{ "version": "https://jsonfeed.org/version/1.1", "title": "Ě첩ĚĺÓý Posts by Patrick J. Skerrett Feed", "home_page_url": "/authors/patrick-j-skerrett", "feed_url": "/authors/patrick-j-skerrett/feed/json", "language": "en-US", "icon": "/img/logos/hhp-logo-mark-lg.jpg", "items": [{ "id": "/blog/happy-fourth-check-your-grill-for-stray-bristles-after-cleaning-with-a-wire-brush-201507045000", "title": "Fourth of July grilling tip: Check for stray bristles after cleaning with a wire brush", "url": "/blog/happy-fourth-check-your-grill-for-stray-bristles-after-cleaning-with-a-wire-brush-201507045000", "content_html": "Like millions of Americans, I plan to fire up the grill today for a Fourth of July cookout. But I’ll be adding an extra step to my routine: checking the grate for bristles that may have fallen off my cleaning brush. An article in this week’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report describes six people injured by consuming grill-cleaning bristles hidden in grilled meat. Three had abdominal pain from wire bristles poking through the small intestine or colon. Three others had bristles stuck in the neck. All of the wire bristles were safely removed with open surgery or laparoscopy (“keyhole” surgery). The same team had published a report of six other cases earlier this year in the American Journal of Roentgenology. Twelve cases from one medical center over a three-year period does not an epidemic make. But it’s enough to suggest that ingesting wire bristles happens wherever home grilling is going on. Keep your grill bristle free by using a brush that’s in good shape. After you use a brush to clean your grill rack, use a towel or wadded up bunch of paper towels to wipe it down.", "summary": "Like millions of Americans, I plan to fire up the grill today for a Fourth of July cookout. But I’ll be adding an extra step to my routine: checking the grate for bristles that may have fallen off my cleaning brush. An article in this week’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report describes six people injured by consuming grill-cleaning bristles hidden in grilled meat. Three had abdominal pain from wire bristles poking through the small intestine or colon. Three others had bristles stuck in the neck. All of the wire bristles were safely removed with open surgery or laparoscopy (“keyhole” surgery). The same team had published a report of six other cases earlier this year in the American Journal of Roentgenology. Twelve cases from one medical center over a three-year period does not an epidemic make. But it’s enough to suggest that ingesting wire bristles happens wherever home grilling is going on. Keep your grill bristle free by using a brush that’s in good shape. After you use a brush to clean your grill rack, use a towel or wadded up bunch of paper towels to wipe it down.", "date_published": "2015-07-04T15:41:53-04:00", "date_modified": "2015-07-04T15:41:53-04:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Patrick J. Skerrett" } ], "image": "https://domf5oio6qrcr.cloudfront.net/medialibrary/8641/conversions/bigstock-Barbecue-Grill-flame-BBQ-18668456-thumb.jpg", "tags": [ ] }, { "id": "/blog/the-long-goodbye-fda-ruling-will-eliminate-trans-fats-from-u-s-foods-201506178091", "title": "The long goodbye: FDA ruling will eliminate trans fats from U.S. foods", "url": "/blog/the-long-goodbye-fda-ruling-will-eliminate-trans-fats-from-u-s-foods-201506178091", "content_html": "Partially hydrogenated oils, once a workhorse of the food industry, have gotten an official heave-ho from the U.S. food supply. In a long-awaited decision, the FDA ruled yesterday that partially hydrogenated oils, which are the main source of harmful trans fats, are no longer “generally recognized as safe.” That means any food company wanting to use partially hydrogenated oils must get the FDA’s approval to do so. Companies have until 2018 to stop using partially hydrogenated oils or to petition the FDA for approval. The move is a good one for individual and public health. Trans fats have been a favorite of the food industry because they increase the shelf life of liquid oils and make margarine easier to spread. But trans fats are bad for arteries. Removing them from the U.S. food supply would prevent between 72,000 and 228,000 heart attacks each year.", "summary": "Partially hydrogenated oils, once a workhorse of the food industry, have gotten an official heave-ho from the U.S. food supply. In a long-awaited decision, the FDA ruled yesterday that partially hydrogenated oils, which are the main source of harmful trans fats, are no longer “generally recognized as safe.” That means any food company wanting to use partially hydrogenated oils must get the FDA’s approval to do so. Companies have until 2018 to stop using partially hydrogenated oils or to petition the FDA for approval. The move is a good one for individual and public health. Trans fats have been a favorite of the food industry because they increase the shelf life of liquid oils and make margarine easier to spread. But trans fats are bad for arteries. Removing them from the U.S. food supply would prevent between 72,000 and 228,000 heart attacks each year.", "date_published": "2015-06-17T16:05:00-04:00", "date_modified": "2015-06-17T16:05:00-04:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Patrick J. Skerrett" } ], "image": "https://domf5oio6qrcr.cloudfront.net/medialibrary/8634/conversions/trans-fat-free-stamp-thumb.jpg", "tags": [ ] }, { "id": "/blog/pets-can-help-their-humans-create-friendships-find-social-support-201505067981", "title": "Pets can help their humans create friendships, find social support", "url": "/blog/pets-can-help-their-humans-create-friendships-find-social-support-201505067981", "content_html": "Pets can provide their owners with more than companionship. A new study, published online in the journal PLoS One, shows that pets can also help create human-to-human friendships and social support, both of which are good for long-term health. The effect isn’t limited to dogs. Other kinds of pets, including cats, rabbits, and snakes, can also be catalysts for making friends and finding social support. In a survey of residents of four cities, being a pet owner was the third most common way that respondents said they met people in their neighborhoods. Pet owners were 60% more likely than non–pet owners to get to know people in their neighborhoods they hadn’t known before. They were also more likely to have reported befriending someone they met through a pet-related connection or getting social support from them. As described in Get Healthy, Get a Dog, a Special Health Report from Harvard Medical School, pet ownership has many direct physical and mental health benefits.", "summary": "Pets can provide their owners with more than companionship. A new study, published online in the journal PLoS One, shows that pets can also help create human-to-human friendships and social support, both of which are good for long-term health. The effect isn’t limited to dogs. Other kinds of pets, including cats, rabbits, and snakes, can also be catalysts for making friends and finding social support. In a survey of residents of four cities, being a pet owner was the third most common way that respondents said they met people in their neighborhoods. Pet owners were 60% more likely than non–pet owners to get to know people in their neighborhoods they hadn’t known before. They were also more likely to have reported befriending someone they met through a pet-related connection or getting social support from them. As described in Get Healthy, Get a Dog, a Special Health Report from Harvard Medical School, pet ownership has many direct physical and mental health benefits.", "date_published": "2015-05-06T14:00:35-04:00", "date_modified": "2015-05-06T14:00:35-04:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Patrick J. Skerrett" } ], "image": "https://domf5oio6qrcr.cloudfront.net/medialibrary/8617/conversions/dog-park-petting-dog-thumb.jpg", "tags": [ "Mental Health" ] }, { "id": "/blog/editorial-calls-for-more-research-on-link-between-football-and-brain-damage-201503257828", "title": "Editorial calls for more research on link between football and brain damage", "url": "/blog/editorial-calls-for-more-research-on-link-between-football-and-brain-damage-201503257828", "content_html": "Is brain damage an inevitable consequence of American football, an avoidable risk of it, or neither? An editorial published yesterday in the medical journal BMJ poses those provocative questions. Chad Asplund, director of sports medicine at Georgia Regents University, and Thomas Best, professor and chair of sports medicine at Ohio State University, offer an overview of the unresolved connection between playing football and chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a type of gradually worsening brain damage caused by repeated mild brain injuries or concussions. The big question is whether playing football causes chronic traumatic encephalopathy or whether some people who play football already at higher risk for developing it. The Football Players Health Study at Harvard University hopes to provide a solid answer to that and other health issues that affect professional football players.", "summary": "Is brain damage an inevitable consequence of American football, an avoidable risk of it, or neither? An editorial published yesterday in the medical journal BMJ poses those provocative questions. Chad Asplund, director of sports medicine at Georgia Regents University, and Thomas Best, professor and chair of sports medicine at Ohio State University, offer an overview of the unresolved connection between playing football and chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a type of gradually worsening brain damage caused by repeated mild brain injuries or concussions. The big question is whether playing football causes chronic traumatic encephalopathy or whether some people who play football already at higher risk for developing it. The Football Players Health Study at Harvard University hopes to provide a solid answer to that and other health issues that affect professional football players.", "date_published": "2015-03-25T19:46:46-04:00", "date_modified": "2015-03-25T19:46:46-04:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Patrick J. Skerrett" } ], "image": "https://domf5oio6qrcr.cloudfront.net/medialibrary/8599/conversions/bigstock-football-helmet-safety-thumb.jpg", "tags": [ "Men's Health","Medical Research","Memory","Mental Health" ] }, { "id": "/blog/edible-marijuana-candy-bars-201503127791", "title": "Edible marijuana — a half-baked idea?", "url": "/blog/edible-marijuana-candy-bars-201503127791", "content_html": "Marijuana-laced brownies have long been a way to get high. Now a new generation of “food companies” is taking the concept of edible marijuana in a somewhat scary new direction: marijuana-laced foods that mimic popular candies. These sweets could pose a danger to children, warns a Perspective article in today’s New England Journal of Medicine. From a marketing perspective, it’s a cute concept to sell Buddahfingers that look like Butterfingers, Rasta Reese’s that mimic Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, or Pot Tarts that resemble Pop-Tarts. But the availability of edible marijuana products has led to an increase in emergency visits to hospitals because of kids accidentally eating edible marijuana products and in marijuana-related calls to poison and drug hotlines.", "summary": "Marijuana-laced brownies have long been a way to get high. Now a new generation of “food companies” is taking the concept of edible marijuana in a somewhat scary new direction: marijuana-laced foods that mimic popular candies. These sweets could pose a danger to children, warns a Perspective article in today’s New England Journal of Medicine. From a marketing perspective, it’s a cute concept to sell Buddahfingers that look like Butterfingers, Rasta Reese’s that mimic Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, or Pot Tarts that resemble Pop-Tarts. But the availability of edible marijuana products has led to an increase in emergency visits to hospitals because of kids accidentally eating edible marijuana products and in marijuana-related calls to poison and drug hotlines.", "date_published": "2015-03-12T13:30:35-04:00", "date_modified": "2015-03-12T13:30:35-04:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Patrick J. Skerrett" } ], "image": "https://domf5oio6qrcr.cloudfront.net/medialibrary/8594/conversions/edible-marijuana-thumb.jpg", "tags": [ "Child & Teen Health","Addiction" ] }, { "id": "/blog/panel-suggests-stop-warning-about-cholesterol-in-food-201502127713", "title": "Panel suggests that dietary guidelines stop warning about cholesterol in food", "url": "/blog/panel-suggests-stop-warning-about-cholesterol-in-food-201502127713", "content_html": "Warnings against eating foods high in cholesterol, like eggs or shrimp, have been a mainstay of dietary recommendations for decades. That could change if the scientific advisory panel for the 2015 iteration of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans has its say. A summary of the committee’s December 2014 meeting says “Cholesterol is not considered a nutrient of concern for overconsumption.” Translation: You don’t need to worry about cholesterol in your food. Why not? There’s a growing consensus among nutrition scientists that cholesterol in food has little effect on the amount of cholesterol in the bloodstream. And that’s the cholesterol that matters. Doing away with the beware-cholesterol-in-food warning would simplify the art of choosing healthy foods. And it would let people enjoy foods that contain higher amounts of cholesterol, such as eggs, shrimp, and lobster, without worrying about it. A better focus is