Surprising Cancer News

This seems like fantastic news to me. Cancer death rates, and incidences of cancer in general, have fallen.

"U.S. Cancer Death Rate Continues to Fall"

"According to a new report, cancer death rates fell by 2.1 percent each year from 2002 through 2004 -- almost double the 1.1 percent annual decline recorded between 1993 and 2003."

From the People Who Brought You Yummy Toothpaste

I'm sure Michael Moore would be absolutely shocked to find out the following -

Brits Resort to Pulling Own Teeth

"England has a two-tier dental care system with some dentists offering publicly subsidized treatment through the National Health Service and others performing more expensive private work.

But more than three-quarters of those polled said they had been forced to pay for private treatment because they had been unable to find an NHS dentist. Almost a fifth said they had refused dental treatment because of the cost."

Some used pliers to remove their teeth and others glued broken crowns back in. I had a buddy in college who did that once. The glue thing, that is.

Virgin Money

Richard Branson's Virgin Corporation has acquired Northern Rock. This is another one of those "why didn't I think of that?" products to arrive on the Internet. Loans among friends and relatives are getting some help from technology. Check out Virgin Money.

Change, It Is A-Comin'

From today's New York Times.com -

More Doctors in Texas After Malpractice Caps

"Four years after Texas voters approved a constitutional amendment limiting awards in medical malpractice lawsuits, doctors are responding as supporters predicted, arriving from all parts of the country to swell the ranks of specialists at Texas hospitals and bring professional health care to some long-underserved rural areas."

E. Coli, Again

The whole "solutions" moniker that so many companies have employed in this country has amused me for some time, but this is a new high (low?). Cargill Meat Solutions Corp has just announced another ground beef recall because of e. coli contamination. So, it seems that it would be best to continue to avoid ground beef, to be on the safe side. Meat Solutions? Seriously, is that laugh-out-loud funny or what? Meat Solutions. Ha!

The article I read comes from Minnesota's Center for Infectious Disease Research & Policy.

Incidentally, I have "Health and Wealth Solutions for Your Business" as the subtitle for our WhealthWatcher$ presentation materials.

Oh, and if you were to read the entire CIDRAP article, you would discover that there is a beef industry website called "Meatingplace.com". How funny are these beef people?

Frucall

As if it weren't already hard enough for brick and mortar retailers to compete with online merchants, now comes Frucall (for "Frugal Call", I assume). Call 888-DO-FRUCALL (888-363-7822, since the last 2 "l's" are superfluous) and enter a product's ISBN, UPC, or bar code number to get competitors' prices. Or if you're a texter like I am, then you can send one to FRU11 (37811).

I don't know how I feel about the ethics of this, but it is probably just a reality of the modern marketplace. I know that I can only try shoes and sunglasses on in a store, and if I don't buy stuff from those stores, then someday I won't be able to try things on in stores. Makes you think...

Alli is Your Enemy

You may have seen commercials touting the next big thing in weight-loss gimmickry: Alli (pronounced "ally"). I wonder if it will sound as sexy when I put it this way- "Half the power of Xenical with 80% of the side effects." or how about "Not quite as much gas or oily discharge as prescription Xenical"? Because Alli is a lower dosage Xenical that can be sold over-the-counter. It is being marketed along with a program of diet and exercise. Revolutionary!

This article on WebMD explains the drug and program well and contains comments by some of the physicians involved in developing Alli's accompanying program.

This is nice -

"The new drug is not an appetite suppressant. Instead, Alli works by blocking the absorption of fat in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. But the blocked fat has to go somewhere, which is why many a candid commentator has said not to take Alli on a first date or wear white pants while taking it."

NOTE: People are buying it. According to PharmaTimes, analysts project, based on sales of $155 million in the first half of 2007, that sales of Alli could be $1 billion a year.

HealthVault

Does anyone else think it's funny how often we combine words now? HealthVault, UnitedHealthcare, WhealthWatcher$... those are just a few of the prominent names who have done this.

