Va. teen suffers rare illness after swine flu shot
Boy diagnosed with Guillain-Barre syndrome, but CDC says no clear link
A 14-year-old Virginia boy is weak and struggling to walk after coming down with a reported case of Guillain-Barre syndrome within hours after receiving the H1N1 vaccine for swine flu.
Jordan McFarland, a high school athlete from Alexandria, Va., left Inova Fairfax Hospital for Children Tuesday night in a wheelchair nearly a week after developing severe headaches, muscle spasms and weakness in his legs following a swine flu shot. He will likely need the assistance of a walker for four to six weeks, plus extensive physical therapy.
“The doctor said I’ll recover fully, but it’s going to take some time,” the teenager said.
Source and More:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33845867/ns/health-cold_and_flu/
Thursday, November 12, 2009
States make cuts, Feds propose Medicaid expansion
Some Missouri officials say proposed health care legislation could create an unfunded mandate and even has some calling to abandon the state's participation in Medicaid.
The U.S. House passed its version of the bill shortly after Gov. Jay Nixon announced $32 million in cuts to Missouri's Medicaid program. Both the version passed Saturday by the House of Representatives and the separate version approved by the Senate Finance Committee would require an expansion of Missouri's eligibility rates for Medicaid.
Missouri has one of the lowest Medicaid eligibility rates of any state in the country, requiring a family of four to earn less than $4,400 a year for the parents to receive coverage. The federal poverty level for a family of four is $22,050.
The Senate version of health care reform would require Missouri to expand its eligibility from 20 percent of the federal poverty level to 133 percent. Under these provisions, that same family of four could earn up to $29,326, and the parents would still qualify for Medicaid. The House version raises eligibility to $33,075 for a family of four.
Source and More:
http://www.columbiamissourian.com/stories/2009/11/12/state-makes-cuts-federal-bills-propose-medicaid-expansion/
The U.S. House passed its version of the bill shortly after Gov. Jay Nixon announced $32 million in cuts to Missouri's Medicaid program. Both the version passed Saturday by the House of Representatives and the separate version approved by the Senate Finance Committee would require an expansion of Missouri's eligibility rates for Medicaid.
Missouri has one of the lowest Medicaid eligibility rates of any state in the country, requiring a family of four to earn less than $4,400 a year for the parents to receive coverage. The federal poverty level for a family of four is $22,050.
The Senate version of health care reform would require Missouri to expand its eligibility from 20 percent of the federal poverty level to 133 percent. Under these provisions, that same family of four could earn up to $29,326, and the parents would still qualify for Medicaid. The House version raises eligibility to $33,075 for a family of four.
Source and More:
http://www.columbiamissourian.com/stories/2009/11/12/state-makes-cuts-federal-bills-propose-medicaid-expansion/
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Wacked Wednesday
Reid Says Health Bill Will Be Done by Christmas
The Senate majority leader, Harry Reid of Nevada, said Tuesday that he expected to bring major health care legislation to the floor next week and to complete work on the bill before Christmas. But other Democratic leaders said it was unlikely that a bill could reach President Obama’s desk by year’s end.
The House approved its version of the health care legislation late Saturday by a vote of 220 to 215. In a first procedural step toward Senate debate, Mr. Reid on Tuesday night moved to put the House bill on the Senator calendar, from which he could call it up any time after Tuesday.
Mr. Reid still has not finalized the Senate version of the legislation. He is waiting for additional analysis by the Congressional Budget Office, with an eye toward keeping the 10-year cost of the bill at the roughly $900 billion suggested by Mr. Obama. Some lawmakers and White House officials have voiced increasing frustration with the delay.
Source and More
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/11/health/policy/11health.html?_r=1&ref=health
___________________________________________________________________________
Snoring sounds may hold the key to a good night's sleep
Hours of analysing snoring sounds have paid off for a group of researchers from The University of Queensland and Brisbane's Princess Alexandra Hospital.
Led by Dr Udantha Abeyratne from the School of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering, the team has developed a non-invasive way of diagnosing Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA).
Caused by the collapse of the upper air passage during sleep, OSA is Australia's most common sleep disorder, affecting approximately 800,000 people.
Common symptoms include snoring, waking suddenly and daytime sleepiness and, if left untreated, it can lead to stroke, diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
“OSA has snoring as the earliest symptom; almost all patients snore,” Dr Abeyratne said.
“We have developed several techniques to diagnose OSA using snoring sounds alone.
“Sounds are acquired through non-contact recording devices, and features are extracted.
“At present we are capable of screening OSA with greater than 90 percent sensitivity and specificity.
Source and More
http://www.physorg.com/news177103046.html
___________________________________________________________________________
Chemical in plastic bottles linked to impotence
Study: Sexual problems reported by Chinese workers exposed to BPA
Male factory workers in China who got very high doses of a chemical that's been widely used in hard plastic bottles had high rates of sexual problems, researchers reported Wednesday.
Heavy exposure to BPA, or bisphenol A, on the job was linked to impotence and lower sexual desire and satisfaction, according to the study, which adds to concerns about BPA's effects on most consumers.
The men in the study experienced BPA levels about 50 times higher than those faced by typical American men, said researcher Dr. De-Kun Li. "We don't know" whether more typical doses have similar effects, he said.
People shouldn't be alarmed by the finding, said Li, a reproductive and perinatal epidemiologist at Kaiser Permanente's research division in Oakland, Calif. But he said it would be prudent to limit exposure to BPA while scientists look for any effects from lower doses.
The U.S. government recently announced new funding for research into BPA's effects.
Source and More
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33836605/ns/health-mens_health/
___________________________________________________________________________
State News: State Budgets And Medicaid Continue To Draw Headlines
The Associated Press/The Houston Chronicle reports that Texas lawmakers will add $5 million to expand mental health services - specifically veteran-to-veteran peer support groups - in the state. "Gov. Rick Perry on Monday announced the plan that calls for directing money from the state Health and Human Services Commission budget toward mental health treatment programs for veterans and their families" (11/9).
The New York Times: In an address Monday to the New York state Legislature, Gov. David Paterson called for wide cuts to cover a budget shortfall. Critics believe that New York can no longer afford to spend more than any other state on programs such as Medicaid. "Education and health care advocates have angrily opposed proposed cuts to Medicaid and school financing, the two largest parts of the state's budget, and the powerful labor unions that dominate debate in the capital are determined to fight them" (Hakim, 11/9).
