February 2009 Blog Archive
Friday, February 27, 2009
Women and Heart Disease
Heart disease is the number one killer of women in the United States, which is why females are trying to bring awareness into the headlines. Unfortunately many women are unaware of their risks or symptoms – which is why heart disease tends to kill women without any notification. Similarly because many women live longer than their male counterparts they are more likely to develop heart disease during their lifetime.
Dr. Mathew Budoff a veteran cardiologist told VOA News, "The first step toward fighting the disease among women, Budoff says, is dispelling the misconceptions about it - such as that heart disease only affects men. 'The heart attack rate actually now is higher in women than in men in the United States,' he says. 'More women die of heart attack, more women die of stroke, and more women die of heart failure than men every year in the United States. It's really a female-predominant disease at this point."
Budoff goes on to say that women clearly get checked once a year for a mammogram to prevent breast cancer, they should also get their heart checked with virtual EBT heart scans once a year. Early detection is key to preventing heart attacks. The focus really needs to start going on women and better prevention methods, education, and awareness.
Friday, February 27, 2009
Calcium and Colon Cancer
The AFP has reported that consumption of calcium may decrease chances of developing colon cancer or tumors in the digestive system. Colon cancer is one of the most common cancers worldwide, so early detection is key to survival. If you couple prevention virtual colonoscopy screening with at-home prevention methods like consuming daily doses of calcium, your chances of developing colon cancer are significantly decreased.
The AFP said, "In both men and women, dairy food and calcium intakes were inversely associated with cancers of the digestive system,' the authors of the study in the Archives of Internal Medicine wrote, 'Women who consumed the most calcium, some 1,881 milligrammes a day, cut their cancer risk by 23 percent over those who had the lowest calcium intake of around 494 milligrammes a day."
The study was shown to be consistent amongst men and women. It has long been known that women should continuously and regularly take calcium for their bone density, so by taking calcium daily both colon cancer and osteoporosis may be prevented.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Police and Heart Scans
The police department in Illinois will be having heart scans for the entire division in honor of a lost Sergeant. Sgt. Daniel Higgins died of heart disease, and the foundation for Daniel Higgins will be giving his former police force heart scans as a form of prevention, detection, and awareness. His foundation has received a $20,000 grant from the Kane County DUI task force to do so.
The Courier News reported, "Eighty officers from Elgin, St. Charles, Batavia and Sleepy Hollow are using this grant to 'prevent the death of a law enforcement officer' and 'know the risks to their profession,' said Craig Figgins, brother of the fallen officer and executive director of the foundation."
Sgt Higgins passed away at a young age and had family history for heart disease, which made him a prime candidate for a heart attack and heart disease. He like many other people who fall victim to heart disease do not know they have the ailment. Which is why heart scans can aid in preventing deaths like Sgt. Higgins.
Friday, February 20, 2009
Colon Cancer Awareness Soars
There has been much buzz circulating around colon cancer, especially with the recent Medicare pull-out. The awareness is spreading nationwide, in Kalamazoo, Michigan a Colorectal Cancer Awareness Health Fair is being held to promote and promulgate the importance of early detection, prevention tips, symptoms, and treatments. Educating people is key to better awareness which is why health fairs like this are so vital to better living.
A local Kalamazoo paper said, "The event, hosted by Gastroenterology of Southwest Michigan, will feature the Super Colon, an inflatable, interactive colon that teaches people about the risks, symptoms and detection of colon cancer; a mock colonoscopy room where guests can view a virtual colonoscopy; and insurance providers who can talk about coverage options."
The event is free and will hopefully be one of a series of health fairs done around the nation.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Obama or Medicare?
The new Medicare legislation which was passed late last week is causing a bit of stir among economic pundits and politicians. Some conservative leaders and supporters are saying these new laws are just the beginning of Obama's reformation of the healthcare system. But is that such a bad thing? In the field of virtual colonoscopies yes it may be, because physicians and researchers have found that virtual colonoscopies are the way of the future and aid in early detection of colorectal cancer. So why is Medicare opting out of paying for them?
