_ Heart Health Painless AFib Treatment By Sondra Forsyth article A technique called cardiac optogenetics achieves defibrillation without the pain of electric shocks, according to research presented on July 4th at Frontiers in CardioVascular Biology (FCVB) 2014 in Barcelona, Spain. The meeting is organized by the Council on Basic Cardiovascular Science of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) in collaboration with 13 European cardiovascular science societies.
_ A Declaration Of Independence From Tobacco By Jane Farrell article July 4th is a great time to celebrate freedom and independence of all kinds. Why not make it an occasion to declare your own independence ΓÇô from tobacco? The federal Centers for Disease Control has made July 4th its focal point for its program on freeing yourself from nicotine addiction. Anyone whoΓÇÖs ever quit can tell you itΓÇÖs a tough process, but understanding why itΓÇÖs so tough may help you deal with those moments when you feel you canΓÇÖt go one moment longer without a cigarette. Here are some insights from the CDC:
Heart Health Unnecessary Blood Tests Waste Money By Sondra Forsyth article Researchers at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center used two relatively simple tactics to significantly reduce the number of unnecessary blood tests to assess symptoms of heart attack and chest pain and to achieve a large decrease in patient charges.
_ Pancreatic Cancer Thunder God Vine Helps Kill Pancreatic Ca Cells By Sondra Forsyth article A diagnosis of pancreatic cancerΓÇöthe fourth most common cause of cancer death in the U.S.ΓÇöcan be devastating. Due in part to aggressive cell replication and tumor growth, pancreatic cancer progresses quickly and has a low five-year survival rate of less than 5 percent.
Healthy Diet & Nutrition How to Choose the Best Energy-Boosting Bars and Gels By Sondra Forsyth article By The Bone, Muscle, and Joint Team at HealthHub from Cleveland Clinic Contributor: Kylene Guerra, RD Do you stand in the aisle of energy bars and sports gels wondering what to choose? When it comes to offering you the best health benefits and fuel for your sports performance, not all energy bars and sports gels are equal. Below, find tips to choosing the best ones for you. Energy bars
_ The Dangers of Summer Drinking By Jane Farrell article EditorΓÇÖs note: This Fourth of July weekend, millions of Americans will gather with their families for barbecues, boat outings and beach trips. But excessive drinking isnΓÇÖt a good part of this festive mix. Here, from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, are some good reasons why drinking too much shouldnΓÇÖt be part of your holiday:
High blood pressure / hypertension Blood Pressure Monitoring Kiosks Aren't for Everyone By Sondra Forsyth article Convenience can come with tradeoffs. The next time you put your arm in the cuff at a kiosk that measures blood pressure, you could get an inaccurate reading unless the cuff is your size.
_ AD Drug to Prevent Brain Blood Clots By Sondra Forsyth article Experiments done in Sidney Strickland's Laboratory of Neurobiology and Genetics at Rockefeller University in New York have identified a compound that might halt the progression of Alzheimer's by interfering with the role amyloid-╬▓, a small protein that forms plaques in Alzheimer's brains, plays in the formation of blood clots. This work is highlighted in the July 2014 issue of Nature Reviews Drug Discovery.
_ Healthy Diet & Nutrition Convenience Store Confidential: Eat Smart When YouΓÇÖre on the Road By Sondra Forsyth article By Kristin Kirkpatrick, MS, RD, LD Americans love hitting the open road, especially during summer. Road trips mean long hours in the car, with pit stops at gas station convenience stores ΓÇö often the only options on long stretches of highway. Too often, when we fuel up our cars, we fuel up our bodies with snack choices we regret 20 miles down the road.
_ DonΓÇÖt Ruin Your Healthy Lifestyle With These Bad Habits By Sondra Forsyth article By LeanonLife Health and Fitness Team A Game Plan
_ Aging Well Caregiving Medical Care Long-Term Care Must Be Improved By Sondra Forsyth article As millions of Americans struggle to help loved ones with dementia, policymakers should consider more ways to improve long-term services and supports for the soaring numbers of people with the debilitating condition and their caregivers, according to a new RAND Corporation study done in June 2014. Thereport also offers possible ways to achieve those goals.
Heart Coherence: 3 Simple Steps for Reducing Stress and Living Well By blog IΓÇÖve always prided myself on having a healthy heart. When IΓÇÖd have my yearly health checkups, the doctor always commented that I had the low blood pressure of an athlete. I do keep in good shape, but I havenΓÇÖt considered myself an athlete since high school when I played basketball and wrestled.
_ Weight Loss Sticking to a Diet: Compliance vs. Adherence By Sondra Forsyth article By Sondra Forsyth You may have noticed that most health care professionals have stopped using the word ΓÇ£complianceΓÇ¥ when referring to whether or not people stick with medication regimens or apply sunscreen daily or exercise on a regular basis. The word most often used now is ΓÇ£adherence.ΓÇ¥ The rationale is that telling patients to comply smacks of issuing a command, whereas asking them to adhere implies that they are partners in their care and can use free will to do whatΓÇÖs best for their health.
_ The Drug That Improves Anti-Cancer Viruses By Jane Farrell article Combining a widely used medication with a cancer-killing virus might improve the effectiveness of the virus in battling malignancies, according to a new study.
Superbugs in ΓÇ£HandcuffsΓÇ¥ By Sondra Forsyth article Staph infections become resistant to multiple antibiotics because of a genetic parasite called a plasmid that the bacteria carry. RepA is a protein that sticks to the beginning of the plasmid's DNA sequence and starts a copying process. When a pair of RepA proteins bumps into another pair, which can happen when the cell is starting to get crowded with plasmids, the two pairs of RepA stick to each other and form a four-part molecule. Scientists say that the plasmids are therefore ΓÇ£handcuffedΓÇ¥ because the plasmid can no longer replicate.
Mice With MS Walk Again After Stem Cell Tx By Sondra Forsyth article Mice severely disabled by a condition similar to multiple sclerosis (MS) could walk less than two weeks following treatment with human stem cells. The study, which uncovers new avenues for treating MS, was don e at the University of Utah and published online on May 15th 2014, in the journal Stem Cell Reports.
_ 7 Things You Should Know About Cooking With Oil By Sondra Forsyth article By The Beating Edge Team HealthHub from Cleveland Clinic When it comes to cooking with oils, do you have to choose between cooking for taste or cooking for health? People have strong opinions about whatΓÇÖs best. Health Hub sat down recently to chat about cooking with oils with James D. Perko, CEC, AAC, Executive Chef for Cleveland ClinicΓÇÖs Wellness Institute and its Center for Lifestyle Medicine and nutritionist Katherine Patton, MEd, RD, CSSD, LD.
_ Beauty & Style Cancer Center Hair Skin Skin cancer Summer Beauty, Health, and Fitness Dilemmas By Sondra Forsyth article Top experts share tips on how to sidestep some top seasonal ailments so you can savor your summer days. DonΓÇÖt Get Burned by Skin Cancer