Category: Medical News

Colorectal cancer, also called colon cancer, is the fourth most common cancer in the United States. It is the second leading cause of death from cancer. Colorectal cancer affects all racial and ethnic groups and is most often found in people ages 50 and older.

The best way to detect colorectal cancer is to get screened regularly starting at age 50. When caught early, colon cancer can be treated and cured. There are often no signs or symptoms of early colorectal cancer – that’s why it’s so important to get screened. You may also be at higher risk if you are African American, smoke, or have a family history of colorectal cancer.

Everyone can take these healthy steps to help prevent colorectal cancer:

*  Get screened starting at age 50.

*  Quit smoking and avoid secondhand smoke.

*  Get plenty of physical activity and eat healthy.

A new alternative to colonoscopy?

Many people delay or avoid a life-saving colonoscopy because they are nervous about the procedure, or don’t want to do the necessary prep of cleansing the colon. A new test, approved in 2014, may be an option for some lower-risk individuals.

A stool DNA test, which can be done at home and mailed to a lab, may detect certain changes that are found in cancer cells. There’s no special diet, laxatives or enemas required. For those who have been putting off colon cancer screening, the DNA test may be a good place to start.

If the DNA test shows possible cancer, however, a colonoscopy would most likely need to be done. Before choosing a colorectal cancer test, be sure to talk with your doctor about his or her recommendation. You may also need to contact your insurance company to find out which screening tests are covered.

Colorectal cancer screening saves lives. If everyone age 50 and older had their screening tests done as recommended, up to 60 percent of all colorectal cancer deaths could be avoided. Though no one looks forward to a colonoscopy, it’s worth the inconvenience. It could save your life!

Source: American Cancer Society, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Did you know that diabetes can affect your eyes? If diabetes isn’t well controlled with a doctor’s help, it can cause problems that can lead to vision loss. Eye problems that are caused by diabetes are called diabetic eye disease.

Diabetic eye disease includes:

*  Diabetic retinopathy

*  Diabetic macular edema (DME)

*  Cataracts

*  Glaucoma

What’s the link between diabetes and your eyes?

When blood sugar is too high, it can change or damage the delicate blood vessels in the eyes. This can lead to too much pressure in the eye, bleeding in the eye or swelling in some of the eye’s important tissues. Diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of blindness for adults ages 20 through 74.

Diabetic eye disease is dangerous because many people don’t know they have it. These eye problems may have no signs or symptoms at first. Then, a person may start to lose their vision after eye damage has already occurred. Unfortunately, it is harder to treat these problems at a later stage.

The good news

Diabetes can be controlled. When you have good control over your diabetes and blood sugar, you can manage or avoid diabetic eye disease.

You control your diabetes by:

*  Taking your medications as prescribed by your doctor

*  Monitoring blood sugar levels

*  Getting regular exercise

*  Eating a healthy diet

*  Working toward a healthy weight

*  Not smoking

*  Getting a full eye exam at least once a year, including an exam that includes dilating of the eyes

The diabetes ABCs are important measures of good diabetes control. Your ABCs are:

*  A = A1C, which is a blood sugar (glucose) measurement. Your doctor can test this. Most people should have an A1C below 7 percent. This should be checked every 3-6 months.

*  B = Blood pressure, which should be checked at each doctor appointment. Discuss your blood pressure target with your doctor.

*  C = Cholesterol, which may need to be checked yearly or more often. Ask your doctor about a healthy cholesterol goal.

Getting regular checkups and following your doctor’s recommendations for managing your diabetes will greatly reduce your risk of these problems. Most people with well-controlled diabetes can keep their eyes healthy.

Sources: American Diabetes Association, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

Curvature of the spine (or scoliosis) may sound like a scary diagnosis, but proper treatment enables children with the condition to lead normal, active lives.

Small curves are a normal part of the spine and not cause for concern, according to Dr. Daniel Green, a pediatric orthopedic surgeon at Hospital for Special Surgery in Manhattan. But when the curve exceeds a certain range, children require medical help.

Scoliosis tends to run in families, but most often the cause is not known. However, studies show that scoliosis is not caused by poor posture, the use of backpacks, or any type of exercise. It affects girls 10 times more often than boys.

Scoliosis is often first detected during a routine visit to the child’s doctor or during a school screening. The development of scoliosis is usually gradual and painless. A curve can develop without a parent or child knowing it, until it becomes more obvious.

Signs of scoliosis

*  One shoulder appears higher than the other.

*  The waist appears uneven.

*  One hip looks higher than the other.

*  The ribs appear to stick out on one side.

*  The child seems to be leaning to one side when standing.

Early diagnosis and treatment lead to a better outcome. The diagnosis is based on a physical exam and x-rays. A curve of greater than 10 degrees on an x-ray is considered to be scoliosis.

For patients with smaller curves, the doctor may recommend just watching the condition. For bigger curves, the best treatment may be a brace to correct the condition. Sometimes surgery may be needed.

Each August, National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM) encourages all people to protect their health by being immunized against infectious diseases. This year, the National Public Health Information Coalition is coordinating NIAM activities and along with CDC is focusing on four weekly themes:

A Healthy Start

If you are pregnant or are planning a pregnancy, get vaccines as advised by your health care provider. These include vaccines for flu and whooping cough.

Today’s childhood vaccines protect against 14 serious and potentially life-threatening diseases, including polio, measles, whooping cough and chickenpox. Most childhood vaccines are given during a baby’s first 2 years. That’s why it feels like so many vaccines so soon. Learn which vaccines a child needs from birth to age 6 atwww.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/easy-to-read/child.html.

Back to School

Schools are highly prone to outbreaks of infectious diseases because students can easily transmit illnesses to one another as a result of poor hand washing, uncovered coughs and dense populations. Check out the immunization schedule for all recommended vaccines for ages 7 to 18 atwww.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/easy-to-read/preteen-teen.htm.

Off to the Future

Because some diseases can spread quickly in settings like college dorms and classrooms, many colleges and universities have vaccine requirements for school entry. College-age students should get vaccines not yet received in childhood and follow the adult vaccine schedule, as needed.

Not Just for Kids

Did you know that adults age 19 and older need a Tdap vaccine for whooping cough if they did not get it as a teen? Adults should also get vaccines for: tetanus / diphtheria every 10 years, shingles at age 60 or older, and pneumonia at age 65. See CDC’s adult vaccine schedule for these and other vaccines atwww.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/downloads/adult/adult-schedule-easy-read.pdf.