Flu Shot Confusion

One thing I can assure you, this is not going to be the last report you hear, this fall, about H1N1 or different flu vaccines. It’s going to be something we talk about all fall long. But one thing you should be aware of is there are two different vaccines that will be out there. There’s one called the seasonal flu vaccine, that’s the influenza vaccine, much like the one we get every year; you get in the fall into the winter. It goes against 3 specific influenza viruses, the one they think are most likely to hit. The other vaccine is the H1N1 vaccine. It’s going to be called the Novel flu vaccine. That particular vaccine isn’t even out yet, it’s being tested. They’re hoping it will come out in October. That vaccine, you’re going to have to get two doses 21 to 28 days apart, again all that information will be released as time goes on. Like I said, we haven’t heard anything close to the end of this. For more information, click onto www.MyMedicalReports.com.

H1N1 Update for College Students

Many colleges are already putting plans in place and publicizing those plans for students. Basically, if a student gets H1N1, they’re recommending that each students, that develops the problem, have transportation to go home as part of their preparedness. They should remain home for at least 24 hours after they no longer have fever, without the use of fever reducing medications. In addition to that, for students who need to remain on campus or can’t get home, they believe self-isolation is important, which includes, social distancing-keeping about 6 feet away from others, wearing a mask when moving into a shared bathroom, and also continuing frequent hand washing and the use of a hand sanitizer. Obviously all of theses things are important because they are anticipating problems ahead of time and that may be the most important way to reduce spread. For more information, click onto www.MyMedicalReports.com.

Foot Pain and Plantar Fasciitis

Plantar Fasciitis is a big medical term, but it’s an important one. It’s one which talks about the fact that sometimes people can have pain in their foot. Usually, it occurs when they first wake up in the morning. This pain can actually be quite difficult to deal with. It is pain that responds to stretching and to wearing comfortable shoes. But over a period of time, it may get worse and not respond to these simple treatments. You may have to see your doctor to have an evaluation, looking at what else can be done. For more information, click onto http://www.mymedicalreports.com/.

Treating Viral Sore Throats

Pharyngitis, or sore throats, are very common and we often treat them with antibiotics. But what we are learning, and we’re learning rapidly, is the fact that pharyngitis also can actually be treated quite well by trying to take a symptomatic approach. Gargling with salt water, those types of things, because many of the causes of sinus problems, ear problems, and even sore throat, are the fact that it’s a virus, not a bacteria, and we don’t necessarily need an antibiotic on board all the time. For more information, click onto http://www.mymedicalreports.com/.

Silent Heart Attacks

In four out of nine people who have had mild heart attacks, the event goes undetected. That's because patients do not recognize or dismiss the symptoms. Those most likely not to know they've had a heart attack are women, particularly those who are overweight, diabetics, and the elderly. The problem is people don't know when they are at risk for future problems if they don't know they had a heart attack in the first place. Now these findings are based on a study of 4000 men and women in the Netherlands. Of course, chest pain is the most common, but by no means the only sign that suffers notice. Other symptoms can occur, such as shoulder pain, jaw pain, arm pain and excessive sweating. People who have had a heart attack make certain lifestyle changes that can prevent future heart attacks. That's why it's important to know. For more information, click onto http://www.mymedicalreports.com/.

Mercury Filling Safety Controversy

It is a subject filled with controversy. Are those silver amalgam fillings safe? Well the question has been asked, because part of the silver amalgam filling is mercury, and mercury in high levels has been shown to increase the risk of kidney neurologic damage. Now, the long awaited studies found no evidence that dental fillings containing mercury can cause IQ lowering brain damage or other neurologic problems in children. These amalgam fillings, also called silver fillings, are made of mercury and other metals. They have been used for over 100 years. They are not used more often anymore because of resin composite fillings, which are considered more appealing, and because they match the teeth. The studies were published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. While the study revealed children with mercury fillings had higher mercury levels in their urine, there was no evidence they had a higher incidence of kidney damage. For more information, click onto http://www.mymedicalreports.com/.

Research on Back Problems

Back pain affects as many as eight out of 10 people at some point in their lives, but for some, the pain is more than an occasional strain or sprain. It is the result of a herniation or a protrusion of a disk in the back. These disks act like shock absorbers for the backbone and when they protrude, they can irritate nerves and cause severe pain. Now, a report in the journal Nature provides some insight into why some people have disk problems while others do not. A genetic variation associated with susceptibility to lumbar disk disease. A Japanese study has led to the isolation of an altered protein found in the cartilage of effected individuals. A protein is shown to interact with a growth factor previously associated with connective tissue disorders. What this means is growth factor can affect how the disks in the backbone are made, causing some to be more likely to be injured and cause pain. For more information, click onto http://www.mymedicalreports.com/.

