Friday, December 14, 2012

Seasonal Influenza (Flu)


Influenza is a serious disease that can lead to hospitalization and sometimes even death. Every flu season is different, and influenza infection can affect people differently. Even healthy people can get very sick from the flu and spread it to others.

The “seasonal flu season” in the United States can begin as early as October and last as late as May. During this time, flu viruses are circulating in the population.

An annual seasonal flu vaccine (either the flu shot or the nasal-spray flu vaccine) is the best way to reduce the chances that you will get seasonal flu and lessen the chance that you will spread it to others. When more people get vaccinated against the flu, less flu can spread through that community.



Almost everyone who is at least 6 months of age should get a flu vaccine this season. It’s especially important for some people to get vaccinated. Those people include the following:

People who are at high risk of developing serious complications like pneumonia if they get sick with the flu. This includes:
  • People who have certain medical conditions including asthma, diabetes, and chronic lung disease.
  • Pregnant women.
  • People 65 years and older
People who live with or care for others who are high risk of developing serious complications. This includes:
  • household contacts and caregivers of people with certain medical conditions including asthma, diabetes, and chronic lung disease.



Who Should Not Be Vaccinated
There are some people who should not get a flu vaccine without first consulting a physician. These include:
  • People who have a severe allergy to chicken eggs.
  • People who have had a severe reaction to an influenza vaccination.
  • People who developed Guillain-BarrĂ© syndrome (GBS) within 6 weeks of getting an influenza vaccine.
  • Children less than 6 months of age (influenza vaccine is not approved for this age group), and
  • People who have a moderate-to-severe illness with a fever (they should wait until they recover to get vaccinated.)
[Source for all of the above: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Key Facts About Seasonal Flu Vaccine]



Where can you get a flu shot?

Contact your primary care doctor's office or your local pharmacist to see if they offer flu shots.

Adult Immunization & Travel Clinic: AITC is a non-profit, fee-for-service clinic that is part of the San Francisco Department of Public Health. AITC is committed to providing convenient, knowledgeable, personalized, and cost-effective immunization services for travelers, students, new employees, immigrants, and other members of the community. Information is available at http://www.sfcdcp.org/aitc.html

HealthMap Vaccine Finder



Cold or Flu?
[From UCSF Medical Center Patient Education]

Treatment for the Flu
[From UCSF Medical Center Patient Education]

When to Call Your Doctor About the Flu
[From UCSF Medical Center Patient Education]

Monday, November 26, 2012

Health Newsletters at the Patient Health Library, November 2012

Not all information is free and not all of it is online!

The UCSF Patient Health Library subscribes to a number of health and wellness newsletters that are not otherwise free to the public. Here are some highlights from recent newsletters. To see the entire articles, visit the Patient Health Library!

DukeMedicine HealthNews

Oct 2012
-Maintain muscle mass with age and retain your independence, pp.1-2

Harvard Health Letter

Oct 2012
-Parkinson's symptoms reduced by deep brain stimulation, p.3
-T-DMi for HER2-positive breast cancer, p.5
-What you should know about statin drugs, p.7

Harvard Men's Health Watch

Nov 2012
-Zinc and echinacea for cold relief, p.2
-Healthy brain aging: take on new challenges, p.3
-Breathe away stress in 8 steps, p.5

Harvard Women's Health Watch

Nov 2012
-Beating belly fat, p.3
-The challenges of living alone, pp.4-5
-Cardiac screening tests, p.6

Mayo Clinic Health Letter

Nov 2012
-Denture care, p.6
-Osteoporosis drugs, p.7

Nutrition Action Newsletter

Nov 2012
-Strike against stroke: how to keep your brain in working order, pp.1-7
-Seeing through sketchy claims, pp.9-11

Tufts University Health & Nutrition Letter

Oct 2012
-Rethinking fish oil pills, pp.1-3

UC Berkeley Wellness Letter

Summer 2012 (special issue)
-15 keys to a healthy diet

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Holiday Food: Nutrition and Safety

  • How can I limit calories and still enjoy the holidays?
  • How long do I need to cook a 20-pound turkey?
  • What should I know to safely cook for a large group?
  • How long will my leftovers still be good?
  • Are there any tips for making a "turducken"?
If you are asking questions like these, take a look at the following sites to help keep everyone safe, healthy and happy this holiday season:

Holiday Nutrition
[Source: Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics]

Healthy Holiday Recipes from the AICR
[Source: American Institute for Cancer Research]


Are You Storing Food Safely?
[Source: US Food and Drug Administration]

Food Safety During Cancer Therapy
[Source: UCSF Ida & Joseph Friend Cancer Resource Center]

Thursday, November 8, 2012

MedlinePlus: Trustworthy Online Health Information

MedlinePlus is a  free, easy-to-use  health  information service of the National  Library of Medicine.

