Orchestra Helps Boost Confidence and Mood for Those with Dementia

Newswise, November 11, 2015 — A special orchestra for people with dementia has helped boost their confidence and mood, according to a new research project.

The orchestra group has been set up by the Bournemouth University Dementia Institute (BUDI) in Dorset to create a sense of community among participants and also includes professional musicians, carers and students.

A screening of performances from the BUDI Orchestra will be showcased at an event as part of the annual Economic and Social Research Council’s (ESRC) Festival of Social Science.

The orchestra was initially set up in partnership with Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra (BSO) with a repertoire ranging from Ravel’s Bolero to Henry Mancini’s Moon River.

Rehearsals have demonstrated a positive effect on all participants who have also learned new skills and rediscovered old ones.

“Music touches everyone in some way, either by listening or playing – and the BUDI Orchestra has been a life-enhancing project which has benefited everyone,” says Professor Anthea Innes, Head of BUDI.

“Performing and showcasing skills of those with dementia creates a well-deserved opportunity for them to demonstrate their abilities and to challenge the negative public perceptions that surround the diagnostic label of ‘dementia’.

Working together to produce a collaborative output is a powerful way to bring out the best in people - not just in terms of their musical skills, but their communication skills, friendships, care and support for one another.”

Around 850,000 people in the UK currently live with dementia, a figure which is estimated to double by 2050. Dorset has one of the oldest populations in England, so many people in the local community can relate to the challenges caused by the condition.

The arts are being used increasingly to support health and wellbeing, both in healthcare settings and in the community for people with dementia and their families. 

Research has already shown that arts activities, especially music, can reawaken and exercise the brain.

The BUDI Orchestra, funded by Dorset County Council, is one of BUDI’s numerous ongoing creative projects to demonstrate that people with dementia can have fun while learning.

A total of eight people with dementia and seven carers were involved in a course of eight weekly two-hour sessions led by Andy Baker, a former BSO community musician and double bass player. They were also supported by two additional professional musicians, Bournemouth University students and staff volunteers.

Previous workshops with the orchestra have identified that most of the people with dementia learned a new skill and the sessions were highly enjoyed by all who took part.

One of the participants was Jack, a professional bass player who was forced by eye cancer and dementia to leave his bands. His wife also joined BUDI and played the violin for the first time since school.

Both found that the orchestra helped overcome feelings of loneliness, and Jack’s confidence returned as a result of being part of the sessions.

The project has also highlighted that the musicians’ and volunteers’ preconceptions of music learning were positively challenged as a result of their experiences with the BUDI Orchestra.

Professor Innes and her research team have produced a guide in collaboration with the professional musicians for those interested in setting up their own community-based music group.

Dr Michelle Heward, also from BUDI, says: “Our creative projects show that it is possible for people with dementia to take part, learn something new and have fun, all at the same time.”

Extra Holiday Stress Could Be Rough on a Woman’s Heart

Newswise, November 11, 2015 — Many women put a lot pressure on themselves to make the holidays perfect for everyone. Everything from cooking to buying presents to organizing family gatherings can add a lot of unnecessary stress that can damage their hearts.

“We have seen more than a few cases of stress-induced cardiomyopathy around the holidays,” said Dr. Karla Kurrelmeyer, a cardiologist with Houston Methodist DeBakey Heart & Vascular Center.

“This occurs when women are under great amounts of stress for a short period of time and that stress is compounded with another traumatic event such as a death in the family, a car accident, loss of money, etc. If it is ignored it can be fatal.”

Stress-induced cardiomyopathy is a weakening of the left ventricle, the heart’s main pumping chamber.

It is brought on by the release of stress hormones that shock the heart, causing changes in the heart muscles that then cause the left ventricle to not work properly. The vast majority of people who are affected by this condition are women in the late 50s to mid-70s.

“Someone experiencing this condition might develop chest pains or shortness of breath after severe stress, either emotional or physical,” Kurrelmeyer said.

“In most cases, it is treated with medication such as beta blockers or ACE inhibitors. It’s important to have an echocardiogram as soon as possible if you are experiencing any symptoms.”

A spike in blood pressure is also seen a lot around the holidays. Kurrelmeyer says many women end up in the ER with chest pains or palpitations and, in the most severe cases, can suffer a stroke.

If a woman has a history of high blood pressure it’s important to monitor it closely, especially during those times when the stress level rises.
Heart problems in women are not usually as recognizable as they are in men.