Overuse Injuries in Endurance Athletes

Are you an endurance athlete, or on the path to running that first marathon, or participating as a tri-athlete? Or are you a person who runs that daily 5k? At first glance, you are to be commended because you are clearly doing all you can to stay in condition and keeping your heart healthy, but there is a down side. You know the phrase, "Everything in moderation?" Well, that phrase is very true. Endurance athletes are definitely going beyond moderation and there are concerns. For instance, you are more likely to have overuse injuries; things like tendinitis, patellofemoral pain syndrome, plantar fasciitis, and stress fractures. You get the idea. A lot of wear and tear. Many of these sections can be treated by rest. Necessary rehab can help as well, but you need to make sure you train and go over it with your physician. It's essential. For more information, click onto http://www.mymedicalreports.com/.

Evaluating the Cause of a Runny Nose

A runny nose does go along with allergies. It's important when you're talking about a runny nose that you understand that clearly a runny nose can be a sign of more than allergies. For instance, anything that causes vasodilation or enlargement in the nose can actually cause those problems associated with allergies. That's why I think it's important that you look into the different causes and the different ways they can be managed. I think, clearly, that's the best way to attack it. For more information, click onto http://www.mymedicalreports.com/.

Research on Alcohol and Heart Disease

Researchers at St. Luke's Hospital in Kansas City have added their input to the growing number of studies looking at alcohol consumption and heart disease. According to their report, an interesting study of almost 2,500 individuals confirmed that moderate alcohol consumption, one to two drinks daily, was associated with a reduced risk of angina, or chest pain, one year after having a heart attack. They compared this to both abstinence and heavy alcohol consumption. Now, in case you were wondering, drinking too much, that's more than four drinks a day, was associated with an increased risk of angina. What we are learning again and again is that moderate alcohol appears to be helpful but a person must stay in that range. Another warning, if you are someone who has had battles with alcohol abuse, I don't think it's worth the risk. You should be very careful about making alcohol a part of your life. For more information, click onto http://www.mymedicalreports.com/.

Women and the Wandering Eye

Researchers say it's more than a wondering eye that might cause a woman to stray. Feelings of lust actually may be rooted in a woman's biology, according to a small study of 38 college women in a scholarly journal Hormones and Behavior. Studies from the University of California Los Angeles and New Mexico suggest an evolutionary tendency toward infidelity during ovulation, which is the most fertile part of the menstrual cycle. The study suggests the propensity is more likely if women don't view their partners as sexy. Along those evolutionary lines, men, more than women, desire a variety of sexual partners, because genes carrying that trait were passed along in men. Women tend to be choosier. Previous research has found that women at mid-cycle report greater sexual attraction to men other than their partners. That's a result of ancestral belief that good looks often equal good genes for offspring. For more information, click onto http://www.mymedicalreports.com/.

Dealing With Back Pain

It may be the most common cause of pain visits to a doctor's office. In fact, it could be, perhaps, one of the top five reasons for a person going to a doctor's office. I'm talking about visits to have back pain treated. Basically, a lot of people want a surgical action. They want an answer. They want something perhaps through medication, narcotics, all sorts of things. But, believe it or not, some of the best ways to deal with pain are through stretching, relaxation, and exercise. It sounds crazy, but it works. For more information, click onto http://www.mymedicalreports.com/

Mid-Afternoon Naps May Reduce Heart Disease

Hey! Don’t feel guilty the next time you fall asleep at work. That mid-afternoon nap could be good for your health, according to the largest study to date on the health effects of napping on over 26,000 Greek men who were followed for six years. Now, according to their findings, a little mid-day snooze seems to reduce risks for fatal heart problems. Those who napped at least three times a week for 30 minutes, they had a 37% lower risk of dying from heart attacks or other heart problems than those who did not nap. A daytime siesta, or nap, is popular in many cultures, especially those in warmer climates. Mediterranean-style eating habits featuring fruit, vegetable, beans and olive oil have been credited with contributing to relatively low rates of heart disease when combined with these naps. Interesting study. For more information, click onto www.MyMedicalReports.com.

