CHRONIC PAIN
• Patients not Prescribed Opioids Find More Improvements in Physical Function: Opioids such as morphine, codeine
and Tylenol 3 can be effective for treating pain, however, a new University of
Alberta study finds that patients with neuropathic pain taking opioids report
no improvements in physical functioning compared to those who were not
prescribed opioids. Pain Medicine
• Pain killers Don’t Ease Disability Due to Nerve Damage: Taking prescription narcotic painkillers doesn't
improve movement or reduce disability in people with pain related to nerve
damage, researchers have found. Pain Medicine
• Many
Chronic Pain Sufferers May Overuse Nonprescription Painkillers: Many
people with chronic pain ignore dosing instructions on over-the-counter pain
medicines and put themselves at risk for an overdose, a new survey suggests. An
overdose of these medicines can result in serious side effects, such as stomach
bleeding, ulcers, liver damage and even death. American Gastroenterological
Association
•Research finds no easy answers to use of drug screening for pain patients: Doctors
who treat patients suffering from chronic pain face a quandary, according to
research. Monitoring patients through urine drug screenings, part of the
standard protocol to ensure patient safety, is associated with an increase in
the odds that the patients won't return for future treatment. Pain Physician
• Smoking and Chronic Pain: Adding
to the already length list of reasons not to smoke, researchers have connected
smoking to worsening degenerative disc disease in the cervical spine.
Association of Academic Physiatrists Annual Meeting
COMPLEMENTARY & ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE
• How Meditation, Placebos and Virtual Help Power ‘Mind Over Body’: Fresh Air program with Jo Marchant on her book “Cure A Journey into the Science
of Mind Over Body.” She discusses everything from the placebo effect and what
CAM activities-e.g. mindfulness-works and what doesn’t. NPR
• Meditation May Ease Pain, Anxiety from Breast Cancer Biopsy: Meditation and music may reduce pain,
anxiety and fatigue associated with a breast cancer biopsy, a new study
suggests. Journal of the American College of Radiology
•
Tailored Acupuncture Lessens Pain Intensity in Chronic Pain: Nine
weekly sessions of individually tailored acupuncture lessen perceived pain
intensity, and improve functional capacity and quality of life, in people with
the chronic pain condition, fibromyalgia, finds new research. Acupuncture in
Medicine
FDA ACTION
• Warns of lead poisoning risk from cosmetic clay-Alikay Natural
Bentonite Me Baby which is sold on-line and in retail stores, including Target.
• Zepatier approved for chronic
hepatitis C genotypes 1 and 4
PREVENTION
• Exercise Regularly and Your Heart Will Thank You: Regular exercise is essential for keeping your heart
healthy, and the more the better. The study authors examined recent research
and found that even small amounts of exercise, including standing, can reduce the
risk of heart disease. Even greater reductions in risk can be achieved with
more exercise, the researchers said. But only half of American adults get the
recommended 150 minutes of moderate or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise a week,
the report authors noted. Journal of the American College of Cardiology
• Fitness
Could Raise Survival After First Heart Attack: Being
in good shape may improve a person's chances of surviving a first heart attack,
a new study indicates. The study also adds to evidence that regular exercise
reduces the risk of heart attack and death from all causes. Mayo Clinic
Proceedings
• Exercise
has its limits for losing weight: Researchers have found, moderate
exercise -- the equivalent of walking a couple miles per day -- may be the best
way to burn extra calories. Beyond that, the body seems to adapt its metabolism
so that calorie-burning plateaus, no matter how hard you work out. Current
Biology
• Exercise
May Prevent Harmful Falls in Men: Regular exercise reduces older
men's risk of serious injuries from falls, a new study finds. "The
physical activity program was more effective in reducing the rate of serious
fall injuries in men than in women.” Although the findings were mixed, they
suggest that moderate exercise may help prevent serious falls, the leading
cause of injury in people 70 and older.
