Health Highlights – October 7th, 2008

Reading time: 2 – 4 minutes

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.

• Are Doctors Super Human? | Brain Blogger

  Do as I say, not as I do. When it comes to sleep, that’s the attitude of the medical profession. Indeed, a recent study found that interns and doctors are still expected to work ridiculously long hours in hospitals.

• Are Headphones Safe for Your Ears? | Center on Media and Child Health

  iPods and headphones are ubiquitous today. But are they safe?

• Marketing Science in the Public Square | Tomorrow’s Table

  The media is the predominant source of science information and can have a huge impact on how the public views the risks and benefits of scientific research. If we don’t want public awareness of scientific research to disappear, science needs to be marketed in broader media settings.

• Adult Stem Cells and Stroke | Mary Meets Dolly

  Rebecca Taylor reports on a recent study finding that stem cells from bone marrow help reduce stroke damage in mice in a surprising way.

• 13 Secrets from Your Pharmacist | Living Healthy | Reader’s Digest

  Reader’s Digest shares pharmacy secretes, telling us what to keep in mind the next time you visit the pharmacy counter.

• Caveat Emptor: Drugs and the Free Market | Secundum Artem

  N.B. explores drugs and the free market in an excellent post about the FDA cracking down on unapproved “cancer cures”. Let the buyer beware.

• Could Your Heart Medicine Cause Cancer? | Doctor David’s Blog

  Dr. David Loeb reviews published clinical trial data on Vytorin and cautions against the use of newly approved FDA drugs.

• You’re Never Too Old To Learn Computer Skills | Dr Shock MD PhD

  You can teach an old health consumer new skills. Dr. Shock describes a study to increase e-health use among older adults.