Top health stories of 2007 - CNN.com: "Top health stories of 2007Story Highlights
Contaminated food, questionable drugs made medical headlines
Major stem cell development could mean cures without destroying embryos
Year also saw 19 top health breakthroughs for women"
Friday, December 28, 2007
Thursday, December 27, 2007
holiday blues -19 tips to avoid
19 tips for coping with holiday stress and depression:
- Make realistic expectations for the holiday season.
- Set realistic goals for yourself.
- Pace yourself. Do not take on more responsibilities than you can handle.
- Make a list and prioritize the important activities. This can help make holiday tasks more manageable.
- Be realistic about what you can and cannot do.
- Do not put all your energy into just one day (i.e., Thanksgiving Day, New Year's Eve). The holiday cheer can be spread from one holiday event to the next.
- Live and enjoy the present.
- Look to the future with optimism.
- Don't set yourself up for disappointment and sadness by comparing today with the good old days of the past.
- If you are lonely, try volunteering some time to help others.
- Find holiday activities that are free, such as looking at holiday decorations, going window shopping without buying, and watching the winter weather, whether it's a snowflake or a raindrop.
- Limit your drinking, since excessive drinking will only increase your feelings of depression.
- Try something new. Celebrate the holidays in a new way.
- Spend time with supportive and caring people.
- Reach out and make new friends.
- Make time to contact a long-lost friend or relative and spread some holiday cheer.
- Make time for yourself!
- Let others share the responsibilities of holiday tasks.
- Keep track of your holiday spending. Overspending can lead to depression when the bills arrive after the holidays are over. Extra bills with little budget to pay them can lead to further stress and depression.
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
The New Health Mecca
Should we focus our health care spending on “bricks and mortar” or technology?...Or both?
By Mike Magee, MDThere's a lot of money flowing into Health right now – raising two big questions: First, are you investing in the past, present or future? Second, will your investment pay off? For those who want to buy in a traditional way, take a look at Grand Rapids Michigan.1 Prominent local donors have committed $1 billion there. For that, they're getting a new medical school (which will house Michigan State programs), a children's hospital, a cancer treatment center, two medical office buildings, and a seven-level parking garage. One billion dollars for "bricks and mortar" in the hope, in their words, of "sustaining the economy and culture of a rebounding city of more than 193,000 residents".
1 For a different type of health bet, look at Royal Philips Electronics NV -- or Philips for short -- a "household name" whose consumer electronics business, overtaken by Asian clones, lost $2.2 billion in 2001. 2 They paid $750 million last year for Massachusetts’ based "Lifeline", a service system and network to help seniors age in place.3 They plan to take it global. Like other big technology vendors with a history in health (think of GE), Philips has been hospital-centric, selling X-ray and CAT Scan equipment with some success. But CEO Gerard Kleisterlee thinks times are changing. "Patients are behaving more and more like consumers. They go on the Internet and get second opinions. Care is being pushed out of the hospitals, which are expensive, and into homes ...." In the past, he says, "It was all about technology." But times have changed, causing him to ask, "What is the hand of cards that I have and how do I play them?" 2 Kleisterlee formed an internal work group to explore new value propositions and point Philips in a new direction. And what did they find? Health - but not the same old health! They started, said Senior VP Paul Smit of their Medical Systems Division, with "an existing, new complex product and redesigned it completely for lay people." What was the product? The "Heart Start Home Defibrillator." 4 Available at $1,200 without a prescription, homes -- and banks, and hotels, and shopping centers, and airplanes -- have eaten the product alive. That triggered the Philips CEO, in September of 2004, to launch a new Consumer Health Care Division.5
The simple command? "Look for opportunities outside the hospital." Mr. Kleisterlee and peers such as Craig Barrett from Intel, are now true believers.6 They have traveled the globe, attending medical meetings, visiting health thought leaders, learned everything they can about aging, and helped form and support the Center for Aging Services Technologies (CAST) in Washington, an arm of the American Association of Home Services for the Aging (AAHSA).7, 8 What are the "sweet spots"? Self-reliance, connectivity, and prevention of functional decline. How's it looking for 2007? Philips Consumer Health Unit is projecting sales of $1.5 billion. 2 Talk inside of Philips is that its CEO has "fundamentally changed the identity of what a lot of people at Philips stand for and believe in." 2 He's done it, they say, by playing the cards he was dealt. And here they are: 1. Take the technology developed for professional use, and redesign it for lay use. 2. Embrace the demographic megatrends of Aging, Consumerism, and the Internet.3. Move health from the hospital to the home. 4. Leverage connectivity, self-reliance and prevention (That's why Philips originally bought "Lifeline.") So there you are. You have the Grand Rapids vision and the Philips vision for our health care future. Both are needed, but to what extent? Who takes the lead, and where is the center? One vision is "bricks and mortar,” the other service. One vision is professional-centric, the other consumer-centric. One is hospital-based, the other home-based. One is driven by historic health sector leaders, the other by new health sector players. Where to put your money for the future? I'd invest in a vision that is led by those with financial assets, IT expertise, and an existing position (with products and services) in the home -- especially if they wisely build future planning around connecting the people to the people who are caring for the people.
