Saturday, February 11, 2023

Life with Chronic Conditions: Keeping track of symptoms


Whether you’re tracking symptoms for yourself or someone you care for, knowing when they occur, what type and their severity will be very helpful in assessing and successfully treating a medical condition. 

 There are many different ways to track symptoms-an App for smart phone or watch, pencil/paper, writing on a calendar etc. 

 

WHEN TO TRACK: It’s best to do this daily so you don’t forget. 

 

WHAT TO TRACK: In addition to the date and time of the symptoms, add other information that might be associated with it. In this way, you’ll start to recognize if certain medications, foods, activities etc. impact the type of symptoms you have and when they occur. While Apps will provide severity scoring systems, if you are keeping track via pencil/paper rate your symptoms from 0 (no symptoms) to 10 (very extreme experience of the symptom). 

 

HOW TO TRACK As noted above there are lots of ways to track symptoms. Some people like Apps, while others for security and other reasons prefer pencil/paper. Do what feels right for you.

 

Free printable trackers:

• Free Symptom Tracker Printable: The Best Way to Log Symptoms 

• Symptom Tracker PDF 

• Medical Diaries, Journals, and Logs 

 

Which App Should I Use?: Some conditions do have their own Apps. For example Visible, which is a free Beta test app, was designed with Long Covid symptoms in mind.  There is also now a Long Haul Tracker App.  Check with your specific condition organization (e.g. Diabetic Association) as well as talk to your medical provider about their recommendations. Below are two good reviews of Apps, some of which are free

• Top 7 Best Chronic Illness Symptom Tracker Apps in 2022 

• Top 13 Best Apps for People with a Chronic Illness in 2022 

 

Take your symptom chart to your medical appointments. This will help the medical provider have a better understanding of what your dealing with and can result in and better treatment plans. 

Saturday, February 4, 2023

Life with Chronic Conditions: News & Health News Fact Check


The 4th Annual National News Literacy week just took place January 23-27. Americans' trust in the media to report the news "fully, accurately and fairly" has been hovering at historic lows in recent years, according to several surveys. In 2022, almost a third of American adults said the news was untrustworthy or biased and just 26% said they trusted most news most of the time. It's been a precipitous fall from an all-time high of 72% in the aftermath of the Watergate reporting during Richard Nixon's presidency in the 1970s. 

It’s important to recognize that we all have our biases and we look for news, particularly health news if we’re affected by a chronic or life threatening condition, that supports our beliefs and views. With so many sources of news and information, we can easily find a view to support what we already believe, therefore, it’s important to “fact check.”

 

Fact Check: Always check before posting, forwarding or passing on information. Below are a variety of sites to use.

• PolitiFact

• PolitiFact Health Check : A partnership with Kaiser Health News.Examine statements by elected officials and candidates and anyone else who speaks up on matter of public importance. 

• FactCheck.org A nonpartisan, nonprofit “consumer advocate” for voters that aims to reduce the level of deception and confusion in U.S. politics, a project of the Annenberg Public Policy Center

• Washington Post Fact Checker

• Snopes

• Fact Check from Duke Reporters' Lab

• OpenSecrets.org

• SciCheck focuses exclusively on false and misleading scientific claims that are made by partisans to influence public policy.

• FlackCheck Headquartered at the Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania, FlackCheck.org is the political literacy companion site to the award-winning FactCheck.org. 

• Media Bias/ Fact Check dedicated to educating the public on media bias and deceptive news practices. 

• NPR FactCheck

 

When it comes to health news, the best fact check maybe a conversation with your medical provider. 

 

Know How to Spot Misinformation: Keep in mind this is incredibly important for those affected by chronic and life threatening conditions as medical quackery is every where.  Many of the sites listed above will include information on health news. Remember if they are trying to sell you something, and/or it sounds too good to be true, skip it. People make a lot of money selling false hope and miracle cures. 

• Look to see if the research is published in a peer-reviewed journal, which indicates its undergone quality control by experts. In the event a retraction is required, due to mistakes found after publication, these journals all have retraction policies. Note that peer review takes a while, and so to get word out faster-we saw this a lot with Covid-post research papers are posted on pre servers such as RXiv MedRXiv. This does provide an opportunity for other scientists to weigh in and final peer reviewed research will reflect that. Be alert to non peer reviewed research. 

