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Tag: Health

  • Fish Oil Supplements Protect Against Alzheimer’s

    A new study suggests that fish oil might be one of the most effective preventative measures against developing Alzheimer’s disease, for those who aren’t genetically inclined to develop the common form of dementia.

    There is presently no cure for Alzheimer’s; it is a progressive disease and eventually leads to death. It is most often diagnosed in those over 65 years of age, and is projected to affect 1 in 85 globally by 2050. It is presently the sixth leading cause of death in the United States.

    Researchers from Rhode Island Hospital studied three groups of adults ages 55-90, utilizing neuropsychological tests and brain magnetic resonance imaging biannually. The participants in the study, all part of the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI), comprised 229 adults with no signs of the disease; 397 who were diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment; and 193 with Alzheimer’s. The ADNI study ran from 2003 until 2010.

    Results showed that adults who had not displayed any symptoms of the onset of Alzheimer’s saw a significantly less decline in cognitive function and brain shrinkage than those who weren’t taking the substance. Cognitive decline was measured using the Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment Scale (ADAS-cog) and the Mini Mental State Exam (MMSE).

    Though, researchers pointed that those who are genetically predisposed to developing Alzheimer’s, carriers of the APOE (apolipoprotein E) gene, might not be able to metabolize DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), the fatty acid in fish oil thought to promote cognitive benefits. Yet, taking fish oil is suggested regardless, as it might prevent the onset of Alzheimer’s from being triggered late in life.

    The most widely available dietary source of DHA comes from cold-water, oily fish, such as salmon, herring, mackerel, anchovies and sardines.

    Doctor Andrew Weil explains some fish oil facts:

    The Hodge Twins reveal that a man who doesn’t take fish oil is pretty much a female, but likewise advise not to take fish oil:

    Aside from cognitive benefits, the omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil have been shown to help in preventing heart disease. Other studies have revealed that fish oil might be beneficial to those who suffer from clinical depression, anxiety, cancer, psoriasis and macular degeneration, although benefits have yet to be proven.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Google Deals With Novartis To Further Develop Its Smart Contact Lenses

    Earlier this year, Google announced its smart contact lenses aimed at helping diabetics keep glucose levels under control. The company has now reportedly found a partner to to make them.

    Reuters is reporting that Google has struck a deal with Novartis to develop the contact lenses and better compete in the blood-sugar tracking market. But they’re not stopping there. According to the report, Novartis will also aim to treat presbyopia, a condition in which eye focus diminishes with age.

    Also as part of the deal, the report says, Novartis’ Alcon eyecare unit will continue to develop and commercialize Google’s contact lens technologies.

    The project’s co-founders Brian Otis and Babak Parviz had this to say about the project back in January:

    Over the years, many scientists have investigated various body fluids—such as tears—in the hopes of finding an easier way for people to track their glucose levels. But as you can imagine, tears are hard to collect and study. At Google[x], we wondered if miniaturized electronics—think: chips and sensors so small they look like bits of glitter, and an antenna thinner than a human hair—might be a way to crack the mystery of tear glucose and measure it with greater accuracy.

    We’re now testing a smart contact lens that’s built to measure glucose levels in tears using a tiny wireless chip and miniaturized glucose sensor that are embedded between two layers of soft contact lens material. We’re testing prototypes that can generate a reading once per second. We’re also investigating the potential for this to serve as an early warning for the wearer, so we’re exploring integrating tiny LED lights that could light up to indicate that glucose levels have crossed above or below certain thresholds. It’s still early days for this technology, but we’ve completed multiple clinical research studies which are helping to refine our prototype. We hope this could someday lead to a new way for people with diabetes to manage their disease.

    Parviz’s vision for what smart contact lenses can do stretches far beyond the applications mentioned above. He gave a talk a couple years ago about what the technology might one day be able to accomplish, and we’re talking some pretty cool, futuristic stuff. Ideas mentioned include: gaming, virtual reality, augmented reality, interfacing with mobile, supervision, night vision, and multi-focus.

    Keep in mind, Parviz is the main guy behind Google Glass. He also just happened to jump ships to Amazon.

    Terms of Google’s deal with Novartis were not disclosed.

    Image via Google

  • Diabetes Diagnosed Using New Microchip Technology

    Diabetes is quickly becoming more prevalent in many parts of the world, even among the young. Part of the problem can be traced to the expanding waistlines of people in western countries, but preventative health programs to battle obesity are still just beginning to make a dent in the rising numbers. With doctors having to deal with the rise in diabetes diagnoses in the present, a new technique promises to quickly diagnose the type-1 diabetes even without access to expensive lab equipment.

    Researchers at Stanford University this week published a study in the journal Nature Medicine that outlines the new technique. The field test is described in the study as both inexpensive and portable – perfect for doctors outside traditional healthcare settings. The test uses microchips to distinguish type-1 diabetes from type-2 diabetes, detecting the antibodies only present in type-1 diabetes.

    According to the study’s authors, the distinction between the two types of diabetes is important due to the more aggressive treatment needed for type-1 diabetes. The new test is even more important now that more children than ever are being diagnosed with type-2 diabetes. In the past children were simply assumed to have type-1 diabetes, since doctors only saw type-2 diabetes appear in older, obese patients.

    “With the new test, not only do we anticipate being able to diagnose diabetes more efficiently and more broadly, we will also understand diabetes better – both the natural history and how new therapies impact the body,” said Dr. Brian Feldman, senior author of the study and an assistant professor of pediatric endocrinology at Stanford.

    Feldman and his colleagues are hoping that the new test, which doesn’t yet have a marketable name, will soon be approved for use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. In contrast to expensive lab tests, the microchips for the new test are estimated to cost around $20 each and last for up to 15 separate tests. The new test also uses just a finger-prick worth of blood compared to the vials of blood needed for older tests.

    “There is great potential to capture people before they develop the disease, and prevent diabetes or prevent its complications by starting therapy early,” said Feldman. “But the old test was prohibitive for that type of thinking because it was so costly and time-consuming.”

