Weekly Gravy « Weekly Gravy

All Sauce from Weekly Gravy:

Sometimes it really does “take a village” to help you meet life’s challenges, and quitting smoking can be one of the toughest challenges out there. That’s why specially designed smoking-cessation programs can make all the difference, experts say. Many programs employ a combination approach, one that treats the physical and the psychological addictions you’re trying to break. Dr. Amit Mahajan, a volunteer medical spokesperson for the American Lung Association (ALA), says proven ways to help people quit often include professional counseling — including psychotherapies such as cognitive behavioral therapy. Such therapies are typically given alongside nicotine replacement patches and gums (to help ease cravings), and/or addiction-countering drugs, such as Chantix and bupropion (Wellbutrin). Programs that offer up these combo strategies have a higher likelihood of success, Mahajan said. “At the end of the day, the data is pretty clear that if there’s behavioral therapy combined with pharmacotherapy medications, that is the best option for smokers who want to quit and people who’ve already tried and were unable to quit,” he said. Breaking free The ALA offers up its own program, called Freedom From Smoking. First begun in 1975 and then updated and refined ever since, the program helps overcome the physical, mental and social aspects of addiction. It even offers up an online quiz that folks can take to confirm that they’re mentally ready to… read on > read on >

Ransomware attacks on America’s health care systems have more than doubled in recent years, disrupting needed medical care and exposing the personal information of millions, a new study reports. These attacks — in which computer systems are locked down by hackers until the victim agrees to pay a ransom — hit all levels of health care, from your doctor’s or dentist’s office up to the largest hospitals and surgical centers, according to the new findings. The annual number of ransomware attacks against health care leapt to 91 reported cases in 2021 from 43 in 2016, the researchers found. These attacks exposed the personal health information of nearly 42 million patients, caused ambulances to be diverted in critical situations, and forced delays or cancellations of scheduled care. “It does seem like ransomware actors have recognized that health care is a sector that has a lot of money and they’re willing to pay up to try to resume health care delivery, so it seems to be an area that they’re targeting more and more,” said lead researcher Hannah Neprash, an assistant professor of health policy and management at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health. For this study, Neprash and her colleagues created a database that tracks health care ransomware events. The database combines information from federal regulators and a private cybersecurity threat intelligence company. “We… read on > read on >

Researchers studying dry eye disease in mice have found that the condition can alter how the cornea heals itself. They have also identified potential treatments. “We have drugs, but they only work well in about 10% to 15% of patients,” said senior researcher Dr. Rajendra Apte, a professor at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. “In this study involving genes that are key to eye health, we identified potential targets for treatment that appear different in dry eyes than in healthy eyes.” Tens of millions of people around the world, including 15 million in the United States, have eye pain and blurred vision as a result of complications and injury associated with dry eye disease, Apte said in a university news release. “By targeting these proteins, we may be able to more successfully treat or even prevent those injuries,” he said. In dry eye disease, the eye can’t provide adequate lubrication with natural tears. Various types of drops can help replace those, but when the eyes are dry, the cornea is more susceptible to injury. The researchers found that proteins made by stem cells that regenerate the cornea may be new targets for treating and preventing such injuries. To study this, the investigators analyzed genes expressed by the cornea in several mouse models. They looked at dry eye disease, diabetes and other conditions.… read on > read on >

A comprehensive eye exam could be the key to determining if you have glaucoma, a silent thief of sight. Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that affect the optic nerve, and the leading cause of preventable blindness, according to The Glaucoma Foundation. But most people are unaware of their risk. Glaucoma affects about 80 million people worldwide, and that number is expected to reach almost 112 million by 2040. The condition can run in families. It disproportionately affects people of color. Most people are diagnosed after age 40, and at least half of glaucoma patients had no symptoms until their vision was already significantly damaged. As many as 1.5 million Americans are unaware that glaucoma is silently damaging their optic nerves right now, according to the foundation. High-risk factors for glaucoma include a family history of the disease and being over age 40. Having a family member with glaucoma doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll get the disease, however. The most important risk factor is having abnormally high intraocular pressure (IOP), the foundation explained in a news release. Being of African, Hispanic and Asian descent also increases the risk. People with African and Hispanic ancestry have a greater tendency for developing primary open-angle glaucoma. People of Asian ancestry are more apt to develop angle-closure glaucoma and normal-tension glaucoma. Other risk factors include diabetes, nearsightedness, previous eye… read on > read on >

