Archive for the ‘Hormone Physician’ Category

Dr. Omar P. Haqqanifor the Daily News

Dr. Omar P. Haqqani

Dr. Omar P. Haqqani

Haqqani:Cardiovascular health in women Part two

In part 1 of our series addressing cardiovascular health in women, we discussed the three most significant risk factors in developing cardiovascular disease. This week, we focus on the two deadliest cardiovascular events that can result from CVD, which are heart attacks and strokes.

Heart Attacks

Heart attacks are often viewed as something that primarily strike men; however, nearly a quarter million women a year die from them. That is 5 times higher than the number of deaths resulting from breast cancer.

In order to reduce occurrences of this cardiac event, women should be aware that a heart attack does not always feel the same in females as it does in men. The typical heart attack signs -- severe chest pain radiating down one arm or extreme shortness of breath -- can certainly occur in women, but many times, their symptoms are much more subtle.

They include:

Chest pain or discomfort that feels more like a fullness or squeezing throughout the chest rather than sharp, severe pain on the left side.

Pain in your back, neck or jaw that can build gradually and that can come and go.

Stomach pain and abdominal pressure that may be mistaken for heartburn.

Shortness of breath, nausea or lightheadedness for no apparent reason.

Sweating suddenly even though you have not exerted yourself.

Fatigue after engaging in activities as simple as walking up the stairs.

If you have any of these symptoms, do not ignore them. Get medical attention immediately and, rather than driving yourself to the hospital or asking a friend or family member to do so, call 911 so first responders can manage the event. Acting quickly can save your life and decrease the damage done to your heart.

To reduce your overall risk of a heart attack, make heart-smart lifestyle choices including getting regular exercise, not smoking, maintaining a healthy weight and eating a healthy diet. It is also very important to keep your blood pressure under control and manage your blood sugar if you are diabetic.

Strokes

Stroke is another cardiovascular event that is a leading cause of death in women. In addition, because women live longer than men, the long-term effects of a stroke can have a much more negative impact on their lives. Once again, there are risk factors, warning signs and symptoms that are unique to women.

The typical risk factors for stroke -- being overweight, high blood pressure, an inactive lifestyle, smoking and diabetes -- apply equally to both sexes. But there are others that occur only in women such as pregnancy, using birth control pills or taking hormone replacement medications. Women who are in their child-bearing years or who are post-menopausal must be alert to the increased chances of having a stroke and be vigilant about monitoring symptoms.

Women will experience different symptoms than men when having a stroke. These include fainting, dizziness, hallucinations, nausea or vomiting, and frequent hiccups. Women may also feel numbness over their entire body rather than in a localized area. If you experience any of these symptoms, call 911 immediately, particularly if you have difficulty speaking or see drooping in your face. Just like with heart attacks, it is imperative you act quickly to minimize stroke damage.

To reduce your risk of a stroke, stop smoking immediately and work toward reaching and maintaining a healthy body weight. If you are pregnant, monitor your blood pressure carefully throughout your pregnancy. Monitor it closely as well if you are on birth control pills or hormone replacement therapy drugs and see your physician immediately if it rises.

While heart attacks and strokes are real dangers for women because the signs and symptoms are very different than those experienced by men, you can reduce your chances of having either by making important lifestyle changes, being alert to the signs and reacting quickly if symptoms appear.

Next week, part three of our series on cardiovascular health in women will specifically address how ethnicity plays a role in cardiovascular disease and cardiovascular events.

Dr. Omar P. Haqqani is the chief of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery at Vascular Health Clinics in Midland.

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Haqqani: Cardiovascular health in women Part two - Midland Daily News

(Reuters Health) - Black men with riskier prostate cancers may be less likely than their white counterparts to get aggressive treatment that can give them the best survival odds, a recent U.S. study suggests.

Researchers focused on men with medium- and high-risk localized prostate tumors likely to benefit from aggressive treatment like surgery or radiation, rather than the conservative approaches of watchful waiting or hormone therapy often used for men with low-risk tumors.

While 83% of white men received aggressive treatment, just 74% of black men did, the study found.

Given the evidence suggesting a benefit for treatment in men diagnosed with intermediate- and high-risk prostate cancer, our findings may explain, to some degree, the differences in survival odds between black and white men diagnosed with prostate cancer," said lead study author Dr. Quoc-Dien Trinh, co-director of the Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women's Prostate Cancer Center in Boston.

Black men are more likely to develop prostate cancer and to die from it than white men, the researchers note in European Urology, online August 2. Black patients are also more likely to be diagnosed when tumors are more advanced and more difficult to treat.

For the current study, researchers examined national cancer registry data on 223,873 white men and 59,262 black men aged 40 or older diagnosed with prostate tumors in the U.S. between 2004 and 2013.

Half of the white men in the study were at least 65 years old, while half of the black men were at least 63.

Black men were more likely to be low-income and uninsured or covered by Medicaid, the U.S. health program for the poor.

During the study period, the proportion of white men receiving aggressive treatment rose from 81% to 83%, while for black men it increased from 73% to 75%.

Overall, 39% of the 356 facilities in the study were significantly more likely to give aggressive therapy to white men than to black men with similar tumors. Only 1% of facilities were more likely to give aggressive treatment to black men.

Geography also played a role. For example, in the southeastern U.S., white men were 69% more likely to receive aggressive treatment than black men, the study found.

From a system-level perspective, we need to do a better job to (standardize) prostate cancer counseling and recommendations, Trinh said by email. There is no reason why there would be such a variation in how black men are treated from one institution to another.

One limitation of the study is that researchers lacked data on patient preferences that may have driven treatment decisions. Researchers also lacked data on patients treated at smaller facilities and places that treated fewer than 50 men a year for prostate cancer.

Its also hard to say how many patients may have opted against aggressive treatment because they didnt trust their physician or worried about side effects like urinary incontinence or erectile dysfunction, said Dr. Simpa Salami, a urologist at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor who wasnt involved in the study.

We do not know if black men were offered definitive therapy at the same rate as white men but chose other options instead, or if black men were simply not offered the same treatment options as white men, Salami said by email.

Differences in income and insurance may also help explain the disparities in how men were treated, said Dr. Brian Chapin of the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.

I would expect that if a comparison was made between whites and blacks within the same income bracket and equivalent insurances, the findings may not have been as significantly different, Chapin, who wasnt involved in the study, said by email.

Even so, the findings suggest that men should speak to more than one doctor before deciding how to proceed, Chapin said.

I would encourage any newly diagnosed prostate cancer patient to obtain a second opinion regarding their cancer care, and meet with both a radiation oncologist and a urologist to be presented with all available options and make sure they are fully informed before making a treatment decision, Chapin advised.

SOURCE: bit.ly/2voWkvq

Eur Urol 2017.

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Blacks with prostate cancer less likely to get ideal treatment - Reuters

Menopause is often associated with troublesome symptoms like hot flashes and mood swings, yet even more serious health issues may be part of this life stage, such as heart disease.

The North American Menopause Society estimates that 2 million 6,U.S. women reach menopause every year.

Women experience a number of changes during menopause due to shifting hormones and lower levels of estrogen, said nationally renowned natural health physician and author, Dr. Fred Pescatore. Hot flashes, night sweats and fatigue can interfere with everyday activities. These symptoms can be severe and can occur for several years as the body adjusts to the reduced level of estrogen. We know that fluctuating hormones can also contribute to increased risk of heart disease and its important to take steps to manage that risk during menopause.

There are several ways for women to manage menopause symptoms and heart health risks, Pescatore said.

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A healthy life starts with a nutritious diet, and this becomes even more important during menopause. For women experiencing menopause symptoms, I recommend adopting a diet filled with more vegetables, lean protein, nuts and seeds to support a healthier lifestyle and a healthier heart, he said.

One of the best things you can do to help your body and mind adjust to shifting hormone levels during menopause is to maintain an active lifestyle. Just 30 minutes of cardio each day can really make a difference. Get moving. Try taking a brisk walk or a bike ride. You can even do things in your own home, like jumping jacks, Pescatore said.

A new peer-reviewed clinical study shows that daily supplements of the anti-oxident found in pine bark oligomeric proanthocyanidin compounds, also found in grapeseeds, peanut skin and witch hazel bark (trademarked as Pycnogenol) can help reduce the symptoms of menopause and related heart disease risk factors. This study shows the effectiveness of Pycnogenol in alleviating perimenopause symptoms like hot flashes and night sweats and reducing key cardiovascular risk factors like high blood pressure, Pescatore said.

This new study further expands on previous research conducted on hundreds of patients that shows the benefits of Pycnogenol for minimizing common, disruptive symptoms of menopause including night sweats, hot flashes, depression, anxiety and memory problems by supporting vascular relaxation, which allows the body to rid itself of excess heat. For more information, visit pycnogenol.com.

Herbal extracts that contain natural phytoestrogen compounds that mimic estrogen are also readily available and work for many women. Isoflavones such as those found in soy products and red clover may help, DHEA supplements are another hormone replacement option,and other popular supplements include flax seed oil, black cohosh, dong quai.

Check with your doctor before trying a supplement to be sure its safe for you.