on reducing saturated fat and trans fat in the diet, which play greater roles in damaging blood vessels than dietary cholesterol.", "summary": "Warnings against eating foods high in cholesterol, like eggs or shrimp, have been a mainstay of dietary recommendations for decades. That could change if the scientific advisory panel for the 2015 iteration of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans has its say. A summary of the committee’s December 2014 meeting says “Cholesterol is not considered a nutrient of concern for overconsumption.” Translation: You don’t need to worry about cholesterol in your food. Why not? There’s a growing consensus among nutrition scientists that cholesterol in food has little effect on the amount of cholesterol in the bloodstream. And that’s the cholesterol that matters. Doing away with the beware-cholesterol-in-food warning would simplify the art of choosing healthy foods. And it would let people enjoy foods that contain higher amounts of cholesterol, such as eggs, shrimp, and lobster, without worrying about it. A better focus is on reducing saturated fat and trans fat in the diet, which play greater roles in damaging blood vessels than dietary cholesterol.", "date_published": "2015-02-12T20:54:10-05:00", "date_modified": "2015-02-12T20:54:10-05:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Patrick J. Skerrett" } ], "image": "https://domf5oio6qrcr.cloudfront.net/medialibrary/8582/conversions/bigstock-Fried-Egg-cholesterol55102019-thumb.jpg", "tags": [ "Heart Health","Cholesterol" ] }, { "id": "/blog/cold-hands-raynauds-201412037567", "title": "Cold hands: Could it be Raynaud’s?", "url": "/blog/cold-hands-raynauds-201412037567", "content_html": "If your fingers turn ghostly white and numb when they get cold, you may have Raynaud’s syndrome (or disease or phenomenon). This common condition Raynaud’s is an exaggeration of the body’s normal response to cold. It usually affects fingers and toes, but may also affect the nose, lips, ears, and nipples. Named after the French physician who first described it in 1862, Raynaud’s is a problem in the body’s arteries. They spasm and collapse in response to cold or stress. Without a steady supply of warm blood circulating through them, the affected body part becomes pale. When the spasm ends and the arteries reopen, allowing blood to flow again, the finger, toe, or other body part turns pink or red. It may throb or tingle. Prevention—staying warm—is the best medicine. It’s possible to cut an attack short by running your hands under warm water, putting them in your arm pits, or waving your arms in circles to get the blood flowing. Other options include thermal feedback and relaxation techniques. More experimental options include Botox injections and sildenafil (Viagra).", "summary": "If your fingers turn ghostly white and numb when they get cold, you may have Raynaud’s syndrome (or disease or phenomenon). This common condition Raynaud’s is an exaggeration of the body’s normal response to cold. It usually affects fingers and toes, but may also affect the nose, lips, ears, and nipples. Named after the French physician who first described it in 1862, Raynaud’s is a problem in the body’s arteries. They spasm and collapse in response to cold or stress. Without a steady supply of warm blood circulating through them, the affected body part becomes pale. When the spasm ends and the arteries reopen, allowing blood to flow again, the finger, toe, or other body part turns pink or red. It may throb or tingle. Prevention—staying warm—is the best medicine. It’s possible to cut an attack short by running your hands under warm water, putting them in your arm pits, or waving your arms in circles to get the blood flowing. Other options include thermal feedback and relaxation techniques. More experimental options include Botox injections and sildenafil (Viagra).", "date_published": "2014-12-03T23:29:22-05:00", "date_modified": "2014-12-03T23:29:22-05:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Patrick J. Skerrett" } ], "image": "https://domf5oio6qrcr.cloudfront.net/medialibrary/8565/conversions/bigstock-Ice-Cold-Hands-10848038-thumb.jpg", "tags": [ "Men's Health","Women's Health" ] }, { "id": "/blog/heavy-drinkers-arent-necessarily-alcoholics-may-almost-alcoholics-201411217539", "title": "Heavy drinkers aren’t necessarily alcoholics, but may be “almost alcoholics”", "url": "/blog/heavy-drinkers-arent-necessarily-alcoholics-may-almost-alcoholics-201411217539", "content_html": "Nearly one-third of American adults are “excessive” drinkers, but only 10% of them have alcohol use disorder (alcoholism). Those numbers, published yesterday in a national survey, challenge the popular idea that most people who drink too much are alcoholics. The new study, done by researchers with the CDC and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration, found that about 70% of all American adults drink alcohol at least now and then, about 30% report excessive drinking, and 3.5% have alcohol use disorder. It is higher among heavy drinkers (10%) and binge drinkers, ranging from 4% among those who report binge drinking once or twice a month to 30% among those who binge drink 10 times or more in a month. The knowledge that only 10% of heavy drinkers are alcoholic may be reassuring, but that doesn’t mean the other 90% aren’t have problems with drinking. Some are what Drs. Robert Doyle and Joseph Nowinski call “almost alcoholics.”", "summary": "Nearly one-third of American adults are “excessive” drinkers, but only 10% of them have alcohol use disorder (alcoholism). Those numbers, published yesterday in a national survey, challenge the popular idea that most people who drink too much are alcoholics. The new study, done by researchers with the CDC and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration, found that about 70% of all American adults drink alcohol at least now and then, about 30% report excessive drinking, and 3.5% have alcohol use disorder. It is higher among heavy drinkers (10%) and binge drinkers, ranging from 4% among those who report binge drinking once or twice a month to 30% among those who binge drink 10 times or more in a month. The knowledge that only 10% of heavy drinkers are alcoholic may be reassuring, but that doesn’t mean the other 90% aren’t have problems with drinking. Some are what Drs. Robert Doyle and Joseph Nowinski call “almost alcoholics.”", "date_published": "2014-11-21T20:17:24-05:00", "date_modified": "2014-11-21T20:17:24-05:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Patrick J. Skerrett" } ], "image": "https://domf5oio6qrcr.cloudfront.net/medialibrary/8563/conversions/bigstock-A-Hand-Locked-To-Glass-Of-Alco-13387529-thumb.jpg", "tags": [ "Addiction","Mental Health" ] }, { "id": "/blog/raising-beef-creates-pollution-raising-pork-poultry-dairy-eggs-201407227289", "title": "Raising beef creates more pollution than raising pork, poultry, dairy, or eggs", "url": "/blog/raising-beef-creates-pollution-raising-pork-poultry-dairy-eggs-201407227289", "content_html": "An report in this week’s Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences calculates several environmental costs of raising cows for meat and milk, poultry and pork for meat, and chickens for eggs. According to the report, per calorie of food that we consume, dairy, poultry, pork, and eggs have similar environmental costs. Compared with their average, beef production generated five times more greenhouse gases, needed six times more fertilizer and 11 times more irrigation water, and used 28 times the land. The same four costs for growing potatoes, wheat, and rice were two-fold to six-fold lower than the nonbeef foods in land use, greenhouse gas emissions, and fertilizer use, and about the same for irrigation water.", "summary": "An report in this week’s Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences calculates several environmental costs of raising cows for meat and milk, poultry and pork for meat, and chickens for eggs. According to the report, per calorie of food that we consume, dairy, poultry, pork, and eggs have similar environmental costs. Compared with their average, beef production generated five times more greenhouse gases, needed six times more fertilizer and 11 times more irrigation water, and used 28 times the land. The same four costs for growing potatoes, wheat, and rice were two-fold to six-fold lower than the nonbeef foods in land use, greenhouse gas emissions, and fertilizer use, and about the same for irrigation water.", "date_published": "2014-07-22T19:18:54-04:00", "date_modified": "2014-07-22T19:18:54-04:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Patrick J. Skerrett" } ], "image": "https://domf5oio6qrcr.cloudfront.net/medialibrary/8525/conversions/beef-cattle-enviorment-pollution-thumb.jpg", "tags": [ ] }, { "id": "/blog/selenium-vitamin-e-supplements-increase-decrease-prostate-cancer-risk-201402287059", "title": "Selenium, vitamin E supplements increase prostate cancer risk", "url": "/blog/selenium-vitamin-e-supplements-increase-decrease-prostate-cancer-risk-201402287059", "content_html": "", "summary": "", "date_published": "2014-02-28T00:00:00-05:00", "date_modified": "2014-02-28T00:00:00-05:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Patrick J. Skerrett" } ], "tags": [ "Cancer","Men's Health","Prostate Knowledge","Vitamins & Supplements" ] }, { "id": "/blog/new-study-adds-caution-to-testosterone-therapy-for-low-t-201401317013", "title": "New study adds caution to testosterone therapy for “low T”", "url": "/blog/new-study-adds-caution-to-testosterone-therapy-for-low-t-201401317013", "content_html": "Mass marketing of testosterone therapy may have men eager to try this seemingly simple fix. But the latest science should have them scratching their heads and putting away the credit card—at least for now. A new study published in the online journal PLOS One shows an increase in the risk of having a heart attack in the months after starting testosterone therapy. The potential for danger was highest in older men. A report in the November 6, 2013, issue of JAMA showed that men who used testosterone therapy didn’t fare as well after artery-opening angioplasty as men who didn’t take testosterone. Neither was the type of study that can prove cause and effect. They can only show associations, or links. That means there’s no smoking gun here that testosterone therapy is harmful. But the studies do suggest caution. Given the uncertainly over the benefits and risks of testosterone therapy, what’s a man to do? Take a cautious approach, advises the Harvard Men’s Health Watch.", "summary": "Mass marketing of testosterone therapy may have men eager to try this seemingly simple fix. But the latest science should have them scratching their heads and putting away the credit card—at least for now. A new study published in the online journal PLOS One shows an increase in the risk of having a heart attack in the months after starting testosterone therapy. The potential for danger was highest in older men. A report in the November 6, 2013, issue of JAMA showed that men who used testosterone therapy didn’t fare as well after artery-opening angioplasty as men who didn’t take testosterone. Neither was the type of study that can prove cause and effect. They can only show associations, or links. That means there’s no smoking gun here that testosterone therapy is harmful. But the studies do suggest caution. Given the uncertainly over the benefits and risks of testosterone therapy, what’s a man to do? Take a cautious approach, advises the Harvard Men’s Health Watch.", "date_published": "2014-01-31T22:19:40-05:00", "date_modified": "2014-01-31T22:19:40-05:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Patrick J. Skerrett" } ], "image": "https://domf5oio6qrcr.cloudfront.net/medialibrary/8478/conversions/Testosterone-thumb.jpg", "tags": [ "Cancer","Prostate Health","Heart Health","Men's Health" ] }, { "id": "/blog/join-the-great-american-smokeout-201311216898", "title": "Join the Great American Smokeout", "url": "/blog/join-the-great-american-smokeout-201311216898", "content_html": "If you smoke, you’ve probably heard that quitting is beneficial at any age. It’s good for your health, can make you feel and look better, and saves you money. But you also know, from personal experience or the experiences of friends, that quitting is hard. Take heart. Today, there are more ex-smokers than smokers in the United States. There are also more and better tools to help people quit. Each year on the third Thursday of November, the American Cancer Society sponsors the Great American Smokeout. It aims to make smokers and their loved ones more aware of the benefits of quitting and the tools available for achieving that goal. In support of the Great American Smokeout, Ě첩ĚĺÓý Publishing is giving away free electronic copies of the Harvard Medical School Guide: How to Quit Smoking. This offer ends at midnight tonight (Nov. 21, 2013).", "summary": "If you smoke, you’ve probably heard that quitting is beneficial at any age. It’s good for your health, can make you feel and look better, and saves you money. But you also know, from personal experience or the experiences of friends, that quitting is hard. Take heart. Today, there are more ex-smokers than smokers in the United States. There are also more and better tools to help people quit. Each year on the third Thursday of November, the American Cancer Society sponsors the Great American Smokeout. It aims to make smokers and their loved ones more aware of the benefits of quitting and the tools available for achieving that goal. In support of the Great American Smokeout, Ě첩ĚĺÓý Publishing is giving away free electronic copies of the Harvard Medical School Guide: How to Quit Smoking. This offer ends at midnight tonight (Nov. 