Lots of interesting news today from different areas of medicine

Lots of interesting news today from different areas of medicine.

I’ve never considered children having thyroid cancer – but it’s definitely a possibility. This is the article that drew my attention to the issue: Early detection critical in treating pediatric thyroid cancer.

Of course, one of my favourite topics was addressed too: Journal Sleep: Study concludes a daytime nap can benefit a person's memory performance . I love it when I read those types of articles.

Sleep is a very interesting topic because too much or too little has such a profound effect on us. These were interesting: Journal Sleep: Respiratory disturbances during sleep increase significantly with age and Journal Sleep: Chronic insomnia can predict future functioning of adolescents.

As someone who experiences a profound, intense itch behind one shoulder, this story caught my eye: Research suggests why scratching is so relieving.

And, as a lot of research is done to help the medical community understand differences between different cultural and ethnic groups, their management in health care, and their reactions and thoughts regarding health care. Here are two articles: Blacks twice as susceptible and more likely to die of severe sepsis than whites and African Americans Less Likely To Choose Epidurals For Post Operative Pain Relief.

Finally, this one was very interesting for me because of my own past: Abuse history affects pain regulation in women with irritable bowel syndrome.

Have a good weekend everyone!
(Don't forget to visit Helpmyhurt.com to learn more about pain and pain management.)

Have you had acupuncture?

(don't believe the date that's showing - it is January 30!)

I went for my first ever acupuncture appointment yesterday. I've been wanting to do it for a while, but I was worried about finding a qualified person who would know what he or she was doing - not someone who was setting up shop just for the heck of it.

I didn't know this, but acupuncture is a 3-year diploma program here in Quebec. The acupuncturist was a lovely young woman with a great manner. Although I have a laundry list of things I'd like to take care of, I had one primary goal: to get rid of a stress-related itch behind my left shoulder.

It started 9 years ago when I went through one of the most stressful times of my life. I began experiencing a horrendous, unbearable itch behind my left shoulder. It comes and goes now, it's so incredibly intense that if it starts at night, it wakes me. To me, it's worse than pain.

I wasn't expecting miracles, but I also went in expecting this to work. I am a believer in Chinese medicine. I believe there has to be something to it because their culture has been around a lot longer than mine.

I'm pleased to report that the itching has really gone down. I get the odd spurt, but I didn't expect to be cured after just one treatment. I go back next week and I'm glad to. I actually found it very relaxing.

News for Today:

Carbon monoxide may cause long-lasting heart damage

Physician characteristics are associated with quality of cancer care

Hand gel not enough to curb hospital infections: study

Health Canada reviewing safety of Botox

Tiny brain vacuum gives hope to stroke victims

Interesting study finding - women's breasts and diabetes

I wonder how many women read this story, Breast size may indicate diabetes risk: study, and either looked down at their chest or tried to remember back to when they were younger. How odd that someone would pick up on this in the course of the health study.

Sometimes, I really do wonder....

News for Today:

Intervention Program Boosts Health, Reduces Symptoms in Breast Cancer Patients

Over-the-counter eardrops may cause hearing loss or damage

ACPM concludes insufficient evidence to recommend routine prostate cancer screening

Study finds increasing rates of diabetes among older Americans

Breast size may indicate diabetes risk: study

Morning sickness

When I was pregnant with my first son, 21 years ago, I had what I thought was horrible morning sickness – all day long. When people would tell me not to worry, it would only last a few months, I’d shoot back with “how would you like to have the flu for just a few months?” I felt awful. I didn’t have the really bad nausea that I couldn’t keep anything down, but I had what I call a constant, low-grade kind of nausea. The kind that you can’t fight off and always seemed to be with you.

I do realize that I was lucky, unlike a couple of friends of mine. One, who was pregnant at the same time as me and also with her first pregnancy, had to be hospitalized a couple of times because her “morning” sickness was so severe. I can’t imagine how it must feel to feel so physically horrible when experiencing something you wanted so much – a pregnancy.

There isn’t much that can yet be done for morning sickness and now this article,
Central IVs risky for severe morning sickness, has added to the debate of how exactly to manage it.

Luckily for me, my next two pregnancies only had moderate nausea and discomfort – I was really very fortunate. Hopefully, doctors will be able to figure out how to help those pregnant women who aren’t quite as lucky.

News for Today:
Pill offers long-term protection against ovarian cancer: study
Winter's SAD times
Pill-sized camera can be swallowed for cancer scan: researchers
Central IVs risky for severe morning sickness