Life with Chronic Conditions: Keep on Keeping On

This past weekend Joni Mitchell stole the show with her performances at the Newport Folk Festival. She hasn’t performed a full concert since 2000. In 2015 she had a brain aneurysm and since then she has intensely worked to regain her ability to walk, let alone sing or play her guitar.

 Her performance last weekend is reflective of how she’s learned to accommodate her changing voice and body. As one reviewer noted, Two decades ago, Mitchell had surprised fans with a lower register made evocatively dark by years of cigarette smoking. Here was another revelatory voice, showing the marks of her recent health struggles and her determination to recover, stunning in its honesty.

 

Mitchell  had to teach herself how to play guitar again, along with how to sing, walk and talk.   “I’m learning. I’m looking at videos that are on the net to see where I put my fingers. It’s amazing what an aneurysm knocks out—how to get out of a chair, you don’t know how to get out of a bed. You have to learn all these things by rote again. I was into water ballet as a kid, and I forgot how to do the breaststroke. Every time I tried it, I just about drowned. So, a lot of going back to infancy almost. You have to relearn everything.”

 

And if Joni Mitchell wasn’t enough, behind her on stage was Wynonna Judd, who recently lost her mother,  the other half of the famous Judds duo, to suicide. She begins her solo tour, which she was planning to do with Naomi, this fall. “The show must go on, as hard as it may be, and we will show up together, and you will carry me as you’ve carried me for 38 years.” 

 

This concert wouldn’t have been possible without the incredible efforts of Brandie Carlile who organized the event and has continually worked to keep Mitchell relevant and helping to ensure that generations from now, people will still be honoring the musical contributions she’s made.

 

The message loud and clear from this amazing concert, and such power house people, is that life absolutely continues to throw curve balls, but with the help of good friends, a willingness to commit to growth, change and exploring new avenues, you can have a pretty incredible life, inspiring yourself and others along the way. 

 

So enjoy some of the footage of Mitchell’s performances and be inspired to "keep on keeping on." 

 

 

Particularly liked her version of Summertime 

 

Take a Break: Try a Cooling Meditation

As the heat wave continues through many parts of the country, take a break today with a “cooling meditation.” Lots of videos for free to try. These are just a few. Remember to stay hydrated during the current round of heat waves. 

 

6 minute Cooling meditation 

 

A Cooling Meditation for a hot summer’s Day 

 

 

Not interested in today’s activities, try the Take a Break Pinterest Board.

Life with Chronic Conditions: Beat the Heat

Those with chronic conditions are very much at risk to the extreme heat waves that are battering so many parts of the world at the moment.  Even in Vermont, where I live,  it’s in the 90s with nasty humidity. 

High temps can set off flares in a wide array of chronic conditions, such as migraine, hypertension, heart disease, COPD, asthma, chronic pain and that’s just naming a few. These long stretches of high heat puts a strain on everyone, but most particularly children, seniors and/or those with chronic health conditions,  so it’s important to learn ways to “beat the heat.”

 

Be aware of signs of overheating: cramps, dizziness, fainting, headaches, heavy sweating, increased heart rate, nausea. Get help if you exhibit any of these signs.

Enjoy a long cool shower, a swim, use a cooling tie (neck cooler) and/or spray yourself with a squirt bottle kept in the refrigerator. As the water evaporates, it cools you. 

 

Focus on keeping pulse points cool. These include: the inside of your wrists, the temple area, inside of elbows and knees, top of feet, inner ankle and neck. Holding something cold against these areas will make your whole body feel cooler. 

 

While neck coolers are readily available on-line, these are easy to make. Click here for instructions. Rice pads, chilled in the freezer for two hours, work. Use a clean sock or another fabric container. Fill it with rice and tie it off. Put it in the freezer for two hours. Rice retains cold for a long period of time so you can put on pulse points and/or run it over your sheets before bed.

 

Air conditioning is better than a fan. Don’t have one and can’t afford one? Make a makeshift air conditioner by putting ice in a shallow bowl in front of a fan. As the ice melts, it will cool you. Note this doesn’t work so well when it’s humid. When the AC is on keep windows, doors and fire place damper closed. 

Take it easy. Avoid strenuous activities. Talk to your medical provider if you think you are having a heat related problem. Check for cooling stations in your community and use them. Most health departments will list them. 

 

Take steps to avoid the sun such as wearing a wide brimmed hat, using sunscreen (reapply if you are swimming), stay in the shade or use an umbrella, 

Have sun blockers on windows to reduce sunlight in your house. Look for curtains and blinds that block the sun. You can find these at many stores, including places like Walmart. Open windows at night to draw in the cool air. In the morning, close windows and draw blinds to help keep the cool air in. When the temps outside are cooler than your house, open the windows. When the sun is out, close up before it heats up the house.

