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HEALTH/EDUCATION WEEKLY ARCHIVES JULY, 2009 — SEPTEMBER, 2009
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SEPTEMBER 8 , 2009 - SEPTEMBER 27, 2009 HEALTH/EDUCATION GOOD PENMANSHIP: IS THE WRITING ON THE WALL?
Tests are still taken by hand in high school and college – it’s important for kids to be able to communicate clearly in either spoken or written form. A person who can’t write clearly is as at much of a disadvantage as a person who mumbles. Cursive IS faster than printing, so just saying, “as long as they know how to print” is actually a handicap. And as far as I’m concerned, any student who can write a clear, readable thank you note has a distinct advantage over the unwashed rude masses when it comes to job interviews and insuring future gifts from Grandma. [ATLANTA JOURNAL CONSTITUITION/Cursive cursed: Texting and e-mail trump handwritten notes] <> Thirty-five years ago, I had great penmanship. Maybe that was due to having a teacher mom. Or perhaps writing all those “I will not talk in class” lines thousands of times paid off. Today, I type every thing and about the only thing I write in cursive is my signature. In today’s electronic communication world, cursive handwriting is akin to algebra years ago – it is nice to know how to do it, but the reality is that most will not have a significant need for it. [ATLANTA JOURNAL CONSTITUITION/Cursive cursed: Texting and e-mail trump handwritten notes] <> This is yet another example of “dumbing down” our children. As a teacher and a mother I support the idea that YES formal penmanship, both print and cursive, should be taught to students. I wouldn’t necessarily teach cursive writing the way I was taught (20 minutes a day, in a book, writing meaningless sentences), but I would apply it to every day situations such as writing thank you cards, invitations, filling out forms, etc. Obviously these particular activities would be given once the basics are introduced. But yes, children grow up into adults who will need these skills. If we start cutting out skills such as writing, spelling, reading…can you imagine what our future generations will look like as adults? Scary thought! [ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCHIs good handwriting a skill that matters anymore?]
HEALTH PREMIUMS UP 131% IN 10 YEARS AND RISING
When I read about folks who tell their story of having pretty good, affordable insurance, I get a little frustrated. You see, I'm a medical biller. And what I see of many of the plans that come through our office, may look 'good' to the 'insured' - small co-pay, limited deductible, etc - does not look good after all of the calculations are taken into consideration. After your 'out of pocket' expenses, including premiums, not to mention the doctor's steep discount to be part of the 'insurance network', your insurance company can pay upwards of just about 15-20% of your bill..and that's being generous. I do not have much sympathy for insurance companies, and actually sometimes less for the consumer, since they just mosey along assuming they're getting a good deal. I do however have a great deal of compassion for the folks that cannot afford even $400 dollars a month for their premium, let alone out of pocket costs. [SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE/Health premiums up 131 % in 10 years.] <> Today I went for an endoscopy. The hospital in Lisbon was modern, spotless and efficient. The staff were just terrific and the whole procedure was easy. The cost was zero. I have private medical insurance that is about $75 a month. There were no medical forms, no paperwork, I simply gave them my insurance card and it was dealt with in minutes. Incidentally, I got to choose my own date for the procedure. [WASHINGTON POST/Many employees to raise cost of health benefits, survey finds.]
SEPTEMBER 1 , 2009 - SEPTEMBER 7, 2009 HEALTH/EDUCATION TEXTING WHILE DRIVING... AND SUDDEN DEATH
I am the father of 3 teens. I watched this PSA with all of them a couple of weeks ago when it first became available. Yes, it is graphic. However, anyone who has been to any recent PG-13 rated horror film has seen much more disturbing images. My oldest was most affected by the images of the baby in the second car. Although there is no clear he died/she survived commentary made, it can be be assumed the baby was killed. This clearly upset my daughter that another persons actions could have such an outcome on an innocent baby. [NPR MORNING EDITION/Video highlights danger of texting while driving.] <> As graphic as this video is, it is nowhere near as graphic as it would be in real life. The "absurd" sound effects are not all that absurd. They're actually toned down. I was in a crash caused by a distracted driver. The screeching cars, the loud tumble of a car flipping four times, the meaty crunch of a passenger being jettisoned onto concrete, seeing pink ooze out of her mouth, as she drowns in her own blood, watching her die before your eyes while you're trying to resuscitate her...all that makes this look like something on Sesame Street. [NPR MORNING EDITION/Video highlights danger of texting while driving.]
