If you have ever watched the show Deadliest Catch on the Discovery Channel you will know Capt Phil Harris two seasons ago was not in the best of health and almost died due to a Blood Clot that hit his lung. This season it was a Stroke that put him in the hospital while in port unloading.
That Stroke and it's complications took his life.
Your health is nothing to mess around with and you should see your doctor if you have any worries.
You can read the story of Capt Phil Harris at the link provided below.
A Stroke is nothing to mess with ever. Millions die each year around the world from High Blood Pressure,Heart Disease and more.
Source and More:
http://www.corneliamarie.com/
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Weight-Loss Surgery May Help Severely Obese Teens
Weight-loss surgery was more effective at slimming severely obese teens and improving their health than two years of diet and exercise, a study found.
Adolescents fitted with Allergan Inc.’s Lap-Band device lost about 11 times more weight compared with a group following so-called lifestyle approaches, researchers in Melbourne said. The results reported today in the Journal of the American Medical Association suggest bariatric surgery is an effective treatment for younger obese patients, the authors said.
Weight-loss surgery has soared in popularity among U.S. adults in response to rising rates of obesity. The procedure has been controversial because the quality of evidence to support it is poor, said Edward H. Livingston, professor of surgery at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas and a contributing editor to the journal.
Source and More:
http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-02-10/weight-loss-surgery-may-help-severely-obese-teens-update2-.html
Adolescents fitted with Allergan Inc.’s Lap-Band device lost about 11 times more weight compared with a group following so-called lifestyle approaches, researchers in Melbourne said. The results reported today in the Journal of the American Medical Association suggest bariatric surgery is an effective treatment for younger obese patients, the authors said.
Weight-loss surgery has soared in popularity among U.S. adults in response to rising rates of obesity. The procedure has been controversial because the quality of evidence to support it is poor, said Edward H. Livingston, professor of surgery at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas and a contributing editor to the journal.
Source and More:
http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-02-10/weight-loss-surgery-may-help-severely-obese-teens-update2-.html
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Autism risk in kids rises with mom’s age Connection much stronger for older mothers than fathers
A woman's chances of having a child with autism increase substantially as she ages, but the risk may be less for older dads than previously suggested, a new study analyzing more than 5 million births found.
"Although fathers' age can contribute risk, the risk is overwhelmed by maternal age," said University of California at Davis researcher Janie Shelton, the study's lead author.
Mothers older than 40 were about 50 percent more likely to have a child with autism than those in their 20s; the risk for fathers older than 40 was 36 percent higher than for men in their 20s.
Source and More:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35296409/ns/health-mental_health/
"Although fathers' age can contribute risk, the risk is overwhelmed by maternal age," said University of California at Davis researcher Janie Shelton, the study's lead author.
Mothers older than 40 were about 50 percent more likely to have a child with autism than those in their 20s; the risk for fathers older than 40 was 36 percent higher than for men in their 20s.
Source and More:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35296409/ns/health-mental_health/
Monday, February 8, 2010
Soft drink consumption may increase risk of pancreatic cancer
Consuming two or more soft drinks per week increased the risk of developing pancreatic cancer by nearly twofold compared to individuals who did not consume soft drinks, according to a report in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.
Although relatively rare, pancreatic cancer remains one of the most deadly, and only 5 percent of people who are diagnosed are alive five years later.
Mark Pereira, Ph.D., senior author on the study and associate professor in the School of Public Health
at the University of Minnesota, said people who consume soft drinks on a regular basis, defined as primarily carbonated sugar-sweetened beverages, tend to have a poor behavioral profile overall.
However, the effect of these drinks on pancreatic cancer may be unique.
"The high levels of sugar in soft drinks may be increasing the level of insulin in the body, which we think contributes to pancreatic cancer cell growth," said Pereira.
For the current study, Pereira and colleagues followed 60,524 men and women in the Singapore Chinese Health Study for 14 years. During that time, there were 140 pancreatic cancer cases. Those who consumed two or more soft drinks per week (averaging five per week) had an 87 percent increased risk compared with individuals who did not.
No association was seen between fruit juice consumption and pancreatic cancer.
Pereira said that these results from Singapore are likely applicable to the United States.
