Tag: health news

In June, the FDA approved a new treatment for the most advanced type of prostate cancer. Patients who have this condition, which is called metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), have few therapeutic options, so the approval helps to fill an urgent need.

mCRPC sets in when the front-line hormonal therapies that doctors use first for treating metastatic prostate cancer stop working. These drugs limit the body’s production of testosterone, a hormone that fuels prostate cancer growth. If they are no longer effective, then doctors switch to a different class of drugs known as anti-androgens that further inhibit testosterone by blocking its cell receptor. One of those drugs is called enzalutamide.

The newly approved treatment combines enzalutamide with a second drug, talazoparib, that was already on the market for female cancer patients who test positive for BRCA mutations. These inherited gene defects boost risks for breast and ovarian cancer, but they can also elevate risks for prostate cancer in men. Indeed, an estimated 10% of men with metastatic prostate cancer are BRCA-positive.

Talazoparib inhibits a DNA-repair system called PARP that the tumor cells need to keep their own genes in working order. When PARP is blocked by treatment, the cancer cells will eventually die. Other PARP inhibitors, including olaparib and rucaparib, are already approved for advanced prostate cancer in BRCA-positive men.

During research leading to this latest approval, 399 men with mCRPC were randomly divided into two groups. One group received talazoparib plus enzalutamide; the other group was treated with enzalutamide plus placebo. The men averaged 70 years in age, and most of them had already been treated with chemotherapy and/or a different anti-androgen called abiraterone. All the men were positive for either BRCA mutations or defects affecting other DNA-repair genes.

What the study showed

Results from the still-unpublished study were presented at the 2023 American Society of Oncology Annual Meeting in June. After a median follow-up of roughly 17 months, the enzalutamide/talazoparib combination reduced the risk of death or visible signs of tumor progression by 55%.

Among the specific subgroup of BRCA-positive patients, “there was an 80% reduction in risk progression or death, which is enormous for these men and obviously very welcome,” said lead researcher Dr. Karim Fizazi, a professor at the University of Paris-Saclay in France.

Scientists had hoped that combining PARP inhibitors with anti-androgens would similarly benefit prostate cancer patients with no DNA-repair defects, but evidence from a different study by Dr. Fizazi and his colleagues shows they do not.

For that reason, the FDA approved the new combination only for mCRPC patients who test positive for mutations affecting DNA-repair genes. Dr. Fizazi and his colleagues are continuing to monitor the enrolled patients for improvements in other areas, such as overall survival, quality of life, and subsequent need for chemotherapy.

Dr. David Einstein, an assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and a medical oncologist at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, says the evidence helps to confirm that PARP inhibitors have a role to play in genetically-selected men with mCRPC. Additional research is needed to assess if the observed benefits are “specific to the combination or just because access to PARP inhibition was provided at some point in the disease course,” he says.

“Genetic testing for BRCA, which originally targeted females, is now becoming mainstream for men with a family history of breast and ovarian cancers, as well as men with mCRPC regardless of family history,” says Dr. Marc B. Garnick, the Gorman Brothers Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. “This is important, as it has implications for other family members and treatment choices alike. Also important to note is that where this study enrolled men who had already been treated with chemotherapy and/or abiraterone, future research will likely move the enzalutamide/talazoparib combination — or components of it — to earlier disease stages.”

Summer is an ideal time to take a hike, especially if you have the opportunity to explore one of our country’s many state and national parks. But if you venture far from home, it’s essential to make sure you’re prepared for the local climate and other conditions you may encounter on the trail, especially if you’re not an experienced hiker. Higher temperatures than you’re accustomed to or other extreme weather can be deadly.

“If you’re taking a hike in mid-July in the Arizona desert, there’s a very different list of considerations than if you’re in the mountains of Montana or the forests of North Carolina,” says Dr. N. Stuart Harris, chief of the Division of Wilderness Medicine at Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital. Here’s a run-down of what to consider before you hit the trail.

Traveling companions, safety notifications, and orientation

First, it’s safer to travel in pairs or a group of people. But always tell someone not on your hike where you’re going, your anticipated route, and when you expect to return. National parks often require reservations or permits for overnight stays or treks to certain locales, and keep a record of day-hikers, so sign up as requested. If you end up getting injured or lost, the information can make a huge difference in locating you more quickly.

Remember to bring a map and know how to orient yourself. In many wilderness areas, cell service may be spotty or nonexistent, so don’t count on using your phone’s GPS.

In the desert, you may be able to see for 50 miles in the distance. But if you’re in a steep, wooded area, you might not be able to see 100 yards ahead and it’s much easier to become disoriented, says Dr. Harris.

Be ready for heat, humidity, and other weather hazards

Check forecasts first. Always check the forecast so you can be prepared for weather changes. Temperatures may drop and wind may increase as you climb higher. If you’re in an area prone to thunderstorms, lightning injury should definitely be on your radar, says Dr. Harris. Learn these lightning safety tips from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Because these storms usually strike in the afternoon, you can minimize your risk by hiking in the earlier part of the day.

Hydrate well. During any type of exercise — especially hiking, which often demands a fair bit of exertion — be sure to drink extra water to replace the fluid you lose from sweating. On a warm day, you might not notice you’re sweating if it’s breezy. Pay attention to any signs or alerts advising hikers on how much water is best to carry.

Consider humidity. Temperature isn’t the only consideration, however. “If you’re in Arizona and the temperature is over 100° F, your body may be better able to release heat by sweating than if you’re in a very humid area,” says Dr. Harris. In the Great Smoky Mountains, for example, the temperature in July may be only in the high 80s. But humidity levels usually hover around 75% or higher. That means your sweat will evaporate more slowly, so your body’s natural cooling mechanism doesn’t work as efficiently. Be sure to rest and hydrate if you start feeling overheated.

What to wear and bring

Many park websites offer detailed safety tips specific to the terrain and weather you may encounter on a hike, so check before you go. Five basics to consider are as follows:

• If your hike involves rocky or uneven terrain, hiking boots will offer more support than tennis shoes.
• You’ll be more comfortable in lightweight, moisture-wicking clothing, but bring extra layers and rain gear, if the weather forecast suggests this is appropriate. Temperature drops can be surprising in some places when the sun wanes, so be prepared to layer up as needed if you’re out longer than expected.
• Wear a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses to shield you from the sun’s glare — and don’t forget to apply sunscreen to all exposed skin before you set off.
• Along with plenty of fluids, bring high-energy snacks. If you get off course or encounter a problem, you’ll be glad you did.

Additionally, depending on where you’re hiking, you may need to dodge rash-inducing plants, including stinging nettles, poison oak, or poison ivy. Bring insect repellent to fend off biting insects and follow prevention strategies for ticks, which may harbor bacteria responsible for Lyme disease and other illnesses. Finally, carry a first aid kit with bandages for cuts and scrapes and moleskin for blisters.

Here’s a new fact about spring, summer, fall, and sometimes even winter, now that climate change has blurred seasonal boundaries: sizzling heat may be on the way, or currently blanketing your community.

High temperatures stress the body, leading to thousands of heat-related illnesses and deaths every year in the US. Creating a personal heat plan can help you stay safe when the heat index soars.

Caleb Dresser, MD, MPH, is the health care solutions lead for C-CHANGE, the Center for Climate Health and the Global Environment at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and an emergency medicine doctor at Harvard-affiliated Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. Below we interview him about who, how, and why heat harms. Then we’ll help you create your personal heat safety plan.

Interview edited for clarity

Who is especially vulnerable during hot weather?

High temperatures can affect anyone. But some people — children, outdoor workers, people who are pregnant or have health problems or disabilities, and older people — are more likely to experience harm when temperatures rise. For example:

• Young children, especially babies, have less physical capacity to deal with very high temperatures.
• People working outdoors may not have access to shade and could be performing physically intensive labor. They need adequate hydration, adequate breaks, and access to a cool space during break time, as OSHA guidelines spell out.
• People with chronic medical conditions, such as kidney disease or heart disease, may have difficulty adapting physiologically to hot weather, or may be more susceptible to its health impacts.
• And some people living with disabilities or certain neurological conditions may have difficulty with thermoregulation — that is, controlling the temperature of their bodies — or may not be able to take actions that keep them safe, such as taking off layers or moving to a cool area.