Friday, December 21, 2007
Over-70 Adults Get New Food Pyramid
Stress on Nutrient-Rich, High-Fiber Foods, Not Supplements
By Daniel J. DeNoon
WebMD Medical News
People tend to become less active and to eat less as they age. This makes them vulnerable to getting too few nutrients, note Tufts University nutrition expert Alice H. Lichtenstein, ScD, and colleagues.
Moreover, older adults may not be as Internet savvy as younger adults, making it hard for them to use the USDA's official, web-based "MyPyramid" food guide. So Lichtenstein's team has updated their 1999 "Modified Food Guide Pyramid" for older adults to create their new "Modified MyPyramid for Older Adults" in print form.
"The basic message in the Modified MyPyramid for Older Adults is that it is preferable to get essential nutrients from food rather than supplements," Lichtenstein and colleagues note.
However, a little flag flying atop the pyramid signals seniors that supplements or fortified foods -- particularly those containing calcium, vitamin D, or vitamin B-12 -- may be helpful for many seniors but not for all.
At the bottom of the pyramid are icons representing physical activities appropriate for healthy seniors. Next comes a row of water glasses, stressing the importance of fluid intake for older people.
Above these rows, the different food groups portray healthy choices in forms -- such as packages of frozen vegetables -- easily accessible to seniors.
Emphasis is on:
Whole grains and a variety of grains
Variety and nutrient-density of fruits and vegetables
Low-fat and nonfat dairy foods, including milk products with reduced lactose
Oils low in saturated fats and lacking trans fats
Low-saturated fat and vegetable choices in the meat-and-beans food group
Fiber-rich foods in all food groups
"It is important to communicate to older adults that eating should remain an enjoyable experience," Lichtenstein and colleagues note. "The guidance provided can be used as a road map and should be adaptable so it can accommodate many different dietary preferences, patterns, and lifestyles."
Lichtenstein and colleagues provide detailed recommendations in an article in the January 2008 issue of The Journal of Nutrition.
By Daniel J. DeNoon
WebMD Medical News
People tend to become less active and to eat less as they age. This makes them vulnerable to getting too few nutrients, note Tufts University nutrition expert Alice H. Lichtenstein, ScD, and colleagues.
Moreover, older adults may not be as Internet savvy as younger adults, making it hard for them to use the USDA's official, web-based "MyPyramid" food guide. So Lichtenstein's team has updated their 1999 "Modified Food Guide Pyramid" for older adults to create their new "Modified MyPyramid for Older Adults" in print form.
"The basic message in the Modified MyPyramid for Older Adults is that it is preferable to get essential nutrients from food rather than supplements," Lichtenstein and colleagues note.
However, a little flag flying atop the pyramid signals seniors that supplements or fortified foods -- particularly those containing calcium, vitamin D, or vitamin B-12 -- may be helpful for many seniors but not for all.
At the bottom of the pyramid are icons representing physical activities appropriate for healthy seniors. Next comes a row of water glasses, stressing the importance of fluid intake for older people.
Above these rows, the different food groups portray healthy choices in forms -- such as packages of frozen vegetables -- easily accessible to seniors.
Emphasis is on:
Whole grains and a variety of grains
Variety and nutrient-density of fruits and vegetables
Low-fat and nonfat dairy foods, including milk products with reduced lactose
Oils low in saturated fats and lacking trans fats
Low-saturated fat and vegetable choices in the meat-and-beans food group
Fiber-rich foods in all food groups
"It is important to communicate to older adults that eating should remain an enjoyable experience," Lichtenstein and colleagues note. "The guidance provided can be used as a road map and should be adaptable so it can accommodate many different dietary preferences, patterns, and lifestyles."
