Healing through Music

Healing through Music - The last time I had a mammogram, I have a big surprise - and it was good.  

A string quartet played just outside the gates of breast imaging center, and immediately changed my thoughts "What will they find mammography?" A "Do Schubert or Beethoven?" For when my name was called, he had almost forgotten why I'm here.

The concert was an unexpected work Chartrand and Holly Lorrie Kubicek, therapists and co-coordinator of the Environmental Music in Massachusetts General Hospital. But bring music into hospital rooms is a complementary activity for music therapists. Most of his time is devoted to the use of music to help patients to achieve specific objectives, such as the recovery of their speech after a stroke and reduce the stress of chemotherapy.

Chartrand is a singer and a graduate of the Berklee College of Music. He decided to become a therapist to music when he realized he could use music to help others as he had supported all his life. "The favorite part of my job is to see how big an impact music can have on someone who is not feeling well," she said.

What is music therapy?

Music therapy is a growing field. These certificates are therapists are accomplished musicians who have a deep understanding of how music can evoke emotional responses to relax or stimulate people, or help them heal. Combine this knowledge with his familiarity with a wide variety of musical styles to find the specific type that you can get through a difficult physical rehabilitation session or will guide you in meditation. And they can find their favorite music style, or electro pop and grand opera.

Music therapists know few limits. They can play music for you or with you, or even teach you how to play an instrument. On any given day, the tank can Chartrand carrying a drum, a ukulele or iPad and speakers in the room of a patient. "Technology gives us both access to all types of music that can find and read almost any type of music you like," she said.

Proof of music therapy

A growing body of research shows that music therapy is most appreciated. It can improve the performance and quality of life health in a variety of ways. Here is an example:

Improved invasive procedures. In controlled clinical trials of people with colonoscopies, cardiac angiography and knee surgery, listening to music before your procedure had reduced anxiety and a reduced need for sedatives. Those who listened to music in the operating room reported less discomfort during the procedure. Listening to music in the recovery room under the use of opioid analgesics.

Restore lost his speech. Music therapy can help people who are recovering from a stroke or head trauma that damaged the left area of ​​the brain responsible for speech. Because singing ability comes from the right side of the brain, people can avoid the injury on the left side of his brain thought of singing first and then gradually release the melody.  

Former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords uses this technique so that you can testify before a congressional committee two years after a gunshot wound in his brain destroyed his ability to speak.

Reducing side effects of cancer therapy. Music reduces anxiety associated with chemotherapy and radiotherapy. You can also relieve nausea and vomiting in patients receiving chemotherapy.

AIDS pain relief. Music therapy has been tested on patients from those suffering from severe acute pain in people with chronic pain of arthritis. In general, music therapy reduces the perception of pain, reduces the amount of necessary drugs against pain, helps relieve depression, and gives people a greater sense of control over their pain. 

Improving the quality of life for dementia patients. Because of the ability to interact with the music it remains intact until the disease process, music therapy can help you remember the memories, reduce agitation, communication aid, and improve physical coordination.
 
How to find a music therapist

If you face a procedure or disease, or just want relief from stress of everyday life and helps to stick to an exercise program of a music therapist may be able to help. You can find one on the website of the American Music Therapy Association. 
By: Beverly Merz 
 

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Challenge your mind and body to hone their thinking skills

Challenge your mind and body to hone their thinking skills - My friend Betty is one of the most impressive elders that I met him. At 88, her voice is strong and his heart is young, and it seems to have so much energy and enthusiasm as he did in 1982 when I met her. It exercises, friends, gardens, to pay their own bills, follow the news, and is constantly reading and ask questions. How do you stay so strong? "I guess I'm just a curious person, boy," he laughs.

But living there how Betty - always learn new things, and keep busy with friends and favorite activities - is exactly what experts say can help keep our skills sharp thinking. "Cognitive and social commitment demonstrated a protective effect against cognitive decline, while the loss, depression and social isolation of hearing is associated with cognitive impairment," says Dr. Kathryn Papp, a neuropsychologist and professor of neurology at Harvard Medical School.

How it works?
Dr. Papp said he does not know the exact reasons for the mental and social engagement, protecting our thinking abilities, but we have some ideas. "Until the 1990s, we thought that people are born with however many brain cells die with now know that new cell growth. - A process called neurogenesis - occurs throughout life, even in Does old age, "says.

It turns out that the human brain has great potential for something called neuroplasticity, or in other words, being very malleable. It seems to challenge our brain - for example, by learning a new skill - leading to real changes in the adult brain. "You can create new connections between brain cells by altering the balance of neurotransmitters available and change how to make connections," says Dr. Papp.

