Health & Wellness - October 2012 Archives

Bringing the Social Media Revolution to Health Care is a new book to help health care professionals use social media tools for promoting health, fighting ...

ROCHESTER, Minnesota — 17 de octubre de 2012.  Mayo Clinic, el Banco Interamericano de Desarrollo (BID) y la Iniciativa Salud Mesoamericana 2015 (SM2015) anunciaron hoy ...

Lima (Peru) — A Clínica Mayo, o Banco Interamericano de Desenvolvimento (BID) e a Iniciativa Salud Mesoamérica 2015 (SM2015) anunciam hoje um novo acordo de ...

Clostridium difficile (klos-TRID-e-uhm dif-uh-SEEL), often called C. difficile or C. diff, is a bacterium that can cause symptoms ranging from diarrhea to life-threatening inflammation of ...

People over age 70 who eat high levels of carbohydrates are at higher risk of developing mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Consuming large amounts of sugar also seem to increase the risk ...

Elective Induction Can Lead to Unnecessary Complications for Mom and Baby October 12, 2012 Dear Mayo Clinic: I am 35 weeks pregnant with ...

ROCHESTER, Minnesota- 11 de octubre de 2012.  Mayo Clinic lanza esta semana una aplicación para los productos Apple de los iPhones, los iPads y los ...

Media Advisory: Mayo Clinic Expert Discusses Common Farm Injuries     The rush to bring crops in can create a hectic, hazardous harvest season, which means increasing the possiblity of farm accidents. But many agricultural injuries can be prevented, according to emergency medicine physician Howard Schumaker, M.D.,M.B.A., of the Mayo Clinic Health System in Sparta, Wis.  “We’ve seen everything from broken bones and amputations, to unfortunate traumatic situations. Many times farmers feel that due to the weather, they need to hurry to complete their field work." To interview Dr. Schumaker contact: Rick Thiesse  608-392-9435  Thiesse.Ricky@mayo.edu   Dr. Schumaker has these saftey tips: Regular inhalation of dust from grain bins, silos, milk vats and manure pits can cause respiratory issues such as bronchitis and other dangerous cardiac conditions. Wearing a mask over your nose and mouth can reduce risk. Farm vehicles such as tractors and all-terrain vehicles cause many injuries, particularly among children. Wearing a seat belt and helmet can help prevent traumatic brain injuries or even death. Children should be supervised and given only age-appropriate tasks and access to vehicles and other farm gear.

Physical and mental decline can be common side effects, even if you're hospitalized for just a few days. So, Mayo Clinic aging and fitness experts Nathan ...

ROCHESTER, Minn. — October 8, 2012.  If you attend elementary school in Olmsted County you can get your flu vaccines between classes. It's not just a good idea, but also a demonstration of how public health can improve when agencies and organizations work together. Organizers believe it to be the only countywide program of its kind in the state. Olmsted County has 30 elementary schools, both public and private. Since the flu knows no boundaries, health care shouldn't either. That was the thinking behind the consortium formed by area providers Olmsted Medical Center and Mayo Clinic, Olmsted County Public Health Services, and the participating education districts. Beginning in September and ending Oct. 11, the immunization clinics have offered shots or mist with parental permission in libraries and gyms by nurses from the two health centers. Halfway through the schedule, more than 1,100 youngsters have been immunized. This doesn't include children who received shots at their own doctor's office. "It makes it less likely that someone will be left unprotected," says school nurse Tabitha Hanson. "Plus it saves time, money and work absences for parents." Families are encouraged at the beginning of school with detailed materials sent home. They then register online — something unique with this program — and are billed for the immunizations by their respective provider. Children without health insurance are covered by the Minnesota N Vaccines for Children program. The program is a hit with school nurses.

Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) is a debilitating neurological disease that is commonly misdiagnosed as multiple sclerosis (MS) and manifests itself in attacks that can cause blindness ...

ROCHESTER, Minn. — October 8, 2012.  Mayo Clinic researchers have identified a new therapy for patients with neuromyelitis optica that appears to stop inflammation of the eye nerves and spinal cord. NMO is a debilitating central nervous system disorder that is often misdiagnosed as multiple sclerosis (MS). In the study, patients with severe symptoms of the disease, also known as NMO, were given eculizumab, a drug typically used to treat blood disorders. While not a cure, the therapy Mayo Clinic researchers used in the study to halt attacks could potentially lead to longer attack-free periods for the thousands of NMO patients worldwide. The research is being presented Oct. 9 at the American Neurological Association Annual Meeting in Boston. NMO manifests itself in attacks that can cause blindness in one or both eyes, weakness or paralysis in the legs or arms, painful spasms, loss of sensation, and bladder or bowel dysfunction from spinal cord damage. Attacks may be reversible, but can be severe enough to cause permanent visual loss and problems with walking. NMO can affect children as young as 2 and adults as old as 90. It is more prevalent in females than males, but affects all racial and ethnic groups. Immunosuppressants are the first line of treatment for NMO. Mayo Clinic researchers have been international leaders in NMO diagnosis and treatment. In 2004, Mayo Clinic researchers discovered the antibody NMO-IgG — the first serum biomarker for any form of inflammatory demyelinating brain disease. A year later, they identified the target of the antibody as the water channel aquaporin 4. These discoveries helped physicians better understand the cause and potential treatments for NMO. Mayo researchers studied 14 NMO patients with active and severe disease symptoms, defined as two attacks in the previous six months, or three within the past year. When the NMO-IgG antibody binds to its target on brain cells, it activates complement, a substance that can kill or injure these brain cells. Patients were treated with eculizumab, an antibody that stops complement from being activated. All 14 study participants received the treatment intravenously every two weeks for one year. "Disability in NMO is attack related and these attacks are usually severe. If untreated, they can have devastating, irreversible effects on function," says lead author Sean Pittock, M.D., a Mayo Clinic neurologist. "If we can stop the attacks in NMO — and it appears we can — then we can hopefully prevent disability and allow patients to maintain function and a good quality of life.