Diabetes Rate May Double by 2034

Cost of Treating the Disease Set to Triple, Researchers Say
By Salynn Boyles
WebMD Health News

If nothing is done, the number of Americans with diabetes will nearly double in the next 25 years and spending on the disease will nearly triple, a new study shows.

An aging population combined with a dramatic rise in obesity has created a perfect storm for diabetes in the U.S., researchers say.

"A perfect storm is a good way to look at it," study researcher Elbert S. Huang, MD of the University of Chicago tells WebMD. "If things stay the way they are right now we will have massive increases in diabetes incidence in this country over the next two decades."

By 2034, as many as 44 million Americans will have diabetes, up from 23 million today, according to the new projections, published in the November issue of the American Diabetes Association journal Diabetes Care.

The cost of caring for diabetes patients is projected to rise from $113 billion to $336 annually, and that is before adjusting for inflation.

These costs will outpace the increase in cases because more diabetes patients will be older and sicker and will require more expensive medical care, experts say.

Is Your Type 2 Diabetes Under Control? Get Your Health Score
Trouble for Medicare

Age is one of the biggest risk factors for type 2 diabetes, and the transition of baby boomers from middle to old age will drive much of the increase, the study shows.

As a result, by 2034, half of all direct spending in diabetes care is projected to occur in the Medicare population.

About 8 million Americans covered by Medicare now have diabetes and it cost $45 billion to treat them in 2009.

The number of diabetes patients whose treatment is paid for by Medicare is projected to nearly double to 14.6 million in the next 25 years, and the cost of caring for them is expected to quadruple.

By 2034, annual Medicare spending on diabetes care is projected to rise to $171 billion.

Although little can be done about the aging of the population, much can be done about the other major risk factor for type 2 diabetes -- obesity.

About 65% of Americans are overweight, and about one-third are obese, the CDC says.

The obesity rate among adults in the U.S. doubled between 1980 and 2004, but it appears to have leveled off since then.

The new diabetes model developed by the Huang and colleagues predicts a slight decline in obesity rates in the U.S. over the next two decades.
Target Obesity, Change the Future

All agree that a bigger decline in obesity, achieved though successful public health initiatives, could make a huge difference.

The future projected in the newly published study does not have to become reality, experts say.

"The cost of doing nothing is clearly going to be quite high," study co-researcher Michael O'Grady, PhD, said in a news conference. "To do nothing right now is going to cost billions and billions of dollars."

Source & Picture: diabetes.webmd.com

MRSA Strain on the Rise in Hospitals

Study Shows Community-Associated MRSA Is Spreading in Health Care Facilities
By Bill Hendrick
WebMD Health News

A potentially dangerous and rapidly spreading strain of the "superbug" MRSA poses a much greater public health threat than previously thought, new research shows.

Community-associated MRSA (CA-MRSA) is spreading in hospitals and other health care facilities, according to a study in the December issue of Emerging Infectious Diseases.

The CA-MRSA strain of superbug can be picked up in fitness centers, schools, and other public places, and is increasing the already significant burden of MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) in hospitals, the researchers report.

CA-MRSA and hospital-associated MRSA (HA-MRSA) are bacteria resistant to most common antibiotics.

HA-MRSA infections occur mostly in hospitals and other health care settings, including dialysis centers and nursing homes, and often strike mostly older adults, people having invasive medical procedures, and people with weakened immune systems.

CA-MRSA is a leading cause of serious skin and soft tissue infections, entering the body through scrapes and cuts, the researchers say.

The study, which analyzed data from more than 300 microbiology labs across the U.S., found a sevenfold increase in the proportion of CA-MRSA in outpatients between 1999 and 2006.

This community-associated strain is making its way into hospitals, the researchers say, increasing threats to patient safety because patients and their doctors move back and forth between inpatient and outpatient units of hospitals.

"This emerging epidemic of community-associated MRSA strains appears to add to the already high MRSA burden in hospitals," Ramanan Laxminarayan, PhD, MPH, a senior fellow at Extending the Cure, a project at the Resources for the Future think tank in Washington, D.C., says in a news release.

This major increase in CA-MRSA, the researchers say, has become a major concern.

Over the length of the study, the scientists report finding that the proportion of MRSA had increased more than 90% among outpatients with staph, and now accounts for more than 50% of all Staphyloccus aureus infections.

This was due, the findings suggest, almost entirely to an increase in CA-MRSA strains.

Similar increases in inpatients suggest these strains are spreading rapidly into hospitals.

