Poor Circulation in Brain Linked to Psychosis in Alzheimer’s Patients

TUESDAY, Jan. 5, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Psychosis, including delusions and hallucinations, affects about half of Alzheimer’s disease patients. And researchers have set out to clarify the link between these two conditions.

Canadian researchers said they found that cerebrovascular disease — a group of conditions that restrict the circulation of blood to the brain — appears to play a significant role in psychosis for those with Alzheimer’s.

About 19 percent of people with Alzheimer’s living in the community (rather than in a nursing home) have delusions. Another 14 percent have hallucinations, the researchers said.

Psychotic symptoms among people with Alzheimer’s can cause added burdens on loved ones and caregivers. These symptoms can also speed up the progression of Alzheimer’s disease, the study authors explained.

For the study, the researchers analyzed autopsy data from more than 1,000 people who had been treated at 29 Alzheimer’s centers in the United States between 2005 and 2012. An Alzheimer’s diagnosis can only be confirmed after death by autopsy.

The research team — led by Dr. Corinne Fischer from St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto — said that 890 of the study patients had been clinically diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease while still alive. Of those, nearly 730 had Alzheimer’s that was confirmed by an autopsy, according to the report published Jan. 5 in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease.

The autopsies revealed that those with confirmed Alzheimer’s who had been diagnosed with psychosis didn’t have more physical evidence of Alzheimer’s disease in their brains (such as protein deposits).

Instead, the researchers were surprised to learn that risk factors linked to blood vessel problems — such as high blood pressure, diabetes and smoking history — appeared to be strongly related to psychosis.

Because researchers haven’t known the underlying reason for psychosis in Alzheimer’s patients, they’ve been limited in how well they can treat the issue, the study authors explained in a hospital news release.

More information

The U.S. National Institute on Aging has more about Alzheimer’s disease.

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Report: DASH Diet Best Overall Eating Plan

TUESDAY, Jan. 5, 2016 (HealthDay News) — For the sixth year in a row, a panel of health experts has named the heart-healthy DASH diet the best overall eating plan, according to U.S. News & World Report‘s 2016 Best Diets ranking.

The DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet was designed to lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels by limiting fats, red meat and sugar in favor of healthy grains, poultry, low-fat dairy and nuts, the U.S. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute says.

“Our rankings put hard numbers on the belief that no one diet is ideal for everybody, but the best food plans overall are sustainable,” Angela Haupt, senior health editor at U.S. News & World Report, said in a news release from the media company.

Every year, U.S. News & World Report asks experts to rank various diets to help the tens of millions of dieters in the United States and around the globe make informed dietary decisions that can help them achieve healthier lifestyles.

The panel of experts — including nutritionists and doctors specializing in diabetes, heart health and weight loss — scored each diet for short-term and long-term weight loss. They also considered how easy each diet was to follow, as well as safety and nutritional value.

“Besides the rankings and data, each diet has a detailed profile that includes how it works, evidence that supports or refutes its claims and a nutritional snapshot — tools that, along with the advice of a physician or nutritionist, can help consumers invest in diets that suit their lifestyles and further their health and wellness goals,” Haupt said.

The panel evaluated 38 of the most popular or trendy diets this year. After ranking them in nine categories, the experts found the MIND diet tied for second place for best overall diet with the cholesterol-lowering TLC diet. The MIND diet includes some features of the DASH diet and Mediterranean diet, such as high consumption of fruits, vegetables and fish, but focuses on foods that promote brain health.

The MIND diet ranked first in the “Easiest Diet to Follow” category in a three-way tie with Weight Watchers and the Fertility diet, which asserts that certain dietary changes can boost fertility.

The Fertility diet, which calls for the elimination of trans fats, also ranked as the best diet for diabetes, the report revealed. The Biggest Loser diet and the DASH diet came in second and third, respectively, in the diabetes category.

The DASH diet scored highest when it comes to healthy eating, followed by the TLC diet. The Mediterranean and the MIND diet tied for third place in this category.

The Weight Watchers diet ranked highest out of all weight-loss diets but tied with the Mayo Clinic diet as the “Best Commercial Diet.”

When it comes to speedy weight loss, the HMR program and Biggest Loser diet shared the top ranking, followed by the Atkins diet in second place and Weight Watchers in third.

On the opposite end of the list, the Whole30 diet — a 30-day program that bans processed foods, legumes, grains, dairy, alcohol and added sugar — ranked as the worst overall diet on the list, the new report said.

