Seven Flu Myths that Could Kill You
Myth One: The flu isn’t that dangerous and healthy people don't need to be vaccinated. Deaths from influenza is consistently in the top ten causes of death in the United States. Of the three types of flu going around this year, one of them H1N1 is known as the killer of healthy people. A variant of this flu was responsible for millions of deaths after World War 1, and tens of thousands of deaths … [Read More...]
Report examines Alzheimer’s disproportionate toll on women
March 19, 2014 USA Today (3/19, Weintraub) reports that according to a report (pdf) released March 18 by the Alzheimer’s Association on its website, “Alzheimer’s takes a disproportionate toll on women.” The report found that “women are far more likely to develop the fatal disease than men: one in six women over 65 will get it during their lifetime, compared with one in 11 men.” What’s more, … [Read More...]
Study: Diabetes-related complications declining
April 17, 2014 In a 1,100-word story on its front page, the New York Times (4/17, A1, Tavernise, Grady, Subscription Publication) reports that research published in The New England Journal of Medicine shows “the first broad national picture of progress against some of the most devastating complications of diabetes, which affects millions of Americans, finding that rates of heart attacks, strokes, … [Read More...]
Obesity down among young children
February 26, 2014 Research indicating that the obesity rate among young children is declining was covered by all of last night’s national news broadcasts, for a total of three-and-a-half minutes, by most major US newspapers, by wire sources, and on many major websites. Many sources hailed the findings, with some experts saying the data indicate that anti-obesity efforts are paying off. However, … [Read More...]
Study: Diabetes-related complications declining
April 17, 2014 In a 1,100-word story on its front page, the New York Times (4/17, A1, Tavernise, Grady, Subscription Publication) reports that research published in The New England Journal of Medicine shows “the first broad national picture of progress against some of the most devastating complications of diabetes, which affects millions of Americans, finding […]
Weight loss surgery may be better than medication alone for patients with type 2 diabetes
April 1, 2014 NBC Nightly News (3/31, story 10, 2:55, Williams) reported that “researchers have found that weight loss surgery for” patients with type 2 diabetes “can be more effective than taking medication in beating this disease.” USA Today (4/1, Weintraub) reports that for the study, presented at the American College of Cardiology meeting and […]
Preventing Whopping Cough from Killing Infants
by Dr. Terry Simpson Imagine if your infant, or newborn grandchild or newborn family member, or good friend’s newborn was killed because you didn’t get a vaccine. How would you feel? Imagine that if you just got a shot, a vaccination, you could save the life of the most vulnerable among us. The Anti Vaccination […]
Seven reasons obesity is a disease
by Dr. Terry Simpson The American Medical Association (AMA) – has officially recognized obesity as a disease, joining the scientists of the NIH, a move that could encourage physicians to pay more attention to the importance of addressing obesity, and spur more insurers to pay for treatments. Contrary to popular stigma obesity is not the […]
Non-exercise physical activity may reduce heart risks in older individuals
October 30, 2013 The Los Angeles Times (10/30, Macvean, 3.07M) “Science Now” blog reports that research published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine suggests that “non-exercise physical activity” may reduce “the risk of a heart attack or stroke by more than a quarter” in older individuals. Investigators “tracked the behavior and health of nearly […]