Which weather patterns create dangerous levels of heat?

Dangerous heat is the result of both high temperatures and high humidity, which interfere with our ability to cool off by sweating. In dry areas, extremely hot temperatures can be dangerous on their own.

Danger zones vary across the United States and around the world. But hospital use and deaths rise once we get above threshold temperatures. The threshold varies in different places depending on whether bodies, cultures, and architecture are adapted to heat.

For example, here in New England, where some people (particularly those of limited means) may not have access to air conditioning, we see increases in healthcare use and deaths at a lower temperature than in the American South, where people and organizations may be more used to dealing with hot weather.

When does hot weather become dangerous to our health?

Risk goes up the longer hot weather sticks around.

One hot day can put some people at risk. A stretch of several hot days in a row during a heat wave is particularly dangerous because it can overwhelm people’s ability to adapt. Eventually people run out of physiological reserves, leading to greater health harms and greater need for medical care.

Surprisingly, spring and early summer are particularly dangerous times because people and organizations aren’t as prepared for hot weather.

How to create your personal heat safety plan

Five key points to help you create a personal heat plan are below. Americares offers further information through heat tip sheets developed with the Harvard C-CHANGE team that are tailored to people in different health circumstances.

Planning is important because intense heat is occurring more often: a Climate Central analysis found 21 additional risky heat days, on average, for 232 out of 249 locations between 1970 and 2022.

• Stay ahead of hot weather. Check apps, websites, TV, or radio for updates on weather today and in coming days. If local weather alerts are available by phone or text, sign up.
• Have a cooling plan. When temperatures soar, you need to spend as much time as possible in cool spaces. Plan options if your home is likely to be too hot and unsafe to stay in. You may be able to stay with a neighbor or family member who has air conditioning until a heat wave passes. Many cities and towns have neighborhood splash pads for children, and open cooling centers or air-conditioned libraries, public buildings, or community centers to everyone — sometimes even overnight. Spending time in air-conditioned businesses or malls, or in a shady green space like a park, may help too.
• Sip plenty of fluids. Water is the best choice. Skip sugary drinks and avoid caffeine or alcohol.
• Use fans correctly. Fans help if surrounding air is relatively cool. If air temperatures are very high, it’s important to dampen your clothes or skin to help keep your body from overheating, and move to a cooler location, if possible.
• Know your personal risks and the signs of heat-related illness. If you have health problems or disabilities, or take certain medicines such as diuretics, talk to your doctor about the best ways for you to cope with heat. It’s also essential to know the signs of heat-related illnesses, which range from heat rash and sunburn to heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke. This chart from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention describes the signs to look for and what you can do, particularly when heat becomes an emergency.

The first thing to know about ringworm is that there are no worms involved.

This generally harmless skin infection is caused by a fungus. The fungus causes a raised rash usually shaped like a ring, almost as if a worm was curled up under the skin (but again: no worms are involved).

The medical name for ringworm is tinea corporis.

Are there other types of tinea infections?

There are many different kinds of tinea skin infections, named in Latin for the part of the body they affect, such as the

• scalp (tinea capitis)
• groin (tinea cruris)
• feet (tinea pedis)
• body (tinea corporis).

Tinea infections can look a bit different depending on what part of the body they affect, but they are usually pink or red and scaly.

How do you get ringworm?

Tinea infections, particularly ringworm (tinea corporis), are very common. People catch them from other infected people and also from infected animals, particularly dogs and cats. They can also spread from one part of the body to another.

What does ringworm look like?

It usually starts as a pink scaly patch that then spreads out into a ring. The ring (which is not necessarily perfectly round) usually spreads wider with time. It can sometimes be itchy, but most of the time doesn’t cause any discomfort.

There are other rashes that can have a ringlike shape, so it’s always important to check in with your doctor, especially if the ring isn’t scaly. But most ringlike rashes are tinea.

How is ringworm treated?

Luckily, tinea corporis and the other kinds of tinea are very treatable. Most of the time, an antifungal cream does the trick.

When the rash is extensive (which is rare) or doesn’t respond to an antifungal cream (also rare), an antifungal medication can be taken by mouth.

As is the case with many other germs these days, there are some drug-resistant cases of tinea related to overuse of antifungal medications. But the vast majority of fungal infections go away with medication.

What should you do if you think a family member — or a pet — has ringworm?

If you think someone in your family has ringworm, call your doctor. The sooner you get started on treatment, the better.

If someone in the family has been diagnosed with ringworm, make sure that others don’t share clothing, towels, or sheets. Have everyone wash their hands frequently and well.

If your pet has a scaly rash, call the vet. Vacuum the areas your pet frequents, and have everyone wash their hands after touching the pet.

Can you prevent ringworm?

To prevent tinea corporis and other kinds of tinea:

• Keep skin clean and dry.
• Change clothes (particularly socks and underwear) regularly.
• Wash your hands regularly (this helps prevent all sorts of infections).
• If your child plays contact sports, make sure they shower after practice, keep their uniform and gear clean, and don’t share gear with other players.

To learn more about ringworm, visit the website of the Centers for Disease and Prevention.

Follow me on Twitter @drClaire

As wildfires become more frequent due to climate change and drier conditions, more of us and more of our communities are at risk for harm. Here is information to help you prepare and protect yourself and your family.

How does wildfire smoke affect air quality?

Wildfire smoke contributes greatly to poor air quality. Just like fossil fuel pollution from burning coal, oil, and gas, wildfires create hazardous gases and tiny particles of varying sizes (known as particulate matter, or PM10, PM2.5, PM0.1) that are harmful to breathe. Wildfire smoke also contains other toxins that come from burning buildings and chemical storage.

The smoke can travel to distant regions, carried by weather patterns and jet streams.

How does wildfire smoke affect our health?

The small particles in wildfire smoke are the most worrisome to our health. When we breathe them in, these particles can travel deep into the lungs and sometimes into the bloodstream.

The health effects of wildfire smoke include eye irritation, coughing, wheezing, and difficulty breathing. The smoke may also increase risk for respiratory infections like COVID-19. Other possible serious health effects include heart failure, heart attacks, and strokes.

Who needs to be especially careful?

Those most at risk from wildfire smoke include children, older adults, outdoor workers, and anyone who is pregnant or who has heart or lung conditions.

If you have a chronic health condition, talk to your doctor about how the smoke might affect you. Find out what symptoms should prompt medical attention or adjustment of your medications. This is especially important if you have lung problems or heart problems.

What can you do to prepare for wildfire emergencies?

If you live in an area threatened by wildfires, or where heat and dry conditions make them more likely to occur:

• Create an evacuation plan for your family before a wildfire occurs.
• Make sure that you have several days on hand of medications, water, and food that doesn’t need to be cooked. This will help if you need to leave suddenly due to a wildfire or another natural disaster.
• Regularly check this fire and smoke map, which shows current wildfire conditions and has links to state advisories.
• Follow alerts from local officials if you are in the region of an active fire.

What steps can you take to lower health risks during poor air quality days?

These six tips can help you stay healthy during wildfire smoke advisories and at other times when air quality is poor:

• Stay aware of air quality.AirNow.gov shares real-time air quality risk category for your area accompanied by activity guidance. When recommended, stay indoors, close doors, windows, and any outdoor air intake vents.
• Consider buying an air purifier. This is also important even when there are no regional wildfires if you live in a building that is in poor condition. See my prior post for tips about pollution and air purifiers. The EPA recommends avoiding air cleaners that generate ozone, which is also a pollutant.
• Understand your HVAC system if you have one. The quality and cleanliness of your filters counts, so choose high-efficiency filters if possible, and replace these as needed. It’s also important to know if your system has outdoor air intake vents.
• Avoid creating indoor pollution. That means no smoking, no vacuuming, and no burning of products like candles or incense. Avoid frying foods or using gas stoves, especially if your stove is not well ventilated.
• Make a “clean room.” Choose a room with fewer doors and windows. Run an air purifier that is the appropriate size for this room, especially if you are not using central AC to keep cool.
• Minimize outdoor time and wear a mask outside. Again, ensuring that you have several days of medications and food that doesn’t need to be cooked will help. If you must go outdoors, minimize time and level of activity. A well-fitted N95 or KN95 mask or P100 respirator can help keep you from breathing in small particles floating in smoky air (note: automatic PDF download).

