Causes of a smell behind the ear include poor hygiene and infected ear piercings. Treatment depends on the cause. In this article, learn more about what makes the area behind the ears smell, as well as how to prevent this.
Tuesday, April 30, 2019
Medical News Today: What causes sharp stomach pain that comes and goes?
Many common problems can cause sharp stomach pain that comes and goes, including trapped gas and viruses. Learn about these and other causes in this article.
Medical News Today: What to know about a broken nose
A broken nose can result from a forceful impact to the face. Symptoms typically include pain, swelling, and bleeding. A person can often treat minor nose breaks at home, but more severe injuries may require medical treatment. Doctors can correct a misshapen nose with manual realignment or surgery. Learn more here.
Medical News Today: How to calculate the calories a person burns while sleeping
Even when resting or asleep, the body is continuously burning calories to stay alive and healthy. A person can estimate how many calories they burn while sleeping by first calculating their basal metabolic rate (BMR). BMR is the number of calories that the body burns each day when at rest. Learn more here.
Medical News Today: What is liver fibrosis?
Liver fibrosis occurs when chronic injury or inflammation causes a buildup of scar tissue. This interferes with the liver’s ability to function and regenerate. In this article, we look at how liver fibrosis develops and when treatment can reverse the damage.
Medical News Today: What are the best foods for vitamin C?
The body does not store excess vitamin C, so a person needs to absorb enough from food each day to meet the recommended intake. This article looks at the top 20 foods rich in vitamin C and ideas for incorporating them into the diet.
Medical News Today: Experts draft guidelines for Alzheimer's-like condition
Experts have defined an under-recognized, newly named condition that mimics Alzheimer's disease and propose guidelines for diagnosing and researching it.
Medical News Today: Poor sense of smell linked to increased mortality risk
A recent study found that a reduced sense of smell increased mortality risk, particularly in the participants who were healthiest at the start.
Medical News Today: Chronic fatigue syndrome: New test in sight
Using cutting-edge nanotechnology, scientists have designed a test that accurately identified chronic fatigue syndrome in 40 people.
Spring training: Moving from couch to 5K
Need a little motivation and structure to ramp up your walking routine this spring? Want to wake up your workouts? Consider trying a couch-to-5K program.
What is a couch-to-5K program?
These free or low-cost coaching plans are designed to help would-be runners train for a 5-kilometer race, which is about 3.1 miles. The programs are available online, or as apps or podcasts. They typically feature timed walking and running intervals that gradually phase out the walking over a period of about nine weeks.
Why try a couch-to-5K program?
“The purpose of a couch-to-5K program is to give you time to acclimate and start to enjoy the benefits of running and the sense of accomplishment of completing a distance safely,” says Dr. Adam Tenforde, director of the Running Medicine Program at the Harvard-affiliated Spaulding Rehabilitation Network. Running provides many cardiovascular benefits as well as an enhanced sense of well-being, he adds.
Even though these programs sound as though they’re geared for completely sedentary couch potatoes, that’s not necessarily true, he cautions. They often assume you can walk continuously for 30 minutes, which doesn’t apply to everyone.
For some people, an even easier, more gradual training regimen may be more appropriate. Also, keep in mind that you don’t have to run to do a 5K; many of these races also encourage walkers to participate as well. You’ll still reap the other rewards from committing to a race, such as being more challenged and motivated — and possibly more connected to your community. Many charitable “fun runs” benefit local schools or needy families. Some are in memory of people affected by illness or tragedy. See www.runningintheusa.com to find 5K races near you.
Before you begin
If you’re planning to walk or run your first 5K this spring, get your doctor’s approval before you start training. That’s especially important if you have heart disease or are at risk for it.
Comfortable walking or running shoes are a wise investment. Shoes that are too old or too tight in the toe box can cause or aggravate a bunion, a bony bump at the outer base of the big toe. Despite suggestions that people with flat feet or high arches need specific types of shoes, studies have found that “neutral” shoes (designed for average feet) work well for almost everyone. Walk or jog around the store when you try them on to make sure they feel good and fit properly.
You don’t need to buy special clothes: regular sweat pants or comfortable shorts and a t-shirt will suffice. Women should consider getting a supportive sports bra, however.
Slow and steady to start
- Always include a warm-up and cool-down — a few minutes of slow walking or jogging — with every exercise session.
- If you haven’t been exercising regularly, start by walking just five or 10 minutes a day, three days a week. Or, if you’re already a regular walker, add some short stints of jogging to each walking session.
- Gradually add minutes and days over the following four to six weeks.
- Once you’re up to 30 minutes a day, check how far you’re traveling. Keep increasing your distance every week until you reach 5 kilometers. Then slowly phase in more jogging and less walking over your route if you like.
For a good couch-to-5K guide, try this beginner’s program from the United Kingdom’s National Health Service.
Remember that you can always repeat a week. You’re less likely to sustain an injury if you make slow, steady progress. Pay close attention to your body and don’t push yourself too much, Dr. Tenforde advises. Former athletes who haven’t run in years may think they can pick up where they left off, but that’s not a smart move — they should also start low and go slow.
The post Spring training: Moving from couch to 5K appeared first on Harvard Health Blog.
Medical News Today: Obesity may put young people at risk of anxiety, depression
New research from Sweden has found an intriguing link between anxiety, depression, and obesity among children and teenagers ages 6–17 years.
Medical News Today: Psoriasis on black skin: What to know
Psoriasis is a skin condition that causes itchy, inflamed, and scaly patches. It can be more challenging to diagnose on black skin. Learn more about psoriasis on black skin in this article.
Medical News Today: Can 'forest bathing' reduce stress levels?
A recent review and meta-analysis sets out to uncover whether simply spending time in a forest can measurably reduce stress levels.
Monday, April 29, 2019
Medical News Today: What is lymphangitis?
Lymphangitis is a serious secondary infection that affects the lymph system. In this article, learn about the symptoms, what it looks like, and when to seek treatment.
Medical News Today: What to know about potassium deficiency symptoms
Symptoms of potassium deficiency, or hypokalemia, can include constipation, kidney problems, muscle weakness, fatigue, and heart issues. Poor diet, illnesses that cause severe vomiting or diarrhea, and certain medications can lead to low potassium levels. Learn more here.
Medical News Today: Eczema on black skin: What to know
Eczema is a common skin condition that causes inflammation and itching. It can present differently in different skin tones. In this article, learn about the symptoms of eczema and how it might look on black skin.
Highly accurate test reveals recurring prostate cancer
After being treated for prostate cancer, some men will experience a rise in PSA levels suggesting that new tumors lurk somewhere in the body. Finding these tiny cancerous deposits before they grow and spread any further is crucially important. But it’s also a challenge, since the budding tumors might be too small to see with standard tools such as magnetic resonance imaging.
Now scientists in California have published results with an experimental imaging technique that detects recurring prostate cancer with the best accuracy reported yet. Importantly, some of the unveiled tumors were “still curable with targeted radiation therapy,” said Dr. Thomas Hope, a radiologist at the University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine, who led the study. “That’s what makes the research so exciting.”
How the test works
The technique used in the study is a modified form of positron emission tomography, or PET scanning. When performing a PET scan, doctors will first give an intravenous injection of a harmless radioactive tracer that travels through the bloodstream and attaches to proteins on cancer cells. The PET scanning technology detects this radiation, and thus allows specially trained experts to see where the cancer cells are located.
Two tracers have been approved so far by the FDA for use in prostate cancer diagnostics: one called choline C11 and another called fluciclovine-18-F. Dr. Hope’s team, however, used an alternative tracer called gallium-68, which has yet to win regulatory approval in the United States. Gallium-68 has the advantage of binding specifically to a protein called prostate-specific membrane antigen (PMSA), which is highly expressed on metastatic cells and shows up better on PET imaging than the current FDA-approved agents.
During the study, USCF researchers and their colleagues at the University of California, Los Angeles enrolled 635 men with rising PSA levels after prostate cancer treatment. The men were each injected with gallium-68, and then given a whole-body PET scan. Importantly, the images were interpreted by independent readers who had no other knowledge of a patient’s clinical status.
What it found
Gallium-68 PET scans produced positive results in 75% of the men, and the likelihood of a positive hit grew as their PSA levels increased. For instance, 38% of men with PSA levels of 0.5 nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL) or less were flagged by PET scanning, compared to 97% of the men with PSA levels of 5 ng/mL or higher.
The test’s positive predictive value (PPV) — meaning the probability that it would identify men with metastatic cancer correctly — ranged between 84% and 92%. According to Dr. Hope, PET scans from the pelvic lymph nodes had the highest PPVs, while scans of the lower ribs, which are prone to features that mimic cancer, had the lowest.
“As we gain more experience with gallium-68/PSMA scanning, we’ll lower the false positive rate and increase the test’s accuracy even further,” said Dr. Hope, who is now working with UCLA on efforts to win FDA approval for the tracer.
The post Highly accurate test reveals recurring prostate cancer appeared first on Harvard Health Blog.
Medical News Today: How long does the flu last?
The flu is a common illness that affects thousands of people every year. In this article, learn about how long the flu lasts, what symptoms to expect, and when to seek medical treatment.
Medical News Today: What to know about vitamin K-2
Vitamin K has two main forms, K-1 and K-2. Vitamin K-2 is naturally present in fatty meats, dairy products, and fermented foods. Both forms of vitamin K are essential for blood clotting and bone health. However, vitamin K-2 may also protect against certain forms of cancer and heart disease. Learn more here.
Medical News Today: What to know about urethral syndrome
Urethral syndrome, also known as urethral pain syndrome, can occur when the urethra becomes irritated. Symptoms can include urination difficulties and pain or discomfort in the lower abdomen. Learn more about the symptoms, risk factors, and treatment of urethral syndrome here.
Medical News Today: What causes watery semen, and does it affect fertility?
