PreDisease.com Blog

For the past year, the H1N1 virus has snared headlines, as fears of unprecedented infection rates and deaths due to the vaccine caused global concern. In the first real assessment of the impact of the disease, the CDC has released figures for the outbreak thus far in the United States:

• An estimated 57 million Americans have had the disease (this figure is mid-range and may be as high as 84 million)
• An estimated 183,000 to 378,000 Americans were hospitalized because of the illness
• An estimated 8,300 to 17,000 Americans may have died from H1N1
• Approximately 19 million cases occurred in those under the age of 18
• Approximately 33 million cases occurred in the age group 18 to 64
• Approximately 5 million cases occurred in those older than 64 years of age
• More  older people than children died from the illness; however, the age group hit hardest is the 18 to 64 year age group

Although the H1N1 flu would appear to be subsiding at the moment, the CDC urges caution and warns that upsurges in disease activity can still occur. At risk people, including those with lung disease, heart disease, and diabetes should still consider getting the vaccine if they have not already done so. The virus continues to cause illness, hospitalizations and death.

Source: 57 Million Americans Sickened by H1N1 Flu: CDC

People who suffer from migraines are almost twice as likely to suffer a heart attack, but the reason for the connection between the two is not clear, according to a new study appearing this month in Neurology online.

In one of the largest studies on the subject to date, 6,102 people with migraine and 5,243 without were compared; there was a 4.1% incidence of heart attack in the migraine group, versus 1.9% in the control group. In addition, it was discovered that those migraine sufferers who experienced aura were 3 times as likely to have a heart attack. Migraine sufferers were more likely to have risk factors for stroke, heart attack and other cardiovascular disease, such as diabetes, hypertension and high cholesterol.

Researchers concluded that people who suffer migraines are at higher risk for heart attack for unknown reasons, and that these people need to be extra vigilant about controlling what risk factors they can. Controlling weight, cholesterol and blood pressure may be even more important for migraine sufferers than the general population. Migraine sufferers are more often young women, and their physicians should be aware of this link, intervening early to prevent heart disease and stroke.

Source: Migraine Linked to Increased Heart Attack Risk

Could a blood test for rheumatoid arthritis predict who will develop the debilitating disorder? A new study points to this possibility. The secret to prediction lies in cytokines, according to researchers.

Researchers studied blood samples from 86 individuals who did not yet have rheumatoid arthritis and compared these samples to 256 matched controls. The researchers were measuring 30 different cytokines and cytokine-related factors. The results? Those people who later went on to develop rheumatoid arthritis had elevated levels of cytokines; furthermore, the patterns of these elevations distinguished them from members of the control group.

What does this mean? The results show that it may be possible to predict with accuracy who will develop rheumatoid arthritis. Being able to identify individuals at risk of developing the disease will allow earlier diagnosis of the condition and may even allow for prevention of this debilitating disease. At present, rheumatoid arthritis can be difficult to diagnose, and persons with the disease may not be treated until the disease is advanced. Knowing earlier will permit aggressive treatment of the disease, before severe joint damage occurs.

Source: Can Blood Samples Predict Arthritic Rheumatism?

Soft drink giants Pepsi and Coke are climbing aboard the fight against obesity by moving forward with plans to include new labeling on their containers that will show the calorie content of their respective products on the front of their containers.

Following the initiative of some food industry giants to be seen as more accountable to the public, several soft drink manufacturers climbed aboard the anti-obesity train by pledging their willingness to change the labeling of their products in order to help fight against the growing obesity epidemic. A number of companies in recent years have opted to change their products by offering healthier alternatives and making their labeling more clear in terms of content that is deemed unhealthy. Fast food restaurants in several states now list calorie and fat content of items on their menu.

Now it is the soft drink industry’s turn. Pepsi and Coke, along with others, have pledged to make their labeling changes by 2012. In addition, they have released plans to limit portion sizes and offer more low-cal choices, a move that can only be seen in a positive light and will no doubt be appreciated by those who are trying to be more conscientious regarding their food choices.

A new study shows that changing three behaviors that are common to many American families can reduce childhood obesity by 40%. What are these behaviors?

Ensuring an adequate night’s sleep- children in the study who got at least 10 ½ hours of sleep per night were less likely to be obese. The reason? Children who are well rested most likely are less tired during the day, and therefore more apt to engage in activities that are healthy.

Eating together as a family- the study found that children who enjoy meals with their family more than 5 times a week were less likely to become obese. They postulate that eating at the family dinner table, instead of in front of the television, teaches children good eating habits, such as regulation of food intake. These children may be less likely to eat mindlessly and may be more aware of what and how much they are eating.

Moderating the amount of television watched- children who watch less than 2 hours of television per day are less likely to be obese. The reasoning is obvious- these childen are more likely to be engaged in active play, rather than sitting still and watching television.

The effects of each of these three behaviors was independent, meaning that there was a cumulative effect with each behavior that was added. According to the study, only one in seven children who practiced all three behaviors were obese, in comparison to one in four children who did not practice any of the behaviors.

Source: How to fight childhood obesity in 3 steps

The International Union Against Cancer (UICC) has released a report revealing that a startling 40% of cancers can be prevented with the use of vaccines against some infections that are known to cause cancer, and by simple lifestyle changes. Worldwide, cancer is the leading cause of death, and the numbers of people affected by cancer are projected to grow, thanks in part to an aging population that is also growing.