Some of the symptoms for women include:
• Extreme weakness, anxiety, or shortness of breath.
• Discomfort, pressure, heaviness or pain in the chest, arm, below the breastbone or in the middle of the back.
• Sweating, nausea, vomiting, dizziness.
• Fullness, indigestion, a tightness in the throat area.
• Rapid or irregular heartbeats.

“It’s important to take time for yourself during the holiday season and do things that will help relieve your stress,” Kurrelmeyer said. “Exercise, either walking or running, yoga, meditation, a nice walk with a loved one, whatever it takes, make it happen. The holidays should be a joyous time spent with family and friends at home, not with doctors in an emergency room.”

For more on Houston Methodist Hospital, visit us online or call 713.790.3333. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

How Low to Go for Blood Pressure? Lower Target Could Affect Millions of Americans

Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial recommendations may have broad impact

Newswise, November 10, 2015 - A new study finds that at least 16.8 million Americans could potentially benefit from lowering their systolic blood pressure (SBP) to 120 mmHg, much lower than current guidelines of 140 or 150 mmHg.

The collaborative investigation between the University of Utah, University of Alabama at Birmingham, and Columbia University, will be published Nov. 9 online in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology (JACC).

The scientists calculated the potential impact of preliminary results from the Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial (SPRINT) that will be presented in full at the American Heart Association meeting and published online in the New England Journal of Medicine, also on Nov. 9.

The initial analysis of SPRINT, reported in September, 2015, showed that using antihypertensive medications to reach a lower SBP target of 120 mmHg could greatly reduce risk for heart failure, heart attack, and death, compared to a target of 140 mmHg (SBP is the top number in a blood pressure reading).

 It’s estimated that one in three U.S. adults have high blood pressure, or hypertension, a significant health concern.

“SPRINT could have broad implications,” says lead author Adam Bress, Pharm.D., M.S., assistant professor of pharmacotherapy at the University of Utah College of Pharmacy. “Millions of Americans whose blood pressure is under control according to current guidelines may be considered uncontrolled if new guidelines adopt the intensive target of less than 120 mmHg studied in SPRINT.”

While new medical guidelines for treating hypertension could be months to years away, this research finds that more than 16.8 million Americans, 7.6 percent of the population, could be recommended for intensive blood pressure management if guidelines incorporate a new, lower, SBP target based on SPRINT results. The number represents Americans who meet the same criteria as SPRINT participants: they are age 50 or older, have an SBP between 130-180 mmHg, are at high risk for cardiovascular disease, and do not have diabetes or a history of stroke, among other inclusion and exclusion criteria.

The current study also reports that new guidelines may affect some segments of the population more than others. Compared to Caucasians, African Americans and Hispanics were less likely to meet SPRINT eligibility criteria (9 percent vs. 4.8 percent, 4.3 percent).

The differences are largely due to the fact that these minority populations have a higher prevalence of diabetes and other health conditions that could preclude them from being SPRINT eligible. Men were also more likely to be eligible for SPRINT than women (8.8 percent vs. 6.5 percent), in part because unlike men, women tend not to show increased risk for cardiovascular disease until they are over 65.

However in practice, it’s common for physicians to prescribe treatments to patients who may have not been eligible for a clinical trial that demonstrated the efficacy and safety of a particular treatment.

For example, some physicians may deviate from SPRINT eligibility by aggressively treating the blood pressure of any adult over 50, even if they do not have a high risk of cardiovascular disease. “Physicians are going to need to decide how far outside the SPRINT inclusion criteria to go,” says co-author Rachel Hess, M.D., M.S., also a professor of internal medicine and population health sciences at the University of Utah School of Medicine. “It’s going to be a tough decision.”

The numbers of Americans meeting each sequential SPRINT eligibility requirement are:
• 219 million adults
• 95.1 million age 50 or older
• 37.3 million with elevated blood pressure (≥130 mmHg)
• 26.4 million at high risk for cardiovascular disease
• 16.8 million with no diabetes, history of stroke, or other SPRINT exclusion criteria

Potential impacts of SPRINT results on the U.S. population were based on analyzing data from the 16,260 participants in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) between 2007 – 2012 who met certain SPRINT inclusion and exclusion criteria. NHANES includes a representative cross-section of the American population, allowing for projection of these findings to the overall population.

Most, but not all, SPRINT inclusion and exclusion criteria were accounted for in NHANES. For example information on subclinical cardiovascular disease and a history of medical non-adherence are not represented in the national survey.

