Monthly Archives: September 2010

  • Mom: Don’t be a ‘good’ patient

    By Jake Clutterbuck Tagged: Patient
    29 Sep 2010 0 Comments

    Elizabeth Cohen’s mother, Sheila Schwartz, taught her that it’s not always important to be a “good” patient. STORY HIGHLIGHTS

    • Be respectful of your doctor, but don’t assume that he or she is always right
    • Your health depends on your comprehension of the problem, so ask a lot of questions
    • Don’t put your relationship with your doctor ahead of your health

    Elizabeth Cohen shows you four powerful lessons that could save your life and the lives of those you love. Don’t miss “Empowered Patient,” 7 p.m. ET Saturday and Sunday on CNN. Watch more about Elizabeth Cohen’s “Empowered Patient” book.

    My mother, Sheila Schwartz, is a firecracker. As a lawyer, social worker, wife, mother of four and grandmother of 11, she’s always on the go — working, caring, loving life. About 10 years ago, when my mother was around 60, something suddenly changed. Read full article…

  • Today Is World Vegetarian Day!

    By Brooke Richmond Tagged: Day , Vegetarian Day , World Vegetarian , World Vegetarian Day
    28 Sep 2010 0 Comments

    Grab your broccoli and tofu because today, Oct. 1, is World Vegetarian Day. It kicks off Vegetarian Awareness Month: 31 days devoted to celebrating this plant-based diet and teaching others about its benefits.

    If you ever contemplated going vegetarian, here are some things you may want to consider. Ditching meat from your diet can help:

    There are more reasons to eat a plant-based diet, so keep on reading.

    Are you a vegetarian? If not would you try going meat-free for all of October? Many readers successfully gave up meat for two weeks in our Give It Up Challenge — so what’s two more weeks? Here are some great vegetarian recipes to inspire you in the kitchen.

  • Principal Financial To Exit Health Insurance

    By Marcus Gollan Tagged: Health Insurance , Insurance , Principal Financial
    28 Sep 2010 0 Comments


    Principal Financial Group Inc., an insurance, retirement and financial services company, says it’s getting out of the health insurance business. It says the move will eliminate 150 jobs initially and more later.

    Principal’s health insurance division employs 1,500 workers but some will be considered for other jobs in the company, which employs 14,000 workers.

    It says it has agreed to have UnitedHealthcare renew medical insurance coverage for its customers as they come up over the next 36 months.

    CEO Larry Zimpleman says the business has shrunk in recent years. Read full article…

  • Stress linked to infertility

    By Brooke Richmond Tagged: Stress , Stress Linked
    27 Sep 2010 0 Comments

    Scientists have now found some concrete evidence that stressed out women have a harder time conceiving. 

    It took four and a half years for Tammy Brandt to conceive.

    “Every month that it doesn’t’ work, you’re getting more and more stressed and you’re thinking, ‘Oh my gosh, now I’m stressed and stress is bad for getting pregnant and now I’m stressed because I am stressed,’ “ Tammy said.

    Tammy believed it was all that anxiety stopping her from getting pregnant, so she quit her job, began practicing yoga, and underwent acupuncture.

    Now, for the first time, scientists have found evidence that stress can delay pregnancy in some women.

    Germaine Louis, PhD, is an NIH scientist specializing in how the environment affects fertility

    “What we ended up finding is one biomarker in particular, alpha-amylase, significantly reduced the probability of conception everyday during the fertile window while women were trying to get pregnant,” Dr. Lo

    Read full article…

  • Are sports drinks bad for teens?

    By Jake Clutterbuck Tagged: Drinks , Sports Drinks
    27 Sep 2010 0 Comments

    Many young people believe that sports drinks are a healthy alternative to soda. STORY HIGHLIGHTS

    • Teenagers who are active are more likely to consume sports drinks than non-active peers
    • Drinking sports drinks has been linked to eating more fruits and vegetables
    • Sports drinks should not be consumed unless a teen has exercised vigorously

    This marketing strategy seems to have worked. According to a new study in Pediatrics, teenagers who are more active in sports and other physical activities are more likely than their less-active peers to quench their thirst with sports drinks, while teens who spend a lot of time watching TV or playing video games tend to drink more soda.

    Consuming sports drinks and other non-carbonated sugary beverages (such as fruit punch) was also linked to eating more fruits and vegetables, especially among girls, the study found.

    Read full article…

  • New drug for thyroid cancer shows promise

    By Brooke Richmond Tagged: Cancer , Cancer Shows
    25 Sep 2010 0 Comments

    Tim Eimer is a father, outdoor enthusiast, science teacher, and cancer patient, living on borrowed time.

    “I started praying that I would have 15 more years, 15 years would get me through their childhood,” he said.

    Tim has thyroid cancer. When caught early, most patients are treated successfully with surgery and radioactive iodine.  But for one in four patients, it doesn’t work.

    Dr. Marcia Brose is leading a study on a drug called Sorafenib. It’s part of a class of drugs geared to stop the spread or actually shrink tumors. In early studies it benefited 62-percent of patients.

    “This wasn’t a subtle signal that this molecule was working in thyroid cancer. It was a home run,” said Dr. Brose.

    After two months, Tim’s tumors shrank by one-third. He knows it may not save his life, but may extend it by years.

    “This drug has given me opportunity.

    Read full article…

  • Can booze tax reduce disease, crime?

    By Jake Clutterbuck Tagged: Reduce , Reduce Disease
    24 Sep 2010 0 Comments

    Studies show that higher taxes on alcohol could reduce alcohol-related deaths by 35 percent. STORY HIGHLIGHTS

    • A study suggests that making alcohol more expensive can cut back on healthcare costs
    • Doubling state taxes on alcohol could reduce alcohol-related deaths and car crashes
    • Even a slight decrease in alcohol consumption could have a large impact on public health

    How can we solve these thorny problems?

    Read full article…

  • U Of M Begins $175M Campaign For Amplatz Hospital

    By Marcus Gollan Tagged: Begins 175m , Campaign
    23 Sep 2010 0 Comments


    The University of Minnesota and Fairview Health Services are launching a campaign to raise $175 million in private funds for health care for children.
      
    On Saturday, the fundraising campaign begins for pediatric research, education and care at the new home for the University of Minnesota’s Amplatz Children’s Hospital.
      
    The effort is led by the university’s Minnesota Medical Foundation, which has already secured $84 million, or 48 percent of the goal to raise the $175 million by 2015.
      
    The university says in a news release that Amplatz is the state’s only academic pediatric hospital engaged in basic science, applied research and leading-edge patient care.
      
    Dr. Frank C Read full article…

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