Ejaculating multiple times per day, living with certain medical conditions, and having nutritional deficiencies can all cause watery semen. Watery semen may indicate a low sperm count, but it does not necessarily mean that a person is infertile. Learn more about the causes of watery semen here.
Medical News Today: Why does insomnia worsen distress of unpleasant memories?
Brain activity differences may help explain why distress from bad memories grows stronger in people with insomnia but fades in those without insomnia.
Medical News Today: Letter from the Editor: Transparency and trust
In this month's letter, Managing Editor Honor Whiteman discusses the importance of having access to online health information you can trust.
Medical News Today: How religious experiences may benefit mental health
New research examines the psychological effects of having deep religious or mystical experiences, whether they are induced by psychedelic drugs or not.
Medical News Today: Is it better to 'contain' rather than destroy cancer?
New research in mice suggests that we could stop some cancers from making a comeback by maintaining metastatic cells in a 'dormant' state.
TAVR: Aortic valve replacement without open-heart surgery
There has been a flurry of news recently about a procedure called trans-catheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) for the treatment of the common heart condition aortic stenosis (AS). You may even know people who have had this procedure performed.
What exactly is TAVR? And what’s all the excitement about?
What is aortic stenosis?
First, it’s important to understand the condition that TAVR is designed to treat, aortic stenosis. The aortic valve is the last structure of the heart through which blood passes before entering the aorta and circulating throughout the body. The aortic valve has three flaps, called leaflets, that open and close. When working normally, the aortic valve opens to allow blood to pass from the heart into the aorta, then closes to prevent blood from flowing back into the heart.
Over time, calcium deposits can develop on the leaflets of the valve, making it more difficult for the valve to open. This puts additional strain on the heart, which can lead to symptoms such as shortness of breath, lightheadedness, or chest pain with exertion. In severe cases, AS can lead to weakening of the heart muscle. If left untreated, the condition can be fatal.
Open heart surgery: Traditional treatment of aortic stenosis
Once AS is diagnosed and symptoms are present, it needs to be treated. The historical gold standard for treatment of AS has been open-heart surgery with surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR).
Open heart surgery is a major operation in which the surgeon opens the chest to access the heart. During open-heart surgery the heart is stopped, and blood is bypassed through a heart-lung machine. With SAVR, the diseased valve is removed and a new artificial valve is sewn into place.
SAVR has had good outcomes in patients who are suitable candidates for surgery. However, SAVR does have a long recovery period that generally requires five to seven days of hospitalization after surgery, and upwards of six weeks to make a full recovery. Also, there are many patients who require aortic valve replacement but have too many other medical conditions that make them unsuitable candidates for SAVR.
TAVR: A catheter-based treatment for aortic stenosis
TAVR is performed by placing a catheter in the femoral artery, the large blood vessel in the groin. A new heart valve mounted on another catheter is threaded through the initial catheter in the blood vessel and across the diseased aortic valve. The new valve is deployed by pushing the old valve leaflets to the side. The new valve leaflets start to function immediately.
In most cases, the procedure lasts 90 minutes and is performed under sedative medications without general anesthesia. Many patients are able to be discharged the following day and are usually back to normal activity within a week.
Benefits and risks of TAVR
The initial clinical trials of TAVR, begun in 2007, evaluated TAVR in patients who were too ill to be considered for SAVR. These trials showed benefit at extending quality and length of life in patients with severe AS. Since that time, trials have been performed comparing TAVR to SAVR in patients who are considered high risk and intermediate risk for traditional SAVR. In each of these studies, TAVR was shown to be no worse or even better than SAVR. Because of the quick recovery with TAVR, it soon became the standard of care for intermediate and high surgical risk patients with AS.
The recent news about TAVR concerns clinical trials conducted on the healthiest patients; that is, patients who are considered low-risk surgical candidates. The PARTNER 3 Trial and the CoreValve Low-Risk Trial were presented at the recent American College of Cardiology Meetings in March 2019. Both trials showed significant benefits of TAVR compared to SAVR, including reduced rates of death, stroke, and repeat hospitalizations. It is expected that TAVR in low-risk patients will gain FDA approval in the near future. When this occurs, TAVR will be the standard of care or all patients with AS.
While TAVR has major benefits, there are certainly risks involved, as there are for any major heart procedure. These risks may include heart attack, stroke, bleeding, and need for emergency surgery, but these risks are low. There is also potential damage to the electrical system of the heart that may result in the need for the placement of a permanent pacemaker.
Is TAVR right for you?
As appealing as TAVR may sound if you need your aortic valve replaced, it may not be suitable for everyone. For example, some people have heart valve anatomy that may make SAVR a better option for them.
If you need your aortic valve replaced, it is important to be evaluated by a heart team that includes your clinical cardiologist, an interventional cardiologist, and a cardiac surgeon. The heart team will evaluate you and review all of your relevant medical information. They will provide treatment options and will discuss the risks and benefits of the options with you.
Follow me on Twitter @PinakShahMD
The post TAVR: Aortic valve replacement without open-heart surgery appeared first on Harvard Health Blog.
Medical News Today: How stress eating might prime the body to store fat
New research in mice finds a molecular pathway that may explain why eating comfort food during stressful times can lead to increased weight gain.
Medical News Today: Does it matter what time of day you exercise?
Two new mouse studies suggest that exercise may affect metabolism differently in the evening than in the morning due to the circadian rhythm.
Sunday, April 28, 2019
As pensions threaten school-nurse programs, schools can get new Medicaid money for both physical and behavioral health
By Melissa Patrick
Kentucky Health News
Many of Kentucky's school districts have long struggled to pay for school nurses, let alone professionals in behavioral health care. And now some health departments may no longer be able to provide nurses because they will have to pay more into their employees' pension system.
But schools are about to get some help with their students' health needs, under state officials' plan to allow schools to use Medicaid funding to cover both physical- and behavioral-health services. More than two in five of the state's children are covered by Medicaid.
Kristi Putnam, deputy secretary of the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services, who has spearheaded this effort, said that by the start of the next school year, schools will be able to use Medicaid to serve all students enrolled in the program.
"I'm a former school teacher and I know how valuable it is to have health services and behavioral health services for kids right there at your school," Putnam said. Research shows that children who don't get needed care can suffer academically.
What's it all about?
Until December 2014, schools could only bill Medicaid for students who were disabled or met other limited criteria. That's when the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services changed the guidelines to allow states to provide services to any student who is enrolled in Medicaid, and get federal reimbursement for those services.
Only now has Kentucky decided to seek the money, a decision that seems largely driven by an increase of behavioral-health issues in schools.
Gaining access to these funds varies by state. In Kentucky, it requires an amendment to the Medicaid state plan and putting an appropriate billing process in place. Putnam said the amendment and fiscal analysis will be submitted May 1, with a request for an Aug. 1 start date and that they are still working on the billing aspect of the requirements.
She said the administration is working on the assumption that the funding will be approved and will start informing schools about it on May 1, because participation is optional.
States must provide matching money to get federal Medicaid dollars, 30% in Kentucky's case. Putnam said existing school-based Medicaid expenditures can count toward the match.
"The state and local funding that is being used right now for any health and behavioral-health service can be used as the match to draw down additional federal funds," she said. "So there is no increased costs to the state or to the school district."
Putnam said the amendment will be broadly written, so the new money can cover both physical- and mental-health care, along with provisions for telehealth.
"You have to have both," she said. "It's just exciting because there has been limited funding for behavioral-health services . . . but this will allow us to expand both, and we need to expand both."
Kentucky adults are strongly supportive of schools taking a more active role in helping families get health care services for their children, with 84% saying in the latest Kentucky Health Issues Poll that they favor such action.
So far, 14 states, including Kentucky, are either considering, actively pursuing or have already taken advantage of this additional Medicaid funding in their schools, according to a policy brief penned by three non-profits dedicated to health: Community Catalyst, Healthy Schools Campaign and Trust for America's Health.
Why does it matter?
For years, Kentucky schools have struggled to find funding for health care in schools. And while Putnam has pointed to the need for more behavioral health funding, school nurses have been on the chopping block for years as school and health-department budgets have decreased.
These cuts have forced schools to find creative ways to provide health care to students. Some have moved to school-based health centers, which provide care to students through a public-private partnership; others have used fewer nurses to cover more students. Others have relied on health departments, but cuts in federal and state funding have forced the departments to ask for more money from schools to fulfill this role.
That said, health departments' school-nurse programs could be at further risk because of the state's pension crisis, which on July 1 will require health departments to increase their pension obligation from 49.47% to 83.43% of payroll -- unless a special session of the state legislature changes that.
In the regular session, Gov. Matt Bevin vetoed a bill that would have offered some temporary relief to the health departments and has said he will call a special session to deal with the state's pension system early this summer.
The Marshall County Health Department decided last week to end its school-nurse program, in order to help pay for its possible extra pension obligation of $566,200 a year. In a news release, local health officials called it an "agonizing decision."
"The Marshall County Health Department school health program has been in our schools for over 25 years," they said. "Our school nurses have truly made a positive difference in the lives of our children, their families, the school system, and our community. Discontinuing this program is a tremendous loss for all of us."
Meanwhile, the need for health services in Kentucky schools is greater than ever, with students showing up at school with a long list of chronic physical-health and behavioral-health conditions, an electronic-cigarette epidemic that no one saw coming, as well as schools having to deal with issues around bullying, suicide, the drug epidemic and gun violence.
Mahak Kalra, the health policy director at Kentucky Youth Advocates, who has worked with the cabinet on this project, pointed to research that shows students with health problems, whether they be physical or behavioral, struggle to do well in school.
"So, providing those health services in the school setting can address their immediate health-care needs and can connect them to the services they need and really keep them learning," Kalra said.
She added that it will also reduce many of the barriers parents have to get their children health care, like transportation, non-flexible work schedules or simply finding a provider who will accept Medicaid.
