Health & Wellness - February 2014 Archives

The eyes have it! March is Save Your Vision month and we hope you can join us Saturday, March 1, at 9 a.m. CT, when the topic is eyesight. Ophthalmologists Sophie Bakri, M.D.; and Michael Mahr, M.D. will be with us to discuss macular degeneration, glaucoma and cataracts, in addition to workplace eye safety. Myth or Matter of Fact: Only patients with a family history can develop glaucoma. For a link to information on eating disorders discussed at the top of the show with Leslie Sim, Ph.D.,L.P., click Mayo Clinic or the AED webpage. To listen to the program LIVE, click here. Listen to this week’s Medical News Headlines: News Segment March 1, 2014 (right click MP3)

ROCHESTER, Minnesota — 27 de febrero de 2014 — Estos son los puntos más destacados de la edición de febrero de Mayo Clinic Health Letter. Puede citar esta publicación con la frecuencia que desee, pero para reimprimirla debe pagar una cuota.  Es necesario hacer referencia a Mayo Clinic Health Letter; por lo que según sus políticas editoriales, incluya la siguiente información para suscribirse: Visite  http://www.healthletter.mayoclinic.com/ o llame gratis para solicitar información sobre suscripciones al 800-333-9037, extensión 9771. Dormir mejor sin pastillas   Las personas mayores, por lo general, dicen que no pueden dormir bien por la noche. En un informe especial de ocho páginas, la edición de febrero de Mayo Clinic Health Letter trata sobre los cambios que pueden presentarse en el sueño con la edad y cómo dormir mejor sin tomar pastillas.  A pesar de que dormir mal no sea parte inevitable de la vejez, los sedantes se recetan con el doble de frecuencia a las personas mayores que a los más jóvenes. Estos medicamentos, tales como el zolpidem (Ambien y demás), la eszopiclona (Lunesta) o el zaleplón (Sonata), no deben usarse por más de cuatro u ocho semanas; sin embargo, muchos ancianos los toman durante meses o años, pese a los posibles efectos secundarios indeseados de somnolencia residual diurna, mareo, aturdimiento y alteración mental.    Mayo Clinic Health Letter habla sobre varias tácticas y métodos no medicamentosos de comprobada eficacia para aliviar el insomnio. Las tácticas incluyen lo siguiente:  Ejercicio. Se ha comprobado que incorporar el ejercicio de manera regular dentro de la rutina diaria mejora el sueño. El ejercicio permite gastar más energía y aumenta la producción corporal de hormonas del “bienestar” (endorfinas). Ambas cosas probablemente conducen a dormir mejor. 

ESTIMADA MAYO CLINIC: Por todo lado escucho sobre los beneficios para la salud de los probióticos, pero quiero saber si existe algún efecto secundario negativo y si debo consultar con el médico antes de tomarlos. RESPUESTA: Algunas investigaciones han demostrado que los probióticos aportan beneficios a la salud, y al parecer, son especialmente útiles para promover la salud del sistema digestivo. Es raro que un adulto sano presente efectos secundarios debido a los probióticos, pero siempre es mejor consultar con el médico antes de empezar a consumirlos. Los probióticos contienen cepas de bacterias vivas, similares a las que normalmente se encuentran en el sistema digestivo. El objetivo de consumir probióticos es aumentar la cantidad de dichas bacterias sanas.

Miss the show? Here is the podcast! Mayo Clinic Radio Full Show 3-1-2014 March is Save Your Vision month and we hope you can join ...

ROCHESTER, Minnesota — 24 de febrero de 2014 — Los científicos de Mayo Clinic crearon otra llave para abrir el cerrojo de los secretos del genoma humano. El algoritmo de mapeo binario indexado, versión 3 (BIMA versión 3) es un algoritmo de computación muy disponible que identifica alteraciones en los genomas tumorales hasta 20 veces más rápido y con 25 por ciento mayor exactitud que otros programas conocidos de alineamiento genómico. Los resultados del BIMA se publicaron en la revista Bioinformática. El BIMA es un algoritmo para mapeo y alineación de la secuenciación de nueva generación, que se personaliza para procesar secuenciaciones pareadas de bibliotecas. La secuenciación pareada (mate pair) es un método integral y costo-eficaz para detectar cambios en todo el genoma. “El BIMA nos permite evaluar los genomas tumorales en una fracción del tiempo que toman muchas otras tecnologías conocidas”, comenta el Dr. George Vasmatzis, biólogo molecular de Mayo Clinic, director del Programa para Descubrimiento de Biomarcadores del Centro de Mayo Clinic para Medicina Personalizada y autor experto del trabajo.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWGv-OnU96o Mayo Clinic Expert Says Such an Ingredient Would Not Be Missed in Household Products Citing environmental concerns, Minnesota state legislators next month are expected to debate banning the use of the common antibacterial ingredient triclosan. By an executive order effective in 2013, Minnesota's governor had already barred state agencies from purchasing any hand washing, dish or laundry soaps containing triclosan. The concern is that natural chemical interactions in the environment will create dioxins that pose a threat to aquatic life. Dioxins also have been associated with an increased risk of cancer. Mayo Clinic infectious disease expert Pritish Tosh, M.D. says for the benefit of public health, fewer antibacterial products on the market could actually be a good thing. Dr. Tosh says the misuse of antibiotics and the overuse of antibacterial agents are at least partially to blame for the growth of so-called "super-bugs." Journalists: Sound bites with Dr. Tosh are available in the downloads. Sound bite #1  Resistant Bacteria Thrive (Dr. Pritish Tosh, Mayo Clinic) [pronounced: prih-TEESH Tahsh] "This is contributing worldwide to problems

