How Does the Affordable Care Act Work?

Get a step-by-step breakdown of how the health care reform law works, who is now eligible, and what happens if you already have health insurance.

The Affordable Care Act stirs up lots of questions. As we near the October 1 open enrollment date, you may have some, too. Here, we’ve answered some of the most frequently asked questions and help you find ways to buy insurance if you’re in the market.

How does the Affordable Care Act work?

Beginning in 2014, the health insurance rules are changing. Health insurance providers cannot deny you coverage if you have a pre-existing condition or illness or have been previously denied coverage. Every person who wants health insurance coverage will be able to buy it.

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Here’s how it works: Additional clients in an insurance plan mean insurance companies can collect more money through insurance premiums. That also means they have more doctors and hospitals to pay. To make up for this greater expense, the law requires all people who can afford it to buy health insurance. The trade-off: Healthier individuals who will not use their insurance coverage often offset the expense of individuals who rely more heavily on their insurance. People who do not participate in the health insurance exchange and do not purchase insurance will have to pay a penalty.

Who is eligible to purchase health insurance through the Health Insurance Marketplace?

People who live in the United States, U.S. citizens or nationals, and those who are not currently in jail are eligible to purchase health insurance through the federal health insurance exchange.

Residents of a U.S. territory, such as Puerto Rico or Guam, are not eligible to purchase health insurance through the Marketplace.

When can I purchase insurance?

The first open enrollment period begins October 1, 2013 and ends March 31, 2014. During that timeframe, you can submit an application for health insurance and receive offers from health insurance companies for plans that meet your needs. Depending on your state, the Marketplace is maintained either by your state government or the federal government.

Once the open enrollment dates end, you cannot apply for health insurance until the next annual open enrollment period begins. However, an exception can be made if you experience a qualifying life event—such as the birth or death of a family member. If you or your family has a life event that changes your health insurance status, you will be able to alter your insurance plan coverage to reflect your new status.

When will my insurance take effect?

Your insurance coverage can begin as soon as January 1, 2014. Depending on when you purchase your insurance, your start date may be different.

My employer provides health insurance. What does the open health care exchange mean for me?

As long as your employer continues to provide you with health insurance and it meets the minimum essential coverage requirement, you will not have to pay a fee. If you lose your job, you may be eligible to use the health care exchange to find new health insurance.

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What happens if I do not want to buy health insurance?

Under the Affordable Care Act, every person who can afford to take responsibility for their own health insurance must do so or face a penalty. If you choose not to purchase health coverage, you may have to pay a fee. You also lose all protection against bankruptcy or financial burden in the event you suffer a serious or catastrophic health event and need medical care. That can be very expensive. (Currently, people without health insurance can receive medical care and assistance to cover the costs of that care if they cannot afford to pay for it. If you do not purchase insurance, you will not have these protections once the insurance exchange begins.)

How much is the fee?

In 2014, people who do not purchase health insurance will be required to pay 1 percent of their yearly income or $95, whichever is higher. Parents who do not purchase health insurance for their children will be required to pay $47.50 per child. For the year 2014, the maximum penalty for a family is $285. After 2014, the penalty will increase every year.

The Ultimate “Deskercise” Stretch Routine

Who Uses That Gym Membership, Anyway?

An analysis of job industry trends over the past fifty years revealed that at least 8 in 10 American workers are desk potatoes. Neck and shoulder pain are common pals of a sedentary job.
Not surprisingly, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services states that about 8 in 10 Americans will experience significant lower back pain at some point in their lives. Unfortunately, ladies, according to the American Academy of Pain Medicine, women are more likely to experience lower back pain and neck pain than men.
Work out your computer screen kinks and paperwork pains with these deskercise gems

The Daydream

Gently pull each elbow to the opposite side overhead. Just pretend you’re under a Tahitian waterfall and need to scrub your shoulder blades

The Carpet Gazer

Remaining seated, extend your legs and reach toward your toes. Stare at the purplish-gray office carpet or search for lost bits of popcorn for 20 seconds

The Half-Bear Hug

Hug one knee at a time, pulling it toward your chest. Tell passers-by you need a mini childhood flashback, or that “this is how you roll.”

The Olympic Diver

Clasp your hands in front of you and lower your head in line with your arms. Pretend you actually know how to dive correctly, and use this “proper technique” to impress your cubicle companions

The Almost-Aerobics Reach

Extend each arm overhead and to the opposite side as you imagine Richard Simmons goading you toward a fabulous body

The “Who Cares if I’m at Work” Shrug

Raise both shoulders at once up toward the ears. Drop them and repeat as you explain to your boss that you are, indeed, listening with interest

The Freedom Search

Clasp hands behind your back, push the chest outward, and raise the chin. Count yourself lucky if you’re not looking at suspended ceiling tiles and fluorescent bulbs.
Tip: If you’re feeling really tight, try holding the pose for longer

The Spine-Popping Chatterbox

Cross your legs and alternate twists toward the back of the chair. Use the rear-facing position to comment on your neighbor’s color-coded file system with near genuine admiration. Tip: Exhale as you lean into a stretch for a greater range of motion

The Happy Cheer

Clasp hands together above the head, stretching upward. Follow up with “spirit fingers” or some other equally cheesy high school rom-com reference to aerobic activities

The Leaning Tower of Cheer

Repeat The Happy Cheer, but lean arms and shoulders to the side—as if you’ve had too much to drink and the floor really is that crooked under your chair

The Dead Robot Dance

Lean your head forward and slowly roll from side to side. Picture all of the times you finished a less-than-polished robot dance with dangling head and arm, and vow to record it next time

The “Get Back to Work” Finale

No stretch here, silly. This is where you drop the deskercise routine and get back to your file-filled reality. Sorry

Did You Know?

