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Tag: Mayo Clinic

  • Joni Mitchell Improving, Still Hospitalized–What is Morgellons Disease?

    Joni Mitchell remains hospitalized several days after being rushed to the hospital after a collapse. Doctors say her condition is improving. Her medical scare has prompted people all over the world to wonder about the mysterious disease she claims to suffer from–Morgellons disease. What is it? More importantly–is it real?

    The Mayo Clinic says Morgellons disease is both mysterious and controversial. It remains unexplained. People with the condition present with a skin disorder that is characterized by sores, crawling sensations on and under the skin, and fiber-like filaments emerging from the sores. It’s not certain what these strings are. Some say they are wisps of cotton thread, probably coming from clothing or bandages. Others say they result from an infectious process in the skin cells. Further study is needed.

    Attitudes among medical professionals toward Morgellons disease tend to fall within three specific categories.

    1. Some health professionals believe that Morgellons disease is a specific condition that needs to be confirmed by research.

    2. Some health professionals believe that signs and symptoms of Morgellons disease are caused by another condition, often mental illness.

    3. Other health professionals don’t acknowledge Morgellons disease or are reserving judgment until more is known about the condition.

    In Joni Mitchell’s memoir, Joni Mitchell: In Her Own Words, the ‘Both Sides Now’ and ‘Big Yellow Taxi’ singer described how the disease affected her.

    “I couldn’t wear clothing. I couldn’t leave my house for several years. Sometimes it got so I’d have to crawl across the floor. My legs would cramp up, just like a polio spasm. It hit all of the places where I had polio.”

    Back in 2010, Joni Mitchell said she wanted out of the music business, so she could devote her time for raising awareness for and supporting those with Morgellons disease.

    “Morgellons is a slow, unpredictable killer–a terrorist disease: it will blow up one of your organs, leaving you in bed for a year,” she said. “Morgellons is always diagnosed as ‘delusion of parasites,’ and they send you to a psychiatrist. I’m actually trying to get out of the music business to battle for Morgellons sufferers to receive the credibility that’s owed to them.”

    CBS News reports that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has made efforts to respond to the Morgellons community by conducting investigations, and even at one point enlisting the U.S. Armed Forces Institute of Pathology and the American Academy of Dermatology to help with research. A handful of studies suggest Morgellons is simply an indication that a person may need to seek treatment for depression, skin-picking disorder, anxiety and even substance abuse.

    Do you think Joni Mitchell is physically ill or has an illness that has caused delusions?

    Either way, fans are no doubt happy to learn that the 72-year-old singer’s condition is improving, and that she will likely be released from the hospital before too long.

  • Ireland Baldwin Rushed to Hospital With Appendicitis

    Ireland Baldwin, the daughter of Alec Baldwin and Kim Basinger, was rushed to an L.A. hospital on Thursday with what turned out to be appendicitis. The 19-year-old was suffering severe stomach cramps before going to the E.R.

    Alec Baldwin showed up about three minutes behind his daughter. It didn’t take long before Ireland Baldwin was admitted.

    On Friday, Ireland shared a tweet featuring a photo of her in a wheelchair. Her dad’s 57th birthday was that same day.

    According to the Mayo Clinic, appendicitis is an inflammation of the appendix, which is a finger-shaped pouch that projects from your colon on the lower right side of your abdomen. The appendix doesn’t seem to have a specific purpose. The most common remedy for appendicitis is surgical removal of the appendix.

    Hilaria Baldwin shared an Instagram post of Alec Baldwin celebrating his birthday with most of his family members. Sadly, Ireland Baldwin wasn’t yet up to celebrating.

    It’s likely that if Ireland Baldwin had her appendix removed that she is already out of the hospital. An appendectomy is a common surgical procedure performed frequently. Many patients are in and out of the hospital in under two days.

    That said, Ireland Baldwin will still require some time to heal. She likely will need to stay at home and rest for the better part of a week–maybe more.

  • Google Starts Returning Quick Medical Facts

    Google is about to start displaying more medical information in its Knowledge Graph, enabling users to quickly search and retrieve important health info without necessarily having to click through to other sites. The company says it has been working with a team of doctors led by its own Dr. Kapil Parakh, M.D., MPH, Ph.D. to compile, curate, and review the information it shows.