Perhaps you’ve seen this ad about a drug for thyroid eye disease. If so, you may be wondering what thyroid eye disease is — and why the woman in the ad is wearing five pairs of sunglasses at once. Read on for answers.

What is thyroid disease and how does it affect the eyes?

The thyroid gland is a small, butterfly-shaped organ at the front of the neck. It releases thyroid hormone, which helps control many functions in the body. If it releases too much thyroid hormone (hyperthyroidism) or too little (hypothyroidism), bothersome and sometimes serious symptoms may develop, including changes in muscle strength, bowel function, and heart function.

An overactive thyroid gland can cause thyroid eye disease, prompting swelling and inflammation in tissues surrounding the eyes. The condition causes bulging eyes, a dry, gritty sensation in the eyes, tearing, pressure or pain behind the eyes, and blurring or double vision.

As many as half a million people in the US have thyroid eye disease. It affects up to half of people with Graves’ disease, an autoimmune illness marked by an overactive thyroid.

Thyroid eye disease ad: The pitch and the evidence

The ad opens with a woman wearing large, dark sunglasses, identified as a real patient named Jeanne. “With thyroid eye disease,” she explains, “I was always wearing sunglasses to hide my bulging eyes. I wore them just about everywhere.”

She removes her sunglasses to reveal that she’s wearing another pair underneath. In fact, she’s wearing three pairs of sunglasses and later will be wearing five!

As the music turns upbeat, she continues: “But then my doctor recommended Tepezza, a prescription medicine for thyroid eye disease, and I didn’t have to hide so much.”

A drawing of a bulging eye morphing into a more normal eye accompanies her next words: “In a clinical study, more than eight out of 10 patients taking Tepezza had less eye bulging. And nearly seven out of 10 saw improvements in double vision.”

Warnings about this medicine

You know what comes next: a fast-talking voiceover warning of possible side effects. For Tepezza, these include:

• Infusion reactions. Now we learn that Tepezza is an intravenous (infused) medicine. A course of treatment is eight 90-minute infusions, each separated by three weeks. Infusion reactions may be mild or severe, including allergic reactions (such as itching or hives) and other side effects that occur during or just after the infusion (such as fever or sweats).
• When to call for advice. “Tell your doctor right away if you have symptoms such as high blood pressure, fast heartbeat, shortness of breath, or muscle pain,” the voiceover instructs. Keep in mind that most people with high blood pressure have no symptoms, but if severe it can cause headaches, blurry vision, or chest pain.
• Before starting treatment. If you have diabetes or inflammatory bowel disease, or if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, you should tell your doctor before starting treatment. That’s because Tepezza may harm a developing fetus or worsen other diseases.

A big finish: Controlling thyroid eye disease

As the commercial winds down, Jeanne is back, removing her fifth consecutive pair of sunglasses to reveal normal-appearing eyes. “I look more like my old self again. Now I wear sunglasses because I want to.”

“Ask your doctor if Tepezza is right for you,” the narrator advises before suggesting a visit to the website for before and after pictures of Jeanne. I checked; they’re impressive.

What the ad gets right

The ad accurately describes

• thyroid eye disease symptoms
• how the condition alters appearance and can cause embarrassment
• results of a single, small study investigating the risks and benefits of Tepezza.

What else do you need to know about treatments for thyroid eye disease?

• You must treat thyroid disease as well as your eye condition. Medicines or surgery are often good options. Radiation therapy may be effective, but sometimes makes thyroid eye disease worsen.
• Selenium, a mineral supplement, is recommended by some experts.
• Quitting smoking is always recommended, partly because smoking may worsen thyroid eye disease.

If thyroid eye disease is mild, moisturizing eye drops, eye shades or patches, or dark sunglasses may be sufficient.

If thyroid eye disease is moderate to severe, options include:

• medicines that suppress inflammation or an overactive immune response. Examples include glucocorticoids, teprotumumab (Tepezza), mycophenolate mofetil (Cellcept), tocilizumab (Actemra), or rituximab (Rituxan).
• surgery to remove excess tissue around the eyes.

Small studies, like the one cited in the ad, may not detect all side effects, especially rare ones.

Last, but certainly not least: Tepezza is expensive. The price for a year of treatment can be $300,000 or more — and insurance coverage varies.

The bottom line

I still don’t know why the woman in the ad wears multiple pairs of sunglasses at the same time. Maybe it’s to emphasize how serious she is about hiding her eyes. Or maybe it’s just a way to grab our attention. Direct-to-consumer drug marketing strategies can be even more mysterious than the illnesses they hope to treat.

If you’re concerned you may have thyroid disease or thyroid eye disease, talk to your doctor. A costly new drug may be an option for some people, but it pays to learn about all options. Academic medical centers, the NIH, or a medical society are more likely to give you reliable and balanced information than a drug ad.

In this increasingly digital world, it’s not surprising that children are spending more and more of their time on some sort of device. And while there is certainly much to be learned, explored, and created using devices, there are skills that devices can’t always teach — and that children need to learn.

Play bolsters executive function and mood regulation skills

Executive function, emotional regulation, and general physical skills are important for children to learn — and practice — as they grow. The best way for children to learn these skills is through play; that’s why we say that play is the work of a child. As devices become more pervasive, and as many children become more scheduled with lessons and organized activities, making time for device-free play can become forgotten.

I think that also, parents and children are literally forgetting how to play. Parents used to bring toys to entertain their children while they waited to see me; now they just hand their child their phone. Devices are so ubiquitous and easy, it can take real effort to put them aside and find something else to do.

Play is essential to healthy development

Harvard’s Center on the Developing Child has developed excellent handouts for parents (note: automatic download) on different age-based games and activities to help support their child’s development. I particularly like those that involve the parent too — because that not only helps your child, it helps your relationship.

Great games to play with younger children: Ages 4 to 7

In the first three years of life, play is about literally building brain connections and basic skills. As kids grow, play builds on those skills and gives them opportunities to think, be creative, cooperate with one another, and use their bodies.

Here are some ideas for 4-to 7-year-olds (note: automatic download):

• Freeze Dance, Red Light Green Light, Simon Says, or Duck Duck Goose are all games that get kids active while reinforcing self-regulation and cooperation.
• I Spy, Bingo (or Opposites Bingo, where families make their own picture boards and kids have to match the opposite to what is said), and other matching games are great for building memory and cognitive skills.
• Try starting a story and having others add to it to see what plot twists emerge! It’s a great way to encourage creativity. You can do something similar with a drawing: start with something simple, like a house or a boat, and take turns embellishing this, narrating as you do.

Great games to play with older children: Ages 8 to 12

The 8-to 12-year-olds (note: automatic download) are capable of more complicated activities, like:

• Doing jigsaw puzzles, or solving crosswords or other puzzles together.
• Playing games like chess, Battleship, Go, or Clue that involve memory and planning.
• Playing a sport — play basketball together, go skating, practice yoga, or go for a run together. Being active together is not only healthy for both of you, it sets a good lifelong example.
• Learning an instrument — learn together!
• Making things. Teach them to cook, build, sew, crochet, grow a garden. This, too, can be play.

Opportunities to play help teens, as well

As kids grow into teens (automatic download), they naturally seek more independence and time with their peers. Opportunities for play take different forms depending on personal interests. Sports, cooking, music, theater, and even (within moderation) video games can encourage creativity, life skills, and fun.

For more information about how parents can build and encourage important life skills in their children, visit the Harvard Center on the Developing Child website.

Follow me on Twitter @drClaire

Editor’s note: in honor of Pride Month, we’re re-publishing a 2019 post by Dr. Cecil Webster.

Generally speaking, discussing what happens in our bedrooms outside of the bedroom can be anxiety-provoking. Let’s try to make your doctor’s office an exception. Why is this important? People in the LGBTQ+ community contend not only with a full range of health needs, but also with environments that may lead to unique mental and physical health challenges. Whether or not you have come out in general, doing so with your doctor may prove critical in managing your health. Sexual experiences, with their impact on identity, varied emotional significance, and disease risk, are a keystone for helping your doctor understand how to personalize your healthcare.

