October 2012 – Latest Medical News

The Ultimate High-Fiber Grocery List

SOURCES:

Harvard Health Publications: “11 Foods That Lower Cholesterol.”

American Heart Association: “Whole Grains and Fiber.”

Harvard School of Public Health: “Fiber: Start Roughing It!”

Colorado State University Extension: “Dietary Fiber.”

National Women’s Health Resource Center: “How Much Fiber should I Have in My Daily Diet?”

Continuum Health Partners: “Dietary Fiber.”

USDA: “Nutrient Database for Standard Reference.”

AMA: “Sec. 13 Dietary Management of Hypertriglyceridemia.”

Newton Ask a Scientist: “Vegetable vs. Grains.”

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Slim Down for Lower Numbers

When you have a lot to lose before hitting your goal weight, success may feel far away. Here’s a win within reach — lose 5% of your total weight to lower your chance of having a heart attack or stroke. When you do, you’ll:

Reduce your triglyceride levels by as much as 20%
Reduce your LDL “bad” cholesterol by 15%
Increase your HDL “good” cholesterol by 8%

Pick Three. Choose three of the tasks below to start today. Pick the ones you think will be easiest for you to accomplish. Give yourself a couple of weeks to make a habit. Then, pick three more to work on. Taking this approach is easier to master for most people and helps you gain confidence early on.

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Boost the Results of Triglycerides Meds

Give your treatment a fighting chance.

So, it’s happened. Your doctor gave you a prescription for medicines to lower your cholesterol or triglyceride levels. If you’ve been trying hard to keep your levels down with a healthy diet and exercise, you might feel discouraged.

Take heart; needing medicine doesn’t mean you’ve failed. But, you do have a key role in helping the medicines do their job.

Ask Questions at the Doctor’s Office

When it comes to your health, there’s no such thing as a silly or unimportant question. Ask these questions any time you start a new medicine:

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Debate Over Antidepressants in Pregnancy Ongoing

Oct. 31, 2012 — The debate over the safety of antidepressants during pregnancy has been going on for a long time, and a new review may keep the debate alive a while longer.

The research review finds little evidence that the most widely prescribed class of antidepressants benefits pregnant women and growing evidence that they cause harm.

But one expert calls the findings “nonsense.”

Investigators of the review concluded that selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants should be prescribed “with great caution” during pregnancy.

They point to studies that have linked SSRI in pregnancy to preterm birth, miscarriage, and autism and developmental delays.

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Accurate HIV Sensor Ten Times Cheaper Than Any Other

Editor’s Choice
Academic Journal
Main Category: HIV / AIDS
Also Included In: Medical Devices / Diagnostics; Infectious Diseases / Bacteria / Viruses
Article Date: 30 Oct 2012 – 14:00 PDT

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Accurate HIV Sensor Ten Times Cheaper Than Any Other

Patient / Public:		4.43 (7 votes)
Healthcare Prof:

Scientists have developed an ultra-sensitive sensor for doctors to detect viral infections, such as HIV, as well as cancers in their early stages, with the naked eye.

The researchers, from Imperial College London, reported on their prototype sensor in Nature Nanotechnology.

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Health Costs For Seniors In Canada Rising Slowly: Points Way To Medicare Solvency

Main Category: Seniors / Aging
Also Included In: Medicare / Medicaid / SCHIP; Primary Care / General Practice
Article Date: 31 Oct 2012 – 0:00 PDT

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Health Costs For Seniors In Canada Rising Slowly: Points Way To Medicare Solvency

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Healthcare Prof:

A study published in Archives of Internal Medicine finds that per capita Medicare spending on the elderly has grown nearly three times faster in the United States than in Canada since 1980. (Canada’s program, which covers all Canadians, not just the elderly, is also called Medicare.) Cost grew more slowly in Canada despite a 1984 law banning co-payments and deductibles.

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Outcomes Of Bilateral Knee Replacement Surgery Affected By Anesthesia Type

Main Category:
Also Included In: Pain / Anesthetics;
Article Date: 30 Oct 2012 – 0:00 PDT

Outcomes Of Bilateral Knee Replacement Surgery Affected By Anesthesia Type

Patient / Public:		5 (1 votes)
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Act Quickly to Beat Mold After a Flood

Oct. 30, 2012 — If you’re trying to clean up a house flooded by Hurricane Sandy, be aware that you’re in a race against mold and bacteria, which can grow quickly in damp environments.

Mold is especially dangerous for people with breathing problems caused by allergies or asthma. But high levels of mold can also cause problems for people who are relatively healthy. Symptoms of mold exposure include wheezing, shortness of breath, sore throats, flu-like aches and pains, and fatigue.

Mold isn’t the only threat from flooding. Bacteria may also be a problem if your house was soaked by sewage. Bacteria can cause dangerous gastrointestinal and skin infections.

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Myths About Exercise and Older Adults

Have you given up on exercise? A lot of older people do — just one out of four people between the ages of 65 and 74 exercises regularly. Many people assume that they’re too out-of-shape, or sick, or tired, or just plain old to exercise. They’re wrong.

“Exercise is almost always good for people of any age,” says Chhanda Dutta, PhD, chief of the Clinical Gerontology Branch at the National Institute on Aging. Exercise can help make you stronger, prevent bone loss, improve balance and coordination, lift your mood, boost your memory, and ease the symptoms of many chronic conditions.

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Hypothermia Risk in Sandy's Aftermath

Hypothermia Risk in Sandy’s Aftermath

Oct. 30, 2012 — With power out and temperatures dropping in Hurricane Sandy’s aftermath, keeping warm is more than a comfort issue. It’s a matter of life and death.

In its early stages, hypothermia — too-low body temperature — is hard to recognize. That makes it especially deadly, as many people don’t know it’s happening and become unable to take care of themselves.

Many people think it has to be freezing outside before they can get hypothermia. But if a person is wet from rain or sweat, hypothermia can set in at temperatures well above 40 F.

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