Eat Cool Foods. When possible avoid turning on the stove. Spicy foods can cool you down. Chili peppers contain capsaicin, which can make you sweat more. As the water evaporates it makes you feel cooler. Not surprising a lot of spicy salsa gets consumed in the summer. Salads and other light foods are perfect when the temps are high. 

 

Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. As you lose water you can become dehydrated and your body temperature rises. Replacing fluids is essential to keeping cool. 

Evaporative Coolers tend to work best when relative humidity is 60% or less; however, they can work in humid conditions when they are used in semi-outdoor settings (loading bays and docks, garages) or outdoors(sporting events, festivals). A personal air cooler or “mini air conditioner” is actually an evaporative cooler a.k.a. a swamp cooler, which pulls the warm air from your room and runs it through the cool water it has in its tank. That’s how it manages to decrease the overall heat in the room. We’ve asked locals about their experiences with the small units being advertised that are less than $100. Seems they are okay to cool one person, but don’t cool a room as advertised. More than one person has noted they weren’t worth the money. 

Avoid alcohol, caffeine and drinks with lots of sugar. They can cause you to become dehydrated.  Drink water instead. 

Turn off appliances, computers etc. They can generate heat. If you are using a lap top, keep it off your lap. Skip the drying cycle on the dishwasher and leave the door open to let the dishes dry. Use appliances only when necessary and in the evening if possible, when the air is cooler. Instead of the dryer, hang clothes outside and even consider hand washing dishes. Use compact fluorescent bulbs as they not only save money, they give off less heat than standard incandescent lights.

 

Some extra tips:

• Read and watch movies about snow and cold temps. 

• It’s not just heat stroke. Extreme temperatures pose special risk to people with chronic illness (and that’s a lot of us) 

• Check out the Take a Break Pinterest Board for a fun activity that you can do so you don’t get bored staying inside and out of the heat. 

Journal Watch: July 2022

COVID-19

Omicron 2.75: What You Should Know About the Latest Emerging COVID-19 Variant: Officials are keeping a close eye on the latest COVID-19 subvariant. They say Omicron BA.2.75 may be the most contagious variant yet with the ability to bypass previous immunity. So far, it’s been most prevalent in India, although it has shown up in about a dozen countries, including the United States. Experts say the new information reinforces the notion that people should continue to get vaccinated and boosted and those at an elevated risk should consider wearing a high-quality mask when indoors and in crowded outdoor venues. Healthline 

Covid-19 Prevention

Nonpharmaceutical COVID-19 responses in Brazil: When the first cases of COVID-19 appeared in Brazil in late February 2020, the twenty-seven Brazilian states responded by implementing a variety of nonpharmaceutical interventions: restrictions on public events, schools, and nonessential commerce, and somewhat later, masking ordinances. A study estimated the independent effects of seven of these interventions on COVID-19 cases and deaths in twelve Brazilian states, using daily data from March to December 2020. They found that two interventions—restrictions on public events and masking mandates—significantly reduced spread of the disease. Health Affairs 

 

COVID-19: Vaccines/Boosters

COVID-19 vaccines saved 20 million lives in 1 year: A recent study published in the journal Lancet Infectious DiseaseTrusted Source estimates that COVID-19 vaccines helped reduce the global death toll by 63% during the first year they became available. The study also found that a more equitable distribution of COVID-19 vaccines could have prevented a significant number of deaths in low-income nations.

 

COVID-19 vaccines may temporarily cause changes to menstrual bleeding: The impact of the COVID-19 vaccine on menstruation was not measured during any of the clinical trials but now studies are looking into people’s reports to see if there is a link.  A recent study has linked the COVID-19 vaccine to heavier menstrual flow and unexpected vaginal bleeding in some individuals. Reports of changes to the menstrual cycle indicate they are temporary and short-lived, but women and people who menstruate or have menstruated need reliable information to make informed choices, and hopefully, combat vaccine hesitancy. Medical News Today 

 

COVID-19: Treatment

COVID-19 and “Alternative” Treatments: What You Need To Know: No Dietary Supplements or “alternative” remedies have been shown to prevent or cure COVID-19. And some of them may be harmful.  The fact that a product is “natural” doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s effective or safe. If you’re interested in using an alternative product that’s promoted for Covid talk with your health care provider first.NCIH  

 

COVID-19: Long-Covid

Long COVID: Disrupted sleep, fatigue common months after infection: The research was presented in June at Sleep 2022 found nearly half of those who recovered from COVID-19 experience at least moderate sleep issues. There is a risk of developing long COVID even for the vaccinated, and researchers suggest the condition can persist for years for some people.

 

Long COVID-19 in Children and Adolescents: What Do We Know? Among scientists, the existence of long COVID-19 in children and adolescents has been the subject of debate. Two published studies have drawn attention to long COVID-19 signs and symptoms in these patients. Published by a Mexican multidisciplinary group in Scientific Reports, the first study is a systematic review and meta-analysis. It identified mood symptoms as the most prevalent clinical manifestations of long COVID-19 in children and adolescents. These symptoms included sadness, tension, anger, depression, and anxiety (16.50%); fatigue (9.66%); and sleep disorders (8.42%). The second study, LongCOVIDKidsDK, was conducted in Denmark. It compared 11,000 children younger than 14 years who had tested positive for COVID-19 with 33,000 children who had no history of COVID-19. The study was published in The Lancet Child and Adolescent Health.