One study found that workplace stretching can improve flexibility and—even better—your sense of attractiveness and self-worth. But that’s not all. Research indicates that periodic workplace stretching may reduce pain by up to 72 percent. And some studies show that a bit of exercise in the workday can relieve both physical and mental stress.
Still not convinced? According to The Harvard School of Public Health, physical activity—even for short periods of time—can improve your mood. Take that, mid-day slump!

Stretch It Out

An ergonomic facelift of your cubicle isn’t necessary to reap major physical benefits from your deskercise routine. A study published in the Journal of Sports Science found that just imagining yourself performing an action can actually increase your flexibility. 
So go ahead and stretch it out—or at least take a coffee break to daydream about it.








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10 Daily Habits To Stop Back Pain

Although determining the cause of back pain can be complicated, preventing pain is actually quite simple. It's all about relieving pressure, reducing strain, protecting the spine, and strengthening the muscles. Simply changing a few daily habits could make the difference in maintaining a healthy, pain-free back for the short and long term.

1. Sleep With a Pillow Under Your Knees

Elevating your legs slightly relieves pressure on your back as you sleep. Sleeping on your back puts an estimated 55 pounds of pressure on your spine. By placing a pillow under your knees, you can cut that pressure in half.

2. Work Your Core

The numerous health benefits of exercise are well known, but a regular strength training routine that focuses on the core muscles of the body can also help reduce your risk of back-related incidents, such as strains and muscle spasms. For a stronger, more flexible back, try to incorporate some sort of back and abdominal strengthening exercise into your workout at least twice a week.

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3. Up Your Calcium and Vitamin D Intake

Strong bones can help prevent osteoporosis, one of the most common causes of back pain later in life, particularly for women. Keep the bones in your spine strong by consuming plenty of calcium and vitamin D, whether in milk, yogurt, leafy greens, or vitamin supplements. However, always consult you doctor before taking any kind of supplement.

4. Change Your Shoes

Comfortable, low-heeled shoes are best bets for back pain prevention as they reduce the strain on the back while standing. Sorry ladies—pumps with less than a one-inch heel are the best bet for your back.

5. Straighten Up

Good posture isn't just a way to look more proper. It protects the intricate pieces of your spine to keep them functioning and healthy. Bad posture puts strain and stress on the back and, over time, can actually change the architecture of the spine itself. Avoid rounding your shoulders, slouching, or bending sideways while standing.

6. Don't Slump Over Your Desk

When sitting in your office chair, use the same good posture techniques you would use while standing. Because many of us spend hours each day sitting down, it is absolutely critical that you maintain good posture and support your back. Choose a quality chair that provides firm support in the lower back area, and make sure your knees are a little higher than your hips when you sit.

7. Mingle

Whether you are at an office party or a bar for happy hour, avoid sitting in an awkward position or standing in one place. Instead, move around the room. This prevents undue pressure on the spine, a result of standing in one place for too long.

8. Put Out That Cigarette

We all know smoking is a serious health risk, but numerous studies have found that smokers are also more likely than nonsmokers to experience back pain, particularly later in life. One reason for the higher risk is that nicotine restricts the blood flow to the spine's disks, and this can cause them to dry out, crack, or rupture. Smoking also reduces the amount of oxygen in the blood thus reducing nourishment for the muscles and tendons in the back. An unhealthy, weak back is more vulnerable to accidental strains and pulls that cause back pain.

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9. Lighten Your Load

Back pain is frequently caused by improper or heavy lifting, but it doesn't happen only to those lifting heavy boxes on the job. Carrying a bulky laptop bag, suitcase, camera, or load of groceries could also cause a sudden strain on the back. Whenever possible, take some weight off your shoulders by carrying less, distributing the weight to both sides of the body, or shifting the weight from shoulder to shoulder to give each side a rest. For heavier loads, such as bags of groceries or boxes of files, consider using a rolling cart or bag with wheels. 

10. Stretch

Standing, sitting, or lying down in one place for an extended amount of time may be a necessary part of life, but it is not healthy for your back. Relieve the strain of the day whenever you can by getting up, walking around, and doing some simple stretches. This will help keep the blood flowing through the bones and muscles of your back and ease away any strains or aches caused by inactivity.

Back Pain 101

Chances are you know back pain all too well. It's the dull, constant ache in the lower back or the sudden painful twinge below the shoulder. It lasts for an hour, a day, or several weeks. Back pain, in its many forms, is one of the most common medical problems in the United States; it affects more than 80 percent of Americans at some point in their lives.

Because of its broad range of effects, back pain can severely disrupt your quality of life by limiting your ability to work, exercise, or just move around. It's no wonder millions of Americans go to the doctor each year asking for help dealing with back pain.

How it Works

Despite its prevalence, treating back pain is problematic as it is usually a symptom of another problem and not a medical condition itself. The back is a complex part of the body in which many delicate parts work together to provide flexibility, an upright stance, and protection to the spinal cord. A vital step in relieving back pain is diagnosing the underlying problem. Back pain could be caused by any number of problems related to bones, joints, the discs and nerves that make up the spine, or the muscles and ligaments in the back.

When Things Go Wrong

Most often, back pain is triggered by a simple strain from everyday activity such as improper or heavy lifting, intense exercise, or accidental injury. Even a strong sneeze or cough can cause a muscle spasm that could result in a painful strain that lasts for days.

Structural conditions of the back, such as bulging discs, arthritis, curves in the spine, or osteoporosis can also cause back pain. Discs are particularly vulnerable as we age because they can become dry and stiff, a process called disc degeneration. Because of this, age is one of the primary risk factors for back pain, followed by obesity, a diet high in calories and fat, and the presence of other diseases such as arthritis and some forms of cancer.

Types of Back Pain

There are two main types of back pain:

• acute pain, which happens suddenly and typically lasts fewer than six weeks, and
• chronic pain, which can't be tied to a specific trigger and lasts longer than three months. Chronic pain is less common.

Fortunately, most cases of back pain respond well to self-treatment and fade rather quickly, without medical intervention or surgery. Healthy habits, such as exercising and eating right, can greatly reduce your risk of developing back pain and help you manage chronic pain. If you are experiencing recurring back pain, see your doctor to determine the cause and find out what treatment options work best for you.

Xanthoma

How Is Xanthoma Treated?

Treating the medical condition that is causing the xanthoma is necessary to get rid of the deposits of fat under the skin and minimize the likelihood that they will return. Diabetes and metabolic disorders that are well controlled are less likely to cause xanthoma.
Other treatments for xanthoma include surgical removal, laser surgery, or chemical treatment with trichloroacetic acid. Xanthomas can return after treatment, so these are not necessarily curative. Talk to your doctor to see which treatment is right for you and whether the condition can be treated through medical management of the underlying issue.
 

 

Is Xanthoma Preventable?

This condition may not be completely preventable, but there are steps you can take to decrease your chances of developing xanthoma. If you have a metabolic disorder, follow your doctor’s instructions about how to treat and manage it. See your healthcare provider for regular checkups.
Keep your blood lipids and cholesterol at an appropriate level. This can be done through diet and exercise or, if necessary, medication. Getting regular blood work done to check these levels can help you keep your lipid and cholesterol levels in check.
 

 

 

Xanthoma

Risk Factors for Xanthoma

In addition to the medical conditions described above, there are other risk factors that may increase your chances of developing xanthoma. High cholesterol or triglyceride levels can increase your risk of xanthoma, as can being an older adult. Talk to your doctor about your risk factors and what you can do to minimize the chances of developing this condition.

Xanthoma

What Is Xanthoma?

Xanthoma is also called xanthelasma or described as fatty skin growths. It results when certain fats accumulate under the skin. These growths can appear anywhere, but typically develop on the joints (especially the knees and elbows), feet, hands, and buttocks.
A xanthoma can vary in size. It looks like a flat bump under the skin and sometimes appears yellowish. It usually does not cause any pain. If the xanthoma is large, it may make you feel self-conscious about your appearance.
The condition is usually a symptom of an underlying problem with high levels of blood lipids, or fats. These underlying conditions can include:

• diabetes
• hyperlipidemia: high blood cholesterol levels
• metabolic disorders: These are genetic conditions affecting body’s ability to break down chemicals and maintain life. Examples include porphyria, Krabbe disease, or congenital adrenal hyperplasia.
• cancer: a type of condition in which malignant cells grow at an uncontrolled rate
• cirrhosis: scarring of the liver

Xanthoma itself is not dangerous, but the underlying medical condition causing it needs to be addressed. There is also a type of xanthoma that appears on the eyelids. However, this is not always linked to high blood lipid levels. It may appear even when there is no medical condition present.

Simple Grilling Tips

Healthy Grilling Recipes Part II

Here are five more great grilling recipes to try out this summer:

• Shanghai Grilled Chicken
• Margarita Pork Tenderloin (pictured above)
• Grilled Lamb Chops
• Pacific Grilled Salmon
• Grilled Strawberry Shortcake

Simple Grilling Tips

Healthy Grilling Recipes Part I

It’s time to get started. Here are five delicious and healthy recipes for you to try out on your grill this summer:

• Grilled Antipasto
• Hickory-Peach London Broil
• Piña Colada Chicken
• Grilled Cajun Shrimp
• The Ultimate Burger

Click “next” to get five more recipes for the grill.

Simple Grilling Tips

Wait a Bit

Sugar-and tomato-based sauces burn quickly, so wait to add them until the end of the grilling process. This will keep your sauce glossy, not charred.

Simple Grilling Tips

Tongs, Not Forks

Use tongs when grilling. Puncturing your food with a fork lets the delicious juices out.

Simple Grilling Tips

Put a Lid On It

It's easy to get caught up in the fun of a barbeque, but make sure food stays covered while outdoors to prevent bugs and bacteria from getting a free meal.

Simple Grilling Tips

Put a Lid On It

It's easy to get caught up in the fun of a barbeque, but make sure food stays covered while outdoors to prevent bugs and bacteria from getting a free meal.

Simple Grilling Tips

Coat the Grill

Before you start the grill, coat the surface in oil to prevent sticking. Dabbing olive oil on a paper towel and then running it over the grill grate does the trick, but non-stick cooking spray is the easiest.

Simple Grilling Tips

Keep It Clean

Unless you want to be the subject of a Seinfeld-like rant on double-dipping, set aside extra sauces and plates for cooked food. Only bad things can happen when you put cooked chicken on a plate where raw chicken once sat—it could be teeming with raw bacteria. Leftover marinade should be thrown out.

Simple Grilling Tips

Mise en Place

It's a fancy French term for something simple: have everything ready. Professional chefs swear by it, and you should do the same. Before you spark the fire, gather everything you need: food, marinades, utensils, pans, plates, towels, mitts, fire extinguisher, and a cold beverage. You don't want to burn the kabobs while you stir up a cocktail.

Simple Grilling Tips

Simple Grilling Tips

The grilling season has officially arrived. Use these tips to get your barbeque cooking and the recipes at the end of the slideshow for some delicious, healthy summer eating. Because it's summer and there's never a bad excuse to bust out the grill.

Yellow fever

What is Yellow Fever?

Yellow fever is a serious, potentially deadly flu-like disease spread by mosquitoes. Characterized by a high fever and jaundice, it is most prevalent in certain parts of Africa and South America. The disease is not curable, but is preventable with the yellow fever vaccine.

Mosquitoes breed in tropical rainforests, humid and semi-humid environments, and around bodies of still water. Increased contact between humans and infected mosquitoes, particularly in areas where people have not been vaccinated for yellow fever, can create small-scale epidemics.

Who Is at Risk?

Those who haven’t been vaccinated for yellow fever and who live in areas populated by infected mosquitoes are at risk. According to the World Health Organization, an estimated 200,000 people become infected each year (WHO). Most cases occur in 32 countries in Africa, including Rwanda and Sierra, and in 13 countries in Latin America, including Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru (WHO).
Cases of yellow fever can also be transmitted to other countries that aren’t normally affected, if conditions allow.
However, for one reason or another, the disease has never been reported in Asia.
 

 

 

Stage 1

Called the “acute” stage, the first phase usually lasts for three to four days. In addition to the headaches and fever, victims may experience flushing, loss of appetite, shivers, and backache.

Stage 2

Called the “remission” stage, this is the period when symptoms go away. The person gradually starts to feel better. Many people recover fully at this stage. Others, however, will get worse within about 24 hours.

Stage 3

Called the “toxic” phase, this is the most serious of the three phases. Symptoms will return, along with new symptoms, including decreased urination, abdominal pain, and vomiting (sometimes with blood). Other symptoms occurring at this phase include heart rhythm problems, liver failure (which may show up as jaundice — a yellowing of the skin and eyes), kidney failure, seizures, delirium, and possibly bleeding from the nose, mouth, and eyes. This phase of the disease is often fatal.
 

Head Injury

What Is a Head Injury?

Injuries to your brain, skull, or scalp are all types of head injury. A head injury may be mild or severe depending on what caused it. Some injuries produce bleeding within your skull. Others cause damage on the outside of your head. These injuries may be in the form of lacerations, bumps, or bruises.

Common Allergies in Kids to Watch Out For

Your Child Is Not Alone

An estimated 50 million people have allergies, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology. These allergies usually show up in infancy or childhood. Allergies can get in the way of your child’s ability to sleep well, play normally, and function in school. Here’s what to look out for and when, and how to determine if your child’s symptoms may signal an allergy.

Growing Prevalence

The prevalence of skin and food allergies jumped between 1997 and 2011 in children, the CDC says. The rate of respiratory allergies, the most common type among children, remained stable during this period. You may see skin symptoms in your little ones, and your older children may tend to hack and wheeze. The CDC data shows varying prevalence by age, with younger children more likely to have skin allergies, and respiratory allergies more prevalent among older children.

What Happens

In an allergic reaction, an overly sensitive immune system kicks in to defend against what is considered a normal substance, acting as if it’s fighting off a foreign invader. The culprit can be food, pet dander, or pollen from grasses or trees. The allergen, or offending substance, may trigger a host of reactions. Keep a watchful eye on your child for these signs and symptoms.

The Basic Signs

If you suspect that your child has allergies, watch to see if runny, itchy, red, or swollen eyes persist beyond a week or two. The same goes for a runny nose. Is it chronic? Does your child say that their mouth or throat itches or tingles? Do they scratch their ears? The American Academy of Pediatrics notes that these may be allergy symptoms, possibly of hay fever, or allergic rhinitis, the most common form of allergy among children. Note the timing, too. Do these symptoms appear at the same time of year each year?

Check Skin for Allergies

The skin—the body’s largest organ and part of the immune system—will sometimes react in protest to an allergen. Check your child’s skin for eczema, which shows up as dry, red, scaly patches that itch. Watch for hives, which may signal an allergy. These red welts on the skin can range in size from tiny (the size of a pen tip) to very large (as big as a dinner plate) according to the American Academy of Dermatology. 

Respiratory Symptoms

Hay fever or other allergies can affect your child’s breathing. If you hear a noisy wheeze when your child breathes or if you notice rapid breathing or shortness of breath, have your child checked by their pediatrician. A dry, hacking cough with clear mucus is another sign of allergies.  Observe your child at play carefully. If they seem to tire easily or more quickly than other children, this may signal that allergies are involved.

Tummy Problems and Other Signs of Allergies

Allergies can set off intestinal symptoms in children. If your child often complains of stomach cramps or has repeated attacks of diarrhea, this may be an allergy clue. Other signs of allergies in children can include headache or excessive fatigue. Allergies can also affect your child’s behavior, producing unusually crabby or restless moods. Consider keeping a symptom log to share with your pediatrician. Note the symptom and what happened right before onset (pet exposure, foods eaten, etc.).

The Allergy Gang of Eight

According to the Mayo Clinic, these eight foods contribute to 90 percent of food allergies: 

• milk
• eggs
• peanuts
• almonds, cashews, walnuts, and other tree nuts
• fish (bass, cod, flounder)
• shellfish (crab, lobster, shrimp)
• soy
• wheat

In addition, some children can’t tolerate citrus fruits.  You may have to become a food label detective to confirm a possible link between something your child has eaten and allergy symptoms. The connection isn’t always obvious. Traces of peanut can lurk in cereals, and soy can hide in flavorings or thickeners found in processed or frozen foods.

Pet Allergies

The presence of household pets can provoke allergy symptoms in children, including both furry friends and shorthaired animals that don’t shed. It is not the pet itself that causes allergies—rather, it is the dander, dead skin cells, that can cause them, as well as saliva, urine, and fur. If your child sneezes and wheezes after playing with or holding a pet, consider having them tested for animal allergies.

Allergy Assistance

Your pediatrician can help you sort out whether your child’s symptoms are allergy-related, and can assist you in formulating a management plan. Easing skin, respiratory, or intestinal allergy symptoms may require antihistamines or other medication. You can teach your child strategies to avoid or decrease exposure to allergens that trigger the reaction. These may include passing up certain foods, playing outdoors when pollen counts are lowest, and washing hands right after touching a pet.

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Worth 1,000 Words: What a Brain Scan Reveals About ADHD

How ADHD Is Diagnosed

If your child has a sore throat, a quick throat swab can determine whether it’s strep. But learning whether your child has attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is not as easy, because there isn’t one simple test for it. To diagnose ADHD, doctors ask teachers and parents whether the child has common ADHD symptoms, such as trouble concentrating or impulsivity. Some kids may also take verbal or written tests.

Challenges of Diagnosing ADHD

It can be hard to diagnose ADHD because not every child who has it is exactly the same. Some kids don’t have the typical behaviors, such as inattention. Others have different symptoms, like moodiness or obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). So some doctors have started to try another method. They are using high-tech brain scans to diagnose ADHD based on blood flow and brain wave activity. But do these scans really work?

Looking Inside the Brain

Imaging scans are often used in medicine. They give doctors a view inside the body to help diagnose disease. An electrocardiogram (EKG) can tell whether the heart’s electrical activity is working normally. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can find injuries or blockages in organs like the kidneys and liver. Some doctors believe that, in much the same way, looking inside the brain can help them diagnose mental health conditions such as depression, autism, and ADHD.

What Brain Scans Show

Scientists have used brain scans such as single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), positron emission tomography (PET), and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in the past to study differences in the brains of people with ADHD. For example, they have found that the brains of people with ADHD mature more slowly. Also, when people with ADHD perform a task, certain areas of their brain are more or less active compared to people who don’t have ADHD.

Using Scans to Diagnose ADHD

Some doctors are also starting to use these kinds of scans to diagnose ADHD in children, and to see how well treatment is working. One test they use is the aforementioned SPECT. In this test, a radioactive substance is injected into the child. The substance travels to the brain and allows doctors to measure blood flow and brain activity, often while the child is performing a task. SPECT is not yet FDA-approved for diagnosing ADHD.

 

 

First Brain Wave Test

In July 2013, the FDA approved the first imaging test to diagnose children and teens with ADHD. It’s called the Neuropsychiatric EEG-Based Assessment Aid (NEBA) System. The test records the type and number of brain waves that nerve cells give off each second. It looks for brain wave patterns that are unique to kids with ADHD. The FDA says the device can help doctors confirm a diagnosis of ADHD.

Cautions About Brain Imaging

Brain imaging has a lot of potential for diagnosing conditions like ADHD. Yet experts warn that these tests are still very new and there is much more to learn about them. Brain imaging tests are very expensive. A SPECT scan can cost more than $3,500. It also exposes children to radiation, and some experts say there isn’t enough evidence yet that it is an effective way to diagnose ADHD.

The Future of Brain Imaging

According to an article in Virtual Mentor, the American Medical Association’s ethics journal, a lot more research still needs to be done to confirm that brain imaging can diagnose mental health conditions. As more studies are done, doctors are learning more about the brain and how it differs in people with ADHD. What they learn could help them develop new and better imaging tests for ADHD and other mental health conditions.

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Alternative Treatments, Herbs, & Supplements for ADHD

A number of complementary and alternative medicine treatments can help with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms. Alternative treatments tend to have little or no side effects and can be used in conjunction with standard treatments. As is the case with many alternative treatments for any disease or condition, opinions are often mixed as to the efficacy of some treatment methods, and research is often minimal in comparison to traditional medicine treatments.
However, many people have had success in using alternative treatments in the management of many diseases and conditions, including ADHD. Before trying any ADHD alternative treatments, you should always check with your doctor to be sure that the methods are safe and right for you or your child.

Yoga

Early investigations into yoga as a treatment for ADHD are positive, but as of yet there have been no definitive studies. Although probably not for very young children, some older children may benefit from the relaxation and concentration techniques developed as part of yoga practice.

Biofeedback

This is a treatment where a child is told to focus on certain tasks while a machine measures and shows his or her brain wave patterns. Hypothetically, the child could learn which brain wave patterns are associated with concentration and attention, and then he or she would be able to learn to generate the desired brain wave. No large-scale studies have been done on biofeedback as a treatment for ADHD.

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Special Diets

Although many people believe that diets high in sugar exacerbate ADHD in children, studies have not determined conclusively whether sugar or sugar substitutes have any effect on children’s behaviors or cognitive functions. On the other hand, recent British studies did find evidence that artificial colors and the preservative sodium benzoate both led to increases in hyperactivity.

Nutritional Supplements

Nutritional supplements that help produce or regulate brain chemicals are sometimes used as a complementary treatment for those with ADHD. Research is still ongoing with mixed results as to the efficacy of nutritional supplements and some can be harmful if taken in large doses. If you are considering supplements as a treatment option, it is imperative that you consult your primary care doctor or mental health specialist before taking or administering them to your child.

Zinc

Zinc regulates brain chemicals, and several studies have shown that zinc might improve behavior, but not significantly. High doses of zinc can be harmful, so it should not be taken without consulting a doctor.

Essential Fatty Acids

Known as “good fats,” fatty acids play a key role in normal brain function. Accordingly,flax oil (which is rich in alpha linolenic acid, an essential fatty acid) and fish oil(omega-3) are sometimes used as a supplemental treatment for ADHD.

Could You Have MS? 16 Multiple Sclerosis Symptoms

What is MS?

By Amanda Gardner

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease of the central nervous system, meaning it affects the brain and spinal cord.

In the most common type (known as relapsing remitting MS), symptoms come and go. These can run the gamut from mild tingling to more severe vision loss.

However, MS is tricky. Because so many other conditions can also cause similar symptoms, a hypochondriac could easily think they have it when they don't. On the other side, it can take years or even decades for people with MS to be diagnosed. Only a doctor can perform the appropriate tests to confirm whether these symptoms are indeed MS.

Alcohol Increases Risk of Breast Cancer in Young Women

A new study suggests every daily alcoholic drink before motherhood increases a woman’s risk of developing breast diseases.

Before sending their daughters off to college, parents should discuss yet another important issue with them: how much they drink could increase their risk of breast cancer.
Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis found that every drink—whether beer, wine, or liquor—a young woman consumes daily before her first pregnancy puts her at a nearly 15 percent greater risk of developing proliferative benign breast disease, a noncancerous breast condition linked to breast cancer.
In fact, the presence of the noncancerous breast lesions raises a woman's risk of breast cancer by up to 500 percent.
While men have have historically been bigger college boozers than women, the gender gap is closing, as 40 percent of college-age women now report binge-drinking habits, according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health. For women, binge drinking is consuming four or more alcoholic beverages in one sitting.
Dr. Graham Colditz, co-author of the study and associate director for cancer prevention and control at Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital, said that while heavy drinking is occurring on college campuses, more young women need to consider the health risks.
His lesson to those studying for their future is clear: “If a female averages a drink per day between her first period and her first full-term pregnancy, she increases her risk of breast cancer by 13 percent,” he said.
Researchers studied the health records of 91,005 mothers in the Nurses' Health Study II, a 20-year study designed to examine the long-term use of oral birth control. Adjusting for modern rates, the study found five percent of  the estimated 232,340 breast cancer diagnoses in 2013 would not occur if the woman didn't heavily drink alcohol before her first pregnancy.
While other research has indicated that alcohol is a risk factor for breast cancer, this was the first study to examine alcohol’s effect during a time when breast cells are undergoing rapid proliferation and are therefor more vulnerable to cancer-causing substances. 
"Parents should educate their daughters about the link between drinking and risk of breast cancer and breast disease. That's very important because this time period is very critical," said Dr. Ying Liu, a Washington University instructor in the Division of Public Health Sciences.
Women who had their period before age 12 and their first child after 35 are at a greater risk of breast cancer than other women.
Researchers noted that the average time from a woman’s first menstrual cycle to first full-term pregnancy doesn’t seem to be shortening, so that’s another reason for women to lower their average daily consumption below one drink.
The research was published online in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute and supported by the National Cancer Institute and National Institutes of Health.

Risk Ovarian Cancer or Have Preventative Surgery?

If it isn’t caught early, ovarian cancer can be fatal. But is it worth having a preventative hysterectomy?

For Sarah, a 43-year-old New Yorker, the choice was stark.
Sarah doesn’t have cancer. But after watching her mother battle cancer and learning more about her family history, she decided to seek genetic counseling. Sarah’s family carries genes for Lynch Syndrome, placing Sarah at risk for developing a variety of cancers, including cancer of the reproductive organs. 

A mother of twin girls, Sarah was done having children but still had to go in for preventative cancer screenings every six months. “When I went for those checkups, it was hugely stressful every time I went,” she told Healthline. “Every time, I wondered if this would be the visit when I heard I had cancer.”
Finally, Sarah decided to take matters into her own hands. “I'd already had kids, and every woman in my family had had a hysterectomy at some point,” she said. “I figured I'd rather take control and do it on my own terms.”
Dr. David Fishman, Sarah’s gynecological oncologist and Director of the Division of Gynecologic Oncology at Mount Sinai Medical Center, urges people with a family history of cancer to go in for genetic counseling. Reproductive cancers are often part of cancer syndromes, like Lynch Syndrome, which place women with cancer and their families at higher risk for developing other cancers.
According the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance, only 15 percent of ovarian cancer cases are diagnosed while the cancer remains confined to the ovaries, when five-year survival rates are around 90 percent. Two-thirds of cases aren't diagnosed until the disease has spread throughout the body, lowering survival rates to around 25 percent with years of aggressive surgery and chemotherapy. Ovarian cancer is the fourth leading cause of death among American women.

Ovarian Cancer: Everybody’s Problem

Genetic counseling may offer a way for doctors to predict who is at risk for developing certain cancers long before symptoms are present.
Ovarian, endometrial, and uterine cancers can only affect women, but a history of these cancers in a family with Lynch Syndrome could indicate a risk of colon cancer or urinary tract cancer in the men of the family. The reverse is also true. 

“If you have a family of men with colon cancer, it doesn't mean it's a colon-cancer-only family,” explains Fishman. “Family history is the most important thing to identify women at risk, but also men. Men can pass the mutation on to their children.”
Other cancer syndromes include Cowden Syndrome, which can cause breast cancer, endometrial cancer, and thyroid cancer, and the infamous BRCA gene cluster, which prompted Angelina Jolie to get a preventative double mastectomy earlier this year.

Prevention vs. Early Detection

However, even with the best genetic counseling available, only about 10 percent of ovarian cancer risk has been linked to genetic causes. The remaining 90 percent remains unknown, a likely combination of as-yet-unidentified genes, gene expression, and environmental factors.

“Unfortunately, screening for ovarian cancer in the general population is not very effective or not effective at all today because we don't have the tools and technologies we need,” says Fishman. “Despite everybody's efforts to create biomarkers that are effective for screening, it really hasn't happened.”
With Sarah’s family history, the decision to have a hysterectomy (including the removal of both ovaries) was clear-cut. She reached out to other women at Sharsheret, a support organization for women with breast and ovarian cancer, to learn their stories and seek guidance.
Her surgery was minimally-invasive, and since Lynch Syndrome doesn’t include a risk of breast cancer, Sarah was free to take hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to mimic the hormones her ovaries would have produced on their own. “I feel good,” she says. “I feel pretty confident that if you met me today, you wouldn't think, ‘there's someone who had major surgery.’”
For other women, removal of the ovaries may present additional challenges. According to Fishman, there is a medical debate about whether HRT can increase the risk of breast cancer. Without replacement hormones, a woman whose ovaries are removed immediately enters menopause, which can affect quality of life.
For all women looking to reduce their risk of ovarian cancer, Fishman recommends taking hormonal birth control pills. The pills decrease the body’s monthly hormone surge associated with ovulation, which can increase rates of all reproductive cancers in those who are at risk. Each year that a woman takes hormonal birth control, she reduces her risk of ovarian cancer by 10 percent, for a lifetime maximum of 50 percent after five years on the pill. 

“Short of surgery,” Fishman says, “it's is the most effective option we have."

Natalie Portman and Marvel Team Up to Get Girls into Science

Comic book giant Marvel is just one organization pushing to get more girls interested in science, technology, engineering, and math.

Many women in science, technology, engineering, and math—or STEM for short—worry that few girls today are being encouraged to pursue these careers.
One of the most recent efforts to get girls excited about STEM fields comes from Marvel Studios, which is sponsoring the Thor: The Dark World Ultimate Mentor Adventure contest for girls. In the movie Thor: The Dark World, Natalie Portman plays astrophysicist Jane Foster, and the actress is the celebrity voice of the contest for girls aspiring to STEM careers of their own.
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Girls in grades 9 through 12 pair up with female mentors across the STEM spectrum to learn about what it takes to make it in the science world. Girls must submit an application and make a short video to tell the judges how they’re like Jane Foster, a brilliant, independent thinker. The winners will go to Los Angeles to meet leading women in STEM fields and attend the Thor premier.
As a Harvard graduate with a degree in psychology whose work has been published in scientific journals, Natalie Portman is a strong role model, but she’s far from the only one fired up about girls in STEM.
Some of the most successful programs for young women in STEM operate on a grassroots level to empower young women around the world.

Picking Up Where Schools Leave Off 

An interest in STEM can be sparked in the classroom, but it takes a long-term, dedicated effort to sustain it.
“We don’t want girls to just perceive science as a subject at school or even just a hobby,” said Jennifer Wei, the COO of Techbridge. “We really want to see them as careers.”
Wei says girls especially need to be pushed to continue in math and science as they grow older and face more social pressure to move into female-dominated disciplines.
“The problem really starts hitting in middle school, which is where a lot of research shows girls have the drop-off in interest,” Wei said.
After-school and summer programs, like the ones Techbridge offers, can give girls the comfort and freedom to explore their interests in STEM.

Girls-Only Programs

“There’s still a strong gender bias in the sciences in many areas, certainly in college education,” says Dr. David L. Evans, executive director of the National Science Teachers Foundation. “You don’t see a lot of women in many of the science classes, and it tends to reinforce that they shouldn’t be there and they don’t fit in.”
Evans knows this experience personally, as his daughter and wife both have backgrounds in geology and mathematics, respectively, and are no strangers to bias.
Girls-only math and science programs are becoming more popular as spaces for girls to explore in an encouraging environment.
“Girls working alongside other girls are more ready to take risks,” explains Tamara Hudgins, executive director of Girlstart. “Our programs encourage girls to try new things, to create, inquire, and solve. That means that you have to break a few eggs, so to speak, and we find that girls are less likely to do that in a dual gender environment.
"We also find that in dual gender environments, when it comes to engineering challenges, girls are less often engaged in building or driving the process, out of concern that they will be criticized if they don’t get a challenge ‘right,’” Hudgins said.
Despite High-Profile Gains, Women Still Have Less Power, Prestige, and Income than Men

How Can You Encourage a Girl in Your Life?

An interest in STEM starts at home. Families have a big influence on girls' career paths and lives, says Wei. “A lot of work is educating families, too, about what a career in STEM can do, and how careers in STEM can align with girls’ interests to change the world.”
After the contest is done, there are still countless ways for you to ignite your daughter’s curiosity.
Laura Reasoner Jones, the founder of the Girls Educational & Mentoring Services (GEMS), suggests buying products for your daughter that will encourage further exploration. She recommends a digital camera, which will encourage her to use a computer to edit photos, make slideshows, and perhaps even code for more advanced projects.
“Remember, many of the successful women in STEM now were once discouraged, but they decided not to give up,” says Connie Chow, executive director of the Science Club for Girls. “Remember that there are many of us who are fighting for equity in STEM who are behind you 100 percent of the way. We may not know you personally, but we are cheering you on.”
Photo by John Steven Fernandez via Wikimedia Commons.

When Is it a Good Idea to Skip Breakfast?

New research offers more insight into whether breakfast really is the most important meal of the day.

As many as 31 million Americans—or 10 percent of the population—regularly skip breakfast.
The Morning MealScape 2011 study showed that men ages 18 to 34 skip breakfast most often, while women over the age of 55 are the least likely to skip, with only 10 percent foregoing their early morning meal.
Now, new research says that eating a big breakfast as part of a low-calorie diet can help obese women lose weight.
Daniela Jakubowicz and her colleagues at Tel Aviv University studied 93 obese women and divided them into two groups. Each of the women ate 1,400 calories a day, but one group had a 200-calorie breakfast and a 700-calorie dinner, while the other had a 700-calorie breakfast and a 200-calorie dinner.
After 12 weeks, the big breakfast group lost an average of 17.8 lbs., while the small breakfast group only lost an average of 7.3 lbs. Besides losing more weight, the women who ate a larger breakfast also had significantly lower blood levels of insulin, glucose, and triglycerides throughout the day, which lowers their risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol.
The study was published in the journal Obesity.

Skipping Breakfast Doesn’t Make You Eat More Later

Many people believe that if you skip breakfast you’ll only consume more calories at lunch. Research, however, shows that people don't actually eat more later in the day, and that skipping breakfast can help eliminate an average of 408 calories per day.
Earlier this summer, nutritional scientists at Cornell University published a study in the journal Physiology and Behavior that showed skipping breakfast may be a way for some people to eliminate excess calories.
“I realize that skipping breakfast runs counter to common belief—that breakfast is an important meal for weight control, but the data does not support this view. Of course, these results apply to healthy adults—if you’re diabetic or hypoglycemic, for example, you need to eat breakfast to maintain glucose levels," senior author David Levitsky, a Cornell professor of nutritional sciences and of psychology, said in a press release. “But generally, we must learn to eat less, and occasionally skipping breakfast may be a reasonable way to accomplish this.”
A widely-cited study, published a decade ago in the International Journal of Obesity, showed that obese children can lose body fat by skipping breakfast, but that it has the opposite effect on children of normal weight.
“Since numerous studies link skipping breakfast to poorer academics, children should be encouraged to eat breakfast,” the researchers concluded.

