Health experts again raise concerns about measles as Alberta has more cases than U.S.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CNN
12 minutes ago
- CNN
How to make sure you're getting the right supplement. 5 expert tips to help you choose
Editor's note: The podcast Chasing Life With Dr. Sanjay Gupta explores the medical science behind some of life's mysteries big and small. You can listen to episodes here. (CNN) — Take a walk down the supplement aisle of any local drugstore, and you will be confronted with a floor-to-ceiling wall of choices. Not just the usual suspects — vitamins and minerals — but also items as varied as turmeric, fish oil, probiotics and melatonin — as well as combinations that purport to burn fat (not muscle!), cure erectile dysfunction and boost memory. The deluge of options doesn't stop there. Endless social media posts claim a life-changing supplement or regimen will help you eliminate 'cortisol belly,' protect against the flu or 'reset' your hormones. But exactly how many things do we humans need to buy in the race to optimize our health and live our best life? All this noise around supplements generates confusion and anxiety, obscuring what science there is and making it hard to separate fact from wishful thinking. In the most basic sense, these products are meant to supplement the food in your diet with extra added 'dietary ingredients.' You would not be faulted for thinking that the US Food and Drug Administration regulates supplements — and the agency does, but probably not in the way you might think. Thanks to a 1994 law called the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act, or DSHEA, supplements are regulated more like a subcategory of foods, not a subcategory of medicine. This essentially means that the FDA does not have the authority to approve dietary supplements before they are marketed, unlike pharmaceuticals, which must be shown to be both safe and effective in clinical trials. 'DSHEA is the current framework that all dietary supplements are sold in,' supplement safety advocate Dr. Pieter Cohen told CNN Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta recently on his podcast, Chasing Life. The law, in part, allowed the industry to explode from approximately 4,000 products in 1994, to some 90,000 in 2017, according to estimates in a 2022 AMA Journal of Ethics policy paper. 'Now, that law in 1994 was initially … designed to better regulate vitamins and minerals,' explained Cohen, an associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and an internist at Cambridge Health Alliance, where he leads the Supplement Research Program. 'What unfortunately happened — unfortunately, in my opinion — was that that same structure was expanded to include … all nature of botanicals; many different types of extracts, like, let's say, a cow thyroid extract; live microorganisms, like both bacteria and yeast, that are sold as probiotics; protein powders; amino acids. All this was lumped together under that same framework … and all of them were called 'dietary supplements' or 'dietary ingredients.'' You can listen to the full episode here. The FDA does have some power to take action against supplements that are adulterated or misbranded, but only after they are on the market. 'The FDA is in the position of looking for problems out in the marketplace after supplements are being sold, and then working to try to identify the products, which is incredibly difficult, because they don't have an effective system to detect harms, and then to try to remove those dangerous products,' Cohen said. While regulations exist, 'it's companies selling us whatever they choose to declare and identify as a dietary supplement,' he said. He called it 'a system that emphasizes access and minimizes the assurances of safety or at least leaves safety in the manufacturer's court.' What should consumers do before plunking down money at the health food store? Cohen explains what you should know about product claims and offers five tips when deciding which supplements to buy, keep or toss. How the FDA can and can't regulate the supplement industry doesn't even address the issue of what actually works and what you might actually need. Some studies show certain well-known vitamins or minerals can help particular conditions, but often recommendations change after new information comes to light. Good-quality clinical trials are expensive and hard to conduct (or data are gathered through epidemiological studies, so cause and effect can't be definitively proven); they rarely are done on less-well known (or blended) supplements. The label required on US supplements, in essence, occupies a gray zone, and the average consumer might not know that they are expected to read between the lines. A product label is permitted to contain a claim about the effect of the supplement on the body's structure or function (for example, 'helps support flexibility'). But the label 'may not claim to diagnose, mitigate, treat, cure, or prevent a specific disease or class of diseases,' according to DSHEA. The law allows manufacturers to make those gray-zone, health-adjacent claims as long as they include a disclaimer that the claim has not been evaluated by the FDA. The situation is not likely to change any time soon. 'A core concern I have with the current regulatory framework that really inhibits us moving forward is that there is no incentive for manufacturers to conduct carefully done clinical trials,' Cohen said. 