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Tag: Cleveland Clinic

  • ‘A Tiny Bit of Math’ Might Improve Your Heart Health, Study Suggests

    ‘A Tiny Bit of Math’ Might Improve Your Heart Health, Study Suggests


    Many people use a smartwatch to monitor their cardiovascular health, often by counting the number of steps they take over the course of their day, or recording their average daily heart rate. Now, researchers are proposing an enhanced metric, which combines the two using basic math: Divide your average daily heart rate by your daily average number of steps.

    The resulting ratio — the daily heart rate per step, or DHRPS — provides insight into how efficiently the heart is working, according to a study conducted by researchers at the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University and published today in the Journal of the American Heart Association.

    The study found that people whose hearts work less efficiently, by this metric, were more prone to various diseases, including Type II diabetes, hypertension, heart failure, stroke, coronary atherosclerosis and myocardial infarction.

    “It’s a measure of inefficiency,” said Zhanlin Chen, a third-year medical student at the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University and lead author of the new study; his coauthors included several Feinberg faculty physicians. “It looks at how badly your heart is doing,” he added. “You’re just going to have to do a tiny bit of math.”

    Some experts said they saw wisdom in DHRPS as a metric. Dr. Peter Aziz, a pediatric cardiologist at the Cleveland Clinic, said it appeared to be an advance on the information provided by daily steps or average heart rate alone.

    “What is probably more important for cardio fitness is what your heart does for the amount of work it has to do,” he said. “This is a reasonable way to measure that.”

    The metric does not look at heart rate during exercise. But, Dr. Aziz said, it still provided an overall sense of efficiency that, importantly, was shown by researchers to have an association with disease.

    The size of the study added validity to the findings, Dr. Aziz said. The scientists mapped Fitbit data from nearly 7,000 Smartwatch users against electronic medical records.

    Mr. Chen said that a simple way to grasp the value of the new metric was to compare two hypothetical individuals. Both take 10,000 steps a day, but one has an average daily resting heart rate of 80 — in the middle of the healthy range — while the other’s daily resting heart rate is 120.

    The first person would have a DHRPS of 0.008, the second 0.012. The higher the ratio, the stronger the signaling of cardiac risk.

    In the study, the 6,947 participants were divided into three groups based on their ratios; those with the highest showed a stronger association with disease than other participants did. The D.H.R.P.S. metric was also better at revealing disease risk than were step counts or heart rates alone, the study found.

    “We designed this metric to be low-cost and to use data we’re already collecting,” Mr. Chen said. “People who want to be in charge of their own health can do a little bit of math to figure this out.”



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  • Why do I feel like I’m falling while I’m sleeping? Understanding hypnic jerks | The Express Tribune

    Why do I feel like I’m falling while I’m sleeping? Understanding hypnic jerks | The Express Tribune


    If you’ve ever felt a sudden falling sensation or noticed your body twitching just before drifting off to sleep, you’re not alone.

    This phenomenon is quite common, with estimates suggesting that about 70% of people experience it at some point.

    These twitches, jerks, or sensations of falling or floating can happen to otherwise healthy individuals. According to sleep disorders specialist Dr. Reena Mehra Director of sleep disorders research in the Sleep Center of the Neurological Institute at Cleveland Clinic, these movements can have various causes. She explains the potential reasons behind these sensations, identifies common triggers, and offers guidance on when it might be necessary to consult a doctor.

    Although there is not much to worry about, understanding these factors can help you manage these occurrences and know when to seek professional advice.

    Why does this happen?

    This phenomenon of involuntary muscle movement during sleep is known as sleep myoclonus, or hypnic myoclonus. It occurs as you transition between different stages of sleep.

    The specific muscle movements are referred to as hypnagogic jerks, or hypnic jerks, and they typically happen as you begin to fall asleep and during the light stages of sleep that immediately follow.

    One theory suggests that this light stage of sleep can be misinterpreted by your brain as wakefulness. Realising that your muscles aren’t moving, your brain might send signals to wake them up or keep them active as a form of protection.

    Neurotransmitters carry these signals from nerve cells to muscle cells, prompting them to react. This interaction causes your muscles to move, resulting in the sensation of a twitch, jerk, or the feeling of falling.

    Dr. Reena Mehra explains that this reaction is your brain’s way of ensuring your muscles stay active or responsive, leading to the common experience of movement or a jerk as you drift into sleep.

    Triggers of the Falling Sensation and Twitching During Sleep

    Dr. Mehra emphasises the importance of minimising triggers to improve overall sleep quality and reduce the frequency of sleep-disturbing movements. Here are some factors to consider:

    1. Stress

    When you’re stressed, your mind tends to race, making it difficult to get the rest you need at night. This can disrupt your sleep cycle and increase the chances of experiencing sleep disturbances. To get more restful and rejuvenating sleep, try to manage your stress levels before bedtime. Additionally, practise good sleep habits to improve your overall sleep quality.

