MORE HEALTH NEWS YOU CAN USE
Fall is here. Last night, it dropped to below 50 degrees here in Athens, Georgia, for the first time this year. In fact, I'll probably put out my petunias and pansies this week now that the summer sun is gone.
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Statins May Be the Next Miracle Cure: Recently, scientists reported exciting news about drugs that alter our metabolism of fat or, more precisely, cholesterol. It seems that these so-called statins have both long- and far-reaching benefits. Researchers discovered one long-reaching effect incidentally. Apparently, after stopping the drug, a person still gains benefits over the next 10 years (at least). This fact is amazing… 10 years after stopping! Rates of death and heart attacks declined years after the study was completed and people had stopped taking the statin. This is very intriguing. In addition to the heart benefits from lowering cholesterol, the statins also greatly slow the decline in lung-function in people with chronic lung disease. Some 15 million to 20 million people suffer chronic lung disease (mostly caused by smoking)… Interestingly, the mechanism of action of these drugs includes antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, as well as the action on the liver to block production of "bad" cholesterols. |
| • | A Nevada Jury Finds a Drug Company Liable for Causing Breast Cancer: I hope that what happens in Reno stays in Reno. I am not a huge fan of drug companies per se, but I am less a fan of juries trying to assign scientific causes and effects. Last I read, only a few known genes are "linked" to breast cancer in families. Also, diet and cancer appear to be linked – but much of the evidence is anecdotal, and the science is weak at best. My sympathies for these and other patients with breast cancer, but these drugs – Premarin and Prempro – do not cause breast cancer! The drugs are estrogen and progestin replacements for women in menopause. Thousands of women have taken these drugs for years without getting breast cancer… thus and therefore they don't cause breast cancer. |
| • | Stored Blood Is Missing Nitric Oxide. Years ago, when I was clerking in a hospital waiting to hear from the admission departments of medical schools, I would sneak down to the library and read whenever I could. I recall reading an issue of the journal Science that had the molecule of the year, nitric oxide, on its cover… "Wow," I thought, "what an amazing molecule." Nitric oxide is critical in so many things: male erections, dilation of blood vessels, the flash from a firefly, air pollution, nerve function, etc. It even kills bacteria in white blood cells. |
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It turns out that the blood in blood banks loses this critical molecule within hours of you and me donating blood. This news explains many of the problems associated with receiving blood that has been donated in large doses quickly – things like heart attacks, strokes, other deadly problems… but now researchers suspect that adding back this molecule before giving transfusions will greatly aid in the positive outcomes in hospitals. This news is truly worthy of a Nobel. |
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Taxol Doesn't Treat Common Breast Cancers: This news is exciting because it turns out that these drugs work only if you have a certain genetic profile. It means we will soon be able to tell whether Taxol, which has devastating side effects, is right for you as a patient. The age of designer and individualized medicine is coming. |
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Miniature Ultrasound Machines: Small handheld ultrasound machines will soon be commonplace in your doctor's office. These machines allow us to see babies inside the womb long before birth. The same technology also finds blood clots in legs and hearts in the emergency room. A German company, Siemens AG, just came to market with a $10,000 handheld, two-pound scanner. This device can be used on the neck and, in just seconds, scan the arteries in your neck. Doctors are, of course, skeptical and insurers are contemplating whether to pay for this unproven tool. I myself think technology such as this will soon alter how we manage our health care. Think of the benefit of knowing that your arteries are clogged and being able to post a photo of that on your bathroom mirror to motivate you to exercise! And imagine seeing the scan months later when the arteries have improved and opened up after regular exercise, sleep, and meditation. |
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Custom-Fit Condoms: I couldn't resist this story. Condoms now come in many sizes… hmmm… It turns out that the standard-size condoms of 6.3 inches are too long for many men. When given a choice, the majority of men will order one less than 5.12 inches. More amazingly, to test strength, the condoms are inflated with 4.76 gallons of air… the jokes are coming. There's even a kit to help determine the correct size. But the kit is paper. Ouch! |
| • | States Say 'No' to Universal HIV Testing: Thank goodness for common sense and a return to state autonomy. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last year recommended that everyone under the age of 65 visiting a doctor get tested for HIV. Can you imagine the costs of this? The CDC reasoned that it would make HIV testing less of a stigma and capture the alleged 250,000 who have the disease and don't know it. HIV isn't even in the top 10 causes of death, why would we spend our health care dollars this way? Ten times as many people die from diabetes every year. Five times as many people die from kidney disease. Four times as many people die from liver disease. Are we going to require every person going to a doctor's office to be tested for all of these potential illnesses? HIV deaths are 0.3% of total deaths. And can you imagine the emotional devastation with false positives from tests? My guess is our health care dollars would be better spent paying for personal trainers for neighborhoods. |
When it comes to the October 2007 news... What do I do?
| 1. | I try and relax and not get too mad or upset after reading about juries discovering the cause of scientific phenomenon. |
| 2. | If I need blood for a transfusion, I'll be sure and ask for as much fresh blood as possible. |
| 3. | I will vote against nonsense such as universal testing for rare diseases. |
| 4. | I exercise regularly and make sure to eat varied fruits and vegetable daily. This is proven over and over to increase the quality of life. |
| 5. | Why are these men ordering the smaller size? |
Here's to our health,
David Eifrig Jr., M.D., M.B.A.