Matthew Harper of Forbes says about this new law, "We've reported before how General Electric's health care arm is struggling as doctors and hospitals cut back on purchases of expensive imaging machines. As reimbursement rates for MRIs, CT scans and other imaging studies have slid, sales have slowed. To offset these cuts, GE needs to find new applications for its devices. One is the virtual colonoscopy, in which images from a CT Scan replace an actual probe taking pictures inside the body."
As time goes on and President Obama puts in place his new healthcare funding ideas, we'll see if this was a good decision or not.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Heart Disease and the Elderly
Many Americans over the age of 75 are falling victim to cardiovascular issues post-heart attack, most of which are induced by cardiogenic shock. CS occurs when the heart stops feeding blood to the organs of the body and it causes the body to go into shock. Sadly, many elderly patients are not given invasive treatments to mend the issue, but recent research shows invasive procedures should be used.
US News and World Report said, "Elderly patients who are admitted to the hospital with massive heart attacks may still benefit from emergency coronary artery balloon angioplasty with stenting, despite their advanced age. Although mortality occurs in roughly half of patients in these high risk situations, without this aggressive treatment, the prospect of survival is very poor," study senior author David Clark, an interventional radiologist at Austin Hospital in Melbourne, said in an American College of Cardiology news release."
Though this treatment is aggressive, it is important that people over the age of 50 take regular care of their heart and arteries, for heart attack chances are decreased with yearly virtual heart scans.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Medicare Slams Virtual Colonoscopies
On Thursday of last week, Medicare came out punching saying they have decided not to pay for virtual colonoscopy procedures. This could potentially be a serious setback for a booming industry, especially on the wake of good publicity as doctors had been preaching to people to undergo this non-invasive treatment which is the wisest option for colon cancer screening.
The New York Times reported on Friday that skeptics are denouncing this decision, "It seems to defy logic," said Dr. Perry J. Pickhardt, associate professor of radiology at the University of Wisconsin, who has consulted for some makers of software used to analyze the CT scans. Dr. Pickhardt said the virtual colonoscopy was "better, safer, faster, cheaper" than conventional colonoscopy. Dr. Durado Brooks, director for colorectal and prostate cancer at the American Cancer Society, said the decision would reduce the choices available. "There are certainly some patients who may opt not to be screened because they don't want to have a colonoscopy," Dr. Brooks said."
This may ultimately end up being a bad decision because the best way to prevent colorectal cancer is early detection, and many patients hate the idea of the invasive traditional colonoscopy – which not only requires anesthesia, but also fasting and discomfort.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Promising New Heart Medication
Sanofi Aventis a prescription drug company has said there are promising results about their new drug that targets anti fibrillations. Anti fibrillations are irregular heartbeats, which can result in more serious ailments like palpitations, weakened valves, faintness or chest pain. Today's New York Times Health section was focusing on this research, they said, "The study, which was sponsored by Sanofi, indicated that the medicine could reduce hospitalizations and deaths for people with atrial fibrillation, which afflicts more than two million Americans and four million Europeans."
Patients with such heart conditions should consider getting virtual heart scans regularly as precaution and prevention for more serious diseases like coronary artery disease. If this new medication can alleviate the pain and dangers, it would be a great push for the heart awareness month!
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Stress, Women and Heart Disease
With a viciously unstable financial climate, people all over the world are feeling the stress of pinching pennies, maintaining their jobs and providing for their families. Such added stresses on top of their already hectic lives is inciting problems amongst middle-aged women. Large numbers of women are seeing the adverse affects of too much stress and the lack of exercise and proper diet. It is recommended that people with such high risk symptoms get regularly checked for heart disease and other quiet yet dangerous ailments.
In lieu of heart disease awareness month, women especially those with high stressed jobs should visit their local preventative imaging clinic to get scanned. Especially since numbers of women with heart disease and heart attack are increasing significantly.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Cops and Heart Scans
Heart awareness month has begun to kick into gear this February. Police departments nationwide are urging their employees (policemen) to get their virtual heart scans as a form of early detection for heart disease and heart attacks. In honor of heart awareness month many policeman are getting checked and realizing the benefits of regular yearly check-ups.