• Correlation is not causation: Too many times research suggests that if you do a particular behavior you’ll live longer etc. However, many of these studies are surveys and the fact that someone who drinks red wine appears to live longer isn’t scientific proof. Face is, it’s a select population and other factors, such as being wealthier and have better health care can bias results. 

• Note the subjects: If it’s a study done on animals it doesn’t mean it will translate to humans. If human subjects are used, gender, ethnicity and age make a difference as does the actual number of subjects. 

• Look for double blind studies: The best trials are double blind, which means one group gets the drug/treatment while the other gets a placebo. Neither the researchers or the volunteers know who is getting what. 

• Read the research: All too often there will be shouting headlines about an exciting new treatment or discovery. To get the audience attention, people like Dr. Oz and Dr. Phil are providing entertainment and should not be your go to source for information. 

If it sounds to good to be true it probably is: Beware of medical products and procedures that sound too good to be true. Be skeptical of testimonials. Think about the key players’ motivations and who stands to make a buck. Always read past the headlines. 

Wednesday, February 1, 2023

Take a Break: Try Yoga Nidra


Yoga Nidra or yogic sleep, in modern usage, is a state of consciousness between waking and sleeping, typically induced by a guided meditation done while lying down.  Yoga nidra can be practiced at any time, except right after eating, when you may be more inclined to fall asleep. 

 Those practicing Yoga Nidra experience a deep sense of peace, calm and connection to something greater than themselves.  People express finding a deep stillness inside them, an equanimity.  Deep relaxation is most common (and yes, sometimes you may even fall asleep.  No harm done!) 

 

Check out the Cleveland Clinic’s What is Yoga Nidra. It offers lots of helpful tipcs and explains the 10 stages. 

 

To prepare, create a “nest.” You’ll be lying down throughout so make sure you have a pillow for your head, a blanket, a bolster for your knees. You want to be comfy and cozy but well supported. 

 

Like any type of practice that involves a “guide,” a person’s voice, background music etc. can make a difference.

 

Below are some videos to try.

 



 



 



 



 

 

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

 

Saturday, January 28, 2023

Life with Chronic Conditions: The Happiness Chase


Since it’s still January and people are still fiddling around with “resolutions,” I thought I’d mention the resolve people have of “being happier” in 2023. There are lots of articles being written on this topic at the moment. 

 

In 2012 I wrote a blog post “Contentment is Happiness” which was inspired by our Founding Fathers and the Declaration of Independence. I still agree with what I wrote 10 years ago and why I wrote it. Just what do happiness,  contentment and chronic disease have in common? Contentment is the important balance point on the happiness scale (if such a scale exists), where euphoria is at one end and depression at the other.  This is a very achievable goal regardless of whether you are dealing with health issues or not. Further, because continual stress, anxiety and sadness have a devastating impact on immune function, it is important for people with chronic disease to achieve a level of contentment, as it can improve health and well-being. 

 

One of the reason why happiness is front and center on a lot of media platforms, beyond it being January and resolution time, there is a new book out, written by Robert Waldinger, MD and Marc Shulz PHD, entitled The Good Life: Lessons from the World’s Longest Scientific Study of Happiness.  This is based on the findings on the Harvard Study of Adult Development,  which is the longest in depth longitudinal study on human life ever done. Waldinger is the director of the Harvard study and Schulz is the associate director.  


The number one finding from the Harvard study is that good relationships lead to health and happiness, not wealth, fame, or IQ.

 

Schultz presents five key insights from the book/Harvard study, which he discusses in the Next Big Idea Podcast 

1. Relationships keep us happier and healthier across our lifespan, and loneliness erodes our health.

2.  Relationships don’t just take care of themselves, they require active maintenance and renewal.

3. Relationships of all kinds matter, but all relationships come with challenges.

4. Our attention is our most precious resource.

5. It’s never too late to improve your connections with others.

 

To learn more about the Harvard study, watch Waldinger’s TED Talk. He also has a podcast 



 Bottom line is if you are wanting “happiness” as part of your 2023 resolutions, focus on your relationships first and foremost as studies consistently show it’s the relationships, in or not in our life, that make the difference about contentment/happiness. 

Tuesday, January 24, 2023

Take a Break: Check out Revisionist History


I’ve been enjoying listening to Malcolm Gladwell’s podcast series “Revisionist History.” You may know Gladwell’s books “Blink,” “Tipping Point,” and a number of other New York Times bestsellers. He also writes for the “New Yorker.”

