Take a Break: Read a banned book

Just went through the “classics”  list of “banned books” and why they’ve been banned. Many are incredible reads, so pick one out (some you can even read online), pour yourself a cup of tea and enjoy. Used the Banned and Challenged Books various lists to find something you’ll enjoy. 

I mean really, banning “Captain Underpants?” Don’t these people have better things to do with their time?

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

Life with Chronic Conditions: Eating Healthy when You Have no Energy to Cook

Where I live, I can’t call out for delivery, and there are a limited number of places that offer take-out. Moreover, most have limited business hours, and if it’s snowing to beat the band, I don’t want to drive anywhere. Consequently I’ve learned a thing or two about stocking up and being prepared for those days where I have little time and/or am just not up to cooking. 

 My brother-in-law has a stack of menus in one of his kitchen drawers, and when they don’t want to cook, he makes a call and meals are at the doorstep when he’s ready to eat. So for those of you lucky enough to have such a convenience, below are some take out tips.

 

 Healthy options to consider when ordering out:

• Choose veggie based entrees with a protein that is broiled or baked. Skip the fried options.

• Ask for substitutions on sides such as a salad in place of taters (mashed, fried)

• Order kid size meals if an option and you’re eating alone. Supersize works if you are sharing it with others. 

• Drink water, unsweetened tea in place of sodas

 

Healthy eats from various restaurant chains:

• The 30 Healthiest Foods You Can Eat at Every Major Fast Food Chain 

• 6 Best Heart-Healthy Fast Food Orders, According to Dietitians 

• These Are Actually The Healthiest Things To Order At Taco Bell, According To Experts 

 

Eat This, Not That has lots of recommendations. Plus they cover various issues, such as what are the best breads that are gluten free. 

 

When ordering out isn’t an option

• If you qualify, sign up for services like Meals on Wheels. Many towns and cities have special food services for seniors and those with chronic issues, such as a disability. Ask about them where you receive your care. 

• There are a lot of Meal Delivery Services. Check out Healthline’s 10 Best Meal Delivery Services for Seniors in 2022  They include pre made meals as well as those that provide the ingredients for you to prepare. Also listed are pros and cons, identifying which meals/services aren’t good for those on restricted diets. 

• Eating Well has a variety of recipes for quick cooking but truthfully, there are times when even five minutes is too long. When my soon was recovering from a very bad ankle injury, he was only comfortable lying down with his ankle raised and packed in ice. Getting up was very painful and he could barely stand the few minutes it took to make a sandwich. My brother sent him a wonderful care package from California with lots of healthy items that he could keep nearby such as olives, nuts, dried fruit, healthy crackers, nut butters etc. 

• Blender Smoothies can be a life saver. It’s definitely one of my go to’s. I’ll pair a healthy smoothie (frozen blueberries, banana, strawberries, yogurt and soy milk) with a whole grain cracker topped with a nut butter. That can work for any meal of the day as far as I’m concerned. Check out 35 Healthy Smoothie Recipes to Make for Breakfast in 2022 

• When you have the energy to cook, make large enough quantities that you can freeze in single serving sizes.

• An instant pot is worth the cost. I use it all the time and my “weekend meals,” those recipes that take a while, have become midweek meals. Definitely recommend watching videos and talking to people that have them. There is an adjustment period, particularly as you adopt your own recipes. 

• Soups can go down pretty easy so it’s helpful to have some ready, either in the cupboard or freezer. Check out The Best Healthy Canned Soups of 2022, According to a Nutritionist 

 

Take advantage of grocery stores shopping services: Almost every grocery store, and even places like Walmart and Target offer delivery or pick up services thanks to Covid. Make use of them as shopping can be very tiring. When selecting items, order what you know you’ll eat. Some ideas for grocery shopping:

 • Seasonal fruits and veggies that require little to no prep. Salad kits work and you can even get pre peeled butternut squash. Baby carrots are ready to eat and are a good size if you have the energy to make a stew. 

• Frozen fruits and veggies 

• Nuts and seeds. Nuts that aren’t frequently eaten, keep in the freezer. Your daily go to’s keep on the counter

• Nut butters: Have made many a lunch from a cut up apple that I dip in a nut butter.