The Raw Food diet and low-carb Atkins diet also scored poorly overall and ranked low in categories like “Best Diets for Healthy Eating.” The Raw Food diet was also considered the most difficult diet to follow, though it was one of the top ranked weight-loss diets, the panel found.

More information

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more about healthy eating for a healthy weight.

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Talk Therapy to Tackle Fear of the Dentist

By Kathleen Doheny
HealthDay Reporter

TUESDAY, Jan. 5, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Many people are familiar with the fear that can precede a visit to the dentist, but new research shows that talk therapy can help when that anxiety becomes a crippling phobia.

In the study, British investigators tried an approach called cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), a short-term treatment typically involving six to 10 sessions.

“CBT works by providing individuals with skills to address their fear,” said lead researcher Tim Newton, a professor of psychology at King’s College London Dental Institute.

After the sessions, which focused on replacing negative thoughts with positive ones, the patients took away a set of skills to help tackle their anxiety, Newton explained.

“We discuss with them when we discharge them the fact that their anxiety [about dental visits] will come back, but that they know what to do — don’t avoid, take gradual steps and challenge those thoughts,” he said.

Newton and his colleagues evaluated 130 men and women, average age 40, who all participated in therapy sessions led by a psychologist. About three-quarters were so fearful they had full-fledged dental phobia; the others had anxiety about some aspect of dentistry. Fear of injections and the drill were the most common worries mentioned.

After the therapy, 79 percent of the patients went on to have dental treatment without the need for sedation. Another 6 percent had treatment, but needed sedation. The other 15 percent either withdrew from therapy or were considered not suitable to start therapy due to other issues, the study authors said.

The findings were published recently in the British Dental Journal.

In a previous study in the same journal, Newton and his team found that those with dental anxiety were less likely to visit the dentist and more likely to have cavities and other oral health problems than those who saw a dentist regularly. The researchers also found women more likely than men to fear dentists.

During therapy, patients learned how to identify their fear-related thoughts and replace them with more helpful thoughts. They were armed with information to challenge the unhelpful thoughts. They also learned techniques to cope with the anxiety that is likely once they arrive at the dental office, such as practicing controlled breathing and muscular relaxation, and gradually exposing themselves to what they fear, the researchers said.

The impact of talk therapy has been shown to be long lasting, said Peter Milgrom, a professor of oral health sciences and pediatric dentistry at the University of Washington, in Seattle. He was formerly a visiting professor at King’s College Dental Institute and helped to set up the unit that introduced using cognitive behavioral therapy instead of relying on sedation, he said.

He also co-founded the Dental Fears Research Clinic at the University of Washington. “We have used the same techniques in our Dental Fears Research Clinic at the University of Washington for more than 35 years now,” he said, “and the results [Newton] is obtaining are quite similar to ours.”

Milgrom sees therapy as “much more effective than relying on drugs alone [to treat anxiety], because the focus is on teaching patients skills and ways of thinking that profoundly impact how they feel and act,” he said.

Among the techniques are distraction, which can include exposing fearful patients to music and stories. Although the training is long lasting, Milgrom said, fear can return and some may need more coaching later. The degree of fear may depend on whether the person is primarily afraid of the dentist or has other psychological problems, he said.

More information

To learn more about coping with dental anxiety, see the American Dental Association.

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38 Popular Diets Ranked From Best to Worst

Photo: Getty Images

Happy New Year’s resolution time! Are you looking to change up the way you eat? Well, you’re not without choices, that’s for sure.

With so many diet plans out there, each promising their own version of better health, weight loss, or both, it’s difficult to know which ones will actually help you reach your 2016 goals. Luckily, just in time for your resolution, U.S. News & World Report released their annual “Best Diets” rankings today.

RELATED: 57 Ways to Lose Weight Forever, According to Science

And the best diet overall is… the DASH diet (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension), for the sixth year in a row. The diet, which was originally developed to help people lower their blood pressure, focuses on a combination of low-fat, low-sodium, and plant-based meals. And U.S. News isn’t the only one backing DASH; The plan has years of scientific research on its side as well.

The magazine named their No. 1 after identifying 38 popular diet plans and having a panel of nationally recognized nutrition and health experts rate each diet in seven categories: how easy it is to follow, its ability to produce short-term and long-term weight loss, its nutritional completeness, its safety, and its potential for preventing and managing diabetes and heart disease.

