Tag: health news | The Health Culture

Misc Links 1/29/11

Posted by Jan on January 29, 2011 @ 10:53 pm

TV reviews: Embarrassing Bodies and Head Over Heels in Rats (Guardian)
UK TV show “Embarrassing Bodies.” Why do people with really embarrassing medical problems want to share them with the world?

The Hot Spotters – Can we lower medical costs by giving the neediest patients better care? (New Yorker)
Another inspiring and potentially influential article by Atul Gawande. Pilot projects by rogue doctors reduce medical costs by attending to the sickest and neediest patients. Acknowledges forces of resistance from vested interests, politicians. Read more

Misc Links 1/28/11

Posted by Jan on January 28, 2011 @ 9:02 pm

A Pound of Prevention Is Worth a Closer Look (NYT)
H. Gilbert Welch’s new book: ”Overdiagnosed: Making people sick in the pursuit of health.” For example, prehypertension, a new disease. The risks of harm from medication are high while the risk of harm from the disease is very low.

Life expectancy rising slowly in the US (New Scientist)
US life expectancy rising slower than expected due to smoking, obesity, and lack of exercise. Japanese live 5 years longer. European advantage is small, but widening. Read more

Misc Links 1/27/11

Posted by Jan on January 27, 2011 @ 4:31 pm

Conscious During Cosmetic Surgery (Chronicle)
Latest cosmetic surgery trend: no general anesthesia. It’s cheaper. Patients are numbed, but pain is often excruciating and torturous. Surgeon: “It’s actually a lot of fun … like shopping for a new dress or a pair of shoes.”

Are Undergraduates Actually Learning Anything? (Chronicle)
More students are sent to college at increasingly higher costs, but for all too many the benefits — critical thinking, complex reasoning, written communication — are exceedingly small or nonexistent. Read more

Misc Links 1/26/11

Posted by Jan on January 26, 2011 @ 10:39 pm

Does Raising the Thermostat Increase Obesity? (WebMD)
The body burns energy when it’s cold. “When you look at what could be causing the obesity epidemic, there are many possible causes besides eating too much and not exercising enough, and this is clearly one of them.”

Does central heating make us fat? (NHS)
Scientific article suggests that as indoor temperatures have increased, we’ve reduced the calories we use to stay warm, leading us to store the excess energy as body fat. The study is “not conclusive and does not prove that simply turning down your thermostat will make you thinner. An alternative explanation could be that people put on winter weight because they stay indoors to keep warm and therefore do less exercise.” Read more

Misc Links 1/25/11

Posted by Jan on January 25, 2011 @ 6:04 pm

A Visit to the Doctor (Yale Journal for Humanities in Medicine)
A physician describes an office visit that illustrates all the things wrong with today’s medical care.

As Doctors Age, Worries About Their Ability Grow (NYT)
A third of US doctors are over 65 and not immune to dementia and other frailties of aging. Mortality rates in complicated operations are higher for surgeons age 60-plus. Read more

Misc Links 1/24/11

Posted by Jan on January 24, 2011 @ 10:47 pm

Glaxo Exec Concedes Drug Industry ‘Lost Its Way’ And Prescribes Changes (NPR)
A “competitive selling model” that works fine for autos or candy isn’t right for medicines that can save people’s lives.

Text of speech by Glaxo president Deirdre Connelly (NPR) (PDF)
“An industry that should be hailed as one of the greatest contributors to health in our society actually ranks among the lowest in public trust. … our industry lost its way.” Read more

Misc Links 1/23/11

Posted by Jan on January 23, 2011 @ 3:13 pm

A Short-Circuit to Distracted Driving (NYT)
Cell phone carriers to offer service that disables incoming calls while phone is in motion. “The lure of mobile devices has addictive properties, in that people feel an adrenaline burst when a call or text comes in and get a rush when they answer.”