Source and More:
http://www.physorg.com/news184828475.html
Although relatively rare, pancreatic cancer remains one of the most deadly, and only 5 percent of people who are diagnosed are alive five years later.
Mark Pereira, Ph.D., senior author on the study and associate professor in the School of Public Health
at the University of Minnesota, said people who consume soft drinks on a regular basis, defined as primarily carbonated sugar-sweetened beverages, tend to have a poor behavioral profile overall.
However, the effect of these drinks on pancreatic cancer may be unique.
"The high levels of sugar in soft drinks may be increasing the level of insulin in the body, which we think contributes to pancreatic cancer cell growth," said Pereira.
For the current study, Pereira and colleagues followed 60,524 men and women in the Singapore Chinese Health Study for 14 years. During that time, there were 140 pancreatic cancer cases. Those who consumed two or more soft drinks per week (averaging five per week) had an 87 percent increased risk compared with individuals who did not.
No association was seen between fruit juice consumption and pancreatic cancer.
Pereira said that these results from Singapore are likely applicable to the United States.
Source and More:
http://www.physorg.com/news184828475.html
Friday, February 5, 2010
Early abuse tied to more depression in children
Although children can be depressed for many reasons, new evidence suggests that there are physiological differences among depressed children based on their experiences of abuse before age 5. Early abuse may be especially damaging due to the very young age at which it occurs.
Those are the findings of a new study of low-income children that was conducted by researchers at the University of Minnesota and the University of Rochester, Mt. Hope Family Center. The study appears in the January/February 2010 issue of the journal Child Development.
Children who experience maltreatment, including physical, sexual, and emotional abuse or neglect, grow up with a lot of stress. Cortisol, termed the "stress hormone," helps the body regulate stress. But when stress is chronic and overloads the system, cortisol can soar to very high levels or plummet to lows, which in turn can harm development and health.
The researchers studied more than 500 low-income children ages 7 to 13, about half of whom had been abused and/or neglected, to find out whether abuse early in life and feelings of depression affected their levels of cortisol. High levels of depression were more frequent among children who were abused in the first five years of their lives than among maltreated children who weren't abused early in life or children who weren't maltreated at all.
More importantly, only children who were abused before age 5 and depressed had an atypical flattening of cortisol production during the day, whereas other children, whether they were depressed or not, showed an expected daily decline in cortisol from morning to afternoon. This finding means that the body's primary system for adapting to stress had become compromised among children who were depressed and abused early in life. The results suggest that there are different subtypes of depression, with atypical cortisol regulation occurring among children who were abused before age 5.
Source and More:
http://www.physorg.com/news184569149.html
Those are the findings of a new study of low-income children that was conducted by researchers at the University of Minnesota and the University of Rochester, Mt. Hope Family Center. The study appears in the January/February 2010 issue of the journal Child Development.
Children who experience maltreatment, including physical, sexual, and emotional abuse or neglect, grow up with a lot of stress. Cortisol, termed the "stress hormone," helps the body regulate stress. But when stress is chronic and overloads the system, cortisol can soar to very high levels or plummet to lows, which in turn can harm development and health.
The researchers studied more than 500 low-income children ages 7 to 13, about half of whom had been abused and/or neglected, to find out whether abuse early in life and feelings of depression affected their levels of cortisol. High levels of depression were more frequent among children who were abused in the first five years of their lives than among maltreated children who weren't abused early in life or children who weren't maltreated at all.
More importantly, only children who were abused before age 5 and depressed had an atypical flattening of cortisol production during the day, whereas other children, whether they were depressed or not, showed an expected daily decline in cortisol from morning to afternoon. This finding means that the body's primary system for adapting to stress had become compromised among children who were depressed and abused early in life. The results suggest that there are different subtypes of depression, with atypical cortisol regulation occurring among children who were abused before age 5.
Source and More:
http://www.physorg.com/news184569149.html
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Study finds sutures cause fewer complications than staples with cesarean deliveries
In a study to be presented today at the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine's (SMFM) annual meeting, The Pregnancy Meeting, in Chicago, researchers will present findings that there were less complications for women, after having a cesarean delivery, if sutures were used instead of staples to close the wound.
When Suzanne Basha, M.D. began her career as an obstetrician/gynecologist, she was surprised to find nothing in the literature that provided evidence about which method was better to close a wound after a cesarean.