Revisionist History is Malcolm Gladwell’s journey through the overlooked and the misunderstood. Every episode re-examines something from the past — an event, a person, an idea, even a song — and asks whether we got it right the first time. Because sometimes the past deserves a second chance.

 

You can now stream episodes and watch bonus video content on Malcolm Gladwell’s YouTube channel! Check out his website Pushkin.fm


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

Saturday, January 21, 2023

Journal Watch January 2023

 


COVID-19 

Most long covid effects resolve within a year after mild infection: Most symptoms or conditions that develop after mild covid-19 infection linger for several months but return to normal within a year, finds a large study from Israel published by The BMJ. In particular, vaccinated people were at lower risk of breathing difficulties - the most common effect to develop after mild infection - compared with unvaccinated people. These findings suggest that, although the long covid phenomenon has been feared and discussed since the beginning of the pandemic, the vast majority of mild disease cases do not suffer serious or chronic long term illness, say the researchers. 

 

Study finds surprising risks for COVID-19 infection: A new paper in Biology Methods & Protocols, investigates risk factors and protections against contracting COVID-19, and also for suffering from severe COVID. Researchers identified several characteristics – including male sex, lower age, blood group B, and larger household size – that increased the risk of infection and many other characteristics – including mask-wearing and using vitamin D – that decreased it. Many predictable behaviors appeared to protect people against the infection, while three factors, namely being actively involved in sports, frequent singing, and cold-water swimming, increased the risk of infection. The most substantial protective factor against COVID-19 infection was strict adherence to mask-wearing. The second most substantial protective factor was the consumption of vitamins and supplements. This study found in particular that taking vitamin D provided significant protection against acquiring COVID-19. 

 

New Omicron Subvariant Is 'Crazy Infectious,' COVID Expert Warns: The newest subvariant of Omicron, XBB.1.5, is so transmissible that everybody is at risk of catching it, even if they've already been infected and are fully vaccinated, a health expert told  USA Today . XBB.1.5 is spreading quickly in the United States. It accounted for 27.6% of cases in the country last week, up from about 1% of cases at one point in December, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It's especially prevalent in the Northeast, now accounting for more than 70% of the cases in that region.

 


PAIN

Two Exercise Interventions May Ease Acute, Subacute Spine Pain: Results from the SPINE CARE randomized controlled trial showed that 6–8 weeks of an individualized postural therapy (IPT) or a multidisciplinary biopsychosocial intervention known as ICE that includes physical therapy were associated with small but statistically significant reductions in pain-related disability at 3 months compared with usual care. The findings were published online December 20 in JAMA

 

Nearly 1/3 of people with chronic pain turn to cannabis: According to a new study almost a third of patients with chronic pain reported using cannabis to manage it. More than half of the 1,724 adults surveyed reported that using cannabis led them to decrease the use of pain medications, including prescription opioids and over-the-counter analgesics. Cannabis also effected the use of other non-drug related pain relief methods to various degrees: some people indicated that cannabis led them to turn less often to techniques that many clinical guidelines recommend as first-line therapies such as physical therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy, while others with chronic pain increased their use of such treatments. JAMA Network OpenTrusted Source, 

 

Common fatty acid contributes to temperature and pain sensitivity in psoriasis plaques: A common fatty acid, Linoleic acid, found in the Western diet (vegetable oils, nuts and seeds) breaks down into compounds that contribute to increased temperature and pain – but not itch – sensitivity in psoriatic lesions. The finding could lead to better understanding of how lipids communicate with sensory neurons, and potentially to improved pain and sensitivity treatments for psoriasis patients. JID Innovations, 

 

Osteoarthritis: New Drug May Help Stop Symptoms: Osteoarthritis — a painful condition leading to joint pain, stiffness, and swelling — impacts 32 million US adults. Currently, treatments for hand osteoarthritis only manage and lessen symptoms. A recent study  has indicated that the drug talarozole can reduce and modify osteoarthritis symptoms.More research is being conducted to assess the medication’s potential in treating the condition.