"MRSA has generally been a significant problem only in hospitals," says Eili Klein, MA, the lead author of the report and also a researcher at Resources for the Future. "But the findings from this study suggest there is a significant reservoir in the community as well."

This suggests that the increased cases of CA-MRSA are causing that bug to spread from the community into hospitals, Klein says.

Hospitals need to take steps to stop this by stepping up infection control procedures, the researchers say, adding that the best way to contain MRSA and other superbugs is through surveillance and regular efforts aimed at infection control.

"Community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus has become a major problem in U.S. hospitals already dealing with high levels of hospital-associated MRSA," the researchers write. They conclude that "more rapid diagnostic methods are urgently needed to better aid physicians" in fighting MRSA. (www.webmd.com)

Baked Fish Beats Fried for Omega-3 Boost

Study Shows Baked Fish Is Better for Heart Health Than Fried, Salted, or Dried
By Charlene Laino
WebMD Health News

When it comes to reaping the heart-healthy benefits of omega-3 fatty acids in fish, it often comes down to how you prepare it, a study shows.

"The take-home message is that it's better to bake or boil the fish instead of frying it," says study researcher Lixin Meng, MS, a doctoral candidate at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. And adding a dash of low-sodium soy sauce will enhance the heart-healthy benefits, she tells WebMD.

Eating salted, dried, or fried fish, on the other hand, is not beneficial, Meng says. "But if it’s a fun occasion and you really want fried fish, do it the Japanese way -- stir-fry, rather than deep-fry it."

If the idea of eating fish, no matter how it's prepared, turns you off, take heart: Other researchers report they've genetically engineered soybean plants to produce oil that boosts levels of certain omega-3 fatty acids in the blood.

"This soybean oil could be an effective alternative to fish oil as a source of heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids," says researcher William Harris, PhD, chief of cardiovascular health research at the University of South Dakota's Sanford School of Medicine in Sioux Falls.

Both new studies were presented at the American Heart Association's (AHA) Scientific Sessions 2009.
Omega-3s Cut Heart Risk

The AHA recommends eating at least two servings of fatty fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids like DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) a week to protect against heart disease, says AHA spokeswoman Alice Lichtenstein, DSc, a nutritionist at Tufts University.

Salmon, sardines, tuna, halibut, and mackerel are among the fish that are richest in omega-3s.

"How you cook the fish, the type of fish, and the amount of fish you consume [all impact its health-health benefits], but not enough attention has been placed on the best way to ensure you get enough of the fatty acids in your diet," says Lichtenstein, who was not involved with the work.

To help fill in the knowledge gap, Meng and colleagues examined the source, type, amount, and frequency of dietary omega-3 consumption among men and women in different ethnic groups.

The study involved 82,243 men and 103,884 women, ages 45 to 75, in Los Angeles and Hawaii. The participants represented five major ethnic groups: African Americans, whites, Hispanics, Japanese-Americans, and native Hawaiians. None suffered from heart disease at the start of the study.

Over the next 10 years, 2,604 of the men and 1,912 of the women died from heart disease.

When the men on the study were divided into five groups depending on their omega-3 intake, those in the highest group consumed an average of about 3.3 grams of omega-3 fatty acids daily. Men in the lowest group consumed about 0.8 grams a day.

Men in the highest group of omega-3 intake had a 23% lower risk of dying due to heart disease than those in the lowest group, the study showed.

Men of white, Japanese, and Hispanic descent appeared to get more benefits from omega-3s than African-American or Hawaiian men, possibly because of how they cook the fish or genetic predisposition, Meng says.

In women, the link between omega-3 fatty acid intake and heart disease wasn't as strong, she says.

Source & Picture: www.webmd.com

Drug May Boost Women's Sexual Desire

Study Shows Flibanserin Increases Satisfying Encounters for Women With Low Libido
By Kathleen Doheny
WebMD Health News

An investigational drug that didn't perform well as an antidepressant appears to slightly boost sexual desire as well as the number of satisfying sexual encounters in women with lagging libidos, a study shows.

The research was presented this week at the 12th Congress of the European Society for Sexual Medicine in Lyon, France.

Some wonder if the drug, called flibanserin, will be the new ''female Viagra," but critics say the effect is minimal. Meanwhile, the manufacturer is planning additional clinical trials and expanding the participant pool to include older women.