StatePoint

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How to manage the symptoms of menopause - The Oakland Press

To state the obvious, poop problems are the worst. Whilecramping, constipation, and diarrhea are a drag for everyone, those who suffer from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) have to live with those symptoms on a daily basis. IBS is a gastrointestinal syndrome characterized by chronic abdominal pain and altered bowel habits in the absence of any organic cause, says Niket Sonpal, M.D. It is the most commonly diagnosed gastrointestinal condition. The prevalence of IBS in the United States is estimated from population-based studies to be approximately 10 to 15 percent but, in my experience, I feel the prevalence is much higher.

Unfortunately, women are twice as likely as men to have IBS, according to theU.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Women can attribute their likelihood of getting IBS to the fact thathormonescontribute to flare-ups and estrogen and progesterone both rise and fall during the monthly menstrual cycle, says Sonpal. Because these hormone receptors are found in the G.I. tract, their fluctuations manifest symptoms. Furthermore, womens symptoms can differentiate from one another because, in addition to hormonal fluctuations, IBS flare-ups can be influenced by emotional health and the guts microbiome as well.

IBS is what Sonpal calls a diagnosis of exclusion, meaning a physician should rule out all other possible causes of symptoms first. Because of that and the way women uniquely experience IBS, it can be difficult to diagnose. After all, how do you tell if its IBS or intense period cramps or anxiety?

Here are some classic symptoms that can help you tell whats what:

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7 IBS Symptoms Every Woman Should Know About - Women's Health

Not surprisingly, physicians working in a big city hospital emergency room are under plenty of stress.

A Michigan State University physician has now shown how this stress affects the care of their patients.

The more stress an emergency room physician experienced, the more likely he or she was to make a minor mistake, also known as a near miss among hospital staff, according to a new study led by Arnetz and published today in BMJ Open, an online British medical journal.

Researchers took blood and saliva samples from 28 emergency room resident physicians before and after their shifts to check for biological stress markers, Arnetz said, who is chair of the MSU College of Human Medicines Department of Family Medicine. After their shifts, the doctors were questioned about the number of critically ill patients and trauma victims they treated and how many near misses they made.

The result: the physicians who reported the most near misses had the highest biomarkers for stress.

Stress among physicians is not just perception, Arnetz said. It has a biological affect and that biological affect might impact the wellbeing of patients.

The study was conducted in the emergency department of the Detroit Medical Center, which defines near misses as any process variation that did not reach the patient, employee or visitor, but for which a recurrence carries a significant chance of a serious adverse event in other words, a mistake that, if repeated, could harm a patient.

Arnetz has been investigating psychophysiology the relationship between the brain and the body since 1983 when a hospital in his native Sweden hired him to look into the health of its medical providers. He has done previous studies on how workplace stress affects workers productivity.

The more stress in general in an organization, the less efficiently it is run, Arnetz said.

His latest study is the first that associates near misses with biomarkers of stress, including cortisol, a stress hormone found in saliva. The researchers also took blood samples, looking for markers of inflammation in the brain, which increases in stressful situations.

In addition to contributing to errors in patient care, stress can negatively affect the cardiovascular health of physicians, Arnetz said.

Very few emergency physicians work past 50, he said. They burn out.

Those in the current study were young physicians in their second and third years of residency, a continuation of their education after graduating from medical school. Some stress might be self-induced by the residents unsure of their own medical skills and afraid to ask a supervising physician for help, Arnetz said.

Thats a dangerous combination, he said. Were trying to move the whole thing from being punitive.

Arnetz hopes to conduct a follow-up study of whether the near misses caused by stress are associated with poor outcomes for patients. Further research also could look for ways to help emergency physicians reduce stress, he said.

The study was funded by the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Foundation and conducted by researchers from Michigan State University and Wayne State University.

SOURCE: MSU Today

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Physicians with increased stress make more mistakes in patient care - WSYM-TV

The first office visit includes an hour and a half with Dr. Pierce, and an hour and a half with a nutrition consultant. In that time we develop a unique treatment and nutrition plan based on each patient's individual needs, their symptoms and lab results, as well as personal preferences.. We emphasize a more holistic approach and use dietary modification, nutritional supplementation and hormone balancing when indicated, as opposed to going straight to patented pharmaceutical drugs.

We do not take medical health care insurance. We are a fee-for-service medical wellness clinic. You may however use your health care insurance for your lab work. Remember, you have a contract between yourself and your insurance provider. We are not a part of that contract. Your insurance provider also has a contract between itself and their preferred laboratory. Our staff will help you figure out what is your insurance's preferred laboratory and submit your requisition and/or blood work to that laboratory. We will also provide you with the proper CPT codes and submit them to your insurance carrier to give you the best chance of having your tests covered.

There are some tests, such as a cortisol saliva test, that are not covered by any insurance to our knowledge. This is because the performing laboratory is not contracted by any insurance provider to perform the test and they are a fee-for-service company as well.

You may take your lab requisition directly to the lab and have your blood drawn there, or we can provide the blood draw service for you at our clinic at a scheduled convenient time for you. This avoids waiting in line at the laboratory for an unknown amount of time, while fasting, to get your blood drawn.

Is important to know that when you submit a request for your insurance company to cover your lab work, they will have access to you labresults. They can use this information to increase your insurance premiums in the future.

However, if you pay out-of-pocket directly to Ageless Forever for your lab work the information stays between Ageless Forever and you, the patient. Your insurance company does not have the right to obtain your lab and health information at that juncture.

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Ageless Forever - Bio-identical Hormone Replacement

Haywood Regional Medical Center (HRMC) is announcing that obstetrician Dr. Jenny Van Winkle joined the medical staff on August 1, 2017.

We are very pleased with the addition of an experienced physician and surgeon like Dr. Van Winkle, said Rod Harkleroad, CEO of Haywood Regional Medical Center. With Dr. Van Winkle on board, we plan to expand upon the services for womens care to meet the needs of Western North Carolina so more patients can get quality and personalized care closer to home.

Van Winkle is board certified in Obstetrics & Gynecology. She received her medical degree from Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine and completed her residency at The Methodist Hospital Houston Obstetrics & Gynecology in Houston, TX. Her special interests and training include prenatal care, contraception, infertility, laparoscopic and vaginal surgery, colposcopy and LEEP (Loop Electrosurgical Excision Procedure) procedures, PCOS, heavy menstrual bleeding, fibroids, incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse and menopause. Van Winkle is also fluent in Spanish.

Dr. Van Winkle, with her husband and children, decided to move to the mountains of Western North Carolina from Houston for a better quality of life. I love that obstetrics and gynecology provides me the opportunity to form long-term relationships with women, managing all stages of their life. My philosophy is to provide high quality patient centered care. I believe in listening and spending as much time with patients to offer individualized care, and Im looking forward to becoming part of the community. Shes also excited about working with the team as the practice service line pursues designation as a center for excellence for minimally invasive gynecological surgery.

Womens care providers at Haywood Regional Medical Center also include Robin Matthews, MD, and David Kirk, MD both board certified physicians. Also the hospital recently welcomed the addition of a certified nurse-midwife, Jody Schmit.

Dr. Van Winkle is accepting new patients. Appointments may be made by calling 828.452.5042. Services include obstetrics, well-women gynecological exams, adolescent gynecological care, ultrasounds, minimally invasive hysterectomy, abnormal pap smear treatments, endometrial ablation, infertility evaluation, breast and cervical cancer screenings, contraceptive management including IUDs, hormone replacement, incontinence, pelvic pain, pelvic prolapse, perimenopausal symptoms, laparoscopic surgery, and treatment of menstrual disorders.

As a part ofDuke LifePoint Healthcare, Haywood Regional Medical Center is supported by Duke University Health Systems world-renowned leadership in clinical excellence and quality care andLifePoint Healths extensive resources, knowledge and experience in operating community hospitals.Visit us at HaywoodWomensCare.

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Jenny Van Winkle, MD, OB/GYN joins Haywood Regional and Haywood Women's Medical Center - Mountain Xpress (blog)

(Newser) When Kimberly Mascott Zieselman was 15, she had surgery she now says caused "irreversible harm" due to others' "discomfort with difference." In her op-ed for USA Today, Zieselman explains how, as a young teen, she didn't get her period like other girls, and when her parents took her to get examined, doctors made a surprising discovery: She was intersex, meaning a person born with both male and female characteristics. In Zieselman's case, that meant that even though on the outside she appeared female, she had male XY chromosomes and testes (instead of ovaries and a uterus) inside her body. She had androgen insensitivity syndrome, so that her body resisted male sex hormones called androgens and led to an external appearance of being female.

She says her parents agreed, per physician advice, to have her "healthy gonads" taken out, "without my knowledge or consent." She was also placed on a lifelong hormone replacement therapy, as her natural hormones had halted. She says these types of "non-consensual and medically unnecessary procedures" on intersex kids have been common since the '60s, with "often catastrophic" results and "largely unproven" benefits. "We are erased before we can even tell our doctors who we are," she writes. Zieselman believes most doctors and parents think they're doing the right thingbut she notes the "devastating impact" on patients and says "every human rights organization that has considered this practice has condemned it." "The right thing is to wait until an intersex person can participate in these life-altering decisions," she writes. Read the full piece.

