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Heat Waves Pose Big Health Threats

WEDNESDAY, July 6, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Record-setting heat has gripped much of the U.S. West and Southwest in recent weeks, and now the East Coast is baking, too.

Temperatures from Washington, D.C., to Boston are expected to soar into the 90s Wednesday, and possibly for several days straight days after that. Combined with humidity, the air could feel more like 100 or higher in some locales, according to the U.S. National Weather Service.

With these high temperatures come significant health threats, says a physician from the Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine, in Stratford, N.J.

“Any extremes in weather can be inherently dangerous, but the initial heat waves every summer can be particularly perilous to those who are most vulnerable to heat-related illnesses, including children, the elderly and those with chronic medical conditions,” Dr. Jennifer Caudle, an assistant professor at Rowan, said in a university news release.

Most people can adjust to swings in temperature within about a week, but some people may need twice as long to adjust, Caudle said.

“When the weather changes quickly, such as with a sudden heat wave, our bodies race to help maintain a normal body temperature by adjusting blood flow and sweating,” she said.

“The bodies of infants and the elderly aren’t able to make those changes as easily as healthy adults, leaving them at higher risk for serious illness and even death,” Caudle explained.

Extreme heat claims an average of 658 lives in the United States each year, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In most cases, these deaths occur in homes without air conditioning.

“Many older individuals have medical conditions or live in situations that make them more likely to succumb to the heat,” Caudle said.

Besides their inability to adjust quickly to changing temperatures, older folks are less likely to sense and respond to changes in temperature, she said. They also “can have a diminished thirst reflex that keeps them from drinking adequate amounts of liquid,” she added.

Safety and financial concerns might also keep seniors behind closed windows without fans or air conditioners, she pointed out.

Kids suffer from the heat, too, and should never be left alone in a parked car.

So far this year, at least 15 U.S. children left in cars have died from heat-related illnesses, Caudle said. Temperatures inside cars can rise by 20 degrees in just 10 minutes, she noted.

“If you find a child asleep in a parked car, don’t assume that child is merely napping,” she said. “Lethargy and confusion are signs of heat exhaustion or heat stroke, and are urgent medical conditions.” Her advice: Remove the child from the car and call 911 immediately. A high body temperature could lead to permanent brain and organ damage.

If the thermometer climbs in your region, Caudle offers some other safety tips:

Kids should avoid outdoor activities between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., when the sun is hottest.
Wear and reapply sunscreen frequently.
Make sure children drink plenty of water since they dehydrate more quickly than adults.
Check on older relatives and neighbors twice daily during hot weather.
Make sure older people wear loose, lightweight clothing.
Avoid caffeinated or sugary drinks, which can worsen dehydration.
If seniors prefer to remain indoors but don’t have air conditioning, take them somewhere cool such as a mall or library.

Move anyone showing signs of heat-related illness to a cool area, Caudle added. Give them plenty of cool, caffeine-free, nonalcoholic liquid every 10 to 15 minutes.

Warning signs of heat illness include excessive sweating, dizziness, weakness, nausea, red or hot skin, fainting, confusion, and trouble with coordination or balance.

Seek immediate medical help if these symptoms don’t improve quickly or get worse. Heat stroke can be fatal if not treated right away, Caudle said.

More information

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides more on preventing heat-related illness.

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4 in 10 Popular Sunscreens Don’t Meet Sun Safety Standards: Study

By Alan Mozes
HealthDay Reporter

WEDNESDAY, July 6, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Nearly half of the most popular sunscreen products sold in the United States fail to meet basic sun safety guidelines, new research shows.

The finding stems from a look at the sun protection labels of 65 products that accounted for the top 1 percent of all sunscreens sold by Amazon.com. Forty percent of those sunscreens lacked the minimal resistance to water and sweat that the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) recommends.

Also, the cost of top sunscreens was found to vary wildly, with some products priced 3,000 percent more than others, despite offering no greater sun protection, the researchers said.