Plastic surgery companies under fire for tempting people into unneeded surgery (Guardian)
“Companies see cosmetic surgery as a market to be exploited. … They’re recruiting patients as agents to sell the treatments for a commission to friends who might never before have considered surgery.” Surgery is just another commodity.
Read more

Misc Links 1/22/11

Posted by Jan on January 22, 2011 @ 3:21 pm

Why You Shouldn’t Snuggle with Your Pooch in Bed (Time)
More than half of all US pet owners sleep with their pets. Health risk is relatively small.

For Many Species, No Escape as Temperature Rises (NYT)
Over the next 100 years, 20 to 30 percent of species could be lost if the temperature rises between 3.6 and 5.4 degrees Fahrenheit. More than that and the loss could be 50 percent.
Read more

Misc Links 1/21/11

Posted by Jan on January 21, 2011 @ 6:25 pm

Congress Passes Socialized Medicine and Mandates Health Insurance – In 1798 (Forbes)
“The moral to the story is that the political right-wing has to stop pretending they have the blessings of the Founding Fathers as their excuse to oppose whatever this president has to offer.”

Newsflash: Founders favored “government run health care” (Wash Post)
History professor confirms: The founders of the Republic supported the basic idea of government run health care and the use of mandatory taxation to pay for it. How about that, Tea Party? Read more

Misc Links 1/20/11

Posted by Jan on January 20, 2011 @ 7:41 pm

Should obesity prevention be a personal matter? (KevinMD)
Why government policies focus on individual lifestyles as the source of obesity, rather than acknowledge the social, economic and political factors that create an obesogenic environment. Bravo!

Moving governmental policies beyond a focus on individual lifestyle: some insights from complexity and critical theories (Health Promotion International) (PDF)
Here’s the article on which the KevinMD post just referenced is based Read more

Misc Links 1/19/11

Posted by Jan on January 19, 2011 @ 6:22 pm

Cancer breakthrough — or nightmare? (CNN)
A simple blood test that detects minute quantities of cancer cells in the blood “could just as easily start a cancer epidemic. … The conventional wisdom is people either have a disease or they do not. But, in fact, there are a lot of people somewhere in between.” H. Gilbert Welch on overdiagnosis.

Intelligence and physical attractiveness (Science Direct)
If women prefer intelligent men because they have higher incomes and status, and if men prefer physically attractive females, eventually the two traits merge. Study finds physically attractive people are more intelligent.
Read more

Misc Links 1/18/11

Posted by Jan on January 18, 2011 @ 6:45 pm

Use of antidepressant to treat hot flashes raises concern (Montreal Gazette)
“You’re looking at something that is actually a drug for a fairly serious psychiatric disorder that is being used for something that is a normal part of menopause.” It’s called medicalization.

The War on Logic (NYT)
Krugman on health care repeal: “The modern G.O.P. has been taken over by an ideology in which the suffering of the unfortunate isn’t a proper concern of government, and alleviating that suffering at taxpayer expense is immoral, never mind how little it costs.”
Read more

Misc Links 1/17/11

Posted by Jan on January 17, 2011 @ 9:41 pm

Rates of Suicidal Ideation Among US Surgeons ‘Very Concerning’ (Medscape Today)
1 in 16 (6%) had suicidal thoughts, but very few sought help. Rate substantially higher than general population in surgeons age 45 to 54. Study cites burnout, recent major medical error as risk factors.

British Researcher Wakefield Defends Link Between Vaccine and Autism (ABC News)
What’s interesting here is the second video that comes up, where Wakefield defends himself and accuses Brian Deer – the journalist who accuses him of fraud for financial gain — of using “selective information”

Misc Links 1/16/11

Posted by Jan on January 16, 2011 @ 10:59 pm

Degas and Renoir give masterclass on ageing (Guardian)
Negative perceptions of ageing and older people are being challenged through the works of famous artists. What a lovely idea

Furor about new breastfeeding study (Food Politics)
BMJ commentary and Guardian reporting (“Six months of breastmilk alone is too long and could harm babies, scientists now say”) creates uproar. Several BMJ authors consult for formula companies.
Read more

Misc Links 1/15/11

Posted by Jan on January 15, 2011 @ 7:14 pm

The Age-Old Struggle against the Antivaccinationists (NEJM)
“[A]ntivaccinationists have done significant harm to the public health. … [S]ociety must recognize that science is not a democracy in which the side with the most votes or the loudest voices gets to decide what is right.”

