"First, Do no Harm." When you evaluate the reports from those that dispute or deny you access to much needed medical information, ask if they have a financial interest involved. Now, you can get ratings of patient safety at various hospitals. This is important because of the rapid spread of antibiotic resistant super bugs. Because cleanliness is part of the New Medicine, ask if they are cleaning the privacy curtains at the ICU. 1 in 4 Medicare patients acquire a fatal issue they didn't have before hospitalization, and more than 180,000 die every year from hospital accidents, errors, and infections. Long hours and great work overload contribute to errors and accidents. The American Hospital Association has disputed the ratings
Hospital Safety Score - How Safe Is Your Local Hospital?
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"First, do no harm." New, updated hospital ratings are now available. "More than 1,000,000 American patients are injured each year from preventable errors in hospitals." "1 in 4 Medicare patients will walk out of a hospital with an issue they didn’t walk in with, many of which are fatal." "Consumers, patients, families of patients, employers, unions, and hospitals themselves can all make a difference if we resolve here and now to make patient safety a national priority." "Consumers deserve 'A' hospitals and someday we may see all hospitals earning 'A's."
Hospital Safety Score - How Safe Is Your Local Hospital?
At least 180,000 people are killed every year fro
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This site uses Medicare data to compare hospitals. A doubling of the available data within 2 years is expected.
Medicare Hospital Compare Quality of Care
Learn about the new organization of the Hospital Compare measures
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Medicare is adjusting payments to hospitals. Hospitals are rated on 12 basic standards of care, re-admissions and how patients viewed their experiences. Rewards and penalties will increase next year. This chart will let you see how well your hospitals performed.
Interactive Chart: Bonuses And Penalties For U.S. Hospitals
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The new antibiotic resistant diseases are now being found in public tap water and street drains. “That’s what’s scary.” “It’s not just surgery or being near a hospital. In some way, you get it through the food chain or through the water.” - Maurine Leverstein-van Hall, clinical microbiologist University Medical Center of Utrecht.
The cause is believed to be the widespread over use of antibiotics. The problems are enormous. "As the superbacteria take up residence in hospitals, they’re compromising patient care." “Things as common as strep throat or a child’s scratched knee could once again kill.” “Hip replacements, organ transplants, cancer chemotherapy and care of preterm infants would become far more difficult or even too dangerous to undertake.” "A post-antibiotic era means, in effect, an end to modern medicine as we know it." The new medicine will "emphasize the need to prevent infections in the first place, whether through vaccines or better hygiene, also in animals." - Dr Margaret Chan, Director-General of the World Health Organization.
WHO | Antimicrobial resistance in the European Union and the world
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A key to the New Medicine is to prevent disease in the first place. Hygiene is a powerful defense. Within minutes, millions of organisms grow on any food left in the mouth, with up to an additional billion organisms on each tooth. Earlierstudies have linked poor oral health to heart disease. This study links poor oral hygiene to cancer and premature death. "The finding suggests that increased plaque and associated toxins and enzymes, may be released from the built-up biofilm and enter the bloodstream through the gingival crevice, thus increasing the risk of malignancies." In addition there was "a significantly poorer dental status in the subjects who died when compared with survivors." Nurse Williams wonders: What additional effects could come from environmental toxins? How do these affect the balance of flora in the mouth, gut and body? What effects come from anti-biotic resistant super bugs in the food, air and water?
Medical News: Dental Plaque Linked to Cancer Risk
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"What we eat influences our mental and neurologic health." "Individuals with elevated levels of trans-fats had a 48% increased risk for depression." Heart disease and depression "may share some common nutritional determinants related to subtypes of fat intake." "The risk factors of diet can also apply across several neurological disorders beyond depression." "Avoid some types of fats, such as trans and saturated fatty acids." "Avoid fast and processed foods and commercial bakery; and try to increase your consumption of fruits, vegetables, and nuts." "This new finding of a very clear dose-response relationship between the level of trans-fatty acids and risk for depression over time has, I think, major implications for America." "The message is clear: 'try to eat healthy.'"
PLOS ONE: Dietary Fat Intake and the Risk of Depression: The SUN Project
"Cutting out or down on sweetened diet drinks or replacing them with unsweetened coffee may naturally help lower your depression risk." Artificially sweetened beverages raised the risk of depression even more than sugar sweetened beverages. Diet fruit juices also showed problems. 4 or more cups or cans of diet soda per day raised the risk of depression by 30%, and diet fruit punches by 38%. "Consistently, constituent-based analyses showed higher depression risk with aspartame intake and lower risk with caffeine intake." The reasons for this "are not well-understood" and "more research is needed to confirm these findings."