Kalra and Putnam both noted that this additional funding will help support the School Safety and Resiliency Act, or Senate Bill 1, that among other things calls for one trained school resource officer in every school and one guidance counselor for every 250 students by July 1, 2021 or as funds and qualified personnel become available. School-based mental health services providers fall under a subsection of the guidance counselor requirements and are listed as optional.The bill has no funding attached to it.
"This is one way to have those school-based mental health providers provide those services," Kalra said.
Eva Stone, district health coordinator for the Jefferson County Public Schools, pointed out that Medicaid will only pay for licensed mental-health providers, not guidance counselors -- unless they have a special certification, which most of them don't.
Stone, who is also an advanced practice registered nurse, added that amending the state plan to define what this additional Medicaid funding will cover provides a great opportunity for Kentucky to meet all of the needs of the state's children, whether they be physical, mental or social -- like whether a child is homeless or has access to food or is being abused at home.
Stone has long said that school nurses are the best situated to coordinate all of these efforts because "that's what nurses are educated to do." Further, she said, making coordination of care reimbursable in the state health plan would allow for that coordination to happen.
"We have the opportunity to craft this in Kentucky in a way that would make all those players work together," she said.
The state says Kentucky has 1,688 students for each school psychologist; the national standard recommends 500 to 700.
The 2018 School Health Profiles Report shows that 41% of all middle and high schools in Kentucky have a part-time registered nurse and 58% have a full-time registered nurse. The Kentucky Health Issues Poll found that 92% of Kentucky adults would support a law to require a nurse in every school.
Kentucky Health News
Many of Kentucky's school districts have long struggled to pay for school nurses, let alone professionals in behavioral health care. And now some health departments may no longer be able to provide nurses because they will have to pay more into their employees' pension system.
But schools are about to get some help with their students' health needs, under state officials' plan to allow schools to use Medicaid funding to cover both physical- and behavioral-health services. More than two in five of the state's children are covered by Medicaid.
"I'm a former school teacher and I know how valuable it is to have health services and behavioral health services for kids right there at your school," Putnam said. Research shows that children who don't get needed care can suffer academically.
What's it all about?
Until December 2014, schools could only bill Medicaid for students who were disabled or met other limited criteria. That's when the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services changed the guidelines to allow states to provide services to any student who is enrolled in Medicaid, and get federal reimbursement for those services.
Only now has Kentucky decided to seek the money, a decision that seems largely driven by an increase of behavioral-health issues in schools.
Gaining access to these funds varies by state. In Kentucky, it requires an amendment to the Medicaid state plan and putting an appropriate billing process in place. Putnam said the amendment and fiscal analysis will be submitted May 1, with a request for an Aug. 1 start date and that they are still working on the billing aspect of the requirements.
She said the administration is working on the assumption that the funding will be approved and will start informing schools about it on May 1, because participation is optional.
States must provide matching money to get federal Medicaid dollars, 30% in Kentucky's case. Putnam said existing school-based Medicaid expenditures can count toward the match.
"The state and local funding that is being used right now for any health and behavioral-health service can be used as the match to draw down additional federal funds," she said. "So there is no increased costs to the state or to the school district."
Putnam said the amendment will be broadly written, so the new money can cover both physical- and mental-health care, along with provisions for telehealth.
"You have to have both," she said. "It's just exciting because there has been limited funding for behavioral-health services . . . but this will allow us to expand both, and we need to expand both."
Kentucky adults are strongly supportive of schools taking a more active role in helping families get health care services for their children, with 84% saying in the latest Kentucky Health Issues Poll that they favor such action.
Why does it matter?
For years, Kentucky schools have struggled to find funding for health care in schools. And while Putnam has pointed to the need for more behavioral health funding, school nurses have been on the chopping block for years as school and health-department budgets have decreased.
 |
| Kentucky Department of Education photo |
That said, health departments' school-nurse programs could be at further risk because of the state's pension crisis, which on July 1 will require health departments to increase their pension obligation from 49.47% to 83.43% of payroll -- unless a special session of the state legislature changes that.
In the regular session, Gov. Matt Bevin vetoed a bill that would have offered some temporary relief to the health departments and has said he will call a special session to deal with the state's pension system early this summer.
The Marshall County Health Department decided last week to end its school-nurse program, in order to help pay for its possible extra pension obligation of $566,200 a year. In a news release, local health officials called it an "agonizing decision."
"The Marshall County Health Department school health program has been in our schools for over 25 years," they said. "Our school nurses have truly made a positive difference in the lives of our children, their families, the school system, and our community. Discontinuing this program is a tremendous loss for all of us."
Meanwhile, the need for health services in Kentucky schools is greater than ever, with students showing up at school with a long list of chronic physical-health and behavioral-health conditions, an electronic-cigarette epidemic that no one saw coming, as well as schools having to deal with issues around bullying, suicide, the drug epidemic and gun violence.
Mahak Kalra, the health policy director at Kentucky Youth Advocates, who has worked with the cabinet on this project, pointed to research that shows students with health problems, whether they be physical or behavioral, struggle to do well in school.
"So, providing those health services in the school setting can address their immediate health-care needs and can connect them to the services they need and really keep them learning," Kalra said.
She added that it will also reduce many of the barriers parents have to get their children health care, like transportation, non-flexible work schedules or simply finding a provider who will accept Medicaid.
Kalra and Putnam both noted that this additional funding will help support the School Safety and Resiliency Act, or Senate Bill 1, that among other things calls for one trained school resource officer in every school and one guidance counselor for every 250 students by July 1, 2021 or as funds and qualified personnel become available. School-based mental health services providers fall under a subsection of the guidance counselor requirements and are listed as optional.The bill has no funding attached to it.
"This is one way to have those school-based mental health providers provide those services," Kalra said.
Eva Stone, district health coordinator for the Jefferson County Public Schools, pointed out that Medicaid will only pay for licensed mental-health providers, not guidance counselors -- unless they have a special certification, which most of them don't.
Stone, who is also an advanced practice registered nurse, added that amending the state plan to define what this additional Medicaid funding will cover provides a great opportunity for Kentucky to meet all of the needs of the state's children, whether they be physical, mental or social -- like whether a child is homeless or has access to food or is being abused at home.
Stone has long said that school nurses are the best situated to coordinate all of these efforts because "that's what nurses are educated to do." Further, she said, making coordination of care reimbursable in the state health plan would allow for that coordination to happen.
"We have the opportunity to craft this in Kentucky in a way that would make all those players work together," she said.
The state says Kentucky has 1,688 students for each school psychologist; the national standard recommends 500 to 700.
The 2018 School Health Profiles Report shows that 41% of all middle and high schools in Kentucky have a part-time registered nurse and 58% have a full-time registered nurse. The Kentucky Health Issues Poll found that 92% of Kentucky adults would support a law to require a nurse in every school.
Medical News Today: Just how effective is hypnosis at relieving pain?
Can hypnosis treat pain? A recent meta-analysis combines the findings of 85 studies and concludes that it could be an effective option for pain relief.
Medical News Today: How elderberries can help you fight the flu
New research shows how the power of elderberries — the fruit of a common European and North American shrub — can help our bodies fight the flu.
Saturday, April 27, 2019
Mother’s Day: Tools for coping when celebration brings pain
Mother’s Day is fast approaching. As an infertility counselor, I always greet the holiday with mixed emotions. I look forward to the lilacs in full bloom, the feeling that spring is finally here, and the chance to wish some of my clients a long awaited “Happy First Mother’s Day,” knowing that they struggled for years with infertility or recurrent miscarriage.
However, I am also reminded of what a difficult day this is for many women –– not only those struggling to become moms. It’s hard for women who have lost their mothers, mothers who have lost children, women who placed children for adoption, mothers who are far from their children geographically or emotionally, and anyone grappling with family conflict. Among all the flowers and sweet Mother’s Day brunches lives a lot of pain.
The build-up to Mother’s Day
I have struggled for many years with how to help reduce the sting of Mother’s Day. It’s only one day, some may think, and surely there are ways to cope with the fuss and fanfare of that day.
If only it was so simple.
In the greeting card section of every store, on restaurant websites, and in ads in every newspaper and glossy magazine, the build-up begins at least a month before Mother’s Day. Tune in to your local public radio station for news of the day, and instead you hear the yearly “send flowers for Mother’s Day” fundraiser. Some might argue that the lead-up to Mother’s Day is actually more stressful than the day itself.
Tools for coping
So how can we cope with the discomfort, and often pain, that Mother’s Day brings? Over the years, I have seen people adopt different coping strategies for Mother’s Day. There is no magic bullet, but here are some approaches you may find helpful. Some are directed mainly to women experiencing infertility. Others may help anyone.
Avoidance. If your mother lives at a distance, a phone call and card can cover Mother’s Day responsibilities. With neither a mother nor a mother-in-law on hand to wrestle through crowds for a restaurant brunch, you can pass the day enjoying a nice hike or bike ride, or an afternoon engrossed in a good movie or book.
Strategic planning. Many people would love to avoid Mother’s Day but can’t. Mom lives nearby or is coming for a visit, and there is no option other than to celebrate with her. Consider strategic planning. Figure out what you can do on Mother’s Day that will please your mother (or mother-in-law), while sparing you the pain that comes when you are in a restaurant where the staff is wishing every woman a “Happy Mother’s Day.” Strategic planning may be cooking at home or bringing nice takeout to your mom. Or find an outing not built around Mother’s Day, perhaps theater tickets or a day-trip adventure.
Positive activities. Positioning Mother’s Day as a time for a positive activity can be win-win whether you are on your own or spending the day with your mother. You might appreciate a Mother’s Day peace walk, where you (or both of you) can join together with other women and men to combat gun violence, child abuse, or other scourges of our world. Or you might try environmental acts in celebration of Mother Earth. Positive activities sidestep the commercialism that many find so unsettling on this greeting card holiday.