21, 2013).", "date_published": "2013-11-21T20:42:21-05:00", "date_modified": "2013-11-21T20:42:21-05:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Patrick J. Skerrett" } ], "image": "https://domf5oio6qrcr.cloudfront.net/medialibrary/8460/conversions/Man-breaking-cigarette-thumb.jpg", "tags": [ "Addiction","Smoking, Vaping, & Quitting" ] }, { "id": "/blog/on-veterans-day-dont-let-the-invisible-wounds-of-ptsd-remain-hidden-201311116858", "title": "On Veterans Day, don’t let the “invisible wounds” of PTSD remain hidden", "url": "/blog/on-veterans-day-dont-let-the-invisible-wounds-of-ptsd-remain-hidden-201311116858", "content_html": "Millions of American men and women have served in the Armed Forces, protecting and defending our nation. Although many died, most returned home to “pick up their lives.” That isn’t always easy. For some veterans, the trauma of war changes the brain in ways that can cause long-term problems. According to the American Psychiatric Association, more than 300,000 veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have been diagnosed with PTSD. Countless others probably suffer from this condition but have never sought help for it. Even sadder, in 2012 more military deaths were caused by suicide than by combat. If you know a veteran, thank him or her for having served our nation. And if you think he or she is having trouble, bolster your courage and ask. Beginning the conversation may open the door to healing.", "summary": "Millions of American men and women have served in the Armed Forces, protecting and defending our nation. Although many died, most returned home to “pick up their lives.” That isn’t always easy. For some veterans, the trauma of war changes the brain in ways that can cause long-term problems. According to the American Psychiatric Association, more than 300,000 veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have been diagnosed with PTSD. Countless others probably suffer from this condition but have never sought help for it. Even sadder, in 2012 more military deaths were caused by suicide than by combat. If you know a veteran, thank him or her for having served our nation. And if you think he or she is having trouble, bolster your courage and ask. Beginning the conversation may open the door to healing.", "date_published": "2013-11-11T16:11:45-05:00", "date_modified": "2013-11-11T16:11:45-05:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Patrick J. Skerrett" } ], "image": "https://domf5oio6qrcr.cloudfront.net/medialibrary/8453/conversions/Veteran-in-front-of-flag-thumb.jpg", "tags": [ "Mental Health" ] }, { "id": "/blog/fda-gets-with-the-evidence-proposes-that-trans-fats-are-not-safe-201311086854", "title": "FDA gets with the evidence, proposes that trans fats are not “safe”", "url": "/blog/fda-gets-with-the-evidence-proposes-that-trans-fats-are-not-safe-201311086854", "content_html": "Trans fats, once seen as harmless additives that ended up in everything from Twinkies to French fries, are finally getting the reputation they deserve—bad for health. For years, the FDA has labeled trans fats as “generally recognized as safe.” That term applies to substances added to foods that experts consider safe, and so can be used without testing or approval. Yesterday the FDA proposed removing trans fats from the generally recognized as safe list, a step that would eliminate artificial trans fats from the American food supply. Oils rich in trans fats, long a workhorse of the food industry, boost harmful LDL cholesterol. They also depress protective HDL, which trucks LDL to the liver for disposal; have unhealthy effects on triglycerides; make blood platelets more likely to form artery-blocking clots in the heart, brain, and elsewhere; and feed inflammation, which plays key roles in the development of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.", "summary": "Trans fats, once seen as harmless additives that ended up in everything from Twinkies to French fries, are finally getting the reputation they deserve—bad for health. For years, the FDA has labeled trans fats as “generally recognized as safe.” That term applies to substances added to foods that experts consider safe, and so can be used without testing or approval. Yesterday the FDA proposed removing trans fats from the generally recognized as safe list, a step that would eliminate artificial trans fats from the American food supply. Oils rich in trans fats, long a workhorse of the food industry, boost harmful LDL cholesterol. They also depress protective HDL, which trucks LDL to the liver for disposal; have unhealthy effects on triglycerides; make blood platelets more likely to form artery-blocking clots in the heart, brain, and elsewhere; and feed inflammation, which plays key roles in the development of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.", "date_published": "2013-11-08T19:21:53-05:00", "date_modified": "2013-11-08T19:21:53-05:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Patrick J. Skerrett" } ], "image": "https://domf5oio6qrcr.cloudfront.net/medialibrary/8452/conversions/Donuts-thumb.jpg", "tags": [ "Diet & Weight Loss" ] }, { "id": "/blog/prostatitis-inflamed-prostate-can-be-a-vexing-health-problem-201310292039", "title": "Prostatitis: inflamed prostate can be a vexing health problem", "url": "/blog/prostatitis-inflamed-prostate-can-be-a-vexing-health-problem-201310292039", "content_html": "Prostatitis (infection or inflammation of the prostate gland) flies under the radar even though it affects up to one in six men at some point in their lifetimes. It triggers more than two million visits to doctors and untold agony each year.", "summary": "Prostatitis (infection or inflammation of the prostate gland) flies under the radar even though it affects up to one in six men at some point in their lifetimes. It triggers more than two million visits to doctors and untold agony each year.", "date_published": "2013-10-29T15:16:37-04:00", "date_modified": "2013-10-29T15:16:37-04:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Patrick J. Skerrett" } ], "tags": [ "Men's Health","Prostate Health","Prostate Knowledge" ] }, { "id": "/blog/wellocracy-aims-to-help-trackers-choose-and-use-health-apps-and-devices-201310256804", "title": "Wellocracy aims to help trackers choose and use health apps and devices", "url": "/blog/wellocracy-aims-to-help-trackers-choose-and-use-health-apps-and-devices-201310256804", "content_html": "There’s something satisfying about getting immediate feedback about exercise, sleep, and other activities. That’s why more and more people are joining the “quantified-self” movement. It involves formal tracking of health and habits, usually using apps and devices that feed data to them—from heart rate, activity, and sleep monitors to Bluetooth connected scales. But with so many apps and connected devices on the market, it can be hard to decide which ones are worth trying. Wellocracy, a website launched by the Harvard-affiliated Center for Connected Health, aims to give people impartial information about fitness trackers, mobile health apps, and other self-help technologies. It reviews dozens of sleep trackers, wearable activity trackers, mobile running apps, and mobile pedometer apps, lets you compare apps and devices in each category, provides a guide for beginners and offers tips for adding activity “bursts” throughout the day.", "summary": "There’s something satisfying about getting immediate feedback about exercise, sleep, and other activities. That’s why more and more people are joining the “quantified-self” movement. It involves formal tracking of health and habits, usually using apps and devices that feed data to them—from heart rate, activity, and sleep monitors to Bluetooth connected scales. But with so many apps and connected devices on the market, it can be hard to decide which ones are worth trying. Wellocracy, a website launched by the Harvard-affiliated Center for Connected Health, aims to give people impartial information about fitness trackers, mobile health apps, and other self-help technologies. It reviews dozens of sleep trackers, wearable activity trackers, mobile running apps, and mobile pedometer apps, lets you compare apps and devices in each category, provides a guide for beginners and offers tips for adding activity “bursts” throughout the day.", "date_published": "2013-10-25T19:13:38-04:00", "date_modified": "2013-10-25T19:13:38-04:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Patrick J. Skerrett" } ], "image": "https://domf5oio6qrcr.cloudfront.net/medialibrary/8444/conversions/Wellocracy-Starburst-thumb.jpg", "tags": [ "Exercise & Fitness","Diet & Weight Loss","Sleep" ] }, { "id": "/blog/stopping-nosebleeds-a-pinch-will-usually-do-the-trick-201310186769", "title": "Stopping nosebleeds: a pinch will usually do the trick", "url": "/blog/stopping-nosebleeds-a-pinch-will-usually-do-the-trick-201310186769", "content_html": "Most nosebleeds (the medical term is epistaxis) stop quickly. Some, though, need medical attention. An article posted online yesterday in JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery looks at treatment options for serious nosebleeds. The bottom line: Conservative options, like packing the nose with gauze, work just as well as more invasive efforts, have negative fewer side effects, and cost less. It makes sense to treat every nosebleed as if it is one that can be fixed at home. A good, strong pinch in the right place will often do the trick.", "summary": "Most nosebleeds (the medical term is epistaxis) stop quickly. Some, though, need medical attention. An article posted online yesterday in JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery looks at treatment options for serious nosebleeds. The bottom line: Conservative options, like packing the nose with gauze, work just as well as more invasive efforts, have negative fewer side effects, and cost less. It makes sense to treat every nosebleed as if it is one that can be fixed at home. A good, strong pinch in the right place will often do the trick.", "date_published": "2013-10-18T19:33:53-04:00", "date_modified": "2013-10-18T19:33:53-04:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Patrick J. Skerrett" } ], "image": "https://domf5oio6qrcr.cloudfront.net/medialibrary/8440/conversions/bigstock-Human-Nose-45033901-thumb.jpg", "tags": [ ] }, { "id": "/blog/overweight-and-healthy-the-concept-of-metabolically-healthy-obesity-201309246697", "title": "Overweight and healthy: the concept of metabolically healthy obesity", "url": "/blog/overweight-and-healthy-the-concept-of-metabolically-healthy-obesity-201309246697", "content_html": "Carrying too many pounds is a solid signal of current or future health problems. But not for everyone. Some people who are overweight or obese mange to escape the usual hazards, at least temporarily. This weight subgroup has even earned its own moniker—metabolically healthy obesity. Most people who are overweight or obese show potentially unhealthy changes in metabolism, like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and insulin resistance. But some people who are overweight or obese manage to avoid these changes and, at least metabolically, look like individuals with healthy weights. Such individuals have near-normal waist sizes, blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar, as well as good physical fitness. Metabolically healthy obesity isn’t common. And it may not be permanent.", "summary": "Carrying too many pounds is a solid signal of current or future health problems. But not for everyone. Some people who are overweight or obese mange to escape the usual hazards, at least temporarily. This weight subgroup has even earned its own moniker—metabolically healthy obesity. Most people who are overweight or obese show potentially unhealthy changes in metabolism, like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and insulin resistance. But some people who are overweight or obese manage to avoid these changes and, at least metabolically, look like individuals with healthy weights. Such individuals have near-normal waist sizes, blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar, as well as good physical fitness. Metabolically healthy obesity isn’t common. And it may not be permanent.", "date_published": "2013-09-24T20:31:12-04:00", "date_modified": "2013-09-24T20:31:12-04:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Patrick J. Skerrett" } ], "image": "https://domf5oio6qrcr.cloudfront.net/medialibrary/8429/conversions/Plus-Size-Woman-Lifting-Weight-thumb.jpg", "tags": [ "Exercise & Fitness" ] }, { "id": "/blog/harvard-health-blog-takes-a-break-201308266641", "title": "Ě첩ĚĺÓý blog takes a break", "url": "/blog/harvard-health-blog-takes-a-break-201308266641", "content_html": "The Ě첩ĚĺÓý blog is taking an end-of-summer break. It will begin publishing again after Labor Day. Thanks to everyone who makes the blog possible, from our loyal readers and visitors from around the world to our contributors. See you in September!", "summary": "The Ě첩ĚĺÓý blog is taking an end-of-summer break. It will begin publishing again after Labor Day. Thanks to everyone who makes the blog possible, from our loyal readers and visitors from around the world to our contributors. See you in September!", "date_published": "2013-08-26T12:22:26-04:00", "date_modified": "2013-08-26T12:22:26-04:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Patrick J. Skerrett" } ], "image": "https://domf5oio6qrcr.cloudfront.net/medialibrary/8418/conversions/vacation-thumb.jpg", "tags": [ ] }, { "id": "/blog/lyme-disease-10-times-more-common-than-thought-201308206621", "title": "Lyme disease 10 times more common than thought", "url": "/blog/lyme-disease-10-times-more-common-than-thought-201308206621", "content_html": "The 30,000 cases of Lyme disease reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) each year are just the tip of the iceberg. According to a new CDC estimate, more than 300,000 Americans are diagnosed with the tick-borne disease each year. The new number was presented at the 2013 International Conference on Lyme Borreliosis and Other Tick-Borne Diseases, being held in Boston. Although the disease has been diagnosed in almost every state, most cases reported to the CDC are in the Northeast and upper Midwest—96% of cases come from 13 states. The new estimate comes from a multi-pronged approach: gathering case reports from doctors, sifting through health insurance claims, analyzing data from clinical laboratories (which do the tests necessary to diagnose Lyme disease), and surveying the public for self-reported Lyme disease.", "summary": "The 30,000 cases of Lyme disease reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) each year are just the tip of the iceberg. According to a new CDC estimate, more than 300,000 Americans are diagnosed with the tick-borne disease each year. The new number was presented at the 2013 International Conference on Lyme Borreliosis and Other Tick-Borne Diseases, being held in Boston. Although the disease has been diagnosed in almost every state, most cases reported to the CDC are in the Northeast and upper Midwest—96% of cases come from 13 states. The new estimate comes from a multi-pronged approach: gathering case reports from doctors, sifting through health insurance claims, analyzing data from clinical laboratories (which do the tests necessary to diagnose Lyme disease), and surveying the public for self-reported Lyme disease.", "date_published": "2013-08-20T17:36:54-04:00", "date_modified": "2013-08-20T17:36:54-04:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Patrick J. Skerrett" } ], "image": "https://domf5oio6qrcr.cloudfront.net/medialibrary/8414/conversions/Lyme-Disease-Deer-Tick-4101000-thumb.jpg", "tags": [ "Infectious diseases" ] }, { "id": "/blog/falling-tvs-injure-17000-kids-a-year-201307226503", "title": "Falling TVs injure 17,000 kids a year", "url": "/blog/falling-tvs-injure-17000-kids-a-year-201307226503", "content_html": "More than 17,000 American youths end up in emergency departments each year with injuries from a falling television set. Two-thirds of them are under age 5, according to a report published online today in the journal Pediatrics. From 1996 to 2011, nearly 400,000 children under 18 years old were treated in emergency departments for TV-related injuries. In 1996, most of the injuries occurred when kids ran into television sets. By 2011, injuries from falling TVs dominated. The rate of TVs falling from dressers, bureaus, chests of drawers, and armoires nearly quadrupled. The authors of the study suggest that adding TVs to the list of furniture types that come with anti-tip devices “would be an important step in decreasing the number of injuries resulting from falling TVs.”", "summary": "More than 17,000 American youths end up in emergency departments each year with injuries from a falling television set. Two-thirds of them are under age 5, according to a report published online today in the journal Pediatrics. From 1996 to 2011, nearly 400,000 children under 18 years old were treated in emergency departments for TV-related injuries. In 1996, most of the injuries occurred when kids ran into television sets. By 2011, injuries from falling TVs dominated. The rate of TVs falling from dressers, bureaus, chests of drawers, and armoires nearly quadrupled. The authors of the study suggest that adding TVs to the list of furniture types that come with anti-tip devices “would be an important step in decreasing the number of injuries resulting from falling TVs.”", "date_published": "2013-07-22T20:39:24-04:00", "date_modified": "2013-07-22T20:39:24-04:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Patrick J. Skerrett" } ], "image": "https://domf5oio6qrcr.cloudfront.net/medialibrary/8403/conversions/Falling-television-thumb.jpg", "tags": [ "Child & Teen Health" ] }, { "id": "/blog/aspirin-like-drug-may-help-diabetics-control-blood-sugar-201307106450", "title": "Aspirin-like drug may help diabetics control blood sugar", "url": "/blog/aspirin-like-drug-may-help-diabetics-control-blood-sugar-201307106450", "content_html": "An old, aspirin-like drug called salsalate could help control blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes. In the TINSAL-T2D trial, 286 volunteers took pills containing either salsalate or a placebo for nearly a year. Over the course of the trial, those in the salsalate group had lower blood sugar levels, and some were even able to reduce dosages of other diabetes medications they were taking. Experts aren’t exactly sure how salsalate helps control blood sugar, but its effectiveness supports the idea that inflammation plays a role in type 2 diabetes. Although the results are promising, what we really need to know about salsalate (or any new or repurposed drug) is how its long-term benefits and risks stack up against each other. The trial was too small and too short to determine those risks. According to the researchers, such “outcomes require continued evaluation before salsalate can be recommended for widespread use” by people with type 2 diabetes.", "summary": "An old, aspirin-like drug called salsalate could help control blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes. In the TINSAL-T2D trial, 286 volunteers took pills containing either salsalate or a placebo for nearly a year. Over the course of the trial, those in the salsalate group had lower blood sugar levels, and some were even able to reduce dosages of other diabetes medications they were taking. Experts aren’t exactly sure how salsalate helps control blood sugar, but its effectiveness supports the idea that inflammation plays a role in type 2 diabetes. Although the results are promising, what we really need to know about salsalate (or any new or repurposed drug) is how its long-term benefits and risks stack up against each other. The trial was too small and too short to determine those risks. According to the researchers, such “outcomes require continued evaluation before salsalate can be recommended for widespread use” by people with type 2 diabetes.", "date_published": "2013-07-10T18:29:34-04:00", "date_modified": "2013-07-10T18:29:34-04:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Patrick J. Skerrett" } ], "image": "https://domf5oio6qrcr.cloudfront.net/medialibrary/8397/conversions/Diabetes-definition-thumb.jpg", "tags": [ "Diabetes","Medical Research" ] }, { "id": "/blog/fluids-cool-air-key-to-avoiding-heat-stroke-201307056443", "title": "Fluids, cool air key to avoiding heat stroke", "url": "/blog/fluids-cool-air-key-to-avoiding-heat-stroke-201307056443", "content_html": "Summer’s heat is as predictable as winter’s chill. Heat-related illnesses—and even deaths—are also predictable. But they aren’t inevitable. In fact, most are preventable. Most healthy people tolerate the heat without missing a beat. It’s not so easy for people with damaged or weakened hearts, or for older people whose bodies don’t respond as readily to stress as they once did. There are three different levels of heart-related illness: heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke. Some simple choices can help you weather the weather. Drinking water and other hydrating fluids is essential. Putting off exercise or other physical activity until things cool down also helps. Chilled air is the best way to beat the heat. Sticking with smaller meals that don’t overload the stomach can also help.", "summary": "Summer’s heat is as predictable as winter’s chill. Heat-related illnesses—and even deaths—are also predictable. But they aren’t inevitable. In fact, most are preventable. Most healthy people tolerate the heat without missing a beat. It’s not so easy for people with damaged or weakened hearts, or for older people whose bodies don’t respond as readily to stress as they once did. There are three different levels of heart-related illness: heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke. Some simple choices can help you weather the weather. Drinking water and other hydrating fluids is essential. Putting off exercise or other physical activity until things cool down also helps. Chilled air is the best way to beat the heat. Sticking with smaller meals that don’t overload the stomach can also help.", "date_published": "2013-07-05T21:32:27-04:00", "date_modified": "2013-07-05T21:32:27-04:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Patrick J. Skerrett" } ], "image": "https://domf5oio6qrcr.cloudfront.net/medialibrary/8395/conversions/Heat-wave-thumb.jpg", "tags": [ "Heart Health" ] }, { "id": "/blog/infection-autoimmune-disease-linked-to-depression-201306176397", "title": "Infection, autoimmune disease linked to depression", "url": "/blog/infection-autoimmune-disease-linked-to-depression-201306176397", "content_html": "Depression, bipolar disorder, and other mental health problems arise when something goes wrong with brain function. What causes that malfunction is an open question. A new study from Denmark suggests that a serious infection or autoimmune disease could trigger a mood disorder. How might an infection or autoimmune disorder lead to a mood or other mental health disorder? Infection causes localized and body-wide inflammation. Inflammation generates substances called cytokines that have been shown to change how brain cells communicate. In autoimmune diseases, the body’s defense system attacks healthy tissues rather than threatening invaders. It’s possible that in some cases the wayward immune reaction could target brain cells and other nerve cells throughout the body.", "summary": "Depression, bipolar disorder, and other mental health problems arise when something goes wrong with brain function. What causes that malfunction is an open question. A new study from Denmark suggests that a serious infection or autoimmune disease could trigger a mood disorder. How might an infection or autoimmune disorder lead to a mood or other mental health disorder? Infection causes localized and body-wide inflammation. Inflammation generates substances called cytokines that have been shown to change how brain cells communicate. In autoimmune diseases, the body’s defense system attacks healthy tissues rather than threatening invaders. It’s possible that in some cases the wayward immune reaction could target brain cells and other nerve cells throughout the body.", "date_published": "2013-06-17T09:47:07-04:00", "date_modified": "2013-06-17T09:47:07-04:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Patrick J. Skerrett" } ], "image": "https://domf5oio6qrcr.cloudfront.net/medialibrary/8388/conversions/Bacteria-in-the-bloodstream-thumb.jpg", "tags": [ "Mental Health","Inflammation" ] }, { "id": "/blog/what-you-can-do-about-floaters-and-flashes-in-the-eye-201306106336", "title": "What you can do about floaters and flashes in the eye", "url": "/blog/what-you-can-do-about-floaters-and-flashes-in-the-eye-201306106336", "content_html": "", "summary": "", "date_published": "2020-04-16T00:00:00-04:00", "date_modified": "2020-04-16T00:00:00-04:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Patrick J. Skerrett" } ], "image": "https://domf5oio6qrcr.cloudfront.net/medialibrary/8383/conversions/Closeup-of-an-eye-thumb.jpg", "tags": [ ] }, { "id": "/blog/celebrating-cancer-survivors-201305316331", "title": "Celebrating cancer survivors", "url": "/blog/celebrating-cancer-survivors-201305316331", "content_html": "Sunday, June 2, is National Cancer Survivors Day. It was started 26 years ago as a way to recognize and support people living with cancer. The foundation that organizes the yearly event defines survivor as “anyone living with a history of cancer – from the moment of diagnosis through the remainder of life.” National Cancer Survivors Day offers survivors and their family members and friends a chance to acknowledge the hard work that goes into fighting cancer and to show the world that survivors can live fulfilling lives. The day is observed in many different ways. Around the U.S. and in 18 other countries, community groups, hospitals, and other organizations hold breakfasts, picnics, walks, fun runs, and other activities.", "summary": "Sunday, June 2, is National Cancer Survivors Day. It was started 26 years ago as a way to recognize and support people living with cancer. The foundation that organizes the yearly event defines survivor as “anyone living with a history of cancer – from the moment of diagnosis through the remainder of life.” National Cancer Survivors Day offers survivors and their family members and friends a chance to acknowledge the hard work that goes into fighting cancer and to show the world that survivors can live fulfilling lives. The day is observed in many different ways. Around the U.S. and in 18 other countries, community groups, hospitals, and other organizations hold breakfasts, picnics, walks, fun runs, and other activities.", "date_published": "2013-05-31T14:45:57-04:00", "date_modified": "2013-05-31T14:45:57-04:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Patrick J. Skerrett" } ], "image": "https://domf5oio6qrcr.cloudfront.net/medialibrary/8379/conversions/National_Cancer_Survivors_Day_Logo-thumb.jpg", "tags": [ "Cancer" ] }, { "id": "/blog/new-public-database-shows-hospital-billing-charges-all-over-the-map-201305106231", "title": "New public database shows hospital billing charges all over the map", "url": "/blog/new-public-database-shows-hospital-billing-charges-all-over-the-map-201305106231", "content_html": "Most reputable companies that provide services tell you what you’ll get for your money. Hospitals are an exception. They haven’t traditionally made public the cost of operations