4 Ridiculously Fit Women to Watch at This Year’s CrossFit games

As an avid CrossFitter (for 17 months and counting now), my eyes are glued to this year’s Reebok CrossFit Games, which officially kicked off yesterday morning and continue through the weekend. It’s amazing to see how far this sporting event has come since its inception in 2007—back then, the Games were held at a ranch in northern California. Now they’ll be broadcast on ESPN. Even more awesome though is that this competition offers a highly visible platform to showcase the strength of some pretty badass women.

Watching these epically fit ladies battle it out for the title of “Fittest Woman on Earth” is simply enthralling. Take Pier Paddle, event number one, for example: Competitors were tasked with completing a 500-meter swim, followed by two miles of paddle-boarding, and capped with another 500-meter swim. And that was just the beginning of day one. Tomorrow they’ll tackle Murph, a signature hero WOD, where each competitor must run one mile, do 100 pull-ups, 200 push-ups, 300 squats, and then run another mile—in that order. (Ouch.)

With several grueling tests of strength, endurance, and overall fitness still to come, as well as plenty of points up for grabs, it’s really anyone’s game. The only certainty: Over the next couple of days, these women are going to push their bodies to their absolute limits.

If you want an idea of who to lookout for (you can watch the Games live and catch missed coverage here), these four are some of the key players— and in my opinion, any of them have a chance at the top spot.

RELATED: 5 Great New Classes to Get You Fit

Annie Thorisdottir, 25

 

A two-time champion (2011 and 2012) and runner up from last year’s Games, the Icelandic redheaded sweetheart with washboard abs, is hoping to capture the crown once more. So far, she’s holding steady in sixth place. Also worth nothing, she took second place last year, even after a back injury.

RELATED: 5 Calorie-Torching CrossFit Workouts to Try

Camille Leblanc-Bazinet, 26

 

This Quebec-native has beauty and brains (she’s a chemical engineering student). Oh, and did we mention she’s the defending champion? Leblanc-Bazinet is currently in 22nd place, but just wait until some of the strength events; muscle-ups have nothing on this leading lady.

RELATED: CrossFit’s Camille Leblanc-Bazinet: ‘I’m Glad I Don’t Have a Thigh Gap’

Samantha Briggs, 33

 

Standing in fifth place after yesterday’s sandbag challenge (moving a total of 480 pounds of sandbags down, across and up the StubHub arena, with a cap of 15 minutes), this UK resident has made it clear she’s a force to be reckoned with. Not doubt Briggs, who won the Games in 2013, feels she has something to prove after a failed handstand walk kept her from qualifying last year.

Also, you need to see this:

RELATED: 7 Things to Know Before Trying Crossfit

Kara Webb, 25

This year’s events mark Webb’s fourth consecutive appearance. And while the highest she’s ever placed is 12th, this year she is certainly setting a winner’s tone. Current status? First place with an eight-point lead over her closest competition.

RELATED: What NOT to Wear to a CrossFit Class

from Health News / Tips & Trends / Celebrity Health http://ift.tt/1Moe9Qo

Why the Beach is So Much Grosser Than You Thought

With all the news reports—about everything from shark activity to “flesh-eating” bacteria—the ocean is getting a lot of nasty press this summer. But, actually, it may be the sand that’s the ickier part of the beach, according to a new study in the journal Environmental Science & Technology. It harbors far more fecal bacteria (yes, that means poop) than the water.

“Beach goers should be aware of the health implications of contaminated beach sand, and should not assume that sand is always safe,” lead researcher Tao Yan, PhD, explained to Health.

It turns out that previous studies have shown that the sand is actually grosser compared to the water; it often has 10 to 100 times the fecal bacteria than the water, the study authors note.

RELATED: The 8 Germiest Places in the Mall

For the most recent investigation, however, Yan and his team wanted to understand why.

In a lab, the researchers created a set up of three “microcosms” using samples from three Hawaii beaches, including sand and seawater normally found in those places, and then contaminated them with fecal bacteria commonly found on beaches. They then watched the samples to see how the bacteria populations changed over time. Ultimately they found that the decay process of harmful bacteria was much slower in the beach sand than in the water, which might explain why sand seems to be more of a hotbed.

RELATED: How to Clean Everything Better

But can this bacteria really hurt you? A 2012 study in the journal Epidemiology suggests that yep, it’s possible dirty sand can make you sick. The researchers analyzed sand samples from two beaches (one in Alaska and one in Rhode Island) within two miles of waste-water treatment facilities. Then, they surveyed nearly 5,000 visitors to those beaches, and found that those who played in the sand or got buried in the sand were more likely to develop diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, or other GI upset in the weeks after their visit.