Research on Vitamin D and Cancer Prevention

Recently, there have been a number of important studies looking at vitamin D and calcium supplements and how they help prevent cancer. All of these reports were based on the findings of a study that was initially designed to see if vitamin D helped fight osteoporosis. Yes, they found vitamin D helped fight osteoporosis, but the researchers also found that they reduced cancer incidence. Now, there is one problem. The numbers were very small so it’s difficult to draw any definite conclusion regarding recommendations or direct impact, but there was about a 60% reduction in cancers overall across the board. Again, it’s a small population. So, what’s my take? Obviously, more studies will be done, but it is clear that vitamin D will help fight cancer, at least to a small extent, and you get the added advantage of strengthening the bones. For more information, click onto http://www.mymedicalreports.com/.

The Importance of Prenatal Care

Prenatal care may be one of the most important parts of pregnancy and an excellent way to increase the odds of having a healthy child. I'm a big believer that the earlier you monitor and deal with a child and childbirth, the better the long-term results. There is no doubt that prenatal care is the way to try and maximize a good delivery. Not only that, but if there's going to be problem, if the child is being watched closely, that problem can be allayed. If it's dealt with early and efficiently, that means the child actually will have an opportunity to do better in delivery. Now, make sure you choose a doctor who you can communicate with, as well as a staff and a hospital that's supportive. I think that's the most important thing to realize, that you actually want to have all those implemented plans in place. For more information, click onto www.MyMedicalReports.com.

Reducing Stress During the Financial Crisis

I can't give you much help on the financial crisis. We have to leave that to the experts, but I can give you advice on how to weather it from a health standpoint. This advice is the same whether you're simply fighting day to day battles over rising gas prices and their effect on the pocketbook, or if you're caught up as a victim in the mortgage crisis. You need to take time, at least a half hour a day, to stretch, exercise, and clear your mind. I don't care if the exercise is a quiet walk by a creek or a game of racket ball, do what your physician allows and build slowly. Block those worries out of your mind. We all need down time and you will begin to cherish it. Remember, far more important than your retirement plan or any money in the bank is guarding your health. Every day, I see patients in the hospital who could care less about money in the bank. They just want to feel better. For more information, click onto http://www.mymedicalreports.com/.

Healthy Eating for Cancer Prevention

If you had to pick one way to reduce your risk of getting cancer, it would be not smoking cigarettes. But what if you’re not a smoker? What’s the next best step for you? Well, according to a report from a recent cancer meeting, you should watch your diet. Meals consisting of fruits and vegetables and soy are excellent defense. Work at the University of California Los Angeles has isolated two chemicals. One called dindolemethane or DIM and another called, isoflavone, that’s found in vegetables and soy, that can reduce the production of dangerous proteins that can lead to cancer. The bottom line? You don’t have to worry about chemical’s names. Just remember this. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables. That’s what’s going to make a real big difference. If you follow it, it will work out for you. For more information, click onto www.MyMedicalReports.com.

Weight Loss, Heart Health and Whole Grains

It is another case of people learning more over time. We all know about losing weight by cutting calories. We also know quite well it's very difficult to cut calories for one major reason. Hunger. But there may be a very simple solution out there and it's worth looking into. According to a Penn State report in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, the key to losing weight and maintaining heart health could be by taking advantage of healthy grains. Researchers found those who trimmed calories and increased their whole grain intake shed more belly fat and lowered their blood levels of C-reactive protein, or CRP. Now, why is CRP important? It's a marker of chronic low-level inflammation in the blood vessels and both abdominal fat and CRP in excess are linked to heart attack and stroke. For more information, click onto www.MyMedicalReports.com.

Understanding Chronic Pain

We often talk about chronic pain in our reports. Numerous studies have been performed looking at ways to treat chronic pain, but what is the official definition, and more important, what can be done about it? Well, officially speaking, chronic pain is pain that persists for longer than six months. Of course, that is a rough guideline. It’s basically pain that is lingering. As for treatment, pain medications are an option, but it’s important to realize this only puts a bandage, so to speak, on the problem. With chronic pain, it’s more important to find a cause or a treatment. Many of the treatments for chronic pain are commonsense, like stretching and strengthening exercises. Another important step is to learn how to change daily activities to avoid making pain worse. No matter what the cause, people with chronic pain benefit from stress reduction. For more information, click onto www.MyMedicalReports.com.