 

Study shows that 8% of athletes have persistent symptoms after contracting COVID-19: Researchers at the University of São Paulo (USP) in Brazil analyzed data from 43 scientific articles describing the effects of COVID-19 on athletes and concluded that while the disease was asymptomatic or mild in the vast majority of cases (94%), about 8% of the subjects concerned had persistent symptoms affecting their performance and potentially preventing a return to training and competing. The results are reported in an article published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.

 

COVID-19: Other

Dominant omicron subvariants better at evading vaccines, antibody treatments: The latest omicron subvariants—including the BA.4 and BA.5 forms causing new surges in infections in the United States—are even better at eluding vaccines and most antibody treatments than previous variants. Nature 

 

People who practice intermittent fasting experience less severe complications from COVID-19, study finds:Intermittent fasting has previously shown to have a host of health benefits, including lowering the risk of diabetes and heart disease. Researchers from Intermountain Healthcare have found that people who regularly fast are less like to experience severe complications from COVID-19, had lower hospitalization or died. BMJ Nutrition, Prevention & Health 

 

 

 

PAIN

Many pain medications can be used for spine-related pain in older adults: A new review study has found acetaminophen is safe in older adults, but non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (ibuprofen) may be more effective for spine-related pain. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatories should be used short-term in lower dose courses with gastrointestinal precaution while corticosteroids show the least evidence for treating nonspecific back pain. Drugs & Aging

 

Hypnosis Aids Pain Management in the Emergency Department 

 

Sleep-Deprived Physicians Less Empathetic to Patient Pain? Physicians who are sleep deprived have less empathy for patients who report pain ― and they prescribe fewer analgesics, new research from two studies suggests. The findings were published online June 27 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

 

Cannabidiol Treatment in Hand Osteoarthritis and Psoriatic Arthritis: According to a randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled trial found neither clinically nor statistically significant effects of CBD for pain intensity in patients with hand osteoarthritis and psoriatic arthritis when compared with placebo. In addition, no statistically significant effects were found on sleep quality, depression, anxiety, or pain catastrophizing scores. Pain 

 

Less sex during menopause transition not linked to sexual pain: According to a 13 year study, Having sex less often during the transition to menopause is not associated with an increased risk of developing pain with intercourse, according to a new study published recently by the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Both the media and some physicians tell patients that  “if you don’t use it, you’ll lose it,” which this this study provides some empirical evidence against this popular notion.

 

New study sheds light on why opioids can cause gastrointestinal problems: Opioids are the gold standard for treatment of chronic and acute pain; however, their use may result in significant gastrointestinal side effects, including nausea, vomiting, and constipation. The reasons behind these side effects are not well understood. A new study in The American Journal of Pathology,published by Elsevier, is the first report of how opioids like morphine cause gastric inflammation and how this condition can be reversed through treatment with proton pump inhibitor drugs like omeprazole, an over-the-counter medication commonly used to reduce stomach acid.

 

How older adults and their caregivers view pain, depression and other patient symptoms: Researchers found that patients and caregiver proxies agreed on severity of symptoms of pain, depression and anxiety as well as functional status between 50 to 60 percent of the time, with agreement on physical symptoms (pain and functionality) more likely than agreement on psychological symptoms (depression and anxiety). Proxies tended to overestimate patient impairment at lower levels of symptom severity and underestimate at higher levels. Caregivers who were under a lot of stress were more likely to over-report their patient’s symptoms. “Agreement between older adult patient and caregiver proxy symptom reports” is published in the Journal of Patient-Reported Outcomes. 

 

Dissolving implantable device relieves pain without drugs: A Northwestern University-led team of researchers has developed a small, soft, flexible implant that relieves pain on demand and without the use of drugs. The first-of-its-kind device could provide a much-needed alternative to opioids and other highly addictive medications. The biocompatible, water-soluble device works by softly wrapping around nerves to deliver precise, targeted cooling, which numbs nerves and blocks pain signals to the brain. An external pump enables the user to remotely activate the device and then increase or decrease its intensity. After the device is no longer needed, it naturally absorbs into the body — bypassing the need for surgical extraction. The researchers believe the device has the potential to be most valuable for patients who undergo routine surgeries or even amputations that commonly require post-operative medications. Surgeons could implant the device during the procedure to help manage the patient’s post-operative pain. Science 

Patients with severe brachial plexus injuries who undergo amputation report benefits, Mayo study finds:Reconstruction surgery may not work for some people with severe brachial plexus injuries, so they choose to undergo amputation. In a retrospective review by Mayo Clinic researchers, these patients reported less mechanical shoulder pain, higher employment rates and more satisfaction after amputation. The paper appears online in The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery.