Well, Microsoft has stepped into the fledgling electronic medical records (sometimes called "electronic health records") business. We'll see if this one grows roots. Nothing else has made much of an impact yet. Problems facing the adoption of electronic medical records include privacy concerns of consumers, guarded insurers, and the fact that only about 20% of doctors and hospitals keep electronic records. They're usually just pieces of paper in a folder.

Check out HealthVault and see if it's any good. I'm about to do so myself.

E. Coli is the Topps

Even though most of the tainted beef has likely already been consumed, you might want to avoid ground beef for a little while. Check your freezer as well.

From USA Today -

"The product, mostly preformed patties, was distributed nationwide. The packages have the establishment number 9748 and sell-by dates of Sept. 25, 2007, through Sept. 25, 2008. The plant has halted production, and the investigation continues. A recall list is at www.toppsmeat.com."

Simple Rules of Being Healthy

I have quite the sweet tooth so I have trouble following the second tip, but I thought these were good rules to follow. Please read below:

WHAT YOU CAN DO

A surprising "diet trick" to make belly fat go away is to add a third mantra to the classic "eat less, exercise more" weight-loss formula. To banish belly fat and return to an optimal weight, Dr. Rubman says it's also essential to reduce stress. Though that may be easier said than done, Dr. Rubman says consistent practice of the following strategies can help your spare tire melt.

• Emphasize high-quality, low-glycemic carbohydrates in your diet. The glycemic index is a measure of how fast a carbohydrate raises your blood sugar. To keep blood sugar on an even keel, the majority of carbs you consume should be healthful, low-glycemic ones, such as most fresh veggies and fruits.
• Make sweets only an occasional treat. The goal, of course, is to cut back on high-glycemic carbs. These lead to fluctuating blood sugar levels, which cause food cravings. Avoid these by saying no to candy, cookies and soft drinks, as well as fast foods, processed foods, chips and white bread.
• Monitor food combinations. When hunger strikes, quiet your appetite and boost your energy with a healthful protein/carb combo. For example, try nut butter and whole-wheat crackers... low-fat yogurt and granola... a fruit salad sprinkled with walnuts... or turkey breast, lettuce and tomato tucked into a pita. Protein/carb combinations tend to reduce the impact of high-glycemic index foods by slowing their absorption and thereby reducing the speed at which they're converted to glucose and then fat.
• Exercise, exercise, exercise. Thirty minutes of moderate-intensity exercise three to five times a week can help people lose weight and ward off heart disease and diabetes -- it also keeps stress in check. My personal favorites are biking, skiing (a cross-country ski machine works too) and brisk walking.
• Practice effective stress management. A great diet and regular exercise can be unfairly sidetracked by the high levels of cortisol that accompany ongoing stress, so it, too, needs to be regulated. Relaxation techniques such as meditation, deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, yoga and Tai Chi really do bring results. Personally, I find that just taking short breaks can smooth out my day enormously -- instead of pouring a cup of energy in the form of coffee or tea, I head outdoors for a 10-minute walk in the fresh air and sunshine.

Really, you can think of that spare tire as "excess baggage" you don't need to lug around. In addition to eating right and exercising regularly, anything you can do to reduce stress will lighten your load -- in every way.

Source(s):

Andrew L. Rubman, ND, director, Southbury Clinic for Traditional Medicines, Southbury, Connecticut.

'Ave A Cuppa (but take keh rohf ya teef)

More news on the benefits of tea from British website ThirdAge. They sure know tea over in the UK, but they're not known for their expertise on dental data.

HOWEVER, another article on the same website discusses the "mounting evidence of a link between gum disease and heart disease".

"Don't floss all your teeth; just the ones you want to keep."

-Robert H. Hill, II, D.D.S. (It's also in a Far Side comic.)

Check It, Yo

I was reading TMQ (Gregg Easterbrook), and I was reminded of the important issue of tire pressure. Most drivers do not check this. It's dangerous and causes unnecessary, excess fuel consumption.

