Doctors establish new guidelines for children’s use of media devices

Pediatricians at the American Academy of Pediatrics have offered new recommendations on how long children should be allowed to use the internet, watch television, cell phones, tablets and more, in an effort to stem health problems that can be suffered later in life.

Put plainly, all electronic media should be off after bedtime and during meal times, a “no device rule.” Daily screen time for entertainment should be less than 2 hours per day and children under the age of 2 should not have any screen time at all.

Some of this is a reiteration of previously offered guidelines, but the trend is a near round-the-clock-use of devices in which kids are engaged in their devices, not their surroundings. The problems stemming from that are obesity, bad grades in school, aggressiveness disorders and poor sleep patterns.

Of course, the AAP also admonishes that parents need to be the example of the health model and follow the same rules, turn the devices off, limit time in front of the TV and do not use them in bed. We wish everyone the best of luck as device usage amongst kids under the age of 8 grows dramatically. Common Sense Media, an advocacy group in San Francisco says that at least 17% of children under the age of 8 use mobile devices daily, just about 1 in 5. That is up from less than 1 in 10 in 2011.

While many may think this is a problem that could never happen to their kids, we are reminded of the couple that had to contend with their 4 year old being medically diagnosed as "addicted" to the family iPad, causing the little girl to undergo a digital-detox.

source: The Wall Street Journal

Blood Test for Pancreatic Cancer Shows Promise in Early Trial

 Pancreatic cancer is one of the most lethal tumor types because it's too often diagnosed in a later, advanced stage. But a new study suggests that a simple blood test might help spot the disease earlier.

The study is described as small and preliminary, and investigators cautioned that the initial findings will need to be confirmed in larger trials.

"Pancreas cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer death in the United States," said study coauthor Dr. Nita Ahuja, an associate professor of surgery in the department of oncology and urology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, in Baltimore. "There have been minimal to no improvements in the survival from this disease in the last 40 years. There are over 40,000 people diagnosed every year and about that many deaths."

"One of the main reasons for the lethal nature of this cancer is that most cancers are diagnosed too late once they have spread to other organs," Ahuja said. "Around 8 percent have spread to distant organs such as the liver or lungs, while another 10 percent have locally spread to major blood vessels. However, in the patients where cancer can be detected early and has not spread, a long-term cure is possible with surgical removal of the cancer with the surrounding lymph."

Any means of spotting the cancer early would therefore be crucial, Ahuja added."We have mammograms to screen for breast cancer and colonoscopies for colon cancer , but we have had nothing to help us screen for pancreatic cancer," she said.

Ahuja said the new study sought to find blood "markers" for pancreatic cancer "in patients who are at increased risk for developing this cancer, such as [those with a] family history or heavy smokers."

Ahuja's team had previously identified mutations in two genes, called BNC1 and ADAMST1, that typically occurred in the presence of pancreatic cancer.Since both mutations are found in 97 percent of early stage pancreatic cancer tissues, the researchers developed tests to search for signs of the mutations in blood samples collected from 42 people already diagnosed with early stage pancreatic cancer.

Reporting in the current online edition of the journal Clinical Cancer Research, Ahuja's team said both genetic markers were found in 81 percent of the tested blood samples, but not in samples taken from patients who either did not have pancreatic cancer or had a history of pancreatitis (an inflamed pancreas).

The researchers said the results are much more impressive than, for example, the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test used to screen for prostate cancer , which has roughly a 20 percent success rate.

Still, an 81 percent accuracy rate is "far from perfect," Ahuja said. The test also had a false-positive rate of 15 percent, meaning that 15 percent of people who get the test initially will be told they might have pancreatic cancer when that is not the case.

NIH Funds Study of Vitamin D to Prevent Diabetes

A large trial funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) will investigate whether vitamin D supplements can stall the development of type 2 diabetes in patients at high risk for the disease.

The Vitamin and Type 2 Diabetes (D2d) Study will randomize patients with prediabetes to 4,000 IU per day of Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) or to placebo to determine if the supplement is an "affordable and accessible way to help prevent or delay type 2 diabetes," Griffin Rodgers, MD , director of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), said in a press release . NIDDK is the primary sponsor of the study.

The dose of cholecalciferol being used in the study far exceeds the typical adult intake of 600 to 800 IUs a day.

The study aims to enroll about 2,500 patients who will be seen at 20 centers across the country. Patients will check in with their investigators twice a year, while still receiving regular care from their own doctors.

The study builds on previous NIH-funded studies, such as the Diabetes Prevention Program, that found lifestyle changes that help patients shed a modest amount of weight as well as the drug metformin can both help slow the development of type 2 diabetes in at-risk patients.