• Frozen dinners. 20 Frozen Dinner Brands, Ranked From Worst To Best 

• Prepared items like humus that can be easily eaten with carrot sticks or other veggies

• Protein bars 

• Whole grain breads that can be frozen

• Dairy products like cheese, yogurt, milk etc. A lot of cheeses can be purchased pre sliced, so you can take out a few and seal up for a later date. While it’s cheaper to purchase a large container of yogurt, having serving sizes maybe easier.

• Eggs: You have to boil them, but they make a quick and healthy snack

• Condiments: Everything tastes better with Siracha sauce, according to my sons, while my husband puts low salt soy sauce on any number of things. Condiments can a dish go from boring to yum!

• Rice, pasta

• Individual servings of lean proteins such as fish, chicken

• Canned goods: As noted above, having a stash of soups on hand is very helpful. Check canned fruits carefully as a lot of them come in heavy syrup. Tuna fish can be eaten by itself, tossed with some greens and/or pasta and is a great way to get protein.

• Crackers-Check for fiber content. 

 

If eating and/or preparing food is a challenge, talk to your medical provider. They can refer you to a dietitian and/or may have some ideas that help. How to eat healthy is a great topic for a support group meeting.  

Journal Watch September 2022

COVID-19

Vitamin D Supplementation Shows No COVID-19 Prevention: Two large studies out of the UK and Norway show vitamin D supplementation has no benefit — as low dose, high dose, or in the form of cod liver oil supplementation — in preventing COVID-19 or acute respiratory tract infections, regardless of whether individuals are deficient or not. The studies, published in The BMJ, underscore that "vaccination is still the most effective way to protect people from COVID-19, and vitamin D and cod liver oil supplementation should not be offered to healthy people with normal vitamin D levels." 

 Vaccines dramatically reduce the risk of long-term effects of COVID-19: Being vaccinated with at least two doses of Pfizer vaccines dramatically reduces most of the long-term symptoms individuals reported months after contracting COVID-19, a new study shows. In this study, eight of the ten most-commonly reported symptoms were reported between 50 and 80% less often among individuals who received at least two doses of COVID-19 vaccine compared with those who received no doses. The study, is published in the Nature journal npj Vaccines

 

One in three infected but unvaccinated persons no longer have detectable antibodies one year after the infection: A prospective seroprevalence study in the Catalan population underlines the need to get vaccinated despite having been infected, and confirms that hybrid immunity (vaccination plus infection) is more robust and long-lasting. BMC medicine 

 

Paxlovid more effective in older adults: A new study is now reporting that this medication can also reduce severe illness and hospitalizations in people over the age of 65, although the benefits for younger adults may be limited. “Our study suggests that during the Omicron surge, the rates of hospitalization and death due to COVID-19 were significantly lower among adults 65 years of age and older who had received treatment with nirmatrelvir [Paxlovid] than among younger adults who had received such treatment, regardless of previous immunity.”

 

Excess weight, not high blood sugar, associated with increased risk of COVID-19 infection and long COVID: High body mass index (BMI), rather than high blood sugar levels, are associated with excess risks of COVID-19 infection and long COVID, according to a meta-analysis of over 30,000 UK adults from nine large prospective cohort studies. 

 

Risk factor for developing Alzheimer's disease increases by 50-80% in older adults who caught COVID-19: Risk factor for developing Alzheimer's disease increases by 50-80% in older adults who caught COVID-19 Journal of Alzheimer's Disease

 

PAIN

Aching joints make older adults reach for many forms of pain relief – but health risks could follow:Popping a pill may bring short-term relief for arthritis-related joint pain, but many older adults may not realize that what they swallow could raise their risk of other health problems, or that other non-drug options could help them, a new poll suggests. The new results from the University of Michigan National Poll on Healthy Agingshow that 70% of people over 50 experience joint pain at least occasionally, and 60% have been told they have some form of arthritis. Nearly half of those with arthritis symptoms said they have pain every day (45%). About half of those with joint pain say the pain limits their usual activities at least somewhat (49%), while a over a third (36%) say it interferes with their day-to-day life.

 

New study confirms that postoperative pain can be reduced with NOL guided analgesia: A new study has found that monitoring pain response levels during surgery with NOL technology (Medasense, Ramat Gan, Israel) can help reduce postoperative pain. Exploring the clinical effect of NOL guided fentanyl dosing on post-operative pain, the study demonstrated that patient pain scores after surgery were 30% lower when administration of pain medication during surgery was guided with NOL monitoring.  J Clin Monit Comput  

 

Research study finds connection between symptomatic COVID-19 infection and impaired pain modulation: A study led by researchers at the University of Oklahoma shows a connection between symptomatic COVID-19 infections and the ability of the central nervous system to respond to painful stimuli.  Symptomatic but not Asymptomatic COVID-19 Impairs Conditioned Pain Modulation in Young Adults,” was published July 21, 2022, in the Journal of Pain.