H1N1 -- CDC'S DIRE FLU FORECAST
Most of the people interviewed who had the H1N1 virus described it as little more than a bad cold. Since the majority of the people who already have been infected with it were treated on an outpatient basis, I find it hard to believe that they expect 1.8 million hospitalizations from this. Also, the ratio of infections to deaths (in this country), do not translate to the percentages they are quoting here. I hope this is not hype to sell vaccinations, as we know with last years mild flu season, there was an overabundance of unused vaccine that had to be discarded, as flu vaccine does not last from season to season. There have been numerous deaths in other countries, but as in Mexico where it apparently began, there are substandard conditions and poor medical care. Hopefully, we can avoid some of the drama and panic and mass school system closings over one or two cases this year. We need an administration that acts based on facts, not on hysteria. [ABC NEWS/Dire WH advisory says up to half of U.S. population could get Swine flu] <> The fear isn't of the relatively-harmless virus we are facing now, but that it could mutate and become much more deadly.The "Spanish Flu" of 1919 killed 10% of the world's population and it was also a strain of swine flu. The first wave of the Spanish Flu was very similar to the normal flu and not very deadly, but the second wave was extremely deadly. Now that we've gone through one mild wave of a swine flu, you don't think there's reason for concern that it could come back much worse? [NPR/Swine flu, complacency and sleepless nights.] AUGUST 24, 2009 - AUGUST 31, 2009 HEALTH/EDUCATION ADHD DRUGS -- ATTENTION ON TEEN ABUSE
My son has ADHD and has been on meds since he was 5 years old. He is now 20, and still taking meds. He, himself, can tell when he is unmedicated - he can't concentrate and focus, can't sit still, and can barely hold a conversation because he can't stay on the topic. He has also been through years of therapy to try to teach him "tools" to help control his situation. Do I believe that ADHD medication is over prescribed - you bet. Meds are not a quick fix, and given to kids that truly don't have ADHD they produce side effects like slow growth, poor appetite, etc. But a person who has ADHD is deficit in something; a chemical in the brain, and meds are used to help compensate for this. Based on all the research I have done, no one "grows out" of ADHD - some have just made choices that allow them to function within acceptable parameters [ABC NEWS/Teens trippin' on ADHD drugs can be a real downer.] <> Everyone in any college campus would be able to tell you that the over prescription of ADHD medication (and diagnosis) for them in Middle and High School has led to abuse of these drugs as recreational "study-aids" in college. We all knew there was too many diagnoses of ADHD in the 90's but nobody cared. Doctors and drug companies were getting rich, parents were getting well behaved zombies, and schools had another avenue to funnel problem children. Another victory of the "American Way" in my humble opinion. [US NEWS AND WORLD REPORT/ADHD prescription drug abuse]
MOZART'S DEATH - STREP THEORY?
These medical experts have come to this lofty conclusion 218 years after his death? Does this add or subtract for Mozart's legend? Generations of music lovers have been greatly concerned about this and now they can get on with their lives. [USA TODAY/Did Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart die of a sore throat?] <> Salieri vindicated at last! Still, no matter what caused his death, he has left a wonderful, eternal legacy for all to enjoy.
AUGUST 17, 2009 - AUGUST 23, 2009 HEALTH/EDUCATION HEALTH CARE: TALKING ABOUT THE "END OF LIFE"
We are already deciding who shall live with not providing health care to everyone: those who are poor, laid off from jobs, disabled children whose parents don't have health insurance because they need to stay home to care for them, those with cancer who had to leave jobs and cannot get health insurance because of a pre-existing condition. We need to stop deciding "who shall live" through our outdated health system. I am a 70 year old cancer patient getting good care, but I know there are others who could not afford the medicine that keeps me alive. I want those to have what I have. [CNN POLITICAL TICKER/Dean on Palin's Health care claims:"She made that up."] <> Hopefully we can all agree that solutions to America’s crisis MUST concentrate on fundamental cost reductions and modern management practices. What’s not clear is how recent proposals will correct healthcare’s underlying problems – inefficient distribution of services, poor quality control, and a profit driven industry dominated by self interest entrepreneurs and middlemen. Dysfunctional private insurance adds billions in overhead yet contributes zero value to actual care – a glaring inefficiency that free market manufacturing operations would immediately weed out. And there are no discussions of how modern efficient non-profit clinic models can be expanded, only how campaign contributors will be protected. What IS crystal clear – we can no longer tolerate exclusive business contracts between profit center “providers” (formally doctors and hospitals), grossly inflated pharmaceuticals, an artificially constricted supply of family practitioners, policy agendas written by campaign contributors, and revolving door regulators – and simply frame discussions in terms of “more coverage” and voodoo “socialism”. Otherwise, despite all the hoopla, vastly expanded private insurance and unlimited taxpayer funding, American healthcare will continue to rank 43rd in performance, and No. 1 in cost. [USA TODAY-THE OVAL/Obama's latest health care weapon] <> As a doctor, it's my duty to be informed of what the bill represents. At the end of the day, it's no worse then what we have today. As a doctor, I don't get to save your life, it's up to your insurance company. And it's a fight, tooth and nail, every time a life hangs in the balance. I am given the ok half the time, and in my own brutal use of words to describe their decision, told: Let them die, we don't care if this treatment would save their life. The plan is not perfect. But our current system makes life and death decisions based on PROFIT. It's up to you to decide whether the decision should be based on "MORALS and ETHICS" or based on "Profit and Quarterly earnings and Bonus pay". I strongly advise Americans with morals to support this Health Reform. It's better then what you have now. [CNN POLITICAL TICKER/White House launches health care 'reality check' website] <> Left on our own, a great many of us, doctors and nurses included, simply do not initiate any discussion regarding the end on of our own lives ; nor are physicians particularly motivated to initiate these discussions as stressful (and time consuming) as they often become.