Resources and tools include:
  • Health  Topics: Over 900 topics on conditions, diseases and wellness

  • Drugs  & Supplements: About your prescription and over-the-counter  medicines, herbs and supplements

  • Videos, Tutorials and Cool Tools

  • Medical  Encyclopedia and Dictionary

  • News: Current health news and press  announcements

  • Directories: Find doctors, dentists and hospitals 

  • Information in many languages

You can find the MedlinePlus website on the UCSF Patient Health Library's Health Information Websites page along with many other health information resources.



Need more help?  Want a search done for you?  

Contact the Patient Health Librarian
by email, telephone, or in person.




Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Health Newsletters at the Patient Health Library, October 2012

Not all information is free and not all of it is online!

The UCSF Patient Health Library subscribes to a number of health and wellness newsletters that are not otherwise free to the public. Here are some highlights from recent newsletters. To see the entire articles, visit the Patient Health Library!

Consumer Reports on Health

Oct 2012
-Is stress making you sick? pp.1-5
-What questions to ask when faced with cancer tests and treatments. pp.6-7

DukeMedicine HealthNews

Sept 2012
-Salt and blood pressure, p.3

Harvard Men's Health Watch

Oct 2012
-Should you skip your PSA test? pp.1,7
-Testosterone testing, pp.4-5
-Soothing heartburn, p.6

Harvard Women's Health Watch

Oct 2012
-5 of the best exercises you'll ever do, pp.1,7
-Bladder training for incontinence, p.2
-Breast cancer screening tests, p.6
-Hormone therapy: a new consensus, p.8

Johns Hopkins Medical Letter: Health After 50

Oct 2012
-Calcium and vitamin D: Behind the headlines, pp.1-2
-Staying safe on the road, pp.4-5

UC Berkeley Wellness Letter

Sept 2012
-HDL "good" cholesterol, pp.1-2
-It's late, turn off that computer! p.3
-Strontium and bone health, p.7

Monday, October 22, 2012

Portion Size and Portion Control

What is the difference between Portions and Servings?
[Source: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)]

Portion Control and Diet: 10 Easy Tips for Smaller Servings
[Source: EverydayHealth.com]

How to Avoid Portion Size Pitfalls to Help Manage Your Weight
[Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)]

Portion Distortion Quiz
[Source: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)]

Harvard's New Guide to Healthy Eating
[Source: The Nutrition Source, Harvard School of Public Health]

Portion Distortion for Teens
[Source: KidsHealth.org]

Thursday, September 27, 2012

Health Newsletters at the Patient Health Library, September 2012

Not all information is free and not all of it is online!

The UCSF Patient Health Library subscribes to a number of health and wellness newsletters that are not otherwise free to the public. Here are some highlights from recent newsletters. To see the entire articles, visit the Patient Health Library!

Consumer Reports on Health

Aug 2012

-Choosing treatment for heart disease, p.1-5
-How long can condiments safely stay in the fridge? p.3
-Adult vaccines, pp.6-7
-Demystifying generic drugs, p.9

Sept 2012

-Where high drug costs hide, pp.1-5
-Should you trust that medical news? pp.6-7
-Tools and tips for a cleaner (healthier) kitchen, p.8

Harvard Health Letter

Aug 2012
-Stop migraines before they start, pp.1,7
-Preserving brain function, p.3
-New research on diet sodas, p.4
-Men and osteoporosis, p.5

Harvard Men's Health Watch

Sept 2012
-Strength training, pp.4-5
-Knee injections for arthritis pain, p.8

Harvard Women's Health Watch

Aug 2012
-Boost your memory by eating right, pp.1,7
-How to avoid joint surgery, p.3
-Too much salt in your diet? p.5
-Update on osteoporosis treatment, p.6

Sept 2012
-Dealing with jet lag, p.2
-Vitamin D and calcium supplements, p.3
-Review of weight loss drugs, p.5

Nutrition Action Newsletter

July/Aug 2012
-The skinny on salad dressings, p13-15

Sept 2012
-Food rumors, pp.3-7
--Calcium and vitamin D
--Fiber and processed fiber
--Fish oil
--Sugar’s relationship to cancer
-Can popping pills preserve memory? pp.9-11


Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Vaccines aren't just for kids

Vaccines aren't just for kids. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report that many adults become ill, are disabled, or die each year from diseases that could easily have been prevented by vaccines.

Everyone from young adults to senior citizens can benefit from immunizations. The CDC has a short, online questionnaire that can help you find out if there are vaccines that are recommended for you.

Some of these diseases can be especially serious for adults age 65 and older:

- Influenza (flu)
- Shingles
- Diphtheria
- Pneumococcus (pneumonia)
- Tetanus
- Hepatitis A & B


For more information:

Vaccine-preventable adult diseases [from the CDC]

Visit the MedlinePlus topic pages on immunization and childhood immunization.

Contact the librarian at the UCSF Patient Health Library for a search tailored to your needs.

Monday, August 27, 2012

Health Newsletters at the Patient Health Library, August 2012

Not all information is free and not all of it is online!

The UCSF Patient Health Library subscribes to a number of health and wellness newsletters that are not otherwise free to the public. Here are some highlights from recent newsletters. To see the entire articles, visit the Patient Health Library!

