Twitter Updates

    follow me on Twitter

    Thursday, December 29, 2011

    Cancer Incidence And Mortality Continue To Decline

    Cancer incidence and mortality continue to decline, with the most dramatic decreases in lung, prostate, and colorectal cancers among men, and breast and colorectal cancers in women, according to the latest national report card.

    "Overall cancer incidence rates for all racial/ethnic groups combined decreased by 0.7% per year during 1999-2006 for both sexes combined, by 1.3% per year during 2000-2006 for men, and by 0.5% per year during 1998-2006 for women," authors from the American Cancer Society, the CDC, the National Cancer Institute, and the North American Association of Central Cancer Registries concluded. The report, was published online in the ACS journal, Cancer.

    There has been a decline in cancer death rates since the early 1990s and that trend appears to be durable.The decreases were slightly larger for men, who had declines of 1.5% per year during 1993-2001 and 2.0% per year during 2001-2006 compared with women, whose cancer death rates declined 0.8% per year during 1994-2002 and 1.5% per year during 2002-2006," the authors wrote.

    But the news was not all good. As men saw decreased rates of prostate, lung, oral, stomach, brain, and colorectal cancers, there was a concurrent increase in the cancers of the kidney, renal, liver, and esophagus -- as well as increases in leukemia, myeloma, and melanoma of the skin.

    For women the story was similar -- decreased rates of breast, colorectal, ovarian, cervical, uterine corpus, and oral cancers, but an uptick in lung, thyroid, pancreas, bladder, and kidney cancers, as well as increases in non-Hodgkin lymphoma, melanoma, and leukemia.

    Colorectal cancer [CRC] is a focus of this year's report, not a surprising choice because the news here is good: "CRC death rates have declined since 1984 in both men and women, with an accelerated rate of decline since 2002 (for men) and 2001 (for women)."

    And a "microsimulation model" suggests that death rates from colorectal cancer could be reduced by 36% over the next decade if "1995-2000 trends for risk factor prevalence, screening, and treatment continue."But the authors point out that increased obesity among younger Americans could derail this trend.

    Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice. For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.

    Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com
    For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com

    Thursday, December 15, 2011

    Americans living longer than ever

    Americans living longer than ever. And every year that gets tacked on to the average life expectancy costs an extra trillion dollars in expenditures by Social Security and Medicare.

    Americans are living a record 77 years and 11 months on average...according to two studies that led researchers to suggest raising the retirement age." The first study, from the CDC's National Center for Health Statistics, found that in the "US in 2007, the latest year for which figures are available," the "0.76 percent death rate is the lowest ever," driven by "a decline in deaths from heart disease and other ailments." Meanwhile, a second study published Dec. 14 in the health journal Milbank Quarterly, found that "every year that gets tacked on to the average life expectancy costs an extra trillion dollars in expenditures by Social Security and Medicare."

            Overall, the 2007 data "show continued improvements in life expectancy for all Americans, although women are faring better than men, and whites fare better than other racial groups" by a "race differential" of about "4.6 years." But, even amid this progress, vast geographical discrepancies remain -- with people in southern states still facing higher death rates than those living in other parts of the country." And, "even though Americans can expect to live longer than their parents, life expectancy in the" US "is still lower than in many other industrialized countries, including Canada and Japan. Even so, the "dramatic improvements in the health of Americans over the last 20 years" will "have unforeseen effects on the country. The Social Security and Medicare "programs weren't designed to support people for that long."

    Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice. For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.

    Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com
    For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com

    Wednesday, November 30, 2011

    Maternal Use of Sertaline, Citalopram Linked to Septal Heart Defects in Offspring

    Women who use the antidepressants sertraline (Zoloft) or citalopram (Celexa) early in pregnancy face increased risk for septal heart defects in their offspring, BMJ reports online.

    Researchers examined data on more than 490,000 infants born in Denmark between 1996 and 2003. They found that women who filled prescriptions for sertraline and citalopram (but not other SSRIs) during their first trimester were significantly more likely to have children with septal heart defects (but not other malformations) than those who didn't use SSRIs (odds ratios: 3.2 and 2.5, respectively).
    The authors and an editorialist (both with ties to SSRI manufacturers) note that the absolute risks for septal heart defects were low: 0.9% in children exposed to at least one SSRI and 2.1% in those exposed to more than one.
    The editorialist concludes: "Clinicians and patients need to balance the small risks associated with SSRIs against those associated with undertreatment or no treatment."

    Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice. For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.

    Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com
    For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com

    Tuesday, November 15, 2011

    Patient Balance Problems

    Millions of people may suffer from inner-ear disorders that affect their balance but not be aware that they have a problem, a new study has found.Writing in The Archives of Internal Medicine, researchers noted the connection between balance problems and falls, especially among the elderly. The findings of the study, they said, suggest that doctors should make balance tests a routine part of checkups. This is especially true in nursing and assisted-living homes, they said.

