Health & Wellness - July 2013 Archives

Mayo Clinic President and CEO John Noseworthy, M.D., issued the following statement in reaction to the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s vote to approve Medicare payment legislation ...

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says mysterious stomach infections have been reported in at least 14 states: Iowa, Texas, Nebraska, Florida, Wisconsin, Illinois, Georgia, Missouri, Arkansas, Connecticut, Kansas, Minnesota, New Jersey and Ohio. It's thought to be a Cyclospora infection, linked to package lettuce.  Cyclospora infection causes watery, and sometimes explosive, diarrhea. The one-celled parasite that causes cyclospora infection can enter the body through ingesting contaminated food or water. Fresh produce is the culprit in many cases of Cyclospora infection. Because diarrhea can be caused by many things, it can be difficult to diagnose Cyclospora infection. A specialized test is required to identify the Cyclospora parasite in stool samples. Treatment for Cyclospora infection is antibiotics. Food safety precautions may help to prevent the disease. Read more: Symptoms, Treatments, Prevention  

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: My grandson played rugby in college. He suffered a concussion and now has trouble with many mental functions, including maintaining thoughts. His peripheral vision has been affected and noise prevents him from working. What could help him return to normal? He is 23 years old and should be in the prime of his life. Instead, he just stays in the house all the time. ANSWER: Symptoms caused by a concussion often go away within several weeks. But sometimes they may last much longer. In those cases, it can be useful to consult a physician who has expertise in treating concussions. Ongoing care, including rehabilitation therapy, may help your grandson better manage his symptoms and return to a more active lifestyle.

http://youtu.be/KZZ_kf3ByYw The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, of which Mayo Clinic is a partner, is announcing a preliminary recommendation that people at high risk for lung cancer consider having annual low-dose CT scans. Smoking is the biggest risk factor for developing lung cancer, resulting in 85 percent of the lung cancers in the United States, and high-risk individuals are those 55 to 80 years old with a "30 pack year or greater smoking history."  That can translate as someone who has smoked a pack a day for 30 years or someone who smoked two packs a day for 15 years. Results of the National Lung Screening Trial, published in the fall of 2011, suggested that smokers and former smokers might benefit from lung CT scan screening. It found a 20 percent reduction in lung cancer deaths with CT scan screening. Federal agencies and medical professionals have been discussing the findings ever since. Mayo Clinic took part in that trial, and thoracic surgeon Stephen Cassivi, M.D., calls today's announcement a mandate that will certainly save lives. Journalists: B-roll of a patient having a lung CT scan and sound bites with Drs. Cassivi and Midthun are available in the downloads.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhirPWjaCZ8

Mayo Clinic on Pregnancy is a trustworthy guide to pregnancy, childbirth and baby’s first three months. It was developed to leverage the medical and lifestyle expertise of Mayo's team of pregnancy experts in obstetrics and gynecology, genetics, nutrition, midwifery, and lactation. Plans are underway to release the app for Android devices later this year. Roger Harms, M.D., a Mayo Clinic specialist in obstetrics and gynecology, says, “Getting pregnant and becoming a parent are among the most significant experiences in a person's life and can be overwhelming. This app will guide you from conception to delivery, and see you through the first three months with your newborn to give you peace of mind and enhance your sense of wonder throughout the experience.” Click here for news release. Journalists: Sound bites with Dr. Harms and b-roll of a patient using the app are available in the downloads http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hgv8jQJHKv8

THIS WEEK'S TOP STORIES Chronic stress puts your health at risk See how constant stress wreaks havoc on your body and mind, and what you can do about it. Stress relievers: Tips to tame stress Stress getting to you? Try these tips to find relief. EXPERT ANSWERS Coughing after quitting smoking: What's the deal? Coughing after you quit smoking might be a sign that your body is starting to heal. Artificial tears: How to select eyedrops for dry eyes Artificial tears can provide help in treating dry eyes. Find out what to look for when choosing artificial tears. HEALTHY RECIPES Shrimp marinated in lime juice and Dijon mustard Salad greens with pears, fennel and walnuts Grilled salmon on sourdough bread Sauteed fresh corn HEALTH TIP OF THE WEEK Nutrition: Does it come in a pill? Nutritional supplements abound. Still, if you want to improve and protect your health, think real food. If you depend on supplements rather than eating a variety of foods, you miss the potential benefits of antioxidants, fiber and other nutrients that only whole, unprocessed foods can provide. For example, you can get vitamin C from a pill or from an orange. But the orange is the better choice because it also provides fiber, beta carotene, calcium and other nutrients.

