TB Cases Falling for Foreign-Born People in U.S.

WEDNESDAY, Feb. 10, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Tuberculosis cases among foreign-born people in the United States fell by one-fifth in recent years, and the reasons for the decline depend on people’s country of origin, a new study suggests.

Tuberculosis (TB) is a bacterial infection affecting the lungs and sometimes other organs. Overall, TB cases in the United States decreased over the past two decades, but TB cases among foreign-born people remained higher than in the general population, the study authors said.

Between 2007 and 2011, there was a 19 percent drop in TB cases among all foreign-born people in the nation, according to researchers from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

TB cases declined in people recently arriving from Mexico, China, India, the Philippines and Vietnam — the five countries that account for most of the foreign-born people with TB in the United States, the researchers said.

Among recent entrants from Mexico, 80 percent of the decrease in TB was due to a decrease in population, while declines among recent entrants from the other four countries were nearly all due to lower TB case rates.

TB rates also decreased among entrants who have lived in the United States longer and who account for about three-quarters of TB cases among foreign-born people in the country, according to the study published Feb. 10 in the journal PLoS One.

“These results are important because they help guide future TB control strategies. To accelerate the decline of TB in the U.S., it will be important to invest in TB control overseas as well as provide testing and treatment to those with TB infection among the [approximately] 43 million foreign-born persons currently living in the U.S.,” study author Dr. Brian Baker and his colleagues from the CDC wrote.

More information

The American Lung Association has more about tuberculosis.

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Rise in Marijuana Use Among U.S. Adults Less Than Reported: Study

WEDNESDAY, Feb. 10, 2016 (HealthDay News) — The rise in marijuana use among American adults is not as large as previously suggested, a new study says.

About 12.5 percent of adults said they used marijuana at least once in 2013, researchers found, but adults’ use of the drug did not double from 2002 to 2013, as another study reported last fall.

That earlier study also said marijuana-related problems such as addiction also doubled during that time.

The new findings show marijuana use among U.S. adults rose 20 percent between 2002 and 2013, and that the rate of pot-related problems held steady or even declined, according to the researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.

While they found that marijuana use did not double, the 12.5 percent of adults who used the drug in 2013 was a higher percentage than the 9.5 percent reported in the previous study.

The new study was published Feb. 10 in the journal JAMA Psychiatry, which also published the previous findings.

“It’s not surprising that marijuana use is on the rise — several states have legalized it for either medicinal or recreational use — but our data suggest that the use rate hasn’t come close to doubling,” study first author Richard Grucza, an associate professor of psychiatry, said in a university news release.

Grucza said the two studies agree that close to one in 10 adults uses the drug. “The difference is that we believe the 2002 survey for the other study underestimated the percentage of adults using the drug,” he said.

Despite the increases in marijuana use, the new survey found no increase marijuana-related problems, Grucza said. “Certainly, some people are having problems so we should remain vigilant, but the sky is not falling.”

More information

The U.S. National Institute on Drug Abuse has more on marijuana.

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This Is the New “It” Haircut You’ll Want to Ask Your Stylist For

Photo: Getty Images

Stylist to the stars Chris McMillan shares his favorite new look. (Hurray! It’s a tiny bit undone.) “After seasons of blunt cuts, I’m happy to see the return of a modern-day shag. It’s like women can’t grow out their structured bobs fast enough,” he says. “A little length and some loose layers soften your features and add natural volume, making you appear years younger. I’m all about creating less of a manufactured haircut and more of a lived-in look.”

McMillan recommends going for a mid-length style that skims the clavicle. Have straight hair? Ask your stylist to cut feathered pieces around the face and long tiers throughout the length to add texture. “I like to think of these as ‘noncommittal layers’,” he says. “If your hair is curly, get fewer layers (too many will cause pouf) that start at your chin and angle down.”

McMillan’s go-to products:

R+Co Outer Space Flexible Hair Spray ($29; neimanmarcus.com)

Photo: Neimanmarcus.com

For a fuss-free style, flip your head upside down and spritz on a flexible-hold hairspray like R+Co’s. Twist strands into a bun, leaving ends out, and secure. “When you undo your hair, it will have that wrinkled, wavy look,” says McMillan. “We call it ‘off-duty model hair.’”

Living Proof Amp Instant Texture Volumizer ($25; sephora.com)

Photo: Sephora.com

“I’m not into sticky sprays. This styling paste creates natural-looking texture that is never stiff or tacky.”

Harry Josh Pro Tools Blow- Dryer ($374; amazon.com)

Photo: Amazon.com

“So powerful, it’s worth the splurge—trust me!”