    “The big deal here really is falls,” the lead author, Dr. Yuri Agrawal of Johns Hopkins, said in an e-mail message, adding that a serious fall can be the beginning of the end for an older patient.The researchers drew on data from a federal study in which more than 5,000 people age 40 and over were surveyed about their history of falls and balance problems. They were then given examinations to determine how well they could maintain their balance in a variety of situations, including with their eyes closed.

    More than a third of the subjects, the researchers found, had the balance disorder known as vestibular dysfunction — a figure that would translate to 69 million Americans.They also found that 32 percent of the volunteers who did not report problems with dizziness showed evidence of balance problems. Though they did not experience symptoms, they were still at higher risk for falls, the study said.
    For doctors, Dr. Agrawal said, detecting balance problems in a patient is not very complicated. And treatment is available, including exercises that help people compensate for inner-ear problems that lead to poor balance.The cost of the treatment, they said, would most likely be less than medical costs associated with falls.

    Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice. For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.

    Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com
    For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com

    Sunday, October 30, 2011

    Banned Herbal Ingredient Linked to Urinary Tract Cancer

    Natural does not equal safe, and any herb strong enough to have a potential benefit is strong enough to have potential to cause harm."
    Exposure to aristolochic acid, found in some Chinese herbal products such as Mu Tong and Fangchi, significantly increased the risk for urinary tract cancer, according to a retrospective study.Researchers in Taiwan found prescription of more than 60 grams of Mu Tong and consumption of more than 150 mg aristolochic acid were independently associated with an increased risk for urinary tract cancer.

    • Mu Tong, 61 to 100 g: OR 1.6, 95% CI 1.3 to 2.1
    • Mu Tong, >200 g: OR 2.1, 95% CI 1.3 to 3.4
    • Aristolochic acid, 151 to 250 mg: OR 1.4, 95% CI 1.1 to 1.8
    • Aristolochic acid, >500 mg: OR 2.0, 95% CI 1.4 to 2.9

    Used in Chinese herbal preparations taken for weight loss or urinary tract infections, aristolochic acid has been banned in several countries, including in Taiwan and in the U.S.The latest study found a linear, dose-dependent relationship between the amount of aristolochic acid consumed and an increased risk for urinary tract cancer (P<0.001). This was independent of arsenic exposure through drinking water, which has also been associated with bladder and urinary tract cancers.Among the more than 4,000 patients analyzed, 57% had bladder cancer and 43% had upper urinary tract cancer.
    The International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified herbal remedies containing high concentrations of aristolochic acid as carcinogenic. Traces of aristolochic acid may still be found in adulterated remedies currently on the market.
    Wang, et al "Population-based case-control study of chinese herbal products containing aristolochic acid and urinary tract cancer risk" J Nat Can Inst 2009; DOI:10.1093/jnci/djp467.

    Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice. For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.

    Tuesday, October 18, 2011

    About 2 million older adults undergo abdominal surgeries in the U.S. every year, a number that's expected to grow as the proportion of older adults increases rapidly: by 2020, one in six adults is expected to be older than 65, and 15% will be over 85.
    The patient records came from the Comprehensive Hospital Abstract Reporting System, a state-wide database that contains information on the age, sex, zip code, and billed charges of patients, as well as the codes for their diagnosis and procedures.
    The study focused on complications that occurred within 90 days of discharge and deaths within 90 days of hospital admission.

    After adjusting for various factors, including hospital volume and patient characteristics, the study found that the odds of early death after abdominal surgery increased considerably for each five-year increase in age beyond 65. These associations held for patients with cancer and other diagnoses, and for both elective and nonelective procedures (P<0.001).

    The likelihood of complications increased as patients aged beyond 65 years, with the researchers finding the following associations between age and complication frequency (trend test, P<0.001):

    • 65 to 69 years, 14.6%
    • 70 to 74 years, 16.1%
    • 75 to 79 years, 18.8%
    • 80 to 84 years, 19.9%
    • 85 to 89 years, 22.6%
    • 90 and older, 22.7%

    Similarly, older patients were at higher risk of mortality. Death rates by age group were (trend test, P<0.001):

    • 65 to 69 years, 2.5%
    • 70 to 74 years, 3.8%
    • 75 to 79 years, 6.0%
    • 80 to 84 years, 8.1%
    • 85 to 89 years, 12.6%
    • 90 and older, 16.7%

    Massarweh N, et al "Impact of advancing age on abdominal surgical outcomes" Arch Surg 2009; 144: 1108-14.

    Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice. For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.

    Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com
    For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com

    Monday, September 26, 2011

    Certain dietary supplements Selenium and Omega-3s may reduce colorectal cancer risk

    Certain dietary supplements appear to affect the development of colorectal cancer or its recurrence," according to two new studies presented during a medical conference. In one, "researchers from the US National Institute for Environmental Health Sciences found that eating a diet high in omega-3 fatty acids cut the risk of developing colorectal cancer by nearly 40 percent. In the other study, from cancer researchers in Italy, consumption of a dietary supplement containing selenium was found to reduce the chances of having polyps recur by a similar amount."

    In one study, researchers from the U.S. National Institute for Environmental Health Sciences found that eating a diet high in omega-3 fatty acids cut the risk of developing colorectal cancer by nearly 40 percent. In the other study, from cancer researchers in Italy, consumption of a dietary supplement containing selenium was found to reduce the chances of having polyps recur by a similar amount.

    In the selenium study, 411 people, 25 to 75 years old, who'd had one or more colorectal polyps removed took either a supplement or a placebo. The supplement, described as an antioxidant compound, contained 200 micrograms of selenomethionnine (a combination of selenium and methionnine), 30 milligrams of zinc, 6,000 international units of vitamin A, 180 milligrams of vitamin C and 30 milligrams of vitamin E.

    Participants had a colonoscopy one year, three years and five years after starting the regimen.

    The researchers estimated that, after 15 years, about 48 percent of those taking the supplement were free of polyps, versus about 30 percent of those not taking the supplement.

    Among the white participants, those whose diets were in the highest fourth of omega-3 fatty acid consumption were 39 percent less likely to have colorectal cancer than those in the lowest fourth. However, for reasons the authors said they did not know, no association was noted between omega-3s and a reduction of colorectal cancer risk among black participants. The disease occurs at a higher rate among blacks than whites.
    "Our finding clearly supports the evidence from previous experimental and clinical studies showing that long-chain omega-3 fatty acids inhibit tumor growth," said the study's lead author, Sangmi Kim, a postdoctoral fellow at the U.S. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences in Research Triangle Park, N.C.

    Kim said the research supports boosting omega-3 intake through diet or perhaps by taking an omega-3 supplement. Omega-3 fatty acids are found in fish, especially oily fish such as salmon, mackerel, herring, anchovies, sardines and tuna. Plant-based sources include flax and flaxseed oil, Brussels sprouts, soybeans and soybean oil, canola oil, spinach, walnuts and kiwi.

    Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice. For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.

    Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com
    For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com

    Friday, September 2, 2011

    HOW TO LOWER PROSTATE CANCER RISK

    Harvard scientists have discovered that "drinking coffee may lower the risk of developing the deadliest form of prostate cancer." In fact, "the five percent of" study participants "who drank six or more cups a day had a 60 percent lower risk of developing the advanced form of the disease than those who didn't consume any."."

    A Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research conference" also touched on the "role that exercise...could play in the fight against prostate cancer. An analysis of activity levels among 2,686 prostate cancer patients showed that men who jogged, played tennis, or participated in other comparable exercise for an average of three or more hours per week had 35% lower mortality rates than those who exercised less frequently or not at all." As for walking, those who did so "for four or more hours per week" had "overall mortality rates [that] were 23% lower than those of men who walked for fewer than 20 minutes per week."


    Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice. For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.

    Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com
    For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com

    Sunday, August 21, 2011

    Autism increases in the US

    Almost one percent of American children had an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in a large CDC surveillance study whose lead author called the condition a "significant public health issue."

    Across 11 sites in the U.S., ASD prevalence in 2006 ranged from about one out of 80 children to one out of every 240 children, with an overall prevalence of one in 111 youngsters, according to a report by investigators from the CDC's Autism and Developmental Disorders Monitoring (ADDM) Network.

    Among 10 ADDM sites that reported data in both 2002 and 2006, there was an average 57% increase in ASD prevalence. No single factor could explain the rise, researchers said. Overall ASD prevalence was 4.5 times higher in boys than in girls: about one in every 70 boys and one in every 315 girls.

    From 2002 to 2006, prevalence increased 60% in boys and 48% in girls (P<0.001 for both).
    The American Academy of Pediatrics has recommended that all children be screened for autism when they are 18 and 24 months old which is especially important, as early recognition and treatment improves outcomes.

    ASD diagnosis was made at a slightly younger age in 2006 than in 2002, but it was still delayed to an average age of 53 months. That was so despite the fact that anywhere from 70% to 95% of children had developmental concerns noted in their records before age 3.

    Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice. For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.

    Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com

    For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com

    Monday, August 8, 2011

    Cluster Headaches

    Concerned about recent overdoses of radiation in CT perfusion scans, an FDA official urged imaging practitioners to go "back to basics" when they're performing the scans.
    The advice comes after more than 250 patients in two states were exposed to excess radiation during CT perfusion brain scans.

    "Until we get through whether we're dealing with errors that people are making (or) whether these are problems with the CT scanners themselves, we're saying go back to basics," said Jeffrey Shuren, MD, acting director of the FDA's Center for Devices and Radiological Health.