BMJ
•
Aerobic Fitness May Protect Liver Against Chronic Alcohol Use: Excessive
alcohol use is responsible for more than 80,000 deaths in the United States
each year. Over time, excessive drinking can lead to several chronic
conditions, such as fatty liver disease and cirrhosis. Now, a study shows that
aerobic exercise may protect the liver against alcohol-related inflammation and
injury. Biomolecules
• Sleepless
Nights Might Raise Women’s Type 2 Diabetes Risk: Women
who have chronic sleep problems may have an increased risk of developing type 2
diabetes, Harvard researchers report. Problems such as trouble falling or
staying asleep, getting less than six hours of sleep, frequent snoring, sleep
apnea or rotating shift work appear to increase the risk of type 2 diabetes,
the researchers said. They found that women who reported trouble falling or
staying asleep all or most of the time had 45 percent greater odds of
developing type 2 diabetes. Diabetologia
• No
Clear Winner Seen Among Stop Smoking Aids: Using the nicotine patch, the
drug Chantix, or a combination of the patch and lozenges all appear to work
equally well when trying to stop smoking.
JAMA
• Free
Nicotine Patches by Mail May Help Smokers Quit:Helping smokers quit may be as easy as mailing them free nicotine-replacement
patches, even in the absence of counseling or other support, a new Canadian
study shows. JAMA Internal Medicine
• Study Finds Stool Test Effective for Detecting Colon Cancer: Tests
for blood in the stool can consistently detect colon cancer when used on an
annual basis, and they are effective even in the second, third and fourth years
of screening, a new study says. The researchers said these findings suggest
that the stool test could be a reasonable screening alternative to colonoscopy
-- currently considered the gold standard for colon cancer screening. Annals of
Internal Medicine
• BPA Free plastic accelerates embryonic development, disrupts reproductive system: Companies
advertise 'BPA-free' as a safer version of plastic products ranging from water
bottles to sippy cups to toys. Yet a new study demonstrates that BPS, a common
replacement for BPA, speeds up embryonic development and disrupts the
reproductive system. The research is the first to examine the effects of BPA
and BPS on key brain cells and genes that control organs involved in
reproduction. Endocrinology
•
National Smoking Bans Help Everyone Especially Non Smokers: A meta
analysis of 77 studies in 21 countries, finds that national smoking bans appear
to be reducing the health harms caused by secondhand smoke. Cochrane Library
•
Weight Loss Surgery May Lengthen Older People’s Lives:Middle-aged and even older people seem to gain a survival boost from gastric
bypass surgery. The study found no survival benefit for those under 35, which
saw an increase in the number of "externally caused deaths,” including
accidental injuries, assaults and suicides. The increase was more significant
in women than in men. JAMA Surgery
• New Mental Challenges Can Sharpen Aging Brain: New mental challenges might help
your mind stay sharp as you age, according to a small study of 39 older adults
who were randomly assigned to high- or low-mental challenge groups or to a
control group. Restorative Neurology and Neuroscience
• Social Groups May Lengthen Retirees Lives: Staying socially active by
joining book clubs or church groups may add years to your life after
retirement, a new study suggests. BMJ Open
•
Feeling Older Increases Risk of Hospitalization: People
who feel older than their peers are more likely to be hospitalized as they age,
regardless of their actual age or other demographic factors, according to
research. APA
•
Severe Gum Disease Increases Death: Severe gum disease increases the
risk of death in chronic kidney disease patients, a new study suggests. The
findings add to growing evidence that poor oral health is associated with other
chronic diseases. Journal of Clinical Periodontology.