Google Flu Trends

It can be scary and overwhelming in a sense, but it can also be a good thing. The search engine Google knows a lot more about you than you think, like which United States state you're in. You can also search your input into a computer. Google has a new health initiative called Google Flu Trends which looks at the various health trends. Basically, they like to follow data about the flu. Recently, they started this with the thought that if there is a flu outbreak in the United States, where flu-related search terms are currently looked at might be the location. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention doesn't think it's a crazy idea. They're working with Google on the project. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will also continue to rely on surveillance data from physicians, but it shows, once again, how with the Internet, input by various people, individuals, can have a big effect. For more information, click onto http://www.mymedicalreports.com/.

Recognizing Tension Headaches

It is the most common form of headache. It’s called the tension headache. Tension headaches get worse as the day goes on. You actually feel the pressure in your forehead and into the back of the head, past the occipital muscles. A tension headache is relatively easy to deal with if you can find out what has lead to the difficulty. If you don’t find out what the tension is, you may find yourself finding that you’re having pain and taking medications on a routine basis. Take the time to deal with tension headache. For more information, click onto www.MyMedicalReports.com.

Children's Vision and Amblyopia

One of the major reasons that you should have your child’s vision checked is to screen for a problem called Amblyopia. Amblyopia is an impairment of vision which is best described as a difference in vision between the two eyes. Now, as many as 5% of children have Amblyopia. There are certain clues in kids less than three. A squint can be a clue to the diagnosis. Now, not every child whose squints has it but if the squinting occurs regularly, it certainly is worth checking it out. There are numerous treatments for Amblyopia but each has the goal of challenging the weakened eye to make it stronger. The problem is that during development the stronger eye can take over and ultimately render the other eye relatively useless. Only detection and treatment can help prevent this. Of course the key is to make sure the problem is recognized and you get your child to the physician. For more information, click onto www.MyMedicalReports.com.

Fatty Diet Is Linked to Ear Infections in Children

Several months ago, we reported that children who eat large amounts of fatty foods are at greater risk for ear infections. Basically, it was an interesting study and at the time I mentioned it, I could not think of a reason why this is the case, but the numbers were dramatic. According to the National Institute for Deafness and Other Communication Disorders and University of Florida researchers, it might be due to damage to a nerve called the chorda tympani. The nerve starts at the front of the tongue and picks up taste sensations, then it runs through the middle ear to the brain where it delivers messages about what the tongue tasted. People with repeated infections can have damage to the nerve. When the nerve is damaged, people become more sensitive to fatty foods and basically things like butter and creamy, slippery things taste better. The food doesn't taste different really, but feeling fatty sensations more intensely makes people want the foods. It's an interesting concept. For more information, click onto http://www.mymedicalreports.com/.

Women and Depression

Studies have shown that women are more likely to suffer from clinical depression. When women are down in the dumps, they often think they should snap out of it, but it’s not that easy. Depression is on the rise in women. Women are two to three times more likely than men to experience the problems of depression. It’s a serious health threat, and at times when women are supposed to be happiest, during and after pregnancy, that’s a time when depression can really rear its ugly head. You have to realize, this is a risk, and think about it, and get help. For more information, click onto www.MyMedicalreports.com.

Childbirth Classes Can Be Very Helpful

Childbirth classes are a good way for moms and kids to bond, and basically to have parents get together and deal with the child as well. Childbirth class can provide moms-to-be with lots of useful information and help reduce the fear and uncertainty often associated with giving birth. The American Pregnancy Association is an organization that strongly supports these classes, and among a litany of reasons for attending these classes, they suggest that you learn about options and methods to help control pain, including breathing and relaxation techniques. In addition, talking about your fears, questions, and expectations with other participants can help relieve anxiety and better prepare couples for delivery. Another key point, taking a tour of the hospital where you plan to have your baby, often where the class is offered, allows you to become familiar with the environment. For more information, click onto www.MyMedicalReports.com.

Lung Cancer in Non-Smokers

The death of actress Dana Reeve in 2006 gained a great deal of attention, not just because she was the widow of Christopher Reeve, who played Superman and was paralyzed from a horse-back riding injury, but because Dana Reeve died of lung cancer and she was not a smoker. This is a very important point because this is a study which really has looked at smoking and non-smoking and found that yes, certain people can develop lung cancer, even if they don’t smoke. Now, I want to stress a point. Far and away, cigarette smoking is the greatest risk for lung cancer. That being said, there are people who have a gene which increases their risk of lung cancer, even if they don’t smoke. The bottom line is, you want to get tested if necessary, if you have the gene in your family. But, don’t smoke anyway because that would still increase the risk above the regular average.