Admittedly, talking about your intimate sexual experiences or your gender identity may feel uncomfortable. Many LGBTQ+ patients worry that their clinicians may not be knowledgeable about their needs, or that they’ll to have to educate them. Finding a LGBTQ+ adept doctor, preparing ahead of time for your next appointment, and courageously asking tough questions can give you and your health the best shot.

Finding a skilled clinician who is LGBTQ+ adept

Many large cities have healthcare institutions whose mission centers on care for LGBTQ+ peoples. However, these organizations may prove inaccessible to many for a variety of reasons. Regardless of your location, asking friends, family, or others to recommend a clinician may be a game changer. If your trans friend had a relatively painless experience visiting an area gynecologist, perhaps your Pap smear may go smoothly there as well. If your coworker has a psychiatrist who regularly asks him about his Grindr use, perhaps it may be easier to navigate your gay relationship questions with her.

Word of mouth is often an undervalued method of finding someone skilled and attentive to the needs of LGBTQ+ individuals. Online, many clinicians offer a short bio with their areas of expertise, and there are provider directories featuring trusted clinicians. Further, some doctors regularly write articles and give talks that may offer clues about desired knowledge. A simple Google search of your provider may yield a bounty.

Next, give your doctor or healthcare organization a call. Don’t be shy about requesting someone whose practice matches your specific needs. Your health information is protected, and generally, physicians hold your clinical privacy dear. Keep in mind that not all clinics will know or share whether or not your doctor is, for example, also a lesbian, but they may pair you with someone well suited to your request or point you in the right direction.

Preparing for your appointment

Let’s say you are nervous about coming out to your doctor. A little preparation may ease this burden. Here are some quick tips:

• Let them know you’re nervous at the start of the conversation.
• Be as bold as you can tolerate.
• Write down what you are excited about, nervous about, and/or curious about.
• Go in with a few goals and start with what’s most important.
• Maximize your comfort. If your partner is calming, bring them. If Beyoncé soothes what ails you, bring her along too.
• Lightly correct or update your clinician if they get something wrong.

Ask tough questions, give clear answers

As a psychiatrist who works with kids and adults, I often hear questions like, “I don’t know really how to say this, but I started experimenting with other guys. Does this mean I’m gay?” I may start by asking if you’ve enjoyed it. My colleagues in health care might begin with the same question.

Pleasurable experiences come in all sorts of constellations, and healthy exploration is part of being human. Additionally, clinicians need to assess and address your safety. Many LGBTQ+ people are at higher risk of intimate partner violence. We may ask about your use of condoms, how many partners you’ve had recently, your use of substances during sex, and how these experiences may shift how you see yourself. Give clear answers if possible, but don’t fret if you’re uncertain. Your doctor will not likely provide a label or pry unnecessarily. They may offer constructive information on the use of condoms, reasons to consider using PrEP (which can effectively prevent HIV), and places you can go for more guidance. Physicians enjoy giving personalized information so that you may make informed healthcare decisions.

There is no end to what is on people’s minds. Be bold. Will tucking reduce my sperm count? Maybe. Does binding my breasts come with risk? Likely. Was Shangela robbed of her RuPaul’s Drag Race: All Stars 3 crown? Utterly, but let’s get back to your cholesterol, shall we?

Remember that it is often impossible to squeeze everything into one appointment. Afterward, take time to catch your breath, reflect on what you’ve learned, and come up with more questions for next time. We’re here for that.

Prostate cancer is generally viewed as a disease of older men. Yet about 10% of new diagnoses occur in men age 55 or younger, and these early-onset cancers often have a worse prognosis. Biological differences partially explain the discrepancy. For instance, early-onset prostate cancers contain certain genetic abnormalities that don’t appear as often in older men with the disease.

But socioeconomic factors also play an important role, according to new research by investigators at Jacksonville College of Medicine (JCM) in Florida. The fact that poverty, educational status, and other factors governing socioeconomic status (SES) influence cancer survival is well established.

This is the first study to investigate how SES affects survival in early-onset prostate cancer specifically. The findings show that men with lower SES don’t live as long as the higher-SES patients do. “They’re more likely to be diagnosed at advanced stages,” says Dr. Carlos Riveros, a physician and research associate at JCM and the paper’s first author.

What the research found

During the investigation, Dr. Riveros and his colleagues evaluated data from the National Cancer Database (NCD), which is sponsored by the American College of Surgeons and the National Cancer Institute. The NCD captures data from over 1,500 hospitals in the United States. Dr. Riveros’s team focused specifically on long-term outcome data for 112,563 men diagnosed with early-onset prostate cancer between 2004 and 2018.

The researchers were able to determine the zip codes where each of these patients lived. Then they looked at per-capita income for those zip codes, as well as the percentage of people living within them who had not yet earned a high school diploma. Taken together, the income and educational data served as a composite SES measure for each zip code’s population. In a final step, the team looked at how the survival of early-onset prostate cancer patients across the zip codes compares.

The results were remarkable: Compared to high-SES patients, the low-SES men were far more likely to be African American, and less likely to have health insurance. More of the low-SES men lived in rural neighborhoods and had stage IV prostate cancer at diagnosis. Fewer low-SES patients were treated at state-of-the-art cancer centers, and less of them had surgical treatment.

After adjusting for age, race, ethnicity, cancer stage, treatment, and other variables, the lower-SES men were 1.5 times more likely than the higher SES men to have died over a median follow-up of 79 months.

Observations and comments

According to Dr. Riveros, the findings are consistent with evidence showing that social determinants of health — the conditions in places where people work and spend their lives — have broad impacts on cancer risk. “Many people in lower-SES areas have had poor diets since birth,” he says.

Lower-SES individuals may be limited in their ability to find, understand, or use health-related information, and therefore “might not know what advanced prostate cancer feels like, or when it’s time to go to a doctor,” Dr. Riveros says. He and his co-authors concluded that SES should be considered when implementing programs to improve the management of patients with early-onset prostate cancer.

“This paper underscores the importance of addressing issues related to diversity, equity, and inclusion when it comes to optimizing outcomes for men with prostate cancer,” says Dr. Marc B. Garnick, the Gorman Brothers Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.

Dr. Heidi Rayala, a urologist affiliated with Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, and a member of the Harvard Medical School Annual Report on Prostate Diseases editorial board, agrees, but adds that evaluating individual sociodemographic factors is challenging because many of them are coupled with disparities in insurance coverage. “What remains to be answered is whether there are unique underlying SES factors that would benefit from targeted cancer prevention strategies, or whether this all boils down to the 10% of the US population that remains uninsured,” she says.

I recently saw a car vanity plate that read “LBODOC” (as in elbow doc). The driver — probably an orthopedic doctor or arthritis specialist — was clearly a fan of the elbow, an unassuming joint and a surprisingly central player in many daily tasks. I could relate: throughout my medical career, the elbow has been my favorite joint.

Here’s why we should give praise to elbows and do all we can to protect them.

What if we didn’t have elbows?

Let’s face it: the human experience would be quite different without elbows.

Imagine your arm without a joint that bends at the elbow. You’d be unable to easily feed yourself, put on makeup, shave your face, or brush your teeth. It’d be tough to get dressed or throw a ball without elbows. And, importantly, wiping yourself after using the bathroom would be nearly impossible.

Yet, when it comes to joints and joint disease, we hear little about elbows; hips and knees get most of the attention. So, let’s consider for a moment what the lowly elbow does and why it deserves more credit.

How do your elbows work?

Three bones come together at the elbow joint: the humerus, which is in the upper arm, and two long bones called the ulna and radius in the lower arm.

Your elbow has two main motions:

• Flexing and straightening. Flexing your arm allows you to bring your hand toward your body (flexion), which you do when bringing food to your mouth or putting your hands on your hips. Straightening your arm (extension) allows such motions as putting your arm in a shirt sleeve or reaching your toes.
• Turning up and down. You can also flip your palms from facing the ceiling (supination) to facing the floor (pronation). These motions are important for many common movements, such as turning a key or a doorknob.

Bumping your elbow: Why is it called the funny bone?

Probably for two reasons:

• The humerus in the upper arm sounds just like the word humorous, meaning funny.
• Bumping your elbow often puts pressure on the ulnar nerve, since it’s located between the bones of the joint. Pressure on this nerve can cause a funny tingling sensation that runs down your arm.