Consumer Reports on Health

July 2012
-When to treat heartburn on your own and when to get help, pp.1-5
-Get more prevention attention, pp.6-7
-Ancient grains, p.8
-Nasal spray dos and don’ts, p.10

DukeMedicine HealthNews

June 2012
-Unique treatment for glioblastoma, pp.1-2
-Tools for earlier diagnosis and treatment of osteoarthritis, pp.3-4

July 2012
-Dangers of peripheral artery disease, pp.1-2
-Light weights for strength training, p.5
-Migraine prevention, pp.6-7

Harvard Health Letter

June 2012
-New knowledge about burning fat, pp.1,7

July 2012
-Regardless of weight loss, exercise helps your heart, p.3
-Coping better after breast cancer, p.5
-Hearing loss: time to get proactive, p.6
-Want better looking skin?  Eating fruits and vegetables may help.  p.6

Harvard Men's Health Watch

July 2012
-The basics of better blood pressure, pp. 1,7
-Head and neck cancer alert: don’t let symptoms go ignored, p.3
-Colonoscopy now easier to tolerate, pp.4-5
-7 ways to get calories under control, p.6

Harvard Women's Health Watch

June 2012
-The evidence for mammograms, pp.1,7
-Choosing and applying sunscreen properly, p.6
-Beta blockers: what you need to know, p.7

July 2012
-8 secrets to a good night’s sleep, pp.1,7
-Food intolerances, pp.4-5
Johns Hopkins Bulletin: Prostate Disorders

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Breaking bad habits

Breaking Bad Habits: Why It’s So Hard to Change
(Excerpted from NIH News In Health, January 2012)

If you know something’s bad for you, why can’t you just stop? About 70% of smokers say they would like to quit. Drug and alcohol abusers struggle to give up addictions that hurt their bodies and tear apart families and friendships. And many of us have unhealthy excess weight that we could lose if only we would eat right and exercise more. So why don’t we do it?

“Habits play an important role in our health,” says Dr. Nora Volkow, director of NIH’s National Institute on Drug Abuse. “Understanding the biology of how we develop routines that may be harmful to us, and how to break those routines and embrace new ones, could help us change our lifestyles and adopt healthier behaviors.”

Habits can arise through repetition. They are a normal part of life, and are often helpful. “We wake up every morning, shower, comb our hair or brush our teeth without being aware of it,” Volkow says.

Habits can also develop when good or enjoyable events trigger the brain’s “reward” centers. This can set up potentially harmful routines, such as overeating, smoking, drug or alcohol abuse, gambling and even compulsive use of computers and social media.

The good news is, humans are not simply creatures of habit. We have many more brain regions to help us do what’s best for our health.

“Humans are much better than any other animal at changing and orienting our behavior toward long-term goals, or long-term benefits,” says Dr. Roy Baumeister, a psychologist at Florida State University. “We’ve found that you can improve your self-control by doing exercises over time,” Baumeister says.

Volkow notes that there’s no single effective way to break bad habits. “It’s not one size fits all,” she says.

One approach is to focus on becoming more aware of your unhealthy habits. Then develop strategies to counteract them. For example, habits can be linked in our minds to certain places and activities. You could develop a plan, say, to avoid walking down the hall where there’s a candy machine. Resolve to avoid going places where you’ve usually smoked. Stay away from friends and situations linked to problem drinking or drug use.

One way to kick bad habits is to actively replace unhealthy routines with new, healthy ones. Some people find they can replace a bad habit, even drug addiction, with another behavior, like exercising. “It doesn’t work for everyone,” Volkow says. “But certain groups of patients who have a history of serious addictions can engage in certain behaviors that are ritualistic and in a way compulsive—such as marathon running—and it helps them stay away from drugs. These alternative behaviors can counteract the urges to repeat a behavior to take a drug.”

Bad habits may be hard to change, but it can be done. Enlist the help of friends, co-workers and family for some extra support.



Making Your Resolutions Stick: How to Create Healthy Habits
[From NIH News in Health]

Eating habits and behaviors
[From MedlinePlus]

Choosing a Safe and Successful Weight-loss Program
[From the Weight-control Information Network / National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases]

Your Child's Habits
[From KidsHealth.org]

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Heat Illness: Heat Exhaustion, Heat Stroke, Heat Cramps

Heat Exhaustion and Heatstroke
[American Academy of Family Physicians (FamilyDoctor.org)]

First Aid for Heat Exhaustion
[Logical Images (via MedlinePlus)]

Tips for older adults to combat heat-related illnesses
[National Institute on Aging]

Dehydration
[Mayo Clinic]

Heat Injury (focus on athletics)
[American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons]

Preparing For and Playing In the Heat
[American College of Sports Medicine]

Monday, July 9, 2012

Recognizing the Signs of Stroke

Every minute counts when someone is having a stroke.  Immediate treatment can save people's lives and enhance their chances for successful recovery.  However, you need to recognize the symptoms of a stroke and get to a hospital quickly.  Getting treatment within 60 minutes can prevent disability.
(excerpted from http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/stroke/knowstroke.htm)

The following information resources discuss the signs of stroke, ways to help prevent stroke, as well as treatment and recovery:

Knowing the Signs of Stroke
[from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke]
http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/stroke/knowstroke.htm

Stroke Signs and Symptoms
[from the UCSF Medical Center]
http://www.ucsfhealth.org/conditions/stroke/signs_and_symptoms.html

Stroke Information: Overviews, Symptoms, Treatment, Prevention, Recovery and more
[from MedlinePlus]
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/stroke.html

NINDS Stroke Information Page
[from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke]
http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/stroke/stroke.htm

For further information, contact the UCSF Patient Health Librarian.