• Sufficient
Sleep, Exercise Linked to Lower Stroke Risk: Researchers found that among
almost 300,000 U.S. adults, those who routinely slept seven to eight hours a
night were 25 percent less likely to have a stroke, compared to people who got
either less or more sleep. The highest stroke risk was seen among "long
sleepers," who spent at least eight hours in bed each night. But short
sleepers -- those who slept less than seven hours each night -- also showed an
elevated risk. However, the findings don't prove that sufficient sleep can
actually prevent strokes, only that there's a link between getting the right
amount of sleep and stroke risk. there was a significantly lower stroke risk
among people who got both a healthy amount of sleep and regular vigorous
exercise -- meaning 30 to 60 minutes of high-intensity exercise, such as
jogging, three to six times a week. In that group, less than 1.2 percent had
ever suffered a stroke, versus about 3.1 percent of other adults. American
Stroke Association annual meeting
• Eating More Healthy Fats May Extend Life: A new study contends that if
people worldwide began to eat healthier fats, there might be more than a
million fewer deaths from heart disease every year. While unhealthy fats
(saturated and trans fats) should be replaced with healthy fats
(polyunsaturated fats)- fatty fish (such as salmon, herring, mackerel and
trout), soybeans, tofu, soybean oil, corn oil, sunflower oils and seeds, and
walnuts. Journal of the American Heart Association
• Most US Restaurant Meals Exceed Recommended Calories: A new
study reports that more than nine in 10 U.S. restaurants are serving meals that
exceed the recommended calorie limit for a single meal. And that's just the
entree. Drinks, appetizers and desserts weren't included. American, Chinese and Italian meals average around
1,500 calories, researchers say. Journal of the American Academy of
Nutrition and Dietetics
• Berries, Citrus Fruits Might Help Male Sexual Health: Iochemicals found in berries,
citrus fruit and red wine might help men maintain healthy erections, a new
nutrition study suggests. Foods rich in these flavonoids are associated with
reduced risk of erectile dysfunction. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
• Fiber-Rich
Diet May Reduce Lung Disease: A diet rich in fiber may not only
protect against diabetes and heart disease, it may reduce the risk of
developing lung disease, according to new research. Fiber consumption was
calculated based on the amount of fruits, vegetables, legumes and whole grains
participants recalled eating. Those whose diets included more than 17.5 grams
of fiber a day were in the top quartile. American Thoracic Society
• Barley Helps Improve Blood Sugar Levels, reduce appetite: Barley
can rapidly improve people's health by reducing blood sugar levels and the risk
for diabetes, a recent study shows. The secret lies in the special mixture of
dietary fibers found in barley, which can also help reduce people's appetite
and risk for cardiovascular disease. Lund University
• Mediterranean Diet Plus Oil or Nuts Associated with Improved Cognitive Function: Supplementing
the plant-based Mediterranean diet with antioxidant-rich extra virgin olive oil
or mixed nuts was associated with improved cognitive function in a study of
older adults in Spain but the authors warn more investigation is needed,
according to a new article. JAMA Internal Medicine
• Cholesterol in Eggs May Not
Hurt Heart Health: The
once-maligned egg may not be a heartbreaker after all, new research suggests.
Finnish researchers say that even carriers of a gene -- called APOE4 -- that
increases sensitivity to dietary cholesterol don't seem to have anything to
fear when it comes to the impact of eggs, or any other dietary cholesterol, on
heart health. The findings followed the 20-year plus tracking of dietary habits
among more than 1,000 middle-aged Finnish men. American Journal of Clinical
Nutrition
TREATMENT
•Anesthesia after 40 Not Linked to Mental Decline: Receiving
general anesthesia for surgery after age 40 doesn't appear to raise the risk
for mild thinking and memory problems later in life, a new study finds. Mayo
Clinic Proceedings
• New
IBS Drug Eases Stomach Pain and Diarrhea for Some:Viberzi for irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea seems to reduce symptoms for
some patients for at least FDsix months, two clinical trials found. However the
drug helps only about a third of patients. NEJM
• No
Antibiotics for Common Respiratory Infections:According to the American College of Physicians and the Centers for Disease
Control, antibiotics are not needed for adults who have the common cold,
bronchitis, sore throat or sinus infections. Annals of Internal Medicine
• High
Dose Statins May Ease Macular Degeneration: High doses of
cholesterol-lowering statin drugs -- medicines such as Lipitor, Crestor and
Zocor -- may help people with the dry form of Macular Degeneration. It
typically took a year to 18 months of treatment for these positive results to
arise, the researchers reported. EBioMedicine
•