Still, researchers insist their findings are no reason to quit the beach all together—just take the obvious precautions.

“The symptoms we observed are usually mild and should not deter people from enjoying the beach, but they should consider washing their hands or using a hand sanitizer after playing in the sand or water,” senior author Timothy Wade, PhD, said in a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency press release.

Also, rinsing off in the public access showers ASAP, and following that with a good shower at home after a day at the beach might not be a bad idea either. Just sayin’.

RELATED: 12 Germs That Cause Food Poisoning

from Health News / Tips & Trends / Celebrity Health http://ift.tt/1TUTN3j

Many Cancer Survivors Who Smoke See Little Benefit to Quitting

THURSDAY, July 23, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Cancer survivors who continue to smoke view the habit as less risky than survivors who quit, and they’re more likely to spend time with smokers, a new study shows.

Researchers from the American Cancer Society also found that these post-cancer smokers are more inclined than others to raise obstacles to quitting.

Not smoking is particularly important for people with cancer. These survey findings could improve strategies to help cancer survivors conquer their addiction, the researchers suggested.

Doctors may want to encourage the relatives of cancer survivors to quit smoking to reduce their cigarette exposure and improve their odds of quitting successfully, the researchers said.

“The association between smoking and exposure to others’ smoke was particularly eye-opening,” said study leader Lee Westmaas, of the cancer society’s behavioral research center.

“Being around other smokers may be a major reason why cancer survivors are smoking and should be something that is addressed in recommending treatments for helping cancer patients quit,” Westmaas said in a cancer society news release.

Smokers diagnosed with related cancers, such as lung, head or neck cancer, may quit initially but relapse later on, the researchers said. Those treated for other forms of cancer may not be aware of the connection between smoking and their disease or might not receive counseling to help them snuff the habit for good.

The researchers investigated attitudes about smoking among more than 2,900 participants in a nationwide study of adult cancer survivors. They were treated for 10 commonly diagnosed cancers and interviewed about nine years after diagnosis.

The study revealed the current smokers thought the health issues associated with tobacco use were less serious than did people who quit before they developed cancer or after it was diagnosed. The survivors who smoked also downplayed potential health benefits of not smoking, and were routinely exposed to other smokers, according to the study published online recently in Psycho-Oncology.

However, the perceived risks of smoking were greater among the smokers who expressed interest in quitting than those who didn’t. These cancer survivors also associated fewer benefits with smoking and didn’t smoke on a daily basis. They also felt more certain they could successfully kick the habit, the researchers found.

More information

The American Lung Association provides more on smoking.

---

from Health News / Tips & Trends / Celebrity Health http://ift.tt/1KnmaWa

Drug Might Fight Ebola-like Marburg Virus

By Randy Dotinga
HealthDay Reporter

WEDNESDAY, July 22, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Researchers say they’ve made preliminary progress toward developing a drug that one day may treat people infected with the deadly Marburg virus, which is similar to Ebola.

Monkeys didn’t die from Marburg virus after they were infected and then treated with the highest doses of the experimental drug. And healthy humans didn’t get sick when they got similar doses, the researchers reported.

“These results have allowed us to predict a dose that could be expected to protect humans exposed to Marburg virus,” said study author Dr. Alison Heald. She is a clinical associate professor with the division of allergy and infectious diseases at the University of Washington Medical Center, in Seattle.

The researchers emphasized that the drug is not a cure, and it’s not known whether it will protect humans or what it might cost.

Marburg virus gets less attention than the Ebola virus since far fewer cases have been recorded. Only 572 cases of Marburg virus have ever been reported, compared to more than 27,000 cases of Ebola in the current outbreak in Africa alone, said Heald. She formerly was senior director of clinical development at Sarepta Therapeutics, which assisted in testing the experimental medication.

But the two viruses are very similar, Heald said. Both are highly deadly and cause a devastating condition known as viral hemorrhagic fever that can lead to massive bleeding and organ failure.

“Based on the similarity of Marburg and Ebola viruses and lack of available treatment options,” Heald said, “it is certainly possible that Marburg virus could cause an outbreak of similar proportions to Ebola.”

There’s no specific treatment or vaccine for people infected with Marburg virus, which can be transmitted through contact with infected people.

