Women's Heart Disease Awareness Still Needs Improvement

Women's Heart Disease Awareness Still Needs Improvement

Editor's Choice
Academic Journal
Main Category: Heart Disease
Also Included In: Women's Health / Gynecology;  Cardiovascular / Cardiology
Article Date: 21 Feb 2013 - 0:00 PST

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Over the past fifteen years the number of women aware that heart disease is the number one killer has almost doubled. However, this awareness is still lacking among young women and minorities, according to a recent study published in the journal Circulation.

It is an umbrella term that includes a spectrum of different disorders that all affect the heart. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the USA, UK, Australia, and Canada. In the U.S. it is responsible for a little over a quarter of all deaths.

In the study, the researchers compared female awareness about heart disease in 1997 to their awareness in 2012. They conducted online and telephone surveys that assessed the women's lifestyle, awareness of leading causes of death, and understanding of heart disease.

The difference was quite marked; in 1997 only 30 percent of women knew that heart disease was the leading killer, compared to 56 percent in 2012.

Fifteen years ago, women were more likely to believe that cancer was the leading killer, rather than heart disease (35 percent versus 30 percent). In 2012, the percentage of women who cited cancer as the number one killer dropped to 24%, indicating that awareness among the general population has improved.

However, among minority groups, only 36 percent of African-American and 34 percent of Hispanic women knew that heart disease was the leading killer - percentages similar to those found in white women in 1997.

The lowest awareness rate among all age groups was in women 25-34 years of age - 44 percent correctly cited heart disease as the leading killer. Most young women said that their doctors were not likely to inform them about heart disease and the associated risks.

Lori Mosca, M.D, M.P.H., Ph.D., lead author of the study, said:

"Habits established in younger women can have lifelong rewards. We need to speak to the new generation, and help them understand that living heart healthy is going to help them feel better, not just help them live longer. So often the message is focused on how many women are dying from heart disease, but we need to be talking about how women are going to live - and live healthier."

The authors also found also found that:

• Ethnic minorities trusted their healthcare providers more than whites did.
• Only 6 percent of women aged 25-34 discussed heart disease with their doctors versus 33 percent of those above the age of 65.
• 45 percent of women would take preventive action to live longer as opposed to 61 percent who would to feel better.
• Self-reported depression was fairly common among the respondents

Mosca concluded:

"There are gaps between women's personal awareness and what they're doing in terms of preventive steps. The American Heart Association has well-established, evidence-based guidelines about heart disease prevention, so we have to better align women's actions with what is evidence-based."

Written by Joseph Nordqvist
Copyright: Medical News Today
Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today

• Additional
• References
• Citations

Fifteen-Year Trends in Awareness of Heart Disease in Women
Lori Mosca, MD, MPH, PhD, Chair; Gmerice Hammond, MD; Heidi Mochari-Greenberger, PhD, MPH, RD; Amytis Towfighi, MD; Michelle A. Albert, MD, MPH
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Sars-like virus death reported in UK

Sars-like virus death reported in UK

19 February 2013 Last updated at 05:47 ET By James Gallagher Health and science reporter, BBC News Scientists have sequenced the infection's full genome

A patient infected with a new respiratory illness similar to the deadly Sars virus has died in the UK.

He was being treated at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham and died on Sunday morning, the hospital has confirmed.

Of the 12 people known to have been infected with the virus around the world, six have died.

The threat to the general population is thought to be small, although the virus has shown signs of spreading in people.

Three members of the same family have been infected with the virus in the UK as well as another patient who was flown in from Qatar for treatment.

It is thought one family member picked up the virus while travelling to the Middle East and Pakistan and then the virus spread to his son and another family member.

The son, who died, had a weakened immune system, which would have left him more vulnerable to the infection.

Continue reading the main story

Confirmed cases

Saudi Arabia: Five cases, three deaths

Jordan: Two cases, two deaths

UK: Four cases, one death

Germany: One case, flown from Qatar

Total: 12 cases, six deaths

Source: Health Protection Agency/World Health Organization

The hospital said it extended its sympathies to the family and was working with the Health Protection Agency to test other people who may have come into contact with the virus.

The infection causes pneumonia and sometimes kidney failure.

The exact source of the new virus and how it spreads is still unknown. The leading theory is that it comes from animals and the new Sars-like virus does appear to be closely related to a virus in bats.