 

Cooling away the pain: Researchers develop bioresorbable, implantable device to block pain signals from peripheral nerves: It is well known that cold temperatures numb the sensation in our nerves. Evidence suggests that cooling peripheral nerves can in fact reduce the velocity and amplitude of neural signals that cause pain, leading to pain relief. “The developed device can be used to treat pain after surgery. Since it is connected to an external source of fluid and power like a commercial intravenous (IV) device, it can easily be controlled by the patient. This way, our implantable device will be able to provide targeted and individualized relief without the drawbacks of the addictive pain medications,” said Prof. Seo With such progress underway, patients with neuropathic pain will finally be able to receive safe and sustainable treatment, without the risk of adverse effects associated with opioid use! 

 

Level of trust in doctor may influence patient’s brain responses to pain: In a study recently published in Cerebral Cortex participants underwent a series of simulated painful medical procedures with different virtual doctors who appeared more or less trustworthy. Participants in the study who reported increased pain when they received painful heat stimulations from the doctors they perceived as less trustworthy.

 

COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE

Cannabis for Chronic Pain Linked to Slightly Increased Risk of Arrhythmia: People who use medical cannabis products for chronic pain may have a higher risk of heart rhythm disorders, or arrhythmias, according to preliminary results presented August 22 at the European Society of Cardiology scientific meeting in Spain.

No Scientific Basis for the 'Lazy Stoner' Stereotype: A new study found that adults and adolescents who used cannabis several times a week were no less motivated, or unable to enjoy life’s pleasures, compared to people who didn’t use cannabis regularly.

In addition, compared to non-users, cannabis users were just as willing to expend effort to gain a reward, and they showed similar levels of wanting or liking rewards. International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology.

 

Cannabis During Pregnancy: Researchers Say Children May Display More Symptoms of Mental Health Issues: A new study has found that children exposed to cannabis while in the womb are more likely to continue displaying symptoms of mental health issues as they age. These symptoms can persist during adolescence, a critical time for brain development. Previous studies have indicated cannabis use during pregnancy may lead to a higher risk of autism, behavioral issues, and lower intelligence in the child. To explore the effects of cannabis intake during pregnancy on a child’s cognition, researchers at the Washington University BRAIN Lab in St. Louis compared data from almost 12,000 children, collected as part of the National Institute of Health’s ABCD study.

 

FDA ACTION

• Approved Botox Alternative Daxxify to treat wrinkles 

• Warns About New Cancer Risks Linked to Breast Implants

• Approved  Sotyktu for treatment of plaque. Psoriasis

• Approved Xenpozyme (Olipudase alfa) for intravenous infusion in pediatric and adult patients with Acid Sphingomyelinase 

• Authorized bivalent formulations of the  Pfizer and Moderna Covid vaccines for use as a single booster dose at least two months following primary or booster vaccination.

• Approved Zynteglo (betibeglogene autotemcel), the first cell-based gene therapy for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients with beta-thalassemia who require regular red blood cell transfusions. 

 

 

PREVENTION

Exercise

How Moderate Exercise Like a Brisk Walk or Yoga Class Can Help Your Heart Health: Moderate physical activities like walking, cycling, and yoga can help people lower their risk of heart failure according to a new study. Vigorous types of physical activity can also reduce the risk of heart failure. But researchers say very high amounts of vigorous exercise may not offer additional benefits. This study fits with other researchTrusted Source showing the link between regular exercise and improved heart health — including a lower risk of heart disease, stroke and cardiovascular disease.

 

Walking Just 10 Minutes Per Day Can Extend Longevity for People Over 85: People in their 80s can prolong their lives by walking for as little as 10 minutes a day, according to new research.“Our study indicates that walking even just one hour every week is advantageous to those aged 85 years and older compared to being completely inactive. The take-home message is to keep walking throughout life,” the researchers wrote. The new study was presented at the European Society of Cardiology’s annual meeting.