New blood pressure guidelines will have to weight potential adverse effects that could overshadow its benefits, and whether increasing blood pressure medications over the course of multiple years is cost-effective.

But the numbers obtained in this study offer a glimpse into the potentially wide ranging impact of changing blood pressure guidelines.

“Given that millions of U.S. adults meet SPRINT eligibility criteria, the implementation of SPRINT recommendations could have a profound impact on how blood pressure is treated in this country,” says senior author Paul Muntner, Ph.D., a professor of epidemiology at the University of Alabama.

“Even more important, is its potential for greatly reducing the incidence of cardiovascular disease.”

In addition to Bress, Hess, and Muntner, the co-authors are Rikki Tanner and Lisandro Colantonio from the University of Alabama, and Daichi Shimbo from Columbia University.

“Generalizability of results from the Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial (SPRINT) to the US adult population” will be published online in the Journal of the American College of Cardiologists on Nov. 9, 2015

Aged Care Market is Expected to be a Key Growth Area for Healthcare

Publisher's Note:  While this story features Technological growth in the European market of care for the aged, the potential of having an impact in the United States cannot be ignored as the world's population ages and in light of the continually growing impact of technology on all our lives and occupations.

LONDON, October 28, 2015--PRNewswire/ -- By 2020 22% of the world's population will be of or above 60 years. In order to encourage independent living, IT service providers need to support the development of smart homes and communities that leverage technology-based solutions for the aged. 

High adoption of remote monitoring devices, which are useful for personal physicians, nurses and family, will help all senior citizens who prefer to stay in their own homes. Information and communication technology (ICT)-based assistive technologies, including computer-based or other electronic communication aids, object locators and reminder systems, will also gain traction. Further, robots as a support system will emerge as an excellent aged care model.

New analysis from Frost & Sullivan, expects healthcare to be among the top industries for ICT providers in Europe, yielding an estimated €71.57 billion in 2019. IT services will constitute a large proportion of healthcare spending in this sector.

For complimentary access to more information on this research, please visit: http://owl.li/THOqy

The aged population's requirement for specialised medical technology will create strong long-termopportunities for wireless network, IT service and software solution providers. Thus, these service providers are making concerted efforts towards developing and implementing technologies that support independent ageing and aged care.

"Wearable devices are increasingly becoming an integral part of senior citizens' lifestyle," said Frost & Sullivan Information & Communication Technologies Senior Research Analyst Shuba Ramkumar.

"While it is true that a wearable device or global positioning system (GPS) tracker does not in itself provide better care, it can facilitate remote monitoring of senior citizens and help prevent major accidents. For example, it can prevent a patient with memory loss or dementia from going outside and endangering themselves."

However, seamless connectivity, irrespective of whether it is low/high bandwidth or short/long range, is important for the accurate functioning of the aged care ecosystem.

Even the smooth operation and integration of assisted living technologies in the healthcare sector is dependent on the resolution of connectivity, data privacy and regulation issues.

Currently, the need to certify some ICT devices for deployment and restrictions on the use of data collected by devices prove to be major obstacles for the end-user market. Nevertheless, development of stringent data security regulations and partnership with healthcare technology companies can help overcome some of these challenges.

"IT service providers must collaborate with large private and public aged care providers to design and deploy solutions that integrate with the healthcare system," noted Ramkumar.

"For residential care communities, they should also provide end-to-end Internet of Things platforms to enable communication between smart devices for monitoring patient activity. These solutions are necessary to integrate home/residential care systems with the central healthcare system to facilitate automated healthcare delivery."

Seasonal Flu Questions/Answers and Tips

Symptoms

Influenza (the flu) typically starts with a headache, chills and cough. Those are quickly followed by fever, loss of appetite, muscle aches and fatigue, running nose, sneezing, watery eyes and sore throat. Nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea may also occur, especially in children.

Most people will have uncomplicated influenza and recover from within a week or ten days, but some are at greater risk of developing more severe complications such as pneumonia.

Who is Most at Risk

Some people are more likely to get seriously ill if they catch the flu, including:

• Children and adults (including pregnant women) with chronic medical conditions, such as cancer, cardiac disorders, asthma, and morbid obesity (people with a body mass index greater than 40);
• Residents of nursing homes and other chronic care facilities;
• People 65 years of age and older;
• Healthy children under 5 years of age;
• Aboriginal Peoples; and
• Healthy pregnant women, at any stage of pregnancy.

How to Avoid Getting the Flu

The seasonal flu vaccine is safe and effective and remains the best protection against flu viruses. Everyone over the age of six months is encouraged to get the vaccine.