The threat posed by the virus is thought to be low as it struggles to spread in people.

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Speaking on Thursday, Dr Paul Cosford, deputy chief executive at the HPA, said: "It appears very difficult to catch"

Prof John Watson, head of the respiratory diseases department at the Health Protection Agency, said: "The routes of transmission to humans of the novel coronavirus have not yet been fully determined, but the recent UK experience provides strong evidence of human-to-human transmission in at least some circumstances.

"The three recent cases in the UK represent an important opportunity to obtain more information about the characteristics of this infection in humans and risk factors for its acquisition, particularly in the light of the first ever recorded instance of apparently lower severity of illness in one of the cases.

"The risk of infection in contacts in most circumstances is still considered to be low and the risk associated with novel coronavirus to the general UK population remains very low."

Prof Ian Jones, from the University of Reading, said: "Given the previous health status of the patient it may be premature to assume the death was a result of the infection but even if it was, it is unlikely to signify a change in the virus.

"No general virus spread has been reported meaning the risk to the public remains very low."

Does childhood TV viewing lead to criminal behavior?

Does childhood TV viewing lead to criminal behavior?

Two recent studies linking childhood television viewing to antisocial behavior and criminal acts as adults are prompting some pediatricians to call for a national boob tube intervention.

A commentary published alongside the studies in the journal Pediatrics on Monday lamented the fact that most parents have failed to limit their children's television viewing to no more than one or two hours a day -- a recommendation made by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

On average, preschool-age children in the United States spend 4.4 hours per day in front of the television, either at home or in daycare.

"The problem is, they are not listening," wrote Dr. Claire McCarthy, a pediatrician at Boston Children's Hospital. "With our society of smartphones and YouTube and video streaming, screen time is becoming more a part of daily life, not less."

Now, based on evidence from a University of Washington study, McCarthy and others say that pediatricians should focus instead on the type of television children are viewing. Parents should steer children toward educational or "prosocial" programming instead of shows featuring violence and aggression.

"It is a variation on the 'if you can't beat 'em join 'em' idea," McCarthy wrote. "If the screens are going to be on, let's concentrate on the content, and how we can make it work for children."

The consequences are significant, experts say.

A study conducted by the University of Otago in New Zealand concluded that every extra hour of television watched by children on a weeknight increased by 30% the risk of having a criminal conviction by age 26.

The study was based on 1,037 New Zealanders born in 1972 and 1973, and interviewed at regular intervals until age 26. It also involved a review of criminal and mental health records.

"Young adults who had spent more time watching television during childhood and adolescence were significantly more likely to have a criminal conviction, a diagnosis of antisocial personality disorder, and more aggressive personality traits compared with those who viewed less television," wrote Lindsay Robertson, the lead author and a public health researcher at Dunedin School of Medicine.

In the University of Washington study, researchers devised a "media diet intervention" in which parents were assisted in substituting prosocial and education programming for more violent fare. However, the parents were not asked to reduce their children's total viewing time.

The study involved 565 Seattle-area parents with children ages 3 to 5 and lasted a year. A control group of children were allowed to watch television as they usually did, while the intervention group was steered toward programming that featured nonviolent conflict resolution, cooperative problem solving, manners and empathy. (Examples of such shows included "Dora the Explorer," "Sesame Street" and "Super Why.") 

Both groups of children were evaluated for their social competence after six months and after 12 months.

The intervention group showed "significant improvements" in social competence testing scores after six months, wrote Dr. Dimitri Christakis, lead author and pediatrics professor. Low-income boys appeared to benefit the most, authors said.

"Although television is frequently implicated as a cause of many problems in children, our research indicates that it may also be part of the solution," authors wrote.

The authors of both papers noted that the studies were limited in some respects.

Authors of the New Zealand study said it was possible that antisocial behavior itself led to more television viewing.

And authors of the Seattle study noted that while parents were not told of the purpose of the study, they may have figured it out and modified their behavior, biasing the results.

Return to Booster Shots blog.