The new drug, known as AVI-7288, does not prevent infection with Marburg virus. “Rather, it limits the replication of the virus, which in turn reduces the severity of disease once the virus is introduced into the body,” explained study co-author Travis Warren. He is a research scientist with the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, in Frederick, Md.

In 2014, researchers at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston reported success with an experimental Marburg drug that works in a similar way.

With the new drug, scientists injected the drug into monkeys infected with the Marburg virus and found they developed fewer symptoms, with none dying among those who got the highest doses.

The scientists also reported no safety problems when they gave healthy people doses similar to those that seemed to work in monkeys.

If it’s ultimately used in the field, “AVI-7288 is mostly likely to be effective in treating those individuals who may have cared for or been exposed to someone infected with Marburg virus,” Heald said. “It is not always clear when someone has been exposed to Marburg virus, but high-risk individuals could be monitored for early symptoms such that treatments could be started as early as possible.”

Elke Muhlberger, an associate professor of microbiology who studies Marburg virus at Boston University School of Medicine, called the study findings “very exciting” and said the treatment could protect not only civilians but also health workers who may get infected through needle sticks.

But she cautioned that treating infected people may be challenging. When it comes to Ebola, she said, “People are afraid to go to the treatment units, and they only go when they are very ill.” It takes about a week for the Marburg virus to incubate in the body, she said. By then, it may be too late for this drug to work.

Alan Schmaljohn, a professor of microbiology and immunology at University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore, said “the study is a step in the right direction” and “and a hopeful sign that the drug can be tested in humans exposed to the virus without killing the subject outright.”

The medication isn’t approved for use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. And, it’s not now under active development, said study co-author Dr. Michael Wong, senior medical director of infectious diseases at Sarepta Therapeutics, in Cambridge, Mass.

The study is published in the July 23 issue of The New England Journal of Medicine.

More information

For more about Marburg virus, visit the World Health Organization.

---

from Health News / Tips & Trends / Celebrity Health http://ift.tt/1JhMsI8

U.S. Health Officials Examine Pot-Linked Death in Colorado

By Dennis Thompson
HealthDay Reporter

THURSDAY, July 23, 2015 (HealthDay News) — U.S. health officials on Thursday revisited the first reported marijuana-linked death in Colorado since voters there legalized recreational use of the drug in 2012.

A young man leapt to his death last year after consuming an entire pot-laced cookie, the new government report shows. The 19-year-old had no other drugs in his system at the time, health officials noted.

He first ate a single piece of the cookie, as instructed by a sales clerk, but then downed the rest within an hour because he didn’t feel any immediate effects, according to the case study published in the July 24 issue of Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, a publication of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Two and a half hours later, the young man jumped off a fourth floor balcony after exhibiting erratic speech and hostile behavior, and died from his injuries.

An autopsy found that the young man had a blood level of 7.2 ng/mL of THC, the chemical in marijuana that produces intoxication. The legal limit for driving under the influence in Colorado is 5 ng/mL.

While the young man was definitely high, the THC in his system does not seem elevated enough to have caused a toxic reaction, said Dr. Robert Glatter, an emergency physician at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City.

“This is not a lethal amount he ingested,” Glatter said. “You could eat several of these cookies and be put into a euphoric state, and possibly have anxiety, but that, in and of itself, would not be lethal.”

The young man had never used marijuana before, and had no history of alcohol abuse, illicit drug use or mental illness, according to the police report. The autopsy revealed no other drugs in his system.

Given his reaction, it’s possible that the heavy dose of marijuana sparked a psychotic reaction due to a mental problem that had gone previously undiagnosed, Glatter said.

“He likely may have had a predisposition or some underlying mental illness we didn’t know about, that became unmasked when he ate the cookie,” he said, noting schizophrenia or psychosis as possibilities. “That’s probably the issue here.”

Case report author Jessica Hancock-Allen, an epidemic intelligence service officer with the CDC, agreed that the young man may have had mental issues. However, she would not rule out the chance that his reaction occurred solely due to the pot he consumed.

“Is it possible he had some other issues? Sure,” she said. “It is possible he didn’t have any issues and this would have been his first adverse psychological event? I think that’s possible as well.”

According to the police report, the young man broke a lamp and was roaming around the room in an agitated state, talking about feeling guilty regarding things that had occurred in his life, Hancock-Allen said.

“He was really speaking in a way that didn’t make sense, very atypical kinds of behaviors and train of thought,” she said.

