I’ll Take the One in the White Coat

WEDNESDAY, June 1, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Sometimes, perceptions can make for good medicine, a new study suggests.

A survey of 255 patients found most people prefer their dermatologists to wear a white coat, and what their doctor wears may affect results.

The patients were shown photos of dermatologists wearing either a suit, a white coat (professional attire), surgical scrubs or casual clothing, and asked which they favored.

A white coat was the most preferred (73 percent), followed by surgical scrubs (19 percent), a suit (6 percent) and casual clothing (2 percent).

“In this study, most patients preferred professional attire for their dermatologists in most settings,” wrote Dr. Robert Kirsner, of the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, and coauthors.

“It is possible that patients’ perceptions of their physicians’ knowledge and skill is influenced by the physicians’ appearance, and these perceptions may affect outcomes,” the study authors concluded.

The study was published online June 1 in the journal JAMA Dermatology.

More information

The American Academy of Family Physicians offers advice on choosing a doctor.

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Long-Term Pot Use Tied to Gum Disease in Study

By Steven Reinberg
HealthDay Reporter

WEDNESDAY, June 1, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Smoking marijuana for decades may result in gum disease and potential tooth loss, a new study indicates.

In an analysis of about 1,000 people who used pot and/or tobacco in New Zealand, those who smoked pot for 20 years didn’t have notable health problems, except for gum disease, the researchers said.

“Unlike tobacco smoking, cannabis smoking is associated with few physical health problems in midlife, with the exception of periodontal disease,” said lead researcher Madeline Meier, an assistant professor of psychology at Arizona State University.

Besides gum health, the researchers assessed lung function, risk factors for heart disease and diabetes, and systemic inflammation, which could indicate a severe response to trauma or infection.

The study can’t prove that pot causes gum, or periodontal, disease. Still, “physicians should convey to patients that their cannabis use puts them at risk for tooth loss,” Meier said.

Meier can’t say why pot seems to be associated with poor dental health. “Our analyses show that this association was not explained by tobacco smoking, alcohol abuse or less tooth brushing and flossing,” she said.

However, Meier isn’t saying that marijuana doesn’t have negative consequences.

“We don’t want people to think, ‘Hey, marijuana can’t hurt me,’ because research based on this same sample of New Zealanders has shown that marijuana use is associated with increased risk of psychotic illness, IQ decline, and downward socioeconomic mobility,” she said.

In addition, the researchers didn’t follow the participants long enough to see whether pot increased the risk for diseases that develop later in life, such as heart disease and cancer, Meier said.

Study co-author Avshalom Caspi added that while the drug might not be all bad, long-term use can have some harmful effects.

“What we’re seeing is that cannabis may be harmful in some respects, but possibly not in every way,” said Caspi, a professor of psychology at Duke University, in Durham, N.C. “We need to recognize that heavy recreational cannabis use does have some adverse consequences, but overall damage to physical health is not apparent in this study.”

The study participants were born in New Zealand in 1972 and 1973 and followed to age 38. The researchers looked at whether marijuana use from ages 18 to 38 was tied to health problems at 38. Nearly 700 of the more than 1,000 participants said they had used marijuana.

Use of tobacco, but not marijuana, was associated with signs of declining health, the researchers said. The lack of physical health problems among pot users was not because they were in better health to begin with or living healthier lifestyles, the researchers said.

An advocate of marijuana use said the study results bolster arguments in favor of legalized marijuana in the United States.

“These findings affirm what cannabis law reformers have known for some time: that the use of cannabis, even long term, poses far less risks to health than do tobacco, and therefore it ought to be legalized and regulated accordingly,” said Paul Armentano, deputy director of NORML, which advocates for the legalization of marijuana.

The association between long-term marijuana use and gum disease is likely caused by dry mouth, which is common among marijuana smokers, he said.

“These conclusions belie the myth that cannabis’ potential dangers to the health of adults warrant its [U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration] Schedule 1 prohibited status under federal law,” Armentano said. This classification contends that “marijuana’s risks are on par with those of heroin and that the plant lacks any accepted therapeutic value,” he added.