'One thing we haven't talked about yet is that one other part of the law is that supplements can claim to have health effects without it being proven in humans,' he noted. 'Since you can do that without doing a clinical trial, what's the incentive to invest in all that money, millions of dollars, to do a clinical trial? 'The only potential outcome is negative — because if you're right, you were already advertising it as it was beneficial to your health and all you did was to prove that your claim is correct,' he said. 'But more likely, if it turns out it doesn't really work like you had hoped it did, and all that money is wasted, and then you've got a problem. But the good news, I guess, is that you can still keep on selling it as if it does work, even when the studies come out negative.' The FDA has certain best practice rules in place when it comes to manufacturing, but it lacks oversight to ensure what is on the label is actually in the supplement, according to Cohen. That's why it's essential to choose supplements with a discerning eye. 'Toss away all supplements that do not include the official stamps from NSF (NSF International) or USP (US Pharmacopeia),' said Cohen said via email, referring to two independent, not-for-profit agencies that test supplements and then certify them. 'The FDA does not test supplements before they are sold,' he said. 'Unless supplements have been certified by a high-quality third-party organization, such as NSF or USP, it is not possible to know what's really inside the bottle.' 'Both those groups do deep dives into the quality of manufacturing,' Cohen told Gupta on the podcast. 'They look at the original ingredients that are coming (so that) when consumers are going in to purchase this online or in a store, that the label accurately represents what's in the product.' Another reputable third-party tester is But remember, none of these organizations test for efficacy, that is whether a supplement does what it claims to do. 'If you say something's good for gut health or will boost your immunity, those claims are not assessed by these companies,' Cohen told Gupta. 'The companies are just looking at — is the powder in the bottle the same as what's on the label?' A good rule of thumb when checking ingredient lists for supplements is less is more. 'Toss away all supplements that list two or more botanical ingredients on the label,' Cohen said. 'Manufacturers are not required to share the details of each ingredient when mixing multiple botanical ingredients in the same supplement,' he said. For example, you might not know the ratio of one ingredient to the others, how fresh each one is, or the process by which each is prepared and then blended together. 'The only way to ensure that sufficient information about the botanical is provided on the label, (is to) select only single-ingredient supplements,' he added. When you shop for dietary supplements, avoid products that claim in vague language to promote health benefits, Cohen said, such as 'boosts immunity' or 'improves cognition.' 'Supplement claims are not vetted by the FDA, and manufacturers do not need to perform studies of the supplement to demonstrate any benefit before selling the product,' he noted. Cohen said it's best to avoid supplements with these types of claims and instead 'obtain information about benefits and risks of supplements from a reliable, independent source, such as the National Institutes of Health's Office of Dietary Supplements.' Supplements can lose potency or, like fish oil, even go bad. 'Toss away all supplements that are past their expiration date,' Cohen said. 'Supplements past their expiration date are unlikely to have the correct amount of active ingredients as listed on the label,' he explained. It's important to incorporate any supplements prescribed by your doctor in your routine on a consistent basis. Following your annual wellness visit, your physician might say, for example, that you need more iron or vitamin B12 or vitamin D based on bloodwork. 'Take all the supplements that your doctor recommends,' Cohen said. 'Many vitamin and mineral supplements are key to treating a variety of health conditions, so if your doctor recommends one or more supplements, remember to take them regularly,' he said. Most healthy people probably don't need to take even a multivitamin, according to Cohen. 'My clinical experience is that regardless of how people are eating, as long as people are not on a highly restrictive diet, that they are going to get sufficient vitamins and minerals,' he told Gupta. 'Even if they're eating mainly manufactured or processed foods, or they're growing everything in their own garden, because of supplementation (in the food system), I'm not seeing serious vitamin deficiencies in my practice.' Of course, it is not a bad idea to check with your doctor before you start a new supplement, and certainly let them know during your annual exam what you are currently taking. Some supplements can interact with certain medications, while others shouldn't be used by people with certain health conditions. We hope these five tips help you make better sense of supplements. Listen to the full episode here. Join us next week for a new episode of the Chasing Life podcast. CNN Podcasts' Madeleine Thompson and Kyra Dahring contributed to this report.