 

New guidance for cancer pain and opioid use disorder or opioid misuse: Opioids are a cornerstone of cancer pain management, but there is a lack of consensus on how to treat pain in cancer patients who also have struggled with opioid use disorder or prescription opioid misuse. In a study published in JAMA Oncology, researchers outline guidance for treating such patients and highlight obstacles and opportunities for better integration of addiction treatment in cancer care. 

 

Chronic Pain: In Dept: The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health have recently updated their Chronic Pain section. A growing body of evidence suggests that some complementary approaches, such as acupuncture, hypnosis, massage, mindfulness meditation, spinal manipulation, tai chi, and yoga, may help to manage some painful conditions. 

 

COMPLEMENTARY & ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE: 

Cognitive therapy shows promise in treating PTSD and headaches: Recently, researchers examined two nonpharmacological interventions for post-traumatic headaches — cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and cognitive processing therapy (CPT).  They found that CBT for headaches was more effective than usual care at reducing disability associated with post-traumatic headaches and significantly impacted PTSD symptom severity in veterans. Meanwhile, CPT failed to improve headache disability, despite significant reductions in PTSD symptom severity.  JAMA Neurology

 

Adolescents more vulnerable to cannabis addiction but not other mental health risks, study finds: Adolescents are over three times more vulnerable to developing a cannabis addiction than adults, but may not be at increased risk of other mental health problems related to the drug, according to a new study. Journal of Psychopharmacology 

 

Mindfulness meditation reduces pain by separating it from the self: The study, published July 7, 2022 in PAIN, showed that mindfulness meditation interrupted the communication between brain areas involved in pain sensation and those that produce the sense of self. In the proposed mechanism, pain signals still move from the body to the brain, but the individual does not feel as much ownership over those pain sensations, so their pain and suffering are reduced.

 

The Association Between Acupuncture Therapies and Reduced Fracture Risk in Patients with Osteoarthritis: A Nationwide Retrospective Matched Cohort Study: Results revealed the association between acupuncture therapies and a reduced incidence of fracture development in patients with Osteoarthritis. Journal of Integrative and Complementary Medicine 

 

FDA ACTION

• Approved Genabio COVID-19 Rapid Self-Test, an over the counter 

COVID-19 antigen diagnostic test that shows results in 15 minutes.

• Approved Wamind Speedy Swab Rapid COVID antigen test

• Approved emergency use authorization (EUA) for the Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine, Adjuvanted for the prevention of COVID-19 caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in individuals 18 years of age and older. 

• Approved COMIRNATY (COVID-19 Vaccine, mRNA) for active immunization to prevent Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in individuals 12 through 15 years of age. 

• Authorize state-licensed pharmacists to prescribe Paxlovid to eligible patients, with certain limitations to ensure appropriate patient assessment and prescribing of Paxlovid. 

• Recommends Inclusion of Omicron BA.4/5 Component for COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Doses

• Approved an extension to the shelf-life from 18 months to 24 months for specific lots of the refrigerated AstraZeneca monoclonal antibody, Evusheld (tixagevimab co-packaged with cilgavimab), which is currently authorized for emergency use for pre-exposure prophylaxis of COVID-19 in certain adults and pediatric individuals. 

• Issued a proposed rule titled, “Nonprescription Drug Product with an Additional Condition for Nonprescription Use,” which is intended to broaden the range of marketed nonprescription drugs available to consumers, empowering them to self-treat certain common conditions and improving public health. 

• Unveiled its Action Plan for Rare Neurodegenerative Diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) – a five-year strategy for improving and extending the lives of people living with rare neurodegenerative diseases by advancing the development of safe and effective medical products and facilitating patient access to novel treatments. 

• Approved a second generic naloxone hydrochloride (HCI) intranasal spray. Naloxone HCI is an opioid antagonist indicated for the emergency treatment of known or suspected opioid overdose.  

• Approved Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccines for Children Down to 6 Months of Age

 

 

PREVENTION: Exercise

Association of 'weekend warrior,’ Other leisure-time physical activity patterns with mortality: This study of more than 350,000 adults in the United States did not find any significant difference in mortality rates between “weekend warriors” (those who performed the recommended levels of weekly physical activity in one to two sessions) and regularly active participants. Compared with those who were physically inactive, active participants (both “weekend warrior” and regularly active) had lower all-cause and cause-specific mortality rates. JAMA Network 

 

Higher physical activity may lower risk of heart disease in adults with chronic kidney disease: In this long-term study of 3,926 adults with chronic kidney disease (CKD) recently published in the American Journal of Kidney Diseases (AJKD), researchers found that individuals with higher levels of physical activity were less likely to experience an atherosclerotic event (e.g. heart attack, stroke, or peripheral arterial disease), new-onset heart failure, and death as compared to those with lower levels of physical activity. American Journal of Kidney Diseases 