Being socially engaged can help repel social isolation and depression, both of which have been linked to decreased cognitive functioning in the future. Having good social support also reduces stress, another thing that we know that this has a negative impact on thinking skills.

Other factors 
A healthy lifestyle is also associated with neurogenesis, including getting enough sleep, avoid overeating, and the big boss of all: exercise. "The researchers found that physical exercise leads to the release of cellular growth factors that are important to neurogenesis," says Dr. Papp.And this combination of growth and new brain cells factors that come from a healthy, stimulating the brain, and stay connected socially in a meaningful way can actually help protect the brain and keep it more resistant to changes that cause dementia.

Start your engine 
What is the best way to speed up your thinking skills? Start with mini-challenges for the brain:

 *   Brush your teeth with the hand not commonly used.
 *   Take a different route or shop work.
 *   Eat a piece or two dinner with eyes closed.
 *   Listen to a new type of music.
 *   Do jumps 60 seconds (or any physical activity).
 *   Sit in a different place in your home or at a favorite restaurant."This requires the brain to do a job because it clashes with something you have not experienced before," says Dr. Papp.

You can also search for activities that integrate brain stimulation, physical activity, and social commitment, such as:

*   learn to play a sport or game (tennis, table tennis, golf)
*   learn to dance (try the cha-cha, rumba and merengue)
*   take a class by planting flowers or vegetables
*   learning tai chi, which has been shown to increase thinking skills.

If physical activity is not possible, consider taking a class in

*   painting (watercolors start, then switch to oils)
*   piano, flute, guitar or
*   write stories (or memories)
*   Computers
*   flower arrangement
*   hosiery (useful for Christmas presents!)
*   a new language.

Or you can participate in any new activities that you find interesting, such as:

 *   Volunteer at a local charity
 *    explore a new city
 *    join a book club
 *    try a new restaurant or new types of foods
 *    become a museum of education
 *    helping at a local school or daycare
 *    join a club collector (Dolls, stamps, souvenirs). 

"The best activities are those that are nice," says Dr. Papp. And just as it is important to stick to a diet medications or exercise, should take a model to always learn, as my friend Betty, to reap the benefits. "I like to ask questions and hear the stories of people," he said. "I never want to stop learning."

She would have made a great reporter, that one. But I'm glad I can be the one to share the news flash here, which is that staying mentally sharp decline in the use of your brain and your body, whatever your age.
By: Heidi Godman

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Too little sleep and overweight: a dangerous duo

You walk down the street early in the morning after spending all night to complete a project for your boss. The coffee shop is called as usual. But today siren song is more than a cup of coffee. In a way, there is an irresistible urge to buy a donut or two as well.

If ever you wondered why, read on.The number of Americans say they get sleep every night has fallen from an average of about 8.5 hours in 1960 to just under 19 hours today. 
There are probably many reasons why, but probably include 24/7 Professional extension of the "day" with artificial lighting, use of electronic devices before bedtime (blue light wavelength of these devices delays sleep onset) and widespread belief that sleep is a lower priority compared to other activities, whether work-related or pleasure.

And today, not only do most of us sleep less, but tend to weigh more, too. Over 30% of US adults are obese, compared with less than 15% of adults in the 1960s this "obesity epidemic" has been extended to children, with about 17% considered obese today. This is an alarming trend because obese children are likely to become obese adults.

Is there a relationship between sleep duration and increased the reduced obesity? Irrefutable evidence suggests there. A number of large studies involving thousands of adults have generally found that short sleepers (defined as five hours or less a night, but sometimes six hours or less) were up to 45% more likely to be obese. We do not have much data on children, but a study has shown that children who slept less than 7.5 hours per night were three times more risk of developing obesity in a period of 5 years.

Studies also show that short sleepers do not eat healthily. Above all, their diet have less variety of food, a higher percentage of calories from snacks, and a greater amount of sugar, caffeine and alcohol. They also tend to skip meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) and also tend to snack more. These habits promote weight gain and the possible development of obesity.

Is there a scientific explanation of the feeding behavior of short sleepers? Experimental studies suggest that sleep restriction leads to abnormalities in the processing of blood sugar (glucose) and variations of hormones that control appetite. For example, ghrelin hormone stimulates the appetite, and reducing the hormone leptin. With sleep restriction, increased ghrelin levels and leptin decrease, resulting in increased hunger and appetite. In addition, these studies have shown that individuals with restricted sleep have a greater desire for high-calorie carbohydrate-rich foods.So what evidence linking lack of sleep to weight gain told us?

