Pulmonology

Eating a low carbohydrate diet compared to a low fat diet leads to greater loss of weight as well as a significant reduction in Framingham Risk Score.

For smokers and other users of nicotine, the rewarding effects of the substance had been associated with activation of nicotine receptors. But studies have found evidence that the endogenous opioid system is also involved in creating this sense of pleasure.

Incentivizing the smoking cessation process increases the adherence rates, according to findings published in the American Journal of Public Health.

This limited systematic review found some evidence of benefit of e-cigarettes for smoking cessation and little evidence of significant adverse outcomes.

As electronic health records become more or less mandatory, the question moves from how widely they are adopted by practices across the country to whether the new versions are more effective than the old pen-and-paper way of doing business.

Women with rheumatoid arthritis are at greater risk for respiratory-related death than women without the disease, according to data presented at the 2014 American College of Rheumatology Annual Meeting.

Surgery to treat obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), which entails tonsil and adenoid removal, also improved asthma in affected children, research suggested.

Researchers report that nutrition treatment for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) aged 65 or older helps reduce of lengths of stay, hospital costs, and probability of returning to the hospital within 30 days.

The health care policy, written by Gary Rivard, DO, and Anthony Viera, MD, was published in The Journal of Family Practice. The authors noted that while more people are receiving vaccinations for pertussis, the US Centers for Disease Control reported 48,277 confirmed cases – the highest number since 1955, including 20 deaths related to the disease.

Prenatal and early infant exposure to air pollutants may be linked to developing autism, according to research presented at the American Association for Aerosol Research.

Smoking cessation had long been associated with reduced depression, anxiety, and stress and improved positive mood and quality of life compared with continuing to smoke. Yet many smokers who wish to quit are afraid to do so because they believe smoking decreases their feelings of depression, anxiety, and stress and improves their mood and promotes relaxation. This sentiment is reported by smokers both with and without diagnosed mental disorders.

No matter what reason a patient is in the intensive care unit (ICU) of a hospital every moment and medication they take matters in helping them recover. A recent study looked at what dose of systemic corticosteroids should be given to patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbations during their time in critical care.

Lung infection bacteria levels will be tested via blood samples in emergency department patients in a new study being conducted at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.

As children get older their waistlines increasingly show signs of getting wider as well and the problem extends far beyond American students. Doctors around the world are working together to find ways to combat the growing problem.

Whether asthma contributes to cardiovascular disease or not is a matter for continued research and study. Whether there is a direct link or not there has been considerable proof that the numbers for both conditions are on the rise.

Continuing the discussion of the dangers of energy drinks the topic turns to what parents and the drink manufacturers can do to protect the youngest members of the population.

With their colorful packaging, energy drinks are a tempting choice for young children who see them as just another option when they are thirsty. For thousands of children, that choice has meant a trip to the doctors or even the emergency room.

While the best way to combat obesity may be to not gain enough wait for the diagnosis there are steps that can be taken to get people back on track to being healthy.

As hospitals around the country deal with the newly instituted readmission penalties many are having to look at how they will handle providing the same level of care without some of the money they counted on in the past.

Exercise in any form can be beneficial and whether it is walking in a mall or in a park those few extra steps can help a person's overall health in a lot of ways.

Many people could be more active in their daily lives. The question for physicians is: How do you make that happen, especially for children and adolescents? A recent study provides clues about how to help patients maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Many questions have been raised about the potential effects of a mother's pre-pregnancy weight and the impact it has on the health of their children as they get older. Now, analysis of data from a cohort of patients from the Framingham Heart Study has shown that adults whose mothers were overweight or obese prior to pregnancy have an increased risk of dying from cardiovascular disease or stroke.

With an aging population, clinicians must guard against potential complications and adverse events brought on by treatment. For example, a recent study appeared to show that overtreatment with anticoagulants increases dementia risk in patients with atrial fibrillation.

For patients suffering a first-time cardiac event there could be warning signs in the form of a condition called vital exhaustion. A recent study looked at the causes and signs of vital exhaustion and potential preventive measures and treatments for these patients.

Although more people than ever are signing up to become an organ donor, the demand for organs still greatly exceeds the number of available donors. Clinicians and advocates have taken a number of measures to raise awareness of organ donation, including the use of social media to help provide education on the topic.

For patients with a statin intolerance, getting the treatment they need to manage their cholesterol levels can be difficult. A recent study has shown that a new class of drugs known as PCSK9 inhibitors could help effectively manage cholesterol levels in this patient population.

The days of children playing outside from sunrise to sunset are long gone, and many children also do not get enough exercise at school during gym or recess. Knowing this, it is important for physicians to educated parents and children on the beneficial effect physical exercise can have on children's health now and later in life.

About half of all adults afflicted with obstructive airway disease have symptoms overlapping with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma. According to data presented at the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) Annual Scientific Meeting, this makes the possibility of misdiagnosis and mistreatment more likely.

Researchers at Yale University and miRagen Therapeutics found that when a microRNA (miRNA) mimic was injected into mice lungs, it not only blocked pulmonary fibrosis, but also reversed their symptoms within a short period of time.

Stress management, practice relaxation, and light exercise for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can improve both their mental and physical states, according to researchers from Duke University.