 

Cardiovascular risk factors and low physical fitness associated with decline in social cognitive functions: A research collaboration has revealed that cardiovascular risk factors (obesity and high blood pressure) and low physical fitness are associated with decreased social brain network-related neural activity, which causes social cognitive functions to decline. This suggests that having a healthy lifestyle is not only beneficial for disease prevention but also for maintaining and improving sociability. Medicine and Science in Sports & Exercise’ 

 

You Can’t Exercise Your Way Out of an Unhealthy Diet: According to a new study, in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, high levels of physical activity do not counteract the detrimental effects of a poor diet on mortality risk. A study conducted at The University of Sydney found that participants who had both high levels of physical activity and a high-quality diet had the lowest risk of death. Compared to physically inactive participants with poor diets, those who had the highest physical activity and a high-quality diet had a mortality risk that was reduced by 17% from all causes.They also had a 19% lower risk of death from cardiovascular disease, and 27% percent from certain cancers.

 

PREVENTION: Diet/Nutrition

2-3 cups of coffee a day may reduce kidney injury risk by 23% After adjusting for demographic factors, they found that individuals who consumed any amount of coffee had an 11% lower risk of developing AKI compared to individuals who did not consume the beverage.

  Kidney International Reports.

Daily avocados improve diet quality, help lower cholesterol levels:  Eating one avocado a day for six months was found to have no effect on belly fat, liver fat or waist circumference in people with overweight or obesity, according to a new study. However, it did lead to a slight decrease in unhealthy cholesterol levels. Journal of the American Heart Association 

 

Even Moderate Drinking May Contribute to Cognitive Decline: According to a study appearing in the July 14, 2022 issue of the journal PLOS Medicine, drinking seven or more units of alcohol per week was associated with higher levels of iron in the brain. Additionally, higher levels of iron in certain parts of the brain were linked to poorer results on cognitive tests.

 

Adding Salt to Your Food May Increase Risk of Premature Death: Adding salt to your food could take years off your life. That’s according to a new study looking at the relationship between salt and sodium intake and premature death.  Premature death in the study published in the European Heart Journal is defined as death before the age of 75 years. The study participants were followed for an average of nine years. Researchers reported that the people who always added salt to their food had a 28% increased risk of dying prematurely compared with those who never or rarely added salt to their food.

 

The Mediterranean Diet May Help Reduce Risk of Cognitive Issues:A studyTrusted Source, published in JAMA Network Open, of 6,000 Hispanic and Latino individuals who followed a Mediterranean diet,  found that strict adherence to the diet was associated with greater cognition and less memory decline. 

PREVENTION: Vitamins/Supplements

Vitamin D supplement ‘overdosing’ is possible and harmful, warn doctors: ‘Overdosing’ on vitamin D supplements is both possible and harmful, warn doctors in the journal BMJ Case Reports after they treated a man who needed hospital admission for his excessive vitamin D intake. https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/957594

 

Vitamins, supplements are a ‘waste of money’ for most Americans: Drawn to the allure of multivitamins and dietary supplements filling nutritional gaps in their diet, people in the U.S. in 2021 spent close to $50 billion on vitamins and dietary supplements. But Northwestern Medicine scientists say for non-pregnant, otherwise healthy Americans, vitamins are a waste of money because there isn’t enough evidence they help prevent cardiovascular disease or cancer. Editorial that will be published June 21 in JAMA that supports new recommendations from the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF). Based on a systematic review of 84 studies, the USPSTF’s new guidelines state there was “insufficient evidence” that taking multivitamins, paired supplements or single supplements can help prevent cardiovascular disease and cancer in otherwise healthy, non-pregnant adults. The task force is specifically recommending against taking beta-carotene supplements because of a possible increased risk of lung cancer, and is recommending against taking vitamin E supplements because it has no net benefit in reducing mortality, cardiovascular disease or cancer.

PREVENTION: Other

Life’s Essential 8: American Heart Association adds sleep to checklist: A recent American Heart Association presidential advisory published in the journal CirculationTrusted Source describes 8 lifestyle and health factors called Life’s Essential 8 that could help preserve optimal heart health and prevent CVD. The previous AHA advisory published in 2010 consisted of seven factors for assessing cardiac health, including physical activity, smoking, blood glucose levels, cholesterol levels, body mass index, and blood pressure. Four of the existing factors—diet, smoking, blood lipids and glucose—were updated to also include nicotine via e-cigarettes and vapes. The advisory now also highlights the role of mental health and socioeconomic and cultural factors such as racial discrimination in influencing cardiac health.

 

'Travel therapy' may offer treatment for dementia and benefit mental health: A forthcoming study publishing in the October 2022 edition of Tourism Management presents the thoughts of a cross-disciplinary team of experts in both dementia and tourism. The new research shows that tourism, or “travel therapy,” may be beneficial for mental well-being and may have several components that can positively impact brain health.