    1. Stimulants and Alcohol

    Stimulants and alcohol can interfere with your sleep cycle, preventing you from reaching or completing deeper sleep phases. This disruption can keep you in lighter stages of sleep, potentially leading to hypnic jerks, movement sensations, or other sleep disorders. Additionally, withdrawal from these substances can trigger muscle reactions.

    1. Caffeine

    Excessive caffeine consumption is known to cause muscle twitching and can disrupt your overall sleep cycles. It can keep you awake, preventing you from getting a good night’s rest, and potentially contributing to insomnia. Even if you manage to fall asleep, caffeine can keep you in lighter stages of sleep, triggering involuntary muscle movements.

    1. Sleep Deprivation

    When you aren’t getting enough sleep, your entire sleep cycle can be disrupted, increasing the chances of experiencing sleep myoclonus.

    When to See a Doctor

    Dr. Mehra advises that if you frequently experience these involuntary movements during sleep, it could indicate a more complex sleep disorder.

    “If these movements regularly keep you awake, cause anxiety about going to bed, or become frequent enough to be a concern, it’s important to see a doctor,” she says. “They can help explore the best treatment options for you.”

    By addressing these triggers and seeking medical advice when necessary, you can improve your sleep health and reduce the impact of these disruptive movements.



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  • Ever wonder why urine is yellow? Researchers say they’ve figured it out.

    Ever wonder why urine is yellow? Researchers say they’ve figured it out.


    Ur-ine luck if you’ve always wondered why pee is yellow. 

    Researchers identified the enzyme responsible for urine’s color, unraveling a mystery that’s puzzled scientists for years, according to a study published Wednesday in the journal Nature Microbiology. 

    “It’s remarkable that an everyday biological phenomenon went unexplained for so long, and our team is excited to be able to explain it,” Brantley Hall, an assistant professor in the University of Maryland’s Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, said in a news statement. 

    What makes urine yellow?

    Urine is a combination of water, electrolytes and waste that your kidneys filter out from your blood. More than 125 years ago, scientists identified urobilin as the yellow pigment in urine, but they didn’t know what was responsible for the urobilin’s production. 

    It turns out urine’s color is connected to the body’s red blood cells, researchers said. As red blood cells degrade, a bright orange pigment called bilirubin is produced. The pigment is typically secreted into the gut, where it can then be excreted or partially reabsorbed. Once the bilirubin arrives in your gut, the microorganisms in your intestines can convert the bilirubin into other molecules, the study found. 

    screen-shot-2024-01-03-at-5-48-57-pm.png
    Researchers say they unraveled what makes urine yellow.

    University of Maryland


    “Gut microbes encode the enzyme bilirubin reductase that converts bilirubin into a colorless byproduct called urobilinogen,” Hall, the study’s lead author, said. “Urobilinogen then spontaneously degrades into a molecule called urobilin, which is responsible for the yellow color we are all familiar with.”

    The study authors said that before their research, scientists thought there were multiple enzymes involved, rather than a single enzyme.

    Where do scientists go from here?

    The discovery of the bilirubin reductase enzyme could help researchers learn more about gut health, inflammatory bowel disease and jaundice, researchers said. 

    The research team discovered that the enzyme is present in almost all healthy adults, but is frequently missing from newborns and people with inflammatory bowel disease. 

    “Now that we’ve identified this enzyme, we can start investigating how the bacteria in our gut impact circulating bilirubin levels and related health conditions like jaundice,” study co-author and National Institutes of Health investigator Xiaofang Jiang said. “This discovery lays the foundation for understanding the gut-liver axis.”

    What it means if your urine isn’t yellow

    Urine from a healthy, hydrated person should be somewhere between colorless, which may be a sign you’re drinking too much water, and the color of light straw and honey, according to the Cleveland Clinic. It turns a darker yellow or amber in those who aren’t drinking enough. 

    Other colors can come from your diet or medical conditions. 

    Dark brown urine could be a sign of dangerous dehydration, according to the Cleveland Clinic. The color could also mean there’s bile in your urine, which is a sign of liver disease. 

    Orange urine is also sometimes a sign of dehydration, but it may also mean you have a liver or bile duct condition. The color could also be tied to food dye or medications. 

    Certain foods and medications can also lead to blue or green urine. According to a Harvard Health post, the antidepressant amitriptyline and the anti-inflammatory drug indomethacin can turn urine blue.

    Pink to reddish color could be a cause for concern, or it could just mean you’ve been eating beets, blueberries or rhubarb. If those foods haven’t been in your diet and your urine is still pink or reddish, there may be cause for concern. The color could be a sign of several conditions, including kidney disease, lead poisoning and certain types of cancer. 

