Medical costs continue to rise in the United States. The problem is so big that resident Obama wants to pass health care reform to help consumers who are uninsured and those who are paying sky high monthly health insurance premiums. One big issue that needs to be issued is the fact that many people who have medical insurance are being over tested.
Many doctors order a litany of medical tests for their patients without a lot of justification. This is because they need the revenue and for some doctors it protects them from malpractice suits if they missed something that could have easily been tested for. Hospitals make their revenue off of money that is paid to them by health insurance companies; if they order many tests for patients then they can help their overall bottom line. For them, no one gets hurt and they stay afloat.
Recently, President Barack Obama had a prostate cancer test and a colon cancer screening that some medical professionals said was not routine for a medical physical. In order for consumers to have lower insurance premiums there needs to be better care and only necessary medical testing in the future. More care is not always better; sometimes it is just more.
Prostate screening antigen tests are often used as a common cancer screening tests for men. A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine concluded that the test cannot be proven to reduce the risk of death to prostrate cancer in men.
Prostate cancer is the second most common form of cancer in men, and the most common form of cancer among men who do not smoke. The inventor of the test recently called its extensive use an expensive public health disaster.
The test itself simply measures the level of prostate cancer antigens found in the blood. While it can detect a tumor, it cannot distinguish between an aggressive tumor that requires treatment and a tumor growing slowly in the patient’s body. These smaller non-aggressive tumors are not likely to result in a patient’s death. The level of prostate antigens in a man’s blood can spike for reasons not related to cancer.
The creator of the test has called it a public health disaster and the American Cancer Society does not recommend it as part of a screening process to detect early cancer tumors in the prostate. Medicare and the Veterans Administration pay much of the $3 billion per year cots for the number of PSA tests that take place in the United States each year.
Women who take birth control bills do not have a higher long-term death risk than women who do not take birth control bills, according to recent report published in the British Medical Journal. Doctors conducted the study with a large sample of women over a forty year period.
The recent findings announced in the British Medical Journal contradict earlier studies which suggested that birth control bills were linked to higher rates of certain fatal diseases in later life. The new findings of the study have found that there is no difference in death rates between women who take birth control pills for ten years or more and women who have never taken the pill.
The study did find that women who do take birth control pills are more likely to suffer from a violent or accidental death within the first few years of taking oral contraception. An older woman may benefit from continuing to take the pills as a form of estrogen therapy, even after going through menopause. The initial reports from the same group suggested a link between vascular conditions in old age and the use of birth control pills. The new findings counteract earlier findings of the Royal College of General Practitioners.
Three cases for vaccine-related causation of autism were found to be scientifically unsupported in Federal court, March 12, 2010. It was ruled there was no scientific connection between the thimerosal-containing vaccines and autism. Parents and advocacy groups argued that the ruling represents a conspiracy to protect vaccination programs.
More than 5300 cases have been filed since 1986 when congress set up a special judicial forum, sometimes called the “vaccine court,” to address claims over vaccine safety. Parents sued through the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP), which was formed in 1988. It was established to ensure an “adequate supply of vaccines, stabilize vaccine costs, and establish and maintain an accessible and efficient forum” for individuals found injured by certain vaccines.
Thimerosal, a mercury-derived compound, was used a preservative in some childhood vaccines prior to 1999. Questions arose as to its involvement with autism and it was removed from most vaccines. A 12 year study done by researchers at the California state Department of Public Health, found that autism rates have continued to rise, despite its removal from vaccines.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Health Organization, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the Institute of Medicine agree with the recent court ruling in its rejection of vaccines and/or thimerosal as causative agents of autism. Research continues towards finding the real cause of autism.
They say everything is bigger in Texas. Unless you are Manny Pacquiao, that is. Pacquiao weighed in two pounds lighter than Joshua Clottey and is an inch and a half shorter. His reach is also three inches less than Clottey’s.
But you can’t measure the heart of the world champion of six different weight classes. Pacquiao has a career record of 50-3-2 with 28 knockouts and is considered by many the best fighter, pound for pound, in the world.
Clottey is no slouch either with his 35-3 record with 21 knockouts.
You have to wonder if Manny Pacquiao will be into this fight 100%. He was originally supposed to fight Floyd Mayweather Jr. in what was supposed to be the richest fight in boxing history. But a disagreement over dope testing caused that fight to be called off. Many people in the boxing world believe that fight will take place later this year.
Jerry Jones, owner of Cowboys stadium and the Dallas Cowboys, said the giant high definition video screen will be lowered to 30 feet above the ring so fans can better view the blow-by-blow action. Jones wanted the first fight in Cowboys stadium to be big, which is why he wanted Pacquiao. I guess everything in Texas IS really bigger.
One of the most hotly debated issues in sports over the past decade has been the use of steroids in Major League Baseball. Countless professional and minor league baseball players have either admitted to taking steroids or have failed drug tests. Some of the big names in baseball that have been in the media for steroid use are Mark McGwire, Alex Rodriguez, and Sammy Sosa.