The report was published online June 1 in the journal JAMA Psychiatry.

More information

For more on marijuana, visit the U.S. National Institute on Drug Abuse.

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FDA Calls for Less Salt in Processed Foods

WEDNESDAY, June 1, 2016 (HealthDay News) — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration wants the food industry to cut back on the salt.

In draft voluntary guidelines issued Wednesday, the agency set both two-year and 10-year goals for lower sodium content in hundreds of processed and prepared foods. The aim is to reduce the risk of high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke among Americans, according to the FDA.

“Many Americans want to reduce sodium in their diets, but that’s hard to do when much of it is in everyday products we buy in stores and restaurants,” Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Burwell said in an FDA statement.

“Today’s announcement is about putting power back in the hands of consumers, so that they can better control how much salt is in the food they eat and improve their health,” she added.

Americans’ average salt intake is about 3,400 milligrams (mg) a day, which is nearly 50 percent more than what experts recommend. High salt intake increases the risk of high blood pressure (“hypertension”), heart disease and stroke.

The voluntary targets are meant to reduce Americans’ daily salt intake to 3,000 mg in two years and 2,300 mg in the next decade, according to the FDA. The guidelines cover a wide swath of foods, from bread to cold cuts, cereals and snacks.

Some studies have estimated that lowering salt intake by about 40 percent over the next decade could save 500,000 lives and nearly $100 billion in health care costs in the United States.

“The totality of the scientific evidence supports sodium reduction from current intake levels,” said Susan Mayne, director of the FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition.

“Experts at the Institute of Medicine have concluded that reducing sodium intake to 2,300 mg per day can significantly help Americans reduce their blood pressure, and ultimately prevent hundreds of thousands of premature illnesses and deaths,” Mayne said.

“Because the majority of sodium in our diets comes from processed and prepared foods, consumers are challenged in lowering their sodium intake themselves,” Mayne added.

The draft guidelines, which are open for public comment ranging from 90 days to 150 days, were welcomed by American Heart Association CEO Nancy Brown.

“The American Heart Association strongly supports the draft voluntary sodium targets released today by the FDA, and we call upon the agency to finalize them as soon as possible,” Brown said in a statement.

“These new targets will spark a vital, healthy change in our food supply, a change consumers say they want. These voluntary targets can have a significant impact on the nation’s health,” she added.

“Lowering sodium levels in the food supply could eliminate about 1.5 million cases of uncontrolled hypertension and save billions of dollars in health care costs over the next decade,” Brown suggested.

More information

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration outlines how to reduce salt in your diet.

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How to avoid dry skin

 

Are you prone to dry skin? If you think your diet has nothing to do with it, your face may beg to differ.

The Suspects: Alcohol, Coffee, Poor Diet

In the short term, alcohol can cause dehydration, which can cause dry skin.

“For women, the recommendation is no more than two standard drinks a day on average,” says dermatologist Ann-Maree Kurzydlo, who recommends limiting consumption and alternating alcoholic drinks with water. “One or two alcohol-free days should be had per week.”

Caffeine is a diuretic and can also lead to dehydration of the skin - so steer clear of energy drinks as well as tea and coffee.

Meanwhile, dietitian Dr Joanna McMillan says diet can also play havoc with skin.

“A lack of fats in the diet can lead to dry skin, whereas good fats such as oily fish, avocado and olive oil deliver fat-soluble nutrients, are anti-inflammatory and promote skin health,” she says.

“Certain nutrients are important for the skin including vitamins A, C, E and many antioxidants. A diet rich in plant foods – veg, fruit, nuts, seeds, legumes and wholegrains – boosts intake of these factors.”

Discover more way to eat your way to healthy skin.

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Flu Shot Helps Heart Failure Patients Avoid Hospital

WEDNESDAY, June 1, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Getting a flu shot reduces heart failure patients’ risk of hospitalization, a new study shows.