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Parents and Doctors, Hold Off on This 'Devastating' Surgery - Newser

Marielle Mohs

St. Louis, MO -- St. Louis is now home to a first-of-its-kind clinic for transgender teens and kids. It's being administered by Washington University physicians based out of St. Louis Children's hospital.

The clinic aims to provide transgender children and teens with comprehensive health care including mental health resources, hormonal therapy, voice therapy, and reconstructive surgery. Washington University physicians have been taking care of transgender children and teens since 2009 and noticed the growing demand which sparked the push to establish a fully operating clinic.

In 2016, Washington University physicians had 74 transgender patients. From just January to May 2017, they've already seen 71 patients.

This clinic is a huge milestone for the Seay family this month, especially for 15-year-old Leslie.

"Sometimes I identify as a girl, sometimes a boy, sometimes neither," said Leslie Seay.

She started exploring gender identity at 13-years-old, ultimately assigning to being gender fluid, which means she will always feel a mix of identifying between a boy and a girl.

"I would really like to go on hormone blockers so that my voice doesn't get any more feminine and [no] more feminine features show up," said Seay.

Leslie's identity is simple to her, so she needs a pediatrician who understands transgender health simply too.

"Having support and acceptance is extremely important for this patient population," said Dr. Christopher Lewis, founder and physician of the Transgender clinic. "Transgender patients already deal with harassment and discrimination within the medical community and that is a barrier to them accessing care."

Leslie's dad, Peter Seay, is thrilled to know his child is in safe, supportive care with an expertise in transgender health.

"To find out that the gender center was opening this month was something we've been celebrating for a little while. We've been very excited about this," said Peter Seay. "There could not be a greater value, the gratitude will not stop."

The Transgender Center of Excellence opened the first week of August. They are already booked through mid-September with new patient appointments. It's the only clinic of its kind within a 250-mile radius.

KMOV

TM & 2017 Cable News Network, Inc., a Time Warner Company. All rights reserved.

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Transgender clinic for kids and teens opens in St. Louis - WENY-TV

Any health change can bring questions and concerns. One of the most common issues patients ask OB/GYN Dr. Lesley Furman about is menopause. A lot of women come into the office with either questions about menopause or symptoms of menopause and want to know whats going on? Is what Im going through normal?

Dr. Furman says while the symptoms are normal, they can be uncomfortable. Hot flashes are the biggest one. Hot flashes, night sweats, sleeplessness, decrease in libido, vaginal dryness, those are the main ones, said Dr. Furman.

The average age of menopause is 51, but doctors say symptoms can start when women are in their 40s and can last a few years. Its important for them to know that it is a natural process. Its not going to last forever but there are treatment options, said Dr. Furman.

Treatment options, like medications, lifestyle changes, even hormone therapy can help. Each treatment option should be tailored for each patient, not just one size fits all. They should be aware that there are certain factors in their lifestyle that they can alter to help. There can be medications that we can offer that will help, said Dr. Furman.

Doctors may recommend different treatments to help with different symptoms. Patients often have a lot of symptoms; in fact most of the symptoms start way before that last menstrual period occurs, said Dr. Furman.

Women may even experience anxiety or depression during menopause. Whatever the symptoms are, doctors say they are normal and its important to explain them to your physician so treatment can be started.

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Health Matters: Answering Questions about Menopause - NBC2 News

Blogs | Aug. 6, 2017

Why dont doctors tell women about NFP? Often the doctors have no idea themselves.

At a localpregnancy center, the young women I talk to are constantly stunned to learn that there's a scientifically proven way to planor postpone children. When I mention that natural family planning is far better for their bodies, can even help detect various medicalconditions early on (such as endometriosis), and is effective and completely risk- and expense-free, I get a blank look. They've simply never heard of it.

Most of them are casuallyusing birth control pills or similar hormonal based contraceptives that have all sorts of health and psychological risks they know nothing about. Why didn't their doctors tell them? Often the doctors have no idea themselves.

Sadly plenty of doctors themselves prescribe birth control pills or other hormonal-based contraceptives without having read the research themselves.For the most part, that research isn't new; it's been known since the 1970s and only replicated around the world since then, with only worse reports since then. For example, a recent extensive study of Danish women found a correlation with hormonal contraceptives and depression.

One supporter of NFP is theFertilityAppreciationCollaborative toTeach theScience (www.FactsAboutFertility.org), a group of physicians and other health care professionals and educators workingto educate the medical community as well as the public onnatural or fertility awareness based methods (FABMs) of family planning.

A big reason a lot of child bearing aged women are completely unfamiliar with NFP is simply that no one is profiting from it. The birth control industry is a $6 billion a year business with a hugemarketing campaign. Television, magazine, social media ads, brightly colored posters and brochures on college campuses, health centers, even high schools and middle school's bulletin boards and health offices, and doctors offices promotethe birth control pill, patch, IUD, etc., with no mention of the risks. With no money to be made promoting NFP, it's remained low-profile.

The young women I speak to are exasperatedwhen I tell them that the World Health Organization, not exactly a bastion of conservative or Catholic thought, classifies the birth control pill as a Class A carcinogen. They feel betrayed by a medical community and pharmaceutical companies that are suppressing the full truth about the ramifications of hormonal birth control.

Dr. Marguerite Duane, a family physician and director of FACTS, said in a Relevant Radio interviewthat part of the lack of awareness is that only about 6% of medical doctors are aware of the scientific researchconfirming the effectiveness and benefits of NFP, particularly the latest research. She highlights theCenters for Disease Control website which continues to have extremely outdated information on NFP that doesn't mention the newest most compelling and most accurate reports. For example, the CDC says that NFP has a 24% failure rate which iscompletely false; based on the most up-to-date and highest quality published medical research,the effectiveness rates of Fertility Awareness Based Methods (FABMs) with correct use are between 95% and 99.5%. In fact, her organization is promoting a petition to the CDC which can be read here:http://petition.naturalwomanhood.org/cdc/script/.

The Pill is the most widely used drug given to healthy people to suppress a normal physiologic function. [Yet]it exposes women to a myriad of side effects including blood clots, bleeding irregularities, breast tenderness, mood changes, and many others, said Dr. Duane in an interview with Verily magazine. She pointed out that hormonal contraception introduces synthetic hormones, which modulates hormone production already occurring in the body. As noted in a recentJournal of the American Medical Associationarticle,External progestins, probably more than natural progesterone, increase levels of monoamine oxidase, which degrades serotonin concentrations and thus potentially produces depression and irritability.Serotonin is a major neurotransmitterinvolved in the control of pain perception, the sleep cycle, and mood. It should come as no surprise, then, that hormonal contraceptives impact aspects of the body beyondthe reproductive cycle.

Dr. Duane asksthe commonsense question, Why would we want to expose healthy women to serious or a substantial number of side effects under the guise of preventing pregnancy when there are other effective options available that pose no health risk?

Fertility Awareness-Based Methods, or FABMs, for instance, area very effective method of family planning and are comparable to most artificial methods of birth control when it comes to avoiding pregnancy,Dr. Duane says. AndFABMs arenatural, hormone-free, and free of side effects.

FABMs are notgrandmas rhythm method. Rather, they arebased on decades of solid scientific research of a womans reproductive physiology. Dr. Duane shares that FABMsallow a woman to work with her body rather than suppress her normal physiology.In fact, Dr. Duane calls FABMsthe only true methods of family planning because couples can use them to both avoid and achieve pregnancy.

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NFP is a Low-Profile But Best-For-You Method - National Catholic Register (blog)

As if the heat werent enough, late sunsets, dehydration and pollen allergies can all make sleeping difficult in the summer months.

Keeping ones bedroom cool and dark, showering to cool down and wash off pollen, and drinking plenty of water can help.

But people can be their own worst enemy when it comes to a good nights rest, according to Cameron Johnson, MD, a psychiatrist at Loma Linda University Health. The single biggest return on effort for better sleep, Johnson said, is to avoid all electronic screens starting an hour before bedtime.

Johnson delivered a presentation on sleep to a standing-room-only crowd at Loma Linda University Healths recent 2017 Womens Conference. Here are seven of his other top tips:

Power down. TVs, computers, smartphones, tablets and e-readers should be turned off and banished from the bedroom. The blue light waves emitted by these devices interfere with the bodys production of melatonin, a natural hormone that helps regulate circadian rhythm. To avoid this, put down your devices an hour prior to your desired sleep time.

Know when to exercise. Staying fit is one of the best things people can do for their well-being, but for the sake of a healthy sleep cycle, the timing is important. Exercising 20 minutes in the early-morning sun helps set your body clock to the right schedule. In the evening, dont exercise within at least one hour of bedtime; this is the time when you should be winding down.

Prepare your body and your bedroom for rest. They dont call it body clock for nothing; schedule is everything when it comes to getting adequate rest. To signal your body that it will soon be time to fall asleep, create a relaxing bedtime ritual. To complement this, the bedroom should be like a tomb: cold and dark, Johnson said. Cooling caps or blankets can help aid sleep, along with white noise.

BedTIME matters. Bedtime shouldnt change daily. Hit the pillow within the same half-hour timeframe each night. What time should that be? Johnson recommends getting to sleep by about 10 p.m. Doing so takes advantage of an important window for the delta portion of sleep, which helps the brain lock in the days memories, clear toxins, increase energy stores and release growth hormone to repair the body, he said. A 10 p.m. bedtime also protects REM sleep. REM promotes a healthy immune system, improves memory, prevents mood problems and protects nerve cells.