While the use of steroids is thought to have decreased dramatically in recent years, it appears that it is still used by some players. On Friday it was announced that four minor league baseball players failed a drug test and will be suspended for 50 games.
The four suspended players are Yankees’ pitcher Israel Tolentino, Yankees’ catcher Josue Rodriguez, Mets’ pitcher Melvin Colon, and Indians’ outfielder Steve Lebron. According to the commissioner’s office, Tolention and Lebrun tested positive for the use of metabolite. Melvin Colon tested positive for nandrolone and Josue Rodriguez tested positive for stanozol.
All four of the players are Dominican Summer League players. In total there have been 11 minor league baseball suspensions levied this year for the use of performance enhancing drugs. Of the 11 suspensions, six were levied against players who compete in the Dominican Summer League.
One of the tell tale signs of spring, is the yearly ritual of setting the clocks forward one hour. This weekend most will set their clocks ahead one hour before crawling into bed on Saturday night. Others will put off the inevitable until Sunday in the hopes they can hold onto that one hour of sleep.
The daylight savings ritual is meant to save energy by giving us an extra hour of daylight during the evening hours. Kids can enjoy a little extra playing time after school with the time change. However, many dread losing the precious one hour of sleep that accompanies this time change.
Daylight savings began during World War I, and became standardized in the US in 1967. In 2007, daylight savings time was set to begin on the second Sunday in March instead of the first Sunday in April. This change was an effort to help reduce skyrocketing energy costs. So far, there has been no real cost savings with this new change.
The hour of extra daylight runs through to the first Sunday in November. This change is usually welcome, because people get an extra hour of sleep.
The official daylight savings time begins at 2:00 am on Saturday night/Sunday morning.
Huffing, or the act of using inhalants to get high, is an ever increasing problem. While the act itself has been around for some time, in recent years it has become more prevalent among today’s youth, especially the pre-teen age group.
Recent reports issued by the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration show that in the twelve year old age group, as many as 7% regularly use inhalants to get high, a number that is five times greater than that of the next highest drug used, marijuana, of which only 1.4% of youths in this age group report using regularly.
A large portion of this abuse can be attributed to the ease of access and cost. Many homes already have many of the inhalants, which include computer cleaning aerosols, spay paints, glue, hair spray, spray solvents and gasoline. Typically the act of huffing involves soaking a rag with the liquid and inhaling it. Aerosols may also be inhaled directly.
Symptoms of huffing typically include lack of coordination, glassy eyes, slurred speech, and mood swings. Parents and doctors are being encouraged to learn these symptoms as part of the National Inhalants and Poisons Awareness Week. Knowing the symptoms of huffing could save a life.
Merlin Olsen, a Hall of Fame defensive lineman with the Los Angeles Rams, died Thursday after a battle with Mesothelioma cancer. He was 69. Merlin Olsen played with the Los Angeles Rams from 1962 to 1976. In his 15 seasons, he never missed a game.
Not everyone has the perfect working environment. And, some are subject to extreme conditions that can be harmful, and potentially deadly. One of the more recent findings is that places with poor ventilation can cause you to acquire Mesothelioma. You may have been up late, seeing lawyer advertisements on television offering compensation for those exposed to asbestos at unclean working environments. But, what is Mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that makes itself present by the symptoms of shortness of breath, and dramatic weight loss. If you have these symptoms, you definitely do not want to wait for it to be too late. Be proactive in your own health. For there are an assortment of tests available to detect Mesothelioma in it’s early stages.
Lots of times, Mesothelioma can be found by a series of CT scans and X-rays. It is very important that if you feel something just isn’t right that you call your health care provider immediately. It could mean the difference between life or death. There are a vast variety of treatment plans out there, and your doctor will know which one works for you in particular. Don’t be careless and neglect your future health either.
The Big 12 conference tournament continued on Thursday with quarterfinal play. So far three games have taken place. The first game of the day took place between the nation’s number one team the Kansas Jayhawks and the Texas Tech Red Raiders. While the game remained competitive, the Jayhawks outlasted Texas Tech and won 80 to 68.
In the second game of the day, the Nebraska Cornhuskers played the Texas A&M Aggies. The Cornhuskers were freseh off of their upset victory over the Missouri Tigers. Unfortunately, Nebraska’s luck ran out in Thursday’s game and they lost to the Aggies by a score of 70 to 64.
The third game of the day pitted the Kansas State Wildcats against the Oklahoma State Cowboys. The Wildcats easily handled the OSU Cowboys and won by 21 points. The Wildcats, who are ranked 9th nationally, will face the Texas A&M Aggies on Friday in a semi-final contest.
The 20th ranked Baylor Bears and Texas Longhorns are set to play the last quarterfinal game tonight. The game is especially important for the Texas Longhorns who could use another victory to ensure they get into NCAA tournament. The winner of the game will face Kansas on Friday.