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TV Shows Can Improve Behavior Among Children

TV Shows Can Improve Behavior Among Children

Editor's Choice
Academic Journal
Main Category: Pediatrics / Children's Health
Article Date: 18 Feb 2013 - 11:00 PST

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Patient / Public:

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5 (2 votes)

Television has a huge influence over children; with most kids mimicking the behaviors they see on screen - whether it be loving or violent. U.S. preschoolers watch an average of four hours of TV everyday and researchers believe that instead of trying to limit the amount of television they watch, it is best to encourage shows that promote positive behavior.

The study, published in Pediatrics, identified that there are ways that TV watching can impact children's behavior in a positive way.

According to the abstract:

"Although previous studies have revealed that preschool-aged children imitate both aggression and pro-social behaviors on screen, there have been few population-based studies designed to reduce aggression in preschool-aged children by modifying what they watch."

By modifying what children watch on TV and reducing exposure to screen violence and increasing exposure to pro-social programming, the researchers identified a positive change in behavior among preschoolers.

The lead author of the study, Dimitri Christakis, said: "We've known for decades that kids imitate what they see on TV. They imitate good behaviors and they imitate bad behaviors."

A total of 820 families with kids aged 3 to 5 were included in the study.

They developed a media diet intervention that assisted half of these families in replacing aggression-laden programming with good quality educational and pro-social programming. Shows such as "Dora the Explorer" and "Sesame Street" were part of a recommended program guide given to parents - these are shows that encourage diversity and teach important life lessons.

Shows such as Sesame Street promote values and life lessons that are good for children.

The rest of the families were part of the control group which did not include any form of intervention.

The families were followed up regularly to evaluate any changes in viewing and behavioral habits. In comparison to the controls, the children who were part of the media diet intervention group spent considerably less time watching violent shows after 6 and 12 months than they did at the start of the study.

Children in the intervention group were found to be less aggressive

Changes in behavior among the children were derived from the Social Competence and Behavior Evaluation. At 6 months the score was 2.11 points higher in the intervention group than the controls, demonstrating less aggression and an overall increase in pro-social behavior. This indicates that the intervention was successful at positively impacting behavior among children.

In 2007, researchers explained at the British Psychological Society's Developmental Section Annual Conference that kids learn from television if pictures are accompanied by language in the same way as in real life.

However, it is crucial that parents fully understand the potential physical health risks associated with children watching an excessive amount of TV. Findings published in the International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity identified that the more hours children watch TV, the more their physical fitness decreases.

Written by Joseph Nordqvist
Copyright: Medical News Today
Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today

• Additional
• References
• Citations

"Modifying Media Content for Preschool Children: A Randomized Controlled Trial"
Dimitri A. Christakis, MD, MPH, Michelle M. Garrison, PhDa,c, Todd Herrenkohl, PhD, Kevin Haggerty, MSW, Frederick P. Rivara, MD, MPH, Chuan Zhou, PhD, and Kimberly Liekweg, BA
Pediatrics Please use one of the following formats to cite this article in your essay, paper or report:

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TV Shows Can Improve Behavior Among Children

TV Shows Can Improve Behavior Among Children

Editor's Choice
Academic Journal
Main Category: Pediatrics / Children's Health
Article Date: 18 Feb 2013 - 11:00 PST

email to a friend   printer friendly   opinions   <!-- rate article

Patient / Public:

Healthcare Prof:

5 (2 votes)

Television has a huge influence over children; with most kids mimicking the behaviors they see on screen - whether it be loving or violent. U.S. preschoolers watch an average of four hours of TV everyday and researchers believe that instead of trying to limit the amount of television they watch, it is best to encourage shows that promote positive behavior.

The study, published in Pediatrics, identified that there are ways that TV watching can impact children's behavior in a positive way.

According to the abstract:

"Although previous studies have revealed that preschool-aged children imitate both aggression and pro-social behaviors on screen, there have been few population-based studies designed to reduce aggression in preschool-aged children by modifying what they watch."

By modifying what children watch on TV and reducing exposure to screen violence and increasing exposure to pro-social programming, the researchers identified a positive change in behavior among preschoolers.

The lead author of the study, Dimitri Christakis, said: "We've known for decades that kids imitate what they see on TV. They imitate good behaviors and they imitate bad behaviors."

A total of 820 families with kids aged 3 to 5 were included in the study.

They developed a media diet intervention that assisted half of these families in replacing aggression-laden programming with good quality educational and pro-social programming. Shows such as "Dora the Explorer" and "Sesame Street" were part of a recommended program guide given to parents - these are shows that encourage diversity and teach important life lessons.