“Uptake of the flu vaccination in heart failure patients is relatively low, ranging from less than 20 percent in low and middle-income countries to 50 to 70 percent in high income countries like the U.K.,” said study author Kazem Rahimi. He is deputy director of the George Institute for Global Health at the University of Oxford in England.

“This may partly be because there is no strong evidence to support the recommendation in these patients,” he said. Also, some research had suggested that vaccination might be less effective in heart failure patients than in the general population because of their blunted immune response, he added.

Heart failure means the heart is no longer able to pump blood efficiently enough to meet the body’s needs. It’s one of the most common reasons for hospital admissions among seniors, according to the American Heart Association.

For the new study, Rahimi’s team analyzed data from more than 59,000 heart failure patients in the United Kingdom.

They found that flu vaccination was associated with a 30 percent lower risk of hospitalization for heart problems, a 16 percent lower risk of hospitalization for respiratory infections, and a 4 percent lower risk of hospitalization for any reason up to 300 days after vaccination.

The findings “do not suggest that influenza infection causes [heart attack] or other cardiovascular events,” Rahimi said in a European College of Cardiology news release.

“A more likely explanation for the reduction in risk of cardiovascular hospitalization is that vaccination reduces the likelihood of an [influenza] infection, which could in turn trigger cardiovascular deterioration,” he said.

The findings “provide further evidence that there are likely worthwhile benefits, and on that basis more efforts are needed to ensure that heart failure patients receive an annual flu jab,” Rahimi said.

The findings were presented last week at the European College of Cardiology’s meeting on heart failure in Florence, Italy. Findings presented at meetings are usually considered preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed medical journal.

More information

The American Heart Association has more about heart failure.

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Most Americans Support Rise in Legal Smoking Age

WEDNESDAY, June 1, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Highlighting tobacco’s growing unpopularity, a new survey finds most Americans support pushing the legal smoking age even higher.

Across all regions of the United States, poll respondents gave an overwhelming thumbs-up to raising the legal age for buying tobacco products to 19, 20 or even 21.

Support also “seems to cross political lines, and it is one policy measure that the majority of those surveyed can agree on,” said lead researcher Dr. Adam Goldstein, of the University of North Carolina’s Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center.

His team asked more than 4,800 adults nationwide if they supported raising the minimum age for tobacco purchases to 19, 20 or 21. A majority of people in all regions of the country were in favor, the pollsters found.

Support ranged from more than 59 percent in a seven-state Midwestern region that included Iowa and Kansas, to about 73 percent in a four-state region of the South that included Texas and Louisiana.

Support in the South Atlantic region, which included North Carolina, seven other states and the District of Columbia, was about 68 percent, the survey showed.

Looked at in terms of demographics, women, non-whites, Hispanics, non-smokers and those older than 21 were more supportive of raising the minimum age. The survey also found more support for boosting the legal age to 21, rather than just 19 or 20.

“With these findings, policy makers and public health advocates can move forward knowing that people in their states support raising the minimum legal age for selling tobacco products, and that this is an issue that is not viewed as partisan,” Goldstein said in a university news release.

On Jan. 1, Hawaii became the first state to increase the legal age of tobacco sales to 21, and California soon followed. A number of counties and cities, including New York City, have increased the minimum legal age.

“With the strong support indicated in our data, I think we will continue to see strong momentum. It appears likely that, increasingly, lawmakers are going to be interested in doing this,” Goldstein suggested.

Boosting age limits does seem to matter. According to a 2015 National Academy of Medicine report, making 21 the legal age for buying tobacco nationwide would lead to a 12 percent drop in the smoking rate.

That rate is already plummeting. Just last week, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced that the U.S. adult smoking rate fell from 17 percent in 2014 to 15 percent in 2015 — the largest one-year decline in more than 20 years.

“By restricting tobacco use to people 21 and older, the compelling evidence is that you have less people who end up using it. They don’t end up taking up smoking and tobacco,” Goldstein said.

“And if you cut down on adolescents using tobacco, you’ll ultimately cut down on how many adults use tobacco, and then you cut down on tobacco-related diseases like heart disease and cancer,” he added.

