A person may laugh in their sleep due to odd dreams or sleep disorders. Rarely, the cause is a neurological condition. Sleep laughing can also be normal, especially in babies. Learn more about laughing during sleep here.
Friday, May 31, 2019
Medical News Today: What to know about collagen supplements
Collagen supplements can help improve skin health. Collagen is a protein that promotes skin elasticity. Most people can take collagen supplements without experiencing negative effects. Learn more here.
Medical News Today: What is learned helplessness?
In this article, we discuss the psychology behind learned helplessness — a state in which a person feels unable to change a stressful situation, even when change becomes possible. We look at the background of the theory and ways to overcome this state.
Medical News Today: What to know about precum and pregnancy
It is possible to get pregnant from precum. Precum is a fluid that the penis releases before ejaculation. The fluid is a lubricant that may contain sperm. Learn more here.
Medical News Today: How do you know if you have a sprained ankle?
Signs of a sprained ankle include pain and swelling. Doctors grade sprains depending on severity. Causes include falling and overuse. Learn more about the signs of a sprained ankle here.
Medical News Today: What are the most healthful types of bread?
Some types of bread, including whole grain and sprouted bread, provide plenty of nutrients and health benefits. This article takes a look at some of the most healthful bread.
Ky. has the second highest per-capita spending on prescription drugs, no surprise in a state that is riddled with poor health
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| States with top 10 average yearly per-capita expenditure on prescriptions. (The Senior List) |
It should come as no surprise that Kentuckians spend so much on prescription medications, since the state ranks at or near the bottom for most health conditions.
The data came from the Kaiser Family Foundation, GoodRx and the National Conference on State Legislatures.
The top 10 states ranged from some of the poorest, where health conditions also tend to be poor, to some of the wealthiest, where ability to pay for more expensive brand-name drugs may be a factor.
Whatever the cause, Americans are spending far more on prescriptions these days than in years past. In 2017, the average American spent $1,025 per year on prescriptions, a 1,000% increase over the average $90 (adjusted for inflation) spent in 1960.
An aging population factors into this: Almost half of Americans take at least one prescription medication, but among seniors it's nearly 90%. Drug costs are taking a financial toll on some; about one in four Americans say they're having a hard time affording their prescriptions.
Part of the problem is that the U.S. pays more for the same drugs than other countries do. A month's supply of the popular blood thinner Humira, for example, costs $882 in Switzerland, $1,362 in the United Kingdom, and $2,669 in the U.S.
Nine Johnson County Middle School students get Healthy Policy Champion award for efforts to curb youth use of e-cigarettes
The Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky has named nine Johnson County Middle School students as the latest Healthy Kentucky Policy Champions for their efforts to curb youth use of electronic cigarettes, both in their school and across Kentucky.
The students are Alivia Hackworth, Chloe Dyer, Laken Salyers, Emily Farler, Constance Martin, Kaylee Gibbs, Hannah Piedad, Dakota Shepherd and Jonathan Cole Butcher. Dyer and Hackworth appear in ads for the foundation's "I Just Didn't Know" peer-education campaign about the dangers of youth e-cigarette use.
The group calls itself "Juul Breakers" and their campaign "Juulsnotkuul." Juul Labs makes the most popular e-cigarette among youth because the device looks like a USB flash drive, which makes it easy to hide. They are also essentially odorless and come in flavors they like.
The students were chosen for their efforts to educate their peers about the dangers of "vaping," and for their work on a bill that would have created an anonymous hotline for students to report concerns about e-cigarette and tobacco use. The bill also included an educational component and guidelines for how to handle the reporting.
Their bill almost made it out of the legislature, passing through the Senate and to the House floor, where it wasn't called up for a vote. But in the process of, the students educated lawmakers about teens' rampant use of these products and their dangers, and they were given partial credit for passage of the law that makes all Kentucky schools tobacco-free on July 1, 2020, unless a district opts out.
E-cigarettes deliver high levels of the addictive chemical nicotine, which is harmful to developing brains and primes them for other addictions. E-cig aerosol (it's not a vapor) also has toxins and particles that are unsafe to inhale, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
"I am so proud of the behavior, grit, and determination exhibited by this group of kids," Johnson County School Supt. Thom Cochran said in the foundation news release. "Even when the bill they believed in did not make it to the House floor to be voted on, this group of young people persevered. They took their message directly to superintendents throughout the state, and have continued to push for policy change in dealing with the Juul and vaping epidemic."
The award was presented in Paintsville by Foundation CEO Ben Chandler, who said, "I'm inspired by the level of homework this outstanding group of middle schoolers have given, and keep giving, to addressing what has become an epidemic of teen vaping in Kentucky and nationwide."
He added, "Adults who are health advocates ... can talk all day long about this issue, but when lawmakers look into the eyes of a group of kids trying to address a problem they see every day in their school, it touches a chord. These kids' testimony helped put us over the top in getting legislators' support to make all Kentucky school property tobacco-free, and they're raising awareness of the issue among parents, school officials and their peers, both in Johnson County and throughout the commonwealth."
The group is now eligible for the Gil Friedell Policy Champion Award, which comes with a $5,000 grant from the foundation to a Kentucky-based nonprofit of the winner's choice. The winner will be announced at the foundation's Howard L. Bost Memorial Health Policy Forum Sept. 23 in Lexington.
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| Johnson County students with Sen. Ralph Alvarado, Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky CEO Ben Chandler and award. (Foundation photo) |
The students were chosen for their efforts to educate their peers about the dangers of "vaping," and for their work on a bill that would have created an anonymous hotline for students to report concerns about e-cigarette and tobacco use. The bill also included an educational component and guidelines for how to handle the reporting.
Their bill almost made it out of the legislature, passing through the Senate and to the House floor, where it wasn't called up for a vote. But in the process of, the students educated lawmakers about teens' rampant use of these products and their dangers, and they were given partial credit for passage of the law that makes all Kentucky schools tobacco-free on July 1, 2020, unless a district opts out.
E-cigarettes deliver high levels of the addictive chemical nicotine, which is harmful to developing brains and primes them for other addictions. E-cig aerosol (it's not a vapor) also has toxins and particles that are unsafe to inhale, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
"I am so proud of the behavior, grit, and determination exhibited by this group of kids," Johnson County School Supt. Thom Cochran said in the foundation news release. "Even when the bill they believed in did not make it to the House floor to be voted on, this group of young people persevered. They took their message directly to superintendents throughout the state, and have continued to push for policy change in dealing with the Juul and vaping epidemic."
The award was presented in Paintsville by Foundation CEO Ben Chandler, who said, "I'm inspired by the level of homework this outstanding group of middle schoolers have given, and keep giving, to addressing what has become an epidemic of teen vaping in Kentucky and nationwide."
He added, "Adults who are health advocates ... can talk all day long about this issue, but when lawmakers look into the eyes of a group of kids trying to address a problem they see every day in their school, it touches a chord. These kids' testimony helped put us over the top in getting legislators' support to make all Kentucky school property tobacco-free, and they're raising awareness of the issue among parents, school officials and their peers, both in Johnson County and throughout the commonwealth."
The group is now eligible for the Gil Friedell Policy Champion Award, which comes with a $5,000 grant from the foundation to a Kentucky-based nonprofit of the winner's choice. The winner will be announced at the foundation's Howard L. Bost Memorial Health Policy Forum Sept. 23 in Lexington.
Judge rules foundation that pays UK doctors and bills patients is a public agency and must follow the Kentucky Open Records Act
A Fayette Circuit Court judge has ruled that the Kentucky Medical Services Foundation, which bills patients and collects millions of dollars for UK HealthCare doctors, is a public agency and must follow the state open-records law, Linda Blackford reports for the Lexington Herald-Leader.
Judge Kimberly Bunnell agreed with a 2015 decision by the state attorney general’s office that KMSF is a public agency because the University of Kentucky created it and UK doctors run it.
Bunnell ruled from the bench April 25 and an agreed order was signed May 29.
In a separate case in March, Blackford reports, Bunnell affirmed another opinion from the attorney general’s office and ruled that the UK HealthCare Compensation Planning Committee, which decides how much doctors should be paid, is also subject to state open-records and open-meetings laws.
Both cases were initiated by former UK medical student Lachin Hatemi, who was seeking various financial records of KMSF and the compensation committee. His attorney, Andre Regard, told Blackford, "This has been an uphill battle that I am sure will be appealed. I give credit to Lachin Hatemi, who, as a private citizen, has taken up this battle."
KMSF could take the case to the Kentucky Court of Appeals. Jay Grider, a UK anesthesiologist who is president and CEO of the foundation, declined to comment to the Herald-Leader.
The foundation was created in 1978 to help the university pay doctors competitive salaries and support its academic and service missions, Blackford reports. According to 2017 tax documents, it had gross revenue of $258 million in 2016.
"That money pays UK doctors, but its vast coffers have also been used to help UK in real-estate transactions, construct a daycare at UK, pay for use of a private airplane for UK officials, and fund contracts worth millions of dollars with consultants and lawyers," Blackford notes. "Those contracts haven’t been subject to state procurement rules and don’t go through a bidding process or receive approval from the UK Board of Trustees."
UK calls the foundation an affiliated corporation, but insists it is a separate entity that is not subject to the state’s Open Records Act.
In support of the ruling, Amye Bensenhaver, who wrote numerous open records opinions as an assistant attorney general and recently co-founded the Kentucky Open Government Coalition, told Blackford, “I think it emphasizes the fact that you can’t establish a private entity as an alter ego to conduct public business behind closed doors."
In an op-ed for Kentucky newspapers, Bensenhaver says the issue is "whether a public agency can avoid the application of the open records law by secreting away its records in a 'foundation' that is, in reality, established, created, and controlled by the agency seeking to evade accountability."
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| Kentucky.com photo |
Bunnell ruled from the bench April 25 and an agreed order was signed May 29.
In a separate case in March, Blackford reports, Bunnell affirmed another opinion from the attorney general’s office and ruled that the UK HealthCare Compensation Planning Committee, which decides how much doctors should be paid, is also subject to state open-records and open-meetings laws.
Both cases were initiated by former UK medical student Lachin Hatemi, who was seeking various financial records of KMSF and the compensation committee. His attorney, Andre Regard, told Blackford, "This has been an uphill battle that I am sure will be appealed. I give credit to Lachin Hatemi, who, as a private citizen, has taken up this battle."
The foundation was created in 1978 to help the university pay doctors competitive salaries and support its academic and service missions, Blackford reports. According to 2017 tax documents, it had gross revenue of $258 million in 2016.
"That money pays UK doctors, but its vast coffers have also been used to help UK in real-estate transactions, construct a daycare at UK, pay for use of a private airplane for UK officials, and fund contracts worth millions of dollars with consultants and lawyers," Blackford notes. "Those contracts haven’t been subject to state procurement rules and don’t go through a bidding process or receive approval from the UK Board of Trustees."
