Vaccines

dlee — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 10:56:07 -0800

Vaccines are often cited as one of medicine’s greatest accomplishments. From the first smallpox vaccine in the 1790s to the human papilloma virus vaccine in 2006, vaccines have stopped the spread of infections worldwide, including dreaded polio disease. Researchers now are investigating vaccines for non-infectious diseases, such as certain cancers. Although there have always been deep-seated fears about immunizations, controversy persists over the safety of childhood vaccines, with some parents fearing a link to autism.

Cancer

dlee — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 10:38:12 -0800

Doctors tend to shy away from using the word "cure" and cancer in the same sentence, but a wealth of promising research and medical developments in recent years has been extending lives and reducing the incidence of some cancers.

Science has produced the HPV vaccine to prevent a virus linked to cervical cancer as well as breakthrough drugs like Herceptin and Tamoxifen to keep breast cancer from recurring.

The overall cancer death rate fell 16 percent from its peak in 1991 to 2006, the latest year for which the American Cancer Society has information.

Stem Cell Research: Controversies Abound

dlee — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:44:43 -0800

Unique among structures in the body, embryonic stem cells can be converted to almost any type of cell, carrying the promise of a cure for diabetes, Parkinson's disease and shattered spines, among other conditions. A considerable number of Americans, however, think that conducting research with stem cells derived from human embryos is immoral.

The Uninsured: Growing Problem

dlee — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 12:00:44 -0800

Amid the current health reform debate, the number of uninsured Americans continues to climb as employers drop health coverage, employees lose their jobs, and some government programs contract. The U.S. Census put the number of uninsured at about 46.3 million in 2008. Nationally, the vast majority of the uninsured are low-income people in families where at least one person is employed. Because of soaring health care costs, the uninsured often postpone or avoid care until their ailments become serious, then seek emergency treatment that's even more costly.

Health Care Quality: How to Measure?

dlee — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 11:02:54 -0800

In 1999, the Institute of Medicine published a seminal report, "To Err is Human," sparking a movement to improve the quality of health care in the United States. The report concluded that at least 44,000 people — and possibly as many as 98,000 — die in hospitals annually from preventable medical errors. In the last decade, patient safety advocates and governments have promoted increased transparency about hospital infection rates and overall safety performance.

Tuberculosis: Disproportionate Impact on Immigrants

dlee — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 10:08:53 -0800

Thanks to a broad, aggressive eradication campaign, tuberculosis (TB) is a relatively minor issue in the United States; but it is a growing problem among the nation's immigrants, who come from countries where the respiratory disease is endemic. In 2008, nearly 12,900 tuberculosis cases were reported in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. The TB rate declined 3.8% from 2007 to 4.2 cases per 100,000 population, the lowest rate recorded since national reporting began in 1953.

Mental Illness: Few Families Untouched

dlee — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 09:45:29 -0800

Few families in the United States are untouched by mental illness. Estimates are that about one in four American adults suffers from some type of mental illness, and about 1 in 17 suffers from a serious mental illness. In a 1999 report, the U.S. Surgeon General emphasized the relationship between the mind and body and the importance of mental health to overall health and wellbeing. Since the 1970s, there have been great medical advances in treating mental illness, particularly with the use of mood-stabilizing and anti-psychotic medications.

Environmental Health: How the World Affects Us

dlee — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 10:23:54 -0800

The field of environmental health examines how aspects of our natural and built environments affect our health. Environmental health scientists spend their time assessing risks in the environment, such as air pollution, toxic chemicals, hazardous waste and polluted water, and mitigating them. Emerging issues include how the built environment contributes to obesity and asthma and the potential health hazards of nanotechnology, global warming and genetically modified foods. Updated March 2010

Heart Disease: Leading Cause of Death

dlee — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 13:36:49 -0700

Although many Americans may fear cancer more, heart disease is actually the leading cause of death in the United States. In an era of pacemakers and artificial hearts, cardiovascular ailments remain a leading cause of disability, with more than 81 million Americans living with some form of the disease in 2006, according to the American Heart Association. Updated February 2010

Emergency Rooms: Last Stop for the Poor

dlee — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 13:00:38 -0700

Between 2001 and 2006, the number of visits paid to emergency rooms in the United States increased annually by nearly 12 million, according to a U.S. Government Accountability Office report released in April 2009. In addition, the average time ER patients waited before being seen by a physician rose from 46 minutes in 2003 to 56 minutes in 2006. Although fewer hospitals reported having to divert ambulances to other facilities because of overcrowding, those that did reported spending more hours on average on diversion.