One more tool
Joining in. For some, the most comfortable approach to Mother’s Day is simply to join in. Yes, they may feel sad in a church service that honors mothers or at a park where families frolic. But some women find trying to avoid or counter Mother’s Day isolating. It only adds to their pain. They may feel proud of themselves for being able to camouflage their feelings, appearing to be very much a part of the Mother’s Day celebrations. Joining in challenges them in ways that they feel they can handle. It may even offer hope for easier Mother’s Days to come.
Let me finish with a hope for comfort on Mother’s Day. This year, I hope that as you listen to the ads for flowers, pass the array of greeting cards, and perhaps cringe at a banner announcing Mother’s Day brunch, you know that you are not alone.
The post Mother’s Day: Tools for coping when celebration brings pain appeared first on Harvard Health Blog.
Medical News Today: Why pet antibiotics could make their owners sick
British-based scientists have detected a gene that helps bacteria become resistant to the antibiotic linezolid. Crucially, this gene may spread to humans.
Medical News Today: How might obesity affect the brain?
New research uses MRI imaging to examine the connections between obesity and changes in the brain's gray and white matter volume and structure.
Friday, April 26, 2019
Medical News Today: Dry skin around the mouth: Causes and remedies
The skin around the mouth may become dry because of allergies, skin conditions, or irritants, including certain products. Learn more about the causes and treatments of dry skin around the mouth here.
Medical News Today: Which meals are low in carbs?
A low-carb diet can help with reaching and maintaining a healthy weight, and it may especially benefit people with diabetes. This diet tends to contain high levels of protein and fat, but it should also include a variety of fruits and vegetables. Here, we suggest healthful, low-carb meals for the whole day.
Medical News Today: What are the benefits of neem?
Neem comes from the Indian lilac tree. It is available as an oil or extract. In this article, learn about the uses and benefits of neem, as well as some safety considerations.
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Some cholesterol-lowering drugs work best when a person takes them in the evening, while others are equally effective in the morning. Learn more about different statins, including the best time of day to take them.
Medical News Today: What are the health benefits of buckwheat?
Buckwheat is a highly nutritious whole grain with a range of potential health benefits. In this article, we look at the benefits, nutritional value, and side effects of buckwheat.
Medical News Today: What is the GAPS diet? A complete overview
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New research in mouse models of human-derived cancers has found a new key factor that supports the growth and spread of aggressive tumors.
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New research examines the link between body mass index and cannabis use. The findings may seem counterintuitive, given that marijuana increases appetite.
Kentucky leads the way on many opioid-related efforts, and was well-represented at the four-day drug abuse summit in Atlanta
By Melissa Patrick
Kentucky Health News
Kentucky officials, researchers and clinicians were front and center at the eighth annual national summit on prescription drug abuse and heroin, started by Rep. Hal Rogers of Kentucky, participating in panels covering a range of topics, such as caring for babies who are born addicted to drugs and evidence-based protocols that help with early detection of substance-use disorders among youth.
“This public-health crisis has damaged our nation and ripped families apart. More than 70,000 people died of drug overdoses in 2017 alone and sometimes it’s hard to find hope in the midst of America’s deadliest drug epidemic,” said Rogers in a news release.
The summit was founded by Operation UNITE (Unlawful Narcotics Investigations, Treatment and Education), a Kentucky non-profit created by Rogers that leads education, treatment and law enforcement initiatives in 32 counties in Southern and Eastern Kentucky.
“Operation UNITE leaders were determined eight years ago to reach across state lines and share best practices with other communities looking for life-saving solutions,” Rogers said. “Each year at this summit, a little more hope shines through as we see shifts in more access to treatment, better policy and legislation, and more prevention programs.”
Attendance at the National Rx Drug Abuse and Heroin Summit in Atlanta April 22-25 was the largest yet, about 4,000. Kentucky was well represented, with a large contingent of researchers and health-care providers from the University of Kentucky on several panels. Here's a UK video about it:
One panel covered topics that centered around changes to Kentucky's laws and their potential impacts on patient care and the expansion of prescription data for public health surveillance. Another discussed a multidisciplinary model of care that allows people who come into the emergency room or hospital at UKHealthCare to get immediate treatment for their opioid-use disorder with medication assisted treatments, like buprenorphine, and then get an immediate referral to the First Bridge Clinic for further treatment and recovery care. In its first year of operation, over 300 individuals were referred for treatment with over one-third initiated care, according to a university news release.
Dr. Roger Humphries, the chair of emergency department, talked about how his views on addiction have evolved. He said that years ago he would have never considered treating a person with an opioid-use disorder in the emergency room, but that is no longer the case as evidence by his emergency room's participation in this innovative partnership with First Bridge Clinic.
"I used to think responsibility was fully on patients," he said, " but now I know this is a brain disorder -- one of my kids could fall into a problem like this."
UK President Eli Capilouto, who introduced Rogers on the first day, pointed out in a video about the event that the summit often sets the national agenda that drives the research around this topic. To that end, he noted that UK had been awarded $87 million by the National Institutes of Health to work toward reducing opioid overdose deaths in 16 counties by 40 percent in the next four years. It is one of four such grants totaling $350 million.
President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump addressed the attendees of the summit on Wednesday. She first highlighted her "Be Best" campaign that among other things raises awareness of neonatal abstinence syndrome and maternal health before she introduced the president.
The president presented a long list of efforts by his administration, including an investment of $6 billion over two years to combat the crisis. "Everyone here today is united by the same vital goal: to liberate our fellow Americans from the grip of drug addiction and to end the opioid crisis once and for all," he said. "We will never stop until our job is done."
Kentucky Justice Secretary John Tilley was one of four speakers to follow Trump's keynote address. Tilley spoke about the state's many innovative reforms and initiatives including "strengthening treatment in prisons, establishing the KY Help Call Center, local-option syringe exchange programs, expanded access to naloxone, a three-day prescription limit for acute pain, the Kentucky State Police Angel Initiative, and the newly-announced $87 million Kentucky CAN HEAL Project, among many other efforts," according to a cabinet news release. The project aims to reduce opioid-overdose deaths in 16 counties by 40 percent over the next four years.
Kentucky Health News
Kentucky officials, researchers and clinicians were front and center at the eighth annual national summit on prescription drug abuse and heroin, started by Rep. Hal Rogers of Kentucky, participating in panels covering a range of topics, such as caring for babies who are born addicted to drugs and evidence-based protocols that help with early detection of substance-use disorders among youth.
 |
| U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers spoke at the 2019 National Rx Drug Abuse and Heroin Summit in Atlanta. (Photo via Twitter) |
The summit was founded by Operation UNITE (Unlawful Narcotics Investigations, Treatment and Education), a Kentucky non-profit created by Rogers that leads education, treatment and law enforcement initiatives in 32 counties in Southern and Eastern Kentucky.
“Operation UNITE leaders were determined eight years ago to reach across state lines and share best practices with other communities looking for life-saving solutions,” Rogers said. “Each year at this summit, a little more hope shines through as we see shifts in more access to treatment, better policy and legislation, and more prevention programs.”
Attendance at the National Rx Drug Abuse and Heroin Summit in Atlanta April 22-25 was the largest yet, about 4,000. Kentucky was well represented, with a large contingent of researchers and health-care providers from the University of Kentucky on several panels. Here's a UK video about it:
Dr. Roger Humphries, the chair of emergency department, talked about how his views on addiction have evolved. He said that years ago he would have never considered treating a person with an opioid-use disorder in the emergency room, but that is no longer the case as evidence by his emergency room's participation in this innovative partnership with First Bridge Clinic.
"I used to think responsibility was fully on patients," he said, " but now I know this is a brain disorder -- one of my kids could fall into a problem like this."
UK President Eli Capilouto, who introduced Rogers on the first day, pointed out in a video about the event that the summit often sets the national agenda that drives the research around this topic. To that end, he noted that UK had been awarded $87 million by the National Institutes of Health to work toward reducing opioid overdose deaths in 16 counties by 40 percent in the next four years. It is one of four such grants totaling $350 million.
President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump addressed the attendees of the summit on Wednesday. She first highlighted her "Be Best" campaign that among other things raises awareness of neonatal abstinence syndrome and maternal health before she introduced the president.
 |
| Justice Secretary John Tilley at the summit (Photo via Twitter) |
Kentucky Justice Secretary John Tilley was one of four speakers to follow Trump's keynote address. Tilley spoke about the state's many innovative reforms and initiatives including "strengthening treatment in prisons, establishing the KY Help Call Center, local-option syringe exchange programs, expanded access to naloxone, a three-day prescription limit for acute pain, the Kentucky State Police Angel Initiative, and the newly-announced $87 million Kentucky CAN HEAL Project, among many other efforts," according to a cabinet news release. The project aims to reduce opioid-overdose deaths in 16 counties by 40 percent over the next four years.
Effort mounted to find and treat hepatitis C, which is spreading; most people who have it probably don't know they have it
"A multimillion-dollar effort to fight hepatitis C was introduced Thursday in Louisville with the help of Gov. Matt Bevin as well as medical professionals and health advocates," Darla Carter reports for Insider Louisville.
The five-year, five-state project in Kentucky and four other states will use screenings, community partnerships and prevention programs, and strengthen the health-care infrastructure to fight the liver disease, Carter reports. The project, called HepConnect, will serve Kentucky, Indiana, North Carolina, Tennessee and West Virginia.
The five-year, five-state project in Kentucky and four other states will use screenings, community partnerships and prevention programs, and strengthen the health-care infrastructure to fight the liver disease, Carter reports. The project, called HepConnect, will serve Kentucky, Indiana, North Carolina, Tennessee and West Virginia.
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| "We can't afford to ignore it," Gov. Bevin said. (Darla Carter photo) |
Many people who have hepatitis C don’t know it because it often doesn't present symptoms, said Derek Spencer, a lobbyist for Gilead Sciences, the drug maker funding the project. The state of Kentucky estimates that more than 40,000 Kentuckians have the disease, but “The actual number is likely four to five times that amount,” said the state Cabinet for Health and Family Services.
