The debate continues within the medical community over how beneficial breast cancer screening is for most women. While the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends that women aged 50 to 74 need a mammogram no more than every two years, two new studies suggest that women at increased risk for breast cancer should begin those biennial screenings at age 40.
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The latest report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has some uplifting news: Accidental childhood deaths decreased by about 30 percent between 2000 and 2009. While traffic fatalities account for over half of these accidental deaths each year, the number of such deaths actually declined by 41 percent during the study period.
Following his bogus claims that apple juice contains levels of arsenic that are dangerous to humans, the infamous Dr. Oz is at it again and this time, he s peddling the latest weight-loss supplement fad: raspberry ketones. In a recent episode of The Dr. Oz Show, personal trainer and fitness expert Lisa Lynn explained to audience members that ingesting raspberry ketone supplements will help melt away excess pounds. How does it work, you might ask?
Following the FDA s recent decision not to ban bisphenol A (BPA), this week another governmental agency has made another scientifically sound decision in the face of unfounded claims that a given chemical poses dangers to the American public. On Monday, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) denied a petition from the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) to withdraw federal approval of the widely used herbicide 2,4-D.
Last December, we were pleased to announce that childhood obesity rates in New York City and other areas were declining. Now, according to recent research, the same is true for kids under the age of six in eastern Massachusetts.
For those who dread hitting the treadmill or going outside for a run, the latest findings from researchers presenting a study at the European Society of Cardiology may compel some laggards to, literally, run for their lives: Jogging, even for as little as one hour (total) a week can increase a man s life expectancy by 6.2 years and a woman s by 5.6 years.
We ve recently discussed new diagnostic technologies that allow for noninvasive testing for genetic disorders within the first trimester of a pregnancy.
Antibiotics are routinely given to farm animals in order to increase their growth rate and protect their health in crowded conditions, but some scientists worry that such practices are abetting the rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. While it s still unclear whether these harder-to-treat bacteria are actually being passed on to humans, one thing is certain the FDA isn t taking any chances.
Given the unique health and medical needs of older adults, it makes sense to ensure that these patients receive special medical attention. Yet many health services in this country are not adequately addressingseniors health needs, according to a new survey by the John A. Hartford Foundation. In particular, this survey found that many seniors do not receive the preventive care recommended for their age group.
Getting the necessary shots is not just a concern for parents of young children; adults, too, need to keep up with their immunizations. But according to a recent survey by Walgreens, almost half of U.S. adults don t know what shots the government recommends for people in their age group.
Another tip of the ACSH hat to Julie Gunlock, who, in her latest column for Independent Women s Forum, takes apart a recent study alleging that regular soda consumption is associated with a higher risk of stroke.
For the same reason that he doesn t write about Ming Dynasty pottery, New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof should not write about toxicology, says ACSH's Dr. Josh Bloom in a post on Medical Progress Today. We all have our own areas of expertise, and for Kristof, these include politics, foreign affairs, and economics. But readers have come to trust Kristof s opinions, and when he writes about a topic in which he has no expertise such as chemicals and pharmacology readers tend to continue to trust his conclusions.
From the UK: Clive Bates, Director General of Sustainable Futures in the Welsh Government, makes some observations on the European Union's ban on snus (low-risk oral tobacco) that we wish someone at the European Commission would listen to. Why? Well, for one thing, as Bates points out:
Want to know if your kids have been exposed to cigarette smoke? Well, there s a test for that. In a study just published in the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, researchers analyzed nearly 500 blood samples from children ages one to four for cotinine, a chemical present in the body after exposure to nicotine. Study author Dr.
It s been a long, hard road, but after a few years of rejections, Arena Pharmaceuticals weight-loss drug lorcaserin finally won over an FDA advisory panel: They voted 18-to-4 last week in favor of approving the drug. Though the panel s decision is not final, the FDA which will rule on the matter by June 27 usually follows the advisory committee s recommendations.
Two therapies that appear to be effective in promoting weight loss for obese individuals may also help them control their blood pressure, according to two new studies. Presented at the American Society of Hypertension 2012 Scientific Sessions, these studies found that treatment with the extended-release weight-loss pill Qnexa (phentermine/topiramate, slated for an FDA vote in July) or with laproscopic adjustable gastric banding helps to both reduce weight and lower blood pressure.
When more people are screened for skin cancer, more malignant tumors are found, according to results from a recent German study. What s more, a related study found that, following the introduction of a state-wide screening program, deaths from skin cancer fell by about 50 percent.
Things are not looking good for the genetically-engineered salmon developed by AquaBounty Technologies. Granted, the FDA concluded in September of 2010 that the fish is safe to eat and poses no threat to the environment. And in October of 2011, the agency submitted its support of the fast-growing salmon s commercial production.
Millions of women with low bone density take bisphosphonates, a class of drugs used to prevent osteoporosis. But a new analysis by the FDA may lead some of these women, and their doctors, to rethink their treatment plans: The review suggests that certain women may be better off taking these drugs for a shorter period of time, instead of on a long-term basis and some should stop taking them altogether.
So-called me-too drugs are iterations of existing medications that are similar in structure with only minor differences. Such medications typically result from pharmaceutical companies tweaking existing drugs to develop newer and usually more effective therapies. Alhough this mode of research sounds like a great idea, me-too drugs commonly get a bad rap for being non-innovative, especially from critics like Marcia Angell of the Harvard School of Public Health.
Josh Bloom, Medical Progress Today 5/17/12
Why I Don't Write About Pottery from the Ming Dynasty
A recent prospective study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association suggested that exposure to perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) chemicals commonly found in non-stick pans and food packaging reduces immune responses to tetanus and diphtheria vaccinations among children aged 5 to 7 years old. But before you start worrying about protecting your children from these supposedly dangerous chemicals, it s important to note that the research, led by Dr.
To: Center for Tobacco Products, Food and Drug Administration
From: The American Council on Science and Health Elizabeth M. Whelan, President Gilbert Ross, Executive Director and Medical Director
Re: Electronic cigarettes
What's a normal blood pressure for a 15-year-old boy? How about for an eight-year-old girl? Many physician's couldn't tell you taking children's blood pressure has never been standard practice.
The latest study by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) reports on the prevalence of tobacco, alcohol, and illicit drug use among pregnant women ages 15 to 44 years. Overall, Hispanic women had the lowest rates of substance abuse in all categories, while white and black pregnant women were slightly more likely to engage in drinking and illicit drug use.
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