Health & Wellness - June 2013 Archives

On Saturday, June 29, Randy Shelerud, M.D., will join us to discuss  back pain. Who’s a candidate for surgery?  Why are smoking and obesity bad for ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXOEeZAVtvw&feature=youtu.be&hd=1 Alyssa Sandeen, 23, of Mankato, Minn., received a heart transplant on Thursday, June 27; she has been hospitalized at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., since November 2012. “We are very happy for her, to get this second chance – this gift of life,” said Alyssa’s dad, Chris Sandeen, less than 24 hours after her transplant. This is Alyssa’s second heart transplant. She received her first heart transplant when she was 8 years old. At age 19, she received a kidney from her mother, Lisa. Richard Daly, M.D., Alyssa’s heart transplant surgeon, said today that Alyssa’s new heart is working well and her vital signs are very good. He cautioned, though, that it is too early to make predictions on her recovery. Dr. Daly and Alyssa’s parents expressed gratitude to the family of Alyssa’s donor. “Without organ donors, Alyssa wouldn’t be here,” Chris Sandeen said. “We are so grateful.” Many people across the world have been following Alyssa’s story on her Facebook page, Alyssa Sandeen Is A Blessing and her family will update followers on the page, as well as Alyssa’s CaringBridge page.   Journalists: The next media update will be posted the week of Monday, July 1.  Sound bites with Chris Sandeen are in the downloads. B-roll and sound bites from an interview with Alyssa taped in Feb. 2013 are also available in the downloads

Summer sports are in full swing for kids and the exercise they get on the court or on the field is certainly good for their ...

Mayo Clinic neurologist David Dodick, M.D., officially launched the 36 Million Migraine Campaign. It's named for the estimated 36 million Americans afflicted with chronic migraine headache pain. Dr. Dodick says if ...

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I have long suffered from allergies. But there have been times when I haven’t been sure if my symptoms are really from my allergies or may be caused by a sinus infection instead. How can I tell the difference? ANSWER: Allergies and sinus infections are often mistaken for one another. But they are two separate conditions. By paying close attention to the specific symptoms you have, you can usually identify which one is more likely to be causing the problem. A sinus infection, also called sinusitis, affects the cavities around your nasal passages. The infection causes your sinuses to become inflamed and swollen. The swelling makes it hard for your sinuses to drain, and mucus builds up. You become congested and have trouble breathing through your nose. Sinusitis often causes thick yellow or green nasal discharge. A sore throat, cough or headache, as well as pressure or tenderness around your eyes, cheeks, nose or forehead, may also accompany sinusitis.

Mayo calls for system that rewards quality, value at all levels of care; seeks SGR repeal  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_3eA2vziQ8 As Congress turns its attention to Medicare’s payment system, Mayo Clinic President and CEO John Noseworthy, M.D., says it must recognize the full spectrum of care and reward providers who deliver high-quality, efficient care across that spectrum. In written testimony to the Senate Finance Committee, Dr. Noseworthy says, “Our health care system must be flexible and adaptable to the varying needs of patients. We propose creation of a Medicare payment system that recognizes the different types of care and rewards the quality and value of each, whether primary, intermediate or complex care.” On any given day at Mayo Clinic, patient care ranges from the simple to the complex. One person may come in for a blood pressure checkup; another, new knees. A third may need cutting-edge therapies, complicated care from several specialists, diagnosis of a mysterious illness — or all of the above. Noseworthy says, “One irony of the current Medicare payment system is that physicians who provide the most efficient care are penalized, while those who order unnecessary tests or perform more services are paid more. We need to create new, negotiated payment models that tie reimbursement to patient-centered care and quality outcomes along the spectrum of care.” The Senate Finance Committee held a hearing on health care quality, Wednesday, June 26. Click here for news release Read letter: Mayo Clinic Senate Finance Testimony 6 26 2013 Journalists: Sound bites with Dr. Noseworthy and B-roll of Mayo Clinic campuses are in the downloads. 

http://youtu.be/M-p0ue_DuSU Mayo Clinic and Athletes’ Performance are signing a letter of intent to partner in advancing proactive health and sports performance. The collaboration will include ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-IqdPch9t0 Clostridium difficile, or C. diff as it's often referred to, has reached an epidemic state. It's the most common infectious cause of diarrhea in hospitals and can lead to life-threatening complications. Now, Mayo Clinic is opening a C. difficile clinic at its Rochester, Minn., campus and gastroenterologist Sahil Khanna, M.B.B.S. (sah-Heel Kahn'-ah), says the new facility will be able to offer patient care by experts experienced in dealing with the infection. Journalists: B-roll, animation and sound bites with Dr. Khanna are available in the downloads.  Click here for news release

Recent upgrades at YouTube have resulted in issues with some older versions of Internet Explorer. If you are only seeing a black box in the ...

In a world where some research findings take a decade or more to surface in the world of patients, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) is trying to whittle that time of translation down to a single year. That includes several rounds of preclinical studies and then a phase one clinical trial to determine efficacy by the end of the twelve months.  Jordan Miller, Ph.D., a Mayo Clinic researcher in surgery and physiology, says, “This is highly significant, not only because of the speed of the process, but the impact that it may have on prolonging lives. We have a year to determine if there’s a positive change in experimental models and in patients. If so, we move on with more studies.” Mayo Clinic is one of only nine awardees of a new type of research grant, one that takes an existing but unused drug from a participating pharmaceutical company and studies it for a different disease or condition.  

THIS WEEK'S TOP STORY Menopausal weight gain: Stop the middle-aged spread Concerned about menopausal weight gain? Take control of your weight with healthy lifestyle choices — starting today!  EXPERT ANSWERS Calories in sushi: What are the low-cal options? HEALTHY RECIPES Spinach frittata Seasonal fruit palette Iced espresso latte Three-grain raspberry muffins HEALTH TIP OF THE WEEK If you have hay fever, the best thing you can do is to take steps to lessen your exposure to allergens, such as pollen and mold. 1. Close doors and windows during pollen season. 2. Use air conditioning in your house and car. 3. Avoid outdoor activity in the early morning, when pollen counts are highest. 4. Use a dehumidifier to reduce indoor humidity. 5. Use a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter in your bedroom.

ROCHESTER, Minn. —The public is invited to enjoy five Rosemary and Meredith Willson Harmony for Mayo Program concerts in April. Performances will be on Mondays ...