Lichtenstein and colleagues provide detailed recommendations in an article in the January 2008 issue of The Journal of Nutrition.
'Hospitalist' Physicians Help Shorten Patient Stays
By Ed Edelson HealthDay Reporter
THURSDAY, Dec. 20 (HealthDay News) -- A new breed of medical specialists, called hospitalists, can make a small but significant difference in shortening how long a patient needs to stay in the hospital, a new study shows.
At the same time, researchers found no difference in the rate of either patient death or readmission when hospitalists were involved, according to the report in the Dec. 20 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
A hopsitalist refers to a physician who cares solely for hospitalized patients.
The term may be new to the general public, but, in the medical profession, "hospitalist has been a recognized and accepted term that has been around for about a decade," said study author Dr. Peter K. Lindenauer, an associate professor of medicine at Baystate Medical Center and Tufts University, in Boston.
In fact, "There is a Society of Hospital Medicine with 5,000 to 10,000 members, and it is estimated that there may be 20,000 hospitalists across the United States now," Lindenauer said.
"What you can't debate is the number of hospitalists around the country -- there is no going back," added Dr. Laurence McMahon, chief of the division of general medicine at the University of Michigan, in Ann Arbor.
"We need to think about how these new doctors get into the health-care system and how they care for patients who are hospitalized," said Mcmahon, who also authored an accompanying editorial on the issue.
Traditionally, a person's private physician has been responsible for care after hospitalization, he said. That began to change about 30 years ago, with the emerging role of emergency room physicians and critical care physicians, Lindenauer said. "They have been assuming the role of attending physician in those situations," he said. "In some respect, the growth of the hospitalist model of care represents the completion of a series of steps toward specialization that began 30 years ago."
According to Lindenauer, the advent of the hospitalist means another question should be asked when individuals choose a private physician: Will that doctor turn over care to a hospitalist, if and when someone needs hospital care?
"It is a discussion that a patient should have with a primary-care physician when he is thinking about enrolling with that physician," Lindenauer said.
The differences shown in the study -- a shortening of length-of-stay by 0.4 days, on average -- are not great, he acknowledged, but they do add up over time.
"Shortening the length of stay by 0.4 days is small, but when you multiply it out over time by thousands of physicians, the effects can be very large. With 5,000 cases a year, [that's] a savings of 2,000 bed-days," he said.
The study was not able to assess patient satisfaction with treatment by a hospitalist rather than a primary-care physician, Lindenauer said, "But we know that efficiency is important, as important to patients as to physicians." he said.
And while full official recognition of the hospitalist speciality is yet to come, the Society of Hospital Medicine is working closely with the of American Board of Medical Specialties toward such an end, Lindenauer said.
"The differences between hospitalists and other doctors who take care of patients in hospitals are pretty minor," McMahon said. "What really is quite revolutionary is the change in how we take care of patients in the hospital."
SOURCES: Peter K. Lindenauer, M.D., associate professor of medicine, Tufts University, Boston;
THURSDAY, Dec. 20 (HealthDay News) -- A new breed of medical specialists, called hospitalists, can make a small but significant difference in shortening how long a patient needs to stay in the hospital, a new study shows.
At the same time, researchers found no difference in the rate of either patient death or readmission when hospitalists were involved, according to the report in the Dec. 20 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
A hopsitalist refers to a physician who cares solely for hospitalized patients.
The term may be new to the general public, but, in the medical profession, "hospitalist has been a recognized and accepted term that has been around for about a decade," said study author Dr. Peter K. Lindenauer, an associate professor of medicine at Baystate Medical Center and Tufts University, in Boston.
In fact, "There is a Society of Hospital Medicine with 5,000 to 10,000 members, and it is estimated that there may be 20,000 hospitalists across the United States now," Lindenauer said.
"What you can't debate is the number of hospitalists around the country -- there is no going back," added Dr. Laurence McMahon, chief of the division of general medicine at the University of Michigan, in Ann Arbor.
"We need to think about how these new doctors get into the health-care system and how they care for patients who are hospitalized," said Mcmahon, who also authored an accompanying editorial on the issue.