Avoid napping and night shifts. If at all possible, Johnson recommends avoiding overnight shiftwork. To a lesser degree, napping can also wreak havoc on a healthy sleep cycle. Try not to nap, but if you must, do so before 2 p.m. and only sleep 15-20 minutes, he said.

Weigh the benefits and risks of chemical help. Johnson recommends trying to avoid sleep medications that interfere with REM and/or delta sleep which is most of them, he said. Additionally, taking melatonin can help people fall asleep, but this risks lowering the bodys own natural production of this hormone. Discuss options with a qualified physician. When daytime comes, dont be fooled by caffeine it gives a false sense of well-being, Johnsons said. Sufficient sleep is vital for the health of ones mind and body.

Get tested for a sleep disorder. Sleep apnea, Johnson said, is a huge cause of mental health problems. A sleep study is in order, he noted, for people who have symptoms such as morning headache, fuzzy mind and irritability, as well as family members who snore.

Dont be too hard on yourself if you cant do all of these, Johnson cautioned.

The best approach to improving sleep habits, he said, is to choose one of these tips and practice it for three months, by which point it will become an unconscious habit. Then repeat with a second change for three months, and so on.

Don't push yourself too hard, Johnson said. Get early wins.

A pleasant way to start? Get a weekly massage for six weeks, which can improve sleep and cause a cascade of other health benefits, Johnson said.

Approximately 40 million Americans suffer from sleep disorders. The Sleep Disorders Center at Loma Linda University Medical Center can help. Opened in 1982, the center is accredited by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and treats both adults and children. Call 909-558-6344 to learn more.

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Summertime, and the sleeping is not easy: 7 tips for putting insomnia to rest - Loma Linda University Health

Newswise CHAPEL HILL A higher proportion of aggressive breast cancer subtypes are seen in black women, University of North Carolina Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center researchers have found. The study findings help to explain a gap in mortality that exists between black and white women with breast cancer, and could lead to improved treatment approaches to help close it.

In the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, researchers published results of an analysis of approximately 1,000 invasive breast tumors. The study confirmed that young black women are more likely to have triple negative, or basal-like, breast cancers, a subtype that does not express any of the receptors for targeted biologic therapies. The study also identified variation by race within a clinical breast cancer type that has the greatest mortality disparity. Researchers found that younger black women with hormone-receptor positive, HER2-negative breast cancer were more likely to have a high risk of recurrence score.

When we look at a more clinically homogeneous group, such as women who have hormone-responsive, HER2-negative disease, we see pretty significant and biologically important differences between black and white women, said the studys lead author Melissa Troester, PhD, UNC Lineberger member and professor of epidemiology in the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health. With genomic information, were better able to say which patients are likely to have indolent or slow-growing disease. And right now, we might mistake some people as having indolent disease, when actually they have a more aggressive tumor.

The study was part of the third phase of the seminal Carolina Breast Cancer Study, a population-based study launched at UNC-Chapel Hill in 1993. A driving motivation for the study has been to understand why African-American women disproportionately die from breast cancer. Since 1993, the study has gathered data on more than 8,000 women from 44 counties in North Carolina.

In the new study, researchers compared the findings of commonly used immunohistochemical tests, which classify breast cancer according to tumor markers, with the findings of the PAM50 gene expression assay, which classifies tumors into different risk groups as well as different molecular subtypes based upon each tumors genomic characteristics.

Confirming previous findings, researchers found that black women were less frequently diagnosed with luminal A breast cancer, a subtype of breast cancer that has a better prognosis overall. Black women had significantly higher odds of all three non-luminal A breast cancer subtypes: Their odds of basal-like breast cancer, a particularly aggressive subtype, were three times higher for black women compared to white women; odds were 45 percent higher for luminal B breast cancer or black women, and odds were twice that of white women for HER2-enriched breast cancer.

If you look at the group of basal-like breast cancers, the burden of this disease is much higher if youre young and black, said UNC Linebergers Lisa A. Carey, MD, physician-in-chief of the N.C. Cancer Hospital. We believe this is playing a role in racial disparities in outcomes between young and old, and black and white women with breast cancer.

They also found variation within a clinically defined subtype the hormone-receptor positive, HER2-negative subtype in particular. Hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer has the best prognosis overall, but the researchers report mortality disparities are also greatest within this group. In both black and white women, hormone receptor positive, HER2-negative breast cancer tumors were sometimes classified into the more aggressive genomic subtypes, including as basal-like breast cancer. In addition, on average, black womens tumors were more often classified into aggressive subtypes and had higher risk of recurrence scores within this group.

The findings underscore the role for genomic testing to drive precision medicine approaches to treatment, and may help explain a disparity in survival for black women with this type of breast cancer. In addition, the findings could have important clinical implications: Black patients with higher risk of recurrence scores could be candidates for chemotherapy or new treatment approaches since high-risk scores are an indication for chemotherapy.

If you really have a luminal A, low-risk tumor, and you were hormone receptor-positive and HER2-negative, you could be treated less aggressively, and have different surgical options, Troester said. But if you had these other tumor genomic subtypes, your doctor might consider a more aggressive treatment plan. We can do better to distinguish aggressive and indolent cancers if we use the genomic data that is becoming available.

In addition to Troester and Carey, other authors include Charles Perou, Xuezheng Sun, Emma H. Allott, Joseph Geradts, Stephanie M. Cohen, Chiu-Kit Tse, Erin L. Kirk, Leigh Thorne, Michelle Matthews, Yan Li, Zhiyuan Hu, Whitney R. Robinson, Katherine A. Hoadley, Olufunmilayo I. Olopade, Katherine E. Reeder-Hayes, H. Shelton Earp, and Andrew F. Olshan.

The study was supported by the National Institutes of Health and the National Cancer Institute.

Perou is listed as an inventor on a patent application on the PAM50 assay, which is licensed to BioClassifier LLC, Perou is an equity stock holder and board of director member of BioClassifier.

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Aggressive Breast Cancers May Contribute to Racial Survival Disparities - Newswise (press release)

Scientists say there are no known safe levels of phthalates for pregnant women and young children

Published Jul 30, 2017 at 11:13 am (Updated Jul 28, 2017)

For the study, the coalition contracted with an independent laboratory experienced in the testing of phthalates in food to test 30 cheese products purchased at retail grocery stores in the United States and shipped to the lab, unopened, in their original packaging. Findings revealed:Phthalates in nearly every cheese product tested (29 of 30 samples), with 10 different phthalates identified and up to six found in a single product.Phthalates in eight of the nine Kraft cheese product samples tested.Toxic chemical phthalates at levels on average more than four times higher in macaroni and cheese powder than in hard cheese blocks and other natural cheese.DEHP, the most widely banned phthalate around the world, in all 10 macaroni and cheese powders. DEHP accounted for nearly 60 percent of all phthalates found in the cheese product samples that were tested.

The cheese powers in ten varieties of macaroni and cheese products tested all contain toxic industrial chemicals (known as phthalates), according to the Coalition for Safer Food Processing and Packaging, a national alliance of leading public health and food safety groups.

Phthalates (THAL-eights) are hormone-disrupting chemicals that can lower testosterone, the male sex hormone, and alter thyroid function. Scientists have linked exposure to some phthalates, during pregnancy and early childhood, to changes in the developing brain that may result in kids who grow up struggling to succeed in school, at work, and in life.

Serving up one of Americas favorite comfort foods shouldnt mean exposing your children and family to harmful chemicals, said Mike Belliveau, executive director of the Environmental Health Strategy Center, a coalition member.

Two million boxes of macaroni and cheese are sold every day in the United States.

An 'indirect' food additiveScientists say there are no known safe levels of phthalates for vulnerable populations, such as pregnant women and young children," said Charlotte Brody, RN, national director of Healthy Babies Bright Futures, a coalition member.

Federal scientists reported this year that up to 725,000 American women of childbearing age may be exposed daily to phthalates at levels that threaten the healthy development of their babies, should they become pregnant.

Scientists agree that for most people, the greatest exposure to phthalates comes from the food we eat.

Phthalates are not intentionally added to food, but are classified as indirect food additives by government agencies. Industrial chemicals commonly added to plastics, rubber, adhesives, inks, and coatings, phthalates have been shown to migrate into food products during food processing, packaging, and preparation.

Source: Center for Food Safety: centerforfoodsafety.org

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Mac and cheese products contain harmful chemicals, study finds - The Pike County Courier

Despite best efforts to do no harm, clinicians should be prepared to respond to patients who experience adverse outcomes even if everything is done right. Often thought to refer only to medical error, the term iatrogenesischaracterizes a wider range of possible health care outcomes that are, as the Greek etymology suggests,physician-generated. Iatrogenic outcomes are particularly fraught in pediatrics, due to childrens inherent vulnerability as patients who typically lack decision-making authority.

This months issue of theAMA Journal of Ethicsgrapples with neglected clinical and ethical questions about pediatric iatrogenesis, including how clinicians communicate iatrogenic risks to patients parents or guardians, how clinicians manage therapies with inevitable iatrogenic harms, as well as how clinicians might consider, respond to, and mitigate iatrogenic consequences of their practices.