    Shuren and colleagues released a set of interim recommendations while the agency continues to investigate cases of overexposure reported in California and Alabama.
    They include:

    • Imaging facilities should review their radiation dosing protocols for all CT perfusion studies to ensure that dosing is correct for each study.

    • They should implement quality control procedures to ensure that protocols are followed and correct radiation is used.

    • For each patient, technologists should check the CT scanner displays to make sure the radiation to be delivered is appropriate.

    • If more than one study is performed during one session, practitioners should adjust the radiation dose so it is appropriate for each study.
    The agency also urged imaging facilities to check whether any patients who underwent CT perfusion scans have received excess radiation.

    "We're reminding (practitioners) of good practices that they should be employing routinely," said Charles Finder, MD, also of the agency's Center for Devices and Radiological Health.

    The issue arose when the FDA was told of more than 200 cases of excess radiation delivered during CT perfusion brain scans at Cedars-Sinai Medical center in Los Angeles. (See CT Safety Warnings Follow Radiation Overdose Accident)
    Since then, the agency has received reports of 14 cases at Glendale Adventist Medical Center, also in Los Angeles, as well as an undetermined number of cases at St. Joseph's Medical Center in Burbank, Calif., according to Simon Choi, PhD, also of the Center for Devices and Radiological Health.

    Choi said the the agency is investigating reports in Alabama, too, but he did not give numbers or the name of the facility involved.

    The agency said scanners made by two manufacturers, GE and Toshiba, are involved in the incidents.
    Affected patients had redness of the skin and some hair loss, but potential long-term consequences include an increased risk of cancer and cataracts, Finder said.
    The standard radiation dose for a CT perfusion scan is between 0.5 and 1.0 Gray, but it was reported that some patients at Cedars-Sinai got as much as 3.0 or 4.0 Gray.
    According to a statement from the hospital, "there was a misunderstanding about an embedded default setting applied by the machine."

    The recommendations apply to all CT perfusion imaging, since the methods involved are the same as for brain perfusion scans, the FDA said.

    While the agency is probing cases in the two states, Shuren said, "we would not be surprised to find there are similar occurrences in other states."

    Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice. For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.

    Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com

    For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com

    Wednesday, July 20, 2011

    Good News & Bad News

    NIH Report Finds Cancer Incidence Has Declined.
    A report by the NIH found that "the incidence in men of cancers of the prostate, lung, oral cavity, stomach, brain, colon and rectum has declined." However, "rates in men continue to rise for kidney/renal, liver, and esophageal cancer, as well as for leukemia, myeloma and melanoma," the agency said.

    Heavy Margarines May Be Increasing Their Risk Of A Painful Inflammatory Bowel Disease,

    People who eat lots of red meat, cook with certain types of oil, and use some kinds of polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA)-heavy margarines may be increasing their risk of a painful inflammatory bowel disease, a study in more than 200,000 Europeans shows.
    These foods are high in linoleic acid and the study have found that people who were the heaviest consumers of this omega-6 PUFA were more than twice as likely to develop ulcerative colitis as those who consumed the least.

    But eating more eicosapentaenoic acid, an omega-3 fatty acid found in fish and fish oils, was associated with a lower risk of the disease.

    To investigate the role of fatty acids and ulcerative colitis, a life-long disease characterized by inflammation of the lining of the large intestine, investigators analyzed the problem. Their analysis included 203,193 men and women 30 to 74 years old. During follow-up, which ranged from about 2 to 11 years, 126 people developed ulcerative colitis.

    People in the top quartile of linoleic acid intake (they were consuming around 13 to 38 grams a day) were 2.5 times more likely to have developed the disease than people who consumed the least, about 2 to 8 grams daily.

    While a Western-style, red-meat-heavy diet is high in this fatty acid and low in omega-3s, a more Mediterranean style eating pattern -- with plenty of fruits and vegetables, fish, and nut oils -- would be low in linoleic acid and high in omega-3.
    It is estimated that if omega-3s do help prevent ulcerative colitis, eating a couple of servings of fish a week would probably be protective.

    Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice. For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.

    Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com

    For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com

    Friday, July 15, 2011

    High coffee, tea intake may reduce chances of developing type 2 diabetes.

    According to a study spublished in the Archives of Internal Medicine, "drinking four cups of coffee, decaf, or tea daily can reduce the chances of getting type 2 diabetes by about 25 percent to 35 percent." Harvard University "researchers reviewed 18 studies of almost 500,000 people" and discovered that "for each cup of coffee people drank, their likelihood of getting diabetes dropped by seven percent."