UK calls the foundation an affiliated corporation, but insists it is a separate entity that is not subject to the state’s Open Records Act.
In support of the ruling, Amye Bensenhaver, who wrote numerous open records opinions as an assistant attorney general and recently co-founded the Kentucky Open Government Coalition, told Blackford, “I think it emphasizes the fact that you can’t establish a private entity as an alter ego to conduct public business behind closed doors."
In an op-ed for Kentucky newspapers, Bensenhaver says the issue is "whether a public agency can avoid the application of the open records law by secreting away its records in a 'foundation' that is, in reality, established, created, and controlled by the agency seeking to evade accountability."
Medical News Today: What STDs can you get from oral sex?
There are many sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) that people can get as a result of having oral sex, including gonorrhea, syphilis, and chlamydia. Learn about how people can transmit STDs orally, the symptoms they cause, and the available treatments here.
Pineville hospital is cut off by Medicare and Medicaid, which in 2015 accounted for 93% of its patient days; city seeking rescue
The federal government has cut off Medicare and Medicaid payments to Southeastern Kentucky Medical Center in Pineville following a "scathing inspection" that found the hospital with long list of patient-care and financial shortcomings, Will Wright reports for the Lexington Herald-Leader.
Pineville Mayor Scott Madon told the Middlesboro Daily News that the city is “doing all it can to provide support for the efforts of the bankruptcy trustee to protect and preserve the assets of the Pineville Community Hospital Association,” the nonprofit that sold the hospital (but not its real estate) to Florida-based Americore Health Solutions, which changed the hospital's name in 2017.
The association declared Chapter 7 bankruptcy last year. Madon said the city is using a $100,000 loan secured by the real estate to "fund professionals" hired by the bankruptcy trustee, presumably to facilitate the hospital's sale. “I think we need to support our local hospital and let the professionals on both sides work out the details,” Madon said. “We hope and pray that this is resolved soon.”
According to the latest available data from the Kentucky Hospital Association, in 2015 nearly 75% of the medical center's inpatient days were covered by Medicare and 18% were covered by Medicaid.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services terminated its agreement with the hospital after a January report from state inspectors found many issues, Wright reports.
Inspectors reported that the hospital didn't have an adequate operating budget, and that hospital officials said they had "no plan to ensure the facility could continue to operate."
Among the examples of bad patient care: "Last year, one patient who was experiencing abdominal pain signed a consent form for an EGD, a procedure to examine the lining of the stomach and part of the small intestine using a small camera on a tube that is inserted through the mouth. Instead, hospital staff attempted to perform a colonoscopy on the patient, without the patient’s consent, and performed a sigmoidoscopy — an examination of the lower colon and inner part of the rectum — without the patient’s consent."
The nearest hospitals to Pineville, the seat of Bell County, are about 15 miles away, in Barbourville and Middlesboro, the county's largest town.
Pineville Mayor Scott Madon told the Middlesboro Daily News that the city is “doing all it can to provide support for the efforts of the bankruptcy trustee to protect and preserve the assets of the Pineville Community Hospital Association,” the nonprofit that sold the hospital (but not its real estate) to Florida-based Americore Health Solutions, which changed the hospital's name in 2017.
The association declared Chapter 7 bankruptcy last year. Madon said the city is using a $100,000 loan secured by the real estate to "fund professionals" hired by the bankruptcy trustee, presumably to facilitate the hospital's sale. “I think we need to support our local hospital and let the professionals on both sides work out the details,” Madon said. “We hope and pray that this is resolved soon.”
According to the latest available data from the Kentucky Hospital Association, in 2015 nearly 75% of the medical center's inpatient days were covered by Medicare and 18% were covered by Medicaid.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services terminated its agreement with the hospital after a January report from state inspectors found many issues, Wright reports.
Inspectors reported that the hospital didn't have an adequate operating budget, and that hospital officials said they had "no plan to ensure the facility could continue to operate."
Among the examples of bad patient care: "Last year, one patient who was experiencing abdominal pain signed a consent form for an EGD, a procedure to examine the lining of the stomach and part of the small intestine using a small camera on a tube that is inserted through the mouth. Instead, hospital staff attempted to perform a colonoscopy on the patient, without the patient’s consent, and performed a sigmoidoscopy — an examination of the lower colon and inner part of the rectum — without the patient’s consent."
The nearest hospitals to Pineville, the seat of Bell County, are about 15 miles away, in Barbourville and Middlesboro, the county's largest town.
Evolent Health to buy 70% of Passport Health Plan; will continue to serve the company's more than 300,000 Medicaid beneficiaries
Evolent Health, a for-profit national health management company, has agreed to purchase Passport Health Plan, the struggling, nonprofit Medicaid insurer based in Louisville.
Evolent, which has provided services and staff to Passport since 2016, will purchase a 70% share of Passport for $70 million, and invest additional funds to shore up the company's finances.
Passport has struggled since the state cut its Medicaid rates for the Louisville region last year, where it does most of its business, notes Deborah Yetter of the Louisville Courier Journal.
Scott Bowers, Evolent's national Medicaid president, has been named the new CEO of Passport, replacing Mark Carter on June 7, Yetter reports. Carter will remain on for a period as an adviser.
The company will continue to serve the more than 300,000 Kentuckians who get their Medicaid health coverage through Passport and will continue to operate under the same name, it said.
The remaining 30 percent of Passport will remain with its founding members, including the University of Louisville, the U of L Medical Center, University of Louisville Physicians, the Jewish Heritage Fund for Excellence and Norton Healthcare. U of L will get nearly $45 million from Passport's sale to Evolent, Morgan Watkins reports in a separate Courier Journal article.
The university owns 64% of Passport, and 70% of that will be sold for about $44.7 million, U of L President Neeli Bendapudi told reporters. That will leave it with a 19.2% stake in the company.
Bendapudi said $16 million from the sale would be used to retire U of L Physicians' bank debt; $3.5 million to stabilize U of L Physicians' cash position; and $16 million to reduce the School of Medicine's deficits. She declined to provide details on the nature of the deficits, and said the sale wouldn't be enough to resolve financial issues at the school and the physicians' practice.
The deal is subject to approval of state and federal regulatory authorities including the federal Securities and Exchange Commission, a process that is expected to take 60 to 90 days.
Officials with Passport and Evolent told Yetter that they are committed to resuming work on the company's new headquarters in West Louisville, which was suspended in February. Carter and Bowers told Yetter that they are still in discussions about how to revive the stalled project.
Passport is one of five companies that manage most of the state's $11 billion-a-year Medicaid program that serves around 1.3 million people. Passport is the only nonprofit; the others are subsidiaries of for-profit insurance companies.
Passport fell into trouble last year when the Cabinet for Health and Family Services changed its geographic allocation of Medicaid money, cutting the Louisville region that Passport serves by 4.1% while the rest of the state was raised 2.2%. State officials have held firm that the new rates were developed with the aid of an independent actuary and were not aimed at any individual company.
The state recently enacted revised rates that effectively restored Passport to its original, higher rate, Yetter reports, but Carter told her that that wasn't enough to make up for the roughly $100 million it lost since July 1. He said the additional investment by Evolent should make Passport solvent.
This isn't the first time Passport, which was founded in 1997 as a pilot project to control Medicaid costs in the Louisville region at the request of state officials, has found itself in the news.
In 2010, a state auditor's report found "wasteful spending of Medicaid funds" at Passport. Along with a strong reprimand from then-Gov. Steve Beshear, the report resulted in sweeping reforms, including a restructure of Passport's board, hiring new executive leadership, cutting expenses and firing its outside lobbyists, Tom Loftus reported in a 2015 Courier Journal article.
And while Beshear asked Passport to stop spending money on anything not directly related to patient care, he later asked for, and Passport provided in May 2015, a $25,000 contribution to the Democratic Governors Association in May 2015, which had already given "$600,000 to Democratic super PAC supporting the election of Attorney General Jack Conway as governor."
Beshear and Carter told Loftus that the $25,000 was not a political contribution, but for sponsorship of a one-day health policy conference co-hosted by the DGA in Louisville. Senate Republican Leader Damon Thayer, of Georgetown, disagreed, saying, "I'm not saying this is illegal, I'm just saying call this what it is -- a political contribution." Only three states elected governors in 2015.
At the time, Conway was running against Republican Matt Bevin, now governor, and they had starkly different opinions about Beshear expansion of Medicaid to people who earn up to 138% of the federal poverty line, under the 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Conway fully supported the expansion, while Bevin said he would end it if elected. In July, he changed positions, saying he would seek a waiver from federal rules that would make Kentucky Medicaid more like the program in Indiana, in which beneficiaries pay small premiums based on income.
Since being elected, Bevin has sought a waiver that includes premiums and "community engagement" requirements, including work, for "able-bodied" beneficiaries. A federal judge twice rejected the plan, which is now before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia.
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| WHAS11.com image |
Passport has struggled since the state cut its Medicaid rates for the Louisville region last year, where it does most of its business, notes Deborah Yetter of the Louisville Courier Journal.
The company will continue to serve the more than 300,000 Kentuckians who get their Medicaid health coverage through Passport and will continue to operate under the same name, it said.
The remaining 30 percent of Passport will remain with its founding members, including the University of Louisville, the U of L Medical Center, University of Louisville Physicians, the Jewish Heritage Fund for Excellence and Norton Healthcare. U of L will get nearly $45 million from Passport's sale to Evolent, Morgan Watkins reports in a separate Courier Journal article.
The university owns 64% of Passport, and 70% of that will be sold for about $44.7 million, U of L President Neeli Bendapudi told reporters. That will leave it with a 19.2% stake in the company.
Bendapudi said $16 million from the sale would be used to retire U of L Physicians' bank debt; $3.5 million to stabilize U of L Physicians' cash position; and $16 million to reduce the School of Medicine's deficits. She declined to provide details on the nature of the deficits, and said the sale wouldn't be enough to resolve financial issues at the school and the physicians' practice.
The deal is subject to approval of state and federal regulatory authorities including the federal Securities and Exchange Commission, a process that is expected to take 60 to 90 days.
Officials with Passport and Evolent told Yetter that they are committed to resuming work on the company's new headquarters in West Louisville, which was suspended in February. Carter and Bowers told Yetter that they are still in discussions about how to revive the stalled project.
Passport is one of five companies that manage most of the state's $11 billion-a-year Medicaid program that serves around 1.3 million people. Passport is the only nonprofit; the others are subsidiaries of for-profit insurance companies.
Passport fell into trouble last year when the Cabinet for Health and Family Services changed its geographic allocation of Medicaid money, cutting the Louisville region that Passport serves by 4.1% while the rest of the state was raised 2.2%. State officials have held firm that the new rates were developed with the aid of an independent actuary and were not aimed at any individual company.
The state recently enacted revised rates that effectively restored Passport to its original, higher rate, Yetter reports, but Carter told her that that wasn't enough to make up for the roughly $100 million it lost since July 1. He said the additional investment by Evolent should make Passport solvent.
