Bi-Weekly Archive
Stay informed of the latest in healthcare! Check back often for up-to-date information about the things that matter to you. Have a topic you’d like Marcy to cover? Tell her!
Bi-Weekly Newsletters:
| 4/23/2012 | Study: Overweight, obese people may underestimate their body size. The New York Times (4/19, Parker-Pope) “Well” blog reports, “As the population becomes fatter, study after study shows that instead of feeling bad about ourselves, we have entered a collective state of denial about how big we’re actually getting.” |
| 4/09/2012 | Experimental drug may be more effective than statins. The New York Times (3/27, D5, Bakalar, Subscription Publication) reports, “An experimental drug that works in a novel way to lower cholesterol proved even more effective than statins and had few undesirable side effects, newly released data shows.” The new “drug works by modifying the way cholesterol levels are naturally controlled.” The “drug, called REGN727, is a monoclonal antibody, made in a laboratory, that blocks the action of” a protein responsible for limiting LDL amounts. |
| 3/12/2012 | Vitamin D may ease menstrual cramps. Reuters (2/28, Joelving) reports that according to a study published in the Archives of Internal medicine, vitamin D3 may ease menstrual cramps. WebMD (2/28, Doheny) reports, “A single large dose of vitamin D may help women with painful periods feel more comfortable and skip painkillers,” the researchers reported. |
| 2/27/2012 | Antibiotic may not be best treatment for sinus infections. The Washington Post (2/15, Huget) “The Checkup” blog reports, “A study released Tuesday adds to the growing body of science suggesting that with some infections, including those of the sinuses, antibiotics aren’t the best course of treatment.” |
| 1/30/12 | Estrogen may be best remedy for hot flashes. USA Today (1/17, Painter) reports that “when…things don’t work, and when women are miserable (not everyone is), most doctors will offer a prescription” and “the first choice – except for women with a history of breast cancer or other health conflicts – is still hormone therapy (estrogen, often combined with progestin).” |
| 1/2/12 | Obesity researcher: Obesity may begin in utero. The Los Angeles Times (12/19, Roan) reports that Melinda Sothern, “a leading fitness and nutrition expert at Louisiana State University…has a theory that the tide of obesity that has swept the nation in the last two decades had its roots in what young mothers did, or didn’t do, in the postwar, suburban-sprouting 1950s. |
| 12/19/11 | Medicine shortages raising health care costs, \risking errors. In an article on the front of its “Science Times” section, the New York Times (12/13, D1, Rabin, Subscription Publication) reports that over 251 medicines were in short supply this year, most of which are “generic injectable medications” that “relieve pain, fight cancer or infections, anesthetize surgical patients, treat cardiovascular disease and manage psychiatric conditions.” |
| 12/05/11 | Study finds new hip implants work no better than older models. HealthDay (11/30, Reinberg) reports that “newer, metal-on-metal implants seem to be no more effective than older implants and may sometimes even be more problematic,” according to a study published online Nov. 29 in BMJ. |
| 11/21/11 | CDC: 93% of people with prediabetes are undiagnosed. USA Today (11/14, Hellmich) reports,”Uncontrolled diabetes can lead to heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, foot and leg amputations and blindness. |
| 11/07/11 | Many young adults may have undetected atherosclerosis. HealthDay (10/28, Predit) reports, “A new study warns that many young adults have undetected thickening of the arteries — or atherosclerosis,” according to a study presented at the Canadian Cardiovascular Congress in Vancouver. |
| 10/28/11 | Smokers may have heart attacks earlier in life than nonsmokers. HealthDay (10/6, Preidt) reports, “Smokers have heart attacks earlier in life than nonsmokers, and women smokers are more likely than men to suffer complications after a heart attack, according to a new study” published in the American Journal of Cardiology. |
| 10/09/11 | Angiogram may often miss heart attack in women. ABC World News (9/26, story 8, 2:00, Sawyer) reported, “A new study from New York University finds a staggering number of women, as many as 100,000, may have suffered heart attacks and current testing simply missed it.” |
| 09/23/11 | Report on arsenic in apple juice slammed as “false alarm.” The AP (9/16, Marchione) reports that television talk show host Dr. Mehmet Oz “is under fire from the FDA and others for sounding what they say is a false alarm about the dangers of apple juice. |
| 09/12/11 | Breastfeeding may lower receptor-negative breast cancer risk. The Los Angeles Times (8/17, Healy) “Booster Shots” blog reports a study published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention showing “that African American women who had given birth to more children were more likely to develop estrogen or progesterone-negative” breast cancer than “their peers who had not given birth or who had given birth to only one child,” but breastfeeding lowered that risk. |
| 08/29/11 | Soy tablets not effective at treating menopausal symptoms. The New York Times (8/9, D6, Bakalar, Subscription Publication) reports in “Vital Signs” that concerns about risks associated with estrogen replacement therapy “have led many women to turn to soy products to treat the symptoms of menopause.” Now, however, a “clinical trial published on Monday in Archives of Internal Medicine has found them no more effective than a placebo.” |
| 08/15/11 | Even small amounts of aerobic exercise may lower coronary heart disease risk. USA Today (8/2, Lloyd) reports, “More research shows that even small amounts of aerobic exercise help lower coronary heart disease risk, according to a review published Monday in Circulation, the journal of the American Heart Association.” |
| 08/01/11 | Genetics may play larger role in heart attacks than in strokes. The Los Angeles Times (7/26, Brown) “Booster Shots” blog reported that “people are more likely to inherit the risk of having a heart attack than the risk of having a stroke,” according to a study published in the journal Circulation: Cardiovascular Genetics. |