Source and More
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/170574.php
___________________________________________________________________________
Most Returning Veterans Won’t Seek Treatment
On this Veterans Day, a new study was published that shows that most veterans returning from active duty wouldn’t seek mental health treatment, even if they were experiencing significant problems.
According to the study from the University of the Rockies, more than half (54.4 percent) of U.S. Army Special Forces Operators exposed to combat would not seek treatment while serving in the Army, even if they were experiencing Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms or psychological distress.
The 18-month study, which included 68 U.S. Army Special Forces Operators who had been deployed to combat since Operation Iraqi Freedom began in 2003, was conducted by Jessica M. Espinoza, PsyD., who earned her doctorate degree in Clinical Psychology from the university. University of the Rockies is a graduate university specializing in master’s and doctorate degrees in psychology.
Even though 100 percent of respondents were aware that therapy was available to them through the U.S. Army, most said they would not seek treatment due to fear of negative consequences.
Source and More
http://psychcentral.com/news/2009/11/11/most-returning-veterans-wont-seek-treatment/9493.html
The Senate majority leader, Harry Reid of Nevada, said Tuesday that he expected to bring major health care legislation to the floor next week and to complete work on the bill before Christmas. But other Democratic leaders said it was unlikely that a bill could reach President Obama’s desk by year’s end.
The House approved its version of the health care legislation late Saturday by a vote of 220 to 215. In a first procedural step toward Senate debate, Mr. Reid on Tuesday night moved to put the House bill on the Senator calendar, from which he could call it up any time after Tuesday.
Mr. Reid still has not finalized the Senate version of the legislation. He is waiting for additional analysis by the Congressional Budget Office, with an eye toward keeping the 10-year cost of the bill at the roughly $900 billion suggested by Mr. Obama. Some lawmakers and White House officials have voiced increasing frustration with the delay.
Source and More
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/11/health/policy/11health.html?_r=1&ref=health
___________________________________________________________________________
Snoring sounds may hold the key to a good night's sleep
Hours of analysing snoring sounds have paid off for a group of researchers from The University of Queensland and Brisbane's Princess Alexandra Hospital.
Led by Dr Udantha Abeyratne from the School of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering, the team has developed a non-invasive way of diagnosing Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA).
Caused by the collapse of the upper air passage during sleep, OSA is Australia's most common sleep disorder, affecting approximately 800,000 people.
Common symptoms include snoring, waking suddenly and daytime sleepiness and, if left untreated, it can lead to stroke, diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
“OSA has snoring as the earliest symptom; almost all patients snore,” Dr Abeyratne said.
“We have developed several techniques to diagnose OSA using snoring sounds alone.
“Sounds are acquired through non-contact recording devices, and features are extracted.
“At present we are capable of screening OSA with greater than 90 percent sensitivity and specificity.
Source and More
http://www.physorg.com/news177103046.html
___________________________________________________________________________
Chemical in plastic bottles linked to impotence
Study: Sexual problems reported by Chinese workers exposed to BPA
Male factory workers in China who got very high doses of a chemical that's been widely used in hard plastic bottles had high rates of sexual problems, researchers reported Wednesday.
Heavy exposure to BPA, or bisphenol A, on the job was linked to impotence and lower sexual desire and satisfaction, according to the study, which adds to concerns about BPA's effects on most consumers.
The men in the study experienced BPA levels about 50 times higher than those faced by typical American men, said researcher Dr. De-Kun Li. "We don't know" whether more typical doses have similar effects, he said.
People shouldn't be alarmed by the finding, said Li, a reproductive and perinatal epidemiologist at Kaiser Permanente's research division in Oakland, Calif. But he said it would be prudent to limit exposure to BPA while scientists look for any effects from lower doses.
The U.S. government recently announced new funding for research into BPA's effects.
Source and More
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33836605/ns/health-mens_health/
___________________________________________________________________________
State News: State Budgets And Medicaid Continue To Draw Headlines
The Associated Press/The Houston Chronicle reports that Texas lawmakers will add $5 million to expand mental health services - specifically veteran-to-veteran peer support groups - in the state. "Gov. Rick Perry on Monday announced the plan that calls for directing money from the state Health and Human Services Commission budget toward mental health treatment programs for veterans and their families" (11/9).
The New York Times: In an address Monday to the New York state Legislature, Gov. David Paterson called for wide cuts to cover a budget shortfall. Critics believe that New York can no longer afford to spend more than any other state on programs such as Medicaid. "Education and health care advocates have angrily opposed proposed cuts to Medicaid and school financing, the two largest parts of the state's budget, and the powerful labor unions that dominate debate in the capital are determined to fight them" (Hakim, 11/9).
Source and More
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/170574.php
___________________________________________________________________________
Most Returning Veterans Won’t Seek Treatment
On this Veterans Day, a new study was published that shows that most veterans returning from active duty wouldn’t seek mental health treatment, even if they were experiencing significant problems.
According to the study from the University of the Rockies, more than half (54.4 percent) of U.S. Army Special Forces Operators exposed to combat would not seek treatment while serving in the Army, even if they were experiencing Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms or psychological distress.
The 18-month study, which included 68 U.S. Army Special Forces Operators who had been deployed to combat since Operation Iraqi Freedom began in 2003, was conducted by Jessica M. Espinoza, PsyD., who earned her doctorate degree in Clinical Psychology from the university. University of the Rockies is a graduate university specializing in master’s and doctorate degrees in psychology.
Even though 100 percent of respondents were aware that therapy was available to them through the U.S. Army, most said they would not seek treatment due to fear of negative consequences.
Source and More
http://psychcentral.com/news/2009/11/11/most-returning-veterans-wont-seek-treatment/9493.html
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Stem Cells Restore Cognitive Abilities Impaired By Brain Tumor Treatment
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
By: Science Daily
By: Science Daily
Human embryonic stem cells could help people with learning and memory deficits after radiation treatment for brain tumors, suggests a new University of California, Irvine study.
Research with rats found that transplanted stem cells restored learning and memory to normal levels four months after radiotherapy. In contrast, irradiated rats that didn't receive stem cells experienced a more than 50 percent drop in cognitive function.