Sweetened Drinks May Boost Depression, Coffee Reduce It
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Acupuncture can help relieve pain, including "back and neck pain, osteoarthritis, chronic headache, and shoulder pain." "The ultimate question is: does this intervention work?" "The average effect … is of clear clinical relevance." The findings are "both clinically and scientifically important", "of major importance for clinical practice," and should be considered "a reasonable referral option for patients with chronic pain." "Acupuncture is effective for the treatment of chronic pain and is therefore a reasonable referral option." "Perhaps a more productive strategy at this point would be to provide whatever benefits we can for our patients, while we continue to explore more carefully all mechanisms of healing."
JAMA Network | Archives of Internal Medicine | Acupuncture for Chronic PainIndividual Patient Data M
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"A post-antibiotic era means, in effect, an end to modern medicine as we know it." The new medicine will "emphasize the need to prevent infections in the first place, whether through vaccines or better hygiene, also in animals." - Dr Margaret Chan, Director-General of the World Health Organization. Nurse William recommends short fingernails. Disease organisms breed very rapidly under there. Nurses are required to keep their nails 1/4" or less.
WHO | Antimicrobial resistance in the European Union and the world
The EU’s contributions to the solutions of the global antimicrobial resistance problem Keynote address at the conference on Combating antimicrobial resistance: time for action Copenhagen, Denmark 14 March 2012
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"A post-antibiotic era means, in effect, an end to modern medicine as we know it." The new medicine will "emphasize the need to prevent infections in the first place." - Dr Margaret Chan, Director-General of the WHO. The AMA, CDC, WHO, and others say that antibiotics for livestock is a cause of antibiotic-resistant super bugs in both animals and humans. The U.S. District Court has ruled that the FDA's denial of the problem fails "to address the substantial scientific evidence … that the use of penicillin, tetracycline, and five additional drug classes in livestock production poses risks to human health." A federal judge has also ordered the FDA to withdraw approval of penicillin and tetracyclines in animal feed. "They rely too heavily on the drug industry and animal producers to act voluntarily in the best interest of consumers." But it is good that FDA has banned cephalosporin in most farm animals.
Medical News: Court Tells FDA to Revisit Drugs in Animal Feed - in Infectious Disease, Public Health
A federal court has ordered the FDA to reconsider two citizen petitions brought years ago asking the agency to revoke its approval of nontherapeutic antibiotic use in farm animal feed.
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This study shows that toxins damage the mind. The blind, led by the blind, fall in the ditch. The mentally damaged even deny needed medical knowledge to others. Everyone's ideas are needed, because all of us are smarter than any one of us. We are exposed to more than 100000 times as many toxins in our food and water than in the air. The greater the exposure the more the damage. Smart people make efforts to reduce their exposure and smart people are also less affected. But all are damaged. Toxins are "known to be neurotoxic and are risk factors for cognitive impairment, affecting central nervous system (CNS) functioning, including attention, processing speed, and motor performance." Smart people are damaged about half as much as the uneducated. There is "evidence of education's role in shaping cognitive reserve -- the ability of the brain to withstand insults and continue normal functioning." There is also a dose-response relationship between lifetime exposure and a relative risk of poor cognition. Also, "We found a dose-response relationship between time since last exposure and cognition in the whole population." Federally mandated permissible exposure limits may be "insufficient to protect workers against health consequences of exposure." What's in your water? Please go to thisworks.info and find out for yourself!
Seems like the "power points" for us are: avoid contamination wherever possible and especially in our food and water, and especially for our children. And remarkably, since education affords some protection, help people get knowledge and especially help our children in their education.
Medical News: Solvent Exposure Associated with Cognitive Losses - in Public Health & Policy, Environ
Solvent Exposure Associated with Cognitive LossesBy Rita Baron-Faust, Contributing Writer, MedPage TodayPublished: May 29, 2012Reviewed by Zalman S. Agus, MD; Emeritus Professor, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.Take PosttestAction PointsChronic occupational solvent exp...
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“Particulate air pollution is one of the largest avoidable causes of death and illness in the United States, and unlike diet and exercise, does not require behavioral change." Nurse William notes: The Universe is our Environment. All things are interconnected in the mystical dance of life. The blind, led by the blind, fall in the ditch. We place the light as high as we can, so that all may see. Love reveals that darkness never existed.
Long-Term Exposure to Air Pollution May Increase Risk of Hospitalization for Lung, Heart Disease
Older adults may be at increased risk of being hospitalized for lung and heart disease, stroke, and diabetes following long-term exposure to fine-particle air pollution, according to a new study by researchers at Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH).
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Lindane (Kwell shampoo and generic versions) is an organochlorine insecticide, most of which are banned for neurotoxic effects. It a possible carcinogen. "It's banned by the EPA, yet it's allowed by the FDA. We shouldn't be selling potent toxins that are too dangerous to be used as pesticides." "It's inexcusable." As an alternative, over-the-counter pyrethrins or prescription malathion or benzyl alcohol lotions are recommended.
Medical News: FDA Asked to Nix Head Lice Treatment - in Public Health & Policy, Public Health from M
FDA Asked to Nix Head Lice TreatmentBy Kristina Fiore, Staff Writer, MedPage TodayPublished: June 01, 2012Take Posttest Congressman Edward Markey (D-Mass.) has called on the FDA to ban the pesticide lindane as a treatment for head lice in children. Lindane is sold as Kwell shampoo and its generic v...