Take a moment to consider this question: A 12-year-old girl identifies as a boy, has been diagnosed with gender dysphoria (GD), and wants to begin gender transitioning with prepuberty hormone therapy. Her physician worries about the long-term iatrogenic risks of therapy. How should the physician respond?

Give your answer and find responses to this question in theAugust issueof theAMA Journal of Ethics,which features numerous perspectives on ethical questions related to pediatric iatrogenesis.

Articles include:

Should Clinicians Medicate Against Structural Violence? Potential Iatrogenic Risks and the Need for Social Interventions.Physicians should weigh not only the iatrogenic risks of off-label antipsychotic medications but also the possible consequences of failing to treat related, complicating social factors. Advocates must address structural violence and failures of imagination in their efforts to improve mental-health equity among vulnerable youth.

How Should Physicians Help Gender-Transitioning Adolescents Consider Potential Iatrogenic Harms of Hormone Therapy?Counseling and treatment of transgender youth can be challenging for mental-health practitioners, as increased availability of gender-affirming treatments in recent years raises ethical and clinical questions. In cases involving adolescents, it is critical that clinicians communicate appropriate expectations about the effectiveness and limitations of hormone therapy, as well as the risks of psychological and physical iatrogenic effects.

Are Physicians Blameworthy for Iatrogenic Harm Resulting from Unnecessary Genital Surgeries?Physicians should, in certain cases, be held accountable by patients and their families for harm caused by successful genital surgeries performed for social and aesthetic reasons.It is important for physicians not just to know when and why to perform genital surgery, but also to understand how their patients might react to wrongful performance of these procedures, and to respond to their own blameworthiness in socially productive and morally restorative ways.

Clowning as a Complementary Approach for Reducing Iatrogenic Effects in Pediatrics.Hospitalized children who undergo painful procedures are more susceptible than others to experiencing iatrogenic effects, such as anxiety, pain and stress. Clowns in the clinical setting have been found to be effective in reducing childrens experiences of these effects during hospitalization and before procedures.

The AMACode of Medical Ethics Opinions Related to Iatrogenesis in Pediatrics. Although any patient can experience an iatrogenic outcome, pediatric patients are the most vulnerable to life-threatening complications. The AMACode of Medical Ethicsdoes not have any opinions that address iatrogenesis in pediatrics specifically, but it does offer guidance on pediatric decision making, preventing error and harm, and disclosing errors.

In the journals August podcast, Robert Nelson, MD, PhD, MDiv, a senior pediatric ethicist with the Food and Drug Administration, discusses strategies for communicating about iatrogenic outcomes with the parents and guardians of pediatric patients. Later in the episode, Gigi McMillan, the mother of a pediatric brain-tumor survivor, discusses how networks of peer mentors can help families navigate these painful situations.

The journals editorial focus is on commentaries and articles that offer practical advice and insights for medical students and physicians.Submit a manuscriptfor publication. The journal alsoinvitesoriginal photographs, graphics, cartoons, drawings and paintings that explore the ethical dimensions of health or health care.

The journal is accepting applications from medical students, residents and fellows (MDs or DOs) in U.S.-based programs to serve as theme issue editors for monthly issues to be published from November 2018 through October 2019. Learn more.

Upcoming issues of theAMA Journal of Ethicswill focus on incarceration and correctional health care as well as clean-water access and the roles of clinicians.Sign upto receive email alerts when new issues are published.

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Pediatricians must address adverse outcomes with compassion, resolve - American Medical Association (blog)

Map A: Distribution by county of recorded presence of Lyme carrying ticks across the US between 19071996 (from Dennis et al. 1998). Map B: between 19072015 (from Eisen et al. 2016)

Research Triangle Park, NC (PRWEB) August 03, 2017

Global Lyme Diagnostics has announced that Dr. Mark Filidei, and Dr. Jodie Dashore have joined GLD's Scientific Advisory Board.

Dr. Filidei is an Internal Medicine physician and is the Director of Integrative/Functional Medicine for the Amen Clinics. Dr. Filidei is highly experienced in integrative/functional medicine modalities as well as conventional medicine and sees patients in person at the Amen Clinics Southern California. He was previously the medical director of the Whitaker Wellness Institute, the largest Integrative Medicine clinic in the United States where he spent over a decade treating thousands of patients for multiple complex medical issues. Dr. Filidei is an ILADS trained physician, which is the largest group of Lyme literate doctors in the world. He also has a special interest in diagnosing and treating CIRS (chronic inflammatory response syndrome) which is caused by toxic mold exposure. Dr Filidei lectures nationally on topics including the integrative approach to mental health, hormone replacement therapy, brain health, memory loss and Alzheimers disease, and mold and Lyme disease related issues.

Dr. Filidei correctly diagnosed Kris Kristofferson with Lyme Disease, after Kristofferson was misdiagnosed numerous times, with maladies ranging from Alzheimer's to fibromyalgia. The story was covered by news organizations such as CBS and was posted on the CMT website on July 8, 2016.

Dr. Jodie A. Dashore - Dr. Dashore has been a Lyme Literate Clinical practitioner since 2010. She specializes in an Integrative, alternative and plant-based medicine approach to Tick Borne Diseases and has been helping patients with Tick borne Infections from 11 countries around the globe. Dr. Dashore has given numerous national and international lectures on an integrative approach to Tick Borne infections. She is internationally recognized as a pioneering scientist and researcher who has coined the term "Complex Autism" (TM) to include Autism complicated with Tick Borne infections and other comorbid conditions.

Global Lyme Diagnostics has developed a breakthrough diagnostic solution specific to Lyme Disease that is grounded in science. The GLD test, developed by Dr. Marconi, is designed to significantly decrease the number of patients being misdiagnosed.

Dr. Marconis research has led to a novel breakthrough called chimeritopes which increase sensitivity by eliminating proteins that are not relevant to a Lyme infection (non-OsPC targets) and can further reduce false negatives by targeting Lyme causing bacteria variants across the North American spectrum. After licensing this technology platform and related intellectual property developed in Dr. Marconis lab at Virginia Commonwealth University, GLD focused on creating a highly accurate and reproducible solution.

"We are very pleased to have Dr. Filidei and Dr. Dashore join our Scientific Advisory Board. Their clinical advice will be extremely valuable in furthering GLDs science to help the global Lyme community, " stated Mickey Ramchandani, CEO of Global Lyme Diagnostics. "Misdiagnosis is a core issue, as Lyme Disease can masquerade as many things - juvenile arthritis, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, multiple sclerosis and a host of other diseases. We are passionate about providing a diagnostic solution that decreases the misdiagnosis of Lyme Disease."

After years of research GLD has also just launched the GLD test, specific to Lyme Disease, which can be requested by clinicians at physician kit request. Patients that would like to request a kit to take to their clinicians can do so here. Note: The GLD Test is not yet available for CA, FL, or NY residents.

More information about GLD, including the science behind the new test and the Global Lyme Diagnostics team is available at the website at https://glymedx.com.

About Global Lyme Diagnostics:

GLD was formed with the sole purpose of providing a solution to the Lyme community including, physicians, clinicians, patients, advocates and families. Its initial focus is to develop and launch a test that is grounded in science and provides an answer to the challenges related to tests on the market. In addition to launching of their new test, GLD is working with the Lyme community and physicians to develop screening opportunities for worried individuals in Lyme endemic areas to help reduce long term complications. GLD is also researching methods to detect co-infections, as well as, assays that could differentiate early stage versus late stage infections for clinicians to better manage their patients.

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Global Lyme Diagnostics Welcomes Dr. Mark Filidei and Dr. Jodie A. Dashore To Scientific Advisory Board - PR Web (press release)

Its the fourth most common cancer for women in the U.S., but doctors say 80 percent of the time endometrial cancer is caught in stage one.

Dr. Fadi Abu Shahin, a gynecologic oncologist on the medical staff of Lee Health, says endometrial cancer can be caused by age, genetics, or medication. Endometrial cancer is cancer of the endometrium, which is the lining of the uterus on the inside. The most common is what we call unopposed estrogen where the womans body is producing estrogen only and not producing progesterone to counter act the effects of estrogen in the uterus.

That can lead to overgrowth of the lining of the uterus and can become cancerous over time. Women who are at risk for endometrial cancer may have a genetic predisposition or polycystic ovarian syndrome, where they dont ovulate regularly. In both cases doctors may prescribe birth control or hormone therapy as a preventative. The best treatment for those women is to put them on birth control pills or some form of hormonal therapy to prevent and protect the uterus from exposure to estrogen, said Dr. Abu Shahin.

Theres no regular screening for endometrial cancer, but doctors say if women experience symptoms they need to call their physician. In women after menopause any bleeding is abnormal. In women before menopause any irregularity in their periods or bleeding outside their period is abnormal, said Dr. Abu Shahin.

Endometrial cancer is the most common gynecologic cancer in women. If women are at risk, doctors may use genetic screening, biopsies, or ultrasounds to look for precancerous changes in the uterus. 70 to 80 percent of all women with endometrial cancer are diagnosed at stage one, which means the cancer was contained to the uterus, which means its highly curable, said Dr. Abu Shahin.

Patients may undergo a hysterectomy or choose to have only the high risk lymph nodes removed in a shorter, less invasive procedure.

