Health WorldNet | All Stories

Soy: Friend or Foe?

The HWN Team — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Remember when soy or soya was the wonder food of the 90s? In the form of tofu or bean curd, it was purported to be the perfect protein source without the bad health effects of meat, plus low in fat and calories. And for those who were lactose intolerant, especially little babies, soy milk was a god-sent milk substitute that was both protein-rich and healthy. For vegetarians, soy and soy products were the perfect substitute for meat and dairy products. In addition to its health benefits, soy and soy products were cheap and easily available. Even government health agencies such as the US FDA went so far as to allow soy food labeling with health claims on the association between soy protein and the reduced risk of coronary heart disease.

Medical Errors: Are We in Safe Hands?

The HWN Team — Mon, 4 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Part One of a three part series 'Is Our HealthCare System Safe?' Mistakes are not something that we usually associate with the medical field. But medical mistakes do happen mainly because medical professionals are only humans who can err. In medical terms, they are called iatrogenic events, defined as unintended harm or suffering caused by health care. Medical mistakes are usually something that people associate with health care in developing and low-income countries where they lack the right infrastructure and trained personnel. The fact is, a lot of medical mix ups and mistakes in hospitals and clinics occur all over the world, including Europe and North America. One gets to wonder how many medical misadventures go unreported!

ExerGames: Not Just Another Health Craze!

The HWN Team — Mon, 4 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Active video games otherwise known as Exergames (exercise + games) are being touted as the ultimate cure for obesity. Refreshing, since everyone is still looking for that magic diet pill! In contrast to traditional video games, this "active entertainmentgaming system allows players to experience various activities (e.g., bowling, fishing, tennis, golf) in a virtual world" or "even take a walk or run along streets facing obstacles." In exergaming, hand controllers are eliminated and the body is used to power the game. One of the first exergames was Konami's Dance Dance Revolution (DDR), which was released in 1998.

Prostate Cancer Screening Needs a Massage!

The HWN Team — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

In 2009, about 192,280 new cases of prostate cancer will be diagnosed in the United States, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS) . Furthermore prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in male Americans after skin cancer and is the second death-causing cancer in American men after lung cancer. It accounts for about 10% of cancer-related mortalities in men. On the other hand, the prognosis for prostate cancer is quite good. This is because prostate cancer is usually a slow-growing disease and many of those diagnosed do not develop symptoms. According to ACS about 1 man in 6 will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during his lifetime, but only 1 man in 35 will die of it. and for all men with prostate cancer, the relative 5-year survival rate is nearly 100% and the relative 10-year survival rate is 93%. The 15-year relative survival rate is 79%.

CPR Needs Resuscitation & Resuscitation Needs CPR

The HealthWorldNetTeam — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

CPR, otherwise known as Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation, is universally accepted worldwide as the emergency procedure of choice that is performed on people who have stopped breathing (respiratory arrest) or whose heart has stopped beating (cardiac arrest). But at the same time it remains underutilized and at the same time misunderstood.

Contrary to popular belief, CPR is not meant to and is unlikely to restore a heartbeat. When the heart or breathing stops, the flow of blood to the brain and other organs is interrupted. Brain and organ damage will occur within minutes of arrest. The objective of CPR is to keep the blood circulating, similar to 'priming the pump', until an effective heartbeat and breathing can be restored. CPR is just a part of the continuum of the medical management of cardiac arrest. If heart function is restored, it is usually by trained medical personnel with a medical device such as a defibrillator. However, reversal of cardiac arrest is time critical and many patients die before emergency medical services (EMS) arrive.

If You Think 'Organic' Food is 'Organic', Think Again

TheHWNTeam — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The last decade has witnessed an increased interest in things 'organic' as more and more consumers seek out products that are healthy, ethical, and environmentally friendly. Nowhere is this more evident that in the food industry. In fact, the organic food industry has gone from a cottage industry start up to a multi-billion dollar business in less than a decade. This is especially true in developed countries of North America and Europe where consumers can afford to choose.

Propofol, The New Illicit Prescription Drug

TheHWN Team — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Over the years, there have been many case reports involving doctors and nurses abusing Propofol. However, they didn't attract any attention because the incidence was relatively low compared to other drugs such as opioids. Until the recent death of Michael Jackson. The King of Pop had apparently been using Propofol and toxicology reports found significant amounts of Propofol in Michael Jackson's body, along with other drugs.

Women, Listen to your body... It might save your life!

