Posted on May 26th, 2006 by Thomas F. Heston, MD, FAAFP, FACNP, FASNC
Cardiovascular disease remains the number 1 cause of death worldwide according to recent research published in this week’s Lancet, as reported on FoxNews.com. Researchers reported on the leading causes of death in countries with a relatively high income, and separately for countries with a low to middle income. Here are the lists:
High income countries:
1. Heart […]
Filed under: Medical News | 2 Comments »
Posted on May 23rd, 2006 by Thomas F. Heston, MD, FAAFP, FACNP, FASNC
Research presented at The American Thoracic Society’s 102nd International Conference in San Diego suggests that smoking marijuana (a substance the FDA has labeled as “Category 1″, i.e. of no medical value) does not increase the risk of lung cancer.
“we did not find any evidence for an increase in (lung) cancer risk for even heavy marijuana smoking.” […]
Filed under: Medical News | No Comments »
Posted on May 21st, 2006 by Thomas F. Heston, MD, FAAFP, FACNP, FASNC
With the advent of birth control pills, the menstrual period is now an option, not a monthly event. As reported on Yahoo.com:
“If you’re choosing contraception, then there’s not a lot of point to having periods,” says Dr. Leslie Miller, a University of Washington-Seattle researcher and associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology whose Web site, noperiod.com, […]
Filed under: Medical News | No Comments »
Posted on May 20th, 2006 by Thomas F. Heston, MD, FAAFP, FACNP, FASNC
The American Journal of Preventive Medicine (2006 Jun;30(6):521-7) reports that 43% of patients undergoing a preventive health exam get an unnecessary urinalysis, electrocardiogram, or chest x-ray. The authors did not look at the inappropriate use of other tests. The authors state:
The frequency of ordering any of the three diagnostic interventions ranged from 5% to 37%, […]
Filed under: Medical News | No Comments »
Posted on May 19th, 2006 by Thomas F. Heston, MD, FAAFP, FACNP, FASNC
Canada.com reports that Iran has passed a new law that would require religious minorities to wear special badges to identify themselves as non-muslim. The law still requires approval by Iran’s “Supreme Guide” Ali Khamenehi before being put into effect.
Iran’s roughly 25,000 Jews would have to sew a yellow strip of cloth on the front of their […]
Filed under: Medical News | 2 Comments »
Posted on May 18th, 2006 by Thomas F. Heston, MD, FAAFP, FACNP, FASNC
A panel review by the National Institutes of Health recommends that there be federal oversight of the nutritional supplement industry. The concern is that people will inadvertantly take high doses of micronutrients, such as vitamins, that will be harmful to them.
The panel has a valid concern, but is their solution any better than the problem? […]
Filed under: Medical News | 1 Comment »