More information

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has more about youth and tobacco.

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Girl With Zika Birth Defect Born at New Jersey Hospital

By Steven Reinberg
HealthDay Reporter

WEDNESDAY, June 1, 2016 (HealthDay News) — A woman from Honduras who apparently became infected with the Zika virus in her home country gave birth Tuesday in a New Jersey hospital to a baby girl with the birth defect characteristic of the disease, officials said.

The baby has an abnormally small head, a condition called microcephaly that also results in an underdeveloped brain, hospital officials said.

Dr. Manny Alvarez, chairman of the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Science at Hackensack University Medical Center, said the 31-year-old mother knew she was infected with the virus before coming to visit relatives in New Jersey. Scans performed late last week showed the girl was underweight for her gestational age, so doctors delivered the baby by cesarean section, The New York Times reported.

Alvarez said he believes the baby is the first baby born in the Northeast with Zika infection, which is typically transmitted by mosquitoes.

“It tells you that Zika is real,” he said. “There is still a lot of work to be done insofar as controlling this virus.”

A baby was born in Hawaii earlier this year with microcephaly.

On Monday, U.N. health officials recommended that women planning to become pregnant should wait at least eight weeks before trying to conceive if they or their partner live in — or are returning from — areas where Zika virus infections are occurring,.

The vast majority of Zika infections have occurred in Latin America, with Brazil the hot zone with an estimated 5,000 cases of microcephaly. There have been no reports of Zika-induced microcephaly contracted in the United States. But U.S. health officials have said they expect to see Zika infections in Gulf Coast states such as Florida, Louisiana and Texas as mosquito season picks up.

Mosquito bites remain the most common source of infection of the Zika virus. But transmission of the virus through sex is more common than previously thought, World Health Organization officials said Monday. They had previously recommended a four-week abstinence before trying to conceive.

And if the male partner has had symptoms of Zika infection, couples should wait six months before trying to have a baby, the WHO officials said.

Four out of five people infected with Zika don’t develop any symptoms. Those who do most often suffer from mild symptoms that include fever, rash, joint pain or red eyes.

The true risk of Zika is to a developing fetus.

Earlier this month, U.S. health officials reported that the number of pregnant women in the United States infected with the Zika virus had tripled because cases were now being counted in a more comprehensive way.

So far, an estimated 280 infected women are being followed in the United States and its territories, according to two registries that have been created by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Previously, only cases of pregnant women who had Zika-related symptoms or pregnancy complications were being tallied, CDC officials said. But recently published reports have found that some pregnant women show no symptoms of Zika infection, yet still give birth to babies with microcephaly.

To limit any potential spread of Zika virus via mosquitoes, health officials on the federal, state and local level are deploying a three-pronged strategy: improving mosquito control; expanding their ability to test for Zika; and urging the public to protect themselves against mosquitoes.

Women of child-bearing age who live in an active Zika region should protect themselves from mosquito bites by wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants, using mosquito repellent when outside, and staying indoors as much as possible, according to the CDC.

President Barack Obama has asked Congress to allocate $1.9 billion to combat the Zika threat, but lawmakers have yet to agree on a spending package.

More information

Visit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for more on the Zika virus.

This Q&A will tell you what you need to know about Zika.

To see the CDC list of sites where Zika virus is active and may pose a threat to pregnant women, click here.

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Talking, Texting Teen Drivers Take Deadly Toll

By Steven Reinberg
HealthDay Reporter

WEDNESDAY, June 1, 2016 (HealthDay News) — There’s an epidemic of distracted driving that’s maiming — and in too many cases — killing people in crashes involving teen drivers, a new report shows.

A full 60 percent of car crashes involving teenagers occur while these young and inexperienced drivers are talking, texting or are otherwise distracted. And this happens far more often during the summer, according to the American Automobile Association (AAA).

