Pneumococcal vaccine does not work? oh thats not good news! read this meta analysis..
Showing posts with label Health. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Health. Show all posts
Pneumococcal vaccine fails
June 12, 2009
Recommended adult vaccination schedule-2009
January 6, 2009
This in new guideline published on line..Read now..
Intervention vs Responsibility
August 7, 2008
July, 2008 Mayo Clinic Proceedings an article reports the results of a study looking at the value of telemedicine in the management of diabetes. In essence, there were two arms of the study, one with the "usual" management, the other with an endocrinologist available by telemedecine for various problems.
The study found no benefit from having (more or less) instant access to an endocrinologist.
My take on this is that it supports a contention I have about health: It's not about access. It's about patients taking responsibility for their own health. If you are responsible, it becomes your responsibility to learn as much as you can about how to deal with problems, customized to your own situation. So that if you're not doing well, it's your responsibility, not a "failing of the system.Also providing health is not about high tech telemedicine"
The study found no benefit from having (more or less) instant access to an endocrinologist.
My take on this is that it supports a contention I have about health: It's not about access. It's about patients taking responsibility for their own health. If you are responsible, it becomes your responsibility to learn as much as you can about how to deal with problems, customized to your own situation. So that if you're not doing well, it's your responsibility, not a "failing of the system.Also providing health is not about high tech telemedicine"
More exercise for women
July 31, 2008
As reported in the July 28 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, overweight and obese women may need to exercise 55 minutes a day for five days per week to sustain a weight loss of 10 percent over two years - on top of limiting calories. Read more...
Thereby suggesting that the current exercise recommendations is not sufficient in sustaining weight loss in obese women.
"Among obese adults, long-term weight loss and prevention of weight regain have been less than desired. Therefore, there is a need for more effective interventions.
Current recommendations prescribe 30 minutes of moderate physical activity on most days of the week, for a total of 150 minutes per week. However, a growing consensus suggests that more exercise may be needed to enhance long-term weight loss.
Okay...am getting this right? Less calories and a LOT more exercise is necessary. Otherwise more effective interventions are necessary. Maybe the study authors meant lap-band surgery?
Sometimes this is like a 'dead end'. The fact remains that being overweight and obese is like a health hazard to women. The condition just makes all at higher risk of far more serious conditions.
However, if dietary changes, lifestyle changes and exercise combined still isn't enough? I'm just at a loss where that puts us all. I honestly think that more invasive procedures (such as lap-band surgery) doesn't come without a price.
Thereby suggesting that the current exercise recommendations is not sufficient in sustaining weight loss in obese women.
"Among obese adults, long-term weight loss and prevention of weight regain have been less than desired. Therefore, there is a need for more effective interventions.
Current recommendations prescribe 30 minutes of moderate physical activity on most days of the week, for a total of 150 minutes per week. However, a growing consensus suggests that more exercise may be needed to enhance long-term weight loss.
Okay...am getting this right? Less calories and a LOT more exercise is necessary. Otherwise more effective interventions are necessary. Maybe the study authors meant lap-band surgery?
Sometimes this is like a 'dead end'. The fact remains that being overweight and obese is like a health hazard to women. The condition just makes all at higher risk of far more serious conditions.
However, if dietary changes, lifestyle changes and exercise combined still isn't enough? I'm just at a loss where that puts us all. I honestly think that more invasive procedures (such as lap-band surgery) doesn't come without a price.
Anyways, read more about this report from JAMA and Archives Journals.
A Little Virgin Stops Ulcers: Who Knew?
June 7, 2008
Image details: Olive oil pouring on to a spoon served by picapp.com
Got ulcers? Know someone who does? Grab a virgin.
Olive oil, that is.
Yep, the antioxidants found in extra-virgin olive oil (or EVOO ), may put the kibosh to stomach ulcers by squashing the H. pylori bacteria, which is a cause of ulcers.
Says a study in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, all you need is a couple teaspoons a day to get the benefits.
Try preparing your chicken or fish with EVOO instead of veggie oil, or add some to your salad dressing for that extra boost.
Long live the virgin!!
Clean Teeth and No vascluar disease
June 6, 2008
Image details: Dental Examination served by picapp.com
Keep your teeth clean and you can reduce vascular disease. This is the implication of this study from VA.
The VA Normative Aging and Dental Longitudinal Studies in Boston followed 1200 men for up to 35 years and gave clear evidence of an association between chronic periodontitis and the risk of coronary heart disease independent of classical risk factors. We also know that periodontitis causes endothelial dysfunction together with systemic inflammation and endothelial function can be improved after successful periodontal treatment - however no true causal relation between periodontitis and vascular disease has been evidenced.
Regular dental care with treatment of periodontitis using local dental and antibiotic therapy with maybe even a statin seems advisable in patients at risk for atherosclerotic disease, because poor oral health and the presence of periodontitis may negatively affect the blood vessel wall. Read more...
Metabolic Syndrome and Diabetic Risk
June 5, 2008
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The metabolic syndrome has been sometimes been linked to the development of diabetes mellitus 2 and cardiovascular disease, suggesting the syndrome represents a risk “greater than the sum of its parts.”
The syndrome has various definitions, but many have accepted the International Diabetes Foundation’s (IDF) definition; abdominal obesity plus two of the following: triglycerides > 150 mg/dL, HDL < 40, hypertension, and impaired fasting glucose. However there has been considerable debate whether metabolic syndrome truly is a distinct syndrome or just a group of conditions that happen to co-exist. Two prospective studies reported in the Lancet, the Prospective Study of Pravastatin in the Elderly at Risk (PROSPER) and the British Regional Heart Study, examined the supposed association of metabolic syndrome with the development of DM2 or CVD. In PROSPER, the metabolic syndrome was not associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease (HR 1.07, 95% CI 0.86 to 1.32) but was highly associated with a greater risk of diabetes (HR 4.41, 95% CI 3.33 to 5.84). Curiously, neither the metabolic syndrome nor any of its components were significantly associated with the development of CVD in the PROSPER trial. The British Regional Heart Study (n= 2,737 males) did find a small association between metabolic syndrome and CVD (HR 1.27, 95% CI 1.04 to 1.56), but having the syndrome wasmore strongly predictive of the development of DM2 (HR 7.47, 95% CI 4.90 to 11.46). The new findings thereforeshow that the metabolic syndrome does not usefully predict a simultaneous risk of DM and CVD. The authors recommend that clinicians should focus on a global assessment of CVD risk based on previously validated criteria (for instance Framingham) rather than chasing down the rather cumbersome diagnosis of metabolic syndrome.
Red wine slows ageing?
Image details: Senior Man Toasting with Red Wine served by picapp.com
Red wine may be much more potent than was thought in extending human lifespan, researchers say in a new report that is likely to give impetus to the rapidly growing search for longevity drugs.
The study is based on dosing mice with resveratrol, an ingredient of some red wines. Some scientists are already taking resveratrol in capsule form, but others believe it is far too early to take the drug, especially using wine as its source, until there is better data on its safety and effectiveness.
I hope this bears it out. Read this news article in New York Times.
Over 55 to get polypill?
June 4, 2008
A polypill variant containing aspirin, a statin, and an ACE inhibitor is ready to be tested in secondary-prevention studies intended to show not efficacy, which has been all but settled, but the product's pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics. Click here for link.
Image details: Man holding pill case and glass of water served by picapp.com
BRITISH doctors have produced for the first time a five-in-one “polypill” that, taken daily by everyone over 55, could prevent 80% of heart attacks and strokes.
If you want to read the news article in Sunday Times click picture.
Shopping sharpens your brain!
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This is a great news for my shopoholic friends.
If you think shopping belongs in the Summer Olympics (or Winter, for that matter), do we have the news for you! Seems that browsing and buying gives more than your credit card a workout - it’s good for the human body and mind, too!
How so, you ask? We’re happy to share:
* Conversing, haggling and all-around interacting with other folks forces you to think and act quickly
* Comparison shopping strengthens the brain’s math and reasoning capacities
* Positive visual stimulation keeps the brain engaged and feelings of happiness present
* Walking from store to store, bending and stretching for items, and carrying all those packed-to-the-gills shopping bags counts as exercise, which releases mood-boosting chemicals - the same ones which protect you from age-related side-effects like memory loss.
Great news, huh? Of course, maxing out your credit cards and agonizing over purchases can also lead to stress, so try to keep your shopping on the fun side for maximum benefit.
So, what are you waiting for, people? Go get your shop on!
Want to play longer? play Golf
This is one of my favorite posts and i am sure there is lot truth in this.
Published in in Mail. Can you click on image to read the news article.
Looks like those Wednesday afternoon golfing doctors had it right all along. Seems golfing is not only good for your health but also has the potential to add years to your life according to a new study out by the Swedish medical university Karolinska Institutet.
The study, published recently in the Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, analysed data collected from 300,000 Swedish golfers and discovered that “…they were 40 per cent less likely to die at any given age than those who did not play.”
And those with the lowest handicap had even a greater chance of longer life. Makes sense. Those with a lower handicap, after all, probably spend a lot more time on the golf course.
Mediterranean diet cuts risk of Diabetes?
Image details: Aspects Of The Mediterranean Diet served by picapp.com
By Jeremy Laurance, Health Editor, The Independent
Friday, 30 May 2008
The Mediterranean diet, with abundant quantities of virgin olive oil, provides strong protection against diabetes, a study has shown.
The diet, which includes high quantities of fruit, vegetables and wholegrain pulses and cereals is already known to protect against cardiovascular disease and, according to some research, against Alzheimer’s.
Click on picture to read the article.
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