December 26th, 2009 by DrWes in Better Health Network, Health Policy
1 Comment »
As the Senators vote to pass their bill to extend insurance to thirty million more people while failing to address malpractice or physician payment reform, we can all only hope and pray that it’s worth it in the end.
On thing’s for sure, 2010 is shaping up to be one heck of a year.
Merry Christmas.
-Wes
Chart source.Musings of a cardiologist and cardiac electrophysiologist.
*This blog post was originally published at Dr. Wes*
December 26th, 2009 by Jonathan Foulds, Ph.D. in Better Health Network, Health Tips, Research
No Comments »
I was recently asked to review a new textbook on Nicotine Psychopharmacology, containing 18 very thorough chapters describing the latest evidence on the effects of smoking and nicotine on the brain and behavior. Much of it, though interesting, was a very heavy read. But it occurred to me that it might be useful to try to summarize what the 544 pages in this new book suggests about the effects of nicotine and the reasons smokers get addicted. So here is an attempt to describe how nicotine addiction works, in simplified terms.
When a smoker inhales nicotine from a cigarette, the drug is carried to the brain in highly concentrated form within around 10-15 seconds. The drug then Read more »
This post, How Cigarette Nicotine Affects The Brain, was originally published on
Healthine.com by Jonathan Foulds, Ph.D..
December 25th, 2009 by Dr. Val Jones in Announcements
No Comments »
Blogging will resume tomorrow. We send our warmest wishes to all those celebrating today.
December 25th, 2009 by Edwin Leap, M.D. in Better Health Network, Opinion
No Comments »
Often as not, the miseries of our friends, patients, co-workers or family began with other miseries. The Bible is full of ‘begats.’ Abraham begat Isaac, Isaac begat Jacob, Jacob begat his 12 sons.
Pain is similar; abuse begat depression. Loss begat alcoholism. Loneliness begat PID. Ridicule begat drug abuse. Ignorance begat incapacity. Infidelity begat sorrow. Fatigue begat anger. Neglect begat rage. Abuse begat indifference.
On the other hand, love begat happiness. Children begat purpose. Knowledge begat excellence. Concern for humanity begat medical science. Love for others begat long call nights and long surgeries.
Love for country begat sacrifice. Love for wives, husbands and children begat fidelity.
Love for mankind begat Jesus in the manger, Jesus on the cross.
Life is a series of ‘begats.’
Edwin
*This blog post was originally published at edwinleap.com*
December 24th, 2009 by Happy Hospitalist in Better Health Network, Research
No Comments »
With 365 days a year, one would think the law of averages would win this battle. And you would be wrong. Because there is a deadliest day of the year? It’s none other than Christmas. Who would have thought that? Why would Christmas be the deadliest day of the year.
Researchers examined 53 million natural deaths between 1973 and 2001. What they found was cardiac and non-cardiac deaths peaked during Christmas and New Year’s (between 4-5% higher than expected). They also found that the proportion of holiday deaths was increasing with time. Read more »
*This blog post was originally published at The Happy Hospitalist Blog*