Traditionally, a person's private physician has been responsible for care after hospitalization, he said. That began to change about 30 years ago, with the emerging role of emergency room physicians and critical care physicians, Lindenauer said. "They have been assuming the role of attending physician in those situations," he said. "In some respect, the growth of the hospitalist model of care represents the completion of a series of steps toward specialization that began 30 years ago."
According to Lindenauer, the advent of the hospitalist means another question should be asked when individuals choose a private physician: Will that doctor turn over care to a hospitalist, if and when someone needs hospital care?
"It is a discussion that a patient should have with a primary-care physician when he is thinking about enrolling with that physician," Lindenauer said.
The differences shown in the study -- a shortening of length-of-stay by 0.4 days, on average -- are not great, he acknowledged, but they do add up over time.
"Shortening the length of stay by 0.4 days is small, but when you multiply it out over time by thousands of physicians, the effects can be very large. With 5,000 cases a year, [that's] a savings of 2,000 bed-days," he said.
The study was not able to assess patient satisfaction with treatment by a hospitalist rather than a primary-care physician, Lindenauer said, "But we know that efficiency is important, as important to patients as to physicians." he said.
And while full official recognition of the hospitalist speciality is yet to come, the Society of Hospital Medicine is working closely with the of American Board of Medical Specialties toward such an end, Lindenauer said.
"The differences between hospitalists and other doctors who take care of patients in hospitals are pretty minor," McMahon said. "What really is quite revolutionary is the change in how we take care of patients in the hospital."
SOURCES: Peter K. Lindenauer, M.D., associate professor of medicine, Tufts University, Boston;
7 Common Medical Myths Debunked
Researchers Say There's No Evidence for Some Widely Held Beliefs
By Miranda Hitti
WebMD Medical News
Reviewed By Louise Chang, MD
Take a look at these seven medical myths, noted in BMJ (formerly called the British Medical Journal).
The debunkers include Rachel Vreeman, MD, a fellow in children's health services research at Indiana University's medical school in Indianapolis.
1. Medical Myth: Drink at least eight glasses of water per day.
Reality: There's no evidence that you have to drink that much water to assure adequate fluid intake -- and drinking too much water can be unhealthy.
2. Medical Myth: We use only 10% of our brains.
Reality: Most of the brain isn't loafing. Detailed brain studies haven't found the "non-functioning" 90% of the brain.
3. Medical Myth: Hair and fingernails continue to grow after death.
Reality: Hair and fingernails don't keep growing after death. But it may seem that way because dehydration can make the skin shrink back from hair and nails, making them look longer.
4. Medical Myth: Reading in dim light ruins your eyesight.
Reality: Dim light isn't great for focusing, but it's "unlikely to cause a permanent change in the function or structure of the eyes," Vreeman's team writes.
5. Medical Myth: Shaving causes hair to grow back faster or coarser.
Reality: "Shaving does not affect the thickness or rate of hair regrowth," write Vreeman and colleagues. But shaved hair doesn't have the fine taper of unshaved hair, making it seem coarser.
6. Medical Myth: Mobile phones are dangerous in hospitals.
Reality: "Rigorous testing in Europe found minimal interference and only at distances of less than one meter [about 3.28 feet]," write the researchers. But that may be a point of controversy. In September, Dutch doctors reported that cell phones may interfere with critical care equipment and shouldn't be used within a meter of medical equipment or hospital beds.
7. Medical Myth: Eating turkey makes people especially drowsy.
Reality: Turkey isn't all that rich in tryptophan, the chemical linked to sleepiness after eating turkey. But eating a big, decadent meal can cause sleepiness, even if turkey isn't on the menu.
SOURCES: Vreeman, R. BMJ, Dec. 22-29, 2007; vol 335: pp 1288-1289. WebMD Medical News: "Turn Off Cell Phones in Hospital Rooms."
© 2007 WebMD Inc. All rights reserved.
By Miranda Hitti
WebMD Medical News
Reviewed By Louise Chang, MD
Take a look at these seven medical myths, noted in BMJ (formerly called the British Medical Journal).
The debunkers include Rachel Vreeman, MD, a fellow in children's health services research at Indiana University's medical school in Indianapolis.
1. Medical Myth: Drink at least eight glasses of water per day.
Reality: There's no evidence that you have to drink that much water to assure adequate fluid intake -- and drinking too much water can be unhealthy.