and other procedures. This secrecy has let hospitals set widely different prices for the same procedure. It’s also made it impossible to do any comparison shopping. Yesterday’s release to the public of a once very private database shows just how big the differences can be from hospital to hospital. The database, released by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, details what 3,300 hospitals charged for the 100 most common treatments and procedures in 2011. It data reinforce the big differences in charges from one part of the U.S. to another. What’s new and surprising are the huge differences sometimes seen between hospitals in the same city, or even the same neighborhood.", "summary": "Most reputable companies that provide services tell you what you’ll get for your money. Hospitals are an exception. They haven’t traditionally made public the cost of operations and other procedures. This secrecy has let hospitals set widely different prices for the same procedure. It’s also made it impossible to do any comparison shopping. Yesterday’s release to the public of a once very private database shows just how big the differences can be from hospital to hospital. The database, released by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, details what 3,300 hospitals charged for the 100 most common treatments and procedures in 2011. It data reinforce the big differences in charges from one part of the U.S. to another. What’s new and surprising are the huge differences sometimes seen between hospitals in the same city, or even the same neighborhood.", "date_published": "2013-05-10T12:27:29-04:00", "date_modified": "2013-05-10T12:27:29-04:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Patrick J. Skerrett" } ], "image": "https://domf5oio6qrcr.cloudfront.net/medialibrary/8367/conversions/Team-of-surgeons-thumb.jpg", "tags": [ ] }, { "id": "/blog/exercise-is-good-not-bad-for-arthritis-201305086202", "title": "Exercise is good, not bad, for arthritis", "url": "/blog/exercise-is-good-not-bad-for-arthritis-201305086202", "content_html": "When pain strikes, it’s human nature to avoid doing things that aggravate it. That’s certainly the case for people with arthritis, many of whom tend to avoid exercise when a hip, knee, ankle or other joint hurts. Although that strategy seems to make sense, it may harm more than help. Taking a walk on most days of the week can actually ease arthritis pain and improve other symptoms. It’s also good for the heart, brain, and every other part of the body. Yet a new survey from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that more than half of people with arthritis don’t walk at all for exercise, and only 23% meet the current recommendation for activity—walking for at least 150 minutes a week. Walking is good exercise for people with arthritis, but it isn’t the only one. A review of the benefits of exercise for people with osteoarthritis (the most common form of arthritis) found that strength training, water-based exercise, and balance therapy were the most helpful for reducing pain and improving function.", "summary": "When pain strikes, it’s human nature to avoid doing things that aggravate it. That’s certainly the case for people with arthritis, many of whom tend to avoid exercise when a hip, knee, ankle or other joint hurts. Although that strategy seems to make sense, it may harm more than help. Taking a walk on most days of the week can actually ease arthritis pain and improve other symptoms. It’s also good for the heart, brain, and every other part of the body. Yet a new survey from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that more than half of people with arthritis don’t walk at all for exercise, and only 23% meet the current recommendation for activity—walking for at least 150 minutes a week. Walking is good exercise for people with arthritis, but it isn’t the only one. A review of the benefits of exercise for people with osteoarthritis (the most common form of arthritis) found that strength training, water-based exercise, and balance therapy were the most helpful for reducing pain and improving function.", "date_published": "2013-05-08T18:38:50-04:00", "date_modified": "2013-05-08T18:38:50-04:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Patrick J. Skerrett" } ], "image": "https://domf5oio6qrcr.cloudfront.net/medialibrary/8363/conversions/Legs-with-arthritis-thumb.jpg", "tags": [ "Exercise & Fitness","Arthritis" ] }, { "id": "/blog/survival-skills-for-all-you-can-eat-buffets-201303226015", "title": "Survival skills for all-you-can-eat buffets", "url": "/blog/survival-skills-for-all-you-can-eat-buffets-201303226015", "content_html": "All-you-can-eat buffets are a boon for hungry, thrift diners and a nightmare for dieters or those trying to maintain a healthy weight. If you are in the latter camp, here are two tips from Brian Wansink, the master of mindful eating: 1) Take a walk around the entire buffet to scope out your options before serving yourself. 2) Put your food on a small plate instead of a big one. Those come from observations of more than 300 men and women dining in two dozen all-you-can-eat Chinese restaurants. Understanding the many factors that influence what and how you eat can help you take more control of your eating habits. Who you eat with, how you are feeling, and activities like parties or shopping can influence when and how much you eat.", "summary": "All-you-can-eat buffets are a boon for hungry, thrift diners and a nightmare for dieters or those trying to maintain a healthy weight. If you are in the latter camp, here are two tips from Brian Wansink, the master of mindful eating: 1) Take a walk around the entire buffet to scope out your options before serving yourself. 2) Put your food on a small plate instead of a big one. Those come from observations of more than 300 men and women dining in two dozen all-you-can-eat Chinese restaurants. Understanding the many factors that influence what and how you eat can help you take more control of your eating habits. Who you eat with, how you are feeling, and activities like parties or shopping can influence when and how much you eat.", "date_published": "2013-03-22T14:59:27-04:00", "date_modified": "2013-03-22T14:59:27-04:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Patrick J. Skerrett" } ], "image": "https://domf5oio6qrcr.cloudfront.net/medialibrary/8346/conversions/Chinese-restaurant-buffet-thumb.jpg", "tags": [ ] }, { "id": "/blog/physical-therapy-works-as-well-as-surgery-for-some-with-torn-knee-cartilage-201303206002", "title": "Physical therapy works as well as surgery for some with torn knee cartilage", "url": "/blog/physical-therapy-works-as-well-as-surgery-for-some-with-torn-knee-cartilage-201303206002", "content_html": "Tiny shock absorbers in the knee (each one is called a meniscus) provide a key cushion between the thighbone and the shinbone. They are prone to tearing, and sometimes just wear out. A torn meniscus can cause pain or other symptoms, like a knee that locks. But sometimes they don’t cause any symptoms. In a youngish person, when a knee-wrenching activity like skiing, ultimate Frisbee, or slipping on the ice tears a meniscus, the damage is often repaired surgically. But a torn meniscus is often seen in the 9 million Americans with knee osteoarthritis, and for them the best course of action hasn’t been crystal clear. Results of the Meniscal Tear in Osteoarthritis Research (MeTeOR) trial published yesterday in the New England Journal of Medicine indicate that physical therapy may be just as good as surgery. Both therapies led to similar improvements in knee function and pain at six and 12 months.", "summary": "Tiny shock absorbers in the knee (each one is called a meniscus) provide a key cushion between the thighbone and the shinbone. They are prone to tearing, and sometimes just wear out. A torn meniscus can cause pain or other symptoms, like a knee that locks. But sometimes they don’t cause any symptoms. In a youngish person, when a knee-wrenching activity like skiing, ultimate Frisbee, or slipping on the ice tears a meniscus, the damage is often repaired surgically. But a torn meniscus is often seen in the 9 million Americans with knee osteoarthritis, and for them the best course of action hasn’t been crystal clear. Results of the Meniscal Tear in Osteoarthritis Research (MeTeOR) trial published yesterday in the New England Journal of Medicine indicate that physical therapy may be just as good as surgery. Both therapies led to similar improvements in knee function and pain at six and 12 months.", "date_published": "2013-03-20T22:18:34-04:00", "date_modified": "2013-03-20T22:18:34-04:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Patrick J. Skerrett" } ], "image": "https://domf5oio6qrcr.cloudfront.net/medialibrary/8344/conversions/Knee-physical-therapy-thumb.jpg", "tags": [ "Arthritis" ] }, { "id": "/blog/new-concussion-guidelines-say-when-in-doubt-sit-it-out-201303185994", "title": "New concussion guidelines say “When in doubt, sit it out”", "url": "/blog/new-concussion-guidelines-say-when-in-doubt-sit-it-out-201303185994", "content_html": "New guidelines for recognizing and managing sports-related concussions could help protect the brains of millions of athletes at all levels of play, from professional football to youth soccer. The guidelines, released today by the American Academy of Neurology (AAN), replace a now-outdated set published in 1997. The guidelines step away from trying to “grade” concussions or diagnose them on the field or sidelines. Instead, they focus on immediately removing from play athletes who are suspected of having a concussion until they can be evaluated. “When in doubt, sit it out.” The AAN estimates that concussions cause between 1.6 million and 3.8 million mild brain injuries each year. Many athletes don’t get medical attention for these injuries, often because they or their coaches don’t recognize the warning signs or take them seriously. The new guidelines should help better identify athletes who have suffered concussions and improve how concussions are managed and treated.", "summary": "New guidelines for recognizing and managing sports-related concussions could help protect the brains of millions of athletes at all levels of play, from professional football to youth soccer. The guidelines, released today by the American Academy of Neurology (AAN), replace a now-outdated set published in 1997. The guidelines step away from trying to “grade” concussions or diagnose them on the field or sidelines. Instead, they focus on immediately removing from play athletes who are suspected of having a concussion until they can be evaluated. “When in doubt, sit it out.” The AAN estimates that concussions cause between 1.6 million and 3.8 million mild brain injuries each year. Many athletes don’t get medical attention for these injuries, often because they or their coaches don’t recognize the warning signs or take them seriously. The new guidelines should help better identify athletes who have suffered concussions and improve how concussions are managed and treated.", "date_published": "2013-03-18T20:21:41-04:00", "date_modified": "2013-03-18T20:21:41-04:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Patrick J. Skerrett" } ], "image": "https://domf5oio6qrcr.cloudfront.net/medialibrary/8343/conversions/Bandaged-brain-thumb.jpg", "tags": [ "Exercise & Fitness","Mental Health" ] }, { "id": "/blog/distracted-driving-were-number-1-201303155980", "title": "Distracted driving: We’re Number 1", "url": "/blog/distracted-driving-were-number-1-201303155980", "content_html": "Americans drive while talking on a cellphone or texting more than their counterparts in seven European countries. A report published yesterday showed that 69% of American drivers surveyed said they had talked on a cellphone while driving at least once in the previous month (31% said they did it “regularly or fairly often”), and 31% said they had read or sent text messages while driving. The least distracted drivers were in the United Kingdom. Not surprisingly, younger drivers were more likely to have reported talking on a cellphone or texting while driving. The statistics on distracted driving are chilling: In 2011 (the last year with complete statistics), 3,331 people were killed in motor vehicle crashes involving a distracted driver, and nearly 400,000 were injured. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that distracted driving accounts for about one in five crashes in which someone was injured.", "summary": "Americans drive while talking on a cellphone or texting more than their counterparts in seven European countries. A report published yesterday showed that 69% of American drivers surveyed said they had talked on a cellphone while driving at least once in the previous month (31% said they did it “regularly or fairly often”), and 31% said they had read or sent text messages while driving. The least distracted drivers were in the United Kingdom. Not surprisingly, younger drivers were more likely to have reported talking on a cellphone or texting while driving. The statistics on distracted driving are chilling: In 2011 (the last year with complete statistics), 3,331 people were killed in motor vehicle crashes involving a distracted driver, and nearly 400,000 were injured. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that distracted driving accounts for about one in five crashes in which someone was injured.", "date_published": "2013-03-15T14:08:06-04:00", "date_modified": "2013-03-15T14:08:06-04:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Patrick J. Skerrett" } ], "image": "https://domf5oio6qrcr.cloudfront.net/medialibrary/8340/conversions/Girl-texting-and-driving-thumb.jpg", "tags": [ ] }, { "id": "/blog/take-a-nap-to-adjust-to-daylight-saving-time-201303115968", "title": "Take a nap to adjust to Daylight Saving Time", "url": "/blog/take-a-nap-to-adjust-to-daylight-saving-time-201303115968", "content_html": "It always takes me a few days to get used to Daylight Saving Time. While I love the extra hour of light at the end of the day, I’m not so wild about the extra hour of darkness in the morning or waking up an hour earlier than I need to. And I sure miss the hour of sleep I lost yesterday. That lost hour seems to be a big deal. A report in this month’s American Journal of Cardiology details the jump in heart attacks seen in a large Michigan hospital the first week after the start of Daylight Saving Time, and the small decline after it ends in the fall. A few years back, researchers showed a similar pattern in Sweden. The number of traffic accidents are similarly affected. In a Canadian study, there were more accidents on the Monday after the start of Daylight Saving Time than there were on the Monday the week before the change. If ever there was a perfect day for a nap, today would be it. A single nap won’t fully reset your body clock or make up for a lost hour of sleep, but it can help. It’s also a good way to stay sharp, especially in the afternoon.", "summary": "It always takes me a few days to get used to Daylight Saving Time. While I love the extra hour of light at the end of the day, I’m not so wild about the extra hour of darkness in the morning or waking up an hour earlier than I need to. And I sure miss the hour of sleep I lost yesterday. That lost hour seems to be a big deal. A report in this month’s American Journal of Cardiology details the jump in heart attacks seen in a large Michigan hospital the first week after the start of Daylight Saving Time, and the small decline after it ends in the fall. A few years back, researchers showed a similar pattern in Sweden. The number of traffic accidents are similarly affected. In a Canadian study, there were more accidents on the Monday after the start of Daylight Saving Time than there were on the Monday the week before the change. If ever there was a perfect day for a nap, today would be it. A single nap won’t fully reset your body clock or make up for a lost hour of sleep, but it can help. It’s also a good way to stay sharp, especially in the afternoon.", "date_published": "2013-03-11T16:00:19-04:00", "date_modified": "2013-03-11T16:00:19-04:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Patrick J. Skerrett" } ], "image": "https://domf5oio6qrcr.cloudfront.net/medialibrary/8338/conversions/Woman-napping-on-her-laptop-thumb.jpg", "tags": [ "Sleep" ] }, { "id": "/blog/panel-cites-top-10-strategies-for-improving-patient-safety-201303055951", "title": "Panel cites top 10 strategies for improving patient safety", "url": "/blog/panel-cites-top-10-strategies-for-improving-patient-safety-201303055951", "content_html": "The toll taken by medical mistakes burst into public attention with a 1999 report called To Err Is Human from the U.S. Institute of Medicine. The report estimated that between 44,000 and 98,000 people die each year as a result of preventable medical errors. Such errors can be headline grabbers, like the death of Boston Globe columnist Betsy Lehman from an overdose during chemotherapy. The safety of hospital stays and encounters with health-care providers got a boost today with the publication of 22 evidence-based “patient safety strategies.” Although most focus on care that takes place in hospitals, they extend to almost all interactions between individuals and their doctors, nurses, and other care providers. Very few of the safety practices are expensive, high-tech interventions. Instead, they are almost old-fashioned efforts that aim to improve communication between health-care providers and their patients, and to improve the practice of medicine rather than the art of medicine. The theme of all of these interventions is to create systems that help caregivers follow every step that is known to improve patient care, and to avoid relying on fallible human memory. To err may be human, but it is also often preventable.", "summary": "The toll taken by medical mistakes burst into public attention with a 1999 report called To Err Is Human from the U.S. Institute of Medicine. The report estimated that between 44,000 and 98,000 people die each year as a result of preventable medical errors. Such errors can be headline grabbers, like the death of Boston Globe columnist Betsy Lehman from an overdose during chemotherapy. The safety of hospital stays and encounters with health-care providers got a boost today with the publication of 22 evidence-based “patient safety strategies.” Although most focus on care that takes place in hospitals, they extend to almost all interactions between individuals and their doctors, nurses, and other care providers. Very few of the safety practices are expensive, high-tech interventions. Instead, they are almost old-fashioned efforts that aim to improve communication between health-care providers and their patients, and to improve the practice of medicine rather than the art of medicine. The theme of all of these interventions is to create systems that help caregivers follow every step that is known to improve patient care, and to avoid relying on fallible human memory. To err may be human, but it is also often preventable.", "date_published": "2013-03-05T16:43:25-05:00", "date_modified": "2013-03-05T16:43:25-05:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Patrick J. Skerrett" } ], "image": "https://domf5oio6qrcr.cloudfront.net/medialibrary/8335/conversions/Medical-errors-thumb.jpg", "tags": [ ] }, { "id": "/blog/deep-brain-stimulation-can-be-started-earlier-to-ease-parkinsons-symptoms-201302135897", "title": "Deep-brain stimulation can be started earlier to ease Parkinson’s symptoms", "url": "/blog/deep-brain-stimulation-can-be-started-earlier-to-ease-parkinsons-symptoms-201302135897", "content_html": "A pacemaker-like device that stimulates the brain can help control some of the muscular problems brought on by Parkinson’s disease, the second most common neurodegenerative problem in America. A report in tomorrow’s New England Journal of Medicine may prompt doctors to recommend its use sooner rather than later. For more than a decade, deep-brain stimulation has been used to help control Parkinson’s symptoms. It involves placing a tiny wire called a lead (pronounced leed) in the part of the brain that controls movement and a matchbook-sized stimulator under the skin below the collarbone. The lead and stimulator are connected to each other by a second wire that runs under the skin of the shoulder, neck, and head. The device emits small pulses of electricity that help coordinate movement. Deep-brain stimulation traditionally isn’t used until a person has lived with Parkinson’s for a decade or more. The new report in the NEJM will give doctors more leeway to use this therapy earlier in people with Parkinson’s.", "summary": "A pacemaker-like device that stimulates the brain can help control some of the muscular problems brought on by Parkinson’s disease, the second most common neurodegenerative problem in America. A report in tomorrow’s New England Journal of Medicine may prompt doctors to recommend its use sooner rather than later. For more than a decade, deep-brain stimulation has been used to help control Parkinson’s symptoms. It involves placing a tiny wire called a lead (pronounced leed) in the part of the brain that controls movement and a matchbook-sized stimulator under the skin below the collarbone. The lead and stimulator are connected to each other by a second wire that runs under the skin of the shoulder, neck, and head. The device emits small pulses of electricity that help coordinate movement. Deep-brain stimulation traditionally isn’t used until a person has lived with Parkinson’s for a decade or more. The new report in the NEJM will give doctors more leeway to use this therapy earlier in people with Parkinson’s.", "date_published": "2013-02-13T22:00:31-05:00", "date_modified": "2013-02-13T22:00:31-05:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Patrick J. Skerrett" } ], "image": "https://domf5oio6qrcr.cloudfront.net/medialibrary/8327/conversions/activa-thumb.jpg", "tags": [ ] }, { "id": "/blog/adult-immunization-schedule-updated-as-vaccination-rates-lag-201302115878", "title": "Adult immunization schedule updated as vaccination rates lag", "url": "/blog/adult-immunization-schedule-updated-as-vaccination-rates-lag-201302115878", "content_html": "To get or stay healthy, many people focus on exercising more, eating better, or quitting smoking. Getting recommended vaccinations is another relatively simple strategy for health that an alarming number of Americans overlook. Vaccination isn’t just for kids. Adults should get immunized against infectious agents that cause the flu, pneumonia, whooping cough (pertussis), shingles (herpes zoster), and more. The latest schedule for adult immunization has been published in the Annals of Internal Medicine. It now recommends adding a second anti-pneumonia vaccine for people with compromised immune systems. It also says that all adults age 65 and older should get the tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (Tdap) vaccine, as should pregnant women with each pregnancy. When it comes to adult immunization, Americans aren’t doing very well. One-third of older Americans don’t get the pneumococcal vaccine, 84% don’t get the shingles vaccine, and 87% don’t get the tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis vaccine. In addition to protecting yourself from an infectious disease, immunization also protects others.", "summary": "To get or stay healthy, many people focus on exercising more, eating better, or quitting smoking. Getting recommended vaccinations is another relatively simple strategy for health that an alarming number of Americans overlook. Vaccination isn’t just for kids. Adults should get immunized against infectious agents that cause the flu, pneumonia, whooping cough (pertussis), shingles (herpes zoster), and more. The latest schedule for adult immunization has been published in the Annals of Internal Medicine. It now recommends adding a second anti-pneumonia vaccine for people with compromised immune systems. It also says that all adults age 65 and older should get the tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (Tdap) vaccine, as should pregnant women with each pregnancy. When it comes to adult immunization, Americans aren’t doing very well. One-third of older Americans don’t get the pneumococcal vaccine, 84% don’t get the shingles vaccine, and 87% don’t get the tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis vaccine. In addition to protecting yourself from an infectious disease, immunization also protects others.", "date_published": "2013-02-11T17:06:55-05:00", "date_modified": "2013-02-11T17:06:55-05:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Patrick J. Skerrett" } ], "image": "https://domf5oio6qrcr.cloudfront.net/medialibrary/8325/conversions/Vaccine-preparation-thumb.jpg", "tags": [ "Cold & Flu" ] }, { "id": "/blog/shoveling-snow-can-be-hard-on-the-heart-201302085868", "title": "Shoveling snow can be hard on the heart", "url": "/blog/shoveling-snow-can-be-hard-on-the-heart-201302085868", "content_html": "As a huge, snowy Nor’easter barrels into New England, I’m thinking about all the shoveling I’ll be doing over the next couple days. Luckily I have three teenagers to help. But now that I’m of an AARP age, I have to be more mindful of the cardiovascular effects of shoveling. Snow shoveling is a known trigger for heart attacks. Emergency rooms in the snowbelt gear up for extra cases during significant snow storms. What’s the connection? Many people who shovel snow rarely exercise. Picking up a shovel and moving hundreds of pounds of snow, particularly after doing nothing physical for several months, can put a big strain on the heart. Pushing a heavy snow blower can do the same thing. Cold weather also contributes. Tips for protecting the heart include shoveling many light loads instead of fewer heavy ones, taking frequent breaks, and hiring a teenager.", "summary": "As a huge, snowy Nor’easter barrels into New England, I’m thinking about all the shoveling I’ll be doing over the next couple days. Luckily I have three teenagers to help. But now that I’m of an AARP age, I have to be more mindful of the cardiovascular effects of shoveling. Snow shoveling is a known trigger for heart attacks. Emergency rooms in the snowbelt gear up for extra cases during significant snow storms. What’s the connection? Many people who shovel snow rarely exercise. Picking up a shovel and moving hundreds of pounds of snow, particularly after doing nothing physical for several months, can put a big strain on the heart. Pushing a heavy snow blower can do the same thing. Cold weather also contributes. Tips for protecting the heart include shoveling many light loads instead of fewer heavy ones, taking frequent breaks, and hiring a teenager.", "date_published": "2013-02-08T20:36:51-05:00", "date_modified": "2013-02-08T20:36:51-05:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Patrick J. Skerrett" } ], "image": "https://domf5oio6qrcr.cloudfront.net/medialibrary/8324/conversions/Shoveling-snow-thumb.jpg", "tags": [ "Exercise & Fitness","Heart Health" ] }, { "id": "/blog/high-dose-vitamin-c-linked-to-kidney-stones-in-men-201302055854", "title": "High-dose vitamin C linked to kidney stones in men", "url": "/blog/high-dose-vitamin-c-linked-to-kidney-stones-in-men-201302055854", "content_html": "File this under “if a little bit is good, a lot isn’t necessarily better:” taking high-dose vitamin C appears to double a man’s risk of developing painful kidney stones. In an article published yesterday in JAMA Internal