    Image via Thinkstock

  • Stacy Keibler Says No To Donuts While Pregnant Over Instagram

    Actress, model, wrestler, and mom-to-be Stacy Keibler has become a champion of fitness and health during her first pregnancy. Not only does her healthy lifestyle help her and her baby, but it has increased her status as a pregnant celebrity.

    So much so, places like US Weekly are asking her advice.

    “I really truly believe that pregnancy is not a time to have an excuse to eat donuts,” Keibler told them, “[Pregnancy] is a time to be as healthy as you can be and build the foundation for your baby. I think that you should be even more conscious of what you’re doing.”

    They interviewed her Thursday at baby boutique Bel Bambini in West Hollywood. According to their website, Bel Bambini is “a high-end baby boutique that also serves as a resource for maternity through the first years of motherhood.”

    These aren’t just empty words from a former wrestling diva. Her Instagram page has been filled with pictures of her keeping healthy during pregnancy. One post shows off her ” #sugarfree #glutenfree #dairyfree banana bread muffins” while others give more specific pregnancy tips.

    “Did you know you can tell produce is #organic just from the barcode? If the sticker has a number that begins with 9, there are no #GMOs!” she wrote for a caption of some organic apples. In another she champions the consumption of ghee: “Healthy fats help feed your baby’s growing nervous system. Try drizzling #ghee over your popcorn or add a heaping to your cauliflower mash! #healthybaby #pregnancytips”

    Food isn’t the only topic she discusses. Fitness is on the plate too: “Stretching your obliques is key during pregnancy. I devote at least 15 minutes each day to stretching! #fitpregnancy #pregnancytip”

    The use of Instagram in her pregnancy has been fitting. After all she announced the baby over the site just a few months ago:

    Image via Stacy Keibler, Instagram

  • Migraine Headaches, Be Gone: Old And New Treatments

    There’s something about chronic pain that’s a bit… how should I put it… soul sucking.

    And migraines definitely rank up there as a day (or week or life) ruiner. It’s easy for the uninformed folk to wonder how big of a deal that little old headache of yours is when it’s caused you to cancel events and hide under the covers. But that may be because they don’t understand how debilitating these nemeses of the noggin can actually be.

    What are migraines?

    Migraine headaches are defined as a recurrent throbbing headache that typically affects one side of the head and is often accompanied by nausea and disturbed vision. There are more symptoms than this – like sensitivity to light – and the types of migraine headaches you could experience even get broken down into different classes. As medical news today describes, many are even preempted with sensory alarms going off in your body like headache hazard signs, “such as flashes of light, blind spots, tingling in the arms and legs, nausea, vomiting, and increased sensitivity to light and sound. The excruciating pain that migraines bring can last for hours or even days.”

    What happens during a migraine?

    Generally it’s a mixture of your blood vessels expanding, followed by them letting loose a slew of chemicals from nerve fibers coiled around those now enlarged blood vessels. Specifically – just under the skin of your temple, an artery called the temporal artery enlarges, and the release of said chemicals is what causes that inflammation. So what you get is pain from the inflammation and then more artery enlargement which can make the whole ordeal feel like an eternity.

    Why’s this happening to me?!

    The Cliffs Notes biology lesson on why you’re suffering probably isn’t what you’re looking for. What you may want to look for instead are what the possible triggers could be setting you off. Do they tend to come after you’re exposed to certain perfumes or allergens? Do they happen after eating a big savory box grease infused noodles from your favorite Chinese place? Do they suddenly come on after verbal sparring with the spouse? Indeed, scents, MSG, and stressors are just some of the causes you may want to explore.

    OTC solutions

    If finding and eliminating any of those proves futile, there are numerous plans of attack you and your primary care physician can map out. Although you should always consult your doctor before initiating a new treatment plan, there are indeed some over the counter medications that seem to prove helpful.

    For example, there’s the tried and true Excedrin which lead author Jerome Goldstein says, has “been around for a long, long time and have had a big impact on treating migraine.” Goldstein, a San Francisco Clinical Research Center, worked on a trial testing these combo meds versus placebos and other types of pills. However, as a weapon against excruciating pain, these “mild-to-moderate” relievers may feel more like shooting a toy gun at giant grizzly nomming on your skull. Furthermore, Seattle migraine specialist Dr. Douglas S. Paauw makes a good point: “With many doses of caffeine per week, you may get rebound headaches,”

    He added, “When people overuse medications for migraine they can give themselves chronic daily headache.”

    Non-pharmaceutical solutions

    Between tolerance and side effects, you might prefer to avoid meds altogether – whether they’re over the counter or through the prescription pad (understandable – part of me is always wondering if my doc is only pushing pills because of the game show host looking rep who just wheeled out of his office). So if you’re interested in non-pharmaceutical solution, WebMD offers a variety of possible methods to mitigate that migraine:

    -Apply an ice pack to the painful area of your head. Try placing it on your forehead, temples, or the back of your neck.
    – Take a warm bath or shower; take a nap; or take a walk.
    – Ask someone to rub your neck and back, or treat yourself to a massage.
    – Apply gentle, steady rotating pressure to the painful area of your head with your index finger and/or thumb. Maintain pressure for seven to 15 seconds, then release. Repeat as needed.
    – Rest, sit, or lie quietly in a low-lit room. Close your eyes and try to release the tension in your back, neck, and shoulders.
    – If you have excessive muscle contractions in the neck, it may be helpful to perform physical therapy exercises every day.

    There’s also the method of “biofeedback” that works for all sorts of pain.

    My physical therapist taught me a variation of this last year for my herniated disc pain. Since then, I went from Gimpy McGee to everyday jogger – but it’s a process. If you’re used to kind of “disconnecting” from your pain as an involuntary coping mechanism, it’s a journey; it’s all about getting your mind and your body to try and be pals again for the common goal of not feeling awful. Much like anything from basketball to yoga, it gets better with practice – but if you do try it out, the results can be pretty life changing.