Myrlene Staten, MD , of the NIDDK, is the project officer and Anastassios Pittas, MD , of Tufts Medical Center in Boston is the principal investigator.

Enrollment is ongoing and patients can learn more about how to sign up via the study's website .

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Asthma Survival Guide for Allergy Season

You can live a full and active life even when you have allergic asthma.

Joanna Thomas has had severe allergic asthma since she was 2 years old. Her asthma is triggered, she says, by "just about everything." But today at 72, she travels, volunteers, exercises, and generally enjoys life.

Recommended Related to Asthma 

Daily Asthma Diary

Print this daily asthma diary (in pdf format) and use it daily to track your symptoms and medication use. Be sure to print additional pages as needed.

Read the Daily Asthma Diary article > >

You can, too.

Clear the Air 

There's only so much you can do about outdoor air quality, but you can control the air quality inside your home. For starters, keep your windows shut.

Thomas finds that a HEPA filter (which stands for high-efficiency particulate air filter) keeps the air in her house clean by filtering out dust mites, pet dander, and other allergens.

Plan for Exercise 

You can and should exercise. It helps your lungs and heart work better, and it builds your strength and endurance. If you choose an outdoor activity, try to limit the pollen and irritants you bring inside with you. As soon as you come in, take off your clothes and shower. Make sure to wash or rinse your hair.

On some days, when the pollen count is high, that might not be enough.Exercise inside on those days. Thomas has a folding, rollable treadmill that she can use in her home. She even takes it with her on vacations in her RV. Other people with allergic asthma find that yoga is a good inside alternative.

Rethink Your Home Decor 

The surfaces in your home are as important as the air. Wash your curtains or, even better, replace them with blinds or other non-fabric window dressings. You can vacuum upholstered furniture. Dust items that are leather, plastic, vinyl, or wood with a damp cloth, Thomas says.

Thomas replaced all the carpet in her home with hard-surfaced flooring. Carpets can harbor allergens including dust mites, cockroach droppings, pollen, and mold spores.

Clean With Care 

If you can't get rid of your carpet, the American Lung Association recommends vacuuming at least three times a week using a HEPA filter and while wearing a mask.

In fact, you should wear a mask for any type of cleaning. "I wear an ear-loop face mask," Thomas says.

What else can you do? Take out the garbage every day. Only empty the vacuum bag outside.

Protect Your Bed 

Many companies make mattress and pillow covers. "They basically seal your mattress and your pillow case so you don't have a reaction," says Kim Franklin, 47, a nurse in Omaha, Neb. She was diagnosed with allergic asthma in 2002.

Thomas says you can also vacuum your mattress or use an upholstery tool to keep dust mites and other allergens at bay.

The American Lung Association recommends washing sheets, other bedding, and pajamas at least once a week in very hot water.

14 Reasons You Should Start Eating Cucumber

 Cucumbers are number four most cultivated vegetable in the world and known to be one of the best foods for your overall health, often referred to as a super food. Pick a handful of firm, dark green cucumbers and drop them into your shopping cart. Congratulations! You have just bought yourself stuff full of good health.

Cucumber rehydrates body

If you are too busy to drink enough water, eat the cool cucumber, which is 90 percent water. It will cheerfully compensate your water lost.

Cucumber fights heat inside and out

Eating cucumber will get your body relief from heartburn. Apply cucumber on your skin and you will get relief from sunburn.

Cucumber eliminates toxins

All that water in cucumber acts as a virtual broom, sweeping waste products out of your body. With regular eating, cucumber is known to dissolve kidney stones.

Cucumber replenishes daily vitamins

Cucumbers have most of the vitamins the body needs in a single day. A B and C, which boost your immune system keep you radiant and give you energy. Make it more powerful by juicing cucumber with spinach and carrot. Don’t forget to leave the skin on because it contains a good amount of vitamin C, about 12 percent of the daily recommended allowance.
Cucumber supplies skin friendly minerals

Cucumber is high in potassium, magnesium and silicon. That is why spas abound cucumber based treatments.

Cucumber aids in digestion and weight loss

Due to its high water and low calorie content, cucumber is an ideal source for people who are looking for weight loss. Use cucumbers in your soups and salads. If it is not your favorite snack you can crunchy cucumber sticks with creamy low fat yogurt dip. Chewing cucumber gives your jaws a good workout and the fiber in it is great for digestion. Daily consumption of cucumbers can be regarded as an aid for chronic constipation.

Cucumber revives the eyes

Placing a chilled slice of cucumber over puffy eyes is a clichéd beauty visual but it really can help reduce under-eye bags and puffiness due to its anti inflammatory properties.