"It seemed to me that I was seeing more patients return with complications after a cesarean birth when staples were used instead of sutures but I couldn't find any studies that supported a recommendation for the use of either method," Basha said.
Basha and her colleagues at the Lehigh Valley Health Network in Allentown, Pa., conducted a study of 425 patients who were randomized. Women undergoing cesarean delivery in labor as well as scheduled cesarean delivery were eligible. Surgical and postpartum care was otherwise at the discretion of the provider. Wound complication data was complete for 98% of subjects (219 suture and 197 staples) and included wound separation, wound infection, antibiotic use, need for a wound-related physician visit, and readmission. Data were collected via telephone interview two to four weeks postoperatively by a single investigator.
Source and More:
http://www.physorg.com/news184483125.html
When Suzanne Basha, M.D. began her career as an obstetrician/gynecologist, she was surprised to find nothing in the literature that provided evidence about which method was better to close a wound after a cesarean.
"It seemed to me that I was seeing more patients return with complications after a cesarean birth when staples were used instead of sutures but I couldn't find any studies that supported a recommendation for the use of either method," Basha said.
Basha and her colleagues at the Lehigh Valley Health Network in Allentown, Pa., conducted a study of 425 patients who were randomized. Women undergoing cesarean delivery in labor as well as scheduled cesarean delivery were eligible. Surgical and postpartum care was otherwise at the discretion of the provider. Wound complication data was complete for 98% of subjects (219 suture and 197 staples) and included wound separation, wound infection, antibiotic use, need for a wound-related physician visit, and readmission. Data were collected via telephone interview two to four weeks postoperatively by a single investigator.
Source and More:
http://www.physorg.com/news184483125.html
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Excessive Internet use is linked to depression
People who spend a lot of time browsing the net are more likely to show depressive symptoms, according to the first large-scale study of its kind in the West by University of Leeds psychologists.
Researchers found striking evidence that some users have developed a compulsive internet habit, whereby they replace real-life social interaction with online chat rooms and social networking sites. The results suggest that this type of addictive surfing can have a serious impact on mental health.
Lead author Dr Catriona Morrison, from the University of Leeds, said: "The internet now plays a huge part in modern life, but its benefits are accompanied by a darker side.
"While many of us use the internet to pay bills, shop and send emails, there is a small subset of the population who find it hard to control how much time they spend online, to the point where it interferes with their daily activities."
These 'internet addicts' spent proportionately more time browsing sexually gratifying websites, online gaming sites and online communities. They also had a higher incidence of moderate to severe depression than non-addicted users.
"Our research indicates that excessive internet use is associated with depression, but what we don't know is which comes first - are depressed people drawn to the internet or does the internet cause depression?
Source and More:
http://www.physorg.com/news184394600.html
After Note: And here I always thought it was about wanting a free education and staying on top of current events. Such a concept huh? lol
Researchers found striking evidence that some users have developed a compulsive internet habit, whereby they replace real-life social interaction with online chat rooms and social networking sites. The results suggest that this type of addictive surfing can have a serious impact on mental health.
Lead author Dr Catriona Morrison, from the University of Leeds, said: "The internet now plays a huge part in modern life, but its benefits are accompanied by a darker side.
"While many of us use the internet to pay bills, shop and send emails, there is a small subset of the population who find it hard to control how much time they spend online, to the point where it interferes with their daily activities."
These 'internet addicts' spent proportionately more time browsing sexually gratifying websites, online gaming sites and online communities. They also had a higher incidence of moderate to severe depression than non-addicted users.
"Our research indicates that excessive internet use is associated with depression, but what we don't know is which comes first - are depressed people drawn to the internet or does the internet cause depression?
Source and More:
http://www.physorg.com/news184394600.html
After Note: And here I always thought it was about wanting a free education and staying on top of current events. Such a concept huh? lol
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Americans with Disabilities Bleeding from Budget Cuts: Angry, ADAPT Fights Back
ADAPT today launched its ADA 20th Anniversary Campaign demanding that the Administration and the U.S. Department of Justice aggressively protect the civil rights of disabled Americans and enforce the Americans with Disabilities Act. The campaign, Defending Our Freedom: ADAPT’s Call to Action for Home and Community in America, also calls on people with disabilities and those who are older to file civil rights complaints if they have been forced into institutional settings, denied community services, or have had their community services reduced. And, finally, the campaign will collect personal and state stories about the effects of budget cuts, and the efforts to fight back against the cuts.