 

Flu vaccines linked to 40% reduced risk of Alzheimer's disease: Researchers have now found that the flu vaccine may have a protective effect, but it is not clear whether the vaccines themselves have an effect on risk, or whether preventing an infection does. Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease.

 

Untreated vision impairment in older adults linked to dementia: A new study from the Medical Informatics Center at Peking University in China has documented a strong association between older people who have vision issues and those who eventually develop dementia or cognitive impairment.

 

1930s ‘redlining’ connected to poor health outcomes today: A new study further proves that people living in areas that were subjected to housing discrimination decades ago now suffer from higher rates of poor health outcomes, including heart disease, kidney failure and diabetes. Journal of the American College of Cardiology 

 

Men at heightened risk of prostate cancer may benefit from healthy lifestyle changes: A new study confirms that for men who are at heightened genetic risk of developing prostate cancer, genes are not destiny. Investigators from Brigham and Women’s Hospital looked at outcomes for men with nearly 30 years of follow-up for prostate cancer risk and prostate cancer mortality who were enrolled in two cohort studies — the Health Professionals Follow-up Study and the Physicians' Health Study. The team found that while men who followed a healthy or unhealthy lifestyle were equally likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer, adherence to a healthy lifestyle was associated with close to a 50 percent reduced risk of developing lethal prostate cancer. Results are published in European Urology.

 

Reconnecting with Old Friends May Boost Your Mental Health — and Theirs: New research finds that reaching out to an old friend and asking what’s happening in their life can be good for your mental health — and theirs, too. In fact, people don’t realize how much an unexpected phone call, text, or email is appreciated, according to research published by the American Psychological Association.

 

What to Know About the Monkeypox Outbreak and CDC’s Advice on Safe Sex Practices:  The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released guidance on how people can practice safer sex if they think they’ve recently been exposed to monkeypoxTrusted Source. 

 

TREATMENT

Scientists Looking at ADHD Drugs as Potential Treatments for Alzheimer's Symptoms: Noradrenergic drugs used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), depression and high blood pressure might have some benefits when used in people with Alzheimer’s Disease, according to a new review of studies published in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry. In their review, researchers looked at studies published between 1980 and 2021 that focused on the potential of noradrenergic drugs being used to treat neurodegenerative diseases.

 

Researchers Report Fewer Relapses in Multiple Sclerosis with Off-Label Drug: According to new research from Sweden, pricing relief might be found by treating MS with an off-label drug called rituximab. Researchers add that rituximab might even be more effective than some MS treatments already approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Is Continuous Positive Airway Pressure All There Is? Alternative Perioperative Treatments for Obstructive Sleep Apnea: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a widely prevalent problem, affecting almost 1 billion people worldwide This article in Anesthesiology reviews the pros and cons of various options including positional therapy; oral appliances; airway devices. 

OTHER

How ‘Everyday Ageism’ Affects Health: A new study published in JAMA Network OpenTrusted Source finds nearly all adults experience some form of ageism in their day-to-day lives. These aggressions and micro-aggressions range from absorbing ageist messaging in the media, encountering people who believe they’re less capable because of their age, and believing stereotypes themselves about getting older. Researchers found a connection between experiencing ageism and chronic health conditions. Older adults who internalize ageist beliefs like “having health problems is a part of getting older” may not seek treatment and set themselves up for a self-fulfilling prophecy, experts say

 

Poor physical & mental health among older adults linked to childhood abuse history: Victims of childhood physical abuse are twice as likely to experience depression and anxiety in later life, and are more likely to develop diabetes, cancer, migraines, arthritis & heart disease. “Health professionals serving older adults need to be aware that it is never too late to refer people for counselling. A promising intervention, cognitive behavioral therapy [CBT], has been tested and found effective at reducing post-traumatic stress disorder and depressive and anxiety symptoms among survivors of childhood abuse.  Aging Health and Research

 

How the Supreme Court’s EPA Ruling May Affect Your Health: U.S. Supreme Court recently struck down the Clean Power Plan. This decision has limited the ability of the EPA to curtail greenhouse gas emissions. Emissions could impact health directly as well as indirectly by worsening climate change. Poor and marginalized populations are the most at risk. Experts say it is important for citizens to lobby for aggressive measures to combat climate change. Healthline

 

Insurers Have to Show What They Pay Medical Providers: Can it Help You Save Money?: Starting July 1, consumers can access data showing how much insurers pay different providers for medical services. The Transparency in Coverage Final Rule, issued by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), is being rolled out in three stages. In the later phases, insurers will also have to provide an online price comparison tool that lets consumers see how much they would pay out of pocket for a service from a specific provider.

