MedWorm provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest medical blog items that have been tagged with 'exposed'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 02:30:58 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4902418&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fgoodbye-dr-oprah-%25e2%2580%2593-and-good-riddance%2F2011.06.06 I wrote once that not only is Oprah Winfrey not a doctor, she plays a really bad one on TV. From promoting Jenny McCarthy and the anti-vaccine movement, to allowing Suzanne Somers a bully-pulpit for her medical woo, to pushing Prudence Hall and her high-dose hormone treatments without acknowledging their potential risks, to leading the church of the Secret as a way to avoid facing the harsh realities of cancer, Oprah did more harm than good when it comes to health. And while the publishing industry may be hanging crepe, the medical community is breathing a sigh of relief that Oprah has left the airwaves, at least for now. After all, we “conventional” docs were repeatedly relegated to a seat in the audience by Oprah, who usually presented us as naysayers and officials in the Church of M... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4902418 Mon, 06 Jun 2011 15:00:42 +0100 4902418 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4902419&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fa-brief-history-of-vaccines-the-anti-vaccination-movement-and-modern-quackery%2F2011.06.06 A good case of smallpox may rid the system of more scrofulous, tubercular, syphilitic and other poisons than could otherwise be eliminated in a lifetime. Therefore, smallpox is certainly to be preferred to vaccination. The one means elimination of chronic disease, the other the making of it. Naturopaths do not believe in artificial immunization . . . —Harry Riley Spitler, Basic Naturopathy: a textbook (American Naturopathic Association, Inc., 1948). Quoted here. Here’s what a good case of smallpox will do for you: If you’re lucky enough to beat the reaper (20-60%; 80% or higher in infants) or blindness (up to 30%), those blisters will leave you scarred for life. Oh, and the next time a good smallpox epidemic comes around, your children born since the last one will catch it and cont... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4902419 Mon, 06 Jun 2011 13:00:16 +0100 4902419 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4893451&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fsuspect-nutritionist-certification%2F2011.06.03 The team of nutritionists at D’avignon Digestive Health Centre on Danforth Avenue in Toronto are an impressive bunch — just consider their qualifications: Louise Comtois – CNP, RNCP, Colon Therapist Heidi Horowitz – CNP, RNCP, Live Cell Analyst Marnie Ryan – CNP, Colon Therapist Natasha Audette – RHN, Colon Therapist Jane Sloan – CNP, NNCP, RhA CNP, RNCP, RHN, NNCP. I single out D’avignon only because they came up at the top of my Google search, but the story is consistent across the nutritionist community — there are an awful lot of letters next to the names of practitioners. So what exactly do they all mean? (more…) *This blog post was originally published at Skeptic North » Erik Davis* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4893451 Fri, 03 Jun 2011 16:00:37 +0100 4893451 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4852854&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fpress-release-contains-ridiculous-health-claim-of-the-week%2F2011.05.23 Every once in a while, a press release comes along that’s worth mocking publically. Here’s one of them. In honor of National Mental Health Month, one PR flack pitched Philip Stein watches. In the flack’s words: “The highlighted element of the watch is the brand’s exclusive wellness technology that helps wearers improve sleep and reduce stress. The watch is embedded with a metal disk that emits natural frequencies into the body wearer and in turn, affects the wearer’s energy field. It’s called ‘Natural Frequency Technology’ and is a new patented technology studies suggest help to improve sleep quality and reduces stress.” Really. That’s what the flack said. Right off the bat, he’s gone from mental health issues to sleep... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4852854 Mon, 23 May 2011 20:00:00 +0100 4852854 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4828885&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fmorgellons-when-people-mistakenly-believe-they-have-parasites%2F2011.05.16 I saw a patient recently for parasites. I get a sinking feeling when I see that diagnosis on the schedule, as it rarely means a real parasite.  The great Pacific NW is mostly parasite free, so either it is a traveler or someone with delusions of parasitism. The latter comes in two forms: the classic form and Morgellons. Neither are likely to lead to a meaningful patient-doctor interaction, since it usually means conflict between my assessment of the problem and the patients assessment of the problem.  There is rarely a middle ground upon which to meet. The most memorable case of delusions of parasitism I have seen was a patient who  I saw in clinic who, while we talked, ate a raw garlic clove about every minute. “Why the garlic?” I asked. “To keep the parasites at bay,” he told ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4828885 Mon, 16 May 2011 13:00:07 +0100 4828885 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4767998&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fftc-shuts-down-10-fake-news-sites-promoting-acai-berry-products%2F2011.04.29 On the NPR Shots blog, Scott Hensley reports: “This Just In: Fake News Is No Way To Sell Acai Berries.” Excerpt: “Some marketers of weight-loss products containing acai berries are also purveyors of news you shouldn’t use, the Federal Trade Commission says. The FTC has asked federal courts to put a stop to the activities of 10 different outfits that the commission alleges use “fake news websites” to tout acai berry weight-loss products. Chances are you’ve stumbled across the sites, which often sport the logos of major mainstream news organizations, such as ABC, CNN and Consumer Reports. (See this example posted by the FTC.) Take, for example the FTC’s complaint against Beony International LLC, a company based in San Diego. The company alleged... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4767998 Fri, 29 Apr 2011 19:00:54 +0100 4767998 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4753689&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fdr-steve-novella-defends-science-and-reason-on-the-dr-oz-show%2F2011.04.26 I must say I was a bit shocked two weeks ago when I was contacted by a producer for The Dr. Oz Show inviting me on to discuss alternative medicine. We have been quite critical of Dr. Mehmet Oz over his promotion of dubious medical treatments and practitioners, and I wondered if they were aware of the extent of our criticism (they were, it turns out). Despite the many cautions I received from friends and colleagues (along with support as well) – I am always willing to engage those with whom I disagree. I knew it was a risk going into a forum completely controlled by someone who does not appear to look kindly upon my point of view, but a risk worth taking. I could only hope I was given the opportunity to make my case (and that it would survive the editing process). The Process Of course, e... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4753689 Tue, 26 Apr 2011 22:36:35 +0100 4753689 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4753691&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fbeware-of-fake-social-media-experts-offering-to-help-you-create-an-institutional-policy%2F2011.04.26 They’re here: Creeping researchers who see the opportunity that’s social media.  Publications, position papers, professional guidelines and policies on social media are appearing faster than you can say ‘ARA grant opportunity.’  A simple search will show that some of these authors have little more than a token feel of what its like to be a doctor in the social space.  And they’ve got just enough of a footprint to fool the editors.  “They’ve actually got a Twitter account.  They must know what they’re talking about.” The next time you see a policy or a guideline coming from a society or medical professional organization, deep search its authors.  Look to see if they have the experience and social scars to guide you as a professional.  If you’re a professional soci... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4753691 Tue, 26 Apr 2011 19:00:36 +0100 4753691 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4744817&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fphysicians-against-dr-ozs-misinformation-a-battle-they-cannot-win%2F2011.04.23 A handful of physicians are collaborating to take Mehmet Oz, MD, to task on what they’re calling outlandish claims and bad medical advice. Their suggestion is to no longer pay attention to that man behind the curtain. David H. Gorski, MD, PhD, at the blog Science-Based Medicine went after Dr. Oz for hosting segments about faith healing and consulting psychics. Dr. Gorski pulls no punches, saying, “Dr. Oz has in some ways imitated Oprah and in some ways gone her one better (one worse, really) in promoting the Oprah-fication of medicine. And this season has been a particularly bad one for science-based medicine on The Dr. Oz Show.” (Dr. Mehmet Oz may be using his “Degree in Thinkology” to come up with some of his show topics.) Val Jones, MD, the woman behind the... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4744817 Sat, 23 Apr 2011 22:00:00 +0100 4744817 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4734096&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fhomeopathy-why-is-fraud-legal%2F2011.04.21 Imagine hearing a commercial on the radio: Send us money, and we won’t send you anything in return. No one would do that, right? How about this: Send us your money and we’ll send you an empty box. Better? Not much. Now how is that different from: Send us money and we’ll send you stuff we’ll call medicine that we claim will help you, but there’s no actual active ingredients in it at all. I don’t think there’s one bit of difference. Wouldn’t you agree that that commercial is fraud, pure and simple? The problem is that the general public doesn’t understand that the word “homeopathic” means “diluted beyond the point where it contains any active ingredients.” I’ve recently heard commercials for homeopathic vertigo treatments, eye drops for allergies, irritable bowel,... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4734096 Thu, 21 Apr 2011 15:00:16 +0100 4734096 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4719900&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fjoin-the-healthyrt-experiment-lets-use-twitter-to-drown-out-health-misinformation%2F2011.04.15 A few days ago I published a blog post about Dr. Mehmet Oz NOT being a trustworthy source of health information. It set off a firestorm of blog comments, tweets, and Facebook sharing – all because people (like me) had developed sincere concerns about the safety of viewers who might take his advice to heart. The outpouring of commentary, and the rapidity of the response made me wonder: can we harness this power for future good? Could we counter Dr. Oz’s (and others like him) misinformation with peer-reviewed content that’s easily accessible by Twitter and Facebook? I chatted with some colleagues and concerned patient advocates on Twitter (including @academicobgyn @scanman @hrana @AmberMBaylor @DamonRamseyMD @RyanMadanickMD @jalbietz @DrElizabethLee @FaceliftMD @goodwillsta... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4719900 Fri, 15 Apr 2011 15:35:10 +0100 4719900 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4714743&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fcomplementary-and-alternative-medicine-can-be-a-regressive-force-against-true-science%2F2011.04.14 Science is a philosophy, a technology, and an institution. It is a human endeavor- our collective attempt to understand the world around us,  not something that exists solely in the abstract. All of these aspects of science have been progressing over the past decades and centuries, as we refine our concepts of what science is and how it works, as we develop better techniques, and organize and police scientific activities more effectively. The practice of science is not relentlessly progressive, however, and there are many regressive forces causing pockets of backsliding, and even aggressive campaigns against scientific progress. So-called complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is one such regressive force. It seeks to undermine the concepts, execution, and institutions of medical sc... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4714743 Thu, 14 Apr 2011 19:00:08 +0100 4714743 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4704654&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fwarning-dr-mehmet-oz-is-not-a-trustworthy-source-of-health-information%2F2011.04.12 When I was in medical school at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, Dr. Mehmet Oz had the reputation of being a competent and caring cardiothoracic surgeon whose research interest was reducing preoperative stress. I remember hearing about a music study of his in which soothing melodies reduced blood pressure and heart rates in patients preparing for heart surgery. I felt pleased that a surgeon was leading the charge in improving patients’ O.R. experiences, and had no inkling that 15 years later Dr. Oz would be America’s chief snake oil salesman. I have been slow to criticize Dr. Oz on my blog because of a sense of loyalty to my medical school, however yesterday he crossed the line when things got personal – a friend of mine was negatively impacted by h... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4704654 Tue, 12 Apr 2011 21:00:23 +0100 4704654 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4693290&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fwhere-is-the-worst-health-information-on-the-internet-the-huffington-post%2F2011.04.07 Going to the Huffington Post for medical information is perhaps comparable to going to Vito Corleone for advice on income tax compliance.  Another prominent blogger refers to is as “that hive of scum and quackery,” a lovely and accurate epithet for a media outlet which provides refuge and cover for anti-vaccationists, homeopaths and practictioners of reiki and other such pseudoscientific twaddle. I avoid the HuffPo like the plague.  But, like a moth to the flame, sometimes I can’t help myself, and when a facebook friend (and former blogger) pointed to this contrarian article, my interest was piqued and I had to check it out. Is High Blood Pressure Overtreated? Dr. Dennis Gottfried, Associate professor, University of Connecticut Medical School First of all, I don’... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4693290 Thu, 07 Apr 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4693290 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4684324&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fdont-believe-the-hype-acupuncture-and-alternative-medicine-is-not-so-popular%2F2011.04.05 Everybody’s Doing It One argument that often comes up when skeptics and proponents of so-called complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) debate is the question of the popularity of various CAM practices. Advocates of CAM often claim these practices are widely used and growing rapidly in popularity. Obviously, CAM proponents have an interest in characterizing their practices as widely accepted and utilized. Even though the popularity of an idea is not a reliable indication of whether or not it is true, most people are inclined to accept that if a lot of people believe in something there must be at least some truth to it. The evidence against this idea is overwhelming, but it is a deeply intuitive, intransigent notion that can only rarely be dislodged. It might therefore be useful to g... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4684324 Tue, 05 Apr 2011 20:00:21 +0100 4684324 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4658382&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fherbalists-if-ancient-wisdom-exists-so-does-ancient-stupidity%2F2011.03.30 David Kroll’s recent article on thunder god vine is a great example of what can be learned by using science to study plants identified by herbalists as therapeutic. The herbalists’ arsenal can be a rich source of potential knowledge. But Kroll’s article is also a reminder that blindly trusting herbalists’ recommendations for treatment can be risky. Herbal medicine has always fascinated me. How did early humans determine which plants worked? They had no record-keeping, no scientific methods, only trial and error and word of mouth. How many intrepid investigators poisoned themselves and died in the quest? Imagine yourself in the jungle: which plants would you be willing to try? How would you decide whether to use the leaf or the root? How would you decide whether to chew the raw leaf... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4658382 Wed, 30 Mar 2011 20:00:06 +0100 4658382 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4642597&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fplatelet-rich-plasma-injections-much-ado-about-nothing%2F2011.03.27 Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy became a hot topic among professional and recreational athletes after some studies suggested it could hasten wound healing and several high-profile athletes reported using it as they rehabbed from various injuries.  But recently, the news hasn’t been quite so good. For those not in the know, let’s do a quick review of the subject. PRP therapy involves extracting and centrifuging a person’s blood to create a concentrated broth of growth factors and white cells, and then then injecting the stew directly into injured tissue. The growth factors supposedly promote healing. PRP therapy has been used for numerous conditions including tennis elbow and pulls, sprains and strains of dozens of different muscles, tendons and whatnot. The treatment became bu... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4642597 Sun, 27 Mar 2011 14:00:11 +0100 4642597 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4636440&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fis-radiation-good-for-you-ann-coulter-got-it-wrong%2F2011.03.25 Sometimes when a pundit or politician makes claims that are either contrary to or distort science for ideological or political advantage, I feel the need to discuss those claims, sometimes even sarcastically. Such was the case last week, when Ann Coulter wrote a blisteringly ignorant column, entitled A Glowing Report on Radiation. She wrote this article in the wake of the fears arising in Japan and around the world of nuclear catastrophe due to the damage to the Fukushima nuclear power plant caused by the earthquake and tsunami that hit northern Japan on March 11. Coulter was subsequently interviewed by Fox News pundit Bill O’Reilly on The O’Reilly Factor on Thursday evening: Yes, according to Coulter, radiation is good for you, just like toxic sludge! Even more amazing, in this video ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4636440 Fri, 25 Mar 2011 17:00:25 +0100 4636440 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4560269&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fbig-herbas-research-deficit-why-it-isnt-about-the-money%2F2011.03.08 This is a guest post from Erik Davis of Skeptic North. ********** Bankers, Buyouts & Billionaires: Why Big Herba’s Research Deficit Isn’t About The Money It’s a scene from the blogosphere that’s become all too familiar. A skeptic challenges a natural health product for the lack of an evidentiary base. A proponent of that product responds that the skeptic has made a logical error — an absence of evidence is not evidence of absence, and in such a scenario it’s not unreasonable to rely on patient reporting and traditional uses as a guide. The skeptic chimes back with a dissertation on the limits of anecdotal evidence and arguments from antiquity — especially when the corresponding pharma products have a data trail supporting their safety and efficacy. The pr... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4560269 Tue, 08 Mar 2011 22:00:09 +0100 4560269 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4544971&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fcancer-and-science-based-medicine-skepticism-vs-nihilism%2F2011.03.03 Last Friday, Mark Crislip posted an excellent deconstruction of a very disappointing article that appeared in the most recent issue of Skeptical Inquirer (SI), the flagship publication of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry (CSI). I say “disappointing,” because I was disappointed to see SI publish such a biased, poorly thought out article, apparently for the sake of controversy. I’m a subscriber myself, and in general enjoy reading the magazine, although of late I must admit that I don’t always read each issue cover to cover the way I used to do. Between work, grant writing, blogging, and other activities, my outside reading, even of publications I like, has declined. Perhaps SI will soon find itself off my reading list. Be that as it may, I couldn’t miss the article that so irr... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4544971 Thu, 03 Mar 2011 14:00:03 +0100 4544971 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4455265&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fclinically-proven-theres-no-such-thing%2F2011.02.09 I heard yet another commercial on the radio this morning for some menopausal cure-all that was “clinically proven” to reduce hot flashes, improve sleep, increase energy, help you lose weight, and probably cure bad breath to boot. Anyone who calls in the next ten minutes gets a month’s supply for free. “Hurry.” Don’t. At least they finally stopped running the one for the colon cleansing product that helped remove the “five to ten pounds of waste some experts* believe are spackled along the inside of the large intestine.” (*Emphasis mine. “Some experts” also believe the moon landing was a hoax, the Holocaust never happened, and homeopathy is effective medicine.) Somehow this colon cleansing stuff helps you preferentially lose belly fat. Not really sure what belly ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4455265 Wed, 09 Feb 2011 16:00:02 +0100 4455265 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4424280&cid=t_136957_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F02%2F01%2Fbest-of-our-blogs-february-1-2011%2F I have to say in some ways, 2011 has been uneventful. Maybe I was in need of a little mundane in my life after 2011 kick me in the butt. But while boredom is welcomed (Thank goodness for the sun! There’s no seasonal affective disorder on my end.), it can also be a sign of stagnation. Maybe we’re getting too comfortable in our relationships and in our jobs and have started to take for granted the everyday moments in our lives. If that sounds like you, keep reading. This week’s post are all about rethinking your life, transforming ordinary moments into extraordinary ones, analyzing your relationships and your body language. Basically, they are five posts to re-energize your 2011. If you’ve been feeling run-down, down and out, tired of the lack of sunlight, I think you... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4424280 Wed, 02 Feb 2011 00:14:25 +0100 4424280 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4411524&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fteleporting-the-dna-of-hiv%2F2011.01.28 Luc Montagnier received the 2008 Nobel Prize for his discovery of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), but now he’s come up with a more-than-strange theory. He thinks DNA can teleport from one tube to another via electromagnetic signals. Is this the so-called “Nobel disease?” French virologist Luc Montagnier stunned his colleagues at a prestigious international conference when he presented a new method for detecting viral infections that bore close parallels to the basic tenets of homeopathy. Although fellow Nobel prize winners — who view homeopathy as quackery — were left openly shaking their heads, Montagnier’s comments were rapidly embraced by homeopaths eager for greater credibility. Montagnier told the conference last week that solutions containing the DNA o... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4411524 Sat, 29 Jan 2011 00:00:35 +0100 4411524 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4360985&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fhomeopathy-why-is-the-canadian-government-regulating-a-scam%2F2011.01.17 Regular readers of the Better Health blog are familiar with the shoddy science behind homeopathy (an outdated system of “medical” treatment that relies on water dilution and shaking to ‘”strengthen” the effects of drugs). But because homeopathic placebos have been marketed so successfully (even receiving paid endorsements from hockey teams), the Ontario government has decided to regulate homeopathic practices. In this terrific news exposé, reporters ask if it’s appropriate for the government to regulate health scams. In doing so, are they not lending credibility to modern-day snake oil? Check out these videos and let me know what you think. Is there a roll for government in regulating homeopathy? Part 1:   (more…) (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4360985 Mon, 17 Jan 2011 13:00:14 +0100 4360985 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4318332&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fbad-science-and-the-gift-of-medical-skepticism%2F2011.01.06 Discover magazine had an article about Dr. Ben Goldacre, a British physician who writes for The Guardian, is the author of the new book “Bad Science: Quacks, Hacks, and Big Pharma Flacks,” and is considered a gift to skepticism. His column is also called “Bad Science,” and he recently gave a short and interesting talk about non-evidence-based medicine at the Pop!Tech conference held in Camden, Maine. Enjoy! Ben Goldacre Talks Bad Science from PopTech on Vimeo. *This blog post was originally published at ScienceRoll* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4318332 Thu, 06 Jan 2011 20:00:52 +0100 4318332 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4318335&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fdenying-the-obesity-epidemic%2F2011.01.06 It seems that for every established science there is an ideological group who is motivated to deny it. Denialism is a thriving pseudoscience and affects any issue with the slightest political or social implications. Sometimes, even easily verifiable facts can be denied, as people seem willing to make up their own facts as needed. Denialists have an easy job — to spread doubt and confusion. It is far easier to muddy the waters with subtle distortions and logical fallacies than it is to set the record straight. Even when every bit of misinformation is countered, the general public is often left with the sense that the topic is controversial or uncertain. If denial is in line with a group’s ideology, then even the suggestion of doubt may be enough to reject solid science. We see this ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4318335 Thu, 06 Jan 2011 14:00:53 +0100 4318335 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4294632&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fvaginal-steam-baths-a-medical-opinion%2F2010.12.27 A spa in California is offering vaginal steam baths, in which spa-goers squat or sit on open stools over a tub of hot steam, as a cure-all for menstrual, digestion, and mood disorders: The V-Steam: Inspired by an ancient ritual practiced for many years in Korea. The steam from the herbal tea rises and absorbs into your skin & orifice. This steaming treatment stimulates the production of hormones to maintain uterine health, aids regular menstrual cycles, helps correct digestive disorders while soothing the nervous system. The natural antibiotic and anti-fungal properties are said to help maintain internal health as well as keeping your skin looking young. (30 min: $50. Series of 6: $180.) It’s a douche, folks. A $50 douche made with mugwort and 13 other herbs and having a fancy Korea... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4294632 Mon, 27 Dec 2010 18:00:53 +0100 4294632 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4294633&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fabout-scar-prevention-and-treatment%2F2010.12.27 I saw a Scarguard product on sale at a drugstore locally. The claims on the packaging were over the top as usual: 1. “Guards against new scars forming” – Difficult to prove. 2. “Flattens and shrinks old scars” – Not really. 3. “Scarguard is the #1 choice of plastic surgeons” – Really? Nobody asked me. Scar treatment is pretty simple. Avoid wounding if you can. If you have plastic surgery, seek a skilled surgeon who will spend the time to do the best. After surgery avoid sunlight and smoking, and consider scar massage as directed by your surgeon. This “Scarguard” product is not going to make a bad scar much better unless it is applied early, and even then the results are debatable. - John Di Saia, M.D. *This blog post was originally published at Trut... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4294633 Mon, 27 Dec 2010 15:00:30 +0100 4294633 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4285202&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fchinese-bloodletting-forbidden-in-california%2F2010.12.23 In November 2010, the California Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) finally decided to act responsibly and forbid the prevalent practice of Chinese bloodletting by licensed acupuncturists. The practice became a concern for the DCA when allegations of unsanitary bloodletting at a California (CA) acupuncture school surfaced. The incident allegedly occurred during a “doctoral” course for licensed practitioners. The instructor was reportedly demonstrating advanced needling and bloodletting techniques. During the process, he took an arrow-like lancing instrument that is called a “three-edged needle” (三棱针), sharpened it with sandpaper, cleaned it with alcohol, and then asked a student-volunteer to roll a towel around his neck. The instructor then cleaned the student’s temporal ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4285202 Thu, 23 Dec 2010 14:00:17 +0100 4285202 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4275326&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fmedical-scam-high-heels-short-skirts-and-dna-samples%2F2010.12.20 Without having one myself, I am pretty familiar with bone marrow transplant as a potential curative and lifesaving approach. After all, it was invented in my hometown of Seattle and I’ve met Dr. Donall Thomas who won a Nobel prize for developing the approach. I have met people who have been given a new lease on life because of transplant, I’ve known people who have died when transplant did not work for them or complications overwhelmed them, and I know many doctors who are transplant experts. I know how finding a perfect match can be hard — especially when the patient in need is part of an ethnic minority. And I have heard the horror stories of matched donors saying no to patients who would die if they didn’t receive a transplant from them. Now comes a story from Massachusetts ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4275326 Mon, 20 Dec 2010 20:00:22 +0100 4275326 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4258865&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fhrt-no-wonder-women-are-confused%2F2010.12.14 Confused about hormone replacement therapy (HRT)? I can’t imagine why… *This blog post was originally published at tbtam* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4258865 Tue, 14 Dec 2010 19:00:57 +0100 4258865 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4251148&cid=t_136957_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F12%2F11%2F8-tips-to-stop-holding-a-grudge%2F I loved these bits of advice from Beliefnet’s Renita Williams. We all have experienced hurt and pain in our lives. Sometimes we are exposed to experiences so painful that they leave marks that are difficult to heal-especially if we feel somone has wronged us or harmed us. 1. Acknowledge the problem Figure out what it is that’s causing you to hold a grudge. You have to know what the problem is in order to solve it. When you allow yourself to see the real issue you can then make a choice to move forward from there. 2. Share your feelings. A grudge can form when an issue isn’t fully confronted. Without being judgmental about yourself or another, clarify your feelings on the situation. Then, decide if this is something you will work on in your own heart or by contacting the ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4251148 Sat, 11 Dec 2010 13:45:41 +0100 4251148 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4197068&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fhow-low-can-oprah-winfrey-go-promoting-faith-healer-john-of-god-to-the-masses%2F2010.11.23 Several of the bloggers on Science-Based Medicine have been — shall we say? — rather critical of Oprah Winfrey. The reason, of course, is quite obvious. Oprah is so famous that if you mention her first name nearly everyone will know exactly of whom you speak. For the last quarter century, Oprah’s daytime TV talk show has been a ratings juggernaut, leading to the building of a media behemoth and making her one of the richest and most famous women in the world. Unfortunately, part of Oprah’s equation for success has involved the promotion of quackery and New Age woo, so much so that last year I lamented about the Oprah-fication of medicine, which scored me a writing gig in the Toronto Star. Whether it be promoting bio-identical hormones, The Secret (complete with a testimonial ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4197068 Tue, 23 Nov 2010 19:00:00 +0100 4197068 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4179322&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fhomeopathy-fibromyalgia-a-woo-magnet%2F2010.11.18 Over the weekend, my wife and I happened to be in the pharmacy section of our local Target store. We happened to be looking for one of our favorite cold remedies, because both of us have been suffering from rather annoying colds, which have plagued both of us for the last week or two. As we perused the Cold and Flu section of the pharmacy, we were struck at how much shelf space was taken up by Airborne (which was “invented by a schoolteacher.“) Nearly three years ago Airborne had to settle a case brought against it alleging false advertising to the tune of $23 million. Despite that, Airborne is still being sold, and there are even a whole bunch of knock-off products copying it. Then, as we continued to look for our favored cold remedy, we noted that, sitting right next to the extensive... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4179322 Thu, 18 Nov 2010 15:00:11 +0100 4179322 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4155234&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fimmunizations-nccam-fails-to-provide-responsible-information%2F2010.11.11 If you go to the website of the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), you’ll find that one of its self-identified roles is to “provide information about CAM.” NCCAM Director Josephine Briggs is proud to assert that the website fulfills this expectation. As many readers will recall, three of your bloggers visited the NCCAM last April, after having received an invitation from Dr. Briggs. We differed from her in our opinion of the website: One of our suggestions was that the NCCAM could do a better job providing American citizens with useful and accurate information about “CAM.” We cited, among several examples, the website offering little response to the dangerous problem of widespread misinformation about childhood immunizations. As Dr. Novella subseq... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4155234 Thu, 11 Nov 2010 13:00:51 +0100 4155234 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4133711&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fwhat-does-anti-vaccine-really-mean%2F2010.11.04 We write a lot about vaccines here at Science-Based Medicine. Indeed, as I write this, I note that there are 155 posts under the Vaccines category, with this post to make it 156. This is third only to Science and Medicine (which is such a vague, generic category that I’ve been seriously tempted to get rid of it, anyway) and Science and the Media. There is no doubt that vaccines represent one of the most common topics that we cover here on SBM, and with good reason. That good reason is that, compared to virtually any other modality used in the world of SBM, vaccines are under the most persistent attack from a vocal group of people, who, either because they mistakenly believe that vaccines caused their children’s autism, because they don’t like being told what to do by The Man, because... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4133711 Thu, 04 Nov 2010 12:00:04 +0100 4133711 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4133714&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Flight-shed-on-the-corruption-of-the-ruc%2F2010.11.03 Interesting [recent] front-page article in the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) about the American Medical Association’s (AMA) Relative Value Scale Update Committee (RUC). From the WSJ: Three times a year, 29 doctors gather around a table in a hotel meeting room. Their job is an unusual one: divvying up billions of Medicare dollars. The group, convened by the American Medical Association, has no official government standing. Members are mostly selected by medical-specialty trade groups. Anyone who attends its meetings must sign a confidentiality agreement. [...] The RUC, as it is known, has stoked a debate over whether doctors have too much control over the flow of taxpayer dollars in the $500 billion Medicare program. Its critics fault the committee for contributing to a system that spen... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4133714 Wed, 03 Nov 2010 18:00:00 +0100 4133714 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4121853&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Ffree-aneurysm-screening-just-another-kmart-blue-light-special%2F2010.10.30 Kmart, Medtronic, and a bunch of specialty medical groups are sponsoring a campaign called “Find the AAAnswers” — the “AAA” standing for abdominal aortic aneurysm. It’s clever marketing for Kmart’s pharmacy business, since the screenings are being offered throughout the Fall at more than 900 Kmart pharmacies. And it’s not bad business for the specialty medical groups, either, as Larry Husten wrote on his Cardiobrief blog: …the expenses of the program and the coalition are entirely underwritten by Medtronic, which sells abdominal stent grafts used to repair AAAs, and the members of the coalition include organizations like the Peripheral Vascular Surgical Society, the Society for Vascular Surgery, and the Society for Vascular Ultrasound, ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4121853 Sun, 31 Oct 2010 00:00:10 +0100 4121853 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4118936&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fthe-impact-of-drug-marketing-on-medical-care%2F2010.10.28 In my group practice, the Yale Medical Group, drug company-sponsored lunches and similar events have been banned. This is part of a trend, at least within academic medicine, to create some distance between physicians and pharmaceutical companies, or at least their marketing divisions. The justifications for this are several, and are all reasonable. One reason is the appearance of being too cozy, which compromises the role of academic physicians as independent experts. But the primary reason is the belief that “detailing” by pharmaceutical sales representatives has a negative effect on the prescribing habits of physicians. There is reason to believe this may be the case because of cases of bad behavior on the part of pharmaceutical marketing divisions — ghost writing white papers,... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4118936 Thu, 28 Oct 2010 12:00:50 +0100 4118936 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4105667&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fa-secret-sign-of-aging-international-disease-mongering%2F2010.10.25 Just five days ago we wrote about an American journalist’s observations of medicalization of one problem sometimes observed after menopause: Vaginal atrophy. Today we see that this disease-mongering trend has popped up in Australia as well. This should be no surprise. Such campaigns are usually led by multinational pharmaceutical companies and their advertising and public relations agencies. What caught our eye was an article on a women’s health foundation website — a foundation that posts a pretty thin excuse for why it won’t tell you its source of funding. Its article on vaginal atrophy uses classic disease-mongering language: “Ask a woman over the age of 50 about the ‘signs of ag[e]ing’ and she’ll most likely lament about grey hairs, wrin... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4105667 Mon, 25 Oct 2010 18:00:43 +0100 4105667 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4105668&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fthe-lies-of-medical-science-whats-an-e-patient-to-do%2F2010.10.25 There’s an extraordinary new article in The Atlantic entitled “Lies, Damned Lies, and Medical Science.” It echos an excellent article in our Journal of Participatory Medicine (JoPM) a year ago by Richard W. Smith, 25-year editor of the British Medical Journal, entitled ”In Search Of an Optimal Peer Review System.” JoPM, Oct 21, 2009: “….most of what appears in peer-reviewed journals is scientifically weak.” The Atlantic, Oct. 16, 2010: “Much of what medical researchers conclude in their studies is misleading, exaggerated, or flat-out wrong.” JoPM 2009: “Yet peer review remains sacred, worshiped by scientists and central to the processes of science — awarding grants, publishing, and dishing out prizes.” The Atlantic 2010: “So why are doctors — to... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4105668 Mon, 25 Oct 2010 16:00:09 +0100 4105668 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4097939&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fmore-unvaccinated-children-cause-public-health-fears-to-increase%2F2010.10.22 Dr. Robert Sears’ The Vaccine Book, is, as Dr. Rahul Parikh puts it, “a nightmare for pediatricians like me.” In a piece from Salon, Dr. Parikh brings his issues to the author. The controversy of the book is the so-called “alternative vaccine schedule,” which, as vaccine developer Paul Offit puts it: …is “misrepresentation of vaccine science” that “misinforms parents trying to make the right decision for their children” in the Journal of Pediatrics. And yet, as a pediatrician myself, I have seen an increasing number of caring, reasonable parents hold it up like a bible in my practice (and that of my colleagues). This post, however,  isn’t about the vaccine controversy — I’ll leave you to read Dr. Parikh’s excellent piece for yourself. What I found interest... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4097939 Fri, 22 Oct 2010 20:00:28 +0100 4097939 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4082087&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fdollars-for-doctors-investigative-public-service-journalism%2F2010.10.19 An historic piece of journalism was published today. Six news organizations partnered on the “Dollars for Docs” project — ProPublica, NPR, PBS’s Nightly Business Report, the Chicago Tribune, Boston Globe and Consumer Reports. They examined $258 million in payments by seven drug companies in 2009 and 2010 to about 18,000 healthcare practitioners nationwide for speaking, consulting, and other tasks. This webpage can be your gateway to the project, with links to a database searchable by doctor’s name or by state, and links to the journalism partners’ efforts: Boston Globe “Prescription for Prestige” The Harvard brand, unrivaled in education, is also prized by the pharmaceutical industry as a powerful tool in promoting drugs. Its allure is evid... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4082087 Tue, 19 Oct 2010 20:00:21 +0100 4082087 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4077246&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fdo-you-have-low-t%2F2010.10.17 If you google “low testosterone” you’ll see lots of ads for testosterone replacement. Some are from pharmaceutical companies that sell testosterone, others from obvious snake-oil salesmen. Both types of ads list vague sets of symptoms, encourage you to believe that they are pathologic, and want to sell you something to make you better. For example, the pharmaceutical company Solvay gives you a handy guide for speaking to your doctor, and a quiz to see if you have “low T.” The quiz asks some questions that may be useful, but also asks very general questions about your sense of well being. (more…) *This blog post was originally published at Science-Based Medicine* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4077246 Sun, 17 Oct 2010 21:00:01 +0100 4077246 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4074067&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fstem-cell-face-lifts%2F2010.10.14 It’s been almost a month since the LA Times ran the article by Chris Woolston entitled  The Healthy Skeptic: Stem cell face-lifts on unproven ground. It’s well written and presents a fairly balanced view. While I am a fan of stem cell research, I think the “claims” are often put ahead of the science.  This is one of those times. I can’t find any decent articles to support the claims of the plastic surgeons doing “stem cell face-lifts.” My view is echoed in the article (bold emphasis is mine): Rubin says he’s excited about the potential of stem cells in the cosmetic field and beyond. Still, he adds, there are many unanswered questions about the cosmetic use of stem cells, and anyone who claims to have already mastered the technique is jumping the gun. As Rubin puts ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4074067 Thu, 14 Oct 2010 18:00:00 +0100 4074067 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4074068&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Funscientific-medicine-what%25e2%2580%2599s-the-harm%2F2010.10.14 Any promoter of science-based medicine often faces the question: “What’s the harm?” What is the harm if people try treatment modalities that are not based upon good science, that are anecdotal, or provide only a placebo benefit? There are generally two premises to this question. The first is that most “alternative” placebo interventions are directly harmless. The second is that direct harm is the only type worth considering. Both of these premises are wrong. The pages of Science Based Medicine (SBM) are filled with accounts of direct harm from unscientific treatments: Argyria from colloidal silver, death from chelation therapy, infection or other complications from acupuncture, burns from ear candleing, stroke from chiropractic neck manipulation — the list goes on. ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4074068 Thu, 14 Oct 2010 14:00:50 +0100 4074068 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4053290&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fmammogram-parties-have-a-mammogram-get-flowers-and-chocolates%2F2010.10.09 The Chicago Tribune reports on mammogram marketing tactics being used across the U.S. — some of it apparently to “woo women back to the imaging room” after confusion over conflicting advice about breast cancer screening. Yes, the tactics include “mammogram parties” offering chocolate fondue, massages, beauty consultations, wine, cheese, roses, and weekend-getaway spa packages. But there’s another side to this, the Tribune reports: Simply inviting women to “mammogram parties,” could send the wrong message, said Lynne Hildreth, department administrator of women’s oncology at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa. …”Mammograms are a medical test, and to treat it like a haircut overlooks that there are very real risks,” said Hild... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4053290 Sat, 09 Oct 2010 23:00:08 +0100 4053290 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4045096&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fnurses-and-doctors-need-coffee-the-most%2F2010.10.08 Nurses and doctors depend on coffee to perform their jobs the most of any profession, reports a survey. Nurses ranked first and doctors second when asked if they needed coffee to get through their day. The rest of the coffee-fueled careers were a mixed bag of white collar and blue collar positions. Among other findings: – 48 percent of those in the Northeast said they were less productive without coffee, compared to 34 percent of Midwesterners. – 40 percent of those aged 18 to 24 said they can’t concentrate as well without coffee. – 37 percent said they drink two or more cups a day. NOTE: The study was funded by CareerBuilder and Dunkin’ Donuts. *This blog post was originally published at ACP Internist* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4045096 Fri, 08 Oct 2010 12:00:00 +0100 4045096 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4018177&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Faspartame-facts-vs-fiction%2F2010.09.30 If you believe everything you read on the Internet, then is seems that a chemical found in thousands of products is causing an epidemic of severe neurological and systemic diseases, like multiple sclerosis and lupus. The FDA, the companies that make the product, and the “medical industrial complex” all know about the dangers of this chemical, but are hiding the truth from the public in order to protect corporate profits and avoid the pesky paper work that would accompany the truth being revealed. The only glimmer of hope is a dedicated band of bloggers and anonymous email chain letter authors who aren’t afraid to speak the truth. Armed with the latest anecdotal evidence, unverified speculation, and scientifically implausible claims, they have been tirelessly ranting about the evils o... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4018177 Thu, 30 Sep 2010 14:00:22 +0100 4018177 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4018179&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fwhy-pain-cant-be-a-vital-sign%2F2010.09.29 There’s been a movement afoot for several years now to quantify pain as the so-called “Fifth Vital Sign.” It all started as a well-intentioned effort to raise the level of awareness of inadequate pain control in many patients, but has gotten way out of hand. The problem is that the word “sign” has a specific meaning in medicine that, by definition, cannot be applied to pain. When you hear us medicos talk about “signs and symptoms” of a disease, it turns out that they are not the same thing. “Symptoms” are things the patient experiences subjectively. “Signs” are things that can be observed objectively by another person. Headache is a symptom; cough is a sign. Itching is a symptom; scratch marks over a blistery linear rash are a sign. Vertigo, the hallucination of movem... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4018179 Wed, 29 Sep 2010 22:00:06 +0100 4018179 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3998986&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fnutritional-supplements-do-they-really-help-prevent-disease%2F2010.09.24 (Guest post submitted by MD Anderson Cancer Center) Aisles in grocery stores and pharmacies are stacked with vitamins, minerals, herbs or other plants that you take in pill, capsule, tablet or liquid form. And, many of us buy these supplements and take them regularly, hoping to lower our chances of getting cancer and other diseases. But do supplements really work wonders? Should you take them to help prevent cancer? Our experts say beware. “Don’t be fooled by the label on the bottle,” says Sally Scroggs, health education manager at MD Anderson’s Cancer Prevention Center. “Researchers are still unsure about whether or not supplements actually prevent cancer.” Some studies have suggested that supplements may actually increase cancer risk by tilting the balance of nutrients in the... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3998986 Fri, 24 Sep 2010 20:00:57 +0100 3998986 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3998987&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fdeceptive-health-websites-are-all-too-plentiful%2F2010.09.24 By Lisa Neal Gualtieri. (Her earlier much-commented post on this subject is here.) The Boston Globe reported this month on the sentencing of a former US Airways Express pilot, Stephen Sharp, “for selling a powdered drink mix over the Internet that he claimed was ‘100 percent’ effective in helping drug-using truck drivers, pilots, and train engineers pass federally mandated drug tests.” The ungrammatically-named “yourintheclear.com” no longer seems to exist. Mindful of ongoing debate by Gilles Frydman and others about indicators of health website credibility, I searched for other sites selling similar products (there is no shortage) and looked on sites like Craigslist where people post questions about how to pass drug tests and how to detoxify. Based on a quick perusal, I found ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3998987 Fri, 24 Sep 2010 18:00:42 +0100 3998987 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3998993&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fshould-doctors-be-socially-anonymous%2F2010.09.23 I don’t think doctors should be socially anonymous. We need to be seen. Here’s why going underground isn’t good policy for physicians: Anonymity makes you say stupid things. When you’re shouting from the crowd it’s easy to talk smack.  Come up to the podium, clear your throat, and say something intelligent. You’re a physician, not a hooligan. It’s 2010: Anonymity died a long time ago. You think anonymity offers shelter? You’re funny, you are. Anonymity is a myth. You can create a cockamamie pseudonym, but you can’t hide.  And if I don’t find you, the plaintiff attorneys will. They found Flea. Being a weanie is no excuse. Just as you’re unlikely to consult a lawyer before speaking at a cocktail party, commenting as Dr. You is unlikely to kill you or land you in... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3998993 Thu, 23 Sep 2010 20:00:19 +0100 3998993 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3987056&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fdebunking-fake-diseases%2F2010.09.20 Ever heard of adrenal fatigue? Wilson’s temperature syndrome? If not, there’s a good reason: They exist only on the Internet. The Hormone Foundation, an affiliate of the Endocrine Society, recently issued two fact sheets for patients debunking these so-called conditions, which were “apparently conceived only in an effort to sell products promoted to treat them,” the LA Times reported. No medical evidence supports either faux disease and there are no tests or treatments for them, but patients still try to alleviate them with supplements, some of them potentially dangerous, the Times said. Adrenal fatigue is characterized by such “symptoms” as having salt and sugar cravings and needing coffee to get you through the day, while the man who discovered Wilson&... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3987056 Mon, 20 Sep 2010 20:00:00 +0100 3987056 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3959926&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fcoffee-grounds-to-combat-cellulite%2F2010.09.11 Last week a popular TV talk show featuring a bunch of doctors (I’m not naming names) discussed how coffee grounds can improve cellulite. They explained how rubbing coffee grounds into your skin imparts caffeine into the cellulite thereby improving the circulation and drawing the toxins out. This is a great tip, except that rubbing coffee grounds on your skin does not impart any caffeine into it, and there are no toxins in cellulite. Cellulite is a normal secondary sex characteristic of women. It is the result of thin connective tissue in women’s skin. Massaging the cellulite (with coffee, tea, grapes, cream cheese, or chocolate frosting) pushes the fat back into the skin, temporarly improving the appearance. There is no science behind using coffee to treat this normal condition. Scient... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3959926 Sat, 11 Sep 2010 20:00:26 +0100 3959926 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3954261&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fwho-partners-with-traditional-healers-in-africa%2F2010.09.09 There’s an AIDS epidemic in Africa, and efforts to fight it are hampered by the endemic social problems of that continent. Chief among them are the lack of sufficient modern health resources, the spread of destructive rumors and myths about HIV/AIDS, and even the persistence of HIV denial in Africa (although this last factor is better than in the past). The World Health Organization (WHO) and the International HIV/AIDS Alliance are teaming up with the Traditional Health Practitioners Association of Zambia (THPAZ) to address the first problem –- the lack of health services. Most Zambians use traditional healers for primary healthcare. The WHO has therefore decided to utilize traditional healers in the fight against AIDS. There are interesting pros and cons to this policy, but it mus... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3954261 Thu, 09 Sep 2010 14:00:20 +0100 3954261 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3946453&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fconsidering-a-medi-spa-5-questions-to-ask%2F2010.09.08 True or false: 1. Botox and laser treatments are easy and can be done by an aesthtician or spa staff. 2. A physician must be present at all times in a spa that performs procedures. 3. Chemical or facial peels are safe and can be done in a beauty salon. (Answer to questions 1-3: False.) The term “spa” is derived from a town in Belgium where healing waters have been used to promote health since Roman times. “Spa” is now loosely used to describe any relaxing environment or beauty salon where rest, health and beauty are promoted. At one time it was easy to distinguish among a beauty salon, barber shop and a doctor’s office. Not anymore. As cosmetics has become more medical and medicine has become more cosmetic, the two have met in the ubiquitous Medi-Spa. An establishment labelled ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3946453 Wed, 08 Sep 2010 18:00:43 +0100 3946453 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3942836&cid=t_136957_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F09%2F07%2Fwhat-not-to-say-to-someone-with-panic-disorder%2F Imagine this: you’re allergic to cats. You’ve just been exposed to cat dander and your eyes are a soggy, drippy red mess. You sneeze uncontrollably multiple times in a row. Your skin becomes itchy, red, and full of welts. You’re feeling pretty miserable. A friend walks up to you. “Hey, no worries,” he exclaims casually, “there’s nothing to be allergic to!” Uh, what? “Sure there is — I’m allergic to cats,” you’d probably say. “Nah,” says your friend, “just stop sneezing. You’ll be okay.” “What?! I can’t just STOP sneezing on a dime,” you retort. “Sure you can. There’s nothing wrong with you,” he insists. “Uhm, care to explain these welts, then? And the red eyes? And the sneezing?!” Sounds frustrating, doesn’t it? If you suffe... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3942836 Wed, 08 Sep 2010 01:46:49 +0100 3942836 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3933089&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fprevention-magazines-inaccurate-coffee-cures-story%2F2010.09.03 The September issue of Prevention magazine inaccurately headlines the story ”4 Ways Coffee Cures.” There’s no solid proof that coffee cures anything — unless some of you cure bacon with java, which I don’t want to know about. What the story (below) did was to try to present a cute little graphic summary of observational studies that show a statistical association between increasing coffee consumption and fewer early deaths, fewer deaths from heart attack, fewer cases of dementia, and fewer cases of type 2 diabetes. But such observational studies (they actually never cite the source — I’m just giving them the benefit of the doubt that they’re citing observational studies) CAN’T establish cause and effect, therefore it’s inaccura... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3933089 Fri, 03 Sep 2010 18:00:50 +0100 3933089 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3929233&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fresponsible-vaccine-advocacy-how-to-make-a-difference%2F2010.09.02 I lost a patient this season, an infant, to whooping cough (pertussis). After falling ill, he lived for nearly a month in the intensive care unit on a ventilator, three weeks of which was spent on a heart/lung bypass machine (ECMO) due to the extent of the damage to his lungs. But all our efforts were in vain. The most aggressive and advanced care medicine has to offer couldn’t save his life. The only thing that could have saved him would have been to prevent him from contracting pertussis in the first place. He was unvaccinated, but that was because of his age. He was part of the population that is fully dependent on herd immunity for protection, and that is exquisitely prone to a life-threatening course once infected. This is a topic we’ve covered ad nauseum, and I’m not incli... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3929233 Thu, 02 Sep 2010 17:00:35 +0100 3929233 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3914997&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fspinal-fusion-device-from-revolutionary-advance-to-public-health-alert%2F2010.08.30 There are many stories journalists could report on about conflicts of interest and questions about evidence in the treatment of low back pain, perhaps especially with spinal fusion. We talked about many of these with journalists from the American Society of News Editors in a workshop at the Foundation for Informed Medical Decision Making in Boston in May. John Fauber of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel hammers one of these issues, looking at how Medtronic’s Infuse product “went from revolutionary advance to public health alert.” Here’s his story on MedPageToday: “Spinal Fusion Device: A Bone of Contention for FDA.”  His entire series entitled “Side Effects: Money, Medicine and Patients” is indexed on the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel website. Th... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3914997 Mon, 30 Aug 2010 18:00:22 +0100 3914997 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3895889&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fwarning-labels-for-health-journalism%2F2010.08.23 I’ve seen the very clever journalism warning labels pictured and offered on TomScott.com. Many good friends and contacts wrote me about this, some urging HealthNewsReview.org to produce its own — and we may. Of the many great labels offered, this one is perhaps my favorite: *This blog post was originally published at Gary Schwitzer's HealthNewsReview Blog* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3895889 Mon, 23 Aug 2010 16:00:26 +0100 3895889 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3885344&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fthe-selectiveness-of-science-denialism%2F2010.08.19 Statement #1: The holocaust never happened. Hitler loved Jews and respected Jewish culture. The photographic evidence of the camps, including the bodies and atrocities, were all fakes designed by the State of Israel to generate international sympathy. Statement #2: Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is an effective treatment for numerous medical conditions. Acupuncture has been around for centuries and is widely practiced in China and elsewhere. Science has proven its efficacy in controlled experiments. With any luck, that first statement should generate dozens of hits from watchdog groups berating me for spreading the vile lie of Holocaust denial. The second statement, or words perilously close to that effect, has appeared in the New England Journal of Medicine, a previously-prestigious ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3885344 Thu, 19 Aug 2010 18:00:13 +0100 3885344 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3885347&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Ftestosterone-for-anti-aging-in-men-a-medical-fraud%2F2010.08.19 On the car radio, I have several times happened upon “infomercial” programs touting the benefits of testosterone replacement therapy for men, broadcast by doctors who specialize in prescribing the drugs. They have lots of wonderful stories about men who feel younger, happier, and more vigorous because of their macho remedies. It’s a tribute to the power of the placebo. I have been reviewing John Brinkley’s goat gland scam for a presentation on medical frauds. In an era before the isolation of the hormone testosterone, Brinkley transplanted goat testes into human scrotums in an attempt to treat impotence and aging. We are more sophisticated today — but not much. Longevity clinics and individual practitioners are offering testosterone to men as a general pick-me-up and anti-agi... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3885347 Thu, 19 Aug 2010 12:00:29 +0100 3885347 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3862009&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Ffda-warning-industrial-bleach-as-a-cure-for-cancer-and-hiv%2F2010.08.12 On the heels of Scott Gavura’s superb post on dietary supplement regulation in the U.S. and Canada, I bring you one of the most egregious and obscene product cases I have seen in 15 years of teaching on botanical and non-botanical products: Miracle Mineral Solution. Please accept my apologies in advance for not having a scholarly post for you – this is just too unbelievable not to share with science-based medicine readers. (more…) *This blog post was originally published at Science-Based Medicine* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3862009 Thu, 12 Aug 2010 22:00:48 +0100 3862009 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3862013&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fquackademic-medicine-infiltrates-the-new-england-journal-of-medicine%2F2010.08.12 One of the things that disturbs me the most about where medicine is going is the infiltration of quackery into academic medicine. So prevalent is this unfortunate phenomenon that Doctor RW even coined a truly apt term for it: Quackademic medicine. In essence, pseudoscientific and even prescientific ideas are rapidly being “integrated” with science-based medicine, or, as I tend to view it, quackery is being “integrated” with scientific medicine, to the gradual erosion of scientific standards in medicine. No quackery is too quacky, it seems. Even homeopathy and naturopathy can seemingly find their way into academic medical centers. (more…) *This blog post was originally published at Science-Based Medicine* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3862013 Thu, 12 Aug 2010 12:00:31 +0100 3862013 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3854522&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fthe-improbable-unsinkable-glucosamine%2F2010.08.10 Glucosamine is widely used for osteoarthritis pain. It’s not as impossible as homeopathy, but its rationale is improbable. As I explained in a previous post: Wallace Sampson, one of the other authors of this blog, has pointed out that the amount of glucosamine in the typical supplement dose is on the order of 1/1000th to 1/10,000th of the available glucosamine in the body, most of which is produced by the body itself. He says, “Glucosamine is not an essential nutrient like a vitamin or an essential amino acid, for which small amounts make a large difference. How much difference could that small additional amount make? If glucosamine or chondroitin worked, this would be a medical first and worthy of a Nobel. It probably cannot work.” Nevertheless, glucosamine (alone or with chondr... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3854522 Tue, 10 Aug 2010 17:00:34 +0100 3854522 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3833422&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fgagging-orders-for-doctors%2F2010.08.07 From the article “Millions spent on doctor ‘gagging orders’ by NHS, investigation finds” in the “Health & Families” section of The Independent in London: Hospital doctors who quit their jobs are being routinely forced to sign “gagging orders” despite legislation designed to protect NHS whistleblowers, it is revealed today. Millions of pounds of taxpayers’ money are being spent on contracts that deter doctors from speaking out about incompetence and mistakes in patient care. Wow. I’m not being snarky here — I really have no idea: Does this happen in the U.S? *This blog post was originally published at GruntDoc* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3833422 Sat, 07 Aug 2010 22:00:34 +0100 3833422 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3827069&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fmedical-school-and-hard-science%2F2010.08.05 One of the recurring themes of this blog, not surprisingly given its name, is the proper role of science in medicine. As Dr. Novella has made clear from the very beginning, we advocate science-based medicine (SBM), which is what evidence-based medicine (EBM) should be. SBM tries to overcome the shortcomings of EBM by taking into account all the evidence, both scientific and clinical, in deciding what therapies work, what therapies don’t work, and why. To recap, a major part of our thesis is that EBM, although a step forward over prior dogma-based medical models, ultimately falls short of making medicine as effective as it can be. As currently practiced, EBM appears to worship clinical trial evidence above all else and nearly completely ignores basic science considerations, relegating the... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3827069 Thu, 05 Aug 2010 12:00:55 +0100 3827069 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3802386&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fa-letter-to-dr-josephine-briggs-about-her-support-of-naturopathy%2F2010.07.29 Josephine P. Briggs, M.D. Director, National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine Dear Dr. Briggs, As you know, we’ve met twice. The first time was at the Yale “Integrative Medicine” Symposium in March. The second was in April, when Drs. Novella, Gorski and I met with you for an hour at the NCCAM in Bethesda. At the time I concluded that you favor science-based medicine, although you are in the awkward position of having to appear ‘open-minded’ about nonsense. More about that below, but first let me address the principal reason for this letter: it is disturbing that you will shortly appear at the 25th Anniversary Convention of the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians (AANP). It is disturbing for two reasons. First, it suggests that you know little about th... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3802386 Thu, 29 Jul 2010 12:00:04 +0100 3802386 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3794772&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fminnesotans-get-more-lower-back-mris-why%2F2010.07.27 Kudos to Christopher Snowbeck and the St. Paul Pioneer Press for digging into new Medicare data to report that the state the newspaper serves is out of whack with the rest of the country in how many expensive MRI scans are done on Minnesotans’ bad backs. Snowbeck artfully captures the predictable rationalization and defensive responses coming from locals who don’t like what the data suggest. Because what they suggest is overuse leading to overtreatment. So here’s one attempt a provider makes to deflect the data: “The Medicare billing/claims data, which this report is generated from, would not capture conversations between a patient and provider that may have addressed alternative therapies for lower back pain,” said Robert Prevost, a spokesman for North Memor... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3794772 Tue, 27 Jul 2010 20:00:39 +0100 3794772 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3790704&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fthe-dumbing-down-of-nursing-academics%2F2010.07.26 I’m embarrassed to say this, but the nursing profession is making a mockery of healthcare education by downgrading the post-graduate degree process. The nursing education requirements in the advertisement seen here are an embarrassment to the nursing profession. Mrs. Happy pointed out an advertisement from her nursing magazine offering advanced nursing education opportunities. This advertisement for the doctor nurse practitioner (DNP) training track at Creighton University is a mockery of the rigorous educational requirements necessary to care for patients independently. Check out the nursing education requirements on their advertisement: No entrance exam required?  No clinical experience?  No thesis required?  What has this world come to? These are professionals who are going to... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3790704 Mon, 26 Jul 2010 16:00:00 +0100 3790704 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3780354&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Ftwilight-inspired-plastic-surgery-a-vampire-facelift%2F2010.07.22 I first saw mention of the “vampire facelift” two weeks ago as a news article listed in the July 9th issue of the Plastic Surgery SmartBrief: “Vampire facelift” uses patient’s platelets and fibrin in dermal filler.” The article begins: Instead of a traditional facelift, patients are being offered another option to get rid of wrinkles. It’s called Selphyl or the “vampire facelift,” and it uses a person’s own blood to sculpt the face. Selphyl, according to the company’s website: The patented SELPHYL® System enables the safe and rapid preparation of an activated Platelet-rich Fibrin Matrix (PRFM).  A small volume of the patient’s blood is collected and the platelets and fibrin are concentrated during a simple centrifuge process... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3780354 Thu, 22 Jul 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3780354 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3780355&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fbreast-cancer-diagnosis-and-treatment-can-women-trust-it%2F2010.07.22 The news wasn’t good this week for women concerned about breast cancer. First came the story that some women were diagnosed with breast cancer, very early stage, had treatment –- including disfiguring surgery -– and then found out they never had cancer in the first place. The pathologist goofed, maybe even a second pathologist also misread the biopsies. How does this happen? Not surprisingly it comes back to the clinical experience of the doctor. Properly diagnosing breast cancer, whether through radiology scans or pathology biopsies is not always easy. And in many communities the general radiologists and pathologists just don’t have enough specialized experience. This leads to mistakes, especially when the suggestions of possible cancer are subtle and minute. (more…) ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3780355 Thu, 22 Jul 2010 21:00:33 +0100 3780355 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3780358&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fthe-case-of-the-winkler-county-whistleblowing-nurses%2F2010.07.22 I can’t speak for anyone else who blogs here at Science-Based Medicine, but there’s one thing I like to emphasize to people who complain that we exist only to “bash ‘alternative’ medicine.” We don’t. We exist to champion medicine based on science against all manner of dubious practices. Part of that mandate involves understanding and accepting that science-based medicine (SBM) is not perfect. It is not some sort of panacea. Rather, it has many shortcomings and all too often does not live up to its promise. Our argument is merely that, similar to Winston Churchill’s invocation of the famous saying that “democracy is the worst form of government except all the others that have been tried,” science-based medicine is the worst form of medicine except for all the others tha... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3780358 Thu, 22 Jul 2010 12:00:59 +0100 3780358 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3776378&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Flife-without-a-mental-disorder-is-it-possible%2F2010.07.21 There’s a noteworthy column in Psychiatric Times, “Normality Is an Endangered Species: Psychiatric Fads and Overdiagnosis,” by Allen Frances, M.D. He was chair of the task force that worked on the Diagnostic & Statistical Manual — DSM-IV — one edition of the “bible of psychiatry.” He is professor emeritus of psychiatry at Duke University School of Medicine. There’s a lot of common ground between what Dr. Frances writes and what Dr. Daniel Carlat (the subject of an earlier blog posting) writes about. Dr. Frances is concerned about the directions that might be taken in the authoring of DSM-V, now underway. Excerpts: “Fads in psychiatric diagnosis come and go and have been with us as long as there has been psychiatry. The fads meet a d... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3776378 Wed, 21 Jul 2010 23:00:01 +0100 3776378 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3764135&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fthe-medical-misinformation-of-the-huffington-post%2F2010.07.18 This article shows a misunderstanding of journalistic ethics, medical ethics, and medical science. It’s a disaster. And it’s no surprise that it’s in the Huffington Post. While this is a medicine story, my question relates to why an organization with a lot of great front-page news so frequently posts medical articles that are wrong and, sometimes, downright dangerous. Read the article first, then read Dr. Lipson’s analysis. Disclosure: I am an occasional contributor to Science Based Medicine but, like all contributors there, receive no compensation. *This blog post was originally published at Terra Sigillata* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3764135 Sun, 18 Jul 2010 23:00:57 +0100 3764135 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3764138&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2F19th-century-cure-for-obesity%2F2010.07.18 I really want to know what the treatment is that this “regular practicing physician” sent to the patient to reduce the surplus flesh. “Eat as much and as often as you please” and “no bandaging nor tightlacing.” Bring it on! *This blog post was originally published at EverythingHealth* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3764138 Sun, 18 Jul 2010 12:00:00 +0100 3764138 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3762900&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fone-critics-take-on-the-multigrain-scam%2F2010.07.17 Freelance journalist and author Suzanne Schlosberg wrote because she was so upset over a New York Times story, “The Chip That Stacks Adds a Multigrain Twist,” that she wanted us to review it. I thought anyone who feels so strongly about something should review it herself. So she did. Here is Suzanne’s guest post: ************************** I was flabbergasted when I read this New York Times piece on Procter & Gamble’s new entry into the potato-chip market: multigrain Pringles. The story accepts at face value P&G’s misleading marketing pitch — that “multigrain” is equivalent to “healthy.” When I sent a link to my nutritionist friend Cynthia Sass., M.S., R.D., she replied: “Did you notice it says ‘advertising&#82... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3762900 Sun, 18 Jul 2010 01:06:23 +0100 3762900 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3757866&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fdr-don-berwicks-patient-centered-medicine%2F2010.07.15 There’s been a bit of buzz in the health blogs over President Obama’s decision last week to use the mechanism of a recess appointment to be the director of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Recess appointments, for those who may not be aware, allow a President to put a nominee in place when Congress is in recess in order to have him in place without the messy process of having him approved by the Senate. True, the Senate still has to approve a recess appointment by the end of its term, or the seat goes vacant again, but it’s an excellent way to avoid having nasty confirmation fights during election years. Of course, both parties do it, and the reaction of pundits, bloggers, and politicians tend to fall strictly along partisan lines. If you support the President, t... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3757866 Thu, 15 Jul 2010 12:00:36 +0100 3757866 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3737041&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Facupuncture-cme-offered-by-harvard-medical-school%2F2010.07.08 Some universities have more cachet than others. On the West Coast it’s Stanford that has the reputation as the best. Then there’s Oxford, Yale, and MIT. I would wager that in most people’s minds the creme de la creme is Harvard, where you find the best of the best. If Harvard is involved, a project gains an extra gobbet of credibility. Brigham and Women’s Hospital also has similar reputation in U.S. as one the hospitals associated with only Harvard and the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) — premier university, premier hospital, premier journal. So if Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital are offering continuing medical education (CME) for acupuncture, there must be something to it, right? A course called “Structural Acupuncture for Physic... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3737041 Fri, 09 Jul 2010 01:00:14 +0100 3737041 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3737045&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fpersonalized-medicine-a-bait-and-switch%2F2010.07.08 Mark Hyman, a proponent of so-called “functional medicine” promoting himself over at the Huffington Post (an online news source that essentially allows dubious medical infomercials to pass as news) has posted a particularly egregious article on personalized medicine for dementia. In the article Hyman distorts the modern practice of medicine, the current state of genetic science, and the very notion of “disease.” It is, as usual, a fine piece of medical propaganda sure to confuse many a reader. Hyman starts with some standard epidemiology of dementia –- it’s a common and growing disorder –- but then descends quickly into distortion and pseudoscience. (more…) *This blog post was originally published at Science-Based Medicine* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3737045 Thu, 08 Jul 2010 12:00:38 +0100 3737045 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3729875&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Findustry-sponsored-medical-education-should-big-pharma-buy-doctors-lunch%2F2010.07.06 “Appetite for Instruction: Why Big Pharma should buy your doctor lunch sometimes” is the headline of an article on Slate.com that has upset many readers. I’m not terribly upset about it because it just seems too naive and misinformed to get upset about. The final line of the piece tells you all you need to know about the tone of the column: “Ousting commercial support is creating a huge chasm in medical education, leaving doctors not only hungry but also starved for knowledge.” A number of online comments were posted in reaction to the piece. (more…) *This blog post was originally published at Gary Schwitzer's HealthNewsReview Blog* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3729875 Tue, 06 Jul 2010 21:00:39 +0100 3729875 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3721765&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fdebunking-homeopathy-cartoon-style%2F2010.07.02 Here’s a wonderful cartoon primer by Darryl Cunningham on the fundamentals of homeopathic “medicine”: To see the entire 19-page cartoon strip, click here. Well worth the read, especially for anyone who might be considering homeopathic treatment. This author also put together a nice explication of the Wakefield Autism Vaccine Fraud. *This blog post was originally published at Movin' Meat* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3721765 Fri, 02 Jul 2010 16:00:00 +0100 3721765 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3718400&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2F%25e2%2580%259cnaturopathic-oncology-a-new-specialty-of-pseudoscience%2F2010.07.01 On “wholistic” medicine If there’s one aspect of so-called “alternative medicine” and “complementary and alternative medicine” (CAM) is that its practitioners tout as being a huge advantage over what they often refer to sneeringly as “conventional” or “scientific” medicine is that–or so its practitioners claim–alt-med treats the “whole patient,” that it’s “wholistic” in a way that the evil reductionist “Western” science-based medicine can’t be. Supposedly, we reductionistic, unimaginative physicians only focus on disease and ignore the “whole patient.” Of course, to me this claim is belied by the hectoring to which my own primary care physician has subjected me about my horrible diet and lack of exercise on pretty much every visit I’ve had wi... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3718400 Thu, 01 Jul 2010 12:00:53 +0100 3718400 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3702934&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fhow-much-are-your-organs-worth%2F2010.06.27 I don’t plan to sell my organs on eBay, but as organ transplantation, lack of donors, and illegal organ trafficking gets more and more serious, this infographic comes just in time. It provides some interesting answers to questions like, “How much does a liver cost in South Korea?” and “How many patients are waiting for transplants?” Click on the image for the original larger version: *This blog post was originally published at ScienceRoll* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3702934 Mon, 28 Jun 2010 01:18:51 +0100 3702934 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3695572&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fnew-movie-promotes-energy-medicine%2F2010.06.24 It’s boring to try to ferret out reliable health information from dry medical journals. It’s easier and more fun to watch a movie. A new movie promises to change the way you think about your health. To bring you breakthroughs that will transform your understanding of how to get well and stay well. To share the discoveries of leading researchers and health practitioners about miracle cures that traditional medicine can’t explain. If this makes your baloney detector light up, good for you! The Living Matrix: A Film on the New Science of Healing is an atrociously bad movie that falls squarely in the tradition of What the Bleep Do We Know? In his book Nonsense on Stilts, Massimo Pigliucci characterized the “Bleep” movie as “one of the most spectacular examples of a horribly tangled... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3695572 Thu, 24 Jun 2010 12:00:37 +0100 3695572 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3683617&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fpsa-screening-not-recommended-ny-daily-times-still-doesnt-care%2F2010.06.21 Headlines every day in the New York Daily News are luring men in as part of a mass prostate cancer screening campaign that the American Cancer Society not only does not endorse, but its chief medical officer recommends against. Yet the paper brags that it’s beginning its second decade of this non-evidence-based campaign. Sample headlines: • Doctors urge New York men to take advantage of free, city-wide PSA testing • What you don’t know can kill you. Get a FREE prostate cancer test. It can save your life • Bring dad in for FREE prostate cancer test across the city on Father’s Day and • Don’t skip the PSA test! My prostate cancer is treatable because simple test caught it early (written by a Daily News staffer). (more…) *This blog post was orig... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3683617 Mon, 21 Jun 2010 23:20:34 +0100 3683617 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3678526&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Ffake-cures-for-diabetes%2F2010.06.19 KERRI walks to the center of the living room and sits down on the couch, across from SIAH, who is sitting in the corner, staring aimlessly at the wall. KERRI Oh Siah, I just received an email!  About a chocolate shake with glucose-reducing powers!  And how, if I purchase the family pack of chocolate powder mix, I’ll get a free personal blender and I will also be cured of my diabetes! SIAH (blinks)  Meow? KERRI I know!  Diabetes cures apparently are everywhere.  Even in my spice rack, because it seems that just a spoonful of cinnamon, added to every meal and smeared on my face like Noxema, will help me achieve good blood sugar control.  Man, if only I had known that these diabetes cures were there the whole time! (more…) *This blog post was originally published a... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3678526 Sat, 19 Jun 2010 20:00:09 +0100 3678526 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3676662&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fmedication-safety-and-ambulance-chasing-lawyers%2F2010.06.18 I don’t know about the rest of you medical bloggers, but I’ve been getting emails from folks who run a website called DrugWatch.com asking for reciprocal links and promoting themselves as the go-to place for patients to get up-to-date information on medication safety. Tucked into the website is this promise: “We will never accept advertising from the pharmaceutical industry.” Right. Because the whole site is a front for a bunch of Orlando lawyers trying to sniff out potential clients for medication-related lawsuits against the pharmaceutical industry. (more…) *This blog post was originally published at The Blog that Ate Manhattan* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3676662 Sat, 19 Jun 2010 01:14:18 +0100 3676662 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3671692&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fa-tv-physician-is-not-your-doctor-or-coach%2F2010.06.17 A German physician wrote me about this, so while CNN may have an international reach, it’s not always with an adoring audience. The physician was reacting to the weekend “Paging Dr. Gupta” program, which Dr. Gupta referred to once as “SG, MD.” The first thing that struck me was his introduction, in which he said: “I’m your doctor. I’m also your coach.” Later in the program he said: “Think of this as your appointment. No waiting. No insurance necessary.” I find this very troubling. He’s not my doctor. He’s not my coach. When I watch a “news” program, it’s NOT my medical appointment. It’s supposed to be news, not medical advice. But that’s not what the German physician wrote to me abo... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3671692 Thu, 17 Jun 2010 22:00:00 +0100 3671692 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3662671&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fkeeping-patients-quiet%2F2010.06.14 Some things are just part of the problem in healthcare. The company Medical Justice is one such thing. I’ve written about them before. Medical Justice sees the medical malpractice crisis and devised a solution: Muzzle the patients. It’s as misguided as it is ridiculous. Medical Justice says doctors need to stop their patients from saying bad things about them. They charge doctors hundreds — even thousands — of dollars a year to help do this. Under one of their programs, they give doctors contracts to use with their patients. The doctor tells the patient that they must agree to the terms of the contract before the doctor agrees to see them.  Okay, so there are lots of forms that patients need to sign when they go to the doctor. What makes these so different? (more…) ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3662671 Mon, 14 Jun 2010 23:00:33 +0100 3662671 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3655586&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fcan-the-chin-be-slimmed%2F2010.06.12 Here’s a gimmick “As Seen On TV,” on which you should save your hard-earned money. The neckline slimmer claims to reverse the effects of aging without cosmetic surgery. Simply hold this gadget to the chin area and it will exercise your neck muscles to reduce those jowls or sagging fat under your chin. Just two minutes a day should do the trick, according to the commercial. Unfortunately the effects of aging and loose skin cannot be reversed by jiggling the head or pressing the fat upward. Weight loss can slim the face, but sagging jowls probably needs cosmetic surgery. Personally, I prefer candlelight and light dimmers. *This blog post was originally published at EverythingHealth* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3655586 Sat, 12 Jun 2010 15:33:17 +0100 3655586 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3648495&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fthe-return-of-mumps%2F2010.06.10 I write this post with a great deal of trepidation. The last time I perused the Medical Voices website I found nine questions that needed answering. So I answered them. One of the consequences of that blog entry was the promise that Medical Voices was poised to “tear my arguments to shreds.” Tear to shreds! Such a painful metaphor. They specified that the shred tearing would be accomplished during a live debate, rather than a written response. While Dr. Gorski gave excellent reasons why such a debate is counterproductive, I am disinclined for more practical reasons. I am a slow thinker and a lousy debater and have never, ever, won a debate at home. If I cannot win pitted against my wife, what chance would I have against the combined might of the doctors and scientists at Medical Voices... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3648495 Thu, 10 Jun 2010 14:00:03 +0100 3648495 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3648496&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fknowledge-vs-certainty-in-medicine%2F2010.06.10 “I don’t want knowledge. I want certainty!” — David Bowie, from Law (Earthlings on Fire) If there’s a trait among humans that seems universal, it appears to be an unquenchable thirst for certainty. It is likely to be a major force that drives people into the arms of religion, even radical religions that have clearly irrational views, such as the idea that flying planes into large buildings and killing thousands of people is a one-way ticket to heaven. However, this craving for certainty isn’t expressed only by religiosity. As anyone who accepts science as the basis of medical therapy knows, there’s a lot of the same psychology going on in medicine as well. This should come as no surprise to those committed to science-based medicine because there is a profound conflict... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3648496 Thu, 10 Jun 2010 12:00:54 +0100 3648496 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3633444&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fh1n1-and-japanese-dried-plums%2F2010.06.06 Japanese dried plums may suppress H1N1 influenza viruses, report researchers. In Japan, umeboshi (literally, “dried plum”) is thought to convey good digestion and cure hangovers. It’s the Japanese version of “an apple a day.” Recently, Wakayama Medical University researchers added umeboshi extracts to cells infected with the H1N1 virus and found it inhibited viral growth by 90 percent after seven hours. Researchers think that a polyphenol in the food may suppress H1N1. By the way, Wakayama prefecture is the heart of Japan’s plum-growing region. (Hindustan Times, Wikipedia) *This blog post was originally published at ACP Internist* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3633444 Sun, 06 Jun 2010 14:58:34 +0100 3633444 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3625499&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fpain-relief-study-has-potential-with-a-spin%2F2010.06.03 The development of drugs and other treatments for specific symptoms or conditions relies heavily on either serendipity (the chance finding of a beneficial effect) or on an understanding of underlying mechanisms. In pain, for example, there are limited ways in which we can block pain signals –- such as activating opiate receptors, or inhibiting prostaglandins. There are only so many ways in which you can interact with these systems. The discovery of a novel mechanism of modulating pain is therefore most welcome, and has the potential of leading to entirely new treatments that may have a better side effect profile than existing treatments and also have an additive clinical effect. A recent study by Nana Goldman et. al., published in Nature Neuroscience, adds to our understanding of pain re... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3625499 Thu, 03 Jun 2010 12:00:53 +0100 3625499 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3542602&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fhealth-and-medicine-scientific-or-miraculous%2F2010.05.06 I was recently listening to an audiobook about diet, written and read by a “famous” doctor who gets people healthy through dietary changes. Since my podcast pushes me a little into the mainstream (more than this blog does), I thought it would be good to hear what the “average” person is reading about health. Plus, I am not exactly the most compliant patient when it comes to diet, so I thought I could possibly get something out of it personally. I did my best to listen with an open mind, ignoring what I thought were gimmicks and trying to glean the valuable information from what this doctor was saying. I had to stop, however, before finishing the book. It wasn’t the content so much that gave me cause to feel the desire to smash my iPod, it was the hype. The author was constantly u... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3542602 Fri, 07 May 2010 01:00:29 +0100 3542602 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3538091&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fa-science-based-view-of-the-complexity-of-cancer%2F2010.05.06 [Recently] I participated in a panel discussion at the Northeast Conference of Science and Skepticism (NECSS) with John Snyder, Kimball Atwood, and Steve Novella, who also reported on the conference. What I mentioned to some of the attendees is that I had managed to combine NECSS with a yearly ritual that I seldom miss, namely the yearly meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) meeting. There are two huge cancer meetings every year — AACR and the annual meeting of the American Society for Clinical Oncology (ASCO). AACR is the meeting dedicated to basic and translational research. ASCO, as the word “clinical” in its name implies, is devoted mainly to clinical research. Personally, being a translational researcher myself and a surgeon, I tend to prefer the ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3538091 Thu, 06 May 2010 12:00:09 +0100 3538091 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2828160&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blisstree.com%2Fhealthbolt%2Fvirtual-surgery-for-new-surgeons%2F Here’s something you might not want to know. Most surgeons learn how to perform surgery on real live patients. Sure, they start off as students practicing on cadavers but mostly, they learn by performing actual surgical procedures under the guidance of senior surgeons. However, researchers are looking to technology to change this learning pattern and have created virtual patient simulators for residents to practice on before using a scalpel on real patients. Clinical trials are currently being held at the Stanford University School of Medicine to test the effectiveness of this virtual reality training. They are integrating data from patient’s pre-op CT scans into a virtual patient simulator. The simulator consists of a endoscopic camera and mannequin head that is attached to a touch-fe... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2828160 Thu, 24 Sep 2009 07:48:02 +0100 2828160 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2785884&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blisstree.com%2Fhealthbolt%2Fan-online-tool-to-rate-cellphone-radiation%2F Thinking about buying a new cell phone? Before you do, you might want to check out the free, user friendly online tool that illustrates the radio frequency emission of more than 1000 phones in the marketplace. The online tool, created by the Environmental Working Group, offers easy to read graphics which enables consumers to make quick comparision of the radiation levels of cellphones and smart phones. Radiation is emitted from cell phones each time you talk on or send text message from it. Some phones emit less than others. As to whether or not it is a health risk remains in debate with the phone industry saying ‘no risk’ and researchers around the world still seeking answers. Given that no one knows for sure, it makes sense to go for a phone with the least amount of radiation emissio... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2785884 Fri, 11 Sep 2009 10:03:35 +0100 2785884 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2744064&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blisstree.com%2Fhealthbolt%2Fgo-ahead-%25e2%2580%25a6swear-the-pain-away%2F Here’s a study you can use. Swearing apparently plays an important role in relieving pain. The study, published last month in the NeuroReport journal, tested this theory on college students. Students are required to immerse their hands in cold water for as long as they could. While the hands were in the cold water, they were encouraged to either repeat a swear word of their choice or chant a neutral non-swear word. The students who used sweat words reported less pain during the exercise and were also able to keep their hands in the cold water for at least 40 seconds longer. While the study’s researchers are unsure how this works, they are now advocating that if you hurt yourself, then go ahead and swear. So next time you stub your toe or hit your finger with a hammer, go ahead and swea... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2744064 Fri, 28 Aug 2009 17:52:29 +0100 2744064 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2734038&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blisstree.com%2Fhealthbolt%2Fleaving-hospital-against-medical-advice%2F Would you leave the hospital before your doctor says you are ready? It’s not something that I’d do. But according to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, it’s becoming a common occurence as more and more people check out against medical advice. In fact, in 2007 368,000 patients walked out on their doctor. So why did they leave? Turns out that the majority of those who left were uninsured or on Medicaid.   They were also more likely to be… Male: Men left hospital against advice at a rate of 1.5 per 1,000 population, compared with 0.9 for 1,000 women. In contrast, women were more likely to be inpatients, at a rate of 102.8 per 1,000, compared with 91.5 for men. Younger than other patients: The average age those who left against advice was 46 years, compared with 58 year... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2734038 Tue, 25 Aug 2009 23:51:35 +0100 2734038 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2730063&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blisstree.com%2Fhealthbolt%2Fva-computer-error-causes-health-scare%2F There was a  health care SNAFU at the Veterans Administration early this month. A computer coding error by the Veterans Administration led to more than 1,800 Gulf War veterans being sent letters informing them that they had amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a fatal neurological disease more commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. Can you imagine opening up your mail and being told that as a veteran with ALS, they were entitled to disability compensation of up to $2,700 a month with additional money for their children and spouses. Most would have been left scratching their head and wondering how in the world they suddenly had Lou Gehrig’s disease and why the heck no one had told them before. According to a VA spokesperson, the letter no way inferred a medical diagnosis of ALS. The VA has... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2730063 Tue, 25 Aug 2009 08:04:07 +0100 2730063 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2724833&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blisstree.com%2Fhealthbolt%2F10-things-dead-bodies-have-done%2F Death – it happens to all of us…eventually. And when it does, the usual chain of events is a funeral and/or where you are either buried or cremated, followed by a period of mourning for those you left behind. But, according to this fascinating article from mental floss, it doesn’t have to be that way. Might sound somewhat morbid and gross, but it turns out there are plenty things your body can do and places for your body to end up rather than six feet under or in an urn. According to this mental floss article  ‘10 Things Your Body Can Do After You Die’, throughout history, the dead have been busy doing everything from getting married (ghost marriage) and unwinding with a few friends (mummy based panaceas) to powering up crematoriums, being a Soviet tourist attraction (Le... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2724833 Sat, 22 Aug 2009 23:16:04 +0100 2724833 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2724834&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blisstree.com%2Fhealthbolt%2Fbabies-in-3-d%2F What do you think of 3-D ultrasounds of babies in the womb? Is it, as some supporters claim, early bonding or is it in fact simply entertainment for a ‘can’t wait’ generation of parents? It’s a controversial procedure that is experiencing a surge in popularity despite the fact that many health professionals are recommending that parents don’t expose their unborn babies to ultrasounds unless there is a good medical reason. In fact, the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine is actively discouraging parents from getting 3-D ultrasounds done. See video here Post from: Healthbolt (Source: Healthbolt) Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2724834 Sat, 22 Aug 2009 00:51:40 +0100 2724834 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2719691&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blisstree.com%2Fhealthbolt%2Fworld-mosquito-day%2F August 20th is World Mosquito Day. It was on this day back in 1897 the link between mosquitos and malaria was first established. Army doctor Ronald Ross, based in India, discovered this tremendous fact while dissecting the stomach tissue of a anopheline mosquito. The mosquito, which had fed on a malarious patient four days previously, had the malaria parasite. It was the evidence needed to prove mosquitos were responsible for transmitting the malaria parasite to humans. Ross, who went on the win the Nobel Price for Medicine in 1902 and found the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, declared August 20th as World Mosquito Day. But discovering the cause unfortunately has not lead to the eradication of the disease. Malaria still kills over a million people a year. So World Mosquito Day is no... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2719691 Thu, 20 Aug 2009 22:56:36 +0100 2719691 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2715942&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blisstree.com%2Fhealthbolt%2Fpeta%25e2%2580%2599s-latest-target-fat-women%2F PETA’s at it again. In an attempt to encourage people to go vegetarian, they have introduced a new billboard campaign featuring an obese bikini clad woman alongside this slogan “Save the Whales, Lose the Blubber: Go Vegetarian”. Yet again, PETA has crossed the line and managed to create another tasteless, tacky, ignorant, and insulting campaign. Do they really think that this sort of publicity stunt will encourage people to go vegetarian? According to this Press Release, it seems they do… A new PETA billboard campaign that was just launched in Jacksonville reminds people who are struggling to lose weight — and who want to have enough energy to chase a beach ball — that going vegetarian can be an effective way to shed those extra pounds that keep them from looking good i... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2715942 Thu, 20 Aug 2009 09:55:19 +0100 2715942 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2705122&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blisstree.com%2Fhealthbolt%2Fwarning-yawning-could-get-you-jail-time%2F It’s a strange world where a person can end up with jail time for the simple and often involuntary act of yawning. But what’s even stranger is that while the yawner was being given jail time, the actual defendant, who plead guilty to a felony drug charge, was only given two years probation. Interesting way of ensuring that justice is done. (image source)   Apparently the judge decided that the yawn was a disrespectful interruption of the court and the yawner was in contempt. Seriously, you have to wonder what the judge was thinking. Yawning is as natural as breathing and just as involuntary. No one really knows why we do it. But we do. Animals do it. Even babies in the womb do it. And as everyone knows, it’s pretty contagious. You see, or even hear, someone else yawning and nine tim... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2705122 Mon, 17 Aug 2009 08:59:06 +0100 2705122 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2702306&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blisstree.com%2Fhealthbolt%2Fbrits-too-tired-for-sex%2F Feeling too tired for sex? Well, if you’re living in Britain you are not alone. A recent study by Nuffield Health, a non-profit organization, has found that on the whole, Britain has turned into a ‘couch potato nation’, too lazy to get up and change the television channel if the remote was broken and simply too tired for sex. The results, which come from a poll conducted of more than 2000 adults throughout Britain, showed that… 36  percent would not run to catch a bus 52 percent of dog owners can’t be bothered walking the dog 73 percent have no energy for sex 64 percent are too tired to play with their children 59 percent took the lift instead of walking up even two flights of stairs It’s almost as if all the Brits want to do is sit and vegetate. With results like tha... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2702306 Fri, 14 Aug 2009 23:58:48 +0100 2702306 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2695361&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blisstree.com%2Fhealthbolt%2Fsaudi-man-orders-golden-penis-stretcher%2F What’s a medical devices company, that promotes itself as selling  the world’s number one penis extender,  to do when presented with an order for a 18 carat gold penis extender worth nearly 50,000 dollars? They could ignore it or they could find a custom jeweler to work on the project with them.  X4 Labs, the company faced with this dilemma,  choose to find a jeweler and start working on this somewhat unique request. Apparently the client, a Saudi businessman living in Jeddah,  had a legitimate practical reason for requesting a sold gold version - he claimed to have severe skin allergy to stainless steel. But by also rrequesting 40 diamonds and several rubies be encrusted in the design, he  obviously also wanted his penis stretcher to sparkle, According to the X4 Labs spokesper... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2695361 Thu, 13 Aug 2009 00:46:05 +0100 2695361 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2691473&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blisstree.com%2Fhealthbolt%2Fflip-flops-can-turn-deadly%2F Any flip flop wearers out there? If so, here’s a study you  might want to consider. Two reporters living in New York City recently walked around the city for four days wearing flip-flops. They took numerous train trips, walked through Prospect Park, headed out to the bars in West Village, took in a baseball game at Coney Island, waded through the public restrooms at the Coney Island subway station, and even rode the Cyclone, twice. They then turned the flip-flops over to a microbiology lab at EMSL Analytical for testing. The results -  the flip-flops had collected approximately 18,100 bacteria of the five most prevalent varieties, including the deadly Staphylococcus aureus. Now flopping around in Flip Flops might stop your feet from touching the ground but they don’t stop the grim fr... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2691473 Wed, 12 Aug 2009 04:47:49 +0100 2691473 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2688647&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blisstree.com%2Fhealthbolt%2Fcreating-artifical-bone-from-wood%2F Italian scientists have created a new procedure to turn blocks of wood into artificial bones. It starts with taking a block of wood  and heat it up until it turns to pure carbon (in other words charcoal).  They then spray calcium over the carbon thereby creating calcium carbide. Further chemical and physical steps will convert the calcium carbide into carbonated hydroxyapatite which is then able to be implanted and used as the artificial bone. According to the scientists, the wood-derived bone substitute will let live bones to heal faster and more securely after a break than currently available titanium and ceramic implants. But using wood to create artifical bone is still a work in progress. Scientists are currently limited to trialing the process on sheep. Implantation in hum... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2688647 Tue, 11 Aug 2009 01:51:29 +0100 2688647 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2683829&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blisstree.com%2Fhealthbolt%2Fsugar-coated-pills-not-such-a-sweet-deal%2F According to this study, sponsored by the Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority and published in Toxicology Letters,  just one ‘sugar coated’ tablet of an easy to obtain over-the-counter medication ‘can raise the levels of phthalates in the body by 100 fold before being quickly eliminated.’  Apparently, it’s quickly eliminated, but the fact that it even gets into the body at all is concerning. And you have to wonder, does it really go away all together in someone who is taking the medication for long term use? Or will the phthalates level remain elevated and cause the patient to be at increased risk of endocrine related health illnesses? The simple solution - take the phthalates out of medicines. But what seems obvious to us will probably require many more studies to be det... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2683829 Sat, 08 Aug 2009 19:18:24 +0100 2683829 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2681887&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blisstree.com%2Fhealthbolt%2Fa-smile-scan-that-rates-your-smile%2F I don’t know about you but I always respond better to someone who is smiling, be it family, friend, or stranger. But can we expect everyone to smile all the time. Is that even possible? And would we really want to be constantly surrounded by smiling faces? One Japanese company, Omron, thinks so and has created the Smile Scan to help people rate their smiles. Consisting of a video camera and sensor unit that connected to computer software, the Smile Scan scans a person’s face, rendering a 3D image and evaluates critical spots such as mouth and eyes to see if the person is smiling hard enough. The smile is then rated from 0 to 100. . Currently available only in Japan, the Smile Scan is being used by companies such as Japan’s Keihin Electric Express Railway Co. This Tokyo-based company... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2681887 Fri, 07 Aug 2009 17:54:10 +0100 2681887 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2674252&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blisstree.com%2Fhealthbolt%2Fthe-air-that-we-breathe%2F Think that the air inside your house is safer to breathe than the air outside ? Better think again. According to this fascinating, yet scary report by WebMD, the air in our houses probably isn’t any better for us than the air out in the community. In particular, they point out that a typical American home has over 500 chemicals floating around in the air. The number is based on a recent study done on indoor airborne contaminants in homes in Arizona.  That’s a huge number of chemicals. But what’s worse, as the WebMD articles points out, is that the scientists were unable to even identify 120 of these chemicals. I don’t know about you, but I find that very concerning. But wait. It get’s worse.  The article goes on to state that babies are at more risk of contamination than adul... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2674252 Thu, 06 Aug 2009 01:10:50 +0100 2674252 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2662484&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blisstree.com%2Fhealthbolt%2Ftripadvisor%25e2%2580%2599s-top-5-germiest-world-attract%2F With swine H1N1 flu constantly making front page news, travellers have got germs on the brain. According to a recent TripAdvisor site poll of nearly 5,000 travellers, a third of them are being more ‘germ aware’ and are washing and disinfecting their hands much more often. In keeping with this theme, TripAdvisor has ‘coughed up’ a list what they think might be the world’s top ‘germiest’ attractions… photo by ge'shmally (flickr) 1. The Blarney Stone in Ireland where ‘up to 400,000 mouths from all over the world touch the stone each year‘. 2. Seattle’s Wall of Gum where, since the 1990s people have been deposit their masticated gum while waiting in line for Theatresports 3. Oscar Wilde’s Tomb in Paris which is has a ‘rainbow of hundreds of visible kiss marks ador... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2662484 Sun, 02 Aug 2009 10:06:37 +0100 2662484 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2699585&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blisstree.com%2Fhealthbolt%2Fwhat%25e2%2580%2599s-on-my-food%25e2%2580%2599-a-searchable-database%2F You might not see them, but pesticides are everywhere – on our food, washed or not; in our bodies, even years after exposure: and in our environment, having travelled miles by wind, water and dust. But finding out what pesticides might be on your food hasn’t been that easy. That is, until now. Thanks to the Pesticide Action Network (PAN), you now have at your fingertips a searchable database, What’s on my food,  which links “…pesticide food residue data with the toxicology for each chemical, making this information easily searchable for the first time.” Post from: Healthbolt (Source: Healthbolt) Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2699585 Sat, 01 Aug 2009 10:00:41 +0100 2699585 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2660721&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blisstree.com%2Fhealthbolt%2Fwhat%25e2%2580%2599s-on-my-food%25e2%2580%2599-a-searchable-database%2F You might not see them, but pesticides are everywhere - on our food, washed or not; in our bodies, even years after exposure: and in our environment, having travelled miles by wind, water and dust. But finding out what pesticides might be on your food hasn’t been that easy. That is, until now. Thanks to the Pesticide Action Network (PAN), you now have at your fingertips a searchable database, What’s on my food,  which links “…pesticide food residue data with the toxicology for each chemical, making this information easily searchable for the first time.” Post from: Healthbolt (Source: Healthbolt) Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2660721 Sat, 01 Aug 2009 10:00:41 +0100 2660721 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2657599&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blisstree.com%2Fhealthbolt%2Fchocolate-for-the-brain%2F Last month, over 350 medical professionals, computer experts and entrepreneurs gathered for the fifth annual Games for Health Conference in Boston and discussed out topics such as how computer games could boost patients’ health. There were even sessions that specifically focused on the relationship between gaming and cognitive health and whether games can help change behavior and/or improve balance for people with neurodegenerative diseases. Me - I’m all for the idea that games can help maintain cognitive health as well as possibly improve memory. And with that in mind, I’d like to introduce you to my latest find - Chocolatier: Decadence by Design. Seriously, what could be more fun than spending an hour or two pretending that you are a chocolatier building up a chocolate empire f... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2657599 Fri, 31 Jul 2009 10:00:13 +0100 2657599 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2645288&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blisstree.com%2Fhealthbolt%2Fsurgerys-robotic-future%2F Robots might be the future of surgery, but it wasn’t always this way. Surgery was once very primitive and extensive.  Anyone interested in the not only the history of surgery but also it’s future should watch this fascinating TED talk by surgeon and inventor Catherine Mohr. Warning: Not for the squemish. Catherine takes us on a tour of the history of surgery in all it’s pre-painkiller, pre-antiseptic glory and then head to the present and future with demos of some of the newest tools for surgery, nimble robot hands able to work through the smallest of surgical incisions. Post from: Healthbolt (Source: Healthbolt) Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2645288 Tue, 28 Jul 2009 10:00:52 +0100 2645288 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2634379&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blisstree.com%2Fhealthbolt%2Fthe-keeler-migrane-method-qa%2F Most of us have suffered from them at one time or another - a mind-numbing pain, or a sharp one right between the eyes, or the throbbing of your occipital lobe - the dreaded migrane. Some of us are lucky enough only to have had one or two. Others have them with extreme regularity. Either way,  a migraine can turn any good day sour very quickly. Dr Robert Cowan, who with team of specialists  at the Keeler Center for the Study of Headaches, has conducted some of the most cutting-edge research in the field.  From the research as come a  book The Keeler Migrane Method, a step-by-step guide to individualized migrane management. Find out what he has to say about migranes and migrane management with this informative Q&A: It seems like migraine treatments are like diets. What works fo... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2634379 Fri, 24 Jul 2009 10:00:55 +0100 2634379 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2625998&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blisstree.com%2Fhealthbolt%2Fhealthbolt-funtimes-the-joy-of-music%2F These days, you never know what’s around the corner. But the last thing that most of these commuters was expecting was the railway speaker’s blasting out ‘Do-Re-Mi’ from the Sound of Music and seeing, one by one, people joining in and singing and dancing to the music. But that’s what happened earlier this year at Antwep’s Grand Central Station. Yes, it was a promotional stunt for a reality show. But that doesn’t matter - just think of how many lives it must have brightened up for a minute or two. (found via Seeing Good) (image source) Post from: Healthbolt (Source: Healthbolt) Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2625998 Wed, 22 Jul 2009 10:00:03 +0100 2625998 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2610912&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blisstree.com%2Fhealthbolt%2Fblame-nitrites-for-rising-disease-rates%2F A new study out is suggesting that the rising rate of diabetes, Parkinson’s, and Alzheimer’s disease is linked to nitrites and similar compounds that are found in so many of our everyday products. Sodium nitrite is commonly used to preserve and color food such as hot dogs and bacon. It is also a common ingredient in fertilizers that are used to grow vegetables. Granted, the scientists involved in the study have not found a concrete link yet but it’s enough of a link to get Suzanne de la Monte, the lead author of the study, to avoid nitrites herself. Avoiding nitrites isn‘t such a bad idea. After all, they are already known to cause cancer. But this latest study is also suggesting that even low doses of exposure to these chemicals can have serious effects on the brain. So if you wer... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2610912 Fri, 17 Jul 2009 10:00:38 +0100 2610912 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2605968&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blisstree.com%2Fhealthbolt%2Fchildbirth-via-youtube%2F Childbirth videos are nothing new. They’ve been screened at pre-natal birthing classes since the 1970s. But they are mostly dated and often highly edited so as not to offend or upset expectant parents. Now there’s a category of childbirth videos around - real life, unedited, and made friends and families of those in labour.  And they can be found in thousands over at  You Tube. A quick google search of ‘YouTube childbirth videos’ turned up 195,000 results. Seems that more and more women are making these videos in the belief that they will help “demystify” childbirth. They are watched by expectant parents who want to get ‘all the facts.’ Some even get more than they bargained on. Back in May, one British father actually ended up delivering his own baby soon after w... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2605968 Thu, 16 Jul 2009 10:00:49 +0100 2605968 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2601984&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blisstree.com%2Fhealthbolt%2Fnurses-work-for-free-plastic-surgery%2F A recent New York Times article highlights to the growing nursing shortages around the world. Seems an understaffed Prague clinic has been offering liposuction, breast augmentation, and tummy tucks as incentives to get nurses to work there. All they have to do is sign up for three years and they can have the plastic surgery of their choice - for free. Interesting incentive plan. And apparently it’s working. According to the clinic manager, they are now fully staffed.  In fact, they had to reject dozens of applicants. But it sounds more like providing a bandaid rather than a cure to the continuing nursing shortages. (via Kevin MD.com) (image source) Post from: Healthbolt (Source: Healthbolt) Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2601984 Wed, 15 Jul 2009 08:00:34 +0100 2601984 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2591442&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blisstree.com%2Fhealthbolt%2Fhospital-care-varies-across-nation%2F In this study, researchers reviewed three years of experience (July 2005 to June 2008) of Medicare fee-for-service patients with heart failure and heart attack at almost 5,000 hospitals across the nation. Examining the records of nearly 600,000 heart attack admissions and more than 1 million heart failure admissions, they calculated the 30-day death and readmission rates and found: The average 30-day death rate for heart attack was 16.6 percent and the average rate of heart attack readmission was 19.9 percent. The average 30-day death rate for heart failure was 11.1 percent and 24.4 percent for readmission.   Heart failure death rate ranged from 6.6 percent to 19.8 percent. Readmission for heart attack ranged from 15.3 percent to 29.4 percent. Readmission for heart failure ranged from 1... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2591442 Fri, 10 Jul 2009 21:14:02 +0100 2591442 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2584152&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blisstree.com%2Fhealthbolt%2Fare-you-living-in-a-%25e2%2580%259cfat%25e2%2580%2599-state%2F Have you seen the new CDC report on the nation’s waistline? Apparently, it show that when it comes to weight, there is no shrinkage. Some state may be holding steady but the major seem to be growing. For the report,  400,000 American adults provided information about their height and weight which was used to calculate their body mass index (BMI). Weighing up all the information, the CDC has determined that ‘the proportion of U.S. adults who are obese increased to 26.1 percent in 2008 compared to 25.6 percent in 2007.’ According to the CDC press release  “In six states – Alabama, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and West Virginia – adult obesity prevalence was 30 percent or more. Thirty-two states, including those six, had obesity prevalence of 25 percent or m... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2584152 Thu, 09 Jul 2009 00:49:41 +0100 2584152 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2859125&cid=t_136957_136_f&fid=39027&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.lrdlc.dreamhosters.com%2F2009%2F07%2Fthe-value-of-privacy%2F You know what’s annoying as f.? Trying to sleep and being woken up with a needle stick at 12am, then 2am, then 4am, then 6am. You know what else is annoying? Wearing those skimpy, flimsy gowns, with my ass hanging out the back. And then there’s the fact that I’ve had catheters up my dick, fingers up my ass, tubes down my nose and mouth, IV’s galore… not to mention the constant beeps and buzzes and hisses and wheezes from all the damn machinery surrounding the bed. And why is every damn X-ray table a freezing slab of metal? Point being, I was violated. Exposed. Stripped. So I created an area where I knew NO ONE could touch me.  My own head. In there I lived and in there I guarded every thought and emotion.  Because those were mine.  My BODY was mine, but cer... Cancer, life, and me blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2859125 Mon, 06 Jul 2009 22:02:36 +0100 2859125 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2572917&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blisstree.com%2Fhealthbolt%2Fmedical-marijuanas-warning-label%2F Based on numerous research studies that illustrated the unique benefits of marijuana in counteracting the pain, nausea and  the “wasting-effect” that often often occurs in the late stages of AIDS and cancers, Californian’s voted in 1996 to legalize medical marijuana. The state even went as far as providing marijuana vending machines to supply those who were in need and medical qualified to have it. Now the state lawmakers have decided that, while it’s of medical benefit to treat side effects of serious illnesses, it possibly can cause cancer. That doesn’t mean that medical marijuana will now be banned. Instead, the plan is to have a warning label (just like on cigarettes) informing people of it’s potential cancer-causing risks. Interesting idea, but somehow I don’t think th... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2572917 Mon, 06 Jul 2009 02:53:12 +0100 2572917 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2570429&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blisstree.com%2Fhealthbolt%2Fa-toilet-made-out-of-poop%2F Check out this innovative low-cost, low-tech concept waterless toilet system created by industrial designer Virginia Gardiner. This waterless toilet, aptly named LooWatt, is a closed-loop management system that will recycle human waste and eventually turn it into energy. Here’s how it works. After defecating, you turn the crank on the toilet which, instead of flushing, magically pushes the waste down into a receptacle that is lined with a carbon-rish biodegradable film. Once this prototype sealed container is full, it is removed and the compressed waste is taken to an anaerobic digester which, in turn, will produce cooking gas from the methane. It sounds a little gross but makes a whole lot of sense… Post from: Healthbolt (Source: Healthbolt) Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2570429 Sat, 04 Jul 2009 23:48:48 +0100 2570429 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2570430&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blisstree.com%2Fhealthbolt%2Fcasino-workers-and-second-hand-smoke%2F Despite all the smoking bans in place, there are still some places, such as casinos, where workers are still consistently exposed to second hand smoke. A new study, funded by the Flight Attendent Medical Institute, finds that casino workers face higher risks of heart disease and lung disease because a smoke filled work environment. In the study, the air quality in three Pennsylvania casinos was tested for levels of two indicators of tobacco smoke - cancer-causing chemicals and particles small enough to inhale.  At the same time, eight volunteers, each of whom spent four hours in the casinos, provided urine samples which were measured for levels of a tobacco smoke byproduct. Measuring the air quality revealed that the tobacco smoke indicators inside the casino was four to six times higher ... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2570430 Fri, 03 Jul 2009 04:15:53 +0100 2570430 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2561234&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blisstree.com%2Fhealthbolt%2Fcan-wine-tasting-led-to-tooth-erosion%2F Pity the poor wine makers, tasters, and judges. Researchers in Australia are finding that they are at a higher risk of tooth erosion. Of course, tooth erosion can happen to anyone, but those who are constantly tasting wine are much more susceptible due wines acidic nature. Acid dissolves the calcium and phosphate from teeth’s enamel surfaces, a process that is irreversible. Researchers aren’t advocating that professional wine assessors give up their job but they are suggesting that they look at ways of protecting their teeth. Ways they can do this include drinking plenty of water to increase saliva production which helps flush way and dilute the acids. Another, more extreme idea, is for them not to brush their teeth on the mornings of a wine tasting session. Sounds gross, but the i... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2561234 Wed, 01 Jul 2009 04:12:15 +0100 2561234 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2553021&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blisstree.com%2Fhealthbolt%2Fnyc-subways-hazardous-to-your-hearing%2F New York City and subways go together like bacon and eggs or coffee and donuts. But subways, like bacon and donuts,  aren’t necessarily good for you. Seems a new study that compared the numerous mass transits modes available in NYC has found that subways, with noise levels ranging between 80 and 102 decibels, were the loudest means of transport around. That’s not good. The EPA and WHO both recommend that in order to protect your hearing your daily average level of noise exposure should be no more than 70 decibels. To give you an idea of the level that is, normal conversation is between 60 and 70 decibels. The study’s results indicates that the estimated 33 million Americans who use the subways daily are consistently over exposing themselves to potentially deafening levels of noise. ... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2553021 Mon, 29 Jun 2009 07:24:22 +0100 2553021 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2550213&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blisstree.com%2Fhealthbolt%2Fa-%25e2%2580%2598coffee%25e2%2580%2599-breath-mint%2F Sounds a little strange given that coffee, which has a dehydrating effect in the mouth, can make someone’s breath smell, to honest, not so good. But new research from Israel has turned up a coffee extract that can inhibit the bacteria that lead to bad breath. This surprised even the researchers. Expecting to find that coffee did indeed cause bad breath, they found instead some components in coffee that actually inhibit bad breath. Prof. Mel Rosenberg, the lead researcher, now aims to isolate the bacterial-inhibiting molecule in coffee. If he’s successful, it could result in a whole new class of mouthwashes, breath mints, and chewing gum.  Imagine the possibilities… (image source) Post from: Healthbolt (Source: Healthbolt) Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2550213 Sun, 28 Jun 2009 00:13:57 +0100 2550213 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2517217&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blisstree.com%2Fhealthbolt%2Fthe-truth-its-written-all-over-your-face%2F Would I lie to you? Maybe, but the truth, according to David Matsumoto, Ph.D., a psychologist at San Francisco State University in San Francisco, Calif., will be written all over my face. It might not be easy to see, but it’s there. Dr. Matsumoto, who has made a career out of focusing not on what people say but what the face itself says, works with police and experts around the world to find the truth by reading faces.  It’s a fascinating topic that’s become even more interesting since the arrival of the television show Lie to Me, based on the work of Paul Ekman, which is turning all of us into amateur face readers. And let’s face it, there’s plenty of scope of practice, especially with all the television interviews featuring politicians and celebrities. Af... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2517217 Fri, 26 Jun 2009 08:18:02 +0100 2517217 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2510379&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blisstree.com%2Fhealthbolt%2Femergency-room-waiting-times-increasing%2F Emergency Rooms account for nearly half of all hospital admissions so it’s not surprising that it turns into a waiting game for most patients. A new report released today by Press Ganey Associates has found that there has been a 27 minute increase in waiting time in ER nationwide since 2002. The report, ”2009 Emergency Department Pulse Report: Patient Perspectives on American Health Care”, which analysed the experiences of almost 1.4 million patients who were treated in 1,725 Emergency Departments during 2008. Interesting facts from the report include… South Dakota has the lowest total time spent in the emergency department (3 hours, 52 minutes) while Utah had the highest total time (6 hours, 48 minutes). Virginia patients spent 23 fewer minutes in the emergency department... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2510379 Wed, 24 Jun 2009 06:44:40 +0100 2510379 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2510385&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blisstree.com%2Fhealthbolt%2Freusable-shopping-bags-and-bugs%2F Warnnig: Reusable Shopping Bags Could Be Making You Sick That’s the word from a recent study commissioned and funded by the Environment and Plastics Industry Council(EPIC)  in Canada. Randomly testing of reusable bags used by consumers in Toronto turned up an interesting result. It appears that the bags were not only carrying groceries. They are also carrying around high levels of mold, bacteria, and yeast. Full results indicated that… * Sixty four percent of the tested reusable bags were contaminated with some level of bacteria * Nearly 30 percent had bacterial counts higher than what is considered safe for drinking water. * Forty percent of the bags contained the presence of yeast or mold. * Some of the sampled bags contained unsafe levels of coliforms and fecal intestinal bacteria.... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2510385 Wed, 17 Jun 2009 11:17:04 +0100 2510385 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2477582&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blisstree.com%2Fhealthbolt%2Fthe-sunday-sidebar-18%2F Interesting reading around cyberspace… Health officials in Los Angeles are targeting young woman with a program that offers STD Results Via Text. The progam that started earlier this week provides home delivery of STD testing kits and a text message to alert them when the results are ready online. A man is suing a Chicago restaurant that he claims provided an undercooked salmon salad that resulted in him having a  9-foot-tapeworm growing inside him.  The Scientific American article that highlights this case asks Are Urban Tapeworms on the rise? Chastity Bono (daughter of Sonny and Cher) is transitioning from woman to man. An anti-abortion blogger, who wrote in detail about being pregnant with a sick baby, is outed as a hoax. Post from: Healthbolt (Source: Healthbolt) Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2477582 Mon, 15 Jun 2009 02:00:57 +0100 2477582 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2477583&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blisstree.com%2Fhealthbolt%2Fa-hairy-test-to-trace-recent-travel%2F According to this study  recently published in the Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry journal, a team of  Spanish and British scientists  have found a way to trace your travels by testing your hair by using a laser-ablation technique. This technique is able to detect variations in the sulphur isotopes of a single hair strand over time. During the study, researchers collected hair samples from three volunteers, two of whom were permanent United Kingdom residents while the third had spent the previous 6 months travelling through Croatia, Austria, and Australia.  Results of testing  showed that the traveller’s hair strand had considerable variations in the sulfur isotopes while hair strands from the two home-bound U.K. residents had minimal to no changes. Interesting results that c... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2477583 Sun, 14 Jun 2009 01:14:08 +0100 2477583 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2473246&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blisstree.com%2Fhealthbolt%2Ffrom-humidity-in-the-air-to-drinking-water%2F Deserts are associated with high temperatures, cracked and parched soil, and little water. If any plants exist, they are usually few in number. Mirages are more likely than oasis and drinking water is a scarce commodity. But some German scientists from the Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology IGB in Stuttgart think they might have the answer. Working in collaboration with Logos Innovationen, the scientists have discovered a process that will convert air humidity into drinking water. And best of all, the process is energy-autonomous via thermal solar collectors, photovoltaic cells, and vacuum tanks.  Here’s how it works: A brine (salt) solution runs down the tower-shaped unit absorbing water from the air. The water soaked brine solution is then sucked by vac... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2473246 Fri, 12 Jun 2009 08:57:15 +0100 2473246 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2469477&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blisstree.com%2Fhealthbolt%2Ftop-ten-reasons-not-to-call-911%2F You have to check out this fascinating, funny, and downright bizarre list that Time has put together of Top Ten Non-Emergency 911 Calls. Here’s a sampling… A police officer who steals marijuana and gives himself a drug-induced fit of panic  His conversation with the dispatcher: “I think we’re dying. We made brownies, and I think we’re dead. Time is going by really really really really slowly.”  They survived and the  police officer was lucky not to have to do time. An Ohio man called 911 in May 2009 after his live-in adult son refused to clean his messy bedroom. An Oregon man called 911 because a  box of orange juice had been omitted from his younger brother’s order at a McDonald’s drive-thru. And that’s just the start of a list of... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2469477 Wed, 10 Jun 2009 12:17:32 +0100 2469477 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2464116&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blisstree.com%2Fhealthbolt%2Frunpeecom-for-when-timing-is-everything%2F RunPee.com’s tag line says it all - ‘helping your bladder enjoy going to the movies as much as you do.’ Yes, that’s right. A website that will tell you the perfect time to leave the movie theater and visit the bathroom.  After all, you haven’t paid out the price of a ticket just to miss the important scenes. Now those of you with weak or over full bladders don’t have to. RunPee.com,  based on  user generated content, highlights the optimum times for bathroom stops. For example, if you’re watching ‘Night in the Museum’, you’ll have to wait 45 minutes until it’s safe.  ‘Star Trek’ on the other hand seems to have so many optimum toilet run times that it makes you wonder whether the movie has any good bits in i... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2464116 Tue, 09 Jun 2009 07:12:27 +0100 2464116 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2452443&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blisstree.com%2Fhealthbolt%2Fis-google-killing-the-medical-riddle%2F Medical students learn not only by textbook and labs, but also by being challenged by medical riddle offered up by their professors and lecturers. Once, medical students would have to “formulate hypotheses, go to the book, research and eliminate possibilities . . . and come to the answer” making the medical riddle a valuable learning tool. But these days, with google, this process is almost defunct. Students can simple keyword the riddle into google search and come up with the answer in a matter of seconds.   Stanford’s Abraham Verghese now adds to a caveat to all his medical riddles - Don’t google it. Here’s his latest… A man walks into a bar, offers to keep his head completely submerged in a bucket of water for twenty minutes and if he doesnt he will buy drinks all around an... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2452443 Thu, 04 Jun 2009 12:28:10 +0100 2452443 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2452444&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blisstree.com%2Fhealthbolt%2Ftriage-like-a-trekkie%2F Star Trek fans will remember Dr McCoy’s cool medical tricorder that could name medical ailments without even laying a hand on the patient. But that was television and in reality, we all knew that the tricorder didn’t exist. But now it’s starting to look as though it does. Meet the Standoff Patient Triage Tool (SPTT), a 15-by-8-by-6-inch (or about 38-by-20-by-15-centimeter) machine that according to the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate can gauge a person’s pulse, body temperature and muscle movement from up to 40 feet away. Using the same type of laser technology already in use on airplanes and in acoustic speakers and landmine detectors, the SPTT quickly measures vibrations in the human head and chest and use the data to calculate vit... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2452444 Wed, 03 Jun 2009 12:08:59 +0100 2452444 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2452445&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blisstree.com%2Fhealthbolt%2Fassisted-suicide-issues-debated-in-britain%2F Swiss clinic Dignitis and the issue of assisted suicide have been in the British media spotlight lately, mainly due to a debate that is taking placing before the  House of Lords. This debate revolves around an old law and a new case. The old law, the 1961 Suicide Act bans assisted suicide in Britain and criminalises anyone who aids, abets, counsels or procures someone else’s suicide. The new case -  a 46-year-old woman with progressive multiple sclerosis who wants to travel abroad to die and wants to ensure her husband Omar Puente won’t be  prosecuted if he helps her travel. The law as it stands can allow for the prosecution of  relatives and friends who travel with someone planning to undertake assisted dying overseas. Granted, government law officers readily admit that thos... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2452445 Tue, 02 Jun 2009 23:08:47 +0100 2452445 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2441255&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blisstree.com%2Fhealthbolt%2Fmilitary-war-dead-help-the-living%2F It’s a little know fact but since 2001 all military personnel killed in Afghanistan or Iraq have had autopsies done and since 2004 have also been given a CT scan within an hour of their arrival at Dover Air Force Base. Arlington Cemetary It’s something that never happened in previous wars. But this is now a routine way of not only determining accurately the cause of death but to also obtain full details about injuries from bullets, blasts, shrapnel, and burns. The end result of these autopsies is yielding a wealth of information that highlights any deficiencies in equipment (ie body armor, vehicle shielding, etc) and has resulted in changes and improvements in military and medical field equipment. Have a read of this New York Times article to find out more about this new world of milit... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2441255 Tue, 26 May 2009 07:14:05 +0100 2441255 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2441256&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blisstree.com%2Fhealthbolt%2Fwhy-hospitals-have-to-go-green%2F Hospitals and their emergency vehicles are contributing to the increasing number of asthma cases and respiratory illnesses. Not because of poor health services but because they are extremely high energy users who are creating large amounts of toxic emissions. Given these facts, the WHO is asking hospitals to look for alternative forms of energy, such as solar panels and wind turbines, to power their facilities. Other actions that suggested include using energy-efficient light bulbs, buying organic foods, and more efficient and alternative-fuel vehicles. Of course, some hospitals are already doing this and more in their efforts to go green and reduce costs. In fact, last year the National Health Service (NHS) in the United Kingdom did a public sector analysis of it’s carbon dioxide use. ... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2441256 Mon, 25 May 2009 10:54:43 +0100 2441256 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2441258&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blisstree.com%2Fhealthbolt%2Fsuper-recognizers-never-forget-a-face%2F How good are you at recognizing faces? Would you be able to recognize, say for example, a waitress that served you once five years ago? Or  someone at the checkout counter at the grocery store you visited while on holiday in, say, California a decade ago? If the answer is no, then you are like most of the population that sits in the middle of the face recognition spectrum. But if the answer is yes, then you are probably a ’super-recognizer’. It’s a term coined  by Harvard researchers  following a recent study they conducted on face recognition. They administered  standardized face recognition tests to a group of participants and discovered  that some people scored way above average on these tests. Of course, there are also, around 2% of the population,  tho... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2441258 Sat, 23 May 2009 01:38:17 +0100 2441258 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2416831&cid=t_136957_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blisstree.com%2Fhealthbolt%2Fusing-twitter-to-help-get-a-heart%2F What do you do when someone you love is in need of a heart and healthcare red tape is getting in the way? Well, if you are former CNN reporter Veronica De La Cruz,  you use Twitter and other social media networks to get the word out. Veronica’s brother Eric is suffering from severe cardiomyopathy (a disease that enlarges the heart and makes it incapable of pumping blood effectively) and  desperately needs a heart transplant. But because he registered for Medicaid in a state (Nevada) that has no transplant center, authorities will not put him on a list for a heart transplant in another state. It’s bureaucratic red tape at it’s worst and highlights America’s flawed healthcare system. The irony of it all is if Eric was living in another state -one that had a transplant center - he w... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2416831 Tue, 19 May 2009 07:42:15 +0100 2416831