Watch Out for These Destructive Types By blog Like so many Americans, we changed health care plans this past month. Mike and I shared a terrible experience this week when we went to meet a new doctor It was truly the worst behavior I have ever witnessed from a trained professional.
_ Living with Chronic Kidney Disease By Jane Farrell article You've been told that you have chronic kidney disease (CKD). What does that mean? And what does it mean for your health and your life? Here, the experts from the National Kidney Disease Education Program, part of the National Institutes of Health, offer expert tips on living with the condition. First, the basics: Your illness affects your two kidneys. Each is about the size of your fist. They filter wastes and excess water from your blood to make urine. They also help control blood pressure, and they manufacture hormones.
_ Women's Health and Wellness New Clues to Endometriosis By Jane Farrell article Researchers have taken a step toward better diagnosis and treatment of endometriosis by discovering a pattern of molecules and cellular activity linked to the painful condition. Endometriosis, the invasion of uterine tissue into surrounding organs, including the peritoneal cavity and the ovaries, affects an estimated 10 percent of women. It can cause severe pain and infertility. It’s also difficult to diagnose because symptoms may disappear for years at a time, and very little is known about its cause.
Simulated Blindness Sharpens Hearing By article Researchers at the University of Maryland and Johns Hopkins University have overturned the long-held belief that adult brains can’t be re-wired to improve hearing by simulating vision loss. The findings, published February 5th in the journal Neuron, may lead to treatments for people with hearing loss or tinnitus, according to lead author Patrick Kanold and his research partner Hey-Kyoung Lee.
_ Heart Health Knowing Your "Heart Age" Leads to Healthier Behavior By Jane Farrell article People who know their “heart age” are likelier to engage in healthier behavior, according to a new study.
_ Is Your Inner Child Keeping You Trapped in a Bad Relationship or Job? By article By Steven Jay Fogel It happens when we see politicians repeatedly make the same self-destructive mistakes. Think former legislator Anthony Weiner’s repeated sexting scandals. Or we hear friends complain repeatedly about the horrible job they’re “stuck” in.
_ Sleep Health Sleep: Myths vs. Facts By Jane Farrell article How much do you know about one of life’s most important activities? Here, the experts from the National Center on Sleep Disorder Research, a division of the National Institutes of Health, separate the facts from the myths and misunderstandings: Sleep is a time when your body and brain shut down for rest and relaxation
_ Aging Well Well-being Feeling in Control Can Increase Longevity By article People who feel in control and believe they can achieve goals despite hardships are more likely to live longer and healthier lives, especially among those with less education, according to a study by Brandeis University and the University of Rochester and published online in the Journal of Health Psychology. Previous studies have shown that people with a high school diploma or less education tend to die younger than those with a college degree or graduate training. Yet, that’s not a hard and fast rule. Why?
_ Nerve Block Eases Hot Flashes By article Injecting a little anesthetic near a nerve bundle in the neck cut troublesome hot flashes significantly, according to a study done at Northwestern University and the University of Illinois at Chicago and published in the journal Menopause. the a new randomized, controlled trial published online today in Menopause,
_ It's Not Too Late to Get Your Flu Shot By article According to the Food and Drug Administration, vaccinations can be protective as long as flu viruses are circulating. While seasonal flu outbreaks can happen as early as October, flu activity usually peaks in January or February, and can last well into May.
_ Heart Health Patients, Have a Statin Discussion with Your Doctor By Jane Farrell article Patients and physicians should work together to decide on individualized treatments based on new statin guidelines, according to a commentary by three Mayo Clinic doctors. The guidelines, issued last year by the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association, called for caregivers to prescribe statins to healthy patients if their 10-year cardiovascular risk is 7.5 percent or higher.
_ Pain Management Beating Pain with Mindfulness Training By article A new intervention called Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement, or MORE, trains people to respond differently to pain, stress and opioid-related cues University of Utah researcher Eric Garland developed the treatment, which has been shown to not only lower pain but also decrease prescription opioid misuse among chronic pain patients. The study was published published online February 3rd 2014 in the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology.
_ WhatΓÇÖs the Difference Between Prebiotics and Probiotics? By Jane Farrell article By Dr. Victor Marchione Many people are confused by the words “prebiotic” and “probiotic” and rightly so. They sound nearly the same and both have something to do with digestion. However, each has a very specific role to play in the body and each offers different benefits in terms of your health. Let’s take a closer look.
_ Humidifiers and Your Health By Jane Farrell article Dry sinuses, bloody noses and cracked lips — humidifiers can help soothe these familiar problems caused by dry indoor air. Humidifiers can also help ease symptoms of a cold or another respiratory condition. But be cautious: Although useful, humidifiers can actually make you sick if they aren't maintained properly or if humidity levels stay too high. If you use humidifiers, be sure to monitor humidity levels and keep your humidifier clean. Dirty humidifiers can breed mold or bacteria. If you have allergies or asthma, talk to your doctor before using a humidifier.
_ Breast Cancer Biennial Mammograms Just as Good as Annual Ones? By Jane Farrell article The adoption of guidelines calling for mammograms every two years for women age 50 to 75 would yield effective breast screenings and save the United States $4.3 billion a year in health care costs, a new study said.
Exercise Video Improves Post-Stroke Exercise Results By article About 80% of stroke survivors experience a condition called hemiparesis that causes weakness or the inability to move one side of the body. Core stabilization exercise to improve postural stability and independent walking in chronic hemiparetic stroke patients could be enhanced by real-time video feedback, according to research done at Sahmyook University in the Republic of Korea and published in the journal Restorative Neurology and Neuroscience.
_ Fast, Cheap Way to Detect Staph Infections By article Chances are you won't know you've got a staph infection until the test results come in, days after the symptoms first appear. But what if your physician could identify the infection much more quickly and without having to take a biopsy and ship it off for analysis?
_ Quality of Memories Trumps Quantity By article The capacity of the working memory is better explained by the quality of memories we can store than by their number, according to research done at New York University and published in the journal Psychological Review.