Ibiza Ex5 Series Round Brush ($50; amazon.com)

Photo: Amazon.com

“The brush is easy to maneuver and twist through hair for soft curls, and the extra-dense bristles deliver unbeatable shine and volume.”

Chris McMillan is a celebrity hairstylist for Living Proof with an eponymous salon in Beverly Hills. Best known as the creator of “The Rachel,” he is the longtime stylist of Jennifer Aniston, Kate Hudson, and Kim Kardashian.

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Everything You Need to Know About Varicose Veins

Photo: Getty Images

If you have varicose veins, you’re not alone: As many as 30% of Americans will develop them at some point in their lives, says Kathleen Gibson, MD, a surgeon at Lake Washington Vascular in Bellevue, Washington. “Varicose veins form in the layer of fat between the muscle and skin,” she explains. As we age or experience hormone changes, the valves in our leg veins weaken, and may allow blood to leak backwards. When the blood pools like that, it can cause the veins to dilate and bulge. 

The good news is that varicose veins are usually harmless. But in some cases they can cause physical discomfort—and about 10% of people suffer from more severe side effects (such as swelling and bleeding). Here, Dr. Gibson fills us in on possible treatments, whether you’re hoping to disguise them or ease troublesome symptoms.

RELATED: Get Gorgeous Legs: Tame Your Varicose Veins

What are some of the myths about varicose veins?

“One of the most common misconceptions I hear about varicose veins is that they’re only a cosmetic problem,” says Dr. Gibson. “They can also impact an individual’s quality of life by causing aching, throbbing, heaviness, itching, and cramps.”

And while many people believe varicose veins occur only in people who are overweight or only women, they can appear in all body types, and men, too. Dr. Gibson says. They tend to run in families, and are influenced by hormones, often appearing for the first time during pregnancy.

Another misconception? That varicose veins require invasive surgery to treat: “Most patients with varicose veins can have a minimally-invasive procedure to close them,” says Dr. Gibson. (More on that later.)

RELATED: The 10 Best Foods for Your Heart

How concerned should you be if you’ve got varicose veins?

For many people, varicose veins are a cosmetic issue and nothing more. But in severe cases, they can cause leg swelling, rashes, skin discoloration, skin thickening, and painful ulcers. “Sometimes the blood flow in varicose veins can slow until a blood clot forms, called phlebitis,” says Dr. Gibson. “And in rare occasions, varicose veins can bleed after minor trauma or even spontaneously, usually around the ankle.” (If this happens to you, make an appointment with your doc right away, she says, even if the bleeding stops.)

The bottom line? It doesn’t hurt to get your varicose veins checked out, especially if they’re causing you physical discomfort. “Your clinical evaluation will determine whether your vein problems are a health issue, a cosmetic issue, or both,” says Dr. Gibson.

RELATED: 12 Ways to Fight Stress and Help Your Heart

If they are a health problem, how can varicose veins be treated?

“We’re lucky in that there are several procedures,” says Dr. Gibson. “The old days, when patients were treated with vein stripping, a procedure that required lengthy recovery time, are in the past.”

Today’s options include sclerotherapy (injections of a solution that cause the problem vein to scar, forcing blood into healthier veins), endothermal ablation (a technique that uses a laser or high-frequency radio waves to seal off the vein), microphlebectomy (a minimally invasive surgery), or compression stockings, which can ease discomfort and are often used in conjunction with other treatments.

But remedies are quickly evolving. “In the past several years, a few new procedures using sclerotherapy have emerged,” Dr. Gibson adds, citing a device called ClariVein and a drug called Varithena. The newest treatment, VenaSeal, was approved by the FDA last year. It uses a medical adhesive (injected via catheter) to close off veins.

“Each of these treatments has advantages, and every varicose vein patient is different,” says Dr. Gibson. “The best treatment for anyone is the treatment that you discuss and agree upon with your healthcare provider.”

RELATED: 9 Subtle Signs You Could Have a Heart Problem

Are there any non-medical fixes?

Unfortunately, since varicose veins can be caused by a variety of factors (including genetics), there aren’t any reliable natural or home remedies, Dr. Gibson says. What’s known is that rapid weight gain or obesity, and standing for long periods of time can worsen any vein issues that exist; and getting regular exercise may help prevent vascular problems from arising in the first place.

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Dogs’ IQs Can Vary, Study Shows

WEDNESDAY, Feb. 10, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Dogs have different levels of intelligence that can be measured, and researchers say this new finding might one day help improve understanding of the link between health and intelligence in people.

British researchers created a dog IQ test to assess the intelligence of 68 working border collies.

