Health X Pert Articles-Health care,Health insurance,Health and Fitness

Blacks urged to donate blood, stem cells

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 20:43:36 +0000

An urgent shortage of blood and stem cells in the black community is costing lives, Canada’s blood agency warns.

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Blacks urged to donate blood, stem cells

Taking the ‘mystery’ out of conversion disorder

DeonMotley — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 20:34:32 +0000

When 12 students at a high school in New York suddenly developed strange symptoms like stuttering, uncontrollable twitching movements and verbal outbursts, the community was concerned. Was there something in the environment? Was it a virus of some sort spreading dangerously? Three students and one adult have since also exhibited the same symptoms. Doctors at DENT Neurologic Institute have now diagnosed some of the girls with "conversion disorder," leaving people even more confused. What is conversion disorder? A person with conversion disorder has neurological symptoms that aren't related to any known neurological condition, according to the American Psychiatric Association. The symptoms could appear as uncontrolled motions or verbal outbursts, like the students in New York, or as anything from weakness or paralysis to a loss of vision or hearing. In diagnosing conversion disorder, doctors must first rule out other neurological diseases and determine that the symptoms are not being intentionally faked. Often the symptoms are inconsistent with typical signs of a neurological disease – either physical signs or those that might show up on a diagnostic test. What causes conversion disorder? Stress is the main underlying cause of conversion disorder, says Dr. Jay Salpekar , director of the Neurobehavioral Program at Children's National Medical Center in Washington. That stress can be physical or psychological, and the amount that would cause the disorder varies in every person. "The bottom line is that this stress is somehow converted into a physical symptom," Salpekar says. "Everybody has their breaking point." Stress can also aggravate another underlying medical condition that was previously undiagnosed – and may never be. "We have many tools available with modern medicine, but we don't know everything." What's the difference between conversion disorder, mass psychogenic illness and mass hysteria? The official name for this disorder is still being debated. The American Psychiatric Association's current Diagnostic and Statistical Manual – or DSM-IV – calls it "conversion disorder." The new version, DSM-5, which is set to publish in May 2013, is proposing a change to call it functional neurological disorder. In the past, the disorder has been called mass psychogenic illness or, more simply, mass hysteria. All the names describe the same disorder. It's important to note that conversion disorder is not a group diagnosis, but an individual one. "It's very unusual to have conversion symptoms that are 'contagious,' " Salpekar says. Psychiatrists often refer to cases like the one in New York as a conversion reaction – or a group's reaction to conversion disorder. Has this happened before? Conversion disorder on an individual basis is common, Salpekar says. Conversion reaction hasn't been well documented. Most of the people involved in group incidents don't seek mental health help and are never officially diagnosed with conversion disorder. Conversion reaction can be cultural, as it was in Trinidad in 2010 when students at a secondary school started screaming and collapsing. The phenomenon was attributed to demonic possession, according to a local newspaper , which may have helped it spread. In 2007, nine students and a teacher at William Byrd High School in Roanoke, Virginia, complained of "involuntary movements in the extremities," according to The Roanoke Times . Environmental tests done at the school came up clean. While the principal told CNN that six students were determined to be faking, the Virginia Department of Health did an investigation and concluded the students' symptoms were consistent with "mass psychogenic hysteria." In 2004, 31 chorus members at Starpoint High School in Lockport, New York, fell ill within an hour. Tests on the students and the building couldn't determine a cause, and everyone recovered quickly, according to a local news report . The list goes on: in 2007, 14 female high school students in Florida who developed sudden loud breathing problems; in 1982, 100 people in Los Angeles who thought they had food poisoning , but didn't; in 1977, factory workers in West Virginia who passed out by the dozens . Is it always women? Many of these examples involve a group of young female students. But Salpekar warns against taking that as a sign conversion disorder or reaction only happens to women. Females are just more likely to seek help or bring attention to their symptoms, he says. Are we sure it's not just a hoax? Some people obviously do fake symptoms – psychiatrists call them maligners. These people always have something to gain from doing so, whether it's money in a lawsuit or a long stint off from work. But few people intentionally make up symptoms that make their lives more difficult for no reason, Salpekar says. "To say that they're faking, it's just inappropriate. People do not fake things that adversely affect their life in such a way. … [Conversion disorder] is simply a reflection that something is wrong in the mind, brain and body." Can it be treated? Yes. First, doctors treat any underlying medical or psychological conditions. Anti-anxiety drugs can be prescribed to help with the stress, according to the Mayo Clinic . Counseling is used to calm symptoms and teach stress management techniques. Other treatments include physical therapy to help with uncontrollable movements, hypnosis and/or magnetic stimulation in the brain. Filed under: Medical Mysteries , Mental Health , Mind and body Tagged: Jacque Wilson- CNN.com Senior Associate Producer