Forget Your Waistline, Worry About Your Heart

Because obesity is linked to heart problems, older men shouldn’t consider skipping breakfast as a suitable way to lose weight. A study by the American Heart Association says skipping breakfast increases a man’s risk of coronary heart disease.
They studied 26,902 men ages 45 to 82 and found that men who didn’t start their day with a good meal had a 27 percent greater risk of a heart attack or dying from coronary heart disease.
Although men who don’t regularly have breakfast are more likely to smoke, drink, and be less physically active, the breakfast variable remained strong when other factors were taken into account.
“Skipping breakfast may lead to one or more risk factors—including obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes, which may in turn lead to a heart attack over time,” lead researcher Leah E. Cahill of the Harvard School of Public Health said in a press release.
So men, wake up 15 minutes earlier and fix yourself something before you leave the house. It may equate to another 15 healthy years of life.

Sodapocalypse: Is There Room for Common Sense in the Soda Debate?

The debate about sugary drinks and personal freedoms should move past scare tactics to common sense solutions.

There’s a can of soda in the vending machine down the hall biding its time, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
Okay, that’s probably a stretch, but soda and energy drinks are coming under heavy fire, from New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg’s attempt to ban large-sized sodas to a new, cataclysmic statistic that paints soda as a serial killer.
What the debate surrounding sugary drinks lacks is reason and common sense.

180,000 Dead From Soda Each Year?

The American Heart Association (AHA) recently made waves by claiming their research shows that 180,000 deaths each year worldwide are associated with sugary soft drinks.
Researchers compared deaths from diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer to the amount of soda consumed in a given country. Latin American and Caribbean countries had the most diabetes deaths—38,000—linked to the number of sugar-sweetened beverages the population consumed in 2010.
That link, however, may not be strong enough to support the statement that sugary soft drinks are solely responsible for killing the equivalent of the population of Knoxville, Tenn. each year.
The AHA researchers demonstrated correlation, not causation. They failed to take into account numerous other factors, including a person’s genetic predisposition to disease, exercise habits, stress levels, and other risk factors for diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer.
There’s no reason to defend soda, energy drinks, and other sugary beverages—it’s not like they’re good for you—but soda is being portrayed as the latest Boogeyman threatening global health, while scare tactics do little to slow the epidemic of obesity and chronic disease in Western nations.
That said, just as you shouldn’t immediately accept the latest health figures without reasonable skepticism, you shouldn’t blindly swallow messages from drink manufacturers either.

Athletes, Actors, and the Marketing of Sugar

Judging by the commercials, it’s pretty common for someone to slam down a bottle of Mountain Dew, Red Bull, or Monster Energy before performing a stunt so huge they’re transformed into a demigod. Or if they chug a Gatorade, their workout hits awe-insiring levels.
When it comes to energy drinks, you don’t need extreme sports to increase your heart rate. The AHA also released a new study showing that energy drinks can create temporary irregular heart rhythms and increased blood pressure.
Their study subjects were healthy patients ages 18 to 45 who had just consumed up to three energy drinks. That’s a lot—but not uncommon—for anyone to consume. A younger, healthier body can better handle the effects of a caffeine jolt, but for older patients—especially those with heart problems—the outlook isn’t as bright.  
“People with health concerns or those who are older might have more heart-related side effects from energy drinks,” Sachin A. Shah, Pharm.D., lead author and assistant professor at the University of the Pacific in Stockton, Calif., said in a press release.
So, if you already have a bum heart, don’t "do the Dew."
Because energy drinks and soda have no known health benefits, manufacturers are feeling the heat of studies like this that link their products to health risks.
This week, Monster Beverage—the largest seller of energy drinks in the U.S.—announced it's drinks will no longer be sold as "nutritional supplements" and will instead be marketed as beverages, according to The New York Times.
The company will now have to disclose the drinks' caffeine levels—140 to 160 milligrams per 16-ounce can—but won’t have to report any injuries or deaths caused by its products.
If that's a needed business strategy, think about what happens to your body when you "unleash the beast."

Your Daily Soda Intake

The AHA and other organizations aren’t targeting marathoners sucking down a cup of Gatorade every few miles. Their real focus is on people who drink multiple sodas every day.
In reality, the majority of people consuming soda are far from athletes: half of Americans say they drink soda daily, and the majority (90 percent) who drink two or more glasses a day classify themselves as “somewhat overweight” or “about right,” according to Gallup research. (Which, by the way, is self-reported data.)
The AHA recommends that adults consume no more than 450 calories per week from sugar-sweetened beverages, which translates to just under two 20-ounce bottles of Coca-Cola.
Cutting back on your daily soda intake will have positive health effects, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that banning them in large sizes, like Bloomberg hopes to, will automatically make Americans healthier.
Yes, each soda gives you an extra eight teaspoons of sugar—on average—and those extra calories will pile up if you don’t burn them off. Maybe that’s why soda and energy drink advertisements often feature highly-active athletes—they’re trying to burn off all that sugar.
Still, there's more to preventing diabetes and obesity than just avoiding soda. Also crucial is maintaining a healthy weight, eating a balanced diet, and staying active.
That’s where common sense comes in.

The Bottom Line

Should you be guzzling down gallons of soda every day? Of course not.
Should you treat a bottle of Coca-Cola like it’s a loaded weapon? No, unless of course it's diet and you’re holding a pack of Mentos in the other hand.