Fighting Parents and Children's Behavioral Problems

There is a new study in the latest issue of the journal Child Development and it’s raising questions. Let’s start with the study. According to researchers from the University of Virginia, parents fighting likely doesn’t cause children’s behavioral problems such as skipping school, lying, shoplifting or bullying. The study was well done. It looked at over 1,000 identical and fraternal twins and more than 2,000 of their children. What the study found is, parents who argued passed on genes that influence whether or not the children will argue and get into disruptive relationships. The report goes against other studies. They have suggested that parents who are in argumentative relationships may be better suited to separate. The study supports the concept that couples should try and work out issues. They need to do it with guidance and with counseling. It’s all very important. For more information, click onto http://www.mymedicalreports.com/.

Research on Toddlers and Learning

There is new research from Vanderbilt University that provides some excellent insights into ways toddlers learn. The research follows up on studies using MRI to evaluate areas of the brain that are affected. In this particular study, two-year-olds were tested to look at differences in learning from video and face-to-face interaction. Some of the children watched the video of a woman telling them where to find a stuffed animal hidden in another room. Other children received the same information from the same woman in person. Children who watched the video rarely found the toy animal. Those who were told in position did, and here’s where gets interesting. Researchers followed this with an interactive video. A closed-circuit video system enables the woman on the screen to respond to the children through conversation and games. After five minutes, those children did respond. For more information, click onto www.MyMedicalReports.com.

Dietary Sources of Vitamins are Best

Many people turn to vitamins to help them in various situations. There’s nothing wrong with that, however you have to realize that the best vitamins, they occur naturally. They occur naturally through diet, through exercise, through eating proper foods. Fruits and vegetables are chalked full of vitamins and vitamins can be gained by that source. What I think you need to realize is when you’re turning to vitamins, and you’re trying to figure out the best ones for you, you have to realize that you make sure you get natural vitamins, and if you’re going to buy something, check into them. For more information, click onto www.MyMedicalReports.com.

Excess Weight Around the Waist May Be a Major Health Risk

Where you carry your weight could be as important, if not more important, that how much you weigh. That's what British researchers say. They point to a study released about thick waists which shows that a thick waist almost doubles the risk of a premature death. This is not the first study to come to such a solution. The other key point is researchers found excess fat stored around the middle of the body was a major health risk, even when people are not considered obese or even overweight by statistical BMI standards. As I mentioned, this is not the first study to make this implication and I think it brings up a very interesting point. Physicians might consider routinely measuring patients' waists as well as their BMI on a routine office visit. If you carry too much weight in the waist, diet and exercise are equally effective as they are for people who carry excess weight somewhere else. For more information, click onto www.MyMedicalReports.com.

Flavored Medications and Child Safety

The medical term is compliance; getting patients to take prescribed medications and to take them consistently. It's one of those battles that's very tough to fight at times. The best way to do it is to explain carefully why the drugs need to be taken and to get all parties to buy in and believe in the importance. There are always other attempts to achieve this goal. One of the latest is to flavor medications. In fact, there are companies set up to do this to allow common medications to taste better. Now, it sounds good on the surface, but there's a problem. If medications taste good, they could be a temptation to kids. Then you have an issue of a child taking pills that could be extremely dangerous because of the taste. If you choose to go with flavored medications, please keep them away and make sure they have safety bottles. That's a very important issue. Make sure you use common sense and you don't put children at risk. For more information, click onto www.MyMedicalReports.com

Worrying and Health

Let's face it. Most of us spend far too much of our time worrying. We worry about our families, our money, our futures. We even worry about how much we worry. Numerous studies have shown too much worry is not good for us. The stress of worry can increase our blood pressure, the risk of heart disease, even cancer. But a recent study from the Trust for America's Health says we could be hurting our health by worrying about our health. According to the research 37% of people worried about cancer as their top health concern, 14% heart disease, 13% obesity, 11% chemical terrorism. Certainly worry is appropriate in doses, and it could be good for us in some respect. It can help prevent problems and anticipate problems down the line, but let's face it, you don't want to overdo it. For more information, click onto www.MyMedicalReports.com.