“The results were surprising in some ways,” said study author Dr. Steve Xu, a resident in the department of dermatology at the McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University, in Chicago.

“But, there are some important caveats,” he added. “The definition of a ‘sunscreen’ has broadened a lot. Sunscreens are no longer just bright blue bottles thrown in beach bags,” he noted, with less-protective moisturizers now often substituting for more sunscreen-specific products.

“This is probably why so many of the products that didn’t meet AAD guidelines were because of a lack of water or sweat resistance,” said Xu. He pointed out: “If you’re going to be exposed to water [at a pool or beach] or high ambient temperature leading to significant perspiration, then making sure your sunscreen is water- or sweat-resistant is very important.”

Sunscreens are regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as “over-the-counter” drugs. And, the agency mandates clear sun protection labeling, the researchers said.

The AAD recommends that consumers opt for sunscreens that provide “broad-spectrum protection” against both UVA “aging” rays and UVB “burning” rays.

Screens should provide an overall “sun protection factor” (SPF) of 30 or more, AAD experts advise, to block out 97 percent of the sun’s rays.

And while the FDA has banned sunscreen manufacturers from claiming their products are either “waterproof” or “sweat-proof,” the AAD says consumers should select “water-resistant” sunscreens that stay effective after 40 minutes of water exposure.

In the study, Xu and his team reviewed the safety labeling of Amazon’s top-reviewed sunscreens.

Most came in cream form, and more than 90 percent offered broad-spectrum protection. Of the top 65 sunscreens, 62 percent were labeled as water- or sweat-resistant.

While the top sunscreens cost just over $3 per ounce, on average, that figure shot up to $24 per ounce for some products and dropped as low as 68 cents for others, even though they offered comparable sunscreen protection, the study authors said.

Despite the shortcomings of some products, a pair of dermatology experts endorsed the use of sunscreens.

“Consumers would be better served to choose the best cosmetic ‘elegance’ among those sunscreens that meet AAD guidelines,” said Dr. Robert Kirsner. He is chairman of the department of dermatology and cutaneous surgery at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.

At the same time, Kirsner stressed that it’s “perhaps better to wear imperfect sunscreens than none at all.” He also noted that “liberal and repeated application may help overcome limited water or sweat resistance in consumer-preferred sunscreens.”

Dr. Mary Chang, a clinical professor of dermatology at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine, pointed out that “many people just need sun protection for walking from their car to the office, or to wear under their makeup year-round. These folks do not necessarily need water-resistant sunscreens.”

Still, she acknowledged that for “people who are out on the beach, boating, or out running 10Ks and triathlons, water-resistant sunscreens and repeat applications are crucial.”

In the interest of promoting routine sunscreen use, Chang listed additional factors that consumers should consider. Those include fragrance-free sunscreens, to minimize chemical irritants and allergic reactions; tinted screens that offer a better (less ghostly) overall appearance; and screens that come blended with titanium and/or zinc, for enhanced UV protection.

The study findings were published July 6 in the journal JAMA Dermatology.

More information

There’s more on sunscreen use and selection guidelines at American Academy of Dermatology.

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Discovering complementary therapies

There's no denying complementary therapies are on the rise. We've taken the guesswork out of discovering what these therapies mean and how they can be of benefit to you.

Osteopathy: Using observation and manipulation, the practitioner addresses any structural difficulties of movement which may affect the body and works towards realignment. May help with back or neck pain.

Acupuncture: Traditional Chinese therapy uses needles on specific meridian points, or ‘energy lines’, to address specific ailments and diseases. Based on the opposing forces of yin and yang. Can be used for a range of conditions including arthritis, allergies, asthma and insomnia.

Homoeopathy: Uses extremely diluted organic extracts. Based on the philosophy of ‘like cures like’ (not dissimilar to vaccines), homoeopathy is concerned with the underlying causes rather than the immediate symptoms. Has had good results in the treatment of colds, eczema, nausea and obesity.

