Tag: Evidence

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Multiple health benefits of urban tree canopy: The mounting evidence for a green prescription.

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Multiple health benefits of urban tree canopy: The mounting evidence for a green prescription.

Health Place. 2016 Sep 14;42:54-62

Authors: Ulmer JM, Wolf KL, Backman DR, Tretheway RL, Blain CJ, O’Neil-Dunne JP, Frank LD

Abstract
The purpose of this study was to enhance the understanding of the health-promoting potential of trees in an urbanized region of the United States. This was done using high-resolution LiDAR and imagery data to quantify tree cover within 250m of the residence of 7910 adult participants in the California Health Interview Survey, then testing for main and mediating associations between tree cover and multiple health measures. The results indicated that more neighborhood tree cover, independent from green space access, was related to better overall health, primarily mediated by lower overweight/obesity and better social cohesion, and to a lesser extent by less type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and asthma. These findings suggest an important role for trees and nature in improving holistic population health in urban areas.

PMID: 27639106 [PubMed – as supplied by publisher]

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Beliefs about medication predict the misattribution of a common symptom as a medication side effect – Evidence from an analogue online study.

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Beliefs about medication predict the misattribution of a common symptom as a medication side effect – Evidence from an analogue online study.

J Psychosom Res. 2015 Oct 13;

Authors: Heller MK, Chapman SC, Horne R

Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Some perceived medication side effects may be ‘normal’ symptoms that patients misattribute to the medication. Using an analogue approach, we tested if medication beliefs predict whether participants misattribute a headache as a side effect and subsequently intend to stop medication.
METHODS: We recruited 690 participants, 223 reporting a past asthma diagnosis. They received information about asthma and Molair, a fictitious asthma treatment modeled on a licensed treatment (montelukast). We varied the description of efficacy and side effects (which did not include headache). Pre-exposure to this information, participants completed the Beliefs about Medicine Questionnaire (BMQ)-General and the Perceived Sensitivity to Medicines Scale (PSM), post-exposure they completed the BMQ-Specific. Participants were asked to imagine they experienced a headache while taking Molair. Finally, they rated whether the headache was a side effect (misattribution) and if they would stop taking Molair (behavioral intention).
RESULTS: Nearly a quarter (170) of participants misattributed the headache to Molair and 69 (10%) subsequently intended to stop Molair. Both outcomes were predicted by general and specific medication beliefs. Odds of misattribution (m) and behavioral intention (i) increased with higher General Harm (ORm=1.90, ORi=2.72), General Overuse (ORm=1.74, ORi=1.56) and Molair Concern beliefs (ORm=1.52, ORi=1.78, all p<.01), but decreased with General Benefit (ORm=0.72, ORi=0.53) and Molair Necessity beliefs (ORm=0.72, ORi=0.70, all p<.05).
CONCLUSION: Symptom misattribution and subsequent intentions to stop Molair were predicted by pre-exposure beliefs about medicines in general and post-exposure beliefs about Molair. Patients with negative medication beliefs may be prone to misattribute symptoms and subsequently stop medication.

PMID: 26519128 [PubMed – as supplied by publisher]

View full post on pubmed: asthma

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Evidence of Efficacy of Acupuncture in Children with Asthma Still Missing in … – Lung Disease News


Lung Disease News

Evidence of Efficacy of Acupuncture in Children with Asthma Still Missing in …
Lung Disease News
Asthma is a frequent inflammatory disease affecting both children and adults, characterized by airway hyper-responsiveness, obstruction, mucus overproduction and remodeling of the airway wall. Globally, this condition affects on average more than 300 …

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Breastfeeding is Associated with Reduced Childhood Hospitalization: Evidence from a Scottish Birth Cohort (1997-2009).

Breastfeeding is Associated with Reduced Childhood Hospitalization: Evidence from a Scottish Birth Cohort (1997-2009).

J Pediatr. 2014 Dec 30;

Authors: Ajetunmobi OM, Whyte B, Chalmers J, Tappin DM, Wolfson L, Fleming M, MacDonald A, Wood R, Stockton DL, Glasgow Centre for Population Health Breastfeeding Project Steering Group

Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the risk of childhood hospitalization associated with infant feeding patterns at 6-8 weeks of age in Scotland.
STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective population level study based on the linkage of birth, death, maternity, infant health, child health surveillance, and admission records for children born as single births in Scotland between 1997 and 2009 (n = 502?948) followed up to March 2012. Descriptive analyses, Kaplan Meier tests, and Cox regression were used to quantify the association between the mode of infant feeding and risk of childhood hospitalization for respiratory, gastrointestinal, and urinary tract infections, and other common childhood ailments during the study period.
RESULTS: Within the first 6 months of life, there was a greater hazard ratio (HR) of hospitalization for common childhood illnesses among formula-fed infants (HR 1.40; 95% CI 1.35-1.45) and mixed-fed infants (HR 1.18; 95% CI 1.11-1.25) compared with infants exclusively breastfed after adjustment for parental, maternal, and infant health characteristics. Within the first year of life and beyond, a greater relative risk of hospitalization was observed among formula-fed infants for a range of individual illnesses reported in childhood including gastrointestinal, respiratory, and urinary tract infections, otitis media, fever, asthma, diabetes, and dental caries.
CONCLUSIONS: Using linked administrative data, we found greater risks of hospitalization in early childhood for a range of common childhood illnesses among Scottish infants who were not exclusively breastfed at 6-8 weeks of age.

PMID: 25556021 [PubMed – as supplied by publisher]

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Preventing Asthma: Searching “Upstream” for the Evidence – The Equation: Blog of the Union of Concerned Scientists (blog)

Preventing Asthma: Searching “Upstream” for the Evidence
The Equation: Blog of the Union of Concerned Scientists (blog)
Everyday children and adults in South Los Angeles get asthma treatments at community clinics because of exacerbations, also known as asthma attacks. I am a family physician with over a decade of work at community clinics in the poorest areas of Los …

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Genetic evidence that body mass increases the risk of asthma in mid-childhood – Science Codex

Genetic evidence that body mass increases the risk of asthma in mid-childhood
Science Codex
Some of the increase in asthma risk toward the end of the 20th century could be attributed to the increase in body mass index (BMI) in mid-childhood, according to new research published in this week's PLOS Medicine. The study, led by Raquel Granell …

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Body Mass Index Linked To An Increased Chance Of Asthma, Genetic Evidence … – Medical Daily


Counsel & Heal

Body Mass Index Linked To An Increased Chance Of Asthma, Genetic Evidence …
Medical Daily
Though there may be several underlying causes behind asthma, such as respiratory infections, air pollutants, allergens, cold air, and even some medications, doctors are coming to believe that obesity may be one of them, too. Now, a new study out of the …
Genetic evidence that body mass increases the risk of asthma in mid-childhoodMedical Xpress
Obesity in Children May Contribute to AsthmadailyRx
Body Mass can Increase Risk of Asthma during Mid-ChildhoodCounsel & Heal
Daily Mail –Sydney Morning Herald
all 8 news articles »

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Genetic evidence that body mass increases the risk of asthma in mid-childhood – Medical Xpress

Genetic evidence that body mass increases the risk of asthma in mid-childhood
Medical Xpress
Some of the increase in asthma risk toward the end of the 20th century could be attributed to the increase in body mass index (BMI) in mid-childhood, according to new research published in this week's PLOS Medicine. The study, led by Raquel Granell …

View full post on asthma – Google News