The HWN Team — Tue, 8 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

It’s so common - you’re exhausted as usual and your stomach is a bit upset but that’s no surprise with the high pressure schedule you’ve been keeping up all day. You’re also feeling a little bloated so maybe your period’s going to start early and naturally, you have to empty your bladder again. Although this may sound pretty normal for all of us who are juggling marriage, career, motherhood and some community service… and it probably is in fact pretty normal, these are also some of the symptoms of two problems that can kill you, HEART ATTACK and OVARIAN CANCER.

Sudden Cardiac Arrest - Is There Hope?

TheHWN Team — Thu, 6 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

On June 25, 2009, Michael Jackson, well-known as the King of Pop, died of cardiac arrest. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of mortality in the U.S. and the majority of CVD deaths are attributable to Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) which claims more than 250,000 lives each year. One person dies of SCA-related events every two minutes. This is equivalent to more 650 deaths each day. Each year, more people die from SCA than from breast cancer, lung cancer, stroke, or AIDS combined. SCA mortality is high. 95% of SCA cases are fatal. Two-thirds of SCA events occur in people without any previous indications of heart disease.

Lap Bands, Lap Belts... Are They Effective?

TheHWN Team — Wed, 5 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Obesity has become a major health problem worldwide and especially in the western world. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that this "globesity" epidemic includes over one billion overweight adults of which at the least 300 million are considered obese. Over two thirds of Americans are overweight and about one third are considered obese. Likewise in 2004, over 6 million Canadians were overweight and over 4.5 million were obese.

Online Medicine - The Doctor is IN Somewhere

The HWNTeam — Mon, 6 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Technology has changed our lives drastically over the past 20 years. Just about everything can be done online these days from shopping, dating and working to even consulting a doctor thousands of miles away. One of the fastest growing online medical Internet platforms is Myca which allows doctor-patient consultation remotely, by phone, email, instant messaging or even videoconferencing. It also enables patients to schedule doctor's appointments online. Myca is barely 2 years but has gained quite a following.

The Stroke Epidemic Part 2 - Is the Treatment Worth the Risk?

James L. Jones MD MHA, Senior Correspondent HWN — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Eighty-five per cent of strokes are caused by blockages or clots as opposed to a bleed and there are 700,000 new strokes diagnosed every year. Most of the patients live. However CVAs are responsible for 160,000 deaths in the U.S. which represents the third leading cause of death. Heart disease is still the leader at about 650,000 a year and Cancer is gaining on heart disease but still is second at 560,000 deaths every year.

The incidence of strokes went down all through the seventies and eighties, reaching a low point in 1992 of just under 140,000. But since then it has gone up, and will continue to rise. Why? The Boomers are getting old. Watch out for those Boomers! Which is why in the U.S. strokes are the leading cause for dollars spent for treatment of long-term disability which represents forty five billion dollars of the total health care expenditures of 2.7 trillion dollars. Nothing else even comes close. To have so many dollars spent on rehabilitation of a disease makes one wonder about what kinds of treatment are available.

Extreme Cosmetic Makeovers - Good or Bad Idea?

The HWN Team — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Many of us have watched at least one episode of one of the latest reality TV shows about extreme cosmetic makeovers. Admit it; it’s mesmerizing to watch someone with significant physical flaws be transformed into a younger, more attractive version of themselves. Many people seem to undergo a personality makeover as well, gaining confidence and discovering a more gregarious and outgoing nature than before. Having indulged our curiosity or stoked our own thoughts of how we’d like to be made over, people seem to come away with either of two vastly different points of view...

Everything's Pink... So Why Isn't There a Cure for Breast Cancer?

Tue, 12 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The ubiquitous pink ribbon – everyone knows it symbolizes the search for a breast cancer cure. But now, not only is the pink ribbon everywhere, it seems that the whole world has turned pink. You can buy a pink frying pan or spatula, pink Barbie doll or boxing gloves, pink M&Ms or tic tac breath mints, even a limited edition Ford Mustang with a 'Pink Package!' These pink product purchases generate money for breast cancer research, mammograms for detection or treatment help for people without means.

Well then, if everything’s pink, why does breast cancer still kill over 500,000 women (and men) worldwide each year?[1] This has a simple two-part answer.[2] First, breast cancer is a multifactorial disease that we’ve made progress in overcoming, but there’s still a ways to go and second, the 'pinking of the world' has as much to do with product merchandising as it does with funding cancer research. But of course, since nothing is ever really simple, especially when it comes to healthcare, let's take a closer look at these somewhat general answers.

Medical Tourism and Global Healthcare - Where Are You Going?