What vaccines are available to combat cancer? The HPV vaccines (Gardisil is one) protect against cervical cancer. Hepatitis vaccines prevent liver disease and cancer of the liver. While there is no vaccine for HIV at present, scientists are working on it. HIV is associated with numerous cancers; in fact, it is estimated that 30 to 40% of HIV-positive patients will develop cancer in their lifetime. The Epstein Barr virus is associated with Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

Lifestyle choices can also contribute to the development of cancer. The most obvious of these is smoking, which causes lung cancer. Smoking is also associated with a higher risk of pancreatic, esophageal, oral, larynx and bladder cancer. Obesity is associated with the development of some types of cancer, such as kidney, endometrial, esophageal and breast cancer.

The take-home message from the report is that policy makers need to start focusing on the prevention of cancer, rather than just on treatment of cancer once it has already occurred. They hope to encourage the idea that cancer can be prevented by changing lifestyle risk factors and taking advantage of the vaccines available that can help prevent cancer.

Sources: Experts say 40 percent of cancers could be prevented

Cancers Associated With Smoking

A new study released by the Infectious Diseases Society of America, in conjunction with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Trust for America’s Health, has disclosed that many American adults have not been vaccinated against many of the vaccine-preventable diseases.

Reasons cited for lack of immunizations in adults include lack of access to primary care by the uninsured, the fact that many insurance plans don’t cover immunization, lack of trust in available vaccines and a healthcare system that does not put prevention first. Lack of emphasis on adult vaccination by physicians is another factor cited for the spotty immunization record of many adults.

Adults have a wide array of vaccines available to help fight preventable diseases. These include:

• Pneumococcal vaccine- protects against pneumonia
• Shingles vaccine- protects against shingles, which can cause a painful rash due to activation of the virus which causes chicken pox
• HPV vaccine- protects against the virus that causes human papilloma virus, which is associated with cervical cancer
• DTP vaccine- protects against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (whooping cough)
• Influenza vaccines- protect against seasonal influenza and H1N1 influenza

The report calls for public funding to cover the cost of recommended vaccines, as well as increased public education regarding the need for vaccinations amongst the adult population.

Source: Make Adult Vaccinations as Widespread as Those for Children, Say Immunization Advocates

In the human body, collagen is the most prevalent connective tissue protein, acting as the scaffolding that holds the body together and giving it support. Now, researchers have created a collagen that is the strongest ever invented, with enormous potential to treat a variety of human conditions that result from collagen defects or breakdown, such as arthritis. Osteoarthritis, the most common form of arthritis, is a chronic condition in which cartilage in the joints breaks down. Loss of cartilage causes the bones to rub together, causing stiffness and pain.

Collagen in medicine has been used mainly in artificial skin substitutes. The ability to be used in the treatment of arthritis could be the breakthrough that many have been waiting for. At the present time, it is estimated that 46 million Americans suffer from some form of arthritis; by 2030, it is estimated that 67 million Americans will be living with the debilitating condition.

Source: Super-strong Collagen Created By UW-Madison Scientists

A study by Canadian researchers illustrates the importance of monitoring bone density in patients who have decreased kidney function. Decreased bone density can predispose people to bone fractures, which can be deadly in the elderly population.

The study followed 635 people aged 50 and above for a total of five years. Kidney function and bone density were measured at the beginning and end of the study. Results showed that people with impaired kidney function lost bone density at a faster rate than those with healthy kidneys. Bone loss occurred even in those who had mild kidney impairment.

Many people with kidney disease are not aware they have a problem. Screening for kidney disease in older individuals might prevent bone loss from occurring, thus decreasing the risk of fractures and death in the older population. Screening for kidney disease could involve simple measures such as checking blood pressure and obtaining a serum creatinine level, GFR (glomerular filtration rate) and urine protein. These tests are often done yearly as part of an annual physical. People who have high blood pressure, diabetes and a family history of kidney disease are at increased risk for kidney disease.

Consider the following statistics: 1 in 3 women will die of heart disease, 450,000 women per year die from cardiovascular disease and only 1 in 5 women believe that heart disease is the biggest threat to their health.

Heart disease has been thought of as a disease affecting mostly men for so long that changing this perception is difficult. The fact is, heart disease now kills more women than men, but women often experience different symptoms than men and often develop heart disease later in life than do men. The rise in obesity, diabetes and the numbers of women who smoke are thought to be the reason for the changing demographics of heart disease.

Women’s symptoms of a heart attack are often different than the “classic” presentation. Men often experience crushing chest pain; women are more likely to complain of discomfort in an area other than their chest, such as the jaw, the abdomen and the arms. They may also complain of feeling exhausted and short of breath.

Women are also treated differently in hospital, according to some studies. They may be less likely to be put on aspirin therapy and to have their cholesterol as aggressively managed as men do. The good news is that women are surviving heart attacks in greater numbers. This may be a case of closing the barn door after the horse has escaped- women need to understand their personal risk factors for heart disease and seek counseling from their personal physicians on prevention strategies.

Source: Diagnosis dilemma: Women’s heart symptoms differ from men