 

How overturning Roe V. Wade is affecting access to autoimmune medications: The overturning of the constitutional right to obtain an abortion has led some states to enact laws that ban not only surgical abortions but also medications that are used to terminate pregnancies.  Methotrexate is widely used for the treatment of autoimmune disorders, and the treatment of cancers but is also an abortion-inducing drug used to terminate ectopic pregnancies. Pharmacists in states like Texas have reportedly refused to fill methotrexate prescriptions for individuals with ectopic pregnancies or autoimmune disorders due to fear of legal repercussions. Methotrexate can also lead to birth defects, and the potential of accidental pregnancies in the absence of access to abortions has also led rheumatologists to reconsider prescribing the drug to women of child-bearing age. Medical News Today 

 

The 988 Suicide Prevention Hotline Is Live, but Are Call Centers Prepared? The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline number became ‘988’ on July 16 to make help-seeking in a moment of crisis more accessible. Experts have expressed concern that the Lifeline has already struggled to meet demand due to the increase in youth suicide rates during the COVID-19 pandemic. Suicidality is especially high among Youth of Color and marginalized groups, including LGBTQ youth. Increased federal funding to 988 networks across the U.S. may help ensure c https://www.healthline.com/health-news/the-988-suicide-hotline-number-is-ready-to-launch-but-are-call-centers-preparedall centers are prepared to handle the expected surge in calls to the new hotline. Healthline 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Take a Break: Be Inspired by Craft In America

I love the series Craft in America,  which you’ll occasionally catch on PBS. They have a YouTube channel, where you can watch snippets or whole episodes.

 

 I find a lot of inspiration from watching masters at their craft. Not that I’m anywhere in their league, but it feeds my need to make something. Always feel a lot better when I’m doing something with my hands.

 

 A few weeks ago, I was wondering what to do with worn out and badly stained dish towels. I watched the episode on quilting and decided that I could use the towels as batting and take apart torn clothing for strips to make mini quilt potholders as  holiday presents. 100% recycled craft inspired by watching the following video:

 

 

Not interested in today’s activities, try the Take a Break Pinterest Board.

 

 

Life with Chronic Conditions: Long Covid & BA.5

This is a hodgepodge post, but it focuses on Covid and the importance of not letting down your guard 

Long Covid: If you’ve had Covid, gotten over it and several months later you have some symptoms, such as fatigue, brain fog etc., check with your medical provider to see if it could be long covid. This has happened recently to several friends of mine, who have chronic conditions. 

 

If You Have Long Covid: The Sept. post How to Get When You Need: Long Covid edition has been updated

 

Brain Fog & Other Long Covid Symptoms: A May 2022 studyTrusted Source looked into the recovery of individuals with long COVID and neurological symptoms like brain fog. The average time since the onset of participants’ COVID-19 symptoms was 14.8 months.

 

BA.5: There is a new variant of the Omicron strain that is now becoming the leading cause of infection in the country. First detected in South Africa in February, with first cases in the US identified in April, the World Health Organizations classifies it as a “variant of concern.” 

 

This variant is highly contagious-more so than other strains of Omicron. With few mandates in place, e.g. masking required, and the variant’s ability to evade vaccines and prior Covid infections, Covid cases are increasing putting those most vulnerable at risk. 

 

Even if you’ve had Covid a few months ago, this is a new strain and you could be re infected. 

 

Symptoms (fever, runny nose, coughing, sore throat, headaches, muscle pain and fatigue) don’t appear to be more aggressive than other Omicron strains, and in fact, so far, there have been fewer deaths and hospital admissions, as many millions of people are vaccinated or have antibodies, making the general immunity of the population higher than at the start of the pandemic. 

 

The vaccines continue to protect against severe cases of illnesses, but as the time lengthens between vaccination/booster, protection is reduced.  If you are 50+ and/or immunocompromised, and your last boost was over six months ago, consider getting boosted again with the current vaccine to keep your protection strong.

 

How to Protect Yourself Against BA.5

• Be Up to Date with your vaccinations/boosters

• Wear a well-fitted N95 or KN95 Mask when you are indoors and you’re not able to socially distance from people outside of your household. 

 

If you should contract Covid: Call your medical provider who can prescribe medication, that if taken within five days of infection, significantly reduces the risk of serious disease, hospitalization and death. Paxlovid and Lagevrio require a prescription from a healthcare professional. You must have tested positive for COVID-19 and your symptoms must have started no later than within the last 5 days. To be eligible for Lagevrio, you must be at least 18 years of age. To be eligible for Paxlovid, you must be at least 12 years of age and weigh at least 88 pounds.

 

Fall Vaccines: The FDA has indicated that the next round of COVID booster shots should be modified to target the Omicron subvariants BA.4 and BA.5. The hope is that manufacturers will have reformulated boosters available in October in time to vaccinate people ahead of an expected winter surge. 

 

Covid Reinfections Raise Risk Of Other Illness: Repeatedly catching Covid-19 appears to increase the chances that a person will face new and sometimes lasting health problems after their infection, according to the first study on the health risks of reinfection. The study, which is based on the health records of more than 5.6 million people treated in the VA Health System, found that, compared with those with just one Covid-19 infection, those with two or more documented infections had more than twice the risk of dying and three times the risk of being hospitalized within six months of their last infection. They also had higher risks for lung and heart problems, fatigue, digestive and kidney disorders, diabetes and neurologic problems. 