Iridology: Analysing a person’s health by an examination of a person’s eye, specifically the iris. Often used by naturopaths and herbalists to identify the cause of a person’s illness.

Kinesiology: A system of muscle testing linked to the functions of organs and energy. Has been used in the treatment of allergies, depression, tiredness and back pain as well as identifying any vitamin or mineral deficiency.

Naturopathy: Looks at diet and lifestyle and may use numerous treatments including herbs, essential oil, extracts and natural supplements. The focus is on prevention and self-help.

Herbal Medicine: A sophisticated ‘complete’ medical approach that has many branches including traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) as well as traditional Western methods. Has been popularly used in Australia to treat skin conditions such as eczema as well as treating digestive problems and sexual difficulties.

Chiropractic: Similar to osteopathy but uses more direct thrusting movements to realign the body rather than gentle manipulation. May also employ X-rays for diagnosis. Most commonly used for back and neck pain and sports injuries.

Hypnosis: The patient is placed in a ‘trance-like’ state where the practitioner is able to address any hidden problems. Has been used as part of an effective treatment for phobias and addiction, particularly smoking.

Looking for more natural ways to combat certain health issues? Discover how to reduce bloating naturally.

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Extra Weight Probably Doesn’t Keep You Warm

WEDNESDAY, July 6, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Being obese won’t keep you warmer, new research with mice suggests.

Swedish scientists conducted experiments to determine how temperature, fat, fur and other factors affected metabolism in mice.

“In contrast to established views, we demonstrate here that at least in mice, obesity is not associated with increased insulation, and obesity thus does not in this way affect the metabolism of mice,” researchers led by Alexander Fischer, of Stockholm University, wrote.

They found that fur played a big role in preventing heat loss, accounting for about half a mouse’s insulation.

It’s not clear if these findings would apply to people, according to the researchers, because humans wear clothes and live in temperature-controlled indoor environments. And research involving animals often fails to provide similar results in humans.

“It is doubtful that an insulating effect of obesity, even if it existed, would in any discernible way affect the development or maintenance of human obesity,” the researchers said.

The findings were published July 5 in the American Journal of Physiology, Endocrinology and Metabolism.

More information

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more on overweight and obesity.

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Exercise May Help Ease Adult ADHD Symptoms

By Maureen Salamon
HealthDay Reporter

WEDNESDAY, July 6, 2016 (HealthDay News) — A burst of moderate exercise may improve motivation and energy in adults with symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), a small new study suggests.

The research included 32 young men who hadn’t been diagnosed with ADHD, but reported high levels of symptoms of the disorder. When the study volunteers completed a 20-minute session of leg cycling exercise, they reported lowered feelings of confusion, fatigue and depression before performing a mental task.

While activity didn’t seem to affect behavior symptoms such as attention or hyperactivity, the study authors said the research indicates exercise might help those with the disorder to function better.

“There is now evidence that young adult men with symptoms of ADHD who engage in a single bout of moderate-intensity exercise are likely to benefit psychologically,” said study author Patrick O’Connor. He’s a professor of kinesiology and co-director of the University of Georgia’s Exercise Psychology Laboratory.

O’Connor said it’s possible that exercise causes changes in neurotransmitters in the brain that help improve symptoms right after activity. Neurotransmitters are chemicals that can affect the behavior of cells in the brain, according to the U.S. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.

An estimated 6 percent of adults in the United States who didn’t have childhood ADHD are affected by the condition, the study authors said. Symptoms of ADHD include inattention, impulsivity and excessive fidgeting or movement. ADHD can also lead to low motivation and energy, poor performance at work and missed work days.

Study participants were between 18 and 33 years old. They all reported symptoms consistent with adult ADHD.

On one day, the researchers asked the volunteers to cycle at a moderate intensity for 20 minutes. Another day, the researchers asked the volunteers to sit and rest for 20 minutes as a comparison condition.