Friday, June 29, 2012

Health Newsletters at the Patient Health Library, June 2012

Not all information is free and not all of it is online!

The UCSF Patient Health Library subscribes to a number of health and wellness newsletters that are not otherwise free to the public. Here are some highlights from recent newsletters.

To see the entire articles, visit the Patient Health Library!

Consumer Reports on Health

June 2012
-Relieve dizziness without drugs, p.6
-Is it allergies or a sinus infection? pp.8-9
-The benefits of eating local, p.10

DukeMedicine HealthNews

Jan 2012
-New insight into rheumatoid arthritis management, pp.1-2
-Focus on raising HDL “good” cholesterol – Is it worth it? p.3
-Sleep and dementia, p.6

Feb 2012
-New approach to cataract surgery, pp.1-2
-Dietary supplements vs. food sources, pp.4-5

Harvard Health Letter

May 2012
-Mediterranean diet:  heart healthy AND brain healthy, pp.1-2
-Exposure to the blue light of electronics, p.4

Harvard Men's Health Watch

June 2012
-Minimize the chance of melanoma, pp.1,7
-Stop elbow pain, pp.4-5
-Red meat, p.6

Harvard Women's Health Watch

May 2012
-Managing osteoarthritis of the knee, pp.4-6

Mayo Clinic Health Letter

June 2012
-Palliative care, pp.4-5
-Stopping smoking, p.6
-Coffee and health, p.7

June 2012, supplement
-A look at digestive health problems


Medicine on the Net

April 2012
-Allergy resources, pp.7-13
-Otolaryngology (ear, nose and throat) resources, pp.14-19

Nutrition Action Newsletter

May 2012
-Food and Addiction, pp.1-7
-Keep It Small: food portions and dishes, p.10
-Decoding Cereal Boxes, pp.12-15

June 2012
-Can Dr. Oz be wrong about omega-6 fatty acids and coconut oil?, pp.6-7; 10-11
-BPA: the saga continues, p.9


Friday, June 22, 2012

Seasonal Allergies

Allergies
[From MedlinePlus]
Resources for a variety of allergy topics

Trigger avoidance in allergic rhinitis
[From UpToDate]

Pollen: Types and preventive strategies
[From the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences]

Guide to Air Cleaners in the Home
[From the U.S. EPA]

 

Thursday, June 14, 2012

Travelers' Health and Welfare

Travelers' Health
[From the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)]
Your Survival Guide to Safe and Healthy Travel
[From the CDC]

Safe Food and Water
[From the CDC]

Travel Tips for Older Adults
[From the American Geriatrics Society Foundation for Health in Aging]

Tips for Traveling Abroad
[From the U.S. State Department]

Thursday, May 31, 2012

Health Newsletters at the Patient Health Library, May 2012

Not all information is free and not all of it is online!

The UCSF Patient Health Library subscribes to a number of health and wellness newsletters that are not otherwise free to the public. Here are some highlights from recent newsletters.

To see the entire articles, visit the Patient Health Library!

Consumer Reports on Health

May 2012
-Beware of kitchen germs, p.10

Harvard Men's Health Watch

May 2012
-Sour news about sugar, pp.1-4
-Distracted driving, pp.6-7

Harvard Women's Health Watch

April 2012
-Bone mineral density testing how often? pp.1-2
-Peripheral artery disease, pp.4-6

Johns Hopkins Bulletin: Prostate Disorders

Spring 2012
-Focal therapy for prostate cancer pp.13-16
-Managing prostate cancer with active surveillance, pp.17-23

Mayo Clinic Health Letter

April 2012
-Cancer vaccines, pp.4-5
-Clostridium difficile, p.6
-Inside whole grains, p.7
-Eye floaters, p.8

Nutrition Action Newsletter

April 2012
-How much is too much sugar? pp.1-7
-Getting a good night’s sleep, pp.9-11

Tufts University Health & Nutrition Letter

April 2012
-Eating right improves your odds of avoiding mental decline, pp.1,7
-Recipe for sweet potato pancakes or waffles, p.7
-Ask the Experts: questions on whole grains, naturally occurring sugars, and more, p.8

UC Berkeley Wellness Letter

April 2012
-Do you really need a colonoscopy? pp.1-2
-Better sex in a bottle? p.4
-Meditation, p.5

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Summer fun and summer safety go hand in hand

Memorial Day signals the beginning of the summer season, with longer days, more time outdoors, and for many, play time in the water.

Use the following resources to help you stay safe, so you can make the most out of many summers to come.