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PFCs—chemicals used in nonstick cookware, waterproof clothing, fast-food packaging, furniture, stain-resistant carpeting, and microwave popcorn bags—may reduce children’s ability to mount proper immune responses after vaccination. Many recommend cast iron pans for their health benefits. PFCs have been positively linked to immune suppression in rodent studies. “The negative impact on childhood vaccinations from PFCs should be viewed as a potential threat to public health.”
Common chemicals may diminish children’s benefit from vaccines | Harvard Magazine
harvardmagazine.com
A Harvard study reports that children exposed to chemicals in food packaging and textile products may have compromised immune systems.
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"Given the finding that warfarin did not provide an overall benefit and was associated with an increased risk of bleeding, there is no compelling reason to use warfarin rather than aspirin in patients with a reduced LVEF who are in sinus rhythm." Warfarin produced a small increased risk of intracerebral hemorrhage and a large risk for major hemorrhages. The warfarin group had more hospitalizations. Note that other studies have shown: For those without symptoms, aspirin use may not be beneficial.
http://www.nejm.org/doi/pdf/10.1056/NEJMoa1202299
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Benzodiazepines (Valium, Xanax, Librium and many others) may improve anxiety short term, but not long term. Relapse rates are as high as 63%. Learning impairments may be among the side effects that "significantly diminishes the effects" of therapy. "This happens through impairing acquisition of new memories through reduced arousal or sedative effects." "The result is reduced anxiety in the moment but worse long-term anxiety reactions documented in both animal and human studies." "Benzodiazepines for your anxiety may have short-term gains but keep you sicker longer."
Benzodiazepines (BZDs) provide symptom relief rather than efficacious anxiety disorder resolution with relapse rates as high as 63% following termination
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Migraines. Perhaps "80% will get relief - defined as a headache reduction of at least 50% - after trying three or four drugs, alternative remedies and lifestyle changes." Prescription medicines help some people. One natural supplement, butterbur extract, has been used for over 500 years and is clinically effective, reducing migraine frequency by 48%. "The great thing about butterbur is it has a very favorable side effect profile." Motrin and Aleve may also help, but daily use may worsen headache because of development of a condition called medication overuse. "Some supplements may interact with other medications." "It's really important for people to talk to their doctors before starting any therapy." And some get better results with diet, yoga and other lifestyle changes.
http://www.neurology.org/content/78/17/1346.full.pdf+html
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Women may reduce their risk of breast cancer if they avoid unnecessary ionizing radiation (CT scans), combination hormone replacement therapy, and smoking. Current use of oral contraceptives, estrogen-progesterone hormone replacement therapy, and obesity have also been clearly linked with an increased risk. There is also a possible increased risk from exposure to benzene, 1.3-butadiene, and ethylene oxide - chemicals found in the workplace, gasoline fumes, car exhaust, and cigarette smoke. Leading a healthy lifestyle - eating right and getting enough exercise - as well as lowering alcohol intake can also diminish risks.
SABCS: IOM Lists Breast Cancer Risks in Environment
SAN ANTONIO -- Women may be able to reduce their risk of breast cancer if they avoid a host of environmental exposures, including unnecessary ionizing radiation, combination hormone replacement therap
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All drugs have side effects. Nearly 1/3 of middle-aged Americans regularly take aspirin. But the risks of serious internal bleeding may outweigh the benefits. “In people without a previous heart attack or stroke, regular use of aspirin may be more harmful than it is beneficial.” Also, aspirin does not prevent cancer. For those who already have had a heart attack, aspirin therapy reduces the risk of a second heart event by 20 to 30%. But the improvements are offset by bleeding events. Routine use of aspirin for heart and/or brain attack prevention is not justified and treatment decisions need to be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Arch Intern Med -- Abstract: Effect of Aspirin on Vascular and Nonvascular Outcomes: Meta-analysis o
archinte.ama-assn.org
Archives of Internal Medicine, a bi-monthly professional medical journal published by the American Medical Association, publishes original peer-reviewed research articles on internal medicine topics
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More good reasons to eat organic. Antibiotics are used in food animals to promote animal health, and to make animals grow faster. The USDA, FDA, CDC, WHO, the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics and many others all say that the use of antibiotics in food animals leads to infections with drug resistant bacteria to humans. Improvements in our laws could benefit everyone.
Antibiotics in Food Animals: FAQ
Food animals get 80% of the antibiotics used in the U.S. -- mostly in ways that can lead to the growth of drug-resistant superbugs.
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More reasons to eat organic. The FDA is concerned that overuse of antibiotics in agriculture is endangering human health. Farmers and ranchers now must restrict their use of cephalosporins in cattle, pigs, chickens and turkeys because such practices may contribute to the growing threat of drug resistant bacterial infections in people. Cephalosporins are not used as widely among livestock as penicillin. But the drugs are routinely injected into fertilized eggs and are also used in large doses to treat various infections.