Mon, 11 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The American Medical Association (AMA) defines medical tourism as "the organized travel outside of one’s health care jurisdiction, usually one’s country, to enhance or restore health through medical intervention."

The Miracle Berry Could Be a Miracle for Dieters & Diabetics

Mon, 11 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The Miracle Berry has become the object of cult obsession these days, particularly in cities such as New York City, where people hold taste tripping parties based on the fruit’s properties. The berry itself comes from a small shrubby plant native to West Africa. The miracle berry was first described by a French cartographer whose 1725 trip to West Africa included documenting native foods.

Needle and Pain Free Vaccinations

Sun, 5 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The development of a needle-free vaccination delivery system has been identified by the Grand Challenges in Global Health (GCGH) initiative as one of the major challenges facing global health care today.

Millions of needles and syringes are used each day in health care. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 12 billion injections are given each year. Only about 5% are used in the delivery of vaccines for immunization and prevention of infectious diseases. Even though vaccinations have saved lives over the years, there are some hurdles to overcome.

Bisphenol A (BPA) is Everywhere - Are We Safe?

Thu, 26 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

BPA otherwise known as Bisphenol A is a compound widely used in the manufacture of plastics and epoxy resins. This industrial chemical has created quite a stir since 2007 and is still a subject of intense controversy. BPA can be found in plastics around us and is in the products that we use every day, from DVDs to eyeglasses to mobile phones. Normally, BPA is harmless, that is, until it gets in contact with food and drinks and leaches out. According to a report of the National Toxicology Program (NTP) of the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH), “the primary source of exposure to BPA for most people is through the diet…BPA in food and beverages accounts for the majority of daily human exposure.”

BPA may be found in the following:

• polycarbonate tableware

• food packaging (cans, soup packets, etc.)

• plastic water bottles

• plastic baby bottles

• dental materials

However, not all plastics contain BPA. Plastics are categorized into 7 types according to the recycling process and the classification codes are located at the bottom of plastic containers. According to NTP, only plastic no. 7, designated as "other" contains BPA. Incidentally there are other organizations which report that BPA is also found in plastic no. 3.

Is High Performance in a Can a Bad Thing?

Sat, 21 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

If you’re one of those people who routinely burn the candle at both ends, you may find yourself running out of energy midway through the day, just when you need it for that afternoon meeting or kid-pickup/run-to-the-ball-field sprint. Yesterday’s overachiever reached for a cup of coffee; today’s overachiever might reach for an energy drink instead. Oh, by the way, today’s “overachiever” in need of an energy boost is also more likely to be 12 to 24 years old.(1)

What’s the appeal of energy in a can? Works better? Tastes better? Safer? Better marketing? Join us as we find the facts behind the energy drink revolution.

The Stroke Epidemic Part One - Can We Turn It Around?

James L. Jones MD MHA, Senior Correspondent HWN — Sun, 1 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Stroke is the third leading cause of death, after heart disease and cancer. In the US heart disease kills 650,000 people a year, cancer 550,000 and strokes 150,000.

Deaths from stroke in the United States reached a high in 1979 of 160,000, then went down to 135,000 in the early nineties, then it started going back up and is at 150,000 a year now, costing 60 billion healthcare dollars. That baby boomers are approaching their stroke-prone years is usually the reason given for the increase in stroke incidence. If so, the burden on our health care system can be expected to increase. Reason for the decrease during the 1980s is more than likely due to lifestyle changes in response to the increased health education for cardiovascular disease.

Strokes have been documented as long as there have been people to document them. Known as apoplexy, the Hebrews wrote about it while in Babylon and Hippocrates talked about them in 400 BC, noting that 'men between the ages of 40 to 60 years old are most likely to suffer one, and that a strong attack will not go away while a weaker one is more likely to do so.' His observations were probably the first to distinguish Transient Ischemic Attacks (TIAs) from the more permanent Cerebrovascular Attacks (CVAs). Since Hippocrate's observations we've learned that 80 percent of strokes are ischemic, from a clot, 20 percent are from vessels rupturing. Most strokes are first strokes up to 70 percent.