Read here on the Car Talk website about how to properly determine your car's recommended tire pressure. Of particular importance is maintaining proper pressure during seasonal changes -

"...if you last had your tire pressure checked in July, when it was 80 degrees outside, and it's now January — and the temperature is minus 20 — your tires may be underinflated by 10 pounds, which is dangerous."

Ooh, What's That Smell?

Anyone who knows me personally knows that I obviously do not wear antiperspirant.

WARNING: THE FOLLOWING IMAGE IS GRAPHIC AND DISTURBING -



That was the "C" in YMCA. After seeing that photo on my friend Alanna's digital camera, I stuck with "A".

Well, not only do you have the benefit of grossing out everyone around you at, oh say, a wedding reception in Istanbul, but you also avoid those nasty yellow armpit stains on your lightly-colored shirts, that is, if you avoid using antiperspirant (whose active ingredient is aluminum).

My cousin/godfather has told me for years that aluminum is toxic and contributes to the development of Alzheimer's. He dissuades his friends and family from using even aluminum foil.

Another article in today's Daily Mail suggests that people forgo deodorant use altogether, and that antiperspirants, in particular, have been linked with increased cancer rates, especially that of the breast.

At the risk of alienating my European readers, uh, that might fly over on the stinkier side of the Atlantic, but not here in the land of 2 showers a day. You might want to try out a natural deodorant like one of those crystals. My uncle John uses one of those and I've never noticed a foul smell coming from his direction.

Definitely cut out the antiperspirants, people. Then my sweatiness won't be such a conspicuous problem, er, trait of mine. Did you ever think about how it would affect me? Did you? Plus less cancer and less Alzheimer's are added bonuses.

Sex, Drugs and Rock & Roll (Are Bad for Your Health)

There's an article in the UK's Daily Mail about a recent study of famous musicians and the likelihood of their early demise. In the first five years of their newfound fame, they are 3 times as likely as their peers to meet an untimely death.

"The findings come from a study of more than 1,050 American and British musicians who found fame between 1956 and 1999. All featured in the All-Time Top 1,000 Albums list selected in 2000."

"The British team behind the study say the statistics are so shocking that the music industry should be regarded as a 'high-risk' profession."

I'll have to keep that in mind if my friend, Jeff Boden (RidiQlis), ever makes it big and wants me to write him a policy.

Don't Mess Up!

Hey all you doctors, nurses and other hospital staff, listen up. Medicare is no longer going to pay for mistakes (like sponges left inside of patients after surgery). Read about it here in the New York Times.

Private insurers are going to monitor the new policy to see if they can implement something just like it -

"Susan M. Pisano, a spokeswoman for America’s Health Insurance Plans, a trade group, said, 'Private insurers will take a close look at what Medicare is doing, with an eye to adopting similar policies.'"

"The Bush administration estimates the new policy will save Medicare $20 million a year. But other experts say the savings could be substantially greater."

$20 million might as well be 20 cents when you're talking about government spending. It sounds like this will result in a lot of finger pointing and tons of spending by hospitals, but I suppose time will tell. The statistics for rates of infection and accidents will be released sometime in the future, and we'll see if this initiative has given medical care providers the right incentive to give better, more efficient care.

Phew!

I was beginning to worry about an invisible bruise on the back of my leg. Just today, it has seemed to be moving down my leg, from my lower hamstring, to behind my knee and now to my upper calf. As is my usual course of action, I asked others if they have experienced similar symptoms, and then checked out WebMD.

Relief washed over me in an awesome wave as I read the first paragraph -

"Bruises (contusions)develop when small blood vessels under the skin tear or rupture, most often from a bump or fall. Blood leaks into tissues under the skin and causes the black-and-blue color. As bruises heal, usually within 2 to 4 weeks, they often turn colors, including purplish black, reddish blue, or yellowish green. Sometimes the area of the bruise spreads down the body in the direction of gravity. A bruise on a leg usually will take longer to heal than a bruise on the face or arms."

One Mississippian, Two Mississippians, No That Was Only One Mississippian

You've likely heard by now that we have an obesity problem in this country. Here's a recent article on the Wall Street Journal website about some news.