The specified elements of the topics to be raised are actually those that any competent practitioner would normally address....including the fact that medicare picks up the bill for hospice care, which most families find reassuring in the face of a prolonged terminal illness. [WASHINGTON POST/Health care bill oversteps on end-of-life issues]
SAD IN AMERICA - ANTIDEPRESSANT USE DOUBLES
Who's the pusher? The pharmaceutical companies. They are akin to drug dealers. Their lobbyists buy protection by our government at the expense of our fellow citizens' well being. Legal drugs kill many more than illegal drugs. If you want to be see the impact of legal drugs for yourself, just visit a local nursing home to see how these drugs are given to our seniors. Many senior residents resemble zombies. These poor folks deserve better. Shame on our society for this senior abuse. [USA TODAY/Number of Americans on antidepressants doubles ] <> As with everything health related, it's all comes down to money. [DAILY BEAST/Antidepressant use doubles.]
AUGUST 10, 2009 - AUGUST 16, 2009 HEALTH/EDUCATION
The so-called "origin" doesn't actually matter. You could argue about origin of foods till the cows come home. Pizza is a good example. Pizza-like concepts have spontaneously and independently originated in different places in the world. The Mallorcan "coca" is basically a pizza, and is mentioned in early Catalan cookbooks, before tomatoes arrived in Europe around 1502 and made the pizza more like the one we know today. But the Italians have perfected it and can lay cultural claim to it. Stout is another example - its roots are in porter, which was first brewed in London. So, if we insist that "origin" should be the sole determinant of identity, Guinness is not Irish. Likewise the haggis. It's actually not important whether it originated in England or in Norway. This is a non-debate. Moreover, pointing to the earliest surviving written record as proof of origin is poor historiography. It is merely that - the earliest surviving written record. There could be other records, now lost. What matters is that Scotland has appropriated the haggis over the centuries, perfected it, and exalted it, and rightly so, to national iconic status. This will not change. Its Scottishness is unsullied by the discovery of this document, and no Scot need be defensive about it. [U.K.GUARDIAN/Hands off out haggis, say Scots, after English claim.] <> This is a terrible blow for Scottish identity, with the Scots now in danger of losing their reputation as being the only nation with worse cooking than the English [U.K.GUARDIAN/Hands off out haggis, say Scots, after English claim.]
<> Haggis gets a bad rap from those who have never tried it however, those who have usually love it. Real haggis is impossible to find down here in the southern U.S. where gizzards and chitterlings (pigs' intestines) are permitted but where haggis is considered unfit for human consumption. I have unwittingly become a haggis smuggler, bringing in quantities of this Scottish delicacy from Canada, so true real Scots can celebrate Burns' supper. I wonder what the penalty is for smuggling haggis? [NATIONAL POST/Haggis first recorded as an English dish, historian.]