 

Can Walking, Reading, Crafting Curb Dementia Risk?: Engaging in physical, cognitive, and social activities can all help lower risk for dementia, new research suggests. Results from a large meta-analysis showed cognitive activities, such as reading, participating in handicrafts, and playing games or a musical instrument, appeared to have the greatest effect. It was associated with a 23% reduced risk for dementia. Engaging in physical activities, including walking, dancing, running, swimming, and cycling, was associated with a decreased dementia risk of 17%; social activities, such as visiting with others, attending a social club or a class, and participating in volunteer work, was associated with a decreased risk of 7%. published online August 10 in Neurology.

 

Replacing 30 Minutes of Social Media Per Day With Exercise Can Benefit Mental Health: Replacing just 30 minutes of daily social media time with physical activity, even for only two weeks, will make you feel happier, according to a new study. people who reduced their social media usage and instead engaged in physical activity reported feeling more satisfied, less depressed, and less stressed. Experts say there are mental health benefits to both exercise and less screen time.

 

Experts Say Walk Far and Walk Quickly to Reduce Your Risk of Dementia: The studyTrusted Source, published in JAMA Neurology, analyzed data from more than 78,000 people between the ages of 40 and 79 who wore accelerometers. People who took 9,826 steps per day were 50 percent less likely to develop dementia within seven years.  People who walked more than 40 steps per minute cut their dementia risk by 57 percent while walking only 6,315 steps per day. People who walked 3,800 steps per day at any speed cut their risk of dementia within seven years by 25 percent. People who walked at the brisk pace of 112 steps per minute for 30 minutes per day reduced their risk of dementia by 62 percent.

 

Diet/Nutrition

Your Favorite Snacks May Be Causing You to Feel Anxious or Depressed: research found that eating large amounts of ultra-processed food was linked to more adverse mental health symptoms, including more depression, anxiety, and “mentally unhealthy days.” Experts advise that it’s a good idea to replace ultra-processed foods with whole foods.

 

Black Tea May Help Lower Mortality Risk: Researchers say drinking black tea every day can help lower your overall mortality risk. They say that’s because the polyphenols found in tea can act as antioxidants that reduce cell damage in the body. Experts note there are other foods that contain polyphenols, including herbs, spices, cocoa, nuts, and seeds. People who drink black tea on a daily basis may outlive their non-tea-drinking peers.  That’s according to a new study conducted by the National Institutes of Health and published in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

 

New Report Lists Benefits of Plant-based Milk Alternatives: A new nutritional analysis on the mineral content in single-base ingredient plant-based milk products such as almond, cashew, coconut, hemp, oat, pea, rice, or soy found pea-based drinks had the most phosphorus, zinc, and selenium; soy drinks had the highest amounts of magnesium; only pea-based and soy-based drinks had higher levels of the four essential minerals than cow’s milk; pea-based drinks contain about 50% higher levels of phosphorus, zinc, and selenium

 

New Study Links Ultra-Processed Foods to Colorectal Cancer in Men: A new studyTrusted Source has found that ultra-processed foods raise the risk of colorectal cancer in men, but not for women. Ultra-processed foods contain sugars, oils, and fats that can increase colorectal cancer risk. They are also low in nutrients that can help prevent colorectal cancer.

 

Eating More Artificial Sweeteners May Increase Risk of Heart Disease: A new study found consuming artificial sweeteners was associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. People who ate more artificial sweetener had an 18% higher risk of stroke or another type of cerebrovascular disease compared to non-consumers. The study, published Sept. 7 in The BMJTrusted Source journal, included over 103,000 French adults who participated in a web-based nutrition study. The average age of participants at the start was 42 years and almost 80% were female.

 

For Weight Loss, It Doesn't Matter if You 'Front Load' Calories in the Morning or Evening: Ina study published in the journal Cell Metabolism, European researchers tested two types of weight-loss diets against each other. Both diets included the same total number of calories each day. But one diet had participants consume most of these calories in the morning, while the second had most of the calories in the evening. The result? Both diets performed about the same in terms of weight loss. The group who ate the larger morning meal, however, was significantly less hungry throughout the day.

 

DASH Diet Can Help Lower Blood Pressure and Improve Heart Health: Changing your diet could have the most significant impact on reducing high blood pressure. 

That’s according to a new simulation studyTrusted Source that used the latest evidence from clinical trials and meta-analyses on the effects of lifestyle changes on stage 1 hypertension. Stage 1 hypertension is typically treated with lifestyle changes rather than medication. The researchers’ findings suggest shifting toward a DASH diet may provide the greatest benefit to lowering hypertension compared with other lifestyle changes. The DASH diet is a daily eating plan that includes fruit, vegetables, nuts, low-fat dairy products, and lean meats.