F.D.A. Restricts Use of Antibiotics in Livestock
The agency said the widespread administration of a common class of antibiotics known as cephalosporins may have contributed to the development of drug-resistant bacteria that infect humans.
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Bariatric surgery (surgical reduction of stomach size) reduces the long-term risk of heart attack and stroke. But death rates only dropped by 1.3%. Diabetes and other complications of obesity may be more critical to life span than obesity alone. And surgery always adds other risks. "Because the expected health benefits do not necessarily exceed the risks of weight loss operations, obese patients without other weight-related complications generally should not undergo bariatric surgery."
Bariatric Surgery Cuts Cardiac Risks
Bariatric surgery reduces the long-term risk of heart attack and stroke as well as the risk of dying from them, a prospective nonrandomized study showed.
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Surgical centers have been warned to stop "misleading" ads for laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) that fail to inform patients about the risks of the weight-loss procedure. Risks after the Lap-Band procedure include death, nausea and vomiting, difficulty swallowing, gastroesophageal reflux disease, stretching of the stomach pouch, and the need for further surgery when the band shifts position or erodes into the stomach.
FDA Warns Surgery Centers to Drop 'Misleading' Lap-Band Ads
: The ads feature trim, smiling men and women who say they have lost as much as 130 pounds, but the ads neglect to communicate the risks of the weight-loss procedure, according to the agency.
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All drugs have side effects. Bayer’s Yasmin is the No. 4 oral contraceptive. The FDA has warned that women taking the pills are 74 percent more likely to suffer blood clots. "A Bayer AG unit withheld from U.S. regulators findings by company researchers of increased reports of blood clots in users of its Yasmin birth-control pills," the former head of the Food and Drug Administration said. "The company also promoted the oral contraceptive for unapproved uses, particularly for treatment of premenstrual syndrome." Bayer doesn’t comment on ongoing lawsuits.
Bayer Withheld Yasmin Data: Ex-FDA Head
A Bayer AG unit’s researchers found increased reports of blood clots in users of its Yasmin birth- control pills and the company withheld the information from U.S. regulators, the former head of the Food and Drug Administration said.
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People with an excessive blood level of vitamin D from overdosing with supplements had a 2.5-fold increased incidence of atrial fibrillation. Vitamin D overdose can cause hypercalcemia which may harm the heart. But another group with vitamin D deficiency showed significantly elevated rates of diabetes, hypertension, coronary artery disease, heart failure, and depression.
Excessive Vitamin D Intake May Elevate A Fib Risk : Family Practice News
ORLANDO People with an excessive blood level of vitamin D from overdosing with supplements had a 2.5-fold increased incidence of atrial fibrillation, based on a study of 132,000 residents of Utah and southeastern Idaho. The finding "suggests the need for caution with vitamin D supplementation and…
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More reasons to eat organic. Antimicrobial drugs are used as feed additives to boost animal growth. The U.S. uses an estimated 24.6 million pounds of antimicrobials for nontherapeutic purposes every year. Adding antibiotics to swine feed causes microorganisms in the guts of these animals to start sharing genes that could spread antibiotic resistance. If bacteria in humans acquire resistance genes from animals, there can be serious health consequences.
mBiosphere: Antibiotics stimulate gene exchange in swine gut microbes
mbioblog.asm.org
Antibiotics: they’re not just for curing the sick. Livestock farms in the U.S. regularly use antibiotic drugs as feed additives to boost animal growth, but a study in mBio this week reveals new evidence that adding antibiotics to pig feed stimulates gene exchange in the guts of these animals, a deve...
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ore reasons to eat organic. Atrazine is the second-most widely used herbicide and the most commonly detected pesticide contaminant of ground water, surface water, and precipitation. Atrazine is also an endocrine disruptor that, among other effects, alters male reproductive tissues. Atrazine demasculinizes male gonads producing testicular lesions associated with reduced germ cell numbers in teleost fish, amphibians, reptiles, and mammals, and induces partial and/or complete feminization in fish, amphibians, and reptiles.
ScienceDirect - The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology : Demasculinization and fe
Tyrone B. Hayesa, , , Lloyd L. Andersonb, Val R. Beasleyc, Shane R. de Sollad, Taisen Iguchie, Holly Ingrahamf, Patrick Kestemontg, Jasna Kniewaldh, Zlatko Kniewaldh, Valerie S. Langloisi, Enrique H. Luquej, Krista A. McCoyk, Mónica Muñoz-de-Toroj, Tomohiro Okal, Cleida A. Oliveiram, Frances Ortonn,...
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All drugs have side effects. Acetaminophen (Tylenol and others) overdose is the leading cause of severe acute liver toxicity in Europe and North America. Taking even slightly too much Tylenol over a period of several days can lead to an overdose with deadly consequences. Overdoses of acetaminophen were more likely to be fatal if patients consumed a series of high doses spread over the course of a day rather than downing, say, a bottle of pills at one time.