The bottom line is that getting enough sleep is one way to reduce the risk of weight gain and obesity. There is a tendency to put on pounds as you age. Lack of sleep will only worsen this trend. If a person is already overweight or obese, losing weight will be more difficult without adequate sleep.  

From a social perspective, the obesity epidemic, associated with increases in rates of several chronic diseases (eg, heart disease, diabetes), puts a greater burden on the health care system and contributes to rising health care costs. Adequate sleep should be included with exercise and good nutrition as one of the essential elements of good health.
By: Stuart Quan, MD,

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Overweight children are at risk of heart disease in adulthood

Being an overweight child is not easy - it can be difficult to keep up with their friends in the yard, you can not use some of the same styles of clothing other children, Jokes can be ruthless. New research published in the New England Journal of Medicine shows that the damage exceeds the social and emotional, too.

This study, entitled "cardiometabolic risk and severity of obesity in children and young adults", recorded nearly 9,000 children and adolescents aged 3-19 who were overweight or obese (very overweight). These young doctors tested for high blood pressure and cholesterol, diabetes and other major risk factors for heart disease. 

On average, children and the most severely obese adolescents had high blood pressure, cholesterol profiles is worse, and sugar levels higher than those in blood overweight. This association was true even taking into account of race, ethnicity, gender and age.This was a cross sectional study, meaning they do not follow patients forward in time to see what happened to them. Instead, each patient was examined "in the moment" and identified the factors that doctors believe affect the risk of future heart disease.  

Thus, based on the information from this study, we can not say which of these young people finally went to developing heart disease. However, we know that, for adults, control of blood pressure, cholesterol and blood glucose is essential for the prevention of heart disease. It is reasonable to infer that this would also be true for children.

Most volunteers in the study were 12-19 years old. Therefore, it also seems reasonable to conclude that the most severely obese adolescent, the more likely he or she will develop heart disease. The study also found that boys and young men tend to be more compared to test results, a growing concern that childhood obesity could be especially dangerous for them.

This study is important because it confirms that pediatricians were concerned for many years, since we became aware of the increase in rates of obesity among our young patients: if we find ways to help our children reach and maintain a healthy weight, we'll see become adults who suffer from heart disease at higher rates and younger than ever.

Helping children achieve a healthy weight 
The good news is that we can do something about it! Weight loss interventions do work for young patients, and are increasingly available. More importantly, we must realize that even a small weight loss can go a long way to live a healthy life, and this is important at all ages.

If your child is overweight, I hope to learn more about this study encourage you to talk to your pediatrician regarding the caregiver (or yourself!) Lose weight. The ideal is to make a plan as a family. Make it a goal for mom, dad, and all the children to have plenty of exercise and eat a healthy balanced diet.

Before you place your child on a diet, or that he or she join a weight loss program, talk to your pediatrician. Do not be ashamed! I can guarantee you that your doctor has seen many children struggle with weight and has some experience in the field. Together we can create an action plan that is right for your family and your child.
By: Nandini Mani, MD.

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Join us for a special webcast: "Rethinking cholesterol"

If the latest information on the health and well-being is important to you, you will not want to miss a special live streaming, "Rethinking cholesterol," which will air on Thursday, September 24, 24: 30-13: 30 hours from the east. The webcast, which is free for all spectators, is co-sponsored by Reuters, Harvard Health Publications, TH Chan Harvard School of Public Health and Harvard Medical School.

Recent science has brought new knowledge about the importance of controlling cholesterol for maintaining cardiovascular health. LDL (low density lipoprotein) cholesterol is a powerful risk factor for heart and blood vessels. New research suggests that when it comes to protecting your heart, reduce LDL cholesterol better.

How can you reduce cholesterol 
There is a lot you can do with your diet to lower LDL cholesterol. Primarily, it is essential to reduce the consumption of saturated fats and trans fats. These two forms of LDL levels increase in fat. Saturated fats are found in butter, cheese, other dairy products and red meat. Trans fat is found in partially hydrogenated oils. By law, trans fats are supposed to be removed from all commercially prepared foods over the next three years. But until then, you should read food labels carefully to avoid trans fats.

It is best to replace saturated and trans fats with polyunsaturated fats (soybean, corn and sunflower) and monounsaturated fats (olive oil), which lower LDL levels. But you might be surprised to learn that reducing the amount of cholesterol-rich foods is of little help.  

Most blood cholesterol is produced by the body and without food. Get plenty of fiber can also help cholesterol levels. Regular exercise is also important because it helps control body weight and may increase levels of HDL (high density lipoprotein), which contributes to the scanning fat from the bloodstream.

