Docudharma:: Health and Fitness News

General Medicine/Family Medical

Back Pain? Steroid Shots May Raise Fracture Risk
by Salynn Boyles

Oct. 25, 2012 -- Steroid injections to the spine were widely considered to be safe before being linked to an outbreak of fungal meningitis that by mid-week had killed 24 people in 17 states.

But a study out today raises new concerns about the injections that are used to treat millions of back pain sufferers every year -- and it has nothing to do with the tainted steroids blamed for the meningitis outbreak.

Colon Cancer: Aspirin May Improve Survival in Some
by Salynn Boyles

Oct. 24, 2012 -- One of the oldest and cheapest drugs around may be highly effective against colon cancer, a new study shows.

Some of the most cutting-edge cancer therapies involve targeted treatments used in patients with specific gene mutations, but many cost thousands of dollars a month. Not so in this case.

Big Drop in Colon Cancer Attributed to Colonoscopy
by Rita Ruben

Oct. 23, 2012 -- Wider use of colonoscopy has led to a more dramatic decline in colorectal cancer rates, a new study suggests.

Colorectal cancer cases and deaths have been falling for decades, with the most recent decline likely due to screening tests that enable doctors to detect and, if necessary, remove precancerous growths, researchers write in the journal Gastroenterology.

Many With Incurable Cancer Think They Can Be Cured
by Denise Mann

Majority of Advanced Cancer Patients Believe Chemotherapy Can Cure Them

Oct. 24, 2012 -- It is not a desired discussion for the doctor, and certainly not for the patient. But an overwhelming majority of people with advanced cancer are under the impression that the chemotherapy they are receiving will cure their disease when it likely will not, a new study shows.

In these scenarios, chemotherapy can alleviate pain and extend life by weeks or even months. It can't cure advanced cancer.

The disconnect may be related to how doctors discuss treatment options with people who have advanced cancer, and/or the people receiving this news may be in a state of denial about their illness.

Warnings/Alerts/Guidelines

Child Poisonings From Eye Drops, Nose Sprays
by Daniel J. DeNoon

Oct. 25, 2012 -- Over-the-counter eyedrops and nose sprays contain powerful drugs that are poisonous in surprisingly small amounts if swallowed, the FDA warns.

Unwary parents often leave these products within easy reach of curious children. From 1997 through 2009, eyedrops injured more than 4,500 children under the age of 5 and nasal sprays injured more than 1,100, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

Injury reports show that children can easily open the products, which do not come in child-resistant packages.

FDA: 5 Death Reports for Monster Energy Drink
by Daniel J. DeNoon

Monster Energy Sued in Death of 14-Year-Old Girl

Oct. 23, 2012 -- The FDA is investigating reports of five deaths and a nonfatal heart attack in people who drank high-caffeine energy drinks made by the Monster Energy Company.

Meanwhile, a Maryland couple has filed a wrongful death suit against the company, alleging that their product killed their 14-year-old daughter. They say Anais Fournier, 14, collapsed after drinking her second 24-ounce Monster Energy drink in two days. She died six days later.

The reports are not proof that the drinks caused the deaths, but merely signal there might be a problem. Even if the deaths are determined to be caused by caffeine poisoning, the FDA will consider all sources of caffeine before blaming the deaths on the energy drink.

Fire Risk Spurs Banana Boat Spray Sunscreen Recall
by Daniel J. DeNoon

Oct. 22, 2012 -- At least five people have caught fire after using Banana Boat spray sunscreen products, spurring a recall.

The recall includes 23 Banana Boat spray sunscreen products sold from January 2010 through September 2012.

"If a consumer comes into contact with a flame or spark prior to complete drying of the product on the skin, there is a potential for the product to ignite," Banana Boat maker Energizer Holdings Inc. says in its recall notice.

Women's Health

Pregnant Women: Get a Whooping Cough Vaccine
by Daniel J. DeNoon

Vaccine Protects Newborns From Growing Pertussis Threat

Oct. 24, 2012 -- Women should get a Tdap shot during every pregnancy to protect their infant from whooping cough, even if they have had Tdap shots before, new guidelines advise.

Today's recommendation comes from the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), the panel that sets U.S. vaccination policy.

The new shot recommendation is meant to protect newborns from pertussis, better known as whooping cough.

Red Wine Compound May Not Help Healthy Women
by Salynn Boyles

Oct. 25, 2012 -- New research raises doubts about the health benefits of the much-hyped red wine compound resveratrol.

In a study from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, healthy women in their late 50s and early 60s who took resveratrol supplements showed no improvement in factors linked to developing diabetes and heart disease.