The big news, according to those who studied flibanserin? "There is something that works on the neurotransmitters in the central nervous system to alter sexual desire in a positive way," says John M. Thorp Jr., MD, McAllister distinguished professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, and a principal investigator for the U.S. trials.

Source & Picture: www.women.webmd.com

Staying Healthy in Tough Times

Try these cheap ways to boost health in a bad economy.
WebMD Feature
By Peter Jaret
Reviewed By Brunilda Nazario, MD
With the economy ailing, lots of us are looking for ways to save money. Unfortunately, we may be looking in all the wrong places.

Scrimping and saving by putting off doctor’s visits? Not filling that prescription because it costs too much? Letting your gym membership lapse? Any one of those decisions could end up costing you dearly in the long run.

Luckily, there are plenty of cheap and effective ways to stick with a healthy lifestyle even in the face of an ailing economy.
Can’t afford that pricey gym membership?

That’s no excuse for becoming inactive. "You don’t have to go to a gym to get the wide range of health benefits of exercise," says Steven Blair, PhD, professor of exercise science at the University of South Carolina.

Fitting in just 150 minutes a week of moderate intensity activities -- walking, gardening, even doing housework -- substantially reduces the risk of chronic diseases, according to the latest federal physical activity guidelines. Building and maintaining muscle strength may take a little more ingenuity. One option: learn a set of basic calisthenics that include push-ups, sit-ups, deep knee bends, and leg lifts. Another alternative: buy an inexpensive set of stretch bands, which can be used to do dozens of strength-building exercises.
Having trouble stretching your food budget?

A limited food budget is no reason to reach for junk food. "Some of the healthiest foods out there are actually the least expensive," says Kathy McManus, PhD, director of inpatient nutrition services at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. A few examples:

* Beans. They’re a great low-calorie source of fiber and protein. And they cost pennies a serving, especially if you buy dried beans and soak them yourself. Add beans to pasta sauce, chili, or soup. Or serve them as a side dish, seasoned with your favorite spices.
* Peanuts. Rich in protein and heart-healthy oils, peanuts are a relatively inexpensive and filling snack. The lowest priced peanuts are typically found in the bulk food aisle.
* Homemade breakfast cereal. Instead of buying an expensive packaged cereal, make your own by combining whole oats and other grains, raisins, nuts and seeds bought in bulk
* Make-them-yourself beverages. Save money by skipping expensive bottled beverages and make your own by brewing up tea for iced tea or adding a splash of fruit juice to carbonated water.
* Frozen vegetables. If fresh vegetables are too expensive, head for the freezer aisle. “Because vegetables are flash frozen soon after being harvested, they may contain higher levels of antioxidants than fresh vegetables that are a day or two old,” says Allyson Mitchell, PhD, a crop scientist at the University of California at Davis. Another option: raise your own vegetables. More and more people are gardening, which offers not only a harvest of healthy foods but also a way to stay fit.

Cooking at home instead of eating out is another way to save money and stay healthy, especially when you skip processed foods and cook from scratch. Home-cooked meals tend to be lower in fat and salt than restaurant offerings. Surveys show that people who eat at home are less likely to be overweight or obese.

Source & Picture: www.webmd.com

Healthy Cats

Cat Gets H1N1 Swine Flu
Iowa Cat Got Pandemic Flu Bug From Owners
By Daniel J. DeNoon
WebMD Health News

A sick Iowa pet is the latest evidence that cats can carry the H1N1 swine flu virus.

The pandemic flu bug was detected in a sick, 13-year-old Iowa cat after two members of the family that owns the cat fell ill, the Iowa Department of Health reported yesterday.

The cat -- and both humans -- recovered from their illnesses.

"It's not unexpected news ... we know that influenza viruses can be transmitted between humans and animals," CDC spokesman Tom Skinner tells WebMD.

The Iowa cat was taken to the veterinary college at Iowa State University, where tests of a nasal swab confirmed the cat was infected with the H1N1 swine flu virus.

"Just because the virus was found in a sick cat doesn't mean the virus was the cause of the cat's illness," Atlanta veterinarian Megan Hilf, VMD, tells WebMD.

Even so, the CDC warns people with flu-like symptoms to avoid giving the virus to their best friends.

"If people are sick and have pets and they are concerned, then we suggest they follow the same steps we tell them to follow when it comes to preventing spread to other humans: Cover coughs and sneezes, frequently wash your hands, and try to distance yourself from your pet until you have been without fever for 24 hours without use of fever-reducing medicine," Skinner says.

