- showed
faster thinking speeds initially and less decline in memory and thinking skills
six years later. Journal of the American Heart Association
NUTRITION/SUPPLEMENTS/VITAMINS
• Heavy Coffee Drinkers Show Lower Risk of MS: Researchers found that among more
than 6,700 adults, those who downed about six cups of coffee a day were almost
one-third less likely to develop multiple sclerosis (MS) than non-drinkers
were. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry, online
• Drinking more Water Associated with Numerous Dietary Benefits: A new
study has examined the dietary habits of more than 18,300 US adults, and found
the majority of people who increased their consumption of plain water by 1
percent reduced their total daily calorie intake as well as their consumption
of saturated fat, sugar, sodium and cholesterol. Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics
• Vitamin D a No Go for Arthritic Knee: Vitamin
D supplements didn't relieve pain or slow the progression of knee osteoarthritis
in a new study, even though the patients involved had low levels of the
vitamin. JAMA
• Green Tea and Iron, Bad Combination: Green tea is touted for its many health
benefits as a powerful antioxidant, but experiments in a laboratory mouse model
of inflammatory bowel disease suggest that consuming green tea along with
dietary iron may actually lessen green tea's benefits. The American Journal
of Pathology
• Time to Rethink Your Vegetable Oil: Risk of heart disease and diabetes may
be lowered by a diet higher in a lipid found in grape seed and other oils, but
not in olive oil, a new study suggests. This finding could have obvious implications
in preventing heart disease and diabetes, but also could be important for older
adults because higher lean body mass can contribute to a longer life with more
independence. Molecular Nutrition & Food Research
• Maple Syrup May Protect the Brain from Alzheimer’s: Researchers
found real maple syrup -- the kind that comes from the sap of a maple tree --
helps prevent two types of proteins found in brain cells from clumping
together. When these cellular proteins, beta amyloid and tau peptide,
improperly accumulate together, plaque is formed in the brain, causing Alzheimer's
and other brain diseases. The maple syrup extract could also prolong
Alzheimer's patients lifespans by protecting the brain cells from fibrillating,
or clumping together. Maple syrup keeps beta-amyloid from sticking together or
becoming tangled, the scientists found. American Chemical Society’s Annual
Meeting
TREATMENT
• Daily Low Dose Aspirin Linked to Reduced Risk of Certain Cancers: Taking
low-dose aspirin every day may lower the overall risk of cancer by 3 percent,
mostly because of larger reductions that were seen in the risk for colon and
gastrointestinal tumors, researchers are reporting. But the benefit was only
seen after six years of taking aspirin almost daily, the study authors said.
JAMA Oncology
•
Smart phone Blood Pressure App Often Wrong: A popular app that uses your
smartphone to check your blood pressure is inaccurate, missing high blood pressure
readings in four out of every five patients tested, researchers report. JAMA
Internal Medicine
• Experts
Undecided on Whether Seniors Should Get Routine Vision Checks:There's just not enough good data to say whether or not seniors should be
routinely screened for vision trouble by their primary care physicians
according to the US Preventive Services Task Force.
• Female Libido Pill May Not Be Worth It: The much-touted "female
libido" pill seems to cause a host of serious side effects while failing
to spark much additional passion in a woman's life, a new review suggests. JAMA
Internal Medicine.
• Fluoroquinolonesare too Risky for Common Infections: An FDA panel says popular
antibiotics such as Cipro are overprescribed and should have stronger warnings
about side effects. The 21 member panel voted overwhelmingly that, in most
cases, the benefit of fluoroquinolones to treat three common
illnesses—bacterial sinus infections, urinary tract infections, and some forms
of bronchitis in people with chronic lung disease—was outweighed by the risk of
rare, but serious side effects, including irregular heartbeats, depression,
nerve damage, ruptured tendons, and seizures. While the fluroquinolones are
essential for treating serious infections such as anthrax, the FDA panel
members noted that they are overprescribed for common infections where other
treatments would work just as well with less risk. Consumer reports
CAREGIVING
• As Caregivers, Women May Suffer More Than Men: Women may face greater challenges
than men when looking after a loved one with a serious illness, a new study
suggests. The researchers questioned more than 280 family caregivers and found
that women had much lower self esteem, less family support and more harmful
consequences in terms of their health and schedules than men. Journal of
Palliative Medicine
• Stress of Caring for Sick Spouse May Raise Stroke Risk: Husbands and wives who feel the strain
of caring for a sick or disabled spouse are at a higher risk of stroke than
those who do not have to care for their significant other, a new study
suggests. Spouse caregivers who said they were stressed had a 95 percent higher
stroke risk when compared to "matched" non-caregivers with similar
demographic, lifestyle and stroke risk factors, according to the study.
American Heart Association Meeting
OTHER
• Poor Sleep May Not Add to Cholesterol Problems: Sleepless
nights don't appear to be linked to an increase in cholesterol levels, a new
study indicates. The exception seems to be people who take sleeping pills to
treat insomnia, the researchers said. Sleep
• Certain Jobs Hazardous to Your Heart
Health: Middle-aged
employees working in sales, office or food service jobs appear to have more
risk factors that can harm heart health than people with professional or
managerial jobs. Police, firefighters, truckers and health care support workers
also are more likely to have these risk factors. AHA Meeting
• Agent Orange Linked to Bladder Cancer, Thyroid Problems: There is stronger evidence of a
link between the herbicide Agent Orange and bladder cancer and thyroid problems
among U.S. military personnel exposed to the chemical during the Vietnam War, a
new Institute of Medicine report shows. However, there is little to no evidence
of an association between the birth defect spina bifida and a mother's or
father's exposure to Agent Orange, according to the report. National Academy of
Sciences
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