Once each had expert rated the diets on a scale of 5 (highest) to 1 (lowest), the magazine used the scores to create a ranked list for “Best Overall,” as well as a more focused list for various categories, like the “Best Heart-Healthy Diets,” “Best Plant-Based Diets,” and “Easiest Diets to Follow.”

RELATED : How Healthy Is Your State? All 50, Ranked From First to Worst

Although the No. 1 spot wasn’t a surprise this year, it’s not because the magazine didn’t look at new plans. The rankings added three fresh options to the mix: The MIND diet, Whole30, and the Fertility Diet.

The MIND diet, which is said to help keep your brain young, combines the DASH and Mediterranean diets with an emphasis on research-backed “brain-foods.” Unsurprisingly, this combo of two successful diets performed very well in the U.S. News ranking, landing the No. 2 slot on the list of Best Diets Overall.

However the very popular Whole30 diet, which requires adherents to cut all processed foods, legumes, grains, dairy, alcohol, and added sugar for 30 days, came in 38th place, aka dead last, in the “overall” category, following suit with other trendy diets that have come before it (like the Dukan Diet). Whole30 came in at No. 37 (of 38) when ranked for helping with weight loss, diabetes, or heart disease, and landed the No. 17 spot on the magazine’s “Best Diets for Fast Weight Loss” list.

Meanwhile, The Fertility Diet, which claims certain diet changes can help you get pregnant faster, was named the best diet for diabetes, mainly due to its ban on trans fats. (How’s that for a surprise?)

RELATED: 16 Ways to Lose Weight Fast

“Our rankings put hard numbers on the belief that no one diet is ideal for everybody, but the best food plans overall are sustainable,” Angela Haupt, senior health editor at U.S. News, said in a press release. “Besides the rankings and data, each diet has a detailed profile that includes how it works, evidence that supports or refutes its claims and a nutritional snapshot—tools that, along with the advice of a physician or nutritionist, can help consumers invest in diets that suit their lifestyles and further their health and wellness goals.”

Before you jump on the latest diet bandwagon, check out the full list below, ranked from best to worst. Your waistline will thank you!

Best Diets Overall

1. DASH Diet
2. MIND Diet
2. TLC Diet (tie)
4. Weight Watchers
4. Mayo Clinic
4. Fertility
4. Mediterranean (tie)
8. Volumetrics (tie)
8. Flexitarian
10. Jenny Craig
11. Biggest Loser
11. Ornish (tie)
13. Vegetarian
13. Traditional Asian (tie)
15. Slim Fast
15. SparkPeople
15. Anti-Inflammatory (tie)
18. HMR
18. Flat Belly
18. Nutrisystem (tie)
21. Vegan
21. Engine 2
21. South Beach
21. Abs (tie)
25. Eco-Atkins
25. Zone
25. Glycemic-Index (tie)
28. Macrobiotic
28. Medifast (tie)
30. Supercharged Hormone
30. Acid Alkaline (tie)
32. Fast
32. Body Reset (tie)
34. Raw food
34. Atkins (tie)
36. Dukan
36. Paleo (tie)
38. Whole 30

Looking for a more targeted plan? Here are some highlights from U.S. News’ more specific lists:

For Weight Loss

1. Weight Watchers
2. Biggest Loser Diet
3. Biggest Loser Diet
3. Jenny Craig
3. Raw Food Diet (tie)

Easiest to Follow

1. Fertility Diet
2. MIND Diet
3. Weight Watchers

For Heart Health

1. Ornish Diet
2. TLC Diet
3. DASH Diet

Best Plant-Based Diets

1. Mediterranean Diet
2. Flexitarian Diet
3. Ornish Diet

For Fast Weight Loss

1. Biggest Loser Diet
1. HMR Program
3. Atkins
3. Weight Watchers (tie)

For Diabetes

1. Fertility Diet
2. Biggest Loser Diet
2. DASH Diet (tie)

For Healthy Eating

1. DASH Diet
2. TLC Diet
3. Mediterranean Diet
3. MIND Diet (tie)

Best Commercial Diets

1. Mayo Clinic Diet
1. Weight Watchers (tie)
3. Jenny Craig

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7 tips for workout success

WH&F head trainer Nikki Fogden-Moore shares her tips for workout success.