Acetaminophen OD More Deadly if Taken in Stages
Acetaminophen overdoses were more likely to be fatal if patients consumed a series of high doses spread over the course of a day rather than downing, say, a bottle of pills at one time, outcomes among
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People who ate one serving of canned food daily for five days had elevated levels of bisphenol-A, or BPA, a substance that lines most food and drink cans. BPA is also found in polycarbonate bottles, (identified by recycling number seven), as well as dentistry sealants and composites. BPA, a endocrine disruptor that can mimic the body’s hormones, has been linked to a higher risk of cancer, heart disease, diabetes and obesity. The FDA is concerned regarding exposure of BPA to fetuses, infants and young children. Canadian authorities have declared BPA a toxic substance. “Sodas are concerning, because some people have a habit of consuming a lot of them.” “We don’t know what health effects these transient increases in BPA may have.”
BPA Levels Rise 1,221% After 5 Days Eating Canned Soup
Volunteers who had one can of soup per day for five days had urine BPA (bisphenol A) levels rise by over 1,221% compared to the same people who had consumed freshly made soup daily for five days,
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Oral antibiotics given to clear up acne may bring on sore throats, researchers affirmed, although why that happens remains unclear. Pharyngitis was 4.34 times more likely among college students taking oral antibiotics for acne. Other studies have also linked oral antibiotics given for acne to sore throats, and researchers have postulated it was because the antibiotics kill off beneficial bacteria that inhibit the growth of bad bugs.
Acne Treatment Linked to Sore Throats
Oral antibiotics given to clear up acne may bring on sore throats, researchers affirmed, although why that happens remains unclear.
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Women ages 40 to 49 do not need routine breast cancer screening with mammography, according to a Canadian task force. Breast cancer screening for women of average risk in that age group results in a "relatively small" mortality benefit, which may be countered by an increased risk of overdiagnosis and unnecessary treatment. "If screening had been a drug, it would have been withdrawn from the market." "The best method we have to reduce the risk of breast cancer is to stop the screening program," "This could reduce the risk by one-third, as the level of overdiagnosis is about 50%." The recommendations apply only to women with an average risk of breast cancer.
Canadian Panel Nixes Mammograms for Women in Their 40s
Women ages 40 to 49 do not need routine breast cancer screening with mammography, according to a Canadian preventive care task force.
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Passing through doorways may be a cause of memory lapses. “Entering or exiting through a doorway serves as an ‘event boundary’ in the mind, which separates episodes of activity and files them away,” “Recalling the decision or activity that was made in a different room is difficult because it has been compartmentalized.” Environmental factors affect memory and information learned in one environment is retrieved better when the retrieval occurs in the same context.
Walking through doorways causes forgetting, new research shows
medicalxpress.com
(Medical Xpress) -- Weve all experienced it: The frustration of entering a room and forgetting what we were going to do. Or get. Or find.
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All drugs have side effects. Erectile dysfunction (ED) rises in likelihood and severity as the number of medications a man takes increases. Decreases or changes in the amount of or type of medication may significantly improve a man's quality of life because his ED may improve from moderate to mild. "These men would benefit from lifestyle changes such as changes in their diet, regular exercise, and not smoking, which would help control their hypertension, diabetes, and stress and reduce erectile dysfunction risk."
Polypharmacy Linked to Erectile Dysfunction
: Taking multiple medications is associated with an increased risk for erectile dysfunction as well as worsened severity, according to a large survey of men aged 45-69 years.
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More than half of people over 60 experience hand osteoarthritis (OA). Chondroitin treatment led to significant improvements in pain and function. The advantage of anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) is quick relief, with the drawback of long-term safety concerns. "In contrast, the benefits of [chondroitin] appear to take several months to develop, but with hardly any side effects." Chondroitin also reduced the duration of morning stiffness.
Medical News: Chondroitin Eases Pain, Boosts Function in Arthritic Hands - in Rheumatology, Arthriti
Six months of treatment with chondroitin led to significant improvements in pain and function among patients with osteoarthritis in their hands, a single-center randomized trial found.
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Exposure to BPA, found in everything from the liners of food cans to store receipts and dental sealants, is virtually universal in industrialized countries. The compound's endocrine-disrupting properties have been demonstrated in animals. Mothers with higher BPA levels in their urine during pregnancy tend to have 3-year-old girls with more anxious and depressed behavior, and poorer emotional control and inhibition. "BPA exposure can be reduced by avoiding canned and packaged foods, receipts, and polycarbonate bottles with the recycling symbol 7."