    There are different ways to do biofeedback – but one suggested for migraine relief includes redirecting blood flow from those enlarged blood vessels to somewhere else – like your hands.

    Dr. Steven Baskin, director of the New England Institute for Behavioral Medicine in Stamford, CT and president of the Association of Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback, says: “In times of high stress, or when they have a feeling of a headache coming on, hand warming and relaxation will decrease the eventuality of having a headache — or at least one that’s not as severe.”

    Or… how about binaural beats?

    Some people swear by them while others say it just gives them a bigger headache. I’m not suggesting you do or don’t give it a try – but a bunch of comments from fellow sufferers seem to champion the effectiveness of listening to these tones with headphones. The only advice I’ll officially offer about this is my broken record go-to that applies to everything: check everything with your primary care professional first.

    Strange-but-true solutions:

    First, there’s the lady who disproved “pretty hurts” when her plastic surgery procedure ended up solving her migraine headaches. That’s right – she went in for a brow lift and her pain was lifted too. How’s that possible? Essentially, the lift took pressure off nerves commonly involved in migraine attacks and has been so effective that other doctors have followed suit and now use it to treat migraines specifically, calling it “surgical decompression.” As Dr. Jimmy Waldrop says, “Nerve decompression is a minimally invasive procedure performed by small incisions behind the hairline: five in the front, one in back,” He adds:

    “The goal is to identify trigger points, which are in the temple and back of the head. Once identified, the goal is to decompress those nerves involved. Decompression involves cutting them away from what they are attached to, freeing them up from whatever is pressing on them. The irritation to those nerves causes migraines.”

    But if brow-lifting idea makes your eyebrows raise in a “not for me, thanks” kind of way, there’s always the new contraption that looks like something a princess out of a Star Wars spinoff might sport. While it looks a tad science fiction, the Cefaly has reportedly proven to help with headaches a great deal.

    Plus, you won’t have to go under the knife.

    Rather, this metallic tiara is said to function by applying neurostimulation to the nerves involved by migraine attacks and claims that no side effects will be suffered. Indeed, a woman in the United Kingdom who has tried it, reported a vast improvement, sharing, ‘In the last week I have not had any migraines at all. If someone had told me six months ago this would happen I wouldn’t have believed them.’

    Along with this headband, TIME magazine also listed a few non-traditional remedies, ranging from TMS (a device you can turn on at the back of your head during the outset of symptoms) to acupuncture to tinted glasses that apparently help when pattern or wavelength sensitivity is the cause of symptoms (seen in the video at the top of the article).

    And, finally – there’s the Zecuity patch (which releases Imitrex that bypasses your gastrointestinal tract when a spoonful of sugar – or ginger – isn’t enough to battle the nausea):

    Any readers out there have a remedy to share?

    Have a beautiful and painless Sunday!

    Image via Youtube

  • Jennifer Lawrence: Her Workout For Hunger Games

    Jennifer Lawrence’s trainer, Dr. Joe Horrigan, has revealed the workout that whipped her into fabulous shape to play Katniss Everdeen. For the actress, who has been very vocal about her eating habits and disdain for exercise, it’s surprisingly intense.

    “Jennifer was an utmost professional.” Horrigan said of the hilarious actress. “She was never late. She never missed a workout. She never complained. She did everything that was asked of her and she usually did so with a smile.”

    That was clearly some good acting on her part.

    Jennifer Lawrence has said in the past, “I’m never going to starve myself for a part. I keep waiting for that one role to come along that scares me enough into dieting, and it just can’t happen. I’m invincible.”

    Well, apparently that role did come along.

    Her workout consisted of a sensible four-day routine that rotated between cardio, strength training, and yoga. For cardio, Horrigan recommends a five- to 10-minute warm-up before 20 minutes of high-intensity cardio, like “running, cycling (road, mountain, classes, or simply a regular stationary bike), or various aerobic classes such as dance classes and hiking.”

    For strength training like Jennifer Lawrence, Horrigan suggests a 20-minute high intensity routine of “bodyweight squats, push-ups and sit-ups” and the like.

    On the fourth rest day, Jennifer Lawrence indulged in low-intensity yoga including sun salutations, reverse warriors, chair poses, planks and tree poses to help her muscles relax between those intense workouts.

    Seems doable. If Jennifer Lawrence can be like-“At the end of the day there’s probably nothing that makes me feel better than junk food and reality TV.” and “The other day I had pizza for breakfast, buffalo wings for lunch and pizza for dinner. Probably my favorite food is a potato — just a potato, because I like fries, boiled potatoes, mashed potatoes, baked potatoes.”-and then work out and still kick butt as Katniss, then surely the average Jane can make it work!

    Image via YouTube

  • Sovaldi: $1,000-A-Pill Wonder Drug Cures Hepatitis C, Burdens Medicaid

    Sovaldi is a new pill that cures hepatitis C in 9 out of 10 patients, studies say, but the treatment costs $90,000.

    Hepatitis C affects the liver, and medical societies suggest Sovaldi to be taken as a first-line treatment for the disease. However, Medicaid programs and insurance companies are saying that the treatment costs too much.

    Each pill of Sovaldi costs $1,000, and some states are already having budgetary issues. The price of the treatment is hitting Medicaid programs hard, as many patients who are in need of the treatment have low incomes, with most of them needing government insurance aid.

    Sovaldi: Hard Pill To Swallow

    However, if the pill did not exist, patients would still be turning to other treatments, which cost up to five figures to treat hepatitis C. These alternative treatments have more side effects and are less effective than Sovaldi.

    Sources indicate that over three million Americans are affected with hepatitis C. It is a health concern, since it can be transmitted through sexual contact or blood. Health authorities are advising people to be tested.

    Stuart Rose, a hepatitis C patient from New York, said, “If it’s going to get me the medicine, I’ll put my hand out there with a tin cup.” Rose’s insurance only pays $4,000 annually for his medications, but he was able get hold of Sovaldi with the help of charitable foundations.