The dogs’ navigation skills were checked by timing how long it took them to get food behind different types of barriers. The animals’ abilities to tell the difference between amounts of food and to follow a person pointing to an object were also evaluated.

Dogs that did well on one test tended to do better on the others as well, the researchers found. In addition, dogs that did the tests faster were more likely to do them more accurately.

“Just as people vary in their problem-solving abilities, so do dogs, even within one breed. This is significant because in humans there is a small but measureable tendency for people who are brighter to be healthier and live longer,” Rosalind Arden, a research associate at the London School of Economics, said in a school news release.

“So if, as our research suggests, dog intelligence is structured similarly to ours, studying a species that doesn’t smoke, drink, use recreational drugs and does not have large differences in education and income, may help us understand this link between intelligence and health better,” she explained.

Arden added that dogs are one of the few animals that show key features of dementia. Understanding their mental abilities might, therefore, shed light on the causes of memory and thinking problems in humans and on possible treatments.

Study co-author Mark Adams said, “This is only a first step, but we are aiming to create a dog IQ test that is reliable, valid and can be administered quickly.”

Adams, a research fellow at the University of Edinburgh, suggested that such a test could boost understanding of the connection between canine intelligence, health and lifespan, and possibly be the foundation for future research.

“Dogs are excellent for this kind of work because they are willing to participate and seem to enjoy taking part,” he added in the news release.

It’s important to note, however, that research with animals often fails to produce similar results in people.

The study is published in the March-April issue of the journal Intelligence.

More information

Yale University’s research facility, the Canine Cognition Center, has more about how dogs think.

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Flu Shot May Guard Against Irregular Heart Rate: Study

WEDNESDAY, Feb. 10, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Along with reducing your flu risk, a flu shot may protect you from a common heart rhythm disorder that significantly increases stroke risk, researchers report.

Their study of about 57,000 people in Taiwan found a significant association between the flu and new cases of atrial fibrillation, a condition that causes an irregular and often abnormally fast heart rate. The condition has been linked to a fivefold increased risk of stroke, according to researchers.

Among people who had not received a flu shot, those who got the flu were 18 percent more likely to develop atrial fibrillation than those who did not get the flu. The risk among vaccinated people who got the flu was about the same as unvaccinated people who did not get the flu, the study authors said.

Flu vaccination was consistently associated with a lower risk of atrial fibrillation (AF) in different groups of patients, according to the study published online recently in the journal HeartRhythm.

“According to the findings presented here, the possibility of AF should be kept in mind when patients with influenza infection complain of palpitations or experience ischemic stroke,” lead investigators Dr. Tze-Fan Chao and Dr. Su-Jung Chen, of Taipei Veterans General Hospital, and colleagues wrote.

“Influenza vaccination should be encouraged for patients, especially those who have a high risk of atrial fibrillation, to try to prevent the occurrence of atrial fibrillation and subsequent stroke. However, a further prospective study is necessary to confirm our findings,” they added.

In an accompanying editorial, two cardiologists from Northwestern University in Chicago said the study suggests the flu vaccine has broader potential public health benefits.

“The results of this study beg the question as to whether the acute treatment of the influenza infection itself, or addressing the inflammatory response associated with infection, may help prevent secondary episodes of AF,” Dr. Nishant Verma and Dr. Bradley Knight wrote. “Beyond the prospective trial mentioned by the authors, we look forward to future studies into these and other areas that may help confirm and validate the observed findings.”

More information

The U.S. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute has more about atrial fibrillation.

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National Smoking Bans Help Everyone, Especially Nonsmokers: Study

WEDNESDAY, Feb. 10, 2016 (HealthDay News) — National smoking bans appear to be reducing the health harms caused by secondhand smoke, especially heart disease.

That’s the finding of researchers who reviewed 77 studies in 21 countries, including the United States and Canada.

In countries with smoking bans, nonsmokers showed health benefits from reduced exposure to secondhand smoke. Of the 44 studies that focused on heart disease, 33 reported evidence of significant reductions in heart disease after smoking bans were introduced. The largest declines occurred among nonsmokers, according to the researchers.

The findings were published recently in the Cochrane Library journal.

“The current evidence provides more robust support for the previous conclusions that the introduction of national legislative smoking bans does lead to improved health outcomes through a reduction in secondhand smoke exposure for countries and their populations,” said review author Dr. Cecily Kelleher, a professor at University College in Dublin, Ireland.

“We now need research on the continued longer-term impact of smoking bans on the health outcomes of specific subgroups of the population, such as young children, disadvantaged and minority groups,” she said in a journal news release.