SUNSHINE BOYS AND GIRLS - "D-MINUS"
It's all of that awful soda and sugary drinks that kids almost always prefer over milk... and the parents that don't have the stones to say NO when they want one. Don't even get me started on video games... During the summer, there were swimming lessons, fun pool time, and running around outside all day... it would have been hard to keep us inside! And my parents were strict on the number of tv shows I could watch - 3 shows per day during the summer, after that, no more! [USA TODAY/Kids could suffer bone, heart damage later if lacking vitamin D ] AUGUST 3, 2009 - AUGUST 9,2009 HEALTH/EDUCATION
Oh, what I would give for a 20-minute (or, hell, even 10-minute) nap after lunch...that way I'd be alert and focused all afternoon, rather than having to slog my miserable yawning way through my daily post-lunch slump, and really only being functional again at 4:00...that's two and a half hours a day wasted, when a small investment of time would go such a long way towards making me so much more productive! <> They should have asked people in the survey if they felt that napping was a waste of precious time when they could have been "getting things done" instead. My suspicion is that Americans are too uptight to take the time to have a little siesta, even if they are feeling fatigued and dragging. It's part of that attitude of "I'm too important to take a vacation" kind of thing. [HUFFINGTON POST]
SMALL BUSINESS STRUGGLES WITH HEALTH CARE
The system is broken. My small business struggles each year to provide health care to its employees while many of my competitors just gave up. We do it because we believe it is the right thing to do. Our system is encouraging this elimination of health care benefits for small businesses since they can now offer their services at a lower rate, and higher profit. Even the Federal government procurement practices encourage small businesses to go this cheaper route. Each year we spend weeks going through brokers to try and find the best possible health care option for our employees. Each year the answer is the same, and wholly predictable. Cost goes up (>10% per year) while quality of insurance goes down — much more for less. Spend your time carping about political viewpoints if you wish. I need a solution! It isn't working! I am only interested in politicians from either party who are willing to get the job done. No more games! [CNN]
Thank God for Krugman. This is the best piece that I have read in a long time that explains in simple words and without the use of jargon our current health financing system and the critically positive role of government. No private insurer would ever willingly insure sickness-prone aging people. In fact, President Lyndon Johnson enacted Medicare in the 1960s to address the problem of large numbers of uninsured older people. Today the problem is not just one of lack of health insurance for one-sixth of this country's population. "Pre-existing" illness coverage, under-insurance, complexity of coverage, fickle claim denials, larger co-insurance amounts, lower lifetime maximum amounts, affordability of insurance and the constant uncertainty of availability of insurance are the other big issues. However, oddly, as a group the seniors in this country tend to largely vote Republican, which shows seniors' disregard for the younger generations' well being with respect to today's health care reform initiative that is largely meant to address health insurance problems for those under 65. As far as opposition from the rural and less educated areas of the country, I think that the proponents of reform need to simplify the message, directly address questions and dispel the fear of change. [NEW YORK TIMES]
These bills aren't being explained very well at all. You almost have to watch the hearings on C-Span to understand what's going on, and not many people do that. So far, every is doing a terrible job of expalining what's actually in them.
JULY 27, 2009 - AUGUST 2, 2009 HEALTH/EDUCATION DEBATING HEALTH CARE AT GROUND LEVEL
As a former health care giver, I am shocked and saddened to see what has become of health care in America. $1. 4 million is being spent per day in DC by the health care lobbyists so your elected representative is getting taken care of and has quality health care we pay for and can't afford ourselves for our families. I know what is deemed, defended and supported in Tennessee and Virginia as quality health care and clearly profit care comes ahead of patient care. MRSA (methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureas) is infesting our communities because filthy, uncaring hospitals and emergency rooms are breeding them and spreading them into our schools, homes, restaurants. How many more Americans' will be diseased or die while 74% of Americans are begging for health care reform? More people died in America last year from MRSA complications than AIDS. When MRSA and a flu bug start mixing, it won't be pretty and we are being infected by the very health care system we depend on and trust to keep us safe and healthy. [HUFFINGTON POST ] <> Why is it so many people expect the government to provide for them? This is the road to a new form of serfdom. We do not need health care reform, we need lower insurance costs. Ambulance chasers like John Edwards helped only to increase the cost of insurance premiums and we all suffer because of the greedy few. The only government interdiction needed is tort reform and legislation to lower the liability burden on doctors. They are human and will make mistakes, yet we expect nothing less than perfection and demand so much from them. A mandatory, government run, program is a disaster in waiting. If this passes, what will the people expect next? Should the government make it a right to own a home, a car? The American