 


COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE

Singing supports stroke rehabilitation: Language function and the psychosocial wellbeing of patients and their families can be promoted with singing-based rehabilitation. Group intervention provides opportunities for peer support while being simultaneously cost effective. Brain Communications 

 

Acupuncture and acupressure may help alleviate pain and anxiety in patients undergoing surgery for gynecologic cancer: Patients undergoing surgery for ovarian and endometrial cancers often experience anxiety and pain. A new study indicates that acupressure before surgery may help reduce anxiety and following this up with acupuncture during surgery may provide an added benefit of lessening severe pain. The research is published in CANCER

 

Deep meditation may alter gut microbes for better health: Regular deep meditation, practised for several years, may help to regulate the gut microbiome and potentially lower the risks of physical and mental ill health, finds a small comparative study published in the open access journal General Psychiatry. The gut microbes found in a group of Tibetan Buddhist monks differed substantially from those of their secular neighbours, and have been linked to a lower risk of anxiety, depression, and cardiovascular disease. 

 


FDA ACTION

• Approved the new Alzheimer’s Drug Lecanemab

• Approved Airsupra (Albuterol and budesonide) inhalation arosol

• Approved) Adacel (Tetanus Toxoid, Reduced Diphtheria Toxoid and Acellular Pertussis Vaccine, Adsorbed [Tdap]) for immunization during the third trimester of pregnancy to prevent pertussis in infants younger than two months of age.

• Approved Briumvi injection for treating patients with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (RMS) in adults. 

• Approved a supplemental application for Plan B One-Step

• approved a new indication for Actemra (tocilizumab) injection for the treatment of hospitalized adult patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) who are receiving systemic corticosteroids and require supplemental oxygen, non-invasive or invasive mechanical ventilation, or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO).

• Approved Sunlenca (lenacapavir), a new type of antiretroviral medication for adult patients living with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), whose HIV infections cannot be successfully treated with other available treatments due to resistance, intolerance, or safety considerations.

• Approved Idacio (adalimumab-aacf), a biosimilar for Humira (adalimumab)

 

PREVENTION


Exercise

Type 2 Diabetes: Women Who Exceed 10,000 Steps Per Day Have a Lower Risk: Women who walked 10,700 steps daily reduced their risk of developing type 2 diabetes compared to women who took fewer steps, according to a study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. The researchers reported that people who spent more time in any physical activity had a lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

 

Cancer Prevention: How Gardening Can Lower Risk and Boost Mental Health: Jill Litt’s studyTrusted Source, published in The Lancet Planetary Health journal, is the first randomized, controlled trial of community gardening and its impact on public health. The findings suggested that those who started gardening ate more fiber and got more physical activity — two known ways to reduce the risk of cancer and chronic diseases. The research also showed that community gardening can provide a “nature-based solution, accessible to a diverse population including new gardeners, to improve wellbeing and important behavioral risk factors for non-communicable and chronic diseases,” the study authors concluded. Litt, who saw levels of stress and anxiety significantly decrease among the 291 participants, said the findings provide solid evidence that community gardening can play an important role in preventing cancer, chronic diseases, and mental health disorders. https://www.healthline.com/health-news/cancer-prevention-how-gardening-can-lower-risk-and-boost-mental-health#Research-on-gardening-and-health

 

6 Minutes of HIIT Exercise May Boost Memory, Study Finds: Six minutes of high-intensity interval exercise boosted the blood level of a protein involved in learning and memory formation, a new study found. The protein, known as brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), is being explored as a potential therapyTrusted Source for neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. The Journal of PhysiologyTrusted Source.

 

How 5-Minute Walks Every Half-Hour Can Counter Prolonged Sitting: A new study from Columbia University in New York reports that just 5 minutes of walking every half-hour can offset some of the most harmful effects of sitting for long periods. Shorter walks and even standing can have health benefits. You can get in your exercise during the workday by walking around the building, climbing stairs, or doing deep knee bends.

 

Cardiovascular disease: Walking 6,000+ steps daily may lower risk for older adults: A new study suggests that people over 60 may significantly reduce their risk of cardiovascular disease by walking between 6,000 and 9,000 steps per day. The study analyzed data from over 20,000 people in the United States and 42 other countries. Compared to people who walked 2,000 steps per day, researchers found that individuals walking between 6,000 and 9,000 steps daily had a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, including heart attacks and strokes, by 40% to 50%. This study focuses on cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. It is a companion to an earlier studyfrom Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, TN. The earlier study demonstrated that walking 8,200 steps a day can lower the risk of a wide range of chronic health issues.  The new study reports the findings of a meta-analysis of eight prospective studies using health data from 20,152 individuals in the United States and 42 other countries. Their average age was 63.2 years, plus or minus 12.4 years, with 52% being women. The study appears in the journal CirculationTrusted Source.