    "Even better results were found for bigger coffee and tea consumers -- drinking three to four cups a day was associated with about a 25% reduced diabetes risk, compared with those who drank between none and two cups day.. In addition, investigators found "positive results with decaf coffee and tea." Specifically, those "who drank more than three to four cups of decaf a day had about a one-third lower risk than those who didn't drink any," while "tea drinkers who consumed more than three to four cups a day had about a one-fifth lower diabetes risk than non-tea drinkers."

    Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice. For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.

    Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com

    For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com

    Monday, June 27, 2011

    Osteoporosis prevention and nutrition

    Although calcium and vitamin D have been the primary focus of nutritional prevention of osteoporosis, recent research has clarified the importance of several additional nutrients and food constituents. Further, results of calcium and vitamin D supplementation trials have been inconsistent, suggesting that reliance on this intervention may be inadequate. In addition to dairy, fruit and vegetable intake has emerged as an important modifiable protective factor for bone health. Several nutrients, including magnesium, potassium, vitamin C, vitamin K, several B vitamins, and carotenoids, have been shown to be more important than previously realized.

    Rather than having a negative effect on bone, protein intake appears to benefit bone status, particularly in older adults. Regular intake of cola beverages shows negative effects and moderate alcohol intake shows positive effects on bone, particularly in older women. Current research on diet and bone status supports encouragement of balanced diets with plenty of fruit and vegetables, adequate dairy and other protein foods, and limitation of foods with low nutrient density.

    Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice. For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.

    Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com

    For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com

    Wednesday, June 15, 2011

    Radiation overexposure from CT scans may be more widespread than previously estimated.

    The problem of too much radiation during CT scans may be more widespread than anyone thought." In fact, "new research...found a wide variation in radiation dose for the most common CT scan like abdomen, pelvis, and chest. A survey of four hospitals found some patients received 13 times more radiation than others for the same type of scan." "Depending on the part of the body being scanned, each CT exposes a patient to an amount of radiation equal to between 30 and 440 chest X-rays." But, in a separate study, "researchers calculated that 72 million CT scans are performed in this country a year and concluded that could lead to 29,000 excess cancers and 15,000 excess deaths a year in the future." In that study, published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, researchers at the National Cancer Institute "found that people may be exposed to up to four times as much radiation as estimated by earlier studies.

    Meanwhile, the second study, appearing in the same journal, of over 1,000 patients at four hospitals, showed that one woman out of 270 and one man out of 600 would suffer from cancer after undergoing a single heart scan at age 40. Researchers noted that the differences in radiation doses may be due to a lack of standardized settings and disparities in technology use.

    Ian accompanying editorial, it was noted that "the articles...make clear that there is far more radiation from medical CT scans than has been recognized previously because even many otherwise healthy patients are being subjected to the radiation...because emergency [departments] are often sending patients to the CT scanner before they see a doctor."

    The authors predicted that lung cancer will be the most common radiation-related cancer followed by colon cancer and leukemia." For its part, the FDA "issued interim regulations requiring closer monitoring of CT scans after more than 250 cases of exposure to excess radiation were reported since October."


    Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice. For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.

    Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com

    For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com

    Saturday, May 14, 2011

    Americans living longer than ever

    Americans are living a record 77 years and 11 months on average...according to two studies that led researchers to suggest raising the retirement age." The first study, from the CDC's National Center for Health Statistics, found that in the "US in 2007, the latest year for which figures are available," the "0.76 percent death rate is the lowest ever," driven by "a decline in deaths from heart disease and other ailments." Meanwhile, a second study published Dec. 14 in the health journal Milbank Quarterly, found that "every year that gets tacked on to the average life expectancy costs an extra trillion dollars in expenditures by Social Security and Medicare."
    Overall, the 2007 data "show continued improvements in life expectancy for all Americans, although women are faring better than men, and whites fare better than other racial groups" by a "race differential" of about "4.6 years." But, even amid this progress, vast geographical discrepancies remain -- with people in southern states still facing higher death rates than those living in other parts of the country."
    And, "even though Americans can expect to live longer than their parents, life expectancy in the" US "is still lower than in many other industrialized countries, including Canada and Japan. Even so, the "dramatic improvements in the health of Americans over the last 20 years" will "have unforeseen effects on the country. The Social Security and Medicare "programs weren't designed to support people for that long."


    Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice. For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.

    Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com

    For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com

    Saturday, April 23, 2011

    Concerned About Switching From A Brand Name To A Generic?

    For many people, generic drugs work very well. But if you are concerned about switching from a brand name to a generic, or among different generics, then you need to keep tabs on your meds and how they are affecting you.
    Here’s some guidance:

    1. KEEP THE PACKAGING If you take a generic medication or are switched to one, keep the label.
    Most state laws require that the manufacturer’s name be on the label, according to Kathleen Jaeger, chief executive of the Generic Pharmaceutical Association.
    If the label does not state the name of the maker, ask your pharmacist to add it or write it down for you. You can also look up the pill at Drugs.com or RxList.com (click on pill identifier) to find the maker.