    “All of the gathered facts represent real-life clinical knowledge from these doctors and high-quality medical sources across the web, and the information has been checked by medical doctors at Google and the Mayo Clinic for accuracy,” says product manager Prem Ramaswami. “That doesn’t mean these search results are intended as medical advice. We know that cases can vary in severity from person to person, and that there are bound to be exceptions. What we present is intended for informational purposes only—and you should always consult a healthcare professional if you have a medical concern.”

    “Think of the last time you searched on Google for health information,” Ramaswami says. “Maybe you heard a news story about gluten-free diets and pulled up the Google app to ask, ‘What is celiac disease?’ Maybe a co-worker shook your hand and later found out she had pink eye, so you looked up ‘pink eye’ to see whether it’s contagious. Or maybe you were worried about a loved one—like I was, recently, when my infant son Veer fell off a bed in a hotel in rural Vermont, and I was concerned that he might have a concussion. I wasn’t able to search and quickly find the information I urgently needed (and I work at Google!).”

    Ramaswami says his son was indeed OK (hopefully a doctor’s assessment rather than Google’s), and notes that 1 in 20 Google searches is health-related.

    The new information sounds like a major step up from what Google has offered in the past. Before the Panda update, there were some pretty questionable articles ranking for some health-related queries. We’re talking brain cancer articles from eHow written by non-medical professionals.

    Google has been working on improving health search for years. In February fo 2012, the company started displaying lists of possible health conditions when the searcher typed a query for a symptom.

    Interestingly enough, results for that same query look more like an old school SERP these days:

    Later that year, Google added new medical info to the Knowledge Graph, specifically for medications:

    The following year, the Knowledge Graph began to show nutrition information for foods:

    The latest Knowledge Graph additions seem like a major improvement to Google’s health-related search results. It’s good that all of this information is being reviewed by a team of doctors before inclusion, which would suggest a better review process than some of the other Knowledge Graph info has been subjected to in the past.

    Still, if it’s important, don’t rely on Google.

    Images via Google

  • Jennifer Aniston Talks Life With Dyslexia

    Jennifer Aniston Talks Life With Dyslexia

    Jennifer Aniston grew up thinking she wasn’t smart. That no doubt shocks those who have watched the talented beauty transform from Rachel on Friends to one of Hollywood’s A-listers and film stars.

    “I thought I wasn’t smart,” she said during a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter. “I just couldn’t retain anything.”

    Finally, when she was in her 20s, she learned what the real problem was. She suffered from dyslexia.

    “The only reason I knew [that I had it] was because I went to get a prescription for glasses,” she says. “I had to wear these Buddy Holly glasses. One had a blue lens and one had a red lens. And I had to read a paragraph, and they gave me a quiz, gave me 10 questions based on what I’d just read, and I think I got three right. Then they put a computer on my eyes, showing where my eyes went when I read. My eyes would jump four words and go back two words, and I also had a little bit of a lazy eye, like a crossed eye, which they always have to correct in photos.”

    Receiving the diagnosis put lots of things into perspective for the Cake star.

    “Now I had this great discovery,” she says. “I felt like all of my childhood trauma-dies, tragedies, dramas were explained.”

    According to the Mayo Clinic, “dyslexia is a learning disorder characterized by difficulty reading due to problems identifying speech sounds and learning how they relate to letters and words. Also called specific reading disability, dyslexia is a common learning disability in children.”

    “Dyslexia occurs in children with normal vision and intelligence. Sometimes dyslexia goes undiagnosed for years and isn’t recognized until adulthood.”

    “There’s no cure for dyslexia. It’s a lifelong condition caused by inherited traits that affect how your brain works. However, most children with dyslexia can succeed in school with tutoring or a specialized education program. Emotional support also plays an important role.”

    It certainly makes one wonder what changes Jennifer Aniston might have made in her life had she learned as a child that she had dyslexia. Would she have grown up to be the actress she is today? Or might she have chosen a different path for her life?

    Jennifer Aniston is a sure example for those living with dyslexia that the world is theirs to conquer. She certainly hasn’t let it prevent her from reaching some very lofty goals. She’s engaged to actor Justin Theroux, and even though she was snubbed during the Oscar nominations for her role in Cake, she is happy knowing the film is getting great press.