2. Medical Myth: We use only 10% of our brains.
Reality: Most of the brain isn't loafing. Detailed brain studies haven't found the "non-functioning" 90% of the brain.
3. Medical Myth: Hair and fingernails continue to grow after death.
Reality: Hair and fingernails don't keep growing after death. But it may seem that way because dehydration can make the skin shrink back from hair and nails, making them look longer.
4. Medical Myth: Reading in dim light ruins your eyesight.
Reality: Dim light isn't great for focusing, but it's "unlikely to cause a permanent change in the function or structure of the eyes," Vreeman's team writes.
5. Medical Myth: Shaving causes hair to grow back faster or coarser.
Reality: "Shaving does not affect the thickness or rate of hair regrowth," write Vreeman and colleagues. But shaved hair doesn't have the fine taper of unshaved hair, making it seem coarser.
6. Medical Myth: Mobile phones are dangerous in hospitals.
Reality: "Rigorous testing in Europe found minimal interference and only at distances of less than one meter [about 3.28 feet]," write the researchers. But that may be a point of controversy. In September, Dutch doctors reported that cell phones may interfere with critical care equipment and shouldn't be used within a meter of medical equipment or hospital beds.
7. Medical Myth: Eating turkey makes people especially drowsy.
Reality: Turkey isn't all that rich in tryptophan, the chemical linked to sleepiness after eating turkey. But eating a big, decadent meal can cause sleepiness, even if turkey isn't on the menu.
SOURCES: Vreeman, R. BMJ, Dec. 22-29, 2007; vol 335: pp 1288-1289. WebMD Medical News: "Turn Off Cell Phones in Hospital Rooms."
© 2007 WebMD Inc. All rights reserved.
Saturday, December 15, 2007
The Long & Short of It - Health Care Traveler
The Long & Short of It - Health Care Traveler: "Patient wishes and futile interventions
By: Leah Curtin
The experts say one should never use the term 'futile care,' and most especially not around families. Care is never futile, but medical interventions sometimes are. And that is the point: How do you know for sure that further medical care is futile? When you do know, how do you communicate this to patients and families? And, finally, in the face of inevitable death, how do you provide care that comforts and soothes, that prepares families for loss, while it helps patients leave life with their dignity and hope intact? Most of all, how do you do this in today's busy, bottomline-driven institution?"
By: Leah Curtin
The experts say one should never use the term 'futile care,' and most especially not around families. Care is never futile, but medical interventions sometimes are. And that is the point: How do you know for sure that further medical care is futile? When you do know, how do you communicate this to patients and families? And, finally, in the face of inevitable death, how do you provide care that comforts and soothes, that prepares families for loss, while it helps patients leave life with their dignity and hope intact? Most of all, how do you do this in today's busy, bottomline-driven institution?"
Monday, December 10, 2007
Online Checking Account, Bank Account, Internet, Pay Bills
Online Checking Account, Bank Account, Internet, Pay Bills
useful information on the advantges of online checking accounts
1.The biggest advantage of online checking account is that you need not stand in a queue any more. Everything can be done right from the comfort of your home. You can do banking while sitting in front of your computer. There is no need to plan your daily schedule days ahead and considering that we are talking about a checking account in which case the payments need to be paid regularly, elimination of the need to visit the bank every time means a lot of time saving.
2. Another advantage of an online checking account is that the chances of fraud are way less. The entire process of online banking takes place under cloaks of heavy duty encryption. This means that the chances of forged checks or that of any other way of fraud become extremely low. You can be confident while writing checks.
3.Third advantage is that an online checking account is a much better option to make payments for your online purchases as compared to credit or wire transfer. You are not sharing crucial information like that of your credit card. Rather you are just writing a check just like in any traditional transaction. This means that an online checking account keeps you safe yet allows you to take advantage offered by online trading.
4.Fourth advantage of online checking account is that you can easily pay your bills and taxes. Most of the online checking accounts come with a facility that clears all your bills automatically as soon as they are pinged to your account. It is possible to make payments towards some of your taxes as well using the same bill pay service.
