Download Spotlight May 2015 Edition

Is pleased to present...
May 2015
Volume 10, Issue 201
Quote of the Month
"There is nothing worse than a sharp image of a fuzzy concept."
Ansel Adams
Pharmacy, Health & Wellness News
4D Discount Drug Card
Speedy Drug Approvals Have Become the Rule, Not the
Exception
Congress has over the past few decades passed a series of special
approval pathways for important drugs that treat life-threatening or rare
diseases. This week, a new bill introduced in the House could add two
more. You might expect these existing special programs to represent a
small fraction of new and unusual drugs. But data from the Food and
Drug Administration show that a majority of recent drug development
has been in therapies that qualify for at least one of these programs.
About a third of recently approved drugs qualify for two or more of five
special approval programs.
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New Wellness Discounts
for 4D Members!
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FDA to Study Effect of Generic Drug Appearance on Patient
Adherence
Does the color, shape or size of a generic drug affect how willing
patients are to adhere to existing treatment regimens? The US Food and
Drug Administration (FDA) wants to know.
4D is always looking for new ways to
bring value to our clients.
Check out new discounts on health
coaching
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Washington State Signs 'Transformative Legislation' to Recognize Pharmacists as Providers
Earlier this week, Washington State Governor Jay Inslee signed into law landmark legislation requiring health insurance
carriers to include pharmacists as network providers. The legislation, ESSB 5557, which passed with overwhelming
bipartisan support, is the first of its kind in the country to mandate coverage of pharmacists’ patient care services.
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Study Shows Measles Vaccine Thwarts Other Infectious Diseases
The measles vaccine provides benefits beyond merely protecting against that highly contagious viral respiratory disease
that remains a leading childhood killer in parts of the world, scientists say. By blocking the measles infection, the
vaccine prevents measles-induced immune system damage that makes children much more vulnerable to numerous
other infectious diseases for two to three years.
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Big Increase in Hepatitis C Accompanies Epidemic of Injection Drug Use
There's been a big increase in hepatitis C across central Appalachia, especially rural parts of the region, the CDC
reported. That only stands to reason, because young people in that part of the country are injecting heroin and other
opioids at epidemic rates. Hepatitis C infection is serious, often chronic and sometimes fatal. It leads to cirrhosis of the
liver and liver cancer, and by far the most common way of acquiring it is by sharing a drug needle, which exposes users
to the virus in someone else's blood. An estimated 3.2 million people in the United States live with hepatitis C.
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As Whooping Cough Grows, Study Finds Vaccine Wanes
The last time Washington state had an outbreak of whooping cough, it was 2012 and nearly 5,000 people — mostly
babies and young teens — got sick. Now, a new analysis of that epidemic finds the vaccine used to prevent pertussis
waned quickly and sharply in adolescents, likely contributing to a surge of cases among those who already had their
shots. Effectiveness of the Tdap vaccine — tetanus, diphtheria and acellular pertussis — was only about 64 percent
overall, and it dropped to about 34 percent within two to four years after it was given.
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Mediterranean Diet Plus Olive Oil or Nuts May Boost Thinking and Memory
Adding more olive oil or nuts to a Mediterranean diet -- one rich in fruits, vegetables, fish and whole grains and low in
red meat -- may help keep your mind sharper as you age, a new study suggests. The Spanish researchers found that
seniors following such diets had greater improvements in thinking and memory than people who were simply advised to
eat a lower-fat diet. "You can delay the onset of age-related mental decline with a healthy diet rich in foods with a high
antioxidant power, such as virgin olive oil and nuts," said lead researcher Dr. Emilio Ros, director of the lipid clinic at
the Hospital Clinic in Barcelona.
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Pedialyte Sales Grow—Into an Adult Market
Kids’ rehydration fluid gets traction on social media as a hangover helper. Pedialyte, the drink given to little kids
recovering from bouts of stomach bug, has a new consumer in mind: adults. Adult consumption of Pedialyte has grown
almost 60% since 2012, and adults now make up more than one-third of Pedialyte’s sales, up from a historical average
of 10% to 15%, said Heather Mason, an executive vice president at Abbott Laboratories, the manufacturer.
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What Is Fennel Good For? 6 Conditions It Can Help Relieve
The aroma of this crunchy, licorice-like herb can be found emanating from a cup of tea or even your stovetop. Fennel is
a spice used for both culinary and medicinal purposes, which makes it a household staple. Not to mention, it contains
vitamin C, potassium, and fiber, among other nutrients, but what does it do for your health?
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U.S. FDA Warns Five Companies over BMPEA Stimulant in Supplements
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned five companies on Thursday to stop selling dietary supplements
containing an unapproved stimulant known as beta-methylphenylethylamine, or BMPEA.
BMPEA is an amphetamine-like substance that has been shown to raise blood pressure and heart rate in animals and is
classified as a doping agent by the World Anti-Doping Agency.
Click here for the rest of the story
HHS Tightens Rules on Insurers Coverage of Contraception
Guidance comes after reports that some health plans excluded certain types of birth control or required copayments.