This case highlights a regulatory issue over packaging and labeling of recreational pot products that’s taking place in the four states where recreational use of marijuana is legal, Hancock-Allen said. Those states are Colorado, Washington, Oregon and Alaska. The District of Columbia has also made recreational use of marijuana legal.

Colorado, one of the first states to legalize the drug, has had numerous cases where people have accidentally over-consumed marijuana edibles, she said. Officials are investigating subsequent cases where such overconsumption may have contributed to death or injury.

The marijuana store where the cookie was purchased handed over all other cookies of the same brand to police for testing, the report says. The cookies all had THC levels within required limits.

Pot edibles take longer for the body to process, which leads to delayed but longer-lasting intoxication. A person unfamiliar with this may end up eating too much, since they don’t immediately feel the effects, the case report noted.

“It’s a significantly delayed effect,” Hancock-Allen explained. “The average blood serum peak of THC is about two hours for eating, while it’s 5 to 10 minutes for smoking. It’s quite different from smoking.”

About 45 percent of Colorado’s marijuana sales involve edibles, including food, drink and pills, the report stated.

According to the police report, the sales clerk instructed the young man to divide each cookie into sixths and ingest one serving at a time, with each piece containing about 10 milligrams (mg) of THC. However, the report didn’t indicate whether the clerk provided any instructions on how long to wait between servings.

In February 2015, Colorado instituted new packaging and labeling rules that require edible pot products either contain no more than 10 mg of THC, or be crafted in a way that clearly shows how to break the product into 10-mg servings.

Labels also must say that “intoxicating effects of this product may be delayed by two or more hours,” Hancock-Allen added.

The pro-marijuana advocacy group NORML is in favor of such improvements in consumer packaging, said Mitch Earleywine, chair of NORML and a professor of psychology at the State University of New York at Albany.

“We have consistently supported clear labeling of edible products and remain eager to spread the word about their delayed onset and their potential for dramatic impact,” Earleywine said. “Warning labels that emphasize these delayed, dramatic effects are becoming more common. We look forward to them becoming a standard for the market.”

More information

For more information on marijuana, visit the National Institutes of Health.

---

from Health News / Tips & Trends / Celebrity Health http://ift.tt/1JhMqzW

Healthy Diet May Help Shield the Aging Brain

By Tara Haelle
HealthDay Reporter

THURSDAY, July 23, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Eating a healthier diet might reduce the risk of problems with certain brain functions as you age, findings from a recent study suggest.

Older adults with healthier diets reduced their odds of impaired “executive function” by 35 percent. Executive function refers to a collection of things done by the brain, including memory, reasoning, multi-tasking, problem-solving and planning skills.

“Healthy diet might affect cognition [thinking skills] through several mechanisms,” said study co-author Carol Derby, associate professor of neurology and of epidemiology and population health at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City.

“Healthy diet is associated with reduced rates of cardiovascular disease, with more healthy weight and with reduced risk of diabetes, all of which are risk factors for cognitive decline and dementia,” she explained.

However, this study wasn’t designed to show that eating more healthfully actually caused the better brain function, or that a good diet could prevent Alzheimer’s or dementia. The study was only designed to find an association between a healthy diet and better brain function.

Researchers presented the findings this week at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in Washington, D.C. Findings presented at meetings are generally considered preliminary until they’ve been published in a peer-reviewed journal.

For the study, researchers asked nearly 550 seniors about their diets. Their average age was 80 years old. None of them showed signs of dementia.

The study volunteers were asked to recall how many servings they eat weekly of grains, fried foods, snacks, sweets, soft drinks, fats, alcohol, fruits and vegetables, and specific dairy and meat products.

Each participant also took several tests to determine memory and thinking skills, along with executive function. Participants were considered to have impaired function if they scored substantially lower than average on a particular collection of skills.

After taking into consideration participants’ age, education, sex, race and heart conditions, the researchers determined that those with a healthier diet had 35 percent lower odds of impaired executive function. No links between diet and overall memory or thinking were found, the researchers said.

When the investigators looked at differences between black and white participants, they found no link between diet and any brain health test in blacks. The lack of a difference may be because black individuals tend to have a greater risk of vascular conditions, the researchers said.

Among whites, healthier scores on total fat intake were linked to 52 percent lower odds of poor executive function. Healthier scores for saturated fat intake were linked to 66 percent lower odds of poor executive function, the study found.

“We know that a diet that is too caloric or too loaded with sugars can lead to insulin resistance and vascular disease that, in turn, are not good for the brain,” said Dr. Marie Csete, president and chief scientist of Huntington Medical Research Institutes in Pasadena, Calif.