Medical News: Mom's BPA Exposure Linked to Behavior Problems in Tots - in Public Health & Policy, En
In utero exposure to the organic compound bisphenol A -- widely used in the manufacture of plastics, including food containers -- was associated with behavior disruptions at age 3, particularly among
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It is a biological ‘mystery’ why taking vitamin E should result in an extra risk of prostate cancer. "For men, a simple dietary supplement to protect against prostate cancer remains elusive." "Consumers need to be skeptical of health claims of unregulated over-the-counter products in the absence of strong evidence of benefit demonstrated in clinical trials."
Vitamin E Supplements Raise Risk Of Prostate Cancer
Men who regularly take vitamin E supplements eventually have a higher risk of developing prostate cancer, compared to other men of the same age and overall health who don't, researchers from the C
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Many physicians in the U.S. believe they are being forced to provide excessive care to their patients, particularly in terms of testing and referrals. "Physicians believe they are paid to do more and exposed to legal punishment if they do less."
Medical News: Primary Care Docs Feel Pressure to Do More Tests - in Practice Management, Practice Ma
Primary care physicians in the U.S. believe they are being forced to provide excessive care to their patients, particularly in terms of testing and referrals, a national survey found.
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Atypical antipsychotics (aripiprazole, asenapine, iloperidone, olanzapine, paliperidone, quetiapine, risperidone, and ziprasidone) are effective in only a few of the many off-label conditions for which they are currently used. There is no evidence to support their use for substance abuse disorder, eating disorders, or insomnia. Evidence for using them for posttraumatic stress disorder and personality disorders is "mixed".
Off-Label Use of Atypical Antipsychotics Minimally Effective : Clinical Psychiatry News
www.clinicalpsychiatrynews.com
Atypical antipsychotics are effective in only a few of the many off-label conditions for which they are currently used, according to a meta-analysis in the Sept. 28 issue of JAMA. In particular, there is no good evidence to support the use of atypical antipsychotics for substance abuse disorder, e...
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Triclosan is now in soaps, kitchen cutting boards and even a best-selling toothpaste, Colgate Total. The F.D.A. says there are "valid concerns about the effect of repetitive daily human exposure to these antiseptic ingredients.” The chemical is present in the urine of 75 percent of Americans over the age of 5.
Triclosan, an Antibacterial Chemical, Raises Safety Issues
Regulators, consumer advocates and soap manufacturers are locked in a battle over triclosan, the active ingredient in antibacterial soaps like Dial Complete.
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"AcneApp" and "Acne Pwner" both claimed to be able to treat acne with colored lights that come out of the phone when the app is activated. But the FTC is having none of it. "Smartphones make our lives easier in countless ways, but unfortunately when it comes to curing acne, there's no app for that," said FTC Chairman Jon Leibowitz.
Blog: Is Your Phone Smart Enough to Cure Acne? : Skin & Allergy News
The Federal Trade Commissions says no, definitely not. On Sept. 8, the agency announced that it had reached settlements with two companies that were claiming their apps could cure acne. It is the first time the FTC has pursued any company making a health claim for an app. "AcneApp" and "Acne P...
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Use of Xanax and its generic version, alprazolam, is being questioned. The combination of opiate painkillers and benzodiazepines, especially Xanax, is common in fatal overdoses. "People with severe anxiety should ideally take an antidepressant as well as a benzodiazepine and learn coping mechanisms with cognitive behavioral therapy," Dr. Hedges said.
In Louisville, a Center’s Doctors Cut Off Xanax Prescriptions
Citing concern over overdoses, doctors at Seven Counties Services in Louisville have stopped writing prescriptions for the anti-anxiety drug Xanax.
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Nearly one in seven elderly nursing home residents, mostly with dementia, are given powerful atypical antipsychotic drugs (which include Risperdal, Zyprexa, Seroquel, Abilify and Geodon) even though the medicines increase the risks of death and are not approved. Manufacturers have illegally marketed medicines for these uses “putting profits before safety.” "Doctors continue the practice because they have few other good choices."
Antipsychotic Drugs Called Hazardous for the Elderly
A report found that dementia patients in nursing homes were often given prescriptions improperly.
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All drugs have side effects. Bisphosphonates (Fosamax, Reclast, Boniva, Altevia, Actonel, and Aclasta) prevent bone mass loss. The FDA has received reports of bone death - osteonecrosis - of the jaw, as well as unusual thigh bone fractures in females who had been on bisphosphonates for several years. Studies “suggest no significant advantage of continuing drug therapy beyond five years.”
Bisphosphonates - New Labeling Data On Long-term Usage Recommended By FDA Advisory Panel
Bisphosphonates, medications for the treatment and prevention of osteoporosis and other bone conditions, should have additional data on their labels on treatment duration, an FDA Advisory Committe
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This works. All drugs have side effects. Women who take NSAIDs in early pregnancy may up their risk of miscarriage. Highest risk drugs were diclofenac, with 3-times the risk, naproxen (Aleve), with a 2.64-times increased risk and ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), with double the risk. "Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is a good and safe alternative early in pregnancy." "Surprisingly, women with rheumatic diseases improve during pregnancy naturally."