The opioid epidemic is spreading the hep-C virus, Spencer said: “The majority of new HCV infections in the Appalachian region are attributed to the results of syringe-sharing practices and other equipment associated with injecting drugs.”
Carter notes, "Other ways of acquiring the virus include sharing personal items, such as razors and toothbrushes; getting a tattoo or body piercing in an unregulated setting; or even sometimes through sexual activity." If the illness goes undetected, it “can progress to liver damage, liver failure, liver cancer and death,” Spencer said.
The opioid epidemic is spreading the hep-C virus, Spencer said: “The majority of new HCV infections in the Appalachian region are attributed to the results of syringe-sharing practices and other equipment associated with injecting drugs.”
Carter notes, "Other ways of acquiring the virus include sharing personal items, such as razors and toothbrushes; getting a tattoo or body piercing in an unregulated setting; or even sometimes through sexual activity." If the illness goes undetected, it “can progress to liver damage, liver failure, liver cancer and death,” Spencer said.
Research by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia showed a 364% increase in the number of acute hep C cases "from 2006 to 2012 among young people, mainly whites living in urban and non-urban areas," Carter notes.
Gov. Matt Bevin said at the announcement that hep C was once considered a chronic disease of baby boomers, but we’ve now seen it “leap into younger generations,” he said. “We can’t afford to ignore it.”
Other at the April 25 event "talked about the need to lessen the stigma surrounding hepatitis C and drug use, and a panel of experts from the University of Louisville Hepatitis C Center and elsewhere spoke of the need to address not only the person injecting drugs but also family members who might be infected or impacted," Carter reports..
“Pregnant women can pass hepatitis C on to their babies,” nurse practitioner Barbra Cave said.
Other at the April 25 event "talked about the need to lessen the stigma surrounding hepatitis C and drug use, and a panel of experts from the University of Louisville Hepatitis C Center and elsewhere spoke of the need to address not only the person injecting drugs but also family members who might be infected or impacted," Carter reports..
“Pregnant women can pass hepatitis C on to their babies,” nurse practitioner Barbra Cave said.
The first year of the project will cost $11 million. "The project is being led by the Harm Reduction Coalition, a national organization that promotes the health and dignity of people and communities affected by drug use," Carter reports. It has a Kentucky branch.
Medical News Today: Patterns of antibiotic use may predict cardiovascular risk
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Ease anxiety and stress: Take a (belly) breather
Quick: think of three things that make you feel anxious or stressed. Most of us have no trouble reeling off answers. And people who suffer from anxiety disorders — such as social anxiety, phobias, or generalized anxiety — may have a variety of triggers that send anxiety soaring. While belly breathing alone can’t fix deep-seated anxieties, it works well as a tool to help ease anxiety and garden-variety stress. Regularly engaging in belly breathing (or trying the mini strategy described below) can help you turn a fight-or-flight response into a relaxation response that’s beneficial to your health.
How should you breathe?
You take up to 23,000 breaths per day, so make sure you do it right.
How should you breathe? Like a sleeping child, says Dr. Katherine Rosa of the Harvard-affiliated Benson-Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine. “If you ever watch children sleep, they all breathe from the belly and not the chest. This relaxed state is the more normal way to breathe.”
Yet most people are chest breathers, which is how we react to stress. When we sense a threat, our fight-or-flight response automatically kicks in. We breathe at a rapid pace to suck in extra oxygen, to fuel our heart and muscles so we can flee the danger.
Of course, we don’t need our fight-or-flight to escape predators anymore. Our threats now come from the stress of emails, personal confrontations, daily news, and traffic jams.
“Your fight-or-flight response is meant to be a short-term reaction that comes and goes,” says Dr. Rosa. “But today, we are surrounded by so many stressors that we constantly stay in this state of tension. It doesn’t turn off, and we often don’t even notice it.” The result: we have become a nation of chest breathers.
Feel it in your belly
One way to change our reaction to modern stress is to learn how to belly breathe instead of chest breathe. Belly breathing stimulates the vagus nerve, which runs from the head down the neck, through the chest, and to the colon. This activates your relaxation response, reducing your heart rate and blood pressure and lowering stress levels.
If you are not familiar with belly breathing, try this exercise: sit in a chair, lean forward, and place your elbows on your knees. Then breathe naturally. “This position forces you to breathe from the belly, so you know what the sensation feels like,” says Dr. Rosa.
A mini strategy to ease anxiety and stress
A strategy to teach yourself mindful belly breathing is to practice what Dr. Rosa calls “the mini.” Here’s what you do: every time you feel stressed, simply take three slow and controlled deep belly breaths. “It’s a simple act, but this interrupts the fight-or-flight response and puts it on pause,” says Dr. Rosa. “Over time, belly breathing can buffer your resistance to your fight-or-flight response, so you are not as sensitive to stress triggers.”
To help you be more mindful about your breathing pattern, place one hand on your belly and the other on your chest. “You want the chest hand to be still and the belly hand to move out like you are blowing up a balloon,” says Dr. Rosa.
She suggests practicing belly breathing throughout the day, like once every hour or up to 10 to 15 times per day. “As it becomes more of a habit, you can automatically engage belly breathing whenever you face a stressful event.”
The post Ease anxiety and stress: Take a (belly) breather appeared first on Harvard Health Blog.
Medical News Today: Innovative patch may reduce muscle damage after a heart attack
An interdisciplinary team of researchers has designed a patch that can limit damage after a heart attack. The patch was successfully tested in rats.
Thursday, April 25, 2019
Medical News Today: Is drinking cold water bad for a person?
Drinking enough water is vital to health and good bodily functioning. However, some research suggests that the temperature of water when a person drinks it is also important. Here, we discuss whether cold water can be bad for health and if there are any risks or benefits of drinking cold water vs. warm water.
Medical News Today: How to recognize and treat an infected wound
Symptoms of an infected wound can include increasing pain, redness, and swelling in the affected area. A person may be able to treat minor wound infections at home. However, people with more severe symptoms or larger wounds should seek medical attention. Learn more here.
Medical News Today: What causes dry skin on a baby's face?
Babies often experience dry skin on their face. Their skin is more sensitive than adult skin and has not yet adapted to the environment outside the womb. In this article, we look at the possible causes of dry skin on a baby's face and possible home remedies and treatments.
Medical News Today: What to know about Piaget's stages of cognitive development
Some psychologists believe that children go through four separate stages of cognitive development, which they call Piaget’s stages. Learn more about these stages, what they mean, and how to use them, here.
Kentucky teens' use of electronic cigarettes and vapes doubled from 2016 to 2018, and is higher than national rates, survey finds
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| Use of electronic cigarettes and vapes, tracked since 2014, is shown by the blue lines. |
Kentucky Health News
A survey of Kentucky teenagers shows that their rate of using electronic cigarettes and vapes doubled from 2016 to 2018, and all four grades surveyed had rates higher than the national rates.
When Kentucky high-school seniors were asked if they had used e-cigarettes or vapes in the past 30 days, 26.7% said they had. That was more than double the 12.2% rate found by the 2016 survey.
Use by sophomores, or 10th graders, increased to 23.2% from 11.3%; researchers consider the 10th-grade figures to be the better indicator for use by high-school students. Use by eighth graders jumped to 14.2% from 7.3%, and sixth-grader use increased to 4.2% from 2.3% over 2016.
The 2018 National Youth Tobacco Survey, which uses slightly different wording, found that 21 percent of students in high school and nearly 5 percent in middle school reported using e-cigarettes and vapes. (Those numbers represented increases of 78 percent 48 percent, respectively, in high-school and middle-school use, from 2017.)
The Kentucky Incentives for Prevention survey is taken every two years. In 2018 it was taken by more than 159,000 students in 151 of the state's 173 public-school districts. For the first time, it included Jefferson County, the state's largest district, but still did not include Fayette County, Hardin County, Warren County, Bowling Green and 18 other districts.
"This unprecedented two-year surge in Kentucky youth vaping and e-cigarette use underscores the urgency of our efforts to warn kids and the adults in their lives about the dangers of these tobacco products for youth," said Ben Chandler, president and CEO of the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky.
"E-cigarettes and vapes are chock-full of nicotine that can cause both immediate and permanent brain damage to youth. They prime the developing brain for addictions to other substances. They can cause cancer and lung damage. And they have been known to explode and cause poisoning among very young kids," Chandler said.
"We urge every Kentucky school district that doesn't already have a tobacco-free campus policy to expedite their plans to comply with the new tobacco-free schools bill. We also urge parents, teachers and other adults to talk to kids about e-cigs and help them understand that they are absolutely not safe for kids or young adults."
"E-cigarettes and vapes are chock-full of nicotine that can cause both immediate and permanent brain damage to youth. They prime the developing brain for addictions to other substances. They can cause cancer and lung damage. And they have been known to explode and cause poisoning among very young kids," Chandler said.
"We urge every Kentucky school district that doesn't already have a tobacco-free campus policy to expedite their plans to comply with the new tobacco-free schools bill. We also urge parents, teachers and other adults to talk to kids about e-cigs and help them understand that they are absolutely not safe for kids or young adults."
The survey was released April 25 by the Substance Abuse Prevention Program in Kentucky's Department for Behavioral Health, Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities. A report by region, based on 10th graders, is to be released in early summer.
The survey primarily assesses alcohol, tobacco and other drug use, but also looks at suicide and other high risk behaviors.
These school districts did not participate in the survey: Anchorage, Barbourville, Beechwood, Berea, Bowling Green, Dawson Springs, East Bernstadt, Fayette County, Fort Thomas, Glasgow, Hardin County, Hopkins County, Kenton County, Laurel County, Lee County, Logan County, Paintsville, Raceland, Rockcastle County, Russellville, Science Hill and Warren County.
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Roundtable at Marion County High School explores the phenomenon of electronic cigarettes among teenagers
By Emily LaForme
The Lebanon Enterprise
“Over the past two years it’s become more common,” said student Brianna Meeks. “I started seeing it more in school this year, in the bathrooms and in the parking lot after school.”