“We know that mood is affected by the content of food, and that mood affects sleep patterns, and sleep is an important factor in maintaining brain health,” added Csete, who was not involved with the study.

Still, there are other explanations for the findings than a healthier diet causing better brain health, Csete suggested, such as overall healthier lifestyles among those who also eat healthier diets.

“You might think that people who are interested in preparing healthy foods for themselves would also be interested in having more physical activity, in not smoking and in controlling their cholesterol levels,” Csete said. “Exercise is a very positive modifiable factor to help stave off loss of cognitive function.”

It’s also not clear what specifically makes up a healthy diet, though there are some general guidelines that make sense, said Dr. Luca Giliberto, an investigator physician at the Litwin-Zucker Research Center for the Study of Alzheimer’s Disease at the Feinstein Institute for Medical Research in Manhasset, N.Y.

“One would assume that a diet rich in natural vitamins, low in saturated fats and rich in omega-3 fats, low in refined sugars and rich in high-quality proteins would do the trick,” Giliberto said. “In reality, it is probably the balance of all these aspects and the attached quality of life, physical and mental activity, and personal satisfaction that complete the recipe for good cognition.”

Meanwhile, an excess of refined sugars, saturated fats and too few natural vitamins and good proteins increases the risk of atherosclerosis and oxidative stress in the body, which can contribute to mental decline, Giliberto explained.

“It is never too late to start prevention, especially when it comes to food and physical activity,” Giliberto said. “The two often go hand in hand.”

More information

For more on keeping your brain healthy, visit the Alzheimer’s Association.

---

from Health News / Tips & Trends / Celebrity Health http://ift.tt/1JhMsrC

4 Calorie-Torching Moves That Tone Your Legs and Butt

 

A strong, toned lower half not only turns heads, but it also boosts your performance in nearly every activity, from running errands to running marathons.

This four-move plyometrics workout for your legs and butt is designed to be done anywhere and doesn’t require any equipment.

But wait. What’s plyometrics again?

Plyometrics is a style of exercise based on the idea that explosive movements performed in short intervals of time can add up to big gains in terms of speed and strength. It also helps you burn a ton of calories in a short period of time—so in other words, this workout is great for those days when you don’t have much time.

RELATED: A Super Fun Workout You Can Do on the Beach

Perform each exercise for six reps, make each move as explosive as possible. Perform 5 sets of the entire routine. Rest for 30 seconds in between sets. Complete the workout three times per week.

It’s important to give yourself time to recover and rebuild the muscles worked, so don’t overdo it. Performing the routine three times per week is plenty to see results, trust me.

Knee Tuck Jumps

GIF: Nora Tobin

Stand with feet hip-width and parallel. Deeply bend both knees, shift hips back and lower down until thighs are close to parallel with the floor. Swing arms back by your sides.
Jump off the ground, driving knees up toward chest. Land softly with knees bent. Repeat the movement, driving off the ground with power. Keep chest up and core engaged the entire time.

Squat Jumps

GIF: Nora Tobin

Stand with feet hip-width and parallel. Deeply bend both knees, shift hips back and lower down until thighs are parallel with the ground. Staying low, jump off the ground a few inches. Land with knees bent and repeat the movement.

RELATED: 4 Ways to Get Awesome Arms

Split Jumps

GIF: Nora Tobin

Stand with left foot forward and right foot back. Deeply bend both knees until left knee is directly over ankle. Explosively drive of the ground, jumping as high as possible into the air. Switch legs and land with right foot forward and left foot back. Deeply bend both knees and repeat the movement. Keep your chest up and swing arms for momentum. Perform 6 reps each side.

Skaters

GIF: Nora Tobin

Place all the weight on your right foot. Deeply bend right knee, shift hips back and drive off the ball of your foot. Jump as far as you can to the left. Land with left knee bent and chest up. Repeat the movement, jumping as far as possible to the right. Continue to jump back and forth covering as much distance as possible. Perform 6 reps in each direction.

After your workout, be sure to refuel with a meal that combines complex carbohydrates, protein, and healthy fats to help you rebuild muscle.

RELATED: Gwyneth Paltrow’s Go-To Workout Moves

For additional workouts, recipes, and health tips, follow me on Instagram @NoraTobin and check out my blog at noratobin.com.