This isn't the first time Passport, which was founded in 1997 as a pilot project to control Medicaid costs in the Louisville region at the request of state officials, has found itself in the news.
In 2010, a state auditor's report found "wasteful spending of Medicaid funds" at Passport. Along with a strong reprimand from then-Gov. Steve Beshear, the report resulted in sweeping reforms, including a restructure of Passport's board, hiring new executive leadership, cutting expenses and firing its outside lobbyists, Tom Loftus reported in a 2015 Courier Journal article.
And while Beshear asked Passport to stop spending money on anything not directly related to patient care, he later asked for, and Passport provided in May 2015, a $25,000 contribution to the Democratic Governors Association in May 2015, which had already given "$600,000 to Democratic super PAC supporting the election of Attorney General Jack Conway as governor."
Beshear and Carter told Loftus that the $25,000 was not a political contribution, but for sponsorship of a one-day health policy conference co-hosted by the DGA in Louisville. Senate Republican Leader Damon Thayer, of Georgetown, disagreed, saying, "I'm not saying this is illegal, I'm just saying call this what it is -- a political contribution." Only three states elected governors in 2015.
At the time, Conway was running against Republican Matt Bevin, now governor, and they had starkly different opinions about Beshear expansion of Medicaid to people who earn up to 138% of the federal poverty line, under the 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Conway fully supported the expansion, while Bevin said he would end it if elected. In July, he changed positions, saying he would seek a waiver from federal rules that would make Kentucky Medicaid more like the program in Indiana, in which beneficiaries pay small premiums based on income.
Since being elected, Bevin has sought a waiver that includes premiums and "community engagement" requirements, including work, for "able-bodied" beneficiaries. A federal judge twice rejected the plan, which is now before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia.
Medical News Today: What causes heartburn and nausea?
Heartburn and nausea are both common digestive issues. They can occur together, especially if a person experiences indigestion. Learn more in this article.
Medical News Today: Why sleep is essential for health
Sleep is important for energy, avoiding weight gain, lowering the risk of heart disease, and reducing stress. Learn more about the importance of getting a good night’s rest here.
Medical News Today: Are feminine hygiene products really necessary?
Are intimate hygiene products, such as 'feminine' washes and douches, safe to use? Why or why not? In this Spotlight feature, we investigate.
Medical News Today: Letter from the Editor: Self-love
May is Mental Health Month. In this month's letter, Managing Editor Honor talks about the importance of self-love for mental health and well-being.
Medical News Today: Fat in soil bacteria may protect against stress
The discovery of an anti-inflammatory, stress-protective fatty acid in a soil bacterium sheds light on why contact with dirt can be good for our health.
Medical News Today: More evidence that ultra-processed foods could harm health
Two large new European studies have looked into the various health hazards associated with a high consumption of ultra-processed foods.
Medical News Today: Autism and the gut microbiome: Further evidence strengthens link
New research in rodents finds additional evidence that the microbiome may influence the likelihood of developing autistic behaviors.
Medical News Today: What to know about insulin and weight gain
Insulin therapy, a treatment for diabetes, can cause weight gain. This article looks at the link between diabetes, insulin, and gaining weight. It also describes how to manage or prevent this potential effect.
FDA curbs unfounded memory supplement claims
I must have seen the commercial for Prevagen 50 times. Perhaps you’ve seen it, too: “You might take something for your heart… your joints… your digestion. So why wouldn’t you take something for the most important part of you… your brain? With an ingredient originally found in jellyfish! Healthier brain, better life!”
Like many heavily-advertised supplements, this one makes many claims. The bottle promises it “improves memory” and “supports: healthy brain function, sharper mind, clearer thinking.” Never mind that the main ingredient in jellyfish (apoaequorin) has no known role in human memory, or that many experts believe supplements like this would most likely be digested in the stomach and never wind up anywhere near the brain. Oh, and the commercial doesn’t mention any risks of treatment or cost (though I found it online for $1 to $2/day).
But does this supplement actually do what it says? If it doesn’t, how can the manufacturer make these claims? And if apoaequorin is so great, why aren’t jellyfish smarter, as a colleague of mine wonders?
Mind the gap between graphics and reality
As “proof” of power, a bar graph shows a rise from 5% to 10% to 20% over 90 days in “recall tasks.” But there’s no way to know what these numbers refer to, how many people were studied, or other important details. And no information is provided about effects on memory after 90 days. The fine print under the graph says that the supplement “improved recall tasks in subjects” without explaining what this means. While a company-sponsored study reported improvements in memory after people took apoaequorin, the published version demonstrated minimal improvement (summarized here).
The US Federal Trade Commission wasn’t convinced of the supplement’s benefits. It charged the supplement maker with false advertising back in 2012. In the legal filings, the company was accused of selectively reporting data and misleading the public though claims that Prevagen is “clinically proven” to improve cognitive function. The lawsuit has not yet been decided.
Supplement claims sound good — so why the disclaimers?
Although there are many thousands of supplements and hundreds of conditions for which they’re intended, it’s often hard to say if they’re doing much of anything. For example, glucosamine has been promoted for many years as “good for joint health.” I have patients who swear by it. But the best studies suggest modest effects, if any. When it comes to “heart healthy” vitamins, consider the example of vitamin E, once considered potentially useful to prevent or treat heart disease. Yet, study after study showed no benefit. In fact, it may increase the risk of heart failure. As for probiotic supplements, there is no convincing evidence that their use improves digestive health or prevents digestive disease in healthy people.
Rather than focus on the benefits touted, it may make more sense to read the standard disclaimer required on supplements: “These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA.”
The FDA takes a stand
Fortunately, the FDA does take note of false claims that go too far. On Feb. 11, 2019, Scott Gottlieb, the FDA commissioner, announced a plan to modernize regulation and oversight of dietary supplements. Key points include:
- notifying the public promptly if a dietary supplement is illegal or dangerous and should not be consumed
- ensuring flexible regulations to evaluate safety while encouraging development of new products
- creating a consortium of leading scientific minds from industry, academia, and government to improve safety evaluations of dietary supplements
- taking strong actions against makers of illegal products, including those making false claims or containing impurities or ingredients not listed on the label (see my earlier blog post on tainted supplements).
What are the rules?
- Supplement makers can make general claims about connections between their supplement and the body’s “structure and function.” For example, a vitamin maker touting calcium in a product can say it’s good for bone health –– although calcium supplements may offer little or nothing for most people with healthy bones, diets rich in calcium, and no medical condition requiring extra calcium.
- Supplement makers cannot claim their product treats or prevents a particular disease. That disclaimer, which may seem to contradict marketing promises, must appear on every package. So, commercials suggesting that a supplement can reverse or slow Alzheimer’s disease, or any dementia, are perilously close to running afoul of the rules on marketing supplements. The makers of Prevagen have been warned before about making deceptive claims by the Federal Trade Commission and New York state’s attorney general in 2017).
The bottom line
There is clearly an enormous appetite in this country for dietary supplements. The supplement industry is now worth an estimated $40 billion. There are more than 50,000 products, an increase of more than 10 times just over the last two decades.
But there’s a reason every dietary supplement carries a disclaimer. “This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.” It should remind us all to be skeptical of claims we see in ads for dietary supplements. Unlike prescription drugs, supplements are not thoroughly tested or evaluated. While dietary supplements might provide benefits in certain cases, it’s vitally important that their makers not make unfounded claims to exploit consumers. And, of course, these products should contain only what they’re supposed to contain.
I think the FDA’s plan to take strong action on dietary supplements is good news. I hope it leads to some real change in the industry. In the meantime, keep your remote handy. If you see an ad that seems too good to be true, you should probably just switch stations.
The post FDA curbs unfounded memory supplement claims appeared first on Harvard Health Blog.
Medical News Today: Gout: Why the stigma?
There is a stigma attached to gout, and it tends to be linked to heavy drinking and a bad diet. Here, we explore that stigma and the truth about gout.
Medical News Today: What are the best natural mosquito repellents?
Many people prefer to use natural mosquito repellents instead of chemical products. Options include citronella, peppermint, and lemongrass. Learn about the best natural mosquito repellents here.
Thursday, May 30, 2019
Medical News Today: What to know about popping joints
Joints may pop out of place for a variety of reasons, including injury. This popping is typically harmless in most cases. Certain conditions may make the feeling worse, however. Learn more about joint popping here.
Medical News Today: Tips for staying up all night
Sometimes it is necessary for people to stay up all night for work, studying, or other reasons. Tips that may help a person feel more awake and alert at night can include consuming caffeine, exercising, napping, and taking cold showers. It is also important to allow a day for recovery. Learn more here.
Medical News Today: What to know about urinary urgency
Urinary urgency is the urgent need to urinate despite not having a full bladder. It may occur alongside frequent or painful urination. Learn about the possible causes and treatment options here.
Medical News Today: How to get back on track after binge eating
Many people overeat occasionally, but there are a number of different ways to get back on track. In this article, learn about what to do after binge eating to return to a healthful routine.
Medical News Today: What are the side effects and risks of Ritalin?
Ritalin (methylphenidate) is a stimulant medication for the treatment of ADHD and narcolepsy. Ritalin can cause side effects and has the potential for misuse and addiction. Researchers are investigating the long-term safety and effectiveness of this drug in children and adolescents. Learn more here.
Medical News Today: Is leukemia hereditary?
Leukemia is a genetic condition, but in most cases, it is not hereditary. In this article, we explore the links between leukemia and family history, genetics, and lifestyle and environmental factors.
Medical News Today: What to know about neuralgia
Neuralgia is a condition that causes shooting and burning pain in the nerves. There are many types of neuralgia. Treatment options include medications and surgery. Learn more about neuralgia here.
Medical News Today: What to know about muscle atrophy
Muscle atrophy can occur due to poor nutrition, age, and genetics. Symptoms vary, and treatment may include physical therapy, functional electric stimulation, or surgery. Learn more about muscle atrophy here.
Medical News Today: Synthetic CBD may be a safe treatment for seizures
A nonintoxicating, synthetic CBD that is not easy to convert to THC and comprises inexpensive, noncannabis ingredients treated seizures safely in rats.
Medical News Today: Early-onset Alzheimer's: Is 'bad cholesterol' a factor?
A new study connects high blood levels of 'bad' cholesterol with the presence of early-onset Alzheimer's. The link, the authors suggest, could be causal.
Topical treatment helps prevent actinic keratosis from developing into skin cancer
Actinic keratoses are small, red, scaly spots that can feel like dry, sandpapery skin. They are a direct result of ultraviolet radiation, which is why they most commonly occur in sun-exposed areas, such as the face, forearms, and hands.
Why are actinic keratoses a concern? If left untreated, some actinic keratoses can develop into squamous cell skin cancers. Actinic keratosis can develop in almost 40% of white patients older than 50, making it the most common precancerous skin condition in this population. It is also one of the most common reasons for which people visit a dermatologist.