Shows such as Sesame Street promote values and life lessons that are good for children.

The rest of the families were part of the control group which did not include any form of intervention.

The families were followed up regularly to evaluate any changes in viewing and behavioral habits. In comparison to the controls, the children who were part of the media diet intervention group spent considerably less time watching violent shows after 6 and 12 months than they did at the start of the study.

Children in the intervention group were found to be less aggressive

Changes in behavior among the children were derived from the Social Competence and Behavior Evaluation. At 6 months the score was 2.11 points higher in the intervention group than the controls, demonstrating less aggression and an overall increase in pro-social behavior. This indicates that the intervention was successful at positively impacting behavior among children.

In 2007, researchers explained at the British Psychological Society's Developmental Section Annual Conference that kids learn from television if pictures are accompanied by language in the same way as in real life.

However, it is crucial that parents fully understand the potential physical health risks associated with children watching an excessive amount of TV. Findings published in the International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity identified that the more hours children watch TV, the more their physical fitness decreases.

Written by Joseph Nordqvist
Copyright: Medical News Today
Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today

• Additional
• References
• Citations

"Modifying Media Content for Preschool Children: A Randomized Controlled Trial"
Dimitri A. Christakis, MD, MPH, Michelle M. Garrison, PhDa,c, Todd Herrenkohl, PhD, Kevin Haggerty, MSW, Frederick P. Rivara, MD, MPH, Chuan Zhou, PhD, and Kimberly Liekweg, BA
Pediatrics Please use one of the following formats to cite this article in your essay, paper or report:

MLA

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Please note: If no author information is provided, the source is cited instead.

---

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'TV Shows Can Improve Behavior Among Children'

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Note: Any medical information published on this website is not intended as a substitute for informed medical advice and you should not take any action before consulting with a health care professional. For more information, please read our terms and conditions.

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MNT (logo) is the registered EU trade mark of MediLexicon Int. Limited.

TV Shows Can Improve Behavior Among Children

TV Shows Can Improve Behavior Among Children

Editor's Choice
Academic Journal
Main Category: Pediatrics / Children's Health
Article Date: 18 Feb 2013 - 11:00 PST

email to a friend   printer friendly   opinions   <!-- rate article

Patient / Public:

Healthcare Prof:

5 (2 votes)

Television has a huge influence over children; with most kids mimicking the behaviors they see on screen - whether it be loving or violent. U.S. preschoolers watch an average of four hours of TV everyday and researchers believe that instead of trying to limit the amount of television they watch, it is best to encourage shows that promote positive behavior.

The study, published in Pediatrics, identified that there are ways that TV watching can impact children's behavior in a positive way.

According to the abstract:

"Although previous studies have revealed that preschool-aged children imitate both aggression and pro-social behaviors on screen, there have been few population-based studies designed to reduce aggression in preschool-aged children by modifying what they watch."

By modifying what children watch on TV and reducing exposure to screen violence and increasing exposure to pro-social programming, the researchers identified a positive change in behavior among preschoolers.

The lead author of the study, Dimitri Christakis, said: "We've known for decades that kids imitate what they see on TV. They imitate good behaviors and they imitate bad behaviors."

A total of 820 families with kids aged 3 to 5 were included in the study.

They developed a media diet intervention that assisted half of these families in replacing aggression-laden programming with good quality educational and pro-social programming. Shows such as "Dora the Explorer" and "Sesame Street" were part of a recommended program guide given to parents - these are shows that encourage diversity and teach important life lessons.

Shows such as Sesame Street promote values and life lessons that are good for children.

The rest of the families were part of the control group which did not include any form of intervention.

The families were followed up regularly to evaluate any changes in viewing and behavioral habits. In comparison to the controls, the children who were part of the media diet intervention group spent considerably less time watching violent shows after 6 and 12 months than they did at the start of the study.

Children in the intervention group were found to be less aggressive

Changes in behavior among the children were derived from the Social Competence and Behavior Evaluation. At 6 months the score was 2.11 points higher in the intervention group than the controls, demonstrating less aggression and an overall increase in pro-social behavior. This indicates that the intervention was successful at positively impacting behavior among children.