    2. KEEP A DIARY Or at least make notes about any side effects you experience when taking a new drug.
    Generic drugs are allowed to contain different inactive ingredients from the brand drug — like flavors, fillers and dyes — which could potentially cause side effects.

    3. BE CHOOSY If one generic version works better than another, shop around for it.
    “Don’t assume your pharmacist will continue to carry a specific product indefinitely,” said Joe Graedon, who runs a consumer advocacy Web site, the People’s Pharmacy (peoplespharmacy.com). “Call ahead and ask.”

    4. ENLIST YOUR DOCTOR If you are convinced that only the brand name of a drug works for you, discuss the issue with your doctor.
    You can ask him or her to write “DAW” — dispense as written — on your prescription. This will usually ensure that the pharmacist gives you exactly what the doctor ordered.
    If your insurer balks, ask your doctor to make a phone call for you or write a letter explaining why only the brand name is appropriate for you. Sometimes this actually works.

    5. REPORT PROBLEMS If you do have side effects or reactions to a specific drug, tell your doctor and then report it to the Food and Drug Administration’s MedWatch Web site and post a message on the People’s Pharmacy Web site.
    If enough people complain about a specific medication, there’s a good chance the F.D.A. or an independent group will investigate it.

    Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice. For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.

    Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com

    For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com

    Friday, April 15, 2011

    DANGEROUS SIDE EFFECTS OF OSTEOPOROSIS DRUGS

    The FDA sent out a nationwide announcement about "the potential side effects of osteoporosis drugs like Fosamax [alendronate]." the agency "said in their announcement...physicians need to watch for the possibility of possible risk of femur fractures. And this didn't just apply to Fosamax, this applied to all four drugs that are in this group Fosamax, Actonel [risedronate], Boniva [ibandronate], and Reclast [zoledronic acid]."

    Studies show the bones of some post-menopausal women who take bisphosphonates...to ward off osteoporosis can stop rejuvenating and become brittle after long-term use." Researchers found that "the drugs are effective initially in slowing bone loss," but "the quality of the bone diminished after long-tern bisphosphonate use." A separate study indicated that "bone densitometry (DXA) scans show a buckling potential in the femur area of the hip in patients being treated for osteoporosis with bisphosphonates."

    The FDA is now examining whether long-term use of the drugs increases the risk of atypical subtrochanteric femur fractures, but so far, the agency said the data it "has reviewed have not shown a clear connection."

    Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice. For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.

    Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com

    For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com

    Monday, March 21, 2011

    DANGEROUS SIDE EFFECTS OF OSTEOPOROSIS DRUGS

    The FDA sent out a nationwide announcement about "the potential side effects of osteoporosis drugs like Fosamax [alendronate]." the agency "said in their announcement...physicians need to watch for the possibility of possible risk of femur fractures. And this didn't just apply to Fosamax, this applied to all four drugs that are in this group Fosamax, Actonel [risedronate], Boniva [ibandronate], and Reclast [zoledronic acid]."

    Studies show the bones of some post-menopausal women who take bisphosphonates...to ward off osteoporosis can stop rejuvenating and become brittle after long-term use." Researchers found that "the drugs are effective initially in slowing bone loss," but "the quality of the bone diminished after long-tern bisphosphonate use." A separate study indicated that "bone densitometry (DXA) scans show a buckling potential in the femur area of the hip in patients being treated for osteoporosis with bisphosphonates."

    The FDA is now examining whether long-term use of the drugs increases the risk of atypical subtrochanteric femur fractures, but so far, the agency said the data it "has reviewed have not shown a clear connection."

    Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice. For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.

    Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com

    For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com

    Saturday, March 5, 2011

    Medical Malpractice Is Frequent On TV

    According to the American Academy of Neurology Television dramas are potentially a powerful method of educating the public so it is a concern to find that TV shows inaccurate showed seizure management which would qualify for medical malpractice. Medical malpractice is rife on the television medical shows with specifically nearly half of TV doctors and nurses committing seizure management errors. Researchers screened the popular medical dramas Grey's Anatomy, House, Private Practice and ER to see if TV medical dramas were helping to educate the public about first aid and seizures. The study found inappropriate practices occurred in 25 cases, or nearly 46 per cent of the incidents.

    The researchers found in 327 episodes screened, 59 seizures occurred. Fifty-one seizures took place in a hospital. Nearly all first aid was performed by nurses or doctors.

    "People with epilepsy should lobby the television industry to adhere to guidelines for first aid management of seizures," the study’s lead author said.

    Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice. For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.

    Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com

    For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com

    Monday, February 28, 2011

    RISKY HUMAN GROWTH HORMONE USE

    H.G.H. is among the drugs prescribed some doctors to athletes.