Tobacco is the second leading cause of death worldwide, responsible for about 10 percent of adult deaths. Each year, 6 million people die from tobacco-related diseases, and 600,000 of those deaths are due to secondhand smoke exposure, according to the World Health Organization.

More information

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more about secondhand smoke.

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Many U.S. Women Still Smoke Before, During Pregnancy: Report

By Steven Reinberg
HealthDay Reporter

WEDNESDAY, Feb. 10, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Despite the potential risks to their baby’s health, roughly one in 10 women smoke in the three months before getting pregnant, U.S. health officials reported Wednesday.

And only one-quarter of those women quit before they become pregnant, the researchers said.

“Smoking during pregnancy is double trouble,” said lead researcher Sally Curtin, a statistician at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics. “There is a mountain of research that it does affect the unborn child.”

Dr. Edward McCabe, senior vice president and chief medical officer at the March of Dimes, said, “We know that smoking is a problem for pregnancy, and we continue to see many women smoking.”

Smoking leads to premature birth and low birth weight infants, which increases the odds for mental and developmental problems that can affect someone for their whole life, McCabe said.

Premature birth is also a risk factor for cerebral palsy, lung disease and premature death, he added.

McCabe said that women need to make their own decisions about smoking, but they should plan their pregnancies and get their bodies in the best health possible beforehand.

Curtin believes that smoking among pregnant women is under-reported and many more smoke than admit to it. “But even 8.4 percent who smoked at any time during pregnancy is a lot of women,” she said. “We have 3.8 million births — that’s about 300,000 babies each year.”

Using birth certificate data from 2014, the researchers were able to find out the average number of cigarettes smoked before and during pregnancy, along with how many women quit before and during pregnancy.

According to the report, smoking was most prevalent among women aged 20 to 24 (13 percent). In addition, American Indian and Alaska Native women were most likely to be smokers (18 percent).

Smoking during pregnancy in most states averaged about 10 percent, ranging from almost 2 percent in California to about 27 percent in West Virginia, Curtin said.

Among women who quit before or during pregnancy, most had more education, private insurance and were Asian or Hispanic, she added. Almost 21 percent of women who did not quit smoking before pregnancy did manage to quit by their third trimester, the report found.

And Curtin added that women who smoked during their entire pregnancy did smoke fewer cigarettes as the pregnancy progressed, from an average of 13 cigarettes per day before pregnancy to nine per day by the third trimester.

Still, smoking during pregnancy is a continuing public health issue, Curtin said.

McCabe added that women are looking for the best outcomes for their babies. “Part of planning a pregnancy, if you’re smoking, is to work on quitting,” he said.

The report was published in the Feb. 10 issue of the CDC’s National Vital Statistics Reports.

More information

Visit the March of Dimes for more on pregnancy and smoking.

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4 Weight-Loss Tricks That Can Totally Backfire

Photo: Getty Images

From tube feeding to tape worms, I’ve seen people take some pretty drastic measures to lose weight. But even clients who try more common strategies (like calorie counting) often find that their efforts backfire. Many go-to diet tricks can leave you feeling hungry, moody, irritable, or downright miserable—things I never want my clients to feel. What’s worse, after you finish a quick-fix weight-loss tactic, you’ll often gain back all of the pounds you lost (or more!). In reality, the only way to shed pounds, keep them off, and stay sane in the process is by adopting habits you can actually stick to long-term. Below, four common weight-loss tricks that don’t fit that criteria—and in my opinion aren’t worth your time or effort.

RELATED: 7 Crazy Weight-Loss Methods You Should Never Try

Cutting out ALL sugar

Sugar is currently the top nutritional villain, and I can’t say I disagree. I am a fan of cutting back on sugar. After all, most Americans eat nearly four times the recommended daily max. However, I’ve seen many of my clients get too strict about sugar, which typically leads to binge-eating forbidden sweets, or abandoning healthy eating altogether.

Another issue with this tactic: many people also ditch fruit to slash sugar. Not only does this deprive your body of key nutrients, it’s counterproductive: Research shows eating fruit helps you shed pounds (even more so than veggies!). This could be because fruit is loaded with antioxidants (which have been tied to leanness in research), or simply because fruit tends to replace sweet, processed snacks.

As for added sugar, even the strictest guidelines from the American Heart Association allow up to six teaspoons worth per day for women. This means there’s still room for healthy indulgences, like nutrient-rich dark chocolate, which has been shown to help curb cravings for both sweet and salty foods (score!). The fact is, cutting out all sugar simply isn’t realistic for most people. So stick with the fruit (without overdoing it) and pre-plan can’t-live-without treats. It tends to be a much more manageable and maintainable approach.