    The high cost of Sovaldi surprised Medicaid programs and some are considering restricting treatment to patients who are the sickest. Other states are also thinking about a separate financing plan for Sovaldi.

    Sovaldi is to be taken once a day for 12 weeks. It reduces the length of interferon treatment, which makes it more tolerable for hepatitis c patients. Gilead Sciences, Inc., maker of Sovaldi, has also developed a new hepatitis C treatment that does not require the use of interferon. The pill is nearing approval, but the price has yet to be disclosed.

    Image via YouTube

  • Probiotics: Not As Beneficial As You Might Think

    Probiotics are the good, positive bacteria inside our bodies that help with digestion. For a bacteria to be considered “probiotic,” there needs to be evidence of its health benefits when taken in adequate amounts. “Digestive health is really the only core benefit of many probiotics,” says Mary Ellen Sanders, a food science researcher who spends time examining probiotics. Many probiotic products claim to support other areas in the body, including brain function and the immune system. And there’s really no evidence that supports that claim.

    “Because the effects of probiotics vary broadly, and immune-system effects are incredibly diverse, immune-system boost should not be considered a core benefit of probiotics,” Sanders said. Even if a bacteria strand has the potential to offer health benefits, many companies label their food as “probiotic” without any supporting research or evidence. The largest two examples of false probiotic claims are in yogurts and fermented foods.

    “There’s much folklore around the health benefits of fermented food,” Sanders told Live Science. “Blue cheese may have lots of really neat microbes in it, but you can’t call it a probiotic until research shows there is a benefit associated with it.”

    This is also the case with yogurt, whose natural probiotics die during the pasteurization process. Brands that want to keep the “probiotic” label on their yogurt add live cultures such as Lactobacilli and Bifidobacteria. “Those organisms are added because they actually have the benefit of surviving the intestinal transit, so they can make it into your colon,” Saunders said. It is only these yogurts that have true “probiotic” value.

    So what do companies need to do before they claim their product contains “probiotics?” “You can’t do a fairy-dust approach here; it has to be in suitable quantity to have health benefits. Probiotics require that the organism be alive, and be substantiated to have a health benefit,” Sanders said.

    Next time you go out shopping for probiotic foods, check to make sure there are a significant amount of live active cultures, or else you’re not really doing your body any favors.

    Image via ThinkStock

  • Best Juicers: A Few Top Appliances And User Reviews

    Juicing has become a popular way to consume nutrients naturally and quickly.

    But what are the basic health benefits of it? Well, if you’re a green drink veteran, you likely already know and can share some first-hand experiences. For those new to the world of frothy emerald liquid, maybe you’ve heard of or seen great results. Among the reported benefits include: getting in that daily serving of fruits and veggies (6-8), absorbing nutrients better (with less digestion), and strengthening your immune system.

    Whether that sells you – or you’re just looking to get dad a last minute gift to encourage him to leave his golden arches for (literal?) greener pastures, there are various types you can choose. While a “best” juicer is going to be subjective, you might find the best juicer for your needs by perusing some of the top few that seem to be fan favorites – along with a few user demos.

    Breville JE98XL Juice Fountain Plus 850-Watt Juice Extractor

    This counter top juicer has an extra-wide 3-inch feeder chute, 850 watt dual speed motor, a powerful stainless-steel cutting disc, large-capacity pulp collector, and dishwasher-safe parts. While the list price is around $200.00, you can lop off about $50 if you buy it at Amazon. The following video review takes you through the process, while being pretty thorough and objective.


    2. Omega J8006 Nutrition Center Juicer – Black and Chrome

    A masticating juicer (AKA cold-press/less heat to disturb the enzymes), this one has been described as easy-to-use with a powerful motor. The yield of juice you’ll get is high and there’s an auto pulp-ejection function for continuous juicing. The Omega uses a dual-stage juicing system. Some say the whole process is a little long to pump out the good stuff – but if its quiet operation (versus some of the noisier ones) and higher nutritional value is worth your time, it might be for you. The list price is $390.00 and if you get it through Amazon, the discount price is $257.99.

    Here’s a review for the Omega:

    3. Breville 800JEXL Juice Fountain Elite 1000-Watt Juice Extractor

    This one has 2 speed controls (high at 13,000 RPM and low at 6,500 RPM). The Breville has die-cast steel housing, a stainless-steel micromesh filter, and a titanium-plated cutting disk. Also, with its 3-inch circular feed hole, you can fit in whole fruits and vegetables (less chopping!). The list price is around $399.00 – but Amazon’s deal drops that figure down to $299.00.

    The video below was made by a dude just beginning his health journey. I thought I’d share because it offers a pretty good demo of how the Breville works. Also, this gentleman’s progress since this video has been extremely impressive. He lost about 100 lbs just a few months after uploading this and now lives a healthy, active life. Well done, sir!

    Good luck on your health journeys!

    Image via Youtube

  • Schizophrenia May Be Caused By Genetic Mutations

    “Schizophrenia cannot be understood without understanding despair.”

    The Scottish psychiatrist R.D. Laing’s words are as apt as they are succinct. 20% to 40% of men and women diagnosed with schizophrenia are so tortured by their condition, that they attempt suicide. 5% to 13% complete the act.

    But as the scientific battle against this devastating disorder presses on, researchers are learning even more about the genetic source of the disease.

    Earlier this year, a Cardiff study on schizophrenia published in Nature Genetics detailed the genetic links of the illness to 22 different locations in the human genome. Now, new findings from Columbia University Medical Center published in the journal Neuron indicate that genetic mutations and a gene called SETD1A may play a significant role in the development of this illness.

    Schizophrenia – a disabling brain disorder – causes a severely altered perception of reality in the afflicted. Sufferers experience delusions, hallucinations, abnormal thought processes, and sometimes involuntary bodily movements. Nonexistent disembodied voices might sound as real to a schizophrenic as the embedded video playing on this page does to you (unless you’ve muted it, of course).