"Our findings provide the first evidence that such cells can be used to ameliorate radiation-induced damage of healthy tissue in the brain," said Charles Limoli, UCI radiation oncology associate professor and senior author of the study, appearing online the week of Nov. 9 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Radiotherapy for brain tumors is limited by how well the surrounding tissue tolerates the treatment. In receiving radiation at levels needed to treat tumors, patients suffer varying degrees of learning and memory impairment that can affect their quality of life.
"It's a progressive, debilitating side effect of cranial irradiation," Limoli said. "Any treatments showing promise at reversing this are worthy of pursuit."
In the UCI study, stem cells were transplanted into the heads of rats that had undergone radiation treatment. They migrated to a brain region known to support the growth of neurons, scientists observed, and developed into new brain cells.
Work is under way to determine how the transplanted stem cells improved cognition: Did they integrate into healthy tissue or did they help repair and support existing brain cells?
Said Limoli: "With further research, stem cells may one day be used to manage a variety of adverse conditions associated with radiotherapy."
In addition to Limoli, UCI scientists Munjal Acharya, Lori-Ann Christie, Mary Lan, Peter Donovan and Carl Cotman worked on this study, in collaboration with John Fike of UC San Francisco. The UCI researchers are from the departments of radiation oncology, biological chemistry, and developmental & cell biology; the Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, or UCI MIND; and the Sue & Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center.
The study was supported by grants from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine and the National Institutes of Health.
Visit www.MissouriCures.com to learn about other exciting stem cell advances! »
Tid Bit Tuesday
Stem cells restore mobility in neck-injured rats (w/ Video)
he first human embryonic stem cell treatment approved by the FDA for human testing has been shown to restore limb function in rats with neck spinal cord injuries - a finding that could expand the clinical trial to include people with cervical damage.
In January, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration gave Geron Corp. of Menlo Park, Calif., permission to test the UC Irvine treatment in individuals with thoracic spinal cord injuries, which occur below the neck. However, trying it in those with cervical damage wasn't approved because preclinical testing with rats hadn't been completed.
Results of the cervical study currently appear online in the journal Stem Cells. UCI scientist Hans Keirstead hopes the data will prompt the FDA to authorize clinical testing of the treatment in people with both types of spinal cord damage. About 52 percent of spinal cord injuries are cervical and 48 percent thoracic.
Source and More
http://www.physorg.com/news176993886.html
___________________________________________________________________________
9 surprising places where germs lurk
Viruses and bacteria can linger for weeks, so beware of that remote control
It’s time to stock up on chicken soup, Kleenex and anxiety — the flu and cold season has arrived. Some people may ignore flu shot shortages and a co-worker’s sniffles, but the rest of us hit the barricades, armed with soap, a full medicine cabinet and wariness when offered a handshake.
Germs that cause illness lurk in some out-of-the way spots, and bacteria and viruses can remain active on surfaces for days or even weeks, especially in wet areas. "Because of the natural moisture of our skin, we easily pick up these organisms, and we transfer them to our face," says Elizabeth Scott, co-director of Boston's Simmons College Center for Hygiene and Health in Home and Community. Good hygiene in the home is especially important for people with compromised immune systems, Scott notes.
Source and More
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33606252/ns/health-cold_and_flu/
___________________________________________________________________________
Military And VA Struggle With Mental Health And Other Health Care Issuesv
The events at Fort Hood highlight the military's struggle to provide mental health care for soldiers, veterans and the therapists who treat them.
The Los Angeles Times reports on the mass killing at a Texas base: "In the early years of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the various branches had been roundly criticized for failing to adequately address post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, and other psychiatric problems. Responding to that criticism, leaders made progress in diagnosing and treating such illnesses among service members. But Thursday's attack at Ft. Hood -- as well as two other recent incidents in which military personnel allegedly turned guns on their own -- indicates an intractable problem not easily overcome."
The ongoing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have lead to a wide array of mental and behavioral issues, including violence within the military. The recent shootings by Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, who was an Army psychiatrist, raises red flags and serious questions. "Those questions include whether, even today, military personnel can easily obtain mental health services. The factors that may have led to Hasan's alleged actions are not yet clear. What is clear is that no one is immune to mental health problems: Doctors have slightly higher suicide rates than does the general population. Military leaders acknowledge rampant psychiatric problems in their midst. According to the Army, the suicide rate among soldiers in Iraq is five times that seen in the Persian Gulf War and 11% higher than during Vietnam. The Army reported 133 suicides in 2008, the most ever. In January of this year, the 24 suicides reported by the Army outnumbered U.S. combat-related deaths in Iraq and Afghanistan" (Roan, 11/9).
Source and More
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/170389.php
___________________________________________________________________________
Survey Says: Fewer Americans Using Mental Health Professionals To Manage Stress
Results of a recent survey reveal that, despite an increase in stress, fewer Americans use therapy as a way to manage it.
The results of the annual "Stress in America" survey by the American Psychological Association, released last week, found that while 85 percent of Americans say their stress level has remained the same or increased in the past year, just 4 percent of people use therapy as a way to combat that stress. This reflects a decrease in therapy usage related to stress. In 2008, 7 percent of people said they saw a mental health professional to manage their stress.
In fact, Americans are more likely to eat (28%), smoke (14%), shop (15%) or watch TV (36%) than see a therapist as a stress management technique.
"We need to make Americans aware that seeing a mental health professional such as a Marriage and Family Therapist is a wise, effective way to manage stress that's getting in the way of daily life," said Patsy Pinkney-Phillips, Ph.D., president of the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists Board and a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. "If you're experiencing high levels of stress, talk therapy can help you get through it."
Source and More
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/170353.php
___________________________________________________________________________
Dieters Face Similar Problems as Drug Abusers
Researchers have discovered irregular eating of foods rich in fat and sugar can cause changes in the brain comparable to those observed in drug dependence.
According to Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) scientists, their findings may explain how abstinence from these foods contributes to relapse eating among dieters as well as related eating disorders.
The findings are reported in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Forms of obesity and eating disorders can be defined as chronic relapsing conditions with alternating periods of abstinence (dieting to avoid “forbidden” foods, rich in sugar and fat, also known as palatable foods) and relapse (compulsive, often uncontrollable, eating of highly-palatable foods) that continue despite negative consequences.
Although the positive reinforcing properties of palatable foods are well known, less attention has been given to the increased probability of a behavioral response produced by removal of an aversive stimulus (intake of palatable food to relieve negative emotional states).