“People with disabilities are literally “bleeding to death” already because of state budget cuts, and there is no end in sight” said Rahnee Patrick , an organizer with Chicago ADAPT. “When states cut budgets, the first things on the chopping block are what are called “optional services,” the services that states can choose to provide, but aren’t mandated to provide…..only they aren’t so optional for us. Those are the services that pay aides to help us out of bed, get dressed, get ready for work, eat, and live in our own homes instead of being forced into nursing homes.”
Nearly every state in the union is currently planning budget cuts that impact the ability of people with disabilities and older people to stay in their own homes. Federal law currently mandates states to provide nursing home services. Providing home and community-based services is considered “optional” under the law, which is why those services are usually cut when states are reducing their budgets. Because there is no provision in the law that tells states they must also provide the same services in a person’s own home, countless thousands of people across the country are forced every day into nursing facilities and other institutions when they need help with the activities of daily living.
“For all these 20 years since the ADA was passed, Congress has refused to remove the “institutional bias” from the law,” said Mike Oxford, organizer from Kansas ADAPT. “That institutional bias has made older and disabled people America’s political prisoners. We are deprived of our freedom, and deprived of our civil rights, and that is totally unacceptable, and most certainly illegal. Apparently, Congress is too politically scared to address the issue, but we aren’t, and we won’t stop until we have the first class citizenship and rights that our Constitution guarantees us!”
ADAPT is calling on individuals and groups of people who are aging or have disabilities to send in stories of cuts in services. ADAPT will collect these stories and post them on the ADAPT website in a “People’s Forum to Fight Back.” Stories and pictures can be viewed on the ADAPT Defending Our Freedom blog at www.defendingourfreedom2010.blogspot.com
. The ADAPT website will also have a link to the forms that people can use to complain to the Health and Human Services Office of Civil Rights about a violation of their civil rights. Violations include being forced into a nursing home, not being allowed to move from a nursing home or other institution back into the community, or having home and community services decreased due to budget cuts so you don’t have the hours you need.
ADAPT will also post on its website pictures of you visiting your state and federal senators and representatives, and your state Medicaid and other government officials. These pictures and descriptions will create a public record of the disability community’s efforts to stop cuts, and will inspire others across the country to speak up and speak out, too. Send your personal “cut” stories, and your pictures, with a description of what occurred and what you were told by your public officials, to defendingourfreedom@gmail.com then watch for them on the blog. Let’s hold public officials accountable for what they tell us!
Source and More:
http://www.adapt.org/ via news release via email.
Sign up for their news releases.
“People with disabilities are literally “bleeding to death” already because of state budget cuts, and there is no end in sight” said Rahnee Patrick , an organizer with Chicago ADAPT. “When states cut budgets, the first things on the chopping block are what are called “optional services,” the services that states can choose to provide, but aren’t mandated to provide…..only they aren’t so optional for us. Those are the services that pay aides to help us out of bed, get dressed, get ready for work, eat, and live in our own homes instead of being forced into nursing homes.”
Nearly every state in the union is currently planning budget cuts that impact the ability of people with disabilities and older people to stay in their own homes. Federal law currently mandates states to provide nursing home services. Providing home and community-based services is considered “optional” under the law, which is why those services are usually cut when states are reducing their budgets. Because there is no provision in the law that tells states they must also provide the same services in a person’s own home, countless thousands of people across the country are forced every day into nursing facilities and other institutions when they need help with the activities of daily living.
“For all these 20 years since the ADA was passed, Congress has refused to remove the “institutional bias” from the law,” said Mike Oxford, organizer from Kansas ADAPT. “That institutional bias has made older and disabled people America’s political prisoners. We are deprived of our freedom, and deprived of our civil rights, and that is totally unacceptable, and most certainly illegal. Apparently, Congress is too politically scared to address the issue, but we aren’t, and we won’t stop until we have the first class citizenship and rights that our Constitution guarantees us!”