Medicine, Swedish researchers detail a connection between kidney stone formation and vitamin C supplements among more than 23,000 Swedish men. Over an 11-year period, about 2% of the men developed kidney stones. Men who reported taking vitamin C supplements were twice as likely to have experienced the misery of kidney stones. Use of a standard multivitamin didn’t seem to up the risk. Many people believe that extra vitamin C can prevent colds, supercharge the immune system, detoxify the body, protect the heart, fight cancer, and more. To date, though, the evidence doesn’t support claims that extra vitamin C is helpful. If high-dose vitamin C doesn’t improve health, then any hazard from it, even a small one, is too much.", "summary": "File this under “if a little bit is good, a lot isn’t necessarily better:” taking high-dose vitamin C appears to double a man’s risk of developing painful kidney stones. In an article published yesterday in JAMA Internal Medicine, Swedish researchers detail a connection between kidney stone formation and vitamin C supplements among more than 23,000 Swedish men. Over an 11-year period, about 2% of the men developed kidney stones. Men who reported taking vitamin C supplements were twice as likely to have experienced the misery of kidney stones. Use of a standard multivitamin didn’t seem to up the risk. Many people believe that extra vitamin C can prevent colds, supercharge the immune system, detoxify the body, protect the heart, fight cancer, and more. To date, though, the evidence doesn’t support claims that extra vitamin C is helpful. If high-dose vitamin C doesn’t improve health, then any hazard from it, even a small one, is too much.", "date_published": "2013-02-05T14:23:28-05:00", "date_modified": "2013-02-05T14:23:28-05:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Patrick J. Skerrett" } ], "image": "https://domf5oio6qrcr.cloudfront.net/medialibrary/8322/conversions/Citrus-fruits-thumb.jpg", "tags": [ "Men's Health" ] }, { "id": "/blog/the-trick-to-recognizing-a-good-whole-grain-use-carb-to-fiber-ratio-of-10-to-1-201301145794", "title": "The trick to recognizing a good whole grain: Use carb-to-fiber ratio of 10-to-1", "url": "/blog/the-trick-to-recognizing-a-good-whole-grain-use-carb-to-fiber-ratio-of-10-to-1-201301145794", "content_html": "“Whole grain” has become a healthy eating buzzphrase, and food companies aren’t shy about using it to entice us to buy products. Browse the bread, cereal, or chip aisle of your favorite grocery store and you’ll see what I mean. Last year, nearly 3,400 new whole-grain products were launched, compared with just 264 in 2001. And a poll by the International Food Information Council showed that 75% of those surveyed said they were trying to eat more whole grains, while 67% said the presence of whole grains was important when buying packaged foods. But some of the products we buy may not deliver all the healthful whole-grain goodness we’re expecting. Identifying a healthful whole-grain food can be tricky. A new study from the Harvard School of Public Health says the best way is to choose foods that have at least one gram of fiber for every 10 grams of carbohydrate. Fiber and carbs are both listed on the nutrition label.", "summary": "“Whole grain” has become a healthy eating buzzphrase, and food companies aren’t shy about using it to entice us to buy products. Browse the bread, cereal, or chip aisle of your favorite grocery store and you’ll see what I mean. Last year, nearly 3,400 new whole-grain products were launched, compared with just 264 in 2001. And a poll by the International Food Information Council showed that 75% of those surveyed said they were trying to eat more whole grains, while 67% said the presence of whole grains was important when buying packaged foods. But some of the products we buy may not deliver all the healthful whole-grain goodness we’re expecting. Identifying a healthful whole-grain food can be tricky. A new study from the Harvard School of Public Health says the best way is to choose foods that have at least one gram of fiber for every 10 grams of carbohydrate. Fiber and carbs are both listed on the nutrition label.", "date_published": "2013-01-14T19:13:07-05:00", "date_modified": "2013-01-14T19:13:07-05:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Patrick J. Skerrett" } ], "image": "https://domf5oio6qrcr.cloudfront.net/medialibrary/8314/conversions/Whole-grains-thumb.jpg", "tags": [ ] }, { "id": "/blog/as-flu-cases-spike-it-isnt-too-late-to-get-the-vaccine-201301105786", "title": "As flu cases spike, it isn’t too late to get the vaccine", "url": "/blog/as-flu-cases-spike-it-isnt-too-late-to-get-the-vaccine-201301105786", "content_html": "It’s shaping up to be a banner year for the flu. The City of Boston just declared a public health emergency, with 700 cases of the flu reported so far this season, compared to just 70 cases last year. Four Boston residents, all elderly, have died. A similar spike in flu is happening all around the country. According to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, this year’s flu season is shaping up to be a bad one. By the end of December, the flu was widespread in 41 states. The CDC says that more than 2,000 people have been hospitalized so far; scores of adults have died, as well as 18 children. One way to keep from getting the flu is to get the flu vaccine. (Almost everyone age 6 months and older should be vaccinated.) If you haven’t already done this, it isn’t too late. For more information about the flu, visit Ě첩ĚĺÓý Publication’s Flu Resource Center at www.health.harvard.edu/flu", "summary": "It’s shaping up to be a banner year for the flu. The City of Boston just declared a public health emergency, with 700 cases of the flu reported so far this season, compared to just 70 cases last year. Four Boston residents, all elderly, have died. A similar spike in flu is happening all around the country. According to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, this year’s flu season is shaping up to be a bad one. By the end of December, the flu was widespread in 41 states. The CDC says that more than 2,000 people have been hospitalized so far; scores of adults have died, as well as 18 children. One way to keep from getting the flu is to get the flu vaccine. (Almost everyone age 6 months and older should be vaccinated.) If you haven’t already done this, it isn’t too late. For more information about the flu, visit Ě첩ĚĺÓý Publication’s Flu Resource Center at www.health.harvard.edu/flu", "date_published": "2013-01-10T18:08:44-05:00", "date_modified": "2013-01-10T18:08:44-05:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Patrick J. Skerrett" } ], "image": "https://domf5oio6qrcr.cloudfront.net/medialibrary/8311/conversions/Man-getting-flu-vaccine-thumb.jpg", "tags": [ "Cold & Flu" ] }, { "id": "/blog/generic-drugs-dont-ask-just-tell-201301075766", "title": "Generic drugs: don’t ask, just tell", "url": "/blog/generic-drugs-dont-ask-just-tell-201301075766", "content_html": "Greater use of generic drugs could save the healthcare system—and American consumers—billions of dollars that would be better spent elsewhere. What’s holding us back? Some consumers are reluctant to use generic medications, thinking they are inferior to “the real thing.” Doctors are also a big part of the problem. Up to half of physicians hold negative perceptions about generic drugs. And a new study to be published in tomorrow’s JAMA Internal Medicine shows that about 4 in 10 doctors sometimes or often prescribe a brand-name drug just because their patients ask for it. Prescribing a brand-name drug when a generic is available is a huge source of wasteful spending that could easily be prevented. People ask for brand-name drugs because they have heard of them through advertising or word of mouth, while their generic alternatives generally aren’t advertised. Doctors could help save billions of dollars by just saying “no.”", "summary": "Greater use of generic drugs could save the healthcare system—and American consumers—billions of dollars that would be better spent elsewhere. What’s holding us back? Some consumers are reluctant to use generic medications, thinking they are inferior to “the real thing.” Doctors are also a big part of the problem. Up to half of physicians hold negative perceptions about generic drugs. And a new study to be published in tomorrow’s JAMA Internal Medicine shows that about 4 in 10 doctors sometimes or often prescribe a brand-name drug just because their patients ask for it. Prescribing a brand-name drug when a generic is available is a huge source of wasteful spending that could easily be prevented. People ask for brand-name drugs because they have heard of them through advertising or word of mouth, while their generic alternatives generally aren’t advertised. Doctors could help save billions of dollars by just saying “no.”", "date_published": "2013-01-07T21:48:53-05:00", "date_modified": "2013-01-07T21:48:53-05:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Patrick J. Skerrett" } ], "image": "https://domf5oio6qrcr.cloudfront.net/medialibrary/8309/conversions/Examining-drugs-thumb.jpg", "tags": [ ] }, { "id": "/blog/many-drivers-asleep-at-the-wheel-201301045758", "title": "Many drivers asleep at the wheel", "url": "/blog/many-drivers-asleep-at-the-wheel-201301045758", "content_html": "If you’ve ever nodded off while driving, you aren’t alone. In a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4.2% of Americans admitted to falling asleep while driving at least once in the previous month. The just-published survey, conducted in 19 states and the District of Columbia, found the sleepiest drivers in Texas (6.1%) and Hawaii (5.7%), and the most alert ones in Oregon (2.5%) and the District of Columbia (2.6%). Individuals most likely to have fallen asleep while driving were those who said they unintentionally fell asleep during the daytime at least once during the preceding month, those who said they snore at night, and those who reported sleeping less than six hours a night. Keep in mind that these numbers reflect only the percentage of people who were aware they had fallen asleep. They don’t include those who fell asleep while driving without recognizing that had happened.", "summary": "If you’ve ever nodded off while driving, you aren’t alone. In a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4.2% of Americans admitted to falling asleep while driving at least once in the previous month. The just-published survey, conducted in 19 states and the District of Columbia, found the sleepiest drivers in Texas (6.1%) and Hawaii (5.7%), and the most alert ones in Oregon (2.5%) and the District of Columbia (2.6%). Individuals most likely to have fallen asleep while driving were those who said they unintentionally fell asleep during the daytime at least once during the preceding month, those who said they snore at night, and those who reported sleeping less than six hours a night. Keep in mind that these numbers reflect only the percentage of people who were aware they had fallen asleep. They don’t include those who fell asleep while driving without recognizing that had happened.", "date_published": "2013-01-04T16:08:42-05:00", "date_modified": "2013-01-04T16:08:42-05:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Patrick J. Skerrett" } ], "image": "https://domf5oio6qrcr.cloudfront.net/medialibrary/8308/conversions/Driver-yawning-thumb.jpg", "tags": [ ] }, { "id": "/blog/12-tips-for-holiday-eating-201212242506", "title": "12 tips for holiday eating", "url": "/blog/12-tips-for-holiday-eating-201212242506", "content_html": "", "summary": "", "date_published": "2019-08-28T00:00:00-04:00", "date_modified": "2019-08-28T00:00:00-04:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Patrick J. Skerrett" } ], "image": "https://domf5oio6qrcr.cloudfront.net/medialibrary/11066/conversions/a8aec1ea-00a1-40c5-b6e4-6b36e150e433-thumb.jpg", "tags": [ "Staying Healthy" ] }, { "id": "/blog/simple-blood-test-helps-bring-celiac-disease-out-of-the-shadows-201212205712", "title": "Simple blood test helps bring celiac disease out of the shadows", "url": "/blog/simple-blood-test-helps-bring-celiac-disease-out-of-the-shadows-201212205712", "content_html": "What happens when the body rejects a protein found in many foods? Ask anyone with celiac disease. This increasingly common condition—it’s grown four-fold since the 1950s—causes a host of aggravating and potentially disabling symptoms such as gas, bloating, diarrhea, cramps, fatigue, weight loss, and more. But it’s also a trickster, causing subtle changes that may not be identified as stemming from celiac disease, like iron-deficiency anemia, low vitamin D, or a suspicious broken bone in an otherwise healthy person. People with celiac disease can’t tolerate gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye, even in small amounts. It once took an average of 10 years to diagnose celiac disease. Today it can happen faster, thanks to a simple blood test that detects anti-gluten antibodies.", "summary": "What happens when the body rejects a protein found in many foods? Ask anyone with celiac disease. This increasingly common condition—it’s grown four-fold since the 1950s—causes a host of aggravating and potentially disabling symptoms such as gas, bloating, diarrhea, cramps, fatigue, weight loss, and more. But it’s also a trickster, causing subtle changes that may not be identified as stemming from celiac disease, like iron-deficiency anemia, low vitamin D, or a suspicious broken bone in an otherwise healthy person. People with celiac disease can’t tolerate gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye, even in small amounts. It once took an average of 10 years to diagnose celiac disease. Today it can happen faster, thanks to a simple blood