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Nationwide Survey Reveals Widespread Use of Mind and Body Practices

More Americans of all ages are rolling out their yoga mats in an effort to improve their health. A large nationally representative survey shows that the number of Americans using mind and body approaches to improve health and well-being remains high. Of note is a significant increase in the use of yoga since 2002. In addition, almost as many Americans practice meditation or receive chiropractic or osteopathic manipulation. The complementary health questionnaire was developed by NIH's National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Health Statistics. The complementary health questionnaire is administered every 5 years as part of the National Health Interview Survey, an annual study in which tens of thousands of Americans are interviewed about their health- and illness-related experiences. To identify trends in Americans' use of certain practices, 2012 survey data were compared with versions of the survey fielded in 2002 and 2007.

  
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Survey highlights:

 

* Approximately 21 million adults (nearly double the number from 2002) and 1.7 million children practiced yoga.

 

* Nearly 20 million adults and 1.9 million children had chiropractic or osteopathic manipulation.

 

* Nearly 18 million adults and 927,000 children practiced meditation.

 

* Children whose parents use a complementary health approach are more likely to use one as well.

 

 

Iron Supplements Hasten Recovery in Blood Donors

Every year, more than 9 million Americans donate nearly 16 million pints of blood. Blood donors are allowed to give one pint of blood every 8 weeks. But about 25% to 35% of regular donors develop iron deficiency. The body needs iron to make red blood cells. These cells transport oxygen and carbon dioxide around the body using the iron-rich protein hemoglobin. It can take months to completely recover the iron and hemoglobin lost from blood donations. Deficiencies can lead to anemia, a condition in which the blood can't supply enough oxygen to bodily tissues, causing fatigue and other symptoms. Nearly 7% of donors are forced to delay their donation due to low hemoglobin levels. Deferring larger number of donors could greatly affect the already-strained U.S. blood supply. Researchers led by Dr. Joseph Kiss at the Institute for Transfusion Medicine in Pittsburgh examined how supplements affect blood levels of iron and hemoglobin. Their study was funded by NIH's National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Results were published on February 10, 2015, in the Journal of the American Medical Association. They found that daily iron supplements can help people who donate blood more quickly recover lost iron and hemoglobin, the protein that carries oxygen throughout the body.

  
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AHRQ Online Continuing Education Available for Wide Range of Healthcare Professionals

AHRQ Online Continuing Medical Education (CME)/Continuing Education (CE) provides interprofessional accreditation and CE awards focusing on patient-centered outcomes research (PCOR) for physicians, physician assistants, pharmacists, nurse practitioners, nurses, case managers, health education specialists, and medical assistants. New modules are in video and monograph formats. Eligible professionals can view courses on topics such as screening for hepatitis C, strategies for preventing weight gain in adults and children, and treatments for adults with posttraumatic stress disorder. A complete list of PCOR CME/CE is available on the AHRQ Web site.

  
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Celebrate Men's Health Week

This June is Men's Health Month! Anchored by a Congressional health education and screening program, Men's Health Month is celebrated across the country with screenings, health fairs, media appearances, and other health education and outreach activities. The centerpiece of Men's Health Month is National Men's Health Week, a special awareness period passed by Congress and signed into law by President Bill Clinton on May 31, 1994. This year, National Men's Health Week starts on June 11th, and ends on Fathers' Day, June 17th.

 

Nursing Assistants Week (National)

The annual National Nursing Assistants Week (NA Week) focuses on career growth and ways that nursing assistants can grow at the bedside and in the healthcare field. This 37th annual observance recognizes nursing assistants and others who provide daily care to our frail and long-term care citizens in nursing homes, home care, hospitals, hospice, independent living, and other long-term care settings. Each day of NA Week focuses on a different aspect of the theme. For more information, contact: National Network of Career Nursing Assistants | 330.825.9342 | http://www.cnanetwork.org.

 

Testosterone Products: Drug Safety Communication

Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is requiring that the manufacturers of all approved prescription testosterone products change their labeling to clarify the approved uses of these medications. FDA is also requiring these manufacturers to add information to the labeling about a possible increased risk of heart attacks and strokes in patients taking testosterone. FDA cautions that prescription testosterone products are approved only for men who have low testosterone levels caused by certain medical conditions. The benefit and safety of these medications have not been established for the treatment of low testosterone levels due to aging, even if a man's symptoms seem related to low testosterone.

  
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