Health Headlines for Tuesday, Jan 26, 2010
HEADLINES
Video Games may help fight aging http://short.to/14k3m
1 in 5 teens have cholesterol problems http://is.gd/6Wi6r
A Haitian mother's futile effort to keep her daughter alive http://bit.ly/4n6oZZ
Photos: Progress in Haiti http://is.gd/6WhJV
GOOD ADVICE
How to beat the winter blues http://short.to/14ks6
Blueberry juice may boost memory http://short.to/14ks5
Ease pain ... with food http://bit.ly/4T1w2r
INTERESTING
Gastric bypass can increase life expectancy of obese people http://bit.ly/6gBfZr
Drug combo blocks AIDs infection in mice http://short.to/14ks2
Life without a pulse: Heart Pump Aids Cardiac Patients http://short.to/14ks0
Despite treatment, depressed workers have decreased productivity http://short.to/14k3n Mammographies and PAP Smears: BodBeat Episode 10
Recently, .. two noted medical groups released their new guidelines for women … basically recommending we cut services for woman to have yearly mammograms and PAP smears. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists ( ACOG ) now recommends that women not get their first pap smear until age 21 and that women 30 and older be tested every three years rather than annually. This comes on the heels of a new guidelines by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force ( USPSTF ) … this a government sponsored group mind now … that now says mammography screening should start at 50 rather than 40 and that women over 50 need only be screened every two years. There are no such things as coincidences, - 192,370 new cases of invasive breast cancer - 40,170 deaths from breast cancer Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in the United States, other than skin cancer. It is the second leading cause of cancer death in women, after lung cancer. The chance of a woman having invasive breast cancer some time during her life is a little less than 1 in 8. The chance of dying from breast cancer is about 1 in 35. Breast cancer death rates have been going down. This is probably the result of finding the cancer earlier and better treatment. Right now there are more than 2½ million breast cancer survivors in the United States. The change comes amid a separate debate over when regular mammograms to detect breast cancer should begin, in the 40s or the 50s. The timing of the Pap guidelines is coincidence, said ACOG, which began reviewing its recommendations in late 2007 and published the update Friday in the journal Obstetrics & Gynecology. The resulting evidence of such research reports (those supported by EPCs) "are used by Federal and State agencies, private sector professional societies, health delivery systems, providers, payers, and others committed to evidence-based healthcare." So, if someone tells you that the "new guidelines" aren't going to affect your choices, they're misinformed. Many doctors will take the recommendations too much to heart and do less listening than they should to women who find suspicious lumps in their breasts. And many women will die. Let's back up, shall we? And get it right - both what we know and what we don't. Let's remember that research is a process and it takes a considerable amount of time to draw conclusions with confidence. While the two sets of recommendations are unrelated, they come at a time of intense debate over health-care reform. Mammograms in particular have drawn broad attention in Congress, reflecting a more than decade-long debate in the cancer community about how best to perform mammograms. Republicans sought to connect the mammogram recommendations to the health-care overhaul, contending that such findings are the way that medical rationing starts. Under the pending legislation, "nothing would prohibit the federal government from deciding if tests, treatments and procedures are too expensive, and therefore, unnecessary," Sens. Jon Kyl of Arizona, the Republican Whip, and Tom Coburn of Oklahoma, a physician, said in a joint statement. But the PAP guidelines promise to be far less controversial as doctors for years have been told to perform fewer PAP's among many women over 30, to cut back on unneeded care for the least at risk - and there's growing understanding that