1.    Find exercises you love
2.    Mix up the order of things
3.    Take your gym outdoors
4.    Bring a friend and put an interval timer on your phone
5.    Pump up the sounds
6.    Be grateful that you’re able to plan and create the body and the life you want. Gratitude for where you are at now is integral to getting to where you want to be. If you are constantly telling yourself you’re not fit, healthy and happy enough, it will manifest. Focus on the positive.
7.    REALLY commit to a healthy mind as well as a healthy workout regime.

Psssst...a bonus tip that always works:
Add your focus for each session so you go in with a game plan. The exercises can all be the same but it’s your approach and attitude towards the session that will make the difference!

Image by: Sam Frysteen

Read on for more workout tips to become the best version of yourself.

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People May Eat More of a Food That’s Labeled ‘Healthy’

By Dennis Thompson
HealthDay Reporter

MONDAY, Jan. 4, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Words matter when you’re trying to eat right, new research suggests.

People tend to overeat when they’re consuming food that’s been labeled “healthy,” undermining their own efforts to improve their diet, the study found.

People order larger portions, eat more and feel less full when they’re consuming food that’s been portrayed as “healthy” in its packaging, according to a report published recently in the Journal of the Association for Consumer Research.

“It’s quite ironic. The more we put out foods that are labeled healthy, we could be abetting the obesity epidemic rather than combatting it,” said study author Jacob Suher, a doctoral student at the University of Texas at Austin’s McCombs School of Business.

People appear to overeat “healthy” food because they subconsciously consider it less filling, Suher and his colleagues found.

But they also found that this effect could be counteracted if people are told that a healthy food is “nourishing” — a word that appears to indicate the food is more filling.

“The word ‘nourishing’ brings up another unconscious intuition that seems to override the one attached to the word ‘healthy,’ ” Suher said.

Registered dietitian Joy Dubost said the study shows the power of a person’s subconscious in shaping eating behaviors.

“When people say mind over matter, it really does seem to be a big factor,” said Dubost, a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. “What your perception is of the food you eat can be very different from how your body is responding to it. Clearly, we need to start addressing both the conscious and the subconscious in our messages about healthy eating.”

The new study took place in three phases. First, researchers asked 50 college students to look at pictures of healthy and unhealthy foods, and words associated with either “filling” or “not filling.” The investigators found that people associated unhealthy foods with the thought of feeling full.

Next, the research team conducted a field study in which it measured the hunger levels of 40 graduate students after eating a cookie that had been labeled as either healthy or unhealthy. Even though all the cookies were the same, students who were told they were eating a “healthy” cookie wound up feeling hungrier 45 minutes later than those who thought they were eating an “unhealthy” cookie.

In the last phase, 70 college students were presented popcorn that had been portrayed as either “healthy,” “unhealthy” or “nourishing.” The students were asked to order as much popcorn as they thought they’d need to not be hungry until their next meal, anywhere from one to 10 cups.

The researchers found that students ordered more and ate more if they’d been told the popcorn was healthy, compared with students who were told it was unhealthy. Those told the popcorn was “nourishing” ate less than those in the “healthy” group, but more than those in the “unhealthy” group.

The effect of the word “healthy” on food consumption held strong even for people who disagreed in a questionnaire that healthy foods are less filling, Suher said. That indicates that people’s response to the word is ingrained into their subconscious, and they react to it automatically, the study authors said.

There are a couple of potential explanations for why the word “healthy” has become associated with less filling, Suher said.

People tend to come up with extreme examples when provided the words “healthy” or “unhealthy,” veering either to salad on the one hand or pizza on the other, he said. These biases could influence a person’s eating habits.

Diners also might be subconsciously programming themselves to relate unhealthy foods to a feeling of fullness. “People are more likely to consume unhealthy foods to fullness, because they’re either served in larger portion sizes or are seen as tastier,” Suher said.

People need to be reminded that eating lots of even healthy foods can load a person up with excess calories and lead to weight gain, Dubost said.

Dubost added that she’d like to see follow-up studies that examine the effect of these words on the eating habits of other groups of people — middle-aged folks, the elderly or the obese.

For now, people who want to improve their diet might try associating the word “nourishing” with the word “healthy” when they’re food shopping or ordering at a restaurant, Suher said.

“Seek out foods portrayed as nourishing, and think of healthy foods as nourishing,” he said. “People appear to associate the idea of nourishment with being filling.”

More information

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more about eating a healthy diet.

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Childhood Cancer Treatment May Raise Adult Heart Disease Risk

By Alan Mozes
HealthDay Reporter

MONDAY, Jan. 4, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Children who survive cancer may face a higher risk of heart disease as adults, new research suggests.