Elbow trouble: Four well-known problems — and a surprising fifth

Like so many overlooked and underappreciated things, most people think little about their elbows until something goes wrong. Here are some of the most common elbow problems:

• Arthritis. Several types of arthritis can affect the elbow, including rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and gout. Interestingly, the most common type of arthritis, osteoarthritis, doesn’t usually affect the elbow unless there’s been prior damage to the joint.
• Bursitis. The bursa is a saclike structure that surrounds the tip of the elbow. Bursitis develops when it becomes swollen or inflamed, due to infection, gout, or bleeding.
• Tendonitis. Tendon inflammation (tendonitis) may develop on the inside part of the elbow (called “golfer’s elbow”) or the outside (called “tennis elbow”). Despite these names, you don’t have to play any particular sport to develop elbow tendonitis.
• Trauma. Everyday activities and athletic pursuits put the elbow at risk. A bike accident, falling off a skateboard, or just tripping on a curb and falling onto your arm can cause significant elbow injuries. These include ligament damage, broken bones, or bursitis.

And the surprising fifth problem? Cell phone-induced nerve irritation: holding your elbow bent for a long time can lead to “cell phone elbow” due to pressure on the ulnar nerve. This can cause numbness and pain down the arm. The solution? Put the phone down — or at least go hands-free.

How can you protect your elbows?

Considering all our elbows do for us, we need to do our best to protect them. That means:

• Wear elbow protectors when engaging in activities likely to injure the elbows (like skateboarding or roller blading).
• Learn proper technique for activities that can stress the elbow like racquet sports, baseball, weight training, or repetitive motions in carpentry and other types of work. For example, a trainer or coach can help you improve your tennis stroke to avoid overstressing the elbow joint and its tendons or ligaments.
• Use appropriate equipment. For example, avoid using a tennis racquet that’s too heavy for you.
• Train well. Strengthening forearm muscles and stretching can help avoid golfer’s elbow.

The bottom line

As the junction between hand and shoulder, our elbows play a pivotal role in everyday function. It’s high time we recognized them for what they do for us. Even if the elbow isn’t your favorite joint — as it is for me — perhaps it should be in your top five. After all, think of all the things you couldn’t do without them.

Experiencing discrimination in the workplace — where many adults spend one-third of their time, on average — may be harmful to your heart health.

A 2023 study in the Journal of the American Heart Association found that people who reported high levels of discrimination on the job were more likely to develop high blood pressure than those who reported low levels of workplace discrimination.

Workplace discrimination refers to unfair conditions or unpleasant treatment because of personal characteristics — particularly race, sex, or age.

How can discrimination affect our health?

“The daily hassles and indignities people experience from discrimination are a specific type of stress that is not always included in traditional measures of stress and adversity,” says sociologist David R. Williams, professor of public health at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

Yet multiple studies have documented that experiencing discrimination increases risk for developing a broad range of factors linked to heart disease. Along with high blood pressure, this can also include chronic low-grade inflammation, obesity, and type 2 diabetes.

More than 25 years ago, Williams created the Everyday Discrimination Scale. This is the most widely used measure of discrimination’s effects on health.

Who participated in the study of workplace discrimination?

The study followed a nationwide sample of 1,246 adults across a broad range of occupations and education levels, with roughly equal numbers of men and women.

Most were middle-aged, white, and married. They were mostly nonsmokers, drank low to moderate amounts of alcohol, and did moderate to high levels of exercise. None had high blood pressure at the baseline measurements.

How was discrimination measured and what did the study find?

The study is the first to show that discrimination in the workplace can raise blood pressure.

To measure discrimination levels, researchers used a test that included these six questions:

• How often do you think you are unfairly given tasks that no one else wanted to do?
• How often are you watched more closely than other workers?
• How often does your supervisor or boss use ethnic, racial, or sexual slurs or jokes?
• How often do your coworkers use ethnic, racial, or sexual slurs or jokes?
• How often do you feel that you are ignored or not taken seriously by your boss?
• How often has a coworker with less experience and qualifications gotten promoted before you?

Based on the responses, researchers calculated discrimination scores and divided participants into groups with low, intermediate, and high scores.

• After a follow-up of roughly eight years, about 26% of all participants reported developing high blood pressure.
• Compared to people who scored low on workplace discrimination at the start of the study, those with intermediate or high scores were 22% and 54% more likely, respectively, to report high blood pressure during the follow-up.

How could discrimination affect blood pressure?

Discrimination can cause emotional stress, which activates the body’s fight-or-flight response. The resulting surge of hormones makes the heart beat faster and blood vessels narrow, which causes blood pressure to rise temporarily. But if the stress response is triggered repeatedly, blood pressure may remain consistently high.

Discrimination may arise from unfair treatment based on a range of factors, including race, gender, religious affiliation, or sexual orientation. The specific attribution doesn’t seem to matter, says Williams. “Broadly speaking, the effects of discrimination on health are similar, regardless of the attribution,” he says, noting that the Everyday Discrimination Scale was specifically designed to capture a range of different forms of discrimination.

What are the limitations of this study?

One limitation of this recent study is that only 6% of the participants were nonwhite, and these individuals were less likely to take part in the follow-up session of the study. As a result, the study may not have fully or accurately captured workplace discrimination among people from different racial groups. In addition, blood pressure was self-reported, which may be less reliable than measurements directly documented by medical professionals.

What may limit the health impact of workplace discrimination?

At the organizational level, no studies have directly addressed this issue. Preliminary evidence suggests that improving working conditions, such as decreasing job demands and increasing job control, may help lower blood pressure, according to the study authors. In addition, the American Heart Association recently released a report, Driving Health Equity in the Workplace, that aims to address drivers of health inequities in the workplace.

Encouraging greater awareness of implicit bias may be one way to help reduce discrimination in the workplace. Implicit bias refers to the unconscious assumptions and prejudgments people have about groups of people that may underlie some discriminatory behaviors. You can explore implicit biases with these tests, which were developed at Harvard and other universities.

On an individual level, stress management training can reduce blood pressure. A range of stress-relieving strategies may offer similar benefits. Regularly practicing relaxation techniques or brief mindfulness reflections, learning ways to cope with negative thoughts, and getting sufficient exercise can help.

The notion that hurting yourself can make you feel better seems like a contradiction. But that’s exactly what drives skin cutting and similar forms of self-harm among adolescents, says Matthew Nock, chair of the department of psychology at Harvard University.

If you’re a parent, you may have heard about cutting or be wondering about red flags. Here are the basics on what to know, and how you can respond if you’re concerned about this form of self-harm.

What is self-harm?

“Self-harm is the intentional destruction of body tissue in the absence of any intent to die,” explains Nock, who specializes in treating self-injury behaviors in childhood to young adulthood. “Most often it happens on the arms and takes the form of cutting with some type of sharp object, such as a razor blade, pencil, or pocket knife. It might also include burning the skin or inserting objects under the skin, such as paper clips.”

How many teens engage in self-harm?

About 17% of teenagers engage in self-harm at least once, according to the American Psychological Association.

Many who do so begin between ages 12 and 14, when adolescence can deliver a one-two punch: combining a new mental health disorder with greater risk-taking behaviors, explains Nock.

What leads some teens to engage in cutting?

Cutting appears to affect all genders of adolescents equally, Nock notes. But what factors make teens more likely to do it? In addition to experiencing depression, anxiety, or other mental health issues, teens who cut themselves may be more apt to use drugs or alcohol.

A 2022 study in Child and Adolescent Mental Health suggests additional contributing factors, including family problems, school or job challenges, and struggling relationships with friends. Ultimately, cutting appears to have three contributing components, Nock says: psychological, biological, and social.

“Kids who engage in self-injury have difficulty tolerating emotional distress and are more likely to try to escape from those feelings,” he says. “It might be that their pain demands attention, and when they’re really upset, cutting themselves focuses on their physical pain and reduces their psychological pain.”

The sense of relief or release after cutting reinforces the behavior, leading teens to cut themselves again and again. “An adult who’s feeling upset may have a drink, go for a run, or engage in yoga to decrease their distress. When they feel better afterward, that behavior gets reinforced,” Nock says. “We think the same is true with self-injury: if you feel really bad and cut yourself, the feeling goes away.”