Field-directed treatments for multiple actinic keratoses
Cryotherapy, or the targeted use of liquid nitrogen, is commonly used to treat individual lesions. But what if there are many actinic keratoses scattered all over the face or hands? This is when field-directed therapy — using a treatment method to treat an entire area of skin — can be helpful.
There are several field-directed therapies available.
- A topical cream containing fluorouracil, a chemotherapy drug, works by disrupting DNA synthesis in and thereby destroying actinic keratosis cells. It can be applied at home and is typically used twice a day for two to four weeks.
- Topical imiquimod cream stimulates a local immune response in the skin, leading to destruction of the actinic keratosis cells. It can be applied at home and is typically used two to three times a week for up to 16 weeks, making this a longer course of treatment compared to topical fluorouracil.
- Topical ingenol mebutate gel injures two important components of actinic keratosis cells — mitochondria (the cells’ powerhouses) and plasma membranes (the cells’ gatekeepers) — leading to destruction of the cells. It is typically applied at home for three consecutive days. While convenient, many prescription plans do not cover this medication, making the out-of-pocket cost quite expensive.
- Photodynamic therapy uses light to activate a drug that is applied to the skin. This leads to destruction of actinic keratosis cells. This is an in-office procedure that is performed in one afternoon. It is a good option for those who prefer not to apply creams at home.
All of these therapies are frequently used by dermatologists, but there are no clear guidelines on which treatment is preferred.
New study compares effectiveness of field-directed treatments
An exciting study recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine sought to determine how effectively each of these four field-directed therapies treats multiple actinic keratoses. In this study, 624 patients with multiple actinic keratoses were randomized to treatment with one of the four aforementioned field-directed treatments.
The primary endpoint of the study was the percentage of patients who had at least 75% reduction in their number of actinic keratoses after one year. The study found that the percentage of patients who achieved this goal was significantly higher in people treated with topical fluorouracil (75%), compared to those treated with topical imiquimod (54%), photodynamic therapy (38%), and topical ingenol mebutate (29%).
This seminal study highlights the important role of field-directed treatment of actinic keratosis in decreasing a person’s risk of developing squamous cell skin cancers.
While this study found topical fluorouracil cream to be the most effective agent, other treatments may still have a role; each treatment has advantages and disadvantages in terms of time and cost, which may influence individual preferences. If you have multiple actinic keratoses, speak to your dermatologist to determine which treatment is the right choice for you.
Follow me on Twitter @KristinaLiuMD
The post Topical treatment helps prevent actinic keratosis from developing into skin cancer appeared first on Harvard Health Blog.
Medical News Today: Clinical trial shows why energy drinks are bad for the heart
In a clinical trial, researchers found significant changes in heart rhythm and blood pressure after volunteers consumed two different energy drinks.
Medical News Today: How many calories do you burn by walking?
The number of calories the body burns while a person is walking varies according to their sex, body size, and how fast they are walking. Learn more about how many calories people burn when they are walking here.
Medical News Today: This new compound could fight potent 'superbugs'
The emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria is creating a global crisis, but a newly developed compound offers fresh hope in addressing this issue.
Medical News Today: Olives: Nutrition and health benefits
Olives are a delicious snack, and they make a great addition to many popular dishes. They are also a key component of the Mediterranean diet. Learn more about their possible health benefits here.
Wednesday, May 29, 2019
Medical News Today: Chocolate and acid reflux: What's the link?
Acid reflux is a common problem. Many foods, including chocolate, can trigger symptoms. Learn more about the link between chocolate and acid reflux in this article.
Medical News Today: What to know about blood in urine (hematuria) in females
Blood in the urine, or hematuria, may arise after an infection or injury. Some causes are specific to females or more likely to affect females than males. Learn more here.
Medical News Today: How to lower uric acid levels naturally
A uric acid buildup can sometimes lead to gout, which causes very painful symptoms. Learn about eight natural ways to lower uric acid levels in this article.
Medical News Today: What to know about the protein test and results
Total protein tests measure the amount of protein in a person's urine or blood. In this article, we discuss the total protein test, including its uses, normal protein levels, and what abnormal levels mean.
Medical News Today: The health effects of eating maggots
A person may accidentally ingest maggots if they eat spoiled food. Although eating maggots is unlikely to cause lasting harm, it can sometimes cause bacterial poisoning. Learn more here.
Medical News Today: What is the link between asthma and pneumonia?
Asthma and pneumonia are respiratory conditions. They have different causes but similar symptoms. Learn about the connection between asthma and pneumonia, and what distinguishes them, here.
Medical News Today: What foods contain high fructose corn syrup?
High fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is a sugar alternative. Products that contain HFCS include sodas, packaged fruits, and desserts. Learn more about foods that contain HFCS, and why to avoid them, here.
Study finds flavors in e-cigs can damage cells that are critical for a healthy heart; cinnamon and menthol flavors were the most toxic
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| Healthline.com photo |
The study, published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, exposed lab-grown endothelial cells, which normally line healthy blood vessels, to six different flavored e-liquids with varying nicotine concentrations.
The researchers found that following exposure, the cells were more likely to die early, showed increased levels of DNA damage, were less able to help form new blood vessels and were less able to participate in wound healing, Dennis Thompson reports for HealthDay News.
The study found that the cinnamon and menthol liquids were the most damaging to the cells, while the caramel and vanilla flavors were also damaging, but not as severely.
"If you're a chronic e-cigarette [user], you're probably going to be prone to more vascular disease in the future," Wu told Thompson. "It doesn't have the carcinogens associated with smoking, but don't use e-cigarettes with the assumption that if I switch to e-cigarettes it will be good for my cardiovascular health."
Wu added that endothelial cells, which line the heart and blood vessels, are critical to heart health and need to remain flexible to help manage blood pressure. Further, he said that when they are damaged they attract more cholesterol plaques and contribute to narrowing of the arteries, and stroke.
"The remarkable thing was there were very strong effects, both in terms of the specific mechanisms they looked at and that the effects were not very different between cells from e-cigarette smokers and cigarette smokers," Dr. Rose Marie Robertson,deputy chief medical officer of the American Heart Association, told Thompson.
Robertson also warned that the e-cigarette companies are using flavorings that have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for ingestion, but not necessarily for inhalation.
Much of the concern about e-cigarettes is centered around the growing use of these products by teens, largely because they are attracted to the flavors.
"There's so many kids who are smoking e-cigarettes. And these kids are going to become adults. And these adults can become elderly patients that I as a cardiologist will take care of later on, " Wu told Michael Nedelman of CNN.
According to the Kentucky Incentives for Prevention survey, teen use of e-cigarettes in the state nearly doubled from 2016 to 2018. It found that 26.7% of high-school seniors reported using e-cigs in the month before they were surveyed, up from 12.2% in 2016. Among 10th graders, it increased to 23.2% from 11.3%; eighth graders to 14.2% from 7.3%; and sixth-graders to 4.2% from 2.3%.
A national study found that vaping increased nearly 80% among high schoolers and 50% among middle schoolers from 2017 to 2018.
Wu told Thompson that the researchers suspect that different components of e-cigarette vapor might harm blood vessel cells in different ways.
Environmental Health News calls this study the latest linking e-cigarettes to heart problems and points to two other bodies of research that link e-cig use and heart disease.
In March, it reported that researchers presented a study of nearly 100,000 Americans that found e-cigarette users are more likely to suffer heart attacks and strokes compared to non-users. In January, it reported on a big national study of 400,000 Americans that found e-cigarette users have a 70% higher risk of stroke and a 60% higher risk of heart attack, compared to non-users.
Kentucky Hospital Association asks federal appeals court to uphold state plan for work rules in Medicaid
The Kentucky Hospital Association has filed a formal statement with the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit asking it to uphold the state's proposed work and other "community engagement" requirements in Medicaid, James Romoser reports for Inside Health Policy.
Romoser called the move "a rare example of the hospital industry endorsing work requirements as a condition for maintaining health coverage."
The hospital association filed the friend-of-the-court brief May 21, asking the court to uphold Kentucky’s request for a waiver of the traditional Medicaid rules to require, among other things, most of the "able-bodied" individuals who gained coverage through the expansion of Medicaid to people who earn up to 138% of the federal poverty line to work or participate in community engagement 80 hours a month.
The new Medicaid program is called Kentucky HEALTH, for Helping to Engage and Achieve Long Term Health. It would be an experiment under a waiver of Section 1115 of the Social Security Act.
In March, District Judge James Boasberg ruled against the waiver, as well as a similar one for Arkansas, after concluding that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services failed to show how work requirements would serve the objectives of the 1965 Medicaid Act.
This was the second time Boasberg had vacated the federally approved plan and sent it back to the Department of Health and Human Services for further review.
An appeal by CMS, joined by Kentucky and Arkansas, appealed, is before the D.C. Circuit. A brief has been filed, arguing that Kentucky HEALTH should be upheld because the new rules would be no different than what is already required of people who receive federally funded food assistance.
KHA's friend-of-the-court brief supports Kentucky’s effort to test whether work requirements will improve the overall health of Medicaid beneficiaries, Romoser reports.
The brief says, “In essence, Kentucky’s waiver proposal tests a limited population of Medicaid beneficiaries on the theory that linking Medicaid benefits to community engagement, similar to work-sponsored commercial insurance, may encourage beneficiaries to maintain, and use, health-care coverage even while healthy, because wellness health care tends to decrease prevalence of illness and its associated higher costs.”
The brief adds, “Will Kentucky HEALTH prove its theory true? If that could be known, there would be little need to implement it as an experimental demonstration project. But the theory is rational and has a reasonable corollary to health-care delivery.”
"The association further argues that the waiver is necessary to ensure the fiscal sustainability of Kentucky’s Medicaid program," Romoser reports. This argument was also made in the Trump and Bevin administration's brief; Boasberg firmly rejected it, noting that it is based on Gov. Matt Bevin's threat to end expansion of Medicaid to more than 400,000 Kentuckians if courts thwart his plan.
Romoser says KHA's intervention is "unusual because the hospital industry has mostly tried to stay out of the debate over Medicaid work requirements." He notes that the American Hospital Association has also not taken a stance, calling it a state issue, and that KHA did not intervene in the lower court.
Kentucky projected in its initial waiver application that its Medicaid rolls would have 95,000 fewer people in five years under Bevin's plan than without it, in large measure because of noncompliance.
Romoser says that could hurt hospitals by increasing the number of uninsured patients, but terminating the Medicaid expansion is "a scenario that would be even worse for hospitals."
KHA has long supported Kentucky HEALTH, often stating that it supports the plan as a means to protect Medicaid expansion.
Romoser called the move "a rare example of the hospital industry endorsing work requirements as a condition for maintaining health coverage."The hospital association filed the friend-of-the-court brief May 21, asking the court to uphold Kentucky’s request for a waiver of the traditional Medicaid rules to require, among other things, most of the "able-bodied" individuals who gained coverage through the expansion of Medicaid to people who earn up to 138% of the federal poverty line to work or participate in community engagement 80 hours a month.