 

Did I already have Covid?: Many people are wondering if they had Covid. “I had this really bad cold…” I’ve heard that a lot. The way to determine if you’ve had Covid, is a serological test.  It’s a blood test that's done to find out if you've had a past infection with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). It doesn’t mean you are protected from future strains. Also, certain types of COVID-19 antibody tests might show you're positive for COVID-19 antibodies after getting a COVID-19 vaccine. Learn more about antibody testing by clicking here. 

 

I Got Covid While on Vacation. What do I do?: NPR has a good article on what you should pack to be Covid prepared and outlines steps to take if your vacation has an unwelcome guest in the form of Covid. Click here to read the article. 

 

 

Life with Chronic Conditions: SCOTUS’s Recent Action & its Far Reaching Consequences

On June 24th, the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) announced its decision to overturn Roe v Wade, which basically takes away women’s rights to reproductive choices in at least 26 states. When the ruling was leaked in May, AAPD released the following statement:

    Bodily autonomy is a core principle of the disability rights movement. Disabled people have fought hard to win respect for our capacities, the right to make our own choices, and the support and access necessary to participate fully in American life. The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) opposes efforts to overturn Roe v. Wade, and any other legislative and judicial restrictions on abortion rights. Restricting access to abortion harms disabled people and undermines the ideal of full participation enumerated in the Americans with Disabilities Act. Full participation in society is contingent upon the freedom to make one’s own decisions and access to all forms of health care, including reproductive health care. People with disabilities, like all Americans, deserve unrestricted access to a comprehensive range of reproductive health care options, ranging from birth control and abortion to prenatal care and delivery. As we make this statement, we acknowledge that abortion politics have long presented complications unique to the disability community. Selective abortion is deeply rooted in societal ableism and eugenics. AAPD works to rid our nation of such ableism every day, and the complexities of our work teach us that restricting access to abortion is not the answer. 

 

Within hours of SCOTUS’s June 24^th decision, disability and various medical organization were coming forward understanding the full danger and implications this has for their constituency. 

-       The loss of bodily autonomy has a deep history within the disability community, said disability activist Emily Ladau. As apparent in present-day issues such as forced sterilization and conservatorships, disabled people are stripped of their right to make choices for their own bodies. With Roe v. Wade overturned, disabled people reflect on how it will impact them 

 

-       “Today’s decision attacks the fundamental right to privacy and substantive due process, disregards precedent and drastically narrows the scope of rights protected by the Fourteenth Amendment,” said Bascom with the Autistic Self Advocacy Network. “In doing so, it threatens disabled people’s personal rights surrounding marriage, intimacy, sterilization, medical care, housing, speech and more.” Disability Scoop

-       The end of Roe v. Wade will not only jeopardize access to abortion in many states, it could have wide-ranging and unpredictable consequences for medical care, including fertility treatment, contraception, and cancer care. Roe world will be, in many ways, a new era for medical care in the United States, one that could transform medical services for conditions that range far beyond pregnancy, either by making them illegal or by putting their legality in question. It’s not just about Abortion: How birth control, cancer care, and more could change in a post Roe America 

• 13 Healthcare Responses to Roe V. Wade 

 

Below is but one example of how overturning Roe V Wade will impact health care. Mifepristone, known as the “Abortion Pill,” has potential uses far beyond ending early pregnancies. It’s been demonstrated that it provides palliative beneficial effects for patients with a variety of advanced cancers that were resistant to standard anticancer therapy. Efficacy of the progesterone receptor antagonist mifepristone for palliative therapy of patients with a variety of advanced cancer types. Anticancer Res30(2): 623-628, 2010. PMID: 20332480.

 

While the drug has FDA approval for treating Cushing’s Disease, mifepristone is also being investigated in clinical trials for breast, brain, and prostate cancers, alcoholism, post-traumatic stress disorder and depression. Drug repurposing, also known as “off label use” saves money and time to try and see if approved drugs can be used for other conditions. Such research is now in jeopardy due to the complexities of,mifepristone being banned in certain states.

 

 With Justice Clarence Thomas noting that the Supreme Court should reconsider its past rulings such as rights to contraception, same-sex relationships and same sex marriage, I can only shutter at what else they want to “reconsider” that will have a direct bearing on those who are living with disabilities, chronic disease and other health issues. 

 

This post is not meant to start a debate about abortion. Rather it’s a wake-up call that the June 24^th decision has far reaching consequences. Anyone affected by a disability and/or serious health condition needs to be aware of the potential implications.

 

 If you haven’t joined the local chapter of the condition specific group, e.g. American Lung Association, that relates to your condition, now’s the time to do so.   These organizations follow state as well as national legislation and keep members informed about what the potential impact could be for you and/or for the person you care for.