Receiving the flu vaccine is especially important for those who are more likely to get seriously ill or suffer complications if they catch the flu. Getting the flu shot every year is important because the vaccine is reformulated annually. Flu viruses are constantly changing and your immunity levels following vaccination decrease over time, which is why a flu vaccine is needed each year. Flu vaccine is made up of the flu strains that research suggests will cause the most illness in the upcoming flu season.  The flu vaccine remains the best way to protect yourself and your loved ones from the flu.

It's also important to remember that the flu vaccine protects against three or four flu strains (depending on the type of vaccine you receive), so even when there is a less than ideal match or lower effectiveness against one strain, the vaccine  can provide protection against the remaining two or three strains.

In addition to getting the flu shot, you can protect yourself and your family from infection during flu season by taking the following steps:

• Clean your hands frequently;
• Cough and sneeze into your arm, not your hand. If you use a tissue, dispose of it as soon as possible and wash your hands;
• If you get sick, stay home;
• Keep your hands away from your face;
• Keep common surface areas - for example, doorknobs, light switches, telephones and keyboards - clean and disinfected; and
• Eat healthy foods and stay physically active to keep your immune system strong.

If you are elderly and at high-risk of complications or if you are severely ill with the flu, consult a health care professional regarding the potential use of antiviral drugs to help manage the flu. It is important that antiviral drugs be started as early as possible after you get sick.

The flu vaccine is also highly recommended for:

• Those in close contact with individuals at high-risk for complications (e.g. healthcare workers, household members, and those providing childcare to children up to five years of age);
• Those who provide services within closed or relatively closed environments to persons at high risk (e.g. crew on a ship);
• People who provide essential community services including emergency medical responders such as paramedics, police and firefighters; and
• People in direct contact during culling operations with poultry infected with avian influenza.

Too Much, Too Late: Doctors Should Cut Back on Some Medications in Seniors, Two Studies Sugges

Overtreatment for blood pressure & blood sugar can be dangerous for some

Newswise, October 27, 2015— Anyone who takes medicine to get their blood sugar or blood pressure down – or both – knows their doctor prescribed it to help them.

But what if stopping, or at least cutting back on, such drugs could help even more?

In some older people, that may be the safer route. But two new studies published in JAMA Internal Medicine suggest doctors and patients should work together to backpedal such treatment more often.

In people in their 70s and older, very low blood pressures and sugar levels can actually raise the risk of dizzy spells, confusion, falls and even death. The consequences can be dangerous.

In recent years, experts have started to suggest that doctors ease up on how aggressively they treat such patients for high blood pressure or diabetes -- especially if they have other conditions that limit their life expectancy.

Dialing back

To see if such efforts to encourage doctors to de-intensify treatment are working, a team of researchers from the University of Michigan Medical School and VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System studied the issue from two sides: patient records and a survey of primary care providers. They focused on patients over 70 with diabetes who had their blood sugar and pressure well under control using medication.

In all, only one in four of nearly 400,000 older patients who could have been eligible to ease up on their multiple blood pressure or blood sugar medicines actually had their dosage changed. 

Even those with the lowest readings, or the fewest years left to live, had only a slightly greater chance as other patients of having their treatment de-intensified.

Meanwhile, only about half of the nearly 600 doctors, nurse practitioners and physician assistants surveyed said they would de-intensify the treatment of a hypothetical 77-year-old man with diabetes and ultra-low sugar levels that put him at risk of a low-sugar crisis called hypoglycemia.

Many providers said they worried that decreasing medications for a patient like this might lead to harm, and that decreasing medications might make their clinical “report cards” look worse. Some even worried about their legal liability.

“As physicians, we want to make sure patients get the care they need, but we should also avoid care that might harm them,” says Eve Kerr, M.D., MPH, an author on both studies and director of the VA Center for Clinical Management Research. “If something is not likely to benefit them, but is likely to cause other problems, then we should pull back,” she adds. 

“We were surprised to find that this is not yet happening despite guidelines to aid providers in determining who qualifies for de-intensification.”

In both cases, the researchers looked at care in the VA system – which is actively trying to encourage de-intensification of blood sugar-reducing treatment in its oldest patients nationwide.

Kerr and her colleagues, based at the VA CCMR and the U-M Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, note that their study data come from just before the VA’s efforts to reduce overtreatment started. 

They’re already doing follow-up studies to see if things change over time, and to study how often de-intensification happens in the non-VA senior population.