Sun

Sun Safety: Save Your Skin!
[From the FDA]

Sun Exposure
[From MedlinePlus]

Top-Rated Sunscreens
[From Environmental Working Group]

Learn what products work well with fewer hazardous ingredients.

Water

Summer Swimtime: Staying Healthy at the Pool and Beach
[From the National Institutes of Health]

Summer Water Safety Guide
[From the American Red Cross]

Pool Safely

[From the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission]
A great site for kids to learn through activities and games.


Food

Food Safety - Summer and Vacations
[From FoodSafety.gov]
Tips on cooking and eating outdoors, day trips, camping, traveling and more.

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

MedlinePlus: Online Health Information

MedlinePlus is a free, easy-to-use health information service of the National Library of Medicine.

Resources and tools include:
  • Health Topics: Over 900 topics on conditions, diseases and wellness
  • Drugs & Supplements: About your prescription and over-the-counter medicines, herbs and supplements
  • Videos, Tutorials and Cool Tools
  • Medical Encyclopedia and Dictionary
  • News: Current health news and press announcements
  • Directories: Find doctors, dentists and hospitals
  • Information in many languages
You can find the MedlinePlus website on the UCSF Patient Health Library's Health Information Websites page along with many other health information resources.



Need more help?  Want a search done for you? 
Contact the Patient Health Librarian
by email, telephone, or in person.


Thursday, April 26, 2012

Health Newsletters at the Patient Health Library, April 2012

Not all information is free and not all of it is online! The UCSF Patient Health Library subscribes to a number of health and wellness newsletters that are not otherwise free to the public. Here are some highlights from recent newsletters.

To see the entire articles, visit the Patient Health Library!

Consumer Reports on Health

April 2012
-What’s keeping you up at night? pp.1,4-5
-Nondrug options for neck pain, p.3
-Drugs that can affect your sex life, p.6
-Exercise: boost vigor, increase longevity, and reverse symptoms of many conditions, pp.8-9

Harvard Health Letter

March 2012
-Mental and physical activity helps protect against effects of Alzheimer’s, p.1

April 2012
-Tai chi helps Parkinson’s patients, p.3
-How to make a healthier, yet still appetizing muffin, pp.4-5

Harvard Men's Health Watch
 
March 2012
-The PSA test: What’s right for you?, pp.1-6

April 2012
-Supplements: a scorecard, pp.1-5

Harvard Women's Health Watch

March 2012
-Why behavior change is hard—and why you should keep trying, pp.5-6
-Certain dietary patterns are associated with long-term brain health, p.6
-Radiation for breast cancer linked to narrowing of coronary arteries, pp.6-7

Medicine on the Net

Jan 2012
-Birth defects resources, pp.13-20

February 2012 
-Infertility resources, pp.7-13,20

Nutrition Action Newsletter

Jan 2012
-Cancer: how to lower your risk, pp.1-7
-Confusion in the juice aisle, pp.12-15

Mar 2012
-Using knowledge of calorie density to eat less, pp.1-7
-Fruit with benefits vs. Fad fruits, pp.9-11

Tufts University Health & Nutrition Letter

March 2012
-Getting enough potassium in your diet, pp.4-5

UC Berkeley Wellness Letter

March 2012
-The alcohol/cancer connection, pp.1-2
-Clearing up some questions about organic foods, pp.4-5
-The coconut water craze, p.6

Supplement
-Preventing cancer: strategies that can reduce your risk, pp.1-4


Thursday, April 19, 2012

Exercise and physical fitness

Regular exercise is a critical part of staying healthy. People who are active live longer and feel better. Exercise can help you maintain a healthy weight. It can delay or prevent diabetes, some cancers and heart problems.

The key is to find the right exercise for you. If it is fun, you are more likely to stay motivated. You may want to walk with a friend, join a class or plan a group bike ride. If you've been inactive for awhile, use a sensible approach and start out slowly. [From MedlinePlus]

Exercise and physical fitness
[From MedlinePlus]

How much physical activity do you need?
    Video: "What counts as aerobic activity"
[From the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention]

Eating and exercise: 5 tips to maximize your workouts
 [From the Mayo Clinic]

Exercise tips for children
[From UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital]

Strength Training for Older Adults
[From the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention]

Friday, April 6, 2012

UpToDate for Patients: A Unique Resource

UpToDate for Patients provides free access to current information on hundreds of health topics to inform patients and help them share in the decision making process with their healthcare providers.

Similar to the information UpToDate creates for healthcare professionals, the patient information topics are reviewed every four months based on the recent medical literature. All patient information topics are written and edited by UpToDate's in-house nurse practitioner and physician editors and reviewed by an external physician author and section editor. Thus, their information is current, accurate and evidence-based.

The health topics include an in-depth discussion of the risk factors, causes, diagnostic processes, preventive measures, complications, and recommended treatments for many of the most common conditions. There are extensive references and links to article abstracts.

You can find UpToDate's website on the UCSF Patient Health Library's Health Information Websites page along with many other health information resources.



