FDA Launches BeSafeRx to Raise Awareness of Unsafe Internet Pharmacies

The FDA has launched BeSafeRx: Know Your Online Pharmacy, a national campaign aimed at raising awareness of Internet pharmacies and their potential risks to consumer health.

According to the FDA, some Internet pharmacies may sell fake, expired, contaminated, non-FDA-approved or otherwise unsafe products.

According to BeSafeRx, the following should raise red flags about online pharmacies:

• Allow you to buy drugs without a prescription from your doctor
• Offer deep discounts or cheap prices that seem too good to be true
• Send spam or unsolicited email offering cheap drugs
• Are located outside the United States 
• Are not licensed in the United States 

The BeSafeRx site also contains a state-by-state directory of safe online pharmacies. 

To learn more about BeSafeRx, click here. 

Knee Replacement Surgery Rate Soars

The number of first-time knee replacement surgeries among Medicare recipients has jumped 162 percent in the past 20 years, according to a new study out of the University of Iowa. The surge in surgeries has cost Medicare roughly $9 billion annually.

The researchers also found increases in the number of hospital readmissions and infection rates, which they attributed to shorter hospital stays after surgery.

The jump in knee replacement surgeries was attributed to an increase in obesity rates and a rapidly aging baby boomer population.

To learn more, click here.

AHRQ Develops Pilot Program to Allow Patients, Families to Report Medical Mistakes

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) has developed a pilot program that would allow patients and their families to report medical mistakes directly to the federal government. The agency is hoping to gain approval for the project from the Obama administration.

The AHRQ hopes that issues such as medication errors, uncommunicative doctors and nurses, poor collaboration between providers, infections, failure of clinicians to disclose a mistake and unsanitary conditions would be reported. The claims would then be researched by the RAND Corporation and ECRI Institute.

The concerns could be reported through online or phone questionnaires.

To learn more, click here.

COPD Linked to Low Blood Oxygen Levels, Poor Sleep

Researchers have found that people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, are more likely to have low arterial blood oxygen levels as well as fatigue, sleepiness and an impaired quality of life.

The research team also found that individuals with COPD have a more difficult time getting to sleep and have more interrupted sleep. These sleeping troubles are likely tied to the low arterial blood oxygen levels (also known as daytime hypoxemia).

To learn more, click here.

High Normal Blood-Sugar Levels Can Lead to Brain Shrinkage

A new study has found that blood-sugar levels that are at the upper end of the normal range can still be detrimental to the brain.

Being on the high end of the normal range - in other words, not high enough to be classified as diabetes or prediabetes - can make somebody more likely to have brain shrinkage in certain areas than people with lower blood-sugar levels. Previous studies had linked Type 2 diabetes to brain shrinkage.

The researchers noted that their findings could lead to the reevaluation of normal blood-sugar levels and the definition of diabetes.

The study involved 249 people, aged 60 to 64, whose blood-sugar levels were in the normal range as defined by the World Health Organization (WHO).

To learn more, click here.

Scientists Link Second-Hand Smoke to Memory Problems

The results of a small study have linked exposure to second-hand smoke to memory problems. This could lead to embarrassment as well as more serious complications, such as forgetting to take medication. 

The researchers added that while the study doesn't prove that smoke damages memory, it is nonetheless cause for concern. 

According to Tom Heffernan, the study's lead author, "This research extends what is already known about the effects of smoking and second-hand smoke, suggesting there is not only health effects from it, but cognitive consequences too." He added that the researchers are looking to confirm their findings using other methods as well. 

To learn more, click here. 

Study: UTIs More Common in Type 2 Diabetics

According to a new study published in the Journal of Diabetic Complications, individuals with Type 2 diabetes are more likely to develop urinary tract infections (UTIs) than non-diabetics.

The researchers found that the incidence of UTIs was 46.9 per 1,000 person-years for diabetics and 29.9 per 1,000 person-years for non-diabetics. Both groups were tracked for two years.

To learn more, click here.

Cancer Now Leading Cause of Death for Hispanic Americans

The American Cancer Society (ACS) has reported that cancer is now the leading cause of death among Hispanic Americans, overtaking heart disease. Heart disease remains the leading cause of death for non-Hispanic whites and African Americans.

The ACS estimates that 112,800 new cases of cancer will be diagnosed in 2012 among Hispanic Americans. Of those, 33,200 will lead to death. Hispanics are the largest and fastest-growing minority in the United States, accounting for 16.3% of the population in 2010.

While the rates of new cancer diagnoses and cancer deaths among Hispanics have been declining in recent years, the group continues to have higher rates of new cases and deaths for cancers of the stomach, liver, cervix and gallbladder, which the ACS attributes to greater exposure to cancer-causing infectious agents, lower rates of cervical cancer screening and possibly genetic factors.

To learn more, click here.

Senate Declares Sept. 22 National Falls Prevention Awareness Day

The U.S. Senate has passed a resolution, introduced by Senator Herb Kohl of Wisconsin, that establishes Saturday, September 22 (the first day of fall) as National Falls Prevention Awareness Day. Senator Kohl chairs the Senate's Special Committee on Aging.

Senator Susan Collins of Maine, who co-sponsored the resolution, said "Our goal is to unite professionals, older adults, caregivers and family members to play a part in raising awareness and preventing falls in the older adult population."

Falls are the leading cause of injuries in the elderly population. According to the CDC, more than 20,000 older adults died from injuries related to unintended falls in 2008.

To learn more, click here.