Participants were asked to perform a mental task requiring focus before and after both scenarios. During this task, researchers measured factors such as leg movement (a sign of hyperactivity), mood, attention and self-reported motivation to undertake the task.

Leg movements and overall performance didn’t change after exercise. But exercise appeared to help the men feel better about performing the task. They also felt less fatigued and confused, and more energetic after exercise compared to after rest.

While it’s still speculation that exercise increases chemicals in the brain that reduce ADHD symptoms, “it’s certainly helping, and we don’t need to understand the mechanism to view it as one more coping device people with the disorder might want to use,” said Russell Barkley. He’s a clinical professor of psychiatry at Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston.

Barkley, who wasn’t involved in the new research, noted that the group tested “wasn’t quite comparable” to adults who’ve been clinically diagnosed with ADHD. But, since exercise has already been shown to help with childhood ADHD symptoms, he suspects the same would be true for adult ADHD.

Barkley and O’Connor also noted that exercise doesn’t come with a risk of side effects as ADHD medications do. But Barkley cautioned that exercise also can’t replace ADHD drugs. He also noted that cognitive behavioral therapy can help people with ADHD.

Still, Barkley added, “Exercise is something you can do in addition to [standard ADHD treatments], and it really doesn’t cost you anything.”

The study was published recently in the journal Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise.

More information

The U.S. National Institute of Mental Health offers more information on ADHD.

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Mixing Pot and Tobacco Increases Dependence Risk: Study

TUESDAY, July 5, 2016 (HealthDay News) — People who mix marijuana with tobacco are at greater risk for dependency and less motivated to find support to quit these drugs, researchers report.

One billion people around the globe use tobacco and 182 million people smoke pot, making these two of the world’s most popular drugs, according to the World Health Organization and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.

Many people mix the two drugs together to save money. Tobacco also makes pot inhalation more efficient. This practice, however, may increase the likelihood that users become dependent, the researchers found.

“Cannabis dependence and tobacco dependence manifest in similar ways, so it is often difficult to separate these out in people who use both drugs,” said study lead author Chandni Hindocha.

“Cannabis is less addictive than tobacco, but we show here that mixing tobacco with cannabis lowers the motivation to quit using these drugs,” added Hindocha, a doctoral student at University College London’s clinical psychopharmacology unit.

For the study, researchers examined survey responses from nearly 34,000 marijuana users from 18 different countries in Europe, North and South America, and Australasia who participated in the anonymous online 2014 Global Drug Survey.

Marijuana is consumed in different ways around the world, the study authors said. Mixing marijuana with tobacco is much more popular in Europe than in other parts of the world, the researchers reported July 5 in the journal Frontiers in Psychiatry.

Mixing pot with tobacco is popular with up to 91 percent of European marijuana users, compared to 52 percent of Australian pot users and just 21 percent of New Zealand users.

Tobacco-mixing methods are even less popular in the Americas, where they are used by only 16 percent of Canadian marijuana users, 4 percent of those in the United States, and about 7 percent of Mexican and Brazilian users, the researchers reported.

Use of marijuana vaporizers, which don’t use tobacco, was reported by 13 percent of survey respondents in Canada and 11 percent of those in the United States. This method is less popular in other parts of the world, the researchers said.

But, the study authors added, the way in which people use marijuana can affect their motivation to quit or seek professional help to do so.

People who preferred non-tobacco methods of using pot were 62 percent more likely to want professional help to use less marijuana. And they were 81 percent more likely to want professional help to use less tobacco, the findings showed.

“Our results highlight the importance of routes of administration when considering the health effects of cannabis,” Michael Lynskey, an addiction specialist at King’s College London, said in a journal news release.

“Given a changing legislative environment surrounding access to cannabis in many jurisdictions, increased research focus should be given to reducing the use of routes of administration that involve the co-administration of tobacco,” Lynskey added.

The negative health effects of tobacco use are well known. The short-term effects of marijuana use include temporary loss of motor, working memory and decision-making skills. Long-term pot use also may lead to dependence, permanent reductions in brain function as well as heart and lung disease and some forms of cancer, according to the World Health Organization.