Likelihood of Child Outgrowing Food Allergy Depends of Type, Severity of Allergy July 26, 2013 Dear Mayo Clinic: Is it possible for children ...

On Saturday, July 27, Abinash Virk, M.D., will join us to discuss the Mayo Clinic Travel Clinic.  Different destinations around the world have different recommendations and sometimes requirements for ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xedc5Be-ZnI   After surviving two separate lung transplant procedures in 2005 and 2008, musician Larry Rawdon is sharing new ways of healing through music with other patients at Mayo Clinic in Florida. It was, after all, music that led him to Mayo Clinic and aided in his recovery after he was diagnosed in 2002 with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.  Read more in Sharing Mayo Clinic. Journalists: B-roll and sound bites with Larry Rawdon are available in the downloads. High resolution photos are available by clicking on its thumbnail below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-kPWEZThklw&feature=youtu.be&hd=1 Bipolar disorder evolves differently in patients who also binge eat, according to a study by Mayo Clinic, the Lindner Center of HOPE and the University of Minnesota. Binge eating and obesity are often present among bipolar patients, but researchers discovered the mood disorder appears to take a different path in those who binge eat than it does in obese bipolar patients who do not. Study co-author Mark Frye, M.D., a psychiatrist and chair of the Department of Psychiatry/Psychology at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, says, “The illness is more complicated, and then by definition how you would conceptualize how best to individualize treatment is more complicated. It really underscores the importance of trying to stabilize mood, because we know when people are symptomatic of their bipolar illness their binge frequency is likely to increase. We want to work with treatments that can be helpful but not have weight gain as a significant side effect.” Up to 4 percent of Americans have some form of bipolar illness, and of those, just under 10 percent also have binge eating disorder — a higher rate of binge eating than seen in the general population. The findings are published online in the Journal of Affective Disorders. Click here for news release  Journalists: Sound bites with Dr. Frye are available in the downloads

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yp0ShGzTxzQ Many African-American women are willing to participate in medical research, but few are being asked. That’s one conclusion of a survey by Mayo Clinic and The Links, Incorporated being presented at the National Medical Association conference in Toronto. The findings are from results of a self-administered survey of 381 members of The Links, Incorporated, a national African-American women’s service organization, during their 2012 National Assembly. The study was conducted to determine the experience-based knowledge, beliefs and practices about involvement in research studies by African-American women. Mayo Clinic epidemiologist presenting the study, Joyce Balls-Berry, Ph.D., says, “Overall, we’re pleased to see a high level of knowledge about medical research, as well as willingness to participate in a variety of research studies like biobank and genetic studies. However, our findings indicate that we still need to improve understanding of research risks, assure participants of the ethical conduct of research and increase specific levels of participation.” Click here for news release  Journalists: Office b-roll and sound bites with Dr. Balls-Berry are availabe in the downloads

 Join @USNewsHealth for a #PatientChat on Thursday. Learn how to take charge of your health care: http://bit.ly/15bNLTn.  The discussion follows last week’s release of Best Hospitals, a resource for patients with particularly difficult or complex conditions. It ranks America’s best hospitals across various geographical regions and in 16 medical specialties. Deciding on a hospital is only part of the process, though. The chat will be held to help further the conversation and to guide consumers’ choices. Our experts are prepared to discuss how patients in a hospital can take ownership of their care and become actively engaged and informed about their treatment. This includes topics such as computerized health records, being honest with your doctor and getting the most out of your visit.   Mayo Clinic experts joining the chat: Victor Montori, M.D., @vmontori, Sharonne Hayes, M.D.,@SharonneHayes and Annie LeBlanc, Ph.D., @Annie_LeBlanc Date: Thursday, July 25 Time: 2 to 3 p.m. ET Hashtag: #PatientChat Moderator: @USNewsHealth View Live chat stream below: