Health Idea Now: March 2018

Saturday, 31 March 2018

Medical News Today: Can humans have mange?

Microscopic mites can cause sarcoptic mange in animals. Humans get a different form of mange, called scabies. Symptoms include a rash, often around skin folds, intense itching, and burrow marks. Treatment for scabies includes using scabicide topical creams. Mites cannot live away from human skin for more than 3 days.

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Virtual reality surgery lets trainee doctors practise operations

A virtual reality simulator for training junior surgeons seems to make them better equipped to cut open real patients

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Medical News Today: Is my pimple infected?

A pimple is more likely to become infected if it is popped. It could be caused by cystic acne or mistaken for a boil. An infected pimple is most annoying on sensitive areas such as the face or nose. Some can be treated at home, but more severe infections could be caused by staph bacteria and require medical treatment.

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Medical News Today: How to get rid of an allergic reaction on the face

An allergic reaction on the face can cause symptoms, such as red, raised bumps, swollen lips, and wheezing. They are often caused by beauty products or hay fever. Treatments include antihistamines, cool compresses, and corticosteroid creams. Reactions can be prevented by avoiding allergens and taking antihistamines.

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Medical News Today: Are random erections normal?

Erections, or boners, can happen at any time and without stimulation. Males of all ages can experience random erections, often first thing in the morning. They may be caused by daily changes in testosterone levels. Here, we talk about the causes and management of random erections, and their link to erectile dysfunction

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Come for your drugs, leave with more shopping: Walmart's new growth strategy?

(Reuters) - Walmart Inc’s efforts to develop closer ties with health insurer Humana Inc , which came to light on Thursday, point to a brave new world of retail where superstores become healthcare centers offering basic medical care.

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The Bucket List: Seeing things for the last time

Eight-year-old Alexa is going blind and has created a list of things she wants to see before that happens.

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The Bucket List: Seeing things for the last time

Eight-year-old Alexa is going blind and has created a list of things she wants to see before that happens.

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Medical News Today: What to know about hiatal hernia surgery

Surgery is an effective way to treat a hiatal hernia, with a 90–95 percent success rate in relieving symptoms such as acid reflux and GERD. Laparoscopic repair is the most common procedure. Recovery takes several weeks but a person can often go home the same day. Learn about recovery times, complications, and outlook.

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Medical News Today: Childhood friends may protect your adult health

New research suggests that spending time with your buddies as a kid may lead to a healthier weight and better blood pressure levels in adulthood.

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Medical News Today: New drug attacks cancer-causing genes

A new drug that targets cancer-causing genes may help to improve cancer survival rates. Researchers also hope that it might halt obesity-related cancers.

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Friday, 30 March 2018

Paramedics set to prescribe medicines

Up to seven out of 10 people currently seen by paramedics may need help but not a hospital visit.

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Doctors often skip discussing dangers of driving after concussion

(Reuters Health) - Most doctors who treat young athletes for concussion know that the injury increases the risk of having a car accident, but barely half counsel their patients against driving, a U.S. study suggests.

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HPV vaccine coverage on the rise, but still far from 2020 goal

(Reuters Health) - The proportion of boys and young men in the U.S. receiving the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine has more than tripled since 2011, new research shows.

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Medical News Today: How to treat whiteheads on the nose

Whiteheads are stubborn acne lesions that develop just under the skin. The nose is a common site for whiteheads to form, as this part of the face produces a lot of oil and is touched frequently throughout the day. We look at several ways to treat whiteheads on the nose, as well as how to prevent them in the future.

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Coffee's Getting a Cancer Warning Label in California. Do You Really Need to Worry?

People with sinus infections stay on antibiotics too long

(Reuters Health) - Most people prescribed antibiotics for sinus infections are on treatment courses of 10 days or longer even though infectious disease doctors recommend five to seven days for uncomplicated cases, a U.S. study suggests.

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I Tried Sephora's Top Rated Curling Wand and It Gave Me The Thick, Wavy Hair of My Dreams

GM worms make a super-silk completely unknown in nature

Thanks to a spot of genetic hacking, silkworms can make a new form of silk not found in nature that includes a synthetic amino acid. It could be used in medicine

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What causes an enlarged clitoris?

An enlarged or swollen clitoris is usually caused by normal sexual arousal. Otherwise, a hormone imbalance or medical condition such as PCO may be responsible. Medically, this is called clitoromegaly. We explore possible causes of an enlarged clitoris in adults and children. Learn more about when to seek treatment here

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Medical News Today: What causes an enlarged clitoris?

An enlarged or swollen clitoris is usually caused by normal sexual arousal. Otherwise, a hormone imbalance or medical condition such as PCO may be responsible. Medically, this is called clitoromegaly. We explore possible causes of an enlarged clitoris in adults and children. Learn more about when to seek treatment here

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This Is Why Your Hands Are Always Cold

Brrrr.

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The 4 Types of Bosses… And How To Manage Up To Them

THE ADVANCER “Advancers are highly focused on tasks, achieving results and taking action. They are usually less concerned

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Medical News Today: What to expect after a vaginal hysterectomy

A vaginal hysterectomy is the removal of the uterus through the vagina. It can take 6 weeks to recover fully. Recovery is easier and faster than other kinds of hysterectomy, though a woman should still wait before returning to normal work, driving, and exercising. Tips for recovery include a high-fiber diet and rest.

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What to expect after a vaginal hysterectomy

A vaginal hysterectomy is the removal of the uterus through the vagina. It can take 6 weeks to recover fully. Recovery is easier and faster than other kinds of hysterectomy, though a woman should still wait before returning to normal work, driving, and exercising. Tips for recovery include a high-fiber diet and rest.

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Medical News Today: What does having nitrites in urine mean?

Nitrites appear in the urine when a person has a bacterial infection in their bladder, ureter, or kidneys. Who should be tested for nitrites, and how are they formed? Learn more here. We also describe symptoms of urinary tract and kidney infections, as well as their treatments and possible complications.

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What does having nitrites in urine mean?

Nitrites appear in the urine when a person has a bacterial infection in their bladder, ureter, or kidneys. Who should be tested for nitrites, and how are they formed? Learn more here. We also describe symptoms of urinary tract and kidney infections, as well as their treatments and possible complications.

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Medical News Today: Uncovering stroke's psychological impact

The latest research investigates the after effects of stroke. Aside from the more obvious physical issues, what other problems do stroke survivors face?

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Medical News Today: Swollen earlobe: Pictures, causes, and treatment

Most causes of a swollen earlobe, such as an injury from a contact sport or an allergic reaction to a piercing, are easily treated at home and can be prevented. However, there are other causes, such as cauliflower ear and mastoiditis that need medical attention. Read on to find out when to see a doctor.

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Medical News Today: Honey bees may help to explain how humans make decisions

A new study analyzes the collective behavior of honey bee colonies and finds that they provide a good model for the laws that govern our decision-making.

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Thursday, 29 March 2018

Hospital's 'artificial feeding' letter to mothers criticised

A hospital is criticised for describing mothers who use formula milk as "artificially" feeding babies.

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Starbucks must put cancer warning on California coffee: judge

(Reuters) - Starbucks Corp and other coffee companies must put a cancer warning label on coffee products sold in California, a Los Angeles judge ruled.

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What Is Vegan Cheese Exactly—and Should You Be Eating It?

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When non-vegans try to wrap their heads around the diet, their sticking point is often not whole milk, nor even creamy ice cream, but cheese. Ah, cheese. Those who choose a vegan diet, or whose allergies make it necessary, often find themselves missing cheese. Many who forgo it report that—taste- and texture-wise—it’s a difficult food to replicate. So if you’re casting about for nut-based or soy-based cheese alternatives, it’s worth considering both health and taste.

As Jonah Soolman, RD, told Health via email, “We might use cheese and their vegan alternatives in similar fashions, but that does not mean they are nutritionally the same. Nut-based and soy-based ‘cheeses’ tend to be lower in calcium than real cheese.” This doesn’t make these alternatives “bad” or “unhealthy,” explains Soolman. “It just makes them different.”

If you’re switching from vegetarianism and consuming a substantial amount of cheese, for example, and “rely on [it] as a significant calcium contributor,” says Soolman, you “would want to be aware of the discrepancy.” So if dairy cheese is not an option, he says, “choose a brand of vegan cheese that is fortified with calcium, or incorporate other sources of the mineral into [your] diet.” Generally speaking, if you jump to veganism, you should be sure to seek out the nutrients you need, and of course consult with a doctor if you don’t feel well.

But what about taste? How do vegan quote-unquote cheeses fare in that department? We reached out to Tia Keenan, cheese expert, writer, and author of books including the forthcoming Melt , Stretch & Sizzle: The Art of Cooking Cheese.

“First, I have to say that as a cheese expert, I have to acknowledge that there is some rightful angst among traditional cheesemakers about the use of dairy language [when talking about vegan ‘cheese’],” says Keenan. In fact, although there are two commonly known types of vegan cheese—soy-based and nut-based—for a recent article about cheese substitutes, Keenan declined to write about the former. “I think vegan nut milk cheeses have a level of integrity in the sense that they’re a whole food product. They’re made with real ingredients using non-industrial capacities,” she explains. “Soy cheese can only be made in a factory. It’s a more industrial product … not something made from someone’s hands.” People like soy cheeses because of their ability to melt, says Keenan, but that reflects the industrial nature of the product.

“Real cheese as it’s been made for thousands of years is made with milk, rennet, and salt, and that’s it.” The only major variations, she notes, are the type of rennet, how it’s aged, and the type of milk. “The building blocks of processed cheese are anything that the [maker] wants to put in it,” and thus, she’d warn people away from soy cheese.

Those looking to emulate the creamy texture and saltiness of real cheese tend to find themselves reaching for cashews, both at restaurants and at home. “Cashew is a really rich nut high in fat,” explains Keenan, “with a nice mouthfeel and a mild flavor.” (Consider this cashew-centric mac ‘n cheese, for example.) But several other nuts can be transformed into vegan “cheese”—what Keenan calls “nutcheese”—such as almonds and pine nuts, among others.

She explains that there are generally two types of “nutcheeses”: First, “nut milks, which have been strained and formed into a more solid mass, usually flavored, and then sold as ‘nut milk cheese.’” Second, says Keenan, “something much closer to what actual cheese is like (or the actual process of making it): drained nut milks inoculated with some bacteria that ferment. You can age them and they can take on more complex flavor components that any fermented foods would take on.”

Of fake cheese generally, Keenan says, “If I’m gonna eat it, it’ll be because it’s delicious, not because it’s a fake version of something else.” It’s fair to say she’s not giving up her cheese-eating ways any time soon. But if you’re not eating real cheese and miss its texture, she suggests you consider Kite Hill. “They’re really trying to make something that looks, tastes and feels like an actual cheese.” Of the almond-milk product, she says, “It’s like a Brie: It’s round, it has a rind, and it’s creamy inside.”

She’s most partial, though, to Basilicotta, a creamy, basil-flecked cashew ricotta-like spread, and anything from Punk Rawk Labs. The former goes right on Keenan’s pasta dishes, and of the latter, she says, “Their whole line is delicious.” She’ll make nachos for vegan friends with their “nacho” cashew cheese, and loves that their smoked nutmilk cheese is somehow meaty.

So although vegan “cheese” isn’t quite cheese, there are still ways to listen to your cravings and get your body what it needs.

Alex Van Buren is a Brooklyn-based writer, editor and content strategist whose work has appeared in The Washington Post, Bon Appétit, Travel + Leisure, New York Magazine, Condé Nast Traveler, and Epicurious. Follow her on Instagram and Twitter @alexvanburen.

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This Woman Looks Like She Lost Weight, but She Actually Gained 25 Pounds—Here’s How

This Easy Indian Dinner Recipe Only Calls for Staples—and It’s Ready in 20 Minutes

Arkansas sues opioid manufacturers for roles in epidemic

(Reuters) - Arkansas' attorney general on Thursday joined the widening mass of litigation against opioid manufacturers, accusing three drugmakers of promoting addictive painkillers in ways that falsely denied or trivialized their risks.

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7 Intimate Sex Positions That Will Bring Couples Closer

12 Foundations with the Most Inclusive Shade Ranges

Long gone are the days of makeup brands offering just a few foundation shades. One color does not fit all (or even most), and these diverse shade ranges prove it. Shop these foundations featuring a wide array (30+!) of shades for every person.

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Thyroid removal linked to increased bone-thinning, fracture risk

(Reuters Health) - Thyroid surgery that totally or partially removes the gland may increase the long-term risk of bone thinning and bone breaks, especially for younger patients and women, according to a large study from Taiwan.

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For ‘tween girls, social media use tied to wellbeing in teen years

(Reuters Health) - Girls who spend the most time on social media at age 10 may be unhappier in their early teens than peers who use social media less during the ‘tween years, a UK study suggests.

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7 Fitness Influencers Show How One Small Trick Can Change the Look of Your Butt in Seconds

Many in U.S. take more calcium supplements than necessary

(Reuters Health) - Some adults in the U.S. who use supplements to get their daily requirement of calcium are taking higher doses than necessary, a recent study suggests.

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How Sanitary Are Steam Rooms And Saunas, Anyway?

Here's the (slightly gross) truth.

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Pfizer's rare heart disease drug succeeds in late-stage study

(Reuters) - Pfizer Inc said on Thursday its drug tafamidis, for a rare and fatal disease associated with progressive heart failure, met the main goal in a late-stage study.

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What Is a Plant-Based Diet—and How Is It Different From Going Vegan?

A plant-based diet is a diet based on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes. Find out how a plant-based diet is different from a vegan diet.

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Medical News Today: Why do I have dark spots on my lips?

Black spots on the lips can indicate many things, from vitamin deficiency and dehydration to a variety of skin conditions. Learn more about these causes, and when to see a doctor, here. In this article, we also explore home remedies and other treatment options, as well as ways to prevent black spots from forming.

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