In Defense of the Guilty, Ambivalent, Preoccupied Western Mom (WSJ)
WSJ’s reply to this debate: “The difference between … proud Chinese mothers and ambivalent Western ones—is that I felt guilty about having berated my daughter for failing to deliver the report card I expected.”
Read more

Misc Links 1/14/11

Posted by Jan on January 14, 2011 @ 5:31 pm

Why Chinese Mothers Are Superior (WSJ)
“What Chinese parents understand is that nothing is fun until you’re good at it. To get good at anything you have to work, and children on their own never want to work, which is why it is crucial to override their preferences.”

Is Extreme Parenting Effective (NYT)
Response to WSJ article on superiority of strict Chinese mother parenting style. Does strict control of a child’s life lead to greater success or can it be counterproductive?
Read more

Misc Links 1/13/11

Posted by Jan on January 13, 2011 @ 3:39 pm

GM chickens created that could prevent the spread of bird flu (Guardian)
Genetically modified chickens can still catch the flu, but their “decoy” molecules confuse the replication cycle of viruses. Technique could also be applied to pigs

Blogs encouraging suicides in the gay community (KevinMD)
Suicide is contagious among the young. Is the blogosphere contributing to and encouraging a recent suicide epidemic among young gays?
Read more

Misc Links 1/12/11

Posted by Jan on January 12, 2011 @ 3:15 pm

America’s healthy debate on food (Guardian)
To some, vegetables are the new meat. The political right has responded with a kneejerk resentment response. Is this culture warrior overreach?

Teens Seek Plastic Surgery to Combat Bullying (ABC)
Botox injections at age 5 for droopy chin. “The problem is clearly with the phenomenon of bullying, and not with the person’s nose.” Amen
Read more

Misc Links 1/11/11

Posted by Jan on January 11, 2011 @ 10:12 pm

BMJ Reveals Money Trail Behind MMR-Autism Claim (Medpage Today)
Second installment of Brian Deer’s investigation. Patent filings, startup companies, relationship with law firm – all before Wakefield published study. Investors promised millions

You Might Already Know This … (NYT)
Recent brouhaha over publication of study showing the existence of ESP. Does this support the claim that many published studies in science and medicine based on the widely used statistical technique of significance testing are worthless?
Read more

Misc Links 1/10/11

Posted by Jan on January 10, 2011 @ 2:36 pm

Giffords Shooting: A Tragedy That Spotlights Two Important Issues (Health Beat)
Criticism of right-wing rhetoric will only meet with resistance. Better to focus on mental health and gun control

Tone versus Substance (American Scene)
We should object to Palin saying “death panels” will kill old people, not the use of “target” and cross-hairs Read more

Misc Links 1/9/11

Posted by Jan on January 9, 2011 @ 12:10 pm

Deadly Images (Slate)
Interview with author of “About To Die: How News Images Move the Public.” Images of the dead push viewers away, but news images of impending death are “effective.”

Where will new drugs come from? (Lancet)
Not from drug companies. Some suggestions on what can be done, but outlook is not good.
Read more

Misc Links 1/8/11

Posted by Jan on January 8, 2011 @ 9:38 pm

On Insomnia (This Recording)
Insomnia infects your whole life. For an insomniac, there is no such thing as a good night. All it takes to become an insomniac is one bad night. Beautiful b/w photos

Is Eradicating Polio a Good Idea? (Project Syndicate)
It’s not clear that all polio cases can be detected, and chasing down the last cases is very costly. Better to be vigilant than complacent. By biotethicist Arthur Caplan
Read more

Misc Links 1/6/11

Posted by Jan on January 6, 2011 @ 4:58 pm

When Insurers Put Profits Between Doctor and Patient (NYT)
Pauline Chen on Wendell Potter’s new book. The “question of conscience in a health care system dependent on for-profit insurers has lurked behind nearly every debate over health care reform.”

