Walter Jessen – Page 48

Health Highlights – March 11th, 2010

March 11, 2010 | by Walter Jessen

Health Highlights is a biweekly summary of particularly interesting articles from credible sources of health and medical information that we follow & read. For a complete list of recommeded sources, see our links page.

Why the iPad Matters for Healthcare | The Health Care Blog
The iPad has the potential to be truly useful for healthcare. Thomas Goetz offers an optimistic forecast.
Health Tweeder. A Neat Visual Tool… But is it Useful? | Laika’s MedLibLog
Jacqueline reviews Health Tweeder, a visual tool to aggregate twitter messages on specific health topics.
How Risky Are Social Networking Sites for Kids | Dr Shock MD PhD
The results of an online survey published in the journal Pediatrics found that claims of unwanted sexual solicitation or harassment associated with social networking sites don't appear justified. Dr Shock reviews the results.
What is the difference between health and healthcare? | Jay Parkinson + MD + MPH = a doctor in NYC
Jay Parkinson predicts what will happen when the business model of "sickcare" – transactions between payors and providers – becomes squeezed between federal and state regulations, and the implications of such an event for brands entering the health space.
Exercise Reduces Anxiety In Sick Patients | Healthcare Hacks
A recent study in the Archives of Internal Medicine finds that regular exercise can be effective at reducing anxiety. Fred Lee runs through the results.
Even Though Adults Still Need 8.5 Hours of Sleep Each Night, Most People Sleep 6.5 | The Patient Report
Cheree Cleghorn reviews the results of a recent poll on U.S. sleep habits and questions why we’re a nation of sleep-deprived people.
Is Self-Guided Research Dangerous to Your Health? | The Decision Tree
Thomas Goetz discusses self-guided or personalized research – patients using social media to decentralize and distribute health data, and using that information to make informed decisions.
Worrying: WordPress shut down a Blog of a Student Critizing the Naturopath Christopher Maloney | Laika’s MedLibLog
The complementary and alternative medicine movement has a great deal of influence over healthcare consumers. Jacqueline expresses worry over the tactics recently taken by alternative practitioners to silence critical science writers.

The National Health Observances Toolkit

March 3, 2010 | by Walter Jessen

Health observances are special days, weeks or months designated by government, health organizations and medical professionals devoted to promoting specific health topics. For 2010, there are over 175 national health observances!

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St. Vincent de Paul Charitable Pharmacy Provides $5M in Medication

February 22, 2010 | by Walter Jessen

The St. Vincent de Paul (SVDP) Charitable Pharmacy in Cincinnati, Ohio, announced last week that it surpassed $5.1 million dollars worth of medication dispensed to help people in need since it opened in September 2006 [1]. The Charitable Pharmacy is the only pharmacy in southwest Ohio that provides free, professional pharmaceutical care to people in need.

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How to Properly Dispose of Medication

February 15, 2010 | by Walter Jessen

The water we drink comes from lakes, streams, rivers and underground aquifers. Thus, it’s very important that everyone do their part to reduce the pollution entering waterways that carry our drinking water. This is particularly important with respect to disposal of prescription and over-the-counter medications.

Most people throw out of their unused, unneeded or expired medicines by flushing or pouring them down the drain. Since wastewater treatment facilities aren’t designed to remove pharmaceuticals, the disposed compounds end up in our lakes and streams, and ultimately in our drinking water. Indeed, a 2002 U.S. Geological Survey identified a broad rand of chemicals, including antibiotics and non-prescription drugs, at low concentrations downstream from areas of intense urbanization and animal production [1].

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Health Highlights – January 29th, 2010

January 29, 2010 | by Walter Jessen

Health Sites: Some Are More Equal Than Others | e-Patients.net
One of Google’s initiatives is to guide consumers to credible health information. However, Google Health’s OneBox doesn’t treat all health sites the same.
Alcohol causes cancer, and here’s the evidence | Cancer Research UK – Science Update
Although everyone knows about the short-term effects of excessive drinking, the long-term effects are often overlooked. Ed Yong at Cancer Research UK discusses the science of alcohol and cancer.
iPad For Medicine Is About The Software | Doctor Anonymous
In the midst of excitement surrounding the Apple iPad, Dr. Anonymous reminds us that, when it comes to medicine, it’s all about the software.
5 Ideas About Feedback & Behavior Change, Supported by Evidence | The Decision Tree
Thomas Goetz discusses the benefits of feedback and behavior change, and the research to support each claim.
What kind of Internet user are you? | BPS Research Digest
Does your Internet use reflect your personality? BPS Research Digest reviews a study that evaluated how people with certain personality types use the Web.
Exercise Today, Reap The Benefits Later In Life! | Healthcare Hacks
A new study in the Archives of Internal Medicine shows that development of age-related chronic diseases and disabilities is not inevitable if people are physically active in their midlives.
Andrew Wakefield “Acted Unethically” | NeuroLogica Blog
Following a two-and-a-half year ethics investigation, the General Medical Council (GMC), which registers doctors to practice medicine in the UK, has concluded that Andrew Wakefield, the UK researcher who suggested a link between autism spectrum disorders and MMR vaccination, acted “dishonestly and irresponsibly” in his research.
17 Reasons You’re Not Losing Weight | Mark’s Daily Apple
Do you exercise? Are you currently on a diet but can’t seem to shed the pounds? Mark Sisson runs down the reasons you’re not losing weight.
Two drugs show best treatment possibility for MS | Mind Hacks
A recent study in the New England Journal of Medicine reports on two new drugs for the treatment of multiple sclerosis that are more effective than existing modalities. Vaughan Bell reviews the findings.