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Health Matters: Detecting and Treating Endometrial Cancer - NBC2 News

Jennifer Brea, who has Chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis,reveals her story in her film, Unrest.

By Giorgia GuglielmiJul. 31, 2017 , 3:00 PM

After a 5-month road trip across Asia in 2010, 22-year-old college graduate Matthew Lazell-Fairman started feeling constantly tired, his muscles sore and head aching. A doctor recommended getting a gym membership, but after the first training session, Lazell-Fairmans body crashed: He was so exhausted he couldnt go to work as a paralegal for the Federal Trade Commission in Washington, D.C., for days. Lazell-Fairman has never fully recovered. He can now do a few hours of light activitycooking, for exampleper day but has to spend the rest of his time lying flat in bed.

Lazell-Fairman is among the estimated 17 million people worldwide with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), a disease whose trigger is unknown and for which there are neither standard diagnostic tools nor effective treatments. In the largest study of its kind, researchers have now found that the blood levels of immune molecules that cause flulike symptoms such as fever and fatigue track the severity of symptoms in people who have received a diagnosis of CFS. The results may provide insight into the cause of the mysterious illness, or at least provide a way of gauging its progress and evaluating treatments.

This work is another strong piece of evidence that there is a biologic dysfunction at the root of the disease, says Mady Hornig, a physician scientist at Columbia University whose research has also identified potential biomarkers for CFS.

People with CFSmany patients and advocates prefer to call the condition myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) because of the complex set of symptoms that are not limited to fatigueexperience prolonged, extreme exhaustion that doesnt improve with rest. The fatigue may worsen with physical or mental activity and often comes with brain fog, a feeling of mental clouding, and sensitivity to noise, light, or other stimuli like taste and smell. Patients may also have memory impairment, muscle pain, and gut problems such as diarrhea, bloating, and nausea.

For years, CFS had been dismissed as a psychological disorder, and some physicians advocated treating it primarily with psychotherapy or a gradual increase in physical activity. But many researchers, and funding agencies such as the National Institutes of Health, increasingly view it as a physiological problem. Its a medical mystery, says Mark Davis, an immunologist at Stanford University in Palo Alto, California.

For this reason, Davis, together with Stanford immunologist Jose Montoya and their teams, recently evaluated whether an imbalance of the immune system may trigger CFS/ME, as previous studies have suggested. By analyzing the blood of 192 people who had met one of the established criteria for CFS/ME diagnosis and 392 healthy individuals, the team found that the levels of 17 cytokines, substances produced by immune cells in response to infection, correlated with disease severity. They were higher in patients with the severest symptoms than in patients with milder symptoms or healthy people. In patients with the mildest symptoms, the levels of those same cytokines were lower than in healthy people, and in patients with moderate symptoms they were comparable to individuals with no disease. Of these 17 immune molecules, the vast majority is known to stimulate inflammation and produce flulike symptoms, the researchers report today in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

I found surprising that so many cytokines are altered in the patients, Davis says. It seems like the disease is leaving no cytokine untouched. The work adds to our understanding that there are complex alterations of the immune system, Hornig says.

A few immune molecules drew particular attention because their levels didnt correlate with disease severity. The researchers have found that the blood level of TGF-, a cytokine that is involved in myriad biological processes, such as inflammation and cancer, was higher in CFS/ME patients, regardless of the severity of their symptoms, than in healthy people. And the blood levels of resistin, a hormone produced by immune cells, were lower in patients compared with individuals with no disease.

These molecules might drive the disorder, scientists speculate, but they could also simply reflect the patients immune system fighting back against an inflammation of different origin. These are deliberately agnostic assays, Davis says. First you look for correlation and then you try to understand why these things correlate with the disease.

Nonetheless, the new study is a tremendous step forward, says Gordon Broderick, a systems biologist at Rochester General Hospital in New York. Being able to examine so many CFS/ME patients and identify which immune molecules are associated with more intense symptoms is a big deal, he says.

Although it is important to rule out that altered levels of cytokines arent linked to factors such as allergies or sex hormones, which can also influence the immune system, the large number of patients showing an imbalance in these immune molecules suggests that it is either a cause or result of CFS/ME, Broderick says.

In the future, the scientists hope to use these immune molecules as diagnostic tools for the puzzling condition, and also figure out the role of cytokines and the immune system in the disease. I hope to see more research along those lines, Hornig says. Theres a lot of patients waiting for some answers.

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More clues link immune system imbalance with chronic fatigue syndrome - Science Magazine

1. Cross-sex hormone therapy (CSHT) may be associated with worsening cardiovascular risk factors in transgender men.

2. CSHT may not result in increases in cardiovascular morbidity or mortality.

Evidence Rating Level: 2 (Good)

Study Rundown: Understanding the unique health care needs of the transgender population is highly important; approximately 1.4 million persons identify as transgender in the United States. One important area of study involves the role of sex hormonesincluding hormone blockers and cross-sex hormone therapyand cardiovascular disease (CVD). Sex hormones may be used to help transgender persons fully realize their gender identity. Despite the importance of this area of research, one of the barriers to providing appropriate care to transgender persons is the lack of physician training and clinical guidelines within this area. Additionally, there is limited health care research within this population. The authors of this study, therefore, conducted a systematic review that highlights research on the association between hormone therapy and CVD in cisgender adults, in addition to summarizing the association between CSHT and CVD in transgender adults. This study has several limitations. First, many studies included in this review focus on younger persons, limiting the generalizability of CSHT in older transgender adults. Additionally, there are few randomized controlled trials with respect to CSHT, which limits knowledge of any associations between CSHT and CVD.

Click to read the study, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine

Relevant Reading: Hormone therapy for transgender patients

In-Depth [narrative review]: The authors of this study systematically searched PubMed and EMBASE databases, of which 13 met inclusion and exclusion criteria. Of the articles, 3 reported findings only in transgender women, 3 only in transgender men, and 7 looked at both populations. Based on the articles reviewed, the authors observed that CSHT is associated with improved psychological functioning of transgender persons. While studies looking at CSHT and cardiovascular risk factors in transgender men are limited, several studies, including an early prospective study and an observational longitudinal study, suggest that CSHT increases CVD risk factors. These risk factors include blood pressure values, lipid levels, and insulin resistance. Furthermore, in transgender women, CSHT may increase thromboembolic risk. However, due to the lack of randomized controlled trials and prospective cohort studies found in this review, it is clear that further research is required to determine the cardiovascular effects of long-term CSHT for transgender adults.

Image: PD

20172 Minute Medicine, Inc. All rights reserved. No works may be reproduced without expressed written consent from 2 Minute Medicine, Inc. Inquire about licensing here. No article should be construed as medical advice and is not intended as such by the authors or by 2 Minute Medicine, Inc.

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More research needed to determine cardiovascular effects of long-term hormone therapy for transgender adults - 2 Minute Medicine

There's no shortage of weird tips and tricks on the Internet for everything from making your kids eat vegetables to getting your newborn to stop crying,but the latest trend in DIY is truly something else. Apparently, women are putting urine in toothpaste based on claims in a viral YouTube video that you can use this "natural" method as an alternative way to tell if you're pregnant.

The toothpaste pregnancy test works like this: First, you squeeze a small amount of plain white toothpaste into a cup, then you add a few drops of urine, mix it up, and wait three minutes. If the toothpaste starts to froth or turn a bluish color, that means the "test" is positive.

More from CafeMom: If You're Pregnant & Your Toilet Seat Turned Blue, You Are Not Alone

The video has more than 2 million views and Us Weekly notes it's a mainstay on Google Trends. As the websitebabyprepping.com explains, the toothpaste pregnancy test came about "decades ago when pregnancy tests weren't easily found in stores, especially for women living in rural settings." Now, they're mostly used as a cheap alternative to store-bought pregnancy tests.

Of course, not everyone is sold. The comments on YouTube range from grateful and enthusiastic to people saying this is total BS to men claiming they tried it and got a positive result (LOL).

So, is the toothpaste pregnancy test legit?

Sort of, says Dr. Napoleon Maminta, a primary care physician at Naptown Priority Healthin Indiana. If done correctly, this test may give a woman "reason to believe that she is pregnant," he says. But that positive result is not a guarantee.

More from CafeMom:How This Weird Purple Line on Your Booty Might Reveal When Your Baby's Coming

"While over-the-counter tests are difficult to compromise and taint, this homemade option can be easier to compromise if a person fails to take certain precautions," Dr. Maminta tells CafeMom.

If you're just seeing this for the first time and simplyhave to try it, Dr. Maminta offered some tips to get the best results.First, he says, it's vital to use clean cups so that no contaminants come into contact with the toothpaste. Second, women should use their first morning urine rather than using urine later in the day.

"First morning urine in pregnant women has higher concentrations of the pregnancy hormone hCG, which reacts with the chemicals in the paste to cause a color change," he explains.

Lastly, the toothpaste used must be naturally white and not one that is striped or artificially colored. "The natural white paste has the correct chemical composition to react with the hCG in the urine to cause a change in the paste's color and structure," Dr. Maminta explains. "Paste that is dyed will not react in the right way to give enough of a reading for a woman to know if she could be pregnant."