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Taking the ‘mystery’ out of conversion disorder

Could toxic chemical be source of tics in NY town?

dereferast — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 20:12:15 +0000

Trichloroethene (TCE) has become a chemical of interest after environmental activist Erin Brockovich suggested that the derailment of a train carrying chemicals 41 years ago could be involved in the mysterious illness striking 16 people, mostly high school students in New York. Brockovich’s team was dispatched to the Le Roy Junior/Senior High School, in Le Roy, New York, this week to collect water and soil samples. The school is more than three miles from the train wreck site, but some worry that the school was built in 2006 with contaminated supplies. The school district has called the speculation a “distraction” and a “publicity stunt.” The New York State Department of Health, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the Environmental Protection Agency have been involved. But the agencies have not found an environmental or infectious cause, according to a school district statement. TCE was one of 58 different chemicals and 63 pesticides tested for; the results showed nothing out of the ordinary, according to the state’s health department. The National Institutes of Health has offered the students free evaluations of their cases for possible involvement in clinical studies it is doing on conversion disorder. Why is there speculation about TCE? The theory about the environmental connection surfaced after one of the families affected by the mysterious ticking received an anonymous note in their mailbox about a train derailment in 1970, Brockovich told Dr. Drew Pinsky on his HLN show. That note suggested that contaminated rocks and soil were used to build the school. The site of the train derailment in Le Roy is on the Superfund National Priorities List. A Superfund site means that it’s a hazardous waste site that is placed on the EPA’s list to assess health impact. In the accident in 1970 , a Lehigh Valley Railroad train spilled one ton of cyanide crystals and around 30,000 gallons of trichloroethene onto the ground, according to the EPA Superfund site. TCE has been found in at least 761 of the 1,430 Superfund sites in the country. What is TCE? TCE, a watery chemical that smells like chloroform, has been used as an industrial solvent for cleaning metal parts, according to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. It is also used to make other chemicals such as cleaner, paint stripper and adhesives. It was once used as anesthesia, until its use was banned in the 1970s. How long can TCE stick around? It is a potentially harmful contaminant that can easily evaporate into the air. Its half-life in the air is about seven days. It is not a persistent chemical in the atmosphere. But TCE is not very soluble in water and is detected in ground water. This could be a source of exposure. The New York health department tested for TCE and collected samples throughout the building. The tests found nothing out of the ordinary, according to the agency. Is TCE exposure common? Most people have traces of TCE in their bodies, because the chemical is in the water, soil, food and environment. It can even be found in breast milk, said Dr. Samuel Goldman, an associate professor at the Parkinson's Institute and Clinical Center. “You can detect it in humans,” he said. “Its half-life in humans is short. You could detect it in blood and metabolites in urine.” The chemical is usually expelled from the human body quickly. “TCE is rapidly cleared from the body, and these nervous system effects subside as soon as the TCE level in the body decreases,” said Dr. LuAnn White, director of the Tulane Center for Applied Environmental Public Health Sciences. What are the known health effects of TCE? As is the case with most solvents at high doses, acute exposure to TCE can cause effects on the nervous system such as dizziness, headache, nausea, confusion, lack of coordination and drunk-like sensations, according to the EPA. Drinking or breathing high levels of trichloroethylene could cause nervous system effects, liver and lung damage, abnormal heartbeat, coma and possibly death. Goldman, who published a small study about TCE and its possible link to Parkinson’s disease , said he received e-mails from people living nearby Le Roy who have concerns about TCE. “I am not aware of any literature on TCE that would link it to those symptoms,” Goldman said about the uncontrollable movements and verbal outbursts among the 16 people in New York. “But what I told them was if they were very concerned about the effects of this spill that occurred 40 years ago, they should check their water supply for TCE.” Chronic exposure to TCE could cause kidney cancer and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. “The work looking at neurological effects of chronic exposure is very little,” Goldman said. CNN's senior medical producer Danielle Dellorto contributed to this report. Filed under: Environment , Pollution Tagged: Madison Park – CNNhealth.com Writer/Producer

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Could toxic chemical be source of tics in NY town?

Federal food safety surveillance program stalled

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 19:11:02 +0000

A federal system was established in 2005 to help track potentially deadly food-borne illnesses. Yet fewer than half of its tracking sites are in place, with no timeline for completion.

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Federal food safety surveillance program stalled

A Reader Recipe: Baked Eggs in Ham Cups

Ricky Reurl — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 17:06:08 +0000

Need an easy brunch to whip up on Super Bowl Sunday? Try this egg recipe from AllieNic . She posted it in the Healthy Recipes community group . Ingredients: 12 slices of ham (free of preservatives) 12 eggs Salt, pepper, and paprika Line a muffin tin with slices of ham. Crack an egg into each muffin spot, and season with salt, pepper, and paprika. Bake at 375ºF for 20 minutes! Check out AllieNic’s blog Frisky Lemon for the full recipe and don’t forget to share your own recipe ideas in our Healthy Recipe group in the Fit Community!

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A Reader Recipe: Baked Eggs in Ham Cups

Beer Breakdown

VilmaMCarney — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 09:17:12 +0000

With Super Bowl Sunday this weekend, I’m sure you’re planning on washing down your bowl of chili with a cold one. I sometimes call beer “liquid bread” because of all the carbs, so it’s good to know that not all beers are created equally, especially when it comes to calories. If you’re watching your waistline and enjoying an ice cold brew, you’ll probably want see how they compare. The numbers may surprise you. Keep reading to find out which beer contains the fewest calories.

Not a Fan? Learn the Basics of Football Before the Big Game

noramarkanymn — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 05:59:07 +0000

Many of us will be watching the Super Bowl on Sunday, but not everyone’s exactly a football fan. If you want to know what’s going on when the New York Giants face the New England Patriots this weekend, read our guide to the very basics of football – once you get these five elements down, you’ll be able to follow along with the best of them! Source: Thinkstock View Slideshow ›

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Not a Fan? Learn the Basics of Football Before the Big Game

Kids Boxing Their Way To Better Health

JustinFrances — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 04:50:54 +0000

MIAMI (CBSMiami) – A group of South Florida youngsters have been learning the sweet science as they try to get fit and stay fit. For the last week, the kids have been participating in South Florida Boxing’s “Get Fit, Stay Fit” program. It was started by owner Jolie Glassman as a place where kids can go, feel safe, get strong and get fit. It also keeps kids active at an early age, while teaching them boxing. “Boxing, we did rock climbing yesterday, mountain-biking and yesterday we did Crossfit which is extreme cardio workouts,” said student Austin Zifferblatt. Jolie said with 17 percent of teenagers overweight, the week-long fitness program is a simple way to try and stem the tide of youth obesity. “I thought it was a really great experience for all of us,” said student Maria Boano. “For example, yesterday we did Crossfit and I think I’m gonna start doing that.” The kids will be learning in an area famous for turning out some of the best boxers in the world. From Muhammad Ali to Roy Jones, Jr, and many others, they’ve all spent some time in South Florida. For Glassman, through all the sweat, tears, and jabs, the teens hopefully learn a valuable lesson. “If a kid gets strong, their grades are better, their self-esteem, everything,” said Glassman. “It all generates from being strong.”

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Kids Boxing Their Way To Better Health

Limit hits, limit concussions in young brains

JennPlatonic — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 03:18:28 +0000

The adolescent football player's brain is rattled an average of 650 times per season. That's just an average. There are positions on the football field where the numbers approach 1,000 hits to the head. And while a small fraction of those hits actually lead to a diagnosable concussion, the concern is that sub-concussive damage – the menacing smaller blows that add up during practices and games – could be as bad, or worse, for the brain. With those sobering stats in mind, the Sports Legacy Institute Friday called for the adoption of a "Hit Count" – similar to the "Pitch Count" system used in baseball – for youth athletes participating in contact sports. "In baseball you have a pitch count because research showed that the more times you threw in a day or during the season, the more risk that you would wear out the elbow," said Chris Nowinski, president and CEO of the SLI, a sports research advocacy group. "Trauma to the head can wear out the brain. So if you're going to limit trauma for elbows, then you should also limit it for the brain." With a pitch count, the idea is to create a threshold of pitches to protect a player's elbow from excessive wear and tear. The same idea would hold for youth athletes participating in contact sports: A threshold for blows to the head which, when exhausted, would mean the end of the player's season. "The idea is to minimize the exposure that a child can have per season," said Nowinski. "We need urgently to reform sports and get to a different place so that there is a limit to how many times a six-year-old is hit in the head for sports." That six-year-old brain is fragile, developing. Concussive and sub-concussive blows have been shown in studies to stunt that development. And there is mounting evidence of potentially lethal consequences of brain blows for youth athletes. "We regulate a lot of things in kids’ lives and brain trauma should be one of them," said Nowinski. "There are kids getting hit a thousand times a season. Is that good for children's development?" SLI expects to begin a conversation about a threshold with scientists, coaches and other experts later this year. To begin with, SLI is proposing that players under 18 years-old amass no more than 1,000 hits exceeding 10g's to the head during a season – and no more than 2,000 during a year. 10g's or 10 times the force of gravity is about the force of a car getting rear-ended. The idea behind the hit count may sound simple, but implementation could pose a challenge. The idea of changing any sport, especially football, is bound to have detractors. But resistance to rule changes at the NFL level gradually waned, and Nowinski hopes that the same might happen at the youth level. "You've got the toughest men in the room [NFL players] saying there is no such thing as a tough brain," said Nowinski. "If the NFL is willing to do that, then we should do that for kids as well.” Filed under: Adolescent Health , Brain , Children’s Health , Concussion , Traumatic brain injury Tagged: Stephanie Smith -CNN Medical Producer

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Limit hits, limit concussions in young brains

Study: Social Media More Addictive Than Alcohol & Tobacco

NWilliamson — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 02:58:32 +0000

MIAMI (CBSMiami) – Imagine a world without Facebook, Twitter, or text messages. If it’s a nightmarish thought, you’re like most people aged 18-25 who are hopelessly addicted to something worse than alcohol or tobacco. According to a new study from the University of Chicago, text messaging and checking Facebook and Twitter are just behind sex and sleep on the list of urges that are basically impossible to resist. In the study, researchers gave BlackBerrys to more than 200 people and then sent the people back out into their normal daily lives. The researchers would message them seven times over 14 hours asking if they wanted to look at Facebook, Twitter, etc. The researchers said out of 10,558 messages, 7,827 reported urges to check social media. Researchers later discovered through interviews that many of the subjects were willing to forgo most other cravings except sex and sleep to check social media. A separate study, according to pcmag.com, reported that people with low self-esteem could be at more risk if they use Facebook. The self-esteem study found that people with low self-esteem posted negative items and that made them appear less likable to their friends. Connect with CBS Miami on our Facebook , Twitter , and Tout pages.