    Aliza Chasan

    Aliza Chasan is a digital producer at 60 Minutes and CBSNews.com. She has previously written for outlets including PIX11 News, The New York Daily News, Inside Edition and DNAinfo. Aliza covers trending news, often focusing on crime and politics.



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  • An end to breast cancer? California company develops groundbreaking vaccine with promising future

    An end to breast cancer? California company develops groundbreaking vaccine with promising future


    San Jose company behind vaccine that could eradicate breast cancer


    San Jose company behind vaccine that could eradicate breast cancer

    02:41

    SACRAMENTO — An estimated one in eight women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime, killing on average 42,000 women a year in the United States. 

    What if there was a vaccine that would significantly lower each woman’s chance of ever getting it in the first place? In that question lies what could be the answer to one day eliminating the deadly disease. 

    A groundbreaking vaccine created through decades of research at the Cleveland Clinic and developed by Anixa Biosciences in San Jose, California is driving innovation by targeting triple-negative breast cancer, the disease’s deadliest and most aggressive form. 

    “This vaccine could potentially eliminate breast cancer,” said Dr. Amit Kumar, Anixa CEO. 

    The vaccine’s findings from its first trial with 16 women were published Wednesday, with each participant reporting no bad side effects and no resurgence of their cancer so far. 

    Jennifer Davis, a brave woman from small-town Ohio, was the first woman in the world to get the vaccine in October 2021. 

    “This is how we advance medicine. It’s important to be a part of those things,” Davis said. “I am just beyond grateful.” 

    When Davis heard the dreaded words “you have cancer” in September 2018, it came six months after her first alert to an abnormality on a routine mammogram and ultrasound. 

    At the time, her biopsy turned up negative for cancer. 

    “I really wanted to believe everything was OK, but I knew something wasn’t right,” Davis said. 

    At 41 years old, she had no history of cancer. Still, she could feel a lump growing and decided to go for a second opinion and a second biopsy. 

    She was diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer. Her mind instantly went to her family and three children. 

    “It was very hard to tell them and try and be strong for them,” Davis said. “With triple negative, there is nothing for us to take — no pill or anything to prevent recurrence. The rate is high and outcomes are poor if it does come back.”

    After chemotherapy, a double mastectomy and radiation, Davis was finally free of cancer, but she was not free of the fear that lingers. 

    “I was always nervous and afraid of it coming back,” she said. 

    So when she learned of an experimental vaccine trial while receiving her cancer care at the Cleveland Clinic, she thought, “What do I have to lose?”

    “It was something that was going to give me peace of mind,” Davis said. “If this could work for me, then I wouldn’t have to worry about a recurrence.”

    She became the first woman in the world to take the breast cancer vaccine.

    A registered nurse herself, what eased her mind was the fact that in years of trials in animals, there had been no cancer recurrence and no anaphylactic reaction. 

    “That was all I needed to hear,” said Davis, who reports that in the two years since taking the vaccine, she has never felt better. 

    The vaccine has been studied for more than two decades at the Cleveland Clinic, pioneered by pre-clinical research led by the late Dr. Vincent Tuohy.

    Inspired by this and what it could mean for the future of cancer diagnosis, Dr. Kumar approached the clinic about developing the vaccine. 

    “I looked at it and I saw the vision,” Kumar said.      

    So how does it work? 

    “Is it, in essence, teaching your body not to grow a tumor?” CBS13 reporter Ashley Sharp asked. 

    “That’s exactly right. It’s teaching your body to destroy the cells that can grow a tumor,” Kumar said. 

    If a virus shows up in the body, the immune system teaches itself how to destroy it, knowing, easily, which cells are bad. 

    In cancer, it is more difficult, Dr. Kumar explained. 

    “All of the cells that become cancerous in your body came from normal, healthy cells,” Kumar said. “The difference is not big, so the immune system has a harder time recognizing a cancer cell and distinguishing it from a healthy cell.”

    According to the Cleveland Clinic, the vaccine works by targeting a lactation protein called α-lactalbumin, which is no longer found after lactation in normal, aging tissues. It is, however, present in most triple-negative breast cancer patients. If breast cancer develops, the vaccine is designed to instruct the immune system to attack the tumor and keep it from growing entirely. 

    “The results are incredibly promising,” Kumar said. “The vision is one day to be able to give this to any woman who wants to prevent cancer from ever occurring in her body. It’s a small step and we have many more steps to go, but it’s incredible if we can make this happen.”

    It’s a promising find for the future of fighting cancer that started with one woman but hopefully ends with every woman. 

    “The bigger picture of this is overwhelming for me,” Davis said. 

    The second vaccine trial is set to start in 2024, this time with 600 women instead of 16. This study will be on a much larger scale, where half the women will get the vaccine and the other half will get a placebo.

    The hope is that within five years, they can get FDA approval to distribute the vaccine to the public.  



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