The new Medicaid program is called Kentucky HEALTH, for Helping to Engage and Achieve Long Term Health. It would be an experiment under a waiver of Section 1115 of the Social Security Act.
In March, District Judge James Boasberg ruled against the waiver, as well as a similar one for Arkansas, after concluding that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services failed to show how work requirements would serve the objectives of the 1965 Medicaid Act.
This was the second time Boasberg had vacated the federally approved plan and sent it back to the Department of Health and Human Services for further review.
An appeal by CMS, joined by Kentucky and Arkansas, appealed, is before the D.C. Circuit. A brief has been filed, arguing that Kentucky HEALTH should be upheld because the new rules would be no different than what is already required of people who receive federally funded food assistance.
KHA's friend-of-the-court brief supports Kentucky’s effort to test whether work requirements will improve the overall health of Medicaid beneficiaries, Romoser reports.
The brief says, “In essence, Kentucky’s waiver proposal tests a limited population of Medicaid beneficiaries on the theory that linking Medicaid benefits to community engagement, similar to work-sponsored commercial insurance, may encourage beneficiaries to maintain, and use, health-care coverage even while healthy, because wellness health care tends to decrease prevalence of illness and its associated higher costs.”
The brief adds, “Will Kentucky HEALTH prove its theory true? If that could be known, there would be little need to implement it as an experimental demonstration project. But the theory is rational and has a reasonable corollary to health-care delivery.”
"The association further argues that the waiver is necessary to ensure the fiscal sustainability of Kentucky’s Medicaid program," Romoser reports. This argument was also made in the Trump and Bevin administration's brief; Boasberg firmly rejected it, noting that it is based on Gov. Matt Bevin's threat to end expansion of Medicaid to more than 400,000 Kentuckians if courts thwart his plan.
Romoser says KHA's intervention is "unusual because the hospital industry has mostly tried to stay out of the debate over Medicaid work requirements." He notes that the American Hospital Association has also not taken a stance, calling it a state issue, and that KHA did not intervene in the lower court.
Kentucky projected in its initial waiver application that its Medicaid rolls would have 95,000 fewer people in five years under Bevin's plan than without it, in large measure because of noncompliance.
Romoser says that could hurt hospitals by increasing the number of uninsured patients, but terminating the Medicaid expansion is "a scenario that would be even worse for hospitals."
KHA has long supported Kentucky HEALTH, often stating that it supports the plan as a means to protect Medicaid expansion.
Medical News Today: What to know about premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
Most females experience at least some symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS). This article explores the symptoms, causes, and treatments of PMS. We also discuss when to see a doctor about symptoms.
Medical News Today: What to know about clindamycin
Clindamycin is an antibiotic drug. This article provides an overview of clindamycin, including what it can treat, how much doctors recommend taking, and possible adverse effects and interactions.
Medical News Today: What to know about bumps on the cervix
Bumps on the cervix are usually benign, or noncancerous, so they do not usually need treatment. In other cases, bumps can indicate cervical cancer, which will require treatment. Learn about the causes and treatments for bumps on the cervix here.
Medical News Today: Vyvanse vs. Adderall: What to know
Vyvanse and Adderall are two drugs that treat ADHD. They have similar actions and side effects, but there are several differences. Learn more here.
Medical News Today: What to know about folate deficiency
Folate is an essential nutrient. A lack of dietary folate can cause anemia, which is especially dangerous for women during pregnancy. Learn about the causes, symptoms, treatment, and prevention of folate deficiency here.
Medical News Today: Scientists discover anti-aging potential in old drug
The discovery of a second cell target for the immunosuppressant rapamycin could help its development as an anti-aging, neuroprotective drug.
Medical News Today: Are allergies linked to anxiety and depression?
A new study finds a link between different forms of allergies and either anxiety or depression. Future research, however, must verify these associations.
Are certain types of sugars healthier than others?
Most people consume many different types of sugars from a variety of foods and beverages in their diet. A high intake of sugar is linked to an increased risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and certain cancers. But whether some sugars are healthier (or worse) than others remains a question of interest to many.
Sugar basics
Sugar provides energy that our cells need to survive. Sugar is a type of carbohydrate, a macronutrient that provides energy (in the form of calories) from foods and beverages we consume. Carbohydrates are classified into two subtypes of sugar: monosaccharides, or “simple sugars” (consisting of one molecule) and disaccharides (two molecules). The monosaccharides include glucose, fructose, and galactose. The major disaccharides include sucrose (one glucose molecule and one fructose molecule), lactose (one glucose molecule and one galactose molecule), and maltose (two glucose molecules).
Fructose, glucose, and sucrose are found naturally in fruit and some vegetables, while lactose is found in dairy, and maltose is found in germinating grains. Fructose and glucose are also found naturally in honey as well as in common table sugar.
Added versus natural sugars
An increasingly important distinction among sugars as they pertain to health is whether they occur naturally in foods such as fruit, vegetables, and dairy, or whether they are added sugars, added to foods and beverages during manufacturing, processing, or preparation.
Sugary beverages are the greatest source of added sugar in the diet, followed by sweets and grains such as ready-to-eat cereals. Intake of added sugar, particularly from beverages, has been associated with weight gain, and higher risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
Natural and added sugars are metabolized the same way in our bodies. But for most people, consuming natural sugars in foods such as fruit is not linked to negative health effects, since the amount of sugar tends to be modest and is “packaged” with fiber and other healthful nutrients. On the other hand, our bodies do not need, or benefit from, eating added sugar.
The 2015–2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans and the World Health Organization both recommend that added sugar be limited to no more than 10% of daily calories. The updated Nutrition Facts Panel, expected to be rolled out in 2020 or 2021, will prominently feature a line disclosing added sugar along with the corresponding 10% daily value, to help consumers gauge their added sugar intake.
Are all added sugars created equal?
Added sugars come from a variety of sources and go by many different names, yet they are all a source of extra calories and are metabolized by the body the same way. A common misconception exists that some added sugars such as high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) are unhealthy, while others such as agave nectar (from the succulent plant) are healthy.
The reality is that most added sugars are composed of glucose and fructose in varying ratios. For example, sucrose (common table sugar) is 50% glucose and 50% fructose; the most common form of HFCS (which is produced from corn starch through industrial processing) contains 45% glucose and 55% fructose; and some types of agave nectar contain up to 90% fructose and 10% glucose.
Glucose and fructose have different metabolic fates, so in theory consuming one over the other could lead to differences in metabolic health. For example, glucose is absorbed from the intestine into the blood and is and taken up into muscle, liver, and fat cells in response to the release of insulin from the pancreas. In contrast, fructose is metabolized in the liver and does not increase blood glucose or insulin levels. But since glucose and fructose travel together in the foods and beverages we eat, we need to consider their effects holistically.
Whether an added sugar contains more or less fructose versus glucose has little impact on health. (An exception may be people with diabetes who need to control their blood glucose, in which case a higher-fructose, lower-glucose sugar may be preferable.) Some types of added sugar — honey, for example — may also contain micronutrients or other bioactive compounds. But these properties have little benefit when it comes to metabolic health.
In short, it’s best to limit all sources of added sugar to within the recommended intake level. For most people, one type of sugar isn’t better than another.
The post Are certain types of sugars healthier than others? appeared first on Harvard Health Blog.
Viewers get scenery, not science, as CNN explores global ‘secrets’ to living longer
In CNN’s reality-based series, “Chasing Life,” correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta travels to far-flung reaches of the planet to explore health care practices rooted in cultural traditions.
The show — which is available on the streaming platform CNNgo — was produced by the same division that created Anthony Bourdain Parts Unknown, and it was clearly designed to capitalize on that profitable model of personality-driven TV.
While Bourdain promoted the idea that Americans can learn from culinary traditions of other countries, Gupta’s premise is that we can learn from their health care lore.
At the start of each episode, Gupta tells viewers: “I want the same thing you do: the secret to living longer, healthier and happier.”
As entertainment, it works. Following Bourdain’s formula, the series is filled with charming people, thrilling scenery, and eye-popping cultural rituals.
We see Gupta immersing himself in a scorching Japanese bath, getting a foot-pressure massage in India, milking goats in Italy, taking a high-altitude run in Bolivia, and on and on.
Gupta — once named among People magazine’s “Sexiest Men Alive” — also gets plenty of chances to take his shirt off.
But does this travel documentary do a good job of conveying health care information?
Where’s the evidence?
Despite the resources that went into this programming, viewers learn little about what evidence exists that the practices depicted are effective or safe.
In Norway we see Gupta slug down cod liver oil, which he calls that country’s “secret weapon” against seasonal affective disorder — depression that hits in the months when it’s totally dark. No mention of whether there’s evidence this stuff actually improves symptoms. (A 2015 review concluded there’s no high-quality evidence that fish oils help with depression.)
In Turkey, people with mental disorders such as Down syndrome and autism are shown engaging in an Islamic whirling dervish meditation dance. Gupta says we don’t know why this ritual “works” for these people. But does it really? What’s the evidence? We aren’t told.
After watching some of the show’s clips, Canadian cardiologist Christopher Labos, MD, who has a degree in epidemiology and biostatistics and was a member of HeathNewsReview.org’s review team, provided this reaction:
A lot of these segments are very interesting, but they aren’t science-based. … I would have liked to see him actually explore this stuff, hold up the stuff that does work and disprove that stuff that doesn’t. … The truth is, there is no secret to “living longer, healthier and happier.” We already know what we have to do: quit smoking, eat more fruits and vegetables, eat less junk food, exercise more, maintain a healthy body weight. … But re-inforcing these fundamentals probably wouldn’t make for a very entertaining TV show.
Potential harms go unreported
What producers apparently thought did make for good TV was playing up purported benefits without telling viewers about potential harms.
Savoring goat cheese in Italy, Gupta asserts that “eating foods that are more alive — like raw cheese — is not only going to help your digestion but also help the rest of your health.” What he doesn’t say is that the CDC calls unpasteurized milk products “one of the riskiest” things you can consume, due to the potential for foodborne illness.
In the same episode Gupta says studies show wine is “good for our health,” and drinking one or two glasses a day is “a pretty enjoyable way to fight disease.”
Labos called this “really glossing over the evidence.”
The idea that red wine is good for the heart is really not supported by good evidence, and in fact, the sugar found in alcoholic beverages will almost certainly make you gain weight, alcohol itself increases your risk of cancer, and the idea that there are healthy antioxidants in red wine has been studied in studies like InCHIANTI, which turned out negative. Drinking alcohol is probably a net negative for your health, but I didn’t get that sense of nuance from the clips.