In 2007, researchers explained at the British Psychological Society's Developmental Section Annual Conference that kids learn from television if pictures are accompanied by language in the same way as in real life.

However, it is crucial that parents fully understand the potential physical health risks associated with children watching an excessive amount of TV. Findings published in the International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity identified that the more hours children watch TV, the more their physical fitness decreases.

Written by Joseph Nordqvist
Copyright: Medical News Today
Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today

• Additional
• References
• Citations

"Modifying Media Content for Preschool Children: A Randomized Controlled Trial"
Dimitri A. Christakis, MD, MPH, Michelle M. Garrison, PhDa,c, Todd Herrenkohl, PhD, Kevin Haggerty, MSW, Frederick P. Rivara, MD, MPH, Chuan Zhou, PhD, and Kimberly Liekweg, BA
Pediatrics Please use one of the following formats to cite this article in your essay, paper or report:

MLA

---

APA

---

Please note: If no author information is provided, the source is cited instead.

---

Add Your Opinion On This Article

'TV Shows Can Improve Behavior Among Children'

Please note that we publish your name, but we do not publish your email address. It is only used to let you know when your message is published. We do not use it for any other purpose. Please see our privacy policy for more information.

If you write about specific medications or operations, please do not name health care professionals by name.

All opinions are moderated before being included (to stop spam)

Contact Our News Editors

For any corrections of factual information, or to contact the editors please use our feedback form.

Please send any medical news or health news press releases to:

Note: Any medical information published on this website is not intended as a substitute for informed medical advice and you should not take any action before consulting with a health care professional. For more information, please read our terms and conditions.

Privacy Policy | Terms and Conditions

MediLexicon International Ltd
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MediLexicon International Ltd
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MNT (logo) is the registered EU trade mark of MediLexicon Int. Limited.

Synthetic marijuana linked to kidney damage and failure, warns new study

Synthetic marijuana linked to kidney damage and failure, warns new study

Before you light up a blunt full of synthetic marijuana, consider what the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found in a study of synthetic cannabinoid use.

The CDC took a look at sixteen cases of acute kidney injury following exposure to synthetic marijuana, according to the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. The patients ranged in age from 15 to 33 years and none reported a history of kidney disease.

All 16 patients first visited emergency departments and subsequently were hospitalized for further treatment, according to the report. The patients were young, previously healthy males who admitted to smoking either a blueberry-flavored synthetic cannabinoid product or an unspecified synthetic cannabinoid product.

Synthetic marijuana is sold under many names, including K2, fake weed, Yucatan Fire, Skunk, Moon Rocks and several others, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. All of these products contain dried, shredded planet material and chemical additives that give the drug its mind-altering effects.

The National Institute on Drug Abuse adds that synthetic marijuana is popular among young people. The misperception that synthetic marijuana products are “natural” and therefore safe have probably contributed to their popularity among high school students. K2 is also difficult to detect in standard drug tests.

“Synthetic cannabinoids are not safe alternatives to marijuana,” Michael Schwartz, a co-author of the CDC report, told USA Today. “There are unexpected and unpredictable health problems that can occur.”

The National Institute of Drug Abuse also notes that synthetic marijuana has been relatively easy to purchase in head shops, gas stations and online.

“The availability of the synthetic cannabinoid products, coupled with how rapidly the chemicals present in the various products change, really creates a recipe for a public health disaster,” added Schwartz, a medical officer in the CDC’s National Center for Environmental Health.

The Washington Post reports that Maryland lawmakers are getting tough on synthetic marijuana, making the manufacture, possession or distribution of the drug illegal throughout the Old Line State. In 2012, President Barack Obama banned synthetic marijuana and similar drugs, according to the Post.

The new federal law placed 26 substances in the list of Schedule 1 controlled substances. However, drug manufactures will make minor changes to their products to develop substances not located on the list.

The CDC notes that law enforcement officials, public health officials, clinicians, scientists and the public should be aware of the dangers of synthetic cannabinoid use.

Will the CDC’s report on synthetic marijuana convince lawmakers to add additional varieties of synthetic marijuana to the federal list of Schedule 1 controlled substances? If some states have already made the move toward legalizing recreational marijuana use (Colorado and Washington State), what should be done about synthetic marijuana? Share your thoughts in the comments section.