Source and More
http://psychcentral.com/news/2009/11/10/dieters-face-similar-problems-as-drug-abusers/9442.html
he first human embryonic stem cell treatment approved by the FDA for human testing has been shown to restore limb function in rats with neck spinal cord injuries - a finding that could expand the clinical trial to include people with cervical damage.
In January, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration gave Geron Corp. of Menlo Park, Calif., permission to test the UC Irvine treatment in individuals with thoracic spinal cord injuries, which occur below the neck. However, trying it in those with cervical damage wasn't approved because preclinical testing with rats hadn't been completed.
Results of the cervical study currently appear online in the journal Stem Cells. UCI scientist Hans Keirstead hopes the data will prompt the FDA to authorize clinical testing of the treatment in people with both types of spinal cord damage. About 52 percent of spinal cord injuries are cervical and 48 percent thoracic.
Source and More
http://www.physorg.com/news176993886.html
___________________________________________________________________________
9 surprising places where germs lurk
Viruses and bacteria can linger for weeks, so beware of that remote control
It’s time to stock up on chicken soup, Kleenex and anxiety — the flu and cold season has arrived. Some people may ignore flu shot shortages and a co-worker’s sniffles, but the rest of us hit the barricades, armed with soap, a full medicine cabinet and wariness when offered a handshake.
Germs that cause illness lurk in some out-of-the way spots, and bacteria and viruses can remain active on surfaces for days or even weeks, especially in wet areas. "Because of the natural moisture of our skin, we easily pick up these organisms, and we transfer them to our face," says Elizabeth Scott, co-director of Boston's Simmons College Center for Hygiene and Health in Home and Community. Good hygiene in the home is especially important for people with compromised immune systems, Scott notes.
Source and More
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33606252/ns/health-cold_and_flu/
___________________________________________________________________________
Military And VA Struggle With Mental Health And Other Health Care Issuesv
The events at Fort Hood highlight the military's struggle to provide mental health care for soldiers, veterans and the therapists who treat them.
The Los Angeles Times reports on the mass killing at a Texas base: "In the early years of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the various branches had been roundly criticized for failing to adequately address post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, and other psychiatric problems. Responding to that criticism, leaders made progress in diagnosing and treating such illnesses among service members. But Thursday's attack at Ft. Hood -- as well as two other recent incidents in which military personnel allegedly turned guns on their own -- indicates an intractable problem not easily overcome."
The ongoing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have lead to a wide array of mental and behavioral issues, including violence within the military. The recent shootings by Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, who was an Army psychiatrist, raises red flags and serious questions. "Those questions include whether, even today, military personnel can easily obtain mental health services. The factors that may have led to Hasan's alleged actions are not yet clear. What is clear is that no one is immune to mental health problems: Doctors have slightly higher suicide rates than does the general population. Military leaders acknowledge rampant psychiatric problems in their midst. According to the Army, the suicide rate among soldiers in Iraq is five times that seen in the Persian Gulf War and 11% higher than during Vietnam. The Army reported 133 suicides in 2008, the most ever. In January of this year, the 24 suicides reported by the Army outnumbered U.S. combat-related deaths in Iraq and Afghanistan" (Roan, 11/9).
Source and More
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/170389.php
___________________________________________________________________________
Survey Says: Fewer Americans Using Mental Health Professionals To Manage Stress
Results of a recent survey reveal that, despite an increase in stress, fewer Americans use therapy as a way to manage it.
The results of the annual "Stress in America" survey by the American Psychological Association, released last week, found that while 85 percent of Americans say their stress level has remained the same or increased in the past year, just 4 percent of people use therapy as a way to combat that stress. This reflects a decrease in therapy usage related to stress. In 2008, 7 percent of people said they saw a mental health professional to manage their stress.
In fact, Americans are more likely to eat (28%), smoke (14%), shop (15%) or watch TV (36%) than see a therapist as a stress management technique.
"We need to make Americans aware that seeing a mental health professional such as a Marriage and Family Therapist is a wise, effective way to manage stress that's getting in the way of daily life," said Patsy Pinkney-Phillips, Ph.D., president of the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists Board and a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. "If you're experiencing high levels of stress, talk therapy can help you get through it."
Source and More
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/170353.php
___________________________________________________________________________
Dieters Face Similar Problems as Drug Abusers
Researchers have discovered irregular eating of foods rich in fat and sugar can cause changes in the brain comparable to those observed in drug dependence.
According to Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) scientists, their findings may explain how abstinence from these foods contributes to relapse eating among dieters as well as related eating disorders.
The findings are reported in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Forms of obesity and eating disorders can be defined as chronic relapsing conditions with alternating periods of abstinence (dieting to avoid “forbidden” foods, rich in sugar and fat, also known as palatable foods) and relapse (compulsive, often uncontrollable, eating of highly-palatable foods) that continue despite negative consequences.
Although the positive reinforcing properties of palatable foods are well known, less attention has been given to the increased probability of a behavioral response produced by removal of an aversive stimulus (intake of palatable food to relieve negative emotional states).
Source and More
http://psychcentral.com/news/2009/11/10/dieters-face-similar-problems-as-drug-abusers/9442.html
Monday, November 9, 2009
Manic Monday
Breast density associated with increased risk of cancer recurrence
A new study finds that women treated for breast cancer are at higher risk of cancer recurrence if they have dense breasts. Published in the December 15, 2009 issue of Cancer, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society, the study's results indicate that breast cancer patients with dense breasts may benefit from additional therapies following surgery, such as radiation.
Source and More
http://www.physorg.com/news176963764.html
___________________________________________________________________________
American Psychiatric Association Encourages Passage Of House Healthcare Reform Proposals
The American Psychiatric Association is calling for concurrent passage of H.R. 3962 (the Affordable Health Care for America Act) and H.R. 3961 (the Medicare Physician Payment Reform Act of 2009), which together provide the best opportunity for comprehensive healthcare reform.
"Taken together, H.R. 3961 and H.R. 3962 represent the fundamental reform of our health insurance and health care systems that is needed in order to protect and expand patient access to care and continued choice of physicians. Passage of both bills is essential," said APA president Alan F. Schatzberg, M.D., in a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi supporting passage of the legislation.