Social media’s impact on young people is a hot topic, with most kids and teens wanting to do whatever their friends are doing and parents worrying about setting limits. A new study examines whether frequent checking of social media sites (Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat) is associated with changes in functional brain development in these early adolescents, about age 12. Using brain scans called functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), researchers at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill found that habitually refreshing and checking social media may be associated with changes in brain sensitivity to social rewards and punishments — those online likes and engagement from others. “We know that adolescence is one of the most important periods for brain development — it’s going through more changes in reorganization second only to that we see in early infancy,” said study author Eva Telzer, who is an associate professor of psychology and neuroscience. “It’s a really dramatic period of brain development, in particular in these brain regions that respond to social rewards.” Social rewards aren’t limited to social media sites. They can be positive face-to-face feedback from peers or even receiving money. But those Facebook likes are social rewards, too. Other research has found that some adolescents are on their cellphones almost constantly, checking their social media at least hourly. For the three-year study, Telzer’s team recruited… read on > read on >

It’s safe for kids to take the COVID-19 vaccine after they’ve suffered a rare complication from a prior COVID infection, a U.S. National Institutes of Health-supported study has concluded. Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) affects about 1 in every 3,000 to 4,000 kids who contract COVID-19, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The complication, which occurs a few weeks after COVID-19 infection, involves an intense immune response that can lead to life-threatening organ failure. Seventy-four deaths in the United States have been linked to MIS-C during the pandemic, the CDC says. A lingering question of COVID vaccine safety is how it might affect the more than 9,000 children and adolescents who’ve been diagnosed with MIS-C, the researchers noted. To figure that out, 22 North American medical centers enrolled 385 children aged 5 and older who’d had MIS-C from an earlier COVID infection but were now eligible to receive the vaccine. Of the group, about half received at least one vaccine dose. The average length of time between MIS-C diagnosis to the first vaccine dose was 9 months. The average age of participants in the study was 12 years old, and about 74% were boys. Participants were racially diverse. The report was published online Jan. 3 in JAMA Network Open. Mild side effects like arm soreness and fatigue occurred in 49%… read on > read on >

Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin threw himself into the path of a Cincinnati Bengals ball carrier, taking a hard hit to the chest that sent both NFL players to the ground. Hamlin, 24, stood to dust himself off, took two steps — and then fell flat on his back, limp and unresponsive. Hamlin suffered a cardiac arrest following the tough tackle in Monday night’s game, officials now say. He received CPR on the field, and was in critical condition this morning at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center. A cardiac arrest occurs when the heart suddenly and unexpectedly stops beating, according to the American Heart Association (AHA). More than 350,000 cardiac arrests occur outside a hospital in the United States every year, the AHA said in a news release. About 9 of 10 people who suffer a cardiac arrest die, the AHA says. Survival depends on immediately receiving CPR from a bystander. Cardiac arrest is not the same as a heart attack, which occurs when a blocked artery prevents blood flow to the heart muscle. Instead, a cardiac arrest is caused by a malfunction in the heart’s electrical system. The heart starts to beat irregularly at first, and then just stops. First aid involves CPR to keep the person alive until a defibrillator shocks the heart into restoring a normal heart rhythm, usually within a… read on > read on >

Losing weight is one of the most popular New Year’s resolutions — possibly to give yourself an excuse for some New Year’s Eve overindulgence. “I’m going to cram it all in tonight, so tomorrow I start afresh,” jokes registered dietitian Connie Diekman, a nationally known food and nutrition consultant. But those waking up bleary-eyed on New Year’s Day will find themselves facing a bewildering array of fad diets and quick weight-loss schemes. Which would be best for you? In large part, it’s going to be the diet that you can incorporate into your everyday life to improve your health rather than lose weight, Diekman said. “Making changes to our eating habits is a process. It takes time. Give yourself a break,” Diekman said. “Set one goal at a time. Work through it. When you’re successful, now you feel more empowered to do the next goal, and the next goal, and the next goal. “Yes, it takes time. But remember, this is about your health. It’s not about the weight. It’s a healthy you,” Diekman continued. “Because if you lose 10 pounds, 20 pounds, 30 pounds, but it was muscle mass and not body fat, it didn’t do you any good.” Also remember that weight loss requires that you take in fewer calories than you burn in a day, regardless of the diet you adopt, said… read on > read on >

Giving up cigarettes can be excruciating, with cravings and withdrawal symptoms lingering for weeks, especially if you aren’t strongly motivated. Yet, just minutes after that first smoke-free breath, your body starts to change for the better. And with all the healthy breaths you take in the weeks and months that follow, the benefits only multiply. The health benefits of quitting smoking is the first and biggest reason to quit, according to the American Lung Association (ALA). “Even persons who have smoked for many years or who have smoked heavily can realize health and financial benefits from quitting smoking,” Dr. Robert Redfield, then director of the U.S. Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, wrote in a forward to the 2020 U.S. Surgeon General’s report on smoking cessation. “Although the benefits of quitting are greater the earlier in life that an individual quits, this report confirms that it is never too late to quit smoking,” he added. Quitting will be hard, but worthwhile Here’s what happens when you stop smoking: Withdrawal symptoms of quitting smoking include cravings, irritability and restlessness. Some will also have issues with concentration, trouble sleeping, hunger, weight gain and feelings of depression, anxiety or sadness, according to the CDC. The health benefits of quitting smoking start about 20 minutes after the last drag. That’s when a smoker’s heart rate and blood pressure both… read on > read on >

Could hydration hold the key to longevity? Maybe, suggests new research that discovered older adults who are properly hydrated may be healthier and live longer than those who aren’t, having less incidence of conditions like heart and lung disease. “Staying well-hydrated may slow down aging, prevent or delay development of chronic diseases, and therefore prolong disease-free life,” said lead investigator Natalia Dmitrieva, a researcher from the Laboratory of Cardiovascular Regenerative Medicine at the U.S. National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. “The best way for people to keep well-hydrated is to be aware of the amount of fluids they drink without engaging in intensive sports activities or [spending] a long time in a hot environment,” Dmitrieva said. The current recommendations vary from 2 to 3 liters of fluid daily — for women, that’s 6 to 9 cups of fluids like water each day, while men need around 8 to 12 cups, she said. “Worldwide population surveys estimate that more than 50% of people drink less fluid than recommended and therefore have an opportunity to decrease their risk of developing chronic diseases by increasing water intake to the recommended levels,” Dmitrieva said. Samantha Heller, a senior clinical nutritionist at NYU Langone Health in New York City, agreed that being well-hydrated is essential for healthy living. “Our bodies work hard to maintain a healthy fluid balance, which includes… read on > read on >

Weekly Gravy

Look Good – Feel Good – Feed Good

A little about: Weekly Gravy

All Sauce from Weekly Gravy:

What Are Quit-Smoking Programs and How Can They Help You?

Ransomware Attacks on U.S. Hospitals Have Doubled Since 2016

New Insight Into How Dry Eyes Can Weaken Corneas

What Is Glaucoma, and How Can You Prevent It?

Frequent Social Media Checks May Affect Young Brains

COVID Vaccine Is Safe for Kids Who Got Rare Complication of COVID Illness

Buffalo Bills’ Damar Hamlin Hospitalized: What Experts Know About Cardiac Arrest

Resolved to Lose Weight in 2023? Experts Compare Popular Diets

What Happens to Your Body When You Quit Smoking

Staying Hydrated Could Mean Less Disease, Slower Aging