    Does the revelation that Jennifer Aniston is dyslexic make you wonder what other Hollywood A-listers have similar issues?

  • Healthy Diets: 5 Best Trends of 2014 Thus Far

    Well, we are more than halfway through the year. Have you met your health and diet goals? Are you still working hard on that waistline?

    …Or did you say, “Screw it!” and order the biggest pizza on the menu?

    Not to fret!

    Whether you’re still going strong or have decided to give your weight loss goals another shot, there’s sure to be a diet plan on this list for you.

    Of all the “fad diets” around, it appears that some have risen to the top in terms of success and overall improvement of individual health. Could one of these five diet trends work for you?

    DASH Diet

    The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension or DASH diet has been a much buzzed about trend within the last few years.

    This is a diet that targets eating habits which contribute to high blood pressure. Weight loss is pretty much a happy coincidence. Why is this diet so popular if weight loss isn’t the main goal? Largely because of the overall health benefits involved.

    Biggest Loser Diet

    This is a shocker, if only because the weight loss reality show the Biggest Loser is so controversial. Despite concerns about the nature of the television series, it seems that the diet plan itself is very popular and highly recommended.

    This trend actually isn’t very new, as healthy eating habits and getting plenty of exercise are key. Following a variation of the Biggest Loser diet (there are several books to choose from) is said to improve cardiovascular health and help combat diabetes.

    Mayo Clinic Diet

    Out with the old and in with the healthy! That is the basic philosophy behind the Mayo Clinic diet. The first two weeks are spent developing healthy eating habits and filling up on fruits and veggies. Calorie counting comes into play during the second part of the diet.

    If dieters follow the plan to the letter, they can expect to lose 6 to 10 lbs in the first two weeks and 2 lbs every subsequent week!

    Volumetrics Diet

    This is a unique diet in that there’s no focus on calories or at least calorie counting specifically. The volumetrics diet is based on the belief that individuals consume the same amount of food or volume each day.

    You are encouraged to eat low calorie/high density foods to help you fill up without the excess calorie consumption. Here fruits and veggies reign supreme, but cutting back rather than cutting out unhealthy favorites means you can (theoretically) have it all.

    TLC Diet

    The Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes Diet or TLC diet has the seal of approval from none other than the American Heart Association.

    This diet is all about cutting back on saturated fats. No fried foods, whole milk, and fat-laden meat portions. This popular diet is good for losing weight and improving heart health.

    Any other top diets to recommend? Comment about them below!

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Cellulite Treatments: What Works And What Doesn’t

    Cellulite, a term for lumpy and dimpled skin around the thighs, hips, buttocks, and abdomen, can be a cause of distress when it appears. Although cellulite isn’t a serious medical condition and is just caused by normal fat pushing against connective tissue according to WebMD, its appearance can be unsightly and the condition has spawned numerous remedies in an attempt to solve the cellulite problem.

    For those seeking treatment for cellulite, the question is, what works and what doesn’t?

    There are numerous options and the most popular ones will be covered in brief here, but most experts agree that the best treatment for cellulite is simple exercise that includes aerobic training and strength training and a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and fiber. For options outside of this common advice, here are the some common avenues to try, with caveats on whether they’ve shown to be effective or not.

    Laser Treatment. This FDA-approved treatment for cellulite is often combined with radiofrequency to target tissue beneath the skin that is the cause of the cellulite. Treatment techniques can vary. For instance, VelaShape uses a triple-action formula of mechanical massage, radio frequency, and laser light, while another system uses a combined tissue massage with diode laser energy.

    Mesotherapy is a treatment for cellulite in which medications—homeopathic, traditional pharmaceuticals, vitamins, minerals, and amino acids—are injected into the skin and the fat, breaking down the fat to relieve cellulite. It may slightly improve the appearance of cellulite but carries risks of infection, swelling, and soreness.

    Liposuction is a surgical procedure designed to remove fat deposits from the body. Liposuction, though as WebMD notes, removes deep fat and not cellulite, which is just beneath the skin. It also carries risks of excess skin, swelling, infection, and scarring.