More information

The U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration has more information on tobacco and marijuana.

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Toys Remain Viral Playground for 24 Hours

TUESDAY, July 5, 2016 (HealthDay News) — You probably keep your kids away from playmates who cough or sneeze. But how much thought do you give to toys at the doctor’s office or day care?

A new study finds toys help spread the flu and other viruses because germs can survive on plastic surfaces for as many as 24 hours, a new study shows.

“People don’t really think about getting viruses from inanimate objects,” said study author Richard Bearden II, of Georgia State University. “They think about getting them from other people.”

The study findings suggest taking a good look at the playthings your children handle, Bearden said.

“I think the main focus should be for parents, daycare facilities, doctor’s offices and other places where children share toys to implement some type of strategy for decontamination to make sure those toys aren’t a reservoir for disease,” Bearden said in a university news release.

Kids contract infectious diseases more readily than adults because they put their hands and foreign objects in their mouths, and their immune systems aren’t fully developed, he explained.

Previous studies have shown that contaminated toys in common play areas spread infections. Bearden’s team investigated how long viruses could remain active on a toy’s surface at typical indoor temperatures and humidity levels.

Specifically, they tested the ability of so-called enveloped viruses to survive after being placed on a plastic squeaking frog. Enveloped viruses, which have protective outer layers that help them thrive, include the flu, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS).

At 60 percent relative humidity, 1 percent of the virus remained infectious on the toy, the study showed.

“It’s likely the research team could have retrieved infectious virions beyond 24 hours,” Bearden said.

At 40-percent relative humidity, which is more typical indoors, the virus was less stable. Within two hours, just 0.01 percent of the virus remained. The researchers noted, however, they were able to recover 0.0001 percent of the infectious virus after 10 hours, which still puts kids at risk for infection.

To lower odds of infection, disinfect shared toys frequently with effective cleaning solutions, such as household bleach, Bearden said.

Also, toys should be removed from waiting rooms in healthcare settings, the researchers advised. They added that door handles, elevator buttons and other commonly touched surfaces should also be routinely decontaminated.

The findings were published recently in The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal.

More information

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more on preventing flu.

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Many Men Ignore Testicular Cancer Symptoms for Months

TUESDAY, July 5, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Early detection and treatment of testicular cancer is key to beating the disease, a urology specialist says.

Yet many men who feel something abnormal in a testicle wait a few months before seeing a doctor.

But, when diagnosed while still confined to the testicle, the five-year survival rate for testicular cancer is 99 percent, Dr. Jay Raman, chief of urology at Penn State Medical Center said in a university news release.

“I think part of it is the macho man complex — that everything is fine. Then you add on top of that the fact that it is a sensitive area, and they may have some embarrassment about it,” Raman said.

Men who know about testicular cancer may also be concerned that surgical removal of the testicle is the best way to cure the disease.

“So they wait to see if it gets better on its own. But sometimes they wait and wait, until they’ve waited too long,” Raman said.

About 9,000 new cases of testicular cancer are diagnosed each year in the United States, according to Raman. Risk factors include being white and having a testicle that didn’t descend when younger. Since these risk factors are not preventable, the best thing to do is be aware of the risk and know the symptoms of cancer.

All men should do a testicular self-exam at least every six months, Raman advised.

“What you are feeling for is that both testicles have the same contours — relatively smooth and soft, kind of the consistency of a hard-boiled egg or the palm of your hand,” he said. “If you notice anything firm, or lumps or bumps — something that is different on one side than the other — you should seek medical attention right away.”

Surgery to remove the testicle is the most common treatment. If the cancer is confined to the testicle, exams and blood work may be the only follow-up patients require. If the cancer has spread beyond the testicle, chemotherapy and radiation may be necessary, he explained.

“The most important thing to know is that cure rates are directly tied to how early you find it,” Raman said.

