WELLderly New Health News
Doctored and Dispense by Dale Anderson, MD
Differences widespread among nation’s communities in care cost, quality.
Los Angeles Times (3/14) “the Commonwealth Fund, a New York foundation that studies the US healthcare market, ranked 306 communities nationwide on key areas of health system performance, such as whether patients are getting timely preventive care and avoiding unnecessary hospital stays and whether healthcare is affordable.”—if all local areas could do as well as the top performers it would save billions of dollars on preventable hospitalizations and readmissions.” St. Paul ranked first in the nation; Dubuque, Iowa, second; Rochester, third; and Minneapolis, fourth.
WELLderly note—Lucky, indeed are those who live in MINNESOTA, also rated in the top three USA states for longevity and happiness. GO Gophers!
Sugary drinks linked to increased heart attack risk.
MedPage Today (3/13) participants “who consumed the most sugary drinks — a median of 6.5 per week — were 20% more likely to have a myocardial infarction (MI) during follow-up than those who never drank them— researchers “also found that consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages was linked to inflammation and higher levels of harmful fats in the blood.”
WELLderly note— the big problem with too much sugar, isn’t sweet.
CDC to sponsor $54 million anti-smoking media campaign.
New York Times (3/15,) “For the first time, the federal government will directly attack the nation’s tobacco addiction with a series of advertisements highlighting the grisly toll of smoking.
Boston Globe (3/15) aimed at encouraging smokers to quit and preventing children from starting to smoke. $54 million, 12-week campaign featuresTV, radio, and print ads, and billboard and bus stop signs, —the campaign also includes “an up-close, voyeuristic look at victims of disease” using patients with conditions such as throat cancer.
WELLderly note—youth who start smoking early have harder time stopping.
Research shows daily walk may help beat “obesity genes.”
Los Angeles Times (3/15)people who are genetically prone to obesity can offset that influence by half by walking briskly one hour a day.”
WELLderly note—the best way to be slim is to NEVER become overweight in the first place. Once obese, it becomes “hormonal torture” to loose.
Study shows sleep deprivation leads to increased calorie consumption.
ABC World News (3/14) When sleep was reduced by a third each night, the subjects ate 550 more calories each day than the participants whose sleep was great. Research showed that sleep-deprived tend to eat more high-fat foods and especially ice cream.”
WELLderly note—good reason to buy ice cream by the pint rather than by the gallon. Out of sight, out of mind
Opioid use after minor surgery may lead to long-term use.
Los Angeles Times (3/13) oxycodone given “after simple operations” may be at greater risk for addicted. Researchers “looked at 391,139 people age 66 or older who had a short-stay surgery for something minor like cataracts, laparoscopic gallbladder removal, prostate tissue removal or varicose vein stripping. “Patients who received opioids within seven days of surgery were 44% more likely to be using opioids a year later,”
WELLderly note—pain meds after surgery can HOOK some into addiction. Endorphins are the internal opioids—try hard to put on an UP-beat ACT and dispense from the INNER PHARMACY!
Vitamin D may be linked to fewer stress fractures in girls.
Reuters (3/6) young women and girls consuming high levels of vitamin D were less likely to suffer from stress fractures.
Doctors recommends screening for vitamin D deficiency.
New York Times (3/13 of individuals with bone disease, chronic kidney disease, liver failure, malabsorption syndromes (resulting from cystic fibrosis, irritable bowel disease, weight-reduction surgery or abdominal radiation), overactive parathyroid and granuloma-forming disorders.” Individuals “taking drugs like anticonvulsants, glucocorticoids, antiretrovirals, antifungals and cholestyramine also should be tested, as well as older adults with a history of falls or non-traumatic fracture.”
WELLderly note—Some physicians skip the lab tests for low/no risk folks and recommend D3 up to 4000iu/day, especially in the low/no sun months.
Produce consumption may add more red, yellow skin tone.
Boston Globe (3/9 Three servings a day” of fruits and vegetables “to their diet developed color changes to their skin that made them look healthier and more attractive.” Attributed the changes “to the impact of carotenoids,” skin color reflects better health, the researchers said.” Within 6 weeks.
WELLderly note—WOW! a natural complexion —“touch of red”. And YES, wearing “a bit of red” proves to be a high-LIFE/light in sports, success and romance.
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