 

Vitamins/Supplements

Multivitamins May Slow Cognitive Decline in Older Adults: A studyTrusted Source published today in the journal Alzheimer’s & Dementia is reporting that taking a daily multivitamin may help reduce cognitive decline. The study involved more than 2,200 people over 65 without signs or diagnosis of Alzheimer’s took a multivitamin, cocoa extract supplements, multivitamin and cocoa extract or a placebo. The researchers said that benefits plateaued at the end of the second year. At the end of two years, those who took the multivitamin showed improved memory and executive function compared to the other groups. The multivitamin also slowed cognitive decline by around 60% or 1.8 years. they did not notice any significant effect on cognition from cocoa supplements.

 

High folic acid supplementation associated with higher rates of COVID-19 infections and mortality:People in the United Kingdom with folic acid prescriptions were 1.5 times more likely to get COVID-19. They were also 2.6 times more likely to die from COVID-19 compared to the control group. BMJ Open 

 

Vitamin D3 and omega-3 fatty acids not helpful in reducing risk of frailty:  Researchers found that neither vitamin D3 nor omega-3-fatty acid supplementation had any effect on frailty scores in a clinical trial of 25,000 adults. They conclude that these results do not support routine use of vitamin D3 or omega-3 fatty acid supplements for frailty prevention in generally healthy, older adults. JAMA Network Open.

 

Two new trials find no link between vitamin D supplements and reduced risk of covid-19: Two large clinical trials published by The BMJ show that boosting vitamin D levels in adults during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic was not associated with protection against respiratory tract infections or covid-19. 

 

Other

10 Minutes? 20 Seconds? Doesn't Matter. 'Micro-breaks' from Work Are Healthy: According to new research , micro-breaks can significantly increase your energy level and decrease fatigue. Long breaks provide more benefits, but breaks of less than a minute also have measurable effects. Clerical and creative types of work benefit the most from short breaks.

 

Working Nights? Try Eating During the Day to Protect Your Mental Health People undergoing simulated night shift work who ate both during the day and at night saw an increase in symptoms of depression and anxiety, a new study found. 

However, those who ate only during the day were apparently protected from the worsening of mood symptoms.  The study was published September 12 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

 

Blood Type Linked to Higher Risk for Early-Onset Stroke: Individuals with type A blood have a 16% higher risk for early-onset stroke (EOS) than those with other blood types, new research shows. Conversely, results from a meta-analysis of nearly 17,000 cases of ischemic stroke in adults younger than 60 years showed that having type O blood reduced the risk for EOS by 12%. published online August 31 in Neurology.

 

Brushing, Flossing Every Day May Reduce Risk of Dementia: According to a studyTrusted Source recently published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society that found that poor oral health as well as tooth loss increased the risk of dementia and cognitive decline. researchers say people who maintain good oral health may lower their risk of dementia and cognitive decline. You can achieve good dental health by brushing your teeth two to three times a day and visiting a dentist twice a year.

 

Adults Over 45 With Insomnia May Face Higher Risk of Memory Loss: A Canadian study, recently published in the journal SLEEP, analyzed data from over 26,000 adults ages 45 to 65 that was collected over 3 years. In 2019, participants completed a sleep and memory questionnaire and underwent neuropsychological testing. The same questioning and testing were then repeated in 2022. The researchers found that those who had no insomnia symptoms in 2019 but had developed some insomnia symptoms or probable insomnia disorder (PID) by 2022 were more likely to report subjective memory decline. Those with insomnia symptoms in 2019 who had developed into PID by 2022 self-reported greater memory loss concerns.

 

Can the flu shot reduce your risk of stroke? Getting an annual flu shot may be associated with a lower risk of stroke, according to a study published in the September 7, 2022, online issue of Neurology 

 

Smoking and physical inactivity strongly associated with early death of people with type 2 diabetes and breast, prostate, bowel or lung cancer: Individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D) who develop cancer are more likely to die in the following seven years if they are smokers or physically inactive, according to a new study of more than half a million people being presented at the annual meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) in Stockholm, Sweden (19-23 Sept).