Cucumber fights cancers

Cucumber is known to contain secoisolariciresinol, lariciresinol and pinoresinol. The three lignans have a strong connection with reduced risk of several cancer types, including ovarian, breast, prostate and uterine cancer.

Cucumber cures diabetes, reduces cholesterol and controls blood pressure

Cucumber juice contains a hormone which is needed by the cells of the pancreas for producing insulin which is widely spread to be beneficial to diabetic patients.Researchers have found that a compound called sterols in cucumbers can help decrease levels of cholesterol. Cucumbers contain a lot of fiber, potassium and magnesium. These nutrients work effectively for regulating blood pressure. That is why cucumber is good for treating both high blood pressure and low blood pressure.

Cucumber refreshes the mouth

Cucumber juice heals and refreshes diseased gums. Get a slice of cucumber and press it to the roof of your mouth with your tongue for a half minute, the phytochemcials will kill the bacteria in your mouth responsible for causing unpleasant breath.

Cucumber smoothes hair and nails

The wonder mineral Silica in cucumber makes your hair and nails shinier and stronger. The sulfur and silica in cucumbers help to stimulate your hair growth.

Cucumber promotes joint health, relieves arthritis and gout pain

As cucumber is an excellent source of silica it promotes joint health by strengthening the connective tissues. When mixed with carrot juice, cucumber can relieve gout and arthritis pain by lowering levels of the uric acid.

Cucumber cures hangover

To avoid a morning headache or hangover you can eat a few cucumber slices before going to sleep. Cucumbers contain enough B vitamins, sugar and electrolytes to replenish many essential nutrients and reducing the severity of both hangover and headache.

Cucumber keeps kidneys in shape

Cucumber lowers uric acid levels in your body and though keeping the kidneys healthy.

Waging War On Wrinkles

It’s an inescapable fact of life: wrinkles happen.Aging does not discriminate; it inevitably strikes us all, and our faces show it. Although there's no miracle cure for the effects of time on our skin, medical advances continue to bring new, effective ways to hold on to our youthful appearance.

Stop at any cosmetics counter and you will see an array of beauty products claiming to reverse the signs of aging. The challenge is to separate the fact from fiction to find what really works.

As in any battle, the key is understanding the opponent. Contrary to popular belief, a “one-size-fits-all” approach doesn’t work when it comes to wrinkles. There are three different types of wrinkles: those caused by sun, by facial contractions, and by genetics and aging. Each requires a different type of treatment.

Wrinkles caused by sun damage, or photoaging, are the easiest to combat because they are the easiest to prevent. Experts agree that the best line of defense is to use a good sunblock every day. “Look for a product with SPF 30,” says Debra Jaliman, MD, a spokesperson for the American Academy of Dermatology. “Products with zinc and titanium are especially effective, as they block both UVA and UVB rays.”

Sun exposure causes collagen in the skin to break down, which causes fine lines and wrinkling. Products with antioxidants such as vitamin A, also known as retinoids, and vitamin C prompt skin to produce more collagen and diminish the effects of sun damage. Exfoliants such as alpha-hydroxy acids, which are derived mostly from milk and fruit products, also stimulate collagen production and smooth wrinkles by removing dead skin. Christine Poblete-Lopez, MD, assistant program director of the Cleveland Clinic dermatology department, recommends a skin care regimen involving the use of alpha-hydroxy acids and retinoids. “They improve a variety of skin problems, including fine wrinkles, and delay the aging process. Cosmeceutical products with these active ingredients can be dispensed at a physician's office and contain higher concentrations than you would get over the counter,” she says.

The way we move our faces every day causes wrinkles that are more difficult to prevent and treat. These include “crow’s feet” and lines around the mouth. You may have heard that there are facial exercises you can do to prevent such wrinkles from forming, but don't believe it. Repetitive movement causes the wrinkling, so these exercises will actually do more harm than good. “Facial contractions cause the skin to bend, wearing away its own natural collagen and hyaluronic acid,” says Karyn Grossman, MD, of Grossman Dermatology in Santa Monica, California. “Traditionally these types of wrinkles have best been treated with Botox.”

Botox is a nerve-paralyzing agent injected into the skin that prevents the muscle contractions that cause wrinkles. A treatment lasts between four and six months and then slowly wears off. Although popular, Botox injections are a very detailed procedure that should only be done in a doctor’s office by a trained professional. Beware of creams that profess to contain similar ingredients; even if the claims are true, such substances must be carefully inserted into just the right muscles, and rubbing a toxin on your face could have disastrous results.