“I think everyone gets that distracted driving is bad and you shouldn’t do it, but until now parents didn’t have data in front of them to suggest that it was a much bigger problem that they should be concerned about for their teens,” said Jake Nelson, director of traffic safety advocacy and research at the AAA.

For the study, researchers at the University of Iowa and the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety analyzed the moments leading up to a crash in more than 2,200 videos from in-car dashboard cameras.

The researchers found these top three distractions for teens:

• Talking to passengers accounted for 15 percent of crashes.
• Talking, texting or operating a cellphone accounted for 12 percent of crashes.
• Looking at something inside the car accounted for 11 percent of crashes.

According to the AAA report, released June 1, more than 1,000 people die in crashes involving teen drivers every year. And summer is the most dangerous season, when the average number of deaths involving teen drivers aged 16 to 19 increases 16 percent per day compared with other times of the year.

In the report, the researchers also found teens were more likely to be texting or looking at the phone than talking on it.

Such distractions can cut a young life short. Just ask Martha Tessmer.

Her 16-year-old son, Donovan, was three weeks from starting his senior year in high school in 2007 when he was killed in a car crash.

He was in a car driven by another teen. The other teen passengers were goading the girl to go faster, Tessmer said. The teasing continued until she lost control and crashed the car into one tree and then another. None of the kids was wearing a seat belt and Donovan was thrown from the car and killed. The others survived, Tessmer said.

The other passengers and the driver later told Tessmer they were afraid when they were going so fast, and if someone had spoken up she would have slowed down.

For Tessmer, the lesson is that “if they’re afraid, whether they’re the driver or the passenger, their one voice could be what saved their life and the life of the other people in that car. Don’t ever hesitate to speak up.”

Teens should know this could happen to them, Tessmer said. “It only takes one bad choice in a car to become reckless and distracted, and all the good decisions in life are canceled out — that’s what happened to Donovan,” she said.

AAA’s Nelson said distracted driving makes crashes more likely because it “makes you less likely to react quickly to a dangerous situation.”

Also, a phenomenon called “attention blindness” — when you don’t see something right in front of you because you’re focused on something else — can be deadly, he said.

Nelson noted that many states now have graduated driving licenses, which make teens safer drivers because they have limits on the number of teen passengers and also the times of day when they can drive.

Parents are the most effective deterrent to distracted driving, Nelson said. “The single most important step parents can take is to model safe driving behavior, and talk to their kids over and over and over again about the dangers of distracted driving,” he said.

Keeping cellphones out of the hands of teen drivers is a top priority for AAA, Nelson said.

The association urges parents to teach their teens about the dangers of distracted driving with these tips:

• Talk early and often about the dangers of distraction.
• Have a parent-teen agreement that sets rules against distracted driving.
• Teach by example — keep your eyes on the road while driving.

Dr. Barbara Pena, research director of the emergency department at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital in Miami, agrees that parents have a pivotal role to play in making sure their teens drive safely.

“Parents need to be on top of them, reminding them of the dangers of distracted driving and leading them by example,” she said.

More information

Visit the American Automobile Association for more on distracted driving.

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Bar pull-ups: tips and perks

Increase your back strength with bar pull-ups. Here's how to get it right.

A strong back is integral to a strong, high functioning, lean body, and pull-ups are like a laser pointer for your flip side. They’re also bloody tough.

“Pull-ups are one of the toughest bodyweight exercises you can do and they do take a long time to master,” says  PT and founder of business KE Fitness Kris Etheridge.

Yet beginners who withstand the burn will witness rapid gains. “You’re going to have to be patient, but you should be improving in strength each week when you first start out.” Etheridge advises strengthening your biceps and upper back using the assisted pull-up/chin-up machine, lat pull-down machine and seated row machine. “If you don’t have access to these machines, a great way to work on your chin-ups or pull-ups is to loop a large power band (a thick circular rubber band) over a chin-up bar and put one of your feet in it,” Etheridge says. “This will help lift some of your body weight. As you get better, you can change to lighter bands until you’re achieving this all on your own.” When performing pull-ups, remember to use your lats (the broadest muscle on your back) and not just your arms.