Source and More
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/170274.php
___________________________________________________________________________
Money Changes Physician-Patient Relationship
As medical costs escalate employers and insurers are requiring individuals to pay more of the bill with increased deductibles and out of pocket co-pays.
This new consumerism may call for physicians to talk to patients about money, according to researchers at Wake Forest University School of Medicine.
Requiring individuals to shoulder more of the financial burden of medical costs could change the way physicians practice medicine as expensive treatment options may be unaffordable even if the treatment may be the best approach.
“Each year, doctors are finding more and more that patients are coming in carrying substantial deductibles and having to pay more out of pocket,” said Mark A. Hall, J.D., a professor of law and public health in the Division of Public Health Sciences at the School of Medicine.
Co-authored by Carl E. Schneider, J.D., of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, a summary of three years’ worth of research on the subject, appears in the current issue of the Journal of Family Practice.
Source and More
http://psychcentral.com/news/2009/11/09/money-changes-physician-patient-relationship/9418.html
___________________________________________________________________________
Obama Presses Senate to Pass Its Health Bill
The White House, growing concerned that the Congressional timetable for passing a health care overhaul could slip into next year, is stepping up pressure on the Senate for quick action, with President Obama appearing Sunday in the Rose Garden to call on senators to “take up the baton and bring this effort to the finish line.”
Source and More
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/09/health/policy/09healthcare.html?_r=1&ref=health
A new study finds that women treated for breast cancer are at higher risk of cancer recurrence if they have dense breasts. Published in the December 15, 2009 issue of Cancer, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society, the study's results indicate that breast cancer patients with dense breasts may benefit from additional therapies following surgery, such as radiation.
Source and More
http://www.physorg.com/news176963764.html
___________________________________________________________________________
American Psychiatric Association Encourages Passage Of House Healthcare Reform Proposals
The American Psychiatric Association is calling for concurrent passage of H.R. 3962 (the Affordable Health Care for America Act) and H.R. 3961 (the Medicare Physician Payment Reform Act of 2009), which together provide the best opportunity for comprehensive healthcare reform.
"Taken together, H.R. 3961 and H.R. 3962 represent the fundamental reform of our health insurance and health care systems that is needed in order to protect and expand patient access to care and continued choice of physicians. Passage of both bills is essential," said APA president Alan F. Schatzberg, M.D., in a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi supporting passage of the legislation.
Source and More
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/170274.php
___________________________________________________________________________
Money Changes Physician-Patient Relationship
As medical costs escalate employers and insurers are requiring individuals to pay more of the bill with increased deductibles and out of pocket co-pays.
This new consumerism may call for physicians to talk to patients about money, according to researchers at Wake Forest University School of Medicine.
Requiring individuals to shoulder more of the financial burden of medical costs could change the way physicians practice medicine as expensive treatment options may be unaffordable even if the treatment may be the best approach.
“Each year, doctors are finding more and more that patients are coming in carrying substantial deductibles and having to pay more out of pocket,” said Mark A. Hall, J.D., a professor of law and public health in the Division of Public Health Sciences at the School of Medicine.
Co-authored by Carl E. Schneider, J.D., of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, a summary of three years’ worth of research on the subject, appears in the current issue of the Journal of Family Practice.
Source and More
http://psychcentral.com/news/2009/11/09/money-changes-physician-patient-relationship/9418.html
___________________________________________________________________________
Obama Presses Senate to Pass Its Health Bill
The White House, growing concerned that the Congressional timetable for passing a health care overhaul could slip into next year, is stepping up pressure on the Senate for quick action, with President Obama appearing Sunday in the Rose Garden to call on senators to “take up the baton and bring this effort to the finish line.”
Source and More
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/09/health/policy/09healthcare.html?_r=1&ref=health
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Medicare has proved naysayers wrong
I was just released from a 20-day stay in a local hospital. Every day I was thankful for President Lyndon Johnson for pushing through Medicare; otherwise I would be in bankruptcy. I can remember all the arguments against Medicare; namely, it would lead to socialized medicine and all the other arguments heard today as we try to get health insurance reform. Today I know of no politician who would vote to do away with Medicare.
Source and More:
http://www.columbiatribune.com/news/2009/nov/07/medicare-has-proved-naysayers-wrong/
Very well presented letter to the editor.
Source and More:
http://www.columbiatribune.com/news/2009/nov/07/medicare-has-proved-naysayers-wrong/
Very well presented letter to the editor.
Friday, November 6, 2009
T.G.I.F.
Making the Most of Mental Health Benefits
How much attention have you paid to your health policy’s mental health benefits? It’s time to take a look, reports the Patient Money columnist Lesley Alderman. Because of a new federal law that takes effect for most insurance plans on Jan. 1, the Mental Health Parity Act, it is quite likely that your mental health coverage has indeed changed — possibly for the better, she reports.
As of Jan. 1, the law requires that group plans covering more than 50 people provide the same level of care for mental health and substance abuse problems as for medical ones. Right now, most employer plans provide less coverage for mental health — say, by limiting the amount of visits you can make to a provider or setting higher annual deductibles than for medical care.
The law’s changes can be good and not so good. Good, because you might have access to more care. Not so good if there are new requirements, like getting precertification for coverage, that place additional barriers to getting treatment, says Kaye Pestaina, vice president for health care compliance of the Segal Company, a benefits consulting firm.
Source and More
http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/11/06/making-the-most-of-mental-health-benefits/
___________________________________________________________________________
States Struggle With Immigrants' Care And Funding Mental Hospitals
News outlets report on a variety of health issues at the state level including immigrants' challenges when trying to access new care in Massachusetts and a proposal by employees to cut some services but keep open a mental hospital in Maryland.
The Boston Globe reports: Gov. Deval Patrick's "administration has trumpeted its salvaging of health insurance for 28,000 legal immigrants, but the company hired to cover this group has been late assigning doctors and sending enrollment information to many patients, health and immigrant advocates say. Even some patients who received the necessary information are facing significant hurdles connecting with the doctors CeltiCare Health Plan of Massachusetts assembled in its new network, which sharply limits the community health centers and hospitals available to patients" (Lazar, 11/5).
The Baltimore Sun reports: "A state employee labor union has proposed slimming down operations at the Upper Shore Community Mental Health Center to save the Chestertown facility from being closed because of budget cuts. Gov. Martin O'Malley said he would review the proposal from the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, but that any decisions would be made in the context of $300 million in budget cuts that are expected later this month. O'Malley, a Democrat, had proposed shuttering the state-run psychiatric hospital in a previous round of budget cuts" (Smitherman, 11/5).