dream is that you have the right to work for a better life and a chance to improve yourself, not everyone is guaranteed the same result but that shouldn't mean that we give up and wait for Uncle Sam to fix everything for us. I work two jobs, go to college full time, raise my kids and don't complain about not enough government help because I, apparently, have more pride than so many here who want it all and want it for free. [POLITICO] I have worked in the Insurance business for 31 years and I'm sick of hearing about how the insurance companies have caused this mess we're in. I spent 15 years working with one of the nation's largest insurers and I never saw them deny a claim because of a profit. They pay based on the plan you have. It's just like homeowners or car insurance. You choose which plan to purchase. You pay less, you get less. Pay more, get more. And why shouldn't insurers make a profit? If they don't make money, they won't stay in business long. People need to be informed about their medical treatment. You wouldn't believe how many times I've seen ER claims that run $750 - $1000 for a headache. And if you ask the person why they went to the ER, it's normally because they don't ask for money upfront. There are lots of reasons why we're in this mess. [FOXNEWS NATION] <> There are actually several parts of the bill that I support. I like it that the penalties for fraud, waste and abuse have been strengthened. I like the mandate for electronic medical records. This will make it much easier for utilization reviewers like me to get access to a patients health records to do my job. Currently we have to assume the MD (actually it is usually an office staff person) is telling us the truth with the information they are providing for a particular request. By having access to the patient’s health records I can see for myself whether they actually meet criteria or not and it will help make more accurate and timely determinations. I like that there is a provision to gather data on providers quality of care and the ability to exclude a provider from participation in the program it they do not measure up. Since the various State Boards of Medical Examiners have failed miserably at getting negligent physicians out of the profession it is nice to see that the government is addressing the issue. I don’t particularly like but do understand the cost effective provisions of the act. Sadly, spending 200K for treatment of statistically low survival rate disease states rather than simply providing palliative care has reached the point where it must be enacted. The only sure thing in life is death and the issue of spending tons of money on patients who stand little chance of survival from the morbidity state they have has to be addressed. What I dislike about the act is that it mandates a huge bureaucracy including numerous “commissioners” and “boards”, none of which have anything directly to do with direct patient care. Talk about high administrative costs…. I also believe you would have to be insane if you believe the final price tag is only going to be 1 Trillion, and I don’t like it that none of the plan specifics have been released. The bill for the most part does nothing but tweak Medicare and Medicaid guidelines, 2 systems that from a monetary standpoint are bankrupt. I also dislike the reimbursement being based on Medicare guidelines. Many MD’s are going to opt out of taking the plan or will devote only a small percentage of their practice to the plan which will result in significant wait times. What we are going to end up with is universal access but a lot of providers, already in short supply, opting out of the plan. [POLITICO]
The findings come from a study of animals. Observing animals in the wild, other than birds, the fathers are absent. As for our own species, some fathers are wonderful and enhance the lives of their children, some are disinterested, some are overbearing and some are downright awful. Fathers who work away such as those in the armed forces and are not able to be present, still have a positive influence on their children without being there. I don't agree that children always flourish when fathers are present or that they are harmed by absent fathers. [U.K. DAILY MAIL] NEW PRESCRIPTION FOR HARRY AND LOUISE
Maybe Harry and Louise tried to go to the emergency room for medical treatment and were awakened to that nightmare. Maybe they noticed that their bill for their health insurance increased every month. Maybe they went to fill their prescription and found out that their insurance company no longer approves payment for that prescription. In other words, maybe the fictitious Harry and Louise got a dose real world reality. [NEW YORK TIMES] <> Oh No....Harry and Louise are obviously suffering from the initial stages of alzheimers. How else can you explain their support for a bill that will not reduce costs, that will impose an odious level of taxation, result in less doctors, less services and less technological advances, restrict everyone's right to chose their health plan and destroy a health care system that 77% of Americans believe works very well. This is an exceptionally bad piece of legislation that violates the oath doctors take to 'first do no harm'. {NPR]
JULY 20, 2009 - JULY 26, 2009 HEALTH/EDUCATION
