Sensation Line Fitness

Experts share challenges of setting up state insurance exchanges

Tyson Flood — Sat, 12 May 2012 17:10:38 +0000

Setting up a state insurance exchange is a complicated endeavor – made more so by the bitter politics of health reform and the uncertainty over the Supreme Court ruling. Some states, like Maryland, are proceeding with enthusiasm. Others are fighting the health law in court – but quietly doing some of the ground work for an exchange anyway. Other states say they just arent going to set one up, no way, no how – meaning the federal government is supposed to be ready to step in with a backup exchange plan.

At the panel on state exchanges at Health Journalism 2012, we heard from two experts – Maryland Health Secretary Josh Sharfstein, who is coordinating his states exchange efforts as the head of its exchange board, and Heather Howard, the director of the State Health Reform Assistance Network, based in Princeton.

Oral pain relief for £1

Kaitlyn Eames — Sat, 12 May 2012 14:41:32 +0000

A dental charity is launching an innovative charity initiative to help improve global oral health.

Bridge2Aid is asking practices to offer their patients a chance to add £1 to their bill under its Small Change = Big Change scheme.

Every £120 raised, means that a whole village will gain access to emergency dental care – allowing people to live pain-free, and, for many, the chance to return to work to support their families.

As the money will also be put towards training local East African health workers, it means that the fundraising is not just a quick-fix but provides a long-term sustainable solution.

The vast majority of Bridge2Aid’s administration costs are covered by profits from Hope Dental Centre, run by the charity in Tanzania, which means that every £1 is going straight into programmes to provide help to people in need.

If you are interested in offering the scheme through your dental practice Bridge2Aid will send you a pack that contains all the information you need to get started including posters and a reception information stand that will help you tell your patients what you are doing.

Email bigchange@bridge2aid.org or phone 07733 102087 to order yours.

Types of Blindness

Christian Troy — Sat, 12 May 2012 11:04:43 +0000

Whenever we hear of blindness, or spot a blind person, the most immediate reaction is that of heartfelt sympathy. But just for a minute, what if we had to step into a blind person’s shoes? How would we then view things around us? As frightening as it sounds, it can really get you thinking. For starters, a blind person never judges anyone on the basis of their looks, appearance, or the way they dress, which rules out one of the most popular pastimes of sighted beings. Their best friend and guide is a four-legged furry creature, who seriously, is the best companion humans can have, blind or not. Read more…

Joslin Researchers Find Unique Physiology is Key to Diagnosing and Treating Diabetes in Asian Populations

Kaitlyn Eames — Wed, 09 May 2012 07:30:42 +0000

“The medical profession needs to be aware of and address the unique characteristics of this population,” said George L. King, M.D., Chief Scientific Officer at Joslin Diabetes Center and Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School (HMS). “Without this understanding, diabetes could be misdiagnosed or missed altogether.”

Dr. King was lead author of nine diabetes specialists nationwide who collaboratively wrote an article published in the May 2012 edition of Diabetes Care highlighting a comprehensive range of research findings presented at an international symposium held in Honolulu in September 2011.

The authors compiled extensive data on various groups that comprise the Asian American population, encompassing immigrants from numerous East Asian countries and those born in the United States. They al

Online searchers can help strangers make sense of data

Christian Troy — Wed, 09 May 2012 06:39:50 +0000

People who have already processed online information to make sense of a subject can help strangers facing similar tasks. This process of distributed sense making, say researchers from Carnegie Mellon University and Microsoft, could save time and result in a better understanding of the information needed for whatever goal users might have.

They could be planning a vacation, gathering information about a serious disease or trying to decide what product to buy, according to a Carnegie Mellon statement.

Researchers explored the use of digital knowledge maps, a means of representing the thought processes used to make sense of information gathered from the Web.

Watercress Lessens Exercise-Induced Oxidative Stress

Tyson Flood — Thu, 03 May 2012 17:58:31 +0000

Watercress Lessens Exercise-Induced Oxidative Stress Posted on 2012-05-08 06:00:01 in Exercise | Functional Foods |

Reactive oxygen species are produced as a normal by-product of a range of body functions, and are produced in greater quantity as a result of high-intensity exercise. Watercress is a green leafy vegetable that is high in antioxidant compounds. Mark C. Fogarty, from Edinburgh Napier University (United Kingdom), and colleagues enrolled 10 healthy men, average age 23 years. Subjects were given 85 g of watercress to consume daily for eight weeks; they also participated in an eight-week long segment of the study, with no watercress consumption, to act as controls.

Learn more about your baby during pregnancy week 18

admin — Tue, 01 May 2012 09:32:23 +0000

If you wonder if you expect a boy or a girl, you can find it out at pregnancy week 18. This is almost the midpoint of a healthy pregnancy. It is a time to do things, make decisions, and start thinking about preparations. It’s never too early to do some planning, as the third quarter may be difficult and tiring for some pregnant women.