over-treating younger women is an issue, too. "The tradition of doing a PAP test every year has not been supported by recent scientific evidence," said Dr. Alan Waxman of the University of New Mexico, who headed ACOG's review. The guidelines also say: - Routine PAP's should start at age 21. Previously, ACOG had urged a first PAP either within three years of first sexual intercourse or at age 21. - Women 30 and older should wait three years between PAP's once they've had three consecutive clear tests. Other national guidelines have long recommended the three-year interval; ACOG had previously backed a two- to three-year wait. - Higher-risk women, such as those with HIV, other immune-weakening conditions or previous cervical abnormalities, need more frequent screening. PAP's can spot pre-cancerous changes in the cervix in time to prevent invasive cancer, and widespread use has halved cervical cancer rates in the U.S. in recent decades. About 11,270 new cases will be diagnosed this year, and about 4,070 women will die from it, according to American Cancer Society estimates. Half of women diagnosed with cervical cancer have never had a PAP, and another 10 percent haven't had one in five years. Cervical cancer is caused by certain strains of the extremely common sexually transmitted virus called HPV, for human papillomavirus. There is a new HPV vaccine that should cut cervical cancer in the future; ACOG's guidelines say for now vaccinated women should follow the same PAP guidelines as the unvaccinated. But the updated guidelines reflect better understanding of HPV. Infection is high among sexually active teens and young adults. Women's bodies very often fight off an HPV infection on their own without lasting harm, although it can take a year or two. The younger the woman, the more likely that HPV is going to be transient. Moreover, ACOG cited studies showing no increased risk of cancer developing in women in their 20s if they extended PAP screening from every year to every two years. As for adolescents, ACOG said cervical cancer in teens is rare - one or two cases per million 15- to 19-year-olds - while HPV-caused cervical abnormalities usually go away on their own. Treating them unnecessarily increases the girls' risk of premature labor years later, and preterm birth is a growing national problem. We want to hear what you think. We look forward to your comments on bodbeat.com. Dr. LorettaHealth Headlines: Monday Jan 25th 2010
HEADLINES
More sex could mean less heart risk http://is.gd/6WgKb
Smokers with cancer could quit and double survival chances http://short.to/14krw
Mother's Gum Disease linked to infant's death http://short.to/14k3h
Drug that helps MS patients walk faster approved in US http://bit.ly/8B5nDU
GOOD ADVICE
Video: 5 steps to achieving happiness http://short.to/14k36
Cutting salt intake would boost nation's health http://short.to/14krs
INTERESTING
Dog flu risk highest where dogs mingle http://is.gd/6WhvN
Yoga Day USA http://bit.ly/85jhg7
Why are American teens getting so fat? http://bit.ly/5nOabV
The man who could beat AIDS http://short.to/14k38 Top Health Headlines: Thurs Jan 21, 2010
HEADLINES
FDA debates tougher cancer warning on tanning beds http://short.to/145mo
High rates of birth defects found in autistic children http://short.to/1453a
Beware Counterfeit Versions of Weight Loss Drug Alli http://is.gd/6FR59
INTERESTING
Should HPV test replace the pap smear? http://is.gd/6FS2w
How come I feel tired when I sleep more? http://short.to/145ms
Complex Weight-Loss Plans Erode Dieters’ Resolve http://bit.ly/4VRXVr
Medical students supportive of alternative medicine http://is.gd/6FRv6
Nano technology tackles heart disease http://short.to/14538
GOOD ADVICE
10 no cost strategies to fight depression http://is.gd/6FRRI
Your diet on trial http://is.gd/6FRbQ Top Health Headlines: Jan. 20, 2010
HEADLINES
RECALL: 1.5 million Graco strollers can amputate kid's fingertips http://is.gd/6FQsV
Haiti: Infections out of control http://short.to/145m4
New rules set for HMOs in California http://short.to/145mm
Erectile Dysfunction predicts heart disease http://news.health.com/2010/01/19/erectile-dysfunction-predicts-heart-disease/
GOOD ADVICE
