MEDICAL NEWS BRIEFS #10

Systolic BP Appears to Rise Slightly in Winter Months

   The American Heart Association’s Hypertension Scientific Sessions 2023 reported that systolic BP (the upper number) rose up to 1.7 mm Hg, and rates of BP control decreased by 5% during winter months compared to control rates in the summer. To this I say “big deal!”

Existing COVID-19 Vaccines & Prior Infection Can Protect Against BA.2.86 Variant

   The CDC has announced that antibodies from previous COVID-19 infections and from previous vaccines were sufficient to protect patients against the BA.2.86 variant, so says the CDC. BA.2.86 is responsible for the current increase on COVID cases and hospitalizations. Also coming is an updated vaccine that targets the XBB 1.5 sub variant of Omicron.

Combination of Certain Oral Contraceptives with NSAIDs May Raise Risk for Blood Clots in the Legs or Lungs

     Birth control pills and estrogen-containing contraceptives increase women’s risk of developing blood clots in the legs or lungs. The British Medical Journal reported this fact, and also stated that the risk of blood clots further increased during weeks when those women took NSAID’s. BCP’s and ibuprofen are risky taken together.

More Primary Care Physicians Retiring, Fewer Medical Students Choosing The Field

   Internists and family physicians have been leaving practice in large numbers. Those who remain are older and working fewer hours. Fewer medical students are choosing the field that once attracted some of the best and brightest. The share of physicians in primary care is now 25%, a level where Americans will have trouble finding a family doctor.

American Red Cross Declares Blood Shortage, with Supply at “Critically Low Levels”

   There is a National shortage of blood for transfusion because of a number of natural disasters that has drained supply, plus donor turnout dropped during a very busy travel season. The Red Cross said the need is for platelets and type “O” blood donors. 

FDA Approves New Round of COVID-19 Boosters

   The FDA approved new COVID boosters. They are calling them updated vaccines that better match currently circulating virus. The new vaccine targets XBB 1.5 Omicron variant.

Night Owls have Unhealthy Lifestyle Behaviors and Have Increased Risk of Developing Type ll diabetes

   The Annals of Internal Medicine reported that night owls are more likely to have unhealthy lifestyles compared to early birds. And that leads to higher risk for developing Type II Diabetes. Late sleepers had a 72% higher risk for diabetes. When diet, smoking, alcohol use, BMI, physical activity, and sleep duration were subtracted, the diabetes risk weakened to 19%.

Just 1 in 4 Get Colorectal Cancer Screening Recommendation, Study Finds

   The Annals of Internal Medicine reports in a study of 5000 adults overdue for colorectal cancer screening, only 30% of them were recommended to have a screening procedure during their wellness visit. Of those folks who did not have a regular doctor or were uninsured, only 15% were told to get screened. 

Despite a 45% Drop in Opioid Prescriptions, Overdose Deaths Have Soared

   Between 2011 and 2019, the number of RX hydro cod one and oxycodone pills dropped from 12.8 billion to 7.1 billion, a 45% decrease. But during that same period, opioid deaths rose from 21,000 to 82,000 an increase of 390%. Illicit fentanyl is the reason for the huge increase in deaths. 

Physicians Caution People Not to Overuse Laxatives or Take Them for Purposes Other Than Constipation

   People are taking laxatives for weight loss. This is a disaster waiting to happen. Doctors are cautioning patients not to use laxatives for this purpose.

Low Dose Aspirin May Help Lower Risk For Developing Diabetes in Older Adults

   Older adults who took a 100 mg enteric-coated aspirin had a 15% lower risk for developing new-onset diabetes than people who took placebo. This comes from the European Association  for the Study of Diabetes. 

The More InActive Seniors Are, The Higher Their Risk for Dementia

   Citizens of the UK at least 60 years old, who “clocked 12 hours per day of inactivity over 24 hours saw their risk for dementia increase by 63% while those who sat around for 15 hours a day had a stunning 320% increase in dementia risk.” JAMA reported this data correlating dementia risk with inactivity.

Overdose Deaths Reach New Heights Says CDC

   The CDC reported that “over 111,000 people died from drug overdoses in the 12-month period ending in April….a record.” That is about a thousand more than were reported last year.

References: AAFP Family Medicine Today Systolic Blood Pressure Appears to Rise Slightly in Winter Months 2023 Sept 11.

AAFP Family Medicine Today Existing COVID-19 Vaccines, Prior Infection Can Protect Against BA.2.86 Variant, CDC Says 2023 Sept 11.

     Combination of Certain Oral Contraceptives with NSAID’s May Raise Risk For Blood Clots in

     the Legs and Lungs 2023 Sept 11.

     More Primary Care Physicians Retiring, Fewer Medical Students Choosing the Field. 2023

     Sept 11.

     American Red Cross Declares Blood Shortage, with Supply at “Critically Low Levels” 2023

     September 12.

     Evening Chronotype Associated with Higher Likelihood of Developing Type II Diabetes

     Study Finds 2023 Sept 12.

     Just 1 in 4 Get Colorectal Cancer Screening Recommendation, Study Finds 2023 Sept 12

     Despite 45% drop in opioid prescriptions between 2011 and 2019, Overdose deaths have

     soared. 2023 Sept. 13.

     Physicians Are Cautioning People Not To Overuse Laxatives Or Take Them For Purposes

     Other Than Constipation Relief 2023 Sept 13.

     Low-dose Aspirin May Help Lower Risk For Developing Diabetes Among Older Adults 2023

     Sept 13.

     The More Inactive Seniors Are, The Higher Their Risk For Dementia 2023 Sept 13.

     Overdose Deaths Reach New Heights, Latest CDC Data Show 2023 Sept 14.