LA CROSSE, Wis. Registration is now open for the second annual Big Blue Dragon Boat Race hosted by the Mayo Clinic Health System - Franciscan Healthcare. The race will take place on July 5, 2014, on the Mississippi River along La Crosse’s Riverside Park. The Dragon Boat Race is relatively new to the La Crosse community and is an exciting way to support and celebrate breast cancer survivors while promoting health and teamwork. The money from the event goes to the Mayo Clinic Health System - Franciscan Healthcare's Center for Breast Care, and the early-bird team registration fee is $700 if paid by April 15 and $800 afterwards. Not only does this event sponsor sport and exercise, but also spectacle, as the act of the race itself brings a diverse set of spectators from all over the area. Last year the race brought in over 2,500 people to watch the race unfold. According to Teri Wildt, associate director of External Affairs at Mayo Clinic Health System – Franciscan Healthcare, spectators and participants consisted of fitness enthusiasts, Rotarians, Franciscan Sisters, colleagues and breast cancer survivors. This year's race coordinators expect 60 teams to race head-to-head on the Mississippi River, with five separate divisions: corporate, mixed, men’s, breast cancer survivors and cancer survivors.

Findings May Help Make Immunizations More Effective  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KC4eyi8h1UA ROCHESTER, Minn. — Feb. 27, 2014 — Somali Americans develop twice the antibody response to rubella from the current vaccine compared to Caucasians in a new Mayo Clinic study on individualized aspects of immune response. A non-Somali, African-American cohort ranked next in immune response, still significantly higher than Caucasians, and Hispanic Americans in the study were least responsive to the vaccine. The findings appear in the journal Vaccine.  “This is fascinating,” says Gregory Poland, M.D., Mayo Clinic vaccinologist and senior author of the study. “We don’t know why these groups reacted so differently to the vaccine — that’s a subject for further studies — but this new information will help us as we design the vaccines of the future. It will ultimately change how we practice medicine.”

  DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I keep hearing about all of the health benefits of probiotics. Are there any negative side effects? Do I need to talk to my doctor before I take them? ANSWER: Some research has shown that taking probiotics may have health benefits. They appear to be especially useful in promoting digestive health. In healthy adults, side effects from probiotics are rare. Before you start taking probiotics, however, it is a good idea to discuss it with your doctor. Probiotics contain strains of living bacteria that are similar to the healthy bacteria normally found in your digestive system. The purpose of taking probiotics is to increase the levels of those healthy bacteria. You can get probiotics from your diet. For example, yogurt, some types of soft cheese such as Gouda, miso soup, sourdough bread and acidophilus milk all contain probiotics. Probiotics also are available in pill form as an over-the-counter dietary supplement.

Join @MayoClinic and @American_Heart for a #HeartChat moderated by @USAToday’s @LizSzabo 1-2 p.m. ET Wednesday, Feb. 26th Topics: Statins and blood pressure drugs Symptoms in stroke, heart attack and heart disease  Best ways to prevent heart disease Signs of heart attack or stroke Latest cardiovascular research Other heart/stroke organizations and renowned cardiovascular doctors and researchers will join. If you’ve never participated in a Twitter chat, be sure to watch this how-to video before jumping in. We recommend you use a website such as Tweetdeck.com or Twubs.com to more easily follow the flow of the conversation. 

There are many types of vasculitis. Some forms last only a short time (acute), while others are long lasting (chronic). Vasculitis, which is also known as angiitis and arteritis, can be so severe that the tissues and organs supplied by the affected vessels don't get enough blood. This shortage of blood can result in organ and tissue damage, even death. Vasculitis can affect anyone, though some types of vasculitis are more common among certain groups. Some forms of vasculitis improve on their own, but others require treatment — often including taking medications for an extended period of time. Learn more: Symptoms Causes Tests and Diagnosis

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cncY2VpwjWc When it comes to heart disease, men and women are not created equal, says the founder of Mayo Clinic's Women's Heart Clinic Sharonne Hayes, M.D. "Women have more risk factors and they have different risk factors," says Dr. Hayes. "Some of those are autoimmune diseases, like lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. They also have to go through all the vascular and physical changes of pregnancy." In spite of long held beliefs that men have more to worry about, more women die of heart attacks each year in the United States than men. That's why Dr. Hayes encourages women to take charge and be proactive every day to lower their heart disease risk. Journalists: Sound bites are available in the downloads. This is part 2 of Dr. Hayes' insights on women's heart health. Also see "Women and Heart Attacks" posted February 17, 2014. Sound bite #4 - Exercise Appointments (Dr. Sharonne Hayes, Mayo Clinic Cardiovascular Expert) "Schedule in exercise just like you would