When you need a little more help than lifestyle changes alone
If diet and exercise do not bring your cholesterol at a healthy level, there are medications that can help. Statins have been the mainstay of drug therapy to reduce LDL cholesterol. Statins are sometimes administered in combination with ezetimibe, a drug that lowers cholesterol absorption in the intestine.

Powerful new drugs, called PCSK9 inhibitors, have recently become available. These drugs are antibodies that promote the removal of LDL cholesterol from the bloodstream to the liver where it can be treated. PCSK9 inhibitors can significantly reduce LDL cholesterol to levels not seen before with other medicines.  

But they must be administered by injection under the skin, and today are very expensive. Only time will tell whether these low LDL levels result in a reduced risk of heart and blood vessels, and if there may be unexpected side effects driving LDL cholesterol levels low.

More information about cholesterol and heart health expert at Harvard University
If you want to understand more about cholesterol and cardiovascular disease - tune this webcast Thursday, September 24, 24: 30-13: 30 ET - and the latest scientific advances and guidelines to protect your heart based on evidence.

These issues will be addressed by four Harvard experts:
    *  Patrick O'Gara, director of clinical cardiology and Executive Medical Director, Cardiovascular Center at Brigham and Women Shapiro's Hospital; Professor at Harvard Medical School.

    *  JoAnn Manson, professor of medicine, Harvard Medical School; Head of the Division of Preventive Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital; Professor at the Department of Epidemiology at the Harvard School of TH Chan of public health.

    *  Paul Ridker, director of the Center for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention, Brigham and Women's Hospital; Eugene Braunwald Professor of Medicine; Professor at the Department of Epidemiology at the Harvard School of TH Chan of public health.

    *  Frank Sacks, Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Professor of Cardiovascular Disease Prevention, Department of Nutrition at Harvard University TH Chan school of public health.

Bill Berkrot Reuters moderate the conversation. You may also be interested in our recent post on fats in the diet and heart health by JoAnn Dr. Manson and his colleague Dr. Shari Bassuk.

You can see the direct www.health.harvard.edu. We hope you will join us, but if you miss the live event, the webcast will also be recorded for later viewing. 
By: Gregory Curfman, MD,

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The trial of SPRINT: A breakthrough in the treatment of high blood pressure

There are few medical advances that deserve an immediate change in practice, but the SPRINT trial seems to be one of the studies. In a recent press release, the SPRINT researchers announced the results of their study showed aiming for a systolic blood pressure (the top number) of 120 mmHg was superior to a target of 140 mm Hg. 

This change reduces the risk of death by almost 25% and reduced the rate of cardiovascular problems as a whole, including heart attacks, strokes and heart failure by almost a third - welcome news to every doctor and patient.

SPRINT trial was a randomized clinical trial followed more than 9,000 US for several years. All study participants were aged 50 or ages, had high blood pressure or were at higher risk of heart disease or have had kidney disease. Half the participants were given a target blood pressure of 120 mmHg and the other half were given a target of 140 mm Hg. On average 120 mm Hg group needs three drugs for high blood pressure to achieve this, and the group needed 2 140 mm Hg.

This study was primarily funded by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health. This test is a wonderful example of the nature of long-term, large-scale clinical trials are needed to advance the care of patients significantly.  

The study results also show the importance of randomized clinical trials - that is, studies in which patients are randomly assigned to one of two treatment arms. Finally, the credit must be given to participants who have agreed to be included in the study. They generously and selflessly contributed to the advancement of medical science and the improvement of patient care worldwide. Ultimately, they also helped to improve their own care.

Although the results are very exciting, it will be important to see the details in the full text of the study, which has not yet been published. Sometimes an article provides more subtle interpretations of the findings that initial press release. The usual caveats notwithstanding, these results appear to be a major discovery with immediate applicability.

It usually takes years before the effects of high blood pressure (at least in the range studied in this trial) cause serious cardiovascular problems. Therefore, for people with high blood pressure reasonably well controlled, no need to rush to see your doctor immediately.

However, even if you think your well controlled under current rules, blood pressure would be interesting to discuss with your doctor if a goal of lowering blood pressure would be in order. Sure, you and your doctor have to balance the benefits observed in the SPRINT trial against the potential risks of taking additional medication for blood pressure and possible side effects.  

The risk of side effects may be increased in certain patient groups, such as seniors who take multiple types of drugs. However, the availability of several generic drugs for blood pressure should lead to these results are applied in the vast majority of people with high blood pressure.
By: Deepak Bhatt, MD,MPH.

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