Meeks was talking about the use of electronic cigarettes, including Juuls and other vapes, inside Marion County High School. It isn’t just a fad here; it’s becoming prevalent across the country.
“They hide it in their shirts, or you see them coming up the hill with a big puff of smoke, you kind of know what’s going on, between classes in the bathrooms,” said instructional assistant Robert Spalding.
Student Kelly Miles said, “You’ll see three girls going into one stall in the bathroom.”
Miles and Meeks were among MCHS students who participated in a roundtable discussion with school staff last week about the rise of e-cigarette products in school. Every student said they had at least one friend that smokes an e-cig product or had tried it. The senior students estimated that approximately 75 percent of the senior class use e-cigs, and around 90 percent have tried them.
The Lebanon Enterprise
“Over the past two years it’s become more common,” said student Brianna Meeks. “I started seeing it more in school this year, in the bathrooms and in the parking lot after school.”
Meeks was talking about the use of electronic cigarettes, including Juuls and other vapes, inside Marion County High School. It isn’t just a fad here; it’s becoming prevalent across the country.
“They hide it in their shirts, or you see them coming up the hill with a big puff of smoke, you kind of know what’s going on, between classes in the bathrooms,” said instructional assistant Robert Spalding.
Student Kelly Miles said, “You’ll see three girls going into one stall in the bathroom.”
Miles and Meeks were among MCHS students who participated in a roundtable discussion with school staff last week about the rise of e-cigarette products in school. Every student said they had at least one friend that smokes an e-cig product or had tried it. The senior students estimated that approximately 75 percent of the senior class use e-cigs, and around 90 percent have tried them.
According to drugfree.org, 3 million high-school students, or 20 percent of the total, are vaping, and the percentage grows every year.
“As far as the effects of it, we don’t necessarily understand it yet, so that is concerning,” said Principal Thad Elmore. “We are treating it much like we would treat the use of tobacco products; we confiscate it and can enforce consequences for repeat offenders, like in-school suspension. We do also try to offer support, medical help in regards to it or other assistance, because it is addictive and we understand that.”
According to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, studies have shown that young people who use e-cigarettes are more likely to begin smoking cigarettes in the future.
The CDC also reported that e-cigarettes do not release harmless vapor, but contain substances such as nicotine, ultrafine particulate, volatile organic compounds and cancer-causing chemicals, and heavy metals such as nickel, tin and lead, which can be inhaled into the lungs and cause further damage. The flavor chemicals can contain diacetyl, which has been linked to lung disease.
According to the CDC, Juuls have a high level of nicotine. A single pod contains as much nicotine as 20 cigarettes.
“I wonder, is it more concentrated, does it get you some sort of high or hit from it because the nicotine is more concentrated?” asked School Resource Officer William Walsh. No one had an answer to give him.
Student Elise Carpenter said, “That’s just something I’ve never been interested in. I’ve never taken a hit off one. . . . I’ve heard people say they’ll get a high or a buzz off it, but I don’t understand it.”
Miles said, “I think teens know the effects, but they don’t want to face them. You can’t see the damage it’s doing to your body. If you see someone with a cigarette, you see the ashes and the smoke has a grayer look and distinct smell. With the Juuls and stuff, it doesn’t seem harmful.”
Miles said, “I think teens know the effects, but they don’t want to face them. You can’t see the damage it’s doing to your body. If you see someone with a cigarette, you see the ashes and the smoke has a grayer look and distinct smell. With the Juuls and stuff, it doesn’t seem harmful.”
The students said vaping products can cost $20 or more, and you have to pay for the refillable flavor pods, which can become costly.
“It’s expensive. Some kids go through them like crazy,” said Miles. “I hear kids bragging about how often they go through pods. I always wonder, why you would want to spend your money on that?”
So where does MCHS go from here?
“What I would like to do is consider the conversation, work with our Youth Services staff members, and have another conversation next year again and keep the conversation going,” Elmore said. “We definitely need to start talking about further educating our students, and parents, about e-cigarettes.”
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Phytonutrients: Paint your plate with the colors of the rainbow
Did you know that adding color to your meals will help you live a longer, healthier life? Colorful fruits and vegetables can paint a beautiful picture of health because they contain phytonutrients, compounds that give plants their rich colors as well as their distinctive tastes and aromas. Phytonutrients also strengthen a plant’s immune system. They protect the plant from threats in their natural environment such as disease and excessive sun.
When humans eat plant foods, phytonutrients protect us from chronic diseases. Phytonutrients have potent anti-cancer and anti-heart disease effects. And epidemiological research suggests that food patterns that include fruits and vegetables are associated with a reduced risk of many chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease, and may be protective against certain types of cancers.
The American Cancer Society recommends 2 1/2 cups per day of fruits and vegetables. The most recent US Dietary Guidelines recommends consuming even more: 2 1/2 cups of vegetables and 2 cups of fruit, based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
Getting started
To get started, try to include as many plant-based colors in your meals and snacks as possible. Each color provides various health benefits and no one color is superior to another, which is why a balance of all colors is most important. Getting the most phytonutrients also means eating the colorful skins, the richest sources of the phytonutrients, along with the paler flesh. Try to avoid peeling foods like apples, peaches and eggplant, lest you lose their most concentrated source of beneficial chemicals.
Phytonutrients in every color
Following is a rundown of fruits and vegetables sorted by color, along with the phytonutrients they contain, and which foods you’ll find them in.
Red: Rich in the carotenoid lycopene, a potent scavenger of gene-damaging free radicals that seems to protect against prostate cancer as well as heart and lung disease.
Found in: strawberries, cranberries, raspberries, tomatoes, cherries, apples, beets, watermelon, red grapes, red peppers, red onions
Orange and yellow: Provide beta cryptothanxin, which supports intracellular communication and may help prevent heart disease.
Found in: carrots, sweet potatoes, yellow peppers, oranges, bananas, pineapple, tangerines, mango, pumpkin, apricots, winter squash (butternut, acorn), peaches, cantaloupe, corn
Green: These foods are rich in cancer-blocking chemicals like sulforaphane, isocyanate, and indoles, which inhibit the action of carcinogens (cancer-causing compounds).
Found in: spinach, avocados, asparagus, artichokes, broccoli, alfalfa sprouts, kale, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, kiwi fruit, collard greens, green tea, green herbs (mint, rosemary, sage, thyme, and basil)
Blue and purple: Have powerful antioxidants called anthocyanins believed to delay cellular aging and help the heart by blocking the formation of blood clots.
Found in: blueberries, blackberries, elderberries, Concord grapes, raisins, eggplant, plums, figs, prunes, lavender, purple cabbage
White and brown: The onion family contains allicin, which has anti-tumor properties. Other foods in this group contain antioxidant flavonoids like quercetin and kaempferol.
Found in: onions, cauliflower, garlic, leeks, parsnips, daikon radish, mushrooms
Reach for the rainbow
Reaching a total of 4 1/2 cups of colorful fruits and vegetable a day is the goal for a powerful plate. Here are some ways to help make it happen:
- Servings are not that big. 1/2 cup of chopped raw vegetables or fruit makes one serving. Leafy greens take up more space, so 1 cup chopped counts as a serving. 1/2 cup of dried fruit equals one serving.
- Think in twos. Try to eat two servings in the morning, two in the afternoon, and two at night.
- Snacks count, too. Feeling hungry between meals? Munch on a piece of fruit or grab some sliced raw vegetables to go.
- When shopping, look at your cart. If you find most of your choices are the same one or two colors, swap out a few to increase the colors — and phytonutrients — in your cart.
- Dine out colorfully. Start out with a cup of vegetable soup. Choose an arugula or spinach salad and see if they can add extra vegetables. Top off your meal with fresh fruit for dessert and a soothing cup of green tea.
- Look local. Farmers markets, co-ops, buying clubs, and community supported farms are usually great sources of fresh produce. Ask a farmer for fresh ideas on how to prepare fruits and vegetables that are new to you.
- Frozen produce is okay too! It is best to eat in season, but since seasonal produce may be limited, frozen fruits and vegetables count and are just as nutritious as fresh.
Remember, color in fruits and veggies is king, and the greater variety the better.
The post Phytonutrients: Paint your plate with the colors of the rainbow appeared first on Harvard Health Blog.
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Researchers look at what happens in the brains of people with vision loss to understand what allows them to hear better than their fully sighted peers.
Medical News Today: Exercises and stretches for hip pain
There are many possible causes of hip pain. However, gently stretching and exercising the hips can often help relieve this pain. In this article, we describe 14 hip exercises that can strengthen the muscles, restore mobility, and ease pain.
Wednesday, April 24, 2019
Medical News Today: Is an itchy scalp linked with hair loss?
An itchy scalp links to hair loss in several different ways. In this article, we look at the causes of each of these issues, the links between them, and possible treatments and home remedies.
Medical News Today: Hair breakage: 10 causes and ways to repair
Many factors can cause hair breakage, including hair styling methods, products, diet, and stress. This article looks at common causes and how to treat dry, brittle, or broken hair.
Medical News Today: How to recognize the early signs of lupus
Lupus is an autoimmune condition that can cause inflammation and other problems in the body. Many of the symptoms are similar to those of other conditions, so doctors may find it hard to diagnose. Learn about the early symptoms, as well as the diagnosis and treatment, of lupus here.
Medical News Today: Best ways to remove facial hair at home
People can safely remove facial hair at home using various creams and tools. Learn more about different methods and how to use them here.
E. coli outbreak keeps spreading, but may be slowing down
Officials said they are still trying to find the source of the outbreak, which evidence suggests is ground beef.
"CDC is not recommending that consumers avoid eating ground beef at this time," the agency said. "Consumers and restaurants should handle ground beef safely and cook it thoroughly to avoid foodborne illness. At this time, CDC is not recommending that retailers stop serving or selling ground beef."
