Bullied Teens Who Exercise May Lower Suicide Risk, Study Finds: MedlinePlus

Bullied Teens Who Exercise May Lower Suicide Risk, Study Finds: MedlinePlus

Bullied Teens Who Exercise May Lower Suicide Risk, Study Finds

But researcher adds that many U.S. schools have cut opportunities for physical activity

     

By Robert Preidt

Friday, September 25, 2015

FRIDAY, Sept. 25, 2015 (HealthDay News) -- Regular exercise may lower bullied teens' risk of suicide, researchers report.

The researchers analyzed data from more than 13,500 U.S. high school students and found that being physically active four or more days a week reduced bullied teens' suicidal thoughts and attempts by 23 percent.

The researchers also found that about 30 percent of bullied teens said they had felt sad for two or more weeks in the previous year; 22 percent thought about suicide; and more than 8 percent attempted suicide in the previous year. About 20 percent of the students said they had been bullied on school property.

Bullied students were two times more likely to report sadness and three times more likely to think about or attempt suicide than those who weren't bullied.

Physical activity on four or more days a week also led to large reductions in sadness, the researchers said.

The study was published recently in the Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry.

"I was surprised that it was that significant and that positive effects of exercise extended to kids actually trying to harm themselves," study author Jeremy Sibold said in a University of Vermont news release. Sibold is associate professor and chairman of the university's department rehabilitation and movement science.

While the study showed an association between physical activity and suicide risk, it did not prove a cause-and-effect link.

"Even if one kid is protected because we got them involved in an after-school activity or in a physical education program, it's worth it," Sibold added.

But, many U.S. schools have significantly cut students' opportunities for physical activity, he noted.

"It's scary and frustrating that exercise isn't more ubiquitous and that we don't encourage it more in schools," Sibold said. "Instead, some kids are put on medication and told 'good luck.' If exercise reduces sadness, suicide ideation and suicide attempts, then why in the world are we cutting physical education programs and making it harder for students to make athletic teams at such a critical age?"

SOURCE: University of Vermont, news release, Sept. 20, 2015

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How to Dispose of Unused or Expired Prescription Drugs: MedlinePlus

How to Dispose of Unused or Expired Prescription Drugs: MedlinePlus

How to Dispose of Unused or Expired Prescription Drugs

Stashing them in a cabinet is unwise; old medications can become ineffective or unsafe

     

By Mary Elizabeth Dallas

Friday, September 25, 2015

FRIDAY, Sept. 25, 2015 (HealthDay News) -- Many people hold on to extra prescription drugs, but saving old medications is unwise, a pharmacist warns.

"Medications that are expired have passed their half-life, which leads to them being ineffective," said Kimberly Cimarelli, pharmacy manager at Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, in Hershey, Pa.

Expired medications can even be dangerous, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration says. Their chemical composition can change and, over time, expired drugs may become less effective or potentially harmful.

Getting rid of old, unused medications can also help ensure children don't accidentally get their hands on them. Having fewer medications at home can also help prevent mix-ups, the experts pointed out.

"Older people who may be easily confused could take the wrong medication because the unwanted or expired medication wasn't disposed of," Officer Rebecca Kessler, of the Derry Township (Pa.) Police Department, said in a university news release.

Prescription drug abuse is on the rise in the United States, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Removing old medications from the home prevents people from using someone else's prescription, the DEA explained.

Having old prescriptions in the house also makes people a target for those looking to steal drugs, Kessler pointed out.

"Some people who keep their medications have fallen victim to those with a criminal mindset because it is much easier to steal medications from a house or person rather than a pharmacy or hospital," Kessler said.

It may seem smart to flush unwanted medicines down the toilet or throw them in the trash. But this isn't a good idea, she added.

"This causes the medications to end up in our water system and landfills, polluting our water and land," Kessler said.

Instead, she suggested, take advantage of drug take-back events or drop boxes in your community -- safe ways to dispose of medications that are no longer being used. After they are dropped off, medications are incinerated, which can help protect the environment. Many police departments have secure drop-boxes available for use around the clock.

"All someone has to do is walk in, open the box and drop in their unwanted or expired medications," Kessler said. "They don't have to speak with anyone."

Keep in mind that needles, sprays, inhalers, liquids and creams are usually not accepted at the drop boxes, according to the news release.

