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Nearly 25 percent of antibiotics prescribed in the United States are given for conditions they aren’t meant to treat, a new study finds. Antibiotics are miracle drugs that can cure deadly bacterial infections. But too often they are given to treat viral infections, such as colds and flu, for which they are ineffective. And the overuse of antibiotics brings public health dangers, experts have been warning. “Antibiotic prescribing is a major driver of the development of bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics,” said lead researcher Dr. Kao-Ping Chua, an assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. Antibiotic-resistant bacteria are one of the greatest threats to health worldwide, he said. Every year, 2 million Americans develop antibiotic-resistant infections and 23,000 die, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Given this, it is urgent for providers to eliminate inappropriate antibiotic prescribing, both for the sake of their own patients and for society more broadly,” Chua said. For the study, Chua and his colleagues studied insurance records of more than 19 million kids and adults under age 65. All patients were privately insured. The researchers said more than 23 percent of prescriptions were inappropriate, or not medically justified. The inappropriate prescriptions were mostly for colds, chest infections and coughs. About 36 percent of the prescriptions might have been appropriate but… read on >

Not every budding musician will become a rock star, but studying music has brain bonuses for kids, even those who don’t take up an instrument until their teen years. There’s no doubt that participation in in-school music programs boosts motivation. Mastering an instrument or performing with a group brings a sense of accomplishment and is a wonderful creative outlet. What’s more, it can enhance other types of learning, research has revealed. Scientists compared the brain gains among high schoolers involved in band classes for two or three hours a week to those participating in a fitness program. The young musicians showed faster maturation in the brain’s response to sound and in sensitivity to sound details. Both are important for language skills and, in turn, academic success. The students developed what’s called learning to learn. (This isn’t to say that kids should ignore exercise — fitness has other essential benefits, so it’s important to make time in your children’s lives for both types of activities.) Ideally, music instruction would begin in middle school and continue through high school. One study found that this continued involvement was associated with a high-level of math proficiency in grade 12. Unfortunately, music programs are often the victim of budget cutbacks. If your child’s school doesn’t have a music program, consider investing in outside lessons from a local musician or a… read on >

Most people know how important recycling is for a healthier environment, yet a survey by the Pew Research Center showed that Americans may not always put that knowledge into practice. Though most people in the United States have access to recycling programs, the rules and practices vary within states and even within communities. Only 28 percent of survey participants said their community strongly encourages recycling and re-use. Even when recycling programs exist, not everyone uses them. Some people aren’t fully aware of what exactly can be recycled in their area. This might explain why recycling rates have been on a plateau, after rising for decades. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Americans recycle or compost 1.5 pounds of waste per person per day — the same amount as in 2006. What’s Being Recycled — An EPA Scorecard: 99 percent of lead-acid batteries from cars and trucks. 92 percent of corrugated cardboard boxes. 71 percent of steel cans. 62 percent of major appliances. 55 percent of aluminum beer and soda cans. 30 percent of high-density polyethylene containers such as milk jugs. One bright spot is that people are doing better at creating less trash to start with. That’s fallen from 4.7 pounds per person per day to 4.4 pounds, an amount that could go down even further by tweaking shopping habits. First, look for… read on >

U.S. dermatologists are prescribing fewer antibiotics overall but are writing more short-term orders for the drugs, a new study finds. Dermatologists prescribe more antibiotics per doctor than any other medical specialty — more than 7.1 million prescriptions per year, the University of Pennsylvania researchers said. According to their analysis of 2008-2016 data from privately insured patients, antibiotic prescriptions by dermatologists fell from 3.36 to 2.13 per 100 visits. That works out to about 500,000 fewer antibiotic prescriptions a year. The drop was significant among patients taking extended courses of antibiotics — down 53 percent over the study period. That includes a 28 percent reduction in antibiotic prescriptions for acne, the study authors said. But the investigators found a nearly 70 percent surge in short-term use of antibiotics, especially for skin-surgery patients. Those prescriptions rose from 3.92 to 6.65 per 100 visits. In addition, antibiotic prescriptions associated with cysts increased 35 percent, according to the study published Jan. 16 in JAMA Dermatology. Many dermatological patients, including those taking antibiotics for inflammatory skin conditions such as acne and rosacea, may stay on antibiotics for long periods. That’s an issue, because overuse of antibiotics can lead to reduced effectiveness, the researchers explained. “Overall, our findings are hopefully a sign that we’re making progress, but we need to evaluate how we can optimize the use of antibiotics in dermatologic… read on >

There could be an added bonus to keeping your cardiovascular health on track — a heart-healthy lifestyle can also prevent type 2 diabetes, researchers say. And it’s better to prevent type 2 diabetes than to have to treat it, the Ohio State University researchers added. “Healthy people need to work to stay healthy. Follow the guidelines. Don’t proceed to high blood sugar and then worry about stopping diabetes,” said study leader Dr. Joshua Joseph, an endocrinologist at the university’s Wexner Medical Center, in Columbus, Ohio. For the study, the researchers assessed diabetes among more than 7,700 participants in a stroke study. The investigators used the American Heart Association’s “Life’s Simple 7” factors to measure heart health. That well-known tool assesses physical activity, diet, weight, cholesterol, blood pressure, blood sugar (glucose) and tobacco use. Participants who were in the recommended ranges for at least four of the seven heart health factors had a 70 percent lower risk of developing diabetes over 10 years, according to the report. “What’s interesting is when we compared people who had normal blood glucose and those who already had impaired blood glucose,” Joseph said. “Those in normal levels who attained four or more guideline factors had an 80 percent lower risk of developing diabetes. Those who were already diabetic or prediabetic and met four of the factors had no change in… read on >

(HealthDay News) — The foods you eat and drink during childhood will impact the strength of your bones as you age, the Nemours Foundation says. Most of your bone density stems from what you eat and drink as children and teens, says Nemours, which notes the process is virtually finished when a person reaches age 20. As adults, people continue to repair and replace bone, but at a much slower rate. Over time, the foundation says, bones become weaker and are more apt to break. Nemours suggests how to build stronger bones among your kids: Ensure that children eat foods high in calcium. Give kids a vitamin D supplement, which helps the body absorb calcium. Encourage your children to get plenty of exercise.

(HealthDay News) — You should never ignore a change in skin color, especially if you have cancer, the American Cancer Society says. A change in skin color typically means something’s wrong in the body. In people with cancer, it can be due to factors including tumor growth, sun exposure or a side effect of treatment, the society says. Here is the organization’s list of changes to watch for: Yellowish skin or the whites of the eyes (jaundice). This may indicate an issue with the liver. Bruises or areas of blue or purple skin that have no known cause. Pale or blue-tinged skin, lips or nail beds. Redness or rash. Swelling in an area that’s discolored. Itching.

Carrying extra pounds isn’t just bad for humans: New research indicates dogs’ lives may be significantly shorter if they’re overweight. The study, which evaluated data from more than 50,000 dogs across 12 of the most popular breeds, found that the life span of overweight dogs was up to 2.5 years shorter than that of normal-weight canines. “We know that in people, there’s a higher risk of mortality if they have obesity, so in many respects this is not surprising,” said study author Dr. Alexander German. He’s a professor of small animal medicine at University of Liverpool in England. “A two-and-a-half year shortening of the life span may not seem a huge amount, but when we convert to human terms, we’re probably looking at between 10 and 15 years of shortened life span, which is considerable,” German added. Nearly half of American households include a dog, along with more than a quarter of British households, according to study documents. An estimated 1 in 3 dogs and cats in the United States is overweight. Prior research indicates that overweight or obese dogs face higher risks of chronic diseases such as orthopedic problems, diabetes and certain types of cancer. As in people, obesity has been established as a contributor to these conditions, as well as to heart disease and high blood pressure. German and his colleagues combed through… read on >

A study of nearly 200 poor women living in the St. Louis area found that two out of three had to go without feminine hygiene products at least once over the prior year, due to cost. About one-fifth — 21 percent — said this happened on a monthly basis, and nearly half said they often had to make tough choices between buying food or period-related products. The findings add fuel to demands by women’s groups across the United States to ban sales taxes on feminine hygiene products. There are also calls to make such products available through programs such as the federal Women, Infants, and Children Program (WIC). “Adequate menstrual hygiene management is not a luxury,” according to researchers led by Anne Sebert Kuhlmann, of Saint Louis University. “It is a basic need for all women and should be regarded as a basic women’s right,” the team reported. “Our failure to meet these biological needs for all women in the United States is an affront to their dignity, and barrier to their full participation in the social and economic life of our country.” Kuhlmann stressed that a lack of pads or tampons can have real health consequences for poor women. The threat mounts even higher when mothers and daughters are in this situation together. “The cost of buying menstrual hygiene products for multiple women in… read on >

For many people struggling with weight, an underlying reason for the excess pounds is the habit of using food to soothe bad feelings and reward good behavior. To lose weight, turn that habit on its ear. Incentives can help motivate you in many areas, including your diet, but your incentive can’t be food. Small, non-food treats or dollars for your piggy bank can sway you to choose less food at meals. It can help with kids, too, and avoid instilling the food-as-reward habit in them. University of Southern California researchers tested the theory with experiments involving kids and adults. They found that kids were willing to cut portions in half when offered inexpensive headphones. Adults were eager to eat less if given just the chance to win a prize, such as a gift card, frequent flyer miles or a small amount of money. What’s more, eating less did not lead participants to compensate by eating more later in the day. There are many ways you can incentivize yourself, if not at every meal, certainly at ones when you’re apt to overeat. Try putting a dollar in a “mad money” jar — that’s merely the money you saved by eating less — and then buy yourself a non-food item at the end of every month. Make a list of the rewards you’d like most and then… read on >

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All Sauce from Weekly Gravy:

1 in 4 Antibiotic Prescriptions Isn’t Needed: Study

Strike Up the Band for Better Grades

Recycling: A Renewed Effort Is Needed

Dermatologists Cut Back on Antibiotics But Still Prescribe the Most

Heart-Healthy Living Also Wards Off Type 2 Diabetes

Health Tip: Build Stronger Bones

Health Tip: Don’t Ignore Changes in Skin Color

New Leash on Life? Staying Slim Keeps Pooches Happy, Healthy

Two-Thirds of Poor U.S. Women Can’t Afford Menstrual Pads, Tampons: Study

Bribe Yourself to Diet