Need more help? Contact the Patient Health Librarian, by email, telephone, or in person.

Friday, March 30, 2012

Health Newsletters at the Patient Health Library, March 2012

Not all information is free and not all of it is online! The UCSF Patient Health Library subscribes to a number of health and wellness newsletters that are not otherwise free to the public. Here are some highlights from recent newsletters.

To see the entire articles, visit the Patient Health Library!

Consumer Reports on Health
Feb 2012
-Know your headache, pp.1-5
-Heart failure: 3 things you need to know, pp.6-7
-Should you avoid gluten? p.10
-Vitamin B12: panacea or placebo? p.11

Harvard Men's Health Watch
Jan 2012
-Kidney stones: common, painful, preventable, pp.1-5
Feb 2012
-Understanding the controversy over PSA screening, pp.1-4
-Obesity in America, pp.5-7

Harvard Women's Health Watch
Feb 2012
-Eating disorders in midlife and beyond, pp.1-3
-Treating essential tremor, p.7

Johns Hopkins Medical Letter: Health After 50
Jan 2012
-Is your constant cough COPD? pp.1-2
-FDA approves new melanoma treatments, p.3
-A closer look at glaucoma, supplement pp.1-4

Mayo Clinic Health Letter
Mar 2012
-Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, pp.1-3
-Risks of vitamin supplements, pp.4-5

Medicine on the Net
Nov 2011
-Hospice and palliative care resources, pp.13-19
Dec 2011
-Resources for cancer in children, pp.7-12
-Dementia resources, pp.13-19

Tufts University Health & Nutrition Letter
Feb 2012
-Lower back pain: yoga versus conventional stretching, p.3
-Tufts’ MyPlate for Older Adults, pp.4-5
-Benefits of Seafood, supplement pp.1-4

UC Berkeley Wellness Letter
Dec 2011
-Coming clean about cleansers, p.3

Friday, March 23, 2012

Toxic Substances in the Home and Out

Have you ever wondered what those chemicals in your household cleaning products are?  Or wondered what effects you might suffer living near an oil refinery, a power plant or on a former industrial site?  Use the following websites to learn about toxins, household products, and environmental health risks. 

Poisoning Prevention
Resources from MedlinePlus


UCSF Toxic Matters Website
Tips on reducing exposure to metals and synthetic chemicals in everyday life—at home, at work, and in the community—and links to other sources with more detailed information.

NLM Household Products Database
Learn about ingredients in brand-name products.

Tox Town
An introduction to toxic chemicals and environmental health risks you might encounter in everyday life and in everyday places from the National Library of Medicine

Thursday, March 15, 2012

Emergency Preparedness

Ready.gov: Prepare. Plan. Stay Informed
[From the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)]
  • Making a basic emergency supply kit
  • Making a plan in case of emergencies
  • What you should know in the event of emergencies ranging from biological threat to earthquake to tornado to flood to wildfire and more.
  • Much, much more
Preparedness Fast Facts
[From the American Red Cross]
Emergency Preparedness and You
[From the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)]

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Facts about Smoking and Help for Quitting

  • Cigarette smoke contains more than 7,000 chemicals and compounds. Hundreds are toxic and at least 69 are known to cause cancer.
  • Damage from tobacco smoke is immediate; the chemicals in tobacco smoke reach your lungs quickly every time you inhale.
  • Low levels of smoke exposure, including exposures to secondhand tobacco smoke, lead to a rapid and sharp increase in dysfunction and inflammation of the lining of the blood vessels, which are implicated in heart attacks and stroke.
  • About 60 percent of American children ages 4-11 are exposed to secondhand smoke at home.
  • The list of diseases caused by smoking includes chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD, including chronic bronchitis and emphysema), coronary heart disease, stroke, abdominal aortic aneurysm, acute myeloid leukemia, cataract, pneumonia, periodontitis, and bladder, esophageal, laryngeal, lung, oral, throat, cervical, kidney, stomach, and pancreatic cancers. Smoking is also a major factor in a variety of other conditions and disorders, including slowed healing of wounds, infertility, and peptic ulcer disease.
  • Smoking has been linked to at least one-third of all cancer-related deaths in the U.S.
  • Smoking causes more than one in five deaths in America.
  • Smokers die significantly earlier than nonsmokers: 13.2 years for men and 14.5 years for women.
  • Since 1965, more than 45 percent of adults who have ever smoked have quit.
  • Quitting at any age and at any time is beneficial. It's never too late to quit.
[Compiled from the resources below]

Smoking Facts
From the American Lung Association

Smoking - The Facts
From MedlinePlus

U.S. Surgeon General's Report on How Tobacco Smoke Causes Disease
Factsheet | Full report (PDF)
From the U.S. Surgeon General and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Smoking: Do you really know the risks?
From the American Heart Association



Guide to Quitting Smoking
From the American Cancer Society

Smoking Cessation Products
From the FDA

How To Handle Withdrawal Symptoms and Triggers When You Decide To Quit Smoking
From the National Cancer Institute

The UCSF Medical Center's Tobacco Education Center offers classes as well as individual consultations with doctors trained in treating tobacco addiction. They help smokers maximize the likelihood of success in their efforts to quit. Services include:
  •     Smoking Cessation Classes
  •     Relapse Prevention Program
  •     Doctor Consultation
For more information, to schedule an appointment or to enroll in a class, please contact the Tobacco Education Center at:

UCSF Medical Center at Mount Zion
2330 Post St., Suite 420
San Francisco, CA 94115
(415) 885-7895

Thursday, February 23, 2012

Health Newsletters at the Patient Health Library, February 2012

Not all information is free and not all of it is online! The UCSF Patient Health Library subscribes to a number of health and wellness newsletters that are not otherwise free to the public. Here are some highlights from recent newsletters.