One of the most exciting things about pregnancy week 18 is that you will know the baby’s sex very soon. Some get it at 18 weeks and others wait as long as 22 weeks. Though the reproductive organs are not always visible at 18 weeks, but it is possible. If you want to know what you experience, you may want to give it a few weeks to increase your chances of getting a clear idea. R Read more…

Inauguration of Dialysis Centre at Lion Kartar Singh Hospital

Tyson Flood — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 07:54:53 +0000

Veera Desai Jain Sangh had recently created a dialysis centre, Smt Dhanlaxmi R Vora Dialysis Centre, in a mutual aid with Lions Club of Versova, for the help of the deprived divisions of the society who are experiencing such type of dialysis. The inauguration of the centre of carried out by Honourable Shri Suresh Shetty, who is the Cabinet Minister for Public Health & Family Welfare, at Lion Kartar Singh Hospital, near Bhavans College, Andheri West in Mumbai.

The inaugural function were attended by the VIP’s and chief members of the society such as MLA’s Shri Krishna Hegde and Shri Ashokbhau Jadhav, M.C.G.M corporater’s Shri Mohsin Haider, Shri Bala Ambekar, Smt Jyotsna Dighe and Smt Binita Vora. Other

Sedatives and Alcohol Increase Risk for Pain Medication Adverse Events

Christian Troy — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 17:34:25 +0000

GLENVIEW, Ill., March 29, 2012 – Adverse events associated with taking opioid pain medications increase in patients who concurrently use sedatives and alcohol. A study in The Journal of Pain, published by the American Pain Society, www.ampainsoc.org, advises physicians to use caution in prescribing sedatives for patients taking opioids, even if there is no history of substance abuse.

Concurrent use of sedatives and alcohol with opioid analgesic medications can exacerbate respiratory depression and sedation. In most death cases associated with prescription opioids, other drugs are identified in the blood stream, such as sedatives, alcohol and illicit drugs. I

Plans for new dental hospital go on show

Kaitlyn Eames — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 15:13:11 +0000

This is how Birmingham’s new dental hospital and school of dentistry could look, the Birmingham Mail has revealed.

Planning consent for the multi-million pound project, on the site of the former BBC studios in Pebble Mill Road, Edgbaston, was gained last November.

And now the public are being asked to comment on these computer generated images before final designs are submitted to the city council in early May.

Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Trust said the four-storey facility would replace the current dental hospital in St Chads Queensway, which is now 50-years-old.

The Trust said the new hospital would be split by a central entrance and atrium, with a larger area for medical uses and a smaller section as an educational centre.

Medical director Rick Roberts said: ‘The existing hospital has given tremendous service for nearly half a century.

Benefits of Drinking Camel Milk

Christian Troy — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 05:28:12 +0000

Eminent scientists and researchers from different countries have proven that camel milk has numerous health benefits. It has been touted since ages that the milk of this desert animal has endured nomads and Bedouins during their long wandering odyssey. Domestication of camels and camel farming are extensively carried out in dry and arid regions like Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kenya, etc. In these places, you will find camel milk and its derivatives being readily sold in departmental stores and supermarkets. Though it is still an existing product and not so popular across the world, yet in many parts of the US, camel farming has been set up to boost the sale of camel milk. Read more…

Done right, humor can blunt the indignities of aging

Tyson Flood — Sat, 07 Apr 2012 20:58:38 +0000

Can making older adults the butt of jokes be a blessing – in disguise?

Read this New York Times article about Koshihiro Kariya, a 61-year-old comedian in Japan, and decide for yourself.

Kariya earns a living telling jokes about the indignities of aging in books, on CDs, and in theaters, mostly packed by 60-something and 70-something women. This article leads with a good example:

Forty years ago, when you were first married, your husband swept you up in his arms and carried you into the bedroom, he said during a recent show.

When was the last time that happened? 1962? he continued, pointing at individual audience members. For you, 1960? 1956? A

Glycemic Index Foods at Breakfast Can Control Blood Sugar Throughout the Day

Kaitlyn Eames — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 19:42:34 +0000

Savory
— Portable
— Pleasing texture
— Fills you up for extended periods of time
— Satiates quickly so less is consumed
— Affordable for the whole family to eat every day
— Non-fried
— Delicious without making you feeling guilty

“This is a very tall order for food product manufacturers,” Shelke said. “It takes a lot of skill and understanding.”

While it may present challenges for food manufacturers, it is well worth it to develop these products because of the prevalence of diabetes and pre-diabetes in the United States and beyond. It is estimated that by 2030, more than 16 percent of the global population will have a blood sugar problem.

“Most of the risk factors are things that can be managed and modified,” Shelke said. “We can reverse pre-diabe

Shocking Shopping

Tyson Flood — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 23:10:13 +0000

Shocking Shopping Posted on 2012-03-29 06:00:01 in Environment | Respiratory |

Fifty-five chemical compounds that are regarded as endocrine disruptors with potential risks to human health were found in 213 commercially available consumer products, including cleaning agents, cosmetics, air fresheners, dryer sheets, shower curtains, and other household goods. Researchers from the Silver Spring Institute (Massachusetts, USA) found that these products contained parabens, phthalates, bisphenol A, triclosan, ethanolamines, alkylphenols, fragrances, glycol ethers, cyclosiloxanes and UV filters. The team noted that many such detected chemicals were not listed on product labels. Importantly, the researchers tested both conventional and “green” products, finding that the distinction of “environmental” products did not affect the levels of endocrine disruptors present. Wa