Will asking about cutting put ideas in a teenager’s head?

Parents often worry about this. But it’s safe to assume kids in middle school and high school are well aware of what self-harm involves, from social media and interactions with peers and others. “Asking kids about it isn’t going to give them the idea to do it — all of the data we have suggests that’s not the case,” Nock says.

What are key signs of cutting in teenagers?

Be alert for

• fresh cuts on a teen’s skin, or evidence that skin has been cut, burned, or had objects placed under it
• covering body areas — whether arms or legs — they didn’t tend to cover before.

Is there a connection between cutting and suicide?

While teens who engage in cutting don’t intend to end their lives that way, their willingness to hurt themselves might indicate a greater risk that they may attempt suicide. More than 50% of children and adolescents who die by suicide have previously self-harmed, according to the 2022 study described above.

“The more you intentionally hurt your body — which takes some amount of courage to do — the more likely you’ll target yourself in the future,” Nock says. “We also think there’s a self-hatred component to this — you’ll hurt your body when in distress rather than do something productive like go for a run. There’s a sort of self-criticism that leads people to hurt themselves and ultimately try to kill themselves.”

How can parents respond if they notice signs of cutting?

If they confide in anyone at all, teens who self-harm tend to tell their friends, not their parents or other adults. But parents can break through the secrecy and offer support with a calm, steadfast approach.

“Encourage them to talk to you about what they’re experiencing, knowing that you’re an open ear and will be as nonjudgmental as possible,” Nock says. “It’s not realistic that we’re going to root out all risky behaviors that kids engage in. But when death is a potential outcome, encourage friends and family not to honor that secrecy and to try to intervene to keep the person safe.”

Seeking appropriate resources can help:

• Take your child to a primary care doctor who can refer to a mental health professional, or go directly to a psychiatrist, psychologist, or social worker for evaluation.
• Ask your doctor or a mental health professional about local or telehealth options for cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). Both approaches can help teens learn healthier strategies to cope with emotional distress.
• If your child’s self-injury seems severe or you’re concerned about the possibility of suicide, go to a hospital emergency room. “If our kids fall and suffer a break or accidental injury that needs medical attention, we go to the ER — and the same should happen for injuries that are self-inflicted,” Nock says.

Health guidelines recommend adults get at least 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise, or at least 75 minutes of vigorous exercise. Which activities you choose don’t matter as long as they get you moving.

But what if an injury, illness, health condition, disability, or even normal aging makes being active hard for you? In those cases, adaptive sports could lend a much-needed hand.

What are adaptive sports?

Adaptive sports are competitive or recreational sports or activities for people with disabilities or physical limitations. They often run parallel to traditional endeavors, but are modified to support people’s specific physical abilities.

“Eventually, almost everyone will experience some kind of disability that impedes regular exercise, whether it’s mild arthritis, requiring a knee or hip replacement, limited vision, or a more significant physical disability,” says Dr. Cheri Blauwet, an associate professor in physical medicine and rehabilitation at Harvard Medical School, and a former wheelchair racer who is a seven-time Paralympic medalist and two-time winner of both the Boston and New York City Marathons. “But today, because of advanced technology and supportive infrastructure, people can find almost any kind of sport or activity that takes into account their abilities and helps them stay active.”

Why is it important to stay active?

Not getting sufficient regular exercise increases the risk of heart disease, stroke, obesity, diabetes, and cancer. It also affects mood. And people with disabilities are especially vulnerable because of the challenges of staying active, says Dr. Blauwet. “Adaptive sports are a way for us to continue to exercise regularly and support our health and well-being going forward.”

Research backs this up. According to one study, people participating in adaptive sports and activities report better overall health, quality of life, and social life.

How can you learn about options for adaptive activities near you?

You can find state and local adaptive sports programs and accessible activities through the websites of the National Center on Health, Physical Activity and Disability and the Challenged Athletes Foundation. “These programs also can help you find mentors, coaches, and the support system that you need to be successful,” says Dr. Blauwet.

What kind of sport or activity you choose ultimately depends on your interests and level of function, but many options are available.

Build on strengths and consider new activities

Dr. Blauwet shares other strategies that can help you transition to adaptive activities.

Look at your current form of exercise. “Almost any kind of sport or activity can be adjusted to accommodate people with disabilities, so there is a good chance you can continue with a favorite endeavor,” says Dr. Blauwet.

For instance, as part of her ongoing therapy, former Arizona representative Gabby Giffords, an avid cyclist who lives with a brain injury after an assassination attempt, now rides a recumbent bike because of paralysis on her right side and balance issues. (A recumbent bike is a three-wheel bicycle that places the rider in a seated or laid-back reclining position.)

Other sports and activities can be altered similarly. For example, specialized golf carts can help you stand and stabilize your body while swinging the club. Sledge hockey uses sleds to skate across the ice.

Focus on your strengths. Don’t dwell on what you can’t do, but focus on what you can. Running no longer an option? How about power walking using walking poles for support? Can’t use your legs? Focus on upper body activities like swimming or kayaking. Low vision? Guides are available to help you walk, run, and cycle.

Join a team. Many adaptive sports have organized team leagues with adjusted rules and formats, like wheelchair basketball and tennis, and “beep” baseball and kickball for individuals with low vision. “These are a great way to build more awareness about your new endeavor and build a community with other peers with similar disabilities,” says Dr. Blauwet. “Plus, a little competition provides extra motivation.”

Try something new. Use your new functional status as an opportunity to attempt a different sport or activity. “Test the waters and try something that has always interested you,” says Dr. Blauwet. “Now might be the ideal time to explore waterskiing, windsurfing, horseback riding, or rock wall climbing.”

It may be mentally and emotionally tough to embrace adaptive sports and activities, as it can feel like your disability has become magnified. But don’t let that dissuade you, adds Dr. Blauwet. “Staying committed to being active and investing in your health can help reduce and eliminate any negative stigma you feel. Participation in adaptive sports is not a lesser way of living, but a way to live better.”

While the FDA rules for blood donation were revised twice in the last decade, one group — men who have sex with men (MSM) — continued to be turned away from donating. Now new, evidence-based FDA rules will focus on individual risk rather than groupwide restrictions.

Medical experts consider the new rules safe based on extensive evidence. Let’s review the changes here.

The new blood donation rules: One set of questions

The May 2023 FDA guidelines recommend asking every potential blood donor the same screening questions. These questions ask about behavior that raises risk for HIV, which can be spread through a transfusion.

Blood donation is then allowed, or not, based on personal risk factors for HIV and other blood-borne diseases.

Questions for potential blood donors

Screening questions focus on the risk of recent HIV infection, which is more likely to be missed by routine testing than a longstanding infection.

The screening questions ask everyone — regardless of gender, sex, or sexual orientation — whether in the past three months they have

• had a new sexual partner and engaged in anal sex
• had more than one sexual partner and engaged in anal sex
• taken medicines to prevent HIV infection (such as pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP)
• exchanged sex for pay or drugs, or used nonprescription injection drugs
• had sex with someone who has previously tested positive for HIV infection
• had sex with someone who exchanged sex for pay or drugs
• had sex with someone who used nonprescription injection drugs.

When is a waiting period recommended before giving blood?

• Answering no to all of these screening questions suggests a person has a low risk of having a recently acquired HIV infection. No waiting period is necessary.
• Answering yes to any of these screening questions raises concern that a potential donor might have an HIV infection. A three-month delay before giving blood is advised.

Does a waiting period before giving blood apply in other situations?

Yes:

• A three-month delay before giving blood is recommended after a blood transfusion; treatment for gonorrhea or syphilis; or after most body piercings or tattoos not done with single-use equipment. These are not new rules.
• A waiting period before giving blood is recommended for people who take medicines to prevent HIV infection, called PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis). PrEP might cause a test for HIV to be negative even if infection is present. The new guidelines recommend delaying blood donation until three months after the last use of PrEP pills, or a two-year delay after a person receives long-acting, injected PrEP.

Who cannot donate blood?

Anyone who has had a confirmed positive test for HIV infection or has taken medicines to treat HIV infection is permanently banned from donating blood. This rule is not new.

Why were previous rules more restrictive?