Wrinkles that no one can escape are those caused by genetics and aging. These include smile lines, which extend from the nose to the mouth. New skin-tightening procedures such as Thermage, which uses radio-frequency technology to heat and tighten the skin from within, are now used to diminish wrinkles caused by aging.

“The use of soft tissue fillers, such as Restylane, Perlane, or Radiesse, is also very effective in treating these types of wrinkles,” says Poblete-Lopez. This process, known as soft tissue augmentation, involves the injection of a fatlike substance into the skin to elevate deep wrinkles. These procedures are very effective, but like Botox, should be performed only by a skilled professional.

All these advances in technology have made the war on wrinkles increasingly winnable. What cosmetics companies don’t want you to know, however, is that your most powerful weapon in this battle doesn’t come in a jar. “The best thing anyone can do to prevent wrinkles is to adopt a healthy lifestyle,” Grossman says. In addition to a good skin care routine, she recommends the following:

• Use a broad spectrum SPF daily on all exposed areas of skin. Make sure to reapply midday if you are working and hourly if you are outside playing sports, relaxing, or shopping. 

• Don't smoke, drink, or take recreational drugs.
• Maintain a healthy and stable weight, avoiding large multiple weight swings.
• Get plenty of rest each night to allow your body to repair the damage done during the day.

How to Be a Highly Productive Night Owl

Being an early riser has its benefits, but it isn’t for everyone. Some of humanity’s greatest minds (Voltaire for example) were renowned for sleeping in. Depending on personality, environment, and work schedule, being an early riser may not be practical. A few months ago I gave early rising a try. I was able to wake up 1-1.5 hours earlier, but I couldn’t adjust to the early bed time. Each night around 10:00, no matter how tired I’d felt that day, my mind became active and I was unable to shut down until after 12:00. After a few weeks, sleep deprivation set in and I went back to my normal sleep pattern. 

Late rising isn’t automatically beneficial. It has a negative connotation because, if poorly managed, sleeping late leads to perpetual grogginess and wasted days. Here are few strategies I’ve developed for effective late rising.P

Don’t Over SleepP

The biggest temptation with late rising is to over sleep. Too much sleep is a bad thing. Rather than feeling more rested, it makes you lethargic. Having a regular wake up time is just as important for night owls as it is for early risers. If you don’t set a schedule, you’ll have a hard time being productive.P

Don’t Sleep Too LateP

Along the same lines, I’ve found that late rising is best in moderation. Sleeping until mid-afternoon can ruin an entire day. It throws off your biological clock, leaving you mentally dull, and makes it harder to get to sleep at a reasonable hour the following night. For me, the ideal wake up time is between 8:00 and 10:00 a.m. This gives me a chance to get the 6-8 hours of sleep that I need without oversleeping or losing too much of the day. The challenge with being productive at night is that it’s hard to wind down. This can lead to late nights that throw off your schedule. The way to manage this is setting a cut off time. I set my cut off time for an hour before bed time, usually around 11:00-11:30. After the cut off time I stop working and wind down. I switch to mentally relaxing activities like minor household chores and light reading. I’d also recommend avoiding television and the computer completely. The brightness of the screen can trick your brain into thinking it’s day. Although there will always be those nights when I ride a rush of creativity until 3:00 or 4:00 a.m., it’s better to make that the exception. 

To maximize productivity it’s important to leverage the natural peaks of your energy cycle. Late rising works best for people who peak in the evening. If this is the case, you should create a schedule that lets you work at night. I’ve found mid-mornings to be productive, so I’ve built my schedule around a morning and evening shift.P

After getting up around 8:00 or 9:00, I eat breakfast and work for 3-4 hours. By early afternoon my energy fades and I switch from creative work to less demanding tasks like responding to email, reading feeds, and running errands. Around 8:00 p.m. I have another energy peak and work the night shift until my cut off time at 11:00. Although it can be tough to schedule around a 9-5 job, you can probably figure out a way to take advantage of your evening energy peak by working from home or on side projects. 

Take Advantage of Distraction Free EveningsP

Early risers rave about the productivity of the wee morning hours before the rest of us wake up. Late risers have a similar advantage on the other end. By working in the evening we can avoid the distractions of meetings, email, and other demands. For me, the evening is when I’m able to break free from the outside world and immerse myself in mentally challenging work. Some people can’t concentrate at night, but I’ve found it’s the easiest time get into creative work flow without interruption.P

It’s all about finding what works best for you. As a night person in their early 20′s with roommates who tend to keep late hours, I found early rising problematic. As I get older and my living situation evolves, it’s entirely possible I’ll join the 5 a.m. club. Until then I’ll continue to take pride in being a highly productive night owl.