    The condition commonly presents between ages 16 and 30 – often requiring that family members step up and double as caretakers.

    While the specific cause of schizophrenia isn’t known, it has been established as hereditary.

    And from the 1% of the general population affected by schizophrenia, 10% of those individuals have an immediate family member with the condition. Thus, the recent Columbia University study performed by Dr. Joseph Gogos, Dr. Karayiorgou, and their research team, looked at 231 comparative cases between patients and their parents (who did not have the condition). In studying the protein coding parts of their respective genomes, it was noted that something called loss-of-function mutations (rare mutations that are potentially detrimental to regular gene function) were happening in excess in a variety of genes across different chromosomes.

    As Dr. Karayiorgou describes, “These mutations are important signposts toward identifying the genes involved in schizophrenia”

    The revelation that two of these loss-of-function mutations took place in a gene called SETD1A indicated that the SETD1A gene plays a big role in the development of schizophrenia. What that gene does is aid in a vital process our cells perform called chromatin modification (squashing down DNA so it can fit inside our cells and do its job – regulating gene expression). Reportedly, existing research already suggests that damage to genes like these commonly occurs in other psychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders. So the idea that SETD1A plays a role in schizophrenia too, seems likely.

    So, what do the findings mean?

    Identifying a specific genetic mechanism like this could mean early enough detection of schizophrenia (and thus earlier treatment). According to Dr. Gogos, “A clinical implication of this finding is the possibility of using the number and severity of mutations involved in chromatin regulation as a way to identify children at risk of developing schizophrenia and other neurodevelopmental disorders.” The team intends to perform further DNA sequencing studies in hopes of discovering more genes related to schizophrenia. Of the possible medical interventions Dr. Gogos foresees from this research, he says:

    “Exploring ways to reverse alterations in chromatic modification and restore gene expression may be an effective path toward treatment.”

    In the meantime, we all can perform a social treatment of our own: compassion toward those suffering. I can do as much reading as I like – but I (like most of us) can only suppose what it must be like to live with the condition. If you’d like to learn more about the reality of schizophrenia firsthand, feel free to peruse the online blog of a person actually experiencing it:

    Image via Wikipedia

  • Atrial Fibrillation Costs Rising in the U.S.

    The U.S. is now suffering from what the medical community is referring to as an obesity epidemic and doctors across the country are seeing the negative health effects of rising weight. A new study this month has shown yet another metric by which Americans’ heart health could be getting even worse.

    The study, published in the American Heart Association journal Circulation, shows that atrial fibrillation is on the rise in the U.S. Atrial fibrillation refers to an irregular heartbeat and can greatly increase the risk of stroke.

    The study’s authors poured over 4 million hospitalization records from 2001 to 2010. They found that hospitalizations for atrial fibrillation rose 23% during that time. Hospitalizations rose even more significantly for people over the age of 65. The Southern U.S. had the highest percentage of hospitalizations for the condition at 38%.

    “Atrial fibrillation is a disease in itself, but it also serves as a marker for the severity of other illnesses,” said Dr. Nileshkumar Patel, lead author of the study and a doctor at Staten Island University Hospital.

    Patel and his colleagues noted a 400% rise in kidney failure accompanying atrial fibrillation over the study period. They also found that deaths from the condition fell over the decade, but also saw the cost of hospitalization for atrial fibrillation rise 24%.

    The study’s authors believe this rise in hospitalizations can be attributed to the aging population of the U.S., as well as rising cases of obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, and sleep apnea. The study warns that a rise in atrial fibrillation cases may become a “major burden” on U.S. hospitals and urges outpatient and preventative care to treat the condition.

    “We must treat atrial fibrillation and its risk factors better in the outpatient setting to prevent hospitalizations and reduce its staggering impact,” said Dr. Abhishek Deshmukh, a co-author of the study and a cardiologist at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.

    Image via Thinkstock

  • Drinkable Sunscreen Sounds Like BS

    “Ladies and gentlemen of the class of ’99 … wear sunscreen. If I could offer you one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it.”

    It’s not April 1st. Just checking.

    The Daily Mail reported on something that sounds like, if not utter bull crap, certainly a really bad idea. It’s called “drinkable sunscreen”, which is at the very least a terrible name for a product. But in this day of keyword loading and the prevalence of shock and curiosity approaches to marketing, there you have it.

    First of all, it is not actually a sunscreen that you drink. It is touted as a product with “frequencies … imprinted on water” that somehow offers protection from UV rays, similar to the benefit of topical sunscreens.

    According to company claims, you drink just a couple of milliliters of this stuff, and you are protected for four hours at about an SPF 30 level. They say the stuff “will vibrate on your skin in such a way as to cancel approximately 97% of the UVA and UVB rays before they even hit your skin.”

    If all this sounds like a lot of hocus-pocus to you, you are not alone.

    While one writer slammed the notion that one can drink something and it end up on one’s skin…

    “Say what? You ingest it, and it ends up “on” the skin? How exactly? I’ve studied human anatomy, I’ve never noticed any direct connection between oesophagus and epidermis.”

    … that part does seem plausible to me. You sweat it out. Of course, that opens up a whole new can of worms in terms of the process, so let’s keep this simple.

    The first question may seem to be, “Does it work?” And manufacturers have a pile of testimonials claiming the stuff works for most people.

    That’s not the most important question. The most important question is, “What else does it do?”

    Are there side effects? And not just immediate ones, what about cumulative buildup in liver or kidneys? You know, the stuff the FDA ignores until people start dropping dead and their families start filing lawsuits. Anyone remember Fen-Phen?

    Maybe this is all too alarmist, but nothing this product does has been evaluated by the FDA or any other body.

    So I guess it all comes down to that great American mechanism that ensures our safety, health and well-being: Caveat Emptor … Let the Buyer Beware.

