Month: March 2011

A blood pressure drug may also help to fend off kidney problems for diabetics, new research suggests. Having diabetes increases the risk of developing kidney disease. One of the first signs is a small amount of protein in the urine. This is called microalbuminuria. The study included 4,447 people with type 2 diabetes. They did not have microalbuminuria when the study began. They were randomly assigned to take either a placebo or olmesartan (Benicar). This drug is called an angiotensin receptor blocker. It is used to lower blood pressure. Researchers kept track of people for 3 years. In that time, 8.2% of those taking olmesartan developed protein in the urine. The rate was 9.8% for those taking placebo pills. People taking the real drug also tended to develop the problem later. Their median time was 24 months, compared with 19 months for people taking the placebo.

Some sleep experts say people should shut off the TV, computer and other electronics an hour before bedtime. But very few Americans are heeding that advice, a survey shows. The National Sleep Foundation released its annual Sleep in America poll March 7. In all, 95% of those surveyed said they used an electronic device within an hour of bedtime at least a few times a week. About 63% said they don’t get enough sleep during the week. Experts say observing an “electronics curfew” and dimming lights can help people wind down and get ready to sleep. But the survey does not prove that the electronics use caused the loss of sleep. The survey found that 2 out of 3 people ages 30 to 64 watch TV before bedtime. People under 30 watch less late-night TV. They are much more likely to talk on a cell phone or send text messages before going to bed. HealthDay News wrote about the poll.

People think of a psychiatrist as someone sitting in a chair, listening to a patient on a couch. Increasingly, though, that image is a thing of the past, a New York Times article says. Now many psychiatrists don’t provide talk therapy. Instead, they talk to patients just long enough to see how they’re doing with their medicines. Then they write a prescription, adjusting as needed. The main reason for the change is insurance rates, the Times says. Psychologists and social workers charge less. And there’s no proof that psychiatrists do therapy better. So insurance companies pay the lower rates. A survey in 2005 found that only 11% of psychiatrists provided talk therapy to all patients, the Times says. Now they see many more patients, but briefly. Three 15-minute visits pay about $150, compared with $90 for a 45-minute talk therapy session.

Eating foods rich in potassium can reduce stroke risk, a new study finds. Researchers looked at information from 11 studies. They included 247,510 people. The studies asked people what they ate in the last day, or measured food intake in other ways. Follow-up lasted 5 to 19 years. The new study put together results from all of the studies. It found that people who ate at least 1.64 grams of potassium daily had a 21% lower risk of stroke. Their risk of heart disease also was lower, but not as much. That link may have been the result of chance. Potassium is found in fruits, vegetables, fish, poultry and dairy products. It is known to help lower blood pressure. It also may help to prevent the blood vessel damage that leads to stroke and heart disease, the lead researcher told HealthDay News. The Journal of the American College of Cardiology published the study.

Parents probably worry too much about kids’ fevers, a new report suggests. Fevers help the body fight infection. Usually children’s fevers are caused by viruses, the report notes. In most cases, they will go away without treatment and will not do any damage, it says. The American Academy of Pediatrics released the report. It says that temperatures under 100.4 are not considered fevers. Parents can treat fevers with over-the-counter medicines. The main purpose is to make the child feel better. The report says parents should pay attention to more than just temperature to give hints of how sick the child is. They should notice how the child acts and whether he or she eats and drinks normally. The journal Pediatrics published the report. The Associated Press wrote about it February 28.

People with diabetes tend to die earlier, and not just from heart disease and stroke, a new study finds. A 50-year-old with diabetes dies about 6 years sooner than someone without the disease, the research found. That compares with a 10-year shortened lifespan for longtime smokers. Researchers combined information from nearly 100 studies. They included 820,900 people. No one had been diagnosed with heart disease when the studies began. Average follow-up was about 13 ½ years. In that time, 123,000 people died. Researchers adjusted their numbers to account for other factors that affect life expectancy. These included age, gender, weight and smoking. Even with the adjustments, those who had diabetes were twice as likely to die of a heart attack or stroke as those without the disease. They also were 25% more likely to die of cancer.