Health & Wellness - August 2015 Archives

The end of summer is fast approaching ... and millions of youngsters across the country are getting ready to return to the classroom. On this ...

ROCHESTER, Minn. — Two collaborative networks led by Mayo Clinic were approved for three-year funding awards by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI), becoming part of PCORnet, the National Patient-Centered Clinical Research Network. PCORnet is a large collaborative initiative designed to link researchers, patient communities, clinicians and health systems in productive research partnerships that leverage the power of large volumes of health data maintained by the partner networks. PCORnet will enable the nation to conduct clinical research more quickly and less expensively, and ensure that research focuses on the questions and outcomes that matter most to patients and those who care for them. PCORnet consists of two types of networks working toward that combined goal:  clinical data research networks and patient powered research networks. Mayo is involved with both types of networks and received awards for the following: Patient-Centered Network of Learning Health Systems (LHSNet), which includes partners across six states and nine academic medical centers, health care systems, public health departments, and private health plans touching approximately 10 million individual lives, including patients in underserved and rural areas. LHSNet received more than $8.6 million for the three year project period. National Alzheimer's and Dementia Patient and Caregiver-Powered Research Network (AD PCPRN), which received more than $1.53 million, is co-led by USAgainstAlzheimer’s (USA2), the University of California, San Francisco’s, Brain Health Registry and Mayo Clinic. MEDIA CONTACTS: Elizabeth Zimmermann Young or Colette Gallagher, Mayo Clinic Public Affairs, 507-284-5005, newsbureau@mayo.edu

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_JED07WxWc In our society, we are constantly bombarded by news. Cell phones, the Internet, television, radio and other outlets allow an ever-present stream of ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OWNVKTNM9RQ Getting ready for a new school year can be exciting for children, parents and caregivers. It may also be a major cause of anxiety or stress. ...

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: My father is 84 and lives on his own. He is in very good health but seems to have lost some weight in the last few months. He says he just doesn’t have much of an appetite. Would having him try meal replacement drinks be a good idea, or should he see his doctor first? ANSWER: Before he starts using meal replacement drinks or other diet supplements, encourage your father to see his doctor. Weight loss in older adults can sometimes signal an underlying health issue. It’s important to have unexplained weight loss evaluated to investigate the cause and make sure there isn’t a bigger problem that needs attention. When you go to see your doctor, one of the first things you do is step on a scale. The focus often is on the positive benefits of weight loss, and losing a few pounds typically is seen as a healthy step. Although that may be the case for some older adults, too, for many people in their 70s, 80s and beyond, weight loss may be the first sign of a health problem. That’s particularly true if an individual is losing weight without intentionally trying to do so.

At back-to-school time, many parents and caregivers make checklists to ensure children have the supplies they need for the school year. Mayo Clinic Children's Center ...

The end of summer is fast approaching ... and millions of youngsters across the country are getting ready to return to the classroom. On this back-to-school edition ...

Once viewed with skepticism, complementary and integrative medicine is now playing an increasingly important role in modern health care. On the next program, Dr. Brent ...

THIS WEEK'S TOP STORIES  Artificial sweeteners and other sugar substitutes Trying to cut back on sugar? Take a closer look at the alternatives — as well as their possible health benefits and risks. Legionnaires' disease A recent outbreak of Legionnaires' disease in New York may have you wondering if it could also happen near you. Learn more about this severe form of pneumonia. EXPERT ANSWERS Free blood pressure machines: Are they accurate? There are better ways to get a reliable blood pressure reading than with the machines in drugstores and supermarkets. Ear stapling for weight loss: Does it work? Dropping unwanted pounds by having your ears stapled probably won't work and may pose serious risks. Click here to get a free e-subscription to the Housecall newsletter.

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: In the summer, my kids play outdoors most of the day, and we have found ticks on their clothing. Is Lyme disease something I should be worried about? What are the early symptoms? Does bug spray keep ticks away? ANSWER: Lyme disease is the most common illness spread by ticks in the United States. So it is worth taking precautions to prevent this disease, especially if your children play in wooded, grassy or bushy areas and you live or vacation in an area where Lyme disease is prevalent. Lyme disease is caused by a bacterium, called Borrelia burgdorferi. Black-legged ticks, also known as deer ticks, which feed on the blood of animals and humans, can carry the bacteria and spread it when they feed. The ticks tend to live in long grasses, bushes, shrubs and forested areas. If your children play where grass is short or their play area is covered with another material, then ticks aren’t a big concern. If, however, they go hiking in the woods or play in long grass, or if your yard has a significant number of bushes and shrubs, then you need to take steps to make it less likely that your children will end up with ticks.

Gardening restores the body and soul Gardening helps you get some exercise, stay healthy and nourish your spirit. Your plants give back, too, with beauty ...

August 1-7 is World Breastfeeding Week, and the The World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA)  wants women to continue breast-feeding when they return to the ...