    Image via YouTube

  • HSS Selects IT Certification Program Accreditor

    The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) recently selected the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) for a second three-year term as the ONC-Approved Accreditor (ONC-AA) for theONC Health Information Technology (HIT) Certification Program.

    The program was once known as the Permanent Certification Program for Health Information Technology. The ONC-AA accredits all certification bodies involved with the program.

    ANSI assesses applicant certification bodies against requirements from ISO/IEC Guide 65: General requirements for bodies operating product certification systems.

    ANSI president and CEO Joe Bhatia said, “ANSI is very pleased to have been chosen once again as the ONC-Approved Accreditor under the HIT Certification Program. This selection followed a rigorous, competitive evaluation process, and it speaks to the first-rate quality of the Institute’s accreditation programs. This is one of many instances where government bodies have chosen to rely on ANSI accreditation to demonstrate value and assure competency for important national priorities.”

    “Accreditation by ANSI creates a valuable attribute for certification bodies,” added Reinaldo Figueiredo, ANSI senior program director for product and process accreditation. “This value extends through the service network and will help to instill confidence in EHR technology among health IT developers, health professionals and hospitals, and the general public.”

    More on ANSI accreditation here.

    Image via ANSI

  • Retinol Creams And Wine For Cellulite And Lines

    This beautiful spring weather is nearly intoxicating after a winter spent dashing from car doors to buildings to avoid rapid onset frostbite. But with the carefree feeling of higher temps, come the tee shirts and shorts which cruelly expose our lapse of a rigid fitness regime for a few of the colder months. Likewise, our dry wintry skin may have us looking like we did a whole lotta living for a mere year.

    Thus, some tips for cellulite and aging alike might just be found in retinol, wine grapes, and cheap do-it-yourself routines.

    While diet and exercise are both crucial for looking and feeling our best, Dr. Oz explains that we all can suffer cellulite affliction – no matter what mass we occupy.

    How Cellulite Works

    Under your skin, a network of fibrous tissue holds the fat in place. Depending on the condition of that net, your skin can seem either goddess sleek or more like cottage cheese. What causes that latter condition isn’t just enlarged fat cells – but also a combination of hormonal changes and genetic tendencies that accompany aging. The netting starts to get weak, it breaks, and voila! All hell (and the fat cells) break loose enough to protrude against skin from the underside. What we suddenly witness is the rippling of our thighs. And what we do is question every cheat day we’ve ever enjoyed.

    But we mustn’t – because there’s more than meets the diet here.

    Regarding cellulite, Dr. Oz explained, “Those little lumps and bumps will remain unless you strengthen those fibers.”

    Tips For Rippling

    1. Hydrating Noms
    Eat strawberries, watermelon, cantaloupe, and cucumbers for smoother skin, suggests Dr. Oz. The wet foods harbor nutrition and the water your body needs to level out those lumps. “All of these have the water you need for the collagen and they have the nutrients you need to rebuild that area to flatten it out,” says Dr. Oz.

    2. Retinol and Caffeine Combos
    Of most skin products, Dr. Oz says, “I believe that many of these products don’t work because they don’t have the two ingredients that we know scientifically can make a difference.” He went on to suggest that the two major players to seek on the ingredient list when cream hunting are both caffeine and retinol.

    As far as specifics go, Dr. Oz suggests a .4% retinol cream, applied 3 times daily to see results in just 10 days.

    3. Inexpensive Exfoliation
    While your favorite Super-Skinny Me documentaries might star a host who can afford to try out those “suck my fat with a vacuum” sessions, I know I sure can’t. If you’re looking for something a little more wallet friendly (and conceivably gentler), don’t punish your body. Go for a $20 dry brush, says Dr. Oz. The tip given is to start at the lower leg and thigh, working the brush in a superior direction.

    Where the pricey method stimulates collagen lymphatic drainage, the dry brush does the same – while also exfoliating dead skin cells (not to mention the added privacy benefit).

    Anti-Aging

    And likewise, pricey methods may not be necessary for all those smile or frown lines you earned yourself this past year (depending on just how long your relatives stayed past Christmas).

    New Beauty magazine conveyed how retinol’s vitamin A can stand for “anti-aging” as well as “acne”. Los Angeles, CA dermatologist Howard Murad, MD detailed how retinol works to fight wrinkles in an interview with the magazine:

    “As an anti-aging regimen, it normalizes the top layer of your skin – the stratum corneum – and it seems to have a wonderful effect even deeper – lower in the skin. And the results can be spectacular.”

    However, we all know skin care isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution.

    For those irritated by contact with retinol, there are workarounds, as Dr. Murad explains in the video.

    Wine About It

    Or, you could seek out the creative vino approach some companies manufacture via resveratrol skin products. Mathilde and Bertrand Thomas helped launch this grape-skin skin care movement with their family-owned vineyard located in Bordeaux. The two started Caudalie in 1995. The line did well enough for them to launch Caudalie Vino¬thérapie Spas four years later. Numerous other brands have followed suit with everything from face masks to lip balms.

    In their own quest to iron out lines with wine, Madonna, Jessica Alba, and Kate Hudson all supported Susie Wang’s brand 100% Pure – whose claim is that it’s percentages are higher and thus most effective.

    Or you could lift your skin and your spirits simultaneously – the old fashioned way:

    (Not too much, though, loves. Otherwise you’ll reverse any resveratrol benefits)

    At the day’s end, as you’re sipping your wine and rubbing on globs of goo, just remember that you’re perfect – and that you can love your body while you work on it. That said, we’d love to hear your experience!

    From quelling cellulite to exiling eye lines, what’s worked best for you?


    Image via Youtube

  • Juicers Not Going Away, Actually Grow More Popular

    Juicers and blenders are becoming more and more popular as the weather warms up and the swimsuits lurk menacingly in the back of the drawer, awaiting their time in the sun.

    Those who are looking to take off what’s left of the winter weight, as well as those who are getting into “juicing” for the health benefits will be happy to know that Holly Adams, the woman behind Voigt Manor, LLC, has launched a new website venture called qualityblendersandjuicers.com.