Cost of healthcare repeal put at $230 billion (LA Times)
May pose a challenge to Republican efforts to repeal. Boehner says he doesn’t believe the new estimate Read more

Misc Links 1/5/11

Posted by Jan on January 5, 2011 @ 10:55 pm

U.S. Alters Rule on Paying for End-of-Life Planning (NYT)
Provision attacked by health care opponents as sneaking “death panels” back into law. Withdrawn to allow more time for comment.

GOP Mistaken: Americans Don’t Want to Dismantle Obamacare (Gooznews)
One in four who oppose reform want it to be stronger, include public option Read more

Misc Links 1/3/11

Posted by Jan on January 3, 2011 @ 5:56 pm

GOP push for repeal of health reform: Is it politically wise? (Christian Science Monitor)
Push would repeat the sin of spending too much time on health care and makes revenge the first order of business

House Rule: Will John Boehner control the Tea Party Congress? (New Yorker)
To predict the fate of health care reform, it helps to understand Boehner. Excellent profile
Read more

Misc Links 1/2/11

Posted by Jan on January 2, 2011 @ 11:29 pm

Inside the Battle to Define Mental Illness (Wired)
Lead editor of DSM-IV accused current DSM-5 editors of “bad faith, hubris, and blindness, of making diseases out of everyday suffering and, as a result, padding the bottom lines of drug companies.”

Medicare incentive aims to make patients’ end-of-life decisions clear (Pittsburgh Tribune)
It’s good to see this discussion happening, even if Arthur Caplan’s insights get “balanced” by a conservative viewpoint. “The fear is that our health care system is becoming increasingly money-driven and utilitarian.” That’s a fact. Read more

Misc Links 1/1/11

Posted by Jan on January 1, 2011 @ 6:56 pm

Doctors Urged to Admit Fatigue Before Performing Surgery (Businessweek)
Proposed new rules would require patient to sign consent when informed surgeon is sleep deprived

Some GOP stalwarts defend first lady’s anti-obesity campaign from Palin’s shots (Wash Post)
Mike Huckabee, Haley Barbour, Rick Santorum praise Michelle. Barack Obama: the issue “transcends politics” Read more

Misc Links 12/31/10

Posted by Jan on December 31, 2010 @ 10:38 pm

Real Life Among the Old Old (NYT)
To believe 90 is the new 50 is a fantasy that fails to distinguish between hope and reasonable expectation

FoodPolitics catches up: USDA’s meat labeling (Food Politics)
Meat producers greatly prefer that you remain ignorant of the amount of fat and calories meat contains Read more

Misc Links 12/30/10

Posted by Jan on December 30, 2010 @ 4:01 pm

Canada to put bigger health warnings on cigarettes (Reuters)
Will cover three quarters of front and back of cigarette pack. “Unduly” delayed by tobacco lobbying

Judge Rejects City Law on Antismoking Posters (NYT)
Gruesome images won’t be required in convenience stores in NY. Judge: “Even merchants of morbidity are entitled to the full protection of the law, for our sake as well as theirs.” Read more

Misc Links 12/29/10

Posted by Jan on December 29, 2010 @ 2:15 pm

‘Death panels’ alive — and that’s good news for all of us (MSNBC)
“If Terri Schiavo taught us anything … “ By noted bioethicist Arthur Caplan (12/29)

Health care economics and the relationship between doctor and patient (KevinMD)
What’s wrong with the way medicine is practiced? By a pediatrician who decided to quit her practice (12/29) Read more

Tag Archives: health news