In 1983, soon after the HIV epidemic began in the US, researchers recognized that blood transfusions could spread the infection from blood donor to recipient. US guidelines banned men who had sex with men from giving blood. A lifetime prohibition was intended to limit the spread of HIV.

At that time, HIV and AIDS were more common in certain groups, not only among MSM, but also among people from Haiti and sub-Saharan Africa, and people with hemophilia. This led to blood donation bans for some of these people, as well.

A lot has changed in the world of HIV in the last several decades, especially the development of highly accurate testing and highly effective prevention and treatment. Still, the rules regarding blood donation were slow to change.

The ban from the 1980s for MSM remained in place until 2015. At that time, rules were changed to allow MSM to donate only if they attested to having had no sex with a man for 12 months. In 2020, the period of sexual abstinence was reduced, this time to three months.

Why are the blood donation guideline changes important?

• Removing unnecessary restrictions that apply only to certain groups is a step forward in reducing discrimination and stigma for people who wish to donate blood but were turned away in the past.
• The critical shortage in our blood supply has worsened since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. These revised rules are expected to significantly boost the number of blood donors.

The bottom line

Science and hard evidence should drive policy regarding blood donation as much as possible. Guidelines should not unnecessarily burden any particular group. These new guidelines represent progress in that regard.

Of course, these changes will be closely monitored to make sure the blood supply remains safe. My guess is that they’ll endure. And it wouldn’t surprise me if there is additional lifting of restrictions in the future.

Ah, ’tis the season for warm-weather allergies caused by trees, grass, and ragweed pollen. You know the signs: sneezing, watery eyes, stuffiness, scratchy throat, wheezing, and coughing. But what about so-called brain fog? That may be true for you, too.

Why do allergies make your brain feel so foggy?

“Allergy symptoms can disrupt sleep and make people feel more tired and groggy,” says Dr. Mariana Castells, an allergist and immunologist in the division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology at Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women’s Hospital. “Plus, your body can become weaker as it fights the inflammation triggered by allergies, contributing to overall fatigue and making it harder to concentrate and focus.”

What happens to your immune system when you inhale pollen?

When you inhale pollen, your immune system generates antibodies called immunoglobulin E (IgE). Those antibodies trigger the release of chemicals called mediators, such as histamine, leukotrienes, and prostaglandins. The chemicals affect tissues in the eyes, nose, and throat,  causing symptoms like sneezing and watering eyes.

4 ways to prevent or ease brain fog stemming from seasonal allergies

Managing your allergy symptoms when they first appear — or taking preventive measures if you are prone to pollen allergies — is the best way to control the allergic immune response that can cause fatigue and brain fog. These four strategies can help.

Lower your exposure to pollen

• Keep your windows closed whenever possible, and occasionally run an air conditioner or use an air purifier with a HEPA filter to help remove pollen from indoor air.
• Pollen is usually highest from about 4 a.m. to noon, so restrict outside time to the late afternoon or evening.
• You can check daily pollen counts in your area and sign up for high pollen alerts at www.pollen.com.
• Wearing a mask outside when pollen is high can block about 70% to 80% of pollen, says Dr. Castells.

Be prepared with over-the-counter allergy medicines

Over-the-counter (OTC) allergy medicines treat many symptoms, thus helping to lift brain fog. It’s best to talk to your doctor or pharmacist before starting any new medicine, especially if you have any health problems or take other medicines.

Options include:

• Non-drowsy antihistamine pills and nasal sprays. Antihistamines block the effects of excess histamine that causes itchy and watery eyes, sneezing, and a runny nose. Sprays also help with congestion and postnasal drip. “Be aware that even non-drowsy brands have potential for some sedation that can affect thinking,” says Dr. Castells. “People tolerate antihistamines differently, so you may have to try more than one brand to assess effectiveness and potential side effects.” Loratadine (Claritin), cetirizine (Zyrtec), and fexofenadine (Allegra) are less sedating than first-generation antihistamines such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl).
• Decongestant pills, such as phenylephrine (Sudafed PE) and pseudoephedrine (Sifedrine, Sudafed). Decongestants shrink tiny blood vessels, which decreases fluid secretion in nasal passages, helping to unclog a stuffy nose. However, they can increase heart rate and blood pressure. They are not recommended for prolonged use, so check with your doctor if you have heart or blood pressure problems. Decongestant nasal sprays, such as oxymetazoline (Afrin), may be used for several days, but continued use can lead to worsening nasal congestion.
• Combined antihistamine and decongestant medicines have “D” added at end of brand names, such as Zyrtec-D, Allegra-D, and Claritin-D, which combine different antihistamine medicines with the decongestant pseudoephedrine.
• Nasal steroid sprays, such as triamcinolone (Nasacort), budesonide (Rhinocort), and fluticasone (Flonase), reduce inflammation that causes congestion, runny or itchy nose, and sneezing. “It’s often best to take them before pollen season begins, especially if you are susceptible to allergies,” says Dr. Castells. Side effects may include nasal dryness and, rarely, nose bleeds. People with glaucoma should take these cautiously, as they can raise the pressure inside the eye, leading to potential vision loss.

Consider prescription allergy shots or tablets

If allergies are severe or OTC remedies aren’t sufficient, an allergist may recommend allergy shots, or possibly tablets designed to treat certain allergies.

• Allergy shots are regular injections of small amounts of your allergen, with the dose gradually increasing over time. “Allergy shots do not completely eliminate your allergy but change your immune response to better tolerate it,” says Dr. Castells. During a buildup phase, the allergen dose increases gradually in once or twice weekly shots for three to six months. During the maintenance phase, you get monthly injections for three to five years. “When you’re finished, the protective effect can last several years,” says Dr. Castells.
• Tablets to treat grass and weed allergies offer similar protection as injections. These tablets are dissolved under the tongue. Dr. Castells says they should be used daily before and during the pollen seasons for at least five seasons.

Try a nasal rinse

Prefer to skip medications? Try clearing your nasal cavity twice daily using saline solution in a small bulb syringe or neti pot, which resembles a small teapot with a long spout. Both are sold at drugstores and online. Performed once in the morning and in the evening, this simple technique rinses away pollen.

Swimming is a great activity for children. It’s good exercise, it’s an important safety skill, and it can be a good way to get outside and get some fresh air and sunshine.

But for children with eczema — also known as atopic dermatitis — swimming can be complicated. Here’s how parents can help.

What is eczema?

Eczema is an allergic condition of the skin. It can be triggered by allergies to things in the environment, like pollen or cats, as well as by allergies to food. It can also be triggered when chemicals or other things irritate the skin, or when the skin loses moisture, or by excessive sweating.

Swimming and sun may be helpful for eczema

Swimming in a chlorinated pool can actually be helpful for eczema. Bleach baths, which are a commonly recommended eczema treatment, essentially make the bathtub like a swimming pool.

It also can be good for eczema to get some sun and be in the water. The trick is to optimize the benefits while preventing the possible problems.

What to do before and after swimming when a child has eczema

Here are some suggestions for parents:

• If you’ll be outside, make sure you use sunscreen, preferably one with zinc oxide or titanium. Look for formulations for sensitive skin and avoid anything with fragrance. Consider using UV-protectant swimwear or shirts, especially if embarrassment about rashes is a problem.
• Put on an emollient before swimming, especially in a chlorinated pool. A good grease-up before swimming can protect the skin. Don’t overdo it on the palms or soles; you want your child to be able to hold on to things, and you don’t want them to slip and fall. Talk to your doctor about the best emollient for your child.
• If you are swimming in a pool for the first time, you might want to try a briefer swim than usual to be sure the chemicals aren’t too irritating. If possible, avoid going in a pool right after chlorine has been added.
• Plan to change and shower right after swimming, using a mild soap or body wash without fragrance. Dab the skin dry with a clean towel (don’t use the one you used while swimming) and reapply emollient.
• Look for silicone-lined swim caps and goggles, as they may be less irritating than rubber or other plastics. Be sure to rinse all swim gear after use.
• If your child’s eczema is very inflamed, or is infected, it might be best to avoid swimming until it is better — or at least to get your doctor’s advice.

What else should you consider?

Be aware that some children and teens with eczema are embarrassed by it and don’t like to wear bathing suits that show a lot of skin. Follow your child’s lead on this.