If you do not have a on line account you can also use your own secured master card debit card The One World United is a great option for you. For more information
Saturday, December 08, 2007
Friday, December 07, 2007
useful weekly health information
Saturday, December 1, 2007 GOD'S CURES REVEALED
If you knew the secrets to curing your best friend's cancer, your spouse's heart disease, your parent's Alzheimer's, your own chronic pain, wouldn't you want to tell the world? The true cures have been covered up by the system you're supposed to trust with your life. But now one of the world's leading authorities on natural medicine is unveiling its greatest discovery—a treasure trove of health breakthroughs that could help to wipe out virtually ALL DISEASE. http://www1.youreletters.com/t/1406711/7000995/837018/1362/
Monday, December 3, 2007 Stones In the Road
Just ask any kidney stone patient and they'll tell you: passing that stone was the worst pain of their lives – just as intense as the pain of childbirth. Whether you're in the Passed- A-Stone club or not, kidney stones are clearly something you want to avoid. Fortunately there are a number of useful steps you can take to significantly reduce your risk. http://www1.youreletters.com/t/1406711/7000995/836821/0/
Tuesday, December 4, 2007 Brain Preservers "Oxidative stress contributes to brain aging."
That observation leads off a new intervention study that shows how long-term use of a common antioxidant supplement may significantly reduce the risk of cognitive decline. We'll also look at other key supplements that offer protection from dementia. http://www1.youreletters.com/t/1406711/7000995/836938/0/
Wednesday, December 5, 2007 Make every night the best night's sleep you've had in years!
If the thought of getting into bed includes visions of tossing, turning and lying awake until the wee hours of the morning, then we've got a solution for you! An all natural combination of herbs and nutrients clinically-designed to help you fall asleep and stay asleep all night – so you can wake up completely refreshed and recharged in the morning. http://www1.youreletters.com/t/1406711/7000995/836939/1362/
Wednesday, December 5, 2007 Master of Disaster When HSI Panelist Allan Spreen, M.D., referred to vegetarianism as a "total disaster," he knew there would be fallout, and boy was there! We'll look at responses from HSI members who have a bone to pick with Dr. Spreen while they defend the meatless diet. http://www1.youreletters.com/t/1406711/7000995/836823/0/
Thursday, December 6, 2007 Corndogs and Ice Cream
For anyone who may be experiencing middle-aged expansion in the mid region, this e-Alert looks at two reasons why it's so important to be disciplined about dietary choices during the holidays. We'll also tell you about a nutrient that might significantly help prevent widening of the waistline. http://www1.youreletters.com/t/1406711/7000995/836822/0/
If you knew the secrets to curing your best friend's cancer, your spouse's heart disease, your parent's Alzheimer's, your own chronic pain, wouldn't you want to tell the world? The true cures have been covered up by the system you're supposed to trust with your life. But now one of the world's leading authorities on natural medicine is unveiling its greatest discovery—a treasure trove of health breakthroughs that could help to wipe out virtually ALL DISEASE. http://www1.youreletters.com/t/1406711/7000995/837018/1362/
Monday, December 3, 2007 Stones In the Road
Just ask any kidney stone patient and they'll tell you: passing that stone was the worst pain of their lives – just as intense as the pain of childbirth. Whether you're in the Passed- A-Stone club or not, kidney stones are clearly something you want to avoid. Fortunately there are a number of useful steps you can take to significantly reduce your risk. http://www1.youreletters.com/t/1406711/7000995/836821/0/
Tuesday, December 4, 2007 Brain Preservers "Oxidative stress contributes to brain aging."
That observation leads off a new intervention study that shows how long-term use of a common antioxidant supplement may significantly reduce the risk of cognitive decline. We'll also look at other key supplements that offer protection from dementia. http://www1.youreletters.com/t/1406711/7000995/836938/0/
Wednesday, December 5, 2007 Make every night the best night's sleep you've had in years!