The Obama administration tightened the rules on insurers’ coverage of contraception under the Affordable Care Act,
following reports that some health plans weren’t fully complying with the law’s requirement to offer birth control
without out-of-pocket costs.
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Is Driver Dehydration Causing our Bad Driving?
Miami drivers have the well-deserved reputation as among the worst in the country. And most people who have driven
here think we are moving toward Hall of Shame status. But browsing through this week’s nutrition research I stumbled
upon what might be one of the reasons. A study from the UK examined the impact of mild dehydration, which they
called hypohydration, on driving errors.
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May Health Awareness
Arthritis Awareness Month
Preeclampsia Awareness Month
Global Employee Health and Fitness Month
National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month
Click here for the full list of May Health Awareness Topics
Using Electricity to Treat Arthritis and Cancer?
As researchers gain a better understanding of the interactions between our nervous and immune systems, bioelectrical
medicine is increasingly looking promising in treating numerous conditions, from pain to diabetes to possibly even
cancer. Medscape recently spoke with Kevin Tracey, MD, President, The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research at the
North Shore-LIJ Health System, Manhasset, New York, about the potential of electricity-based therapy.
Click here for the rest of the story
6 Best Teas for Arthritis Symptoms
If you're troubled by the painful symptoms of arthritis, relief may be a cup of tea away. “I believe all tea can be
beneficial,” says Mahsa Tehrani, MD, a rheumatologist in Vienna, Virginia. “Tea has fantastic anti-inflammatory
properties which can theoretically help with the underlying inflammation associated with arthritis,” she says. Drinking
tea can be a great complementary arthritis treatment that helps lessen pain, eases joint stiffness, and even prevents
the condition from getting worse. Still, it's important to check with your doctor first, and to always follow instructions
for medication and other lifestyle changes.
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Keep Moving to Stay a Step Ahead of Arthritis
I was a fanatical tennis player for decades until my increasingly painful arthritic knees forced me to stop playing. The
knees were replaced two years later, but by then, I had filled in my life with other activities, including a daily threemile walk and aerobic swim, and cycling for exercise and errands.
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May Is Preeclampsia Awareness Month: Four Reasons Why It Matters to You
In February 2014, I was 23 weeks' pregnant with my first baby. I had been feeling a bit unwell for a few days:
indigestion, breathing was difficult, and I had suddenly weight. All normal pregnancy gripes I thought, but I checked Dr
Google just in case, as you do. Dr Google suggested preeclampsia. "Don't be so silly," thought I. "It's like Googling a
headache and diagnosing yourself with a brain tumour. I'm only 23 weeks' pregnant after all, and preeclampsia
happens only in later pregnancy." It turns out Google was 100% correct on this occasion. I was wrong.
Click here for the rest of the story
Antidepressants Linked to Increased Risk of Preeclampsia in Pregnancy
Pregnant women taking antidepressant medications, especially during the second trimester, have an increased risk of
preeclampsia, a potentially serious or even fatal condition for both mother and child, according to a study by Kaiser
Permanente Northern California researchers. The study was published in CNS Spectrums.
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How You Move Your Muscles Affects Your Mood
In Ayurveda and other holistic healing approaches, the whole person both mind and body is evaluated and addressed
for total health. While the idea that a person's mental state affects health is becoming more accepted, another
predictor of health is how we move our body. Specifically, recent research has found people with an upright posture
are found to be more positive, have better self esteem and reacted to situations more constructively.
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7 Things Fitness Experts Wish You’d Stop Doing in the Gym
Let’s get this out of the way first: Any exercise is better than no exercise. “There’s not a single exercise in the world
that I’d want people to stop doing,” says fitness expert Adam Rosante, author of The 30-Second Body. “Every
movement is a beautiful thing.”That said, some exercises are safer, more effective, or more efficient than others.
Likewise, certain practices can be unsafe or counterproductive to your goals except in very specific situations. Here are
the top things pro trainers wish people would stop doing in the gym — plus what you should do instead to see better
results.
Click here for the rest of the story
Battling Allergies Starts at Home
Allergy sufferers can't do much to control sidewalk-coating tree pollen and other outdoor factors that trigger sniffles
and sneezes. Indoors, though, it's a different story. Decorating choices and proper cleaning can help to minimize both
seasonal allergens and year-round offenders such as dust and mold, said New York interior designer Robin Wilson, who
learned tips and tricks for allergy-proofing a home after growing up in Austin with severe allergies.
Click here for the rest of the story
The Connection Between Peanut Allergies and Asthma
A new study suggests that kids with asthma may have a peanut allergy, or be sensitive to peanuts, and not know it.
Dr. Robert Cohn, medical director of Pulmonary Medicine at Dayton Children’s Hospital and his team studied 1,517
children who went to a pulmonary clinic at Mercy Children’s Hospital in Toledo, Ohio, for respiratory problems and left
with a confirmed diagnosis of asthma. Interestingly, among these children, about 11% knew they had a peanut allergy.
Many of the children in the study came back to the clinic and had a blood test to screen them for peanut allergies, and
of that group, 22% tested positive.
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