Even with all the precautions in place, Dr. Maminta still cautions that this should be viewed as an "initial test" and pregnancy should be confirmed via traditional, well-tested methods.

Long story short? Toothpaste pregnancy tests are not the most reliable method of finding out if you're pregnant. But, if you're trying to conceive and looking for some preliminary results before you shell out for another test? It might be worth a shot. As with all things related to pregnancy and our bodies, take the "alternative method" with a grain of salt -- and make sure you see a doctor!

Originally posted here:
Toothpaste Pregnancy Tests Are a Thing -- but Do They Work? - The Stir

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LIMA Employers in the greater West Central Ohio region will collect $33 million in rebates from the Ohio Bureau of Workers Compensation in checks that will be mailed beginning next week.

BWC Administrator/CEO Sarah Morrison, in Lima to present a ceremonial check to local business leaders, said employers are free to spend their rebates as they wish, but she hopes they will consider investing in workplace safety.

We work with employers all over Ohio to prevent injuries and illness in the workplace, and they will tell you that investing in safety is a wise business decision, said Morrison, speaking at a press conference at the Lima/Allen County Chamber of Commerce. Safe workplaces mean fewer injuries, fewer medical claims and a stable workforce, all of which leads to a healthy bottom line for a business.

Morrison was joined by chamber President/CEO Jed Metzger and Tony Daley of Limas Spallinger Millwright Services Inc. Metzger and Daley accepted the check on behalf of employers in the entire region, which includes Allen, Auglaize, Shelby, Hancock, Putnam, and Van Wert counties.

Ohio Gov. John Kasich proposed the rebate in March. Its the third such rebate in the last four years, made possible by an improving safety climate, prudent fiscal management and strong investment returns. The plan to distribute rebates to more than 200,000 Ohio employers during the month of July was approved by BWCs Board of Directors in April. Visitbwc.ohio.govfor more details and eligibility requirements.

The plan also includes a $44 million investment innew health and safety initiativesto promote a healthy workforce and a culture of safety in every Ohio workplace. This includes a new wellness program for small employers, funding for programs to help firefighters and those who work with children and adults with disabilities, and an education campaign to address common injuries at work and in the home.

A healthy economy depends on a strong and healthy workforce, Morrison continued. And when the economy is healthy, we all benefit.

Rebate checks will be mailed in phases starting July 10.

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Clomid cycle day 22 - Metformin and clomid success stories 2014 - Van Wert independent

Frequent trips to the bathroom are keeping someone from sleeping through the night could be a sign of nocturia, which is a common cause of sleep loss, especially among older adults.

Were not talking about waking up once during the night, every few nights, said Dr. Richard Vienne, Univera Healthcare vice president and chief medical officer. Adults suffering from nocturia may awaken with the need to use the bathroom two to six times a night, every night.

Nearly two-thirds (65 percent) of those responding to a National Sleep Foundation poll of adults between the ages of 55 and 84 reported waking to use the bathroom at least a few nights per week. According to the foundation, most adults get seven to nine hours of sleep a night.

Waking two times a night to use the bathroom disrupts sleep patterns which can result in daytime sleepiness, a condition that affects an estimated 20 percent of the population. Persons with excessive daytime sleepiness are at risk of motor vehicle and work-related incidents, and have poorer health than adults who are well-rested.

Frequent trips to the bathroom at night could be a sign of a chronic disease, including heart disease, vascular disorders, diabetes, high blood pressure, restless leg syndrome, Parkinsons disease, multiple sclerosis, or sleep apnea, said Vienne. Nocturia is more common among older adults because their bodies produce less of an anti-diuretic hormone that enables their bodies to retain fluid by producing more urine at night. Another reason for nocturia among the elderly is that the bladder tends to lose holding capacity as we age.

The National Sleep Foundation offers these tips for those with symptoms of nocturia:

Drink a normal amount of liquid, but do so earlier in the day.

Cut down on any drinks in the last two hours before bed, especially alcohol, coffee or tea as these stimulate urine production.

Keep a diary of how much a person drinks, what they drink and when. Such information may be helpful in identifying situations which may make the nocturia worse.

Include in that diary a record of sleep habits as well as any daytime fatigue someone may be experiencing.

Vienne advises anyone experiencing symptoms of nocturia to consult with his or her physician. A doctor can assess for the possible cause of nocturia and order appropriate tests, referrals or treatments.

The Audubon Community Nature Center has received $24,921 to eradicate water chestnut and and reeds from its lands. ...

Southwestern High School officials recently released the schools honor and merit rolls for the fourth quarter of ...

The descendents of Elder John White, founder of Hartford, Conn., and Giles and Sarah Dodd White will meet Sunday, ...

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Waking Often To Use The Bathroom May Signal Health Issues - Jamestown Post Journal

According to medical history, during the lifetime of Greek physician Hippocrates in 460-375 BC, a fibroid was known as a uterine stone.

The first surgery for fibroid was done for the late American president Abraham Lincolns cousin in 1809. The term fibroid was introduced in 1860.

Many women are diagnosed with uterine fibroids. For some, the fibroid is not medically impactful, while for others, it can cause infertility.

What is a uterine fibroid?

A womans womb or uterus is made up of muscles known as myometrium. This myometrium is composed of many strands of muscle fibres.

Fibroids arise from genetic alterations in a single muscle fibre. This causes the fibres to overgrow and form a fibroid.

The circulating female hormone called oestrogen can cause growth of the fibroid.

However, fibroids can also grow in a low oestrogen environment, possibly due to conversion of the male hormone called androgen into oestrogen. Yes, women have male hormones too!

Many women may have fibroids without ever realising it. This is because not all fibroids cause symptoms. Whether the fibroid causes a problem or not depends on the size and location of the fibroid.

General problems with fibroids

These can include:

Heavy period flow Generally, a fibroid that is located close to the inner layer of the womb (endometrium), and which distorts or displaces the womb cavity, may cause heavy periods.

If untreated, this can lead to anaemia.

Pelvic pain Larger fibroids (more than 4-5cm) may also cause pain.

Sometimes, the core of the fibroid can become soft, leading to severe pain. This is called red degeneration of the fibroid.

A large fibroid can also lead to compression of the urinary bladder and bowel, which leads to difficulty in passing out urine or faeces.

How does a fibroid affect fertility?

A fibroid can adversely affect fertility through:

Cervical displacement After sexual intercourse, sperm is deposited in the vagina. It will find its way through the neck of the womb (cervix) into the womb. Large fibroids can displace the cervix and reduce womb exposure to sperm.

Interfering with sperm migration The sperm that enter the womb need to swim a long distance to meet the female egg. A fibroid that distorts the womb cavity can interfere with sperm migration.

Obstruction of the Fallopian tube Once the sperm swims through the entire length of the womb, it needs to enter the Fallopian tube. This is where the sperm will finally meet the egg.

A fibroid that is located close to the entrance of the tube can obstruct it.

Interfering with egg uptake after ovulation The egg, on the other hand, once released from the ovary, will be picked up by the Fallopian tube. A fibroid located close to the tube can actually change the anatomical relationship between the ovary and the Fallopian tube. This can interfere with the uptake of the egg into the tube.

Affecting the implantation of the embryo An embryo is formed after a sperm manages to fertilise an egg. The embryo will then have to swim back into the womb cavity.

A fibroid located close to the endometrial lining of the womb can distort the lining, so that when the embryo finally reaches its destination, it may be difficult to get implanted in the womb cavity.

So, even after the embryo is formed successfully, the woman is not pregnant until the embryo implants.

Treatment options

Generally, treatment will depend on the symptoms, size and location of the fibroid.

Options include:

Doing nothing Even if you have been diagnosed to have a fibroid, it does not always mean that you need treatment.

So, do not be surprised if your doctor tells you to just wait and see. Fibroids that are small and do not cause any symptoms can be left alone.

Non-surgical treatment There are several options available.

Fibroid growth is dependent on the female hormones oestrogen and progesterone.

The production of these hormones from the ovary is controlled by Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone (GnRH). A synthetic form of GnRH can be used to stop the production of natural GnRH, which stops the production of oestrogen and fibroid growth.

This medication has been shown to reduce the size of a fibroid by up to 50%.

This is a temporary solution and it comes with side effects. GnRH makes a woman menopausal as long as she uses it. If used for more than six months, it can cause bone loss.

For this reason, the use of GnRH is limited to about six months, or as a preoperative measure to shrink the fibroid prior to surgery.

Ullipristal acetate is an oral tablet that has been used to control heavy menstrual bleeding due to a fibroid. It is as efficacious as GnRH and belongs to a group of medicines known as Selective Progesterone Receptor Modulator (SPRM). However, just like GnRH , it is not used as a long term solution.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-guided focused ultrasound is a treatment option where the fibroid is slowly killed by heating it using pulsed ultrasonic waves. This will cause cell death.

It is done with the help of an MRI to help the doctor see the fibroid in 3D.

Throughout the procedure, you are awake but painkillers will be given to keep you relaxed. The procedure generally takes about few hours.

Surgical treatment In the case of surgery, there are also several options available.

Sometimes, a fibroid can be removed vaginally via hysteroscopy (a telescope introduced vaginally into the uterus).

This method is best suited for fibroids that are located within the uterine lining (submucous fibroid).