    Cellulite creams have become a popular and easy way to attempt to treat cellulite. Many contain aminophylline, a prescription drug used to treat asthma which may have an effect on the appearance of cellulite by narrowing blood vessels and forcing water from the skin, which is dangerous for people with circulatory problems. There is also the risk of an allergic reaction to aminophylline. No scientific studies those far have shown that these creams are effective.

    Cellulite is superficial fat, which the body loses last even if someone is vigorously exercising and eating a healthy diet. There are treatments, some more effective and some more costly than others, but experts still agree that the best way to treat cellulite is simple exercise that includes aerobic training and strength training and a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and fiber.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Lung Cancer, A Deathly Danger Has New Options

    Lung cancer, which is the leader cause of cancer death in the United States, kills more people than breast, colon, ovarian, and prostate cancers combined according to the Mayo Clinic. This is a worldwide health concern that reports 1.6 million new cases every year.

    According to Edward S. Kim, M.D., “Lung cancer remains one of the most difficult-to-treat cancers. New prognostic markers to guide treatment decisions in early-stage, non-small cell lung cancer are necessary to improve outcomes for patients.”

    Symptoms may include heavy coughing, producing blood when coughing, headaches, chest and bone pains, headaches, and a shortness of breath. Though smoking is a main cause of the disease there are additional factors that can increase the odds of a potential diagnosis. Other factors include exposure to second hand smoke, radon gas, asbestos, and a family history of the disease.

    Many tests have been used to monitor the disease such as x-rays, CT scans, biopsies, and sputum cytology. Typical treatment options include chemotherapy, radiation, surgery, and targeted drug therapy. However, there are now additional options.

    A new potential test, myPlan Lung Cancer test, has shown to be a predictor in lung cancer deaths.

    Mark Capone, the president of Myriad Genetics Laboratories, said, “myPlan Lung Cancer is an important new molecular diagnostic tool that will help physicians in predicting the aggressiveness of early-stage lung cancer in conjunction with conventional clinical parameters. Publication of these data is an important milestone as we prepare to launch myPlan Lung Cancer later this fiscal year.”

    European residents will be happy to hear that additional sources are available. The European Commission has recently authorized afatinib monotherapy to treat Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) where afatinib will be sold under the name of GIOTRIF.

    A spokesman from Boehringer Ingelheim, Professor Klaus Dugi, the Corporate Senior Vice President of Medicine said, “We are delighted with the decision by the European Commission. We hope this will be the first of many registrations for drugs from our in-house oncology research program. The approval of afatinib in Europe reinforces our commitment to bringing the right treatments to the right patients. This is a significant step towards meeting the substantial unmet need in lung cancer treatment.”

    [Image Via Wikimedia Commons]

  • Mayo Clinic Launches Center For Social Media

    Mayo Clinic said today it is launching a Center for Social Media to create broader and deeper engagement by hospitals, doctors and patients.

    "Mayo Clinic believes individuals have the right and responsibility to advocate for their own health, and that it is our responsibility to help them use social media tools to get the best information, connect with providers and with each other, and inspire healthy choices," said Mayo Clinic president and CEO John Noseworthy, M.D.

    "Through this center we intend to lead the health care community in applying these revolutionary tools to spread knowledge and encourage collaboration among providers, improving health care quality everywhere."

    Features of the Center for Social Media include:

    *Training for health care employees via webinars, in-person and on-site workshops and boot camps, and online curriculum.

    *Consulting and coaching to help organizations align social media strategies with business goals.

    *Conferences and other events to bring people together to learn from each other and share their experiences.

    *Resources including toolkits, manuals, books, white papers, policies and guidelines.

    "Health care has lagged behind other industries in applying social media tools," says Lee Aase, one of the leaders of the new center.

    "Social media interest and activity among hospitals and health care professionals has grown remarkably, though, with the number of hospital Twitter accounts, for example, doubling in the last year."

    In addition to reaching out, the center staff will work with Mayo Clinic colleagues to find new ways to apply social media tools throughout the Mayo system.

    "We see immense opportunities to use internal social networking tools for collaboration among our employees to improve patient care, education, research and administration," said Aase.

    "As we find new applications, we plan to conduct research into their effects so we can measure any cost savings, efficiency gains and improved effectiveness. And when we do, we’ll be sharing those findings externally to help the whole health system improve."