 

A state-of-the-art review, “Sex and Gender in Lung Disease and Sleep Disorders,” provides a look into specific effects of sex and gender focused on epidemiology, disease presentation, risk factors and management of lung diseases. Chest

 

Seven healthy lifestyle habits may reduce dementia risk for people with diabetes:  A combination of seven healthy lifestyle habits including sleeping seven to nine hours daily, exercising regularly and having frequent social contact was associated with a lower risk of dementia in people with type 2 diabetes, according to a study published in the September 14, 2022, online issue of Neurology® Habits included no current smoking, moderate alcohol consumption of up to one drink a day for women and up to two a day for men, regular weekly physical activity of at least 2.5 hours of moderate exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise, and seven to nine hours of sleep daily. Another factor was a healthy diet including more fruits, vegetables, whole grains and fish and fewer refined grains, processed and unprocessed meats. The final habits were being less sedentary, which was defined as watching television less than four hours a day, and frequent social contact, which was defined as living with others, gathering with friends or family at least once a month and participating in social activities at least once a week or more often.

 

Older adults with regular activity routines are happier and do better on cognitive tests, study finds: Older adults who consistently get up early and remain active throughout the day are happier and perform better on cognitive tests than those with irregular activity patterns. The findings, published online in JAMA Psychiatry, suggest that patterns of activity — not just activity intensity — are important for healthy aging and mental health.  

 

Obstructive sleep apnoea linked to increased risk of cancer, a decline in mental processing powers and an increased risk of blood clots. Presented at the European Respiratory Society (ERS) International Congress in Barcelona, Spain A second study showed that OSA was also linked to a decline in processing powers in the elderly; in particular, those aged 74 years or more and men showed a steeper decline in certain cognitive tests. A third study found that patients with more severe OSA were at greater risk of developing blood clots in their veins – a potentially life-threatening condition. 

 

Good sleepers have lower risk of heart disease and stroke: Nine in ten people do not get a good night’s sleep, according to research presented at ESC Congress 2022.1 The study found that suboptimal sleep was associated with a higher likelihood of heart disease and stroke. The authors estimated that seven in ten of these cardiovascular conditions could be prevented if everyone was a good sleeper. 

 

TREATMENT

Who Should Take Statins?: The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) published its recommendationsTrusted Sourceon the use of statin drugs for the prevention of heart disease in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). The task force states that people between 40 and 75 years of age with some heart disease risks can receive moderate benefits from taking statins.They added that the evidence is inconclusive on the benefits for people over age 75 with no history of heart disease. Some experts say that statins shouldn’t be a first option. They say lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise should be considered first.

 

Do Statins Cause Muscle Pain? New Study Says Unlikely: A studyTrusted Source  in the Lancet and presented at the European Society of Cardiology Congress in Spain reports that more than 90 percent of the time, the pain that people are experiencing is not coming from the statin.

 

Noninvasive Brain Stimulation May Boost Memory for at Least 4 Weeks: Transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) for 20 minutes over 4 consecutive days can improve both short- and long-term memory for at least 1 month in older adults, new research suggests. The effects were "moderate to large and the overwhelming majority of participants, 85% to 90%, experienced the memory benefit.”  published online August 22 in Nature Neuroscience.

 

Dedicated women’s heart centers can improve accurate diagnoses and outcomes: In an important prospective study in the Canadian Journal of Cardiology, investigators report that attending a multidisciplinary dedicated women’s heart center can increase the likelihood of an accurate diagnosis and significantly improve clinical and psychological outcomes of women reporting chest pain due to insufficient heart-muscle blood flow (myocardial ischemia) but not diagnosed with obstructive coronary artery disease.

 

Researcher unlocks mystery of 'chemo-brain', identifies possible treatment: Though chemotherapy can be lifesaving, the cancer treatment often leaves patients suffering from debilitating side effects, including cognitive impairments in processing speed, memory, executive function and attention. Dubbed “chemo brain,” these lingering symptoms can dramatically impact patients’ quality of life long after they have completed their cancer treatments. In her most recent paper, “Sphingosine-1-Phosphate Receptor 1 Activation in the Central Nervous System Drives Cisplatin-Induced Cognitive Impairments,” published Sept. 1, 2022, in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, Salvemini and her team present the first evidence that chemotherapy alters an important cellular pathway called sphingolipid metabolism in critical areas of the brain linked to cognitive function. This work fueled two ongoing NCI clinical trials to test the potential use of Gilenya, a drug approved to treat multiple sclerosis, to prevent neuropathic pain in patients with breast cancer treated with Paclitaxel.