Health Line
15 minutes ago
- Health Line
Lyme Disease Blood Tests
Key takeaways A Lyme disease blood test helps determine if you have contracted the bacteria that cause Lyme disease, which is transmitted through infected ticks. The test looks for Lyme disease-specific antibodies in your blood, but false positives are possible, and antibodies may not be detectable for a few weeks after you have Lyme disease. Several lab tests, including ELISA and Western blot, can detect these antibodies. While the blood draw has minimal risks, positive results may persist even after successful treatment with antibiotics. What is a Lyme disease blood test? A Lyme disease blood test is used to determine if you have contracted Borrelia burgdorferi (B. burgdorferi), the bacterium that causes Lyme disease. Lyme disease tests are conducted with a routine blood draw. While there are other species of Borrelia that cause Lyme disease, B. burgdorferi is the most common cause in the United States. Most antibody tests in the United States only test for B. burgdorferi, but other species-specific tests are available depending on a person's travel history. Lyme disease is transmitted to humans through ticks that are infected with Borrelia. Symptoms of Lyme disease include: headache joint pain fever fatigue skin rash in the shape of a bull's-eye Untreated, Lyme disease can affect your heart and nervous system. Symptoms of advanced Lyme disease can include: loss of muscle tone in the face memory loss tingling in your hands and feet heart palpitations irregular heartbeat dizziness shortness of breath Lyme disease can be difficult to diagnose. Ticks are very small, and the bites are not always noticeable. Symptoms of the disease can vary from person to person. Not everyone experiences the classic 'bull's-eye' rash pattern around a tick bite. It should be noted that testing is not always required to make a diagnosis. For people with a classic bulls-eye rash (Erythema migrans) living in a high risk area, testing is not recommended for diagnosis. Your doctor will use the results of a Lyme disease antibody test, along with the report of your symptoms, to confirm a diagnosis. What are antibodies? Antibodies are proteins your body makes in response to foreign or harmful substances called antigens. Common antigens include: bacteria viruses fungi chemicals Your body produces antibodies if you have contracted B. burgdorfer i. These Lyme disease-specific antibodies will be present in your blood, and your test will be positive if you have the bacterial infection. If you have never been exposed to B. burgdorferi, you will not have any Lyme disease antibodies in your bloodstream. In this case, your test will be negative. However, there is a possibility of false positive results due to potential test cross-reactivity with other diseases including syphilis, autoimmune diseases, and Epstein Barr virus. However, you may test negative for Lyme disease in the early days and weeks after contracting the infection. This is because your body has not yet produced a significant number of antibodies. You will usually test positive for Lyme disease starting at about 2 to 4 weeks after acquiring an infection. Lyme disease antibody test procedure The Lyme disease antibody test requires no advance preparation. A lab technician will swab the inside of your elbow with an antiseptic before drawing your blood. Your blood will be drawn from a vein in your arm using a small needle. The blood draw should not be painful, though you might feel a slight prick when the needle is inserted into your vein. The blood sample will be collected in a vial. The puncture site will be bandaged, if needed, after the needle is removed. After the blood draw, you are free to go home. Risks of a Lyme disease antibody test There are very few risks associated with the Lyme disease antibody test. Excessive bleeding is possible, but there may be an increased risk if you take blood thinning medications or certain anti-inflammatory drugs like: heparin warfarin aspirin ibuprofen naproxen Infection at the puncture site is also possible, but it's unlikely. Keep the bandage in place until all bleeding has stopped and keep the area clean. Some people feel lightheaded after having blood drawn. Let the technician know if this is the case. You might be asked to sit for a few minutes before going home. Following up after the procedure Once you have Lyme disease, the antibodies remain in your blood. So even after you have been treated for the disease, you might still have positive blood tests. Lyme disease is treated with antibiotics. Your doctor will discuss your course of treatment in detail if you test positive for the bacterial infection.
Health Line
15 minutes ago
- Health Line
Types of Radiation Therapy
There are several different types of radiation therapy. The type that may be recommended for you depends on a variety of factors, such as your cancer, its stage, and your treatment goals. Radiation therapy is a type of cancer treatment. It uses high doses of radiation to: kill cancer cells slow the growth of cancer cells ease cancer symptoms like bone pain Researchers estimate that over 30% of people with cancer in the United States receive radiation therapy as a part of their first-line cancer treatment. One-half of people with cancer have radiation therapy at some point in their treatment journey. This article examines the different types of radiation therapy, how they work, and what they're typically used to treat. What is external beam radiation therapy? External beam radiation therapy (EBRT) is the most common type of radiation therapy. It can be used to treat a vast variety of cancers. In EBRT, a specialized machine is used to aim high-energy particles directly at the cancer. The machines used to deliver EBRT can resemble a larger version of an X-ray machine or a CT scanner. The most common kind of machine used for EBRT is a linear accelerator. EBRT is a local treatment, which means it only affects the part of your body affected by cancer. For example, if you're being treated for breast cancer, EBRT will only be focused on the tumor in your breast and not your entire body. EBRT often involves daily radiation therapy 5 days a week for several