Latest / Morning Medical with Dr. Chow / Exercise for Longevity, Gabapentin Risks, and Measles Vaccination Challenges

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Exercise for Longevity, Gabapentin Risks, and Measles Vaccination Challenges · Morning Medical with Dr. Chow

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  Welcome to Morning Medical with Dr.
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  Chow.
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  I'm Dr.
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  Chi-Ming Chow, your host for today.
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  As always, we're here to bring you the latest in medical and health news from around the
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  globe.
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  Today, we're diving into a fascinating study that could change the way we think about
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  exercise and longevity.
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  A recent meta-analysis of 85 studies, involving a staggering 7 million people worldwide, has
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  discovered that regular physical activity can significantly reduce the risk of early death by
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  up to 40%.
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  This comprehensive review highlights the profound impact exercise can have on our
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  health, suggesting it might just be the elixir of youth we’ve all been searching for.
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  According to the study, published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, engaging in
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  activities that elevate your heart and breathing rates can lower mortality risks
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  across all causes.
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  Dr.
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  Andrew Freeman, director of cardiovascular prevention and wellness at National Jewish
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  Health in Denver, aptly described exercise as 'magic,' noting that its benefits are unmatched
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  by medications.
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  What's particularly intriguing is that age doesn't seem to be a barrier.
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  Whether you start exercising in your twenties or your seventies, the benefits are
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  substantial.
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  In fact, older adults may experience an even greater reduction in risk, up to 15% more, as
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  they are often managing multiple health conditions.
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  The World Health Organization recommends at least 150 to 300 minutes of moderate-intensity
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  aerobic activity or 75 to 150 minutes of vigorous-intensity activity weekly.
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  This study reinforces those guidelines, showing that regular aerobic exercise is especially
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  beneficial for preventing heart disease, the leading cause of death globally.
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  Even if you haven't been active before, it's never too late to start.
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  The research found that even those who began exercising later in life saw a 22% reduction in
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  the risk of early death.
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  On the other hand, those who ceased regular activity had a risk similar to those who never
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  exercised at all, pointing to the importance of maintaining an active lifestyle.
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  Dr.
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  Freeman recommends starting slowly, especially if you're new to exercise.
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  Aiming for a brisk 30-minute walk daily can be a great start, and bringing a friend along can
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  make it more enjoyable.
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  For those looking to enhance their workouts, adding resistance through weights or swimming
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  against water can further boost fitness levels.
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  The bottom line is that movement matters.
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  Finding an activity you enjoy and can stick with is key.
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  Whether it's walking, biking, or swimming, the goal is to keep your body moving and your heart
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  beating strong.
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  Remember, it's not about perfection, but persistence in your pursuit of health.
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  Today, we're turning our attention to a recent study that casts a spotlight on the potential
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  risks associated with the drug gabapentin, particularly when used for treating chronic
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  back pain.
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  This study, published in Regional Anesthesia & Pain Medicine, explored the link between
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  gabapentin prescriptions and an increased risk of dementia and cognitive impairment.
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  Researchers analyzed healthcare claims from over fifty-two thousand adults with chronic
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  back pain over a ten-year period.
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  The findings revealed that those who had six or more prescriptions for gabapentin exhibited a
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  higher incidence of dementia and mild cognitive impairment compared to those who were not
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  prescribed the drug.
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  This risk was particularly pronounced among younger adults, ages thirty-five to sixty-four,
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  with those in this age group showing over twice the risk of dementia and mild cognitive
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  impairment compared to their peers not using gabapentin.
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  It is important to note that while the study sheds light on these potential risks, it also
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  acknowledges limitations.
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  The research was observational, meaning it could not establish a direct causal
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  relationship between gabapentin and cognitive decline.
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  Additional studies are needed to confirm these findings and better understand the mechanisms
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  at play.
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  Gabapentin is primarily approved for managing seizures and post-herpetic neuralgia, but it is
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  commonly prescribed off-label for other pain syndromes, including chronic low back pain.
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  Despite its widespread use, concerns about side effects such as drowsiness, dizziness, and
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  coordination issues have been noted, and this study adds to the conversation by highlighting
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  potential cognitive risks.
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  For healthcare practitioners, this study suggests a need for caution and close
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  monitoring of adult patients prescribed gabapentin, particularly for off-label uses.
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  It underscores the importance of evaluating the risk-benefit balance of gabapentin
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  prescriptions, especially in younger populations who may be at greater risk of
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  cognitive decline.
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  Ultimately, these findings should encourage further research to explore the potential
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  cognitive effects of gabapentin and its role in neurodegenerative processes.
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  The hope is that this will lead to more informed prescribing practices and better
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  patient outcomes in the future.
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  Today, we're discussing a significant public health challenge unfolding in the United
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  States, as it faces its worst measles outbreak in more than three decades.
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  As of now, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, has reported 1,288 cases,
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  surpassing the numbers seen in 2019.
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  Public health experts believe the actual number might be even higher.
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  The concern is that if the measles virus continues to spread unchecked for twelve
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  months, the United States could lose its status as a country that has eliminated this
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  vaccine-preventable disease.
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  The last time America faced such a large outbreak was in 1991, when there were over nine
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  thousand confirmed cases.
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  The federal government continues to emphasize the importance of the measles, mumps, and
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  rubella vaccine as the most effective protection against measles.
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  Currently, fourteen states are grappling with active outbreaks, while four states have
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  managed to end theirs.
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  The largest outbreak is occurring in undervaccinated communities in West Texas,
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  which began about five months ago.
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  Tragically, three people have died from this outbreak, including two children in Texas and
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  an adult in New Mexico, with dozens more hospitalized across the country.
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  Encouragingly, there are signs that transmission is slowing, particularly in Texas.
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  Lubbock County, which treated many of the region's sickest patients, has not reported a
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  new case in fifty days, according to public health director Katherine Wells.
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  However, the spread to other parts of the United States remains a pressing concern.
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  The World Health Organization and the CDC declared measles eliminated from the United
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  States in 2000, a milestone that now seems difficult to maintain despite the availability
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  of an effective vaccine.
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  The measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine is 97% effective after two doses, yet vaccine
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  hesitancy continues to pose a challenge.
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  Following the COVID-19 pandemic, childhood vaccination rates against measles have declined
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  in nearly 80% of U.S.
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  counties with available data.
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  Only 92.7% of kindergarteners were vaccinated during the 2023-2024 school year, falling below
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  the 95% threshold needed to prevent outbreaks.
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  Experts like Lauren Gardner from Johns Hopkins University view this situation as a "canary in
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  a coal mine," highlighting the persistent issues with vaccination attitudes in the
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  country.
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  The need for increased investment in local public health departments' vaccination programs
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  is clear, as they struggle to reverse these trends.
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  In North America, there are other significant measles outbreaks, including cases in
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  Chihuahua, Mexico, and Ontario and Alberta, Canada.
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  These outbreaks often occur in communities with historically low vaccination rates, such as
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  some Mennonite groups, which may distrust government interventions.
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  As we conclude today's episode, it's vital to recognize the importance of vaccination in
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  preventing outbreaks of diseases like measles.
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  While challenges remain, the tools to combat these diseases are available, and it's crucial
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  for public health officials and communities to work together to ensure widespread
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  immunization.
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  Thank you for joining me today on Morning Medical with Dr.
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  Chow.
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  Stay healthy and informed, and I look forward to bringing you more updates in our next
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  episode.