Escherichia coli is a common bacterium found in the digestive tracts of mammals. Certain strains, such as the one numbered O103, which is identified with this outbreak, can produce Shiga toxin, which causes diarrhea (often bloody), severe stomach cramps, and vomiting.
The strain of E. coli has been identified in 156 sick people, 20 of whom were hospitalized. No deaths have been reported from the outbreak. Kentucky has 65 cases; Tennessee has 41, Georgia 33 and Ohio eight. A CDC chart indicated that fewer cases have been reported in recent weeks, but it can take as long as four weeks for the disease to develop.
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| U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention chart, adapted by Kentucky Health News |
Medical News Today: Best ways to remove upper lip hair
People can remove upper lip hair using a range of creams, tools, and dermatological treatments. In this article, we look at 10 of the best methods.
Medical News Today: Study reveals how general anesthetics affect the brain
For the first time, scientists have shown that general anesthetics activate the same small group of cells in the brain as that which induces sleep.
Medical News Today: What to know about diabetic shock
Diabetic shock occurs when a person’s blood sugar levels become dangerously low. Diabetic shock is not a medical term, but people sometimes use it to refer to severe hypoglycemia. This article provides an overview of this condition and its treatment.
Medical News Today: Ginkgo seeds may help keep skin blemish-free, but there's a catch
Ginkgo seed extracts can fight bacteria that harm the skin, but researchers are still a long way from developing them into safe products.
Health foundation creates public service announcements about dangers of teen e-cigarette use and offers them free to anyone
By Melissa Patrick
Kentucky Health News
An explosion of electronic-cigarette use by Kentucky teenagers has prompted the launch of a statewide campaign to debunk the myths that many teens have about these products, such as the belief they produce only water vapor. The campaign features Kentucky students and is called "I Just Didn't Know."
In addition to the 30-second public service announcements, the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky campaign includes an Instagram account, a website with information and tools for both youth and adults, and a YouTube channel. The campaign materials are free to anyone who would like to use them, including schools, health departments, youth groups and all media organizations. The launch was announced Tuesday, April 22.
"We have an epidemic raging right now all across the country and we want to do whatever we can to stem it here in Kentucky," Ben Chandler, CEO and president of the foundation, said in an interview. "One of the best ways to do that is to have young people talking to other young people. . . . and we love the tag line, "I Just Didn't Know," because anybody that we talk to about this, that is typically their response."
A 2018 federal report found that one in five high school students and one in 20 middle schoolers used e-cigarettes in 2018, which was a 78 percent jump for high schoolers over 2017 and a 48 percent jump for middle schoolers. It was reported at the 2019 Tobacco Conference last week that Kentucky data shows that e-cigarette use is as high as 75% among students in some Kentucky high schools.
"For decades we've been making progress in reducing smoking rates among youth in the country and in Kentucky, but recently we've made a u-turn. Now we are going in the wrong direction," he said.
E-cigarette aerosol includes cancer-causing chemicals; ultrafine particles that include heavy metals, such as nickel, tin and lead; flavorings like diacetyl, which has been linked to a serious lung disease called "popcorn lung"; and other toxic gases that pose health risk to users and bystanders, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. They also have high levels of nicotine, which not only creates a powerful addiction but can also harm the brain development of youth.
In one of the PSAs, Claire Ramsey, a student from Henry County, says: "It has just as much nicotine as a pack of cigarettes does. I could get addicted to this. I'm only 11 years old. . . . I thought it was just water vapor, but it's not. I just didn't know."
Sen. Julie Raque Adams, a Louisville Republicanwho has long been a champion of tobacco-free policies, told the group that as the mother of two teenage boys she has had to deal with issues around vaping in her own home and that her boys have told her that they "just didn't know" that there was so much nicotine in them.
Adams applauded the foundation for creating the PSAs, which she said could also be used to educate policy makers who also "just don't know" about the dangers of e-cigarettes.
Alivia Hackworth, a Johnson County Middle School student who was featured in one of the PSAs along with classmate Chloe Dyer, was part of a group that worked with state Sen. Brandon Smith, R-Hazard, to create a bill that would have created an anonymous hotline for students to report concerns about e-cig and tobacco use.
The club won first place for its efforts at the state Governor's Cup competition and will be in an international contest at the University of Massachusetts Amherst in June.
The bill almost passed the General Assembly, and Alivia said the Community Problem Solving club plans to get it introduced again next year.
The legislature did pass a tobacco-free schools bill that Gov. Matt Bevin signed into law. It will take effect July 1, 2020. School districts have three years to opt out of its provisions.
Another thing to worry about, Alivia said, is that these products are causing students in her school to get chemical burns in their mouths and also causing them to have persistent coughs.
"I just want help for my friends, because they are getting sick from this, and they are scared to tell an adult because they feel like they are going to get in trouble," she said.
Richard Hackworth, Alivia's father and a science teacher at her middle school, told Kentucky Health News that their school district had implemented all elements of the students' bill, including an educational component and the recommendations for how to handle violations.
"Until our Community Problem Solving team identified this problem, we just didn't know," he said.
A day after the statewide campaign was announced, Jefferson County Public Schools announced its own anti-vaping campaign, called "Vaping Equals," an intentionally incomplete sentence that is meant to be filled in with facts about e-cigarettes, Spectrum News reports. This campaign includes a classroom component, informational posters and a new website www.vapingequals.com.
Kentucky Health News
An explosion of electronic-cigarette use by Kentucky teenagers has prompted the launch of a statewide campaign to debunk the myths that many teens have about these products, such as the belief they produce only water vapor. The campaign features Kentucky students and is called "I Just Didn't Know."
In addition to the 30-second public service announcements, the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky campaign includes an Instagram account, a website with information and tools for both youth and adults, and a YouTube channel. The campaign materials are free to anyone who would like to use them, including schools, health departments, youth groups and all media organizations. The launch was announced Tuesday, April 22.
"We have an epidemic raging right now all across the country and we want to do whatever we can to stem it here in Kentucky," Ben Chandler, CEO and president of the foundation, said in an interview. "One of the best ways to do that is to have young people talking to other young people. . . . and we love the tag line, "I Just Didn't Know," because anybody that we talk to about this, that is typically their response."
A 2018 federal report found that one in five high school students and one in 20 middle schoolers used e-cigarettes in 2018, which was a 78 percent jump for high schoolers over 2017 and a 48 percent jump for middle schoolers. It was reported at the 2019 Tobacco Conference last week that Kentucky data shows that e-cigarette use is as high as 75% among students in some Kentucky high schools.
"For decades we've been making progress in reducing smoking rates among youth in the country and in Kentucky, but recently we've made a u-turn. Now we are going in the wrong direction," he said.
E-cigarette aerosol includes cancer-causing chemicals; ultrafine particles that include heavy metals, such as nickel, tin and lead; flavorings like diacetyl, which has been linked to a serious lung disease called "popcorn lung"; and other toxic gases that pose health risk to users and bystanders, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. They also have high levels of nicotine, which not only creates a powerful addiction but can also harm the brain development of youth.
In one of the PSAs, Claire Ramsey, a student from Henry County, says: "It has just as much nicotine as a pack of cigarettes does. I could get addicted to this. I'm only 11 years old. . . . I thought it was just water vapor, but it's not. I just didn't know."
Sen. Julie Raque Adams, a Louisville Republicanwho has long been a champion of tobacco-free policies, told the group that as the mother of two teenage boys she has had to deal with issues around vaping in her own home and that her boys have told her that they "just didn't know" that there was so much nicotine in them.
Adams applauded the foundation for creating the PSAs, which she said could also be used to educate policy makers who also "just don't know" about the dangers of e-cigarettes.
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| Alivia Hackworth and Chloe Dyer of the Community Problem Solving club at Johnson County Middle School |
The club won first place for its efforts at the state Governor's Cup competition and will be in an international contest at the University of Massachusetts Amherst in June.
The bill almost passed the General Assembly, and Alivia said the Community Problem Solving club plans to get it introduced again next year.
The legislature did pass a tobacco-free schools bill that Gov. Matt Bevin signed into law. It will take effect July 1, 2020. School districts have three years to opt out of its provisions.
Another thing to worry about, Alivia said, is that these products are causing students in her school to get chemical burns in their mouths and also causing them to have persistent coughs.
"I just want help for my friends, because they are getting sick from this, and they are scared to tell an adult because they feel like they are going to get in trouble," she said.
Richard Hackworth, Alivia's father and a science teacher at her middle school, told Kentucky Health News that their school district had implemented all elements of the students' bill, including an educational component and the recommendations for how to handle violations.
"Until our Community Problem Solving team identified this problem, we just didn't know," he said.
A day after the statewide campaign was announced, Jefferson County Public Schools announced its own anti-vaping campaign, called "Vaping Equals," an intentionally incomplete sentence that is meant to be filled in with facts about e-cigarettes, Spectrum News reports. This campaign includes a classroom component, informational posters and a new website www.vapingequals.com.
My Unexpected (but Totally Worth the Wait) Journey from Diet-Obsessed to Body Positive
I’m not sure when I first started worrying about my weight, but I suspect it started around the same time I started growing breasts and worrying what boys thought of me. Or, more likely, what other girls thought of me.
Until then, I assumed that adolescent girldom came the way it was depicted in movies — at least back then. The “average-sized” girl always played sidekick to the model-type who had it all: the grades, the looks, and the boy.
So by the time I was 14, the word “diet” to me meant “eat like this until you reach your goal weight and then everything will be OK.” Though it never was, I spent those formative years trying to balance my love of food and my disdain for any form of exercise that broke a sweat outside the swimming pool — my weight yo-yoing within a narrow range through the remainder of my teen years.
