Could clues to future health emergencies be found in Facebook posts? Maybe so, according to a new study that discovered there are changes in users’ posts before they seek emergency care. For the study, researchers analyzed the Facebook posts and medical records of more than 2,900 patients at a U.S. urban hospital, including 419 who’d had a recent emergency department visit for problems ranging from chest pain to pregnancy-related issues. Analysis of Facebook posts from as early as 2.5 months before those patients’ emergency visits revealed that most had changes in their language before seeking emergency care. Specifically, they were less likely to post about leisure or use words like “play,” “fun” and “nap,” and less likely to use internet slang and informal language such as “u” instead of “you,” the findings showed. The closer they got to their emergency department visit, the patients’ Facebook posts increasingly focused on family and health. There was also increased use of anxious, worrisome and depressed language, according to the study published March 12 in the journal Nature Scientific Reports. The study suggests that social media posts may offer clues about health problems and could potentially be used to identify and help people, the researchers said. “The better we understand the context in which people are seeking care, the better they can be attended to,” said study author Sharath…  read on >

Suicidal thoughts have haunted nearly one of every 10 pre-teens in the United States, a new study reveals. About 8.4% of children aged 9 or 10 said they’d temporarily or regularly harbored thoughts of suicide, researchers report. Importantly, only around 1% of children that age reported a suicide attempt or planning their suicide. But suicidal thoughts at that age are a warning sign of a future filled with woe, said senior researcher Dr. Sophia Frangou, a professor of psychiatry with the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, in New York City. “When you think of how young they are, 8% is quite a startling number,” Frangou said. “Thinking of killing yourself, and that life isn’t worth it, when you’re 9 is pretty extreme.” Suicide is the second leading cause of death among 10- to 14-year-olds, researchers said in background notes, and these sorts of thoughts paint a picture of a troubled childhood. “Being so seriously unhappy so early in life is a sign of vulnerability for adverse mental health outcomes in adulthood,” Frangou noted. “It’s not just about suicide.” For this study, Frangou and her colleagues analyzed data from the Adolescent Brain and Cognitive Development study, which is tracking the growth and health of nearly 12,000 children across the United States. Children and their caregivers filled out reports that included questions related to suicidal…  read on >

A test that can detect the genetic “fingerprint” of prostate cancer in blood could improve diagnosis, monitoring and treatment of the disease, researchers say. The test checks for prostate cancer DNA in blood in order to provide the earliest evidence that prostate cancer is active. This could help doctors monitor tumor behavior, determine if cancer has spread (“metastasized”) and choose the most appropriate treatment, according to the team at University College London Cancer Institute in the United Kingdom. The study was published March 9 in The Journal of Clinical Investigation. The next step is to assess whether this test could be used along with, or replace, the current prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test, according to the study authors. “Metastatic prostate cancer — the most dangerous late stage of the disease — can vary substantially in its treatment response and clinical progression,” lead author Dr. Anjui Wu said in a college news release. “We urgently need biomarkers that will help us determine how far along each patient’s cancer is, to determine the best course of treatment,” he explained. Corresponding author Gerhardt Attard, a professor at the institute, said researchers are testing the technique in a patient trial. The aim is to see if it can complement or replace the PSA test. “We believe the increased sensitivity and additional information we derive will significantly improve the outcomes of…  read on >

(HealthDay News) — Are you scared and confused over the threat of coronavirus? You’re not alone: Every day, every hour, new media reports can have you worrying about worst-case scenarios. Experts say panic is a natural — if unhelpful — response to major crises like COVID-19. But there are ways to stay both informed and calm. It’s not always easy, acknowledged psychologist Roxane Silver. “One of the most stressful aspects of this outbreak is the uncertainty and ambiguity that surrounds transmission,” said Silver, who’s professor of psychological science at the University of California, Irvine. “Because individuals can apparently spread the virus without exhibiting any symptoms, the threat is invisible, and anyone can be a carrier of disease,” she noted. So the unease folks feel “is normal and appropriate,” she said. But it can also tip over into panic, and media is often key to that, Silver believes. Sources matter “What is likely to be unhealthy is the spreading of rumors and misinformation, which often creep in during uncertain periods,” she said. For many, endless cycling through cable news or reading specious posts on Facebook can prove harmful, not helpful. Instead, people should proactively “seek out information from authoritative sources,” she said, such as the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO), or your local department of health. Both the…  read on >

Staying calm during the coronavirus pandemic isn’t easy, but a few simple steps will help you stay informed yet relaxed. Keep up-to-date with reliable sources. “Given the onslaught of media coverage and information, it’s important to make sure you are getting updates from reputable sources,” said Nathaniel Van Kirk, coordinator of inpatient group therapy at McLean Hospital in Belmont, Mass. Good sources include the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Health Organization and the Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress. “Using these guidelines as a foundation, while acknowledging that you won’t be able to get 100% certainty in an evolving situation, may help you continue to live your daily life,” he said in a hospital news release. “It can help you keep your entire day from being consumed by anxiety or worry and instead let you focus on what you can control.” Limit your exposure to media, including social media, which has a lot of misinformation, and skip watching the news right before bedtime, experts advise. Try to stay calm. Kathryn Boger, program director of the McLean Anxiety Mastery Program, said being aware of two common thinking traps can help you avoid falling into them. One is catastrophizing, where you imagine the worst-case scenario, and the other is overgeneralizing, where you think the worst is much more likely to happen. “We…  read on >

Even in the midst of rising rates of suicide and substance abuse, nearly 117 million Americans live in what is known as “health professional shortage areas.” Put another way, only 27% of mental health needs in those areas are being met, according to the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). More than 6,300 additional providers would be needed to erase the gap. How did things get so bad? The dearth of mental and behavioral health professionals — psychiatrists, psychologists, marriage and family therapists and others — is not a recent development. It has slowly snowballed since the 1980s when state psychiatric hospitals were deinstitutionalized. “This has been a problem that’s been building over decades and decades, and now we’re at a crisis point,” said Angela Beck, director of the Behavioral Health Workforce Research Center at the University of Michigan, in Ann Arbor. Primary care physicians provide around half of all behavioral health services in the United States, Beck noted. “Unmet need,” the metric that HRSA uses, refers to the more serious or complex issues that require a trained mental health provider. “We’ve got demand going up,” Beck said, “but we don’t have a pipeline or a supply that’s expanding to keep pace.” Help wanted The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) projects a shortage of 3,400 psychiatrists by 2032. “We have an opioid crisis, we…  read on >

If you child has allergies or asthma, you need to take that into consideration when selecting a summer camp. “Parents and kids alike who are dealing with asthma or severe allergies need to know there’s a good fit and that the child’s medical needs are being met,” said Dr. J. Allen Meadows, president of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. “Take the time to research camps you think your child will enjoy and ask the hard questions to make sure your child will be well cared for,” Meadows added in a college news release. Consider a specialty camp, such as one specifically for children with asthma or one for those with food allergies. These camps provide specialized medical and nonmedical staff. A day camp may be the best choice, Meadows said. Most day camps have measures to keep kids with allergies and asthma safe. Talk with staff about what your child can and cannot eat, and what they need to have on hand in case of a severe allergic reaction or an asthma attack. Make sure the day camp has dealt with allergies and asthma before, knows where the nearest hospital is and how to get there, and is aware of the specific needs of your child. Talk with your child’s allergist before deciding on a camp, Meadows added. The allergist may be…  read on >

No matter whether your favorite team wins or loses, March Madness will likely put a slam dunk on your sleep habits. For many Americans, staying up late to watch NCAA basketball tournament games is a much-anticipated annual rite. But the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) warns that those late-night games can cause problems. “A lack of sleep can lead to trouble making decisions, solving problems, controlling emotions and more,” AASM president Dr. Kelly Carden said in an academy news release. An AASM survey found that 58% of Americans said they stayed up past their bedtime to watch sports, including 72% of men. “It’s important to ensure sleep is a priority — even if there is a great game on — because getting healthy sleep on a regular basis positively impacts health, well-being and performance,” Carden explained. And, sleep isn’t only important for fans. Athletes who get more sleep perform better, according to the AASM. A 2011 study published in the journal Sleep found that when members of Stanford University men’s basketball team got more sleep, their shooting accuracy improved, with both free throw percentage and 3-point shots increasing by 9%. The players also improved their average sprint time. This year’s tournament begins March 15 and concludes April 6 with the national championship game in Atlanta. More information The U.S. National Heart, Lung, and Blood…  read on >