In the episode on Bolivia, the show suggests that parasitic infections contribute to very low rates of heart disease in the remote Tsimane tribe. CNN tweeted:
Labos said he had “a few issues” with promoting idea that parasitic infections might actually be good for us:
1. Most of the low rates of heart disease claimed for the tribe can likely be explained by their healthy diet and high levels of physical activity. In fact that would probably explain lots of it. If they started eating junk food and sitting around all day, their rates of heart disease would almost certainly go up. I don’t think the parasites would do much good then.2. There’s a popular logical inconsistency in this segment. The tribe actually has a lower life expectancy than the U.S. So they die earlier. Given that the most important risk factor for heart disease is age, an older population (like the U.S. population) will have higher rates of heart disease simply by definition. The basic point is that if you die young, you won’t live long enough to have a heart attack.3. As for parasites being good for your heart, I think Chagas’ disease [a common parasitic infection of the heart] proves that that is not true.Parasites can actually be very dangerous for your heart.
Lack of skepticism for yoga, ayurveda
At times the lack of skepticism is glaring. In India Gupta nods agreeably as Prime Minister Narendra Modi offers a defense of his government’s promotion of the Hindu practices of yoga and ayurveda, a health system based on herbs and minerals.
Gupta doesn’t appear to raise an eyebrow when Modi asserts that yoga can bring health care spending to zero and rejects the need for objective evidence of a benefit. Viewers aren’t told how Modi’s embrace of yoga and ayurveda is intertwined with the oppression of India’s minority Muslim population and that a key Modi political backer runs a massive ayurveda business.
Buried in a story that ran online, Gupta reported there’s “hardly any” scientific evidence to back up ayurveda, and “much of the impact may just come from the thought that goes into creating your meals” along with fewer calories being consumed and a lack of processed foods and added sugars.
Such nuances barely come across on the TV show.
Appeals to tradition and nature
Appealing to tradition — the reasoning that something must work because it’s been done for generations — pops up a lot. With the foot-pressure massage: “They’ve been around so long, there’s got to be something to it.” With the traditional Japanese diet: “There’s are reason why foods like bitter melon have been preserved and passed down for generations in Japan. They intuitively knew these foods were good for you.”
Likewise an appeal to nature — that something must be healthy because it is natural — is a common refrain.
Timothy Caulfield, a professor of health law and policy at the University of Alberta, produced a six-part medical myth-busting documentary series on Netflix, “A User’s Guide to Cheating Death.”
Caulfield said the show skirts the complexity of evidence.
While the show doesn’t come out with strong endorsements of the many alternative practices they explore, there is this vague support for the embrace of science-free perspectives. We see Gupta asking if “organic” goats’ milk is “chemical free” (What, Dr. Gupta, do you think milk is made of?) and supporting “hope rooted in ancient tradition.”
Caulfield said pop culture is already inundated with what he calls “wellness woo.”
In this era of misinformation, Gupta should have used this space to embrace and encourage critical thinking. Instead we got a show the kind of does the opposite, inviting the viewer to ignore the science and embrace the experience. That kind of thinking — which props up the value of testimonials and anecdote – is exactly what has allowed anti-vaxx sentiments to thrive, bogus diet fads to take root and the science-free concept of “wellness” to grow into a multi-trillion dollar industry.
‘Facts First’ for health care?
You’ve probably seen CNN’s “Facts First” ad campaign, which uses the metaphor of an apple to underscore the network’s commitment to bringing viewers fact-filled political reporting. “There is no alternative to a fact,” its copy says.
Caulfield wonders why CNN doesn’t apply the same ethos to health care as it does to political news.
Why not explore what the science actually says and present a full and frank analysis of that evidence — explain how and why the evidence gets twisted and what viewers can do to navigate through the noise? Instead, the show seems to be asking viewers to do the opposite. Ignore the science. Follow your gut and intuitions. In the political space CNN has argued this approach is highly problematic. But it is OK when it comes to science and health?
The hitch is, gathering facts and exploring evidence requires journalists who are skilled in covering health care. Unfortunately, CNN now has far fewer of them after announcing a “restructure” last week that “ultimately impacts 6-7 employees” in its health unit. Gupta still has his job.
Why CNN didn’t skip the nutty globe hopping and save a job or two is anyone’s guess.
Medical News Today: Virus 'identity change' may play a role in Alzheimer's
A study using human biological samples and mouse models has found what can make viruses more dangerous and how some could facilitate Alzheimer's.
Medical News Today: Cancer: Proton therapy has fewer side effects than X-ray radiation
A first-of-its-kind study compares the cure rates and side effects of proton therapy and X-ray radiation for people with various forms of cancer.
Medical News Today: What to do in the event of a heart attack
Symptoms of a heart attack include chest pain and shortness of breath. People should call the emergency services if they suspect a heart attack. Risk factors include age. Learn more here.
Tuesday, May 28, 2019
Medical News Today: What is 'morning wood,' and why does it happen?
"Morning wood" refers to nocturnal penile tumescence, which involves waking up in the morning with an erection. This is a normal occurrence. Changes in how often it happens can signal a health condition that may need treatment from a doctor. Learn more here.
Medical News Today: Causes and treatments for thinning hair
It is normal to experience some amount of hair thinning as people age. In other cases, there may be a medical cause. This article looks at the causes, treatments, and home remedies for thinning hair.
Medical News Today: What to know about adult-onset asthma
In most cases, people develop asthma during childhood, but it can also arise in adults. This article explores adult-onset asthma, including its causes, symptoms, management, and risk factors.
Medical News Today: Tips for sleeping better
Not getting enough sleep can negatively affect a person’s energy levels and overall health. However, making some simple changes to sleep habits can help a person sleep better. Learn more here.
Medical News Today: What to know about a blood clot in the arm
A blood clot in the arm can be a dangerous health problem. If the clot dislodges and travels to the lungs, it can block the flow of blood there, causing the tissue to die. As a result, a blood clot in the arm requires prompt treatment. Learn about the signs and symptoms of a blood clot here, as well as how to treat it.
Medical News Today: What are the benefits of sleeping naked?
Many people prefer to wear pajamas or another type of comfortable attire in bed. However, sleeping naked can help keep the body cool, which may promote better quality sleep. Sleeping naked may also have other health benefits. Learn more here.
Medical News Today: What does a hypoechoic thyroid nodule mean?
A hypoechoic thyroid nodule is a type of thyroid nodule that appears dark on an ultrasound scan and typically indicates a solid mass rather than a fluid-filled cyst. Thyroid nodules are common and most are harmless. However, they can sometimes develop into thyroid cancer. Learn more here.
Medical News Today: What to know about dissolvable stitches
The body breaks down dissolvable stitches over time, so they do not require removal. How long these stitches take to disappear depends on their type. It is important to follow the doctor’s care instructions after having dissolvable stitches. Learn more here.
Medical News Today: What happens when you mix azithromycin and alcohol?
Azithromycin is a drug that has uses in treating bacterial infections. Mixing with alcohol may cause issues including nausea, headache, and dizziness or other problems. Learn more here.
Medical News Today: Why do I keep waking up at night?
Waking up in the middle of the night is common. However, if it occurs often, it may signal the presence of an underlying condition. Sleep apnea, anxiety, and needing to urinate can all cause someone to wake up at night. Learn more about the possible causes here, along with some remedy options.
Medical News Today: Is the acrylamide in coffee harmful to health?
Coffee products that contain roasted beans contain small amounts of the compound acrylamide. There are concerns that acrylamide may be carcinogenic, but research suggests that coffee is generally safe to drink and may actually protect against a number of cancers and other conditions. Learn more here.
Medical News Today: Stroke study finds mouth bacteria in brain clots
Using DNA evidence, scientists have shown that brain clot samples from people who have had ischemic stroke often contain mouth bacteria.
Medical News Today: Veganism: Why food choice can spark rage
Veganism is growing in popularity, but the movement faces resistance. Here, we ask why the decision to follow a plant-based diet makes some people angry.
Medical News Today: How the gut immune system nourishes and protects
A new study in mice explains how the intestines are capable of letting nutrients through to the rest of the body while keeping harmful agents at bay.
Medical News Today: 10 ways to improve gut health
The gut is home to billions of microorganisms. Many of these are beneficial to overall health. In this article, learn how to promote the growth of beneficial bacteria and balance the gut microbiome.
Anxiety in college: What we know and how to cope
Even amid the rush of final exams and graduation celebrations at this time of year, college beckons with the chance to live on your own, find new friends, and explore interesting ideas. Yet for college students — as well as high school students and parents craning for a glimpse down the road — these changes can also be stressful. Overnight, college students separate from their traditional support system of family and friends. They also face many new challenges, such as living with roommates, managing heavy workloads, and developing an independent identity. It’s no surprise that anxiety often spikes during college. So, what do we know about anxiety during the college years? How can you cope if you’re facing it? And can you take steps this summer to help you handle anxiety when you head off to — or back to — a college campus?
What do we know about anxiety in college?
It’s common. Anxiety in college is very common. According to the American College Health Association Fall 2018 National College Health Assessment, 63% of college students in the US felt overwhelming anxiety in the past year. In the same survey, 23% reported being diagnosed or treated by a mental health professional for anxiety in the past year.
The sharpest increase in anxiety occurs during the initial transition to college. A recent study demonstrated that psychological distress among college students — that is, their levels of anxiety, depression, and stress — rises steadily during the first semester of college and remains elevated throughout the second semester. This suggests that the first year of college is an especially high-risk time for the onset or worsening of anxiety.
It’s caused by many factors. Many factors contribute to the heightened risk for anxiety among college students. For example, sleep disruption caused by drinking excess caffeine and pulling all-nighters is associated with increased anxiety among college students. Loneliness also predicts mental health problems, including anxiety. Academic factors like school stress and disengagement from studies are also associated with psychological distress among college students.
It may be on the rise. College students today appear to be more stressed and anxious than ever before. A recent study in Sweden showed that anxiety levels have increased in recent years, especially among young adults. In the US, some research shows a decrease in psychological well-being among adolescents over the past several years. It’s not entirely clear what is causing this trend, though research shows a strong association between time spent on electronic communication (social media, smartphones) and reduced well-being among adolescents. Electronic communication might interfere with adjustment to college if it replaces healthy coping behaviors like exercise, face-to-face social interactions, and studying.
How to cope with anxiety in college
Whether you’re a student, a parent, or an administrator, our tips on coping with anxiety in college may help. Even if you haven’t yet started college, it can be useful to think ahead.
For students:
- Approach, don’t avoid. College is challenging and many students cope by avoiding stressors (skipping class, staying in bed all day). However, we know that avoidance tends to make anxiety worse over time. Instead, practice taking small steps to approach anxiety-provoking situations. If you’re struggling in a class, try emailing the professor for help. If you’re feeling lonely, try introducing yourself to someone in the dining hall. Not at college yet? Practice this skill over the summer by participating in pre-college programs on campus.