Can cats carry H1N1 swine flu and transmit it to people or to other pets? Maybe, says Drew Weigner, DVM, a feline specialist in Atlanta.

"There is currently no evidence that cats can transmit H1N1 to people," Weigner tells WebMD. "While there is currently no evidence that cats can transmit H1N1 to cats or other pets, it would not be surprising to find transmission from one cat to another -- but this is not yet known to have occurred."

Cats do readily become infected with another worrisome flu bug -- the deadly H5N1 bird flu. Fortunately, that killer virus has not become widespread in either cats or humans. And the H5N1 virus is very different from the H1N1 swine flu virus.

In fact, Weigner says, cats rarely get infected with any kind of flu virus.

"What is often referred to as 'cat flu' is actually a syndrome describing an upper respiratory infection with several different viruses such as herpesvirus and calicivirus," he says.

A 2007 study of blood samples collected from 1999 to 2005 from 60 domestic and 51 free-roaming cats in and around Milan, Italy, showed no indication that any of the animals had ever been infected with any flu virus.

But if a cat does get a human flu bug, what symptoms would it have?

"Since only one cat has been confirmed to be infected with H1N1, it remains to be seen how this virus affects cats," Weigner says. "One would expect infected cats to have a fever and upper respiratory symptoms including sneezing and eye or nasal discharge. The most important point is that any cat exhibiting signs of illness should be examined by your veterinarian as soon as possible."

Weigner and Skinner note that other animals have picked up H1N1 swine flu from humans, including pigs, birds, and ferrets. H1N1 swine flu is a human virus not known to be circulating in pigs.

The diagnosis of swine flu infection in the Iowa cat was a collaboration between the Iowa Department of Public Health; Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine; the Center for Advanced Host Defenses, Immunobiotics, and Translational Comparative Medicine, the U.S. Department of Agriculture; and the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Lands Stewardship Animal Industry Bureau.

Source & Picture: www.webmd.com

Foods to Help You Feel Better

6 ways to add mood-boosting foods to your diet.
By Elaine Magee, MPH, RD
WebMD Feature

Are you feeling down in the dumps? Are you irritated at how often you’ve been irritable?

Perhaps it’s time to look at the foods and drinks you consume to see if they are trashing your mood. Nutrition experts say that the foods you eat can help you feel better -- or feel worse -- in the short-term and the long-term.

* Meal-to-meal and day-to-day, keeping your blood sugars steady and your gastrointestinal (GI) tract running smoothly will help you feel good and energetic. If your blood sugars are on a roller-coaster ride -- hitting highs and lows from too much sugar and refined flour – you are more likely to feel out of sorts. This is also true if your gastrointestinal system is distressed due to intense hunger from a fad diet or constipation because you aren’t getting enough fiber and water.
* Week-to-week and month-to-month, keeping your body healthy and disease-free makes good moods more likely. For example, key nutrients you get in certain foods can influence the levels of feel-good hormones such as serotonin. Other nutrients can help prevent inflammation so blood circulates well to all of your organs.

“Eating a heart healthy diet -- high in fiber and low in saturated fat -- is a great place to start to boost your mood. There isn’t any question about it, says Diane M. Becker MPH, ScD, director of the Center for Health Promotion at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.

Conversely, “a high-fat, high-glycemic load meal can make you physically feel dysfunction in your body. People who eat this type of meal tend to feel bad and sleepy afterwards,” she says.
6 Tips for Foods and Beverages That Help You Feel Good
1. Seek out foods rich in vitamin B12 and folic acid (folate).

What’s special about chili made with kidney beans and lean beef? Or a light chicken Caesar salad made with skinless chicken breast and romaine lettuce? Or grilled salmon with a side of broccoli?

All these dishes feature one food that is rich in folic acid (folate) and another that is rich in vitamin B12. These two vitamins appear to help prevent disorders of the central nervous system, mood disorders, and dementias, says Edward Reynolds, MD, at the Institute of Epileptology, King’s College, London.

The link between higher food intakes of folate and a lower prevalence of depressive symptoms crosses cultures, too. A recent study confirmed this association in Japanese men.

Folic acid is usually found in beans and greens. Vitamin B12 is found in meats, fish, poultry, and dairy.

Other dishes that feature B-12 and folic acid-rich foods include:

* A burrito or enchilada made with black beans plus beef, chicken, or pork
* A spinach salad topped with crab or salmon
* An egg white or egg substitute omelet filled with sauteed spinach and reduced-fat cheese

Source & Picture: www.webmd.com