The Evolving Faces of Diagnostic Centers and Medical Spas

Sun, 1 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

A visit to the doctor is a scary occasion for many people. Hospitals and clinics are almost always painted in white to convey cleanliness and efficiency. Add to that the prospect of being subjected to diagnostic tests using machines and needles. Truly, medical facilities are the most unwelcoming of places. This is probably the reason why diagnostic centers and clinics are reinventing themselves to make them more appealing to the patients. On the other hand, traditionally non-medical institutions like wellness centers and spas are also trying to gain credibility in an era where consumers are more health savvy and demand more scientific-based health services

Electronic Medical Records: the pros and cons

Sun, 1 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

An electronic health record (EHR) or electronic medical record (EMR) is nothing but a medical record of a patient in digital form. The digital information is usually stored in a database and is accessible from everywhere via a network. A patient’s medical information is normally recorded on paper written in a patient’s record at every doctor’s office the patient has visited or in the medical chart hanging at the foot of a patient’s hospital bed. EMRs contain mainstream data normally found on a patient’s medical records, e.g. blood type, blood tests, inoculations, and X-ray films. Recently, the integration of patient-specific genomic information has also been proposed.

Save $ on Prescription Drugs

Tue, 3 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

With research and ingenuity, you can save money on prescription drug costs.

Prescription drug costs have become a major area of concern for Americans. Senior citizens have been provided some relief through the Medicare Part D prescription plan (unless you have enough drug costs to fall through the “donut hole”)1but the rest of the country either pays some portion of the cost through an employer health plan or has no prescription coverage at all.

Prescription Plan Coverage

For those fortunate enough to have prescription coverage through an employer, their payment is typically “a co-pay based on a tiered system”. Yes, that’s a lot of jargon mixed together so let’s dissect the information a bit so that we can really understand this issue of prescription drug cost.

Co-pay and Co-Insurance

Most employees pay a portion of the cost of a prescription, either a: Co-pay – a fixed amount based on the type of prescription or Co-insurance – fixed percent of the cost of a prescription.

For example, if your Lipitor costs $50/prescription, your co-pay might be a fixed $20 for a brand name drug or $10 if you pay a fixed 20% prescription cost. Co-pays are much more common than co-insurance.

Vitamin Supplements - Do They Work?

Tue, 3 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Vitamin Supplementation is huge worldwide. Most of us take vitamins now or have taken vitamins in the past.

Here are some statistics compiled by the Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA) on supplementation:

The US ranks top in dietary supplementation globally.18.9% of Americans had taken at least one dietary supplement in 2004. Over 100 million Americans use vitamin and mineral supplements everyday.

It's Flu Season Somewhere - Here's the Scoop

Thu, 1 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Influenza, commonly known as the flu, is a respiratory illness caused by viruses. There are many different types of flu, from the swine flu to the most feared avian flu. This article, however, deals only with the so-called common or seasonal flu. The flu season usually starts in the fall and subsides in late spring. Because of its seasonality, the flu season differs between the Northern and the Southern hemisphere.

The United States health agency Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) gives the following statistics on flu:

• 5 to 20% of the population gets the flu annually
• Yearly, 200,000 cases are hospitalized due to severe flu complications
• Yearly, 36,000 cases prove to be fatal
• Annual healthcare costs of the flu are estimated to be more than US$10 billion.

On the global scale, flu can affect tens of millions of people and cause 250,000 to 500,000 deaths each year.

THE FLU is caused by many different types of viruses. There are three types of influenza viruses: Type A, Type B and Type C. Each type consists of different subtypes and substrains. The influenza types A and B are responsible for most of the flu epidemics.

The Melamine Story - Is Our Food Safe?

TheHWNTeam — Thu, 1 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

In September 2008, the world was shocked at the sight of little babies in China attached to dialysis machines as they fight for their lives. Yet, the news of contaminated milk formula did not gain much attention until it was realized that the melamine problem is not only restricted to China only but has actually spread globally.

To Vaccinate or Not To Vaccinate

Wed, 31 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Almost everyone agrees that vaccination has been one of the single most effective public health measures ever undertaken. Then why the controversy? The controversy centers on two areas of contention:

• While vaccination eradicates disease, it may and in some cases has created significant disease or long term damage to a percentage of the people, primarily children, who receive vaccinations.

• Because vaccinations are mandatory, there is a strong argument about public good versus individual rights.

Should the Legal Drinking Age be Lower?

Thu, 11 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

BACKGROUND

The minimum legal drinking age refers to the minimum age at which alcoholic beverages can be consumed. This age limit is set by governments to restrict children and minors from purchasing, possessing and consuming alcohol. The age limit may vary from country to country or between states within a particular country.

The United States has the highest legal drinking age in the western world. This age limit was established by the National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984. This law was driven largely by the desire to reduce traffic fatalities associated with alcohol consumption. This requires all states in the US to legislate and enforce a minimum legal age of 21 years for purchasing and publicly possessing alcoholic beverages.

The state that does not comply with the provisions of the act would be subjected to a 10% percent decrease in its annual federal highway apportionment under the Federal Highway Aid Act. The US Department of Transport is responsible in ensuring that this law is strictly observed.

Automatic External Defibrillators (AEDs) - The Truth and the Fiction

James L. Jones MD MHA, Senior Correspondent HWN — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Few innovations have had such immediate and sweeping popularity as Automatic External Defibrillators (AEDs). Since it was first developed and marketed by R. Lee Heath in the late seventies, over a million have been purchased and distributed. The 2005 Federal Drug Administration decision to make them available without a prescription made for increasing deployment in homes of those at risk for sudden cardiac death.

Genetically Modified Food: The Benefits and Risks

Wed, 3 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Genetically modified foods or GM foods for short, also go under many different names, including transgenic food, genetically engineered food or biotech food. So what are GM foods? Although different people and groups have different definitions, GM foods can broadly define as foods that “are produced from crops whose genetic makeup has been altered through a process called recombinant DNA, or gene splicing, to give the plant a desirable trait.”

SUICIDE: Do You Know What to Look For?

James L. Jones MD MHA, Senior Correspondent HWN — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

On November 12th the body of former American Idol contestant Paula Goodspeed was found in front of American Idol judge Paula Abdul’s Sherman Oaks home along with some prescription pill bottles, momentos and pictures of Abdul. Although no note was found, Goodspeed’s mother had reported a concern to the sheriff’s office regarding her daughter’s capacity for self-harm. We’re not aware of any prior attempts at suicide or any known psychological disorders though she is often reported as being different or “off the wall.” She had reportedly been obsessed with Ms. Abdul.

Three years ago Goodspeed was a contestant on the American Idol show and was thoroughly humiliated by some of the judges leading to speculation her suicide may have been the result of self-hatred, guilt and hopelessness, although revenge is always a possible motivator in such cases.

What do you know about suicide? Answer these questions true or false:

1. Most successful suicide attempts are in young impulse-prone women.

HPV and Cervical Cancer

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Early November, writing for an established website, a board certified specialist in internal medicine, James A. Howenstine revealed the following (excerpt): Human papilloma virus (HPV) does not cause cervical cancer. The infections caused by HPV are self-limiting and are not a health threat to healthy females. . .

Partner with Your Physician

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

A study completed in 2005 confirms what you probably already instinctively know: having a strong and effective relationship with your doctor makes you much more likely to be healthier, visit the ER less frequently, use less medication and spend less money on healthcare. The question becomes, what’s the best way to craft that relationship?

• Is it sufficient to be enrolled in a physician practice?
• Do you need to make a certain number of trips to the doctor each year to stay healthy?
• Does it matter which doctor you select?
• How do you select a doctor, anyway?

Let’s break down the elements of a physician-patient relationship that is most likely to result in better health and lower costs.

Choosing a Doctor

In the past, families often stayed in one community and maintained longstanding physician relationships.

Medical Marijuana: The Debate Rages On

Sun, 2 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Marijuana is also known as pot, grass, weed but its formal name is actually cannabis. It comes from the leaves and flowers of the plant Cannabis sativa. Smoked marijuana has become popular in the US among the “flower people” of the 60s. It is considered to be an illegal substance in the US and many countries and possession of marijuana is a crime punishable by law.

Gene Testing OnLine – Do You Really Want to Know?

Thu, 16 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

In Mid-September, Google founder 35-year-old Sergey Brin launched a personal blog, Too. The first post in that blog was a stunner and received huge media attention! The blog post unveiled that Brin--who underwent a gene test at 23andMe, a California-based gene testing company co-founded by his wife, Anne Wojcicki--is carrying a mutant gene linked to Parkinson’s disease.

Mobile Phone Use and Cancer: Searching for Answers

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

It is perhaps the most controversial scientific question of the last ten years. Does mobile phone use cause cancer? You would think with all the research studies performed on this topic in the last decade this question has long been answered but the answer is not a simple "yes" or "no."

National Health Insurance - Is There A Middle Ground?

Tue, 14 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The debate over national health insurance extends well beyond the issues of economics and political ideology.

The problem of how Americans access medical care must also be viewed within the context of Americans’ view of themselves and with the recognition that this need is fundamentally personal, affecting Americans at a most basic level. As a result, the arguments for and against national health insurance are deeply felt.

Why is this debate so important?

The U.S. has a strong need to solve its problems with the healthcare system. Rising costs, rising numbers of uninsured citizens, negative impact on families and businesses, and poor outcomes make the debate over healthcare reform one of the most important issues on the nation’s agenda.