- Practice self-care. Many students struggle to maintain healthy eating habits, consistent exercise, and regular sleep without the structure of home. But self-care behaviors like these are extremely important for regulating mood and helping people cope with stress. Try to establish your own self-care routine — preferably before you even start college. Good sleep hygiene is key. Set a consistent bedtime and wake-up time each day. Avoid using your bed for activities other than sleep, like studying. Limit caffeine in the evening and limit alcohol altogether, as it interferes with restful sleep.
- Find resources on campus. Many colleges offer resources to help students navigate the initial transition to campus and cope with stress. Investigate campus resources for academic advising, study support, peer counseling, and student mental health. If you’ve been diagnosed with a mental health issue, such as an anxiety disorder, you may also want to find a mental health provider near campus. If you struggle with anxiety and you’ll be starting college next year, you may find it helps to establish a relationship with a therapist beforehand.
For parents: You can help your child navigate the transition to college by supporting them in trying the tips described above. For example, you might ask your child about their worries for college and help them brainstorm an approach plan. You can also assist in researching campus resources and finding local mental health providers.
For administrators: College administrators can support students by raising awareness on campus about stress and anxiety. The message that anxiety is common and treatable can reduce stigma for those who are struggling, and increase the likelihood that they will reach out for help. Administrators can also work on reducing barriers for students who need mental health resources. For example, colleges can offer mental health support to students via phone, online chat, and drop-in sessions, to make it as easy as possible to receive treatment.
The post Anxiety in college: What we know and how to cope appeared first on Harvard Health Blog.
Medical News Today: A complete guide to B vitamins
B vitamins are a group of eight related nutrients. This article takes a close look at all of the B vitamins, including their functions, sources, and deficiency symptoms. We also discuss the best ways to take B vitamin supplements.
Medical News Today: Can a massage technique help treat acid reflux?
Using a massage technique called myofascial release, researchers reduced the severity and frequency of acid reflux in a small group of people with GERD.
Medical News Today: Bipolar disorder may increase risk of Parkinson's
A recent study concludes that experiencing bipolar disorder during adulthood increases the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease later in life.
Monday, May 27, 2019
Medical News Today: Using EEG data to diagnose Parkinson's disease
A team of researchers behind a new study believe that an EEG could be a noninvasive and affordable way to detect Parkinson’s disease.
Medical News Today: These 5 tropical plants may 'provide anticancer benefits'
New research examined several plants that people have used to treat cancer since ancient times. The study identified five plants with anticancer benefits.
Sunday, May 26, 2019
Doctors worry FDA can't ensure quality of generics from overseas, 80% of active ingredients in U.S. drugs come from India or China
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| Adobe illustration adapted by The Boston Globe |
Some U.S. doctors worry that the federal government is not doing a good job of policing generic prescription drugs -- which account for 90 percent of the prescription drugs Americans use, are overwhelmingly made in India or China, and are sometimes not effective, Katherine Eban reports for The Boston Globe, in a story headlined "These pills could kill you."
Doctors at the Cleveland Clinic are among those who have confirmed problems with Indian-made generics and complained to the Food and Drug Administration, which inspects more drug manufacturing plants in other countries than it does in the U.S.
"The majority of generics bought in the U.S. are made overseas," writes Eban, author of Bottle of Lies: The Inside Story of the Generic Drug Boom. "Roughly 40 percent are manufactured in India; 80 percent of the active ingredients in all of our drugs, whether brand-name or generic, are made in India and China."
The FDA says it has a reliable review system for generics, "but American physicians — particularly those who prescribe drugs that require precise dosing — are questioning the FDA’s ability to police overseas manufacturing," Eban reports. "Do the generic drugs that the agency approves actually meet the FDA’s standards, since the agency’s own investigators have discovered staggering fraud in a number of overseas drug plants?"
Eban's story includes examples of American patients put at risk by ineffective generics. She writes that while the FDA "has struggled to police a global drug supply, U.S. patients have faced a perfect storm of consequences. The ever-climbing prices of brand-name drugs have led to our reliance on the lowest-cost manufacturers overseas. Recently, dozens of versions of the generic blood pressure medicines — valsartan and losartan — have been recalled, due to ingredients manufactured in China that contained a carcinogen that had gone undetected for years. The U.S. makes almost none of its own antibiotics anymore."
Eban opines, "Solving these problems requires a multi-pronged solution to reduce brand-name drug prices, overhaul the FDA’s foreign inspection program, and revamp a system in which regulators rely on company-submitted data to verify drug quality. But along with these efforts must come a rethink of who makes our drugs where. Shouldn’t some percentage of our essential drugs be made on U.S. soil?"
Medical News Today: Antibiotics may help curb Alzheimer's symptoms
A new study in mice suggests that a combination of antibiotics may reduce the buildup of amyloid plaques, but only in male brains.
Medical News Today: Plastic pollution harms oxygen-producing bacteria
New research finds that plastic pollution not only harms fish but also damages species of bacteria that produce the oxygen we breathe.
Saturday, May 25, 2019
Most women with heart disease don't get enough exercise; heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women in U.S.
More than half of women in the United states with heart disease aren't getting enough physical activity, and that number has increased over the past decade, a study says. In Kentucky, 4.9% of women reported they had been told by a health care provider that they had heart disease, compared to 3.2% of women nationwide, according to America's Health Rankings.
“Physical activity is a known, cost-effective prevention strategy for women with and without cardiovascular disease, and our study shows worsening health and financial trends over time among women with cardiovascular disease who don’t get enough physical activity,” DR. Victor Okunrintemi, the lead researcher, said in a news release. “We have more reason than ever to encourage women with cardiovascular disease to move more.”
Okunrintemi is a former Johns Hopkins Medicine research fellow who is now an internal medicine resident at East Carolina University. His study, published online in JAMA Network Open, used data from a national survey representing more than 18 million U.S. women with established heart disease. The researchers compared data from 2006-2007 against data collected in 2014-15.
The study found that in 2006, 58% of women with heart disease said they were not meeting the American Heart Association physical activity guidelines. By 2015, the number was 61%.
AHA recommends 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity per week, or about 30 minutes a day, five days a week.
The researchers also found that women between the ages of 40 and 64 were the fastest-growing age group not getting enough exercise, with 60% of them not getting enough exercise in 2014-15; thatg was a significant increase from the 53 percent reported in 2006-07.
They also found trends related to race and socioeconomic factors, with African American, Hispanic, and women with low-income levels and low education more likely to not get enough exercise.
It also found that the health care costs of women with heart disease who met the AHA physical activity guidelines were about 30% less, compared to those who did not meet the guidelines.
Costs for women in the study who did not exercise enough was $12,724 in 2006-07 and $14,820 in 2014-15. Women in the study who exercised the recommended amount spent $8,811 in 2006-07 and $10,504 in 2014-15.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in American women, claiming over 400,000 lives each year, or one death every 80 seconds. It kills about the same number of women as all forms of cancer, chronic lower respiratory disease and diabetes combine, according to AHA.
Women with heart disease should talk to their provider about how to increase their physical activity, as a proven way to improve their health and to decrease their healthcare costs, the researchers say.
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| WebMD photo |
Okunrintemi is a former Johns Hopkins Medicine research fellow who is now an internal medicine resident at East Carolina University. His study, published online in JAMA Network Open, used data from a national survey representing more than 18 million U.S. women with established heart disease. The researchers compared data from 2006-2007 against data collected in 2014-15.
The study found that in 2006, 58% of women with heart disease said they were not meeting the American Heart Association physical activity guidelines. By 2015, the number was 61%.
AHA recommends 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity per week, or about 30 minutes a day, five days a week.
The researchers also found that women between the ages of 40 and 64 were the fastest-growing age group not getting enough exercise, with 60% of them not getting enough exercise in 2014-15; thatg was a significant increase from the 53 percent reported in 2006-07.
They also found trends related to race and socioeconomic factors, with African American, Hispanic, and women with low-income levels and low education more likely to not get enough exercise.
It also found that the health care costs of women with heart disease who met the AHA physical activity guidelines were about 30% less, compared to those who did not meet the guidelines.
Costs for women in the study who did not exercise enough was $12,724 in 2006-07 and $14,820 in 2014-15. Women in the study who exercised the recommended amount spent $8,811 in 2006-07 and $10,504 in 2014-15.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in American women, claiming over 400,000 lives each year, or one death every 80 seconds. It kills about the same number of women as all forms of cancer, chronic lower respiratory disease and diabetes combine, according to AHA.
Women with heart disease should talk to their provider about how to increase their physical activity, as a proven way to improve their health and to decrease their healthcare costs, the researchers say.
Ky ranks in top 10 for adverse childhood experiences; $200,000 grant will address child trauma in Lake Cumberland area
The Louisville-based Bounce Coalition has been awarded $200,000 to work with Russell County Schools and the Lake Cumberland District Health Department to help children who deal with violence, addiction and other trauma.
The Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky grant will be used to create a rural program in Russell County and nine surrounding counties to address adverse childhood experiences, or ACES, which the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines as a term used to describe all types of abuse, neglect and other potentially traumatic experiences that occur to people under the age of 18.
The Bounce Coalition was launched in 2014 with another grant from the foundation to focus on ACES in Jefferson County Public Schools.
"The Bounce program helps build children's resilience to toxic stressors, which can lead to chronic illnesses as they grow into adulthood and keep them from thriving throughout their lives," Ben Chandler, president and CEO of the foundation, said in a news release. "Our initial work with Bounce in an urban setting showed highly promising results, and now we're going to pilot the program in a rural setting. Our goal is to create a blueprint for addressing ACEs in school settings across the commonwealth."
"This means our children are starting their lives at a disadvantage compared to kids in other states, which is why this program focusing on ACEs and childhood trauma is vital," Howard said in the release. "In order to have a better and brighter future, it is imperative that we address ACEs."
Bounce Coalition Leader Joe Bargione added that the good news is that trauma doesn't have to define these children's lives. According to the news release, research shows that children with resilience skill sets are three times more likely to be engaged in school than their peers who have no skills or whose skills are underdeveloped.
"There is a growing body of knowledge that helps individuals and organizations recognize and respond to trauma, building protective factors and shifting the perspective from 'What is wrong with this child?' to 'What happened to this child?'"he said in the release.
The Bounce program in Russell County will include professional development for teachers, staff and bus drivers, in-class observation and role-modeling, classroom discussions, peer support groups for students, and education for parents, caregivers and the entire community.
In the second year of the program, Bounce will work with the health department to deploy "train-the-trainer" programs to create a system of self-sufficiency for the community. The program will begin in August.
"This is such an exciting opportunity for Russell County Schools' staff and students," Supt. Michael Ford said in the release. "We know that when our students' emotional needs are met, they are better able to participate in the learning that is taking place in their classrooms."
The Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky grant will be used to create a rural program in Russell County and nine surrounding counties to address adverse childhood experiences, or ACES, which the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines as a term used to describe all types of abuse, neglect and other potentially traumatic experiences that occur to people under the age of 18.
The Bounce Coalition was launched in 2014 with another grant from the foundation to focus on ACES in Jefferson County Public Schools.