But in the meantime, they note, older patients with diabetes and high blood pressure – and the adult children who often assist with their care – should talk to their care teams about whether de-intensification is right for them.

Long-term gain, short-term pain

Jeremy Sussman, M.D., M.S., lead author of the study that used medical records, notes that the reasons why doctors prescribe medication to help people get their blood pressure and diabetes under control mostly focus on the long term.

Controlling these factors for years can help people cut their risk of problems that result from too-high blood pressure or sugar levels, like stroke, heart attack, blindness, nerve damage, amputation and kidney failure.

“Every guideline for physicians has detailed guidance for prescribing and stepping up or adding drugs to control these risk factors, and somewhere toward the end it says ‘personalize treatment for older people’,” says Sussman, an assistant professor of general internal medicine. 

“But nowhere do they say actually stop medication in the oldest patients to avoid hypoglycemia or too-low blood pressure.”

If a patient has been on medication for diabetes or blood pressure for many years, and is now in their late 70s or older, they may have gotten many long-term benefits from keeping their levels in control. 

But because their chance of a dangerous blood sugar or blood pressure dip goes up with age, the short-term risk starts to balance out any long-term gain they could still get.

“Physicians are used to thinking about when to start medications, and if a patient isn’t complaining and appears to be doing fine, stopping medications may not be first thing on their mind,” says Tanner Caverly, M.D., MPH, clinical lecturer and lead author on the survey of primary care providers.

 “As we get more precise evidence about the degree of benefit and harm from using these medications, it’s showing us that we need to dial back in some patients.”

It can be hard for an older person to recognize the signs of too-low blood sugar, such as confusion and combativeness, or of too-low blood pressure, such as dizziness. Meanwhile, keeping up with taking multiple medications, and checking blood sugar daily or even more often, can be a struggle for the oldest patients. 

De-intensifying their treatment can often be a relief.

In addition to Sussman and Kerr, the medical records study’s authors include senior author Timothy Hofer, M.D., M.S., Sameer Saini, M.D., MS, Rob Holleman, MPH, Mandi Klamerus, MPH, Lillian Min, M.D., and Sandeep Vijan, M.D., M.S. In addition to Caverly and Kerr, the survey research was conducted by Angela Fagerlin, Ph.D., Brian Zikmund-Fisher, Ph.D., Susan Kirsh, M.D., MPH, Jeffrey Kullgren, M.D., M.S., MPH and Katherine Prenovost, Ph.D. Funding for the work came from the Veterans Health Administration. REFERENCES: JAMA Internal Medicine, doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2015.5110 and doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2015.5950

AARP Teams with National Hearing Test to Provide Free Hearing Screening 37 Million Americans with Hearing Loss Encouraged to Take First Step to Improve Quality of Life

October 26, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- AARP today announced an agreement between the AARP Hearing Center and the National Hearing Test that allows AARP members nationwide to take the telephone-administered test at no charge.  

More than 37 million American adults report some trouble hearing, yet fewer than half have had their hearing tested or sought treatment, according to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders.

"Untreated hearing loss can lead to a serious decline in the quality of life, and can even affect your livelihood," said Stephanie Miles, Vice President of 50+ Value Integration, AARP.  "It's important to get your hearing tested regularly, as hearing loss is often gradual.  With October designated as national Protect Your Hearing Month, we are pleased to offer the National Hearing Test as a first step to allow individuals to take charge of their hearing health."

The National Hearing Test (NHT) was developed by leading scientists, with support from the National Institutes of Health.  

The self-administered test is taken via telephone, with results available within ten minutes.  Test participants whose results indicate potential below-normal hearing ability are assisted with information on how to obtain a more complete evaluation by a certified hearing professional in their local area.  

The NHT is an independent organization, with no commercial ties to specific service providers or manufacturers of hearing aids. 

"Research shows that early intervention in hearing loss leads to better quality of life and greater success with hearing aids," said Dr. Charles S. Watson, chief scientist for the NHT in the United States and professor emeritus of speech and hearing sciences at Indiana University, Bloomington.  

"Consequently, it's important for anyone who suspects they've suffered hearing loss to have their hearing tested."

AARP's Hearing Center, launched in 2014, provides consumers interested in hearing health with helpful tips, information, tools and links to relevant programs and product solutions.  

Under today's agreement, AARP members who register at the Hearing Center website may take the National Hearing Test with the standard $5test fee waived.  

The offer is in effect for a limited time this fall, but may be extended based on demand. 