To see the entire articles, visit the Patient Health Library!

Harvard Health Letter
Jan 2012
-What is it about coffee? pp4-5
-Talking about migraine, p.6
-Yoga for back pain, p.7
-BPH drugs and risk of prostate cancer, p.8

Harvard Women's Health Watch
Jan 2012
-Twelve tips for healthier eating, pp.1-3

Johns Hopkins Medical Letter: Health After 50
Feb 2012
-5 setps to lower your risk of diabetes pp. 4-5
-New guidelines for when to get a Pap test, p.6
-Got arthritis? Get active! p. 6

Mayo Clinic Health Letter
Feb 2012
-Mediterranean diet, pp.4-5
-Foot orthotics, pp.6-7
Feb 2012 supplement
-Stroke: recognizing signs, controlling risks, pp.1-8
Nutrition Action Newsletter

Tufts University Health & Nutrition Letter
Jan 2012
-Nutrition info labeling on food packages, pp.1-2
-Eating your vitamins, p.3
-Secrets of keeping off the weight you lose, p.8

UC Berkeley Wellness Letter
Feb 2012
-Sweet news about chocolate, pp.1-2
-The bottom line on weight-loss supplements, p.4
-Yoga: it’s got your back, p.6

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Nutrition for everyone

MyPlate 
From the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion, based on the 2010 Dietary Guidelines from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Additional nutrition resources from MedlinePlus

Want an alternative to the USDA's guidelines?  Take a look at Harvard University School of Public Health's Healthy Eating Plate, from their Nutrition Source website.

Need to make it really easy?  Check out the Ten Tips section of MyPlate.gov.
You'll find easy ways to incorporate vegetables, fruit, and fiber; how to cut back on sweets and sodium; tips for food shopping; and much more!



Healthy Eating After 50

Additional nutrition resources for seniors from MedlinePlus



Nutrition and Fitness for Families

Healthy Eating for the Whole Family

Additional child nutrition resources from MedlinePlus
 


Resources on Nutrition and Cancer
From the UCSF Patient Health Library blog

Thursday, February 9, 2012

Breaking bad habits

Breaking Bad Habits: Why It’s So Hard to Change
(Excerpted from NIH News In Health, January 2012)

If you know something’s bad for you, why can’t you just stop? About 70% of smokers say they would like to quit. Drug and alcohol abusers struggle to give up addictions that hurt their bodies and tear apart families and friendships. And many of us have unhealthy excess weight that we could lose if only we would eat right and exercise more. So why don’t we do it?

“Habits play an important role in our health,” says Dr. Nora Volkow, director of NIH’s National Institute on Drug Abuse. “Understanding the biology of how we develop routines that may be harmful to us, and how to break those routines and embrace new ones, could help us change our lifestyles and adopt healthier behaviors.”

Habits can arise through repetition. They are a normal part of life, and are often helpful. “We wake up every morning, shower, comb our hair or brush our teeth without being aware of it,” Volkow says.

Habits can also develop when good or enjoyable events trigger the brain’s “reward” centers. This can set up potentially harmful routines, such as overeating, smoking, drug or alcohol abuse, gambling and even compulsive use of computers and social media.

The good news is, humans are not simply creatures of habit. We have many more brain regions to help us do what’s best for our health.

“Humans are much better than any other animal at changing and orienting our behavior toward long-term goals, or long-term benefits,” says Dr. Roy Baumeister, a psychologist at Florida State University. “We’ve found that you can improve your self-control by doing exercises over time,” Baumeister says.

Volkow notes that there’s no single effective way to break bad habits. “It’s not one size fits all,” she says.

One approach is to focus on becoming more aware of your unhealthy habits. Then develop strategies to counteract them. For example, habits can be linked in our minds to certain places and activities. You could develop a plan, say, to avoid walking down the hall where there’s a candy machine. Resolve to avoid going places where you’ve usually smoked. Stay away from friends and situations linked to problem drinking or drug use.

One way to kick bad habits is to actively replace unhealthy routines with new, healthy ones. Some people find they can replace a bad habit, even drug addiction, with another behavior, like exercising. “It doesn’t work for everyone,” Volkow says. “But certain groups of patients who have a history of serious addictions can engage in certain behaviors that are ritualistic and in a way compulsive—such as marathon running—and it helps them stay away from drugs. These alternative behaviors can counteract the urges to repeat a behavior to take a drug.”