NSAIDs May Raise Miscarriage Risk: Study --Doctors Lounge
TUESDAY, Sept. 6 (HealthDay News) -- Women who take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen during the first stage of their pregnancy may be upping their risk of miscarriage, new research suggests.
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This works. Strokes are on the rise among teens and young people. Diabetes, cholesterol and tobacco use "has also increased in adolescents and young adults experiencing stroke." "Stroke is largely preventable and eating a healthy diet, getting regular physical activity, (and) avoiding tobacco and alcohol abuse can go a long way to prevent stroke."
Stroke Incidence Increasing Among Children And Young Adults, USA
A large study has revealed that the rate of stroke among children, adolescents and young adults in the USA has been increasing at an alarming rate. The rate at which ischemic stroke patients are b
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Strenuous exercise, whether performed by elite athletes or competitive weekend warriors, comes with a risk of developing cardiac disorders. But exercise does more good than harm. While there are some dangers to strenuous activity, "Exercise by far has more benefits to health than risks."
Medical News: ESC: Intense Exercise Can Take a Toll on the Heart - in Meeting Coverage, ESC from Med
PARIS -- Strenuous exercise, whether performed by elite athletes or competitive weekend warriors, comes with a risk of cardiac disorders, including atrial fibrillation, researchers cautioned.
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This works. All drugs have side effects. "Non-selective NSAIDs and COX-2 inhibitors should continue to be used very cautiously in older patients with a history of hypertension or heart failure, who are already at high risk for adverse effects of these drugs." The most prominent members of this group of drugs are Aspirin, Ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), and Naproxen (Aleve).
http://www.medpagetoday.com/Cardiology/Arrhythmias/45155
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This works. Chantix, used for smoking cessation, is linked to heart attack and stroke. “We have known for many years that Chantix is one of the most harmful drugs,” Dr. Furberg said. “It causes loss of consciousness, visual disturbances, suicides, violence, depression and worsening of diabetes. To this list we now can add serious cardiovascular events.
Risk of serious adverse cardiovascular events associated with varenicline: a systematic review and m
Background: There have been postmarketing reports of adverse cardiovascular events associated with the use of varenicline, a widely used smoking cessation drug. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials to ascertain the
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This works! These "studies" are unethical because the patients are not told of the marketing purposes. Researches found harm because of a 38% increase in prescriptions with a 10% increase in the average prescribed dose.
Medical News: Seizure Drug Trial Called a Form of Marketing - in Public Health & Policy, Clinical Tr
A postmarketing study of the epilepsy drug gabapentin (Neurontin) sponsored by its manufacturer was intended mainly to turn its hundreds of clinician-investigators into enthusiasts for the product, sa
This works! Pesticide exposure is harmful. If paraquat exposure is combined with exposure to two other pesticides, the risk of Parkinson’s disease triples. These compounds may be able to act together to increase the damage to brain cells that causes Parkinson’s disease.
Parkinson's disease risk from ambient exposure to ... [Eur J Epidemiol. 2011] - PubMed result
PubMed is a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine that includes over 19 million citations from MEDLINE and other life science journals for biomedical articles back to the 1950s. PubMed includes links to full text articles and other related resources.
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This works! BPA is found in many plastics, including baby bottles, cups, plastic packaging and canned foods. The American Medical Association has recognized BPA as an endocrine-disrupting agent. BPA may be linked to male sexual dysfunction, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and liver abnormalities.
Medical News: AMA: BPA to Speed Eating, Group Adopts New Policies - in Meeting Coverage, AMA from Me
CHICAGO -- The American Medical Association has adopted a number of new policies, including one that recognizes that bisphenol A (BPA) interferes with human hormones; one that blasts the practice of c
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This works! FDA warns about implants. "The key point is that breast implants are not lifetime devices," said Jeff Shuren, director of the FDA's Center for Devices and Radiological Health. "The longer you have the implant, the more likely you are to have complications."
You can't keep breast implants for life, FDA says
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Women who get silicone breast implants are likely to need additional surgery within eight to 10 years to address complications such as rupture of the device, U.S. health regulators
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This works! U.S. Senate begins investigation of Infuse. Doctors may have received hundreds of millions in payments. "Reports that doctors conducting medical trials while on Medtronic's payroll may have hidden serious side effects for patients are deeply troubling," Senator Baucus said.
Medical News: Senators Investigate Medtronic Spine Device - in Surgery, Orthopedics from MedPage Tod
Spurred in part by a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel/MedPage Today investigation, a U.S. Senate committee has launched an inquiry into reports that doctors with financial ties to the medical devic
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This works! Every 20 seconds, a child dies of a vaccine-preventable disease. If we protect enough children, all are benefited because of the process of "herd immunity".
UK, Gates pledge $2.3 billion for vaccines for poor
LONDON (Reuters) - Britain and billionaire Bill Gates pledged $2.3 billion at an international donor conference on Monday to fund vaccination programs to protect children in poor countries against diseases
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This works! Severely obese older men who undergo bariatric surgery do not have a lower risk of death. There are two main types of bariatric surgery - gastric bypass or gastric banding. Obesity is difficult to treat.