Visit www.aarp.org/hearing, use your AARP membership number to obtain an access code, and then follow the links for instructions on taking the free test.

While the telephone-administered National Hearing Test provides an accurate estimate of a person's hearing in the speech-frequency range, it is not a substitute for a full hearing evaluation.  

Based on the test results, participants are encouraged to consult with their physician or use the NHT-provided online links to professional organizations that provide lists of hearing professionals by geographic area.

About the National Hearing Test

The National Hearing Test is administered by Bloomington, Ind.-based Communication Disorders Technology Inc., in partnership with Indiana University and the VU Medical Center of Amsterdam. 

The test was developed with the support of the National Institute for Deafness and Other Communication Disorders of the National Institutes of Health, under Grant No. 3R43DC009719.  Learn more about the National Hearing Test atwww.nationalhearingtest.org.

Free e-Book Offers Tips for Reducing Breast Cancer Risk at Nearly Any Age​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Newswise, September 4, 2015 — Surprisingly, preventing breast cancer can begin as early as age 2. Eating right, being physically active and keeping weight in check – even at a young age – can substantially lower breast cancer risk.

But even if healthy behaviors don’t begin until age 50, women can still reduce their risk of breast cancer by up to half.

A free e-book by researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis provides practical, science-based advice for lowering breast cancer risk at every stage of life. Available for the iPad and iPhone, “Together — Every Woman’s Guide to Preventing Breast Cancer” is written for a lay audience to help women improve their breast health and the breast health of their loved ones.

“Breast cancer is the No. 1 health fear for many women,” said Graham Colditz, MD, DrPH, the Niess-Gain Professor of Surgery at the School of Medicine. “With this e-book, we hope to put breast cancer risk in perspective and provide simple, everyday prevention tips that apply from childhood through midlife and beyond.”

The e-book is based on decades of research reviewed by Colditz, who also is associate director of Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital​ and Washington University School of Medicine. His co-authors are Katherine Weilbaecher, MD, a breast cancer oncologist and professor of medicine at the School of Medicine, and medical writer Hank Dart.

In addition to age-specific breast cancer prevention tips for women, the e-book includes advice for parents who want to steer their daughters toward healthy behaviors.

“We’re finding more and more that youth and young adulthood are key periods in determining breast cancer risk later in life, so we’ve created down-to-earth guides for parents and grandparents to help young girls in their lives develop lifelong healthy habits,” Colditz said.

Prevention tips targeted to children and adolescents focus largely on helping them maintain healthy growth, eat healthy food and get enough activity every day. When children are old enough, discussions of the dangers of tobacco and alcohol are included.

For adults, the e-book focuses on nine key steps for preventing breast cancer:

​* Keep weight in check;
* Be physically active;
​* Avoid too much alcohol;
​* Don’t smoke;
​* Breastfeed, if possible;
​* Avoid birth control pills, particularly after age 35 or if a smoker;
​* Avoid hormone replacement therapy after menopause;
​* Find out one’s family history; and
​* If high-risk, consider risk-reducing medications.

About 12 of every 100 women born in the U.S. will be diagnosed with breast cancer at some point in their lives, Weilbaecher said. A healthy lifestyle started during childhood and continued through adulthood could prevent breast cancer in more than seven of these women.

However, even if women don’t practice healthy behaviors until midlife, they still can reduce their risk of breast cancer by up to 50 percent. And most of the same cancer-fighting activities also boost heart health and lower the risk of diabetes, stroke, colon cancer, osteoporosis and other conditions.

“Teaching our daughters and granddaughters how to live healthy lives is a gift that lasts a lifetime,” Weilbaecher said. 

“It’s almost never too early in life to lay the foundation for healthy behaviors. And it’s almost never too late to start.”​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Colditz and Dart also developed Zuum – a free iPad app that estimates a person’s risk of disease and provides tailor-made tips to boost overall health – and Your Disease Risk​, the website it’s based upon.

###

Washington University School of Medicine’s 2,100 employed and volunteer faculty physicians also are the medical staff of Barnes-Jewish and St. Louis Children’shospitals. 

The School of Medicine is one of the leading medical research, teaching and patient-care institutions in the nation, currently ranked sixth in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. Through its affiliations with Barnes-Jewish and St. Louis Children’s hospitals, the School of Medicine is linked to BJC HealthCare.

Siteman Cancer Center, the only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center in Missouri, is ranked among the top cancer facilities in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. Comprising the cancer research, prevention and treatment programs of Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine, Siteman is also Missouri’s only member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network.