January 8th, 2010 by Jonathan Foulds, Ph.D. in Better Health Network, Health Tips
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Most specialist smoking cessation services advise patients to select a quit date and quit smoking completely on that day (usually along with medication), but many smokers prefer the idea of cutting down gradually. What are the pros and cons?
I theory, cutting down gradually might provide a “softer landing” in that it might spread out the nicotine withdrawal over a longer period, rather than giving the nicotine receptors an abrupt shock of no nicotine. It also seems to fit with common sense that it might be easier to change the behavior gradually rather than all at once. Read more »
This post, Trying To Quit Smoking? Should You Cut Down Or Go Cold Turkey?, was originally published on
Healthine.com by Jonathan Foulds, Ph.D..
January 8th, 2010 by Dr. Val Jones in Audio, Expert Interviews
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Over 10,000 Americans (mostly young) have already died of H1N1 flu, and yet we’ve only vaccinated 10-20% of those who need protection. January 10-16 is National Influenza Awareness Week, and the American College of Physicians is doing its part to raise awareness of the ongoing need to protect Americans from the next wave of influenza.
I interviewed ACP President, Dr. Joseph Stubbs, about the current influenza season and Americans’ vulnerabilities to the virus. Please enjoy the audio of our conversation or read the transcript below.
[audio:https://getbetterhealth.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/flustubbsjan.mp3]
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January 7th, 2010 by Jon LaPook, M.D. in Better Health Network, Expert Interviews, Video
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For thousands of years, infertility was considered a female problem. The word “barren” sounds almost comical now but was a commonplace label a century ago. In “The Cottage Physician,” written at the end of the 19th century, a section entitled “Barrenness” lists possible causes, including “want of tone or strength in the system” and “nervous debility.” Treatments included “cold bathing, general tonics or strengtheners to the system, electricity applied locally” as well as “abstinence from sexual indulgence for a time.” Fortunately, medicine has progressed considerably since then and the diagnosis and treatment of infertility have improved dramatically. But the misconception that it’s solely a female problem has persisted. Read more »
January 7th, 2010 by Stanley Feld, M.D. in Better Health Network, Health Policy, Opinion
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It is easy to introduce bias into poll results and surveys. Most people are cynical about polling results
However, when every one of the major polling services’ come up with the same answer, one must believe the results represent unified public opinion. The Democrats in the House of Representative, the Democrats in the Senate and President Obama are ignoring the fact that the American public is against President Obama’s healthcare reform plan.
There is no question that America needs healthcare reform. It does not need President Obama’s version of healthcare reform as I have discussed in the past. Most importantly President Obama’s healthcare reform system will not work. It ignores the basic problems and defects in the present healthcare system. Read more »
*This blog post was originally published at Repairing the Healthcare System*
January 7th, 2010 by RamonaBatesMD in Better Health Network, Health Policy, Research
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I noticed this article title on MDLinx, then went to the Journal of Plastic and Reconstruction website to read the full article. The abstract is free to read, the full article requires a subscription.
The study was prompted by the authors noticing third party insurers increasingly deny coverage to patients with post traumatic and congenital facial deformities. This denial is often cited as due to the deformities not being seen as “functional” problems. The authors cite the recent facial transplants patients as having demonstrated that the severely deformed are willing to undergo potentially life-threatening surgery and extended chemotherapy in an attempt in look normal. Read more »
*This blog post was originally published at Suture for a Living*
