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 'health risks'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 02:09:00 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4570548&cid=t_105013_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2F5-avoidable-air-travel-health-risks%2F2011.03.10 For those of you planning air travel to your next medical conference (and ACP Internist isn’t too shameless to plug Internal Medicine 2011 — we hope to see you there), TIME reports that there are five health risks that are rare yet have recently happened. Tips on avoiding these maladies include: – E. Coli and MRSA on the tray table. Microbiologists found these two everywhere when they swabbed down flights. Bring your own disinfecting wipes. – Bedbugs in the seat. British Airways fumigated two planes after a passenger posted pictures online about her experience. Wrap clothes in plastic and wash them. – Sick seatmates. Everyone has experienced (or been) this person. Wash your hands. – Deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Tennis star Serena Williams experienced a p... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4570548 Thu, 10 Mar 2011 14:00:00 +0100 4570548 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4164521&cid=t_105013_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fnew-cigarette-labels-from-the-fda%2F2010.11.14 The FDA will soon require new cigarette package labeling to deter smoking. So in politically-correct governmental fashion, they are asking which labels you’d like to see. (You can pick your favorites here.) My personal favorite (so far) is the one shown to the left, but its impact factor pales in comparison to this example found in England. (That, my friends, is cancer!) Ironically, it appears the FDA isn’t too sure how forceful it should be in these warnings about the dangers of smoking. They offer a cornucopia of milquetoast labeling options, many of which contain cartoons. Might such unrealistic portrayals defy they hard-hitting message they want to project? Worse, at least one cartoon (seen here) even seems to promote cigarettes AND drug use together! In an even more astoni... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4164521 Sun, 14 Nov 2010 22:00:00 +0100 4164521 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4162926&cid=t_105013_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fhow-much-pesticide-is-in-that-cigarette%2F2010.11.12 I had a fascinating discussion with an ex-tobacco farming expert. He’s an expert because he used to grow tobacco, but not anymore. If you’re a smoker, or user of any tobacco leaf product, what he said should shock you. I take that back — you’re a smoker: “shocked” is never going to happen to you. What did he say that was so striking? I’m not a farmer, so it became a little difficult to understand all the science behind the conversation. Needless to say, he said they used to farm vegetables and tobacco side by side. He said something about potato farming being timed with tobacco crops, and when the potato market went south he got out of the tobacco farming business for good and went with just vegetables. Now he’s a full-time vegetable fa... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4162926 Fri, 12 Nov 2010 23:00:00 +0100 4162926 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3983553&cid=t_105013_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Frecoveryissexy.com%2Fdomestic-violence-and-disease%2F Intimate Partner Violence Linked to Chronic Conditions and Health Risks Domestic violence is associated with a variety of chronic conditions and risky behavior, according to a study in the US Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. A 2005 telephone survey of 70,000 adults found that 24% of women and 12% of men reported they had been victims of intimate partner violence. Male victims were significantly more likely than other men to have arthritis, asthma, activity limitations, and stroke, as well as use disability equipment, smoke, drink alcohol heavily, and engage in risky sex. In addition to all of these, female victims were also more likely than other women to have hypertension, heart attacks, and heart disease. An editorial note recommends that doctors consider the possibility of do... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3983553 Sun, 19 Sep 2010 16:18:49 +0100 3983553 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3920793&cid=t_105013_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Ffeel%2Fflu-shots-will-you-get-one-this-season%2F photo: Thinkstock Another year, another flu season — and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is encouraging everyone (except infants under 6 months) to get vaccinated this year. After last year’s flu pandemic, it’s become clear that the flu isn’t just dangerous to babies and the elderly — perfectly healthy children and adults also can be at risk for dangerous complications. This year’s shot will include protection against swine flu and two other strains. So where do you stand on the flu shot issue? Let us know by taking our poll: #MicroPollDiv_273566 { width: 250px; margin: 0px auto; } via Yahoo! News Post from: BlissTree Flu Shots: Will You Get One This Season? (Source: Healthbolt) Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3920793 Tue, 31 Aug 2010 17:19:02 +0100 3920793 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3876602&cid=t_105013_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Ffeel%2F195223%2F Health Effects of Oil: U.S. health experts said today that doctors in the Gulf region need to be aware of both the short and long-term health effects of the spill. (via Reuters) Post from: BlissTree (Source: Healthbolt) Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3876602 Mon, 16 Aug 2010 17:54:13 +0100 3876602 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3798524&cid=t_105013_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Fhighway-safety-hazards-pedestrian-danger%2F Tons of communities and subdivisions are surrounded by highways. It’s great when you want to drive somewhere quickly, and not so great when you want to walk or ride your bike instead. This makes being a pedestrian dangerous, especially if they have to cross highways to get to work or school. Check out this clip about the hazards of crossing highways: via Treehugger Post from: BlissTree Highway Safety Hazards Mean Pedestrian Dangers (Source: Breastfeeding 1-2-3) Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3798524 Wed, 28 Jul 2010 21:51:05 +0100 3798524 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3794748&cid=t_105013_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Fbpa-found-in-receipts-now-we-really-hate-tracking-our-spending%2F photo: Thinkstock If you know us, you know we like to freak out about BPA. But our freakouts aren’t unwarranted: BPA is an endocrine disrupter that is linked to health issues in men, women, and babies. Plus, the stuff is hard to avoid: it’s in pretty much all canned foods and many plastic bottles and containers. And according to a new study, BPA was even present on 40% of receipts collected from supermarkets, ATMs, gas stations, and retail chains. In some cases, the levels of BPA found were 1,000 times greater than the BPA found in the lining of canned foods. Ugh. We throw our receipts all over the place. They rub all over our groceries on the way home from the market and we keep them in our purse for months, right up against our lip gloss. While it’s not clear if the BPA... Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3794748 Tue, 27 Jul 2010 19:15:25 +0100 3794748 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3753783&cid=t_105013_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Fdoctors-on-impaired-or-drunk-colleagues-not-my-problem%2F photo: ABC If you ever watched Lost, you’d know that many of the demons torturing the hunky-yet-annoying surgeon, Jack (played by Matthew Fox), are a product of turning his father in for performing an operation while drunk (Don’t worry — definitely not a spoiler. Jack’s daddy issues are evident from the first episode.) It turns out that pretend Jack is more responsible than many doctors in the real world. A recent study shows that more than a third of doctors who knew that a colleague was impaired by incompetence, substance abuse, or a mental health issue didn’t report them. In fact, 31% of doctors said that reporting incompetence wasn’t their responsibility, even though many professional medical organizations require doctors to rat out inadequate colleague... Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3753783 Wed, 14 Jul 2010 18:13:57 +0100 3753783 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3746708&cid=t_105013_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Fflawless-to-a-fault-are-you-a-perfectionist%2F photo: Thinkstock We’ve all known since high school that perfectionism is a double-edged sword. While we might envy a golden girl’s body or brain, we certainly aren’t jealous of her bad temper or control-freak tendencies. Now there’s evidence that the stress of being a perfectionist has even higher stakes than we previously thought: Poor health. Researchers say that perfectionism is liked to bad health and death. In a study following 450 adults over 65 for 6.5 years, those who had high perfectionism scores had a 51% increased risk of death compared to those with low scores. We’ll be taking this new research as an excuse to act a little less than perfect today (which will be difficult for us). Like maybe we’ll pick off half our nail polish so we have weir... Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3746708 Mon, 12 Jul 2010 19:09:59 +0100 3746708 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3746689&cid=t_105013_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Ffeel%2Fcancer-prevention-stress-is-good-for-once%2F photo: Thinkstock We’re always talking (and writing) about ways to de-stress. We know that constantly being stressed can have seriously bad implications for our body and our mind, but this news got us all worked up: A new study shows that stressed out mice fought tumors way better than mice that were relaxing all the time. (How do mice relax, exactly?) Mice were injected with melanoma. Some mice were in a large cage with other mice, lots of toys, and space. Other mice remained in the normal lab cages. Three weeks into the study, the tumors of the mice who were in the more stimulating cage shrank to half their previous size, and they had shrunk 77% in six weeks. The tumors even disappeared in 17% of the mice. The mice in the normal cages had tumors that continued to grow. So, what&#82... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3746689 Thu, 08 Jul 2010 21:40:24 +0100 3746689 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3746692&cid=t_105013_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Ffeel%2Fdo-you-douche-yes-no-maybe-take-our-poll%2F photo: Thinkstock After we quizzed you about a possible risk of douching earlier today, we wondered what everyone’s experience with douching was in terms of feeling femininely fresh. Do you love it? Hate it? Never done it? Tried it once and never did it again? Let us know by taking our quick poll below. #MicroPollDiv_264600 { width: 250px; margin: 0px auto; } Post from: BlissTree Do You Douche? Yes, No, Maybe? Take Our Poll (Source: Healthbolt) Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3746692 Wed, 07 Jul 2010 19:57:35 +0100 3746692 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3723289&cid=t_105013_83_f&fid=34856&url=http%3A%2F%2Finsidesurgery.com%2F2010%2F07%2Fepa-initial-studies-show-oil-dispersant-corexit-toxic-marine-life%2F In initial findings sure to come under fire from environmental groups, the United States Environmental Protection Agency has released findings that show the oil dispersant being used in the BP oil spill is not toxic to the endocrine systems of the marine animals on which it was tested (Source: Inside Surgery) Inside Surgery blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3723289 Sat, 03 Jul 2010 15:11:08 +0100 3723289 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3721707&cid=t_105013_83_f&fid=34856&url=http%3A%2F%2Finsidesurgery.com%2F2010%2F07%2Fnoaa-issues-projections-path-contamination-beaches%2F The National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has issued projections for the probability of oil contamination of US beaches in Florida and along the Atlantic seaboard (Source: Inside Surgery) Inside Surgery blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3721707 Sat, 03 Jul 2010 01:02:18 +0100 3721707 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3718319&cid=t_105013_83_f&fid=34856&url=http%3A%2F%2Finsidesurgery.com%2F2010%2F07%2Flong-term-studies-exxon-valdez-cleanup-workers-guide-care-bp-oil-spill%2F In the growing concern about the possible health effects of long term oil exposure for BP cleanup workers, scientists and physicians are looking at the Exxon Valdez cleanup for help. The only trouble is that there were no studies on the cleanup workers in Alaska. Anchorage, Alaska attorney Michael Schneider claims “We don’t know a damn thing.” (Source: Inside Surgery) Inside Surgery blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3718319 Fri, 02 Jul 2010 00:55:26 +0100 3718319 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3710496&cid=t_105013_83_f&fid=34856&url=http%3A%2F%2Finsidesurgery.com%2F2010%2F06%2Flouisiana-requesting-bp-aid-mental-health-services%2F The state of Louisiana has asked BP to provide $10 million for mental health services for those affected by the BP oil spill. This is following the recent suicide of an Alabama fisherman (Source: Inside Surgery) Inside Surgery blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3710496 Tue, 29 Jun 2010 12:05:26 +0100 3710496 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3706601&cid=t_105013_83_f&fid=34856&url=http%3A%2F%2Finsidesurgery.com%2F2010%2F06%2Flouisiana-reports-161-cases-bp-oil-spill-sickness%2F The state of Louisiana is now reporting 161 cases of illness related to the BP oil spill. Most have involved nausea, vomiting, headaches, and dizziness. (Source: Inside Surgery) Inside Surgery blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3706601 Tue, 29 Jun 2010 04:14:51 +0100 3706601 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3706639&cid=t_105013_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Fempty-handed-birth-control-struggles-for-women-in-uganda%2F The average woman in the United States will give birth to 2.06 children in her lifetime. In Uganda, the average is 6.7 children. Why? Birth control is virtually unavailable in this African nation. That’s not to say Ugandan women don’t want it, however. But even when a pregnancy would be risky to a woman’s health, she has no means of preventing it. A new short film, Empty Handed: Responding to the Demand for Contraceptives shares the plight of these women: Empty Handed from Population Action International on Vimeo. Post from: BlissTree "Empty Handed": Birth Control Struggles for Women In Uganda (Source: Breastfeeding 1-2-3) Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3706639 Mon, 28 Jun 2010 21:49:20 +0100 3706639 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3678504&cid=t_105013_83_f&fid=34856&url=http%3A%2F%2Finsidesurgery.com%2F2010%2F06%2Fescambia-county-issues-latest-bp-oil-spill-update%2F Escambia County, Florida has issued its latest update on environmental and health conditions affecting Escambia County and nearby areas. They continue to advise that tarballs not be handled or touched. (Source: Inside Surgery) Inside Surgery blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3678504 Sat, 19 Jun 2010 20:31:04 +0100 3678504 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3678506&cid=t_105013_83_f&fid=34856&url=http%3A%2F%2Finsidesurgery.com%2F2010%2F06%2Fmental-health-experts-warn-psychological-problems-bp-oil-spill%2F University South Alabama Sociology professor J. Steven Picou and Arch Diocese of New Orleans Catholic Charities medical director Elmore Rigamer highlight the likely psychological and emotional effects of the BP oil spill. Related Posts Oklahoma Toxicologists Warn of Decades Long Risk in BP Oil Spill (Source: Inside Surgery) Inside Surgery blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3678506 Sat, 19 Jun 2010 14:55:36 +0100 3678506 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3676609&cid=t_105013_83_f&fid=34856&url=http%3A%2F%2Finsidesurgery.com%2F2010%2F06%2Foklahoma-university-toxicologists-warn-decades-long-health-risks-bp-oil-spill%2F Robert Lynch, PhD, and other toxicologists from the Oklahoma University School of Public Health convened on Friday, June 18 to discuss the health ramifications of the devastating Gulf oil spill, which they fear will be decades-long. (Source: Inside Surgery) Inside Surgery blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3676609 Fri, 18 Jun 2010 23:17:13 +0100 3676609 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3671584&cid=t_105013_83_f&fid=34856&url=http%3A%2F%2Finsidesurgery.com%2F2010%2F06%2Fmarine-life-flees-contaminated-water-bp-oil-spill%2F In a ominous sign of the unimaginable environmental and health disaster to come in the gulf oil spill, marine creatures from crabs to sharks are crowding into water close to the shore in an attempt to escape the devastating contamination of the bp oil spill. Roger Helm of the Fish and Wildlife Services contaminant division thinks that BP will try to contest the animal kill totals of the spill. (Source: Inside Surgery) Inside Surgery blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3671584 Wed, 16 Jun 2010 23:47:52 +0100 3671584 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3665900&cid=t_105013_83_f&fid=34856&url=http%3A%2F%2Finsidesurgery.com%2F2010%2F06%2Fbp-oil-spill-health-risks-focus-institute-medicine-forum-june-2223%2F The Institute of Medicine will hold a pubic forum on the possible emerging health risks of the Gulf oil spill on June 22-23 in New Orleans. The meeting will be held starting at 8:30 CDT in the Queen Anne Ballroom of the Hotel Monteleone. (Source: Inside Surgery) Inside Surgery blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3665900 Tue, 15 Jun 2010 23:33:15 +0100 3665900 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3665902&cid=t_105013_83_f&fid=34856&url=http%3A%2F%2Finsidesurgery.com%2F2010%2F06%2Fexperts-health-risks-bp-oil-spill-years-current-seafood-supply-safe%2F Multiple experts testified on Capitol Hill today that the health risks for the Gulf oil spill will last for years, but the seafood now in stores and restaurants is safe. Officials testifying today include FDA Deputy Commissioner Mike Taylor, Department Assistant Secretary for Health and Human Services Lisa Kaplowitz, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences Aubrey Miller, and Director of the National Institute for Occupational Safey John Howard. (Source: Inside Surgery) Inside Surgery blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3665902 Tue, 15 Jun 2010 22:53:34 +0100 3665902 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3662636&cid=t_105013_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Fgasland-documentary-reveals-risks-of-natural-gas-drilling%2F Natural gas drilling is happening across the country right now. It’s a process that’s dangerous to the environment and water supplies, as well as people in the affected communities, although the government hasn’t done anything to protect any of these things from gas drilling (which, by the way, can be even less environmentally-friendly than oil drilling). When filmmaker Josh Fox was offered the chance to sell his land for drilling rights, he decided to investigate, Erin Brockovich-style, the devastating impact that this “fracking” process has on the residents surrounding the drilling sites. What he finds is terrifying, and that’s putting it lightly. He captured his investigation on film, and the result is the documentary Gasland. It’ll premiere on ... Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3662636 Tue, 15 Jun 2010 14:00:59 +0100 3662636 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3662604&cid=t_105013_83_f&fid=34856&url=http%3A%2F%2Finsidesurgery.com%2F2010%2F06%2Falabama-department-conservation-natural-resources-posts-links-health-warnings-bp-oil-spill-gulf%2F The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources has a terrific compendium of links to the webpages of all the important agencies acting to contain the environmental and health disaster emerging from the BP oil spill in the Gulf. (Source: Inside Surgery) Inside Surgery blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3662604 Tue, 15 Jun 2010 03:18:02 +0100 3662604 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3662606&cid=t_105013_83_f&fid=34856&url=http%3A%2F%2Finsidesurgery.com%2F2010%2F06%2Fnoaa-develops-dedicated-website-realtime-bp-oil-spill-updates-health-warnings%2F The National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has developed a terrific website using geoplatform technology that has near real time updates on the scope and magnitude of the BP oil spill and related health warnings, complete with interactive maps. (Source: Inside Surgery) Inside Surgery blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3662606 Tue, 15 Jun 2010 02:51:53 +0100 3662606 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3662608&cid=t_105013_83_f&fid=34856&url=http%3A%2F%2Finsidesurgery.com%2F2010%2F06%2Frep-frank-pallone-announces-june-16-hearing-bp-oil-spill-health-effects%2F New Jersey congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. has announced that the House Energy and Commerce Health subcomittee will hold hearings on June 16 to investigate the health concerns surrounding the massive BP oil spill from the Deepwater Horizon site. (Source: Inside Surgery) Inside Surgery blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3662608 Tue, 15 Jun 2010 02:36:22 +0100 3662608 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3662610&cid=t_105013_83_f&fid=34856&url=http%3A%2F%2Finsidesurgery.com%2F2010%2F06%2Ffloridas-daily-bp-oil-spill-response-update-june-14-2010%2F Florida Governor Charlie Crist and the State Emergency Response Team have released the June 14, 2010 update for the Deepwater Horizon BP Oil spill. (Source: Inside Surgery) Inside Surgery blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3662610 Tue, 15 Jun 2010 02:16:33 +0100 3662610 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3656790&cid=t_105013_83_f&fid=34856&url=http%3A%2F%2Finsidesurgery.com%2F2010%2F06%2Flouisiana-epidemiologist-edward-trapido-concerned-long-term-health-effects-bp-oil-spill%2F Unlike other health officials involved in the BP oil spill, Dr. Edward Trapido, Wendall Gauthier Chair of Cancer Epidemiology at Louisiana State University is concerned about the long-term health effects of the spill. (Source: Inside Surgery) Inside Surgery blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3656790 Sun, 13 Jun 2010 00:36:18 +0100 3656790 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3656791&cid=t_105013_83_f&fid=34856&url=http%3A%2F%2Finsidesurgery.com%2F2010%2F06%2Fosha-deputy-secretary-jordan-barab-testifies-congress-bp-oil-spill%2F Occupational and Safety Health Administration deputy secretary Jordan Barab testified last week before the Senate Subcommittee on Employment and Workplace Safety about the BP oil spill. (Source: Inside Surgery) Inside Surgery blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3656791 Sun, 13 Jun 2010 00:11:16 +0100 3656791 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3656792&cid=t_105013_83_f&fid=34856&url=http%3A%2F%2Finsidesurgery.com%2F2010%2F06%2Fflorida-stays-date-bp-oil-spill-detailed-website%2F The state of Florida has a very complete and detailed daily summary of how the BP oil spill is affecting Florida beaches and waters and the latest health advisories. (Source: Inside Surgery) Inside Surgery blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3656792 Sun, 13 Jun 2010 00:05:15 +0100 3656792 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3655545&cid=t_105013_83_f&fid=34856&url=http%3A%2F%2Finsidesurgery.com%2F2010%2F06%2Fpoll-shows-anglers-concerned-long-term-safety-eating-fish-gulf-bp-oil-spill%2F A poll taken by AnglerSurvey is reporting that two thirds of respondents are concerned about possible contamination and health risks from eating fish from the Gulf and they plan on avoiding the area. (Source: Inside Surgery) Inside Surgery blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3655545 Sat, 12 Jun 2010 04:48:24 +0100 3655545 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3655549&cid=t_105013_83_f&fid=34856&url=http%3A%2F%2Finsidesurgery.com%2F2010%2F06%2Fhealth-concerns-rise-planned-oil-burn-bp%2F Drs. Phil Harbor and Diane Bailey raise concerns about the health risks to workers on nearby ships and oil platforms of burning hundreds of thousands of barrels of oil in the open Gulf Waters. (Source: Inside Surgery) Inside Surgery blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3655549 Sat, 12 Jun 2010 01:42:58 +0100 3655549 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3652348&cid=t_105013_83_f&fid=34856&url=http%3A%2F%2Finsidesurgery.com%2F2010%2F06%2Fpublic-health-writer-andrew-schneider-discusses-safety-gulf-seafood%2F Health journalist Andrew Schneider has a lengthy article on the testing methods being developed to detect contamination of fish, shrimp, and crab harvested from the Gulf. Scott Smullen of the NOAA maintains the effectiveness of training inspectors to declare food harvests safe by the (we kid you not) use of the whiff test – if it smells like oil it is contaminated and if it smells “okay” then it is safe to eat. (Source: Inside Surgery) Inside Surgery blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3652348 Fri, 11 Jun 2010 01:23:23 +0100 3652348 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3652349&cid=t_105013_83_f&fid=34856&url=http%3A%2F%2Finsidesurgery.com%2F2010%2F06%2Fepa-finally-lists-ingredients-chemical-dispersant-corexit-including-2-butoxy-ethanol%2F The United States Environmental Protection Agency has now listed eight ingredients found in the Corexit chemical dispersants being used in the BP oil spill. One is 2 butoxy ethanol, which is described as a carcinogen that along with nausea and vomiting may cause liver and