The lingering effects of the treatments that saved their lives as children may trigger the development of heart abnormalities that might not cause apparent symptoms, the researchers explained.

The investigators found that heart disease appears to affect between 3 percent and 24 percent of pediatric cancer survivors by the time they reach their 30s. Those figures rose to between 10 and 37 percent among patients 40 and older, the study found.

However, while the study revealed a link between childhood cancer treatment and later heart disease, it didn’t prove cause-and-effect.

“The prevalence of these cardiac findings might be expected in an older adult population, but not necessarily in this young a population,” said study lead author Dr. Daniel Mulrooney.

“Survivors of childhood cancer exposed to cardio-toxic cancer therapies are at risk for premature cardiovascular disease, much of which may present asymptomatically (without symptoms), and require long-term surveillance,” he said.

Mulrooney, who’s with the department of oncology in the division of cancer survivorship at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn., and his colleagues released their findings online Jan. 4 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

As cancer therapies have improved, the chances of surviving childhood malignancies have increased markedly. In the United States, four in five young patients now survive at least five years following their initial diagnosis. Adult survivors of childhood cancer number nearly 390,000, according to the researchers. That figure is projected to grow to more than half a million by 2020, the study authors said.

The problem? In the past, a return of cancer was the biggest concern among pediatric patients. But today, experts believe that adult survivors may have to contend with cancer treatment side effects.

To explore the subject, the study authors focused on almost 1,900 men and women initially treated for childhood cancer at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Participants ranged from 18 to 60 years old. All had been treated with various types of chemotherapy and/or radiation. All had survived a minimum of 10 years, according to the study.

The researchers found that although almost none of the patients showed any outward signs of heart disease, more than 7 percent had some form of heart muscle disease (cardiomyopathy), such as an enlarged, thickened, weakened, and/or rigid heart. This problem was more prevalent among those who had undergone chest radiation treatment than those who had not, the research showed.

Nearly 4 percent had coronary artery disease and 28 percent had narrowing of the blood vessel or heart valve leakage. Heart rhythm abnormalities were seen among more than 4 percent of the survivors, the study found.

“In our study, we only included childhood cancer survivors exposed to cardio-toxic cancer treatments, [such as] anthracyclines and/or cardiac radiation,” Mulrooney explained.

There weren’t any patients in the study who weren’t given treatment for their pediatric cancer. So, “it is difficult to say if the cancer itself may also contribute to these cardiac outcomes,” he added.

Dr. Nicholas Zaorsky, a resident physician in radiation oncology at Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia, suggested that it’s most likely childhood cancer treatment itself that raises the risk for adult heart disease.

“It is known that certain types of chemotherapy increase the risk of heart disease,” Zaorsky said. In addition, radiation therapy directed toward the chest cavity region also increases heart disease odds, he said.

“Most likely, the increased risk of heart disease is from the treatment of the cancer with chemotherapy and radiation therapy, more so than the actual cancer,” Zaorsky said.

That point was seconded by Dr. Stephen Freedland, a professor of surgery, chair of the department of prostate cancer, and director of the Center for Integrated Research on Cancer and Lifestyle at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.

“This is basically a modern phenomenon. Because 20 to 40 years ago there were no survivors of childhood cancer. So we threw anything we had in the arsenal at it. And some of it worked,” Freedland explained.

“But now we realize that those drugs can cause harm,” he added. “So the question now is can we make cancer treatment kinder and gentler for the heart, without reducing its efficacy? That’s where a lot of pediatric cancer research is now focused.”

More information

There’s more on cancer treatment and the heart at the MD Anderson Cancer Center.

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Cutting Carbs? Here’s How to Make Cauliflower Rice in Under 10 Minutes

Just how hot is the phenom of “rice” made out of cauliflower? With nearly 28,000 posts on Instagram featuring #cauliflowerrice, it’s safe to say this dish is trending hard.

It’s tough to say what the best thing is about it. Among its advantages: It’s made from one of the healthiest cruciferous vegetables you can get, so it’s loaded with nutrients including fiber, vitamins C, K and B6, and potassium. Cauliflower has 25 calories per cup vs. 218 for a cup of cooked brown rice. (And, if you’re watching carbs, cauliflower has 5g per cup vs. 46g for a cup of brown rice.) Cauliflower rice is easy and fast to make. Plus, it’s crazy-delicious. Seriously.