    Her purpose in doing so is clear. She saw the trend growing along with the incredible increase in juicer and blender choices, creating an overwhelming marketplace for consumers looking to get in on the fad.

    The website features high quality Blendtec blenders, Hamilton Beach juicers, steam juicers, juicer blender combos, books about juicing and blending, recipe books and more, all in one place.

    The main focus is on giving to consumer somewhere to go to look at different high quality blenders and juicers and be able to compare them to one another in order to make the best choice.

    This venture highlights just how immersive the juicing trend has become. Beginning with the documentary Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead, the nation has been taken over with the need to put veggies in a blender to make them more digestible and sometimes more palatable (if you mix them with apples and pineapples and the like).

    However, there have also been those who disagree with the practice of juicing, just like there are with any other new idea, and there has been some controversy with parents getting their kids to partake in “juice cleanses” on a regular basis.

    Whatever the controversy may be, juicing doesn’t seem to be going anywhere. Neither does the practice of making healthier shakes and smoothies in a blender. So no matter what your persuasion, it seems Holly Adams and blender makers everywhere have made a smart decision to ride the tails of this thing.

    Do you juice?

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Ebola Virus Survivors Face Stigma

    The Ebola outbreak in West Africa has infected more than 240 people so far, and has been fatal to over 145. Ebola results in death in 68% of all cases, though at times those who survive recover quickly and completely. Yet, survivors still face the challenge of social stigma in their communities, regardless of being completely healthy and free of the disease.

    For instance, a doctor who has survived a bout with Ebola was scheduled to give an interview on Guinean radio to describe his recovery, but the station would not allow him into the studio. Upon the doctor’s arrival at the station, the program director told a representative of Doctors Without Borders, “We’d prefer he speak by phone from downstairs. I can’t take the risk of letting him enter our studio.”

    Human-to-human transmission of Ebola occurs via direct contact with blood or bodily fluids from an infected person, or by contact with contaminated medical equipment such as needles. No cases of aerosol transmission have been reported, and a potential for widespread Ebola epidemics is considered to be low, due to the high fatality rate of the illness, along with the rapidity of demise of patients.

    The Guinean doctor who survived Ebola, who wished to remain anonymous, commented, “Thanks be to God, I am cured. But now I have a new disease: the stigmatization that I am a victim of. This disease (the stigma) is worse than the fever.” The doctor contracted Ebola while caring for an ailing colleague in Conakry, the capital of Guinea, but survived the onset of symptoms by staying hydrated.

    David Heymann, a professor of infectious disease epidemiology at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, explained that the key to surviving Ebola is staying alive long enough for the body to build enough antibodies to stave off the virus.

    Regardless of being cleared of Ebola, the doctor commented, “Now, everywhere in my neighborhood, all the looks bore into me like I’m the plague.” Guinea’s Ministry of Health has stopped naming neighborhoods where Ebola outbreaks have occurred, in an effort to protect survivors from stigmatization.

    Image via YouTube

  • MERS Virus Surge Seen in the Middle East

    MERS Virus Surge Seen in the Middle East

    In 2012, the world was first exposed to the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome virus, better known as MERS. The virus originated in Saudi Arabia, and all evidence suggests that only six Middle Eastern countries have been noted spots of origination for the virus. Despite the limited proximity of origins, however, the worldwide health and scientific communities are constantly monitoring the progression of the sickness, especially due to its close relations to the SARS virus which erupted in Asia in 2003, infecting 8,273 people and killing nine percent of those infected.

    While the World Health Organization (WHO) has only confirmed 228 cases of MERS since September 2012, 92 deaths have resulted from infection. This 40 percent fatality rate has the international medical community deeply concerned, as does the recent surge in Middle Eastern countries.

    On its Twitter account, the WHO reported that from April 2 to April 6, 15 confirmed cases of MERS infection were reported from Saudi Arabia alone. On April 13, 12 cases of MERS were discovered in Jeddah, while another three cases were reported in the Saudi capital of Riyadh.

    In total, 194 confirmed cases of MERS have been reported in Saudi Arabia since September 2012, with 69 deaths resulting from the virus.

    The situation at King Fahd hospital in Jeddah became so dire last Wednesday that the hospital decided to close its ER to decontaminate the facility, following reports that multiple medical personnel had become infected with the illness.

    Over the weekend, the United Arab Emirates reported six more cases of the MERS virus, all victims being Filipino medical staff assisting at hospitals in the country.

    “As far as we know, MERS-CoV does not spread easily from person-to-person, so these clusters suggest a breakdown in infection prevention and control,” stated Dr. Ian M. Mackay, an Australian epidemiologist who has been tracking the virus.

    A recent study was published stating that the MERS virus has been alive and active amongst camels for at least two decades now, with many camels obtaining the virus when they are young but never show any symptoms of illness. The camel-origins of the sickness make the virus even more difficult for scientists to pin down, seeing as most of the people infected have had no contact with camels before the illness sets in.

    Despite the rising concern, Middle Eastern health authorities have assured the public that the virus is of no true concern, imploring people to remain steadfast in the everyday lives and to practice common positive health procedures to protect against illness.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Samoa Pink Eye Outbreak Extends School Closings

    An outbreak of conjunctivitis, more commonly known as pink eye, has prompted the South Pacific U.S. unincorporated territory of American Samoa to keep most of its schools closed through the week. At least 2,400 students and teachers have contracted the highly contagious disease, which has also cancelled flights and interrupted court proceedings.

    Conjunctivitis is an inflammation of the outermost layer of the eye and the inner surface of the eyelids called the conjunctiva, and is typically caused by a bacterial or viral infection, or an allergic reaction. Symptoms include red eye, swelling of conjunctiva and eye watering, though visual acuity isn’t affected, and the pupils should be normally reactive.