Source and More
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/170089.php
___________________________________________________________________________
Mental Health America Praises House Health Reform Bill
Mental Health America today praised the House health reform bill (the Affordable Health Care for Americans Act, H.R. 3962) for taking ground-breaking steps to expand coverage and significantly improving access to mental health and substance use disorder treatment services.
Mental Health America also applauded the legislation for applying mental health and substance use parity requirements to all qualified health benefit plans regardless of whether they are offered in the individual or group market.
"We strongly support this legislation for making important strides in eliminating barriers and expanding access for mental health and substance use services," said David L. Shern, Ph.D., president and CEO of Mental Health America.
[A letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi supporting the legislation can be found here. ]
The bill carries forward the principles established in federal law with the enactment last year of the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act, which prohibits unequal treatment limits and financial requirements for mental health and substance use treatment.
Source and More
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/170016.php
How much attention have you paid to your health policy’s mental health benefits? It’s time to take a look, reports the Patient Money columnist Lesley Alderman. Because of a new federal law that takes effect for most insurance plans on Jan. 1, the Mental Health Parity Act, it is quite likely that your mental health coverage has indeed changed — possibly for the better, she reports.
As of Jan. 1, the law requires that group plans covering more than 50 people provide the same level of care for mental health and substance abuse problems as for medical ones. Right now, most employer plans provide less coverage for mental health — say, by limiting the amount of visits you can make to a provider or setting higher annual deductibles than for medical care.
The law’s changes can be good and not so good. Good, because you might have access to more care. Not so good if there are new requirements, like getting precertification for coverage, that place additional barriers to getting treatment, says Kaye Pestaina, vice president for health care compliance of the Segal Company, a benefits consulting firm.
Source and More
http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/11/06/making-the-most-of-mental-health-benefits/
___________________________________________________________________________
States Struggle With Immigrants' Care And Funding Mental Hospitals
News outlets report on a variety of health issues at the state level including immigrants' challenges when trying to access new care in Massachusetts and a proposal by employees to cut some services but keep open a mental hospital in Maryland.
The Boston Globe reports: Gov. Deval Patrick's "administration has trumpeted its salvaging of health insurance for 28,000 legal immigrants, but the company hired to cover this group has been late assigning doctors and sending enrollment information to many patients, health and immigrant advocates say. Even some patients who received the necessary information are facing significant hurdles connecting with the doctors CeltiCare Health Plan of Massachusetts assembled in its new network, which sharply limits the community health centers and hospitals available to patients" (Lazar, 11/5).
The Baltimore Sun reports: "A state employee labor union has proposed slimming down operations at the Upper Shore Community Mental Health Center to save the Chestertown facility from being closed because of budget cuts. Gov. Martin O'Malley said he would review the proposal from the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, but that any decisions would be made in the context of $300 million in budget cuts that are expected later this month. O'Malley, a Democrat, had proposed shuttering the state-run psychiatric hospital in a previous round of budget cuts" (Smitherman, 11/5).
Source and More
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/170089.php
___________________________________________________________________________
Mental Health America Praises House Health Reform Bill
Mental Health America today praised the House health reform bill (the Affordable Health Care for Americans Act, H.R. 3962) for taking ground-breaking steps to expand coverage and significantly improving access to mental health and substance use disorder treatment services.
Mental Health America also applauded the legislation for applying mental health and substance use parity requirements to all qualified health benefit plans regardless of whether they are offered in the individual or group market.
"We strongly support this legislation for making important strides in eliminating barriers and expanding access for mental health and substance use services," said David L. Shern, Ph.D., president and CEO of Mental Health America.
[A letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi supporting the legislation can be found here. ]
The bill carries forward the principles established in federal law with the enactment last year of the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act, which prohibits unequal treatment limits and financial requirements for mental health and substance use treatment.
Source and More
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/170016.php
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Search Rather than Surf the Web
According to researchers, nearly 75 percent of all American adults use the Internet on a daily basis.
Surprisingly, the method in which they look for information appears to influence how individuals comprehend or identify with the facts discovered in the search process.
University of Missouri researchers found that readers were better able to understand, remember and emotionally respond to material found through “searching” compared to content found while “surfing.”
Currently, 50 percent of adults use the Web to find information via search engines, while 38 percent use it to pass the time.
“If, as these data suggest, the cognitive and emotional impact of online content is greatest when acquired by searching, then Web site sponsors might consider increasing their advertising on pages that tend to be accessed via search engines,” said Kevin Wise, assistant professor of strategic communication and co-director of the Psychological Research on Information and Media Effects (PRIME) Lab at the University of Missouri.
Source and More:
http://psychcentral.com/news/2009/11/05/search-rather-than-surf-the-web/9357.html
http://munews.missouri.edu/news-releases/2009/1104-mu-researchers-find-internet-search-process-affects-cognition-emotion/
Surprisingly, the method in which they look for information appears to influence how individuals comprehend or identify with the facts discovered in the search process.
University of Missouri researchers found that readers were better able to understand, remember and emotionally respond to material found through “searching” compared to content found while “surfing.”
Currently, 50 percent of adults use the Web to find information via search engines, while 38 percent use it to pass the time.
“If, as these data suggest, the cognitive and emotional impact of online content is greatest when acquired by searching, then Web site sponsors might consider increasing their advertising on pages that tend to be accessed via search engines,” said Kevin Wise, assistant professor of strategic communication and co-director of the Psychological Research on Information and Media Effects (PRIME) Lab at the University of Missouri.
Source and More:
http://psychcentral.com/news/2009/11/05/search-rather-than-surf-the-web/9357.html
http://munews.missouri.edu/news-releases/2009/1104-mu-researchers-find-internet-search-process-affects-cognition-emotion/
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Wacked Wednesday
New scientific study indicates that eating quickly is associated with overeating
According to a new study accepted for publication in The Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (JCEM), eating a meal quickly, as compared to slowly, curtails the release of hormones in the gut that induce feelings of being full. The decreased release of these hormones, can often lead to overeating.