weeks. The exact number of weeks you have EBRT can depend on factors like the type of cancer you have, your treatment goals, and the radiation dose used. You typically have EBRT as an outpatient, meaning that you can return home after your treatment sessions. Types of particles used for EBRT Currently, there are several different types of particles used for EBRT, these include: protons photons electrons Photons Most EBRT machines use photons, which can reach cancers deep within your body. Photons are the same type of particle used in X-rays. However, the dose of photons received during EBRT is much stronger. There are several subtypes of photon-based EBRT to be aware of. Three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy (3D-CRT) 3D-CRT delivers radiation from several different directions and uses imaging like CT scans MRI scans, or PET scans to accurately pinpoint the cancer. A computer program uses the imaging information to develop a treatment plan specific to your tumor. Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) IMRT is similar to 3D-CRT. However, it uses more numerous, smaller radiation beams. The intensity of these can also be adjusted so that some areas of a tumor get higher doses of radiation than others. Volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) is a newer way of giving IMRT. In VMAT, the radiation machine moves around you and can adjust the radiation beam during your treatment. Image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT) In IGRT, imaging is used to plan treatment, as well as to direct the radiation during a treatment session. Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) and stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) SRS directs a very focused beam containing a high dose of radiation at a tumor and can be used if conventional surgery isn't an option. It's often used for tumors in the brain and other areas inside the skull. SBRT is essentially the same as SRS, but is given outside of the brain. As such, it may be used for tumors affecting tissues, including but not limited to the lungs, liver, and prostate. Intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT) IORT is when you receive radiation during a surgical procedure to treat your cancer. It can be used if a surgeon cannot completely remove a tumor or if the cancer has a high risk of coming back. Protons Protons are positively charged particles that can also reach cancers deep in the body. Compared to photons, protons are less likely to scatter within the body, which means healthy tissue is less likely to be exposed to radiation. Proton-based EBRT can be used to treat cancers affecting the: eyes prostate liver lung brain and spinal cord skull base head and neck Electrons Electrons are negatively charged particles. Compared to photons and protons, they cannot travel that far in the body. Because of this, electrons are typically used for cancers close to the surface of the body, such as those on the skin. What is internal radiation therapy? Internal radiation therapy (brachytherapy) is when a radiation source is placed inside your body. This is in contrast to EBRT, where the radiation source is located outside of your body. However, like EBRT, internal radiation therapy is a type of local treatment, allowing radiation to be inside or near your cancer without affecting other areas of the body. There are several types of cancer for which internal radiation therapy may be used. Some of the most common include: It's also possible that internal radiation therapy may be recommended for certain types of: penile cancer urethral cancer head and neck cancer eye cancer sarcoma Radiation sources for internal radiation therapy are implanted during a procedure that uses a catheter or applicator and may involve either general or local anesthesia. Implants can come in a variety of forms, including: seeds, pellets, or capsules discs or plaques tubes or wires There are three general types of internal radiation therapy. Low dose internal radiation therapy A low dose internal radiation therapy implant can typically stay in place from 1 to 7 days, after which it's removed. High dose internal radiation therapy In high dose internal radiation therapy, an implant is only left in place for 10 to 20 minutes before being removed. You may have this type of internal radiation therapy twice daily for up to five days or once weekly for up to five weeks. Permanent internal radiation therapy A permanent internal radiation therapy implant remains in your body for the rest of your life. The level of radiation from the implant decreases gradually over time. What is systemic radiation therapy? In contrast to EBRT and internal radiation therapy, systemic radiation therapy is when the radiation travels throughout your body. This type of radiation therapy uses drugs to deliver the radiation to the cancer. These can be given by mouth or into your bloodstream via an IV. There are two types of systemic radiation therapy. Radioimmunotherapy Radioimmunotherapy uses radioactive material attached to a monoclonal antibody that's specific to certain types of cancer cells. When the antibody binds to the cancer cell, it delivers the radiation. This type of systemic radiation therapy can be used for neuroendocrine tumors, prostate cancer, and some kinds of lymphoma. Peptide receptor radionucleotide therapy (PRRT) PRRT utilizes radioactive material that's attached to a short protein (peptide). It targets cancer cells with receptors for this peptide. The peptide delivers the radiation when it binds to its receptor on the cancer cell. PRRT is used for neuroendocrine tumors. Takeaway There are several types of radiation therapy. Additionally, each type of radiation therapy has different subtypes. The type of radiation therapy that's recommended for you can depend on factors like the type of cancer you have, the stage of your cancer, your treatment goals, and your age and overall health. If radiation therapy is part of your cancer treatment plan, be sure to speak to your doctor about your specific treatment. They can give you more information on things like the procedures involved, how long your treatment will last, and what types of side effects to expect.