 

Orienteering can train the brain, may help fight cognitive decline: The sport of orienteering, which draws on athleticism, navigational skills and memory, could be useful as an intervention or preventive measure to fight cognitive decline related to dementia, according to new research. PLoS ONE 

 

 


Diet/Nutrition

Why People With Severe Hypertension Should Drink Only 1 Cup of Coffee Per Day: A studyTrusted Source  says people with severe hypertension who drink more than one cup of coffee per day may be doubling their risk of death from cardiovascular disease.  The researchers also found that having one cup of coffee and green tea on the same day wasn’t associated with an increase the risk of death related to cardiovascular disease at any blood pressure measurement, although both drinks contain caffeine.

 

Bad Breath: How Fermented Foods Such as Yogurt Can Help Prevent Halitosis: Some types of bacteria in your mouth can lead to persistent bad breath. Scientists suggest that probiotics, which can be found in fermented foods or in some supplements,  may combat these undesirable bacteria. They published their findings in the journal BMJ Open.

 

Good hydration linked to healthy aging: Adults who stay well-hydrated appear to be healthier, develop fewer chronic conditions, such as heart and lung disease, and live longer than those who may not get sufficient fluids, according to a National Institutes of Health study published in eBioMedicine.   Using health data gathered from 11,255 adults over a 30-year period, researchers analyzed links between serum sodium levels – which go up when fluid intake goes down – and various indicators of health. They found that adults with serum sodium levels at the higher end of a normal range were more likely to develop chronic conditions and show signs of advanced biological aging than those with serum sodium levels in the medium ranges. Adults with higher levels were also more likely to die at a younger age.  

 

Can Drinking 1 soda a day Increase your risk of Hair Loss? A study published in the journal Nutrients on January 1, 2023, indicates that drinking even one soda per day was linked to a greater risk of hair loss in males

 

4 Healthy Eating Plans, Including Mediterranean Diet, That Can Help Lower Risk of Heart Disease, Cancer: New researchTrusted Source led by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and published in JAMA Internal Medicine reports that participants who followed at least one of four healthy eating patterns were less likely than others to die from heart disease, cancer, or respiratory disease. The 4 diets all recommend eating more fruits and vegetables, consuming less red meat, and choosing whole grains over refined grains. Experts say you can achieve extra health benefits by limiting your eating window and consuming foods with a variety of different colors throughout the day. Data used was collected over 36 years from 75,230 women participating in the Nurses’ Health Study and 44,085 men in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study.

 

Fast Food Impacts the Liver: A study published January 10 in the Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology medical journal found that eating fast food is associated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, which is a potentially life-threatening condition in which fat builds up in the liver.

 

Coffee May Reduce Liver Disease Severity in People With Type 2 Diabetes: Drinking coffee may reduce the severity of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in people who are overweight and have type 2 diabetes, according to a new study. Coffee can increase levels of non-caffeine metabolites, which can lead to lower fatty liver index scores. People can decrease the risks associated with liver disease by limiting alcohol, avoiding smoking, and eating a balanced, healthy diet.

 

Type 2 Diabetes: Remission Possible with Low Carb Diet: A new study has found that diet may play an even more important role in type 2 diabetes management than previously thought. The study, published in the journal BMJ Nutrition, Prevention & Health, found that a low-carbohydrate diet was effective in achieving glycaemic control in people living with type 2 diabetes.

 

Almonds May Improve Workout Recovery — If You Eat 40-50 a Day: The research published in the journal Frontiers in Nutrition reports that men and women who consumed 57 grams of almonds daily for one month — that’s about 40 to 50 almonds per day — had higher levels of the beneficial fat 12,13-dihydroxy-9Z-octadecenoic acid (12,13-DiHOME) in their blood immediately after a session of intense exercise compared to control participants who did not eat almonds. Experts agree that almonds have a number of health benefits, but they note that other nuts such as walnuts can also provide benefits.

