Health News and Notes

Report examines youth mental health challenges

Anxiety among children is on the rise, according to United Health Foundation’s 2022 America’s Health Rankings Health of Women and Children Report. The report reveals sharp increases in youth mental health challenges, including: ʯ Anxiety among children ages 3-17 increased 23% between 2017-2018

and 2020-2021. In 2020-2021, anxiety affected roughly 5.6 million children ages 3-17 – an increase of more than 1 million children since 2017-2018. ʯ Depression among children ages 3-17 increased 27% between 2017-2018 and 2020-2021. In 2020-2021, depression affected roughly 2.5 million children ages 3-17, an increase of over a half

a million more children than in 2017-2018. ʯ The teen suicide rate increased 29% at the national level between 2012-2014 and 2018-2020 among 15- to 19-year-olds.

“Many mental health disorders can start by age 14, so it’s critical that we provide promotion, prevention and early intervention strategies

to equip younger adolescents with the necessary tools and coping skills to proactively manage and care for their mental health,” said Alison Malmon, executive director and founder of Active Minds. “Just like many other illnesses, mental health promotion strategies can be powerful tools for helping young people thrive.”

To address this, the United Health Foundation, the philanthropic foundation of UnitedHealth Group, is making a $3 million commitment over three years in partnership with Active Minds, a leading nonprofit organization promoting mental health awareness and education for young adults.

With 19 years of impact and a presence at more than 1,000 campuses, schools, communities and workplaces nationwide, Active Minds is reducing the stigma around mental health, creating communities of support and saving lives. This funding will enable the organization to launch a pilot program in 50 school districts across Minnesota, North Carolina and Florida to better serve youth mental health at the middle school level for the first time.

Protecting your joints

Joaquin Sanchez-Sotelo, M.D., Ph.D., a Mayo Clinic orthopedic surgeon, says many people lose cartilage as they age, but it does not mean that joint replacement is inevitable. In a blog post, he offered some tips for managing arthritic pain: ʯ Modify your activities. “If you have an arthritic hip or knee, instead of running – which results in the pounding of the joints – maybe you can try bicycling.” ʯ Take the load off the joints with gait aids. “Using a cane can help

lighten the load on your hip, knee and ankle joints, and decrease the pain. A knee brace – worn outside the clothes – shifts the load to the healthier side of the knee joint.” ʯ If the pain persists, you may want to consider over-the-counter medications, like acetaminophen and ibuprofen. “However, be aware of the side effects, such as ulcers, kidney or heart issues. In general, narcotics should not be used for osteoarthritis.” ʯ If the pain continues, you also may consider injections with medications, such as cortisone or toradol, which, when injected into the joint, can help relieve pain. “Again, these medications have side effects, so be sure to speak with your health care professional.” ʯ Hyaluronic acid, which also is injected, uses components similar to those of the joint lubricating fluid to try to replenish it. “It has been more successful with the knee joint than hip and shoulder joints.” ʯ Some injections, marketed as regenerative medicine, include stem cells and platelet-rich plasma. “At this point, many consider their use as experimental since there is no firm evidence about their efficacy.”

Many different ways diabetes can hurt your health

In a health blog post for Banner Health, James Speed, MD, an endocrinologist at Banner Health in Northern Colorado, said, “Diabetes is a systemic illness that affects multiple organ systems.” He explains some of the problems you might see if your blood sugar doesn’t stay within the proper range. The following are areas where diabetes can cause harm to your overall health: ʯ Eyes: Diabetic retinopathy can cause vision loss or blindness.

Diabetes is the leading cause of blindness in the U.S. ʯ Kidneys: With diabetic nephropathy, your kidneys don’t work as well as they should. In severe cases kidney disease can require dialysis. ʯ Feet: Poorly controlled diabetes can lead to nerve damage. At first, the nerve damage causes pain, which you can treat with medication. But over time, you can lose feeling in your feet. You may also develop wounds that don’t heal, which can increase your risk for amputation. ʯ Heart and brain: You are two times as likely to have high blood pressure if you have diabetes, which increases your risk for heart disease and stroke. ʯ Gums: Poorly controlled diabetes can lead to gum disease. Diabetes may alter your saliva, making it more likely you’ll develop plaque. ʯ Skin: Poorly controlled diabetes can increase your risk of dry or itchy skin, calluses, fungal infections and bacterial infections. ʯ Sex organs: Diabetes can damage your nerves and blood vessels, interfering with sexual function. ʯ Bladder: Nerve damage from diabetes can affect your ability to control your bladder.

“We talk about the ABCs of diabetes. A is A1c, B is blood pressure, and C is cholesterol,” Dr. Speed said. “The big thing in avoiding complications is really being proactive, and glucose control is where we put most of our energy and time.” Problems with the eyes, kidneys and feet stem directly from poor glucose control.