Schwarzenegger’s pen has been busy.
your health
Microsoft To Launch "Search-Engine Supported" Site For Health Records
By 10.4.07
Today Microsoft unveiled “Health Vault,” a “search-engine” supported service that will organize your health records, should you decide to allow your doctors to share them with Microsoft.
Drug Company Fined MoreThan $500 Million For Inflating Drug Prices, Inappropriate Marketing
By 9.29.07
Given all the recent attention to industry money and off-label uses of atypical antipsychotics, we were particularly struck by the Abilify issue. The drug is approved only for bipolar disorder and schizophrenia in adults, but the Department of Justice accused the company of promoting its use for children and for elderly patients with dementia.
According to the Department of Justice, BMS created a special sales force specifically to target nursing homes. It’s unfortunate for those patients that the drug carries a warning of increased death among elderly patients with dementia-related psychosis who are treated with atypical antipsychotics.
FDA Issues Public Health Warning About Cancer Pain Drug Fentora
By 9.27.07
The FDA would like to let you know that a medicine meant to be used to control pain in patients who have become tolerant to morphine and other similar drugs is being used incorrectly and some patients have died as a result.
Do You Really Need A Check-Up? Maybe Not.
By 9.25.07
We’re always hearing about how important it is to see your doctor for a check-up, but is it? The WSJ Health Blog noticed a study that says “no.”
Are Food Additives Making Your Kids Hyperactive?
By 9.6.07
A new study suggests that food additives such as the commonly used preservative sodium benzoate may cause children to become hyper.
Things You Can Do To Prevent Hospital Acquired Infections
By 8.27.07
Hospital acquired infections are dangerous and costly to consumers. You go to the hospital, you pay your money and you get sicker than before you went in. That’s just not cool.
Dunkin' Donuts To Eliminate Most Trans Fat By October 15
By 8.26.07
Dunkin’ Donuts will announce tomorrow that over 50 menu items, including donuts, will become virtually trans fat free by October 15. The donut maker is relying on a reformulated cooking oil made from palm, soybean, and cottonseed oils. Over 400 locations secretly tested the new formula over the past four months, and according to Dunkin’, “we got no negative consumer feedback, and we sold 50 million doughnuts in that time.” The CSPI reacted favorably to the news, saying:
“It’s good news that they’re dropping most, if not quite all, trans fat,” said Jeff Cronin, spokesman for the Center for Science in the Public Interest, a Washington-based nonprofit. “If Dunkin’ Donuts can do that, anyone can.”
Heartburn Drugs Prilosec and Nexium May Cause Heart Attacks
By 8.11.07
The FDA has launched a safety review of the heartburn drugs Prilosec and Nexium after two studies linked the medicines to an increased risk of: “heart attacks, heart failure, and heart-related sudden death.” The FDA warned that the studies are only preliminary, and that doctors and patients should keep using the drugs. From the LA Times:
Proposed Legislation In Ohio Would Require Women To Get A Man's Permission To Have An Abortion
By 8.2.07
New proposed legislation in Ohio would make it illegal for a woman to get an abortion without a man’s permission, according to the Record-Courier.
Hospital Found Negligent For Hiring Worst Doctor Ever
By 8.2.07
According to the Charleston Gazette, Putnam General Hospital in West Virginia was guilty of “wantonness, recklessness and gross negligence” in not properly checking the background of John A. King, a surgeon who is now facing more malpractice lawsuits than any other doctor in the state’s history.
Consumer Reports: Older Drugs Better For Those With Type-2 Diabetes
By 7.18.07
Consumer Reports says that older, not newer, drugs are better for those with Type-2 diabetes. New, heavily advertised drugs such as “Avandia and Actos” are more expensive but not more effective. Older drugs are also as safe “if not safer” than the new drugs.
Get Ready For Insecticide Resistant Lice
By 7.17.07
OTC insecticides used to kill lice, such as NIX and RID, are becoming less useful, according to the WSJ.
Kmart Adds 70 Drugs To Its $15 Generic Drug Program
By 7.11.07
Now covered by the 90-Day Generics Program are nearly 70 new generic medications, including 17 different formulations of popular generic prescription prenatal vitamins, a larger selection than other generic programs
At $5 a month, Kmart’s program is still more expensive than Walmart’s $4 a month program, but instead of going to Walmart every month, Kmart offers a 90 day supply for $15. Presuming, of course, that you can locate a Kmart.
Burger King To Go Trans Fat Free By The End of 2008
By 7.9.07
products cooked in trans fat free oil tasted the same or better than products cooked in the traditional oil. We are proud to offer a healthier oil with the same great taste.”
Hooray for fewer trans fats.
Healthy Eating Campaigns Stink, Do Nothing To Prevent Childhood Obesity
By 7.6.07
The federal government is spending over $1 billion on nutrition education this year, and it’s probably a waste of money, according to the AP.
“Any person looking at the published literature about these programs would have to conclude that they are generally not working,” said Dr. Tom Baranowski, a pediatrics professor at Houston’s Baylor College of Medicine who studies behavioral nutrition.
Eating Dark Chocolate Every Day Is Good For Your Heart
By 7.6.07
Attention dark chocolate fans: Eating a little bit of dark chocolate every day is good for your heart, according to new research.
Hospitals: Staph Infections Are Rampant
By 6.28.07
The Chicago Tribune reports that 1.2 million hospital patients are infected with dangerous drug-resistant staph infections every year—10 times more than previously estimated according to a new study. The paper also reported that 48,000 to 119,000 hospital patients a year may be dying from methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections, far more than previously thought. Great!
The Tribune obtained the results during the weekend from the Association for Professionals in Infection Control & Epidemiology (APIC), which is releasing the report publicly on Monday. The author is Dr. William Jarvis, former acting director of the hospital infections program at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