No wonder Pinterest is abuzz with this side dish. No matter what your reasons for trying it, it’s definitely time to try it. Here’s how:

RELATED: 25 No-Cook Recipes

It’s that simple. One pound of cauliflower will yield about 4 cups of “rice.” Use it to make fried rice, or alongside any dish you would normally have with regular rice. Don’t forget to pin this recipe for later!

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3 Totally Free and Easy Ways to Lose Weight

Photo: Getty Images

Well, it’s early January, so that means many of us have made resolutions to finally lose that 5, 10, 20 lbs. If that’s you, then no doubt you’re seeing all the juice cleanses, extreme diet and exercise plans and other things for sale all over the place right now.

But wait! Before you reach for your wallet, here are three completely simple, zero-cost, scientifically proven things you can start doing today that can lead to weight loss. No gimmicks, we promise.

RELATED: 32 Ways to Reverse Holiday Weight Gain in 1 Week

Drink more water

You already know how essential water is to good health. For anyone trying to lose weight, it’s even more important. Not only does staying hydrated help keep your metabolism humming, it might also help keep you from overeating. Research published last summer in the journal Obesity found that obese adults who drank 16 ounces of water before meals for 12 weeks lost more weight than another group that didn’t sip before eating. And the more water they drank, the more weight they lost.

A few tips for staying hydrated: Along with drinking water before meals, have a glass after each meal and snack. Drink a glass upon waking up (I like to squeeze in some fresh lemon), and be sure to listen to your thirst when you work out. Infuse your water with tasty whole fruit if that will help you sip more.

Get more sleep

If you’re one of those people who think they get by just fine on 5 hours of sleep (or less), think again. The vast majority of adults need 7 to 9 hours per night, according to the National Sleep Foundation. The organization estimates that sleep debt costs the U.S. $66 billion because of additional health care costs, lost productivity, and other problems. And it doesn’t take much sleep loss to be affected; a study presented at the 2015 annual meeting of the Endocrine Society suggested that even 30 minutes of lost sleep could lead to greater likelihood of insulin resistance and obesity.

Trouble sleeping? Try limiting screen time at least an hour before bed so you have sufficient time to wind down, and when you get in bed make sure your room is dark and cool. If all else fails, see your doctor. Good rest is essential for your overall health.

RELATED: 21 Products for the Best Sleep of Your Life

Watch less TV

Multiple studies indicate that time spent in front of the tube to a higher risk for overweight and obesity—and it makes sense. All that time lounging on your couch is time you’re not spending at the gym.

That said, you don’t have to cancel Netflix or give up your favorite shows. But one thing you can do is choose the shows you really love and cut out the rest. If you find yourself just zoning out in front of the TV, or if turning it on at night is simply a habit, try to create a new habit. Many people use mindless TV to de-stress. If that’s you, try calling a friend (and pacing around the house while you chat) or doing some at-home yoga.

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Doctor-Patient Emails Can Help the Chronically Ill

MONDAY, Jan. 4, 2016 (HealthDay News) — For people with chronic conditions, the ability to communicate with their doctor via email may improve their health, new research suggests.

The study included just over 1,000 patients in northern California diagnosed with conditions such as asthma, coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, diabetes or high blood pressure.

The patients had access to an online portal, which let them review their health records, make appointments, refill prescriptions and send confidential emails to their doctor.

A survey found that 56 percent of the patients had sent their doctor an email within the past year, and 46 percent had used email as the primary way to contact their doctor about medical issues.

Thirty-two percent of those who exchanged emails with their doctor reported improvements in their health, according to the study published in the December issue of the American Journal of Managed Care.

Meanwhile, 67 percent said emailing their doctor had no effect on their overall health, the findings showed.

“We found that a large proportion of patients used email as their first method of contacting health care providers across a variety of health-related concerns,” lead study author, Mary Reed, said in a news release from Kaiser Permanente. Reed is a staff scientist with Kaiser Permanente’s research division in Oakland, Calif.

“As more patients gain access to online portal tools associated with electronic health records, emails between patients and providers may shift the way that health care is delivered and also impact efficiency, quality and health outcomes,” she added.

For 42 percent of the patients, using email to communicate with their doctor reduced the number of phone calls they made to the office, and 36 percent said they made fewer office visits, according to the report.

Among those who used email to communicate with their doctor, 85 percent had co-pays of $60 or more for each office visit, or high deductibles, compared to 63 percent with lower cost sharing, the study found.

More information

The U.S. National Institute on Aging has more about doctor-patient communication.

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