News Archives

Weight loss may precede Alzheimer's, study finds
September 27, 2005

Some older people who inexplicably lose weight may be in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease, U.S. researchers reported on Tuesday.

Facial bone loss contributes to looking older
September 27, 2005

You can blame the bones in the face, not just gravity, for those wrinkles, jowls, and the general drooping appearance that comes with age. A new study shows that the shrinking of facial bones plays a surprisingly important role in the aging of the face. Dr. David Kahn, a Palo Alto, California-based plastic surgeon and author of the study told Reuters Health: "What I think happens is that the bones in the face lose volume and recede a little bit as we age."

Heavy drinking tied to heart rhythm problem in men
September 13, 2005

Men who consume 35 or more alcoholic drinks per week are 45 percent more likely to experience atrial fibrillation, a heart rhythm problem, than their peers who consume less than one drink per week, new research shows.

Incontinence linked to depression in women
September 7, 2005

Women with moderate-to-severe urinary incontinence are two or three times more likely to be seriously depressed than continent women, according to new study results -- which suggests that doctors should be assessing the mental health of women with incontinence.

Blood pressure lowering helpful after stroke
September 6, 2005

After people suffer a stroke, lowering their blood pressure can slow or even stop the progression of lesions in the brain, new research suggests. The areas of damage are called white matter hyperintensities, or WMHs, because they show up brightly on MRI, and they have been linked to the development of dementia and depression.

Word test may give clues to Alzheimer's disease
September 6, 2005

Could a simple word test be used to identify people who might be suffering from the very early stages of Alzheimer's disease? British scientists think so.

Migraine may include stroke risk
August 30, 2005

A history of migraine without aura is associated with the occurrence of spontaneous cervical artery dissection (sCAD), a blood vessel rupture that is a common cause of stroke in young adults, Italian investigators report.

Artery plaques affect thinking ability in elderly
July 22, 2005

The build-up of cholesterol plaques in arteries, a common occurrence with aging, contributes to the reduced thinking ability seen in many elderly individuals, but not to depression, according to findings published in the medical journal Neurology.

Language training helps stroke patients speak
July 22, 2005

People who've experienced a stroke can lose the ability to use or understand speech, a problem known as aphasia. Now, new research suggests that a short-term type of intense language training called constraint-induced aphasia therapy (CIAT) can improve language function in these patients.

Teen IQ, activity tied to later dementia risk
July 12, 2005

A high IQ in adolescence and greater participation in various extracurricular activities may decrease a person's chances of developing dementia later in life, according to a study in the current Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.

Rapid drop in air pressure may trigger heart attack
July 11, 2005

A rapid drop in air pressure -- as opposed to cold weather -- may trigger some heart attacks, research shows. According to a study published this month, the incidence of heart attack, but not stroke, is increased in the 24 hours after a rapid fall in barometric pressure.

Device mechanically removes brain blood clots
July 11, 2005

An FDA-approved device, which is threaded into the brain's arteries, can safely retrieve blood clots and open large vessels that become blocked and lead to stroke, research indicates.

VNSNY Offers Free Workshops on End of Life Advance Directices and NY Law
July 6, 2005

The Terri Schiavo situation raised consciousness throughout the country that the best way to avoid such contentious situations is to appoint a health care proxy and leave an advance directive before the occasion arises.

The Visiting Nurse Service of New York will offer New Yorkers free workshops throughout the summer to explain the best way to assure the end of life wishes for every individual, whether that be "pulling the plug" or continuing treatment no matter how hopeless the situation. The workshops, scheduled in all five boroughs, will also explain laws specific to New York State.

ABCD predicts stroke risk after 'mini-stroke'
June 28, 2005

A scoring system based on a patient's age, blood pressure, clinical features and duration of symptoms -- the ABCD score -- can be used to estimate the risk of a full-blown stroke in the 7 days after a TIA or 'mini-stroke', British investigators report.

Visiting Nurse Associations of America Asked to Testify in Congress on National Post-Acute Care Policy
June 16, 2005

On Thursday, June 16, Carol Raphael, the President and Chief Executive Office of the Visiting Nurse Service of New York, testified before Congress during a hearing on national post-acute care policy. She submitted testimony on behalf of the homecare industry at the bequest of Representative Nancy Johnson (R-CT), the Chair of the House Ways and Means Health Subcommittee.

Slips, falls in tub common cause of kids' injuries
June 3, 2005

When kids hurt themselves in a bathtub, usually from a fall or slip, the accident occurs despite the fact that nearly always an adult is watching them, according to new study findings.

Adult lifestyle predicts bone health
May 27, 2005

A person's lifestyle as an adult, including their diet and exercise habits, and reproductive history, plays a more integral role in bone health than does his or her birth weight or other factors associated with early life, results of a UK study suggest.

"Bad" metabolism ups clogged arteries risk -study
May 27, 2005

"Bad" metabolism may explain why people who have never smoked and do not have high cholesterol levels suffer from a potentially lethal build-up of plaque in the arteries, scientists said on Wednesday.