"Most of us have heard that eating fast can lead to food overconsumption and obesity, and in fact some observational studies have supported this notion," said Alexander Kokkinos, MD, PhD, of Laiko General Hospital in Athens Greece and lead author of the study. "Our study provides a possible explanation for the relationship between speed eating and overeating by showing that the rate at which someone eats may impact the release of gut hormones that signal the brain to stop eating."
In the last few years, research regarding gut hormones, such as peptide YY (PYY) and glucagon-like peptide (GLP-1), has shown that their release after a meal acts on the brain and induces satiety and meal termination. Until now, concentrations of appetite-regulating hormones have not been examined in the context of different rates of eating.
Source and More
http://www.physorg.com/news176524945.html
___________________________________________________________________________
Excess Diet Soda Consumption Increases Risk of Health Problems
What do heart disease, stroke, cancer, obesity, tooth decay, osteoporosis, diabetes, and dementia have in common? It may surprise you to know that all of these health problems have been linked to the excess consumption of soft drinks. Unless fortified, soft drinks contain little or no vitamins, minerals, fiber, protein, or other essential nutrients, and often displace other healthier choices in people’s diets, such as water, milk and tea. What they do contain—simple sugars or sugar substitutes, carbonation, caffeine, and often food additives such as artificial coloring, flavoring, and preservatives—are the real troublemakers, directly or indirectly contributing to a wide array of illnesses, some of which are listed above. But results of a new study suggest that drinking just two artificially sweetened soft drinks a day can result in an increased risk of declining kidney function; a finding that may change the way we view excess when it comes to sodas.
Source and More
http://www.healthnews.com/nutrition-diet/excess-diet-soda-consumption-increases-risk-health-problems-3821.html
___________________________________________________________________________
Louisiana Struggles With Medicaid Shortfall; Texas Governor Criticizes Reform
Newspapers report on health issues at the state level, including Louisiana's struggles with a Medicaid shortfall and the Texas governor's criticism of congressional health care reform efforts.
The Times-Picayune reports: "The state Department of Health and Hospitals plans to dip into several one-time revenue sources and cut spending on mental health, public health and prescription drugs to make up for a $308 million deficit in its Medicaid program, authorities said Monday." The deficit is due to several factors including costs related to treating swine flu and community care programs for the disabled as well as delays in implementing earlier rate cuts (Moller, 11/2).
The Houston Chronicle/Associated Press report: "Gov. Rick Perry on Monday bashed Washington-style health care fixes, but he wouldn't rule out taking federal incentives for insuring more people if Congress offers them. Perry criticized the Democratic plans to overhaul the U.S. health care system, including a proposal to let states 'opt out' of a government-run health insurance system. He called it a 'classic Washington bait and switch' because Texans would have to pay for the program whether [the state] joined or not. But Perry told reporters Monday that it's too early to say if Texas might take advantage of any optional federal programs" (Root, 11/2).
This information was reprinted from kaiserhealthnews.org with kind permission from the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, search the archives and sign up for email delivery at kaiserhealthnews.org.
Source and More
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/169804.php
___________________________________________________________________________
Risk of PTSD Linked to Genes, Environment
Childhood adversity and trauma during adulthood appear to predispose individuals to post-traumatic stress disorders.
Researchers found the combination of insults were more predictive of PTSD than exposure to only one type of disturbance.
Furthermore, the risk was additionally accentuated among individuals with a certain genetic mutation.
The report is found in the November issue of Archives of General Psychiatry.
Although 40 percent to 70 percent of Americans have experienced traumatic events, only about 8 percent develop PTSD during their lifetimes, according to background information in the article.
Source and More
http://psychcentral.com/news/2009/11/03/risk-of-ptsd-linked-to-genes-environment/9296.html
___________________________________________________________________________
Diabetes and Disability: Prevalence and Prevention
Did you know that your body shape is a good indicator of whether or not you’re at risk for diabetes? Or that the disease is largely preventable? Or that more than 23 million Americans have diabetes … and 6 million of them don’t know it yet?
Disaboom talked to Linda Haas, PhC, RN, CDE, to get the latest information and explore the link between diabetes and disability. Haas chairs the Older Adult Workgroup at the National Diabetes Education Program (NDEP), a partnership of the National Institutes of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and more than 200 public and private organizations.
Source and More
http://www.disaboom.com/diabetes/diabetes-and-disability-prevalence-and-prevention?IADID=Feature_wk81
___________________________________________________________________________
Smoking, Disability, and Cancer: Break the Link
Smoking prevalence among people with disabilities is nearly 50 percent higher than among people without disabilities (29.9 percent vs. 19.8 percent), according to findings released October 2007 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Preventing Chronic Disease. And yet it’s difficult to find any single habit more disastrous to the health of someone with a disability.
Source and More
http://www.disaboom.com/lung-cancer/smoking-disability-and-cancer-break-the-link?IADID=Feature_wk81
___________________________________________________________________________
Recruiting Caregivers for People with Disabilities
People with disabilities who manage their own personal care attendant services to help with activities of daily living have a lot of responsibility. Sometimes I feel like a human resources manager! We have to hire new personal care attendants, and keep them to try to minimize turnover. People often ask me for suggestions for finding good workers, and for keeping them.
Recruitment and retention of personal care attendants (PCA) are among the biggest concerns for people with disabilities. And it seems to be getting harder. We’re competing not only with other home care users, but also with all kinds of employers, some offering better wages and benefits, and requiring fewer skills.
Source and More
http://www.disaboom.com/caregiving-general/recruiting-caregivers-for-people-with-disabilities?IADID=Feature_wk81
___________________________________________________________________________
Caregiving and Depression a Common Combination
Caregivers frequently sacrifice their own physical and emotional needs to help a family member or friend. Although done for the best possible reasons, overextending yourself may sooner or later leave you feeling depressed and overwhelmed.
Additionally, research has shown that people providing for someone with dementia are twice as likely to suffer from depression as a person caring for someone who’s mentally alert. Add to that the fact that most caregivers are women, and women are more likely to experience depression than men, and you can see the trend. That’s the bad news. The good news, however, is that knowledge is power – and you can gain that power by simply assessing your own situation.
Source and More
http://www.disaboom.com/caregiver-stress/caregiving-and-depression-a-common-combination?IADID=Feature_wk81
According to a new study accepted for publication in The Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (JCEM), eating a meal quickly, as compared to slowly, curtails the release of hormones in the gut that induce feelings of being full. The decreased release of these hormones, can often lead to overeating.