    The United States, however, determined that potential harm from H.G.H. is so great that federal law puts it in an unusual category of drugs that doctors cannot prescribe for unapproved, or off-label, uses. (No such ban exists in Canada.)

    Its approved uses are not conditions common among professional athletes: it can be used in children with severe growth problems, H.I.V. patients may receive it if they have muscle wasting, and it can be prescribed to offset exceptional weight loss in people who have had much of their small intestine surgically removed.

    Physicians and medical researchers who have studied people with medical conditions that lead to growth hormone overproduction said that available evidence suggested that athletes who cheat by using costly" human growth hormone (HGH) as a performance-enhancing drug may "simply wind up" exposing themselves to "cardiovascular problems, an increased risk of diabetes, arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome, glucose intolerance, colon polyps, skin growths, excessive sweating," and "serious headaches," as well as "abnormal bone growth in the face, head, hands, and feet," and possibly even cancer.

    Growth hormone does not act directly. Instead it prompts the body to produce insulin-like growth factor 1, or I.G.F.-1, which then triggers growth. The overwhelming majority of I.G.F.-1 is produced by the liver and delivered through the blood stream. Evidence shows, however, that growth hormone can prompt local I.G.F.-1 production in other cells of the body

    Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice. For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.

    Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com

    For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com

    Sunday, February 20, 2011

    Stuttering may have "strong" genetic component

    While environmental factors and stress can play roles in stuttering, new research provides further evidence of a strong genetic component." Led by geneticist Dennis Drayna, PhD, at the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders and reporting in the New England Journal of Medicine, researchers "have discovered the first genes linked to stuttering -- a complex of three mutated genes that may be responsible for one in every 11 stuttering cases, especially in people of Asian descent." "The takeaway message of this is stuttering is not a social or emotional disorder. ... It is not the fault of a bad parent, or unwilling child. It is a serious disorder and worthy of treatment."

    Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice. For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.

    Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com

    For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com

    Friday, February 4, 2011

    Hospitals Continue To Leave Foreign Objects Inside Patients

    "Utah hospitals continue to mistakenly leave equipment such as sponges inside patients -- many of them women undergoing obstetrical or gynecological surgeries," according to data "on 'sentinel events'" released by the Utah state health department and the state hospital association. Notably, "out of 101 sentinel events reported in 2009 -- up from 80 reported in 2008 -- 58 were related to surgery," which "could include performing the wrong surgery on the wrong patient, death during surgery, and retention of foreign objects." Sponges -- large pieces of gauze used to stop or absorb bleeding -- are the most common items left inside patients because they can be hard to spot after surgery."

    Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice. For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.

    Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com

    For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com

    Saturday, January 29, 2011

    Stuttering may have "strong" genetic component

    While environmental factors and stress can play roles in stuttering, new research provides further evidence of a strong genetic component." Led by geneticist Dennis Drayna, PhD, at the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders and reporting in the New England Journal of Medicine, researchers "have discovered the first genes linked to stuttering -- a complex of three mutated genes that may be responsible for one in every 11 stuttering cases, especially in people of Asian descent." "The takeaway message of this is stuttering is not a social or emotional disorder. ... It is not the fault of a bad parent, or unwilling child. It is a serious disorder and worthy of treatment."

    Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice. For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.

    Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com

    For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com

    Thursday, January 20, 2011

    Zinc supplements cause problems

    With at least two flus and plenty of colds, coughs and sore throats circulating this season, some Americans are turning to zinc to ward off viruses.

    Lozenges, supplements and nasal sprays that contain the mineral claim to boost immunity, and there is some evidence that they might do so. In an effort to stay well, though, we might be making ourselves sick. Lozenges, supplements, and nasal sprays that contain" zinc "claim to boost immunity, and some doctors have prescribed supplements containing "80 milligrams of zinc" for age-related macular degeneration (AMD) patients to stave off blindness. However, according to a 2007 study published in the journal Experimental Eye Research, zinc "builds up in the back of the retina in people with macular degeneration and that "people who take these extra-large" zinc "supplements for years are 50% more likely to end up in the hospital with urinary tract problems."

    Also excessive amounts of zinc, according to early evidence, could lead to learning and memory problems, nerve damage, urinary tract problems and other negative effects.

    With supplements that provide many times the recommended daily intake, cold medicines that are loaded with zinc and an abundance of fortified foods -- on top of the zinc already in a healthy diet -- overdoing it might be easier than you think.
    Where can zinc be found?

    There are more than 75 milligrams of zinc in six oysters, nearly 9 milligrams in a 3-ounce serving of cooked beef shanks, more than 3 milligrams in a cup of baked beans, 15 milligrams in a cup of some fortified cereals and 15 milligrams in many multivitamins.