Bad habits may be hard to change, but it can be done. Enlist the help of friends, co-workers and family for some extra support.



Making Your Resolutions Stick: How to Create Healthy Habits
[From NIH News in Health]

Eating habits and behaviors
[From MedlinePlus]

Choosing a Safe and Successful Weight-loss Program
[From the Weight-control Information Network / National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases]

Your Child's Habits
[From KidsHealth.org]

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Understanding and Finding Clinical Trials

Clinical trials are research studies that test how well new medical approaches work in people. Each study answers scientific questions and tries to find better ways to prevent, screen for, diagnose or treat a disease. Clinical trials may also compare a new treatment to a treatment that is already available.

Participants in clinical trials can play a more active role in their own health care, gain access to new research treatments before they are widely available, and help others by contributing to medical research.

Every clinical trial has a protocol, or action plan, for conducting the trial. The plan describes what will be done in the study, how it will be conducted, and why each part of the study is necessary. Each study has its own rules about who can participate. Some studies need volunteers with a certain disease. Some need healthy people. Others want just men or just women.

In the United States, an independent committee of physicians, statisticians and members of the community must approve and monitor the protocol. They make sure that the risks are small and are worth the potential benefits.

[Excerpted from the first two links below]



About Clinical Trials

Understanding Clinical Trials
[From ClinicalTrials.gov]

Clinical Trials
[From MedlinePlus]

How Does Clinical Research Work?
[From the National Institutes of Health]



Finding Clinical Trials

Clinical Trials at UCSF Medical Center

ClinicalTrials.gov
ClinicalTrials.gov offers up-to-date information for locating federally and privately supported clinical trials for a wide range of diseases and conditions.

Searching the hundreds of research studies on cancer treatments can be overwhelming.  Using the tools from the following resources can make it easier to find clinical trials that may be right for you.

BreastCancerTrials.org


National Cancer Institute - Clinical Trials Search



If you need more help, contact the librarian at the Patient Health Library for an individual consultation.

Monday, January 23, 2012

Health Newsletters at the Patient Health Library, January 2012

Not all information is free and not all of it is online! The UCSF Patient Health Library subscribes to a number of health and wellness newsletters that are not otherwise free to the public. Here are some highlights from recent newsletters.

To see the entire articles, visit the Patient Health Library!

Consumer Reports on Health, Jan 2012
-Health ‘truths’ overturned, pp.1-5
-The buzz on caffeine, p.6
-Choosing the right fats, pp.8-9

Harvard Health Letter, Dec 2011
-Are artificial sweeteners a good alternative to sugar? p.1
-Is it okay to keep on taking Ambien for my sleeping problems? p.3
-Should I worry about health effects from BPA? p.4

Harvard Men's Health Watch, Dec 2011
-Medical radiation: Too much of a good thing? pp.1-6

Mayo Clinic Health Letter, Jan 2012
-Pneumonia: Reducing your risk, pp.4-5

Nutrition Action Newsletter, Dec 2011
-What foods are good for lowering cholesterol, staying regular, lowering blood pressure, protecting your eyes, and avoiding colon cancer pp.1-7
-How to avoid an “online fleecing” regarding “miracle products” and “revolutionary cures”, pp.8-9
-Top veggie burgers and nuggets, pp.12-13

Tufts University Health & Nutrition Letter, Nov 2011
-More proof that staying physically active keeps brain sharp, pp.1-2
-Are probiotics right for you? pp.4-5
-No bone or menopause benefits from soy, per recent study, p.6

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Stress

We all have stress sometimes. For some people, it happens before having to speak in public. For other people, it might be before a first date. What causes stress for you may not be stressful for someone else. Sometimes stress is helpful - it can encourage you to meet a deadline or get things done. But long-term stress can increase the risk of diseases like depression, heart disease and a variety of other problems.  If you have chronic stress, the best way to deal with it is to take care of the underlying problem.

[Excerpted from MedlinePlus: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/stress.html]



UCSF Osher Center for Integrative Medicine
The Osher Center for Integrative Medicine offers a variety of groundbreaking lectures, classes, workshops, and therapeutic programs for the public, including in areas such as meditation and mindfulness, yoga, and tai chi. 

UCSF Ida & Joseph Friend Cancer Resource Center
The Cancer Resource Center supports wellness and the healing process by providing patients and their loved ones with information, emotional support, and community resources.

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Drug Safety

Buying & Using Medicine Safely
[Food and Drug Administration (FDA)]

Over-the-Counter Medicines: What's Right for You? 
[FDA] 

Your Medicine: Be Smart. Be Safe 
[Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality]
Learn more about how to take medicines safely. Use the handy wallet card at the back of this printable booklet to keep track of your medicines.

Buying Prescription Drugs Online: The Do's and Don'ts 
[Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research]

Generic Drugs: Questions and Answers 
[FDA]

Find the Latest Drug Product and Safety Information
[FDA]

Recalls, Market Withdrawals and Safety Alerts
[FDA]

Further resources on Drug Safety and Over-the-Counter Medicines
[MedlinePlus]