Medicare to pay $2 billion for impotence drugs - study
May 17, 2005

The U.S. government will spend nearly $2 billion over the next decade to pay for impotence drugs for elderly and disabled patients under Medicare, according to a congressional estimate released on Monday.

Each year, thousands of kids hurt on trampolines
May 16, 2005

Trampoline-related injuries are on the rise once again among children and adolescents, new study findings show.

VNSNY Celebrates National Nurses Week
May 9, 2005

Every year, National Nurses Week is celebrated May 6th, National Nurses Day, through May 12th, the birthday of Florence Nightingale who was the founder of modern nursing. These festivities salute 2.7 million registered nurses nationwide, the largest single component of the health care profession in the United States.

Prescription Drug Coverage and Seniors: Findings from a 2003 National Survey
April 29, 2005

According to a recent national survey, four of 10 seniors did not take all the drugs prescribed to them by doctors in the past year, due to cost, side effects, perceived lack of effectiveness, or the belief that they did not need the medication.

Combo therapy lowers blood clot risk after stroke
April 25, 2005

Treatment with aspirin plus clopidogrel (sold in the US under the tradename Plavix) is more effective than aspirin alone in reducing tiny blood clots (microembolisms) in stroke patients, according to the results of a multicenter European study.

Advanced age no bar to lung cancer therapy
April 25, 2005

Otherwise healthy elderly patients with small-cell lung cancer that has not advanced are able to tolerate a combination of chemotherapy and radiation therapy, with disease control and survival rates similar to those seen in their younger counterparts, researchers report in the medical journal Cancer.

Chest X-rays could yield osteoporosis clues: study
April 25, 2005

A closer examination of the common chest X-ray could reveal osteoporosis in older patients not previously diagnosed with the brittle bone disease, according to a study published on Monday.

Gene-modified tissue may slow Alzheimer's - study
April 25, 2005

Alzheimer's disease patients given gene therapy seemed to regrow some damaged brain cells and seemed to experience a slower loss of their ability to think and remember, U.S. scientists reported Sunday.

Private Care: Helping the Community
April 25, 2005

Partners in Care provides a variety of private care services to individuals and families, and three new programs aim to help the children, siblings and spouses who so often take on the hard work of caring for an ill family member.

National Volunteer Week: April 17 - 23
April 17 - 23, 2005

April 17 to 23rd is National Volunteer Week. Sponsored by the Points of Life Foundation, National Volunteer Week is about calling attention to, and thanking, one of America's most valuable assets: our volunteers.

Silica in drinking water may prevent Alzheimer's (Reuters Health)
April 11, 2005

A high concentration of silica in drinking water seems to protect against Alzheimer's disease, a study in France suggests.

Arcoxia comparable to ibuprofen for arthritis (Reuters Health)
April 11, 2005

New research indicates that Arcoxia (etoricoxib) is a well-tolerated treatment for arthritis and relieves pain as well as ibuprofen, the active ingredient in Motrin or Advil, for example.

Extra oxygen may help stroke patients (Reuters Health)
April 11, 2005

For some patients suffering a sudden stroke, extra oxygen therapy improves their clinical symptoms deficits and brain abnormalities seen on an MRI a small, pilot study suggests.

Congress may focus on end of life issues (Reuters Health)
March 22, 2005

When Congress passed extraordinary legislation in the case of a brain-damaged Florida woman, it also paved the way for broader congressional debate on end-of-life issues and the rights of incapacitated people.

Fatty acid-rich diet may block Alzheimer's (Reuters Health)
March 22, 2005

Consuming a diet rich in the omega-3 fatty acid docosahexanoic acid (DHA) may help prevent or treat Alzheimer's disease, findings from an animal study suggest.

Improving New Yorkers' Health: One Meal at a Time
March 15, 2005

The Visiting Nurse Service of New York is committed to bringing the very best nursing care into patients' homes. Now, with the VNSNY nutrition program, it's bringing the very best nutritional information into their homes as well by helping to get patients to adopt better eating habits and improve their health.

Major cause of blindness inherited: study (Reuters Health)
March 14, 2005

Age-related macular degeneration, a leading cause of blindness in older adults, is greatly influenced by a person's genes, according to a study of twins released Monday.

Actonel helps prevent hip fractures after stroke (Reuters Health)
March 11, 2005

Elderly women who've had a stroke are prone to fall and break a hip, but drug treatment to strengthen their bones reduces the risk of hip fracture, Japanese researchers have found.

Study links osteoporosis, gluten intolerance (Reuters Health)
March 11, 2005

Some people develop osteoporosis, the mineral loss disease that leads to brittle bones, because their bodies cannot tolerate wheat flour, a study said on Monday.

Supplements cut post-stroke hip fracture risk (Reuters Health)
March 11, 2005

Dietary supplements of folate and vitamin B12 can reduce the risk of hip fracture in elderly patients following a stroke, according to a new Japanese study.