7 steps to heart health http://www.healthday.com/Article.asp?AID=635125
BAD NEWS
Sitting too much can be deadly http://short.to/145mg Top Health Headlines for Monday January 18, 2010
HEADLINES
Health Headlines for Friday, Jan 15, 2010
HEADLINES
In Haiti, mental aftershocks could be far reaching http://is.gd/6jzQx
Haiti faces serious health risks in quake's wake http://short.to/13mtg
Tylenol recall broadens http://bit.ly/7Ik9Pn
These dog treats get salmonella warning http://bit.ly/74U9uZ
FDA can't regulate electronic cigarettes http://bit.ly/6jEdeP
Woman fitted with new windpipe http://is.gd/6jA8C
Bloomberg wages war on flavor http://is.gd/6jAgW
Study supports connection between BPA and heart disease http://is.gd/6jAdW
GOOD NEWS
Taking Viagra won't spur risky behavior http://is.gd/6jBtn
Study: fast morphine treatment may prevent PTSD http://short.to/13owb
BAD NEWS
1 in 4 teen girls involved in violent behavior http://bit.ly/6q9rwj
Is HPV running rampant? http://is.gd/6jzYx
Obesity rates stabilize but remain high http://bit.ly/7roLH1
Health care professionals fail to tell patients when they are unfit to drive http://bit.ly/8vmQHO
Traffic crashes send 3.5 mil to ER http://is.gd/6jBBd
Youth anticipate early death http://bit.ly/8gtDOL
Catching up on lost sleep won't help http://bit.ly/8I2xOL
INTERESTING
What causes motion sickness? http://short.to/13mtp
Feds vs. States: who should run the health market? http://short.to/13ow7
Love your "flaws" http://bit.ly/4IgrFO
A New Paradigm And New Drugs For Parkinson's Disease, Courtesy Of A Special Yeast http://bit.ly/59ORHx
How are dog people and cat people different? http://short.to/13mu2
Migraines, depression: a genetic link? http://is.gd/6jBX5
Tiny wasp with potential for big impact http://short.to/13owj
GOOD ADVICE
From risky health status to a better life http://short.to/13mu1
10 steps to weight loss success in 2010 http://bit.ly/7Z8li3
Sleep tip: careful with caffeine http://is.gd/6jBwq
Heal snoring: save a marriage http://bit.ly/4Z7qlb
Mayo Clinic's action guide to weight loss http://is.gd/6iAGh Health Headlines for Wednesday, January 13, 2010
HEADLINES
Marijuana compounds could beat back brain cancer http://bit.ly/6oEViW
New target discovered for treatment of cancer http://bit.ly/7Ii2yV
The overlooked threat of Hepatitis B & C http://is.gd/68bw7
INTERESTING
Recent rise in disorders could be explained by human evolution http://is.gd/68bNK
10 crazy ways smokers finally kicked the habit http://bit.ly/8EKdEB
Are you sleeping through your life? http://short.to/13b4j
Circumcise? http://short.to/13b4c
GOOD NEWS
Exercise program lowers knee risk injury http://is.gd/68bKv
BAD NEWS
Faster heart rate may raise risk of heart attack death http://short.to/13b4i
Doctor's put off important end of life talks http://short.to/13b4e Health Headlines for Tuesday, January 12, 2010
HEADLINES
Too much TV linked to early death http://is.gd/68aZc
Rise of the part-time smoker http://short.to/13b4b
Big concerns around new reality show of "big" people http://bit.ly/4mZMrJ
INTERESTING
Does a fat butt and thighs make you healthier? http://is.gd/68bmL
Getting paid to shed pounds http://is.gd/68b2N
Recurring dreams and their meanings http://is.gd/5YaZa
Jet Lag drug keeps travelers up until jet lag wears off http://bit.ly/6NE6k
GOOD NEWS
Exercise may stave off mental decline http://bit.ly/7VzdPl
Alzheimer's 'cocktail' shows promise http://short.to/12zmy
BAD NEWS
You probably underestimate teen suicide risk? http://bit.ly/4MSVIY
Stuck in the middle: no health care help on the way http://is.gd/5VOPJ Health Headlines: Monday, Jan 11, 2010
HEADLINES
CDC: Swine Flu now widespread in only 1 state http://bit.ly/4ZLgKX
Soda Fountains may be squirting fecal bacteria http://is.gd/5VDwE
New research on how to quit smoking http://short.to/12yva
Avatar gets mixed praise from paraplegics http://short.to/12yv8
Baby Boomers still abusing drugs as seniors http://is.gd/5Yaqc
INTERESTING
CNN's New Year's Resolution: Have more sex http://is.gd/5Y8VK
How cocaine scrambles genes in the brain http://short.to/12yuw
Beware restaurant, frozen meal calorie counts http://bit.ly/5kjLdM
7 women's health problems doctors miss http://bit.ly/7a2Xfg
Sleep tips http://bit.ly/6EZlO3