Infotrak

New research shows that a telemonitoring program to control high blood pressure cuts the risk of heart attack or stroke by about 50 percent, while saving close to $2000 in health costs per patient. Karen L. Margolis, MD, from HealthPartners Institute in Minneapolis explains how the approach differs from typical treatment programs.

Recent research shows more adults are suffering from symptoms of depression. COVID-19 and the lockdowns may be one factor. Catherine Ettman, doctoral student at the Boston University School of Public Health, led a first-of-its-kind study at the Boston University School of Public Health that found that the number of American adults with depression symptoms had tripled as of mid-April, when 96% of the U.S. population was living under some form of COVID-19 lockdown order.

Brain disease has become the number one cause of disability, with Parkinson's the fastest growing disease. Ray Dorsey, MD, from the University of Rochester Medical Center and co-author of “Ending Parkinson's Disease: A Prescription for Action” says there needs to be more focus on prevention. He believes more resources must be placed into research, because while cases are on the rise, the most effective treatment is now a half century old.

The pandemic has affected nearly all Americans. But among the hardest hit are non profit organizations, especially those serving local communities. Danielle Holly, CEO of Common Impact, a nonprofit organization headquartered in Boston, said the effect has been staggering. She outlined ways that Americans can help, through philanthropic and skilled volunteer support.

Is America’s education system neglecting to teach young students about our nation’s history? Is it important that kids learn about the founding documents of our country? Roger Beckett, Executive Director of the Ashbrook Center at Ashland University, says for years, the teaching of history and civics has taken a back seat to STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) education.

Millions of Americans are quarantined at home. Many feel isolated, and this increases the risk of alcohol abuse. Lisa Boucher, RN, is the author of “Raising the Bottom: Making Mindful Choices in a Drinking Culture.” She shares warning signs and what to do if you need help.

A prototype smart watch has been developed, that will monitor drug levels in your body, in real time. Sam Emaminejad, PhD, Assistant Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the UCLA Samueli School of Engineering, says it’s wearable technology that will allow doses to be tailored to individual needs.

Then, teenagers today face more anxiety and distractions than previous generations, which makes being a parent of teens more challenging than ever. Christine Carter, PhD, sociologist, Senior Fellow at the Greater Good Science Center at the University of California Berkeley, author of “The New Adolescence: Raising Happy and Successful Teens in an Age of Anxiety and Distraction” outlines what she believes are the three most critical skills that parents need to teach their kids.

Arrhythmias and sudden cardiac arrests are blamed for 400,000 deaths annually in the US. Rachel Lampert, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine at Yale School of Medicine, has found that anger and other negative emotions may be a major factor in many of these cases. She explained how stress and anger may affect electrical impulses in the heart, and discussed several methods of dealing with stress and anger.

Cancer is preventable. Yet many Americans don’t practice early detection or follow the recommended guidelines to minimize risk. Laura Makaroff, DO, Senior Vice President of Prevention and Early Detection at the American Cancer Society, shares the latest recommendations to help you and your family avoid cancer.

The concept of herd immunity has sparked debate about whether it would control the spread of COVID-19. Dr. S. Vincent Rajkumar, a Mayo Clinic hematologist and researcher, discusses how the body works to fight off disease and whether herd immunity could resolve the pandemic.

Rural suicides are on the rise. Bindu Kalesan, PhD, from the Boston University School of Public Health, outlines the seriousness of the problem. She says there other mental health interventions that are more effective than gun control.

Your body functions best when you feed it healthy food. Yet, many Americans make the wrong food choices. Sophie Egan, author of “How to Be A Conscious Eater: Making Food Choices That Are Good for You, Others, and the Planet” offers easy-to-remember suggestions for making practical decisions about food and how to choose foods that have the least impact on the environment.

Domestic violence is on the rise, partly as a result of COVID-19 lockdowns. Prof. Merete Berg Nesset from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, led a study that found that anger management treatment for offenders can have dramatic results in the prevention of physical and emotional violence.

Simone Bruce, Psy.D., a visiting therapist at the Behavioral Wellness Clinic in Connecticut, said that the impact of race-based stress and trauma on the mental health of black people has been ignored far too long. She said that mental health professionals’ lack of education in this area often results in misdiagnosis and mistreatment. She explained how the death of George Floyd sparked a serious increase in stress, anxiety and fear in the black community.

Millions of Americans would like to lose some unwanted pounds. Sofia Cienfuegos, a Dietitian and Intermittent Fasting Researcher rom the University of Illinois at Chicago, led recent research that found that intermittent fasting does result in weight loss, with few restrictions or complicated regimens.

The reaction to COVID-19 shutdowns has led to an unexpected coin shortage nationwide, causing some businesses to notify customers that they have no change to give, or to encourage only electronic transactions. Prof. Daniel Soques, Assistant Professor of Economics at the University of North Carolina Wilmington, explains the factors behind the shortage and what steps are being taken by the Federal Reserve to address it. He also says that moving away from physical cash and coins disproportionately affects low income and homeless people.

Prof. John-Tyler Binfet, Associate Professor of Education at the University of British Columbia Okanagan, discusses his research into kids and kindness, which challenges media stereotypes that teens are common perpetrators of bullying, cyber harassment and schoolyard fights. He says most parents would be surprised at how kind their children are to others outside of the home. He also suggests ways for parents to encourage their kids to be kind.

Teens are getting drivers licenses later than previous generations and missing critical safety training as a result, according to Dr. Federico E. Vaca, PhD, Professor of Emergency Medicine and Director of the Yale Developmental Neurocognitive Driving Simulation Research Center.Dr. Vava outlines potential policy changes that could expand and improve driver safety training, regardless of age.

Preparing for college is more complicated than ever! Monica Betson-Montgomery outlines savvy strategies for parents to help their students navigate the higher education maze.