The DEA's 10th National Prescription Drug Take-Back takes place throughout September, the news release said.

SOURCE: Pennsylvania State University Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, news release, Sept. 9, 2015

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Expert Tips for Preventing Kids' Sports Injuries: MedlinePlus

Expert Tips for Preventing Kids' Sports Injuries: MedlinePlus

Expert Tips for Preventing Kids' Sports Injuries

Children need breaks from playing to avoid overuse injuries, orthopedic surgeon says

     

By Mary Elizabeth Dallas

Friday, September 25, 2015

FRIDAY, Sept. 25, 2015 (HealthDay News) -- "Put me in, Coach," may be a common plea heard from young athletes. But sports medicine experts suggest that benching players for at least part of the year might help prevent sports-related injuries.

"The biggest problem right now is that many children and teens are not taking time off from their sports activities," said Dr. James Penna, an orthopedic surgeon at Stony Brook University Hospital in Stony Brook, N.Y.

"Young athletes need to rest, but many participate in sports year-round, which can result in overuse injuries," he said in a hospital news release.

To prevent overuse injuries such as stress and growth plate fractures, Penna recommends taking a two- to four-month break from any one sport, "especially the sports that involve overhand motion such as tennis and baseball," he said.

Children who participate in year-round sports such as gymnastics and swimming should be taught to warm up and stretch properly. For these athletes, scheduling rest time and changing exercise patterns can help prevent injuries. Making sure children use proper techniques and have good form is also important, Penna said.

Appropriate safety gear, such as helmets and pads, are also essential.

"Most major organized sports -- football, baseball, hockey, lacrosse -- have done a good job of ensuring that children wear appropriate protective head gear, which helps prevent head injuries and concussions," Penna said.

Helmets, pads and other safety equipment are also important for children involved in skateboarding, BMX biking, skiing and snowboarding since they are at higher risk for serious injuries, he explained.

"If a head injury has occurred, it is particularly important that the child gets 100 percent clearance from his or her doctor, including a complete neurologic checkup, before playing again," Penna said.

"A seemingly minor head injury sustained while a child is still symptomatic from a prior injury could have catastrophic consequences," he cautioned.

And parents should know that football isn't the only team sport where kids can get a concussion. "Currently, the concussion rates are higher among soccer players than among football players, and we've found that soccer head injuries have tended to go undertreated," Penna said.

Another way parents can prevent sports-related injuries among their kids is to pay attention to their shoes and look for signs of wear.

In general, a pair of cleats lasts one season, but it's still important to check the shoes' insoles and spikes periodically to make sure they are in good condition. This can help avoid foot and ankle injuries.

Children who play organized sports should also drink plenty of water to stay hydrated, Penna added.

SOURCE: Stony Brook University Hospital, news release, Sept. 8, 2015

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With Liposuction, Weight Should Guide Fat Removal Limits: Study: MedlinePlus

With Liposuction, Weight Should Guide Fat Removal Limits: Study: MedlinePlus

With Liposuction, Weight Should Guide Fat Removal Limits: Study

People with higher body mass can have more removed safely, researchers claim

     

Friday, September 25, 2015

FRIDAY, Sept. 25, 2015 (HealthDay News) -- Although there's no magic bullet for weight loss, new research suggests that surgeons may be able to safely remove more fat during liposuction surgery than previously believed.

Right now, surgeons follow guidelines that set a maximum extraction limit of 5,000 milliliters of fat (11 pounds) for all patients, regardless of variations in weight or body fat status. But the new study suggests surgeons could use a patient's body mass index (BMI) to determine how much fat extraction is safe. BMI is a rough estimate of a person's body fat based on height and weight measurements.

"The problem is that this guideline seems like it was picked out of a hat," said study co-author Dr. Karol Gutowski, a board-certified plastic surgeon and a clinical associate professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

"And though the guideline itself is just a recommendation, not the law, some states -- like California -- have passed legislation based on this guideline. But there's no data behind it. No science," he explained.

Fifteen years ago, Gutowski and his colleagues set up a database to track the outcomes of liposuctions performed by board-certified plastic surgeons. "And we found that if you have a higher BMI, you can remove more fat safely, which means that the calculation should be based on each patient's unique body status," he said.

