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Breakthrough Swine Flu Test
A leading Melbourne scientist has unveiled a test able to detect Swine Flu, or any other virus, within hours.
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Senate Democrats Meet With White House Adviser To Craft Response To Republican Criticism On Health Reform
Senate Democrats on Wednesday worked with senior White House adviser David Axelrod to craft a health care message focused on affordability and choice, the AP/Contra Costa Times reports (Werner, AP/Contra Costa Times, 5/13). The meeting followed the release of a memo last week by Republican strategist Frank Luntz outlining how to criticize Democratic plans for health reform (Budoff Brown/McGrane, Politico, 5/13). Senate Majority Whip Richard Durbin (D-Ill.) said Luntz"s memo was "an interesting catalyst for us" (AP/Contra Costa Times, 5/13).Axelrod presented Democrats with polling data about what U.S. residents are seeking from a health care overhaul and discussed better word choices, such as "shared responsibility" rather than "mandates" for coverage requirements. According to CongressDaily, the meeting centered Democrats on a coordinated message that the U.S. health care system must be affordable and accessible and should be patient-focused (Edney/Condon, CongressDaily, 5/13). Sen. Evan Bayh (D-Ind.) said that many Democrats felt "unease that we did not have a strategy" to answer the attacks coming from Republicans (Pear, New York Times, 5/14). Senate Finance Committee Chair Max Baucus (D-Mont.) said, "Everybody in the room had been a little nervous that, "Gee, Democrats don"t have their act together"" (CongressDaily, 5/13). However, Bayh said that "Axelrod came to reassure us that they do have a strategy" (New York Times, 5/14). Durbin said, "This is an effort to coordinate our message so we present a health care reform effort the American people trust" (Armstrong, CQ Today, 5/13). According to Durbin, Axelrod emphasized that Democrats should continue with the campaign theme that the goal of an overhaul is to "fix what"s broken in the system and preserve what"s good" (Young, The Hill, 5/13).Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) said, "We believe the public shares our views. But we don"t want to be overwhelmed by either res, messaging or boots on the ground." He added, "We won"t make the mistake of 1993-94." According to the New York Times, a plan developed by the administration of former President Clinton "collapsed" in the face of Republican criticism (New York Times, 5/14).
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Web Site Helps Caregivers Navigate Medicare
The Department of Health and Human Services has created a web site called "Ask Medicare" to help caregivers navigate the often confusing Medicare system. CNN reports on the experience of Kim Mickens, a caregiver who used the site to help her mother, who has Alzheimer"s disease. "Medicare personnel helped her get some of the medical supplies she needed and also recommend a new Web site called Ask Medicare. Designed to give easy access to people taking care of elderly relatives, Ask Medicare provides information and links to services that are important to caregivers."
Cardiovascular

Exercise Is Healthy For Mom And Child During Pregnancy

Physicians should recommend low to moderate levels of exercise to their pregnant patients, even if they have not exercised prior to pregnancy, states a report published in the August 2009 issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (JAAOS). According to this review article, exercise can strengthen and improve overall musculoskeletal and physiologic health as well as pregnancy related symptoms. Exercise such as aerobics, impact and nonimpact activities, resistance training and swimming: -- eases back and other musculoskeletal pain; -- lowers maternal blood pressure; -- reduces swelling; and -- improves post-partum mood, including sadness. According to study author Capt. Marlene DeMaio, M.D., M.C., U.S.N., Research Director, Naval Medical Center, Portsmouth, Virginia, data shows that the pregnant woman"s body can compensate for the changes with no harm to the fetus during low to moderate intensity exercise. "It is important to remember that pregnancy is a temporary condition, not a disease, and that the musculoskeletal and physiologic changes that happen are normal in the majority of patients," she said. Capt. DeMaio"s findings contradict what some physicians recommended in the past. As recently as the 1990s, there was concern that exercise could be detrimental to a pregnant woman and her fetus. These past concerns included a focus on normal changes related to musculoskeletal health that occur during pregnancy, such as increased ligament laxity, weight gain and change in the center of gravity. Today, some physicians continue to advise their pregnant patients to ease back on exercise or refrain from it altogether if they have not already made it a part of their lifestyle. DeMaio, who collaborated with Capt. Everett Magann, M.D., M.C. U.S.N., Chairman in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, also at the Naval Medical Center in Portsmouth, not only reports that exercise is important during pregnancy, but also believes that starting an exercise program when pregnant, is a perfect way to begin - and stick with - a fitness program. "When a woman becomes pregnant, she often re-evaluates her lifestyle," said Dr. DeMaio. "She is motivated in a new way to deliver a healthy baby, and be healthy herself." Physicians may recommend exercise for pregnant patients in the following categories: -- Prenatal: Patients should begin or continue low to moderate exercise. The goal is to maintain fitness and adapt exercise as needed as pregnancy progresses. (For example, runners might switch to running in a swimming pool later in their pregnancy.) -- Postnatal: Continue exercising at low to moderate levels. Lactation is not negatively affected by exercise. There are fewer reports of mothers having post-partum depression or mood changes when they are exercising. -- Older: Exercise is even more important if the patient is older, according to Dr. DeMaio. The risk for high blood pressure and increased glucose goes up the older a patient is, but exercise can help reduce these levels. -- Obese: Physicians should discuss pregnancy as an opportunity to improve overall health and suggest the patient start exercise for life-long health and as an example to the child when the child is older. -- Infertile: Even if a woman is under treatment for infertility, she can exercise under the supervision of her obstetrician. -- Athlete: For a pregnant woman wanting more strenuous exercise, or who wants to increase training from moderate to high intensity, a qualified doctor should direct her exercise program. Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Navy, Department of Defense or the United States Government. Dr. DeMaio serves as a board member of the Association of Bone and Joint Surgeons and the publications American Journal of Sports Medicine and Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research in an unpaid capacity. Neither Dr. Magann nor a member of his immediate family has received anything of value from or owns stock in a commercial company or institution related directly or indirectly to the subject of this article. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons


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