August 31st, 2008 by Dr. Val Jones in Uncategorized
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Ever wondered how long that chicken (in your fridge) will remain safe to eat? Dr. Joe has found a handy “Safe Storage Times” magnet. Check it out.
This post originally appeared on Dr. Val’s blog at RevolutionHealth.com.
August 31st, 2008 by Dr. Val Jones in Uncategorized
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From the Happy Hospitalist, “And The Lawyers Win:”
They have now infiltrated the super old in the pursuit of world domination. How do I know? Because I had a 94 year old in the depths of delirium scream at the top of her lungs: “I’m going to sue you. I’m going to sue you”. As she tried to punch me during my exam of her.
This post originally appeared on Dr. Val’s blog at RevolutionHealth.com.
August 31st, 2008 by Dr. Val Jones in Uncategorized
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Prior to my work at Revolution Health I was the founding editor of an online peer reviewed journal called Clinical Nutrition and Obesity. At Revolution Health, I’ve been leading a thriving community group called, “Lose 20 Pounds.” Sadly, this past week we lost a group member to anorexia.
Anorexia affects 1 in every 200 American women. It is quite common and can be deadly. Some statistics:
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Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness.
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A study by the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders reported that 5 – 10% of anorexics die within 10 years after contracting the disease; 18-20% of anorexics will be dead after 20 years and only 30 – 40% ever fully recover.
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The mortality rate associated with anorexia nervosa is 12 times higher than the death rate of ALL causes of death for females 15 – 24 years old.
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20% of people suffering from anorexia will prematurely die from complications related to their eating disorder, including suicide and heart problems
The group mourns the loss of Amy, a young dancer who leaves behind a husband and two children. Our group encouraged her to get professional help, and in fact she spent her last days in a world-renowned treatment center in England. Sadly, Amy lost her battle with anorexia despite a lot of love and support.
If you’d like to send a message of encouragement to her husband, feel free to click here. And if you know someone who struggles with anorexia, please encourage her/him to get professional help. This disease is dangerous and must be taken very seriously.
This post originally appeared on Dr. Val’s blog at RevolutionHealth.com.
August 29th, 2008 by Dr. Val Jones in Uncategorized
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Here’s my weekly list of things that caught my eye in the medical blogosphere:
Vaccines
With all the misinformed parents opting out of vaccinating their kids, could polio make a comeback the way measles has? Dr. Doug Farrago speculates about the new wave of paralyzed children that may be on the horizon.
Bloggers
What kind of person blogs? A new study suggests that bloggers are more likely to be both “open-minded” and “neurotic” by nature.
Drugs of Abuse
Steroid abuse can lead to a severe form of disfiguring acne. KevinMD found this example.
How NOT to forge a prescription for pain medicines. Thank you, Dr. White Coat.
The Healthcare System
Barack Obama says that a government-run single payer healthcare system makes sense for America. Now THAT’s scary.
Thousands wait in line for a free health clinic, staffed by volunteer physicians in Apalachia.
The government clamps down on pharmaceutical gift pens and paper to doctors while welcoming millions in sponsorship from them for political causes. Wow.
Gadgets
How about this new gadget? A clock that you can wear on your thumb nail.
Weird Anatomy
Would you like a vase shaped like your elbow or knee? Why not?
Are men with wider faces more likely to be violent? Dr. Joe presents the latest research.
This artist takes old fashioned anatomical drawings and makes them “joyful.”
Some serious exophthalmos from Happy Hospitalist.
The Cutest Animal Photo EVER
Sorry, I couldn’t resist. Thanks, Medgadget.com
This post originally appeared on Dr. Val’s blog at RevolutionHealth.com.
August 28th, 2008 by Dr. Val Jones in Uncategorized
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Faithful readers of my blog know that one of the things I hate the most is when the public is purposefully misled by false medical claims. This year, we have been fortunate to see the beginning of a new trend: a snake oil crackdown.
First it was the successful lawsuit against AirBorne, a supplement that claims to protect its users from catching colds on airplanes. They agreed to pay $23.3 million to settle a class-action lawsuit brought against the company for falsely claiming its vitamins prevented colds.
Then, the FDA came right out and named names in fraudulent cancer treatments.
And now smiling Bob’s Enzyte “male enhancement” CEO is going to jail for conspiracy, fraud and money laundering.
Well, thank goodness! It’s about time that we begin calling out the fraudsters who prey on vulnerable Americans who seek help with their diseases and conditions. I hope we can also hunt down the supplement hucksters who put arsenic, mercury, and lead in their “alternative medicines.”
This serves as just another warning to Americans to be VERY careful about how you spend your money and what you put in your body. And as for the FDA – I hope this emboldens them to do more than ever to protect the public from snake oil.
This post originally appeared on Dr. Val’s blog at RevolutionHealth.com.