FDA Warns That Pain Relief Creams Can Cause Chemical Burns

The FDA is warning consumers that popular topical pain relief products, such as Icy Hot, Bengay, Capzasin, Flexall and Mentholatum, can cause burning pain and blistering. The agency says it has received more than 40 reported cases of injury. The products, which are typically used to soothe mild muscle and joint pain, have been linked to mild to severe chemical burns.

The agency notes that the number of reported adverse reactions is very small when compared to the number of products that are purchased and adds that there is no way to predict which individuals would have this kind of severe reaction.

The FDA has the following advice for consumers who use topical muscle and joint pain relievers:

• Don't apply the products to damaged or irritated skin.
• Don't place bandages over skin where you've applied the products.
• Don't combine the products with heating pads, hot water bottles or lamps (this can increase your risk of serious burns). 
• Don't allow the products to come into contact with mucous membranes (such as your nose, mouth or genitals).
• If you feel any actual pain after applying the products (not just the expected warming or cooling sensation), look for signs of blistering or burning. If you see any of these signs, stop using the product and seek medical attention.
• If you have concerns about using a topical pain relief product, talk to a medical professional first. 
• If you experience any unexpected side effects, report them to the FDA's MedWatch program.

To learn more, click here.

Great News: West Nile on the Decline

There's good news for those of us who have felt a sense of dread every time we slapped a hungry mosquito this summer. Officials at the CDC believe that the West Nile outbreak has peaked and they expect the number of cases to decline.

As of Tuesday, 2,636 cases of West Nile virus and 118 deaths had been reported to the CDC, the most serious outbreak since 1999 because of a high number of cases triggering neuroinvasive diseases such as encephalitis and meningitis. The elderly and those with already-compromised immune systems have been at an especially high risk.

Although West Nile cases should decline, the CDC still recommends taking the following precautions:

• Remove standing water from outdoor containers 
• Wear long pants and sleeves when outside at dusk and dawn 
• Apply insect repellent when spending time outdoors 
• Keep mosquitoes from coming indoors by using air conditioning and repairing screens on doors and windows 

To learn more, click here.

Happy National Assisted Living Week!

National Assisted Living Week is September 9-15! The theme of this year's celebration is "Art for the Ages." Residents, staff, families and the community are encouraged to come together to celebrate the artistic talents and creativity of assisted living residents.

National Assisted Living Week was established by the National Center for Assisted Living in 1995. To learn more, click here.

Introducing Embrace Skin Repair Cream

The newest addition to our Embrace family of products, Embrace Skin Repair Cream is a whole-body moisturizer designed for daily use. It protects and helps relieve dry, chapped or cracked skin.

Additional features:

• Nurtures and conditions skin
• Designed to provide maximum hydration while still being light enough for everyday use
• Forms an invisible barrier with dimethicone 
• Nourishes and rejuvenates skin with organic aloe vera and vitamins A and D
• Fresh, clean, gender-neutral scent 

To learn more about Embrace Skin Repair Cream and our complete skin care line, click here.

CMS Works to Update Definitions for Inpatient, Outpatient Status

CMS has released a proposed rule on determining whether a Medicare beneficiary is classified as a hospital inpatient or outpatient.

In the rule, CMS says "hospitals appear to be responding to the financial risk of admitting Medicare beneficiaries for inpatient stays that may later be denied upon contractor review by electing to treat beneficiaries as outpatients receiving observation services - rather than admit them."

Classification is key because Medicare beneficiaries might need care at a nursing home after an inpatient hospital stay, but Medicare does not cover the nursing home stay if the beneficiary is admitted under observation status. This can lead many beneficiaries unable to afford their follow-up care.

The American Hospital Association issued a comment letter that noted hospitals risk loss of reimbursement when patients are admitted for short stays. The AHA also said that CMS frequently criticizes hospitals that use an excessive number of observation stays.

To learn more, click here.

10 Signs You Need a New Joint

Everyone has joint pain from time to time, but how do you know when it's time to bite the bullet and replace a joint? Faculty from the Harvard Medical School say that joint replacement might be appropriate if one or more of the following apply to you: 

1. You are unable to complete normal daily tasks without help.
2. You have significant pain daily. 
3. Pain keeps you awake at night despite the use of medications. 
4. Nonsurgical approaches, such as medications, the use of a cane, and physical therapy, have not relieved your pain. 
5. Less complicated surgical procedures are unlikely to help. 
6. Pain keeps you from walking or bending over. 
7. Pain doesn't stop when you rest. 
8. You can't bend or straighten your knee, or your hip is so stiff that you can't lift your leg. 
9. You are suffering severe side effects from the medications for your joint symptoms. 
10. X-rays show advanced arthritis or other damage. 

To learn more, click here. 

Stressed Out? Smile!

It might not be easy, but try smiling the next time you're in a stressful situation. Researchers at the University of Kansas have found that doing so can lower your heart rate and reduce stress responses. 

The reason? The researchers believe that when you activate the facial muscles used to smile, it sends a message to your brain that you're happy and calm. You don't actually have to be happy, either. Faking a smile works just fine. 

To learn more, click here. 

FDA Approves New Drug for Advanced Prostate Cancer

The FDA has approved Xtandi, a drug designed to treat prostate cancer that has returned or spread despite major medical intervention. According to the National Cancer Institute, more than 241,000 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer this year and 28,170 will die from the disease.

Xtandi is indicated for patients who have already received the chemotherapy drug docetaxel and testosterone-limiting interventions, such as drugs or surgery.

During a study, patients who took Xtandi survived an average of 18.4 months longer than those who received a placebo treatment.

To learn more, click here.