If your child has frequent flares of eczema, or severe eczema, talk to your doctor about whether using regular topical steroids might help — and whether you should use them before swimming. If you are headed on a vacation where your child will be swimming often, or just headed into a time of year with lots of possible swimming, talk to your doctor about the best strategies to keep your child’s skin healthy.

For more information, visit the websites of the National Eczema Association and the American Academy of Dermatology.

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It can be devastating to watch older adults struggle with memory problems, low mood, anxiety, or a lack of motivation, particularly during times of physical distancing. With waiting lists for mental health appointments stretching for months, you may be wondering about alternatives.

Reaching out to family members or faith leaders may be helpful in talking through stressors. Alternatively, self-help books may provide skills or a new perspective for older adults choosing to keep their struggles private. But with the explosion of mental health mobile applications, telepsychiatry services, social media, and wearable technologies, where does technology fit in with treatment?

Combating ageist stereotypes

Seeing your loved one struggle with their computer, you may wonder whether to pursue technology-based treatments in the first place. Although older adults may be reluctant to use new technology due to stereotype threat (the fear of confirming negative stereotypes), a little help from loved ones can ease technology discomfort. The adoption of technology has grown rapidly over the past decade among older adults, and with it have come potential benefits to mental health, daily functioning, and quality of life.

Moving to virtual

A couple of years into the pandemic, older adults are increasingly seeing their doctors virtually. How well does this work for mental health? Thankfully, several studies have shown that virtual therapy is comparable to in-person treatment.

What about mobile apps that remove the human component? Here the data suggest that mobile apps can be complementary, although they are not sufficient as standalone treatments for mental illnesses.

Privacy

When navigating online treatments, you want to ensure that the platform used is HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act)-compliant, which means your information is protected by law. Zoom and BlueJeans are HIPAA compliant; FaceTime and Skype are not. When using mental health mobile apps, read the privacy policies: red flags include sharing or selling information to third parties and using your information for advertisements.

Which apps can help older adults the most?

Navigating the explosion of mental health apps for online treatment can be tricky, as the landscape is changing quickly. For teletherapy services, Teladoc, K health, and Doctor on Demand are good places to start.

To supplement treatment of common mental illnesses, wellness apps developed by the federal government (including Mindfulness Coach, COVID Coach, and CBT-i Coach) can help teach skills, manage sleep, and track symptoms. Medisafe is the top-ranked medication reminder app for good reason: it has excellent privacy features (and with the premium subscription, you can receive medication reminders in celebrity voices).

Movement and mental health

We know that physical activity has numerous benefits on brain health in old age: it reduces anxiety and stress, it improves depressive symptoms, and it even strengthens learning and memory. Wearable technologies can play a role in helping older adults set physical activity goals. Through the use of smartwatches (which use accelerometers to keep track of movements), older adults can monitor how many steps they take, how many calories they burn, and even how well they sleep at night.

Wearable technologies have advantages for caregivers as well. They can be used to monitor their loved ones for wandering and falls, and they can alert them to changes in mood: a significant increase or decrease in usual activity levels may herald early signs of depression or anxiety.

Can smartphones be used to improve memory in older adults?

New research suggests that technology can indeed improve prospective memory, and help older adults with mild cognitive impairment continue their daily activities. Through the use of a personal assistant application on their smartphone (a digital voice recorder or reminder app), older adults who received reminders about events and activities experienced memory benefits and improvements in their activities of daily living.

Tips for using technology with older adults

While the benefits and harms of using technologies are still being studied, you can try the following:

• Encourage older adults to try out applications that are research-informed, especially if they express interest.
• If using a mobile health app, make sure to read the privacy policy. If using an online mental health platform, ensure it is HIPAA-compliant.
• Try to set physical activity goals, as physical activity helps improve symptoms of almost every mental illness. Wearable technologies that count steps are a good place to start.
• Modify device settings to improve comfort: this can include optimizing volume and font size to accommodate changes in vision or hearing.

If mental health technology doesn’t suit your loved one, that’s okay — technology is not always the answer. Treatments are most likely to work when patients believe it will help and can stick with it.

Dementia poses many challenges, both for people struggling with it and for those close to them. It can be hard to witness and cope with common behaviors that arise from illnesses like Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, or frontotemporal dementia.

Caring for a person who has dementia may be frustrating, confusing, or upsetting at times. Understanding why certain behaviors occur and learning ways to handle a variety of situations can help smooth the path ahead.

What behaviors are common when a person has dementia?

People with dementia often exhibit a combination of unusual behaviors, such as:

• Making odd statements or using the wrong words for certain items.
• Not realizing they need to bathe or forgetting how to maintain good hygiene.
• Repeating themselves or asking the same question over and over.
• Misplacing objects or taking others’ belongings.
• Not recognizing you or remembering who they are.
• Being convinced that a deceased loved one is still alive.
• Hoarding objects, such as mail or even garbage.
• Exhibiting paranoid behavior.
• Becoming easily confused or agitated.
• Leaving the house without telling you, and getting lost.

Why do these behaviors occur?

Inside the brain of a loved one with dementia, picture a wildfire shifting course, damaging or destroying brain cells (neurons) and neural networks that regulate our behavior.

What drives this damage depends on the underlying cause, or causes, of dementia. For example, while the exact cause of Alzheimer’s disease is not known, it is strongly linked to proteins that are either gunking up or strangling brain cells. Someone with vascular dementia has experienced periodic insufficient blood flow to certain areas of the brain, causing neurons to die.

“As dementia progresses, the person loses brain cells associated with memory, planning, judgment, and controlling mood. You lose your filters,” says Dr. Stephanie Collier, a psychiatrist at Harvard-affiliated McLean Hospital.

Six strategies for coping with dementia-related behaviors

Dealing with distressing or puzzling dementia-related behavior can require the type of tack you’d take with a youngster. “Due to declines, older adults with dementia can seem like children. But people are generally more patient with children. You should consider using that approach with older adults,” suggests Lydia Cho, a McLean Hospital neuropsychologist.

• Don’t point out inaccurate or strange statements. “It can make people with dementia feel foolish or belittled. They may not remember details but hold onto those emotions, feel isolated, and withdraw. Instead, put them at ease. Just go with what they’re saying. Keep things light,” Cho says.
• Don’t try to reason with the person. Dementia has damaged your loved one’s comprehension. Attempting to reason might be frustrating for both of you.
• Use distraction. This helps when the person makes unreasonable requests or is moderately agitated. “Acknowledge what the person is saying, and change the activity. You could say, ‘I see that you’re upset. Let’s go over here for a minute.’ And then do an activity that engages the senses and relaxes them, such as sitting outside together, listening to music, folding socks, or eating a piece of fruit,” Dr. Collier says.
• Keep unsafe items out of sight. Put away or lock up belongings the loved one shouldn’t have — especially potentially dangerous items like car keys or cleaning fluids. Consider installing cabinet locks.
• Supervise hygiene routines. The person with dementia might need a reminder to bathe, or might need to have the day’s clothes laid out on the bed. Or you might need to assist with bathing, shaving, brushing teeth, or dressing.
• Spend time together. You don’t have to convince your loved one of your identity or engage in fascinating conversation. Just listen to music or do some simple activities together. It will help keep the person from withdrawing further.

Safety is essential when a person has dementia

Sometimes simple strategies aren’t enough when a loved one has dementia.

For example, if the person frequently tries to leave home, you might need to add child-proof covers to doorknobs, install additional door locks or a security system in your home, or get the person a GPS tracker bracelet.

If the person is frequently upset or even violent, you’ll need to call the doctor. It could be that a new medical problem (such as a urinary tract infection) is causing agitation. “If the agitated behavior isn’t due to a new health problem and is predictable and severe, we might prescribe a medication to help regulate mood, such as an antidepressant or an antipsychotic in cases of extreme agitation or hostility,” Dr. Collier says.

As dementia changes, seek the help and support you need

No one expects you to know how to interact with someone who has dementia. There’s a learning curve for all of us, and it continues even after you get a feel for the situation. “The process keeps changing,” Cho says. “What works today may not work next week or the week after that for your loved one. So keep trying different strategies.”

And get support for yourself, such as group therapy for caregivers and their families. You can also find information at the Alzheimer’s Association or Family Caregiver Alliance.