"Most of us have heard that eating fast can lead to food overconsumption and obesity, and in fact some observational studies have supported this notion," said Alexander Kokkinos, MD, PhD, of Laiko General Hospital in Athens Greece and lead author of the study. "Our study provides a possible explanation for the relationship between speed eating and overeating by showing that the rate at which someone eats may impact the release of gut hormones that signal the brain to stop eating."
In the last few years, research regarding gut hormones, such as peptide YY (PYY) and glucagon-like peptide (GLP-1), has shown that their release after a meal acts on the brain and induces satiety and meal termination. Until now, concentrations of appetite-regulating hormones have not been examined in the context of different rates of eating.
Source and More
http://www.physorg.com/news176524945.html
___________________________________________________________________________
Excess Diet Soda Consumption Increases Risk of Health Problems
What do heart disease, stroke, cancer, obesity, tooth decay, osteoporosis, diabetes, and dementia have in common? It may surprise you to know that all of these health problems have been linked to the excess consumption of soft drinks. Unless fortified, soft drinks contain little or no vitamins, minerals, fiber, protein, or other essential nutrients, and often displace other healthier choices in people’s diets, such as water, milk and tea. What they do contain—simple sugars or sugar substitutes, carbonation, caffeine, and often food additives such as artificial coloring, flavoring, and preservatives—are the real troublemakers, directly or indirectly contributing to a wide array of illnesses, some of which are listed above. But results of a new study suggest that drinking just two artificially sweetened soft drinks a day can result in an increased risk of declining kidney function; a finding that may change the way we view excess when it comes to sodas.
Source and More
http://www.healthnews.com/nutrition-diet/excess-diet-soda-consumption-increases-risk-health-problems-3821.html
___________________________________________________________________________
Louisiana Struggles With Medicaid Shortfall; Texas Governor Criticizes Reform
Newspapers report on health issues at the state level, including Louisiana's struggles with a Medicaid shortfall and the Texas governor's criticism of congressional health care reform efforts.
The Times-Picayune reports: "The state Department of Health and Hospitals plans to dip into several one-time revenue sources and cut spending on mental health, public health and prescription drugs to make up for a $308 million deficit in its Medicaid program, authorities said Monday." The deficit is due to several factors including costs related to treating swine flu and community care programs for the disabled as well as delays in implementing earlier rate cuts (Moller, 11/2).
The Houston Chronicle/Associated Press report: "Gov. Rick Perry on Monday bashed Washington-style health care fixes, but he wouldn't rule out taking federal incentives for insuring more people if Congress offers them. Perry criticized the Democratic plans to overhaul the U.S. health care system, including a proposal to let states 'opt out' of a government-run health insurance system. He called it a 'classic Washington bait and switch' because Texans would have to pay for the program whether [the state] joined or not. But Perry told reporters Monday that it's too early to say if Texas might take advantage of any optional federal programs" (Root, 11/2).
This information was reprinted from kaiserhealthnews.org with kind permission from the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, search the archives and sign up for email delivery at kaiserhealthnews.org.
Source and More
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/169804.php
___________________________________________________________________________
Risk of PTSD Linked to Genes, Environment
Childhood adversity and trauma during adulthood appear to predispose individuals to post-traumatic stress disorders.
Researchers found the combination of insults were more predictive of PTSD than exposure to only one type of disturbance.
Furthermore, the risk was additionally accentuated among individuals with a certain genetic mutation.
The report is found in the November issue of Archives of General Psychiatry.
Although 40 percent to 70 percent of Americans have experienced traumatic events, only about 8 percent develop PTSD during their lifetimes, according to background information in the article.
Source and More
http://psychcentral.com/news/2009/11/03/risk-of-ptsd-linked-to-genes-environment/9296.html
___________________________________________________________________________
Diabetes and Disability: Prevalence and Prevention
Did you know that your body shape is a good indicator of whether or not you’re at risk for diabetes? Or that the disease is largely preventable? Or that more than 23 million Americans have diabetes … and 6 million of them don’t know it yet?
Disaboom talked to Linda Haas, PhC, RN, CDE, to get the latest information and explore the link between diabetes and disability. Haas chairs the Older Adult Workgroup at the National Diabetes Education Program (NDEP), a partnership of the National Institutes of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and more than 200 public and private organizations.
Source and More
http://www.disaboom.com/diabetes/diabetes-and-disability-prevalence-and-prevention?IADID=Feature_wk81
___________________________________________________________________________
Smoking, Disability, and Cancer: Break the Link
Smoking prevalence among people with disabilities is nearly 50 percent higher than among people without disabilities (29.9 percent vs. 19.8 percent), according to findings released October 2007 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Preventing Chronic Disease. And yet it’s difficult to find any single habit more disastrous to the health of someone with a disability.
Source and More
http://www.disaboom.com/lung-cancer/smoking-disability-and-cancer-break-the-link?IADID=Feature_wk81
___________________________________________________________________________
Recruiting Caregivers for People with Disabilities
People with disabilities who manage their own personal care attendant services to help with activities of daily living have a lot of responsibility. Sometimes I feel like a human resources manager! We have to hire new personal care attendants, and keep them to try to minimize turnover. People often ask me for suggestions for finding good workers, and for keeping them.
Recruitment and retention of personal care attendants (PCA) are among the biggest concerns for people with disabilities. And it seems to be getting harder. We’re competing not only with other home care users, but also with all kinds of employers, some offering better wages and benefits, and requiring fewer skills.
Source and More
http://www.disaboom.com/caregiving-general/recruiting-caregivers-for-people-with-disabilities?IADID=Feature_wk81
___________________________________________________________________________
Caregiving and Depression a Common Combination
Caregivers frequently sacrifice their own physical and emotional needs to help a family member or friend. Although done for the best possible reasons, overextending yourself may sooner or later leave you feeling depressed and overwhelmed.
Additionally, research has shown that people providing for someone with dementia are twice as likely to suffer from depression as a person caring for someone who’s mentally alert. Add to that the fact that most caregivers are women, and women are more likely to experience depression than men, and you can see the trend. That’s the bad news. The good news, however, is that knowledge is power – and you can gain that power by simply assessing your own situation.
Source and More
http://www.disaboom.com/caregiver-stress/caregiving-and-depression-a-common-combination?IADID=Feature_wk81
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