As the popularity grows and more people become aware of the benefits of heart and full body scans, every month will be awareness month. But till that happens it is important that people are aware of the risks, symptoms and available treatments for their ailments.
Monday, February 09, 2009
Heart Month
In honor of February and Heart Awareness Month, I feel it is necessary to bolster heart disease awareness. In recent weeks many headlines are reporting the possible links from preventative body scans to cancer due to increased doses of radiation. However, for those of you at high-risk for heart disease (family history, high cholesterol and blood pressure), it is vital to get checked yearly. So if in spite of the recent remarks about radiation, buy a loved one a gift certificate to get checked, or simply actively pursue teaching friends and family about the symptoms or lack thereof, possible treatments and preventative scans available.
Avid use of any form of CT scans is clearly not ideal, however thousands of people worldwide succumb to coronary artery disease and heart attacks due to lack of awareness. Hopefully we can try to make February a successful awareness month and bring heart disease into the forefront.
Friday, February 06, 2009
Use with Caution
US physicians are urging doctors to prescribe virtual scans of the heart, lungs and full body, more judiciously as radiation emissions are fairly high on scans. The doctors are recommending that people who do not have high risks: family history of cancer or heart disease, smoking, poor diet and health, and above the age 50 should not be getting scanned yearly. potential patients with such risk factors, should maintain their regiment of getting checked annually, since early detection is vital to survival; especially for lung cancer, heart disease, and colorectal cancer.
Reuters released a report saying, "The American Heart Association urged doctors to weigh risks and benefits carefully in ordering diagnostic tests such as computed tomography, or CT, angiograms and nuclear stress tests in order to minimize the doses of ionizing radiation."
Patients should be consulting their physicians in order to better assess their risk and chances of getting heart disease or lung cancer, because such scans are noted for their early detection and aid in preventing such malignant diseases.
Thursday, February 05, 2009
Lung Cancer Awareness Going Global
The US has always pioneered the way for medical awareness, whether its heart disease or cancer, we have paved the way for other westernised countries to follow our lead. This week Australia has jumped on the lung cancer awareness bandwagon. Typically very active and healthy people Aussies have long been known to applaud awareness – their infamous Movember parties – benefiting and raising awareness for prostate cancer is a huge hit nationwide. This week we are hearing reports that research institutions are trying to increase awareness for lung cancer. Over 8,000 new cases of lung cancer are detected each year in Australia – part of which is because the culture is known for a smoking lifestyle.
This new study and recent awareness stimulus is hoping to increase the use of early detection methods – EBT and CT scans – to prevent lung cancer. The idea is to get doctors and hospitals on board to send patients to get scanned yearly with hopes of catching cancer at its early stages – the more treatable stages.
Tuesday, February 03, 2009
Virtual Colonoscopies Added onto Recommended List
The American Cancer Society and the American College of Radiology have released their yearly report about colorectal cancer and recommended treatments, detection methods and available procedures. New to this year's highly regarded list is virtual colonoscopies. These guidelines outline a number or wise options for colon cancer screening and allow the patient to discuss them with their physician. Many patients had complained to the organizations that their physicians did not tell them about virtual colonoscopies.
Screening and surveying colon polyps at early is key to survival rates among patients with colon cancer – early detection methods like virtual colonoscopies not only eliminate the hassle of invasive traditional testing methods, but also the time and embarrassment factor as well.
Monday, February 02, 2009
Put down those Butts
As we all clearly know smoking cigarettes is the leading reason for why people develop lung cancer, but researchers have just found that Radon Gas has been identified as the second leading cause of lung cancer deaths.
"With an estimated 8 million U.S. homes affected, The Surgeon General of the United States is recommending that all homes be tested for this invisible killer. Radon is a gas that is formed naturally when uranium in rock, soil and groundwater breaks down. The Radon gas then finds its way up to the surface. Unlike other forms of pollution or dangerous gasses, you can neither see nor smell Radon"
The gas is virtually not a problem outdoors, however older homes with mediocre insulation leave homeowners and guests at high risk for developing cancer. So for those of you living in areas of Radon Gas it may be beneficial to get a virtual heart scan yearly.
