Health Alert
American Health
American Health. Americans have shorter life expectancy and higher rates of injury and disease than citizens of other industrialized countries. A 2011 report showed that the US ranked 50th in life expectancy. In most health issues (infant mortality, teenage pregnancies, sexually transmitted diseases, heart disease, chronic lung disease, disability, obesity, diabetes, drug-related deaths, homicides, injuries,…
Read MoreAlcohol On The Brain?
Alcohol On The Brain? Excessive alcohol use accounts for 4% of the global burden of disease, and binge drinking is a growing health issue. Functional signs of brain damage from alcohol misuse in young people include deficits in visual learning, memory, and functions. Structural signs of alcohol misuse in young people include shrinking of the…
Read MorePrescription Drug Abuse
Prescription Drug Abuse. Prescription drug abuse is just behind marijuana as the United States’ most widespread drug issue, with 22 million people beginning use of non-medically prescribed pain alleviating drugs since 2002. Rates of abuse span from 3.6% in Iowa to 6.4% in Oregon. Addressing prescription drug misuse remains a top public health priority. The…
Read MoreStroke!
Stroke! In males and females ages 5-14, the number of ischemic stroke hospitalizations increased 31% and 36%, respectively, from 1994 to 2007. For ages 15-34 the increase was 51% for males and 17% for females. For ages 35-44, the increase was 47% for men and 36% for females. The increase in obesity seems to be…
Read MoreHigh Fructose Corn Syrup and Type-2 Diabetes
High Fructose Corn Syrup and Type-2 Diabetes. Researchers found a 20% higher proportion of the population has diabetes in countries with high use of High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS), like the United States, compared to countries that do not, like the United Kingdom. The United States has the highest consumption of HFCS at 55 lbs…
Read MorePesticides and Food Allergies
Pesticides and Food Allergies. Dichlorophenols are chemical compounds commonly found in pesticides and used for tap water chlorination. A recent study of 10,438 Americans showed 24.4% had dichlorophenols in their urine. Researchers found those with dichlorophenols in their urine were more likely to suffer from food allergies. Further research is needed to determine whether or…
Read MoreCigarette Taxes
Cigarette Taxes. According to a study conducted by Tobacco Control, the typical smoker averaged 16 cigarettes per day in 2001. Three years later, that number decreased to 14 cigarettes daily. The price for a pack of cigarettes increased from $3.96 in 2001 to $4.41 in 2004, mainly due to increased taxes on cigarettes. It’s believed…
Read MoreChildhood Obesity Rates Falling!
Childhood Obesity Rates Falling! During the first decade of the 21st century, childhood obesity rates among children in lower income families in the United States have decreased (14.94% in 2010 vs. 15.21% in 2003). The Journal of the American Medical Association, December 2012
Read MoreLow-Dose Aspirin
Low-Dose Aspirin. The risk of gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding needs to be considered when determining the potential preventive benefits associated with low-dose aspirin for cardiovascular disease and cancer. The risk is increased with the use of cardiovascular disease-preventing therapies. Low-dose aspirin is defined as 75 to 325 mg. Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Dec 2011
Read MoreAntibiotic Resistance
Antibiotic Resistance. Overexposure to antibiotics has long been a concern in the medical community, most specifically the development of antibiotic resistant infections as a result of repeated use. Ophthalmologic antibiotics have been found to promote antimicrobial resistance too, prompting a call from Vanderbilt Eye Institute physicians to be more judicial in the administration of certain…
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