Nora Tobin is a contributor for Sports Illustrated, certified Performance Enhancement Specialist, Fitness Nutrition Specialist, CPT, and rescue diver. She is the Fitness and Health Consultant to the Four Seasons and Belmond hotels. Her endeavors are as varied as entrepreneur, corporate wellness director, brand ambassador, ocean lifeguard, and competitive beach volleyball athlete. She has appeared in numerous publications and billboards for her fitness and lifestyle. 

from Health News / Tips & Trends / Celebrity Health http://ift.tt/1LxW4A0

False Advertising Lawsuit Claims This Almond Milk Brand Doesn’t Have Enough Almonds

Photo: Getty Images

How much of your almond milk is actually made from almonds? A new false advertising lawsuit against Almond Breeze maker Blue Diamond alleges it’s far less than the packaging would have you believe.

Blue Diamond doesn’t list what percentage of Almond Breeze is made from almonds in the U.S., but a U.K. Almond Breeze website says it’s only 2 percent, FoodNavigator-USA reports.

The lawsuit, filed July 14 in New York, doesn’t specify what percentage the average customer would deem acceptable for purchase, but it does say “upon an extensive review of the recipes for almond milk on the internet, the vast majority of the recipes call for one part almost and three or four parts water, amounting to 25-33% of almonds.”

Plaintiffs Tracy Albert and Dimitrios Malaxianis argue in the suit that the product’s packaging, which includes pictures of almonds and the phrase “made from real almonds,” deceives customers into thinking they’re buying a product made mostly from almonds. The lawsuit also claims “that consumers allegedly purchased the product based on the belief that it was a healthy and premium product,” food law attorney David L. Ter Molen told the site.

When the issue came up in the U.K. three years ago, its Advertising Standards Authority said customers likely understood how much water was needed to create almond milk: “We considered that, whilst consumers might not be aware of exactly how almond milk was produced, they were likely to realize… that the production of almond milk would necessarily involve combining almonds with a suitable proportion of liquid to produce a ‘milky’ consistency.”

Blue Diamond did not respond immediately to TIME’s or FoodNavigator-USA’s requests for comment.

This article originally appeared on Time.com.

from Health News / Tips & Trends / Celebrity Health http://ift.tt/1DyI9lr

Chemo May Worsen Quality of Life for End-Stage Cancer Patients

THURSDAY, July 23, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Chemotherapy may worsen quality of life for some cancer patients who are nearing death, a new study finds.

“Oncologists may presume there to be no harm in giving dying patients chemotherapy, but these data point to more harm than benefit,” study author Dr. Holly Prigerson, from Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City, said in a college news release.

The research included more than 300 patients with advanced cancer who had about four months to live. Their average age was about 59. About half of the patients were receiving what’s known as palliative chemotherapy when the study began.

Palliative chemotherapy is generally given to people who have fewer than six months to live, according to the researchers. The hope is that palliative chemotherapy will ease symptoms and extend survival.

But that wasn’t the case for those patients who started the study with good ability to care for themselves. In fact, for people who could still work and perform day-to-day tasks, chemotherapy was associated with a worsened quality of life, the study found.

The study also found that for people who had a moderate or poor ability to care for themselves at the start of the study, such chemotherapy didn’t improve their quality of life.

“These data show that incurable cancer patients with a limited life expectancy who use chemotherapy are likely to impair the quality of their remaining days,” Prigerson said.

She and her colleagues wrote that American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) guidelines “regarding chemotherapy use in patients with terminal cancer may need to be revised to recognize the potential harm of chemotherapy use in patients with progressive metastatic disease.”

The study was published online July 23 in the journal JAMA Oncology.

Many doctors question the benefits of chemotherapy for cancer patients who are nearing death. And an ASCO expert panel has said the use of chemotherapy in cases where there is no proven benefit for patients is “the most widespread, wasteful and unnecessary practice in oncology,” according to a journal news release.

The study findings “suggest that equating treatment with hope is inappropriate,” Dr. Charles Blanke and Dr. Erik Fromme, from Oregon Health & Science University, wrote in an accompanying editorial.

“Even when oncologists communicate clearly about prognosis and are honest about the limitations of treatment, many patients feel immense pressure to continue treatment. At this time, it would not be fitting to suggest guidelines must be changed to prohibit chemotherapy for all patients near death without irrefutable data defining who might actually benefit, but if an oncologist suspects the death of a patient in the next six months, the default should be no active treatment,” the editorial concluded.

More information

The U.S. National Cancer Institute has more about end-of-life care for cancer patients.

---

from Health News / Tips & Trends / Celebrity Health http://ift.tt/1Igl7AR