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It appears to be safe for people with implantable heart devices such as pacemakers and defibrillators to go through body scanners at airport security checkpoints, researchers say. Body scanners are becoming increasingly common worldwide. But some people are concerned that they may be a source of electromagnetic interference (EMI) that could disrupt implantable devices used to treat abnormal heart rhythm (arrhythmia). Patients with these devices are advised to limit their exposure to certain technologies, including metal detectors, magnets and MRI scans. The study authors surveyed 1,000 patients with pacemakers, defibrillators and other cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs). Eighty percent expressed concern about passing through airport body scanners. Researchers then analyzed more than 1,000 body scans of people with CIEDs. The scans did not affect functioning of the heart devices, and no CIEDs were detected by the scanners. The study, to be presented this Friday at the Heart Rhythm Society’s annual meeting in San Francisco, is the first to examine body scanners’ impact on CIEDs. Research presented at meetings is typically considered preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal. “We were surprised to learn that so many patients expressed concerns about the functionality of their devices while traveling. We wanted to help put their minds at ease by testing the potential interference body scanners could have on common devices like pacemakers and defibrillators,” lead author Dr.… read on >

Bucking a longstanding upward trend, new data shows that the percentage of Americans taking any prescription drug has fallen slightly over the past decade. Still, nearly half — 45.8% — of Americans said they took at least one prescription medicine over the past month, according to a national survey conducted in 2015-2016. That’s a slight dip from the 48.3% of Americans — children and adults — who reported taking a prescribed drug in the same survey conducted in 2007-2008, according to a team from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS). The drop in prescription use reverses a trend that had persisted since the 1990s, the study authors said. It’s not clear why fewer Americans are taking prescription meds now than a decade before, although the researchers cite a possible “decline in the use of inappropriate or ineffective therapies.” The new statistics showed that males were less likely to be taking prescription meds than females (41.5% versus 50%, respectively). But the gender divide varied greatly, depending on age group. For example, among children under the age of 12, boys (22%) were more likely to take a prescription drug than girls (nearly 14%), a trend driven largely by use of drugs for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). But by the time people reached adulthood (ages 20 to 59), women were more… read on >

Profoundly obese people are prone to an irregular heartbeat known as atrial fibrillation, but new research suggests that weight-loss surgery can improve the odds that a procedure to restore a normal heart rhythm will work. When atrial fibrillation, or a-fib, cannot be controlled by medications, a procedure called ablation can help. It targets the nerves in the heart where atrial fibrillation occurs. By electrically burning these areas, the heartbeat may return to normal. “Bariatric [weight-loss] surgery before ablation was associated with a threefold reduction in atrial fibrillation recurrence rates,” said researcher Dr. Eoin Donnellan, a fellow in cardiology at the Cleveland Clinic. Both obesity and a-fib are at epidemic proportions in the United States, and both can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, the researchers said. As many as one in five cases of a-fib are related to obesity, and obesity has been identified as a risk factor for the heart condition, the researchers noted. Some patients who have weight-loss surgery may see their a-fib stop on its own or can have it controlled with medication, Donnellan said. But for many, ablation may be the best way to cure it. Although ablation has become a common procedure to treat a-fib, obese patients are more likely to have their abnormal heartbeat return after the procedure, he said. “While previously, morbidly obese patients with atrial fibrillation that… read on >

(HealthDay News) — Cuts are openings in the skin and can be deep, smooth or jagged. Minor cuts may be treated at home, says MedlinePlus. However, in some instances you should contact a medical professional. Call 911 if: Bleeding is severe or cannot be stopped. The person cannot feel the injured area. The person is seriously injured. Call your doctor if: The wound is large or deep. The person has been bitten by a person or animal. The cut was caused by a rusty object. The wound shows signs of infection.

Traditional media, including TV and magazine ads, tend to portray ideals of physical perfection that can fuel worries about body image and eating disorders. A study from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine found that spending hours on social media is linked to these issues, too. In particular, people in the top 25% of high-volume social media users were more than twice as likely to have an eating disorder. Among the social media sites included in the study were Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, as well as Pinterest, Snapchat and LinkedIn. What the researchers still don’t know is which comes first — whether social media creates an environment that can lead to body image concerns and eating disorders, or whether people with these issues connect with others like them through social media and, in turn, find support to continue their unhealthy eating. These are the most common types of eating disorders: Anorexia — eating so little you’re at a dangerously low weight, which can lead to cardiac arrest and potentially fatal electrolyte imbalances. Bulimia — eating huge amounts of food and then intentionally vomiting to prevent what you’ve eaten from being digested, or misusing laxatives. Binge-eating — consuming large quantities of food. It’s important to recognize signs of an eating disorder in yourself or a loved one and get help before it affects quality of… read on >

Do you get distracted easily or find that it’s getting harder to stay focused on a task at hand or retain new information? These issues can happen to anyone, though they may seem to be more troublesome with advancing age. But concentration is an ability that you can improve with a few simple “study skills.” For instance, when someone is talking to you, look at the person and listen closely. If you missed something that was said, ask him or her to repeat it or to speak more slowly. Then to imprint the information on your brain, repeat it back. Stop multitasking. You might think you’re being more productive, but chances are you’re not doing each task as well as if you were focused on just one at a time, according to experts at Harvard University. Also try to avoid interruptions. For example, if a co-worker asks you something while you’re in the middle of a task, ask if he or she can wait until you’re finished. Don’t even answer the phone until you’re done — let voicemail take the call. While originally designed for students, anyone can benefit from these three specific techniques created by researchers at Kansas State University: Use a mantra to help you refocus. When you notice that your thoughts are wandering, say to yourself something like the phrase “be here… read on >

Teens spend countless hours glued to their phones and tablets, continually posting to social media, but British researchers report that might not be as terrible as many parents may think. It appears that teens who are less satisfied with their lives do tend to spend more time on Snapchat, Instagram and the like, but the link between life satisfaction and time spent on social media was “trivial,” the research found. “The previous literature was based almost entirely on correlations with no means to dissociate whether social media use leads to changes in life satisfaction or changes in life satisfaction influence social media use,” explained researcher Amy Orben, a lecturer in psychology at the University of Oxford. But by applying new modeling methods to an eight-year survey of households in the United Kingdom, the researchers were able to tease out data that gave them a better understanding of the effect of social media. The survey looked at how much time teens spent on social media during a normal school day and compared this with their life satisfaction ratings. The researchers did find lower life satisfaction increased the time spent on social media, while less time on social media was tied to higher life satisfaction. This finding was stronger among girls than boys, but even so, the connection was tenuous, they noted. Co-lead author Andrew Przybylski, director… read on >

A fainting-related fall that caused nerve damage in his right hand could explain why Leonardo da Vinci’s painting skills declined later in life, a new paper suggests. The report, published as the world marks the 500th anniversary of the artist’s death, contradicts the common belief that da Vinci’s difficulties stemmed from a stroke. To arrive at that conclusion, the report authors compared a drawing of an elderly da Vinci with an engraving of the artist and inventor when he was younger. They also studied a biography of da Vinci. The drawing shows da Vinci’s right arm in folds of clothing as if in a bandage, with his right hand suspended in a stiff, contracted position, according to the paper published May 3 in the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine. “Rather than depicting the typical clenched hand seen in post-stroke muscular spasticity, the picture suggests an alternative diagnosis such as ulnar palsy, commonly known as claw hand,” study co-author Dr. Davide Lazzeri said in a journal news release. Lazzeri is a plastic surgeon at the Villa Salaria Clinic in Rome. Based on the drawings, he said it’s likely that the ulnar palsy was caused by injury to the right limb when da Vinci fell after fainting. The ulnar nerve runs from the shoulder to little finger. It manages nearly all of the hand muscles… read on >

Pesto is a delicious and fast pasta sauce. Because it can be made in advance and served cold, it’s also a perfect do-ahead dish. The nuts used in traditional pesto are healthful, but whether almonds, walnuts or pine nuts, you may not always want the extra calories they pack in. There are some great variations that are just as flavorful. One variation is to use green peas, a great high-fiber food, in place of the nuts. They’re available fresh — shell them yourself — in warm weather months, but you can keep bags of frozen peas in your freezer and make this pesto year-round. If you want more of a protein boost, use shelled edamame — young green soy beans, typically available frozen. They’re denser than peas, so when blending them, you’ll need to add a few more tablespoons of water to get the right consistency. If basil is out of season or too expensive, you can substitute other herbs, such as parsley or even cilantro. No matter what pesto ingredients you decide on, boost nutrition by replacing white pasta with a whole grain variety. There are many choices beyond whole wheat. Pastas made from spelt or quinoa are tasty and toothy so you won’t miss the mouthfeel of your usual boxed spaghetti. Pea Pesto 14-ounce box of any whole grain pasta 2 cups green… read on >

A major medical group has issued new guidance on detecting and treating the leading cause of death in pregnant women and new mothers in the United States. Heart disease accounts for 26.5% of pregnancy-related deaths, and rates are highest among black women and those with low incomes. On Friday, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) responded with new guidelines on screening, diagnosis and management of heart disease. “Most of these deaths are preventable, but we are missing opportunities to identify risk factors prior to pregnancy and there are often delays in recognizing symptoms during pregnancy and postpartum, particularly for black women,” ACOG President Dr. Lisa Hollier said in an organization news release. While pre-existing conditions play a part in the death toll, acquired heart conditions can develop silently during or after pregnancy. A heart muscle disease called peripartum cardiomyopathy is the leading cause of death in expectant mothers, accounting for 23% of deaths late in pregnancy, according to ACOG. The new practice guidelines are the work of a Hollier-led task force aimed at lowering heart disease-related deaths during and after pregnancy. “The new guidance clearly delineates between common signs and symptoms of normal pregnancy versus those that are abnormal and indicative of underlying cardiovascular disease,” Hollier said. “As clinicians, we need to be adept at distinguishing between the two if we’re going to… read on >

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All Sauce from Weekly Gravy:

Airport Scanners OK for People with Implanted Heart Devices: Study

Americans’ Prescription Med Use Is Declining

Weight-Loss Surgery Boosts Success of Procedure to Fix A-Fib

Health Tip: When to Seek Medical Attention For a Cut

Can Social Media Lead to Eating Disorders?

Three Ways to Improve Focus and Concentration

All That Twitter, Snapchat May Not Be Bad for Teens

New Theory Sheds Light on Leonardo da Vinci’s Artistic Decline

A Tasty Twist on Pasta and Pesto

The Surprising Lead Cause of Death for Pregnant Women