kidney damage. BP reportedly has dumped more than 1.2 million gallons of Corexit into the Gulf to date. (Source: Inside Surgery) Inside Surgery blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3652349 Fri, 11 Jun 2010 00:46:50 +0100 3652349 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3652350&cid=t_105013_83_f&fid=34856&url=http%3A%2F%2Finsidesurgery.com%2F2010%2F06%2Frep-carolyn-maloney-sees-parallels-health-risks-bp-911-workers%2F US Rep Carolyn Maloney is warning of the possible health dangers for the BP oil spill workers if health concerns are dismissed and protective gear is not provided. Maloney represents parts of Manhattan and Queens and is an advocate for the more than 30,000 workers at the Twin Towers site who have suffered serious respiratory and health issues as a result of exposures while working the cleanup. (Source: Inside Surgery) Inside Surgery blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3652350 Fri, 11 Jun 2010 00:26:52 +0100 3652350 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3652351&cid=t_105013_83_f&fid=34856&url=http%3A%2F%2Finsidesurgery.com%2F2010%2F06%2Fcleanup-workers-bp-oil-spill-risk-heatrelated-illness%2F Workers wearing Tyvek protective suites are being advised to work in shifts of no longer than 15 to 20 mintues and to drink plenty of fluids and eat salty foods such as potato chips to decrease the chances of heat-stroke and dehydration. (Source: Inside Surgery) Inside Surgery blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3652351 Thu, 10 Jun 2010 23:57:58 +0100 3652351 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3648423&cid=t_105013_83_f&fid=34856&url=http%3A%2F%2Finsidesurgery.com%2F2010%2F06%2Flouisiana-reports-71-cases-bp-oil-spill-related-sickness%2F Louisiana health official Dr. Jimmy Guidry is reporting 71 cases of illness related to the BP oil spill to date. Related Posts Experts Weigh In on Health Risks of BP Oil Spill (Source: Inside Surgery) Inside Surgery blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3648423 Thu, 10 Jun 2010 02:53:29 +0100 3648423 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3648426&cid=t_105013_83_f&fid=34856&url=http%3A%2F%2Finsidesurgery.com%2F2010%2F06%2Fflorida-county-posts-beach-warning-sign-bp-oil-spill%2F Escambia County authorities have posted the first beach advisories in Florida to warn people to stay out of the BP oil spill tainted Gulf waters. The warnings are aimed at pregnant women, children, and those with impaired immune systems and include beaches from Perdido Key to Gulf Islands Seashore national park. Related Posts Experts Warn Cleanup Workers About Risks of Snake Bites (Source: Inside Surgery) Inside Surgery blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3648426 Thu, 10 Jun 2010 00:51:53 +0100 3648426 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3648427&cid=t_105013_83_f&fid=34856&url=http%3A%2F%2Finsidesurgery.com%2F2010%2F06%2Fsnake-expert-dr-mark-ryan-warns-risk-bp-cleanup-workers%2F Dr. Mark Ryan, managing director of the Louisiana Poison Center, is sounding the alarm about the risk of poisonous snake bites to oil spill cleanup workers working in the swamps and marshes of Louisiana. Of particular concern are water moccasins, copperheads, rattlesnakes, and the highly venomous eastern coral snake. (Source: Inside Surgery) Inside Surgery blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3648427 Thu, 10 Jun 2010 00:41:04 +0100 3648427 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3644690&cid=t_105013_83_f&fid=34856&url=http%3A%2F%2Finsidesurgery.com%2F2010%2F06%2Falabama-department-public-health-issues-swimming-advisory-beaches%2F The Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) has issued a swimming advisory for Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, and Fort Morgan because of the contamination of oil from the BP spill. (Source: Inside Surgery) Inside Surgery blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3644690 Wed, 09 Jun 2010 06:07:40 +0100 3644690 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3644692&cid=t_105013_83_f&fid=34856&url=http%3A%2F%2Finsidesurgery.com%2F2010%2F06%2Fcdc-answers-health-questions-bp-oil-spill%2F The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has posted answers to FAQ about the possible health risks of the BP oil spill on its website. (Source: Inside Surgery) Inside Surgery blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3644692 Tue, 08 Jun 2010 23:12:37 +0100 3644692 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3644693&cid=t_105013_83_f&fid=34856&url=http%3A%2F%2Finsidesurgery.com%2F2010%2F06%2Fhuge-deep-water-oil-plumes-threaten-longterm-environmental-health-harm%2F University of South Florida oceanographer Yonggang Liu and colleagues have reported huge deep water oil plumes from the BP oil spill drifting across the Gulf of Mexico that are likely to create kill zones and impact the food chain (especially larger fish) for years to come. Despite protestations by BP that most of the leaked oil is on the surface, Steven Murawski of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is confirming the presence of the plumes and the validity of the Liu’s data. (Source: Inside Surgery) Inside Surgery blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3644693 Tue, 08 Jun 2010 23:00:33 +0100 3644693 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3640932&cid=t_105013_83_f&fid=34856&url=http%3A%2F%2Finsidesurgery.com%2F2010%2F06%2Fexperts-weigh-health-risks-bp-oil-spill%2F Dr. Ronald Tjeerdema, chair of Environmental Toxicology at University of California, Davis and Dr. Michael Ziccardi discuss the possible health risks of oil slicks and tar balls and whether the use of dispersants should continue. (Source: Inside Surgery) Inside Surgery blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3640932 Tue, 08 Jun 2010 03:38:57 +0100 3640932 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3640934&cid=t_105013_83_f&fid=34856&url=http%3A%2F%2Finsidesurgery.com%2F2010%2F06%2Fengineering-prodigy-alia-sabur-suggests-fix-bp-oil-spill%2F Mathematician and materials scientist Dr. Alia Sabur has caught the attention of BP officials with an elegant yet simple stopper design that is being considered for use stopping the BP oil spill and its developing environmental and human health sequelae. Dr. Sabur is twenty-one years of age and holds has the distinction of being the youngest full Professor in the history of academia. (Source: Inside Surgery) Inside Surgery blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3640934 Tue, 08 Jun 2010 01:32:53 +0100 3640934 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3640935&cid=t_105013_83_f&fid=34856&url=http%3A%2F%2Finsidesurgery.com%2F2010%2F06%2Ferin-brockovich-heading-gulf-coast%2F Famed environmental and consumer advocate Erin Brockovich has been asked by the fisherman of south Louisiana to investigate the environmental and health risks posed by the BP oil spill and the subsequent use of chemical dispersant Corexit. She reportedly plans to hold town hall-type meetings in Grand Isle and Lafourche, Bernard, and Terrebonne Parishes. (Source: Inside Surgery) Inside Surgery blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3640935 Tue, 08 Jun 2010 01:07:01 +0100 3640935 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3640936&cid=t_105013_83_f&fid=34856&url=http%3A%2F%2Finsidesurgery.com%2F2010%2F06%2Fcdc-risk-oil-spill-humans-public-buying%2F The Centers for Disease Control has issued a statement that the risk of human exposure to the oil and tar balls washing up on Gulf beaches from the BP Oil spill is very low, if not harmless. Judging by comments on blogs, many citizens from the region are just not trusting the authorities. (Source: Inside Surgery) Inside Surgery blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3640936 Tue, 08 Jun 2010 00:59:02 +0100 3640936 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3635676&cid=t_105013_83_f&fid=34856&url=http%3A%2F%2Finsidesurgery.com%2F2010%2F06%2Fscientists-doug-inkley-wes-tunnell-detail-decades-long-recovery-bp-oil-spill%2F National Wildlife Federation scientist Doug Inkley, Texas biologist Wes Tunnell and other scientists say that based on studies from other oil spill sites like the Exxon Valdez and Ixtoc, it will be decades before the environmental and food chain hazards from the BP oil spill clear (Source: Inside Surgery) Inside Surgery blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3635676 Sun, 06 Jun 2010 19:08:19 +0100 3635676 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3635678&cid=t_105013_83_f&fid=34856&url=http%3A%2F%2Finsidesurgery.com%2F2010%2F06%2Fpsychiatrists-drs-daniel-carlat-mark-townsend-discuss-psychiatric-effects-bp-oil-spill%2F Psychiatrists Dr. Daniel Carlat and Louisiana State University’s Dr. Mark Townsend discuss the psychiatric and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) ramifications of the BP oil spill on Louisiana and other Gulf Coast residents. (Source: Inside Surgery) Inside Surgery blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3635678 Sun, 06 Jun 2010 18:31:10 +0100 3635678 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3633420&cid=t_105013_83_f&fid=34856&url=http%3A%2F%2Finsidesurgery.com%2F2010%2F06%2Fhealth-experts-cyrus-rangan-luann-white-debate-health-effects-bp-oil-spill%2F Toxicologist LuAnn White, poison control expert Cyrus Rangan, neuroscientist James Giordana and others debate the health risks from the BP oil spill (Source: Inside Surgery) Inside Surgery blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3633420 Sun, 06 Jun 2010 01:03:14 +0100 3633420 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3633422&cid=t_105013_83_f&fid=34856&url=http%3A%2F%2Finsidesurgery.com%2F2010%2F06%2Flouisiana-officials-alan-levine-peggy-hatch-urge-osha-involvement-bp-oil-spill%2F Louisiana Health and Hospital Secretary Alan Levine and Environmental Quality Secretary Peggy Hatch are urging the US Occupational and Safety Health Administration to become more involved in monitoring the health of the thousands of workers cleaning up the BP oil spill. (Source: Inside Surgery) Inside Surgery blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3633422 Sat, 05 Jun 2010 18:33:21 +0100 3633422 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3632223&cid=t_105013_83_f&fid=34856&url=http%3A%2F%2Finsidesurgery.com%2F2010%2F06%2Fvaldez-cleanup-worker-merle-savage-warns-toxic-health-effects-bp-oil-spill%2F Merle Savage spent four months cleaning up the Exxon Valdez oil spill and feels she suffered irreparable harm to her health as a result. (Source: Inside Surgery) Inside Surgery blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3632223 Fri, 04 Jun 2010 23:58:00 +0100 3632223 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3632224&cid=t_105013_83_f&fid=34856&url=http%3A%2F%2Finsidesurgery.com%2F2010%2F06%2Fer-doctor-damon-dietrich-describes-flulike-illness-dozens-bp-oil-spill-cleanup-workers%2F West Jefferson Hospital emergency room physician Dr. Damon Dietrich has been treating ill workers from the BP oil spill cleanup sites and details their complaints. (Source: Inside Surgery) Inside Surgery blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3632224 Fri, 04 Jun 2010 23:41:41 +0100 3632224 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3632225&cid=t_105013_83_f&fid=34856&url=http%3A%2F%2Finsidesurgery.com%2F2010%2F06%2Fcongressman-raise-concern-health-safety-bp-oil-spill-workers%2F Reps James L. Oberstar (D-Minn) and Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) have called for the the Obama Administration to get tougher with BP officials in safeguarding the health of the oil spill cleanup workers. The letter, addressed to Labor Secretary Hilda L. Solis and EPA director Lisa Jackson references a memo from OSHA senior manager David Michaels describing the lack of oversight and commitment on the part of BP to the cleanup efforts. (Source: Inside Surgery) Inside Surgery blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3632225 Fri, 04 Jun 2010 23:27:49 +0100 3632225 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3632226&cid=t_105013_83_f&fid=34856&url=http%3A%2F%2Finsidesurgery.com%2F2010%2F06%2Fhealth-risks-women-bp-oil-spill-detailed%2F As oil has begun to wash up on the pristine powder sugar beaches of Florida, the health risks to pregnant women and children are detailed (Source: Inside Surgery) Inside Surgery blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3632226 Fri, 04 Jun 2010 23:16:09 +0100 3632226 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3625467&cid=t_105013_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2F180778%2F Major Retailers to Limit Lead in Handbags: Today more than 40 retailers agreed to set new standards for lead content in handbags and purses, settling a lawsuit with the Center for Environmental Health. (via Planet Green) Post from: BlissTree (Source: Breastfeeding 1-2-3) Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3625467 Wed, 02 Jun 2010 21:32:26 +0100 3625467 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3577369&cid=t_105013_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Fsmoking-and-birth-control-daily-health-quiz%2F How much do you really know about your health? You may think you know all the ins and outs of staying well, but our daily Health Smarts Quiz will test your knowledge on the spot. Answer our question, below, and check back tomorrow for the correct answer and your next pop quiz. Today’s Question: It’s a long-established fact that smoking is horrible for your health, but there’s all sorts of confusing information about what other things effect your health risks. One common rumor is that smokers shouldn’t use birth control pills… What do you think: Is taking birth control pills really a no-no for smokers? Take our poll: #MicroPollDiv_256133 { width: 250px; margin: 0px auto; } Answer to Yesterday’s Question: Do you really know the health risks as... Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3577369 Tue, 18 May 2010 21:37:05 +0100 3577369 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3259272&cid=t_105013_151_f&fid=35818&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FRecoveryIsSexycom%2F%7E3%2F2qZoq9gmWQ8%2F Dr tansplanting a cirrhotic liver Health Risks of Alcohol: 12 Health Problems Associated with Chronic Heavy Drinking It’s no secret that alcohol consumption can cause major health problems, including cirrhosis of the liver and injuries sustained in automobile accidents. But if you think liver disease and car crashes are the only health risks posed by drinking, think again: Researchers have linked alcohol consumption to more than 60 diseases. “Alcohol does all kinds of things in the body, and we’re not fully aware of all its effects,” says James C. Garbutt, MD, “It’s a pretty complicated little molecule.” Here are 12 conditions linked to chronic heavy drinking. Anemia This can trigger a host of symptoms, including fatigue, shortness of breath, and l... Recovery Is Sexy.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3259272 Tue, 09 Feb 2010 16:18:03 +0100 3259272 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2639620&cid=t_105013_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FOt6VbCnoHJI%2F The list of health risks Agent Orange may cause has potentially added two more: heart disease and Parkinson’s. The findings are early and more tests are needed to definitively say there is a link. It’s difficult to say exactly what types of problems agent orange caused, because those exposed to the toxin have reacted differently. (Different bodies, different reactions.) Other diseases linked to Agent Orange include leukemia, prostate cancer, Type 2 diabetes, and birth defects in the children of veterans who were exposed to the toxin. About 20 million gallons of Agent Orange were used between 1962 and 1971 during the Vietnam War. Image: sxc.hu. Share and Enjoy: Post from: Blisstree New Agent Orange Health Risks (Source: A Hearty Life) A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2639620 Sat, 25 Jul 2009 20:56:46 +0100 2639620 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2593133&cid=t_105013_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FeUwaBd_AtBg%2F New research has determined that diets high in fermentable carbohydrates can cause poor dental health. We always think of carbs as adding to health problems such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes, but rarely does the subject of dental health arise. Until now. A new article in this month’s Dental Research magazine says that “poor dental health has been linked to a number of chronic diseases.” The article argues that dentists should be asking their patients about their nutritional habits as part of their regular care. Image: sxc.hu. Share and Enjoy: Post from: Blisstree Carbs Bad for Dental Health (Source: A Hearty Life) A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2593133 Sat, 11 Jul 2009 23:07:44 +0100 2593133 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2570653&cid=t_105013_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2F5t2spV5DYTI%2F You may think it’s fun to watch speed eaters cobble down hotdogs this weekend, but the “sport” of competitive eating has some considerable health risks. While the percent of the speed eating population is not large enough to warrant a scientific study, several former speed eaters are dealing with obesity, clogged arteries, and other gastrointestinal problems. One competitive eater even found that after a while, his stomach would not register being “full” when he ate normally. This condition, called peristalsis, means that the stomach is not contracting. Despite the health risks, however, many speed eaters look back on their “reign” fondly. Image: sxc.hu. Share and Enjoy: Post from: Blisstree Health Risks of Speed Eating... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2570653 Fri, 03 Jul 2009 17:27:31 +0100 2570653 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2570868&cid=t_105013_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Fzimney-health-and-medical-news-you-can-use%2Fmaking-sense-of-headlines-on-acetaminophen-pain-relievers%2F Depending on which headlines you’ve seen recently, you may think that some pain relievers are being recalled because they’re dangerous and you might be wondering if you need to clean out the medicine cabinet and throw out any number of these products. I’m going to try to explain this highly complex situation, but the bottom line is that when taken as directed, all of the pain relievers currently on the market, be they prescription or over the counter (OTC), are still considered to be safe and effective and you don’t need to throw them away (and nothing is being recalled at the moment either). The bottom line problem, however, is that when it comes to pain relievers many people don’t follow directions and wind up taking far more pills than they should. And when... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2570868 Thu, 02 Jul 2009 21:56:36 +0100 2570868 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2556183&cid=t_105013_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FDBUWikQrC_I%2F Fats are bad for you. We know that for a number of reasons. Namely, that a high fat diet makes you fat (duh) and it can also causes diabetes and heart trouble. Now, the National Institutes of Health says that a diet high in fat adds a risk of getting pancreatic cancer. One source says that pancreatic cancer ” will strike more than 42,000 Americans this year and kill more than 35,000.” Eating more saturated fats upped your cancer risk by 36 percent. Image: sxc.hu. Share and Enjoy: Post from: Blisstree Fatty Diet and Pancreatic Cancer (Source: A Hearty Life) A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2556183 Tue, 30 Jun 2009 00:52:23 +0100 2556183 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2511649&cid=t_105013_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Fzimney-health-and-medical-news-you-can-use%2Fnestle-toll-house-cookie-recall-the-ecoli-mystery%2F Although Nestle has recalled some 300,000 cases of its refrigerated Toll House cookie dough from store shelves, as of June 22, 2009, none of their product had actually tested positive for the E. coli that’s caused illness in at least 70 people in 30 states. And since it’s highly unusual for E. coli, an intestinal bacterium of cattle (i.e., it’s in their feces) to be present in something like cookie dough, investigators are so far at a loss to explain exactly what is going on. But, since all of the people who became sick ate the same raw cookie dough product, it seems obvious that it’s the cookie dough that’s to blame. The question is, from where did the E. coli come? If it were inadequately cooked hamburgers that were responsible, it would be easy to link E. c... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2511649 Wed, 24 Jun 2009 19:33:31 +0100 2511649 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2511650&cid=t_105013_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Fzimney-health-and-medical-news-you-can-use%2Ffda-warns-consumers-to-discard-zicam-products%2F In an unusual move earlier this week, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) alerted consumers that Zicam Cold Remedy products have been associated with long lasting or even permanent loss of smell. FDA recommends that consumers stop using these products and that they throw away any that might still be in their homes. The affected products include Zicam Cold Remedy Nasal Gel, Zicam Cold Remedy Nasal Swabs, and Zicam Cold Remedy Swabs, Kids Size (the last one is a previously discontinued product). The products had been sold by Matrixx Initiatives to reduce the duration and severity of cold symptoms; however, they have never been shown to be effective. These products were formulated and sold for intranasal use and may have contained zinc, which is potentially toxic to the nasal membranes. Th... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2511650 Thu, 18 Jun 2009 17:12:13 +0100 2511650 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2464268&cid=t_105013_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Fzimney-health-and-medical-news-you-can-use%2F16-reasons-not-to-use-someone-elses-prescription-medicine%2F Using someone else’s prescription medicine is a lot like playing Russian roulette – you might get away unscathed, and then again you might not. And it could have devastating consequences. Just because we see prescription medicines advertised on TV doesn’t mean they are safe for everyone. There are good reasons why you can’t buy them over the counter. A physician takes many factors into account before prescribing a medication for you, including your current condition, your past medical history, your other medications and the likely risks and benefits of the drug to you as an individual. After making this decision he or she will then explain how to take the medication, when to take it, how much and how long to take it, what else you can and can’t take with it, and what to expect af... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2464268 Mon, 08 Jun 2009 16:56:42 +0100 2464268 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2376400&cid=t_105013_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Fzimney-health-and-medical-news-you-can-use%2Fpreventing-the-swine-flu-to-mask-or-not-to-mask%2F The current swine flu outbreak has many people worrying, and even more wondering, about how to avoid getting sick. And because of all the media photos and videos of people in Mexico walking around wearing face masks, people in this country naturally want to know if these are an effective means of prevention? Unfortunately, however, as with many aspects of this unusual epidemic there aren’t adequate answers for all the questions. It turns out, that there just haven’t been enough studies to say whether or not wearing a face mask would help prevent infection. Some people will doubtless say that it’s obvious that wearing a mask would reduce the chance of your inhaling a respiratory virus that can be spread by coughing and sneezing. But it’s not nearly as obvious as they would have you ... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2376400 Wed, 29 Apr 2009 16:27:19 +0100 2376400 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2376401&cid=t_105013_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Fzimney-health-and-medical-news-you-can-use%2Fthe-swine-flu-can-the-flu-vaccine-protect-you%2F As I wrote earlier if you’re an average person living in the U.S. there’s absolutely no reason now to panic about the current swine flu situation in spite of the media hysteria. That may change as time passes, but it could just as easily go the other way and not become a full-blown pandemic. That’s what happened in 1976, when a swine flu scare led to emergency vaccination of some 40 million Americans in 10 weeks but the feared pandemic just never panned out. The Los Angeles Times has a nice piece on that story. But many people have questions about the flu vaccine right now. Does this year’s vaccine cover the current swine flu strain? Why doesn’t the flu vaccine cover all strains? Why do I need to get a new flu immunization every year when I don’t have to... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2376401 Tue, 28 Apr 2009 21:55:17 +0100 2376401 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2376402&cid=t_105013_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Fzimney-health-and-medical-news-you-can-use%2Fswine-flu-separating-hysteria-from-fact%2F As of today, Monday April 27, I agree completely with President Obama when he says that while swine flu is an issue of concern, it is “not a cause for alarm.” There are several reasons why you should not panic in spite of the incessant media drum beat and the minute by minute updates. First, so far this is an extremely uncommon illness affecting a very small number of people in the United States, all of whom had mild illness and recovered without incident. Yes, it might spread further, but even so, let’s take a step back and remember that we’re talking about influenza, not Ebola or smallpox. And while full-blown influenza is no walk in the park, for most people it’s not even remotely life-threatening. It’s an unpleasant upper respiratory illness with systemic symptoms of fever,... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2376402 Mon, 27 Apr 2009 16:53:24 +0100 2376402 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2318539&cid=t_105013_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Fzimney-health-and-medical-news-you-can-use%2Fits-time-to-cut-back-your-red-meat-consumption%2F Eating red meat increases your chances of dying prematurely. That’s the stark finding of a very large and very well done clinical study just published in the Archives of Internal Medicine.  The study found that eating red and processed meat was associated with increases in total mortality, cancer mortality, and cardiovascular disease mortality. They found that eating just 4 ounces of red meat a day raises your overall risk of dying prematurely, raises your risk of dying from cancer and raises your risk of dying from cardiovascular disease. I’d say that means it’s time to decrease your consumption of red meat, which includes beef, pork and processed meats like sausage, bacon and cold cuts. There are a number of reasons why eating red meat might be bad for your health. Red... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2318539 Thu, 26 Mar 2009 19:05:39 +0100 2318539 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2290612&cid=t_105013_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Fzimney-health-and-medical-news-you-can-use%2Fnatasha-richardsons-tragic-death-teaches-us-about-head-injury%2F The news of Natasha Richardson’s tragic death after a skiing accident has shocked us all; especially because of the apparently minor nature of her injury and that she was quickly up and about and talking immediately afterwards. Unfortunately, however, Ms. Richardson suffered a near textbook case of what’s called epidural hematoma. I say near because she was 45 and epidural hematoma is more likely to happen in younger adults with the average age being 20-30 (it’s rare after 50). But the rest of the awful story is only too typical. The only positive thing about epidural hematoma is that it is a rare event. In fact, it only is found in about one to four percent of traumatic head injuries. It is also a cruel irony that March is Brain Injury Awareness Month (BIAM). And doubly so because, ... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2290612 Fri, 20 Mar 2009 05:18:03 +0100 2290612 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2249492&cid=t_105013_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Fzimney-health-and-medical-news-you-can-use%2Fif-you-take-plavix-read-this-now%2F If you or someone you know takes Plavix (clopidogrel), which is an anticlotting medication (often referred to as a blood thinner), you should take note of recent findings suggesting a potential problem when it is taken along with other drugs known as proton pump inhibitors. Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are drugs that reduce stomach acid and they are often prescribed along with Plavix because it can irritate the stomach in some patients. The PPIs help to reduce the stomach irritation. But recent findings are suggesting that PPIs might reduce the effectiveness of Plavix, which could be a problem since Plavix is most often prescribed for people who are at risk of having a heart attack or stroke and if it didn’t work they could be at risk of serious problems. So if you do take Plavix and if... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2249492 Fri, 06 Mar 2009 21:47:47 +0100 2249492 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2234066&cid=t_105013_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Fzimney-health-and-medical-news-you-can-use%2Fif-you-take-plavix-read-this-now%2F If you or someone you know takes Plavix (clopidogrel), which is an anticlotting medication (often referred to as a blood thinner), you should take note of recent findings suggesting a potential problem when it is taken along with other drugs known as proton pump inhibitors. Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are drugs that reduce stomach acid and they are often prescribed along with Plavix because it can irritate the stomach in some patients. The PPIs help to reduce the stomach irritation. But recent findings are suggesting that PPIs might reduce the effectiveness of Plavix, which could be a problem since Plavix is most often prescribed for people who are at risk of having a heart attack or stroke and if it didn’t work they could be at risk of serious problems. So if you do take Plavix and if... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2234066 Wed, 04 Mar 2009 20:01:33 +0100 2234066 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2195225&cid=t_105013_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Fzimney-health-and-medical-news-you-can-use%2Fan-intro-to-dr-zs-medical-report%2F As Stephen Colbert would say: “Welcome to the Report ladies and gentlemen.” Dr. Z’s Medical Report has a new home here on Everyday Health, and I am happy to welcome both old and new readers to my blog, which began in 2006 on HealthTalk. Although HealthTalk no longer exists as its own website, much of its content has been incorporated into the Everyday Health website, including all the postings of Dr. Z’s Medical Report. You can still search the blog using the little search box on the right side of the page and can still subscribe to it via RSS. Nothing has changed except for the owner of the website; namely, Everyday Health and I’m happy to be part of their team. For those new to the Report, here’s a brief overview. I usually write twice a week with post... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2195225 Thu, 12 Feb 2009 21:57:14 +0100 2195225 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2195227&cid=t_105013_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Fzimney-health-and-medical-news-you-can-use%2Fkinoki-detox-foot-pads-officially-a-scam%2F The first time I came across Kinoki detox foot pads I knew immediately that they were a scam and wrote a piece in these pages entitled “Kinoki detox foot pads - a scambuster report.”  In that blog I went so far as to say that Kinoki foot pads were such a blatant scam that they gave other scams a bad name. That blog became one of the most widely read items I’ve ever written, generating nearly 500 comments at last count. While some respondents disagreed and said that the pads had helped them, many writers agreed with my assessment of Kinoki as being a scam. Well, now the federal government has weighed in and guess what? They agree with me and have officially called Kinoki detox foot pads a scam. I’d always held that it was just a matter of time before the feds came d... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2195227 Thu, 05 Feb 2009 22:44:49 +0100 2195227 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2195228&cid=t_105013_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Fzimney-health-and-medical-news-you-can-use%2Fthe-number-one-killer-of-women-heart-disease%2F Friday February 6, 2009 is National Wear Red Day, which is a day for all Americans to be aware of heart disease in women and to wear red in support of The Heart Truth: A National Awareness Campaign for Women About Heart Disease. Everyone can participate by wearing a favorite red dress, sweater, shirt, tie or even the specially designed Red Dress Pin on Friday. Despite the emphasis on wearing red, this year’s message, is that “Heart Disease Doesn’t Care What You Wear - It’s the #1 Killer of Women.” Every woman needs to know about heart disease. While you hear a lot about breast cancer in the media, the fact is that heart disease is the number one killer of women with one in four American women dying of heart disease. In fact, as the picture below graphically il... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2195228 Tue, 03 Feb 2009 22:10:41 +0100 2195228 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2013911&cid=t_105013_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fzimney%2Fct-angiography-a-scambuster-update%2F Not long ago, I recommended you avoid CT angiography as a screening test for heart disease unless you were absolutely convinced that it was necessary and not just being ordered either because it’s a new, extremely cool, technology, or because your doctor has an equity position in the machine (meaning he or she or the practice profits every time the test is run because they own or lease the equipment). I noted that as a screening test for people without symptoms of heart disease, CT angiography has yet to be proven effective. Moreover, even though the test is quite short, there is significant radiation exposure from the X-rays used to obtain the high-tech images (orders of magnitude greater than that used in a simple chest X-ray).But let’s say that you actually have symptoms of ... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2013911 Thu, 04 Dec 2008 20:27:58 +0100 2013911 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1991740&cid=t_105013_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fzimney%2Fpreventing-alzheimers-disease-a-scambuster-report%2F Last time, I wrote about Ginkgo biloba being ineffective for the prevention of Alzheimer’s disease, which may have led you to wonder what actually can prevent it? In your Internet search, you might have been drawn in by the headline at CNN: “Five ways to keep Alzheimer’s away.” Unfortunately, that article, as with many similar ones that abound on the Internet, is long on hype and short on hard evidence. The article is so misleading, in fact, that before I tell you what’s really known about preventing Alzheimer’s I’d like to briefly puncture that particular hot air balloon.The CNN list of five ways to prevent Alzheimer’s begins with antioxidants, and in particular, vitamins A, C and E. They quote a psychiatrist who claims that “There are... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1991740 Tue, 25 Nov 2008 19:57:29 +0100 1991740 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1895708&cid=t_105013_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fzimney%2Flife-line-screening-a-scambuster-report%2F Recently, I noticed a flyer in my local newspaper advertising an upcoming stroke prevention screening and since the flyer was so misleading and from a national company that screens all over the U.S., I thought I’d give you some facts to consider in case one of these screenings comes to your town and you wonder whether it’s worthwhile. The company involved is called Life Line Screening and their flyer claims “We Can Help You Avoid a Stroke.” They offer a package of four tests for $139 in which they look at your carotid arteries and your abdominal aorta using ultrasound technology, your heart rhythm using ECG technology, and the blood flow in the arteries of your legs using blood pressure technology (but actually, only the carotid exam and the heart rhythm have anythi... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1895708 Tue, 21 Oct 2008 18:10:20 +0100 1895708 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1883684&cid=t_105013_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fzimney%2Fvitamin-d-recommendations-doubled-for-infants-children-and-adolescents%2F This post is important for all pregnant women, mothers who are breast feeding their babies and for parents of infants, children and adolescents (please forward it to your family, friends and others as appropriate). The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has revised their recommendations for vitamin D supplementation of the diets of all newborns, infants, children and adolescents. The new recommendations (detailed below) basically double the amount of vitamin D recommended from 200 IU/day to 400 IU/day. The AAP’s recommendations were described in an October 13, 2008 press release as well as in a more detailed free online Clinical Report. The new recommendations come at a time when the importance of vitamin D in maintaining health and preventing disease, and the near ubiquity of vita... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1883684 Thu, 16 Oct 2008 21:34:16 +0100 1883684 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1876565&cid=t_105013_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fzimney%2Fst-johns-wort-effective-and-safer-against-depression%2F St. John’s wort, an herb long thought to be effective for the treatment of depression, is used widely in many countries for this purpose and is available over-the-counter in the United States (but not approved by the FDA as an antidepressant). But clinical studies have sometimes yielded conflicting results, in part because of variations in study designs (such as the exact definition of depression) as well as variations in the preparation of the herbal extract and the dosages used. But a new meta-analysis has reviewed 29 separate studies involving nearly 5500 patients and found that, overall, St. John’s wort was more effective than placebo and similar in efficacy to both older antidepressants (such as those called tricyclics of which amitriptyline is typical) and newer ones (suc... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1876565 Tue, 14 Oct 2008 21:14:15 +0100 1876565 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1841357&cid=t_105013_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fzimney%2Fpaul-newman-dies-of-lung-cancer%2F The world mourns the loss of Paul Newman, a great actor, philanthropist and humanitarian. He was the embodiment of the Yiddish word “mensch,” meaning a person of great character, integrity and honor. And while it has been widely reported that his death was due to lung cancer and that he was, formerly, a heavy smoker, whether his lung cancer was caused by smoking is unknown. What is known is that smoking greatly increases one’s risk of lung cancer. But what’s also known is that up to 15 percent of lung cancer deaths occur in people who have never smoked. Moreover, lung cancer in never smokers is, according to the Lung Cancer Alliance, “the sixth biggest cancer killer in the United States.” Over 215,000 people in the U.S. will be diagnosed with lung cancer... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1841357 Tue, 30 Sep 2008 19:22:22 +0100 1841357 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1802964&cid=t_105013_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fzimney%2Freduce-your-exposure-to-bpa-bisphenol-a-now%2F While the FDA dithers and the chemical industry stalls, now’s the time for you to act by reducing your and your family’s exposure to the toxic chemical bisphenol A, commonly referred to as BPA. That’s because the results of the first major epidemiologic study looking at the potential health effects of BPA in humans, published in the September 17, 2008 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) , found a significant relationship between the amount of BPA that people had in their body (as measured by its excretion in their urine) and the occurrence of cardiovascular disease, diabetes (type 2 or what’s typically called adult onset diabetes) and abnormalities of liver enzymes (suggesting some type of liver damage). And while a study of this type can... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1802964 Wed, 17 Sep 2008 21:47:20 +0100 1802964 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1652661&cid=t_105013_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fzimney%2Fcell-phones-and-cancer-limiting-your-risk%2F In an unprecedented and controversial move, Dr. Ronald B. Herberman, director of the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, has issued a memo warning of the potential risk of long-term cell phone use and cancer. Although numerous studies have found no link between cell phone use and cancer, Dr. Heberman noted that he is aware of more definitive data, compiled by the World Health Organization, which is currently unpublished, and which may not be published in the near future. Because of this publication delay, Dr. Heberman believes it to be of critical importance to release now, a list of 10 precautionary steps that people should follow in order to reduce their risk of adverse health effects from cell phone use. “Really at the heart of my concern is that we shouldn’t wait for... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1652661 Thu, 24 Jul 2008 23:02:07 +0100 1652661 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1646466&cid=t_105013_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fzimney%2Fct-angiography-a-scambusters-report%2F If you see advertisements for or your doctor recommends you undergo CT angiography because it’s a relatively quick, painless way to get detailed images of your heart and its blood supply, and could uncover hidden abnormalities even though you have no symptoms of heart disease, consider asking the following questions: Do you, or does your practice, own or lease the CT scanning machine? How much money do you or your practice stand to gain from this test? If I went to another cardiologist, who doesn’t own or lease a CT scanning machine do you think they would also recommend the test? Turns out that there’s a significant controversy surrounding the increasing use of CT angiography. Not surprisingly, most of its proponents own or lease the equipment while its detract... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1646466 Wed, 23 Jul 2008 00:40:48 +0100 1646466 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1547049&cid=t_105013_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fzimney%2Famy-winehouse-and-emphysema-you-dont-always-die-from-tobacco%2F Most likely, Amy Winehouse doesn’t have emphysema. Yet. Most likely, her doctor’s said something like “If you don’t stop smoking that bad cough you have already will just get worse and lead to chronic bronchitis, emphysema and COPD. Not only will your singing career be over, but you’ll be dependent on supplemental oxygen and will have to lug around a tank of it wherever you go. Forever.” Want another cigarette? Just say “No, no, no.” Cigarette smoking remains the leading preventable cause of death in the United States, accounting for approximately 1 of every 5 deaths (438,000 people) each year. Yet an estimated 1 of every 5 adults (21 percent) in America still smoke (some 45 million people). What’s worse, smoking harms nearly every organ of the body, causing many diseases... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1547049 Thu, 26 Jun 2008 22:20:07 +0100 1547049 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1497856&cid=t_105013_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fzimney%2Flearn-from-kelsey-grammers-heart-attack%2F Kelsey Grammer, TV sitcom star, suffered a mild heart attack this past Saturday while vacationing in Hawaii. While we don’t yet know the full extent of the 53-year-old actor’s condition or exactly what risk factors he might have had, there’s still a lot we can learn from his experience. And since coronary heart disease is the number one killer of Americans, these are important lessons. First of all, let’s talk about what a heart attack is and what it means when it’s “mild.” The heart, like all the body’s organs, needs a constant supply of fresh, oxygen-rich blood to keep its muscle fibers healthy and functioning properly. It therefore has a complex network of arteries called coronary arteries, which provide blood to all parts of the heart. A heart attack, also calle... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1497856 Fri, 06 Jun 2008 00:33:28 +0100 1497856 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1429357&cid=t_105013_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fzimney%2Fjill-bolte-taylors-my-stroke-of-insight-inspirational-video%2F About two months ago my 89 year old father suffered a stroke and ever since then I’ve been thinking about whether most people understand just what a stroke is. Then someone told me about an inspirational and informational video of a woman named Jill Bolte Taylor describing her own personal experience about having and recovering from a stroke. And even more recently, Dr. Taylor was named #41 in Time Magazine’s fifth annual list of the top 100 most influential people in the world. So it seems timely and appropriate to share her story with readers of Dr. Z’s Medical Report on HealthTalk. Better yet, her video is in the public domain (thanks to TED Conferences) and is included below for you to watch. As you’ll see, Jill Taylor is a Harvard-trained neuroscientist, meaning that she studi... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1429357 Thu, 08 May 2008 21:02:45 +0100 1429357 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1423763&cid=t_105013_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fzimney%2Fmay-is-melanoma-and-skin-cancer-prevention-month%2F Yesterday was the first Monday of May, and although it happens this year to coincide with the Mexican holiday Cinco de Mayo, it is also known in the skin cancer community as Melanoma Monday. Melanoma Monday, the first Monday in May, officially kicks off the American Academy of Dermatology’s month-long awareness program called National Melanoma/Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month. This year, the Academy’s campaign is called “See Spot…Check Spot…Save a Life.” It emphasizes the importance of self examination of the skin, as well as having a partner check the parts of your body that are difficult to see, like the back and the scalp. Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States, with over one million new cases detected each year. About one in five Americ... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1423763 Tue, 06 May 2008 19:19:01 +0100 1423763 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1407371&cid=t_105013_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fzimney%2Fdigoxin-tablets-recalled-over-safety-concerns%2F There’s important news for people who take digoxin, which is a heart medicine also known as digitalis that is most often prescribed for the heart rhythm disturbances called atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter. It is less commonly used to treat heart failure. A nationwide recall of all lots of certain generic brands of digoxin, was announced on April 25, 2008 by the drug’s manufacturer, a company called Actavis Totowa, which was formerly known as Amide Pharmaceuticals. And to make matters more complex, the product is distributed by Mylan Pharmaceuticals as Digitek and by UDL Laboratories as Bertek. The problem is that some digoxin tablets made by Actavis may contain twice the amount of active ingredient as they are supposed to. This is of particular concern because digitalis toxicity... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1407371 Tue, 29 Apr 2008 17:26:04 +0100 1407371 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1391330&cid=t_105013_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fzimney%2Fdr-stephen-barrett-of-quackwatch-to-appear-on-health-now%2F Readers of my scambuster reports will want to listen in to our upcoming interview with Dr. Stephen Barrett, founder of the critically important Web site Quackwatch.com. On April 30, 2008, our show Health Now with Judy Foreman will be talking with this pioneering and tireless exposer of health quackery, frauds and scams. You can register for this free program at Health Now. Health Now with Judy Foreman is our weekly live Internet webcast (formerly called HealthTalk Live) in which we explore a wide range of issues and concerns that affect anyone touched by a chronic illness. Health Now features expert guests and listener phone and e-mail questions, and the discussion is always informative and free-ranging. Listen every Wednesday at 8:30 p.m. Eastern/5:30 p.m. Pacific, and check out the progr... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1391330 Tue, 22 Apr 2008 19:53:43 +0100 1391330 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1311553&cid=t_105013_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fzimney%2Fplastic-water-bottles-hot-cars-and-breast-cancer-what-you-need-to-know-about-pet-and-bpa%2F Recently, we’ve received a number of inquiries about whether there’s an increased risk of breast cancer in women who drink water from plastic water bottles, especially from those bottles that might have been left in a hot car. The assertion is that the heat in the car causes the plastic bottle to release harmful chemicals into the water, which is then consumed leading to inadvertent ingestion of potential carcinogens. This claim has been the subject of many waves of e-mails that get forwarded around the Internet, but which never come with any background or supporting information. Some Web sites, like Snopes.com, have debunked these e-mails as nothing more than either a hoax or an urban legend. The origin, they say, is from overblown media reports of a master’s thesis written by a Uni... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1311553 Tue, 18 Mar 2008 19:45:12 +0100 1311553 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1300772&cid=t_105013_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fzimney%2Ffalls-and-fall-related-injuries-are-all-too-common-in-older-adults%2F My father will turn 89 in early April, and he was recently described by a visiting physical therapist as “a fall waiting to happen.” So the March 7, 2008 article in the CDC’s “MMWR” publication about seniors falling is one of personal interest to me. And since the CDC reports that falls are the leading cause of fatal and non-fatal injury in persons 65 years and older, it’s likely that this subject will resonate with HealthTalk readers concerned with their personal risk of falls as well as with the risks to their parents, friends and other loved ones. The CDC has estimated that in a three-month period in 2006, about 5.8 million persons over 65 fell and of those about 1.8 million sustained some type of fall-related injury. The overall estimate is that each year in the United Stat... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1300772 Thu, 13 Mar 2008 18:16:09 +0100 1300772 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1248048&cid=t_105013_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fzimney%2Finfluenza-vaccine-why-this-years-flu-vaccine-aint-so-hot%2F You’ve probably heard that we’re in the midst of flu season and that cases are being reported from all around the country. You may have also read that this year’s vaccine isn’t protective against most of the influenza virus that’s circulating around. In fact, it seems as though this year’s formulation is only protective against about 40 per cent of this year’s flu strains. How can this be and who’s to blame? I learned a lot about influenza vaccine when I worked for Wyeth Pharmaceuticals back in the mid-eighties. And one of the main things I want you to understand is that of all the people involved in creating each year’s influenza vaccine, the pharmaceutical manufacturers are in no way responsible for deciding which strains are put into the product. In the case of influen... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1248048 Thu, 21 Feb 2008 18:18:19 +0100 1248048 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1233351&cid=t_105013_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fzimney%2Fkinoki-detox-foot-pads-a-scambuster-report%2F Just when I think I’ve seen it all, along comes the Kinoki Foot Pad, an adhesive pad that you apply to the sole of your foot while sleeping and which, according to the distributor’s website is alleged to “assist your body in the removal of heavy metals, metabolic wastes, toxins, microscopic parasites, mucous, chemicals, cellulite and much more.” This is such a blatant scam that it gives other scams a bad name! There may also be other suppliers of similar detox foot pads such as Chikusaku Bamboo Vinegar Patches, but they are all basically the same. Under the heading of “What specific benefits can I expect?” they have the gall to list the following: Kinoki Detox Foot Pads may help: • Absorb toxins released by the body. • Relieve the burden on the immune system. • Assist ... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1233351 Thu, 14 Feb 2008 23:17:57 +0100 1233351 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1225729&cid=t_105013_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fzimney%2Fheath-ledger-celebrity-overdoses-and-the-danger-of-combining-prescriptions%2F What do Heath Ledger, Elvis Presley, Anna Nicole Smith, Judy Garland, and Marilyn Monroe have in common? They all died of accidental prescription drug overdoses. And those are just a few of the most famous cases. There are lots more cases involving lesser known stars and of course most tragic are the thousands of “average” people who die each year due to accidental prescription drug overdoses. Exact numbers are hard to come by because of the difficulty in separating out prescription drug overdoses from those involving street drug overdoses (e.g., heroin, cocaine, etc), but one study found that deaths involving prescription opioid analgesics increased from roughly 2900 in 1999 to 7500 in 2004, a 160% increase. That study was done by Dr. Leonard Paulozzi of the Centers for Disease Contr... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1225729 Tue, 12 Feb 2008 21:03:19 +0100 1225729 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1191604&cid=t_105013_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fzimney%2Feli-stone-abc-drama-premieres-misleading-program-linking-vaccines-and-autism%2F In a move that has already ignited a firestorm of criticism from doctors’ groups, ABC still plans to premiere its new legal drama “Eli Stone” tonight (January 31, 2008) in which a mother, whose child allegedly developed autism after receiving a mercury-containing vaccine, wins a $5.2 million dollar lawsuit against a fictional drug company. The show’s premise is based on a long-standing belief held by childhood immunization critics that thimerosal, a mercury-based preservative, formerly used in vaccines, is a primary cause of autism in children. There are just two basic problems with this. First, countless medical studies have failed to show any link between vaccination and autism. But let’s say you don’t care about scientific studies or just don’t believe them. Well, the ... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1191604 Thu, 31 Jan 2008 19:39:32 +0100 1191604 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1152933&cid=t_105013_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fzimney%2Fblack-cohosh-for-treating-symptoms-of-menopause%2F All women go through menopause and some 75 percent of them experience hot flashes, which are also called hot flushes, and are known more technically as vasomotor symptoms. Most hot flashes are mild to moderate in intensity and they typically stop occurring after a time (usually within six months to two years), with or without therapy (although the exact timing cannot be predicted). Some women experience severe symptoms that prompt them to seek treatment. It is also estimated that some 50 to 75 percent of women use some form of alternative treatments for their symptoms, including soy products, herbal products (especially black cohosh), vitamin E and acupuncture. For most of these therapies, there is little scientific evidence to prove they work. In many cases, however, the data are conflict... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1152933 Tue, 15 Jan 2008 22:16:39 +0100 1152933 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1146650&cid=t_105013_134_f&fid=36049&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FDiabetesNotes%2F%7E3%2F215728459%2F Watch out Australia! This is not earth shattering news but it does go to show just how prevalent diabetes is around the world. The University of Queensland School of Population Health is predicting and explosion of type 2 diabetes across Australia. And I mean explosion… like more than double by the year 2023. Wow!! The researchers studied 14 key risk factors that that make up what they coin DALY, disability adjusted life year. What key factors attributed the most to the prediction associated with type 2 diabetes? Tobacco use, high blood pressure, high body mass, physical inactivity and alcohol consumption. But there is good news in all of this. If you look at the factors above, they are all controllable. “All of the health risks are open to modification through intervention&#8... Diabetes Notes blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1146650 Sat, 12 Jan 2008 17:11:07 +0100 1146650 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1142792&cid=t_105013_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fzimney%2Fnational-wear-red-day-raising-awareness-of-women-and-heart-disease%2F In my last posting I talked about heart disease as being the number one killer of American women. As a follow-up to this I’d like to tell you about National Wear Red Day, which this year is Friday February, 1, 2008, and which is a day when Americans nationwide will wear red to show their support for women’s heart disease awareness. The Heart Truth—a national awareness campaign for women about heart disease—created and introduced the Red Dress as the national symbol for women and heart disease awareness in 2002 to deliver an urgent wakeup call to American women. The Heart Truth is that one in four American women dies of heart disease, and most fail to make the connection between risk factors—such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol—and their personal risk of developi... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1142792 Thu, 10 Jan 2008 20:43:11 +0100 1142792 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1137292&cid=t_105013_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fzimney%2Fwomens-health-risks-heart-disease-trumps-cancer-by-far%2F Many women worry obsessively about developing cancer, particularly breast or ovarian cancer. But, while these are obviously of concern, their actual risk of having either of these is far lower than is their major risk of having or dying from cardiovascular disease. In fact, heart disease is the number one killer of women and is responsible for more deaths in women than all cancers combined! The numbers show that the risk of dying from heart disease is about 10 times higher than dying from breast cancer and about 20 times higher than dying from ovarian cancer. And that’s not even counting the deaths from stroke, a related problem, which would just magnify the overshadowing risk that cardiovascular disease presents in relation to cancer (stroke is usually related to the ‘vascular’ part... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1137292 Tue, 08 Jan 2008 19:58:13 +0100 1137292 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1103683&cid=t_105013_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fzimney%2Ftake-a-walk%2F I’ve written many times in this blog about the health benefits of modest amounts of exercise, and in particular about the ease and advantages of walking. Study after study has shown that you don’t need fancy exercise equipment, a health club membership or a personal trainer to realize the exercise-related health benefits that can accrue simply from taking a walk. And a new study has reconfirmed this fact. The study found that just by walking for 30 minutes a day six days a week people significantly improved their health profile. Without any change in their diet. At the beginning of the study, 41 percent of the participants met the criteria for metabolic syndrome, but by the end only 27 percent did. Metabolic syndrome is a set of risk factors that raise your odds of developing heart dis... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1103683 Tue, 18 Dec 2007 23:18:48 +0100 1103683 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1075264&cid=t_105013_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fzimney%2Fexercise-pedometers-make-perfect-presents%2F With the holiday season fast approaching, New Years’ resolutions can’t be far behind. And there’s never been a better time either to begin or to restart an exercise program. But if the word exercise turns you off, let’s just call it physical activity, even moderate physical activity would be perfectly acceptable. That’s because increased physical activity is associated with improvements in numerous health conditions, including heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, diabetes, osteoporosis, various cancers, and even depression. Because of the extensive health benefits of exercise, the Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Surgeon General recommend “physical activity most days of the week for at least 30 minutes for adults.” Yet despite all the evidence for h... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1075264 Thu, 06 Dec 2007 19:15:31 +0100 1075264 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1070403&cid=t_105013_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fzimney%2Fhand-hygiene-reducing-the-spread-of-germs-through-hand-washing%2F In the last edition of Dr. Z’s Medical Report I told you that getting an annual flu vaccination is the single best thing you can do to protect yourself from the ravages of the influenza virus. But we all know that there are lots of other germs out there besides the flu. From the common cold to MRSA to food borne bugs, our world is literally crawling with microorganisms, many of which are just itching to hop a ride on your hands and from there to be placed, by you, directly into your eyes, ears, nose and/or mouth. So while the flu vaccine’s a great idea, and something you can forget about once it’s done, hand hygiene is at least as important, if not more (in the bigger picture beyond influenza), and one that must be done over and over and over again. It would be difficult, if not impo... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1070403 Tue, 04 Dec 2007 23:31:22 +0100 1070403 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1030323&cid=t_105013_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fzimney%2Fbreast-cancer-and-grapefruit-not-always-a-good-combination%2F In this study, some 40,000 postmenopausal women were followed over several years and it was found that those who ate grapefruit had a 30 percent higher chance of developing breast cancer than those who didn’t eat grapefruit. The study did not include women who were premenopausal or those who were breast cancer survivors. It is only one study and it is what’s called an observational study, which has many limitations. Further research is needed to answer the question of whether all postmenopausal women should avoid grapefruit. But now let’s get back to those women who already have estrogen receptor positive breast cancer. If you have breast cancer that is dependent on estrogen for its growth, you may be taking a drug to limit the activity of estrogen in your body, like tamoxifen (Nolva... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1030323 Thu, 15 Nov 2007 19:53:40 +0100 1030323 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1015093&cid=t_105013_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fzimney%2Fblood-pressure-drug-might-help-alzheimers-great-news-for-mice%2F Maybe you saw the headlines that the high blood pressure drug Diovan [valsartan] might have some kind of impact on Alzheimer’s disease. But depending on what article you read, you’d get a very different report. If you read the article in U.S. News & World Report, you’d have gotten a fair and balanced picture of the research on which the headlines were based. But if you read the article at Fox News, you’d have gotten a highly misleading account. First of all, the research being reported was conducted in mice a pretty important bit of information that tells you that it has no immediate relevance to humans and that any potential benefit for mankind would be years away. The U.S. News article mentions the word mice in its title (in the sub-heading) and in the first sentence of the a... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1015093 Thu, 08 Nov 2007 20:09:04 +0100 1015093 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1009647&cid=t_105013_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fzimney%2Ftanning-salons-and-skin-cancer-a-scambuster-report%2F I can’t really call tanning salons that use ultraviolet lights or lamps scams because they don’t make fraudulent claims or swindle you out of your money. In fact, you get more for your money than just a tan. Unfortunately, what you get is probably not what you want. That’s because the use of tanning booths increases your risk of skin cancer, and can cause premature aging of the skin, sunburn, eye damage, sensitivity reactions to some medications and immune system dysfunction - a bit more than you bargained for, I’m sure. But don’t take my word for it; see what others have to say. The World Health Organization “does not recommend the use of UV tanning devices for cosmetic purposes.” The Food and Drug Administration “discourages the use of tanning beds and sunlamps.” The A... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1009647 Tue, 06 Nov 2007 19:47:59 +0100 1009647 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=999574&cid=t_105013_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fzimney%2Fwomen-test-your-knowledge-about-cancer%2F Let’s start with a HealhtTalk pop quiz. True or false: Women with no family history of cancer are at low risk of developing cancer themselves? Answer: false. While it’s true that having a family history of cancer increases your risk to a small degree, the vast majority of cancers occur in people with no family history of the disease. But in a recent survey, nearly two thirds of women (63 percent) mistakenly answered that lack of family history equates with a low personal cancer risk. That’s the bad news. The good news is that as many as half of all cancer deaths could be avoided through sensible lifestyle habits (not smoking, eating properly, exercising) and getting routine recommended cancer screening (mammography, colonoscopy and pap smears, for breast, colon and cervical cancer re... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=999574 Thu, 01 Nov 2007 21:17:23 +0100 999574 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=979536&cid=t_105013_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fzimney%2Fsuicide-get-help-now%2F Perhaps it’s because our readers live with chronic illnesses, perhaps it’s because we have several mental health communities, but, whatever the reasons, HealthTalk receives a disturbing number of e-mails from people discussing the possibility of their committing suicide. Did you know that suicide is the 11th most common cause of death in the U.S. and the third most common cause of death in the 15 – 24 year-old range, or that it’s often related to serious depression (including bipolar disorder), alcohol or substance abuse, chronic illness, and/or major stressful life events? People with the highest risk of suicide are white men, although women and teens report more suicide attempts. When someone talks about suicide, it’s a serious matter, and you should listen carefully because t... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=979536 Thu, 25 Oct 2007 20:13:13 +0100 979536 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=972870&cid=t_105013_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fzimney%2Fcough-and-cold-medicine-in-children-and-infants%2F We can all agree that having a cold is a miserable experience. And when our babies and young children are suffering with them it’s even worse. Surely there must be something we can do to help them, we think, and if we can’t surely their doctor can. The unfortunate reality, however, is that there is precious little we can do other than wait it out. There are a few things you can try and I’ll describe them below, but the truth is that most of the products clogging the pharmacy shelves have never been shown to work and, what’s worse, when used incorrectly they can be dangerous. You’ve probably read recently that a number of cough/cold products intended for use by infants are being taken off the market voluntarily by their manufacturers. Oral Infant cough and cold medicines voluntari... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=972870 Tue, 23 Oct 2007 17:49:03 +0100 972870 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=956306&cid=t_105013_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fzimney%2Fmacular-degeneration-genentech-to-limit-avastin-in-favor-of-lucentis%2F In a move that has already angered many ophthalmologists, and that will surely anger many more macular degeneration patients, Genentech has announced its decision no longer to distribute Avastin (bevacizumab) to compounding pharmacies, effective November 30, 2007. While entirely appropriate, both medically and legally, and with the full blessing of the FDA, this decision is likely to be seen as price gouging by the patients who have to pay for it. That’s because Avastin costs only about $50 a dose while the company’s other macular degeneration product Lucentis (ranibizumab) costs more like $2000 per dose. So what’s going on here? Avastin and Lucentis are both products developed, manufactured and marketed by Genentech. Both products do the same thing in the body, which is to inhibit t... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=956306 Tue, 16 Oct 2007 23:22:14 +0100 956306 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=944771&cid=t_105013_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fzimney%2Fbipolar-disorder-awareness-day%2F In 1990, Congress designated the first full week of every October to be National Mental Health Awareness Week. This year that week is October 7-13, 2007 and October 11th is both National Depression Screening Day, sponsored by Screening for Mental Health, Inc., and Bipolar Disorder Awareness Day. Bipolar Disorder Awareness Day is organized by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), a non-profit group which is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to improving the lives of persons living with serious mental illness and their families. Bipolar disorder is also called manic depression or manic-depressive illness, but its treatment is different from that of depression (see below). It is a chronic brain disorder that causes extreme shifts in mood, energy ... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=944771 Thu, 11 Oct 2007 22:28:30 +0100 944771 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=939009&cid=t_105013_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fzimney%2Fnational-depression-screening-day%2F October 11 is the 17th annual National Depression Screening Day. According to its non-profit sponsor, Screening for Mental Health, Inc. (SMH), on that day, “…community organizations, primary care providers, colleges and military installations throughout the nation will offer free, anonymous mental health screenings in an effort to educate members of the public on the symptoms of depression and warning signs of suicide, and the appropriate course of action to take.” Early detection of mental health disorders greatly increases the likelihood that an individual will receive appropriate treatment and have better quality of life. Depression, sometimes called clinical depression or major depression, is a serious and all too common mood disorder that causes both mental and physical symptoms... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=939009 Tue, 09 Oct 2007 23:52:54 +0100 939009 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=922133&cid=t_105013_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fzimney%2Fkevin-trudeau-consumer-advocate-or-master-con-artist%2F Many writers to scambuster@healthtalk.com want to know about Kevin Trudeau, whose books, infomercials and websites claim vast conspiracies designed to keep important medical information about various miracle cures from the general public. Information that Mr. Trudeau says is being suppressed by the FDA, the AMA and the pharmaceutical industry. Information that Mr. Trudeau offers to supply, but only if you buy his books. And since Kevin Trudeau has no medical training or expertise and is a convicted felon, an ex-convict, and regular target of Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulatory enforcement actions, you should, at a minimum, be very careful about taking his advice. Of course, some will doubtless argue that even the worst criminals can reform and that only someone outside the medical/in... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=922133 Tue, 02 Oct 2007 19:17:07 +0100 922133 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=908819&cid=t_105013_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fzimney%2Fsalt-sodium-plus-chloride-equals-trouble%2F I recently wrote about high blood pressure and its associated health problems. Today, I’d like to focus on salt because it is a major contributor to high blood pressure and because many people either don’t understand it or are misinformed about it. Around the world, and in the U.S., excess salt intake and increasing rates of high blood pressure go hand in hand. High blood pressure in turn leads to cardiovascular disease and to premature death from heart attack and stroke. The evidence linking salt intake with high blood pressure is overwhelming and definitive. Americans consume too much salt and the amount they consume is increasing. Between 1970 and 2000, the amount of salt we consume went up 55 percent and the prevalence of high blood pressure went up 50 percent. On average, we each ... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=908819 Thu, 27 Sep 2007 23:36:57 +0100 908819 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=888903&cid=t_105013_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fzimney%2Fstevia-sweetener-or-supplement%2F You may have seen headlines stating that “FDA Warns (about) Stevia” in a recent FDA enforcement action against the Celestial Seasonings tea company’s use of the natural sweetener called stevia and wondered what it’s all about. The fact that the FDA action is a bit bizarre probably adds to the confusion. In a formal Warning Letter dated August 17 (but only just now made public) the FDA took Celestial Seasonings to task not because their Zingers Tangerine Orange Tea contains stevia, which it does, but because they were marketing it as a food and not as a dietary supplement. Got that? Stevia is a natural sweetener derived from the Stevia rebaudiana plant, native to Central and South America, which is also known as sweet leaf and sugar leaf because its leaf extracts are some 300 times ... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=888903 Thu, 20 Sep 2007 18:47:41 +0100 888903 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=868395&cid=t_105013_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblog.healthtalk.com%2Fzimney%2Feating-a-low-fat-diet%2F In the first installment of this two part series on dietary fat, I reviewed the differences between good fats and bad fats, where they come from and how to tell them apart. Today I’ll talk about fat in the diet, what to eat, how much is ok and how to make positive changes regarding the food you eat. According to the USDA Dietary Guidelines, the recommended total fat intake for adults is between 20 and 35 percent of calories, with less than ten percent of calories coming from saturated fat, and cholesterol less than 300 mg/day. Got that? I didn’t think so. And even if you could remember these guidelines you’d still have to count your calories every day and, in addition, track fats as a percentage of those calories. That’s a tall order. Here’s a better way. Eat as little fat as pos... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=868395 Thu, 13 Sep 2007 14:03:57 +0100 868395 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=486766&cid=t_105013_87_f&fid=35060&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthnewsblog.com%2Fcgi-bin%2Fhnblog.pl%3Fhnblog%3D216071 This should come as no surprise to anyone but a study reported in the British Medical Journal has found that sword swallowing can be a dangerous activity. The study of 110 sword swallowers found information on about 46 of them. They found that complications from sword swallowing are more likely when the swallower is "distracted or swallows multiple or unusual swords or when previous injury is present." That makes sense. Here are some of the kinds of injuries sword swallowers complained of. Thirteen respondents did not volunteer any medical information, but 19 described sore throats, usually when they were learning to swallow, after performing too frequently, or when they were swallowing multiple or odd shaped swords. Lower chest pain, often lasting days, followed some performances and was... HealthNewsBlog.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=486766 Fri, 16 Feb 2007 20:00:00 +0100 486766