test that detects anti-gluten antibodies.", "date_published": "2012-12-20T16:22:37-05:00", "date_modified": "2012-12-20T16:22:37-05:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Patrick J. Skerrett" } ], "image": "https://domf5oio6qrcr.cloudfront.net/medialibrary/8288/conversions/French-bread-with-wheat-thumb.jpg", "tags": [ ] }, { "id": "/blog/tweets-google-searches-may-help-solve-migraine-mysteries-201212175658", "title": "Tweets, Google searches may help solve migraine mysteries", "url": "/blog/tweets-google-searches-may-help-solve-migraine-mysteries-201212175658", "content_html": "When migraine or another type of headache strikes, some people turn to … Twitter and Google. And their Tweets and searches are providing a glimpse into how—and when—migraine and headache affect lives. In a letter to the editor published in the January 2013 issue of Cephalalgia (the journal of the International Headache Society), researchers from Harvard-affiliated Boston Children’s Hospital analyzed Google searches conducted between January 2007 and July 2012. There were more searches for “migraine” on weekdays than on weekends or holidays. A similar pattern was seen in Twitter feeds. In the Google searches, the work week peak came on Tuesday and the low on Friday; on Twitter it was Monday and Friday. The most common time for migraine Tweets was between 6:00 am and 8:00 am, which the researchers say is a peak time for migraine attacks. Tweets could help researchers learn more about migraine triggers.", "summary": "When migraine or another type of headache strikes, some people turn to … Twitter and Google. And their Tweets and searches are providing a glimpse into how—and when—migraine and headache affect lives. In a letter to the editor published in the January 2013 issue of Cephalalgia (the journal of the International Headache Society), researchers from Harvard-affiliated Boston Children’s Hospital analyzed Google searches conducted between January 2007 and July 2012. There were more searches for “migraine” on weekdays than on weekends or holidays. A similar pattern was seen in Twitter feeds. In the Google searches, the work week peak came on Tuesday and the low on Friday; on Twitter it was Monday and Friday. The most common time for migraine Tweets was between 6:00 am and 8:00 am, which the researchers say is a peak time for migraine attacks. Tweets could help researchers learn more about migraine triggers.", "date_published": "2012-12-17T16:21:48-05:00", "date_modified": "2012-12-17T16:21:48-05:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Patrick J. Skerrett" } ], "image": "https://domf5oio6qrcr.cloudfront.net/medialibrary/8286/conversions/Woman-with-migraine-thumb.jpg", "tags": [ ] }, { "id": "/blog/studies-explore-global-burden-of-disease-and-heart-disease-in-the-united-states-201212145637", "title": "Studies explore global burden of disease and heart disease in the United States", "url": "/blog/studies-explore-global-burden-of-disease-and-heart-disease-in-the-united-states-201212145637", "content_html": "If you like numbers and statistics, especially those about health, two reports released this week should keep you occupied for days: the massive Global Burden of Disease study was published in The Lancet, and the American Heart Association released its annual “Heart and stroke statistics” report. The Global Burden of Disease project found that average life expectancy continues to rise in most countries. It also found that infection and other communicable causes of disease no longer dominate deaths and disability. Today, so-called non-communicable causes like traffic accidents, violence and war, heart disease, cancer, and other chronic conditions account for two-thirds of world deaths and the majority of years lost to disability and death. According to the American Heart Association’s annual report, the percentage of deaths due to heart attack, stroke, and other cardiovascular diseases has fallen by nearly one-third since 1999, but don’t expect that to continue. Increases in high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, overweight, and inactivity threaten to reverse these gains.", "summary": "If you like numbers and statistics, especially those about health, two reports released this week should keep you occupied for days: the massive Global Burden of Disease study was published in The Lancet, and the American Heart Association released its annual “Heart and stroke statistics” report. The Global Burden of Disease project found that average life expectancy continues to rise in most countries. It also found that infection and other communicable causes of disease no longer dominate deaths and disability. Today, so-called non-communicable causes like traffic accidents, violence and war, heart disease, cancer, and other chronic conditions account for two-thirds of world deaths and the majority of years lost to disability and death. According to the American Heart Association’s annual report, the percentage of deaths due to heart attack, stroke, and other cardiovascular diseases has fallen by nearly one-third since 1999, but don’t expect that to continue. Increases in high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, overweight, and inactivity threaten to reverse these gains.", "date_published": "2012-12-14T19:39:57-05:00", "date_modified": "2012-12-14T19:39:57-05:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Patrick J. Skerrett" } ], "image": "https://domf5oio6qrcr.cloudfront.net/medialibrary/8285/conversions/Stethoscope-And-The-Earth-thumb.jpg", "tags": [ "Cancer","Heart Health","Diabetes","Child & Teen Health" ] }, { "id": "/blog/is-retirement-good-for-health-or-bad-for-it-201212105625", "title": "Is retirement good for health or bad for it?", "url": "/blog/is-retirement-good-for-health-or-bad-for-it-201212105625", "content_html": "For many people, retirement is a key reward for decades of daily work—a time to relax, explore, and have fun unburdened by the daily grind. For others, though, retirement is a frustrating period marked by declining health and increasing limitations. For years, researchers have been trying to figure out whether the act of retiring is good for health, bad for it, or neutral. Researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health looked at rates of heart attack and stroke among men and women in the ongoing U.S. Health and Retirement Study. Those who had retired were 40% more likely to have had a heart attack or stroke than those who were still working. The increase was more pronounced during the first year after retirement, and leveled off after that. The results, reported in the journal Social Science & Medicine, are in line with earlier studies that have shown that retirement is associated with a decline in health. But others have shown that retirement is associated with improvements in health, while some have shown it has little effect on health.", "summary": "For many people, retirement is a key reward for decades of daily work—a time to relax, explore, and have fun unburdened by the daily grind. For others, though, retirement is a frustrating period marked by declining health and increasing limitations. For years, researchers have been trying to figure out whether the act of retiring is good for health, bad for it, or neutral. Researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health looked at rates of heart attack and stroke among men and women in the ongoing U.S. Health and Retirement Study. Those who had retired were 40% more likely to have had a heart attack or stroke than those who were still working. The increase was more pronounced during the first year after retirement, and leveled off after that. The results, reported in the journal Social Science & Medicine, are in line with earlier studies that have shown that retirement is associated with a decline in health. But others have shown that retirement is associated with improvements in health, while some have shown it has little effect on health.", "date_published": "2012-12-10T18:06:27-05:00", "date_modified": "2012-12-10T18:06:27-05:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Patrick J. Skerrett" } ], "image": "https://domf5oio6qrcr.cloudfront.net/medialibrary/8283/conversions/Retirement-exit-here-thumb.jpg", "tags": [ ] }, { "id": "/blog/recipe-for-health-cheap-nutritious-beans-201211305612", "title": "Recipe for health: cheap, nutritious beans", "url": "/blog/recipe-for-health-cheap-nutritious-beans-201211305612", "content_html": "Beans, the butt of countless flatulence jokes, are often written off as food for poor people, or cheap substitutes for meat. Given what beans can do for health, they should be seen as food fit for royalty—or at least for anyone wanting to get healthy or stay that way. The beans described here are what botanists call legumes, and others call “pulses.” They include black beans, black-eyed peas, garbanzo beans (also called chickpeas), lentils, peanuts, soybeans, and others. Legumes are an excellent source of protein and fiber. They are low in fat. They are also nutrient dense, meaning they deliver plenty of vitamins, minerals, and other healthful nutrients relative to calories. An article in the current Archives of Internal Medicine showed that adding more beans to the diet can help people with diabetes lower their blood sugar. These findings are in line with a growing body of evidence on the health benefits of eating beans. They’ve been linked to reduced risk for heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and colon and other cancers, as well as improved weight control.", "summary": "Beans, the butt of countless flatulence jokes, are often written off as food for poor people, or cheap substitutes for meat. Given what beans can do for health, they should be seen as food fit for royalty—or at least for anyone wanting to get healthy or stay that way. The beans described here are what botanists call legumes, and others call “pulses.” They include black beans, black-eyed peas, garbanzo beans (also called chickpeas), lentils, peanuts, soybeans, and others. Legumes are an excellent source of protein and fiber. They are low in fat. They are also nutrient dense, meaning they deliver plenty of vitamins, minerals, and other healthful nutrients relative to calories. An article in the current Archives of Internal Medicine showed that adding more beans to the diet can help people with diabetes lower their blood sugar. These findings are in line with a growing body of evidence on the health benefits of eating beans. They’ve been linked to reduced risk for heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and colon and other cancers, as well as improved weight control.", "date_published": "2012-11-30T15:32:08-05:00", "date_modified": "2012-11-30T15:32:08-05:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Patrick J. Skerrett" } ], "image": "https://domf5oio6qrcr.cloudfront.net/medialibrary/8280/conversions/Beans-thumb.jpg", "tags": [ ] }, { "id": "/blog/mini-relaxations-to-ease-holiday-stress-201211235568", "title": "Mini-relaxations to ease holiday stress", "url": "/blog/mini-relaxations-to-ease-holiday-stress-201211235568", "content_html": "", "summary": "", "date_published": "2012-11-23T00:00:00-05:00", "date_modified": "2012-11-23T00:00:00-05:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Patrick J. Skerrett" } ], "image": "https://domf5oio6qrcr.cloudfront.net/medialibrary/8275/conversions/Holiday-keyboard-warning-thumb.jpg", "tags": [ "Staying Healthy","Stress" ] }, { "id": "/blog/turkey-a-healthy-base-of-holiday-meals-201211195550", "title": "Turkey: a healthy base of holiday meals", "url": "/blog/turkey-a-healthy-base-of-holiday-meals-201211195550", "content_html": "Done just right, Thanksgiving dinner can be good for the heart. The bird at the center of the feast was once in line to be our country’s mascot. Benjamin Franklin and other turkey aficionados thought of this fowl as wild, wary to the point of genius, and courageous. When cooked, it has another excellent quality—turkey meat is much easier on the heart than many other holiday main courses. Other mainstays of traditional Thanksgiving feasts, like cranberries, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, and pecans, are healthy on their own, but tend to lose their virtue by the company they keep (butter, brown sugar, whipped cream, marshmallows, and more). If you’re set on a traditional dinner, alternative recipes abound for healthier stuffing, vegetables, and desserts. You can also start your own traditions. After all, today’s Thanksgiving dinner bears little resemblance to the original feast.", "summary": "Done just right, Thanksgiving dinner can be good for the heart. The bird at the center of the feast was once in line to be our country’s mascot. Benjamin Franklin and other turkey aficionados thought of this fowl as wild, wary to the point of genius, and courageous. When cooked, it has another excellent quality—turkey meat is much easier on the heart than many other holiday main courses. Other mainstays of traditional Thanksgiving feasts, like cranberries, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, and pecans, are healthy on their own, but tend to lose their virtue by the company they keep (butter, brown sugar, whipped cream, marshmallows, and more). If you’re set on a traditional dinner, alternative recipes abound for healthier stuffing, vegetables, and desserts. You can also start your own traditions. After all, today’s Thanksgiving dinner bears little resemblance to the original feast.", "date_published": "2012-11-19T15:55:56-05:00", "date_modified": "2012-11-19T15:55:56-05:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Patrick J. Skerrett" } ], "image": "https://domf5oio6qrcr.cloudfront.net/medialibrary/8273/conversions/Wild-turkey-thumb.jpg", "tags": [ ] } ] }