There is a new challenger to Joe Camel on the block and his name is El Cig. Electronic cigarettes are a relatively new development and are being used by some smokers as a substitute for tobacco cigarettes. They resemble cigarettes but Continue reading
Category Archives: Health Care Reform & Health Policy
Vaccine exemptions have widespread consequences
A study just published in Pediatrics illustrates the consequences of children not being vaccinated because of parental objections. The study looked at pertussis vaccine exemptions based on religious beliefs on a county-by-county basis in Continue reading
Adverse childhood experiences impact adult’s health
Childhood experiences have an enormous impact on people’s health in adulthood. This blog post is not based on any new breakthroughs or just-published research. Rather, it is a reminder to all clinicians to keep in mind the ACE Study as we Continue reading
CURING our prescription drug abuse ills
The California State Senate Business and Professions Committee recently passed out of committee SB 809, a measure which will levy a 1.2% license fee for pharmacists, NPs, physicians, and podiatrists to increase funding for the Continue reading
Women who smoke lose a decade of life. Or more.
A study on the effect of smoking on longevity in women was just published in The Lancet of October 27, 2012. As would be expected, the impact is significant. What might be surprising is just how significant. Continue reading
Pre-Halloween scare about strokes in young people
Be alarmed. Be very alarmed. A recent study in the journal Neurology reveals an increasing rate of strokes in young people. Though the overall stroke rate remains low compared to older folks, stroke rates are still climbing in a concerning fashion. Continue reading
Why should we be concerned about “amenable mortality”?
I don’t know what you would have done, but when I recently saw the adjective amenable used to describe mortality, I did a double take. The phrase appeared in a recent article in Health Affairs. Like any confused inhabitant of the 21st Century, I immediately went Continue reading
The pen is mightier than the pill
New York City now has its highest-ever life expectancy. The NYC Health Department recently reported that a baby born in 2009 would have an 80.6 year life span (women 82 years and men 76.3 years). This is 17 months greater than in 2006 and 31 months longer Continue reading
Nine specialty societies recommend less and better testing
A new national campaign to reduce inappropriate tests and procedures was launched in early April 2012 by nine medical specialty societies in association with Consumer Reports magazine. The campaign, called “Choosing Wisely,” is intended to educate the public and clinicians both Continue reading