ADAPT is calling on individuals and groups of people who are aging or have disabilities to send in stories of cuts in services. ADAPT will collect these stories and post them on the ADAPT website in a “People’s Forum to Fight Back.” Stories and pictures can be viewed on the ADAPT Defending Our Freedom blog at www.defendingourfreedom2010.blogspot.com
. The ADAPT website will also have a link to the forms that people can use to complain to the Health and Human Services Office of Civil Rights about a violation of their civil rights. Violations include being forced into a nursing home, not being allowed to move from a nursing home or other institution back into the community, or having home and community services decreased due to budget cuts so you don’t have the hours you need.
ADAPT will also post on its website pictures of you visiting your state and federal senators and representatives, and your state Medicaid and other government officials. These pictures and descriptions will create a public record of the disability community’s efforts to stop cuts, and will inspire others across the country to speak up and speak out, too. Send your personal “cut” stories, and your pictures, with a description of what occurred and what you were told by your public officials, to defendingourfreedom@gmail.com then watch for them on the blog. Let’s hold public officials accountable for what they tell us!
Source and More:
http://www.adapt.org/ via news release via email.
Sign up for their news releases.
Journal stem cell work 'blocked'
Stem cell experts say they believe a small group of scientists is effectively vetoing high quality science from publication in journals.
In some cases they say it might be done to deliberately stifle research that is in competition with their own.
It has also emerged that 14 leading stem cell researchers have written an open letter to journal editors in order to highlight their dissatisfaction.
Billions of pounds of public money is spent on funding stem cell research.
The open letter to the major scientific journals claims that "papers that are scientifically flawed or comprise only modest technical increments often attract undue profile. At the same time publication of truly original findings may be delayed or rejected".
Two internationally-renowned researchers have spoken to BBC News about their concerns.
Source and More:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8490291.stm
In some cases they say it might be done to deliberately stifle research that is in competition with their own.
It has also emerged that 14 leading stem cell researchers have written an open letter to journal editors in order to highlight their dissatisfaction.
Billions of pounds of public money is spent on funding stem cell research.
The open letter to the major scientific journals claims that "papers that are scientifically flawed or comprise only modest technical increments often attract undue profile. At the same time publication of truly original findings may be delayed or rejected".
Two internationally-renowned researchers have spoken to BBC News about their concerns.
Source and More:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8490291.stm
Monday, February 1, 2010
Social Security Awards Nearly $20 Million in Recovery Act Contracts For Electronic Medical Records
Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security, today announced that 15 healthcare providers and networks have received $17.4 million in contract awards to provide electronic medical records to the agency. These electronic medical records, which will be sent through the Nationwide Health Information Network (NHIN), will significantly shorten the time it takes to make a disability decision and will improve the speed, accuracy, and efficiency of the disability program.
“Using health information technology will improve our disability programs and provide better service to the public,” Commissioner Astrue said. “We’ve seen a significant increase in disability applications. To process them, the agency sends more than 15 million requests annually for medical records to healthcare providers. This largely paper-bound workload is generally the most time-consuming part of the disability decision process. The use of health IT will dramatically improve the speed, accuracy, and efficiency of this process, reducing the cost of making a disability decision for both the medical community and the American taxpayer.”
The contract awards are funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. They will require awardees, with a patient’s authorization, to send Social Security electronic medical records through the NHIN. The NHIN, a safe and secure method for receiving access to electronic medical records over the Internet, is an initiative of the Department of Health and Human Services supported by multiple government agencies and private sector entities.
Source and More:
http://www.socialsecurity.gov/pressoffice/pr/nhin0210-pr.htm
“Using health information technology will improve our disability programs and provide better service to the public,” Commissioner Astrue said. “We’ve seen a significant increase in disability applications. To process them, the agency sends more than 15 million requests annually for medical records to healthcare providers. This largely paper-bound workload is generally the most time-consuming part of the disability decision process. The use of health IT will dramatically improve the speed, accuracy, and efficiency of this process, reducing the cost of making a disability decision for both the medical community and the American taxpayer.”
The contract awards are funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. They will require awardees, with a patient’s authorization, to send Social Security electronic medical records through the NHIN. The NHIN, a safe and secure method for receiving access to electronic medical records over the Internet, is an initiative of the Department of Health and Human Services supported by multiple government agencies and private sector entities.