| 07/18/11 | Certain lifestyle factors may reduce risk of sudden cardiac death in women ABC World News (7/5, story 8, 1:40, Sawyer) reported the new research suggests that “women who do not smoke, maintain a healthy weight and” exercise “can cut the risk of sudden cardiac death [SCD] by more than 90%.” |
| 06/20/11 | Low-fat, low-glycemic diet may lower risk for Alzheimer’s. HealthDay (6/13, Gardner) reported, “The low-fat, low-glycemic diet often promoted for general health and well-being may lower the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease if adopted early in life,” according to a study published online June 13 in the Archives of Neurology. |
| 06/06/11 | Higher-fat diets may not impact endothelial function, arterial stiffness in short term. The Los Angeles Times (6/1, Stein) “Booster Shots” blog reported that obese individuals attempting to lose weight “may be able to occasionally indulge in steaks and bacon and eggs cooked in butter and still not damage their “arteries” … |
| 05/23/11 | Genetic testing may help predict patient response to chemotherapy. Bloomberg News (5/11, Tirrell) reports, “Breast cancer survival can be predicted with a genetic test that indicates which patients will benefit from chemotherapy,” according to a study in the Journal of the American Medical Association. |
| 05/09/11 | Fat around waist may increase risk of death in patients with coronary artery disease. Having even a little flubber around the middle is a bad omen, increasing the risk of death as much as smoking a pack of cigarettes a day … |
| 04/25/11 | Administering statins before major elective surgery may reduce potentially serious kidney complications Individuals with certain MRI brain scan signatures at increased risk of developing Alzheimer’s. More Evidence For A Protective Role of Estrogen on Women’s Brains. |
| 04/11/11 | Thinking clearly – simple moderation is key Genes may determine how much caffeine individuals consume. Continuation of the chronobiology, etiology, and pathophysiology of obesity. |
| 03/28/11 | Young adults and Atherosclerosis Money and health. Findings contradict previous research linking “apple shape” to increased heart risks. The chronobiology, etiology, and pathophysiology of obesity. Arandia v. Actos. |
| 01/17/11 | More on HDL Cholesterol Ulcer disease encompasses gastric, duodenal and esophageal ulcers. |
| 12/06/10 | Risk markers for heart failure When we evaluate disease status, it is always best when there are markers we can monitor. There are fewer surprises that way. |
| 11/22/10 | There is big news on the heart attack prevention front New data was presented at the American Heart Association Meetings this month about a new line of drugs to prevent heart disease and stroke. |
| 11/08/10 | The need for Vitamins? Recent studies demonstrate that there is NO need for a multivitamin in those of us who “eat right.” |
| 10/25/10 | Low Testosterone and Coronary Heart Disease Among men with coronary heart disease, mortality was doubled in those with low testosterone levels compared with normal levels. |
| 09/27/10 | Aspirin … Our best friend? Recent interest has focused on the role that inflammation may play in the development of prostate cancer and whether use of aspirin or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) affects risk. |
| 09/13/10 | 9/11…A Reminder I wanted to take the opportunity to articulate some of my thoughts this year on 9/11, my reminder that we must continue to fight for the freedoms we all believe in. |
| 08/16/10 | Alzheimer’s Disease and Brain Stimulation In patients with mild Alzheimer’s Disease, there is evidence that deep brain stimulation modulates specific brain circuits important in memory and is safe. |
| 08/02/10 | More on Cardiac Risk A recent study did, once again, validate that anxiety is associated with coronary artery disease. More on 9p21 genetic risk…It seems that 9p21 gene was the subject of a study in a well known cardiac journal. |
| 07/19/10 | The Z Life Fish oils protective? They protect women against breast cancer. Another weight loss drug? There are 3 new drugs of potential benefit for weight loss. Who is more likely to have a heart attack? Are you stressed? |
| 07/05/10 | The Z Life…Information that could make your life better You should know your feelings…Other benefits/risks of Statins and Fibrates. Stroke is the number one cause of adult disability and the 3rd leading cause of death in the U.S. |
| 06/21/10 | Oxygen…not always a good thing Oxygen during an MI? Good or Bad? The FDA and Personalized Medicine…Coffee and Tea..How much and how often? |
| 06/07/10 | Flavonols Brush your teeth, save your life? Fat and stupid…? |
| 05/24/10 | Never have a Stroke Sleep Apnea… Feeling good, looking great. |
| 05/10/10 | Hypertension Studies show that using medications for weight loss, result in an overall decrease in blood pressure. Breast Cancer Protection… |
| 04/26/10 | Women’s Health Initiative find walking is good Preventing Dementia…May Day…Eat and Be Well |
| 04/12/10 | H. Pyelori and Insulin Resistance Some New Thoughts on Diabetes…Beware the Sleeping Giant… |
| 03/29/10 | More Protection from Omega-3 Anger Management…What About Those Hot Flashes…Beware the Sleeping Giant |
| 03/15/10 | Psoriasis and Heart Disease Bugs…The Good and the Bad. The Culture of Regulation…Denigrated the “calling” to the “job” |
| 03/01/10 | Hormones and Menopause Migraines and Brain Cancer. The Us Medical Care System Can Save The Economy. |
| 02/15/10 | Diet and Colon Cancer It seems that Dietary Polyamines may represent a modifiable risk factor for colon cancer. |
| 02/01/10 | How Fat are We? Too Fat..And Getting Fatter… Safer Health Care Reform America’s Working Doctors Speak Out, Omega 3′s |
| 01/18/10 | Validating Anti-depressants Lots of talk about antidepressants. Who should take them? Do they really work? |
| 01/04/10 | Statins…Good Stuff Healthgate is about the unspoken truths and potential ruin of the greatest experimentation self determination ever to have blessed this earth. |