The aspect of the swine flu saga that I personally find outrageous is the overwhelming mathematical ignorance of the general population. I'm a post-doc mathematical modeller by profession, but you don't need anything more than a basic understanding of the exponential increase in swine flu (this increase in incidence has been consistent for several months now) to predict the consequences on a very large susceptible population (A hallmark of pandemic flu in the UK is when it increases exponentially in the summer due to the lack of immunity across the population, whereas seasonal flu dies down because there are enough in the population with immunity for herd immunity during the summer months). Swine flu is a flu virus, which we know about and can compare with many other seasonal and pandemic flu epidemics in this country. By doing so we can estimate that the transmissibility will be higher in the autumn/winter and hence the herd immunity threshold will be higher also - requiring more people to get the thing before it dies down. It's not rocket science - it's very basic maths and I find it deplorable that the vast majority of the population has no idea about what's going on through their own ignorance. [U.K. TIMES]
My grandfather is 87 years old and still driving. I refuse to go anywhere with him when he's behind the wheel. Surprisingly enough, he actually has all of the facilities that he needs to be a good driver, but for some reason he has become very nervous and wants to get to where he's going as quickly as possible. Something like this would be good for him, but I think he would take it as an insult if I were to suggest it. [NPR]
<> I'm 64 going on 65 and still ride a motorcycle. So, everyday I see people (not just those over 65) pull out in front of me, make sharp left turns in front of me (as though 5 seconds makes a whole lot of difference in pulling into a store), run red lights etc. And most of them are young drivers in TOO big of a hurry to get somewhere. Now, I don't drive slow and I am passed while I'm doing 50 (in a 40) zone by those (younger) going 60 or 70 in the same 40MPH zone. I sometimes wish I had an old truck weighing about 6000K with bump rails, big ranch hand cattle guards on it and could just plow right into them but since I am "older", I have better sense! And, let's talk about "eyesight". I have had a restriction on my license since I was about 30 requiring me to wear glasses. Four years ago I went in for my renewal and took the eye exam. I passed without glasses! The person giving the exam said it was not unusual for a persons eyesight to get BETTER with age! So much for being blind. [USA TODAY]
<> We've been re-testing seniors starting at each license renewal from age 75 on in NH for years. Personally, as an 88 year old, I think re-testing should be done every year. There are only two of about seven seniors whom I ride with who should still be driving. [USA TODAY] JULY 13, 2009 - JULY 19, 2009 HEALTH/EDUCATION
"The Obama administration took a long-overdue step toward modernizing this nation's disjointed and woefully under-funded system for protecting the food supply... Congress also is considering a measure that would give the U.S. Food and Drug Administration more money and authority to inspect food facilities and to pull products off the shelves" - Disjointed - yes, under-funded - not so sure. Inspecting food processing facilities is fine, for starters. What's really needed is to force companies to reveal the source of the base materials for their products, such as where are the tomatoes coming from for tomato sauce, or where animal products come from before they package it. A while back there was a recall of Cadbury products because of the melamine contamination - the label did not say the product was made in China. It doesn't do any good to tighten processes here if base materials for products are made off shore and their standards do not match ours. Tighten up the imports as well... [SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE] Having just returned from France and Ireland, they have a wonderful system of tracking eggs, dairy and meat with coding inside or on the packaging which indicates EXACTLY where the product originated from. It's not rocket science and yes it's regulation, but a necessary one. They are also fiercely against hormones and other harmful contaminants and thus refuse to purchase items known to contain them. It was a great reminder for us to be more mindful of what we put on our tables and what not to spend our money on. [NPR]
What a beautiful article! Here is a community that cares for its members no matter how ill they become. They stay with them until they die. How can one be afraid if one knows that there will be people with whom one has lived a lifetime caring for one in a loving dignified way as one dies? All too often we desert those in need of human contact or human aid. We don’t support the needs of the family who has a dying person in its midst. Instead we leave them to rely on neighbors or relatives (and they don’t have time), make shift solutions, and then expect them to get over the death in a matter of days. I don’t wonder why we spend tons of money on keeping seriously ill and actively dying individuals alive and in pain for longer than indicated: it’s easier to point to the money spent than it is to the time spent assisting the family and the dying individual so that no one is alone and the death is a good one.[NEW YORK TIMES]
Funny how those who will speak up for us 'poor' Americans make excuses for the obesity many in my socio-economic bracket have. As an American that grew up on welfare and food-stamps, there was NO preprocessed food in our kitchen. It was a choice my mother made to feed me only the best food she could with the limited resources we had. No excuses. Sure I did not get a lot of sweets and there were no cakes, cookies or snacks in the house, but the general health I enjoyed and still have to this day was more than worth the 'deprivation' of a junk-free diet. Nor was the lack of access to local green grocers an impediment. We often times traveled distances to go shopping for fresh vegetables and one summer I recall with much delight, we bought produce (artichokes were my favorite - grocery bags of them) from 'gleaners' who sold cosmetically damaged food at a cost of pennies per dollar