Dr. Scot Glasberg, president of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), said the new analysis is "an innovative and more current approach than what we have out there at the moment."

Glasberg said the "reality is liposuction is incredibly safe. But obviously if you set out to take [more than 10 pounds] of fat from a person who weighs 130 pounds, versus someone who is 230, you're looking at a very different situation. So I think that the notion of a sliding scale based on BMI makes a lot of sense."

Gutowski and his colleagues' findings were published in the September issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.

Liposuction is not covered by most insurance, and the ASPS estimates a $3,000 out-of-pocket price tag.

The organization said that more than 211,000 American men and women underwent liposuction in 2014, representing a 5 percent increase from the year before. The procedure now ranks number three among all plastic surgery options, after nose reshaping and breast augmentation, the ASPS said.

Most liposuction patients are women, the study found. However, Gutowski said that men now account for between 10 to 15 percent of patients, a figure that rises to as high as 20 percent if male breast-reduction surgeries are also included.

He said most patients are treated as outpatients and go home the same day as the procedure. And despite short-term soreness, patients are typically up and moving right away. Most people can resume their usual daily routine within a couple of weeks, he added.

As for risk, the study team described the current complication rate as "very low," with serious problems occurring among fewer than one in every 1,000 patients.

For the study, the investigators tracked more than 4,500 liposuction patients. None of the patients died following fat extraction, and the total complication rate was less than 1.5 percent. Most of the complications weren't considered serious, the researchers said.

However, the researchers found that the complication risk rose as the amount of fat removed increased. They noted that while fat extraction averaged about 4.5 pounds per patient, those who had over 11 pounds of fat removed had a higher-than-average complication rate of 3.7 percent.

The research team also found that the key factor in complication risk turned out to be BMI. Those with a higher BMI were better able to tolerate large-scale fat removal than those with a lower BMI, the study authors said.

Still, the researchers cautioned that while BMI could be a useful yardstick for pre-determining safe levels of fat removal, each patient's individual risk factors must be considered.

Liposuction is not risk-free, however.

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, potential complications include infections, clots of fat in the lungs, possible puncture of internal organs and even death.

Some studies estimate the risk of death as low as three deaths for every 100,000 procedures performed. Other studies have suggested the risk is between 20 and 100 deaths per 100,000 surgeries, the FDA said.

SOURCES: Karol A. Gutowski, M.D., board certified plastic surgeon, and clinical associate professor, University of Illinois at Chicago; Scot Glasberg, M.D., president, American Society of Plastic Surgeons, and plastic surgeon, New York City; September 2015, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery

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Sleep Apnea May Raise Risk of Depression: MedlinePlus

Sleep Apnea May Raise Risk of Depression: MedlinePlus

Sleep Apnea May Raise Risk of Depression

Study suggests popular apnea treatment could help ease symptoms of mood disorder

     

By Robert Preidt

Friday, September 25, 2015

FRIDAY, Sept. 25, 2015 (HealthDay News) -- People with sleep apnea are at increased risk for depression, but continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy for their apnea may ease their depression, a new study suggests.

The Australian study included 293 men and women who were newly diagnosed with sleep apnea. Nearly 73 percent had depression when the study began. The worse their apnea, the more severe their depression.

However, after three months, only 4 percent of the 228 apnea patients who used CPAP for an average of at least five hours a night still had clinically significant symptoms of depression.

At the start of the study, 41 patients reported thinking about harming themselves or feeling they would be better off dead. After three months of CPAP therapy, none of them had persistent suicidal thoughts.

The study appears in the September issue of the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine.

"Effective treatment of obstructive sleep apnea resulted in substantial improvement in depressive symptoms," including suicidal thoughts, senior study author Dr. David Hillman said in a journal news release. Hillman is a clinical professor at the University of Western Australia and a sleep physician at the Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital in Perth.

"The findings highlight the potential for sleep apnea, a notoriously underdiagnosed condition, to be misdiagnosed as depression," he added.

People with symptoms of depression should be screened for sleep apnea by being asked about symptoms such as snoring, breathing pauses while sleeping, disrupted sleep and excessive daytime sleepiness, the researchers said.

Sleep apnea affects at least 25 million American adults. Untreated sleep apnea increases the risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and depression, according to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.

SOURCE: Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, news release, Sept. 22, 2015

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