Common Pains of Aging: How to Feel Better

By Kara Mayer Robinson
WebMD Feature

Reviewed by Arefa Cassoobhoy, MD, MPH

An ache here, a cramp there. As your body ages, you may have more and new pains. There are things you can do to feel better.

In Your 30s

Headaches. Your 30s can be a hectic time of life. Stress at work and home is common at this age -- and can lead to headaches

Your work environment also can bring on headaches. Sitting at a computer all day with your head in one position can strain your neck and cause your head to hurt, says Paul B. Langevin, MD, an anesthesiologist at Hahnemann University Hospital in Philadelphia.

The Fix. To relieve stress, try deep breathing exercises. Treat yourself to a gentle massage or a warm bath.

To ease head pain from sitting at a computer, "try stretching your neck muscles by turning your head to the right, then left," suggests Allen Towfigh, MD, a neurologist at New York-Presbyterian Hospital, "then gently trying to touch your ear to your shoulder in each direction."

A hot compress or over-the-counter pain medicine may also bring relief.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Pain in your wrists and hands can be caused by a pressed nerve in your wrist. Your genes and past injuries can make you more likely to get carpal tunnel syndrome, but so can typing on keyboards, cell phones, tablets, and computer games, Langevin says.

The Fix. If you can, take a break from making the same motions over and over, like typing or texting.

Make sure your workspace is set up correctly. For example, while typing at a keyboard:

• Sit against the back of the chair with your shoulders relaxed.
• Keep your elbows at your side and your wrists straight.
• Plant your feet flat on the floor or on a footrest.

Also, try using a wrist brace. Physical therapy and exercises that build up hand and arm muscles can also help. See a doctor if it doesn’t improve. Some people need surgery for this problem.

In Your 40s and 50s

Back Pain. As you age, stress on the spine from bad posture, a poor workplace set-up, and the wrong sleeping habits can all bring on lower back pain.

The Fix. Pay attention to your posture and how you lift things. "Ideally people should not lift more than 25% of their body weight without assistance," Langevin says. Look at your workplace arrangement. Is your chair the right height? Is your computer screen where it needs to be? Make adjustments if needed, says Jacob Teitelbaum, MD, author of From Fatigued to Fantastic! Does your back ache in the morning? Consider buying a new mattress, or trying a new position for sleeping.

Over-the-counter medications like aspirin, acetaminophen, ibuprofen, and naproxen can help relieve pain and reduce swelling. Try physical or chiropractic therapy, or exercise like Pilates or yoga. If you still don’t feel relief, talk with your doctor.

source : Common Pains of Aging: How to Feel Better

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Childhood Cancer Report Brings Mixed News

While treatment advances mean more children are surviving, long-term problems persist into adulthood

WebMD News from HealthDay

By Robert Preidt

HealthDay Reporter

FRIDAY, Jan. 31, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Progress has been made in fighting childhood cancer in the United States, but many challenges remain, a new report finds.

There will be an estimated 15,780 new cases of childhood cancer diagnosed this year, and 1,960 deaths from childhood cancer among patients aged 19 and younger, according to the American Cancer Society report.

The annual incidence of childhood cancer in that age group is 18.8 per 100,000, and about one in 285 youngsters will be diagnosed with cancer before age 20. Currently, about one in 530 young adults aged 20 to 39 is a childhood cancer survivor.

While advances in surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy have led to increased survival among childhood cancer patients, many of the survivors have a high risk of long-term health problems, said the report. It was published online Jan. 31 in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians.

For example, survivors of childhood brain tumors may suffer difficulties such as seizures, hearing loss, blindness, weakness in the arms and legs, hormone imbalances, thyroid issues and decreased mental ability.

The report also noted that only a small percentage of childhood cancers have known, preventable causes, and that early detection of these cancers can be difficult because some symptoms are similar to those of common childhood illnesses.

"Progress in childhood cancer has been dramatic for some sites, but we cannot let that blind us from the fact that progress has been disappointingly slow for other sites, and that cancer remains the second leading cause of death in children," Dr. Otis Brawley, chief medical officer at the American Cancer Society, said in a society news release.

"There is much work to be done to improve outcomes, to reduce side effects associated with cancer and its treatment and, we hope, to understand more about the molecular events that lead to childhood cancer in order to come up with ways to prevent or detect it early," he added.

Jennifer Cullen, a cancer epidemiologist and a board member of the American Childhood Cancer Organization, wrote in an accompanying editorial: "We have seen successes for some [childhood] cancers, but others remain incurable and untreatable."

The new report "is an essential inventory to help evaluate our progress and shortfalls" and shows "tremendous variation in survival and success rates across the different cancers affecting children," she noted.

source : Childhood Cancer Report Brings Mixed News

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Expert Answers for Diaper Rash Questions

By Betsy Riley
WebMD Feature

Reviewed by Hansa D. Bhargava, MD

Do your toughest questions about diaper rash come up after hours? Help is on the way.  Here, pediatricians offer their best advice on large and small topics to help ease your little one’s discomfort.

Should I change my baby’s diet?

Some foods, such as fruit juices, can give babies diarrhea or make their poop goopy, leading to diaper rash. Taking antibiotics or starting solid foods can also affect their digestion. You can try minor adjustments, but don’t change your baby's diet for long -- or stop giving medicine -- without talking to your doctor.

Does teething cause diaper rash?

Teething and diaper rash often happen at the same time but are unlikely to be related, says Nannette Silverberg, MD, a dermatologist at St. Luke's-Roosevelt and Beth Israel in New York.

Do I need to wipe off all the ointment every time I change the diaper?

Ointments like zinc oxide are like wax for your car, says Elaine Siegfried, MD, professor of pediatrics and dermatology at Saint Louis University.

You’re putting a thick layer of paste between your baby’s skin and irritating liquids. Rubbing it all off hurts more than it helps. Pat urine dry gently and wipe away poop, then apply some extra ointment.

Will dabbing an antacid on the rash help?

Maybe. Diarrhea can be very acidic. If the rash was caused by diarrhea, a liquid antacid may be worth a try, says Wanda Filer, MD, a board member of the American Academy of Family Physicians. You may have a bottle of this chalky liquid in the medicine cabinet to ease heartburn.  Dab a little on your baby's rash with a cotton ball, let it dry, then add diaper ointment to shield the skin before the next messy diaper.

Should I switch to cloth diapers?

The right answer will depend on what works best for your baby.  There's no clear proof that one type of diaper is better for diaper rash.

If you prefer disposables, give them a fair chance. Rashes tend to grow in moist environments, and disposables are very good at wicking liquids away from a baby’s skin.

Switch to another brand if you've tried everything and your baby still has a sore bottom. A fragrance or dye could irritate her skin or even cause an allergic reaction. Plain white diapers are safest, says Siegfried.

Rarely, babies are allergic to all disposables and do better with cloth diapers. Just be sure to change them very frequently. If your baby has a rash, check the diaper every hour and at least once at night.

Cloth diaper systems may keep your baby's bottom drier than traditional cotton diapers. They come with flushable liners, fleece liners, super-absorbent inserts, and outer covers or wraps.

source : Expert Answers for Diaper Rash Questions

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