If the thought of getting into bed includes visions of tossing, turning and lying awake until the wee hours of the morning, then we've got a solution for you! An all natural combination of herbs and nutrients clinically-designed to help you fall asleep and stay asleep all night – so you can wake up completely refreshed and recharged in the morning. http://www1.youreletters.com/t/1406711/7000995/836939/1362/
Wednesday, December 5, 2007 Master of Disaster When HSI Panelist Allan Spreen, M.D., referred to vegetarianism as a "total disaster," he knew there would be fallout, and boy was there! We'll look at responses from HSI members who have a bone to pick with Dr. Spreen while they defend the meatless diet. http://www1.youreletters.com/t/1406711/7000995/836823/0/
Thursday, December 6, 2007 Corndogs and Ice Cream
For anyone who may be experiencing middle-aged expansion in the mid region, this e-Alert looks at two reasons why it's so important to be disciplined about dietary choices during the holidays. We'll also tell you about a nutrient that might significantly help prevent widening of the waistline. http://www1.youreletters.com/t/1406711/7000995/836822/0/
Thursday, December 06, 2007
Poverty and Health | Health Commentary
Poverty and Health Health Commentary
This is in the U.S however it holds true in Canada. There is a supposed free care system which really does not work and is there to feed government health care custodians who suck huge resoures and funds out of the system while generating sub par results. QJ
Here are the facts:
Poverty is on the rise in the United States. It rose overall from 11.3 percent to 12.6 percent from 2000 to 2005.3,4 Severe poverty, that is 50 percent or more below the poverty level or less than $10,000 a year to support a family of four, increased from 4.4 percent of our population to 5.4 percent. Children accounted for one in three poor people and rates in blacks and Hispanics were 24 percent and 21 percent compared to whites at 8 percent.3,4,5
Except for the top 10 percent, U.S. household income is declining. While total population income grew 9 percent in 2005, income for those below the 90 percent percentile declined by .6 percent.6
Income inequality -- that is, the distance between our richest and poorest citizens -- is rising. The portion of our nation’s total income coming from our wealthiest ten percent rose from less than a third (31 percent) in 1980 to nearly half (44 percent) of our combined earning in 2006. Those in the top one percent, earning more than $250,000, now account for 17 percent of national income compared to just eight percent in 1980.6 And the gap between employer and employee income has exploded. In 1965, the average U.S. corporate CEO’s salary was 24 times that of the average employee. In 2005, it increased to 262 times the average worker’s salary.7
But what does this have to do with health? The simple answer? Everything! Consider that the greater your poverty, the more limited your health insurance, the lower your adherence to treatment plans, the more likely you are to forego medicines or screening exams, and the more likely to smoke, be inactive, have poor diet and be overweight.2 And these effects compound in children, building a burden of disease for the nation that extends for decades down the line. Poverty also means less education. Rates of chronic disease after correction for other variables in those without a high school degree compared to college graduates are world’s apart. In the former, diabetes affects 12%, compared to just 6% in college grads. And for coronary artery disease the rate is 10% for poorly educated compared again to 6% in college educated citizens.8
As we look ahead, we would do well to look back. What would my father do? Build more hospitals and chase the disease curve? Not likely! I expect he’d try to figure out how to give his patients a hand up, how to get them a better job or at least a higher hourly wage, how to get their children better educated, how to network them into community resources to address their fear, safety and depression, how to get them to save and plan and dream and accomplish. As Dr. Woolf says, “Improved income and education could reshape disease trajectories and medical spending, but their benefits could also extend beyond the health sector to more broadly improve the lives of individuals, communities and the economy.”2
As dad would say, “that’s just good common sense.”
References
1. Isaacs SL and Schroeder SA. “Class – the ignored determinant of the nation’s health.” New Engl J of Med. 2004; (3511):1137-1142.
2. Woolf SH. Future Health Consequences of the Current Decline in US Household Income. J Amer Med Assoc. Oct 24/31, 2007; 298(16):1931-1933.
3. DeNavas-Walt C et al. Income Poverty and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States. 2005. Washington, DC: US Government Printing Office. 2006:60-231. US Census Bureau Current Population Reports, consumer Income.
4. Woolf SH, Johnson RE, Geiger HJ. "The rising prevalence of severe poverty in America: a growing threat to public health." Am J Preventive Med. 2006; 31(4): 332-341.
5. DeNavas-Walt C, Proctor BD, Smith J. Income, Poverty and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States 2006, Washington DC: US Government Printing Office: 2007:60-233. US Census Bureau Population Reports, Consumer Income.
6. Piketty T, Saez E. Income inequality in the United States, 1913-1998. Quarterly J Economics. 2003;118:1-39.
7. Economic Policy Institute. "CEO-to-Worker pay imbalance grows.” Economic Snapshots. 21 June 2006.
8. Pleis JR, Lethbridge-Cejku M. Summary health statistics for U.S. adults: National health Interview Survey. 2005. National Center for Health Statistics. Vital Health Stat 10. 2006:10(232):1-153.