Source and More:
http://www.socialsecurity.gov/pressoffice/pr/nhin0210-pr.htm
Girl's odyssey shows challenge of fighting obesity
Paris Woods is hardly a poster child for the obesity epidemic. Lining up dripping wet with kids on her swim team, she's a blend of girlish chunkiness and womanly curves.
In street clothes - roomy pink sweats or skimpy tank tops revealing broad, brown swimmers' shoulders - the teen blends in with her friends, a fresh-faced, robust-looking All-American girl.
That's the problem.
Like nearly one-third of American teens, Paris Woods is overweight. Her doctor worries her weight will creep up into the obesity range. One out of four black girls her age is obese.
The more than 11 million U.S. teens who are overweight or obese face an increased risk for diseases once confined to adults, like diabetes, artery damage and liver trouble. Those problems along with high blood pressure and high cholesterol are showing up increasingly in kids.
Paris' pediatrician urged her to take part in an intensive experiment. The goal? To see if a yearlong program of weekly sessions with a nutritionist, exercise trainer and doctor, all preaching major lifestyle changes, could keep the 14-year-old from becoming obese.
It's the kind of intensive help that the influential U.S. Preventive Services Task Force said last month can work for teens.
Source and More:
http://www.physorg.com/news184223918.html
In street clothes - roomy pink sweats or skimpy tank tops revealing broad, brown swimmers' shoulders - the teen blends in with her friends, a fresh-faced, robust-looking All-American girl.
That's the problem.
Like nearly one-third of American teens, Paris Woods is overweight. Her doctor worries her weight will creep up into the obesity range. One out of four black girls her age is obese.
The more than 11 million U.S. teens who are overweight or obese face an increased risk for diseases once confined to adults, like diabetes, artery damage and liver trouble. Those problems along with high blood pressure and high cholesterol are showing up increasingly in kids.
Paris' pediatrician urged her to take part in an intensive experiment. The goal? To see if a yearlong program of weekly sessions with a nutritionist, exercise trainer and doctor, all preaching major lifestyle changes, could keep the 14-year-old from becoming obese.
It's the kind of intensive help that the influential U.S. Preventive Services Task Force said last month can work for teens.
Source and More:
http://www.physorg.com/news184223918.html
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Obama Administration Issues Rules Requiring Parity In Treatment Of Mental, Substance Use Disorders
The Departments of Health and Human Services, Labor and the Treasury today jointly issued new rules providing parity for consumers enrolled in group health plans who need treatment for mental health or substance use disorders.
"The rules we are issuing today will, for the first time, help assure that those diagnosed with these debilitating and sometimes life-threatening disorders will not suffer needless or arbitrary limits on their care," said Secretary Sebelius. "I applaud the long-standing and bipartisan effort that made these important new protections possible."
"Today's rules will bring needed relief to families faced with meeting the cost of obtaining mental health and substance abuse services," said U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "The benefits will give these Americans access to greatly needed medical treatment, which will better allow them to participate fully in society. That's not just sound policy, it's the right thing to do."
"Workers covered by group health plans who need mental health and substance abuse care deserve fair treatment," said Deputy Treasury Secretary Neal Wolin. "These rules expand on existing protections to ensure that people don't face unnecessary barriers to the treatment they need."
Source and More:
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/177636.php
"The rules we are issuing today will, for the first time, help assure that those diagnosed with these debilitating and sometimes life-threatening disorders will not suffer needless or arbitrary limits on their care," said Secretary Sebelius. "I applaud the long-standing and bipartisan effort that made these important new protections possible."
"Today's rules will bring needed relief to families faced with meeting the cost of obtaining mental health and substance abuse services," said U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "The benefits will give these Americans access to greatly needed medical treatment, which will better allow them to participate fully in society. That's not just sound policy, it's the right thing to do."
"Workers covered by group health plans who need mental health and substance abuse care deserve fair treatment," said Deputy Treasury Secretary Neal Wolin. "These rules expand on existing protections to ensure that people don't face unnecessary barriers to the treatment they need."
Source and More:
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/177636.php
Saturday, January 30, 2010
The Not on My Watch Campaign
When someone enters the hospital, he expects to get better of course,not worse. Unfortunately, all too often patients become terribly ill from an infection they didn't have before entering the hospital. These infections are known as HAIs - health care associated infections or hospital acquired infections. With the increase in resistant bacteria, HAIs are on the rise. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), at any point in time,1.4 million people worldwide are suffering from infections acquired in hospitals.