When I went away to college, this range moved (mildly) up the scale. Still, since I constantly charted my weight, I didn’t see it as concerning. Instead of losing the initial five pounds, I’ll just have to lose 10 pounds, I thought. And on came the weeks, if not months, of fad diets before they officially entered the mainstream (paleo, keto, and Dukan come to mind) and charting my ups and downs — at first on paper with a habit tracker and later with a Fitbit.
At 24, however, I reached my heaviest: 137 pounds. I was two years into therapy and one thing became increasingly clear: I did not have “it” (whatever it was) together, especially when it came to my body.
Consumed by my day-to-day life — school, work, and the social life that comes with college — I didn’t even realize my initial weight obsession started out of sheer neuroticism. Working out blanketed me into believing I was in control of my anxiety.
With a Fitbit, I was constantly reminded of my daily goal and whether or not I had reached it. I would jog on the spot until midnight to make it, or excuse myself at a friend's and take a freakishly long call or an extended visit to the restroom until the black band on my wrist started buzzing to signal that I was done.
On days I missed ticking a box or making my step goal, I’d mentally scold myself like a child, guilt myself into doing more tomorrow, and watching my food twice as closely in the days that followed.
Until therapy, it never occurred to me that my anxiety and eating were also enmeshed in something bigger — that gaining weight during my years of therapy was linked to reliving repressed memories.
When I happened upon old diaries from my teenage years, one thing became obvious: Every hundred odd pages, without fail, I’d start a health kick, hoping that “this” would be “it.” My monologue was always consistent: “If I'm 110 pounds, my anxiety will go away, and I'll be happy and not have to binge-eat when life gets tough.” For me, food was comfort, and I needed extra comfort in those days.
But that was then – and this was now. I was at my heaviest weight ever, and something had changed. It wasn’t until the elastic of my underwear was digging into my hips that I realized this bout of weight gain was different. Unlike years gone by, this time I didn’t hate myself for it.
At my largest, I suddenly discovered that I was much more than my weight. For the first time, I didn’t feel exhausted by the continuous cycle of weight watching, and I realized that being healthy wasn’t at all about vanity.
I was, without knowing it at the time, body positive. So much so that when I did start working out again — on my terms this time — I questioned whether or not I was being true to my new, body-positive self.
I thought, just as many women did, that body positivity couldn't go hand in hand with weight loss or healthy eating or working out. And that's simply not true. As cliché as it sounds, for me, body positivity is a mental state that involves accepting my body the way it is today.
There’s a slightly cheesy quote I think of whenever I do weigh in after a swim, about how it’s not the destination, but the journey itself. For me, my journey involves swimming because I enjoy it and it expels anxiety from my mind — or choosing to meet a friend at a chocolate workshop because that’s something I enjoy too.
There’s so much more to a healthy life, I’ve found, without all the extra weight that comes with chasing a goal that ends where it’s met.
MitraClip: Valve repair device offers new treatment option for some with severe mitral regurgitation
Mitral valve regurgitation (MR), a condition in which the mitral valve does not close properly, allowing blood to leak back into the heart’s upper chamber, is the most common disease of the heart valves. It can cause symptoms such as cough, fatigue, and trouble breathing. The risk of MR increases with age.
Until recently, there were only two methods of treatment for MR: medication and open-heart surgery. During this surgery, the surgeon accesses the heart by opening up the breastbone. He or she either repairs or replaces the mitral valve while a heart-lung machine takes over the job of the heart and lungs while the heart is stopped.
However, we now have a third option, a new device called MitraClip.
What is mitral regurgitation?
The heart receives blood from the lungs into the upper left chamber (the left atrium) and pumps blood to the body through the heart’s lower left chamber (the left ventricle). The mitral valve is located between these two chambers. The valve has two large leaflets — an anterior leaflet and a posterior leaflet — with parachute strings, called chords, that are attached to the heart muscle. When working normally, the leaflets open and close to move blood forward and prevent blood from returning to the left atrium when the heart contracts.
When these parachute chords rupture or stretch, the leaflet prolapses, so that the valve no longer closes completely. This allows blood to leak backwards, into the left atrium, when the heart contracts. This is called primary MR.
There is also a condition called secondary MR. In secondary MR, the mitral valve is pulled further apart when the heart dilates, as may happen in people with heart failure, atrial fibrillation, or other heart conditions. As a result, blood leaks from the center of the valve. This form of MR is much more common.
What is MitraClip?
MitraClip is a large clip that grasps both the anterior and posterior leaflets of the mitral valve. This creates a bridge in the middle of the valve, along with two openings. (Picture two lenses connected by the bridge on a pair of eyeglasses.) Hence, we call the clipped valve a “double orifice valve.” The double orifice valve originated with a surgical technique in which a suture was placed between the two leaflets to repair the valve.
The difference is that the MitraClip does not require having the chest opened. Rather, the small device is inserted into a vein in the groin. From there, it is threaded through the vein and advanced to the right side of the heart, and across the septum (which separates the heart’s upper chambers), from the right side to the left side of the heart. The surgeon then directs the clip to grasp the mitral valve, under ultrasound guidance. The entire procedure can be done with just a small hole in the groin. No incision in the chest is needed, nor is a heart-lung machine.
What’s new?
Until recently, MitraClip was only FDA-approved to treat primary MR in patients who were too high-risk for surgery. In this high-risk population, the risk of death was lower than expected, recovery time and the frequency of rehospitalization were reduced, and the complication rate was very low, compared to open-heart surgery. What’s more, patients only stayed in the hospital for two days after the procedure.
Then, in December 2018, a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine showed improved survival in patients with secondary MR who received MitraClip plus medical therapy, compared to medical treatment alone. This is the first therapy that has been shown to increase survival in patients with secondary MR. In March 2019, the FDA approved MitraClip for secondary MR in patients who are too high-risk for surgery. This will allow MitraClip to be used in a larger population suffering from this type of disease.
Who is a candidate for this procedure?
The Achilles heel of MitraClip is that it cannot completely eliminate the regurgitation. In another words, some leakage is likely to continue even after the clip is placed. For those with severe MR who can withstand surgery, surgical repair or replacement is still the preferred treatment.
However, those who are high-risk for surgery may be candidates for MitraClip. Valve specialists (cardiac surgeons and cardiologists) are best qualified to assess whether someone is a candidate for this procedure.
The post MitraClip: Valve repair device offers new treatment option for some with severe mitral regurgitation appeared first on Harvard Health Blog.
Boyd County extension agents teach children healthy living
By Katie Pratt and Jeff Franklin
University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment
Young children in Boyd County are learning healthy habits thanks to programming efforts by the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service that include planting their own vegetables.
Susan Grimmett, program assistant for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program education, has worked with 300 students at four schools within the county to teach them about the importance of nutrition and physical activity within the school year. To do so, she used Organ Annie and other characters from The OrganWise Guys, a program initiated by two doctors to spread awareness about the importance of a healthy lifestyle to battle childhood obesity. Grimmett has used the program with Boyd County preschool through second-grade students for the past three years as students and teachers continue to request it.
“The students have enjoyed it, and they have learned a lot,” said Kelly Smallwood, a preschool teacher at the Early Childhood Learning Center-North in Ashland. “Every time Susan comes, she has something for them, and they enjoy that also.”
For one of the program’s culminating events this school year, Grimmett collaborated with Lori Bowling, Boyd County horticulture extension agent, to help the children grow their own pots of leaf lettuce. They chose lettuce, because the students could very quickly see growth. After the lettuce sprouts in the classroom, the children will take their pots home with the goal of sharing the message of nutrition and healthy eating with their families, many of which have limited resources and low incomes. The ultimate goal is for the children to harvest the lettuce and work with their parents to incorporate it into a family meal.
“If we teach them at this age about what’s healthy and the kind of diet they should be eating, hopefully as they progress through school, they will make wiser food choices and have a healthier lifestyle,” Bowling said. “We also want them and their parents to understand that you can grow your own food, regardless of where you live, as long as you have a container, seeds, sunlight and water.”
Even though their pots of lettuce are still small, Grimmett has heard many of the children are excited about growing the produce as some teachers have already received positive emails from parents about the project.
“They are eating healthier, and their parents are getting involved more and buying healthier foods at their children’s request,” Grimmett said.
Medical News Today: How ketamine can change the brain to fight depression
New research in mice pinpoints some of the key mechanisms that ketamine triggers in the brain to fight the symptoms and characteristics of depression.
Medical News Today: Using small molecules to regenerate heart tissue
New research in mice uses gene-regulating molecules called microRNAs to repair heart tissue after an adverse cardiovascular event such as a heart attack.
Tuesday, April 23, 2019
Medical News Today: Is this chest pain from GERD or a heart attack?
Both heartburn and heart attacks can cause pain in the center of the chest. Heartburn is a symptom of acid reflux and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). As a heart attack is a medical emergency, being able to tell the difference between heartburn and cardiac chest pain is crucial. Learn more here.
Medical News Today: How is the pancreas involved in diabetes?
The pancreas plays a strong role in diabetes because it produces insulin and helps regulate blood sugar levels. In this article, we look into the links between diabetes and the pancreas.
Walgreens will raise age for tobacco sales to 21 on Sept. 1
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| Photo by Mike Mozart |
In March, before he resigned as commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, Dr. Scott Gottlieb called Walgreens a top violator of sales restrictions among pharmacies that sell tobacco products. CVS Health Corp. stopped selling them several years ago.
The American Lung Association says most states have set a minimum legal age of 18 to buy tobacco products, but a dozen have raised that to 21. Several have done so recently at the request of Altria Corp., the nation's largest tobacco company, which recently bought 35 percent of Juul Labs, which makes the most popular electronic cigarette. Altria sees a higher legal age as a way to curb the push for more regulation of e-cigarettes.
The state Senate rebuffed Altria's effort in Kentucky, but in the U.S. Senate, "Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said last week that he plans to introduce legislation to raise the minimum age to 21 nationally," AP notes. "The Kentucky Republican called the legislation a top priority." Like most lobbying interests, Altria is a major giver to McConnell's political causes.