Diabetes Drug May Help Prevent Second Stroke: The diabetes drug Actos
(pioglitazone) appears to protect people who've already had a stroke from
suffering a second stroke, a new study finds. NEJM
•
Testosterone Therapy May Boost sex Drive in Men: Testosterone
therapy may restore some sexual desire and function in older men whose natural
hormone levels have declined, clinical trials suggest. However, the treatments
didn't do much to improve vitality or physical function in men 65 or older, as
many have believed. NEJM
•
Anemia Drugs May Not Boost Kidney Patients Well Being: The
pricey anemia drugs (erythropoietin-stimulating agents or ESAs) often given to
people with chronic kidney disease may make no difference in how they feel day
to day, a new research review confirms. Annals of Internal Medicine
•
Heartburn Medications Might Raise Risk of Dementia: German
researchers found that people 75 or older who regularly Proton Pump Inhibitors
(Prilosex, Nexium and Prevacid) medications had a 44 percent increased risk of
dementia compared with seniors not using the drugs. The study only found an
association, however, and not a cause-and-effect link. JAMA
CAREGIVING
• Helping with Health Care Takes Heavy Toll on Caregivers: Millions of family and friends who help older,
disabled adults manage medications and navigate the health system may be
sacrificing their own well-being, a new study suggests. Caregivers who provided
"substantial help" with health care in these settings were roughly
twice as likely to experience physical, financial and emotional difficulties as
those who did not provide that help, the study found. JAMA Internal Medicine
• Post Stroke Caregiving at Home Tops $11,000 per year: Paying
bills, shopping and traveling to and from doctor's visits adds up, say
researchers who found the true cost of post-stroke home care services for
American seniors is much higher than previously estimated. Stroke survivors
received about 10 more hours of caregiving from family or friends compared to
seniors who had not had a stroke, the study found. American Stroke Association
• Stroke Camp Helps Caregivers: A two-and-a-half day camp for stroke
survivors and their caregivers, staffed by health care providers and
therapists, provides caregivers with an emotional and physical break, support
from others in the same situation and learning sessions. Sixty-seven caregivers
who attended the Retreat and Refresh Stroke Camp from 2009 to 2015 completed
surveys afterwards. Eighty percent said their role as a stroke patient
caregiver affected their life and work. After attending the stroke camp, 79
percent of the caregivers said they felt less alone, 77 percent said it
"recharged" them, and 58 percent said they learned new things,
according to the study. American Stroke Association
OTHER
• Lyme Causing Ticks Expand Their Range in US: Ticks that transmit Lyme disease are now found in nearly
half of all counties in the United States, a much broader swath than was seen
in the late 1990s, researchers report. Journal of Medical Entomology
• Causes of Gulf War Illness Pinpointed: Exposure to pesticides and taking
pyridostigmine bromide (PB) pills, which were meant to protect troops against
the effects of nerve gas, appear to be the cause of Gulf War illness in U.S.
veterans, a new analysis states. There's also evidence of a connection between
Gulf War illness and exposure to the nerve gas agents sarin and cyclosarin, and
to oil well fire emissions. Cortex
• Study May Offer Answers for Treating Depression in Alcoholics: A new
study is offering a glimmer of hope to alcoholics who find it hard to remain
sober because their abstinence is hounded by stubborn, difficult-to-treat
depression. Neuropsychopharmacology
• US Dementia Rates Seem to be Falling: More
than 5,000 people followed for almost 40 years starting in the mid-1970s
experienced an average 20 percent reduction in their risk of developing
dementia, the researchers said. At the same time, the average age at which the
participants fell prey to dementia rose, from about 80 in the late 1970s to age
85 in more recent years. Education and heart health appear to have contributed
to the decline in dementia cases, the study found. NEJM
• Gulf War Veterans’ Illnesses Still Poorly Understood: More
than $500 million in U.S. government-funded research on Gulf War veterans was
conducted between 1994 and 2014, producing many results. But there has been
little overall progress in understanding the health effects of serving in that
war, according to an Institute of Medicine (IOM) committee. The U.S. Department
of Veterans Affairs-sponsored study said Gulf War veterans appear to be at
increased risk for Gulf War illness, chronic fatigue syndrome, digestive
disorders, and such mental health conditions as post-traumatic stress disorder,
anxiety, depression and substance abuse. The review also found evidence of a
link between Gulf War deployment and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), fibromyalgia
chronic pain and sexual problems. Institute of Medicine
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