The Not on My Watch Campaign aims to educate health care professionals and patients about the best ways to prevent infections. One of the most important methods is the old standby, hand washing or hand sanitizer.
If you'd like more information about HAIs or the Not on My Watch campaign, please take a look at http://www.haiwatch.com
Contributed by: Barbara Dunn
The Not on My Watch Campaign aims to educate health care professionals and patients about the best ways to prevent infections. One of the most important methods is the old standby, hand washing or hand sanitizer.
If you'd like more information about HAIs or the Not on My Watch campaign, please take a look at http://www.haiwatch.com
Contributed by: Barbara Dunn
FDA wants drug companies to look at potential for abuse
The Food and Drug Administration is calling on pharmaceutical firms to give more attention to the potential for abuse of new drugs when subjecting them to pre-market testing.
The agency this week released a draft of new voluntary guidelines to assist drugmakers in figuring out which compounds should be placed under the Controlled Substances Act, which regulates the handling, record-keeping and dispensing of controlled substances -- in some cases imposing criminal penalties for misuse.
The guidelines urge researchers to look beyond traditional indicators such as whether a compound is addictive to other characteristics that could lead to abuse. Advances in chemistry and biochemistry have created new properties in drugs that may include previously unrecognized abuse potential in humans, according to the FDA.
While officials said no specific event triggered the FDAs guidance, Michael Klein, director of the agency's Controlled Substance Staff, pointed to the anesthetic propofol as an example of a drug that might be flagged for restrictions if subjected to more rigorous consideration of potential abuse.
Propofol is best known as part of the cocktail of drugs that caused the death of pop star Michael Jackson.
It currently is not considered a controlled substance, but that status has been under review by the Drug Enforcement Administration, which enforces the Controlled Substances Act.
Source and More:
http://www.physorg.com/news184044171.html
The agency this week released a draft of new voluntary guidelines to assist drugmakers in figuring out which compounds should be placed under the Controlled Substances Act, which regulates the handling, record-keeping and dispensing of controlled substances -- in some cases imposing criminal penalties for misuse.
The guidelines urge researchers to look beyond traditional indicators such as whether a compound is addictive to other characteristics that could lead to abuse. Advances in chemistry and biochemistry have created new properties in drugs that may include previously unrecognized abuse potential in humans, according to the FDA.
While officials said no specific event triggered the FDAs guidance, Michael Klein, director of the agency's Controlled Substance Staff, pointed to the anesthetic propofol as an example of a drug that might be flagged for restrictions if subjected to more rigorous consideration of potential abuse.
Propofol is best known as part of the cocktail of drugs that caused the death of pop star Michael Jackson.
It currently is not considered a controlled substance, but that status has been under review by the Drug Enforcement Administration, which enforces the Controlled Substances Act.
Source and More:
http://www.physorg.com/news184044171.html
Friday, January 29, 2010
Smokers at risk from their own 'second-hand' smoke
It is well known that smokers damage their health by directly inhaling cigarette smoke. Now, research published in BioMed Central's open access journal Environmental Health has shown that they are at additional risk from breathing environmental tobacco smoke, contrary to the prevailing assumption that such risks would be negligible in comparison to those incurred by actually smoking.
Maria Teresa Piccardo worked with a team of researchers from the National cancer Research Institute, Genoa, Italy, to study the exposure of newsagents in the city to harmful cigarette smoke. She said, "Newsagents were chosen because they work alone in small newsstands, meaning that any tobacco smoke in the air they breathe is strictly correlated to the number of cigarettes smoked by that newsagent. We studied the contribution environmental tobacco smoke made to carcinogen exposure in 15 active smokers."
Source and More:
http://www.physorg.com/news183964765.html
Maria Teresa Piccardo worked with a team of researchers from the National cancer Research Institute, Genoa, Italy, to study the exposure of newsagents in the city to harmful cigarette smoke. She said, "Newsagents were chosen because they work alone in small newsstands, meaning that any tobacco smoke in the air they breathe is strictly correlated to the number of cigarettes smoked by that newsagent. We studied the contribution environmental tobacco smoke made to carcinogen exposure in 15 active smokers."
Source and More:
http://www.physorg.com/news183964765.html
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