 

EWG study: Eating one freshwater fish equals a month of drinking ‘forever chemicals’ water: A new study by Environmental Working Group scientists finds that consumption of just a single serving of freshwater fish per year could be equal to a month of drinking water laced with the “forever chemical” PFOS at high levels that may be harmful.

 

Intermittent Fasting Isn't As Effective As Cutting Calories: A new study suggests that some people can achieve their weight loss goals without restricting their eating to certain times of the day. Researchers say that calorie restriction appears more successful than intermittent fasting for weight loss.  Over the course of a six-year study, researchers found that people who ate a greater number of large or medium meals during the day were more likely to gain weight. Journal of the American Heart AssociationTrusted Source, 

 

Type 2 Diabetes: How Nitrates in Meat and Other Foods Can Increase Risk: Nitrites and nitrates occur naturally in soil and water. They are also used in foods, such as highly processed meats, to increase their shelf life. The researchers reported that participants who reported higher intakes of nitrites had a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes. PLOS Medicine study 


Kiwifruit Found Effective for Constipation: "In addition to improved measures of constipation status, there was a significant improvement in stool consistency, reduction in constipation, indigestion/reflux, and abdominal pain resulting in an improved overall level of GI comfort." The American Journal of Gastroenterology 

 

Sleep

Should You Let Your Cat Sleep in Bed with You? Allowing your cat to cuddle up with you at night can help reduce stress and may help you fall asleep more quickly. However, they can also interrupt your sleep throughout the night and bring a number of health risks to your bed. Adults and children with compromised immune systems due to certain human diseases may be at a higher risk for contracting diseases from animals. Experts say being aware of the risks that can come from sharing your beds with cats can help you avoid health hazards. Healthline 

 

What Types of Music Help You Fall Asleep The Easiest: Listening to music in order to fall asleep is a common practice that many people find helpful. Researchers analyzed close to 1,000 music playlists on Spotify intended to induce sleep. The largest cluster by far consisted of ambient tracks, which was what researchers expected to find. But other large clusters were filled with contemporary radio tracks, including pop hits and indie tracks.  Previous self-reported studies found that classical and instrumental music were among the most used genres for sleep music. Researchers reported that a surprising result of the new study was that both genres had fewer occurrences than either pop or rap.  findings were published today in the scientific journal PLOS ONE.

 


Vitamins/Supplements

Fewer cases of melanoma among people taking vitamin D supplements: Fewer cases of melanoma were observed among regular users of vitamin D supplements than among non-users, a new study finds. People taking vitamin D supplements regularly also had a considerably lower risk of skin cancer, according to estimates by experienced dermatologists. The study included nearly 500 people with an increased risk of skin cancer. The findings suggest that even occasional users of vitamin D may have a lower risk for melanoma than non-users. Melanoma research 

 

More than two billion are infected with this disease; Vitamin D can help: vitamin D can help the immune system fight tuberculosis, a new study recently published in Frontiers in Immunology concludes. 

 

Vitamin D benefits and metabolism may depend on body weight: People with higher body mass index had a blunted response to vitamin D supplementation, explaining observed differences in outcomes such as cancer, diabetes, and autoimmune disease "This study sheds light on why we're seeing 30-40 percent reductions in cancer deaths, autoimmune diseases, and other outcomes with vitamin D supplementation among those with lower BMIs but minimal benefit in those with higher BMIs, suggesting it may be possible to achieve benefits across the population with more personalized dosing of vitamin D," said Manson. "These nuances make it clear that there's more to the vitamin D story." JAMA Network Open 

 

 


Other

Lifestyle Changes May Reduce Colorectal Cancer Risk: Changes regarding smoking, drinking, body weight, and physical activity may change the risk for colorectal cancer (CRC), the results of a study on a large European cohort suggest.  published in The American Journal of Gastroenterology.

 

Vegetarians Suffer More Depression Than Meat Eaters: People who follow a vegetarian lifestyle have around twice as many depressive episodes as those who eat meat, according to the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health. The high incidence of depression among vegetarians is not caused by nutrition but possibly by several factors, including the vegetarian social experience; depression itself may increase the likelihood of becoming vegetarian, or both vegetarianism and depression may be associated with guilt through factors involving the meat industry. Journal of Affective Disorders. The full article can be found on sciencedirect.com .