More information

The U.S. National Cancer Institute has more on testicular cancer.

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Doctor-Assisted Deaths Didn’t Soar After Legalization

By Steven Reinberg
HealthDay Reporter

TUESDAY, July 5, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Public support for physician-assisted death has plateaued in the United States, and the practice hasn’t soared as some had feared, a new study finds.

In places where it’s legal, physician-aided death remains rare. It’s confined mostly to cancer patients who are white, wealthy and well-educated, researchers found.

“The vast majority of dying patients don’t use physician-assisted suicide and euthanasia — don’t even think about it,” said lead researcher Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel, chair of the department of medical ethics and health policy at the University of Pennsylvania.

“Less than 0.5 percent of deaths in Washington state are from physician-assisted suicide,” he said. Washington is one of five U.S. states where physician-aided death is legal. The others are California, Montana, Oregon and Vermont.

To better understand attitudes and practices regarding assisted deaths and euthanasia, Emanuel’s team reviewed prior studies, surveys and other data published between 1947 and 2016 in the United States and Europe.

Physician-aided death happens when a doctor prescribes lethal drugs patients take themselves. Euthanasia — which is illegal in the United States — occurs when a doctor administers the life-ending medication.

Twenty states are considering legalizing physician-assisted death, including Arizona, Colorado, Massachusetts, New Jersey and New York, according to Death with Dignity, a group that advocates for assisted dying.

But public support has leveled off since the 1990s to between 47 percent and 69 percent of the U.S. population, the study authors found.

If Oregon and Washington are an indication, most patients choosing to hasten their death are in hospice or palliative care. (Palliative care is designed to improve the quality of life of patients with life-threatening disease such as cancer.)

The main motivators? Fear of losing autonomy, no longer enjoying activities, and other psychological concerns, Emanuel said. Pain is usually not the chief driver, he noted.

Concerns that doctors would be swamped with requests from desperate patients appear unfounded. Less than 20 percent of U.S. doctors say they’ve been asked to assist in euthanasia or physician-assisted dying. No more than 5 percent have agreed, the study found.

Also, less than 1 percent of doctors in Oregon and Washington state write prescriptions for physician-aided dying each year, the study revealed.

Although the frequency of death-hastening procedures has increased where they’re legal, concern over “slippery-slope cases” — referring to assisting the death of patients who can’t give explicit consent, such as patients with dementia — didn’t materialize, the researchers found.

No evidence emerged that these vulnerable patients were getting death assistance at higher rates than other patients, Emanuel said.

In general, the debate over these practices has subsided because those who are interested have taken a position, Emanuel believes.

On both sides are people who want to provide “optimal care at the end of life,” said Emanuel, who opposes legalized physician-assisted dying and euthanasia. “Some people think end-of-life care includes legalizing physician-assisted suicide and euthanasia; some people think it doesn’t.”

Both practices are legal in Belgium, Canada, Colombia, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. Switzerland allows physician-assisted dying. Strong support for these practices still exists in Western Europe, but is waning in Central and Eastern Europe, according to the study.

Where euthanasia and physician-assisted dying are legal, they account for 0.3 percent to 5 percent of deaths, Emanuel said. Seventy percent are among cancer patients.

Occasionally, complications occur. Some patients don’t die or they wake up from a coma. However, this happens more often in physician-aided dying than euthanasia, Emanuel said.

Dr. R. Sean Morrison, president of the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, believes the debate on physician-assisted death is misplaced.

“The continued focus on assisted suicide is distracting us from the opportunity to better enhance care of people with serious illness,” said Morrison, who specializes in geriatrics and palliative care at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City.

The time to discuss whether or not to legalize euthanasia or physician-assisted deaths is when all Americans have access to high-quality palliative care, Morrison said.

“We know that palliative care reduces pain and emotional concerns,” he said. “We know that it improves the quality of life for those who fear a tormented or distressing death.”

The new report was published July 5 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

More information

For more on end-of-life care, visit the U.S. National Institutes of Health.

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