against the market price. The reality is, from someone who's STILL living well in the 'poverty range,' that being fit and trim - or not - is a *choice* that people make every day. Ironic that many who will not eat whole food (not even talking organic here, but just plain out fresh and unprocessed) because they say it's 'too expensive' will without batting an eye, plunk down hundreds of dollars a month for drugs to 'fix' the problems caused by the poor diet in the first place. Oh well. Glad I will not have to foot the bill for this foolishness. Yes, there are those who DO have metabolic disorders and are obese from it but they are by far NOT the majority. The bulk of Americans are getting obese because of the choice to eat refined product instead of food and the choice to get more sedentary as they age (and here comes MY generation - the 'boomers! - engaged in a poor dietary race to the last).. which is a looming tsunami that threatens to undo any 'fix' to the healthcare fiasco unfolding before us. Would you like fries with that? [ABCNEWS] JULY 6, 2009 - JULY 12, 2009 HEALTH/EDUCATION
I'm 59 now, but when I was in my 20's, my vehicle was parked near a daycare center in Chicago. As I approached my vehicle, I heard 2 children about 4 years old arguing. When I got to my vehicle, the little boy said to the little girl, "let's ask the old man." I looked around, and was the only person near them. I just cracked up laughing. It was the first time I was ever called "old". [USA TODAY] <> Survey's like this crack me up... I'm curious to know where people get their references for how they're supposed to feel at their age: "...60% of those age 65 and older say they feel younger than their age." Have these people been "their age" before so to have a point of reference?? I'm about to turn 50... never done it before, anxious to see what it feels like. I've been 30, 40 and know what that felt like. Will I feel "old" at 50? Probably not as "old" as I'll feel at 60 (Lord willing I make it), but certainly "older" that I felt at 40. How we feel at our age is extremely relative so how 'bout we just accept our age, feel as good as we can, make the best of it and quit worrying about it - 'cause worrying make us age, right? [USA TODAY]
The U.S. health care system needs a major overhaul. Anyone who has worked for a health insurance company, had a serious illness, been in the hospital , taught school, or owned a small business knows this. Costs are too high to be affordable for employers or workers, and preventive care is not always available that would be cost effective in the long run. As a teacher, you see many students coming to school with mouths hurting with toothaches, and so staying home because of the pain. It blows my mind when I see American doctors going to third-world countries to donate dental services, and I see students in Virginia every year doing without services. I had a struggling sixth-grade student who was making academic progress all of a sudden miss two weeks of school because his shots were not up to date in Chesterfield County, Virginia. Students stay home for weeks with strep throat. Treatment for this type of thing should be readily available in a country this wealthy. It is ridiculous and counterproductive. [NEW YORK TIMES] <> The problem is that young healthy people don't purchase health insurance even if it is available to them because they think, statistically correctly, they are not going to get sick. This means that the cost of health insurance is borne by the middle aged and elderly. The solution is to mandate health insurance for all citizens, with government contributions for impoverished Americans, either from current private insurers or from non-profit GSE's. Why GSE's? (Government Sponsored Enterprises). Because those organizations can float bonds to pay for capital expenditures (facilities, equipment, etc) at a lower interest rate as a GSE and thus lower costs for participants. No one in the Obama administration has suggested "nationalized" health care, e.g. found in Canada or the UK where doctors are actually directly employed by the government. [DAILY BEAST]
JUNE 29, 2009 - JULY 6, 2009 HEALTH/EDUCATION
Mediterranean diet is ideal for those living around the Mediterranean region. To generalize and say that the Mediterranean diet is good for people living in all regions of the world from Alaska to Zanzibar is purely absurd. Long life is not the monopoly of the Mediterranean region and there are people all around the world that live in their 90s and 100s. Common sense healthy diets should be high in whole grain breads , sprouting beans, vegetables, fruits, fish, eggs (without yolks as you grow older), low fat milk (if you do not have lactose intolerance or allergies), no sugars and rarely desserts etc. What is available in the Mediterranean region may not be available elsewhere and certain regions may require sufficient meat and diary products to stay warm. Olive oil (moderately used) , red wines have health benefits and can be introduced in a diet. So my message is based on where you live and what fresh produce is available design your own low calorie, high fiber balanced diet based on some common sense principles and call it John's diet or Jennifer's diet and stick to it religiously and exercise regularly and keep your mind healthy you will be fine and will reach your goals. If living long is your goal then expect to live long and positively but don't expect that you will necessarily live long because you cannot anticipate cancers and bad genes. [ABC NEWS]
As a smoker (and I say that with embarrassment), I applaud this measure. <> Tobacco addiction costs taxpayers billions of dollars every year in healthcare. This is a public health issue that affects how our tax money is spent and, as such, the FDA has an obligation to regulate.