    All that zinc adds up. Studies show that consuming at least 50 milligrams a day for a few months could lead to copper deficiency, which can cause anemia, bone loss, nerve damage and other problems. Taking in 80 or 100 milligrams or more for months or even years can cause bigger problems, some irreversible. A typical, over-the-counter zinc supplement contains 50 milligrams. There are 13 milligrams in one popular brand of zinc lozenges.

    Zinc, copper and iron are all found in the plaque that builds up in brains of Alzheimer's patients. And while researchers try to figure out what that means, data suggest that removing zinc from the brain slows mental decline.

    Denture cream

    Zinc raised other alarms last year, when researchers began to notice weakness, balance and memory issues and other neurological trouble in some patients. Sleuthing revealed the only common link: All of the patients used large amounts of denture cream enhanced with zinc.

    Patients in the study,had been using up to two tubes a week of Poligrip or Fixodent creams for many months or even years.
    Zinc concentrations ranged from 17 to 34 milligrams per gram of denture cream, testing showed. That means that some people were exposed to as much as 330 milligrams of zinc a day, Packages of Super Poligrip now include inserts telling people to talk to their doctors if also taking zinc supplements and to use the products as directed.

    Nasal sprays

    Researchers recommend avoiding nasal sprays containing zinc, as well. An October study in the journal PLoS One found that the Zicam brand of homeopathic zinc-enriched nasal spray caused long-term damage to the sense of smell in mice and signs of nasal nerve damage in people.

    When it comes to supplements, sucking on zinc lozenges as soon as you get a cold may help and probably won't hurt, experts say, as long as you don't suck on them all day every day for the entire flu season. A week should be fine.

    Some promising research is also starting to suggest that a tiny bit of copper supplementation can help override the dangers of getting too much zinc. In the meantime, experts suggest staying well the old-fashioned way: Eat a healthy diet, and stop staying up so late.

    Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice. For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.

    Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com

    For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com

    Tuesday, January 11, 2011

    10 Tips on Dietary Fiber

    10 Tips on Dietary Fiber

    1. Keep in mind that a high-fiber diet may tend to improve:
    • Chronic constipation
    • Coronary heart disease
    • Hemorrhoids
    • Diabetes mellitus
    • Diverticular disease
    • Elevated cholesterol
    • Irritable bowel syndrome
    • Colorectal cancer

    2. Try to double your daily fiber intake.
    • Average American intake: 10-15 grams per day
    • Recommended intake: 20-35 grams per day

    3. Understand what fiber is, where it comes from:
    • Insoluble fiber
    • Cereals
    • Wheat/wheat bran
    • Whole grains
    • Soluble fiber
    • Brans
    • Fruit
    • Oatmeal/oat bran
    • Psyllium
    • Vegetables

    4. Substitute high-fiber foods for high-fat and low-fiber foods.

    5. Keep your daily fiber intake stable. Consider a fiber supplement if you:
    • Travel
    • Eat away from home often
    • Find it difficult to get enough fiber through food choices alone

    6. Don't shock your system: Increase fiber levels in your diet gradually.

    7. Always increase fluids (water, soup, broth, juices) when you increase fiber.

    8. Add both soluble and insoluble fiber, from a variety of sources.

    9. Compare fiber content of foods:

    Grams of Fiber
    1 cup of Rice Krispies® 1
    1/3 cup of 100% Bran® 9
    1 slice of white bread 0.5
    1 slice of whole wheat bread 1.4
    1/2 cup white rice 0.5
    1/2cup brown rice 1.5
    Bowl of chicken broth 0
    Bowl of thick vegetable (minestrone) soup 1

    1. Choose foods high in fiber content.
    Fruits and Vegetables
    Highest in Fiber Per Serving
    Fruits
    Artichokes
    Apples, pears (with skin)
    Berries (blackberries, blueberries, raspberries)
    Dates
    Figs
    Prunes Vegetables
    Beans (baked, black, lima, pinto)
    Broccoli
    Chick-peas
    Lentils
    Parsnips Peas
    Pumpkin
    Rutabaga
    Squash (winter)
    Other Good Fiber Choices
    Barley
    Bread, Muffins (whole wheat, bran)
    Cereals (branflakes, bran, oatmeal, shredded wheat)
    Coconut
    Crackers (rye, whole wheat)
    Nuts (almonds, Brazil, peanuts, pecans, walnuts)
    Rice (brown)
    Seeds (pumpkin, sunflower)

    Eating high-fiber foods is a healthy choice for most people. If you have ever received medical treatment for a digestive problem, however, it is very important that you check with your doctor to find out if a high-fiber diet is the right choice for you.

    Please remember, as with all our articles we provide information, not medical advice. For any treatment of your own medical condition you must visit your local doctor, with or without our article[s]. These articles are not to be taken as individual medical advice.

    Deepen your understanding of "medical malpractice"... www.MedMalBook.com

    For more health info and links visit the author's web site www.hookman.com