    Pink eye caused by an infection is typically associated with a virus, and both bacterial and viral infections are highly contagious and passed from person to person, but can also spread via contaminated objects or water. Viral conjunctivitis typically does not require any specific treatment, and topical antibiotics are prescribed in instances when an infection doesn’t resolve itself within three days.

    All 28 schools in American Samoa were scheduled to reopen Wednesday after closing Friday, but only four went back into session. Officials will keep schools on the main island of Tutuila closed until next week. Education Department Director Salu Hunkin-Finau commented that over 30 percent of educators are on sick leave due to pink eye.

    “In order to help prevent the further spread of the pink eye virus, we highly recommend that all affected teachers and workers stay home,” Hunkin-Finau said. “Please keep your child out of reach of those that are affected by the pink eye.”

    American Samoa, roughly the size of Washington, D.C., consists of 5 main islands and 2 coral atolls, situated west of the Cook Islands, north of Tonga, and some 300 miles south of Tokelau, a territory of New Zealand.

    American Samoa is the southernmost territory of the U.S. and one of two U.S. territories, along with the uninhabited Jarvis Island, that lie south of the Equator. Tuna and tuna products are the main exports, and the main trading partner is the United States. The legendary mystery meat Spam is also a big deal in American Samoa, and has said to have contributed to the obesity problem in the Pacific Rim.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Less Screen Time Could Leave Children Healthier

    It’s been known for decades now that couch potatoes tend to be less healthy than their more active peers. With content moving onto mobile devices, however, it is unclear whether the same link will be maintained for kids and adults who consumer media on-the-go.

    A new study published this week in JAMA Pediatrics suggests that no matter what entertainment is viewed on, more of it may mean less-healthy children.

    The study provides a link between what researchers call “screen time” and decreased health outcomes in children. Screen time is entertainment consumed through TVs, Computers, tablets, and other devices that use screens.

    The study looked at more than 1,300 children enrolled in an obesity prevention program. Researchers collected data from child and parent surveys, school performance, and physical measurements such as height and weight over a seven month period.

    The study’s authors found that children whose parents limit their screen time are generally more healthy than their peers who get unlimited screen time. Specifically, the children with limited screen time were seen to get more sleep, have better behavior, and perform better in school. Children observed to engage in more screen time are also at higher risk for obesity.

    “When parents are involved it has a powerful protective effect across a wide range of different areas that they probably never would have expected to see,” said Douglas Gentile, lead author of the study and an associate professor of psychology at Iowa State University. “However, parents aren’t likely to notice that putting limits on the children’s media is having these effects seven months later.”

    Despite the clear effects of TV time seen in the study, Gentile and his colleagues say that these effects on children are not immediate. Because of this, parents may not realize that their child’s excessive screen time could be contributing to health issues.

    “As parents, we don’t even see our children get taller and that’s a really noticeable effect,” said Gentile. “With media, what we’re often looking for is the absence of a problem, such as a child not gaining weight, making it even more difficult to notice.”

  • Aspirin Doesn’t Prevent Pregnancy Loss, Shows Study

    It is common in the U.S. for doctors to prescribe low doses of aspirin for prospective mothers who have had a previous pregnancy loss. This is despite the fact that aspirin therapy has not been proven to increase the likelihood of viable pregnancies.

    The idea is that increased blood flow to the uterus might help pregnancies that would otherwise be lost. Now a new study has shown that there may be no connection at all.

    The study, published in journal The Lancet, shows that low-dose aspirin therapy does not prevent pregnancy loss among women who have experienced one or two previous miscarriages.

    “Our results indicate that aspiirin is not effective for reducing the chances of pregnancy loss in most cases,” said Enrique Schisterman, first author of the study and chief of Epidemiology at the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.

    Schisterman and his colleagues looked at more than 1,000 women who had a history of pregnancy loss. The women were given either aspirin or a placebo and followed throughout their pregnancies.

    Of the women in the study who received aspirin, 13% became pregnant but lost the pregnancy. This companres to 12% of the placebo group who also lost a pregnancy. A full 58% of the aspirin group became pregnant and game birth, compared to 53% of the placebo group. The study’s authors concluded that the differences between these two groups were not large enough to make the case for a difference in pregnancy loss caused by aspirin therapy.

    One interesting finding of the study, though, is that a small group of women in the study who had experienced only one pregnancy loss within the past year did show a significant rise in the rate of pregnancy and birth when on aspirin therapy. Of these women, the 78% receiving aspirin became pregnant during the study, while 66% of those on a placebo became pregnant. Of the aspirin-receiving women who became pregnant, 62% went on to give birth. Of the pregnant women receiving the placebo, 53% went on to give birth.

    Image via Thinkstock

  • Vitamin D Supplements May Help Prevent Heart Disease

    Vitamin D is once again in the hot spot; for some reason the scientists have decided to pick on this vitamin recently. While studies have claimed that vitamin D is not all that great as people once thought was, there have been other studies proclaiming that vitamin D is indeed all that, and more. The studies this year have discovered that vitamin D has been shown to prohibit cancer growth in women, and Medicinenet.com reports new research that suggests that deficient levels of vitamin D are related to severe forms of coronary artery disease.

    The findings were presented at the American College of Cardiology’s annual meeting in Washington D.C. today, and although this is an important deal, concrete research decisions are only considered official once published in a peer-reviewed medical journal.

    The conclusion was reached from a study of nearly 1,500 patients who were undergoing tests to detect blocked arteries, and 70 percent of the patients had deficient vitamin D levels.

    The studies lean towards the vitamin D being the cause- and not the effect- of the clogged arteries that lead to heart attack. Still, according to these studies, having a deficient level of vitamin D can increase your risk of coronary artery disease by 32 percent, and increase your risk for the severe form of the disease by 20 percent.

    Vitamin D can be found in fatty fish, supplements, dairy products that are often fortified by vitamin D and- of course- the sun. It is suggested that including vitamin D and moderate exercise into your regular regimen is helpful for those suffering from cardiovascular disease as well as those who are not- doing so may better your chances of preventing the disease from occurring.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons