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February 13th, 2009
05:18 PM ET
My silly ValentineBy Judy Fortin My husband and I will celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary this year. We’re also marking two decades of spending Valentine’s Day together. I’ll never forget the first time February 14 came around during our relationship. I didn’t even receive a card. My husband claimed it was a greeting card holiday and he didn’t want a company telling him when to express his feelings. He didn’t make that mistake again. I received a bouquet of flowers the next day. As our first anniversary approached, I searched for the perfect gift. My husband gave me a fire extinguisher, saying he always wanted me to be safe. Fortunately, we’ve never had to use the device and his gift selections have improved significantly. I can’t help laughing when I think back on some of our early days as a couple. It is our ability to still laugh together that helps us get through the ups and downs of marriage. Together we’re raising two beautiful children, we’re nurturing our careers and periodically, we’re patching up our old house. I asked Emory University Psychiatrist Dr. Charles Raison about the health benefits of a long, steady relationship. He told me that some studies reveal that married people are happier than single people. Depending on the quality of the relationship, Raison said “marriages can both lower and raise blood pressure and extend life and shorten it.” In other words, a good relationship with a steady partner can be good for your health. It’s reassuring to confirm what I’ve already learned during the past two decades. There is nothing better than growing old with someone you love, trust and admire. We are partners, companions and even Valentines. How has your loving relationship positively affected your health? Do you find that the good times help you to better navigate the difficult times? We’d love to hear your thoughts. Editor's Note: Medical news is a popular but sensitive subject rooted in science. We receive many comments on this blog each day; not all are posted. Our hope is that much will be learned from the sharing of useful information and personal experiences based on the medical and health topics of the blog. We encourage you to focus your comments on those medical and health topics and we appreciate your input. Thank you for your participation.
February 12th, 2009
01:03 PM ET
Court rules vaccines not to blame for autismBy Dr. Sanjay Gupta There is a special court, known colloquially as a vaccine court. It is a place where judges called “special masters,” who are legal experts, not medical doctors, hear claims about vaccine injuries. It’s been around since the late 80s, in part prompted by the scare over the DPT (diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus) vaccine possibly causing injuries. If the court finds that an injury was likely caused by a vaccine, it can make a monetary award. For example, a few years ago, there was a case of optic neuritis after the tetanus vaccine. Other awards were given for fibromyalgia after the MMR (mumps, measles, rubella) vaccine; transverse myelitis after the HiB (Haemophilus influenzae type B) vaccine; and Guillain-Barre and MS after the hepatitis B vaccine. Many people started paying attention to the court after the federal government last year awarded damages to the family of Hannah Poling, conceding that Hannah was injured by a vaccine, causing her autism-like symptoms. (Read about Hannah’s case here) According to the Department of Justice, more than 1,500 people have been paid in excess of $1.18 billion since the inception of the program in 1988. There is no question there is lots of money at play here. For more than 20 years now, the program has been funded by an excise tax of 75 cents on every purchased dose of covered vaccine. And, with today’s decision, some of the big questions about vaccines and autism are being addressed. It is worth noting the standard the court was using allowed for the petitioners (the parents of the children with autism) to demonstrate “biologic plausibility” as opposed to direct cause and effect. Scientifically, biological plausibility is an easier standard to meet. (Read about vaccine court now). While this can by no means be a complete overview of the hundreds of pages that composed the ruling (read the decisions here), it is safe to say that the court found no biological plausibility of a connection between autism and either the MMR vaccine, or the combination of MMR vaccine and thimerosal-containing vaccines: no awards will be granted in any of these test cases. We spent some time with Michelle Cedillo, one of the children represented in the test cases last year (meet her here). You will no doubt hear a lot more about this in the days to come. Within the world of autism and vaccines, this is a huge deal and a major ruling. Couple of points: Remember that thimerosal is a mercury-derived preservative that was present in many childhood vaccines that did not contain a live virus (for example, the MMR vaccine never contained thimerosal). Nowadays thimerosal has been removed from or reduced to trace amounts in all vaccines that are routinely recommended for children six years of age and younger, with the exception of inactivated influenza vaccine. In case you are curious, a preservative-free version of the inactivated influenza vaccine (contains trace amounts of thimerosal) is available in limited supply at this time for use in infants, children and pregnant women. And, in the interest of clarity, vaccines with trace amounts of thimerosal contain 1 microgram or less of mercury per dose. (Learn more about vaccines here) On page 278 of the decision in of the cases, Snyder v. Secretary of Health and Human Services, the statements even get a little snide. The special master, Denice K. Vowell, wrote “to conclude that Colten’s condition was the result of his MMR vaccine, an objective observer would have to emulate Lewis Carroll’s White Queen and be able to believe the six impossible (or, at least highly improbable) things before breakfast.” She goes on to say “the families of ASD and the court have waited in vain for adequate evidence to support the autism–MMR hypothesis.” So, do you feel like you are gazing through the “looking-glass?” I hope you get a chance to click on the links above and read the rulings. You will find that not all the experts agreed with one another and the evidence is worth reading. After that, I’m eager to hear what you think. Editor's Note: Medical news is a popular but sensitive subject rooted in science. We receive many comments on this blog each day; not all are posted. Our hope is that much will be learned from the sharing of useful information and personal experiences based on the medical and health topics of the blog. We encourage you to focus your comments on those medical and health topics and we appreciate your input. Thank you for your participation.
February 12th, 2009
11:40 AM ET
How long will an aneurysm repair last?As a new feature of CNNhealth.com, our team of expert doctors will answer readers’ questions. Here’s a question for Dr. Gupta.
Asked by Isabel, Lancaster, California " I had cerebral aneurysm in 2001 and now have two titanium aneurysm clips in my head. How long do these clips last? Do they at some point in time get loose and I will have a hemorrhage again? I've always wondered about this. " Answer: Hi Isabel, I am so glad that it sounds like you are doing well. The type of operation you are describing is one that I have done many times, as recently as this week. As you may know, cerebral or brain vessel aneurysms are sort of like blisters on the wall of the blood vessel. They are little bulges where the blood vessel becomes weak.
The concern is they can start to leak blood slowly into the brain or they can rupture, causing a large amount of bleeding, called a subarachnoid hemorrhage. If that happens, the patient is likely to experience what is known as a thunderclap headache. This is not an ordinary headache. These come on suddenly and are often described as the worst headache of the individual's life. I had one patient describe it as if someone came up and struck him in the head with a baseball bat. A CT scan will reveal the blood in the brain and a lumbar puncture test will show blood in the cerebrospinal fluid, which is the fluid that bathes and nourishes the brain and spinal cord. Unfortunately many patients will suffer permanent neurological deficits or die after a cerebral aneurysm rupture. The goal for the operation is to fix that blister, and to reconstruct the weakened vessel so there is no more bleeding. This operation has to be done quickly, because the highest likelihood of the aneurysm bleeding again is in the first few days. And that gets us to your question, Isabel.
The titanium clips you had placed have been studied for many decades. There is a very low likelihood they will come loose or that the aneurysm will come back, if the clips were placed satisfactorily at the time of your operation. Your doctors probably recommended an angiogram to check that around the time of your operation and in follow-up. One large study says the chance of re-bleeding is less than 1 percent. So, you should be in good shape. Do make sure your clips are MRI compatible should you ever need an MRI, but don't worry about setting off airport detectors or other metal detectors.
February 11th, 2009
12:23 PM ET
Is risk taking in our genes?By Dr. Sanjay Gupta With the economy being in such sad shape, it seems that everyone is looking for someone or something to blame. So, what the heck - let me add a medical perspective to the mix. Could it be in our genes? After all, genes are DNA segments that help determine a particular characteristic. And, researchers at Northwestern University have found two of these genes that regulate the “feel-good” neurotransmitters serotonin and dopamine that might cause us to take risks. (watch video) The idea is that if you have a variant of one of these genes, taking high risks, might allow these feel-good hormones to stick around a little longer in the brain causing a “natural high.” In other words, in a group of people out there, taking risks feels good, making them more inclined to do it over and over again, no matter the state of the market. There is no question– a lot of variables affect our willingness to do something risky. Certainly our cultural upbringings, religious beliefs, marital status all play a role. Even something known as “prediction addiction,” influences the way we invest. It turns out our brains are hard-wired to look for patterns, and that is especially true when it comes to the stock market. Quarter after quarter, if we see the same pattern of return from a stock, we get used to that. We like being able to predict what will happen next. If there is an unexpected change in return, even if it is minor, it can send the market into a wild fluctuation, simply because our brains were surprised and we reacted wildly. As much as I looked, I didn’t find any great studies looking at innate differences between men and women when it comes to investing. Although a study out of Harvard released last year did find the higher the testosterone level, the more willing those individuals were to take financial risks. Possible interesting lesson: Let women or older men handle the financial decision making for a while… So, are you a risk taker? Has your willingness to take risks gone down with the recent changes in the market? Or has your willingness gone up (after all, there are still people cashing in)? Editor's Note: Medical news is a popular but sensitive subject rooted in science. We receive many comments on this blog each day; not all are posted. Our hope is that much will be learned from the sharing of useful information and personal experiences based on the medical and health topics of the blog. We encourage you to focus your comments on those medical and health topics and we appreciate your input. Thank you for your participation.
February 9th, 2009
12:10 PM ET
Ohhh my aching feet!By Karen Denice Another day, another training walk and my feet are feeling the pain. I’m training for a half-marathon walk and even though I know walking is good for my health, I also figured it would be pretty easy on my body. However, I did not check in with my feet before making this assumption. Granted I like to call my feet “special”: I overpronate, have flat arches and bunions – special. Still, walking with good shoes and, for me, shoe inserts should normally do the trick. But the foot is a complicated specimen with 26 bones, 33 joints and over 100 ligaments, tendons and muscles. The list is long as to what can cause foot pain - from plantar fasciitis and tendinitis to toenail injuries - and experts warn not to put up with foot pain – see a health professional. But first you may want to try these tips to see if they cure the hurt. Wear socks that wick away moisture to reduce blisters. Always stretch legs and feet before activity and try to make stretching at the end of your day a habit as well. Also, consider the terrain you’re walking on – choose trails rather than pavement. This should cut down on stress to your joints which can lead to arch and heel pain. Avoid walking barefoot. Experts say this can leave your feet more susceptible to injury and infection. I’ve tried nearly all of the above tips, and will probably be heading to a foot specialist myself if this discomfort continues. Editor's Note: Medical news is a popular but sensitive subject rooted in science. We receive many comments on this blog each day; not all are posted. Our hope is that much will be learned from the sharing of useful information and personal experiences based on the medical and health topics of the blog. We encourage you to focus your comments on those medical and health topics and we appreciate your input. Thank you for your participation.
February 7th, 2009
11:30 AM ET
The importance of Black HIV/AIDS Awareness DayBy Caleb Hellerman Why have a “Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day” at all? Isn’t this a terrible disease for anyone? Yes, but if you look at the numbers, you can see that African-Americans pay a higher price, by far. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly half of all new infections are in African-Americans, who make up just 13 percent of the population. On average, African-Americans are less likely to be tested for HIV, less likely to get treatment and don’t live as long if they are infected with HIV. Last week I saw Dr. Kevin Fenton, who heads the CDC’s National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, say, “We’re in the middle of a crisis and we need to act as if we’re in the middle of a crisis.” Facts, and more facts. But each case is something more. At the same meeting with Dr. Fenton, I met an author named Hilary Beard, who has written quite a bit about HIV and its impact on African-Americans in particular. She said it’s easy for people to look at facts like the ones I just mentioned, and think they’re telling a story about someone else. “Someone else, not me,” is how she put it. Beard also talked about how HIV is an intimate disease, in that most infections come through sexual contact. “Sexual contact” - what a turn of phrase. Or “risky sex.” What is that, really? Beard says this kind of language makes it easy to distance ourselves from the people who are ill. In her eyes, the HIV epidemic is in many ways a story about people who suffer, looking for love. Now, I don’t want to romanticize the epidemic. A prostitute who gets infected turning tricks, doesn’t catch HIV by looking for love. And more than a third of new infections come through intravenous drug use. But according to CDC researchers, most HIV infections – for every ethnic group – occur within a two-person relationship. Those people looking for love. That’s especially true among African-American women. Says Beard, “Just being black woman IS a risk factor.” Also worth pointing out: according to Fenton, the surge of infections among African-Americans doesn’t reflect different behavior. It’s just that there’s more of the virus circulating among African-Americans, so each encounter is more risky. Of course we need to prevent this terrible disease for everyone, and we need access to treatment, and better treatments, for anyone who gets infected. What to do? The CDC and the coalition of groups that organized the day of awareness, say you should educate yourself and speak out against discrimination that comes with the disease. They’re also urging people to get tested. To learn where to have a test done, you can call 1-800-CDC-INFO, or go to hivtest.org. Do you worry about getting HIV/AIDS? Is it something you’ve talked about with a partner, or your children?
February 6th, 2009
09:04 AM ET
For the love and health of petsBy Val Willingham My dog, Nipsey, has ESP. Every day when I get home from work, he can tell what kind of mood I am in. If I'm tired or stressed he cuddles up and licks my face. Come home feelin' good? He's feisty and ready to play. There's not one day my dog doesn't bring me peace of mind. I love seeing my husband when he picks me up from the Metro station, but there's something about my Jack Russell that calms my soul when I walk through the door. So when I interviewed Dr. Edward Creagan, an oncologist at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, and told him about my pooch, he wasn't surprised. Creagan actually specializes in hospice care and knows the power of a pet. In many cases, he has taken out his prescription pad and written these words: "One dog, one cat, infinite refills." His patients say their pets help them cope with serious illnesses. That's why Creagan uses dogs in many of his therapy sessions. Studies have shown pets are good for us. They get us out, keep us active and give us responsibility. Pets are part of our family. More people in the neighborhood know Nipsey than me. When I talk to my friends, I always ask about their pets. Ann has Buddy and Cleo; Mary her Lily; Evy loves Chip, and Nancy has two cats named Norman and Maui. They just sort of go hand and paw. I asked Creagan if a hamster or a snake can have the same kind of effect as a dog or a cat. Creagan believes any pet, if you love that animal, can give you joy. He calls it unconditional love. And that love can keep us healthy. Researchers at SUNY-Buffalo followed stockbrokers already taking medication for hypertension and noted that those who got a pet reduced by half the increase in their blood pressure numbers brought on my stress. Seems people who have pets have a decrease in a stress hormone called cortisol. So when you pet or play with your pet, the biological change drops your stress level and your blood pressure numbers go down. And as we get older, pets can help us cope with illnesses. Scientists have found that older patients who have pets are less likely to be depressed and are more heart healthy. Recent studies showed those who were hospitalized with heart failure had better cardiac function when a dog visited them in the hospital. Anxiety levels dropped more if a pet was present than if a human volunteer came to visit. And don't forget exercise. My friend Jen owns a 130-pound Boxer-Rottweiler-Great Dane-German Shepherd mix named Roscoe. She got him as a guard dog from a local shelter, but let's face it, Roscoe is her lovable treadmill. She is always active, cause Roscoe has to be walked. As for Nipsey, I can't think of a day without him. I am blessed to have a wonderful family and people who love me, but there are days that only my dog knows what I am going through. His devotion is priceless. What do you think? Do you have a pet? How do they help you cope? We'd like to hear about your animal. Editor's Note: Medical news is a popular but sensitive subject rooted in science. We receive many comments on this blog each day; not all are posted. Our hope is that much will be learned from the sharing of useful information and personal experiences based on the medical and health topics of the blog. We encourage you to focus your comments on those medical and health topics and we appreciate your input. Thank you for your participation.
February 5th, 2009
11:14 AM ET
What's a low-impact recipe for regaining fitness?As a new feature of CNNhealth.com, our team of expert doctors will answer readers’ questions. Here’s a question for Dr. Gupta. Asked by JJ, Silver Spring, Maryland "I lost a lot of weight before I reinjured my ankle (had surgery in 2005), and had my third baby. I’ve since gained it back and then some. I want to exercise, but my ankle is very arthritic and hurts when I run. What can I do to get back into shape for myself and my three children?" Answer: There are several low-impact exercise options you can do to get back in shape as well as provide an energy boost to play with your kids as well as reduce arthritis pain. If you have access to a local pool, swimming is one of the best full-body workouts for you. Being in the water creates an almost cushion-like environment for your body so you experience no stress or heavy impact. And even though it’s a low-impact exercise on your joints, it helps burn calories and tone muscles. Swimming at a leisurely rate for an hour can burn up to 600 calories. Riding a bike is another great low-impact option. The range of motion wouldn’t add pressure to your ankle but will get your heart rate going. Stationary bikes are great in the home or at a gym. Also, investing in an outdoor bicycle may be a easy way to get a workout in while spending time with your three kids. Riding a bike with your family for just 30 minutes a day at a relatively slow pace burns 275 calories. Yoga is another low-impact exercise option for you to do in the comfort of your home — no equipment necessary. It strengthens and tones your muscles and can also help reduce stress. A combination of low-impact cardio with a yoga routine would really kick start your health transformation. Don’t forget that a successful weight-loss program combines healthy eating and exercising. Reducing your caloric intake by 3,500 calories a week can result in a steady weight loss of one pound per week. That breaks down to 500 fewer calories a day. Cutting out 250 calories from your diet and burning 250 calories from exercise a day is an easy way to get started. Continue to stay motivated, JJ, and you’ll be back to healthy weight before you know it.
February 4th, 2009
12:55 PM ET
High tech heart test makes headlinesBy Dr. Sanjay Gupta There were headlines this morning about CT scans for your heart. An article in the Journal of the American Medical Association reports that the 64-slice cardiac computed tomography (CT) angiography (CCTA) of the heart has an average of 600 times the radiation of a single chest X-ray – that was the takeaway message. Pretty scary to read that, no doubt. In full disclosure, I had one of these scans as part of a story I did a few years back and it was interesting to see 3-D pictures of my heart. Take a look. Still, I wanted to put a couple of things in context. It’s true that if you have had a single one of these scans, you are probably not going to get cancer as a result, which seems to be the biggest concern. But, if you are being asked to get multiple scans, it’s worth asking your doctor if they are really necessary and to balance the risks. Furthermore, because these scans have been more routinely used only since 2004, the data are pretty minimal on whether they have much effect on your outcome from heart disease. I think there is a larger issue here. What is the right screening for you and should the costs be through the roof? A CT like this one is often not covered by insurance and the cost is between $800 and $1,200 dollars. Well, according to the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, which studies this sort of thing based on cost and effectiveness, getting a simple cholesterol check around age 35 is a good idea and approximately every five years after that, depending on what the tests show. Also, a baseline EKG (electrocardiogram –to look at the electrical conduction of your heart) around age 40 can be helpful. To be sure, they recommend a more advanced test if you have heart disease or are having symptoms, such as chest pain. Now, despite all these screening tests, if you are pretty healthy, ironically, the advice will most likely be the same. Eat right, including less fat in your diet. Don’t smoke and try to get exercise. Yes, even will all these fancy tests, the basics still apply. So, how good are you at getting your recommended screening tests and would you pay the extra money for a CT scan to get more information? Editor's Note: Medical news is a popular but sensitive subject rooted in science. We receive many comments on this blog each day; not all are posted. Our hope is that much will be learned from the sharing of useful information and personal experiences based on the medical and health topics of the blog. We encourage you to focus your comments on those medical and health topics and we appreciate your input. Thank you for your participation.
February 2nd, 2009
12:43 PM ET
Phelps faces risks from firing upBy Danielle Dellorto “What was he thinking?” That seems to be the common reaction when fans hear the news that Olympic superstar Michael Phelps got caught smoking pot. What’s interesting is, as I dug deeper, I realized people weren’t too concerned that his behavior may harm his health, but more appalled that his getting caught could cost him millions of dollars in endorsement money. This got me thinking that a lot people look at marijuana as having very limited impact on our health. One friend made his case to me with absolute certainty in his tone, “In the big scheme of things, smoking pot is not going to hurt me.” He added, “At least I don’t smoke cigarettes.” But is that really true? Are cigarettes worse for your health than marijuana? An overwhelming amount of research says not so fast. Smoking one marijuana cigarette sends the same amount of tar into the lungs as four tobacco cigarettes. Turns out pot contains about 400 chemicals and 50 percent more carcinogens than a tobacco cigarette. Carcinogens cause damage to the DNA in our cells, increasing your risk for lung infections, heart disease and even cancer. Pot is becoming as addictive as tobacco too. What’s being sold today is not your parents’ generation of marijuana. A study released last summer compared pot being smoked today with what was smoked back before 1992 and concluded it is 175 percent more potent, resulting in more frequent use and increasing it's addictive properties. The short-term health effects probably won’t surprise you: impaired judgment, forgetfulness, difficulty focusing. But the long-term effects are physical. Marijuana smoking causes asthma, chest colds, lung infections and increased heart rate. Experts believe marijuana causes more damage to the respiratory system than cigarettes because pot smokers hold the smoke in their lungs longer than a person inhaling tobacco. People may not realize their chronic chest cold could be the result of smoking pot and quite frankly for some people it may not even matter. But for a professional athlete, a swimmer no less, who relies on the strength of his lungs to win gold medals — the health ramifications just don’t seem worth it. So here are my questions for you: Why is it so common for people to believe smoking pot doesn’t impact your health? Were you surprised by what you read? And don’t forget to sound off on Phelps. I want to know what YOU think he was thinking! Editor's Note: Medical news is a popular but sensitive subject rooted in science. We receive many comments on this blog each day; not all are posted. Our hope is that much will be learned from the sharing of useful information and personal experiences based on the medical and health topics of the blog. We encourage you to focus your comments on those medical and health topics and we appreciate your input. Thank you for your participation. |
  About this blog
Get a behind-the-scenes look at the latest stories from CNN Chief Medical Correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, Senior Medical Correspondent Elizabeth Cohen and the CNN Medical Unit producers. They'll share news and views on health and medical trends - info that will help you take better care of yourself and the people you love. Recent Comments
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