 

ACC, AHA issue updated chest pain data standards: The 2021 American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology Guideline for the Evaluation and Diagnosis of Chest Pain underscored the need to reach a consensus for the definitions of chest pain. In an update to the 2021 guideline, this 2022 document standardizes related data elements for consistent reporting on chest pain cases and establishes a new definition set focusing on serious cardiovascular causes of chest pain and acute myocardial infarction.   The 2022 ACC/AHA Key Data Elements and Definitions for Chest Pain and Acute Myocardial Infarction was publish online in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology and Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes

 

When's the Best Time to Take Blood Pressure Medication? New Study Says It Doesn't Matter: Contrary to what doctors have said for years, some researchers now say it doesn’t matter what time of day someone takes their blood pressure medication. The findings were presented at the recent annual meeting of the European Society of Cardiology in Barcelona. Researchers followed more than 21,000 people with high blood pressure over five years. Subjects were randomly assigned to take their blood pressure drugs in the morning or evening. Researchers then looked for hospitalization for heart attack, stroke, or death from cardiovascular disease. Over a five-year median, 3.4 % of those taking medication at night were hospitalized for heart attack, stroke, or died from cardiovascular disease. That compared to 3.7% who took their medication in the morning.

 

Melanoma: New Potential Treatment Using Immune Cells is Announced: European researchers recently announced at the ESMO annual health conference in Paris that tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) therapy, a new treatment for advanced melanoma, was more effective than ipilimumabTrusted Source, the leading existing therapy, in a phase 3 clinical trial.

 

 “Asthma Control, Airway Mucus, and 129Xe MRI Ventilation After a Single Benralizumab Dose,” finds that improved airway function can be measured directly after a first benralizumab dose and that the presence of airway mucus could influence this potential response. Chest

 

Rehospitalization is lower in adults with heart disease treated for comorbid sleep apnea: Consistent use of CPAP treatment in patients with known heart disease and newly diagnosed obstructive sleep apnea is associated with a lower likelihood of rehospitalization, according to a new study.  Results show that the risk of 30-day hospital readmission among those with cardiovascular disease and high adherence to CPAP for sleep apnea was 60% lower relative to those with low adherence to CPAP.

 

Data on cancer risk from hormone therapy 'reassuring,' menopause experts say: A new scientific paper and other recent evidence offer important reassurances about the risk of breast cancer from hormone therapy to treat menopause symptoms. Menopause 

 

 

OTHER

Heart Disease: The Common Symptoms for Men vs. Women: When it comes to heart health, men and women can be quite different. The American Heart Association makes that distinction in new researchTrusted Source published in its journal Circulation.The six cardiovascular diseases are: heart attack; heart failure; valve disease, stroke, heart rhythm disorder, and peripheral artery and vein disease. 

 

Life Expectancy in the U.S. Has Dropped and It’s Not Just Due to COVID-19 A new reportTrusted Source from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) finds U.S. life expectancy has fallen by nearly three years in the first two years of the pandemic. “U.S. life expectancy at birth for 2021, based on nearly final data, was 76.1 years, the lowest it has been since 1996,” the authors wrote. deaths due to COVID-19 were the main reason for the decline. However, the second greatest contributor to the decline in life expectancy is accidental injury, driven primarily by drug overdoses, which killed over 100,000 U.S. residents last year.

 

Amazon Ending Its Virtual Health Service Amazon Care: Amazon is shutting down its telehealth venture Amazon Care just 6 months after launching it. Experts say it appears Amazon wants to go in a different direction in the healthcare industry, noting the company’s recent acquisition of One Medical and its attempt to buy Signify Health. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Take a Break: Celebrate Constitution & Citizenship Day

Constitution Day and Citizenship Day are celebrated on Sept. 17. 

 On September 17, 1787, the Founding Fathers signed the U.S. Constitution. For over 200 years, the Constitution has served as the supreme law of the land. The Constitution, along with the Bill of Rights and other amendments, define our government and guarantee our rights. Each year, on September 17, Americans celebrate Constitution Day and Citizenship Day. In addition, September 17-23 is also recognized as Constitution Week.

 

 In honor of this twin holiday, take the sample Citizenship test 

 

Learn more about the Constitution at the National Constitution Center and test your knowledge with a variety of quizzes.