Bariatric Surgery Does Not Extend Life Expectancy Among Older Obese Males
Severely obese older men who undergo bariatric surgery do not have a lower risk of death, researchers from Durham VA Medical Center, N.C. reported in the Journal of the American Medical Associa
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This works! Formaldehyde, and styrene, found in food containers and coffee cups, are among eight agents added to a list of known and suspected carcinogens. “This report underscores the critical connection between our nation’s health and what’s in our environment,” John Bucher, PhD, associate director of the National Toxicology Program, said in a news release.
12th Report on Carcinogens - National Toxicology Program
ntp.niehs.nih.gov
The Report on Carcinogens (RoC) is a congressionally mandated, science-based, public health document that is prepared for the HHS Secretary by the National Toxicology Program.
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This works! Drug regulators in Germany and France have ordered doctors to stop prescribing the type 2 diabetes drug pioglitazone (Actos). In addition, a product called Competact that combines pioglitazone with metformin was included in the suspensions. There also appeared to be a cumulative dose effect leading to higher risk.
Medical News: Cancer Risk Forces Actos Off French, German Markets - in Endocrinology, Diabetes from.
Drug regulators in Germany and France have ordered doctors to stop prescribing the type 2 diabetes drug pioglitazone (Actos), following a French study suggesting a heightened risk of bladder cancer.
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Other warnings include: Do not take any amount of Simvastatin or Vytorin if you also take: Certain antifungal medicines, including itraconazole, ketoconazole, or posaconazole: HIV protease inhibitors (indinavir, nelfinavir, ritonavir, saquinavir, tipranavir, or atazanavir): Certain antibiotics, including erythromycin, clarithromycin, or telithromycin: Nefazodone: Gemfibrozil: Cyclosporine: Danazol
Further warnings include drug interactions with: Fibric acid derivatives (such as fenofibrate): Amiodarone: Verapamil: diltiazem: amlodipine: or ranolazine: Large quantities of grapefruit juice: Colchicine: Voriconazole: Niacin or Nicotinic acid: Coumarin anticoagulants (such as Warfarin).
FDA Restricts Use of Simvastatin 80 mg
: In the SEARCH trial--the basis for the FDA review--52 patients taking the 80-mg dose developed myopathy compared with one patient treated with the 20-mg dose. In addition, 22 patients treated with the high dose of simvastatin developed rhabdomyolysis compared with none treated with the 20-mg dose.
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Hensley has pleaded not guilty
Another Hensley venture, Zicam, had issues of its own about a decade ago. The FDA ordered Zicam's manufacturer, Matrixx Initiatives of Scottsdale, Ariz., to stop selling the product because it damages users' sense of smell. Matrixx still sells lozenges, syrups and sprays under the Zicam name.
Busted! Vira 38 Importer Arrested For Illegal Bird Flu "Prevention"
In 2005 the bird or avian flu was no joke. Charles Hensley, however, has been arrested for pushing medications in 2005 and marketing the illegal drug Vira 38, not approved by the FDA or in Hong K
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Matrixx has received more than 800 reports of Zicam users losing their sense of smell. In 2006, Matrixx paid $12 million to settle 340 lawsuits from Zicam users who claimed that the product destroyed their sense of smell, a condition known as anosmia. Hundreds more such suits have since been filed.
F.D.A. Warns Against Use of Zicam - NYTimes.com
In 2006, the maker of Zicam paid $12 million to settle 340 lawsuits from the product's users who claimed that it destroyed their sense of smell.
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This works! Radiation outputs of all cell phones.
http://reviews.cnet.com/cell-phone-radiation-levels/
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This works! Removal of Tonsils, Appendix Linked to Early Heart Attack. New guidelines suggest that most children with frequent throat infections do not need tonsillectomies. The guidelines also call for judicious use of intravenous steroids for pain and inflammation and avoidance of routine antibiotic therapy.
http://www.medpagetoday.com/Cardiology/MyocardialInfarction/26804
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This works! Doctors continue to discover the benefits of fewer diagnostic tests and less antibiotics. The key idea is to "Do no harm".
Medical News: How NOT to Treat 'Strep Throat' - in Columns, At Large from MedPage Today
Sore throats should not be cultured or treated with antibiotics says Editor-at-Large George Lundberg, MD.
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This works! Simple ways to reduce radiation exposure.
Cell phone cancer risk: Tips on how to reduce exposure to cell phone radiation
Don't reach for the land line yet. While there no direct evidence that cell phones will give you cancer, there are proven way to help you reduce your risk.
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This works! Use your speaker phone to keep the radiation away from your brain.
Cell Phones Possibly Carcinogenic, WHO Says
: The IARC has classified radiofrequency electromagnetic fields as possibly carcinogenic to humans.