RELATED: 10 Easy Ways to Slash Sugar from Your Diet

Obsessively counting calories

Most of my clients are shocked when I advise them to stop counting calories. But trust me, it’s for the best. First of all, when it comes to calories, quality is often more important that quantity. I’ve had clients actually start losing weight after upping their calorie intake, because they swapped processed fare for fresh, whole foods. In fact, research confirms that not all calories are created equal—some foods like pulses, almonds, and avocado trigger caloric burn, feelings of satiety, or delayed hunger.

Just the stress of counting calories can also do a number on your waistline. One study found that women who simply monitored their caloric intake (without restricting it) experienced spikes in cortisol, a stress hormone tied to increased belly fat. A more effective alternative to calorie counting is focusing on healthy portions. For example, you can slash 125 calories by simply pairing a half cup of brown rice with one cup of greens, instead of one cup of brown rice with a half cup of greens.

RELATED: Top 10 Calorie Searches of 2105

Extreme portion control

Serving yourself healthy portion sizes is generally a great diet strategy. However, there are a number of methods that take portion control too far, like eating only with chopsticks, or stopping after a few measly bites of your meal. Again, while this may result in weight loss, who could keep this up forever? Plus, eating too little can result in a number of counterproductive side effects, like feeling too tired to exercise, losing calorie-burning muscle, weakening your immune system, and constant crankiness. Not to mention, there are plenty of foods you can eat in large portions and still lose weight. For example, these veggies pack less than 30 calories per cup: kale, mushrooms, red bell pepper, zucchini, eggplant, cauliflower, asparagus, and many others. So stop trying to nibble your way through the day. And instead, strategically chose the foods that make up the bulk of your meals and snacks.

RELATED: 14 Ways to Cut Portions Without Feeling Hungry

Eating one single food

Whether it’s bananas or potatoes—there are plenty of diets that involve literally eating one food. While this restrictive approach may indeed lead to weight loss, it’s typically temporary. A healthier method is picking a single balanced meal (a combo of lean protein, healthy fat, and nutrient-rich carbs) and repeating it on a short term basis. Check out this guide for ideas. I’ve found that narrowing your meal repetoire can be a great kickstart for breaking an unhealthy pattern and making way for a better one.  But the key is that it has to be a transitional strategy. So before you even start, be sure you have a plan to sustain these healthier habits for the future. After a month of clean eating, you’ll feel so happy and energized, you’ll never look back.

What’s your take on this topic? Chat with us on Twitter by mentioning @goodhealth and @CynthiaSass.

Cynthia Sass is a nutritionist and registered dietitian with master’s degrees in both nutrition science and public health. Frequently seen on national TV, she’s Health’s contributing nutrition editor, and privately counsels clients in New York, Los Angeles, and long distance. Cynthia is currently the sports nutrition consultant to the New York Yankees, previously consulted for three other professional sports teams, and is board certified as a specialist in sports dietetics. Sass is a three-time New York Times best-selling author, and her brand new book is Slim Down Now: Shed Pounds and Inches with Real Food, Real Fast. Connect with her on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.

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5 Famous Women on How They Stay Body-Positive

Photo: Getty Images

A few of our favorite celebs on cultivating self-love.

On passing confidence to the next generation

“I stand in front of the mirror and say to [my daughter] Mia, ‘We are so lucky that we’ve got a shape. We’re so lucky we’re curvy. We’re so lucky that we’ve got good bums.’ And she’ll say, ‘Mummy, I know. Thank God.'”
—Kate Winslet, on the Today show

RELATED: 5 Things Cancer Taught Me About Loving My Body

On recognizing the beauty in others

“I am comforted by the fact that I find a real range of female bodies beautiful, and I hope that other people do, too.”
—Lena Dunham, to Gothamist.com

RELATED: 5 Rules for Loving Your Body From Model Ashley Graham

On appreciating your best features

“My smile [is my favorite part of my body]. I think a smile can make your whole body.”
—Serena Williams, to Harper’s Bazaar

RELATED: What to Say to That One Friend Who’s Always Criticizing Her Body

On remembering what’s really important

“I wake up and I want to be a smarter person. That’s my focus. That’s what I’m encouraging my girls—that if they can make their inside and who they are really, really, stunning, then everything falls together.”
—Angelina Jolie, on 60 Minutes

RELATED: 5 Body-Positive Resolutions We Should All Make in 2016

On accepting yourself

“I’m imperfect. The imperfections are there. People are going to see them, but I take the view you only live once.”
—Kate Hudson, to The Telegraph

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