The finding suggests that resveratrol supplements do not benefit healthy people, says researcher Samuel Klein, MD, who directs the Washington University Center for Human Nutrition.

Hormones May Not Raise Alzheimer's Risks
by Brenda Goodman, MA

Oct. 24, 2012 -- Women who take hormones within five years of menopause may have a slightly lower risk of Alzheimer's disease compared to women who don't ever take them, a new study shows.

The study, which is published in the journal Neurology, provides some support for a theory called the timing hypothesis. The timing hypothesis suggests that hormone replacement therapy (HRT) may be safer and perhaps even offer some longer-term benefits when it's started within a few years of menopause.

Panel Advises Against Hormones to Prevent Disease
by Brenda Goodman, MA

Oct. 22, 2012 -- An influential panel of government advisors says hormone replacement therapy shouldn't be prescribed to women after menopause to stave off chronic medical conditions like heart disease or osteoporosis.

After considering the latest scientific evidence, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) reaffirmed its previous guideline on hormone replacement therapy (HRT), which was published in 2005.

The panel agreed that although HRT has benefits, like reducing the risk of broken bones in postmenopausal women, increased risks tied to its use outweigh any benefit for chronic conditions.

Pediatric Health

Young Athletes Not Worried About Concussions
by Jennifer Warner

Oct. 22, 2012 -- Despite a media blitz, most high school football players are not concerned about the consequences of a concussion.

A new study shows fear of losing valuable playing time keeps many high school football players from telling a coach or parent about symptoms of a concussion.

Researchers found 32% of high school football players said they had concussion-like symptoms, such as headaches, confusion, or vomiting, over the last two years, but did not seek medical attention. Of these, more than half said they didn't report it due to fear of being excluded from play.

Aging

Exercise Protects Aging Brains
by Salynn Boyles

Physical Activity Trumps Mental Activity, Study Suggests

Oct. 22, 2012 -- Staying mentally sharp as you age may have more to do with working out than working on crossword puzzles, new research suggests.

People who stayed physically active into old age tended to have larger brains than those who did not exercise in the study, published today in the journal Neurology.

The brain typically shrinks in late adulthood, and this shrinkage is believed to play a role in age-related memory decline.

The new research is the latest to suggest that exercise is good for the brain as well as the body.

Mental Health

Stress in Parents Linked to Obesity in Kids
by Denise Mann

Oct. 22, 2012 -- One in three kids in America is overweight or obese, and having stressed-out parents may be contributing to these rates, a new study suggests.

The more stress the parents report, the more likely their children are to be overweight or obese, the research shows.

Why? For starters, stressed-out parents and caregivers are more likely to frequent fast food restaurants for themselves and their families, and are more likely to engage in "haphazard meal planning."

Nutrition/Diet/Fitness

Bring on the Bean Diet for Health?
by Kathleen Doheny

Study: Eating More Legumes Helps Blood Sugar Control, Lowers Heart Risk in People With Diabetes

Oct. 22, 2012 -- Adding beans and other legumes to the diet appears to help people with type 2 diabetes improve their blood sugar control and lower their risk of heart disease, according to new research.

Two diets were tested in 121 men and women with type 2 diabetes. Both diets were healthy, but one added legumes, such as chickpeas, lentils, and beans.

"People with diabetes did better in terms of blood sugar control on the bean diet versus a diet without beans, which was otherwise extremely healthy," says researcher David J.A. Jenkins, MD, PhD, DSc, professor of medicine and nutrition at the University of Toronto and St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto.

Organic Food for Kids: Worth the Price?
by Salynn Boyles

Oct. 23, 2012 -- Parents who buy organic foods because they think they are more nutritious might be wasting their money, the nation's largest group of pediatricians says.

In a report issued this week, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is for the first time offering guidance about organic produce, meat, and milk.

The group's findings are mixed.

How Much Caffeine Is in Your Energy Drink?
by Daniel J. DeNoon

Study: Caffeine Info Often Misleading or Missing on Energy Drink Labels

Oct. 25, 2012 -- How much caffeine is in your energy drink?

Don't count on finding out by reading the product label, a Consumer Reports (CR) investigation finds.

The consumer group tested 27 popular energy drinks. Eleven didn't list the amount of caffeine on the label. Among the 16 products that did, five had more than 20% more caffeine than the label claimed. One had about 70% less.

But all of the products had one thing in common: caffeine. Many had lots of caffeine. That raises a red flag for Gayle Williams, CR's deputy health editor.

Source: http://www.docudharma.com/diary/31248/health-and-fitness-news

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