 

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

Life with Chronic Conditions: Fall Blahs/Queen’s passing

While I love the cooler weather, the shorter periods of daylight I can do without. It’s taken me a while to realize that if I get out every day and walk, even if it’s just for 15 minutes, I feel much better and have a bit more enthusiasm for the changing seasons. 

 

It’s not all pumpkins and lattes for many as we move into fall. Seasonal Affective disorder (SAD), a type of depression that's related to changes in seasons, is very real, particularly the type that starts in the fall and continues through the winter. If SAD is an issue for you, check out the Mayo Clinic’s website. Light boxes do help with SAD. Check out the Q and A on light therapy for SAD. 

 

This particular fall, the sadness seems more than usual. Part of it is another Covid winter lies ahead. While we’re much better off than in 2020, it’s the continual reminders from the media, along with friends and family getting Covid, sometimes for the 2^nd time, that makes it all seem relentless.  

 

Add to that the Queen of England’s passing. While anticipated at some point, it feels to many very sudden. On Tuesday, she’s installing the new prime minister and less than 48 hours later she’s gone. 

 

While some don’t care and others are hoping that this spells the end of the monarchy, many are sharing similar feelings to my friend and neighbor, who is now an American citizen. He posted, It may be difficult for many of my American friends and relatives to understand the sadness I am experiencing based on the death of the Queen. I find myself tearing up as I listen to news reports of her death. Her coronation was the first thing I remember in my life and first thing I saw on television. My mother used to dress me based on what Prince Charles was wearing, even though he is a few years older than me. She has been a constant symbol of stability and pride in England for me through wars, political turmoil, pandemics and controversy. She will be a tough act to follow for both King Charles III and William. God bless the Queen and long live the King.

 

He is not alone in his feelings of sadness. Even those who don’t care one way or the other about the Queen, the constant media coverage of people openly grieving can have an impact. Given that 9/11 is just a few days away, it seems more poignant as the Queen ended her condolences to the American people after that event with the message, “Grief is the price we pay for love.”

 

To have a better understanding of what people are experiencing, I looked to see what George Bonanno had to say. He’s my go to guy when it comes to grief and loss, as he is professor of clinical psychology and head of the Loss, Trauma, and Emotion Lab at the Teachers College, Columbia University. 

 

 “Our experience of grief, goes beyond the loss of someone we love. It's when we lose something that's key to our identity… There are going to be people for whom this will be a real loss of something important to their identity. In England, the monarchy is, to some people, a crucial sense of their country, nationalism, all those things. The queen was, for many in England and beyond, a stabilizing presence. People may feel it's the end of era, or the end of a certain way that the world works, I think a lot of what people value in the monarchy seems to be this kind of stability and comportment, this old world order — even though a lot of it is fictitious. And Charles [King Charles III] is next. And he doesn't carry the same cachet as Elizabeth. So people may see it as the end of that kind of distinguished, orderly, predictable world.”

 

Keep in mind that there are many who are not fans of the British monarchy and the role they’ve played in history. In March, Prince William and Kate’s Caribbean trip in honor of the Queen’s 70^th year on the throne, was short circuited by protests, calls for reparations and canceled stops. With each passing day, more appears on this topic, and with it a lot of anger. With all of my ancestors coming from Ireland, I understand it. Yet, there is a time and a place, and I for one say honor the 10 day morning period, and avoid jumping on the social media bandwagon. Sometimes it’s good just to let things be for a bit. 

 

If you are feeling sadness with the Queen’s passing, and it’s adding to the fall blahs, don’t chide yourself. You feel how you feel and that's okay. While the passing reminded my friend of his childhood, for others the suddenness, the reactions of others, or some other aspect or her passing can trigger emotions you weren’t expecting. Again, it's okay. 

It can be helpful to watch the memorial services. As Bonanno notes, Through sharing the experience of a funeral or a memorial service — whether it's the funeral of a loved one or a beloved public figure — "we feel connected to all those other people who are mourning. We're telling each other that we all cared about this person, we're still here and we have each other." However, spending hours upon hours watching TV or trolling the Internet for the latest news, is not healthy. 

 

Being outside, visiting a friend, going for a walk, or trying one of the many “take a breaks,” at the Take a Break Pinterest  Board can help.  Bonanno, in his book The Other Side of Sadness, recommends laughter as an anecdote for grieving. So with that in mind, the lighter side of Queen Elizabeth. 

 

The Queen and Paddington Bear answers the question of what she carries in her purse. 

 

And who can forget her entrance at the 2012 Olympics.