Mississippi has achieved the dubious distinction of becoming the first state to have 30% of its residents classified as "obese". To give you an idea of how they measure obesity, an average U.S. male is between 5'8" and 5'9". At 200 lbs. and above, the average male is considered "obese" on the Body Mass Index (BMI). People with a lot of muscle mass can be in that range without being "fat", but it's pretty accurate on the whole.

The following point is sort of like the argument for helmet and seatbelt laws. American spends a lot of money because of the effects of obesity on its citizens.

"Officials at the Trust for America's Health advocate for the government to play a larger role in preventing obesity. People who are overweight are at an increased risk for diabetes, heart problems and other chronic diseases that contribute to greater health care costs."

I made a relevant post just over a year ago, pointing to the staggering figure that 90% of increases in Medicare costs during the study period were due to obesity related illness and disease -

Tuesday, August 22, 2006
The Obesity Epidemic and Medicare

"While increases in [Medicare's] cost have been attributed to causes such as medication costs, hospital and doctors fees, 90 percent of the increases can be attributed to people entering the program with diabetes, metabolic syndrome and other diseases associated with obesity, concluded a report published in the Aug. 22 online issue of Health Affairs."

Read the article on Forbes.com.

From the American Obesity Association:

"Each year, obesity causes at least 300,000 excess deaths in the U.S., and healthcare costs of American adults with obesity amount to approximately $100 billion."

WHO Rated the U.S. Poorly in Health Care Quality? Exactly

I don't know what you think of John Stossel. Some people think he's kind of loony. I am one of those people, but in spite of that, I think he makes good points, backed up by data. He challenges commonly held beliefs, and even though his job is mostly to sell advertising for ABC, he works hard to educate America. He's won 19 Emmys and he went to Princeton.

In a recent piece he wrote for Real Clear Politics (that you may read here), Stossel criticizes the misleading conclusion made by the New York Times in its article about the World Health Organization's (WHO) ranking of wealthy nations and their efficacy in providing quality health care. The Times also points to a recently completed Commonwealth Fund study.

Stossel points to our high rates of transportation fatalities and homicides, as well as poor diet and exercise habits as factors that are not related to care that is administered by our nation's health care providers. He also mentions Rock Hudson as the last prominent case of an American leaving the U.S. for medical care.

Blue in the Face

Even if you aren't a Blue Cross and Blue Shield policy holder, you can benefit from the work that they do across the country. I subscribe to Florida Blue, their email newsletter, and I recently received a quick first aid guide that is good to have in your home. Please click here to view and download the document.

It tells you, briefly and simply, what you should do if someone in your home suffers a broken bone, burns, nosebleed, head injury or is choking. I was surprised to learn that if someone is coughing, then he or she is not actually choking, and you should just let the problem pass.

Don't Take Two of These, Don't Call Me in the Morning

Head of the British Medical Association, Dr. Hamish Meldrum, has caused quite a stir across the pond. Maybe more interesting, however, than the information about the obesity debate that rages on in the UK and the good ol' US of A, is the fact that Hamish Meldrum is a Scottish name. That's incredible!

Anyway, the point is that Dr. Meldrum has come out in opposition to all of the over-medicalization (I guess that's a word in England. Whatever, they invented the language, even if they don't pronounce their r's.) of obesity treatment, and that prevention is clearly the ideal method of lessening that societal problem and the costs associated with it. Duh. We don't need MD's to figure that one out, do we?

Read the article here on "This is London".

I often find the readers' comments sections of online articles to be the most educational part of the experience. That is one of the many reasons that online media are more effective than print. You can't read a newspaper and instantly read how other people around the world are reacting to it. What an age in which we live...

Here is one such comment that I found to be especially poignant, especially given the European perspective it allows us to understand, and the struggle among proponents of healthcare reform, i.e. everyone -

"This is the problem with socialized medicine. Free individuals should have every right to make these "lifestyle choices" assuming any associated risks - including dying early or higher medical expenses. But when government provides healthcare for all, it is going to seek to constrain the rights of individuals in the name of the greater good."

- Jude, london, uk