A hysteroscope is used to see the fibroid under direct vision and the fibroid is cut using electricity. This method is also known as transcervical resection of fibroid.

Large fibroids generally need to be removed via a myomectomy.

The surgeon has two options on how to do the procedure.

The traditional way is called a laparotomy (open surgery), which involves a Caesarean-like abdominal cut.

The fibroid is removed abdominally and the uterine defect is sutured.

Generally, this method is associated with more pain after surgery and a longer recovery time.

Nowadays, more surgeons perform myomectomy laparoscopically.

In this technique, up to four small holes are made on the abdomen and laparoscopic instruments are introduced via the holes to perform the surgery.

Surgeons use a special instrument to cut the fibroids into small pieces before removing it.

For a woman who does not intend to become pregnant, a hysterectomy is sometimes needed, especially with multiple uterine fibroids.

This can be done by the traditional laparotomy or by laparoscopy (key hole) surgery.

However, hysterectomy is a big no-no if you are trying to conceive.

If you have a fibroid and have difficulty conceiving, visit your fertility specialist to determine if the fibroid needs to be removed.

Dr Agilan Arjunan is an obstetrician and gynaecologist, and fertility specialist. For more information, e-mail starhealth@thestar.com.my. The information provided is for educational and communication purposes only and it should not be construed as personal medical advice. Information published in this article is not intended to replace, supplant or augment a consultation with a health professional regarding the readers own medical care. The Star does not give any warranty on accuracy, completeness, functionality, usefulness or other assurances as to the content appearing in this column. The Star disclaims all responsibility for any losses, damage to property or personal injury suffered directly or indirectly from reliance on such information.

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Two of possibly the greatest joys in life are food and sex. You can enjoy both separately or together, by yourself or with a partner (or group) and in general, each tends to complement the other rather well. That is, until one day they dont. The reason? Put simply, it comes down to that dreaded C-word.

Cholesterol: adversary to your arteries, the harbinger of heart-attacks, and you may be surprised to learn, an eradicator of erections. Before we get to that, though, lets start with what this accursed stuff actually is.

Cholesterol, explains Boston Medical Group, is a waxy, fat-like substance that travels around the body in blood particles called lipoproteins. There are two versions of cholesterol, the good kind and the bad. The first one, known as HDL, travels in the blood directly to the liver where it is broken down and used by the body. The bad one, LDL, travels through our arteries leaving a trail of plaque that damages, and ultimately blocks blood flow. This condition is called atherosclerosis, and is a precursor to heart attacks, strokes and, yep, you guessed it, erectile dysfunction.

An excess of cholesterol can lead to a complete blockage of the coronary artery, which will trigger a heart attack. Too much bad cholesterol (also known as LDL) in the bloodstream creates arterial plaque that damages and blocks blood flow. These blockages will result in inadequate circulation of blood throughout the body, which includes your nether regions.

So, what exactly does that imply for your sex life? Time for a little human biology lesson.

During the act of sexual stimulation, Boston Medical Group explains, the body releases chemicals that cause the penile arteries (corpora cavernosa) to relax. Basically, in the heat of the moment, your arteries relax allowing for better blood flow and, of course, the more visible physical attributes associated with having an erection.

By now you should be starting to connect the dots. The long and the, er, short of it is that reduced blood flow caused by the high presence of LDL cholesterol is directly linked to sexual disorders such as erectile dysfunction.

Dr. Michael Krychman, the executive director of the Southern California Center for Sexual Health and Survivorship, told Fox News that "as soon as a man presents with erectile dysfunction, we begin measuring cholesterol and blood pressure." Krychman added that furthermore, the same mechanisms through which men may suffer from sexual disorders caused by high cholesterol, hold similar effects for women.

"In the past we used to think if a woman is having sexual problems, shes frigid, and she needs to go home and have a glass of wine and relax," Krychman said. "However, there is emerging data associating underlying medical causes with female sexual dysfunction." In the case of women, Krychman explained, the fatty deposits caused by high cholesterol affects lubrication and libido.

Beyond blockages, LDL cholesterol also inhibits the production of nitric oxide, the artery-relaxing hormone required to produce an erection. LDL does this by reducing the arterys response to the hormone, which in turn decreases blood flow. And thats not the only hormone affected by high cholesterol. Production of testosteronewhich helps stimulate sexual drive in menis also limited by high cholesterol-caused lowered blood flow to the testicles, where the hormone is produced.

Now that weve covered the problem, lets look at ways to go about finding the solution. For starters, Krychman said, if you believe your high cholesterol is affecting your sex life you should consult a physician. In an article on Healthcentral, the author reiterates Krychmans point noting that men who develop erectile dysfunction without an obvious cause, such as from medication or physical injury, may have a 25% increased risk of cardiovascular disease over the next 5 years.

There are generally three basic ways to go about combating high cholesterol: diet, exercise, and medication.

In terms of diet, most physicians will generally suggest cutting out saturated fats. This Alternet article, for instance, suggests nine ways you can increase the presence of good cholesterol (HDL) in your diet. By enjoying a low carb diet, avoiding trans fats, and doing regular exercise, explains the author, a person can greatly reduce their risk of heart disease, and in turn, reduce the effects that cause erectile dysfunction. For more diet tips, heres a list of 14 other foods that help with circulation.

This 2013 study, published in the journal Medline, looked at erectile function in relation to mens weight loss. Drawing on data from 145 sexually active overweight/obese men, the study found that dysfunction level improved with a small weight loss - even for men who did not have clinical dysfunction, co-author Clare Collins, a professor of nutrition and dietetics at the University of Newcastle, told Alternet via email. The study further found that overweight men were more likely to suffer from erectile dysfunction.

The main message is that improving your eating habits so that you drop a small amount of weight can improve your sex life, said Collins, adding the important reminder: talk to your doctor if youre experiencing erectile dysfunction.

The main reason for this last bit of advice comes down to medication. Suzy Cohen, a pharmacist writing for Lifescript, points out that high cholesterol and erectile dysfunctionwhich are often experienced togetherremain two separate conditions requiring different treatment. If you have ED, Cohen notes, assume (until proven otherwise) that you have mild heart disease or pre-diabetes. As such, she continues, simply taking lipid lowering medications that bring down your cholesterol levels may still hold negative effects for erectile function, due to a lack of hormones.

Enter statins.

Statins are a type of medication known for lowering cholesterol, and through that process helping to reduce heart disease. According to the findings of a 2014 study published by the Journal of Sexual Medicine, statins might also help benefit men with erectile dysfunction.

In the past, research had shown that statins had a negative effect on testosterone levels. This meant that many physicians questioned the efficacy of cholesterol-lowering medication when it came to improving sexual health. But a 2014 study by researchers from the cardiovascular research department at Rutgers Universitys Robert Wood Johnson Medical School proved differently.

For the study, researchers conducted a meta-analysis of previous studies on erectile dysfunction and statins. 11 trials that measured erectile function using the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) were identified for analysis following a systematic search of MEDLINE, Web of Knowledge, the Cochrane Database, and ClinicalTrials.gov.

Whats the IIEF? The IIEF, taken from self-administered survey results, are a set of five questions, scored on a five-point scale that when totalled either indicates a low number, indicating poor sexual function, or the opposite.

Overall, the analysis revealed that their was statistically significant proof that statins caused a clinically relevant improvement of erectile function as measured by the five-item version of the IIEF in men who had both high cholesterol and ED. Specifically, the study found that, overall, IIEF scores rose by 3.4 points in men who took statins compared to the control, which represents a 24.3 per cent improvement.

The increase in erectile function scores with statins was approximately one-third to one-half of what has been reported with drugs like Viagra, Cialis or Levitra, Dr John Kostis, the director of Rutger Universitys Cardiovascular Institute who lead the study, said in an article in the Daily Mail. It was larger than the reported effect of lifestyle modification. For men with erectile dysfunction who need statins to control cholesterol, this may be an extra benefit.

Kostis went on to explain the teams understanding of their findings to the Daily Mail. They believe that the statins help to improve erectile function by assisting with blood vessel dilation, which in turn improves vascular blood flow to the penis.

Ultimately, a healthy lifestyle is the best method to prevent disease, including erectile dysfunction," said Kostis, adding that although statin therapy may only help some people suffering from ED, in the long-run it has been proven to reduce your chances of experiencing cardiovascular disease.

Rather than preventing the possibility of a heart attack in the future, he said, the more immediate benefit of improving erectile function might improve adherence to statin therapy.

So, at its worst statin therapy will only help high cholesterol sufferers with their hearts and at its best, it could also improve their situation in the bedroom. Kostis was sure to add that statins should not be recommended as a primary form of treatment for ED, if patients have healthy cholesterol levels. He added that in order to more fully investigate the link between statin therapy and ED would require a larger trial.

In the end, like most issues pertaining to your health, the best solution requires a holistic approach. If you find yourself with high cholesterol and erectile dysfunction, its time to change your ways. Remember, step one: consult your physician. From there, with the right combination of diet, exercise and medication you could keep enjoying those great fruits of life, long into your years.

Robin Scher is a freelance writer from South Africa currently based in New York. He tweets infrequently @RobScherHimself.

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How High-Cholesterol Foods Can Ruin Your Sex Life - AlterNet

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