Topic Tags: education, health care reform, poverty
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This is in the U.S however it holds true in Canada. There is a supposed free care system which really does not work and is there to feed government health care custodians who suck huge resoures and funds out of the system while generating sub par results. QJ
Here are the facts:
Poverty is on the rise in the United States. It rose overall from 11.3 percent to 12.6 percent from 2000 to 2005.3,4 Severe poverty, that is 50 percent or more below the poverty level or less than $10,000 a year to support a family of four, increased from 4.4 percent of our population to 5.4 percent. Children accounted for one in three poor people and rates in blacks and Hispanics were 24 percent and 21 percent compared to whites at 8 percent.3,4,5
Except for the top 10 percent, U.S. household income is declining. While total population income grew 9 percent in 2005, income for those below the 90 percent percentile declined by .6 percent.6
Income inequality -- that is, the distance between our richest and poorest citizens -- is rising. The portion of our nation’s total income coming from our wealthiest ten percent rose from less than a third (31 percent) in 1980 to nearly half (44 percent) of our combined earning in 2006. Those in the top one percent, earning more than $250,000, now account for 17 percent of national income compared to just eight percent in 1980.6 And the gap between employer and employee income has exploded. In 1965, the average U.S. corporate CEO’s salary was 24 times that of the average employee. In 2005, it increased to 262 times the average worker’s salary.7
But what does this have to do with health? The simple answer? Everything! Consider that the greater your poverty, the more limited your health insurance, the lower your adherence to treatment plans, the more likely you are to forego medicines or screening exams, and the more likely to smoke, be inactive, have poor diet and be overweight.2 And these effects compound in children, building a burden of disease for the nation that extends for decades down the line. Poverty also means less education. Rates of chronic disease after correction for other variables in those without a high school degree compared to college graduates are world’s apart. In the former, diabetes affects 12%, compared to just 6% in college grads. And for coronary artery disease the rate is 10% for poorly educated compared again to 6% in college educated citizens.8
As we look ahead, we would do well to look back. What would my father do? Build more hospitals and chase the disease curve? Not likely! I expect he’d try to figure out how to give his patients a hand up, how to get them a better job or at least a higher hourly wage, how to get their children better educated, how to network them into community resources to address their fear, safety and depression, how to get them to save and plan and dream and accomplish. As Dr. Woolf says, “Improved income and education could reshape disease trajectories and medical spending, but their benefits could also extend beyond the health sector to more broadly improve the lives of individuals, communities and the economy.”2
As dad would say, “that’s just good common sense.”
References
1. Isaacs SL and Schroeder SA. “Class – the ignored determinant of the nation’s health.” New Engl J of Med. 2004; (3511):1137-1142.
2. Woolf SH. Future Health Consequences of the Current Decline in US Household Income. J Amer Med Assoc. Oct 24/31, 2007; 298(16):1931-1933.
3. DeNavas-Walt C et al. Income Poverty and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States. 2005. Washington, DC: US Government Printing Office. 2006:60-231. US Census Bureau Current Population Reports, consumer Income.
4. Woolf SH, Johnson RE, Geiger HJ. "The rising prevalence of severe poverty in America: a growing threat to public health." Am J Preventive Med. 2006; 31(4): 332-341.
5. DeNavas-Walt C, Proctor BD, Smith J. Income, Poverty and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States 2006, Washington DC: US Government Printing Office: 2007:60-233. US Census Bureau Population Reports, Consumer Income.
6. Piketty T, Saez E. Income inequality in the United States, 1913-1998. Quarterly J Economics. 2003;118:1-39.
7. Economic Policy Institute. "CEO-to-Worker pay imbalance grows.” Economic Snapshots. 21 June 2006.
8. Pleis JR, Lethbridge-Cejku M. Summary health statistics for U.S. adults: National health Interview Survey. 2005. National Center for Health Statistics. Vital Health Stat 10. 2006:10(232):1-153.
Topic Tags: education, health care reform, poverty
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Saturday, December 01, 2007
Canada's ministers for seniors vow to continue fight against elder abuse - Yahoo! News
Canada's ministers for seniors vow to continue fight against elder abuse - Yahoo! News: "Canada's ministers for seniors vow to continue fight against elder abuse "It would be nice if this ere true and not more idle posturing
Global Issues - Consular Affairs
Global Issues - Consular AffairsWhat the government says you need to travel
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