 

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD): Frequent Antibiotic Use May Increase Risk: In a new study, researchers say the frequent use of antibiotics can increase the risk of inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. The risk is the highest 1 to 2 years after antibiotic use that targets gut infections and occurs more frequently in those over 40. The risk increases with each round of antibiotics while the risk wanes after antibiotic use is stopped. Gut study

 

Some BP Meds Tied to Significantly Lower Risk for Dementia, Alzheimer's: Results from a cohort study of more than 57,000 older Medicare beneficiaries showed that the initiation of antihypertensives that stimulate the receptors was linked to a 16% lower risk for incident Alzheimer’s Disease and related dementia (ADRD) and an 18% lower risk for vascular dementia compared with those that inhibit the receptors. The findings were published online January 4 in JAMA Network Open.

 

Frequent visits to green space linked to lower use of certain prescription meds: Frequent visits to urban green spaces, such as parks and community gardens in Finland, rather than the amount, or views of them from home, may be linked to lower use of lower use of drugs for depression, anxiety, insomnia, high blood pressure, and asthma, suggests research published online in Occupational & Environmental Medicine. 

 

Alzheimer’s Disease: Women at Higher Risk May Benefit From Hormone Replacement Therapy: A recent study published in Alzheimer’s Research & TherapyTrusted Source showed promising results. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) was linked to improved memory, cognition and larger brain volumes in some women (carriers of the APOE4 gene)  who at higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. HRT was most effective when introduced during the perimenopausal stage. One of the reasons why HRT may be effective is due to estrogen’s ability to lower cortisol.  High levels of cortisol are associated with increased cognitive impairment and neurodegeneration.

 


TREATMENT

Skin Cancer: New Moderna Vaccine Shows Promise for Melanoma Treatment: Researchers say a new mRNA skin cancer vaccine being developed by Moderna is showing promise. They report that in a phase 2 clinical trial people with stage 3 or 4 melanoma who were given the vaccine along with immunotherapy treatment had lower rates of cancer recurrence and death. Healthline 

 

Type 2 Diabetes: Metformin May Help Reduce the Need for Joint Replacement Surgery: According to a study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal,  Type 2 diabetes drug metformin can help reduce the need for knee or hip joint replacement in people with the condition. The researchers said there are several possible reasons for metformin reducing the risk for joint replacement surgery, including a reduction in inflammation and better-regulated metabolism. Joint replacement surgery is often the result of osteoarthritis.

 

Knee, Hip Replacement: New Hydrogel Injection May Help Reduce Infections: Researchers from Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine in China say they have developed a hydrogel treatment that treats infections that can develop after knee or hip replacement surgery. The gel, they say, inhibits bacterial growth and promotes tissue regrowth, potentially eliminating the need for antibiotics or follow-up surgery. Their findings were published in the journal APL Bioengineering.

 

HKU Dentistry new jaw surgery concept effective in treating moderate-to-severe Obstructive Sleep Apnea with over 50% of cases cured: The research team in the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (OMFS) of the Faculty of Dentistry at the University of Hong Kong (HKU) recently conducted a pilot study to measure if a newly conceptualised jaw surgery technique could help improve moderate-to-severe level OSA. The findings, now published in the International Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, indicate that this surgery can significantly alleviate sleep apnea, and also maintain or even improve the patient’s appearance. All the patients involved in the study with moderate-to-severe OSA showed a 50% or more reduction in breathing disturbances at night after the surgery, and 58% of the patients were considered to be cured, showing no signs of sleep apnea. The jaw surgery technique involves a multi-segment osteotomy (cutting and reshaping bones) of the lower jaw called segmental mandibular advancement (SMA). It is a combination of a procedure to upright the anterior jaw segment to create space and a procedure to advance the whole lower jaw. 

 

Ten-minute scan enables detection and cure of the commonest cause of high blood pressure: A new type of CT scan, which lights up tiny nodules in a hormone gland, can cure high blood pressure by their removal. The nodules are discovered in one-in-twenty people with high blood pressure. Published  in Nature Medicine, the research solves a 60-year problem of how to detect the hormone producing nodules without a difficult catheter study that is available in only a handful of hospitals, and often fails. The research also found that, when combined with a urine test, the scan detects a group of patients who come off all their blood pressure medicines after treatment. 

 

Long-term low-dose hydroxychloroquine use associated with low risk for retinopathy: A cohort study of more than 3,000 persons who received hydroxychloroquine for 5 or more years with guideline-recommended serial retinopathy screening found that the overall risk for incident retinopathy was low, with most documented cases being mild. Higher hydroxychloroquine dose was associated with progressively greater risk. The findings are published in Annals of Internal Medicine. 