Perks: “Pull-ups target the upper back, particularly the lats, and also work the biceps and abdominals,” Etheridge says. Not only will pull-ups become easier the more you practise due to the increased muscle you’re producing in conjunction with a loss of body fat, but these will also help for advancing in other exercises. “Having a strong upper back will allow you to progress to more challenging exercises like Olympic lifting,” Etheridge says. 

Injury insurance:  If you’re overweight, be careful not to overdo this exercise at the start, as pull-ups are very demanding. Generally speaking, the bigger you are, the more difficult you will find pull-ups as you have more weight to lift. There’s a reason most rock climbers are lean after all! If you have shoulder, upper back or neck injuries, ask a professional if pull-ups are an appropriate exercise for your needs. 

Pull-up challenge

Instructions: Emphasising the correct technique, INCLUDE PULL-UPS IN YOUR WORKOUT TWO TO THREE TIMES PER WEEK.

Week one–two - Using the heavy power band, perform two sets of 15 reps. 

Week three–four - Change to the moderate strength resistance band, and perform three sets of eight reps. 

Week five - Reduce the resistance to the light band and perform four sets of three reps. 

Week six - Perform three sets of three reps of negative pull-ups. Here you’re avoiding the pulling up phase and just doing the lowering movement without a band to help. It should take you three to five seconds to lower, and the slower, the better!  

Once you can perform the above comfortably, you’re ready to try the real thing!

Looking for more upper body workouts? Try this toning upper body workout. 

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Bar pull-ups: tips and perks

Increase your back strength with bar pull-ups. Here's how to get it right.

A strong back is integral to a strong, high functioning, lean body, and pull-ups are like a laser pointer for your flip side. They’re also bloody tough.

“Pull-ups are one of the toughest bodyweight exercises you can do and they do take a long time to master,” says  PT and founder of business KE Fitness Kris Etheridge.

Yet beginners who withstand the burn will witness rapid gains. “You’re going to have to be patient, but you should be improving in strength each week when you first start out.” Etheridge advises strengthening your biceps and upper back using the assisted pull-up/chin-up machine, lat pull-down machine and seated row machine. “If you don’t have access to these machines, a great way to work on your chin-ups or pull-ups is to loop a large power band (a thick circular rubber band) over a chin-up bar and put one of your feet in it,” Etheridge says. “This will help lift some of your body weight. As you get better, you can change to lighter bands until you’re achieving this all on your own.” When performing pull-ups, remember to use your lats (the broadest muscle on your back) and not just your arms.

Perks: “Pull-ups target the upper back, particularly the lats, and also work the biceps and abdominals,” Etheridge says. Not only will pull-ups become easier the more you practise due to the increased muscle you’re producing in conjunction with a loss of body fat, but these will also help for advancing in other exercises. “Having a strong upper back will allow you to progress to more challenging exercises like Olympic lifting,” Etheridge says. 

Injury insurance:  If you’re overweight, be careful not to overdo this exercise at the start, as pull-ups are very demanding. Generally speaking, the bigger you are, the more difficult you will find pull-ups as you have more weight to lift. There’s a reason most rock climbers are lean after all! If you have shoulder, upper back or neck injuries, ask a professional if pull-ups are an appropriate exercise for your needs. 

Pull-up challenge

Instructions: Emphasising the correct technique, INCLUDE PULL-UPS IN YOUR WORKOUT TWO TO THREE TIMES PER WEEK.

Week one–two - Using the heavy power band, perform two sets of 15 reps. 

Week three–four - Change to the moderate strength resistance band, and perform three sets of eight reps. 

Week five - Reduce the resistance to the light band and perform four sets of three reps. 

Week six - Perform three sets of three reps of negative pull-ups. Here you’re avoiding the pulling up phase and just doing the lowering movement without a band to help. It should take you three to five seconds to lower, and the slower, the better!  

Once you can perform the above comfortably, you’re ready to try the real thing!

Looking for more upper body workouts? Try this toning upper body workout. 

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