JUNE 22, 2009- JUNE 28, 2009
HEALTH/EDUCATION
These doubting scientists are missing the main relationship between alcohol and health. Everyone with an IQ over 130 understands that their mental health requires a consistent stream of alcohol to ward of insanity. We're not talking daily benders here folks. We're simply saying a couple glasses of Pinot Noir at the end of the day goes a long way in helping quell the anguish of everyday life. Take me for instance ...highly intelligent and surrounded by idiots most of the day. I don't want to get loaded...but I do need that Shiraz before I go to bed to ponder why the rest of the world is so wrong. Alcohol - especially wine - has many medicinal benefits. The ancient Greeks knew this..and it is a part of a Mediterranean diet. You don't think that all the good hearts in the Mediterranean are the result of olive oil and hummus, do you? No...it's small portions and red wine. All of these alcohol studies have no meaning anyway. If the scientists who are doubting the benefits of moderate drinking want to conduct a real study...have them work for my company for one week. I am very sure that at the end of their trial...they'll all know where to get the best bordeaux.[NEW YORK TIMES]
JUNE 15, 2009 - JUNE 21, 2009 HEALTH/EDUCATION An American in the U.K. looks at Health Care As an American who has lived in the UK for the past ten years, I really can not understand the resistance to a single payer system. It doesn't have to negate private insurance options. People still go private here, it just costs more. Alternative Medicine -- Sorting Real from Fake The "natural remedy" world needs some sort of regulatory agency. There are plenty of great natural treatments and cures for many ailments out there, but there are even more frauds pushed by snake-oil salesmen who realize they can claim anything and get away with it so long as their product is "natural." An agency with the power to sort the real stuff from the fake or even harmful products would be a tremendous help. Unfortunately, it would doubtless get caught up in the endless corruption that plagues the rest of the government regulatory agencies and fail at its given task.[CBS] <> Malpractice lawsuits should be a major concern for the American Medical Association. From the Journal of the American Medical Association:
JUNE 8, 2009 - JUNE 14, 2009 HEALTH/EDUCATION Every article I have read points out a complete lack of protection for woman's clinics from the protestations of the anti-abortion movement which harass and intimidate patients using medical services even though other health and counseling services are provided at these clinics. Of course, even churches are fair game for this activity. What is wrong with this picture? The clinics themselves seem to have even made peace with what they call their "usual protesters". If people who oppose the death penalty can be put on a terrorist list, infiltrated and watched, it shows what the priorities of this country are, and who controls the agenda still. [Daily Beast] Health care should be available to all and people should not be forced into financial ruin to obtain it or delay medical attention because of lack of finances. National health is doable, the main problems are greed by providers and individuals who feel that care, such as a uncomplicated hernia repair, needs to be done immediately if not sooner which would be the case if you have private coverage and an opening on the surgery schedule. We are a disgrace as a nation in providing health care . We may very well have the finest health care in the world but, that's if you have the resources to pay for it, otherwise you are not cared for and this is wrong. [Chicago Tribune] <>
JUNE 1, 2009 - JUNE 7, 2009 HEALTH/EDUCATION Octomom's Right to be with Her Kids I'm hardly about to give Octomom a pat on the back, but I do get tired of hearing everyone say the state should take her children away, or that she should be required to give the babies to loving families to adopt. This isn't a litter of kittens--those babies are all brothers and sisters, and they have older siblings too. So what if there are a lot of loving families who want to adopt a baby? That doesn't mean they're entitled to this woman's children, and it doesn't mean it's okay to go ahead and divide up a sibling group. The Supreme Court has recognized the fundamental right of parents to custody and care of their children, and preserving family unity is supposed to be a priority of any child welfare system (which is a whole other topic for another time). Our disapproval of Mom's character, or our resentment of the burden she's placed on the public treasury, does not trump her right to have her kids. Being a self-centered, immature, attention-seeking nitwit doesn't mean you're legally unfit to have custody of your children. If she's not abusing them or neglecting them, or engaging in behavior that creates a dangerous environment for them, we can all just back off those kids and let them be with their mom and be brothers and sisters to each other. There are plenty of people out there who are unimpressive parents, are selfish, have completely odious personalities, lack the financial resources to raise their children, or aren't stellar role models. Should the government be allowed to take their kids away? How about yours? [ABC NEWS] The DNA of the virus is of swine origin, hence Swine Flu. Yes, it is also part human and part avian. Pigs have their own flu and uncommonly people catch it. If you are always around pig farms and have not contracted a swine influenza, congratulations. Many others have caught it from pigs but those strains so far have not transmitted from person to person very far. This strain is spreading because it does have more human components and for many other DNA related reasons.[ABC News] In 2009, Americans should treat other Americans as Americans. Nothing more. Nothing less. Many newcomers from developing countries value education of their children over anything else. Regardless of income levels, these newcomers have traditional families with 2 parents. These kids are generally not left at baby sitters or day care centers. In the long run, that makes a big difference in their lives. A kid with parents making $500,000 with broken family has less chance of success than a kid with both natural parents making $50,000. I've come to this conclusion based on my observation of the folks that I met. There are always exceptions to any rules. [USA Today]
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