 

Parkinson's Disease: How a Cough Medicine May Help Slow Progression: Scientists report that the cough medication ambroxol showed promise in slowing the progression of Parkinson’s disease in a phase 2 clinical trial. A phase 3 clinical trial is now getting underway. Ambroxol has not been approved for use in the United States, but it is widely used as a cough medicine in Europe. Healthline

 

Inflammatory Bowel Disease: How Oxygen Chambers, Apple Watches May Improve Treatment for Crohn's, Ulcerative Colitis: Several studies presented at the 2023 Crohn’s and Colitis Congress shed new light on treatments for the future including: the use of wearable devices such as Apple watches in the management of IBD; “With a pooled overall clinical response rate of 87 percent and low adverse event rate, our review emphasizes the potential clinical benefit and safety of adjunctive HBOT (hyperbaric oxygen therapy) in refractory cases of fistulizing Crohn’s disease,”

 

Chemotherapy before surgery cuts risk of colon cancer returning, trial finds: 1,053 colon cancer patients from 85 hospitals in the UK, Denmark and Sweden were involved in the study. The FOxTROT trial showed that giving colon cancer patients chemotherapy before rather than after surgery reduced the chance of cancer returning within 2 years by 28%. Journal of Clinical Oncology 

 

Viagra and Heart Health: Why Taking ED Drugs May Help Extend Your Life Too: Erectile dysfunction (ED) can be an early warning sign of heart disease or other circulatory issues. However, ED medications like Viagra, Cialis, and Levitra may improve heart health by affecting blood vessels throughout the body.  New research suggests that this effect may protect men from heart attacks, stroke, and other major cardiovascular events. A study of 23,000 men with ED found that those who took medication to treat the condition had a 39% lower rate of death due to cardiovascular disease. The Journal of Sexual Medicine.

 

Rest isn't best: Getting kids back to school sooner after a concussion can mean a faster recovery:Contrary to popular belief, rest may not always be the best cure after a concussion, new study published inJAMA Network Open finds. In fact, an early return to school may be associated with a lower symptom burden after suffering a concussion and, ultimately, faster recovery. 



CAREGIVERS

Spouses of People With Cancer Face Psychiatric Disorder Risk: A new studyTrusted Source of more than 3 million individuals in Denmark and Sweden found that the spouses of people diagnosed with cancer face risks of developing psychiatric disorders, with the risks being the highest during the first year after diagnosis. Experts say the medical community needs to take these findings into consideration and change treatment from patient-focused to family-focused.

 

 

OTHER

Can You Access Abortion Pills at Your Local Pharmacy? Retail pharmacies will now be able to dispense abortion pills to people with a prescription, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Walgreens and CVS said they will offer the medication. Healthline 

 

U.S. Cancer Death Rate Has Fallen 33% Since 1991:  The American Cancer Society (ACS) published their annual report on cancer statisticsTrusted Source. The research published on January 12 incorporates data from numerous sources, including the National Cancer Institute, the North American Association of Central Cancer Registries, the National Center for Health Statistics, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  Researchers found less disparity in the cancer rates between men and women. But they found that age is still a significant factor in overall treatment outcomes. The rates of cancer of those ages 20 to 49 are drastically higher in women (80%) but if we shift the age bracket to those over age 75, men are overrepresented at a 50% higher rate

 

Gas Stoves: Health Dangers and How to Lower Your Risk: Recent comments from a commissioner at the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) have touched off some concerns that the federal government might be coming for your gas stove. That, however, is not going to happen, according to Alex Hoehn-Saric, chair of the CPSC. Experts say that although the research isn’t conclusive, there are concerns gas stoves can contribute to indoor air pollution. If you have a gas stove, you can reduce indoor pollution by opening windows or using air purifiers.

 

Multiple Sclerosis: Scientists Uncover a Connection Between MS Lesions and Depression:Researchers say lesions on the brain from multiple sclerosis (MS) may be a factor in people with the condition developing depression. Experts say at least 50 percent of people with MS will experience depression symptoms sometime in their life. They add that depression can also affect MS symptoms. That’s according to a new studyTrusted Source published in the journal Nature Mental Health.