Incontinence not helped by estrogen therapy (Reuters Health)
February 22, 2005

Estrogen is not a useful treatment for a leaky bladder in postmenopausal women. In fact, this hormone therapy seems to increase the risk of urinary incontinence in healthy women and worsen it in those who already have this problem.

VNSNY Launches New Stroke Program
February 14, 2005

When a patient has a fall or needs rehab for COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease), there are evidence papers from medical organizations and researched practice evidence to rely upon in determining treatment and care. But when it comes to Cerebral Vascular Attacks (CVAs) or strokes, says Visiting Nurse Service Director of Rehabilitation Services John Sabulis, there is little treatment-specific direction.

Statins May Increase Arthritis Risk in Elderly Women (Reuters Health)
February 1, 2005

The use of statins, cholesterol-lowering drugs such as Lipitor and Pravachol, appears to be associated with an increased risk of developing osteoarthritis of the hip in elderly women, California researchers report. However, patients who already have osteoarthritis do not seem to be adversely affected by these drugs.

Heart Risk Factors in Midlife Raise Dementia Risk (Reuters Health)
January 24, 2005

The presence in middle age of risk factors for cardiovascular disease, like smoking or high cholesterol, is strongly tied to the development of dementia later in life, investigators in California report.

Heart Patients Urged to Get Into Rehab (Reuters Health)
January 24, 2005

The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends in a statement issued Monday that doctors strongly encourage their cardiac patients to participate in rehabilitation programs aimed at preventing a recurrence of heart problems.

Studies Link Gene Mutation to Parkinson's Disease (Reuters Health)
January 18, 2005

Three teams of scientists have identified a genetic mutation that is linked to about 5 percent of inherited cases of Parkinson's disease.

Weight Loss Often Precedes Onset of Dementia (Reuters Health)
January 10, 2005

New research suggests that it is common for patients with Alzheimer's or vascular dementia to lose a few pounds in weight in the years before their condition is diagnosed, US investigators report.

Dual Pacemakers Worth the Cost, U.S. Study Finds (Reuters Health)
January 3, 2005

Pricey pacemakers that regulate the heart's upper and lower chambers separately are worth the extra cost because they help keep patients out of the hospital, U.S. researchers reported on Monday.

Brain Surface Stimulation May Ease Parkinson's (Reuters Health)
January 3, 2005

Electrical stimulation of regions deep in the brain has become fairly common in recent years for treating Parkinson's disease symptoms, but there may be a simpler and safer alternative. The results of a study in baboons suggest that stimulation of the motor control area on the brain's surface works too.

Acupuncture improves osteoarthritis, trial shows (Reuters Health)
December 20, 2004

Acupuncture added to conventional therapy for osteoarthritis of the knee improves function and reduces pain, according to a clinical trial conducted at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore.

VNSNY Home Care, in Partnership With United HealthCare Services, Will Pilot National Chronic Care Improvement Program
December 14, 2004

The Medicare Modernization Act of 2003 (MMA) authorized development and testing of Voluntary Chronic Care Improvement programs (CCIPs) to improve the quality of care and quality of life for people living with multiple chronic illnesses. The programs will help participants adhere to their physicians' plans of care and obtain the medical care they need to reduce their health risks.

Misaligned legs, extra pounds worsen bad knees (Reuters Health)
December 8, 2004

Being overweight can speed the progression of knee osteoarthritis, but the effect may be limited to people who are moderately "bowlegged" or "knock-kneed," a new study suggests.

Brain enzyme links diabetes to Alzheimer's (Reuters Health)
December 7, 2004

The risk of Alzheimer's disease is increased in people with diabetes, who are "resistant" to the effects of insulin and therefore develop high blood glucose levels.

Too much belly fat may up later disability risk (Reuters Health)
November 17, 2004

Too much abdominal fat in middle age may increase the risk of disability in later years, according to new study findings presented Wednesday at the annual meeting of the North American Association for the Study of Obesity in Las Vegas.

Estrogen blocks caffeine's anti-Parkinson's effect (Reuters Health)
November 16, 2004

In women who've passed menopause, use of estrogen replacement determines whether drinking caffeine protects against Parkinson's disease or not, new research indicates.

High-dose vitamin E linked to increased mortality (Reuters Health)
November 10, 2004

Taking a high dose of vitamin E routinely does not increase your chances of living longer, and in fact it seems to have a negative effect.

HRT may raise heart risk for women with diabetes (Reuters Health)
July 1, 2004

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) used to treat postmenopausal symptoms seems to accelerate the build-up of deposits in the coronary arteries of women who have abnormal glucose tolerance -- a sign of impending or full-blown diabetes -- new research suggests.

New private care services
July 1, 2004

When New Yorkers with private care needs request specific services, Marki Flannery listens carefully. "If we don't offer the service, I ask why not? And then we develop programs that meet the ever-changing needs of our customers," says Ms. Flannery, president of Partners in Care, a subsidiary of the Visiting Nurse Service of New York.

Speech telehealth technology helps improve patients' speech
July 1, 2004

The Visiting Nurse Service of New York has introduced one of the country's first speech pathology telehealth services.