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THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC
A SPECIAL PUBLICATION CREATED BY REPUBLIC MEDIA CUSTOM PUBLISHING
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HEALTHCARE NEWS YOU CAN USE FOR YOUR WHOLE FAMILY
VVol. 3, No. 8
August 2013
IN THIS ISSUE: COVER/06: MEN’S WELLNESS 02: UA CANCER CENTER CLINICAL TRIALS 03: BACK-TO-SCHOOL VACCINATIONS 04: MISSION OF MERCY; CANCER STUDY PARTICIPANTS SOUGHT 04/05: SUPPORT GROUPS 05: TOP EVENTS 05: INFO ONLINE 06: BLOOD PRESSURE MONITORS 07: SHAKING THE SALT HABIT
THINKSTOCK
RICK D’ELIA
HEALTHCARE News
MindCrowd Ten-minute test aimed at helping scientists understand Alzheimer’s
Men are vulnerable to skin, colon and prostate cancers, said Christopher Kellogg, M.D., an oncologist with Ironwood Cancer and Research Centers. He added that health screenings are one of the best ways to catch evidence of disease at an early stage. Dr. Kellogg’s medical assistant, Michelle Clark, checks vital signs on patient Gene Flint, who has a history of colon cancer.
Men’s wellness: the who, what, when,
where, why and how
BY MARY VANDEVEIRE
M
indCrowd is a scientific study aimed at ultimately finding a cure for the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States: Alzheimer’s disease. The goal is for one million users to take the MindCrowd test, which is a 10-minute online exercise. MindCrowd research will be used to learn how the brain functions and how genetics might influence memory, said Matthew Huentelman, Ph.D., MindCrowd founder and principal scientist. Huentelman is also an investigator in the Neurobehavioral Research Unit of the Translational Genomics Research Institute, or TGen.
Alzheimer’s is the only cause of death among the top 10 [leading causes of death] in America without a way to prevent it, cure it or even slow its progression. — Source: Alzheimer’s Association, alz.org
One million participants
A key point of the study’s one million participation goal is to have a large enough group in each age bracket to yield a significant sample of testers who performed in the extreme, such as at the top end, Huentelman said. From there, it’s possible to study the DNA, or genetic makeup, of these outliers and learn how to promote memory and brain health. “While the test is fun, this is not just for fun,” Huentelman said. “This is really a research program aimed at helping us better understand the brain and parlay that into treating brain disorders and diseases.” By mid-July of this year, about 12,000 people had joined the study and taken the test. What’s especially encouraging to researchers is that 75 percent of those who enter the test take it all the way through.
I
Learning the basics, journalism-style
n February, we discussed women’s health. This month, we asked Valley physicians to answer a half-dozen questions for our male readers that zero in on the essence of staying well.
you trust WHO should when it comes to your health: your “gut” or your doctor? Patients should
trust their knowledge of their own bodies along with the guidance and recommendations of physicians, said Jennifer Hartmark-Hill, M.D., a Mayo Clinic-trained family medicine physician and assistant professor at The University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix. “I tell my patients that we are a team. They are the experts in what is normal for them and they best know their own quality-of-life values, while the primary care physician is the expert in wholeperson care and medical guidelines.” For these reasons, she said, it is very important for patients to establish a relationship with a primary care provider with whom they are comfortable discussing concerns and getting advice.
should men keep in mind about impending fatherhood? Several
WHAT
steps can lead to quicker conception, said John Keats, M.D., senior medical director for CIGNA Arizona and a practicing OB-GYN for more than 30 years. Men who are planning to begin a family with their partner should avoid excessive exercise, he advises, so that the naturally cooler temperature of the testicles is maintained. “The cooler temperature is optimal for sperm production,” Keats said, adding that men who are trying to conceive
By The Numbers
should avoid wearing tight shorts or tight underwear, should avoid sitting in warm or hot water, and should not have intercourse every day.
should you be most concerned about cancer? Men are vulnerable
WHEN
to skin, colon and prostate cancers, said Christopher Kellogg, M.D., an oncologist with Ironwood Cancer and Research Centers. Health screenings are one of the best ways to catch evidence of disease early, he said. An annual head-to-toe check by a primary care physician or dermatologist for suspicious skin lesions beginning around age 40 is recommended, he said. A colonoscopy is recommended at least every 10 years beginning at age 50, because colon cancer is the third-leading cause of cancer in men (behind lung and prostate cancer), he said. An annual blood test for elevated prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels — which can indicate prostate cancer — has recently become somewhat controversial, but is often indicated for men with a family history of prostate cancer, he said, beginning between ages 40 and 45. Heavy smokers should consider having a low-dose CT scan of the chest, he advised, to rule out any lesions in the lungs.
can you find reliable, up-todate information on men’s health? Hartmark-Hill recommends
WHERE
several sites, including: • The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) has a website devoted to men’s health, ahrq.gov/healthymen. This website contains information on how to
Jennifer Hartmark-Hill, M.D., a Mayo Clinic-trained family medicine physician and assistant professor at The University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix, said that it is very important for patients to establish a relationship with a primary care provider with whom they are comfortable discussing concerns and getting advice.
best prepare for medical appointments as well as questions to ask your doctor. • The American Academy of Family Physicians website, familydoctor.org, provides comprehensive information on almost any medical condition including treatments, medications and prevention. • The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) maintains a site dedicated to men’s health, cdc.gov/men. It includes medical guidelines, safety recommendations, healthy lifestyle information and more. Continued on page 6 MEN’S WELLNESS
BRAIN INJURIES CAN HAPPEN TO ANYONE
1.4 million
Every year, approximately people in the United States sustain a traumatic brain injury (TBI), many of which are preventable. In one year in Arizona*:
Taking the test
Over
Nearly
THINKSTOCK
Anyone 18 or older can participate; a study agreement explains participation and asks for consent. Once finished with the test, participants can see how they performed. Results are broken down by age, gender and other characteristics, providing a comparison of mental agility among different groups. The MindCrowd test is accessed at MindCrowd.org.
BY DEBRA GELBART
47,000 people were treated for a TBI in ERs
7,000 were hospitalized for a TBI Over 1,300 died as a result of a TBI
To learn more about TBI prevention, treatment and support resources, visit the Brain Injury Alliance of Arizona, biaaz.org. Source: Brain Injury Alliance, biaaz.org; Arizona Department of Health Services, azdhs.gov —PAULA HUBBS COHEN