According to America's Health Rankings, Kentucky is in the top 10 states for ACEs, with 27% of its children having experienced two or more stressful or traumatic events on a list of 10. Kentucky Health Commissioner Jeff Howard said the national average is less than 22 %.
"This means our children are starting their lives at a disadvantage compared to kids in other states, which is why this program focusing on ACEs and childhood trauma is vital," Howard said in the release. "In order to have a better and brighter future, it is imperative that we address ACEs."
Bounce Coalition Leader Joe Bargione added that the good news is that trauma doesn't have to define these children's lives. According to the news release, research shows that children with resilience skill sets are three times more likely to be engaged in school than their peers who have no skills or whose skills are underdeveloped.
"There is a growing body of knowledge that helps individuals and organizations recognize and respond to trauma, building protective factors and shifting the perspective from 'What is wrong with this child?' to 'What happened to this child?'"he said in the release.
The Bounce program in Russell County will include professional development for teachers, staff and bus drivers, in-class observation and role-modeling, classroom discussions, peer support groups for students, and education for parents, caregivers and the entire community.
In the second year of the program, Bounce will work with the health department to deploy "train-the-trainer" programs to create a system of self-sufficiency for the community. The program will begin in August.
"This is such an exciting opportunity for Russell County Schools' staff and students," Supt. Michael Ford said in the release. "We know that when our students' emotional needs are met, they are better able to participate in the learning that is taking place in their classrooms."
Health cabinet says it will revise proposed rule that would have banned tattooing over scars, due to 'unintended consequences'
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| WFPL photo |
"The concerns are being heard," said the cabinet, which had declined to say why it had proposed the regulation. It offered a reason: "to address potential health issues of tattooing over unhealthy skin, including recent or healing scar tissue. Because of such potential risks, some states currently restrict tattooing of skin that has a rash, evidence of an infection, open lesions, or recent scar tissue."
The proposed regulation simply reads, "Tattooing of scarred skin is prohibited." That prompted complaints that it was written too broadly.
David Levine, a researcher and doctor at the Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta, told Lisa Gillespie of Louisville's WFPL that he knew of no research that would warrant such a ban. “It probably should have been more specific to the reason that the skin was scarred in the first place,” he said. “There are people that are using cosmetic tattooing to actually reduce the appearance of scars.” Those include mastectomy patients.
Health Commissioner Jeffrey Howard said in the news release, "The specific language in the proposed regulation had some unintended consequences and will be addressed. We believe the final regulation will be improved by the comments we have received." The release said that would happen after the public comment period ends May 31.
Comments can be emailed to: CHFSregs@ky.gov. A public hearing on the regulation is scheduled for May 28 in Frankfort.
Mike Martin, president of the Alliance of Professional Tattooists, told Gillespie that the industry already has rules in place about tattooing over scars, and there is typically no problem as long as the scar isn't fresh.
Medical News Today: How does exercise support health later in life?
A new study reviews the effects of exercising in older life. Greater independence and higher self-worth are only some of the benefits of physical activity.
Medical News Today: Weighing yourself every day could prevent weight gain
New research finds that self-weighing and seeing a graphical representation of their weight changes can prompt people to lose or maintain their weight.
Friday, May 24, 2019
Medical News Today: What is systemic lupus erythematosus?
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is the most common form of lupus. It is a chronic condition that can affect multiple tissues and organs. As a result, the symptoms of SLE vary widely. Although doctors do not know the cause, they can treat the condition with medications. Learn more about SLE here.
Medical News Today: Can probiotics help you lose weight?
Probiotics are beneficial bacteria that occur naturally in the gut. Some research suggests a link between these good bacteria and a healthy weight. Learn more about probiotics for weight loss here.
Medical News Today: What to do about dry skin on the penis
Dry skin on the penis may have a variety of causes, including unlubricated sex or masturbation, eczema, or psoriasis. Many home remedies, such as moisturizers, can help. Learn more here.
Medical News Today: What types of massage are there?
There are several types of massage, such as hot stone, deep tissue, and sports massages. Benefits include relief from muscle aches and relaxation. Learn more about the different types of massages here.
Kentucky dropped one spot in latest America's Health Rankings Report for seniors, to 49th; ranked last in health outcomes
By Melissa Patrick
Kentucky Health News
A new report shows that Kentucky continues to be one of the worst states in which to grow old, which isn't great news for the one in six Kentuckians who are already over the age of 65 and the growing number of Baby Boomers who will soon fall into that category.
Kentucky ranks 49th for seniors' health in the most recent America's Health Rankings Report, down one slot from last year. Mississippi is the only state ranked worse. Kentucky has been in the bottom 10 states for senior health since 2013, the first year AHR did the report.
The report looked at 34 measures of senior health that are known to influence health, which were then broken into five categories.
Kentucky ranked in the bottom 10 states in four of the five main categories, 49th for behaviors; 47th for community and environment; 44th for clinical care; and 50th for health outcomes.
Its highest ranking was for senior health policies, 32nd. This ranking was largely driven by positive scores in two categories, one that shows Kentucky has a low percentage of seniors living in nursing homes who require a low level of care, 7.4%; and another that shows the state has a high percentage of seniors with prescription drug coverage, 87%.
Other good news is that only 5.5% of Kentucky seniors are heavy drinkers, though it was 4% three years ago. The state also has a high percentage of seniors who are managing their diabetes, 81.6%.
This year, the report also looked at how many seniors had avoided care due to cost. It found that in Kentucky, 7% of seniors said there was a time in the past year when they needed to see a doctor, but could not because of cost. Nationally, that rate was 5.2%.
It also took a national look at young seniors, between the ages of 65 and 74, and found that compared with 15 years ago, smoking rates are 16% lower, early deaths are 22% lower and those reporting they are in better health is 11% higher. However, the report also found excessive drinking in this age-group is 42% higher, obesity is 36% higher, diabetes is 36% higher and suicide rates are 16% higher.
Ongoing challenges in Kentucky
The report says its purpose is to promote data-driven discussions that can drive positive changes and improve the health of seniors -- and most of Kentucky's data shows a lot of room for improvement.
Kentucky seniors rank No. 2 in smoking, at 12.5%. The report notes that it's never too late to stop smoking, and that even in older adults it has been shown to improve health outcomes.
Kentucky also ranks in the bottom five states for several other measures.
It ranks 47th for physical inactivity, with 36% of the state's seniors reporting they were inactive. Overall, the report found that females are 1.2 times more likely than males to be inactive.
It also ranks 47th for community support expenditures, which are used for funding personal care, meals, transportation and nutrition-education programs for seniors, at $225 dollars per adult aged 60 and older in poverty, compared with the average of $571 dollars for all states.
Kentucky ranked 46th for home-delivered meals to seniors, delivering meals to only 4.9% of its seniors aged 60 and older who have difficulty living independently. The national average for this measure is 8.9%, and the top ranked state for this measure, New Hampshire, delivers meals to 37.5% of seniors in need.
Kentucky ranks as the worst state for its high number of preventable hospitalizations, at 76.6 discharges per 1,000 Medicare enrollees. The national average for this measure is 49.4.
They are also more likely to die early. The report found 2,369 deaths per 100,000 adults aged 65 to 74 in Kentucky, compared to 1,791 nationwide.
Kentucky seniors also suffer from more mental distress than seniors in other states, 10%, compared to 7.9% nationwide.
The state's seniors also rank last among states for volunteerism by seniors, with only 18.9% volunteering, and nearly last, 48th, for the number of seniors reporting high health status, 31.7%. The national average for these measures are 28% and 41.3% respectively.
Kentucky Health News
A new report shows that Kentucky continues to be one of the worst states in which to grow old, which isn't great news for the one in six Kentuckians who are already over the age of 65 and the growing number of Baby Boomers who will soon fall into that category.
Kentucky ranks 49th for seniors' health in the most recent America's Health Rankings Report, down one slot from last year. Mississippi is the only state ranked worse. Kentucky has been in the bottom 10 states for senior health since 2013, the first year AHR did the report.
The report looked at 34 measures of senior health that are known to influence health, which were then broken into five categories.
Kentucky ranked in the bottom 10 states in four of the five main categories, 49th for behaviors; 47th for community and environment; 44th for clinical care; and 50th for health outcomes.
Its highest ranking was for senior health policies, 32nd. This ranking was largely driven by positive scores in two categories, one that shows Kentucky has a low percentage of seniors living in nursing homes who require a low level of care, 7.4%; and another that shows the state has a high percentage of seniors with prescription drug coverage, 87%.
Other good news is that only 5.5% of Kentucky seniors are heavy drinkers, though it was 4% three years ago. The state also has a high percentage of seniors who are managing their diabetes, 81.6%.
This year, the report also looked at how many seniors had avoided care due to cost. It found that in Kentucky, 7% of seniors said there was a time in the past year when they needed to see a doctor, but could not because of cost. Nationally, that rate was 5.2%.
It also took a national look at young seniors, between the ages of 65 and 74, and found that compared with 15 years ago, smoking rates are 16% lower, early deaths are 22% lower and those reporting they are in better health is 11% higher. However, the report also found excessive drinking in this age-group is 42% higher, obesity is 36% higher, diabetes is 36% higher and suicide rates are 16% higher.
Ongoing challenges in Kentucky
The report says its purpose is to promote data-driven discussions that can drive positive changes and improve the health of seniors -- and most of Kentucky's data shows a lot of room for improvement.
Kentucky seniors rank No. 2 in smoking, at 12.5%. The report notes that it's never too late to stop smoking, and that even in older adults it has been shown to improve health outcomes.
Kentucky also ranks in the bottom five states for several other measures.
It ranks 47th for physical inactivity, with 36% of the state's seniors reporting they were inactive. Overall, the report found that females are 1.2 times more likely than males to be inactive.
It also ranks 47th for community support expenditures, which are used for funding personal care, meals, transportation and nutrition-education programs for seniors, at $225 dollars per adult aged 60 and older in poverty, compared with the average of $571 dollars for all states.
Kentucky ranked 46th for home-delivered meals to seniors, delivering meals to only 4.9% of its seniors aged 60 and older who have difficulty living independently. The national average for this measure is 8.9%, and the top ranked state for this measure, New Hampshire, delivers meals to 37.5% of seniors in need.
Kentucky ranks as the worst state for its high number of preventable hospitalizations, at 76.6 discharges per 1,000 Medicare enrollees. The national average for this measure is 49.4.
They are also more likely to die early. The report found 2,369 deaths per 100,000 adults aged 65 to 74 in Kentucky, compared to 1,791 nationwide.
Kentucky seniors also suffer from more mental distress than seniors in other states, 10%, compared to 7.9% nationwide.
The state's seniors also rank last among states for volunteerism by seniors, with only 18.9% volunteering, and nearly last, 48th, for the number of seniors reporting high health status, 31.7%. The national average for these measures are 28% and 41.3% respectively.
